US1634711A

US1634711A - Wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: US1634711A
Application number: US75498A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milford B Ferguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-12-15
Filing date: 1925-12-15
Publication date: 1927-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1944-07-05

Description

July 5,1927. 1,634,711

1 M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1925 4 Sheets-'Sheet l 1@ NJWL@ Q@ ml m E@ 1 ATTORNEY :j I mmvf. mw o a, QM

lll Il r1// l 634- 711 July 5 1927' M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Deo. 15, 1925 4 shets-sneet 2 a H @Q S l@ WEEE@ mm d w .f .1, www. 3% .si=H.E....Mwwv..www@ .e mlim-- hw- E E l en m/Jmwn 1 QQ NQ Q @N9 Q@ Q July 5, 1927. 1,634,711

M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Deo. 15. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheejc 5 ATTORNEY July 5 1927' M. B. FERGUSON WRAPPING MACHINE y Filed Dec. 15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 F-,j g 9 if 93 ff 94 d? v hynmzUWw l? E97 Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES 'Pa'rlsn'rl OFFICE.

MILFORD B. FERGUSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 EDWARD HAAS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. i

WRAPIN'G MACHINE.

Application-filed December 15, 1925. Serial 75,498.

The inventionl relates to an improvement in wrapping machines and more particularly to devices for completing the wrapping of a partially wrapped article.

The devices of the present inventlon may be applied to and used in conjunction with wrapping machines of usual construction for wrapping elongated rectangular artlcles in which fouriseparate--and distinct folds are'made in the ends of the wrapper. The wrapping machine to which the devices of the present invention may be-applied is asi sumed 'to possess means for folding the wrapper about the article longitudinally,

leaving the ends of the wrapper projecting longitudinally beyond the ends of the article. Each projecting end of the wrapper consists of four sides, each of which constitutes a flap or fold. The'wrapping ma-r chine will also vpossess means for folding down two of these flaps, usually the two narrower aps. The two wider end liaps usually overlap and hold in place the two narrower end flaps. The foregoing observations apply to articles which are oblong in cross-section.

Of course if the articles are substantially square in cross-section all the end flaps,-

both the folded flaps and the projecting flaps will be substantially of the same slze,

In this case it is assumed than any twoA pairs 'of the flaps are folded, usuallybut not necessarily thegside flaps. The devices of the present invention -have to do more particularly with thefolding down of the -wider end or projecting end flaps.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide a wrapping machine with improved -devices for folding down the last two end {iaps of the article in such a way that the folds will be made tighter than has heretofore been possible, with the result that the' wrapped article wlll present a smoother and ncater appearance. To this end the invention consists 1n the lmproved wrapping machine.I hereinafter described and particu larly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the delivery end of a Wrapping machine showing the improvements o f the present invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan, with parts broken away, of the transport mechanism; Fig. 3 is a top plan of the parts 'shown in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a side elevation,

partly in section, similarto Fig. 1, but with certain parts broken away and the transport mechanism shown in a different position; Figs. 5 and 6 are sections, on an enlarged scale, taken alongfthe lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of .the transport mechanism and vof the devices for making the bottom -end folds; Fig. 8 is an inner side elevation of one of the devices vfor folding the two last end folds; and Figs. 9 to 1,2, inclusive, illustrate the various steps 1n making the end folds of the package.

lIn the drawings there is shown only so -much of `a wrapping machine of usual conapplication ofthe devices of the present invention thereto and their cooperation therewith. The wrapping machine is adapted to fold the wrapper longitudinally about an article and deliver it 1n the condition turned down against` the ends of the article while the latter is in the main folding devices of the wrapping machine, which are indicatedby the portion "22 thereof shown at Vthe left in Figs. 1 and 3. v*These folding devices are'provided with two pusher'members 23 of usual construction-and operation having the forwardly projecting lugs'24 which serve to turn down the first folds 2O against the ends of the carton or other article.

The pushers 23 are actuated to eject the partially wrapped article from the jaws 22 and to shove it between the folder members 25 by whichthe second pair of end fla s 18 are folded down against the ends of the article. The folder members 25 are located at the entrance end of a runway through which are articles pass and are supported from the table members 26 resting on the frame 21 forming a part of the wrapping 'machine The table members 26 project forvices of the present invention and the ar-l ticles are then delivered from the machine onto an endless conveyor 31 the forward end of which passes over a pulley 32 journaled in brackets 33 projecting forwardly from the table members 26. A plate 27 supported from the frame of the machine is located above the platform at the entrance of the runway to keep the longitudinal folds in place. The platform 30 1s supported at its inner end by an adjustable bracket 34 sel cured to a plate 35 spanning the table members 26. The middle of the platform 30 1s supported by-the upright 36 and the outer end of the platform is supported by the cross-piece 37 resting on the arms 38 pro jecting forwardly from the brackets 33. The inner end of the conve or 31 rests on a table 39, the inner end o which is supported by the cross-piece 40 secured to the arms 38.

