US1969581A - Apparatus for securing folded portions of packages - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1934. A, G ROSE 1,969,581

'APPARATUS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF PACKAGES Filed DeG. 2, 1931 s sheets-sheet 1 1a 50 i; "ai di? Aug. 7, 1934. A. G.

ROSE 1,969,581

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF PACKAGES Filed Deo. 2, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug- 7, 1934. A. G. ROSE 1,969,581

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF P ACKAGES Filed Dec. 2, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,Inde/z fr' *20 hesive.

'A35 receive the packages and ,is characterized in that Patented Aug. 7, 1934 incassi Y' APPARATUS FOR 'SECURING VFOLDED PORTIONS .OF I ACKAGES Alfred vGerman Rose, Gainsborough, England, assignor to Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Limited, Gainsborough, England, a. British company Application December 2, 1931, Serial No. 578,554

In Great Britainl December 3, 1930 This invention relates to apparatus, for use in conjunction with a Wrapping or package-form'- ing machine, for receiving and stacking the wrapped articles or packages.

d The invention is applicable tangularA or similar block shaped form which comprise articles or groups of articles (e. g. bundles of cigarettes) enclosed in containers 'of paper, .cardboard or like sheet material having folded portions secured by gum or other adhesive.`

y The main object of this invention is to provide an Iimproved construction of stacking magazine for receiving the packages, pressing theA overlap# ,ping folds into close contact with each other, without distorting the shape of the package or otherwise damaging it, and rmaintaining said contact until attachment of the folded'porti'on has been accomplished by thedrying of the adj- A 'further object of the invention isto furnish a magazine in which provision is made for opening and closing one or more of the magazine walls,

thereby to give access to the interior of themaga' posed Walls of the magazine in order to adapt it'l to handle packages of different size.

The invention provides for use in conjunction with a wrapping or package-forming machine, 'a tubular stacking magazine which is adapted to its interior walls, which will contact with overlapping folded portions of each package, are'Y wholly or in part constituted by portions of the' eripheral surfaces of rotatable rollers. Y In one form the stacking magazine has aree-`` tangular throughway whereof at least one wall; over the whole or a substantial portion lof its length, is constituted by portions ofthe periph' eral surfaces of a series of rollers which'are' -45- mounted for rotation about parallel aries located in one and the same plane, and are so dimensioned and arranged in relation to the packages to be handled that ,during 'movement of the 'latter through the magazine there will be at lea'stone' of the aforesaid series of rollers in contact with the' adjacent edge of each package. .s

According to a feature of the invention the rolli-v ers, or some of them, are arranged to'exert aresilient pressure on theedges of the packages, and vpreferably the rollers constituting at least one to packages of rec-v' wall of themagazine are adjustable asa'whole towards and away from the opposite magazine Wa11. 7,. A further feature of the vinvention resides having two opposed'walls of the magazine'sohingedly mounted' at their edges that they may be opened'j-andclos'ed like doors, combinedi with manually operable catches for locking the Walls aforesaid in their closed positions. f "An example embodying the foregoing and other features of the 'invention will now 'be describedwith 'reference to the accompanying drawings in" Which: d `Figure" 1 is a perspective view showing thetype of'package-on which the apparatus is adapted tof Operate, d Y l j Figures 2, Band 4 are respectively side,v front', and plane views of the stacking magazine, and 'Figure 5 is'a section showing the method-'of mounting certain of the magazine rollers.

` Like reference numbers indicate like parts throughout thev drawings. Y A Referring toFigure 1, the packages upon which this particular apparatus is arranged tof'operate are-block-shaped as shown, each comprising an article such as a bundle of cigarettes or a'cigarette-containing carton, enclosed in a. wrapper which has been-folded aboutv one end l0 and over4 the top and bottom sides of the article to form an open-endedpou'ch, 'the' overlapping edge por' tions 11 being closed in andrfinally' the projecting portions -12 at-theopposite end being closed as' shownl ,.1 f l fx;

Conveniently-the above folding operations' are performed while the articles are being advanced one at a time'by a horizontalconveyor in alv wrapping machine of the kind described in Uf. S; specification No. 1,618,025.v This vspecicationA describes a machine in which the articles are traversedv by pusli'ers 'on-an endless chain andduring* their rforward motion are completely wrapped' in paper, the wrapping operations-being" chiefly effected `by stationary ploughs but a tuck at the end of' 'each package being made by fingers which' remove-the package' from the: conveyor: Dirin'g the ,sequence of the wrapping'operations gum orfother adhesive is applied to the overla`p' ping portions 11, v12 of the wrapper. The pack-v ages arefed one at a time to the lower end of the'. stacking magazine, eachpackage on arrival at the magazine 'being' supported on a platform 13 which fis given a motion of vertical'reciprocation instep'withthe mechanism (not shown) which feedsth'e articleshorizontally to thev magazineV During th'ef'upward movement of the platform 13' the package (indicated at 14 n chain lines in Figure 2) supported on it and those above it are pushed upwardly in the magazine, and during the downward movement of the platform into a position ready to receive the next package from the horizontal*conveyor,v the packages in the magazine are' constrained against downward movement by means which will hereinafter bedescribed. If desired theiinal end flaps 12 may be closed while the package is supported on the platform 13 in a manner similar to thatdescribed with reference to Figures 18 and 19 of U.B. specification No. 1,618,025 aforesaid, that is to say the top one folded down by the edge ofthe magazine as the package is lifted and thebottom one folded up by a reciprocating blade. That is one method of closing the end of the package but it does not form any part of the present invention and it is to be understood that any other convenient method of folding the wrapper may be employed;

