US2379937A - Banding machine - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1945. E. c. sLo'AN BANDING MACHINE Filed May a, 1944 "9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edward C JZadn "By p fforrzqg;

9 Sheets-Sh t g ward 6' E. C. SLOAN ANDING MACHINE Filed May 8 19 .mm .i

BANDING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 10, 19 45. E. C. sLoAN BANDING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 1% 1/e rz far, Edward C? 15300:]?

y 1945. E. c. SLOAN 2,379,937

BANDING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 45. E. c. SLOAN 2,379,937

BANDING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Edward G. 5 0a July 10, 1945.

E. c. SLOAN I 2,379,937 BANDING MACHINE 1 Filed May 8, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 1'75. 18

fnz/eze {07' Edward CJ/aw v lori zqyes' Patented Jr 10, 1945 Edward (C. Sloan, Geneva, lfik, assignor to illscar Mayer a Co lino, Chicago, lit, a corporation of oils Application May t, ion, Serial hie. senses (oi. as -2) This invention relates to a packaging or banding machine and. has for one object to provide a machinecapable of placing bands of paper or other material about a series of generally round ed, elongated articles such as sausages. One object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a machine for banding a continuous series of sausages.

Another object is to provide a machine for securing the sausages together in contact with each other, or substantially so.

A further object is to provide such a machine and means for securing the bands about the sausages, with one band relatively flat and the other band looped about the sausages.

Another object is to provide, in connection with such a device, means for banding a series of sausages and for severing the bands at predetermined intervals to form a package comprising a predetermined number of sausages handed together.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device, with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view in perspective, showing a series of sausages banded together;

Figure 4 is a. vertical, longitudinal section taken on an enlarged scale at line t-t of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the banding mechanism housing, with the parts in position thereon;

Figure 6 is a. transverse, vertical section taken at line 6-6 of Figure Figure 10 is a fragmentary section, with parts I in elevation, taken at line Ill-Ill of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 11 is an elevation taken at line ll-H of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 12 is'a transverse section taken at line lz-s-l2ofFigure l1;

Figure 13 is a side elevation of a, portion of the driving mechanism of the banding device, taken on an enlarged scale on the opposite side oi the housing from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure M is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuit for driving the apparatus;

Figure 15 is a schematic wiring diagram of a portion of the heating circuit for the heating elements;

Figure 16 is a view generally similar to Figure 5, showing the parts in a modified position;

Figure 17 is a section similar to Figure 4, with parts omitted; and

t Figure 18 is a view generally similar to Figure 4, with parts omitted and showing parts addi tional to those shown in Figure 17..

Like parts are indicated by likecharacters throughout the specification and the drawings,

In the particular form here shown, the banding mechanism is designed for banding 0i sausages, although other articles of somewhat similar shape and proportion could be equally well banded.

The mechanism generally comprises a base or support, means for feeding a. series of articles to a point where banding occurs, meansfor supplying at least two bands from different sources, and means for bringing the hands together, and for securing them together. In this operation at least one of the bands is looped or wrapped sub stantially about each of said sausages. Means are also provided for severing both bands after a predetermined number of sausages have been banded together. I

As shown, the support comprises a table-like member having one or more legs l which are joined by side members 2 and one or more transverse members 3. A shelf i may be provided heneath the table and, if desired, a driving motor 5 may be mounted on the shelf or on a subframe 6. A speed-reducing gear assembly 1 is driven, by a shaft 8 from the motor through a coupling 9. A

pulley i0 is driven by the gear assembly and drives the motor. The particular details of the driving circuit and controls are not u trated in full, as

these details form no essential part of the invention, which may be carried out by any structure in which means are provided for a motor and for is provided with a member 26 in which is formed a notch or depression to carry the sausage ll, as shown generally in the figures and in detail in Figures 2 and 9. At one end the chains it are engaged in sprockets 22 which are mounted upon and driven by a shaft 2i. At the opposite end the chain is engaged with sprockets 23 which are carried upon a shaft it. The shaft may have its 1 bearing in a member 26 which is adjusted by a screw 26 to adjust the tension of the chains. The

particular drive of the chains is immaterial so long as the chains are driven in the right direction and at a reasonable speed for synchronization with the other parts of the total assembly.

A cover 21 may be provided at one end of the assembly to enclose the sprockets 23, and a guiding and limiting, member 28 may be placed alongside the chain opposite the platform it, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2.

