US1853091A - Wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1932..

E. L: SMITH WRAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1930 INVENTOR. 6% sf 4% ATTORNES April 12, 1932. 5.1.. SMITH WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 s \w v N N v f m 00 Q .Q Q8 g S W H Q U Q w 4 I III 1 Q Q m 1. U I 0 s s i-00 Q 0 \m u 0 NR E. n n ..L

April 12, 1932.. E. L. SMITH ,8 I WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I BIKER L. 0] LONGHEADOW, BEETS, ASSIGNOB TO PAGKAGE n- I OHINEBY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION ,OI' MASSA- cnnsnrrs WRAPPING HAG Application filed April 14, 1930.. Serial No. 444,048.-

This invention relates to wrapping machines and has particular reference to mechanism for folding and sealing the last projecting flap of the wrapper end extensions of an articl which may have the previous folds made by iny desired mechanism. One ob ect of the invention is to provide a mechanism for insuring a neat and completely sealed end 1 fold. A further object is to provide an 1m- A to plate of the wrapping channel removed;

ig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism for applying sealing material, taken on lme 3-3 of i 4' v Fig 4 is a partial side elevation of the machine with some of the parts removed, illustrating particularly the manner in wh ch the final end fold is made and the seahng material applied; 1

Fig. 5 is'a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the mechanism for applying sealing material removed so as to disclosebther parts hidden thereby;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the upper platecovermg the wrappin channel;

Fig.'7 is asection 2, showing in part the same elementsas 1n 5 in a different position of o eration; 1

has been conventionally illustrated in theform of a wrappin wheel 10 (Fig. 1) having an ejector 11 -w ich forces a partially wrapped article in the form of Fig. 8 onto a en on line 7-7 of Fig.

supporting plate 12. An upper plate 13, mounted as will be described later, holds the partially wrapped article against the lower plate during its subsequent travel. At each side of the wrapping ath are end tuckers 14 see also Fi 2) w ich make the-tuck c at each end of t e article as shown in Fig. 9.

These tuckers are cut-away as at 15 for a purpose to be later described. I

In order to convey the articles along the plate 12, a transport mechanism'is provided having a series of fingers which for convenience will be divided into two groups. The fingers are 'ven a motion in a closed path travelling first along the folding channel,

then down out of it and finally back to their initial position so as to clear the articles previously advanced. The first group of fingers are mounted upon parallel trans ort bars 16 (Fig. 7) and are denoted in the drawings are securedto a main transport frame 20 which is ivoted at .21 and 22 to members 23 and 24, w ich for convenience will be referred to as bell cranks. The bell crank 23'is pivoted at 25 to'a link 26 swinging about a pivot 27 fixed to the frame. 7 The bell crank 24 is pivoted at 28 to a similar link 29 swin g upon the frame as at 30. Equal arms 0 the two bell cranks are joined together by a connecting link 30' so that they are constrained to move in unison. An extension 31 of the bell crank 24 is 'oinedto a crank 32 revolving upon a sha t 33 .whichmay be driven continuously by any suitable means. The bell cranks are thus given a generally circular motion which, by rea on of the form of the linkage, is transferre to the transport frame 20 so as to give to the fingers an elongated path having a substantially straight portion extending through .the folding channel.

The lower end-flaps d are folded upwardly against the end of the article by folding plates 34 carried upon the bars 16 adjacent the fingers 1-8. These. plates pass between the ends of the articles and the cut away portions 15 ofv the end tucking plates 14. By this action a tight wrap is obtained, the end .flap being doubled upon itself as fully described by the numerals 17, 18 and 19.. The bars 16 in gatent to Ferguson No. 1,634,711, July 5, 192 I After the flap d is turned u by this means, the article is carried forward by the fingers 19 and positioned in the location shown at a in Fig. 5. During this motion the tucking plates 14 continue to hold the flaps d in their folded positions. At the point a the article comes under-the influence of the second set of transporting fingers carried by transport bars 35 and denotedin the drawlngsby the numerals 36 to 42 inclusive. These transportbars are carried upon the frame and partake of its movement. At the fingers 36 the bars 35 are formed with ledges 43 underlying the article so that as the transporter moves om the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 7 the article will be elevated. Fig.

'7 shows an intermediate position in the travel of the transport fingers, the fingers 36 continuing to move the article forwardly and ultimately positioning it upon an extension 44 of the plate 12, the two being joined by an offset corresponding to the offset in the path of the article as it is moved upwardly by the ledges 43. The top plate 13 alsohas an extension 45 which continues above the late 44 to determine a channel through whic the articles pass.

At the pointa in Fig. 5, a pair of stead ing fingers 46 rest upon the top of the artic e. These fingers are pivoted at 47 to the frame and a pin 48 connected to them is joined by a spring 49 with a stationary bracket 50. By this means, the steadying fingers are held yieldably upon the article and move with it as it is elevated by the ledges 43. They serve the double purpose of keeplng the article correctly positioned and holding the wrapper tightly so that it cannot become unfolded.

As the articles are elevated, the u per flaps a come in contact with the top olders 51 which are formed as extensions of side plates 52 mounted to the machine as will be. described later. As far as their folding function is concerned, these top folders are stationary, the fold being made by the movement of the article between them. As the article is carried to the left it passes out of the range of the fingers 46 and under a yielding plate 53 suitably connected to the top plate 45.

In order to seal the folds at the end of the article, mechanism is provided for coating both the external surfaces of the folds b, c

and d and the inner surface of the fold e at each end of the package with a liquidsealing material, preferably melted paraflin wax. This wax is contained in pots 54 arranged at each side of the path of travel of the article and kept hot by electric heaters 55.

