Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in package forming machines and more particularly to - -
a machine for automatically wrapping one or more articles
into a package utilizing a continuous web of plastics
material and wherein the web is automatically wrapped
around the article ox articles to be packa~ed, severed into
individual wraps, and the wraps being completely ~rapped
around the articles.
Package forming machines of the type utilizing a
continuous ~eb of plastics matexial are known to me. Some
years ago I developed a machine which has been found to
function satis~actorily and is in commercial use~ This
machine is the subject of my U.S. reissue patent No.
Re~ 2a,535l granted Septembér 2, 1975. ~urther, I have
developed a somewhat dlfferent package forming machine
which has been demonstrated to others and is the subject
of my copending U.S. applic~tion Serial No. 734,876 en- -
tit~ed PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE, filed October 22, 1976,
which application issued on Ap~il 11, 1978 as U.S. Patent
No. 4,083,163.
A principal feature of my present packaging
- machine is that the cluster of articles to be wrapped i~
under control at 211 times, being constantly supported by
conveying means in a manner ~hereby the bottom closure
flaps of the wrap may be assuredly positioned be ~een the
cluster being wrapped and then finally drawn tight to
assure a tight wrapping o~ the wrap film about the cluster.
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In accordance with this inyention, the clusters
which are to be wrapped are supported by both upper and
lower conveyors which moVe in unison with the upper convey-
or having retaining elements which serve to prevent tipping
of the articles in the cluster and at the same time assure
a clEmping of the wrap film relative to the clusters during
the drawing thereof.
The lower conve~or includes plural sets o~ indi-
vidually mounted support elements which fully support the
articles of the clusters and ~re at the ~ame time indi-
vidually movable with respect to the articles so as to
permit ~he folding o the lower closure flaps bene~th the.
cluster,
Another feature o~ the ~achine is that simpla
means are p~ovided for folding a rear closure flap beneath
a cluster, the simple means being an auxiliary support
which simultaneously ~olds the poxtion of a rear closure
flap beneath the cluster and clamps the same against the
underside of the cluster in a supporting relation for the
rear portion o~ a cluster whereby the rear one of the
support elements may be released from the cluster, aftex
. which air blast means carried by the auxiliary support
-may direct the rear closure ~lap full~ beneath the closure
to a position where the rear support element ma~ return
to its cluster supporting position with the rear closure
flap in its fully folded position~
Another ~eature of the machine ls the proVision
of a wrapped package receiVin~ platform ~hich serVes to
support the front portion o~ a cluster while the rear of
the cluster is still supported by a rear one of the sup-
~ort elements and the movement of the partially wrapped
cluster onto the platform serves to fold the front bottom
closure flap into place and at the same time tightl~ draws
the wrap about the cluster to provide a tight package.
Another feature of the ma~hine is the provision
of separate draw means movable down between adjacent
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clusters to draw the wrap film required for wrapping eachcluster, the draw means including draw elements which
~irst serve to tension an intermediate portion of the wrap
film for severing and later serve to push the wrapped
pacakge along a platform and onto a take-away conveyor.
Most particularly, a feature of the draw means
is that the spacing o~ the draw elements thereof is greater
than the spacing of the clusters and.there being a lost
motion arxangement beneath *he path o~ travel of the
clusters for accommodating this greater spacing, and this
greater spacing permitting wrapped clusters to be conveyed
away from the.end of the wrapping mechinism at a rapid rate
to increase the spacing between wrapped clusters as com-
pared to the spacing between unwrapped clusters.
- 15 The machine is also provided with spacer means
movable in between adjacent partially wrapped clusters for
stabilizing such clusters and holding the wrap-film against
the front and rear sides of the clusters~
Another feature of the machine is the separate
mounting of the upper part of the wrapping mechanism
wherein the machine may...be-readily adjusted to.receive
.. articles to be wrapped o~ di~ferent heights.
A particular feature of the machine resides in
a supply conveyor arrangement ~herein containers or like
articles are received in transversely nested rows and move
through a simple path arrangement wherein unnesting auto~
matically occurs and containers in adjacent rows become
transversely aligned.
With the abov~ and other objects in view that
.. 30 will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will
be msre clearly understood by reference to the ~ollowing
detailed description, the appended claims, and the several
views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
IN-THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view
of the entrance portion of the machine and schematically
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shows the arrangement of containers into clusters and the
feeding of clusters to the wrapping station.
