US3691968A

US3691968A - Sack closing and sewing machine

Info

Publication number: US3691968A
Application number: US56392A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond D Schnepf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-07-20
Filing date: 1970-07-20
Publication date: 1972-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-19

Abstract

A sack closing and sewing machine having a conveyor for conveying sacks with contents therein, a sack closing means above said conveyor, a sewing machine adapted to receive the upper ends of sacks and sew them closed adjacent to said closing means, a movable guide means extending from said closing means to a position beyond the normal sewing position of said sewing machine and rectilinear mounting means adapted to permit movement of said sewing machine from a normal sewing position to a relief position beyond said movable guide means and in a direction of movement of said conveyor.

Description

United States Patent 51 3,691,968

Schnepf [4 1 Sept. 19-, 1972 1 SACK CLOSING AND SEWING Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon MACHINE Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams 72 Inventor: Raymond B. Schnepf, Rt. 1, Box 42, Momekmummnd, m"

Queen Creek, Ariz. 85242 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: July 20, 1970 A sack closing and sewing machine having a conveyor [21] PP N05 56,392 for conveying sacks with contents therein, a sack closing means above said conveyor, a sewing machine [52] US. CL... ..1 12/11, 53/ 139 adapted to receive the upper ends of sacks'and sew [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 13/02 them closed adjacent to said closing means, a movable [58] Field of Search ..53/139; 112/11 guide means extending from said closing means to a position beyond the normal sewing position of said 1 1 References Cited sewing machine and rectilinear mounting means UNITED STATES PATENTS I adapted to permit movement of said sewing machine from a normal sewing position to a relief position McClusky ..1 beyond aid movable guide means and in a direction of movement of said conveyor.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 19 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 4 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND D. SCHNEPF ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEHQIHIZ 3.691.968

sum 2 or 4 A50 1 Iii" INVENTOR.

BE- 4 BY RAYMOND o. SCHNEPF ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP I912 3.691.968

sum a nr 4 v, INVENTOR. RAYMOND D. SCHNEPF ATTORNEYS PATENTED E 19 m2 3.691; 968

sum u or 4 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND D. SCHNEPF ATTORNEYS SACK CLOSING AND SEWING MACHINE Prior art sack closing and sewing machines have been adapted to close and sew the upper open ends of sacks to form a closure above contents in the sack. These machines have been used for closing and sewing sacks holding contents such as potatoes or other articles. The prior art machines have employed conveyors for carrying the partially filled sacks to a position 'between opposed closing devices and conventional sack sewing machines have been used adjacent the closing devices to receive the upper ends of sacks therefrom and to sew or stitch through opposite sides of the upper end portions of the sacks. In many instances, the sacks become caught or gathered at the sewing machine area and sometimes the thread used by the sewing machine fails or becomes caught in such a manner as to interrupt normal sewing operation. Accordingly, it has been a prior art feature to pivot the sewing machine out of the rectilinear path of sacks being carried on a conveyor so as to move the sewing machine to a relief position and allow the operator to rethread the machine or untangle the gathered stitching or the bunched portions of the sacks as the case may be. Accordingly, pivotal movement of the machine away from the rectilinear path of the conveyor has necessitated relief of the rectilinear path to permit arcuate pivotal movement of the mechanism of the sewing machine which generally straddles the path of the upper ends of sacks being moved on the conveyor. Accordingly, prior art machines have relied entirely upon the mechanism of the sewing machine to guide and deliver the sacks beyond the normal sewing position of the machine and in unison with operation of the conveyor carrying the partially filled sacks. The foregoing mechanical arrangement of prior art sack closing and sewing machines has generally contributed to the bunching and/or catching of the tops of sacks immediately beyond the sewing position of the machine due to the fact that the usual pivotal movement of the sewing machine out of the rectilinear path prevents the installation of movable guide means adjacent the sewing machine and at a position beyond the usual or normal sewing position of the machine.

