CA1107632A - Package forming machine - Google Patents
Package forming machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1107632A CA1107632A CA323,934A CA323934A CA1107632A CA 1107632 A CA1107632 A CA 1107632A CA 323934 A CA323934 A CA 323934A CA 1107632 A CA1107632 A CA 1107632A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cluster
- machine
- film
- articles
- clusters
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims description 31
- 230000008093 supporting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- DNXHEGUUPJUMQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N (+)-estrone Natural products OC1=CC=C2C3CCC(C)(C(CC4)=O)C4C3CCC2=C1 DNXHEGUUPJUMQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000027697 autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome due to CTLA4 haploinsuffiency Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052729 chemical element Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003028 elevating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- MSFGZHUJTJBYFA-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium dichloroisocyanurate Chemical compound [Na+].ClN1C(=O)[N-]C(=O)N(Cl)C1=O MSFGZHUJTJBYFA-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
- B65B11/08—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path
- B65B11/10—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Abstract
PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A package forming machine wherein one or more articles are packaged as a unit by the wrapping of a film of shrinkable plastics material thereabout, the film being provided as a continuous web. The machine is adapted to the packaging of plural articles arranged in a plurality of rows. The machine receives articles in nested rows and is provided with means for automatically bringing adjacent articles into transverse alignment. The articles are then moved in clusters to a wrapping station where a continuous film is engaged over the top of each cluster and held in-place by an upper conveyor while at the same time the cluster is being engaged by and supported by a lower con-veyor which moves in unison with the upper conveyor. Film drawing means then moves down between each pair of adjacent clusters and draws the necessary film, after which the film is severed into individual wraps followed by the directing of a rear bottom flap into underlying relation with respect to the rear part of the cluster. Thereafter, the partially wrapped cluster is moved onto a platform wherein the front flap is both tightly drawn with respect to the cluster and positioned beneath the cluster and the rear flap. The machine also includes spacer means movable in between par-tially wrapped adjacent clusters to stabilize and maintain the spacing thereof.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A package forming machine wherein one or more articles are packaged as a unit by the wrapping of a film of shrinkable plastics material thereabout, the film being provided as a continuous web. The machine is adapted to the packaging of plural articles arranged in a plurality of rows. The machine receives articles in nested rows and is provided with means for automatically bringing adjacent articles into transverse alignment. The articles are then moved in clusters to a wrapping station where a continuous film is engaged over the top of each cluster and held in-place by an upper conveyor while at the same time the cluster is being engaged by and supported by a lower con-veyor which moves in unison with the upper conveyor. Film drawing means then moves down between each pair of adjacent clusters and draws the necessary film, after which the film is severed into individual wraps followed by the directing of a rear bottom flap into underlying relation with respect to the rear part of the cluster. Thereafter, the partially wrapped cluster is moved onto a platform wherein the front flap is both tightly drawn with respect to the cluster and positioned beneath the cluster and the rear flap. The machine also includes spacer means movable in between par-tially wrapped adjacent clusters to stabilize and maintain the spacing thereof.
Description
7~
PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE
This invention relates to new and useful improve-ments in package forming machines and more particularly to - -a machine for automatically wrapping one or more articles into a package utilizing a continuous web of plastics material and wherein the web is automatically wrapped around the article ox articles to be packa~ed, severed into individual wraps, and the wraps being completely ~rapped around the articles.
Package forming machines of the type utilizing a continuous ~eb of plastics matexial are known to me. Some years ago I developed a machine which has been found to function satis~actorily and is in commercial use~ This machine is the subject of my U.S. reissue patent No.
Re~ 2a,535l granted Septembér 2, 1975. ~urther, I have developed a somewhat dlfferent package forming machine which has been demonstrated to others and is the subject of my copending U.S. applic~tion Serial No. 734,876 en- -tit~ed PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE, filed October 22, 1976, which application issued on Ap~il 11, 1978 as U.S. Patent No. 4,083,163.
A principal feature of my present packaging - machine is that the cluster of articles to be wrapped i~
under control at 211 times, being constantly supported by conveying means in a manner ~hereby the bottom closure flaps of the wrap may be assuredly positioned be ~een the cluster being wrapped and then finally drawn tight to assure a tight wrapping o~ the wrap film about the cluster.
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PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE
This invention relates to new and useful improve-ments in package forming machines and more particularly to - -a machine for automatically wrapping one or more articles into a package utilizing a continuous web of plastics material and wherein the web is automatically wrapped around the article ox articles to be packa~ed, severed into individual wraps, and the wraps being completely ~rapped around the articles.
Package forming machines of the type utilizing a continuous ~eb of plastics matexial are known to me. Some years ago I developed a machine which has been found to function satis~actorily and is in commercial use~ This machine is the subject of my U.S. reissue patent No.
Re~ 2a,535l granted Septembér 2, 1975. ~urther, I have developed a somewhat dlfferent package forming machine which has been demonstrated to others and is the subject of my copending U.S. applic~tion Serial No. 734,876 en- -tit~ed PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE, filed October 22, 1976, which application issued on Ap~il 11, 1978 as U.S. Patent No. 4,083,163.
A principal feature of my present packaging - machine is that the cluster of articles to be wrapped i~
under control at 211 times, being constantly supported by conveying means in a manner ~hereby the bottom closure flaps of the wrap may be assuredly positioned be ~een the cluster being wrapped and then finally drawn tight to assure a tight wrapping o~ the wrap film about the cluster.
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-2~ 2 In accordance with this inyention, the clusters which are to be wrapped are supported by both upper and lower conveyors which moVe in unison with the upper convey-or having retaining elements which serve to prevent tipping of the articles in the cluster and at the same time assure a clEmping of the wrap film relative to the clusters during the drawing thereof.
