Apparatus for handling liquid filled flexible pouches

United States Patent ti9]

Chlipalski

[ii] 4,040,235 [45] Aug. 9, 1977

[57] ABSTRACT

An improved apparatus for packaging a plurality of flexible liquid filled pouches in an outer flexible container.

Known similar machines have been limited in their speed of operation, such that production from such machines has not been as high as desired. To increase the speed of operation of the apparatus, it is proposed to utilize a feed conveyor incorporating a fluid-actuated clutch assembly which engages and disengages one of the conveyor pulleys from the conveyor belt. Operation of the clutch permits instantaneous operation of the feed conveyor assembly. Further, during high speed operation of the prior machines, flexible pouches tend to somersault when leaving the conveyor belt from the discharge end thereof. To prevent this somersaulting effect, it is proposed to utilize a pivotable barrier adjacent the output end of the feed conveyor. By utilizing the barrier, alignment of flexible pouches within the cradle assembly is achieved, even during high speed operation of the packaging apparatus.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures