US1226622A - Wrapping-machine. - Google Patents

Description

H. J. KEMPF. WRAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE- 3, ISIS.

Patented May 15, 191.7.

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WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1915. Q 1 .226, 622;. Patented May 15, 1917.

2.SHE.ETS-SHEET 2- [fldizzcaaaa I 7 1720622707 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J'.'K.EMPF, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 7 OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WRAPPING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patented May 15" 1917,

Application filed June a, 1915. Serial m. 31,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I HENRY J. KEMrr,

ta'in Improvements in Wrapping-Machines,

of which the following description, in connectlon with the accompanying drawings,

. is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to wrapping machines and is of particular utility in wrapping machines of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,079,012, granted November 18, 1913, and assigned to the assignee of the present lnvention.

The machine shown in the patent just mentioned is designed. to wrap articles of confection, particularly molasses kisses, each kiss being inclosed' in a wrapper folded into the form of a tube and the projecting ends of the tube then being twisted to complete the wrapping operation. This machine, because of its simplicity, reliability and high speed has now gone into very general use for wrapping confections of this character and the present invention has for its chief object to improve this machine in certain respects although some features of the invention are applicable to other wrapping machines. Specifically, the invention is directed to the improvement of the mechanism that feeds the articles to the wrapping mechanism, to the devices that hold and manipulate the paper during the formation of the initial folds about each article, and to the twister mechanism.

The invention will be readily understood fromthe following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional vlew through a machine substantially like that shown in the patent above designated but modified in accordance with the present invention? Fig.2 isa perspective view showing a detail of the plunger mechanism that feeds the articles tothe wrapping mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain parts- '4 shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.- 4 is a cross se tional view on the line Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the twister meche amsm;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view through one of the twister heads;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the twister heads with its'pair of twisters; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing different steps in the process of wrapping. an article in this ,machine.

Inasmuch as the features of this invention are shown as embodied in certain mechanisms of the machineshown in the patent above designated, it is'unnecessary to show or describe a complete machine here. Ac-

cordingly, those parts only of the machine are shown 1n the accompanying drawings which are necessary for the purpose .of enabling applicant to disclose his invention clearly.

The machine comprises in its general organization a supporting frame -2 in which is rotatably mounted a wrapping wheel 3 having a series of peripheral pockets each formed by a stationary jaw 4 and a movable jaw 5 which is yieldingly held toward the stationary jaw but is moved away from it at certain points'in the operation of'the machine by means of a cam. The wrapping wheel 3 is given a step by step motion througha' Geneva drive; 'The candy is fed to the machine usually in a rope-like strip strip as it is fed infront of the plunger,

thus forming one of the kisses to be wrapped. The plunger then forces this kiss into one of the pockets in the wrapping wheel 3 and on its way into the pocket the kiss is pushed into, a wrapper w which has been delivered in the/position shown in Fig. 1

by a suitable wrapper feeding mechanism.

The kiss is (see Fig. 8), when finally deposited in the pocket of the wheel, has the 'wrapper w folded about its top, bottom and forward side, thus leaving two flaps J and e projecting horizontally toward the article feeding mechanism. A tucker 10 next swings up in front of-the pocket into which thekiss has just been deposited, folding the a lower flap d u into the position in which it is shown in 8' and the-wheel, 3 then starts forward, the tucker '10 moving with it for ashort distance, thus carrying the 5' upper flap eagainst a stationary tucker 12 which folds the flap e over the flap 6, thus folding the wrapper into the form of an open ended tube, as shown in Fig. 8. A

continuation of the tucker 12 extends circumferentially around the'wrapping wheel .3 and holds. the wrapper'in its folded position until the wheel has moved far enou h V to deliver the package thus formed to t e action of the twister mechanism which is located at a point substantial] diametrically opposite the article feed ing mechanism. The twisters then grasp the open ends of the wrapper tube and twist them pleting the wrapping operation. .The. jaw 5 is -then moved to re ease the'package' from the pocket in which it has been held up to this point and if. it does not drop it by gravity an'ejector forces it out of the pocket. All this mechanism is substantially like that shown and described in the patent above designated, and reference should be made to this patent for a complete understanding of this general organization together wit :30. the details of the various mechanisms by which the operations above briefly described are performed.

