GB1404509A - Apparatus for and a method of packaging articles in bags - Google Patents

Abstract

1404509 Vacuum-packaging apparatus W R GRACE & CO 15 May 1973 [1 June 1972] 23126/73 Heading B8C Vacuum-packing apparatus comprises a rotating turret 4 mounting a plurality of vacuum nozzles 6 each adapted to support and evacuate a filled bag during rotation of the nozzles, and an oscillatable clipping and severing mechanism 14 adapted to rotate with each nozzle for a portion of nozzle movement and to clip seal and sever the moving bag from the nozzle whilst in motion. The turret shaft 3, Fig. 2 (not shown), is driven by a motor through gearing 19 and 20, and the clipping and severing mechanism is carried on a support member 17 and arm 63, which are oscillated about the turret axis by a crank and pinion connection 21 and 22 to the turret drive to move in synchronism with each nozzle over a portion of nozzle movement. The operation of the clipping and mechanism is automatically effected through a series of cams 30, 31 and 32 and pneumatic switches. Each nozzle comprises non-aligned upper and lower sections 54 and 56, which have co-operating flanges 73 and 74 held together by rubber bands 72, and a surrounding clamping barrel 71 which is biased upwardly from the flanges by an interposed spring 55. When an operator applies the neck of a filled bag about the barrel of a respective nozzle, the lower and angled nozzle section is swung into a vertical position thus parting the flanges to allow vacuum to be applied to the inside of the barrel and to the bag through the lower nozzle section by way of port 62. The vacuum inside the barrel causes the latter to move downwards against the spring bias to grip the bag against a resilient nozzle element 58, Fig. 4 (not shown). In a modification, Fig. 4b (not shown), the flanges are resiliently held together by a spring 80 and vacuum is fed to the barrel interior through a passage 77 when the nozzle sections are aligned on loading by the operator. In the arrangement of Fig. 6a, the filled-bag infeed conveyer 65 also acts as sealed bag discharge conveyer. In a modification, Fig. 6b (not shown), two parallel countermoving conveyers are used. The clipping and sealing mechanism may be provided with a guide arm 70, Figs. 7a, 7b (not shown), to assist the operator in ensuring that the bag contents are pushed to the bag bottom when loading a nozzle.