US3795084A

US3795084A - Packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3795084A
Application number: US00280924A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Richardson; R Corsentino; O Gould
Original assignee: RICHARDSON SERVICE DIVISION
Current assignee: RICHARDSON SERVICE DIVISION; RICHARDSON SERVICE DIVISION US
Priority date: 1972-08-15
Filing date: 1972-08-15
Publication date: 1974-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-05

Abstract

A packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprises at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other. Each housing has a weighing chamber that is disposed above a compressing chamber with a guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween. A diverting chamber is adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings. Material is directed from a supply through the weighing chamber into the compressing chamber where it is compressed to a desired shape and size. The compressing chamber includes a vertically disposed movable wall which is laterally displaced a preselected distance across the width of the housing. A plunger means is disposed above and vertically movable into and out of the compressing chamber to compress material disposed therein. Features of the apparatus include a continuous package making operation used in conjunction with the packaging apparatus, a simplified control mechanism and a novel air supply system.

Description

Unite States Patent [191 Richardson et al.

Mar. 5, 1974 1 PACKAGING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Charles ill Richardson, Muncie,

lnd.; Robert JJCorsentino, Jr., Temple; Oliver M. Gould, Belton, both of Tex.

[73] Assignee: Richardson Service Division,

Muncie, Ind.

'22 Filed: Aug. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 280,924

[52] Cl 53/59 W, 53/124 D, 100/215,

[51] Int. Cl B651) l/32, B65b 63/02 [58] Field of Search...... 53/124 D, 59 W; 100/215, 242; 141/71, 81, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,869,296 l/l959 Overman 53/l24 D X 3,086,564 4/1963 Staff 53/124 D X 3,721,060 3/1973 Quinto... 53/124. D X

2,616,232 Meyer 53/182 X Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith ABSTRACT A packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprises at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other. Each housing has a weighing chamber that is disposed above a compressing chamber with a guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween. A diverting chamber is adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings. Material is directed from a supply through the weighing chamber into the compressing chamber where it is compressed to a desired shape and size. The compressing chamber includes a vertically'disposed movable wall which is laterally displaced a preselected distance across the width of the housing. A

plunger means is disposed above and vertically movable into and out of the compressing chamber to compress material disposed therein. Features of the apparatus include a continuous package making operation used in conjunction with the packaging apparatus, a simplified control mechanism and a novel air supply system.

23 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 5'974 3.795.084

SHEET 1 UF 5 PATENTED 51974 SHEET 2 [IF 5 PAIENTED 5'974 3.795.084

SHEET 3 [IF 5 FIG. .3

FIG. 4

PATENIEDNAR 4 3.795.084

sum 1* ur 5 DIVE RTER CYL TOP DIVE RTER. CYL. BOTTOM i i 52 ,p

WEIGHI NG CHAMBER. DOOR. 1

CONTROL 3 50 AIR. SUPP LY *9 To COMPRESSING I PLUNGER CONTROL '7 PATENTED MR 5 4 SHEET 5 OF 5 i -o o .SOL. VALVE 759 "FOR DEVERTER cu.

SOL.

VALVE VALVE E O r Fon. noon. CYL.

(FOR. SIDE WALL COMP. CYL.

67 r66 SOL.

VALVE Fora van-r COMP. CYL. 68

(FOR GATE CYL.

L BAG SNOUT FIG.

ELECTRIC EYE MANUAL OFER.

ELECTRIC EYE MANUAL OPER.

OPENS DOOR.

CLOSES DOOR.

SENDS SIDE WALL IN SENDS VERT. COMP. DOWN OPEN GATE CLOSE GATE SLOW EJ ECT sLow COMP.

PACKAGING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Packaging machines for bagging fibrous materials such as rock wool are generally known in the prior art. Such a packaging machine is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,869,296. While the general prior art concept as disclosed by said patent is sound, there are several disadvantages associated with the specific device disclosed therein. The prior art compression chamber is relatively complicated and requires the use of an upper pivoting door and a lower pivoting door. These particular pivoting members require precise control mechanisms which must be operated very carefully in conjunction with doors opening and closing below a weighing chamber. Additionally, the particular pivotal construction of the compressing chamber doors requires the compressing chamber to be extremely tall and narrow.

