Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10787Z6
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
wrappin~ commodities.
More particularly, this invention relates to an
apparatus and method suitable for compression packaging and
vacuum wrapping compressible commodities.
The packaging of various types of commodities,
specifically consumer goods, industrial goods or the like, is
an essential necessity in the manufacture and distribution of
such commodities between the point of manufacture and the
point of- sale, or the point of use, as the case may be.
Transportation and handling costs have, in recent years,
increased significantly and as a result, the cost of goods
where the latter have to be transported any distance has
increased due to the increased cost of transportation. Trans-
portation costs, as well as handling costs, are not only
dependent on the weight of such products, but also on the
volume of space such goods occupy. Thus, in the case of
bulky goods, it has long been recognized that the concept
of reducing the bulk or volume of such goods for transporta-
tion and handling purposes can reduce the overall costs and
lead to a much more efficient transportation and handling
concept. Several proposals have been made in the prior art
for reducing the volume of bulky goods and reference may be
had to e.g., U.S. Patent 3,511,021 which refers to the fact
that it is desirable to reduce the volume of bulky goods for
transportation. However, inasmuch as technology has evolved
to propose various systems for reducing the volume of goods
for transportation, heretofore very few systems have met
with any public acceptance, for one reason or another.
As a case in point, one may refer to the fact
that bulky articles such as insulation material of glass
fiber or the like, cushions or the like, can be theoretically
107~726
reduced to a very small fraction of their initial volume after
manufacture but even under today's conditions, such products
are only compressed and then wrapped to a relatively small
reduction in their original thickness and while this reduc-
tion aids somewhat in the reduction and transportation costs,
it by no means reduces the volume to a small fraction of the
original volume of goods which could significantly reduce
the costs of transportation further.
With this invention, according to one embodiment~
thereof, applicant has developed an apparatus for compression
wrapping and vacuum packaging compressible commodities which
is capable of compressing such commodities to a fraction of
their original size and which results in reduced handling
and transportation problems; in accordance with a further
aspect, there is provided a method of vacuum packaging and
compressing compressible commodities which can be carried out
using the apparatus of this invention and which likewise
achieves many advantageous features, which will be described
hereinafter in greater detail.
Broadly stated, an apparatus according to this
invention comprises means for supplying a length of flexible
wrapping material, means for advancing a commodity along a
fixed path and for enveloping the commodity with the length
of wrapping material to wrap the commodity as the commodity
is advanced, whereby the commodity is positioned between
a pair of layers of the wrapping material having free lateral
edges and free trailing edges, means for forming side seals
in the free lateral edges of the pair of layers of wrapping
material, means for subjecting the resulting side sealed
enveloped commodity to a partial vacuum and means for sealing
the free trailing edges of the resulting vacuum-treated
wrapped commodity to form a vacuum-packaged commodity.
1078726
In accordance with the method of the present
invention, there is provided the steps of supplying a length
of flexible wrapping material, advancing a commodity along
a fixed path, enveloping the commodity with a pair of layers
of the wrapping material to envelop the commodity so as to
form a commodity within an envelope in which the envelope has
a leading end which is sealed formed by a seal between the
opposed lengths of a pair of wrappiny material lengths, and
with an open trailing end, whereafter the envelopé is side-
sealed, a bag-length is cut from the lengths of flexible wrapping
material, and subsequently the commodity is then sealed in the
envelope by sealing the open trailing end.
In greater detail of the method and apparatus of
theinvention, the means for supplying a length of flexible
wrapping material preferably comprises means for supplying
a pair of opposed continuous lengths of wrapping material
which are general registry. The wrapping material may be any
suitable wrapping material for this purpose - in the embodiments
envisioned by this invention, the wrapping material is preferably
of an air-impermeable nature and comprises a thermoplastic
material capable of heat-sealed. To this end, typical materials
which may be utilized in the present invention include the
thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene or copolymers
thereof, polypropylene or copolymers thereof, etc.
The thickness of the wrapping material may vary
according to the required parameters for the wrapping for the
commodity and thus is within the skill of those skilled in the
art.
