US2766571A - Bag sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

1956 wQH. BRYCE BAG SEALING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March '10, 1952 III X wm iw ATTORNEY-3.

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Oct. 16, 1956 w. H. BRYCE 2,766,571

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1952 10 She'ets-Sheet 5 1N VENTOR ATTORNEYS W. H. BRYCE BAG SEALING MACHINE Oct. 16, 1956 10 SheetsSheet 6 Filed March 10, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct 1956 w. H. BRYCE BAG SEALING MACHIN' 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March .10, 1952 INVENTQR ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1956 w. H. BRYCE 2,766,571

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Oct. 16, 1956 w BRYCE BAG SEALING MACHINE 10 Shets- Sheet 9 Filed March 10, 1952 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS:

00L 1956 w. H. BRYCE BAG SEALING MAd'iiINE l0. Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March l0, 1952 ATTORNEYS,

United Statesv FatentC BAG SEALING MACHINE William H. Bryce, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to Dixie Wax Paper Company, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 10, 1952, Serial No. 275,735 4 Claims. c1. 53-373 The present invention relates to machines for sealing bags and more particularly machines for closing and sealing wax coated paper bags containing foodstuffs, such as potato chips, in a progressive and continuous manner.

Applicant has a co-pending application Serial No. 193,390 filed November 1, 1950, directed to a Method of Sealing Containers.

Ordinary glassine papers are usually coated with a thin layer of paraffin wax or a rubbery-wax composition to increase their moisture and moisture-vapor-proof qualities. This so coated glassine paper is fed to bag forming machineswhere bags are formed in standard lengths with their bottom portion folded over and heat sealed leaving their upper ends open whereby they may be filled with foodstuffs and it is an object of the invention to provide a machine for folding, molding and permanently heat sealing the open ends of such bags without employing other adhesives or applying thick coatings of parafiin wax to the paper where the seals are to be effected.

With the conventional methods of heat sealing wax coated bags, electric heaters are usually employed which reach high temperatures and if the heat is applied to the wax for more than two seconds the wax gives off fumes which have a tendency to enter the bags and thereby contaminate the foodstuffs therein and it is another object of the invention to provide a machine whereby heat may be applied only momentarily or for a willcient period of time as will cause the wax upon the paper bag to soften without giving off any detrimental fumes as would cause a change in the taste of the foodstuffs or render the same less desirable for consumption and thereafter molding the softened wax about the open end of the bag at reduced temperatures under pressure as will effect a permanent seal.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a machine that will instantly form a multiple fold about the open ends of wax coated paper bags and apply heat to the opposite faces of each fold as will soften the wax thereupon and subsequently cause the folded ends of the bags to be molded together under pressure as will cause the wax to congeal upon the opposite face of each fold.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter as the description continues.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a complete bag sealing machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow points;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow points;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 2 to illustrate the rocker arm for the tucker blade assembly and its cam for transmitting an oscillating movement thereto;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the rocker arm on a reduced scale;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the cam which operates the rocker arm similar to that shown in Fig. 6 that transmits motion to a movable section of a cooler;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation of the roller-heater assembly and the tucker-blade assembly;

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken from the opposite end thereof;

Fig. 12 is a fragmental plan view of the same;

Fig. 13 is a detailed side elevation of the lower tuckerblade section;

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section of the upper movable tucker-blade section;

Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 17 illustrates diagrammatically the first movement of the roller assembly and the tucker-blade assembly;

Fig. 18 is a similar view illustrating the second movement thereof;

Fig. 19 is a similar view illustrating the third movement thereof;

Fig. 20 is a similar view illustrating the final movement thereof;

Fig. 21 is an end elevation of the cooler-assembly on a reduced scale;

Fig. 22 is a fragmental plan view of the same;

Fig. 23 is a fragmental illustration of the initial movement of the cooler assembly; and

Fig. 24 is a similar view illustrating the final movement of the cooler assembly.

The bag 1 is of a standard design as produced from a conventional bag forming machine and is preferably wax composition so as to render the same moisture and moisture-vapor-proof as is desired for holding foodstuffs such as potato chips.