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view
showing the step-by-step sequence of wrapping a wrap film
around a cluster of containexs.
Figure 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3-3
of Figure 1, and shows speciically the manner in which
nested columns o~ articles are longitudinally shifted
relative to one another automatically to effect the ar-
rangement o~ the articles in txansvexsely aligned rows.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of theapparatus of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a s~hematic side elevational view
of the wrapping sec~ion of the machine for forming the
wrapping sequence illustrated in Figure 2.
Fi~ure 6 is.an enlarged fragmentary side ele-
vational vie~ of the wrapping section at the entrance
thereof.
Figure 7 is a ~chematic side elevational View
showing the path of dra~ elements of the wrapping means
including the manner in which the draw film is supported
for severing thereby and the final function of one draw
element of each pair to push wrapped clusters from the
machine.
Fi~ure 8 is a fra~mentary side elevational View --
showing s.pecifically the details of film severing means
and the guard therefor.
Figure 9 is a schematic side elevational view
showing the mounting and function of an auxiliary suppo~t
for both supporting a rear portion of a cluster and fold--
ing a rear bottom closure flap therebeneath.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view
similar to Figure 9, showing the rear poxtion of a cluster
supported by the auxiliary support and the rear bottom
closure flap being blown into position, the vie~ ~lso
showing the reax support element of the ~ower conye~or
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means returned to its supporting position with respect to
an adjacent cluster.
Figure 11 is a schematic side elevational view
of the machine at the final wrap and discharge portions
thereof t and shows the manner in which the partially
wrapped cluster is transferred to a receiving platform in
a manner wherein the wrapping is complete and the wrap is
drawn tightly around the cluster.
Figure 12 is a view similax to Figure 11, but
.. . lO shows most.speci~ically the manner in which the rear por-
tion of the cluster is suppoxted as it passes onto the
platform and the rear suppo~t element therefor is released.
- Figure 13 is a schematic view of the drive of
the machine.
Referxing now to the drawings in detail, it ~ill
be seen that there.is illustrated a machine which is spe-
cifically adapted to receive a~ticles arranged in trans-
verse rows and separated into clusters for wrappin~ in a
wrap film which is.preferably formed of plastics m~terial
which is heat shrinkable in a shrink oven in.a con~entional .
manner. The illustrated machine is ~pecifically construct-
.- ed to receive-cans arranged in two transverse rows of three
cans each. It is to be understood, ho~ever, that the
machine is not so limited. ~hile the machine is primarily
intended to receive articles arranged in two transverse
. , . rows,.the number of articles in each row may vary ~om one--
to a much greater number as may be convenient for forming
a package of such articles. Further, whiie the articles
have been illustrated as being cans, the ~rticles could be
30 . other types of containers including boxes, bottles and -.
jars.
When the ~rticles are of circular cross-sectionr
~uch as cans or bottles, the articles ~ill be supplied to
-the machine along a delivery path generally desi~nated
by the numeral lOin ~igure 3, and this delivery path is
of a width determined by the spacing of. side guides 12 so
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that the articles will be arranged in columns in nested
relation which is the normal relationship assumed when
such articles are randomly delivered in a crowded condi-
tion. The nested columns of articles are received by an
aligning device which is generally identified by the
numeral lA. The aligning device includes an endless con-
veyor 16 which functions as a moving support for the
articles and serVes to convey the articles from right to
left as vie~ed in Figure 3. Positioned above the conveyor
0 16 i5 a.guide assembl.y 18,.which guide assembly in the
case of three columns o~ articles defining a straight
central path 20, and two outer paths 22. As is clearly
evidenced from Figure 3, when the articles move through
the guide assembly 18, the articles of the center column
move directly along the central path 20, while the articles
of the outer column move along the longer outer paths 22.
The length of the outer paths 22 is ~xeater than the length
of the central path 20 by ~ne-half.of an arti~le diameter
so that an article A.which is to the rear of two trans-
versely adjacent articles A at the entrance to the guide
assembly 18 would-a~vance so as-to be transversely aligned
with those two forward adjacent articles when the three
articles exit ~rom the guide assembly 18 as is clearly
shown in Figure 3.
. It will be seen that the articles ~xit from the
aligning device 14 in transverseiy aligned rows and are
immediately thereaftex received b~ a further mechanism to-
be described next. It is to be understood that ~here can
be certain slippage of the articles with re~pect to the
conveyor 16 in that it is only natural th~t the articles
push each other along the respective paths 20, 22~
At this time it is pointed out that ~hile the
aligning device 14, as illustrated, wi11 only receive
three columns of article~ if there are foux columns of
ar~icles there will be four paths which are of respective
lengths to causP the automatic transverse ali~nment of
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the articles in the same manner as that shown in Figure
3.