In supplying a pair of opposed lengths of wrapping
material, both are preferably supplied from a continuous roll
of the same. The opposed lengths are brought together in
registry in a spaced-apart manner which will permit the feeding
lQ78'7Z6
of the commodity in between the opposed l~yers of the wrapping
material. Prior to feedin~ the commodity between the opposed
layers o~ wrapping material, the opposed layers are preferably
sealed or otherwise secured together at the leading end in the
direction of movement of the commodity so as to provide a closed
leading end. Suitable means may be provided for sealing
the leading end - to this end, such means preferably comprise
heat-sealing means.
In defining a fixed guide path for the advancement
of the commodity, suitable means for conveying the commodity
along the fixed guide path are preferably employed - such means
may be - e.g. conveyors, movable belts or the like. Where it
is desired to compress the commodity for maximum reduction in
thickness of the commodity, a-compressible commodity may be
subjected to a compression step with compression means during
the feeding of the same to the packaging operation - for
example, a pair of opposed conveyor belts may be arranged in a
converging manner to subject the commodity to compression to
the desired degree and when compressed, the advancing means
for the commodity may then feed the commodity between the
opposed layers of wrapping material in a compressed state.
In the second stage of operation, the commodity is
inserted between the opposed layers of the wrapping material
and the wrapping material and the commodity is then advanced
to a side-sealing component. In the case where the commodity
is placed under compression, the advancing means preferably
includes means for retaining the commodity under compression
while the side edges are sealed. In a preferred arrangement,
there are provided means for engaging the closed leading end
of the wrapping material and advancing the same in conjunction
with the advancing means for the commodity into engagement or
operative relationship with the side-sealing means. Such
1078'7Z6
means preferably comprise retractable fingers or grippers
for engaging the interior surface of the pair of layers of
wrapping material and for controlling and/or advancing the
same into the sealing operation. Such fingers are preferably
of a reciprocal nature adapted to advance a bag length of
material into operative relationship with the sealing
operation and thereafter retract to the original position to
subsequently engage a further closed leading end.
In the side-sealing operation, the pair of layers
of wrapping material with the commodity placed between the
pair of layers, is subjected to a sealing step using sealing
means such as sealing elements. The sealing element can be
any suitable type well known to those skilled in this art,
and preferably operates in conjunction with means for severing
bag lengths of material from the continuous supply or lengths
of wrapping material. Thus,in a preferred construction, the
means for severing the bag lengths of material are preferably
located between the compression means and the sealing means
whereupon movement of the commodity into the sealing step or
position will expose the lengths of wrapping material to the
cutting operation. At the same time, there is preferably
included means for creating a seal widthwise of the wrapping
material to form the leading seal for the subsequent operation;
these are located downstream of the cutting means whereby the
severing/sealing operation forms a bag length for a commodity
previously placed between the opposed layers of wrapping
material and a closed bag length for the subsequent envelope
in which a commodity is to be subsequently inserted.
In a preferred Version of the sealing means, advancing
means for the retaining of control of the commodity between the
107872~;
opposed layers of wrapping material are preferably provided
operating in conjunction witht~e adv~ncing means for advancing
a commodity between the opposed layers of wrapping material.
To this~end, a pair of opposed conveyor belts having a desired
height may be provided and which will retain the co~modity
under compression. In this manner, the commodity is th~ls
advanced along a continuous fixed path from the initial loading
station to the sealing operation and sealing station.
Upon completion of the sealing of the free lateral
edges of the wrapping material, there is thus obtained an
envelope having sealed side edges and a sealed leading edge
with an open-trailing end (upon completion of the severing of
the bag length of the wrapping material). Thereafter, there
are preferably provided means for advancing the commodity intO
the final sealing operation to seal the open trailing end of
i the envelope and form the wrapped commodity and in a preferred
j embodiment, in this last operation there are preferably provided
vacuum packaging and sealing means operating in conjunction
with each other. The vacuum packaging means preferably
- 20 comprises a fixed surface and an opposed movable surface,
with a vacuum chamber being defined between the two surfaces
or alternately, in a housing enclosing the two surfaces. The
sealing means, in the latter embodiment, are preferably included
in the vacuum chamber and means are provided for advancing the
commodity from the side-sealing operation into the vacuum
chamber and subsequently for discharge of the wrapped commodity
from the vacuum chamber. In the preferred embodiment just
described, means are provided for causing at least one of the
surfaces to be brought into and out of engagement with the
other - preferably such means operate to bring the non-fixed
surface into engagement with the fixed surface. The non-fixed
surface preferably comprises a flexible air-impermeable membrane
7Z6
of suitable rubber or thermoplastic material, which is dimension-
ed so as to flex and upon creation of a vacuum between the
opposed surfaces, to contact the commodity to be wrapped under
compression and vacuum in such a manner as to "squeeze" the air .
from the envelope containing the commodity. Suitable means
for creating a vacuum may be provided.
