US2721015A - Article bagging machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1955 J. 1.. CANALES 2,721,015

ARTICLE BAGGING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l :EIE l INVEN TOR.

Jw/A/LCAA/AL 5 mL/rma Oct. 18, 1955 J. CANALES 2,721,015

ARTICLE BAGGING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1950 6 Shee 2 INVENTOR. JOH/VLCANA E5 Oct. 18, 1955 J. L. CANALES 2,721,015

ARTICLE BAGGING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 18, 1955 J. 1... CANALES ARTICLE BAGGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 20 1950 IN: 151v TOR. JQH/VLCA/VALES 47 III IE1 =5] United States Patent Office 2,721,015 Patented Oct. 18, 1955 gineermg Company, a. copartnership'composedof said Canales, Charles C. Morris,- and C. Warren Morris ApplicationMay 20, 1950; Serial-No. 163,225 30 laimsr Cl.-226--2).

The invention relates to devices for packaging articles, and more particularly to automatic bagging machines for frozen confections of the type having an edible head carried by a stick handle extending therefrom;

An' object of the present invention is to provide a bagging machine of the character described which is arranged-- for high speed operation with a resultant large capacity output, wherein the operation is fully automatic from loading to delivery of articles, and' which is adaptable for awide variety of conventional popular size and shape frozen confections and which, notwithstanding its high-speed operation, will most carefully and precisely handle frangible types of confections and position" them in individual bags with minimum danger of breaking, cracking, chipping, marring or otherwise injuring of the confections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character above which will be of minimum size and composed of a minimum number of operating parts designed and constructed for a long and useful life of the machine and in which the various parts are readily accessible for adjustment, repairing or replacement and for cleaning and maintaining in a thoroughly sanitary condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which is designed for a straight through dropping of confections into' open topped bags to substantially eliminate surface contact with the confection, thereby safeguarding against damage thin, frangible shells of chocolate or the like sometimes used on such confections.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a more eflicient and sanitary means for opening pre-formed bags used in the machine and to effect such opening only during the period of filling of the bags.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved auxiliary bag opening means designed for use with confections having rough coatings to permit entry of the confection into the bag without danger of the coating catching on or tearing the bag.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, With the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is understood, however, that variations in the showing made by said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bagging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the bagging machine illustrated in Figure 1 with the takeaway conveyor removed and with portions broken away for clarity of illustration.

Figure 3 is a plan sectional View of the machine taken substantially'on the plane of line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken across the front of the machine with portions removed and other parts broken away to show in front elevation the magazine carriage portion of the machine and its linkage system, the view being taken at the receiving or loading position of the magazine.

Figure Sis a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the carriage and magazine in a forwardly extended delivery position, theview also showing some of the chutes underlying the delivery position of the carriage and the passage of the confections therethrough.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of the machine similar to that of Figure 3 but with the carriage in its extended delivery position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 5 and is taken substantially on the plane of the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the machine with the carriage extended and is taken sub stantially on the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the machine taken substantially on the plane of line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan sectional view of the machine taken substantially on the plane of line 10-10 of Figure 2'.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the detachable hinge connection of the bag feeding pusher plates.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing attachable bag opening fingers which may be used with the machine.

An article bagging machine of the present invention consists briefly of a magazine generally denoted by numeral 16 mounted for horizontal reciprocation between article receiving and article delivering positions and adapted to release the articles in delivery position into a row' of vertical chutes 1-7, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 for passage to bag holding means generally denoted by numeral 24 located at the lower ends of the chutes, such means being constructed to automatically release the bags when filled for dropping and passage on to the take-away conveyor 26. As will be more fully hereinafter understood, the machine may be used with a wide variety of articles of suitable size and shape for handling in the machine. The embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is particularly arranged for packaging of frozen confections. These are made of ice cream, ice-milk, sherbet or the like and are sometimes coated with a thin shell of chocolate or similar encrusting material. The particular type of frozen confection here illustrated consists of an edible head 27 which is carried on a stick handle 28 extending therefrom. In the manufacture of this type of confection a plurality of stick handles are inserted in and carried by a unit known in the art as a stickholder 29 and are transported by such holder through machinery for moulding and freezing on the sticks the edible confection head above noted. Customarily these holders are arranged to. carry two dozen confections in a grid-like arrangement of four rows of six confections. For easy and rapid loading, the present machine is designed to receive one of such stick holders with the confections depending therefrom as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in a position directly over the magazine 16 when the latter is in its receiving or loading position. To accommodate the confections carried by the stickholder the magazine is provided with a corresponding number of compartments 31 arranged in a grid-like manner of rows and columns with the compartments directly underlying the confection heads whereby all of the compartments will be instantaneously filled with the confections upon release of the confections from the stickholder. The latter operation is accomplished by displacement of a lever. 32 provided on the stickholder. The conventional stickholder is shown in cross-section in Figure 8 and is composed of a plurality of spaced superimposed plates 33,34 and 36 perforated for receipt of the stickholders and in which the center plate 34 is movable relative to the outside plates 33 and 36 so as to grip the stick handles inserted through the perforations.- The center plate 34 is appropriately connected to the lever 32 for displacement of the center plate into relatively aligned and misaligned positions of the apertures corresponding to'the released and gripped positions respectively of the stickholder.

The various cooperating parts of the invention are incorporated with and supported by a frame 37 which may be formed of any suitable structural material and which consists of four vertical members 38, 39, 41 and 42 connected together adjacent their upper ends by horizontal members 43, 44 and 46 in a boxlike structure which is supported upon a tabletop 47 in turn supported upon legs 48, 49, 51 and 52. Cross members 53, 54 and56'are secured to the legs to brace the structure and to provide support for certain of the operating members.

Means is provided at the upper end'of the machine for supporting a' confection stick holder 29 as above described in magazine loading position, and as here shown comprises a pair of parallel angle iron rails 57 and 58 adapted to engage and carry the ends 59 and 61 of the stick holder. The rails 57 and 53 are connected at the front of the machine to'a cross member 62 carried by extensions of the vertical members 41 and 42 and as they approach the rear of the machine diverge at a point to the rear of the holder 29 and are inclined downwardly and outwardly to rest upon and be secured to the upper ends of the vertical members 38 and 39. This construction of the holder supporting means makes it possible for the loading operator to stand behind the machine out of the way of any moving parts from which position he can swing the loaded stick-holder up onto the rails, the inclined portions thereof acting to align and guide the holder into loading position. Various means for positioning and supporting the holder, such as that shown in my copending application Serial No. 177,713, may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and if desired the machine may even be loaded manually.

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 8, the stickholder 29, when positioned at the forward ends of rails 57 and 58, is located directly over the magazine 16 when the latter is in its rearwardly reciprocated loading positionsee Figures 1 and 3. In this position ofthe magazine the several compartments 31, equal in number to the number of confections carried by a standard stickholder, are positioned directly under the confection heads so that upon release of the confections from the stickholder the confections will drop directly into the open upper ends of the compartments. As will benoted from Figures 3, 6 and 8, the compartments 31 are formed of straight through openings provided in a plurality of side-by-side block- like members 63, 64, 66, 67, 68 and 69 and are supported at their ends, with the confection heads in the open compartments, by an underlying plate 71 which is supported on the frame in a generally horizontal plane directlyunder themagazine 16. One or more reinforcing or stiffening members 72 may be secured to the under side of the plate 71. The plate 71 has a front to rear dimension, as seen in Figures 6 and 9, suflicient to underlie the magazine in its loading position and to support the confections while being transported from the magazine to the latters delivery position, the forward extremity of the plate terminating at the upper ends of chutes 17-23 so that the confections upon being transported by the magazine to its delivery position will be dropped directly into the upper ends of the chutes.

