US3812572A

US3812572A - Tube applicator

Info

Publication number: US3812572A
Application number: US00332373A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Weikert
Original assignee: GEN FILMS Inc
Current assignee: GENERAL FILMS Inc; GEN FILMS Inc
Priority date: 1973-02-14
Filing date: 1973-02-14
Publication date: 1974-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-28

Abstract

Method and apparatus for attaching a dispensing tube to the side wall of an open mouth bag. The bags are interconnected in web form and the tube applicator is positioned intermediate the unwind stand for the web of bags and filling and sealing equipment, so that as the web of bags are unwound a flexible dispensing tube may be attached to a side wall of each of the bags before they are fed into the filling and sealing apparatus downstream of the tube applicator.

Description

United States Patent 1 Weikert May 28, 1974 TUBE APPLICATOR [76] Inventor: Roy J. Weikert, c/o General Films,

lnc., Covington, Ohio 45318 [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 332,373

[52] U.S. Cl. 29/208 B, 29/421 [51] Int. Cl..... B23p 19/04, B23q 7/10, B23p 17/00 [58] Field of Search.. 29/208 B, 421, 208 D, 208 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,479,702 8/1949 Rood 29/421 X 3,170,231

2/1965 Gleason 29/208 B Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or FirmBiebel, French & Bugg [57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for attaching a dispensing tube to the side wall of an open mouth bag. The bags are interconnected in web form and the tube applicator is v positioned intermediate the unwind stand for the web of bags and filling and sealing equipment, so that as the web of bags are unwound a flexible dispensing tube may be attached to a side wall of each of the bags before they are fed into the filling and sealing apparatus downstream of the tube applicator.

28 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENIEU m 2 8 1914 SHEET 2 BF 8 rllll PATENTEUMAY 28 an SHEU 3 BF 8 PAYENIEHMY 2 19M 3.812.572

sum w a PATENTEBm 28 m4 SHE! 8 BF 8 FiG-.- no w FIG-i2 TUBE APPLICATOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION PACKAGING MACHINE, Ser. No. 133,308, filed Apr. 12,1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The above noted, related application discloses method and apparatus for filling and sealing bags in a web of such bags on a continuous basis. The apparatus may include an unwind stand holding a supply of such bags in rolled form and a conveying system for unrolling the web of bags and carrying it in a downstream direction in synchronization with a series of transfer cans which pick up a metered supply of the material being packaged and deposit it into the bags through the open mouths thereof.

In many instances it is desirable to have-a dispensing tube attached to a side wall of each of the bags. For example, a common application is in the packaging and dispensing of milk, ice cream mixes, and other liquid, dairy products. One method of accomplishing this has been to attach such dispensing tubes to the film or other flexible material from which the bag is manufactured before the film is formed into a bag. This method offers the advantage that the tube attaching process can be carried out with a flat web of packaging material. It has the disadvantage, however, that the attached tube may interfere with the subsequent bag formation process and the tube itself may become detached from the bags during the manufacturing of the bags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method and apparatus for attaching a dispensing tube to side wall of each bag in a web of such bags on a continuous basis.

Although not limited to such use, the tube applicator of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with bag filling and sealing equipment and may be conveniently positioned immediately upstream of the filling and sealing apparatus.

Where the tube applicator of the present invention is utilized in conjunction with a filling and sealing machine, the drive for the tube applicator can conveniently be obtained from a power take off from the filling and sealing machine so that the tube applicator may operate in synchronization with the filling and sealing machine.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a drive sprocket is driven from the power take off of a filling and sealing machine and is wrapped by a drive chain which also wraps an idler sprocket positioned upstream of the drive sprocket.

The drive chain carrier a series of spaced, tube positioning devices which receive dispensing tubes from a magazine and bend one end of each of the tubes into proximity to a side wall of the bags in the web of bags while transporting the tube in synchronization with the web.

The tube applicator also includes a rotatable assembly having a series of outwardly projecting spokes. The

- rotatable assembly is driven by direct engagement with the tube positioning devices carried by the drive chain and as the assembly rotates, the spokes are received in the bags through the open mouths thereof.

Each of the spokes carries a pivoted lever which picks up a grommet from a supply of grommets and, after the spoke is positioned within a bag, forces the grommet through the side wall of the bag and into an open end of a dispensing tube which is positioned just opposite the grommet by the tube positioning devices carried by the chain.

The grommets each include a tubular shank portion having a tapered leading end for guiding it into engagement with the open end of the tube. The shank of each grommet also is provided with annular friction rings which improve the resistance to separation from the dispensing tubes.

The pivoted levers are slidably mounted in the spokes of the rotatable assembly and through the use of a camming mechanism the arcuate movement of the ends of the spokes is transformed into linear movement parallel to the drive chain while the spokes are received into the bags.

The grommet applying mechanisms are also connected to a source of pressurized air, so that as a grommet is pushed through the side wall of the bag in which it is received, a blast of pressurized air is discharged through the grommet. This has two effects.

First, the jet of air assists in puncturing or rupturing the bag material so that the shank of the grommet may pass through it while the flange of the grommet is retained within the bag, and secondly, the blast of air into the tube positioned just opposite the grommet expands the end of the tube to facilitate insertion of the shank of the grommet into the end of the tube.

