Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 0213~84 1998-08-20
APPARATUS FOR PLACING CORNER PROTECTORS AND TOP
PROTECTORS ON PALLETIZED LOADS
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the art of
apparatus for wrapping or banding palletized loads and, more
particularly, to improved apparatus for placing corner protectors
and/or top protectors onto a load prior to the wrapping or banding
thereof.
The improvements according to the present invention find
particular utility in conjunction with apparatus of the character
disclosed int eh foregoing copending application and, accordingly,
will be described herein in conjunction with such apparatus. At
the same time, it will be appreciated that the improvements have
utility in conjunction with other apparatus for packaging loads in
plastic film material as well as apparatus by which loads are
banded as opposed to being wrapped in plastic film material.
Load or article wrapping apparatus of the character to which
the present invention relates generally comprises a stationary
frame for receiving a load to be wrapped, and a rotating and
vertically reciprocable film dispensing unit supported on the frame
for rotation about the load to wrap the latter in the film. The
load to be wrapped may, for example, be comprised of a plurality of
square or rectangular articles placed side-by-side and end-to-end
in a plurality of vertical layers, whereby the load has opposed
pairs of opposite vertical sides, adjacent ones of which sides meet
at an angle to provide a vertical corner therebetween. The load
also has a top defined by horizontal top edges extending between
the vertical corners. Prior to wrapping or banding the load, it is
often desirable to apply corner protectors to the corners of the
load and/or to apply a top protector to the top of the load so as
to protect the vertical corners and top edges of the load from
CA 0213~84 1998-08-20
being crushed by the wrapping film or strapping, or being crushed
or otherwise damaged during transportation and storage of the
wrapped or strapped load.
The corner protectors are generally made from paper or
paperboard material pre-folded to provide a pair of panels having
inside surfaces meeting at an angle corresponding to that of the
corners of the load. Generally, apparatus for applying corner
protectors onto a load comprises, for each corner of the load, a
magazine arrangement for storing a supply of the corner protectors,
and a pick-up and transfer mechanism associated with the magazine
for removing a corner protector from the magazine and transferring
the protector to the corresponding corner of the load. One such
apparatus heretofore proposed for the latter purpose is disclosed
in U.S. Patent 5,226,180 to Scherer et al wherein the magazine for
the corner protectors is in the form of an inclined chute having an
inner discharge end relative to the load and from which the corner
protectors are withdrawn and transferred to the load. The corner
protectors slide downwardly along the chute toward the discharge
end under the influence of gravity and a wheeled feed carriage
therebehind. The innermost corner protector is removed from the
magazine and transferred to the corresponding load corner by an
articulated arm assembly pivotal sequentially about two pivot axes
to initially orient the corner protector relative to the corner.
Thereafter, portions of the arm assembly are jogged horizontally in
directions perpendicular to one another to move the protector into
engagement with the corner of the load.
2135584
Apparatus of the foreyoing character i8 structurally
and operationally complex and, thus, expensive from the
~tandpoint of cost of construction, maintenance and operat-
in~ time. In thi~ respect, ~or example, the magazine car-
riage has to be withdrawn and held at the upper end of the
chute during loading thereof with corner protectors and then
relea~ed to engage behind the outermost one of the corner
protectors relative to the dischar~e end of the chute. Fur-
tharmore, while there is a restraint ~or engagin~ the inner-
most corner protector in tlle chut~ to preclude more than one
corner protector being witlldrawn a~ a time from ~he maga-
zine, including a ~inger for engagincJ the upper end or the
innermost corner protector, the mecllanism for this purpo~e
is structurally complex and there is a time during~removal
of a corner protector from the maqazine when the finger pro-
vides the only restraint and fails to perform its function
resulting in one or more of the corner protectors falling
outwardly of the discharge end of the magazine. Particular-
ly in this respect, the corner pro~ectors are often recycled
and intermixed witl- otller pro~ectors whereby, as the result
of damaged ends or ~uch intermixill~ ~he magazine i8 filled
with pxotector6 of different lengths. Thus, one or a number
of n short" protector~ reaching the innermost end of the mag-
azine are not enqaged by tlle ~in~er and ~all out of the mag-
azine. Such unintended discharge of one or more of the cor-
ner protector~ is disruptive with respect to operation of
thc wrapping or strapping apparatus and, additionally, re-
quires removal of the corner protectors from the area at the
discharge end of the magazine and discarding thereof as un-
usable. Still further, the articulated arm arrangement by
which a corner protector is removed from the magazine a'nd
transferred to the corresponding corner of the load is like-
wise structurally complex requiring mechanisms for pivoting
one portion of the arm abou~ one axis and the entire arm
about a second axi~ in order to appropriately position the
213~584
inner sides of the corner protector relative to the corner
of the load. This undesirably adds to the expense of the
construlction of the apparatus as well as to the maintenance
and operation thereo~.