These bags may be filled with a pre-detennined quantity of potato chips and then deposited within the baskets 2 whereupon the bottom of each bag will rest upon a smooth topped table 3. The baskets 2 may be arranged in groups of three each as is best illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These baskets are conveyed by means of a rubber belt 4 for delivering the bags 1 first to a tucking and heating operation and then toa cooling and molding operation under pressure. The bags 1 for containing potato chips may be deposited within the baskets 2 when at the station 5 whereby, through an intermittent movement transmitted to the belt 4, said group of bags are moved from the station 5 to the station 6 then to the station 7, then to the station 8 where they are subjected to the tucking and heating operation, then to the station 9 where they are subjected to the cooling and molding operation, and finally to the station 10 where the bags are allowed to slide by gravity through the baskets and a cut-away portion of the table top 3 and be deposited within suitable packing boxes for shipment.

Whereas I have illustrated the baskets as being arranged in groups of three, any number of baskets as condition or preference may dictate are arranged within each group and also the collapsed bags may be first deposited within the baskets when positioned at the station 5. As these baskets containing the bags are moved tothe station 6, they may be opened preferably by an air blast and as each group moves to the station 7 the bags may be filled with a pre-determined quantity of potato chips whereupon the mouth or open end of each bag may be first tucked and simultaneously heated so as to soften the wax coating thereon when moved to the station 8 and then finally moved to the station 9 where the tucked ends of the bag are molded and cooled under pressure so that the Wax.

will congeal as would form a complete seal without the use of expensive glues or thick coatings of wax upon the paper bags.

The table 3 is preferably of the design as best shown in Fig. 2 with a channel bar flange 11- welded to the under side thereof and depending therefrom. This table 3 is supported at its opposite ends by a pair of H-shaped movable frames each consisting of a pair of cylindrical side rods 12 connected by a cross bar 13. The table 3 rests upon the upper ends of the tubular side rods 12 and is retained thereupon by means of the depending flange 11 whereas the lower ends of these tubular side rods are slidably mounted with the vertically extending and spaced tubular members 14 and 15. The tubular members 14 and 15 are connected to the angle bars 16 and the latter are each provided with a bearing block 17 and in each of the latter is journalled a screw rod 18. The upper end of the screw rods 18 each have threaded engagement with a socket 19 as carried by cross bars 13 of the H-shaped frames. These screw shafts 18 are each provided with a sprocket wheel connected by means of a sprocket chain 20 and one of these screw shafts 18 is provided with a hand wheel 21 whereby upon rotation of the latter the H-shaped frames may be vertically movable in unison and carry the table top 3 therewith so as to adjust the same vertically with respect to the lower ends of the baskets 2 in order to accommodate standard bags of various lengths. The right hand end of the table 3 is cut away so as to release its support of the bags as they reach the station 10.

The bags 1 are capable of sliding vertically within their respective baskets 2 as the upper and lower ends of the latter are open, but as the bottom seam of each bag passes through the station 8, it is heated by means of a heater 22 attached to the lower face of the table 3. By so heating the bottom seams of the bag, the wax coating thereon will again be softened so that when the bags proceed from station 8 to station 9 they will be allowed to cool causing the wax to congeal and effect a better seal at the bottom ends of the bags over that as is effected by the usual heat sealing devices upon standard bag making machines.

Each basket is supported by a bracket 23 having a pin 24 extended therefrom which extends through an opening within conveyor belt 4. These pins 24 as the belt passes over the sheaves 25 and 26 register within openings 27 formed within the sheaves so as to effect a geared connection between the belt and sheaves. Each sheave is supported by a shaft 28 and these shafts pass through the guide bearings 29 that are carried by the depending flange 11 of the table top 3 and their lower end are journalled within bearings 31} that are supported by the angle bars 31 which latter are connected to the tubular members 14 and 15. One of the shafts 28 or that arranged at the left hand side of the machine as looking towards the latter shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing has a pulley keyed thereto over which passes a belt 32 and this belt 32 extends over a pulley keyed upon the shaft 33. The shaft 33 is journalled within bearings 34 carried by the brackets 31 and 35 and also keyed to this shaft 33 is a starwheel 36 which latter has engagement with a worm cam 37 whereupon with the rotation of the cam 37 in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 3, the star wheel will be given a rotary intermittent movement whereby the latter is transmitted through the belt 32 to the shaft 28 as carried by the sheave 25 whereby the groups of baskets 2 will be moved in the direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 of the drawings progressively from one station to the other along the table top. x

