Tin-tie clip bending device and method

A tie fastener bending device for use with a packaging container having a tie-fastener secured thereon wherein an end of the tie fastener extends beyond an edge of the packaging container, the bending device comprising:

• means for moving the packaging container and for maintaining the packaging container in a generally vertical plane as the container moves along a travel path from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• first means for bending the end of the tie fastener relative to the edge of the packaging container, the first bending means including a first paddle being capable of selectively rotating in a generally vertical plane transversely across the travel path of the container perpendicular to the generally vertical plane of the container to contact the end of the tie fastener, the first bending means being disposed between first end and the second end of the device at a first location along the container travel path;
• and
• second means for bending the end of the tie fastener relative to the edge of the packaging container, the second bending means including a second paddle being capable of selectively rotating in a generally horizontal plane perpendicular to the generally vertical plane of the packaging container along the direction of container travel to contact the end of the tie fastener, the second bending means being disposed at the first location along the container travel path adjacent to and on an opposite side of the container travel path relative to the first bending means.

A method for bending a pair of ends of a tie fastener about a packaging container having the fastener secured thereon wherein a leading end and a trailing end of the tie fastener extend beyond a leading edge and a trailing edge of the container, respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the container and maintaining the container in a generally vertical plane continuously on a travel path from a first end to a second end of the path;
• providing a first paddle adjacent the travel path, the first paddle including a first end and a second end and being capable of rotating in a generally vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the generally vertical plane defined by the container;
• providing a second paddle adjacent the travel path, the second paddle including a first end and a second end and being capable of rotating in a generally horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to the generally vertical plane defined by the container, the second paddle being located on an opposite side of the container travel path relative to the first paddle;
• detecting the trailing edge of the container as the container moves along the travel path and producing a first signal indicating detection of the trailing edge;
• rotating the first paddle to sweep a path transversely across the container travel path to strike the trailing end of the tie fastener and bend the trailing end of the tie fastener about the trailing edge of the container, the first paddle rotating in response to the first signal from the detecting means;
• and
• rotating the second paddle to sweep a path adjacent the container travel path so that the first end of the second paddle strikes the trailing end of the tie fastener, the second paddle rotating in response to the first signal from the detecting means.

A tie fastener bending device for use with a packaging container having a tie-fastener secured thereon wherein a leading end and a trailing end of the tie fastener extend beyond a leading edge and a trailing edge, respectively, of the packaging container, the bending device comprising:

• means for moving the packaging container and for maintaining the packaging container in a generally vertical plane as the container moves along a travel path from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• first means for detecting the trailing edge of the packaging container traveling past the first detecting means, the first detecting means producing a first signal upon detection of the trailing edge of the packaging container and being disposed between the first and second ends of the device along the packaging container travel path;
• first means for bending the trailing end of the tie fastener relative to the trailing edge of the packaging container, the first bending means including a first paddle being capable of selectively rotating in a generally vertical plane transversely across the travel path of the container perpendicular to the generally vertical plane of the container to contact the trailing end of the tie fastener, the first bending means being spaced from and independent of the first detecting means and being electrically connected to the first detecting means so that the first bending means is selectively actuated in response to the first signal from the first detecting means, the first bending means being disposed between the first detecting means and the second end of the device at a first location along the container travel path;
• second means for bending the trailing end of the tie fastener relative to the trailing edge of the packaging container, the second bending means including a second paddle being capable of selectively rotating in a generally horizontal plane perpendicular to the generally vertical plane of the packaging container along the direction of container travel to contact the trailing end of the tie fastener, the second bending means being spaced from and independent of the first detecting means and being electrically connected to the first detecting means so that the second bending means is selectively actuated in response to the first signal from the first detecting means, the second bending means being disposed at the first location along the container travel path adjacent to and on an opposite side of the container travel path relative to the first bending means;
• second means for detecting the leading edge of the packaging container traveling past the second detecting means, the second detecting means producing a second signal upon detection of the leading edge of the packaging container and being disposed between the first bending means and the second end of the device along the packaging container travel path;
• and
• third means for bending the leading end of the tie fastener relative to the leading edge of the packaging container, the third bending means including a third paddle being capable of selectively rotating in a generally vertical plane transversely across the travel path of the container perpendicular to the generally vertical plane of the container to contact the leading end of the tie fastener, the third bending means being spaced from and independent of the second detecting means and being electrically connected to the second detecting means so that the third bending means is selectively actuated in response to the second signal from the second detecting means, the third bending means being disposed between the second detecting means and the second end of the device.