US2113658A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1938. E. E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 2 1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet l 'ATTORNEYS April 12,1938. E. E. LAKso 2,113,653

PACKGING MACHINE origin-a1 Filed oct. 2, 1935 1s sheets-sheet 2 2am MMJL;

ATTORNEYS v E. E. LAKso` PACKAGING MACHINE April 1.2, 1938. l

original Filed-oct. 2, 1955 y15 sneecs-sheetl 4 Apr-il l2, 1938. E. E. LAKso 2,113,658

' KPACKAGING lvmcHINsY Original Filed Oct., 2, 1955 13SheetS-Sheet- 5 iiifln April 12, 193s. E. E. LAKSO 2,113,658

PACKAGING. MACHINE y Original Filed Oct. 2, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS April 1-2,` 1938. E. E. 'LAKSQ 2,113,658,

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Oc?. 2, i955 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 QM ZAM/0751464@ ATTORNEYS l.April 124, 1938.

E. E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 2, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 8y lNvEN-roR ATTORNEY 5 7.55/20 E Lafs'@ Y www um April 12, 1938. E, E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE original Filed oct. 2, 19s

5 15 Sheets--Shee'l 9 ATTORNEYS April 12, 1938. E E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE Original FiledOct. 2, 1955 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 i ATTO R N EYS April 12,1938.

Ej E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE 0rigina-1 Filed Or,-` 2, 1955 13 Sheets-Sheet ll ATTO R N EYS April l2, 1938. E. E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE 'original Filed oct. 2, 1955 l JIIIIIIIHI k III Ill 154 r f1-ZU.

y f4@ j! 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 ATTORNEYS April 12, 1938. E. E. LAKso PACKAGING MACHINE original Filed oct i' 2 1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR ,52710 Zf/a/'So ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING MACHINE Eino E. Lakso, Fitchburg, Mass.,

assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,140 Renewed September 8, 1937 20 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to machines for forming sealed packages including a liquid or other pourable material, and relates more particularly to the type of machine which operates to form a tubular casing encircling the material to'be packaged and closes the ends of the package.

Although certain features of my invention are equally applicable for use in machines for packaging pulverulent, granular or other solid material or a plastic material, my' improved machine in certain of its novel features and in its preferred embodiment is primarily adapted for the packaging of liquids. I

Certain features of the invention are particularly adapted for use in forming a Wrapper of a transparent fiexible impervious material, layers of which may be sealed together merely by the application of heat and pressure even though the surfaces of said layers maybe wet by the liquid being packaged and said liquid is squeezed out from between said surfaces by the application of the pressure employed in effecting the heat seal.

A material of this kind is on the market under the name of Pliolm and isunderstood to have as its base a chlorinated rubber compound. Other materials having the desired properties might be employed for the enwrapment or casing of the package.

The casing material is preferably supplied in sheet form-and its opposed edges progressively brought together to form a tubeinto which the liquid is delivered as the tube is formed and the tube is collapsed or pinched together and sealed at spaced points along its length as it is formed and filled.

As one important feature I utilize the weight of the liquid 'in th e tube as the means for advancing it downwardly beyond the points at which it is formed and filled.

As another important feature the sealing off of successive filled sections of the tube includes the tucking in of opposed sides so that the end seam is of a length not substantially greater than the diameter of the tube.

As a further important feature the portion of the filled tube is so supported or controlled that the sealing oi insures the forming of a package of predetermined volume, and the complete filling with liquid so that each package contains a denite and predetermined volume of liquid without the necessity of any other measuring or weighing mechanism. This method of sealing below the liquid level prevents the inclusion of air or surface foam in the package.

My invention may be employed in many different embodiments, and therefore, the specific construction shown in the accompanying drawings is to be considered merely as a preferred embodiment, and various changes may be made in the 5 details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, a 10 portion of the casing being broken away to show a part of the driving gearing,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but on a larger scale and the enwrapping 15 material being omitted,

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional details on the lines 4 4. and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3,

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical and transverse sections on the lines 6-6 and 'l-l respectively of 20 Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the portion of the machine for forming and sealing the tube sections or bags, said section being taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, 25

Fig. 8a is a face View of one of the sealing elements,

Fig. 9 is a section similar to a portion of Fig. 8, but showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line |0-l0 of Fig. 8. 30

