U.S. patent number 3,859,775 [Application Number 05/365,972] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-14 for product packaging apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dake Corporation. Invention is credited to Lee S. Kihnke.
United States Patent |
3,859,775 |
Kihnke |
January 14, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
PRODUCT PACKAGING APPARATUS
Abstract
A product packaging apparatus for the automated conveyance and
packaging of predetermined quantities of products or materials in
individual, flexible bags. The apparatus comprises an infeed
conveyor for feeding a flow of material to be packaged to a
packaging means and means for shutting off the flow of material
from the infeed conveyor to the packaging means. The packaging
means includes a receptacle, weighing means, support means for
holding a plurality of flexible bags beneath the receptacle,
closure means for opening, filling, and removing the bags, and a
control means associated therewith for controlling the operation of
the above means for shutting off the flow of material from the
infeed conveyor to the packaging means. Means are included on the
closure means for grasping each bag to be filled to keep the bag
open and for directing a stream of air into the bag to initially
open the same.
Inventors: |
Kihnke; Lee S. (Spring Lake,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Dake Corporation (Grand Haven,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
26943806 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/365,972 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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254074 |
May 17, 1972 |
3807123 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/572;
53/385.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
1/32 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
1/30 (20060101); B65B 1/32 (20060101); B65b
043/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/59W,63,78,189,385
;177/120 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Huizenga &
Cooper
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of my previous
application, Ser. No. 254,074, entitled PRODUCT PACKAGING
APPARATUS, invented by Lee S. Kihnke, filed May 17, 1972, now U.S.
Pat. No. 3,807,123.
Claims
I claim:
1. Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in
combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be
packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for
receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle
means having closure means adapted to open said bag, release said
material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support
means; and fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support
means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said
closure means including means for positively grasping said bag as
said bag is opened, said grasping means facilitating the retention
of said bag in an open position while said material is released and
facilitating the removal of said bag from said support means.
2. The packaging apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said
closure means comprises a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle
means adjacent said support means, said door adapted to pivot
between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open
position; said pivotal movement between said closed and first open
positions causing said door to engage and further open said
initially opened bag and to release said material from said
receptacle into said bag; said pivotal movement between said first
and second open positions causing said door to forcibly remove said
bag filled with said released material from said support, said
grasping means comprising at least one prong extending from an
exterior surface of said door; said prong adapted to puncture a
portion of said bag as said door is moved to said first open
position.
3. Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in
combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be
packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for
receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle
means having closure means adapted to open said bag, release said
material into said bag, and remove said bag from said support
means; and fluid means arranged to cooperate with said support
means and said closure means for initially opening said bag; said
fluid means including means for directing a stream of air to open
said bag prior to the release of said material; said closure means
including means for guiding said stream into the mouth of said bag
adjacent thereto.
4. The packaging apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said
closure means comprises a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle
means adjacent said support means, said door adapted to pivot
between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open
position; said pivotal movement between said closed and first open
positions causing said door to engage and further open said
initially opened bag and to relelase said material from said
receptacle into said bag; said pivotal movement between said first
and second open positions causing said door to forcibly remove said
bag filled with said released material from said support, said
guide means comprising guide vanes secured to the external surface
of said door; said vanes forming a funneling trough having an
opening adjacent the bottom of said door; said trough directing
said stream into said bag as said door is moved to said first open
position.
5. Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising in
combination: receptacle means for receiving material to be
packaged; support means for supporting at least one bag for
receiving said material from said receptacle means; said receptacle
means including closure means for opening said bag, releasing said
material into said bag, and removing said bag from said support
means; said closure means including means for positively grasping
said bag as said bag is opened, said grasping means facilitating
the retention of said bag in an open position while said material
is released facilitating the removal of said bag from said support
means.
6. Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising
receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support
means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material
from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means
adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and
remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to
cooperate with said support means and said closure means for
initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for
facilitating the opening of said bag; said last mentioned means
including means for positively grasping said bag as said bag is
opened and means cooperating with said fluid means for assuring
that said bag is opened prior to engagement by said grasping
means.
7. The packaging apparatus of claim 6 wherein said closure means
comprises a door pivotally secured to said receptacle means and
pivotable between closed and open positions; said grasping means
comprising at least one prong projecting from the surface of said
closure means, said prong adapted to puncture a portion of said bag
as said closure means is moved from said closed to said open
positions.
8. The packaging apparatus of claim 7 wherein said door includes an
end edge which enters the mouth of said bag as said door is opened;
said prong comprising a cylindrical rod extending normally to the
exterior surface of said door adjacent the end edge thereof.
9. The packaging apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid means
include means directing a stream of air toward said closure means
and support means such that said stream of air is directed into the
mouth of said bag; said means cooperating with said fluid means
comprising means mounted on said closure means for guiding said
stream of air into said bag.
10. The packaging apparatus of claim 9 wherein said closure means
comprises a door pivotally secured to said receptacle means and
pivotable between closed and open positions; said door including an
end edge which enters the mouth of said bag as said door is opened;
said guide means comprising two guide vanes, each guide vane having
one edge extending in a plane perpendicular to the exterior surface
of said door; said vanes secured laterally adjacent one another and
spaced apart such that said perpendicular edges are inclined with
one another; said edges forming a generally V-shaped trough which
funnels said stream of air through an opening between said edges
adjacent the end edge of said door and into said mouth of said
bag.
11. Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising
receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support
means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material
from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means
adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and
remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to
cooperate with said support means and said closure means for
initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for
facilitating the opening of said bag; said closure means including
a door hingedly mounted on said receptacle means adjacent said
support means, said door adapted to pivot between a closed
position, a first open position, and a second open position; said
pivotal movement between said closed and first open positions
causing said door to engage and further open said initially opened
bag and to release said material from said receptacle into said
bag; said pivotal movement between said first and second open
positions causing said door to forcibly remove said bag filled with
said released material from said support, said means for
facilitating the opening of said bag including prongs extending
from said door for puncturing a portion of said bag and holding
said bag thereon until the weight of said material released in said
bag pulls said bag from said prongs; said facilitating means
further including guide vanes mounted on said door for directing a
stream of air from said fluid means into said bag to initially open
the same; said apparatus further including conveyor means
positioned beneath said support means to catch said bags after the
weight of said released material therein pulls said bags from said
prongs.
12. The packaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conveyor means
comprises two endless belt conveyors arranged such that their
material supporting and conveying belt surfaces are disposed in
planes substantially at right angles to one another beneath said
support means.
13. Packaging apparatus for the packaging of material comprising
receptacle means for receiving material to be packaged; support
means for supporting at least one bag for receiving said material
from said receptacle means; closure means on said receptacle means
adapted to open said bag, release said material into said bag, and
remove said bag from said support means; fluid means arranged to
cooperate with said support means and said closure means for
initially opening said bag; said closure means including means for
facilitating the opening of said bag; said receptacle means
including a bucket having first and second open ends; said support
means comprising a frame and a hanger means for supporting said bag
adjacent said opening at said second end of said bucket, said bag
adapted to be mounted on said hanger means, said bag having an
opening into the interior of the bag along the side of said bag
nearest said bucket, said support means also including a biased
back plate for constantly urging said bag toward said bucket such
that said bag is always positioned to receive said material from
said bucket through said opening; and means for adjusting the
horizontal and vertical position of said supporting means with
respect to said bucket.
Description
This invention relates to a product packaging apparatus and, more
particularly, to an apparatus for the automated conveyance and
packaging of predetermined quantities of products or materials in
individual, flexible bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, machines and apparatus for the packaging of products
and materials, and especially carrots and other elongated
materials, have been characterized by their complexity and
intricate design. More recently, such machines have been made
highly automated with the result that the machine designs have
become increasingly more complex. Although being automated, the
intricate designs have detracted from the value of such machines
due to the resulting inefficiencies. Thus, such prior machines with
their intricate machinery have been prone to frequent breakdowns,
and have required constant attention to keep the apparatus
operational. Additionally, such machines have been either incapable
or relatively inefficient in handling varying types of products and
materials. Therefore, the prior packaging apparatus was, from many
standpoints, inadequate to provide a packaging machine which was
automatic and packaged a product or material without the
intervention of any manual labor, which was flexible and could
therefore handle a variety of products or materials to be packaged,
and which was simple and efficient in its operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object and feature of the present invention
to provide a packaging apparatus which weighs and dispenses
predetermined amounts of material received from an infeed conveyor
into individual flexible bags which are automatically opened,
filled and removed. Fluid means are included to initially open each
of the bags after which a multi-purpose door closure releases the
material from the weighing receptacle, positively engages and
completely opens the mouth of the initially opened bag, and finally
pulls the filled bag from a bag support and drops it on a waiting
conveyor.
It is another object and feature of the present invention to
provide fluid guide means to direct fluid, such as a stream of air,
to maintain the individual bags open prior to and during positive
engagement of the bags by the door closure.
It is yet another object and feature of the present invention to
provide positive bag engaging means, such as bag puncturing prongs,
to facilitate the multi-purpose operation of the door closure.
It is another object and feature of the present invention to
provide a packaging apparatus which is capable of packaging a
variety of products and materials, but especially thin, elongated
articles or produce such as carrots.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to
provide a simple and efficient packaging apparatus utilizing few
moving parts which can accurately and quickly dispense
predetermined amounts of a continuous flow of material to be
packaged into individual bags after which the bags are removed and
dropped onto a waiting receptacle or conveyor, all without the
intervention of any human operators, or the waste or spillage of
any material to be packaged.
These and other objects and features of the present invention may
be accomplished by providing a product packaging apparatus which
packages a continuous flow of products or material received from
one of several types of infeed conveyors. The packaging apparatus
includes a packaging means comprising at least one receptacle or
bucket for receiving the material from the infeed conveyor which
bucket is suspended from a scale in order to measure the quantity
of material received in the bucket. The bucket is disposed adjacent
a support means for holding at least one flexible bag, which bag
receives the material to be packaged from the bucket. A fluid means
is provided for opening the bag prior to the reception of the
material from the bucket and, in one embodiment, for indicating the
absence of any bags on the support means.
