Apparatus for processing continuously fed elongate material

Abstract

Apparatus for processing continuously fed elongate material, such as forming sealed bags from continuously fed film tubes, uses at least one pair of orbital tools that are cantilevered from tool drives (e.g., crank arms) at one edge of the material, extending transversely across the direction of material travel to engage opposite faces of the material. During material engagement the tools run synchronously with the moving material, but may be returned upstream rapidly to reengage the material for the next processing cycle. In order to achieve a higher throughput an additional pair of tools can be used, cantilevered and driven from the opposite edge of the material, maintaining the same processing (e.g., sealing) time. Through this arrangement the tools on opposing sides can alternate contact with the material and be run independently of each other.

1 . In apparatus for processing elongate material continuously advancing along a processing path by using at least a first pair of cyclically driven tools between which the material passes as it moves along the processing path and which synchronously engage opposite faces of the material and move at the same linear speed as the material when in contact therewith, and return upstream to re-engage the advancing material and repeat the processing cycle, the improvement wherein each tool is cantilevered transversely of the processing path from a tool drive located-adjacent a first edge of the processing path.  
   
   
       2 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . An apparatus for processing elongate material continuously advancing along a processing path, comprising: 
 at least a first pair of cyclically driven tools following a cyclical path between which the material passes as it moves along the processing path in a processing direction, and which synchronously engage opposite faces of the material during a portion of the cyclical path and moves with the material when in contact therewith, and returns upstream to re-engage the advancing material and repeat the processing cycle, wherein each tool is cantilevered on a near end transverse of the processing direction from a tool drive, and further wherein the tool drive for each tool supports the tool for movement around a drive axis that extends transverse of the processing direction such; and    a pair of passive devices effective during a portion of the cyclical movement, each located near a distal end of one of the pair of tools, to affect the position of the distal end.    
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of claim  41 , wherein the pair of passive devices is effective only during the portion of the cyclical movement.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of claim  42 , wherein the pair of passive devices is effective during at least the time the material is engaged.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the pair of passive devices includes a spring.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , further comprising a second pair of opposing passive devices, each mounted near the near end of each tool carrier, effective during at least part of the portion of the movement, wherein the second pair of passive devices affects the path of the pair of tools mounted on the carrier.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising a second pair of cyclically driven tools following a second cyclical movement, between which the material passes as it moves along the processing path, and which synchronously engage opposite faces of the material during a portion of the second cyclical movement and moves at the same linear speed as the material when in contact therewith, and returns upstream along the second cyclical movement to re-engage the advancing material and repeat the processing cycle, wherein each of the second pair of tools is out of phase with the first pair, and cantilevered on the distal end of the second pair transverse of the processing direction from a second tool drive located adjacent an opposite edge of the processing path and further wherein the second tool drive for each second pair of tools second drive axis that extends transversely of the processing path such, and a third pair of passive devices effective during a portion of the second orbital movement, each located near the near distal end of one of the second pair of tools, to affect the position of the near end.  
   
   
       49 . A method of producing tubular bags filled with bulk goods from elongate material continuously advancing along a processing path in a processing direction, comprising: 
 cyclically driving at least a first pair of tools along a cyclical path, between which the material passes as it moves along the processing path;    synchronously engaging opposite faces of the material during a portion of the cyclical path and moving with the material when in contact therewith;    returning upstream along the cyclical path to re-engage the advancing material and repeat the processing cycle;    cantilevering each tool on a near end transverse of the processing direction, from a tool drive located adjacent a near edge of the processing path, wherein the tool drive for each tool supports the tool for movement around a drive axis that extends transverse of the processing direction; and    affecting the position of the distal end of each tool during a portion of the cyclical movement using a pair of passive devices, each located near a distal end of one of the pair of tools.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein affecting is performed during at least a portion of the cyclical movement.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein affecting is performed during at least the time the material is engaged.