GB2198108A

GB2198108A - Apparatus for feeding articles, e.g. sweets, to a wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: GB2198108A
Application number: GB08728093A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Girndt
Original assignee: Nagema VEB
Current assignee: Nagema VEB
Priority date: 1986-12-04
Filing date: 1987-12-01
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-01
Also published as: GB2198108B; GB8728093D0; DD254174A1; DE3734611A1; IT8748607A0; IT1218179B; BR8706641A

Description

2198100 Apparatus for-the sequential feeding of artiole:.

This invention relates to an apparatus for pushing7in of individual pi. eces, which have been cut off by a cutting device from a plastically deformable sirand or column of material, into tfie gripper wheel.of a wrapping machine.

For the pushing-in of individual pieces, which have been cut off from a strand, several pushing-in apparatuses are already known. Thus a pushingin apparatus is described in DD-PS 37 193, in whichthe sweets (candies) to be packed arrive in a slide trough perpendicularly to the feed track of the pusher. Here, it is'necessary for an orderly transfer of the sweets to provide a straight feed track, in order that the sweets may arrive close up to the gripper jaws of the revolver head.

In DD-PS 83 931, a further push-in apparatus is described, wherein the toffeed' fed on the slide trough each arrive in the field of action of the pusher at the end of the slide trough in the region of the transfer track. The pusher moves on a circular arc track towards the gripper jaws of the wrapping wheel. These apparatuses suffer from the disadvantage that they can be used only in conjunction with the conventional cutting devices, such as impact knives or shears. The return stroke of the pusher takes place underneath the individual piece to be pushed in, so that this space may not be occupied by the cutting device. Apparatuses of this class are used in order to push the individual pieces together with the packing material into the gripper head.

A further apparatus is known (PS.119 186), in which the pocket of the gripper head receiving the individual piece lies directly in front of the mouth of the strand duct. The individual piece is cut off by a shears 1 from the strand and pushed by the strand behind it into the pocket. This apparatus also can be used only in conjunction with conventional cutting devices and a strand of material that moves.forward by step.?.

The objective of the invention is substantially to improve the pbrformance of the wrapping machines.

The task of the present invention is so to construct the movement track of the pusher-in, in respect of the format to be processed on eah occasion, that the use of a crank-driven knife for cutting off the in dividual pieces from a strand of material becomes possible.

This task is achieved, according to this invention, in that the feed direction of the strand of material is disposed obliquely to the axis of the gripper wheel, the pusher-in is fixed to a pushing-in rocker which is connected by a pull rod with a crank and that the pivot point of the. pushing-in rocker is situated substantially at the point of intersection of the centre lines of the strand of material and of the sweet pushed in, an actuating lever pivotally journalled on an axis is disposed at the pivot point, with which (actuating lever) a connecting member and a pivot lever having a common pivot bearing are associated, the pivot lever being journalled on an axle and the pivot bearing being connected by a link with a crank and guides being disposed between the pusher-in and the holding 1 jaws of the gripper wheel. The feed of the material strand takes place preferably at an angle of 100 to the axis of the gripper wheel. The pusher-in is adjustable or replaceable on the pushing-in rocker and the housing is mounted axially displaceable relative to the gripper wheel. The axles, axes and.shafts ape perpendicular to the feed of the material strand and tb'.the axis of th.e gripper wheel and the guides are adapted to the movement track of the pusher-in. The link is adjustably mounted on the crank by a crank pin. In this way, the performance of the wrapping machine can be considerably improved.

The invention will be explained in more detail below by reference to an example of embodiment thereof.

The figures in the associated drawing show: Fig. 1 a lateral view of the pushing-in apparatus viewed in direction D Fig. 2 a section on the line CC.