The several block members 6369 making up the magazine are supported by a carriage frame 73 mounted for horizontal reciprocatiorf upon parallel rails 74 and 76 suitably secured to the frame sides 3842. The carriage frame is of rectangular form generally surrounding the block-like members 63-69 and is of somewhat greater width than the aggregate widths of the block members so as to permit their relative separation as hereinafter described. The opposite sides 77 and 78 of the frame are secured to fore and aft extending arms or bars 79 and 81 which carry at their opposite ends wheels 82 which ride upon the rails 74 and 76. In order to maintain alignment of the carriage and .to prevent it from leaving the rails, the wheels 82 are formed with peripheral V-shaped grooves as best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5, which are adapted to engage and ride upon knife edged upper sides of the rails 74 and 76.

Reciprocation of the carriage and its associated magazine is accomplished by means consisting-of a pneumatic cylinder and piston type actuator 83 suitably linked to the carriage. The pneumatic actuator 83 is of the twoway type and is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure by conduits 84 and 86, a suitable two-way valve being interposed in the line to control the direction of longitudinal displacement of the piston (not shown) within the cylinder. Connection of the carriage to the actuator is efiected through link members 87 and 88 (see Figure 3) journaled to bosses provided on block members 63 and 69 and extending from block members 63 and 69 and pivotally connected to the upper ends of vertically disposed members 89 and 91 (see Figures 1 and 10) which are attached at their lower ends to a transverse carriage 92 mounted for reciprocation beneath the table top 47 and in turn connected to the piston rod 93 of the pneumatic actuator 88. Suitable slots 94 and 96 may be cut into the table top 47 to accommodate the upright drive members 89 and 91 in their fore and aft reciprocation. The members 89 and 91 are provided with rollers 97 journaled in brackets 98, the rollers being arranged to engage horizontal guide rods 99 and 101 supported by frame sides 38-42. The actuator 83 is preferably mounted beneath the table top 47 in alignment with the direction of motion of the magazine 16 and is supported by the frame cross member 56. The piston rod 93 is arranged with its free end 102 extending through an opening 103 in a member 104 carried by and depending from the carriage 92 and is adjustably secured to the member by the clamping action of two jam nuts 106 and 107 threaded on the piston end 102 on each side of the member 104. Rollers 108 are journaled to extensions 109 of the transverse carriage frame 92 and are arranged to ride upon the lower flanges of parallel channel guides 111 and 112 which are suitably connected to and supported by the table legs 48-52 by means of bolts 113 or the like.

One of the important features of tthe present invention is that the confections when released from the magazine drop vertically straight through the chutes and into the bags at the bag holding means 24. The minimum size of the bag holding means requires a separation of the chutes by a distance somewhat greater than the normal separation of the confections at the stick-holder. In the case of the latter the confections are mounted quite close together to facilitate the manufacture and transportion of the confections. leretofore it has been proposed that the confections taken from the stick-holder by a magazine are carried by the latter to chutes t'o'a bagging means and such chutes are slanted off vertically so as to direct-the confections to bagging means having a spacing somewhat greater than the confections at-the stick-holder at the upper ends of the chutes. 'Due to the fragile nature of the confections, breakage and damage is occasioned by the dropping of the confections through such angularly related chutes which provide by impact a deflection of-the dropping confection. In the present machine this difliculty and attendant loss of confections is'entirely obviatecl by spreading out the confections during. their movement to the chutes so that upon being released into the chutes the confections may drop vertically and without contact with the chute directly into the open top of a receiving bag. It is for this reason that the magazine is made up of the several separable block-like members 636 which may be separated one from the other, or contracted as the case may be, during reciprocation of the magazine, so that these members will lie close together at the magazine receiving position and be spaced a considerable distance apart at the magazine delivery position. In their spaced apart position, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the magazine members are directly aligned with the upper ends of the chutes 17-23, whereas in the contracted position, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the members are located directly under the columns of confections in the stick-holder.

The separation of the block members 6369 in the carriage of the mechanism by which they are reciprocated widthwise of the machine during the fore and aft reciprocation of the carriage between its loading and delivery positions, here includes cam means for laterally displacing the outer block members 6369 and a lost motion arrangement connecting the several block members. As will be best seen from Figures 3 and 6, there is provided at the upper face of link members 87 and 88 rollers 114 and 116 which are positioned to ride in elongated cam slots 117 and 118 provided in elongated members 119 and 121 here secured to the frame sides 43 and 44. The rollers 114 and 116 are located intermediate of link members 87 and S8 adjacent to the rear ends thereof and the cam slots 117 and 118 turn inwardly towards their rear ends as seen in Figures 3 and 6, so as to effect a swinging outward of the ends of the link members 87 and 88 during the movement of the carriage to delivery position and conversely a relative swinging inward of such ends upon movement of the carriage to its loading position. The pitch and length of angularity of the cam slots. is so determined as to locate the magazine block members 63 and 69 directly over the upper ends of chutes 17 and 23 in the delivery position (as seen in Figure 6) of the magazine, and conversely to bring the block members 63 and 69 into a tightly compacted side by side position with the other block members in the receiving position of the magazine (as seen in Figure 3).

The lost motion arrangement is utilized to insure a precise, uniform spacing of the block members in their forwardly advanced position so that the intermediate block members 64, 66, 67 and 63' will directly overlie chutes 18, 19, 21 and 22 respectively. Asbest seen in Figures 4, 5 and 7, the block members 6369 are each provided with a pair of pins 122 extending from the opposite ends thereof which are in turn supported at the front and rear sides 123 and 124 of the carriage frame, thereby supporting the block members in the frame with the bottoms of the block members spaced slightly over the top of the underlying plate 71. A plurality oflost motion links 126 are slidably carried within a groove provided in the frame sides 123 and 124 and are provided with end shoulders 127 which project upwardly to engage the pins 122. The relative dimensions and disposition of the shoulders 127 and pins 122 are such that the swinging apart of the outer block members 63 and 69 will, as the slack is taken upin each link, draw the next adjacent block member along until the limits of movement governed by the slack in the links is achieved. In this manner a uniform spacing of the block members is effected as illustrated in Figure 5. Relative alignment of the magazine as a whole is here maintained by securing the center links 126a to the frame sides 123 and 124. As is indicated in Figure 7, an identical link arrangement is used at both the front and rear of the carriage frame so that proper longitudinal alignment of the block members is at all times maintained. Cover plates 123 and 129 are preferably provided in covering relation to the several links and, as here shown,

are mounted on threaded studs 131 and 132 extending from the carriage frame. Retaining plates 133 and 134 also mounted on the studs 131 and 132 are preferably positioned between the cover plates and the links to retain the latter in place when the cover plate is removed. The cover and retaining plates may be retained on the studs by means of nuts 136 preferably provided with large knurled portions for easy grasping and turning.