Positioned so as to lie between the sprockets 22, as shown in plan in Figures 7 and 8, is a guiding member29 which is adlustably held in position by a screw 80. At its opposite end the member is bifurcated, as at at, and is inclined upwardly, as shown for example in Figure 4. Adjacent the free ends of the bifurcations 3! is a fixed positioning member 32 which is fastened to the general frame structure in any desired manner. Adjacent its upper edge the member 32 is provided with a cushion tli'which may be of rubber or similar material. The cushion is positioned generally in line with the ends of the bifurcations 3 I. Extending downwardly and to the left, as shown in Figure 4, from the member 32 is a-sausage-' guiding and supporting member at. It terminates in separated members 35 between which a clearance is provided for a conveying belt as which is driven by a drum 3i carried on a shaft 38. At its opposite end the belt is positibned about a drum 39 carried on a shaft it which supported upon a table-like extension ii of the sausage-conveying assembly. Braces .12 may be provided to support the member for one as or the vertical frame parts i. Positioned along side of the belt 86 may be surface members as,

as shown particularly in Figure 2. The mechanism thus far described comprises means for conveying sausages, for loading them into the conveyor, for moving them to a point of sealing and for conveying them away from the sealing point. The sealing means will now be described.

The sealing means comprises generally means for supplying two strips of web material which may be paper or other more or less analogous material and which will be referred to hereafter as tape or tapes. In addition to the means for supplying-the tapes, the mechanism comprises means for forcing the two tapes together and for sealing them together. While many diiferent forms of sealing may be used, the particular form here shown involves the use of heatand for that purpose the tapes may be supplied with wax or other adhesive material which, upon the occur-- rence of suitable heat, will cause two such tapes to adheretogether. Means may also be provided with the sealing means or otherwise for perforating the tapes so that the tapes may be readily torn between sausages. A still further means is provided, in connection with the sealing memher or assembly, whereby the tapes are totally severed after the sealing of a predetermined number of sausages. Thus, for example, six, twelve or more sausages may be sealed together in a unitary string or group, and then the group will be automatically severed from the following sausages and the complete package will comprise a string of a predetermined number of sausages banded together.

The means for supplying the tap comprises an upper reel M which is mounted for rotation upon an arm :35 and a lower reel d6 mounted for rota tion upon an arm ti. From the reel it an upper tape at is fed along a guide 69 and through a guide to the point of use. A lower tape 5! is fed along a guide member 52 and under a guide member 53 across the cushion meinber 33 to a point of use. While many diiferent means may be arranged for controlling the feeding of the tapes, those shown are typical of possible feeding means. The means for controlling and feeding the upper tape will be described below.

The means for feeding the lower tape coinprises, in part, the drum pulley 3i and a detent member 5t which is adjustable by a spring 55 against th lower tape 5|. This tape is fed to the discharge end of the apparatus by the drum bl. The sealing assembly comprises not merely means for bringing the two tapes together, and for sealing them together, but comprises also means for, in effect, Wrapping the upper tape substantially about the sausage while the lower tape remains substantially fiat. The sealing assembly also includes means for feeding the sausages toward the discharge end as they are handed and sealed together.

an The sealing assembly proper comprises a housing within which or adjacent which a pair of heating coils bl, 51 is mounted. A rheostat isenclosed in the housing 58, preferably associated with the coils 5?, and a switch or lever 59 is associated with the rheostat. By means of this construction th heating coils may, if desired, be arranged to be turned ofi and on, and the degree oi heat oi. the coils may be varied. .f-i telltale light ht is associated in the heating coil circuit and a separate switch 6! may, if desired, also be inserted in the circuit. As shownin Figure l, the telltale light 60 is enclosed in the housing and V the switch 6i is associated or mounted adjacent these parts for convenience of operation. The details of the circuit and the conductors by means of which electricity is conducted. to the heating coils and the rheostat need not be described. It

is sufllcient for the purpose of this invention that conductors are provided for conductin electricity to the heating coils and to the rheostat if one is present. Obviously the coils might be designed so that no rheostat is necessary.

Associated with the heating assembly member 56 is a blade 63 carried on a rod 64. A spring 65 tends to hold the blade in a raised or relatively inactive position. It bears at one end against the housing 56 and at the other end against a collar v or stop 66 fixed upon the rod M. The blade 63 is notched, as at El, so that its lower edge, if given one degree of travel, will merely perforate the tapes, and if given another degree of travel will totally sever the tapes. The housing 56 is Q secured to a relatively hollow member 68 which is itself fixed to or formed integrally with the arms 69 which are loose on a shaft I0. While a pairofhooks ltI.

