GB703364A - Improvements in or relating to means for packing small articles in containers and wrappers - Google Patents

Abstract

703,364. Endless conveyers ; load-engaging devices. INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL CO., Ltd., WILKINSON, G. R., and LOWRY, J. W. Feb. 25, 1952 [Feb. 6, 1951], No. 2926/51. Classes 78 (1) and 78 (4) [Also in Group XVII] In a machine for packaging articles of regular size, e.g. tablets (see Group XVII), the tablets &c. T are fed from hoppers down inclined perforated sorting plates (not shown) and pass on to inclined guide plates 20 provided with guideways 21 leading to horizontal guideways 17 formed by members 15 of adjustablymounted frames 16 disposed above a pair of laterally-spaced endless belts 13, the plates being jigged mechanically to effect the feeding of the tablets and the separation of dust and broken tablets. The ends of the guideways 17 are closed by stop rails 16a, whereby the movement of the tablets is arrested and they are assembled in rows in the guideways. The assembled formations of tablets are removed from the belts and deposited in a carton or wrapper C on a platform 6 by a pair of suction heads 23, 23a carried by posts 44 movable vertically by an air cylinder 46 in guide sleeves 45 secured to a horizontally-movable carriage 30, the latter being secured to a cable 34 which is reciprocated by a crank 32 and connecting rod 33 through a lost-motion connection 37, 38 so that there is a substantial dwell at the ends of the stroke when the heads are positioned over the belts 13 and platform 6. Each transfer head, Fig. 4, comprises a chamber 25 provided with a suction port 28 and formed with orifices 26 disposed to correspond with the formation of tablets, the working face of the head being covered with an orificed pad of rubber 25a or with porous material such as textile or metallic gauze. Alternatively, the working face may be perforated. The operation of the air cylinder 46 and the alternate connection of the heads to a source of suction or to atmosphere are synchronized with the reciprocating movements of the carriage by a rotary valve driven by the shaft 32a of the crank 32, whereby formations of tablets are picked up alternately from the belts 13 by the heads 23 and 23a respectively.