The articles pass from the aliyning device 14
and are received on support strips 24, there being one
support strip for each column of articles. The articles
proceed along the support strips 24 and are engaged by an
infinitely variable spacing feeder to assure the trans-
verse alignment of the rows of articles. As shown in
Figure 1, the feeder 26 includes flight bars 28 having
thereon pairs of pins 30 which engage behind the articles
and assure the movement thereof along the strips 24 in
transverse alignment.
The transversely aligned and columnized articles
pass to an infeed conveyor 32 while still supported on the
support strips 24. The infeed conveyor 32 includes two
conveyor chains 34 which have extending transversely
therebetween flight bars 36, Each flight bar 36 has
pairs of pins 38 pro~ecting upwardly therefrom with pins
of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a respect-
ive one of the support strips 24 for engaging a rear por-
tion of an article in the same manner as do the pins 30 of
the flight bars 28. The spacing of the flight bars 36 is
such that the articles are moved along the support
strips 24 arranged in clusters C of, in the illustrated form
of the invention, six articles, the articles being arranged
in two transverse rows of three articles each. The infeed
conveyor 32 feeds the clusters C ~o the wrapping station
of the machine, the wrapping station being generally
identified by the numeral 40.
It is to be understood that each cluster C is
to be wrapped with a wrap film supplied from a continuous
roll 42 of such film. The film is delivered from the roll
42 by a feed mechanism 44 at a constant rate in accordance
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with the predetermined demands of the wrapping station 40.
The feed mechanism 44 includes a drive roll 46 and a back-
up roll 48 The drive roll 46 is carried by a support 50
and has a fixed axis of rotation. The back-up roll 48 is
carried by a pivotally mounted support 52 which is con-
nected to the support 50 by means of a spring 54 so as
constantly to urge the back-up roll 48 toward the drive
roll 46 and thus form a nip assuring the positive driving
and feeding of the wrap film, which film is identified by
the numeral 56~ The film 56 passes around a pair of idler
rolls 58, 60 into the wrapping station 40.
As is clearly shown in the sequence of Figures
1 and 2, a cluster C to be wrapped passes under a portion
of the film 56 leading into the Wrapping station 40 and
underlies the cluster. ~hile the film is held against the
top of the cluster, the film behind the cluster is drawn
down past the cluster and between that cluster and the
next following cluster until the necessary ilm to form
the required wrap has been drawn. The drawn film is then
severed as shown in Figure 2b with the result that the
cluster C has the wrap ~ now disposed over the top and
down the two sides thereof and the ~ap includes a front
bottom closure flap 62 and a rear bottom closure flap 64.
The flap 64 is preferably of a length no greater than the
longitudinal dimension of the article and the flap 62 is
of a length approaching the longitudlnal dimension of the
cluster~ This is clearly shown in Figure 2b.
As is shown in Figures 2c and 2d, the flap 64
is folded beneath the rear portion of the cluster and
then the cluster is moved onto a supporting platform,
generally identified by the numeral 66 which simultaneous-
ly folds the front flap 62 beneath the cluster and effects
tightening of the wrap W about the cluster to form the
completely wrapped cluster of Figure 2g, which ~rapped
cluster is then delivered to a con~entional shrink tunnel
(not shown) where the Xl~ps 62, 64 are first heat bonded
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together and then the film is heat ~hr~nk in a conventional
manner.
Reference is now made to Figure 5 wherein all of
the general details o~ the wrapping station 40 are illus-
trated. First of all, the wrapping station 40 includes alower conveyor generally identified by the numeral 68.
The lower conveyor 68 includes two transversely aligned
chains 70 which carry transversely aligned support plates
72. Each transversely aligned pair of support plates 72
carry a pair of pivotally mounted arms 75, 76 which, in
turn, carry a front support element 78 and a rear support
- element 80.
Referrin~ now t~ Figure 6 in particular, the
specific configura~ion of the axms 74 and 76 is illustrated.
