US2744370A

US2744370A - Mechanism for wrapping caramels, pastilles and articles of similar shape

Info

Publication number: US2744370A
Application number: US219613A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seragnoli Ariosto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-04-06
Filing date: 1951-04-06
Publication date: 1956-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-08

Description

May 8, 1956 Filed April 6, 1951 A. SERAGNOLI CARAMELS, SIMILAR S PPING STILLES AND E 4 Sheets-Sheet l 84 Q 90 as FIG.9

INVENTOR Arlosto Seragnpli ATTOR NEY May 8, 1956 SERAGNOU 2,744,370

MECHANISM FOR W P CARAMELS, PASTILLES AND ARTICLES SIMILAR SHAPE Filed April 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. l3

INVENTOR Ariosto Seragnoli ATTORNEY A. SERAGNOLI MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING CARAMELS, PASTILLES AND 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ARTICLES OF SIMILAR SHAPE May 8, 1956 Filed April 6, 1951 Ariosto Seragnoli AT TORNEY .May 8, 1956 A. SERAGNOLI 2,744,370

MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING CARAMELS, PASTILLES AND ARTICLES OF SIMILAR SHAPE Filed April 6 1951 4 SheetsSheet 4 FIG 10 104 INVENTOR Ariosto Seragnoli BY I iwga/ 0 FIG 11 ATT0R EY United States Patent O MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING CARAMELS, PAS- TILLES AND ARTICLES on SIMILAR SHAPE Ariosto Seragnoli, Bologna, Italy I Application April 6, 1951, Serial No. 219,613

6 Claims. (Cl. 53--228) This invention concerns a mechanism which serves for wrapping articles of various shapes, spherical, oblong, squashed, etc. arranging them in suitable manner within special sheaths or coverings or Wrapping them within pieces of paper or other material. In the text the word wrapping is used to indicate the operations which are accomplished on the said articles, to give them suitable dress and finish for conservation, protection and sale, and

particularly vto indicate the necessary operations for vwrapping the articles with pieces of paper or other material.

One object of the present invention is a mechanism comprising two pincers, each consisting or .two fingers carried by two levers which can open or close as controlled; an

elevator, a folding mechanism with one side stationary and the other mobile acting as folding device, arranged in convenient fashion in respect to the feeding mechanism and to stationary guides, having synchronized movements' suitable for wrapping a caramel or similar article, lifted by the elevator, Within a paper tube or bag ready for sealing by a twisting operation.

Another object of the invention is the process and mechanism by which the tube that encloses the article is formed, by folding one end of the paper by means of the mobile side of the folding mechanism whichacts as folding device and by gliding the other end against a curved guideand finally completing the tube by the motion of the second pincers after the product has been transferred partially wrapped from. the first to the second .pincers.

Another object of :the invention is the system and arrangement for transferring the article, partially wrapped, from the first to the second pincers, obtained by making thefingers of the second pincers pass between those of the first, *while the levers :which carry the fingers move in planes situated on opposite sides of thearticle.

Another object of the invention is the coordination of the closing phase of the rufiders with that of. the wrapping twist so that the rufllers tighten the paper tube while the fingers of the twisters hold it and remain closed for all or nearly all the time of .the twisting phase, rendering possible the use of relatively poor type paper.

Another object, of the invention is the feeding mechanism consisting of a disc, usually with a vertical axis, havingperipheral bottomless pockets, of' suitable shape, corresponding to the shape of the articles to be wrapped and to the position they must take, and which by a usual control, for instance a Maltese cross, rotates intermittently.