bly and through each of the slots I in the links- Spacers I03 may or may not be roller II2 adapted to contact the the rod 65 is mounted within the housing 56 and may move with it, it also has relative movement under the influence of the arm ll. As shown, one end of this arm is pivoted, as at E2, to an enlargement I3 fixed to or formed as a part of the rod 62. The arm H is pivoted at It on a pin which is fixed in the arms 69. The opposite end of the lever arm H is enlarged, as-at l5, and as shown in Figure 9, may contact a pin it seated in a collar Ill secured to the shaft it. A

tortional spring is which is positioned about the pin It tends, when free to do so, to raise the right- I hand end of the lever arm ll. Plvoted preferatiy between the arms 69, as at 22a, is a member comprising two lever-like portions it. These members are joined by a pin to. Obviously a roller might be substituted for the pin. Each of the members it is provided with a spring 2 i, tending normally to raise it against the stop 32, each of which is welded or otherwise secured to one of the arms 69. A spring 23 is mounted at one end on a pin a l which extends between the two sides of the housing tli. At its opposite end it is secured to a pin at and tends, when free to do so, to hold the sealing assembly and its associated parts in the raised position, as shown in Figure l, but is adapted to yield to permit lowering of the sealing assembly to the position shown in Figure 9. It has been stated above that the shaft i2 is driven from the belt or chain M. This may be done by a sprocket or by a pulley l 2, as shown in Figure 13. Fixed on the shaft i2 is a cam 22 which, as shown, contacts the pin or roller at between the arms 19. One means for looping or wrapping the upper tape about the sausage includes a part it. This member is secured to a rod 89 to which an arm 90 is fixed. A link 9!! is joined at one end of the arm 93 and at its opposite end the'link 98 is pivoted to a lever 92 which is itself pivoted at 93. Rotatably mounted in an extension on the lever is a roller 92 arranged to contact a cam 95 which is fixed on the shaft l2. A spring at is secured at one end to the link at and at its opposite end to an abutment 9i and acts to hold v the roller t l constantly in contact with the cam 95 and correspondingly to move the link ti downwardly as far as the position of the cam per- A feeding and sausage-moving means additional to the chains is illustrated in elevation primarily in. Figures 4, 9 and 18. This means includes a pair of levers 9d pivoted on the mem ber 93; At their free ends each of the levers has pivoted to it a link 99 slotted as at Nit. Fixed to the free ends of each of the links 99 is one of Extending across the assem- 99 is a rod I02.

positioned on the rod I02. The rod 302 passes through slots I04 in the side frame members I05 and is also carried in the lower ends of links I06.- These links, at their upper ends, are pivoted in one end of a lever arm I01, which is itself pivoted 0n the rod or pin 93. The opposite end 'of the lever arm I01 is provided with a roller I00 which is in contact with a cam I09. springs I I0 are secured, each at one end to the links I06 and at their opposite ends are secured to abutments I I I. These springs hold the rollers I08'in contact with the cam or cams I09. One or more of the levers 98 may be provided with a cam II3 which is fixed .upon the shaft I2.

Pivoted to one of the levers 98 is a tape feed One or more link i I4. At its opposite end it is pivoted to a lever arm II5 which is fixed to a rod IIB which itself extends through and is pivoted upon the side frame members I05. The guide 49 is mounted on the rod H6 to rotate with it from the full line position of Figure 4 to the dotted line position of Figure 18. It comprises a relatively flat member Ill which may or may not be curved at its free end and which has one or more loops IIE through which the upper tape 48 passes. The

lower guide 50 above referred to may include a roller Ila yieldingly held against the tape by springs l2!) which bear upon the frame I 2I in which the roller'l i9 is pivoted.

The means for driving the conveyor belt 36 will now be described. These means are shown generally in Figure 13. As pointed out above, the

which is held in contact with the rollers i212 by a spring E22 which has one end fixed to the lever ltd and its opposite end fixed to an abutment E22. The cam carrier I22 may be provided with an enlarged roller-like hub I20 against which the lever i123 lies during a portion of the rotation of the member H22. A spring l30 has one end fixed to the dog I25 and at the other end is fixed to the lever E25 to hold the dog in contact with the teeth of-a gear lill which is fixed on the shaft 25. Movement of the lever I26 in response to rotation of the cam carrier I22 moves the dog back and forth over the teeth of the gear I3l and thus advances the gear in a step by step movemerit;

lt'has been stated above that means are provided for operating the blade 63 at a predetermined time to cause it completely to sever both of the tapes. Means are also provided for controlling the operation of the heating elements in the sealing and cutting assembly to prevent unsatisfactory operation. These two controlling means are shown in Figure 5 in one position and in Figure 16 in another position and will now be described. The schematic Wiring diagram of the heating circuit is shown in Figure 15. As there shown, the shaft I2 carries a cam I32. A switch I33 is shown in the circuit and a switch-operating member I32 is also shown. 'The cam I32 in its rotation contacts the switch-operating member ltd and moves it to open the switch. Thus in e position of the cam and correspondingly in one position of the sealing and cutting assembly,

the switch is so operated as to break the circuit of theheating elements. One reason for this is to prevent burning of the cushion 33, the tapes, the sausage or any other part of the sealing assembly should it be stopped or held too long in the position of Figure 9. v

The cutting control means includes a lever I35 pivoted at I33 upon one.of the side frame members I05. It carries a dog-operating member I31, an abutment member I38 and a roller I39. A spring I40 is attached at one end to the lever I35 and at the other end to an abutment MI. A keeper I42 may be provided to keep the lever I35 in proper alignment at all times.

