US2350930A - Machine for making and filling packages - Google Patents

Description

June-6, 1944- L. L. SALFISBERG 2,350,930

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES I Filed Jan. 1, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 [,1 VENTOR BY W ym'rolmsv June 6, 1944. SALFISBERG 2,350,930

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES Filed Jan. 1, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 24 27 I I ATTORNEY June 6, 1944, 1.. SALFISBERG MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES Filed Jan. 1, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 TORNEY June 6, 1944. L. SALFISBERG 2,350,930

MACHINE-FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES Filed Jan. 1, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 AT ORNEY June 6, 1944.

L. L. SALFISBERG MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES Filed Jan. 1, 1942 9 Sheefcs-Sheet 5 X I ENTOR TORNEY June 6, 1944. L. SALFISBERG 2,350,930

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES Filed Jan. 1, 1942 :9 Sheets-Sheet 6 luoinl A ORNEY June 6, 1944. L. L. SALFISBERG MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. 1, 1942 June 6, 1944. L. L. SALFISBERG MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 1, 1942 yENR ORNEY June 6', 1944. SALFISBg QG 2,350,930

MACHINE FOR MAXINE AND Fill LING PACKAGES Filed 'Jan. 1, 194,2 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 .1

Patented June 6, 1944 r MACHINE FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES Leroy L. Saliisberg, South Orange, N. J., assignor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N. 1., a corporation of Delaware Applicationlanuary 1, 1942, Serial No. 425,384

22 Claims. (01.95-3) This invention relates in general to a method of and machine for forming and filling packages, and attaching a thread, string, tape or the like thereto. More particularly, the invention contemplates the manufacture or a package, for example a tea bag, that comprises a commodityholding portion or bag, a separable tag and a string or the like connected to the bag and to the tag. I

A specific feature of the invention is a method of and mechanism for placing and sealing a string, tape or the like between strips or layers of sheet material.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel method and machine of the general character described for partially forming a package by the sealing together of two layers or strips .of packaging material, such as paper, Cellophane, metallic foil, and the like, and filling, closing and attaching a string or the like to the package in rapidly successive steps and in one continuous operation. a

Another object is to provide a novel and improved method and machine whereby a plurality of such packages shall be formed, filled and closed in a continuous series, said strips shall be sealed together in zones to form a commodityreceiving body portion or' compartment for each package, certain of said zones between adjacent compartments shall be scored or weakened to form a tag integrally and separably connected to each package, a string or the like shall be secured in said certain zones so as to be connected to the body portion and to the tag for each package, and said packages shall be severed from each other, all in one continuous operation.

Another object is to provide novel means for sealing strips of material together with a string or the like between them.

A further object is to provide novel and improved means for feeding said strips of material in proper relation to said sealing means.

Further objects are to provide novel and improved means for depositing the substance to be packaged into the partially formed package; and to provide such depositing means that shall be adjustable in a novel and improved manner to vary the quantity of the substance deposited.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide novel and improved means for placing or inserting and securing or sealing a string or the like between, transversely of and at spaced points longitudinally of opposed strips of material that are fed step-by-step longitudinally; and to provide in such means, thread guides at one longitudinal edge of such strips, mechanism for forming and pulling a loop of said thread with two reaches transversely of and between said strips from said longitudinal edge to a point beyond the other longitudinal edges of the strips, and means for severing said reaches at opposite sides of the bight of said loop between said mechanism and the second-mentioned edge of the strips.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will appear from the following description in conJunction with the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the I upper portion of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the machine below the line XX of Figure 1, with the immaterial portions broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, portions being omitted for clearness in illustration.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the machine with the cover in open position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a composite side elevational and sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 'I.

Figure 8a is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 811-811. of Figure 8.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 9-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is an enlarged composite horizontal sectional and plan view of the thread guiding and holding mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 9.

Figure 11 is a schematic front elevational view of the strip feeding mechanism, the sealing means and the substance depositing means, illustrating one step in the operation of the machine.

Figure lla is a vertical sectional view on the line Ila-Ila of Figure 11 with the addition of the thread holding and placing mechanism.

Figure 11b is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 11a.

Figures 11c and He are views similar to Figure 11a showing successive steps in the placing of the thread between, the strips of packaging material.

New"

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line l6-l6 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line l'I--i'| of Figure 5.

each other or from the strip. Approximately simultaneously with or slightly prior to the severing of the packages from the strip, the sealed zone 3 between two adjacent packages is operated upon by a suitable mechanism H, such as a branding mechanism, to form the scored line or line of perforations G.

n More specifically describing the invention, the

' I machine includes a frame or casing L upon the Figure 18 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line lB-IB of Figure 1'7, and

Figure 19 is a perspective view of one type of package that can be formed according to my method and with my machine.

While my method andmachine may be utilized for making many difierent packages, for the purpose of illustration I have shown the invention in conjunction with a known iype of tea bag A (see Figure 19) which comprises two strips 1 and 2 of suitable tough, porous and water-resistant paper, said sheets being secured together at their margins adhesively and also preferably by interdigitations as indicated at 3, to form a bag-like container or commodity receiving body portion a. One of the marginal portions serves as a tag,

indicated at 5, and this tag is separable from the container portion 6 along a scored line or line of perforations 6. The tag and the container portion a are connected by a string or the like i which has its ends secured between the sheets i and 2 in the marginal portions of the structure so that when the tag is separated from the container portion, the tag and string serve as a handle by which the container portion may be immersedin a cup or pot of hot water.

Describing my method and machine in their broader aspects, two strips i and .2 of the suitable packaging material are drawn step-by-step from supply rolls 3 into juxtaposition or side-by-side relation by a feeding mechanism C.

At the end of each step of movement the two strips 9 and a are sealed together. by sealing mechanism D along their longitudinaledges and transversely, to form a bag-like receptacle having its mouth facing upwardly between the strips and to simultaneously close the open end of the next preceding container that was formed at the end of the immediately preceding step of movement. In the interval between the steps of movement and prior to the partial formation.v of each package above described, the substance or article to be packaged is deposited by a filling mechanism E into the mouth of the preceding package; and immediately after the deposit of the substance, a string is, inserted or placed-between the strips above the open end of the package by a mechanism that includes a thread holding and guiding mechanism I and a thread pulling mechanism K. v

The feeding mechanism C draws from the roll B at each step predetermined quantities of the strips i and 2 required to form a single package,

and an auxiliary feeding mechanism F constantly exerts tension on the strip so as to draw said quantities of the strips downwardly into proper position relative to the sealing means "D, and at the same time moves the package strip or chain of packages downwardly to a severing mechanism G which successively separates the packages from front of which the strip feeding mechanism C is mounted. This mechanism includes a frame 8 on which are mounted two fixed guide bars 9 under which the respective strips l and 2 pass from the supply rolls B, and other idler rollers in, one between each bar 9 and a pair of guide rollers ii.

A yoke I2 is mounted on a vertically reciprocable shaft I3 and has a strip pulling roller 84 disposed between the guide bars 9 and idler rollers 10 at-each side of the frame 8. Each strip of packaging material is led from the corresponding supply roll under the corresponding bar 9 over a the corresponding pulling roller 64, under the corresponding idler roller 50 and downwardly over the corresponding guide roller ii, the two strips being thus brought into juxtaposition or opposed side-by-side relation to each other and guided toward the sealing means D.

Between the rollers 50 and H are soft nonrotatable bars 85, each journaled on a yoke 96 that is in turn plvotally mounted on the frame 8 at 11 and has an arm is normally influenced by a spring is so as to press the corresponding brake bar is toward a brake platen 20 that is fixedly mounted on the frame 8 so as to positively clamp the corresponding strip l or 2 between the roller by a lever 27 that is pivotally mounted on the shaft 28 in the frame and has a pin and slot connection 29 at one end with the shaft i3 and carries a roller 30 at its other end which follows a cam 3| onthe drive shaft 82 of the machine, which is connected to any suitable source of power such as an electric motor.

The rod 23 that carries the finger 22 is reciprocated by a lever 33 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 34 on the frame and has one end underlying and abutting the end of the rod and its other end provided with a roller 35 that follows a cam 36 on the drive shaft 32.

In operation of the machine so far described, periodically the strips 1 and 2 are held against longitudinal movement by the brake bars I! as shown in Figure 11. when the yoke i2 is at the lower limit of its stroke and during upward movement of'the yoke into the position shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 11 so that a predetermined length of each strip required to form a the rod 23 is actuated upwardly so that the finger 22 will swing the brake roller yokes l6 upwardly against the influence of the springs I9 to disengage the brake rollers i5 from the correspondmg strips as shown by solid lines in Figure 11, after which the yoke I2 is lowered and simultaneously the auxiliary feeding means F draws ass eso 3 adjacent sides, the sealing blocks :4 will have during their movements by guide rods 3! each of which is fixedly mounted in one of the jawsand is slidable in openings in the other jaw. Each jaw is carried by'an arm I which is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft ll secured in the frame L, the arm being pivotally connected to the jaw at 42. These arms II are simultaneously oscillated to move the jaws alternately tosuitable electric heaters I! (well known in the 7 art) for heating the blocks to soften or iusethe thermoplastic material and seal the strips together. Where the edges of the strips are provided with ordinary adhesive, the heaters may be omitted.

