US1306358A - smith - Google Patents

Description

E. L. SMITH. WRAPPING MACHINE. APPucAlou msn 1m11.191s.

Patented June 10, 1919.

5 SHEETS-Shin' l.

Patented June 10,y 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET- 2.

m 94" www A l: L ...lMn MM ,-Jwwi S G ru N rl. \xm nu m w f l t E m f n m E. L. SMlTH. WRAFPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HAR. 2, |918. 1,306,358, Patented June 10, 1919.

` 5 SHEETS-$HEET 3.

E. L. SMITH.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZ, 1918. 1,306,358. I Patented June 10, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

K IN VEN TOR. WITNESSES.- M7

@MTM

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED ST ATES PATENT OFFICE ELMER L. SMITH, OIF SPRINGFIELD; MASaACHJUSEETS. ASSSEGNMRS TO BAGKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, 0F SPRINGFIELD; MASSACHUSETTS, A CRFIDRATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

WRALPPINGMALCHINE Application ined March 2, 191s.

To all whom it may concern Be' it known that l, Emma L. FiMrrn, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, and aresident of 'lpringlicld` in the county ot llampden and State oi Massachusetts, hav(l invented pertain neiv and useful lnaproveinents in Wrapping-hlarhines, oi" which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Wrapping niarhincs, and more particularly to suf-li machines wherein artifles, as Well as additional material, such as advertising circulars, pamphlets, cards and the like,4 may be in:- closed within the Wrapper. The invention also relates to machines for Wrapping airticles` having a: more or less oval shape or such articles which, due to the lack of square end faces, are not readily wrapped by ordinary means.

One object oi the invention is to' provide a machine which will auton'iatically supply to and apply about the articles and within their outer wrappers, any desired number of inclosures suwh ars descriptive circulars, advertising pamphlets. cards and the like` and the machine is characterized in that the articles may be successively Wrapped with a plural-ity of inclosures in such a inanner that the overlapped seams of successive Wrapped inclosures lie onI opposite sides of the article.

Another Object oat the invention is to pr'ovide a machine capable of successfully Wrapping articles, the end faces of which alto more or less rounded, irregulla-r, or other Wise formed, so that the end folds of the Wrapper cannot be laid squarely against the ends of the articles by ordinary means. According to this feature off the invention, l provide automatic means for forming a container or sleeve ot relatively stiff material,

`such cardboard and the like, which container is substantially coextensive in length With the articles and "builds out the rounded' ends of the articles, sothat a smooth, closely Wrapped package may be obtained by thereafter Wrapping the container in the usual manner with overlapping end' folds.

A rfurther object of the invention is to Specification@ Letters Patent.

Patented J-ltmel 10, 1919.

Serial'No. 219,985.

provide, in combination with automatic means for forming a containing tube for the airticlc by folding a strip oiA relatively stili material,y such as a cardboard sleeve and the like, about the article, means to apply a retaining band about the folded container lo hold the latter in tubesiorming position imlepcndcntly oi the outer and suhscqncl'itly applied wrapping.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for .simultaneously kfeeding a plurality of articles step by step in spaced relztion, characterized by a' plurality of spaced articlesenga'ging imembers movable simultaneously by a single mechanism in a closed loop path, which is inter cepted by the path of they articles, each inemher being arranged to move an article one step into a position to be engaged on a subsequent cycle of operation hy the next-succeeding member.

A further object oi the invention is to provide in combination With mechanism for forming gummed overlapped seams, an im proved type of discharge apparatus through whifh the articles may be conveyed from said mechanism and the overlapped seams of their Wrappers {irmly held until the adhesive has set.

Other objects and advantages will ap ear in the following description and in theA i' llustrative embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures l and 1b are general elevational views of the left `and right hand portions of the machine. These two views, shown separately on account of scale considerations, should be imagined as joined one to the other' to afford a con'iplete view of the machine. These views, in the main, showt1 a longitudinal sectional view of the machine, although certain parts are shown merely in exterior elevation, and many of less essential parts have been broken away to more clearly disclose other and more essential' parts;

Figs 2 to 8, inclusive, are perspective views showing the article with its Wrappings as it appears in various positions dnringV its passage through the machine;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view illustrative of the mechanism for feeding the folded circulars to the articles;

F ig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 11--11 of Fig. Sl;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevational view of the first tumble-box, and is taken on a different plane than Fig. 1 to illustrate the opel-at ing connections for the tumble-box ejector;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentarT sectional plan view of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the second tumblebox;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view illustrative of the operating mechanism for aiiiX- ing stamps or stickers to the overlapped ends of the retaining bands which hold the previously applied ivrappings to the articles;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig, 1a and illustrates the stamp-afiixing mechanism;

Fig. 1T is a fragmentary plan view of a part of Fig. lo;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a part of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a detail view of a moistener used in the stamp-aiiixing mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary enlarged sertional view oli' a part of Fig. 16 showing a different positioning of parts and illustratinfr the stamp-feeding mechanism;

ig. :21 is an elevational View of the righthand end of the structure shown in Fig. 17

Fig. 22 is a detail view of the severing blade shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a detail view of the yieldable jaw of the stamp-gripping mechanism shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the continuous strip of stamps as supplied to the machine;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary elevational view of the exterior of that portion of the ma chine adjacent the third tmnble-box and end folding mechanism;

Fig. 2G is a plan view; partly in section. of the discharge apparatus for holding the guinmed overlapped end folds until the adhesive has set; and

Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 27-27 of Fig. 26.

The machine; in general, comprises a seA ries of alined chutes or passageivays through which the articles to be wrapped may travel a plurality of feeding mechanisms to .supply material to be applied to the articles and position the material in the path of the articles; a series of spaced tumble-boxes to transfer articles from certain chutes to others and assist in Wrapping the material about the articles; sealing devices to operate on certain of the wrapped material while the articles are in the chutes; end folding mechanism and end fold sealing devices likewise operable while the articles are eonlined in a chute; a chute forming discharge appa ratus to hold the sealed end folds for a sailicient interval to permit the adhesive to set; and a plurality of transferring devices to move the articles through the chutes and into and out of the tumble-boxes in properly timed relation,

Considering the machine somewhat more specifically in connection with the work Which it, in its present illustrative embodiment, is adapt/ed to perform,marticles e, such as cakes of soap or the like; are passed in a straight line from one end of the machine to the other; and during their passage various material is fed and applied to the articles. First; a length of cardboard Z) and a previously folded advertising circular c, each of which, as shown in Fig. 2, is substantially equal in Width to the length of the article, are simultaneously wrapped around the sides ofthe artirle and overlapped; forni4 ing a` joint d (Fig. Il) The ends of articles (a, as illustrated; are more or less rounded, and the cardboard l acts to build out these rounded edges so that the ends o I' the package may be made square to permit neat and smooth end folding of an outer wrapper .subsequently to be applied. A i'ter the cardboard b aud circular c have been entirely wrapped about article a; a narrow hand e is wrapped about the circular c. and; as clearly indicated in Fig. l, the endsof band c overlap; as at j", on the side opposite from joint d. The overlapped ends f are then joined by the application of a stamp or sticker' g so that the band and stamp may cooperate to retain circular c; and more particularly the relatively sti lf cardboard o, in closely wrapped relation with the article a. r.lhe article now has been iuelosed in a container or sleeve; leaving only its ends exposed; and by first building up a container out of relatively stiff material. an article. which by itself is not readily wrapped on account of irregularities or rounded corners. may 110W be smoothly Wrapped in the usual manner.

