US3633334A

US3633334A - Pushing means for use in a wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: US3633334A
Application number: US26929A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew W Anderson
Original assignee: Scandia Packaging Machinery Co
Current assignee: Scandia Packaging Machinery Co
Priority date: 1970-04-09
Filing date: 1970-04-09
Publication date: 1972-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-11
Also published as: CH540150A; BE765503A; GB1354546A; ZA712057B; DE2166302B2; DE2166302A1; BR7102109D0

Abstract

A pusher assembly used in combination with a wrapping machine to insure firm seating in a package-receiving means and insure an improved application of an adhesive or solvent material to the wrapping material. An engaging means including a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means contacts the following side of at least one package being fed into the wrapping machine. The auxiliary pushing means is disposed behind the primary pushing means. The engaging means and the package are moved along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station. The primary pushing means is effective to urge the package into a receiving means and the auxiliary pushing means is effective to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means. In more specific embodiments of this invention, a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed adjacent the receiving means. In this instance, the auxiliary pushing means is further effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applying device to the wrapper sheet which is being placed on the package.

Description

United States Patent 72] Inventor Andrew W. Anderson West Caldwell, NJ. [21] Appl. No. 26,929 [22] Filed Apr. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee Scandia Packaging Machinery Company North Arlington, NJ.

[54] PUSl-lING MEANS FOR USE IN A WRAPPING MACHINE 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 53/234, 198/103, 198/168 [51] Int. Cl ..B65bl1/32, 865g 19/22, 865g 37/00 [50] Field of Search 53/210, 225, 228-234; 198/103, 168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,412,525 11/1968 Heinzer 53/229 3,504,476 4/1970 Ehrenfried et a1. 53/33 X 2,373,655 4/1945 Bronander 53/234 Attorney Lowry, Rinehart, Markva & Smith ABSTRACT: A pusher assembly used in combination with a wrapping machine to insure firm seating in a package-receiving means and insure an improved application of an adhesive or solvent material to the wrapping material. An engaging means including a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means contacts the following side of at least one package being fed into the wrapping machine. The auxiliary pushing means is disposed behind the primary pushing means. The engaging means and the package are moved along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station. The primary pushing means is effective to urge the package into a receiving means and the auxiliary pushing means is effective to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means. In more specific embodiments of this invention, a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed adjacent the receiving means. In this instance, the auxiliary pushing means is further effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applying device to the wrapper sheet which is being placed on the package.

PATENTED JAN: 1 m2 alsaalss z lN/ENTOF? v III ANDREW W. ANDERSON ATTORNEYS PATENIEB JAN} 1 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 OOGOOOOG INVENTOR ANDREW W. ANDERSON 24 00/7, Em? 777mua f ATTORNEYS PUSIIING MEANS FOR USE IN A WRAPPING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of a pushing device to provide a supply of packages in a wrapping machine is well known in the prior art. Examples of such wrapping machines are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,373,655 and 3,055,490. In each of these prior art structures, a single transverse bar is used in combination with a double endless chain mechanism to move packages from a supply location into a receiving means. The receiving means in each of these prior art patents is a turret wheel assembly used for wrapping packages. In addition to simply pushing the package forwardly, the prior art has also disclosed the use of the transverse rod to press one of the flaps of the wrapper sheet against a moistening wick for the purpose of applying an adhesive or moistening material to the wrapper sheet material.

In the operation of such prior art machines, several disadvantages are associated with the use of a single pushing member. From time to time, incompletely wrapped packages or some other irregularity occurs with respect to the incoming packages being fed to the wrapping machine. Such irregular conditions may cause the wrapping machine to be shut down. The shut down would be caused by the wrapping machine becoming jammed due to the irregular package condition being fed into the wrapping machine. The single pusher bar would then be subjected to bending or becoming somewhat out of alignment due to this jammed condition.

Problems arise when the single bar is subsequently used to push other packages into the wrapping machine after the jammed condition has been removed. There is a tendency for the single pusher bar to effect an incomplete contact between the projecting end of a wrapper sheet to which a solvent or adhesive material was being applied. When full contact of the wrapper material is not made to the liquid-applying device, the wrapper sheet ends are not firmly joined and an unsatisfactorily wrapped package results.

