Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
L3~i
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and
method for packaging or wrapping systems. This invention ~-~
relates to -the treatment of goods or wares to be packaged or
wrapped in a wrapping material, and further to a device for
transporting products between one station and a second station
in a vertical mode.
Packaging of various commodities - e.g~ consumer goods
is common in the manufacture and distribution of such goods
between the point of manufacture and the locus of distr;bution.
Transportation and handling costs have, in recent years,
increased significantly and as a res~lt, the cost of goods has ~
also increased. Such transportation costs are not only dependent ~-
on the weight of the products but also on the volume of space ;
such goods occupy. Thus with bulky goods, it has been recog-
nized that by reducing their bulk or volume the overall costs
may be reduced and a more efficient operation can be obtained. ~;
Proposals have been made for reducing the volume of bulky goods
e.g. U.S. Patent 3,511,021 which shows the reduction of the
volume of bulky goods. However no practical economical system
has been evolved to date where a manufacturer can package goods
with apparatus which reduces their volume.
Most commodities, particularly consumer oriented ones ;
are in fact packaged usually with an overwrap for protective
, purposes for shipment from a manufacturer to a distribution
point. Thus, it would also be desirable to develop an efficient
and economical system for packaging bulky compressible commodi-
ties in conjunction with an overwrap system.
This invention provides~a system and a method for
packaging commodlties which are of a relatively bulky nature,
but capable of compression, to a fraction of their original size
and yet, which may be re-constituted upon removal of the packaging
to their original state and which method and system ~ermits a
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greater number of commodities to be packaged in a shipping
container or the like for transport to distribut~on Points.
This invention provides in one aspect wrapping
apparatus for commodities in a vertical mode: there are also
provided improvements in a vacuum packaging apparatus and still
further, novel means for mounting and suspending a commodity to
be packaged in which the means for suspending the commodity
forms a portion of the vacuum packaged product. Still further,
there is subsequently described a transpor-t system for trans
porting a packaged commodity from one processing station to a
further processing station. Correspondingly, this invention
provides methods of transporting and for vertically wrapping a
commodity, between processing stations. In brief the wrapping
method includes the steps of supplying a length of flexible air
impermeable wrapping material, advancing said material in a pre-
determined ~ixed vertical p~th from a irst vertical station to
a second vertical station, vertically positioning a commodity to
be wrapped in the direction of advancement of said material
between said first and second stations in said fixed vertical
~` 20 path, and e~veloping said commodity with said material as said
material advances from said first to second sta-tions to enclose
said commodity within said material. In a preferred form, a con-
tinuous length of tubular flexible air impermeable wrapping
; material is employed, and there is also included the steps of
severing and sealing material adjacent the first station to
form an open-topped bag having a closed bottom and containing
the commodity as resulting from the method. However, either "C"
or "U" film may be employed or alternatively, a pair of opposed
layers of lay-flat film may be employed in which case, separate
layers may be advanced as described above and side sealed during
~ the above method - in the case of C or U film side sealing may
: also occur.
,
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A further embodimen-t relates to the above method in
combination wi~h vacuum packaging a commodity, and particularly
a compressible commodlty, in which a commodity as produced above
is placed between a pair of opposed spaced-apart surfaces in
which one of -the surfaces is a pressure deformable surface,
deformable at least in the area in ~hich the commodity lS
located between the surfaces and a partial vacuum is created ;
between the said surfaces so that the central portion of the
commodity is initially contacted by the deformable surface - and
subsequently outwardly therefrom to reduce entrapment of air in `
the packaged commodity.
The above wrapping and vacuum packaging apparatus and
method is particularly adapted to be employed in a system for
` conditioning a fibrous material such as is in the ~orm of a
commodity - e.g. a textile material or textile garment, cushion
~; or the like. In the overall~system, there may be provided a
treatment zone and a stabilizing zone, preferabiy in communlca-
tion with each other with conveying means for conveying a commo-
dity to and through the zones, during which a commodity is con-
ditioned for subsequent wrapping and vacuum packagin~. Such a
- system for conditioning will include means for providing a
source of conditioning air, as otherwise outlined, having a pr~-
determined relative humidity and temperature requirements, and
for introducing a flow of the conditioning air into the treat-
ment zones. There lS also provided means for introducing a flow
of the air into the stabilizing zone and means for removing the
treatment and stabilizing zone spent conditioning air.
For use in carrying out the above, the conditioning
apparatus may also include a loading or receiving port in ;~
communication with the treatment zone and a discharge port for
the stabilizing zone. Any suitable conveying means may be
employed for conveying a commodity to and through the conditioning
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apparatus A xetention or like chamber may be associated with
the discharge port of the s-tabilization zone for retaining
textile materials for subse~uent ~rocessing. Typically, the
conditioning apparatus may be a continuous tunnel varying in
length and width depending on the type of material being
treated ~ a suitable tunnel for textile material such as coats,
jackets, etc. may be 5 - 4Q meters. Each of the treatment and
stabilizing zones may involve two or more stages each preferably
including separate means for introducing the flow of conditioning
air and means for withdrawing spent conditioning air at the
respective stage. Preferably a balanced overall system is
employed and the number of stages will depend on the type of
produce being conditioned with two or rnore stages being typical.
Circulating means such as fans may be provided for each stage.
To supply conditioning air, any suitable means may be
provided. This invention preferably carries out the process
described in copending application Serial Number 275,130 filed
herewith in which it is disclosed that fibrous materials such as
textile materials, which are -to be vacuum packaged, are condi-
tioned by treating the materials to expose them to a gaseousenvironment su~ficient to reduce the segment mobility of the
fibers to a level below the segment mobility level of the
fibers prior to treatment and which may be carried out in the
treatment zone of the apparatus herein. Likewise, the relative
regain level of the fibersj in the treatment zone, are lowered
or reduced to a level belo~ that level of the fibers prior to
treatment, wherea~ter in the stabilization zone the segment
mobility of the fibers is stabllized and followin~ this, the
textile materials ~ay be then packaged while the segment mobility
and moisture regain levels are at the reduced and stabilized
level
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In the apparatus of this invention, therefore, means
for supplying conditioning air, may be any suitable means
commensura-te in scope with the teachings of the copending appli~
cation or in the event that other general processing is carried
out such conditioning means can be varied as desired. Typically,
accoraing to the teachings of the companion application, the
conditioning air provided in the treatment zone will have a
relative humidity of less than about 30% and a temperature below
about 35C.
