GB1180569A - Improvements in or relating to Bundling Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,180,569. Bundling machine; endless conveyers. HENRY SIMON Ltd. 7 March, 1968 [16 March, 1967], No.12282/67. Headings B8A and B8C. A machine for binding a bundle of articles comprises upper and lower conveyers to convey the bundle through the machine, binding means for encircling the bundle with twine and securing it, sensors to detect the trailing extremity of the bundle and stop the conveyers when the bundle is at the bundling station, and means to restart the conveyers when the bundle has been bound. In one embodiment, a bundle, e.g. a stack of carton blanks 94, is compressedly conveyed between endless conveyers 10, 12, each comprising belts 34, 26 respectively running over rollers 36. Its leading face abuts twine held between a needle 80 and a clipping assembly 16. The bundle's movement causes the twine to be folded around its upper; lower and leading faces and the movement is ceased when a trailing extremity 96 has passed the needle 80. The bundle is thus positioned by its initial contacting of switch means to actuate a photocell 110 and by restoration of the beam as it is cleared by its trailing edge. The photo-cell signal stops the conveyer motors 30, 38 after a predetermined delay, this arrangement allowing non-uniform bundles to be bound. During the binding the conveyer 10 is lowered to compress the bundle. The needle 80 then descends, completing the band of twine, the band being secured by a clipping assembly. Details of the thread feed, needle and clipping devices are disclosed in Specification 947,093. The twine is severed below the clip and the bound bundle is conveyed from the machine, the rising needle operating switch means 120 to restart the conveyer. The upper conveyer 10 is supported on arms 46 raisable on guides 42 to take bundles of differing sizes and to exert a predetermined pressure on the bundles, by piston and cylinder means 56 and hand wheels 58. It also has an angled entry conveyer 68 hinged to it and operating at a slightly greater speed than the other conveyers so as not to retard the upper articles in the bundles. The operation of the machine is controlled by limiting switches throughout and the machine has a safety switch 130 operated by excessive upward hinging of the conveyer 68 to react to an oversize bundle to stop the machine. The machine can be moved on wheels 22 engaging rails 24. In a further embodiment, Fig. 4 (not shown), the machine frame is supported on vertically adjustable castors (200). The upper conveyer is slidable vertically on a single tubular support (207) by piston and cylinder means (210), Fig. 5 (not shown), with the addition of spring- loaded manual adjustment, and means is provided to slow down the conveyer as the bundle approaches the tying station. Otherwise the machine is substantially as in the first embodiment. Blowers are provided in both embodiments to clear away thread after severing.