A cam I43 is fixed on the shaft I2 and is in contact with the roller I39, since the spring I40 holds the lever I35 and its associated parts in Fixed on the shaft I is a lever arm I45. Loose on the shaft I0 is a cooperating left arm I85. The two left arms M6 and I45 are joined together by an adjustable means I 56 so that their position may be relatively adjusted. The arm I45 is connected to the lever I35 by a link It'll. Loosely mounted on a supporting shaft I58 is a ratchet wheel I49. A hub I50 is fixed to the ratchet I59. -A spring II has one end mounted upon the abutment MI, is wrapped or positioned partially about the hub I50 and has its other end fixed at I52 upon the ratchet wheel I59. The spring thus tends to rotate the ratchet wheel I58 in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figures 5 and 16. The ratchet is rotated in a clockwise direction by the. pin I53'which is fixed in the hub I54 of the cam I53. Thus as the hub rotates in the clockwise direction the pin, with each rotation of the hub, strikes a tooth of the ratchet I49 and rotates it in the clockwise direction'against the resistance of the spring I5 I. The dog I55 rides over the tooth during the clockwise direction and under the influence of the spring I56 returns to the latching position and holds the ratchet wheel against reverse movement under the influence of the spring I5I. The dog I55 is pivoted at I51 upon one of the side frame members I05.

A stop member I58 is pivoted at I59 on one of the side frame members I05. A spring I60 normally urges one of its legsIIiI against a stop I62 which is fixed in the same side frame member I05. The abutment I38 strikes the stop I58 in the upward movement of the lever I35 and limits that movement. A pin I63 which is fixed in the ratchet wheel I49 contacts the leg IIiI of the stop I58, as shown in Figure 16, and moves the stop out of line with the abutment I38. When that occurs, a, greater upward movement of the lever I35 may occur. When that movement occurs, the member I31 raises the dog I55 out of latching engagement with the teeth of the ratchet Hi9 and permits the ratchet to move in the counter-clockwise. direction under the influence of the spring I5I. The raised position of the dog is shown in dotted lines in Figure 16. The amount of counterclockwise movement which is given to the ratchet I49 is determined by the setting of the adjust ment arm I64. This arm as shown is pivoted on the shaft I48 and includes a notched member I55 into which the pin I63 fits upon the counterclockwise movement of the ratchet. This notched member acts as a stop for the pin H3. The adjustmer'it arm I64 may be provided with a socket I66 within which a spring or some other means not shown is mounted. A pin I6! is mounted in the socket I66 and is normally held in the inward positon by the spring. A knob IE8 is provided for pulling out the member IB'I. By this means the member I64 may be moved into adjusted position and the pin I51 may be seated in any of the perforations or other seating positions shown in Figure 5 and numbered from II to I6, inclusive. There might obviously be any number of such seating positions.

A final or extreme stop member I69 is provided on the side frame member I05 and the handle portion I64 may be seated against that stop. It will be noted that the teeth of the ratchet I49 are cut away, as at I10.

Since the lever I44 is fixed to the shaft I0, movement of that lever oscillates the shaft. So long as the abutment I38 contacts the stop I58 the movement is slight, and it is only sufficient to carry the blade 63 a short distance outside of the housing 58, suiiiciently to accomplish perforation of the tapes, but not severing. When the stop I58 has been moved out of line with the abutment I58 the lever I makes a greater stroke and gives a, greater movement to the shaft I0, thus raising the pin I5 which is fixed with relation to the shaft I0 and through the member I5. This movement acts on the lever II which is pivoted to the blade carrier and gives the blade 53 a greater downward movement and thus completely severs both bands.

When only perforation of the tape is to occur the handle I55 is moved into contact with the stop I55. With the parts in that position, when the ratchet I55 is moved counter-clockwise by the spring I5I, the stop pin I55 is received inthe.

notched member I55 and in this position the cut away portion I75 lies in the path of the pin I53 and the in can contact any of the teeth of the ratchet and hence-further rotation of the pin is without efiect on the ratchet until the latter is reset into one of the adjusted positions. When this is done, the ratchet wheel is rotated in a clockwise direction and the cut away portion I10 is moved so that thereafter the pin I53, in its further rotation, will strike one of the teeth of the ratchet, an hence .the cycle of operations above described can be repeated.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention, it will be recognized that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of parts can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and my showing is therefore to be taken as, in' a sense, diagrammatic.

