US2048042A - Wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

July 21., 1936. R. c. WEDGE WRAPPING MACHINE s snets-shee 1 Filed May 6, 1955 INVENTOR /POBERT 06E BY ATTORNEY `luly 2l, 1936. R. c. WEDGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 )WHHJMIIIIIGIIII lll v July 21, 1936. R C, WEDGE 2,048,042

WRAPP ING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR -AOBERTC W606i ATroRNEY Patented July 21, 1936 APPING MACHINE Robert C. Wedge, Albert Lea, Minn.

Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 19,933

22 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for wrapping relatively loose, irregular products such as plants, shrubs, bushes, etc., and while the invention is capable of use in several arts and for various purposes it is primarily designed for wrapping nursery plant stock that is to be shipped or stored until planted, and for that reason and for sake of convenience will therefore hereinafter be referred to and described as a plant or nursery stock wrapping machine only. In the merchandising of plant stock it is found that invariably a considerable lapse of time occurs after the growing stock is removed from the ground and until it is shipped, sold, and replanted by the ultimate purchaser. During this interval, however, the stock must be maintained healthy and fertile, so as to not impair or retard its growing condition when replanted. To maintain the desired plant life condition it is Q0 necessary to keep the root portions moist and (in cold weather) warm, and it is therefore customary to Wrap the root portion in moss or other moisture retaining material. To further insure retention of the moisture content the packing is enclosed in a moisture proofed cover, usually a tarred paper prepared for this purpose, and this cover is secured by cord, clips, paste, or other means.

To my knowledge the only means heretofore employed in thus wrapping nursery stock has been the manual or hand method, i. e., the operator places a sheet of the wrapping paper on a table, then after spreading a suitable amount of packing material on the paper, places the root end of the stock in the material, and then proceeds to roll the package together so that the cover encloses the packing and roots, after which the package is tied or otherwise secured and has the general appearance as indicated in Fig. 3 of the present drawings.

The manual method of wrapping plant stock ju'st referred to, while quite universally employed, is unsatisfactory from several viewpoints. In the first place the method is very slow and does not produce uniform or entirely satisfactory results. Secondly it is impossible at least in many instances and where irregular root conditions prevail to produce a package that is suillciently compact and tight to protect the roots and maintain the proper moisture conditions thereabout.

With the use of my machine, however, the

operation is not only greatly speeded up, butv the package is formed under motive power, thus insuring uniformity, compactness, and tightness,

and effects still further economy in that a smaller piece or sheet of the outer wrapper may be used than would be required in hand wrapping.

In the accompanying drawings, which illus- 5 trate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with various parts in readiness to form a plant package, the right hand end of the machine as here shown being referred to for sake of convenience 10 as the front end.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a plant package as formed in and by the machine, a part of the 15 cover paper being broken away for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 4 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 but with the apron frame moved forward into operative position. 20

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation through the wrapping mechanism but in an operative condition advanced from that shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings more particularly 25 and by reference characters, B designates a frame work of a table or bench, having a top 'I upon which is performed the wrapping operation. The table structure includes a shelf 8, under the top 1, upon which is mounted a driving motor 9 30 -and a speed reduction unit I 0 through which power is transmitted to a shaft II. The shaft II operates through a sprocket chain I2 and suitable sprocket gears I3 to drive a transversely extending shaft I 4 journaled to the table frame 35 immediately below the top 1. At one end the shaft I4 is provided with a spur gear I5 for intermittent driving engagement with a spur pinion I6 which is adapted to be swung into and out of operative engagement withthe gear as 40 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The shaft I4 is p preferably journaled in bearing brackets I'I secured to the table, and which brackets have upward extensions in which are journaled the ends of a shaft or pipe I8 that is also parallel with but 4 slightly spaced above the top T.

'I'he spur pinion I6 is secured upon one end of a shaft I 9 that is journaled at its ends in arcuately curved side arms 20 of what may be generally described as a swingable apron frame 50 2| which is pivotally secured to the table frame 6 as at 22.

