US643622A - Package-wrapping machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

, B. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 189B. Renewed June 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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' Pamnted Feb. 20, I900. R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899 (No Model.)

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' Patented Feb.'20, moo.

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PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.) (No Moflel.) l3 Sheets$haet 3.

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R. A. BERGER.

Patented Feb. 20, I900.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.)

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N6. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

' R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 18 99.) (No Model.) l3 Shoots8heet -5.

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No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900. R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

.(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.)

I3 Sheets$heet 6.

(No Model.)

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No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900. R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renawed June 28, 1899.) 3 (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet 7,

Patented Feb. 20, I900.

R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet a,

(No Model.)

| I'AMH IN VE N TOR flz c'ard Jilieryer B) awe/v: 26% Y A TTOPNEY WITNESSES No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

' R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.) BL) l3 Sheets-Sheet 9.

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No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 189B. Renewed June 28, 1899.) v

-" l3 Sheets-Sheet [0.

(No Model.)

W'Zzwzwsr Invade)". flzb anluifiezyer No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900. R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.)

I3 Sheets-Sheet II.

(No Model.)

Invenfor 19w m1. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, won. R. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.) (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet I2.

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[7% {imra Wa T No. 643,622. Patented Feb. 20, I900. B. A. BERGER.

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1898. Renewed June 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

' INVENTOI? NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD A. BERGER, OF NEW YORK, N; Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WESLEY SBLOCK, OF SAME PLACE.

PACKAGE-WRAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 643,622, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed January 5, 1898. Renewed Tune 28, 1899. Serial No. 722,187. (No model.)

To ttZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD A. BERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Wrapping Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines which are designed to apply wrappingmaterial to articles of merchandise, particularly that type wherein each wrapper or wrapper-section is folded longitudinally upon the article and has its ends down folded, then laterally folded or tucked in, and, finally, lapfolded over the downfolded and laterally.- folded or tucked-in parts to completely inclose the article and protect it from the effect of atmospheric influences.

The present invention is intended specially for applying wrapping material to blocks of chewing-gum, each block comprising five superimposed layers, more or less but I wish it clearly understood that the invention is capable of being practicably and successfully used for applying Wrapping material to various articles of merchandisesuch as soap cakes,chocolate,and the like-in such manner that the articles are completely inclosed by folding the wrapping material longitudinally around the same, downfolding portions of the ends, laterally folding or tucking in parts of the ends, and lapfolding the other parts of the ends upon the lateral folds or tucks.

The chief object of my present invention is to provide novel means whereby the article to be inclosed within a wrapper is under perfect control of parts of the machine and cannot be displaced or shifted relatively to the wrapper from the time it is placed in proper relation to the latter and is completely inclosed thereby.

The invention also has for its object to provide a package-wrapping machine with wrapping material in the form of webs wound on reels and with novel means for drawing the webs longitudinally the proper distance at regular intervals to place the wrapping material over the articles which are to be inclosed within wrappers severed from the webs at regular intervals.

The invention also has for its object to provide a package-wrapping machine wherein the wrapping material proper is in the form of a web wound upon a reel, and the binder is also in the form of a web wound upon a reel, and means are provided for severing a wrapper-section from the webs and subsequently shifting the binder of the Wrappersection into correct position, so that the wrapper-section proper will be of a greater length than the binder to enable the ends of the Wrapper-section to be properly folded and the binder to be applied around the article to bind the whole in position.

The invention also has for its object to provide a package-wrapping machine with new and improved folding devices for folding the longitudinal edges of the wrapper-section one upon the other, turning down portions of the ends of the wrapper, tucking in parts against such turned-down portions, and subsequently lapfolding portions upon the tucked-in parts.

The invention also has for its object to provide a package-wrapping machine with wrapping material in the form of a plurality of webs, one of which constitutes a binder-web and is provided with adhesive along one edge and novel mechanisinfor moistening the adhesive edge of the binder-web, so that when the article is subjected to the action of the folding mechanism the moistened adhesive edge is secured and a perfect package is produced.

