US1062410A - Wrapping-machine. - Google Patents

Description

P. H. MERIRBLL & w. s. Amman.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

nruourox mum JULY 11, 1911.

mm WW5 m jf m 5C F. H/MERRELL & W. s. AMIDON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17. 1911 Patented May 20, 1913.

H fly? v a3 F. H. MBRRBLL & W. S. AMIDON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) JULY17, 1911.

Patented May 20, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3 W Q N P. H. MERRELL & W. S. AMIDON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1911,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented May 20, 1913.

F. H. MBRRELL & W. S. AMIDON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIGA'PION FILED JULY 17, 1911.

1,062,410. Patented May 20, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5v F. H. MERRELL & W. S. AMIDON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

,APPLIOATION FILED JULY 17, 1911v Patented May 20, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Jmerufo 7'6 Eeafierc'ck WZrreZ v W 555 "a fim'cian,

To all whom it mag concern shown in Fig. 15that is, with one top-flap 'ment, or gate, beneath the first UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. MERRELL AND WILLIAM S. AMIDON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,

ASSIGNORS TO NATIONAL WRAPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WIS- CONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

WRAPPING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20. 1913.

Application file d July *7, 1911. Serial No. 638,873.

Be it known that we, FREDERICK H. MER- HELL and WILLIAM S. AMIDON, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, 1n the county of Milwaukee and State of WIS- consin, have invented a new and useful Im- -provide a machine, which will feed thin wrappers with certainty and perform the wrapping operation withthe greatest facility, the machine being of a construction adapted to be readily maintained in sanitary condition.

It may be stated preliminarily that in the operation of the improved machine, wrap pers are intermittently fed forward from beneath a wrapper-pile, pass through feedrolls, and are delivered upon a wrapper supporting plate, having a well or opening therein. The operator then places a brick of butter upon the wrapper which settles down and rests also upon an elevated part, or block, of a transversely reciprocating slide. When the block or support moves from beneath the brick, the latter settles into the well, thus making the two side-folds, shown in Figure 14; the slide then carries the brick to the right (viewing the machine in front), beneath atop-folder and between two end-folders, which leave the package as folded and the corresponding projecting end-flaps folded, but leaving projecting fins at the ends; a reverse movement of the slide, or shuttle, carries the package toward the discharge-end of the wrapper-folding chute beneath another top-folder and pair of end-folders, condition shown in Fig. 16. In the next cycle of operations, incident to the wrapping of another package, the slide moves again to the right, carrying a folding abutpackage (which, in the meantime, is held by grippers), and in the next reverse movement of the slide, the first-mentioned package is forced through the discharge-chute, whose front and rear walls have curved slotstherein adaptcd to receive the end-tins shown in of the lower wrapper,

leaving the package in the Fig. 16 and bendthem successively to the instance, the package is moved to the right .in thewrapper-folding chute by means of 'a cam-controlled abutment normally copying a folded relation to the slide and provement in W'rapping:Machines,.of which i havmg a cam-arm adapted to -coact with a *cam carried by the frame of the machine. particularly to I ployed to fulfil the diflicult function of feeding the thin wrappers employed in this class of work, comprises a suction device adapted the rear margin of the lowermost wrapper of the. pile,

The wrapper-feeding mechanism emto lower or bow downwardly or stack, a separator and lifter adapted to enter abovethe downwardly-bowed portion by a rocking movement, and then move upwardly to lift the rear portion of the pile, and a stripper-roll, or rolls, having a raised frictional se ent Whose movement is timed with relatlon to the other-devices and which is adapted to feed the lowermost sheet forwardly to the feed-rolls which deliver it to-the wrappersupporting plate located portion of the transversely disposed'wrapper-folding chute. 1 Y

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1. represents a side elevational view of the improved machine; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, weight, which rests upon the wrapper-pile being shown broken;

