OF

JOHN STONE PAYNE FOR

IMPROVEMENTS IN LOG BAGGING AND PACKAGING MACHINES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the bagging and packaging of small cut logs. Background

The use of machinery to assist in the bagging and packaging of cut logs is known and provides an industry which stretches across the world.

The logs are cut using various methods which include machinery and then require bagging. The bagging is usually provided using a net bag which is of sufficient robustness and has a pull tight draw sting or similar method of closure.

The logs must be laid inside the net bag in a way that allows the bag to retain its main shape, for stacking on pallets during the bulk transportation. This partially determines how the logs are placed into the bag, as to ensure a basic uniformed stacking style inside the bag is maintained.

Simple devices have been made which provide a shute into a bag method, which are primarily manually operated hand or tilt ensembles. These require a great deal of effort by the user and the bagging of the logs is slow and two people are often required to operate them.

Processes have also been developed into basic machines and patents have been filed which assist in the transportation of the logs along a conveyer or a rolling line to the person packaging the logs.

An issue with some processes is the holding open of the bag during the filling action; as the bag is often having to be held open by the user. In some basic arrangements a second person may hold the bag open while it is being filled.

The combination of these factors has often resulted in the creation of machines that are large in size and require an electricity supply and substantial amount of on-site space. The need for electricity also restricts the remoteness of the use for example; on farms or sites where there may be out buildings with no mains power or if power is lost during winter seasons.

Patent WO2016/024016 (HOLTET) discloses a method of preparing wood for packing comprises: loading wood lengthwise into a conveyor system (5, 7); conveying the wood pieces one-by-one onto a loading hatch (9) in a predetermined orientation; when a wood piece is fully on the loading hatch (9), opening the loading hatch (9) and dropping the wood piece in the predetermined orientation into a measuring compartment (12); repeating the conveying and dropping process so that multiple wood pieces are stacked in the same orientation in the measuring compartment (12); and, when a required amount of stacked wood is within the measuring compartment, dropping the stacked wood pieces into a packing area.

Patent US6976350 (GREENING, WITHINGTON, ENZLER) discloses a bag presenter for moving a bag from a bag supply toward a packaging machine filling station, the bag presenter comprising: a bag supply holding area, a gripper for holding a bag in the filling station and a bag handler for moving the bag from the holding area toward the gripper, the bag handler including a bag feeder and a bag conveyor, the bag feeder being operable to pull a bag from a bottom of the bag supply holding area and to pass the bag to the bag conveyor. The bag handler can include a bag opening mechanism and a means for maintaining the bag in an open configuration, once the bag has been opened. The bag presenter is useful for handling non-wicketed bags and can be used to convert a packaging machine from reliance on wicketed bags to use of non- wicketed bags.

Patent US2601480 (WILLIAMS) discloses a machine actuator which is a bag spreader and has various members which move to open the bag and hold it thus, during a manufacturing process.

The prior art therefore shows a need for a more effective log bagging method and machine which presents the bag and holds it open and can be operated more remotely by one person, taking up a small amount of space and providing a more rapid working process also.

The present invention aims to provide an improved log bagging and packaging machine with an open bag presentation and more rapid production speed, which can be operated by one person. The machine takes up a small amount of space and the power feed to the machine is also advantageously portable and able to be set up and used in remote locations. Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a log bagging and packaging machine which is powered by compressed air from a portable supply, such as a cylinder or compressor. The machine is mounted on a base which is squared in shape and raised sufficiently from the ground to enable fork lift access below it, for pallet transfer when moved.

To the base is attached a vertical poll member which may be a square or round profile. This poll stands higher than any other point of the machine assembly when it is erected perpendicularly to the base surface. In front of the vertical poll member is a pneumatic ram, which is a piston with an extending vertical piston arm. The pneumatic ram is secured to the base and stands perpendicularly to it aside the vertical poll member, with a small space between them.

To the vertical poll member is a sliding collar bracket which is slightly wider in diameter to the vertical poll member and is thus able to securely slide upward and downward, this sliding action is aided by a greasing coat to the vertical poll member surface. The collar is a short piece of tube which fits vertically onto the vertical poll member and has a short horizontal bracket extending from its front which is attached transversely to the top of the vertical piston arm of the pneumatic ram. The attachment is made possible via a fitting bracket with a pass through bolt fixture, as shown. The longer remaining section of the short horizontal bracket extends to the rear of the rear log shute jaw to which it is attached. The attachment is provided via a bolt fitting to enable shute jaw sizes to be changed. Bolt fittings and use of welding is repeated throughout the machine as a means of attaching parts and surfaces together, as they are all metal or steel variant in construction. The rear shute jaw is a long planar shute of steel or metal with shallow sides forming a shallow statistical curved ‘U’ shape. This hangs vertically from its bolted attachment to the horizontal bracket with its shute opening facing forward, as shown in the accompanying Figures. This rear shute jaw is fixed.

