US1796494A - Filled-bag-closing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1931. c. s. THOMPSON FILLED BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1931. C. s THOMPSON 1,796,494

FILLED BAG CLOSING MACHINE F'Ied Nov. 16, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 (3J 0 L? 4 J g 4f @i e L? f l y p |uw"" :hD o o 2y J3 y o o L40 a olaf March 17, 1931. CY S. THQMPSQN 1,796,494

' A FILLED BAG` CLOSING MACHINE Filed Nov, 16. 1928 6 SheetSSheeI 5 March 17, 1931. C 5 THOMPSON 1,796,494

FILLED BAG CLOSTNG MACHINE Filed Nov4 16. 192 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 17 1931- c. s. 'rHoMPsoN 1,796,494

FTI'LT) BAG GIIQSNG MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 192 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 17. 1931- C. S. THOMPSON FILLED BAG CLOS] NG MACHTNI.)

Filed NCWv 1, 192

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE*` y cHAnLEs's. THOMPSON, or rAnx man, ILLINOIS, AssIoNon A"lo UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOI ILLINOIS FILLEDBAGCLOSING MACHINE Application ned November 16,1928. serial NQ. 319,792.

The invention relates to' new and useful improvements in a filled bag closing machine, and more particularly to a machine for clos ing large bags containing heavy material.

An Object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type which includes a unit conveyor attached to the frame of the lilledbag closing machine, but supported independently thereof, and driven from actuating mechanism forming a part vof the closin machine.

A irther Object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the conveyor is capable of a limlted vertical` adjustment, and w erein the closing machine includes a sewing head mounted on a supporting column so as to overhang the conveyor, which sewing head is also shiftable on the column to various set positions for 2' adapting the machine for bags of different heights. Y

A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type-,

head is mounted on the wherein the sewin f'column by the an? of shiftablc supporting bars extendinvr on opposite sides of the co1- umn and capalble o a wide ran of adjustment so that the machine may supported well out from the Column and properly set for stitching relatively lar e bags.

A still further object el?F the invention is to provide a machlne of the above type wherein the sewing head is mounted on a sleeve shiftable on the column, and a counterbalance is provided for counterbalancing the weight of the machine and sleeve so as to facilitate the vertical adjustment of thel sleeve, and wherein the sleeve is adjusted by a hand-operated mechanism which includes a brake for supporting the machine in any position to which it may be shifted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine, of the above type wherein the sewing mechanism is driven from a transmitter mounted on the frame of the machine, and the driving mechanism includes means whereby the sewing head may lowered without disturbing t e driving connection for the sewing mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is be raised and `to vprovide amachine of the above type wherein the driving motor is mounted at one end of the main supporting frame of the machine, and a counter-shaft at-the other end, which is actuated by the motor, and wherein the transmitter is located intermediate the motor and the counter-shaft so that the transmitter may be driven from said countershaft, and wherein the counter-shaft may also be used to operate through a train of gearing, the conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type with a treadle controlled means for controllin the clutches between the counter-shaft an the conveyor, and also between the countershaft and the transmitter, whereby the conveyor may be operated alone, or the conveyor and sewing head maybe simultaneously in front elevation from the front of the machine with the sewing head and the conveyor unit removed. l

Fig. 3 is a front view of the lower portion of the machine showing a part of the conveyor unit. i

Fig. 4 is an end View of the machine with the conveyor unit removed.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in plan and partly in section showing a portion of the actuating Ifnechanism and the control mechanism there- Fig. 6 is a view partl in section and partly in front elevation o the wmain actuating parts and thecontrol therefor:

The invention is Vdirected to aiilled ba@r closing machine which is especially designe?. for closing large bags containing heavy materials. The machine includes a main frame on which the sewing head supporting means is mounted in such a way that the sewing head overhangs the side of the main frame and beneath this sewing head is a conveying mechanism which is in unit form so that it may be attached to or detached from the main frame. Gn this main frame is a motor` and mechanism actuated thereby for operating the sewing head and for driving the conveyor. The main frame consists of a comparatively narrow base portion at one end of which is mounted a motor and at the other end a cross shaft driven by suitable connection from the motor. Intermediate the motor and the cross shaft is a column at the upper end of which the sewing head is mounted. On this column is a bracket which is capable of vertical adjustment thereon and for actuating the sewing head.

shafts at the end of the conveyor.

the sewing head is attached to a supporting plate carried by rods mounted on the bracket so that it may beadjusted in an endwise direction on the rods' for shifting the position of the sewing head toward and from the column. Within the colmun is a counterwei ht connected by a suitable device with the bracket so as to counterbalance the weight of the bracket. This device connected to the counterweight passes around a pulley mounted on a shaft in such a way that the device turns with the pulley and does not slip thereon. The shaft is provided with a hand wheel whereby it may be rotated so asl to raise and lower the head, and a suitable braking device is provided for holding the shaft in various set positions. Suitable means is also provided for preventing the bracket from rotating on the column as it is raised and lowered.