Another deleterious condition has also been found to exist during the automatic operation of such a wrapping machine. Wrapping machines are designed to run at a fairly high rate of speed. When the package is pushed from a supply location into a receiving means, there is a tendency for the package to bounce out of the receiving means. That is, the momentum of the package being placed into the receiving means would very often result in the package not being seated firmly in the receiving means. This condition is especially found in the wrapping machines of the prior art which incorporate the use of a turret wheel assembly. If the package is not properly seated within the pocket of the turret wheel, subsequent sealing operations at other work stations are deleteriously affected.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention to provide an assembly to be used with a wrapping machine for insuring proper seating of a package in a wrapping machine receiving means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pusher assembly for a wrapping machine to insure satisfactory application of liquid to the wrapping material for forming a completely sealed and wrapped package.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pusher assembly having a primary pushing means nd an auxiliary pushing means disposed adjacent to one another and traveling in the same direction of travel as the package which is to be wrapped.

It is still another object of this invention to overcome the specific disadvantages associated with pusher assemblies presently available in the prior art for use in combination with a wrapping machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination comprising engaging means for contacting the following side of at least one package being fed into a wrapping machine. The engaging means includes a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means. The auxiliary pushing means is disposed directly behind the primary pushing means and moves in the same line of travel as the package being fed into the wrapping machine. The engaging means and package are moved along a path to a wrapper sheet applying station. A means is provided for receiving the package after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto.

In a specific embodiment of this invention, the receiving means consists of a turret wheel assembly having a plurality of pockets for receiving the packages. Transverse rod members are used in a specific embodiment of this invention to constitute the primary pushing means and the auxiliary pushing means. The first rod urges the package into the turret wheel assembly and the auxiliary pushing rod is effective to insure a firm seating of the package in place within each turret wheel pocket which receives a package.

In a further specific embodiment of this invention, a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed immediately below the turret wheel assembly. The wrapper sheet is disposed across the advanced end and two sides of the package with both ends of the wrapper-sheet-projecting rearwardly from the turret wheel pocket. The first pusher member acts to press one of the rearwardly projecting ends of the wrapper sheet against the liquid-applying device. Additionally, the second pusher rod provides a supplementary pressing action between the wrapper-sheet-projecting end and the liquid-applying device.

Through the action of the auxiliary pushing means, which is a second transverse pusher member in these specific embodiments, the disadvantages associated with the use of a single pusher rod member are clearly overcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a double pusher assembly made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the double pusher assembly urging a package along a horizontal support;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pusher assembly of FIG. 1 shown urging a package into a receiving means;

FIG. 4 is the pusher assembly of FIG. 1 shown at an advanced stage of operation;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing the action of the auxiliary pushing means on the package, and

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing the action of the auxiliary pushing means in combination with a liquid applying device.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, a pushing assembly generally designated I0, includes a pair of endless chains 11 and a plurality of

transverse pusher members

12 and 13. The

pusher members

12 and 13 are fixedly attached to the chains 11. The primary pusher member 12 engages the following side of the package 14. The auxiliary pushing member 13 is disposed oehind the primary pusher member 12.

As the endless chain 11 moves forward, the primary and auxiliary pushing

members

12 and 13, respectively, travel in the forward direction behind the package 14 to a wrappersheet-applying station. The wrapper-sheet-applying station is not shown in the instant case and does not form a part of this invention. Any conventional manner of applying a wrapper sheet onto a package may be used in combination with the pusher assembly 10. A mechanism for feeding and cutting wrapper sheets to be placed over packages is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,837,978.

The package 14 moves along the support 15 while being urged to the wrapper-sheet-applying station. The endless chains 11 move along a channel 16. The manner in which the endless chains 11 move through the mechanism is another conventional structure heretofore known in the prior art. The wrapper sheet material may be cellophane or any other film material. Each of the endless chain 11 engage sprockets 17 which are laterally spaced with respect to each other and located adjacent a wrapping machine receiving means.

