Patent US3877562A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3877562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article packaging machine
Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills LLC
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Filing: 1972-05-19
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1992-05-19
Abstract
Abstract An automatic packaging machine for sanitary paper products such as rolls of toilet tissue, packs of paper napkins, towels, etc. The machine comprises an article feeding section, a bagsupporting magazine section, and a package sealing section. The feeding section includes a reciprocal device having a support surface for underlying a plurality of articles and pushing means for moving the articles or packs. The feeding device is shifted in one direction from beneath a selected quantity of articles or packs to displace the articles downwardly, and in a reverse direction to push the displaced articles or packs into a wrapper to form a package. Continued movement of the feeding device causes the package to be transferred to the sealing mechanism. A magazine section is provided for supporting an irregularly shaped stack of bags. The magazine includes hinged table sections which are automatically pivoted as the stack is raised. In this manner, the magazine compensates for uneven dimensional variations of the stack occurring during depletion thereof to maintain the uppermost bag generally horizontal. The sealing section includes a stop arm for orienting a package on a support plate and devices for tucking in and heat-sealing the end flap of the package. A reciprocating mechanism is provided for automatically shifting the support plate to enable an ejecting plunger to push the package from the support plate following the sealing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse B Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/26; B65B43/34; B65B25/00; B65B25/14; B65B25/146; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/40; B65B5/00; B65B5/06; B65B5/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: arm means mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface and a pushing surface; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of articles horizontally along said supporting surface in the general direction of said receptacle; power means for reciprocating said arm means; means automatically actuable in response to a predetermined advancement of said column of articles on said supporting surface to: activate said power means for retracting said arm means rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said articles to cause said selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly, and activate said power means for advancing said arm means forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of articles to bring said pushing surface into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of articles in a manner to effect forward movement of said selected quantity of articles toward said receptacle, and means movable into the path of the column of articles upon downward displacement of said selected quantity thereof during the subsequent advancement of the arm means to push the selected quantity Of articles toward the receptacle for stopping forward movement of said column.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: arm means mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface and a pushing surface; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of articles horizontally along said supporting surface in the general direction of said receptacle; power means for reciprocating said arm means; means automatically actuable in response to a predetermined advancement of said column of articles on said supporting surface to: activate said power means for retracting said arm means rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said articles to cause said selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly, and activate said power means for advancing said arm means forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of articles to bring said pushing surface into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of articles in a manner to effect forward movement of said selected quantity of articles toward said receptacle, and means movable into the path of the column of articles upon downward displacement of said selected quantity thereof during the subsequent advancement of the arm means to push the selected quantity Of articles toward the receptacle for stopping forward movement of said column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
215 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: arm means mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface and a pushing surface; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of articles horizontally along said supporting surface in the general direction of said receptacle; power means for reciprocating said arm means; and means automatically actuable in response to a predetermined advancement of said column of articles on said supporting surface to: activate said power means for retracting said arm means rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said articles to cause said selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly, and activate said power means for advancing said arm means forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of articles to bring said pushing surface into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of articles in a manner to effect forward movement of said selected quantity of articles toward said receptacle, said activating means comprising a member extending into the path of movement of said continuous column of articles and being in position to be contacted and actuated thereby; and an arm movable toward the path of said continous column for stopping forward movement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
215 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: arm means mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface and a pushing surface; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of articles horizontally along said supporting surface in the general direction of said receptacle; power means for reciprocating said arm means; and means automatically actuable in response to a predetermined advancement of said column of articles on said supporting surface to: activate said power means for retracting said arm means rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said articles to cause said selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly, and activate said power means for advancing said arm means forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of articles to bring said pushing surface into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of articles in a manner to effect forward movement of said selected quantity of articles toward said receptacle, said activating means comprising a member extending into the path of movement of said continuous column of articles and being in position to be contacted and actuated thereby; and an arm movable toward the path of said continous column for stopping forward movement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arm means comprises a pair of spaced rods defining said supporting surface; said rods being arranged to support spaced sides of a continuous column of articles being advanced therealong.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
A curved article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding curved articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: a pair of spaced parallel rods mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement, said rods having forwardly disposed pushing surface means; said rods being arranged to support spaced sides of a column of curved articles; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of curved articles horizontally along said rods in the general direction of the receptacle; stop means for selectively preventing forward movement of said continuous column of curved articles; first power means for retracting said rods rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said curved articles to cause said selected quantity of curved articles to be displaced downwardly, second power means for shifting said stop means into the path of travel of curved articles in said continuous column located behind said selected quantity of curved articles to prevent further advancement of said column; said first power means being arranged to advance said rods forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of curved articles and subsequent to shifting of said stop means ahead of said column to bring said pushing surface means into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of curved articles in a manner effecting forward movement of said selected quantity of curved articles toward the receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
