US2904946A - Wrapping machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept'- 22, 1959 l T. u. uLLsTRM ETAL WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 14, 1957 M MS mw WA. Mr UM M L R mm wm ML D Z Mn T FU/ @E AH Sept. 22, 1959 T. u. uLLsTRM ET AL 2,904,946

WRAPPING MACHINES Filed March 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS THOR!) ULRIK ULLSTRM MD FRITZ W/LHEL/VI FRANSSO/V ATTORNEYS T. u. ULLSTRM ET Al. 2,904,946

Sept. 22, 1959 WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 14, 1957 THORD RM Ano FR/ TZ W/LHEZ M FAMA/530W By I @Ff/M Sept. 22, 1959 T. U. ULLSTRM ETAL WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 14, 1957 mw un .mmm

ww mw NN wIIIIHII fw FRITZ W/LHLFLM FRNSSN Bf nited States `Patent O WRAPPING MACHINES Thord Ulrik Ullstrm, Bengtsfors, Sweden,` and Fritz i Wilhelm Fransson, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application March 14, `1957, Serial No. 646,020

i1S Claims. (Cl. S3-380) This invention relates to wrapping machines for folding, against the ends of `a cylindrical object which is to be wrapped, the edge portions of a paper web (or similarwrapper) placed yaround said cylindrical object and having greater width than the length of said object, of the kind provided with two parallel, rotatable rollers serving as -a support for the object `to be wrapped and arranged to impart to said object a 4rotating movement around its axis, and further being provided, at each end of the supporting rollers, with a fanshaped plleating member which is secured to the free end of a rotatable shaft parallel to the supporting rollers and spaced from the axis of Ithe object to be wrapped by a distance which is slightly greater than the radius of the object, the angular velocities of the object and the pleating member being timed in such la way, that during one revolution of the object, 4the pleating member performs several revolutions and `thereby folds one part after another of the edge portion of the Wrapper, so that these edge portions will form a series of overlapping folds.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrapping machine of the -above-described kind which, irrespective of the greater or lesser stiiness of the Wrapper material, will elfect a smooth formation of folds which interlock, so that the folded edge portions of the Wrapper will remain in a folded state.

The invention is mainly characterised by the fact, that a fan-shaped retaining member is arranged at the end of a shaft which is parallel to and rotating with the same angular velocity .as the shaft carrying the pleating member, and rwhich is situated between the last-mentioned shaft and the axis of rotation of the object to be wrapped, said retaining member being so adjusted in relation to the pleating member, that, during part of each revolution, it will hold the part of [the edge portion of said paper web just folded by the pleating member against the part precedingly folded by the pleating member.

In case the shafts of the pleating members and their respective retaining members are rotatably journalled in two bearing devices which are adjustable towards and away from each other, said bearing devices, according to the rinvention, may be supported by and displaceable along a guiding system which is disposed above and pa-rallel to the supporting rollers and which is vertically displaceablein yvertical guides `disposed `at the ends of the guiding system.`

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description. p

i One embodiment of the invention is shown in the ac-` companying drawings.` Figures land 2 show the wrapping `machine in two elevations at right angles .to each other. Figure 3 shows, on a Ilarger scale, the pleating and retaining members of one crimping unit `in an initial position, and Figure 4 shows said members in one operative position. Figure 5 is a crossJsection drawn toa larger scale along the line V'-V in Figure l through the guiding system of the crimping units, and Figure 6 is a Section taken on the line VI-VI in Figure 5. Figure 7 Patented Sept. 22, 195A9` ICC` shows, partly in section and on a larger scale than Figuref l, one of .the crimping units, Figure 8 is a section through the unit along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7, and Fig-y ure 9 is a plane development of a guide groove for acf tuating the retaining member of :the crimping units. j

The main parts of the machine frame are constituted by two vertical guides spaced from each other and each comprising two uprights 3 and 4, at the upper and lower ends joined by means of cross pieces 1 and 2, and a horizontal top piece 5a connecting the two pairs of up-Y rights. Vertically displaceable in each guide 3, 4 is a,

