US2051105A

US2051105A - Wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: US2051105A
Application number: US607543A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roberts William
Original assignee: DIAMOND MATCH CO
Current assignee: DIAMOND MATCH Co
Priority date: 1932-04-26
Filing date: 1932-04-26
Publication date: 1936-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1953-08-18

Description

' Aug. 18, 1936. w. ROBERTS WRAPPING MACHINE 7 ,Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 193.2

Aug. 18, 1936. w R E 2,051,105

WRAPP ING MACHINE Aug. 18, 1936. I w o s' I 2,051,105

I WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 :Aug. 18, 1936. w. ROBERTS 2,051,105

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 18, 1936.

W. ROBERTS WRAPPING MACHINE' Filed A ril 26, 1932 7 Sheefs-Sheet s Aug. 18, 1936. w. ROBERTS WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1952- 7 Sheets-She et e Aug. 18, 1936.- w. ROBERTS WRAPPING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 26, 1932 Patented Aug. '18, I936 APPllNG Maintain E William Roberts, ()swego, N. Y" assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Diamond Match Company, a corporation of Delaware Application April 26, 1932, Serial No. 697,563

11 Claims.

This invention relates to package wrapping machines, having reference more especially to machines for wrapping rectangular articles, such as boxes of matches, as disclosed, for example, in Letters Patent of the United States No. 836,728 dated November 27, 1906, and No. 1,589,229 dated June 15, 1926.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide simple and eflicient mechanism whereby the orderly feeding of the leading articles of a progressing row to the active path of a separating or measuring element is ensured, which mechanism is so constructed and arranged that when a gap occurs in the row in advance of the said element the machine is automatically stopped and the trailing articles of the row are advanced to close the gap, whereupon the machine is automatically started and the leading articles are fed successively to the path of the said element until the row is again interrupted, and so on.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for separating the leading articles in succession from the row and positioning the articles in co-operatlve relation to an element which presents them to a wrapper.

With these and other objects in view my inven tion comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which, in a preferred form, will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention then being defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings- 7 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wrapping machine embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a right-hand end elevation of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the machine, as on the line t4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial transverse horizontal section showing the drive mechanism. as on the line 5-5 of Fi 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the machine, as on the line 6-8 of Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal horizontal section. immediately above the package supporting bed, as on the line '|'I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan, enlarged, of the article feeding mechanism and the electric control devices associated therewith for automatically stopping and starting the machine, showing a portion of the swinging measuring element for transferring a series of articles to the wrapping mechanism, and also showing the stop device for arresting the progress of the advancing articles during the operation of the transfer element.

Fig. 9 is a partial side elevation of the article feeding mechanism and the electrical control devices showing the latter in circuit breaking position.

Referring to the drawings, 25 designates the supporting frame of the machine, and 26 desighates the main shaft from which motion is transmitted to the various moving elements of the machine. This shaft has its bearings in brackets 21 at the rear of the frame, and, in the present instance, is driven from a suitably-located electric motor 28. The shaft 29 of this motor is geared through suitable reduction gearing 3t with an adjacent shaft 3! having fast thereon a sheave 32 which is connected by means of a belt 33 with a larger sheave 35 fast on a stud shaft 35 at the front of the frame. Fast on the stud shaft is a sprocket 36 which is operatively connected by means of a chain 37 with a sprocket 38 fast on the main shaft 26.

A vertically reciprocating transfer platform or receiving support 39 upon which boxes (B) or other articles to be wrapped are deposited as will presently appear, is supported near the right hand end of the machine (looking from the front) by a pair of depending parallel guide rods M which are slidably mounted in a guide structure M supported by a. tie-beam t2 which-connects the end standards of the main frame. The lower ends of the rods 60 are connected by a cross-head #33 having a longitudinal slot M in which is slidably fitted a. pin $5 on the'longer arm 66 of a cranklever which is fulcrumed on a tie-rod 4? connectfitted in the groove of the cam. The contour of 40 the groove is such that the crank lever is periodically actuated during the rotation of the com to effect the vertical reciprocation of the cross-head and the platform associated therewith to elevate the boxes thereon to-wrapping mechanism, or 5 other manipulating devices in a prearranged order. (See Figs: 1, 3, and 4.)