Important speed. of operation and over-all capacity of the machine, as well as ease in handling of the bagged confections on the take-away conveyor 26, is obtained in the present machine by arranging for a sequential dropping of the confections from each of the successive rows of confections in the magazine. In other words, the confections, say in the foremost row, are not released simultaneously into the chutes, which would cause a simultaneous deposit and possible piling up on the take-away conveyor, but on the contrary the release of such confections is staggered so that a more uniform and distributed delivery is obtained. This sequential delivery is effected in. the present machine by staggering the positions of the several compartments with relation to a line at right angles to their movement as illustrated in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings. As here shown, the compartments 31 in block 63 are slightly rearwardly arranged with respect to the compartments in the adjacent block 64 and the latter are likewise rearward of the compartments in block 66. The compartments in blocks 67, 68 and 69 are aligned transversely with the compartments in blocks 66, 64 and 63 respectively. Thus, as the magazine moves to its delivery position confections will be first dropped into the two central chutes 19 and 21, then the two adjacent chutes 18 and 22, and finally into the two outer chutes 17 and 23. The result is a sequential dropping of the confections into the chutes as illustrated in Figure 5 and a staggered distribution of the confections on the conveyor 26 as illustrated in Figure 1.

In order to have the staggered relation of the compartments as above described and at the same time have a registration of the confections at the stick-holder with the compartments for filling, the individual compartments are made with an opening substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the confections as depicted in Figure 3. In this manner, upon release of the confections from the stick-holder, the confections drop within the open compartments and on subsequent forward movement of the magazine the confections are picked up by the rear walls of the compartments and carried forward thereby in sliding contact with the underlying plate 71.

As will be appreciated, the confections are released from the compartments upon movement of the latter over the forward edge 137 of the plate 71 which is positioned at the upper ends of the several chutes 17-23. To cooperate with the staggered release of the compartments as above described and to insure the sequential dropping of the confections, the forward edge 137 of the plate is foreshortened slightly at chutes 19 and 21, extended at chutes 18 and 22, and extended further at chutes 1'7 and 23, all as best shown in Figure 3, the amount of extersion corresponding with the amount of off-set of the compartments in the several block members above described. Preferably the forward edge portions of the drop plates at chutes 17, 18, 22 and 23 are provided with depending lips 138 which, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, extend into the chutes and are secured to the rear wall 139 thereof and function to brace the plate edges and to effect a smooth passage of the confections over the edges of the drop plate and into the chutes.

The several chutes 17-23 are arranged in a row depending generally vertically from the forward edge 137 of the drop plate and are defined by a common back wall 139 hereinabove noted, which is appropriately supported in a vertical plane by the frame 37 of the machine. Likewise, the chutes ,are provided with a common front wall 141 removably attached to the rear wall 139 in a spaced parallel position by means of a pair of screws 142, each having a knurled enlarged head portion 143 journalled in the outer wall 141 and the threaded shank portion 144 passing through a spacer 146 and the rear wall 139 and engaged with a nut 147 fixed to the rear wall as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 7. The front wall 141 is preferably formed with an outwardly and upwardly flaring portion 148 at its upper end so as to enlarge the dimension of the chutes thereon for receiving and properly directing the confections which, by reason of misalignment or otherwise, are not instantly released upon passage over the edge of the drop plate- As an important feature of the present construction, and as hereinabove noted, the chutes are arranged vertically so as to afford minimum contact and interference with. the free dropping of the confections into the wait- 7 ing open bags at the bottom of the chutes, thereby minimizing any possible damage to the confections dur ing passage through the chutes. To handle as gently as possible any confections which maybe turned or misaligned in the chutes, I provide the chutes with yielding and deflecting sides. As here shown, there is mounted between the front and rear walls of the chutes at regular intervals across the width of the machine, a plurality of thin metal strips 149 which are supported only at their upper and lower ends so as to permit the ready bowing or flexing of the intermediate portions of the strips. As seen from the drawings, adjacent pairs of pins 150 are secured to the rear wall 139 of the chutes and project forwardly therefrom to adjacent the front wall 141 near the upper and lower ends of the chutes and at the side walls defining the individual chutes from each other. The elongated strips 149 are provided with curved end portions which are snapped over the pins in a generally back to back relation of adjacent strips as illustrated in Figure todefine the sides of the chutes. in this manner not only is a yielding and deflectable side wall obtained but strips are readily removed for cleaning and replacementmTo disassemble the chutes for cleaning, the front plate 141 is removed by turning the knurled heads 143 to release the screws from the nuts as above described whenthe front plate and spacers will come off as a unit, thereby exposing the rear wall of the chutes and the strips 149. The latter may then be removed as desired for cleaning.

As hereinabove indicated, bag holding and positioning means 24 is provided at the lower ends of the chutes for insertion of each confection within a bag for delivery to the takeaway conveyor 26. A plurality of such means are used, one for each chute, and a description of one will accordingly suffice for all. The bags 151, as seen in front elevation in Figure 2 and incross-section in Figure 8, used for present purposes are of customarily open topped, generally rectangular shape and may be formed of glassine, metal foil or the like. The means 24 for positioning and holding the preformed bags to be filled with the confections, as here shown, consists of a plurality of side by side inclined bag supply compartments or troughs 152, equal in number to the number of chutes, in this case six troughs (see Figure Each trough has its lower end under one of the chutes and is provided with means for holding the bags in position to be filled. A supply of the confection bags is contained in each trough and a pusher member 153 is provided for advancing a new bag to the holding means when the'prev ious bag has been filled and drops away. The bag holding means as here shown consists of downwardly extending tabs 154 formed on the lower edge of the chute rear wall 139 (see Figures 1, 2 and 8); arranged to engage an upward extension 155 of the rear wall of each bag, and triangular tabs 156 disposed to engage and support the lower corners'of the bags' Preferably the tabs'156 are formed of relatively stiff and strong material such as brass to avoid inadvertent damage thereto while cleaning the machine,