According to the present invention, a sack closing and sewing machine is provided with a conveyor and a superimposed sack closing means adjacent to which a sack sewing machine operates in a normal sewing position. Movable guide means is provided to extend from the sack closing means to a position beyond the normal sewing position of the sewing machine in order to drive sacks beyond and after they have passed the normal sewing position of the sewing machine, thus to avoid bunching and catching of the sacks in the area of the normal sewing position of the machine. In addition, the sewing machine is mounted to move to a relief position beyond the movable drive means in a direction of movement of the conveyor so that rethreading or the relief of improperly sewed sacks may be accomplished. The body of the sewing machine on a rectilinear means permits the sewing machine to be moved away from the sack closing machine and beyond the movable guide means of the invention and thus to permit relief of the sewing machine from the movable guide means which normally extends beyond the normal sewing area of the machine and which would thereby prevent the pivotal movement of the sewing machine away from the path of the conveyor in a manner found in the machines of the prior art. Accordingly, the present invention includes a normal rectilinear movable mounting of the sewing machine as well as a movable sack guide means adapted to move and drive the sewed portions of sacks beyond the normal sewing area of the machine in a direction of the conveyor which supports the sacks partially filled with contents. The combination of the movable guide means, extending beyond the normal sewing area of the machine and the rectilinear movement of the sewing machine parallel to the direction of the conveyor and from a normal sewing position to a relief position, beyond the movable guide means, affords increased reliability in the continuous operation of the sewing machine due to the fact that the sewed portions of the sacks are movably driven by the movable guide means substantially beyond the normal sewing position of the machine.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sack closing and sewing machine having a conveyor, adapted to convey partially filled sacks with theiropen ends upwardly, above which is a superimposed sack closing means adapted to deliver closed sacks to a sewing machine and wherein movable guide means extends from the closing means to'a position beyond the normal sewing position of the sewing machine to drive and guide sacks beyond the normal sewing position and to thereby alleviate the tendency of sacks to catch and bunch or become abnormally sewed or caught near the area of the sewing position of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sack closing and sewing machine having improvements which increase the productive reliability of a sack closing and sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel rectilinear mounting means for a sack sewing machine which permits the machine to be moved in a rectilinear path in the direction of the conveyor of the machine and to thereby allow the use of a movable guide means which extends from a position adjacent the sack closing means to a position well beyond the normal sewing position of the sewing machine when it is in its operating position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sack closing and sewing machine which is substantially more reliable and trouble-free than conventional sack sewing machines having sewing machine heads which are pivoted on a substantially vertical axis away from the normal sewing position to a relief position laterally relative to the moving direction of the sack conveyor of the machine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a sack closing and sewing machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan section view, taken from the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view taken from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing the sewing machine portion of the invention in a normal sewing position;

FIG. 4 is another view similarto FIG. 3, but showing the sewing machine portion of the invention in a relief position. Y

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of rectilinear mounting means adapted to mount the sewing machine portion of the invention to move from a normal sewing position to a relief position in a direction of movement of the conveyor of the machine of the in vention. I l

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 1, showing portions of the inventionbroken away and in section to amplify the illustration. I

I FIG.7 is a sectional view taken from the line 7-7 of FIG. 2, showing portions of the structure broken away to amplify the illustration.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary taken from the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the sack closing and sewing machine of the invention is provided with a substantially conventional belt-like conveyor disposed in a generally horizontal position. This conveyor is provided with a belt movable in the direction of an arrow A as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The belt 20 is an endless belt rotatably operable around

rollers

22 and 24 rotatably carried on a conveyor frame 26. One of the

rollers

22 or 24 is power-operated by a motor or any other suitable means to move the belt in the direction of the arrow A. The means for driving the belt 20 will be hereinafter described in relation to the sack closing and sewing mechanism of the invention.

