Improvements in Machinery for Filling, or Filling and Seouring, Bags with Seed or other Materials.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May. 1895-Accepted, 6th July,
1895
COME LIMI
DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Filling, or Filling and Seouring,
Bags with Seed or other Materials.
A communication by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BROWN, of 25, Worcester Square,
Boston, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, one of the United States
of America, Manufacturer.
ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement..
This invention, relating to machines for filling bags, has for its object the pro-
duction of a reliable and simple machine, more especially adapted for seed and
other small or fine material which is to be put into paper bags
A pile of bags to be filled is placed in a suitable guide-box where they are beld
between a follower and suitable yielding catches, the guide-box preferably having
a reciprocating motion imparted to it to aid in detaching the endmost bag to be
filled.
The seed or other material to be put into the bags will be discharged in measured
quantities into a funnel having a sing and falling movement, the funnel being
supplied with material from a measuring device which has reciprocating with it i
suntable hopper to ensure the filling of the measuring device when the latter is
moved from the hopper into the funnel and made to discharge or empty itself
therein.
Preparatory to supplying the bag with material from the hopper the bag has to
be opened, and to do this uneringly there is provided a yielding or flexible bag-
opener which enters between the lip of the bag and the shorter ply thereof; and
to ensure the greator efficiency of connection of the bag-opener, it is preferred to
employ a stationary lip-holder, against which the leading end of the bag-opener
strikes on its way into the bag, the said lip-opener engaging the inner side of the
lip of the bag to be entered.
At the same time that the lip-opener enters the bag, bag-spreaders also get into
the bag and are moved laterally away from each other within the bag toward its
side edges, the said spreaders stretching the bag open and holding it accurately m
position while the seed or other material is deposited therein
The machine is provided with a stop-motion device, which will be described.
it having for its function to prevent the discharge of seed from the hopper into
the funnel when, for any reason, the bag-opener or the spreader does not correctly
euter a bag.
Before the bag is entered by the bag-opener it is acted upon by a pasting
device which, in this instance of the invention, applies paste to the bag tu
spots.
After opening the pasted bag and filling the same, the bag is grasped by or
betw
tween the jaws o arms of a bag-carrier and is brought down into position
opposite a folding-plate on bed, preferably of india rubber, and immediately
thereafter a clamping device acts upon the bag to clamp it against the folding-
bed so that the carrier, in its furthe movements any open and ctne from
the hao

page_text: spreaders, and shafts carrying the spreaders
Fig. 27 is an enlarged detail of the plate 31 and its attached finger.
Fig. 28, a section on the line 10, Fig 27.
Fig 29 an enlarged plan view of the folding-blade, and
Fig. 30, a detail in side view of the receptacle h¹ and measuring device.
The framework A of the machine is and may be of suitable shape to sustain
the working parts
This frainework has a main shaft A' sustained in suitable bearings A², A'.
The shaft at one end has a suitable pulley, as A', to which is applied the power
employed to dive the machine.
This pulley may be of any usual or well known construction.
The frame work has a rigid stud A', see Figs. 1 and 16, which receives a rocking
sleeve A', see Figs. 6, 12 and 13, having at its opposite ends arms A, and near the
middle of its length two cars A', through which is extended a bolt A³ on which 13
mounted loosely a block A, see Fig 13, the said block receiving as represented,
in pits formed therein the inner ends of two screws A, A", screwed through
suitable lugs attached to or forming part of the under side of the carriage A",
forming part of the bag-presenting mechanism or guide-box.
In practice this caringe has attached to it in suitable manner a track A" on
which slides the stand A", to which is pivotally connected, as will be described,
the follower A which is constantly boine against the realmost bag of the soles
or pile of bags to be filled, the lower ends of the said bags resting upon the bottom
plate A of the bag presenting mechanism, the said bottom plate having elected
along each side of it suitable side plates A18, the bottom plate and side plate forming
a sort of open topped guide box and being made adjustable vertically with relation
to the upper guide-bars A" by means of suitable set screws A, the guide box
being adjusted vertically according to the length of the bag to be filled.
The follower plate A has at its back a suitable block oi lug A", through which.
Is extended a bolt or stud 2, see Fig. 1, the said bolt pivoting the follower upon a
link 3 in turn attached by a vertical pivot 4 to a shoe 5 applied upon the upper
end of the stand A" and made adjustable thereon by means of a set sorow A",
see Fig. 22.
The block A has attached to it a rearwardly extended aim A", which is
normally acted upon by a spring 7, shewn as interposed between the said arm and
the shoe 5, so that normally the said spring acts to keep the upper end of the
follower, piessed a little the harder against the upper ends of the bags on the lip
portions of the bags before they are entered by the bag-opener to be described,
and before the said lips are pasted.
The upper eud of the follower, as best shewn in Figs 1 and 16, has a lip 8 which
18 extended up substantially as high as the lips of the bags, shewu by dotted
lines Br
The atm A has an adjustable extension A", which, when the series of bags in
front of the follower have been taken off, will contact with the cross-bar A2 and
stop the further feeding movement of the follower under the action of a suitable
weight, not shewn, attached to a cord A" led over suitable pulleys and through the
lower part of the machine, where the weight, or it may be suitable spring, 18
located.
The carriage 18
A referred to has at its uner end a folding-bed B, see Figs 6. 12
and 13, composed preferably of a piece of india-rubber, the rubber being held to
the bed, as herein represented, by means of set-screws 3*, the carriage near the
said bed having at each end a front stop B', held in place by a suitable screw B
The said carriage also has back stops B', shewn in Fig 7, and has pivoted upon
it between the front and back stops, risers B', shewn as levers having then upper
ends concaved and as pivoted at 13
The upper ends of the arms A' are slotted to receive a cross-bar B having
votched ends, as best represented in Fig 6 which are engaged by hooks B' acted

page_text: upon by springs BB, the lower ends of the said springs being attached by screws B*
to the said arms A®.
