US3590552A

US3590552A - Automatic panel wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: US3590552A
Application number: US830466A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl R Marschke
Original assignee: Marquip Inc
Current assignee: Marquip Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-04
Filing date: 1969-06-04
Publication date: 1971-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-06

Abstract

A wrapping machine in which paper is fed from a paper roll and wrapped around a plurality of separate intermittently fed panel boards. Means responsive to the diameter of paper remaining on the paper roll applies a gradually decreasing drag force to prevent overrunning by the paper roll. Paper passes over a capstan roll which is driven in response to the position of a vertically movable dancer roll which is cradled by and tensions the paper. The dancer roll position also engages and releases the braking device. An idler roll is provided with a downwardly inclined paper stop, the end of which is spring biased upwardly to confine paper against the idler roll and prevent backward sliding of paper when it is severed therebeneath. The paper passes through a shock-absorbing device and hence to a pair of nip rolls through which a narrower panel board having glue strips adjacent its lower edges is fed. The paper and board are then fed between lower driven belts and upper converging belts which pull the paper taut; and the paper is folded and tucked under the board edges for contact with the glue strips. Means responsive to passage of a board therethrough severs the paper between boards, and the paper end portion is pulled back through the nip.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Carl R. Marschke Phillips, Wis. 21 Appl. No. 830.466 [22] Filed June 4. 1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [73] Assignee Marqulp inc. Phillips, Wis.

[54] AUTOMATIC PANEL WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Claims. 13 Drawing Figs. 52 us. Cl. 53/66, 53/230. 53/389 [51] Int. Cl ..B65b 57/02, B65b ll/l2, 1365b 4l/l2 [50] Field of Search 53/66,, 196. 230. 389; l56/479, 484 56] lteterences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,945,337 7/1960 Waite 53/389 2,718,738 9/1955 Mast et a1. 53/64 3,375,152 3/1968 Lundberg ct a1 156/479 3.475.261 10/1969 156/479 Ettore et al.

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee AtrorneyAndrus. Sceales. Starke and Sawall ABSTRACT: A wrapping machine in which paper is fed from a paper roll and wrapped around a plurality of separate intermittently fed panel boards. Means responsive to the diameter of paper remaining on the paper roll applies a gradually decreasing drag force to prevent overrunning by the paper roll. Paper passes over a capstan :roll which isrdriven in response to the position of a vertically movable dancer roll which is cradled by and tensions the paper. The dancer roll position also engages and releases the braking device. An idler roll is provided with a downwardly inclined paper stop, the end of which is spring biased upwardly to confine paper against the idler roll and prevent backward sliding of paper when it is severed therebeneath. The paper passes through a shock-absorbing device and hence to a pair of nip rolls through which a narrower panel board having glue strips adjacent its lower edges is fed. The paper and board are then fed between lower driven belts and upper converging belts which pull the paper taut; and the paper is folded and tucked under the board edges for contact with the glue strips. Means responsive to passage of a board therethrough severs the paper between boards, and the paper end portion is pulled back through the nip.

PATENTEU JUL 6m:

SHEET 1 BF 4 I I I I 53$ INVENTOR.

CARL R. MARSCI'IKE Attorneys PATENTEDJUL 6:971

SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR. CARL R MARSCHKE Attorneys PATENTED JUL 6197i SHEET 3 [1F 4 5% &

INVENTOR. CARL R. MARSCHKE llf/ ail/ vm/ Attorneys This invention relates to an automatic panel wrapping machine; and more particularly to a machine for applying a protective sheet of paper to the top surface of a board, wrapping the paper under the board edges and sealing the paper to the bottom board side.

The paper is fed from a continuous roll and is applied to a succession of separate boards of the same or varying length which are fed through the machine intermittently. The paper is cut off behind each board and remains ready for the next board to be fed through.

The machine includes numerous novel features, to be described hereinafter, including means to maintain the paper under tension at all times whether a board is being fed through or not.

The panel boards may be prefinished boards or any other flat boardlike member which the paper is designed to protect.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a panel wrapping machine constructed in accordance with the invention and schematically showing the shock chamber control system;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top elevation of the paper roll brake mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a generally central longitudinal section of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the paper splicing mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the paper severing mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the machine, taken from the opposite side of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c are schematic sections taken on lines 7a-7aa, 7b-7b and 7c-7c of FIG. 6, and showing the paper wrapping and sealing mechanism;

FIG. 8 is the electrical control diagram;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the dancer roll and its control mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a schematic top plan view of the wrapping and sealing mechanism; and

FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of the wrapping and sealing mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the machine of the invention includes a suitable frame I which is supported on legs 2. The machine is adapted to-wrap lengths of panel board or the like 3 with paper 4 which is initially provided in continuous sheet form. For this purpose, the machine generally comprises a paper supply mechanism 5; a paper feed, drive and control mechanism 6; a board feed mechanism 7; and a wrapping and sealing mechanism 8.

PAPER SUPPLY MECHANISM As best shown in FIGS. I and 3, paper supply mechanism 5 comprises a paper source or roll 9 disposed adjacent the front drive portion of the machine. Roll 9 contains a continuous supply of paper 4 and includes a central supporting shaft 10. Support for roll 9 is provided by a pair of spaced longitudinally extending tracks 11'. Bearings 12 on the ends of shaft 10 are mounted in blocks 13 which fixedly releasably secure roll 9 in position on the track, as by bolts 14. Release of bolts 14 permits shifting of roll 9 along the tracks.