The frame and adjacent parts under the guide 6 form a guideway over or. throughi which the kiss is pushed by the plunger and, as will be evident upon an inspection of Fig. 1,. a considerable space is necessary between thisguideway and the wrapping wheel through which to feed the wrapper w. If for any reason the cross sectionof the candy strip is small, due for instance to some fault with the manner in which the.

attendant feeds, the. machine, a very small Q 'kiss will be formed and this kiss may drop into the space between the guideway and the whee1.,- This action of course will intery-rupt the operation of the machine. One of .the objects of the present invention; therefore, is to devise a. mechanism which will prevent accidents of this character. To this 1: end-there is mounted under the lunger 7 a late 14 which is arranged to sli e back and orth under the lunger from a position back of the space mto which the wrapper w is fed to a point such that it substantially bridges the space between the guideway and the wheel 3. The plunger 7 is-reciprocated by a lever 15 which is operated by a cam follower 16 drivenby arotary cam .17." A

8 0 block 19 is fastened to the upper face of the a rear "end of the plate 14 in position tob struck by the rearmost end of the plunger "'7 ,-a s the. plunger moves backward; and a 20, fastened at one end to a part of as. e machme frame and at'its opposite end I Q; into the form shown in Fig. -9, thus comto a plate 21 secured to the bottom of the rear end of the plate 14, serves to hold the block 19 normally in contact with the rear end of the plunger. Accordingly, upon the forward movement of the plunger the spring 20 will cause the'plate 14 to move forward across the space between the guideway and the wrapping wheel 3, thus supporting the its rear end willv engage the block 19 and push the plate 14 back out of the path of the next wrapper w whichwill be advanced bythe wra per feeding mechanism. This plate, there ore, effectually prevents a small kiss from dropping into the space between the wrapping wheel and the feeding mechanism where it would interfere with'the normal operation of the machine. The part 22 plunger.

A further feature of this invention resides inthe novel mechanism for holding the paper while the first folds are being (see Fig. 2) is merely a cover plate for the.-

made about the kiss and for facilitatingthis folding operation. As shown in Fig. 2, the forward end of the plunger 7 where it comes in contact with the kiss is provided with a U-shaped recess, open at the top, bottom and forward end and made of a depth from front to back substantially equal to the di- 'ameter', of the In order to facilitate the formation of the first fold of the wrapper about the kiss the forward end of the plunger is provided with two laterally extending wings 27 and 28, as best shown in Fig. '2, and the forward faces of these wings lie substantially flush with the forward face of a kiss when it is in the recess of the plun ger so that, as the plunger 7 forces the kissv into a pocket of the wheel 3, picking up the wrapper w on its way into the pocket, these wings will aid in folding the wrapper about thekiss in a -U-shaped form, leaving top and bottom flaps extending horizontally toward the plunger and overlying the forward end ofthe plunger. As a further means for facilitating this folding operation, two paper holding fingers29 and 30 are provided. These fingers may each consist of a stout wire or rod bent ,1nto the form shown in Figs. l and '3, and both mounted on the upper end of an arm 32 pivotedon the machine frame at 33,and normally. held forward or toward the article feeding mechanism by a spring 34. "Preferably the aper engaging end of each fin- I ger. is with a rubber tip enabling 60 by two twister mechanisms which are dupli-1 5 which it is shown in Fig. 1, the finger supporting arm 32 is provided with a cam roll 35 which is arranged to be engaged at cer-' tam points in the operation of the machine by the edge of a cam 36 mounted to rotate with the cam 17 which'operates the feeder 7. Assuming now that the wrapper w has been fed into the position in which it ap-" pears in Fig.1 where it stands vertically in the path of the article about to be fed into the wheel by the plunger 7 the'cam 36' then allows the spring 34 to swing the arm 32 and the fingers and 31 to the left as the pa s. are seen in Fig. 1. At the same time th cam 17 operates through its connections with the plunger 7 to move the plunger forward. These movements are so timed as to cause the wings 27 and 28 to strikethe front face of the wrapper to at substantially the same instant that the tips of the fingers 29 and 30 strike therear face of the Wrapper. The wrapper thus will be gripped between the fingers and the wings, the fingers 29 operating to press the wrapper against the'wing 27 and the finger 30 against the wing 28. As the plunger 7 continues its forward movement, these wrapper gripping parts will continue to hold the wrapper at opposite sides of the kiss, the fingers 29 and 30 yielding to permit the forward movement of the plunger.

