US1903670A - Mechanism for wrapping machines - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1933. F GRQVER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l F. GROVER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES April 11, 1933.

Filed Feb. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 11, 1933. GROVER 1,903,670

MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. GROVER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING'MACHINES April 11, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1932 Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK GROVER, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND, ASSIG-NOR TO THE FORGIROVE MACHINERY COMPANY LIMITED, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND, AND JOHN MACKINTOSH & SONS LIMITED,

OF HALIFAX, ENGLAND MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Application filed February 5, 1932, Serial No.

This invention relates to the feeding of tablets or other articles to be wrapped in a wrap-ping machine, to said wrapping machine.

Tablets are usually fed to the wrapp ng machine from a horizontal table upon which a bulk quantity of the tablets to be wrapped may be dumped in a rather confined space Within reach of the operator, who places the tablets from the dump on a transport belt or chain of the wrapping machine in a regular formation. The speed at which the op er-ator can feed the tablets to the wrapplng machine is largely determined by the extent of movement of the hands of the operator in reaching towards remote tablets in the dump, and by the manual manipulation required for placing the tablets in the correct position on the feed belt or chain.

Moreover, the supply of tablets to the dumping position on the wrapping machine feed table is frequently effected by mechanically conveying to the wrapping machine successive trays of uniform construction upon which the tablets have been regularly deposited, the correct way uppermost in a single layer, after completing the previous op eration in the manufacture of the goods. The dumping of the contents of these trays on to a more confined space within reach of the operator at the wrapping machine, piles up and disarranges the orderly single layer formation of the tablets which existed on the trays and this, consequently, impedes the operation of feeding the tablets. Further, the dumping of the tablets causes scratches and other blemishes which mar the appearance of the tablets.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means for creating a controlled flow of tablets to a convenient position in front of the operator and adjacent to the transport belt or chain of the wrapping machine, so that the quantity of tablets in said position conforms with the speed of the wrapping machine and thus facilitates the feeding of the tablets on to the transport belt or chain of the wrapping machine.

A further object is to maintain for the feeding operator the advantages of the single 591,137, and. in Great Britain April 24, 1931.

layer formation on the tray, and yet to avoid making the extended area necessary for the tablets such that the tablets will be placed beyond the reach of the operator, and also avoid marring the appearance of the tablets to be wrapped.

According to this invention, there is provided for feeding the tablets to the wrapping machine the combination of an inclined tray adapted to receive said tablets, mechanism for vibrating said tray and a controlling device adapted to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to said tray to be varied from stationary up to a pre-determined maximum. The mechanism for vibrating said tray may comprise a pivoted member adapted to vibrate continuously and mechanism for transmitting the vibratory movements of said pivoted member to said tray, while the control device is adapted to move the connection between said transmission mechanism and the pivoted member from a point coincident with the pivot of the pivoted member, where no movement is transmitted by said mechanism, outwardly from said pivot to an adjustable extent where vibratory movement is transmitted by said transmission mechanism which increases with increase" of distance of said connection from said pivot.

The tablets may be brought to the wrapping machine on trays on which the tablets have been deposited in more or less regular formation in the manufacture thereof, in which case the machine is provided with a tray support for receiving such trays, said tray support being connected to the vibrating mechanism so that when such trays are placed on the tray support their contents may be discharged under control of the operator. A table is provided adjacent the lower end of the tray or tray support on to which table the tablets are adapted to be fed from said tray, so as to make a supply of tablets available to the operator while the trays are being changed in order to ensure the continuity in the passage of tablets to the wrapping machine.

Alternatively, ordinary trays or other receptacles may be used for transferring the tablets, and the contents of these trays may be dumped on a feed tray incorporated with the feed mechanism according to this invention, thus avoiding the multiplicity of said feed trays.

The invention will now be described with reference to the form of construction shown upon the accompanying drawings, in which v V Fig. l is a side elevation of the apparatus for feeding the tablets, said apparatus having tray supports on which the tray, indicated by chain dotted lines, is adapted to be mounted in an inclined position.

Fig. 2-is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, having parts of the tray support broken away in order to indicate more clearly the construction of parts of the mechanism. v

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 in Fig. 2 showing the mechanism for imparting vibratory movements to the tray and the controlling device for said mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the method of connecting the control device to the vibrating mechanism and having parts broken away in order to show more clearly the construction of the connection.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an elevation and plan view respectively of one form of a tray.

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views to Fig. 5 of a modified form of tray, together with a sup port therefor.

As shown in the drawings, a frame a is provided with a series of supports a, a a a adapted to support a tray indicated at b in such an inclined position behind the wrapping machine feed belt 0 as to tend to cause the tablets carried on said tray to slide towards said belt. The supports are so ar ranged that the inclination of thetray is approximately that of the friction angle, so that unless the frame is vibrated the tablets will not slide down the inclined surface of the tray. The frame a is formed at one side with a depending lug a to which is fixed a bearing a mounted on a vertical pivot at carried by an extension d of a bracket 6Z2 fixed on the wrapping machine. The frame is also provided with supports a, a a having rollers (1 a a which bear on horizontal surfaces e e 6 fixed on the supporting framework of the apparatus. By means of the pivot d and supports a a a", the frame a is free to move within the limits in a horizontal plane. Means is provided for vibrating said frame in a horizontal plane so as to cause the tablets on the tray to slide towards the wrapping machine feed belt and the operator. who

sits adjacent to said belt. The pivoted frame a is caused to vibrate by means which are more clearly shown in Fig. 3 and comprise a crank f mounted on a crank wheel 7' on a constantly driven shaft f of the wrapping machine, which crank engages in a slot 9 in the arm g of abell crank lever mounted on a pivot g turnably mounted on a bearing g on the bracket 0?. The second arm 9 of this bell crank lever is formed with a slot 9. This bell crank lever is thus caused to vibrate and the vibratory movements of the arm g are communicated to the frame a by means of a connecting rod it connected at one end of the arm 9 by a spindle h engaging in the slot 9*, and at its other end by a pivot 71, to the end of one arm h fixed to a vertical shaft h carrying at its upper end an arm h which is provided at its outer end with a slide h engaging between guides a and a, on the frame a.

The speed of the tablets sliding down the tray can be varied by altering the amplitude of the vibrations given to the frame a. The amplitude of the vibrations transmitted to the frame a can be altered by means of a control device also shown more clearly in Fig. 3 and comprising a stay 2' for the spindle h which stay is connected at its lower end ,to a bell crank lever 11 connected by a link 2' to an arm i fixed on a foot pedal 71* which is adapted to be worked by the foot of the operator.

The arms 9 g of the bell crank lever are constructed as shown in Fig. 4 with the arm 9 located in a different plane to that containing the arm 9 these arms being connected by the cranked extension g With this construction the slot 9 in the arm g can extend downwardly below the axis of the pivot g in such a manner that the spindle 71. can be moved into a position in which it is coaxial with that of the pivot 9 which is the position shown in Fig. 4, the axes of these two members being indicated by a chain dotted line 9. With this arrangement, when the spindle h is situated co-axially with the pivot 9 the arm 9 continues to vibrate but no vibratory movement is communicated to the frame a by the connecting rod h. This is the normal position of the mechanism. WVhen the operator depresses the footpedal so as to cause the spindle k to move along the slot g outwards from the pivot point the vibratory movement of the arm g is communicated by the connecting rod h and the other mechanism described to the frame The amplitude of the vibrations communicated to the frame a will depend on the location of the spindle it relatively to the pivot g and will increase as the spindle h is moved away from said pivot until the position shown in Fig. 3 is reached, when the vibrations imparted to the frame will beat a maximum. Thus the amplitude of vibrations imparted to the frame can be increased or diminished. at the will of the operator, under control of the foot pedal.

At a point adjacent the lower edge of the tray, there is'provided on the supports a", a, a draw plate j located at an angle corresponding to that of the tray and having its lower edge resting on a table k on to which the tablets are adapted to be fed from said tray after passing over the draw plate 'j. A reasonable number of tablets can accumulate on this table is, so that when the tray is empty the replacement of another full tray can take place before such accumulation of tablets is entirely disposed of. The draw plate j is provided at its ends with brackets j 9' to which are fixed flexible plates 7' j which extend forwardly to the draw plate and are supported at their forward ends by brackets I0 on the table is. These brackets and flexible plates prevent the tablets from being displaced laterally off the ends of the draw plate and table.

