US2376289A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1945.

K. STEN GLEIN PACKAGING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb 4, 1942 INVENTOR 52 6, ea )2,

Kai"! y 1945- Y K. STENGLEIN 2,376,289

. PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Anoril ysv y 1945- K. STENGLEIN PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Fep. 4, 1942 w 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 46M ya.

INVENTOR lzgl ifl.

9 ATTom z Patented May 1 5, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING APPARATUS Karl Stenglein, Saginaw, Mich. Application February 4, 1942, Serial No. 429,441

13 Claims.

This invention relates to packaging apparatus and particularly to apparatus which is adapted to package material consisting of relatively small loose particles or material which is comminuted and in a substantially dry state, particularly in containers of the envelope type, the principal ob- Ject being the provision of apparatus of this type that is substantially automatic in operation, simple in construction and relatively economical to build.

Objects of the invention include the provision of means progressively presenting envelope-like containers in a position to be filled, opening the .flap of the container and then filling the con tainer; and the provision of means for feeding a pack of envelope-like containers one after the other to a position to be filled, filling each of said containers in turn and then disengaging it from clprocation of the slide; the provision of apparatus as above described including means for rendering the valve inoperative to discharge material from the slide whenever the machine is stopped; the provision of apparatus as above described in which means are provided for adjustably controlling the point in the reciprocable movement of the slide at which the valve is opened; and the provision in apparatus of the type described of means for adjustably controlling the length of time the valve remains open and, therefore, the amount of material discharged from the spout during each reciprocation of the slide.

Further objects 'of the invention include the provision of a novel form of means in apparatus of the type described for effecting pivotal movement of the spout on the slide during reciprocation of the slide in one direction only; the provision of a novel form of switch mechanism actuated by movement of the slide for controlling the opening and closing positions of the material discharge valve; and the provision in apparatus of the type described of means for stopping the apparatus when the supply of container fed to ent invention;

Fig. 2 i an enlarged fragmentary, partially broken and partially'sectioned side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the construction of the reciprocableslide in greater detail;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the envelope closing and sealing mechanism for the packages;

Fig, 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the switch mechanism actuated by reciprocation of the slide and employed for controlling the opening and closing of the material discharge valve;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the containers employed in the apparatus shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary partially broken, partially sectioned side elevational view of the material feeding and package opening and discharging portion of the apparatus with the control mechanism therefor, showing the same in greater detail; and,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 and illustrating the nozzle pivoting mechanism.

The present invention particularly relates to apparatus for filling envelopes with predetermined amounts of material which consists of relatively small, loose particles or material which is comminuted and in a substantially dry state, although it will be appreciated from the following description and explanation that the material measuring. and feeding portion of the apparatus is applicable for filling containers of substantially any conventional form, as for instance set up boxes or cartons, and the apparatus may be adapted to fill such other types of containers by.

a relatively simple modification thereof. Accordingly, a far as such features of the apparatus of the present invention are concerned it will be understood that they are not limited solely to the filling of envelopes.

Envelopes are employed to package a great variety of materials for a number of different purposes. Some materials such as dyes in powdered form, garden seeds, and the like are convention-' ally sold as complete packages in envelope-type containers. Dry comminuted materials, such for instance as powdered soap orlike cleaning materials, conventionally sold in boxes are conventionally distributed as samples in envelope-type packages. Envelopes as received by the one who is to effect the packaging normally have their flapsclosed which thus requires such flaps to be opened before the material can be introduced thereinto. In the past it has been conventional practice by those who desire to package material in envelopelike containers to fill such containers by hand, the result being that the filling of the containers is a relatively slow and expensive operation and the contents of various envelopes are liable tovary t a greater or lesser extent.

In accordance with the present invention envelopes received with the closed flaps are simply stacked in the apparatus, the hopper of the apparatus is filled with the material which is to be packaged, and upon setting the apparatus in operation the envelopes are successively opened,

filled with a predetermined amount of material and the flaps are closed and sealed, all of this being accomplished without human aid except that required to start and stop the apparatus and to maintain the envelope and material hoppers filled. It will, of course, be appreciated that the mechanism for closing and sealing th envelope containers is not limited in its application to the particular material feeding mechanism disclosed herein but is a separate invention which forms the subject matter of my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States on the same subject as the present application, filed March 19, 1945 and serially numbered 583,442, the same being a division of the present application.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the apparatus or machine includes a frame or base of generally rectangular conformation including vertically extending comer legs l6 interconnected by lower cross-members I2 and upper cross-members l4.

' A floor-like support I6 is extended over and secured between the lower cross-members l2. Upon the floor I6 is supported and secured a gear reduction mechanism indicated generally at I8 having a horizontally directed in-put or drive shaft 26 and a vertically directed output or driven shaft 22 projecting upwardly through the top thereof. The in-put shaft 26 is driven by means of a pair of bevelled gears 24 and 26 from the output shaft 28 of a second gear reduction mechanism 36 also mounted on the floor IS. The gear reduction mechanism'36 is provided with a drive or in-put shaft 32 carrying a pulley which is driven from an electric motor 36 supported on the upper crossmembers M, by means of a, belt 38. The output shaft 28 of this second gear reduction mechanism 30 has fixed thereto a cam 48 provided with a single peripheral lobe 42. The function of the cam 40 will be described later.

Output shaft 22 of the gear reducing unit I 8 has fixed to its upper end a supporting flange 44 which in turn supports thereon in concentric relation with respect to the shaft 22 a circular head 46 shown for the purpose of convenience in the form of a solid disc. As best brought out in Fig. 4 the head 46 has secured to the periphery thereof in equally angularly spaced relation about its axis a plurality of radially outwardly projecting spacer members 48. These spacer members 48 are preferably formed from sheet metal and arranged in their planes of thickness parallel to the axis of rotation of the head 46. The outer end of each spacer element 48 is bent into parallelism with the corresponding portion of the periphery of the head 46 and surrounding and supported on such bent ends of the spacer members 48 is a ring element 50 preferably formed from sheet metal and of a material depth as indicated. The spacer members 48 and ring 50 are of equal depth and materially less than the thickness of the head 46 and are located above the lower edge of the head 46 and a material distance below the upper face thereof. Thus a pocket 52' is formed between each adjacent pair of spacers48 between the periphery of the head 46 and the ring 50 and such pockets are open both atthe top and bottom thereof. As perhaps best brought out in Fig. 1 the head 46 is provided with a peripheral groove 54 therein immediately above its lower edge and below the lower edge of the ring 50, the purpose of which will hereafter be more fully described.

