ES373919A1 - Device for feeding articles to paper wrapping machines - Google Patents

Abstract

In a device for feeding chocolates 7 to the wrapping wheel 9 of a high speed paper wrapping machine 8 of the kind wherein endless conveyer belts 4, 5, are both driven by a common motor 30 which also drives the machine and so that the conveyer 5 travels faster than the conveyer 8, the chocolates 7 are transported between guide members 17, 17 to a fixed stop 6 where they are transferred, singly, by a pusher 8, to the wrapping wheel 9, the speed of the motor 30 being increased when the chocolates pile up behind the bar 6 to extend, rearwardly therefrom past a first 18, and up to, or beyond, a second chocolate, sensing mechanism 19. When there is no supply of chocolates to the low-speed conveyer 4 neither of the light beams 22, 23, Fig. 4, of the sensors 18, 19 which control respectively switches TL3, TL4, are interrupted so that neither of the switches TL2, TL1, which are controlled respectively by the switches TL3, TL4, are actuated to energize the motor 30 and move the conveyers 4, 5. When the chocolates build up behind the stop 6 sufficiently to interrupt the light beam 22 both pairs of contacts of the switch TL3 close so that power is supplied to the switch TL2 which, closes its contacts 1-3, 5-6 and opens contacts 4, 8 to supply energy to the motor 30 so that it runs at its normal speed. Build up of chocolates sufficient to break the light beam 23 of the sensor 19 actuates the switch TL4 which cuts off the supply to the switch TL2 which removes the supply from the motor 30 and closes the contacts 4, 8 to provide a circuit to the switch TL1 which closes contacts 1-3, 5-7 to supply alternative power to the motor 30 so that it rotates at its higher speed, and opens contacts 4, 8 in the circuit to the switch TL2. As the build-up behind the stop is reduced the motor 30 is changed to its normal speed as the light beam 23 ceases to be interrupted, the motor 30 switching off when the light beam 22 is also not broken. The circuits to the switches TL3-TL4 each includes an amplifier 26 or 27, a rectifier R 1 or R 2 , and a condenser C 1 or C 2 the time constant of which is chosen to ensure that the associated switch TL3 or TL4 ignores the passage of a single chocolate through the beam 22 or 23.