Fig.. 3, a broken plan above the central the follower-plate, or

view showing the stripper-rolls and attend ant mechanism; Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2that is, lookingtoward the rear of the machine; Fig. 5, a transverse section of the dischargechute, taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken section taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 4 and showing the position of the stationary cam which controls the normally sheathed package-pusher mounted on the 'slide or shuttle; Fig. 7, a plan view of the wrapperfolding chute and devices removably mounted thereon; Fig. 8, a broken horizontal section taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 10 and showing end-folders which depend from the removable plates shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a section taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10, a section taken at line of Fig. 2; Fig. 11, a. view of the right-hand top-folder and associated endfoldersshown in Fig. 7; Fig. 12, aperspective view of the detached front end-fin folder which forms the front wall of the discharge-chute; Fig. 1d, a perspective view of the gripper normally carried by the mem ber shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14, a broken perspective view showing a, cake of butter and the condition of the wrapper after the Sld flaps have been folded upwardly in theoperation of lowering the cake of butter into the well; Fig. 15, a perspective view showin the condition-after the package has been shifted to the right in the wrapper-folding chute; Fig. 16, a perspective view showing the condition after the package has been shifted to theleft in the wrapper-folding chute; Fig. 17, a broken perspective view showing the condition after the top end-fins have been folded in thepassage through the discharge-chute; Fig. 18, a similar view showing the condition after the lower end- .fins have been folded-in the final portion of the movement through the discharge-elude; Fig. 19, a viewpartly in section and partly in elevation, showing" the wrapper-pile support, or tray, and its relation to the stripperrolls just prior to the stripping action, the section being taken as indicated at line 19 of Fig. 2; and Figs. to 23 inclusive, sec tions taken as indicated at line 20 of Fig. 2, but i'llushating the different steps in the wrapper-feeding operation.

The machine comprises a frame A; wrapper-folding mechanism B; and wrapperfeeding mechanism'C.

The frame A has a flat top, across the front portion of which extends a housingsection 1 upon which is removably mounted a housing-section 2 in which the wrapper foldinc chute 3 is formed. The housing 2 is topped by permanently secured plates 4 which flank the readily detachable wrapper supporting plate 5 which has therein an aperture or well 6 through which the package may be lowered to the wrapper-folding chute. Flanking the opening 6 and carried by the plate 5 are detachably-secured 50 guide-members 7 between which the brick of butter (hereinafter termed brick) may be placed by the operator. The members 7 are bowed outwardly or recessed at the intermediate portions, as indicated at S, to give room or the fingers of the operator in the feeding operation. The plate 5 has longiJ tudinal ribs 9 on its upper surface on which} the wrapper 10 may rest when fed into position' to receive the printer-gobs 1()- (Fig,- 14) which is to lie-wrapped. The plate 5 V isequipped'iiear its rear corners on its upl/per surface with ,pivotallysecured lateral segmental guides 11 which may be adjusted to accommodate wrappers of different 166 jyvidth; and is equipped near its front cor ners with forwardly and rearwardly adjustable stops 12 adapted to limit the forward feed of the wrapper. The plate 5 is equipped at the opening 6 with laterallydisposed adjustably-mounted side-folders 13 which serve to fold the side portions of the wrapper as the brick drcps into the wrapper-folding chute. The wrapper-folding chute 3 has bottom plates 11 separated by a slot 15 beneath which is disposed the stationary cam 16 which serves to operate the normally sheathed pusher mounted on-the reciprocatory slide 17 which moves in the guides 18 of the housing 1. The slide 17 is reciprocated by a crank 19 which enga es a slot in-a depending arm 20 with which the slide is equipped. 'The crank 19 is carried by a wheel 21 mounted on the main lon gitudinally=disposed shaft 22.- The slide 17 carries an elevated portion, or block, 23 adapted to temporarily support the packs. e after its initial dropping movement. is shown in Fig. 4, the elevated part 23 is beneath the opening through which thep'ackage descends to the folder-wrapping chute, and when the slide 17 moves to the right a sutlicient distance, the package-is permitted to drop upon the bottom of the slide and rest between the fixedly-carried abutment 24 and the normally-sheathed abutment, or pusher, 25,.which is pivoted to the slide at 26 and has a cam-arm 27 adapted to ride on the cam 16 when the slide moves to the right, whereby the pusher 25 will be swung to the standing position and will serve to shove the package toward the right-hand end of. the folder-wrapping chute.

Detachably mounted in the folder-Wrapping chute are plates 28 and 29 whie'h'carry' thetop and end folders. Said platesrespe'ctive'ly carry top-folders 28", 29" and endfolders 28", 28- and 29", 29. The top-folders are in the form of rollers carried by spring-pro'ected stems 30 which slide in bearingsgwith which the plates 28 and .29 110 are provided. When the first top-fold is made, (that is, during the movement of the package to the right in the folder-wrap ing chute, during which movement the pac age is carried beneath the roll 28"), able to limit the distance that the roller may traverse the package so that the roller will not .come in contact with the butter. To this end, the studs '30 are, 'in this instance, equipped at their rear ends with a trans- 120 verscly extending member 31 to which is sec'ured a stud 32 carrying a package'engag ing stop 33 against whlch the package will strike after it has moved a certain distance beneath the roller 28, and thereafter the 125 roller 28 will be retracted.

The end-folders 28" and 29' are fixedl secured to "the plates 28 and 29 from whic they depend, as by means ,or screws 34.

Each end-folder comprises, as will be un#"'180 it is desir- 116 derstood from Fig. 10, an upper section 35 and a lower section 36. The end-folders are in reality ironers and have their ends,,

the package moves 1n the against which folding operation, beveled. As shown in Fig. 10, the upper section is separated from the corresponding top-plate (1n this instance 29) by a space ceive the upper end-fin of the wrapper. The lower member of the end-folder rests upon and co-acts with the upper surface of the bottom member 14 of the wrapper-tolding chute 3, these bottom members 14 bei1 1g provided with brass linings, as shown in Fig. 9. The lower members of the end folders are similarly recessed at 37 to accommodate the lower endfins 38 of the package. This will be understood by reference to Fig. 16, it being evident that there must be slots or spaces above and below the end-folders in which the end-fins 38 may project. The lower section 36 of each endfolder is pivotally connected with the upper section at 39, as shown in Fig. 11, by a joint which permits the lower section. to rock downwardly a limited distance, so that the lower sections will always rest on the bottom members 14 of the chute 3, even though the plates 28 and 29 should be lifted by the passage of the package beneath them. The plates 28 and 29 are provided at their front. and rear ends with slotted lugs 40 (Fig. 9) which engage inwardly projecting studs 41 carried by the housing-members 2, so that the plates may be readily removed after the removal or the plate 5. To accommodate packages of Varying length. the endfolders E28 and 29 are slidably mounted with relation to the plates from which they depend. shown in Figs. 8 and 10. Thus, the plate carries at its front end depending lugs 42 equipped with inwardly-projecting fixedly-carried studs 43 which form guide pinsv which enter freelv horizontal perforations in the upper member of the end-folder. Springs encircle the studs 43 and are confined between the lugs 42 and the member The member 35 is equipped with a fixedly-secured stud 44 which extends I through :1 depending lug 45 carried by the plate 29. The stud 44 is threaded and equipped with a nut 46. thus serving to prevent the end-folder from becoming dismounted from the guide-pins 43.

It will be understood from the description thus far that the package, when it enters the flilder-wrapping chute, drops upon the bottom of the slide 17, after the slide has moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 4. and the pusher 25, now in engagement with the cam 16, and in an upright pos tion, serves to force the package to the right and beneath the plate 28. In.the reverse movement of the slide, the folder 24 serves to push the package beneath the 37 adapted to re l l l l l I:

1 l l l E I l l l l torate lug or plate 29 and to carry it within the range of the grippers, which will now be (lQSCIIbGtl.