The method and apparatus of the present invention,
hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the
drawings and illustrating preferred embodiments, has been
found to be very useful for packaging commodities under
compression. Thus, for example, insulation material such as
glass fiber batts or the like, cushions or the like, may be
compressed to a fraction of their original volume with the
apparatus and method of the present invention in a very simple
and fast manner.
The various components of the apparatus of the
present invention, and likewise the various steps of the method
of the present invention, can be carried out in a time-related
manner. Thus, for example, one commodity can be fed between a
pair of layers of opposed lengths of wrapping material, while
a commodity previously inserted is acted on to side-seal the
lengths of wrapping material and a still further commodity
is subjected to a vacuum packaging operation. Thus, suitable
control means may be provided for operating the apparatus in
such time-related sequence.
The present invention provides an economical apparatus
and a relatively simple apparatus which is capable of vacuum-
packaging and compressing various types of high volume compres-
sible commodities. Different types of commodities may be
employed from clothing, or garments in general, etc.
1(r7~7Z6
Having thus generally described the invention~
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
illustrating preferred embodiments and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one assembly
of the apparatus;
FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus
of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the side
sealing assembly of the apparatus;
FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus
of Figure 3;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of
Figures 3 and 4;
FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the vaccum
sealing device;
FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the device of
Figure 6;
FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional detailed view of a
portion of the vacuum packaging and sealing
unit taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7;
FIGURE 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing
further detail of the vacuum packaging
assembly;
FIGVRE lO is a schematic view showing a portion of
the wrapper advancing mechanism employed
in the apparatus of Figure l;
FIGURE ll is a detailed view showing a portion of
the advancing apparatus illustrated in
Figure 10;
FIGURE 12 is a section taken along the line 12-12
in Figure ll;
1078'7Z6
FIGURES 13A TO 13F illustrate schematically, the
various steps in the operation of the
apparatus through its various stages;
FIGURE 14 appearing on the same sheet as Figure 5,
illustrates schematically the sealing and
cutting assembly;
FIGURE 15 is a section taken along the line 15-15
of Pigure 14;
Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and
Figure 13 initially, the three assemblies used in the overall
apparatus of this invention are indicated generally by
reference numeral 10 to designate the compression and commodity-
feeding device; reference numeral 12 designates the side
sealing and advancing assembly; and reference numeral 14
designates the vacuum pac~aging and sealing apparatus. The
wrapping material and commodity-feeding assembly indicated by
reference numeral 10 is shown in greater detail in Figures
1 and 2 and includes, for reference purposes, frame members
indicated by reference letter F and throughout this descrip-
tion, such frame members will be referred to in general by
reference letter F. A pair of continuous-length rolls of
suitable wrapping material - for example, plastic material,
are indicated by reference numerals 20 and 22 which are
mounted on a pair of rotatable rollers 24 and 26, iournalled
between opposed frame members F by means of axles 28 and 30.
A length of the flexible wrapping material is withdrawn from
the roll and forms a web W so that top and bottom webs are
fed to the bag-forming operation, as explained hereinafter
in greater detail.
1~7Z6
Guide rollers 32 and 34, journalled on shafts 36 and
38 between opposed frame members, are located to provide a path
of travel for the web W from the supply thereof to the bag-
forming operations. The lowermost section of the assembly,
as shown in Figure 1, includes an idler and tensioning arm
or rod 40 supported on an arm 42 extending from the frame F
of the apparatus, and the web W passes in engagement with the
arm 40. In a similar manner, the web W emanating from the
upper roll 22 of wrapping material passes over a guide roller
46 journalled on a shaft 48 between opposed frame members;
a pair of tensioning and idling arms 52 connected by means
of a rotatable arm 50, are located in the path of travel of
the web W from the guide roller 46. Thereafter, the web W
passes over a further guide roller 58 journalled on the shaft
60 rotatably mounted between a pair of opposed frame members.