After the strips havebeen sealed as above described, the sealing blocks are separated by oscillation of the arms II and the portions 'of the packaging strips that have been supplied by the feeding mech C for the next package will .be pulled downwardly by the auxiliary feeding means F preparatory to the partial forward and from each other by the respectivecrank arms 43 connected by links M to a slide 45 that has slots 4 and II which slidably engage the respective guide blocks ll and 49. The slide carries a roller 50 that follows a cam groove Si in a disc 52 which is keyed on the main drive shaft 32.

The two jaws are substantially identical in construction and each includes a body portion 53 on which is mounted a crimping and sealing block 54. Preferably one of these blocks is movable toward and away from the corresponding body portion, and springs 55 are provided to yieldingly resist movement of the sealing block toward the body portion under the pressure exmation of the next package. Then the spout 59 of the filling mechanism E (hereinafter described) is quickly lowered into the open end of the partially completed package to deposit the material to be packaged as shown in Figures 11 and 11a. As the spout I! is raised or withdrawn, the string I is placed or inserted between the "strips so as to be sealed therebetween as the open erted during the sealing operation on the packaging strips.

Each sealing block has a recess 56 in its face which is surrounded on three sides by a rim 5'! having suitable corrugations or serrations. Where the package is to be approximately rectangular in shape as shown, the rim and corrugations are arranged in a manner corresponding to three sides of the rectangular package as shown in Figures 5 and lid.

In the present instance, the package has the end of the package is closed.

The string guiding and holding mechanism 1 a and the string pulling mechanism K are shown as located at opposite longitudinal edges of the strips I and 2, and in juxtaposition to the portions 56! of the sealing blocks" so as to place the string approximately in the vertical plane at which the faces of the sealing blocks meet during a sealing operation.

The thread guiding and holding mechanism is shown as including a horizontal bar 60 that is mounted on bracket arms I secured to the front of the frame L. Upon this bar is mounted a block 62 onwhich is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis as at 63 a thread guide 64 that has a a vertical opening it communicating with ahorizontal groove 66 in the topof the guide with packaging material crimped and sealed along the four edges of the package, and each sealing block has two vertically disp'osed parallel series of corrugations 560 to grip the longitudinal edges of the packaging strips 8 and 2, and horizontal series of corrugations iii to grip the packaging material strips transversely. The length of the series 560 is somewhat greater than the corresponding sides of the package to be formed, and

below the transverse series I is a pair of short series of corrugations 562 to supplement the series 560 and form round comers on the commodity receiving compartment of the package at the juncture of the transverse series 56! and the vertical series 560. The transverse series 56l is of a width corresponding to' the width of v I the bottom edge of one package and the top edge and tag portion 5 of the next preceding package.

In forming the packages, thesealing blocks 56 are first separated as shown in Figures 3 and 11 and the packaging strips are pulled downwardly into juxtaposition between the'sealing blocks. Thereupon, the sealing blocks are moved toward each other by the arms W, 43 so as to cause the corrugations 560 and SSH to press the strips together and partially form a package to produce a bag-like structure having its upper end open between the strips at the upper ends of the sealing blocks, and simultaneously close the open end of the next preceding package. Where the strips i and 2 are of thermoplastic material or have a thermoplastic coating on their which in turn communicates a downwardly inclined opening 6?. The thread or string is threaded upwardly through the opening 65 along the groove 86 and downwardly through the opening 61 as shown in Figureil. and preferably a tensioning lever I is pivoted on the thread guide and has a finger II to lie upon the thread in the groove 66. The block 62 has a vertical surface II which is normally overhung by the portion of the thread guide 64 that carries the opening 61 so that a portion of the thread will depend from the thread guide 64 and along said surface ll, there being a space between the surface 1! and the overhanging portion of the thread guide which is traversed by the thread so that the latter can be easily gripped. A thread holder cooperates with the surface II to periodically grip a portion of the thread therebetween and prevent longitudinal movement of the thread so that when the portion of the thread between said surface II and thread guide is gripped and pulled, the thread will be withdrawn from the supply and formed into a loop having two approximately parallel reaches. This thread holder comprises a head I! mounted on a body portion I3 that is pivotally connected at I4 to the block 62, so that the head I: may swing toward and away from the surface I I, as shown in Figure 10. Preferably the head I! has a lip I5 to prevent the thread from being pulled in the plane of the surface H from between the head and said surface when they are in thread-holding relation to each other.

As shown. the thread holder is actuated by one of the sealing Jaws 38. through a connecting rod I. that has a notch ll pivotally connected to a pin II on the body portion of the thread holder, and its other end frictionally slidable in said seali jaw. The rod 16 is .slidably mounted in an opening "in said iaw'and the jaw has a recess ll communicating with said opening 10 in which is mounted a friction block II that is-forced and held in contact with, the rod It by a spring 1!.