Supported on the main frame is a horizontal table 5| having a. rectangular opening t2 therein with which the platform 39 registers when it is in its lowermost position, the upper surface of the platform then being in the same horizontal plane as the top of the table. I

A package supporting bed 53 extends longitudinally of the front of the machine and at right 5 angles to the longer dimension of the opening 52 in the table 5|, the upper surface of the bed being slightly below the top of the table 5|. This table is supported upon the main frame and extends to the left therefrom to a point where the articles to be wrapped are successively delivered to the table by an overhanging discharge chute 54 of a box-filling machine for example. This machine includes a horizontally-reciprocating plunger 55 by means of which the boxes are successively advanced along the table. A suitably-disposed post 56 supports the outwardly extending portion of the table.

The upper run of an endless article feeding belt 51 is supported on the table and extends from a point adjacent the discharge chute 54 to a point near the right hand end of the table, so that the boxes successively deposited on the table are advanced side by side to and upon the belt. This belt passes about two

pulleys

58 and 59, the shaft 68 of the former having its bearings in the upper part of the post 56, and the shaft 6| of the latter pulley having its bearing in a bracket 62 on the main frame adjacent the table. The shaft 6| has fast thereon a sprocket wheel 63 which is connected by means of a chain 64 with a similar wheel 65 on a lower transverse shaft 66 having its bearings in the frame standards adjacent the motor. The shaft 66 overlies the motor shaft 29 and is equipped with a worm wheel 61 in mesh with a worm 66 on the shaft 29. (See Figs 1, 3 and 5.) Hence during the operation of the motor, the shaft 66 is positively rotated and motion is transmitted therefrom to the shaft 6|, thus rotating the pulley 59 and perforce driving the feed belt 51 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. The boxes or other articles supplied to the belt 51 are advanced thereby to the right until a prescribed number of the leading boxes are positioned in'the path of a horizontally swinging measuring element or separating means 59 located in front of the table 5|, which element is constructed and adapted to sweep the opposing series of articles from the belt to and upon the table and position them in an orderly manner upon the platform 39 at right angles to the boxes on the belt 51, as will be hereinafter described.

The boxes on the feed belt are laterally supported and guided in their longitudinal traverse to a point adjacent the path of the measuring element 59 by spaced parallel side boards 10 which are supported by upstanding brackets 1| on the bed 53. On these brackets are mounted two shafts 12 having pairs of pulleys 13 about which pass spaced belts 14. The outer or left hand shaft 12 is provided at one end with a sheave 15 which is operatively connected by means of a crossed-belt 16 with a sheave 11 on the shaft 60 of the feed belt pulley 58, so that the belts 14 are driven with their lower runs travelling in the same direction and at the same speed as the upper run of the feed belt 51. The lower runs of the belts 14 bear upon the tops of the boxes supported on the belt 51, thus steadying the advancing boxes and contributing to their orderly travel to the path of the measuring element 69. (See Figs. 1, 2, '1 and 8.)

In the present instance the measuring element comprises a horizontally-disposed angle. lever fulcrumed on the depending portion of a vertical pin 18 which is supported by a bracket '19 depending from a horizontal cover plate, on the main frame directly above the upper run of the feed belt 51. The inner side of the longer arm of the lever is of angular formation to present a longitudinal wall and a transverse wall 8| at a right angle thereto, the longitudinal wall when the lever is in its outer position, extending outwardly of and parallel with the outer edge of the upper run of the feed belt 51, and the transverse wall 8| overhanging such run, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7. The shorter arm 82 of the measuring lever is connected by means of a link 83 with'an arm 84 of a bell-crank which is fulcrumed on a pin 85 depending from a horizontal package supporting bed 86 above the belt 51, supported on the main frame.

The other arm 81 of the bell-crank is connected by a link 88 with the upstanding arm 89 of a crank lever which is fulcrumed on the tie-rod 41 at the rear of the main frame. The lever arm 89 is provided with a lateral roll 90 which is operatively fitted in'the groove of a face cam 9| fast on the main shaft 26. The contour of the cam groove is such that during the rotation of 20 the cam the crank lever is periodically actuated in proper timed relation to the reciprocation of the platform 39, thereby through the connections described horizontally swinging the measuring element 69 in such manner that the said ele- 25 ment sweeps across the feed belt 51 and upon the table through an arc of 90.

