Eric M Gifford

49284550, May 29, 1990

Apr 28, 1989

7/346376

John L. Gereby - Rocky River OH
Eric P. Gifford - Orange OH
Rick S. Wehrmann - Hudson OH
William M. Easter - Solon OH

Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. - Twinsburg OH

B65B 4326

53570

A tabletop machine for automatically loading and sealing flexible containers such as plastic bags forming part of a chain of bags. The apparatus includes structure for supporting a supply of preformed, interconnected bags which are sequentially fed to a loading station. At the loading station, the bag is inflated by a blower having a shutter controlled outlet so that the flow of inflation air is reduced or terminated during feeding and which provides a blast or surge of air to "pop" the bag open when the bag arrives at a loading station. A residual air stream maintains inflation of the bag. After loading, a clamping mechanism is activated which applies a substantially increasing clamping force as a clamp bar nears a heat sealing unit so that should an obstruction or other obstacle be encountered as the clamping bar moves towards the bag, motion in the clamping bar can be resisted by the obstacle without damage to the obstacle or clamping mechanism. While the bag is clamped to the heat sealing unit, a perforation breaking mechanism comprising a blade-like member driven into the web path intermediate a locked web feed roll and the heat sealing unit causes severance of the loaded bag along a line of weakness formed by perforations. A relatively small, low volume air compressor in combination with a storage tank is used to provide the motive force for fluid pressure operated actuators used to operate the clamping bar and the perforation breaking mechanism so that a single source of electrical power is all that is needed to operate the machine.

52325415, Aug 3, 1993

May 31, 1991

7/708509

Eric Gifford - Chagrin Falls OH

Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. - Twinsburg OH

B65C 900

156366

An apparatus is disclosed for labeling bottles in a stream. An input conveyor is provided for supplying bottles to a presenting station. Bottles are restrained at the presenting station until the appropriate time by an entrance gate. Bottles are conveyed from the presenting station to a work station by an advancing conveyor. Bottles entering the work station drive the predecessor bottle out of the work station. An exit gate is provided to halt bottles leaving the work station so that they act as a registration stop for bottles entering the work station.

49448250, Jul 31, 1990

Oct 28, 1988

7/264443

Eric P. Gifford - Chagrin Falls OH
William J. Roblin - North Royalton OH

Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. - Twinsburg OH

B32B 3100

156294

Apparatus and method for applying tubular labels to empty or filled product containers at a labeling station including a reciprocally moveable labeling assembly and a container advancing mechanism including a pair of confronting, rotatable star wheels. The star wheels include arms for engaging and holding a container to be labeled at a label applying position. The star wheels operate to stabilize the container until the labeling applying assembly engages the container. The star wheels then move out of the labeling station to provide clearance for the label applying assembly. A cam drive system is utilized to both reciprocate the label applying assembly and the star wheel mechanism. Sensors monitor torque in the star wheels and terminate operation should excessive torque be encountered. An additional star wheel and associated guide are used to advance a container from either an inline or side conveyor to a container presenting position.

50411489, Aug 20, 1991

Apr 2, 1990

7/503289

John L. Gereby - Rocky River OH
Eric P. Gifford - Orange OH
Rick S. Wehrmann - Hudson OH
William M. Easter - Solon OH

Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. - Twingsburg OH

B65B 4326

53571

A tabletop machine for automatically loading and sealing flexible containers such as plastic bags forming part of a chain of bags. The apparatus includes structure for supporting a supply of preformed, interconnected bags which are sequentially fed to a loading station. At the loading station, the bag is inflated by a blower having a shutter controlled outlet so that the flow of inflation air is reduced or terminated during feeding and which provides a blast or surge of air to "pop" the bag open when the bag arrives at a loading station. A residual air stream maintains inflation of the bag. After loading, a clamping mechanism is activated which applies a substantially increasing clamping force as a clamp bar nears a heat sealing unit so that should an obstruction or other obstacle be encountered as the clamping bar moves towards the bag, motion in the clamping bar can be resisted by the obstacle without damage to the obstacle or clamping mechanism. While the bag is clamped to the heat sealing unit, a perforation breaking mechanism comprising a blade-like member driven into the web path intermediate a locked web feed roll and the heat sealing unit causes severance of the loaded bag along a line of weakness formed by perforations. A relatively small, low volume air compressor in combination with a storage tank is used to provide the motive force for fluid pressure operated actuators used to operate the clamping bar and the perforation breaking mechanism so that a single source of electrical power is all that is needed to operate the machine.

46208887, Nov 4, 1986

Sep 4, 1984

6/646954

William M. Easter - Solon OH
Eric Gifford - Cleveland Heights OH
Rick S. Wehrmann - Hudson OH
Dana Liebhart - Cuyahoga Falls OH

Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. - Twinsburg OH

B32B 3100

156 64

An apparatus and method for applying tubular labels to a product container at a labeling station including a reciprocally movable labeling assembly. The assembly is adjustably secured to carriage that is mounted for reciprocating movement at the labeling station. A drive system including a drive cam defining an asymetrical profile is operatively coupled to the carriage by a lever arrangement including a cam follower driven by the drive cam. The profile of the drive cam is configured to have a steep rise and a gradual drop so that the average speed at which the labeling assembly is driven through a label applying strobe is substantially less than the speed at which the assembly is driven through a return stroke thus reducing the stress applied to the label as it is installed. A fluid pressure operated actuator pressurized to a first predetermined pressure exerts a biasing force on the lever to urge the cam follower into contact with the drive cam. A sensor monitors the contact between the follower and cam and de-energizes the drive system and arrests rotation of the drive cam in the event loss of contact between the follower and the cam is sensed.