As brought out in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 and particularly in the latter figure a plate member 56 is arure, to a point angularly about the axis of the disc-in a counterclockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Fig. 4 approximately 45 degrees therefrom, the inner edge portion of the plate 56 being cut away along a curve struck from the axis of rotation of the head 46. The plate 56-thus underlies those pockets 52 located directly thereabout and serves as a means for preventing the envelopes from falling directly through the pockets when positioned over the plate 56 as will hereinafter be more apparent.

Supported between a pair of angle members 66, extending between the front and rear upper crossmembers l4 and directly above the axis of the head 46 is an envelope hopper indicated generally at 62. This hopper has sectioned ledges 64 projecting inwardly at the bottom of the spaced side walls 66 thereof whereby to provide a bottom support for the envelopes which are received therein. The side walls are spaced from one another by a width corresponding with the width of the envelopes to be filled and one of which envelopes is shown in perspective at 68 in Fig. 6, in the condition in which it is received for filling, that is with its flap III in closed but unsealed condition. The envelopes 68 are placed in the trough or hopper 62 with their long dimensions vertical and with the flaps 16 at the upper ends thereof and facing towards the front of the machine. The

height of the sides 66 of the trough 62 is less than end of the hopper 62 disposed at the front end of the machine by means of a follower block I2 lidably received in the hopper 62 and constantly therethrough to the nozzle 88.

urged forwardly by means of a weight 14 connected to the follower block 12. by means of a cable 18 passing over suitably supported sheaves 18 and 88 as brought out in Fig. 2.

Each side 88 of the envelope'hopper 82 has fixed to its forward end an angle member 82 one flange of which lies in flat contacting relation with respect to the outer side face J of such side member 88 and the remaining flange of 'which extends across'the forward end, of such side member 68 and projects inwardly a slight distance beyond the inner face thereof as best brought out in Figs. 1 and 4. Thesemembers 82 thus project into the path of movement of the outer edges of the envelopes 88 in their passage through the hopper 82 and prevent the envelopes from being ejected from the hopper under the influence of the weight 18 acting through the follower block 12. It will thus be appreciated that each envelope 88 in turn is presented in flat- 2 and 7 a tube 84 is provided with a flattened end forming a nozzle 86 and the nozzle end of the tube 88 lies immediately in advance of the righthand member 82 of the hopper 82, a viewed in Fig. l, withthe nozzle 88 thereof positioned approximately midway the height; of such member '82 and not only directed inwardly towards the center of the flap 18 of the foremost envelope 88 as indicated in Fig. 1 but angularly against the face of such envelope as brought out in Figs.

.2and 7.

The tube 84 is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure and interposed in the length of the tube 84 is a valve 88, shown in Fig. 1. there indicated the valve 88 is provided with a control arm 98 pivoted between its ends to the valve at 82 and the pivotal position of which controls the opening and closing of the valve 88.

A coil spring 84 tensioned between one end of the arm 88 and one of the frame side members I l, as illustrated in Fig. 1, constantly urges the arm 98 towards a closed valve position. The opposite end of the arm 98 is provided with a roller it mounted thereon which rides on the periphery of the cam 88. .When the roller 88 rides on that portion of the periphery of the cam 88 angularly beyond the lobe 32 thereof the spring 94 serves to hold the valve 88 in closed position. When the lobe 82 rotates to a position in which it engages the roller 88 it acts therethrough to pivot the arm 88 to a position in which the valve 88 is opened and therefore, permits the flow of air The lobe 82 being of a relatively small angular extent thus serves to momentarily open the valve 88 during each rotation of the cam 88. When the valve 88 is thus opened by the lobe 42 of the cam 88, the air rushes through the tube 88 and is discharged from the'nozzle 88 against the forward face of the foremost envelope 68 in the hopper 82 and. flowing inwardly and upwardly over the face of such envelope,- strikes the flap 18 thereof and forcefully blows it to the'open position illustrated in Fig. 7. This opening of the flap 18 of the leading envelope 88 is, of course, timed with other members I4 and forwardly thereof bymeans of a spaced pair of channels J82 which, in turn, are

' supported from the front and rear cross-memopposite side walls of the slot I88 and project into,

bers I4 by means of vertically extending legs I84 as best brought out in Figs. 1 and 2. The hopper I88 is positioned with the plane of its rear face, as viewed in Fig. 1, approximately in the plane of the forward end of the envelope hopper 82 as best brought out in Fig. 7. Further thehopper I88 as best brought out in Fig. 1 is positioned with its righthand marginal portion directly over the envelope hopper 82. Also as best brought out in Fig. 1 the front wall of the hopper I88 stops short of tlte top of the hopper I88 so as to facilitate the loading of the hopper with material from the front thereof.

The hopper I88 is provided with a vertical slot I88 in its rear wall extending from the top to the bottom thereof in vertical alignment with the envelope hopper 82 as viewed in Fig. l, and a slide indicated generally at I81 is reciprocably arranged within such slot. In the particular construction of the hopper I88 shown it is assumed to be made of. wood and of substantial wall thickness. As best brought out in Fig. 3 the slide I81 which is of substantially the same width as the slot I88 and is slidably received therein comprises a wooden member I88 having a metal forward face plate H8, the combined thicknesses of which substantially equal the thickness of the rear wall of the hopper I88. In order to guide the slide I81 for vertical sliding movement in the slot I88, keys II2 are inserted centrally in the such slot, the member 888 being provided with cooperating grooves for slidably receiving such keys II2 therein.

The slide member I88 is provided with a relatively large groove II! in its forward face and over the length thereof and the groove Ill is closed over its length by the plate II8 except at that position thereof adjacent to the bottom of the hopper I88 where it is cut out over the width of the groove I I4 as indicated at H6 in Figs. 3 and 7. An additional plate member H8 is se cured to the inner face of the rear wall of the hopper I88 over the height of the slot I86 and is provided with a flange I28 secured to the ad jacent side wall of the hopper I88. I I8 thus serves as a means for rigidifying that corner of the hopper M8 in which the slot M8 is formed. Also as indicated. in Figs. 3 and 7 the plate H8 is provided with an opening I 22 therein extending upwardly a short distance from the bottom of the hopper I88 and of a width corresponding with the width of the groove H4 in the slide. The material with which the hopper I88 is. loaded and which comprises small particles of or comminuted' dry material E28 is thus free to flow through the opening I22 in the plate H8 and through the opening H6 in the slide I81 into the hollow interior of the slide formed by the groove H4 and through which it may flow downwardly to the lower end of the slide. The slide I81,'-of course, reciprocates during operation of the machine and this movement of the slide aids in jarring the material I24 down over the The plate cent the bottom end thereof.

opening I22 in the plate Ill at all times so as to permit the'free flow of material into the hollow interior of the slide. v

As best brought out in Fig. '7, the lower end of the slide I01 is cut off at an angle and the discharge of material therefrom is controlled by a valve I30. The valve I30 comprises a fiat platelike member pivoted at .I32 between its ends to a bracket I34 fixed to the plate member IIO adja- That end of the valve member I30 outwardly of the slide I01 from I01 so as to close' the slide to the discharge of.

material through it. The means for actuating the valve I30 will hereafter be explained.

