With Means To Engage Cover At Spaced Points And Move Apart To Flatten Seam Patents (Class 53/373.6)
  • Patent number: 11142356
    Abstract: Method for filling and closing a package including the operations of introducing two arms through the mouth, each one having or bearing a gripping tool and impressing a mutual distancing movement on the arms to expand the package with a retention mechanism which operates outside the package to grasp the walls of the package arranged between the arms and the retention mechanism while the retention mechanism approaches and fits over the gripping tool of each arm, such that when the arms move in the direction of the mouth of the package, the arms carry the grasped walls of the package to produce folds towards the interior of the package. For flexible tubular net packages, the at least one gripping tool on each arm has the shape of a protuberance and that the method includes passing through a wall of the package with the gripping tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 11097864
    Abstract: The horizontal-type automatic packaging machine comprises a conveyor moving a plurality of gripper-holding carriages (4) in an advancing direction (D) along a closed path. Each gripper-holding carriage (4) comprises a base structure (7) connected to the conveyor (2) and two parallel gripper arms (8a, 8b) carrying two or more pairs of grippers (47a, 47b) for holding two or more flexible packages (50) arranged in parallel. The gripper arms (8a, 8b) are guided for moving parallel to the advancing direction (D), moving one closer to the other for opening the packages and moving one away from the other for closing the packages due to the action of a driving mechanism connected to proximal ends (17a, 17b) of the gripper arms. A mechanical transmission transmits the movement of the proximal ends (17a, 17b) to distal ends (18a, 18b) of the gripper arms (8a, 8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: Francisco Mora Flores, Josep Sola Gil
  • Patent number: 6918227
    Abstract: A method and device for end closing tubular wrappings of products, whereby the arms of a scissor-type parting device, once inserted in a closed position inside an end portion of a tubular wrapping, are allowed to part, and are pushed by springs into a fully open position throughout an extraction stroke to crease the end portion and enable the end portion to be pressed taut and accurately by the opposing thrust of two folding-sealing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sandro Salicini, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 6868655
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6823654
    Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
  • Patent number: 6742321
    Abstract: A flange alignment and grasping assembly is adapted to straighten the flanges of a bag in a filling and sealing apparatus so that the flanges may be clamped by the assembly. The assembly includes opposed guides that engage the side of the bag in the general location of the flange. The guides position the flange in an extended position between the jaws of a clamp where the clamp will pinch the flange when the clamp closes. The invention also provides an apparatus for grasping a bag and pulling a portion of the bag tight. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes arms that swing upwardly and inwardly to position jaws with respect to the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Gates
  • Patent number: 6662532
    Abstract: Automated apparatus for filling of a bag with a loose commodity comprises a bag filling station for dispensing commodity into a bag; a wicket for feeding a stacked and interconnected array of empty bags; and a conveyor for removing filled bags from the filling station. Reciprocating clamps grip the open mouths of the filled bags, and transfer the filled bags away from the filling station, with a subsequent bag being drawn into appropriate position for filling by means of the connection formed between the contacting bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignees: Alberta Sunflower Seeds, Ltd., Systematic Design Services Ltd
    Inventors: Thomas W. Droog, Stephen A. Withington, Douglas Greening
  • Publication number: 20030226335
    Abstract: A method and device for end closing tubular wrappings of products, whereby the arms of a scissor-type parting device, once inserted in a closed position inside an end portion of a tubular wrapping, are allowed to part, and are pushed by springs into a fully open position throughout an extraction stroke to crease the end portion and enable the end portion to be pressed taut and accurately by the opposing thrust of two folding-sealing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: AZIONARIA COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE A.C.M.
    Inventors: Sandro Salicini, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 6604344
    Abstract: The bagging machine has a rotary table with openings to receive a series of bags. Each bag is staked onto four pins two of which are stationary and two of which are laterally movable. After filling, the bag is heat sealed using a pair of heat seal bars and then severed by a fly knife above the heat seal. The bag is then removed manually or automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Harry Bussey, Jr., Harry (Buddy) Bussey, III.
  • Patent number: 6543202
    Abstract: A device for welding or combined cutting and welding comprises a heating element, the heating rail of which is heated and cools down in each work cycle, and an opposed tool which has a rail made of elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Skinetta Pac-Systeme Kiener GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: David Kelly
  • Publication number: 20010054274
    Abstract: A sealable bag for storing merchandise includes a body having a pocket that is adapted to receive the merchandise. The pocket has an opening through which merchandise is placed into the pocket. The body has a pair of flanges disposed along the sides of the body. The body has a neck with the opening of the pocket being disposed at the neck of the body. The neck has a sealing area. The bag includes a pair of stress relief notches disposed in the flanges intermediate the sealing area and the opening of the pocket. The stress relief notches prevent the sealing area from becoming wrinkled while the bag is being sealed with automated equipment thus allowing a clean, unwrinkled seal to be formed in the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Anthony H. Gates