Membrane packaging machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for packaging a substance in closed bags formed from two continuous ribbons of a thin, fragile material comprising: first and second rollers directed along a first horizontal plane and circumferentially engageable in opposed nipping relationship at axially outer end portions thereof to confine two ribbons therebetween, at least one of said rollers having a generally smooth annular concave portion extending between said end portions, the two ribbons approaching said first and second rollers generally horizontally from opposite sides thereof with each of the ribbons passing over and partially around one of said rollers to a first location between said rollers, whereupon the ribbons are brought face to face with one another and nipped in that condition between the axially outer end portions of said first and second rollers; third and fourth rollers directed along a second horizontal plane and spaced beneath said first and second rollers, said third and fourth rollers circumferentially engageable in opposed nipping relationship at axially outer end portions thereof with at least one of said rollers having a generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter extending between said end portions thereof, the ribbons passing downwardly from said first and second rollers to a second location at which the ribbons are nipped between the axially outer end portions of said third and fourth rollers; means for controlling the rotation of said rollers about their respective axes to advance the ribbons in a desired manner from said first location to said second location as the ribbons are held taught therebetween; means for tensioning the two ribbons above said first location in a direction away from said first location, pulling each of the ribbons over a different one of said first and second rollers and pulling at least one of the ribbons into said at least one concave portion to preform the unsealed combination of the ribbons at said first location and for a substantial distance therebelow into a generally tubular shape; means for sealing the ribbons to each other as the ribbons pass from said first location to said second location, forming a bag open at the top from a portion of the ribbons and subsequently sealing said top to close the bag after the ribbons have advanced a downwardly predetermined distance, said sealing means operating on successive portions of the ribbons as the ribbons advance toward said second location to form a series of sealed bags; and means for introducing a substance directly into each of the open bags, comprising a conduit extending downwardly between said first and second rollers in the space formed by said at least one concave portion, said conduit located between and generally spaced from the preformed ribbons to prevent damage thereto, and means for causing a predetermined amount of the substance to pass from said conduit to each of the bags between the time of bag formation and that of sealing.

Claim 3

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said generally smooth annular concave portion of said at least one of said first and second rollers is relatively broad and shallow in axial cross-section, with a gradually curving contour.

Claim 4

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling roller rotation to advance the ribbons includes means for continuously advancing said ribbons; and said sealing means comprises tow platens located oppositely about said ribbons and parallel thereto between said first and second locations, said platens actuable toward each other to seal the ribbons together along at least one seal line by sandwiching the ribbons in sealing relation therebetween.

Claim 5

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling roller rotation to advance the ribbons includes means for intermittently advancing said ribbons a preselected amount; and said sealing means comprises two platens located oppositely about said ribbons and parallel thereto between said first and second locations, said platens actuable toward each other between advancements of the ribbons to seal the ribbons together along at least one seal line by sandwiching the ribbons in sealing relation therebetween.

Claim 6

The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein said introduction means includes means for producing axial reciprocation of said conduit in timed relation with the actuation of said platens to extend the reach of said conduit during injection without interfering with the operation of said platens.

Claim 7

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of said platens includes a sealing portion defining an upper sealing line and a lower sealing line, said upper line defining a "U"-shaped open bag and said lower line defining a closure for a bag previously formed such that actuation of said platens toward each other simultaneously forms a new open bag from a portion of said ribbons between said platens and closes the opening in the bag formed by the previous actuation of said platens.

Claim 8

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein: said conduit extends downwardly between said platens, terminating at a point opposite the "U"-shape formed by said upper sealing line; and said sealing portion includes a recess on the surface facing the ribbons which extends from the upper end of said at least one of said platens downwardly into said "U"-shape formed by said upper line, said recess having a horizontal cross-section similar in area and general shape to the axial cross-section of the concave annular recess of said at least one of said first and second rollers such that said conduit is receivable in spaced relationship between said platens opposite the "U"-shape formed thereon for said platens in an actuated condition to seal the ribbons and said predetermined amount of the filling substance can be introduced into the open bag thus formed for the platens in that condition.

Claim 9

The packaging apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which at least one of said platens includes heat sealing means associated with said sealing lines.

Claim 10

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said means for causing a predetermined amount of the substance to pass to the bags includes piston and cylinder means for injecting the substance into the series of bags via said conduit.

Claim 11

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein said introduction means includes means for agitating the substance in bulk prior to injection.

Claim 12

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 1 which includes means for separating the sealed bags below said second location by periodically cutting the portion of the ribbons between bags as the ribbons advance downwardly.

Claim 13

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein said separating means comprises a knife blade oriented transversely across the ribbons and advanced toward the ribbons by automatically actuated wedge means.

Claim 14

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the annular recess formed in said at least one of said third and fourth rollers by said generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter has an axial cross-sectional area less than the axial cross-sectional area of the annular recess formed in said at least one of said first and second rollers by said generally smooth annular concave portion such that a portion of the substance is forced upwardly within the open bags by said third and fourth rollers to expel air therefrom as the lower portion of an open bag containing the substance passes said second location, whereby the bags contain very little air at the time of sealing.

