US3691716A

US3691716A - Product bagging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3691716A
Application number: US121088A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel A Fogg
Original assignee: Gerber Products Co
Current assignee: Gerber Products Co
Priority date: 1971-03-04
Filing date: 1971-03-04
Publication date: 1972-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-19

Abstract

Apparatus and a method for filling a bag with a product, such as vegetables or the like. The product is moved into the bag when its upper end is held open. The movement of the product to the bag will be stopped automatically after the weight of the bag reaches a predetermined value. A pivotally mounted platform supports the bag as it is being filled.

Description

United States Patent F gg 1451 Sept. 19, 1972 [5 PRODUCT BAGGlNG APPARATUS 3,416,620 12/1968 McClusky ..53/59 W X [72] Inventor: Daniel A. Fogg Fremont Mich 1,386,546 8/1921 Zanone ..l77/l 19 [73] Assignee: Gerber Products Company, Fre- Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee mont, Mich, Attorney-Townsend and Townsend [22] Filed: March 4, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] APPLNOJ 121,088 Apparatus and a method for filling a bag with a product, such as vegetables or the like. The product is 52 0 moved into the bag when its upper end is held open. g gz z fiz g gg The movement of the product to the bag will be 58 F l I stopped automatically after the weight of the bag 1 of Search "53/59 w; 177/92 93, reaches a predetermined value. A pivotally mounted platform supports the bag as it is being filled. [56] References Cited 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,521,426 7/l970 Evins' ..53/59 W 32 2B 38 as r m 54 Hb/m 36 590 i -42 4;; k i II II 1] a ======i6k 5.4 /78 r us 34 52 g as i f E 2 \fil 76'I 24 i 82 17s 5 K 1 5 us 72 W 213 --ze '1 54 J8 A 23 92 I as 160 42 L 54 I2 36 PA'TENTEDsEP 19 m2 SHEET 2 OF 4 m wl INVENTOR- DANIEL A. F066 AT TORNEYS C159: J '0 F |e 5 ll2 INVENTOR.

F 3-4 BY DANIEL A. FOGG ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP 19 m2 SHEET 1} BF 4 INVENTOR.

' DANIEL 'A. FOGG PRODUCT BAGGING APPARATUS This invention relates to bag filling techniques and, more particularly, to improved apparatus and a method for filling a bag with a product, such as raw vegetables or the like.

In the processing of vegetables for canning purposes, the canning process oftentimes occurs long after the vegetables have been harvested. It is necessary, therefore, to store the vegetables intact for relatively long periods of time, such as 6 months or more. The general practice is to put the vegetables in bags and to store them in a freezer or other region to preserve the same until they are ready to be processed. It is desirable that the vegetables be placed in bags according to weight since this parameter is most often used in preparing batch mixtures of vegetables during processing.

" The present invention provides improved apparatus and a method suitable for bagging a product, such as raw vegetables, to carry out the foregoing. In practicing the invention, a plurality of bags can be successively filled with a product according to weight while the product itself remains intact. The bag filling method of the invention can be carried out with substantially no interruption in the flow of the product of the bag filling region.

The apparatus of the invention utilizes a simple and rugged conveyor-chute assembly and improved means for holding the open, upper end of each of a pair of bags in alignment with one end of the conveyor so that a product carried by the conveyor can be directed first into one bag, then into the second bag while the first bag is being removed and replaced by a third bag, and so on. Each bag is supported by a platform which is pivotally mounted to one end of a beam'which serves to indicate the weight of the product in the bag. Gate means adjacent to the conveyor operates to control the flow of the product to the bags as a function of weight of the product in each bag. In this way, continuous flow of the product can be realized to minimize bag filling times.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for filling a bag with a product'wherein the flow of the product to the bag will be stopped automatically when the weight of the product in the bag reaches a predetermined value.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and a method of the type described wherein a pair of bags can be alternately filled with the product to permit the flow of the product to be substantially continuous at all times to thereby provide for volume filling of the bags.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for the illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus.