S Top protec~ors are also made of paper or paperboard
material, and top protector applica~ors heretofore provided
generally include a shuttle mechanism carrying a pick-up and
transfer assembly by wllich a ~lat top protector is picked-up
from a supply station and transferred to a position on top
of the load. The piclc-up and ~ransfer ~ssembly includes
fingers by wllich margin~l edge por~ions o~ the top pro~ector
are bent downwardly to overlie tlle upper ends o~ the sides
of the load. Hereto~ore, the ~ingers by which the marginal
edge portions o~ the top protec~or are folded downwardly are
pivotal about axes parallel to ~he top edges of the load and
laterally or horizontally fixed rela~ive ~hereto. Accord-
ingly, a di~~erent folding finger assembly has to be provid-
ed ~or each load having difEerent top edge dimensions. In
this respect, a finger assembly in wllich the pivot axes are
laterally spaced apart a fixed distallce cannot be operated
to appropriately fold the marginal edge portions of a top
protector for a load in which the opposed parallel side edg-
es of the top are spaced apart a distance either greater
than or less than the fixed distance between the finger ax-
e~. In this respect, if tlle load edges are spaced apart a
di~tance less than the distance between the finger axes, the
fingers cannot pivot to fold the marginal edge portions of
the top protector, and if ~he load edges are spaced apart a
distance greater than the distance between the finger axes,
the ~ingers ca~ only partially fold the marginal edge por-
tions downwardly and cannot displace the latter into facial
engagement with the sides of the load. Ilaving to provide
di~ferent finger assemblies for different sized loads is
expen~ive from tl~e standpoint of having to construct a plu-
rality of finger assemblies and from the standpoint of the
213~58~
- time required to remove one assembly and replace it with
another.
Summary o~ the Invention
In accordance with one aspect o~ the present invention,
improved corner protector applying apparatus is provided
which minimi2es or overcomes the problems encountered with
such apparatus heretofore available. More particularly in
this respec~, corner applyin~ appara~us in accordance with
the present invention provides a mag~zine structure for
holding a supply of corner protectors by engaging the oppo-
site ends thereof be~ween corresponding conveyors by which
the corner protectors are advanced in the direction toward
~he discharge end of the magazine. This advantageously sta-
bilizes the corner protectors along tlle lenqth of the maga-
zine and adjacent the discharge end of the magazine, thus to
preclude unintended displacement or the falling out of cor-
ner protectors from the discharge end of the magazine in
conjunction with removal of the endmost corner protector
and transfer of the removed protec~or to the corner of the
load. Furthermore, the conveyor arrangement enables pos-
itive displacement of tlle corner pro~ectors in the direction
of discharge with a stabilized orientation of the corner
protectors relative to one anotller and to the conveyors,
thus to preclude any unintended rela~ive displacement there-
between during operation of ~he apparatus.
Each magazine has a pick-up and transfer arm assembly
associated with the discharge end tllereof for removing the
innermost corner protector and transferring the removed pro-
tector to a position faciny tlle corresponding corner of the
load. The arm mechanism is structurally simple and is piv-
otal about a ~ingle arm axis so as to reorient the corner
p~otector ~rom its position in the magazine to a position in
which the panels of the corner protector are parallel to the
sides of the load forming the corresponding corner. The
magazine and arm assembly are mounted on a carriage for
2135~84
displacement in a direction parallel to one of the corner
protector panels, and the arm as~embly is displaceable rela-
tive to the carriage in the direction parallel to the other
corner protector panel, whereby joggiilg of the carriage and
S arm assembly quickly moves the corner panel into engagement
with the sides of the load forming the corresponding corner.
The conveyors are adjustable witll respect to the distance
therebetween 80 as to acco~nodate use of the apparatus with
corner protectors of different leng~lls, and one of the con-
veyors is pivotal relative to the otller about an axis at the
discharge end of the magazinc ~o accommodate loading the
latter with corner protectors.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, top
protector applying apparatus i5 provided which advanta-
geously enables the application of ~op protectors to loads
having different top edge dimensions. More particularly in
thi~ respec~, a top applicator in accordance with the
present invention includes a finger assembly in which op-
posed ~ingers are pivotal a~out corresponding axes parallel
to the top edges of the load and are horizontally
reciprocable to vary the distance between the parallel axes
of opposed fingers of the assembly. Accordingly, the finger
a~sembly is operable to fold the marginal edge portions of
top protectors for loads havi.ncJ opposite parallel top edges
spaced apart by any dimension between the minimum and maxi-
mum dimension between the opposed parallel pivot axes of the
fingers. This advantageously enables the finger assembly to
be used in conjunction with the wrapping or banding of loads
having different top edge dimensions without having to
change the finger assembly.
It i~ accordingly an outstallding object of the present
invention to provide an improved apparatus for applying cor-
ner protectors to a load to be banded or wrapped in plastic
film.
213S~84
Another object is the provision of corner protector
applying apparatu~ in which the opposite ends of a supply of
corner protectors are supported in a magazine to stabilize
the corner protectors during displacement tllereof toward the
di~charge end o~ the magazine.
~et another object is tlle provision of corner protector
applying apparatus o~ the ~oregoing character wherein the
opposite ends o~ the corner protectors in the magazine are
engaged between conveyors by whicll tlle corner protectors are
advanced toward the discharge end of the magazine.
Still anotller object i5 tllC provision of corner protec-
tor applying apparatus o~ the foregoing character wherein a
corner pro~ector xemoving and trans~er arm assembly is sup-
ported adjacent the di3charge end of the magazine for remov-
ing a corner protector therefrom and pivoting the removed
corner protector about a single arm axis to transfer the
protector t~ a position facing the corresponding corner of
the load.
A further o~ject is tlle provision of corner protector
applying appara~us o~ the ~oregoing character in which the
magazine ~nd arm assembly are supported on a carriage
reciprocable in one direction rela~ive to the corner of the
load and in which the arm assembly is reciprocable relative
t~ the carriage perpendicular ~o the one direction, whereby
jogging of the carriage and arm assembly is operable to po-
8ition the removed corner protector against the corner of
the load.
Another object is the provision of corner protector ap-
plying apparatus of the ~oregoing character which is struc-
~urally and operationally simple and economical to construct
and maintain.
Still a furtller object o~ the invention is the provi-
~ion o~ improved top protector applying apparatus for apply-
ing a top protector to a load and ~olding marginal edge
2135~8~
portions o~ tlle top protec~or downwardly about the top edges
of the load.
