WO2000027705A1

WO2000027705A1 - Improved vertical packaging machine

Info

Publication number: WO2000027705A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/025668
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Musella
Original assignee: Form Pak, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-11-06
Filing date: 1999-11-03
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Also published as: AU1603000A

Abstract

An improved vertical packaging machine, adapted to utilize planar plastic film in roll form, incorporates a generally vertical, substantially cylindrical forming tube (14) with a film feed guide (16) positioned adjacent thereto and having a film guiding means cooperating with the forming tube. The film guide generally consists of a substantially V-shaped body having two substantially planar wall portions (20) and a pair of bars or rollers (26) adjacent the outer surfaces of the walls near the junction of the walls. The film from the roll drapes over the tops of the walls guided between the outer surfaces of the wall adjacent the junction (22) thereof and the bars. A generally annular and triangular shaped collar (34) is positioned about the forming tube and the film is guided by the guiding means to the annular space between the collar and the tube, and is subsequently sealed, filled with material and the sealed package is cut from the remaining tube of film.

Description

IMPROVED VERTICAL PACKAGING MACHINE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1__Ϊ. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to packaging machines, particularly to vertical bag forming and filling machines, and more particularly, to relatively compact and inexpensive vertical bag forming, filling and sealing machines adapted to use unfolded plastic film for packaging liquids, granulated solids and other solid materials .

2. Description of the Prior Art Vertical and horizontal packaging machines are currently commercially available which are meant to bag various products in preset doses or sizes . They are complicated and expensive machines and often operate automatically and at high speeds . In the field of vertical packaging machines, machines differ most of all in the film supplied, which can be in the form of a roll of a planar or flat ribbon or film, or can be in the form of a center-folded plastic film. Generally, the planar or flat film, particularly in roll stock form, is less expensive than center-folded film, and is therefore more desirable as the material for use in packaging machines . An example of a vertical packaging machine which uses center-folded plastic film is illustrated in Italian Patent No. 1281729.

In the commercially available machines which use planar or flat film, the film is generally wound around a forming collar, shaped like a shirt-neck, so as to roll up and form a tubular element. The film, formed into tubular form, is then heat-sealed vertically to form a cylinder and then filled with the product to be packaged through a forming tube. A horizontal heat- sealing unit closes the tubular element formed by the film in a downward region, in order to allow it to be filled, and then the filled bag is sealed at its upper end.

The latter machines are generally operated by electric systems which control the automatic advancement of the film, the length of the bags, the heat-sealing times and other functions. The cycles are automatic and therefore suitable for high-volume production.

While the machine disclosed in Italian Patent No. 1281729 provides a relatively simple and inexpensive alternative to the high volume expensive machines of the prior art, the machine utilizes center-folded film and a ring about the forming tube which had to be manually raised and then lowered at an angle to advance the film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved relatively simple and inexpensive vertical packaging machine which is adapted to utilize a planar or flat film.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved vertical packaging machine which does not require manual advancement of the film following the filling and sealing of the previous package .

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved vertical packaging machine which is relatively inexpensive, simply constructed and operated as compared to automatic, high-speed machines in the prior art and the machine disclosed in Italian Patent No. 1281729, but which provides packages which are indistinguishable from those machines.

These and other objects and advantageous of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved vertical packaging machine is provided which utilizes a forming tube similar to the forming tube shown in Italian Patent No. 1281729, but without the ring or film advancement collar utilized therewith, and is adapted to utilize planar or flat ribbon or film, particularly planar plastic film in roll form.

Preferably the ribbon or film is of a width larger than the circumference of the forming tube at a position and for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The improved machine incorporates a generally vertical, substantially cylindrical forming tube with a film feed guide positioned adjacent and having film guiding means cooperating with the forming tube and a generally annular and triangular shaped collar positioned about the forming tube. In one embodiment, the film feed guide generally consists of a substantially V-shaped body having two substantially planar wall portions joined at their joined ends closest to and facing the cylindrical surface of the forming tube with the junction of the wall portions forming the V disposed generally vertically, and a pair of generally vertically disposed guiding bars or rollers disposed adjacent the outer surfaces of the marginal portions of the walls forming the V junction. In this embodiment, film from a roll, preferably a roll of planar plastic film, passes over the tops and outer surfaces of the substantially planar wall portions which tends to drape the film over the wall portions and between the guiding bars or rollers and the wall portions to fold the film along an imaginary longitudinal center-line. The folded film is guided by the strip of reduced friction material to the collar and hence to the forming tube. In this embodiment, the thus longitudinally folded film is led, initially manually, to and down the outer surface of the forming tube. As the film passes down along the outer surface of the forming tube, it wraps about the tube and passes within the collar. The collar has an annular surface which causes the film to form a cylinder about the forming tube, and overlapping spaced ends which, due to the width of the film being greater than the circumference of the forming tube at the position of the collar and along the length of the forming tube below the collar, the side edges of the film will overlap as the formed tube of film leaves the bottom of the collar, thereby resulting in a formed tube of film having overlapping longitudinal edge margins . Thus, the purpose of having the width of the film greater than the circumference of the forming tube along the tube from the collar to its lower end is to provide material to form the overlapping longitudinal edge margins of the formed tube of film.

