Patent GB-957695-A (GB)
Title: Packaging system and apparatus
IPC: B65B51/18
Filed: 1962-07-16
Abstract: 957,695. Packaging-machines; conveyers. EKCO CONTAINERS Inc. July 16, 1962 [July 31, 1961], No. 27230/62. Headings B8A and B8C. In a packaging machine open topped rimmed containers are fed in a series of transverse rows from a feeding station 46 (Fig. 1) into apertured conveyer plates 44 which are fixed to two continuously moving conveyer chains 43 (Fig. 2), and a cover sheet w in the form of a web is fed from a direction perpendicular to the line of the conveyer 43 which web after being turned through a right angle by a roller 54 is applied by a roller 50 which heat seals it to the container rim, the cover sheet is cut by a knife unit 60 between each plate 44, and a group of sealed containers is then lifted by a further conveyer 63 to a position where the individual containers are cut from the web by a die unit 72 (Fig. 2A). The filling material for the containers is fed from a hopper through pipes 212 (Fig. 33) where it is fed by a screw 215 through holes 216 to the containers, excess material being carried back to the hopper by means of an outlet pipe 225. Flat surfaces 215T are provided on the screw to seal the holes 216 during the time in which a new row of containers is being placed beneath the filling station. The knife blades are operated by means of a cam 122, Fig. 16 (not shown), which is acted on by the recessed side 44C of a conveyer plate 44 and the front surface of a following plate and is arranged to move during cutting so that the blade is always adjacent the gap between the conveyer plates 44. The surfaces of plates 44 are covered with a plastics material such as that having the Registered Trade Mark " Teflon " which produces a heat insulating layer and also assists in releasing the sealed containers when they are pressure sealed without heating. The sealer roll comprises a cylindrical external steel shell which loosely surrounds an insulating sleeve that is provided with spiral grooves to contain heater wires and the surface of the sealer roll is of resilient material. In a modification (not shown), the web is fed from a roll whose axis is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the conveyer. In a further modification, separate closure elements 200T (Fig. 30) are provided to seal each container with a disc of cardboard or plastics precut and registered and the top connecting each container is left in one piece. Provision is made, Fig. 4 (not shown), to scrub each plate 44 on the return journey. In an alternative sealing device cover sheets may be picked up by a suction cup and deposited on the containers after filling. The conveyer comprises two parallel continuously moving chains 43 and carrier plates 44 supported therebetween. The plates are of steel, cast iron or aluminium, and have twenty cavities therein. Each side of the carrier plate has a marginal recess 44R and a corresponding internal slot 44S to accommodate spaced arm connection links 43L that project upwardly from the conveyer chains 43 and are secured at their upper ends by suitable locking pins 43P. A metal strip 44M spans the recess 44R and is secured into the carrier plate to mask these connections.