In the assembly of the dispensing tube to the bag in combination with the grommet, the pivoted levers, which pick up and carry the grommets to assembly position, are tubular and pointed to first pierce the side wall of the bag and then convey a blast of air into the dispensing tube. I

During this assembly, the film wall of the bag forms an elongated skin or thinned sheath of film, tightly engaging the outside circumference of the grommet shank and over which thinned sheath of film the dispensing tube comes to clamping rest, thus forming a liquid tight seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tube applicator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the applicator;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the tube applicator;

FIG. 4 is view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a tube positioning dev1ce;

FIG. 7 isa view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the end of a tube bent over into proximity to the side wall of a FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the tube positioning device;

FIG. 9 is a top view, with parts in section, of a portion of the tube applicator;

FIG. 10 is an end view, with parts in section, of a portion of the tube applicator;

FIG. 11 is a view of a grommet carrying head positioned to receive a grommet from a supply thereof;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a grommet being inserted into the expanded end of a dispensing FIG. 16 is a view taken on line 1616 of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the rotatable grommet carrying assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that a tube applicator in accordance with the present invention may include a housing and supporting structure, portions of which are shown in phantom lines at 11 in FIG. 1 and solid lines in FIG. 2. The tube applicator, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, is positioned intermediate an unwind stand 12 and a filling and sealing machine positioned downstream of the tube applicator in the direction indicated by the arrow. Y r

The filling and sealing machine per se does not form part of the present invention and maybe of the type illustrated in the above noted related application, including toothed feed chains 13 which grip the upper edges 69 inthe plate member 66 and are'threaded into openings 70 in the base member 50. With this construction it will be seen that the intermediate plate member 66 is capable of limited adjustment with respect to the base member 50 in a direction along the slot 62 by means of the threaded shaft 71 carried by bracket 72 and engaged by double nuts 73.

The upper surface of the plate member 66 is slotted at 74 and receives the downwardly projecting portion 75 of the top plate member 76. The top plate member 76 is provided with slotted-openings 77 which receive bolts or the like 78 which are also'threaded into the openings 79 in the plate 66. With this construction it will be seen that the top plate member 76 may be ad- 15 justed transversely of the intermediate plate member of the bags 14 as they are spread apart by a plow-like device 15. In accommodating the tube applicator it is merely necessary to lengthen chains .13 to permit the tube applicator to bepositioned between the unwind stand and the filling and sealing machine.

A power take off from a filling and sealing machine,

indicated by the drive shaft and sprocket 16, may be utilized to power the tube applicator through a chain 18, double sprockets 20, a second chain 22, a sprocket 24 and a shaft-26 leading to a right angle gear box 28 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings). A drive shaft 30 extending from the gear box 28 at right angles to the input shaft 26 has mounted thereon a drive sprocket 32. Drive sprocket 32 is-wrapped by a chain 34 which also wraps an idler sprocket 36 suitably journalled on its axle at a point adjacent the unwind stand 12. The drive chain 34 carries a series of uniformly spaced tube positioning devices 40, five of which are shown for purposes of illustration, and stop members 42, one of which is associated with each tube positioning device 40.

The tube positioning devices as best seen in FIGS. 5 through 8 of the drawings, each include a base member which is attached to the drive chain by a pair of clamping members 52 which engage the drive chain on opposite sides thereof and are bolted by means of bolts 54 to the base member 50. Base member 50 also includes

guide rollers

56 and 58 mounted on axes extend? ing at right angles to each other and engageable with a stabilizing track shown in FIG. 10 of the drawingsat 60. The base member 50 has a slot 62 formed in its upper surface and receives a complementarily shaped bottom portion 64 on the lower surface of intermediate plate member 66.

Plate member 66 is bolted to the base member 50 by means of bolts 68 which pass through slotted openings 66 along the slot 74 by means of the threaded shaft carried bybracket'81 and engaged by double nuts 82.

A fixed tube positioning member 84 is bolted to the top plate member 76 and a movable tube positioning member 88 is slidably mounted on the top plate member 76 by means of track members 90 which are bolted to the plate 76 and having overhanging ledges 92 slidably receiving the outwardly projecting ledges 94 on the member 88. Member 88 also includesa downwardly projecting stud 96 slidably received in the elongated'slot'98formed in the plate member 76.

An L-shaped block'l00 is bolted to one end of the movable tube positioning member 88 and has an opening 102 formed therethrough to receive a rod 104. Rod 104 is retained in the block by means of a resilient split-ring 106 and has a spring 108 encircling it and bearing against a tube closure member 110 mounted on one end of the rod" 10.4. I I

Asseen in FIGS. 6 through 8. of the drawings the fixed and movable

tube positioning members

84 and 88 are provided with

semi-circular barrel portions

112 and 114 projecting at right angles to the drive chain 34. Member 84 is also provided with a semi-circular tube engaging portion 116 extending at right angles to the barrel 112 while member 88 is provided with a semicircular portion 118 extending at right angles to its barrel 114.