Yet a ~urther Gbject is the provision of top protector
applying apparatus of the ~oregoing character which i8
adapted to apply top protec~ors ~o loads having different
top edge dimensions.
Yet another object is the provision of top protector
applying apparatus of the foregoin~ character in which fold-
ing ~ingers pivotal about parallel spaced apart axes corre-
sponding to opposed parallel edges of the top of a load are
supported ~or horizontal reciproca~ion transverse to the
pivot axes to vary the space therebetween.
Y~t another object of the inven~ion is the provision of
a machine for wrapping a load in plastic film with improved
appara~us ~or applying corner pro~ec~ors and/or a top pro-
tector to a load in conjunc~ion witll wrapping the load in
plastic film ma~erial.
Brief D~crip~ion o~ ~hc Drawings
The ~oregoin~ objec~, and o~llers, will in part be ob-
vious and in part pointed ou~ more flllly hereinafter in con-
junction with the written descrip~ion o~ preferred em~odi-
ments o~ the invention illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ing~ in which:
PIGURE 1 is an end elevation view of apparatus for
wrapping a load in plas~ic film and having corner protector
applying apparatus and ~op protector applying apparatus in
accordance with tlle inven~ion;
FIGURE, 2 is a plan view of tlle wrapping apparatus, cor-
ner protecting applying appara~us and top protector applying
apparatus shown in FIGU~E 1;
FIGU~E 3 is a side elevation view, partially in sec-
tion, ta~en along line 3-3 in FIGU}~ 2, and showing one of
the corner protecting applying apparatus in accordance with
the invention;
213~S~4
FIGU~E 4 is a plan view in section of the corner pro-
tector applying apparatus taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 is an end eleva~ion view of the corner protec-
tor applying apparatus looking in the direction of line 5-5
in PIGURE 3;
FIGUR~ 6 i8 an elevation view, in section, of the cor-
ner protector applying apparatus taken along line 6-6 in
FI~U~E 3;
FIGURE 7 is a schematic illustration of the conveyor
belt drive arrangement for tl~e magazine of the corner pro-
tector applying apparatus;
PIGUnE 8 is a detail side elevation view, somewhat
schematic, showin~ a supply of corner protectors loaded be-
tween the conveyor belts;
FIGURE 9 is a plan view o~ the ~olding finger assembly
of the top protector applying appara~us ta~en along line 9-9
in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 10 is an elevation view, in section, of the
folding finger a~sembly taken along line 10-10 in FIGURE 9;
FIGURES llA-llG ~chematically illustrate the applica-
tion of the corner protectors and top protector on a load in
the wrapping apparatus and the initial application of plas-
tic wrap thereabout; and
FIGURES 12~-12C schema-~ic~lly illustrate the operation
of the folding finger assembly in applying a top protector
to the top of a load.
De~cription of Preferred Embodiments
~eferring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein
the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred
embodiments of the inven~ion only and not ~or the purpose of
limitin~ the invention, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate wrapping
apparatus 10 comprising a stationary frame assembly 12, a
frame assembly 14 supported on frame assembly 12 for
213~584
--
vertical di~placemen~ relativ~ ere~o, and a ring member 16
supported on frame assembly 12 ~or vertical displacement
therewitl~ and for rotatioll rela~ive tllereto about a vertical
ring axis l~. Stationary ~rame assembly 12 is supported on
an underlying surface S and spans a conveyor 20 by which a
load L to be wrapped in plastic ~ilm is moved into a wrap-
ping station position witllin the apparatus and in which po-
si~ion ~he load 18 ~enerally cen~rally located relative to
the perimeter of ring 16. Conveyor 20 may, for example, be
a roller conveyor in which the rolls are driven to move load
L along a path in the direction o~ arrow P to the wrapping
~tation and, ~ollowing wrapping, ~rom the wrapping station
to the discharge end of the conveyor. A film carriage as-
sembly 22 i8 mounted on ring member 16 ~or displacement
therewitll and includes a roll oE plas~ic film material, not
~hown, from which ~ilm ma~erial is paid out during operation
of apparatus to wrap lo~d L. I~ur~llcr, as is well known, a
film clamping and sealinq assembly, not shown, is mounted
on ~rame assembly 14 ~or displacemen~ tllerewith and relative
thereto and, as is also well known, such clamping and seal-
ing assembly is operable during wrappinq to cause the film
mate~ial to be paid out from tlle roll and to sever and seal
the ~ilm material after the wrappinq operation is completed.
~eyond providinq an unders~anding of the present invention
in conjUnction with film wrapping of a load, details con-
cerning the ~tructu~e and operation of the wrapping appara-
tu~ are not necessary, and further details in this respect
are disclosed in the a~orementioned copending patent appli-
cation.
With respec~ to the direction o~ path P, stationary
~rame a~sem~ly 12 has longitudinally opposite ends 24 and 26
and lat~rally opposite sides 23 and 30. In the embodiment
illustrated, load L is comprised of a plurality of vertical-
ly stacked layers of articles ~ suppor~ed on a pallet 32 and
which a~ticles, together, provide load ~ with lonqitudinally
-- 10 --
213~584
oppo~ite vertical sides 34 and 36 and laterally opposite
vertical sid~s 3~ and 40. Adjacent ones of the sides of
load L meet generally at right angles to provide the load
with four corners, not designated numerically. Load L fur-
ther includes a top surface 42 havinq a rectangular periph-
ery defined by lonqitudinally opposite parallel top edges
34a and 36a respectively provided by the upper edges of
sides 34 and 36, and laterally opposite parallel top edges
38a and 40a re~pectively provided by the upper edges of
walls 38 and 40 o~ the load.
