Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1043310
This invention is concerned with a method for packaging
compressible material into flexible-walled containers. The
invention is also directed to an apparatus for carrying out this
method.
Compressible material, such as loose insulation for
example, is generally packaged in flexible-walled containers such
as multi-walled, paper bags for example. The insulation is loaded
into the bag and compressed therein so that a volume of the loose
insulation, greater than the volume of the bag, can be packaged
in the bag.
To package into a bag a volume of loose insulation
greater than the volume of the bag, the bag is inserted into a
tubular holder, and a tubular extension is then placed on top of
the holder. Both the bag in the holder, and a portion of the
tubular extension, is then filled with loose insulation. Means
are then passed down through the tubular extension, into the top
of the tubular holder to compress the loose insulation into the
bag carried by the holder. The compressing means is then raised,
the tubular extension is lifted, and the filled bag is removed
from the tubular holder, and closed. An empty bag is then placed
in the holder and the operation as repeated.
The packaging procedure is relatively slow since most
of the operations are carried out at a single work station. In
addition, the bag closing operation is manually done resulting in
further inefficiencies.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a method and apparatus for packaging compressible material
into a flexible-walled container, whereby to minimize manual labor
in the packaging operation.
The basic concept of the invention is to utilize a
rotating platform that moves a container holding means through a
plurality of individual work stations, at each of which certain
packaging operations are performed.
~.
- 1 -
~0433~0
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a
method for packaging compressible material into a flexible-
walled container on an intermittently rotating support carrying
a holding means and an associated, vertically movable loading tube
located above the holding means, the support being operable to
position the holding means and its associated loading tube at each
of a series of four work stations. The method of the invention
includes the steps of:
- beginning with the holding means and its associated
loading tube located at a first of the four work stations and
with the loading tube in its lowered position, positioning the
container to be filled inside the holding means with a top
portion thereof drawn up around the bottom end of the lowered
loading tube, the holding means having rigid walls for confining
the container to a desired, filled shape;
- operating the support to move the holding means and
its associated loading tube to a second work station;
- delivering a predetermined quantity of the compressible
material through the lowered loading tube and into the container,
the quantity being in excess relative to the container;
- operating the support to move the holding means and
its associated loading tube to a third work station;
- compressing the material down the lowered loading
tube and into the container;
- operating the support to move the holding means
and its associated loading tube to a fourth work station;
- raising the Ioading tube, and thereafter folding
the top portion of the filled container over the upper surface
of the compressed material to close the container;
- operating the support to move the holding means and
its associated loading tube back to the first work station; and
- removing the closed, filled container from the holding
means, after which the loading tube is lowered in preparation for
1043310
the start of another operating cycle.
Preferably, there are four holding means and associated
loading tubes. The support is operable to move each of the four
holding means and its associated loading tube in sequence past the
four work stations.
The invention also provides an apparatus for carrying
out the above method, which apparatus has four work stations and
includes:
- an intermittently rotating support;
- a holding means and an associated, vertically movable
loading tube located above the holding means, the holding
means and loading tube being carried by the support, the loading
tube being movable between lowered and raised positions, and the
support being arranged and operable to position the holding means
and its associated loading tube in sequence at èach of the four
work stations;
- the holding means being adapted to receive and support
a container to be filled when the holding means is positioned at
a first one of the work stations and when its associated loading
tube is in its lowe~ed position, with a top portion of the
container drawn up around the bottom end of the loading tube,
the holding means having rigid walls for confining the container
to a desired, filled shape;
- means at a second of the work stations, operable to
deliver a predetermined quantity of the compressible material
through the loading tube and into the container when the support
has been operated to move the holding means and its associated
loading tube to the second station, the quantity of compressible
material being in excess relative to the container;
- means at a third of the work stations, operable to
compress the material down the loading tube and into the container,
when the support has been operated to move the holding means and
its associated loading tube from the second work station to the
.,. . -
third work station; 1043310
- first and second means at a fourth of the work
stations arranged and operable, respectively, to raise the
loading tube to its raised position and to fold the top portion
of the filled container over the upper surface of the compressed
material, thereby closing the container, when the support has
been operated to move the holding means and its associated loading
tube from the third work station to the fourth work station; and
- means arranged to retain the loading tube in its raised
position at the fourth work station and during movement of the
holding means and its associated loading tube back to the first
work station, whereby to allow unloading at the first work
station of the closed, filled container from the holding means, the
support being operable to effect such movement from the fourth
work station to the first work station, and the loading tube
raising means at the fourth work station extending to the first
work station and cooperating with means at the first work station
arranged to release the loading tube retaining means, whereby to
cause lowering of the loading tube towards its associated holding
means, for receiving around its bottomend another container to be
filled.
