US2037200A - Bag sealing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 1936. J. A. ROSMAIT BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1951 8 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR aw? n.

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. a @mt AGE WA/QI 5Y ATTORNEYS April 14, 1936. J. A. ROSMAIT BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY 5 ATTORNEYS April 14, 1936.

J. A. ROS MAIT BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 v \4 v J.

INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS YQAMXW' April 14, 1936. J. os

BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY ATTOR MVXW April 14,1936. J. A. ROSMAIT BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 21, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 April 1936. J. 'A. ROSMAlT' BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 mmnuujiunmm iii mmmlunmn mlmn'lliuum kw April 14, 1936. J ROSMAIT 2,037,200

BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR BY ATTORN Y5 April 14, 1936. J. A1 ROSMAIT- 2,037,200

- BAG SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR BY A ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 1141, EQS 2 g? Uhiii A F BAG SEAMNG METHOD ANDAlPPARATHJS do A. Rosmait, Manistee, Mich.

ApplicationDecember 21, 1931, Serial No. 532,36!

15 (Claims. (Cl. 112-11) This invention relates to the closing or sealing being suitably coordinated to produce the desired of bags after they have been filled. It has parresults. The apparatus may include a conveyor ticular reference to bags formed of paper and system for advancing the filled bags at suitably provided with an open end through which they spaced intervals through certain folding or closare filled with granular, lumpy, or powdery subing devices and into a position where they will 5 stances or the like, although it will be apparent be suspended either by means of the folding dethat the invention is applicable to bags of other vices or byother means. As the bags are sustypes and materials and adapted for other purpended from a point adjacent their upper ends poses. A primary object has been to develop a they may be advanced, preferably at the same 10 method, together with suitable simple apparatus rate, past a sewing head or the like which will 30 for carrying it out, which will effectively, neatly serve to bind the Walls of the bag together. The and rapidly close and seal bags after they have construction contemplated is such that the interbeen filled. mittent feeding action of the sewing head may. The method and apparatus contemplated by function in conjunction with the continuousthe present invention are of especial utility in motion of the conveyor system without causing 15 connection with the filling and closing of bags breakage of the needle. Prior to the sewing, containing materials which may not be conbinding or fastening operation, a selvage strip veniently blown into valve bags. Products of may be fed along and folded over the free end this character may include, among other things, of the bag above the point at which it is being flour, lime, gypsum, soap powders, fertilizer, soda gripped and suspended. This strip may then be 20 ash, sugar and numerous similar products. Bags includedinthe sewing or binding operation. Subsuitably formed, either with or without gussets, sequently, as the bag continues to advance, suitmay be filled in any suitable Way as by means of able shearing means may be rendered effective the funnel of any form of filling machine. They for severing the selvage strip and the thread or may th b conveyed to apparatus which will cord employed in the" sewing of' the bag, if this 25 first fold or close the upper, open-end of the tube method of binding is adopted. The bag, sealedand will subsequently apply suitable fastening in the manner explained, may then be released means such as stitching, staples, rivets, adhesive from the gripping or suspension devices and means or the like, or a plurality of such means, delivered to a conveyor or otherwise disposed of.

for uniting the opposite side walls at the end of If the bags handled in the manner explained 30 the bag. If desired a binding or selvage strip should be. of the gusseted type provision should may be applied over the end of the bag to assist preferably be made for forcing the gussets inin forminga tight seal and this strip may be wardly during the folding operation .to insure secured by a suitable adhesive or' by the fastenproper closing of the bag. The devices provided 3.3 ing means previously mentioned, or both. I for this purpose and the operating parts previ- An important feature of thepresent invention cusly mentioned should be driven insuitablygyn. is the ma e in which the filled b s are Supchronized relation. If desired the operating ported at the time of application of the fastenmechanism may be so controlled that it will be i s means which closes: the end Of the e As set into operation upon the presentation of a 40 the bags are being stitched or stapled, or the fined bag t th folding mechanism and all of like, across the upper free end they are gripped the synchmnized parts may then be driven along a line adjacent the top and are preferably through a complete cycle" If a second bag is suspended of being Support? from the presented before the cycle of operation is combottom. This serves to force all of the contents pleted the parts may continue through a second of the bags toward the bottom and leaves the cycle and soon. 45 upper end as t as posslble the apphcatmnl Other features and advantages of the invention of the fastening means. It is contemplated, f the d t .leti descri mm whi h der a preferred form of the invention, that i appear f e 5 p c un W111 now be glven of one illustrative form of the I the devices which serve to fold or close e ends same in conjuiction with the accompanmng 60 of: the bags will also serve to suspend the bags during the stitching'or similar operation.