In accordancc wi~ll one ~spec~ o~ the presen~ invention,
corner protec~or applicatol apparatus 44 is provided for
positioning a corner protec~or on eacll corner of load L pri-
or to the wrapping o~ plastic ~ilm ~hereabout. The corner
protector applying apparatus are basically of the same
structure and operation, whereby i~ will be appreciated that
the following description of one o~ the apparatus shown in
FIGU~ES 3-6 of the drawing is applicable to the others.
With reference to the latter Fi~ures, together with FIGURES
1 and 2, each of the apparatus 44 is associated with one of
the corner~ of load L, is positioned laterally outwardly
thereof and has corresponding longitudinally spaced apart
inner and outer ends 44a and ~b whicll provide for each of
the apparatus to have an orientation transverse to path P.
Z5 Each of the apparatus includes a lower, stationary frame
assembly 4~ comprising vertical corner posts 48, longitudi-
nally extending ~ide members 50 therebetween, laterally ex-
ten~;ng carriage rail members 52 respectively between post~
48 at the inner end o~ tl~e appara~us and posts 48 at the
outer end thereo~, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart
laterally extending frame members 54 between side members 50
inte~ _~;ate-carriage rail members 52.
Frame assembly 46 supports a magazine unit 56 by which
a supply o~ corner protectors C are held and moved in the
direction from outer end 44b towards inner end 44a of the
213~584
apparatus for pick-up and transfer to the corresponding load
cornex as will be described in detail hereinafter. Magazine
unit 56 i8 moun~ed on a carriage assembly 58 comprising a
carriage support plate member 59 extending between the inner
and outer ends o~ the apparatus and provided at each of the
latter ends wi~h a carriage wheel unit 60 comprising pairs
of.uppex and lower wheels 62 in rolling engagement with the
corre~ponding carriage rail 52. The carriage i8 adapted to
be reciproca~ed laterally o~ ~rame assembly 46 by a motor
and gear box unit mounted on the underside of carriage plate
59 and including a motor 64 and a gear box G6 for driving
pinions 6~ which are in meslling e~agement with toothed
racks 70 on ~rame members 54.
Magazine unit ~6 further includes vertically adjustable
corner posts comprisin~ lower pO5~ em~er8 72 welded or oth-
erwise secured to carriage plate member 59 and corresponding
upper po8t membera 74 telescopically receiving the upper
ends o~ post members 72. The corresponding post members are
secured together such as by means o~ threaded studs 76, and
the end~ o~ post members 72 received in post membexs 74 are
provided with a plurali~y of openings, not shown, which are
vertically spaced apart therealong to provide for adjusting
~hc vertical height of the corner posts relative to carriage
plate S9. The lower ends of the lower post members 72 at
the the inner and outer ends of carriage plate 59 are pro-
vided with support ~locks 78 which rotatably support a cor-
responding conveyor belt roll 80, and a lower endless con-
veyor belt 82 is trained about rolls 80. ~s best seen in
FIGU~E 6, a lower conveyor support plate member 84 is at-
tached to the laterally opposite sides of carriage plate 59
and includes an upwardly open challnel 86 in the top side
thereo~ which includes a bottom wall, not designated numeri-
cally, underlying and supporting the upper run of lower con-
veyo~ belt 82.
- 12 -
213~5~
As best seen in FIGU~S 3 and 6, the upper end of maga-
zine unit 5G i8 defined by a pivotal upper conveyor belt
assembly including a downwardly open belt support channel
member 8~ providing a downwardly open channel 89 extendinq
between the inner and ou~er corner post members 74. For the
purpose set forth hereinafter, channel member 88 is pivotal-
ly secured to post member~ 74 a~ ~he inner or discharge end
of the magazine unit such as by pivot pin members 90 extend-
ing through the upper end~ of post melnber~ 74 and tlle corre-
spondin~ side of channel m~mb~r ~S. Pivotal displacement of
channel member 0~ counterclockwise in FIGU~E 3 is limited by
engagemen~ thereof with the upper ends of corner post mem-
bers 74 ~t the outer end o~ tlle maga~ine unit. As best seen
in PIGV~E 5, the inner end of channel member 8~ is provided
with support block~ 92 rotatably supporting a corresponding
conveyox bel~ roll 9q and, as best seen in FIGURE 6, the
oute~ end of channel member ~8 is provided on the inner side
thereof with 8upport members 96 whicll rotatably support a
corresponding conveyor belt roll 9~. An endless conveyor
belt 10~ is trained about rolls 94 and 98, and it will be
noted tllat the lower run of belt 100 is unsupported and thus
free to 3ag vertically downwardly for the purpo~e set forth
hcreina~ter. It will also be appreciated that upper convey-
or belt 100 i8 pivotal with channel member 88 about pivot
pins 90.