Normally, when the sealing jaws are in their open position, the end ofthe rod ll opposite the thread holder abuts anadjustable stop screw '3 that is mounted in an 'arm N on the bar ill. so that the head I! of the thread holder is swung away from the surface H of the block 62. as shown by solid lines in Figure 10. As the sealing jaws begin to move toward their closed positions; the'bar-Il moves with its corresponding jaw so as to clamp the thread or string M between the head of the holder and the surface H as shownby dotted lines in Figure 10, and upon return of the jaws to their open positionthe rod 4 ,7 -a,sto,aso,

111. Then as the sealing blocks are next brought together as shown in Figure 12, the reaches of the. loop are sealed between the strips and are severed from each'other at' opposite sides of the bight between the hook and the adjacent lon itudinal edge of the strips as shown in Figures l2aand l5.

. For severing the reaches of the string, a knife blade 94 is rigidly mounted on one of the sealing jaws and another blade ll 'is pivotally mounted at 96 on the other jaw and is normally influenced bya spring 91 to bring t e edge of the blade 05 into proper shearing relation to the edge of the knife 84. The blade ll has. a tail that slidably ll moves with'its jawso as toactuat'e the thread 3 holder to release the string. (Upon further openin: of the jaws the rod engages the stop screw 83. and the jaw continues to move relatively to the rod to its normal open position. v 7

While the thread or string is held by the thread holder, the portion of the string between the surface Ii and the opening i! of the thread guide -is gripped by the hook]! of the thread pulling mechanism K which forms and pulls aloop of the thread transversely of and between the packaging sheets as shown in Figureslla to 11; inclusive. The hook has a shank]! that is slidable in a guide tube 81' secured in the frame L of the machine, and the shank is reciprocated by a lever "that is journaled on the shaft 28 and has a pin and slot connection I! at one end with the shank 8! of the hook. The other end ofv the lever carries a roller ii that follows a cam 9L1 A sealing jaws are brought together for the sealing tension spring I! is connected betweenthe lever l8 and the frame of th machine so as to maintain the follower roller ll in snug contact .with the cam ti and insure proper actuation of the hook. The cam is so shaped that it in conjunction with the spring 92 and roller 90, will quickly project the hook from its normal position shown in Figure 5 transversely ofthe strips to hook the string, and will then 'quickly retract the hook to form the loop andpull the string transversely of the packagingstrips. Y

Preferably the portions "I of the sealing blocks have grooves ll to-provide a clearance for the reaches of the loop of the string when the packaging strips are sealed together with the string between them.

The hook is operated in the interval between the steps offeeding. movement of the packaging strips and immediately following the deposit of thesubstance to be packaged in the open mouth ofthe partially formed package and during closing movement of the jaws. As the spout 59 of the filling mechanism E begins to retract after the filling operation, as shown in Figures 11a and 11b, the hook is projected transversely of and between the packaging strips as shown in Figures llcand 11d, and is immediately retracted to pull the loop Y of thread transversely of and between the packaging strips in juxtapositionto the zones of the strips thatare to be sealed together to close the filled package and partially form the next succeeding package. Preferably the loop is pulled so that its bight is carried beyond the longitudinal edge of the strips opposite the thread guides 81 and H, 12, as shown in Figures 11c and engages the blade 94 to insure proper shearing re lation of the two blades as the sealing jaws are brought together.

Simultaneously with each sealing operation, a previously formed package is severed from the package strip or series of packages by the severing mechanism G which comprises cutting blades 99 and i 00 which generally are the same in structure and operation as the blades 94 and 85. The package strip is severed in one of the transverse zones between the adjacent packages and intermediate the reaches of the string.

Simultaneously with the severingof each package from the package strip, said package is subholding body portion or compartment 4. As

shown, this means comprises a branding die llll that is preferably mounted on one of the sealing jaws and cooperates with a platen I02 on the other sealing jaw, the die and platen gripping between them the sealed packag strips as the operation. Preferably. the branding die l0l is mounted toyield relatively'to the platen durin the branding operation.

In addition to forming the line of perforations 8, the branding die may be formed to produce branded inscriptions on the tag portion 5 of each package.

It is desirable that the bight portions of the thread loops be conveyed away as they are severed, and for this purpose I may provide a suction pipe I03 connected to any suitable suction pumpand having its inlet I04 juxtaposed to the hook 85 when the latter is in its normal position, whereby suction will draw the bit of string off the hook and to a suitable receptacle.

