US2027379A

US2027379A - Apparatus for packaging rugs

Info

Publication number: US2027379A
Application number: US599216A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford F Hawker; Benjamin F Herr; Fred G Rottmund
Original assignee: Armstrong Cork Co
Current assignee: Armstrong World Industries Inc
Priority date: 1932-03-16
Filing date: 1932-03-16
Publication date: 1936-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1953-01-14

Description

Jam 1936. c. F. HAM/KER ET AL. 2,027,379v

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RUGS Original Filed March 16, 1932 "11 Sheets-Sheet l 3mm; EHMM 1936? CF. HAWKER El AL APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING BUGS Original Filed March 16, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 14, 1936. c. F. HAWKER El AL fi fi n APPARATUS FOR PAC'KAGING RUGS Original Filed March 16, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 14, 1936. c HAWKER AL 2,027,379 I APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RUGS Original Filed March 16, 1932 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 swam/bot; 1'0 FA Km c. F. HAWKER El AL 2,027,2 9

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING HUGS Original Filed March 16, 1932 ll' Sheets-Sheet 5 I Jan. 1935- c. F. HAWKER ET AL 2&2737

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING HUGS l1 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed March 16, 1952 amen cw;

F. H Funk 6 W m Jan. 14, 1936; c HAWKER ET 2,027,379

' APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RUGS Original Filed March 16, 1932 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 1936- c F. HAWKER El AL I 2,027,379

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RUGS Ori inal Filed March 16, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 T llllllllllllllllllllllll 1 A lllll Illl/III Jan. 14, 1936. F, AwKE-R Er AL A 2,027,379

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINZG RUGS Original Filed March 16, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 ma IIIIAIIIII Jan. 14, 1936-, c. F. HAWK ER El AL 2,027,379

- APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RUGS I Original Fi led March-l6, 1932 i1'Sheets- Sheet l0 Em m Jan. 14, 1936. c wK ETYAL 2,027,379

' APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING HUGS Original Filed March 16, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet ll awe/H 000. W W

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base type.

Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RUGS Clifford F. Hawker, Benjamin F. Herr, and Fred G. Rottmund, Lancaster, Pa., assigncrs to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 16, 1932, Serial No. 599,216 Renewed June 19, 1935 25 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for packaging material or articles which may be rolled. It is of particular advantage in packaging rugs or other surface coverings of the linoleum or felt Rugs of the felt base type comprise a sheet of felt saturated with asphalt or any suitable saturant and have a decorative design printed on one face thereof. Heretofore, in packaging rugs of this type it has been necessary to roll said rugs on a comparatively large diameter and then cover the rug with an outer wrapping of paper. The rugs could not be rolled on a small diameter because of the susceptibility of the felt to crack. In cases of felt of inferior quality it was necessary to increase the size of the roll even more than usual. This added the disadvantage of non-uniform sizes to the other disadvantages of the completed packages.

It is an object of our invention to provide means for packaging rolled articles such as textile fabrics, roofing material, or rugs of the linoleum or felt base type which will form completed packages which are relatively small and of uniform size. It is a further object of our invention to provide means for forming a completed package that will have a neat appearance, will be durable, and will protect the packaged article from injury during transit. It is a further object of our invention to provide simple and ehicient means whereby rolled articles may be packaged economically. It is a further object of our invention to provide means for packaging rolled articles that will require a minimum of manual labor. Other objects of our invention will become apparent upon reading the annexed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating our apparatus as applied to the packaging of a rug in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view, in diagrammatic form, of the rug packaging apparatus;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the rug expelling device;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the rug expelling device;

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the rug centering apparatus and the package crimping apparatus.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one half of the rug centering apparatus;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the opposite half of the rug centering apparatus;

Figure l is an end elevation of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a detail of the rug centering apparatus;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of one half of the package crimping apparatus;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal view, partly in elevation and partly in section, through the opposite half of the package crimping machine;

Figure 11 is an end elevation of Figure 9;

I Figure 12 is a detail of the package crimping apparatus;

Figure 13 is a detail perspective of one of the crimping heads; 5

Figure 14 is a section taken along the line XIVXIV of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective of one end of the completed rug package, and

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic isometric view 10 showing a portion of the centering head driving mechanism.