Mounted on the column is a supporting bracket for a transmitter. The transmitter is actuated by a belt connection with the cross shaft. This transmitter drives a beltJ This belt runs over idlers which are so disposed that the weight may be adjusted without disturbing the driving connection of the belt. The transmitter is treadle controlled. There is a clutch mechanism between the cross shaft and the motor which is also controlled from the same treadle and these parts are preferably so arranged that the cross shaft may be connected to the motor without connecting the transmitter to the cross shaft and by a further movement of the treadle the transmitter may be connected to the cross shaft. In front of the main supporting frame is a unit conveyor consisting of an endless supporting means on which the bags are placed and conveyed to and by the stitching mechanism. rShe endless support trav-- els over suitable sprocket wheels carried by These shafts are mounted in the frame of the unit conveyor and the frame is supported on suitable devices so that it may be raised and lowered 'to properly position the same relative to the main frame. The frame of the unit conveyor is bolted to the main frame.

On the end of one of these shafts driving the conveyor is a sprocket wheel which is connected by a sprocket chain to a sprocket on an auxiliary cross shaft connected by a reducing gearing to the main actuated cross shaft. This sprocket chain connection permits the conveyor to be raised and lowered to a limited extent. Means is provided for adjusting the position of the driving shafts for the conveyor in the supporting rame.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the filled bag closing machine includes a main supporting frame which is provided with a supporting base 1. This supporting base is relatively narrow so that the base may be mounted on suitable devices for transportation and be readily moved through ordinary doorways from one department to another. Mounted at one end of this base is a motor 2 carrying a belt wheel 3. Mounted in suitable bearings at the other end of the supportin base is a main cross shaft e. As shown in *ig 5, this main cross shaft a has a friction pulley 5` keyed thereto and loosely mounted on the cross shaft is the driving pulley 6. A belt 7 runs over this driving pulley 6 and the belt pulley 3 of the motor. A suitable guard 8 is provided for covering the belt. This belt pulley 6 is carried by a. sleeve which is capable of endwise movement of the shaft 4.

The belt pulley is movedendwise into engagement with the friction pulley 5., and

thus it is that the cross shaft is connected up to the motor. The sleeve carrying the belt pulley 6 is moved endwise'by a rock lever 9. This rock lever 9 is shifted by means of a link 10 connected to an arm l1 carried by a control cross shaft 12. This control cross sha-ft is mounted in suitable bearings 13 carried by the supporting base 1 of the machine. The shaft terminates at the front side of the main frame and is pro vided with a depending arm 1a which is connected to a link 15 extending longitudinally of the supporting base. This link is moved endwise by 'a mechanism which will be dcscribed later, for the purpose of imparting a slight oscillation to the control cross shaft 12. When the shaft is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, it will more the rock lever 9 so as to release the clutch pulleys, and when turned in the opposite direction it will move the rock lever 9 so as to bring the clutch pulleys into engagement.

Also mounted on a bracket 1G carried by the supporting base 1 is a lever 17 which is connected by nier-.ns of a link 113 to en air-in 19 irojecting upvfardly from the control cross shaft 12. The other end of the lever 17 is provided with a brake shoe Q0 which is adapted te engage the driven friction pulley when itis released from thevdriving belt pulley 6.

Rising from the supporting base 1 is a supporting column 21. This supporting column 21 is located between the motor and the main cross shaft 4. Adjacent the upper end 'of the column 21 is a sleeve bracket 22. This sleeve bracket 22 is in the form of a split sleeve' connected by . suitable bolts 23, 23 whereby the sleeve may be properly adjusted for free movement on the column.'` 4

Mounted on opposite sides of the sleeve bracket 22 are lugs 24, 24 in which are rigidly secured supporting rods 25, one in each lug,

and these rods are clamped lirmly in the lugs by set screws 26. Mounted at the outer end of these rods 25, 25 is a supporting plate 27 to which the sewing head 28 is bolted. The supporting plate is provided with laterally projecting lugs 29, 29, and these lugs are mounted respectively on the rods 25, 25. lA hand operated set screw 30 is provided for each lug29 so that the supporting ,plate for the sewing head 'may be firmly clamped to the rods. This supporting plate is adjustable endwise on the rods and thus it is that the sewing head may be shifted toward and from the column.