The next step consists in thc` application of an outer wrapper L which is first applied around the previous wrappers to inclose its sides, as shown in Figs. 5 and The ends of wrapper i overlap; as at i. and on a side opposite from the previous overlapped joint f. There remain tubular extensions from the ends of the article which are to be tolded. The tubular Wrapper extension at each end of the article may be conveniently subdivided into folds, as side folds j; and upper and lower folds c and I, respectively. ln the illustrated embodiment of the machine. both side folds 7' and lower folds 7 are simul taneously operated upon by a rotary folding blade by which folds ari` laid flat against the ends of the articles and fold l vertically downward away from the articles, as shown in Fig. 7. A folding' blade then lays folds llat against the ends of thc articlemas shown in Fig'. H. Foldsl are carried 'from the po sition shown iu Fig'. 7 flat againstthe endz.` of the articles by .stationary folderf-s, and. :is the folds 7 rome into the punition shown in Fig. 9, adhesivm as indicated at; in, is applied thereto7 so that thc foldsr /rt .uid when overlapped will be sealed.

`The general frame `strueturf.- and iuaii. driving connections of the machine will first be described with particular reference to Figs. la and 1b. A represents a suitably supported main table or bed-plate. and sup ported therefrom and in spaced relation thereabove by a series of columns C is a frame l5. Mounted upon the latter in spaced relation are magazines n., and 29, which are adapted to contain the circulars c, bands t. and wrappers respectively. The card board is supplied in continuous strip form from a roll (not shown). At intervals along bed A and arranged in spaced parallel relation are vertical chutes r, s and f into which the cardboard Zi and circular c, the band e, and the wrapper z, respectively, are fed by suitable means. Intermediate chutes r and s and rotatably supported from bed A to turn on a horizontal axis is a tumble-box 26. Intermediate chutes 5' and t and similarly mounted to turn on a similar and parallel axis is a tumble-box 27, and beyond chute t and similarly mounted is another tumblebox 28. Each tumble-box has tivo diametrically-opposed pairs of jaws 29 between which article a, may be postioned, and at least one jaw of each pair is yieldable. The tumble-boxes, when at rest, are positioned as illustrated. et that'. linut: fl lie horizontal and parallel with bed A. The space between the chutes r, s and t and the adjacent tumbleboXes is lled by bridges 30 to afford a track which is disposed in the same plane as the lower jaws of the turret and upon which the article may ride. Stationary side guides 31 are preferably provided to confine the articles to straight line travel on the bridges and in a line at right angles to the axes of the tumble-boxes. Located in the same plane as the upper jaws 29 of the tumble-boxes are yieldable Walls 32 and 32 which engage the tops of the articles and hold them to the bridges 30. The members 30, 31 and 32 thus form chutes through which the articles may be propelled in a manner to be described.

Below bed A and arranged in spaced parallel relation With the axes of the tumbleboxes are cam-shafts 33, 34 and 35, of which the intermediate shaft 34 is adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power. Shafts 33 and 35 are driven from shaft 34 by chains 36 and 37 and suitable sprockets. Arranged at right; angles to .shaft :lil and driven therefrom by the bevel gears shown is a horizontal shaft 38 (Fig. lf). A Geneva cani lift is rotatably supported above and with its axisl parallel to shaft 38, and this cani is adapted to be turned interniittently by a driving roll Ll() which, although shown largely as broken away in Fig. l, is fixed on the left end oiVA shalt fiif. (,aiu 139 drives by a ear train ll a shaft -Z which is ar ranged in the Isame horizontal plane as the axes of the tuinbleboxes but at right anglesl thereto. The shaft of each tumble-box is connected to shaft 42 by bevel gears, as indicated in Fig. l5 in connection with the shaft lf3 of the tuinblefbox E27. Shaft l2, in Figs. 1 and 1b, has been broken away interlumliate its ends to reveal other and more important mechanism. but it will be readily understood that it its so arranged as to sinnlltaneiiuslv turn all the tumble boxes, and it. is to be umlerstood that the gear train ll and cam ifi are so designed that cach tumble-box is turned interiuittently by halt' a revolution.

The means for feeding the cardboard l into chute r will next be described with reterence to Fig. 1". The cardboard in continuous strip form is taken from a suitable supply roll (not shown) and passes between a pair of gear-connected feed rolls 14. The latter are continuously driven by a gear l5 on a shaft 4G which, in turn, is driven from the described shaft 83 by a chain 117 and suitable sproclets. The cardboard strip passes from upper roll il to and between a second. pair of feed. rolls 48, which are intermittently driven at a higher speed than the feed rolls 4l. The former act as a slackenerM ti; loosen a length ot' the ,st rip from the zxupply roll, and the rolls -l-S dpr-rate to feed the loosened length at relatively high speed into the machine. The chute r, as shown in Fig. l, has a divided upper end, and the cardboard from rolls #118 passer-1 into the left brauch of the chute. Une of the feed rolls 48 has fixed thereto a pinion 49 Which is driven from a gear 50 loosely mounted on a stud 51. Fixed to gear 50 is a ratchet 52, which is adapted to be driven in one direction by a pawl 53. Pawl 53 is carried by a lever 54 Which is loosely fulcrumed en stud 51 and is connected by a link 55 to the upper end of a lever 56. The latter is pivoted to bed A and intermediate its ends has a roll which rides in a path-cani formed in one face of a disk 57 fixed on the described shaft 46. This cani is constructed to reciprocate lever 56 at properly timed intervals and.y due to the pawl and ratchet arrangement, the strip b is moved only on the forward stroke of the lever. The cam is also constructed to cause a measured len th of thestrip b to be fed into chute r, and t is length is such that the bottom edge of the strip rests upon the bottom of the chute.

After the strip Z) has been fed into the chute as described, the strip is severed on a line closely adjacent the top of the chute by a pair of shear blades 58. The right-hand blade 58 is stationary and the other movably mounted in a suitable manner. The movable blade 58 is connected by a link 59 to one end of a bent lever (50 which is pivoted at itsl other end to frame B. Intermediate the ends of lever 6() is a roll which rides in a path-cam formed in the opposite face of disk 57 from the cam heretofore described as operating the lever 56. The operating cam for the shears is constructed to close the blades 58 immediately after the rolls 48 come to rest and to thereafter open the blades to permit another measured length of the strip to be later fed into chute r.