The discharge-chute forms a continuation of the folder'wra ping chute and its walls are formed to a ord end-fin folders. The 0 rear end-tin folder is designated 47 and the front end-fin folder is designated 48. Each comprises a shoe (Figs. 4 and 12) somewhat in the form of a runner, having a vertical flange 4t) and a horizontal flange 50, the 75 horizontal flange being adapted to rest upon a projection or continuation of the bottom 14 of the wrapper-folding chute. Each of the members 47 and 48 is provided with a curved top-tin folding wall 51 and a curved 0 bottom-tin folding wall To form the walls 51, the lower front portions of the shoes are cut away; and to form the walls 52 the members are traversed by curved slots adapted to receive the lower end-fins 5 in the folding operation. The member 47 is fixedly secured to the bottom Wall of the discharge-clinic, and the member 48 is deta'chably mounted on the bottom wall of the dischargecluite. Each of said members carries a detachably-mounted pacl age-gripper 54. Means for rendering the member 48 detachable, and at the same time self-adjustable to accoimnodate packages of varying lengths. will be umlerstood from Figs. 5 and 7. Upon the bottom member 14 are mounted two supports, or chairs, 55 having guides therein for stems 56 which extend into perforations with which the member 48 is provided, and are movably secured therein by pins 57. The outer ends of the stems 56 are reduced and threaded and equipped with loclcnuts Springhcld plungers 59 are mounted in the members 55 and have their inner ends bearing against the shoe 48. The stems 56 are freely movable in their guides in the members 55, so that the member 48 may be moved outwardly when encountered by a package of undue length. when desired, the hacking-pins 57 may be removed, thus enabling the member 48 to be readily disconnected from the stems 56.

Each grip xu' 54 comprises hplate having an upwardly-curved inner end and having its lower surface provided with a shoulder (20 adapted to engage the package. The rear end of the member 54 is provided with a per- 7 bearing (31 adapted to be mounted on a stud (32 which projects inwardly from the shoe, as shown in Fig. 12. 1:20 A pivoted retainer (33 serves to retain the member in place. The member 54 is provided with an ug)wardly-projecting thread ed stud (54 equipped withwashers 65, beneath the lower one of which is confined a spring 66. The stud (S4 is adapted to engage a slot (17 in a bracket (58 carried by the shoe or end-fin folder. The washers 3 5 are made convex on their adjacent sides so as readily to embrace the projecting endof the 130 it will mm' M: the Shaft ummvoxnbQxS i h a bevel ear 1?! fixed Y f:- I mi in vnabkr tiz-m; j clutch 119 is controlled P; her 49 may 1 mi to a vontmHmg-lever E! 5 Hmong (3e .umiium Ewan? imly, 011mm! J; "with as muim spring gum 89 may sEip (m th,

m av'v-fi g per pile suppm'i, com- N or hmwm member 104: (Fig. ippcd with upwardly-extending .55 2'15 and 106 adapted to engage nf the wr appers and maintain the Wrappers fin Stacked relation; and a fol- EQWQI' @2159 w: W! gilt, 107 adapted f0 I'PSt upon the 1 '1 mile and equipped at its 11" cm HIM whim}: emgaw U fimrs 109,, :umpiing Um named cwartm'lwd, and t!) The hunt 1 1mm? 'n g vwm'ml 111 in 1 (i) .he

fed (1 ing in fil wd m In fin: plied by a svxihm. 7 Lwnm! 0f the spin '& shm'i, wuzzitvis. 89 which may slew 1 mu Thus, Hm 230w Whesx Gm v;- 90 is quk which (xiv-Lush;

splimd cl tch' within rm M1015: faum i011 is to portion of the wrapper- 1*, 2f tin cnwxgmnent upper by the friction i be understand from v 1223 and mmrnii ii'n'r u rb t'ns In mid the earn-arm in .--4 spimlcemhmn mm 1:21 fixed on the gear 9&3 whim insulated m: 2:

feeding nm'is92z3s1 2. pm H36 shah a muunted on the fnain' be employed, if d0"- pump timed to 1 marries nation of w fy' :1 pump 122 cmmrfed by a create suction when the suction-head is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 20.