Additionally, an insert 120 is received within the member 88 having a curved portion 122 to provide a smoothly curved surface extending from the semicircular section 118 to the interior of the barrel 114. On its upper surface the movable tube positioning member 88 is provided with a roller 124 which rides along the cam track 126 indicated in phantom lines in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Cam track 126, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings, includes an active run 130 extending parallel to the drive chain 34, an upstream branch 132 which extends at an angle to the drive chain, a downstream branch 134 which also extends at an angle to the drive chain and has one end spaced from the run 130, and a return run. 136 which also extends parallel to the drive chain 34 and the run 130. I

As noted above, each of the tube positioning devices 40 has associated therewith a stop member 42. Each of the stop members 42 includes a base member 140 (FIG. 6), which is bolted to the drive chain 34 in advance of the tube positioning members 40 and has an upstanding threaded block 142 fixed thereon and receiving the threaded shaft 144 of the tube engaging socket 146. v

A tube magazine 150 is mounted on top of the housing 11, as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and contains a plurality of tubes 152 which are fed from the magazine one at a time into the conduit 154. The magazine 150 may be powered by a stepping motor 156 to position sequentially one vertical column 151 of tubes 152 over a feed slot aligned with a conduit 154 and each tube is fed into the conduit 154 by means of a pneumatic piston and cylinder or the like or any suitable feed mechanism. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the operation of the feeding mechanism for the tubes may be keyed to the movement of the bags 14 into the tube applicator by means of a photoelectric cell or the like.

Regardless of the specific manner in which the tubes 152 are pushed through the conduit 154, they are ejected from the end 156 of the conduit as seen in FIGS. 4 and 9 of the drawings and the leading edge of each tube 152 is received in the socket 146 of the stop member 42 while the midpoint of the tube is engaged by the semi-circular portion 116 of the member 84.

As the

members

40 and 42, with a tube engaged thereby, move downstream along the upper reach of the drive chain 34 the cam roller 124 on the movable tube positioning member 88 engages sections 132 of the cam track. This causes the movable member 88 to slide along the top plate member from the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings to that shown inFIG. 7.

As the member 88 slides along the top plate member 76 its barrel 114 engages the forward end of a dispensing tube 152 and bends it at right angles to the trailing end of the tube and into engagement, or at least close proximity, to a wall 158 of a bag 14. At the same time, the block 100 in FIG. 7 compresses the spring 108 encircling the shaft 104 to bring member 110 against the tube to close the tube for a purpose to be presently described.

The movable member 88 will remain in the position shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the remainder of tube positioning device 40 for as long as the cam 124 engages run 130 of the cam track. During this time a tube fastener will be installed through the wall 158 of the bag and into engagement with the end of the tube positioned adjacent the bag wall in the manner explained below.

When the cam roller 124 passes the end of the section 130 of the cam track it engages the branch 134 of the cam track, which causes the member 88 to retract to its original position. It will then remain retracted as the tube positioning device moves with the drive chain back towards'the upstream end of the tube applicator with the cam rollers engaging the return run 136 of the cam track.

As noted above, while the tube positioning devices 40 are moving in synchronization with the bags 14 with a tube end positioned adjacent or touching a wall 158 of each bag, tube fastener, such as a grommet, is conveyed from a supply of such grommets and inserted into the end of the tube through the wall of the bag.

The mechanism for accomplishing this consists of a rotatable assembly 160 (see FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 17 of the drawings). The rotatable assembly 160 includes four outwardly projecting spokes 162, each of which terminates in a paddle like structure 164. The assembly 160 is mounted on a shaft 166 joumalled in a bearing 168, as best seen in FIG. of the drawings, with the bearing 168 in turn mounted on an upright member 170 of supporting structure 11.

The rotatable assembly 160 includes a base structure 172 which, as best seen in FIG. 17 of the drawings, includes intersecting

channel portions

174 and 176 extending at right angles to each other. Bolted to one face of the base member 172 is a drive structure 178 which includes a plurality of outwardly projecting arms 180 each of which is slotted at its outer end as at 182.

The slots 182 engage the

barrels

112 and 114 of the tube positioning devices 40 as best seen in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10 of the drawings. Thus, the movement of the drive chain 34 is directly transmitted to the assembly 160, insuring positive synchronization of the movement of these drive chain and assembly 160.

Bolted to the opposite face of the base member 172 is a cross-shaped member 184 having intersecting

channels

186 and 188 formed therein and opening oppositely to the

channels

174 and 176. A first master slide arm 190 is slidably received in the channel 186 while a second master slide arm 192 is slidably received in the channel 188.

The

slide arms

190 and 192 are cut away at their mid sections, as indicated at 194 and 196, respectively. Each of the master slide arms also carries an interconnecting pin 198 which extends through slots 200 formed in cross member 184 and aligned slots 202 in member 172.

Received within the

channels

174 and 176 of the base member 172 are

slave slide arms

204 and 206, respectively, which have cut away portions, as at 208 and 210, to permit them to slide across each other within their respective channels. The ends of the pins 198 are received in openings 212 formed in the

slave slide arms

204 and 206, as seen in FIG. 10 of the drawings.

Each of the

master slide arms

190 and 192 carries a cam roller 214 at each end thereof. The cam rollers 214 engage a cam track, which includes a straight portion 216 extending parallel to the upper reach of the drive chain 34, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and curved branches 218 at each end of the straight portion 216.

Thus, as the rotatable assembly is driven by engagement of the slots 182 with the

barrels

112 and 114, the cam rollers 214 engage the cam tracks 216 and 218 to cause the

master slide arms

190 and 192 to slide within their

respective channels

186 and 188. This sliding motion is transmitted by the pins 198 to the

slaveslide arms

204 and 206, causing them to slide within their

respective channels

174 and 176.