Following the measurement of the material in the bucket by the
scale, a door closure means is activated to release the material
from the bucket into the bag, after which release the filled bag is
removed from the support means. The door closure includes
projecting prongs to positively retain the bag until it is filled
and removed from the support as well as guide vanes for directing a
stream of air from the fluid means to facilitate opening of the
bag. After the bucket is filled and during the release of the
material to be packaged into the bag, a flow diverting means
mounted on the discharge end of the infeed conveyor diverts the
flow of material into a recirculating means which carries the
diverted material to a position where it may be returned to a
portion of the infeed conveyor. A separate, transverse, discharge
conveyor, positioned below the support means, is included to
receive the filled bags after their removal from the support means.
Signaling means, timing means, and power means are provided for
operating the various elements of the apparatus and for
accomplishing these operations in the proper sequence.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention
will become apparent from a study of the following description
taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the packaging apparatus
comprising the present novel invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the packaging means shown
positioned adjacent the discharge end of the infeed conveyor;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation taken along lines III--III
of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the packaging
means shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the discharge end of the infeed
conveyor, the packaging means, and the recirculating means;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit controlling
one of the units of the packaging means;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified embodiment of
the packaging means shown positioned adjacent the discharge end of
the infeed conveyor and including a separate, transverse discharge
conveyor positioned below the support means;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation similar to FIG. 2 but taken
along plane VIII--VIII of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the modified
packaging means shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows the
packaging apparatus 10 as assembled and installed for operation. As
depicted therein, packaging apparatus 10 comprises an infeed
conveyor means 12, a recirculating means 20, and a packaging means
50. Generally, the infeed conveyor means 12 receives the products
or material to be packaged at its infeed end 14 and transports or
conveys the material to the packaging means 50. The packaging means
50 includes six separate packaging units 60 spaced along the
discharge end 16 of the infeed conveyor 12. The packaging means 50
also includes six scales or weighing means 52, each of which is
operably associated with one of the individual packaging units 60.
A control box 56 and pneumatic logic circuit boxes 57 are provided
for housing the electrical circuit and pneumatic timing controls
needed for the operation of the packaging apparatus 10.
Infeed conveyor means 12 and recirculating means 20 may be of the
type described in either of my copending applications entitled
PACKAGING APPARATUS, invented by Lee S. Kihnke, Ser. No. 254,076,
filed on May 17, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,124, or Ser. No.
348,974, entitled PRODUCT ORIENTING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING,
invented by Lee S. Kihnke and filed Apr. 9, 1973, both of which are
incorporated by reference herein. Thus, the infeed conveyor 12
generally receives and conveys or transports a quantity of products
or material to be packaged from its infeed end 14 to and into the
packaging means 50 as will be more fully described below. As
described in the former application referred to above, Ser. No.
254,076, the infeed conveyor 12 includes guide means 18 for
segregating the flow of material to be packaged into a plurality of
columns of flow, each of which columns is directed to one of the
packaging units 60. As described hereinafter, if the individual
packaging units 60 are filled or unable to accept any more of the
material to be packaged, flow diverting means 150 provided at the
discharge end 16 of infeed conveyor 12 are activated to divert the
flow of material onto recirculating means or recirculating conveyor
20, which recirculating conveyor then removes the flow of material
such that it may be returned to the infeed end 14 of infeed
conveyor 12. Thus the continuous and efficient operation of the
packaging apparatus 10 is insured since the conveyor 12 may operate
continuously without clogging or jamming resulting when the
individual packaging units 60 are for any reason unable to accept
more of the material to be packaged.
As described in the latter application referred to above, Ser. No.
348,974, the infeed apparatus may include means for orienting
elongated articles such as carrots for packaging in the packaging
means 50. The orienting means includes multiple sections adapted to
successively linearly space and longitudinally align in columns a
plurality of such articles after they are received randomly in a
first of the multiple sections. The sections are aligned
rectilinearly and comprise a surge tank and elevating conveyor, a
reciprocating, vibratory conveyor which segregates the articles
into columns, a conveyor having endless belts with generally
V-shaped cross-sections, and a final conveyor having endless flat
belts. The last three conveyors are located successively lower
levels such that the carrots or elongated articles cascade
downwardly from section to section. The sections may also be driven
at successively faster speed to facilitate the linear spacing of
the articles.
Individual packaging units 60 generally include a receptacle means
62 for receiving the flow of material to be packaged from the
discharge end 16 of the infeed conveyor 12, as shown in FIG. 1. A
support means 90 for a bag means or plurality of bags 110 is
disposed adjacent to and immediately below the lower end of
receptacle means 62 such that the material to be packaged, which
has been weighed and measured by means of a scale 52 while held in
receptacle means 62, may be released into the outermost bag of bag
means 110 as supported by support means 90. The individual bags
112, which are opened by a fluid means 120 (FIG. 2) prior to the
release of the measured amount of material to be packaged by the
receptacle means 62, are then removed mechanically by closure means
70 from support means 90, after which the filled bags drop into a
receptacle, container, or separate, transverse discharge conveyor
260 positioned therebeneath. The details and construction of the
various elements enabling this continuous bag filling and
recirculating operation will be more fully described below.
Referring now FIGS. 2 through 5, the details of the construction
and operation of the various elements utilized to accomplish the
above described packaging operation will be more fully revealed. As
shown in FIG. 2, each individual packaging unit 60 includes a scale
or weighing means 52, a receptacle means 62, a closure means 70, a
support means or bag holder 90 for holding a bag means 110
including a plurality of individual flexible bags 112, and a fluid
means 120. Also associated with the packaging units 60, are the
flow diverting means 150 and recirculating means 20 mounted
adjacent to the packaging units 60 on the discharge end 16 of
infeed conveyor 12. Scale 52 is mounted on frame members 64 and
supports receptacle means 62 by means of downwardly extending frame
66. Scale 52 includes a counter-balancing means 53 on which weights
may be placed to predetermine the amount of material received in
receptacle means 62 prior to its release into bags 112. Scale 52 is
of the conventional and well-known type which is readily
commercially available and which indicates exactly when a weight
suspended from it exactly matches the weight of counterweight 53
preset thereon. Scale 52 also includes a control signaling means
(not shown) which may be set to activate both the closure means 70
and the flow diverting means 150 when a predetermined weight has
been measured by the scale, as will be more fully described
below.
Receptacle means 62 comprises a bucket 67 having a first opening 68
at the upper end thereof and a second opening 69 at the lower end.
Bucket 67 is fixedly mounted on the lower portion of frame 66 at an
angle with the vertical such that the first opening 68 is
positioned immediately adjacent and in line with the trajectory of
the flow of material to be packaged leaving the discharge end 16 of
infeed conveyor 12 (See FIG. 2). Second opening 69 of bucket 67 is
disposed adjacent to support means 90 and is selectively opened and
closed by closure means 70 in order to release the material to be
packaged held by bucket 67.
Closure means 70 comprises a pivotal door 71 including a hinge arm
72, which hinge arm 72 allows door 71 to pivot about rod 73 which
is mounted on bucket 67. Door 71 also includes a power arm 74 which
is in turn operably connected to air cylinders 75 and 76 mounted
end to end such that a double air cylinder is formed. Cylinders 75
and 76 include extensible shafts 77 and 78, respectively, which
shafts 77 and 78 are respectively pivotally connected to power arm
74 and frame member 66. Thus, when one of the air cylinders 75 and
76 is activated, an extensible shaft is withdrawn thereby moving
the door 71 from a closed position 79, shown by the solid lines in
FIGS. 2 and 4, to the first open position 79' shown in phantom. The
movement of the door 71 to the first open position 79', also
inserts the extremity of door 71 into the opening of the outermost
bag 112 supported on support means 90. Bag 112 is opened prior to
the pivotal insertion of door 71 therein by fluid means 120 which
directs a stream of compressed air from nozzle 122 in a direction
of the lower edge of door 71 thereby causing the air to reflect off
door 71 and into the opening 113 of bag 112. The stream of air thus
opens and maintains bag 112 in an opened position, after which the
rotation of door 71, by means of the activation of one of the
cylinders 75 or 76, causes the extremity of door 71 to be inserted
in opening 113 thereby mechanically stretching open, i.e., further
opening, opening 113 to its fullest extent in preparation for the
release of the material from bucket 67. The activation of the
remaining cylinder 75 or 76 will withdraw the remaining extensible
shaft causing door 71 to rotate or pivot about rod 73 to the second
open position shown at 79", also shown in phantom in FIGS. 2 and 4.
This rotation to the second open position 79" of door 71, causes
bag 112 to be removed from holder 90 since the pivotal movement of
door 71 separates bag 112 from flap 114 along perforated line 115.
Other types of bags without perforations may also be used since the
opening of door 71 to position 79" is also sufficient to pull the
bag from the hanger on support 90 as will be more fully described
below.
Thus, in cooperation with fluid means 120, closure means 70 is
extended to fully open and fill the outermost bag 112 held by
support means 90, after which filling the closure means 70 is
further extended to completely remove bag 112 from support means 90
and packaging means 60. These various operations are timed to occur
sequentially in response to successive signals from control or
signaling means included with the scale 52 and timing means mounted
within control box 56, as will be more fully described below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9, a modified embodiment 200 of
the individual packaging unit includes additional means which
facilitate the opening of the bag 112. As shown in those figures,
the packaging unit 200 is very similar to the unit 60 shown and
described in FIGS. 2 through 4 except for modifications made to the
door 71, bag support 90, and the addition of the transverse,
discharge conveyor 260 mentioned above. Carrots or other elongated
articles are fed from the discharge end 16a of infeed conveyor 12a
into receptacle 62a where they are weighed by scale 52a. Instead of
a closure means 70 comprising door 71, unit 200 includes a door 202
which is pivotally secured and powered by back-to-back air
cylinders 75a and 76a in the same manner as that of unit 60. Thus,
the door 202 moves from a closed position (shown in solid in FIGS.
