IE37832B1 - Apparatus and method for opening and filling an envelope - Google Patents

Abstract

1430943 Opening and filling flexible containers F D C BATE 20 June 1973 [29 June 1972] 30398/72 Heading B8C A device for opening and filling an envelope comprises at least two opening members 63, 70 arranged so that two layers of plastics film may be sealed together at the sides of the members to form a substantially flat envelope as by the mechanism described in co-pending Application 30399/72, the members being movable apart to open at least the mouth of the envelope, and a pusher 53 movable to push an article between the members 63, 70 and into the envelope. The article may be a roll of wallpaper around which the envelope may be heat shrunk, or a collection of articles. The device is one of a plurality mounted on an endless chain. The members 63, 70 may comprise plates having upturned ends to grip the envelope and movable apart, through parallel linkages 59, 64-67, by slidable blocks 57, 58, the block 57 being connected by a compression spring 56 to a block 55. The blocks 55, 58 are mounted on brackets 33, 34 having pins 35, 36 movable in adjustable cam tracks to open and close the plates 63, 70 and to pull the envelope over the article. The pusher 53 which carries a pushing disc is secured to a chain 50 mounted on an assembly 21 which is reciprocated through another chain by a pin 41 moving in another cam track. One run of chain 50 is fixed so that the pusher has twice the lateral movement of the pin 41. In modifications the members 63, 70 may comprise rods which may be interconnected by hinged or spring members so that the rods can define a polygon, circle, or oval; the rear links 66 may have a pinion rotation by a sliding rack instead of the links being part of bellcranks 66, 71; the links 67 may be connected to tubes 59 by a scissor or lazy tong linkage; or the chains may be replaced by belts or cables. [GB1430943A]