As hereinbefore described, the package strip is constantly pulled downwardly to advance the strip as the packages are formed in succession, by the auxiliary feeding means F which is shown as includ ng a pair of rotatable cylindrical brushes I05 which receive the package strip between them, the bristles yieldingly and frictionally exerting pressure on opposite sides of the strip so that as the brushes are rotated in the direction indicated by arrows, the package will be placed undertension and pulled downwardly.

The rollers are mounted in an auxiliary casing M6 on shafts I01 which are geared together by measuring and dispensing mechanism generally designated H9. For reciprocating the spout, I may utilize a vertically reciprocable shaft I mounted in the frame L of the machine and connected by an arm I2I to the spout. The shaft I20 is pivotally connected by links I22 to one arm of a bell crank lever I23 which is Journaled on a horizontal shaft I24 mounted in the frame of the machine. The other arm of the bell crank lever I23 has a follower roller I25 that engages a cam I25 on the drive shaft 32, whereby the lever I23 will be oscillated to lower and raise the spout 59 in timed relation to the steps of feeding of the packaging strips.

The measuring and dispensing mechanism H9" includes a casing in which is rotatable a drum I21 keyed on a horizontal tubular shaft I20 which is iournaled in bearings I29 and I30 in the machine frame. The drum I21 has a flange I3I over which is telescopically slidable the flange I32 of another drum I33 that is coaxially slidable on the .shaft I20. The drum I21 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches I34 in its flange that open both longitudinally and radially of the drum and successively communicate with the hopper IIO as the drum is rotated, and the flange I32 of the drum I33 has a finger I35 movable in each of the notches I34 to vary the capacity thereof, said fingers I35 forming portions of the side walls for the respective notches I34 so as to provide measuring pockets opening radially through the peripheries of the drums For adjusting the drum I33 to vary the capacity of said measuring pockets, a nut I30 is threaded on the shaft I20 and is rotatable but longitudinally non-movable relatively to the hub of the drum I33, so that rotation of thenut would cause axial movement of the drum on the shaft I20 and thereby move the fingers I35 into or out of the notches I34. A lock nut I31 is threaded on the shaft I20 to hold the drum in adjusted position.

-For rotating the drums simultaneously, a beveled pinion I30 is rotatably mounted on the shaft I20 and meshes with a beveled pinion I33 on a countershaft I that is actuated by a Geneva drive I from the drive shaft 32, so that the shaft I20 will be rotated step-by-stepdn timed relation to the feeding of the packaging strips to empty the contents of one of the pockets I34 into the discharge spout 50 at each step of movement and simultaneously bring one of the pockets into communication with the hopper I I0 for filling. The beveled pinion I30 isconnected to the shaft I20 through a novel clutch mechanism which includes a collar I42 keyed on the hub of the pinion I30 and having V-shaped notches I 43 in one edge to receive corrresponding shaped teeth on a sleeve I 44 that is freely rotatable on the hub of the beveled pinion I30 and has angular notches I45 in one edge which cooperate with correspondingly shaped teeth I46 on a clutch member I41 that is keyed on the shaft I20 and movable longitudinally thereof to engage and disengage the teeth I40 with and .from the notches I45. As shown, the clutch member I41 is operated by a pull rod I40 that is longitudinally slidably mounted within the tubular shaft I20 and has a knob I40 at the front of the machine. The collar I42 is normally influenced into engagement of the sleeve I44 by a compression spring I50 and longitudinally sliding movement of the collar I42 and sleeve I44 on the hub-of the beveled pinion I30 is limited gyba stop plate I5I secured to the. end of said with this construction, in normal operation, the clutch member I41 will be disconnected from the sleeve I44 and the beveled pinion I 30 will freely rotate on the shaft I20 without driving the measuring and dispensing mechanism IIO. By pulling on the knob I40, the clutch member I41 is brought into engagement with the sleeve I44 which is yieldingly held in engagement with the collar I42 by the springs I50, and thus the shaft I20 and measuring and dispensing drums I21 and I33 will be rotated. Should rotation of said drums be interrupted, as by jamming of a solid object in one of the pockets I34 between the drums and the walls of the hopper, the V-shaped teeth on the sleeve I will slip out of the notches I43 in the collar I42 and relieve the shaft I20 of the driving force imposed by the driving mechanism 32, HI, I33, I30.

