GB495946A - Improvements in wrapping machines - Google Patents

Abstract

495,946. Photo-electric control of wrapping-machines. CAMPBELL, S. J. April 19, 1938, No. 11726. [Class 40 (iii)] [Also in Group XVII] A wrapping-machine comprises means for moving continuously a web of wrapping- material, means for depositing articles one after another on the moving web, and a photoelectric device for controlling the deposition of each article so that it is placed in a definite position on the web, for example in correct relation to printing on the web. The web 7, Fig. 1, printed with labels 6, is drawn from a roll 8 on to a feed belt 9. The articles 10, in this case cored rolls of toilet paper, are supported on feed belts 11 and are urged into a shoot 12 from which the lowermost roll passes between a pair of spring fingers attached to a presser-foot 26. The web is formed into a channel, about the lower end of the shoot 12, by folding-wings 17, 18, which form the web into a tube the edges of which are secured by adhesive applied by a roller 19. The articles 10 are deposited on the web one at a time by the periodic descent of the presser foot 26, the time of each descent being synchronized with the travel of the web to deposit each article above an imprint 6. For this purpose, the web is printed with black marks 22, Fig. 4, which operate a photo-electric cell 24 exposed to a source of light 23. The cell is de-energized when a mark 22 passes, and through a suitable relay operates a solenoid 25 which depresses the foot 26. After the web is folded by the wings 17, 18, it is held in place by presser belts 20, Fig. 1, and fed on to another feed belt 33 moving at a slightly higher speed than the belt 9. Between the two belts, the wrapped rolls are rotated by twisting-belts 34-37 to twist the portions of wrapping-material between the articles. The twisted portion 40 is severed by knives 42, 43 actuated by solenoids 44, 45, respectively, which may be controlled by a photoelectric cell 47, the knife being operated when light directed on the cell is interrupted by the advance of the next wrapped article. The article thus separated passes on to the feed belt 37 and is moved until it engages a switch 48 which controls a solenoid 50. This solenoid moves a plunger 52 which pushes the wrapped article on to a table 53 where the twisted ends of the wrapping-material are pushed into the cores of the articles by plungers 54, 55 operated by solenoids when a switch 59 is struck by a member 58 on the plunger 52.