In order to efiect reciprocation of the slide I01 a double armed lever I40, as best brought out in Fig. 1, is pivotally mounted between its ends on a pin I42 suitably fixed to the rear wall ofthe hopper I00, so as to swing in a plane parallel to such rear Wall. A link I44 pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the righthand end of the lever I40 as viewed in Fig. 1 and to the slide I01 serves to interconnect these two parts for simultaneous movement. The lefthandv end of the lever I40, as viewed in Fig. 1, is connected by means of a link I46 with a pin I48 projecting outwardly from a side face of the cam 40 in offset relationwith respect to the axis of rotation thereof. Consequently rotation of the cam 40 eifects reciprocation of the link I46 which in turn effects oscillation of the lever I40 and reciprocation of the slide I01. The link I44 is preferably adjustable in length so as to enable the limits of reciprocable movement of the slide I01 to be adjusted up or down through adjustment of the length thereof. It may be noted at this point that inasmuch as the slide I 01 and the air valve 88 are both controlled through operation of the cam 40, they are, therefore, controlled in timed relation with respect to each other.

In order to control the material control valve I30 the following mechanism is provided. A vertically extending rod I50 is supported in a bracket I52.secure d to the right-hand face of the lar to the plane of thickness of the aforementioned links. That portion of the plate member I16 extending between the connected free ends of the links I10 is straight and vertically disposed in parallelism with the link I12 so as to net, the armature I60 acting through the links I14 and I12 will turn the links I10 in a direction which will move the plate or track member I16 outwardly away fro'mrthe pivotal points between the links I10 and the cross-bar I68, and that when the magnet I58 is de-energized a small amount of pressure only will be neededto return these parts to the position indicated-in Fig. 7.

Asjbest brought out in Fig. 7 the plate or track I16 is arranged in cooperative relationship with respect to the roller I36 on the valve member I30 controlling the flow of material I24 from the slide I01. Its relationship is such that when the magnet I58 is not energized, and which condition of the magnet I58 is illustrated in Fig. '7, the roller I38 in pressing against the track member I16 will press the track member I16 inwardly to cause clockwise rotational movement of the links I10 as viewed in Fig. '7 as the slide I01 moves downwardly and carries the roller I36 over the track member I16. If the weight of the roller I36 is not sufficient to effect the above described function, then suitable spring means (not shown) may be connected between the valve I30 and the slide I01 to assist the weight of the roller I 36 in this end I18 of the track I16, and the magnet I being of sufiicient strength to withstand the force an armature I60 movably associated therewith,

As best brought out in Fig. 1 the rod I50 has ad- 'justably secured thereto. by means of the set screw I64 a second laterally projecting arm I65,

the free end of which, as best brought out in Fig. 7, has fixed thereto a vertically directed cross-bar I68 extending both above and below the same. A link I10 is pivotally mounted between its ends to each of the opposite ends of of the roller I36 on the track I16, the roller I 36 will be forced to ride over the face of the plate or track I16 and in so doing will cause the valve I30 to pivot about its pivot point I32 in a clockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Fig. '7 and thus uncover the lower end of the slide I01 so as to permit the discharge of material I24 through such lower end of the slide. "I'his is the relation of parts illustrated in Fig. 2. -It will ;be appreciated, however, that the point in the reciprocable movement of the slide I01 at which the roller I36 engages the track member I15 and, therefore, opens the valve I30 under such conditions, may be varied by varying the vertical position of the rod I50 and consequently the vertical position of the track member I16. Thus the point in the reciprocable movement of the slide I01 at which the material valve I30 opens may be readily adjusted'to correspond with any particular desired amount of material I24 which is to be discharged from the slide during each reciprocable movement thereof.

With the construction thus far described it will be appreciated that if the magnet I58 was energized at all times when the machine was operating, then the material valve I30 would be opened while the slide I01 was approaching the lower limit of its movable position and also while it was moving away from such position. It is preferred to close the valve I30 as it reaches approximately its bottom limit of reciprocable movement in order to obtain more accurate control of the volume of material discharged from the slide. 1

The closing of the valve I30 at the bottom limit of reciprocable movement of the slide I01 is accomplished by de-energizing the magnet I58 at or about the time the slide I01 reaches the lowermost limit of its reciprocable position. For accomplishing this result a switch, indicated generally at I80 in Figs. 2 and 5, is located at the rear corner of the hopper I adjacent the slide I01. As best brought out in Fig. 5 the switch I80 is provided with a pair of parallel spring arms I82 each of which carries a contact P int I84 in cooperative and opposed relation with respect to the other. The spring arms I82 and contacts I84 are so positioned and arranged that when free of external influences the contacts I84 are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other as illustrated in Fig. 5. The arms I82 are connected in series with the magnet I58 previously described.

To control the switch I80 the following mechanism is provided. Below the switch I80 an arm 1 I86 is pivotally secured to the side wall of the hopper I00 as at I88. On its upper surface the arm I 86 carries a button I90 of insulation material in vertical alignment with the contacts I84 and in a position to contact the lower face of the lower arm I82. A tension spring I92 cooperates between the arm I86 and the hopper I00 to constantly urge the arm I86 in a counterclockwise direction of movement as viewed in Fig. 5 and, therefore, towards a position in which the arm I86 will act through the button I90 to spring the lower arm I82 upwardly and to bring the contacts I84 into engagement with each other whereby to close the circuit through the magnet I58 and, therefore, place the track member I16 in itsv operative position.

Pivotally mounted on the hopper I00 at I94 above the switch I80 and arm I86 is a bellorank lever having a downwardly directed arm I96 and a rearwardly extending arm I98. The lower or free end of the arm I 96 extends downwardly to a position in which it is engageable with the upper surface of the arm I86. A coil spring 200 tensioned between the arm I96 and the hopper I00 constantly urges the above described bellorank in a direction of clockwise movement about its pivot point I94 as viewed in Fig. 5 and when moved to the limit of its movement in such direction the engagement of the free end of the a'rm IQB of the bellorank with the arm or lever I86 serveseach other.

Both the arm or lever I86 and the rearwardly extending arm I98 of th bellorank project rearwardly beyond therear face of the hopper I00 as illustrated in Fig. 5.* A channel sectioned member 202 is fixed to the rear face of the slide member I08 and extends laterally to a'position between the rearwardly extending ends of the nism is as follows.

bellorank arm I98 and of the arm or lever I86.

It is thus in a position where it may engage such rearwardlyextending ends as it approaches the opposite limits of its reciprocable positions.