A strip of material, such as a reduced friction plastic material, forms film guiding means from the top of the junction of the walls of the feed guide to the upper, closest edge surface of the collar connecting the feed guide with collar in the immediate area of the forming tube. The machine includes a first, vertical sealing member which seals the overlapping longitudinal edge margins of the film on the outer surface of the forming tube to provide a cylindrical shaped tube of the film. Upon reaching beyond the lower end of the forming tube, the free cylindrical end of the shaped tube of film is compressed to form a substantially planar end portion, which is then sealed by a second sealing member to form a package end. The shaped tube of film with its lower end sealed can be filled through the forming tube. Following filling, the shaped tube with its sealed end can be lowered further so as to be free of the end of the forming tube, and the upper cylindrical portion of the shaped tube of film above the filled material compressed to form a substantially planar portion. The shaped tube of film is then sealed by the second sealing member by the filled tube being lowered to the position where the second sealing member can perform its sealing function, or optionally is sealed by a third sealing member, to close the upper end of the package. At the same time, the shaped tube above the sealed upper end of the package portion can be cut by cutting means to release the filled and sealed package from the remainder of the shaped tube.

The improved packaging machine of the present invention desirably feeds the film to the forming tube and along the surface of the forming tube without the need for manual manipulation of the film after the initial feeding and advancing of the film. The feeding and advancement of film can be accomplished by having means for advancing the film positioned adjacent the forming tube and acting upon the film after its initial advancement .

One embodiment of such means for advancing the film is a plurality of rollers driven by driving means for driving the rollers, for example by one or more motors, which rollers are positioned to press upon the film after the film is wrapped or formed about the outer surface of the forming tube, preferably downstream of the annular and triangular shaped collar. When it is desired to advance the film wrapped about the forming tube, and thus feed additional film from the roll of film, the driving means is activated to cause the rollers to rotate and advance the film. Desirably the driving means can be manually activated after each package is filled, and deactivated upon .the next portion of film reaching the position where the first sealing member is to be activated to seal the overlapping side margins of the formed tube of film and the second sealing member is to be activated to seal the bottom of the formed tube of film. Following filling of the formed tube with its lower end sealed, the driving means can be activated again to advance the tube of film to the position where the second, or optional third, sealing member is to be activated to seal the top of the filled tube of film and to cut the thus formed and filled package from the next portion of formed tube.

In this manner, the improved machine of the present invention can be used to provide successive filled packages with only minimal manual operation, that is by the operator controlling the activation, and optionally deactivation, of the driving means activation of the sealing members and activation of the cutting means .

Alternatively, in another embodiment, the driving means, sealing members and cutting means can be electronically controlled to sequence the advancing of the film, the sealing of the bottom end of the formed tube of film, the sealing of the top end portion of the filled formed tube and the cutting of the filled package from the remainder of the film.

The present invention will be more readily understood from the accompanying drawings which are to be read in conjunction with the description of the preferred embodiment, both showing and describing for illustration, an improved packaging machine as generally described above .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vertical packaging machine as disclosed in Italian Patent No. 1281729;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roll of center-folded film as disclosed in Italian Patent No. 1281729; FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a film feed guide in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of an improved vertical packaging machine in accordance with the present invention, with the supporting platform for the filled package and the side cover panel removed for illustration purposes;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a film feed guide similar to the feed guide shown in FIG. 3 and the forming tube taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the forming tube and the collar showing the initial feeding of film thereto; FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the film being initially fed past the collar and along the portion of the forming tube;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 showing the film being initially fed further along the forming tube and being formed into a cylindrical tube having overlapping vertical edges; and

FIG. 9 is a front schematic view of the improved vertical packaging machine shown in FIG. 4 with similar components removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one preferred embodiment, as best shown in

FIGS. 3-5, the vertical packaging machine 10 of the present invention includes a housing, generally identified by the numeral 12, supporting a generally vertical, substantially cylindrical forming tube 14 and a film feed guide 16 positioned adjacent to an upper portion of forming tube 14.

In this preferred embodiment, the film feed guide 16 generally comprises a substantially V-shaped body 18 having two substantially planar wall portions 20 joined at their joined ends, i.e. junction 22 facing the cylindrical surface 24 of the forming tube 14 with the junction 22 of the wall portions forming the V disposed generally vertically, and a pair of generally vertically disposed guiding bars 26, which optionally can be rollers, disposed adjacent the outer surfaces of the marginal portions of the wall portions 20 forming the V junction 22. Wall portions 20 and bars or rollers 22 are mounted on a supporting plate 16a which maintains the elements of the guide 16 in proper position to each other. Plate 16a is mounted to housing 12 through suitable brackets (not shown) to maintain the positional relationship between guide 16, forming tube 14, and the other elements of machine 10.

Film guide 16 is connected to forming tube 14 by film guiding means 28, such as a strip of reduced friction plastic material, preferably of Teflon, as a tape having a coating of Teflon or a strip of solid Teflon, extending from the top of the junction 22 to the area of the forming tube.

The machine of this embodiment utilizes unfolded, i.e. planar film 28 from a roll, preferably a roll of planar plastic film 30, having a width a short distance greater than the circumference of the forming tube 14 at the position where the film 28 will wrap about the tube 14 to its lower end so that the side edges of the film will overlap. A satisfactory distance greater than the circumference of the forming tube generally can be in the range of 0.25 to 0.75 inch. The film 28 passes over the tops and outer surfaces of the substantially planar wall portions 20 which tends to drape the film 28 over the wall portions 20 and between the guiding bars or rollers 26 to fold the film along an imaginary longitudinal center-line (not shown) . The folded film 28 is guided by film guiding means 32 extending from the top of the junction 22 to an upper area of the forming tube 14. The film guiding means 32 is desirably a strip of reduced friction plastic material, preferably of Teflon, as a tape having a coating of Teflon or a strip of solid Teflon.

Machine 10 of the present invention includes a generally triangular shaped collar 34, which generally is similar to the collar described in Italian Patent No. 1281729, but is connected to and cooperates with film feed guide 16. Collar 34 has overlapping spaced ends 36, which operates on the film in a manner as will be hereinafter described. Film guiding means 28 extends _ from the top of the junction 22 to an upper edge portion of collar 34 and connects film feed guide 16 to collar 34 in the area of the forming tube 14.

In accordance with this preferred embodiment, the leading edge of the roll of planar plastic film 30 is initially manually cut to form a relatively pointed end 38 with the pointed end 38 generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the film. The now pointed leading edge 38 of film 28 is pulled from roll 30 over the top of joined ends 22 of the wall portions 20 of the film feed guide 16 and film guiding means 32 as best shown in FIG. 6. The leading edge 38 is pulled further from roll 30 to and into the annular space between collar 34 and forming tube 14. As the leading edge 38 of film 28 is pulled between collar 34 and down along forming tube 14 as shown in FIG. 7, plastic film 28 wraps about forming tube 14, and the side edges of film 28 are caused by the overlapping ends 36 of collar 34 to overlap, as shown in FIG. 8 by reference numeral 28a. Driving means in the form of driving rollers 40 driven by at least one or a plurality of motors (not shown), which motors are known to the art. Rollers 40 are activated and deactivated by switches, such as push- button switches as is known in the art, to advance the film 28 formed about the forming tube 14.

Machine 10 in accordance with the present invention, includes a first, vertical sealing member 42 which seals the overlapping longitudinal edges 28a of the film 28 on the outer surface of the forming tube 14 to provide a cylindrical shaped tube 44 of the film 28.

Tube 44 may now be advanced by activating rollers 40 so that the pointed end 38 of the film 28 and a short length of thus formed tube 44 extends beyond the lower end of forming tube 14. At a selected distance beyond the lower end of forming tube 14, the free cylindrical end of tube 44 of the film, above the pointed end 36 is compressed to form a substantially planar portion, which is then sealed by a second sealing member 46 form a package end 48. The portion of film below package end 48, which portion includes pointed end 36, can be cut below package end 48 and discarded.