The configuration of the cam track 216-218 is such that as a cam roller 214 rolls along the cam track 216 it will cause the arm on which it is mounted to slowly move upwardly until it reaches a vertical position and then downwardly, so that the otherwise arcuate motion of the end of the arm that would result from a strictly rotational movement of the arm is translated to a straight line movement parallel to the upper reach of the drive chain 34.

At each of its ends each of the

slave slide arms

204 and 206 has mounted thereon a grommet carrying subassembly 220 as best seen in FIG. 17 of the drawings. Each grommet carrying subassembly includes a pair of side plates 222 having reduced ends 224 received in slots 226 in the ends of the

arms

204 and 206 and bolted or riveted in place.

Enclosed between each pair of side plates 222 is a lever arm 228, pivotally mounted therein by means of a pin 230. At its outer end each lever arm 228 mounts a grommet carrying head 232 while at its opposite end the lever carries cam followers 234 which project outwardly through the side plates 222 through elongated somewhat arcuate openings 236.

Mounted within each end of each of the

channels

174 and 176 are side cam plate 238 having cam tracks 240 formed on the inner surfaces thereof and engageable by the cam followers 234. At their outer endsthe side plate 220 having a mounting bracket 242 bolted thereto. The mounting brackets carry the opposite halves 244 of the paddle like structures 164, which have openings 246 formed therethrough in alignment with the grommet carrying heads 232.

With the above structure it will be apparent that as the assembly 160 rotates, causing the

arms

204 and 206 to slide within their respective channels, the cam members 234 will ride in the cam slots 240, which are fixed with respect to the channels 174 and l76,causing the lever 228 to pivot about the pin 230.

Thus, as each spoke 162 rotates toward its uppermost position its grommet carrying head 232 will be projected through the opening 246 in its paddle 164. At this position, as best seen in FIGS. 1 through 4 and 9 through 11 of the drawings, is the feed end of the grommet supply rack 250 leading from the grommet magazine 252 which may be of the conventional, vibrating bowl type.

Therefore, as each spoke 162 moves toward uppermost position and its grommet carrying head 232 projects outwardly through the opening 246, it will engage a grommet 254, as best seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings. As the spoke continues tomove it lifts the grommet 254 from the end 248 of the grommet supply rack and the head 232 then retracts back within the paddle assembly 164 with the grommet 254 carried thereby.

Continued rotation of the assembly 160 will cause 2 the paddle 164, as it moves from its uppermost position to its lowermost position, to be inserted through the open mouth ofa bag 14 as seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 10 of the drawings. Because the assembly 160 is driven directly by the drive chain 34 which is also carrying the tube positioning members 40, the relative positions of the bent over ends of the tubes 152 andthe grommets 154 can be precisely controlled so that the end of each tube 152 is positioned on the outside of each bag exactly opposite the grommet 254 carried by the head 232.

As each spoke 162 continues to rotate from an approximately horizontal position toward a vertical position. its associated end of a

slave slide arm

204 and 206 is sliding upwardly within its

channel

174 and 176 so that the grommet carried by that particular spoke is moving parallel to the upper reach of the drive chain 34 to maintain the correct positioning between the end of the tube 152 carried by tube positioner 40 and a grommet 254 carried by a grommet carrying head 232.

Additionally, since the end of the respective slave slide arm is now sliding upwardly within its respective channel, the cam follower 234 carried by the lever arm 228 mounted on the end of that slide arm is moving upwardly along the cam slots 240, causing the grommet carrying head to again project outwardly through the .opening 246.

Since the spoke is positioned within a bag 14 this causes the grommet carrying head to pierce the side wall of the bag. The shank 256 of the grommet tapered, as at 257, to facilitate entry into an end of a tube 152, is guided into a bent over end of a tube 152, as best seen in FIG. 12 of the drawings, clamping an elongated, skin tight portion of the side wall of the bag 14 that has been stretched over the shank of the grommet between the inside diameter of the tube and the shank of the grommet and also between the end of the tube and a flange 258 of the grommet.

To assist in the puncturing of the sidewall of the bag by the grommet carrying head and to expand the end of the tube 152 receiving the grommet to facilitate the insertion of the grommet therein, means is provided in accordance with the present invention for delivering an air blast through the grommet carrying piercing head as it moves through the wall of a bag.

Thus, as seen in FIGS. 10 through 16 of the drawings, pressurized air is fed into the apparatus from a suitable source through a hose connection or the like 260. From the hose connection 260 the pressurized gas travels through the passageway 262 in a portion of the housing 11. An outwardly projecting hub 264 on the assembly is provided with four passages 266 (only one of which is shown), corresponding to each of the spokes 162 and connected thereto by means of a conduit 268.

Each conduit 268 feeds through the hollow pin 198 to one end of a small diameter tube 270. Tube 270 extends through the leverarm 228 and terminates, as shown in FIG. 15, at a drilled passage 272 formed through one end of the arm 228. Passage 272 connects with a cross passage 274 which includes, as seen in FIG. 16, an enlarged circular portion 276. Through the enlarged circular portion 276 cross passage 274 is interconnected to a passage 278 extending through the grommet carrying head 232 and having an outlet at 280, as seen in FIG. 12 of the drawings.