The conveyor frame 26 is provided with uprights 28,

30, 32, and 34. The uprights 28 and 30 support a horizontal rail 36 above the upper surface of the belt 20 while the

uprights

32 and 34 support a like horizontal rail 38 above the surface of the belt 20. The

rails

36 and 38 are spaced apart to provide lateral support for sacks of potatoes or other articles on the belt 20 in the direction of the arrow A. The invention is provided with a sack closing mechanism 40. This sack closing mechanism 40 is shown substantially in detail in FIG. 2 of the drawings, wherein a pair of

converging chains

42 and 44 converge in the direction of the arrow A which, according tothe present invention, is the direction of movement of the conveyor 20. Thus, the tops or upper open ends of partially filled sacks may be moved on the conveyor 20 to a position between the

converging chains

42 and 44 which travel in a converging direction of arrows B and C and then move to a transistional direction parallel to the arrow A and in the same direction as the movement of the conveyor. The transistional position of the

chains

42 and 44 is shown at 46 and 48 respectively and is accomplished by sprockets and guides, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The

chains

42 and 44 thus pass from a converging position at their

portions

42 and 44 to spaced apart and opposed parallel position so as to initially engage opposite sides of the upper open portions of sacks and to force them together between the converging portions and then subsequently to force them into fiat contiguous closed position between the rectilinear or

transition direction portions

46 and 48 as shown in sectional view FIG. 2. The chains at their

portions

46 and 48 are driven, in unison with and at the same speed as the conveyor 20 and in the direction of the arrow A,-all as hereinbefore described. The

chains

42 and 44, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings, are driven by

sprockets

50 and 52 respectively. These

sprockets

50 and 52 are fixed to power-driven shafts 54 and 5.6 which are journalled in hollow

tubular members

58 and 60, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

The lower ends of the hollow

tubular members

58 and 60 are fixed by welding or otherwise to a pair of frame plates 62 and 64 respectively. As shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the frame plate 64 suspends a chain guide plate 66 by means of bolts 68 which pass through spacers 70 located between the plate 64 and the plate 66. The bolts 68 are provided with a clamping nut 72 adapted to hold the

plates

64 and 66 in assembly at opposite ends of the spacers 70. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, there are a plurality of bolts 68 and the plate 62 is also provided with similar bolts 74 for suspending a chain guide plate similar to the guide plate 66 shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 of the drawings. These guide plates function in a manner similar to conventional chain saw guide plates over which the rollers of the chain are rotatably operated.

Suspended by axle bolts 76 and .78 are a pair of

sprockets

80 and 82. The

axle bolts

76 and 78 are carried by the frame plates 62 and 64, all as shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings. I

It will be seen that

adjacent edges

84 and 86 of th frame plates 62 and 64 are space apart and inadjacent relationship to allow the

rectilinear portions

46 and 48 of the

chains

42 and 44 to follow a path parallel to the movement of the conveyor 20 and to allow the tops of sacks to pass between the parallel

rectilinear portions

46 and 48 of the

chains

42 and 44.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the hollow

tubular members

58 and 60 at their upper ends are fixed to a horizontal frame member 88, which is disposed in cantilever relation to a sleeve in which the horizontal frame member 88 is adjustably mounted as shown in perspective in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The sleeve 90 is provided with set screws 92 and 94 adapted to hold the horizontal frame member 88 in fixed position in order to align the converging portions of the

chains

42 and 44 and their

rectilinear transstion portions

46 and 48 with a path of the conveyor 20 to receive the upper open ends of sacks containing potatoes or the like.

The

shafts

54 and 56 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings are also shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. These shafts extend upwardly through the hollow

tubular members

58 and 60 and are driven by

respective sprockets

96 and 98 located above the horizontal frame member 88. As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the sprockets. 96 and 98 are engaged by a roller chain 100 which is covered by conventional chain guard 102 supported on the horizontal member 88 by means of an upstanding spacer I04 and a bolt 106 threaded thereinto.

The chain 100 is driven by a conventional reduction gear motor mechanism 108 having a shaft 110 carrying a suitable sprocket 112 engaged with the chain 100. The motor 108 is carried by an extending portion 114 of the horizontal frame member 88. This portion 114 extends beyond the sleeve 90 as shown best in FIG. 5.