The stackingma'gazine is of tubular form, the cross section of its throughway being of rectangularshape conforming to the plan configuration o fthepackages to be handled.

, The stacking magazine comprises a fixed end plate 15,two oppositeside, plates 16, 17 pivotally.

mountedanda/.non-pivotally mounted but otherwise adjustableend plate 18. The fixed end plate 15 is provided with a foot piece 19 adapted to be bolted toa bracket or the like (notshown) on the wrapping machine. The two side, plates 16, 17 are secured, in the manner hereinafter described, to brackets 2G, -21 respectively which are pivotally articulated to the `liked endV plate 15. For this purpose the end plate 15 is provided with lugs 22 carrying pins 23 on which Athe brackets 20, 21 are hinged. The opposite end plate 18 is secured to a bracket 24 which in turn is fastened to a pillar 25 bolted to the machine frame.

The inner face of the iixed end plate 15 is channelled to accommodate a vertical series of rollers 26 which are piled one'on top oi the other, the lowermostone resting upon a shelf 27 located at the foot piece 19. vEach of the rollers 26 is provided at its opposite ends with pins 28 which are located in grooves 29 in the end plate 15. The whole length of the end plate 15, i. e. throughout theheight of the magazine, is occupied by the rollers 26, so that the magazine wall with which the end 10 of the package will contact during its ascent in the magazine is constituted by a succession of cylindrical surfaces. As shown in Fig ure. 2, the diameter of each of the rollers 26 is rather less than the depth of the package A14, so that during the upward movement of the latter, there will always be at least one roller in contact with the package end.

The opposite end plate 18 also carries a series of rollers, viz. kthose identified as 30, arranged in a vertical tier with their axes horizontal. Theseurollers do not rest one lupon `the other like the rollers 26, but are mounted in the manner shown in Figure 5; As will beseen each of the rollers 30 is rotatable on pins 3l which extend into bearings 32 at opposite ends of the roller and are secured to plungers 33 which in turnv are received in channels 34 in the end plate 18. Each plunger is urged outwardly by a spring 35, and the. extent ofthe outward movementof the plungers (i. e. away from 'the plate ,18) is limited by flangev plates A36 securedV to opposite edges' of the end plate and formihgyabutments for lshoulderaon the plungers. With this ari rangement it will be seen that the end plate 18 may be so located that each of the rollers exerts a resilient pressure on the end 12 of the package. As before the rollers 30 are so dimensioned and arranged that during the ascent of the package at least one of the rollers will always be in Contact with the end of the package.

The two pivotally mounted side plates'l, 17 also carry sets of rollers 37, 38 arranged in the Ysame way as the rollers 30 of the end plate 18 and resiliently mounted on the plates in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. The lowermost rollers of the two sets 37, 38 are located, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, some distance above the lower ends ofthe side plates 16, 17, and the intervening space is occupied by brushes 39 which are provided for the purpose of gripping the .opposite side edges of the packages in the lower portion of the magazine.

In order that the magazine may be adjusted to accommodate packages of somewhat different size the following arrangement is adopted.: Two of the walls of the magazine, namelythose constituted bythe rollers 30,` 37 are made adjust-f.

able towards and away from the opposite walls respectively of the magazine. 'For this purpose each of the vplates 18, 16'isfsupporte'd from its companion bracket 24 'or 2G by two pairs of, screw-threaded bolts 4Q located nearthe" upper and lower ends respectively of the plate 18 or 16'. The bolts 40, which at their innerends are secured to the'plate 18 or 16, pass freelyV through apertures 41 in the bracket 24 or 2()arfd "at their outer ends are engaged by nutsZy formed withY knurled manipulating heads 4 3. The ,platesV 18, 1 6 are, as shown-in Figure 4, Yspaced apartfror'n the brackets 424, 20, and in the gapbetween "theml the stemsv of the bolts 40 are. springs 44 in compression. lt will be understood that by manipulation of the nuts'42 the plates 18, 16 may be adjusted Atowards and awayffrom the companion brackets 24, V20, and in this way the cross section of the magazinethroughway maybe varied. ,l

