US2655777A - Control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 J. HAGE N CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1'7 1949 umE 16.24

Zmventor JERRY HAGEN (Ittorneg Oct. 20, 1953 J. HAGEN CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17 1949 3maentor JERRY HAGEN (Ittorneg Patented Oct. 20, 1953 CONTROL APPARATUS Jerry Hagen, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1949, Serial No. 116,396

14 Claims. 1

The present apparatus relates to control apparatus for automatic wrapping machines.

Various problems are presented in the control of packaging machinery and these problems have been solved in various ways and with varying degrees of success. When using transparent wrapping material, marks on the material have been used for actuating the control apparatus for the wrapping operation but this has not been fully successful due to the frequent lack of exact registry of the article to be wrapped with the marks and further due to variations in the size of the articles to be wrapped. These and other problems are solved by the present apparatus which controls the wrapping equipment as a function of the location and size of the article itself without regard to the markings on the wrapping material.

It is thus a principal object of this invention to provide improved control apparatus for wrapping machines.

It is a further object to provide control apparatus whichnperates as a function of the size and location of the article to be wrapped.

It is also an object to provide wrapping control apparatus wherein the leading edge of an article initiates the wrapping operation and the trailing edge of the articles normally controls subsequent operations.

It is an additional object to provide control apparatus having a memory sufficient to avoid the too soon repeating of an operation.

It is a further object to provide control apparatus wherein the sensing devices are spaced by an amount equal to the desired minimum spacing of the article to be wrapped on the conveyer.

It is another object to provide packing control apparatus which anticipates the movement of the article to be packaged.

It is also an object to provide improved packing control apparatus wherein the leadingedges of a series of articles controls the apparatus.

These and other objects will become apparent upon a study of the following specification and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the present apparatus.

Figure 2 is a modified schematic view of the control apparatus which may be used with the conveyer of Figure l.

The present apparatus is used to control a packaging machine such as that schematically shown in Figure 1 and comprising a continuous belt I running over a pair of spaced idler pulleys H and 12. A pulley l3 driven by motor [4 is located slightly below the normal alignmentpof the upper portion of belt I0 so that it is free to turn without engaging the belt when the belt is in a normal or unbiased condition, but a weighted wheel or pulley I5 is located directly above pulley I3 and normally presses against belt IE] to force it into engagement with pulley I3 so that the belt 10 may be driven thereby. Weighted wheel or pulley l5 engages the belt 10 by its own weight and may be retracted by energization of a solenoid comprising winding l6 and core member ll, core ll being attracted into an upper position by winding [6 when said winding is energized, thereby lifting wheel l5 from the belt I0 and permitting the belt l0 to rise slightly above pulley I3 and cease to be driven thereby.

The wrapping material used is a transparent material 22 such as cellophane supplied from a reel l9 and trained over idler and tensioning pulleys 20 and 2| and extends along and is carried by the upper portion of belt I0. After leaving idler pulley 2 I, material 22 passes by upwardly extending guide members 23 which serve to turn the edges of the material upwardly to form, in effect, a trough or channel-like section of the wrapping material, this trough or channel-like form being carried through the major length of the belt. Wrapping material 22 has advertising matter and guide marks printed thereon and workers disposed along the belt, not shown, deposit the articles to be wrapped upon the moving wrapping material, using the marks and advertising as locating indicia. Near the right end of the belt, a series of progressively turned over guide members 25 further fold the edges of the wrappingmaterial over and lap them, these folding guides being followed by, a heated sealer wheel 26 which bears down on the moving lapped edges to thereby seal them together by heat and pressure. Subsequent to passing under the sealer wheel, which thereby forms a continuous tube carrying the spaced articles, the tube then runs beneath wheel l5 and shortly thereafter is deposited by belt [0 on cutting and urged downwardly by a solenoid including a winding 34 and a core member 35, core member 35 being pulled downwardly by coil 34 when said coil is energized, thus causing a cutting and sealing operation of the adjacent edges of the tube each time that coil 34 is energized.

