The present invention relates to a bag making machine and, more particularly, to an uninterrupted bag making machine.
Currently, the existing plastic bags, such as vest bags, are widely used in shopping. In manufacturing the plastic bags, a film tube is firstly formed by a blown film extruder, and then sealed and cut by a machine to form bags, which are then stacked and fed into a punching machine to form openings for the handles of bags. Among the existing technology, there is a machine being dedicated for making vest bags into a roll form, as disclosed in Taiwan's utility model patent 189481, which employs an upper mold and a lower mold to perform a slitting operation, a perforating operation, and a sealing operation simultaneously to form an individual bag at a location of a film tube, which is finally assembled into a roll form for allowing a user to take an individual bag more easily and allowing the product to be stored more easily.
However, in manufacturing plastic bags, conventional machines should stop the film tube from being conveyed for a short while to conduct the slitting, perforating, sealing operations, or other required operations, and thus the production rate and capacity will be comprised. Besides, the interruption for stopping conveying the film tube may cause additional abrasion of mechanic elements of the machine and increase its load. As a result, the life span of the machine may be reduced.
Since plastic bags are widely used in daily life and the price per unit of plastic bags is low, for a commercial production, they should be processed in a more efficient way.
Currently, there is no technique to solve the above drawbacks of conventional bag making machines. Therefore, it is deserved for a technician to take time on improving them.
The object of the present invention is to provide an uninterrupted bag making machine that can conduct sealing operations, perforating operations, and breaking operations for film tubes without an interruption.
The advantages of the present invention is that the uninterrupted bag making machine can produce handheld plastic bags, which are widely used in shopping, without an interruption, so that the production rate and capacity can be increased.
To achieve the above object, the uninterrupted bag making machine may include a conveyance unit, a conveyance unit driving means, a sealing unit, a sealing unit driving means, a perforating unit, a perforating unit driving means, and a breaking unit. The conveyance unit conveys a film tube supplied from a material source to various processing units. The conveyance unit driving means provides the mechanical power for the conveyance unit to convey the film tube. The sealing unit includes an upper sealing assembly being arranged above the film tube, a lower sealing assembly being arranged below the film tube and aligned with the upper sealing assembly with respect to the film tube, and a transmission means for driving the upper sealing assembly and the lower sealing assembly to move parallel to the film tube and in the direction of the film tube being moved, so that a sealing operation for the film tube can be conducted. The sealing unit driving means provide the mechanical power for the transmission means of the sealing unit to move the upper and lower sealing assemblies. The perforating unit is arranged downstream of the sealing unit and has a cutting device being provided with a perforation pattern at its circumference for making tiny perforations on the film tube. The perforating unit driving means provides the mechanical power for driving the perforating unit to make tiny perforations on the film tube so as to form a perforated portion thereon. The breaking unit, being arranged downstream of the perforating unit, includes a device for breaking the perforated portion of the film tube made by the perforating unit off the rest of the film tube.
With a control unit being electrically connected with the conveyance unit driving means, the sealing unit driving means, the perforating unit driving means, and associated components, various operations of making bags can be controlled. Specifically, the upper sealing assembly and the lower sealing assembly are controlled such that, while a sealing operation for the film tube is conducted, the sealing assemblies are simultaneously moved, in the direction of the film tube being moved, at a speed the same as the film tube being moved. The cutting device of the perforating unit is rotated in synchronous with the film tube being moved. Also, the breaking unit may further include two mutually meshed rollers being arranged below the breaking device and the film tube, so that the perforated portion being broken by the breaking device can be taken by the meshed rollers and discharged through the meshed rollers.
Specifically, the breaking device of the breaking unit can be an air nozzle being arranged above the film tube and the two mutually meshed rollers to produce an air jet to the perforated portion so that it can be blown off the rest of the film tube.
Specifically, the transmission means includes an upper transmission mechanism being arranged above the film tube and a lower mechanism being arranged below the film tube and aligned with the upper transmission mechanism. The upper transmission mechanism includes an upper guiding rail whereas the lower transmission mechanism includes a lower guiding rail. The upper and lower guiding rails can help the upper and lower sealing assemblies move in the direction of the film tube being moved to facilitate a sealing operation.
