US2161479A - Wrapper tube forming machine - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1939.A ky RA UC 2,161,479

WRAPPER TUBE FOHMING MACHINE Filed April l2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 6, 1939. yl RA LUCE 2,161,479

WRAPPER TUBE FOEMING MACHINE Filed April l2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1939. V' Rv LUCE Y WdAFPER TUBE FOHMING MAb'rIINl-Jv Filed April 12, 193,8` s sheets-sheet 5 Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRAPPER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Vern R. Luce, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 12, 1938, Serial No. 201,544

12 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for producing tubular. wrappers from'a strip or web of thin, flexible material, such as Cellophane, waxed paper, or the like, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character referred to that is entirely automatic in its functions, and which very rapidly and economically shapes a strip of flexible material into tubular form, twists the forward end of the tube so as to close the same, and then severs the tube at a point a pre-determined distance to the rear of the twisted forward end so as to produce tubular wrappers, each having one endclosed, and said wrappers being ready to be filled, and the open end closed by manual twisting operation.

The tubular Wrappers produced by my improved machine, may be used for packaging various products; for instance, candy and various confections; nut meats; cigars or cigarettes; in fact, any product that may be packed and more advantageously displayed for sale, in moisture and dust proof, transparent containers.

Further objects of my invention are to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of wrapper tube forming machines; to provide a machine wherein a reciprocating plunger is utilized for imparting forward movement to the tubular wrapper after the same has been given its tubular form by a xed shaper. Further, to provide plunger driving mechanism that will move said plunger forwardly with a slow motion, an-d` rearwardly with a much faster motion, and to provide simple means whereby the reciprocating stroke of the plunger may be easily and conveniently adjusted, so as to vary the length of the wrapper tubes produced by the machine.

Further objects of my invention, are to provide simple and eflicient means for engaging and twisting the open forward end of the tubular wrapper; and also to provide simple and positively acting means for severing the tubular wrappers into proper and uniform lengths.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a wrapper tube forming machine, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the machine with a portion of the table shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view, partly in section, and showing the jaws that grip the tubu lar wrapper to the plunger.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a detail elevational View, partly in section, of the means employed fortwisting the forward end of the wrapper tube.

Fig. 11 is a cross section taken approximately on the line II-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. 11 and showing one of the twisting fingers engaged by a revolving cam.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the wrapper tubes as formed by my improved machine.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, Il) .designates a table supported by legs II, and secured to and projecting rearwardly from said table is a pair of spaced parallel rails I2. The trunnions I3 of a shaft I4 are journaled in the outer ends of the rails I2, and said shaft carries the spool I5 upon which is wound a strip or web I6 of thin, iiexible material; for instance,'Cellophane, waxed paper, or the like, from which the Wrapper tubes are formed.

The free end of a flat spring I1 that is adjustably mounted on one of the rails I2, bears on one of the trunnions I3, so as to prevent the spool I5 from rotating too freely during operation of the machine.

Depending from the rails I2 are hangers I8, in which are arranged foi` vertical sliding movement, trunnions on the ends of a small roller I9, beneath which passes the web I6 of the wrapping material. Depending from the lower ends of these hangers I8, are rods 20 on which are adjustably mounted collars 2|, and secured to said collars are the lower ends of retractile springs 22, the upper ends of which are secured to the trunnions o-n the ends of roller I9.

This roller takes up the slack in the web I6 between the spool I5 and the wrapper tube forming means hereinafter described, and the springs 22 yieldingly resist the upward movement of roller 'I 9.

Journaled on the rails I2 immediately in front of the hangers I8, are the ends of a roller 23 over which the web I6 passes in its travel toward the tube forming member, and which latter is suitably supported upon the rails I2 and upon the adjacent end of table I9.

The shaping and forming member 24, which is illustrated in plan View in Fig. l and in cross section in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, is formed from thin sheet metal and comprises a channel-shaped bottom portion 25, the sides of which are folded over into position immediately above and spaced apart from the sides of the body of said member 25, as designated by 26.

The end of the former immediately adjacent the roller 23 is flat and occupies a horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 7, so that the web of material IS enters the former between the flat bottom portion 25 and the flat overlying portions 2B in corresponding fiat condition. The side edges of the metal in the bottom 25 and overlying portions 26 are curved upwardly and inwardly, s designated by 21, and these curved portions gradually approach each other toward the end of the former that rests on table I5, with the result that the intermediate portion of the former is substantially channel-shape in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 8, and the forward portion of said former is substantially tubular in shape as illustrated in Fig. 9, with a longitudinally disposed slot or opening 21 between the upper edges of the inwardly folded side portions, and which slot is for the accommodation of the downwardly turned end of an arm 284 that is connected to the rear end of a reciprocating plunger 29.