Another disadvantage of this prior art apparatus is in the necessity to have a large supply enclosure working in conjunction with elevators to place fibrous material into the feed hopper. Furthermore, this prior art apparatus is used with standard surge tanks which provide a supply of pressurized air for operating all air cylinders. The requirement for having additional surge tanks in a plant take up valuable floor space which might be used for other purposes.

A further disadvantage associated with the prior art machine is the use of a complicated electrical circuitry system requiring the use of many relay devices which are all placed together in a control panel. This creates a large electronic control center which causes large amounts of time associated with any shutdowns due to electrical trouble in the system. I

The particular structural characteristics and the operation of the various structural electrical elements work together to keep the production of such a prior art packaging apparatus at a minimum. Additionally, the amount of maintenance required to keep such a prior art packaging machine in operation has been found to be intolerable.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide a packaging apparatus used for placing fibrous material such as rock wool into containers in a highly efficient and speedy manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a substantially trouble-free electrical control system for a packaging apparatus for fibrous material.

A further object of this .invention is to provide a packaging apparatus having at least two vertically disposed housings which may be shorter in height than prior art packaging machines of the same type.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a packaging apparatus for fibrous material having its own integrated air supply system for providing pressurized air to its operating air cylinders.

A further object of this invention is to provide a continuous housing having no pivotal compressing wall panels to form a compression chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a packaging apparatus for fibrous material which overcomes all of the disadvantages associated with the prior art packaging apparatus as discussed hereinabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The packaging apparatus as disclosed herein includes at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other. Each of the 'housings includes a weighing chamber, a compressing ing chamber to accumulate material until a predetermined amount thereof is disposed therein. The accumulated material is then directed through the fixedly disposed guide passageway into the compressing chamber.

The inside dimensions of the compressing chamber are variable through the use of a vertically disposed movable sizing wall portion which may be laterally displaced to any preselected distance across each housing. Once the movable wall portion is set at a predetermined location, a compressing plunger moves downwardly into the compressing chamber to compress material disposed therein. A discharging mechanism is provided to push the compressed material out of the bottom of the compressing chamber into a container.

Another. feature of this invention is directed to the use of limit switches which are actuable by the various moving parts of the apparatus. The limit switches operate in only one direction and are directly connected to solenoid valves which operate air cylinders'for effecting movement of the various moving parts of the disclosed apparatus.

A further feature of this invention is directed to a novel pressurized air supply system. The air supply system includes vertically disposed main air supply tubes or channels extending upwardly adjacent the vertically disposed housings. Air cylinders which operate the various moving parts of the apparatus are located along the entire height of the apparatus. Feeder lines extend from the main air supply directly to each of the air cylinders which operate the moving parts of the apparatus.

A further feature of the invention is the use of a continuous bag making operation located adjacent the discharging mechanism at the bottom of the apparatus. In a specific embodiment of this invention, a thermoplastic film material is used to continuously form a bag container while the compressed bale of fibrous material is ejected or discharged from the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate-corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a plumbing layout schematic diagram of an air supply system made in accordance with this invention, and

FIG. v9 is a circuit diagram for the electrical control system used in accordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, a packaging apparatus, generally designated 10, includes two vertically disposed hous-v ings 11 that are laterally spaced with respect to each other. The housings 11 areidentical with each other and include a weighing chamber 12, disposed above a compressing chamber 13 with a guide passageway 14 fixedly disposed therebetween. As is evident herein, the compressing chamber 13 and the fixed guide passageway 14 are separate and distinct with respect to each other. A discharging system 30 is located at the bottom of the compressing chamber 13. 3

The frame structure for the packaging apparatus 10 includes vertical frame members 35 and

horizontal frame members

36 and 37 to which the various structural elements are fixedly attached.

