US 4,766,713 AGranted

Packaging device including dual clip attachment apparatus, a casing brake mechanism and gathering mechanism

AssigneeDelaware Capital Formation, Inc.

InventorAlfred J. Evans

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Abstract

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a brake mechanism for a clip attachment packaging device is movable both axially with respect to a product discharge horn in order to control release of casing from the horn and pivotally with respect to the horn in order to move out of alignment with the horn thereby permitting access to the horn for repair, replacement of casing, or other purposes. As a further feature of the invention, the clip attachment apparatus includes a specially constructed gathering mechanism comprised of a fixed jaw defining a first clip channel side or section cooperative with a movable jaw defining a second clip channel side or section. The fixed jaw and first clip channel are maintained in a fixed orientation in space. The movable jaw and second clip channel are translatable in two directions simultaneously toward the fixed jaw to thereby close about casing between the jaws prior to attachment of a metal clip about the casing.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In a packaging device for filling tubular casing with product and for attaching metal clips about the casing at intervals to enclose the product, said device of the type including

a frame;
a generally cylindrical product discharge horn mounted on the frame, said horn defining an axis and having a product discharge end;
means for feeding product into the horn for ultimate discharge from the product discharge and;
means for maintaining casing on the outside of the horn for withdrawal therefrom as the casing is filled with product, at least one metal clip having been attached to the casing before said means for feeding discharges product into the casing;
brake means supported by the frame for controlling the withdrawal of casing from the horn;
and
clip attachment means supported by the frame for fastening a generally U-shaped metal clip about the casing withdrawn from the horn thereby sealing the casing, the improvement comprising, in combination:
an improved brake mechanism cooperative with the horn, said brake mechanism including:
a generally cylindrical brake member having an internal diameter section cooperative with the discharge end of the horn to control tension on casing passing between the inside of the brake member and the outside of the horn as product is discharged from the horn into casing;
a support plate for the brake member;
and
means for attaching the support plate to the frame, said means for attaching including means for translating the plate and brake axially with respect to the horn between a position of cooperative engagement of the brake member with the horn and a position wherein the brake member is axially spaced from the discharge end of the horn, said means for attaching also including means for pivoting the brake member away from axial alignment with the horn whereby the horn is exposed for full access and wherein said plate is mounted on a rod extending along a second axis parallel to the horn axis, said rod extensible to displace the plate member and brake from the end of the horn, said rod also rotatable about said second axis whereby the brake may be pivoted from alignment with the horn axis to non-alignment with the horn axis.

9 more elements

In a packaging device for filling tubular casing with product and for attaching metal clips about the casing at intervals to enclose the product, said device of the type including

a frame;
a generally cylindrical product discharge horn mounted on the frame, said horn defining an axis and having a product discharge end;
means for feeding product into the horn for ultimate discharge from the product discharge end;
means for maintaining casing on the outside of the horn for withdrawal therefrom as the casing is filled with product, at least one metal clip having been attached to the casing before said means for feeding discharges product into the casing;
brake means supported by the frame for controlling the withdrawal of casing from the horn;
and
clip attachment means supported by the frame for fastening a generally U-shaped metal clip about the casing withdrawn from the horn thereby sealing the casing, the improvement comprising, in combination:
improved casing gathering means for the clip attachment means, said gathering means including a fixed clip channel member defining one side of a clip channel with a fixed support at the end of the channel for supporting a clip forming die;
a movable channel bar and jaw defining, at least in part, the opposite side of the clip channel, said movable channel bar and jaw connected by a linkage means to the fixed member to maintain the movable side of the clip channel substantially parallel to the fixed channel side as said movable side is transported from a fully open position to a closed, clip channel forming position;
said channel bar and jaw also including a material gathering jaw movable therewith to gather material at the end of the closed clip channel as the channel bar and jaw is transported from a fully open position to a closed, clip channel forming position;
and
said linkage means is operative to translate the channel bar and jaw simultaneously in two directions toward the die thereby maintaining the movable channel side and jaw oriented in a substantially common orientation at all times of translation.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/078,188Filed 27 Jul 1987
Granted: 30 Aug 1988
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B65B 51/04
Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags: applying…
B65B 9/13
Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g.…:…
B65B 9/15
Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g.…:…
Y10T 29/53787
Overedge assembling means: binding or covering