When the measuring element is in its inward position the wall 88 thereof extends along the left hand edge and the wall 8| along the forward 30 edge of the opening 52 in the table 5 When the element is in its outer position the transverse wall 3| extends into the path of the leading box on the feed belt 51, thus arresting the advancing row of boxes on the belt, and at the same time the 35 wall 80 extends in front of a definite number of the leading boxes to be packaged. Consequently when the measuring element is swung inward it transfers the opposing series of boxes from the feed belt to the platform 39 at right angles to the 7 upstanding bracket 928 afiixed to the tie-beam 42 affords a backer and evener for the boxes when they are positioned on the platform.

During theactive and return strokes of the measuring element the row of boxes on the moving feed belt 51 are held back by a stop member which in the initial inward movement of the element is swung across the belt and maintained in that position until the said element in its return stroke approaches its outer position. While the movement of the row of boxes on the feed belt is thus arrested the close contact of the adjacent boxes is ensured by the movement of the belt thereunder.

The stop member in its preferred form comprises a segmental head 93 fast on the outer end of an oscillatory arm 94 which is loosely mounted on the depending pin 16 on which the measuring element 69 is fulcrumed. The head is provided at its inner end with a retaining lip 95 which, when the measuring element is in its outer position, is engaged by a spring-actuated latch 96 mounted on the said element, and hence when this element is initially swung inward the head is carried therewith so as to overlie the feed belt 51. On the outer end of the head is a the belt, abuts the opposing outer edge of the table 5I, thus stopping the head in the path of the advancing boxes on the feed belt, and, as

the inward movement of the measuring element.

continues, effecting the release of the latch from the notch of the head.

As the measuring element in its return stroke approaches the feed belt the latch 96 on the element re-engages the lip 95 of the head 93, thus coupling the head to the measuring element and swinging the head outward from the path of the boxes on the feed belt in a manner to permit the advancement of the row of boxes into the path of the measuring element until the leading box of the row encounters the transversely extending stop wall st of the element. (See Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8.)

Motor stopping and starting mechanism under the influence of the travelling boxes (B) on the belt 51 is provided, which mechanism is preferably of the following description, reference being had to Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9.

Fixed on the side of the package supporting bed 53 at a suitable distance from the receiving end of the feed belt 51, is an upstanding plate 98 having transverse bearing members 99 in spaced parallel relation, which bearings support a pair of transverse rock-shafts I and MI, respectively, the inner ends of which overlie'the path of the boxes on the feed belt. On these inner ends are arms I02 and 403, respectively, which extend toward the delivery end of the belt and are provided at their free ends with rolls H04 and E05, respectively, which rest by gravity upon the tops of the boxes when present. The outer ends of the shafts I00 and IOI have afllxed thereto two plates Hi6 and I01, respectively, which are both maintained in substantially horizontal position when the rolls rest on the tops of the boxes. Each of the plates supports a pair of mercury switches E08 and I09, which are included in the electric circuit, and are so arranged that when either or both plates are in substantially horizontal position the circuit is completed and the motor is in operation, and when both plates are downwardly inclined the circuit is broken and the motor is stopped. To this end, a suitable terminal support for the electric circuit is positioned between the plates I06 and I07, which support includes an insulation plate IIO aflixed to an outwardly projecting bracket I II on the side plate 98.

The internal contacts of the switch I08 of one pair are electrically connected with the contacts of the switch I08 of the other pair by connectors H2, and the internal contacts of the switch I09 of one pair are also similarly connected by connectors II3 with the contacts of the switch I08 of the other pair. The current supply line I I0 is connected to a terminal post N5 of one of the connectors H3, and the ground wire H6 is connected to a terminal post In of one of the connectors H2. The leads I I8 to the motor 28 are connected to the terminal posts H9 and I of the connectors for the respective switches I08 and I09. (See Figs. 8 and 9.)

From the foregoing it will be seen that the stopping and the starting of the motor are controlled by the presence and absence of boxes under the rolls I04 and I05.- If owing to the temporary stoppage or irregularity of feed of the boxes to the belt 51 by'the plunger 55, a gap in the column of boxes should occur between the rolls both rolls will be unsupported and therefore drop, thus breaking the circuit and stopping the motor, but if either or both rolls be subsequently raised by the passage of a box or boxes thereunder the circuit will be completed, thus starting the motor and resuming the operation of the machine until a succeeding gap in the advancing column of boxes occurs, and so on.

