US2145524A - Machine for making wrappers - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1939. F, PARRY MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 23, 193'? 4 She'ets-Sheet l Jan. 31, 1939. F. PARRY MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 23, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31, 1939. F. PARRY 2,145,524

MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 23, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 31, 1939. F. PARRY 2,145,524

MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 25, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [12 mm Zora Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES alum FOR MAKING Frank Parry, Deptford, London, England, assignor to Molina Machine Company, Limi don, England ted, Lon- Applioation June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,972

14' Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to machines for making wrappers, and refers to a method of and apparatus for reinforcing lengths of wrapping material by pleatins them.

Where herein theterm "lengthwise is used, it is deemed to mean the length of the wrapping material considered in the direction in which the pleat is formed.

According to 'one form of the invention there is provided a method of pleating wrapping material (e. g. material formed from a cellulose derivative) comprising the steps of forming an inverted channel lengthwise of the wrapping material, folding a part of the channel towards a portion of the wrapping material which extends laterally of the pleat which is being formed and towards another part of the channel, and'securing the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

The folds of the pleat may be secured by adhesive placed between the folds or by interlocking (for example by knurling or crimping) the folds, or by both adhesive placed between the folds and by interlocking (e. g. by knurling or crimping) the folds. The channel may be of substantially rectangular section, and the opposed sides of the channel move towards each other and fold it against portions of the wrapping material which extend laterally of the channel to form a box pleat. The channel may be formed by moving the wrapping material lengthwise above the support about which the channel is formed, and whilst the wrapping material is being so moved depressing about the support those portions of the wrapping material which extend laterally of the support.

Further, according to the invention there is provided mechanism for pleating wrapping material, comprising a support about which the wrapping material is folded, means to move the wrapping material lengthwise over the support,

folding elements to fold the wrapping material about the support to form an inverted channel lengthwise of the material, means to engage a part of said channel and to fold it towards a portion of the wrapping material extending laterally of the pleat which is being formed and to fold it towards another part of the channel, and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

The wrapping material may be moved about said support and the folding elements arranged to depress aboutthe support those portions of the wrapping material which ext nd laterally Great Britain August 28, 1936 of the support. Means may be provided gradually to bow the wrapping material transversely to the direction in which it is moved .towards the support for the purpose of reducing the lateral tension in the wrapping material whilst the inverted channel is being formed.

One way of carrying the invention into eflect will be described by way of example with refer ence to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pleating mechanism constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1, the reel of. wrapping material being omitted.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow A.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the folding devices shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 5 is a detail of a folding element.

Figures 6, '7 and 8 are partial sections on lines I--I, I.[II and I1I-1II in Figure 1.

' Figures 9, 10 and 11 show a pleat in various stages of formation.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a reel {lfof wrapping material is mounted on a bracket-5 on the frame 1 of the machine and is provided with a tension device (not shown) consisting of a well known form of friction brake such as is used when feeding paper from reels. The wrapping material may be of any suitable kind but in the present instance is formed from a cellulose derivative, and is material such for example as that sold under the registered trade-mark Cellophane.

The continuous web of wrapping material is fed from the reel 4 by a series of. feed rollers to be described later, and is passed between a support 8 and a rigid guide 6 which opposes the support 8. The guide 6 and support 8 each have a thickness equal to the width of a channel which is to be formed in the wrapping material, and the support 8 is pivoted at 9 to the frame 1 and is *controlled by a spring III which is arranged to urge the support upwardly towards the rigid guide 6. In the. construction shown the support 8 comprises a bell crank lever, and the tendency for the support to move upwardly is controlled by a screw or other adjusting means II.