For the purpose of carrying out the features of the present invention an apparatus has been devised which may. be made substantially continubus in its operation, the various operative devices ings in which:

Figures 1 and 1A are side elevational views schematically illustrating the arrangement of apparatus adapted to carry out the improved method, Figure 1 showing the left hand portion 55 and Figure 1A the right hand portion of the apparatus.

Figures 2 and 2A are plan views of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A, respectively.

Figures 3 and 3A are plan views of the left and right hand portions, respectively, of the apparatus with parts omitted and serve to illustrate the operating connections.

Figure4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 44. of Figure 1A, illustrating the bag suspending devices.

Figure 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the construction illustrated in Figure 4, as indicated by the lines 55 in said figure.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of a chain forming part of the bag suspending devices, as indicated by the line 6-6 in Figure 4. I

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan View of a portio of the bag suspending devices.

Figure 8 is a sub-assembly view in elevation of a sewing head employed in the illustrative machine.

. Figure 9 is a detail view in section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view illustrating a form of rotary cutter and driving means which may be employed for severing the selvage strip, and

Figure 11 is a detail view in section taken along the line IIII of Figure 3A and shows the flexible coupling for the chain drive.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in a schematic way any conventional form of bag-filling machine preferably adapted to discharge measured quantities of any type of substance into a series of bags. This machine may embody 'a hopper I I] adapted, for example, to receive measured quantities of the material and a funnel I2 adapted to discharge the material into a bag I3 applied to the end of the funnel. The discharge of the material into the bag may be either automatically or manually controlled, as desired. A slidable filling spout. I20 is preferably provided in conjunction with the funnel, this being liftable to permit proper positioning of a bag and being then capable of entering the mouth of the bag, as shown. During the filling operation the bag may be supported by means of a platform or by a conveyor, such as the belt I4 illustrated in the drawings. This belt may be carried at its opposite ends around suitable drums or pulleys MI and I42. The conveyor belt is adapted to carry the filled bags from beneath the filling machine toward the closing and sealing devices and is operable at intermittent periods under either automatic or manual control.

In order to hold the bags in a vertical position during the filling operation, and in' their'conveyance from the filling machine to the other portions of the apparatus, a seriesof vertically disposed belts I5 and I6 are employed, two belts, one above the other, being shown at each side of the conveyor. The belts I5 are carried by suitable pulleys I5I and I52 and are adapted to lend support to the rear walls of the bags while the belts I 6, similarly carried by pulleys I6l and IE2, are adapted to lend support to the front walls of thebags. The belts I6 do not extend in front of the filling machine but serve to provide a guide surface along the path of travel of the bags. This construction permits the placing of empty bags on the conveyor beneath the funnel I2 without interference by the belts movable frame.

I6. For the purpose of supporting the front wall of the bag during the filling operation, a pair of vertically disposed belts I! are provided on a These belts may, for example, be carried by pulleys Ill at opposite ends, the pulleys being secured to shafts I12, which at their lower ends may be supported by wheels I13 adapted to run on a track I8 extending across the front of the filling machine and some distance to the left of the same. At their upper ends the shafts I12 may cooperate with any suitable form of guide member I9. This arrangement is such that the belts I1 may be shifted-by hand, or automatically if desired, in front of a bag which has been inserted in position under the funnel I2, or it may be shifted to the left," as shown in Fig. 1, to permit the insertion of a new bag. Obviously the gate formed by the belts Il may be mounted for movement into and out of operative position in a variety of other ways.