The use and. operation of this invention are as follows:

In general, the operation comprises the steps of putting the sausages onto the conveying chains, particularly onto the notches formed in the members I8, conveying the sausages to the point of sealing by means of the chain, then transferring the sausages from the chain and the sausage carriers to the point of sealing, moving the sealing assembly and associated parts downwardly, and thus moving the sausage slightly beyond the point of sealing, and at the same time wrapping the upper tape about a larger part of the diameter of the sausage. After this has occurred, the sealing assembly moves downat this time.

wardly sumciently to perforate the tape by means of the blade 53. Since the sealing assembly is heated and since the tapes are provided with heat-sealing adhesive, they are sealed together Obviously the perforating step might be omitted if desired. Other sealing means can be used.

The sausages are then 'moved away from the point of scaling in a continuous package of varying length. The package comprises, of course, the lower tape, the sausages positioned on it, and the upper tape wrapper about the sausages positioned at intervals against the lower tape and sealed to it. The auxiliary carrying belt 36 assists in the further movement of the completed sausage package. For some purposes the conveying efiect on the sausage about to be sealed is sufficient to move thesausages already. sealed because, as pointed out below, the sealing assembly and parts associated with it force the sausage slightly beyond the sealing point, and this successive forcing of each sausage is transmitted to the previously sealed sausages, because they are'all secured to the same tapes and are in actual or substantial contact with each other.

In the particular form here shown, adiustable aerate? means are provided for severing the bands or tapes at predetermined intervals so that a paclz- The chains l8 are ordinarily given a continu- .ous movement so that the sausages are continuous. Since a slight time interval is reguired to accomplish sealing, the sausages, after they have been removed from the notches in the members it, remain stationary for a. brief period. To accommodate for this brief stopping, the conveyor it, if positively driven, is driven in a step by step or interrupted movement. This is accomplished by the mechanism shown in Figure 13. As there shown, the cam carrier i 22 rotates with the shaft in and with each half revolution one oi the rollers its strikes the lever lit and thus oscillates the link ltd and moves it in a clock-- As shown in I for causing complete severance of the .tapes or hands comprises in general a ratchet, a means for rotating it,-a means for holding it in effective rotated or advanced position and a means for releasing it upon the completion of a predetermined number of advanced steps. Further means are provided for causing the'complete severance to occur when the ratchet is released after the predetermined number of steps have been completed.

The lever lit is given slight oscillations with each. rotation of the cam its which is fixed on the shaft it. These oscillations through the link t ll and the adjustable lever its cause an oscillation of the shaft it. The stop too, so long wise direction, as shown in Figure 13, and by means of the doglit advances the ratchet tilt and the shaft to a limited distance.

The reverse movement of the levertilt carries the dog over the teeth of the ratchet ltl into position for the next forward movement of the ratchet and, correspondingly, for the next for ward movement of the conveyor belt As above mentioned, means are provided for positively moving the sausage after it has left the notch in the member ill. These means inelude primarily the member llll, which is ca ried on the link lit from lever These parts are shown in their downward position in Figures 4 and i8 and in their raised position in a dotted lines in Figure 18. This movement occurs with rotation of the shaft iii and is caused by the contact of the roller ill with the cam l l The movement is also controlled by the action of the lever lil'l which raises and controls the J linlr litthrough the means or the limit tilt in the lever Hill which is oscillated througl'l the con tact of the roller lot with the cam tilt which is also on the shaft ll. The members shown generally in Figures t an 9 and detail in Figure ll, act as keepers to prevent misplacemerit of the sausage after it has been moved into position for sealing by the part Bill.

The me for actuating the keepers so are shown in Figure l? and. include the lever 92, the linl: ti and the arm fill, all of which act to rotate the shaft or upon which the keepers tit are posh tioned. fi'he lever at is oscillated through con tact of the roller til with the cam on.

The sealing assembly itself, including the hous ing lit, the heating coils all, the heating coil switch it and the blade ti, is raised and lowered by the movement of the cam tl which contacts the roller at. The roller so is carried on the member it which is pivoted on the arm til to the extension to to which the housing bit is secured. Movement of the cam 87! causes these parts to rise and fall from the positionof figure to that of Figure 9. After the housing ht has reached the sealing position, further movement oi the arm "ii is permitted by its mounting on the member so and by the spring which is positioned about the rod to.