The die is further provided in the center with a high zone f sloping towards the perimeter, which slope directs the 2,744,376 Patented May 8, 1956 Y which are obtained the processes of opening, closing and rotating of the pincers, the milling of the paper and its wrapping in single or double bow-twist, as required in this style of wrapping for caramels and similar products.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will moreover appear from the following description taken in conjunction with'the attached drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front view of the mechanism, parallel to the plane in which the caramel or article which has to be wrapped moves, and represents the phase in which the wrapping cycle starts;

Figs. 2 and 3 are frontal ,views, like Fig. 1, and represent successive phases of the wrapping operation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mechanism in the phase corresponding to Fig. 3; I

Fig; 6 is a section of Fig. 5 according to plane AA (coinciding to plane AA of Fig; l

inciding to plane'BB of Fig. l

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the twisting and closing mechanism of the rotating 'twis't'ihg'pincers;

Fig. 10 is a perspective schematic view of the feeding mechanism in a preferred manner of accomplishment;

Fig. I1 is a downward projection of the mechanism shownin Fig. 10; v

Fig. 12 is a section of the mechanism according to-pIane CC of Fig. 11, projected in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 13 and 14 are schematic perspective views of the mechanism operating the twisting respectively in the double and single end twist wrap fashion.

In the various figures the same numbers are used to designate the same parts through the various views and sections. In the description and in the drawings the invention is described in the particular form it takes for the realisation of the machine for Wrapping caramels or articles of similar shape in a double bow-twist: it can nevertheless be utilized in various other applications as in particular for wrapping ca'ranrels and similar articles with a single end-twist and with the present patent it is intended to claim the inventionin all its possible applications".

While the invention is liable to various modifications and alternate constructions, the manners of accomplishment shown in the drawings and described in the text refer to preferred mannersfof accomplishment and are shown for the sole purpose of illustration, and it is not intended that the invention be limited to these and by these, "but the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate manners of accomplishment coinciding with the scope and defined in the claims. The description is made out illustrating the phases in which the wrapping is done, in a preferred manner of accomplishment. The phases are illustrated as taking place" in succession, but in reality they can be interlinked and overlapping in timing,v consistently with operational necessities;

First :phase.-'-At the beginning of the wrapping cycle article 'I which has to be wrapped, brought forward by feeding disc 2,. is located over the elevator 3', in correspondence to the folding mechanism 4. On top of the Fig. 5 is a rear view of the mechanism operatingpincers product the feeding-rollers 5 have brought the slip of paper 6, taken from spool 7, and cut to proper length by scissors 8.

Second plzase.-Article 1, held between elevator 3 and counter-elevator 3 is lifted up together with the paper and is pushed between the sides 9 and it of the folding mechanism, right beyond the folding mechanism itself, between fingers 14 and of the

levers

11 and 12 of pincers 13. The paper is thus bent around the article 1 in the shape of an arch.

Third phase.Levers 11 and 12 of pincers 13 hold the product and paper between their

fingers

14 and 15. Elevator 3 descends and counter-elevator 3' ascends; the front side 9 of the folding mechanism moves forward folding flap 16 of the paper under the articfe. The said front side 9 is carried by an oscillating arm which can be co-axial with the body of the pincers 13, as shown in the figures, or not. In the figures the system for guiding and operating the said arm is not shown and can obviously be obtained in various manners.

Fourth phase-Pincers 13, holding article 1 between its fingers, moves upwards, making the other flap 18 of the paper to glide against the stationary side of the folding mechanism 17 causing this also to fold itself around the product, thus enclosing it in a tube. Having reached the end of the curved side of the folding mechanism 17 the article passes its upper edge and is brought between the

fingers

19 and 20 of the second pincers 21. This passage is possible because the

fingers

14 and 15 and 19 and 20 are offset on the levers of

pincers

13 and 21 and move in a free space left between the two planes in which levers 11 and 12 of pincers 13 and levers 22 and 23 of pincers 21 respectively operate. The exit of the fingers and of the article from between ele vator 3 and counter-elevator 3 is also possible because

fingers

14 and 15 are offset forward from

levers

11 and 12, so that there is no interference between said levers and counter-elevator 3' which operates further out.