The cross-bar B serves as a support for the lip-closing device B10, shewn as a
roll, which, at the proper tune, as will be described, through the action of the
arms A will be made to roll down over the folding-bed B.
When the lip closing device B20 18 back in its normal position its outer ends rest
upon the risors B, and the periphery of the lip-closer is raised a little above the
folding bed, see Fig 7^, but as the arms A are moved to carry the lip-closing
device Bo down on or over the folding-bed, the risors, moving in unison with the
arms and supporting the lip-closing device, enable the latter, it acting against the
rear side of the lip of the bag, to come above the edge of the folding blade and get
well upon the upper cross folded end of the bag and thereafter, in the further
movement of the arms A, the users strike the front stops B', referred to, and the
arins A carry the lip closing device off' from the risers, leaving the springs Bs to
act with their full force upon the lip-closing roll B and hold it down upon the
closed upper end of the bag
The carriage A just back of the folding bed is grooved transversely at 100 to
receive the rounded threaded feet of the stands or side plates C, having slots
through which are extended one of the sets of screws ▲ for supporting in
adjusted position the bag-containing box of the presenting device.
The feet of the stands referred to are threaded to receive a right-and-left
threaded screw C¹, rotation of which in one or the other direction enables the side
plates to be adjusted toward or from each other, according to the width of the bag.
The rear ends of the side plates A" are supported in like inanuer by the the
feet A, in turn provided with right-and-left threads to receive night-and-left
threads on an adjusting screw A, so that the rear end of the box oi guide A
may be adjusted in width for the width of the bag.
It will be noticed that for each width of bag a different bottom plate A" will be
employed, the said bottom plate being easily inserted into or withdrawn from
between the inner side plates A, and being supported by suitable shoulders 101
projecting inwardly therefrom, the bottom plate being slotted for the passage up
through it of tho stands A referred to, Fig. 1 shewing a partial night hand
section of the said box A18 and its bottom plate on a smaller scale.
Each side plate has adjustably attached to its upper end by a sciew 8* the feet 9
of a down-hold 10 which is extended forward, as represented in Fig. 1, to contact
with the upper ends of the lips of the series of bags to keep them down upon the
bottom plate, there being two such down-holds, oue near each side of the series of
bage, said down-holes being extended over the upper edges of a series of bags in
the bag-presenting box
The frame-work has attached to it by a suitable set-screw, as 12, shewn by
dotted lines Fig. 1, an arm C" which is extended toward the front of the machine
above the cross-bar A" and has adjustably attached to it by screws C the lip
holding device C, the latter having a down turned end 13 and preferably an
upwardly extended saddle 15, the down-turned portion 13 at the forward motion of
the carriage A and its attached bag presenting mechanism, acting as a front stop
for the lip of the endmost bag of the series of bags B, represented by dotted lines
as in front of the follower in Fig. 1, it being necessary that the lip of the endmost
bag being always in exactly the same position prior to its being opened and filled,
whatever may be the number of bags in the series.
The side plates C, represented in Figs 1 and 16, are provided with a selles of
holding pins or points C which are fitted loosely in suitablo holes near the front
edges of the said plates, the inner euds of the said pins being of such shape as to
slightly project inwardly beyond the mner faces of the side plates and rest in hout
of the endmost bag of the series of bags from near its lip to neat its lower end,
the said holding points or projections being normally acted upon by springs CB,
herein shewn as pieces of sping wite, connected at then mner ends with the side
plates and pressing with then outer euds against the outer headed ends of the

page_text: | Fulders, the said springs being sufficiently elastic to let the holding points move
outwardly shghtly to release the endmost bag after the same has been entered by
to bag-opener to be described
0
The lip of each bag B*, one of the said bags being shewn separately in Fig 1º,
extended for a short distance above the opposite ply of the bag, the said lip,
when folded over as described, being made to adhere to the shorter ply of the bag
by means of paste or gum, applied to the said shorter ply in the manner to be
described.
In front of the bag-presenting mechanism or guide-box is a pasting mechanism,
1cluding us its chief parts a gum-box D, see Figs. 1 and 7, attached by screw D',
see Fig. 24, in adjustable manner to a bracket D secured to the frame-work, the
loosening of the sciew permitting the box to be drawn off from the bracket from
the front of the machine.
The gum box D has stable depending eats D³, best shewn in Fig. 1, which are
slotted at then sides to receive suitable pins of a water containing jacket D', the
bottom of the said jacket being adapted to be acted upon by the heat of a suitable
lamp or gas burner, not shewn, by which the water in the said Jachet is kept hot
to heat the glue or paste employed, it having been found that hot glue applied to
a bag will set instantly so that the bag, after its lip has been folded over, does not
need to be kept under pressure for any considerable period in order to ensure the
retention of the lip, as is the practice in all other bag pasting machines known to
my correspondent.
Inside of the box D is a suitable roll D which is partially submerged in the
glue or paste contained in the box, the greater part of the glue or paste standing
in a leg D of the box which extends down into the water jacket.
The gun oll D' has a ratchet wheel D', which is acted upon by a suitable
pawl D³, herein represented as pivoted at D on a folding-blade-slide Do adapted
to be reciprocated in guide ways D* fast on the frame-work, the said pawl having
its upper end normally in contact with the said ratchet wheel by means of a
spring 16 shewn in Fig. 1, so that at each time that the slide D is moved to the
right, the pawl will rotate the roll slightly so as to present a freshly glued or
pusted surface to be acted upon by the pasting device.
