Bag forming and manipulating machine

Claim 2

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for intermittently advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising first and second welding devices located one behind the other as considered in the direction of travel of the web along said path and movable into and from welding engagement with the folded web downstream of said folding unit to provide the folded web with transverse seams and to thus convert the folded web into a row of intErconnected containers, means for moving said first welding device in the direction of travel of the folded web while said second welding device is moved counter to said direction and vice versa, and means for moving that welding device which moves in said direction into engagement with the folded web so that the two welding devices form one seam at a time, said feeding means comprising first and second advancing devices respectively arranged to share the movements of said first and second welding devices in and counter to said direction and means for maintaining said advancing devices in motion transmitting engagement with the folded web at least while the folded web is engaged by the respective welding devices, and severing means for separating successive foremost containers from said row.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising first conveyor means for advancing containers lengthwise along a plurality of second paths, and second conveyor means for transporting containers sideways from said severing means to said first conveyor means.

Claim 4

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; folding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising first and second welding devices located one behind the other as considered in the direction of travel of the web along said path and movable into and from welding engagement with the folded web downstream of said folding unit to provide the folded web with transverse seams and to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, means for moving said first welding device in the direction of travel of the folded web while said second welding device is moved counter to said direction and vice versa, and means for moving that welding device which moves in said direction into engagement with the folded web so that the two welding devices form one seam at a time; severing means for separating successive foremost containers from said row; first conveyor means comprising two rows of clamping devices for advancing containers lengthwise along two discrete paths at least a portion of each of which is at least substantially parallel to said first mentioned path; and second conveyor means for transporting containers sideways from said severing means to said first conveyor means, said second conveyor means comprising a plurality of grippers arranged to deliver pairs of containers from said severing means to said first conveyor means so that one of each pair of containers is received by a clamping device of one of said rows of clamping devices and the other container of such pair of containers is received by a clamping device of the other row of said clamping devices.

Claim 5

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; folding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising first and second welding devices located one behind the other as considered in the direction of travel of the web along said path and movable into and from welding engagement with the folded web downstream of said folding unit to provide the folded web with transverse seams and to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, means for moving said first welding device in the direction of travel of the folded web while said second welding device is moved counter to said direction and vice versa, and means for moving that welding device which moves in said direction into engagement with the folded web so that the two welding devices form one seam at a time; severing means for separating successive foremost containers from said row; first conveyor means comprising two rows of clamping devices for advancing containers lengthwise along two discrete paths at least a portion of each of which is at least substantially parallel to said first mentioned path; and second conveyor means for transporting containers sideways from said severing means to said first conveyor means, said second conveyor means comprising a plurality of grippers arranged to deliver pairs of containers from said severing means to said first conveyor means so that one of each pair of containers is received by a clamping device of one of said rows of clamping devices and the other container of such pair of containers is received by a clamping device of the other row of said clamping devices.

Claim 6

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising two welding devices movable into and from welding engagement with the folded web downstream of said folding unit to provide the folded web with transverse seams and to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, means for moving one of said devices in the direction of travel of the folded web while the other device is moved counter to said direction and vice versa, and means for moving that welding device which moves in said direction into engagement with the folded web so that said two devices form onE seam at a time; severing means for separating successive foremost containers from said row; and conveyor means for receiving containers from said severing means and for moving such containers substantially transversely of said path, said conveyor means comprising a pair of slides, guide means defining for said slides a second path which is inclined with reference to said first mentioned path, normally open gripper means provided on said slides, means for moving said gripper means to and from a receiving position downstream of said severing means so that such gripper means can receive the foremost container of said row, and means for closing the gripper means in said receiving position not later than upon completion of severing of the foremost container.

