US3214884A - Package wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 s. w. LANGDON 3,214,384

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. SAMUEL W. LANGDON m BY a ATTORN EY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR.

SAMUEL W. LANG DON Nov. 2, 1965 s. w. LANGDON PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1962 United States Patent 3,214,884 PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Samuel W. Langdon, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Reginald R. Kiefer, Fairport, N.Y. Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,187 7 Claims. (Cl. 53-182) This invention relates to a machine for wrapping packages, and more particularly to a manually actuated machine for wrapping packages in heat scalable and heatshrinkable wrapping material.

Heretofore machines for wrapping packages and the like in heat sealable and/ or heat shrinkable plastic wrapping material have been designed for industries wherein relatively large quantities of goods are packaged daily. Consequently, most prior wrapping machines of this type have been too large and expensive to satisfy the needs of the small packager such as the butcher, groceryman or small farmer.

One object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, and yet rugged machine for wrapping items in heat scalable and shrinkable wrapping material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wrapping machine of the character described which is manually operable yet which will effect a complete sealing operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a package wrapping machine of the type having jaws for fusing heat sealable wrapping material about a package, and having electrically operated means for urging the jaws into operative relationship with one another.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of this invention, and illustrating the manner in which packages are adapted to be passed successively beneath the manually actuated heat sealing and severing jaw of the wrapping machine;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view looking at the front of FIG. 1, and with part of the machine cut away and part shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing in phantom by broken lines the upper jaw of the machine when it is pivoted up into its inactive position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an electrical wiring diagram illustrating one manner in which the machines may be wired to accomplish its purpose.

The machine illustrated comprises two, generally L shaped sealing and severing jaws, the lower of which is mounted in a stationary, horizontal position, and the upper of which is pivotal toward and away from the stationary jaw. Each jaw has one leg thereof extending transverse to, and the other parallel to, the path of move ment of packages through the machine. The cooperating surfaces of the jaws are resilient, and a heating element in the form of an electrically conductive wire extends medially along each leg of one of the L shaped jaws so that the element confronts and tends to be urged against the resilient, L shaped surface on the other of the jaws, when the jaws are urged into operative relationship with one another.

3,214,884 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 A roll of center folded, heat scalable wrapping material is intended to be mounted on the machine, and the wrapping material is adapted to be drawn from this roll over a table surface adjacent the jaws. At the start-u of the machine, the first package, which is to be wrapped, is inserted between the folds of the wrapping material; and the folds are then fused together along their leading edge and the leading edge of the package by disposing the leading edge of each fold of material beneath the transverse leg of the upper sealing jaw, and moving this jaw down wardly to clamp and seal the leading edges of the material between this leg and the corresponding leg of the lower jaw. Thereafter the package and the covering folded material, which at this time is still unseamed or open along one side and the rear of the package, are moved far enough forwardly so that the rear end of the package clears the transverse legs of the jaws, and will cient of the folded wrapping material is left between the rear end of the packages and these transverse legs to cover the rear end of the package when the material is drawn thereabout. The movable jaw is then again pivoted down into operative engagement with the stationary jaw so that the folds of wrapping material are pressed into engagement with one another between the jaws and are fused together along both the trailing edge and the free side of the package (opposite to the side behind which the wrapping material is looped), thereby to form an L shaped seam, which with the seam previously formed along the leading edge of the package effectively seals the wrapping material completely around the package. Moreover, while forming the L shaped seam, the heating elements simultaneously sever the fused seam medially along its length by melting completely through the superposed folds. The completely enclosed package is thus freed from the supply of wrapping material, and the leading end of the latter is provided with a ready-made seam for the leading edge of the next package. The next package is then inserted between the folds of the wrapping material and the operations above-described are repeated.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, the machine comprises a generally rectangular housing or base 10 having a shallow tray 11 (FIG. 1) secured in an opening in the top thereof adjacent one end thereof. In tray 11 there are rotatably mounted two idler rollers 12 for holding a roll R of center folded Wrapping material. A loading platform or table 13 (FIG. 1) is secured to the top of housing 10 adjacent tray 11. A further tray 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is secured in a further opening in the top of the housing adjacent the side of platform 13 remote from tray 11. Tray 14 accommodates a plurality of parallel idler rollers 15, opposite ends of which are rotatably mounted in the opposite side walls, respectively, of tray 14.

