IE45324B1 - Bag-filling machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention provides a bag-filling machine including a hopper having a filling spout; means on the filling spout for releasably grasping the top edges of a bag suspended therebelow, said means comprising bag grippers spaced to receive the top edges of such a suspended bag therebetween and hopper clamps receivable within the bag upon the latter being positioned between the grippers; actuating means for moving the hopper clamps apart to clamp the top edges of the suspended bag against the grippers; pivotable bag stretcher arms which have bag-engaging portions and are mounted on the hopper and extend below the spout; spaced bag guide members hingedly mounted on the hopper and depending below the bag grippers; actuating means for pivoting the bag stretcher arms inwardly to bring their bagengaging portion directly below the hopper and outwardly to a position in which their bag-engaging portions project into and shape the upper portion of a filled bag into a narrow elongate configuration; and further actuating means for' closing the bag guide members against the exterior of the upper portion of the bag, concurrently with the outward pivoting of the stretcher arm, to close the bag and exhaust air from the top thereof.

Preferably an intermittently driven conveyor is positioned below the bag-filling maghine to receive filled bags released «2324 from the spout, with a stationary frame structure supporting the conveyor belt, and bag guide support means fastened to the stationary frame structure for supporting the bag along three sides thereof upon the bag being deposited on the conveyor belt from the hopper.

In the accompanying drawings a bag-filling machine according to the invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in combination with a bag-hanging machine and a conveyor; in the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the bag-hanging and filling machines with a bag conveying system in end elevation; Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with a bagfilling machine illustrated at a different operative stage; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the bag-filling machine as viewed in the direction of line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

The drawings diagrammatically illustrate an operative 20 relationship between bag-hanging machine A, a bag-filling machine B, and a bag conveying system C. Components of the bag-filling machine B, such as the infeed chute and the weight scale elements thereof, have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity since only the spout segment 43334 - 4 of the feed hopper is of significance to the present invention.

Thus, the bag-hanging machine A fulfills the primary functions of opening a bag which is in a lay-flat condition and transporting the opened bag to a suspended position below the hopper spout of the bag-filling machine B. The basic function of the bag-filling machine β is to fill the bag which is suspended from the hopper spout thereof with a predetermined weight or quantity of a bulk product, and then to permit the bag to drop onto the conveyor system C. In turn, the principal purpose of the conveyor system C is to transport the filled bag for the further treatment or handling thereof, such as the sealing of the bag through the intermediary of a suitable bag sealing arrangement. j I ! Details of the structure and operation of the bag-hanging machine A are set out fully in Patent Specification No. 45323 from which this application is divided and to which attention is directed for full information.

Referring now in detail to the contraction of the bag filling machine B, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the machine includes a bag filling hopper 110. Preferably, although not necessarily, the filling machine is structurally j • I fixedly connected to the bag-hanging machine 10 through the | «5324 employment of a rigid support frame 112. The support frame 112 may be welded or detachably bolted onto the bag-hanging machine.

The material feed hopper 110 may be of a constuction 5 known in the art and may incorporate a suitable material infeed arrangement and weight scale (not shown) for supplying predetermined quantities of bulk material which is to be introduced into a bag suspended from the spout of the hopper.

The hopper 110 comprises a spout 114 including bag gripping surfaces 116 and hopper clamps 118, the latter of which are adapted to be articulated between a hopper closing position (clamped together) as shown in Fig. 2 and a bag clamping position (contacting surfaces 116) as illustrated in Fig. 1 IS of the drawings. Articulation is imparted to the hopper clamps 118 by means of a pair of double-acting air cylinders 120.

Extending below the hopper clamps 118, and centrally of hopper 110, are a pair of essentially L-shaped bag stretcher arms 122. The stretcher arms 122 are pivoted through the action of a suitable linkage arrangement 124 responsive to actuation of air cylinder 125, between a downwardly foided-in condition, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and an extended bag stretching ¢5334 condition as shown in solid lines in Figs. 2 and 3.

Hingedly fastened to the spout 114 of the hopper 110 are bag guide members 126 each comprising a rigid frame formed of depending end bars or members 128 inter-connected by transverse crossbars or plates 130 and a bag-contacting flat-surfaced crossbar member 132. Movement is imparted to the bag guide members 126 by air cylinders 134, which are pivotally connected to,the spout 114.

In response to a bag D being suspended in a filling position 10 below the spout 114, namely, between the bag gripping surfaces 116 with the hopper clamps 118 extending into the mouth of the bag, actuation of air cylinder 118 to assume an outwardly spread position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to clamp the upper bag edge portions between gripping surfaces 116 and hopper clamps 118. Sensing of the presence of a bag on the spout 114 may be effected, through suitable sensing switches 136 located on the surface of at least one of the grippers 116.