The lower conve~or includes plural sets o~ indi-vidually mounted support elements which fully support the articles of the clusters and ~re at the ~ame time indi-vidually movable with respect to the articles so as to permit ~he folding o the lower closure flaps bene~th the.
cluster, Another feature o~ the ~achine is that simpla means are p~ovided for folding a rear closure flap beneath a cluster, the simple means being an auxiliary support which simultaneously ~olds the poxtion of a rear closure flap beneath the cluster and clamps the same against the underside of the cluster in a supporting relation for the rear portion o~ a cluster whereby the rear one of the support elements may be released from the cluster, aftex . which air blast means carried by the auxiliary support -may direct the rear closure ~lap full~ beneath the closure to a position where the rear support element ma~ return to its cluster supporting position with the rear closure flap in its fully folded position~
Another ~eature of the machine ls the proVision of a wrapped package receiVin~ platform ~hich serVes to support the front portion o~ a cluster while the rear of the cluster is still supported by a rear one of the sup-~ort elements and the movement of the partially wrapped cluster onto the platform serves to fold the front bottom closure flap into place and at the same time tightl~ draws the wrap about the cluster to provide a tight package.
Another feature of the ma~hine is the provision of separate draw means movable down between adjacent ... ~
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_3~ 7~
clusters to draw the wrap film required for wrapping eachcluster, the draw means including draw elements which ~irst serve to tension an intermediate portion of the wrap film for severing and later serve to push the wrapped pacakge along a platform and onto a take-away conveyor.
Most particularly, a feature of the draw means is that the spacing o~ the draw elements thereof is greater than the spacing of the clusters and.there being a lost motion arxangement beneath *he path o~ travel of the clusters for accommodating this greater spacing, and this greater spacing permitting wrapped clusters to be conveyed away from the.end of the wrapping mechinism at a rapid rate to increase the spacing between wrapped clusters as com-pared to the spacing between unwrapped clusters.
- 15 The machine is also provided with spacer means movable in between adjacent partially wrapped clusters for stabilizing such clusters and holding the wrap-film against the front and rear sides of the clusters~
Another feature of the machine is the separate mounting of the upper part of the wrapping mechanism wherein the machine may...be-readily adjusted to.receive .. articles to be wrapped o~ di~ferent heights.
A particular feature of the machine resides in a supply conveyor arrangement ~herein containers or like articles are received in transversely nested rows and move through a simple path arrangement wherein unnesting auto~
matically occurs and containers in adjacent rows become transversely aligned.
With the abov~ and other objects in view that .. 30 will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be msre clearly understood by reference to the ~ollowing detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
IN-THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the entrance portion of the machine and schematically ' '~ ` .
-` ~4~ 3~
shows the arrangement of containers into clusters and the feeding of clusters to the wrapping station.
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view showing the step-by-step sequence of wrapping a wrap film around a cluster of containexs.
Figure 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and shows speciically the manner in which nested columns o~ articles are longitudinally shifted relative to one another automatically to effect the ar-rangement o~ the articles in txansvexsely aligned rows.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of theapparatus of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a s~hematic side elevational view of the wrapping sec~ion of the machine for forming the wrapping sequence illustrated in Figure 2.
Fi~ure 6 is.an enlarged fragmentary side ele-vational vie~ of the wrapping section at the entrance thereof.
Figure 7 is a ~chematic side elevational View showing the path of dra~ elements of the wrapping means including the manner in which the draw film is supported for severing thereby and the final function of one draw element of each pair to push wrapped clusters from the machine.
Fi~ure 8 is a fra~mentary side elevational View --showing s.pecifically the details of film severing means and the guard therefor.
Figure 9 is a schematic side elevational view showing the mounting and function of an auxiliary suppo~t for both supporting a rear portion of a cluster and fold--ing a rear bottom closure flap therebeneath.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 9, showing the rear poxtion of a cluster supported by the auxiliary support and the rear bottom closure flap being blown into position, the vie~ ~lso showing the reax support element of the ~ower conye~or _5~ 763~
means returned to its supporting position with respect to an adjacent cluster.
Figure 11 is a schematic side elevational view of the machine at the final wrap and discharge portions thereof t and shows the manner in which the partially wrapped cluster is transferred to a receiving platform in a manner wherein the wrapping is complete and the wrap is drawn tightly around the cluster.
Figure 12 is a view similax to Figure 11, but .. . lO shows most.speci~ically the manner in which the rear por-tion of the cluster is suppoxted as it passes onto the platform and the rear suppo~t element therefor is released.
- Figure 13 is a schematic view of the drive of the machine.
Referxing now to the drawings in detail, it ~ill be seen that there.is illustrated a machine which is spe-cifically adapted to receive a~ticles arranged in trans-verse rows and separated into clusters for wrappin~ in a wrap film which is.preferably formed of plastics m~terial which is heat shrinkable in a shrink oven in.a con~entional .
manner. The illustrated machine is ~pecifically construct-.- ed to receive-cans arranged in two transverse rows of three cans each. It is to be understood, ho~ever, that the machine is not so limited. ~hile the machine is primarily intended to receive articles arranged in two transverse . , . rows,.the number of articles in each row may vary ~om one--to a much greater number as may be convenient for forming a package of such articles. Further, whiie the articles have been illustrated as being cans, the ~rticles could be 30 . other types of containers including boxes, bottles and -.
jars.
When the ~rticles are of circular cross-sectionr ~uch as cans or bottles, the articles ~ill be supplied to -the machine along a delivery path generally desi~nated by the numeral lOin ~igure 3, and this delivery path is of a width determined by the spacing of. side guides 12 so , ,~
,:"
. .
. ~
:: ~
6 ~ 3 2 that the articles will be arranged in columns in nested relation which is the normal relationship assumed when such articles are randomly delivered in a crowded condi-tion. The nested columns of articles are received by an aligning device which is generally identified by the numeral lA. The aligning device includes an endless con-veyor 16 which functions as a moving support for the articles and serVes to convey the articles from right to left as vie~ed in Figure 3. Positioned above the conveyor 0 16 i5 a.guide assembl.y 18,.which guide assembly in the case of three columns o~ articles defining a straight central path 20, and two outer paths 22. As is clearly evidenced from Figure 3, when the articles move through the guide assembly 18, the articles of the center column move directly along the central path 20, while the articles of the outer column move along the longer outer paths 22.