This plunger is mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement in bearings 30 that project upwardly from table Il), and a rod 3i connects the rear end of the arm 28 with the rear end of said plunger.

The forward end of arm 28 is rigidly secured to a carriage 32 that is mounted for reciprocating movement on rails 33, the ends of which are supported by brackets 34 that project upwardly from table I0.

Pivotally connected to the side of carriage 32, is the upper end of an arm 35 that extends downwardly through a slot 35 in table if), and the lower end of this arm is pivotally connected to one end of a rod 31, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a bracket 38 that is secured to one of the legs II.

Secured to and depending from the rear portion of table I0, is a bracket 39 in which is journaled one end of a horizontally disposed shaft 45 that extends lengthwisebeneath the table I5 with its forward portion journaled in a bearing 4i. This shaft 40 extends a short distance beyond the bearing 4I, and mounted on the end of said shaft is a hand wheel 42 that may be engaged, in the event that it becomes necessary to manually rotate shaft 40.

Mounted on a platform 43 that is secured to the rear legs II, is an electric motor 44, having a conventional driving connection with a pulley 45 that is journaled in the lower portion of bracket 39. Mounted on the shaft that carries the pulley 45, is a worm 46 that engages a worm wheel 4l, the latter being fixed on the rear portion of shaft 4I). Thus the motor 44v imparts rotary motion to shaft 40.

Pivotally mounted on a bracket 48, on the under side of table I0, is the upper end of a depending lever 49, the lower portion of which is slotted lengthwise as designated by 50, and mounted for rotation on said lever and extending lengthwise of slot 59, is a threaded rod 5I. This threaded rod 5I passes through a block 52, so that the latter may be adjusted lengthwise of lever 49, and screw-seated in said block is one end of a rod 53, the opposite end of which is screw-seated in a block 54, and the latter being adjustably mounted on the intermediate portion of arm 35.

The construction just described permits block 54 to be adjusted vertically upon arm 35, and block 52 to be adjusted vertically on lever 49, and further adjustment of the blocks 52 and 54 toward and away from each other, and which adjustment provides for the very accurate regulating of the reciprocatory movement imparted to plunger 29.

Mounted on shaft 48 below bracket 48, is a grooved cam 55, and secured to the upper portion of lever 49 and projecting into the groove of said cam, is a pin or bolt that carries a roller 55. Thus cam 55 imparts swinging movement to lever 49, and through rod 53 arm 35 is swung backward and forward to impart reciprocatory movement to carriage 32.

The means for twisting the forward end of the tubular wrapper and for cutting the formed wrapping material into sections of proper length, is located on the forward end of the table Iii, and the'se particular mechanisms are illustrated in Figs. 3 to- 6 inclusive, and in Figs. 10, 1l, and 12.

Formed in the forward portion of table I, is an opening 5l, and secured on the table above said opening is a. substantially circular frame 58 that serves as a support for the twisting head assembly. Mounted to rotate freely in frame 58 is a ring 59 that is concentric with the axis of plunger 25, and formed on the exterior of this ring is a ring-gear E5. Mounted to rotate freely on ring 59 is a ring-gear Ei l, the diameter of which is slightly greater than that of the ring-gear B0. Secured to the side face of ring-gear 6I at cliametrically opposite points are arcuate cams 62 that are effective in imparting closing movement to the twisting lingers.

These ngers, of which there are two, comprise body portions 53, the outer ends thereof being pivoted at 64 to the inner face of ring 59, and formed integral with and projecting outwardly through openings 55 in ring 59, are curved lugs 56 that are directly in the path of travel of the cams 52. Secured to the rear side of each finger 53 is one end of a flat spring 5l, the free end of which carries a pin B8 that projects through an opening 69 in the free end of the finger, and mounted on the end of the pin 68, opposite the end that is secured to the spring, is a wrapper engaging button lil, having a co-rrugated face.

When the fingers 63 are swung toward each other, the corrugated faces of the buttons 'I0 engage the end of the tubular wrapper, and after closing said wrapper the engaged end is twisted, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Secured to the intermediate portion of each nger 53 is one end of a retractile coil spring 1I, the other end of said .spring being connected to ring 59, and in order to limit the swinging motion of the fingers away from each other, stops 'l2 are secured to the inner face of ring 59 and project inwardly toward the twisting fingers.