To prevent extensive down time when roll 9 is exhausted, it is desirable to have a supplemental paper source or roll 15 disposed on tracks 11 just rearwardly of roll 9. Roll 15 is similar to roll 9, and includes the same bearings 12, blocks 13 and tightening bolts 14.

Paper 4a from roll 9 is fed from the underside thereof, under a steel idler roll 16 mounted on frame I and hence to paper feed, drive and control mechanism 6. Means are provided for quickly substituting the paper 4b from roll 15 for the paper la from roll 9 when the latter paper is almost exhausted.

For this purpose, a resilient rubber surfaced paper support roll 117 is mounted on frame 1 just below roll 16. Roll 17 is parallel to and normally spaced from roll 16 and is constructed eccentrically, so that when its shaft 18 is turned, as by a hand crank 119, the roll surface, which is eccentric relative to the roll axis, raises toward roll 16. In splicing paper 4lb from paper roll 15 onto paper 4a from paper roll 9, the front upper edge portion of paper 4b is suitably provided with a strip of adhesive 20, and the lower edge corners are also provided with adhesive, if desired. The edge is then manually pulled up between idler roll 16 and eccentric roll l7 and the corner adhesive attached to the latter. See FIGS. 3 and 4. Turning of crank 19 will raise the adhesively stripped edge into line contact with the paper from paper roll 9, and will press the latter into line contact with idler roll 16 to splice the two papers together due to their pressure confinement between the rolls.

Means are provided to cut or sever the remaining paper 4a free of the splice substantially simultaneously with the creation thereof, and in response to rotation of roll 17. For this purpose, and as shown in FIG. 4, a transverse sawtoothed cutting knife 22 is secured at its ends to spring loaded curved arms 23 which are mounted at the ends of a rotatable shaft 24 on frame ll. A latch bar 25 having a downwardly extending arm 26 is pivotally mounted to frame I at one end of shaft 24 and latches, as at 27, to the lower end of the adjacent arm 23. In addition, a spring 28 is mounted between frame l and one of the arms 23 to bias knife 22 downwardly. When knife 22 is in its generally upright latched position, as shown in FIG. 4, spring 28 also helps to maintain latch 27 in engaged condition.

When crank 19 is turned, an arm 29 on eccentric roll shaft 18 engages latch arm 26 to pivot latch bar 25 and release or disengage latch 27. Gravity and spring 28 will then cause knife 22 to pivotally fall downwardly and sever the paper between the splice and paper roll 9. The downward fall of knife 22 is limited by a stop 30 on frame I which is engaged by one of the arms 23.

Since paper roll 9 is usually almost empty and paper roll 15 is full at the time of splicing, a substantial angle X will exist between the two lengths of paper la and 4b. Thus, knife 22 will only cut through the top sheet 40 and will stop before reaching the bottom sheet 41;.

After splicing, crank 19 is returned to its initial position and knife 18 may be raised to its upper latched position manually or by an suitable means, not shown.

For proper operation of the machine, paper 4 must be in alignment with idler roll 16 and with the rest of the paper feed mechanism. Suitable means, not shown, may therefore be provided to adjust the position of tracks Ill and paper rolls 9 and relative to the machine.

To provide proper machine operation, paper feeding 5 through mechanism 6 must be kept under tension at all times. Due to the inertia of freely rotatable paper roll 9, it may occasionally tend to overrun the machine drive, which undesirably reduces the paper tension.

In accordance with the invention, on-off brake means are provided for paper roll 9. Paper roll drag means responsive to the amount of paper remaining on the roll are also provided. For this purpose, and as shown in FIGS. 1 8r 2, a disc brake 31 is disposed adjacent one end of roll 9. Brake 31 is actuated to an on or off condition by a suitable air cylinder 32 and control valve 33 therefor, the actuation of which will be described subsequently.

The drag means comprises a second suitable air cylinder 34 for brake Bill and which maintains a continuous drag braking force on the brake, no matter what the position of cylinder 32. Cylinder 341, in turn, is controlled by an air pressure regulating valve 35 through a suitable line 36. Valve 35 is supplied with air from a suitable pressure source, not shown.

The invention contemplates variable control of valve 35 in response to the diameter of paper remaining on roll 9. For this purpose, a roll follower arm 37 having a roller 38 thereon is fixedly mounted for pivotal movement with a shaft 39 and rollingly engages the surface of paper roll 9 as the latter rotates. An arcuate drag cam 40 is fixedly mounted on the end of shaft 39 adjacent the brake assembly. Cam 40 is platelike and is provided with a plurality of arcuately spaced adjustable cam screws 41 which extend therethrough. Screws 411 engage an actuator button 42 on valve 35.

It is desirable that the drag force of the brake be at a maximum when the weight or diameter of paper roll 9 is greatest, and that the force be gradually and progressively reduced commensurate with the weight and diameter reduction of the roll. For this purpose, screws 41 are adjustably positioned to gradually move actuator button 42 as drag cam 40 rotates in response to follower arm 37.

A similar brake 31 may be mounted on the end of supplemental paper roll so that it, too, is adaptable to the braking system.

If desired, manual control means, not shown, may be included for fully releasing and engaging the brake when needed.

PAPER FEED, DRIVE AND CONTROL MECHANISM As best shown in FIGS. 3, 6 8t 9, after paper feeds under idler roll 16, it passes upwardly and over a steel capstan roll 43 mounted on frame 1, hence substantially vertically downwardly and under a dancer roll 44, then hence substantially vertically upwardly and over a second steel idler roll 45 on frame 1.