The length of the outer paths 22 is ~xeater than the length of the central path 20 by ~ne-half.of an arti~le diameter so that an article A.which is to the rear of two trans-versely adjacent articles A at the entrance to the guide assembly 18 would-a~vance so as-to be transversely aligned with those two forward adjacent articles when the three articles exit ~rom the guide assembly 18 as is clearly shown in Figure 3.
. It will be seen that the articles ~xit from the aligning device 14 in transverseiy aligned rows and are immediately thereaftex received b~ a further mechanism to-be described next. It is to be understood that ~here can be certain slippage of the articles with re~pect to the conveyor 16 in that it is only natural th~t the articles push each other along the respective paths 20, 22~
At this time it is pointed out that ~hile the aligning device 14, as illustrated, wi11 only receive three columns of article~ if there are foux columns of ar~icles there will be four paths which are of respective lengths to causP the automatic transverse ali~nment of .
~' .~
~7~3%
~ 7 --the articles in the same manner as that shown in Figure
The lower conve~or includes plural sets o~ indi-vidually mounted support elements which fully support the articles of the clusters and ~re at the ~ame time indi-vidually movable with respect to the articles so as to permit ~he folding o the lower closure flaps bene~th the.
cluster, Another feature o~ the ~achine is that simpla means are p~ovided for folding a rear closure flap beneath a cluster, the simple means being an auxiliary support which simultaneously ~olds the poxtion of a rear closure flap beneath the cluster and clamps the same against the underside of the cluster in a supporting relation for the rear portion o~ a cluster whereby the rear one of the support elements may be released from the cluster, aftex . which air blast means carried by the auxiliary support -may direct the rear closure ~lap full~ beneath the closure to a position where the rear support element ma~ return to its cluster supporting position with the rear closure flap in its fully folded position~
Another ~eature of the machine ls the proVision of a wrapped package receiVin~ platform ~hich serVes to support the front portion o~ a cluster while the rear of the cluster is still supported by a rear one of the sup-~ort elements and the movement of the partially wrapped cluster onto the platform serves to fold the front bottom closure flap into place and at the same time tightl~ draws the wrap about the cluster to provide a tight package.
Another feature of the ma~hine is the provision of separate draw means movable down between adjacent ... ~
.
.
_3~ 7~
clusters to draw the wrap film required for wrapping eachcluster, the draw means including draw elements which ~irst serve to tension an intermediate portion of the wrap film for severing and later serve to push the wrapped pacakge along a platform and onto a take-away conveyor.
Most particularly, a feature of the draw means is that the spacing o~ the draw elements thereof is greater than the spacing of the clusters and.there being a lost motion arxangement beneath *he path o~ travel of the clusters for accommodating this greater spacing, and this greater spacing permitting wrapped clusters to be conveyed away from the.end of the wrapping mechinism at a rapid rate to increase the spacing between wrapped clusters as com-pared to the spacing between unwrapped clusters.
- 15 The machine is also provided with spacer means movable in between adjacent partially wrapped clusters for stabilizing such clusters and holding the wrap-film against the front and rear sides of the clusters~
Another feature of the machine is the separate mounting of the upper part of the wrapping mechanism wherein the machine may...be-readily adjusted to.receive .. articles to be wrapped o~ di~ferent heights.
A particular feature of the machine resides in a supply conveyor arrangement ~herein containers or like articles are received in transversely nested rows and move through a simple path arrangement wherein unnesting auto~
matically occurs and containers in adjacent rows become transversely aligned.
With the abov~ and other objects in view that .. 30 will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be msre clearly understood by reference to the ~ollowing detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
IN-THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the entrance portion of the machine and schematically ' '~ ` .
-` ~4~ 3~
shows the arrangement of containers into clusters and the feeding of clusters to the wrapping station.
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view showing the step-by-step sequence of wrapping a wrap film around a cluster of containexs.
Figure 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and shows speciically the manner in which nested columns o~ articles are longitudinally shifted relative to one another automatically to effect the ar-rangement o~ the articles in txansvexsely aligned rows.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of theapparatus of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a s~hematic side elevational view of the wrapping sec~ion of the machine for forming the wrapping sequence illustrated in Figure 2.
Fi~ure 6 is.an enlarged fragmentary side ele-vational vie~ of the wrapping section at the entrance thereof.
Figure 7 is a ~chematic side elevational View showing the path of dra~ elements of the wrapping means including the manner in which the draw film is supported for severing thereby and the final function of one draw element of each pair to push wrapped clusters from the machine.
Fi~ure 8 is a fra~mentary side elevational View --showing s.pecifically the details of film severing means and the guard therefor.
Figure 9 is a schematic side elevational view showing the mounting and function of an auxiliary suppo~t for both supporting a rear portion of a cluster and fold--ing a rear bottom closure flap therebeneath.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 9, showing the rear poxtion of a cluster supported by the auxiliary support and the rear bottom closure flap being blown into position, the vie~ ~lso showing the reax support element of the ~ower conye~or _5~ 763~
means returned to its supporting position with respect to an adjacent cluster.
Figure 11 is a schematic side elevational view of the machine at the final wrap and discharge portions thereof t and shows the manner in which the partially wrapped cluster is transferred to a receiving platform in a manner wherein the wrapping is complete and the wrap is drawn tightly around the cluster.
Figure 12 is a view similax to Figure 11, but .. . lO shows most.speci~ically the manner in which the rear por-tion of the cluster is suppoxted as it passes onto the platform and the rear suppo~t element therefor is released.
- Figure 13 is a schematic view of the drive of the machine.
Referxing now to the drawings in detail, it ~ill be seen that there.is illustrated a machine which is spe-cifically adapted to receive a~ticles arranged in trans-verse rows and separated into clusters for wrappin~ in a wrap film which is.preferably formed of plastics m~terial which is heat shrinkable in a shrink oven in.a con~entional .
manner. The illustrated machine is ~pecifically construct-.- ed to receive-cans arranged in two transverse rows of three cans each. It is to be understood, ho~ever, that the machine is not so limited. ~hile the machine is primarily intended to receive articles arranged in two transverse . , . rows,.the number of articles in each row may vary ~om one--to a much greater number as may be convenient for forming a package of such articles. Further, whiie the articles have been illustrated as being cans, the ~rticles could be 30 . other types of containers including boxes, bottles and -.
jars.