Before the pushing-in apparatus there are disposed the guide duct 1 for feeding the material strand M, a pair of shaping rollers 2; 2' and a pair of cutting knives 3; 31 with the corresponding cutting drums 4; 41. Behind the cutting drums 4; 4' there are guides 5; 5l,'which extend as far as the front edge of the holding jaws 6 of the gripper wheel 7. The pushin apparatus fof pushing in the sweets (candies) B consists of the pusherin 8 and the pushing-in rocker 9, to which the pull rod 10, which is connected with the crank 11, is attached. The crank 11 is connected with the shaft 12. On the pivot point 13 of the pushing-in rocker 9, an actuating lever 14 is mounted, which is pivotally journalled centrally on the axis 15. To the end of the pivoting lever 14 a connecting member 16 is attached, which is connected, at the common pivot bearing 17, with a pivoting lever 19 pivotally journalled on an axis 18. The pivot bearing. 17 is connected via the link 20 with the crank 21, which is secured to the shaft 22. The elements of the pushing-in apparatus are mounted in the housing 24.

1 The method of functioning of the apparatus is described below:

The strand of material M, coming from a strand shaping machine, not shown, moves continuously in the guide duct 1 through the' uniformly rotating shaping rollers 2; 21, into the working range of the cutting knives 3; 31. The cut-off sweet B is pushed into the guides 5; 51 by the cutting knives 3; 3' revolving inside the cutting drums 4; 4'. The cut surface of the cut-off sweet B always occupies a constant orientation. The pushing- in of the sweet B takes place by the pusher-in 8, which pushes the sweet B, situated in the guides 5; 51, on a circular arc path into the holding jaws 6. In the return journey of the pusher-in 8, the latter must avoid the next sweet B, which is pushed by the cutting knives 3; 31 into the push-in region. The form of the curve of the avoidance movement depends upon the length of the sweet and can be modified by displacing the crank pin 23 and changing the length of the link 20. The pivot'point 13 of the pushing-in rocker 9 remains in an at-rest position during pushing-in. The pushing movement is determined by the crank 11. The position of the pusher-in 8 can be varied by adjusting the pull rod 10. The shafts 12 and 22 revolve uniformly and in one direction of rotation. The housing 24 is displaceable with respect to the gripper wheel 7.

1 1

Claims

1. Apparatus for pushing-in individual pieces, which have been cut off by a cutting device from a plastically deformable strand or column of material, into the gripper wheel of a wrapping machine, characterized in that the direction of feed of the material strand M.is disposed obliquely to the axis (A) of the gripper whel (7), the pusher-in (8) is fixed to a pushing-in rocker (9), which is connected via a pull rod (10) with a crank (11); and that the pivot point (13) of the pushl;ng- in rocer M is situated substantially at the point of intersection of the centre lines of the material strand (M) and the pushed-in sweet (candy) (B), that an actuating lever (14), pivotally journalled on an axis (15), is disposed at the pivot point (13), with which (actuating lever) a connecting member (16) and a pivoting lever (19) having a common pivot bearing (17) are associated, the pivoting lever (19) being journalled on an axis (18) and the pivot bearing (17) being connected via a link (20) with a crank (21), and in that guides (5; 51) are disposed between the pusher-in (8) and the holding jaws (6) of the gripper wheel (7).

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed direction of the material strand (M) is disposed preferably at an angle of 100 to the axis (A) of the gripper wheel (7).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characteriied in that the pusher-in (8) is mounted adjustably and/or replaceably on the pushing-in rocker (9) an d the housing (24) is mounted axially displaceable with respect to the gripper wheel (7).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the axes (15;18) 1 and the shafts (12;22) are disposed perpendicularly to the direction of feed of the material strand (M) and the axis (A) of the gripper wheel (7).

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the guides (5; 51)-are adapted to the movement path of the.pusher-in (8).

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating lever (14) is mounted adjustable in angle.

7. Apparatus ac cording to claim 1, characterized in that the link (20) is mounted adjustably on the crank (21) by means of a crank pin (23).

8. Apparatus as'claimed in Claim 1 substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 19a8 at The Patent Office, State House, 66,111 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.