The invention also has for its object to provide a new and improved device which serves to secure the adhesive part of the wrapping material, to partially fold the ends of the latter, to remove the completed package from the folding box or chamber, and to place it in a position from whence it may be carried or conveyed to any pointdesired.

The invention also has for its object to provide a new and improved arm which is provided with wings that serve first to form parts of the folds at the ends of the packageand to subsequently lift the completed package from the folding box or chamber and deliver it at a point from whence it may be carried or conveyed to the place desired.

The invention also has for its object to provide new and improved feed mechanism for ICO advancing the webs of wrapping material to place the leading edges thereof in position to be seized by nipping mechanism by which the webs are drawn longitudinally in proper relation to the articles which are to be inclosed within wrappers.

The invention also has for its object to provide a brake mechanism automatically operated at proper intervals to arrest the momentum of the reel on which the web of tin-foil is wound, whereby an undue quantity of this web will not be unwound, due to the momentum of the reel, at the time that there is a pause in the longitudinal movement of the web and a wrapper-section is being severed.

The invention also has for its object to generally improve package-wrapping machines and to provide a machine of this character which will practicably and successfully apply wrappers to articles of merchandise and fold in the ends in such manner as to entirely inclose the articles.

To accomplish these objects, my invention involves the features of construction, the combinations or arrangements of parts, and the principles of operation hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved package-wrapping machine, omitting the reel which carries the tin-foil and waxed paper. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, omitting the reels which carry the webs of wrapping material. Fig. 2 is a diagram indicating the nippers as having drawn or pulled the webs longitudinally and the shear-blades closed to sever the webs. Fig. 2 is a similar View indicating the nippers as having adjusted the tin-foil, waxed paper, and binder into position over the article which is to be wrapped, the two gripping and transferring jaws being nearly in position to grip the article and the wrapper to transfer them to the folding-box. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, omitting the reel which carries the tin-foil and waxed paper. Fig. & is a sectional end elevation, the plane of section being substantially on the line 4. 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing portions of the perpendicular rack-bars by which the pressing and lifting arm is swung and its folder-wings are opened and closed,also showing the cam and levers which cooperate with these rack-bars. Fig. 5is an elevation looking at the left-hand end of the machine. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 (3, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinalsectional view taken through the foldingbox and the pressing and lifting arm. Fig. 8 is a broken detail plan view of the foldingboX. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view showing the plate with its racks which actuate the pinions to turn the oscillatory tuekers or sideangle folders. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the tuekers or side-angle folders, showing its spindle and pinion. Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the clamp-plate of the folding-box and the bottom plate thereof, which carries the end-folder wings of the folding-box. Fig. 12 isa detail vertical sectional view showing the pressing and lifting arm in a perpendicular position and in the act of swinging to the receiving-table, where the wrapped article is deposited. Fig. 13 is a detail broken elevation looking at the pressing and lifting arm and its actuating rack-bars from the left-hand end of the machine. Fig.

14 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which one end of the pressing and lifting arm is supported and rigidly connected with one pinion and loosely mounted on the hub of the other pinion. Fig. 15 is a detail side elevation showing the means for positively rotating the feed-rolls by which the binder-web and the tin-foil and waxed-paper Webs are fed forward toward the nippers which pull these webs longitudinally. Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 16 16, Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a detail transverse sectional view showing the shear-blades, the links by which they are operated, the upper and lower guides between which-the webs of wrapping material pass, and the moistening-roll for moistening the adhesive margin of the binder-web. Fig. 18 is a detail rearend elevation showing the two reels, the brake for the reel which carries the tin-foil and waxed paper, the pressing-finger, and the gears which gear together the feed-rollers that advance the tin-foil and waxed paper. Fig. 19 is a rear elevation showing the devices whereby the shear-blades are operated to sever the webs at the propertime. Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view of the magazineslide by which the articles are successively removed from the magazine and placed in position beneath the wrapping material. Fig. 21 is a detail perspective view of the two horizontally-moving slides which carry the nipper-jaws. Fig. 22 is a sectional plan view to show the manner in which the yoke-frames of the gripping and transferring jaws are mounted. Figs. 23 to 28, inclusive, are detail views of vibratory lever-arms and cams for moving the same to actuate parts of the machine, as will fully hereinafter appear. Figs. 29 to 35, inclusive, are views showing the manner in which the wrapper composed of tin-foil,waxed paper, and a binder is folded to entirely inclose the article of merchandise.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail; but inasmuch as I believe that the operation of the various parts of the machine will be more rcadilyunderstood by first describing the manner in which the folds of a wrapper are disposed with relation'to the entire package, I will first describe the folds without reference to the mechanism whereby these folds are produced. For this purpose reference is first made to Figs. 29 to 35, inclusive. In Fig. 29 a wrapper is represented as laid upon the upper side of an article, such as a block of chewing-gum,