In the Drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the article bagging apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, parts being broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus, showing the latch for the swingable gate thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the latch of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the clamp for a bag used with the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged top plan view of the gate and its bias means; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the gate.

The apparatus which is the subject matter of this invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a table-like support 12 having a number of legs 14 whose lower ends are adapted to engage and to extend upwardly from a floor or other supporting surface. Support 12 can be of any suitable construction but, for purposes of illustration, it comprises an open framework. A pair of

endless belt conveyors

16 and 18 are mounted on support 12, conveyor 16 being slightly inclined and conveyor 18 being generally horizontal. The downstream end of conveyor l6'is directly above the upstream end of conveyor 18. Each conveyor has a generally flat, upper stretch for receiving and conveying a product, such as raw vegetables, to the right when viewing FIG. 1. The endless flexible belt 20 of conveyor 16 preferably is of a porous material, such as wick wire or the like, to allow excess moisture to drain off the product conveyed thereby. The moisture can drip through this belt and gravitate to the floor on which support 12 is disposed. The endless flexible belt 22 of conveyor 18 has an upper stretch which advances the product between a pair of spaced side rails 23 to a pair of side-by-side chutes 24 and 26 (FIG. 2) in alignment with the downstream end of the conveyor. The chutes are substantially of the same size and construction and adapted to direct articles into respective chutes and then into bags supported therebelow in a manner to be described. Side rails 23 are secured to support 12 in any suitable manner.

A pair of

beam members

28 and 30 are disposed on opposite sides of support 12 and slightly below the plane of conveyor 18, there being a beam member for each chute,-respectively. Each beam member maybe of any suitable construction but, for purposes of illustration, each beam member is comprised of an open frame having a pair of spaced

sides

32 and 34 interconnected by a number of spaced crosspieces 36. Pivot means including a generally horizontal pivot pin 38 pivotally mounts each of the beam members on support 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the pivot pin 38 of beam member 30 is mounted on a vertical leg 40 of support 12. Pins 38 of both beam members are in horizontal alignment with each other as shown in FIG. 2.

Each of the beam members has a generally vertically disposed tubular body 42 coupled to the end of the beam member adjacent to and in communication with a respective chute. Each tubular body has upper and lower open ends.

A platform 46 is provided for each beam member, respectively. Each platform 46 is pivotally mounted by a pin 48 on the end of the corresponding beam member near the tubular body 42 thereof so that the platform can pivot relative to the beam member as the latter rotates about the corresponding pivot pin 38. Platform 46 has a lower, generally horizontal bag-supporting surface 50 which is directly below the corresponding chute and tubular body 42. A bag releasably clamped to the outer surface of the corresponding tubular body 42 can be supported at its bottom on surface 50. The center of gravity of platform 46 is such that surface 50 remains centrally located beneath the corresponding tubular body 42 when the corresponding beam member is horizontally disposed.

Means for clamping the upper end of an open bag to the outer surface of each of the tubular bodies 42 includes a toggle arrangement of the type shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 wherein a pair of clamping units 52 are provided for each of the tubular bodies 42, respectively. Each clamping unit 52 has an arcuate, rigid band 54 which is adapted to clamp the adjacent upper portion of a bag against the cylindrical outer surface 56 of the corresponding tubular body 42. Band 54 is secured to a stem 58 which is generally horizontally disposed and connected to the lower end of a vertical arm 60 whose upper end is pivotally mounted by a 62 to a lateral projection 64 rigid to and extending outwardly from outer surface 56. For purposes 'of illustration, FIG. 6 shows the clamping unit 52 for one side of each tubular body 42 A toggle 66, including a pair of relatively

shiftable arms

68 and 70, is pivotally mounted by a pin 72 to arm 60 intermediate the ends of the latter. A pin 74 interconnects

arms

68 and 70, the opposite end of arm 68 being rigidly secured to a side bar 76 which extends to and is pivotally mounted by the corresponding pin 48 on the proximal end of the corresponding beam member, as shown in FIG. 1. The two side bars of the adjacent clamping units 52 are interconnected by a crossbar78 (FIG. 3), whereby each pair of side bars 76 can be manually raised and lowered.