Each arm 74 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 82 carried by.
the respective support plate 72.and has connected to the .
outer end thereof the respective transversely extendin~
.. front support element 78. The innex end .of the arm 74 is ---
provided with a cam follower.84 which en~ages a first
cam 86 for positioning the ~ront support elements 78. As
shown in ~igure 11, associated with the pivot 82 is a
spring 88 which c~nstantly urges the axm 74 in a clockwise
direction about the pivot 82 to hold the cam follower 84
against the cam 86. Rotation of the arm 74 in a clockwise
direction is res~riGted by.a pin 90 ex~ending through a
slot 92 in the plate 72.
The arm 76 is of a ~imilar construction and
mounting, but is of a different configuratian. Each arm
76 is pivotAlly mounted on a piVot 94 carried by it~
39 respective support plate, and is urged to rotate ab~ut
that pivot in a clockwise direction by a spring 96 as
shown in Figure 11. The outex ends of pairs o the arm~
76 are joined by the respective rear suppoxt elements 80
and the inner end of each.arm 76 is provided with a c~m
follower 98 which engages a cam 100. Each ar~ 76 alsQ
carries a pin 102 which is xecei~ed in a slot 104 in the
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support plate 72 to limit the rotation of the arm by its
spring.
The wrapping station 40 also includes an upper
conveyor, generally identified by the numeral 106. The
upper conveyor 106 includes a pair of transversely spaced
and aligned conveyor chains 1~8 which have extendin~ there-
between sets of retainers, each set of retainers including
a front retainer 110 and a rear retainer 112. The front
retainers 110 are prefexably in the form of angle wembers
and engage upper front corners of the clusters. The re~r
retainers 112 have resilient pads 114 on the undersides
thereof, which pads engage the upper surface of the rear
portion of a cluster. The relationship of the retainer
110 and pad 114 with respect to a typical cluster is best
shown in Figure 6.
It will be readily apparent from Figure 5 that
the lower conVeyor 68 and the upper conveyor 106 cooperate
fully to suPport a cluster and to transport the cluster
from the in~eed conveyor 32 to the supporting platform 66.
The wrapping station 40 also includes a dra~ unit
generally identi~ied by the numeral 116. The draw unit 116
functions both to draw the film 56 do~n between adjacent
clusters and to feed ~rapped clusters off of the supporting
platform 66. The draw unit 116 al~o includes a pair of
transversely aligned and tr~nsversely spaced conVeyor
chains 118 which are suitably ~ounted ~or movement in
unison. Extending between the chains 118 are pairs of
draw members 120 and 112. The draw member 120 leads the
draw member 112 and serves as the primary drawin~ ele~ent
to draw the film between adjacent clusters~ The draw
member 122 cooperates with the draw member 120 when the
film is below the predetermined path of movement of the
clusters to tension the film to facilitate cutting thereof
in a manner to be descxibed hereinafter. The draw member
120 also functions to position wrapped clusters from the
supporting platform in a manner also to be dPscxibed here-
inafter.
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The wxapping s~ation 40 further includes a spac-
ing device generally iden~ified by the numeral 124. The
spacing device 124 also includes a pair of transversely
spaced and transversely ali~ned conveyor chains 126. A
plurality oE spacing units 128 are carried by the conveyor
chains 126. Each spacin~ unit.l28 includes a pair of sup-
port plates 130, 132 carrled by each of the chains 126.
As best shown in Fi~ure 6,.each ~upport plate 130 has
pivotally m~unted thereon an arm 134. Each support plate
132 also has mounted thereon an arm 136. The remote ends
of the arms 134, 136 are pivotally joined together to form
a scissors arrangement. Extending between t~e joined to-
gether outer ends of the arms 134, 136 is a spacer element
138.
The arm 134 has rigidly secured thereto a fur-
ther arm 140 which carries a second spacer element 142.
The scissors arrangement of the arms 134., 136 permits the
con~eyor chain 126 to pass ~round sprocXets while the rigid
mounting o~ the arm 140, which supports the spacer element
142, permits the spacing between the support elem~nts 13
and 142 to remain constant.
~t this time it is pointed out that the spacing
between spacer units 128 is the same as that of the spac-
ing of the e~ments of the lower conVeyor.68 ~nd the upper
conveyor 106.
Returning now to Fi~ure 5, it is to be under-
stood that the convey~r ch~ins 70 may be mounted on any
suitable sprocket arrangement and all that is required is
that the chain~ 70 include drive sprockets 144 which are
carried by a driven shaft 146.