A firstslet 31-; is cut ,through; and extends, a short distance ,across table 28;} slot, 31:,being artranged a predetermined distance forward of rheostat IOI, wire I02, terminal I03, wire I04, contact 53, blade wire I05, contact 31, blade 64, wire I06, terminal I01 and Wire I08 which connects to the control grid of the device I6. The

5 plate relay 18 of timer I5 controls a load relay III having a winding H2 and a switch blade II3 engageablewithbut co ntactulhl andflin contact-i! 5, c neem! 5 beinesenn ciediiot rm n l IIB. Contact H4 is connected to terminal II'I slot 29 and is adapted to be covered by the articleand blade I I3 is connected to terminal I I8.

contained in the tube of wrapping material as they pass through. A second and similar-slot 38 is arranged on the other sidepislot 23 s uitg able illuminating means or lightsfiz-arearranged directly above slots 31 andgfiialliii klot other light sensitive devices 4j and 42 are located beneath said slots 3'I-'and-38}respectively;

so that light shining through said slots will i all upon said photocells or like devices. Photocell 4I co nec ed ontro in relati n qm lifier i3 ens lbiho o l- 1 mlfic fidii fiqnt m ter 41 mpl fier lia ndfllare er f l ne wir 81 a d 0 .1w the cireuitsghown and. may" b I of a y onv ntional. sor capable oi co r ll n --a relay v s. .respeqt ve photoce l is subjected to or is cut, oijf Lfrpm the lightsour cer;

Amplifiei; 43 is connected to. control the. ener g ga f'i nlo r wind g. 45 of-rdax 41 n relay A lis connected to control the energizationof winding 48 of y may; el enc i l s, sw tch blades-5 a d 52- ad 5| being e e b it nnta seam bl de-. 52 ng a e hle wl j n;i ?'f w b'54-: ike s re axn n sw ii l e s Q1 nd 58enagea w h "f n co i tion o theri ii tib ex trgls l ii Z'W Qh nclude w n i a e Q and e a reeab e W thn? amel t 6 f it c nt ct a i i fo ta '69 re rze telri The ate assist neqntrol n al ae rela or ep iiaeterl avin aw id ne a ile .sw g ib ede-ls 1 maintained negative by the D. fCQjsonrce dc} scribed Afilt r conden er: 9Iiscqnnected 'cr dss this; C. network and a tap betweenre .Qrs ilandfii is nnected to the cathode of d'ei ice 1,6, and to srouncl,v The, control r doi, devieelfi e-e nnee es -thr l ha ngjlwn ensi 90m e p re si f r is r- 4a nd? thestat 9Q conn c edin iere leiiw ih nis con enser-T he i i t l g i Of ill? QYQ QvC .n wer s scen;

meted t flie-iwn r ik riQ dpita c rcuit: startin 115;; 1121305 A W", .c

, asjimer andhas terminals I3I, I32, I33, I34

pressingbelta-I 0 against pulley. I3, the .upper per- 5 tion of: belt lflais moving tolthe :rigiht'and narry-e I Asecqnd timer I is similar to timer IS, with terminals-l2l and I22 corresponding to terminals 7 ,and lg 'l and ter rninals I23, I24 and I25 corresppnfiii'igt terminals H6, H1 and H8, respecin er I is essentially the same and-I coi'responding to I03, I01, H8, Ill and rl l ggrespectively. This timer differs slightly from I5 by having terminals I33 and I35 con- 20 aee ed xa re s i enbiadelii Q tim With1line, wires. 81; '-ands8.8 :conne,cted-.-to ,a suite. able source of current; 5 and witht-inotorf I4 enere gizedby. a circuit: line.iwire ,8 l ,;wire :i-53Q3Ni1' il 51;, wire.:I52,"motor:.I4,z.wire; I539, wire-iIfi-lzxand wire I to line wire l88, :sa2id; motor-. is'energized and rotating pulley-1| 3: Amplifierefisrisi energizedeby thelcircuitz. line wire- 8I;,':*wirel-1I 50,-;wire, I5.I- wi re I8I, amplifier 43, wire I82, wire I5 3, wire I EEGand lin'e.wire. 885.5 Amplifier G'lliiSizCOlilHSGilBdto line and cutter and sealer '32 are energized :by the; circuits line wirei fll, wireal'85; cutteriandfsealer 32 ,aiwire Iw andswire eflfiatoil-ineMir-e583; Be:-; cause relay ,II: is open, and weighted wheel I 5 ing along the cellophane wrappi-ng em'aterial; 2 2

' and-one ofa-series ofia'rticles l 5t lis approaching slot 31. As light 39 is able tolfreely shine-through F- the wrappingmaterial 2'2. :andin tophotocelbfil, 50 it-being assumedlthat themarks and advertising matter onthe. cellophane-are unable to cut of? the light, the-photocell isenergized and amplifier .43 "is; operative =-to energize Winding- 15, thereby energizing winding 48 of relay '49 to pull in switch blades 51 and 52L Withfthe relay fi pulled ini relay-62 is alsopulled-=in=by a ci-rcuitz line wirei-I wire I58, winding eaewire 459,:switch-blames,