The drive means for the upper and lower webs W are
provided by a pair of cooperating rollers 62 and 64, jour-
nalled on shafts 66, at least one of the rollers 62 and 64 being
driven by means of a motor 68 connected to a gear box 70 through
shaft 72. The output shaft of the gear box 70 includes a
drive shaft 74 mounting a sprocket 76, which in turn, mounts
a drive chain 78 which rotates about a further sprocket or the
like 80 journalled on shaft 66 of one or both of the drive
rollers 64 and 62. A second sprocket 82 mounted on the shaft
66 journals a further drive chain 84 which is operatively
associated with a sprocket 86 connected to the shaft 66 of
the upper drive rollers 62 and/or 64 to thereby rotate the
upper rollers 64 and 62.
A feed path for the two web lengths is established
by means of a pair of opposed spaced apart rotatable rollers
-- 10 --
10787Z6
90 and 92, journa~lled on shafts 94~ mounted between opposed
frame members F of the''a~paratus. ~s shown in Figure 1, two
webs of material are fed over the various guide rollers and
between the spaced apart rollers 90 to form a "mouth", which
will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.
The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 includes
a compression section which is particularly suitable for com-
pressing commodities such as pillows, cushions or the like.
To this end, the apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart
upwardly extending frame members 100 and 102 connected to the
frame F, andwhich support an upper movable belt 106 extending
and rotating between the frame members 100 and 102. The belt
106 rotates between a pair of spaced apart rollers 108 and
110, each journalled on a shaft 112. As will be seen from
Figure 1, the roller 108 is at a higher elevation from that
of roller 110 whereby the belt 106 forms a decreasing angle
towards the discharge end at support 102, adjacent to the
mouth formed between the webs W and which will be hereinafter
referred to by reference letter M.
The lower commodity advancing means operating in
conjunction with the belt 106 comprises a front roller 116
journalled on-a shaft 118 and a further roller 120 journalled
on a shaft 122 at the opposed end tthe discharge end) adjacent
the mouth M and located generally beneath the roller 110. A
continuous belt 124 extends between the rollers 116 and 120.
The drive system for the upper and lower rotatable belts may
be seen in Figure 1 and comprises a motor 130 connected by
means of a drive shaft 132 to a gear box 134 which includes
an output shaft 136 journalling a sprocket 138 and mounting
a chain drive belt 140. The chain belt 140 is journalled
on a further sprocket 142 mounted on the shaft 122 of the
roller 120. The shaft 118, at its opposite end, includes a
10787Z6
gear 146 mounted therebnl; meshing with a further gear 148
mounted on shaft 112 journalling the roller 110. In this
manner, the upper and lower belts are simultaneously rotated
so as to advance a commodity C placed on the belt 124 towards
and into engagement with the belt 106 to compress the sa~me
as it advances towards the mouth M at the discharge end.
Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 10, there is
provided on either side of the belts 106 and 124, a pair of
guide channels 150 of a generally inverted U-shape, which are
fixedly secured to the frame F by means of brackets 152.
Mounted in each of the channels 150 is an elongated slidable
member 154 adapted for reciprocating movement therein. The
members 154 have, at the projecting end thereof, a finger 156
pivotably associated therewith as will be described herein-
after with reference to Figures 11 and 12. The member 154
is adapted for reciprocating movement, as aforementioned,
in channel 150 and movement is effected by means of a motor
158 driving a shaft 160 which in turn, is connected to a gear
box 162. The output shaft 164 of the gear box journals a
sprocket 166 about which there is mounted a chain drive belt
168. The chain drive is connected to a sprocket 170 jour-
nalled on shaft 172, which in turn, is journalled between
opposed frame members F of the apparatus. Shaft 172, on
each side, carries a further pair of sprockets 174, mounting
a chain drive 176 which in turn, is associated with a further
pair of sprockets 178. Sprockets 178 are mounted on a shaft
180 journalled between opposed frame members of the apparatus
and shaft 180 journals a further sprocket 182 with a chain
belt 184 associated therewith and rotating between sprocket
182 and a further sprocket 186 journalled on a further shaft
- 12 -
1(;~7~72~
188 at the leading end of the movable member 154. Chain belt
184 includes at least one upwardly standing finger or like
projection 190 fixedly secured thereto, which in turn, engages
the member 154 through the open-mouth in the bottom of the
channel 150. Upon reciprocating movement of the chain drive
184 (and conversely through the other chain drives), the
finger 190 will be effective to advance and retract the
movable member 154 in the channel 150.