The sleeve 90 is supported on an upright frame member 116 which extends upwardly at one side of the conveyor as shown best in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 of the drawings, a stationary guide rail 118 is disposed above and substantially parallel to the rectilinear portion 46 of the chain 42. This guide rail 118 is provided with one end 120 which substantially overlaps the portion of the rectilinear chain portion 46 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and the opposite end of the guide rail 118 tapers to a feather edge portion 122 causing it to be quite thin in a horizontal direction. The guide rail 118 thus extends beyond the rectilinear chain portion 46 in a direction of the arrow A and movement of the conveyor 20. This guide rail 118 is supported on the plate structure 62 hereinbefore described and is opposed by a movable guide means 124. This guide means 124 is a flexible chain structure guided around a conventional chain guide plate 126 such as found on conventional chain saws or the like. This guide plate 126 is substantially L-shaped and guides the chain over a sprocket 128 carried by the shaft 56 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings. The sprocket 128 is fixed to the shaft 56 so as to be driven in unison with the sprocket 52 also shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

The hollow tubular column'member 60 is provided with a pair of

openings

131 and 132 through which the movable' guide chain 124 extends in relation to the sprocket 128.

The plate 126 is mounted as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings by means of bolts 134 which extend through the plate 64 and a spacer 136 disposed between the plate 64 and the plate 128. Thus, the bolt 134 clamps the plate 126 in superimposed spaced relation to the plate 64 as shown best in FIG. 8 of the drawings. The plate 126 extends considerably beyond a normal sewing position generally located in accordance with a line 138 in FIG. 2 of the drawings, said line 138 being a broken line utilized to indicate the normal sewing position of a conventional sewing machine 140. I

The feather edge end 122 of the guide rail 118,

shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, extends in a direction of movement of the conveyor as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and extends almost to the normal sewing position of the sewing machine 140, as indicated by the broken line 138 in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The movable guide chain 124 extends considerably beyond the normal sewing position 138 and in the direction of the arrow A or in the direction of movement of the conveyor 20, as indicated and disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The movable guide chain 124 moves at a speed comparable to that of the conveyor 20 and in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows A in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The conventional sewing machine 140 is disposed to operate its sewing needle approximately in a normal position as indicated by the broken line 138 and the function of the guide rail 118 and the movable guide 124 is to movably actuate or force the upper ends of sewn sacks beyond the normal sewing position 138 in the direction of the arrow A and general direction of the movement of the conveyor 20.

In prior art machines, devices such as the rectilinear portions of the

chains

46 and 48 were related to a sewing machine such as the sewing machine and the sewn sacks sewn by prior art machines tended to bunch and clog at a position beyond the sewing position 138. However, in accordance with the present invention, the movable guide means 124 serves to carry and move the sewn ends of sacks well beyond the normal sewing position 138 in the direction of arrow A and in unison with the operation of the conveyor 20 which carries the partially filled sacks.

The sewing machine 140 as shown best in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 of the drawings is supported by a cantilever horizontal bar or tubular member 142 which is laterally adjustably mounted in a generally rectangular in cross section sleeve 144, as shown best in FIG. 5 of the drawings. This sleeve 144 is provided with

set screws

146 and 148 adapted to fix the bar 142 in position laterally with respect to the conveyor 20 so as to align the sewing machine with bags which are guided between the guide rail 18 and the movable guide chain 124.

The sleeve 144 is carried by a pair of track rails 150 and 152 which engage

rollers

154 and 156 carried by

respective brackets

158 and 160 secured to the upstanding frame member 116.

Upper surfaces

162 and 164 of the members 150 and 152 bear upward against lower surfaces of the sleeve 90, shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, to maintain the sleeve 144 and the sewing machine 140 in a cantilever supported disposition relative to the vertical frame member 1 16.