Fig. 11 is a top plan'view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 8 and taken on the line Il-II of that figure,

Fig. l2 is a horizontal section on the line I2-l2 of Fig. 8, 35

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the bag forming and supporting clamps taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the cutter,

Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the line I5--I5 40 of Fig. 8 and showing the sealing cam,

Figs. 16 and 17 are views similar to Fig. 15, but showing the sealing cam in different operating positions,

Fig. 18 is a Vertical section of certain of the 45 gearing taken on the line l8-l8 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 19 is a transverse section on the line IS--I 9 of Fig. 18,

Figs. 20 and 21 are sections on the lines 20-20 and 2l--2I respectively of Fig. 18, 50

Fig. 22 is a face View of a vertically movable rack gear shown in Fig. 18,

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing the tube and bag in the successive positions which itV occupies in the formation of the packages,

Fig. 24 is an edge view of one of the packages, certain of the parts being broken away,

Fig. 25 is a view at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 24,

Fig. 26 is a transverse section on the line 26-26 of Fig. 24, but on a slightly larger scale, and

Fig. 2'7 is a face view of a portion of the laminatedv sheet material which may be employed, and on a somewhat smaller scale.

In the specic machine illustrated, the sheet material A is delivered from a roll B as shown in Fig. 2. 'I'his sheet material may be of the char-` acter illustrated in Fig. 27 and includes a sheet C of' thin transparent impervious flexible material of such a composition that superposed layers may be sealed together.by heat and pressure. As a reinforcement for the sheet C and to protect the sheet along the longitudinal and transverse seams which are to be formed, the sheet C is provided with marginal strips D adjacent to opposite longitudinal edges and an intermediate strip E. These strips D and E are preferably of paper, although they may be of other materials which are not fused or soften at the sealing temperature of the sheet C and which will protect the sheet C from direct contact with the mechanism which applies the pressure and heat. This sheet material and its characteristics and advantages are more fully set forth, and this construction is claimed in my copending application Serial No. 41,345, filed September 20, 1935.

The laminated sheet A delivered from the roll B passes over a guide roll 30 and between a pair of feed rolls 3l, 32. The guide roll 36 is supported on a pair of arms 33 pivoted at opposite sides of the machine and having extensions 34 which may be adjusted by screws 35 or other equivalent means so that the sheet will properly enter between the two feed rolls. These rolls are connected by gears 36 and the upper roll is driven at the desired uniform speed from a shaft 3l through gears 36. The lower feed roll 32 is adjustable toward and from the upper roll by any suitable means to pinch the sheet with the desired pressure and to prevent slipping. As shown 1n Fig. 4 the lower roll is carried by a pivoted bracket 36 and adjustable by one or more adjusting screws 46.

As the sheet material passes from between the feedrolls it is guided over an inclined substantially triangular apron 4| and below this apron is a pair of inclined guides 42 for progressively bringing the opposite edges of the sheet substantially together. These guides 42 may-be substantially parallel and are preferably adjustable toward and from each other not only to secure the desired folding of the sheet but also to faciiltate the initial threading up of the sheet. As shown they are each carried by a Separate slide or bracket d3 which is transversely movable in the T-slot of a transverse bar 44 and may be held in adjusted position by clamping screws 45.

The support for the guides 42 is shown as disposed substantially directly below the feed rolls, and the guides 42 incline outwardly and upwardly so that their outer upper ends are adjacent to but upon opposite sides of the apex of the triangular apron or guide 4|.

The sheet passes downwardly between the two guides 42 and then into mechanism which brings the sheet to substantially cylindrical form. This mechanism includes a pair of outer approximately semi-cylindrical guides 46 rigidly but adjustably supported on the frame of the machine. supports as shown include a pair of outwardly extending rods 41 slidable in a bracket 48 and held in adjusted position by meansof set screws 46 as shown particularly in Figs. 3, 6 and 7.

Encircled by the guides 46 is a pair oi guides 56, 5| which may be in the form of discs or rings of an external diameter equal to the desired internal diameter of the tube to be formed and which may be spaced from the guides 46 to a distance substantially equal tothe thickness of the sheet by the adjustment of the guides 46 in the bracketsl 48.

The lsheet is of a width slightly greater than the circumference of the guides 56, 5| so that as the sheet passes downwardly between the outer guides 46 and the inner guides 50, 5I, the edges of the sheet will come together and lie in superposed relationship in a radial plane whereby they may be pressed and sealed together to form the tube. This sealing mechanism will be described more fully hereinafter.