the article or chewing-gum being indicated by dotted lines. The wrapper is composed of three layers, first, a layer 1 of thin waxed paper; seconda layer 2 of tin-foil,and,third, a binder 3, which in practice will bear the name of the firm putting up the article or chew: in g-gum and any other advertising matter that may be desired. The layers of waxed paper and tin-foil are coequal in dimensions; but the binder is considerably shorter than the wrapper proper, composed of the layers 1 and 2. At one side'edge, as at 4, the binder projects beyond o'ne'longitudinal side edge of the waxed paper and tin-foil, and this projecting portion is provided on its under side with adhesive material. During the wrapping of the package this adhesive margin or projecting edge after being properly moistened is cemented down upon the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the binder for effectually securing the package. The parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 29, they are reversed in position-that is to say, they are turned upside downso that the article of merchandise or the block of chewing-gum is uppermost or lies above the wrapper, this taking place in the folding-box of the machine, as will hereinafter appear. As the wrapper and article are pushed into the folding-box the longitudinal edge portions of the wrapper are forced upward into a perpendicular position, as shown in Fig. 30. One side of the wrap per is then pressed downward upon the article, as at 5, Fig. 31, and subsequently the other side is folded down, as at 6, Fig. 32, and the adhesive margin 4 is pressed down, so as to cement the overlapping parts of the binder. After this has been effected end portions of the waxed paper and tin-foil are folded downward, as at 7, Fig. 33, then the triangular portions 8, Fig. 33, are folded or tucked in laterally, as shown at 9, Fig. 34, and subsequently the remaining projecting end portions 10, Fig. 34, are folded upwardly against the laterally-folded or tucked-in parts 9 and the downward-folded portions 7 to produce the complete package, Fig. 35, wherein the article or chewing-gum is effectually inclosed and protected from the effect of atmospheric influences. Inasmuch as the waxed paper is comparatively thin and the tin-foil lies outside of the same the upward folds 10 will tend to maintain their folded position; but it is possible under certain circumstances to tuck these end portions 10 under the binder, although this is not considered essential, and therefore is not shown and will not hereinafter be referred to.

It will be observed that in the completed package the binder'is only equal to the length of the article inclosed in the wrapper, and it is for this reason that the binder, as shown in Fig. 29, is of a length considerably less than the length of the layers of waxed paper and tin-foil, which, in fact, constitute the wrapper proper.

Having described the method of folding the tions, the wrappers and the articles are transferred to the folding mechanism, the folds are perfectly formed to produce the wrapped packages by mechanical means without hand manipulation, and the packages are lifted from the folding box or chamber and placed upon a suitable receiver or table, from whence they may be removed.