The rails 150 and 152 are movable backward and forward in accordance with the arrow D in FIG. 5 of the drawings, and a spring-loaded lever 166 is engageable with a notched plate 168 to hold the slide rails 150 and 152 backward to retain the sewing machine 140 generally in the position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, wherein its needle operates in the normal sewing position as indicated by the broken line 138 in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the sewing machine 140 disclosed in FIG. 3 is retracted backwardly to a position such that the sewing needle of the machine is in the normal sewing position as indicated by the broken line 138. The sewing machine 140, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, is extended in accordance with the extension of the slide rails 150 and 152, shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, such that the sewing needle of the machine is displaced from the normal sewing position as indicated by the broken line 138. The displacement of the sewing machine 140 is in the direction of the arrow A and the general direction of movement of the conveyor 20. Additionally, it will be seen that the sewing machine 140 when extended to the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings is located beyond an extremity 170 of the movable guide 124, said extremity being a curved portion of the flexible chain passing around an end 172 of the plate 126. Thus, with the slide rails 150 and 152 and the

releasable latch mechanism

166 and 168, the sewing machine 140 may be moved to the position, shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, wherein the sewing mechanism and needle mechanism is disposed beyond the extremity 170 of the movable guide means 124. This permits the sewing machine 140, when in an abnormal sewing condition, to be moved in the direction of the operation of the conveyor 20 and away from the placed in a relief position, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, to relieve the tangled or gathered sack or an improperly sewn sack and to rethread the machine and return it to the normal sewing position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings for further operation.

it will be' appreciated by those skilled in the art that the movable guide chain 124 carries sewn sacks well beyond the normal sewing position 138 and in the direction of the movement of the conveyor 20 so as to prevent bunching or improper sewing of the top of the sack and consequently alleviates the tendency of the machine to become operable in an abnormal condition and to cause interruption of the sack sewing operations which, according to the present invention, are very reliably maintained on a high production basis. It will be seen, as shown in FIG. 2, that the sewing machine 140 is moved in the direction of the arrow A to the position as shown in FIG. 5 when the latch 166 is pivoted upwardly about an axis of its mount pin 174, shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The sleeve 144 is provided with a manual handle 176 adapted toprovide manual facility in pulling the sewing machine 140 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings to remove the sewing machine from a normal sewing position 138 to a relief position as indicated by a broken line 178 in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

In operation, the conveyor 20, the

sack closing chains

42 and 44, and the sewing machine 140, as well as the movable guide means 124 all operate in unison and at compatible speeds with each other so as to coordinate movements of the partially filled sacks, on the conveyor 20, with the sack closing mechanism and sewing machine.

The movable guide means 124 may be a chain or other similar structure, such as a gear belt; however, a chain is preferred. Additionally, it will be understood that the

chains

42 and 44 are by way of example only and may be in the form of belt structures or other similar movable devices if desired. The movable guide chain 124 and the guide rail 118 together with the movable mounting of the sewing machine 140, as provided by the slide rails 150 and 152, permit the sewing machine to be moved from a normal sewing position to a relief position in the direction of movement of the conveyor and thus permits the extension of the movable guide chain 124 beyond the normal sewing position 138 in the direction of the movement of the conveyor 20.

The movable guide means 124 is preferably a roller chain operating around the edge of the plate 126 and an arcuate guide 125 is provided to maintain the chain in a substantially L-shaped loop. This guide 125 is provided with a bracket 127 secured by bolts 129 to the plate 126. y

In operation, sacks which are partially filled with potatoes or other articles are placed on the conveyor belt 20 and are moved between the slide rails 36 and 38 with the open ends of the sacks disposed upwardly and with the conveyor moving generally in the direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The upper open ends of the sacks pass between the converging