Mounted on top of table i5 directly in front of the frame 58, is a bracket 'I3 provided with an opening 14, that is in valignment with the opening in frame 58.

Mounted on top of this bracket isa small bracket 15, in which is journaled a pair of spaced shafts 16. Secured to and depending from each shaft is a shear blade 11, and the lower portions of said blades are adapted to pass onev another so as tosever the tubular wrapper that projects through the twisting head beyond the forward end of the plunger. Secured to one of these shafts 16 is a short arm 18, the inner end thereof being provided with teeth 19 that engage the teeth of a pinion 80 that is mounted on the other shaft. Thus, as the shaft 16 that carries the arm 18 swings on its axis, pinion 80 will be correspondingly rotated to rotate the shaft upon which it is mounted, so that the shear blades 11 will move toward each other to sever the tubular wrapper that extends between said blades.

Pivotally connected to the outer portion of the arm 18, is the upper end of. an arm 8| that extends-downwardly through the opening 51 in table I0, and the lower end of this arm is bifurcated by 82 for the accommodation of shaft 40.

Secured on shaft adjacent the lower end of this arm, is a cam 83, and projecting from the lower portion of arm 8| into the `groove in said cam is ak pin or roller 84. The groove in this cam 83 has an indented portion 85 that projects inwardly toward the shaft 40, so that as the cam rotates, the passage of the pin or roller 841 through the indented portion of the groove will draw arm downwardly, so as to swing the shear blades 11 toward each other.

The upper end of an inclined chute 86 is positioned in the opening 51, directly below the brackets 15 and 18, andsaid chute receives the severed wrapper tubes and delivers the same into a receptacle positioned beneath the lower end of said chute.

The means for gripping the forward portion of the tubular wrapper and holding-,the same against rearward movement as the plunger 29 moves rearward, comprises a pair of vertically disposed fingers 81 pivoted at 88 to the upper portion of frame 5B, and portions of the adjacent faces of the upper ends of these fingers have toothed engagement with each other, as designated by' 89.

Projecting upwardly from the upper end of one finger is a lug 90, in which is adjustably seated one end of a rod 9|, the outer end thereof being adjustably mounted on the upperend of a vertically disposed lever 92. This lever which extends downward through the opening 51 in the table is fulcrumed at 93 to the vframe 58, and the lower end of said lever carries a roller 94. This roller is in position to be engaged by a cam 95 that is carried by shaft 40, and as the result of such engagemenalever 92 is swung on its fulcrum and through rod 9|, one of the fingers 88 is swung on its axis and through the toothed engagement between said fingers, the other finger is correspondingly swung so that the two ngers move simultaneously toward and away from each other.

The lower ends of the fingers 81 carry short cylindrical members 96 of rubber that are positioned on opposite sides of plunger 29, so as to press the tubular wrapper against said plunger.

Pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of one of said fingers 81, is one end of a rod 91, the opposite end of which passes through the opposite finger, and mounted on the projectthan that of gear wheel ||0.

ing lend of said rod is an expansive coil spring '98, the tension of which may be regulated by a The means for transmitting rotary motion from the shaft 40 to the ring 59 and the ring 6| that carries the cams 62 include a gear wheel |00 that is mounted on shaft 40, and said gear wheel engages a pinion |01 that is carried by a shaft |02, and the latter being journaled in a. bearing that is formed on a bracket |03. This bracket is secured to and depends from the table I0 immediately to the rear of opening 51, and secured on shaft |02 is a gear wheel |04. This gear wheel engages a pinion |05 that is carried by a shaft |06, the latter being journaled in a bearing on brackety |03, and secured to said shaft |06 is a gear wheel |01. This last mentioned gear wheel meshes .with a pinion IDB carried by a shaft |09 that is journaled in a bearing on bracket |03, and secured to said shaft |09 is a gear wheel ||0 that meshes with the teeth of ring-gear. 60

on'ring 59. j

A gear wheel l Il is carried by shaft |09 immediately adjacent the gear wheel |10, and the diameter of Vsaid gear wheel |I| is slightly less This gear wheel meshes with the teeth of ring-gear 6| that carries the twisting finger actuating cams 62.

The -gearing just described is for the purpose of imparting rotary motion of the proper lspeed from the motor driven shaft 40 to the ring 59 and to the twisting finger closing means comprising the ring-gear 6| and cams 62.

Briefly, the operations incident tov the formation of vwrapper tubes, each having one end closed by being twisted, are as follows:

While the twisting fingers 63 and the fingers 81 carrying the wrapper gripping members 96 are open or spread apart, the plunger 29l is moved forward against the closed end of the tubular wrapper, which end was closed by the preceding twisting action of ngers 63, and the tubular wrapper will be moved forward a predetermined distance through frame 58, during which forward movement the forward portion of the plunger carrying the tubular wrapper moves between the blades 11 which are spread apart.

