US3852939A

US3852939A - Apparatus for automatically binding the opening in the automatic packer

Info

Publication number: US3852939A
Application number: US00288982A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Yoshi
Original assignee: Sanwa Automatic Machinery Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sanwa Automatic Machinery Co Ltd
Priority date: 1971-09-17
Filing date: 1972-09-14
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10
Also published as: ES406773A1; FR2153042A1; IT965391B; JPS4841665U; FR2153042B1

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically binding the opening in a net bag in an automatic packer, wherein two main bodies, each having a guide plate with a V-shape cut, are provided slidably and opposite to each other, one main body having a fixed die for binding and a blade for cutting net and the other main body having a bending device to cut flat wire for binding in each desired length and bend the cut flat wire into a U-shape and a movable die, and by movement of said two main bodies a bottom part and an upper part of net bag are bound simultaneously with flat wire and an intermediate portion of the upper and lower binding portions is cut by said blade.

Description

United States Patent [191 Yoshi APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY BINDING THE OPENING IN THE AUTOMATIC PACKER [75] Inventor: Hirosato Yoshi, Osaka, Japan Assignee: Kabushiki K s a aun Ji o i Seisakusho, Osaka, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 288,982

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 10, 1974 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-J. Sipos Attorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack [5 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically binding the opening in a net bag in an automatic packer, wherein two main bodies, each having a guide plate with a V-shape cut, are provided slidably and opposite to each other, one main body having a fixed die for binding and a blade for cutting net and the other main body having a bending device to cut flat'wire for binding in each desired length and bend the cut flat wire into a U-shape and a movable die, and by movement of said two main bodies a bottom part and an upper part of net bag are bound simultaneously with flat wire and an intermediate portion of the upper and lower binding portions is cut by said blade.

5 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 10 I874 SHEET 2 OF 9 PATENTEU DEC 10 I974 SHEET 5 OF 9 mesa @A r 4" eossmaswl QSGQQm Q PATENTEDBEB 10 1974 3; 852,939

$HEEI 9 OF 9 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY BINDING TI-IE OPENING IN THE AUTOMATIC PACKER This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically binding the opening of a net bag with a metallic flat wire in an automatic packer for various kinds of articles.

The nature and advantages of the present invention will be understood more clearly from the following description made with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an automatic packer.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a binding apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a fiat wire feeding device forming part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the main bodies of the binding apparatus having a fixed die.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevation of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the other main body having movable dies.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of FIG. 7 partley broken away.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the upper part of a pair of wire-bending portions provided on the apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a pushing plate portion.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the pushing plate portion shown in FIG. 13.

An outline of the automatic packer is shown in FIG. I. This automatic packer is provided with continuous tubular net N which is flattened and wound around a roller R or enclosed in a container. The tubular net N is drawn out intermittently for each desired length and is put on the circumferential surface of a guide plate.

Then, the tubular net is cut transversely by a cutter C to make an opening, through which articles to be packed are put in the tubular net. In this case, articles are put in the tubular net through the medium of a chute S which swings in such a fashion that a part thereof breaks into the opening. Provided below the chute S is a binding apparatus K, whereby an upper portion of one package and a lower portion of another package, with the desired space left therebetween, are bound simultaneously with a flat wire and the tubular net is cut off at the intermediate portion of the upper binding and the lower binding to make individual packages. Provided below this binding apparatus K is a receiving table D to facilitate binding and cutting off of the net. The packer is so designed that the opening of the net, putting of articles into the net, binding and cutting off of the net are synchronized with the net feeding pitch.