To facilitate the change of the tray, the vibration of the frame is discontinued. WVhen a full tray is first placed on the supports, the vibratory movement imparted to the frame and tray will be controlled by the operator, so that the sliding movements of i the tablets will be allowed to commence only 7 when all the tablets from the previous tray have been fed into the wrapping machine feed belt. In this way, the operator is able to feed the tablets without any break of continuity due to intermittent supplies and with a minimum of effort and, consequently, at an increased speed.

If desired, ordinary trays or other receptacles may beused for the transfer of the tablets, in which case the contents of such trays or receptacles may be dumped on to a feed tray which is fixed on the tray supports, or is at least not intended to be removed from said supports and replaced by another tray. Such a feed tray may be constructed as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 with a base Z, two opposed upstanding longitudinal side members Z Z and an upstanding end member Z at the top. The lower end of the tray is without an upstanding side member so as to form at this end anoutlet Z extending the whole Width of the interior of the tray through which the tablets can flow.

Alternatively, instead of the tray being constructed as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it may be constructed as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the supports a a located on one side of the frame a are provided with upstanding brackets, only one of which is shown in Fig. 7 and marked m. This bracket is provided at the top with an angle piece m which supports one of the longitudinal side edges of the tray, so that this tray n slopes transversely as well as longitudinally. In order to prevent excessive discharge from the lower edge of this tray, the tray is provided, in addition to the upstanding longitudinal side and top edges, with an inclined guiding wall n fixed to the surface of the tray and extending diagonally between the upstanding side a and the lower edge a where it forms a restricted outlet 11 for the brated by a crank and connecting rod or other receptacle device described, but it will be understood that the frame may be vibrated bodily by any other suitable mechanism, or the frame or an inclined tray may be subjected to a slight tapping or rapping controlled by the operator.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. In wrapping machines, the combination of a tray support adapted to receive and support in an inclined position a tray for the tablets to be fed to said machine, avertical pivot carrying said tray support, rollers on said tray support and horizontal bearing surfaces for said rollers whereby the tray support can be vibrated in a horizontal plane, mechanism for vibrating said tray support and controlling means for said mechanism adapted to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to said tray to be varied from stationary up to a predetermined maximum.

2. In wrapping machines, the combination of a tray support adapted to receive and support in an inclined position a tray for the tablets to be fed to said machine, a vertical pivot carrying said tray support, rollers on said tray support, horizontal bearing surfaces for said rollers, a pivoted member adapted to vibrate continuously having a slot extending outwardly from its pivot, a link having its one end slidable in said slot in the pivoted member and connected at its other end to said ,tray support and a control device adapted to move the end of said link along said slot from a point coincident with the pivot of the pivoted member where no vibratory movement is transmitted by said link, outwardly to an ustable extent where vibratory movement is transmitted by said link which increases with increase of distance of the end of said link from said pivot.

3. In wrapping machines. the combination of a tray support adapted to receive and support in an inclined position a tray for the tablets to be fed to said machine, a vertical pivot carrying said tray support, rollers on said tray support and horizontal bearing surfaces for said rollers, a crank member on a shaft adapted to rotate continuously, a pivoted member so connected to said crank as to be vibrated continuously, a link having its one end slidable in said slot in the pivoted member and connected at its other end to said tray support, a control device connected at its upper end to the end of the link which is slidable in said slot and connected at its lower end to a treadle, whereby the end of said link can be moved from a point coincident with the pivot of the pivoted member where no vibratory movement is transmitted by said link, outwardly to an adjustable extent where vibratory movement is transmitted by said link 'which vibratory movement increases in amplitude with increase of distance of the end of said link from said pivot, a table adjacent the lower end of the tray support adapted to receive tablets fed from said tray and a draw plate between said tray support and the table over which the tablets pass to said table.

at. In wrapping machines, the combination of, an inclined tray adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said wrapping machine, mechanism for vibrating said tray, said mechanism including parts which are relatively movable to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to said tray to be varied from stationary up to a predetermined maximum, a control member for etfecting relative movements of said parts, and means for connecting said control member to said parts arranged to prevent the vibratory movements being transmitted to said control member.

