Apparatus for handling liquid filled flexible pouches

Claim 1

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the cradle assembly, the advancing and feeding means including a conveyor belt supported by at least two conveyor belt support structures; a clutch arrangement operatively connected to one of the belt support structures and a source of power operatively connected to another of the support structures, the clutch arrangement adapted to move its respective support structure between a first position wherein the at least two support structures permit movement of the conveyor belt and a second position wherein movement of the conveyor belt is prevented, the support structure connected to the source of power being in motion before the clutch arrangement is advanced into the first position whereby immediate delivery of pouches by means of the conveyor belt is obtained upon actuation of the clutch arrangement to the first position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the cradle assembly, the advancing and feeding means including a conveyor belt supported by at least two conveyor belt support structures; a clutch arrangement operatively connected to one of the belt support structures and a source of power operatively connected to another of the support structures, the clutch arrangement adapted to move its respective support structure between a first position wherein the at least two support structures permit movement of the conveyor belt and a second position wherein movement of the conveyor belt is prevented, the support structure connected to the source of power being in motion before the clutch arrangement is advanced into the first position whereby immediate delivery of pouches by means of the conveyor belt is obtained upon actuation of the clutch arrangement to the first position.

Claim 6

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support end wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the cradle assembly, the advancing and feeding means including a conveyor belt and improved stabilizing means, the improved stabilizing means being situated adjacent a location where the flexible pouches are fed from the conveyor belt to the cradle assembly, the improved stabilizing means comprising a roller located above a path of travel of the flexible pouches along the conveyor belt, the roller adapted to engage each flexible pouch so as to limit somersaulting of the pouch upon being discharged from the conveyor belt, the improved stabilizing means also including a pivotably mounted barrier, the barrier adapted to likewise engage each flexible pouch at a location where the pouch is being discharged from the conveyor belt after, thereby directing each pouch into a desired position in the cradle assembly.

Claim 7

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support end wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the cradle assembly, the advancing and feeding means including a conveyor belt and improved stabilizing means, the improved stabilizing means being situated adjacent a location where the flexible pouches are fed from the conveyor belt to the cradle assembly, the improved stabilizing means comprising a roller located above a path of travel of the flexible pouches along the conveyor belt, the roller adapted to engage each flexible pouch so as to limit somersaulting of the pouch upon being discharged from the conveyor belt, the improved stabilizing means also including a pivotably mounted barrier, the barrier adapted to likewise engage each flexible pouch at a location where the pouch is being discharged from the conveyor belt after, thereby directing each pouch into a desired position in the cradle assembly.

Claim 11

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the cradle assembly, means providing compressed gas to a surface of the support wall, the compressed gas urging the flexible pouches away from the surface of the support wall when the cradle assembly is in the second position, thereby increasing the rate of discharge of the flexible pouches from the cradle assembly upon retraction of the bottom wall thereof, the means providing compressed gas to the support wall includes a front plate having a plurality of spaced apart perforations therein, and a manifold means connected to the front plate, the manifold means adapted to direct compressed gas to the plurality of perforations in the front plate, the manifold means including an intermediate gasket having an opening therein, the opening being situated adjacent the plurality of perforations in the front plate, the manifold means also including a back plate; the front plate, intermediate gasket, and back plate being secured together; the back plate including a compressed gas connector therein adjacent the opening in the intermediate gasket, the connector adapted to direct compressed gas into the opening, and the perforations adapted to direct compressed gas from the opening in the intermediate gasket to the outer surface of the front wall.