For the purpose of conveying the bags, after they have been filled, to the closing and sealing devices, the conveyor belt I4, as well as the side supporting belts I5 and I6, are preferably driven by a motor or similar means under the control of a foot treadle. For example, a motor 20 connected with a shaft 2I may be coupled through a suitable clutch mechanism 22 with an aligned shaft 23. The latter at its opposite end may carry a bevel gear 24 engaging a bevel gear 25 secured to a shaft 26 which may alsohave secured thereto the pulley I42 for driving the conveyor belt. A pair of bevel pinions 21 may also be secured to the shaft 26 for cooperation with bevel pinions 28 secured to the lower ends of shafts 29 which carry the driving pulleys I52 and I62 of the belts I5 and I6, respectively. Ro-

' tation of the shaft 23 by means of the motor 20 may be placed under the control of a lever or a foot treadle 30 associated with the clutch 22.

An operator stationed at the filling machine may, after the completion of a bag filling operation, operate the foot treadle 30 to cause one cycle of operation of the conveyor mechanism. The duration of the cycle of, operation may be determined in a well known manner by the clutch mechanism 22. As the bag is advanced by means of the conveyor I4, the side supporting belts I5 and I6 will also be advanced at the same rate so that there will be no tendency to rotate or distort the form of the bag. While the belt I! is not driven by means of the motor, it will offer no resistance to the movement of the bag and will prevent distortion in substantially the same Way as the other belts. All of the belts might be left free, if desired, or replaced by simple stationary guide surfaces but there would then be danger of twisting the bag in the course of its movement if an excessive friction should be encountered against one of the side walls.

In line with the forward end of the conveyor It there is provided a stationary platform or conveyor surface 3| which may suitably comprise a series of transversely extending rollers. At the opposite end of this stationary section there is provided a second movable .conveyor which may advantageously be in the form of a belt 32 carried by drums or pulleys 32I and 322. Side supporting belts 33 similar to belts I5 and I6, vertically disposed at the opposite sides of the path of travel of the bags may be provided, these being carried by pulleys 33I and 332. As will be more. fully explained hereinafter, provision is made for driving all of the belts 32 and 33 at adefinite rate in synchronism with other operating parts.

aosmoo of the apparatus and preferably under control of the bags as they are presented to the conveyor 32.

Above the belts 33 there is provided a pair of horizontally disposed chains 35 adapted to be shifted in a horizontal plane adjacent but slightly below the upper ends of the bags supported by the conveyor 32. The chains 35 at their left ends (Figure 2A) are carried by suitable sprocket wheels 35 which are spaced sufficiently to permit the introduction of a bag in its normally open and filled condition between the pair of chains. At their opposite'ends the chains are passed around a pair of sprockets 31 carried by vertically extending shafts 38. The sprockets 31, are so located that the inner courses of the chains at this end of the apparatus are substantially in engagement with each other. Intermediate the sprockets 36 and 31 the chains, in their travel in the direction of movement of the conveyor 32, are meshed with a series of sprockets 39 carried by slidable blocks 39! which are urged inwardly by springs 40 toward the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The sprockets 39. as best shown in Figure 2A are so'arranged that the chains are gradually brought together along a tapering section inclined toward the axis of the machine and are then carried along with certain surfaces in engagement, unless they are held separated by the ends of a bag for the remainder of their travel toward the sprockets 31. Throughout this remainder of their travel the chains are yieldingly urged into engagement by the springs 40. The sprockets 39 which form the tapering section are not slidably supported and .neither are such sprockets spring urged. A plain guide might be employed in lieu of the sprockets which form this tapering section.

Referring now to Figures 4 and '7, it will be noted that alternate links of each chain are provided with clips 4| having vertically extending portions presenting fiat faces adapted to receive a metal connecting plate 42 and a gripping surface or element 43 formed of suitable material,

' preferably a flexible material such as leather, felt.

or the like. The plates 42 and surfaces 43 may be secured to the clips 4| by means of rivets 44 having their heads countersunk into the material of the elements 43. It will be apparent that as the bags are advanced by means of the conveyor 32, their upper ends will be carried into the V- shaped, folding groove formed by the chains 35. These chains are driven by means to be explained, substantially at the same speed as the conveyor, allowance being made in the movement of the chains for the intermittent feeding action of the sewing mechanism, and they will serve to fold together the upper ends of the bags and grip the same under the yielding forces of the series of springs 45. A number of the gripping elements 43 are simultaneously urged into gripping relation with the opposite sides of a bag by a number of springs 40 and they will grip the upper ends of the bag with sufficient force to permit suspension of the latter in its filled condition directly from the chains.