5. In wrapping machines, the combination of, an inclined tray adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said wrapping machine, mechanism for vibrating said tray, said mechanism including a pivoted arm adapted to vibrate about said pivot and having a slot extending outwards from a point coincident with said pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a link having its one end mounted on said sliding member adapted to transmit vibratory movements to said tray, a control member for eiiecting movement of said sliding member in said slot in order to vary the amplitude of vibration imparted to said tray from stationary up to a predetermined maximum, and a control connecting member having one end pivotally mounted on said tray and having its other end pivotally connected to said control member so as to prevent the vibratory movements being transmitted to said control member.

6. In wrapping machines, the combination of, an inclined tray adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said wrapping machine, mechanism for vibrating said tray adapted to cause the tablets to move down said tray, said mechanism including an upwardly extending arm, a pivot at the lower end of said arm about which said arm is adapted to vibrate, said arm having a slot extending upwardly from a point coincident with the pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a link having its one end mounted on said sliding member and having its other end connected to said tray, a control member and a control connecting member pivoted at its upper end to said sliding member and at its lower end to the control member, said control member and control connecting member being arranged normally to maintain the sliding member coincident with said pivot for the arm but permit said sliding member to be adjusted upwards to impart vibratory movements to said link which increase in amplitude with increase in distance of the sliding member from said pivot, while preventing the vibratory movements from being transmitted to said control member.

'7. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having a wrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrapping machine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said table adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said table, mechanism for vibrating said tray, said mechanism including parts which are relatively movable to permit the amplitude of vibrations imparted to said tray to be varied from stationary up to a predetermined maximum, a control member adjacent said table operable by an operator while working at said table for effecting relative movements of said parts, and means for connecting said control member to said parts arranged to prevent the vibratory movements being transmitted to said control member.

8. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having a wrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrapping machine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said table adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said table, mechanism for vibrating said tray, said mechanism including a pivoted arm adapted to vibrate about said pivot and having a slot extending outwards from a point coincident with said pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a link having its one end mounted on said sliding member adapted to transmit vibratory movements to said tray, a control member adjacent said table operable by an operator while working at said table for eii'ecting movement of said sliding member in said slot in orderto vary-the amplitude of vibration imparted to said tray from stationary up to a predetermined maximum, a control connecting member having one end pivotally mounted on said tray and having its other end pivotally connected to said control member so as to prevent the vibratory movements being transmitted to said control member.

9. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having a wrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrapping machine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said table adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to'said table, mechanism for vibrating said tray adapted to cause the tablets to move down said tray and on to said feed table, said mechanism including an upwardly extending arm, a pivot at the lower end of said arm about which said arm is adapted to vibrate, said arm having a slot extending upwardly from a point coincident with the pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a link having its one end mounted on said sliding member and having its other end connected to said tray, a control member and a control connecting member pivoted at its upper end to said sliding member and at its lower end to the control member, said control member and control connecting member being arranged normally to maintain the sliding member coincident with said pivot for the arm but permit said sliding member to be adjusted upwards to impart vibratory movements to said link which increase an amplitude with increase in distance of the sliding member from said pivot, while preventing the vibratory movements from being transmitted to said control member.

10. In wrapping machines, the combination of, a feed table having a wrapping machine feed belt for conveying tablets to the wrapping machine, a tray mounted behind and inclined downwardly to said table adapted to receive the tablets to be fed to said table, a crank mounted on .a shaft adapted to rotate continuously, a pivoted member so connected to said crank as to be continuously vibrated thereby, said pivoted member having a slot extending outwardly from its pivot, a sliding member in said slot, a link having its one end connected to said sliding member and connected at its other end to said tray, a control member, and means for connecting said control member to said sliding member adapted to permit said sliding member to be moved along said slot from a point coincident with the pivot of the pivoted member where no vibratory movement is transmitted to said link outwardly to an adjustable extent where vibratory movement is transmitted by said link which increases in amplitude with increase of distance from said pivot, said connecting means being arranged to prevent the vibratory movements from being transmitted to said control member. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK GROVER.

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