JPH048348B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bag stacking machine, and more particularly to a bag stacking machine for stacking thermoplastic bags or web pieces for subsequent processing.

Prior patents relating to the subject matter of the present invention are disclosed in Philip J. Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,907, U.S. Pat.

The primary object of the present invention is to generate a pattern of airflow to create a pressure differential, whereby the thermoplastic web unrolled at the transfer station is moved between one or more stacks located at the deposition station. The point is to allow proper alignment in a flat state with respect to the support column. In bags where one side of the bag extends beyond the other side, i.e. where the edges of the bag are unequal, the extended edge portion, usually referred to as the lip, has a pair of edges located at the deposition station. Two mutually spaced holes are formed to correspond with upwardly projecting wicket pins or receiving posts. If the bag is not able to be flattened, particularly at its lip, before engaging the transfer arm of the transfer mechanism, one or both of the holes in the lip may shift and cause the holes to There are cases where it engages with only one hole of the deposition strut or does not engage with the strut at all. This condition is sometimes referred to in the industry as a "one hole engagement."

According to the present invention, a machine for depositing a thermoplastic web that is intermittently paid out from a web roll comprises a hole forming device that provides a pair of equally spaced holes adjacent to one side edge of the web; a hermetic cutting device for hermetic cutting the web at equal intervals along a line extending transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the web to form uniformly sized web pieces from each web with a pair of said holes; a support device for supporting a leading portion of the web before cutting the web and supporting a piece of web after cutting the web; during advancement of the web, directing a high-velocity air flow in the direction of advancement of the web; a first air flow directing device operative to direct the flow of air between a path of the web and the support device; a high velocity air flow directed below and adjacent opposite edges of the web piece to advance the web; an extension having a chamber provided on both side edges of the support device for lateral inclined orientation with respect to the direction; a partition plate mounted on the top of the extension and provided with a nozzle; arranged on the partition plate; a second air flow directing device comprising a strip having an angled slot and a cover strip covering said strip so that its surface is flush with the surface of said support device; pins projecting from said pair of holes in said web piece; a transfer device for conveying the web piece onto the pin, the plurality of hollow holes extending in the radial direction and provided in pairs spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction, each having a hole communicating with a vacuum source; a transfer device having a rod; and a device for rotating the rod in synchronization with the intermittent advancement of the web, the rod straddling the support device and continuously capturing the web pieces. and a rod rotating device for placing the captured web pieces on the pins via an arcuate path, the first air flow directing device and the second air flow directing device comprising: an airflow deflection device is provided adjacent to the support device to deflect the airflow generated by the web piece away from the passageway through which the web piece is disposed on the pin. A thermoplastic web deposition machine is provided.

Examples of the present invention will be described below.

A transfer station and transfer mechanism having a preferred structure for carrying out the operating conditions of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, generally designated by the numeral 10. A folded thermoplastic web material W along a line spaced from the longitudinal centerline is passed between the upper tension roller 12 and the lower tension roller 14 so that an uneven edge is obtained. These rollers 12, 14 press against each other to create a nip pressure, thus feeding the web material in the direction indicated by the arrows. A reciprocating sealing rod 16 is placed longitudinally adjacent the tension roller, and the sealing rod 16 is connected to a platen, i.e., a sealing rod.
In cooperation with the rollers 18, the seal bar cuts and seals off a portion of the web material that has entered between the seal bar and the seal roller when the seal bar reaches its raised position. An upper stripper finger 20 and a lower stripper finger 22 are provided to enable the web to travel in a straight line in relation to the tension rollers. These fingers have slots or bar-shaped notches 2 formed at equal intervals in each tension roller.
4,26 (Fig. 3).