It has been pointed out that the brackets 20, 21- which carry the side plates 16, 17 are pivotally mounted on the iixed. end plate 15.` This arrangement is adopted in order that the maga# zine maybe opened and closed to permit inspection of the packagesl without necessitating their removal from the magazine nor'causing any nterruption in their upward feed. Eitherone or each of the side plates 16, 17 with, 'of 'course,

the rollers carried by it, may be opened by swinging ,the appropriate bracket 20 orl 211 outwardly about the hinge pin 2 3. In order 'that the twov sidel plates 16, 17 may be .locked in their `closed position, twomanually operable catch levers v45 are provided.l .These levers are pivotally mounted on a pin 46 secured, to the fixed end plate l5 and at their outer ends are provided with handle portions 47.y Near their outer ends nthe two catch levers are vformed with Ufshaped clips 48 adapte ed (when the catchv levers are :in horizontal position) to be engaged over pins 49 .iixed tov the brackets 20, 21.

It will beseen that when eitherof the ycatch levers 45 is engaged over its corresvpondingr'pin 49, the corresponding side plate 16 or 1 7 is locked against opening movement. On the other hand when the catch lever is Yswung upwardly into a vertical position, the corresponding side vplate is free to be opened,y like a v door thereby-. giving access tothe interior ci the magazine.

As shown in Figure 4 .eachV of thethree 16,.v 17 and 18 is formed `at the backwith alffi recess 50 which is adapted to accommodate a heating device, conveniently one of electrical type. These heating devices are provided for the purpose of ensuring that during the ascent of each package in the magazine, the adhesive employed for attaching the overlapping side and end portions 1l, 12 of the wrapper, will be completely dried.

It will be understood that as the packages are fed upwardly in the magazine by reciprocation of the platform 13, the rollers 30 will exert a resilient pressure on the end folds 12 of the package while the rollers 37, 38 will similarly exert a resilient pressure on the longitudinal folds l1 of the package. In this way the overlapping folds of the wrapper are maintained in correct register and in close contact with each other while the packages are moving through the magazine and the adhesive is setting. During the downward movement of the platform 13 it is necessary to ensure that the packages in the magazine will be prevented from gravitating down it, and it is for the purpose of assisting such action that the brushes 39 are provided. These brushes are arranged to press against the packages with their bristles sloping upwardly so as to offer greater resistance to downward movement of the packages than to upward movement.

I claim:

l. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine comprising at least two sets of anti-friction rollers mounted within the magazine to constitute two opposed internal surfaces thereof, means for inserting packages at the bottom of the magazine and means for preventing substantial downward movement of the packages within the magazine.

2. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine wherein the lower part of the internal surface of at least one of the walls of the magazine comprises a brush with the bristles directed inwardly and wherein the internal surfaces of at least two opposing walls above the brush comprises a plurality of antifriction rollers rotatably mounted to turn about axes transverse to the throughway of the magazine.

3. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangular crosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom of the magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior walls of the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers and means for supporting thev rollers in each set close to one another with their axes extending parallel to one another in the same vertical plane and transverse of the throughway of the magazine and with the peripheral surfaces of the rollers constituting interior surfaces of the magazine above the brushes.

4. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangular crosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom of the magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior walls of the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers and means for supporting the rollers in each set close to one another with their axes extending parallel to one another in the same vertical plane and transverse of the throughway of the magazine and with the peripheral surfaces of the rollers constituting interior surfaces of the magazine above the brushes and a reciprocable pusher movable into the bottom of the magazine from outside.

5. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangular cross section comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom of the magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior walls of the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers of less diameter than the vertical height of the package to be inserted into the magazine, and means for supporting the rollers in each set close to one another with their axes spaced apart by less than the vertical height of the package to be inserted into the magazine and extending parallel to one another in the same vertical plane and transverse of the throughway of the magazine and with the peripheral surfaces of the rollers constituting interior surfaces of the magazine above the brushes.

6. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine wherein the lower part of the internal surface of at least one of the walls of the magazine comprises a brush with the bristles directed inwardly and sloping upwardly and wherein the internal surfaces of at least two opposing walls above the brush comprise a plurality of anti-friction rollers rotatably mounted to turn about axes transverse to the throughway of the magazine.

'7. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine comprising at least two sets of anti-friction rollers mounted within the magazine to constitute two opposed internal surfaces thereof, means for inserting packages at the bottom of the magazine and means for preventing substantial downward movement of the packages within the magazine and means for heating the magazine.

8. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, a substantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangular crosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom of the magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior walls of the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers constituting at least two opposed walls of the magazine above the brushes and mounted on plates, with a recess in at least one plate, with their axes extending parallel to one another in the same vertical plane and transverse of the throughway of the magazine and heating means located in the recessed plate.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE.

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