Conveyor belts 82 and 100 are adapted to be driven in
unison and in the same direction and, for this purpose, car-
~iage plate 59 i5 provided laterally outwardly adjacent the
inner end thereof wi~h a drive uni~ support plate 102 which
carries a drive unit comprising a gear box 104 and a drive
motor 106. For the purpose set fortll hereinafter, the drive
unit is mounted on plate 102 for longitudinal adjustment
and, in tllis respect, plate 102 is provided with longi-
tu~inAlly extending 510ts 10~ receiving mounting studs 110
extending tllrough opening5 ~herefor in mounting flanges on
213SS84
gear box 104, not designated numerically. Gear box 104
drives an output pulley 112, and conveyor roll~ 80 and 94 at
the inner end of the magazine include drive shafts extending
la~erally outwardly thereof and havin~ corresponding pulleys
114 and 116 thereon, respectively. ~n idler pulley is
mounted on the laterally outer side of corner post member 72
generally behind pulley 114 of conveyor roll 80 and, as will
be best appreciated ~rom FIGU~E 7, a drive belt 120 driving-
ly interconnects belt pulleys 114 and 116 with drive unit
output pulley 112 through idler pulley 118. As will be fur-
ther appreciated from the latter Fi~ure, the runs of belt
120 extending ~rom lower belt pulley 114 and idler pulley
113 to upper belt pulley 116 cross one another, whereby belt
120 i~ adapted to drive the vertically opposed runs of con-
veyor belts ~2 and 100 in unison and in the same direction.
The vertical adjustment capability witll respect to corner
posts 72 and 74 provides for adjusting the vertical position
of conveyor 100 relative to conveyor 82 and, with further
regard to FIG~RE 7, and in conjunction with such vertical
adjustmen~ o~ conveyor 100, the longitudinal adjustment of
the drive unit for the conveyor belts accol~modates such ver-
tical adjustment. More particularly, the conveyor and drive
unit, adjustmen~s are respec~ively indicated by arrows 122
and 124 in FIGU~E 7, it will be appreciated that the verti-
cal adju~tmen~ o~ the space be~ween conveyor belts 82 and
100 is readily accommodated by horizontally adjusting the
po~i~ion of the drive unit the belt 120.
As will be appreciated from tlle schematic illustration
in FIGURE 3, together with FIGU~E 4, a supply of corner pro-
1ectors C are vertically disposed ~e~ween the upper run of
lower conveyor belt ~2 and the lower run of upper conveyor
belt 100 and are adapted to be advanced along a path from
left to right in FIGURES 4 and 8 in response to driving of
the belts to progressively move the corner protectors toward
the discharge end of the magazine uni~. With further regard
- 14 -
2135584
--
~o FIGURE ~, it will ~e appreciated ~ha~ tlle sagging cllarac-
teristic o~ the lower run of upper conveyor belt 100 advan-
tageously provide~ for the porti.on of the lower run behind
the ou~ermos~ one of tlle corner protectors in the magazine
to deflect downwardly under its own weight and thus, in ef-
fect, converge relative to lower conveyor belt ~2 to pre-
clude the ou~ermost corner protector or protectors from piv-
oting counterclockwi~e in FIGU~E ~ about the lower ends
thereof. The 6aggin~ characteristic of the lower run of
upper belt 100 further advantageously provides for the belt
to conform to so~ne ex~en~ to an uneven upper end profile of
the corner protectors cau~ed by varying lengths thereof and
which lengths vary, as set fortll hereinbefore, as a result
of recycling of corner protectors, damage to the ends there-
of during prior u~e, initial varia~ions in length due to
manufacturing errors, and t~le like. Further in connection
with such displacement of corner protectors C toward the
discharge end of the magazine, and as will be appreciated
from FIGURE 6, the laterally opposi~e sides of channel 86
are outwardly ad~acent the laterally opposite edges of the
upper run of lower conveyor bel~ ~2, and tlle laterally oppo-
site side~i o~ channel 8~ are outwardly adjacent the lateral-
ly opposite edges o~ the lower run o~ upper conveyor belt
100. ~hannel~ ~6 and 89 receive tlle lower and upper ends of
the corner protectors, respec~ively, and the sides thereof
3upport the latter against lateral displacement relative to
the corresponding bel~. Preferably, ~he surfaces of belts
32 and 100 engaging the ends of tlle corner protectors are
textured to enhance the frictional engagement thereof with
the corner protectors. The pivotal mounting of upper con-
veyor 100 advantageou~ly provides for the outer or input
end of the conveyor to be pivoted upwardly as shown in FIG-
U~E 3 to ~acilitate loading the magazine unit with corner
protectors.
i
- 15 -
2135584
--
~ In the embodiment disclosed herein, and as will be ap-
precia~d ~rom FIGU~E 4, each of the corner protectors C i8
pre-bent to provide a pair o~ panels Pl and P2 meeting gen-
erally at a right angle to provide an inside corner there-
between. While not desiynated numerically, it will be ap-
preciated that each o~ the panels P1 and P2 has a corre-
sponding inner surface whicl- facially overlies a side of
load L when the.corner protector is applied to a corner
thereo~, and that each of tlle panels Pl and P2 ha5 a corre-
sponding outer sur~ace which, when loaded in the magazine,
faces the inner or discllar~e end oE the magazine. The
forwardmost corner protector C in ~he magazine is restrained
from unintentional displacement the~efrom by a pair of
spring finger units 12~ each mounted on one of the upper
corner po8t members 74 at the discllar~e end of the magazine
and each of which includes a spring finger 130 engaging the
outer sur~ace o~ the corresponding one of the panels P1 and
P2 o~ thc forwardmost corner protector.
Eacl~ o~ tlle corner protector applying apparatus 44 fur-
ther include~ a piclc-up and transfer arm unit 132 which is
mounted on carriage plate member 59 for displacement with
carriage assembly 5~ laterally of frame assembly 46 and for
longitudinal displacement relative to the carriage assembly.
As be~t ~een in FIGURES 4 and 5 of tlle drawing, arm assembly
132 includes a support 134 mounted on the ends of a pair of
guide rods 136 which are supported for reciprocation rela-
tive to carriage as~embly 58 by means o~ support blocks 138
mounted on carriage plate member 59. Support 134 is adapt-
~ ed to be reciprocated between tlle solid line and broken line
po~ition thereof shown in FIGU~E 4 by means of a piston and
cylinder unit including a cylinder 140 mounted on carriage
plate member 59 and, a piston rod 142 reciprocable relative
to the cylinder and having i.ts outer end suitably fastened
~o suppor~ 134.