Ordinarily the movement downward of the rod t t, and with it the blade 83, is only sumcicnt to move the points 67] outwardly beyond the housing to and thus to cause perforating. The greater movement of the blade accomplishes complete cutting of the tapes by means of the mechanism illustrated in detail in Figures 5 and 16, and this will next be described.

as it remains in the-position oi Figure 5, will limit the upward oscillation oi'the lever lit, and the lever cannot move to the full upper limit, as indicated in dotted es in Fimire 16, until the stop its has been moved to the position of Fig ure is. Then the spring its is free to raise the lever to the full upward position and to give a substantially increased oscillation m the shaft it.

As the shaft it rotates, carrying with it the several cams which are fined upon it, the pin I53 rotates in counter-clockwise direction and with each rotation strikes a tooth oi the ratchet i it and moves it in clockwise direction. The dog retains the ratchet in each successive advanced position. he the ratchet is advanced, the

spring lot is additionally wrapped about the hub and its tension is increased. The successive step by step clochwise movement of the ratchet Mil will continue until the pin tilt on it strikes the arm till and moves the stop llitl to the dotted line position oi Figure in and time permits the lever lllli to rise, since the abutment Ethanol the. stop lilo are no longer in alignment.

When the lever its rises to the dotted line position of Figure it", the dog" lit? is hunched out of engaging position by the member lot. The ratchet is therefore no longer held in its advanced position and it is returned in a coterclochwise direction byv the action oi the spring Hill. The

limit oi its return movement is established by the adjustment or the notched member hit. irositiohs oi adjustment as shown in Figures 5 and 16 are provided and the location of the notch member determines the decree of return move ment of the ratchet. Since the ratchet is advanced one tooth each time the sealing assembly is reciprocatecl, the setting of the return control means for the ratchet may rea be coordinated with the number or sausages banded. Thus if it is desired to sever the hands after twelve sausages have been handed, the pin itl orthe handle ith is seated in the perforation marked 12" and the machine is started. Twelve sausages will be handed, by twelve reciprocations of. the sealing assembly, and then the stop ltd will he moved out of position, the lever tilt will rise to its upper limit and will give the shaft it an additional rotation or oscillation which accomplishes the further movement of the bis 83 and thus the complete cutting or the toms.

' If the pin ltl is seated against the stop ltt, the cut-away portion lit of the ratchet will be brought into position, where the rotation of the pin use will merely pass through the cut-away portion without contacting or advancing the ratchet. When the parts are thus adjusted, no t l ti of the tapes will occur and the mechanism will merely operate to make a. long 1 d and 16, the mechanism i the feeding means and to move them to the point of attachment, band attachingmeans including an assembly, and means for raising and lowering the assembly and for causing it to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including means for attaching said bands, means for perforating said bands, and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to move said assembly toward and from the point of attachr nent.

2. In combination in a banding machine for .securing together a plurality of elongated articles, means for supplying, along separate and converging paths, two elongated bands of flexible web material, means for conveying progressively a plurality of said articles to a point between said band, means for placing said articles and retaining them for a predetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take said articles from their conveyor and to move them to the point of attachment, band attaching means including an assembly, and means for raisingand lowering the assembly and for causing it to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including heating means, means for perforating said bands, and means for cuttin said bands, and driving means adapted to move said assembly toward and from the pointof attachment, said perforating and cutting means being movable within saidassembly, and members for controlling the movement of said perforating and cutting means.

3. In combination in a banding machine for securing together a plurality of elongated articies, means for supplying, along separate and converging paths, two elongated bands of flexible web material, means for conveyin progressively a plurality of said articles to a point between said bands, means for placing said articles and retaining them for a predetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take said articles from theirconveyor and to move them to the point of attachment, band attaching mean including an assembly, and means for raising and lowering the assembly and for causing it to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including heating, means, means for perforating said bands, and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to move said assembly toward and from the point of at-- tachment, said perforating and cutting means bein movable within said assembly, and members for controlling the movement of said perforating and cutting means, said controlling means including parts adapted to cause said i perforating and cutting means, at a predetermined time, to make an increased movement whereby the bands are out.

4. In combination in a banding machine for securing together a plurality of elongated articles, means for supplying, along separate and converging paths, two elongated bands of flexible web material, means for conveying progressively a plurality of said articles to a point between said bands, means for placing said articles and retaining them for a predetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take ,said articles from their conveyor and to move them to the point of attachment, band attaching means including an assembly, and means for raising and lowering the as- V sembly and for causing it to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including .heating means, means for perforating said bands,

and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to move said assembly toward and from the point of attachment, and conveying means for moving the banded articles progressively in a step by step movement away from the point of attachment.