The guides 50, 6I may be carried by or integral with a bracket 52 which is supported on the frame of the machine and extends inwardly between the edges of the sheet at a point above where said edges are brought together. 'I'his bracket may be comparatively thin and downwardly tapered in a vertical transverse plane between the edges of the sheet as is shown particularly in Fig. 6. The bracket has a passage there' through for the delivery of the liquid to the tube at a point below that at which the edges are sealed together. As shown the bracket has a depending non-cylindrical stud 53 seated in a correspondingly shaped socket in a bracket 54 on the frame of the machine so that the bracket 52 and the parts carried thereby may be readily lifted out for cleaning, sterilizing, adjustment or repair.

The bracket 52 is shown as connected to a supply pipe 55 and has a horizontal bore 56 intersecting a vertical bore 51. At the lower end of the latter there may be an extension pipe 58 leading down into the tube to a point substantially below the desired liquid level in the latter so as to prevent foaming. To facilitate cleaning, the bore 5l may have a removable closure 59 at the upper end so that upon removing said closure a cleaning brush may be passed through the bore 51 and extension 56. The bracket also carries a oat 60 disposed within the tube and serving to control the supply of liquid and maintain a substantially constant liquid level. As shown this float is provided with a guide rod 6I extending through the guide 50 and a lug 62, and this rod is connected by a link 63 to a pivoted lever 64. This lever has a depending extension 65 which is connected by a link 66 to a valve 61 which engages a seat in the end of the bore 56. As the liquid level in the tube rises the float 66 will swing the lever 64, 65 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 and tend to close the valve 61. In normal operations the float 60 may move up and down in a comparatively narrow range and regulate the supply of liquid and maintain the liquid level varying within the limits somewhat diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 23.

To facilitate cleaning, the link63 is detachablyconnected to the lever 64, for instance, by having' a pin held at the base of aslotr by means of a spring 68.

The operation of the valve and float may be regulated by a counterbalancing weight 69 `adjustable toward and from the pivotal support 'l0 of the lever.

The two edges of the sheet, after they are brought together, are sealed together by a pair of sealing members H6 between whichv the outy y Canam standing edgesgof the-sheet pass as shown -par- .-1.85 and each has a roller 86 upon its under side ticularly in Fig. '1.v Each' of these members'has therein'an electrical heating Aunit I|| similar to" The two memthe heating con los (Fig '12).4 bers are supported upon lever arms ||2 mounted upon parallel rock'shafts I'I3V which are connected for simultaneous opposite rotation by gears ||4. One of these rock shafts |I3 is provided with a lever arm I I extending in opposite directions therefrom and having its opposite ends connected by links ||6 to the cores of solenoids II1. 'I'he lever arm |I5 has an upwardly extending arm section I I8 connected to a spring I I9. With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the spring exerts a pull tending to rotate the rock shafts in such direction as to press the sealing members together and apply a slight pressure to the opposite sides of the edges of the material sliding therebetween. When the machine is stopped for any reason a circuit may Abe automatically or manually closed to energize the solenoid shown at the right of Fig. 6 to rock the lever arm and swing the spring I I9 to the heating of the portion of the sheet material be tween these members when the machine is at rest, and the material is not in motion. Upon starting the machine the other solenoid may be manually or automatically energized to rock the lever arm in the opposite direction and bring the sealing members together and bring the spring to the position where it exerts a yielding pressure tending to prevent separation of the members.

Below the oat there is provided means which brings together the opposite sides of the tube and effects a transverse seal. The mechanism which folds and tucks in the sidesis shown particularly in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive. This includes four members 1|, 12, 13 and 14,' shown in top plan view in Fig. 11. The diametrically opposite members 1| and 13 are wedge-shaped with the tapered face receding from the point as shown in Fig. l0. The other two members 12 and 14 have their lower edges, shown in dotted lines in Fig. l1, adapted to come together substantially along a diameter of the tube. All four'of the members flare upwardly and outwardly and each at its upper end is arcuate and extends along approximately one-quarter of the circumference of the tube.