/ The operation of the above described mecha- The position of the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 5 is the position it assumes when the slide I01 is moving upwardly. As will be appreciated under such conditions the switch I80 is in open circuit position and, accordingly, tne magnet I58 is de-energized and consequently the material valve I30 is closed. As the slide I01 moves upwardly the member 202 will engage the free end of the bellorank arm I98 and as the slice continues its upward movement this engagement will forcefully cause the bellorank |96-| :18 to pivot towards the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5', so that just before the slide I 01 reaches the upper limit of its reciprocable position the spring I92 will have been enabled to swing the arm l86 to a position in which tne contacts I84 are brought into contact with each other, thus closing the circuit to the magnet I58 and positioning the track member I16 in a position to engage theroller I36 and to open the valve I30 during the ensuing down stroke of the slide I01. The force of the spring I912 is greater than that of the spring 200 so that during the ensuing down stroke of the slide I01 and because dicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thus the magnet we will remain energized during the down- .ward movement of the slide I01 and until such time as the member 202 fixed to the slide approaches the bottom limit of its reciprocable po sition upon which the member 202 will contact with the track member I15.

the rearwardly extending end of the arm I86 and Will press it downwardly against the force of the spring I92. This action of the member I02 has two eifects, the first of which is to separate the contacts I84 thus to break the circuit to the magnet I58 and permit the material valve I30 to close, and, second, to permit the spring 200 to swing the bellorank to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 5 thereby to lock the arm I86 against upward movement during the ensuing upward stroke of the slide.

Tnus the mechanism provided as above described is such as to close the circuit to the magnet I58 during substantially the entire down stroke of the slide I01 and to break the circuit to such magnet during substantially the entire up-stroke thereof. Thus, the valve I30 is closed during the entire up-stroke of the slide and is opened only during that portion of the down stroke thereof that the. roller I36 is in contact As previously mentioned inasmuch as the track member I16 may oe adjusted vertically to vary its point of engagement with the roller I38 during the down stroke of tne slide, it will be appreciated that the time element during which the control valve I is opened during eaohcomplete cycle of operation of th device may be varied to obtain any predetermined volume of discharge upon each stroke of the slide that is desired.

In order to introduce the material I24 discharged from the slide I01 under the control of the valve I80 into the envelopes 68 the following a mechanism is provided. A spout or nozzle memher 210 is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper thereof. The spout 2!!! is provided with an enlarged funnel-like upper end which surrounds the lower end of the slide I01, as well as the coopcrating end of the valve I30 when the slide is at the upper limit of its reciprocable movement.

The lower end of the spout 2"] is cut off on an angle to impart a downwardly and inwardly pointed end to the same. As best brought out in Fig. 7 the pivot pin 2l2 is so arranged that the lower end of the spout 2 l is movable towards and from the front end of the envelope hopper 62. The stroke of the slide I01 and consequently the spout 2 I 0 is such that when at the upper end of its reciprocatory movement the point 2 of the spout. 2I0 is above the upper edges of the envelope 68 in the hopper 62 when the fiaps HI thereof are closed, but is below the upper edge of the upturned flap Ill of the foremost envelope 68 which is the envelope which is to be filled upon the next downward stroke of the nozzle. When the spout 210 is at the bottom limit of its vertically reciprocable movement the point 2% approaches but is short of the bottom edges of the envelopes 68 in the hopper 62.

The point 2! of the spout 210 is intended, on its downward stroke, to enter the open upper end of the leading envelope 68 after which the valve B30 is opened to discharge the material I2 5 through the spout am into such envelope 68, all of such material thus fed to the spout Zlfl either being discharged into the leading envelope 68 either during such downward stroke or additionally during the ensuing up-stroke. In order to insure the point am of the spout 2") thus entering the open upper end of the leading envelope 68, the spout 210 is constantly urged by spring means in a counterclockwise direction of movement as viewed in Figs. 2 and 7. This is accomplished by means of an upwardly extending arm 21s fixed to and projecting upwardly from the rear face of the spout 2 I0. At its upper end the arm 2l6 has pivotally secured thereto by means of a pin 2|8 a rearwardly extending arm 22!]. A

pair of springs 222 and 224 which will hereafter be more fully described constantly urges the arm 220 bodily forwardly, or to the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and '7, thereby to urge th spout 2m to pivot about its pivot point 2l2 in a counterclockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Figs. 2 and '7. A further function of the springs 222 and 224 will hereafter be described and means which will also hereinafter be described are provided for limiting the counterclockwise movement of the spout 2"] so that when the spout 2H] is at such limit of its pivotal .movement the point 2 l4 thereof will be lightly but relatively firmly pressed in the forward face of the outermost envelope 68 in the envelope hopper 62. One thing that is important to note is that the pivot pin 2l8 for the arm 220 is arranged in perpendicular relationship to the axis of the pin M2 for pivotally supporting the spout 2 In so that the arm 220 is pivotal in a plane parallel to the axis of the pivot pin 2l2 for the nozzle 2). r

There are two features which are relied upon for discharging the filled envelopes from the hopper 82. In the first place it will be recalled that the envelopes 68 are held against inadvertent discharge from the hopper 82 by means of the members 82 which project inwardly from each side 66 of the envelope hopper 62 and engage the outer marginal edge portions of the leading envelope 68. The spout 2M being relatively thick in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the enthe lower end thereof, sufficiently to allow the that when the spout 210 is projected downwardly into the open upper end of the leading envelope 68 in the hopper 82- it will serve to separatethe front and back walls of the envelope and thus decrease its lateral dimensions, particularly above sides of the envelopes to move freely forwardly between the opposed edges of the members 82. Thus the upper portion ,of the envelope is readily released from the hopper 62. The lower end of the envelope is, however, not so readily decreased in lateral dimensions and in order .to

release this end of the envelope and to positively eject the entire envelope from the hopper 62 the spout 2| 0 is caused to pivot forwardly about its pivot pin 2l2 to thus forcefully withdraw the leading envelope from the hopper 32 upon which the envelope is free to drop off the spout 2m under the influence of gravity;

In the broader aspects of the invention it makes no difference whether the spout 2 I ii is thus caused to pivot to eject the leading envelope 6B fromthe hopper 62 when the spout 2m nears the bottom of its downward stroke or after it has started upwardly on its upward stroke. The latter arrangement is preferred in that it allows more time for the material discharged into the spout 2! to be discharged therefrom into the envelope 68 and also because of the fact that it has been found that the material flows more freely from the spout 2N! during its upward movement in the envelope, the end of the spout in such-case thus automatically providing a space in the envelope for the material to flow from the point 2M of of the spout 2 90. Accordingly, this arrangement of the mechanism is illustrated in the drawings.