The means for feeding the folded circulars f into chute r will next be described with reference to Figs, l"` l), 10 and l1. Referring first to Fig. il, the :folded circulars in magazine n are supported along their trout and rear edges by members (3l and (32. respectively. The former member is so constructed` as to permit free angular eXtension of the lower fold c from the upper fold of the circular. The latter may then be engaged between its folds and carried horizontally out of the magazine by an ejector G23 which. as shown in Fig. ll, has a forked forward end to span the central poi'- tion of member G1. The side portions of the latter are beveled to permit the passage of the forked portions of the ejector G3. Ad jacent the exit of magazine a are a pair of pulleys G1 t Figs. 1a and 11) connected as shown in liig. 9 by intermeshing gears, and the axes of the pulleys lie in the same vertical plane. Adjacent the entrance end of the described chute r are two idler pulleys G5, the axes of which lie in the same horizontal plane. llaeh pulley (34 is connected to a pulley (35 by a belt 66, and the arrangement is such that adjacent laps of the belt are contiguous and travel in the same directionnamely. downwardly toward chute r. The circular removed from magazine n b ejector G3 carried into the bight of pul eys (l1 (the forked portion of the ejector being ar ranged to straddle the pulleys and belt) and between the contiguous laps of belts GG which thereafter carry the circular into the rightliand branch of the chute r and deposit it in parallel and elosely-adjacent relation with the cardboard The pulleys 64 are gear connected as described so that one drives the other and in an opposite direction, and one of the pulleys, as shown in Fig. 1, is driven by a chain 67 and suitable sprockets from a shaft 68, which is the operating shaft for magazine 0, as will appear., Magazine p has a similar operating shaft 69, and the shafts G8, (39 and the main drive shaft Si are interconnected by a .sprocket chain so that each of shafts G8 and (39 and lower roll llturn in the saine direction. The rolls (3-land belts (in then travel continuously.

'lhe ejector G3 is operated intermittently by a path-cam Tl which is fixed on the described shaft 4G. An larm 72, having n roll to ride in cam Tl. is slotted at one end to receive shaft lo. which functions as a guide for one end of the arm. Above cam Tl is a pinion 73, and the upper end of arm 72 constitutes a rack to engage and operate the pinion. A roll 7lY holds the rack arni in en agement with the latter. Fixed to pinion Il is a gear 75, which meshes with a rack Tl'ny lixed to the described ejector Gil. Thus. a substantially vertical reciprlnzation of arin T2 will reciprocate ejector (l horizontally. (lam 7l is constructed to more arm T2 downwardly and thus move ejector (lil tothe right to deliver a circular c into the belts ll in time for the latter to deliver the circular into chute r substantially simultaneously with the cardboard The means for simultaneously wrapping the cardboard and circular c will next be described with reference to Fig. 1.a. The articles t are suitably positioned upon the Yfirst bridge ill), as by a conveyor TT the upper lap of which travels horizontally in the plane of the bridge and at right angles to the passageway formed by members El() and 3l. The articles thus positioned are carried along the first bridge 30 and into the tumble-box 2G by a plunger 78 which is mounted to reciprocate on bed A. Plunger TS is connected by a link 79 to the upper end of a lever S0, and the latter bears a roll which rides in a patlrcam Sl fixed on the described shaft The lever 80 is pivoted at a point considerably below the cani-engaging roll thereon, but owing to space limitations, the lower end of the lever has been broken oft'. lt will be readily understoml`y however, that the arrangement is such that plunger 7S may be moved from the position shown in Fig. la into a position wherein its forward and article-engaging end lies substantially in the plane of the left-hand edges of the jaws Q9 of the left-hand pocket of tumble-bex 26. (lam 81 is constructed to move the plunger innnediately after the cardboard o and rircnlar c have been fed into chute r and before the tumble-box 26 commences its movement, and to then retract the plunger and hold it retracted until another cardboard and circular have been fed into chute r.

The tumble-box 26 will next be described with reference to Figs. 1a, 12 and 13. In each pocket of the tumble-box is a plate 82,

Htl

l (lb and the two plates are connected together by a pair of rods 83 which are radially slidable in the turret. Thus, a movement of one plate 82 radially inward will move the other plate radially outward, and viceversa. Slidably mounted iii each plate 82 is` a packaeeengaging' member 84, which is noi'iiially held extended from the plate by suitable springs.y as indicated. Each ineniber 84 has two spaced wedge-like edOes 85 which, when the article and wrappers?) and C are thrust thereagainst by the plunger 78, operate t0 crease the wrappers, as will later ap ear.

The plates 82 are, however, mova le by means independent of the plunger 78. Referring to Figs, 'l2 and 13, adjacent each side ot' the tumble-box and' parallel with rods 83, a rod 8G is sl'idably mounted on bed A and fixed to each rod is an arm 87 which has a part projecting' toward the adjacent rod 83 into such position that it may engage and more the right-hand plate 89 radially outward without interfering with the movement of the tuiiible-box. Each rod 8G is connected by a link 88 t0 the upper end ot' a lever 89, which, as indicated in Fig. la, is suitably fulcriinied, as is the lever 80 heretofore described, at the extreme lower part of the machine, which part has been broken away in the drawings on account of space limitations. Each lever 89 has a roll to engage a cam on shaft 33. One of these cams is arranged on each side of the cani 81, so that in Fig, la neither appear, since one is broken away and the other lies behind cani 8l. It will readily be understood, however, that the operating means for rods 86 are such that the arms 87 may engage and move the right-hand plate 8:2 to carry the article (z from the right-hand pocket of the tumblebox into the position shown on the second bridge 30.

It will be appreciated, however, that to thus move the articles, the right-hand plate 82 and particularly its springpressed nieinber 84 must travel beyond the periphery of the tumble-box, and, since the plates 82 are not movable radially inwardly by the described arms 87, means must be provided to move the plates 82 to the left a siiiiicient distance to prevent the right-hand springpressed member 84 from strikingr on bridge 3() when the turret is turned. This result is accomplished by two diametrically-epposed pliingers 90 which, as best shown in F ig. l, are arranged to slide radially in the tumblebox and parallel with and between rods 83. A spring 91 is interposed between the two pliingers 90 and acts to force each radially outward to the e-Xtent permitted by sto plates 92. Now, when right-hand plate 2 has been moved as described so that its inembcr 84. just begins to pass beyond the periphery of the tiiinblefbomtlie lefthand plate 82 engages the. adjacent plunger 9.04 aad news it, thereby compressing spring 9,1. s soon as ariiis 87 nl ove avi'ay 'from right-hand plate 82, the latter is then moved to the lett by the expansion ot' spriy ig 91 until its meinber 84 has been retracted sutliciently to perniit the tumble-bo);y to turn. i

lt will be recalled that 'the plunger 7,8 is operated immediately after the cardboard strip has been severed. The article a, engaged by the plunger, is carried against the cardlioard and circular c. Qn continued iiioven'ient of the plunger, the article and itsy wrappers are carried past a flap-plate 9,3 pivoted to the forward face of cli, ite r. The movement of the article beyond cliiitc 'r will cause the cardboard Z1 and circular c to be laid about three sides` of the article, as shown in Fig. i), the flap-plate 98 opeiriitini;l to hold the upper horizontal extensions Z) and c until the article and its wrappers have. been positioned inI the tumble-bon Q6. Continued increment ot' the plunger will cause, the article to engage the s )ringpresseil plate 8i. Before 4the Vlates 2 can be iiioved by plato 84, the springs of the. latter will be compressed and, iniu'iediately this con'ipression takes place, the arms 87 are irranged to engage and move the right,-