The receiving means in this specific embodiment constitutes a turret wheel assembly 18. The turret wheel assembly 18 has a plurality of radial pockets as is well known in the prior art. See in particular US. Pat. Nos. 3,055,490 and 2,373,655. The chain 11 which is used to push packages into the turret wheel assembly 18 is constantly driven. The speed of the turret wheel assembly 18 is correlated with the speed of the chain drive 11. This operation involves synchronization to effect the desired packaging. The turret wheel stops for one-third of the cycle and it is moving for twothirds of the cycle. During the one-third of the cycle is when the package 14 is being inserted into the pocket and liquid material is being placed on the projecting end of the wrapper sheet. Each pocket is formed by the

pocket members

19 and 20 which support the package 14 within the turret wheel assembly 18. The primary pusher member 12 is effective to urge the package 14 into the receiving means constituted by the

pocket members

19 and 20. As the sprockets l7 rotate and carry the endless conveyor chains 11 in a different direction, the auxiliary pusher member 13 is allowed to contact the package 14. In this way, pusher member 13 is effective to insure a firm seating of the package 14 in place within the pocket of the turret wheel assembly 18.

The

pocket members

19 and 20 engage the package 14 adjacent one end thereof. Similar pocket members engage the package 14 at the other end thereof. A folding platform 21 is disposed between the sets of pocket members forming each pocket in the turret wheel assembly 18. The stationary platform member 21 is fixedly mounted onto the wrapping machine with the frame structure 21a.

A stationary liquid-applying device 24 is disposed adjacent the receiving means in this specific embodiment. The stationary liquid-applying device 24 includes a vertically disposed working member 25 which is moistened with either a solvent liquid or an adhesive material. As the conveyor chains 11 change the direction of travel of the primary pushing member 12 and auxiliary pushing member 13, each

pusher member

12 and 13 comes into successive contact with the lower projecting end 23 of the wrapper sheet which has been placed around the package 14. The auxiliary pushing member 13 becomes effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applying wick 25.

The stationary platform 21 provides a place against which the auxiliary pushing member 13 folds the projecting end 23 of the wrapper sheet. As the endless chains -ill continue to move around the axially aligned and laterally spaced sprockets 17, the auxiliary pusher member 13 exerts an additional force onto the projecting end against the wick 25. This action insures fulland complete application of either a solvent material or an adhesive material to the end 23 for subsequent joining of the

ends

22 and 23 around the following end of the package 14. The step-by-step operation of the pushing assembly 10 made in accordance with this invention is sequentially shown in FIGS. 3 through 6.

It is emphasized that various types of engaging means may be used to contact the following side of at least one package moving into a wrapping machine. As long as there is a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means disposed therebehind, the desired effects as outlined in the above description may be obtained. Any desired means may be used for moving the engaging means and the package along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station. It is not absolutely necessary that the engaging means and the conveying means for the package are a part of the same structure. However, the two structures are clearly used in combination as set forth in the above-described specific embodiments. A very important aspect of this invention is directed to the changing of the direction of travel for the primary pushing means to thereby allow the auxiliary pushing means to engage the following side of the package 14. This insures the seating in the receiving means by the package 14 in one of the embodiments as described. An additional feature of another specific embodiment is that the auxiliary pushing means effects the additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applying device The structure of the liquid-applying device 24 is deemed to be well known in the prior art and does not form a part of this invention. A specific type of device which may be incorporated in the structure of the combination as disclosed herein may be found in US. Pat. 2,373,655.

While the pushing means for use in a wrapping machine has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising:

a. means for moving at least one package along a path to the wrapper-sheet-applying station,

b. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto,

c. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spaced sprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passing around said sprockets,

d. a first transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains to engage said package and being effective to urge the package into the receiving means, and

e. a second transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains behind the first pusher member,

f. said second pusher member being effective to engage the package after it is in the receiving means to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means.

. ln a packaging machine, the combination comprising:

a. means for moving at least one package along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station,

b. means for disposing a wrapper sheet across the advanced end and two opposing sides of the package,

c. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto with both ends of the wrapper sheet projecting rearwardly from the receiving means,

d. a stationary liquid-applying device disposed adjacent the receiving means,

e. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spaced sprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passing around said sprockets, a first transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains to engage said package and being effective to urge the package into the receiving means, pusher member, g. a second transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains behind the first pusher member, said second pusher member being effective to engage the package after it is in the receiving means to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means, and being further effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid'applying device.