In a like manner, the conyeyox chains 108 of the
upper conveyor 106 may be supported in any desi~ed spxocket
arrangement except that the chains must have a horizontal
lower run. The sprockets do include a drive sprocket 148
for each of the chains 108. The drive sprockets 148 are
carried by a drive shaft 150.
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The spacing device 124 has the conveyor chains 126
thereof mounted on any desired sprocket arrangement which
will permit the passage of the spacing units as required,
and the only limitation is that the.conveyor chains 126
must have a horizontal lower run. In other words, the
upper runs of the chains 70 and the lower runs of the
chai.ns 108 and 126 must be parallel to one another and to
the path of movement of the clusters through the wrapping
station 40. The sprockets for the conveyor chains 126
include drive sprockets 152 which are carried by a drive
shaft 154.
The mounting of the conVeyor chains 118, ho~ever,
provide a different probl~m. The general mounting of the
chains 118 above the path of movement of the clusters is
variable. ~owever, the path of the conveyor chains 118
generally in alignment with.the path of movement of the
clusters must be controlled as shown in Figure 5. Further,
-- because the spacing.of the draw m~mbers is greater than the
spacing of .the elements of the upper and lower conveyors
~nd the spacing device, there must be provided means for
absorbing this extra spacing beneath the path of the
clusters and this is specifically shown in Figure 7 and
will be described in detail hereinafter.
The conVeyor ~hains 118 are, however, driven by
25 dri~e spxocket~ 156 which are mounted on a drive shaft 158.
It is to be noted that the dxiYe shafts 150, 154 and 158
are disposed adjacent one another.
Refexring now to ~igure 6, it will be seen that
the infeed conVeyor 32 and the supPoxt strips 24 terminate
30 adjacent ~ p~ir of combined suppo~t and feed rolls 160, 162,
These rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed as the
infeed conveyor 32, and as the ~xont articles ~f a cluster.
C moVe thereon, they ~re fed and supported by the xolls
160, ~62. As the fxont ~rticles of *he cluster moVe off
of the roll 160, the associated fxont support ele~ent
engages beneath the articles and ser~es to support and
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convey the articles at the same speed as previously ~ed by
the.infeed conveyor 32. Then, the rear articles of the
cluster pass onto the rolls 160, 162 and out of control of
the infeed conveyor 32. The rolls 160, 162 feed the rear
articles to the left and before the rear articles pass off
of the roll 160, they are engaged by the rear support ele-
ment 108. Thus, the articles of each cluster C are readily
trans~erred from the infeed conveyor 32 to the lower con-
v~yor 68 in an uninterrupted continuous action.
It will also be seen from Figures 5 and 6 that
the front retainer 110 fully engages th~ front corner of
the clus er at the ~ame time as the front articles.of the
clus.ter are fully supported by the front support element - .
so as to prevent the forward tipping of the articles. The
front retainer 110 lbosely engages the film 56 and permits
the drawing of the film over the ne~ cluster. At a~out
the time shown in Figure 6, the resiliènt pad 114 of ~he
rear retainer 112 engages the upper surface of the rear
portion of the cluster and serves to clamp the film 56
thereagainst. At this time, the drawing of the film for
the preceding cluster has been com?leted and the resilient - j
pad 114 now serves to hold the film 56 for the drawing
thereof to effect wrapping of the new cluster.
At this time the next following draw member 120
has engaged the film 56 rearwardly of the cluster and has
started drawing the film do~n beyond the cluster! j
It is to be noted that the spacer elements 138
and 14~ ~ollow the draw members 120 and 122 down between
the adjacent clusters and the spacer element 142 serVes
to hold the ~ilm against the front of the trailing cluster
as is clearly sho~n in Fi~ure ~. j
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, it will be
seen that at this time the associated portions of the con-
veyor chains 118 are passin~ undex sprockets 164, then
ovex sprockets 116, and under sprockets 168 so ~s to change
the spacing between the draw members 120, 122 of that
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particular set of draw members. This results in the ten-
sioning and supporting o~ the film 56 so that it may be
engaged by a hot wire 168 and severed.
The wrapping Station 40, of course, includes a
frame 170 which may ~e of any construction and a portion
only thereof is shown in Figure 8. The frame 170 includes ~-
frame members 172 ~hich have pivotally mounted thereon sup-
port arms 174 which are joined together by a transverse
connecting arm 176. The connecting arm 176 carries an
upper support member 178 which, in turn, carries an in-
verted yoke 180 including the hot wire 168.