The pasting device preferred is shewn in Figs. 1, 11 and 15.
This pasting device consists, as represented, of a bar E having pockets for a
series of springs, as El, see Fig. 11, the springs acting upon a series of spotters E,
epresented as having heads at the inner ends, and as extended through a plate E
attached to the bar E by a suitable screw or screws E.
The ba E has suitable ears E', see Figs 11 and 16, provided with suitable
holes to receive pins or journals E, E, by which to pivotally mount the said
pasting device in ears 166 of an upwardly extended pasting am 16, attached by
suitable screws 17 in an adjustable manner to an upwardly extended arm D of the
slide Do, the said aim being moved backward and forward in unison with the
said slide.
The paste at tunes has to be moved in such manner as to place the spotters
against the surface of the roll in the gum-box, and then has to be evolved for 180°
so as to enable the spotters, provided with glue, to transfer the glue upon the
shorter ply of the bag, in spots, as shewn best in Fig. 1B
To ensure this pirtial oscillation of the pasting device automatically, my
correspondent bas provided the said device, see Fig 15, with toes 18, and has
rounded the under sides of one of the cars or lugs E, and has extended forwardly
from the paste box a notched finger D, so shaped as to prevent, as heiem iepie-
sented, plane surfaces at each side of the notch, and as the pasting device is moved
honzontally backward and forward, as soon as the rounded edge of the pasting
device approaches the notch in the finger one of the toes refered to stukes a
projection 19 at the rear side of the finger and causes the rounded end of the lug to
tip down into the notch, thus turning the paster over for about 180°.
This aim and notch are shewn separately in Fig. 15.

page_text: The notched finger and the toes constitute the tipping device 101 the pasting
device; but ustead of the particular tipping device shewn, I may employ any
other suitable or equivalent device.
The slide D referred to has a stud 20 adjustably secured thereto by a nut 21,
the stud being held in a slot of the carriage.
The stud 20 18 extended through an opening or slot in the frame-work, and enters
the cam groove 22 in a cam D' fast on the main shaft A', said cam reciprocating
the said slide.
The arm D of the slide D" supports a stud a³, to which is igidly clamped i
suitable manner the depending arm a forming part of the bag clamping device,
the other essential pait of the said clamping device being a spring held or
supported bar as, the said bar in practice having extended backwardly from its
ods a which are surrounded between the arm and bar which with suitable
springs 23 which normally act to keep the bar pressed forward toward the bag to
Le clamped, the 1ods having extended through them, in the present instance, a
suitable pin 24 to act as a stop by contact with the rear side of a part of the
arm a', to thus limit the movement of the bar as to the right viewing Fig 1
There is one such rod near each end of the bar,a'.
The stud also has mounted upon it loosely the aim a having a T shaped
lower end a sce Fig. 14.
The end as receives loosely through it two headed sliding pins a³, represented as
enlarged to receive the ends of a suitable spring a, the strength of which is
regulated by a thumb screw a" having a suitable annular groove to receive and
engage the said spring.
These headed sliding pins a' form yielding connecting devices which confine the
folding blade as, see Fig. 16, in a yiolding manner upon the upper rounded side of
the part a referred to, so that the said blade, after its forward edge strikes against
the bag just at or below the upper edge of the shorter ply thereof, the bag then
resting on the folding-bed so that the said blade, as the lip tuner acts on the back
of the lip of the bag and is 1olled forward and down to turn the said lip over the
edge of the folding blade may yield, the roll in its descent, after it folds the lip
over and while it is travelling down over the folding-bed, acting to depress the
front edge of the folding-blade in advance of it, forcing the said folding blade out
from under the lip, the lip closing-device rolling the lip down snugly upon the
pasted shorter ply of the bag.
During this operation of folding over the lip of the bag upon the pasted ply
thereof to close the bag, the clamp a referred to impinges the bag a short distance
below its upper end against the folding-plate, the clamp holding the bag until the
turning over of the lip is completed.
It has been found in practice that the shorter ply of the bag does not need to
be provided with glue or paste entirely across from one to the other side of the
bag, and this is of material advantage, because I am enabled to put the folding
blade into contact with the shorter ply of the bag close to its upper end where
It is pasted without having the blade injuriously covered with glue or paste
In practice it is preferred to apply to the edge of the folding-blade three like
dogs 33, see Figs. 14 and 29, the outermost dog contacting with the bag near its
side edges, and the cential dog substantially in the centre line of the bag, and
vertically in line with these dogs I omit from the pasting device the spotters, the
latter apply paste to the bag in spots indicated by the round dots in Fig. 1",
leaving clear spaces on the bag, opposite the dogs 33, for the action of the dogs
during the folding operation, and so that the dogs will not contact with the spots
of paste already applied upon the bag, and to enable the same folding-blade to
cooperate properly with bags of different widths, my correspondent prefers to
make and has made the said dogs adjustable horizontally upon the front edge of
the folding-blade by suitable screws, but he desires to have it understood that
the invention would not be departed from if the dogs were omitted and the front
edge of the folding blade came directly against the ply of the bag.