0 contactillgand wire' I-I-iIll-tolinewire-38;. With both photocells energized as abovedescribed and theirrespective-relays pulledin,-=the D. Cicharg ing circuit of timer i5 {is completed imm terand w-ire 4.06 toiterm-inal I016 With this circuit completed, and with the potential at thetlower end of resistor fiflbeingL-negative;the i-upper side i ofcharging. capacitori98zisichargediratherahighly negative, the control electnodeaisinegativeend A also;inoeeneneizeean -swi c id ed c U23; is 1111611: from the bottom of resistor 93 and including gagement with its out contact H4. Timer I30 is likewise controlled so that its switch blade I31 engages the out contact connected to terminal I34 because its terminals I3I and I32 are connected by a circuit completed by wire I6I extending from terminal I3I to switch blade 66, in contact 69, and wire I62 back to terminal I32. Terminal I2I of timer I20 is connected by wire I63 to out contact 68 of relay 62 and terminal I22 is connected by wire I64 to switch blade 65 engageable with out contact 68 when relay 62 is deenergized but, as relay 62 is pulled in, the D. C. charging circuit for timer I20 is open, its discharge device is conducting and its relay blade I38 is pulled in. Winding 12 of load relay II is connected by wires I55 and I65 to line wire 88 and by wires I12 and I66 to contact 59 of relay 49 thence through switch blade 51 and wire I61 to terminal I24 of timer I20. However, switch blade I38 has been pulled in, as above mentioned, hence winding 12 is not energized by this circuit. A parallel circuit for winding 12 extends from wire I12 through wire I60, switch blade 52, contact 54, wire I69, terminal I34 of timer I30, switch blade I31 of said timer, wire I36, terminal I33, Wire I10, terminal 5 I1, switch blade I I3, terminal H8, and wire Ill to line wire 81, but this circuit is open because relay 41 is energized and blade 52 is out of engagement with its out contact 54. Thus, there is nothing to prevent the continued movement of the upper portion of belt I to the right.

When article 156 passes over slot 31 and interrupts the light from bulb 39 to photocell 4|, photocell 4I becomes non-conductive, relay 41 is deenergized and blade 5i disengages contact 53 and blade 52 engages contact 54. When this happens, relay H is energized by the circuit previously traced from line wire 88 including switch blade 52 and contact 54 and through timers I30 and 15. With winding 12 of relay 1I energized, blade 13 is pulled into engagement with contact 14 and solenoid windings I6 and 34 are energized by the circuit: line wire 81, wire I13, blade 13, contact 14, wire I14, winding I6, wire I15, winding 34, and wire I16 to line wire 88. Obviously, windings I6 and 34 may be connected in parallel instead of series, if desired. Energizing winding I6 attracts armature I1 of the solenoid upwardly and thereby lifts weighted pulley I6 off the belt I0 and permits said belt to spring slightly above pulley I3, thereby disrupting the driving relation between pulley I3 and the belt. This causes the belt and wrapping material to stop and, at the same time, the energization of wind ing 34 causes armature 35 to be attracted to a lower position thereby driving cutter and sealer 32 downwardly to cut the cellophane material and eject the cut portion through slot 29 and at the same time seal both edges of the cut by heat and pressure.

The same operation of relay 41 that caused the energization of relay 1I also opened the afore-mentioned charging circuit for timer 15 and thus permits the negative charge on the control electrode to be dissipated. As the negative charge leaves timing condenser 98 through rheostat 99 and the wire I11 to wire I95, the control,

electrode tends to become positive relative to the cathode so that the device 16 becomes conductive to the extent that relay 18 pulls in its switch blade 19 with the result that relay III is energized and pulls switch blade II3 out of engagement with out contact II4. This breaks the afore-described energizing circuit for relay 1I, hence. the relay contacts open and deenergize coils I6 and 34. This permits the cutter and sealer 32 to be lifted to the position shown by spring 33 and also permits wheel I5 to reengage the belt I0 with its driving pulley I3 to cause further forward motion of the belt and its cellophane tube containing the articles I56 to be wrapped. As the afore-mentioned article I56 passes over slot 31, photocell 4I remains nonconductive, hence relay 41 remains deenergized. With slot 38 still not covered, relays 49 and 62. are energized and, as a result, timer I30 continues with switch blade I31 in an out portion. and timer I20 continues to hold blade I38 in.