The articles are advanced through the runway to complete the folding of the wrapper by means of a transport mecha-- nism comprising the longitudinallyextending arms 42 an upwardly projectingl aligned fingers for engaging the articles. Thev arms 42'and 43 are'sldingly supported on the longitudinally extending rods 45 by means of the

crossrods

46 and 47 the outer ends of which are provided with the heads 48 which looselyy embrace the rods 45. The inner or left hand ends of the rods 45 are provided with the j heads 49 the downwardly projecting lugs 50 of which are pivotally connected with the upper arms 51 of the bell-crank levers 52 fixed to the cross-rod 54 journaled at its opposite ends in the table members 26. The outer or right hand ends of the rods 45 are provided with the heads 56 of which the downwardly projecting lug parts 57 are pivotally connected with the upper arms 58 of the helLCranks 59 secured to the rod 60 which is journaled at its ends in the table members 26 in the same manner in which the rod 54 is journalcd therein.

-The free ends of the lower arms 62 of the bell-cranks 59 are connected by a crossrod 63 which is connected by the link 64 to la cross rod 65 connecting the lower arms 66 ot' the bell-cranks 52, so that the two bell- 43 provided with" pairs of' of the lever carries a cam roll 72 which travels in the cam path 73 of a cam 74 fixed on a transverse shaft 75 journaled in the frame 21 and actuated by the driving mechanism of the wra ping machine. The arm 68 is provided witli an arcuate slot 70 so that the link 67 may be adjustably connected therewith to control the amount of rise and fall of the transport mechanism.

When the

levers

52 and 59 have been actuated to'raise the rods 45, the

transport members

42 and 43 are moved outwardly from the wrapping machine (to the right, viewing Fig. 1) to advance the articles one step in their progress through the runway. lVhen the

levers

52 and 59 have been actuated to lower the rods 45, the

transport members

42 and 43 are moved inwardly or toward the wrapping machine to place them in position for the next step in the advancement of the articles through the runway. For this purpose a lever 77, mounted on a rod 69 spanning the frame 27 and actuated from the cam 78 fixed on the shaft 75, is connected by means of the link 79 with the transverse rod 47 which connects the inner ends of the

transport pieces

42 and 43.

In order to relieve the cam 74 of the burden of lifting the transport mechanism a spring 44 isprovided, connected at one end to the cross-rod 65 and at the other end to a hook secured in a cross'plece 41 spanning the outer ends of the table members 26. Thisspring is so arranged as to exert its tension to lift the transport mechanism, the spring being expanded by the weight of the transport mechanism as it descends under the action of gravity aided by the cam 74.

The first position of the partially wrapped article '(shown in Fig. 10) is indicated by the dotted lines 8O in Fig. 3 which corresponds to the article 16 in Fig. 4. pushers 23 deliver the article to this position thereby completing the folding down of the second pair of end flaps 18 (as described above), leavin the article resting on the inner end of t e platform 30. The article with its two pairs of

wider fiaps

17 and 19 projecting longitudinally from the ends of the article is advanced from this position to the next position, indicated at 82 in Figs. 3 and 4, by the first pair of fingers 83 of the transport mechanism. In traveling from its first to its second position nothing occurs lo the

end flaps

17 and 19 of the article. The article simply passes into position between the folder arms 85 extending inwardly or,

rearwardly from their bases 86 resting on the brackets 33. The folder arms 85 are so located that the bottom flaps 19 pass under them, whereas the upper flaps 17 pass over them, as will be clearly understood from a consideration of Figs. 3 and 4. By further.

reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the

transport members

42 and 43 are arranged outside the lateral edges of the platform so that the pairs of aligned fingers -which project upwardly from the transportl members are free to advance thc articles through the runway.