The sewing head includes a needle bar 31 disposed in a horizontal position and reciprocated by suitable means operated from a main actuating .shaft provided with a belt pulley 32. The/parts of the sewing head are of the usual construction, and detailed del scription thereof is not thought necessary.

Mounted on the cross shaft is a pulley 35. The column is hollow and located within the column is a counterbalancing weight 36. A cable 37 is attached to this vcounterbalancing weight and is given a complete turn about the pulley 35 and the other end of this cable is attached to an arm 38 formed integral vwith the sleeve bracket 22. On the end of the shaft 34 is a hand wheel 39. Mounted on the shaft 34 adjacent the inner bracket 33 is a drum 40. Two brake straps 41, 41 engage the sides of the drum. These brake straps are attached to a pin 42 carried by the inner supporting bracket for the shaft 34. Thus it is that the brake straps are held from rotation with the shaft.

A threaded ro'd passes through the free ends of the brake straps and a nut 43 on the end thereof is adapted to press these brake straps against the drum on the shaft 34 and this provides a brake which will hold the shaft from movement except when the hand wheel is grasped and turned so as to overcome the frictional Igrip of the brake straps. This provides a means whereby the shaft 34 may be turned `by hand thus turning the pulley 35 so as to raise and lower the sleeve bracket carrying the sewing head and the brake shoes will firmly hold the shaft from `movement in any position to which it may be set.

The above means enables the sewing head to be quickly raised and lowered on the supporting column and properly set for stitchiner the bag which is conveyed thereto.

Mounted on this column 21 intermediate its ends is a second sleeve bracket 44. This sleeve bracket 44 carries a power transmitter 45 of the usual construction. transmitter is provided with a belt wheel 46. A belt 47 running over this belt wheel also runs over a belt wheel 48 fixed to the cross shaft 4. A guard 49 is'provided for covering the belt 47. This transmitter is provided with a driven belt wheel 50. A belt 51 runs over this belt wheel 50. Mounted on the sleeve bracket 22 is a pair of idlers 52 and the belt 51 runs over one of these idlers, thence over the belt wheel 32, and thence .over one of a pair of idlers 53 and over an idler 54 carried by a bracket 55 at the upper end' of the column 21. This provides a means whereby the sleeve bracket 22 carrying the sewing head may be raised and lowered without, in any way, disturbing the driving connections for the sewing head.

Vhen the cross shaft 4 is connected up to the motorthrough the operation of the control cross shaft above described, the driving belt wheel of the transmitter will be set into operation. This, however, does not set into operation the driven belt wheel of the trans- .mitten This is controlled by a suitable lever 56 (see Fig. 4).

The lever 56 at its outer end is connected to a link 57 and the link .57 at its lower end is connected to an arm through the lever 9 and a spring surrounding this link lies between a collar fixed to t-he link 10 and the end of the lever 9. When there is a pull on the link 10 it moves the belt wheel into frictional driving contact 'with the pulley attached to the cross shaft and after these parts have been brought into engagement there is'a limited range of movement for the link 10, the spring which is indicated at'10a being compressed at this time.

Likewise, the link 57 may have a limited movement after the transmitter clutch parts are connected. By adjusting these movements the control devices may be set so that when the control shaft is turned by the operator, the cross shaft 4 will first be connected to the motor and driven thereby. When this cross shaft is connected up to the motor, then the driving belt wheel of the transmitter is set into operation. A furtherV The power `cross struts 64.

movement of the control cross shaft will connect the driven wheel of the transmitter with the driving wheel thereof and thus set into operation the sewing head.

The conveyor unit consists of an endless conveyor of the usual type. As shown, it includes a series of slatted members carried by sprocket chains. These slatted members are fixed to the chains and project beyond the chains where they are provided with suitable supporting devices 6l adapted to run along the upper frame member 62 of the conveyor, while they are conveying the filled bag. There is a lower frame member 63 and these frame members are connected by There is a connectin bracket 65 at each end of these upper an lower frame members and in each bracket 65 is mounted a shaft 66. The shafts are mounted in bearings 67 and at one end at least of this conveyor the bearings are capable of adjustment 1n the supporting brackets therefor and are held in adjusted position by adjustable bolts 68a. 0n each cross shaft there is a pair of sprocket wheels 68, 68. The chains carrying the slatted members run over these sprocket wheels 68. The upper and lower frame members with their connected parts and parts supported thereby are adjustably mounted on short standards 69, 69 so that the frame for the conveyor and the conveyor may be raised and lowered to a limited extent. These standards are provided with slots 70through which clampin bolts 7l pass., and this is what affords the means for the vertical adjustment of the conveyor unit. This conveyor unit may be at tached to the main frame of the closing machine and this is accomplished by means of brackets 72, 72 which are bolted to the base l of the frame, as clearly shown in Fig.

