US 4,696,244 A · Thread chaining detector

Abstract

A bag closing container device applies a strip of closure tape to a container, and sews stitches through the tape and container walls, as the container is moved past a closure station. A first sensor, located near an encoder disc driven by the container transport motor, generates a signal proportional to the container transport speed. An idler roller frictionally engaged with the closure tape carries an indicator wheel, which generates in a second sensor a signal proportional to the tape speed. The thread used in stitching the containers is wrapped around a detector wheel on its way to the closure station, and is frictionally engaged with the wheel. Wheel rotation generates in a third sensor a signal proportional to thread speed. The device includes a microprocessor which receives the signals as inputs, continually compares container transport speed and thread speed, and generates a thread fault indication if the thread and container speeds deviate from a preselected ratio. Similarly, the microprocessor compares tape speed and container speed, and generates a tape fault signal should the tape speed and container speed deviate from their prescribed ratio.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An apparatus for closing the open ends of pliant containers including:

a frame;
a closing station mounted with respect to said frame;
and a container transport means mounted to said frame for moving a plurality of pliant containers in succession past said closing station;
a first supply means mounted to said frame for continuously feeding a first closure material to said closing station, for the joinder of said first closure material with said containers at said open ends, to close said containers as they are moved past said closure station;
a first sensing means mounted with respect to said frame for generating a first signal having a first signal level which varies with the velocity of said container transport means;
a second sensing means mounted with respect to said frame for generating a second signal having a second signal level that varies with the speed at which said first closure material is moved from said supply means toward said closing station;
and
comparator means, receiving said first and second signals as inputs for comparing said first and second levels and for providing a first fault indication whenever the ratio of said first and second levels deviates from a first predetermined normal range.

5 more elements

A process for effecting a closure of the open ends of pliant containers, and for detecting a deviation from a desired amount of closure material employed in said closure, including the steps of:

transporting a pliant container past a stitching station using a container transport means;
generating a first signal, the level of which is directly related to the transport speed of said containers;
supplying thread to said stitching station;
generating a second signal, the frequency of which is directly related to the speed at which thread is supplied to said stitching station;
comparing the levels of said first and second signals;
and
generating a thread fault indication responsive to a sensed deviation in the ratio of said first and second levels from a predetermined ratio.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thread chaining detector

Life of this patent

Thread chaining detector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24