US752373A - Apparatus for fastening filled bags - Google Patents

Description

No. 752,373. PATENTED FEB. 16,1904.

B. F. BROWN. A APPARATUS FOR FASTENING FILLED BAGS.

APPLIOATION PILEDJULY 16, 1903.

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*Ewem j MIKE-row? N0.'752,373 PATBNTED FEB. 16, 1904.

' y B. F. BROWN.

APPARATUS POE FASTENING FILLED BAGS;

' KPPLIGATION FILED JULY 15, 1903; 'N0 MOD L.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR FASTENING FILLED BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 752,373, dated February 16, 1904,

Application filed July 16', 1903. Serial No. 165,750. (No model.)

the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the pro duction of apparatus for facilitating fastening or closing up in a substantial manner the mouths of bags which have been properly filled at a previous operation.

More particularly, my invention is designed for use in the handling of bags which contain one or more smaller bags or packages which are themselves sealed-such, for instance, as bags which contain assorted packages of seeds or other articles.

Usually the requisite number of small bags or packages which form the quota of each large bag are inserted into the latter by passing the bags in succession through the hands of successive operatives, each one placing in every bag as it comes along a package containing a certain article, so that finally the desired number of packages in each bag is attained and the bag is filledthat is, each bag has its proper contents. The filled bags are then turned up and jogged. or shaken to direct their contents away from the open mouths, and the long lip of each bag is folded over, closing the month. By any suitable mechanism the bag having its mouth so closed is permanently fastened, so that its contents cannot escape. One form of fastening mechanism which is employed inserts wire staples through the folded lip and sides of the bag, a

mechanism of this character being shown in United States Patent No. 662,184, dated 'November 20, 1900.

In handling large numbers of bags either a great many fastening-machines must be employed, involving a large expense therefor with a correspondingly large force of operatives, or means must be provided for so facilitating the work that a comparatively small number of machines and operatives can handle it. In

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

my present invention I have provided such means, and with a'small number of fastening mechanisms I can handle great numbers of bags in a rapid and effective manner.

Figure 1 is a top or plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention, a set or series of three fasteningmechanisms being shown.

a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking toward the right, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a bag such as is employed in connection with my invention.

Inasmuch as the fastening mechanismis not I of my invention and is of well-known construction it is not shown in detail and requires little detailed description other than to refer to the overhanging arm 1, the driving-shaft 2, the wire-feeding arm 3, the spool of wire 106, the belt-pulley 104 on the shaft 2, and the upturned jack 91, all substantially as in the patent referred to and operating as therein set forth, the wire feeding, cutting, bending, driving, and clenching mechanisms not being shownin any detail.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown three fastening mechanisms I, II', and III arranged in a row and laterally separated by a considerable distance from each other, all of the mechanisms facing in one direction and being driven from any suitable source of power. (Not shown.) I desire it to be understood that my invention is not, however, dependent upon or restricted to the fastening mechanism referred to, for any other mechanism which will permanently fasten the mouths of the bags may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. The upturned front. portions of the jacks 91 have rigidly secured to them a shelf-like work-support w, extended from one to the other of the several mechanisms, and viewing Figs. 1 and 2 it is extended a considerable distance to the right of the mechanism I at the feed side thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, a V-shaped opening to is made in the work-support in front of each fastening mechanism to permit the proper cooperation of'the stapling and clenching de-, vices thereof, and an upright gage w extends along the back of the work-support to guide tutes a downhold, for a purpose to be de-- ,scribed, said downhold being interrupted at each fastening mechanism to avoid interference therewith.

In front of the series of mechanisms-an upright stand or frame C is rigidly secured to the floor and connected by horizontal tie-rods 0 Fig. 3, with a series of standards 0*, arranged between the fastening mechanisms and behind each end of the stand G.

As shown in Fig. 3, the heads of the stands C have upturned parallel side plates 0 extending from one to the other end of the apparatus, Fig. 1, and passing through the U- shaped part of the frame of each fastening mechanism, for a purpose to be described.

A series of brackets 0 project forward from the top of stand C, supporting a long jogging-shelf J, as I have termed it, an upright ledge 0 being secured to the brackets at the rear edge of said shelf, (best shown in Figs- 1' and 3,) for a purpose to be described.

Upright brackets C, Fig. 3, secured to the tie-rods 0 back of the stand C, sustain a second upright ledge 0 and between said ledges 0 0 travels the upper run of an endless belt conveyer D, mounted on drums D D secured to shafts d d respectively, Fig. 2, journaled in the stand C and the endmost standards C A belt-pulley D on the shaft d, Fig. 1, is driven by a suitable belt from a source of power (not shown) to move the upper run of the conveyer D from right to left, viewing Figs. 1 and 2. I A second endless conveyer E is mounted on drums E E secured, respectively, to the rear ends of the shafts d d said conveyer traveling between the parallel sides 0 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the sides projecting a considerable distance above the upper run of said conveyer, and it will also be manifest by reference to said Fig. 3 that the tie-rods 0 support at intervals the upper and lower runs of both conveyers D and E.

