US2879636A - Wrapper applying machine for newspapers - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1959 A. J. ZUERCHER WRAPPER APPLYINGYMACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1957 A s WL LI m w a m w o z W A u a g 7 7 o 4 2 M w 0 A? .0 -0

March 1959 A. J. ZUERCHER WRAPPER APPLYING MACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1957 INVENTOR flaw/01w (1 205 mm @m/ '7? Away/v03 A F 0. E m,

March 31, 1959 ZUERCHER 2,879,636

WRAPPER APPLYING MACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS Filed Jan. 23, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

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' WRAPPER APPLYING MACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS Filed Jan. 23, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tic]- S.

l N V EN TOR. A/Yr/w/vy d. Z ua/vcms-e March 31, 1959 A RHER 2,879,636

WRAPPER APPLYING MACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS Filed Jan. 23, 1957 7 Sheets-sheaf; e

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March 31, 1959 A. J. ZUERCHER 2,879,636

WRAPPER APPLYING MACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS Filed Jan. 23, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Q :1. .E. 88 j \Ffi v INVENTOR. r A/YT/lO/VY U. Zusycmse BY 9- IN ,4 rrop/vays i edstatesPatefit O y WRAPPER APPLYING MACHINE FOR NEWSPAPERS 9 Claims. (Cl. 53-7-53) The present invention relates generally to newspaperhandling machines, and more particularly to apparatus adapted automatically tol apply top and bottom wrappers to a stack of newspapers. prior to tying operations.

In modern newspaperplants, papers delivered from the press are bundled to facilitate truck delivery and bulk mailing. To form the bundles, papers discharged from the press are gathered into stacks which are then placed between top and bottom covers consisting of eight to sixteen-page scrap sections, the covered stack being fed into a tying machine where it is firmly bound by Wire. Normally, in standard mail rooms the paper stack will be made up of .fifty folded newspapers, twenty-five of which will be reversed to even the pile. The height of the stack will vary from day to day, depending, of course, on the size of the daily edition. The formation of stacks and the stack-covering operation have heretofore been carried out manually, several operators being required to transfer papers from the press to the tying machine in condition for bundling.

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of the invention to provide a wrapper machine for newspapers adapted to apply top and bottom covers to a newspaper stack automatically and at relatively high speed. A machine in accordance with the invention not only does away with the need for the manual wrapping of newspaper stacks but is also capable of increasing the rate of wrapping to at least twice that of existing manual techniques.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to apply top and bottom covers to newspaper stacks prior to tying, while compensating automatically for difierent stack heights and spacings. An. important advantage of the machine is that it is self-adjusting in operation and need not be altered to meet varying conditions of stack height or spacing in the course of operation.

Also an object of the invention is to provide an automatic wrapping machine adapted to operate in conjunction with a counting-stacking machine, thereby dispensing entirely with manual operations in the bundling of newspapers discharged from a'high speed press. Thus the invention makes possible an automation system in which the printing and bundling of newspapers is carried out without manual intervention.

A significant feature of the invention resides in the use of a bundle stop, a deflector and an incomplete bundle-delivery device activated by signals which are set up by the absence of a wrapper or the presence of doubles or more than two wrapper sections, whereby only properly wrapped stacks are fed to the tying machine. The bundle stop and deflector act to maintain the proper sequence of pre-addressed top wrappers while operating H 2,87%36 Paifenlzed Mar. 3

Briefly stated, in a preferred embodiment of a wrapping machine in accordancewith the invention, a main conveyor'is provided to transport a stack of newspaper through a wrapping station, a sheeter unit supplying a bottom sheet to themain conveyor to engage the under-j side of the stack as it enters the station. Also provided at the station is a feeder and applying' mechanism which supplies a top cover to the top side of the stack, the ap: plying mechanism being self-adjusting to the height of the stack. A deflector mechanism at the exit of the sta-' tion is adapted to divert stacks from'the main'conveyor onto a reject conveyor, the deflector being activated only when an improperly wrapped stack leaves the station. Preceding the station. is agate mechanism whose tune-1 tion' is to block the passage'o'fstacks Jon the main con'- veyor in the, event the feeder mechanism fails. to pick up a top sheet for transfer to the oncomingstack.

For a better understanding of the invention as Well as other objects and further features thereof, reference. is had to the following detailed description to be readi'n conjunction with the accompanying drawings,' wherein like components in the several views are represented by like reference numerals.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a ,plan view of a wrapping machine in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken of the machine along the plane indicated by line 2+2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken along the plane indicated by line 33 in Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a detail of machine illustrated in Fig. 3. i

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the wrapping station of the machine.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of the wrapping station.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the gate mechanisms for the machine.