chain portions

42 and 44 and are forced into closed flat contiguous relation such that opposite sides of the sacks are held in close proximity to each other between the rectilinear portions of the chains 46and 48 as they move generally in the direction of the arrow A. The tops v or open ends of the sacks then pass between the guide rail 118 and the movable guide member 124 to a position at which the sewing machine needle sews through opposite sides of the sacks above the contents to form a closure for the sacks. The sewing machine at its normal sewing position as indicated by the broken line 138 utilizes a conventional sack sewing needle mechanism which operates a short distance from the feather edge of the guide rail 118. As the needle continues to sew the sacks, the movable guide member 124 continues to propel'and guide the sewn upper ends of the sacks beyond the sewing position 138 in a direction of the arrow A and in the'same direction that the conveyor 20 moves. Inasmuch as the movable guide chain 124 continues to propel the sacks beyond the sewing position 138, the tops of the sacks do not become compressively bunched or gathered due to friction relative to the head of the sewing machine beyond the sewing position 138. Thus, the movable guide 124 prevents bunching and the clogging of thesewn ends of the sacks and thereby alleviates the usual intermittent problem which results from abnormal sewing of the machine due to bunching or clogging of the sewn portions of the sacks in a position beyond the normal sewing position 138.

Due to the fact that the movable guide means 124 extends beyond the normal sewing position and due to the fact that the conventional sewing machine must have mechanism straddling the open ends of the bags, the sewing machine cannot be pivoted on a vertical axis laterally of the conveyor 20 as are many of the conventional sack sewing machines, and therefore the slide rail mechanism and 152 provides for the movement of the sewing machine from a position as shown in FIG. 3 to a position as shown in FIG. 4 to move the sewing machine from a normal sewing position 138 to a relief position 178 to thereby permit rethreading or the relief of an improperly sewn bag from the sewing mechanism of the machine.

lclaim:

1. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a substantially horizontal conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; said conveyor disposed to carry said sacks in a first direction and in a substantially rectilinear path and with the open ends of said sacks disposed upwardly; sack closing means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive said open ends of said sacks for forcing opposite sides of said sacks into substantially flat contiguous and closed position; said closing means having a pair of relatively converging power-driven opposed devices engageable with said opposite sides of said sacks above said contents; means for moving said devices in said first direction and generally in the direction of said rectilinear path and in unison with said conveyor; a guide means aligned with one of said pair of devices; a third power-driven device spaced from said guide means and aligned with the other of said pair of devices, whereby flat closed ends of sacks are received and engaged between said guide means and said third device; said third device having means normally driving it in said first direction and in unison with said conveyor; a sewing machine adapted to receive flat ends of sacks from a position between said guide means and said third device, said sewing-machine adapted to sew through said flat opposite sides of said sacks above said contents to form a closure at said open ends of said sacks; said guide means having an end portion near said sewing machine when said sewing machine is in a normal sewing position, said third device extending, in said first direction, a substantial distance beyond said normal sewing position; and rectilinear means movably mounting said sewing machine to move in a rectilinear path and in said first direction away from said normal sewing position to a relief position, said relief position being beyond said third device; and releasable holding means for retaining said sewing machine normally in said sewing position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein means for operating said conveyor, said sack closing means and said sewing machine operating in unison and at compatible speeds.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said rails are disposed at opposite sides of said conveyor to provide lateral support for said partially filled sacks in order to slidably support opposite sides of said sacks until upper ends thereof pass between said converging devices.

4. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the com bination of: a substantially horizontal conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; said conveyor disposed to carry said sacks in a first direction and in a substantially rectilinear path and with the open ends of said sacks disposed upwardly; sack closing means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive said open ends of said sacks above said contents for forcing opposite sides of said sacks into substantially flat contiguous and closed position above said contents; said closing means having a pair of relatively converging power-driven devices engageable with said opposite sides of said sack above said contents; means for moving said devices in said first direction and generally in a rectilinear path and in unison with said conveyor; a guide means aligned with one of said pair of devices; a third power-driven device spaced from said guide means and aligned with the other of said pair of devices whereby flat closed ends of said sacks are received and engaged between said guide means and said third device above said contents; said third device having means movably driving it in said first direction and in unison with said conveyor; a sewing machine adapted to receive flat ends of said sacks from a position between said guide means and said third device, said sewing machine adapted to sew through said flat opposed sides of said sacks above said contents to form a closure at said open ends, said guide means having an end portion hear said sewing machine when said sewing machine is in a normal sewing position, said third device extending, in said first direction, a substantial distance beyond said normal sewing position; and rectilinear means movably mounting said sewing machine to move in a rectilinear path and in said first direction away from said normal sewing position to a relief position, said relief position being beyond said third device; and releasable holding means for retaining said sewing machine in said normal sewing position; an upstanding frame above said conveyor; means onsaid upstanding frame having a support portion for said closing means and adapted to ho!2isaid closing means in juxtaposition above said conveyor. V