slide 5 and 6, respectively, which may be elevated or4 the uprights and journalled in the cross pieces 1, 2 and along which is adapted to run a nut (not shown) carried by the slide 5 or 6, respectively. Secured to the frame is an electric motor 8 which drives both screws 7 by means: of a Shaft 9 extending along the top piece Sa, the rotat-4 ing government of said shaft being transmitted to the screws 7 by means of bevel gears 10. The slides 5 and 6 are interconnectedbymeans of three horizontal guide rods 11, l12 and 13 which are `parallel to each other and on which are displaceably carried two box-shaped bearing devices '14 and 15 for the crimping units which are more closely described hereinafter. 16 and 17 are airanged in axial alignment between and parallel to the guide rods 11-13. One end of each of said screws is journalled in la common bearing device 18 which is carried by the guide rods 11-13, halfway between the guides 3, 4. The other end of each of the screws 16 and 17 is journal-led in one of the slides 5, 6. In the bearing devices 14, 15 of the Acrimping units nuts (not shown) are provided which run on said screws. The feed screws 16, 17 are driven by electric motors 19 supported by the slides 5 and 6, respectively', by means of a chain gearing 21 (Figure 2) housed in a casing 20. Below and along the feed screws 16, 17 there extends a key-grooved driving shaft 22 which at its middle is roh tatably journalled in` the bearing device A13 supported by the guide rods 11-13, and .the ends of which are rotatably journalled in the slides 5, 6. An electric motor 23 carried by the slide 6 drives said shaft 22 by means of a chain gearing 24 (see Figure 2).

Each crimping unit comprises a pleating member in the form of a plate 24 and a retaining member 25, also in the form of a plate, each of said members being supported by the free end of its respective spindle 26 or 27, which is rotatably journalled in the respective bearing devices 14, 1S, the spindles 26, 27 of one crimping unit being directed towards and axially aligned with the respective spindles of the second crimping unit. The pleating members 24 are directly secured to their spindles 26, while each of the retaining members 25 is secured'v to -a sleeve 30 which is mounted on each spindle in suchl a way, that it is axially displaceable but not rotatable: relative to the spindle. The bearing device 14 and 15,. respectively, of each crimping unit has a sleeve 3l (see Figure 7) which is rotatably mounted on the driving shaft 22 and which is internally provided with projections engaging in the axial key grooves in the driving shaft 22. 10ne end of the sleeve 31 is formed as a gear wheel 32 which, by means of an idling gear 33, drives a gear wheel 34 secured to the spindle 26 of the pleating member 24. By means of an idling gear 35, the gear wheel 34 drives a gear wheel 36 of same size secured to the spindle 26 of the retaining member 25. The sleeve 30 of the retaining member 25 is provided with a periphjournalled in a head 41 supported by an arm 42 projecting from the bearing device 14 or 15, respectively.

Two feed screws 3 Simultaneously with its rotating movement, the retaining member 25, due to the co-action between the roll 40 and the guide groove 37, is given an axial reciprocating movement for each revolution of the spindle 27.

For the supporting of the cylinder-shaped object 44 (Figures l and 2) which is to be wrapped, two rotatable supporting rollers 45, 46, parallel to the guide rods 11-13, are arranged at the bottom of the machine. -One of these rollers is driven in a suitable manner and thereby imparts to the object 44 a rotating movement around its axis. The fan-shaped pleating and retaining members in each crimping unit (see Figures 3 and 4) project in the samev direction radially from their shafts and are situated in planes perpendicular to the geometrical axis of the object 44. Whenthe machine is adjusted to the operative position, the crimping units are first lowered at each side of the object 44 so far, that the shaft 26 of the pleating member 24V will be situated slightly abo-ve the upper horizontal tangential plane of the object 44. and so that the' shaft 27 of the retaining member 25 will be situated so far below the said tangential plane, that the retaining member 25 will be situated below said tangential plane also when in` an upwardly turnedposition. After the crimping units have been adjusted vertically in this manner, they are moved, with the members 24, 25 in an upwardly turned position, towards the object 44 to a position, in which the pleating members 24 coincide with vertical planes situated close to the end surfaces of the object 44, whereafter the driving motor 23 of the pleating members is started.

From the initial position shown in Figure 3, the two members 24, 25 move at the same angular velocity in the direction implied by the arrows. `During the first part of one revolution, the pleating member 24 in each crimping unit folds a part of the projecting edge portion 5t) of the wrapper surrounding the object de towards the endy surface of the object, while at the same time the retaining members 25, by action of the guide grooves, are' moved in axial. direction away from the object, thus keeping clear of the pleating member and the part of thc wrappers edge, portion Stlwvhich' is being folded; After continued rotation of the members 24, 25, the pleating member 24 begins to turn away from the object, and the retaining member is rapidly moved towards the folded part of the wrappers edge portion, so that the folded part is pressed by the retaining member against the end surface. of the object. During the continued rotation of the object 44 and the members 24, 25, the pleating member 24. folds a part of the wrappers edge portion adjacent the already folded part, whereafter the described cycle of operation is repeated until all of the edge portion has been folded against the end surface of the object. By adjusting` the Velocity of the driving supporting roller (45 or 46), the angular velocity of the object is adjusted in relation to the angular velocity of the pleating members in such a way, that each lap or fold formed by the plea-ting member will overlap and thereby lock the previously folded lap in its folded position. After a completed folding or crimping operation, the folded laps are securedby known methods, for instance by pasting sheets of paper or the like onto the end surfaces of the wrapped object. Without further explanation it will be obvious, that the .machine may be used for wrapping objects of varying size, with respect to both length and diameter.