Fifth phase-Pincers 21 hold the article between

fingers

19 and 20 while pincers 13 free it by loosening the pressure of its

fingers

14 and 16; then pincers 21 take the article outwards, causing the lower part 24 of fiap 18 of the paper (see Fig. 2) to glide on the extension 25 of the stationary side 17 of the folding mechanism, so that the paper comes to close the article in a completely formed tube. At the end of this last movement the extremities of the paper tube which extend beyond the article find themselves between the

fingers

26 and 26a of the rotating twisters which close and take hold of the paper and in their rotation twist it into a bow.

Perspective Fig. 4 shows the component parts which operate in this last phase of the wrapping, parts which, for simplicity, had not been shown in the previous figures. The

twisting fingers

26 and 26a are carried by

levers

76 and 77, hinged on

pivots

27 and 28, mounted on the forked extremity of sleeve 79, rotating and running in a hub solid with the base and having a constant speed of revolution and an alternating axial backward and forward movement operated by a cam.

Inside sleeve 79, shaft 32 which has a rack 31 can travel backwards and forwards (but not rotate in respect of the rotating sleeve 79). Its relative axial movement (in respect of the rotating sleeve) due to the differential action of two cams (see further) causes the opening and shutting of the

twisting fingers

26 and 26a. While the said twisting fingers take hold of the paper, the

ruffier

33 and 34, operated by double action cams (not shown in the drawings), close in and grip the tube in the area where the paper has to be twisted, ruffling it, so as to allow it to be twisted without being torn. The rufilers remain closed for nearly the whole period of twisting.

Meanwhile the twisting fingers revolve and, at the same time advance (with sleeve 79), towards the article so as to compensate the diminished length of the paper due to the twist. This advance is operated through a cam which sends forward the sleeve with the pivots on which the twisting fingers are hinged.

Having completed the twist, the twisting fingers open and free the extremities of the bow-twist which has been shaped. Pincers 21 also open, freeing the wrapped article which is expelled and caused to fall down by an expeller 20a; thus the wrapping cycle is ultimated.

In Fig. 4, which refers to the double bow-twist wrapping, are shown behind the product a part of the elements which serve to accomplish the twist of the second bow, which are substantially symmetrical to those above described; the corresponding elements are marked with the same numbers with a hyphen to distinguish the rear ones from the front ones. These second parts are applied only when it is desired to accomplish the double-bow twist wrapping. When instead it is desired to make the satchet or single-bow wrappings these parts are abolished and substituted by well-known arrangements for accomplishing the satchet fold at the bottom.

While Figures from 1 to 4 are schematical examples, the Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show with greater mechanical completeness, through views and sections, the mechanisms which operate

pincers

13 and 21 and twisting

fingers

26 and 26a.

The operation of the other mechanisms, as the elevator 3 and counter-elevator 3', feeding rollers 5, scissors 8, folder 9 and ruffle-

rs

33 and 34, can be obtained with evident and well-known means and is not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, which respectively represent the rear view and the downwards projection section of pincers 13, the

levers

11 and 12 of pincers 13 are connected by

hubs

35 and 36 and pivots 37 and 38, to the

little shafts

39 and 40 turning within the oscillating sleeve 41, which is free to oscillate within hub 42 of the base 43 of the machine.

The

little shafts

39 and 40 are connected with

toothed sectors

44 and 45, geared together, and with

levers

47 and 48 on which return spring 49 operated for the purpose of keeping the pincers shut. Lever 46, acting on an appendix of arm 48, causes the pincers to open through the action of a cam 54.

The oscillating sleeve 41 is operated, through rod 50, by a camshaft (not shown in the drawings). In a hub of the sleeve which unites rod 50 to said sleeve the little shaft 51, which operates lever 46, rotates, transmitting to it, through crank 52 and roller 53, the movements operated by cam 54. Said cam rotates on a pivot which is concentric with the bore in which sleeve 41 oscillates, and turns at a constant speed by means of a chain drive which operates gear 55.

Through the coordination of the profile and of the keying of cam 54 and of the transmission mechanisms which it operates, in phase with the oscillating movement of the oscillating sleeve 41 operated by rod 50, the appropriate succession of the phases for closing, rotating and opening of pincers 13 is obtained.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, levers 22 and 23 of pincers 21 are keyed, through their

respective hubs

56 and 57, respectively on shaft 58 and on hollow shaft 59. The former rotating within the latter, and the latter being guided in hub 60 attached to base 43 of the machine.