The apparatus of the present invention which is
eminently suitable for carrying out the process of the above
copending application, can provide treated or conditioned
textile materials in a relatively short period of -time, ;~
typically, from 30 minutes to 2 or 3 hours with 1 hour being
normal for garments such as coats, jackets, suits or the like.
The conditioning apparatus utilizes a mixture of ambient air
and conditioned air which has been treated to rèmove the rela-
tive humidity and to cool the air at the same time. Using this
apparatus, and with the teachings of the copending application,
the method of the copending application may be carried out in
very short periods of time.
This invention also provides a device for mounting
and suspending a commodity e.g. coats, etc., to be wrapped and
which may be incorporated into and form a portion of a vacuum
packaged product so that the wrapped product can be readily
suspended from a rack.
One form of the device has a body portion for mounting
or suspending a commodity, a hook portion spaced from the body
portion for suspending the resulting wrapped co~modity from a
rack, etc., and a thin, flexible heat-sealable ligament between
the body portion and the hook portion. In one form the body is
a hanger-shaped portion e.g. of conventional construction to
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~3~132~i
retain the ~oat: with the ligament being connected to the body
portion at one end and to the hook portion at the other end.
Thus, the liga~ent may be incorporated into a package with the
hanger located within the package and the hook located exteriorly
of the package, and when the opposed walls of the package are
sealed together, the liyament is actually incorporated into the
seal. The ligament may be fixedly secured by means of adhesive,
heat sealing etc~, to the hanger if it is made of appropriate
plastic material or the hanger may be provided with an aperture
with the ligament e~tending to the aperture. The ligament may
also be a continuous band with the band hooking onto the hook
portion and extending to the aper-ture.
In a further form, the hanger portion may be in a
conventional form but with a continuous band provided between
the hook of the hanger and the hook portion which suspends a
wrapped commodity from a carrier. The ligamen-t may be made of
any suitable material - e.g. the same material as the wrapping
material, and preferably the ligament is of a relatively thin
nature.
The wrapping assembly of this invention comprises
supply means ~or supplying a length of wrapping material having
opposed wall sections, means for engaging and maintalning the`
opposed wall sections of the leading portion of the wrapping
material in a spaced apart manner to form an open-top enclosure
adapted to receive a commodity, means for advancing the wrapping
material with the walls in a spaced apart manner from an initial
starting position to a second or terminal vertical position
along a predetermined path, means for vertically mounting a commo-
dity to be enveloped by the wrapping material in the predeter-
mined path so that when the advancing means advances the materialfrom the first or initial position to a second or terminal posi-
tion, the commodity is enveloped by the material as the material
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advances between -the Eirst and second positions, Conventional ~ ;
supply means for supplying a length of wrapping material may be
used and preferably the arrangement described herein is utilized. ~`~
While the supply means may supply an endless tube, the wrapping
assembly of this invention may also be used for lay-flat film,
C or U film, etc.
In the wrapping assembly, the most preferred form of
the advancing means for maintaining the walls of a tube in an
- open condition comprises a pair of gripplng means, preferably
with suction or vacuum heads. This same means, travelling from
the first to second vertical position will thus permit a verti-
cally aligned or hung garment to be enveloped. The first sta-
tion or starting station may be defined as a position at which
the vacuum or gripping heads engage the leading portion of
tubular material while the upper or second station is the point
at which the garment is completely enveloped by ~he wrapping ;;
material. The assembly preferably includes a movable means
.~ .
reciprocating between the statlons with appropriate control
;- means for carrylnq out the various functions. Sealing means for
the various forms of the wrapping material can be employed,
which may be a part of the advancing assembly or alternatively
separate components. Such sealing means preferably operate in
conjunction with the gripping means.
The vertically oriented wrapping assembly of the ~`
present invention, in contrast to the horizontal arrangements
of the prior artr provide significant advantages for wrapping
garments or other similar textile materials, which may be sus-
pended by means of a hanger or the like. The presently vertically
oriented wrapping apparatus provides a greater degree of control
compared to horizontal apparatus which may require additional
components or labour compared to the apparatus of this invention.
.
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The wrapping assembly may also have means for
temporarily suspending or mounting a commodity at the wrapping
station and for transporting it for subsequent processing. ~ -
Preferably this comprises the novel transport means of the
present invention.
Such transport means or system advances the commodity
between processing stations such as the wrapping and vacuum ~ ~-
packaging stations and preferably comprises guide means extending
between first and second processing stations, a pair of opposed
gripping means movably mounted on said guide means, means for
advancing said gripping means between said first and second
processing stations, means for reciprocating each of said
gripping means into and out of package engaging and package
releasing positions at said first and second stations respec-
tively, carrier means for supporting and suspending a commodity
to be packaged, and means associated with said carrier means for
disengaging a commodity from the carrier means.
In the transport system the guide means-may be any
suitable component, e.~. guide rods, etc., mounting the gripping
means which preferably are in the form of gripping fingers
engaging the interior of a bag with a suitable carriage or frame
assembly being provided on which the gripping means are mounted
and which carriage assembly goes between the respective pro-
cessing stations. This may be a reciprocal type. The gripping
means also includes a component for bringing such means in-to and
out of package engaging and package releasing positions with the
different components of the transport assembly being operated
in time-related sequence. Means may also be provided for
removing a hanger from the transportation system which may take
the form of a pair of fingers or plates for engaging the hanger
and displacing it upon actuation of e.g. a piston or the like.