and are removably mounted on the troughs as by screws 157. In accordance with the present invention the corner tabs 156 and the top holding tabs 154 are so dimensioned as to support the foremost bag of the row of bags in each trough only when such bag is unfilled, these tabs permitting a release of the foremost bag when filled and distended by a confection. To facilitate cleaning and for increased strength, the troughs are combined in a unitary assembly having a single plate 153 serving as a bottom for all the troughs and having vertical walls 159 adjustably and releasably secured thereto by means of screws 161 threaded into the walls through lateral slots 162 in the bottom plate (see Figures 9 and 10). Some lateral adjustment of the spacing between the side walls 159 is desired from time to time in order to accommodate the troughs precisely to the varying widths of bags which may be received. This variation is usually small but frequently production runs of even the same type of bag will have minor variations in the Width of the bags. In order to provide access to the forward portion of the table top 47 under the troughs for easier cleaning thereof, the trough assembly is pivotally supported adjacent the rear thereof for swinging of the forward end upwardly and away from the table top and lower ends of the troughs. As here shown, the lower plate 158 is provided with brackets 163 at its rear corners 164 which are preferably releasably journaled to upright posts 166 and 167 suitably fastened to and supported by the table 47, and the forward corners of the assembly are supported upon rests 158 carried by the frame 37 or table 47.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings and best shown in Figures 8, l0 and 11, each pusher member 1 53 is pivotally mounted to the rear wall 139 of the chutes and is arranged to have its weight bear against the stack of bags in the inclined troughs to urge them into the bagging station under the chutes. Preferably a length of angle iron stiffener 168 is fastened as by spot welding to the wall 139 to support the pushers 153 and carries on its horizontally extending flange 169 a plurality of pairs of vertical pins 171 arranged to span the longitudinal centerline of each of the troughs. Connection of the pusher member 153 to the stilfener '168 is effected through a link 172 journaled at one end to a pair of bosses 173 located centrally of the rear face of the pusher 153 and having a pin 174 mounted in its opposite end with its ends extending to opposite sides and arranged to engage behind the vertical pins 171. Notches 176 are provided in the flange 169 large enough to accommodate the width of the links 172 and are arranged to allow the pin 174 to be hooked over the vertical pins 171 with the link hanging freely therebetween for swinging movement in the notches, as is best shown in Figure 11. Additional weight may be and preferably is provided in the pusher member 153 by enlarging the lower portion 177 of the member, forming an opening therein and filling the opening with lead 178 or the like, see Figure 8. As will be best seen from Figure 8, the mounting of the upper end of the link 172 directly over the foremost bag in the trough positions the pusher plate 153 in an arcuately raised position when the trough is fully or partially filled with bags, thereby causing the pusher plate to constantly urge forwardly the rearmost bag of the file of bags in the trough. In this manner the file of bags is progressively moved to the front of the trough as the foremost bag of the file is filled and released. The hinging, pendulumlike mounting of the pusher plate provides a substantially. frictionless movement of the pusher plates through the length of the troughs, and the plates themselves are dimensioned so as to fit within the troughs with sufficient clearance around the perimeter of the plates to avoid scraping or'rubbing of the plates against the sides and bottom of the troughs. It will be noted that the incline of the trough bottom 158 is related to the radius and swing of the pusher plates so as to maintain the aforementioned clearance, also the pivotal connection of the lower end of the links 172 to the pusher plates permits the latter to constantly orient their planes in full face engagement with the rearmcst bag in the files within the troughs. Upon filling of the last bag in each trough, the pusher plate will descend to a substantially vertical position behind the tabs 154 and 156. By reason of the construction above described, the pusher plates and their links may be quickly and readily removed for cleaning and for stacking of the new file of bags in the troughs.

In accordance with the present invention, means is provided for effecting opening of the foremost bag in each chute so that the latter provide open topped receptacles in the bottoms of the chutes for receiving the confections dropped through the chutes. As here shown, this bag opening means consists of a jet of air directed into the open top of each bag. Preferably the air jets are arranged to pass downwardly across each chute and against the tabs 154 which act as deflector plates to direct the blast or jet of air downwardly into the open top of the bag, the velocity of the air being sufficient to snap the bag open as is shown in Figure 8. The course of the jet of air also may be seen in Figure 8 of the drawings wherein the path of the jet is indicated by the broken line 181. The jets of air are here provided by a manifold 182 formed of a length of tubing mounted across the front of the machine as seen in Figure 2 and which is provided with a plurality of orifices 183, each located at approximately the midpoint of each chute, and which are aligned with openings 18 in the front wall 141 of the chutes so as to direct the air jets along the path indicated by the line 181. Air under pressure is preferably supplied to the manifold from a storage tank or compressor (not shown) through conduits 186 and 187 releasably connected to opposite ends of the manifold tube by fittings 188 and 139. Preferably the manifold is releasably attached to the front wall 141 of the chutes to permit easy disassembly and ready removal of such wall as above described. As here shown, the opposite ends of the tube 182 are provided with a pair of strap members 190 and 191 which extend from the tube and are formed at their free ends with slots 192 engageable with pins 193 provided on the end walls 194 and 195 of the chutes. Preferably the manifold tube is precisely positioned on the front wall by snapping the tube under the heads of pins 196 provided on the front wall 141 of the chutes. See Figures 2 and 8.

As will be clear from the foregoing, the air jet impinging at the open top of the foremost bag will cause the latter to rapidly snap to an open position as illustrated in Figure 8 ready to receive the confection. With certain confections, such as those having rough and irregular coats, as where rolled in chopped nuts, candies or the like, it has been found desirable to provide auxiliary bag opening means, supplementing the air jets, in order to more fully open the bags at their sides so that the confection will not catch on the bag and pull it from the holding means before the confection has completely entered the bag. Such an auxiliary opening means is illustrated in Figure 12 where a pair of compressible flexible resilient fingers 197 and 198 are mounted to extend into the open bottom of the chutes and which are engaged by the descending confection and driven'down thereby in advance of the confection into the open top of the bag so as to fully distend the sides thereof and provide an ample opening for the confection. These fingers may be formed of rubber or other like material and are desirably perfectly smooth on all sides so as not to catch on the bags or the confections. The mounting of the fingers is such that they will assume a normal unstressed position as illustrated in Figure 12. When the bags are filled and drop away these fingers or wings will spring back to their unstressed position as illustrated to await the next confection. Means for mounting the fingers as described here consists of opposed block members 199 and 200 which clamp therebetween ends of the fingers as shown in Figure 12 and are in turn supported on the lower pairs 10 of chute pins by a threaded stud 201, washer 202" and nut 203.

As a sanitary measure and as a very important feature of the invention, means are provided for operating the air jets only when the magazine is approaching and is in its delivery position and the confections are falling into and through the chutes. This intermittent operation is extremely desirable not only in the interest of economy of operation but also to minimize the sweeping into the bags of particles of foreign matter from the atmosphere. The means for controlling the air jets as best shown in Figures l, 8 and 10 consists of valves 204 and 206 mounted in the conduits 186 and 187 and arranged to be operated by the above described forward and backward reciprocation of the carriage driving members 89 and 91 through suitable cam levers 207 and 208, the forward motion of the members as they urge the carriage 73 toward and into delivery position efi'ecting opening of the valves 204 and 206. The valves 204 and 206 are preferably of the type having a vertically extending stem 209 which when pressed down will open the valve and which is spring loaded to close the valve when the downward pressure is removed. Operative engagement of the levers with the valve stem is preferably accomplished through a cylindrical cam 211 which is eccentrically mounted to the lever by a screw 212, the eccentric mounting providing for adjustment of the throw of the lever in respect to the travel of the valve stem. The arrangement of the valve 204 together with associated operative structure is similar to the arrangement of valve 266 together with equivalent structure (see Figures 1, 8 and 10) and therefore a description of one will suflice for both. Accordingly, it will be seen in Figure 1 of the drawing that the lever 207 is arranged to be swung in a vertical are by the downward pressure of a cam roller 213 journaled to the distal end 214 of a lever 216 swingably mounted on a pin 217 fixed in the reciprocable member 91. The cam roller 213 bears against the upper surface of the lever 207 which is formed with a raised portion 218 defining a cam surface adapted to displace the lever 207 downwardly as the roller 213 passes thereover. Pins 219 and 221 are secured in the member 89 and are positioned in such manner that the pin 221 will maintain the lever 216 in vertical alignment with the member 91 for downward displacement of the lever 207 while the magazine is moving toward the delivery position. Upon reaching the end of the forward stroke of the member 91, the cam roller comes into registry with a depression 222 in the upper surface of the lever 207, allowing the lever to rise and cut off the flow of air through the valve and into the manifold 182. To augment the spring loading of the valve stem 209 and to provide quicker response the distal end 223 of the lever 207 is here shown as being connected to a spring 224 carried on a bracket 226 supported by the aforementioned post member 166. If desired and in order to maintain alignment of the various parts, a slot 227 may be provided in the lever end 223 engagable with a bolt 228 carried by an extension of the post 166. The valve 204 is not opened on the return stroke of member 89 by the cam action of the roller 213 on the raised portion 218 of lever 207 due to the location of the pin 219 in the member 89 which is disposed to allow the lever 216 to swing back as the roller traverses the raised portion 218. Upon passing the raised portion 218 on the return stroke, the roller 213 will automatically swing to its vertical reset position as seen in Figure 1. Thus the mechanism is arranged to furnish air to the air jets only while the confections are actually dropping through the chute.

