US2919789A - Bag machinery - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1960 COAKLEY 2,919,789

BAG MACHINERY Filed June 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

Jan. 5, 1960 L. COAKLEY 2,919,789

BAG MACHINERY Filed June 9, 1958 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office 2,919,789 Patented Jan. 5, 1960 BAG MACHINERY Lige Coakley, East Pepperell, Mass., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, M0,, a corporation of Missouri Application June 9, 1958, Serial No. 740,692

16 Claims. (Cl. 198-35) This invention relates to bag machinery, and more particularly to apparatus for accumulating bag tubes.

Among the several objects of the invention may be notedthe provision of an apparatus for receiving bag tubes, such as multiwall paper bag tubes, delivered thereto one after another, as from a tuber (which is a machine for forming webs of paper into continuous multiwall tubing and segmenting the tubing into individual bag tubes), and accumulating a number of tubes; the provision of apparatus such as described including means for stacking these tubes; the provision of apparatus such as described adapted for adjustment to accumulate different numbers of tubes; the provision of apparatus such as described adapted for adjustment to accommodate different lengths of tubes; and the provision of apparatus such as described which is of relatively economical construction and reliable in operation. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordinglycomprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an accumulating and stacking apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and,

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus ofthis invention is shown to comprise a supporting framework 1 carrying a first endless conveyor belt 3, a second endless conveyor belt 5 and a third endless conveyor belt 7. The first belt 3 is adapted to receive bag tubes T issuing one after another from a'tuber (not shown, but which would be to the left of Figs. 1 and 2). The bag tubes T are delivered on to the upper reach 3a of the belt 3, this belt being driven in clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 so that its'upper reach 3a travels toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1-3. Belt 3 is trained around a rearward pulley 9 and a forward pulley 11 supported by the framework 1. The second belt 5 is trained around a rearward pulley 13 and a forward pulley 15 supported by the framework 1, and has an upper reach 5a which ,is generally coplanar with the upper reach 3a of the first belt 3. The rearward pulley '13 for the second belt 5 is spaced forward of the forward pulley '11 for the first belt -3 so that there is a space as indicated at 17 in Fig. 3

between the forward end of the upper reach 3 of belt 3 2 and the rearward end of the upper reach 5a of belt 5. The latter is driven in clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 so that its upper reach 5a travels forward (toward the right) the same as the upper reach 3a of belt 3. The speed of belt 5 is preferably greater than the speed of belt 3, though not necessarily so.

The framework 1 includes a platen 19 for supporting the upper reach 3a of belt 3 and a platen 21 for supporting the upper reach 5a of belt 5 (see Fig. 3). These platens and the upper reaches of the belts are preferably inclined upward in forward direction as appears in Fig. 1, though not necessarily so. In some instances, they may be horizontal. Between the forward end of the upper reach 3a of belt 3 and the rearward end of the upper reach 5a of belt 5 there is a plate 23 coplanar with platens 19 and 21 supported by the framework. Mounted on the under side of this plate 23 is a suction box 25. Plate 23 has suction holes 27 above the box. A blower 29 is mounted under the belt 3 on the framework 1. The inlet of the blower is connected to the suction box 25 by a line 31 which includes a valve 33 of a type adapted alternately to establish a connection between the blower and the box for drawing a vacuum in the box or venting the box to atmosphere. Valve 33 is operated by a cam 35 on-a camshaft 37 journalled in bearings 39 mounted on a platform 41 supported by the framework 1.

A variable speed drive unit 43 is mounted on the platform 41. The input shaft 45 of this unit is driven from the crimp roll camshaft 47 of the tuber via a chain and sprocket drive as indicated at 49. The output shaft 51 of this unit is connected by a gear box 53 to the camshaft 37. Belt 3 is driven from a variable speed drive motor 55 by means of a chain and sprocket drive 57 connected to the shaft 59 of the forward pulley 1.1 for belt 3. Belt 5 is driven from shaft 59 by means of a chain and sprocket drive 61 connected to the shaft 63 of the rearward pulley 13 for belt 5. This drive is preferably a speed-increasing drive so that belt 5 travels faster than belt 3, though not necessarily so.