Secured to the exterior of tray 14 along one side and one end thereof, respectively, are two elongate flange members 16 and 17. Members 16 and 17 cooperate with tray 14 to form two rectangular recesses in one of which is secured an elongate, resilient pad 18, and in the other of which is secured a similar pad 19. Pads 18 and 19 are substantially rectangular in cross section, and the plane upper surfaces thereof are approximately coplanar with the upper surfaces of housing 10. Pads 18 and 19 also cooperate to define a reversed, generally L shaped, right-angular lower sealing jaw.

Secured by screws 22 in housing 10 at one side thereof is an elongate bracket 21 (FIG. 4). Fixed to bracket 21, and projecting vertically upwardly therefrom through an opening in the upper wall of housing is a lug 25. A further lug 26 is secured to and projects upwardly from the upper wall of the housing adjacent the end thereof remote from tray 11. Secured adjacent opposite ends thereof in aligned openings in lugs 25 and 26 is a stationary pivot shaft 27. Rotatably mounted upon shaft 27 is an elongate sleeve 29.

Mounted on sleeve 29 for pivotal movement therewith about shaft 27 is the carrier or bracket 31 for the upper or movable jaw of the machine. Carrier 31 comprises two, spaced, parallel arms 32 and 33 (FIG. 1), which are secured adjacent their rear ends to opposite ends, respectively, of sleeve 29, and a generally rectangularly shaped tubular element 34 which is secured between the forward ends of arms 32 and 33. Element 34 extends parallel to and overlies pad 19 of the lower jaw when carrier 31 and its arms 32 and 33 are in their lowered positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Intermediate their ends, arms 32 and 33 have inwardly directed, lateral flange portions 36 and 37, respectively. Flange 37 will overlie the pad 18 of the lower sealing jaw when carrier 31 is pivoted into its lowered position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Resiliently suspended from carrier 31 by means of bolts 44 and springs 46 are two rectangularly-shaped tubular elements 42 (FIG. 4) and 43 (FIG. 2), respectively. Element 43 is welded or otherwise secured at a right angle to the side of element 42 adjacent one end thereof to form therewith a rigid, L shaped member disposed beneath arm 33 and tubular element 34, respectively, of carrier 31. The bolts 44 are fixed at one end to the elements 42 and 43, and at their opposit ends are held by nuts for limited movement through holes in the flange 37 and tube 34, respectively. The compression springs 46 surround the bolts 44 to resiliently urge the L shaped member defined by the tubular elements 42 and 43 away from the carrier 31.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the bottoms of the elements '42 and 43, and substantially coextensive therewith, are inverted, generally U shaped housings 48 (FIG. 4) and 49 (FIG. 2), respectively. Secured in the housings 48 and 49, and projecting downwardly beyond the lower edges of the housing sides are two, resilient pads or cushions 52 (FIG. and 53 (FIG. 2), respectively. Each cushion 52 and 53 is substantially coextensive with its respective housing 48 and 49, and is adapted to be superposed above and placed in operative relation with the pads or cushions 18 and 19, respectively, in the lower jaw when the carrier 31 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Removably secured in the free ends of the tubular elements 42 and 43, respectively, are plugs or jacks 56 (FIG. 4) and 57 (FIG. 2), respectively. Each plug 56 and 57 is constantly pressed outwardly by a compression spring 58 (FIG. 4). The projecting portions of the plugs 56 and 57 have secured therein screws 59. An electrically conductive sealing wire 61 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) is secured at one end to the screw 59 carried by plug 56, and passes therefrom along the bottom of pad 52 to the other end of the pad where it is secured by screw 62 to the tubular element 42. A similar wire 63 is secured at one end to the screw 59 carried by plug 57, and extends therefrom centrally along the bottom of the pad 53, and beneath pad 52 and upwardly around the outside of housing 48 to the side of the tubular element 42 where it is secured by means of a screw 64 (FIG. 4). Strips 65 of dielectric material are interposed between the tubular element 42 and the ends of the wires 61 and 63 secured thereto so as to effectively insulate the wires from the machine proper. The purpose of wires 61 and 63 will be explained in more detail below.

