US3137455A

US3137455A - Plastic bag machine

Info

Publication number: US3137455A
Application number: US155605A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bonura John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-11-29
Filing date: 1961-11-29
Publication date: 1964-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-16

Description

June 16, 1964 J. BONURA PLASTIC BAG MACHINE Filed Nok 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jaw/v BONURA FIG.

June 16, 1964 J. BONURA 3,137,455

PLASTIC BAG MACHINE Filed NOV. 29, 1961 3 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR. dal/N BavuRn June 16, 1964 J. BONURA 3,137,455

PLASTIC BAG MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Jo/0v B R United States Patent 3,137,455 PLASTIC BAG MACHINE I John Bonura, 616 Schenck Ave., Brooklyn, NY. Filed Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 155,605

6 Claims. (Cl. 242-56) My invention is directed toward a machine which produces in rapid succession a plurality of tubes, each of which carries in the form of a roll a pluralityof plastic bags in collapsed sheet form and joined end to end.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved machine of the character indicated.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character indicated wherein the plurality of bags rolled on each tube is accurately and automatically set to a desired value.

Still another object is to provide a machine of the character indicated which includes a novel mechanism for wrapping a plurality of plastic bags in collapsed sheet form about a hollow tube.

Yet another object is to provide a machine of the character indicated wherein a predetermined number of plastic bags in collapsed sheet form are unrolled from a supply roll carrying these bags in the form of a rolled sheet and are thereafter rolled into a tube, the sheet being severed automatically at the proper time and at the proper position.

These and other objects of my invention will either be explained or will become apparent hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a bag machine in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partially cut-away side elevation of the machine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 33 in'FIGURE l.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate schematically the bag tearing action required in the machine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view of the tube 'wrapping mechanism of the machine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURES Sand 9 are respectively plan and elevation.

views of a mechanism for cutting the material employed in the machine of FIGURE 1 after a sufficient length of material has been wrapped on a tube as fedinto the machine of FIGURE 1. The mechanism of FIGURES 8 and 9 can be employed together with the tensioning movementof rolls 14a and 14b to sever the material' at an appropriate location, or may be used independentlyof the tensioning rolls 14a and 14b to sever the material.

Referring now to the drawings, a supply roll 10 carries a long length of plastic bag material 11. This material consists of aplurality of equal lengths (units) of double sheets joined end to end. The double sheets are sealed together at the joints 18 and are also perforated for easy tearing along a line 19 which extends through each joint 18 in a direction parallel to the axis of roll 10. Guide roll 12 feeds material 11 downward from roll 10 down the center of the machine frame 13a and 13b, between v 3,137,455 Patented June 16, 1964 released from the machine and dropped into container 17.

Rolls 14a and 14b are geared together at 24 and rotate 'to gears 31 and 32 (to rotate the rolls 14a-14b and 15a 15b respectively).

At the instant the machine is started, electrical energy is fed through wires 22, metal rings '20a-and 20b (which are in contact and the commutating rings 21a and 21b (which are in respective connection with rings 20a and 20b) to solenoid 23 andenergizes same. Plunger 40 of solenoid 23 then protrudes and will stop the rotation of friction disc 36 by arresting arm 37 attached to disc 36 when element 39 touches it. In this position-element 39 is in position 41. I p

When material 11 is introduced downward between rolls 15a and 15b, the electrical circuit is broken and solenoid 23 is deenergized. Plunger 40 is withdrawn, and the rotary motion of rolls 1 5a and 15b is transmitted through

gears

33 and 34 to shaft 35. (The gearing is such that shaft 35 makes just under one revolutionin the period in which the predetermined number of bags, for example 25 bags, is passed through the machine.) Shaft 35 then rotates and rotates arm 37. After the 25th bag has passed and therefore shaft 35 has almost completed one revolution, cam 38 lifts cam-follower 42 causing clutch 43 to move into driver engagement with-member 44. Since member 44 is continuously driven through bevel gears 45 by drive 30, assembly 46a and sprocket 47 rotate.

By means of chain 48 connected between sprockets 41 thus producing a tearing force at the joint 18 at which the 25th unit or bag is joined to the remaining material tearing rolls 14a and 1411, then between stationary rolls 11 fed from supply roll1'0. (See FIGS. 4 and 5.)