- 16 -
213~584
-
I'ick-up and tran6fer arm assembly 132 further include
an arm Unit pivotal about a single vertical arm axis which
is defined by a vertical arm sha~t 144 rotatably supported
in a sleevQ 146 mounted on support member 134. A V-shaped
pick-up plate 148 is mounted on the upper end of shaft 144
for ro~ation therewith by means of a mounting member 150.
Pick-up plate 148 comprises a pair o$ panels 152 and 154
meeting generally at a rigllt angle, and panel 152 is at-
tached to mounting member 150. Panel 154 is provided on the
inner side thereof with a plurality of vacuum pick-up heads
156 which are adapted to engage ~he outer surface of panel
Pl o~ the innermost corner protec~ors C in the magazine to
remove the corner protector therefrom as set forth more ful-
ly hereinafter. Slaft 144 is provided with a drive gear 158
for rotatin~ the ~Ia~t and thus pick-up plate 14B about the
arm axi~, and a toothed rack 160 i5 secured to the inner end
o~ corner po~t 72 and ex~ends axi~lly inwardly tllereof in
meshing engagement with gear 153. Gear 15~ is adapted to be
driven by rack 16~ in rcsponse ~o displacement of support
member 134 to ~he right in FIGU~ 4 from the solid line to
the broken line posi~ion tllereof and, durin~ such displace-
ment o~ support member 134 piclc-up plate 148 is rotated
about the arm axis 135~ for tlle inner surfaces of corner
protector panels Pl and P2 to be in the broken line position
thereof shown in ~IGURE 4. This corresponds to the solid
line position of the corner protector shown in FIGURE 2 from
which it will be appreciated that the inner surfaces of pan-
els P1 and P2 are respectively parallel to sides 34 and 38
which meet to provide the corresponding corner of the load
to which the corner protector is to be applied. When the
corner pro~ector i~ 80 positioned by the arm assembly, car-
riage as~embly 58 is displaced laterally inwardly transverse
to ~ide 34 o~ the load, and arm assembly 132 is further dis-
placed inwardly transverse ~o side 3~ of the load. As will
become apparent hereinaf~er, tllese displacements of the
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carriage and arm assembly bring the inner surfaces of corner
protector panel~ P1 and P2 into facial engagement with sides
34 and 38 of the load at the corner therebetween. When the
arm a~sembly is withdrawn ~rom the broken line to the solid
line position thereof shown in FIGU~E 4, gear 158 re-engages
with rack 160 to ro~ate the pick-up plate 148 135~ counter-
cloc~wise in FIGURE 4 back to its initial position in which
it is prepared to remove the innermost corner protector from
the maqazine in conjunction witl~ the next displacement of
support member 134 from tlle solid line to the broken line
position shown in FIGURE 4.
In accordance with anotller aspec~ of the invention, and
a~ shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 9 and 10, wrapping apparatus 10 is
provided with top protector applicator apparatus 162 com-
pri~ing a shuttle mechanism lG4 wllich supports a top protec-
tor pic~-up, transfer and llolding unit 166 for displacement
between a top protector supply station 167 located laterally
outwardly of stationary frame 12 and a position overlying
load L in the film wrapping appara~us. Shuttle mechanism
164 includes a wlleeled carria~e unit 168 adapted to travel
in opposite directions aloncJ a pair of carriage track rails
170 secured to the top of stationary frame assembly 12 of
the wrapping apparatus and extending laterally outwardly
thereof to overlie supply station 167. Carriage unit 168
includes a drive motor and gear box assembly 172 for driving
the carriage uni~ along the rails. Pick-up, transfer and
~lding mechanism 166 is suppor~ed beneath carriage 168 for
lateral displacement therewitll and vertical displacement
xelative thereto and, for the latter purpose, carriage unit
168 includes a motor and gear box assembly 174 for vertical-
ly extending and re~racting a support shaft 176 which car-
r~es pick-up, transfer and ~olding mechanism 166 at the low-
er end thereof. ~elative to conveyor path P, pick-up,
tran~fer and folding mechanism 166 includes a longitudinally
opposite pair of foldin~ finger assemblies 178 and 180 and a
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laterally opposite pair of ~olding finger assemblies 182 and
184 to be de~cribed in greater detail hereinafter. Supply
station 167 includes a stationary frame comprising four cor-
ner posts 186 which support a vertically displaceable plat-
S form 188 adapted to suppor~ a s~ack of top protectors T and
to maintain the uppermost one of ~he top protectors at a
given elovation relative to pick-up, transfer and folding
me~n;~m 166. As will become apparent hereinafter, the
pick-up, transfer and ~oldin~ mecll~nism i~ adapted to be
lowered at supply station 167 to pick-up ~ top protector T,
to elevate and tran3fe~ ~lle ~op pro~cc~or Erom the supply
station to a position ove~lying load L ~t tlle wrapping ~ta-
tion of the wrapping appar~tus, ~o lower ~he top protector
onto the top of load L, and ~o actuate the finger assemblies
to fold marqinal edge portions o~ ~he top protector down-
wardly across the ~op edges o~ the load and against the up-
per marginal edges o~ tlle sides o~ the load.