As shown in Figure 11, the finger 156 is pivotably
connected to the member 154 on a shaft 192. The finger 156
is mounted to the reciprocating member 154 in a biased
position whereby the finger 156 is normally urged into
horizontal alignment with the member 154; to this end, the
finger 156 includes a pin or bolt 194 to which is fixedly
attached one end of a spring 196; the opposed end of the
spring 196 is fixedly secured to the pivot 192 journalling
the finger 156 to the arm 154.
The bag~forming, side sealing and advancing unit,
indicated generally by reference numeral 12, will be seen
in greater detail in Figures 3, 4, 5, 14 and 15 and to this
end, the unit includes guide rollers 204, 206 and 208 defining
a guide path over which the belts rotate. Rollers 204, 206
and 208 are mounted on suitable shafts extending between
opposed frame members. A further roller 210 forming a
tension roller, for each of the upper and lower belt systems,
may be included (see Figure 5), rollers 210 being mounted on
shafts 212 which are, in turn, journalled by adjustment
blocks 214 attached to the frame, the adjustment blocks
permitting ad~ustment of the amount of tension on the belts
200. The belts 200 are driven by means ofa motor 216 con-
nected to a shaft 218 which in turn, is connected to a gear
box 220. The gear box 220 includes an output shaft 222
-- 13 -
1~)78 726
mounting a sprocket or the like 224, which in turn, journals
a chain drive 226. The chain drive 226 is mounted over a
further sprocket 228 fixed on a shaft 230 which supports the
bottom front roller 206. At the opposed end of the shaft 230
there is provided a gear 232, meshing with a further gear 234
journalled on shaft 236 mounting the upper roller 206. In
this manner, both the upper and lower shafts 206 are rotated
simultaneously.
In accordance with an optional feature of the
present invention, the supports for the belts 200 may be
varied in width and to this end, the apparatus includes a
mechanism illustrated in greater detail in Figures 4 and 5.
A plurality of spaced apart rods 250 fixedly secured to a
frame member 252, operate in conjunction with a further
frame member 254 containing a plurality of apertures sized
to receive the rods 250. As illustrated in Figure 5, the
rods 250 preferably extend the full length of the belts 200
and can provide, if desired, an adjustment permitting articles
of greater width to be processed in the assembly 12. As
illustrated in Figure 4, both the upper and lower portions of
the apparatus may include the rods 250 to provide an extension
for the upper and lower belts. Frame member 252 is movable
by means of a screw thread device 256 mounted to the frame
member F of the apparatus and which is manually rotatable
by means of handle 258. The opposed end of the screw thread
device 256 is journalled to frame member 260; the screw
threads 262 threadably engage a mounting plate 264 which is
movable laterallY along the screw axis of the member 256 as
the latter is rotated. Guide rods 266 slidably mount the
plate 264; the rods 26Ç are journalled to frame member F
and frame member 260 by means of bushings 268. Mounting
member 264 is fixedly secured to plate 252 by means of
brackets 270.
1078726
The assembly 12 includes sealing means for sealing
the lateral side edges of a wrapped commodity as it is
advanced to and through the assembly 12. To this end, there
are included two pairs of spaced apart lateral side sealing
means illustrated in Figure 4. As viewed from Figure 4, the
sealing units 280 comprise a pair of spaced apart sealing
heads, each of which is mounted on a plate 282. Each plate
282 is mounted on a piston shaft 284 connected to a pneumatic
piston assembly 286, one being located at either end (see
Figure 5).
The pair of sealing heads illustrated to the left
hand side of Figure 4 comprise an adjustable pair of sealing
heads, each of which is indicated by reference numeral 290.
Each of these sealing heads is mounted by means of a pair
of spaced apart piston rods 292, which are actuated by a
pneumatic cylinder 294. The cylinders 294 are mounted to
the supporting plate 264 by means of a bracket 296. In
this manner, the sealing heads are made adjustable to
accommodate different widths as desired by movement as
heretofore described.