6 ,
The vacuum packaging assembly for vacuum packaging ~ ~
.: :
a textile product preferably is in the Eorm of a device com-
prising a first surface, a second opposed flexible pressure-
- deformable surface mounted in operative relationship to said
first surface with said first and second surfaces defining
therebetween a commodity receiving area, said second member
being deformable a-t least in said commodity receiving area,
means for suspending said second pressure deformable surface in
said spaced-apart relationship to said first surface, and means
for creating a partial vacuum in said commodity receiving area
to deform said second surface so that the central portion of
said second surface is initially deformed in said commodity
; receiving area and subsequently outwardly therefrom whereby
~- entrapment of air is minimized in packaging a commodity.
This invention also provides a modified vacuum
packaging assembly providing additional advantages. Specifi-
cally in accordance with this invention, the vacuum packaging
assembly may be provided with a pair of opposed flexible pressure-
deformable surfaces - i.e. both of the above surfaces are flexible
and deformable. At least one, or both, of the surfaces can be
suspended in a spaced-apart relationship and the means for
creating a partial vacuum to deform the pressure-deformable
membrane can operate on one or both of such surfaces. Still
further, an alternate embodiment of this invention of the
vacuum packaging assembly utilizes a first rigid surface with
the second opposed surface being pressure deformable but in
place of vacuum creating means between the surfaces, pressure
creating means can be applied to the face of the second surface
; opposite to the rigid surface opposite to the first surface
whereby the application of pressure will achieve deformation of
the deformable surface and compress a commodity from the central
portion progressively outwardly. A still further modification
32~
of this embodi~ent is where both the ~irst and second surfaces
are pressure-d~formable and both utilize means for applying
pressure to the opposed outward faces to deform the respective
surfaces into the commodity receiving area. Different pressures
may be applied to one surface as opposed to -the other depending
on the type of commodity to be vacuum packaged. Still further,
this invention also provldes a novel arrangement wherein the
first surface may be substantially rigid, with the second
opposed surface being pressure-deformable, and with the combina-
tion of vacuum creating means for deforming the flexible surfaceinto the commodity receiving area together with means for
creating a pressure on the opposed face of the second surface
so that the combination of vacuum creating means and applied
pressure aid in increasing the speed of operation of the unit -
or, in other cases, aid in compressing a commodity where greater
pressures may be required other than those created by vacuum
alone.
In the above arrangement, the flexible wall is a
pressure-deformable one and by virture of the suspending means
and the spaced-apart manner of the opposed wall sections, the
central portion of the flexible wall is capable of contacting
the central portion of the commodity being vacuum packaged and
then progressively going outwardly therefrom. It has been found
that using this arrangement and as described in greater detail
hereinafter vastly superior results can be obtained as opposed
to vacuum packaging using a rigid wall which compresses a commo-
dity and exerts significant deleterious pressures on different ;
portions of the packaged commodity.
For general purposes, either one or both of -the above
flexible and rigid walls may be movable into and out of engaging
relationship. The rigid surface or wall may merely be a fixed
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pla-te rigidly secured to a suitable frame member. It may be
made of any appropriate material or this purpose. On the
other hand, the flexible alr impermeable surface may be made
of any material possessing the desired characteristics including
air impermeable cloth, rubber, sheet plastic material or the
like. Such material may be secured about its periphery to a
suitable frame member with a sealing gasket or other like
sealing structure being provided adjacent the edges of the
flexible wall (or of the fixed wall~ to define a vacuum chamber
when the two walls are brought into operative spaced-apart
relationship. The pair of walls forming the chamber are dimen-
sioned so as to be substantially co-extensive at least in the
area where the packaged garment is adapted to be contacted by
the flexible wall.
A preferred vacuum chamber includes sealing means
for sealing the top portion of the bag containing the commodity
subsequent to the vacuum packaglng step. Such sealing means are
preferably mounted within the vacuum chamber and form a por-
tion thereof. Sealing means, one mounted to each of the res-
pective surfaces of the vacuum chamber, may be used with meansfor reciprocating one or both sealing heads into and out of
sealing engagement with the packaging material. Any conven--
tional means for creating a partial vacuum within the chamber
may be used.
The vacuum packaging device may also include means
for mounting a packaged commodity within the chamber - e.g. means
associated with the transport system may be employed for this
purpose. Thus, with the carrier means of the transport system
which suspends or mounts a device of the type previously des-
cribed using a heat sealable ligament, the packaged commoditymay be aligned in the desired position within the vacuum chamber
and the flexible ligament being located at least partially
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within the paeka~e so that upon actuation of the sealing means
for the package within the vacuurn chamber, the sealing means
may seal the llgament~ However~ other conventional hangers
may be employed as desired~
The above-described vacuum packaginy assembly may be
used in the vertical mode as described above or may be likewise
used in a horizontal mode again for packaging different types
of commodities. Thus it is immaterial whether the assembly is
vertically, horizontally or otherwise mounted as the same
assembly may be used for purposes other than e.g. the transport
system and wrapping system of this invention.
An alternate form of the device also includes an
arrangement permitting one or both of the surfaces or walls to
be pivotably mounted relative to each other permitting one or
both walls to be placed into operative sealing engagement,
either directly or through frame members, using such a plvoting
arrangement. The transport system described above may also be
used for controlling a packaged commodity at the vacuum
packaging station with the gripping means aligning the commo-
dity for a proper sealing relationship. In the event of use of ;
- the vacuum station in a horizontal mode, this may not be
necessary if e.g. the commodity to be packaged is fed in by
a conveyor or rnanually.
, ~ ~
^ The transport system, vacuum packaging assembly and
the wrapping assemb]y provide novel advantageous features for ~
each of these systems,compared to prior art proposals~ ~;
As outlined abo~e this invention also provides novel
improvements in a vacuum packaging assembly using opposed
flexible membranes or alternately by employing a single flexible
membrane which is pressure-deformable and utilizing means for
creating a pressure on the outer face of the membrane to cause
the same to deform initially in the central portion in the
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commodity receiving area and subsequently progressing out-
wardly. Still further, this improvement may be combined with ~ ~-
the use of vacuum creating means whereby vacuum creating means
and the pressure application means may be employed~
The packaging material used to package or envelop the
commodities may be any suitable flexlble substantially air
impermeable material for vacuum packaging purposes. Such
material are known in the art and generally comprise single or
multi-layer plastic or plastic hybrids or even metallic foils.
These generally comprise the polyolefins (homo- or copolymer) -
and laminates of two or more extruded layers of the same or
different material. Specific plastic materials are e.g. poly-
amides, polyolefins e.g. ethylene homo- and copolymers, propylene
homo- and copolymers, and more complex polymers or copolymers,
mixtures of these, etc. Laminates using different properties of
two or more films are desirable packaging-material. Other
materials include plastic backed or coated (one or both sides)
paper materials, paper or plastic backed metallic foils, e.g.
;~ aluminum foils. The choice of any particular wrapping material
will depend on the particular type of properties desired.
Various types of commodities may be packed by this
invention. I'his invention may be used particularly to package
bulky or voluminous products of natural or synthetic origin e.g.
textile materials such as clothing, sheet material (e.g. bed
coverings), cushions, etc. - successful tests have been made
using overcoats, sweaters, shirts, jackets, suits, etc.
In the drawings,
FIGURE 1 is a schematic overall view of the apparatus,
FIGURE 2 is a section taken through the conditioning
tunnel,
FIGURE 3 is one embodiment of a garment mounting device,
FIGURE 4 is an alternate garment hanger version,
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326
FIG~RE 5 is a schematic view of the wrapping and
vacuum packaging units,
FIGURES 6A to 6G are schematic views of the varying
stages oE operation of the wrapping device,
FIGURE 7 is a schematic view of the lower portion of
the wrapping zone showing the feeding system,
FIGURE 8 illustrates the cutting device,
FIGURE 9 illustrates the sealing head,
FIGURE 10 is a partial view of the drive system for
the wrapping device,
FIGURE 11 is a partial detail view of the cutting and
sealing assembly,
FIGURE 12 is a schematic view of the transport device,
FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 12,
FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view through the ~ ;
seallng, cut-ting and vacuum device; ;~
; FIGURES 15A to 15C are side and front elevational
views showing the sequence of operation and transferral of the
wrapped article, ~-
FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the vacuum device,
FIGURE 17 is a top plan view of FIGURE 16,
FIGURES 18 and 19 are cross-sectional views of the
vacuum device, and
FIGURES 20 and 21 illustrate an article prior to and
after being vacuum wrapped.
Figure 1 illustrates the overall system and has an
initial conditioning section 20, a stabilizing section 22, a
retention zone 24, a wrapping station 26, a vacuum packaging
zone 28 and a discharge zone 30. A commodity to be wrapped,
e.g. suits, is suspended on appropriate hangers at a loading
station which has a continuous conveyor C with flights 32, each
engaging a hanger 34 suspending the article, which advance the
goods into and through the conditioning and stabilizing zones.
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326
The conditioning zone compxises a series of stages `,~
or stations, one of which is illustrated in Figure 2. Each
station is a portion of a tunnel defined by upper and lower
walls 36 and 38 joining a pair of opposed side walls 40 and
42 to form an enclosure. At ea~h zone, an inlet 44 is provided
for introducing treated air supplied from a main air system.
The treated air enters via a conduit 46 and exits via outlets ~ ~
48 entering into a collector system 50 which circulates it back ~ ~ ;
to an air treatment device 52. This device conditions the air
to provide the requisite temperature and humidity. Each zone
or station is provided with inlets 44 and outlets 48 to provide
a generally balanced flow of air and to progressively treat
the articles to be packaged.
~ The conditioning system may include e.g., two or
- three conditioning zones, e.g. Zl and Z2, etc.'having the struc-
ture of Figure 2. The conveyor C transports the articles into,~
the open tunnel. Following the zone Zl forming a portion of
the conditioning zone, the balance of the system through to
the storage area forms a conditioniny æone in which the treated
and stabilized articles are retained under generally stabilized
temperature and relative humidity conditions. The stabilizing
system may include zones Z3 through Z5 each likewise being pro-
vided with air inlets and discharge conduits as per Figure 2
for providing the stabilizing conditions.
The conditioning and stabilizing tunnels may ~orm a
continuous closed system and may be of various shapes e.g. an
~longated tunnel or as shown in the drawings, a "U-shaped
arrangement.
At the retention zone, the stabilized articles are
maintained under the desired humidity and temperature condi-
tions for subsequent wrapping and vacuum packaging. The con-
veyors discharge the articles from conveyor C by any suitable
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means onto a feeding line 54 where they are stored until
required. Retention area 24 is provided with a pair of sliding
doors 56 which operative with the wrapping station to permit a
single article to be discharged when required. Suitable conven-
-tional means may be provided for advancing a treated article
from the retention area to the wrapping station.
Figures 3 and 4 show two versions of suitable mounting
means for articles such as clothing. Each includes a suitable
"hanger" shaped body 60 for mounting clothing with, as per
Figure 3, a wire or like member (a hook) 62 projecting from -the
top. Hook 62 is connected to a further hook 64 engaging the
conveyor system and a transport system. Hook members 62 and 64
are connected by a special ligament 66 comprised of a heat
sealable, preferably flexible, material~ This ligament 66 is
adapted to be sealed in and form a portion of the wrapped
package. In Figure 4, the ligament 66' is incorporated into a ;~
portion of the hanger 60 so as to provide direct mounting of the
hanger 60 to the hook member 64 so that the ligament 66',
passing through a slot 68, takes the place of the hook 62 in
Figure 3.