On each side of the guide 6 there are arranged folding elements shown as plates l2 and I3, the under surfaces of which engage the wrapping material and, when the mechanism is in operation are disposed in planes below that of the surface of the support 8 over which the material is moved. The plates I2 and li'are connected together by brackets I4 and IS. The bracket 14 is connected by pivot I6 to the guide 8 which is pivoted to the machine frame at [1. The under surfaces of the plates i2 and I; are bevelled or chamfered as indicated at l8 to cause the web gradually to be bowed and to take a cross-section in the form of a very blunt inverted V as it is led between the guide 6 and support 8. As can be seen from Figure 9, an inverted channel C formed is lengthwise of the web and the purpose of gradually bowing the web is to reduce the lateral tension in the web due to the web being drawn together laterally during the forming of the channel C. It will of course -be appreciated that the width of the web is reduced by the formation of the channel, and since the web is in-' itially flat the width of the web gradually decreases until the channel is formed.

The support 8 at one end engages with the guide 6 (Figures 1 and 4), and as stated above the under surfaces of the plates l2 and I3 are disposed in planes below that of the support over which the material is moved. The plates l2 and It, therefore, depress about the support those portions of the wrapping material which extend laterally of the support and thereby cause an inverted channel of substantially rectangular section as shown in Figure 9, to be formed.

The plates l2 and I3 support a pair of rollers I! which are freely rotatable in bearings 20, one roller being supported by each plate. The rollers l9 co-operate with positively driven rollers 2| journalled in bearings 22 in the frame I. The rollers 2| are spaced apart as shown in Figure 6.

- The purpose of the co-operating rollers l9 and 2| is to feed the web of material lengthwise through the pleating mechanism and to assist in forming the channel C.

The guide 6 extends beyond the range of action of the feeding rollers l9 and 2|, and, if desired, the support 1 may also extend beyond this point by forming it as a thin tongue which passes between the two rollers 2|. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the support I terminates near the rollers 2| and a roller 25 whose diameter is greater than that;.of the rollers 2| is mounted between the rollers 2| and engages the guide 6. The thin roller 25 is loosely mounted on the shaft supporting the rollers 2| so that the portions 2|a of the web which extend laterally of the channel and consequently of the pleat which is subsequently formed are fed by the grip of the rollers I! and 2| while the material forming the channel is engaged by the co-operating surfaces of the guide 6 and roller 25.

After the inverted channel C has been formed the wrapping material passes an' adhesive applying device which comprises a rotatable disc 26 mounted for rotation in a bath 21 of cellulose solvent or adhesive, the disc being arranged to engage with the wall 2|b of the inverted channel. A suitable scraping device 28 is provided to remove excess solvent from the disc. At this position the guide 6 has a downward projection 60, Figure '1, which ensures that the wrapping material contacts with the disc 26, the disc being grooved as shown in Figure '7. Where hereinafter and in the appended claims the term ad-' hesive" is used it shall include a cellulose solvent.

After passing the adhesive or solvent applying device the upstanding side walls 2|c of the inverted channel are engaged in a manner such that the lower longitudinal edges of the channel are moved towards each other by elements 2. fixed to the guide 8, see Figure 8, which is drawn to an enlarged scale. The elements 29 engage with the side walls 2|c of the inverted channel and fold them towards those portions 2|a of the wrapping material which extend laterally of the pleat which is being formed and towards the wall 2|b of the channel, see Figure 10. One of the elements 2! is shown in plan in Figure 5, and consists of a tapering wedge sectioned plate. It will be seen that, as just described, the adhesive applying device is disposed between the folding elements l2 and I2 and the means 29 which engages part of the channel and folds it towards a portion of the wrapping material which extends laterally of the pleat which is being formed and towards another part of the channel.

The wrapping material as it passes from the elements 29 is moved between pressure rollers 30 and 3| which press the folds of the pleat and assist the adhesive to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

One or both of the rollers II and 2| may be knurled but the construction shown in the drawings in which the lower roller 2|, which is positively driven, is knurled, has been found to give better results than a construction in which the roller 20 is knurled. The knurling affords a better grip on the pleat for feeding the material through the mechanism, and also causes the folds of the pleat to be interlocked, thus still further securing the folds of the pleat relatively to one another. Further, the knurling helps to distinguish the pleat, being readily apparent to the eye. Sharp knurling also serves to slightly perforate the material and permit the adhesive to dry more rapidly and to percolate into the material of the pleat and hold it very firmly together.