The separator and wrapper-pile lifter 85 comprises a knee or rock-member 125 which carries a separator-finger or plate 126 and has pivotal connection at 127 with the upper.

end of a plunger 128 which is vertically.

movable in a standard 129; a cam-arm 1330 Supported on a pivot 131 carried by the standard 129 and which has an arm 132 engaging a cam 133 fixedly mounted on the shaft 79; a relatively stiff spring 134 which serves to hold the plunger 128 depressed and its head resting on the upper end of the bearing in which the plunger moves; a link 135 connecting the rear end of the camarm 130 with the short arm 136 of the knee or bell-crank 125; and a spring 137 which serves to rock the member 125 rearwardly from the position shown in Fig.20. The member 125 carries a set-screw, or stop, 138 which is adapted to engage a shoulder, or stop, 139 which projects upwardly from the head of the plunger.

The operation of the wrapper-feeding mechanism will be readily understood. The spring 120 operates to elevate the suctiondevice 84 intermittently, the cam 121 per- 'mitting such action at each revolution of the shaft 79. When the nipples 117 are pressed firmly into engagement with the rear portion of the lowermost wrapper, thus slightly elevating the wrappers as shown in Fig. 20, the pump operates to create suction, causing the rear margin of the lower sheet to adhere to the suction-nipples, so that as the suctionhead rocks downwardly. the lower wrapper 10 will be drawn or bowed downwardly. Th'ereupon the cam 133 operates to elevate the rear end of the arm 130, thus causing the member 125 to rock forwardly about the pivot 127, thus thrusting the separator-plate 126 between the lower sheet and the wrapper-pile. Further movement of the cam-arm 130 causes the member 126 to be lifted vertically, thereby lifting the rear portion of the wrapper-pile to the position shown in Fig. 22. In the meantime. the raised parts 115 of the stripper-rolls advance to the position shown. in Fig. 22, and the suction action of the pump being relieved, the friction segments 114 engage the front portion of the lower wrapper and feed the wrapper between the feed-delivery rolls 82 and 83, whence it is fed to the wrapper-supporting plate 5 of the wrapping mechanism. Fig.

- 23 shows the stripper-rolls in the operation of delivering the wrapper.

Briefly stated, the machine operates as follows: Assuming the clutches to bein engaging position, wrappers are intermittently fed forwardly from the lower slde of the wrapper-pilc, through the feed-del1very rolls 82, 83 and upon the plate 5. During the passage of the wrapper, the gate 76 is 1n the elevated position,and after the feeding operation, the wrapperrests on the plate 5 and beneath the guards or guides 7. The operator places the brick on the wrapper with the rear end resting against the gate 76. The gate descends as the brick is de ressed. The brick rests at first on the elevated part 23 of the slide 17, and when the slide has moved a suflicient distance to the right, drops upon the bottom of the slide, being engaged bythe cam-controlled pusher In the descent of the brick, the side folds are made, and as the brick is carried to the right by the shuttle, the first top-fold and the cor responding endfolds are made. In the re verse movement of the shuttle, the shoulder 24 forces the brick beneath the other topfolder and between the corresponding endfolders, thereby making the second top-fold and the corresponding end-folds. thus leav ing the end-fins 38 projecting, as shown in Fig. 16. When the slide completes its movcment to the left. as shown in Fig. 4, the package is brought within the range of the grippers 54. so as to be engaged by the shouldcrs 60. Here the package remains while the slide returns to perform the folding operation upon a second package. In this passage of the slide to the right, a suitable pusher or gate 140, which is normally held in standing position by a spring, but is capable of swinging in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 4, is carried beneath the first'wrapped package; and in the reverse movement of the slide the member 140, which in the meantime has righted itself on the other side of the package, serves to expel the package or deliver it into the final portion of the discharge-chute.