Thile the article is Lin thissecond position the bottom end flaps 19 are folded up lagainst. the ends of the article, overlapping the first folds 18 and 20. This is done by means of the folder blades 88 secured to the raised portions 89 on the transportmembers.

the trails-port mechanism rises they will passl upwardly in close proximity to the folder arms 85, as indicated in Fig. 5. By reference to this ligure it will be seen that when the folder blades 88 move upwardly to fold the bottom end flaps 19 against the \ends of the article, the flaps 19 will be pushed against the lower edges of the folder arms 85 which will therebyl'eXert a drag or friction upon the ends of the 4flaps as 'the folder blades 88 are pushing them up into place against the ends of the article indicated at 89. This mode of operation causes the a wrapper to be drawn tight against theunder surface of the article and against theends thereof. The action of the folder blades 88 in folding the flaps 19 against the ends Iof the larticle is indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 5, where it is clearly shown how the folder arms 85 exert a dragon the outer ends of the flaps 19 duringy the folding operation. To'clear the bottom end corners of the artic-les the blades 88 flare outwardly slightly. e

The folding of the bottom flaps 19 against the ends of the article takes place as the transport mechanism is rising to position to place the transport fingers to the rear of the articles preliminary to advancing them -another'step through the runway. During the folding of the aps 19 while the article is in the position 82 the end folds 18 are held tight against the ends of the articles by means of the spring fingers 93 secured to the outer surfaces ofthe folder arms 85 and projecting inwardly therefrom, as clearly indicated in Figs'. 5 and 7. lslolding the end folds'18 against thev ends of the package by the spring fingers 93 prevents the longitudi` nalside fold v21 from separating from the paekaee as the bottom laps19 'are folded.

i into p ace. If the side fold 21 is-permitted 85 are spaced farther apart than the outer or righthand ends 94 thereof. The reason for this is to permit the outwardly flaring folder blades 88 to pass upwardly between the inner ends of the arms 85 into lposition folding the ilaps19 loosely against the ends of the'article and then by means of the contracted space between the ends 94 to force the blades 88 inwardly thereby pressing the flaps 19 tightly against the articley so that they will snugly lie thereagainst during the folding of the upper flaps 17 over the fla s 19. On the completion ofthe folding of t e flaps 19 the article is in the condition shown in Fig. 11. It is then advanced toits third position 90 between the contracted outer ends 94 of the folder arms 85 by means of the second pair of fingers 91. While the ar'- ticle passes `from position 82 to position 90 no 'action takes place other than the pressing of the folds 19 tightly against the ends` lof the article.

On `the third rise or'upward motion of the transport mechanism the base part 96 of the third pair of lingers 97 encounters the Yunder surfaces of the article and push the article up between the folder plates 98'yieldingly support-ed at their inner ends by the goose-neck brackets 99 jrising from the .brackets 33 and yieldinglyJsupported at their.

outer-ends. by the brackets 100 also mounted on the brackets 33. These folder plates 98 are arranged pa-rallelly with the folder arms 88 and the inner endsthereof are located above the outer ends 94 of the folder arms 85. The lower edges 101 of the inner ends of the folder plates 98 are spaced from. the upper edges of therear ends 94 of the folder arms 85 so as to permit the upper flaps 17 to pass therebetween. As a resultfof this construction, when the bases 96 of the third pair of fingersy 97 push the article upwardly between the forward end of the folder plates 98, the upper flaps 17 are turned down against the ends of the article, overlapping the bottom flaps or folds'19. (The article is now vcompletely wrapped, as shown in Fig. 12.

i On the next forward movement of the transport mechanism after the article has been pushed up between thef inner'ends of the folder plates 98, the third pair of fingers carry the article to its fourth `position -indi-l cated at 102 in Figs. 3 and 4. Although 'the upward movement of the article'between the inner ends of the folder plates 98 serves" usually to complete the folding l of the,

article, it. happens at times .that an extra long wrapper may be used, the ends of which are not completely folded down'against the` ends of the article by the upward movement of the article between the folder plates. In such case, as the article passes from its position between the inner ends of the folder plates 98 to its position between the outer ends of the plates 98, the outwardly extending part of the end flaps 17 encounter the oblique portion 103 of the under edges of the outer ends of the folder' plates 98 and are thereby folded down against the under folds 19. f

While the article is traveling from its third position 90 to its fourth position 102, it rests on the base portions 96 of the third pair of fingers 97. When the fingers 97 become disengaged from the article by reason ofthe downward and rearward movement of the transport mechanism, the article is held between the outer ends of the folder plates 98, as shown in Fig. 4. On the next upward and forward movement of the transport mechanism, the fourth pair of fingers 1,04 will engage and push the article forward to its fth position 105 between the inner ends of the

plates

106 and 107 which are supported at their `inner ends from the brackets 33 and at their outer ends by the angle irons 108 mounted 011 the outer ends of the arms 38. The plate 107 .is provided with the yieldingly mounted sections 109 which engage with the ends of the articles. lfVhen the articles pass out from between the outer ends of the folder plates 98 they drop down onto the raised portion 110 of the platform l30. They are thence delivered by the last two pairs of fingers 111 onto the receiving end of the, conveyor 81, the wrapped articles accumulating on the discharge end of the' platform being pushed off one at a time.