At thesame time either in conjunction with the tensioning movement of rolls 14a and 14b, or independent thereof, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, a horizontal line through this joint 18 is cut therethrough by knife '83. Knife 83 is moved horizontally by a belt driven assembly '82 which is driven by motor 86. Since the position of the cutting line is critical, motor 86 isenergized by a photoelectric unit '84 when the appropriatejoint 18 passes the desired position. (Alternatively, a register dot or line can be imprinted on each joint 18, and unit 84 can sense this dot or line). Unit 84 is set tocount the passage of 24 bags or units before initiating the cutting operation on the 25th bag. It is to be noted that as indicated in FIGURE 9, the motion of knife 83 has a downward component parallel to thedownward movement of the bag ma.- terial. Consequently, for the angle that the belt is relative to the axis of the bag material, there is a predetermined speed for the belt in relation to the 'bag material speed, which will cause it to move downward at the same velocity as the bagfm'aterial, whereupon the only relative motion during the cutting period, will be the transverse movement of the kniferelative to the 'bag material. The photoelectric unit is adapted in a conventional way to be actuated only after a predetermined number of bag units have passed its scanning point. This can be done-either with a counter or other conventional means well known in the art. Thus, the motor 86 is energized when the predetermined number of bags have passed by, and then knife 83 is brought into action by the sensing of either a registered dot, or the appropriate joint 18 passes the desired position. Knife 83 will therefore'contact the bag material along the upper edge of the joint 18, and will stay in this relative axial position until it has transversely crossed the bag material to complete its cut. As has been stated hereinabove, this cutting action can be adjusted to take place simultaneously with the tearing action caused by the tensioning of the bag material under the influence of movable rolls 14a and 14b, or the material can be sevcred'separately by either the tensioning action of rolls 14a and lab, or the individual cutting action of knife 83.

After the 25th and severed bag passesthrough rolls la and 15b, solenoid 23 is again energized to complete the cycle. Arm 37 completes its revolution in the time space between the passage of the 25th bag through rollers 15a and 15b and the arrival of the first bag or unit on mate rial 11 to start the next cycle.

It should be noted at this point that the timing sequence for all solenoids, except theabove mentioned solenoid 23, is controlled by the commutator group 55. This group is rotated by arm 55a which is driven by element 39.

Before the next cycle can begin rolls 14a and ldb must be lowered to the original position. To accomplish this, the upper arms of links Sla and 515 must be permitted to drop downward. Sincecams 59a and 5%!) would permit these arms to drop too rapidly for proper machine timing solenoid catches 5 snapped into recesses 53 in base plates 52 to delay the descent of rolls 14a and 14b until contacts 249a and 2011 can energize solenoid 23. The operation of catches 54 is controlled by commutator group 55.

A cylinder feeding mechanism 56 feedshollow tubes 16 to be wrapped to the tube wrapping mechanism 59a and 59b in proper timing by the action of tilting table 58 and three arms which are together advanced and withdrawn by the action of a cycling solenoid 57.

Thetube wrapping mechanism (FIGURES 6 and 7) 59a and 5% at one end has tube support 61 secured to a shaft 66. Shaft 6i) extends to an axial thrust bearing 62. When, under the control of commutator group 55,

solenoid 63 is energized, splined cup 64 slides in splined housing 65 pulling support 61 against spring 66. Meanwhile shaft 60 is free to turn and is continuously driven from pulley 67 through spline 68. A tube-16 is fed into proper position within the mechanism 59a and 5% by V the cylinder feeding mechanism when solenoid 63 is energized. Solenoid 63 is energized at a predetermined time by the action of commutator group 55, whereby the tube.

support 61 is axially withdrawn from tube 16 after the bag material has been severed either by the action of the tension rolls 14a and 1412, the cutting knife 83, or both. It should be noted that afterseve ring has takenplace between rolls l4 and 15 in the axial path of the bag material, the bag materialcontinues its downward path towards tube 16, around which it is wrapped. The wrap and grip action, provided by member 85, as will be explained hereiribelow, insures a compact and tight wrapping of material about tube 16 at the appropriate time. Thus, it is seen that tube support s1 is withdrawn at the proper moment after severing has taken place to permit the severed end of the material to be securely wrapped around tube 16 before the wrapped roll of bag material is permitted to drop into container 17, thereby coordinating with the actuation of cylinder feeding mechanism 56, which will feed another hollow to 16 inch alignment with tube support 61, which will then be positioned to receive the new tube 16 thereon, so that the next batch of material can be wrapped. Thus, a relationship is seen between the timing of the cutting mechanism or the tearing mechanisms, and the plastic bag winding'device, which is all co ordinated through commutator group55. A more de tailed explanation of the commutator group 55 will follow hereinbelow.

The cutting means of FIGURES 8 and 9 as has been described hereinabove, are energized at the proper time by means of a photoelectric cell which may be activated only 4. after predetermined bag units have passed by its scanning point.

Accordingly, to cause thecutting means to beginits cut at the same time that the tensioning rolls 14a and 14b exert a tearing tension on the perforation, the solenoid 23 which initiates the upward axial movement of the tensioning rolls, is timed to be energized appropriately.

Housing 71 carries a radial cam 69 and an axial cam 7t). A hollow shaft 72 has atone end a spring-loaded cam follower assembly 73. Shaft 72 also has a slidable hearing 74. At the other end, shaft '72 has a spline 75 which carries freely therearound the armature section 76 of a magnetic clutch. The -field section 7 7 of this clutch is energized in proper timing by commutator group through slip rings '78 and contacts '79. Hollow shaft 72 which carries around armature section 76, does notrotate until the field section 77 is energized. Accordingly then, during rotation of shaft when the magnetic clutch field section 77 is not energized, it is apparent that shaft 72 and armature section 76 do not rotate, and therefore, the wrap grip action of member 85, is not operative.