In order to completely seal the upper end of the bag a selvage or binding strip 45 is adapted to be folded over its exposed, free edge. This strip may be fed from a suitable supply roll 46 and carried around suitable rollers into contact with a paste-applying wheel 41 adapted to rotate in a bath of paste is. The strip is'led beneath a folder 49 placed directly over the path of travel of the upper folded ends of the bags, this folder being need-lenholder- 50! slidable in bearings W.

adapted to bend the strip along its longitudinal axis over the free upper edge of the bag. ,At the far or right end of the folder it serves to bring the strip against the outer faces of the Walls of the bag so that the paste or other adhesive will take effect to hold the strip in place.

Beyond the folder the bags having the selvage strip applied thereto will be carried into the path of operation of a sewing head 50. This sewing head is driven in synchronism with the conveying belts and serves to stitch together the selvag'e tape and the walls at the upper end of the bag. The head 50 may beof'any conventional form suitable for the purposes and the present invention is not concerned with its particular construction.

Referring to Figure 8 there is disclosed one form of sewing head which may conveniently be employed. It may comprise a base 500 having journaled therein a shaft 50! which is adapted to be driven by the operating mechanism of the machine through connections to be later explained. An eccentric carried by the shaft adjacent its upper end cooperates with a strap 502 which is connected by a link 533 to an arm of a three armed lever 504. The latter is pivotally supported at 505 on the frame work of the head. At its lower end an arm 506 of the lever is con nected'by alink 50'! to a collar 508 secured to a It will "be apparent that through the connections described the needle 5 will be reciprocated once on each revolution of the shaft 50!. At the same time an arm 5l2 of the lever, through a link 5l3 and an arm 5I4, serves to rock a shaft 522 adapted togrip the material of the bags adjacent their upper ends. A cam 523 secured to the shaft 5M serves to hold the feed dog against the material of the bags and forces the material against a pressure foot 524 during the interval that the needle 5 is passing through the material. This will serve to intermittently interrupt the' feeding action of the chains 35 and will -'thus serve to avoid breakage of the needle. The

cam 523may be suitably timed to cause the dog 522 to grip and hold the bag against the feeding action of-the'chain's during the interval that the needle is being passed through the material. .As will belater explained more fully the connections from the operatingmeans for driving the chains 35 may be provided with a suitable resilient coupling which will permit the intermittent stop ping of the advance of the chains, in the manner mentioned even though the operating means has a continuous motion.

After being sealed and sewn in the manner explained, the bags are conveyed by the chains 35 across the path of a suitable cutter 53 of any desired construction. This cutter, as illustrated generally in Figure 10, may consist of a member carrying a series of cutting blades 53!, the member being operated in a well known manner under the control of a cam or of an eccentric 532 secured to a shaft 533 rotated in synchronism with the movement of the bags so as to sever the selvage strip and the thread or cord employed in the stitching of the bags at a point slightly beyond the rear edge of each bag. The eccentric, acting through an arm 534, oscillates a bell crank lever 535 which carries a pawl 536 adapted to enthe cutter.

gage the teeth of a rachet 531 connected with On each revolution of the eccentric one of the blades 53l is swept across a stationary cutting edge 538 so as to cut the tape which is fed between the blades adjacent this edge. If desired the cutter may be operated twice during each cycle of operation of the machine to sever the strip at or near both edges of the bag. In lieu of operating the cutter only once or twice during the passage of a single bag across the path of the blades the latter may be made to normally chop small sections of the tape continuous- IV as the tape is fed between the blades, provision being then made to arrest the operation of the cutter during the interval that the tape applied to the end of a bag is being fed past the stationary edge 538. Subsequently the .completely sealed bag may be fed to a platform or a conveyor 54 to be passed to storage-or disposed of in any other desired manner.

The control of the cutter head is by the bag itself engaging mechanism of the cutter head to render the knives thereof inoperative during the time a bag is being passed thereby and to render the same operative upon the interval between two bags passing thereby. It is a standard type of cutting device used for this purpose in the trade.

