Edward J O'Brien

US Patent:

40430987, Aug 23, 1977

Filed:

Aug 26, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/718072

Inventors:

Roger L. Putnam - East Longmeadow MA
Edward F. O'Brien - Northampton MA

Assignee:

Package Machinery Company - East Longmeadow MA

International Classification:

B65B 912

US Classification:

53180M

Abstract:

A package making machine of the vertical form, fill and seal type has a tube former for receiving packaging material in thin flat strip form and for juxtaposing opposite side edges thereof in parallel vertically extending and overlapped relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product to the tube interior space, a lower end portion thereof being sealed transversely by an end sealing apparatus. Tube advancing means may comprise intermittently operable vertically extending vacuum belts or, alternatively, the end sealer may be reciprocated vertically to draw the strip material downwardly through the former. At a longitudinal seam sealing station beneath the former a vertically elongated sealing bar moves to engage and to seal the overlapped longitudinal edges of the tube. A sealing back-up bar within the tube is pivotally supported at its mid-point by a depending support member and freely adjusts angularly to provide precise parallelism and uniform pressure distribution between and throughout the length of the sealing and back-up bars. Narrow elongated tube spreaders depend within the tube to maintain the tube open in cooperation with the back-up bar and its support member, a relatively unobstructed product fall space thus being provided.

US Patent:

41365054, Jan 30, 1979

Filed:

Nov 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/850667

Inventors:

Roger L. Putnam - East Longmeadow MA
Richard H. Shultz - Longmeadow MA
Edward F. O'Brien - Northampton MA

Assignee:

Package Machinery Company - East Longmeadow MA

International Classification:

B65B 912

US Classification:

53551

Abstract:

A tubeless vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and juxtaposing opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. Side and end sealers respectively seal vertical longitudinal edge portions and provide vertically spaced horizontally extending end seals across the tube. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product into the tube interior through its open upper end. Improved tube feed means comprises first and second pairs of vertically spaced rolls respectively on opposite external sides of the tube of packaging material and first and second tube feeding belts respectively trained over said pairs of rolls. Inner runs of the belts engage the tube and have vertically extending imperforate marginal portions and a perforate intermediate portion. Vacuum generating means communicate with the intermediate perforate portions to cause the belts to grip the tube and tube guide and belt back-up means within the tube prevent lateral vacuum loss and provide for frictional tube feeding action.

US Patent:

41189132, Oct 10, 1978

Filed:

Apr 6, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/785123

Inventors:

Roger L. Putnam - East Longmeadow MA
Edward F. O'Brien - Northampton MA

Assignee:

Package Machinery Company - East Longmeadow MA

International Classification:

B65B 910

US Classification:

53551

Abstract:

A package making machine of the vertical form, fill and seal type has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and for juxtaposing opposite side edges thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. Side and end sealers respectively seal the vertical edge portions and provide vertically spaced horizontally extending end seals across the tube. A product dispenser associated with the former discharges measured quantities of product to the tube interior space through its open upper end, a bottom seal having first been provided across the tube by the end sealer. An improved tube advancing or feed means occupies a minimum space vertically beneath the former and provides for a short product drop. The feed means comprises a pair of vacuum feed rolls on spaced horizontal axes and in parallel relationship to peripherally engage opposite sides of the tube. Back-up members inside the tube provide for firm tube and roll engagement over a substantial portion of the roll peripheral surface and for efficient tube feeding operation.

US Patent:

41716051, Oct 23, 1979

Filed:

Nov 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/850651

Inventors:

Roger L. Putnam - East Longmeadow MA
Edward F. O'Brien - Northampton MA
James S. Groom - Wales MA

Assignee:

Package Machinery Company - East Longmeadow MA

International Classification:

B65B 912

US Classification:

53552

Abstract:

A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and juxtaposing opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. An end sealer provides vertically spaced horizontally extending transverse or end seals across the tube. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product into the tube interior through its open upper end. Tube feed means comprises first and second pairs of vertically spaced rolls respectively on opposite external sides of the tube of packaging material and first and second tube feeding belts respectively trained over said pairs of rolls. Inner runs of the belts engage the tube and have vertically extending perforate portions. Vacuum generating means communicate with the perforate portions to cause the belts to grip the tube and back-up means within the tube provide for frictional tube feeding action.

US Patent:

39869210, Oct 19, 1976

Filed:

Dec 10, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/639394

Inventors:

Roger L. Putnam - East Longmeadow MA
Edward F. O'Brien - Northampton MA

Assignee:

Package Machinery Company - East Longmeadow MA

International Classification:

B30B 1534
B32B 3120
B65B 5114

US Classification:

156583

Abstract:

A mechanism for forming seals at spaced points along the length of a body of web material moved through the mechanism is comprised of two sealing jaws and a simple device for opening and closing the jaws whereby the mechanism consists of a small number of parts and may be made at a relatively low cost and to have a relatively light weight. The jaws are slidably supported relative to a base for pure linear motion and are moved between their open and closed conditions by an air cylinder or other fluid actuator which is unfixed to and floats relative to the base.