7 and 9) to a first open position A wherein the piston rod of one
of the air cylinders 75a or 76a is retracted and to a second open
position B wherein the piston rods of both of the air cylinders 75a
and 76a are retracted. Although the fluid means 120a including
adjustable nozzle 122a directs a stream of air partially against
door 202 to initially open bags 112 which are held in the proper
filling position on the modified bag support 230, grasping prongs
204 are provided adjacent the lower edge of door 202 to puncture
and retain the lip of bag 112 to assure that it is first stretched
open by the door at its first open position A and then removed from
the bag holder 230 at its second position B. Prongs 204 in the
preferred embodiment comprise round, cylindrical rods which extend
normally from the flat external bottom surface of door 202
approximately three-eighths to one-half inch. As the door 202 moves
to its first and second open positions, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9,
prongs 204 will be seen to engage and puncture the lip of
previously open bag 112 as the door reaches the first open position
A. The puncturing of the lip securely grasps and holds the lip of
the bag against the bottom of door 202 thereby stretching the mouth
113 completely open and allowing the carrots or other elongated
articles to easily fall into the bag from receptacle 62a. Following
the dumping or filling of the bag, the door 202 is moved to its
second open position B wherein the flap 114 of bag 112 is pulled
from the hanger on support 230 and the weight of the carrots pulls
or tears the filled bag 112 off prongs 204 and allows them to drop
vertically downwardly onto the transverse discharge conveyor 260 as
shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, prongs 204 grasp, engage and retain
the edge of bag 204 to assure its proper opening and removal from
the packaging apparatus 200.
Referring again to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the construction and operation
of the support means 90 in relation to the position and
construction of the weighing means 52, receptacle means 62 and
fluid means 120 will become more fully apparent. Support means 90
is of the type described in the copending application entitled BAG
HOLDING APPARATUS & METHOD FOR PACKAGING invented by Lee S.
Kihnke and Dewey L. Thompson, Ser. No. 254,075, filed May 17, 1972
and incorporated by reference herein. Support means or bag holder
90 is mounted on frame member 91 by means of support members 92 and
arm 93. Bag holder 90 further includes a bag frame 94 pivotally
mounted on pin 95 mounted on arm 93. Bag frame 94 comprises a back
plate 96 slidably mounted on rods 97 which rods 97 are in turn
mounted in apertures provided in rear support plate 98 of bag frame
94. Back plate 96 is biased away from rear support plate 98 by
means of springs 99. Bag means 110 comprising a plurality of bags
112 are mounted by means of a U-shaped wire wicket 100 as shwon in
FIGS. 2 and 4. Preferably, the bags 112 contemplated for use with
support means 90 are flexible, plastic bags made from polyethylene
or other similar materials. The bags 112 are preferably formed in a
rectangular shape with an opening 113 at the top. A supporting flap
114 extends beyond the opening from one side of the bag and
includes apertures for receiving the legs of the U-shaped wire
wicket 100. The bag 112 may be removed from flap 114 and wicket 100
along a perforated line 115 between the flap 114 and the edge of
opening 113. As mentioned above, different types of bags may also
be used especially with the modified embodiment 200 of the
packaging unit including door 202 with prongs 204. The different
bags include no perforated line 115 between flap 114 and the edge
of opening 113. Rather, that area is solid. Thus, when prongs 204
engage and puncture the lip of bag 112, and door 202 moves to
second open position B, flap 114 is torn from wicket 100 with the
bag material ripping through from the wicket aperture in that flap.
Thus, no special bag preparations are necessary.
The U-shaped wire wicket has two parallel legs interconnected by a
cross member, which legs extend through apertures provided in flaps
114 of each individual bag 112 such that the bags may be stacked on
the wicket and prevented from sliding off the ends of the legs by
means of the cross member. The parallel legs of the wicket are
slidably and removably inserted in bag frame 94 such that the
plurality of bags 112 is supported by the back plate 96 with the
outermost bag, i.e., the bag farthest away from back plate 96,
being supported immediately adjacent and beneath the second opening
69 of bucket 67 and closure means 70 as described above. A securing
plate 101 is removably attached over the tops of the bag means 110
such that it contacts the cross member of wire wicket 100 thereby
securely holding the wicket and the attached plurality of bags 112
in place.
Therefore, when assembled, bag holder 90 supports a removable and
replacable plurality of bags 110 at an angle immediately adjacent
and beneath the second opening 69 of bucket 67 with the back plate
96 continuously biasing the outermost bag 112 into the proper
position such that the bag may be opened by fluid means 120 and
filled and removed by closure means 70 in combination with bucket
67. Support means or bag holder 90 also includes pivotal securing
means 102 comprising a pivotal securing arm 103 pivotally mounted
on the lower portion or rear support plate 98 such that arm 103 may
be selectively pivoted into and out of a slot member 104 fixedly
secured to a portion of the frame 65 beneath the bag holder.
Consequently, the pivotal movement of arm 103 out of contact with
slot member 104 releases the bag holder 90 enabling it to swing
about pivot point 95 such that securing plate 101 and wire wicket
100 may be easily removed and replaced with a full complement of
bags.
As described above, fluid means 120 comprises a means for directing
a stream of compressed air at the lowermost extremity of closure
means 70 such that the air is deflected off the closure means 70
thereby opening and filling the outermost bag 112 supported on
support means 90. In addition, fluid means 120 comprises a portion
of the bag supply indicating means for indicating when the bag
means or supply of bags 110 has been entirely removed from the bag
holder 90. Fluid means 120, as referred to above, comprises a
conduit 121 for compressed air, which conduit is connected to a
compressed air supply 124 as shown in FIG. 2. The compressed air
supplied to a fluid means 120 originates at the same source as the
compressed air used to power cylinders 75 and 76, however, the air
for cylinders 75 and 76 is first passed through a lubricant such
that a sufficient amount of oil is carried into the cylinders for
lubrication purposes. The air provided to fluid means 120, on the
other hand, does not pass through an oil bath and is thus perfectly
dry and oil free thereby preventing any contamination of dirtying
of the individual bags 112 or the packaging means 60. A nozzle 122
is mounted at the end of conduit 121 and is directed such that a
stream of air just contacts the lowest extremity of door 71 of
closure means 70. The main portion of the stream of air continues
on and, when all the bags held by support means 90 have been used
by the packaging apparatus, the stream of air enters port 126
formed in biased back plate 96.