The devices of the present invention are particularly adapted for wrapping the outside wrapper, which is usually of paraflined paper, about a box or carton. In order that the wrapper may stay in its folded condition completely enclosing the box or carton and hermetic-ally sealing it, it is customary to heat portions of the folding devices so as to cause the paraflin of the overlapping folds to melt and run together, and thereby seal and hold the folds. In the drawing accompanying the present application I show heating devices for heating the end folds only. These devices are indicated at 113 in Fig. 3 and are shown attached toi-he outer surfaces of the folder plates 98. While the wrapped and sealed articles are passing between the

plates

106 and 107, the paraffin becomes cold enough to set, so that the wrapper will be held folded about the carton or other article.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 1. A machine for wrapping articles compr1s1ng, means for receiving a partlally Vwrapped article having the two wider end flaps projecting longitudinally from the article, two statlonary members spaced from the ends of the article and adapted to engage the inner surfaces of one pair of fiaps, means arranged to move between the ends of the article and the members to fold the flaps against the article, the members serving to exert a drag on the flaps as they are folded against the article, and means for folding the other iaps against the ends of the article.

2. A machine for wrapping articles comprising, a runway for receiving a partially wrapped article having the two wider end flaps projecting longitudinally from the article, a transport mechanism arranged to reciprocate vertically and longitudinally for intermittently advancing the article through the runway, t-wo stationary members located at the first station to which the transport mechanism carries the article, two folder blades secured to the transport mechanism and arranged to pass between the members and the ends of the article to fold one pair of the flaps against the ends of the article,

and means for folding the other flaps against the article.

3. A machine for wrapping articles and the like comprising, a runway for receiving a partially wrapped article having two pairs of end flaps projecting longitudinally from the ends of the article, a transport mechanism arranged to reciprocate longitudinally and vertically for 'intermittently advancing the article throughthe runway, a stationary member' located at each side of the runway and under which the lower flap ofthe adjacent end of the article passes, folder blades secured to the transport mechanism and arranged to pass between the members and lthe ends of the article to fold the lower aps against the ends of the article, the members serving to exert a drag on the fiaps, and means for folding the upper end flaps against the article.

4. A machine for wrapping articles comprising', means for receiving a partially wrapped article having two pairs of end flaps projecting longitudinally from the article, two stationary members spaced apart from the ends of the article and located over the lower pair of flaps, means for passing between the stationary members and the adja-A cent ends of the article to fold the bottom flaps against the ends of the article, and means for folding the other pair of flaps against the ends of the article.

5. A machinefor wrapping articles comy 'pl-ising, means for receiving a partially the end of the article and the member to fold the flap against the end of the article, the member serving to exert a drag on the flap as it is folded against the end of the article.

6. A machine for wrapping articles c0mprising, means for receiving a partially wrapped article having two end flaps projecting longitudinally from each end -of the article and two end flaps folded against each end of the article, two members spaced from the ends of the article and arranged to engage with the inner surface 0f one pair of projecting flaps at a point relatively near the ends of the article, means for engaging the outer surfaces of the pair of iaps at a point between the members and the ends of the article to fold the pair of flaps against the ends of theV article, and means for folding the other pair of flaps against the ends of the article.

7. A machine for wrapping articles comprising, a runway for receiving a partially wrapped article with the two wider end flaps projecting longitudinally from the top and bottom of the article, a pair of folder arms located in the runway between which the article is adapted to pass with the bottom pair of fiaps extending under the folder arms and the upper pair of flaps extending ze above the folder arms, a spring finger connectcd with each inner end of the folder arms and projecting toward the ends of the article to engage with one of the pairs of narrow end folds, thereby centering the article between the folder arms, means for folding the lower pair of fiaps againsty the article, and means for folding the upper pair of flaps over the lower pair.

S A machine for wrapping articles comprising, a runway for receiving a partially wrapped article having upper and lower end flaps projecting longitudinally from 'the article, a pair of folder arms located in the runway, the lower pair of iiaps passing under the arms 'and the upper pair of flaps passing above the arms, the inner ends of said arms being spaced apart wider than the outer ends of said arms, a pair of folder blades adapted to pass upwardly between the arms for folding the lower pair of flaps against the ends of the article, means for advancing' the article while the folder blades are against the lower pair'of flaps between the outer ends of the folder arms to thereby press the lower pair of flaps tightly against the ends ofthe article, and means for folding the upper pair of aps over the lower pairn MILFORD B. FERGUSON.