The high speed and large capacity output of the bagging machine is accommodated in the present invention by the takeaway conveyor 26, which is synchronized in its operation and so related to the operation of the machine that piling up of the bagged confections is avoided. This synchronization is here provided by a drive means for the conveyor which is functionally connected to the V ating means 83 to drive the conveyor.

7 described sequential dropping and bagging of the confections. Positive synchronization of the conveyor drive with the movement of the magazine is effected by utilizing the reciprocating movement of the pneumatic actu- Such unidirectional movement of the conveyor is here obtained by means of a rack and pinion assembly 22) driving the conveyor 26 through a pulley 231 and an overriding clutch 232. i As may be best seen in Figures 1 and 8, a

gear rack 233 is secured to the transverse carriage 92 by means of an angle iron clip 234 and screws 236 and 237. The rack is aligned with the line of movement of the carriage and has an upper smooth surface 238 slidably engaged with the lower side of the actuator base support 239. A pinion gear 24 is mounted for rotation with. a shaft 242 journaled in pillow blocks 243 and 244 carried by a cross member 246 supported by the frame and is engaged with the gear teeth 247 formed on the underside of the rack. The overriding clutch 232 (see Figure 2) is mounted on the end of the shaft 242 and consists of an axially displaceable sleeve 2 38 having ratchet teeth 249 at its outer end engageable with mating teeth 251 formed on the ,end of a pawl sleeve member 252 fastened to a shaft 253 axially aligned with the shat with the pulley 231. The sleeve 243 is splined to the shaft 242 by means of a screw 25 secured in the shaft and arranged to ride in an axial slot 256 in the sleeve.

7 The sleeve is urged into engagement with the opposed pawl sleeve member by means of a helical spring 257 compressed between the sleeve and a collar 25% secured to the shaft by a screw 259. The sleeve 248 is arranged ,to project past the end of the shaft 242 and is adapted to embrace the confronting end of the shaft 253 in order to aid in maintaining alignment of the parts. Preferably the shaft 252 is journaled in a pillow block 261 mounted on the frame and the pulley member 231 is secured to the shaft for rotation therewith in outboard position as seen in Figures 1 and 2. V

The takeaway conveyor is preferably, as here shown, of an endless belt type having a width corresponding to the length of a discharge directing skirt 262 provided across the front of the machine in underlying relation to the bag holding means (see Figures 1, 2 and 8). best shown in Figure l, the conveyor as here provided consists of a flexible belt 263 trained around a head pulley drum 264 and a tail pulley (not shown), the head pulley being driven by a belt 266 which engages the above described pulley 231 and a smaller pulley 267 carried by the shaft 268 of the head pulley. As shown in Figure. 1, the conveyor may conveniently be provided with 'legs 269 having wheels 2/1 mounted at their lower ends for ease in moving away from the rest of the bagging machine for cleaning or the like. Relative spacing of the conveyor from the main machine may be effected by providing brackets 272 on the machine frame legs 4?- and 51 which have upturned hook portions 2'73 formed for hook engagement with a rod 274 carried by brackets 276 secured to the conveyor legs 269. A suitable takeup for proper tensioning of the conveyor belt may be provided in levers 277 journaled to the outer side of the conveyor legs and having a roller 2'78 arranged to be urged. against the belt 266 by a spring 279 suitably connected to the lever 27'! and conveyor leg 269.

The operation of the bagging machine may be either automatically or manually controlled. The key to the operation of the machine, as will be noted from the foregoing, is the master pneumatic actuator 83 which controls the forward and reverse movements of the magazine and synchronizes therewith the operation of the bag opening air jets and the movement of the takeaway conveyor 26.

Forward displacement of the magazine, i. e. towards its t 242 and connected As is delivery position, is effected by applying air pressure to the rear end conduit 84 of the actuator while venting the forward actuator conduit 86. Contrawise, to effect a reverse or return movement of the magazine air is applied to the forward end 86 of the actuator while the rear end 84 is vented; This selection of application of air and venting of the actuator may be handled by the inner positioning in conduits 84 and 86 and a conduit leading to the air pressure source of a conventional two-way air valve. The operation of this valve may be synchronized with the supply of confections to the machine to provide an automatic operation or it may be manually operated. I have found that in the latter case a conventional type foot operated treadle valve most convenient for the operator. a

In the operation of the machine as here depicted, the operator will first place the loaded stickholder in position as illustrated in F1gure 1 and release the confections into the magazine compartments 31. A suitable two-way air to cause an advancing of the magazine. I

As the magazine travels forward, he aforementioned spreading of the magazine members take place and by the time the first row of confections reaches the chutes the members are aligned therewith so the confections are free to drop into their respective chutes in the sequential manner heretofore described. At the same time the magazine is advancing, the rollers 213 connected .to the members 89 and 91 are traversing the upper surfaces of the air supply valve operating levers, and at the time the first confections are dropped into the chutes over the edge of the drop plate the roller engages the raised portion 278, forcing the levers downward and opening the valves 204 and 206 to allow the air to flow through the manifold and open the bags to receive the confections. At the end of the stroke, when all of the confections have dropped into their bags, the rollers 213 drop into the notches 222' in the levers and the springs 224 return the levers to their up position allowing the valves 204 and 206 to close,

thereby shutting off the bag opening jets. Simultaneously with the above described forward movement of the maga- 7 proximity and are thereby again aligned with the confections at the stick holder. It will be noted as above described that due to the construction and arrangement of the air jet valve actuators, the jets remain off during the return movement of the carriage and are not again operated until the next operating cycle of the machine. Likewise, the takeaway conveyor remains stationary during such return movement to allow removal of the bagged confections therefrom.

When the foremost row of compartments in the magazine reaches the forward edge of the drop plate the ensu-.

ing discharge of confections into the chutes is exceedingly rapid, the successive rows following each other in splitsecond order. The confections pick up speed in dropping through the chutes and on passing into the waiting open bag cause the latter to pull out of its support and descend with the confection in a follow through movement, the bags thus cushioning the fall of the confections and protecting them in their subsequent passage over the discharge skirt onto the takeaway conveyor. As the foremost bag in each file is thus removed, the next bag instantly moves into delivery position and is snapped'open by the air jet so as to be open and waiting for the confection dropping 13 from the next row in the magazine. This operation is of course repeated for each of the magazine rows. The result is the bagging of the full load of twenty-four confections from the stickholder in a single rapid passage of the magazine over the forward edge of the drop plate-in the order of a second or two.