The two members 1I and 13 serve as tuckers and taper downwardly substantially to a radial line as well as tapering inwardly. These two members are carried by brackets 15 which are in turn carried by slides 16 mounted to move endwise and radially of the tube in guides4 11 on a cam casing 18 forming a slidingframe section of the machine. Each slide has a roller 19 on the under side thereof and traveling in a cam groove 80 of a cam member 8| described more in detail later.

The two members 12 and 14 change in shape progressively downwardly from arcuate sections extending along approximately one-quarter of the tube to substantially fiat parallel lower end portions 82 spaced slightly apart so that there may be slight liquid flow in the juxtaposed part of the tube. These members are carried by brackets 83 which are somewhat similar to the brackets except that they are offset in opposite` directions as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. These brackets are mounted on and'carried by slides 84 somewhat similar to the. slides 16, but at right angles thereto. 'I'hese slides 84 are mounted in guides and mounted vto travel ina cam groove 81. which A is in the cam vmember 8| previously referred to.

l The four members 1I, 12, 18 and 14 are moved inwardly 'and outwardly by the rotation of the cam'member 8| as will be described hereinafter more in detail. fThe' lower ends of members 12 and 14 terminate at a lower plane than the ends of 1I and 13, due to 12 and 14 coming practically together and clearance being provided between the flat faces 82 and the sides of the wedgeshaped tuckers bringing edge 89 on a higher plane.

Below said plane and rigid with each of these members lare similarly shaped corresponding members in reverse position in respect to the horizontal plane. The lower members 1|a and 13a are similar to the members 1| and 13 except that they converge` upwardly rather than downwardly and serve to tuck in the lower portion of the same opposed folds which are tucked in -by the two upper members. These members 1|a and 13a may be rigidly connected to and depend from the slides 16.

'Ihe members --12a and 14a are similar to 12 and 14, but converge upwardly and terminate in substantially flat portions 88 Vwith their edges parallel to and directly below the edges of the portions 82 and parallel to the edge portions 89 of the uppermembers 1| and 13 and the parallel radial portions 90 of the sections 1|a and 13a. These members 12a and 14a are carried by and depend from the slides 84.

'Ihe yfour upper members and corresponding lower members are movable to an outer limiting position so as to permit the tube or bag to hang substantially freely therebetween as shown in Fig. 9, or may be moved inwardly to the positions shown in Figs. 8, 10 and 11 to collapse a section o f the tube. The upper members 1| and 13 form the reentrant tucks F and the lower members form the reentrant tucks F' as shown The upper members and lower members are\` as also shown in these same spaced apartto collapse a section of approximately twice the width of a desired terminal seam of the completed package, and means are provided for effecting the seal while the folding and tucking members are in inward position. This sealing means includes a pair of pressure applying members 9|, 92 which have opposed sides substantially parallel to each other and also parallel to the edges of the portions 82 and 88. The sealing members 9| and 92 are carried by arms 93, 94 respectively which are mounted upon opposed pivot pins 95. The arm 93 is connected by a link 98 to a slide 91 movable in guideways 98 and parallel to one of the slides 84. The arm 94 is.connected by a link 99 to a slide |00 movable in guideways |0| and parallel to the other of the slides 84. The link 96 may be a rigid bar, but the link 99 is preferably made of two telescoping sections with limited relative endwise movement. As shown a pin |02 limits this relative endwise movement of the sections While a spring |03 tends to extend the link 99 to the maximum extent.

The two slides 91 and |00 are provided with rollers |04 on the under sides and travel in the same grooves 81 as do the rollers 86.

The pressure applying member 9| may have a substantially straight surface or inserted bar |05 of rubber or other equivalent resilient material, while the opposed member 92 may be of metal and have therein an electrical heating coil |06 connected to conductors |01 supported in an extension |08 on the arm 94. This extension including the portion which directly supports the member 92 may be of insulating material to prevent undue conduction of heat away from the surface to be heated.

When the folding and tucking members are in outermost or open position the cam member 8| is in the position shown in Fig. 17. As this cam is rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 17 the rollers 19 and 86 are rst brought inwardly as indicated in Fig. 16. At the time the rollers reach the position shown in Fig. 16 the folding and tucking members have reached their innermost position and they form the tucks in two sides of the tube and press the other two sides together. 'I'he cam grooves are of such shape that the cam member may continue this clockwise rotation from the position shown in Fig. 16 to the position shown in Fig. 15 and during this portion of the rotation the folding and tucking members will not be moved, but the rollers |04 will be brought inwardly to swing the two arms 93 and 94 toward each other and to press the members 9| and 92 against the sides of the tube to seal the juxtaposed layers together and to form a transverse hermetically tight seal. As the cam rotates in the opposite direction the sealing members will rst be moved away from the seam and the folding and tucking members will thereafter be moved outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 9.

