Wraparound closure clip applying mechanism

Claim 1

In a machine for continuously forming a series of packages which machine has, a hollow filling mandrel through which the product is fed, mechanism for advancing a continuous tube over the mandrel, mechanism adjacent the discharge end of the mandrel for dividing the filled tube into individual packages and for applying U-shaped closure clips thereon comprising a frame mounted for reciprocation in the direction of movement of the advancing tube, tube-constricting and closure clip-applying heads mounted in said frame for movement relative to each other and toward and away from said tube so as to engage the tube at axially spaced points for constricting a substantial section thereof at each engagement, mechanism for intermittently feeding pairs of clip forming lengths of strip material from a supply thereof, mechanism for simultaneously forming a pair of generally U-shaped closure clips from pairs of clip forming lengths of strip material comprising an anvil mounted for reciprocating movement in a path generally parallel with and adjacent to the path of movement of the advancing tube and co-operating movable forming members for shaping successive pairs of clip forming lengths of strip material into pairs of U-shaped closure clips around the anvil at one point in its path of movement, means to move the anvil from a position of register with said co-operating movable forming members to a position in the path of movement of one of said constricting heads for delivery of successive pairs of closure clips thereto, said one constricting head having pocket forming members which are urged into gripping engagement with the closure clips on said anvil so as to retain the same in the pockets while the anvil retracts and while said one constricting head is moved into position for clinching the clips about a constricted portion of the tube, and the other one of said constricting heads having co-operating means for clinching successive pairs of clips about a constricted portion of the tube and for forcing said clips gripping pocket forming members to a retracted position during said clinching operation so as to release the clips and permit withdrawal thereof from said pockets as said heads are moved away from each other, the improvement wherein said pocket-forming members include means for tilting said U-shaped clips out of a plane which is perpendicular to said path of movement of the advancing tube, and wherein said cooperating means for clinching successive pairs of clips includes means for receiving the tilted ends of said U-shaped clips whereby the clip legs are wrapped about said constricted portions in lapped relation.