In order to effect this pivotal movement of the spout 2N1 the following mechanism is provided. A bracket 230, best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is fixed to the underside of the righthand channel member M12, as viewed from the front of the machine, and slightly rearwardly of. the slide Hill. A laterally adjustable arm 232 is rigidly clampedin the bracket 23% and projects to the left thereof as viewed in Fig. 8. On its outer end the arm 232 has fixedly secured thereto a rigid rectangular frame 233 having a pair of laterally spaced plate-like side members 234 and 236 and" connecting thickened end members. The side members 234 and 236 are located laterally of the machine equally on opposite sides of the pivot pin 2!!! securing the arm 220 to the arm 2I6 of the nozzle 2H1.

The rear faces of the members 234 and 238 are straight and'vertically disposed except that the member 236 only is provided between its ends and over the lowermost portion thereof with a rearwardly extending cam portion 238. The arm 220 has pivotally mounted thereon a pair of rollers 240, one on each. side thereof, which are adapted to engage the rear edges of the members 234 and 236. The righthand roller 240, as viewed in Fig. 8, is adapted to engage the rear edge of the righthand member 234 during the downward movement of the slide I01 and spout 2H) and the lefthand roller 240 to engage the rear edge of the lefthand member 236 during upward movement thereof, the other roller in each case being free of engagement with its corresponding side member 234 or 236 as the case may be. The straight portions of the rear edges of the members 234 and 236 are preferably so located that the springs :22 and 224 in urging the spout 2!! in a counterclockwise direction of velopes 6B in the hopper 62, it will be appreciated 16 rotation as viewed in Fig. '7 limit such movement of the spout 2l0 through engagement with the rollers 24!) to such a position that the point 2 of the spout 2) is pressed lightly but firmly against the forward face of the leading envelope 38 in the hopper 62 as previously mentioned, this being the means, therefore, previously referred to for effecting this result.

It will be appreciated that as the slide l! and spout 2! move downwardly at which time the righthand roller 240 is in contact with the straight rear edge of the side member 234 the point 2 of the spout 2") will enter the open upper end of the leading envelope 68 in the hopper 52 and be projected almost to the bottom thereof. When the spout 210 reaches the bottom end of its strokeas above described the arm 220 is then pivoted to slide the rollers 240 across the bottom member of the frame 233 and to bring the lefthand roller 24!] into alignment with the side member 236 and into contact with the rear edge thereof so that during the ensuing upward stroke such roller 240 will ride up over the rear edge of the member 235 and will maintain the spout 210 in a position as controlled thereby.

When the arm 220 is thus shifted at the bottom end of the stroke of the slide I01 the lefthand roller 240., in engaging the rear edge of the member 235, will first engage the straight lower portion thereof. As the slide I01 moves upwardly carrying the arm 220 and rollers 24!] therewith the lefthand roller 240 will. engage the cam 238 which will pull the arm 220 bodily to the right as viewed in Fig. 7 and consequently the upper end of the arm 218 to the right and cause the spout M0 to pivot in a clockwise directionof rotation as viewed in Fig. 7 from its normal vertical position. At the .time such pivotal movement of the spout 2) occurs its point H4 is still well within the interior of the leading envelope 5B and, therefore, acts to forcefully disengage such leading envelope from the hopper 62 and move it outwardly from the front end thereof. When this occurs the envelope which, of course,

is weighted with the material I24 is free to drop off of the spout 2H3 under the influence of gravity. The slide I 01 needs to move only a short distance upwardly to move the lefthand roller 240 as viewed in Fig. 8 over the cam 238 and as it Passes over the cam the springs 222and 224 immediately draw such roller into contact with is returned to its vertical position before its up- 1 stroke is completed.

The means for shifting the roller from the side member- 234 to the side member 236 when the spout reaches the lower limit of its reciprocable position and from the side member 236 to the side member 234 when it reaches the upper limit of itsreciprocable position will now be described. A pair of rearwardly extending arms 25!) and 252 are flxed at their forward ends to the bottom and top, respectively, of the frame 233. At their rear ends the arms 250 and 252 are fixed to the bottom and top, respectively, of a plate member 254 arranged with its plane of thickness parallel to the planes of thickness of the sides 234 and 236 of the frame 233 and midway therebetween. The plate member 254 is in such a position that its forward edge'projects forwardly of the rear end of the arm 220 except at its top and bottom where it is cut away as at 256 and 258, respectively, to permit the rear end of the arm 220 to swing transversely therethrough from one side of the member 254 to the opposite side thereof. The forward edge of the'member 254 is so shaped and spaced from the rear edges of the walls 234 and 236 as-to provideample clearance for the rollers 240.

Referring now to Fig. 8 it will be noted that the spring 224 is anchored at its upper end on an arm 260 forming a lateral extension of the :arm 252 and projecting to the left as viewed in Fig. 8,

while the lower end of the spring 222 extends in a the opposite direction and is fixed to one of the legs I04. Thus the anchor point for the upper end of the spring 224 is approximately on the level with the upper end of the frame 233 and to the left thereof while the anchor point for the lower end of the spring 222 is approximately on the level of the lower end of the frame 233 and to the right thereof. It will thus be appreciated that when the spout 2H) and consequently the arm 220 are adjacent the lower limit of their reciprocable positions the spring 222 will be extended a minimum amount and the spring 224 will be extended a maximum amount and, conversely, when the spout 210 is at the upper limit of its reciprocable position and consequently the arm 22B is at the upper end'of the frame 233 the spring 222 will be extended a maximum amount and the spring 224 a minimum amount. The springs 222 and 224 are so arranged that when the arm 22!) and particularly the rollers-24il are in a mid position between their opposite limits of vertical travel they exert an equal force on the arm 220. Consequently when the arm 22!) and .rollers 24!] are at their bottom limit of movement the spring 224 will exert a greater force tending to swing the arm 22!] about the pivot pin 2 I 8 than the spring 222 and when at the upper limit of their vertically movable positions the spring 222 will exert a greater force than the spring 224 tending to pivot the arm 220 about itspin 2H3.

As a result of the foregoing construction it will be appreciated that when the arm 220 and rollers 240 move upwardly and downwardly with the spout 2| 0 the force of the springs 222 and 224 vary, but inasmuch as the rear end of the arm 220 is engaged on either one or the other side of the plate member 254 it cannot shift laterally under the influence of the springs 222 and 224 except when it reaches the limits of its vertically movable position at which time it may shift from one side of the plate 254 to the other side thereof through the cut-out portions 256 or 258 of the plate 254. Inasmuch as the tension of the spring 222 is greatest when the spout 2i0 is at the upper limit of its reciprocable position the force of the spring 22.2 will overcome the force of the sprin 224-and cause the arm 220 to be shifted to the right as viewed in Fig. 8 so as to bring it through the cut-out portion 255 of the plate member 254 and, therefore, to the right side thereof as viewed inFig. 8 in which position of the arm 220 the righthand roller 240 will engage the rear edge of movement and the force of the spring 224 in creases, the arm 226 cannot swing in response 1 thereto and the right-hand roller 240 will be maintained in engagement with the rear edge of the frame side member 234.