The assembly 12 includes, in conjunction with the
assembly 10, a sealing device and severing means adapted to
form a leading seal between the pair of webs W, and to
sever the sealed webs prior to advancing the same into the
assembly 12. To this end, there is provided a pair of
spaced apart sealing heads 300 each fixedly secured to a
frame member 302 extending transversely across the webs W.
The frame members 302 are journalled by means of bushings
304 on a vertical guide rod 306. The guide rods 306 are
fixedly secured, intermediate their ends, by means of a
- 15 -
1~m726
further bushing 308~ Movement of the supporting members 302,
and hence the sealing heads, is achieved by means of a
pneumatic cylinder 310 journalling a piston rod 312, which is
fixedly secured to the supporting brackets 302 as illustrated
in Figure 4. As illustrated in Figure 4, the ends of the
shafts 306 may be supported further by means of a supporting
member 314 extending between guide rods 306.
The cutting assembly, illustrated in part in Figure
4, and in greater detail in Figures 14 and 15, preferably
comprises a device known in the art as a "orega" assembly.
As such, a pneumatic tube 320 containing a slit 322 therein,
is mounted by a suitable bracket connected to the lower
frame member 302 of the sealing head. Mounted interiorly of
the member 320 is a piston member 324, which contains a knife
or similar cutting device 326 ejecting through the aperture 322.
The piston member 324 is freely slidable within the member 320
between its opposed end. Means are provided at each end of
the tube (not shown) for selectively admitting pressurized
air for driving the piston the length of the tube, to sever
the webs.
The vacuum packaging and sealing unit is illustrated
in Figures 6 through 9 in detail and includes a movable belt
drive for conveying a commodity between opposed pairs of web
sections and delivered from the assembly 12. The belt is
indicated by reference numeral 400 and is rotatable between
guide rollers 402 on the top, guide rollers 404 on the bottom,
and guide rollers 406 for directing the belt down and around
a sealing head (to be described hereinafter~. Drive means
for the belt 400 is achieved through a motor 410 driving a
shaft 412 connected to a gear box 414, with an output shaft
10~726
~not shown~ mounting a sprocket and in turn, journalling a
chain belt 416 rotating, at one end, about a sprocket 418
journalled on a shaft 420 which mounts roller 402. Shaft 420
is journalled between opposed frame members F. The belt
400 passes over a supporting plate 424 fixedly secured to
frame members of the assembly (see Figures 8 and 9) and
forms the bottom or bed of the vacuum chamber (i.e., it
forms a fixed non-compressible surface). The upper portion
of the vacuum chamber is defined by means of a housing 430,
surrounding the conveying assembly. The side walls 432
of the housing 430 mounts a flexible membrane 434 spaced
upwardly from the lower edges of the side walls 432; the
membrane 434 is secured to the side walls by means of a
flange 438 and appropriate fastening means such as bolts or
the like 438. The lower edge of the side walls 432 includes
a further flange 440 having fixedly secured thereto a gasket
or other like sealing material, extending about the periphery
of the housing 430. In this manner, the gasket is intended to
form with the supporting plate 424 an air-tight enclosure.
One of the side walls 432 is in communication, via
apertures 444, with a vacuum chamber indicated generally by
reference numeral 446. The chamber 446 is connected to a
vacuum pump 450 by means of a conduit 452.
The housing 430 is movable vertically from a raised
position to a closed position; to this end, the housing 430
is journalled on shafts 460 by means of bushings 464. The
shafts 464 are fixed at each end to supporting members 466 which
in turn are fixed to frame members F whereby the housing 430
is free to slide up and down on the shafts 460. Movement is
effected by means of a piston assembly 470 mounting a piston
- 17 -
1078726
rod 472 which is fixedly secured to the' housing 430 by means of
a bracket 474.
As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, there are
provided sealing means for sealing the trailing end of the
wrapped commodity received in the assembly 14; to this endr
there are provided a pair of spaced apart sealing heads 480
and 482, the lower of which is fixedly secured to a frame
member and the upper of which is movable. As will be seen
from Figure 8, the lower sealing head is journalled between
opposed sections of the belt 400 (which forms a portion of
the vacuum chamber at the point where it extends downwardly
as illustrated in Figure 8). The upper sealing head 482
is movable and is adapted to be brought into engagement with
the lower sealing head 480 by means of a pair of piston
assemblies 484, attached thereto by means of piston rod 486.