Port or aperture 126 is connected to a fluid pressure responsive
signaling means 130 by means of a communicating means or flexible
conduit or tube 128. The fluid pressure responsive signaling means
130 comprises a fluidic servo unit including an expandable bellows
and a switch (not shown), which bellows when filled by the stream
of air directed at port 126 and communicated to the bellows by
means of tube 128, expands and closes the switch thereby producing
a signal which is transmitted to flow diverting means 150 as will
be hereinafter described. Consequently, when at least one bag
remains supported on support means 90, port 126 will be blocked by
the material forming the bag, thus preventing the stream of
compressed air from entering port 126 and activating the fluid
pressure responsive signaling means. When the last bag 112 is used,
however, the stream of air will enter port 126, activate fluid
pressure responsive signaling means 130 producing a signal which,
when transmitted, activates the flow diverting means 150 and turns
on light 54 indicating the bag holder or support means 90 is empty.
Thus, the flow of material to be packaged on infeed conveyor 12
will be diverted by flow diverting means 150 when no bags are left
on bag holder 90 to receive the material as described below.
Consequently, no waste or spillage of the material to be packaged
is encountered.
As illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9, the modified embodiment 200 of
the packaging unit includes additional apparatus cooperating with
the fluid means 120a which is similar in all respects to the fluid
means 120 described above in connection with packaging unit 60.
This cooperating apparatus includes guide vanes 210 which are
secured laterally adjacent one another adjacent the lower edge of
door closure 202 and prongs 204. Guide vanes 210 are substantially
flat, generally triangularly shaped elements including inside edges
212 which are laterally adjacent and inclined with respect to one
another, each of which inside edges lies in a plane which is
perpendicular to the general plane including the bottom of door
closure 202. As will be seen in FIG. 8, the spaced vanes 210 with
edges 212 from a generally V-shaped, flat bottomed trough which
funnels the air from nozzle 122a, which is directed against door
closure 202, downwardly into the opening 113 of bag 112. Vanes 210
prevent the stream of air from scattering when it strikes the
generally flat surface of door closure 202. Further, as door 202
opens, the guide vanes 210 maintain the direction of the air into
the opening 213 until the prongs 204 securely engage the edge of
the bag by puncturing the same as the door opens to station A and
tightly stretches open the opening 113. Accordingly, guide vanes
210 assure both that the bag 112 will be properly opened by the
stream of air and properly engaged by the door 202 including prongs
204.
The modified packaging unit 200 also includes the modified bag
support or holder 230. As is best seen in FIGS. 7 and 9, bag
support 230 omits the use of the fluid pressure responsive
signaling means 130, port 126 and connecting means 120a. Further,
the back plate 232 which supports the plurallity of bags 112 such
that the outermost bag is always in the correct position adjacent
the bottom of receptacle 62a and door closure 202 is supported on
rods 234 secured on rear support plate 236. The upper slide support
rods 234 have been moved downwardly such that they are
approximately centered behind the back plate 232 as seen in FIGS. 7
and 8. The back plate 232 is biased away from support plate 236 via
springs 238 which are received concentrically around rods 234
thereby forcing the bags into the correct position. The modified
location of the upper support rods 234 allows the rods to support
the center of gravity of the plurality of bags such that the back
plate 232 will freely slide toward the correct position.
Additional modifications to the embodiment 230 of the bag support
include the adjustable mounting of the entire bag support assembly
on a support plate 240 as is best seen in FIG. 9. Plate 240 is
vertically adjustably mounted on support frame 242 via slots 244
and bolts 246 received therethrough. Similarly, the bag support
frame 231 is horizontally adjustable with respect to the bottom of
receptacle 62a in door closures 202 via horizontally disposed slots
248 and bolts 250 in the support member 252 and is vertically
adjustable via vertical slots 254 and bolts 256. Accordingly, the
modified bag support 230 will be seen to be horizontally and
vertically adjustable with respect to the bottom of receptacle 62a
such that proper spacing and adjustment can be made for the
reception of various materials from the that receptacle.