Capstan roll 43 is selectively driven by a chain 46 which in turn is driven by a normally disengaged clutch 47 mounted on one ofa pair of upstanding legs 48 of frame 1. The clutch control will be described hereinafter. The surface speed of cap stan roll 43 relative to the rest of the machine drive can be varied by changing the chain sprocket size. In addition, suitable chain tensioning means, such as upper and lower adjustable sprockets 49, should be provided.

Dancer roll 44 is disposed between

rolls

43 and 45 is adapted to be cradled in a loop 4c of paper and to ride up and down in the loop to keep the paper under tension. For this purpose, roll 44 extends through vertical slots 50 in legs 48; and bearings 51 on the roll ends are mounted in bearing blocks 52 which are mounted to ride on vertical guide bars 53 secured by brackets 54 on the outer face of the respective legs. Roll 44 maintains tension between the paper and capstan roll 43 and is maintained in proper alignment by gears 55 on blocks 52 which ride along vertical racks 56 mounted in the sides of slots 50.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, the paper drive via clutch 47 and full automatic engagement and release ofthe paper roll brake 31 is responsive to the vertical position of dancer roll 44. For this purpose, a limit switch LS-ll is positioned adjacent the lower end portion of one of slots 50 and is engageable by a trip bracket 57 which is adjustably mounted on the adjacent bearing block 52 for vertical riding movement with roll 44. As shown in electrical diagram FIG. 8, switch LS-I is normally closed, and is connected in circuit to control a brake release solenoid S-I which normally holds valve 33 so that cylinder 32 is actuated through lines 58 to keep brake 31 engaged. Likewise, switch LS-l is connected in circuit through a control relay (and associated switch) CR-l to clutch 47, and normally holds the latter in disengaged conditron.

After passing through the dancing roll section, paper 4 passes downwardly from idler roll 45 through a paper stop and shock absorber section. For this purpose, the paper passes around and beneath an idler roll 59, is looped around a steel idler type shock absorber roll 60, and thus down over steel idler roll 61.

Means are provided to prevent backward slipping of paper over roll 59 due to backward tensioning caused by the weight of dancer roll 44 when the paper drive is inoperative and the paper is severed adjacent board feed mechanism 7, as will be described. For this purpose, a paper stop arm 62 inclines downwardly toward the paper side of idler roll 59. Arm 62 is suitably pivoted to frame 1, as at 63, and the outer end 64 thereof is of high friction material, such as rubber. Arm 62 is of such a length that end 64 is disposed below the horizontal midline of roll 59. Biasing means, such as spring 65 which extends between frame 1 and arm 62, continuously urges end portion 64 into pressure contact with the paper passing over the roll. The paper is thus confined between the paper stop and roll.

During paper feeding operation, roll 59 will freely rotate counterclockwise so that the roll surface and paper 4 will move freely downwardly between roll 59 and inclined paper stop arm 62 and will overcome the upward spring biasing force. However, when paper is not being fed, any force tending to slide paper 4 upwardly over roll 59 will cause paper stop arm 62 to pivot upwardly against the paper with a binding action against roll 59. Any upward paper movement will thus be prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, shock absorber roll 60 is secured at its ends to a pair of arms 66 which in turn are mounted on a rotatable shaft 67 on frame 1 having a sprocket 68 on one outer end thereof. One end ofa chain 69 is secured to sprocket 68, and the chain rides thereover with the other chain end being secured to the piston 70 of hydraulic shock absorber cylinder 71 which is mounted on frame 1. The piston end of cylinder 71 is connected via oil line 72 to an oil tank 73 also mounted on the frame. The oil in tank 73 is under constant pressure from a source of air 74 connected thereto via air line 75. This constant pressure will be transmitted to piston 70 and hence to shaft 67 to pivotally bias shock absorber roll 66) in a rearward (rightward) direction. An adjustable air regulator valve 76 is disposed in air line 75 and is set so that the rearward biasing force of roll 60 against paper looped therearound will not be quiet sufficient to cause dancer roll 44 to be raised thereby. in addition, oil regulator valve means are provided in oil line 72, and include a one-way valve 77 and an adjustable two-way restriction 78 connected in parallel.

Valves

77 and 78 permit free flow of oil under pressure from tank 73 toward cylinder 71 to permit relative freedom of movement of shock absorber roll 60 rearwardly. However,

' shock forces caused by paper startup and which tend to move roll 60 forwardly (leftward) will be absorbed by flow of oil through restriction 78 only. The pivoting movement of shock absorber roll 60 is limited, as by adjustable stops 79 on frame 1 which are engaged by arms 66.

BOARD FEED MECHANISM Paper 4 passing downwardly from idler roll 61 passes between upper and lower nip rolls 80 and 81 respectively, which are mounted on frame 1. Upper roll 80 is provided with a high friction surface and is driven from a chain 82 through an overrunning clutch 83 on the roll shaft. Lower roll 81 is mounted on suitable bearings for free rotation on a shaft 84, which in turn is driven through a sprocket 85 and chain 86 as will be described more fully hereinafter. A supplemental roll 87 of substantially smaller diameter than upper roll 80 is mounted to frame 1 just rearwardly of roll 80 and just above the plane of the nip. Roll 87 is driven from roll 80 by a plurality of transversely axially spaced belts 88 which ride on the surface of roll 87 and which are disposed in grooves 89 in roll 80. Belts 88 prevent paper traveling around the lower side of nip roll 30 from wrapping upwardly on the rear roll side, strip the paper therefrom and force the paper to travel horizontally rearwardly toward the wrapping and sealing mechanism 8.

Paper is held to the forward side of upper nip roll 80 by a plurality of transversely axially spaced spring fingers 90 which are mounted on a transverse support 91 which extends between a pair of forwardly extending arms 92 pivotally attached to frame I.