Fig. 8 is a detail showing the double wrapper detection mechanism. v

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, the major components of the wrapper machine comprise an accelerating table, generally designated by numeral 10, a main conveyor 11, a bottom she'eter unit 12, a wrapper-applying station 13 which includes a pre-cut top wrapper feeder 14, a bundle reject conveyor 15, and a deflector 16 'which acts to divert stacks from the main conveyoronto the reject conveyor 15 when the stacks are improperly wrapped. The stack being fed along the conveyor into the machine is represented by stack 17. I v v p The details of the accelerating roller table 10,- the main conveyor 11? and the bottom s'heeter unit 13 may either manually or automatically from a countingstacking machine, such asfis currently. manufactured by the Cutler-Hammer Company, Rotatably mountedflon the table 10 are a series of rollers 18, chain-driven from a common drive shaft 19. The table is pivotally mounted. The function of the accelerating'roll table at the input end of the machine is to impart an initial velocity to the incoming bundle and thereby to convey bundles from adjacent stacking machinery to the wrapper-applyingfstation. The table pivots upwardly to afford access to roll stock spindles when replacing roll stock. i

The main conveyor system 11,"which is aligned with the rollers on the accelerating table, includes two parallel rows of rollers 20 having their axles journaled in end plates 21 which are secured to translating roller chains 22 driven through a suitable gear system from a common motor 52. Thus if movement of the stack is arrested on the conveyor, the rollers 20 will turn in a counterclockwise direction while whereby the stack will be maintained without disturbance at a fixed position despite continued movement of the chain. t v

Forward motion of a stack on the main conveyor trips a valve system supplying air to a cylinder-operated valve energizing a single revolution clutch which drives the botton'rwrapp'er sheeter 12. This is accomplished by means of a trip wheel 23 which is .rotatably mounted on a pivoted latch member 24;,the latch being biased upv'vardly by a spring 25, whereby the wheel is elevated somewhat above the level-of the rollers 20 in themain conveyor to intercept the oncoming stack.

Thus when the stack rides on trip wheel 23, the latch 24'is rocked about its pivot point to release a pawl 26 which normally engages the hookof the latch. Pawl 26 is linked to the plunger 27 ofja valve'28 in an air cylinder system having an air intakeduct 29, The air cylinder system, when tripped, acts to energize a single revolution clutch which may be of standard design (not shown). The' clu tch effects engagement between a drive mechanisnrand a'sheeter cuttergcylinder 30 whereby the cylinthe chain 22 moves forwardly,

. 4 the absence of a wrapper, as sensed by microswitch 44, will cause deflection of the stack onto the reject conveyor 11.

Rollers 47 on the reject conveyor are driven by belts 48 coupled to a motor-driven shaft 49, which shaft is also operatively coupled through suitable gear boxes to the common shaft 19 for the conveyors as well as to the other driven elements of the machine, such as the bottom sheeter unit. Shaft 49 is rotated by the common motor 52 which also drives a suitable vacuum pump 53 connected to the vacuum systems of the machine.

' The motor 52 also drives a bundle transfer conveyor v 1 54 constituted by a pair of continuous belts 55 and 56,

supported along spring-loaded rollers and acting to transfer the bundles, after covers are applied thereto at the wrapping station 13, to an output conveyor 57 leading to a tying machine.

Pre-cut top wrappers 58, which may be individually addressed, are piled horizontally on a table 59 adjacent der. makes one "full revolution during which a bottom cover is cut froma web and, spotted on the underside of the'newspaper stack, The [manner in which this is carried outwill now be explained.

A web 31 of wrapper material, such aslcraft paper, is drawn from a reel 32, the web passing under. adancer roll 33' mounted on the end of an arm 34. pivotally supported at an eccentric point on the reel '32, the arm being springloaded'to'hold the web under tension. 1 Correct tension pn the webds maintained by a hand brake 35' which is actuated in-accbrdanc'e with the angular position of the dancer roll relative to th'ereel.

