Package making – With contents treating – Vacuum or inert atmosphere
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-03
2001-12-04
Sipos, John (Department: 3721)
Package making
With contents treating
Vacuum or inert atmosphere
C053S284700, C053S374500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324818
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to fully automated bag handling and filling machines which pick up bags one at a time from a supply source, fill the bags, draw a vacuum in the bags and release them in an integrated, high speed, and efficient system. More particularly, this invention is drawn to an apparatus for bottom filling and/or vacuum sealing both paper and plastic type bags within a fully automated bag handling and filling machine.
Automated bag handling and filling machines are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,322,932, 4,432,186, and 4,612,965 issued to Harold R. McGregor. Traditionally, bag handling and filling machines have utilized bag holding clamps on a clam shell type of filling spout to hold the bag during a filling operation on the spout, with the filled bag then being conveyed to a separate, closing machine for closing the bag top, as by stitching or by heat sealing. Bag control and forming bars have been incorporated to grip the bag mouth, after filling, and to lower it onto a conveyor, which serves to transport the filled bag to a separate, bag closing station. Such bag handling and control bars are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,932. Recognizing that operating efficiencies including more compact machine footprints and reduced operational costs could be realized by incorporating the bag sealing function within a single machine for handling, filling, and sealing bags, such integrated machines have been developed. For an example of such an integrated machine see U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,667 issued to Harold R. McGregor.
However, bag sealing apparatuses for such integrated bag handling and filling machines have been limited in the manner in which bags could be filled and closed. Consequently, a bottom filling apparatus for filling bags from the bottom up and a bag sealing apparatus capable of handling and closing both plastic bags and paper bags have been developed. This apparatus has also been adapted for vacuum sealing plastic bags or paper bags with plastic liners.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A first objective of this invention is to provide a filling mechanism that allows a bag to be filled from the bottom up. Another objective of this invention is to provide a bag sealing apparatus which is capable of handling and closing both plastic and paper bags. Yet another objective of this invention is to provide an integrated bag filling machine which is capable of both filling, sealing, and handling bags and which occupies a minimum of space on a factory floor. A further objective of this invention is to provide a bag closing apparatus capable of handling and closing both plastic and paper bags and which may be mounted in a number of ways, including on a vertically moveable carriage or from an overhead support structure. Yet another objective is to provide a material discharge spout and bag handling and sealing mechanism that may vacuum seal plastic bags and paper bags with plastic liners.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for vacuum filling and sealing bags may comprise a material dispensing spout for discharging particulate material into a bag. The spout has a discharge end defined by closure members or clamshell halves, operable between closed and open positions. An actuator means is positioned and arranged to open and close the clamshell halves of the spout. Clamping members on the discharge end of the spout are movable between a closed position in which the clamping members clamp a bag mouth on the spout discharge end and an open position in which a bag mouth may be removed from, or addressed to, the spout discharge end. At least one vacuum probe is disposed along the material dispensing spout in such a manner that the vacuum probe will be disposed within a bag mouth that is positioned on the spout discharge end. The vacuum probe has a source of negative pressure fluidically coupled thereto for drawing a vacuum within the bag.
A carriage having a sealing apparatus mounted therein is positioned such that when the carriage may be moved along a travel path between a first, bag receiving position in which the carriage is in close proximity to the spout discharge end and a second, bag discharge position in which the carriage is away from the spout. The sealing apparatus is movable between a first, inoperative position and a second position in sealing juxtaposition with the bag mouth. In operation the bags are clamped on the spout and filled one at a time, and thereafter released by the spout clamping members for movement by the carriage to a release position. The bag mouth is sealed by the sealing apparatus as the carriage moves between its first and second positions, The sealing apparatus itself comprises a pair of opposable forming bars for gripping and supporting a bag, the forming bars being rotatively disposed between a pair of parallel side plates. The forming bars are constructed and arranged to resiliently seal the bag mouth in an airtight manner around the vacuum probe when the carriage is in close proximity to the spout discharge end of the spout. A pair of sealing bars are rotatively mounted beneath the forming bars in such a manner they may rotate between a first position in which the sealing bars are rotated away from the bag and a second position in which the sealing bars engage the bag to heat seal said bag.
A settling bar may also be added to the carriage for settling the particulate materials within the bag. Such a settling bar is rotatively coupled to the carriage and is constructed and arranged to be positioned so that said settling bar may contact the bag as the carriage is moved into its first, bag receiving position. The contact between the bag and settling arm acts to remove air disposed within the particulate material.
Another embodiment of a bag sealing mechanism for sealing bags comprises a pair of opposable forming bars for gripping and supporting a bag, a pair of opposable crimping bars for forming a transverse crease in the bag, and a settling bar. The pairs of forming and crimping bars and the settling bar are rotatively disposed between a pair of parallel side plates. A pair of sealing bars are rotatively mounted beneath the forming bars in such a manner they may rotate between a first position in which the sealing bars are rotated away from the bag and a second position in which the sealing bars engage the bag to heat seal said bag. The settling bar is constructed and arranged to be positioned above said pairs of forming and crimping bars so that the settling bar may contact the bag as the bag sealing mechanism is moved into a position in which the pairs of forming and crimping bars may operatively engage a bag.
In addition, a fold-over bar may be secured above one of the pair of crimping bars for folding over the top of a bag where the side of the bag is coated with an adhesive. The fold-over bar is constructed and arranged to rotate between a first, upper position and a second, lower position in which the fold-over bar folds a portion of the bag above the transverse crease formed by the crimping bars against a portion of the bag below said transverse crease, the adhesive being applied to the side of the bag below the transverse crease. In order to improve the sealing contact between the foldover bar and the side of the bag, the fold-over arm rotates between its first and second positions along a complex curvilinear path.
These and other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1889193 (1932-11-01), Craig
patent: 2310382 (1943-02-01), Allen
patent: 2608333 (1952-08-01), Marziani
patent: 2766782 (1956-10-01), Bell
patent: 2960808 (1960-11-01), Pike
patent: 3063890 (1962-11-01), Saumsiegle
patent: 3326097 (1967-06-01), Lokey
patent: 3488915 (1970-01-01), Delestatius
patent: 3668815 (1972-06-01), Henry
patent: 3889449 (1975-06-01), M
Crump Brent
Morness Thomas
Wambeam Gil
Wobschall Laverne N.
Moore & Hansen
Sipos John
Slidell, Inc.
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