Nip rolls 80 and 81 are adapted to receive a panel board 3 to which glue has been applied, and which is narrower than paper 1. The board and paper are joined at the nip and then fed into mechanism 8. Means are provided to apply a continuous strip ofglue 93 to the bottom of board 3just adjacent each board edge. For this purpose, a lower shaft 941 on frame 1 is provided with a sprocket 95 which is driven from chain 86, and includes pulleys 96 thereon. Glue pots 97 are disposed above shaft 94 and have an upper shaft 98 extending therethrough. Shaft 98 includes pulleys 99 which are driven from pulleys 96 via belts 100. A pair of glue rolls 101 on shaft 98 within pots 97 will pick up glue in the pots.

As a board 3 is fed into the machine, it will pass under an idler holddown roll 102 mounted between arms 92, and into the nip. As the board is driven through the nip by the nip rolls, paper 4 will be applied to the board top, and continuous glue lines 93 will be applied to the board bottom by rolls 101.

Suitable adjusting mechanism, not shown, may be provided to properly position nip rolls 80 and 81.

WRAPPING AND SEALING MECHANISM After board 3 and paper 4 are fed through the nip, they pass into wrapping and sealing mechanism 3. For this purpose, an elongated longitudinal belt conveyor is mounted on frame 1. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7a, b, c, the conveyor comprises a pair of transversely spaced opposed parallel endless support belts 103 mounted at their ends on suitable pulleys 1114. Front and rear pulleys 101 are mounted on front and rear shafts 105. Belts 103 are driven l percent faster than upper nip roll 80, and are disposed inwardly from glue strips 93 on board 3.

The board-paper assembly is confined between support belts 103 and a pair of opposed elongated longitudinal paper holddown V-belts 106. Each V-belt 106 is endless and rides over a plurality of longitudinally spaced pulleys 107 which are disposed directly above the top of the adjacent respective support belt 103. Each pulley 107 is freely rotatable and is secured to a bar 108 mounted on frame 1. Each bar is biased downwardly, as by a spring 109, to thereby spring load pulleys 107 and longitudinally spaced portions of the lower side of holddown belt 106 against the board-paper assembly passing through mechanism 8. The spring load of the first two or three pulleys 107 most closely adjacent nip rolls 8 0 and 81 is less than the spring load of the pulleys farther removed therefrom, for purposes to be described. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 70, b, c and 10, holddown belts 106 are generally coextensive with and slightly narrower than support belts 103 and are disposed at a slight angle thereto, so that belts 106 actually diverge outwardly slightly. This divergence pulls the top of the paper tight over the board in a transverse direction.

As the board-paper assembly passes through mechanism 9 between

belts

103 and 106, means are provided to fold the overlapping edges of the paper downwardly over the board edges and to tuck or wrap the folded paper edges under the board for securement' thereto. For this purpose a plurality of longitudinally spaced paper foldover wheels 110 are mounted on frame I along each side of mechanism 8, and are disposed transversely outwardly from each pulley 106. Each wheel 110 is mounted for free rotation on a transverse horizontal axis, and isgenerally disclike with its inner face 111 inclined to engage the edge of paper 4 and fold it downwardly to a vertical position over the edge of board 3.

Adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and as shown in FIGS. 6, 712,10 & 11, tucker wheel 112 is mounted on a vertical axis disposed transversely outwardly from each pair of

belts

103 and 106. Each wheel 112 is provided with an upper inclined face 113 which is disposed to engage the vertically folded over paper edge. For this purpose, each wheel is disposed to extend beneath the board and to force the paper edge toward glue line 93.

Each tucker Wheel 1112 is rotatably driven through a suitable gear drive 1141 which in turn is connected through a belt and pulley drive 115 to a rotatable follower 116 which rides along the inner lower surface of the associated support belt 103. If desired, a spring loaded wheel 117 biases belt 103 upwardly against follower 116 for ensuring a positive drive connection.

See FIGS. 6 8t ill.

in accordance with the invention, additional means are provided to positively secure the tucked-under paper to glue line 93 and to set the glue. For this purpose, belt drive is connected to drive a further belt 118 which in turn drives a presser wheel 119 over which the board-paper assembly rides. Wheel 119 is disposed to press the paper against glue line 93, and is toed in, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7c, 10 8t 11, to thereby drivingly pull and tighten the paper edge inwardly beneath board 3. The pair of wheels 1119 thus converge.

.lust rearwardly of each wheel 119, a pair of freely rotatable vertically spaced nip wheels 1211, 121 provide a nip through which the board-paper assembly passes. Upper wheel 120 biases the assembly against lower wheel 121 as by a spring 122, while lower wheel 121 is positioned to again press the paper against glue line 93 to further set the glue.

Wheels

119, 1211 and 121 are shown as being relatively wide and are provided with a high friction surface, such as rubber. In addition, wheel 121) is toed out and wheel 121 is toed in to tighten the paper.

The final glue-setting operation is accomplished by a heating strip 123 which is disposed rearwardly of each pair of nip wheels 121), 121 and over which guide line 93 passes. Strip 123 may be heated by an suitable well-known means, not shown.

After leaving strips 123, the wrapped board is discharged from the machine.

PAPER CUTOFF DEVICE The invention contemplates wrapping of separate individual boards 3 which are fed into the machine intermittently. The boards may all be of the same length, or may vary in length as desired. Since the boards are separate and are separately wrapped, and since paper 4 is supplied from a continuous roll, automatic cutoff means are provided to sever the paper at each board's trailing edge in response to passing of said trailing edge rearwardly from nip rolls 80 and 81.