According to the invention, certain devices which will be described in greater detail below are provided for obtaining an automatic adjustment of the crimping units in accordance with the dimension of the object to be wrapped.

A sleeve 6@ (see Figure 5) projects downwardlyy from the bearing device l and encloses an axially displaceable rod'62. To the lower end ofthe sleeve 6d is pivotall'j/V connected a foot 6l. which is arranged to displace the rod- 62 upwardly in the sleeve 6?, when, at the lowering of the guiding device 1.1-13 carrying the crimping units, they footl makes Contact with the object to be wrappedl The upper end of the rod 62 acts upon a switch 63 in the electric circuit of the motor 8, so that the current of the motor 8 and thereby the lowering of the crimping units is interrupted when the units are in the correct vertical position in relation to the object to be wrapped. During the lowering movement, the crimping units are spaced apart from each other. The feeler device described above lis also arranged to close the circuits of the motors driving the feed screws 16', 17, simultaneously with the interrupt-ion of the lowering movement of the" crimping units, whereby the crimping unitsy are' moved towards. each other. This movement is automatically interrupted by the feeler' mechanism shown at the' bottom of Figure 7 and lin Figure `8, when the respective crimping units have been moved to operative position with the pleating members situated in a vertical plane close to the end surfaces of the object to be wrapped and with the projecting edge portion 50 of the wrapper projecting in between the members 24, 25. The feeler mechanism in` questionconsists of a rod 65 (Figures 7 and S) displaceably carried in the sleeve-shaped shaft 27 of the retaining` member. One end'of the rod 65 is provided with a head 66 which normally projects slightly from the free'v end of the shaft 27 due to the action of a spring 67 acting upon the rod 65. When the head 66, at the movement of the crimping unit towards the object to be wrapped, makesV contact withthe end surface of said object, the rod 65 is displaced inthe shaft 27 against the action of the spring 67, whereby the end of the rod opposite the head 66, by means of a lever 68 (see Fil ure 8), causes a switch 69 to break the current to the motor 19 driving.` the feed screw 16 and 1'7, respectively, so that the crimping unit is stopped in the correct operative position. The shaft- 27 of the retaining member 25 also encloses a compression spring 70, one end of whichv abuts against pins 72 secured to the sleeve 30 and projecting through longitudinal slots 71 in the side of the shaft. The axial movement of the sleevev 30 on the shaft 27 away from the object to be wrapped takes place against the' action of said compression spring.

In connection with the stopping of the feed screws 16,` 17 for displacing the crimping units towards the objectto be wrapped, the feeler mechanisms last described arealsoarranged to start the driving motor 23 for the members, 24, 25 which are thereby caused to operate in-the` manner previously described.

As isshown yin Figure 5, the bearing device 18 also en closes a contacter 81 operated by a cam wheel 8) secured-S to the driving shaft 22. The contacter 8l is connectedin the electric circuit of the driving motor 23 and combined with a limit switch arranged in such a way, thatl when the machine is stopped, the contacter is enabled to break the circuit only when the driving shaft 22 is in a certain position which corresponds to the position (initial position.) of the members 24 and 25 shown in full lines inV Figure l and in Figure 3.

The'inventionA is not limited to the embodimentv herea rotatingV movement around its axis, crimping elementsdisposed at each end of said supporting rollers and each'` comprising, in combination, a shaft positioned parallel tol saidi supporting rollers, a fan-shaped pleating membersecured to the free end-y of said shaft, a shaft parallel tothe shaft carrying said pleating member, a fan-shapedretaining .member supported by said secondshaftforpreventing the pleats of the wrappers edge portion to unfold duringl the crimpingY operation, means for operating .said

retaining member in timed relation t said pleating member, and means for rotating said shafts.