hand plate 82. Thereafter plunger (8 and arms Y87 are moved in unison to insert an article and its wrappers in one and remove another article and its wrappers from the other pocket oi the tiiiiiblefbox. The wedgelilre edges 85 are yieldingly forced aga-inst the cardllioard o and circular c, to crease them along the lines of fold. The fold breaking,7 operation is a particularly desire able feature where, as here, relatively stili' material as cardboard c is employed, for otlieiavise the material will not lie perfectly Hat against the article. Iillldiately after the positioning of the article and its wrappers in the le`ft-lian1cl pocket of the tuipblebox 26, plunger 7 8 is returned into tlieillusf trated position and plate 84 is retracted as described, by spiingl, a siicient distance to permit the tumble-bex to turn. The tuin ble-box is then turned half a revolution to carry the empty pocket into position to receive another article and to bring kthe article, just inserted, into the position shown in Fig. 1a. As the article nears the illustrated position, the one projecting extension from both the cardboard b. and circular brushes past a ivoted arm 94;, which `is yieldingly forced `oward the tumble-box, and the prof jecting` extensions are caught and yieldingly held between the arm 94 and tumble-box. Tlie article and its wrapper hay-e new been inverted so that on `ejeetim, the` projecting end of each wrapper 1s laid in overlapping relation upon the other epd, as in Fig. 3, the tolding occurring as the article is thrust between the second bridge 30 and the spring-pressed plate 32 thereabove.

The mechanism associated with the application of the retaining band c to the article and the previous] i applied wrappiuga o and c will next be described. As lo the feeding of the bands c, which are contained in magazine o, an)Y suitable means maltr be employed. For example, means of the tvpc disclosed in the ledington and lWilmoc Paten( No. 1,117,442, dated Nov. 17, 1014-, mayy be employed. Since such feeding means are well known in the art, detailed description thereof is unnecessary to an understanding of the invention, and accordingly a conventional illustration only has been given in the drawings, it heilig understood that whatever feeding means is employed may readily be driven from the described shaft G8 (Fig. la) and timed to operate in unison with the ejector 03 heretofore de scribed. The hand ejected vfrom magazine o is carried to the chute .s bv a pair nl' bclts` 05. which arc mounted similarly lo ilul dcscrihed bolts G0 and are driven from shaft 68 hy a sprocket-chain 9G.

The band c is wrapped around the article in the same manner as before, but, due to the fact that the article has been inverted by the tumble-box 2G, the edg of band l: overlap, as at f, on the side opposite from the joint (I. A flat-plate 9T and a springactuated arm 98 assist in the wrapping of the band in the same Way as the previouslj,y described parts 93 and 94. The onlyr difference is that two spring-pressed plates 32 are provided to the right of flap-plate 97 to hold the previouslyv applied Wrappiugs Z) and c from opening during the passage of the article into tumble-box 2T. The plates` 32 are arranged one on each side of platc 97 and grip the article near its ends only so as to permit free movement of the plate.

The articles, however, are carried into and out of the tumble-box 27 by different means than those described in connection with tumble-box 2G. The particular articletransporting means employed renders unnecessary much of the structure described in connection with tumble-box 20, and tumble-box 2T consists merely of the pairs of opposed jaws 29, one of each pair being vieldable as shown in Fig. 1a. The rigid jaws, as shown in Fig. 14, are fork-shaped, and the bridges 30 between tumble-boxes 20 and 27 are centrally slotted, as evidenced b y the omission of cross-hatching in Fig. l, to permit the movement of the article-feeding mechanism for tumble-box 27, as will appear.

The article feeding and ejecting mechanism will next be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 1b. Slidably mounted for vertical reciprocation in suitable guides on brackets u which depend from bed A, are

two horimilitarily-spacerl rack-barsl 09 which are rigidly connected together by a horizontal frame 100. A segmental gear 101, which is pinned to a stub-shaft 102 rotatablv supported in bracket u, meshes with each rackbar 00. Also pinned to each shaft 102 is an arm 103, and the two arms are connected bv a link 10i so as to move in unison to raisc and lowcr frame 1.00 equally at each end. An arm 105 forked at onc end lo engage the ,lcseribed shaft 34; for guiding purposes, is pivotally connected at its other end to linhr 1011-. Arm 105 has a roll, Which rides in a path-cam formed in one face of a disk 100 fixed on shaft 3K1, whereby vertical movements ol frame 100 ma.)r bc obtained. Slidable horimntallyr on `frame 100 is a frame 10T which is connected by a link 10S to the upper cnd of a levez 109. The latter is loi'iselv fulcrumed at ils lower end on a rod 110 which, although broken oil in Fig. l, is clearly shown in Fig. .'\n arm lll, forhcd at one cnd o ride on shaft it for guiding purposes, is pivolallv conncclcd :d its` other cud to lei'cr 100:11 a point intermediate the ends olL the lattcr and has a roll to ride in a` path-cam l'ormcd in the opposite face of disk 100 from the Cain for arm 105. Thus, frame 107 may be moved horizontally, while frame 10() is moved vertir-all)Y and the two movements are so coordinated that any given point in frame 10T will move in a path which may best be described as a rect angle with slightlyr rounded corners. Fixed upon frame 10( are four upwardly-extending arms 112 which are movable through suitable openings in the bed A.. The first of arms 112 (counting from left to right in Figs. la and 1b) is likewise movable in the slotted bridges 30 and `functionsA to more the article from the position in which it was left after ejection from the tumble-box 26 into the left-hand pocket of tumble-box 27. The second arm 112 is nu'n'able between the forked jaws 29 0f tumble-box 27 and functions to eject the article from the tumble-box 27 onto the bridge 30 to the right of the tumble-box. The other two arms are movable in the central slot of the last-named bridge and function to move the articles step by step therealong in a manner later to be described. Obviously, all four arms operate in unison, and the cams in disk 10G are so arranged that these arms move the Iarticle sin'lultaneously with the article feeding means described in connection with tumble-box 26.

The mechanism for feedingr and aflixing the stamps g to join the overlapped ends of the bands c will next be described with reference to Figs. la, 1b, and 16 to 24. inclusive. The articles ejected from tumble-box 27 by the second arm 112 are left in position for the operation of a moistener mechanism and are subsequently carried along bridge 30 by the lhird arm 112 into .iosition for the onperation ot' the Stamp-alilxing ynnerhanisun.