When the ~rticles are of circular cross-sectionr ~uch as cans or bottles, the articles ~ill be supplied to -the machine along a delivery path generally desi~nated by the numeral lOin ~igure 3, and this delivery path is of a width determined by the spacing of. side guides 12 so , ,~
,:"
. .
. ~
:: ~
6 ~ 3 2 that the articles will be arranged in columns in nested relation which is the normal relationship assumed when such articles are randomly delivered in a crowded condi-tion. The nested columns of articles are received by an aligning device which is generally identified by the numeral lA. The aligning device includes an endless con-veyor 16 which functions as a moving support for the articles and serVes to convey the articles from right to left as vie~ed in Figure 3. Positioned above the conveyor 0 16 i5 a.guide assembl.y 18,.which guide assembly in the case of three columns o~ articles defining a straight central path 20, and two outer paths 22. As is clearly evidenced from Figure 3, when the articles move through the guide assembly 18, the articles of the center column move directly along the central path 20, while the articles of the outer column move along the longer outer paths 22.
The length of the outer paths 22 is ~xeater than the length of the central path 20 by ~ne-half.of an arti~le diameter so that an article A.which is to the rear of two trans-versely adjacent articles A at the entrance to the guide assembly 18 would-a~vance so as-to be transversely aligned with those two forward adjacent articles when the three articles exit ~rom the guide assembly 18 as is clearly shown in Figure 3.
. It will be seen that the articles ~xit from the aligning device 14 in transverseiy aligned rows and are immediately thereaftex received b~ a further mechanism to-be described next. It is to be understood that ~here can be certain slippage of the articles with re~pect to the conveyor 16 in that it is only natural th~t the articles push each other along the respective paths 20, 22~
At this time it is pointed out that ~hile the aligning device 14, as illustrated, wi11 only receive three columns of article~ if there are foux columns of ar~icles there will be four paths which are of respective lengths to causP the automatic transverse ali~nment of .
~' .~
~7~3%
~ 7 --the articles in the same manner as that shown in Figure
3.
The articles pass from the aliyning device 14 and are received on support strips 24, there being one support strip for each column of articles. The articles proceed along the support strips 24 and are engaged by an infinitely variable spacing feeder to assure the trans-verse alignment of the rows of articles. As shown in Figure 1, the feeder 26 includes flight bars 28 having thereon pairs of pins 30 which engage behind the articles and assure the movement thereof along the strips 24 in transverse alignment.
The transversely aligned and columnized articles pass to an infeed conveyor 32 while still supported on the support strips 24. The infeed conveyor 32 includes two conveyor chains 34 which have extending transversely therebetween flight bars 36, Each flight bar 36 has pairs of pins 38 pro~ecting upwardly therefrom with pins of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a respect-ive one of the support strips 24 for engaging a rear por-tion of an article in the same manner as do the pins 30 of the flight bars 28. The spacing of the flight bars 36 is such that the articles are moved along the support strips 24 arranged in clusters C of, in the illustrated form of the invention, six articles, the articles being arranged in two transverse rows of three articles each. The infeed conveyor 32 feeds the clusters C ~o the wrapping station of the machine, the wrapping station being generally identified by the numeral 40.
It is to be understood that each cluster C is to be wrapped with a wrap film supplied from a continuous roll 42 of such film. The film is delivered from the roll 42 by a feed mechanism 44 at a constant rate in accordance tf~
, ~
`:
., -8~ 32 with the predetermined demands of the wrapping station 40.
The feed mechanism 44 includes a drive roll 46 and a back-up roll 48 The drive roll 46 is carried by a support 50 and has a fixed axis of rotation. The back-up roll 48 is carried by a pivotally mounted support 52 which is con-nected to the support 50 by means of a spring 54 so as constantly to urge the back-up roll 48 toward the drive roll 46 and thus form a nip assuring the positive driving and feeding of the wrap film, which film is identified by the numeral 56~ The film 56 passes around a pair of idler rolls 58, 60 into the wrapping station 40.
As is clearly shown in the sequence of Figures 1 and 2, a cluster C to be wrapped passes under a portion of the film 56 leading into the Wrapping station 40 and underlies the cluster. ~hile the film is held against the top of the cluster, the film behind the cluster is drawn down past the cluster and between that cluster and the next following cluster until the necessary ilm to form the required wrap has been drawn. The drawn film is then severed as shown in Figure 2b with the result that the cluster C has the wrap ~ now disposed over the top and down the two sides thereof and the ~ap includes a front bottom closure flap 62 and a rear bottom closure flap 64.
The flap 64 is preferably of a length no greater than the longitudinal dimension of the article and the flap 62 is of a length approaching the longitudlnal dimension of the cluster~ This is clearly shown in Figure 2b.
As is shown in Figures 2c and 2d, the flap 64 is folded beneath the rear portion of the cluster and then the cluster is moved onto a supporting platform, generally identified by the numeral 66 which simultaneous-ly folds the front flap 62 beneath the cluster and effects tightening of the wrap W about the cluster to form the completely wrapped cluster of Figure 2g, which ~rapped cluster is then delivered to a con~entional shrink tunnel (not shown) where the Xl~ps 62, 64 are first heat bonded .
, ' ~
, 9 ~ 3~
together and then the film is heat ~hr~nk in a conventional manner.
Reference is now made to Figure 5 wherein all of the general details o~ the wrapping station 40 are illus-trated. First of all, the wrapping station 40 includes alower conveyor generally identified by the numeral 68.
The lower conveyor 68 includes two transversely aligned chains 70 which carry transversely aligned support plates 72. Each transversely aligned pair of support plates 72 carry a pair of pivotally mounted arms 75, 76 which, in turn, carry a front support element 78 and a rear support - element 80.
Referrin~ now t~ Figure 6 in particular, the specific configura~ion of the axms 74 and 76 is illustrated.