Claim 15

Apparatus for packaging a substance in closed bags formed from two continuous ribbons of a thin, fragile material comprising: first and second rollers directed along a first horizontal plane and circumferentially engageable in opposed nipping relationship at axially outer end portions thereof to confine two ribbons therebetween, at least one of said rollers having a relatively broad and shallow annular concave portion extending between said end portions, the two ribbons approaching said first and second rollers generally horizontally from opposite sides thereof with each of the ribbons passing over and partially around one of said rollers to a first location between said rollers, whereupon the ribbons are brought face to face with one another and nipped in that condition between the axially outer end portions of said first and second rollers; third and fourth rollers directed along a second horizontal plane and spaced beneath said first and second rollers, said third and fourth rollers circumferentially engageable in opposed nipping relationship at axially outer end portions thereof with at least one of said rollers having a generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter extending between said end portions thereof, the ribbons passing downwardly from said first and second rollers to a second location at which the ribbons are nipped between the axially outer end portions of said third and fourth rollers, the annular recess formed in said at least one of said third and fourth rollers by said generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter having an axial cross-sectional area less than the axial cross-sectional area of the annular recess formed in said at least one of said first and second rollers by said generally smooth annular concave portion; means for controlling the rotation of said rollers about their respective axes to intermittently advance the ribbons in preselected increments from said first location to said second location as the ribbons are held taught therebetween; means for tensioning the two ribbons above said first location in a direction away from said first location, pulling each of the ribbons over a different one of said first and second rollers and pulling at least one of the ribbons into said at least one cancave portion to preform the unsealed combination of the ribbons at said first location and for a substantial distance therebelow into a generally tubular shape; means for periodically sealing the ribbons to each other as the ribbons pass from said first location to said second location, forming a bag open at the top from a portion of the ribbons and subsequently sealing said top to close the bag after the ribbons have advanced a downwardly predetermined distance, said sealing means comprising two platens located oppositely about said ribbons and parallel thereto between said first and second locations and actuable toward each other between advancements of the ribbons to seal the ribbons together along at least one seal line by sandwiching the ribbons in sealing relation therebetween, means for introducing a substance directly into each of the open bags, comprising: a conduit extending downwardly between said first and second rollers in the space formed by said at least one concave portion, said conduit located between and generally spaced from the preformed ribbons to prevent damage thereto; and piston and cylinder means for injecting a predetermined amount of the substance into each of the bags via said conduit between the time of bag formation and that of sealing.

Claim 16

Apparatus for packaging a substance in closed bags formed from two continuous ribbons of a thin, fragile material comprising: first and second rollers directed along a first horizontal plane and circumferentially engageable in opposed nipping relationship at axially outer end portions thereof to confine two ribbons therebetween, at least one of said rollers having a relatively broad and shallow annular concave portion extending between said end portions, the two ribbons approaching said first and second rollers generally horizontally from opposite sides thereof with each of the ribbons passing over and partially around one of said rollers to a first location between said rollers, whereupon the ribbons are brought face to face with one another and nipped in that condition between the axially outer end portions of said first and second rollers; third and fourth rollers directed along a second horizontal plane and spaced beneath said first and second rollers, said third and fourth rollers circumferentially engageable in opposed nipping relationship at axially outer end portions thereof with at least one of said rollers having a generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter extending between said end portions thereof, the ribbons passing downwardly from said first and second rollers to a second location at which the ribbons are nipped between the axially outer end portions of said third and fourth rollers, the annular recess formed in said at least one of said third and fourth rollers by said generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter having an axial cross-sectional area less than the axial cross-sectional area of the annular recess formed in said at least one of said first and second rollers by said generally smooth annular concave portion; means for controlling the rotation of said rollers about their respective axes to intermittently advance the ribbons in preselected increments from said first location to said second location as the ribbons are held taught therebetween; means for tensioning the two ribbons above said first location in a direction away from said first location, pulling each of the ribbons over a different one of said first and second rollers and pulling at least one of the ribbons into said at least one cancave portion to preform the unsealed combination of the ribbons at said first location and for a substantial distance therebelow into a generally tubular shape; means for periodically sealing the ribbons to each other as the ribbons pass from said first location to said second location, forming a bag open at the top from a portion of the ribbons and subsequently sealing said top to close the bag after the ribbons have advanced a downwardly predetermined distance, said sealing means comprising two platens located oppositely about said ribbons and parallel thereto between said first and second locations and actuable toward each other between advancements of the ribbons to seal the ribbons together along at least one seal line by sandwiching the ribbons in sealing relation therebetween, means for introducing a substance directly into each of the open bags, comprising: a conduit extending downwardly between said first and second rollers in the space formed by said at least one concave portion, said conduit located between and generally spaced from the preformed ribbons to prevent damage thereto; and piston and cylinder means for injecting a predetermined amount of the substance into each of the bags via said conduit between the time of bag formation and that of sealing.

Claim 17

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 14 wherein at least one of said platens includes a sealing portion defining an upper sealing line and a lower sealing line, said upper line defining an open bag and said lower line defining a closure for a bag previously formed such that actuation of said platens toward each other simultaneously forms a new open bag from a portion of said ribbons between said platens and closes the opening in the bag formed by the previous actuation of said platens.

Claim 18

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein: said conduit extends downwardly between said platens, terminating at a point opposite the "U"-shape formed by said upper sealing line; and said sealing portion includes a recess on the surface facing the ribbons which extends from the upper end of said at least one of said platens downwardly into said "U"-shape formed by said upper line, said recess having a horizontal cross-section similar in area and general shape to the axial cross-section of the concave annular recess of said at least one of said first and second rollers such that said conduit is receivable in spaced relationship between said platens opposite the "U"-shape formed thereon for said platens in an actuated condition to seal the ribbons and said predetermined amount of the filling substance can be introduced into the open bag thus formed for the platens in that condition.

Claim 19

The packaging apparatus recited in claim 16 which includes means for separating the sealed bags below said second location by periodically cutting the portion of the ribbons between bags as the ribbons advance downwardly, including a knife blade oriented transversely across the ribbons and advanced toward the ribbons by automatically actuated wedge means.