US3496698A

US3496698A - Machine for cutting,folding and packaging strip material

Info

Publication number: US3496698A
Application number: US555386A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Wichmann
Original assignee: WILLIAM A WICHMANN
Current assignee: WILLIAM A WICHMANN
Priority date: 1966-06-06
Filing date: 1966-06-06
Publication date: 1970-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1987-02-24

Description

Feb. 24, 1970 4 w. A. WICHMANN 5 MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL '8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1966 FIG.

h 5mm w a ZQ w a .5; MJ M 3 :IIW a 0 6 9 4 .4 W a 5 4 6 a 6 6 5 I 7 5 F 4 mr 1 a h 20$ 6 ..l .HIHI 7 \b a M 6 M 0 11 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. WICHMANN ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1970 Filed June 6, 1966 FIG. 2

w. A. WICHMANN MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR WILLIAM A. WICHMANN ATTORNEY w. A. WICHMANN 3,496,698

MACHINE FOR CUTTING,-FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL Feb. 24, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1966 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM-A. WICHMANN M a, M

ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1970 v w, A. ICHMANN 3,496,698

MACHINE FOR TING, FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL Filed June 6. 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 WILLIAM A. WICHMANN ATTOBNEY Feb. 24, 1970 w. A. WICHMANN MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1966 INVENTQR.

WILLIAM A. WICHMANN Mam ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1970 w. A. WICHMANN 3,496,598

. MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 1966 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. -W|CHMANN ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1970 v w. A. WICHMANN 3,496,693

MACHINE FQR CUTTING,'FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. WICHMANN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,496,698 MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING AND PACKAGING STRIP MATERIAL William A. Wichmann, 57 Graham Ave., North Haledon, NJ. 07508 Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,386 Int. 'Cl. B65b 35/40, 43/28, 63/04 US. Cl. 53-117 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a machine or apparatus for outing, folding and packaging predetermined lengths of strip material in the form of paper or paper products, plastics, textiles or similar materials.

Heretofore, in order to provide a folded strip of material of predetermined size, several operations were necessary with the consequent expense and loss of time. While it has long been desired to provide a machine capable of accordion folding a sheet of material, outing it to a predetermined length and thereafter packing the same in one continuous operation, no such device has been provided.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine which, in one continuous operation folds strip material, cuts the strip after a predetermined length has been processed, and inserts the folded strip into packaging containers stacked in the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine with means for accordion folding strip material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine with means which will draw and guide strip material through the machine in a reliable and unobstructed manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine with means for inserting folded strip material into packaging containers, and removing the filled containers from the machine by placing them in a collection trough.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a machine with means for cutting, folding, and packaging strip material in a smoothly operating and economical manner.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description and specification accompanied by drawings in which FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the machine showing the principal elements of the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the machine taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1. This view shows the mechanism by which the strip material is fed into the machine, cut to length, folded, and inserted into packaging containers.

FIGURE 3 is a side view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2. The view shows the mountings for the power source and transmission links, as well as the pressure rolls used to guide the strip material through the machine.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIGURE 3. This view shows the manner in which the pressure rolls are driven for drawing the strip material through the machine for processing. The view also illustrates the driving means for the folding mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, and shows the linkage which distributes power to the driving members of the machine.

FIGURE 6 is a partial front view of the pressure rolls taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 with the guard cover removed, and shows the manner in which these rolls are interlinked and connected to the power source.

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the work surface taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 2, and shows the folding mechanism in relation to the compacting means, as well as the means for preparing the folded strip material for packaging.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional front view of the work surface taken along line 88 of FIGURE 7, and shows the mechanism which deposits layers of folded strip material beneath the compacting means.

FIGURE 9 is a partial front view of the work surface taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 7, and illustrates the mechanism by which the packaging containers are supported and opened prior to receiving the folded strip material.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional side view of the work area taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 7, and illustrates the means by which the folded strip material is transferred preparatory to being packaged.