Figure 5 et seq show the` wrapping apparatus of the
present invention; the frame members are shown by reference
letter F.
Referring to Figure 7, a material supply system for
enveloping or wrapping a commodity comprises an "endless"
synthetic plastic tube 70 mounted (rotatably) on a pair of
~drive rollers 72. Rollers 72 are mounted by means of shafts to
frame F, each shaft having a gear 74. A motor 76 is provided -~
with drive shaft 78 extending into a gear box 80 and which has
an output gear 82. Drive belt 84 ~ngages each gear 74 and 82 to
rotate shafts 72 and thus drive the roll 70.
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~ guide shaft 86 is rotatably journalled in a pair
of mounting brackets 88a over which the web ~7 passes in the
feeding direction. Fixedly secured to the shaft 86 is a pair
of mounting brackets 9o (Figure 8) journalling a shaft 92 there-
between. Sha~t 92 rotates abou~ the axis of shaft 86. Mounted
relative to the rotation of the shaft 92 is actuation means
for the motor 76 e.g. micro~switch 94 so that with the rotation
of shaft 92 by advancement of web W, shaf-t 92 or the mounting
bracket 90 is effective to abut the microswitch 94 to initiate
the drive of the motor 76 to rotate shaft 72 and advance a pre-
determined amount of material from roll 70.
Wrapping material ~ from the rolI 70 passes under ,-
guide bar 98 journalled by frame members F and which position
web W in vertical alignment for the wrapping operation.
The wrapping unit has a vertically movable web
advancin~, sealing and cutting assembly (Figure 5 et seq).
Movable frame 100 is capable of being raised and lowered between
first and second positions by a pneumatic cylinder system 102
which include~ a connecting rod 104 secured to the frame member
100. Frame 100 is guided on opposed guide rods 106 (Figure 10)
by guide bushings 108. Referring to Figure 10 frame member 110,
at the rear of the wrapping unit, includes a rack and pinion
drive system 112 with pinion 114 being rotatably journalled to
frame 100 and in en~agement with rack 116. Movement of frame 100
from the lower to upper position drives pinion 114. On shaft 118
for the pinion is a drlve pulley 120 which is rotated by the'
rotation of pinion 114 - it serves to drive feed rollers 122 by
gear wheel 124 mounted on an extension of frame 100 and with
each roller 122 being provided with shaft 126 having a drive -wheel 128. Belt 130 ex-tends about the drive wheels 124, 128 and
120, so movement of frame 100 in a vertical manner rotates the
rollers 122.
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A converging trou~h 134 aids in ~uiding an article ~-~
to be wrapped and is located ~bove rollers 122 with the con~
verging mouth aligned ~ith the top portions of rollers 122.
Trough 134 is mounted by brackets 136 to frame 100.
Figure 11 shows ~rame 100 having pairs of mounting
blocks 140 and 142 for mounting shafts 126 of rollers 122.
Mounted on the frame is a pair (one being shown) of guide rods
144 journalling a sliding sealing and suction head. Shaft 144,
journalled by bushings 146 to the frame 100/ permits the vacuum
and sealing head to reciprocate inwardly and outwardly by a
pneumatic piston assembly 102 with a piston 150 with a rod 152.
The reclprocating portion of the vacuum and sealing head has
frame 154 journalled to rod 152 by clamp 156. Frame 154 has a
vertical frame 158 (Fig. 14) mounting vacuum and sealing
members. There is provided, similarly, a fixed plate 162 on
frame lQ0 and an upper sealiny head 164 co-operating with
opposed sealing head 166, in a like manner, lower vacuum chamber ;~
168 co-operates with a movable vacuum chamber 170 associated
with the movable assembly of Fig. 11. The movable portion of
the vacuum and sealing assembly is mounted on guide rods 144
- by bushings 182 journalled on guides 144 so reci.procation of
rod 152 causes movement between flrst and second positi.ons.
The vacuum system (Fig. 14) includes chambers 169 and
171 each connected to conduit 173 connected in turn to a vacuum
source (not shown). Chambers 169 and 171 include apertures 175.
The sealing heads (Fig. 9) include a body 200 with a recess 202
mounting resillent backing member 204; an overlying heat dissi-
pation wire mesh layer 206, a "TEFLON"* backing layer 208;
heating element 210 and a facing 212. Tape 214 or like means
secures the facing 212 to the body 200.
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* Trademark
_ 19 ~
The cu-tting assembly comprises a sha~t 216 (Fig. 8)
mounted by suitable means (not shown) onto frame 162 (Fig. 11).
In Fig. 8 the shaft 216 includes slot 218 extending therefrom;
mounted interiorly of shaft 216 is a movable cylinder 220
carrying a knife 222 projecting through ete. Cylinder 220 ~;
reciprocates from one end of the shaft 216 to the other by
pneumatic pressure using conduits 224 located at either end of
the shaft 216 connected to pneumatic and timing systems
(not shown).
Figures 5 12 and 13 show the transport system for
moving commodities between a Eirst station (the wrapping station)
and a second station (the vacuum packaging station). It operates
in conjunction with the wrapping station and includes frames 300
~ournalling guide rods 302 which mount frame 304 associated
therewith by bushings 306. Bushings 306 slide along guide rails
302 and are driven in a reciprocating motion by piston 308
having slot 310 with a pro~ecting member 312. This latter
member is driven by piston 308 to reeiprocate the transport
system between ~irst and second positions. Piston 308 like
assembly 102 is known in the art as Orega * system.
In Fig 13 the member 312 is conneeted to frame 314
fixed to plate 304. Plate 304 mounts bushings 316 eaeh slidably
mounted on a guide 318 seeured to housing 320. Piston 322 is
seeured to plate 304 with piston rod 324 extending ~herefrom
and fixed to housing 320 by bushing 326. Piston 322 is thus
effeetive to raise and lower housing 320 in a vertieal dis-
plaeement so the housing 320 is vertieally displaeed by guides
318 sliding through bushlngs 316.