According to a preferred embodiment, the top portion
of the container defines a back wall, sidewalls and a front wall,
and the folding means at the fourth work station thus comprises
first means constructed and arranged to fold the back wall down
onto the upper surface of the compressed material, second means
constructed and arranged to fold the sidewalls over the folded
back wall, and third means constructed and arranged to fold the
front wall onto the folded sidewalls. The third folding means
preferably includes means constructed and arranged to loosely
grip the front wall, and means constructed and arranged to move
the gripping means over the top of the container, whereby to cause
the frontwall to slide out of the gripping means as it is
--4--
10~s3310
folded over the folded sidewalls. Such gripping means may
comprise a first, fixed vertical plate; a second, movable plate
mounted horizontally above the first plate; and means for
horizontally moving the second plate to a position where it can
be moved to a vertical position adjacent the first plate, and
biased thereagainst to grip the front wall.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, the
loading tube is slidably mounted on a pair of spaced-apart
vertical guide beams, stop means being provided on a lower portion
of each guide beam to limit the extent of downward movement of
the loading tube to its lowered position, wherein an upper end
portion of the holding means overlaps the bottom end of the
loading tube. The raising means preferably comprises a lifting
platform mounted between the fourth and first work stations, and
having a first lifting portion adjacent the first work station,
and a second lifting portion adjacent the fourth work station,
each of the lifting portions being adapted to cooperate with
a lifting plate mounted on the loading tube; a first fluid
pressure means is provided for actuating a vertically movable
piston rod connected to the platform. The retaining means, on the
other hand, preferably comprises a T-shaped member pivotally
mounted on the guide beams, and having a hook portion normally
lying in the path of movement of a cross bar on the loading
tube; the hook portion is adapted to receive the cross bar in
latching engagement. Finally, the releasing means advantageously
comprises second fluid pressure means mounted on the lifting
platform at the first lifting portion thereof, and operable for
actuating a second, vertically movable piston rod having an upper
end adapted to cooperate with the T-shaped member to disengage
the hook portion from the cross bar, whereby to unlatch the
loading tube so that it can move from its raised to its lowered
position.
. ~ - 5 -
1043310
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be
described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compressible material
packaging apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the apparatus;
Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the container
closing means;
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional detail views of the
container closing means in different states during closing of the
container;
Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the container loading
and unloading station;
Fig. 9 is detail view of the filing station;
Fig. 10 is a detail view of the compressing station; and
Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the closing station.
The packaging apparatus 1 represented in Fig. 1 has means
3 for holding a container 5 to be filled with compressible
1043310
material 7. The container 5 is a flexible walled bag made from
one, or more, layers of suitable plastic or paper material. The
compressible material 7 can comprise insulation, peat moss, wood
shavings, asbestos, excelsior, woodbark or similar types of
material.
The container holding means 3 is mounted on a transporter
9 which carries the holding means 3 past a number of work stations.
The transporter 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7 preferably comprises
a circular, horizontal platform 11 rotatably mounted on a base 13
for rotation about a fixed, central, vertical post 15. Gear means
17 are positioned beneath platform 11 and fixed thereto. The
gear means 17 are driven by a chain drive 19 operated by a motor
(not shown) to rotate platform 11 about post 15.
The container holding means 3 is preferably mounted
adjacent the periphery 21 of the circular platform 11. The
container holding means 3 is adapted to confine a container 5
in its desired packaged shape. The this end, holding means 3
has rigid, vertical side walls 23 defining the desired final
packaged shape of the container 5 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and
7, Preferably four side walls 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D are provided,
normally arranged to define a rectangular shape. Front sidewall
23A, facing outwardly, is joined to one end side wall 23B
and this two-walled unit, is hinged with hinge 25 along the
free vertical edge of end sidewall 23B to the free vertical
edge of back sidewall 23D. The front sidewall 23A and end
sidewall 23B preferably carry a horizontal shelf 27 adjacent their
lower edge, which , when walls 23A, 23B are closed, projects within
the other side walls 23C, 23D. Shelf 27 can sit on circular
platform 11. Means 29 are provided for clamping the sidewall 23A
and sidewall 23B unit in its closed position. The clamping means
29 can be mounted adjacent the free vertical edge 31 of sidewall
.
