Patent ID: 12227326

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “at least one”.

FIG.1is a simplified perspective view from above of a bag closing device10with a closure strip guide assembly24according to one aspect. More particularly, bag closing device10is constructed similar to the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,972 using frangible strips30of individual closures, or clips32that are individually loaded onto the necks of product bags, herein incorporated by reference. Bag closing device10includes an upper housing assembly12, a lower housing assembly14, a closure reel assembly16, and a closure strip guide assembly24. Reel assembly16includes a pair of bag closure reels20and22configured to store wound reels of frangible strips30of closures32and a vertical structural support post18rigidly affixed to upper housing assembly12. A bag feed assembly34is carried by upper housing assembly12and lower housing assembly14configured to feed a bunched bag neck into bag closing device10to apply a closure32, as known in the art. A retractable, or pivotal door28is magnetically affixed to define an expansible guide assembly26with remaining components of closure strip guide assembly24.

FIG.2is a component closure strip guide assembly24for the bag closing device10ofFIG.1according to one construction. More particularly, closure strip guide assembly24has a front door28that is magnetically and pivotally affixed to a back plate44of guide assembly24comprising ferrous metal that attracts magnets. Door46includes a pair of magnetic latch assemblies, or plate keepers36and38each affixed onto a front plate42of closure strip guide assembly24with a threaded fastener86. A pair of hinge assemblies58and60aligned on a common vertical axis affix between hinge mounts48and50on a mounting base plate40and outer plate42of door28. A one-way spring clip assembly46is affixed with threaded fasteners onto front plate42operative to limit motion of a strip of closures, or clips (not shown) from an entrance end52to an exit end54of closure strip guideway26. Guideway26is expansible in the event of a jam or layered stack-up of clips in a strip as the magnets in magnetic latch assemblies36and38generate an attraction for between plates42and44even when spaced apart by several thicknesses of clips that are stacked up, or jammed, in guideway26. In this manner, guideway26is expansible, or capable of increasing in a dimension matching the thickness of a closure so that multiple nested, or stacked clips can pass between plates42and44while magnetic latch assemblies36and38hold them together in an urged together, yet floating relationship that can have varying thickness, or depth in guideway26. Such operation can enable continued and uninterrupted operation of a bagging machine even when a jam occurs as the machine continues to deliver a strip of closures and the extra layer(s) of overlapped, or jammed clips merely pass-through expanded guideway26out through outlet, or exit end54. Finally, a bushing mount56for bag feed assembly34(seeFIG.1) is press fit (into a bore) or welded onto plate40.

FIG.3is a simplified perspective view from above of bag closing device10with closure strip guide assembly24and showing front pivot door28of the closure strip guide assembly24open relative to mounting plate40. Strip32of closures, or clips30are shown entering expansible guideway26on upper housing12.

FIG.4illustrates component closure strip guide assembly24for the bag closing device ofFIG.2showing front plate42of pivot door28of the closure strip guide assembly24pivoted, or expanded into an open position relative to rear plate44and mounting plate40suitable for maintenance and/or cleaning. Such position is beyond the ability of magnetic latch assemblies36and38to urge, or magnetically attract together plates42and44when under normal operation or when slightly expanded during a multiple layer stack-up, or jamming of closures, or clips. Plate42includes an aperture, or window80extending along guideway26from adjacent an upstream end52to a downstream end54that enables a user to view progression and status of a strip of closures being feed along guideway26, including any jammed or overlapping layers of the strip of closures, or individual closures. Aperture, or window62is also provided in plate42through which one-way closure spring retainer46extends to engage a strip of closures moving downward along guideway26and preventing any upward movement. Finally, aperture, or window82is provided in back plate44(and mounting plate40) to enable feed finger92of closure strip feed finger assembly90(seeFIG.9) to engage and incrementally move a strip of closures or clips downwardly along guideway26.

As shown inFIG.4, door28comprises front plate42which is pivotally affixed to mounting plate40via hinge assemblies58and60, and hinge mounting blocks48and50are affixed with a respective threaded fastener76onto mounting plate40and to the upper housing assembly12(seeFIGS.1and3). Additionally, threaded fasteners, or bolts78further affix mounting plate40onto the upper housing assembly12(seeFIGS.1and3). An array of threaded fasteners72cooperate with threaded fastener74to affix back plate44onto a front surface of mounting plate40. According to such implementation, spacer side strips64and66are integrally formed, or machined from back plate44to provide for guideway26which forms undercut side walls, or edges68and70that further retain and guide a strip of clips being conveyed along guideway26from an entrance, or upstream end52to an exit, or downstream end54.