The tubular members 15 provide the forward vertical supports of the machine frame whereas the tubular members 33 connected to the tubular member 15 by means of the bar 16 provide the rear supports of the machine frame and the tubular members 38 are connected by means of the longitudinally extending rods 39. Tubular supports 46 are positioned upon the angle iron 41 and 4 are connected by the longitudinally extending rods 42 whereas the upper ends of the tubular members 38 and 40 are connected by the end angle irons 43 and intermediate angle irons 44 as well as the forward angle irons 45 and the rear angle irons 46.

Journalled within suitable bearings 17 supported by the angle irons 16 of the machine frame is a cam shaft 47 having keyed to one end thereof the worm cam 37 whereas its opposite end is provided with a pulley over which extends a drive belt 48 and the latter being driven by an electric motor 49 as supported upon the platform 50. This motor 49 drives the belt 48 in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing in order to rotate the cam shaft in the direction of the arrow as is also shown in this view. Suitable intermediate angle iron brackets 51 have their opposite ends connected to the vertical standards 38 and 4t) and secured to one of these brackets 51 is a bearing 52 to which is pivotally connected as at 53 to a rocker arm 54. The lower end of this arm 54 has an extension 55 carrying a roller 56 and the latter is adapted to travel within the cam groove 57 as formed within one face of the cam wheel 58 so that upon rotation of the cam shaft 47 an oscillating movement will be transmitted to the rocker arm 54. The upper end of this rocker arm 54 has a link 59 connected thereto and the opposite end of this link 59 has pivotally connected thereto a lever 60 which operates the roller.- assembly. Supported upon two of the cross bars 51 are bearing blocks 61 in which are journalled the opposite end of a cross bar 62 forming part of a rocker arm. A depending tubular arm 63 has its upper end secured to the cross bar 62 and a roller 64 connected to its lower end by means of a link 65. The tucker cam 66 has a cam groove 67 formed in the one face thereof in which rides the roller 64 so that upon rotation of the cam shaft 47 an oscillating movement will be given to the tucker arm. The tucker arm also consists of a pair of spaced arms 68 having their lower end connected to the pivot bar 62 and their upper ends connected to a rod 69. A pair of end plates 70 connect the rods 69 with the rod 71 and connected to the opposite end of the latter are the depending links 72 to which are connected the tucker blade assembly. A cover plate 73 may be attached by means of the screws 74 to the bars 71 and 68 so as to protect the roller-heater assembly.

Another rocker arm similar to that shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 inclusive of the drawings is journalled within the bearings 74 as carried by the cross brackets 51 and the lower end of this arm is provided with a roller 75 which travels upon the outer surface of a cam 76 keyed to the cam shaft 47 and the opposite end of this and supports the movable cooler so that upon rotation of the cam shaft 47 the movable cooler will be moved to and from the stationary cooler so as to mold the upper ends of the bag 2 when the same are being subjected to the cooling or congealing operation. A bearing block 77 is supported by each of the cross brackets 51 and journalled therein is the rod 78 which latter pivotally supports a rocker arm 79 and the upper end of this arm 79 is pivotally connected to arm 79' pivotally supported at its medial portion by bar 80' extending from cooler 131 and which arm 79' is pivotally connected at its opposite end to link 80 connected to the punch assembly for punching holes within the upper end of the bags whereas the lower end of this arm 79 provided with a roller 81 adapted to travel upon the outer circumference of a cam 82 carried by the cam shaft 47 in order that upon rotation of the latter an oscillating movement may be transmitted to the arm 79.