The shaped tube 44 of film 28 with its lower end 48 sealed can be filled with material to be packaged through the forming tube 14, conveniently through a hopper 50 secured to the upper end of forming tube 14. Following filling, the shaped tube 44 with its sealed end 48 can be lowered further by activating rollers 40 so that the shaped tube 44 above the filled material is free of the lower end of forming tube 14 a preselected distance , which distance is common to the packaging art, and the upper cylindrical portion of the shaped tube 44 of film 28 above the filled material compressed to form a substantially planar portion which is then sealed by the second sealing member by the filled tube being lowered to the position where the second sealing member can perform its sealing function, or optionally is sealed by a third sealing member, to close the upper end of the package. At the same time, the shaped tube above the sealed upper end of the package portion can be cut by cutting means to release the filled and sealed package from the remainder of the shaped tube.

The improved packaging machine of the present invention desirably feeds the film to the forming tube and along the surface of the forming tube without the need for manual manipulation of the film after the initial feeding and advancing of the film. The feeding and advancement of film can be accomplished by activating and deactivating rollers 40 acting upon the film after its initial advancement. Rollers 40 are positioned to press upon the film 28 as the film is wrapped or formed about the outer surface of the forming tube 14, preferably downstream of collar 34. When it is desired to advance the film wrapped about the forming tube 14, and thus feed additional film 28 from the roll of film 30, driving means (not shown) for rollers 40 is activated to cause the rollers 40 to rotate and advance the film. Desirably the driving means can be manually activated after each package is filled, and deactivated upon the next portion of film reaching the position where the first sealing member 42 is to be activated to seal the overlapping side edge 38 of the formed tube 44 of film 28 and the second sealing member 46 is to be activated to seal the bottom of the formed tube of film. Following filling of the formed tube with its lower end sealed, the driving means can be activated again to advance the tube of film to the position where the second, or optional third, sealing member is to be activated to seal the top of the filled tube of film and to cut the thus formed and filled package from the next portion of formed tube.

The sealing operations as described above can be facilitated by having sealing members 42, 46 mounted on an arm 52 hinged at its upper end portion to housing 12 and having arm 52 swing into position to cause members 42, 46 to contact the desired portions of the formed tube 44 of film 28 for the sealing operation. In the operational position, sealing member 42 presses the overlapped side edges 28a against forming tube 14, and sealing element 46 compresses the lower end portion of formed tube 44 against itself and against a backing surface 54 to form a substantially planar lower end flap. Arm 52 can be manually moved into the operational position to effect the sealing operations, or preferably can be moved into that position by an electromagnet or solenoid (not shown) within housing 12 acting upon a pair of arms 56 which upon activation of the electromagnet or solenoid pulls the arm 52 toward forming tube 14 and backing surface 54, The operation of cutting the formed tube above the sealed upper end of filled tube 44 portion, which comprises a package of material, can be accomplished by the second sealing member 46 by the second sealing member simultaneously or shortly after the member 46 seals the upper portion of tube 44 above the filled material by heating and melting a horizontal portion of the tube 44 thereabove, or by having a cutting blade

(not shown) incorporated in member 46 which can be activated manually or by means of a motor (not shown) to traverse the film at that location to separate the filled package from the remainder of the formed tube 44. Desirably, sealing member 44 can have two substantially horizontal heating elements with a cutting blade or an element which causes film 28 to melt and thereby cut the film, to simultaneously seal the upper end portion of the filled tube 44 portion, seal the lower end of the next tube 44 portion thereabove and cut the compressed film 28 between the two sealed portions to free the package from the tube 44 upon release of arm 52 from the operational sealing position.

Claims

What is claimed is :

1. A substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine for the bagging of products in preset doses and sizes into bags formed from a supply of planar film passing downwardly through the machine, comprising: a. a substantially cylindrical forming tube being generally vertically disposed, having an annular collar positioned about the forming tube and formed substantially of two halves each being generally triangular shaped and disposed about the forming tube opposite each other; and b. a film feed guide positioned adjacent said tube adapted for draping the film about the guide and for guiding the draped film to and about said forming tube, whereby the draped film is guided by the film guide to and wrapped about the forming tube and is formed by the said collar into a cylinder.

2. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 1, wherein the film feed guide generally comprises a substantially V-shaped body having two top surface portions joined at their joined ends closest to and facing the cylindrical surface of the forming tube and is adapted for guiding and draping the film about the top surface portions of the V-shaped body.

3. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 2, wherein the film feed guide further comprises a pair of generally vertically disposed guiding members, each guiding member being disposed adjacent the outer surface of a marginal portion of one of the top surface portions forming the V-junction and is adapted for guiding a portion of the film draped about the top surface portions toward the forming tube .

4. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 3, wherein the said guiding members are a pair of generally vertically disposed rollers .

5. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 3, wherein the said guiding members are a pair of generally vertically disposed cylindrical bars.

6. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 2, wherein said film guide further includes a member of reduced friction material extending from the V-shaped body thereof to the area of the forming tube and is adapted for guiding draped film therebetween .

7. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 2, wherein the substantially v-shaped body comprises two substantially planar wall portions which are generally triangular and are joined at their joined ends closest to and facing the cylindrical surface of the forming tube.

8. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 7, wherein the substantially planar wall portions are each right triangular in shape, and are joined at their generally vertical side edges.

. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 1, wherein the said annular collar positioned about the forming tube has one side of each generally triangular half positioned adjacent each other and adjacent the film guide.

10. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 9, wherein each generally triangular half of the collar is substantially right triangular, and one side edge of the generally right angle of each half of the collar extends adjacent the corresponding side edge of the other half of the collar and both of said side edges are spaced from and along the surface of the forming tube downwardly from adjacent the film guide so that the draped film can be guided into the annular space between the forming tube and the collar and about the tube.

11. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 10, wherein the said one side edges of each half of the collar are joined and extend from about and spaced from the forming tube toward the film guide so that its upper surfaces can guide the draped film toward the forming tube and into the annular space between the forming tube and the collar.

12. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 11, wherein the upper surfaces of the extension of the one side edges of the halves of the collar support a member of reduced friction material which also extends from the film guide so that the draped film can be guided from the film guide to the collar.

13. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 10, wherein the sides of the generally triangular halves of the collar forming an angle opposite the said one side edges overlap one another in spaced relation so that the draped film can be formed into a cylinder about the forming tube with its free edge margins overlapping as the film travels downwardly past the collar.

14. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 13, wherein the machine further comprises a first seam forming apparatus adjacent the surface of the forming tube downstream of the collar and is adapted for forming a first seam in the film along its overlapped free edge margins.

15. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 14, wherein the machine further comprises a second seam forming apparatus downstream of the forming tube for forming a second seam in the film generally transverse to the direction of travel of the film through the machine.

16. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 15, wherein the machine further comprises a support downstream of the forming tube adapted to support the film formed into a cylinder during filling of the cylinder of the film.

17. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 15, wherein the machine further comprises a cutting apparatus adapted to cut the film adjacent seams formed transversely to the direction of travel through the machine.

18. The substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine of claim 17, wherein the machine further comprises means for advancing film through the machine and through the annular space between the forming tube and the collar, past the forming tube and to each of the seam forming apparatuses .

19. A substantially vertical bag forming and packaging machine adapted for the bagging of products in preset doses and sizes into bags formed from a supply of planar film, comprising: a. a substantially cylindrical forming tube being generally vertically disposed, having an annular collar positioned about the forming tube and formed substantially of two halves each being generally triangular shaped and disposed about the forming tube opposite each other; b. a film feed guide positioned adjacent said tube generally comprising a substantially V-shaped body having two top surface portions joined at their joined ends closest to and facing the cylindrical surface of the forming tube and adapted for guiding and draping the film about the planar wall portions of the V-shaped body; c. a pair of generally vertically disposed guiding members, each guiding member being disposed adjacent the outer surface of a marginal portion of one of the top surface portions forming the V-junction and adapted for guiding a portion of the film draped about the planar portions toward the forming tube; d. a first seam forming apparatus adjacent the surface of the forming tube downstream of the collar adapted for forming a first seam in the film along its longitudinal free edge margins; e. a second seam forming apparatus downstream of the forming tube for forming a second seam in the film generally transverse to the direction of travel of the film through the machine; and f. a cutting apparatus downstream of the forming tube adapted to cut the film adjacent seams formed transversely to the direction of travel through the machine .

20. A method for forming bags and for filling the formed bags with products in predetermined doses and sizes, comprising: a. providing a supply of planar film; b. passing the planar film from the supply over a film feed guide adapted to drape the planar film about the film guide; c. passing the draped film to an annular space between a substantially cylindrical generally vertically disposed forming tube and an annular collar positioned about the forming tube, whereby the draped film is wrapped about the forming tube and is formed by the said collar into a cylinder; d. forming a first seam in the film along its longitudinal free edge margins; e. forming a second seam in the film generally transverse to the first seam thereby forming the bottom edge margin of the bag; f. cutting the film below the bottom edge margin of the bag formed by the second seam therein; g. filling the bag with product by passing a predetermined dose of the product through the forming tube and into the bag formed by the first and second seams ; and h. forming a third seam in the film above the product filled into the bag to provide a filled, closed bag.