The upper run of the conveyer D travels below and near the work-support w and behind and substantially on a level with the joggingshelf J, while the upper run of the conveyer E is behind the work-support. I

A portion of a third conveyer F is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it being supposed to lead from filling-tables to the right-hand end of the conveyer D, the conveyer-drum F being shown in Fig. 2 as slightly above the top of the conveyer D, so that filled bags placed upon the conveyer Fwill be dropped onto conveyer D, and by the latter carried along in front of the series of fastening mechanisms. Each 'of the latter has an attendant to operate it and to feed the bags one by one thereto to have their mouths securely fastened, and in Fig. 1 the positions of the attendants are indicated by the circles M, and at the right of each machine operator one or more operatives are located, as indicated by the circles N N, and their duties will be explained in the description of the operation of the apparatus.

The bags B are of the general shape shown in Fig.- 4:, the body having one of its-sides extended at the mouth of the bag to form a lip 6*, which is folded over on the dotted line b to close the bag.

In Fig. 4: the bag is shown as pinched or fulled at its opposite sides to open it out and permit its contents to drop to the bottom when the bag is turned upright, as in dotted lines, Fig. 3. Let it be supposed that the bags have a certain number of small packages or bags of seeds or other material inserted therein at suitable filling-tables, (not sl1own,) each bag when provided with its proper quota being placed on the conveyer F, whereby it is moved along to and discharged upon the upper run of the conveyer D, which delivers the bags into position to be further manipulated. As the bags arrive in front. of the operators at N N they are taken off one by one, turned upright, and jogged or shaken on the shelf-J to settle their contents toward the bottoms of the bags, and the lips If. are folded over, closing the mouths. As each attendant closes the mouth of a bag she places it on the work-support w, as shown in Fig. 3, with its .mouth beneaththe downhold @11 the latter serving to hold the lip folded over and preventing it from unfolding or straightening out. As the bags are delivered rapidly by the conveyer D, it is not possible for the one or two operatives N at the right of the fastening mechanism I to handle all of them, and the next pair of operatives N N handle in the manner described some of the bags which are brought along by the conveyer, preparing them to be fed to the mechanism II. So, too, the last pair of operatives take care of the bags which pass the second pair, it being understood that if more fastening mechanisms are arranged 1n the series the conveyer D Wlll be run at a higherv speed. The speed in any case will depend on the number of fastening mechanisms in the series and the number of bags which will be placed upon the delivering-conveyer D.

The sole duty of the operatives at N is to transfer the bags from the conveyor D, close their mouths, as described, and place them upon the work-support win readiness to be fed to the fastening mechanisms at the convenience of the operative feeding it.

Each of the machine-tenders at M slides the closed bags along sidewise and presents them one by one to the fastening mechanism to permanently fasten down the folded overlip b the fastening operation being very rapid and usually enabling one machine-tender to handle the closed bags supplied by two bag-handlers, though the number of the latter for each machine-tender may be increased or diminished, according to circumstances.

As each bag is fastened the operative at M throws or tips it up and backward into the trough with a traveling bottom, formed by the sides 0 and upper run of conveyer E, and the fastened bags are carried away and discharged into any suitable receptacles.

. To prevent any bags from dropping down between the back of the work-supportand the nearer of the sides 0 I prefer to cover the intervening space by a cover-board T.

With an apparatus such as herein described I am enabled to handle great quantities of bags in a rapid, convenient, and effective manner and with a comparatively small number of operatives.

It will be obvious that the number of fas tening mechanisms is immaterial so far as my invention is concerned, and it will also be manifest that the bags could bejogged on the shelflike support to, if desired, thereby dispensing with the jogging-shelf J; but I prefer to use the latter, as its location is more convenient and the work-support can be more fully utilized to store up or hold closed bags in readiness for the fastening operation.

The conveyer D is located below the support to, so that the bags not handled by the first set of operatives will pass without hindrance to the next set, and such bags as are not there handled and placed upon the support will be conveyed to the third set of operatives, and so on.

It is not feasible to feed the bags directly to the fastening mechanism from the conveyer, because if the bags come along more rapidly than they can be fastened confusionwould at once arise and the apparatus would have to be stopped.

As the conveyer D is located below and near the support, it is very easy for the operatives to take off the filled bags, jog them, and close their mouths and then pile them on the support w to await their turn to be fed, and the conveyer can then be run continuously without confusion or any piling up of the bags.

It will be obvious that the support to serves as a species of reservoir to enable the operatives to accomplish the work desiredthat is, if the feeding of the bags to the fastening mechanism is rapid the number of bags piled upon the support w will be smaller, possibly just about keeping pace with the feeding.

