POUCH PACKAGING MACHINE WITH THREE GRIPPERS

• US 20150135651A1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC, SN Maschinenbau GmbH
• Original Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Murray, R. Charles, Clemens, Olaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,988,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/492
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/28 by grippers co-operating with fixed supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/32 by external pressure diagonally applied
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/465 for bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/50 using rotary tables or turrets B65B43/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0238 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 29/00 Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones mechanical projectors B65G31/00; screw or rotary spiral conveyors B65G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/847 the article-engaging elements being grippers

Abstract

The present invention relates to machines and apparatuses for manufacturing and filling containers, specifically to machines and apparatus for transporting flexible pouches between manufacturing and filling stations with the ability to open and close the flexible pouch. The apparatus includes a movable base with a pair of side arms. Each of the side arms is movable between a first position and a second position. A center arm is attached to the base. The center arm is disposed between the pair of side arms. A gripping mechanism is disposed at an end portion of each of the side arms and the center arm. The pouches are moved between production stations by movement of the base. The present disclosure also includes a method for opening, closing, and moving a flexible pouch between one or more production stations.

Claims

1. ) An apparatus for moving a flexible pouch between production stations comprising:

a moveable base;

a pair of side arms movably attached to the base, each of the side arms movable between a first position and a second position;

a center arm attached to the base, the center arm disposed between the pair of side arms;

a gripping mechanism disposed on an end portion of each of the side arms and the center arm; and

wherein the pair of side arms and center arm grip one or more flexible pouches, with the flexible pouches being transitioned between an open condition and a closed condition by movement of the side arms between the first position and the second position, and the pouch moved between production stations by movement of the base.

2. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the gripping mechanism disposed at the end of each side being a pinch mechanism, the pinch mechanism having a first pinching member and a second pinching member, the first pinching member pivotally coupled to the second pinching member, the first pinching member rotatable relative to the second pinching member;

wherein rotation of the first pinching member provides the pinch mechanism with an open position and a closed position to grasp or release the flexible pouch.

3. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the center arm including a main portion, a channel, and an articulating portion, the articulating portion disposed within the channel, and the articulating portion sliding within the channel; and

the gripping mechanism disposed at the end portion of the center arm being a clamp mechanism, the clamp mechanism having a first clamping member secured to the articulating portion and a second clamping member secured to the main portion;

wherein sliding of the articulating portion provides the clamp mechanism with an open position and a closed position to grasp or release the flexible pouch.

4. ) The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

the first clamping member and the second clamping member each including a pouch contacting surface, the pouch contacting surface having a generally rectangular profile.

5. ) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the channel is located along a top surface of the main portion.

6. ) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the channel is located down a center of the main portion.

7. ) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the center arm is generally cylindrical in shape.

8. ) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the center arm has a generally extruded rectangle shape.

9. ) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the articulating portion is secured to the first clamping member near an edge of the first clamping portion.

10. ) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the articulating portion is secured to the first clamping member near a center of the first clamping portion.

11. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the movement of the base being rotational;

wherein in the rotation of the base allows movement of the flexible pouch between stations that are laid out in a generally circular pattern.

12. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the movement of the base being translational;

wherein the translation of the base allows movement of the flexible pouch between stations that are laid out in a generally linear pattern.

13. ) An apparatus for moving a pair of flexible pouches between production stations comprising:

a movable base;

a pair of side arms movably attached to the base, each of the side arms movable between a first position and a second position;

a center arm attached to the base, the center arm disposed between the pair of side arms; and

a gripping mechanism disposed on an end portion of each of the side arms and the center arm, the gripping mechanism on each of the pair of side arms gripping one flexible pouch of the pair of flexible pouches, the gripping mechanism on the center arm gripping both flexible pouches of the pair of flexible pouches;

wherein the pair of side arms and center arm grip one or more flexible pouches, with the flexible pouches being transitioned between an open position and a closed position by movement of the side arms between the first position and the second position, and the pouch moving between production stations by movement of the base.

14. ) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the flexible pouches of the pair of pouches are joined to each other.

15. ) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the flexible pouches of the pair of pouches are not joined to each other.

16. ) A method for opening, closing and moving a flexible pouch between one or more production stations comprising:

providing a movable base with a center arm and a pair of side arms, the center arm having an end with a gripping mechanism, the side arms each having an end with a gripper mechanism, the side arms movable between a first and second position;

securing a flexible pouch to the center arm gripper mechanism and at least one of the side arm gripper mechanisms;

moving the base to move the secured pouch to a first production station;

determining a desired position of the side arm based on the first production station; and

moving the side arm to the desired position.

17. ) The method of claim 16 further comprising:

moving the base to move the secured pouch to a next production station;

determining a desired position of the side arm based on the next production station; and

moving the side arm to the desired position.

18. ) The method of claim 17 further comprising:

Repeating the steps of claim 17 until the secured pouch has traveled to the next production station that is a final production station.

19. ) The method of claim 18 wherein moving the base is performed by rotating the base.

20. ) The method of claim 18 wherein moving the base is performed by translating the base.