Upon said article I56 covering slot 38 and thereby interrupting the light from bulb 39 to photocell 42, amplifier 44 drops out relay 49 and thereby drops out relay 62, and thus opens a portion of one of the energizing circuits for winding 12 of relay 1I previously described. The deenergization of relay 62 causes switch blade 65 to engage out contact 68 and thereby completes the D. C. charging circuit for timer I20 which extends from terminal IEI through Wire I63, contact 68, switch blade 65 and wire I64 to terminal I22. Upon a sufficient negative charge being built up in the charging condenser of timer I20, the tube becomes nonconductive and its relays are dropped out with a result that blade I38 engages the contact connected to terminal I24. The deenergizing of relay 62 causes the control circuit of timer I30 extending from terminal I3I through wire I3I, blade 66, contact 69 and wire I62 to terminal I32 to open, thereby permitting the negative charge to leak off its timing condenser and its tube to be rendered conductive with the result that switch blade I31 is pulled in. Thus, With article I56 covering both slots 31 and 38, timer 15 pulls in its relays, timer I 20: drops out its relays and timer I30 pulls in its; As no energizing circuit for relay TI is: complete, solenoid windings I6 and 34 remain; deenergized and belt [0 continues in operation. Upon article I56 clearing the slot 31 but with; slot 38 still covered, amplifier 43 is again operated to pull in relay 41, but timer 15 does not start:

relays.

charging its timing condenser because the contacts of relay 62 are still open. Because slot 38 is still covered, relays 49 and 62 are still deenergized and, as aconsequence, the relays of timer I30 remain pulled in and those of timer I20 remain out. Also, relay 1I remains deenergized, hence belt I0 continues in motion.

Upon article I56 clearing slot 38, and with. slot 31 also uncovered, amplifier 44 operates topull in relay 49 which in turn pulls in relay 62.. The effect of relays 49 and 82 being pulled in is to start charging the condensers of timers "I5 and I30 and to start discharging the condenser of timer I20. Also, relay H is pulled in by thecircuit: line wire 88, wire I55, wire I65, winding 12, Wire I12, wire I66, contact 59, blade 51, wire I 61, terminal I24, blade I38, terminal I25, wire I 44, and wire I16 to line wire 81. This energizes solenoid windings I6 and 34, thereby lifting weighted wheel I5 and causing sealerand cutter .32 to cut and seal the edge of material 22 in back of article I56. This cutting and sealing operation continues for the time interval required for thenegative charge on the timing condenserof timer I20 to diminish until its discharge device becomes conductive and pulls in its relays. This cut and seal for the rear edge of one package also constitutes normally, the out andseal for the front edge of the next succeeding package. During this cutting; and sealing;operation,,.timer. I30

assume 7; drops outzitsi relaysasthe negative charge builds up on its timingmcondenser and :timer 1151mm. tinueswith its relays dropped out. I 7

Ifthe next succeedingiar'ticle I SE'c'utS the lig'ht passing through slot'31 beforethe prior article- L56 has cleared the slot 38pm);cutlandzseahwilhtake' place because, withamplifie'n 44 deenerg-ized and relays Y49. and: 62' deenergized,: thetube in timer. l30-is still conducting'andvrelay blade l3 is pulled into engagementwi-ththe contact of termi nal I33, thereby opening one circuit thatdnightbe' available for energizing relay H; tl'ife-other cir \cuit' for energizing-said ielay being opened by' the deenergization: of re-lays 49 and 62 resulting from slot :38 still-being covereda If "slot -38 i's-:now uncovered and slot= 3 l= is coverechby-a subsequent article 156; relays 49- and 162 are en'ergized 'and relay is deenergizedfi Also; blade' 'l l3 of timer "I5; ini-tially out, is pulled-in a predetermined time after relay 4 1 is dropped =out,= as previously de scribed; and-blade -*I 3 T=oitimer -I 30, previously in,

is dropped out upon-the expiration of its timin'g.

period afterthe pulling in of relays' t9 and- 62 Also,-blade' l38' oftimer l;'previouslyout,-is

pulledinupon-the expiratiomof its tim'ingperiod k after-thepulling irr of relays-49-- and 626 How ever; the pulling in ofrelays 49 and completes a circuit -previously traced" through winding -12; .rclay 49--and timer lflfl hencea cutting and seal- .ing; operation-"is performedfor the durationof the timingcycle of -timerlfik This completes the packaging'ofthe article that just-uncoveredslot 38 and make'sthefirst-cut andsealfor the package-for thearticle covering slot 31-; this latter cut and seal being= closer than normalfto' said article. Althoughslot 31 was-covered before 38-was uncovered-,photocell 41- was unable to cause a cutting-andsealing operation because the circuit for -rela-y- I l controlled by relayd1 goes through=timer-l and this timer offers-a closed circuit only after relayez has been pulledin for the timing period=of -timer I30,- and relay- 62 was not pulled in until slot 38- Was uncovered.

Insteadof the next succeeding package being spaced too near the prior article 1 5$;- assume that it is spacedslightlymorethan the desired distance, so that; just after-a cut-and sealoperation is performed; as'=slot-'38 is uncovered; the extra spaced article cuts the} light path 'through slot 31" and pulls in-relay 4-1. TI Thenormal effect "of this would be to immediately cause another'cut and:

seal by a circuitpreviousl'y traced-but; because prevent a cut'and seal-that will overlap a previous cut and seal 'tothereby prevent damage to the' cellophane by excess'heat; Up'on 'a' sufiicienttime lapse to permitthe condenser of "timer "[3 0'. to

charge-up and render-its discharge device non conductive; so that switch blade- I31 then engages; its out contact connected to terminal I34; relay 1 I canbe energized by a circuit previously traced throughrelay H andtimer-I30 to cause another operation of the cutter and sealer; withthe in tervening pieceofa cellophanebeing wasted? Obviously-, asthe -aiiticles -advanee' and are cut passes over that slot'; causesacuttingandsealing operation which: seals the. backedgeo'f one packageand the-front edge lof another 'so-that sucoessive operationsare under the control-of'the' trailing-ed'ge :of the packages passing: over slot 38:-

; the event of articles b'eing spaced too close; thetrailin'ged'ge of the articles continues" to govern the cuttingand sealing operation and; if theybe spaced too far apart, successivecuttin'grand-seal ing-op'erations will-take'place; one being governed? by the :trailing edge 'ofa package andethefotherby' the-leading edge'of the next package-but timer 1 30, Jay its time delay or memoryprevents oneicutting and sealing operation following toosoon: afteranother.

Figure 2 The control componentsused: in -Figure 2- are essentially identicalv with. those used in- Figure l and a conveyer apparatus; not-shown, is presum ably the same as showrrin-Figure 1- withthe exception that the distance of slot 31wtoslot- 2-9 is somewhat-greater "than; inthe previous 1 example and is preferably adjustable. In-other-words; Figure 2 representsa modified arrangement of the control' apparatus: for the apparatus-pf Figure. 1. Because. the components are similar they have been givensimilar numbers and the:

slight differences in the components invol'ved will become. apparent as: this description proceeds-5 Because the present apparatus isessentially the same as to 'components -it is believed thatl a' dis-' cussi'o'nfiof ithe op'eration 'of this apparatus-will best show the'relationship of the'zpatts Assumingathat an'arti'cle I56 isr-appro'a'ching slot 311 but that, at this: time, light from-lamps 3:9: is shiningfithrough slots 31. and 387ml photocells ti -and 42 sothat amplifier-s13 -2t11CI-44 "ar'b0th energizedin a manner to pull'intheir' respective relays; 'With relay 4T-'-"pu'1led:-in,"-rela;y 211k is also pulled-in: by: the; circuit line wire I 81 wire 2112; wire 2'035Wi'l'6 '2ilgiwire 205; contact 53,?blade 51; wire 206; winding: 20? *o'f relay"20i, andt-wirefills to line' wire 88': With I relay 20 I" pulled in, :timer I5 hasi its control J circuit completed;-' runningfrom terminal 1 [33 throughlwire '2 09; contact 2111", blade Zl l; an'd 'wire- 2-I2 to terminal'ifll With; this control circuit: completed,-"timer l5lhas' its timing: condenser-" il charged; its. dischargesdevice i6 is non 'conduting' 'andtiits relaysia're dropped; out so that switch blade I i3 engages its out cori tact which is connectedto terminal I II. At-t'his same .ttimeg the' control? circuit for tin ier ['30 openhence' the 'dischargej'device 'of' this tim'e is conducting? and switch blade 1 [3 1 'is pulled? Into engagement with the'contact eonnected to termi na'I 433; zA-lso'a as re1ay 4e=is ulled- '1 --th control circuit between terminals I21 fand z or tin"fer [2B isopen and relay blade l2'3 -i's p'ulld ini Tl 7 When "article 1-56" novv m'c ives -inte the path of lightbetween lamp 39 and photeceir- 4 L through slot-3' 1 and cuts-oil this lightfrelayl'i -is' dropped out; thereby dropping 'out relay" 2 01, -Deener giz'- in g reIay A'I- results-in a= cut and s'ea'l spent by th 'circuitz line 'wire'tll, wire-21' he 55;} winding -I2, wire- 24's; term-mar l ll of timer-15 switch blade H3 and terminal II8 of said timer, wire 2I6, switch blade 52,'contact 54, wir 205, wire 204, wire 203, wire 202 and line wire 81. This energizes relay 1| and thus energizes the cutter and sealer 32 by the circuits: line wire 81, wire 202, wire I13, blade 13, contact 14, wire I14, solenoid winding I6, wire I15, solenoid winding 34, wire I16, wir 2I1 and line wire 88. As before recited, the energizing of solenoid winding 34 pulls armature 35 downwardly, thus driving cutter and sealer 32 downwardly to cut and seal the cellophane tube containing the articles being packaged. At this same time the deenergizing of relay 20I opens the afore-mentioned control circuit across terminals I03 and I01 of timer 15 thereby permitting the negative charge on the control grid of tube 16 to be dissipated. As this charge leaves, the control grid tends to become positive and the tube becomes conducting, whereupon timer 15 pulls in blade II3 into engagement with its in contact and out of engagement with the contact connected to H1. This breaks the control circuit for relay H and terminates the cut and seal operation. Simultaneously with this controlling action of timer 15, the control circuit of I30, from terminal I3I through wire 22I, contact 222, switch blade 223 and wire 224 to terminal I32, is completed so that the timing condenser of this timer starts building up a negative charge and, upon this charge building up to a sufiicient point to render its tube nonconductive, then it drops out blade I31 and opens the circuit between terminals I33 and I35.