A diverting chamber 24 is adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of the housings 11. A diverting mechanism associated with the diverting chamber 24 operates to close off delivery to one of the housings l1 and simultaneously directs a flow of material from a supply into the top of the weighing chamber 12 of adjacent housing 11. The diverting mechanism includes apivotally mounted diverter member 25 that is moved by air cylinder 26 connected thereto by the operating lever 27. A solenoid 28 is used to electrically activate the diverter air cylinder 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the diverter member 25 is set to direct material into the left side of the-packaging apparatus 10. I

Accumulating means is located at .the bottom of the weighing chamber 12 so that the material may be accumulated until a predetermined amount thereof is disposed therein. The accumulatingv means includes a weight sensing means not shown) and a door having two pivotal members 15. The door is shown in the clos'edposition and the door members 15 pivot downwardly to allow the weighed materialto fall into the compressing chamber 13 through'the guide passageway l4. A door c ontrolmechanism includes an air cylinder 17 which operates the door members 15 between closed and open positions byway of the lever elements 16. A solenoid valve 39is used to activatethe door air cylinder 17. v

The compressing chamber 13 includes a vertically disposed movable wall member 18. The wall member 18 constitutes one entire side of the compressing cham ber 13 and is capable of moving to any desired location across the width of the housing 11. As is evident in the drawings, the compressing chamber 13 is freely open at the top while plunger 22 is in'a position as shown in FIG. 1 thereby allowing material within chamber 13 to rise freely. In this specific embodiment, the wall portion 18 is at a starting position about 24 inches from the opposed facing side (not numbered) of the compressing chamber 13. The wall 18 moves to a position located about 9 inches from the opposed facing side.

Consequently, the material therewithin would inh'erently rise to a second height level. Thus, the compressing chamber 13 is sized so that the fibrous material may ultimately be compressed and ejected by the discharging mechanism 30. Any desired degree of movement is possible with respect to the wall portion 18. Therefore, any size of bale of material may be formed within the compressing chamber. The discharging apparatus 30 would have to be adjusted accordingly if other bale sizes or shapes were to be packaged.

The movement of wall portion 18. is effected between a retracted starting position and a sizing position by displacing means which includes two air cylinders 19 and tworack and pinion mechanisms 20 which are laterally displaced with respect to each other and interconnected by rotatable shaft 20. The air cylinder 19 provides the power for displacing the wall portion 18 a preselected distance across the width of the housing 11.

Plunger means including a cylinder 29 and a vertically movable plunger member 22 is disposed above the compressing chamber 13. An air cylinder 23 is used to vertically move the plunger member 22 into and out of the compressing chamber 13. After the compression chamber 13 has achieved" its desired cross-sectional size through the displacement of the sizing wall portion 18, the compressing plunger 22 is moved downwardly to compress the material disposed within the compression chamber 13. I

Once a bale of material has been formed in the compressing chamber 13, it is then'discharged into a container. In this particular embodiment, the discharging mechanism 30 ejects the compressed material from the chamber 13 into a bag container. The discharging mechanism 30 includes a snout over which the bag is placed. The piston 41 moves out of the piston cylinder 40 to eject a bale of compressed material 42 through an opening (not numbered) around which the snout is formed.

The discharging snout includes a bottom member 31 and a pivotally mounted top member 32. An air cylinder 33 is connected to the top snout member 32 which is movable about the pivot point 38. The air cylinder 33 will act to pivot the top snout member 32 in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.- When pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot 38, the outer end of the snout is collapsed to facilitate the placing of a bag or similar container (not shown) thereon. Such a'container should have a cross-sectional contour corresponding to that of the expanded snout and will be closed except at one end. A foot valve is used to activate the snout air cylinder 33. The top snout member 32 is opened up tight-enough against the bag so that when thebale begins pushing out through the discharge snout, the air that was in the bag will not move the bag stood by reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9. Once the power is turned on for the apparatus 10, the fibrous material such as rock wool is fed into the diverter mechanism 24 from the supply hood 49. The diverter member 25 is disposed in a position which operates to close off delivery to one of the vertical housings ll. Simultaneously, the flow of material is directed from the supply hood 49 into the top of the weighing chamber 12 of the adjacent housing 1 1.