1043310
23C lying opposite sidewall 23B. The clamping means 29 is manually
operated to clamp sidewall 23A and 23B tight against edge 31 of
sidewall 23C to close holding means 3. Each holding means 3 is
open at the top.
~ loading tubc 41 i~ associaLe~ with Qach holdin~ means
3. The loading tube 41 is located above holding means 3 and is
slidably mounted on a pair of spaced-apart vertical guide beams
43. Beams 43 are attached at their lower end 45 to the back of
sidewall 23D of holding means 3 and at their upper ends 47, by a
brace 49 to a sleeve 51 rotatably mounted on the central fixed
post 15. At least the lower end of the loading tube 41 is sized
to fit closely within the top portion of holding means 3. Guide
brackets 53 are provided on the back of tube 41, at this sides,
cooperating with guide beams 43, to guide tube 41 vertically
between one position within holding means 3, and a second position
above holding means 3. Upper and lower pairs of guide brackets 53
are provided and horizontal guide rods 55 extend between each pair
of guide brackets. The ends of each guide rod 55 may slide between
the flanges of the guide beams 43. A stop 57 is provided in the
lower part of each guide beam 43, adapted to cooperate with the
ends of lower rod 55A to limit the extent of downward movement
of tube 41.
The upper end 63 of loading tube 41 can be flared out-
wardly to facilitate loading of the compressible material into
the tube as will be described. A vertical window 65 can be
mounted in one sidewall 67 of loading tube 41 to permit operator
observation of thc filling operation. A horizontally disposed
lifting plate 69 is mounted on the backwall 71 of loading tube
41, between guide rods 55. Means, to be described, co~perate
with plate 69 to raise or lower loading tube 41.
- 1043310
The apparatus is provided with a number of identical
holdiny means 3, each having a loading tube ~1 associated with it.
The holding means 3 are arran3ed in a circle on the platform 11,
adjacent its peripheral edge 21. Preferably as shown in Fig. 2
four holding means 3~, 3B, 3C and 3D are provided on the platform
spaced ninety degrees apart. Each of the holding means 3A, 3B, 3C
and 3D is moved in sequence past four work stations "A", "B", "C",
and "D".
At the first work station "A", an empty container 5 is
placed in the holding means 3 and loa~ing tube 41 is lowered into
the top portion of the holding means 3 to hold the mouth of
container 5 open.
Material loading means 71 arelocated at the second work
station "B", as sho~n in Figs. 2 and 9 for transporting the
coml~ressible material 7 from a supply source (not sho~l) into the
top of the guide tube. The loading means 71 can comprise a general-
ly horizontal belt conveyor 73, supported by suitable framework
(not shown), adjacent the apparatus. The discharge end 75 of the
conveyor 73 is positioned over the upper flared end 63 of guide
tube 41 when the tube is at station "B".
Compressing means 81 are located at the third work
station "C", as shown in Fig. 10, for compressing the material,
loaded into container 7 and tube 41 at station "B" down into the
container 5 in holding means 3. The compressing means 81 can
comprise a plunger 83 actuated by a double-acting, fluid pressure
actuated cylinder 85. Cylinder 85 can be hydraulically or
pneumatically operated, and is vertical mounted on a horizontal
support beam 87 which is fixed at one end to the top 89 of fixed,
central post 15. The other end of beam 87 can be fixed to the
top of a vertical support beam 91 fixed at its lower end to base
13. Operation of cylinder 85 in one direction, lowers plunger 83
into tube 41 and down into folding means 3 to compress the
q
~043310
material into the container 5.Operation of cylinder 85 in the
opposite direction raised the plunger out of loading tube 41.
Container closing means 101 are provided at the fourth
work station "D" for closing the container 5, now filled with
the compressiblc matcrial 7. The closing means 101 comprise
means for tightly folding the open top of the container into a
closed position, and means for fastening the folded container
top in the closed position to keep it closed.