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32~i ;
Housiny 320 (Fig. 12) includes interiorly fixed
frames 330 suspending pneumatic cylinder 332 with piston rod
334 mountiny block 336. "L" shaped ~ingers 338 extend from the
block 336 and include a downwardly extending portion terminating ~ ~
in hook 339 so that fingers 333 reciprocate between first and ~ ;
second positions through slots 340 using piston 332.
A pair o~ vertically aligned fixed plates 344 act as
"stop" plates upon the reciprocation of -the transport system. ;~
A buffer device 346 having a spring loaded cartridge 348 with
movable ~inger 350 is used for this purpose. Finger 350 abuts
plate 344 at each end. Figs. 12 and 13 show the transport
~ device as including a carrier for mounting a commodity and
; transporting it between first and second stations. Hook 352
which is used for this purpose is fixed to plate 304. Other like
arrangements may be employed for this purpose - -the hook 352 may
include means for use in removing a garment from the hook at
the vacuum packaging station, etc.
In operation of the above, a commodity e.g. a garment
lS discharged from station 24 by a sloping guide 54 terminating
adjacent hook 352 when the carriage is in the first position at
the wrapping station~ The conveyor system C (Fi~. 1) preferably
comprises rollers 33 journalled by a shaft rotating on the con-
veyor and advanced by flights 32. Rollers 33 include hook
member 35 mounting hooks 64 (Figs~ 3 and 4) so that when a con-
ventional transfer mechanism (not shown~ in chamber 24 discharges ~
the garment, rollers 33 slide down rod 54 and are subsequently ~ ~-
positioned to straddle the hook (Fig. 15A). Once the garment
and its respective hook are mounted on hook 352, the wrapping
operation is commenced. Upon a garment being de~ vered to hook
352 and to stabilize the garment and dampen its swinging move-
; ment as well as to aid in positioning the garment over the
trough, brushes or bristles 163 as shown ~Fig. 5) may be used.
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Backing plates 161 mount rolls of bristles 163 so that a gar-
ment as delivered to the wrapping station will abut the bristles.
A preferred form is where the hristles are flexible and slope
downwardly so the garment, when delivered, will abut the
bristles and cause them to bend downwardly fur-ther and thus
enhance the dampening motion.
For commencing the wrapping operation, the movable
frame members are in the lowermost position beneath the garment
(Fig. 6A). In start-up, or from a previous operation, the
wrapping material is brought into engagement with vacuum heads
168 and 170 (Fig. 14) so that the tube has an open mouth
dimensioned to receive the product e.g. a coat or jacket 400.
With the vacuum "on", and the walls of the tube
against the respective vacuum heads, means may be provided to
ensure that t:he coat arms will enter into the mouth of the
trough. In Fig. 5, spaced-apart arms 181 and 181' mounted by
member 183 on a rotatable shaft 185 are connected to a drive
187. Arms 181 and 181' each include a U-shaped channel member
189. When the garment is positioned as in Fig. 6A, the arms
181 and 181' are actuated by suitable conventional means to
rotate inwardly (Fig. 6B) so that the direction of rotation
engages the garment sleeves and by further rotation, presses
the arms inwardly and downwardly towards the trough 134.
The assembly of Fig. ll, driven by cylinder 102,
then moves from the lowermost position or first station
upwardly (Fig. 6C) to advance the wrapping tube upwardly about
the garment. Rollers 122, rotated by the,upward movemen-t of
the assembly of Fig. 11, aid in placing the garment in the open-
mouth endless tube. Figs. 5, 10 and 14 il],ustrate a further aid
for ensuring that the sleeves are placed within the t~ough and
aligned for insertion into the tube; there may thus be employed
a pair of conduits 191 at the ends of the trough 134 directing
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air jets onto the slides and including the s1eeves of the
garment.
As the assembly (Fig. 11~ advances vertically
upwardly, microswitches or the like detect the movement and
cause the rotation of the arms upwardly to their original ;~
position (Fig. 6C). The assembly continues advancement to the
uppermost position or second station (Fig. 6D) where the tube
extends beyond the garment. The finyers 338 of the transport
system, previously brought into a "closed" position, are then
actuated so they extend outwardly or laterally to engage the
side edges of the wrapping tube (Fig. 6E). The fingers 338
then assume control of the tube with the garment therein, and
the assembly commences downward movement.
Vacuum to the vacuum heads is cut when the fingers
have assumed control of the wrapping tube to permit downward
movement of the assembly.
When the assembly re-turns to the lowermost position,
it severs and seals the lower portion of the endless tube to
thereby form the bottom of a bag. The vacuum of the vacuum
heads is re-established to engage the opposed walls of the
continuous tube and subsequently, the heat sealing and severing
operations are performed by reciprocation of piston 150 (Fig. 11) -~
bringing sealing head 166 into engagement with sealing head 164
(Fig 14) and by actuation of knife 172 (Fig. 8).
Subsequently, arm 181' is rotated 90 to the vertical
behind the wrapping unit to permit the transport system to
transport the wrapped or enveloped garment from the wrapping
station to the vacuum packaging station (Figs. 6F and 6G), with
the wrapping station being ready to receive a further garment.
In Figs. 5 and 16 to 19, the vacuum packaging system -
is illustrated with reference F designating frame members.