For this purpose, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a saw' toothed cutting knife 124! extends for the full width of the machine and is secured at its ends to an end portion of

lever arms

125, 126 which are mounted at the ends of a rotatable shaft 127 is secured to frame 1. The opposite end of lever arm is secured to the piston 128 of an air cylinder 129 mounted on frame 1. Movement of piston 128 pivots knife 124 between an upper position and a lower paper-cutting position. Control of piston 128 is via a reversing valve 130 which is actuated by a solenoid S2, which in turn is controlled by a normally open limit switch LS-2 mounted closely adjacent the entrance to wrapping and sealing mechanism 8 for engagement by a board 3 passing therethrough. See electrical diagram FIG. 3.

Since knife 124 cannot be permitted to drop until the trailing edge of a board has left nip rolls 8t), 81, a knife latch means and control therefore are provided. For this purpose, a latch 131 is pivotally mounted on frame 1 and is biased into latching engagement with the opposite end of lever arm 126, as by a spring 132. A latch trip solenoid 5-3 is connected to latch 131 and is electrically connected in circuit with a limit switch LS-3 which is mounted between the discharge of nip rolls 80, 81 and limit switch LS-Z and also ahead of the knife cutoff point. Limit switch LS-3 is of the double throw type and is provided with a set of normally open contacts LS3a and a set of normally closed contacts LS-3b.

When the front edge ofa board moves rearwardly from nip rolls 80, 81, it first engages switch LS-3 which charges capacitor C! in the circuit but does not yet permit actuation of solenoid S-3. As the board front edge moves further rearwardly, it closes switch LS-2, which actuates valve 130 to put pressure on the knifedown side of piston 128. However. the knife cannot drop because oflatch 131.

When the rear edge of the board is released from nip rolls 80, 81 and passes switch LS-3, the switch is disengaged which permits the charge from capacitor C-l to actuate solenoid S3 to pull latch 131 back. Piston 128 will immediately drive knife 124 down onto a knife stop 133, thus severing the paper. As soon as the rear board edge passes rearwardly of switch LS-2, the latter will open, causing valve 130 to reverse so that piston 128 will raise knife 124 into its uppermost latched position, in preparation for the next cutoff operation.

MACHINE DRlVE The motive force for the machine comprises a motor 134 whichis secured to frame 1 adjacent the machine discharge. The motor shaft is connected via a suitable chain and sprocket drive 135 to rear pulley shaft 105. This drives through support belts 103 to front pulley shaft 105 which in turn drives lower nip roll shaft 84 through chain 86.

Chain 82 is connected between front pulley shaft 105 and clutch 47 and constitutes the drive input for the latter. At the same time, chain 82 constitutes the input for overrunning clutch 83.

The relative sprocket size in the various drives provide a 10 percent faster drive for support belts 103 than for upper nip roll 80.

OVERALL OPERATlON Assuming that the machine is in standby condition, paper 4 will be threaded from supply mechanism 5 through mechanism 6 to nip

rolls

80, 81, with the paper edge just rearward of the nip position. Brake 31 is engaged and clutch 47 is disengaged so that capstan roll 43 is not turning. However, the lower machine drive continuously operates so that lower nip roll shaft 84, supplemental roll 87, guide rolls 101, support belts 103, tucker wheels 112 and presser wheels 119 are being driven. Chain 82 is also continuously driving upper nip roll 80 through clutch 83. Shock absorber roll 60 will be biased to its normal rearward position, but cannot exert a lifting force on dancer roll 44.

As the first panel board enters the machine, glue strips 93 will be applied thereto. When the front board edge enters the nip, it will press paper 4 against upper nip roll 80 and the board-paper assembly will feed through the nip toward wrapping and sealing mechanism 8. Shock absorber roll 60 will be pulled forward by the paper so that paper moves downwardly past paper stop arm 62, thereby causing dancer roll 44 to rise. Any shock to the paper will be absorbed due to valve restriction 78. Limit switch LS-l which has been closed by its normal engagement with trip bracket 57 will now open because bracket 57 will ride upwardly and off the switch. This will fully release paper roll brake 31 and will cause drive clutch 47 to be engaged to drive capstan roll 43. Paper will start to unwind from paper roll 9 at a speed which increases until the paper feed speed equals the capstan drive speed.

As the board-paper assembly is driven into wrapping and sealing mechanism 8, it will set up limit switches LS-Z and LS-3 for subsequent paper cutofffDue to the low biasing force of the pulleys 107 closely adjacent the forward end,

belts

103 and 106 will not grab the assembly until it is part way through the mechanism 8. When grabbing does occur the belt mechanism will pull the assembly through the nip, pulling the paper taut and causing nip roll 80 to overrun clutch 83, since the belt drive is 10 percent faster. Wrapping and sealing will take place, as previously described.

When the trailing end of board 3 is reached, knife 124 will sever the paper as previously described, and the completed assembly will be discharged from the rearward end of the machine. Almost simultaneously with the paper cutoff, the remaining free portion of severed paper will slide back through the nip due to the biasing force of shock absorber roll 60, which now returns to its rearward position. The stops 79 for roll 60 will limit the amount of paper return and will cause the paper edge to stop just rearwardly of the nip, ready for the next board.

Paper stop arm 62 will prevent paper from sliding upwardly over idler roll 59. Paper roll 9 will continue to turn until dancer roll 44 lowers enough to engage switch 1.8-! with trip bracket 57. Brake 31 will engage and clutch 47 will disengage to return the machine to its initial standby condition.