The moistener, as best shown in Fig. 19, consists of a container 113, which is adapted to be lled with walter and is provided at the bottom with an outlet 11.4 regulable by a needle-valve 115. Below the outlet114 and supported from the container is a pad 1113, el' lfelt or other suitable absorbent nnvterial. The upper portion o'l" the pad re elves the regulable discharge from the outllet 114, and the lower portion is arranged to engage and meisten band e. Referring now to Fig. 1G, an arm 117 is pivoted at 113 to a* bracket i supported :trom bed A and is yieldingly held in the illustrated position by a spring 119 attached to a bridge w which connects one of the pairs of coliunns C. Projecting from one side o1' arm 117 is a lug 120, and spaced from (he lug and likewise projecting from .the arm is a ifi-at spring 121. 'The container 113 li-ts between lug 120 and spring 121, as indicated in Fig. 19, and has a lug 122 which, as indicated in Fig. 1, is adapted to engage the top of airtn 117. Thus, the container may be removably held by arm 117 and so supported rllhat. when arm 117 is depreeeed, by means later to be described, the lower face of pad 116 may pees through an opening 123 in the described plate 32 and rer1-gage ehe package to meisten a portion o1 band c.

The stamp-aflixing mechanism is operable through an lopening 124 in plate32 Fig. 1b) and, in Fig. 16, appears in the rear off the moistening mechanism. A Suitable stampatlixing plunger 125 is slidafbly mounted i-n a Ytrame 126 pivoted at 127 to l'che bridge fw. A spring 128 operates to normally hold phmger 125 in elevated position as 1illustrated. Looeely mounted intermediate its ends on a stud xed in a bracket m attached to bed A, is .a lever 1319., one end of which is forked (see also Fig. 17) to stradf dle plunger 125 and overlie va collar 131 thereon, whereby when the forked' enel of the lever is depressed the plunger 125 will be carried through the opening 124 into engagement W-i'th t'he 'overlapped ends of 4band c. The other end of lever has a mole] to ride on a peripheral cam 131. Also loosely mounted on Stud 129 and Sipaeed from lever 130 is an arm 132, which as shown in Fig. 17 is rigidly connected ley a cross-rod 133 te turn with tlhe lever. Adjacent arm 1F32y and loosely mounted on Stud 129 Iis an arm 134 which extends to the 'left vof flhe Stud, andthe free end of arm 134 is adapted te engage the described moistener supporting arm 117. A pin 135, fixed in farm 134 and projecting llateralily therefrom, rests upon a lug 136 en arm 132 to prevent downward movement of arm 133 relativelyv *to lever 130. A spring '137 ie arranged 'between an up- Wavdlyextendifng lug 1381011 arm 1:34 .wml il.

like lug` 139 on arm 132. As the lever 13u is actuated and its forked end moved downwardly, arm 132 through the intermediary ol spring 137 moves arm 131 downwardly to engage und move the moislener supporting arm 117. As soon as the moislener pad 111i engages the band c with thc desired pressure, spring 137 will compress and permit further movement olf lever 130, il such is necessary, to cause the stamp-atlixing plungeil 125 to engage the band c. On the return movement of lever 130 arm 131 will be lifted by the upward swinging movement ol: lug 131i. The vertical reviprocatory liu-)vement of the moistener and the stamp allixer, operating simultaneously at two spaced points on. different packages, is thus obtained from a single cam, and any varia tion between the stroke ol the two members is compensated by the spring 137 or by an adjusting Screw 14() which is provided on arm 117 for engagement by arm 134.

The stamp-atlixing plunger 125, as described, is slida-bly supported from a frame 12C which may be swung Yfrom the position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 20. An arm 141 fixed to frame 126 is pirotally connected at one end of an arm 142, and the other end of the latter is fork-ed to engage *the described tumble-box operating shaft 42.

Arm 142 has a roll which rides in a path- Vcam 143. Referring now to Fig. 15, the described canes 143 and 131 are fixed together and to a. bevel gear 144, and these three members are mounted to turn loosely on the tumblebox shaft 42 and are suitably held, as indicated, from axial displacement on the Shaft. A bevel gear 145, meshing with gear 144, ie rotatably supported on a stud 146 from bed A and is driven by a chain 14.7 and Suitable Sprockets from the described Shaft 35, as best shown in Fig. 25.

The stamps g are connected in continuous strip erm as indicated in Fig. 24 and are supplied `in a roll which is mounted on an arbor 148 supported from braeket n, as shown in Fig. 16. The strip g is led from the roll through a suitable Slaekener device. represented generally by reference numeral 149, te a table 150 (Fig. 20) which is mounted upon the bracket e. A plate 151 lixed on a shaft 152 is yieldingly -foreed against the strip g on table 150 by means of a spring 153 (Fig. 16). A Substantially U-shaped level' 154 (Fig. 19) iS looeel)7 fiile-ruined on Shaft 152 and is yieldingly forced upwardly, te the extent permitted by the engagement of its cross-bar portion with the under face of table 150, by a spring 155 (Fig. 1G). The cross-bar portion of lever 154 bears a blade 156 (Figs. 20 and 22) Which functions, as will later appear, to sever stri g.

Slidably mounted upon the ower end of frame 126 is a member 157 which .is substantiwlfly @shaped in cross-section to engage three sides of the frame and is held to the latter by a plate 158 which engages the fourth side ot' trame 126. The plate 158 is extended below the member 157 to copcrate as a grippinglv jaw with a jaw 156 which is secured 1o the lon'el' end ol` frame 126. A how spring` 16() is iixed u1 one end to Al'rame 12H and is engagiealile at its other end with the sliilable member 157 and tends to hold jans 15H and 159 in closed position. A member 161 is secured to frame 126 near its lower 'end and has a part pessimi.lr through a slot in plate 158. as shown in Fig. 21. and the engagement o1 this part and slot limits the movement oll slide 15T in both directions. The member 161 forms a guide for the lower eml of the st:imp-allixingl4 plunger 125 and is extended lo project laterallyy bevond the frame '126 and downwardlyr (Fig. 211 lo Yl'orm :i cam which is adapted. as shown in lfie'. 2l). to engage a roll on the U-shnped lever 154V described.

yllhe slide 157 also carries :i roll 162 (Figs. lll and 2l) which is :ulapled to ride upon the upper edge of a strip 163 (Fig. 16) which is fixed at both ends to an arm 164. The latter is pivoled at one end on the dei scribed rod 118. and underlying its other end is a lever 165. The latter is pivoted intermediate its ends to the bracket m and bears a roll which rides in a path-cani Yformed in one face of the peripheral cam 131.y as best indicated in Fig. 15. It will thus he seen that the jaws 158 and 159. which are moved into closed position by springr 166. are capable oit' being opened bv an appropriete movement of lever 165. The strip 163 is curved. and when lever 164 is in raised position. the strip is concentric with the` pivot 127 so that the trame 126 niav be swung into the position shown in Fig. 20 without causing a radial movement oii' jaw 158.

