Patent GB-696454-A (GB)
Title: Container filling, closing and sealing machine
Inventor: PIAZZE THOMAS ENRIQUE
IPC: B65B1/22
Filed: 1951-06-18
Abstract: 696,454. Packaging-machines. SHELLMAR PRODUCTS CORPORATION. June 18, 1951. No. 14364/51. Class 94(i) [Also in Group XXX] A container transferring, filling and closing machine comprises a frame, an intermittently operated endless conveyer mounted on said frame, spaced container receiving pocket formations rotatably mounted on said conveyer, mechanisms mounted in spaced relation on said frame above the upper run of said conveyer for successively filling, closing and sealing containers carried in said conveyer pocket formations, means mounted on said frame between the container filling. mechanism and the container closing mechanism for rotating successive pocket formations through a predetermined angle to position the tops of the containers carried therein for operation of the closing mechanism, and means spaced beyond said sealing mechanism to rotate said pocket formations in the opposite direction and return them to their initial position for receiving an empty container. A pair of endless conveyer chains 23, intermittently driven through Geneva mechanism from the drive of an associated container fabricating machine 18, supports rotatably on cross bars 29, a series of container-receiving pocket members 30. The container fabricating machine 18 presents an open top tubular container of pliable heat sealable material formed on a mandrel 74 to a transfer shoot 75 to the other end of which is presented at the same time a pocket member 30 of the packaging machine, the container being then sucked through the shoot 75 into the pocket member 30 by suction from a vacuum line 90 aligned with the shoot 75. A pivoted side 79 of the shoot 75 is then moved out by cam-operated link means to provide clearance for movement of the container to a filling spout 98, as the conveyer 23 moves again, which spout is lowered into the top of the container, air from a pipe 99 helping to keep the container mouth open. At the filling station the container is vibrated to settle material therein by opposed guides 100, Fig. 6, into which the cross-bars 29 of the pocket 30 are engaged. vibrated between stops 117, 118 by a pivoted frame 104 vibrated by oppositely disposed weights 116 on a continuously driven shaft 115. The vibration is stopped when a container is not at the filling station by cam-operated link means 125, 122 which holds the stop 118 down against a guide 100. The charge delivery means may have a device for stopping delivery if no container is presented. As the pocket 30 moves from the filling spout 98 to a tucking station a roller 43 on a lateral extension of the pocket engages a fixed cam 140 to turn the pocket 90 degrees about its vertical axis, it being held in its new position by spring catch means 50 engaging a notch in a plate secured to the conveyer cross bars 29. The tucking means includes, Figs. 11, 12, 24, a vertical slide 147, which also carries the filling spout 98, moved down to the container by rack and pinion means 148 actuated by cam-operated link means 157. In a lower horrizontal slideway 186 in the face of the slide 147 blocks 190, 191 carrying outer tuckers 211, 212 are moved inwardly by cranks 194, 195 while in an upper slideway 185 blocks 217, 218 carrying inner tuckers 229, 230 are moved outwardly by cross-links 221, 222 secured to the cranks 194, 195 to form pleated tucks in the container top as shown in Fig. 24. The cranks 194, 195 are pivoted to the vertical slide 147 and are rocked by a link 203 secured to a rack 165 slid in the slide 147, by cam-operated link means 174 oscillating a pinion 167. As the tuckers are withdrawn from the container pivoted guide bars 240, 241, Fig. 25, are moved in by cam-operated link means, Figs. 14, 15 (not shown) to maintain the top of the container closed as it passes to fixed guides 242, 243 then to a sealing station, the guides 242, 243 being shaped to incline the closed top of the container, Fig. 28. The sealing means includes an inclined sealing head 282 supported at its ends and adjustable vertically. Slidable on its lower face is a tucking plate 305 moved up by cam-operated linkage means 317, 309 to present the folded top of the container to heated sealing jaws 330, 331, Fig. 30. These are also slidable on the lower face of the sealing head by cam-operated link means 338 engaging toggle means 336 to move the jaw 331 about a pivot 333 to engage and heat-seal the folded container top. The sealing head 282 also supports the pivoted guides 240, 241 and the fixed guides 242, 243. As the pocket 30 moves away from the sealing station a pin 42 on another lateral extension of the pocket 30 engages a pin 371 to turn the pocket back through 90 degrees to its original orientation.