3. In a packaging machine, an assembly comprising:

a. means for moving at least one article along a path to an article receiving station,

b. said moving means including a conveyor means, a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means,

c. said primary and auxiliary pushing means being disposed at different locations on the conveyor means to travel in a forward direction behind the article,

d. said primary pushing means being effective to engage the following side of the article for moving the article into the receiving station,

e. said conveyor means including means to change the direction of travel of the primary pushing means so as to allow the auxiliary pushing means to next engage the following side of the article to insure a firm seating of the article in place within the receiving station.

4. in a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein The receiving station includes a turret wheel assembly having a plurality of pockets for receiving the article.

5. In a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless, closed loop means which carries said primary and auxiliary pushing means,

said auxiliary pushing means is located behind the primary pushing means.

6. In a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed adjacent the receiving station and the receiving station includes a turret wheel assembly having a plurality of pockets for receiving the articles and a stationary platform,

said stationary platform being located between the turret pockets and against which platform the auxiliary pushing means is effective to fold a projecting end of a wrapper sheet to which liquid is applied for sealing the wrapper sheet around the article.

7. An assembly for moving articles from a supply station to a receiving station in a packaging operation comprising:

a. means for moving at least one article along the path to an article-receiving station,

b. said moving means including an endless, closed-loop conveyor means, a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means,

. said auxiliary pushing means being disposed behind the primary pushing means on said closed-loop conveyor means,

d. said primary pushing means being effective to engage the following side of the article for moving the article into the receiving station, and

Claims

1. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising: a. means for moving at least one package along a path to the wrapper-sheet-applying station, b. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto, c. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spaced sprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passing around said sprockets, d. a first transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains to engage said package and being effective to urge the package into the receiving means, and e. a second transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains behind the first pusher member, f. said second pusher member being effective to engage the package after it is in the receiving means to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means.

2. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising: a. means for moving at least one package along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station, b. means for Disposing a wrapper sheet across the advanced end and two opposing sides of the package, c. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto with both ends of the wrapper sheet projecting rearwardly from the receiving means, d. a stationary liquid-applying device disposed adjacent the receiving means, e. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spaced sprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passing around said sprockets, f. a first transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains to engage said package and being effective to urge the package into the receiving means, pusher member, g. a second transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains behind the first pusher member, h. said second pusher member being effective to engage the package after it is in the receiving means to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means, and being further effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applying device.

3. In a packaging machine, an assembly comprising: a. means for moving at least one article along a path to an article receiving station, b. said moving means including a conveyor means, a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means, c. said primary and auxiliary pushing means being disposed at different locations on the conveyor means to travel in a forward direction behind the article, d. said primary pushing means being effective to engage the following side of the article for moving the article into the receiving station, e. said conveyor means including means to change the direction of travel of the primary pushing means so as to allow the auxiliary pushing means to next engage the following side of the article to insure a firm seating of the article in place within the receiving station.

5. In a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless, closed loop means which carries said primary and auxiliary pushing means, said auxiliary pushing means is located behind the primary pushing means.

6. In a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed adjacent the receiving station and the receiving station includes a turret wheel assembly having a plurality of pockets for receiving the articles and a stationary platform, said stationary platform being located between the turret pockets and against which platform the auxiliary pushing means is effective to fold a projecting end of a wrapper sheet to which liquid is applied for sealing the wrapper sheet around the article.

7. An assembly for moving articles from a supply station to a receiving station in a packaging operation comprising: a. means for moving at least one article along the path to an article-receiving station, b. said moving means including an endless, closed-loop conveyor means, a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means, c. said auxiliary pushing means being disposed behind the primary pushing means on said closed-loop conveyor means, d. said primary pushing means being effective to engage the following side of the article for moving the article into the receiving station, and e. said conveyor means including means to change the direction of travel of the primary pushing means so as to allow the auxiliary pushing means to next engage the following side of the article to insure a firm seating of the article in place within the receiving station.