During this forward movement, a corresponding-portion of the web I6 of the thin material used inproducing the wrappers will be unwound from spool l5 and will be drawn through the forming member 24 which gradually gives the strip of material tubular shape, and in such form it passes on to the plunger 29.

At the end of the forward travel of the plunger,

fingers 81 swing toward each other so asto bring the elastic members 96 into engagement with the tubular wrapper on the plunger, and thus said wrapper is held against rearward movement with the plunger.

During the rearward movement of the plunger, or as soon as the forward end thereof passes rearwardly from the blades 11, the latter are actuated to cut off that portion ofthe tubular wrapper in front of said blades, which portion has its forward end closed, and the wrapper on being severed drops -into and passes through chute 86.

Immediately following this severing operation, the twisting fingers 63 close so that the buttons 10 on the ends thereof engage and close the forward end of the tubular wrapper, and the twisting fingers are now revolved approximately two complete revolutions to close the same, during which time the elastic members 96 on fingersV 81 are in engagement with the tubular wrapper to hold the same against rotation on the plunger while the twisting ngers` are functioning.

As the plunger starts forward on its subsequent movement through the tubular wrapper, so as to engage the twisted forward end thereof and feed the wrapper forwardly through the machine, the twisting fingers open or spreadl apart and simultaneously the fingers 81' carrying the pres'- sure members 96=open or spread apart, so that the tubular wrapper vis free to be moved forward by the forwardly moving plunger- In the' operation of the plunger 29, motor 44 drivespulley and through worm 46 and wormwheel 41 continuous rotary motion is imparted to shaft 40- and the parts carried thereby.

As caml 55 rotates, lever 49 will be swung backward and forward, thereby imparting swinging movement to arm 35, and as the latter is actuated, carriage 32` will be reciprocated to impart corresponding movement through rod 3| and arm 28y to plunger 29.

The adjustable connections between rod 53, lever and swinging arm 35, enable the stroke or length of travel of the plunger to be very accurately regulated.

Fingers 81 carrying the rubber covered ends 96 that press against the tubular wrapper on the plunger to hold the same against rearward and rotary movement, are actuated in proper time relation to the movements of the other parts of the machine by the engagement of cam` 95 with roller 94, which swings lever 92 on its fulcrum and through rod 9| imparts swinging movement to the finger 81 to which said rod is connected.

The degree of pressure of the rubber covered ends of the fingers against the tubular wrapper and' plunger, may be adjusted by manipulation of nut 99 on the threaded end of rod 91.

The blades 11- are swung together in proper time'relation tothe movement of the tubular wrapper through the machine, to cut off theforward portion thereof by the action of the cam 83 on roller 84 to move arm 8| lengthwise and thereby impart rocking motion toy the arm 18 and the two blades moving in unison, due to the engagement of the teeth 19 with pinion 80.

Ring 59' carrying the twisting fingers and the ring 6|' that swings the ends of said twisting fingers toward each other to engage the end of the wrapper tube, are actuated in proper time relation to the movements of the tubular wrapper through the machine by the train of reduction gearing comprising the gear wheel |00 carried by shaft 40, pinion |0I, gear wheel |04, pinion |05,

gear wheel |01, pinion |08, and gear wheels ||0 and which mesh respectively with ring-gears 60`and 6|.

Gear wheel |0 drives ring 59 and the twisting fingers carried by said ring make approximately two revolutions while the buttons 10 are in engagement with the end of the wrapper tube, thus producing two complete twists of the material.

Gear wheel ||I drives ring-gear 6| and the latter carries the cams 62, which in operation engage the lugs 66 on the outer ends of the fingers 63, so as to close said fingers or move the same toward each other. Ring-gear 6| is slightly larger in diameter than ring-gear 60 and gear wheel that drives ring-gear 6| is slightly less in diameter than gear wheel 0, with the result that the ring-gear 6| that carries the twisting finger closing cams 62, operates at slightly less speed than the twisting finger carrying ring 59 that is driven by gear wheel ||0.

The forward end of the shaft 40 is provided with the hand wheel 42, so as to enable the various operating parts of the machine to be moved into different positions to facilitate inspection, repair, adjustments, and also for the purpose of permitting the web of material I6 to be threaded through the machine at the beginning of the wrapper tube forming operations.

