Package making – Closing packages and filled receptacles – Including provision for pleat of cover overhang
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-16
2001-02-06
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Closing packages and filled receptacles
Including provision for pleat of cover overhang
C493S184000, C053S372500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182417
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to changing the rotating motion of a drive shaft into a swinging motion about a pivot point for a gussetting machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past gussetting machines have used complex machinery occupying large areas and using many parts to convert a rotary motion on a drive shaft to a linear motion or a swinging motion and to coordinate the movements of gussetting arms with linear movements of articles to be packaged.
Most gussetting machines use cams with springs to move gussetting arms. These machines have several drawbacks in that they occupy more space, vibrate the entire packaging machine, are very noisy and have parts which wear out.
An improved rotary to linear motion mechanism is needed for smooth, quiet operation of a gussetting machine in a small space. The machine should be long lasting without needing much maintenance during its life and be easily adjustable for different widths and angles of movement.
Other machines have used rotary to linear conversion mechanisms. For example in Juengst U.S. Pat. No. 171,572 a disk on a shaft is angled relative to the shaft to produce a linear motion from the rotation of the shaft. In Love U.S. Pat. No. 2,619,839 two oppositely angled portions of a shaft produce opposite linear motions one, connected to a blade and the other to a counterbalance therefor.
No examples of two oppositely moving gussetting arms with fingers angled to fold wrappers have been found driven by opposing angled cylinders on a drive shaft to produce an arched movement about a pivot point.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention uses two cylinders keyed to a drive shaft such that the cylinders are angled 180 degrees out of phase with each other on the drive shaft. The cylinders are angled relative to the drive shaft at plus and minus &agr; degrees for symmetry of motion and balance of the drive shaft. Hub housings have bearings to provide smooth rolling contact of the hub housings on the cylinders. The gussetting arms have gussetting fingers angled with respect to the gussetting arms to engage a wrapper. The gussetting fingers move in an arc about a pivot point. As the drive shaft rotates the rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted to a small swinging motion to move the gussetting arms. The resulting rotational to arc conversion of motion occurs in a small area. The balanced drive shaft does not vibrate the gussetting machine or make much noise. The hubs can be easily moved linearly along the spline shaft to adjust the position of the gussetting fingers and the hubs can be easily changed to provide a different angle &agr; for pivoting the gussetting finger over a different arc length.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to accurately provide gussetting to packages.
It is an object of the invention to provide gussetting with few moving parts.
It is an object of the invention to change rotary motion to swinging motion with balanced machinery.
It is an object of the invention to change rotary motion to swinging motion in a small space.
It is an object of the invention to change rotary motion to swinging motion with a small arc without using cams, springs or gearboxes.
It is an object of the invention to increase the speed of gussetting.
It is an object of the invention to have a gussetting arm swing about a pivot point.
It is an object of the invention to reduce the noise and vibration of a gussetting arm mechanism.
It is an object of the invention to increase the life and reduce the maintenance of the gussetting arm mechanism.
It is an object of the invention to easily adjust the arc length of the gussetting arms.
It is an object of the invention to easily adjust the distance between the gussetting arm fingers.
It is an object of the invention to coordinate the movement of the gussetting arms with each other and with the size of the product being packaged.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 171572 (1875-12-01), Juengst
patent: 2619839 (1952-12-01), Love
patent: 5025562 (1991-06-01), Palm
patent: 5234398 (1993-08-01), Larsen
patent: 5275116 (1994-01-01), Daley, Jr.
patent: 6050056 (2000-04-01), Weisser et al.
Chukwurah Nathaniel
Nikolai Mersereau & Dietz, P.A.
SIG Pack, Inc.
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
Angular bearing drive for package gussetting does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Angular bearing drive for package gussetting, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Angular bearing drive for package gussetting will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2604504