2. In a wrapping machine for crimping over the ends of a cylindrical object which is to be wrapped, the projecting edge portions of a wrapper placed around said object, wherein is provided a pair of rotatable parallel rollers for supporting said object and imparting thereto a rotating movement around its axis, crimping elements disposed at each end of said supporting rollers and each comprising, in combination a shaft positioned parallel to said supporting rollers, a fan-shaped pleating member secured to the free end of said shaft, a shaft parallel to the shaft carrying said pleating` member, a fan-shaped retaining member, supported by said second shaft for preventing the pleats of the wrappers edge portion to unfold during the crimping operation, means for operating said retaining member in timed relation to said pleating member, and means for rotating said shafts, two bearing devices having the shafts of said pleating members and the corresponding retaining members rotatably journalled therein, a guiding system disposed above and parallel to said supporting rollers adjustably supporting said bearing devices for movement away from and towards each other, vertical guides, and slides connected to said guiding system and vertically slidable on said guides for adjusting the vertical position of said guiding system.

` 3. In a machine according to claim 2, wherein a pair of rotatable feed screws are in threaded engagement with said slides and are connected to said guides, an electric motor operatively connected to said feed screws for rotating same, a source of electrical current connected to said motor, means for breaking the connection of said driving motor to said source of electrical current when said guiding system has been lowered to operative position relative to said object, a feeler mechanism carried by said guiding system and arranged to actuate said current breaking means when abutting against said object.

4. In a machine according to claim 2, wherein feed screws are rotatably supported along said guiding system and connected to said bearing devices for displacing the same, electric motor connected to said screws for rotating same, a source of electrical current connected to said motors, means for breaking the connection of said electrical current to said driving motors of said bearing devices when they have been moved to operative position relative to said object, feeler mechanism mounted on each of said bearing devices and arranged to actuate said current breaking means when abutting against the end surface of said object.

5.` In a machine according to claim 2, wherein a pair ofrotatable feed screws are disposed along said vertical guides and are in threaded engagement with said guiding system, an electric motor for driving said screw, a source of electricalV current, an electric circuit connecting said motor to said source of current, a plurality of feed screws each situated along said guiding system and in threaded engagement with one of said bearing devices, a plurality of electric motors each for driving one of said bearing device feed screws, means for simultaneously breaking said electric circuit of the driving motor of said guiding system feed screws and closing the circuits of the driving motors of said bearing de. vices feed screws when said guiding system has been lowered to operative position relative to said object, said circuit-breaking and circuit-closing means comprising a feeler mechanism carried by said guiding system and a switch for being operated by said feeler mechanism when abutting against said object.

6. In a machine according to claim 2, in which a plurality of feeed screws are each situated along said guiding system and connected to one of said bearing devices for displacing the same, electric motors for driving said screws, a source of electrical current connected to said motors, said guiding system comprising a number of horizontal rods, said slides supporting said rods and the driving motors for said feed screws for displacing said bearing devices, one end of each of said screws being journalled in one of said slides and a common bearing supported by said guide rods having the other end of said screws journalled therein.

7. ln a machine according to claim 2, in which each of said bearing devices is displaceable by means of a plurality of feed screws each situated along said guiding system and connected to one of said bearing devices for displacing same, a plurality of electric motors each connected to one of said screws for driving same, a source of electrical current connected to said motors, said guiding system comprising a number of horizontal rods, said slides supporting the ends of said rods and fthe driving motors for said feed screws for displacing said bearing devices, one end of each of said screws being journalled in one of said slides, a common bearing supported by said guide rods having the other end of said screws journalled therein, said means for rotating said crimping elements comprising an electric motor mounted on one of said slides and connected to said source of electrical current, a shaft driven by said motor extending parallel to said guide rods and being rotatably journalled in said slides, and a pair of gear wheels displaceably but not rotatably mounted on said shaft, transmission systems including said gear wheels arranged in said bearing devices for transmitting the rotating movement of said shaft to said crimping elements.

8. In a machine according to claim 2, in which a plurality of feed screws are each situated along said guiding system and connected to one of said bearing devices for displacing same, a plurality of electric motors for driving said screws, a source of electrical current connected to said motors, said guiding system comprising a number of horizontal rods, said slides supporting the ends of said rods and the driving motors for said feed screws for displacing said bearing devices, one end of each of said screws being journalled in one of said slides, a common bearing supported by said guide rods and having the other end of said screws journalled therein, said means for rotating said crimping elements comprising an electric motor mounted on one of said slides, an electrical circuit connecting said last mentioned motor to said source of electrical current, a shaft driven by said motor extending vparallel to said guide rods and being rotatably journalled in said slides, and two gear wheels displaceably but not rotatably mounted on said shaft, a transmission system including said gear wheels arranged in said bearing devices for transmitting the rotating movement of said shaft to said crimping elements, a contactor carried by said bearing, a switch operable by said contactor connected in said electric circuit` of said last-men tioned driving motor, a limit switch connected in said circuit, a cam secured to said driving shaft for operating said limit switch whereby said contactor is enabled to break said circuit only when said driving shaft and consequently also said crimping elements are in a given position.