Due to the construction and arrangement of the bag holding and opening means, a variety of different types of bags and materials may be used. The machine will satisfactorily handle metal foil and glassine bags. Where metal foil bags are used I prefer to increase the velocity of the air jets so as to provide a somewhat greater air force. On the other hand, this air force is preferably reduced somewhat for use with bags made of paper, glassine or similar types of material. According, a pressure regulator valve (not shown) is desirably incorporated in the air line to the manifold.

I claim:

I. An article packaging machine comprising, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation and composed of a plurality of compartments arranged in side by side relation adapted to receive articles to be packaged, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said magazine, package holding means registering with the lower end of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine between a position remote from said chutes and a position overlying said chutes with said compartments in vertical registration therewith, and means operative upon movement of said magazine from said first to said second position to separate said compartments into positions in vertical alignment with said chutes for release of articles into said chutes and being operative upon movement of said magazine from said second to said first position to return said compartments to a closer side by side relation.

2. An article packaging machine comprising, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position and composed of a plurality of relatively movable compartments adapted to receive articles to be packaged, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said magazine at its delivery position, package holding means registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine between said receiving and delivery positions, and means displacing said compartments into a relatively horizontally spread relation at said delivery position in registration with the upper ends of said chutes and returning said compartments into a relatively contracted relation at said receiving position.

3. An article packaging machine adapted for loading by a holder presenting said articles in a predetermined spaced relation, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position and composed of a plurality of relatively movable compartments adapted to receive articles from said holder, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from'the plane of reciprocation of said magazine at its delivery position and having a horizontal spacing difiering from said predetermined spaced relation of said articles at said holder, package holding means registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine between said receiving and delivery positions, and means displacing said compartments relative to each other during said reciprocation to align said compartments with said articles at said receiving position and to align said compartments with said chutes at said delivery position.

4. An article packaging machine adapted for loading by a holder presenting said articles in a predetermined spaced relation, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position and composed of a plurality of relatively movable compartments adapted to receive articles from said holder, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said magazine at its delivery position and having a horizontal spacing differing from said predetermined spaced relation of said articles at said holder, package holding means registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine between said receiving and delivery positions, means displacing said compartments relative to each other during said reciprocation to align said compartments with said articles at said receiving position and to align said compartmentswith said chutes at said delivery position, and means releasing said articles from said compartments into said chutes upon movement of said magazine to delivery position.

5; An article packaging machine comprising, a magazine composed of a plurality of open top and bottom compartments arranged in side by side relation adapted to receive articles to be packaged, a plate mounted under said magazine for supporting articles within said compartments, a plurality of chutes depending from an edge of said plate, package holding means registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine horizontally over said plate between a position overhanging said edge and a position over said plate interior of said edge, and means operative upon movement of said magazine to said first position to separate said compartments into alignment with the upper ends of said chutes for release of articles into said chutes andoperative upon a reverse movement of said magazine to return said compartments to a closer side by side relation.

6. In a bagging machine for confections having an edible head and handle stick extending therefrom and adapted for loading by a holder releasably supporting sticks of a plurality of confections arranged in a grid of parallel rows and columns, a frame having a holder receiving portion adapted to support a holder in position with the confection sticks and heads depending therefrom, a magazine composed of a plurality of relatively movable open top and bottom compartments arranged in side by side relation and of a size adapted to receive and carry said confection heads, a plate mounted under said magazine for supporting said confection heads within said compartments, a plurality of chutes depending from an edge of said piate and having a horizontal spacing difiering from the spaced relation of said confections at said holder, bag holding means for positioning bags with their open tops registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine horizontally over said plate between a receiving position under said frame receiving portion and a discharging position overlying said plate edge, and means displacing said compartments relative to each other during said reciprocation to align said compartments with said confections at said receiving position and to align said compartments with said chutes at said delivery position.

7. An article bagging machine comprising, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position and composed of a plurality of compartments arranged in a grid-like fashion of substantially parallel rows and columns adapted to receive articles to be bagged, a plurality of vertical chutes arranged in a row parallel to the rows of said compartments depending from the plane of reciprocation of said magazine at its delivery position in registration with said columns of said compartments, bag holding means for supporting bags with their open tops registering with the lower ends of said chutes and being formed to permit pulling of said bags therefrom when filled with articles, means for reciprocating said magazine between said receiving and delivery positions, means releasing said articles from said compartments into said chutes a row at a time upon movement of said magazine to said delivery position, and means adapted for containing and feeding bags to said bag holding means as said bags are filled andreleased in accordance with the row by row delivery of articles into said chutes.

8. An article bagging machine adapted for loading by a holder presenting said articles in a-grid-like arrangement 7 of predetermined spaced rows and columns, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position and composed'of a plurality of relatively movable compartments adapted to stantially perpendicular to said line of movement, means reciprocating said magazine between said receiving and delivery positions, and means displacing said members relative to each other during said reciprocation to align said columns with said articles at said receiving position and with said chutes at said delivery position, means releasing'said articles from said compartments into said chutes a row at a time upon movement of said magazine to said delivery position, bag holding means for supporting bags with their open tops in registration with the lower ends of said chutes and being formed to permit pulling of said bags therefrom when filled with articles, and means adapted for containing and feeding bags to said bag holding means as said bags are filled and released in accordance with the row by row delivery of articles into said chutes.

V 9. In a bagging machine for confections having an edible head and handle stick extending therefrom and adapted for loading by a holder releasably supporting sticks of a plurality of confections arranged in a grid of parallel rows and columns, a frame having a holder receiving portion adapted to support a holder in position with the confection sticks and heads depending therefrom,

a magazine composed of a plurality of relatively movable open top and bottom compartments arranged in a grid like fashion of rows and columns and of a size adapted to receive and carry said confection heads, a plate mounted under said magazine for supporting said confection heads within said compartments, a plurality of chutes depending from an edge of said plate in a row parallel to the rows of said compartments and having a horizon- .tal spacing ditfering'from the spaced relation of said columns of confections at said holder, bag holding means for positioning bags with their open tops registering with the lower ends of said chutes and being formed to permit pulling of said bags therefrom when filled with confections, means for reciprocating said magazine horizontally over said plate between a receiving position under. said frame receiving portion and a discharging position overlying said plate edge to thereby release confections from said compartments a row at a time, means displacing said compartments relative to each other during said reciprocation to align said columns of compartments with said confections at said receiving position and to align said columns of compartments with said chutes at said delivery position, and means adapted for containing and feeding bags to said bag holding means as said bags are filled andreleased in accordance with the row by row delivery of confections to said chutes.

lO. In an article packaging machine adapted for loading by a holder presenting said articles in a grid-like arrangement of predetermined spaced rows and columns, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its delivery position in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage and having a' horizontal spacing differing from the predetermined spaced relation of the columns of articles at said holder, a plurality of members supported for relative- 16 movement by said carriage with each member providing a column of article receiving compartments substantially parallel to the line .of movement of said carriage and collectively providingfrows of compartments substantially perpendicular to said line of movement, means reciprocating said carriage betweensaid receiving and delivery positions, means adjusting the relative spacing of said members during said reciprocation to align said members with the columns of said articles at said receiving position 'and'with said chutes at said delivery position, and means releasing articles from said compartments into said chutes a row at a'time upon movement of said carriage to said delivery position. v