From the above, it will be apparent that, as each spoke 162 rotates to its lowermost position and its grommet carrying head moves outwardly to engage the wall of a bag 14, a passage 266 associated with that particular spoke 162 will be aligned with the terminal end of the stationary passage 262, allowing pressurized air to pass through passage 266,conduit 268, pin 198, tube 270,

passageways

272, 274, enlargement 276 and passageway 278 and into the grommet carrying head 232.

This will expand the end of a tube positioned opposite the grommet carrying head 232 since the tube is closed by a closure member 110, thereby facilitating insertion of the grommet into the'end of the tube.

.Thereafter,.the spoke 162 rotates back towards a horizontal position, causing the grommet carrying head 232 to retract back within its associated paddle structure 164, allowing the paddle to be withdrawn from the bag to return towards its uppermost position to enage another grommet.

Thus, it will be seen that as the web of bags moves from the unwind stand 14 downstream to the filling and sealing equipment, or the like, a dispensing tube 152 is attached to a side wall of each bag in a continuous operation with all components synchronized as with respect to each other and, if desired, with respect to the filling and sealing equipment positioned downstream therefrom.

While the method and form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for attaching a tube to a moving wall of packaging material comprising:

a. means for positioning one end of a tube adjacent one side of a wall of packaging material,

b. means for moving said positioning means in synchronism with movement of said wall of packaging material,

c. means for positioning a tube fastener adjacent an opposite side of said wall of packaging material in opposition to said end of said tube,

d. means for moving said tube fastener positioning.

means in synchronism with said tube end and said wall of packaging material while said tube fastener is opposite said end of said tube, and

e. means for bringing said tube end and tube fastener into engagement with each other with a portion of said packaging material gripped thereby to attach said tube to said wall of packaging material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

a. said tube fastener positioning means includes means for injecting pressurized fluid through said tube fastener into said tube as said tube fastener is brought into engagement with said tube end.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tube positioning means includes:

a. means for closing said tube at a position spaced from the end thereof whereby said pressurized fluid injected through said tube fastener into said end of said tube expands said tube and facilitates entry of said fastener thereinto.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube positioning means includes:

a. means for receiving and gripping a tube from a supply thereof with said tube extending approximately parallel to said wall of packaging material, and

b. means for bending said one end of said tube through approximately 90 into position adjacent said wall of packaging material. I

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said tube positioning means further'comprises:

a. means for closing said tube at a point spaced from said end thereof to permit expansion of said end by the injection by pressurized fluid thereinto.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said tube positioning means comprises:

a. a pair of spaced apart sprockets,

b. means for driving at least one of said sprockets in synchronization with the movement of said wall of packaging material,

c. an endless chain wrapping said sprockets and having a reach moving in spaced parallel relationship with said wall of packaging material, and

d. means mounting said tube positioning means on said chain.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube posi-.

tioning means comprises:

a. a base member,

10 b. means on said base member for receiving said tube with said tube extending approximately parallel to said wall of packaging material, c. stop means positioned downstream of said base member for engaging said end of a tube and locating said tube on said base member receiving means,

d. means on said base member for gripping and closing said tube, and I e. means mounted on said base member for bending said end of said tube through approximately 90 to position said end of the tube adjacent said wall of packaging material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube fas- 15 tener positioning means comprises:

a. a tube fastener carrying head, and

b. means for moving said tube fastener carrying head between;

i. a first position wherein said carrying head picks up a tube fastener, and

ii. a second position adjacent an opposite side of said wall of packaging material opposite said tube end.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said tube fastener positioning means further comprises:

a. means for moving said tube fastener carrying head into said tube end when said tube end is positioned opposite thereto.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for positioning said tube fastener comprises:

a. a plurality of spokes projecting outwardly from a common axis,

b. means for rotating said spokes aboutsaid axis,

0. a tube fastener carrying head mounted on each of said spokes,

d. means for directing said tube fastener carrying head along a substantially linear path in opposition to said tube end as the spoke on which it, is mounted moves in an arcuate path about said axis, and

e. means for moving said tube fastener carrying head into engagement with said tube end positioned opposite thereto during said movement along said linear path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for moving said carrying head along a linear path comprises:

a. slave slide arms slidably mounted in said spokes,

b. means mounting said tube fastener carrying heads on said slave slide arms, and

c. means for sliding said slave slide arms within said spokes as said spokes rotate about said axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for sliding said slave slide arms comprises:

a. master slide arms slidably received in said spokes and corresponding in number and position to said slave slide arms,

b. means for interconnecting said master and slave slide arms to transmit sliding motion of said master slide arms to said slave slide arms,

c. cam followers carried by said master slide arms,

and

d. a cam track engaged by said master slide arms cam followers having a linear branch extending in spaced parallel relationship to the direction of travel of a wall of packaging material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means mounting said tube fastener carrying heads on said slave slide arms comprises:

a. a lever pivotally mounted on' each of said slave slide arms,

b. means mounting one of said tube fastener carrying heads on each of said levers,