A bag 0 being filled by bulk material supplied through hopper 110, suitable controls (not shown) will cause the hopper clamps 118 to return to their initial hopper closing position as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thereby releasing the filled bag and allowing the latter to drop downwardly from the spout. In response to this release the stretcher arms 122 will be extended apart as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings to form the upper or mouth portion of the filled bag D into a narrow elongate configuration. At that time, the bag guide members 126 will close towards each other., causing surface 132 to contact and comprass the upper portion of the filled bag immediately below the extended stretcher arms 122, as shown in phantom in Fig. 2, thereby causing excess air to be expelled from the mouth of the filled bag while concurrently closing the bag opening.

Desirably, a conveyor belt system C is arranged below the hopper 110, with the filled bag D being deposited on the upper run 140 of an endless conveyor belt upon being released from the spout 114. The conveyor belt is driven by a suitable power source {not shown), with the upper run 140 being supported on a series of rotatable rollers 142. The conveyor belt is driven in an intermittent operating mode so as to be stationary when the bag is deposited thereon from the spout of the hopper 110 and then placed in motion to transport, the filled bag onto a continuously driven conveyor belt 170, which is contiguous with the conveyor belt 140, beneath a suitable sealing arrangement 144 adapted to seal the neck or mouth portion of the filled bag. When the bag is constituted of a heat-sealable material, such as polyethylene, the sealing arrangement may «8324 be a heat sealer, for instance, a band heat sealer sold under the trademark Doughboy by Doughboy Industries, Inc., New Richmond, Wisconsin.

Suitable bag guide inclines 146 may be provided to extend 5 along both sides of the conveyor belt 140, and a rigid upright backing plate 148 may be fastened to a stationary frame 150 supporting the conveyor belt.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, a pair of plates 152 each mounting vertically spaced bearings 154 are fastened to the stationary frame 150 at one side of the conveyor run 140 on either side of the back support plate 148. Pivotable vertical shafts 156 extend through the bearings 154 and are adapted to support horizontally extending bars mounting side wing plates 158 on either side of the stationary back support plate 148. Each of the plates 158 may be curved to generally conform to the curved configuration of the filled bag D being deposited on the conveyor run 140 and prevent the bag from falling off.

Connected to the lower ends of each of the vertical shafts 156 is a system of interconnected linkages 160 which is articulated by an air cylinder 162 to facilitate pivoting of each of the side wing plates 158 across the conveyor run at right angles to back support plate 148 and guidingly encompass the sides of the filled bag which has been «2324 deposited on the belt run 140 in the stationary operating mode of the latter, and to pivot the plates 158 outwardly into coextensive parallel relationship with plate 148 out of the path of the conveyor run 140 when the latter is set into motion to convey the bag D towards the sealing arrangement 144.

In order to allow for the processing of bags of varying lengths, in effect, lengthier bags, the vertical elevation of the conveyor system below the bag-filling machine may be made adjustable. This can be readily achieved by mounting the conveyor system on vertically adjustable pedestals or supports.

The operation of the bag-filling machine is now described in conjunction with synchronous operation thereof with the bag-hanging machine.

When no bag is suspended from the spout 114 of the hopper 110, the bag hopper clamps 118 are in a closed position, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the bag guide members 126 are fully separated and the stretcher arms 122 are closed below the bag hopper clamps 118, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In response to the transfer arms 76 of the bag-hanging machine moving a bag below the spout 114 so that the bag «5324 - 10 hopper clamps 118 extend into the mouth of the bag, the bag hopper clamps are extended or spread outwardly through pressure being applied to air cylinders 120 to thereby clamp the upper edges of the suspended bag 0 against the gripping surfaces 116 on the spout 114, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When the presence of a suspended clamped bag is sensed, preferably by means of a suitable sensor switch or contact 136 located on the face of at least one of the gripping surfaces 116, a predetermined weight or quantity of product (measured by a hopper scale not shown herein), will be dispensed through the hopper, 110 and spout 114 into the bag. Immediately preceding the upper edge of the bag being clamped between the hopper bag clamps 118 and gripping surfaces 116, the transfer )5 arms are pivoted slightly above their horizontal position so as to permit the fingers 88 to slide out of and disengage from the bag and to be pivoted outwardly thereof, whereupon the.transfer arms 76 are then pivoted downwardly towards the bag-hanging machine to be in position for fingers 88 to engage a subsequent bag for transfer to the bag-filling machine.

When the bag has received its required quota of bulk material, the bag hopper clamps 118 are again closed, thereby releasing the bag from clamping engagement with the gripping surfaces 116, allowing the bag to drop downwardly. 53 2 4 In response, the stretcher arms 122 are extended apart, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, so as to shape the opening of the bag into a narrow elongate configuration. Concurrently, the bag guide members 126 are closed against the side surface of the bag, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, causing the flat surfaces 132 to close the bag neck portion and vent excess air therefrom. Thereafter, the stretcher arms 122 are again retracted below the hopper clamps, and the bag guide members 126 are spread apart to permit the positioning of a subsequent bag on the spout 114 by the transfer arms 76.