The articles of merchandise (indicated by the numerals 12, Figs. 3 and 6) which are to be inclosed within wrappers are stored in a vertical column or stack in a magazine composed of two perpendicular standards 13, (best seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 6,) constructed with channels, in which the ends of the articles lie and by which they are retained in a column or stack and are guided in a downward direction. The channeled standards may be of any desired height to receive and 17, the construction being such that when the Y slide-plate is moved rearward and the arms 16 lie directly under the lower open ends of the channeled magazine-standards a single articleas, for instance, a block of chewinggum-will fall by gravity upon said arms and lie between the front edge of the slide-plate and the upturned flanges 17 of the arms 16, while if the slide-plate be advanced or moved forward the article carried by the arms 16 will also be carried forward, and the solid portion of the slide-plate will move under the column or stack of articles and support the same until the article carried by the arms 16 is removed therefrom and the slide-plate is again moved rearward to place the arms directly under the lower open ends of the magazinestandards, whereupon the operation before described will be repeated. The slide-plate moves back and forth directly above a table 18, Figs. 1 and 6, and at the right-hand side of this table is another table, as at 19, Figs. 2, 4, and 18, over which the wrapping material is moved longitudinally. In wrapping acka es of chewin um the wra in ma- D b b p b terial is composed of webs, one of which is a simple paper binder, while the other is composed of waxed paper lying above tin-foil. It is desirable that the tin-foil and waxed paper be compelled to move longitudinallyin unison, and for this purpose I unite the waxed paper and the tin-foil by heat and pressure and then wind this compound web upon a reel 20. The paper-binder web is wound upon a reel 21. It is possible, however, to wind the tin-foil and the waxed paper upon separate reels; but where the waxed paper and tin-foil are united by heat and pressure and the compound web is wound upon a reel the tin-foil is strengthened to prevent tearing when pulled longitudinally, the waxed paper and foil must move in unison, and their displacement relatively to one another is effectually prevented, whereby these parts of the wrapping material are susceptible of being practicably manipulated in the machine in a better manner than if the waxed paper and foil were wound upon separate reels and simply superimposed without being actually connected or united by heat and pressure. The binder-web is of a width greater than the width of the web of waxed paper and foil, so that one longitudinal edge of the binder-web will project laterally past one edge of the web of waxed paper and foil. This projecting edge is provided on its under side with adhesive, and therefore in each completed wrapper produced, as will hereinafter appear, one side or edge portion of the binder 3, Fig. 29, will project and be supplied with adhesive, as described with reference to the part 4:, Figs. 29 to 35, the purpose of this being to cement or secure the package during the folding operation. Ata point near the magazine and above the inner end of the table 19, which lies under the webs, are located two plates 22 and 23, having notched leading edges, one plate being arranged directly above the other and slightly separated therefrom. The compound web of waxed paper and foil running from the reel 20 passes under the lowermost plate 23, while the binder-web running from the reel 21 passes between the two plates 22 and 23, whereby the leading edges of the webs are slightly separated to enable the pairs of nippers, hereinafter explained, to seize and pull the webs, one pair of nippers seizing the leading end of the compound web of waxed paper and tin-foil and the other pair of nippers seizing the leading end of the binder-web. The compound web passes between elastic feedrollers 24, 25, and 25, Fig. 2, geared together at their rear ends, as seen in Fig. 18, and designed to facilitate drawing a certain quantity of the compound web of waxed paper and foil from the reel 20 whenever the feedrollers are rotated. The elastic feed-rollers 24 are mounted in a yoke-frame 24:, pivoted at its inner end portion, as at 24 to fixed parts of the machine-frame, so that if the outer end of the yoke-frame be raised the elastic feed-roller 24 will be elevated from contact with the feed-roller 25 for the purpose of introducing the webs of tin-foil and waxed paper, or, in other words, to facilitate threading the machine with these webs. The binder-web passes between an elastic feedroller 25 and one of the rollers 24 and when rotated serves in a measure to advance the binder-web longitudinally toward the nippers. These feed-rollers are simply for the purpose of drawing a quantity of the webs from the reels and to facilitate the longitudinal drawing or pulling of the webs by the nippers above mentioned, the construction and operation of which will hereinafter be fully described in detail.

The feed- rollers 25 and 25 are rotated at regular intervals to draw wrapping material from the reels by any suitable means; but I.

have illustrated and will hereinafter describe, in connection with the actuating and driving devices of the machine, the particular rackand-pinion mechanism represented for rotating the feed-rollers.

It is proper to here state that when the tinfoil and waxed paper are united by heat and pressure to form a compound web, as hereinbefore stated, it is not essential to provide feed-rollers for drawing the tin-foil and waxed paper from the reel which carries the same, because the compound web possesses suflicient strength to enable the reciprocating nippers to pull the web directly from the reel, and the same remarks apply to the binderweb, in that this is ordinarily composed of paper which is comparatively strong. Therefore, while I have shown and described the feed-rollers and will hereinafter describe the means by which they are positively rotated at regular intervals, I do not limit myself to the use of these feed-rollers and their driving mechanism.