In Figure 1, the reference numeral 2 indicates an inspection table upon which a plurality of felt baserugs are stacked. The rugs are passed 15 individually through a trade-marking machine 3 which prints suitable indicia on the bottom surface of the rug. A belt conveyor 4 moving over a pair of rolls 5 and 6 carries individual rugs from the trade-marking machine to a pair of pinch 20 rolls '1 and 8. The pinch rolls 7 and 8 are effective to move the rug through a conditioning chamber 9.

If desired, the conditioning chamber may be provided with a steel slat conveyor to carry the rugs through the chamber. However, we prefer to use pinch rolls for'this purpose. The conditioning chamber is particularly adapted to aid in packaging rugs when the temperature in the room is so low that the rugs are too stifi' to be bent easily. The conditioning chamber 9 is heated by steam or any other suitable means so that the rugs passing through the chamber may be heated to approximately 100 F. The degree of heat applied will depend upon the outside temperature.

The rug passes from the conditioning chamber 9 to the roll-up device ill. The roll-up device consists of a suitable frame I l in which are mounted an upper roll [2 and two lower rolls I3 and M. A thin wooden core is placed between these three rolls. The end of the rug to be rolled is secured to the core by means of a fabric apron and the rolls [3 and id are rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. The roll l2 which rests on top of the core runs idly.

When the rug has been rolled up it is moved out of the roll-up device by the rug expelling device l5 hereinafter described in detail. A suitable tube is then placed around the rolled rug and cardboard or thin wooden disks are placed in the ends of the tube adjacent the rug. The rolled rug is then moved to the centering machine I6 which forces the disks flush against the ends of the rolled rug and centers the rug in the tube. The rolled rug is then passed to the crimping machine El which turns the ends of the tube inwardly to engage the faces of the disks and to maintain the rug in the tube. The packaged rug is then ready for shipment.

Figures 2 and 3 show the construction of the rug expelling device. The purpose of this device is to expel the rug from the roll-up machine and carry it to a position where a tube may be slipped over the rug. After the rug is rolled up it has a tendency to unwind and must be kept under compression until the tube is around the rug. After the rug is rolled up, the roll-up machine is stopped; a hand brake is then applied to the top idle roll i2 and the direction of rotation of the driven roll I4 is reversed. This causes the roll M to expel the rug into position between the belt conveyors l8 and t9 by pivoting it upon the stationary top idler roll l2.

The rug expelling device is supported by a metal frame which includes a plurality of angle irons 2| which are secured to the floor by means of the angle irons 22. The upper ends of the angle irons 2| are connected by means of cross rails 23. The cross rails 23 support upright angle irons 2 A longitudinal angle iron 25 flush with the tops of the angle irons Z l extends across the width of the rug expelling device. A longitudinal angle iron 26 similar to angle irons 25 is secured to upstanding angle irons Zl secured to the cross rail 23 by means of studs 23. The connection between the angle iron 2'! and the cross rail 23 is reenforced by means of the angle iron 28.

The lower conveyor consists of a plurality of relatively narrow bands |3 mounted at one end over the roller M and the other end over individ ual flanged pulleys 3d. The pulleys 33 are mounted on a common shaft 3! which is journaled in bearings 32 mounted on the cross rails 23. A plate 33 secured to the angle bracket 25 supports the upper reach of the conveyor l8. A plate 34 secured to the top of the angles 24 and 25 provides a support for the rolled rug 35 after it is moved out of the expelling device.

The upper conveyor I9 is supported by the angle irons 21. The conveyor consists of a plurality of conveyor belts 35 mounted on flanged pulleys 3! and 38. The pulleys 3? are mounted on a common shaft 39 journaled in bearings 4-3 suspended from the plate 3!. The pulleys 38 are mounted on a shaft 39 journaled in bearings also suspended from the plate ll. The plate 4| is secured to a pair of channel members 42. The channel members 42 are connected by a cross member 43 which is provided with projecting arms 44. The arms 54 rest on screw threaded adjusting screws 45 which extend through threaded openings in the member secured to the top of the angle iron 21. The lower end of the adjusting screws 45 has attached thereto a wrench 41 so that the entire upper belt assembly may be raised or lowered to accommodate rugs of different sizes.