Upon the termination of the afore-mentioned cut and seal operation the conveyor continues to advance the articles across table 28 as previously described and, upon an article I56 cutting the light path through slot 38, amplifier 44 operates to drop out relay 48 and this causes a closing of the control circuit for timer I20, running from terminal I2I through wire 226, contact 221, switch blade 51, wire 228 and terminal I22, so that the condenser of this timer may be charged negative and drop out blade I38 as its tube becomes nonconducting.

Upon article I56 clearing slot 31, amplifier 43 operates to pull in relay 41 and thus pulls in relay L This reestablishes the control circuit for timer 15 so that condenser 98 is again charged negative so that device 16 becomes nonconducting and drops out the timer relays. Also, the control circuit across terminals I3I and I32 of timer I30 is opened so that its condenser starts dissipating its negative charge to permit its tube to become conducting and pull in switch blade I31, as shown. As article I56 now clears slot 38, and reestablishes light to photocell 42, amplifier 44 operates to again pull in relay 49 which opens the control circuit for timer I20, thereby permitting its negative charge to be dissipated so that its tube is again rendered conductive whereby it can pull in switch blade I38. Upon timers I20 and I30 pulling in their relays, a second circuit for the cutter and sealer relay H is completed from line wire 88 by the circuit: wire 2I4, wire I65, winding 12, wire 23I, switch blade 58, contact 60, wire 232, terminal I33, switch blade I31, terminal I35, wire 233, terminal I24, switch blade I38, terminal I25, wire 235, and wire 236 to line wire 81. It is noted that this circuit is completed only so long as the tube of timer I20 is still nonconducting and so long as the tube of timer I30 is conducting. If there is no subsequent package following I56 to cut off the light through slot 31, timer I30 remains conductive, hence the cir cuit through its relay contacts remain closed and, upon article I56 clearing slot 38, relay H is energized by the action of relay 49 pulling in and remains energized until timer I20 becomes conductive and pulls in its relay switch blade I38 to open the circuit above traced. However, a subsequent package I56 cutting the light through slot 31 would operate to drop out blade I 31 of timer I30, as previously described, and thereby prevent photocell 42 from controlling the subsequent cut and seal operation. Slots 31 and 38 are preferably spaced so that a subsequent article cuts the path of light through slot 31 before light is restored through slot 38 by the prior article clearing said slot, hence photocell 4I normally controls the cutting and sealing operations and photocell 42 controls such operations when the spacing between the articles is excessive.

In this modification, the duration of the cut and seal operations controlled by photocell M is controlled by timer 15 while the duration of the operations controlled by photocell 42 is controlled by timer I 20. Timer I 30 prevents photocell 42 from controlling the cutting and sealing when photocell 4I is controlling because its delay period is sufficient to prevent it from ever pulling in its relays if the articles are properly spaced for, before one time period elapses, another starts.

The above disclosure shows two modifications of the present control apparatus but one skilled in the art will see that many other substitutions and equivalents may be used and other obvious modifications come within the teachings of this disclosure, hence the scope of the invention should be determined only by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. Control apparatus comprising a pair of circuit controlling pickup devices, a pair of amplifiers arranged to be individually controlled by each of said devices, a load relay, a plurality of relays controlled by said amplifiers, a plurality of time delay switches, a first electrical circuit for energizing said load relay including one of said plurality of relays and a plurality of said time delay switches, a second electrical circuit for controlling said load relay including another of said plurality of relays and another of said time delay switches, circuit means for controlling one of said time delay switches including said one relay, another electrical circuit including'the other of said plurality of relays for controlling one of the time delay switches of said first electrical circuit, and a fourth circuit controlled by said other relay and controlling another of said time delay switches.