The web 31'drawn from the reel 32 passes under the dancer. roll 33 audovera metering" roller 40, the-web then going under the cutter cylinder and passing upwardlythrough guides 36 where it is driven by a pair of spotting rolls 37 onto the conveyor rollers of the wrapper unit. 3

The" sheeter cutter action is efiect'ed by a cutting rule 38, radially mounted on the cutter cylinder 30 and projecting outwardly therefrom.- The'rule bears against a cylindrical toolsteel platen 39, the cutter cylinder and platen being supportedfor rotation insuitable bearings. Thus in'the course'of .one revolution, when the cutting rule' 38 engages th'e 'surface of the platen the web31 is severed to proyide the bottom coverfor the stack.

jfThe meteringfroller. 40 is undercut to provide a circurnterential g' roove 40d. Riding on ,the metering roller 40 1s a microswi'tch wheel 41;mounted on theend' of a pivoted actuator" 'rin42 which cooperates with the operat ing pin43 of -amicroswitch"element34, such'that should the paperweb tear or, the stock be depleted before completion ofa run, the switchwill-close'acircuit to an alarm and cause operation of the deflector 16. The manner in which this is carried out is 'as follows: The absence of paper on the metering roller due to a rupture in theweb I or the depletion of stock will permit [the'microswitch wheel 41 to fall into groove 4tla, thereby dropping actuator arm Alto release piri'.43, the release of the pin operating microswitch144. {The operation of the microswitch closes a circuit in the control mechanism 46 for the deflector 16.

The control mechanism 46, represented in block form 'in' Fig. 1, maybe constituted by an air cylinder operated by a'solenoid valve under the control of the microswitch the wrapper station 13. The top wrappers are transported by a feeder mechanism 60, including sucker ele ments 61, to spotting rollers 62 and 63. The sucker elements attach .to the leading edge of the wrapper, the top wrappers being maintained at a proper elevation for'the suckers by a-self-compensating teed action. As the bundles move down the main conveyor 11 they acti-. vate a tripper device 90 whose design may be similar to that of trip mechanism 23, the tripper'device acting to e'nergize'a' single revolution clutch for the top wrapper feederrnechanism 60, whereby the feeder supplies one top wrapper for each bundle fed into the wrapper station.

At the wrapper station there is arranged an applier mechanism constituted by a pair of applierarms each formed by an upper arm component 64, pivotally joined at an elbow 65 to a lower arm component 66; The lower arm movement is restricted by a suitable'guide block slidable within vertical tracks 67. Movement of the applier arms is etfected by a crank 68 connected to the upper extremity of the top arm components and pivotally connected to the piston 70 of an air cylinder 69. The arrangement is such that when the cylinder piston 70 is projected outwardly the applier arms are retracted to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 where the elbow of the arms israised within the upper hood 71. When'the piston is'drawn inwardly into the cylinder, the applier arms are extended downwardly in the manner shown in Fig; 1 so as to apply the top wrapper to the stack of newspapers.

As shown separately, in Figs. 5 and 6, the pre-cut top wrapper taken from pile 58 completes its" travel beneath theretr'acted appliermechanism, powered by rubber tires on "rolls and surface contact with overhead belts 72, until the leading edge of the wrapper makes contact with adjustable stops 73, whereupon the wrapper stops and the belts slip overhead.

. After the wrapper stops, the upper components 64 of the applier arm are lowered by air cylinder 69, thereby causing a pair of spaced earns 74, which are attached to the lower arm components and which are initially in contact with the roller a at the end of lever 75, to push lever 75 in the clockwise direction as the cams move downwardly, the roller 75a then swinging free of the 44. Alternatively, an electric motorsystem may be used under the, control of the microswitch.

Deflector 16 acts tode tour a bundle lacking a bottom wrapper onto the reject conveyor 15. This conveyor may' consist of powered tapered rollers 47 mounted along a curved path leading'to a storage area where'manual 'corrections can 'be made before re-routing of the bundles back to the input end of the wrapping machine. [Thup cams. Lever 75 is connected to a shaft 75!; from which extend a pair of linkage arms 750 whose ends are coupled by rollers to a bottom plate 76. When lever 75 is caused by the lowering of the applier arms to swing in the counterclockwise direction, the linkage arms act to-pull back the bottom plate 76 and thereby provide clearance for downward travel of the applier mechanism.