Above the article channel is located a wax supply tank 56, also electricall heated, from which lead pipes 57 including and operated valves 58. This upper tank reserves a comparatively large quantity of melted wax in condition for use and can be drawn upon as geiquired to replenish the supply in the pots In each of the pots rotates a disk 59 mounted upon a shaft 60 driven constantly by a motor which is not shown. Scraping members 61 are laced to remove excess wax from the sides 0 the disks as they emerge from the ots, it having been found that the wax on t e periphery is sufiicient in quantity to rundown the sides near the upper portion of the disk as it revolves and thus give a coatin to the flaps at the end of the article.

he article in the position a has its ends abutting the adjacent faces of the disks 57, as shown in Fig. 3, and has the bottom surfaces of the extending flaps e resting upon the peripheries of the disks. Since the disks are constantly revolving,'the wax is forced into all corners of the wra per end folds and the wrapping material is thoroughly coated. Further relative movement between the disks and the article ends occurs as the article is elevated out of the range of the disks by the led es 43. The side members 52 are formed wit downwardly extending flanges or wings 62 which are preferably bent awa from each other as shown in dotted lines in ig. 3. Any excess wax which has been applied to the article is squeezed out as it1s compressed between the heated top folders 51 and runs gpwn these wings, dripping off into the pots The side members 52 are provided with heatin units 65 and are preferably pivoted at 66 gFig. 1)' to the frame of the machine. A handle 67 is pivotally supportedmt 68 at one side of the machine and is joined by a link 69 (Fig. 2) with a pivot-70 formed u on the remote side member. A link 71 extending between an arm 72 on the handle and a pivot 73 on the adjacent side member produces a I motion equal and opposite to that of the link 69 so that as the handle is rocked the two side members may be moved either into the position shown in which they press against the ends of the articles or to an inactive position in which they will not supply excessive heat to the articles when the machine is stopped. The handle is manually operated whenever the machine is stopped so as to prevent damage to the articles by excessive heating. Each of the heating units 65 is provided with an electrical lug connection 74 and is moved outwardly y a spring 75, the link mechanism described acting as a toggle to hold the side plates rigidly in their active positions when in use.

After leaving the heated side members, the ends of the articles pass between opposed cold boxes 76 and 77. The box 77 is joined by springs 78 to a bracket 79 so as to accommodate sli ht inequalities in package dimensions. old boxes are provided with pi es 80 for the circulation of a cooling liquid It is referable to have the top plate 13, detacha ly mounted uponthe machine. For this purpose, it is provided at one end with a slot 81 (Fig. 6) fitting upon the grooved button 82 (Figs. 1 and 2) projecting from a stationary arch 83. At the other'end a cross tion of Fig. 8 is delivered to the right hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, by any suitable mechanism, the folds 7) having previously been made. The fold c at each end is formed by the tucking plates 14 and the article is fed one step by the fingers 17.

- As the fingers 18 come into action to move the article another step, the folding plates 34 turn up the bottom end folds d. The fingers 19 then move the article into the position a in which it is acted upon by the wax applying disks 59 at each end. The fingers 36 and the ledges 43 then raise the article, causmg the upper flaps e to be turned down by the stationary members 51 and carrying the articles onto the upper level of the supporting plate 44. Any excess wax will be pressed out by the heated side members 52 and will run back to the pots 54 down the wings 62. The article is now completely wrapped and sealed and it remains only to chill the wax by passage between the cold boxes 76 and 77.

laims:

' 1. Wrapping mechanism for folding down the final flap of a wrapper end extension which comprises means for transporting a package with the final flap extending away from the other flaps, means for applying hot parafiin wax to the'outer faces of the previously laid folds and the inner surface of the final fold, and means for pressing said flaps together, the wax being applied in excess and being squeezed out by the pressing of the folds. I

2. Wrapping mechanism for folding down the final flap of a wrapper end extension which comprises means for transporting a package with the final flap extending away from the other flaps, a wax pot at each side of the path of travel of the article, a roll dipping into the wax in each pot and rotating to carry the melted wax into contact with the outer faces of the previously laid folds and the inner surface of the final fold, and means for pressing said flaps together.-

3..A wrapping mechanism as claimed in claim 2, having a drain for carrying the excess wax from the pressing means back to the pot.

4. Wrap ing mechanism for folding downthe final ap of a wrapper end extension which comprises means for transporting a ackage with a final flap extending away rom the other flaps, means for applying melted wax to the outer faces of the previously laid folds and the inner surface of the final fold, and heated pressing members to press side folds together and squeeze out excess wax.

5. Wrappin mechanism for folding down the final end aps of a wrapper end extension which comprises an article support having an offset path, stationary folders located ad]acent the offset to fold down the final fla of the end extension, means for feeding artlcles in steps along the support and against the folder by the offset, and a yieldable steadying member resting upon the article during its travel through the offset portion of the path.

6. Wrapping mechanism for folding down the final end flaps of the end extensions of a wrapper which comprises an article-support having an offset path, a transport mechanism having fingers movable through a closed path and provided with a ledge for a moving the article through the offset portion of the path, stationary folders located at the offset portion ofsaid path and operative to fold down the final flap, and a' yieldable steadying member resting upon the article during its travel through the offset portion of the path. I

7. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 6 having a yieldable member opposed to the support and positioned to receive the article from the ledge of a transporter. v

8. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 5 having opposed disks located adjacent the offset portion of the support, the sides of the disk bearing against the ends of the article and the peripheries of the disk bearing against the inside of the final flap of the end extension, and means for supplying a sealing fluid to said disks.

9. A wrap ing machine comprising mechanism for 0 din in a plurality of folds the end extension 0 a tubular wrapper, leaving a single flap only extending away from the other folds, means for coating the outer faces of the previously laid folds and the inner surface of the single rojecting flap with sealing fluid, and means or pressing the final flap against the previously laid folds.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my

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