The door members 15 are shown in a closed position so that material will accumulate within the weighing chamber 12. A weight measuring device is used to determine the total amount of load present in the weighing chamber 12. There are standard electronic scales which are available commercially to accomplish the desired function. Electronic scales produced by Cardinal Electronics have an electric eye used in conjunction with the balance indicator. The weigh scales 55 are located at the rear of the apparatus as shown in FIG.

2, The scales 55 are used in conjunction with a weight sensing means disposed at the bottom of the weighing chamber 12. The scales 55 are set to actuate the elecric eye at a weight associated with a predetermined amount of material accumulated in the weighing chamweigh scales used in conjunction with electric eye 58 is in operation when the diverter mechanism is arranged to direct the flow of material from the hood 49 to the adjacent housing 11 at the end of the weighing cycle.

Manual push buttons

57 and 59 may also be used to actuate the diverter solenoid valve 28.

Once the desiredamount of material has been accumulated in the chamber 12, the limit switch S6 is actuatedand energizes the solenoid valve 28 for changing the position of the diverter member 25. The control mechanism for the door members .15 includes a first limit switch 60 which is actuated by the change in position of the diverter member 25.-

The limit switch 60 is directly conncted to the solenoid valve 39 which activates the door air cylinder 17. Consequently, the door members are opened to cause the accumulated material to flow downwardly through the guide passageway 14 into the compressing chamber 13. The material moves downwardly along the .guide surface 48 into the compressing chamber 13.

A limit switch 64 is located in a position adjacent the closed door members 15 and is directly connected to a solenoid valve 65 to'energize the air cylinders 19. Consequently, when the door members .15 are closed,

the side wall portion 18 is automatically laterally displaced a preselected distance across the width of thehousing 11.

A limit switch 66 is disposed adjacent the position where the side wall portion 18 stops. The limit switch 66 is directly connected to a solenoid valve 67 which energizesthe plunger air cylinder 23 for moving the plunger member 22 into the compression chamber 13.

When the vertically movable plunger member 22 moves downwardly to compress the material to the desired size, it hits a limit switch 68 that is directly connected to a solenoid valve 69. Solenoid 69 activates the instantly which limit switch has not worked and elimi-.

gate air cylinder 44 whichopens the discharge gate 45.

Thus, a passage is provided for the compressed bale of material to move into the snout for placement in a bag.

A limit switch 70 is disposed adjacent the opened gate 45 and is directly connected to a solenoid valve 71 for activating the ejecting cylinder 40. That is, when the discharge gate 45 is opened, the ejecting piston 41 is energized and begins pushing the compressed bale of material out of the compressing chamber 13.

When the ejecting piston 41 is at the endof it discharge stroke, it hits limit switch 72 which is also directly connected to the solenoid 71 to effectuate retraction of the piston 41. Additionally, solenoids 65 and 67 are actuated and consequently the air cylinders 19 and'23, respectively, are energized to return the side wall .18 and the plunger member 22 to their starting positions.

When the ejecting piston 41 is fully retracted into the cylinder 40,1imit switch 69a is triggered and through its direct connection to solenoid 69 effectuates the closing of the discharge gate 45 thereby preparing the compressing cylinder 13 for another charge of material. Limit switches 73 and 74 are also provided to effectuate a slow ejection by the piston 41 or a slow compression by the plunger member 22 if that is desired.

The

slowdown valves

78 and 79 are used for cushion ing the return of the horizontal ejection ram and the vertical plunger mechanism so that neither of them will slam against the head when theyare retracted to their starting positions.