Should it happen, however, that for some reason the bags should arrive more rapidly than they could be fed to the fastening mechanisms, then the support would serve to hold the over flow and act as a reservoir until feeding caught up again. This provision of the intermediate support gives the whole apparatus great elasticity, as it were, adapting it to the varying conditions which are liable to occur in the operation thereof.

Were it not for the intermediate support it would be impossible to run the apparatus continuously without permitting at times a large number of bags to go past without attention, for it will be obvious that should a fastening mechanism be stopped temporarily for any reason the operatives N can keep right on with their Work and place the bags on the support in readiness to be fed when the fastening mechanism is again started.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

, 1. In apparatus of the class described, abag' fastening mechanism, a shelf-like work-support in cooperative relation thereto and having at its back a downhold for the bag-lips, and a conveyer to deliver filled bags into position for transfer to the work-support, the

position for transfer thereto, the mouths of the bags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath the downhold when the bags are placed upon the work-support, said downhold retaining the lips in position to be fastened when the bags are fed to the fastening mechanism.

, 3. In apparatus of the class described, a bagfastening mechanism, an endless conveyer to deliver filled bags into position .to be transferred to the said mechanism, an intermediate,

elongated shelf above said conveyer and constituting a worksupport for the fastening mechanism, and means located at the back of the shelf to hold the lips of the bags folded over in readiness to be fed to said mechanism, the bags being manually removed from the conveyer and their lips folded over before placing them upon the shelf.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a bag fastening mechanism, a shelf-like worksup' port in cooperative relation thereto and having at its back a downhold for the bag-lips, a conveyer in front of said work-support to deliver filled bags into position to be transferred thereto, the mouths of the bags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath the downhold when the bags are placed upon the work-support, and a second conveyermovable behind the work-support, to receive upon it and carry away the bags after having been fastened by said fastening mechanism.

5. In apparatus of the class described, two endless conveyers placed side by side and near each other, a work-supporting and feed shelf fixedly mounted above and extended partly over one of said conveyers, a downhold for the bag-lips extended along the back of said shelf, a mechanism to act upon and fasten the mouths of bags when fed thereto along the shelf, and a jogging-shelf in front of the bagdelivering conveyer, the filled bags presented by the conveyer being manually upturned and their contents shaken down upon the joggingshelf and the end lips folded over to close the bag-mouths. I

6. In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a plurality of bag-fastening mechanisms, a shelflike work support extended in front of said mechanisms in cooperative relation thereto, and having at its back a longitudinally-extended downhold for the bag-lips, and a conveyer extending the length of and adjacent said worksupport, to deliver filled bags into position for manual transfer to the work-support adjacent the several fastening mechanisms, the mouths of the bags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath the downhold and being held by it in position to be fastened as the bags are fed along the work support to a fastening mechanism.

7 In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a plurality of bag-fastening mechanisms, a shelflike work-support extended in front of said mechanisms in cooperative relation thereto,

' and having at its back a longitudinally-extended downhold for the bag-lips, a conveyer extendingv the length of and adjacent said worksupport, to deliver filled bags into position for manual transfer to the work-support adjacent the several fastening mechanisms, the mouths of the bags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath the downhold and being held by it in position to be fastened as the bags are fed along the work-support to a fastening mechanism, and a second conveyer back of the delivering conveyer to receive and remove the bags after their mouths have been fastened by the fastening mechanisms.

8. In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a series of laterally separated bag fastening mechanisms, a shelf-like work-support common to all of said mechanisms and extended from one to the other end of the series, an overhanging, forwardly-projecting downhold arranged at the back of the work-support to retain folded the lips of the bags when inserted thereunder preparatory to feeding to the fastening mechanisms, and an endless conveyer having its upper run located below the work-support and adjacent thereto, said conveyer moving filled bags into position to be conveniently transferred manually to the work-support after their lips have been folded over, the bags being fed one by one to the fastening mechanisms while their lips are held dowln in position for fastening by the downhol 9. In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a plurality of bag-fastening mechanisms, a shelflike work-support extended in front of said mechanisms in cooperative relation thereto, and having at its back a longitudinally-extended downhold for the bag-lips, a conveyer extending the length of and adjacent said worksupport, to deliver filled bags into position for manual transfer to the work-support adjacent the severalfastening mechanisms, the mouths of the bags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath the downhold and being held by it in position to be fastened as the bags are fed' along the work-support to a fastening mechanism, a second conveyer back of the delivering-conveyer, to receive and remove the bags the mouths whereof have been closed by the fastening mechanisms and upturned, parallel and stationary sides between which said conveyer travels, to form therewith a trough having a traveling bottom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. BROWN.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. DUNN.

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