The heater-roller assembly is supported by means of a bracket 83 having its lower end attached by means of the bolts 84 to the supporting frame. The vertically extending bearing blocks 85 are secured to the bracket 83 by means of the bolts 86 and journalled within these bearing blocks 85 are the end shafts of a corrugated roller 87. One end shaft 88 has keyed thereto the roller arm 68 having its upper end attached to the link 59. Also journalled Within the bearing blocks 85 is an upper corrugated roller 90 and a lower corrugated roller 91 and these rollers 90 and 91 are normally retained in resilient contact by means of the leaf springs 93 with the roller 87 whereupon with the rotation of the roller 87 the rollers 99 and 91 will be caused to move therewith.

Secured to the vertical portion of the bracket 83 by means of the screws 92 is an electric heater 94 having a pair of terminals 95 projecting from the bracket whereupon the rollers 87, 90 and 91 projecting from the bracket may be heated. The opposite stud shaft of the roller 87 is provided with a pusher arm 96 so that upon rotation of the roller 87 in opposite directions the arm 96 will be caused to swing therewith, but it will be noted from Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings that the arm 96 is positioned at an angle to the arm 60.

The tucker blade assembly comprises an upper section 97 and a lower section 98 which are pivotally connected as at 99. The upper section comprises a rectangular longitudinally extending bar 100 to the lower face of which is connected a tucker blade 101 by means of set screws positioned within the threaded openings 102. The outer face of this bar 100 has a concave face 103 and connected to the opposite ends thereof are a pair of bars 104. Formed with the bars 104 are the vertically extending bars 105 each having a bearing block 106 through which pins of the pivots 99 extend for pivotally connecting the same to the opposite ends of the lower section 98. The vertically extending bars 105 are connected. by means of a pair of longitudinally extending rods 107 and 108 and projecting from one of the bars 105 is a cam plate 109. The lower section 98 comprises a singlebar having recesses 110 in the opposite ends thereof for receiving the bearing blocks 106. A horizontally extending slot 111 is formed within the lower member 97 for receiving a lower tucker blade 112 which is retained therein by means of set screws extending through the threaded recesses 113. The outer face of the lower member 98 is provided with two concave faces which are separated by the tucker blade 112.

Extending from one end of the lower member 98 is a threaded stud which has retained thereon by means of the lock nut 114 the lower slotted end of a bar 72 of the rocker arm 68. A similar stud 115 extends from the opposite end of the member 98 having connected thereto by means of the lock nut 116, the opposite link 72 of the rocker arm 68. A bearing extension 117 projects from this threaded stud 115 upon which revolves the cam arm 118. This cam arm 118 is retained upon the stud 115 by means of a lock nut 119. An electric heater 120 is attached to the rear face of the lower member 98 by means of the set screws 121 and is provided with threaded studs 122 for providing an electrical connection to the heater 120 whereby the heat may be exchanged to the tucker blades 101 and 112. The arm 118 is provided with a cam 123 adapted to press against the cam plate 109 so as at times to elevate the upper frame 97 of the tucker blade assembly in the manner as best shown in Fig. 19. The pusher arm 96 carried by the roller 87 of the rollerheater assembly is adapted to contact with the cam arm 118 so that the latter may at times be caused to revolve about its supporting stud 117.

For normally retaining the swinging upper frame of the tucker blade assembly upon the lower section 98 coil springs 124 are provided each having one end con nected to the bar 107 and their opposite ends attached to the Section 98 by means of the set screws 125. As the conveyor causes the bags to pass through the tuckerheater station 8, the upper ends 126 of the bags will be positioned in the manner as best shown in Fig. of the drawings, that is, between the roller-heater assembly and the tucker blade assembly.

When the roller 64 travels within the two sections of the cam groove 67 being concentric with the axis of the cam 66 the tucker-heater assembly will be retained in the positions as illustrated in Figs. 17 and 19 of the drawings and when this roller 64 travels within the extensions 129 and 130 of the cam groove 67 the tucker-heater assembly will be moved to the positions as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 20 of the drawings.