Each arm 74 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 82 carried by.
the respective support plate 72.and has connected to the .
outer end thereof the respective transversely extendin~
.. front support element 78. The innex end .of the arm 74 is ---provided with a cam follower.84 which en~ages a first cam 86 for positioning the ~ront support elements 78. As shown in ~igure 11, associated with the pivot 82 is a spring 88 which c~nstantly urges the axm 74 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 82 to hold the cam follower 84 against the cam 86. Rotation of the arm 74 in a clockwise direction is res~riGted by.a pin 90 ex~ending through a slot 92 in the plate 72.
The arm 76 is of a ~imilar construction and mounting, but is of a different configuratian. Each arm 76 is pivotAlly mounted on a piVot 94 carried by it~
39 respective support plate, and is urged to rotate ab~ut that pivot in a clockwise direction by a spring 96 as shown in Figure 11. The outex ends of pairs o the arm~
76 are joined by the respective rear suppoxt elements 80 and the inner end of each.arm 76 is provided with a c~m follower 98 which engages a cam 100. Each ar~ 76 alsQ
carries a pin 102 which is xecei~ed in a slot 104 in the ' , -lo~ 7~32 support plate 72 to limit the rotation of the arm by its spring.
The wrapping station 40 also includes an upper conveyor, generally identified by the numeral 106. The upper conveyor 106 includes a pair of transversely spaced and aligned conveyor chains 1~8 which have extendin~ there-between sets of retainers, each set of retainers including a front retainer 110 and a rear retainer 112. The front retainers 110 are prefexably in the form of angle wembers and engage upper front corners of the clusters. The re~r retainers 112 have resilient pads 114 on the undersides thereof, which pads engage the upper surface of the rear portion of a cluster. The relationship of the retainer 110 and pad 114 with respect to a typical cluster is best shown in Figure 6.
It will be readily apparent from Figure 5 that the lower conVeyor 68 and the upper conveyor 106 cooperate fully to suPport a cluster and to transport the cluster from the in~eed conveyor 32 to the supporting platform 66.
The wrapping station 40 also includes a dra~ unit generally identi~ied by the numeral 116. The draw unit 116 functions both to draw the film 56 do~n between adjacent clusters and to feed ~rapped clusters off of the supporting platform 66. The draw unit 116 al~o includes a pair of transversely aligned and tr~nsversely spaced conVeyor chains 118 which are suitably ~ounted ~or movement in unison. Extending between the chains 118 are pairs of draw members 120 and 112. The draw member 120 leads the draw member 112 and serves as the primary drawin~ ele~ent to draw the film between adjacent clusters~ The draw member 122 cooperates with the draw member 120 when the film is below the predetermined path of movement of the clusters to tension the film to facilitate cutting thereof in a manner to be descxibed hereinafter. The draw member 120 also functions to position wrapped clusters from the supporting platform in a manner also to be dPscxibed here-inafter.
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;32 The wxapping s~ation 40 further includes a spac-ing device generally iden~ified by the numeral 124. The spacing device 124 also includes a pair of transversely spaced and transversely ali~ned conveyor chains 126. A
plurality oE spacing units 128 are carried by the conveyor chains 126. Each spacin~ unit.l28 includes a pair of sup-port plates 130, 132 carrled by each of the chains 126.
As best shown in Fi~ure 6,.each ~upport plate 130 has pivotally m~unted thereon an arm 134. Each support plate 132 also has mounted thereon an arm 136. The remote ends of the arms 134, 136 are pivotally joined together to form a scissors arrangement. Extending between t~e joined to-gether outer ends of the arms 134, 136 is a spacer element 138.
The arm 134 has rigidly secured thereto a fur-ther arm 140 which carries a second spacer element 142.
The scissors arrangement of the arms 134., 136 permits the con~eyor chain 126 to pass ~round sprocXets while the rigid mounting o~ the arm 140, which supports the spacer element 142, permits the spacing between the support elem~nts 13 and 142 to remain constant.
~t this time it is pointed out that the spacing between spacer units 128 is the same as that of the spac-ing of the e~ments of the lower conVeyor.68 ~nd the upper conveyor 106.
Returning now to Fi~ure 5, it is to be under-stood that the convey~r ch~ins 70 may be mounted on any suitable sprocket arrangement and all that is required is that the chain~ 70 include drive sprockets 144 which are carried by a driven shaft 146.
In a like manner, the conyeyox chains 108 of the upper conveyor 106 may be supported in any desi~ed spxocket arrangement except that the chains must have a horizontal lower run. The sprockets do include a drive sprocket 148 for each of the chains 108. The drive sprockets 148 are carried by a drive shaft 150.
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The spacing device 124 has the conveyor chains 126 thereof mounted on any desired sprocket arrangement which will permit the passage of the spacing units as required, and the only limitation is that the.conveyor chains 126 must have a horizontal lower run. In other words, the upper runs of the chains 70 and the lower runs of the chai.ns 108 and 126 must be parallel to one another and to the path of movement of the clusters through the wrapping station 40. The sprockets for the conveyor chains 126 include drive sprockets 152 which are carried by a drive shaft 154.
The mounting of the conVeyor chains 118, ho~ever, provide a different probl~m. The general mounting of the chains 118 above the path of movement of the clusters is variable. ~owever, the path of the conveyor chains 118 generally in alignment with.the path of movement of the clusters must be controlled as shown in Figure 5. Further, -- because the spacing.of the draw m~mbers is greater than the spacing of .the elements of the upper and lower conveyors ~nd the spacing device, there must be provided means for absorbing this extra spacing beneath the path of the clusters and this is specifically shown in Figure 7 and will be described in detail hereinafter.
The conVeyor ~hains 118 are, however, driven by 25 dri~e spxocket~ 156 which are mounted on a drive shaft 158.
It is to be noted that the dxiYe shafts 150, 154 and 158 are disposed adjacent one another.
Refexring now to ~igure 6, it will be seen that the infeed conVeyor 32 and the supPoxt strips 24 terminate 30 adjacent ~ p~ir of combined suppo~t and feed rolls 160, 162, These rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed as the infeed conveyor 32, and as the ~xont articles ~f a cluster.