The fixed end of arm 33 projects slightly laterally beyond sleeve 29 and has a reinforcing plate 71 secured to the side thereof remote from arm 32. The portions of arm 33 and the reinforcing plate 71, which project rearwardly of sleeve 29, are adapted to pass through a slot 72 (FIG. 1) formed in the upper wall of housing when carrier 31 is pivoted into its upper position illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 4. Pivotally connected 4 by means of a pin 74 (FIG. 4) to the rear end of the carrier arm 33 is the upper, bifurcated end of a toggle link 75. At its opposite end link 75 is pivotally connected by means of a further pin 76 to the upper end of a further toggle link 77. Link 77 at its opposite end is pivoted to bracket 21 by a pin 78. v

Also pivotally secured to pin 76 is an elongate, rigid, bifurcated strap 81. The bight portion of this strap 81 is secured by nuts 82 to the threaded end of an elongate actuating rod 83. Rod 83 at its opposite end is pivotally connected by means of a bolt 85 or the like to a lug 86 carried by the armature of a solenoid 87. Solenoid 87 is bolted or otherwise secured adjacent one side of housing 10 on an inverted channel member 88 which extends between the sides of the housing. Member 88 at one end has an integral flange portion 89 which is secured to one wall of the housing 10, and at its other end is secured to the bottom of the bracket 21.

Secured to rod 83 intermediate the ends thereof is the sleeve or hub 91 of a downwardly projecting arm 92. Secured to channel member 88 beneath the actuating rod 83 is an electrical switch 93 for controlling the operation of solenoid 87. A plunger 94 carried by switch 93 is positioned in the path of inovment of the arm 92.

Whenever the carrier 31 is pivoted down into its lower, operating position, the projecting end of arm 33, through pin 74, lifts link 75 so that pin 76 and link 77 are caused to pivot counterclockwise from their positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, into their respective positions as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. This counterclockwise movement of pin 76 causes member 81 and arm 83 to be urged toward the left in FIG. 4 so that arm 92 engages and closes switch 93, thereby energizing solenoid 87. The arm 92 is mounted on actuating rod 83 in such manner that it tends to strike the plunger 94 and energize solenoid 87 substantially simultaneously with the movement of the upper jaw into engagement with the lower jaw. When energized, solenoid 87 causes rod 83 and its U shaped member 81 to be moved to the left in FIG. 4, thereby exerting an additional turning moment on carrier 31 to urge the upper and lower jaws firmly into operative relationship with one another, and to insure the sealing and severing action desired.

After the solenoid 87 has been energized for a predetermined length of time, a conventional timer (not illustrated) in the solenoid circuit is adapted to deenergize the solenoid 87 so that rod 83 will be free to move toward the right in FIG. 4. The links 75 and 77 are not actually drawn into a straight line relationship when carrier 31 is in its lowermost position. Instead, the interior angle formed by the sides of the links facing member 81 is equal to slightly less than 180 during operation of solenoid 87. Links 75 and 77 are thus free to collapse relative to one another upon the deenergization of solenoid 87, and when the latter occurs, relatively little effort is required to pivot carrier 31 clockwise from its position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4.

To help return carrier 31 from its lower, operating position to its inoperative, or elevated position, shaft 27 projects axially outwardly beyond lug 25 and coaxially into the bore of a torsion spring adjusting sleeve 101. Secured to the inner end of sleeve 101 on shaft 27 is an axially bored plate 102 which has a plurality of equi-angularly spaced notches 103 in its outer peripheral surface. A detent 104, which is held by screw 105 On lug 25 beneath plate 102 (FIG. 3), is adapted to engage in the notches 103 of plate 102. Sleeve 101 is externally threaded, and is provided with a central slot 106. Surrounding sleeve 101 is a coiled torsion spring 108 which at one end 109 (FIG. 1) extends into a notch (not shown) formed in the under side of the carrier arm 33, and which at its opposite end (FIG. 4) extends into the slot 106 in the sleeve 101. A generally cup-shaped cap 113 is positioned over the end of shaft 27 and surrounds the spring 108. The cap is secured to the threaded end of the sleeve 101 by a nut 114 which is threaded onto this threaded end of the sleeve.

To adjust the tension in spring 108 detent 104 is disengaged from plate 102 to permit sleeve 101 to be rotated on shaft 27. Cap 113, and hence spring 108 and sleeve 101 are then rotated to effect the desired adjustment. Thereafter dog 104 is reengaged with one of the notches 103 in the plate 102 on sleeve 101, and screw 105 is tightened.

To limit the upward movement of carrier 31 about shaft 27, a collar 116 is secured by means of a bolt 117 (FIG. 1) on sleeve 29. Collar 116 has an integral arm portion 118 which projects radially outwardly from sleeve 29 toward the rear of the housing 10. On its under side, arm 118 is provided with a resilient bumper or stop 119 (FIG. 4) which is adapted to engage the upper wall of housing and limit clockwise movement of carrier 31.

In one manner of controlling the machine operation, the sealing wires 61 and 63, and the solenoid 87, are connected in parallel circuit with an electrical power supply, for instance, a battery as shown in FIG. 6. Switch 93 is disposed so that when closed it will simultaneously energize solenoid 87 and permit current to flow through wires 61 and 63 so that the latter become hot when car rier 31 is down (FIG. 4) and the upper and lower jaws are disposed in operative relationship with one another. Switch 93 is of the type which automatically opens after a given period of time has elapsed; or the circuit may include a further switch for deenergizing the circuit at a given time after the closing of switch 93, even though arm 92 is still engaging plunger 94.

When there is a center folded roll R of transparent, heat shrinkable wrapping material, such as polyethylene or the like, on the idler rollers 12 (FIG. 1) the apparatus can be put to use by drawing material from roll R across the loading platform 13, and inserting a package such as that indicated at P (FIG. 1) between the folds. The tubular member or hand rail 34 is then grasped and the carrier 31 is pivoted downwardly against the action of torsion spring 108 so that the leading edge of the wrapping material is squeezed between the resilient pads 18 and 52. At this time switch 93 is closed so that wire 61 becomes heated and melts through the superposed folds of wrapping material, thereby fusing the folds together along opposite sides of the wire and creating a seam S in front of the leading end of the package. The carrier is then released so that it returns to its upper position; and the partially enclosed package, and the wrapping material thereabout, are then advanced until the package is positioned as at P in FIG. 1. Carrier 31 is again pivoted down, and now the heated wires 61 and 63 melt through the superposed film along the open side and behind the trailing end of the package. Wire 63 thus forms a seam S along the side of the package; and wire 61 forms both a seam S along the trailing edge of the package, and a seam S for the leading edge of the next successive package. The package in position P is thus completely sealed in the wrapping material, and is severed from the supply roll R of wrapping material so that it may readily be conveyed over idler rollers into the position P on a discharge platform 121 which is bolted to the end of housing 10 remote from the supply roll R. From platform 121 the wrapped packages may be passed through a shrink tunnel to cause the wrapping material to shrink snugly about the package.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has provided compact and efiicient wrapping apparatus, which, although manually operable, requires little or no physical effort on the part of the operator. Moreover,

by employing L shaped sealing and severing jaws in combination with center folded wrapping material, applicant has provided a novel wrapping method which eliminates the need for employing rectangular jaws which would completely surround the package being sealed. In addition, applicants solenoid operated toggle device for squeezing the heat sealing and severing jaws together not only eliminates the need for expending considerable physical effort in seaming the wrapping material about a package, but also, it is designed to be self releasing, so that once the jaws are pressed together, the operator's hands are free to perform other tasks. After the jaws have been disposed in operative relation with one another for a predetermined period of time, the automatic deenergization of solenoid 87 permits torsion spring 108 to elevate carrier 31. By the arrangement of toggle links illustrated, it is possible for applicant to employ a relatively small solenoid 87 to transmit a relatively large turning moment to carrier 31 and the upper jaw, and it is unnecessary to force the links and 77 to collapse for releasing the extended toggle.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine for wrapping packages comprising (a) two jaws having resilient, generally L shaped surfaces,

(b) manually operable means for moving said jaws from an inoperative position in which said surfaces are spaced from one another toward an operative position in which said surfaces are urged into superposed, operative relationship with one another,

(c) seaming means carried by one of said jaws for seaming together portions of wrapping material superposed between said surfaces, when said jaws are in said operative position, to provide an L shaped seam about a package,

(d) electrically actuated means operative in response to the movement of said jaws a predetermined distance toward said operative position automatically to urge said jaws positively into said operative position,

(e) one of said jaws being fixed on a stationary support,

(f) the other of said jaws being mounted on said support to pivot toward and away from said fixed jaw, and the last-named means including (g) a toggle linkage interposed between said support and said other jaw, and operative when extended to urge said other jaw into operative relation with said fixed jaw, and

a solenoid connected to said linkage and operative, when said jaws have been moved said predetermined distance, to move said linkage to its extended position thereby to force said other jaw into operative position under pressure.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said toggle linkage comprises (a) first and second levers pivotally connected to one another adjacent one of their ends, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to said support and to said other jaw, respectively,

(b) said levers in their extended positions being disposed in a nearly straight line relationship with one another.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 including (a) a torsion spring constantly urging said other jaw away from said fixed jaw, and

(b) means for deenergizing said solenoid a predetermined time after movement of said jaws into operative relationship with one another to permit said torsion spring to move said other jaw away from said fixed jaw.

4. A machine for wrapping packages in heat scalable wrapping material comprising (a) support,

- (b) at least two jaws between which superposed portions of heat sealable wrapping material are adapted to be squeezed,

(c) means mounting one of said jaws on said support for pivotal movement toward and away from the other of said jaws, said other jaw being fixed to said support,

- ((1) first electrically actuated means operatively connected between said support and said one jaw for urging said jaws positively into operative relation with one another to squeeze therebetween said portions of material,

(e) second electrically actuated heat sealing and severing means carried by one of said jaws to engage and fuse together said superposed portions of material, when said jaws are disposed in said operative relationship with one another,

(f) electrical switch means operative upon a predetermined movement of said one jaw toward said other jaw to actuate both of said first and second electrically actuated means simultaneously, and for a predetermined period of time, and said first electrically actuated means including (g) a member movable by said one jaw to actuate said switch means upon said predetermined movement of 1 said one jaw toward said other jaw.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting means comprises (a) a spring constantly urging said one jaw away from said other jaw, and

(b) manually operable means for adjusting the tension in said spring. V

6. A machine for wrapping packages comprising (a) a stationary support having a resilient surface thereon across which superposed folds of wrapping material are adapted to be positioned,

(b) an L shaped jaw movably mounted on saidsupport to pivot toward and away from said surface, (0) a first lever pivotally connected at one end to said movable jaw,

(d) a second lever connected at one end to said support to pivot about a fixed axis,

(e) a pin pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said levers to one another and movable angularly about said fixed axis to a locking position in which it causes said levers to urge said jaw into operative relationship with said surface to press thereagainst said superposed folds of wrapping material,

'(f) a solenoid mounted on said support,

(g) a further lever connecting said pin to the armature of said solenoid, and

(h) means operative to energize said solenoid when said movable jaw has moved a predetermined distance toward said surface, said armature being operative to move said pin to said locking position when said solenoid is energized.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6 including (a) an electrically conductive wire extending centrally along each leg of said L shaped jaw to engage said folds when said jaw is disposed in operative relationship with said surface, and

('b) the last-named menas being operative to permit currence to flow through said wire when said solenoid is energized.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Rivman et al. 53-28 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PACKAGES COMPRISING (A) TWO JAWS HAVING RESILIENT, GENERALLY L SHAPED SURFACES, (B) MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID JAWS FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAID SURFACES ARE SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER TOWARD AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAID SURFACES ARE URGED INTO SUPERPOSED, OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, (C) SEAMING MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID JAWS FOR SEAMING TOGETHER PORTIONS OF WRAPPING MATERIAL SUPERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SURFACES, WHEN SAID JAWS ARE IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, TO PROVIDE AN L SHAPED SEAM ABOUT A PACKAGE, (D) ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MEANS OPERATIVE IN RESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID JAWS A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TOWARD SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AUTOMATICALLY TO URGE SAID JAWS POSITIVELY INTO SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, (E) ONE OF SAID JAWS BEING FIXED ON A STATIONARY SUPPORT,

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