0. means mounting cam followers on said levers in spaced relationship to said tube carrying heads, and

d. a cam track carried by each of said spokes and engaged by said lever cam followers whereby slidable movement of said slave slide arms in their respective spokes will cause lever cam followers to move along their cam tracks, pivoting said levers and causing said tube carrying heads to move outwardly and bring a tube fastener into engagement with a tube end positioned in opposition thereto.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a. means for ejecting a pressurized fluid through said tube fastener carrying head as a tube fastener carried thereby moves into engagement with said tube end.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a. means for attaching said tube fasteners to said tube carrying heads at a point diametrically opposite-the point where said tube fasteners will engage a tube end.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said tube end positioning means comprises:

a. a base member, I

b. a stop member positioned downstream of said base member,

0. means for gripping and closing off a tube located on said base member by said stop member, and v d. means for bending an end of a tube located on said base member to a position adjacent a wall of packaging material.

l7. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for moving said tube endpositioning means in synchronization with movement of said wall of packaging material comprises:

a. a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on axes extending parallel to the axis of said spokes,

b. means for driving at least one of said sprockets in synchronization with the movement of said wall of packaging material, g

c. an endless chain wrapping said sprockets and having a reach extending in spaced parallel relationship to said linear movement of said tube carrying heads, and

d. means mounting said base members and said stop members on said chain.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a. conduit means for carrying said tubes to said tub end positioning means.

19. Apparatus for attaching a dispensing tube to a bag formed of flexible packaging material comprising:

a. means for positioning an open end of said dispensing tube adjacent the outside of a wall of said bag,

b. means for positioning a tube fastener within said bag in opposition to said end of said tube, and

c. means for bringing said tube fastener and said tube into engagement with each other with a portion of said wall of said bag clamped therebetween.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for positioning a tube fastener within said bag includes:

a. means for inserting said tube fastener into said bag through an open mouth thereof, and

b. means for'moving said tube fastener in a direction substantially normal to said wall of said bag and into engagement with said tube end.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said bag to which said tube is attached is moving and further comprising:

a. means for moving said tube in synchronization with said bag,'and

b; means for moving said tube fastener in synchronization with said bag while said tube fastener is positioned within said bag.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein:

a. said tube positioning means and said tube fastener positioning means move with a substantially linear movement as said tube fastener and said tube are engaged'through said wall of said bag.

23. A tube applicator comprising:

a. an unwind stand for holding a roll of open top bags in web form, v

b. means for gripping upper edges of said open top bags and unwinding them from said roll with a continuous, nonintermittent movement,

c. a conduit for delivering flexible tubes to a position adjacent an outer side of said. web of bags,

d. a tube carrier for gripping said tubes, blocking passage'therethrough and bending one end thereof through approximately into engagement with said outer side of said web of bags,

e. an endless chain trained about spaced apart sprockets and bearing said tube carriers,

f. means for driving at least one of said sprockets in synchronism with said unwinding means,

7 g. aGeneva wheel mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axes of said sprockets and driven by engagement with said tube carriers,

h.,a base wheel driven by rotation of said Geneva wheel about a common axis and having outwardly projecting spokes,

i. means defining outwardly and oppositely opening sets of channels in said spokes,

j. a pair of intersecting master slide arms received in and slidable within one of said sets of channels opening outwardly in one direction,

k. a cam follower mounted on each end of each 0 said master slide arms,

I. a cam track engageable by saidslide arm cam fol lowers and having a horizontal branch coextensive with a portion of an upper reach of said tube carriers endless chain and upstream and downstream branches curving into and away from said horizontal branch,

' m. a pair of intersecting slave slide arms lying in substantially the same vertical plane as said open top bags and received in and slidable within a second of said sets of channels opening outwardly in a direction opposite to said one set of channels,

n. interconnecting pins extending from each of said master slide arms through slots formed in said channels and into corresponding ones of said slave slide arms to cause sliding movement thereof into and out of said open top bags in response to sliding movement of said master slide arms,

0. a lever mounted on each end of each of said slave slide arms for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said common axis of said base and Geneva wheels,

p. each of said levers including a cam follower mounted on one end thereof and a grommet carrying head mounted on an opposite end thereof,

q. cam tracks carried by and extending longitudinally of said second set of channels and engageable by said lever cam followers such that sliding movement of said slave slide arms in said second set of channels will cause said grommet carrying heads to pivot outwardly of said second set of channels when said slave slide arms are adjacent their uppermost and lowermost positions during rotation thereof within said second set of channels of said base wheel,

. means for positioning a grommet adjacent said uppermost position of said slave slide arms forengagement by said grommet carrying heads as they pivot outwardly of said second set of channels,

. each of said grommet carrying heads being positioned within one of said open top bags opposite the bent over end of one of said tubes as said grommet carrying heads pivot outwardly adjacent said lowermost position to cause a grommet to enter an end of a tube positioned oppositely thereto, and

. means for delivering pressurized air through said grommet carrying head as a grommet carried thereby enters an end of a tube to assist in puncturing a wall of a bag and expand said tube end to facilitate entry of the grommet thereinto.