A cutter for severing a web into wrappersections is located directly at the left-hand side of the web flattening and guiding plates 22 and 23-that is to say, the cutteris located at a point between the flattening and guiding plates and the magazine. The cutter is composed of two pivoted shear- blades 26 and 27, Figs. 4 and 17, operated at intervals, as hereinafter explained, so that when the leading ends of the webs have been drawn longitudinally in front of the magazine a distance sufficient to provide the material necessary for a wrapper the shear-blades constituting the cutter instantly close and smoothly sever the webs. As the webs are drawn longitudinally into a position in front of the magazine the slide-plate 15 at the lower end of the magazine is moved forward and an article lying on the arms 16 between the front edge of the slide-plate and the upturned flanges 17 will be carried forward and placed beneath the wrapper-section, so that the wrapper actually lies above the article, and the article and wrapper-section are in proper relation to be subsequently carried to the folding box or chamber 28, Figs. 1 and (5, through the medium of two gripping- jaws 29 and 30, (best seen in Figs. 6 an 22,) forming, respectively, fixed parts of yoke- frames 31 and 32. The

yoke-frame of the gripping-jaw 30 is sleeved or loosely mounted upon a short longitudinal shaft 33, arranged in suitable bearings in parallel plates 34, running from front to rear of the machine at or about the center thereof, one portion of this yoke-frame 32 being rigid with a pinion 35. The pinion 35, loosely mounted on one end portion of the shaft 33, forms a fixed part of the yoke-frame 32, loosely sleeved on the shaft at opposite extremities of the sleeve 36, which is fast to the shaft, as best seen in Fig. 22. The yokeframe 31 of the jaw 29 forms part of the sleeve 36, fastened to the shaft 33, which latter is provided at one end, at a point outside of theleft-hand side plate 34, with an attached pinion 37. The pinion 35 of the yoke-frame 32 engages a segmental rack 38 at the inner side of the right-hand side plate 34,while the pinion 37, which is secured to the shaft 33, on which the sleeve 36 is mounted, engages a segmental rack 39 at the outer side of the left-hand plate 34. The segmental racks are independently operated, as will be hereinafter explained, and they swing back and forth in a direction from front to rear of the machine. In what may be called the normal position of the gripping-jaws 29 and 30 (indicated by full lines in Fig. 6) the jaw 29 lies substantially flush with the inner end of the table 18, which is under the magazine, and therefore, when an article is discharged from the magazine, as the wrapping material is drawn longitudinally into a position in front of the magazine the article is pushed under the wrapping material and is placed directly over the gripping-jaw 29. During this time the grippingjaw 30, which is a part of the yoke-frame 32, lies in the folding-box, and after the wrappersection and the article are in correct position above the jaw 29 the yoke-frame 32 is swung in the arc of a circle and its jaw 30 leaves the folding-box and cooperates with the jaw 29 to firmly grip and hold the article and the wrapper-section, after which the two jaws gripping the article and the wrapper-section swing forward in unison in the arc of a circle, and the jaw 30 enters the folding-box 28, so

that the article and the wrapper are reversed.

in their positions, and the article will lie above the 'wrappersection instead of under the same, as when it was first gripped by the two aws. pendent of the jaw 30 to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 6.

The front wall 40, Fig. 6, of the folding-box is fixed or immovable, while the rear wall is composed of a clamp-jaw 41, Figs. 6, 7, S, and 11, having a tailpiece 42 lying at the bottom of the box in such manner that when the article and the wrapper are deposited in the folding-box by the transferring and gripping jaws above referred to pressure is applied by the jaw 30 upon the tailpiece 42, the longitudinal sides of the wrapper are turned upward, and the clam p-jaw is caused to firmly grip the opposite longitudinal sides of the article to press the wrapper tightly against the side edges of the article and to firmly hold the article and the wrapper in fixed relation in the folding-box. By the means de- The jaw 29 will then move back indescribed the article and the wrapper are under perfect control of mechanical parts of the machine and are absolutely prevented from displacement relatively to each other from the time they are seized by the gripping and transferring jaws and transferred to the folding-box until the entire folding operation is completed. The complete folding of the wrapper by mechanical means will be described later on.