In order to effect the proper seal and to prevent undue strain on portions of the wall of the `completed package the member 92 preferably has a face thereof provided with reentrant angles |09 as shown particularly in Fig. 8a, the purpose of which is described in detail in the copending Vogt and Lakso application Serial No. 36,772, led August 19, 1935.

The casing 18 forming the housing for the cam member 8l also supports slides which carry members which act to support the Weight of the filled section of the bag during the time the folding, tucking and sealing operations are effected. and these cooperate with the members 1|a, 12a., 13a and 14a in giving to the completed package the accurately predetermined shaped and therefore volume at the time the sealing is effected. As shown particularly in Figs. 8, 9, and 13 there is a pair of these supporting members |20 each forming substantially one-half of an open topped cup receiving the lower end of the tube above the point of the last previous Seal. These members are mounted for vertical sliding movement in slides |2| radially movable on the under side oi the casing 18 and below and parallel to the slides 84. Each slide |2| has a roller |22 mounted to travel in a cam groove |23 in the under side of the cam member 8| and shown in dotted lines in Figs. 15, 16 and 17.

For moving the supporting members |20 vertically on the slides |2| the latter are shown as rovided with levers |24 mounted on pivot pins |25 intermediate of their ends and in the under side of the slides |2|. One end of each lever extends into a socket in the supporting member |20 while the opposite end rests on a pin |26 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the slide |2 I. The upper end of each pin |26 engages the under side of the cam member 8| and may be forced down or permitted to rise during the rotation of the cam member 8| by the action of an inclined surface |21 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. The radially outer end of each slide |2| is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 13, and the casing is provided with a pair of lugs |28, |29 which engage the outer end of the levers |24 and force these ends upwardly and therefore force the support members |20 downwardly when the slides |2| have moved outward radially to such an extent that the pins |26 come beyond the outer surface of the adjacent portion of the cam member 8| or to a. high portion of the cam surface.

The cam groove |23 and the cam surface |21 are of such shape that when the folding and tucking means are in outermost position as shown in Fig. 9 the supporting members |20 are in innermost position and form a support for the lower sealed off end of the bag or tube as shown in Fig. 9, and the members |20 are also in their lowermost position. As the sealing and tucking members move inwardly the walls of the tube take an inclined position and therefore the surfaces would tend to have a relative vertical movement in respect to the tucking and folding members. To compensate for this the sealed off bottom of the tube is raised at the same time that the folding and tucking members come inwardly so that the portion of the tube wall opposite the sealing members 9|, 92 does not have any vertical movement in respect to these members during the inward movement of the walls. When the tucking, folding and sealing have been effected and the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 8 and 10 the support members |20 will move outwardly with the members 1|, 12, 13 and 14 and their corresponding members 1|a, 12a, 13a and 14a to permit relative movement from the sealing position to a position substantially flush with the lower ends of the members |20. Upon the reverse movement of the cam members the members |20 are rst moved inwardly to form a support for the sealed end before the tucking and folding members come in to form the next seal thereabove.

Any suitable means may be employed for oscillating the cam member 8|. As shown in Figs. 8, 12, 15, 16 and 17 a portion of the periphery of the cam member is provided with a gear section |30 which meshes with a pinion |3| mounted on a shaft |32 having means for oscillating the same. By making the gears |3| of one-half the pitch diameter of the gear section |30 a rotation of the shaft through 180 will rotate the cam member 8| through the desired angle of 90.

After the completion of the sealing operation above described, and before themembers |20 are separated, the sealed oi section of the tube which forms the package is cut off directly below the members |20 intermediate of the upper and lower edges of the walls which were sealed together by the members 9|, 92. For this purpose there is provided a knife |33 connected to an arm |34 mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and carried by a vertical shaft |35. The knife is preferably one having a point which will first pierce the sealed section and with diverging edges which progressively cut the material in opposite directions from the point at which it is pierced. The cutting movement of the knife as well as the return movement out of the material is effected while the supporting members |20 are in their innermost position and substantially stationary, and the knife travels closely adjacent to the substantially hat under surface of the members |20 so that said members adequately support the seam during the severing action.