In addition to members I9 and 20 the frame 2| includes a rotatable shaft 23 and a cross bar 24 which not only serves as a manipulating han- 55 Cal dle butl also serves to rigidly connect the arms 20 so that they will 4swing in unison'froxn the centers 22. The cross bar 24 may also rest upon a stop such as an upward projection of the table ieg (see Fig. 1) to limit the rearward movement of the apron frame and support it in proper initial operative position.

A flexible apron 25 extends over the top of the table as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and one end of this apron has its edge secured to the roller shaft I9 so that it may be wound thereabout when the shaft is rotated. This apron ls preferably made of heavy durable canvas or duck and it may best be secured to the roller shaft I9 by extending in through a longitudinal slot therein, and then fixed to a heavy wire or bar within the shaft, which is hollow as shown in Fig. 5, to thereby positively secure and prevent accidental removal of vthe apron. Should the apron become suilciently worn or damaged it may ,be readily substituted by a new one by removing the shaft I9 and then slipping `the apron end longitudinally outward through the shaft slot, whereupon a new apron may be resecured by a reverse operation.

The opposite end of the apron is secured to and wound upon a roller 2B journaled in the table frame 6, as at 21, and one end of the roller has a pulley 28 over which operates the suspension cord 29 of a weight 30. The cord or rope 29 is of such length that when the weight 30 `reaches and 'rests upon the floor the apron 25 will be in the slack position shown in Fig. 1. As soon as tension is applied to the apron, however, so as to roll it` of from the roller 26 the weight will become operative to resist such unrolling action and keep constant tension on the apron.

When the machine is in use the motor 9 and the driven parts I0, II, I2, I3, I4, and Iii are moving continuously, and before the package is to be wrapped the apron frame 2| is in its rearward position, the weight 30 is resting on. the floor, and the apron 25 is in the slack position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the apron extends over the roller I8 and passes over the shaft 22 to the shaft or roller I 9.

The operator, standing at the rear end of.' the machine, now places a rectangular sheet of cover paper 3| upon the apron 25 and at the place shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 'I'he front edge of the paper should project just ,over the roller I8 to secure the best results, and to the opposite edge portion of the sheet is applied an adhesive or glue, such as indicated at 32, unless other securing means is to be employed.

The packing material 33 is now spread upon the rear part of the apron and the root end of the plant stock is placed upon the material so spread, the top or branch ends projecting laterally outwardly, as shown. Thereupon the operator grasps the cross bar 24 with one hand and swings the frame 2| over and forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, using the other hand if necessary to initially assist in the enfolding movement. The packing, stock, and enclosing apron portion will then assume the positions shown in said figure. The pinion I6 is now in operative engagement with the spur gear I5, and the shafts ing the packing material closely lnabout the roots. When the desired maximum resistance is reached the shaft I9 continues to rotate but as it cannot further restrict the unit to be wrapped it revolves the unit within the apron 5 loop and pulls the apron rearwardly from the roller 26, and in doing so it also actuates into the loop the paper 3| which consequently becomes wrapped about the unit as shown in Fig. 5, at which time the adhesive 32 will secure the bundle in its constricted condition. The bundle rolling action may be continued until the apron supply reaches its end or the weight 30 reaches its uppermost limit, at which time it is necessary to slightly raise the frame 2I to release the gear connection. And a continued movement of the frame 2| rearwardly will of course discharge or release the bundle which can then be removed in the form shown in Fig. 3, although it is usually desirable to tuck'in the lower end of the wrapper, as indicated at 35.

'I'he weight 30 now goes into action to rewind the apron back upon the roller 26 and oi from the rollerI 3, whereupon the machine is in readiness for the next wrapping operation.

Itis understood that suitable modifications mayy be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my in- 30 vention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a horizontal table support, an apron slidable longitudinally upon the support 35 and upon which the object to be wrapped is placed, means for looping over the apron to inclose the object, and means for actuating the apron to restrict the loop thereof and thereby compress the object, said last mentioned means being operative to slide the apron on the support when a predetermined degree of compression has been reached.

2. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a table having a surface supporting a longitudinally movable apron upon one portion of which is placed'an object to be wrapped and upon another portion of which is placed a cover sheet to inclose the article, means for looping the apron about the object, and means 50 for moving the apron longitudinally on the table surface'to convey the cover sheet into the apron loop and wrap it about the object.

3. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable supported longituvdinally movable apron upon one portion of which kmovement to pull the apron from the loop to squeeze the object, and operative upon advanced` movement to pull the apron longitudinally over the support and about the object to impart a rolling action thereto and move vsaid cover sheet into the apron loop and about the object.

4. The method of Wrapping a plant stock or the like which comprises distributing packing material on a longitudinally movable apron, placing the root end of the stock on the distributed layer of packing material, looping the apron to enfold the packing material about the stock, pulling the apron Ato apply squeezing pressure to the material about the stock to compress the same, rolling the resultant unit about a substantially.

stationary axis while under squeezing pressure, and then applying and securing a cover sheet to the unit during the rolling movement and while still subjected to the squeezing pressure previously applied. v

5. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, an apron extending over the top ofthe support, a roller at one end of the support and upon which one end of the apron is wound, a swingable frame at the other end of the support, a roller journaled in said frame and having the other end of the apron secured thereto whereby when the frame is swung over toward the first mentioned roller it will form a loop in the apron, and power actuated means for rotating the frame roller to constrict said apron loop and draw the apron from the first mentioned roller.

6. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support,

an apron extending over the top of the support, v

a roller at one end of the support and upon which one end of the apron is wound, a swingable frame at the other end of the support, a roller journaled in said frame and having the other end of the apron secured thereto whereby when the frame is swung over toward the rst mentioned roller it will form a loop in the apron, and power actuated means for rotating the frame roller to constrict said apron loop and draw the apron from the first mentioned roller, -said rst mentioned roller having means tending to resist unrolling of the apron therefrom.

7. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the rear end of the support for swinging movement forwardly, a motor, a roller journaled in the frame, means operative upon swinging the frame forwardly to establish driving connection between the roller and said motor, and an apron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, so as to be wound thereabout under power from the motor when the frame is in its forward posi tion.

8. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the rear end of the support for swinging movement forwardly, a motor, a roller `iournaled in the frame, means operative upon swinging the frame forwardly to establish driving connection between the roller and said motor, an apron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, so as to wind thereupon under motor power when the frame is in its forward position.

9. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the rear end of the support for swinging movement forwardly, a motor, a roller journaled in the frame, means operative upon swinging the frame to a predetermined forward position to establish driving connection between the roller and said motor, and an apron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, said support and frame having a pair of cooperating cross shafts between which overlapped portions of the apron pass when the frame is in its forward position.

10. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the support for swinging movements to forward and rear positions, a. roller mounted in one end of the frame, an apron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, a power driven gear member disposed at one side of the support, and a second gear member ,associated with said roller and adapted to intermesh with the first gear member when the frame is in its forward position.

11. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the support for swinging movements to forward and rear positions, a roller mounted in the frame to swing therewith, an apron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, a power driven gear member disposed at one side of the support, and a second gear member associated with said roller and adapted to intermesh with the first gear member when the frame is in its forward position, said support having arroller at its forward end to which the forward end portion of the apron is secured, and means tending to rotate the last mentioned roller to releasably wind the apron thereon.

12. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitable horizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the support for swinging movements to forward and rear posiions, a roller mounted to swing with the frame, an apron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, a power driven gear member disposed at one side of the support, and a second gear member associated with said roller and adapted to intermesh with the first gear member when the frame is in its forward position, said support having a roller at its forward end to which the forward end portion of the apron is secured, and a pulley, cord, and weight associated with the last mentioned roller to releasably wind the apron thereon.

13. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over the top of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a cross member disposed transversely of the support intermediate the ends thereof and under the apron, a roller near one end of the support and to which one end of the apron is secured for Winding thereon, means tending to draw the apron over the support and unwind it from the roller, means for mounting the roller whereby it may be shifted forwardly to a position adjacentv the cross member so as to form an enclosing loop in the apron, and means operative upon the roller reaching its forward position for rotating the same to constrict said apron loop.

14. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over the top of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a cross member disposed transversely of the support intermediate the ends thereof and under the apron, a roller near one end of the support and to which one end of the apron is secured for winding thereon, means tending to draw the apron over the support and unwind it from the roller, a shiftable frame movably mounting the roller on the support, and means operative upon shifting the frame to a predetermined position for establishing a power connection to the roller.

15. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over the top of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a frame movablymounted on the support, a roller in the frame and attached to one end of the apron whereby the latter may be wound thereon, said frame being shiftable to move the roller over the apron proper to produce an enclosing loop therein, a power actuated driving member carried by the support, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving and driven members being operatively connected when the trame is shifted to the position producing said apron loop so as to rotate said roller and by winding th -apron thereon to constrict said loop.

16. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an lapron extending over the top of the support and longitudinally vslidable thereon, a frame movably mounted on the support, a roller in the fname and attached to one end of the apron whereby the latter may be wound thereon, said frame being shiftable to move the roller over the apron proper to produce an enclosing loop therein, a power actuated driving member carried by the support, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving and driven members being operatively connected when the frame is shifted to the position producing said apron loop so as to rotate' said roller and by winding the apron thereonvto constrict said loop, and means operative upon reversing the movement of the frame to separate said driving and driven members to release the power applied tol the apron.

17. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over the top of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a frame movably mounted on the support, a roller in the frame and attached to one end of the ajpron whereby the latter may be wound thereon, said frame being shiftable to move the roller over ythe apron proper to produce an enclosing loop therein, a power actuated driving member carried by the support, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving and driven members being operatively connected v when the frame is shifted to the position producing said apron loop so as to rotate said roller and by winding the apron thereon to constrict said loop, and means operative upon reversing the movements of the frame to release said power application to the apron roller and open said apron loop.

18. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over the top of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a frame movably mounted on the support, a roller in the frame and attached to one end of the apron whereby the latter may be wound thereon', said frame being shiftable to move the roller over the apron proper to produce an ,enclosingv loop therein, a pow-er actuated driving member carried by the support, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving and driven members being operatively connected when the frame is shifted to the position producing said apron loop so as to rotate said roller and by winding the apron'thereon to constrict said loop, and

means operative upon reversing themovement of the frame to open the loop and unwind the apron from said roller.

19. A wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, a cross member extending o-ver the support intermediate its ends, an apron extending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, a roller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron is secured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably wind the apron thereon, a roller at the rear end of the support and to which the other end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftabi;r connecting the rear roller to the support and permitting said roller to be swung to a positionl adiacent the cross member to form an. enveloping loop in the apron, and means automatically connectable with the rear roller to rotate the same when the apron loop forming position thereof is reached to thereby constrict the loop and draw the apron rearwardly from the forward roller.

20. A wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, a cross member extending over the support intermediate its ends, an apron extending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, a roller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron is secured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably wind the apron thereon, a roller at the rear end of rthe support and to which the other end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftably connecting the rear roller to the support the apron rearwardly from the' forward roller,

said rotating meansbeing rendered inactive when the frame is shifted to open thev apron loop.

21. A Wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, a cross member extending over the support intermediate its ends, an apron extending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, a roller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron is secured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably Wind the apron thereon, a roller at the rear end of the support and to which the other end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftably connecting the rear roller to the support and permitting said roller to be swung to a position adjacent the cross member to form an enveloping loop in the apron, and means automatically connectable with the rear roller to rotate the same when the apron loop forming position thereof is Y engage the apron passing from the rear roller and cooperating with the cross member of the support in the forming of said apron loop.

22. A wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, a cross member extending over the support intermediate its ends, an apron extending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, a roller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron is secured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably wind the apron thereon, a roller at the rear end of the support and to which the other end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftably connecting the rear roller to the support and permitting said roller to be swung to a position adjacent the cross member to form an enveloping loop in the apron, and means automatically connectable With the rear roller to rotate the same `when the apron loop forming position thereof is ROBERT C. WEDGE.

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