The plate forming the gripping-jaw 30, or the yoke-frame of this jaw, is constructed with an opening or recess to receive the clamp-jaw 41 when the gripping-jaw is lowered into the folding-box, as best seen in Fig. l, and the plate forming the gripping-jaw 29 is of such length that when the magazine slideplate 15 is advanced its arms 16, with their upturned flanges 17, pass at oppositeends of the jaw 29, so that when the two gripping-jaws are closed together and are swung forward they raise the article from the arms and transfer the same, with the wrapper, to the foldingpoint.

I will now proceed to describe the nipper mechanism by which the webs of wrapping material are drawn or pulled longitudinally .into a position in front of the magazine and over the article to be wrapped. There are two pairs of nippers, composed of fixed jaws 43 and movable jaws 44 and 44. (Best seen in Fig. 21.) The fixed jaws-are carried by the inner ends of horizontally-movable slides 45, and to the inner end portion of one slide the nipper-jaw 44 is pivoted, as at 46, and is articulated at one side of its pivot to one extremity of a lever 47. The movable jaw 44 of the other nippers may form a rigidpart of a lever47, pivoted as at 46 The reason for the difierences in the construction of the two nipper-jaws is that the nipper-jaw 44 closes upwardly against a fixed jaw, while the nipper-j aw 44 closes downwardly against a fixed jaw. The outer ends of the levers 47 and 47 are provided with roller-studs, as at 48, adapted to travel in longitudinal guideways 49 in the opposite sides of a bar 50, which is pivoted at its outer end, as 51, to a fixed part 52 of the machine-frame. The slides 45 are dovetailed to opposite sides of a fixed plate 53, forming an extension of the machine-frame, and these slides are pivotally connected by links, as at 54, with the upper ends of vibrating levers 55, which at their lower ends are mounted on a fixed stud 56 in such manner that when the levers are vibrated the slides 45 are reciprocated, and consequently the nipperjaws are correspondingly reciprocated. The bar 50 is adapted to be raised and lowered by a vertical rod 57, connected therewith at its upper end, as at 58, Fig. 2, so that if the bar 50 be raised by elevating the rod 57 the levers 47 and 47 will be so actuated as to close the pivoted Ripper- jaws 44 and 44 for the purpose of gripping the leading edges of the webs of wrapping material, and, conversely, if the bar 50 be lowered the levers 47 .and 47 will cause the pivoted nipper-jaws to open and release the leading ends of the webs. The cams and connections for operating the vibrating levers 55 and the vertical rod 57 at timed intervals will be hereinafter explained in the description pertaining to the cam-shafts and driving devices of the machine, for which reason it is unnecessary to here explain the same.

