Patent GB-1038981-A (GB)
Title: Packaging machine
IPC: B29C65/18
Filed: 1963-03-04
Abstract: 1,038,981. Packaging-machines; endless belt-conveyers. FMC CORPORATION. March 4, 1963 [March 29, 1962], No. 8479/63. Headings B8A and B8C. [Also in Division B5] A packaging machine comprises means for conveying a tube of sheet material containing a plurality of spaced articles along a predetermined horizontal path, crimping heads mounted on opposite sides of said path and means operable to move the crimping heads towards one another to engage said tube and press the sides of the tube together between adjacent articles, to move the crimping heads along said path in synchronism with said tube while the crimping operation is performed, and to move said heads away from the tube and over a return path in preparation for the next crimping operation, the crimping heads being mounted on endless elliptical tracks such that they are always in face-to-face relationship. The tube 38 containing a plurality of articles 39 is fed into the crimping mechanism 20 by a conveyer 30 and discharged by a conveyer 32, said crimping mechanism being mounted on a carriage 50 movable longitudinally between the conveyers 30, 32 along rails 52. A conveyer 65 for transporting the tube during crimping includes front and rear rolls 75 on arms 60 mounted on the carriage defining a transverse gap 76 therebetween and rolls 77, 84 journalled in the machine frame, an endless belt 86 being guided around the rolls. The crimping mechanism includes upper and lower crimping heads 95 and 96 supported from blocks 101, 108 in vertical guideways 100 between frame side panels 22, said blocks being held in spaced relation by rigid spacers 109. Substantially elliptical horizontal ledges 110 are mounted on the blocks 101 and 108 (Fig. 4) and pads 111 are positioned in the guideways between the lower blocks and the side panels to adjust the position of the blocks for various heights of articles. Each block carries an endless chain 118 trained round sprockets 115 and a mounting member 119 secured to its chain which rides on the ledge 110 when the chain rotates. Guides 125 are secured to the carriage 50, upper and lower guide rollers 127 mounted on the crimping heads being slidably fitted into slots 126 in the plates 125. The crimping head 95, has in its upper face 135 a pair of recesses 136 in which are located heating wires 137 and a knife receiving space 135<SP>1</SP>. The crimping head 95 has a lower face 140 in which are mounted anvils 142 which fit into the recesses 136 during sealing and an opening 144 in which slides a knife 145. Rollers 159 mounted one on each crimping head fit into the slots 126 above and below the lower and upper guide rollers 127 respectively to maintain the working faces of the heads in horizontal planes. The knife 145 is operated by cams 156 on a rotating shaft 155. Movement is imparted to the carriage 50, the heads and the cam-shaft 155 in timed relation to each other by a counter-shaft 175 the speed of which may be varied cyclically to vary the orbital speed of the heads. The speed of the conveyer 65 may be less than that of the conveyer 30 to allow the tube to slacken between successive articles during crimping. Springs 106 are provided as a safety feature to allow the upper head to yield if the heads engage an article.