FIG.5is a vertical sectional view taken through line5-5ofFIG.6showing magnetic latch assembly affixation, or attachment of the front plate42to the back plate44of the closure strip guide assembly24to define guideway26. Back plate44is further affixed to mounting plate40. More particularly, each magnetic latch assembly36and38comprises a cylindrical metal outer housing shell84configured with an inner bore sized to contain a cylindrical rare earth magnet85to outer plate42. According to one construction, outer plate42is made from stainless steel and housing shell84is made from aluminum. Other suitable materials can also be used.

FIG.6is a front elevational view of bag closing device10with closure strip guide assembly24ofFIGS.1and3with the front plate42of the pivoting front door28in a closed operating position. Door28is held together with magnetic latch assemblies36and38to provide a normal single closure thickness dimension on expansible guideway26to receive strip30of closures, or clips32. Bag feed assembly34is shown in a wheel-engaged, or closed operating position carried by upper housing assembly12and lower housing assembly14.

FIG.7is a front elevational view of bag closing device10ofFIG.6with closure strip guide assembly24having door28and front plate42shown in a completely open position suitable for cleaning, loading and/or maintaining closure strip guide assembly24. A portion of the bag feed assembly is shown pivoted out of the way to facilitate viewing of components on upper housing assembly12and relative to lower housing assembly14. As shown rotated about hinges58and60, magnetic latch assemblies36and38are spaced far enough from plate44and ferrous metal spacer side strips64and66so as to not impart significant magnetic attraction sufficient to close door28. Slidable guidance of strip30of closures, or clips32is more clearly shown in resulting guideway26of rear plate44as door28and front cover42are pivoted to such open position.

FIG.8is a front elevational view of bag closing device10with closure strip guide assembly24ofFIG.6showing sectional cut lines9-9and10-10forFIGS.9and10, respectively, taken to show components of closure strip guide assembly24, but omitting upper housing assembly12and lower housing assembly14shown inFIG.8. Magnetic latch assemblies36and38are shown in a closed position for closure strip guide assembly with strip30of closures, or clips32received in guideway26.

FIG.9is a vertical sectional view of a closure strip feed finger assembly90and expansible guideway26provided by closure strip guide assembly24taken along line9-9ofFIG.8. Feed finger92of closure strip feed finger assembly90are supported for articulation relative to upper housing assembly12to engage and incrementally move a strip30of closures, or clips32downwardly along guideway26. Front plate42is shown magnetically affixed to back plate44with a thickness gap sized to pass a single thickness of strip30of closures32between them. Spring steel clip assembly46flexes in operation to allow downward movement of each closure32in strip30, but engages with a top edge of each closure to prevent any reverse or upward motion.

FIG.10is a horizontal sectional view of one magnetic latch assembly36taken along line10-10ofFIG.8and showing affixation of assembly36onto front plate42. More particularly, magnet85of assembly36(as well as assembly38) is affixed into a complementary cylindrical bore94formed in stainless steel front plate42so that magnet84is sufficient close to magnetically couple with back plate44through a thin portion of plate42. Threaded fastener86is offset radially within an outer periphery of aluminum cap84, housing magnet85and threaded into front plate42. Such structures are further supported by mounting plate40, as previously described above.

FIG.11is a perspective front view from above of one alternative construction component closure strip guide assembly124for a bag closing device, such as device10ofFIGS.1-10, over assembly24shown. According to such alternate construction, a magnetic plate keeper, or retainer is provided via magnetic latch assemblies136and138with a closure strip guide assembly124having spacer side strips164and166separate from back plate144, but affixed together via fasteners. Plates142,144and strips164and166cooperate to provide expansible guideway26. In addition, closure strip guide assembly124is also implemented to work with a bag closing device that cuts, or severs individual closures, or clips from a strip of clips similar to the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,596,928, herein incorporated by reference.

Also shown inFIG.11, door128is pivotally affixed via hinge assemblies158and160via hinge mounts148and150, respectively, to mounting plate140. Spring steel clip assembly146is affixed to front plate142to prevent upward movement of a strip of clips. A flexible finger cutter196engages with a complementary cutting edge198on plate144to sever individual closures, or clips from a strip. A cam drive plate195is pivoted to rotate finger cutter196to engage cutting edge198.