The-construction of the sealing head is illustrated
in greater detail in Figure 15 and includes a supporting or
backing member 500 of suitable material; a resilient backing
member 502 is partially embedded in the body 500 with an
overlying wire mesh layer 504 surrounding the member 502.
The mesh serves as a heat dissipating member, and is covered
with a backing layer 506 of suitable material. The heating
element 508 is mounted over the back,ing member 502 on the
backing layer 506 and is covered by means of a facing material
of suitable characteristics as indicated by reference numeral
510. The layers of various material may be fixedly secured
to the body 500 by means of suitable tape or the like 512.
Referring now to Figures 13A through 13F, the
operation of the apparatus described above is illustrated in
detail. To this end, referring initially to Figure A, a
10'787~6
commodity C is shown as being fed onto the advancing belt 124
for processing; in commencing the operation of the apparatus,
it will be noted from Figure 13A that the pair of webs W are
initially sealed at their leading enas (prior to entry into
the side-sealing and advancing assembly 12) from a previous
operation of the unit - the seal on the web being indicated
generally by reference numeral 540. As the commodity C is
advanced along the belt 124, it engages with the moving belt
106 and is subject to compression by virtue of the converging
belts 124 and 126.
At the onset of the operation, the fingers 156 are
placed between the pair of webs W and brought into engagement
with the seal 540. In conjunction with the advancement of
the commodity C through the discharge end of the belts 106
and 124, the advancing member 154 is actuated to advance the
assembly with the fingers 156 and thus advance the sealed
web into the assembly 12 and between the spaced apart belts
200 and 202 which then assume control of the commodity within
the partially formed wrapper or bag. The commodity, as it is
illustrated in Figure 13B, is shown as being advanced into
the assembly 12 and following advancement of the commodity
under control of the belts 200 and 202 of the assembly 12,
the fingers 156 are moved from engagement and from controlling
the partially packaged commodity by the reverse movement of
the assembly 154 whereby the fingers, being biased forwardly,
are then brought ciear of the commodity and returned to the
initial position for subsequent advancement of a further
operation. At this point, the side sealing assemblies 280
and 290 are actuated to seal the sides of the web and to form
a side-sealed and bottom-sealed wrapper or bag, as illustrated
- 19 -
` 10787Z6
in Figure 13C - the side seal being indicated generally by
reference nurneral 542.
Thereafter, the sealing members 300 are actuated to
effect a further seal 540' for the subsequent operation, and
at the same time, the webs in the leading direction (in the
direction of movement of the webs) are severed (see Figure
13D).
Following the sealing and cutting operation, and
referring to Figure 13E, the severed bag or wrapper unit
containing the commodity is advanced into the assembly 14
for final vacuum packaging and sealing. At that point, the
housing430 is lowered once the belt 400 pOSitionS the par-
tially wrapped commodity- at the desired position within the
housing 430. Housing 430 is lowered and a partial vacuum
is applied by means of vacuum pump 450. The flexible
membrane is then brought into contact with the wrapped
commodity, the same is further compressed and air removed
from the package or wrapper, following which the final seal
is applied by means of sealing heads 480 and 482, as
illustrated in Figure 13F.
The above assemblies indicated by reference
numerals 10, 12 and 14, may be operated on an intermittent
basis whereby a commodity being fed through the assembly 10
is brought into contact with the webs of material W while a
further commodity is being side-sealed in the assembly 12
and a still further commodity is being vacuum packaged in
the assembly 14. Thus, each assembly may be operated in a
time-intermittent manner through a suitable control device
controlling the operation of all three assemblies.
It will be understood that various modifications
may be made to the above-described embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
" I
~0715~726
Thus, this invention contemplates that the apparatus and
method may be employed in conjunction with other operations
such as a manufacturing operation in wh.ich the commodities
produced from the manufacturing operation are automatically
fed into the system of the present invent.ion, to be
wrapped. In some cases, it may not be necessary to
compress the commodities or put the commodities under
~acuum packaging but for most products such as insulation
products, garments and the like, this is highly desirable.
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