24. A method of applying tubes to the walls of moving bags comprising:

a. positioning a tube adjacent one side of a wall of a bag and maintaining an end of the tube in that position during movement of the bag,

b. positioning a tube fastener on an opposite side of the wall of the bag opposite said tube end and maintaining said tube fastener in position opposite said tube end during movement of the bag, and

0. moving said tube end and tube fastener into engagement with each other as said bag continues to move, thereby attaching said tube to said bag with a portion of the wall thereof gripped between said tube end and said tube fastener.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of positioning said tube fastener comprises:

a. inserting said tube fastener into said bag. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of moving said tube end and a tube fastener with said bag comprises:

a. moving said tube end and tube fastener along a linear path. 27. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of bringing said tube end and said tube fastener into engagement comprises:

a. telescopically engaging said tube fastener with said tube end, and

b. injecting a pressurized fluid through said tube fastener as said tube fastener is telescopically engaged with said tube.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

a. closing said tube at a point spaced from said end thereof prior to the injection of pressurized fluid through said tube fastener to cause said tube to expand as pressurized fluid is injected through said tube fastener tofacilitate insertion of said fastener into said tube.

Claims

1. Apparatus for attaching a tube to a moving wall of packaging material comprising: a. means for positioning one end of a tube adjacent one side of a wall of packaging material, b. means for moving said positioning means in synchronism with movement of said wall of packaging material, c. means for positioning a tube fastener adjacent an opposite side of said wall of packaging material in opposition to said end of said tube, d. means for moving said tube fastener positioning means in synchronism with said tube end and said wall of packaging material while said tube fastener is opposite said end of said tube, and e. means for bringing said tube end and tube fastener into engagement with each other with a portioN of said packaging material gripped thereby to attach said tube to said wall of packaging material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said tube fastener positioning means includes means for injecting pressurized fluid through said tube fastener into said tube as said tube fastener is brought into engagement with said tube end.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tube positioning means includes: a. means for closing said tube at a position spaced from the end thereof whereby said pressurized fluid injected through said tube fastener into said end of said tube expands said tube and facilitates entry of said fastener thereinto.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube positioning means includes: a. means for receiving and gripping a tube from a supply thereof with said tube extending approximately parallel to said wall of packaging material, and b. means for bending said one end of said tube through approximately 90* into position adjacent said wall of packaging material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said tube positioning means further comprises: a. means for closing said tube at a point spaced from said end thereof to permit expansion of said end by the injection by pressurized fluid thereinto.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said tube positioning means comprises: a. a pair of spaced apart sprockets, b. means for driving at least one of said sprockets in synchronization with the movement of said wall of packaging material, c. an endless chain wrapping said sprockets and having a reach moving in spaced parallel relationship with said wall of packaging material, and d. means mounting said tube positioning means on said chain.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube positioning means comprises: a. a base member, b. means on said base member for receiving said tube with said tube extending approximately parallel to said wall of packaging material, c. stop means positioned downstream of said base member for engaging said end of a tube and locating said tube on said base member receiving means, d. means on said base member for gripping and closing said tube, and e. means mounted on said base member for bending said end of said tube through approximately 90* to position said end of the tube adjacent said wall of packaging material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube fastener positioning means comprises: a. a tube fastener carrying head, and b. means for moving said tube fastener carrying head between; i. a first position wherein said carrying head picks up a tube fastener, and ii. a second position adjacent an opposite side of said wall of packaging material opposite said tube end.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said tube fastener positioning means further comprises: a. means for moving said tube fastener carrying head into said tube end when said tube end is positioned opposite thereto.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for positioning said tube fastener comprises: a. a plurality of spokes projecting outwardly from a common axis, b. means for rotating said spokes about said axis, c. a tube fastener carrying head mounted on each of said spokes, d. means for directing said tube fastener carrying head along a substantially linear path in opposition to said tube end as the spoke on which it is mounted moves in an arcuate path about said axis, and e. means for moving said tube fastener carrying head into engagement with said tube end positioned opposite thereto during said movement along said linear path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for moving said carrying head along a linear path comprises: a. slave slide arms slidably mounted in said spokes, b. means mounting said tube fastener carrying heads on said slave slide arms, and c. means for sliding said slave slide arms within said spokes as saiD spokes rotate about said axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for sliding said slave slide arms comprises: a. master slide arms slidably received in said spokes and corresponding in number and position to said slave slide arms, b. means for interconnecting said master and slave slide arms to transmit sliding motion of said master slide arms to said slave slide arms, c. cam followers carried by said master slide arms, and d. a cam track engaged by said master slide arms cam followers having a linear branch extending in spaced parallel relationship to the direction of travel of a wall of packaging material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means mounting said tube fastener carrying heads on said slave slide arms comprises: a. a lever pivotally mounted on each of said slave slide arms, b. means mounting one of said tube fastener carrying heads on each of said levers, c. means mounting cam followers on said levers in spaced relationship to said tube carrying heads, and d. a cam track carried by each of said spokes and engaged by said lever cam followers whereby slidable movement of said slave slide arms in their respective spokes will cause lever cam followers to move along their cam tracks, pivoting said levers and causing said tube carrying heads to move outwardly and bring a tube fastener into engagement with a tube end positioned in opposition thereto.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a. means for ejecting a pressurized fluid through said tube fastener carrying head as a tube fastener carried thereby moves into engagement with said tube end.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: a. means for attaching said tube fasteners to said tube carrying heads at a point diametrically opposite the point where said tube fasteners will engage a tube end.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said tube end positioning means comprises: a. a base member, b. a stop member positioned downstream of said base member, c. means for gripping and closing off a tube located on said base member by said stop member, and d. means for bending an end of a tube located on said base member to a position adjacent a wall of packaging material.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for moving said tube end positioning means in synchronization with movement of said wall of packaging material comprises: a. a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on axes extending parallel to the axis of said spokes, b. means for driving at least one of said sprockets in synchronization with the movement of said wall of packaging material, c. an endless chain wrapping said sprockets and having a reach extending in spaced parallel relationship to said linear movement of said tube carrying heads, and d. means mounting said base members and said stop members on said chain.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising: a. conduit means for carrying said tubes to said tube end positioning means.