A slightly inclined lattice-like support device or table 28 is arranged adjacent to the sealing roller 18 . Table 28 supports the leading portion of bag B resulting from lowering of seal rod 16 into pressure engagement with platen or seal roll 18. Figure 2 shows the completed bag;
This bag has a side adhesive portion SW, a lip L, and a pin receiving hole H. The bag on the support device, ie, the table 28, is moved along a circular trajectory to the deposition station by the transfer device, ie, the transfer mechanism 30.
Transferred to SS. The deposition station SS has an upwardly projecting pin or post 32 rigidly connected to a support plate 34. Support plate 34 is attached to a chain conveyor 35 surrounding sprocket 37. Conveyor 35 carries a plurality of plates 34, and a drive advances the upper stroke of the conveyor to the right (FIG. 1).
The plate carrying the completed bag pile then moves away from the deposition station SS, allowing subsequent rates to reach the deposition station and form new bag piles on that plate. I can do it. It can be seen that at the deposition station a bag pile is formed on the column 32.

Although the structure and operation of the transfer mechanism 30 is of a type well known in the art, a summary description of its operation will be provided in order to provide an understanding of the present invention.

The transfer mechanism essentially includes a transverse support shaft 36, at each end of which is mounted an enlarged hollow hub 38 which is connected to a vacuum source. Extending from the outer periphery of each hub are a plurality of radially evenly spaced and circumferentially spaced hollow rods 40 extending substantially the entire length of the surface on any side of the rods 40. A series of holes 42 are formed in this manner. As shown in FIG. 3, the surface of the rod 40 having the hole 42 is
For clockwise rotation as indicated by arrow R in FIG. 1, it becomes the leading surface. Therefore, when the rod 40 passes over the surface of the table 28, the bag located on the table will be securely gripped because any hole 42 will be closed and a pressure difference will be created.

The speed at which the bags are placed in a spread-out state on the support table 28 is such that each pair of arms successively approaches and engages one bag at the transfer station TS, and transfers the engaged bag. transfer station
Equal to the speed of transfer from TS to deposition station SS. FIGS. 1 and 5 show the arms in each pair carrying bags as they move away from the transfer station TS and closer to the deposition station SS.

This synchronous rotation of the transfer mechanism 30 can be achieved by coupling the mechanism's drive to the bag-making machine's drive. A portion of the drive device is shown in FIG. That is, when the pinion gear 44 drives the large gear 48 attached to the shaft 50 via the idle gear 46, the gear pulley 52 drives the gear pulley 54 fixed to the shaft 36 by the cog belt 56.
Driven by.

According to the main object of the invention, a device is provided for maintaining a portion of the web W flat and wrinkle-free while it advances and momentarily rests on the table 28. When the pair of arms 40 of the transfer mechanism 30 grip the bag B completed by this device, the bag B is kept flat. Such a device includes a cyclically actuated device including a lower stripper finger 22 that generates a high velocity air curtain below the path of the web W to cause two major conditions to occur simultaneously. These two primary operating conditions are likely to occur by (1) reducing the static pressure between the web W and the table 28, and (2) "stiffening" the advancing web portion. Refers to the state of preventing and removing wrinkles.

Under the first condition described above, there is a difference in static pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the web, so that a net force is obtained that pushes the advancing web portion toward the table 28, and at the same time The phenomenon of hardening of the web piece is caused by a plurality of mutually spaced high pressure air streams which cause the web piece to stiffen by puckering the web piece.

Each lower stripper finger 22 is formed as a slightly arcuate conduit as shown. One end of the finger is connected to a laterally extending air supply manifold 60 which is supported in a suitable manner on the frame of the machine. The stripper fingers 22 and air supply manifold 60 constitute a first airflow directing device. As previously discussed, during a portion of each machine operating cycle, air is directed to manifold 60 by mechanical timing valves conventional in the art. The preferred operating sequence for manifold 60 to connect to a source of pressurized air is such that the leading edge of the web is connected to the platen of table 28, ie seal roller 1.
8, the tip 62 of the heated sealing rod 16 is placed directly above the lower end of the liquid-cooled heat shield 66. It will be stopped when it is reached.