A cam shaft 182 extends txansversely of the
machine and carries a cam 184. The cam 184 is engaged by
a cam followex 186 which, in turn, is carried by the sup-
15 port arm 174 by wa~ of a bracket 188.
The fxame 170 also include~ frame members 190having a first transVerse rod 192 extending therebetween.
A spring 194 extends between the rod 192 and the support
member 178 and normall~ holds the hot wire 168 in a re-
tracted position and the cam ollower 186 against the
cam 184.
Since the hot Wire 168 is always heated, it is
necessary to pXotect against engage~ent thereof by the
film after the film has been cut. To this end there is
25 provided a guard uni~ 196. The guard unit 196 is carried
by a pair of arms 198 pivotally mounted on the rod 192.
The arms 198 carry a bracket 200 ~hich supports a cam
follower 202 ~7hich engages a cam 204 carried by the cam
shaft 182.
The guard unit 196 is constantly urged toward a
retracted position by means of a spring 206 which extends
between a bracket 208 carried by the frame 170 and an axm
210 carried by the bracket 200.
The guard unit 196 includes a shield plate 212 I,
which normally overlies the hot ~7ire 168. Further, a flap214 extends up~7ardly from the shield plate 212 to wipe
against the depending Eront flap 62.
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~fter the film 56 has been drawn and severed,
the draw members 120, 122 play no part in the wr~pping
operation, and it is merely necessary to absorb the extra
spaci~g of the draw members by runnin~ the conVeyor chains
118 over further sprockets 216, 218, 220 and 222, as sho~n
in Figure 7.
The film having been sevexed and the wrap W now
being in the for~ o~ a sepaxate piece of film, it is neces- .
sary to fold the rear bottom closure flap 64 beneath the
rear portion of the cluster, followed by a folding o~ the
front bottom closure flap.under both the cluster and the
rear bottom closure flap. The rear bottom closure flap is
first folded into place in the manner shown in Fi~ures 9
and 10.
The wrapping station includes an auxiliary sup-
port 224 which is mounted for mo~emant in an orbital path
226~ The auxiliary support 224 extends transversely of the
machine and is carried b~ a pair of upstanding arms 228
each of which IS secured to a pair of~endless conVeyors 230,
232 positioned vertically above one anothex and havin~ like
paths of movement. The conveyor 230 is supported by a pair
of sprockets 234, 236 which are driven in unison ~hile the
conveyo~ 232 is supported by a pair o~ sprockets 238, 240
~ which are also driven in unison and at the same rate as
; 25 the sprockets 234, 236~ .
It is also pointed out at this time that the
auxiliary suppor~ 224 carries an air nozzle arrangement
242 for directing an air blast general`ly longitudinally
of the path of movement of the clusters and beneath the
same.
The auxiliary support 224 moves into position.
beneath the rear poxtions of the rear articles o~ the I -^
cluster while the xear support element 80 is still support-
ing the articles. Once.the auxiliary support 224 is in the
: 35 required supporting position, the rear supPort element 80
retracts as shown in Fiyure 10. This is caused b~ the
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c~ followers 9B engaging the recesses 2.~4 in the cams
100. This assures the arms 76 being pivoted in a clockwise
direction by the springs 96.
The rear support element 80 having ~oved away
from the underside of the cluster, the rear bottom closure
flap 64 is now free to be blown beneath the rear articles
of the cluster and this is accomplished by the air nozzle
arrangement 212. After sufficient time has elapsed for
the blowing of the flap 64 into place, the cam ~ollowers
90 ride up onto the surface of the cams 110 with the
result that the rear support element now swings back into
place as shown to the left in Figure 10, clamping the rear
,. bottom closure flap 64 against the underside of the rear.
of the cluster C.
It is to be understood that the air nozzle
arrangement is operated only for a short period of time
and is'controlled by a valve arrangement to be described
hereinater.
Referring now to Figure 11, it ~ill be seen that
the cluster, wïth the flap 64 in place, now approaches the
supporting platform,66. At this time it is pointed out
that.the supporting platform is formed by a pair of trans-
versely extending rods 248 which are.fixed against rota-
tion and which are of a slightly lesser diameter than the
rollers 246 so that the leading portion of the platform 66
has a step.
As the front portion of the cluster C moves up
onto the rods 248, the fxont flap 62 i~ folded ben~ath the
front portion of the cluster. As the front portion of the
.30 cluster pro~resses onto the platform 66, the front support
élement 78 retracts, as is clearly shown in Figure 11, due
to the cam followers 84 going down ramp portions 250 of
the cams 86. The springs 88 cause pivoting of tbe arms 74
to effect this retraction.