It is preferable that the sheet material be continuously delivered by the feed rolls at a. substantially uniform rate, and it is likewise desirable that there be no Arelative vertical movement of the tucking, folding, transverse sealing and cutting means in respect to the sheet or tube during the operation of said members. Therefore these members are mounted for back and forth vertical movement. As shown the casing 18 which encloses the cam memberand supports said members and their guides is not a rigid part of the frame, but is mounted to slide vertically and has grooves |31 engaging guides |36, of the stationary part of the frame as shown in Fig. 12. The casing 18 is provided with'a lug |38 connected to a vertical reciprocating rod |39 and is also provided with a lug |40 providing a bearing for the pinion 3| for moving the latter and its shaft |32 vertically in keeping it in mesh with the gear segment |30. It also has a lug |4| within which is mounted the bearing for the shaft |35 and effecting the corresponding vertical movement of the latter and the knife guided thereby. Obviously if desired the shafts |32 and |35 need not move vertically, but in that event the casing 18 should be provided with suitable parts for sliding the vpinion |3| and the hub of the arm |34 vertically on splines on these shafts' All of the operating parts may be driven from a single motor |42 shown in Fig. 1 and driving a worm |43 meshing with a gear |44. The gear is shown particularly in Fig. 18 as mounted on a shaft |45 disposed in a gear casing in the base of the machine. On this shaft there is provided a disc |46 having a cam groove |41 receiving the roller |48 of a scotch yoke |49. This scotch yoke has an extension |50 provided with inclined rack teeth (see Fig. 22) engaging corresponding teeth on a pinion 4on a splined extension |52 on the lower end of the shaft |32. The pinion is held against vertical movement, but as the rack bar |50 raises and lowers the pinion |5| is rotated, and this rotation is transmitted to the shaft |32 which may move upwardly and downwardly through the pinion in accordance with the movement of the operating mechanism above described.

The shaft |45 is provided with a second cam |53 which engages a roll |54 on a second scotch yoke |55. This scotch yoke is connected to the rod 39, and the cam |53 is of such shape as to impart the desired vertical movement to the casing 18 and the parts mounted therein or carried thereby. The shaft |45 is also provided with a cam wheel |56 having a cam groove |51 in the periphery thereof and receiving a roller |58 mounted on an arm |59 mounted to swing about a horizontal axis on a pivot pin |60. The opposite end of the arm |59 is provided with a gear segment meshing with a pinion |6| held against vertical movement, but splined on the shaft |35. The shape of the cam groove |51 is such as to impart the desired oscillatory movement to the knife |33 and in the proper timed relationship to the other operations.

The shaft |45 is also provided with a bevel pinion |62 meshing with a bevel pinion |63 on a countershaft |64, and this countershaft is connected to the shaft 31 by a second pair of bevel pinions |65. Through this gearing the feed rollers are continuously rotated, whereas the other mechanisms directly operated from the shaft 45,

namely, the oscillatory cutter, the oscillatory gear member and the verticallymovable housing, have back and forth movement rather than continuous one-way movements.

The shaft 31 may be connected to a second countershaft |66 through bevel pinions |61, and the countershaft may serve to operate a conveyer for carrying away the completed packages after they are severed. As shown the countershaft |66 is provided with a sprocket wheel |68 which is connected by a chain |68 to a sprocket wheel on a shaft |1| which drives the pulley |12 of a belt conveyer |13. The sprockets and chains may be enclosed in a housing |14.

Directly below the lowest point of the supporting members |20 there may be provided a chute for guiding the severed packages onto the conveyer as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The packages when suspended may be of the shape shown in Figs. 2, 24 and 25, but when resting upon the side the liquid pressure will cause them tov be symmetrical at opposite ends as shown at the right of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 23 as the members 1|, 12, 13 and 14 areof substantially the same shape and inclination as the members 1|a, 12a, 13a and 14a.-