2. In a machine for packaging articles requiring an operation at each end of the article, said machine including means for moving said articles in spaced relation along a predetermined path, control apparatus for said machine including a relay for controlling said operations, a device operable in response to the presence of an article, apparatus controlled by said device for operating said relay, a second device spaced from said first device along'said path and in the direction of motion of the articles through said machine, apparatus controlled by said second device for also operating said relay, and a timer controlled by one of said devices for preventing overlapping control of said relay by both of said devices.

3. Control apparatus comprising a pair of photocells arranged in spaced relation and each exposed to a source of light, the light for each photocell being subject to sequential interruption,

11 aneamplifierzmeanswcontrolied by cach of said photocells, :a "relay meansf forweach =-samplifier means arranged to be controlled byiits respective amplifier means; another relay icontrolled'by one of said amplifier-controlled r'elayzmeans,--a load relay; a pair of timers;- a :circuit for -controlling saidsload relay including; one of *said amplifier controlled relay means-"and oneof said timers. and a i second a circuit =for'wcontrolling saidload relay including the otherrelayi 'means anda-the other of said timers,: said: other 1138133 8180 controlling-said. other. timer.

; 4.. For use with :a; packaging.- machine I which feeds a: continuous tube of transparent material having: articles" spaced .therein. 1 past cutting and sealing means' arranged-:tozbe intermittently Joperated for cutting and sealing the tube near' each end of the articles thereinato 'form separate-packages for each article; control-apparatus comprising first relaymeans' for controlling saidcutting and sealing-means; a first' circuitfor energizing said relay means, said :first circuit including a second relay, the normally closed contacts=of:- a third timer and the normally closed-contactsof a first timer; first photocell controlled means for controlling said second relays-said second relay also being cnnnected'in a-control circuit for said first timer a'second circuit 'for controlling said first relay, said secondcircuit-including a fourth relay and the normally closed'contacts of a second timer; second photocell controlled means-forcontrolling said :fourthrelayr-and a fifth relay, said fourth relay also controlling saidfifth relay; said fifth relay controlling saidsecond and thirdtimers' and cooperating with saidwsecond relay for controlling said first timer.

5. In control apparatus having a load relay 'for controlling intermittent operations of a desired sort, a first devicerespons-ive'rto the? presence of an object, electrical apparatus control-ledby said device and including: a "timer forrcausing-operation of said load relay'for a. predetermined period upon a response by saidrdevice; a second device spaced from said first-'device and also-responsive to the presence of an object;- additional electrical apparatus controlled-by said' second device and including a timer 'forcausing r operation. of said load relay for a predetermined period upon-said second device, and aithird timer: arranged to'be controlled-by one of said devices ioi' controlling said load relay in a'manner'tdinsure ai-predetermined .time periodrbetween successive. operations of said relay.

6. In control apparatusha'vingaiload' relay for controlling intermittent control operationsr a first device operablein response :to thepresence oi an object; apparatus controlled: by-fsaid' dev-ice for causing an-operation-nf said load relay whenzsaid device determines :the presence' of such an'object. a timer "for: determiningir'thet duration of: the noperations of saidiload relay, a second'device operablein response tothepresence of an'object; and apparatus controlled by? said second: device 1 connected'to control; the ienergizationzof said load relayt-in: affmannen "to prevent: operationiof said relay byi said first device when both of said i devices are being. .operated.

, '7. Control: apparatus-comprising;a'Ioad relay. a pair of amplifierseach arranged to be controlled byan-electrical pickup; device; a relay controlled by one "of "said amplifiers, an electrical circuit including timing -means arranged between said relay and saidloadrelayfthe other of said amplifiers controllingadditional relay means, another 1 2 rangedibetweens'said-additional relay-.meansand said load relay? and a thirdlelectrical..circuitineluding a-lthird timer,: -said. ltimerr controlling at least a partrofl one oil -the above. electricalwcii cuitsin a manner tomequire apredetermined time interval between operations of i said load relay.

