GB947093A - Bundle tying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

947,093. Sealing. R. H. HOOD CO. July 13, 1961, No. 25482/61. Heading B6P. [Also in Division B8] Apparatus for applying and securing a cord in encircling relation to an article comprises cord end holding means for retaining a lower end of the cord in gripped position, reciprocable needle means for guiding and holding the cord and after it has been passed round the article advancing it to a position for engagement by said holding means, a member for impelling the cord for gripping engagement by said holding means, and members applying a clip to parallel portions of the cord. The apparatus includes a reciprocating needle 21 having a cord T passing from a supply slidably through it and a pair of plates 94, 97 which co-operate with a third plate 103 to hold the cord T as shown in Fig. 10. With the needle in a raised position and the lower end of the cord held by the plates an article, e.g. a stack of box blanks is passed from left to right, as shown in Fig. 2, to fold the cord into U-form around three sides of the article in which position the article contacts a switch 147 to commence the operations of the machine. The needle is lowered to the position shown to pass the cord round the fourth side of the article. The plate 103 is moved to the right (Figs. 2 and 11), to engage both portions of the cord to pull them into gripping relation with the plates 94, 96. The clip K is applied to the parallel portions of the cord as follows. A strip 26 of metal is fed from a roll by a reciprocating block 27 mounted on a slide 41 which is connected to a piston and cylinder assembly 48. The assembly also reciprocates a block 53 having a pair of clip die members 60, 61 attached thereto. The block 27 has a roll 36 biased by a spring 37 into wedging engagement with the strip 26 so as to cause feeding of the strip 26 as the block moves to the right. A second wedge roll 39 may also be provided to prevent return feed of the strip. The lower clip die 61 co-operates with a die press 31, 32 to fold a clip forming portion of the strip into U -form, the partially formed clip remaining attached to the strip by its central portion 16 (Figs. 2, 4). The upper die member 60 has a central portion 65 which severs a partially formed clip from the strip and side portions 66 housing resilient buffers at 67 which retain the side portions 17 of the clip in position for engaging the cord. The attaching of the clip to the cord is accomplished by the die member 61 pressing the clip around the cord and into contact with a further die member 76. The cord is severed just below the clip by a cutter 132 co-operating with a fixed blade 137. The cutter is rotated to cut the cord by a reciprocating pusher bar 127 operated by the assembly 48 and is returned to its original position by a spring 135. The needle is then raised again to complete the cycle and finally the machine switches itself off. The article must be removed from the apparatus to allow the switch 147 to open before the cycle can be restarted.