Projecting forwardly a short distance from the forward one of the bearings 30, is a short'tube 30a through which the tubular wrapper passes as it is moved forward by the reciprocating plunger and the sides of this tube are cut away to form openings 30h that permit the elastic members 96 carried by the fingers 81 to engage the tubular wrapper at diametrically opposite points when the lower portions of the fingers are moved toward each other.

Thus while the rubber covered portions of the fingers are in engagement with the tube, the latter is held in proper position immediately to the rear and in front of the pressure fingers by the circumferential portions of the tube 30a, in front and to the rear of the openings 30 (see Figs. 3 and 6).

One of the particular advantages of my improved wrapper tube forming machine, is that the wrappers of thin, flexible material, such as Cellophane, waxed paper or the like, are produced without the use of an adhesive and without the requirement for heat treatment in the sealing of the tubes for the twisting of the ends of the tubes, one by the machine and the other by hand, effectively closes the wrapper and protects the contents thereof.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a wrapper tube forming machine that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved wrapper tube forming machine, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a wrapper tube forming machine, a table, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement on said table, means for delivering wrapping material in tubular form to said plunger, means mounted on the table for twisting the end of the tubular wrapper in advance of the forward end of said plunger, means for severing the wrapper tube at a point to the rear of its twisted forward end and means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said plunger.

2. In awrapper tube forming machine, a table, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement on said table, means for delivering wrapping material in tubular form to said plunger, means mounted on the table for twisting the end of the tubular wrapper in advance of the forward end of said plunger, means for severing the Wrapper tube at a point to the rear of its twisted forward end and means for operating said reciprocating plunger, said twisting means and said severing means, in proper time relation to the movements of said plunger and the wrapper tube carried thereby.

3. vIn a wrapper tube forming machine, a table,

a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement on said table, means for delivering wrapping material in tubular form to said plunger, means mounted on the table for twisting the end of the tubular wrapper in advance of the forward end of said plunger, means for severing the wrapper tube at a point to the rear of its twisted forward end, means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said plunger and means for operating said wrapper tube twisting means and severing means in proper time relation to the movements of said reciprocating plunger.

4. In a wrapper tube forming machine, a table, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement on said table, means for delivering wrapping material in tubular form to said plunger, means on the table in advance of said plunger for twisting the end of the Wrapper tube carried thereby and means for engaging the wrapper tube on the plunger and holding the same against rearward movement with the plunger and against rotary movement during operation of the twisting means.

5. A wrapper tube forming machine as set forth in claim 4, with Wrapper tube severing means mounted on the table in front of said twisting means.

6. In a wrapper tube forming machine, a table, means for supporting a roll of wrapper tube forming material on the rear portion of said table, means on the rear portion of the table for giving tubular shape to the web of wrapper material as it unwinds from said roll, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement on the table, which plunger receives the wrapping material after the same has been given tubular form, means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said plunger, pressure fingers mounted for operation to the sides of the forward portion of the means that gives tubular shape to the web of wrapper material, means for moving said pressure fingers away from each other and means for moving said pressure fingers toward each other to press the wrapper material against the plunger.

'L A wrapper tube forming machine as set forth in claim 6 and with means on the table in advance of said reciprocating plunger for twisting and closing the forward end of the wrapper tube.

8. A wrapper tube forming machine as set forth in claim 6, with means on the table in advance of the plunger for twisting and closing the forward end of the tubular wrapper and means on the table in front of `said twisting means for severing the forward portion of said Wrapper tube after its forward end has been twisted and closed.

9. A wrapper tube forming machine as set forth Y in claim 6, with means on the table in advance of said plunger for twisting and closing the forward end of the wrapper tube and means for engaging and holding the wrapper tube against rearward movement with the reciprocating plunger and against rotary movement resulting from strains imparted to the wrapper tube by said twisting means.

10. In a wrapper tube forming machine, a table, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement on said table, adjustable motor actuated means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said plunger, means for giving aflat strip of wrapping material tubular shape and delivering the same on to the plunger and motor driven means for engaging the forward end of the tubular wrapper to twist and close the engaged end in advance of said plunger.

11. A Wrapper tube forming machine as set forth in claim 10, with means for engaging and holding the tubular wrapper against rearward movement with said plunger and against rotary movement resulting from the operation of said twisting means.

12. A wrapper tube forming machine as set forth in claim 10, with means for engaging and' holding the wrapper tube against rearward movement with the plunger and against rotary movement as the result of the operation of said twisting means and means in advance of said twisting means for cutting off the forward portion of the wrapper tube having the twisted and closed forward end. i

VERN R. LUCE.

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