While a plurality of boards 3 may be fed through the machine either in quick succession or at irregular intervals, the operation is basically intermittent. That is, the machine tends to return to standby condition and paper slides back under the nip after each paper cutoff operation. If very little time elapses before the next board feed, dancer roll 44 may not have time to cause switch LS-l to operate, in which case roll 44 will only lower part way, and then will begin rising again under the impetus ofa new board feed.

in any event, the paper is kept under tension continuously, whether or not a board is being fed through nip rolls 80 and 81. When the machine is in standby condition, paper between paper stop arm 62 on roll 59 and the braked paper roll 9 is tensioned by the weight ofdancer roll 44, and paper below roll 59 is tensioned by the continuously turning upper nip roll 80 and spring fingers 90. During board feed-through, the continuous length of paper is tensioned by the drag system and by dancer roll 44. At board-paper engagement, the tension is controlled by shock absorber roll 60.

The machine of the invention is very versatile and is believed to provide a substantial improvement over prior panelwrapping machines. The continuous paper tensioning combined with a synchronous operation provides a superior operatio'n.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated by the inventor.

The following claims particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

lclaim:

1. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

a. means for supporting a roll of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped,

b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly,

c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said paper roll to said nip,

d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip,

e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a boardpaper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means,

. and means to maintain the paper under tension, whether or not a board is being fed through said nip, said tension maintaining means comprising:

1. drag means for said paper roll during board feedthrough,

2. a vertically movable dancer roll cradled in a loop of paper between said paper roll and said nip,

3. paper binding means disposed between said dancer roll and said nip for preventing backward movement of paper toward said dancer roll,

4. shock-absorbing means disposed between said binding means and said nip and around which said paper passes,

5. first drive means to continuously rotate at least one of said nip rolls,

6. and means to bias sad paper against said one nip roll.

2. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped,

b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an as sembly,

c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said source to said nip,

e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a boardpaper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, said actuating means comprising:

1. a vertically movable dancer roll cradled in a loop of paper between said paper source and said nip, said dancer roll being in a normally lowered position when the machine is in standby condition,

2. and control means responsive to raising of said dancer roll when a board-paper assembly begins passing through said nip for engaging said drive means,

f. paper severing means disposed rearwardly of said nip to cut the paper rearwardly of the nip behind the trailing edge of a board,

g. and appear binding means disposed between said dancer roll and said nip to prevent movement of paper back toward said dancer roll under the weight thereof after the paper has been cut by said severing means.

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said paper binding means comprises:

a. an idler roll,

b. a pivotally mounted arm,

c. said arm being inclined downward toward said idler roll so that the arm end is disposed below the horizontal midline of said idler roll,

d. and biasing means urging said arm end toward said idler roll to confine the paper therebetween,

e. the construction being such that paper will move freely downwardly between said arm end and said idler roll but will be stopped against upward movement therebetween.

4. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

2. and control means responsive to raising of said dancer roll when a board-paper assembly begins. passing through said nip for engaging said drive means,

f. a normally engaged brake for said paper roll,

g. and a capstan roll disposed between said paper roll and said dancer roll,

h. said drive means comprising a normally disengaged clutch for driving said capstan roll,

i. said control means being connected to said brake and said clutch for disengaging said brake and engaging said clutch when said dancer roll raises.

5. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

iii

a. means for supporting a freely rotatable roll of continuous length of paper which is wider than the boards to be wrapped,

. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a boardpaper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, said actuating means comprising:

. said paper roll decreasing in diameter as boards are fed through the machine.

and drag means for said paper roll to prevent overrunning thereof,

h. said drag means being responsive to the paper roll diameter and providing a drag force which progressively decreases as the paper roll diameter is reduced.

6. The machine of claim 5:

a. which includes a normally engaged brake for said paper roll,

b. and in which said control means is connected to said brake for disengaging the latter when said dancer roll is raised, I

c. and in which said drag means comprises:

l. follower means engageable with the surface of said paper roll,

2. and infinitely variable auxiliary brake control means responsive to the position of said follower for maintaining constant unwind tension on said paper roll.

7. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through'which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly,

. paper severing means responsive to passage of the trailing end of a board rearwardly of said nip to cut the paper rearwardly of the nip,

g. and shock absorber means dispose-d for engagement with said paper between said paper source and said nip,

h. said shock absorber means including paper biasing means to pull the free end portion of the severed paper forwardly through said nip.

8. ln the machine of claim 7: adjustable stop means to limit the amount of paper pulled forwardly through said nip by said paper biasing means.

9. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

c. drive means between said support means and said nip for f. and means for driving said first-named longitudinal belts at a speed faster than said first-named drive means. 11. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper 1. a pair of opposed driven board-supporting longitudinal belts, 2. a pair of opposed holddown longitudinal belts which are generally coextensive with said driven belts and feeding paper from said paper roll to said nip, 5 which confine the board-paper assembly against the d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under latter,

the board edges after each said assembly passes through 3. a plurality of downwardly biased pulleys disposed at said nip, spaced intervals along said holddown belts for engaging e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a boardand downwardly biasing the latter, the downwardly paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive biasing force of the pulleys disposed close to said nip means, being less than that of the pulleys farther removed f. and paper severing means disposed between said nip and therefrom,

said wrapping means and responsive to passing of the 4. said holddown belts being divergent to pull the paper board therebetween for cutting the paper adjacent the tightly over the board,

trailing board end, said paper severing means comprising: 5. means to fold the overlapping paper edges downwardly l. a knife mounted for movement between an upper posiand beneath the board edges,

tion and a lower paper-cutting position, 6. and a pair of opposed convergent elements engageable 2. pressure means for moving said knife between said with the folded-under paper to tighten the latter inpositions, wardly of the board edge,

3. first control means disposed between said nip and said e. and overrunning drive means to drive one of said nip rolls wrapping means and engageable by the front edge of a slower than the speed of said driven belts, board for energizing said pressure means to urge said f. the construction being such that said belts will pull the knife toward its lower position, board-paper assembly through the nip faster than the nip 4. latch means for holding said knife in raised position roll drive after said assembly has reached said farther against the force of said pressure means, removed pulleys.