When the cluster is in the position illustrated
in Figure 11, it is still being stabilized by.the front
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spacer element 138 and is supported by the rear support
element 80. It is also stabilized by the resilient pad
114. However, the front retainer 110 has bPgun to dis-
engage.
As the cluster continues to move to the left,
the front flap 62 is continued to be folded beneath the
cluster. Shortly before the rear flap 64 approaches the
first rod 248, an air blast from an air nozzle tube 252
is directed against the underside of the flap 64 and holds
it tightly against the underside of the cluster. Due to
the step arrangement o~ the leading edge of the platfoxm
66, the leading edge of the flap 64 passes up over the
adjacent portion of the flap . 62 a~d over the leading rod
248, as sho~n in Figure 12.
~hen the leading portions of the rear articles
of the cluster become supported by the leading rod 248,
as shown in Figuxe 12, the rear support element 80 may now
be retracted since tipping of the rear articles of the
cluster is prevented by the spacer element 138.
The spacer element 138 now becomes substantially
the sole means for advancing the cluster. As the cluster
advances onto the supportiny platform 66, the resilient
pad 114 moves out of engagement with the top of the cluster
and the cluster is supported solely by the supporting
25 platform 66. ~s the spacer elemen~ 138 pushes the cluster
along the supporting platform, the ~ront fl~p 62 is folded
completely beneath the cluster and ~t the same time, due
to the frictional resistance against movement of the flap
62 over the first rods 248, the wrap W is drawn tightly
around the cluster C to form a tight package.
At this point, the spacing unit 128 begins to
elevate and at the same ~ime the related draw member 120 -
moves around a sprocket 396 into engagement with the l~ex
rear portion of the wrapped cluster, as shown in Figuxe 7.
The draw member 120 now takes over the responsibilit~ o
discharging the wrapped cluster of f of the supporting
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platform 66 and moving the same onto a discharge con-
veyor 254 which is a part of a shrink tunnel (not shown).
The.discharge conveyor 254 may be of any construction and
includes drive sprockets 256 carried by a drive shaft 258.
The operation of the wrapping station is now completed.
It is also to be noted at this time that since
the spacing of the draw members 120 is greater than the
spacing of the spacer elements 138, the wrapped cluster is
advanced more rapidly and away from the following cluster
which has not had the wrapping thereo~ completed. Thus,
there is an increase in spacing of the clusters delivered
to the shrink tunnel over that of the spacing of the
clusters in the wrapping station.
Referring once again to Figure 1, it will be
seen that the conVeyor chains 34 of the infeed conveyor 32
extend around a suitable pattern of sprockets which include
drive sprockets 260, carried by a drive shaft 262. The top
run of the infeed conveyor 32 is the only effective run,
and the path of movement of the top runs are controlled by
guide bars 264, as shown in Figure 6. In a like manner,
the paths of conveyor chains 108 above the paths of move-
ment of the clusters are controlled by sets of guide bars
266. Further, the paths of movement of the lo~er runs of
the conveyor chains 126 above the path of movement of the
clusters are controlled by guide bars 268.
~ s far as this invention is concerned, the point
of drive of the machine is immatexial. However, for de-
s~riptive purposes and as is shown in Figure 13, the dis-
charge conveyor 254, which leads into the shrink tunnel,
may be c~nsidered to be the source of drive, and the shaft
258 thereof carries a sprocket 270 which is coupled to a
spxocket 272 carried by a transverse shaft 274 by a chain
276, On the near side of the wrapping station 40 the
shaft 274 carries a sprocket 278 with which there is
35 meshed a chain 280. The chain 280 drives a sprocket 282-
carried by the drive shaft 158. A chain 284 extends fx~
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another sprocket (not shown) on the shaft 158 to a sprocket
286 carried by the drive shaft 154 to drive the drive shaft
154. The drive shaft 154 carries a sprPcket 288 which
drives a sprocket 290 on the drive shaft 150 by means of a
chain 292. This completes the drive for the upper part of
the wrapping station. It is pointed out here, however, that
the relative sizes of sprockets have been varied only for
purposes of illustration and the sprockets 148 and 152 are
to rotate at the same rate when they are the same diameter
and the sprocket 156 is to rotate at a higher speed because
of the grea~er rate of travel of the conveyor chain 118.
