Patent GB-846772-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the packaging of tobacco or like material
Inventor: SMITH ERIC WALTER
IPC: B65B1/02
Filed: 1957-08-30
Abstract: 846,772. Packaging-machines; making paper and like bags. ROSE BROS. (GAINSBOROUGH) Ltd. Aug. 29, 1958 [Aug. 30, 1957], No. 27323/57. Classes 94(1) and 94(2). A machine for packaging tobacco &c. places and partly folds a wrapper on a former, feeds a charge of tobacco into the open topped compartment so produced, completes the folding of the wrapper to form a pouch open at the mouth, and removes the pouch from the former and closes it by flattening and folding over the upper end. If desired, the filling and closing portions of the machine may be put out of action so that open pouches are produced. Forming and filling the pouches. Wrapper blanks, which may consist of outer layers of film with a sheet of paper between them, are removed individually from grippers on a conveyer 4 by a gripper, Fig. 2 (not shown), moving radially of a turret 2 carrying a series of formers 1. The gripper draws each wrapper between a plate 9, Figs. 3, 21, and the lower edges of the side walls 8 of a former, the plate then rising to hold the wrapper in position against the walls 8. The turret rotates one step, during which a plate 18 folds the protruding portion of the wrapper 16 upwards through about 30 degrees. A member 12 completes the folding of the part 16 to the vertical postition before arrival at the charging station C. At the charging station, tobacco from a hopper 167, Fig. 7, is positioned by a pivoted wall member 166 and then thrust by a ram 21 into the compartment formed by the wrapper, supported by the plate 9, the former side walls 8 and the leading end 22 of a plunger 23 slideable radially in each former. At the next station D, Fig. 23, a roller 24 lays the wrapper portion 16 over the top of the charge, the leading end being engaged by grippers 27. A blade 26 is inserted adjacent the member 12, Fig. 9, to ensure scoring of the fold, the blade retracting during operation of the roller 24. At station E, Fig. 24, end tuckers 34 pivot about vertical axes to fold in portions 33 of the wrapper, plates 37, pivoted beneath each former, rise to fold lower side extensions 36 onto the walls 8, and upper preliminary folders 41 fold down portions 38 onto the extensions 36. With the plates 37 in position but with members 34, 41 withdrawn, the former moves to station F where a presser 44 engages the wall 28 of the wrapper, Fig. 25, and final folders 46 complete the overlapping of the wrapper portions 36, 38, which are heat sealed together by bars 47. Closing the packages. At ejecting station G, the plunger 23, which has tongues 25, Fig. 21, attached to it contacting the pouch end wall, ejects the filled pouch into a pocket 61 on a turret 62, Fig. 16, the pocket pivoting through 90 degrees as the turret moves, to bring the pouch to the upright position. At station H, a plunger 88 enters the open mouth of the pouch and tucking members 93 press the pouch sides into grooves 92, Fig. 26. The plunger withdraws and members 93 retract as presser plates 101 advance to flatten the mouth. The pouch is carried to station J with its flattened mouth portion held between arcuate guides 109, and here plates 111, 112 nip the base of the mouth portion 31 which a folder 118 turns down through 90 degrees, Fig. 27. During transit to ejecting station K, a bar 124 maintains the portion 31 folded until, at that station, a pusher 127 rises through the pocket 61 to thrust the pouch into an open ended transfer box 126, Fig. 28. Movement into the box wipes the portion 31 onto a side of the pouch which is then carried by the box into alignment with a discharge channel 134. A finger 133, moving through the open ends of the box, ejects the pouch into the channel. The portion 31 may be held down by a label applied by means not described. The mounth of the pouch may be doubled over, but no means is described for doing this.