GB1487375A - Apparatus for automatic banding of objects - Google Patents

Abstract

1487375 Positioning articles in banding apparatus; reciprocating pusher conveyers S MAE and M UMEZU 7 Sept 1974 39169/74 Headings B8C and B8A An arrangement for feeding articles and for positioning the articles in a banding apparatus at one or more successive locations comprises limit switches S5, S6, S7 which can halt article push rods 12 and initiate operation of the banding apparatus, and an arrangement for automatically positioning the switches S5, S6, S7 at spacings from one another which are equal to the spacings of the bands applied to the article if all of the switches S5, S6, S7 are rendered operative. The push rods 12 are reciprocated along guide rods 20 by a chain drive 30 and serve to feed articles delivered on to support plates 4 by a chain conveyer 1. The limit switches S5, S6, S7 which are actuable by a dog 13 carried by an arm 21 mounted for movement with the push rods 12, are mounted on arms 5, 6, 7 carried by base-plates 5a, 6a, 7a which are slidably mounted in a slide 10 and movable by respective chains 35, 36, 37. The chains 35, 36, 37 pass around sprockets 35a, 36a, 37a which have a gear ratio of 5 : 3 : 1 and are fixed to a common shaft 15. The chains 35, 36, 37 driven at 5/6, 3/6 and 1/6, respectively, the speed of the chain drive 30 for the push rods 12. In operation an article on the chain conveyer 1 contacts a switch S9 to stop the conveyer. A manual switch (PS1) Fig. 7A (not shown) is then depressed to restart the conveyer and cause the article to be deposited on the plates 4 where it actuates a switch S1 to energize electric motors M2 and M3 for driving the chains 35, 36, 37 and the chain 30, respectively. The object, fed by the push rods 12, next actuates a switch 53 adjacent the band binding apparatus to stop the motor M3 and hence the chains 35, 36, 37 for advancing the switches S5, S6, S7. The pusher rods 12 continue to move the article forwards until the dog 13 moving therewith actuates the switch S5 to stop the motor M3 and initiate a first banding operation at a position on the article spaced from its leading end by a distance of one sixth of the length of the article in the feed direction. The motor M3 is re-energized upon completion of this operation and the pusher rods 12 move the object forwards until the dog 13 actuates the switch S6 which stops the motor M3 and initiates a second banding operation midway along the length of the article. The dog 13 thereafter similarly actuates the switch S7 for a third banding operation at a position in the article spaced from its leading end by a distance of five sixths the length of the article. The switch S6 or the switches S5 and S7 can be rendered inoperative so that only two bands or one band, respectively, are put around the article at locations or a location determined by the operative switches or switch.