Patent GB-1187277-A (GB)
Title: Packaging Machines
Inventor: BRADFORD KENNETH C
IPC: B65B11/50
Filed: 1967-08-07
Abstract: 1,187,277. Packaging-machines. STA-HI CORP. 7 Aug., 1967, No. 36204/67. Heading B8C. [Also in Division B5] A machine for making individual packages from a continuous compartmented sheet 30 and a covering sheet 64 comprises upstream and downstream propelling means 42, 44 for propelling the sheets continuously along rails 24, a covering station 46, heat sealing station 48, longitudinal shearing station 50, and transverse shearing station 52. The depending compartments 32 in the sheet 30 are filled with the articles to be packaged before entering the machine. The propelling means 42, 44 comprise endless chains 43, 49 carrying lugs 47, 53 which engage the compartments 32, and are driven synchronously from a main shaft 55 powered by an electric motor. Applying and sealing cover sheet.-At the covering station 46, the sheet 64 is drawn under a roller 68 and superimposed on the sheet 30, thereby closing the compartments 32. The sheets 30, 64 are next sealed together at station 48 by two units 70, 72 which heat seal alternate longitudinally adjacent sections of the sheets 30, 64, and are alternately engaged with and disengaged from the sheets. When one of the units 70, 72 is in engagement, it is moved downstream with the sheets 30, 64, and when disengaged, each unit moves upstream at the same speed as the sheets are moving downstream. Thus the units 70, 72 are constantly moving toward and away from each other. This reciprocating motion is achieved by a rack 80, 84 and pinion 90 device driven from the main shaft 55 by a system of chains and sprockets and a further rack 100 and pinion 98. The sealing unit 70, which moves along rails 74, has upper and lower heat sealing platens (124, 126), Fig. 3 (not shown), movable vertically toward and away from each other to engage the sheets 30, 64, the motion being caused by a motor (128) operating a piston 130, and transmitted by discs 138 and connecting rods 140, 142 to give a slow final closing movement to the platens, Figs. 4-5 (not shown). In the embodiment shown, the upper platen 124 is heated, but the lower platen (126) is not, Fig. 6 (not shown). The lower platen (126) has longitudinal grooves formed in it to accommodate the rails 24. The units 70 and 72 are identical. Longitudinal and transverse shearing.-Longitudinal shearing means 60 comprises rotary elements 178, 180 which shear along the centre lines of the strips between the compartments 32. The lower elements 180 are driven by a chain-and-sprocket mechanism powered from the main shaft 55. The upper elements 178 are carried by a housing 192 which may be upwardly retracted to give access to the sheets 30, 64. Before retraction, which involves the rotation of the housing 192 about a pivot shaft (200) Fig. 8 (not shown), the upper shearing elements 178 are disengaged from the lower elements 180 by operating a handle 210. After longitudinal shearing, the sheets 30, 64 are transversely sheared into individual packages by shearing means 62 which moves downstream with the sheets during operation and then returns to its initial position before shearing the succeeding row of packages, Fig. 13 (not shown). This motion is achieved by pivoting the frame 222, carrying shearing means 62, about a shaft 224.