C moVe thereon, they ~re fed and supported by the xolls 160, ~62. As the fxont ~rticles of *he cluster moVe off of the roll 160, the associated fxont support ele~ent engages beneath the articles and ser~es to support and ,: ~ ' ''' ' ~ ' ' ' ,~ :
~13~ 2 convey the articles at the same speed as previously ~ed by the.infeed conveyor 32. Then, the rear articles of the cluster pass onto the rolls 160, 162 and out of control of the infeed conveyor 32. The rolls 160, 162 feed the rear articles to the left and before the rear articles pass off of the roll 160, they are engaged by the rear support ele-ment 108. Thus, the articles of each cluster C are readily trans~erred from the infeed conveyor 32 to the lower con-v~yor 68 in an uninterrupted continuous action.
It will also be seen from Figures 5 and 6 that the front retainer 110 fully engages th~ front corner of the clus er at the ~ame time as the front articles.of the clus.ter are fully supported by the front support element - .
so as to prevent the forward tipping of the articles. The front retainer 110 lbosely engages the film 56 and permits the drawing of the film over the ne~ cluster. At a~out the time shown in Figure 6, the resiliènt pad 114 of ~he rear retainer 112 engages the upper surface of the rear portion of the cluster and serves to clamp the film 56 thereagainst. At this time, the drawing of the film for the preceding cluster has been com?leted and the resilient - j pad 114 now serves to hold the film 56 for the drawing thereof to effect wrapping of the new cluster.
At this time the next following draw member 120 has engaged the film 56 rearwardly of the cluster and has started drawing the film do~n beyond the cluster! j It is to be noted that the spacer elements 138 and 14~ ~ollow the draw members 120 and 122 down between the adjacent clusters and the spacer element 142 serVes to hold the ~ilm against the front of the trailing cluster as is clearly sho~n in Fi~ure ~. j Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, it will be seen that at this time the associated portions of the con-veyor chains 118 are passin~ undex sprockets 164, then ovex sprockets 116, and under sprockets 168 so ~s to change the spacing between the draw members 120, 122 of that : , ,, : .
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particular set of draw members. This results in the ten-sioning and supporting o~ the film 56 so that it may be engaged by a hot wire 168 and severed.
The wrapping Station 40, of course, includes a frame 170 which may ~e of any construction and a portion only thereof is shown in Figure 8. The frame 170 includes ~-frame members 172 ~hich have pivotally mounted thereon sup-port arms 174 which are joined together by a transverse connecting arm 176. The connecting arm 176 carries an upper support member 178 which, in turn, carries an in-verted yoke 180 including the hot wire 168.
A cam shaft 182 extends txansversely of the machine and carries a cam 184. The cam 184 is engaged by a cam followex 186 which, in turn, is carried by the sup-15 port arm 174 by wa~ of a bracket 188.
The fxame 170 also include~ frame members 190having a first transVerse rod 192 extending therebetween.
A spring 194 extends between the rod 192 and the support member 178 and normall~ holds the hot wire 168 in a re-tracted position and the cam ollower 186 against the cam 184.
Since the hot Wire 168 is always heated, it is necessary to pXotect against engage~ent thereof by the film after the film has been cut. To this end there is 25 provided a guard uni~ 196. The guard unit 196 is carried by a pair of arms 198 pivotally mounted on the rod 192.
The arms 198 carry a bracket 200 ~hich supports a cam follower 202 ~7hich engages a cam 204 carried by the cam shaft 182.
The guard unit 196 is constantly urged toward a retracted position by means of a spring 206 which extends between a bracket 208 carried by the frame 170 and an axm 210 carried by the bracket 200.
The guard unit 196 includes a shield plate 212 I, which normally overlies the hot ~7ire 168. Further, a flap214 extends up~7ardly from the shield plate 212 to wipe against the depending Eront flap 62.
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~fter the film 56 has been drawn and severed, the draw members 120, 122 play no part in the wr~pping operation, and it is merely necessary to absorb the extra spaci~g of the draw members by runnin~ the conVeyor chains 118 over further sprockets 216, 218, 220 and 222, as sho~n in Figure 7.
The film having been sevexed and the wrap W now being in the for~ o~ a sepaxate piece of film, it is neces- .
sary to fold the rear bottom closure flap 64 beneath the rear portion of the cluster, followed by a folding o~ the front bottom closure flap.under both the cluster and the rear bottom closure flap. The rear bottom closure flap is first folded into place in the manner shown in Fi~ures 9 and 10.
The wrapping station includes an auxiliary sup-port 224 which is mounted for mo~emant in an orbital path 226~ The auxiliary support 224 extends transversely of the machine and is carried b~ a pair of upstanding arms 228 each of which IS secured to a pair of~endless conVeyors 230, 232 positioned vertically above one anothex and havin~ like paths of movement. The conveyor 230 is supported by a pair of sprockets 234, 236 which are driven in unison ~hile the conveyo~ 232 is supported by a pair o~ sprockets 238, 240 ~ which are also driven in unison and at the same rate as ; 25 the sprockets 234, 236~ .
It is also pointed out at this time that the auxiliary suppor~ 224 carries an air nozzle arrangement 242 for directing an air blast general`ly longitudinally of the path of movement of the clusters and beneath the same.
The auxiliary support 224 moves into position.
beneath the rear poxtions of the rear articles o~ the I -^
cluster while the xear support element 80 is still support-ing the articles. Once.the auxiliary support 224 is in the : 35 required supporting position, the rear supPort element 80 retracts as shown in Fiyure 10. This is caused b~ the ':' , ~ ' ; ~
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c~ followers 9B engaging the recesses 2.~4 in the cams 100. This assures the arms 76 being pivoted in a clockwise direction by the springs 96.
The rear support element 80 having ~oved away from the underside of the cluster, the rear bottom closure flap 64 is now free to be blown beneath the rear articles of the cluster and this is accomplished by the air nozzle arrangement 212. After sufficient time has elapsed for the blowing of the flap 64 into place, the cam ~ollowers 90 ride up onto the surface of the cams 110 with the result that the rear support element now swings back into place as shown to the left in Figure 10, clamping the rear ,. bottom closure flap 64 against the underside of the rear.
of the cluster C.
