US3728774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire clip closure machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-10
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1991-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A machine for fastening wire clips around the ends of bags or casings, such as used for packaging meats and foods, includes an air actuated cylinder which drives a movable block having a cutting edge at the forward end. The cylinder rod is also connected to a plunger which reciprocates within a longitudinal channel in the block. A section of wire is fed into the path of the block which moves forward to cut off a desired length and form the wire over an inverted U-shaped die. The like shaped wire is forced into the channel while another internal surface of the block moves the die back out of the path. The plunger also moves along the channel to force the ends of the wire into curved grooves in a closure die which wraps the ends of the wire together to form an overlapping loop around the end of a bag to enclose the package. All of the operations are performed in one continuous stroke of the main air cylinder with the sequence controlled by different linkages connecting the block and plunger so that the block has a shorter slower stroke than the plunger. Two additional air cylinders are operated following the closure of the bag. One actuates a knife to cut the trailing end of the enclosed bag and the other feeds the proper length of wire under the block upon the return stroke of the main cylinder and before the start of the next sequence of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 A Steller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B51/00; B65B51/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A wire clip closure machine comprising: a support frame, a first fluid actuated cylinder mounted at one end of said frame, said cylinder including a longitudinally disposed reciprocating rod driven by said cylinder, a movable block spaced from said rod and having an inner longitudinal channel and a cutting edge on an outer end surface, a plunger coupled to said rod and being slidably disposed in said channel, means coupling said block to said rod and plunger so that said block has a shorter slower movement than said plunger, an intermediate shaping die positioned for lateral movement into and out of the path of said block and channel and having an inverted U-shaped surface, a stationary closure die positioned at an opposite end of said frame and having rounded angled grooves in a surface disposed in the path of said block and plunger, means for feeding a fixed length of wire transversely into said path of said block and over said shaping die, and means for actuating said cylinder and rod to cause forward longitudinal movement of said block to cut said length of wire and form said wire around said shaping die into an inverted Ushaped clip and move said shaping die laterally out of said path, said channel engaging said wire clip, further movement of said block directing the ends of said wire clip into engagement with said closure die, and forward movement of said plunger in said channel forcing said wire ends into said grooves to form a loop having adjacent overlapping ends, all of said movements occuring during one continuous stroke of said cylinder and rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A wire clip closure machine comprising: a support frame, a first fluid actuated cylinder mounted at one end of said frame, said cylinder including a longitudinally disposed reciprocating rod driven by said cylinder, a movable block spaced from said rod and having an inner longitudinal channel and a cutting edge on an outer end surface, a plunger coupled to said rod and being slidably disposed in said channel, means coupling said block to said rod and plunger so that said block has a shorter slower movement than said plunger, an intermediate shaping die positioned for lateral movement into and out of the path of said block and channel and having an inverted U-shaped surface, a stationary closure die positioned at an opposite end of said frame and having rounded angled grooves in a surface disposed in the path of said block and plunger, means for feeding a fixed length of wire transversely into said path of said block and over said shaping die, and means for actuating said cylinder and rod to cause forward longitudinal movement of said block to cut said length of wire and form said wire around said shaping die into an inverted Ushaped clip and move said shaping die laterally out of said path, said channel engaging said wire clip, further movement of said block directing the ends of said wire clip into engagement with said closure die, and forward movement of said plunger in said channel forcing said wire ends into said grooves to form a loop having adjacent overlapping ends, all of said movements occuring during one continuous stroke of said cylinder and rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 1 including means for guiding an end of a food container of thin resilient material into said path in a lateral position over said closure die, said wire clip being formed into said loop around said end of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said means coupling said block to said rod and plunger includes a first linkage having one end pivotally mounted on said support frame and the other end slidably connected to said rod and plunger and a second linkage having one end pivotable on said first linkage and the other end pivotally secured to said block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said shaping die includes tapered surfaces extending along the sides of said inverted U-shaped surface and said block includes an outer longitudinal channel communicating at a forward end with said inner longitudinal channel, said end of said outer channel having tapered surfaces along the sides adapted to engage the tapered surfaces of said shaping die, forward movement of said block causing engagement of the respective tapered surfaces to move said shaping die laterally out of said path, said outer channel being slidable along and accommodating the end of said U-shaped surface out of said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 4 including resilient means normally positioning said shaping die in said path and a housing accommodating the lateral movement of said shaping die.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 5 including means for synchronizing Said wire feeding means with said cylinder actuating means to feed said wire into said block before the forward movement of said block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said fluid cylinder is a compressed air actuated cylinder and including manually operable valve control means for actuating said air cylinder, release of said valve control means causing the return of said rod, block and plunger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said wire feeding means includes a second air cylinder and a valve switch actuated by the return stroke of said first cylinder rod and coupling means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said support frame includes two side panels, a pair of spaced guide blocks mounted between said panels and having a third longitudinal channel therebetween, said movable block being slidably disposed in said third channel, said guiding means for said food container including guideways in said side panels for receiving said container end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 9 including means for cutting the trailing end of said food container, said cutting means including a third air cylinder positioned at the opposite end of said support frame and a knife connected to said third cylinder, said closure die including a shallow channel for said knife, and means for actuating said third cylinder and knife upon release of said valve control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 10 including a shut-off valve connected between said valve control means and said third air cylinder for deactuating said knife.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |