US3724159A

US3724159A - Apparatus and method for packaging

Info

Publication number: US3724159A
Application number: US00133576A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Reed
Original assignee: British Iron and Steel Research Association BISRA
Current assignee: British Iron and Steel Research Association BISRA
Priority date: 1970-05-21
Filing date: 1971-04-13
Publication date: 1973-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-03
Also published as: DE2118355A1; FR2091780A5; GB1347501A

Abstract

Bundles of steel sheet are packaged by folding a steel sheet around them. A bundle is placed on a sheet larger than the base of the bundle. The ends of the sheet are clamped by clamps carried on pivoted folding arms. Hydraulic cylinders tension the sheet by urging the clamps away from the pivoted ends of the arms. The arms are then moved so that the clamped ends of the sheet move up and over the end of the bundle so as to form fold lines in the sheet along the edges of the bundle.

Description

United States. Patent 1191 Reed 1451 Apr. 3, .1973

54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR 2,831,303 4/1958 Hollis ..53/21& x PACKAGING 2,891,365 6/1959 1mm ..53/19s R x Inventor: Geoffrey Ronald Reed, London, En-

gland The British Iron and Steel Research Association, London, England Filed: Apr. 13, 1971 Appl. No.: 133,576

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data July 21, 1970 Great Britain ..24,649/70 U.S. c1. ..53/3, 53/198, 53/209 1m. 01 ..B65b 11/02, B65b 49/10 Field of Search ..53/32, 33, 3, 209, 210, 218,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1910 Peck ..53/218 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond Attorney-Bacon & Thomas 571 I ABSTRACT Bundles of steel sheet are packaged by folding a steel sheet around them. A bundle is placed on a sheet larger than the base of the bundle. The ends of the sheet are clamped by clamps carried on pivoted folding arms. Hydraulic cylinders tension the sheet by urging the clamps away from the pivoted ends of the arms. The arms are then moved so that the clamped ends of the sheet move up and over the end of the bundle so as to form fold lines in the sheet along the edges of the bundle.

10 Claims, 7, Drawing Figures PmEmEmPna 1915 3,724,159

sum 3 0F 5 IN VE N TOR GEOFF-RE Y Ab/VAL 0 R550 BY ,gmz W APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING Bundles of sheet steel which have to be transported particularly when being exported, are usually protected by a steel box consisting of a bottom tray and a separate lid. These boxes are presently made to fit each individual bundle.

An object of this invention is to simplify the packaging of bodies such as bundles of sheet steel.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for folding a sheet of packaging material around a body including:

a. a support for a generally rectangular body seated on a packaging sheet larger than the baseof the body;

b. a folding member having clamping means for clamping one end of the sheet when a body is seated on the sheet on the support and tensioning means for applying a tension to the sheet between the body and said clamped end; and

0. means for moving the folding member so that the sheet is folded over one end of the body and over the upper surface of the body.

Preferably the folding member is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the support, and preferably the clamping means is movable along the length of the folding member towards and away from the pivoted end under the action of the tensioning means.

With apparatus according to the invention sheet metal projecting from under one end of the body to be packaged can be folded up and over that end. Tensionrg ensures that the packaging metal has fold lines formed in it along the edges of the body. To form fold lines in sheet metal used for packaging has previously involved beating it to shape by hand and this is avoided with the apparatus of the invention.

The apparatus can advantageously include a second folding member having clamping means for clamping the other end of the sheet and tensioning means for applying a tension to the sheet between the body and said other end of the sheet as well as means for moving the second folding member so that the sheet is folded over the other end of the body and over the upper surface of the body. With such an apparatus the packaging sheet can be folded more or less simultaneously over both ends of the body.

Apparatus for folding the packaging material on to the sides of the body does not form a part of this invention and can for example be as shown in U.S. co-pending patent application Ser. No. 22,189.

Preferably both folding members are mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the support and preferably the pivoted end of at least one of the folding members is movable along the support towards and away from the pivoted end of the other folding member so as to be able to package bodies of different sizes. The support is preferably a conveyor along which a body seated on a packaging sheet is delivered, and along which the partly packaged body is moved away to the next packaging step.

The apparatus may include a support or abutment member for at least one end of the body, which can be moved to a position against the end of the body while the sheet is being folded over the other end of the body. If the body is a bundle of sheets this will prevent the sheets slipping over one another as the packaging sheet is folded around one end.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of partially wrapping a generally rectangular body with a sheet of metal including the steps of clamping one end of a metal sheet which is larger than the base of the body and on which the body is seated, applying a tension between the clamped end of the sheet and the body and moving the clamped end with the sheet tensioned up and over the end of the body so as to form fold lines in the sheet along the edges of the body. Preferably the method includes clamping the other end of the metal sheet, applying a tension between said other clamped end of the sheet and the body, and moving said other clamped end with the sheet tensioned up and over the end of the body so as to form fold lines in the sheet along the edges of the body, resulting in the ends of the sheet overlapping one another at the top of the body.

The method may also include the step of holding a support member against one end of the body as the sheet is folded over the other end.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention shown by way of example;

FIG. 2 is a side view of part of the apparatus of FIG.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are details of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of part of another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a body partially packaged in accordance with the invention.

A conveyor 2 for conveying rectangular bundles 3 of sheet steel to be packaged has two folding members 4, 5 connected to it to provide an apparatus for folding sheet steel packaging material 6 around bundles 3. The bundles 3 are conveyed towards the folding members 4, 5 after having already been seated in the middle of a packaging sheet 6 larger than the base of the bundle 3 either by hand, or by some other apparatus. The dimensions of the sheet 6 are chosen in relation to the bundle size.

Each of the folding members 4, 5 includes two arms 7 pivoted on a common axle 8, one on each side of the conveyor 2. The arms 7 are angled at their pivoted ends. The axles can be rotated by hydraulic actuators 9 so as to pivot the folding members 4, 5. The pivoted end of the folding member 4 is movable along the conveyor 2 towards and away from the pivoted end of the folding member 5 to enable different sizes of bundle 3 to be packaged. For this purpose slots 10-are provided in the conveyor 2, and the actuator 9 can be moved along the conveyor 2 by rotating a threaded spindle ll co-operating with a threaded sleeve 12 connected to the actuator (see FIG. 3). The spindle 11 is rotated by an electric motor 13.

Each of the folding members 4, 5 has a clamp 14 extending between the two arms 7 and pivotally mounted to the arms 7 so that the clamp 14 can rotate about its longitudinal axis. The bearings 15 which support the clamp 14 are arranged to move in slots 16 along the length of the arms 7 by means of hydraulic cylinders 17 within the arms 7.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 each clamp has two

jaws

18, 19 pivoted to one another on a common spindle. A hydraulic cylinder 20 is pivoted at one end to lugs 21 rigid with the jaw 18 and at the other end to lugs 22 rigid with the jaw 19. By supplying pressurized fluid to one end of the cylinder 20 the

jaws

18, 19 can be made to open and by supplying pressurized fluid to the other end of the cylinder 20 the

jaws

18, 19 can be made to close. The jaw 18 has a downwardly extending lip 23 at its mid point for a purpose to be described below. To prevent the lip 23 contacting the rollers 24 of the conveyor 2, there is a recess 25 at the mid point of each roller 24 that could otherwise be contacted by the lip 23.

In operation, with the folding member 5 raised and the folding member 4 lowered as shown in FIG. 1, the bundle 3 which has already been placed in the middle of the packaging sheet 6 is advanced along the conveyor 2 and is stopped with the tail end of the bundle in line with the axle 8 of the folding member 5 as shown in FIG. 2. The folding member 4 is now moved by rotating the threaded spindle 11 until the axle 8 is in line with the front end of the bundle as shown in FIG. 2. The folding member 5 is then lowered and the clamps 14 on both folding members are brought towards the free ends of the packaging sheet 6 by actuating the pneumatic clyinders 17. Simultaneously the hydraulic cylinders are actuated to raise the jaws 19. The lips 23 will guide the free ends of the sheet 6 over the lower jaws 18 and the cylinders are then actuated to lower the jaws 19 and to clamp the ends of the sheet 6.

The cylinders 17 are now actuated so as to place the packaging sheet in tension. The folding members 4 and 5 are now rotated until they are both vertical. The member 4 is now held in the vertical position while the member 5 continues to rotate as shown in FIG. 2 until it can move no further without the clamp 14 touching the top of the bundle 3. During movement of the folding member 5 over the body the clamp 14 rotates to allow for the changing angle that the end of the sheet makes with the arms 7. The clamp 14 of the folding member 5 is now disengaged and the folding member 4 is rotated out of the way of the folding member 4 which is rotated until its clamp 14 is about to touch the top of the bundle whereupon the clamp is disengaged. The tension in the sheet 6 ensures that fold lines are made in the metal sheet 6 along the edges of the body 3.

The bundle 3 is now partly wrapped with the ends of the sheet 6 overlapping as shown in FIG. 7 and travels along the conveyor to the next packaging step which formsno part of this invention, but which can be as shown in US. co-pending patent application Ser. No. 22,189. The members 4 and 5 are now returned to the positions shown in FIG. 1. 4

The pneumatic cylinders 17 are loaded at a constant pressure so that they retract or extend to allow the clamps 14' to follow the non-circular arc of the end of the packaging sheet 6 as it is folded around the end of the bundle.