If the bags which are to be handled by the machine are of the gusset type, provision should be made for forcing the "gussets inwardly at the time the upper ends of the bags are being folded together. For this purpose an arm 55 may be adapted to depend into the path of the bags at "the mid-point of the gusset. This arm may be pivotally supported by a rock shaft 55 and may be urged by a spring 51 into its depending position in the path of the bags. Due to the resistance oifered by the spring to the swingingof the arm 51 as the central point of the gusset engages the same during the advance of the bag, the gusset will be forced inwardly instead of being permitted to bulge outwardly, It will be apparent that only a slight force is required for this purpose inasmuch as the bags will previously have been correctly folded and it is merely a matter of urging the gussets into their original positions. To prevent the arm 55 from dropping into the bag and thus coming into the path of the gusset at the opposite side of the bag, provision is made for retaining the arm in rocked or inactive position until it is required to. drop into position for cooperation with the next bag. For this purpose a shoulder 58 may be provided on a suitable extension of the arm and adapted to cooperate with a detent 59, which may conveniently be in the form of a plunger urged by a spring 60 into the path of the shoulder 58. As the arm 55 is rocked upwardly by means of the forward gusset of the bag, the surface above the shoulder 58 will cam the plunger 59 inwardly until the shoulder is cleared, at which time the plunger will snap in under the shoulder and preferably rock the arm slightly further. For this purpose the shoulder may be suitably inclined so as to present a camming surface to the plunger. The release of the arm may be brought about in synchronism with the movement of the bags through the machine, preferably at or near the beginning of a cycle of operation, by the operation of an arm 6| carried by a rock-shaft Bill which, as will later be explained, is rocked by connections from the operating mechanism that drives the conveyor. The upper end of the arm may engage a collar 62 carried by the plunger to withdraw the latter at the appropriate time.

For the purpose of forcing the gusset inwardly at the opposite side of the bag, a hooked arm 53 may be employed. This arm may be secured to a rotatable or oscillatable shaft 64 which is operated in synchronism with the rest of the mechanism. The timing of the operation of the arm 63 should be such that as soon as the upper, rear corner of a bag intersects the arc of travel of the arm, the latter will engage and swing into the center of the gusset to urge it inwardly during the folding operation. The speed of the hook end of the arm should be slightly greater than the speed of movement of the bag to insure proper action on the gusset. If desired, the arm may be given a variable movement which is speeded up to force the gusset inwardly at the appropriate time either through the use of ellip-v tical gears or through operation by suitable cam devices. 2

The driving mechanism, the controlling means therefor, and the interconnections between the various operating portions of the machine by virtue of which they are all synchronized will now be described with particular reference to Fig. 3A. A control switch 65 may be placed along one side of the path of travel of the bags. An arm or slide 55, extending from the control switch and adapted to govern the operation of the latter, extends into the path of the bags, preferably at about their mid-points. This arm or slide is adapted to be engaged by each successive bag in its movement through the apparatus, and will be rocked or forced toward the control switch and maintained in a shifted position so long as a bag is in the course of transit past the arm. By the provision of a contact surface on the arm of suitable extent longitudinally of the travel of the bag, operation of vthe switch may be made effective during movement of the bag a distance slightly greater than its width. So long as the arm 55 is shifted by virtue of contacting with the side of a bag, an electrical circuit 61, including a source of power and a magnetic clutch 68, will be closed. The magnetic clutch may be suitably located in the line of transmission between a constantly running motor 59 and a speed reducing gearing i0. By means of the arrangement shown it will be apparent that as the bag travels a distance equal to its width, plus a suitable spacing distance determined by the length of the arm 66,

the clutch 68 will be energized and the various parts connected'therewith will be driven. However, as soon as the arm is cleared or permitted to-shift outwardly to a sufficient extent, the circuit will be broken and the operation arrested. It is desirable to have the position of the control arm adjustable so that the position of the bag which initiates the operation of the machine may be varied to suit requirements.

By means of a sprocket wheel H, a chain 12 and a sprocket 13 secured to a shaft 14, the latter will be driven at a desired rate of speed.