With the aid of the conveyance unit and the associated driving means, a film tube can be conveyed to pass through the sealing unit, the perforating unit, and the breaking unit. Furthermore, with the aid of the sealing unit driving means, the upper and lower sealing assemblies can be moved in the direction of the film tube being moved; with the aid of the perforating unit driving means, the cutting device of the perforating unit is rotated at an arc length equal to the distance of a path along which the film tube is moved per time unit, so that the cutting device is rotated in synchronous with the film tube being moved. Therefore, the film tube can be processed with sealing operations, perforating operations, and breaking operations at predetermined locations along the film tube without an interruption, so that the production rate and capacity can be increased.
Alternatively, the breaking device of the breaking unit can be a robotic arm or other servomechanisms that can break the perforated portion through vertically or horizontally reciprocating movement.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The control unit (not shown) is electrically connected with the conveyance unit driving means 20, the sealing unit driving means 40, the perforating unit driving means 60, and associated components, such as sensors or pneumatic control valves, for controlling various operations of making bags. Specifically, the upper sealing assembly 32 and the lower sealing assembly 33 are controlled such that, while a sealing operation for the film tube (A) is conducted, the sealing assemblies 32, 33 are simultaneously moved, in the direction of the film tube (A) being moved, at a speed the same as the film tube (A) being moved. In other words, the upper and lower sealing assemblies 32, 33 are moved in synchronous with the film tube (A) being moved. Furthermore, the cutting rollers 51 of the cutting device of the perforating unit 50 are controlled such that they are rotated at an arc length equal to the distance of a path along which the film tube (A) is moved per time unit. In other words, the cutting rollers 51 are rotated in synchronous with the film tube (A) being moved.
As shown, the breaking unit 70 may further include two mutually meshed rollers 72 being arranged below the breaking device 71 and the film tube (A), so that the perforated portion (A1) being broken by the device 71 can be taken by the meshed rollers 72 and discharged through the meshed rollers 72.
With the aid of the conveyance unit 10, the film tube (A) can be conveyed to pass through the sealing unit 30, the perforating unit 50, and the breaking unit 70 sequentially. The sealing unit driving means 40 allows the upper sealing assembly 32 and the lower sealing assembly 33 to be simultaneously moved in the direction of the film tube (A) being moved. During a sealing operation, the assemblies 32, 33 are moved at a speed the same as the film tube (A) being moved. The breaking device 71 of the breaking unit 70 can break the perforated portion (A1) of the film tube (A) made by the perforating unit 50 off the rest of the film tube film (A). The perforating unit driving means 60 allows the cutting rollers 51 of the cutting device of the perforating unit 50 to be rotated at an arc length equal to the distance of a path along which the film tube (A) is moved per time unit. The film tube (A) is continuously conveyed to various units of the machine to conduct sealing operations, perforating operations, and breaking operations at predetermined locations of the film tube (A) without an interruption, so that the production rate and capacity can be increased, the details of which will be fully described in the following paragraphs.
Preferably, a machine frame 80 can be used to accommodate the conveyance unit 10, the conveyance unit driving means 20, the sealing unit 30, the sealing unit driving means 40, the perforating unit 50, the perforating unit driving means 60, and the breaking unit 70. The sealing unit 30, the perforating unit 50, and the breaking unit 70 can be arranged in order, such that the film tube (A) is conveyed to sequentially pass through the sealing unit 30, the perforating unit 50, and the breaking unit 70 to conduction sealing operations, perforating operations, and breaking operations.
In addition, a material stocking unit 81, a material supplying unit 82, and a product stocking unit 83 can be incorporated into the present invention. The material stocking unit 81 is used for stocking unprocessed film tubes (A). The material supplying unit 82 is used for drawing a film tube (A) out of the material stocking unit 81 and being cooperated with the conveyance unit 10 inside the machine frame 80, so that the film tube (A) can be conveyed to the sealing unit 30 inside the machine frame 80 more smoothly. The product stocking unit 83 is arranged downstream of the breaking unit 70 inside the machine frame 80 for assembling the film tube (A) of being processed by the breaking unit 70 into a packaged bag product, for example, in the form of a roll. Furthermore, the product stocking unit 83 can be used to cooperate with the material supplying unit 82 and the conveyance unit 10 inside the machine frame 80 to allow the film tube (A) to pass through the sealing unit 30, the perforating unit 50, and the breaking unit 70 more smoothly.
In this embodiment, as shown in
Specifically, the conveyance unit driving means 20 can be a motor, such as a servomotor or a stepper motor. Generally, a belt 21 can be used with the motor to drive the nip rollers 11 to rotate. The belt 21 can be a toothed belt for non-slippage and less noise operation.