The container folding means comprise first folding means
107 for folding the top portion of backwall "R" of the container
down horizontally onto the compressed material; second folding
means 109 for folding the top portion of sidewalls "S", "T" of
the container down toward each other and horizontally over the
folded backwall "R" portion; and third folding means 111 for
folding the top portion of front wall "U" down tightly over the
folded sidewall "S", "T" portions.
The first folding means 107, shown best in Figs. 2, 3
and 4, has a generally rectangular folding plate 115 mounted
between a pair of horizontal, parallel, slide tracks 117 which
tracks extend toward the top edge 119 of backwall 23D of holding
means 3 and terminate adjacent thereto. A runner 121 is slidably
mounted in each track 117. The plate 115 is pivotably mounted
to the runners 121 along its lower edge 123 by a rod 125 extending
between the runners 121. The plate 115 has a pair of bushings
127 on its lower edge 123, at its corners, through which rod 125
passes. Plate 115 pivots about rod 125.
The tracks 117 are mounted by a support frame 129 fixed
to post 15. Stop means 131 are provided at the ends of the slide
tracks 117, adjacent holding means 3, for stopping outward movement
of the runners 121. A double-acting, fluid pressure actuated
cylinder 133 is mounted just above tracks 117. One end 135 of
cylinder 133 is pivotably mounted to a support plate 137 fixed
_ ~ _
~0433~0
to post 15. The free end of the piston rod 139 of cylinder 133
is pivotably mounted by a pin 141 to a pair of lugs 143 on the
back of plate 115. The lugs 143 are located generally in the
center of the plate 115. A spring 145 can be provided on rod 125
arrangod to bias platc 115 toward an uprigh~ po~ition.
The seond folding means 109 comprise a pair of generally
triangular, horizontal plates 151 normally located in front of the
holding means 3 at station "D". The plates lSl, as shown in
Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6, are positioned just above the top edge 119 of
holding means 3 and on either side of front wall 23A of holding
means 3. Each plate 151 is pivotably mounted by a vertical pin
153 at one corner thereof to one end 155 of horizontal guide rod
157. The other end 159 of each guide rod 157 is fixed to a rear,
cross-support bar 161. Each guide rod 157 slides horizontally
through a bushing 163 mounted in a frame member 165 forming part
of frame 167 fixed to base 13 adjacent platform 11.
A cam member 169 is mounted on each plate 151. The cam
member 169 is positioned by a support arm 171 a short distance
from the inside edge 173 of plate 151 and extends downwardly. A
tension spring 175 extends between the back edges 177 of the
plates lSl. A double-acting, fluid pressure actuated cylinder
179 is mounted between cross-support bar 161 and frame 167 to
move folding plates 151.
The third folding means 111 is also mounted on the
support frame 167 above second folding means 109 as shown in Figs.
3, 5 and 6. The third folding means 111 comprises a support
assembly 183, consisting of a front plate 185, a back plate 187,
side plates 189, and a top plate 191, all joined together by
welding or other suitable means. The front plate 185 is vertical
and lies adjacent the top portion "U" of the front wall of the
container at station "D" and just above the front wall 23A of
holding means 3. Back plate 187 is parallel to front plate 185,
f-~
- ~043310
and side plates 189 and top plate 191 join the front and back
plates together.
A spring biased clamping plate 193 is slidably mounted
on top plate 191 of support assembly 183. The clamping plate 193
is pivotably connected to a guide plate 195 via a pin 197. The
guide plate 195 is positioned behind clamping plate 193 and also
slides on top plate 191. A spring 199 tends to bias clamping
plate 193 clockwise about pin 197 as viewed in Fig. 5. The rear
end of guide plate 195 is connected to the free end of the piston
rod 201 of a horizontally positioned, double acting, fluid pressure
actuated cylinder 203. The cylinder 203 is mounted on back plate
187 of support assembly 183.
Support assembly 183 is slidably mounted on a base
member 205 which in turn is mounted on frame 167 by a vertical
support post 207. A pair of horizontal, double acting, fluid
pressure actuated cylinders 209 are mounted on the base member 205
as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The piston rods 211 of cylinders 209
pass through base member 205 and are connected at their free ends
to brackets 213 depending down from the side plates 189 of support
assembly 183.