This shaft may have secured thereto the pulley bevel gears 79 secured to the shafts 38 which carry the sprocket wheels 31. Through these connections the chains 35 are driven substantially in synchronism with and at the same linear speed as the conveyor belts. However, as previously indicated, it is desirable to compensate for the intermittent action of the sewing head which is made necessary to avoid breakage of the needle. For this purpose the shaft Tl is not directly connected with the shaft 1 I0 but is driven from the latter through a flexible or yielding coupling 11 l. Referring to Figure 11 this may comprise a spider H2, having two or more arms, secured to the shaft Ill! and a cooperating drum 113 secured to the shaft ll. Springs I14 may be interposed between the arms of the spider H2 and projections H5 extending inwardly from the drum. It will be apparent that the torque applied to the shaft H0 and spider I12 will be yieldingly transmitted to the drum "3 and shaft 11 through the springs H4. When the chains are held against movement by the action of the dog 520 the springs will simply be compressed slightly and when the dog releases the bag and chains the latter will be shifted by the springs to take up the lost movement. Screws 116 may be provided to adjust the compression of the springs and lugs 111 may be provided on the interior wall of the drum to limit the reverse relative movement between the spider and drum. Also secured to the shaft H0 is a sprocket 88' which, through a chain 8l and a sprocket 82, is adapted to drive a shaft 83.

'I'he latter, through a pulley and belt connection 84, is then adapted to operate the shaft 533 which controls the cutter 53 in synchronism with the movement of the bags. Similarly a pulley and belt connection 840 and a pair of bevel gears 84, one of which is secured to a stub shaft 850, serves to transmit power to the shaft 5! of the sewing head 50.

A sprocket 86 also securedto the shaft 83 may, through a chain 81, drive a sprocket 88 secured to a stub shaft 89. The latter, through a cam 98 acting upon a cam follower 9i secured to the shaft BID, may serve to operate the finger 6| for releasing the arm 55 at the appropriate time. Another sprocket 93 secured to the stub shaft 89 may be connected by a chain 94 to a sprocket 95 secured to a stub shaft carrying one of a pair of intermeshing gears 96. The other of these gears may be carried by the shaft 64 for operating the arm 83. As previously mentioned, the gears 96 may be elliptical if desired or they may be replaced by suitable cam devices.

It will be understood that the control devices and the driving connections which have been particularly disclosed herein are simply illustrative and may be materially modified within the principles of the present invention. The arrangement set forth is such that as each bag is properly presented to the conveyor belt 32, all of the operative parts of the machine will be set in motion, due to the shifting of the control arm, to perform the necessary functions. Thus the belts 32 and 33, as well as the chains 35, will be set in motion to advance all of the bags, which are in various stages, a predetermined distance equal to the width of a bag plus the space between adjacent bags. So also the sewinghead 58 will be brought into operation to stitch across the top of the bag, which is being carried past the head. Subsequently, near the end of the cycle, the cutter 53 will be operated to sever the selvage strip and the thread or cord used in the sewing operation. At appropriate times in the cycle the gusset folding arms 55 and 83 will be operated. During the operation each bag carried by the apparatus will have been advanced one stage, the last bag being completed and discharged as the new bag is carried into the preliminary folding stage. Operation of the parts may be made substantially continuous by supplying new, filled bags at the appropriate rate at the beginning of the conveyor 32, although ordinarily there will be a slight interim between successive cycles of operation.

It will be apparent that the sewing head may, if desired, be replaced by other means, such as stapling or riveting devices or the like, for. securing the opposite walls of the bag together. Preferably the devices for controlling the operation of the cutter 53 and the gusset folding arms 55 and 63 will be made interchangeable or adjustable so that the apparatus as a whole may be adapted for the handling of bags of varying widths. Numerous changes may be made in.the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus and in the method of control, as well as in the general procedure followed in the closing and sealing of the bags without departing from the. general spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is: 3

l. A method of sealing a filled bag which comprises feeding theupper end of the filled bag between advancing gripping members, suspending the bag from the gripping members and stitching together the walls of the bag at its upper end above said gripping members and as it is carried forward by said gripping members 2. In apparatus of the class described a pair of movable endless conveyor members, means for urging said members together over a portion of their travel, means for feeding the upper ends of gusseted bags between said members, means for forcing the gussets of said bags inwardly as they are fed between said members, said bags being conveyed by said members during a portion of the travel of the latter, and means for binding the opposite walls of said bags together along a line adjacent said members.

3. In apparatus of the class described a pair of movable endless conveyor members, means for urging said members together over a portion of their travel, means for feeding the upper ends of gusseted bags between said members, means for foming the gussets of said bags inwardly as they are fed between said members, said bags being conveyed by said members during a portionof the travel of the latter, means for binding the opposite walls of said bags together along a line adjacent said members, and common means for controlling and synchronizing the operation of said members, said feeding means, said gusset forcing means and said binding means.

4. In apparatus of the class described a plurality of chains, means for conveying filled bags to present their upper ends between said chains, 'means for advancing said chains in unison, gripping elements carried by said chains adapted to grip the bags adjacent their upper ends and advance the same, means for stitching the walls of the bag together adjacent said gripping elements, and means associated with said stitching means for intermittently arresting the advancing movement of said chains.

5. In apparatus of the class described a conveyor adapted to convey filled bags in suspension, means including a needle for stitching the walls of the bag/together adjacent the point of suspension, and means associated with said stitching means for arresting thev conveyor intermittently as the needle is passed through the material of the bag.

6. In apparatus of the class described a conveyoradapted to convey filled bags in suspension, a continuously rotating shaft for driving said conveyor, a flexible coupling between said shaft and conveyor, means for securing the opposite walls of said bag together adjacent the point of suspension, and means associated with said securing means for intermittently arresting said conveyor.

7. Apparatus for-sealing the open end of a filled bag including mechanism for securing the end walls of the bag together, means for holding the end walls of said bags together and advancing the bag along said securing mechanism, driving mechanism for said bag advancing means yieldable to permit momentarily arresting the advance of the bag during the securing operation while maintaining a constant yieldable tension thereon tending to advance the bag.

8. Apparatus for sealing the open end of a.

filled bag including mechanism for securing the end walls thereof together as the bag advances therealong, means for maintaining a filled bag in suspension and advancing the bag along said securing mechanism yieldable to permit momentarily arresting the advance of the bag during the securing operation while maintaining a con-- stant yieldable tensionthereon tending to advance the bag. a

9. In apparatus of the class described a pair of movable endless conveyor elements, means urging said elements together over a portion of their travel, said elements being spaced apart at one end beyond said portion of their travel, means for feeding the upper ends of gusseted bags between said elements at their spaced apart end, means for forcing the gussets of said bags inwardly as they are fed between said ele ments, said bags being suspended and conveyed by said elements during that portion of the travel of the elements during which they are forced together, and means for binding the opposite walls of said bags together along a line adJacent said portion of travel of the elements.

10. In apparatus of the class described a pair of movable endless conveyor elements, means for urging said elements together over a portion of their travel, means for feeding the upper ends of gusseted bags between said elements, means for forcing the gussets of said bags inwardly as they are fed between said elements, said bags being conveyed by said elements during a portion of the travel of the latter, means for binding the opposite walls of. said bags together along a line adjacent said elements and in combination, a stitching mechanism adapted to close theopen ends of bags conveyed therethrough, a conveyor for advancing the bags through said stitching mechanism, driving mechanism adapted to exert continuous driving force on said conveyor, a yieldable connection coupling said conveyor with said drivemechanism to receive the driving impulses therefrom, and means adapted to grip said bags and momentarily halt the advance of said conveyor by reason of said yieldable connection as each individual stitching operation is performed.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a. pair of conveyors operable to move in parallel relationship opposite one another for a portion of their travel, gripping elements carried by said conveyors adapted to engage filled bags adjacent their upper ends and convey the same in suspension, means at spaced intervals resiliently urging said "conveyors toward one another throughout the distance the bags are conveyed in suspension and means for stitching the opposite walls of said bags together while in suspension and along a line above the point of suspension.

, 14.'In apparatus of the class described, a conveyor adapted to grip the upper end of a filled bag and to convey the same in suspension, means including a needle for stitching the walls of the bagtogether above the gripping action of said conveyor and while the bag is conveyed in suspension thereby, and means operatively,

associated with said stitching means for arresting the conveyors advance intermittently as the needle is passed through the walls of the bag.

15. A method of sealing a. filled bag which comprises feeding the upper end of the fllled bag between advancing gripping members, suspending the bag from said gripping members, stitching together the walls of the bag at its upper end above said gripping members and while the bag is carried forward in suspension by said G ipping members, and momentarily arresting the advance of said gripping members as each stitching operation is performed.

- JOHN A. ROSMAIT.

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