11. in an article packaging machine adapted for loading by a holder presenting said articles in a grid-like arrangement of predetermined spaced rows and columns, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocationrbetween a receiving position and a delivery position, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its deliveryposition in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage and having a horizontal spacing (littering from the predetermined spaced relation of the columns of articles at said holder, a plurality of side bytside members supported, for relative movement by said carriage with each member providing a column of article receiving compartments substantially parallel to the line of movement of said carriage and collectively providing rows of compartments substantially perpendicular to said line of movement, means reciprocating said carriage between said re ceiving and delivery positions, lever means connecting said members with said reciprocating means, cam means operatively connected to said lever means and operable to displace said members toward each other and apart upon said reciprocation, link means connecting said members whereby desired relative spacing of said members will be maintained in spread and closed positions thereof registering with said articles at said holder and with said chutes at the receiving and delivery positions respectively of said carriage, and means releasing articles from said compartments into said chutes a row at a time upon movement of said carriage to said delivery position.

12. In an article packaging machine adapted for loading by a holder presenting said articles in a grid-like arrangement of predetermined spaced rows and columns, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its delivery position in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage and having a horizontal'spacing difiering from the predeterminedspaced relation of the columns of articles at said holder, a' plurality of side by side members supported for relative movement by said carriage with each member providing a column of article receiving compartments substantially parallel to the line of movement of said carriage and collectively providing rows of compartments substantially perpendicular to said line of movement, means reciprocating said carriage between said receiving and delivery positions, levers connecting the outermost of said members with said reciprocating means and provided with cam followers intermediate their ends, cam guides mounted in fixed relation to said chutes and operatively engaging said cam followers for swinging said levers with their associated members together and apart upon said reciprocation, lost motion links connecting said 'mernbers to effect relative movement thereof for alignment with the articles at said holder and with said chutes at the receiving and delivery positions respectively of said carriage, and means releasing articles from said co mparmients into said chutes a row at a time upon movement of said carriage to said delivery position.

' 13. An article packaging machine, comprising, a'carriage mounted for hOIIZOHtEl'IBClPI'OCa'ElOD between a receiving position anda delivery position, a plurality chute for opening said bags in a row with 17 of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its delivery position in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage, and means carried by said carriage having a plurality of compartments arranged in rows and columns substantially perpendicular and parallel respectively to said direction of movement for successive registration of the rows of compartments with said chutes, means cooperative with said compartments to release articles therefrom when in said registration with said chutes, the compartments in each row being staggered from each other in the row so as to effect a staggered delivery of articles to said chutes.

14. An article packaging machine comprising, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation between article receiving and delivery positions and composed of a plurality of open top and bottom compartments arranged in rows and columns substantially perpendicular and parallel respectively to the direction of movement of the magazine for receiving and transporting articles to be packaged, a plate mounted under said magazine for supporting the articles Within said compartments during said transporting and having an edge at said delivery position for releasing said article from said compartments, a plurality of chutes depending from said plate edge for receiving said articles, the compartments in each row and said plate edge being staggered with respect to a line at right angles to the direction of movement of said magazine to thereby effect a staggered delivery of the articles in each row to said chutes,

15. An article bagging machine comprising, a vertical chute formed for receipt of articles to be bagged and adapted to direct their downward passage in successive order, bag holding means for supporting a bag with its top in registration with the lower end of said chute and being formed to permit pulling of said bags therefrom when filled with said article, means adapted for feeding bags to said bag holding means as said bags are filled and released, and means for intermittently opening said bags for receipt of said articles in synchronization with the release of said article into said chute.

16. An article bagging machine comprising, a vertical chute for directing the downward fall of an article to be bagged, bag holding means for supporting a bag with its top in registration with the lower end of said chute and being formed to permit pulling of said bags therefrom when filled with said article, means containing a supply of bags to be filled, means adapted for feeding bags from said last named means to said bag holding means as said bags are filled and released, and bag opening means synchronized with the dropping of said article through said bag.

17. An article bagging machine comprising, a vertical chute formed for receipt of articles to be bagged and adapted to direct their downward passage in successive order, means for supporting a plurality of open topped the foremost bag at the lower end of said chute for receipt of an article, said means being formed to permit pulling of said bags therefrom when filled with said article, means automatically advancing said bags in said row to said chute as said bags are filled and released, means mounted for directing a stream of air into the open top of said foremost bag to effect opening thereof, and means synchronized with the deposit of articles in said chute for supplying air to said last named means.

18. In a machine for inserting articles into pre-formed open topped bags of rectangular shape and provided with an upward extension of one of the bags sides, means for supporting a plurality of said bags in a row and provided with stops engageable with the lower corners only of the foremost bag in the row thereby permitting pulling of said foremost bag from said means when filled with an article, a chute formed for receipt of articles to be bagged and adapted to direct their downward passage in successive order, the lower end of said chute registering with the upper end of said foremost bag and formed with a downwardly extending tab adapted to engage and laterally support the upward extension of said bag, and means mounted for directing a stream of air against said tab for deflection into the open top of said foremost bag to effect opening thereof.

19. In a machine for inserting articles into pre-formed open topped bags of rectangular shape and provided with an upward extension of one of the bags sides, means for supporting a plurality of said bags in a row and provided with stops engageable with the lower corners only of the foremost bag in the row thereby permitting pulling of said foremost bag from said means when filled with an article, a chute formed for receipt of articles to be bagged and adapted to direct their downward passage in successive order, the lower end of said chute registering with the upper end of said foremost bag and formed with a downwardly extending tab adapted to engage and laterally support the upward extension of said bag, means mounted for directing a stream of air against said tab for deflection into the open top of said foremost bag to effect opening thereof, valve means controlling the supply of air to said last named means, and means operating said valve for synchronism with the deposit of articles into said chute.

20. An article packaging machine comprising, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its delivery position in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage, said carriage providing a plurality of compartments for support of said articles and arranged in rows and columns substantially perpendicular and parallel respectively to said direction of movement for successive registration of the rows of compartments with said chutes to effect a row at a time delivery of articles into said chutes, means for supporting a plurality of open topped bags in rows With the foremost bag of each row at the lower end of one of said chutes and being formed to permit pulling of said foremost bag therefrom when filled with an article, means automatically advancing said bags in said rows to said chutes as said bags are filled and released, means mounted for directing a stream of air into the open top of each of said foremost bags to effect opening thereof, and means synchronized with the movement of said carriage to said delivery position for supplying air to said last named means.

21. An article packaging machine comprising, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its delivery position in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage, said carriage providing a plurality of compartments for support of said articles and arranged in rows and columns substantially perpendicular and parallel respectively tosaid direction of movement for successive registration of the rows of compartments with said chutes to effect a row at a time delivery of articles into said chutes, means for supporting a plurality of open topped bags in rows with the foremost bag of each row at the lower end of one of said chutes and being formed to permit pulling of said foremost bag therefrom when filled with an article, means automatically advancing said bags, in said rows to said chutes as said bags are filled and released, means mounted for directing a stream of air into the open top of each of said foremost bags to effect opening thereof, drive means for reciprocating said carriage, a valve connected for opening and closing the flow of air to said air directing means, and means connecting said drive means and .Valve and opening and closing said valve in the delivery and receiving positions respectively of said carriage.