During the movement of an article from the opening' 126 to opening 124-. the lever 165 is so positioned bv its cam as to hold lever 164. and thus strip 163. in raised position. The jaws 158 and 159 are therefore opened as shown in Fig. 20. The lever 136 and arm 134 are likewise in elevated position. During` the movement of the articles. the frame 126 is swungr from the position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fi g. 20. and the `iaws 158 and 159. being held open during! the swinging` movement as just described. straddle the end of strip n which projects slightly bevond the end of table 150. As the frame nears the table, member 161 engages the roll on the U-shaped lever 154 and moves the severing blade awav from the table into the position shown in Fig'. 20. As soon as the frame 126 has been positioned as in Fig. 20. the lever 165 is moved bv its cam to allow strip 163 to drop sufficiently so that the jaws 158 and 159 may be snapped closed by springr 16() to grip the end o'f strip {,f. Thereupon5 the frame 126 is swung toward the position shown in Fig. 16 and strip y is drawn along plate 150. As soon, however, as strip (r/ hashecn moved a distance equal to that between the pei-orzitions g (Fig. 2K1). the member 161 has been moved to release lever 154. which promptly snaps upwardl)v and severs the strip. leavinpr a single stamp g held along;r one` edge by the jaws 158 and 159. The frame 126 is then moved into the position shown in Fie'. 16 sub stantially at the time When the {mekage comes to rest in under opening 124 and is held in such position until the stamp is aiA fixed. With an article a( rest in under opening 124 and another article at rest in under opening 123. the cam 161 operates through the connections described to simullaneouslvY depress the nioistener pad 116 and the plunger 125 through the openings 123 and 124. respectively. and into engagement With band f'. Substantiallv at the time when the plnnV ger125 engages the stamp (7. the lever 165 is actuated to lift strip 16.) and thus open jaws 158 and 159. Wherebv the stamp may be pressed upon the overlapped ends o1 band e. which ends have previously been moistened to soften the adhesive on the stamp b v the pad 116. The overlapped ends o1 band c havingr been sealed` the article is now held in a containing sleeve suitable for inelosure bv the outer Wrapper L.

The mechanism for applyingP the outer wrappers 7i to the articles and theirv'previonslv applied Wrappings Will next he hr'ellv described. The Wrappers 7i. which are contained in magazine 77 mai7 be ejected therefrom bv anv suitable mechanism'for example. that disclosed in the patent above referred to. The eiecting mechanism maiY be operated from the described shaft 69 to operate simultaneousl tv with the other Wrapper-feeding mechanisms. The Wrappers ejected from magazine p are carried bv belts 166 to chute t in a manner similar to that alreadyY described. The articles are re moved from the stamp-aliixing mechanism bv the fourth arm 112 and are carried thereb v against the Wrapper h. past a Hap-plate 167 and into the left-hand pocket of tnmblebox 28. The latter is identical in construction with the tumble-box 26, except for the ol'nission of the vieldable plates 84. lnasmuch as the tumble-boxes 26 and 28 operate in substantiallv the same manner. the tumble-box 28 has been shown merclv in conventional form. it being.r understood that parts equivalent to members 82. 83. 86, 87. 88, 90 and 91 are associated with this tumble-box, although not so shown. The movable members of the tumble-box 28 may be operated from levers 168 pivoted on the described shaft 110, which levers may be operated from suitable spaced cams on the described Ese Lacasse shaft 35. The movable members of tumblebox 28 operate simultaneously with the like members of tumble-box 26 so that it will readily be understood that the Wrapper i. may be completely Wrapped around the sides of the article and the articles `thrust into a folding box, Which is represented generally by reference letter T he means for fo ding the end extensions of wrapper h will next be described with reference to Fi s. 1h and 25. The folding box y is of usua form and comprises a rigid bottom wall 16%), two rigid side walls 170 each of which is spaced slightly from the bottom wall, and a yieldable spring-pressed upper wall 172. The left end of each side wall 170 is spaced from the like end of bottom plate 169 a distance substantially equal to the width of the article a and has a rearwardly and downwardly inclined projection 173 which extends below the bottom Wall 169. The spacing of the ends of the side and bottom walls, as just described, permits the article to be deposited on the bottom wall 165) with the wrapper extensions y', t and Z projecting beyond the bottom and top walls to permit end folding operations. The articles ejected from tumble-box 28 come to rest in the folding box y in the position indicated by the extreme leftlof the dotted' line representations of the articles e, and the articles are propelled intermittently through the folding box by abutment with preceding articles.

The wrapper extensions j and Z are folded into the position shown in Fig. 7 by rotary folding blades 174. The latter are fixed in spaced relation on a shaft 175 which is' rotatably mounted in bed A and continuously driven from the described shaft 35 by a chain 176 and suitable sprockets. The blades 171 are so driven as to make one complete revolution in the interval required for one cycle of operation by tumble-box 28-that is, the interval required for one step of movement of the tumble-box and the ejection of the articles therefrom. VThe blades 171 swing substantially in the planes of the ends of the articles and act on the wrapper extension after the article has been ejected from the tumble-box 28 and immediately after it comes to rest in the folding box y. The rearward of the two extensions j is first engaged and laid flat against the ends of the articles and the extension l is folded into the plane of said ends but downwardly therefrom. The downward movement of extension Z causes the foremost extension 'to be drawn rearwardly and folded flat against the ends of the article, as shown in Fig. 7.

Immediately after the wrapperextensions have been folded as described, and before the blades 174 have moved from engagement with folds j and Z, the extensions 7c are laid down against the ends of the articles by a pair of vertically-reciprocable folding blades 177. The latter are mounted in suitable axially-spaced relation on a horizontal rod 178, and the ends of the rods are ,fixed to the upper ends of rods 179 which are mounted in spaced relation to slide vertically in bed A. The lower ends of rods 1.79 are connected by a cross-bar 180 (Fig. 1b), and the latter is connected near its central portion to one end of a link 181 which is connected at its other end to a lever 182 (Fig. 25). The latter is pivoted on the described shaft 110 and is adapted to be actuated by a cam 183 fixed on the described shaft 35. Cam 183 is constructed to quickly lower the blades 177 at the proper time and then retract them.

Before either blades 174 or 178 have completely retracted, however, and immediately after the operation of the last-named blades, the article is engaged and moved one step by the ejection of a succeeding article from tumble-box 28. The folded extensions /u are thus held by blades 177 until they have been transferred to and held by the side walls 170 of the folding box. The extensions Z are likewise held until they can be transferred to and held by the projections 178, the extensions riding freely in the space between the side walls and bottom wall of the folding box y. Upon the ejection of another succeeding article from the tumblebox 28, the article is carried another step and into position for the operation of the adhesive-applying mechanism. As the article moves into such Iposition, folds Z ride from engagement with projections 173 and, being released, spring upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 8, the top faces of extensions Z being engaged by the lower edges of the side walls 170.

The adhesivc-applying mechanism comprises twoV glue boxes 184, one on each side of the folding box, and each is suitablyV fixed to a lever 185 intermediate its ends. The two levers 185 are separately pivoted at one end to upwardly-extending portions of a bracket z fixed to bed A. The other ends of levers 185 overlie and rest upon the de scribed horizontal rod 178, so that the glue boxes 184 are raised and lowered simultaneously with the folding blades 177, the lowering being effected by gravity as permitted by rod 178. Each glue box has a roll 186 which is turned as its box is raised, but is held stationary as its box is lowered by suitable means, as the ratchet 187 and the scrrated bar 188 which is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet. Thus, as the glue boxes 184 are lowered, dabs m (Fig. 8) of adhesive are applied to folds l.

