Patent GB-1508704-A (GB)
Title: Packaging machine
IPC: B65B9/02
Filed: 1976-03-10
Abstract: 1508704 Packaging machine; metering apparatus FOODWAYS NATIONAL Inc 10 March 1976 [13 March 1975] 09600/76 Headings B8C and B8N A packaging machine comprises a hopper 14 for receiving a supply of flowable material and a plurality of outlet nozzles 17 in a base thereof for outflow of a plurality of streams of the flowable material; a rotatable dumper shaft 18 below the hopper 14 and having a plurality of flow-measuring means thereon, each measuring means being disposed below a respective hopper outlet nozzle 17 and including a plurality of material-receiving chambers 28 circumferentially disposed about the shaft 18, and each chamber 28 being of adjustable size to receive varying amounts of material from a respective outlet nozzle 17; a plurality of guide tubes 20, each of which is aligned with a respective measuring means to receive a measured amount of material; and means 11, 12 for receiving individually dispensed charges of material from the guide tubes 20 to define sequentially-spaced packets containing measured amounts of material. Granular material is fed to guide tubes 20 of flattened cross-section, extending between a pair of packet-forming sheets 11, 12 which are continuously fed, by horizontally-spaced pairs of driving rollers 23, 23 over guide rolls 39, 39, and which are sealed together by transversely spaced, vertical seals formed by pairs of side-sealing wheels 42, 42. A pair of rotatable seal bars 22 form successive transverse seals 46 and knives, not shown, are located in positions to effect vertical cuts in the seal lines 47 and separate the vertical columns of the packages being formed. Acutter 50, separates the columns into individual packages each containing a measured amount of material. Each flowmeasuring means on the dumper shaft 18 comprises a pair of discs 25, 25 adjustably mounted, e.g. by locking collars, on the shaft 18, plates 28, slotted into the discs 25, 25, forming three material measuring chambers 28, one plate 28, slightly larger than the other plates, also having its inner edge received in a slot in the shaft 18. Plates 28 of greater, or smaller width can be fitted to the dumper shaft 18 in order to change the size of the chambers. The hopper 14, which is pivotally mounted, is vertically movable, by a cam mechanism 37, 35, in synchronism with the rotary movement of the dumper shaft 18 so that each nozzle 17 projects, by the desired amount, into the corresponding material measuring chamber 28. An agitator 53 comprising a reciprocal rod 54 having a series of rods, is mounted in the hopper 14 and is driven by an air cylinder 56. One, or more, electrostatic bars (40) may be included, and a guide (57), Fig. 8, not shown, may be placed about the measuring chambers (28). A dualfeed system, Fig. 9, not shown, whereby different materials may be dispensed into the packets being formed, includes two dumper shafts (18, 18) which are disposed below the respective nozzles (17, 17) of a pair of hoppers and which are located within enlarged funnel portions (61) of the guide tubes (20). Dust can be removed from the material-dumping area by suction means (63) connected to the guide tubes (20) and to conduits (62), Fig. 11, not shown, which may also be used for injecting sterilization material, e.g. nitrogen or steam into the material being packaged. The transverse cutting means comprises rotary, or orbital, cutters (72, 73) which stretch the sheets 11, 12 before they are severed. Double-pocket packages (66), Fig. 16, not shown, can be formed by providing the sealing bars (22, 22) with three sealing surfaces (44), and three intermediate sealing surfaces (64), the dumper shafts (18) being synchronized accordingly. The agitator 53 may have vertical reciprocal fingers (70), Fig. 10, not shown, which depend into the nozzles (17). The feeds of the sheets 11, 12 can be monitored by code marks thereon and photoelectric means; and the nozzles (17) may be adjustably mounted within the hoppers (14) which may be adjustably mounted relative to the dumper shafts (18).