In addition to the air curtain provided by the stripper fingers 22, a high-velocity air stream originating from a third air flow directing device, ie, an air blowdown device 68, forms a high-velocity air blanket that is The web sections collide at mutually spaced points in the longitudinal direction of the web. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 5 as a pair of vectors 70, 72. As shown,
Vector 70 impinges on the leading edge of the bag or web piece, and vector 72 impinges on the trailing edge seal portion of the bag.

The air blowdown system includes an upper manifold 74 and a lower manifold 76, each manifold carrying a plurality of regularly laterally spaced nozzles 78.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the support device or table 28 is formed by a plurality of longitudinally extending metal strips 80;
The ends of these strips are connected to laterally extending strips 82. As shown in FIG. 4, the strip 82 proximate the platen or seal roller 18 has a lower angled flange 86 and a substantially 90° bend forming an extension of the upper surface of the table 28. It has a loose flange 84. The metal strip 82 formed as described above serves to avoid creating misdirected airflow that would make it difficult to maintain the flatness of the bag B.

Although the airflow exiting the manifolds 74, 76 and the lower stripper finger 22 keeps the majority of the bag substantially flat, a device is provided to ensure that the bottom and mouth end of the bag are flat. ing. In order to maintain the ends of the bag flat in this manner, extensions 88, 90 are disposed at opposite ends of the table 28, each extension 88, 90 having a chamber therein, the chamber being connected to a conduit 92. is connected to a source of pressurized air by. One of the conduits 92 is shown in FIG. Each chamber has a plurality of nozzles or holes 94 through which air exits. Figure 6 shows the chamber, or extension 8.
8 is shown in detail. The chamber 88 is generally in the form of a rectangular cylinder having an upper partition plate 96 with a hole 94 therein. A top partition plate 96 extends to support the ends of the bag and to direct airflow from the holes 94. Upper partition plate 96
Overlaid are two flat metal or other suitable material strips 98 and cover strips 100. Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that strip 98 has a plurality of angled slots 102 formed therein. Slot 102 is arrow 104
The hole 94 extends obliquely as shown by the hole 94, and serves as a channel for the air flowing out from the hole 94. Strip 100 is secured to slotted strip 98, thereby providing a passageway for directing air exiting hole 94 substantially in the direction of arrow 104. Additionally, strip 100 has a smooth top surface that is coplanar with the top surface of metal strip 80 so that the thermoplastic web can
14 onto the table 28,
The web does not receive any interference from its surroundings.

As shown in FIG.
Not only is it located above, but it also extends slightly beyond the upper partition plate 96, so that the hollow rod 40 of the transfer mechanism 30 can fully engage with the mouth and bottom of the bag.

The upper planes of the extensions 88, 90, ie, the surface of the cover strip 100, are coplanar with the surface of the support device, ie, the table 28, so that the extensions 88, 90 bring the ends of the web strips together with the surface of the support device. It has the function of supporting on the same plane. The high velocity air exiting slot 102 and directed in the direction of arrow 104 not only creates a static pressure drop below the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere to maintain the bag in the condition shown, but also causes the bag to engage rod 40. Irregular conditions that occur at both ends (for example, wrinkles,
undulations). Therefore, the number of sticks is 40.
When captured by the bag, the bag will be placed in a substantially flat position. Extensions 88, 9
0, a partition plate 96 with a nozzle 94, a strip 98 with an inclined slot 102 arranged on the partition plate, and a cover strip 100 which covers the strip 98 so that its surface is flush with the surface of the support device cooperate. forming a second airflow directing device.

To ensure that each bag is retained by each stacking post 32, the lip of the bag resting on chamber 88 must be flat and smooth. To achieve this state,
An air shield plate 112 in the form of a flat plate of metal or plastic is arranged in a vertical plane adjacent to the passage of the rod 40 which engages the lip L of the bag. The shield plate 112 controls the air flow to maintain the lip L of the bag sufficiently flat so that the bag is properly captured by the transfer rod 40.