After the application of adhesive to folds I, the articles travel step by step through folding box y and eventually folds Z engage an inclined cam 189 on the side walls 1T() and are thereby forced upwardly flat against the folds /c in overlappingl relation.

The wrapping of the article having been coinpletcd, it remains` only lo hold tlnI 2rammed overlapped end folds for a. sulli cient time to permit the adhesive to set. This is aecoinplisl'ied by a discharge appa ratus, which will now be described with reference lo Figs. 1", 25, 2li and 27. Referring first to Fig. l, a conveyor belt 199 is arranged so that itsl upper lap travels in the same plane as the bottom iall of folding box 3/ and in the direction of travel of the articles through the latter. Belt 190 is driven by a` pulley 191 which is fixed to a. shaft 192. (-)n the other end of the latter is a sprocket 193 (Fig. 25) which is driven by the sprocket chain 1li7 already described from cani shaft 35. 'lwo other conveyer belts 191 are arranged so that their adjacent laps travel in the same direction as the` upper lap of lielt 19t) and in spaced vertical planes` which substantially l'orm continua tions4 ot the side walls 170 oi' the foldingr box y. Each belt 191 is driven by n pulley 195 fixed on a vertical shaft 19C which is rotatably supported on the braclret already described. The lower end of each shaft 196 is connected by intermcshing spiral gears 197 (Fig. 1b) to the described shaft 192. The belts 190 and 194 extend to the right from their drive pulleys a sufficient distance and the speed of the belts is such as lo permit the articles` to be retained in the discharge apparatus until the adhesive has set'. The belts return over other and suitably supported idler pulleys (not shown) in the usual manner.

Attached at one end to brackets (Figs. ll' and and supported at the other end by suitable means (not shown) are a pair of spaced side bars 198 to the upper edges of which is fixed a table 199. The latter underlies the upper lap of belt 190 and holds it from sagging. The side belts 194 are held in the desired plane of travel by other and improved means. Referring to Fig. 2G, adjacent each pulley 195 are two rolls 200 which are mounted to slide horizontally and are spring pressed, as illustrated, to force the adjacent laps of belts 191iL toward one another to the extent permitted `by stoppins 201. The later permit the adjacent laps of belts 194 to be moved so that the distance between them is slightly less than the length of the article a. The pulleys 195 are so arranged that the adjacent laps of belts 19e near the folding box are spaced a distance greater than the length of the articles. The articles therefore are carried by belt 190 into the. convergingr mouth formed by the two side belts 191 and are gradually engaged thereby. As soon as the articles arrive in line with rolls 200.y the latter are moved outwardly by the article, and pressure is a.p plied to the overlapped folds v` and l to Vl'orce` them into intimate relation. 'lheical'ler the lolds` are held closely pressed together by a j'ilnrality olj rolls 292 which are made ol yieldable material, as rubber or the lille. ltolls 292 are arranged in a series` one Vl'or each belt 194. and preferablyY are mounted for adjustment in a line at right angles to lheir belt, as indicated in li'ig. 2T.

The operation oi' the machine will be briefly summarised. The several wrapperlceding means operate substantially siinul taneously to supply the cardboard and cir-- cular C, band c and outer wrapper at spaced points along the straight line path of the articles through the machine.. The cardboard, lied in continuous strip form, is severed from the supply strip immediately following the operation of its tei-iding meehanisin. l'l1ereafler tln`A several articlw'leeiling' means operate to move the .irtieles. Cer lain ol' sui-li l'i'aidingg' means operate to leed articles against their respective wrappers and into one pochetoi' the ai'ljacent tumbleN box, whereby the vvrai'ipers are applied in trough-shape. to the articles. The other feeding means operate at the same time cach to eject an article Afrom the other pocket of a tumble-box. Between the operations of the wrapper and article-feeding means, the tumbleboxes simultaneously turn hall" a revolution, whereby the articles are inverted so that when ejected from the tumble-boxes their wrappers may be laid in tubular form about the sides of the articles.

Between the last two tumlgile-boxes and operable while the tnmhle-boxes are at rest and before the operation of the ariiclefiieil ing means, the overlapped ends ot bands o are scaled. Vlilnle one article is at rest in one position, the overlapped ends of band c are nioistened, and simultaneously the pie viously moistencd ends of another band on. an article at rest in another position are en gaged by the` plunger 125. The plunger, having been supplied with a stamp g by the nipper mechanism, comprising the swinging member 126 and its jaws 158 and 159, forces the stamp against and seals the ends of band e.

The outer wrapper only is loner enough to extend beyond the ends of the articles, and its tubular end extensions are made while the articles are traveling step by step, still in a straight line but now in abutting relation, through folding box y. The adhesive fm. is likewise applled to the end folds of thc wrapper as the articlesl move through the folding box. The wrapped'articles pass from the folding box y upon the belts 19() and 194 of the discharge apparatus, wherein they are slowly carried to the desired point 45 article except for saidends in a `tube of of discharge with the gulnnied seams irmly held into `intimate relation until the adhesive has set. f y

i llhe stamp feeding and applying mechanism are niet claimed in this application but are claimed in a separate cependingv application, ,Serial No. 23,37, and iiled May 18, 1918, as a'division :of this application.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in anenibodiment at present preferred, for the purposes of illustration, but the scope or' the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by theforcgoing description.

What I claim is:

1.A machine for wrapping articles the ends of which are somewhat rounded, comprising, means to automatically inclose the article except for saidy ends in a vtube of relatively stiiif materal, means to apply an outer Wrapper to Said .tube leaving extensions from'each end of the article, and means to fold said end extensions, all constructed and arranged so that the ends of the article are built out by said tube to form square ends for the end folding operations.

2. A machine for Wrapping articles the ends of which are somewhat rounded, comprising, means to Wrap strips of relatively stiff material such as cardboard and the like, about the sides of the articles to form inclosing ytubes substantially lcoextensive in length with the articles, means to Wrap a retaining yband around said tube with its ends overlapped, means to seal the overlapped ends of said band, means to apply an outer Wrapper to the articles leaving eX- tensions from each end thereof, and means to f old said end extensions, said inclosing tube arranged to build out the irregular ends of the articles into square form for the en'd folding operations.

A machine. for Wrapping articles the ends of Which arelsoinewhat rounded, coniprising, means to automatically inclose the relatively stiff material, means to apply a retaining band around said tube, means to apply an outer Wrapper to said tube leaving extensions 'from each end' of the articles, and means to fold said end extensions, all constructed and arranged so that the ends of the articles are built out by said tube to forin square ends for the end folding operations. l

* 4. A machine im` Wrapping articles the ends of which are sorneivliat rounded, comprising, means to automatically inclose the article except for said endsI in a tube oli relativelyY sltiiiinateriah means to Wrap a band around saiditi'ibe,', means to seal the adjacent ends'f'of said band to retain the tube in "folded position, means to apply an outer wrapper to said tube leaving extensions from each end. of theartieles, and ineens to fold, said eed extensions, all conf strueted and arranged so that the ends of the articles are built out by said tube to forni sdi'iare ends for the end folding operations.