The above-mentioned bindingapparatus is arranged in front of and at the center of an automatic packer. As illustrated in FIG. 2 and succeeding figures, main bodies 1A and 1B of the binding apparatus are provided opposite to each other on both sides of the tubular net to be fed from above. These main bodies 1A and 18 have one end slidably mounted on a guide rod 2 which is mounted horizontally on the automatic packer so that these main bodies may slide freely and have rollers W on the other end which roll on frame F (see FIG. 5) in such a manner that they move toward and away from each other along the guide rod 2 and the machine frame F. A crank 5 is driven in a circular motion, through a bevel gear 4, by a driving shaft 3 which is driven directly or indirectly by a motor. A roller 5a provided at the tip of the crank 5 is fitted in a slot la made in the main body IA. By the rotation of the crank, the roller 5a reciprocates in the slot 1a, which makes the main body 1A slide in the lateral direction. The apparatus is so designed that both main bodies are driven in such a fashion that they move toward and away from the tubular net synchronously. Both main bodies have at their tip portion a guide plate 6, for squeezing the net, with a V-shaped cut at the front center. By the reciprocal motion of both main bodies, the net at the position where it is squeezed and bound is forced from the flat state into a nearly annular condition. Flat wire feeding rollers 8a are driven by the afore-mentioned driving shaft 3 through a ratchet mechanism 7 (refer to FIGS. 3 and 4). As shown in FIG. 2, the flat wire feeding device 8 is arranged on the front ofa binding frame Fa which is fixed to the frame F. Enclosed in the main body is the binding apparatus K which binds, with flat wires FW (FIGS. 11 and 12), two portions spaced along the length of a continuous packing net, i.e., a bottom part of an upper bag and a top part ofa lower bag, and a cutting mechanism which cuts the continuous packing net between the top and bottom bound portions. This binding mechanism is described below with reference to FIGS. 5-7 and FIG. 12. The binding apparatus comprises the opposed main bodies IA and 1B. The main body 1A has two fixed die members each having a die 9 for binding and a W-shaped groove 9a, and upper die member and a lower die member. The main bodies 1A and 1B are opposed, with the main body 1A (shown in FIG. 5) on the left and the main body 18 (shown in FIG. 7) on the right. A required length of fiat wire FW is drawn out toward the front of a movable die means constituted by a cutting and bending die 11 and a protruding rod 15 slidable therein, by means of the intermittent rotation of the roller 8a for feeding flat wire (FIG. 4), through a lateral groove Fb provided in a binding frame Fa and across a lengthwise groove Fe in which the die 11 is fitted (FIGS. 10, II, 12). When both main bodies IA and 1B begin to move in such a manner that the space therebetween becomes narrower, flat wire FW which was drawn out into the groove Fc through the groove Fb which is at right angles to the sliding direction of the die 11, is cut by the cutting blade 11a provided at the front of the die I]. When the main bodies 1A and 1B draw still closer, the die 11 advances toward the fixed die 9 along the groove Fc and engages the cut flat wire. The cut flat wire is then pressed into the groove 111) provided at the center of the end of the die 11 as the parts of the die'll on opposite sides of groove llb move past a wire-bending pin 12 movable into and out of the groove Fc during the advance of the die 11. Thus, the cut flat wire is formed into a U-shape in the groove 11b. When the two main bodies 1A and 1B draw still closer, the wire-bending pin 12 is withdrawn upwardly out of groove 11b and groove F0 to a position such that it does not interfere with the further advance of the die 11 carrying with it the bent flat wire. Withdrawing of the wire-bending pin is effected by the following mechanism. One end of a lever 12a, on the free end of which the pin 12 is provided, is pivoted on the binding frame Fa on a spindle 12b. On the end of spindle 12b is fixed a lever 12c having a roller 12d at one end thereof. When the main body 1B advances, this roller 120. is contacted by a cam 12e protruding from the end of the main body 18, whereupon the lever l2e having the roller 12d is pushed up by the cam 12c and the lever 120, which is normally urged downwardly so as to force the pin into the groove Fc by means of a spring SP, is caused to swing upwardly by the rotation of the spindle 12b, whereby the pin is withdrawn from the groove Fc. Thus, the pin 12 withdraws automatically with the advance of the die 11. The lever 120 has a ratchet mechanism therein, whereby the pin 12 which was withdrawn is prevented from again projecting into the groove Fc unless an external force is applied thereto. When the main body 18 retracts after binding the tubular net with fiat wire, the pin 12 is again pushed down into the groove Fc by means of the spring SP and the ratchet mechanism.