page_text: The arm a carrying the folding blade has its hub loosely mounted, as stated,
upon the stud a³
This stud has clamped upon its outer end a hub 35 provided with an ear 36, to
which is attached at one end a spring 37, the 'said spring being bent around the hub
of the arm a', the outer on front end of the spring acting upon a portion of the said
aim and normally keeping a projection 38 of the said aim a' against the lug 36
icferred to
The folding blade and clamping device derive their movement from the slide D,
and when the said slide is moved to the right in Fig 1 the clamping device first
comes in contact with the bag, impinges it upon the folding bed, and in the further
movement of the shde to the right the bar stands still while the aims at and a'
continue to travel to the night, and the acting edge of the folding blade or its
fingers then inipinge against the bag as stated, preparatory to the downward move-
ment of the lip closing roll, which latter movement is effected by the cam Fattached
to the cam-shaft A', it having a suitable groove 39 which receives a toller on other
stud of an arm Fi pivoted upon a stud 40, the said aim being jointed to the
cantage A by a long stud 104, so that the said carriage, as it is moved for ward,
causes the screw A", see Fig 13, acting on the block A' to rock the sleeve A° and
the arms A, the return movement of the caringe A" causing the screw A" acting
ou the said block to rock or turn the arm A in the opposite duection to place the
lip-turning oll in its normal position.
As the caringe A 16 reciprocated as described, it carries the bag-presenting
mechanism with it, this being desuable, as it facilitates the detaching of the
endtnost bag from the series of bags
The screw 17 used to connect the aim 16 with the arm D", see Fig. 16, of the
carriage Do, also serves to hold an arm 31, see Figs 1, 16, 27 and 28, to which is
adjustably attached the bottom-regulating finger &, it being adapted to act on the
lower end of the endmost bag of the series of bags and push it back so that the
upper end of the bag shall have a better chance to be held forward against the hp-
holder C while the bag is to be pasted.
This bottom-regulating finger is made adjustable vertically by a screw 32, so that
the finger may be adjusted to bags of different lengths, or may be made to follow
the bottom plate A, and, as shown in the drawings, said finger has adjustable
extensions 32* held by screws 33*, said extensions providing foi bags of different
widths.
An ear A of the frame-work receives in it a stud G having a head, and upon
this stud between its head and the cam ear A, is mounted a sleeve G' having
an attached arm G' grooved or cut away at G³, see Fig. 1, to receive a loose
block G', shewn by dotted lines, upon a stud-bolt G, fast by a nut Go to an elbow
lever G having its bearing upon a stud Gs fast in the frame-work, the lower end
of the said lever G' having a roller or other stud G, which enters a cam
groove 40 in a cam Go secured to the main shaft A', the said cam vibrating
the said lever G' so that the loose block on the stud G vibrates the
arm G and sleeve G', and to this sleeve is clamped, as here represented, by
suitable bolts G" the split head G" of an aim G", provided at its front end with
the funnel G¹³, the snout 41 of which depends and is adapted to enter the open
mouth of the bag.
The arm G bas two like projections G" which support two like rock-shafts G¹³,
each provided near its upper end with an attached gear Q the teeth of which
mesh together, one of the said gears having an arm G to which 18 connected a
spring G, the other end of the spring being fast to the aim G",
The arm G has also pivoted upon it a rod G" having an adjustable stiker G",
shewn as a thumb nut, screw threaded and adapted to be adjusted on the screw-
theaded end of the rod.
The inner ends of the rock shafts referred to have like arms 6°, see Fig. 1 and
dotted lines Fig. 8 and 84, provided with spreadors 6, L, adjusted in front of the

page_text: bag opener 10, the spring G" referred to normally keeping the spreaders
substantially closed together.
The bag opener 610, as herein represented has a yielding spring-finger, suitably
attached at one end to a part of the moving arm G", the acting end of the bag
opener being preferably tinned outwardly and being adapted, as the arm is thrown
down toward the bag, to strike just above the lip holder so that the said bag-openor
will slide down in contact with said lip holder and get behind the shorter ply of the
upper end of the bag, the bag presenting mechanism at such uime being held
forward to the left, the pasting device being retracted, it having previously
operated to paste the bag
As the bag-opener enters the bag the spreaders follow it, and in then descent
into the bng the spreaders are separated towards the edges of the bag by means of
a cam finger 105 against which the end of the rod G strikes dming the descent
of the arm G", the said finger preferably having a slow vilation imparted to it
by means of a cam on the main shaft, the finger being pivoted at 106.
As the spreaders are separated, they, acting with the bag-opener, detach the
endmost bag from the series of bags, this being facilitated by the circular
movement of the bag opener while the bags stand m substantially vertical position,
but this detaching of the bag may be facilitated somewhat by at that time moving
the bag-presenting mechanisin slightly backward.
Just as the bag is fully opened by the combined action of the spicaders and the
bag-opener, and when the spreaders have a sufficient hold upon the inner side of the
bag to support or sustain it, the seeds are delivered into the bag from the snout of
the funnel, which enout then stands in the mouth of the bag.
The seeds having entered the bag, the latter must be taken off from the funnel
and the bag-opener and the spreaders, and to do this my correspondent has provided
the machine with a bag-carrier, herein represented as a pair of jaws c, c', of suitable
shape to grasp between them the lower end of the bag, the jaw c having a support c²
to receive against it the bottom of the bag.
The jaw c is secured to a rod o' supported in ears of a bar et having a shank c,
which is adjustably attached by screws c' to an arm having a split hub co, clamped
by a bolt upon the sleeve co mounted upon a stud c", the said sleeve having an
arm e provided with a roller or other stud c which enters a cam groove c" in a
came fast upon the main shaft.
The bar which receives the rod e serves as a support for the jan c¹ of the bag-
carrier, the said jaw being rigid.
The clamp having been raised to grasp the lower end of the filled bag, the
arm G is immediately elevated to elevate the finoel and withdraw the bag-opener
and spreaders from the bag, the spreaders in their upward movement being brought
together by the spring referied to.
The bag-carrier continues to descend until it places the top of the bag exactly in
folding position to be acted upon by the clamp, and by the folding blade, and by
the hip-turning device, as previously stated.