For releasably'holding the clutch member I 41 in its engaged and disengaged positions, the shaft I20 may have sockets I52 to be engaged by a spring pressed ball detent I53.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in certain details of structure, it should be understood that this is .primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the shapes of the cam surfaces may be modified and changed if desired to vary the time and relation of the operation of the various strip feeding mechanism C, sealing mechanism B, filling mechanism E,

string inserting mechanism, etc. Moreover, the various shafts may be connected to any suitable sources of power in any suitable way.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a method of forming, filling and attaching a string to packages, which comprises feeding.

two continuous strips of packagingmaterial into juxtaposition step-by-step, securing said strips together simultaneously along their longitudinal margins and in transverse zones of the strips at the end of each step of movement to form a baglike container having an open end and simultaneously closing the open end of the next preceding bag-like container that was formed during the preceding step of feeding of said strips and depositing a substance; to be packaged through "said open end of each container prior to the 6 a,sso,oso

to form a bag-like container having an open end 10 and to simultaneously close the open end ofthe next preceding bag-like container that was formed during the preceding step of feeding of said strips. guiding a string to a point spaced from said strips and outwardly beyond one longlll tudinal edge thereof, forming and pulling a loop of said string transversely of and inwardly between saidstrips to form two reaches of string in each said transverse zone priorto the securmovable toward and from each other and havin portions to successively grip said strips between them for securing said strips together simultaneously along their longitudinal margins and transversely to'form a bag-like container having an open end and thereafter release the strips, means for depositing substance to be packaged into said container through said open end after release of the strips bysaid blocks, means for moving said strips between said blocks after said a,

substance has been deposited in said container and while said strips are released, said sealing blocks having other portions to grip and secure said strips together transversely at said open end of the container to close the latter as said blocks next move toward each other and grip the strips between them to form another bag-like container, meansfor guiding a string to a point spaced from said strips and outwardly of one longitudinal edge ing of the strips together whereby said string a thereof in juxtaposition to the last-mentioned will be secured between said strips when they are secured together in said transverse zones.

3. The method of forming, filling and attaching a string to packages, consisting in feeding a plurality of continuous layers of packaging ma- 3 terial into juxtaposition with a step-by-step movement, successively atthe end of each step of feeding of said layers securing said layers together to form a bag-like container having an open end and depositing substance to be packso aged into said container through said open end, closing said open end at the end of the next step of feeding of said strips whereby to form a chain of closed containers, guiding a strin portions of said sealing blocks, and means for forming and pulling a loop of said string transversely of and inwardly between said strips and across said open end of each container to form two parallel reaches of string while said strips are released, whereby said reaches of string will be secured between said strips when the latter are secured together transversely.

6. The packaging machine set forth in claim 5 with the addition of means for severing said reaches of string adjacent the bight of the loop from each other at the other longitudinal edge of said strip.

7. In a packaging machine, the combination to a point at one longitudinal edge of said strips, a with means for feeding two continuous strips of pulling said string transversely of and between said strips toward the other edge or the strips and across said open end of each container prior to the closing of said open end, and securing said string to said container as said open end is 0 closed.

4. A packaging machine including mean for.

guiding a plurality of continuous strips of packaging material into juxtaposition, a sealing mechpackaging material into juxtaposition step-bystep, and means operable at the end of each step of movement for sealing said strips together simultaneously along longitudinally and transverse zones to form a bag-like compartment having an open end and simultaneously close said open end of the next preceding compartment that was formed during the next preceding step of feeding of said strips: of means for guiding a anismcomprising d ai of opposed li bl k a string to apoint at one, longitudinal edge of said movable toward and from each other and having portions to successively grip said strips between them for securing said strips together simultaneously along their longitudinal margins and transversely to form a bag-like container having 0 an open end and thereafter release the strips, means for depositing substance to be packaged inio said container through said open end after release of the strips by said blocks, means for moving said-strips between said blocks after said ll substance has been deposited in said container and while said strips are released, said sealing blocks having other portions to grip and secure said strips together transversely at said open end of the container to close the latter as said blocks next move toward each other and grip the strips between them toform another bag-like container, means-for guiding 'a-string to a point at one longitudinal edge of said strips in juxtaposition to the last-mentioned portions of said sealing blocks, as

the string will be securedbetween said strips 70 when the latter are secured together transversely.

5. A packaging machine including means for guiding a plurality of continuous strips of packaging material into juxtaposition,a sealing mechstrips, means for pulling a portion of said string transversely of and between said strips in the intervals between the steps of movement whereby said portions of the string will be sealed between said strips when they are sealed together, and means for depositing a substance to be packa ed through said open' end of each compartment pnor to the closing of said open end.