When the die 9 and the die 11 on the two main bodies make contact, a guide 14 provided at one end of the fixed die 9 presses a roller 13b on the outer end of a lever 13a on bodylB which actuates an engaging pin 13 to withdraw the engaging pin 13 from the main body 1B and the engagement of pin 13 from die 11, leaving the die 11 slidable in relation to the main body 1B. When both main bodies draw still closer, the die 9 and the die 11 make contact with each other and die 11 stops, whereupon a protruding rod 15 in the die 11 advances along with the main body 18 into the W-shaped groove 9a in the die 9. At this time, the U-shaped flat wire in the groove 11b of the die 11 with its open end forward is pushed by the protruding rod 15 into the W- shaped groove 90. At this time, the two ends of the U- shaped flat wire are inserted into the W-shaped groove 9a along the inner wall of the groove 9a and when the ends reach the bottom of the W-shaped groove 90, they are bent inwardly along the shape of the bottom of the W-shaped groove. When the two main bodies 1A and 1B draw still closer, the protruding rod 15 enters the groove 9a to the fullest extent and presses and bends the U-shaped flat wire tightly around the tubular net, whereby the U-shaped flat wire achieves complete binding of the net. After the binding is completed, the net is cut between the upper and the lower bound portions by means of the cutting mechanism enclosed in the main body 1A. To one end of a pair of cutting blades 10 mounted on blade body 10a which is slidable in the forward and backward direction in the main body 1A, is pivotally secured one end of a push lever 16 which is pivoted on a pin P] on the main body 1A. Opposite to this push lever 16, a set lever 17 is swingably mounted on a pin P2 on the main body 1A. The end 16a of the lever 16 engages in a recess 17a in the set lever 17. When the tip 17b of the set lever 17 is pressed by the roller 50 which moves in the slot 1a to slide the main body, end 16a disengages from recess and 17a whereupon end 16a swung by means of a spring SP which urges the push lever 16 to rotate clockwise. This in turn causes upper and lower cutting bldes 10 which are coupled to the push lever 16 by pin Pd, link L and pin Pc in body 10a to effect a cutting move- 'ment. Then, when the roller a slides in the slot la in the reverse direction to withdraw the main body 1A, it presses a part of the push lever 16, whereupon end 160 is fitted in the recess 17 to set the

levers

16 and 17 as shown in FIG. 5. When both main bodies withdraw and cause the setting of

levers

16 and 17 to to be ready for the succeeding action, the die 11 is fixed to the main body 1B by means of an engaging pin 18 and withdraws together with the main body 18. When the main body 1B has moved to a predetermined position, a projection (not shown in the drawing) fixed to the frame of the automatic packer presses a roller 18b at the tip of a lever 18a, whereupon the pin 18 is disengaged from the die 11 and the die is again slidable in relation to the main body 18. When the main body 18 alone withdraws to the position as shown in FIG. 7, the engaging pin 13 again engages with the die 11 and fixes it to the main body 18. Restoration of engaging pins 13 and 18 is effected by means of a spring enclosed therein respectively.

It is sometimes experienced that when the binding with fiat wire is completed, the binding flat wire is fitted so tightly in the fixed die 9 that it is difficult for the binding flat wire to separate from the die 9 during withdrawal of dies 9 and 11 only. With this in view, a push plate 19 is provided on the guide plate 6 of the main body 1A having the fixed die 9 thereon, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, so as to separate the binding flat wire forcibly from the die 9. This push plate 19 is provided at a portion ofa push lever 20 which is swingable in relation to the guide plate 6 on a shaft and spring. Provided at the tip of this push lever 20 is a hook 200, which engages with a pawl 20b provided on the other main body 1B. When both main bodies are withdrawn, the hook 20a and the pawl 20b engage with each other and the push plate 19 is held fixed momentarily while body 1A continues to be withdrawn.