5. and second control means disposed between said nip 12. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper and said first control means and responsive to passage around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the of the trailing edge of the board thereby to release said machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: latch means so that said pressure means will drive said a. means for supporting a first source of continuous length knife downwardly to sever the paper behind the board. of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped,

10. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an asmachine intermittently, comprising, in combination: sembly,

a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of c. drive means between said support means and said nip for paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, feeding paper from said first source to said nip,

b. a pairof spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an asthe board edges after each said assembly passes through sembly, said nip,

c. drive means between said support means and said nip for e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a boardfeeding paper from said source to said nip, paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under means,

the board edges after each said assembly passes through f. an idler roll around which paper from said first paper said nip, said wrapping means comprising: source passes,

l. apair of opposed driven board-supporting longitudinal g. means for supporting a second source of continuous belts, length of paper, said second paper source of continuous 2. a pair of opposed downwardly biased holddown lonlength of paper, said second paper source having adhesive 'gitudinal belts which are generally coextensive with means on its end edge,

said driven belts and which confine the board-paper ash. and splicing means to substitute said second paper source sembly against the latter, 0 for said first paper source, said splicing means compris- 3. said holddown belts being divergent to pull the paper ing:

tightly over the board, 1. a paper support extending parallel to said idler roll and 4. means to fold the overlapping paper edges downwardly spaced slightly therefrom,

and beneath the board edges, 2. means to move said support toward said idler roll so 5. and a pair of opposed convergent elements engageable that paper from said first paper source and the end with the folded-under paper to tighten the latter inedge portion of paper from said second paper source wardly of the board edge, are confined in line contact therebetween,

e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board- 3. and means to sever paper extending between said line paper assembly through said nip to actuate said firstcontact and said first paper source. named drive means for paper feed, 13. The machine of claim 12 in which:

a. said paper support comprises a support roll having a surface eccentrically mounted relative to the idler roll axis,

b. and said support moving means comprises means to rotate said support roll about its axis to move said surface toward said idler roll. 14. In a machine for wrapping paper about a plurality of separate panel boards fed intermittently to the machine, the combination comprising:

around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination:

a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an asa. means for supporting a continuous source of paper,

sembly, b. a pair of spaced rolls forming a nip, c. means between said support means and said nip for feedc. drive means to feed the paper together with a plurality of ing paper from said source to said nip, separate boards intermittently rearwardly through said d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under nip,

the board edges after each said assembly passes through d. shock absorber means disposed for engagement with the said nip, said wrapping means comprising:

paper between said support means and said nip,

' l3 Ml e. and paper severing means for cutting the paper rearthrough said nip.

wardly of said nip after the trailing edge of a board has 15. The machine ofclaim 14 which includes: adjustable slop passed therethrough, means to limit the amount of paper pulled forwardly through f. said shock absorber means including paper biasing means i said P y Said P p biasing meansto pull the free edge of the severed paper forwardly Patent No.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated July 6,1971

CARL R.

MARSCHKE It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column Column Column h Column Column g Column Column (SEAL) Attest:

* FORM PO-105UE10-G9) Inventor(s) line line

line

EDWARD l LFLETCHER, JR. Attesting Officer cancel "7aa" and substitute therefor 7a after "feeding" cancel "5" cancel "quiet" and substitute therefor ---quite--- after "which" and before "line" cancel "guide" and substitute therefor ---glue--- under (g) cancel "appear" and substitute therefor ---paper--- after "source" cancel "of continuous" cancel "length of paper, said second paper source" Signed and sealed this l th day of January 1972.

ROBERT GOTTSCI'IALK USCOMM-DC SCENE-P69 u 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I959 O366-33A

Claims

1. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a roll of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said paper roll to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a boardpaper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, f. and means to maintain the paper under tension, whether or not a board is being fed through said nip, said tension maintaining means comprising: 1. drag means for said paper roll during board feed-through, 2. a vertically movable dancer roll cradled in a loop of paper between said paper roll and said nip, 3. paper binding means disposed between said dancer roll and said nip for preventing backward movement of paper toward said dancer roll, 4. shock-absorbing means disposed between said binding means and said nip and around which said paper passes, 5. first drive means to continuously rotate at least one of said nip rolls, 6. and means to bias sad paper against said one nip roll.

2. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said source to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, said actuating means comprising:

2. and control means responsive to raising of said dancer roll when a board-paper assembly begins passing through said nip for engaging said drive means, f. paper severing means disposed rearwardly of said nip to cut the paper rearwardly of the nip behind the trailing edge of a board, g. and appear binding means disposed between said dancer roll and said nip to prevent movement of paper back toward said dancer roll under the weight thereof after the paper has been cut by said severing means.

2. means to move said support toward said idler roll so that paper from said first paper source and the end edge portion of paper from said second paper source are confined in line contact therebetween,

2. a pair of opposed holddown longitudinal belts which are generally coextensive with said driven belts and which confine the board-paper assembly against the latter,

2. a pair of opposed downwardly biased holddown longitudinal belts which are generally coextensive with said driven belts and which confine the board-paper assembly against the latter,

2. pressure means for moving said knife between said positions,

2. and control means responsive to raising of said dancer roll when a board-paper assembly begins passing through said nip for engaging said drive means, f. said paper roll decreasing in diameter as boards are fed through the machine. g. and drag means for said paper roll to prevent overrunning thereof, h. said drag means being responsive to the paper roll diameter and providing a drag force which progressively decreases as the paper roll diameter is reduced.