Container sealing means 215 are carried by the support
assembly 183. The sealing means 215 are positioned just behind
front plate 185 of assembly 183, and can comprise a heat sealing
unit 217 connected to the free end of a piston rod 219 of a verti-
cally positioned, double acting, fluid pressure actuated cylinder
221. The cylinder 221 is mounted on assembly 183 between side
plates 189, and bcncath top plate 191. Actuation of cylinder 221
will lower the heat sealing unit onto a closed, plastic, container
to seal it closed. A stapling unit could be used in place of heat
sealing unit 217.
A horizontal lifting platform 231 is mounted on the
apparatus between the fourth and first stations 'iD" and "A" as
_ g~ _
. ,,~, .
. . . _ .
1043310
shown in Fig. 2. A double acting, fluid pressure actuated cylinder
233 is fixedly mounted in a vertical position beneath platform 231
as shown in Figs~ 7 and 8. The free end of piston rod 235 of
cylinder 233 is connected to the bottom of platform 231. A vertical
guide ro~l 237, I)arallel to pist:on rod 235, an~ sp~l-e~ la~erally
therefrom, extends down from the bottom of platform 231 and slides
through a bushing 239 carried by cylinder 233. The lifting platform
231 has a first lifting portion 241, adjacent the first work
station "A" and a second lifting portion 243 adjacent the fourth
work station "D". Another double-acting, fluid pressure actuated
cylinder 245 is mounted in a vertical position on top of platform
231. Cylinder 245 is adjacent the first station "A" and the free
end of its upwardly extending piston rod 247 carries a cam plate
249.
Loading tube retaining means 251 are pivotably mounted
on the loading tube 41 near its top end. The retaining means 251
is, as shown in Fig. 7 and 8, generally T-shaped and is mounted, by
a pivot pin 253, to guide beam at one end of the cross bar of the
"T". The lower end of the stem of the "T" has a hook portion 255
extending laterally therefrom in the same direction as the one end
of the cross bar. When freely suspended from pin 253 the retaining
means lies askew with hook portion 255 directly beneath pin 253,
and in the path of movement of the upper cross rod 55 on loading
tube 41.
In operation, the holding means 3 is manually opened up
at work station "A" with the clamping means 29 unclamped and wall
unit 23~, 23~ pivotcd open about hingc 25. Loading tube 41 is
lowered into the top part of open holding means 3. The loading
tube 41 is lowered along guide beams 43 by operating cylinder 233
to lower platform 231. As platform 231 is lowered, loading tube
41, supported by portion 241 of platform 231 through support plate
69, is also lowered until lower rod SSA hits stop 57 on the guide
~3
_ ~ _
1043310
beams 43 stopping lowering of tube 41. Platform 231 is dropped
slightly below plate 69. A bag or container 5, to be filled, is
then placed in the open holding means 3 with its mouth drawn up
around the bottom end of loading tube 41. The bottom end of
loadirlg tul~e ~1 t~us serves to hold the ~lloutl~ oL tl~e container
5 open during filling. The holding means 3 is now closed, with
shelf 27 sliding under the container 5, and clamped shut with
clamp means 29. The apparatus 1, after loading the container,
is shown in Fig. 8.
Platform 11 is then rotated countcrlockwise about post
15, to move holding means 3, along with loading tube 41, from
station "A" to station "B". At station "B", as shown in Fig. 9,
the conveyor 73 is operated to loosely fill the container, and part
of loading tube 41, with compressible material 7 through the open,
flared top 63 of the tube. After filling, which can be observed
through window 65, the platform 11 is again rotated to move the
filled holding means 3 and tube 41 to station "C". At station "C",
shown in Fig. 10, cylinder 85 is operated to lower plunger 83 into
tube 41 and down into container 5 to compress the loose material
~ within container 5. The material 7 is compressed to a shape
defined by the rigid-walled holding means 3 with the container 5
conforming to this shape. Plunger 83 is then withdrawn from tube
41 and the holding means 3 and tube 41 is moved to station "D" by
rotation of platform 11. In moving to station "D", lifting plate
69 on tube 41, is moved over portion 243 of stationary platform 231.
At station "D", the loading tube 41 is raised from its
bottom position, within containcr 5 shown in Fig. 11, to its top
position, clear of the container 5, as shown in Fig. 12. Cylinder
233 is operated to lift platform 231, including its portion 243,
thus lifting plate 69, and attached tube 41 up guide beams 43.