Claim 7

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising two welding devices movable into and from welding engagement with the folded web downstream of said folding unit to provide the folded web with transverse seams and to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, means for moving one of said devices in the direction of travel of the folded web while the other device is moved counter to said direction and vice versa, and means for moving that welding device which moves in said direction into engagement with the folded web so that said two devices form onE seam at a time; severing means for separating successive foremost containers from said row; and conveyor means for receiving containers from said severing means and for moving such containers substantially transversely of said path, said conveyor means comprising a pair of slides, guide means defining for said slides a second path which is inclined with reference to said first mentioned path, normally open gripper means provided on said slides, means for moving said gripper means to and from a receiving position downstream of said severing means so that such gripper means can receive the foremost container of said row, and means for closing the gripper means in said receiving position not later than upon completion of severing of the foremost container.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said slides is provided with a plurality of discrete gripper means.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said conveyor means further comprises means for moving said slides between a plurality of levels.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for closing the gripper means is operative when the respective slide is located at the lowest of said plurality of levels.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising second conveyor means having plural rows of clamping devices for containers, said gripper means being arranged to place containers within reach of said clamping devices when the respective slides are located at a level above said lowest level.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said second conveyor means comprises a pair of endless flexible elements disposed in horizontal planes located at different levels, means for moving said flexible elements in stepwise fashion, and means for opening and closing said clamping devices at predetermined intervals.

Claim 13

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising a leading carriage and a trailing carriage, said carriages being spaced from each other along said path downstream of said folding unit, reciprocating means for moving one of said carriages in the direction of web travel along said path and for simultaneously moving the other of said carriages counter to said direction, a welding device provided on each of said carriages, and actuating means for placing said welding devices into engagement with the folded web while the respective carriages move in said direction so that the welding devices provide the folded web with transverse seams to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, said actuating means comprising pneumatic cylinders and conduit means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said cylinders; and regulating means for changing the length of periods of engagement between the folded web and said welding devices, said regulating means comprising adjustable valve means provided in said conduit means and adjustable timer means for controlling the closing of said valve means.

Claim 14

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising a leading carriage and a trailing carriage, said carriages being spaced from each other along said path downstream of said folding unit, reciprocating means for moving one of said carriages in the direction of web travel along said path and for simultaneously moving the other of said carriages counter to said direction, a welding device provided on each of said carriages, and actuating means for placing said welding devices into engagement with the folded web while the respective carriages move in said direction so that the welding devices provide the folded web with transverse seams to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, said actuating means comprising pneumatic cylinders and conduit means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said cylinders; and regulating means for changing the length of periods of engagement between the folded web and said welding devices, said regulating means comprising adjustable valve means provided in said conduit means and adjustable timer means for controlling the closing of said valve means.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said regulating means further comprises means for opening said valve means in response to actuation of said feeding means.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said feeding means comprises a normally open advancing device provided on each of said carriages and means for maintaining said advancing devices in motion transmitting engagement with the folded web during movement of the respective carriages in said direction, said means for opening said valve means being responsive to movement of respective advancing devices into engagement with the folded web.

Claim 17

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; and a forming unit comprising a pair of carriages spaced from each other along said path downstream of said folding unit, reciprocating means for moving one of said carriages in the direction of web travel along said path and for simultaneously moving the other carriage counter to said direction, a welding device provided on each of said carriages, each of said welding devices comprising a pair of heated welding members disposed at the opposite sides of said path, and actuating means for placing said welding devices into welding engagement with the folded web while the respective carriages move in said direction so that the welding devices provide the folded web with transverse seams to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, said actuating means comprising means for moving at least one of said welding members toward the other welding member to thereby place the folded web into engagement with such welding members, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of first lever means pivotably mounted on the respective carriage and supporting said welding members, follower means provided on said first lever means, cam means movably mounted on the respective carriage, means for biasing said follower means against said cam means, and means for moving said cam means including a rotary shaft supporting said cam means, second lever means secured to said shaft, a control member coupled to said second lever means, pneumatic cylinder means having reciprocable piston rod means, and further lever means for pivoting said second lever means in response to movement of said piston rod means.