Continued downward travel of the applier arms causes a trip 91 mounted on a gripper mechanism 77 straddled between the lower arm components to strike a latch 78,

which action causes the gripper elements 79 to grasp the leading" edgeof the wrapper. Grippers 79 are constituted by curved fingers *which are: pivoted on a shaft 79a and are adapted -to swing in the clockwise; direction against a seat 79b, the wrapper edge being clamped be tween the fingers and the seat. The applier arms, carry ing the top wrapper proceed downwardly, guided by tracks 67 until the rollers 80 on the gripper mechanism makes contact with the oncoming bundle adjacent the leading edge of the bundle. r

Contact between the rollers 80 andthe bundle triggers the grippers open and releases the wrapper.. This .is accomplished by a linkage mechanism (not. shown) which is caused to rotate shaft 79a. in a counterclockwise direction. to remove the gripper fingers 79 from. the seat, this action occurring when the rollers 80 contact: the top of the bundle.-

To prevent excessive pressure between. the applier mechanism and the bundle, a relief valve (not shown.) is introduced in the down side of the air. cylinder 69 such that when a set pressure is exceeded airis. forced into the up side of the cylinder, thereby placing the applier mechanism in a state of equilibrium The.- balance is upset after a predetermined interval after which the down side of the cylinder is exhausted and pressure is supplied to the up side. Near the end'of the applier return stroke, the cams 74 again contact roller 75a on lever 75 to swing the lever clockwise and thereby to close .the bottom plate 76, which plate serves -tosupport the incoming top wrapper...

When the wrapper-applying machine is running in con junction with programmed stacking, pre-cut and pre. addressed top wrappers will be applied in the same sequence as the bundles are fed in. Should the top wrapper feeder fail to supply a wrapper to the applier mocha nism, a pneumatically operated gate 81 which. is disposed in advance of the tripper device 90 on the. main conveyor, as shown separately in Fig. 7, will obstruct the forward motion of the bundle, allowing the feeder to recycle until such time as a wrapper is in its proper position or an incoming bundle trips roller 23. In the latter case, the deflector 16 will be activated, the gate opened, and all subsequent bundles shunted onto the reject conveyor 15. If the wrapper is spotted in its proper position, the gate opens and a bundle with top and bottom wrappers are conveyed to the tying machine.

Missing top wrappers are detected to operate the gate or the deflector, the detection being made in connection with the suction system in the top wrapper feeder mechanism 60. Should the sucker elements 61 remain uncovered thereby indicating the absence of a wrapper, air pressure is directed to a valve arrangement to operate an air cylinder 82 which is linked to the gate 81 and which acts to raise the gate to obstruct the oncoming bundle. On the other hand, if the time at which the sucker element is found to be uncovered occurs when a signal is received from the valve of the trip mechanism 23, the deflector is operated rather than the gate. In other words, if the absence of atop wrapper is sensed at a time when the next oncoming stack has reached the trip mechanism 23, to prevent collision the deflector is actuated rather than the gate. If the suckers pick up a wrapper, vacuum builds up and air is directed to reset the feeder, the trip and the deflector.

When a double wrapper or more than two wrappers is inserted between the spotting rollers 62 and 63, as shown in Fig. 8, the increased thickness causes a roller 83 mounted on a lever 84 to swing out about the shaft 85 on which the spotting roller 62 is mounted, throwing the upper tip of the lever out of toggle with the roller 86 on the actuating arm 87 of a valve 88 which acts to operate the control mechanism for the deflector 16, thereby diverting the bundle with the double wrapper to the reject con veyor. The deflector system includes a memory or delay mechanism which is arranged in response to the actuation of valve 88 to remain operative to divert not only the stack containing the double wrapper but also the subsequent stack, the feeder being momentarily arrested. The deflector is. thereafter opened provided a. wrapper has been fed to the spotting rolls by the suckers. A. similar mechanism, not shown, is arranged to actin response to triples or more, but in such case the feeder is neutralized since manual attention is required.

In summary, therefore, in the event a bundle is properly wrapped with top and bottom covers, it will pass. through the wrapping station on the main conveyor for transfer to the. tying station.- But should a top wrapper not. be. picked up by the feeder mechanism, then the gate. will be raised to obstruct the passage of. the. bundle into the wrapping station until such time. as. a. wrappersis positioned by the feeder mechanism- And should the missing; wrapper be. detected after the bundle'has passed the gateposts tion, then the deflector will operate in response to a trip: mechanism to divert the bundle to the reject or incomplete conveyor. Where a double. wrapper is picked up, the. deflector will operate to divert the double wrapped bundle as well as the next bundle, and the feeder mechanism. will be arrested for one cycle. Similarly, should a bottom wrapper not be supplied to the wrapper station, the de flector will operate to detour the improperly wrapped bundle. Should a greater number of wrappers be picked up, the deflector will operate to divert all. incoming bundles and the feeder neutralized until manual correction is made.