As tube 41 is being raised to its top position, top restraining
rod 55 on the back of tube moves up past hook 255, camming it out
' ~ ~
1043310
about pin 253. Hook 255 moves back in after rod 55 passes it.
Now when platform 231 is lowered, to lower another loading tube
into another holding means for loading a new container at station
"A", (as shown in Fig. 8), the loading tube 41 at station "D"
remains raiscd above loaded container 5, held up by rod 55 caught
by hook 255.
The material 7 remains substantially compressed during
this short period and at station "D" the top of the container is
then folded closed and fastened. First, folding means 107 is
operated to fold the upper portion R of the back wall of ~he
container. Cylinder 133 is actuated to slide closure plate 115
forward along rails 117. When runners 121, guiding plate I15 on
rails 117, hit stop 131, continued actuation of cylinder 133
pivots plate 115 down flat about the rod 125 joining runners 121
thus folding wall portion "R" down onto the flat top of the
compressed material as shown in Fig. 4. Cylinder 133 is then
actuated to withdraw plate llS back from container 5 along rails
117, spring 145 serving to help raise the plate about rod 125 as
it is returned to its non-operative position, as shown in Fig. 3.
Folding means 109 are next operated to fold in the top
portions "S", "T" of the sidewalls of the container over on top
of folded backwall portion R. The folding means 109 are actuated
by operation of cylinder 179 moving plates 151 forward along
either side of holding means 3 just above its top edge 119. As
plates lSl move forward, the offset cam members 169 contact the
front wall 23A of holding means 3 and pivot plates 151 inwardly
about pivot pins 153 as shown in Fig. 2. This inward pivoting
movement wipes, or folds, the top portions "S", "T" of the contain-
er sidewalls inwardly and down over wall portion "R". When the
cylinder 179 is actuated to withdraw plates lSl, spring 175 pivots
the plates lSl about pins 153 back to their initial position.
Folding means 111 are then operated to complete the
t~
_ ,~ _
1043310
folding operation. Cylinder 203 is first operated to slide
clamping plate 193 forward. As plate 193 passes off the front
edge of top plate 191, spring 199 snaps it down tight against
front plate 185, pivoting it about pin 197, and clamping the top
l)ortion "U" of ~he front walL oL containor 5 tl,erebetween. Cylin-
ders 209 are then actuated to move support assembly 183 forward
as shown in Fig. 6. Front wall portion "U" is thus drawn over
folded wall portions "R", "S" and "T", sliding out from between
clamping plate 193 and front plate 185. Just before wall portion
"U" is completely pulled out from plates 193, 185, cylinder 221
is actuated to press the closing means 215 down against folded
wall portions U,S,T and R and fasten them together, If the
container is made from heat sealable plastic material, the closing
means 215 can comprise an electric heating device for heat sealing
the folded container wall portions together. If the container is
made from paper material, the closing means 215 can comprise one
or more stapling devices.
After the folded container is fastened, cylinder 221 is
actuated to raise the closing means, cylinders 209 are actuated
to withdraw assembly 183, and cylinder 203 is actuated to slide
clamping plate 193 back to a horizontal position.
Platform 11 is now again rotated to move holding means 3,
and raised loading tube 41, to station "A". At station "A", clamp
29 is unclamped, and walls 23A, 23B are opened with the filled
container 5 riding out on shelf 27 to be unloaded as shown in
Fig. 7. Also at this station "A", cylinder 247 is actuated to
raise cam ~late 2~9 against the free arm o~ the T-sha~ed retaining
member 251 thereby pivoting it about pin 253 to disengage hook
255 from rod 55. In order for cylinder 247 to be effective in
unlatching loading tube 41, the platform 231 must be in a raised
position. This occurs when the platform 231 is raised to lift
the following loading tube at station "D" above the next container
16
A ~
1043310
prior to folding it. With tube 41 at station "A" unlatched,
platform 231 is then lowered to lower tube 41 into the open
container 3 initiating a new cycle.
It will be understood that an operation occurs at each
station A, B, C and D substantially simultanoously and that each
operation, except for the initial positioning of the container
in holding means 3, and its final removal, loaded, from shelf 27,
both at station "A", is performed automatically in the required
sequence. Thus the apparatus can package compressible material
extremely quickly.
~ _ ~* _