Claim 18

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; and a forming unit comprising a pair of carriages spaced from each other along said path downstream of said folding unit, reciprocating means for moving one of said carriages in the direction of web travel along said path and for simultaneously moving the other carriage counter to said direction, a welding device provided on each of said carriages, each of said welding devices comprising a pair of heated welding members disposed at the opposite sides of said path, and actuating means for placing said welding devices into welding engagement with the folded web while the respective carriages move in said direction so that the welding devices provide the folded web with transverse seams to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, said actuating means comprising means for moving at least one of said welding members toward the other welding member to thereby place the folded web into engagement with such welding members, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of first lever means pivotably mounted on the respective carriage and supporting said welding members, follower means provided on said first lever means, cam means movably mounted on the respective carriage, means for biasing said follower means against said cam means, and means for moving said cam means including a rotary shaft supporting said cam means, second lever means secured to said shaft, a control member coupled to said second lever means, pneumatic cylinder means having reciprocable piston rod means, and further lever means for pivoting said second lever means in response to movement of said piston rod means.

Claim 19

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, wherein a row of interconnected containers is advanced lengthwise along a first path, a combination comprising severing means for separating successive foremost containers from the row of interconnected containers; first conveyor means for receiving separated containers from said severing means and for moving groups of the thus separated containers transversely of said path; and second conveyor means for receiving groups of containers from said first conveyor means and for transporting the containers of such groups along a plurality of second paths each of which is parallel to said first path.

Claim 20

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, wherein a row of interconnected containers is advanced lengthwise along a first path, a combination comprising severing means for separating successive foremost containers from the row of interconnected containers; first conveyor means for receiving separated containers from said severing means and for moving groups of the thus separated containers transversely of said path; and second conveyor means for receiving groups of containers from said first conveyor means and for transporting the containers of such groups along a plurality of second paths each of which is parallel to said first path.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said second conveyor means comprises a plurality of endless flexible elements provided with longitudinally spaced clamping devices for containers and said first conveyor means comprises a plurality of reciprocable slides each provided with several gripping devices for containers.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said first conveyor means further comprises means for moving said slides between a plurality of levels.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 15, further comprising cam-operated means for opening and closing said gripping and clamping devices in a predetermined sequence.

Claim 24

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for intermittently advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising a leading carriage and a trailing carriage said carriages being spaced from each other along said path downstream of said folding unit, recirpocating meAns for moving one of said carriages in the direction of web travel along said path and for simultaneously moving the other carriage counter to said direction, a welding device provided on each of said carriages, and actuating means for placing said welding devices into welding engagement with the folded web while the respective carriages move in said direction so that the welding devices provide the folded web with transverse seams to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, said feeding means comprising first and second normally open advancing devices respectively mounted on said leading and trailing carriages and means for maintaining said advancing devices in motion transmitting engagement with the folded web at least while the folded web is engaged by the respective welding devices; and regulating means for changing the length of periods of engagement between the folded web and said welding devices.

Claim 25

In a machine for making and manipulating bags or analogous containers, a combination comprising a supply of flexible web consisting at least in part of weldable material; feeding means for drawing the web from said supply and for intermittently advancing the web lengthwise along a predetermined path; a folding unit disposed between said supply and said feeding means for converting the withdrawn web into a folded web having two overlapping strips; a forming unit comprising a leading carriage and a trailing carriage said carriages being spaced from each other along said path downstream of said folding unit, recirpocating meAns for moving one of said carriages in the direction of web travel along said path and for simultaneously moving the other carriage counter to said direction, a welding device provided on each of said carriages, and actuating means for placing said welding devices into welding engagement with the folded web while the respective carriages move in said direction so that the welding devices provide the folded web with transverse seams to thus convert the folded web into a row of interconnected containers, said feeding means comprising first and second normally open advancing devices respectively mounted on said leading and trailing carriages and means for maintaining said advancing devices in motion transmitting engagement with the folded web at least while the folded web is engaged by the respective welding devices; and regulating means for changing the length of periods of engagement between the folded web and said welding devices.