It will be appreciated that if desired the folds of the pleat may be secured as above described by a combination of adhesive and interlocking, by knurling or by adhesive alone or by knurling alone. Further, if desired the interlocking may be effected by crimping the pleat, the crimping being effected by means such as is sometimes employed on cigarette making machines of the continuous rod type.

A table I, Figure 2, extends from a point near the rollers I! to a point near the rollers ill, 3| and serves to support the web as it passes between the elements 29, and, if desired, side wings may be fitted to the support 8 to give support to the web as it passes beneath the plates l2, l3. The rollers 30, II which press the folds of the pleat serve to assist the rollers I! and 2| in feeding the wrapping material through the pleating mechanism. with some forms of cellulose solvent it is found that it is possible to add colouring matter without in any way detracting from the adhesive properties of the solvent, and if it is so desired such colouring matter can be added to the solvent so that when the pleat is completed it is also provided with colouring material which distinguishes the pleat from the remainder of the wrapping material.

The moving parts of the mechanism are driven by a bevel wheel 32 from the main drive of the machine'to which the mechanism is attached. This wheel 32 engages with another bevel wheel 32 to which is attached a spur gear 24 which drives a spur gear 35 fixed on the spindle of the roller 2|. The gear 24 also drives a gear 36 fixed to the spindle of the disc 26, the gear I! in turn driving an idler 31 which transmits motion to, a gear 38 on the spindle of the rollers 2|.

When it is desired to start the mechanism the web of wrapping material is first led between the feed rollers and the various parts of the mechanism for forming the inverted channel. Normally the guide 8 is held rigidly by a clamp bar 39 with a nut 40, Figure 2. and when it is desired to inspect or clean the machine the whole of the upper structure viz. the guide 8, plates l2 and I3 and associated parts, may be raised by releasing the clamp 39 and swinging the whole structure about the pivot This operation is not, however, necessary for merely threading the web through the machine, as for this purpose the plates I 2 and 13 together with the rollers carried thereby are raised by rotation about the pivot It so that the under surfaces of the plates are level with or above that surface of the support 8 about which the channel is formed. In order to do this the lever ll, Figure 1, which has an eccentric hub engaging the upper surface of the guide 8, is moved and the effect is to cause plates i2 and I3, which are fixed to the bracket l5 carrying'the lever 4|, to rotate about the pivot i6 and to move relatively to the guide 8, thus raising the plates l2 and I3 sufficiently -to enable the operator to lead the, web between the guide 8 and the support 8. The normal relative positions of the plates l2, H with respect to the guide 6 are adjusted by a screw 42 which rests on the guide 6 so that the plates i2 and I3 are supported thereby, and the weight of theplates keeps them in the normal operative position. Further, to facilitate the initial threading of the web the tension in the spring in controlling the support 8 is released by movement of the lever 3, which also has an eccentric hub engaging the lower end of the bell crank forming the support 8, so that the support is moved out of engagement with the guide 6. By this means a free passage is provided through which the web is led in a flat condition to a position just prior to the position at which the web passes over the adhesive applying device. The plates l2 and I3 and the support 8 are then returned to their operative positions whereupon an inverted channel is immediately formed in the length of wrapping material which has been threaded into the mechanism, and thereafter the lengthwise movement of the web of material is continued by the feeding rollers above referred to.

If, as is usual, it is desired to thread the web of material through. the cutting mechanism of a wrapping machine the web may, after the channel is formed by the initial threading operation be moved lengthwise by means of a hand wheel 44 which is connected with the feeding rollers. After the machine has been completely threaded, that is to say, after the web of material has been passed through the pleating mechanism and, if desired, the cutting mechanism of the wrapping machine, the operation'of the machine is continued from the main drive of the machine.

