Packaging machine
View Patent ↗A packaging machine and apparatus for forming and filling plastic bags for containing dry food products such as cereals or the like. The invention comprising a product dispensing port over which a film enveloping the port may pass and an inner passage through which a product may be dispensed. The dispensing port comprises a pair of opposing flaps pivotally coupled to the outlet of the dispensing port which are movable between an open and a closed position.
1. A bag forming and filling apparatus comprising:
a product dispensing port having (i) an outer surface over which a film enveloping the product dispensing port may pass and (ii) an inner passage through which a product may be dispensed,
the product dispensing port further comprises a pair of opposing flaps pivotally coupled to an outlet of the dispensing port, the pair of opposing flaps having outer surfaces over which the film may pass and inner surfaces arranged to support the product to be dispensed, and
the opposing flaps are movable between a first open position in which the product is dispensed and a second closed position in which the product is prevented from being dispensed,
the opposing flaps are coupled to the product dispensing port by a hinge arrangement such that rotation of each respective flap brings distal edges of each flap together in the second closed position,
each opposing flap is rectangular having (a) a first edge proximal the hinge and rotatably coupled to the product dispensing port and (b) a second distal edge opposed to the first edge and arranged to move in an arc towards the opposing flap, and the second opposing distal edge has a central substantially straight region and two truncated regions at either end of the second distal edge; and
a bag gusseting and sealing arrangement proximate a vertically lower outlet of the product dispensing port and arranged to selectively engage with an outer surface of the film enveloping the product dispensing port.
2. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bag gusseting and sealing arrangement comprises a pair of horizontally movable upper gusseting members movable from a retracted position to an extended position wherein distal portions of each member are positioned between the opposing flaps.
3. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the pair of horizontally movable upper gusseting members are arranged to move towards each other simultaneously and to contact the outer surface of the film to cause the film enveloping the opposing flaps to be drawn inwards and against the outer surfaces of the opposing flaps.
4. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bag gusseting and sealing arrangement further comprises a pair of opposing and horizontally movable elongate sealing jaws arranged to move from a first retracted position to a second extended position in which the opposing and horizontally movable elongate sealing jaws are in abutment with each other.
5. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the pair of opposing and horizontally movable elongate sealing jaws is arranged to move together in opposing directions to contact the outer surface of film and to cause the film enveloping the opposing flaps to be drawn inwards and against the outer surfaces of the opposing flaps.
6. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 5 , wherein an upper surface of the opposing and horizontally movable elongate sealing jaws is in a plane vertically beneath lower edges of the opposing flaps in the second closed position.
7. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 4 wherein the direction of movement of the pair of opposing and horizontally movable elongate sealing jaws is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the horizontally movable upper gusseting members.
8. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two truncated regions are arranged to receive a portion of a gusseting member when the gusseting member is in a gusset forming position and when the opposing flaps are in the second closed position.
9. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the product dispensing port is rectangular in cross-section.
10. A bag forming and filling apparatus comprising:
a product dispensing port having (i) an outer surface over which a film enveloping the product dispensing port may pass and (ii) an inner passage through which a product may be dispensed,
the product dispensing port further comprises a pair of opposing flaps pivotally coupled to an outlet of the dispensing port, the pair of opposing flaps having outer surfaces over which the film may pass and inner surfaces arranged to support the product to be dispensed, and the opposing flaps are movable between a first open position in which the product is dispensed and a second closed position in which the product is prevented from being dispensed,
the product dispensing port further comprises a pair of opposing product diversion surfaces located on inside faces of the product dispensing port perpendicular to faces supporting the opposing flaps, and the pair of opposing product diversion surfaces are arranged to divert the product falling onto surfaces towards a centre of the product dispensing port; and
a bag gusseting and sealing arrangement proximate a vertically lower outlet of the product dispensing port and arranged to selectively engage with an outer surface of the film enveloping the product dispensing port.
11. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the opposing flaps are coupled to the product dispensing port by a hinge arrangement such that rotation of each respective flap brings distal edges of each flap together in the second closed position.
12. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each opposing flap is rectangular having (a) a first edge proximal the hinge and rotatably coupled to the product dispensing port and (b) a second distal edge opposed to the first edge and arranged to move in an arc towards the opposing flap.
13. The bag forming and filling apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the opposition product diversion surfaces are coupled to the product dispensing port by a hinge arrangement, the opposition product diversion surfaces being moveable from an opened position to a closed position upon upper gusseting members contacting the outer surface of the film enveloping the product dispensing port.
14. A method of operating a bag forming and filling apparatus comprising:
passing a film which envelopes a product dispensing port of the bag forming and filling apparatus over and along an outer surface of the product dispensing port by a predetermined distance;
moving upper gusseting members of the bag forming and filling apparatus towards each other and against an outer surface of the film to cause tension in the film and to draw opposing flaps of the product dispensing port inwards and towards each other;
moving sealing jaws towards each other to contact the outer surface of the film to cause tension in the film and to draw the opposing flaps of the product dispensing port inwards such that distal edges of the opposing flaps are proximate to or in contact with each other;
energizing the sealing jaws to transfer energy to the film and to create a seal in the film along the sealing jaws;
introducing a product into the product dispensing port such that the product falls under gravity onto the opposing flaps;
retracting the upper gusseting members and the sealing jaws; and
moving the film vertically downwards over the product dispensing port to cause the opposing flaps to move from a closed position to an open position to release the product onto a sealed end of a bag,
wherein the opposing flaps are coupled to the product dispensing port by a hinge arrangement such that rotation of each respective flap brings distal edges of each flap together in the second closed position,
each opposing flap is rectangular having (a) a first edge proximal the hinge and rotatably coupled to the product dispensing port and (b) a second distal edge opposed to the first edge and arranged to move in an arc towards the opposing flap, and the second opposing distal edge has a central substantially straight region and two truncated regions at either end of the second distal edge.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the two truncated regions are arranged to receive a portion of the upper gusseting member when the upper gusseting member is in a gusset forming position and when the opposing flaps are in the closed position.
16. A method of operating a bag forming and filling apparatus comprising:
passing a film which envelopes a product dispensing port of the bag forming and filling apparatus over and along an outer surface of the product dispensing port by a predetermined distance;
moving upper gusseting members of the bag forming and filling apparatus towards each other and against an outer surface of the film to cause tension in the film and to draw opposing flaps of the product dispensing port inwards and towards each other;
moving sealing jaws towards each other to contact the outer surface of the film to cause tension in the film and to draw the opposing flaps of the product dispensing port inwards such that distal edges of the opposing flaps are proximate to or in contact with each other;
energizing the sealing jaws to transfer energy to the film and to create a seal in the film along the sealing jaws;
introducing a product into the product dispensing port such that the product falls under gravity onto the opposing flaps;
retracting the upper gusseting members and the sealing jaws; and
moving the film vertically downwards over the product dispensing port to cause the opposing flaps to move from a closed position to an open position to release the product onto a sealed end of a bag,
wherein the product dispensing port comprises a pair of opposing product diversion surfaces located on inside faces of the product dispensing port perpendicular to faces supporting the opposing flaps, and the pair of opposing product diversion surfaces are arranged to divert the product falling onto surfaces towards a centre of the product dispensing port.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the opposition product diversion surfaces are coupled to the product dispensing port by a hinge arrangement, the opposition product diversion surfaces being moveable from an opened position to a closed position upon the upper gusseting members contacting the outer surface of the film enveloping the product dispensing port.