While the lip turning device is rolling down and acting against the rear side of
the lip to turn it over the folding blade, and while the bag is clamped as stated,
the bag-holding devices in their further downward movement are opened to
release the bag.
This is done by means of a slide-rod d, see Fig. 25, extended through the
stud c" and jointed to one arm of a crank d', see Fig. 2 the other arm of the crank
having a roller or other stud d', which 18 acted upon by a cam d³ set in motion by
the main shaft.
This rod d referred to, when pushed in, acts upon an arm d, of an elbow lever
mounted upon a stud d' crected in an ear d of the hub of the arm d³, another
arm of the said elbow lever, see Fig. 164, receiving through it a rodd, see
Fig. 1, which 18 connected at its opposite end to an arm d' of the shaft & roferred
to, to which is connected the movable jaw c of the bag-carrier, the movement of

page_text: the lever d' by the said slide-rod d effecting the opening of the bag carrier, the
spring 107 connected to a collar on the rod and to the arm c³, normally acting to
keep the bag-carrier jaws closed upon the bag.
The bag-cariier draws the lower end of the bag down into a bag-remover
consisting essentially of like side plates e, e, preferably made adjustable laterally
upon a rod e', mounted in a levere attached to a rock shaft & having its bearing in
a stand e secured to the frame-work.
The lever of the rock-slinafte is slotted at e' to receive a stud, to which 18
connected the inner end of a rod e, adjustably connected by a screw to a collar elo
mounted on the stud 104 which connects the arm F with the carriage A", sɔ that
as the carriage is moved backward and forward as descubed, the side plates e are
moved backward and forward, but at a greater speed than that of the carriage.
These side plates have spring fingers which, when the upper ends of the said
plates are carried backwardly which is done as the curringe A" 18 retracted and
while the lip-closer Bo rises and the bag-carrier comes up for a new bag, causes the
lower end of the bag to be carried to one side, so that the bag-carrier cununt in its
ascent stake the lower end of the bag which is previously brought down.
The filled bag drops upon the inclined plate, as seen, as the lip closing device
in its upward movement retires from the bag.
For a very short lipped bag it is preferred to provide the folding bed with a
slight transverse rib 110, sec Figs. 6 and 13 which will support the back of the bag
Just above the clamping device and between it and the upper edge of the shorter
ply of the bag, so that, when the clamping device impinges the bag against the
folding-bed, the resistance of the rib 110 will cause the upper end of the bag to
cuil forward and keep the lip from being caught under the roll, thus allowing the
ull to come well behind the lip and turn it over against the folding blade which
continues to advance after the bag has been clamped and co-operates in tucking the
end of the bag back under the advancing roll.
The b 110 may be a piece of rubber or metal cemented or secured to the
folding-bed in any suitable manner.
The filled bag, dropped as described, may be taken away by any usual means.
I will now describe the hopper and the coufiivances co-operating therewith to put
the seed or other material in measured quantities into the funuel.
The hopper H, shown in plan view Fig. 5, in elevation Fig. 1, and in enlarged
detail Figs. 3 and 34, is, in this instance, made cylindrical, and has its hub H', see
Figs 5 and 3 mounted loosely on a hollow sleeve H' forming part of a bracket II*
erected upon the fiame-work."
The hopper is suitably grooved externally, as at H, to receive a diving belt H
extended about the hopper and about an idle wheel H, see Fig. 2, the belt being
extended around a grooved pulley II' fast on the shaft A', the rotation of the shaft
1otating the hopper.
The hopper is provided at the inner side of its periphery, see Fig 10, with a
series of buckets A, see also Fig. 4, where a portion of the hopper is shewn in section,
together with one of its buckets.
These buckets, in rotation of the hopper carry up the seed or other material
Bupplied to the hopper, through preferably an opening at one side of the hopper,
see Fig. 34, at its centre of rotation, and drops the seed into a box-hike1eceptacle h',
shewn in Figs. 34, 10 and 30, the bottom or lower end of sand receptacle being
open.
The measuring device, to be described, when directly under the receptacle
receives from the latter the seed fed into it by the buckets, and the measuring
device is moved at suitable intervals away from under the said receptacle to
discharge its load of sced or other material into a funnel G" having a spout 41.
The measuring device h, shewn, consists of a box shaped somewhat like a scoop
and having, in this instance of the invention, an adjustable bottom pivoted see
Fig. 3 at , suid bottom being adapted to be raised and lowered to thereby
determine the amount of seed to be taken by the measuring device.
B

page_text: The device for adjusting the bottom is shewn as a worm 112, see Fig. 34, which
engages a series of worm teeth 113 fixed to the measuring device, rotation of said
worm in one or the other direction raising or lowering the said bottom.
The measuring device herein shewn 18 pivoted at Asee Figs. 34 and 30, upon
a collar or head clamped by screw 48 to the slide-rod h', and it is represented as
adapted to slide on a track having a downturned end 40.