Oscillating sleeve 59 is operated by cam 68 through roller 61-guided by connecting rod 62and to rod 63 hinged on pivot 64 (adjustable within slot 65 of lever 66 which is attached, through hub 67, to the oscillating sleeve 59). With this mechanism it is possible to adjust the amplitude of oscillation of the above mentioned pincers.

Shaft 58, instead, receives an oscillating movement from cam 69, through roller 70 guided by connecting rod 71, rod 72, sleeve 73, free on the shaft, and sleeve 74 which instead is fixed on shaft 58.

The movement is transmitted by free hub 73 "to hub 74 through spring 75, while the relative'init'ia'l p0. sition of the .two shafts is adjusted through adjusting screw 76. Through the coordination of the profile and of the keying of the two cams and of the transmissions the appropriate succession of the phases for closing, .rotating and openingof pincers .21 is obtained.

Referring to Fig. 9, levers 76 and 77 which carry the twisting

fingers

26 and 26a are hinged on

pivots

27 and 28 and are one piece with the .toothed sectors .29 and 30 engaged by double rack 31. Pivots 27 and .28 are hinged on fork 78 machined on the extremity of rotating sleeve 79, which can spin and move axially in hub 80,

fixed to base 43. Sleeve 79 spins at'constant speed being operated by chain driven gear '81 (not shown in the figures).

The alternating axial movement is operated, through slippers 82, of forked lever 83 hinged on fixed pivot 84, by cam 85 through roller 86. Spring 87, in contrast between the rotating sleeve and the base, serves for the return.

Shaft 32, running axially within sleeve 79 and spinning in unison with it, receives axial alternating movement through button 88 of lever 89, hinged on fixed pivot 90 and operated, through roller 91, by cam 92. Return spring 93, in contrast between sleeve 79 and the machined shoulder 94 of shaft 32, maintains the contact of roller 91 with cam 92.

Through the coordination of the profile and of the keying of

cams

85 and 92 and of the transmissions, the appropriate succession of the phases is obtained for 'closing, rotating and opening of the twisting

fingers

26 and 26a which, in phase with the rotary movement of sleeve 79 and with the operation of

pincers

13 and 21, and of the rufiiers, accomplish the bow-twist of the two ends of the paper tube, completing the wrapping.

Concomitantly with the phases for enclosing and wrapping of the article above described there is the operation of the feeding mechanism shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

Vertical shaft 95 is operated by trip-gear by shaft 96 through pivot 97, sector 98 and the disc with arches and slots 99, which all together form a Maltese cross mechanism. Feeding disc 2 rotates in solid with shaft 95. The shaft is provided with pockets 100, in number corresponding to the number of trips which the disc accomplishes in one complete revolution.

Under the pockets are arranged the miniature rails 101 sustained by brackets 102 fixed to the base of the machine 43, which sustain the articles which drop into the pockets 100 and arrange themselves therein.

Above the rotating disc, which is superelevated in the centre, there are: a wall 104, an entrance diaphragm 105 and an exit brush 106 fixed to base 43 which elements, with the central superelevation of the disc, form a sort of basin with mobile bottom into which the articles to be distributed into the pockets are loaded in bulk. Owing to the superelevation of the disc the articles come together in the area overtopping the pockets and fall into these spontaneously or by helping the distribution by hand or by means of rotating brushes, mixers, etc.

By the tripgear movement of disc 2 the pockets come to halt successively above the elevating disc 3 which in cooperation with counter-elevator 3shown only in some of the figurestakes hold of the articles 1 and lifts them up to bring them under the action of further mechanisms of the classifying and wrapping machine, together with the wrapping paper 6, if wrapping is entailed.