The act of forcing the kiss and wrapper into a pocket of the wheel makes the initial fold and the parts 27, 28, 29 and 30 continue their engagement with the wrapper until after this fold has been made and the wheel 3 is about to start forward to fold the flaps d and e inthe manner above described. At this point the cam 36 again engages the roll 35 and holds the fin ers 29 and 30 away size and positioned at opposite sides of the kiss over which the wrapper is bent to produce these. folds.

- The end twisting operation is performed cates and accordingly only "one of these mechanisms will be described. Referring ;more particularly to Figs. 5, -6 and 7, it i will be seen that each vtwister mechan sm from-the wrapper and t e plunger 7 retires comprises a twister head 40 having a hollow, cylindrical shank 41 which is rotatably suppinion 43 fixed to its end opposite the head 40. Motion is imparted to the pinion 43 by; a gear 44 fast on a shaft 45 which is .driven by gear connections with the main shaft of the machine. The twister head 40 has two short shafts 46 and t7 mounted 'rotatably therein and each shaft carries or with and close to each other and the pinions 46' and 47' both mesh with a peripherally grooved head-48 ofa spindle 49 mounted to slide axially through the shank 41 of the twister head. Bothv the shafts 4.6 and 47 project at opposite sides of the twister head and they carry U-s'haped wire twisters 50 and 51, respectively, which are crossed, as clearlyshown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 The legs of each twister extend through its shaft at right angles to the axis of the shaft and are adjustable secured in the shaft by screws threaded axially into the ends of the shaft.

A spring 54, mounted in the hollow shank 41 of the twister head, encircles the spindle 49 and actson a collar fast on the rear end of the spindle to slide the spindle through the shank 41 'away from the head 40. This movement is transmitted through the pinions 46' and 47' to the twisters 50 and 51, separating or opening the twisters so'that they will stand in the ported in a short bracket 42 and has a ably mounted in the lever and extends substantially coaxial with the spindle 4C9. Ac-

' cordingly, when the high portion of the cam 59 swings the lever 58 in a clockwise direction aslthe parts are seen in Fig. 5, the stud 60 will PllSll the spindle 49"forward, thus .rotating the pinions 46 and 47 in such a direction as to close the twisters 50 and 51."

Inasmuch as centrifugal action tends to hold the twisters open it is preferable to close them positively as in the arrangement just described.

Assuming now that apackage, partially wrapped as shown in Fig. 8, 1s moved by the wheel 3 into the rangeof-the twisters,

the spring 54 operating during the positioning of the package to hold the twisters open, the cam 59 will then close the two sets of twisters onto the ends of the wrapper w and they will twist both ends of'the wrapper in the same direction, producing a packa e substantially like that shown in Fig. 9.

. subject to rapid wear and deterioration.

The twisters of each pair preferably are set one slightly in advance of the other, thus leaving a very small space between the wrapper engaging portions of'the twisters so that, as the wrapper shortens during the twisting operation, it can slide through the twisters without tearing. The adjustment of the twisters also is of advantage in enablingthem to be moved to the points best suited to the requirements of different sizes of articles to be wrapped.

Having thus described my invention what I claim'as new an-ddesire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the character described a rotatable twister head, a spindle mounted to slide in said head and having a series of peripheral grooves,'two shafts supported in said head on opposite sides of said spindle,

and having teeth meshing with the grooves twisters supported, respectively on said spindle, and a pair of U-shaped wire twisters crossing each other and supported, respectively, by said shafts, whereby the sliding movement of said spindle in one direction operates through said shafts to open the twisters and the movement of the spindle in the opposite direction closes the twisters.

2. In a machine of the character de scribed, a rotatable twister head, a spindle mounted to slide in said head and having a series of peripheral grooves, two shafts supsaid plunger and to cause the plateto retire ported in said head on opposite sideslof said spindle, and having teeth meshing with the grooves on said spindle, a pair of U- shaped wire twisters crossing each other and supported, respectively, by said shafts whereby the sliding movement of said spindle in one direction operates through said shafts to open the twis'ter'sand the movement of the spindle in the opposite direction closes the twisters, and mtermittently acting means. operatingjpositively through said spindle to hold the twisters closed.