According to the present invention, a main body having a fixed die and a cutting blade and another main body having a movable die are driven correlatively and a V-shape guide plate is provided for each main body. Therefore, squeezing of net and binding with flat wire can be effected accurately and smoothly. Moreover, the apparatus according to the present invention can be used effectively, irrespective of the size of the net for packing.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for automatically binding the opening in a net being packed in an automatic packer, said apparatus comprising two main bodies, each having a guide plate projecting therefrom toward the other main body and each guide plate having a V-shaped cut therein on the end toward the other main body, said main bodies being slidably mounted in said apparatus for movement toward and away from each other, one of said main bodies having at least one fixed die thereon having a recess therein for receiving the free ends of a U-shaped length of flat wire for bending the ends to crimp the length of flat wire around the net being packed, and said one main body further having a cutting blade thereon movable toward and away from said other die for cutting the net being packed, flat wire feed means on said apparatus for feeding flat wire from a supply of flat wire, a movable die means on said other main body having a cutting and bending die movably mounted on said other main body and receiving the flat wire, a protruding rod movable through said cutting and bending die, and stop members engageable with said cutting and bending die for holding it fixed on said other main body, said cutting and bending die moving with said other main body for cutting the flat wire which has been supplied and then bending it in a U- shape, engagement means on said one main body engaging said stop members for disengaging the stop members from said cutting and bending die when said cutting and bending die abuts said fixed die on said one main body for freeing said cutting and bending die from said other main body during further movement of said other main body, said movable protruding rod then moving through said cutting and bending die when said cutting and bending die is freed from said other main body to engage said bent length of flat wire and move it into said fixed die on said one main body as said main bodies move toward each other, and main body drive means coupled to said main bodies for driving them toward and away from each other, whereby when the net is positioned in the space between the V-shaped notches and the main bodies are driven toward each other after a length of flat wire has been fed, the length of flat wire bent into a U-shape is passed over the net and the free ends enter the fixed die and the movable die drives the bent length of flat wire into the fixed die to crimp the flat wire tightly around the net.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there are two fixed dies one spaced above the other on said one main body and said cutting blade is positioned between them and has a cutting edge adjacent each fixed die, and two movable die means one spaced above the other on said other main body, and said flat wire feed means comprises means for feeding the flat wire to both said movable die means on said other main body, whereby the net is crimped at two points spaced along its length and is cut between said points.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said movable die means further comprises a pin in the path of said cutting and bending die and past which said cutting and bending die moves for bending the length of flat wire into a U-shape, and means coupled to said pin for withdrawing said pin from said path after said flat wire has been bent.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for moving said cutting blade on said one main body, said means comprising a pivoted crank lever coupled to said cutting blade for moving said blade back and forth by pivoting of said crank lever, spring means biasing said crank lever for driving said cutting blade toward said other main body, a latch lever engaging said crank lever for holding said latch lever against pivoting, and a roller coupled to said main body driving means and movable back and forth between said latch lever and said crank lever for moving said latch lever for disengaging it from said crank lever to permit said crank lever to drive said cutting blade in thedirection toward said other main body and for moving said crank lever against the action of said spring means for returning said cutting blade and reengaging said crank lever with said latch lever.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a crimped wire push lever on said one main body having a portion passing over said fixed die for engagement with the crimped flat wire, and latch means on the other main body engageable with said push lever during the movement of said main bodies away from each other to stop movement of said push lever while said one main body continues to move away from the other main body, whereby the crimped flat wire is forced out of said fixed die.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically binding the opening in a net being packed in an automatic packer, said apparatus comprising two main bodies, each having a guide plate projecting therefrom toward the other main body and each guide plate having a V-shaped cut therein on the end toward the other main body, said main bodies being slidably mounted in said apparatus for movement toward and away from each other, one of said main bodies having at least one fixed die thereon having a recess therein for receiving the free ends of a U-shaped length of flat wire for bending the ends to crimp the length of flat wire around the net being packed, and said one main body further having a cutting blade thereon movable toward and away from said other die for cutting the net being packed, flat wire feed means on said apparatus for feeding flat wire from a supply of flat wire, a movable die means on said other main body having a cutting and bending die movably mounted on said other main body and receiving the flat wire, a protruding rod movable through said cutting and bending die, and stop members engageable with said cutting and bending die for holding it fixed on said other main body, said cutting and bending die moving with said other main body for cutting the flat wire which has been supplied and then bending it in a U-shape, engagement means on said one main body engaging said stop members for disengaging the stop members from said cutting and bending die when said cutting and bending die abuts said fixed die on said one main body for freeing said cutting and bending die from said other main body dUring further movement of said other main body, said movable protruding rod then moving through said cutting and bending die when said cutting and bending die is freed from said other main body to engage said bent length of flat wire and move it into said fixed die on said one main body as said main bodies move toward each other, and main body drive means coupled to said main bodies for driving them toward and away from each other, whereby when the net is positioned in the space between the V-shaped notches and the main bodies are driven toward each other after a length of flat wire has been fed, the length of flat wire bent into a U-shape is passed over the net and the free ends enter the fixed die and the movable die drives the bent length of flat wire into the fixed die to crimp the flat wire tightly around the net.