In this embodiment, as shown in
The upper sealing assembly 32 includes an upper supportive block 324, an upper cylinder block 321 fixed to the upper supportive block 324, an upper pneumatic rod 322 driven by the upper cylinder block 321, and an upper sealing blade attached to the end of the upper pneumatic rod 322. The lower sealing assembly 33 includes a lower supportive block 334, a lower cylinder block 331 fixed to the lower supportive block 334, a lower pneumatic rod 332 driven by the lower cylinder block 331, and a lower sealing blade attached to the end of the lower pneumatic rod 332. The upper supportive block 324 is fixed to the upper belts 313 and movably connected to the upper guiding rail 314 whereas the lower supportive block 334 is fixed to the lower belts 313 and movably connected to the lower guiding rail 324, such that the upper sealing assembly 32 can be driven to move parallel to the film tube (A) by the upper belts 313 and the lower sealing assembly 33 can be driven to move parallel to the film tube (A) by the lower belts 313. Furthermore, the upper sealing assembly 32 is provided with a heater 323 at the upper sealing blade thereof. The lower sealing assembly 33 is provided with a heater 333 at the lower sealing blade thereof. The heaters 323, 333, which can produce the heat required for sealing the film tube (A), can be a heating pipe, a heating bar, or a resistance heating element. During an sealing operation, the upper sealing blade of the upper sealing assembly 32 and the lower sealing blade of the lower sealing assembly 33 can be simultaneously moved towards the film tube (A), in a direction perpendicular to the film tube (A) being moved, through the corresponding pneumatic rods 322, 332 so as to seal the film tube (A) in addition to the sealing assemblies 32, 33 being moved in the direction of the film tube (A) being moved.
Specifically, the sealing unit driving means 40 can be a motor, such as a servomotor or a stepper motor. The motor can rotate in two different directions. Also, a number of additional wheels 41 can be provided between the transmission means 31 and the motor 40, wherein some of the additional wheels 41 are provided at the axles 311 of the upper and lower transmission mechanisms of the transmission means 31 and the motor 40, and a belt 42 is looped around the additional wheels 41, so that the motor 40 is capable of driving the axles 311 of the upper and lower transmission mechanisms of the transmission means 31 to rotate in two different directions, which in turn drives the upper and lower sealing assemblies 32, 33 to move in a direction parallel to the film tube (A) being moved. While the upper and lower sealing assemblies 32, 33 are moved forwardly, the sealing assemblies 32, 33 are moved at a speed the same as the film tube (A) being moved, so that the film tube (A) can be sealed while it is being moved; in other words, the sealing assemblies 32, 33 are moved in synchronous with the film tube (A) being moved to complete a sealing operation for the film tube (A)(see
Referring again to
Specifically, the perforating unit driving means 60 can be a motor, such as a servomotor or a stepper motor. A belt 61 can be used to connected between the motor 60 and the cutting rollers 51 so as to rotate the cutting rollers 51 and thus perforate the film tube (A) passing therebetween. The belt 61 can be a toothed belt for non-slippage and less noise operation.
In this embodiment, the device 71 for breaking the perforated portion (A1) of the film tube (A) in the breaking unit 70 can be an air nozzle being arranged above the film tube (A) and the two mutually meshed rollers 72. Furthermore, the breaking unit 70 may include a waste collector 73 placed below the two meshed rollers 72. The nozzle 71 can produce an air to the perforated portion (A1) made by the perforating unit 50 to blow it off the rest of the film tube (A), and the perforated portion (A1) being blown off can be taken by the two meshed rollers 72 and discharged therethrough to enter the waste collector 73.
Furthermore, upon the sealing operation is completed, the upper and lower cylinder blocks 321, 331 can be activated to retract the corresponding pneumatic rods 322, 332 while the motor 40 can be controlled to rotate in the opposite direction so that the upper and lower sealing assemblies 32, 33 can be moved in a reverse direction opposite to the moving direction of the film tube (A), so that the sealing assemblies 32, 33 can return to their original positions for a next sealing operation.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention hereinafter claimed.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3735673 | Sheehan | May 1973 | A |
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20090261139 | Reggiani | Oct 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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189481 | Aug 1992 | TW |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150314549 A1 | Nov 2015 | US |