- 3. In a machine of the character described, a pair -of oppositely disposed rotatable twister heads, each head carrying two shafts and a pair of U-shaped wire .bysaid shafts and each twister being a ustablein its shaft whereby the. two sets of twisters may be moved toward or from each other, means for opening said twisters, andmeans for positively closing said twisters.

4:. In a machine of the character described .tate the formation of the wrapper about the article.

a rotatable twister head, two shafts supportv ed in said head and spaced from each other, two twisters supported respectively by said shafts for movementinto open or closed relationship with reference to each other, a

spindle, mounted in said head for slidin 5. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a wrapping wheel and a reciprocating plunger operative to push articles one at a time into the pockets of said wheel, of a plate mounted under said plunger to slide substantially to the periphery of said wheel and back again away from the wheel in a path parallel to the path of movement of said plunger, whereby the plate serves to support each article a's-the plunger forces it into the pockets in said wheel, a spring ar- I ranged to move said plate in one direction,

and connections between said plate and said plunger serving to move the plate in the opposite direction. I

6. In a wrapping machine, the comblnation with a wrapping wheel and a reciprov eating plunger operative to push articles one at a time into the pockets of said wheel, of mechanism for reciprocating said plunger, a plate mounted under said plunger to slide tow a rd and from said wheel, and means for operating said plate comprising a spring acting on said plate to move it forward with the plunger, said means belng constructed and arranged, upon the forward movement of the plunger, to move said plate substantially to. the peripheryo'f said wheel toenable it to support an article as it is pushed into one of the pockets of. said wheel by again with said plunger. v

7. In a wrapping machine, the combina tion with a wrapping wheel and mechanism for feeding articles one at a time into the pockets of said wheel, of means for'feeding a wrapper into the path'of each article as it is moved into a pocket of said wheel, and means for gripping the wrapper at opposite sides ofthe pocket and moving with the article as it is. forced into the ocket to facilifold of the 8. In a wrappmg' machine, the combination with wrapping mechanism andmechanism for feeding articles one at a time to said wrapping mechanism, of means .for feeding a wrapper into the path of each ar-.

ticle as it is moved into said wrappingmecha anism, wrapper gripping devices comprising members operative to engage one face oftheadditional parts yieldingly mounted and constructed and arranged to press the wrapwrapper at opposite sides of the article, and

per against said members while the initial fold is being made in the wrapper about the article. i a

9. In a wrapping machine, the combina tion with Wrapping mechanism, of a plunger operative to push articles one at a time into against the wrapper,

10. In a wrapping machine, the combination with wrapping mechanism, of a plunger operative to push articles one at a time into said mechanism, means for feeding a wrapper into the path of eacharticle as it is moved into said wrapping mechanism, a pair of Wrapper holding fingers arranged to bear on the rear face of the wrapper at opposite sides of an article moved by the plunger, and

wings, on said plunger opposite to said fingers and cooperating with said fingers togrip the wrapper at opposite sides of each article while the plunger pushes the article against the wrapper.

11. In a wrapping machine, the combina tion with wrapping mechanism, of areci'proeating plunger operative to push articles one at a time into said mechanism, means for feeding a wrapper into the path of each article as it is moved into said wrapping mechanism, said plunger having wings extending forward on opposite sides of an article fed by it to a point substantially flush with the front face of said article, a pairof wrapper holding fingers operative to press the wrapper against said wings as the plunger pushes the article into engagement with the wrapper and into the wrapping mechanism, and means for holding said fingers out of the path of the wrapper'while it-is being fed into position to be engaged by an article.

12. In a wrapping machine of the character described, the combination with a wrapping wheel having one or more pockets for the reception of an article with a wrapper partly folded about it, and mechanism for feeding articles to be wrapped one at a time into said pockets, of means for feeding a wrapper into the path of, each article as it is moved into a pocket of said wheel, and

means supported independently of said,

wheel constructed and arranged to grip the wrapper at opposite sides of the article and move with the article as it is forced into the pocket to facilitate the formation of the first fold of the wrapper about the article.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NRYJ. KEF.

Witnesses:

. Farmers E. BRYAN,

M E. HEALEY.

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