Similarly, as shown as the spout 2 I ll reaches the downward limit of its reciprocable position, the force of the spring 224 being greater than the corresponding force of the spring 222 ,at such time, it will cause the arm 226 to be pivoted to the left as viewed in Fig. 8 so as to move the rear end thereof through the cut-out portion 258 of the plate member 254 thus to bring the lefthand roller 246 into engagement with the rear edge of the frame side member 236 and disengage the righthand roller 240 as viewed in Fig. 8 from the rear edge of the righthand frame side member 234; Similarly during the ensuing up-stroke of the spout 2! the rear end of the arm 22!] will now be blocked off by the lefthand face of the plate 266 as viewed in Fig. 8 which will maintain the lefthand roller 24!] in engagement with the lefthand frame member 236, as viewed in Fig. 8, until the spout 2m again reaches the upper limit of its recipr'ocable position at Whichtime the spring 222 will again cause the rear end of the arm 226 to be shifted through the cut-out portion 266 and to return the parts to the position first above described. The lefthand roller 268 in travelling upwardly in contact with the rear face of the side member 236 will first pass up wardly along the straight' lower portion thereof and will then encounter the cam 23B and ride upwardly over it and then engage the straight upper portion.- In riding over the cam 238 the roller 266 in contact therewith will act through the arms 226 and 2|6 and will cause the spout 2 lil to pivot in a clockwise direction of rotation as .viewed in Fig. '7 about the pin H2 and thus forcefully withdraw the leading envelope 66 from the hopper 62. It will be appreciated that at the time the spout 2 I is thus pivoted an appreciable length of the spout is still inserted within the leading envelope 68 so that it has ample purchase on the leading envelope 68 to withdraw it from the envelope hopper. in the spout 2H) at the time it starts its upward movement is, of course, fed out of the spout into the envelope and when the spout pivots forwardly to release the envelope, the envelope is free to drop under the influence of gravity from the spout and any material remaining in the spout will be discharged into-the envelope at such time. cam 238 being relatively short-it will be appreciated that the spout 2H] will return to its normal vertical position before the lower end of the spout reaches the upper edges of the envelopes in the hopper 62 and will'serve to maintain the flap of the next leading envelope in open position. It will thus be appreciated that the above described mechanism operates automatically to normally maintain the spout 2! in a vertical relation but such as to cause the lowerend or point of the spout 2! to be kicked forwardly during its upward movement and during a predetermined phase of such upward movement and-be maintained in its vertical relation during its entire downward movement.

It is to be noted that the flap 10 of the leading envelope 68 in the hopper 62 is blown open and to the upright position illustrated in Fig. 7' at the time the spout 200 is pivoted outwardly in envelope ejecting position as illustrated in Fig. 7,

The

as'raaeo the point of connection of the link I46 therewith that the valve 88 is opened only during the interval that the spout 218 is in its outward pivoted position. The air from the nozzle 66 is, of course, fed against the flap 10 of the leading envelope until the spout 210 returns sufliciently to its upright position to maintain such flap 10 in its upright position without the aid of the blast of air.

The drive for reciprocating the slide I61 and the spout M8 and the circular head 46 are so timed that an envelope 68 is discharged from the 'hopper 62 each time one of the pockets 62 becomes aligned with the forward end of the envelopehopper 62. In order to guide the envelope is formed from sheet metal into generally chan- Any material remaining nel ction and is arranged to receive the filled envelopes 68 as they fall from the lower end of the spout 2m and to slidably direct them rearwardly or towards the center of the head 46 and into the particular pocket 52 aligned therewith at the front of the machine as indicated in Fig. '7. The chute 270 is suitably supported by means of a pair of arms 212 fixed thereto and to one of the frame cross-members I4.

Each envelope 68 as it is thus discharged from the spout 2N) into the chute 210 and from-the chute 216 to a pocket 52 formed between the periphery of the circular head 46 and the ring 56, drops through such pocket until its lower edge strikes the plate 56 therebelow which, therefore, limits further downward movement of the envelope. The upper edges of the envelopes so restingon the plate 66 extend a material distance above the upper edge of the ring 50 and, of course, as received on the plate 56 the flaps 80 thereof are opened. Means are provided for binding the envelopes 68 to the periphery of the head 46, that is to the inner wall of, the corresponding pockets 62, moistening the adhesive on, closing and sealing the flaps ill, and then eventually discharging the envelopes from the pockets 5? and head 46.

In order to thus bind the envelopes to the peripher of the head 46 an endless belt 216, prefer ably in the form of a stretchable rubber element is arranged in encircircling relation with respect to the head 46 above the ring 58 and this belt 216 at the front of the machine is trained over a pulley 218 supported in forwardly spaced relation and the periphery of the head 46. However, it will be appreciated that as the head 46 rotates and carries the-envelopes 68 around therewith in the pockets 62, as soon asthe envelopes reach that .point at which the belt?" normally contacts with ets I2 but-will be maintained in Position therein until-they travel arolmd with-the head 46 to the position in which the belt 216 leaves contact with the peripheryof the head 46, almost a full turn of the head 46, at which time they will fall by gravity out of their corresponding pockets 52 and into a suitable receptacle which may' be provided below the head 46 for receiving them. The belt 215 which is preferably driven with the head 45 simply through frictional engagement therewith, thus serves to automatically bind the envelopes 68 to the head for the closing and sealing operation and then discharge them from the machine.

In order to close and seal the flaps ID of the envelopes 68 a water tank 290 is supported on the plate 56 at a point in the rotational movement of the head 46 shortly after the belt 216 clamps each succeeding envelope to the head 45 during rotation of the latter. The tank 290 is provided with a wick or brush 292 immersed in the water therein and which projectstherefrom into engagement with the periphery of the head 4d at a height thereon at which the flaps Ill of the envelopes are positioned in travelling around with the head, 45. In other words, the free end of the wick or brush is positioned to contact and moisten the adhesive on the flaps ill of the envelopes as the latter are carried around by the head 46. The wick or brush 292 is of a character which absorbs and picks up the water in the tank 290 by a capillary attraction so that as each flap'lll of the envelope Bil passes between it and the periphery of the head 46 the adhesive thereon is moistened by the water in the element 292. The flap is then ready to be closed and sealed.

The closing of. the flaps it is accomplished by means of a metal strip indicated generally at 2st which, as illustrated in Fig. l, is fixed at its forward end to the forward cross-member l 4 and extends angularly downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and then horizontally as at 2%. The lower end of the downwardly extending portion of the strip 294 and the forward portion of the horizontally extending portion 29b of the strip 2% extends partially over the upper face of the head 46, as best brought out in Fig. 4, and in a position in which these portions engage the flap 10 of each envelope 63 in turn as it passes horizontally extending portion 296 is twisted in a direction to bring its outer edge downwardly gradually and is curved into conformance with the periphery of the head 46 so that after the flap Hl of each envelope is initially bent and moistened it is caused to be folded over into closed position against the corresponding face of the envelope, in other words into closed position. The rear end of the strip 294 preferably resiliently presses such flaps inwardly toward the periphery of the head 46 and this is readily accomplished as will be appreciated because of the length of the strip 294 and the fact that it is supported at its forward end only.

As the envelopes 58 in rotating with the head 46 pass beyond the rear end of the strip 294 their flap ends successively engage a plurality of rollers 300 which firmly press the flaps I against the envelopes in order to insure the effective sealing of the same. The rollers 300 are rotatably mounted upon arms 302 the opposite ends of which are suitably pivotally secured to the adjacent frame cross-member l4, and a coil spring 304 is tensioned between each arm 302 and the frame member II to constantly and resiliently .urge the corresponding roller 300 towardsengagement with number shown in the drawings has been found ample in most cases.

After the envelopes have passed beyond the rollers 300 it will be appreciated that they are maintained in position against the periphery of the heads 46 for an appreciable length of time before they are released therefrom by the belt 216 and dropped into a suitable receptacle. It has been found that this time element is ample to insure sufficient setting of the adhesive before the envelopes are dropped into the receptacle to prevent inadvertent opening of the flaps thereof.

It will be appreciated that with the apparatus thus far described that inasmuch as the material valve I30 is actuated during each reciprocation of the slide it! material will be discharged from the spout 2) during each reciprocation of the slide regardless of whether an envelope 88 is or is not positioned to receive the material. Consequently and inasmuch as the machine is intended for continuous operation without the constant presence of an attendant, it is desirable to provide some means to shut oif the machine when the supply of envelopes 68 in the hopper 62 inadvertently becomes exhausted or forany other reason an envelope should fail to be presented in a filling position at the front end of the envelope hopper. The means provided for shutting off the machine in such event is as follows.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2 a relatively long and angularly bent strip-like arm cm is pivotally mounted between its ends on a vertical pivot 312 on the upper surface of the plate 56. The inner end of the arm am is aligned with and is adapted for projection into the peripheral groove 54 in the lower part of the head 46, but when the en-.

velopes' 68 are being successively fed to the pockets 52 as they'rotate below the chute 210 the lower edges of these envelopes, in bridging the I therebefore and bends such fiap outwardly. The v the periphery of thehead 46. As many of these groove 5%, hold the rear end of the arm 3"! out of the groove 54. The forward end of the arm 3 I (l, as illustrated in Fig. 4, projects forwardly of the front edge of the plate 56. To such forward edge of the plate 56 and as best brought out in Fig. 2 an angle bracket 3! is secured and to the vertically directed outer face thereof an arm M6 is pivotally mounted between its ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The lower end of the arm 3H6 carries a mercury switch 3H3 which is connected in series with the driving motor 36. As best illustrated in Fig. 1 the mercury switch am is offset to the right from the pivotal axis 328 of the arm SIG so as to exert a constant force tending to rotate the arm 3l6 in a clockwise direction of movement as viewed in Fig. 1. This movement of the arm SIB is limited by contact thereof with the outer end of the arm 3") as best brought out in Fig. 4. The relationship of these parts is such that whenthe rear end of the arm 3"] is maintained out of the periph-.

the arm will drop into the bottom of the'groove 54 of the head 45 causing the arm 3! to pivot in a counterclockwise direction of movement as viewed in Fig. 4 and permit the arm 3 16 to swing under the weight of the switch 3l8 to move the switch M8 to open position, thereby stopping operation of the motor 36 and consequently the entire machine. The switch 3I8 is illustrated in open position in Fig. 1 as in such figure it is assumed that no envelopes are present on the periphery of the head 46. The magnet I58 for controlling the material valve I30 is connected into the electrical circuit for the motor 36 behind vent continued discharge of material from the slide II.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in operating the mechanism described the hopper 62 is loaded with envelopes and the hopper I00 is loaded with the material to be inserted therein, the main switch to the motor 36 is closed and the operator simply holds the switch 3 I 8 in closed position until the machine has progressed far enough in operation so that the filled envelopes. if fed without interruption, maintain the switch 3I8 in closed position. Upon setting the machine in operation the cam 40 in rotating effects reciprocation of the slide I 01 and spout 2I0. It will be appreciated that when the'machine is first loaded it may be necessary to manually raise the flap 10 on the first envelope 68 if such envelope is to be filled, depending upon the initial position of the spout 2I0, and thereafter as the spout 2 I0 reciprocates its point 2M will be inserted in the upper end of the leading envelope in the hopper '62, will move downwardly therein and discharge material thereinto and at the same time withdraw the upper edge of such leading envelope from between the stop members 02, and as its travel is reversed and it moves upwardly the spout will be kicked forwardly to forcefully release the filled envelope from the hopper 62 which envelope will then drop off the spout 2I-0 into the chute 210. As the spout 2I0 pivots forwardly to thus release the leading envelope 68 from the hopper 62 the cam 40 will actuate the air valve 08 to direct a blast of air through the nozzle 86 against the flap I0 of the next en'- velope in the hopper 02 thus to move such flap to opened position in which it will be held when the spout 2i0 resumes its vertical position after the previously filled envelope has dropped on of the end thereof. The spout 2I0 in moving up wardly will maintain the fiap of the first envelope in opened position so that during the ensuing down stroke its point 2 will enter the o en upper end thereof to repeat the above described operations. The amount of material I24 which -is discharged each time through the spout 2H! into an envelope 88 as above described will, of course, be controlled by the valve I30 which in turn is controlled through the plate member I16 and the latter of which is in turn controlled bv the switch structure illustrated in Fig. 5, and bv the vertically adjusted position of the ma net I58, so that anv desired amount of material may be discharged into an envelope during each reciprocation of the nozzle 2| 0. It may bementioned that this form of material discharge control has been found to be extremely accurate. enabling the volume of each charge to be controlled to a fraction of one per cent of the desired charge. The envelopes which are thus filled and discharged from the hopper 62 are fed into the pockets 52 of the head 46 where the flaps are moistened, closed and sealed and then delivered into a suitable receptacle after a suflicient time element to insure the maintenance of the sealed relation of the flap. All that is necessary to insure continued operation of the machine is to keep the hoppers 82-and I00 filled with envelopes and material, respectively, and in the event the supply of envelopes in the hopper 62 becomes exhausted before it is noticed by an attendant and re-filled, the machine is stopped so that the material in the hopper I00 will not be uselessly discharged upon the floor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

-1. In a packaging machine, in combination, a material hopper, a hollow reciprocable slide operatively connected thereto, the hollow interior of said slide communicating with the interior of said hopper whereby to receive material therefrom, a valve normally closing the lower end of said slide, electrically actuated means cooperable with said valve to open the same at a predetermined point in the reciprocable movement of said slide, and'means operable to deenergize the first mentioned means and thereby render the same ineifective to maintain said valve in open position I at a different point in the reciprocable movement of said slide.