9. A wrapping machine for crimping, over the ends of a cylindrical object, which is to be wrapped, the projecting edge portions of a Wrapper placed around said object, comprising in combination, a pair of rotatable, parallel rollers for supporting said object and imparting thereto a rotating movement around its axis, crimping elements disposed at each end of said supporting rollers, and means for rotating said crimping elements, a pair of bearing devices supporting said crimping elements, a guiding system disposed above and parallel to said supporting rollers adjustably supporting said bearing devices for movement to and from each other and vertical guiding means supporting the ends of said guiding system for the vertical adjustment thereof.

10. In a machine according to claim 9, wherein a pair of rotatable feed screws are disposed along said vertical guiding means for supporting said guiding system, an

electric motor for rotating said screws, an electrical circuit for connecting said motor to a source of electrical current, means for breaking the electric circuit of said driving motor when said guiding system has been lowered to operative position relative to said object, said circuitbreaking means comprising a feeler mechanism carried on said guiding system and a switch in said circuit operable by said fecler mechanism when abutting against said object.

l1. In a machine according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of rotatably mounted feed screws are situated along said guiding system and each connected to one of said bearing devices for displacing the same, a plurality of.

electric motors for rotating said screws, an electric circuit connecting said motors to a source of electrical current, means for breaking the electric circuit of said driving motors of said bearing devices when they have been moved to operative position relative to said object, said circuitbreaking means comprising a fe'eler mechanism mounted' in each of said bearing devices and a switch in said circuit operable by said feeler mechanism when abutting against the end surface of said object.

l2. in a machine according to claim 9, wherein a pair of rotatable feed screws are `disposed along said vertical yguiding means for supporting said guiding system, anY

electric motor for rotating said screws, an electrical circuit connecting said motor to a source of electrical current, a plurality of feed screws each situated along said guiding system and connected to one of said bearing devices Vfor displacing the same, a plurality of electric motors for rotating the feed screws of said bearing devices, an electrical circuit connecting said motors of said bearing devicev feed screws to` a source of electrical current, means for simultaneously breaking the electric circuit of the driving motor of said guiding system and closing the circuits of the driving motors of said bearing devices when said guiding system has been lowered `to operative position relative to said object, said circuit-breaking and circuit-closing means comprising a feeler mechanism carried by said guiding system and a switch operable by said feeler mechanism when abutting against said object,

13. ln a machine according to claim 9, in which a plurality-of feed screws are situated along said guidingv sys-teni and each connected to one of said bearing devices for displacing the same, a plurality of electric motors for rotating said feed screws, a source of electrical current connected to said motors, said guiding system comprising a number of horizontal rods, slides displaceable along said vertical guiding means supporting the ends of said guiding systeml and the driving motors for said feed screws for displacing said bearing devices, one end of each of said screws being journalled in one of said slides and a common bearing supported by said guide rods having the other end of said screws journalled therein.

14. In a machine according to claim 9, in which a plurality of feed screws are each `situated along sa'id guiding system and connected to said bearing devices for adjustably positioning same, a plurality o'f electric motors operatively connected to said screws, a source rif-electrical` current connected to said motors, said guiding system` comprising a number of horizontal rods, slides displaceable along said vertical guides and supporting the ends' of said rods, said slides `also supporting the driving motors for said feed screws for displacing said bearing devices, one end of each of said screws being journalled in one of said slides, a common bearing supported by said guide rods and having the other ends of said screws journalled therein, said means for rotating said crimping elements comprising an electric motor mounted on one of said slides, a shaft driven by `said motor extending parallel to said guide rods and being rotatably journalledV in said? placeable along said -vertical guides and supporting saidl rods, said slides also supporting the driving motors forv said feed screws for displacing said bearing devices, one end of each of said screws being journalled in one of said slides, a common bearing supported by said guideV rods and having the other end of said screws journalled therein, said means for rotating said crimping elements comprising an electric motor mounted on one of said slides, an electrical circuit for connecting said last-mentioned motor to a source of electrical current, a shaft driven by said motor extending parallel to said guide rods and being rotatably journalled in said slides, and

two gear wheels displaceably but not rotatably mountedj on said shaft, transmission systems including said gear wheels being arranged in said bearing devices for transmitting the rotating movement of said shaft to saidcrimping elements, a contacter, a switch being connected in the electric circuit of said last-mentioned driving motor and' operable by said contactor, a limit switch connected inV said circuit, and a cam secured to said driving shaft for being rotated and operating said limit switch, so that said contactor is enabled to break said circuit only when said driving shaft and consequently also said crimping elements are in a certain position.

No references cited.

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