GB799325A - High speed packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

799,325. Wrapping-machines. AMERICAN VISCOSE CORPORATION. May 31, 1956 [July 21, 1955], No. 16846/56. Class 94(1). In a machine for wrapping articles such as fruit and vegetables, a web of heatsealable wrapping material W, Figs. 1 and 2, is fed continuously from a roll 22 over formers 26, 27 and between rollers 35, 37 whereby it is formed into a trough for the reception of the articles A, the upper edges of the trough passing between pairs of rollers 28 and being engaged by cam-operated grippers 30 on driven endless chains 31, 32 which converge at their rear ends so that the edges of the trough are brought together to form a tube enclosing the articles and pass between heated seaming rollers 45, 46. The articles are placed in the trough by the operator and are supported on platforms 52 carried by driven endless chains 47, 48. The tube and enclosed articles then passes between upper and lower endless conveyers 75, 76, Figs. 1a and 3, which carry two series of spaced heatsealing devices 100, 85 arranged to co-operate in pairs to collapse and heat-seal the walls of the tube between successive articles. Each device 100, Fig. 7, comprises spaced, electricallyheated jaws 101, 102 carrying rollers 111 arranged to engage a resiliently-mounted track 114, and a reciprocable knife 103 carrying rollers 129 which are arranged to engage cam plates 130, 131. The devices 85 are similarly constructed except that the knife 103 is omitted, and carry rollers 111 arranged to engage a track 112. The tube also passes between the upper runs of pairs of endless chains 140, 141 and 142, 143, Fig. 3, carrying two series of opposed spaced housings 147 each supporting a transversely movable carriage 153, Figs. 4 and 5, which carries fingers 150, 151 and 152 formed with V-notches at their outer ends. Each carriage is fitted with a roller 163 arranged to engage a V-shaped cam 160, see also Fig. 2a (not shown), whereby opposed sets of fingers are brought together to bunch the tube transversely between successive articles. This operation occurs shortly before the heating jaws are pressed together by the rollers 111 engaging a step 115 on the track 114. The fingers thus determine the width of the heat seals and ensure that the sealed portions of the tube are properly severed when the knives 103 are operated by the cams 130, 131. The resulting packages are of the form shown in Fig. 20.