Extending up from the framework 1 on opposite sides of the upper reach of the first belt 3 are posts 65 for supporting side bars 67. A rod 69 extends transversely above the upper reach 3a of belt 3 having its ends mounted in blocks 71 slidable on bars 67. Rod 69 carries pivoted hold-downsv 73. Side guides (not shown) may be provided if desired for side-guiding bag tubes T on belts 3 and 5. Extending up from the framework 1 on opposite sides of the upper reach 5a of belt 5 adjacent its forward end are posts 77. A rod 79 extends transversely above the upper reach 5a of belt 5 having its ends mounted in the posts 77. Arms 8-1 pivoted on rod 79 carry a spoked rubber-tired wheel 33 adapted to bear down on the belt 5 where it travels down and around the forward pulley 15.

The third belt 7 is located forward of and below the forward end of the second belt 5. It is trained around rearward and forward pulleys and 87 supported by the framework 1 and has a horizontal upper reach 7a supported by a platen 89. Belt 7 is driven by an electric motor 91 and a speed reducer 93 via a chain and sprocket drive 95 connected to the shaft 97 for the forward pulley 87. Motor 91 is under control of a switch 99 intermittently actuated by a cam 101 on camshaft 37 (see Figs. 2 and 4). Extending up from the framework 1 on opposite sides of the upper reach 7a of belt 7 are posts 103 supporting side bars 105. A rod 107 extends transversely above the upper reach 7a of belt 7 adjacent the forward end of reach 7a, the rod having its ends mounted in blocks 109 slidable on bars 105. A gate 111 is pivoted on rod 107 and adapted to hang down with its lower edge immediately above the upper reach 7a of belt 7. The gate has a notch 113 adapted to receive a latch 115 for latching the gate in vertical position. Latch 1315 is pivoted on a bracket 117 mounted on the rod 107 and controlled by a solenoid 119 mounted on the bracket. The solenoid is controlled by switch 99, being energized when the switch 99 is actuated by cam 101 to retract the latch and allow the gate to swing forward and upward. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the electrical circuit 121 which connects switch 99 to motor 91 and solenoid 99 includes an adjustable timer 123 for establishing a predetermined interval of operation of motor 91 and solenoid 99 independently of the speed of the camshaft 37.

Operation is as follows:

Belts 3 and 5 are continuously driven by motor 55. The camshaft 37 is continuously driven from the tuber at a speed related to that of the tuber. Belt 7 is driven only intermittently, when cam lldl actuates the switch 9 and for the interval imposed by the timer 123. The blower 29 is driven continuously by its own motor. Bag tubes T issue from the tuber one after another and are deposited on the upper reach 3a of belt 3 in overlapping fashion. The tubes are fed forward by the upper reach 3a of belt 3. When the bottom tube of an accumulation of tubes on beit 3 travels beyond the forward end of the upper reach 3a of belt 3 and over the suction holes 27 in plate 23, it is gripped to plate 23 by suction (valve 33 at this time being set for drawing a vacuum in the suction box Successive bag tubes continue to travel forward to some extent, sliding forward one over another, and ultimately a number of tubes pile up on the arrested bottom tube in a pile as indicated at P in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein the forward end of each successive tube is offset rearward from the forward end of the preceding tube.

When pile P has been completed, the cam 35 actuates valve 33 to vent the suction box 25 to atmosphere. This releases the grip on the bottom tube of the pile, and the pile is freed to be fed forward by belt 5. The tubes T accumulated in the pile P travel down off the forward end of the upper reach 5a of belt 5 and onto the belt 7 where they stack up with their forward ends engaging the rear face of the gate 111 in the stack designated S. Then, switch 9? closes, energizing solenoid ll) to release latch 13.5 and energizing motor 91 to drive belt '7 to feed the stack 5 forward and onto a table (not shown) from which they are removed by an offbearer. Stack S, in moving forward, swings the gate 111 up and out of the way. When the stack S travels out from under the gate, the gate swings back down under its own weight, and is relatched. Blocks 109 are slidable on bars M5 to adjust the position of the gate lengthwise of belt 7 for accommodation of different lengths of tubes.