When the measuring device is moved from the position shewn in Fig 3 under
the receptacle, out in the direction shewn in Fig. 30, the measuring device may tip
as it comes onto the end of the track or over the funnel, and empty its load of
Beed
The tipping over of the measuring device may also be aided by the spring-pi essed
pin 10 in the slide-rod h
The slide-rod at one side of its outer end, see Fig 5, 18 provided with a series
of teeth 410, which are engaged by a pinion on a short vertical shaft " which
is moved when the measuring device is to be actuated to supply a measured quantity
of seed to the funnel 41, the lower end of the said shaft, see Fig. 34, being provided
4th a bevelled gear which is engaged by a bevelled toothed segment ", see Fig. 3,
at the upper end of a lever 4 pivoted at 4", the lower end of said lever having a
Funtable rolle or other stud 18 which enters a camn gioove in a cam 4 loose on the
shaft A', the said cam having combined with it a clutch device to be descubed, so
that the cam will be rotated in unison with the shaft so long as a bag is properly
present upon the opening device, but should, for any reason, an envelope fail to be
taken by the opening device, then the clutch will be actunted to release the said
cam and leave the measing device at rest so that it will not be moved out from
under the receptacle and have the seed therein wasted
The aim G at its under side, see Fig. 8, has a bearing which receives a
feeler-carrier m', shewn as a bent arm, see Fig. 8 having at one end a feeler m³
and at its other end a prong m³, see also Fig 78, the sail feeler normally standing,
see Fig. 1, between the spreaders, the feelei being projected through a slot m² in
the bag opening device
A suitable spung, not shewn, normally keeps the feeler pressed toward the bag-
opener, but the pressure of the eping is so slight as to be readily overcome by the
action against the feeler of the upper end of the shorter ply of a bag into which the
bag-opening device 18 descending, such shorter ply acting to tuin the feeler to
the left viewing Fig 1 and retinct it from the said slot m; but should, for any
reason, the opening-device fail to enter a bag, then the feeler will not be pushed
back as described.
Whenever a bag is present upon the bag-opener at the time that the seed ought
to be delivered during the descent of the funnel, the said feeler, by the action
against it of the shorter ply of the bag is so turned as to place the prong m² of the
aim m² in such position that it will not hit the cam un 52, see Figs. 1, 16 and 17,
at the upper end of the levor 53 to be described which lever is instrumental in
moving the clutch before referred to, and said lever is not moved to disengage the
clutch but should a bag be absent at such time then the prong of the said arm will
strike the pin or projection 52 and will move the said clutch-operating lever 53,
see Fig 17, in the direction to free the cam 1, instrumental in moving the
measuring device so
as to leave said cam loose on the shaft A', so that the
measuring device will not be thrust forward at that time.
The lever 53 referred to, pivoted at 52*, see Fig. 17, and acted upon by a
spring 53, has its lower end curled inwardly below the block n fast on the shaft A,
the said block having a notch ', see Fig 18, into which normally enters the dog n³,
see Figs. 17 and 19, pivoted at 54 on one side of the cam 1, the said dog being
acted upon by a suitable spring 55, which normally keeps the free end of the dog
pressed toward the block n and into its notch n'.
The diameter of the block 18 less than the diameter of the cam 1%, and
the end of the dog * projects somewhat beyond the periphery of the block, see
Fig. 17, so that when the lever 53 referred to 18 turned, as stated, as when a bag 18

page_text: absent, the lower end of the lever will be put in position to be struck by the dog
in the iotation of the shaft A', and the dog will be pushed out of engagement with
the notch in the block n, thus leaving the cam loose on the shaft, a friction
device n, see Fig. 19, acted upon by a screw n', acting to prevent all motion of the
said cam as soon as the dog is released, as stated.
The flexible bag-opening device, the point of which, as herein shewn, is adapted
to be put into position with relation to the open end of the bag by means of a
lip-bolder or equivalent directing device located immediately above the mouth of
the bag, is an important and essential element of this invention and the same
of value even were the spreading devices entirely omitted, but the spreading
devices are very essential, because by them the bag is spread open and is maintained
in upright position without liability of becoming twisted about or detached from the
anout 41 of the funnel during the filling operation
This invention is not limited to the exact shape shewn for the flexible bag-opening
device.
Prior to the invention my correspondent is not aware that a bag spreading
device having a movement from the central part of the bag outward toward
its side has ever heen employed, so this invention is not to be limited to the
particular shape of the bag-spreading mechanism, or to the actuating means
therefor.
It is preferred to mount the bag-opener and the bag-sprending devices in such
relation to the funnel as to rise and fall in unison therewith
The feeler referred to, having the arm m³ and the lever 53 to control the clutch
composed essentially of the dog n³ and the collar a, constitute what I shall denominate
stop-motion mechanism for the seed-measuring device.
Prior to the invention my correspondent is not aware that a bag-filling machine
has ever been provided with a bag carrier to grasp the filled bag, take it away from
the filling devices, and put it into position with relation to the pasting and folding
mechanism; hence this invention is not to be limited to the particular construction
shewn for the bag-carrying device, oi its actuating details.
In Fig. 3 it will be noticed that the back of the hopper is bulged outwardly
or dished, as at ", and that the central portion of the dished part is open,
as at h
Outside this hopper is located a feed chute 4", having a spout
extended within
the space h, so that seeds supplied to the feed chute " by hand, or otherwise, will
be discharged into the hopper H.
The feed chute " referred to is fast upon the sleeve H*
My correspondent has attached to the feed chute an auxiliary feed chute ",
which may be supplied by seed from any elevated box or other holder for a large
amount of sted or powder, or of whatever material it may be desired to put into
the bag.
Between the main and auxiliary feed chute is a gate, Aª pivoted at A”, and this
gate may be opened more or less, as desired.
Within the main feed chute and below the said gate is a dam, composed preferably
of a bottom plate " and flexible sides **.
The rock shaft to which this dam is positively connected has an arm h",
seo Fig. 5 provided with a stud 43 which enters a slot 44, see Fig. 3, in a link
connected by some form of universal joint to an arm fast to the hub of the
arm before referred to, so that as the said arm is moved the said link is raised
and lowered, the bottom of the slot in the said link acting on the said pin to lift
the dam during the upward movement of the link, unless the said dam is already
lifted or held up by reason of the foot, see Fig. 10, resting on seed contained
in the backwardly bulged part h" of the hopper, said foot, when enough seed is in
said hopper to well supply it, riding on the seed and through the rod h", carrying
the foot and jointed to the rod on the rock-shaft 42, thus turning the rock
shaft, to hft the dam and prevent the further discharge of seed over it from the
auxiliary feed chute.

