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US 4,393,640 AGranted
Method and apparatus for handling and filling bags or envelopes
AssigneeHazelwood Enterprises Limited
InventorsDenis B. Cole, Derek C. Trethewy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for handling and filling bags or envelopes fed from a continuous length supply are disclosed wherein each bag or envelope is open at or adjacent one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for insertion thereinto of filling material.
Claims17
Apparatus for handling flexible fillable containers selected from the group consisting of preformed bags and envelopes, comprising:
- means for mounting a continuous length supply consisting of a series of similar preformed flexible fillable containers, each separated from its respective neighbour(s) by a tear-line allowing detachment of the leading endmost such flexible fillable container from the continuous length supply, each such container being open at one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for insertion thereinto of a filling material;
- means for intermittently advancing the free end of the continuous length supply;
- a surface on which the flexible fillable containers are arranged to travel under control of said advancing means;
- a filling station for said flexible fillable containers located at a predetermined location along said surface;
- intermittently operable suction means located at said filling station for holding the leading endmost flexible fillable container of the supply in a predetermined position and selected orientation at said filling station;
- intermittently operable blowing means for directing a stream of air towards the opening of the said endmost container while held by the suction means, and into the said container to thereby hold the same open for the insertion of a said filling material;
- and
- intermittently operable clamping bar means located immediately upstream of said filling station and adapted in operation to clamp the leading edge of the flexible fillable container next adjacent in said continuous supply to said endmost container at least for a period of time after filling of said endmost container is complete, thereby enabling ready detachment of the filled endmost container from said continuous supply along the tear-line separating said endmost and said next adjacent containers, to leave said filling station free for receipt of said next adjacent container.
5 more elements
A method of filling a flexible fillable container selected from the group consisting of preformed bags and envelopes with a filling selected from the group consisting of items to be packaged, correspondence and like mailable material, the method comprising:
- drawing a leading endmost preformed flexible fillable container of a continuous length supply over a surface to a filling station, said continuous length supply comprising a series of similar preformed such containers each separated from its respective neighbour(s) by a tear-line allowing detachment of the said leading endmost container from the continuous length supply, each such container being open at one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for the insertion thereinto of a said filling;
- holding the said leading endmost flexible fillable container in a predetermined position and selected orientation at said filling station by applying suction to one side thereof;
- inserting the said filling into the open mouth of said leading endmost container as the same is held open by blowing air thereinto while the said leading endmost container is held by said suction;
- clamping the leading edge of the flexible fillable container next adjacent in said continuous supply to said endmost container at a position immediately upstream of said filling station at least for a period of time after said insertion is complete;
- and
- detaching the filled leading endmost container from said continuous supply along the tear-line separating said endmost and said next adjacent containers while the leading edge of said next adjacent container is so clamped.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.