~eferring now in par~icular to FIGURES 9 and 10 of the
drawing, pick-up, transfer and folding mechanism 166 com-
prises a ~uppor~ing frame ~or the ~olding finger assemblies
and which frame includes longi~udinally extending, upwardly
open channel members 190 and 192 respectively supporting
finger assemblies 178 and laO, and laterally extending up-
wardly open channel members 194 and 196 respectively ~up-
porting finger assemblies 182 and 184. The inner ends of
the channel member3 are interconnected, such as by welding,
and mounting plates 198 are secure~ ~o the corners between
the inner onds of the channel members at the upper ends of
the adjacent walls tl~ereof, sucll as by welding, to facili-
tate attaching the supporting frame ~o a mounting plate 200
on the lower end o~ sha~t 176.
Folding finger as~emblies 178, 180, 182 and 184 include
~olding ~inger plateG 202, 204, 206 and 208, respectively.
Eacb of the finger plates is supported adjacent the outer
end of the corresponding ~rame channel by a corresponding
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slide plate 210 which is supported in the frame chann'el for
horizontal displacement outwardly and inwardly thereof by
pairs o~ upper and lower rollers 212 mounted on the side
walls of the channel and engaging tlle slide plate therebe-
S tween. ~ach finger plate is mounted on the outer end of the
corresponding slide plate 210 for pivotal displacement about
a corrcsponding finger axis 214 which, when the pick-up,
transfer and folding mechanism 166 overlies load L, are each
parallel to a correspondin~ top edge of the load. Each of
the finqer plates i8 pivotal about the corresponding finger
axi~ 214 by a corresponding pistoll and cylinder unit includ-
ing a cylinder member 216 having its inner end pivotally
secured to 61ide plate 210 and having a piston rod 218 ex-
tending ~rom the outer end thereof and pivotally secured to
the corresponding ~inger pla~e 3UCIl that displacement of
piston rod 21~ outwardly and inwardly relative to ~cylinder
216 pivots the finger pla~e in opposite directions about
axis 214.
Each of the slide plates 210 is adapted to be horizon-
tally reciprocated outwardly and inwardly of the correspond-
ing frame channel by means of a corresponding piston and
cylinder a~sembly including a cylinder member 220 having its
inner end pivotally secured to the bottom wall of the frame
channel and having a piston rod 222 extending from the outer
end thereof and pivotally secured to the underside of slide
plate 210. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that recip-
rocation o~ piston rod 222 in opposite directions relative
to cylinder 22~ horizontally displaces the corresponding
finger plate and its pivo-t axis 214 outwardly and inwardly
relative to the frame channel whereby, for the purpose set
forth hereinafter, the distance between the pivot axes ~14
of the opposed pairs of fin~er pla~es is adapted to be ad-
j~8ted.
As will be appreciated Erom FIGUR~ 10, the bottom wall
of each o~ the channel members of ~he support frame of the
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pick-up, transfer and, folding mechanism is provided with a
vacuum cup device 224 by wl~ich a top protector T i~ adapted
to be removed from supply s~ation 167 and transferred by the
mechanism to overlie top 42 of load L. As will be appreci-
ated from FIGURES 9 and 10, top protector T ha5 notched cor-
ner~ which provide tlle top protec~or, relative to path P,
with longitudinally opposite marginal edge portions Tl and
T2 and laterally opposite marginal edge portions T3 and T4.
When the top pro~ector overlies top 42 of load ~, marginal
edge portions T1-T4 respectively extend outwardly ~rom lon-
qitudinally oppo~ite ~op ed~el~ 3~a and 36a and la~erally
opposite top edges 38a and 40a o~ ~he load. The notched
corner~ of the to~ protector provide the marginal edge por-
tions thereof with imaginary fold li.nes which are adjacent
the corresponding top edge of load L whereby, upon actuation
of the finger plates to pivot the latter downwardly about
the corre~ponding finger axis, the underlying marginal edge
poxtion of the top protector is folded downwardly along the
imaginary fold line and about the corresponding load top
edge.
In accordance witll the present invention, such folding
of the marginal edge portions of the top protector can be
performed in connection witll top pro~ectors for loads having
different top edge dimensions and thus different distances
between the parallel opposite edges o~ the top. This will
be appreciated fro~n the illustration of the folding sequence
in connection with finger plate 20~ in FIGURE 10, and finger
plates 206 and 208 in FIGURES 12A-12C. In these Figures it
will be ~een that the finqer axes 214 of the plates are lat-
erally ou~wardly of the corresponding one of top edges 38a
and 40a, whereby pivotal displacement of the finger plates
about axe~ 214 to the vertical position of the f inger plates
shown in FIGURE 12B provides for folding marginal edge por-
tions T3 and T4 of the top protector downwardly about top
edge~ 3~a and 40a to a position in which the marginal edge
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portions are angled relative to sides 38 and 40 of the load,
respectively. Completion o~ the application of top protec-
tor T is then achieved by displacing slide plates 210 later-
ally inwardly 80 that ~ingex plates 106 and 108 move margin-
al edge portions T3 and T4 into facial engagement with sides
3B and 40 o~ the load, as shown in FIGURE 12C. Thus, it
will be appreciated ~hat the folding finger assembly i5 op-
erable to apply top protectors to loads in which the dis-
tance between opposed parallel edges of the load varies be-
tween a minimum and Ixjln~n corresponding to the distance
between axes 214 in the innermost and outermost positions
thereo~ rela~ive to one ano~her.