In Fig. 2 the leading ends of the webs of wrapping material are indicated by the numerals 59 and 60, the web 59 being the binderweb and the web 60 the compound web of waxed paper and'tin-foil. When the slides 45 are advanced, the bar 50 is depressed and the nippers are opened to seize and grip the leading ends of the webs, one pair of nippers being arranged to seize the binder-web 59 and the other pair to seize the compound web 60. Vhen the nippers are in position to grip the ends of the webs, the bar 50 is raised and the pivoted nipper- jaws 44 and 44 are closed against the fixed jaws 43, after which the slides 45, by their connection with the vibrating levers 55, are retracted or commence to move outwardly, thereby drawing or pulling the webs between the web flattening and guiding plates 22 and 23 into a position in front of the magazine and over the gripping-jaw 29, Fig. 6, which at this time is flush with the table 18. As the webs are drawn longitudinally in front of the magazine an article is discharged therefrom and placed over the jaw 29 under the wrapping material, as before explained. \Vhen the requisite quantity of wrapping material has been drawn by the nippers into a position in front of the magazine, there is a pause in the longitudinal motion of the nippers, and at this instant the shearblades 26 and 27 close and sever the webs to produce a wrapper. Immediately thereafter the nippers again move a limited extent in an outward direction to adjust the waxed paper and tin-foil into correct position, and then there is a pause in the motion of the pair of nippers which seizes the waxed paper and tinfoil, while the other pair of nippers, which seizes the binder part of the wrapper, continue their outward motion and adjust the binder into such position that the waxed-paper and tin-foil parts of the wrapper will project from opposite ends thereof, or, in other words, the binder will be shifted and placed in the position represented in Fig. 29, so that the end portions of the waxed paper and foil can be folded by the folding mechanism, hereinafter explained, without folding the end portions of the binder. hen the two pairs of nippers seize the leading ends of the webs of wrapping material and commence their outward strokes, that pair of nippers which seizes the waxed paper and foil move slightly faster at the beginning than the pair of nippers which seizes the binder, so that the Web of waxed paper and foil is drawn considerably ahead of the-binder for the purpose of obtaining a wrapper in which the waxed paper and foil are of a greater length than the binder. In other words, as the nippers recede and pull the webs longitudinally the nippers which grip the waxed paper and tinfoil move ahead or slightly faster than the n'ippers which grip the binder-web until the requisite quantity of wrapping material is drawn longitudinally, whereupon there is a pause in the longitudinal motion of both pairs of nippers and the quick-acting shear-blades sever the webs, after which the two pairs of nippers continue their receding motion; but the pair of nippers which grip the binder-web moves ahead or slightly faster than the nippers which grip the waxed paper and foil, whereby the binder is shifted 011 the waxed paper and foil and placed in such position relatively thereto that the waxed paper and foil extend from opposite ends of the binder to provide the material necessary to be folded in at the ends of the article, while the binder itself is not folded in at the ends, but is exactly or approximately the length of the completed package. When the wrapper is severed from the webs by the shear-blades, the edges of the binder and the waxed paper and foil at the point where out are exactly coincident, and therefore it is necessary to adjust the bindersection longitudinally to place the same in correct position so that the waxed paper and foil will project beyond the binder at the ends of the wrapper. This is accomplished by the continued motion of the pair of nippers which grip the binder after the other pair of nippers, which grip the waxed paper and foil, have adjusted the latter and cease their longitudinal motion. This will be best understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 2 In Fig. 2 the shear- blades 26 and 27 have just severed the webs to produce a wrapper. It will be seen that one pair of nippers has drawn the waxed-paper and foil web slightly beyond the binder. Thetwo pairs of nippers then shift the wrapper centrally over the gripping-jaw 29, Fig. 2", which is the jaw over which the article is placed by the dischargingslide at the bottom of the magazine.

In Fig. 2 the article is represented as lying on the jaw 29, the wrapper is located above the article, one pair of nippers has placed the waxed paper and foil in correct position relatively to the article, the other pair of nippers has adjusted or shifted the binder part of the wrapper centrally over the waxed paper and foil, the shear-blades are open, and the gripping-jaw 30 is approaching the jaw 29 for the purpose of gripping the wrapper and the article between the two jaws and transferring them to the folding-box.

As before stated, the binder-web is wider than the compound web of waxed paper and foil to provide a projecting margin at one side, which is provided with adhesive to cement or secure the wrapped package. This adhesive margin requires to be moistened, so that it can be subsequently pressed down and secured. The moistening of the adhesive margin of the binder-web is effected as the web travels toward the shear-blades by which the webs are severed into wrappers through the medium of a rotary moistening-disk 61, Fig. 2, which is supplied with moistening liquid from a tank 62, Fig. 2, by disks 63 and 64, the latter dipping in the water in the tank and supplying the liquid to the disk 63, which in turn supplies the moistening-disk 61. The disk 61 projects up through the table 19, as best seen in Fig. 17, and the adhesive margin of the binder-web bears against the disk as the web is drawn or pulled longitudinally by the nippers. The disks 61, 63, and 64 are mounted on shafts having pinions 65, 66, and 67 at one end, which engage each other and are positively driven by a pinion 68, meshing with the pinion 67 and driven by a gear-wheel 69, the latter'being rotated, as will hereinafter appear.