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, the modified packaging unit or apparatus
200 further includes a transvese, discharge conveyor 260 disposed
beneath the bag support units 230. Conveyor 260 includes two
endless belt conveyors 262 and 264 which are disposed such that
their material support surfaces are substantially at right angles
to one another as shown in FIG. 7. The endless belts are mounted on
rollers 265 at either end of the conveyor, at least one of the
rollers being powered by an electric motor and associated drive
apparatus 266. The motor is adjustable for varying the speeds if
desired. Supporting rollers 267 are provided intermediate the ends
of the endless belts to properly support the belts when
transporting the filled bags. Adjustable legs 268 support the
conveyor with the corner between the supporting surfaces of the two
endless belts directly below the door 202 when that door is in its
open position B. Accordingly, it will be understood that the weight
of the carrots pulls the preferred thin polyethylene bags 112 from
the prongs 204 allowing them to drop directly onto the supporting
surfaces of conveyors 262 and 264 to transport them away from the
packaging apparatus to a location where the filled bags may be
boxed or packed in bulk.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the construction and cooperation of
the flow diverting means 150, packaging means 50 including either
packaging unit 60 or 200, and recirculating means 20 will become
apparent. As described in the copending application referred to
above, Ser. Nos. 254,076 and 348,974, flow diverting means 150
comprise a plurality of pivotal extensions of the guide means 18 or
gates 152. Gates 152 are powered by fluid pressure means or air
cylinders (not shown) which, in response to signals produced by
either the scale 52 or the fluid pressure responsive signaling
means 130, pivot gates 152 across the flow of material on infeed
conveyor 12 at the discharge end of the conveyor. The pivoting of
the gates 152 thus causes the flow to be diverted from entering the
opening 68 of bucket 67 onto and against the deflecting chute 154,
as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 5. The deflected material or
products then slide down chute 154 and onto recirculating conveyor
20 which carries the diverted material away from the end of infeed
conveyor 12 to a position at which it may be transferred back to
the infeed end 14 of conveyor 12. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the
recirculating means or conveyor 20 is mounted such that it carries
the flow thereon transverse to the flow on infeed conveyor 12.
However, conveyor 20 may be mounted in any convenient position such
that it receives and carries the diverted material to a position
where that material may be transported to the infeed end 14 of
conveyor 12.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the control circuit 160 for controlling
each of the individual packaging units 60 is shown. Circuit 160 is
repeated several times such that each unit 60 has its own control
circuit. The control circuit basically operates as follows. The
main control switch is pushed on and power is fed to the three
circuits 170, 180 and 190 contained within circuit 160, each of
which included circuits operates to control an operation of the
packaging apparatus 10 upon the occurrence of a certain event.
Circuit 170 comprises the bag-empty signaling circuit indicating
when support means 90 contains no more flexible bags. As described
above, when fluid pressure responsive signaling means 130 is
activated due to the lack of any bags preventing the stream of air
from entering port 126, switch 171 is closed, thereby activating
relay 172 and indicating light 54. Relay 172 immediately closes
switch 174 in order to activate the flow diverting means 150 to
divert gates 152 thereby stopping the flow of material to be
packaged to bucket 67 since no bags 110 remain to receive any
material from bucket 67. Reset switch 173 must be manually pushed
after the support means 90 have been refilled with bags 110 in
order to open circuit 170 thereby allowing the continued operation
of the packaging unit 60.
When sufficient bags are held by bag holder 90, the normal
operation of the packaging apparatus 60 will take place as
controlled by circuits 180 and 190. When a sufficient amount of
material has entered bucket 67, the scale 52 will close switch 181
activating first timing means or time delay relay 182 thereby
closing switch 183 and simultaneously opening switch 191. When
switch 183 is closed, solenoid 184 is activated thereby pivoting
gates 152 and again diverting flow away from bucket 67 to diverting
chute 154. The activation of solenoid 184 also closes switch 185
thereby activating solenoid 186 which activates one of the
cylinders 75 or 76 thereby causing closure means 70 to open to the
first open position shown at 79' in FIG. 4.
After the activation of solenoids 184 and 186, the time delay relay
182 causes switch 183 to open thereby closing interconnected switch
191 and immediately activating circuit 190 including a second
timing means or time delay relay 192. Following a predetermined
amount of time set on time delay relay 192 to allow bucket 67 to
release all material held therein, relay 192 closes switch 193
thereby activating a third timing means or time delay relay 194
which immediately closes switch 195 thereby activating solenoid
196. Solenoid 196 activates the remaining cylinder 75 or 76 to
further open closure means 70 to position shown in FIG. 4 at 79".
This further opening of closure 70 removes the outermost bag 112
from support means 90. After a preset amount of time on time delay
relay 194, relay 194 closes switch 197 thereby activating solenoids
198 and 199 which cause the closure means 70 to close the opening
69 of bucket 67 and pivot gates 152 back to their normal position,
respectively. After gate 152 has returned to its normal position,
the operation will repeat itself since the flow of material will
enter bucket 67 and again cause scale 52 to activate switch
181.
Therefore, the various operations and elements of packaging means
60 are controlled by a circuit 160 including circuits 170, 180 and
190 as described above. The basic operation thereby utilizes three
time delay relays to sequentially fill bucket 67, divert the flow
of material with gates 152, open closure means 70 to a first open
position 79' to fill outermost bag 112, further open closure means
70 to position 79" to remove the filled bag 112 from the packaging
means 60, pivot closure means 70 back to its original position, and
return gate 152 to its original position.
Packaging unit 200 may be controlled by a control circuit similar
to circuit 160 but omitting the bag-empty signaling circuit 170
since, as mentioned above, modified bag holder 230 does not include
the fluid pressure responsive signaling means 130. The operation of
such a circuit (not shown in the drawings) is exactly similar to
that of circuit 160 when a sufficient supply of bags is held by bag
holder 90. Additionally, pneumatic control and timing means may
also be used to control either packaging unit 60 or 200. With such
controls, the operational sequence is exactly similar to that with
the combined electric and pneumatic controls described above but
the system includes alternative elements such as pilot valves for
electrical solenoids, pneumatic timers for electrical timers, and
the like.