The number of tubes T which accumulate in the pile P is determined by the interval between operations of the valve to vent the suction box 25 to atmosphere. This interval may be varied for varying the number of tubes which accumulate in the pile P by adjusting the variable speed drive unit 43 to vary the speed of the camshaft 37 relative to the speed of the tuber. The adjustment may be such, for example, as to allow for accumulation of from ten to forty tubes in the pile. The cam 161 is so developed and phased as to actuate the solenoid 1119 to release gate fill and initiate operation of the belt 7 at the appropriate time after the release of of the vacuum grip on the bottom tube of the pile P such as to allow for the feeding forward onto the belt 7 of all the tubes in the pile. The time interval established by timer 123 for operation of the belt 7 is sufficient for the stack 5 to be fed forward off belt 7.

While the apparatus is described above in reference to the accumulation and stacking of ba tubes, it will be understood that it is useful for accumulating other flexible fiat articles. In some instances, the apparatus may be used without the stacking feature to divide the stream of bag tubes issuing from the tuber into bundles of a desired size without makin a complete break between bundles.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for accumulating flexible fiat articles, such as bag tubes, comprising a first conveyor for receiving the articles one after another from a source with the articles lying on the conveyor in overlapping relation and for feeding the articles in forward direction, a second conveyor forward of the first conveyor also adapted to feed articles in forward direction, the rearward end of the second conveyor being spaced forward of the forward end of the first conveyor, means between the forward end of the first conveyor and the rearward end of the second conveyor for arresting one of the articles and allowing a number of articlm to accumulate one over another on said one arrested article, said arresting means comprising suction means for gripping the said one article by suction, and means controlling said arresting means and acting intermittently to cause said means to release the said one arrested article, whereupon the second conveyor feeds the accumulation of articles forward.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said conveyors comprises an endless belt, each belt having an upper tube-feeding reach, the upper reaches of the belts being generally coplanar, the rearward end of the upper reach of the second conveyor belt being spaced forward of the forward end of the first conveyor belt.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arresting means comprises a suction box for gripping the said one article by suction, a blower, and a line connecting an inlet of the blower to the suction box for drawing a vacuum in the box, and wherein said controlling means comprises a valve in said line adapted alternately to establish a connection between the blower and the box or to vent the box, and means for operating the valve.

4. Apparatus for accumulating and stacking flexible fiat articles, such as bag tubes, comprising a first conveyor for receiving the articles one after another from a source with the articles lying on the conveyor in overlapping relation and for feeding the articles in forward direction, a second conveyor forward of the first conveyor also adapted to feed articles in forward direction, the rearward end of the second conveyor being spaced forward of the forward end of the first conveyor, means between the forward end of the first conveyor and the rearward end of the second conveyor for arresting one of the articles and allowing a number of articles to accumulate one over another on said one arrested article, said arresting means comprising suction means for gripping the said one article by suction, means controlling said arresting means and acting intermittently to cause said means to release the said one arrested article, whereupon the second conveyor feeds the accumulation of articles forward, and means forward of the second conveyor for receiving the accumulation of articles from the second conveyor and aligning the forward ends of the articles.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said conveyors comprises an endless belt, each belt having an upper tube-feeding reach, the upper reaches of the belts being generally coplanar, the rearward end of the upper reach of the second conveyor belt being spaced forward of the forward end of the first conveyor belt.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said arresting means comprises a suction box for gripping the said one article by suction, a blower, and a line connecting an inlet of the blower to the suction box for drawing a vacuum in the box, and wherein said controlling means comprises a valve in said line adapted alternately to establish a connection between the blower and the box or to vent the box, and means for operating the valve.