8. A packaging machine comprising means for feeding two continuous strips of packaging material into juxtaposition step-by-step, means operable at'theend of each step of movement for sealing said strips together simultaneously along longitudinal and transverse zones of the strip to form a bag-like compartment having an open end and simultaneously close said open end of the next preceding compartment that was formed during the next preceding step of feeding of said strips, means for guiding a string to a point spaced from said strips and outwardly of one longitudinal edge thereof, means for forming and pulling a loop of said string transversely of and inwardly between said strips to form two reaches of string along each transverse zone before said strips are sealed together thereat whereby said reaches of string will be sealed between said strips when said strips are sealed along said transverse zones, and means for depositing a substance to be packaged through said open end of each comanism comprising a pair of opposed sealing bloc-g 7 pe tinent prior to the closing of said open end.

a kag af i seu r h n a e i ofi 01 eans s ik said tri s qnz, i h tra sverse ib l eii stwe aap e oasa flreachesj' oi j'string and the-1 l qsfid -compartment or' f r ita -lfbrt a .l .s a ering jsaid reaches if; string iromfieach other at s hselbi siti fiina ed e-9 said stri e and means Tior'. severing; said strips. along each trans? v beta Q i eisi-WEJPLQne pac and; the,adjac nt' end Qof thenest suqceeding package to separat said packages from each other. i I e v 12;"rne stepein a method of making a package with a string attached:tag,.;consisting. in: feeding two'strips, of material into Juxtaposition-step-bystep, sealing said two strips; together .at!the end of one step of movementto forn ga bag-like-corn- H partment having an open end, depositing accmmodity'i; in said compartment placing a loop oil sstring'liaving twoTa'pproximately parallel reaches 7 between said strips outwardly of sa'id open end in; the: interval between steps of movement and a with the. bi'g'ht of said: loop projecting from the Y edge 01' said strip, sealing saidstrips together at; 3.3 the cadet thejnext step voftmove nent to close said open endand sealsaid reaches of stringbetween sa strips} scoringesaid strips between one.

reach and the adjacent-closedcompartmentto iorin a tagior eachpackaga: severing said reaches 1" fromfefachother. at said edge ofjthegstrips at .op-

posite side's oijsaidbiglhtand severing said-strips v1.

between said reaches to separate-1 said ,packages from 'eac'hothen v, u 13.1fA packaging machine comprisingmeans for A5 feeding and, j sealingflto'gethen step-by-step. opi posed layers ofpackaging n aterial along longitudlnally' extending and, transversely extending zones'rtc'. form a series of co mmoditycontaining;' compartments, me'ansior depositing commodities-V in leach fco'i'r ipartment prior to closing thereof, ean o neathrea o a po n t one low gitudinal edge/oi ,saidlayers, a hook movable transversely of and between said layers for pull- 1 ing a portion ofjsaid thread, flOln the first-mention'ed to the second-mentioned edge of said lay-a ers r between the layers prior to sealing thereof, andiinean's foractu'atingsaid hook in the interval. between steps, of movementof said layers whereby r sa d, portion or said stringwi HbwB ak b weenv c0 said lay'nzrsas the latterare sealed together. ,t

l l' A packaging machinecomprising means in for 1 feeding and sealing together step-by-step I opposed layers of packaging materialalonglon-p gitudinally extending and transversely r extending zones to form' aseriespf commodity containing compartments, mean for depositing;commoditiesh 1 in each compartment ,priorr- -to closing-thereof, thread d s b l'elen j nelongi inal edg 01' said layers, a 'hookmovable. transversely-ch10 and, between said layers to engagesaid ,threadv'i between} said; guides and. form and pull at; 1001 f 5 said thread with two reachesirom the flrstrmenen h tionedTedg e to the second-n entioned edge; of

' t sealingr ofthestrins, andz" between steps of movement 01' said layers wheredt string will be sealed bef6 between strips oiia eria niprising means for feeding strips of l i iat ji iimi t te p ie z r n te ys n.

means ior-sealingi said strip together at the end .oi'seach; stepsofemoyement a thread guide ad- Jaae t1 ne;.,. onsi u .n lsedge of s i strips, a

V 1heck-normally-locatedadjacent the other longitudinaledgegqftSaid stripsvand reciprocable transversely of and between said strips prior to sealing thereoi to engagesaid thread and pull it transversely betweensaid'strips, and means for v actuatingr said v hookai-n the intervals between steps oi;- movement-of2said strips, whereby said thread willh-be sealed between said strips as the latter are sealed together.

16.- Means iorxsealing a thread between strips of,material,;comprising-;:means for feeding strips of 7 material into 1, opposed relation step-by-step,