It i8 believed ~hat the operation of the corner protec-
tor applying apparatus and the top protector applying appa-
ratus in conjunction with the film wrapping of load L will
be understood ~rom the ~oregoing description of the struc-
t~re and operation of ~he latter apparatus in conjunction
with the following description of FIGURES llA-llG which
schematically illustra~e the sequence of operations of the
apparat~s in applying the corner protectors and top protec-
tor to a load which is then wrapped in plastic film. More
particularly in this respect, FIGURE 11~ illustrates the
components in the positions ~hereof prior to initiating op-
eration of the apparatus. In ~hese positions, the four mag-
a~ines suppor~ ~he corresponding supply of corner protectors
C with the outer sides thereof facing the corresponding cor-
ner of load L, and the carriage as~emblies which support the
magazines are positioned longitudinally outwardly of the
corresponding one of the sides 34 and 36 of the load. The
supply of top protectors T is positioned laterally outwardly
from ~ide 40 of load L. When a wrapping operation is initi-
ated, each of the pick-up plates 148 removes the innermost
corner protector from the corresponding magazine by pivoting
the corresponding arm assembly 135~ about arm axis 144 in
the directions shown in FIGUR~ 1 lB . Such angular
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displacement of pick-up plates 148 positions the correspond-
ing corner protector with the inner sides of panels Pl and
P2 thcreof respectively parallel to the sides of load L
forming the corresponding corner. Further, in this position
o~ the corner protectors, the planes of panels P1 are longi-
tu~in~lly spaced outwardly from the corresponding one of the
longitudinally Opposite sides 34 and 36 of the load, and the
planes of panels P2 are spaced laterally outwardly from the
corresponding one of the laterally opposite sides 38 and 40
of the load.
Followin~ rotation o~ the pick-up plates 148 to the
positions shown in FIGU~E llB, the carriages on which the
magazines and arm assemblies are mounted are displaced lon-
gitudinally inwardly relative to lo~d L as indicated by the
arrows in FIGURI~ llC ~nd ~o ~he po~i~ion~ shown in the lat-
ter Figure. In the~e po~i~ions, ~lle inner surface3 o~ pan-
els P1 are respectively lonc~itudinally aligned with the cor-
respondin~ one of the longitudinally opposite sides 34 and
36 of load L. Thereafter, or in conjunction with such dis-
placement of the carriages, the arm assemblies are displaced
laterally inwardly relative to the corresponding car~riage as
indicated by the arrows adjacent load L in FIGURE llD. This
displacement of the arm assemblies positions the inner sides
of corner protector panels P1 in overlying relationship with
respect to Wle corresponding one of the longitudinally oppo-
site sides 34 and 36 of tlle load and moves the inner sides
of panels P2 into overlying relationship with the corre-
sponding one of the laterally opposite sides 38 and 40 of
tho load.
The arm assemblies and thus pick-up plates 148 remain
in the position~ thereof shown in FIGU~E llD and, while.so
positioned, the top protector pick-up, transfer and folding
assembly displace~ a top pro~ector T laterally inwardly of
load L from the top protector supply station to a position
in wllicll the top protector overlies the top o~ load L as
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shown in FIGURE llE. When the top protector is so posi-
tioned, and while pick-up plates 14~ hold the corresponding
corner protectors in place at ~he corners of the load, fin-
ger plate~ 202, 204, 206 and 208 are simultaneously actuated
as described a~ove in conjunction with FIGURES 12A-12C to
fold marginal edge portions T1, T2, T3 and T4 of the top
protector downwardly about top edges 34a, 36a, 38a and 40a
of the load to position the marginal edge portions of the
top protector aqainst the corresponding side of the load as
~hown in FIGU~E llF.
While the pick-up pla~es 14~ and ~inger plates are in
the positions shown in FIGUR~ llF, ~lle wrapping apparatus is
activated whe~eupon ring 16 ro~ates about load L to wrap
film F thereabout beginning at the upper end of the load so
as to initiall~ capture the downwardly extending marginal
edge portions of top protector T and ~he upper ends of cor-
ner protectors C, as will be appreciated f rom FIGURE llG.
When the marginal edge portions of the top protector'and the
upper ends o~ tlte corner protec~ors are so captured, and
2~ while tbe wrapping opera~ion con~inues, the top protector
pic~-up, transfer and foldin~ assembly is elevated relative
to the top o~ the load to withdraw the folding fingers from
beneath the pla~tic wrap, the arm assemblies are laterally
withdrawn relative to the corresponding carriage, and the
carriages are longitudinally displaced in opposite direc-
tions back towards their initial positions. These displace-
ments of the arm assemblies and carriages is indicated by
arrows 226 in FIGURE llG. As will be appreciated from the
description above regarding the movement o~ the arm as~em-
~lies to engage the corner protector6 with the corners of
the load, the arm as~emblies can be retracted relative.to
the corre~ponding carriage assembly either before or in con-
junction with the longit~dinal di3placement of the carriage
back to its initial position.
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Further, as will be appreciated from the description of the
arm assembly in conjunction with FIGURE 4 of the drawing,
retraction of the arm assembly relative to the corresponding
carriage engages pinion 158 and rack 160 so as to pivot
pick-up plate 148 in the direction shown in FIGURE llG back
to its initial position for pic~ing-up the innermost corner
protector from the magazine during subsequent operation of
the apparatus.
Preferably,.as will be appreciated from FIGURE 8, a
plurality of spring biased idler rollers 99 are positioned
between the upper and lower runs of upper conveyor belt lO0
and between conveyor rolls 94 and 98 to enhance contact be-
tween the lower run of the belt and the upper ends of corner
protectors C.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on
the structures and structural interrelationships between the
component parts of the preferred embodiments of the inven-
tion, it will be appreciated that many embodiments of the
invention can be devised and many changes made in the pre-
ferred embodiments without departing from the principles of
the invention. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly under-
stood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be inter-
preted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a
limitation.
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