In Figure 12 is shown, over the article contained in the pocket 100, the slip of paper 6 which serves for wrapping the article. Said slip of paper is usually brought over the. article from the exterior, with radial motion, with known methods which are not shown and they can be taken from spool or be fed to the machine '6 already cut, and that the wrapping material be single or multiple.

Such a slip of paper may. of course, be provided and fed in any suitable way.

Having thus described the invention in its details with reference to preferred constructional manners of accomplishment, it will be obvious for experts'in this field, after having understood the invention itself, that other changes and modifications can 'be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention itself and it is intended, through the following claims, to cover also those changes and modifications which enter into the spirit of the invention and into the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is: I

1. In an article-wrapping machine, a feeding means for feeding a sheet of material for forming wrappers for the articles; a distributing means for positioning each of the articles in said machine; gripping means for holding together a wrapper and an article; means for transporting said gripping means together with the article and wrapper; folding means for folding the wrapper to U-shape about the article when said article and wrapper are transported; a first set of pincers for grasping said article and U-shaped wrapper; means for removing said gripping means; folding means for folding one leg of the U-shaped wrapper underneath the article; a stationary folder and guide; means for' moving said first set of pincers in order to transport the article and partially folded wrapper along said folder and guide for folding and retaining the remaining leg of the Wrapper underneath the article to form 'a tubular wrapper; a second set of pincers for grasping said article and. wrapper at the end of the folder and guide; means for releasing the first set of pincers from the article and wrapper; rotary twisting means; means for moving the second set of pincers to transport the article and folded wrapper to said twisting means; ruffiing means located between the article while it is in the said last position and said twisting means, and means for moving said rufiiing means to ruflie the tubular wrapper and for moving said twisting means to twist an end of the tubular wrapper about the article; and means for releasing the wrapped article from the second set of pincers.

2. In the article-wrapping machine of claim 1, wherein each set of pincers comprises a pair of pivotally mounted levers having gripping portions for grasping the article 1 and wrapper.

3. In the article-wrapping machine of claim 1, wherein a set of pincers comprises a pair of levers, said levers mounted on adjacent parallel shafts; means for intermittently oscillating said shafts in opposite directions with respect to each other to alternately grip and release the article and wrapper. i

4. In the article-wrapping machine of claim 1, wherein a set of pincers comprises a pair of levers, a pair of concentric shafts, each of which is connected to one of said levers; and means for intermittently oscillating said shafts in opposite directions with respect to each other to alternately grip and release the article and wrapper.

5. In the article-wrapping machine of claim 1, wherein the rotary twisting means comprises two pairs of twisting jaws oppositely positioned; means for rotating each pair of jaws at a constant continuous speed; means for intermittently and alternately opening and closing each set of twisting jaws, while said second set of pincers is holding the article and wrapper in stationary position; and means for moving said oppositely positioned pairs of twisting jaws axially towards each other while said jaws are closed, to compensate for the movement of the twisted wrapper ends.

6. In the article-wrapping machine of claim 1, wherein the distributing means for positioning each of the articles in the machine itself comprises a rotatable mounted disc, provided with a central raised portion and peripherally disposed bottomless pockets, each of which are for receiving and entirely containing an article; guides positioned below said bottomless pockets to sustain the articles; walls positioned over the disc; exit retaining means cooperating with said central raised portion of said disc to divide the area above the disc itself in an encircled area for charging in bulk the articles to be distributed; an outer removal area; gripping means, vertically movable, positioned over and underneath the disc in said outer removal area; means for intermittently advancing the disc and stopping it while a bottomless pocket with an article is positioned between said gripping means; means for lifting the gripping means together with an article and wrapper, passing the lower of said gripping means through said bottomless pocket for transporting an article and wrapper, and for returning said lower gripping means to its initial position while the disc is stationary.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,226,622 Kempf May 15, 1917 1,955,493 Grover Apr. 17, 1934 1,960,903 Zangler May 29, 1934 1,964,411 Beutel June 26, 1934 1,965,321 Smith July 3, 1934- 2,462,276 Mueller Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,236 Netherlands Sept. 15, 1943 644,805 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1950