Method and apparatus for packaging bread loafs into bags
AssigneeJongerius B.V.
InventorsAldert W. Hoekzema, Gerard Dietz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method of packaging sliced loafs into bags, each loaf is supplied from a slicing machine and is pushed into an opened bag by pusher means. The bags are supplied laterally connected within a strip of bags and each loaf is then pushed transverse to its direction of supply into the laterally held opened bag by the pusher means. The pusher means is circulated within a closed path. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing this method and a foil strip of bags for use in the apparatus.
Claims15
A method of packaging loaves as these are conveyed in a supply direction to a packaging station where the loaves are fed into bags, comprising the steps of:
- conveying loaves, one after another, along a delivery path aligned along the supply direction to the packaging station where a foremost loaf is to be fed into a bag;
- while the loaves are being so conveyed, supplying preformed bags connected in a strip to and past the packaging station along a supply path;
- halting movement along the supply direction of the foremost loaf when it is at the packaging station;
- opening a foremost bag in the strip of bags as the foremost bag arrives at the packaging station at a lateral position with respect to the foremost loaf;
- circulating a loaf pusher along a closed path which overlaps a lateral insertion path that leads from the position of the halted foremost loaf to the laterally-spaced opened bag to push the foremost loaf into the foremost opened bag;
- during the time that the foremost loaf is laterally pushed into the foremost opened bag, reducing movement of the strip of bags to enable the foremost loaf to be inserted into the opened bag by the circulating loaf pusher;
- and
- resuming movement of the preformed bags after a loaf has been inserted into an opened bag to move the loaf in the bag towards a discharge and bring a new bag to the packaging station while the loaf pusher continues to circulate.
An apparatus for packaging loaves into bags having separable edges to form an opening through which a loaf can be inserted, comprising:
- means for conveying the loaves along a supply direction to a packaging station;
- means for conveying bags which are connected in a strip along a supply path to a packaging station position that is laterally-spaced from a foremost loaf conveyed thereto;
- means for separating said separable edges to open a bag conveyed to the packaging station so as to enable the foremost loaf to be inserted into the opened bag along an insertion path;
- at least one loaf pusher;
- and,
- means for circulating the loaf pusher along a closed path which overlaps the insertion path so as to push the foremost loaf from its position at the packaging station laterally into the opened bag.
An apparatus for packaging loaves into bags having separable edges to form an opening through which a load can be inserted, comprising:
- means for conveying the loaves along a supply direction to a discharge end of the conveying means;
- receiving means arranged at said discharge end for receiving a foremost loaf to be packaged;
- means for individually gripping said separable edges of the bags and conveying the bags, which are connected in a strip, along a bag moving path to and past the receiving means at a position that is laterally-spaced from a foremost loaf;
- said gripping and conveying means including guide means at the receiving means for separating the upper edges as the bags are conveyed thereto to force the bags open to receive loaves to enable the foremost loaf to be inserted into the opened bag along an insertion path that is generally transverse to the supply direction;
- at least one loaf pusher;
- and
- means for circulating the load pusher along a closed path which overlaps the insertion path and a portion of the bag moving path so as to push the foremost loaf from its position at the receiving means laterally into the opened bag and remain in operative contact with the loaf for a distance until the recirculating path of the loaf pusher causes it to retract from the loaf filled bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.