Frame 300 is vertically mounted and as will be seem from Fig~ 16,
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the transport sys-tem delivers a s~spended garment to the
vacuum packaging C.tation on guide rods 302~ When the trans-
port system is at the vacuum packaging station, the hanger 64
is transferred to a further hook 402 for positioning the
garment at the vacuum packaging station, and the transport
system returns to its init~al station~
The vacuum packaging station has a no~flexible
plate 404 secured to frame F forming one wall of a vacuum
chamber. Wall 404 is non-movable and terminates at the upper
position in a chamber 406. Operat~ng with wall 404 is a further
wall of flexible material mounted within a frame or housing 408,
and which comprises side walls 410 defining an enclosure and
extending to the top of the chamber 406. Housing 408 includes
a flexible layer of air impermeable material 4.l2 essentially
forming a flexible diaphragm and wh~ch is fixedly secured
around its edges to the sides of housing 408, As will be noted,
the flexible surface 412 is spaced from the surface 404 and
; the two surfaces define therebetween a commodity receiving area
where the packaged commodity is to be vacuum packaged. The
periphery of surface 412 is mounted at a point spaced apart
from surface 404 in such a manner that upon surface 412 being
drawn inwardly by the creation of a vacuum~ the central portion
of the surface 412 is initia~ly deformed in the area where the
commodity is located and then subsequently outwardly therefxom~
By mounting the peripheral edges of surface 412 in a ~anner
spaced from surface 404, channels will be formed ahout the
periphery of the surface, to reduce or prevent entrapment of
air. Generally speaking,, the degree to which the periphery of ~ ';
the,.flexible or pressure-deformable surface 412 is spaced from
the surface 404 should be sufficient so that upon creation of
a vacuum to the desired degree the deformable portion of the
surface 412 is not higher than the highest portion of the
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commodity being vacuum packaged as this might otherwise prevent ;~
progressive outward deformation of the surface 412. To this
end, the periphery of the deformable surface 412 is mounted by
suitable rneans and is shown in ~ig. 18. Suitable means to
secure it to the peripheral por-tions of the housing 408 may be
employed. Alternately, an adjustable means may be provided for
varying the dis-tance to and from the surface 404 for packaging
different types of commodities. Air communication is provided
between the outer slde of flexible layer 412 and the back wall
o-f the chamber 408 - in an alternate form there need not be
provided a rear or side walls and instead a frame may merely
mount the flexible sheet 412.
Housing 408 is provided with a sealing gasket 415 to
form a vacuum chamber, in conjunction with the flexible wall 412,
and the rigid wall 404, when the two walls are brought into
operative relationship with each other. Wall assembly 408 is
movable on frame F for reciprocating into and oùt of operative
engagemen-t with wall 404; flanges 414 are slidably journalled
on guide rods 416 by bushings and a piston assembly 418 is -
provided with piston rod 420 secured to the assembly 408.
Actuation of piston 418 brings the flexible wall into and out of
engagement with the rigid wall 404.
Within the vacuum chamber are a pair of co-operating
sealing heads one associated with wall 404 and the other with
movable wall assembly 408. Both are secured by brackets 422;
however, in the case of one of the sealing heads 421, it is
mounted by bracket 424 to piston rod 426 of piston 428 to
bring it into and out of engagement with the opposed sealing
head. Sealing heads 420 are similar to those described ~`
previously.
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A pair of spring loaded clamps 430 and 432 journalled
by brackets 434 are adapted to posi-tion the package to be
sealed. One or both of these clamps are provided with spaced-
apart passages 440 (Fiys. 17, 19~ to permit air to be drawn from
the chamber formed by the cooperating wall surfaces in which the
package is located. A vacuum source (not shown) is connected
to conduit 442 leading to chamber 406, and creates a partial
vacuum in the enclosure formed between the co-operating walls
404 and 412. The above-described arrangement provides a vacuum
packaging system in which the flexible wall is initially drawn
against the central portion or area of -the garment to be vacuum
wrapped upon creation of a vacuum in the chamber. Thus, inward
movement of the flexible wall 412 initially contacts the cen-tral
area or portion of the wrapped garment due to the fact that the
peripheral portions of the flexible wall 412 are mounted above
the commodity and in a manner spaced from the surface 404.
Thus, even when the membrane 412 is collapsed due to a high
vacuum against the commodity being treated and the surface 404,
the normal resistance to bending or deformation at right angles
(as opposed to less acute bending) will leave channels about the
side walls of the housing. Upon suction being further applied,
and as outlined above, the flexible wall progressively contacts
the commodity from the central area outwardly with the result
that entrapment of air is minimized or eliminated from the
packaged commodity. ~ue to this, there is provided a signifi-
cant improvement in the vacuum packaging of commodities compared
to the use of solid plates or the like proposed by the prior art
for compressing and vacuum packaging commodities. Still further
it will be appreciated that by using a flexible or deformable
membrane, substantially equal pressure is applied to the commo-
dity throughout all portions of the commodity by creation of
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:
the vac~um and ag~in, this avoids the deleterious e~fects of
using a substantial~y flat plate or the like to compress and ;
vacuum package a commodity where significant pressures would be
applied to any irregularly shaped portion of a commodity. This
feature provides many desirable a-t-tributes to the vacuum
packaging operation.
During the sealing operation, the heat-sealable liga-
ment 6~ is sealed and forms a portion of the seal about the
package to permit an airtight enclosùre to be formed. However, ~ !
if desired, conventional hangers of metal or the like may be
employed by using flexible sealing heads to tightly seal the bag
about the metal hanger.
In accordance with this lnvention, an improved vacuum
packaging assembiy comprises the above arrangement but utilizes
on the outer face of deformable membrane 412 pressure creating -
means in place of the vacuum creating means whereby the means
for creating a partial vacuum may be elirninated. Alternately,
such pressure creating means to aid in the deformation of the
membrane 412 may be employed in conjunction with the means for
creating a partial vacuum. Likewise, a further embodiment
- utilizes a pair of flexible membranes whereby the rigid wall 404
rmay be dispensed with and a membrane similar to membrane 412 may
be employed in its place. If desired membrane 404 may ~ikewise ;
be suspended in a manner similar to membrane 412 although it is
only necessary that one such membrane be so mounted as shown in ~ -
Fig. 18. Where two flexible deformable membranes are employed,
both may be operated by means of pressure creating means (using
air pressure introduced into an enclosed chamber behind the ~ .
respective membranes). In some cases, it may be desirable to ;
combine such an arrangement with vacuum means as described with
respect to Fig. 18 to aid in the vacuum packaging operation.