7. Apparatus for accumulating and stacking flexible flat articles, such as bag tubes, comprising a first conveyor for receiving the articles one after another from a source with the articles lying on the conveyor in overlapping relation and for feeding the articles in forward direction, a second conveyor forward of the first conveyor also adapted to feed articles in forward direction, the rearward end of the second conveyor being spaced forward of the forward end of the first conveyor, means between the forward end of the first conveyor and the rearward end of the second conveyor for arresting one of the articles and allowing a number of articles to accumulate one over another on said one arrested article, means controlling said arresting means and acting intermittently to cause said means to release the said one arrested article, whereupon the second conveyor feeds the accumulation of articles forward, and a third conveyor forward of the second conveyor for receiving the accumulation of articles from the second conveyor, end aligning means above the third conveyor engageable by the forward ends of articles received on the third conveyor, said end aligning means being movable out of the way for forward movement of the accumulation of articles by the third conveyor after alignment of the forward ends of the articles against said end aligning means, and means for intermittently driving the third conveyor.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the three conveyors comprises an endless belt, each belt having an upper tube-feeding reach, the upper reaches of the first and second conveyor belts being generally coplanar, the rearward end of the upper reach of the second conveyor belt being spaced forward of the forward end of the first conveyor belt, the upper reach of the third conveyor belt being below the upper reach of the second conveyor belt, and wherein means is provided for guiding articles feeding olf the forward end of the upper reach of the second belt down and around to the upper reach of the third belt.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said arresting means comprises a suction box for gripping the said one article by suction, a blower, and a line connecting an inlet of the blower to the suction box for drawing a vacuum in the box, and wherein said controlling means comprises a valve in said line adapted alternately to establish a connection between the blower and the box or to vent the box, and means for operating the valve.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end aligning means comprises a pivoted gate adapted to hang down with its lower edge immediately above the upper reach of the third belt and adapted to be swung up and forward by the accumulation of articles on the third belt when said accumulation is moved forward by the third belt.

.11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said gate is mounted for adjustment lengthwise of the third belt.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 provided with a latch for latching the gate in vertical position, and means for operating the latch concurrently with initiation of operation of the third belt.

13. Apparatus for receiving bag tubes from a tuber, accumulating a number of tubes, and stacking them, comprising a first endless conveyor belt having an upper for- Wardly movable reach for receiving tubes one after another from the tuber with the tubes lying on the upper reach in overlapping relation and for feeding the tubes forward, a second endless belt conveyor having an upper forwardly movable reach generally coplanar with and forward of the upper reach of the first belt also adapted to feed tubes forward, means for continuously driving the first and second belts, a suction box between the rearward end of the upper reach of the second belt and the forward end of the upper reach of the first belt for vacuum gripping one of the tubes to arrest it and allowing a number of tubes to accumulate one over another on the arrested tube, a blower, a line connecting an inlet of the blower to the suction box for drawing a vacuum in the box, a valve in said line adapted alternately to establish a connection between the blower and the box or to vent the box, a camshaft adapted to be driven from the tuber, a cam on the camshaft for operating the valve, a third endless conveyor belt having an upper forwardly movable reach forward of and below the upper reach of the second belt, tube end aligning means above the upper reach of the third belt engageable by the forward ends of tubes received on the third belt, said aligning means being movable out of the way for forward movement of tubes by the third belt after alignment of their forward ends, and means controlled by a cam on said camshaft for intermittently driving the third belt.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said end aligning means comprises a pivoted gate adapted to hang down with its lower edge immediately above the upper reach of the third belt and adapted to be swung up and forward by the accumulation of the articles on the third belt when said accumulation is moved forward by the third belt.

7 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said gate is mounted for adjustment lengthwise of the third belt.

16. Apparatus as set forth'in claim 14 provided with a latch for latching the gate in vertical position, and means for operating the latch concurrently with initiation of operation of the third belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,757 Rapley Sept. 10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 736,769 Great Britain Sept. 14, 1955

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