FIGURE 11 is a partial side view of the support for the packaging containers taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 7, and shows the hanger for the packaging containers as well as the means for maintaining them properly stacked.

FIGURE 12 is a partial bottom view of the area in which the packaging containers are located, and the folded material is passed through the work surface and into the containers.

FIGURES 13 to 15 show respectively the progressive steps by which the folded strip material is inserted into the packaging containers. In FIGURE 13 the container has been opened and the folded strip material is about to be passed through the work surface. In FIGURE 14 the folded strip material has been forced through spring doors in the work surface, and into the container. FIGURE 15 shows the final step in which the folded strip material is fully inserted into the container, and the latter is removed from its support prior to dropping into a collection trough.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view of another form of the mechanism by which the packaging containers are supported and opened prior to receiving the folded strip material.

In accordance with the drawings, the strip material to be cut, folded and packaged, is mounted on feed rolls 10,

1 11, and 12. For a particular application, the

material

13 and 14 on rolls 10 and 11 respectively, may be made of plastics. Material 15 may be a paper or cardboard product. Feed rolls 10, 11, and 12 are freely rotatable, and will turn when the

unwound portions

16, 17, and 18 are drawn into the machine for processing. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1, the strip 18 may be sandwiched between strips 16 and 17.

Feed rolls

10, 11, and 12 are supported by a frame 21 which has a base 22 for maintaining the structure upright. Section 19 of the machine retains a number of rolls which draw the

strips

16, 17, and 18 into the machine. This section contains also the cutting and folding mechanism. Section 20 holds the appropriate gearing and gear-chain drives for the rolls in section 19. A machine frame 23 supports the various mechanical units, and base 24 fixed to this frame, assures adequate stability and rigidity.

The mechanism which processes the strip material in the machine, is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Strips

16, 17 and 18 are inserted between two entrance rolls 34 which apply pressure on the combined strips as they rotate. A tensile force drawing the strips into the machine is thus generated, and this force causes the

spools

13, 14, and 15 to unwind. Accordingly, the strip material is continuously fed into the machine. Upon leaving the entrance rolls 34, the combined strip is gripped by the pressure rolls 36 which, in combination with roller 37 rotate strip 35 through an angle of approximately 90.

When the corrected length of strip 35 has passed roller 37, the strip is cut. The cutting procedure is performed by the roll 38 which carries a cutting knife 39. By means of appropriate gearing, the rotational velocity of roll 38 is controlled so that the cutter 39 will make a complete revolution when the correct amount of strip material 35 has passed down beyond the cutter.

When the machine is started, for example, the cutter 39 is in the position away from the strip 35. A sufiicient length of strip 35 is drawn into the machine for insertion between

rollers

34, 36, and 37. When the driving unit of the machine commences to operate, roll 38 rotates clockwise after roll 38 and the cutter 39 have rotated through one complete revolution, the correct length of strip 35 has been fed past the initial position of the cutter and the material is cut and the cutter thus stops in its initial position. Roll 40 serves as an anvil for cutter 39, and assures that a sharp and complete separation of the material is obtained through full penetration of the cutter.

After strip 35 has been cut, it passes to guides 41. A counter 42 may be employed and geared to roll 38 so that the counter advances one unit whenever roll 38 completes one revolution. In this manner, a tabulation is obtained of the number of lengths of material that have been cut and processed through the machine.

Guides 41 are funnel-shaped so as to guide the cut edge of the strip 35, between rollers 43. After having been cut, the strip material above the cutter may become somewhat deviated as it moves downward towards rolls 43. Fingers 41 assures that such deviations in the strip do not cause the strip to be misdirected around rolls 43 and guided into the flapper.

