US3237373A - Bale end folder - Google Patents

Description

March 1, 1966 c. B. LEWIS 3,237,373

BALE END FOLDER Filed May 18, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Cm/ezes 6L5 w/s March 1966 c. B. LEWIS 3,237,373

BALE END FOLDER Filed May 18, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

.. w (HARLES'BZEW/S i'ri I 48m? ATTORNEY March 1, 1966 c. B. LEWIS 3,237,373

BALE END FOLDER Filed May 18, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 53 I INVENTOR.

CHAELESBLEW/S BY 2 of 2/ P Q E 0- 22 /0/ 22 E March 1, 1966 c. B. LEWIS BALE END FOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 18, 1962 INVENTOR. CHflRLEs 8.1 E wLs W FITTOR/YEY March 1, 1966 c. B. LEWIS BALE END FOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 18, 1962 IN VEN TOR. C HRL58LEWIS HTTOR/YE Y5 United States Patent 3,237,373 BALE END FOLDER Charles Burton Lewis, Hoquiam, Wash, assignor to Lamb Gray Harbor (10., Inc., Hoquiam, Wash. Filed May 18, 1962, Ser. No. 195,931 4 Claims. (Cl. 53-378) This invention relates to means for use in the application of protective wrappers to pulp bales, and the like. More particularly, it relates to a novel and practical machanism for use in conjunction with other machines of conventional form, in a bale wrapping line, for folding the edge portions or flaps of bale wrapping sheets inwardly into overlapped relationship against the bale ends and side surfaces preparatory to the wrapped bale being finally encircled by wrapper securing wires, bands or other ties.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel, simplified and practical mechanism for automatically effecting the above stated, usual wrapper folding operations; which can be readily moved into position of use either in the operation of folding the side edges, or the end edges of bale Wrapping sheets against the bale.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mechanism that can be moved from place to place for ready assembly in a line with machines used in a bale weighing, compressing, turning and wrapping operation.

Another object is to provide a folding mechanism as above stated wherein novel parallel linkage systems mount plates that are operable for end flap tucking and holding; utilizing a top bar that is mounted by a rubber spring hinge, for holding wrapper folds in position for movement of the bale to a binding mechanism, and wherein a novel pneumatic control system operates to automatically effect the sequence of folding operations either at the side or the end of a bale.

Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the combination of parts employed in the apparatus; in their construction and in the mode of operation of the mechanism as will hereinafter be described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the present wrapper folding mechanism as seen from what will herein be designated its outer side.

FIG. 2 is a plan or top view of the present folding mechanism with its various parts in positions corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the folding mechanism of FIG. 1, as seen from the right hand side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the present mechanism during an end flap folding operation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing in plan view of a bale wrapping line herein designated as the single machine arrangement.

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating the bale Wrapping sequence of steps followed in the use of the single machine arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing, in plan view, of a tandem machine arrangement for bale wrapping employing two folding machines of the present invention in the wrapping line.

FIG. 5A is a schematic showing of the sequence of steps in wrapping a bale by the tandem machine arrangement of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wrapped bale, after being banded or tied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic layout of the pneumatic control system for the present end folding mechanism.

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FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmental view of one of the end flap folding wings of one of the parallel link systems.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 99 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the valve and its actuating lever arm which controls the operation of parallel linkage mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the valve for control of the bottom paddle movement.

For a better understanding of the objects, requirements and mode of use of the apparatus of the present invention, it will here be explained that pulp bales, as presently made, vary in size but, as a general rule, are approximately 32" square in their horizontal dimension and approximately 14" to 20 in height. Such bales or stacks are individually wrapped for storage or shipment by use of two sheets of suitable wrapping paper, each of which sheets is approximately four and one-half feet square. These sheets are applied to the bale for wrapping in the specific manner hereinafter described to accommodate the present folding mechanism.

Preparatory to wrapping the bale, one of the wrapping sheets is placed flatly on a conveyor or table top and the pulp stack is centered thereon. Then the second sheet is similarly placed on the top of the bale. The bale with the two wrapping sheets thus assembled therewith is advanced onto a turntable with which the present machine is associated, and while at rest thereon the projecting opopposite side edges of the top sheet are likewise folded upwardly against the sides of the bale and the projecting opposite side edges of the top sheet are likewise folded downwardly into overlapped relationship with the upturned side edges of the bottom sheet. Suitable ties are then drawn about the wrapped bale, usually in spaced relationship therealong in positions to hold the folded flaps of the wrapping sheets in place. The bale is then turned horizontally by the turntable through an arc of and the projecting vertical end flaps of the wrapping sheets are then folded inwardly against the bale ends and the top and bottom edge portions are folded into overlapped relationship thereover. Finally, bands of wire or other suitable ties are drawn about the bale at a right angle to the bands first applied, thus together to hold the wrapper sheets secure.

It is to be understood that the present bale end folder is so designed that it may be associated with a line of mechanisms as used for weighing, compressing and tying or binding the wrapped bales. It may be employed for the initial operation of folding corresponding edge portions of the Wrapper sheets into overlapped relationship against the side of a bale. Then, after a 90 turning of the bale, it may be similarly employed for first tucking the side flaps of the wrappers into place against the bale ends and then folding the bottom and top flaps into overlapped relationship over.

Use of the present mechanism in what is designated the single machine arrangement has been shown in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 5, it has been shown in what is herein designated as the tandem machine arrangement; each of which arrangements will be presently fully described.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In the schematic showing of mechanisms in FIG. 4, employing the single machine arrangement, 2 designates a horizontal conveyor by which single stacks or bales B of pulp, or the like, may be delivered, as for example, from a bale press, not shown, to a wrapping turntable 3. Aligned with the conveyor and turntable is a tying or binding machine T whereby when a bale is advanced thereinto suitable bands, straps or ties may be placed about the bale. Located at one side of the turntable 3 is the bale end folder F of the present invention and at the opposite side is the operators station represented by the circle 0.

In the use of this single machine arrangement of mechanisms, a bale B, centered on a lower Wrapper or sheet Wa, as shown in FIG. 4A, is advanced to and centered on the turntable 3, and the top sheet Wb is then placed thereon. While the bale still rests on the turntable the bale end folder F is then caused, as presently explained, to fold the adjacent edge of the lower wrapper sheet upwardly and the corresponding edge of the top wrapper downwardly against the side of the bale. While these operations are taking place, the operator performs like wrapper flap folding operations manually at his side of the bale. The bale is then advanced from turntable 3 into the banding or tying machine T and one or more bands are applied about it as shown. Then the bale B is returned from the banding machine T to the turntable 3 and rotated thereby through a 90 turn and the infolding of the wrapper ends by mechanism F is completed at one side of the table, and at the other side infolding is likewise completed by the operator. The bale B with wrapping sheets folded at its ends is then advanced into the band applying machine T and one or more bands are applied about the bale over the end folds. Finally, the bale is advanced from the banding machine T onto an off bearing conveyor C and is conveyed from the wrapping line to a place of storage or use.

In the use of the bale wrapping line that features the tandem machine arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the bale B with folded wrapping sheets We; and Wb placed thereon is advanced to wrapping table 3x where operators fold the opposite edge of the wrappers down against the bale sides and cause the bale to be advanced into the banding machine T and one or more bands applied thereabout as at d in FIG. A to hold the side folds secure. The bale as thus wrapped is then advanced onto a turntable 3c whereby it is turned an interval of 90 as at e in FIG. 5A. Then the end folding machines F1 and F2 of this invention, located at opposite sides of the turntable 3c, are set in motion by the machine operator and they operate to simultaneously fold the end flaps of the wrapping sheets against the bale ends as at f in FIG. 5A. The wrapped bale is then advanced into the second tying or. banding machine T2 and the desired number of bands applied thereabout over its folded ends as at g in FIG. 5A. The bale, in its fully wrapped condition and with bands applied thereabout, is as shown in FIG. 6.

Since the folding machines F1 and F2 are alike in construction and in their mode of operation, the following description of one as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 will apply equally to the other.

The folding machine of this invention comprises a rigidly and strongly formed box-like base structure designated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. This structure is supported at its four lower corners by casters 21 for easy rolling movement of the mechanism to different places ofuse. As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3, the base structure 20 is equipped adjacent its two outside corner edges with vertical stabilizing pins 22 that are adjustable endwise in mounting bearings 22' fixed to the housing 2t into and from suitable sockets 23 formed in the floor surface on which the machine is supported in use thus to hold the machine against movement from proper relationshi with the bale support while it is being wrapped.

At its opposite ends, the base structure 20 is equipped with horizontally extending brackets or shoulders 24-24 with upper surfaces that are flush with the top surface of the base housing 20. Mounted vertically on each of these shoulders and top surface of the base at its opposite ends, in laterally spaced relationship are paired tubular bearings 25-25 in which vertical shafts 26-26 are rotatably supported. At their upper ends, the paired shafts 26-26 mount a pair of equally extending parallel links 27-27 which are pivotally joined across their outer ends by links 28, thus providing a horizontally swingable, parallel link system at each end of housing 20. Each link system, as

seen in FIG. 2, supports a flat rectangular paddle or plate 29 at its swinging end. These plates 29 are shown in FIG. 2 to be hingedly secured only at their outer ends to the corresponding links 28 by vertical hinge pins as at 30, thus to allow them to swing from positions engaged. flatly against the links 28, to various angular positions outwardly therefrom as in FIG. 8 for a purpose which presently will be explained. The swinging actuation of each parallel link system is effected and controlled by an air cylinder 32 that is pivotally supported as in FIG. 2, from the inside wall of the base housing 20, by a pivot shaft 33. Each cylinder has a piston rod 34 extended therefrom with pivotal connection, as at 35, with a radial arm 36 fixed to and extended from the shaft 26 of that system. Normally, the two parallel link systems are extended as shown in FIG. 1 and are operable inwardly or outwardly in unison by conjoint action of the cylinders 32.

At its inside, as seen in FIG. 3, the base housing 20 horizontally supports what is designated as the bottom paddle 40, the function of which paddle is to fold the extending edge portion of the bottom wrapper upwardly and against the end face of a bale, both in making a side fold and in making an end fold. This plate 40 is normally horizontally disposed immediately below the extending wrapper edge, as seen in full lines in FIG. 3. It is pivotally supported by a horizontal hinge shaft 41 mounted by a supporting bracket 42 extended from the inside wall or bale side of housing 20, and it may be swung upwardly to the vertical dash line positioned by connection with 'a piston rod 43 extending upwardly from an air cylinder 43 that is pivotally supported from the inside wall of the base housing 20, as at 44 in FIG. 3.

Also, supported from the base structure 20 is what is herein designated the top bar 45, which is shown in FIG. 1 to extend horizontally and parallel with the line of travel of the bale, substantially to the full span of the parallel link systems, as seen in plan view in FIG. 2. This bar 45 is slightly outwardly curved at its ends as observed at 45' in FIG. 2 and is operable for the downward folding of the extended edge of the top wrapper of the bale against a side face or against an end face of the bale as positioned for end folding, to hold it and all previously formed folds, during the folding cycle, until the wrapper has been positioned for tying of the bale.

The top bar 45, as seen in FIG. 3, is hinged to an arm or frame 46 which is pivotally supported by a horizontal hinge shaft 47 mounted by brackets 48 that are fixed on the outside edge of the base structure 20. This shaft 47 is equipped with a rocker arm 49 to which the piston rod 50' of an air cylinder 50 is operatively connected for the upward or downward swinging of the top bar 45. The mounting hinge, whereby the bar 45 is mounted at the outer end of the arm or frame 46, comprises a flat rubber spring 52 employed in such manner as to allow the top bar 45 to yield backwardly in folding the top wrapper down tightly over the edge of a poorly formed bale with top edge projecting inside the folding plane of the bale end folder. The actuating air cylinder 50 for bar 45 is pivotally supported at 53 by a bracket 54 that is applied to the outer edge of the base housing as in FIG. 3.