page_text: When there is insufficient seed in the hopper, the foot drops, turns the
rock-shafts, and places the pin 43 referred to in position to be struck by
the bar
The uk or 1od carrying the foot 80 is suitably guided in its movements by
means of a screw 45, see Fig 10, passed through a slot in the said rod
The underside of the measuring device is provided with a piece of felt, or other
soft yielding substance 46 secured thereto in any suitable manuer, the said felt, in
its movements in the measuring device about its centie, preventing the jamming of
any seeds which may be lying in the funnel into which the said measuring device
18 projected to discharge its seeds
The receptacle has attached to it a from portion or plate m by screws 47,
see Fig. 1, said plate having au opening m for the passage of the measuring device
into the open inner end of the funnel 41, the said plate below the outer end of the
track having a slot 48 partially surrounded by a flange 49, so that any seed thrown
out by the measuring device and not properly entered within the funnel is directed
back into the hopper.
The receptacle h' has also connected to it by suitable screws 50, a plate me, and by
the same screws 15 clamped a flexible scraper ǝl, see Fig. 10, prefeiably a piece of
india ubber, the lower end of which terminates just Hush with the top of the
measuring device, as represented in Fig. 34, so that when the said measuring device
18 moved forward or to the night viewing said fig to discharge its seeds into the
funnel, the said scraper will re
remove all the seeds flush with the top of the measuring
device, the seed so removed dropping freely back into the hopper
The finger 105 before referied to has a roller or other stud 130 which entors
a cam groove at the side of a cam 132 on the shaft A', the said cam moving the
said lever slightly to aid in correctly timing the movement of the spreaders
The upper end of the lever 105 15 shewn as cam-shaped, as is preleried, but
this invention is not to be limited to moving the said lover by a cain, as the
les ex may be held rigidly and have its acting edge cam shaped to be struck by
the part G".
The follower plate A" is, it will be understood from the foregoing description,
mounted on a sort of universal joint connection, so that the plate is free to adapt
itself to any variation in thickness of the pile of bags in front of it and pressed
toward the holding device C', and this variation in thickness may be at the sides or
bottoin, according to where the bag is lapped in its manufacture.
The down-holds by extending over the series of bags prevent the bags from being
lifted either by the pressure of the gumming mechanisin or by reason of the
reciprocation of the guide-bos containing the pile of bags.
The hip holder maintains its position with relation to the bag-opener or does not
reciprocate with the guide-box and down-holds, thus avoiding any liability of
pulling backwardly with the guide-box the lip of the bag then on the bag-opener.
While I prefer to use this hip holder because it is very certain in its operation,
yet this invention is not to be limited in all cases to its employment, for the bag-
opener, being flexible, might strike against the inner side of the lip of the bag, the
point of the bag-opener in such case not ang above the said lip.
The plate against the inner side of which the filled and sealed bag drops,
will in practice be vibrated so as to discharge the bag into a suitable box, as 133;
but as claim 18 not to be made for means for moving the plate f¹, such means
partially shewn need not be described.
By adjusting the screws A10, A", the lip-turner may be made to travel down
over the folding-bed for a greater or less distance according to the length of the
lip of the bag.
The folding blade, the roll, and the folding-bed, constitute what I denominate
the folding mechanism, but the invention is not limited to the precise folding
mechanism shown, as instead I may use any equivalent mechanism.
This invention is not limited to the exact shape shown for the bag opening
device, nor to the exact shape of the hopper, or of the funnel.

page_text: The bag-opener in this my invention is a positive device and enters the bag
between its two plies and acts very differently from a blast of air blown at the
mouth of the bag.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inved-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
-
1. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of means to present a bag to be filled, and
a flexible or yielding bag opening device to enter the mouth of aud open the bag
to be filled, substantially as described.
2. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a reciprocating guide-box to contain a
series of bags to be filled and a bag opening device to enter the endmost bag of
the series and hold it open to be filled as the said guide-box is retracted, substan-
tially as described.
3. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a hopper ;
a measuring device,
bag
presenting mechanism; a movable funnel, and an independent flexible device to
enter and open the bag in order that the contents of the measuring device may
pass from the anout of the funnel into the mouth of the bag; the measuring device
discharging its measured contents into the funnel to fill the bag, substantially as
doscribed.
4. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of bag presenting mechanism, moluding a
movable guide-box, a lip holder, a bag-oponei, and means to operate the bag-
opener to enter the endmost bag at the end of the bag presenting mechanism,
substantially as described.
5. The use. in a bag-filling machine, of bag presenting mechanism to present a
bag to be filled, an expansible bag spreading device adapted to be pressed into the
open end of the bag, and means to expand said device and hold the bag open
while being filled, substantially as described.
6. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of mechanism to present a bag to be filled,
a movable funnel, a flexible bag-opener, and means to move the funnel to cause it
to approach the bag and have its snout entered there and retracted therefrom,
substantially as described.
7. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of mechanism to automatically present and
hold a bag to be filled, and means to open the mouth of the bag, including arms
to enter and spread the bag opon, in the direction of its width, maintaining it open
while being filled, substantially as described.
8. The use, in a bag filling machine, of a hopper, a measuring device, means to
move the said measuring device from the hopper to the funnel, a funnel having a
snout and adapted to receive the contents of the measuring device; and a bag
opener to enter and hold open the mouth of the bag to be filled, in order that the
snout of said funnel may direct into the bag the contents discharged into the
measuring device from the hopper, substantially as described.
9. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a bag opening device to enter the open
end of and pick a bag off froin a series of bags, means to fill the bag opened by the
opening device; and a bag-carrier to engage the filled bag and take it from the
bag opening device and present it in position to be folded, substantially as
described.
10. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a bag-opening device to enter the open
end of and pick a bag off from a series of bags, ready to be filled, a bag-carrier to
engage the bag when filled and take it from the bag-opening device and prosent it
in position to be folded, and a folding bed and folding blado between which the
bag carrier deposits the bag to be folded, substantially as described.
11. The use, in a bag filling machine, of bag opening and spreading devices to
enter and hold open a single bag, a bag carrier having arms adapted to open and
close, and a rest to support the bottom of the bag, and means to open and close
the said carrier to enable it to grasp and take a bag from the devices holding it and

page_text: to thereafter release the bag at the desired time, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
12 The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a guide box to present a bag; a pasting
device to paste the bag to be filled, and an elastic bag opener, substantially as
described.
13 The use, in a bag filling machine, of a ginde box to present a bag to he
filled ;a pasting device to paste the bag; a bag-opening device to enter the open
end of a bag in said guide box, a folding-bed and folding blade, and a bag carrier
to take a filled bag from the bag opener and present it in position to be folded,
substantially as described.
14. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a guide box to present a series of bags,
and a pasting device consisting of a movable bar having a serios of yielding or
spring-supported pins. a paste supplying device, and means to present said pins
alternately to the paste supplying device and to the bag, the bar moving directly
from one to the other, substantially as described
15. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a guide-box to present a bag to be
pasted; a paste box; and a pasting des ice including a bar having a series of spring-
pressed pins and provided with toes, and a lug; combined with a support notched
and having a projection, to overturn the bar when reciprocated and means to
reciprocate the said bar, substantially as descubed.
16. The use, in a machine for filling bags, of a guide-box to receive a series of
bags; a folding-bed, a folding-blade adapted to impinge a part of the bag against
said bed, a oll, and actuating devices to cause it to roll over the said bed and turn
the open end of the bag over substantially as described
17 The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a guide-box to present a bag to be
filled a bag opener, a pasting device to paste the bag; a folding-hed and folding-
blade, a clamp to clamp the filled bag upon the folding-bed, and a lip turning toll
co-operating with the said folding-blade, as aud for the purpose set forth
18. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a guide-box to present a series of bags
to be filled, a series of holders or catches to act against the outer edges of and
normally retain the endmost bag, and a bag-opener to enter the bag, the opening
of the bag causing it to be withdrawn from the holdet, substantially as described
19 The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a folding-bed, a folding-blade, a lip-
turuing roll, and means to cause the said roll to travel over the said bed and lay
the lip of the bag upon the folding-blade, substantially as described.
20 The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a folding bed, the roll, the folding-blade,
and means to connect the said blade in a yielding manner with the said arm so that
the said blade may tip under the action of said toll, substantially as describod.
21. The use, in a bag-hilling machine, of a rotating hopper having pockets, a
funnel located near the said hopper, a measuring device, and means to actuate it to
carry material from the hopper into the funnel, substantially as described.
22. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a reciprocating measuring device having
its bottom pivoted thereto at one end and notched at its free end, a worm mounted
in said notch at the end of the bottom, and a worm-toothed rack engaged by the
teeth of the woim, the rotation of the latter effecting the adjustment of the bottom,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
23. The use, in a bag filling machine, of a measuring device, a rotating hopper
having devices to lift and discharge material into the measuring device, means t
reciprocate the measuring device, and a scraper to scrape and to even the material
with the top of the measuring device, the surplus material dropping back into the
hopper, substantially as described.
24. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a rotating hopper having devices to lift
and discharge material into the measuring device, a measuring device having its
bottom pivotted at one end and made adjustable in the said measuring device to
provide for more or less material, substantially as described.
25: The use, in.a bag-filling. machine, of a yielding folding-bed; a folding-blade

page_text: or device to contact with a bag on the said folding-bed, and a lip-turning device
adapted to travel over the surface of the said folding-bed, substantially as
described.
26 The use, in
a machine for filling bags, of the hopper, a cooperating
measuring device, a funnel to receive material from the hopper, a flexible bag-
opening device, and a pasting or gumming mechanism to paste or gum the bag
preparatory to closing the same, substantially as described.
27. The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a bag presenting mechanism, including
a movable guide-box to hold and present a bag to be filled; pasting mechanism
adapted to apply paste to the endinost bag of a series of bags in the guide box,
folding devices to fold the bag transversely; and a bag detainer adaptel to hold
the bag while being folded, substantially as described.
28 The use, in a bag-filling machine, of a hopper rotatable in a substantially
vertical plane; a chute leading into said hopper a dam co-operating with said
chute; and a foot located in the said hopper and moved by the material therein to
control the said dam and determine the quantity of material to enter the hopper
from the chute, substantially as described.
29. The use in a bag filling machine, of a guide-box, means to reciprocate it,
down holds to act on the upper ends of the lips of the bags, and a stationary lip
bolder, to operate substantially as described.
30. The construction and use of machinery for filling and securing bags, more
especially for seed and other small or fine material where a pile of bags in a
guide box or container is held between a follower and suitable yielding catches said
guide box preferably being reciprocated to aid detachment of the endinost bag the
material to be packed being in measured quantities delivered from a hopper
through a funnel into the bag, said bag being opened and held open by devices
acting positively all substantially as and for the pui pose set forth and shown by the
drawings
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.