The limit switches used in apparatus 10 work without the necessity of a relay. That is, each limit switch operates in one direction only. The structural element which activates the limit switches in each instance simply operates thereo'n in one direction'only. The use of these limit switches enables the operator to determine nates the necessary hunting through a complicated electronic circuit board. The solenoid valve may be manually operated if the controlling limit switch is not functioning properly. I A foot valve 75 is used to control the pivoting of the upper snout member32 about the pivot 38 by activating the solenoid 76 which controls the snout air cylinder 33. A fuse 77 is locatedin the circuit to protect the electronic circuitry from any overload. v

The air supply system is partially shown in FIG. 8. A main air supply channel 50 extends vertically along the framework of the apparatus 10. ln'this embodiment, channel 50 is composed of 6 inch pipe. Various feeder lines are connected to the main supply channel 50 to operate the various air cylinders that effectuate movement of the different elements of the apparatus. For example, the feeder lines 51 are shown for operating the diverter air cylinder 26. The feeder line 52 leads into the air cylinders 17 which operate the door members 15 located in the bottom of the weighing chamber 12.

When the air supply is sentto the, top of an aircylin: der, the piston within the cylinder moves downwardly. When the air supply is directedto the bottom of the air, cylinder, the piston within the cylinder moves upwardly therebyeffectuating the two-way movement of the associated structural member of the apparatus 10. All of the air cylinders which operate the various structural members are operated by compressed air from the compressor which maintains the lines at astandard air pressure of from'about 70 to pounds pressure.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, an automatic bag making operation is effectuated at the same time that a bale of material is ejected from the discharge snout.

Rolls

71 and 72 of thermoplastic film are mounted on opposite sides of a discharge snout 70. A pair of heated sealing rolls 73 and 74 is mounted above and below the snout 70 to heat seal the longitudinal edges of the web of thermoplastic film being unrolled from

rolls

71 and 72. A

clamping sealing jaw assembly 75 is disposed at the end hereinabove. to package from 300 to 360 bales of rock wool per hour. This rate is achieved by using an apparatus having only two housings. It is possible that additional housings may be supplied or that a plurality of the type of packaging apparatus be used in combination to provide a greatly increased amount of packaging productivity.

While the packaging apparatus has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. Packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprising: Y

a. at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other,

b. each said housing including a weighing chamber,

a compressing chamber and a fixed passageway including stationary elements, said compressing chamber and said fixed guide passageway being separate and distinct with respect to each other,

c. said weighing chamber being disposed above the compressing chamber with the guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween,

d. a diverting chamber adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings,

e. means for accumulating material within the weighing chamber until a predetermined amount of material is disposed therein, means for directing a flow of the accumulated material fromthe weighing chamber through said guide passageway into the compressing chamber, g. said compressing chamber including a single verti- .cally disposed sizing wall portion constituting one 7 side of the compressing chamber and being movable between a retracted starting position and a sizing position during each cycle of the operation of the apparatus, said compressing chamber being freely open at the top thereof into said fixed guide passageway while the sizing wall portion is being moved to said sizing position,

i h. means for laterally displacing said single wall por-' tion. a preselected distance across the width of the housing,

i. compressing plunger means disposed above said compressing chamber and vertically movable into and out of said compressing chamber,

j. means for vertically moving the compressing plunger means to compress material disposed within said compressing chamber and k. means for discharging the compressed material from said compressing chamber into a container. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said accumulating means includes a weighing mechanism and door means, said weighing mechanism having weight sensing means disposed at the bottom of the weigh chamber, and i said door means being movably mounted between an open and closed position and being located adjacent the lower end of the weighing chamber. 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said diverting chamber includes a diverting mechanism which operates to close off delivery to one of the housings and simultaneously directs a flow of material from a supply into the top of the weighing chamber of an adjacent housing. 4. An apparatus asdefined in claim 3 wherein said diverting mechanism includes a diverter member, diverter control means and a limit switch actuated by'said accumulating means when said predetermined amount of material is disposed within the weighing chamber, said diverter control means including a diverter air cylinder and a solenoid valve to energize said diverter air cylinder, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid valve. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said limit switch is actuated. by the accumulating means or a push button. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow directing means includes a door control mechanism and a limit switch actuated by the change in position of the diverter mechanism to energize said door-control mechanism to open said door means for a preselected period of time for allowing all of the accumulated material to pass from the weighing chamber into the compressing chamher. 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said door control mechanism includes a door air cylinder and a solenoid valve for activating said door air cylinder, 1 said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid valve. 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said door control mechanism includes a second limit switch actuated by the opening of said door means to energize said solenoid valve for activating the door air cylinder to close said door means, said door control mechanism further including a 'timer means to delay the activation of the solenoid valve for closing the door after a preselected period of time to allow all of the accumulated material to pass from the weighing chamber to the compressing chamber. 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall portion displacing means includes control means for initiating displacement of the sizing wall portion across the width of the housing in response to the closing of the door means. 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9'wherein said wall portion displacing means includes at least one air cylinder for effecting desired movement of said wall portion,

