Patent GB-1187302-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Packaging Machines for Producing Hermetically Sealed Packages
Inventor: YOUNG WILLIAM EDMUND
IPC: B65B5/02
Filed: 1967-05-09
Abstract: 1,187,302. Packaging machines; walking beam conveyers. W. E. YOUNG. 9 May, 1967 [9 May, 1966], No. 21589/67. Headings B8A and B8C. Two superposed flat or preformed boards with a product between them are conveyed by a walking beam conveyer to a device which seals them around their periphery. Feed conveyer.-In the form described, containers 23, Fig. 1, carrying a product, are fed from an endless conveyer on to a walking beam type conveyer section 24, for transport to a cover feed station. The walking beams (48), Fig. 7 (not shown), reciprocate along shafts (78), (79), which are themselves reciprocated vertically under the action of rocker arm (87). In order to increase the grip, the rails may be surfaced with, e.g., rubberized cork, or may be provided with vacuum cups. Cover feed and moulding.-Upon actuation of a photo-cell by a container on the conveyer, suction is applied to a plate 116, Fig. 10, rotatably mounted on an arm 121, to remove a cover blank from a magazine 27. Having withdrawn the blank, the plate rotates about an axis 119, and the arm 121 rotates about axis 122 to deposit the blank in the bottom section 160 of a mould 117. An arm 151, which carries the top section 147 of the mould, then swings about an axis 153 to dispose the top section on the section 160; the mounting of the section 147 being such that it remains horizontal throughout the swing of the arm. The temperature of the cover blank is raised by heaters (162) in the bottom section, Fig. 14 (not shown), and vacuum is applied to the top section to mould it into shape. Additional air is supplied through passages (162a) in the heater plates to assist in the moulding. The passages may also be connected to a source of vacuum to retain the blank prior to the placement of the section 147. The mould may be water cooled. Feeding cover to container.-The moulded cover is retained in the upper mould section 147 by vacuum, and the arm 151 is swung through 180 degrees to deposit the cover over the container 23 on the conveyer. Upon deposition, the cover may be lightly sealed to the container spotwise by a sealer, Fig. 9 (not shown). Container sealing.-Package supports 203, Fig. 16, in the lower half 197 of a sealing head receive the package from the conveyer. The upper half 198 of the head is lowered to contact the lower half and the sealing chamber is evacuated. During the evacuation seal bars 214, mounted on a reciprocable plate 213, move upwardly into proximity with the package and after evacuation the bars are moved further upwardly to press the periphery of the package against upper sealing bars 230 to effect a seal. Either, or both sets of seal bars may be heated. Heat shields 233 are provided to prevent damage to the top of the package. The package may be filled with an inert gas after evacuation and may also be sealed by high-frequency welding. The container 23 may comprise, e.g. a sheet of cardboard laminated with plastics film or aluminium foil. A sealant may be disposed around the periphery of the board. The cover may be provided with a window.