Patent GB-1445828-A (GB)
Title: Packaging of film strips
IPC: G03C3/00
Filed: 1971-09-23
Abstract: 1445828 Seaming non-metallic sheet material AGFA-GEVAERT AG 23 Sept 1971 [23 Sept 1970] 44430/71 Heading B5K [Also in Division B8] Apparatus for packaging film strips 2 comprises means for supplying two webs of packaging material 13, 14 to a packaging region, means 1-3 for supplying film strips to the packaging region, means 5, 5a arranged in the packaging region for gripping the film strip 2 along at least an edge, means 17 for securing the webs together in the packaging region, the arrangement being such that the paths of the webs 13, 14 are spaced apart from one another where the webs enter the packaging region, that the film strips enter the packaging region between the webs where the path of the webs are spaced apart from one another and that the path of the webs are together at the securing means 17, the gripping means 5, 5a being arranged to advance the film strips 2 between the webs from a position in the vicinity of the entry of the webs into the packaging region to a position in the vicinity of the securing means 17 and the securing means being arranged to secure the web together along lines adjacent to at least two edges of the film strip. As shown, the strip of film 2 is fed, in steps, along a guide 1 and is cut, between frames, by a cutter 3, each severed strip portion being advanced between the open plates 5, 5a of the gripping device carried by an insertion device 4 which is in the rest position, Fig. 1. The device comprises a carrier plate 7 which is supported upon two parallel levers 11. 12 so that, when driven, it executes an arcshaped movement without itself rotating and carries electromagnetically-controlled wedges 8, 9 which are akapted to pivot the top spring- loaded plate 5a of the gripping device downwardly towards the co-operating fixed plate 5 and grip the film strip. The two webs 13, 14 run between a movable holding-down device 15  which is in its raised position, and a fixed support 16 towards the securing assembly 17 which, as shown in Fig. 2, is also in the rest position. The assembly 17 comprises a bearing block 19 which is pivotally mounted at 18 and carries a heated welding jaw 20 having a resilient stripper device 21, guides for a movable holding down means 22, and a cutting blade 23; and separately-controlled welding jaws, not shown, for forming lateral seams in the webs, the movable assemblies being operated, e.g. by plungers, not shown. The ends of the two plastics webs 13, 14, made, e.g. of plastics, are firmly pressed together by the welding jaw 20 and stripper device 21, the holding-down device 22 being located in its raised position. When the insertion device 4 is operated the plates 5, 5a are closed and the device 4 moves initially in the film feed, and then in the web feed, direction to insert the film beneath the holding-down means 22 which is then lowered to hold the strip while the block 19 commences its pivoting movement to feed the webs 13, 14 forward while the welding by the jaw 20 is effected, the lateral seams being subsequently formed by the separately-controlled welding jaws as the insertion device 4 returns to its rest position and the plates 5, 5a open. When the block 19 reaches its end position the holding-down device 15 is lowered to prevent run back of the webs 13, 14 as the welding jaw 20, stripper device 21, and holding-down means 22 are raised and the assembly 17 is returned to its vertical position. The cutting blade 23 is then actuated to sever the webs 13, 14 and provide a pocket, Fig. 5 (not shown), which contains the film strip and which is advanced by a conveyer 25 past a holding down spring 27 and into a collecting receptacle 30, the welding jaw 20 and the stripper device 21 being simultaneously lowered to clamp the webs 13, 14 firmly together again and the holding device 15 being raised.