5. A machine for wrapping articles the ends of which are somewhat rounded, oomprising, means to wrap a strip of relatively stilf material, Such cardboard and the like, about the sides of the article to form an inelosing tube substantially coextensive in length `with the article, means to .2i/P51115 en outer Wrapper to the article leaving extensions Yfrom each end thereof, and means to fold said end extensions,l said inclosing tube arranged to build out the irregular ends of the article into square form for the end folding operations.

6. ln a Wrapping machine, a tumble-box movable step by step and provided with article-receiving pockets, a movable bottom Wall for cach pocket, means to feed articles and their wrappers to said pockets, whereby the latter may be Wrapped about the article in trough shape, and a yieldable member on said bottom wall engageable with the wrapper to crease the latter along its liliesi of fold. i

7.111 a Wrapping machine, a tumble-box movable step by step and provided With article-receiving pockets, means to feed articles to said pockets, means to supply wrappers of relatively stili' material into the path of said articles, whereby the wrapper is laid in substantially U-shape about the articles as the latter are carried into y'the pockets, and means in the tumble-box and coentensive in length With the articles to yieldingly engage the Wrapper along its lines of folds to Wedge the Wrapper tightly about the edges of the article.

8. In a, Wrapping machine, a tumble-box movable step by step and provided with article-receiving pockets, means toi'eed articles with their Wrappers in substantially U-shape into said pockets, and compressible means in the tumble-'box and coextensive in length with the articles to yieldingly engage the Wrapper along'its lines of fold to press the wrapperv into intimate relation with the article and crease the Wrapper along its lines of i'old.

9. A wrapping machine, including a tumble-box movable step by step and provided with opposed article-receiving pockets, a radially-movable bottom Wall for each pocket, means connecting opposite Walls so that the insertion `of an article in one pocket Will eject the article from theopposite pocket, a compressible articlcengaging portion on each Wall, means lo feed articles and their Wrappers to the pockets, and means operable after 'saidportion has been compressedby the vl'ed article to move said connecting means in unison with the article-feeding means.

li). A wrapping machine, including :i tumble-box movable step by step and provided willi article-lecci ving pockets, a movable bottom wall for each pocket, means to simultaneously move the walls ol two pockets so thatA an article in one will be ejected as an article is inserted in the other pocket, a rompressible article-engaging portion on each of said walls, and means to feed articles and their wrappers to the pockets, the iirstnamed means being operable after said portion has been compressed by the fed article to move said walls in unison with the article-feeding means.

1l. ln a wrapping machine, a pair of alined lrznrkways, the delivery end oi' one being spaced from the receiving end of the other, an interlnittently-movablc tumble-box having opposed pockets to aline with said trackways when the tumble-box is at rest, and means to simultaneously move an article from one trarkway into one of said pockets and remove an` article from the opposite pocket onto the other trackway, said means comprising two spaced article-engaging members, movable simultaneously in a closed loop path which is intercepted by the path of the articles, and timing devices to coordinate the movement of the tumble-box with the movement of said members so that the latter cross into and out ofthe path of the articles while the tumble-box is at rest and so that the cycle of movement of said members is completed during the movement of the tumble-box.

12, A wrapping machine, comprising, means to wrap articles leaving two wrapper extensions to be subsequently folded in overlapping relation against the article, means to move the articles step by step, a folding device operable as the article comes to rest in one position to lay down one of said extensions, a device operable astthe` articles come to rest in another position lo apply adhesive to the4 other of said extensions, means to move one of said devices while the articles are at rest, means connecting said devices so that Aan operation of one effects a simultaneous operation of the other, and means io fold the gnlnmed extension against the folded extension.

13. A wrapping machine, comprising, meansvtowrap articlesleaving two wrapper extensions to be subsequently folded in overlapping relation against the article, means to move such articles step by step, a reciprocable blade operableas the articles come to rest in one position to lay down one of said extensions, an adhesive-applying means operable on the other of said extensions when the articles come to rest in another position a lever pivotally supported at one end and supporting intermediate its ends the last-named means, the other end of said lever being engaged with said blade so that a rcciprocation of the blade e'ects a swinging movement of said lever and the adhesive-applying means, and means to 'old the last-named against the first-named extension.

14. A wrapping machine, comprising, means to wrap articles leaving two wrapper extensions to be subsequently folded in overlapping relation against the article, means to move such articles step by step, a vertically-reciprocable blade operable the articles come to rest in one position to lay down one of said extensions, an adhesiveapplying means operable on the other of said extensions when the articles come to rest in another position, a lever pivoted at one end to swing in a vertical plane and supporting intermediate its ends the last-named means, the other end of said lever arranged to rcs-t upon and bc held by gravity to a part oit' said blade, whereby a reciprocation of the latter will simultaneously move the adhesive-applying means,` and means to fold (he last-named against the first-named eX- tension.

15. In a wrapping machine, means to wrap articles including means to form gummed overlapped seams in their wrappers, a conveyer upon which the wrapped articles are deposited, two belts adjacent laps of which are arranged to travel in spaced parallel relation to engage conveyed articles and hold the gummed seams from. opening, means to drive said convcyer and belts in the same direction and at equal speed, and rolls having peripheral portions of vieldable material adapted for engagement with one of said laps to yieldingly torce the latter against the articles.

16. In a wrapping machine, means to wrap articles including means to form giun-imed overlapped seamsin their wrappers, a conveyer upon which the Wrapped articles are deposited, two belts adjacent laps of which are arranged for the major portion of their travel in spaced parallel relation and in their travel adjacent the entrance end of said eonveyer in slightly convergent relation, Isaid laps arranged at right angles to the conveyer and adapted to engage the gummed seams of the articles carried thereby, means to drive the conveyer and belts Yat the same speed and in the same direction, rolls of non-yielding material to engage said laps as they commence their travel in parallel relation, means to yieldingly forcef said rolls against their laps, and other yieldable rolls to engage said laps after their engagement `by the first-named rolls. i t v 17.111 a Wrapping machine, means to Wrap articles including means to form gummed overlapped seams in their Wrappers, a oonveyer upon which the Wrapped articles are deposited, tWo belts adjacent laps of which are arranged for the major portion of their travel in spaced parallel relation and in their travel adjacent the entrance end of said conveyer in slightly convergent relation, said laps arranged at right angles to the conveyer and adapted to engage the gunnned seams of the articles carried thereby, means to drive the conveyor and belts at the same speed and in the same direction, rolls of non-yielding material to engage said laps as they con'nnence their travel vin parallel relation, means to yieldingl)r force said rolls against their laps, and other rolls to yieldabllv engage said laps after their engagei'nent by the first-named rolls.

ELMER L. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

Images