"5, In combination in a banding machine for securing together a plurality of elongated articles, means for supplying, along separate and converging paths, two elongated bands of flexible web material, means "for conveying progressively a plurality of said articles to a point betweensaid bands, means for placing said articles and retaining them for a predetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take said articles from their conveyor and to move them to and hold them at the point of attachment, band attaching means including an assembly, and means fpr raising and lowering the assembly and for causing it to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including heating means, means for perforating said bands, and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to movesaid assembly toward and from the point of attachment.

'6. In combination in a banding machine for securing together a plurality of elongated articles, means for supplying, along separate and converging paths, two elongated bands of flexible web material, means for conveying progressively a plurality of said articles to apoint between said bands, means for placing said articles and retaining them for apredetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take said articles from their conveyor and to move them to the point of attachment, band attaching means including an assembly, and means for raising and lowering the assembly and for causing it .to move one of said bands substantially about one of said articles and to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including heating means, means for perforating said bands, and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to move said 7. In combination in a banding machine for securing together a plurality of elongated articles, means for supplying, along separate and converging paths, two elongated bands of flexible web material, means for conveying progressively a plurality of said articles to a point between said bands, means for placing said articles and retaining them'for a predetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take said articles from their conveyor and to move them to and hold them at the point of attachment, band attaching means including an assembly, and means for raising and loweringthe assembly and for causing it to move one of said bands substantially about one of saidassess? articles to a point between said bands, means for placing said articles and retaining them for a predetermined time interval at a point of band attachment, said means including parts adapted to take said articles from their conveyor and to move them to and hold them at the point of attachment, band attaching means including an 1 assembly, and means for raising and lowering the assembly and for causing it to move one of said bands substantially about one of said articles and to attach one of said bands to the other band,

said assembly including heating means, means for perforating said bands. and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to move said assembly toward and from the point of attachment, said perforating and cutting means being movable within said assembly, anolmemhers for controlling the movement or said perforating and cutting means, said controlling means including parts adapted to cause said perforatin and cutting means, at a predetermined time, to malre an increased movement whereby the bands are cut.

9. In combination in a banding machine for securing together a plurality of elongamd articles of generally rounded cross section, means for supplying, along separate andconverging paths, two

elongated bands of flexible web materiel, means for conveying progressively a plurality of said articles to a. point between said handle, means sembly including a housing, a blade therein and means tor moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or less degree, said blade mounted to move with said housing. there being additional means for moving said blade with respect to said housing. a

11. In combination in l a banding machine, means for supplyinga pair of bands along converging paths, a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles toward a point of sealing between said bands, means adapted to move said articles from said conveyor to said point of sealing, a sealing assembly, and means for moving the assembly to cause itto carry one of said bands substantially 'for moving said blade outjof said housingto a for placing said articles and retaining them for v a predetermined time interval at a point or band attachment, said means including parts adapted to talre said articles from their conveyor and to move them to and hold them at the point oi alttachment, band attaching means including an assembly, and means tor raising and lowering the assembly and for causing it to move one oi said bands substantially about one of said articles and to attach one of said bands to the other band, said assembly including heating means, means for perforating said bands, and means for cutting said bands, and driving means adapted to move said assembly toward and from the point of attachment, said perforating and cutting means being movable within said assembly, and members for coninolling the movement of said perforating and cutting means, said controlling means including parts adapted to cause saidv perforating and cutting means, at a predetermined time, to make an increased movement whereby the bands are cut, and conveying means for moving the banded articles progressively in a step by step movement away from the point of attachment.

it. In combination in a banding machine,

means for supplying a pair of bands along converging paths, a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles toward a point of sealing between said bands, means adapted to move said articles irom said conveyor to said point of sealing, a sealing assembly, and means, for moving the assembly greater or less degree, said blade shaped, when moved a limited distance" out of said housing, to perforate said bands-and when moved a greater distance out of said housing to sever said bands, said blade mounted to move with said housing, there being additional means for moving said blade with respect to said housing, and means for controlling the movement of saidblade ,with respect to said housing.

12.111 combination in a banding machine,

means'for supplying a pair of bands along 00% verging paths, a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles toward a point of sealing between said bands, means adapted to move said articles from said conveyor to said point of sealing, a sealing assembly, and means for moving the assembly to cause it to carry one of said bands substantially about one of said articles, said sealing assembly including a housing, a blade therein and means for moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or less degree, saidblade shaped, when moved a, limited distance out of said housing-to perforate said bands and -when moved a greater distance out of said housing to sever said bands, said blade mounted to move with said housing, there being additional means for moving said blade with respect to said housing, and means for controlling the movement of said blade with. respect to said housing, said means including control parts and means for adjusting them to a predetermined position whereby the blade is caused to move out of the housing its maximum distance at predetermined variable intervals and whereby the blade is caused to move a minimum distance out of said housing with each move ment of the housing.