As the side bars are raised, toggles 66 cause the corresponding arms 60 to pivot outwardly of and away from the adjacent tubular member 42 so that bands 54 move away from the tubular body and allow a bag to be placed between the bands and the outer surface 56 of the tubular body. Lowering of bars 76 causes bands 54 to move into engagement with a bag to clamp the same against outer surface 56. In this way, the open end of the bag can be in communication with and held in surrounding relationship to the corresponding tubular body 42.

Chutes

24 and 26 have a common end boundary defined by an end wall 80 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A common central wall 82 perpendicular to end wall 80 separates the two chutes. Wall 82 has a vertical end margin 84 which defines one side of the entrance to each chute.

A pair of

swingable gates

86 and 88 are pivotally mounted on respective side rails 23 by respective pivot pins 90 and 92 for rotation into and out of blocking relationship to the entrances to

respective chutes

24 and 26. As shown in FIG. 2, gate 86 spans the distance between pivot pin 90 and end margin 84 of wall 82; thus, gate 86 blocks the entrance to chute 24. In this way, a product moving under the influence of conveyor 18 cannot enter chute 24 and must pass into chute 26. Gate 88 is shown in full lines in FIG. 2 in a position in which the entrance to chute 26 is open. In the dashed ing pin 92 and held thereon by a washer 96 and a cotter pin 98. i

Means is provided for releasably holding each gate in its open position. To this end, each gate has a latch member 100 secured thereto, the latch member being formed of a pair of slotted

projections

102 and 104 which are spaced apart and are interconnected by a crosspiece 106 having a housing 107 in which is shiftably mounted an extension 108, the extension projecting downwardly from crosspiece 106 as shown in FIG. 5. A coil spring 109 in housing 107 biases extension 108 downwardly. The location of crosspiece 106 along the lengths of

projections

102 and 104 can be adjusted.

Extension 108 is adapted to engage the upper end 110 of a rod 112 rigidly secured and extending upwardly from the corresponding beam member as shown in FIG. 1. End 110 provides a barrier preventing extension 108 and thereby the corresponding gate from swinging to the chute-blocking position of the gate when the corresponding beam member is horizontal. As the beam rotates about pivot pin 38 in a clockwise sense when viewing FIG. 1, rod 1 12 moves downwardly and eventually moves out of engagement with exten sion 108, whereupon the corresponding coil spring 94 will cause the gate to move inwardly to its chuteblocking position, thereby blocking the flow of the product to the corresponding chute. The weight of the product in a bag disposed on the platform of the beam member will thus determine when flow to the bag'will be stopped. The gate can be manually returned after the corresponding beam member has returned to its horizontal position. The lower end of extension 108 is beveled to provide a camming action. As the gate is moved to the open position, extension 108 comes in contact with upper end 110 of rod 112. The camming action of extension 108 overcomes the bias of spring 109 and extension 108 deflects upwardly, thereby clearing end 110 and allowing the gate to move to its inoperative position. The bias of spring 109 then urges extension 108 downwardly once again so as to block movement of end 110. Thus, the gate is releasably held in its inoperative position.

A counterweight 114 is mounted on the end of each beam member, respectively, opposite to the end to which a bag is to be coupled. A compression spring 116 is connected to and spans the distance between each beam member, respectively, and support 12 as shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, a bag is clamped to the tubular body 42 of a chute 26 by use of the clamping units shown in FIGS. 2, 3 arid 6. Assuming that gate 88 is open and gate 86 is closed, as shown in FIG. 2, product flow on the conveyors is commenced and the product will flow into chute 26 and into the bag aligned therewith. As this occurs, another bag can be placed on tubular body 42 corresponding to chute 24.