Upon rotation of the cam shaft 47 the tucker cam 66 through its connection to the arm 63 will first cause the tucker-heater assembly to be moved towards the rollerheater assembly, as is illustrated in Fig. 17 of the drawings, and at the same time the cam 58 through its connection to the rocker arm 54' will cause the lever 60 to be moved in the direction of the arrow shown. The uppermost tucker blade 101 forces the upper end 126 of the bags towards the corrugated rollers 87 and and the latter will draw the upper end of the bag therehetween to form the first tuck 127 thereon and at the same time heat from the heaters 94 and will cause the wax upon the opposite folded faces of the bags to soften in order that when again allowed to cool the wax will congeal thereby sealing together the folds of the open end of the bags.

As the cam shaft 47 continues to rotate the roller 64 upon its travel through the cam groove extension 129 will cause the tucker-heater assembly to be moved from the roller-heater assembly until it assumes the position as illustrated in Fig. 18 of the drawings. At the same time the cam 58 will cause the lever 68 to move in the direction of the arrow also shown in Fig. 18 whereby the bags will be ejected from the rollers 87 and 90 and allowed to drop by their own weight upon the table top 3.

Upon the continued rotation of the cam shaft 4'7 the tucker-heater assembly will again be moved towards the roller-heater assembly until it assumes the position as illustrated in Fig. 19 of the drawings. At the same time the lever 60 will continue to move in the direction of the arrow as also shown in Fig. 19 whereupon the pusher arm 96'will by engagement with the cam lever 118 cause the latter to swing upon its bearing support 117. As the cam 123 rides upon the cam plate 109 the upper section 97 of the tucker-heater assembly will be caused to swing upon its pivoted connection 99 until it assumes the position as also shown in Fig. 19 whereat the upper tucker blade 101 is out of contact with the roller-heater assembly. The lower tucker blade 112 then contacts with the upper folded ends 127 of the bags forcing the same between the rollers 87 and 91 to form the second or double folds 128. The heat from the heater 94 and 120 will be transferred to the opposite faces of all folds for softening the wax thereon.

As the roller 64 enters the cam groove extension 130 the tucker-heater assembly will be moved to the position as illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings or that after the double folds 128 have been completed and the wax on all faces of the folds softened due to the instantaneous application of heat thereto. At the same time the lever 60 will be moved until it travels from the position as shown in Fig. 19 until it assumes the position as shown in Fig. 20 whereat the bags will be ejected from the rollers 87 and 91 and be permitted by their own weight to drop down upon the table top 3. The pusher arm 96 will also release the cam arm 118 whereupon the upper section 97 of the tucker-heater assembly will return to its normal position upon the lower section 98 under the influence of the coil springs 124.

As the so heated and folded ends 128 of the bags are conveyed to the cooler-molding station 9 of the machine, they are retained between the stationary cooler 131 and the movable cooler 132 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 21 of the drawings. Each of these coolers comprise a rectangularly shaped and hollow body through which may circulate a suitable cooling fluid having connection therewith through the flexible tubing 133 and 134. The tubes 133 are connected to the nipples 135 of the movable cooler 132 whereas the tubes 134 are connected to the nipples 136 of the stationary cooler 131. These flexible tubes 133 and 134 are connected to a main supply pipe 137 whereby the cooling agent may be caused to circulate through the coolers at a predetermined temperature which will cause the wax upon the paper bags to quickly congeal. The cooler 131 is supported upon the top angle irons by the main supporting frame by a pair of end brackets 138 which latter are attached to threaded studs formed With the opposite end of the cooler 131 by means of the lock nuts 139. The movable cooler has a U-shaped bracket 140 extending over its opposite ends and along its outer face. The opposite ends of this bracket 140 are slotted so as to receive stud bolts formed with the opposite end of the movable cooler 132. The depending links or plates 72 of the rocker arm which are connected to the cooler cam 76 are also inserted over the threaded studs of this movable cooler 132 and the bracket 140 together with the links 72 are locked thereon by means of the nuts 141. The bracket 140 is also retained upon the movable cooler 132 by means of the lock nuts 142.