Air discharged from the lower stripper fingers 22 and nozzles 78 mounted on manifolds 74, 76 creates an air flow that disturbs the bags as they are transferred from the transfer station TS to the deposition station SS. I might.
A stationary airflow deflection device, air baffle plate 114, is installed between the hubs 38 to ensure that the bag is not disturbed in any way until it is placed on the post 32. The baffle plate 114 has an arcuate curved portion with an upwardly sloping panel 116 and a downwardly extending panel 118. Due to the shape of the baffle plate 114 and its location, the buffle plate directs the high-velocity airflow emanating from the nozzle 78 and the lower stripper finger 22 downward, thereby removing the baggage deposited on the post 32 as well as during the transfer process. Prevents the generation of air currents that could disturb the bag.

In accordance with the foregoing discussion, providing airflow to the top and bottom surfaces of the plastic bag allows the transfer mechanism 30 to better capture the bag since the bag is generally unwrinkled and flat; It is then clear that the completed bag can be correctly placed on the column of the deposition station.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows the tension roll of a typical bagging machine.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical lipped bag; FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of FIG. 1; 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 6 in figure 5
It is a sectional view taken along the -6 line. 10... Transfer station, 22... Strip finger, 60... Air supply manifold, 8
8, 90... extension, 92... conduit, 94... nozzle, 98, 100... strip, 102...
Slot.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A machine for depositing a thermoplastic web W intermittently fed out from a web roll, comprising a pair of holes H adjacent to one side edge of the web and equally spaced apart. Forming device; sealingly cutting the web at equal intervals along a line extending transversely with respect to the direction of advancement of the web to form uniformly sized web pieces B from each web with a pair of the holes; sealed cutting device 16,
18; a support device 28 for supporting the leading portion of the web before cutting the web and supporting the web piece B after cutting the web; during the advancement of the web, a high-velocity air flow is applied to the advancement of the web; a first air flow directing device 22, 60 operative to direct the air flow in the direction and between the path of the web and the support device; an extension 88, 90 having a chamber on each side edge of the support device for directing the air flow laterally and obliquely with respect to the direction of advancement of the web; a nozzle 94 mounted on the top of the extension; a partition plate 96 arranged on said partition plate and a strip 9 having an inclined slot 102;
8, and a cover strip 1 covering said strip so that its surface is identical to the surface of said support device.
a second air flow directing device comprising: 00; a transfer device for conveying the web piece onto the pin such that the pin 32 protrudes from the pair of holes in the web piece, the hole communicating with a vacuum source; a transfer device 30 having a plurality of radially extending hollow rods 40 provided in pairs spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction; and rotating the rod, the rod straddling the support device to continuously capture the web pieces and place the captured web pieces on the pins through an arcuate path. Rod rotating device 44, 46, 4
8, 50, 52, 54, 56, wherein the web piece is transferred to an air flow generated by the first air flow directing device and the second air flow directing device. Thermoplastic web deposition machine, characterized in that an air flow deflection device (114) is provided adjacent the support device (114) for deflecting the air flow away from the passageway disposed on the pin (114). 2. The thermoplastic web deposition machine according to claim 1, in which a high-speed air stream is injected from a plurality of nozzles 78 arranged above the path of the web, and the injected air stream is A thermoplastic web deposition machine comprising a third air flow directing device 68 for directing air flow to longitudinally spaced points on the web while resting on the support device. 3. A thermoplastic web deposition machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said nozzle (78) directs the air flow at an angle of less than 90° with respect to the direction of advancement of said web. 4. A thermoplastic web deposition machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the airflow deflection device 114 extends above a rotating hub 38 carrying the transfer device 30. upstream of the thermoplastic web deposition machine to prevent the web pieces from being disturbed by the air stream while the web pieces are being transferred. A thermoplastic web deposition machine characterized by extending in the direction. 5. In the thermoplastic web deposition machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the air flow deflection device 114 is arranged such that the web pieces deposited on the pins are A thermoplastic web deposition machine characterized in that it has a downwardly extending panel to avoid being disturbed by flow.