While there has been shown what is. considered'to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, itwillbe manifest that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential spirit of the invention. For example, in place of a feeder mechanism for pre-cut top wrappers, the mechanism may be adapted to operate in conjunction with wrappers cut from a continu-- ous web, in the manner disclosed herein in connection with the bottom wrappers. It is intended, therefore, in the; annexed claims to cover all such changes and modificae tions as fall within the true scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising awrapping station, a main conveyor to transport a stack of news paper into and out of said station, meansto supply a sheet to said conveyor to engage the underside of said stack. as. it enters the station, means at said station to supply atop sheet to the top side of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the exit of said station adapted to divert stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, and means to activate said deflector to detour a stack onto said reject conveyor when the stack leaving said station is improperly wrapped.

2. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrapping station, a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspaper into and out of said station, means to supply a sheet to said conveyor to engage the underside of said stack as it enters the station, a feeder and applier mechanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the top side of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the exit of said station adapted to divert stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, and means to activate said deflector to detour a stack onto said reject conveyor when the stack leaving said station is improperly wrapped.

3. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrapping station, a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspaper into and out of said station, means to supply a sheet to said conveyor to engage the underside of said stack as it enters the station, a feeder and applier mcehanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the top side of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the exit of said station adapted to divert stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, and means to activate said deflector to detour a stack onto said reject conveyor when the stack leaving said station is improperly wrapped, a gating device preagsaoijeae cedingithe entrance .to said station on said main conveyor and responsive when said feeder mechanism fails. to pick up "atop sheet to obstruct the passage of stacks on said main conveyor.

' :4. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrapping station, a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspapers into and out of said station, a bottomsheeter unit to supply individual sheets to said conveyor to engage. the underside of said stack as it enters the station, afeederandapplier mechanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the top side of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the exit of said station adapted to detour stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, and means responsive to the failure of said bottom sheeter to supply asheet to activate said deflector.

-5. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrappingzstation, a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspapers into and out of said station, a bottom sheeter unit to supply individual sheets to said conveyor to engage the underside of said stack as it enters the station, a feeder and: applying mechanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the topside of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at theiexit of' said station adapted to detour stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, and means responsive to an operation of said feeder and applying mechanism in which more than one sheet is transported to activate said deflector.

'6. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrapping station', a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspapers into and out of said' station, a bottom sheeter unit to supply individual sheets to said conveyor to engage the underside of said stack as it enters the station, a'feeder mechanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the topside of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from'said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the exit of said stationadapted to detour stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, means responsive to the failureof said bottom sheeter to supply a sheet .to activate said deflector, and means responsive to the failure of said feeder-mechanism to supply a top sheet to activate said deflector.

7. A newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrapping station, a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspapers into and out of said station, a bottom sheeter 8 unit tosupply individual sheets 'to said conveyorj'to'engage the underside of said. stack as it enters the station, a. feeder and applier mechanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the top side of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the 'exit of said station adapted to detour stacks from said main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, means responsive to the failure of said bottom sheeter to supply a sheet tolactivate said deflector, means responsive 'tothefailure-of said feeder "mechanism to supply a top sheet to activate said deflector, and means responsive to an operation ofsaid feeder mechanism in which more than one sheet is transported to activate said deflector. 'r. 8. A-newspaper wrapping machine comprising a wrapping station, a main conveyor to transport a stack of newspapers into and out of said station, a bottom sheeter unit to supply individual sheets to said conveyor to engage the underside of said stack as it enters the station, a feeder and applying mechanism at said station to supply a top sheet to the top side of said stack, a reject conveyor diverging from said main conveyor, a deflector mechanism at the;exit of said station adapted to detour stacks fromsaid main conveyor onto said reject conveyor, means responsive to the failure of said bottom sheeter to supply a sheet to activate said deflector, means responsive t'o-the failure of said feeder mechanism to supply a top sheet to activate said deflector, means responsive to an operation of said feeder mechanism in which more than one sheet-is transported to activate said deflector, a gating device on said main conveyor preceding the entrance to said station, and means responsive to the failure of. said feeder mechanism to pick up a top sheet to actuate said gating device and thereby obstruct the passage of stacks on said main conveyor. 9. A machine, as; set forth in claim 8, wherein said top sheet-.alpplying mechanism includes arms for carrying a sheet onto the top of said'stack and means responsive to the pressure of said arms on said top of said stack to retract said arms when a predetermined pressure is' exceeded.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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