FIG.12is a perspective front view from above of component closure strip guide assembly124ofFIG.11. More particularly, door128and included plate142is shown pivoted to an open cleaning or maintenance position carried by mounting plate140. Closure cutter edges196and198are provided at a downstream, or bottom end of expansible guideway126. Separately formed spacer side strips164and166are affixed with threaded fasteners to form undercut grooves168and170of guideway126which further help to guide and retain a strip of closures as they are moved downwardly through guideway126.

FIG.13is a front elevational view of closure strip guide assembly124ofFIG.12. More particularly, hinge assemblies158and160, magnetic latch assemblies136and138, and spring steel clip assembly146are shown mounted to front plate142at various illustrated locations for pivotal support on mounting plate140. Closure cutter edges196and198are shown provided at a downstream end of guideway126

FIG.14is a vertical sectional view of closure strip guide assembly124taken along line14-14ofFIG.13. More particularly, Front plate142and back plate144are held together to form an expansible guideway126for a strip of closures (not shown). Plates142and144are affixed onto mounting plate140. Spring steel clip assembly146is carried by plate142to prevent upward movement of a strip of clips, while cutting edges196and198cooperate in engagement to sever individual closures, or clips from a strip.

FIG.15is a simplified perspective view from above of a second alternate component closure strip guide assembly224over that shown inFIGS.1-14having a magnetic plate keeper, or retainer236on a front plate242that translates relative to a back plate244with a closure strip guide assembly having spacer side strips264and266formed as separate pieces attached onto back plate244. Retainer236comprises a rectangular array of spaced apart magnets similar to the magnets used in the assemblies ofFIGS.1-14. However, plates242and244are urged together to define a normal single closure depth guideway between plates242and244and bounded on sides by space side strips264and266. A rectangular array of headed posts, or bolts258align with bushing bores260in front plate242(and affix to plate244) to allow plate242to move toward and away from plate244to accommodate motion that realizes an expansible guideway depth between plates242and244when closures jam, or stack up in multiple layers during a misfeed operation.

FIG.16is a simplified perspective view from above of a third alternative component closure strip guide assembly324over that shown inFIGS.1-15having a spring-biased plate keeper, or retainer engaging a front plate342to translates and bias against a back plate with closure strip guide assembly324having spacer side strips364and366mounted separate from and onto a back plate344. Guide bushings or bores360slidably receive corresponding headed posts, or fasteners358(mounted to plate344) each having a coil spring336to cooperate with plate342so as to bias plate342against plate344to provide a single thickness closure gap that expands during a jam and compresses springs336.

FIG.17is a simplified perspective view from above of a fourth alternative component closure strip guide assembly424over that shown inFIGS.1-16having a weighted pivoting plate keeper, or retainer offset weight336on a front plate442that translates by rotation about pivot axis358relative to a back plate44with closure strip guide assembly424having spacer side strips464and466separate and attached onto back plate444.

FIG.18is a simplified perspective view from above of a fifth alternative component closure strip guide assembly524over that shown inFIGS.1-17having a rectangular array of mating snap fastener assemblies536each having a male snap538and a complementary female snap539that together form a plate keeper, or retainer on a front plate542and back plate544that unsnap under undue load to let front plate542translate relative to back plate544with closure strip guide assembly524having spacer side strips564and566separate and affixed onto back plate544. Accordingly, snap assemblies come undone when there is a jam or overlap of strips passing between plates542and544along a guideway therebetween, generating an increase in thickness of the guideway during the jam.

FIG.19is a simplified perspective view from above of a sixth alternative component closure strip guide assembly624over that shown inFIGS.1-18having a rectangular array of hook-and-loop fastener assemblies each having a male hook adhesive pad639and a female loop adhesive pad638on plates642and644, respectively. The resulting plate keeper, or retainer on front plate642translates relative to back plate644when a jam occurs, increasing thickness of a resulting guideway, with closure strip guide assembly624having spacer side strips664and666separate and affixed onto back plate644.

FIG.20is a simplified perspective view from above of a seventh alternative component closure strip guide assembly724over that shown inFIGS.1-19having a spring clip plate keeper, or retainer736held by one of front plate742and back plate744that translates and release relative to one of plates742and744when a closure jam occurs to increase thickness, or slot depth of a resulting guideway, and with closure strip guide assembly724having spacer side strips764and766separate and affixed onto back plate744.

In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entire invention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodiments shown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.