The filled bag which has been released by the bag-filling machine may be permitted to drop down onto the upper run 140 of an intermittently driven conveyor belt which is in a stationary operating mode during that time, and which will subsequently be set into motion to convey the filled bag towards the bag sealing arrangement 144. The action of the stretcher arms 122 and bag guide member 126 will cause the narrow flattened bag top or mouth portion to -° be aligned with the inlet to the bag sealing arrangement 144, thereby assuring that the bag will be properly sealed. This may be readily' accomplished by providing a pair of converging movable conveyor bands on the sealing arrangement 144 which will engage the leading edge of the neck «5324 - 12 portion of the filled bag to draw it into the sealing arrangement.

As the bag is deposited on the conveyor belt run 140, it is supported against tilting over and falling off by a back support plate 148 and a pair of pivotable side wing plates 158 conjointly encompassing at least three sides of the bag. When the bag is to be conveyed towards the sealing arrangement 144 by movement of the conveyor belt 140, the air cylinder 162 will actuate linkage system 160 to pivot the side wing plates 158 out of the path of the conveyor run and into a coextensive parallel relationship with the back support plate 148.

The installation is adapted to handle bags of different sizes, in view of the spacing between the transfer 76 being easily adjustable for accommodating bags of different width, the conveyor system being raisable or lowerable to accommodate bags of different lengths, and the bag guide members 126 possibly being adjustable to compensate for bags receiving different amounts of bulk material.

It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous modifications are possible within the context of the above disclosure and, accordingly, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described. 453 2 4

Claims (14)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A bag-filling machine including a hopper having a filling spout; means on the filling spout for releasably grasping the top edges of a bag suspended therebelow, said means comprising bag grippers spaced to receive the top edges of such a suspended bag therebetween and hopper clamps receivable within the bag upon the latter being positioned between the grippers; actuating means for moving the hopper clamps apart to clamp the top edges of the suspended bag against the grippers; pivotable bag stretcher arms which have bag-engaging portions and are mounted on the hopper and extend below the spout; spaced bag guide members hingedly mounted on the hopper and depending below the bag grippers; actuating means for pivoting the bag stretcher arms inwardly to bring their bag-engaging portions directly below the hopper and outwardly to a position in which the bag-engaging portiohs project into and shape the upper portion of a filled bag into a narrow elongate configuration; and further actuating means for closing the bag guide members against the exterior of the upper portion of the bag, concurrently with the outward pivoting of the stretcher arm, to close the bag and exhaust air from the top thereof.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the actuating means for moving the hopper clamps apart is responsive to « S3 2 *1 - 14 . the presence of such a suspended bag at the grippers.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the actuating means for pivoting the bag stretcher arms outwardly is responsive to a filled bag being released by the hopper clamps.

4. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein each stretcher arm comprises an essentially L-shaped angle member having one end hingedly fastened to the hopper. 5. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein each bag guide member comprises a rigid frame structure having depending members hingedly fastened to the hopper, and a generally flat-surfaced crossbar member extending between the depending members for contacting the side of a fil.led bag.

5. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the crossbar members on the bag guide members are closable against the sides of the filled bag below the outwardly pivoted stretcher arms.

6. 7. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the actuating means for the stretcher arms comprises linkage arms interconnecting the stretcher arms, and air cylinder «5324 - 15 means for articulating the linkage arms.

7. 8. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the actuating means for each bag guide member comprises an air cylinder. 5

8. 9. A machine according to any preceding claim having an intermittently driven conveyor belt positioned below the hopper to receive filled bags released from the spouts, a stationary frame structure supporting the conveyor belt, and bag guide support means fastened to the stationary

9. 10 frame structure for supporting the bag along three sides thereof upon the bag being deposited on the conveyor belt from the hopper. 10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein the bag guide support means comprises an upright back support plate ex15 tending vertically above and proximate one side of the conveyor belt; side wing plates flanking the back support plate; and means mounting the side wing plates for pivotal motion into bag side encompassing positions extending across the conveyor belt during stationary periods of 20 the latter when the filled bag is deposited thereon and for pivoting the side wing plates into coextensive parallel relationship with the back support plate during operative intervals of the conveyor belt. 45334 - 16

10. 11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the pivoting means for the side wing plates comprises linkage arms articulately mounted the plates on the stationary frame structure; and air cylinder means for manipulating the linkage arms.

11. 12. A machine according to any one of claims 9 to 11 having a continuously driven conveyor belt positioned contiguous to the intermittently driven conveyor belt for receiving filled bags from the latter; and bag sealing means being positioned above the continuously driven conveyor belt sealing the upper ends of the filled bags.

12. 13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein the sealing means comprises a 10 band heat sealer.

13.

14. A bag-filling machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 29th day of July 1977. CRUICKSHANK & CO., Fxe.cuJ'feo Agents for the Applicants Youghal House, 13, Trinity Street, Dublin 2. 45334 NATIONAL DISTILLERS & CHEMICAL CORPORATION