2. In a packaging machine, in combination, a material hopper, a hollow reciprocable slide operatively connected thereto, the hollow interior of said slide communicating with the interior of said hopper whereby to receive material therefrom, a valve normally closing the lower end of said slide, movably mounted track means ad- J'acent said slide and adapted for engagement with said valve, electrically actuated means for positioning said track means to open said valve by engagement therewith at a predetermined point in the reciprocable movement of said slide, and means for deenergizing said electrically actuated means inoperative at a different oint in the reciprocable movement of said Slide whereby to 40 render said track means ineilective to maintain said valve in open position.

3. In a packaging machine, in combination. a material hopper, a hollow reciprocable slide oneratively connected thereto, the hollow interior of said slide communicating with the interior of said hopper whereby to receive material therefrom, a valve normally closing the lower end of said slide, a track member mounted adjacent said slide for movement towards and from said slide and normally positioned for engagement with said valve during each reciprocation of said slide, sa d track member being normally moved away from said valve upon engagement therewith without efiecting opening of said valve, and electrically energized means cooperable with said track member to maintain said track member in a position to effect opening of said valve when in engagement therewith.

4. In a packaging machine, in combination, a material hopper. a hollow-reciprocable slide operatively connected thereto, the hollow interior of said slide communicating with the interior of saidhopper whereby to receive material therefrom, a valve normally closing the lower end of said slide, a trackmember mounted for movement toward and from the path of movement of said slide and in a position to engage said valve member during reciprocation of said slide, said track member being normally movable away from said slide by engagement with said valve. without effecting opening of said valve, electrical means operatively connected with said track member operable when energized to maintain said track member in position against the force of said valve whereby to eflect opening of said valve upon engagement therewith, said.

track member being adjustable in the direction of the movement of said slide whereby to vary the point in the reciprocatory movement of said slide that said valve may be caused to open, and switch means in circuit with said electrical means for dc-energizing said electrical means at a different said track member being normally moved away from said valve upon engagement therewith without effecting opening of said valve, electrically energized means cooperable with said track member to maintain said trackmember in a position to effect opening of said valve when in engagement therewith, and switch means in series with said electrically energized means moved between open circuit and closed circuit positions by movement of said slide.

6. In a packaging machine. in combination, a reciprocable material carrying'slide, means for releasing predetermined amounts of said material from said slide during reciprocation of said slide. and a spout pivotally mounted on and reciprocable with said slide for receiving said materials discharged from' said slide. I

7. In a packaging machine, in combination, a reciprocable material slide, means for releasin predetermined amounts of material from said slide during reciprocation thereof, a spout pivotally connected to said slide for receiving material discharged therefrom, and means for effecting pivotal movement of said spout with respect to said slide during predetermined portions.

of the reciprocable movement of said slide.

8. In a material packaging machine, in combination, a reciprocable material slide, means op erable to discharge a predetermined amount of material from said slide during each reciprocation thereof in one direction, a spout pivotally mounted on said slide in a position to receive materlal discharged therefrom, and cam means operatively connected to said spout operable to cause said spout to pivot relative to said slide during reciprocation of said slide in one direction and to maintain said spout against pivotal to maintain said spout member in (a predetermined position of pivotal movement at all other times.

10.- In a packaging machine, in combination, a reciprocable slide, a spout pivotally mountedon said slide for reciprocable movement therewith, means operative to control the discharge of material from saidspout in timed relation to reciprocatory movements of said slide, 'a container hopper, means for feeding containers in said hopper in a direction perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said spout and for presenting said containers in succession in a position to receive said spout therein during reciprocation thereof in one direction, and means for effecting pivotal movement of said spout with respect to said slide while said spout is received in a cooperating container whereby to eject said container from said hopper.

11. In a packaging machine, in combination, a reciprocable slide, a spout member pivotally mounted on said slide for reciprocation therewith, means for discharging material into said venting ejection of said containers from said hopper under the influence of the first mentioned means, and means for efiecting pivotal movement of said spout member with respect to said slide whensaid spout member is received within a container whereby to forcefully eject said container from said hopper in opposition to said third mentioned means.

' a reciprocable slide, a spout pivotally mounted movement during reciprocation of said slide in the opposite direction.

9. In a material packaging machine. in combination, a reciprocable material slide. a spout member pivotally mounted on said slide for reception of material discharged therefrom, an arm carried by said spout member for pivotal move-' ment about an axis at right angles to the axis 0! pivotal movement of said spout member on said slide, cam engaging means mounted on said arm, a pair of cam members cooperable with said engaging means, and means for causing said engaging means to engage one of said cam members during reciprocation of said slide in one direction and the other of said cam members during reciprocation of said slide in the opposite direction, one of said cam members being formed to eiIect pivotal movement of said spout member when said engaging means passes over thesame, and both of said cam members being operable on said slide for reciprocation therewith and having a normal position with respect thereto, means for intermittently delivering material to be packaged to said spout. an envelope hopper adapted to contain'a stack of envelopes with the flaps thereof in closed position, means for feeding said envelopes in said hopper in a direction at right angles to the path of. movement of said slide to present the leading of said envelopes in a position approximately in the plane of normal movement of the discharge end of said spout whereby to position it for reception of the end of said spout when said spout is in said normal position and when the flap of said leading envelope is in open position, means for effecting pivotal movement of said spout relative to said slide and away from said hopper when said spout is positioned within the leading one of said envelopes in said hopper, and means for opening the flap on the next succeeding envelope while said spout is pivoted away frcmsaid hopper, said spout holding said flap in opened position when returned to its said normal position with respect to said slide.

'13. In a packaging machine of the class wherein there is a reciprocable slide, a material discharge spout is reciprocable with said slide, means the combination with said spout and slide, of means mounting said spout on said slide for pivotal movement with respect thereto in a direction toward and from said stack of envelopes, means for causing pivotal movement of said spout after it has entered an envelope, whereby to withdraw said envelope from said stack, and means for returning said spout to a pivoted position in which it bears against the opened flap of the next en- KARL STENGLEIN.

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