To both shallow sides of the shute jaw are rectangular brackets which are fixed and have a single hole for a bolt or hinging fixture toward the frontal portion. As shown closely in Figure 6. A frontal shute jaw is attached to the rear shute jaw by way of a bolt or hinge fixture passing through its own shallow side ends, via holes and through the rectangular brackets on both sides. With the bolts or hinge fixture in place, the frontal shute jaw is able to loosely swing with movement forward and backward. The swinging of the frontal shute jaw and its movement is actioned via a smaller extending arm piston. The extending arm piston is attached horizontally to a piston bracket on the side of the rear shute jaw shallow side. As shown closely in Figure 6. The extending arm of the piston is forced forward via compressed air and engages with the frontal shute jaw by means of a small side bracket. An airline is attached to the extending arm piston to feed air to it from a supply. As air is forced in, the extending arm piston is pushed forward thus opening the frontal shute jaw as it is engaged with a push end fitting with the small side bracket. As shown. A sprung interior returns the extending piston arm.

On usage the operator moves a switch on a control panel to the side of the machine ensemble. This switch may be mounted on a protective shield wall which vertically separates the moving parts of the machine from the user. It also includes an emergency stop button for safety. The only part of the machine which passes in front of the protective shield wall is the two halves of the shute jaws and the log bag for filling. This is made possible by a short vertical groove being cut out of the upper centre of the protective shield wall, which enables the short horizontal bracket which movably links; the vertical poll member; the vertical piston arm of the pneumatic ram and the two shute jaws; to pass through the shield surface and enable the two shute jaws to seat almost fully onto the base surface.

When the switch is moved into the on position, compressed air passes from the supply and down to the bottom air connector at the base of the pneumatic ram via and air tube, forcing the piston upward inside the ram which in turn pushes the vertical piston arm upward, taking with it the two closed shute jaws; due to them being attached to the short horizontal bracket, which is connected to the piston arm.

The upward and guided travel of these being made possible via the sliding collar bracket to the end of the short horizontal bracket, which slides up the vertical poll member.

The pneumatic piston arm is now fully vertically extended and held up, with the two shute jaws held above the user.

The user now slides the log bag, which may be of a net type, over the two closed shute jaws above them and then uses the control switch to push air into the upper air connector on the pneumatic ram forcing the piston down and simultaneously forcing air into the extending arm piston which pushes the frontal shute jaw forward, to hold the log bag open therefore, as it lowers to the base surface.

The travelling excess air escapes during these processes via pipes or outlets which offer exhaust means. As shown in the accompanying Figures.

The log bag is now held open by the two shute jaws and thus the user can now drop cut logs downward directly into the now formed shute and into the bag. The length or width of the shute jaws may vary to accommodate larger logs or increased volume of logs. Once the bag is full of logs, the user presses the control switch to pass air from the supply and down to the bottom air connector at the base of the pneumatic ram, via an air tube; forcing the piston upward inside the ram, which in turn pushes the vertical piston arm upward, taking with it the two simultaneously closing shute jaws, which therefore leave the now released log bag on the base as they rise. Excess air is again released using exhaust tubing or outlets. The bag full of logs can now be moved to the side to stand behind a bag stand to the right or left of the user, on the base surface. This can be removed as the next bag is added or the bags may be fully removed from the machine base upon completion of each filled bag. The bag stand may also be used to stack empty log bags.

The shute of the machine may be provided in larger sizes to accommodate larger sized logs or other objects to be packaged. These can be changed by removal of the bolts (as shown) to the rear of the shute. The shutes of all sizes may also be used for other types and sizes of bags, including plastic or net bags into which any desired article can be packed.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved log bagging and packaging machine which has all the advantages of the prior art bagging methods and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new log bagging and packaging machine which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved log bagging and packaging machine which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved log bagging and packaging machine which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved surface log bagging and packaging machine which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a side view of the log bagging and packaging machine.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the log bagging and packaging machine with the log bag being applied to the raised shute jaws.

Figure 3 shows a frontal view of the log bagging and packaging machine with the bag applied to the raised shute jaws.

Figure 4 shows a frontal view of the log bagging and packaging machine with the log bag lowered for filling.

Figure 5 shows a frontal view of the log bagging and packaging machine with the log bag lowered for filling and a filled bag standing for removal on the bag stand.