If the sequence of operations is not entirely clear from the foregoing description of the machine, it will be apparent from Fig. 23 which shows the successive positions. It will be noted from this figure that the position of the lower end of the filling tube 58 does not change, but that the liquid level changes with the collapsing of the section of thetube and the forming of. the seal. The bottom of the tube section above the seam at i-lrst does not drop as rapidly as the line of uniform feed of the sheet due to the upward movement of the members |20, but after the seal has been formed as in the second and third positions in Fig. 23 and the sealed off section is being cut off, the parts open out to the position shown in Fig. 9 and the lower end of the sealed off section lowers at the same rate as the sheet material and the liquid level drops slightly due to the fact that the liquid is not being fed in as fast as the tube is lowered. The liquid level rapidly rises again during the movement from the first to the second position in Fig. 23 due to the collapsing of the sides of the tube. .If a variable rate o f feed be provided for the sheet material and a stopping and starting of the feed during the sealing and cutting operations, then it is not necessary to provide for any vertical movement of thetucking, folding, sealing, supporting and cutting mechanisms.

The sheet material may be more or less elastic or the sealing together of the edges of the sheet to form the longitudinal seam may permit slight variation in the diameter of the tube, and therefore in the diameter of the iinal package. The casing members 1|a, 12a, 13a and 14a together with the bottom supporting members give to the package denite and predetermined shape and volume, and therefore accurately determined volume of the contents of the package. If the tube be too large due to stretching of the material, partial opening of the seam or for other cause, the members 1|a, 12a, 13a, 14a and |20 will bring the package down to a predetermined shape and may possibly even form a slight fold in a part of the wall and expel a small amount of the liquid upwardly between the surfaces which are held but not tightly by the parts 82 and 88.

The sealing device does not operate until after the encasirig members are in iinal position, and therefore at the instant the sealing is effected the contents has been brought accurately to the predetermined volume before the sealing.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a tube and continuously advancing it at auniform rate, a sealing clamp for sealing together opposite sides of the tube to form. closures at successive spaced points along the length of the tube, and means for moving said sealing clamp back and forth along the path of movement of the tube.

2. A packaging machine including means for vprogressively forming a vertically disposed tube,

a sealing clamp for sealing together opposite sides of the tube to form closures at successive spaced points along the length of the tube, and means for moving said sealing clamp back and forth along the path of movement of the tube, said tube advancing downwardly by gravity at a uniform rate during the upward movement of said clamp and said clamp moving downwardly with said tube during the sealing operation and through a lesser distance than the space between successive sealing points.

3. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a tube and permitting it to advance downwardly at a uniform rate by the action of gravity, means for filling said tube with liquid, and means for sealing together opposite sides of said tube to form closures at spaced points along the length of the tube as the tube descends, said sealing means being disposed below the minimum liquid level maintained in said tube, whereby each sealed off section of the tube is completely filled with liquid.

4. A packaging machine including means for continuously advancing a strip of sheet material at a uniform rate, means for progressively sealing together the opposite edges of said strip to form a tube, means for delivering liquid to said tube and at such a rate in respect to the rate of formation of the tube as to maintain a liquid level within said tube between prf-determined limits, and means for successively sealing oi sections of the tube as the tube advances and at points below said lower limit. 6

5. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a vertically disposed tube, means for delivering liquid to said tube, a oat within said tube for controlling the rate of flow ci the liquid in respect to the rate of movement of the tube, and means disposed below said oat for sealing off successive packages from the lower end of the filled section of the tube.

6. A packaging machine including means for continuously advancing a strip of sheet material, means for bringing together the opposite edges of said strip to form a tube with the edge portions together and extending outwardly radially from the wall of the tube, and means for pressing and sealing together said outwardly extending edge portions as the formed tube advances.

7. A packaging machine including means for continuously advancing a strip of sheet material, means for bringing together the opposite edges of said strip to form a tube with the edge portions togetherand extending outwardly radially from the wall of the tube, and heated sealing clamps yieldingly pressed together and between which said outwardly extending edges pass to progressively form `a sealalong the length o! the tube.

8. Apackaging machine including means'for continuously advancing a strip of sheet material, means for bringing together the oppositev edges of said strip to form a tube with the edge portions together and extending outwardly radially from the wall of the tube, a pair of heated clampv members between which said edge portions pass, and yielding means for pressing said clamp members toward each other or holding them in spaced relationship. Y

9. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a depending tube, means for delivering filling material to the lower portion of the tube as the latter is formed, a vertically movable member encircling said lower portion, means carried by said member for sealing ofi` the lower filled portion of the tube at spaced points along the downward movement of the latter, and a cam carried by said member and encircling said tube for operating said sealing means.

10. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a depending tube, means for delivering lling material to the lower portion of the tube as the latter is formed, a vertically movable member encircling said lower portion, means carried by said member for sealing oir the lower filled portion of the tube at spaced points along the downward movement of the latter, and means also carried by said member for supporting the bottom of the tube during the sealing operation.

i1. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a downwardly moving suspended tube, easing members movable toward and from said tube for engaging the latter and giving to the lower portion of the tube a-predetermined shape and volume, and means disposed above said casing members for sealing off said lower portion of predetermined shape.

12. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a downwardly moving suspended tube, casing members movable toward and from said tube for engaging the latter and giving to the lower portion of the tube a predetermined shape and volume, and means disposed above said casing members for sealing off said lower portion of predetermined shape, said casing members and said sealing means being movable outwardly away from said tube to permit the latter to move downwardly therebetween by gravity.

13. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a depending tube, means for delivering filling material to said tube, members for forcing toward each other opposite sides of said tube thereby reducing the volume of the lower portion of the tube, means for supporting and lifting the bottom of the tube during the inward movement of said members, and means above said members for `sealing together the tube to form a package.

14. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming a depending tube, means for delivering lling material to said tube, members for forcing toward each other opposite sides of said tube thereby reducing the volume of the lower portion of the tube, means for supporting and lifting the bottom of the tube during the inward movement of said members, means above said members for sealing together the tube to form a package, and means below said support for cutting off the previously `formed and sealed package intermediate of the upperrandlower edges of the sealed portion.

15. A packaging machine including means for Vadvancing a strip of sheet material at a uniform rate, means for progressively sealing together opposite edges thereof to form a tube, means for y .filling the lower portion oi said tube, a member movable lengthwise of said tube, means carried by said member for bringing together opposite edges of said tube, and means for moving said member vertically and at a rate different from the rate of movement of said sheet material during the inward movement of said fourth mentioned means.

16. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming and lling a tube formed of flexible sheet material, a member encircling said tube and movable vertically through a range materially less than the length of the desired package, means carried byv said member for bringing rtogether opposite sides of the tube, means also carried by said member for sealing said sides together to form a hermetic closure, means also carried by said member for supporting the bottom of the tube during said sealing operation, and means also carried by said member and disposed below said supporting means for cutting 01T a previously formed package.

17. A packaging machine including means for progressively forming and iilling a tube formed of flexible sheet material, a member encircling said tube and movable vertically through arange materially less than the length of the desired package, means carried by said member for bringing together opposite sides of the tube, means also carried by said member for sealing said sides together to form a hermetic closure, means also carried by said member for supporting theybottom of the tube during said sealing operation, means also carried by said member and disposed below said supporting means for cutting oii a previously formed package, and a cam encircling said tube and carried by said member and serving to actuate all of said other means carried by said member.

18. A packaging machine including means for advancing a strip of material at a uniform rate, means for progressively forming said strip into a depending tube, means for filling the lower portion of said tube, said strip feeding means serving to control the downward movement of the iilled lower portion of the tube by gravity, means for tucking in opposite sides of the tube at 'a point above the lower end thereof, means for pressing together other sides to form a thin transversely extended section with unfolded tucks, and means for sealing together the separate layers of the tube Wall at said section to form a hermetic seal.

19. A packaging machine including means for advancing a strip of material at a uniform rate, means for progressively forming said strip into a depending tube, means for lling the lower portion of said tube, said strip feeding means serving to control the downward movement of the filled lower portion of the tube by gravity, means for tucking in opposite sides of the tube at a point above the lowerl end thereof, means for pressing together other sides to form a thin transversely extended section with unfolded tucks, means for sealing together the separate layers of the tube wall at said section, and means spaced therebeneath to a distance substantially the height of a package for severing the sealed section.

20. A packaging machine including a drive shaft, means operated thereby for continuously advancing a strip of sheet material, means for progressively bringing and sealing together the opposite edges of the strip toy form a tube, means for delivering a liquid to the lower portion of said tube, an annular member encircling the tube, means driven by said shaft for alternately raising and lowering said member, folding, sealing and severing devices carried by said member, and means operated by said shaft for moving said member back and forth to form separate successive packages from the progressively filled descending end of the tube.

EINO E. LAKSO.

Images