The outer face of the stationary cooler 131 is provided with a recess 143 and the adjacent face of the movable cooler 132 is provided with a stud 144 extending longitudinally throughout its entire length. As the upper folded ends 128 of the bags travel between the coolers and the movable cooler moved towards the stationary cooler, the folded ends of the bags Will be pressed within the recess 143 by means of a stud 144 forming within the folded end of each bag a corrugation 147 which extends longitudinally across the entire upper end of each bag thereby molding a larger surface of the bag at the same time causing the wax to congeal about the folded sections of the bag as to effect a permanent seal.

At times it is desirable to punch a hole 148 within each bag whereby the latter may be retained upon hooks of a display stand where the potato chips are offered for sale. In order to pierce this opening in each of the three bags positioned between the coolers, the movable cooler has mounted therein three stationary female dies 149 whereas the cooler 131 has corresponding male dies 150 slidably mounted therein in order that when the coolers are forced towards one another the male dies 150 will pierce an opening 148 within each bag and as the coolers are separated the male dies 150 will be withdrawn thereby permitting the bags to drop by their own weight upon the table top 3. The outer ends of the dies 15*!) are connected by a cross bar 151 and this cross bar 151 is normally moved from the cooler 131 by means of the coil springs 152. A pair of ears 153 are formed with the cross bar 151 and pivotally connected to these cars is the link 80 of the pusher arm 79. Upon each revolution of the cam shaft 47, cam 82 will force the cross bar 151 towards the cooler 132 as to cause the die members 150 to punch the openings 148 within the bags, but as the roller 81 rides upon the reduced diameter of this cam 82 the coil springs 152 will withdraw the punch members 150.

Mounted upon the machine frame is a junction box 154 having one conduit 155 leading therefrom which is connected to the terminals 122 of the tucker-blade assembly so that its electrical heater 12f may be supplied with current. A conduit 156 extends from the heater 22 mounted upon the lower face of the table 3 and also is connected to the junction box 154. Another conduit 157 extends from the junction box 154 to the terminals 95 of the heater within the roller-heater assembly. An-

other conduit 158 also extends from the toggle switch' 159 which supplies the flow of electrical energy to the motor 49.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that upon rotation of the cam shaft 47 a step by step motion will be transmitted to the conveyor belt 4 whereby one group of baskets 2 will be moved to the station 8 whereupon the upper ends of the bags are forced between the corrugated rollers so as to form two laps thereupon each having heat applied to their opposite faces. This tucking or lapping operation should take place in about two seconds of time in order that the intense heat required to render the wax in a molten state is applied almost instantly as if this heat is retained for a longer period of time, the fumes from the molten Wax has a tendency to enter the bags and contaminate the foodstuffs therein. The movement of the bags from the heating and tucking station 8 to the cooling and molding station 9 takes about one second and the cooling and molding operation upon the bag takes place in about two seconds of time or a period of time equal to that required for the heating and tucking operations. After the bags have been so sealed the foodstuffs retained therein will keep fresh for a longer period of time as no moisture or moisture-vapor can penetrate the bag. The tucker blade 101 will apply heat to one face of the bag and the rollers 87 and 96 will apply heat to the opposite faces thereof. This application of heat is effected almost instantaneously and the so folded ends of the bags are promptly ejected from these heated elements. In the next second the tucker blade 112 applies heat to one face of the folds of the bags and the rollers 87 and 91 apply heat to the opposite faces thereof and then promptly ejected from the application of heat. Yet the wax remains in a molten state until the bags reach the station 9 whereat the folded ends of the bags are not only molded, but the wax caused to rapidly congeal under pressure to effect the permanent seal required. However, from such instant application of heat at high temperature no fumes are given off as would have a chance of entering the bags. Groups of bags may now be in a progressive and continuous manner heat sealed without the expensive application of adhesive or thick layers of wax about the open or filling ends of bags to be sealed.