said wall portion control means includes a limit switch actuated by the closing of said door means and being directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates said air cylinder for moving the sizing wall portion.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger moving means includes control means for activating the vertically movable plunger means in response to the movement of the sizing wall portion to a predetermined location across the width of the housing.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said plunger moving means includes an air cylinder adapted to move the plunger means,

said plunger moving control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates the air cylinder for moving the plunger means,

said limit switch being actuated by movement of said wall portion to said predetermined location.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharging means includes an opening located at the bottom of the compressing chamber anda 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said discharging means includes an ejecting piston mechanism for pushing compressed material out of the housing through said opening,

said discharging means including ejecting control means actuated by the opening of said gate means to energize said ejecting piston mechanism. 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said ejector piston mechanism includes an air cylinder adapted to activate an ejecting piston means to discharge said compressed material,

said ejecting control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which energizes said air cylinder for moving said ejecting piston means,

said limit switch being directly actuatable opening of the gate member.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein by the said discharging means includes retracting control means actuated by movement of said ejecting piston means to a predetermined discharge position upon the discharge of the compressed material to return said ejection piston means, said vertically movable plunger means and said wall portion to their respective starting positions.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein a separate air cylinder is connected to each of the ejecting piston means, the compressing plunger means, and the movable wall portion,

each -of said air cylinders is directly connected to a respective solenoid valve,

said retracting control means includes a limit switch directly connected to each of the solenoid valves for the air cylinders,

said limit switch being actuated by movement of said ejecting piston means to said predetermined discharge position to energize the solenoid valves thereby activating the respective air cylinders for retracting the ejecting piston means, the compressing plunger means and the wall portion to their re-- spective starting positions.

l9. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said gate control means includes a limit switch actuated by the return of the ejecting piston means to itsstarting position,

said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid for energizing the gate air cylinder that moves the gate means to a closed position over said discharge opening.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharging means includes a discharge chut disposed at the bottom of each said housing and an ejecting piston means for discharging compressed material into a container,

means for forming the container is disposed adjacent the discharge snout, and

said container which has been formed at the discharge snout is positioned for filling.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said container is a continuously formed bag configuration.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said bag configuration is composed of thermoplastic material and said forming means includes heat sealing means to form said bag while the compressed material is being discharged from the discharge snout.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow directing means includes air cylinders disposed at different heights along said housings and said vertically disposed tubular main air supply is adjacent said housings, 7

said apparatus including feeder lines extending from said main air supply to each individual air cylinder.