2. Each bracket is provided with a slot 7 3 and bolts 7 -ft passingthrough suitable plates connectingr the upper and lower frame members are attached to these brackets 72. The slots permit of the raising and lowering of the conveyor unit to a limited extent as has been described.

The shaft 66 at the left as viewed in Fig. is extended so as to project within the main frame of the machine and on the end of this shaft is a' sprocket wheel 75. A sprocket chain 76 runs over this sprocket wheel and over a sprocket wheel 77 carried by an auxiliary cross shaft 78. Mounted on this auxiliary cross shaft is a gear wheel 79 (see Fig. l)

` which meshes with a gear wheel 8O carried by an intermediate cross shaft 81. A gear 82 on this intermediate cross shaft meshes with a gear 83 on the shaft 4. rThese gears are so proportioned that the auxiliary cross shaft 78 is driven at a less speed than the cross shaft 4. Thus it is that the cross shaft l when set in to operation will actuate through this sprocket chain 76 the conveyor.

By roviding a sprocket drive between the auxi iary cross shaft 78 and the conveyor, the conveyor may be raised and lowered to a limited extent and there is no danger of the driving parts getting out of proper actuating alignment.

Mounted in the frame of the conveyor unit is an auxiliary control cross shaft 84. This cross shaft is provided with a depending arm to which the link l5 is connected. On the outer end of this auxiliary control cross shaft 84 is a horizontal arm 85. This horizontal arm is provided with a foot pad 86. The main control cross shaft 12 is provided with a projecting arm 87 on which a weight 88 is mounted. The weight tends to rotate the shaft 12 in a clockwise direction and thus release all the clutches. When the foot pad is released the control shafts will be turned through this wei ht so as to release the clutches. This raises the pad and when the pad is depressed the cross shafts will be turned so as to bring about first a connecting of the belt wheel 6 to the friction'al driving wheel 5 and this sets into operation the cross shaft 4. lVhen the cross shaft l is set into operation it will operate through the train of reduction gearing' the conveyor at a reduced speed and it will also set into operation the driven wheel of the transmitter. A further depression of the control treadle will connect the clutch parts of the transmitter and set into operation the sewing head,

From the above it will be apparent lthat there has been provided a filled bag closing machine which may be used for closing large bags containing heavy materials. The conveyor unit is very rigidly constructed and is of considerable length so that the filled bags may be placed thereon and conveyed to and past the sewing mechanism. The slatted arrangement of the conveyor running over su ports therefor while conveying the bag will carry the heavy bag without sagging as it is presented to the stitching mechanism. The sewing head is mounted on a column so that it will overhang this conveying unit when attached to the main frame of the closing machine and the sewing head may be shifted toward and from the column so as to be properly positioned laterally of the movement of the bag and it may also he raised and lowered so as to be positioned at the proper height. The hand means for raising and lowering the sewing head may be stopped in any position andthe sewinghead will be firmly supported for operation without requir`- ing any locking means for holding the parts in the position to which they have been shifted. By providing rods on which the plate carrying the sewing head is mounted there is a wide range of adjustment of the machine toward and from the main supporting frame. The motor is located at one end of the main supporting frame and the cross shaft from which the sewing unit and conveyor units are operated is mounted'at the other end of the frame. The supporting column is located between the motor and this frame and as a result these parts may be positioned so that the frame as a whole is comparatively narrow.

This together with the fact that the conveyor unit may be detached from the main supporting frame enables the machine to be readily shifted through comparatively nar.

row doorways from one part of a plant to another. The conveyor unit is driven by a train of gears proportioned so as to reduce the speed and this provides a very positive eiicient drive for the conveyor. This driving mechanism also permits the conveyor to be supported independently of the closing machine frame although it is attached thereto for holding the unit and the closing machine in proper assembled position. The conveyor unit is independently supported to a large extent and this removes the strain of carrying the heavy filled bags from the main frame of the machine; The control for the actuating parts is very simple and of few parts and one treadle is used for setting into operation the conveyor, bringing the bag to the sewing position, after which by further depression of the treadle the sewing head is operated for closing the bag.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of i the parts may be made without departing I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1. A filled bag closing machine including a main supporting frame, a unit conveyor extending alongside of said frame, means for independently supporting said conveyor, ac-

tuating means mounted on the frame for driving the conveyor, a supporting column carried by the frame, a sewing head mounted on the column and overhanging the frame, means for raising and lowering the sewingl head on said column, actuating means carrie by the frame for driving the sewing head, said means for raising and lowering the head including a sleeve movable up and down on said column, spaced bars extending along the opposite sides of the sleeve, and a supporting plate adjustably carried at the outer end of said bars on which said sewing head' is mounted.

