Pouch support device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573716-B2
Application number	US-201514679369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2015
Priority date	Apr 4, 2014
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

The support device includes a support and a pair of bars spaced apart from each other. The bars include a slot configured to enclose peripheral side edges of a flexible pouch. In one embodiment, the bars are wing shaped and include a first member and a second member. The first member is angled with respect to the second member. The slot extends inwardly from an inner surface of the bar and is disposed between the first and second member. The slot is configured to receive a peripheral side seal of the flexible pouch. The first and second members help keep the body of the pouch within the grips of the gripper. In a second preferred embodiment, the bars are an elongated member. The slot is disposed along the inner surface of the bars. The bars have a length sufficient to receive the side peripheral seal of the pouch.

First claim

I claim:

1. A carriage for use in a machine configured to perform operations to fill and seal a pouch, the pouch having a peripheral side seal, the machine having a turret for transporting the pouch to one of a plurality of stations, each one of the plurality of stations configured to perform a work function on the pouch, the carriage mounted to the turret and configured to move around the turret, the carriage comprising:
a pouch support, the pouch support having a first bar spaced apart from a second bar, each of the first and second bar having a slot configured to receive the peripheral side seal of the pouch, the slot extending inwardly and separating the first member from the second member, wherein the first bar and the second bar each include a first member angled relative to a second member so as to form a generally “V” shaped dimension, the first member being in a fixed relationship with the second member, the slot extends inwardly from an inner surface of each of the first bar and second bar so as to be open to each other; and
a top gripper configured to engage the pouch in suspension.

2. The carriage as set forth in claim 1 , further including a base, the base having a first elongated member spaced apart from a second elongated member, the first elongated member elevated above the second elongated member, the first elongated member and the second elongated member disposed on a generally horizontal axis.

3. The carriage as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second bar are pivotably mounted to the carriage.

4. The carriage as set forth in claim 3 , further including a pair of elongated supports, and wherein the pouch support is an upper pouch support and a lower pouch support, wherein the first bar of both the upper pouch support and lower pouch support are mounted to one of the pair of elongated supports, and the second bar of both the upper pouch support and lower pouch support are mounted to the other of the pair of elongated support.

5. The carriage as set forth in claim 4 , further including a drive rod, the drive rod movable along an axis from a first position to a second position, a first elbow and a second elbow, a proximal end of the first elbow is fixedly mounted to the drive rod, a bend of the first elbow is pivotably mounted to the first elongated member, and a distal end of the elbow fixedly mounted to one of the pair of elongated supports and wherein a proximal end of the second elbow is fixedly mounted to the drive rod, a bend of the second elbow is pivotably mounted to the second elongated member, and a distal end of the elbow fixedly mounted to one of the pair of elongated supports, wherein movement of the drive rod from a first position to a second position pivots the first and second bar between an open and a closed position.

6. The carriage as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second bar are coplanar, and wherein the slot of the first bar is coaxial with the slot of the second bar.

7. The carriage as set forth in claim 2 , further including a bottom support, the bottom support configured to support the weight of the pouch.

8. The carriage as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the bottom support is shown mounted to the pouch support.

9. The carriage as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the bottom support is an elongated member having opposing ends, wherein one end of the bottom support is mounted to the first bar and the other end of the bottom support is mounted to the second bar.

10. The carriage as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first bar and the second bar have an elongated body and a slot, the slot is disposed on the inner surface of the first bar and the second bar so as have the first bar and the second bar be open to each other.

11. The carriage as set forth in claim 10 , further including a base, the base having a first elongated member spaced apart from a second elongated member, the first elongated member elevated above the second elongated member, the first elongated member and the second elongated member disposed on a generally horizontal axis.

12. The carriage as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the first and second bars are pivotably mounted to the carriage.

13. The carriage as set forth in claim 12 , further including a drive rod, the drive rod movable along an axis from a first position to a second position, a first elbow and a second elbow, a proximal end of the first elbow is fixedly mounted to the drive rod, a bend of the first elbow is pivotably mounted to the first elongated member, and the first bar is fixedly mounted to a distal end of the first elbow and wherein a proximal end of the second elbow is fixedly mounted to the drive rod, a bend of the second elbow is pivotably mounted to the second elongated member, and the second bar is fixedly mounted to a distal end of the second elbow, wherein movement of the drive rod from a first position to a second position pivots the first and second bars between an open and a closed position.

14. The carriage as set forth in claim 13 , further including a bottom support, the bottom support configured to support the weight of the pouch.

15. The carriage as set forth in claim 1 , further including a bottom support, the bottom support configured to support the weight of the pouch.

Assignees

• Pouch Pac Innovations Llc

Inventors

• Murray R Charles

Classifications

• B65B43/60

  rotatable · CPC title

• B65B43/465

  for bags · CPC title

• B65B43/04 Primary

  Forming flat bags from webs · CPC title

• B65B43/50 Primary

  using rotary tables or turrets {(B65B43/46 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B3/02

  Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles · CPC title