The adjusting screws are provided with compression springs 48 secured between the arms 55 and adjustable nuts 49 to help support the weight of the upper conveyor structure. The springs :18 protect the upper conveyor structure l9 from unnecessary shocks. The rolled rug 35 is held under sufficient compression between the upper and lower conveyors to prevent it from unrolling. The upper conveyor may be driven by any suitable means, or it may run idle. A spring member 53 serves to hold the rolled rug 35 under compression after it has been expelled from the conveyors I8 and IS. The rolled rug 35 is moved from under the spring 53 to a position on the members 34 where it is engaged by a spring 5| secured to a plate 52 by a clamp 53.

A plurality of plates 52 are secured along the front edge of the channel member 42 so that the position of the springs 5| may be adjusted in accordance with the width of the rug being rolled. It is desirable to position the springs adjacent the ends of the rolled rug to facilitate the application of a tube thereto. The spring 5| has one end bent upwardly, as indicated at 54, to facilitate the positioning of a tube around the rolled rug. The outer edges of the plates 34 are beveled to facilitate the placement of the tube over the rolled rug.

We prefer to package the rolled rug in a paper tube 55 (see Figure 15) formed in two sections. One section of the tube is slipped over each end of the rolled rug until the two sections meet. Any suitable tube may be used, but we prefer a 5-ply paper tube because of the protection it extends to the packaged rug during handling and shipping. After the paper tube has been placed around the rolled rug, the rug expands slightly to press against the tube. After this expansion the mandrel upon which the rug has been rolled is removed, and a plywood or cardboard disk 56 is placed in each end of the tube. These disks are provided with a small hole 51 in the center thereof to allow the escape of air in the tube when the rugs are centered. The holes also facilitate the removal of the tubes from the packaged article.

The rolled rug 35 now confined in its tube 55 is rolled across the supporting plates 34 to the centering machine H5. The centering machine E5 (see Figures 4 to 8 inclusive) includes a pair of channel irons 58 secured to I-bcams 59 which rest on the floor. cludes a pair of centering units 60 and 6|, which are substantially duplicates of each other, and are mounted at opposite ends of the channel members 58. A gear rack 62 (Fig. 7) is secured to one channel member 58 near its upper edge.

A gear 63 is mounted on a shaft 84 which extends through a pair of arms 65 integrally connected with the centering units. A crank 66 having a handle 51 is connected to one end of the shaft 64. Rotation of the shaft 64 will impart a transverse movement to the centering unit whereby the distance between the centering units 60 and 6| may be adjusted to conform to the width of the rug being packaged. Although we have shown both centering units being movable it is generally sufficient to move only one unit and allow the other to remain stationary.

The centering mechanism is provided with a worm drive which is enclosed within the casing shaft 69 connected with a motor 12. A worm 10 is keyed to the shaft 69 and meshes with a worm wheel H which is in turn keyed to a shaft 13 mounted for rotation in bearings 14 formed in opposite sides of the casing. A shaft 15 is keyed to the shaft 13 by means of a coupling 16. The mechanism for moving the centering units 60 and 5| is driven from this shaft. We will describe the mechanism for the operation of the unit 60. The mechanism is similar for each of the units and corresponding numbers have been applied to like parts (Figures 5, 6, '7, and 8).

In Figure I8 we have shown diagrammatic-ally, with the component parts separated, a portion of the centering unit mechanism in order that its operation may be more readily understood.

A bossed disk "IT is keyed to the shaft 15 and carries a cam follower I3 and a pawl 89 keyed to the fulcrum shaft 8! which is journaled through a boss in the disk ll. A spring 18 is provided The centering machine IS in- The driving mechanism consists of a drive which urges the cam follower 19 into contact with the periphery of the cam 85 which is rigidly mounted on the bearing 86 and is held against rotation by the set screw 86. The pawl 80 .00- operates with a ratchet wheel 81 to impart movement to a spiral gear 88 to which it is secured by keying or otherwise. Gear 88 is freely revolvable on the sha t 5.

Rotation of the gear 88 is controlled by the cam 85 in the following manner: The shaft I5 is rotated, carrying the disk I! in a clockwise direction (Fig. 16). The follower I9 revolves about the stationary cam 85 and contacts with the peripheral surface thereof, being urged thereagainst by the spring 78. As the follower I9 is operated on the fulcrum shaft 8| by the lobes of the cam 85, the pawl 88 which is also keyed to the fulcrum shaft 8| is operated a like amount.

In Figure 16 we have indicated the four sectors of the ratchet wheel as a, b, c, and d and have indicated the four sectors of the cam as A, B, C, and D. The follower is shown in a position just prior to its descent onto the sector A.

When the disk Tl is rotated, the follower 79 will be urged into contact with the sector A of the cam 85 thereby causing the pawl 80 to rise and ride on the sector a, of the ratchet wheel. As the disk 'I'I moves for A. revolution, the follower rides over the surface A, gradually rising and thereby causing the pawl 80 to follow the contour of the sector a. The gear 88 is stationary during this period. The disk continues its rotation with the follower I9 riding over the sector B of the cam. The pawl 88, however, has engaged the shoulder or tooth of the ratchet wheel intermediate sectors a and b and since the contour of the cam sector B is concentric with the axis of the rotation of the follower E9 the ratchet wheel 8? is imparted revolution. The follower I9 then descends onto sector C and the pawl 80 rises and disengages. During the next A; revolution and while the pawl 80 is travelling over the sector b the gear 88 is idle. When the follower I9 reaches sector D, the pawl 80 engages the shoulder or tooth intermediate the sectors b and c and a revolution is imparted to the ratchet wheel 8'! and the gear 88 as the follower '19 travels over sector D.

The gear 88 therefore makes revolution for each revolution of the shaft I5 and the cycle of movement of the gear as compared with the shaft I5 is: move onerquarter; rest one-quarter; move one-quarter; rest one-quarter for each revolution of the shaft I5.

The spiral gear 88 drives a shaft 89 through a spiral gear 90 the ratio being 1 to 2. A sprocket 9| is also secured to the shaft 89. The sprocket 9| is connected to a similar sprocket 92 by means of a chain 93. The sprocket 92 is secured to a shaft 94 which has an eccentric 95 secured thereto. A link 95 is secured to the eccentric 95.

The link 96 has a hollow chamber 9'! in which a piston head 98 is positioned. The link 96 is provided with a. head 99 provided with a hole at its center through which a shaft I00, integral with the piston head 98, passes. A compression spring .59I is positioned around the shaft I between the piston head 98 and the head 99. The head 99 is shown as split to provide for clamping in a desired position on the link 95 whereby the spring I9I is initially compressed a desired amount. The shaft I00 is provided at its end opposite the piston head 98 with a link I02 mounted on a shaft I03. The shaft I03 is mounted on a pair of arms 1,0.4 depending from the centering head slide I05.

The rotation of the disk 'I'I imparts a rotary motion to the spiral gear 88 which in turn rotates the shaft 89 upon which the sprocket 90 is mounted. The rotary motion of the sprocket 90 is transmitted to the sprocket 92 by means of the chain 93 and causes the eccentric 95 to move with a reciprocatory movement. The eccentric 95 acts through the link 98 to slide the centering head slide 85 over the stationary supporting member I95. The compression spring IilI is adapted to cushion the motion of the slide 585.

The centering head slide I05 supports a member .I 01 which in turn supports a housing I08 to which a centering head I09 is secured. The centering head I09 is provided with a peripheral flange I I0 r5 which serves to prevent the head from traveling too far into the tube in which the rug is packaged. The compression spring IOI is adapted to absorb pressure when the centering head I09 butts against a tube or rug that is longer than normal.

The centering head I09 may be rigid, but we prefer to make it rotatable so that a tube held on the centering head may be rotated, in order to facilitate the application of a binding tape at the joint between the two portions of the tube. Although we have not shown any apparatus for applying a binding tape to connect the two ends of the tube together, it will be seen that a roll of adhesive paper or any similar material may be mounted on a shaft directly above the centering 3.9

which extends through the centering head and through one end of the housing I08. One end of the shaft III is secured to the end of a spindle II2 mounted in the housing I95 on ball bearings II 3. The other end of the shaft III has an extension plate H4 secured thereto by means of a =10 screw I I5. The extension plate I I4 is of the same diameter as the adjacent face of the centering head I09. A compression spring H6 encircles the shaft I I I between the centering head I09 and the extension plate I I4. L

The operation of the centering head is as follows: When the spiral gear 88 is moved onefourth of a revolution by the rotation of the disk 11, the eccentric 95 is moved one-half a revolution to cause the centering head to move inwardly and center the rug 35 in position in the tube 55. The spring H6 allows the extension plate H4 to press flush against the disk 56 previously placed in the tube. Pressure on the disks 59 straightens the ends of the rug 35 and centers it with respect 5 to' the tube. The driving pawl at this point is disengaged from the pawl wheel 81 by movement of the follower I9 on the cam 85. During the next one-fourth revolution of the disk TI the centering head m9 remains in the tube 55, and the tube may be rotated to permit application of the adhesive paper or similar material which joins the two sections of the tube together. The next one-fourth revolution of the disk II causes the driving pawl 80 to reengage with the pawl wheel 8! and move the eccentric one-half of a revolution. This moves the centering head I09 out of the tube 55. After the centering'head has moved out of the tube the pawl 80 is disengaged from the pawl wheel 8'! for one-fourth of a revolution. During this period the centered rug package is ejected and another rug package is positioned in the centering device.

The rolled rugs are retained in the centering machine during the centering operation .by means 7 5 are again raised by the rollers 82.

of a pair of plates H1. The plate H1 has one upper corner notched, as indicated at H8 to receive the rolled rug from the rug expelling device I5. An arm H9 is mounted on one side of the plate H1. The roller 82, secured by a stud 83 to a boss on the disk 11, engages the lower end of the arm I I9 to raise it to ejecting position. When the roller 82 passes from engagement with the arm I I9, the arm I I9 drops back to normal position. The arm H9 has a counterweight I20 secured on an arm I2I pivoted on a fulcrum I22. The arm H9 is connected to the counterweight I20 by means of a stud I23 mounted in a slot I24 in the arm I2I. The arm I2I is provided with a slot I25 to permit adjustment of the counterweight I20. The plate H1 is provided with a second notch I26 in which the rolled rug rests during the centering operation. A pair of rollers I21 is mounted on the plate I I1 to permit rotation of the rug package to facilitate the application of the adhesive paper or similar material to the tube 55.

When the rolled rug enclosed in the paper tube is moved from the plates 34 to position in the notches H8 of the plates H1, the arm H9 is raised by the action of the rollers 82. This forces the rolled rug up out of the notches I I8, and when the arm H9 is lowered, the rolled rug rolls to position in the notches I26. The rolled rug is retained in position in the notches I26 on the rollers I21 while the rug is centered in the tube and the disks 56 are pressed flush against the ends of the rug. When the centering operation is completed, the centering head I09 remains in position for one-fourth of a revolution of the disk 11 while the binding tape is being applied to the joint between the sections of the tube. The centering heads I09 are then withdrawn and the arms H9 This forces the rug out of the notches I26 and causes it to roll to a pair of receiving notches I I8 in the crimping machine I1.

The mechanism for operating the crimping machine (see Figures 4 and 9 to 14 inclusive) is, in many respects a duplicate of the mechanism for operating the centering machine. Accordingly, we will apply the same reference numerals to the parts that are the same on both machines and confine our description of the crimping machine to the details of construction that differ from the details of the centering machine. The mechanism for moving the crimping units relative to each other is essentially the same as that for moving the centering units. The cam I3! (Fig. 12) corresponds to the cam 85 on the centering unit moving mechanism (Fig. 16). The cam I31, however, is provided with a single lobe whereby it causes the cam follower in engagement therewith to rise but a single time during each revolution of the disk 11. WVhen the follower rises, the corresponding pawl engages a tooth on the ratchet wheel and imparts a A; revolution to the ratchet wheel and the spiral gear associated therewith. The contour of the cam I3I is such that the follower then descends and remains in that position during the remaining revolution of the disk 11. The gear therefor, makes revolution for each revolution of the shaft 15 and the cycle of movement of the gear as compared with the shaft 15 is: move one-quarter; rest three-- quarters for each revolution of the shaft 15. The eccentric is similar in construction to that used on the centering unit but is driven from the spiral gear 88 through spaced sprockets I29 and I30 which impart to the eccentric one revolution for each A; revolution of the spiral gear 88.

In the crimping operation the crimping heads are moved toward each other, crimping the opposite ends of the tubes, and are then returned to their normal positions (one revolution of the eccentric), and remain in such position while the shaft 15 is making the remaining revolution.

The ejecting mechanism for the crimping machine is exactly the same as that for the centering machine. The plates I32 for receiving the rolled rug in the centering machine and for supporting the rug and tube during the crimping operation differ from the plates H1 only in that they are provided with a bearing I33 instead of with rollers.

The crimping mechanism for each side is the same and, therefore, the mechanism for only one side of the machine will be described. The

crimping head I28 (Fig. 13) is provided with a 4 groove I34 adapted to engage with the ends of the paper tube 55 in which a rug is packaged. A number of pins I35 are positioned in recesses I36 extending radially into the crimping head 28. The pins I35 are positioned in the head and are then grooved as indicated at I31 to conform to the contour of the groove I34. After the groove I31 is formed in the pins they are rotated through a slight angle so as to cause one edge of the pin I35 to project beyond the surface of the groove I34 as indicated at I38 (see Figure 14). The pin I35 is then secured in position in the crimping head by means of the set screw I39. The crimping head I28 is also provided with a plate I40.

The crimping head I 28 is rotated on a drive shaft I4I extending from a motor I 42. The plate I40 presses against the shaft I4I to prevent the shaft from pushing into the end of a tube and breaking the disk 56. is mounted on a sliding base I43 which is reciprocated in the same manner as the sliding base I05 of the centering machine. Two plates I44 are secured to the stationary supporting member I06 and are connected at their upper ends by a pair 1 of spaced horizontal plates I45. In Figure 10 one of the plates I44 is omitted, and one wall of the sliding base I43 is partly broken away to facilitate illustration of adjacent parts. The plates I44 and I45 constitute a support for a clamping unit I46 which is adapted to cooperate with the plate I 32 to hold the rug package in position while the ends of the paper tube are being crimped.

The unit I46 includes a horizontal arm I41 one end of which is secured directly to the plates I45. 1

The upper end of the arm I41 is provided with a recess I48 through which a clamp rod I49 extends. A bearing I50 secured to the arm I41 acts as a guide for the rod I49. The lower end of the rod I49 has secured thereto an arcuate-shaped clamp I5I. The upper end of the rod I49 is pivoted to one end of a rocker arm I52 as indicated at I53. The rocker arm I52 is pivoted at I54 to a support I55 which is secured to the arm I41. The other end of the rocker arm I52 has a push rod I56 pivoted thereto as indicated at I51. The rod I56 may be adjusted by means of the adjusting nut I58. The rod I56 is also provided with a compression spring I59 secured between a pair of nuts I60 and a pin I6I projecting from the end of a rod I62 positioned Within the push rod I56. The other end of the rod I62 is pivoted at I63 to a lever I64 which is fulcrumed at I65 to a support I66 which is secured to the arm I41. The other end of the lever I64 is pivoted The motor I42 at Hi! to a plate I68 secured to the sliding base I43.

As the crimping head I28 is moving inwardly toward the tube, the plate I68 causes the lever 5 I64 to pull on the rod I62 which acts against the compression spring I59 and causes the rocker arm I52 to force the clamp I5I into contact with the tube. When the crimping head I28 is moved out of crimping position, the same mechanism acts in the opposite direction to release the clamp I5I from contact with the tube. The ejecting arm H9 is then raised by the roller 82 and the packaged rug is ejected from the crimping machine.

The completed package is more particularly described and claimed in a copending application of Clifford F. Hawker, one of the co-inventors herein, Serial No. 599,217, filed March 16, 1932, and the method of operation of our device and the manufacture of packaged articles is more completely described and claimed in another copending application, Serial No. 736,683, filed July 24, 1934, as a division of said application, Serial No. 599,217.

Although we have described a specific embodiment of our apparatus, particularly adapted for packaging rugs of the felt base type, it will be understood that our apparatus may be used to package any material that is capable of being rolled. Various details of our apparatus as described may be modified without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restricted to the exact details of construction described except as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for packaging rolled articles, yielding means to center a rolled article in a tube and yielding means to crimp the ends of the tube into inturned beads, each of said means having arms adapted. to position the tube for its operation thereon.

-2. In an apparatus for packaging rolled articles yielding means for centering a rolled article positioned within a tube, yielding means for crimping the ends of said tube, said centering means and said crimping means being provided with automatic means for placing a tube in operative position and for ejecting the tube after its operation has been completed.

3. In a packaging machine, the combination of supporting means for a cylindrical tube containing an article to be centered therein, a pair of centering means having portions smaller than the inside diameter of the tube and movable to enter the ends of said tube and displace said article longitudinally of said tube and position the article substantially centrally thereof and means yieldingly urging said centering means into said tube.

4. In a machine for making a package by assembling a rolled article and an enclosing tube, the combination of centering means yieldingly movable and mutually approaching to displace the rolled article to a central position within the tube.

5. In a packaging machine, the combination of means for rotatably supporting a tube containing an article to be centered therein, rotat- 74) able means yieldably urging said article to a position centrally of said tube and means yieldably urging and maintaining said rotatable centering means Within the tube while said tube is being rotated.

75 6. In a packaging machine, the combination of supporting means for a cylindrical tube containing an article to be positioned therein, positioning means comprising a pair of heads adapted to enter said tube to cause longitudinal displacement of said article in said tube, a stop en- 5 gaging said tube after one of said heads has entered said tube a predetermined distance, and means for causing yielding relative movement between said heads. 7. In a packaging machine, the combination 10' of supporting means for a cylindrical tube containing an article to be positioned therein, positioning means comprising a pair of heads adapted to enter said tube to cause longitudinal displacement of the article in the tube, a stop engaging 15' said tube after one of said heads has entered said tube a predetermined distance, a yielding plate associated with at least one of said heads to compensate for various lengths of said article,

and means for causing relative movement be- 26 tween said heads.

8. In a packaging machine, the combination of a pair of positioning heads having portions adapted to enter a tube, at least one of said heads having a stop for engagement with said. 213' tube, means for causing said heads to move relative to one another a predetermined distance to cause displacement of said article with respect to said tube, and yielding means associated with said moving means to limit the displacing pres- 30 sure applied by said moving means.

9. In a machine for crimping the ends of a tube enclosing a rolled article by applying rotative pressure to the ends of said tube, the combination of a pair of crimping heads, means 35 for imparting rotative movement to said heads, means for imparting relative movement to said heads to cause said heads to move toward each other and yielding means associated with said moving means limiting the pressure applied by 40 the crimping means.

10. In a machine for crimping the ends of a tube enclosing a rolled article by applying rotative pressure to the ends of said tube, the combination of a pair of crimping heads, means for imparting rotative movement to said heads, means for urging said heads toward each other and yielding means associated with each head to limit the pressure applied thereby.

11. In a machine for crimping the ends of a tube enclosing 2. rolled article by applying rotative pressure to the ends of said tube, the combination of a pair of crimping heads, means for imparting rotative movement to said heads, means for yieldingly urging said heads toward each other and hold-down means for preventing rotation of said tube.

12. In a machine for crimping the ends of a tube enclosing a rolled article by applying rotative pressure to the ends of said tube, the combination of a pair of crimping heads, means for imparting rotative movement to said heads, means for yieldingly urging said heads toward each other, hold-down means for preventing rotation of said tube and means for urging said hold- 5 down means into operative relationship with said tube after engagement of said heads with said tube.

13. In a machine for crimping the ends oi a tube enclosing a rolled article by applying rotative pressure to the ends of said tube, the combination of a support for a pair of crimping units, one of said units being movable as a unit with respect to the other unit on said support, each unit including a crimping head and means to impart rotative motion to said head, and means associated with at least one unit for imparting yielding movement of its head toward the head on the other unit.

14, In an apparatus for packaging articles, means for receiving a tube containing a rolled article, means for moving said tube into position to be engaged by positioning means, said positioning means including a pair oi. heads adapted to enter said tube to cause longitudinal displacement of said article in said tube, a stop engaging said tube after one of said heads has entered said tube a predetermined distance, means for causing yielding relative movement between said heads, and means associated with said moving means effective for ejecting said tube from said positioning means after the positioning operation.

15. In an apparatus for packaging articles, a positioning unit and a crimping unit, said positioning unit including a pair of heads adapted to enter said tube to cause longitudinal displacement of said article in said tube, a stop engaging said tube after one of said heads has entered said tube a predetermined distance and means for causing yielding relative movement between said heads, said crimping unit including a pair of crimping heads, means for imparting rotative movement to said heads, and means for yieldingly urging said heads toward each other, and means associated with said positioning unit for moving a tube containing a positioned article to a position for engagement with moving means associated with said crimping unit for positioning the tube for the crimping operation.

16. In an apparatus for packaging articles having a tendency to telescope upon rolling, means for yieldingly urging a pair of disks flush with the ends of said rolled article contained in a tube to overcome any telescoping of said article and for displacing said article with respect to said tube, and crimping means adapted to turn the exposed ends of said tube into beads by rotative pressure to decrease the effective length of said tube and urge said disks into firm engagement with said rolled article, said crimping means being yieldingly urged into engagement with said tube ends.

17. In an apparatus for packaging articles having a tendenecy to telescope upon rolling, a pair of heads adapted to enter a tube containing 2. rolled article and means for causing yielding relative movement between said heads to apply pressure to the ends of said article to overcome any telescoping thereof.

18. In an apparatus for packaging articles having a tendency to telescope upon rolling, means yieldingly engaging the ends of a rolled article contained in a tube, means for applying pressure to said engaging means to overcome any telescoping of said article and means for causing relative movement between said tube and said article to displace said article with respect to said tube to a predetermined position therein.

19. In an apparatus for packaging articles, a support for a tubular housing enclosing a rolled article substantially incompressible along a direction parallel to its axis, means for displacing said rolled article with respect to said tubular housing to position said rolled article in said tubular housing, a. crimping head, means for rotating said crimping head and means for imparting relative translatory movement between said head and a tubular housing on said support.

20. In an apparatus for packaging articles, a support for a tubular housing enclosing a rolled article substantially incompressible along a direction parallel to its axis, means for displacing Said rolled article with respect to said tubular I housing to position said rolled article in said tubular housing, a pair of crimping heads, means for rotating said crimping heads and means for imparting relative translatory movement between said heads. 10

21. The combination with a rotatable crimping head for fianging a relatively rigid tubular housing by the application of rotative force to an edge thereof, of means imparting reciprocating movement to the crimping head, including means 16 for normally moving said head a predetermined distance, yielding means under a predetermined tension intermediate said moving means and the rotatable 'nead adapted to impart translatory motion to said crimping head and to permit trans- 20 latory motion of the moving means without corresponding translatory motion of the crimping head upon the development of a predetermined force between the crimping head and the tubular housing, and means for initially biasing the 25 yielding means to predetermine the total force required to effect yielding action.

22. The combination with a packaging machine having a member mounted for timed reciprocable motion, or means for reciprocating said mern- 80 her comprising a member adapted to be rotated at timed intervals, rotatable driving means adapted for uniform rotation, said means carrying a driving dog, said dog being rotatable with said driving means and adapted for selective en- 3 gagement with said member to impart rotative motion thereto at timed intervals, and means controlling the engagement of the driving dog with the member.

23. In a machine for crimping the ends or a 40 tube enclosing a roll of hard surfaced covering material or like rolled article substantially incompressible along a direction parallel to its axis by applying rotative force to the ends of said tube, the combination of a support for a tube 45 to be crimped, a pair of crimping heads spaced in axial alignment, means for rotating said heads and means associated with at least one head for imparting yielding movement of said head in an axial direction toward the other head. 50

24. In a machine for flanging the ends of atube enclosing an article, the combination of a pair of crimping heads mounted for reciprocatory motion in a horizontal plane to mutually approach a center, a support for positioning a 50 tube in a horizontal plane in the path oi. said heads, means for imparting rotary motion to said heads and means for reciprocating said heads.

25. In a machine for fianging the ends of a relatively rigid tube enclosing an article, the combination of a pair of crimping heads mounted for reciprocatory motion in a horizontal plane to mutually approach a center, a support for positioning a tube in a horizontal plane in the path 55 of said heads, means for rotating said heads, means for reciprocating said heads and yielding means intermediate at least one of said heads and its reciprocating means for limiting the pressure applied by the the reciprocating means.

CLIFFORD F. HAWKER. BENJAIVIIN F. HERR. FRED G. ROT'I'MUND.