When using wrapping material formed from a cellulose derivative it is sometimes found that difficulty is experienced in threading the wrapping material through the cutting mechanism which severs wrapper lengths from the continuous web, and it is found that when the wrapping material is reinforced by pleating the material as above described, the feeding of the material through the cutting mechanism is greatly facilitated.

A length of the pleated wrapping material may be folded about an article to provide a package, in any suitable known manner. a r

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

2. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprisinga yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, the surface of the support which engages the web and beyond which the web extends laterally converging towards said guide in the direction of movement of the web to permit gradual formation ofthe'channel in the web, means to engage a. part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

3. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, an'adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to a side thereof, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

4. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in aweb of wrapping material, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, an adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to a side thereof, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a lateraliy extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat, and a pair of cooperating endless movable surfaces to press the folds of the pleat, at least one of such surfaces being knurled to eflect interlocking of the folds of the pleat.

5. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the support to form' a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, an adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to a side thereof, said means to move the web lengthwise being arranged to engage the web before the latter is engaged by the adhesive applying surface, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

6. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprisng a yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, said guide having web engaging surfaces converging in the direction of movement of the web and cooperating with the support to bow and gradually to form the channel in the web, the surface of said support which engages the web and beyond which the web extends laterally converging towards said guide in the direction of movement of the web, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

7. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprising a web support extending lengthwise of the web and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portions of the web about the supportto form a channel in said web, means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, an adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to a side thereof, said means to move the web lengthwise beingarranged to engage the web before the latter is engaged by the adhesive applying surface, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the forming of the pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

'8. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guide extending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide being disposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding web support opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantially equal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of folding elements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterally therefrom, said elements, considered in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of the cooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel having three sides is formed in the web, means to engage the opposed sides of the channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the forming of the box pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

9. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guide extending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide being disposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding web support opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantially equal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of foldingelements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterally therefrom, said elements considered in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of the cooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel having three sides'is formed in the web, an adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel to apply adhesive to a side thereof, means to engage the opposed sides of the channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the forming of the box pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

10. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guide extending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide being disposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding web support opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantially equal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of folding elements adiacent said guide and support-and extending laterally therefrom, said elements considered in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of the cooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel having three sides is formed in the web, an adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel to apply adhesive to aside thereof, means to engage the opposed sides of the channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the forming of the box pleat, and a pair of cooperating endless movable surfaces to press the folds of the pleat, at least one of such surfaces being knurled to effect interlocking of the folds of the pleat.

11. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guide extending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide being disposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding web support opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantially equal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of folding elements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterally therefrom, said elements considered in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of the cooperating guide and support, where-' by a rectilinear channel having three sides is formed in the web, an adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel to apply adhesive to a side thereof, said means to move the web lengthwise being arranged to engage the web before the latter is engaged by the adhesive applying surface, means to engage the opposed sides of the channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the forming of the box pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

12. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprising means to form an inverted channel lengthwise in a web, means to apply adhesive to an under inner side of said channel, means to collapse the channel to complete the forming of the pleat and means to move the web lengthwise through said channel forming and collapsing means, said means to move the web being arranged to engage the web prior to the latter being engaged by the adhesive applying means.

13. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrapping material, comprising means to form an inverted channel lengthwise in a web, a rotatable roller the periphery of which applies adhesive to an under inner side of said channel, means to collapse the channel to commeans to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guide extending in the direction of movement of the web, a yielding web support opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantially equal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide,

a pair of folding elements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterally therefrom, said elements being movable relatively to said guide to facilitate initial threading of the device and, considered in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web, disposed on each side of the cooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel having three sides is formed in the web, means to engage the opposed sides of the channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the forming of the box pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

FRANK PARRY.

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