The method or operation of packaging material or products by means
of the novel packaging apparatus 10 described above will now be
apparent. The operation begins by feeding a flow of material to be
packaged onto the infeed end 14 of infeed conveyor 12, which
conveyor both orients and accelerates the material over the length
of the conveyor as it progresses toward discharge end 16. The flow
of material is also segregated by guide means 18 into a number of
columns, one column for each of the packaging means 60 or 200
included within packaging apparatus 10. In the case of packaging
units 60, if the support means or bag holder 90 has a sufficient
supply of bags 112 supported thereon, fluid means 120 will not be
able to direct the stream of compressed air into aperture 126. This
prevents the activation of circuit 170 and allows the flow of
material to progress into the individual packaging units 60, since
gates 152 will not be diverted or moved across the flow of
material.
With either units 60 or 200, when the material reaches the
discharge end 16 of infeed conveyor 12, its linear momentum
imparted by the motion of conveyor 12 will carry it in a smooth
trajectory into the opening 68 of bucket 67 disposed adjacent
thereto. When a sufficient amount of material is in bucket 67, the
weight of that material will overcome the predetermined
counterweight 53 placed on scale 52 causing scale 52 to activate
circuit 180. During the filling of bucket 67, fluid means 120
through nozzle 122 is directing a stream of compressed air against
the lower extremity of door 71 of closure means 70 which stream is
thereby deflected into the opening of the outermost bag 112
supported by support means 90. Guide vanes 210 funnel and direct
this stream into the bags in units 200. The deflection of air into
opening 113 of bag 112 opens and fills bag 112 thereby readying the
bag for filling in the next operation.
The activation of circuit 180 by means of scale 52 immediately
causes gates 152 to pivot across the flow of material on discharge
end 16 thereby diverting the material against discharge chute 154
causing the material to fall onto recirculating conveyor 20 which
carries the material out of the area of packaging apparatus 10. At
the same time the gates 152 are pivoted, time delay 182 activates
one of the cylinders 75 or 76 thereby retracting or withdrawing one
of the shafts 77 or 78 which in turn moves the closure means 70
including door 71 to the first open position shown at 79'. In units
200 movement of door 202 to position A (corresponding to position
79' in units 60) causes prongs 204 to puncture bag 112 and securely
retain the bag on the open door. The pivoting of either door 71 or
202 into the first open position releases the material to be
packaged from bucket 67 into the already opened bag 112 thereby
filling the bag with the predetermined quantity of material. After
a time delay, preset on time delay relay 192 in circuit 190, which
circuit has been activated previously be time delay relay 182 and a
movement of interconnected switches 183 and 191, the doors 71 (or
202) are pivoted to their second open position shown at 79"
(position B for door 202) by the activation of the remaining
cylinder 75 or 76 and the withdrawing of the remaining shafts 77 or
78. This movement of the door 71 to the second open position causes
the bag 112 to be separated from the flap 114 along perforated line
115 thereby removing the bag from the packaging unit 60 and
allowing the filled bag to drop into a waiting receptacle placed
under unit 60. Alternatively, with non-perforated bags, movement of
the doors to the second open position causes the bags to be pulled
from the bag holding wicket 100 and dropped. Following a time delay
preset on a third timing means or time delay relay 194, the closure
means 70 including door 71 is pivoted back to its closed position
by means of the extension of shafts 77 and 78 by the reverse
activation of air cylinders 75 and 76 as controlled by circuit
190.
Should the packaging unit 60 fill and remove all of the bags 112
included in bag means 110, circuit 170 will be activated by means
of the compressed air stream entering aperture 126. The compressed
air entering aperture 126 causes an increase in fluid pressure
within communicating tube 128 thereby activating fluid pressure
responsive signaling means 130. The activation of signaling means
130 is indicated by the light 54 and also causes the pivoting of
the gates 152 across the flow of material such that the material is
diverted into recirculating conveyor 120 thereby preventing the
filling of bucket 67 when no bags are present on the support means
90. A new supply of bags 110 may be inserted on support means 90 by
pivoting arm 102 out of slotted member 104 and pivoting the entire
bag frame 94 downwardly and away from bucket 67. The pivotal
movement of bag frame 94 allows sufficient room to remove securing
plate 101 thereby allowing the removal of the empty wicket 100 and
the insertion of a new supply of bags 110 on another wicket 100.
Following the insertion of the new supply of bags 110, the reset
switch 173 may be pushed, thereby deactivating the operation of
circuit 170 and allowing the continued normal operation of the
packaging apparatus 10. With packaging units 200, the use of the
supply of bags is monitored manually.
Therefore, it is apparent that a highly efficient automatic
packaging apparatus and method is provided with the novel
construction described above. The apparatus is seen to have a
simple construction utilizing few moving parts yet is able to
accurately, quickly and continuously package a flow of products and
materials carried to the packaging apparatus. Additionally, the
novel construction will be seen to have the necessary flexibility
enabling it to accommodate many varied types of products and
materials which may need to be packaged.
While on preferred form of the invention has been shown and
described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiment shown in
the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative
purposes, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention
which is defined by the claims which follow.
* * * * *