As the product flows into the bag, nothing occurs until the weight of the product in the bag overcomes the weight of counterweight 114 of beam member 30. When this occurs, beam member 30 pivots about pivot pin 38 in a clockwise sense (FIG. 1) lifting counterweight 114 and compressing spring 116 while lowering the corresponding rod 112. When sufficient weight has been added in the bag to compress spring 116 enough to allow rod 112 to become disengaged from extension 108, gate 88 automatically moves inwardly to the dashed line position of FIG. 2, thus blocking the flow of articles to chute 26. Preferably, gate 86 will have been opened before this occurs to allow the final flow of articles to the bag of chute 26 to flow at a lower rate and give better weight control. When gate 88 closes, gate 86, being opened, will then receive the full product flow and will direct it into chute 24 and into the bag aligned therewith. As the bag below chute 24 is being filled, an operator will have an opportunity to remove the full bag of chute 26 and replace it with an empty bag in the manner described above. v

Other means of detecting the weight of the bag can be utilized if desired. For instance, instead of a pivot pin 38 for each beam member, a knife edge pivot can be used. Also, a beam member with a sliding weight control for weight adjustment can be used instead of compression spring 116. Also, the release means for the gates could be operated electrically, pneumatically or the like. Furthermore, switch means can be utilized for cutting off the operation of the conveyors in the event that both gates are closed.

I claim:

l. Bag filling apparatus comprising: a support; a conveyor mounted on the support for moving a product along a predetermined horizontal path, said conveyor having one end disposed to permit a product moved thereby to move off the same; means adjacent to said one end of the conveyor and in alignment therewith for releasably holding the upper end of a pair of bags in a open condition with said open end of each of said bags in a location to receive a portion of the product moving off said one end of the conveyor; means extending downwardly from said holding means and being pivotal relative thereto for independently supporting the lower end of each of said pair of bags; a pair of gates shiftably mounted on the support above the conveyor for movement into and out of an operative position in blocking relationship to respective portions of said path, each of said gates being normally biased toward said operative position; independent actuatable means adapted for releasably holding each gate out of said position; and means responsive to the weight of the articles in respective of said bags for actuating said holding means to permit the respective gate to be released and to move to said position.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a pair of spaced bands and a body aligned with said one end of the conveyor and provided with an outer surface, and clamping means coupled with the bands for moving the same toward the surface of the tubular body through a distance sufficient to cause a bag to be clamped against the same.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes a toggle.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bag supporting means includes a platform having an upper end, said actuating means including a beam member swingable mounted on the support, the upper end of the platform being pivotally mounted on one end of the beam member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a pair of spaced side rails adjacent to the sides of said conveyor and disposed to retain said product thereon, said gate having pivot means mounted on one of said rails, and means on said pivot means for biasing the gate into said position.

6. Apparatus for alternately filling a pair of bags with a product comprising: a support; a conveyor on the support for moving a product along a generally horizontal path, said conveyor provided with a pair of spaced side rails for retaining a product thereon and having a downstream end disposed to permit a product moved thereby to move off the same; a pair of chutes carried by the support adjacent to said downstream end and disposed to receive the product moving off said conveyor; a beam member for each chute, respectively, each beam member being mounted on said support for rotation about a generally horizontal axis with one end of the beam member being adjacent to the respective chute; meanson each beammember, respectively, and in communication with a respective chute for releasably holding the upper end of a bag in an open condition across the path of travel of the product moving off the conveyor and into the respective chute; a platform for each beam member, respectively, each platform being pivotally mounted on said one end of the respective beam member and extending downwardly therefrom, each platform-being disposed to support a bag when the bag is held by said holding means and as the bag is being filled with the product; a gate for each chute, respectively; means pivotally mounting each gate on a respective side rail for movement into and out of a position blocking the flow of the product to the respective chute; means biasing each gate, respectively, into the chute-blocking position thereof; a latch on each gate, respectively; and means on each beam member, respectively, for engaging the latch of a respective gate and for releasably holding the gate out of said blocking position until the respective beam member has pivoted relative to said support about said axis under the influence of the weight of the product in a bag coupled with the respectiveholding means.