227 words
A curved article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding curved articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: a pair of spaced parallel rods mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement, said rods having forwardly disposed pushing surface means; said rods being arranged to support spaced sides of a column of curved articles; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of curved articles horizontally along said rods in the general direction of the receptacle; stop means for selectively preventing forward movement of said continuous column of curved articles; first power means for retracting said rods rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said curved articles to cause said selected quantity of curved articles to be displaced downwardly, second power means for shifting said stop means into the path of travel of curved articles in said continuous column located behind said selected quantity of curved articles to prevent further advancement of said column; said first power means being arranged to advance said rods forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of curved articles and subsequent to shifting of said stop means ahead of said column to bring said pushing surface means into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of curved articles in a manner effecting forward movement of said selected quantity of curved articles toward the receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 including control means having an actuating lever extending into the path of movement of said continuous column of curved articles to be contacted and actuated thereby; said control means being operatively connected to sequentially activate said first and second power means in response to being actuated by said advancing column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: power-activated arm means mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface and a pushing surface; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of articles horizontally along saiD supporting surface in the general direction of said receptacle; power-activated stop means for stopping forward movement of said continuous column of articles; and means for: activating said power-activated arm means to retract said arm means rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said articles to cause said selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly, activating said power-activated stop means to shift said stop means into the path of travel of articles in said continuous column located behind said selected quantity of articles to prevent further advancement of said column, and activating said power-activated arm means for advancing said arm means forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of articles to bring said pushing surface into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of articles in a manner effecting forward movement of said selected quantity of articles toward the receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: power-activated arm means mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface and a pushing surface; conveyor means for advancing a continuous column of articles horizontally along saiD supporting surface in the general direction of said receptacle; power-activated stop means for stopping forward movement of said continuous column of articles; and means for: activating said power-activated arm means to retract said arm means rearwardly from beneath a selected quantity of said articles to cause said selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly, activating said power-activated stop means to shift said stop means into the path of travel of articles in said continuous column located behind said selected quantity of articles to prevent further advancement of said column, and activating said power-activated arm means for advancing said arm means forwardly subsequent to downward displacement of said selected quantity of articles to bring said pushing surface into pressure engagement with the rearwardmost one of said selected quantity of articles in a manner effecting forward movement of said selected quantity of articles toward the receptacle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arm means comprises a pair of spaced rods, said rods defining said support surface; said rods being arranged to support spaced sides of a continuous column of curved articles being advanced therealong.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
223 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding a selected quantity of articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: arm means mounted for reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface operable to underlie and support the selected quantity of articles, and pushing means operable to advance the selected quantity of articles; means for feeding a plurality of articles in a column to and along said supporting surface; power means for reciprocating the arm means rearwardly from beneath the selected quantity of articles causing the selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly so as to be separated from the remaining articles in said column, and for then forwardly moving the pushing means into pressure relation with the selected quantity of articles; stop means mounted above the arm means; power means for shifting the stop means downwardly after separation of the selected quantity of articles to restrain movement of the remaining articles in the column during further advancement of the selected quantity of articles; and switching means including actuating means therefor extending into the path of movement of articles traveling along the arm means and being in position to be contacted and actuated thereby; the switching means being operably connected to the respective power means for lowering the stop means and for reciprocating the arm means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
223 words
An article packaging assembly including means for supporting a receptacle, and article transfer means for forwarding a selected quantity of articles thereto, said article transfer means comprising: arm means mounted for reciprocal movement and including a supporting surface operable to underlie and support the selected quantity of articles, and pushing means operable to advance the selected quantity of articles; means for feeding a plurality of articles in a column to and along said supporting surface; power means for reciprocating the arm means rearwardly from beneath the selected quantity of articles causing the selected quantity of articles to be displaced downwardly so as to be separated from the remaining articles in said column, and for then forwardly moving the pushing means into pressure relation with the selected quantity of articles; stop means mounted above the arm means; power means for shifting the stop means downwardly after separation of the selected quantity of articles to restrain movement of the remaining articles in the column during further advancement of the selected quantity of articles; and switching means including actuating means therefor extending into the path of movement of articles traveling along the arm means and being in position to be contacted and actuated thereby; the switching means being operably connected to the respective power means for lowering the stop means and for reciprocating the arm means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An article packaging assembly according to claim 8 wherein: the arm means comprises at least one pair of parallel rods; the outer peripheral surface of the rods defining said supporting surfaces with forward terminal ends on the rods defining said pushing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
An article packaging assembly according to claim 9, including: a carriage mounted for reciprocal sliding movement; the rods being attached to the carriage; a power cylinder including an operable piston; cable means operatively connected between the carriage and the piston and being operable to transmit reciprocal motion of the piston to the carriage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
An article packaging assembly according to claim 8, including a second supporting surface in advanced position, with respect to the first-mentioned supporting surface and spaced at a lower elevation with respect thereto to receive thereon the selected quantity of articles upon rearward movement of the arm means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |