Seal flattener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043433-B2
Application number	US-202217735714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2022
Priority date	Jan 14, 2016
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus makes packages from a web of bags includes an indexing mechanism, an opening arrangement, engagement devices, and a sealing arrangement. The indexing mechanism moves the web. The opening arrangement opens a bag to form an opening so that a product can be placed into the bag. The engagement devices engage the bag and close the opening. Each engagement device includes a base, a first link, a second link, a sliding pivot, and a finger. The first link is pivotably connected to the base, and the second link is pivotably connected to the first link. The sliding pivot pivots with respect to the base and allows the second link to slide through the sliding pivot member. The finger is connected to the second link. The engagement devices pull a first and second sides of the bag in opposite directions. The sealing arrangement seals the opening of the bag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engagement device comprising:
a base member;
a first link pivotably connected to the base member at a first connection point;
a sliding pivot pivotably connected to the base member;
a second link pivotably connected to the first link at a second connection point and slidably connected to the sliding pivot, so that the second link is capable of sliding through the sliding pivot; and
a finger connected to the second link;
wherein the first connection point and the sliding pivot are connected to the base member such that, when the first link pivots with respect to the base member at the first connection point and the second link slides with respect to the base member at the second connection point, positions of the first connection point and the sliding pivot do not change with respect to either the base member or each other.

2. The engagement device of claim 1 , wherein the first link is capable of being driving though a first position, an intermediate position, and a second position.

3. The engagement device of claim 2 , wherein, as the first link is driven from the first position through the intermediate position to the second position, movement of the first link causes the second link to:
slide out through the sliding pivot such that the finger is farther from the sliding pivot when the first link is in the intermediate position than when the first link is in the first position; and
slide back through the sliding pivot such that the finger is closer to the sliding pivot when the first link is in the second position than when the first link is in the intermediate position.

4. The engagement device of claim 3 , wherein:
the sliding out of the second link through the sliding pivot as the first link moves from the first position to the intermediate position causes the finger to initially raise and then move downward with respect to a plane that passes through the first connection point and the sliding pivot; and
the sliding back of the second link through the sliding pivot as the first link moves from the intermediate position to the second position causes the finger to initially move downward and then raise with respect to the plane that passes through the first connection point and the sliding pivot.

5. The engagement device of claim 4 , wherein the engagement device is configured to be positioned such that the plane that passes through the first connection point and the sliding pivot is substantially horizontal.

6. The engagement device of claim 5 , wherein, when the first link is in the intermediate position, the first and second links are in substantially horizontal positions and the second link is fully extended through the sliding pivot.

7. The engagement device of claim 4 , wherein the finger includes an engagement surface, and wherein the engagement surface of the finger is substantially perpendicular to the plane that passes through the first connection point and the sliding pivot when the first link is in the second position.

8. An apparatus for making packages from a web of interconnected bags, the apparatus comprising:
an indexing mechanism configured to move the web of interconnected bags along a path of travel;
a pair of engagement devices configured to engage a bag and close an opening of the bag, each of the pair of engagement devices having:
a base member,
a first link pivotably connected to the base member at a first connection point,
a sliding pivot pivotably connected to the base member,
a second link pivotably connected to the first link at a second connection point and slidably connected to the sliding member so that the second link is capable of sliding through the sliding pivot, and
a finger connected to the second link,
wherein the first connection point and the sliding member are connected to the base member such that, when the first link pivots with respect to the base member at the first connection point and the second link slides with respect to the base member at the second connection point, positions of the first connection point and the sliding member do not change with respect to either the base member or each other; and

a sealing arrangement configured to seal the opening of the bag.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first link of each of the pair of engagement devices is capable of being driving though a first position, an intermediate position, and a second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein, as the first link of each of the pair of engagement devices is driven from the first position through the intermediate position to the second position, movement of the first link causes the second link to:
slide out through the sliding pivot such that the finger is farther from the sliding pivot and more inward relative to the bag when the first link is in the intermediate position than when the first link is in the first position; and
slide back through the sliding pivot such that the finger is closer to the sliding pivot and closer to a side of the bag when the first link is in the second position than when the first link is in the intermediate position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the sliding out of the second link of each of the pair of engagement devices through the sliding pivot as the first link moves from the first position to the intermediate position causes the finger to initially raise away from the bag and then move downward toward the bag; and
the sliding back of the second link of each of the pair of engagement devices through the sliding pivot as the first link moves from the intermediate position to the second position causes the finger to initially move downward into the bag and towards the side of the bag and then raise with respect to the bag.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sliding back of the second link of each of the pair of engagement devices through the sliding pivot as the first link moves from the intermediate position to the second position further causes the fingers of the pair of engagement devices to pull sides of the bag away from each other to cause the opening of the bag to flatten and close.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sealing arrangement is configured to seal the opening of the bag after the opening of the bag has been flattened and closed by the fingers of the pair of engagement devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of engagement devices is positioned in the apparatus such that a plane that passes through the first connection point and the sliding pivot is substantially horizontal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein, when the first link is in the intermediate position, the first and second links are in substantially horizontal positions and the second link is fully extended through the sliding pivot.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the finger includes an engagement surface, and wherein the engagement surface of the finger is substantially parallel to the side of the bag when the first link is in the second position.

Assignees

• Automated Packaging Systems Llc
• Sealed Air Corp

Inventors

• Shook Donald P
• Soster Jared A

Classifications

• B65B65/02

  Driving gear · CPC title

• B65B61/12

  by tearing along perforations or lines of weakness · CPC title

• B65B43/36

  applied pneumatically · CPC title

• B65B43/30

  by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated · CPC title

• B65B43/267 Primary

  Opening of bags interconnected in a web · CPC title