All functional operations of this mechanism F are under control of the air control system which has been schematically shown in FIG. 7 and which will subsequent- 1 be described in connection with the description of a wrapper folding operation which follows:

In use of the machine F, assuming it to be used in conjunction with other machines as in the single machine arrangement shown in FIG. 4, it is to be understood that when the bale B reaches its position for wrapper folding on turntable 3, its end folding plates 29-29 are at rest in their extended positions as supported by the oppositely extended parallel link systems therein shown. With the bale B in position for wrapper folding and with the edge portions of the bottom and top wrappers extended beyond the side face of the bale, as indicated at Wa and Wb' in FIG. 4, the machine F is then set in motion by an operator to fold the projecting edge of the bottom wrapper upwardly and extended flap of the top wrapper downwardly.

To accomplish these results, air under pressure is first admitted into the lower end of air cylinder 43 thus to cause the plate 40 to be swung upwardly on its supporting shaft 41 toward the bale, and in doing this, to cause the extended wrapper edge Wa' to be engaged thereby and folded upwardly and inwardly against the adjacent side of the bale. Incident to this initial folding operation, air under pressure also is admitted to the lower end of cylinder 50 to effect the downward actuation of arm 46 with an incident downward swinging of the top bar against the extended edge War of the top wrapper, thus to fold it downwardly and inwardly against the bale side over the upturned edge of the lower wrappers. The operator having performed similar folding operations at the other side of the table, the bale is then caused to be advanced into the binding machine T for application of the one or more encircling bands 66 as designated in FIG. 6. Then the bale is returned to the table and upon its return it is turned horizontally through a 90 turn thereby placing opposite ends flaps of the bale wrappers in position for their folding against the bale ends; the parts of the machine having been returned to normal idle position.

The end folding of wrappers is accomplished by first energizing the air cylinders 32 to swing both parallel link systems inwardly, thus to cause the inner vertical edges of the plates 2929 to engage with the extending vertical side flaps of the bale wrappers to fold them inwardly and flatly against the bale ends, as in dash lines in FIG. 3a. Then, while these folds are being held in place by the plates 29-29, cylinder 43 is energized to actuate paddle 40 upwardly thus to engage and fold the bottom end flap inwardly against the bale end. With the movement of paddle 40 to its up position, the parallel link systems are actuated outwardly by their air cylinders 32 and by this movement the plates 29-29 are laterally with drawn from within the folded side and bottom end flaps, which are held firmly in place by the paddle 40. Air is then admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 50 to cause bar 45 to be swung downwardly against the upper flap to fold it downwardly. In this operation the top flap is overlapped on the side and bottom flaps as held in place by the paddle 40. The paddle 40 and the bar 45 are retained in their actuated positions to hold the completed end folds in place while the bale is advanced laterally to the tying or banding station T as designated in FIG. 6.

To permit the plates 29-49 to be laterally withdrawn from within the folded side and bottom wrapper flaps without disrupting these flaps their outer ends have the pivotal mountings 3030. Normally, these plates 29 29 are yieldingly drawn and held flatly against the corresponding outer end links 2828 of the parallel link system as shown in FIG. 2, but they are outwardly yieldably movable therefrom by reason of the spring means shown in FIG. 8 wherein it is seen that, at each side, a rod is freely movable through an opening 28' in the corresponding link 28 and is pivotally attached at its outer end to the corresponding plate 29, as at 61. Coil springs 62 are applied about the rods, under compression against the plates 28 and nuts 63 on the rods to yieldingly draw the plates 29 against the links 28. However, with the outward swing of the parallel link systems, the springs yield and allow the plates to angle as they pivot and slide free from the end folds of the wrappers without disrupting or pulling the folds outwardly.

Operating air is supplied to the system as schematically shown in FIG. 7, under required pressure, through a filter 90 and shut-off valve 91, to the manual valve 101 which is connected through conventional piping to the various valves which control the sequence of operations initiated by the actuation of valve 101. The piping con nections are as indicated therein by dash lines.

It is to be understood that the inward and outward actuations of the piston rods of cylinders 32-32, 43 and 50 control the setting of certain valves such as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings but which have been schematically shown in FIG. 7.

The operation as provided for by the system shown in FIG. 7 for a bundle wrapping operation is completed in four sequential operations. The first and second sequences are for folding the side flaps against the sides of the bale. The third and fourth sequences operate to fold the end flaps against the ends of the bale.

Referring now to FIG. 7: This schematic showing of the automatic, all pneumatic control system in FIG. 7 discloses a two position foot pedal actuated valve 101. This is located adjacent the outside of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 3A where it is convenient to the operator.

Assuming that the machine F has been positioned properly relative to a bale with top and bottom wrappers applied for folding as in FIG. 4A, the first cycle of operations is initiated by pressing the foot pedal of valve 101. This actuation of valve 101 effects the following operations:

It actuates pilot 11317 on valve 113, which sets the sequencing system for the second cycle.

It actuates the pilot 106' on valve 106, which closes an exhaust for the pilot system.

It actuates the pilot 107 on valve 107, which prevents the actuation of pilot 10417 on valve 104 and actuates the pilot 109' on valve 109, which opens the pilot system to pressure. Then pressure through the valve 109 effects the following:

Actuates the pilot of valve 105 which admits pressure to the lower end of the actuating cylinder 43 for paddle 40 to actuate paddle 40 from horizontal position, upwardly to fold the flap of the bottom wrapper up against the side face of the bale.

It actuates the pilot 108 on valve 108 which exhausts the pilot 104b of valve 104 and actuates pilot 104a on valve 104 which maintains the side plate actuating cylinders 3232 against actuation and thus retains the plates 29-29 retracted as in FIG. 1 which, in their retracted position, actuate valve through its pilot 110' to allow pressure to be applied to the lower end of the bar actuating cylinder 50 to bring the bar 45 down and fold the flap of the top wrapper down against the bale. This completes the first cycle as required for folding the side flaps of the wrappers against the bale.

After the bale has been transferred to the tying or banding station, the second cycle is initiated by pressing the foot pedal of valve 101. This effects actuation of the pilot 114a of valve 114 and allows pressure of the system to exhaust. This exhausting of the system deactuates the pilot 109' of valve 109 which blocks pressure to the pilot system; deactuates the pilot 107' on valve 107 to open valve 108 to the pilot system and it deactuates the pilot 106 on valve 106 which opens a closed part of the pilot system to exhaust.

The deactuating of the pilot 106' of valve 106 results in deactuation of the pilot 108 of valve 108 which opens the pilot 10% of valve 104 to the pilot system; deactuates the pilot 105 on valve 105 to allow pressure to the top port of the paddle actuating cylinder 43 to return paddle 40 to down position and the top port of cylinder 50 to return bar 45 to its up position. The parts are now ready for end fol-ding operations.

In connection with the schematic showing of valves 110 and 111 in FIG. 7, it will be explained that these are the valves shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and which valves are fixed in the base housing 20 in positions for their actuation by lever arms 110a and 111a that are fixed to and extend radially from the shafts 26 that are mounted and actuate the parallel linkage units at opposite sides of the base structure. The arrangement is such that when the linkage swings inwardly and outwardly the settings of these valves are changed as presently explained.

The third cycle begins with pressing the pedal on valve 101. This actuates pilot 113a of valve 113 to set the sequencing system for the fourth cycle, and through valves 114, 106, 107 and 108 actuates pilot 10412 of valve 104 which allows pressure to the blank port of the side paddle cylinders 3232, bringing the side paddles to inner or folding positions to engage and tuck the side flaps into place. When plates 29-29 are brought to their inner or folding positions, the valve 111 is actuated to open the rest of the pilot system to pressure.

Pressure through valve 111 then actuates the pilot 108' on valve 108 which exhausts .pilot 10411 on valve 104; actuates the pilot 105' on valve 105 which allows pressure to the bottom of paddle actuating cylinder 43 to swing paddle 40 up and effect folding of the bottom flap of the bottom wrapper up against the face of the end of the bale over the side flaps; it actuates pilot 104a of valve 104 to allow pressure to the rod port of the side paddle cylinders 3232 to retract the side paddles 29-29 which in retracted position actuates valve 110 to open position.

Pressure through valve 110 then actuates the .pilot 103 on valve 103 to admit pressure to the bottom end of cylinder 50 to actuate the top bar 45 downwardly to fold the flap of the top wrapper against the end face of the bale.

The final cycle begins with pressing the pedal of valve 101. This actuates pilot 114b of valve 114 which allows the pilot system to exhaust.

The pilot system exhausting deactuates the pilot on valve 108 which opens the pilot 104b of valve 104 to the pilot system; it deactuates the pilot 105 on valve 105 which allows pressure to the top of cylinder 43 to return the paddle 40 to down position; it deactuates the pilot 103' of valve 103 which allows pressure to enter the top end of cylinder 50 to return the bar 45 to up position.

Pressing the pedal of valve 101 again will initiate the first cycle.

I claim:

1. A bale end folder comprising in combination, a base for supporting a, bale with top and bottom wrapping sheets applied thereto and with the extending side fiaps of said sheets folded and flattened against the opposite sides of the bale and with end flaps extending beyond the bale ends, and a wrapper folding machine for folding said extended end flaps against the bale end; said wrapper folding machine comprising a frame structure positioned adjacent to and beyond the end of the bale against which the end flaps are to be folded, a pair of parallel arms at each side of the frame pivotally mounted by the frame and normally extended laterally therefrom at opposite sides of the frame, wing plates mounted by said pairs of arms at their free ends and at the level of the extended end flaps, including parallel linkage systems whereby said wing plates are retained parallel with the end of the bale in their inward swinging action and are caused to engage the extended flaps endwise and press and hold the flaps flatly against the bale end surfaces, power means for swinging said pairs of arms in parallelism toward each other, a bottom end flap folding paddle hingedly supported from the frame adjacent the bottom edge of the bale, power means to actuate said paddle upwardly against the extended flap of the bottom wrapper to fold it upwardly against the bale end, a top end flap arm hingedly supported from said frame above the bale, a horizontal bar mounted by said top end flap arm, means for swinging said bar downwardly to engage the extended flap of the top wrapper to fold it downwardly against the bale end and means for actuating the parallel arms outwardly to extract said wing plates from the inwardly folded sides of the end flaps.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said arms of the parallel linkage systems are mounted at their inner ends on vertical pivot shafts secured to the frame structure and are pivotally interconnected at their outer ends by connecting links, and wherein said wing plates are hinged at their outer ends to the corresponding arm connecting links and are yieldingly held thereagainst at their inner ends by spring means and are permitted outward movement as withdrawn from between the folded end flaps of the bale.

3. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the power means for swinging said arms includes cylinders mounted in the frame structure for the actuation of the parallel linkage systems to swing them in unison inwardly for the inward folding of the opposite sides of the end flaps, and wherein the inward swinging of said arms initiates an upward actuation of the hinged paddle to fold the bottom end flap upwardly, followed by the outward swinging of the parallel linkage system to return the side plates to their outward position and to effect the downward actuation of said horizontal end bar to fold the top end flap downwardly against the bale end.

4. A combination as in claim 1 wherein a second wrapper folding machine is positioned at the opposite end of the bale and said wrapper folding machines fold the ends of the bale simultaneously.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,008,197 11/1911 Richter et al. 53-218 1,979,496 11/1934 Schilbach 53371 2,858,657 11/1958 Guthrie 53-2l8 2,911,778 11/1959 Ozor 53371 2,937,484 5/1960 Wirnan 53-135 3,078,633 2/1963 Stromberg et al. 53 378 TRAVIS S. MCI-IEHEE, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner.

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