means for sealingsaidistrips together at the end of eachstepof movement,- thread guides spaced along one longitudinal edgeof said strips, a hook normally located adjacentthe other longitudinal edge of said strips andreciprocable transversely of and between said, strips before they are sealed to engage a thread between said guides and form I I and pull a loop of thread with two reaches betweensaid stripsjrom the first-mentioned edge withsthe bightoi the loopwprojecting beyond the other edgethereof, means.- for actuating said hook duringlthe intervals between said steps of movement or said strips, ,and means for severing said reaches-of thread from each other at opposite,'sides-.-o f said bight between said hook and the, second-mentioned edge of said strips, whereby said reaches of string will be sealed between .said strips as the latter are sealed togetherand each reach, wiilbe connected to another reach by a portion ,of said thread that extends ialong. the ,;first mentioned edge of said strips a 17. A packaging machine comprising means for feeding strlpsof packaging material into onposedfs'paced relation and moving said strips longitudinally step-by step, means operable at the end ofea'ch'step of movement for sealing said strips together], along longitudinal zones and r transverse jzon'es atjl'the same time to form a baglike compartmenthaving an open end and simultaneously'clo's'e the open'jend of the next .preceding com artment so that said transverse zones shallibe of a 'length suitable to form tags for packages which include the respective compartments; thread guides spaced along one longitudinal edge of said strips," a hook normally located adjacent the otherlongitudinal edge of the strips andjreciprocable between said strips along said transverse zones before sealing of the strips thereat so" that the hook will engage said thread betweenssaid guides and form and pull a loop of the thread havin two reaches between said strips to locate the bi'ght of the loop beyond the secondmen'tione'd edge offthe'strips, whereby said reaches of thread will be sealed between said strips when the flatter aree sealedtog ether, means for severingsaidreaches between. said hook and said second mentioned edge oi thestrips so as to leave the bight-pbrtion of theloop in said hook, means for scoring saidstrips along each transverse zone between one. of said reaches and the adjacent closed compartment, andn eans for severing said r ii e'iins for actuating said hook in the interval the latter are sealed tosealing said two strips together at the end of one step of movement to form a bag-like compartment having an open end, and depositing a commodity in said compartment, characterized by the steps of guiding a string at twopoints spaced longitudinally of one edge of said strips, periodically holding said string at one of said points against longitudinal movement, forming a loop of said string between said-points and while the string is so held pulling said loop transversely of and between said strips in the interval between steps of movement of said strips and sealing said strips together to close said open end and seal said loop of string between said strips. I

19; Mechanism for sealing a thread betwee strips of material, comprising means for feeding strips of material into opposed relation stepby-step, means for sealing said strips together at the end of each step of movement, thread guides spaced along one longitudinal edge of said strips, a hook normally located adjacent the other longitudinal edge of said strips and reciprocable transversely of and between said strips before they are sealed to engage a thread between said guides and form and pull a loop of thread with two reaches between said strips from the firstmentioned edge with the blght of the loop projecting beyond the other edge thereof, means for holding said thread at the guide that is remote from the thread supply against longitudinal movement during the intervals between said steps ofmovement, and means for actuating said hook while said string is so held, whereby said reaches of thread will be sealed between said strips as the latter are sealed together.

20. Mechanism for sealing a thread between strips or material, comprising means for feeding strips of material into opposed relation step-bystep, means for sealing said strips together at the endof each step of movement, comprising two jaws movable toward and'i'rom each other successively to grip and release said strips between them, thread guides spaced along one longitudinal edge of said strips, a hook normally located adjacent the other longitudinal edge of between said strips before they are sealed to engage a thread between said guides and form and pull a loop of thread with two reaches between said strips, one of said thread guides including a clamping surface and a holder movable toward an from said surface successively to grip and release said thread between them, means actuating said holder upon the beginning of movement of said jaws toward each other at the endof each step of movement of said strips so as momentarily to grip and hold said thread against longitudinal movement and thereafter release said thread, and means for actuating said hook while the string is so held, whereby said reaches of thread will be sealed between said strips as the latter are sealed together.

21. Mechanism for sealing a thread between strips or material, comprising means for feeding strips of material longitudinally in opposed spaced relation, means for sealing said strips together, and means for inserting a thread between said'strips prior to sealing thereof comprising thread guides spaced along one longitudinal edge of said strips, one of said guides including a clamping surface and a holder movable toward and from said surface to grip and release suecessively said thread between them, means actuating said holder to momentarily grip and hold said thread and thereafter release it, a device movable transversely of and between said strips at a point ahead of said sealing means to engage a thread between said guides and pull said thread transversely of and between said strips before they are sealed, and means for actuating said device while said thread is gripped by said holder, whereby said thread will be sealed between said strips as the latter are sealed together.

22. The steps in a method of making a package with a string-attached tag, consisting in feedmg two strips of material into juxtaposition, sealing said two strips together to form a bag-like compartment having an open end, depositing a commodity in said compartment, guiding a string at two points spaced longitudinally of one edge of said strips. periodically holding said string against longitudinal movementv at one of said points nearer said compartment, forming a loop of said string between said guides and while the string is so held pulling said loop transversely of and between said strips adjacent said open end 01' zzrlillcofirgpertmeng and sealing said strips tov c ose sai open end and seal string between said strips. said loop of LEROY L. SALFISBERG.

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