13. In combination in a banding machine, means for supplying a pair of bands along converging paths, a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles toward a point of sealing between said bands, means adapted to move said articles from said conveyor to said point of sealing and to position and hold them between the bands at said point of scaling for a predetermined interval, a sealing assembly, and means for moving the 915-,- sembly to cause it to carry one of said bands substantially about one of said articles, said sealing assembly including a housing, a blade therein and means for moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or lessdegree, said blade mounted to move with, said housing, there being,

said conveyor to said point of sealing and to position and hold them between the bands at said point of scaling for a predetermined interval, a

sealing assembly, and means for moving the as;- sembly to engage one of said bands and to carry one of said bands substantially about one of said articles, said sealing assembly includingda housing, a blade therein and means for moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or less degree, said blade mounted to move with said housing, there being additional means for moving position and hold them between the bands at said' point of sealing for a predetermined interval, a sealing assembly, and means for moving the assembly to cause it to engage one of said bands and to carry one of said bands substantially about one of said articles, and guiding means for retaining one of said bands in generally fiat positio with respect to the other of said bands, said sealing assembly including a housing, a blade therein and means for moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or less degree, said blade mounted to move with said aa-zao av sembly to cause it to engage one of said bands and .to carry one of said bands substantially about one of said articles, said articles being arranged transversely of said bands, and guiding means for retaining one of said bands in generally flat position with respect to the other of said bands, said sealing assembly including a housing, a blade therein and means for moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or less degree, said blade shaped, when moved a limited distance out of said housing, to perforate said bands and when moved a greater distance out of said housing to sever said bands, said blademounted to move with said housing, there being additional means for moving said blade with respect to said housing, and means for controlling the movement of said blade with respect to said housing, said means including control Parts and means for adjusting them to a predetermined position whereby the blade is caused to move out of the housing its maximum distance at predetermined variable intervals and whereby the blade is caused to move a minimum distance out of said housing with each movement of the housing.

18. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying a pair of bands along converging paths, means for feeding a plurality of articles toward a point of connection between said bands,

housing, there being additional means for moving said blade with respect to said housing.

16. In combination in a banding machine, means for supplying a pair of bands along converging paths, a conveyor for moving a plurality of articlestoward a point of sealing between said bands, means adapted to move said articles from said conveyor to said point of sealing and to position and hold them between the bands at said point of scaling for a predetermined interval, a sealing assembly, and means for moving the assembly to cause it to engage one of said bands and to carry one of said bands substantially about one of said articles, and guiding means for retaining one of said bands in generally flat position with respect to the other of said bands, said sealing assembly including a housing, a blade therein and means for moving said blade out of said housing to a greater or less degree, said blade shaped, when moved a limited distance out of said housing, to perforate said bands and when moved a greater distance out of said housing to sever said bands, said blade mounted to move with said housing, there being additional means for moving said blade with respect to said housing, and means for controlling the movement of said blade with respect to said housing, said means including control parts and means for adjusting them to a predetermined position whereby the blade is caused to move out of the housing its maximum distance at predetermined variable intervals and whereby the blade is caused to move a minimum distance out of said housing with each movement of the housing.

17. In combination in a banding machine, means for supplying a pair of bands along converging paths, a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles toward a point of sealing between said bands, means adapted to move said articles from said conveyor to said point of sealing and to position and hold them between the bands at said point of sealing for a predetermined interval, a sealing assembly, and means for moving the asa pair of laterally spaced hooks adapted to engage with each article at opposite sides of the portion to be banded and move the article from said feeding means to said point of connection, a band fastening head operable between the hooks on interposed portions of both bands for securing them together, and means for'moving the hooks and band fastening head in timed sequence to each other.

19. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying a pair of bandsalong converging paths, means for feeding a plurality of articles toward a point of connection between said bands,,a pair of laterally spaced hooks adapted to engage with each article at opposite sides of the portion to be banded and move the article from said feeding means to said point of connection, a band wrapping blade operable between the hooks against one of the bands to wrap that band about a portion of the article, a band fastening head operable between the hooks on interposed portions of both bands for securing them together; and means for moving the hooks, band wrapping blade and band fastening head'in timed sequence to each other.

20. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying banding material, a chain conveyor for moving articles toward a point at which portions of the banding material are connected together about each article, a pair of laterally spaced transfer plates on which each article is deposited by the conveyor with the end portions of the article resting on the plates, a pair of laterally spaced hooks adapted to engage with each article at opposite sides of the portion to be banded and slide the article along said plates to said point of connection, a platen between the transfer plates, a fastening head operable between the hooks against the platen on interposed portions of the banding material for connecting said portions together, and means for moving the conveyor, hooks and fastening head in timed sequence to each other.

' EDWARD C. SLOAN.

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