Apparatus for tying packages and wrapping materials

Claim 2

Package tying apparatus comprising, a general frame; friction means on the frame to grip a portion of the package; spaced guide means on the frame, said guide means having a slot extending longitudinally therebetween; package stop means on the frame; means to move the package stop means transversely of said slot to a first position between the friction means and the guide means; means to move the friction means relative to the stop means to draw a portion of a package around the package stop to form a gathered neck, said friction means being adapted to draw a portion of the package into pressure contact with said guide means; means on the frame to secure the gathered neck; and drive means secured between the frame and the stop means to move the stop means to a second position wheRein the stop means is disengaged from a package moving along said slot.

Claim 3

The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of means associated with the friction means to control surface pressure between the friction means and the package.

Claim 4

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the means on the frame to secure the gathered neck comprises, means to encircle the neck with a wire-like tie; and twisting means to secure the tie to the neck.

Claim 5

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the friction means comprises endless flexible members; means to movably secure the flexible members relative to the frame, said flexible members being arranged to form a converging section.

Claim 6

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said friction means comprises first and second conveyors secured to the frame in spaced apart relation; and with the addition of a back-up member movably secured to said frame, said back-up member being positioned adjacent at least one of the conveyors; and means for urging the back-up member into pressure engagement with at least one of the conveyors.

Claim 7

The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the means to urge the back-up member into pressure engagement with one of the conveyors comprises a spring engaging the back-up member; and with the addition of means secured between the frame and the spring adapted to regulate the pressure exerted by the spring on the back-up member.

Claim 8

Package tying apparatus comprising, a general frame; conveyor means movable relative to the frame; a bag stop movably secured to said frame, said conveyor means being adapted to move a bag into engagement with said stop to form a gathered neck; a stripper arm movably secured to said frame; a twister hook movably secured to said frame; a shaft rotatably secured to said frame; means operably connected to said shaft and adapted to rotate said shaft one revolution as a bag is moved toward said stop; feeder apparatus on said frame adapted to form a loop of tie material about a neck of a bag positioned against said stop; feeder actuating means secured to said shaft and operably connected to said feeder means; power transmission means secured to said shaft, said power transmission means being operably connected to said twister hook; stripper actuating means secured to said shaft and operably connected to said stripper arm; and stop actuating means secured to said shaft and operably connected to said bag stop, each of said actuating means being positioned on said shaft such that rotation of the shaft through one revolution forms a loop of tie material about a gathered neck of a bag positioned against the stop, the loop of tie material is twisted, the stop is lowered, and the tie material is stripped from the twister hook in a continuous sequence.

Claim 9

Package tying apparatus comprising, a general frame; conveyor means movable relative to the frame; a bag stop movably secured to said frame, said conveyor means being adapted to move a bag into engagement with said stop to form a gathered neck; a stripper arm movably secured to said frame; a twister hook movably secured to said frame; a shaft rotatably secured to said frame; means operably connected to said shaft and adapted to rotate said shaft one revolution as a bag is moved toward said stop; feeder apparatus on said frame adapted to form a loop of tie material about a neck of a bag positioned against said stop; feeder actuating means secured to said shaft and operably connected to said feeder means; power transmission means secured to said shaft, said power transmission means being operably connected to said twister hook; stripper actuating means secured to said shaft and operably connected to said stripper arm; and stop actuating means secured to said shaft and operably connected to said bag stop, each of said actuating means being positioned on said shaft such that rotation of the shaft through one revolution forms a loop of tie material about a gathered neck of a bag positioned against the stop, the loop of tie material is twisted, the stop is lowered, and the tie material is stripped from the twister hook in a continuous sequence.

Claim 10

A package tying apparatus comprising a general frame; first and second drive means secured to said frame; first and second guide means secured to said frame; a first endless flexible conveyor secured to said first drive means and said first guide means; a second endless flexible conveyor secured to said second drive means and second guide means, said first and second flexible conveyors being positioned to grippingly engage packaging material moved therebetween; a first back-up member on said frame adjacent the first conveyor; a second back-up member secured to said frame adjacent the second conveyor; adjustable means between the second back-up member and the frame adapted to regulate pressure between the second back-up member and the second conveyor; means for positioning a segment of tie material transversely relative to the first and second conveyors; stop means movably secured to said frame; actuating means for positioning said stop means transversely relative to the first and second conveyors, said actuating means being adapted to limit movement of said stop means such that packaging material is moved by the first and second conveyors into engagement with the stop means; means secured to the frame for Securing opposite ends of the tie material to close the gathered neck of the bag, said actuating means being adapted to move said stop means to a position permitting movement of packaging material by the first and second conveyors after opposite ends of the tie material have been secured.

Claim 11

A package tying apparatus comprising a general frame; first and second drive means secured to said frame; first and second guide means secured to said frame; a first endless flexible conveyor secured to said first drive means and said first guide means; a second endless flexible conveyor secured to said second drive means and second guide means, said first and second flexible conveyors being positioned to grippingly engage packaging material moved therebetween; a first back-up member on said frame adjacent the first conveyor; a second back-up member secured to said frame adjacent the second conveyor; adjustable means between the second back-up member and the frame adapted to regulate pressure between the second back-up member and the second conveyor; means for positioning a segment of tie material transversely relative to the first and second conveyors; stop means movably secured to said frame; actuating means for positioning said stop means transversely relative to the first and second conveyors, said actuating means being adapted to limit movement of said stop means such that packaging material is moved by the first and second conveyors into engagement with the stop means; means secured to the frame for Securing opposite ends of the tie material to close the gathered neck of the bag, said actuating means being adapted to move said stop means to a position permitting movement of packaging material by the first and second conveyors after opposite ends of the tie material have been secured.

Claim 12

The combination called for in claim 8 with the addition of packaging material tensioning means secured relative to the frame adapted to cause the packaging material to be drawn to a desired tension over an article contained therein.

Claim 13

Apparatus for closing and securing a bag comprising, support means; carrier means on the support means; spaced arms pivotally connected to the support means; second carrier means on each of said arms; spaced friction means movably secured to said first and second carrier means; drive means associated with the friction means; actuating means secured to the arms to pivot the arms relative to the support means to move the friction means into engagement with opposite sides of a bag positioned therebetween; first and second pressure means adjacent at least one of the friction means, said pressure means being positioned in end to end relation; gathering means adjacent the friction means and positioned adjacent inner ends of the pressure means, said gathering means being adapted to form a gathered neck on the bag; means associated with each of the pressure means to control frictional force exerted on a bag positioned between the friction means at positions on opposite sides of the gathering means; and means on the support means for attaching a restraining member around the gathered neck of the bag.

Claim 14

Apparatus for closing and securing a bag comprising, support means; carrier means on the support means; spaced arms pivotally connected to the support means; second carrier means on each of said arms; spaced friction means movably secured to said first and second carrier means; drive means associated with the friction means; actuating means secured to the arms to pivot the arms relative to the support means to move the friction means into engagement with opposite sides of a bag positioned therebetween; first and second pressure means adjacent at least one of the friction means, said pressure means being positioned in end to end relation; gathering means adjacent the friction means and positioned adjacent inner ends of the pressure means, said gathering means being adapted to form a gathered neck on the bag; means associated with each of the pressure means to control frictional force exerted on a bag positioned between the friction means at positions on opposite sides of the gathering means; and means on the support means for attaching a restraining member around the gathered neck of the bag.