2. and control means responsive to raising of said dancer roll when a board-paper assembly begins passing through said nip for engaging said drive means, f. a normally engaged brake for said paper roll, g. and a capstan roll disposed between said paper roll and said dancer roll, h. said drive means comprising a normally disengaged clutch for driving said capstan roll, i. said control means being connected to said brake and said clutch for disengaging said brake and engaging said clutch when said dancer roll raises.

3. first control means disposed between said nip and said wrapping means and engageable by the front edge of a board for energizing said pressure means to urge said knife toward its lower position,

3. said holddown belts being divergent to pull the paper tightly over the board,

3. and means to sever paper extending between said line contact and said first paper source.

3. a plurality of downwardly biased pulleys disposed at spaced intervals along said holddown belts for engaging and downwardly biasing the latter, the downwardly biasing force of the pulleys disposed close to said nip being less than that of the pulleys farther removed therefrom,

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said paper binding means comprises: a. an idler roll, b. a pivotally mounted arm, c. said arm being inclined downward toward said idler roll so that the arm end is disposed below the horizontal midline of said idler roll, d. and biasing means urging said arm end toward said idler roll to confine the paper therebetween, e. the construction being such that paper will move freely downwardly between said arm end and said idler roll but will be stopped against upward movement therebetween.

4. said holddown belts being divergent to pull the paper tightly over the board,

4. means to fold the overlapping paper edges downwardly and beneath the board edges,

4. latch means for holding said knife in raised position against the force of said pressure means,

4. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a roll of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means betWeen said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said paper roll to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, said actuating means comprising:

5. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a freely rotatable roll of continuous length of paper which is wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said paper roll to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, said actuating means comprising:

5. and a pair of opposed convergent elements engageable with the folded-under paper to tighten the latter inwardly of the board edge, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said first-named drive means for paper feed, f. and means for driving said first-named longitudinal belts at a speed faster than said first-named drive means.

5. and second control means disposed between said nip and said first control means and responsive to passage of the trailing edge of the board thereby to release said latch means so that said pressure means will drive said knife downwardly to sever the paper behind the board.

5. means to fold the overlapping paper edges downwardly and beneath the board edges,

5. first drive means to continuously rotate at least one of said nip rolls,

6. and means to bias sad paper against said one nip roll.

6. and a pair of opposed convergent elements engageable with the folded-under paper to tighten the latter inwardly of the board edge, e. and overrunning drive means to drive one of said nip rolls slower than the speed of said driven belts, f. the construction being such that said belts will pull the board-paper assembly through the nip faster than the nip roll drive after said assembly has reached said farther removed pulleys.

6. The machine of claim 5: a. which includes a normally engaged brake for said paper roll, b. and in which said control means is connected to said brake for disengaging the latter when said dancer roll is raised, c. and in which said drag means comprises:

7. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said source to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, f. paper severing means responsive to passage of the trailing end of a board rearwardly of said nip to cut The paper rearwardly of the nip, g. and shock absorber means disposed for engagement with said paper between said paper source and said nip, h. said shock absorber means including paper biasing means to pull the free end portion of the severed paper forwardly through said nip.

8. In the machine of claim 7: adjustable stop means to limit the amount of paper pulled forwardly through said nip by said paper biasing means.

9. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said paper roll to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, f. and paper severing means disposed between said nip and said wrapping means and responsive to passing of the board therebetween for cutting the paper adjacent the trailing board end, said paper severing means comprising:

10. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said source to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, said wrapping means comprising:

11. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spAced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said source to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, said wrapping means comprising:

12. An automatic machine for applying and wrapping paper around a plurality of separate panel boards fed into the machine intermittently, comprising, in combination: a. means for supporting a first source of continuous length of paper wider than the boards to be wrapped, b. a pair of spaced nip rolls forming a nip through which boards and paper are fed rearwardly together as an assembly, c. drive means between said support means and said nip for feeding paper from said first source to said nip, d. means for wrapping the overlapping paper edges under the board edges after each said assembly passes through said nip, e. actuating means responsive to initial passage of a board-paper assembly through said nip to actuate said drive means, f. an idler roll around which paper from said first paper source passes, g. means for supporting a second source of continuous length of paper, said second paper source of continuous length of paper, said second paper source having adhesive means on its end edge, h. and splicing means to substitute said second paper source for said first paper source, said splicing means comprising:

13. The machine of claim 12 in which: a. said paper support comprises a support roll having a surface eccentrically mounted relative to the idler roll axis, b. and said support moving means comprises means to rotate said support roll about its axis to move said surface toward said idler roll.

14. In a machine for wrapping paper about a plurality of separate panel boards fed intermittently to the machine, the combination comprising: a. means for supporting a continuous source of paper, b. a pair of spaced rolls forming a nip, c. drive means to feed the paper together with a plurality of separate boards intermittently rearwardly through said nip, d. shock absorber means disposed for engagement with the paper between said support means and said nip, e. and paper severing means for cutting the paper rearwardly of said nip after the trailing edge of a boArd has passed therethrough, f. said shock absorber means including paper biasing means to pull the free edge of the severed paper forwardly through said nip.

15. The machine of claim 14 which includes: adjustable stop means to limit the amount of paper pulled forwardly through said nip by said paper biasing means.