Claim 12

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the cradle assembly, means providing compressed gas to a surface of the support wall, the compressed gas urging the flexible pouches away from the surface of the support wall when the cradle assembly is in the second position, thereby increasing the rate of discharge of the flexible pouches from the cradle assembly upon retraction of the bottom wall thereof, the means providing compressed gas to the support wall includes a front plate having a plurality of spaced apart perforations therein, and a manifold means connected to the front plate, the manifold means adapted to direct compressed gas to the plurality of perforations in the front plate, the manifold means including an intermediate gasket having an opening therein, the opening being situated adjacent the plurality of perforations in the front plate, the manifold means also including a back plate; the front plate, intermediate gasket, and back plate being secured together; the back plate including a compressed gas connector therein adjacent the opening in the intermediate gasket, the connector adapted to direct compressed gas into the opening, and the perforations adapted to direct compressed gas from the opening in the intermediate gasket to the outer surface of the front wall.

Claim 15

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the assembly cradle, the opening and locating means, including spaced apart jaw assemblies to fully open the outer bag while pouches are being dropped from the cradle assembly, each jaw assembly including a movable mounted gripping structure situated adjacent a respective scoop-shaped jaw, the gripping structure including a resilient gripping portion which engages a portion of the outer bag upon opening of the scoop-shaped jaws, the gripping portion cooperating with the adjacent scoop-shaped jaw to releasably retain the outer bag during filling thereof with the flexible pouches, each scoop-like jaw having a piston and cylinder arrangement connected thereto, one end of each cyliner is pivotally mounted on a stationary frame portion of the apparatus, the piston is pivotally connected to a bracket mounted on a rear surface of the scoop-like jaw, a link member is also pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bracket mounted on the scoop-like jaw, the other end of the link member is pivotally connected to the stationary frame portion of the apparatus, each jaw assemby also includes a pair of first and second abutment members mounted on the stationary frame portion, the pivotally mounted piston and cylinder arrangements adapted to cooperate with the link members and the first abutment members to effect lateral movement of the jaws as the link members pivot about the stationary frame portion until the link members engage the second abutment members with further extension of the piston and cylinder arrangement pivotting the scoop-like jaws about the pivotal connection between the jaws and their respective link members, the lateral and pivotal movement of the scoop-like jaws during opening and closing thereof facilitating opening of the outer flexible bag during filling thereof, as well as removal of the outer flexible bag after filling with flexible pouches.

Claim 16

An apparatus for supplying a plurality of liquid filled flexible pouches into an outer flexible bag, the apparatus including means for advancing and feeding the plurality of flexible pouches one by one; a flexible pouch receiving cradle assembly having at least one support wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle assembly between a first position whereby said support wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said flexible pouches and adapted to receive a plurality of pouches fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle assembly and a second position wherein said support wall is above the angle of rest of said pouches, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle assembly is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating an outer flexible bag for receiving the pouches as the pouches are dropped simultaneously from the assembly cradle, the opening and locating means, including spaced apart jaw assemblies to fully open the outer bag while pouches are being dropped from the cradle assembly, each jaw assembly including a movable mounted gripping structure situated adjacent a respective scoop-shaped jaw, the gripping structure including a resilient gripping portion which engages a portion of the outer bag upon opening of the scoop-shaped jaws, the gripping portion cooperating with the adjacent scoop-shaped jaw to releasably retain the outer bag during filling thereof with the flexible pouches, each scoop-like jaw having a piston and cylinder arrangement connected thereto, one end of each cyliner is pivotally mounted on a stationary frame portion of the apparatus, the piston is pivotally connected to a bracket mounted on a rear surface of the scoop-like jaw, a link member is also pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bracket mounted on the scoop-like jaw, the other end of the link member is pivotally connected to the stationary frame portion of the apparatus, each jaw assemby also includes a pair of first and second abutment members mounted on the stationary frame portion, the pivotally mounted piston and cylinder arrangements adapted to cooperate with the link members and the first abutment members to effect lateral movement of the jaws as the link members pivot about the stationary frame portion until the link members engage the second abutment members with further extension of the piston and cylinder arrangement pivotting the scoop-like jaws about the pivotal connection between the jaws and their respective link members, the lateral and pivotal movement of the scoop-like jaws during opening and closing thereof facilitating opening of the outer flexible bag during filling thereof, as well as removal of the outer flexible bag after filling with flexible pouches.