The space between the two rolls I00, 605 is such that upon the occurrence of a gap of predetermined length in the column of boxes on the belt 51 as mentioned, such gap is of suificient length to allow the machine when started to complete one revolution while the boxes are being regularly fed by the plunger 55 to close the gap, as otherwise the boxes would be jammed between the plunger and the stop head 90.

The space between the. roll I05 and the path of the stop'head 93 is such that a series of boxes exceeding in number a predetermined group of boxes to be removed by the measuring element are supported on the belt 51 between the roll E05 and the stop head 93.

It will therefore be seen that when the wrapping machine is stopped by the action of the motor control devices a series of close-lying boxes of sufiicient number to be wrapped are located either in the active path of the measuring. element or in position on the belt to be immediately supplied to such path when the machine is again started. v

In order to prevent the tilting of the leading box of the trailing series when the upper edge of a box encounters and passes underthe roll iM, means for temporarily supporting the leading lower edge of the box at this stage is pro-' vided. Such means comprises, in the present instance, a pair of oscillatory fingers I2I which are fixed on a transverse rock-shaft I22 having its bearings in the plate 98. The fingers extend longitudinally of and adjacent the respective sides of the feed belt and are vertically movable in inclined longitudinal slots I23 in the bed 53 to position the free ends of thefingers above or below the paths of the projecting ends of the boxes on the belt, which ends are arched or curved, as at I25, to present shoulders I25 to the lower corners of the box when its upper edge abuts the roll I04. The shaft I00 which carries the arm I02 for the roll I04 has secured thereto a crank arm I26 which is pivotally connected by means of a. link I21 with a similar, but oppositely-extending, arm I28 fast on the shaft I22, thus transmitting motion from the upper to the lower shaft in such manner that the fingers I2I are moved concurrently with, but in an opposite direction to, the roll during the respective downward and upward movements of the latter. When the roll is riding upon the tops of the boxes the rounded free ends of the fingers I2I are below the path of the row of boxes, but as the roll enters the gap in the row such ends are correspondingly raised into the path of the opposing box as hereinbefore described. (See Figs. 8 and 9.)

In the absence of boxes thereunder the descent of the roll I04 is limited by the contact of the fingers I2I with the inclined tops of the slots I20, and in the absence of boxes under the roll I05 the descent of the latter roll is limited by the contact with a suitably disposed stud 30I on the plate 98 of a toe 302 on the sleeve extension 303 of the roll carrying arm I03. (See Figs. 8 and 9,)

It is to be understood that-my invention is not limited to the specific construction herein described, as the mechanisms may be variously modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination of means for feeding a row of articles, a table for receiving the articles, means for successively advancing articles from the table to and longitudinally of the feeding means, means for separating succeeding leading articles from the row, means for concurrently.

actuating said feeding means and separating means, and mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of the said actuating means when a gap of predetermined length occurs between adjacent travelling articles of the row and for automatically starting the operation of the said actuating means when the trailing articles are advanced and the gap is partially closed by successively advanced articles, said mechanism including a movable control member located in the path of the row of articles and in spaced relation to the separating means.

2. .The combination of means for feeding a row of articles, a table for receiving the articles, means for successively advancing articles from the table to the feeding means, means for separating ,succeeding leading articles from the row, means for concurrently actuating said feeding means and separating means, and mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of the said actuating means when a gap of predetermined length occurs between adjacent travelling articles of the row and for automatically starting the operation of the said actuating means when the trailing articles are advanced and the gap is partially closed by successively advanced articles. said mechanism including two independently movable control elements arranged one in advance of the other in the path of the articles and in spaced relation to the separating means.

3. The combination of means for feeding a row of articles, a table for receiving the articles, means for successively advancing articles from the table to the feeding means, means for separating succeeding leading articles from the row, means for concurrently actuating said feeding means and separating means, and electric control mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of the said actuating means when a gap of predetermined length occurs between adjacent articles of the row and for automatically starting the operation of the said actuating means when the trailing articles are advanced and the gap is partially closed by successively advanced articles, said mechanism including an electric circuit, a switch therefor, and a switch control member located in the path of the row of articles and in spaced relation to the separating means.

4. ,lhe combination of means for feeding a row of articles, means for successively advancing articles to the feeding means, means for separating succeeding leading articles from the row, means for concurrently actuating said feeding means and separating means, and electric control mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of the said actuating means when a gap'occurs between adjacent articles of the row and for automatically starting the operation of said actuating means when the trailing articles are advanced, said mechanism including an electric circuit, plural switches therefor, supports for said switches, independently movable members arranged one in advance of the other in the path of the articles and in spaced relation to the separating means, and operative connections between said members and the respective switch supports, whereby when either or both of said members are positioned on the articles the circuit is completed and when both of the members are unsupported by the articles the circuit is broken.

5. The combination of means for feeding a row of articles, means for successively advancing articles to the feeding means, means for separating succeeding leading articles from the row, means for concurrently actuating said feeding means and separating means, and mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of the said actuating means when a gap occurs between adjacent articles of the row and for automatically starting the operation of the said actuating means when the trailing articles are advanced, said mechanism including a movable control member located in the path of the top of the row of articles and in spaced relation to the separating means, and a supporting member mounted beneath the control element and movable into and from the bottom path of the articles, and operative connection between said stop member and the control element whereby they are movable concurrently in opposite directions to each other.

6. The combination of a support, means for feeding a row of articles in a horizontal path extending adjacent one side of the support, an oscillatory element mounted and arranged to swing horizontally across the path of the leading articles of the row located at the support, means for operating said element in timed relation to the travel of the articles, whereby succeeding leading articles are swept from the row and upon the support, and means for arresting the advancing articles during the operation of the said element, said last-named means including a head movable relatively to said element, and a latch and trip connection between said head and element.

7. The combination of a support, means for feeding a row of articles in a horizontal path extending adjacent one side of the support, means for successively advancing articles to the feeding means, an oscillatory separating element mounted and arranged'to swing horizontally across the path of the leading articles located at the support, means for concurrently actuating said feeding means and separating element, means adjacent said element to arrest the advancing articles during the oscillatory movement of the element, and mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of the said actuating means when a gap occurs between adjacent articles of the row, said mechanism including a movable control member located in the path of the row of articles and in spaced relation to the separating element.

8. The combination of an-article receiving element, an article support from which articles are delivered to said element when the element is in receiving position, means for feeding a row of articles in a horizontal path extending adjacent one side of said support, an oscillatory separating element mounted and arranged to swing horizontally across the path of the leading articles located at the support and thereby sweep the opposing articles upon the support and position them on the receiving element at right angles to the fed row, said separating element having a separable stop portion spaced from its free end to limit the travel of the articles, and means for operating said separating element in timed relation to the receiving element and the feedin means.

9. The combination of an article receiving element, an article support from which articles are delivered to said element when the element is in receiving position, means for feeding a row of articles in a horizontal path extending adjacent one side of said support, an oscillatory separating element mounted and arranged to swing horizontally across the path of the leading articles to sweep the leading articles on the receiving element at right angles to the fed row, separable means operatively connected with said separating element and movable relatively thereto to arrest the advancing articles during the operation of the separating element, and means for operating said separating element in timed relation to the receiving element and the feeding means.

10. The combination of an article receiving element, an article support from which articles are delivered to said element when the element relatively thereto to arrest the advancing articles during the operation of the separating element, said last-named means including a head movable relatively to said separating element, and a latch and trip connection between said head and separating element, and means for operating said separating element in timed relation to the receiving element and the feeding means.

11. The combination of means for feeding a row of articles, means for successively advancing articles to the feeding means, means for separating succeeding leading. articles from the row, means for concurrently actuating said feeding means and separating means, and mechanism for automatically arresting the operation of said actuating means when a gap occurs between adjacent articles of the row and for automatically starting the operation of said actuating means when the trailing articles are advanced, said mechanismincluding plural independently mov- I able control members arranged one in advance of the other in the path ofthe articles and in spaced relation to the separating means, a supporting member opposite one of the control .elements and movable into and from the path of articles, and operative connections between said supporting member and its corresponding. control member whereby they are movable concurrently and in opposite directions to each other, and operative connections between said control members, whereby when either of said control members is resting on articles said actuating means is operated, and when neither control member is resting on an article the operation of said actuating means is arrested.

' WILLIAM ROBERTS.