2. A lled bag closing machine includingr in combination, a main supporting frame, a unit conveyor extending alongside of said frame, means for independently supporting said conveyor, means for connecting the con'- veyor to the supporting frame, actuating means carried by the supporting frame for operating the conveyor, a sewing head overhanging said conveyor, means for supporting said sewing head whereby the same may raised and lowered, a transmitter mounted on said sup orting frame, means carried by the frame .or actuating the transmitter, a driving mechanism operated by said transmitter for actuating the sewing head, said driving mechanism lncluding devices whereby said head may be raisedxand lowered Without disturbing the driving mechanism.

3. A filled bag closing machine including in combination, a main supportin frame, a unit conveyor extending alongsi e of said frame, means for independently supporting said conveyor, means for connecting the conveyor to the supporting frame, a motor mounted on said supporting frame, a counter-shaft carried by said supporting frame and actuated by the motor, a train of reduction gearing actuated by said counter-shaft for operating said conveyor, a sewing head, means for supporting said sewing head so as to overhang said conveyor, a transmitter mounted on the supporting frame. and actuated from said counter-shaft, driving means for actuating the sewing head from said transmitter, said sewing head being shiftable vertically relative to the conveyor, and said driving means including devices whereby the sewing head may be shifted without disturbing the driving means.

4. A filled bag closing machine including in combination, ay main supporting frame, a. unit conveyor extending alongside of said frame, means for independently sup orting said conveyor, means for connecting t ie conveyor to the supporting" frame, a motor mounted on said supporting frame, a counter-shaft carried by said supporting frame, and actuated by the motor, a train oi reduction gearing actuated by said counter-shaftJ for operating said conveyor, a sewing head, means for supporting said sewing head so as to overhang said conveyor, a transmitter mounted on the supporting frame and actuated from said counter-shaft, driving'means for actuating the sewing head from said transmitter, said driving means including devices whereby the sewing head may be shifted without disturbing said driving means, and a single treadle controlled means for connecting the driving train of mechanism from the conveyor to the counter-shaft, and for connecting said actuating means for-the transmitter to the counter-shaft.

5. A iilled bag closing machine including in combination a main supporting frame, a unit conveyor for conveying filled bags alongside of said frame, said conveyor including a supporting frame structure, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame structure, means for supporting said frame structure of the conveyor independently of the main supporting frame of the closing machine, means for detachably connecting said frame structure of the conveyor to said main supporting frame, a sewing head mounted on the frame and overhanging the conveyor, and actuating devices mounted on the main frame for actuating said sewing head and for actuating said endless conveyor.

6. A filled bag closing machine including in combination a main supporting frame, a unit conveyor for conveyingfilled bags along- 10 side of said frame, said conveyor including a supporting frame structure, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame structure, means for supporting said frame structure of the conveyor independently of the main support ing frame of the closing machine, means for detachably connecting said frame structure of the conveyor to said main supporting frame, a sewing head mounted on the frame and overhanging the conveyor, actuating de- 0 vices mounted on the main frame for actuatf in said sewing head and for actuating said en less conveyor, and a single 4treadle controlled means for connecting the conveyor to the driving means and for connecting the sewin head to said driving means.

7. filled bag closing machine including inccombination a main supporting frame, a unit conveyor for conveying filled bags along side of said frame, said conveyor including a 3o supporting frame structure, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame structure, means for supporting said frame structure of the conveyor independently of the main supporting frame of the closing machine, means for detachably connecting said frame strucy ture of the conveyor` to said main supporting frame, a sewing head mounted on the frame and overhanging the conveyor, a motor mounted on said main supporting frame, a

counter-shaft carried by the main frame and actuated by the motor, devices actuated from the counter-shaft for operating the conveyor, devices actuated from the counter-shaft for actuating the sewing head, and a single treadle controlled means for connecting the sewing head to the counter-sh aft and the conveyor to the counter-shaft.

8. A filled bag closing machine including in combination a main supporting frame, a

column carried by said frame, a sewing head mounted on the column and overhanging the frame, means for raising and lowering the sewing head on said column, actuated means carried by the frame for driving the sewing head, said means for raising and lowering the head including a sleeve movable up and down on said column, spaced bars extending along opposite sides of the sleeve, anda support- .ing plate adj ustably carried at the outer ends of said bars on which the sewing head is mounted.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CHARLES S. THOMPSON.

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