Continuous bag supply device in continuous-filling packaging system and continuous-filling packaging system

• US 6,499,280 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Company Limited (Nabtesco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Company Limited (Nabtesco Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsutsui, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, THANH K
• Application Number:
  US09/523,856
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 532/50, 535/70, 533/891, 532/847, 532/82, 141/167, 141/168, 141/169, 141/180, 198/426, 198/431, 198/432, 198/433, 198/478.1
• US Class Current: 53/570
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/52 using roller-ways or endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0261 Puck as article support
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/30 Variable-speed gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5104 for articles

Abstract

A supply device which, in a retainer type continuous-filling packaging system, converts the movement of empty bags supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous motion in a single row and supplies these empty bags continuously to retainers that are conveyed at a constant speed. The supply device includes an empty-bag holding member conveying device and an intermittent bag supply device. In the empty-bag holding member conveying device, a plurality of empty-bag holding members (that contain therein empty bags) disposed at equal intervals are moved in one direction along a ring-form track that has a pair of parallel sections, and during this movement, the empty-bag holding members are moved intermittently by a specified distance (a distance equal to an integral multiple of an attachment spacing of the empty-bag holding members) on a bag entry side of the parallel sections and are moved continuously at a constant speed on a bag exit side of the parallel section. The intermittent bag supply device simultaneously supplies empty bags to the plurality of empty-bag holding members (with one bag being supplied to each empty-bag holding member) on the bag entry side. On the bag entry side, empty bags are supplied in a plurality of rows to stopped empty-bag holding members by the intermittent bag supply device; and on the bag exit side, the empty bags are successively extracted from the continuously moving empty-bag holding members and supplied to the retainers that are continuously conveyed.

Claims

1. A continuous bag supply device, in a continuous-filling packaging system, for converting a movement of empty bag supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous movement of a single row, wherein said device is provided with:

a bag holding member conveying device in which a plurality of bag holding members disposed at equal intervals are moved in one direction along a ring-form track that is on a horizontal plane and that has a pair of parallel sections, so that said bag holding members are moved intermittently a certain distance on a first side of said parallel sections and moved continuously at a constant speed on a second side of said parallel sections, said certain distance being equal to an attachment pitch of said plurality of bag holding members multiplied by a number of bags supplied simultaneously by a bag supply device; and

said bag supply device which is on said first side of said parallel sections simultaneously supplies empty bags to said plurality of bag holding members so that one empty bag is supplied to each of said plurality of bag holding member; and

wherein

empty bags are supplied in a plurality of rows to said plurality of bag holding members, which are stopped, by said bag supply device on said first side of said parallel sections, and said empty bags are successively extincted and supplied from said plurality of bag holding members, which are continuously moving, on said second side of said parallel sections; and

a rotary type transfer device which has a plurality of transfer means which hold said empty bags by vacuum suction and are disposed at equal intervals is provided on said second side of said parallel sections, and said rotary type transfer device continuously receives empty bags from said bag holding members by said transfer means which continuously rotate and continuously supply said empty bags to a device used in a next process.

2. The continuous bag supply device in a continuous-filling packaging system according to claim 1, wherein

said continuous-filling packaging system is a retainer type system, and

said device used in a next process is a rotary type insertion device which continuously receives and rotationally conveys said retainers, inserts said empty bags supplied from said rotary type transfer device into said retainers during said rotational conveying, and then discharges said retainers.

3. The continuous bag supply device in a continuous-filling packaging system according to claim 1, wherein

said continuous-filling packaging system is a continuous-filling packaging system for spout-equipped bags, and

said device used in a next process is a rotary type insertion device which continuously receives and rotationally conveys spouts, inserts said spouts into mouths of said empty bags supplied from said rotary type transfer device, seals said spouts to said mouths of said empty bags, and then discharges said empty bags on which said spouts are provided.

4. The continuous bag supply device in a continuous-filling packaging system according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein said bag holding member conveying device is equipped with:

a rotational conveying mechanism which causes a rotational conveyance of said plurality of bag holding members disposed at equal intervals along said ring-form track that has said pair of parallel sections, and

a reciprocating driving mechanism which causes a reciprocating movement of said rotational conveying mechanism as a whole for a prescribed distance along said parallel sections; and

wherein

said rotational conveying mechanism and reciprocating driving mechanism are respectively provided with own driving sources, and said bag holding members have a movement speed obtained by synthesizing said rotational conveyance and said reciprocating movement.