GB827629A - Binding machines - Google Patents

Abstract

827,629. Package-banding machines. CRANSTON, A. E. May 27, 1957 [July 3, 1956], No. 16712/57. Class 94(1). The operation of a binding machine of the type in which a member R, Fig. 14, rotates to carry a wire W round the article B to be bound is controlled by switches 153 .... 158, Fig. 12, operated by a control assembly which is driven under the control of switches 135, 136, Fig. 14, operated during rotation of the member R. In the construction illustrated the member R comprises a ring rotating in opposite directions on alternate binding operations and the wire W is secured initially at one end in clamp G1 and finally at the other end in clamp G2. The control assembly comprises cams 150, Fig. 12, on a shaft 143 turned by a fluid pressure device 140 controlled by the switches 135, 136. A switch 158 operated by one of the cams determines the direction of rotation of the ring R when a manual startswitch is pressed, a switch 157 controls the drive to the ring, switches 155 and 156 control the operation of the grippers G2 and G1, a switch 154 startsthe drive to the slotted wire-twisting cylinder T, Fig. 14, and a switch 153 controls a fluid pressure ram 97, Fig. 7, operating an arm 94 which serves to press the wires into the lower slot in the twister T and to push the twisted wires from the upper slot. A shield 100 connected to the arm 94 by a rack and pinion 95, 99 prevents accidental escape of the wire from the slots. The twister T is driven from a fluid pressure ram 86, Fig. 2, through gearing 83, 82, 80 from a pawl and ratchet mechanism 91, 78, 92 controlled by a limit switch 283 and serving to turn the twister T through three and a quarter turns and then to reverse it through a quarter turn to an initial position determined by a pawl 85. Bundles are fed to the machine by laterally spaced conveyer chains 20, Fig. 2, controlled by push buttons operable to drive the chains in either direction. The bundles are held in the binding position by a pair of clamps 32, Fig. 1, moved by double-acting fluid pressure rams 34, by an upper clamp 38 moved by doubleacting rams 41, and by clamps 45 slid along the upper clamp 28 by cable connections to a single acting ram 47 acting against return springs (not shown). The wire is cut at the end of each binding operation by a moving blade 101, Fig. 5, co-operating with a fixed blade 103, the wire W2 which is not to be cut being held away from the blades by a bevelled edge 105 on the stationary cutter 103 and by the adjacent portion of the clamp G1. The wire is fed to the ring through adjustable rollers 111, Fig. 1, and under a pulley 116 connected through chains 122 to a biasing spring 126 which, at the beginning of each binding operation, initiates rotation of the ring R as soon as a brake 75 is released. The pulleys 73 feeding the wire to the ring R, are disposed at unequal distances from the ring so chosen that the wrapping angle of the wire over the pulleys is the same for each direction of rotation of the ring. The shafts 60, Fig. 1, of the rollers supporting the ring R are mounted by eccentric reduced portions so that the rollers can be adjusted towards and away from the ring. Manually operated switches are provided for stopping the machine, for causing a limited motion of the ring R to assist in re-threading the wire, for releasing the grips G1, G2, and for releasing the clamps holding the bundle B while leaving the brake 75 applied to the ring R so that the ring can be moved through a limited arc without subsequentially coasting.