Experience has demonstrated that the improved machine is capable of rapidly performing, in a neat manner, the difficult operation of Wrapping cakes of butter, and that the improved wrapper feeding-mechanism will serve efficiently and with certainty to deliver the thin wrappers as they are needed. Moreover, the construction of the parts of the wrapping mechanism is such as to enable them to be readily disconnected where necessary, thereby enabling the machine to be readily cleaned from time to time to keep it in sanitary condition and in good working order.

i It remains to be mentioned that the bottomplate 104 of the wrapper-pile holder is equipped on its upper surface at its rear corners with transversely adjustable wrapper-supporting fingers 141, which project slightly over a recess 142 in the rear portion of the plate, thus enabling the downward buckling of the rear portion ofthe lower wrapper to be controlled, according to the thinness of the paper, the members 141 being adjusted toward each other when very thin paper is to be used.

The foregoing detailed description has been given .l'or (-iearness of understanding only. and no undue limitation should be 1m derstood thorriunmlmt the appended claims should be construed broadly as permissible in \'lk'\\' of the prior art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. in a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a wrapper-folding, chute and a i'i-rciproeatory package-pusher therein, of a wrapper-support above said chute with means enabling the package to be lowered into the chute. and a reciprocating gate adapted to serve as a guide in the lowering operation.

2. in combination with package-wrapping mechanism, including means for supporting a wrapper and enabling the package to be dropped therethrough, of a vertically-redo rocating gate adapted to engage the article to be wrappe-l, and means located in the rear thereof serving to feed Wrappers intermittently beneath said gate and onto the wrapper-support during the intervals when the gate is raised.

3. in a wrappingmachine, a platee nipped with a topfolder and end-folders, tie topfolder being springprojected with relation to the plate, and a package-engaging stop connected with the top-folder and adapted to retract the same with relation to the plate.

4. In a wrapping'machine, the combination with a wrapper-folding chute having an opening, a removable wrapper-supporting plate mounted in said opening and having a well with sidwfolders thereat, a pack- 1 age-pusher recipromible in said chute, wrap per-feeding mechanism, a bridge spanning the opening to said chute in front of the wrapper-feeding mechanism, and a vertically reciprocating gate having guide connections with said bridge In a wrappingniachine, the combination of a wrapperfolding chute equipped with wrapper-folding devices and a reciprocating padnige-pusher slide, of means for intermittently feeding wrappers to the wrapper-folding mechanism, and a vertically reciprocating gate located between the wrapper-feedin means and the Wrapper folding mechanism and timed to descend after the feeding of each wrapper, said gate adapted to engage the article to be wrapped.

6 In a machine of the character set forth, wra 'iper-folding mechanism, including an end-fin folder, slides on which said end-fin folder is detachably mounted, and independent. spring-held plungers parallel with said slides and engaging said end-tin folder.

7 In a wrapping-machine, wrapper-folding mechanism, including a detachably mounted spring-held end-fin folder constituting the front wall of the discharge chute, and a palizkage-gripper detachably mounted on the upper portion of said end fin folder, substantially as described.

8. in a wrapping-machine, the improved paeliage gu'ippers mounted on end-fin foldcrs constituting; the lateral Walls of the discharge chute, one of said end-fin folders being: detachably mounted and spring-held.

in a. wrapping machine, wrapper-folding; meclu'mism. including a detachable plate a'ssoci at ed w ith a urn pper-folding chute, said plate carrying a spring-held top-folder and carrying also depending end folders, each end folder comprising an upper section and a lower section pivotally connected therewith. said end folders having recessed upper and lower surfaces adapted to accommodate the end fins on the wrapper.

it). I n a machine of the character set forth, the combination of folding-mechanism comprising a wrapper-folding chute, equipped with wrapper-folding devices and having a wrapper-soppm-ting plate provided with a well, of a vertically recimcating gate adapted to descend into the rear portion of the well, tamper-feeding mechanism in the rear of said gate, and mechanism serving to operate said gate and wrapper-feeding mechanism in timed relation, whereby the wrappers will be fed beneath the gate when it raised and the gate will descend ,with the wrapper and article being wrapped, for the purpose set forth.

FREDERICK H. MERRELL. WILLIAM S. AMIDON. In the presence of-- (iii-shims E. HAMMERSLEY, B. M. Dnvmn.

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