22. An article bagging machine comprising, a carriage mounted for reciprocation between article receiving bagged and for effecting row by row delivery thereof upon movement of said carriage to delivery position, drive means for reciprocating said carriage, bagging means formed and mounted to support a row of bags in position to receive said articles from said carriage at its said deliveryposition and to automatically release said bags for dropping when filled with said articles, a conveyor mounted to receive and carry away bagged articles released from said bagging means, and conveyor drive means connected to said first drive means and constructed to impart a unidirectional movement to said conveyor away from said bagging means only during the movement of saidtcarriage in the direction of its delivery position to space out said bagged articles on said conveyor.

23. An article bagging machine comprising, a carriage mounted for reciprocation betweenarticle receiving and delivery positions and composed of a plurality of rows. of compartments for containing and transporting articles to be bagged, means releasing said articles from said compartments at said delivery position in a sequential order with the release of articles in each row being staggered, drive means for reciprocating said carriage, bagging means formed and mounted to support a row of bags in position to receive said articles from said caniage at its said delivery position and to automatically release said bags for dropping when filled with said articles, a conveyor :mounted to receive and carry away bagged articles released from said bagging means, and conveyor drive means'connected to said first drive means and constructed to impart a unidirectional movement to said conveyor away from said bagging means only during the movement of said carriage in the direction of its delivery position to space out said bagged articles on said conveyor.

, 24. An article bagging machine comprising, a plurality 'of vertical'chutes arranged in a row and formed for receipt of'articles ,to be bagged and adapted to direct their downward passage in successive order, an inclined plate having its lower edge at the lower end of said chutes, a plurality of wall members carried by said plate and defining side by sidetroughs aligned with said chutes and adapted'to support a pluralitytof open topped bags in upright position and in files with the foremost bag in each file positioned at the lower end of one of the chutes for receipt of an article, means securing said walls to said plate'for lateral adjustment, 'means for opening the foremost bag in each file, means supporting each of said foremost bags at the lower end of one of said chutes for release when filled with an article, and means for advancing'said files of bags to position the next bag in the file in said"su'pportingmeans' as said foremost bags are filled and released. 7

p 25,. An article bagging machine comprising, a plurality of vertical chutes arranged in a row and formed for receipt of articles to be bagged and adapted to direct their downward passagein successive order, an inclined plate having its lower edge at the lower end of said chutes, a

plurality of wall members carried by said plate, and defining side byf side troughs aligned with said chutes and adapted to support a plurality of open topped bags in .upright position and in files with the foremost bag in each file positioned at the lower end of one of the chutes for receipt of'thearticles, pivot means attached to said inclined plate at it's upper edge and arranged to permit said 'plate and its associated wall members to be swung to an invertedposition, means for opening the foremost bag "in each file, means supporting each of said foremost bags at the lower end of one of said chutes for release when filled with an article, and means for advancing said files lof'bags to position the next bagin the file in said supporting means as said foremost'bags are filled and released.

26. An article bagging machine comprising, a vertical ichute formed for receipt of articles to be bagged and adapted to directtheir downward passage in successive order, means formed to support aplurality of open topped bags in generally upright position and in a file with the foremost bag of the file presented to the lower end of said chute for receipt of an article to be bagged and being formed to permit pulling of said foremost bag from said means when filled with an' article and to advance said file, flexible resilient finger members of relatively soft compressible material mounted at the opposite sides of said chute adjacent its lower end and extending into said chute in downwardly converging relation for displacement by an article into the open top of said foremost bag to distend said bag for receipt of said article, said fingers being mounted and constructed to spring back into their position aforesaid in said chute upon release of said foremost bag.

27. In a machine for packaging frangible articles a plurality of article carriers adapted for receiving a row of articles at a first station and for dropping said articles at a second station remote from said first station, packaging means formed for releasably holding a row of article receiving'bags below said second station with the spacing of said bags being different than the spacing of said articles at said first station, a plurality of vertical chutes positioned between said second station and said packaging means for directing the fall of said articles into said bags,

means for moving said article carriers from said'first station forwardly and laterally to said second station and into a position thereat in vertical alignment over the upper ends of said chutes, and means for releasing articles from said carriers into said chutes at said second station,.said vertical chutes being formed with sidewalls composed of eiongatedfiexible springtmembers supported adjacent the upper and lower ends of said chutes for resilient flexing of the intermediate portions of said members when tengaged by a falling article.

28. An article packaging machine comprising, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciprocation and composed of a plurality of article carriers arranged in side by side relation and adapted to receive articles to be packaged, a plurality of side by side vertical chutes depending from the plane of reciprocation of said magazine, package holding means registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating said magazine between a position remote from said chutes and a position overlying said chutes with said article carriers in vertical registration therewith, and means operative upon movement of said magazine from said first to said second position to separate said article carriers into positions in vertical alignment with said chutes for release of articles into said chutes and being operative upon movement of said magazine from said second to said first position to return said article carriers to a closer side by side relation. f

29. An article packaging machine adapted for'loading by a holder presenting said articles in a predetermined spaced relation, a magazine mounted for horizontal reciproc'ation between a receiving position and a delivery position and composed of a plurality of relatively movable I article carriers adapted to receive articles from said holder, a plurality of vertical chutes depending from the plane 'of reciprocation of said magazine at its delivery position and having a horizontal spacing differing from said predetermined spaced relation of said articles at said holder, package holding means registering with the lower ends of said chutes, means for reciprocating saidmagazine between said receiving and delivery positions, means displacing said article carriers relative to each other during said reciprocation to align said carriers with said articles at said receiving position and to align said carriers with,

said chutes at said delivery position, and means releasing said articles from said article carriers into said chutes 'upon movement of said magazine to delivery position.

30. An article packaging machine comprising, a carciage mounted for horizontal reciprocation between a receiving position and a delivery position, a plurality of vertical chutes'depending from the plane of reciprocation of said carriage at its delivery position in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage, said carriage providing a plurality of article carriers for support of said articles and arranged in rows and columns substantially perpendicular and parallel respectively to said direction of movement for successive registration of the rows of article carriers with said chutes to efiect a row-at-a-time delivery of articles into said chutes, means for supporting a plurality of open topped bags in rows with the foremost bag of each row at the lower end of one of said chutes and being formed to permit pulling of said foremost bag therefrom when filled with an article, means automatically advancing said bags in said rows to said chutes as said bags are filled and released, and means synchronized with the movement of said carriage to said delivery position for directing a stream of air into the open top of each of said foremost bags to effect opening thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent 0 UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,288 Novotny Dec. 5, 1939 18,492 Allen Oct. 27, 1857 308,542 White Nov. 25, 1884 10 762,275 Bowden June 14, 1904 837,602 Benenato Dec. 4, 1906 864,408 Campbell Aug. 27, 1907 1,794,517 Hellman Mar. 3, 1931 2,219,827 Kimball et a1. Oct. 29, 1940 15 2,335,500 Anderson Aug. 8, 1944 2,358,447 Creamer Sept. 19, 1944

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