After traveling past rolls 43, the combined strip 35 enters the flapper unit 44. The flapper unit consists of two plates 45 and 46 which oscillate about the axis 47. The flapper 44 serves to fold the strip material in an accordion manner. One end of the folded strip is held down by finger 48. The other end of the folded material is held down by finger 49. These fingers push downward and press upon the folded edges through the operation of

cams

50 and 51. Whenever the flapper 44 moves towards one of these fingers, the corresponding cam rotates so as to allow the finger to move upwards and away from the folded material. This permits the flapper to deposit a layer of the material beneath the finger. When the motion of the flapper reverses and it moves away from the finger that it has just contacted, that finger moves again downward and grips the deposited layer. The amplitude of the flapper unit 44 may be varied by means of the clamp 106 coupling the connecting rod to the flapper so that the flapper can oscillate to a position to deposit a layer of material beneath a finger. In this manner the layer is firmly held and is not drawn along as the flapper proceeds to the other finger due to this holding action of the finger, furthermore, additional strip material is fed out of the flapper and deposited as a new layer, as the flapper moves towards the other finger. This other finger moves now in an upward direction and allows thereby the deposition of the new layer beneath its gripping surface. This operation of the flapper and finger is repeated in an oscillatory manner, and gives rise to the stack 52 of folded strip material. As already described, the action of the flapper and finger combine so that the strip material is folded in an accordion manner. Accordingly, if the folded stack 52 were removed from the work area, and the ends of the stack were pulled apart, an accordion configuration would appear with each fold being opposite to its adjacent folds.

The construction and operation of the finger may be described in the following manner. Finger 48, for example, is rotatable about pivot 53. The back end 54 of the finger is acted upon by a spring 55. Spring 55 is of the compression type, and tends to pull end 54 downward and upon the work platen 56. This causes the finger to be pivoted in a clockwise direction, in the absence of cam 50. The latter, however acts to confine the motion of the finger, when cam 50 is rotated 90 from the position shown in FIGURE 2, the clockwise movement of the finger is limited to the extent that the finger does not bear upon the stacked material. Cam 50 rotates with shaft 57 held in bearings supported by the structure of section 20. The rotation of shaft 57 is synchronized with the motion of the flapper so that cam 50 presses upon the finger whenever the flapper is directed away from the finger. At the same time, the finger is released by the cam whenever the flapper moves towards it. Due to the oscillatory motion of the flapper, it may therefore be seen that cams 50' and 51 are oppositely phased. Roller 58 held in bearings fixed to the finger, serves as a cam follower and assures smooth operation between cam and finger. Finger 48 is made of spring material to allow for the variation in height of the stacked material.

Roller 58 bears firmly against cam 50 as a result of compression spring 55. A rod 59 inserted through the interior of this spring, supports the spring by means of washer 60 and nut 61 screwed onto the threaded end of the rod. The rod 59 passes through the work platen 56 andthrough a hole in the section 54 of finger 48. The upper end of the rod 59 terminates in a head 62 which is larger than the hole in section 54.

In operation the flapper unit 44 for folding the strip material in an accordion manner is fed the strip 35 by the pressure rolls 43. As the flapper unit oscillates the pressure rolls 43 continue to feed the strip 35 so that the flapper unit deposits a layer of material and as the flapper unit reaches the end point of one oscillation the pressure rolls 43 continue to feed the strip 35 as the flapper unit stops its movement in one direction and starts to move in the opposite direction so that the strip is folded under one of the fingers and then under the other finger.

After the proper length of strip material has been accordion-folded, it is moved from beneath the finger and to the right in FIGURE 3. The stack 52 of folded material is thus located beneath the ram-piston 63 which forces the stack through a pair of spring doors and into a packaging container 64.

Ram-piston 63 is fixed to a rod 66 which slides within a cylinder 67. The cylinder is fastened to the machine by means of the block 68 and bracket 69. The length of the rod passes through the housing 70. Housing 70 may be fixed to plate 71. If desired, the housing may be made of plastic material to permit a clear view of the condition and action of the rod.

The relationship of the location of the strip while it is being folded, with respect to the location of the stacked material before it is forced into a packaging container, is shown in FIGURE 3. When the proper length of material has been folded, it is moved to the right and against the guide plate 72. Depending upon the width of the strip material, the position of the stop plate 72 may be varied by means of the threaded rod 73 turning within a threaded hole in plate 74. The threaded rod may be pushed in or pulled out by means of the knob 76. The threaded rod and hence the plate 72 may be firmly fixed in place by tightening the two locking nuts 77. For convenience, the ON-OFF switch 75 for the machine, is also mounted onto the plate 74.

FIGURE 3 also illustrates the relative position of the gear and control box 20 with respect to the entrance and pressure rolls. The length of the entrance rolls 34 may exceed considerably the width of the strip material to be processed. The fingers 41 extend along the entire length of the roll for purposes of accommodating any desirable width of strip material. The fingers 41 are attached to a shaft 41a. The width of the strip material should be well within the length of the various rolls that guide the strip to the flapper. Anair jet 78 is directed downward along the flapper to facilitate the depositing of the initial and last layer of the material, to increase the speed of deposit and to make it be in the desired position. The inlet of the vacuum pump 79 is connected to a nozzle (not shown) by means of a tube 82. This nozzle is pushed by an air cylinder against the wall of the container 64 whereby it engages the container. Thereafter the nozzle is returned towards its initial position and holding the wall of the container, it opens the container for the reception of the material. Bracket 84 aids in holding the back die stack of the container.

The main motor drive 85 is mounted to the rear and at the foot of section 20. This motor is the driving source of the machine. A belt and pulley arrangement serves to reduce the speed of the motor shaft, and to power the driving shaft 87. The driving shaft 87 transmits motion to the shaft of rollers 43 which in turn through the chain and sprocket drive 88 transmits the motion to driving shaft 93 and thereafter to the switch and control unit 89 which holds a number of cam-operated electrical switches. These switches serve to control the electrical circuits associated with the machine. The driving combination 90 serves as an intermediary agent for actuating the entrance and various pressure rolls. A separate motor 91 may be employed to drive the cutter roll 38.

The linkages for driving the moving parts of the machine are shown in FIGURES 4, and 6. Rolls 36 are connected through a sprocket and chain drive 97 to entrance rolls 34. Accordingly, the rotational speeds of these rolls are closely synchronized, Such regulation of the speeds of these rolls is essential in order to prevent tearing of the strip material 35, or to prevent jamming of the machine through accumulation of the material along the path between the rolls. Roll 36 carries a gear 98 which meshes with gear 99 on pressure rolls 37. Sprocket and chain drive 95 links, in turn, pressure rolls 43 to rolls 37. All of the pressure rolls in the machine are connected with gears. In this manner, all of the aforementioned rolls are positively linked, and their rotational velocities are fully synchronized in relation to one another. Such design serves to transport the strip material through the rolls in a smoothly operating manner. FIGURE 4 shows sprocket and chain drive 96 connecting the cutter roll 38 with a separate motor drive shaft 92.

The flapper shaft 44 is actuated by a crank mechanism 101 in combination with connecting rod 105, Crank 101 is mounted on shaft 93 and connecting rod 105 couples the crank to the flapper shaft and thus imparts an oscillatory motion to the flapper. The amplitude of this oscillating or reciprocating motion may be varied by means of the clamp 106 coupling the connecting rod to the flapper. The closer the clamp to the shaft 47 of the flapper the greater the amplitude of the reciprocating motion. By being able to select the amplitude of the motion in this manner, the length of the folded stack of material may be varied at will. The flapper motion is closely synchronized to the

cams

50 and 51. Through means of the sprocket and chain drive 94, the

shafts

57 and 57a of these cams are linked to the crank shaft 93. The functional interrelationship of the flapper with the cams has already been described.

The view upon the work platen 56, is shown in FIGURE 7. After the folded stack 52 has been completed, it is transferred to the location 52a where it rests against plate 72. The mechanism for transferring the stack in this manner, consists of a piston and

cylinder arrangement

107 and 108 respectively, in conjunction with a carriage 109. The carriage carries two pins 110 which are disposed in the slots 111 through the work platen 56. In their normal positions, these pins lie within the slots and well beneath the top surface of the work platen. When it is desired to transfer the stacked material to the position 52a, these pins move upward and project above the platen surface behind the folded stack. Piston 107 then moves out of the cylinder 108, and causes pins 110 to push stack 52 into position 52a. When piston 107 has reached its extended position, carriage 109 drops downward and thereby causes pins to fully re-enter their slots 111. In this manner, the pins no longer project above the platen surface, with the result that the work area is free from obstructions.

The carriage has a housing on both sides in which the pins 110 are vertically movable. These pins are normally under spring tension to remain in retracted position. Rollers 112 are connected to pins 110.

When piston 107 is fully retracted, and stack 52 is to be transferred to position 52a, rollers 112 and hence the extension of carriage 109 are raised onto track 114. The relationship of

tracks

113 and 114 may be seen by re ferring to FIGURE 8. The raising of the extension of the carriage assembly onto track 114 is accomplished by the piston and

cylinder arrangements

115 and 116 respectively. Pistons 115 have feet 117 which act upon the rod and sleeve assembly 11 8 and 119 respectively. Roller 120 attached to rod 118 assures a smooth lowfriction operation. The shafts or rollers 112 are also fixed to rods 118. Sleeves 119 contain slots to allow these roller shafts to move with the rods. When pins 110 are to be raised, pistons 115 are retracted into their cylinders 116. This causes rods 118 to slide into sleeves 119, thereby raising rollers 112 upon track 114. Track 113 is longer than track 114. When piston 107 is fully extended and pins 110 have reached their extreme extended position, these pins and the corresponding extension of the carriage assembly drop rom track 114 to the lower track 113. Accordingly, track 113 extends beyond track 114 at both ends.

As an alternative arrangement to the construction shown in FIG. 9, a simplified embodiment is shown in FIG. 16 in which the carriage 109a is supported on the piston 107a similar to the piston 107 in FIG. 9. The can riage 109a has at its outer ends two air cylinders 116a that operates piston 110a which are free to move Within two slots 111a in the platen 5651. When it is desired to transfer a folded stack 52 of the type shown in FIG.7 to the position 52a, the air cylinders 116a are energized to cause the pistons 110a to extend upwardly, similarly to the way that the pins 110 in FIG. 7 are raised to move the folded stack 52. Thereafter the piston and cylinder arrangement 107a and 108a is energized to push the carriage 109a along with the folded stack to the position 52a, and upon reaching that position, the cylinders 11611 are deenergized to retract the pistons 110a and push the folded stack into its new position.

Referring to the other parts of the machine, a pair of spring doors 121, the shape of which is shown in FIG- URE 12, are situated within the platen 56 directly beneath the location 52a. These doors open under the force of the ram 63, and allow the stacked material to be pushed through the platen and into the packaging container 64. The doors 121 are normally held closed by the spring hinges 122. When the doors are closed, they overlap and form the opening 123 through the body of the doors. This opening allows the ram 63 to return upwards to its normal position, after it has pushed the stacked material 52 into the container 64. Rollers 124 located at right angles to the hinged edges of the doors, facilitate smooth sliding of the stacked material through the platen 56.

The packaging containers 64 are stacked adjacent to each other on a hanger 125. One wall of the container has holes through which the hanger passes and supports the container. The containers are located directly beneath the spring doors 121. The containers may be viewed as bags in which wall 64a is longer than wall 64b. The additional length of wall 64a is for the purpose of including the holes in which the container is suspended from hanger 125. The container is opened by means of the vacuum unit 81. The process by which the stacked material 52 is packaged in the container, is best seen from FIGURES 13 to 15.

When the packaging containers are stacked next to one another on hanger 125, the

walls

64a and 64b are pressed together by a following spring (not shown). By means of the vacuum unit acting upon wall 64b, the walls become separated and the container is opened. Ram 63 then proceeds to push the stacked material 52 through the spring doors 121 and the work platen 56. The spring doors 121 open to spread the container in the proper way after the vacuum unit has separated the walls. By acting upon the center of stack 52, the ram 63 causes the stack to become folded at the center and to form the U-shape shown in FIGURE 14. In this manner, the ends of the stack 52 lie together at the top of the container. As the ram 63 proceeds further downward, it forces the container or bag to rip orr the hanger 125, and to drop down into a coliection trough (not shown). After the container has thus been severed from its hanger, the ram returns to its upper position to commence a new cycle.

Hanger 125 is a U-shaped rod as shown in FIGURE 12, and is held between the

plates

126 and 127. The plates contain semi-circular slots in which the legs of the hanger may be located. The plates may contain additional such holes for purposes of accommodating different sizes of hangers. Straps 129 attached to plate 127, serve to assure proper operation in the opening of the containers. Plate 130 attached to rod 131 assures that the containers are firmly stacked together on the hanger under spring tension. Regardless of the number of containers on the hanger, plate 130 always bears against them due to the action of compression spring 132 situated on the rod 131, as shown in FIGURE 9. Handle 133 fixed to rod 131 allows the latter and h nce plate 130 to be drawn away from the containers so as to permit their supply to be replenished. Spring 132 is held in compression by means of pin 134 fixed to rod 131, and the bracket 135. Hanger 125, as shown in FIGURE 12, is firmly held in position by means of screws 136 and plate 127 is supported by means of the bracket 138.

It will be understood that I have provided a new, unique and novel machine in which, through one continuous run, a web of material may be folded, cut and packaged with speed, efi'iciency and economy.

While this invention has been described in some detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for folding predetermined lengths of severable strip material including: means for drawing and guiding the strip material through the apparatus, severing means, oscillating and depositing means for accordion folding each severed section of strip material, means comprising holding members located at opposite folds to maintain the material in folds of substantially even length, said means for drawing and guiding said strip material through said apparatus including a pair of rollers disposed above said oscillating and depositing means, means for continuously drivingv said rollers, said severing means being located above said oscillating and depositing means for severing the strip material into sections having predetermined lengths, said oscillating and depositing means comprising a flapper having two generally depending opposing oscillating surfaces receiving and accordion folding each severed section of strip material and depositing said severed strip material beneath said holding members, said flapper dwelling for a sufficient time to permit said hold ing members to engage said material while said rollers are being continuously driven and means for moving the section of accordion folded strip material from beneath said holding members for placing the folded material in a packaging container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for drawing and guiding said strip material through said apparatus comprises rotating pressure rolls coupled to a power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure rolls are linked to synchronize the relative rotational speeds of said rolls.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein two of said pressure rolls guide said strip material after having passed said cutting means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises a cutting knife carried upon the surface of a roll, said cutting knife being associated with a free rotating anvil roll which provides a firm cutting support for said knife.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said roll carrying said cutting knife is driven from an independent power source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said oscillating member is linked to said means for drawing and guiding said strip material through said apparatus.

8-. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for holding said strip material in folded form comprises a pair of cam operated fingers located at opposite folds of said folded strip material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said fingers are linked to said means for folding said strip material, said fingers being driven so as to alternately compact the folds as they are developed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for holding packaging containers, means for opening said packaging containers, and means for pushing said folded strip material into said packaging containers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 including holding means for holding packaging containers, said holding means being located beneath an opening in the surface upon which said strip material is folded; a ram piston for pushing said folded strip material through said opening and into one of said packaging containers; and means for driving said piston.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for driving said piston comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,365,947 1/ 1921 Overbury 27079 1,877,359 12/1932 Morin 270--79 2,528,997 11/1950 Blanchard 53189 2,541,387 2/1951 Salfisberg 53-23 2,961,678 11/1960 MacLellan et al. 5323 X 3,195,883 7/1965 SouthWell et al 27079 3,286,435 11/1966 Weinberger 53123 FOREIGN PATENTS 616,821 3/1961 Canada.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.