19. Apparatus for attaching a dispensing tube to a bag formed of flexible packaging material comprising: a. means for positioning an open end of said dispensing tube adjacent the outside of a wall of said bag, b. means for positioning a tube fastener within said bag in opposition to said end of said tube, and c. means for bringing said tube fastener and said tube into engagement with each other with a portion of said wall of said bag clamped therebetween.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for positioning a tube fastener within said bag includes: a. means for inserting said tube fastener into said bag through an open mouth thereof, and b. means for moving said tube fastener in a direction substantially normal to said wall of said bag and into engagement with said tube end.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said bag to which said tube is attached is moving and further comprising: a. means fOr moving said tube in synchronization with said bag, and b. means for moving said tube fastener in synchronization with said bag while said tube fastener is positioned within said bag.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: a. said tube positioning means and said tube fastener positioning means move with a substantially linear movement as said tube fastener and said tube are engaged through said wall of said bag.

23. A tube applicator comprising: a. an unwind stand for holding a roll of open top bags in web form, b. means for gripping upper edges of said open top bags and unwinding them from said roll with a continuous, nonintermittent movement, c. a conduit for delivering flexible tubes to a position adjacent an outer side of said web of bags, d. a tube carrier for gripping said tubes, blocking passage therethrough and bending one end thereof through approximately 90* into engagement with said outer side of said web of bags, e. an endless chain trained about spaced apart sprockets and bearing said tube carriers, f. means for driving at least one of said sprockets in synchronism with said unwinding means, g. a Geneva wheel mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axes of said sprockets and driven by engagement with said tube carriers, h. a base wheel driven by rotation of said Geneva wheel about a common axis and having outwardly projecting spokes, i. means defining outwardly and oppositely opening sets of channels in said spokes, j. a pair of intersecting master slide arms received in and slidable within one of said sets of channels opening outwardly in one direction, k. a cam follower mounted on each end of each of said master slide arms, l. a cam track engageable by said slide arm cam followers and having a horizontal branch coextensive with a portion of an upper reach of said tube carriers endless chain and upstream and downstream branches curving into and away from said horizontal branch, m. a pair of intersecting slave slide arms lying in substantially the same vertical plane as said open top bags and received in and slidable within a second of said sets of channels opening outwardly in a direction opposite to said one set of channels, n. interconnecting pins extending from each of said master slide arms through slots formed in said channels and into corresponding ones of said slave slide arms to cause sliding movement thereof into and out of said open top bags in response to sliding movement of said master slide arms, o. a lever mounted on each end of each of said slave slide arms for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said common axis of said base and Geneva wheels, p. each of said levers including a cam follower mounted on one end thereof and a grommet carrying head mounted on an opposite end thereof, q. cam tracks carried by and extending longitudinally of said second set of channels and engageable by said lever cam followers such that sliding movement of said slave slide arms in said second set of channels will cause said grommet carrying heads to pivot outwardly of said second set of channels when said slave slide arms are adjacent their uppermost and lowermost positions during rotation thereof within said second set of channels of said base wheel, r. means for positioning a grommet adjacent said uppermost position of said slave slide arms for engagement by said grommet carrying heads as they pivot outwardly of said second set of channels, s. each of said grommet carrying heads being positioned within one of said open top bags opposite the bent over end of one of said tubes as said grommet carrying heads pivot outwardly adjacent said lowermost position to cause a grommet to enter an end of a tube positioned oppositely thereto, and t. means for delivering pressurized air through said grommet carrying head as a grommet carried thereby enters an end of a tube to assist in puncturing a wall of a bag and expand saId tube end to facilitate entry of the grommet thereinto.

24. A method of applying tubes to the walls of moving bags comprising: a. positioning a tube adjacent one side of a wall of a bag and maintaining an end of the tube in that position during movement of the bag, b. positioning a tube fastener on an opposite side of the wall of the bag opposite said tube end and maintaining said tube fastener in position opposite said tube end during movement of the bag, and c. moving said tube end and tube fastener into engagement with each other as said bag continues to move, thereby attaching said tube to said bag with a portion of the wall thereof gripped between said tube end and said tube fastener.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of positioning said tube fastener comprises: a. inserting said tube fastener into said bag.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of moving said tube end and a tube fastener with said bag comprises: a. moving said tube end and tube fastener along a linear path.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of bringing said tube end and said tube fastener into engagement comprises: a. telescopically engaging said tube fastener with said tube end, and b. injecting a pressurized fluid through said tube fastener as said tube fastener is telescopically engaged with said tube.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising: a. closing said tube at a point spaced from said end thereof prior to the injection of pressurized fluid through said tube fastener to cause said tube to expand as pressurized fluid is injected through said tube fastener to facilitate insertion of said fastener into said tube.