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said support portion is provided with downwardly extending suspension means; a pair of plates supported by said suspension means; said pair of devices supported respectively on said pair of plates; said pairof devices each consisting of a power-driven endless means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said upstanding frame and said support portion is provided with means adjustably supporting said support portion to be adjusted in a direction laterally relative to said first direction of said conveyor.

7. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a substantially horizontal conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; said conveyor disposed to carry said sacks in a first direction and in a substantially rectilinear path and with the open ends of said sacks disposed upwardly; sack closing means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive said open ends of said sacks above said contents for forcing opposite sides of said sacks into substantially flat contiguous and closed position above said contents, said closing means having a pair of relatively converging power-driven opposed devices engageable with opposite sides of said sacks above said contents; means for moving said devices in said first direction and generally parallel with said rectilinear path and in unison with said conveyor; a guide means aligned with one of said pair of devices; a third powerdriven device spaced from said guide means and aligned with the other of said pair of devices whereby flat closed ends of said sacks are received and engaged between said guide means and said third device above said contents; said third device having means normally driving it in said first direction and in unison with said conveyor; a sewing machine adapted to receive said flat ends of said sacks from a position between said guide means and said third device, said sewing machine adapted to sew through said flat opposite sides of said sacks to form a closure at said open ends; said guide means having an end portion near said sewing machine when said sewing machine is in a normal sewing position, said third device extending, in said first direction, a substantial distance beyond said normal sewing position; and rectilinear means movably mounting said sewing machine to move in a rectilinear path and in said first direction away from said normal sewing position to a relief position, said relief position being beyond said third device; and releasable holding means for retaining said sewing machine in said normal sewing position; an upstanding frame above said conveyor and supporting said sewing machine; said rectilinear means carried by said upstanding frame and having track means supporting said sewing machine to move in said first direction and to move backwardly to said normal sewing position to be engaged and held in said normal sewing position by said releasable holding means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein a motor is provided for driving said sewing machine, said motor supported by said rectilinear means.

9. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a movable sack conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; a sack engaging and closing means disposed above said conveyor and movanormal sewing position of said sewing-machine; and rectilinear means disposed movably supporting said sewing machine to permit movement of said sewing machine to a relief position beyond said-movable sack guide in the direction of movement of said conveyor.

l =0 I i i

Claims

1. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a substantially horizontal conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; said conveyor disposed to carry said sacks in a first direction and in a substantially rectilinear path and with the open ends of said sacks disposed upwardly; sack closing means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive said open ends of said sacks for forcing opposite sides of said sacks into substantially flat contiguous and closed position; said closing means having a pair of relatively converging power-driven opposed devices engageable with said opposite sides of said sacks above said contents; means for moving said devices in said first direction and generally in the direction of said rectilinear path and in unison with said conveyor; a guide means aligned with one of said pair of devices; a third power-driven device spaced from said guide means and aligned with the other of said pair of devices, whereby flat closed ends of sacks are received and engaged between said guide means and said third device; said third device having means normally driving it in said first direction and in unison with said conveyor; a sewing machine adapted to receive flat ends of sacks from a position between said guide means and said third device, said sewing machine adapted to sew through said flat opposite sides of said sacks above said contents to form a closure at said open ends of said sacks; said guide means having an end portion near said sewing machine when said sewing machine is in a normal sewing position, said third device extending, in said first direction, a substantial distance beyond said normal sewing position; and rectilinear means movably mounting said sewing machine to move in a rectilinear path and in said first direction away from said normal sewing position to a relief position, said relief position being beyond said third device; and releasable holding means for retaining said sewing machine normally in said sewing position.

4. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a substantially horizontal conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; said conveyor disposed to carry said sacks in a first direction and in a substantially rectilinear path and with the open ends of said sacks disposed upwardly; sack closing means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive said open ends of said sacks above said contents for forcing opposite sides of said sacks into substantially flat contiguous and closed position above said contents; said closing means having a pair of relatively converging power-driven devices engageable with said opposite sides of said sack above said contents; means for moving said devices in said first direction and generally in a rectilinear path and in unison with said conveyor; a guide means aligned with one of said pair of devices; a third power-driven device spaced from said guide means and aligned with the other of said pair of devices whereby flat closed ends of said sacks are received and engaged between said guide means and said third device above said contents; said third device having means movably driving it in said first direction and in unison with said conveyor; a sewing machine adapted to receive flat ends of said sacks from a position between said guide means and said third device, said sewing machine adapted to sew through said flat opposed sides of said sacks above said contents to form a closure at said open ends, said guide means having an end portion hear said sewing machine when said sewing machine is in a normal sewing position, said third device extending, in said first direction, a substantial distance beyond said normal sewing position; and rectilinear means movably mounting said sewing machine to move in a rectilinear path and in said first direction away from said normal sewing position to a relief position, said relief position being beyond said third device; and releasable holding means for retaining said sewing machine in said normal sewing position; an upstanding frame above said conveyor; means on said upstanding frame having a support portion for said closing means and adapted to hold said closing means in juxtaposition above said conveyor.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said support portion is provided with downwardly extending suspension means; a pair of plates supported by said suspension means; said pair of devices supported respectively on said pair of plates; said pair of devices each consisting of a power-driven endless means.

7. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a substantially horizontal conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; said conveyor disposed to carry said sacks in a first direction and in a substantially rectilinear path and with the open ends of said sacks disposed upwardly; sack closing means disposed above said conveyor and adapted to receive said open ends of said sacks aboVe said contents for forcing opposite sides of said sacks into substantially flat contiguous and closed position above said contents, said closing means having a pair of relatively converging power-driven opposed devices engageable with opposite sides of said sacks above said contents; means for moving said devices in said first direction and generally parallel with said rectilinear path and in unison with said conveyor; a guide means aligned with one of said pair of devices; a third power-driven device spaced from said guide means and aligned with the other of said pair of devices whereby flat closed ends of said sacks are received and engaged between said guide means and said third device above said contents; said third device having means normally driving it in said first direction and in unison with said conveyor; a sewing machine adapted to receive said flat ends of said sacks from a position between said guide means and said third device, said sewing machine adapted to sew through said flat opposite sides of said sacks to form a closure at said open ends; said guide means having an end portion near said sewing machine when said sewing machine is in a normal sewing position, said third device extending, in said first direction, a substantial distance beyond said normal sewing position; and rectilinear means movably mounting said sewing machine to move in a rectilinear path and in said first direction away from said normal sewing position to a relief position, said relief position being beyond said third device; and releasable holding means for retaining said sewing machine in said normal sewing position; an upstanding frame above said conveyor and supporting said sewing machine; said rectilinear means carried by said upstanding frame and having track means supporting said sewing machine to move in said first direction and to move backwardly to said normal sewing position to be engaged and held in said normal sewing position by said releasable holding means.

9. In a sack closing and sewing machine, the combination of: a movable sack conveyor adapted to carry sacks partially filled with contents; a sack engaging and closing means disposed above said conveyor and movable in the same direction as said conveyor and adapted for forcing upper ends of sacks closed above said contents; a sewing machine disposed to receive the upper ends of said sacks from said sack engaging and closing means and to sew said upper ends closed above said contents; a movable sack guide extending from said sack engaging and closing means to a position beyond a normal sewing position of said sewing machine; and rectilinear means disposed movably supporting said sewing machine to permit movement of said sewing machine to a relief position beyond said movable sack guide in the direction of movement of said conveyor.