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The transfer sequence (Figs. 15A to 15C~ for the
sealed vacuum packaged garment employs a carrying hook 352
associated with the transport device, which in turn carries
spaced-apart rollers 33 with a depending hook 35 mounting the
hanger 64. It operates as follows: hook 402l rotatably driven
hy motor 460, is positioned in alignment with hook 352 where
the transport system arrives at the vacuum packaging unit upon
reciprocation of the former. Movable fingers 354 ~Figs. 12 and
13), mounted on a pivot point 356, are free to rotate about a
horizontal axis so fingers 354, upon actuation, engage a respec-
tive one of the pulleys 33 to advance them onto hook 402. The
fingers may be conventionally actuated by e.g. a piston mounting
a piston rod 462. Rod 462 ahuts the fingers 354 to pivot the
same and push the wheels 33 with its attendant hooks 35 onto
the hook 402.
Hook 402, mounted at a slight angle from the vertical,
is capable of pivoting about its axis 90 by motor 460. Take-
off rod 464 receives the wrapped vacuum packaged goods following
completion of the vacuum packaging and once the operatio~n has
been completed, motor 460 is actuated to rotate the hook 402
90 to place the rollers 33 in a position to engage the rod 46~.
Thus, upon rotation (Fig. 15C) the terminal portion of the hook
no longer functions to retain rollers 33 and they slide off onto
rod 464. Rod 464 delivers the wrapped goods to storage area 480
shown in Fig. 1 which may comprise a plurality of rods 482
associated with the rod 464.
Figures 20 and 21 illustrate a cushion which may be
wrapped and vacuum packaged. The cushion has a covering envel-
oping a compressible foam core and which may typically have a
dimension of e.g. .5 - 1 meter in width and length and a height
of e.g. .25 - .3 meters. Figure 21 illustrates the same product
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326
after processing with the width and length of the compressed
prod~lct being substantially similar -to that of the unpackaged
product but the height has been compressed to approximately
one fifth of the size.
All of the components of the system described
herein may be operated in time-related sequence with conven-
tional control means well known to those skilled in the art.
Thus, the function of each component may be operated in a
time-related sequence to other components with the whole
assembly being controlled by an appropriate control system.
As indicated, such systems are well known to -those skilled in
the art and no detailed explanation is required.
The following example following the teachings of
copending application Serial Number 275, 130 filed March 30,
1977 in Canada wil] serve to illustrate the various aspects of ~ ;
the apparatus of Figures 1 - 21.
The apparatus previously described was employed in
which the con~itioning system contained two zones - i.e.,
the treatment zone and the stabilization zone. Each zone is ~`
provided with a plurality of air ducts located at the top of
the tunnel and with a corresponding number of circulation
fans at the bottom, and with air inlets being provided.
Conditioning alr was provided for by-passing a
mixture of ambient air from outside the tunnel and air in the
tunnel through dehumidifying and cooling machines to provide
conditioning air. The conditioning air provided for the
stages of the treatment tunnel range from 30 - 20 C. and
30 - 15% relative humidity; and in the different stages of the
stabilization zone, 20C - 15C and 12% - 5% relative humidity.
Control means for introducing the conditioned air were pro-
vided to obtain a balanced air ~low in each zone and
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~r~26
preferably in each stage of each zone.
Samples of men's suits of 100% wool, were introduced
into the conditioning system at the inlet port. The ambient
atmospheric conditions were approximately 30C and 60%
relative humidity. The system was set for an operational
time limit, from entering the treatment tunnel to the discharye,
of approximately G0 minutes. The initial treatment stages were
set in operation with conditioned air being introduced at a
rate of 400 liters per second. In the stabilization zone,
conditioned air was introduced at about 200 liters per second
with air temperatures in the initial portion of the treatment
zone being about 30C. and in the later stage of the treatment
zone approximately 20 - 15C. The air temperature in the
- stabilization zone was maintained at a constant 15 - 20 C.
The garments were subjected to treatment using the
conditioned air to dehumidify and condition the garments for
a period of approximately 30 minutes. It was found, after
running the system, that as a result of the conditioned air
being introduced, and the mixture of conditioned air and
a~bient air, a mixture was obtained in which the relative
humidity varied from approximately 30% at the initial stage
of the treatment zone to approximately 15~ at the end or
latter stage of the treatment zone. In the stabilization
zone, the relative humidity was maintained at a constant 10~.
The lenyth of the treatment zone was 10 meters
with a height of 2 meters and a width of 80 centimeters. ~he
stabilization zone had a length of 10 meters with air being
removed at 480 liters per second (with a total of 1200 cubic
meters per hour being removed from both zones).
,.-~
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Upon exiting frorn-the stabilization zone, the
garments were tested and found to contain a moisture regain
corresponding to equilibrium in air, of 10 - 12~ relative
humidity, and 20C. These garments were subsequently wrapped
and vacuum packaged using -the apparatus described above.
Packaging reduced the volume of the garments, depending on
the type of garment, to between l/3 ~ l/2 of their original
volume. The garments were stored for l week and the vacuum
packaging removed. Such garments were found to be substan- ~
lO tially free from wrinkles and in a totally acceptable com- '
mercial condition.
If desired, following removal of the vacuum
packaging from the garment, the product may be reconditioned
by exposing the same to relative humidities of 50% or greater
and temperature conditions of 20 - 45C. In effect, this `
reconditioning step speeds the recovery of the garment from
its compressed state to its normal original condition without
having to wait for longer periods of time.
Various changes can be made to the above-described
apparatus without departing from the invention as will be
appreciated. Thus, for example, the vacuum may be withdrawn
at any desired location from the chamber and rather than as
illustrated, from both ends or through -the fixed wall pro-
vided it is not in the area where the commodity is packaged, ;-
etc.
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