-8.\Control-:apparatus foria machine which sequentially performs operations. on objects passing through said machine -said. apparatus comprising-a load relaymeans, a first electrical pickup: devicerrelectricall circuit means including a timer controlled bylsaidifirst pickup device. and arranged to controlssaid relaylmeansfisaid timer being arranged to .--control :the "duration of lthe operations ofisaidrelay means, a -second .electri cal pickup. .device. spaced from said =first device in thedirection ofimovement of.:said objects, additional' electrical circuit means controlled. by saidesecond device and arranged .to-control said relay: means, saidadditionalicircuit means being operative-to preventoperation of said relay means by said first device when said. seconddevice is operativein a predetermined manner.

9 .Sequentially operable control apparatus for controllingprescribed operations on objects passing through a -machine comprising a principal switching i means a first electrical device responsiveto thepresence of an object, means including an.:electrical-"circuit. connecting said device in controlof said- -switching-. means, a second electrical-device :also arranged to respond to the presence of an objectgmeans including adifierent electrical circuit for connecting saidwsecond device in control of said switching means,- andltimer means-arrangedrtolcontrol the duration of the operations 10f.- saidz switching 1 means.

. 10: Gontrol apparatus -'for a-v-machine --which performs: consecutiyecoperations:upon a series ofwarticlesgspassing ethrough said machine ina predetermined direction, a relay for controlling said operations; a.=first photoelectric device responsive to the presenceofan opaque article, electrical apparatus-controlled by said device and arranged to control said relay,-a timer: arranged to control-:the time period cfeachoperation of said relay, a second photoelectric-device also responsive to vthey presence of an opaque article, said first and second devices being spaced apart in said predetermined direction by an amount based on the: size of articles for which the machine. is adjusted :and apparatus: controlled by saidrsecondi device: connected to said relay in-- a manner 'to prevent substantially simultaneous operation; of said relay. by/both .of said devices and to cause: operation of said-relay when either of said devices alone respondsin: an operative member.

'lliIn control apparatusfor a machine of a sort, performing :consecutive operations inresponse to objects moving along a path, said operations being controllableby. a relay; the combination comprising .a relayya first means capablemf anloutputzsignallin response-tothe presence oflan object apparatus. controlled; by said first means for causing operation of the SEGOIldi named relayin response to :an output signal. from. said *first means ;1--asecond "means L08:- pable-of an outputrsignal in response to the: presence of. an objects-additional apparatus controlled by: said secondimeans fort/operating said second named relayin response td an output signal 'from s'aid second means and a timer eontrolledby electricalcircuituncluding asecondtimerai- I5 ne Di ai flr twfid' secdfid means for insuri3 ing a predetermined time interval between operations of said second named relay.

12. In a machine for performing operations upon objects moved along a predetermined path; a device disposed adjacent said path for per forming said operations; a first means arranged in said path and responsive to a condition indicative of the presence of an object; apparatus controlled by said first means and including a timer, said apparatus being arranged to control said device for a period determined by said timer; a second means responsive to a condition indicative of the presence of an object, said second means being spaced along said path from the first means; additional apparatus including a second timer controlled by said second means, said additional apparatus also being arranged to control said device for periods depending on said second timer; and a third timer controlled by one of said first and second means for preventing overlapping control of said device by both of said means.

13. In control apparatus for a machine which performs intermittent operations, in combination, a machine controlling relay, a first means capable of an output signal in response to the presence of an object, electrical apparatus including a timer for causing operation of said relay for a predetermined time upon sensing an output signal from said means, a second means also capable of producing an output signal in response to the presence of an object, said second means being spaced from the first means in a direction such that it will normally be operated subsequently to said first means, additional electrical apparatus controlled by said second means and including a timer for causing operation of said relay for a predetermined time due 14 to an output signal from said second means, and a third timer controlled by said second means for preventing operation of said relay by the first means for a predetermined period after the relay is operated by the second means.

14. In a machine, means for performing operations upon objects movable through the machine, means for supplying objects to be Worked on along a predetermined path, first electrical pickup means disposed in said path on one side of said operation performing means, means for connecting said pickup means in control of said operation performing means, second electrical pickup means arranged in said path on the other side of said operation performing means, means connecting said second pickup means in controlling relation to said operation performing means, and time dela means controlled by one of said means for insuring a predetermined time between subsequent operations of said operation performing means.

JERRY HAGEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,929,273 Crago Oct. 3, 1933 1,939,829 Steenbeck Oct. 17, 1933 1,998,132 Geiicken et a1 Apr. 16, 1935 2,162,129 Salnsberg June 13, 1939 2,214,593 Mustin et a1 Sept. 10, 1940 2,246,996 Viebahn et a1 June 24, 1941 2,249,820 Gulliksen July 22, 1941 2,251,306 Thompson i- Aug. 5, 1941 2,339,294 Stockbarger Jan. 11, 1944 2,350,930 Salfisberg June 6, 1944

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