On the near side o~ the machine, the drive shaft
146 is driven from the drive shaft 274 by a sprocket 292
on the shaft 274 and a sprocket 294 on the shaft 146, the
sprockets 292 and 294 being interconnected by a chain 296.
At this time it is pointed .out that the con~eyor chain 70
must be driven at the same rate as the conveyor chains 108
and 126.
The drive shaft 274 also drives a drive shat 298
by a drive which is mounted on the near side of the machine.
To this end the drive shaft 274 has a sprocket 300 driving
by way of a chain 302 a sprocket 304 carried by the shaft
298. The drive shaft 298 provides the drive for the rear
of the machine.
Most specifically, the drive shaft 298 by means
of sprockets 306 and 308 and a chain 310 drives a speed ¦.
reducer 312. The speed reducer 312 has an output shaft
314 carrying a sprocket 316 driving a chain 318 which,
in turn, drives a sprocket 320 carried by a shaft 322 on
which the drive roll 45 is mounted. In this manner, the
film 56 is delivered from the roll 42 at the same rate as
is required in the wrapping of the clusters. The speed
reducer 312 is variable for this purpose. I
The drive shaft 298 als~ carries a sprocket 324
which drives a sprocket 326 through a chain 328. The
sprocket 326 drives a sprocket 330 of the toothed belt
.-20- ~ 63~
and by way of a belt 332 drives a sprocket 334 coupled to
the-support and feed roll 160 fox driving the same. This
drive is also on the far side of the machine.
On the near side of the machine the support and
5 feed roll 162 drives the support and feed roll 160 by
means of a toothed belt and sprocket drive arrangement 336.
The drive shaft 298 drives a further shaft 338
by means of sprockets 340, 342 and a chain 344. If de~
sired, the shaft 338 may be that element which has been
. 10 previously described as the rod 192.
The sha~ts 338 and 262 have suitable sprockets
thereon connected by a chain 246 or driving the infeed
conveyor 32. Incidentally, an idler sprocket of the
infeed conveyor 32 may be carried by the shaft 298.
The shaft 338 also drives the cam shaft 182 by
- means of sprockets 348 and 35Q and chain 352.
Finally, the drive of the auxiliary support 224
is driven rom the shaft.338. At each side of the machine
there is a shaft 354 which is driven from the sha~t 338 by
~o means of the sprockets 356, 358 and a chain 360. The shaft
354 carries the sprocket 238. The sprockets 234, 236 and
..- - - 240 a-re carried by shafts 362, 354 and 366, respectively.
The shafts 354, 362, 364 an.d 366 carry sprockets 368,.370,
372 and 374, respectively, all lying in a single plane and
interconnected by an encircling chain 376.
The infeed conveyox 32 has for each chain there-
of an idler sprocket 378 carried by a shaft 380, and the
shaft 380 serves as a drive ~or the feeder 26 by way of
sprockets 382, 384 and chain 386.
It is to be understood that the conVeyor 16 may
be suitably dir~en in any manner, either by a separate
drive or from the drive of Figure 13, including the drive
shaft 380. To this end, as shown in Figure 4, the conVey~x
. .-16.. includes a drive drum 338 mounted on a drive shat 390
35 carrying a sprocket 392 driven by a chain 394.
Reexring once again t~ Fiyure 13, it will be
seen that the cam shaft 182 is pxovided with two ~uxther
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cams 398 and 400. The cam 398 is associated with a valve
402 which controls the supply of air under pressure from
air,line 404 to an air line 406 leading to the nozzle 242.
There is also a valve 408 which controls the flow
of air from the air line 404 to the air line 410 leading
to~the air nozzle tube 252.
It will be seen from the shape of the cams 398,
400 that air is supplied to the respective nozzles only at
certain times in timed relation to the movement of a p'ar- -
tially wrapped cluster relative to the respective nozzles.
The timi'ng ha~ been described hereinabove.
Although the illustrated machine is particularly
adapted for ~rappin~ articles (cans) of a predetermined
height, it will be readily apparent that by ~suitably
elevating the upper conveyor 106 and possibly the spacing
device 124, the ~rapping station 40 may be adapted to the
wrapping of like clusters but ~herein the articles forming
the clusters are of a di~farent height.
Although only a preerred embodiment of the
machine has been specifically illustrated and described
herein, it is to be understood that minor variations,may
be made in the machine without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
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