The operation can be controlled by the operate from a simple control panel situated nearby.

It is found that if the apparatus is used to package bundles of small sheets the step shown in FIG. 2 may cause the sheets to slip over one another so that the bundle as seen from the side assumes the shape of a parallelogram. This is less likely to happen with large sheets because the contact area between the sheets is greater and therefore .friction resisting slipping is greater. In order to prevent any possibility of slipping the apparatus can be modified as shown in FIG. 6. Each of the arms 7 is spaced from the conveyor 2 and a sup port device 30 is mounted on each axle 8 between the arm 7 and the conveyor 2. FIG. 6 shows only one of the four devices 30 and omits the folding arm 7 for clarity. Each device 30 includes an abutment member or arm 31 .pivoted to a plate 32. An hydraulic cylinder 33 interconnects the plate 32 and abutment arm 31, and actuation of the cylinder 33 will cause the arm 31 to pivot from a position to the side of the conveyor 2 to a position above the conveyor 2. The length of the arms 31 is chosen so that the arms 31 on opposite sides of the conveyor 2 nearly touch each other. It will be seen that the devices 30 associated with the folding member 4 will move along the conveyor 2 together with the folding member 4 when the position of the folding member 4 is adjusted.

The method of use is the same as for the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 up to the stage when both folding member 4 and 5 are in the vertical position. Before proceeding to the position shown in FIG. '2 the abutment arms 31 are brought into contact with the ends of the bundle 3. As the folding member 5 moves across to the position shown in FIG. 2 the arms 31 at the left hand end of the bundle abut the end of the bundle and prevent the sheets from slipping over each other under the tension in the sheet 6. Similarly when the folding member 4 continues its movement the arms 31 at the right hand end of the bundle restrain the bundle against slipping. The abutment arms 31 are moved out of the path of the bundle when the folding is complete.

The method described above of partly packaging bodies with steel sheet is surprisingly simple considering the difficulty of handling sheet packaging material. The method is more effective and quicker than methods currently used.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for folding a sheet of packaging material around a body including:

a. a support for a generally rectangular body seated on a packaging sheet larger than the base of the y b. a folding member having clamping means for clamping one end of the sheet when a body seated on the sheet is on the support, and tensioning means for applying a tension to the sheet between the body and said clamped end, and

c. means for moving the folding member so that the sheet is folded over one end of the body and over the upper surface of the body.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the folding member is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the support.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the clamping means is movable along the length of the folding member towards and away from the pivoted end under the action of the tensioning means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including:

a. a second folding member having clamping means for clamping the other end of the sheet and tensioning means for applying a tension to the sheet between the body and the other end of the sheet and b. means for moving the second folding member so that the sheet is folded over the other end of the body and over the upper surface of the body.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which both folding members are mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the support'and the pivoted end of at least one of the folding members is movable along the support towards and away from the pivoted end of the other folding member.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the clamping means is mounted on its folding member so as to be able to rotate as the folding member moves over the body.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an abutment member for at least one end of the body, the abutment member being adapted to be moved to a position against the end of the body while the sheet is being folded over the other end of the body.

8. A method of partially wrapping a generally rectangular body with a sheet of metal including the steps of clamping one end of a metal sheet which is larger than the base of the body, and on which the body is seated, applying a tension between the clamped end of the sheet and the body, and moving the clamped end with the sheet tensioned up and over the end of the body so as to form fold lines in the sheet along the edges of the body.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 including clamping the other end of the metal sheet, applying a tension between said other clamped end of the sheet and the body, and moving said other clamped end with the sheet tensioned up and over the end of the body so as to form fold lines in the sheet along the edges of the body, resulting in the ends of the sheet overlapping one another at the top of the body.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 including the step of holding an abutment member against one end of the body as the sheet is folded over the other end.

Claims

1. Apparatus for folding a sheet of packaging material around a body including: a. a support for a generally rectangular body seated on a packaging sheet larger than the base of the body b. a folding member having clamping means for clamping one end of the sheet when a body seated on the sheet is on the support, and tensioning means for applying a tension to the sheet between the body and said clamped end, and c. means for moving the folding member so that the sheet is folded over one end of the body and over the upper surface of the body.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including: a. a second folding member having clamping means for clamping the other end of the sheet and tensioning means for applying a tension to the sheet between the body and the other end of the sheet and b. means for moving the second folding member so that the sheet is folded over the other end of the body and over the upper surface of the body.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which both folding members are mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the support and the pivoted end of at least one of the folding members is movable along the support towards and away from the pivoted end of the other folding member.