GB666397A - Improvements in wrapping machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

666,397. Packing. ROSE BROS. (GAINSBOROUGH), Ltd. Dec. 16, 1948. [Dec. 24, 1947] No. 34166/47 divided out of Complete Specification 665,611. Class 94(i). [Also in Groups XIX and XXX] In a machine for wrapping friable articles, e.g. ice-cream, in which the articles are fed by a conveyer towards a station at which they are transferred by a member to wrapping elements, there is provided a detecting device having a plurality of feeler members spaced apart within an area corresponding to the surface of the article and adapted to move into engagement with the surface of each article in turn, and controlling means under the influence of the feeler members adapted on detection of unevenness of the surface. to prevent the transfer of an article to the wrapping elements. In the construction shown, blocks of ice-cream are carried in pockets 41 of a conveyer chain 42. Five spring loaded feelers 57 arranged in 'quincunx formation are carried by a member 43 rigid with a slider 44 actuated by a link 48 and cam 53. Each feeler 57 has a respective tappet 59 (Fig. 4), which rests upon it and is freely pivoted on bearings 62 on the member 43. Each tappet has an abutment 68 each of which normally lies clear of a respective abutment 64 formed on a controlling member 66 which is movable by linkage 68, 69 under the action of a cam 73 in opposition to a spring 74. In operation, the movement of the member 66 under the action of the cam 73 is unimpeded, and it cyclically operates a micro-switch 88 in the circuit of a solenoid (not shown), which then operates to withdraw a stop 87. This permits clockwise movement of a twoarmed lever 79, 81 under the action of a spring 86 and cam 84. The arm 79 is coupled to a transfer member 76 which is thus moved to displace the article 11 from the pocket 41 to a platform 89 leading to the wrapping elements of the machine. The cam 53 is arranged so that the feelers are raised clear of the article before operation of the member 76. If any one of the feelers 57 (such as shown at a) moves further down than normal under the action of its spring, the respective abutment 63 moves into the path of the corresponding abutment 64 and prevents normal movement of the member 66. The article is thus not transferred, and is carried by the conveyer to a waste bin. The feelers may alternatively operate on the lower, or on both upper and lower surfaces of the article. The controlling means may be electrical or mechanical. and may be delayed in action until the article has moved to a transfer station. According to the Provisional Specification the tappets 59 may be spring- loaded into engagement with the feelers.