I claim:

1. A tucker-heater assembly for closing and sealing the open ends of wax coated paper bags comprising a supporting bracket, a pair of spaced bearing blocks connected to said bracket, an electric heater mounted upon said bracket, rotatable rollers journalled within said bearing blocks, a movable frame comprising a lower section and an upper section pivotally connected thereto, a tucker blade carried by each section of said movable frame, an electric heater secured to said movable frame, means for moving said movable frame, and means for pivoting said upper section upon rotation of said rollers in one direction as said frame is moved towards said rollers, whereby said tucker blades will individually engage portions of the open ends of paper bags as fed thereto to convey the same to said rollers.

2. A tucker-heater assembly for closing and sealing the open ends of wax coated paper bags comprising a pair of spaced bearing blocks, an intermediate corrugated roller having its opposite ends journalled within said bearing blocks, a rocker arm connected to said roller to rotate the latter in opposite directions, an upper and lower corrugated roller journalled within said bearing blocks adapted to rotate with and in opposite directions to said intermediate roller, a movable holder, a tucker blade carried by said holder, a second tucker blade, a member pivotally connecting said second tucker blade to said holder, means for moving said holder whereby said tucker blades will be moved to and from said rollers, a pusher arm connected to said intermediate roller for being pivoted thereby, a cam lever carried by said holder for contacting said pusher arm upon movement of said holder towards said rollers thereby pivoting said member.

3. A machine for closing and sealing the open ends of wax coated paper bags comprising a supporting frame, a drive shaft journalled upon said frame, bearing blocks mounted upon said frame, an intermediate roller journalled within said bearing blocks, means for operatively connecting said drive shaft with said roller whereby the latter will be caused to rotate in opposite directions, an

upper and lower roller journalled within said bearing blocks and adapted to be connected with said intermediate roller as to be caused to rotate therewith but in opposite directions thereto, a rocker arm operatively connected with said drive shaft whereby upon rotation there of a pivotal movement will be transmitted to said rocker arm to and from said rollers, tucker blades suspended from said rocker arm and extending towards said roller, one of said blades being pivotally connected to said rocker arm, means for pivoting said pivotal blade away from said bags upon every second movement of said rocker arm towards said rollers, means for feeding the open ends of the bags between said rollers and tucker blades whereby upon each pivotal movement of said rocker arm said tucker blades will alternate in delivering the open ends of the bags towards and between a separate pair of said rollers for being folded thereby, an electric heater mounted upon said frame for heating said rollers and an electric heater connected to said rocker arm for heating said tucker blades.

4. A machine for closing and sealing the open ends of wax coated paper bags comprising a supporting frame, a bracket mounted upon said supporting frame, bearing blocks secured to said bracket, superimposed corrugated rollers journalled within said bearing blocks, means for causing said rollers to alternately rotate in opposite directions, an arm pivotally supported upon said frame, a holder suspended from said arm, means for transmitting motion to said arm for pivoting the same and moving said holder to and from said rollers with said holder moving to said rollers each time said rollers rotate in an opposite direction, a pair of superimposed tucker blades secured to said holder with one of said blades being pivotally connected to said holder and extending further from said holder than the other of said blades, means for feeding the open ends of the bags between said rollers and said blades, means for pivoting said pivotally connected blade away from said rollers every other time said holder moves to said rollers alternately presenting said blades to the open ends of said bags whereby said bag ends are delivered between a separate pair of said rollers by one of said blades each time said rollers rotate in an opposite direction and means for heating said rollers and tucker blades whereby the wax coating upon the portion of the bags engaged thereby will be caused to soften.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 64,197 Clark Apr. 30, 1867 840,761 Forbis Jan. 8, 1907 1,993,442 Grevin Mar. 5, 1935 2,015,093 Walker et al. Sept. 24, 1935 2,006,060 Schilder et al. June 25, 1935 2,114,624 Bergstein Apr. 19, 1938 2,146,831 Maxfield Feb. 14, 1939 2,156,441 Watson et a1 May 2, 1939 2,200,971 Sonneborn et al. May 14, 1940 2,218,585 Merkle Oct. 22, 1940 2,253,036 Kimple et al. Aug. 19, 1941 2,321,729 Beaseley June 15, 1943 2,641,882 Richard June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 439,657 Great Britain Dec. 11, 1935

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