It is to be understood that the air nozzle arrangement is operated only for a short period of time and is'controlled by a valve arrangement to be described hereinater.
Referring now to Figure 11, it ~ill be seen that the cluster, wïth the flap 64 in place, now approaches the supporting platform,66. At this time it is pointed out that.the supporting platform is formed by a pair of trans-versely extending rods 248 which are.fixed against rota-tion and which are of a slightly lesser diameter than the rollers 246 so that the leading portion of the platform 66 has a step.
As the front portion of the cluster C moves up onto the rods 248, the fxont flap 62 i~ folded ben~ath the front portion of the cluster. As the front portion of the .30 cluster pro~resses onto the platform 66, the front support élement 78 retracts, as is clearly shown in Figure 11, due to the cam followers 84 going down ramp portions 250 of the cams 86. The springs 88 cause pivoting of tbe arms 74 to effect this retraction.
When the cluster is in the position illustrated in Figure 11, it is still being stabilized by.the front , . . .
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spacer element 138 and is supported by the rear support element 80. It is also stabilized by the resilient pad 114. However, the front retainer 110 has bPgun to dis-engage.
As the cluster continues to move to the left, the front flap 62 is continued to be folded beneath the cluster. Shortly before the rear flap 64 approaches the first rod 248, an air blast from an air nozzle tube 252 is directed against the underside of the flap 64 and holds it tightly against the underside of the cluster. Due to the step arrangement o~ the leading edge of the platfoxm 66, the leading edge of the flap 64 passes up over the adjacent portion of the flap . 62 a~d over the leading rod 248, as sho~n in Figure 12.
~hen the leading portions of the rear articles of the cluster become supported by the leading rod 248, as shown in Figuxe 12, the rear support element 80 may now be retracted since tipping of the rear articles of the cluster is prevented by the spacer element 138.
The spacer element 138 now becomes substantially the sole means for advancing the cluster. As the cluster advances onto the supportiny platform 66, the resilient pad 114 moves out of engagement with the top of the cluster and the cluster is supported solely by the supporting 25 platform 66. ~s the spacer elemen~ 138 pushes the cluster along the supporting platform, the ~ront fl~p 62 is folded completely beneath the cluster and ~t the same time, due to the frictional resistance against movement of the flap 62 over the first rods 248, the wrap W is drawn tightly around the cluster C to form a tight package.
At this point, the spacing unit 128 begins to elevate and at the same ~ime the related draw member 120 -moves around a sprocket 396 into engagement with the l~ex rear portion of the wrapped cluster, as shown in Figuxe 7.
The draw member 120 now takes over the responsibilit~ o discharging the wrapped cluster of f of the supporting '.
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platform 66 and moving the same onto a discharge con-veyor 254 which is a part of a shrink tunnel (not shown).
The.discharge conveyor 254 may be of any construction and includes drive sprockets 256 carried by a drive shaft 258.
The operation of the wrapping station is now completed.
It is also to be noted at this time that since the spacing of the draw members 120 is greater than the spacing of the spacer elements 138, the wrapped cluster is advanced more rapidly and away from the following cluster which has not had the wrapping thereo~ completed. Thus, there is an increase in spacing of the clusters delivered to the shrink tunnel over that of the spacing of the clusters in the wrapping station.
Referring once again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the conVeyor chains 34 of the infeed conveyor 32 extend around a suitable pattern of sprockets which include drive sprockets 260, carried by a drive shaft 262. The top run of the infeed conveyor 32 is the only effective run, and the path of movement of the top runs are controlled by guide bars 264, as shown in Figure 6. In a like manner, the paths of conveyor chains 108 above the paths of move-ment of the clusters are controlled by sets of guide bars 266. Further, the paths of movement of the lo~er runs of the conveyor chains 126 above the path of movement of the clusters are controlled by guide bars 268.
~ s far as this invention is concerned, the point of drive of the machine is immatexial. However, for de-s~riptive purposes and as is shown in Figure 13, the dis-charge conveyor 254, which leads into the shrink tunnel, may be c~nsidered to be the source of drive, and the shaft 258 thereof carries a sprocket 270 which is coupled to a spxocket 272 carried by a transverse shaft 274 by a chain 276, On the near side of the wrapping station 40 the shaft 274 carries a sprocket 278 with which there is 35 meshed a chain 280. The chain 280 drives a sprocket 282-carried by the drive shaft 158. A chain 284 extends fx~
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another sprocket (not shown) on the shaft 158 to a sprocket 286 carried by the drive shaft 154 to drive the drive shaft 154. The drive shaft 154 carries a sprPcket 288 which drives a sprocket 290 on the drive shaft 150 by means of a chain 292. This completes the drive for the upper part of the wrapping station. It is pointed out here, however, that the relative sizes of sprockets have been varied only for purposes of illustration and the sprockets 148 and 152 are to rotate at the same rate when they are the same diameter and the sprocket 156 is to rotate at a higher speed because of the grea~er rate of travel of the conveyor chain 118.
On the near side o~ the machine, the drive shaft 146 is driven from the drive shaft 274 by a sprocket 292 on the shaft 274 and a sprocket 294 on the shaft 146, the sprockets 292 and 294 being interconnected by a chain 296.
At this time it is pointed .out that the con~eyor chain 70 must be driven at the same rate as the conveyor chains 108 and 126.
The drive shaft 274 also drives a drive shat 298 by a drive which is mounted on the near side of the machine.
To this end the drive shaft 274 has a sprocket 300 driving by way of a chain 302 a sprocket 304 carried by the shaft 298. The drive shaft 298 provides the drive for the rear of the machine.
Most specifically, the drive shaft 298 by means of sprockets 306 and 308 and a chain 310 drives a speed ¦.
reducer 312. The speed reducer 312 has an output shaft 314 carrying a sprocket 316 driving a chain 318 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 320 carried by a shaft 322 on which the drive roll 45 is mounted. In this manner, the film 56 is delivered from the roll 42 at the same rate as is required in the wrapping of the clusters. The speed reducer 312 is variable for this purpose. I
The drive shaft 298 als~ carries a sprocket 324 which drives a sprocket 326 through a chain 328. The sprocket 326 drives a sprocket 330 of the toothed belt .-20- ~ 63~
and by way of a belt 332 drives a sprocket 334 coupled to the-support and feed roll 160 fox driving the same. This drive is also on the far side of the machine.
