Clinching apparatus

Abstract

Abstract A MACHINE FOR FORMING, FROM FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL, A CONTINUOUS TUBE WHILE FILLING THE TUBE, ADVANCING THE FILLED TUBE PAST A CLOSING STATION, AND THERE TRANSVERSELY ENSMALLING THE TUBE TO DEFINE A NECK REGION OF SIGNIFICANT LENGTH IN THE DIRECTION OF TUBE MOVEMENT, FEEDING TWO CLINCHING STAPLES FORMED OF DUCTILE MATERIAL INTO STRADDLING RELATION WITH SAID NECK REGION AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS THEREOF, BENDING SAID STAPLES INTO CLINCHING RELATION TO SAID NECK REGION TO DEFINE, WHEN THE TUBE IS FORMED OF MATERIALS SUCH AS POLYETHYLENE FILM, MOISTUREPROOF, SUBSTANTIALLY AIRTIGHT TUBE CLOSURES, AND SEVERING THE NECK REGION BETWEEN SAID CLOSURES. IN ONE FORM OF THE INVENTION, FORCE IS SEPARATELY APPLIED TO BOTH LEGS OF EACH STAPLE TO MOVE SAID LEGS PAST EACH OTHER IN THE CLINCHING OPERATION, IN ANOTHER FORM, PRESSURE IS APPLIED BY A RECIPROCATING PLUNGER TO ONE LEG ONLY OF EACH STAPLE WHILE THE OTHER LEG IS HELD STATIONARY, AND IN A THIRD FORM, AN OSCILLATORY MEMBER IS ENGAGED IN AN EYE AT THE DISTAL END OF ONE LEG OF EACH STAPLE TO DRAG THAT STAPLE END PAST THE STATIONARILY HELD END OF THE OTHER STAPLE LEG. WITH OR WITHOUT SLIGHT STRUCTURAL MODIFICATION, THE MACHINE MAY BE USED IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MANNER TO CLOSE AND CLINCH THE MOUTH OF CONVENTIONAL BAGS. A NOVEL STAPLE FOR OPTIMUM USE IN THE MACHINE IS ALSO DISCLOSED. ADDITIONALLY A NOVEL HANDTOOL FOR DECLINCHING SUCH STAPLES TO OPEN THE PACKAGES DELIVERED BY THE MACHINE IS INCLUDED IN THE DISCLOSURE, SUCH TOOL BEING USABLE, IF DESIRED, TO APPLY, OR TO REAPPLY, SUCH STAPLES FOR INITIALLY FORMING, OR FOR SUBSEQUENTLY RECLOSING, SUCH PACKAGES.

Inventors

• 👤 William W George

Bibliographic Details