When the magnetic clutch field section 77 is energized,

hollow shaft 72 and armature section'i are axially attracted to the field section 77, and thereby are caused to rotate along with field section 77 and the shaft 60. Inception of the rotation of hollow shaft 72, causes rotary motion of the cam follower assembly 73 and the ensuing interaction wtih cams 7i) and 69, which results in the radio and axial wrap grip action of member 85. It is therefore seen that energization of field section 77 of the magnetic clutch at the appropriate time, brings into play the wrap grip action of member 85. The timing is controlled by the commutator group 55a to be described in greater detail hereinbelow. It is to be noted that field section 77 is mounted on shaft 6%, and splined thereto by the spline 68, whereby rotary motion of the shafted causes rotary motion of field section 77. In contrast,

- hollow' shaft 72 is not splined to shaft 6* but is caused to rotate along with shaft (if! by the action of the magnetic clutch field section 77. The armature section of the magnetic clutch is splined to the hollow shaft and can move axially relative to said hollow shaft 75.

When the field section 77 is energized, spline 75 and the spring loaded cam follower assembly 73 slide axially in the path defined by axial cam 70 and spring 66. At

the same time, member 30 follows the path fixed by spring 81 and radial cam 69. The combined action indicated will provide the desired tube wrapping operation wherein material ill is wrapped on tube 16 and wherein the wrapped tube is gripped by member 85.

To provide proper electrical connections, the hot voltage terminal of the voltage source required to ener 36 and rotated therewith under the control of arm 55:; as explained above. Each disc carries an electrically.

conductive segment 1% about its periphery. Each segment is connected through wire and rings (not shown) to grounded shaft 106.

Each mechanism to be controlled by the commutator group 55 is associated with each disc and has its ground connection connected to a brush 162 contacting the periphery of its disc 19%. As the appropriate brush is moved into contact with'the appropriate -.con-. ductive segment 104, the appropriate mechanism is grounded and energized. Thus the arc'length of each segrnent 164 determines the length of time'of energization since disc 36 is rotated at constant speed and the electrical connections are completed only during the time the appropriate brush contacts that portion of the periphery segment.

If desired the solenoids can be replaced by an electro-pneumatic system or any combination of both.

While I have shown and pointed out and described. my invention as applied in the embodiment shown, other modifications and variationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it ismy intention to be limited in my protection only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

l. A plastic bag machine utilizing a supplyroll carryto cause a transverse severance between the last bag in said number and the joined first bag of the next successive group; means for causing the severance to occur when a predetermined number of bags have been counted; and means 'for wrapping the bags on a tube which will hold a predetermined number of bags that are included cutting knife mounted on a belt which moves transeluding a separating means for displacing the tearing rolls axially relative to the stationary rolls, whereby the relative movement of the stationary and tearing rolls is coordinated by a further means to cause the said movement to occur at a predetermined timeatthe point where a predtermined number ofbags have passed between the stationary and tearing rolls. I

4. A plastic bag machine as setforth in claim '3, in-

' eluding means for insuring a tightly gripped wrapping of the bags about the tube when the sheet .of bags are being wrapped aboutthe tube. 5. A plastic bag machine as in claiml, wherein the means for causing the transverse severance comprise a pair of axially fixed rolls and a pair" of axially movable rolls for transporting the plastic bags to the transfer station: means for removing the axially movable rolls away from the fixed rolls at an appropriate predetermined time to 'cause tension in the rolled sheet sufiicient to elfec a transverse severance where desired. 1

6 A plastic bag' machine as in claim 1, wherein the means for causing the transverse severance comprise a versely across the rolled sheet, having an axial compobetween the severed portions of the rolled sheet, whereby each tube will contain a predetermined number of rolled the stationary and tearing rolls are mechanically pinter-' connected and driven in synchronized fashion to cause an axial movement of the plastic bags towards the transfer station. v

3. A plastic bag machine as set forth in claim 2, in-

nent equal to the axial speed of the rolledshee't, and

means for causing the knife to engage the rolled sheet at a predetermined point, causing the severance to occur after a predetermined number the transfer means. i

' References Cited in the file of this patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS v I Bischoff Jan. 2, 1917 3,010,630 Lach et al. Nov." 28,i1 961 of bags have passed-by

Claims

1. A PLASTIC BAG MACHINE UTILIZING A SUPPLY ROLL CARRYING A ROLLED SHEET CONSISTING OF A LARGE PLURALITY OF PLASTIC BAGS IN COLLAPSED FORM, JOINED END TO END, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS TO TRANSPORT AXIALLY A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF SAID BAGS JOINED END TO END TO A TRANSFER STATION POSITIONED AXIALLY DISPLACED BELOW SAID ROLL SUPPLY; MEANS TO COUNT SAID NUMBER OF BAGS; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF BAGS COUNTED TO CAUSE A TRANSVERSE SEVERANCE BETWEEN THE LAST BAG IN