7. Bag filling apparatus comprising: a support; a conveyor mounted on the support for moving a product along a predetermined path, said conveyor having one end disposed to permit a product moved thereby to move off the same; means adjacent to said one end of the conveyor and in alignment therewith for releasably holding the upper end of a bag in an open condition with said open end of the bag in a location to receive the product moving off said one end of the conveyor; means extending downwardly from said holding means and being pivotal relative thereto for supporting the lower end of the bag held by said holding means; a gate shiftably mounted on the support above the conveyor for movement into and out of an operative position in blocking relationship to said path, said gate being biased toward said position; actuatable means releasably holding the gate out of said position; and means responsive to the weight of the articles in the bag for actuating such holding means to permit the gate to be released and to move to said position, said actuating means including a beam member having means pivotally mounting the same on the support for movement about a generally horizontal axis, and means for applying a force to the beam member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the beam member tends to rotate due to the weight in a bag coupled therewith.

8. Bag filling apparatus comprising: a support; a conveyor mounted on the support for moving a product along a predetermined path, said conveyor having one end disposed to permit a product moved thereby to move off the same; means adjacent to said one end of the conveyor and in alignment therewith for releasably holding the upper end of a bag in an open condition with said open end of the bag in a location to receive the product moving off said one end of the conveyor; means extending downwardly from said holding means and being pivotal relative thereto for supporting the lower end of the bag held by said holding means; a gate shiftably mounted on the support above the conveyor for movement into and out of an operative position in blocking relationship to said path, said gate being biased toward said position; actuatable means including a latch releasably holding the gate out of said position; and means responsive to the weight of the articles in the bag for actuating such holding means to permit the gate to be released and to move to said position, said actuating means including a beam member pivotally mounted on the support and having a projection engaging the latch and releasably holding the gate out of said operative position, said projection being movable in a direction out of coupled relationship with the latch as the beam member pivots in one direction relative to the support, whereby the gate is released and is free to move into said position.

Claims

1. Bag filling apparatus comprising: a support; a conveyor mounted on the support for moving a product along a predetermined horizontal path, said conveyor having one end disposed to permit a product moved thereby to move off the same; means adjacent to said one end of the conveyor and in alignment therewith for releasably holding the upper end of a pair of bags in a open condition with said open end of each of said bags in a location to receive a portion of the product moving off said one end of the conveyor; means extending downwardly from said holding means and being pivotal relative thereto for independently supporting the lower end of each of said pair of bags; a pair of gates shiftAbly mounted on the support above the conveyor for movement into and out of an operative position in blocking relationship to respective portions of said path, each of said gates being normally biased toward said operative position; independent actuatable means adapted for releasably holding each gate out of said position; and means responsive to the weight of the articles in respective of said bags for actuating said holding means to permit the respective gate to be released and to move to said position.

6. Apparatus for alternately filling a pair of bags with a product comprising: a support; a conveyor on the support for moving a product along a generally horizontal path, said conveyor provided with a pair of spaced side rails for retaining a product thereon and having a downstream end disposed to permit a product moved thereby to move off the same; a pair of chutes carried by the support adjacent to said downstream end and disposed to receive the product moving off said conveyor; a beam member for each chute, respectively, each beam member being mounted on said support for rotation about a generally horizontal axis with one end of the beam member being adjacent to the respective chute; means on each beam member, respectively, and in communication with a respective chute for releasably holding the upper end of a bag in an open condition across the path of travel of the product moving off the conveyor and into the respective chute; a platform for each beam member, respectively, each platform being pivotally mounted on said one end of the respective beam member and extending downwardly therefrom, each platform being disposed to support a bag when the bag is held by said holding means and as the bag is being filled with the product; a gate for each chute, respectively; means pivotally mounting each gate on a respective side rail for movement into and out of a position blocking the flow of the product to the respective chute; means biasing each gate, respectively, into the chute-blocking position thereof; a latch on each gate, respectively; and means on each beam member, respectively, for engaging the latch of a respective gate and for releasably holding the gate out of said blocking position until the respective beam member has pivoted relative to said support about said axis under the influence of the weight of the product in a bag coupled with the respective holding means.