Patent GB-1522403-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus and method for forming and closing a display package
IPC: B65B11/50
Filed: 1976-03-02
Abstract: 1522403 Forming and closing a display package NEW JERSEY ELECTRONIC CO 2 March 1976 08298/76 Heading B8C  Apparatus for forming and closing a display package from a card blank 22 having at least one window opening, e.g. 22b or 22c, therein covered by a plastics sheet 24 which overlies the window opening and at least a marginal portion of the card blank surrounding the window, comprises indexable table 16; a series of operating stations disposed around the table the blanks being fed with, or without, the plastics sheets, into each receiving and holding means while the table is stationary after being indexed, the arrangement being such that, either a card together with its plastics sheet 24, is fed from a first operating station A in timed relation to the indexing of the table or a card only is fed from the first of the operating stations followed by a plastics sheet at the second of the operating stations. Means 114, 84, Fig. 4, heat the overlying plastics sheet and form it into a pocket extending through the window opening; means 142, 144, 150, Fig. 10, fold the card blank and associated plastics sheet; and heat sealing takes place at an operating station D between upper and lower platens 164, 108. The tube 16 is indexed, by a Geneva mechanism 78, 80. A single revolution clutch, carried by a shaft 68, is operated by a timer 206, Fig. 1, via a microswitch 104, Fig. 4, to drive a sprocket 72 on a shaft 74, which carries sprockets to rotate shafts 90, 44, which respectively carry lift-off cams 92, 50 for operating the lower platens 84, 108. The shaft 44 also operates the operating mechanism, Fig. 5, for a suction pad card-pick-off 32 which is adapted to engage each card, in succession, from a stack of cards 26 in a magazine 28, and deposit it in a corresponding carrier holder 18. A plastics sheet 24 is either previously associated with each card or, it is separately fed, or placed manually, on to the card after it is dropped into the holder. At position B the upper heater platen assembly 114 is lowered by a fluid pressure cylinder 110 to engage over the plastics sheet and the carrier holder 18 therebelow, while air is directed upwardly through passages in the forming platen 84 and against the underface of the card 22, a vacuum then being connected to those passages 124 to draw the individual pockets through the openings in the card 22. As the table is indexed beyond the station C the inboard portion of the card 22 is lifted by pins 142, 144 operated by a fluid-pressure cylinder 136, Fig. 10, to engage a folding plough 150 which folds said portion of the card completely over the other card portion to cover the pockets 128. When, after sealing, the platen 162 is raised, a vacuum is applied to suction cups (190, 192) to lift the package 184 out of the holder 18 whereupon, the vacuum to the cups (190, 192) is replaced by air-pressure so that the package drops downwardly on to a delivery shoot 176 which is moved into a packaging- receiving position by the initial movement of a cam 166 on the cam shaft 90 and a follower and link mechanism 170, 172, 174, 178, after elevation of the top platen 164. Further movement of the cam causes the shoot 166 to tilt and drop the package, e.g. on to a discharge conveyer. In a modification, Figs. 13-15, not shown, the table (216) has six separate holders (218) and a separate feed for the plastics sheets (220) is provided at station (B<SP>1</SP>).