After the nippers have drawn the webs longitudinally in front of the magazine and the wrapper has been severed therefrom by the shear-blades of the cutter and until the nippers again advance and seize the webs the latter should be held or pressed down in a fixed position upon the supporting-table 19 for the purpose of maintaining their leading ends in accurate position to be seized by the nippers. Thisis effected through the medium of a pressing-finger 70, Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 18, extending over the webs and secured at its rear end to a longitudinal rock-shaft 71, which at proper timed intervals is positively turned by means hereinafter explained to raise and lower the finger in such manner that when the finger is lowered it will press upon and hold the webs and when it is raised it will release the webs and perinittheni to be moved longitudinally by the nippers; and, further, the reel 20, carrying the roll of tinfoil and waxed paper, should be arrested in its rotation and heldsteady afterthe reel has turned sufficiently to supply the wrapping material necessary for a wrapper, as otherwise the momentum of the wheel might unwind an undue quantity of the tin-foil and waxed paper, which would sag down and be more or less in the way, and therefore objectionable. To arrest the reel at timed intervals for the purpose above stated, I provide the rock-shaft 71 with a brake, which, as here shown, is in the form of an arm 72. (Best seen in Fig. 18.) The brake-arm 72 and the pressing-finger move in unison with the rockshaft 71, so that-when the brake-armis caused to press against one end of the reel carrying the tin-foil and waxed paper the pressingfinger 70 is caused to press down upon the webs and firmly hold the same.

It is proper at this point to generally describe the folding devices, and therefore I will proceed to set forth their construction and operation, but will later on explain the mechanical devices by which all the folders are positively actuated. The folding-box is of the same dimensions, substantially, as the dimensions of the article which is to be wrapped, and-this folding-box is composed of the fixed front wall 40, Fig. 6, the pivoted clamp-jaw 4:1, upwardly and downwardly swinging end-folder wings 7 3, and oscillatory lateral tuckers or side-angle folders 74,10- cated at the four corners of the box or chamher. The lateral tuckers or side-angle folders are approximately hemispherical in form or shape and have beveled portions 74, as best seen in Fig. 10. The wall 40 and the clamp-jaw 4.1 serve to turn the opposite longitudinal side portions of a wrapper to the perpendicular position shown in Fig. 30, when the article and the wrapper are reversed and pushed into the box by the gripping and transferring jaws 29 and 30. The end-folder wings 73 serve to fold upwardly end portions of the wrapper after other end portions have been folded downwardly and the tuckers or side angle folders have tucked or folded in the angle portions 8, Fig. 33. The longitudinal side portions of the wrapper extending above the article, as shown in Fig. 30, are folded down and lapped one over the other through the-medium of front and rear longitudinal folders, composed, as here shown, of thin flattened slide-plates 75 and 76. When the article and wrapper have been inserted into the folding box or chamber and as the gripping-jaw 29 leaves the same the front longitudinal folder-plate 75 moves rearward and folds down one longitudinal edge portion of the wrapper upon the article, and immediately following this the rear longitudinal folderplate 76 moves forward and folds the other longitudinal side portion of the wrapper, which is provided with the projecting adhesive margin 4, Figs. 29, 30, and 31, down upon the other longitudinal fold. As this occurs the front folder-plate 75 moves slightly forward, so that there is a space provided be tween the adjacent edges of the two longitudinal folder-plates, which space is approximately coextensive with the adhesive margin of the binder part of the wrapper. It is now essential to first form the downfolds 7, Fig. 33, at the-end portions of the tin-foil and waxed-paper parts of the wrapper. To accomplish this, I provide an arm 77, Figs. 1, 2, 3,4, '7, and 12, constructed to swing in a perpendicular plane and supported at one end through the medium of a stud-shaft 78, rig idly mounted in a fixed bearing 79. This arm is hollow to form cheek-pieces 77" and 77*, Figs. 7 and 12, and carries two folder and gripper wings 80 and 81, arranged a distance apart substantially coequal with the length of the article to be wrapped. The folder and gripper wings are pivoted upon small axles or shafts 82 and 83, Fig. 12, and they are opened and closed at timed intervals by the means hereinafter described. The arm 77 is provided betweenthe folder and gripper wings 80 and 81 with a flexible or soft pressin g-pad 84, so that when the arm is lowered by

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