Claims

1. Packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprising: a. at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other, b. each said housing including a weighing chamber, a compressing chamber and a fixed passageway including stationary elements, said compressing chamber and said fixed guide passageway being separate and distinct with respect to each other, c. said weighing chamber being disposed above the compressing chamber with the guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween, d. a diverting chamber adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings, e. means for accumulating material within the weighing chamber until a predetermined amount of material is disposed therein, f. means for directing a flow oF the accumulated material from the weighing chamber through said guide passageway into the compressing chamber, g. said compressing chamber including a single vertically disposed sizing wall portion constituting one side of the compressing chamber and being movable between a retracted starting position and a sizing position during each cycle of the operation of the apparatus, said compressing chamber being freely open at the top thereof into said fixed guide passageway while the sizing wall portion is being moved to said sizing position, h. means for laterally displacing said single wall portion a preselected distance across the width of the housing, i. compressing plunger means disposed above said compressing chamber and vertically movable into and out of said compressing chamber, j. means for vertically moving the compressing plunger means to compress material disposed within said compressing chamber and k. means for discharging the compressed material from said compressing chamber into a container.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said accumulating means includes a weighing mechanism and door means, said weighing mechanism having weight sensing means disposed at the bottom of the weigh chamber, and said door means being movably mounted between an open and closed position and being located adjacent the lower end of the weighing chamber.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said diverting chamber includes a diverting mechanism which operates to close off delivery to one of the housings and simultaneously directs a flow of material from a supply into the top of the weighing chamber of an adjacent housing.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said diverting mechanism includes a diverter member, diverter control means and a limit switch actuated by said accumulating means when said predetermined amount of material is disposed within the weighing chamber, said diverter control means including a diverter air cylinder and a solenoid valve to energize said diverter air cylinder, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid valve.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said limit switch is actuated by the accumulating means or a push button.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow directing means includes a door control mechanism and a limit switch actuated by the change in position of the diverter mechanism to energize said door control mechanism to open said door means for a preselected period of time for allowing all of the accumulated material to pass from the weighing chamber into the compressing chamber.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said door control mechanism includes a door air cylinder and a solenoid valve for activating said door air cylinder, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid valve.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said door control mechanism includes a second limit switch actuated by the opening of said door means to energize said solenoid valve for activating the door air cylinder to close said door means, said door control mechanism further including a timer means to delay the activation of the solenoid valve for closing the door after a preselected period of time to allow all of the accumulated material to pass from the weighing chamber to the compressing chamber.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall portion displacing means includes control means for initiating displacement of the sizing wall portion across the width of the housing in response to the closing of the door means.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said wall portion displacing means includes at least one air cylinder for effecting desired movement of said wall portion, said wall portion control means includes a limit switch actuated by the closing of said door means and being directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates said air cylinder for moving the sizing wall portion.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said plunger moving means includes an air cylinder adapted to move the plunger means, said plunger moving control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates the air cylinder for moving the plunger means, said limit switch being actuated by movement of said wall portion to said predetermined location.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharging means includes an opening located at the bottom of the compressing chamber and a gate means movably disposed over said opening, said discharging means including gate control means actuated by movement of the plunger means to a predetermined location to move the gate means away from the opening.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said gate means includes an air cylinder adapted to move a gate member, said gate control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates the air cylinder for moving said gate member.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said discharging means includes an ejecting piston mechanism for pushing compressed material out of the housing through said opening, said discharging means including ejecting control means actuated by the opening of said gate means to energize said ejecting piston mechanism.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said ejector piston mechanism includes an air cylinder adapted to activate an ejecting piston means to discharge said compressed material, said ejecting control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which energizes said air cylinder for moving said ejecting piston means, said limit switch being directly actuatable by the opening of the gate member.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said discharging means includes retracting control means actuated by movement of said ejecting piston means to a predetermined discharge position upon the discharge of the compressed material to return said ejection piston means, said vertically movable plunger means and said wall portion to their respective starting positions.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein a separate air cylinder is connected to each of the ejecting piston means, the compressing plunger means, and the movable wall portion, each of said air cylinders is directly connected to a respective solenoid valve, said retracting control means includes a limit switch directly connected to each of the solenoid valves for the air cylinders, said limit switch being actuated by movement of said ejecting piston means to said predetermined discharge position to energize the solenoid valves thereby activating the respective air cylinders for retracting the ejecting piston means, the compressing plunger means and the wall portion to their respective starting positions.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said gate control means includes a limit switch actuated by the return of the ejecting piston means to its starting position, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid for energizing the gate air cylinder that moves the gate means to a closed position over said discharge opening.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharging means includes a discharge chut disposed at the bottom of each said housing and an ejecting piston means for discharging compressed material into a container, means for forming the container is disposed adjacent the discharge snout, and said container which has been formed at the dischargE snout is positioned for filling.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow directing means includes air cylinders disposed at different heights along said housings and said vertically disposed tubular main air supply is adjacent said housings, said apparatus including feeder lines extending from said main air supply to each individual air cylinder.