Figure 6 shows a dimensional upper view of the shute jaws and their fitting to the rising mechanism.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the shute jaws and the short horizontal bracket with sliding collar.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the log bagging and packaging machine is shown in Figure 1. It comprises a base 14 which provides attachment for a vertical poll member 8. A sliding collar bracket 10 is slid onto the vertical poll member 8 and has a short horizontal arm 11 extending from it which connects to the rear of a rear log shute jaw 2. These can be raised and lowered by means of a transversely attached vertical piston arm 12 of a base mounted pneumatic ram 13. Fitting bracket 9 attaches the vertical piston arm 12 to the short horizontal arm 11 thereto.

A frontal log shute jaw 1 is movably attached via bolt 4 to rear log shute jaw 2. The sliding collar bracket 10 rises to the vertical poll member end 5 when the process of bagging begins. The bag 6 then lowers, while being held open by forward opening of frontal shute jaw 1 , as shown.

A protective shield wall 3 protects the user (not shown) from moving parts.

The log bag 6 seats onto the base surface 15 when in the loading position and may be held or stored temporally behind a bag stand 7.

Cut logs 23 are then dropped into the bag 6, as shown.

Figure 2 shows the log shute jaws 1A and 2A which are raised with the collar bracket on the vertical poll member 8A, due to vertical extension of the vertical piston arm 12 from the pneumatic ram 13 A.

Log bag 6 is slid onto the raised log shute jaws 1A and 2A, as shown. Extending arm piston 16 pushes the frontal log jaw 1A forward to open it and thus hold the log bag 6 open.

Figure 3 shows the bag 6B being fitted over shute jaws 1B and 2B which are all raised up on the vertical poll member 8A.

Compressed air supply tube 18 provides air to the upper air ram supply 22 via control switch 20, with further air supplied via compressed air tube 17 to the extending arm piston 16B moving its piston arm forward opening frontal shute jaw 1B to hold the fitted bag open. A vertical cut out groove 36 enables the shute jaw ensemble to pass down through the top of the protective shield wall 3B centre, to rest at a correct working height. Air will pass into compressed air tube 21 to push the vertical piston arm 12B upward, following the filling and removal of the bag, as shown in the following Figures. Exhaust air passes through compressed air tube or outlet 19. Figure 4 shows the log bag 6C in the working position to be filled with logs; seated onto the base surface 15C and held open by forward positioned frontal shute jaw 1C and stationary rear shute jaw 2C.

The shute jaw ensemble has passed down the vertical poll member 8C with compressed air supply tube 17C folding down during this transit, as shown. Compressed air has been expelled via compressed air tubes 21C and 19C.

Figure 5 shows feet 24 for providing a raised base. Following the filling of log bag 6D with logs 23D, the bag can be temporarily moved aside to the bag stand 7C, to be removed as the next empty bag is ready to be filled, as shown in this Figure. The bag stand may also be used to stack empty log bags.

Figure 6 shows the shute jaw ensemble with the rear shute jaw 2E with its shallow sides 25 and 34 forming the shute. This rear shute jaw is attached statically to the horizontal bracket 11E. To both shallow sides of the shute jaws 1E and 2E are bolts 4E which are fixed and have a single hole or hinging fixture 26 toward the frontal portion.

The frontal shute jaw 1E and its movement is actioned via a smaller extending arm piston 16E. The extending arm piston 16E is attached horizontally to a piston bracket 28 on the side of the rear shute jaw 2E. The extending arm of the piston is forced forward via compresses air and engages with the frontal shute jaw by means of a small side bracket 31.

An airline is attached to the extending arm piston 17E to feed air to it from a supply. As air is forced in, the extending arm piston 16E is pushed forward thus opening the frontal shute jaw 1E as it is engaged with push end 32 fitting with the small side bracket 31. As shown.

In Figure 6 we also see fitting bracket 9E, vertical poll member end 5E; rear shute jaw wall 27; frontal shute jaw shallow sides 29 and 33; frontal shute jaw face 30; vertical poll member 8E; vertical piston arm 12E; sliding collar bracket 10E.

In Figure 7 we see a plan view of the shute jaw ensemble with frontal shute jaw 1F having frontal shute jaw face 30F and frontal shute jaw shallow sides 29F and 33F. Bolt or hinging fixture 26F and 35F has bolts 4F and 37F passing through them and through frontal jaw shallow side 29F and 33F providing pivot means. Bolts 4F and 37F are attached statically to the shallow sides 25F and 34F of rear shute jaw 2F thereto. Rear shute jaw 2F is fixed to horizontal bracket 11F which has vertical piston arm 12F perpendicular to it and secured to horizontal bracket 11F via means of fitting bracket 9F. Sliding collar bracket 10F is slotted onto vertical poll member 8F therefore. Shute bolts 38 and 39 enable removal of the shute for larger shutes to be attached if required.

Compressed air is fed to air tube 17F to action extending arm piston 16F; mounted on piston bracket 28F. Extending arm piston has fork end 37F which extends forward to push small side bracket 31 F and thus push shute jaw 1F forward.