Film positioning apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for sealing film to a series of containers which are moved by a conveyor to a sealing station, a film having a series of sensing means thereon in spaced relationship with one another is passed into engagement with the containers, a sealing head is positioned at the sealing station for reciprocal movement toward and away from the conveyor to seal the film to the containers, a detector is positioned so as to be actuated by the sensing means as the film moves past the detector, a tucker bar is carried by the sealing head to engage the film and displace it relative to thE containers, and a reversible motor is connected to the tucker bar to move the tucker bar relative to the sealing head, improved apparatus to control the motor comprising: first, second and third switches; means to close said first switch when said sealing head is moved toward said conveyor and to open said first switch after said sealing head has moved away from said conveyor; means to close said second switch momentarily when said sealing head is moved toward said conveyor; means to close said third switch for a predetermined time interval after the sealing head has moved away from the conveyor; first and second relays; a fourth switch actuated by said detector so as to be in a first position when a sensing means is adjacent said detector and to be in a second position when there is no sensing means adjacent said detector; first circuit means including said first, second and fourth switches to energize said first relay when said fourth switch is in said first position and to energize said second relay when said fourth switch is in said second position; second circuit means including said first and second relays and said third switch to energize said motor for rotation in a first direction when said third switch is closed, said second relay is energized and said first relay is deenergized; and third circuit means including said first and second relays and said third switch to energize said motor for rotation in a second direction when said third switch is closed, said second relay is energized and said first relay is energized.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first limit switch in said second circuit means to terminate rotation of said motor when said first limit switch is open, a second limit switch in said third circuit means to terminate rotation of said motor when said second limit switch is open, and means responsive to movement of said tucker bar to open said first and second limit switches, respectively, when said tucker bar has moved predetermined distances in first and second directions.

Claim 4

In apparatus for sealing film to a series of containers which are moved by a conveyor to a sealing station, a film having a series of sensing means thereon in spaced relationship with one another is passed into engagement with the containers, a sealing head is positioned at the sealing station for reciprocal movement toward and away from the conveyor to seal the film to the containers, a detector is positioned so as to be actuated by the sensing means as the film moves past the detector, a tucker bar is carried by the sealing head to engage the film and displace it relative to the containers, and a reversible motor is connected to the tucker bar to move the tucker bar relative to the sealing head, improved apparatus to control the motor comprising: first, second and third switches; means to close said first switch when said sealing head is moved toward said conveyor and to open said first switch after said sealing head has moved away from said conveyor; means to close said second switch momentarily when said sealing head is moved toward said conveyor; means to close said third switch for a predetermined time interval after the sealing head has moved away from the conveyor; first and second terminals adapted to be connected across a current source; a fourth switch actuated by said detector so as to engage a third terminal when a sensing means is adjacent said detector and to engage a fourth terminal when there is no sensing means adjacent said detector; a first relay coil actuating fifth and sixth switches, said fifth switch being closed and said sixth switch engaging a fifth terminal when said first relay coil is energized, and said fifth switch being open and said sixth switch engaging a sixth terminal when said first relay coil is deenergized; a second relay coil actuating seventh and eighth switches, said seventh switch engaging a seventh terminal and said eighth switch being Closed when said second relay coil is energized, and said seventh switch engaging an eighth terminal and said eighth switch being open when said second relay coil is deenergized; circuit means connecting said first and second switches in series between said first terminal and said fourth switch; circuit means connecting said fifth switch between said third terminal and the junction between said first and second switches; circuit means connecting said eighth switch between said first terminal and said sixth switch; circuit means connecting said seventh switch to the junction between said first and second switches; circuit means connecting said first relay coil between said third terminal and said second terminal; circuit means connecting said second relay coil between said fourth terminal and said second terminal; circuit means connecting said seventh terminal to said fourth terminal; circuit means connecting said eighth terminal to said fourth switch; said motor having first and second coils, said motor rotating in a first direction when the first coil is energized and in a second direction when the second coil is energized; first motor drive circuit means connecting the first coil of said motor and said third switch in series relationship between said fifth terminal and said second terminal; and second motor drive circuit means connecting the second coil of said motor and said third switch in series relationship between said sixth terminal and said second terminal.

Claim 5

In apparatus for sealing film to a series of containers which are moved by a conveyor to a sealing station, a film having a series of sensing means thereon in spaced relationship with one another is passed into engagement with the containers, a sealing head is positioned at the sealing station for reciprocal movement toward and away from the conveyor to seal the film to the containers, a detector is positioned so as to be actuated by the sensing means as the film moves past the detector, a tucker bar is carried by the sealing head to engage the film and displace it relative to the containers, and a reversible motor is connected to the tucker bar to move the tucker bar relative to the sealing head, improved apparatus to control the motor comprising: first, second and third switches; means to close said first switch when said sealing head is moved toward said conveyor and to open said first switch after said sealing head has moved away from said conveyor; means to close said second switch momentarily when said sealing head is moved toward said conveyor; means to close said third switch for a predetermined time interval after the sealing head has moved away from the conveyor; first and second terminals adapted to be connected across a current source; a fourth switch actuated by said detector so as to engage a third terminal when a sensing means is adjacent said detector and to engage a fourth terminal when there is no sensing means adjacent said detector; a first relay coil actuating fifth and sixth switches, said fifth switch being closed and said sixth switch engaging a fifth terminal when said first relay coil is energized, and said fifth switch being open and said sixth switch engaging a sixth terminal when said first relay coil is deenergized; a second relay coil actuating seventh and eighth switches, said seventh switch engaging a seventh terminal and said eighth switch being Closed when said second relay coil is energized, and said seventh switch engaging an eighth terminal and said eighth switch being open when said second relay coil is deenergized; circuit means connecting said first and second switches in series between said first terminal and said fourth switch; circuit means connecting said fifth switch between said third terminal and the junction between said first and second switches; circuit means connecting said eighth switch between said first terminal and said sixth switch; circuit means connecting said seventh switch to the junction between said first and second switches; circuit means connecting said first relay coil between said third terminal and said second terminal; circuit means connecting said second relay coil between said fourth terminal and said second terminal; circuit means connecting said seventh terminal to said fourth terminal; circuit means connecting said eighth terminal to said fourth switch; said motor having first and second coils, said motor rotating in a first direction when the first coil is energized and in a second direction when the second coil is energized; first motor drive circuit means connecting the first coil of said motor and said third switch in series relationship between said fifth terminal and said second terminal; and second motor drive circuit means connecting the second coil of said motor and said third switch in series relationship between said sixth terminal and said second terminal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first limit switch in said first motor drive circuit means, a second limit switch in said second motor drive circuit means, and means responsive to movement of said tucker bar to open said first and second limit switches, respectively, when said tucker bar has moved predetermined distances in first and second directions.