On the near side of the machine the support and 5 feed roll 162 drives the support and feed roll 160 by means of a toothed belt and sprocket drive arrangement 336.
The drive shaft 298 drives a further shaft 338 by means of sprockets 340, 342 and a chain 344. If de~
sired, the shaft 338 may be that element which has been . 10 previously described as the rod 192.
The sha~ts 338 and 262 have suitable sprockets thereon connected by a chain 246 or driving the infeed conveyor 32. Incidentally, an idler sprocket of the infeed conveyor 32 may be carried by the shaft 298.
The shaft 338 also drives the cam shaft 182 by - means of sprockets 348 and 35Q and chain 352.
Finally, the drive of the auxiliary support 224 is driven rom the shaft.338. At each side of the machine there is a shaft 354 which is driven from the sha~t 338 by ~o means of the sprockets 356, 358 and a chain 360. The shaft 354 carries the sprocket 238. The sprockets 234, 236 and ..- - - 240 a-re carried by shafts 362, 354 and 366, respectively.
The shafts 354, 362, 364 an.d 366 carry sprockets 368,.370, 372 and 374, respectively, all lying in a single plane and interconnected by an encircling chain 376.
The infeed conveyox 32 has for each chain there-of an idler sprocket 378 carried by a shaft 380, and the shaft 380 serves as a drive ~or the feeder 26 by way of sprockets 382, 384 and chain 386.
It is to be understood that the conVeyor 16 may be suitably dir~en in any manner, either by a separate drive or from the drive of Figure 13, including the drive shaft 380. To this end, as shown in Figure 4, the conVey~x . .-16.. includes a drive drum 338 mounted on a drive shat 390 35 carrying a sprocket 392 driven by a chain 394.
Reexring once again t~ Fiyure 13, it will be seen that the cam shaft 182 is pxovided with two ~uxther ,. ,~ .
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cams 398 and 400. The cam 398 is associated with a valve 402 which controls the supply of air under pressure from air,line 404 to an air line 406 leading to the nozzle 242.
There is also a valve 408 which controls the flow of air from the air line 404 to the air line 410 leading to~the air nozzle tube 252.
It will be seen from the shape of the cams 398, 400 that air is supplied to the respective nozzles only at certain times in timed relation to the movement of a p'ar- -tially wrapped cluster relative to the respective nozzles.
The timi'ng ha~ been described hereinabove.
Although the illustrated machine is particularly adapted for ~rappin~ articles (cans) of a predetermined height, it will be readily apparent that by ~suitably elevating the upper conveyor 106 and possibly the spacing device 124, the ~rapping station 40 may be adapted to the wrapping of like clusters but ~herein the articles forming the clusters are of a di~farent height.
Although only a preerred embodiment of the machine has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations,may be made in the machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
I
The articles pass from the aliyning device 14 and are received on support strips 24, there being one support strip for each column of articles. The articles proceed along the support strips 24 and are engaged by an infinitely variable spacing feeder to assure the trans-verse alignment of the rows of articles. As shown in Figure 1, the feeder 26 includes flight bars 28 having thereon pairs of pins 30 which engage behind the articles and assure the movement thereof along the strips 24 in transverse alignment.
The transversely aligned and columnized articles pass to an infeed conveyor 32 while still supported on the support strips 24. The infeed conveyor 32 includes two conveyor chains 34 which have extending transversely therebetween flight bars 36, Each flight bar 36 has pairs of pins 38 pro~ecting upwardly therefrom with pins of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a respect-ive one of the support strips 24 for engaging a rear por-tion of an article in the same manner as do the pins 30 of the flight bars 28. The spacing of the flight bars 36 is such that the articles are moved along the support strips 24 arranged in clusters C of, in the illustrated form of the invention, six articles, the articles being arranged in two transverse rows of three articles each. The infeed conveyor 32 feeds the clusters C ~o the wrapping station of the machine, the wrapping station being generally identified by the numeral 40.
It is to be understood that each cluster C is to be wrapped with a wrap film supplied from a continuous roll 42 of such film. The film is delivered from the roll 42 by a feed mechanism 44 at a constant rate in accordance tf~
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., -8~ 32 with the predetermined demands of the wrapping station 40.
The feed mechanism 44 includes a drive roll 46 and a back-up roll 48 The drive roll 46 is carried by a support 50 and has a fixed axis of rotation. The back-up roll 48 is carried by a pivotally mounted support 52 which is con-nected to the support 50 by means of a spring 54 so as constantly to urge the back-up roll 48 toward the drive roll 46 and thus form a nip assuring the positive driving and feeding of the wrap film, which film is identified by the numeral 56~ The film 56 passes around a pair of idler rolls 58, 60 into the wrapping station 40.
As is clearly shown in the sequence of Figures 1 and 2, a cluster C to be wrapped passes under a portion of the film 56 leading into the Wrapping station 40 and underlies the cluster. ~hile the film is held against the top of the cluster, the film behind the cluster is drawn down past the cluster and between that cluster and the next following cluster until the necessary ilm to form the required wrap has been drawn. The drawn film is then severed as shown in Figure 2b with the result that the cluster C has the wrap ~ now disposed over the top and down the two sides thereof and the ~ap includes a front bottom closure flap 62 and a rear bottom closure flap 64.
The flap 64 is preferably of a length no greater than the longitudinal dimension of the article and the flap 62 is of a length approaching the longitudlnal dimension of the cluster~ This is clearly shown in Figure 2b.
As is shown in Figures 2c and 2d, the flap 64 is folded beneath the rear portion of the cluster and then the cluster is moved onto a supporting platform, generally identified by the numeral 66 which simultaneous-ly folds the front flap 62 beneath the cluster and effects tightening of the wrap W about the cluster to form the completely wrapped cluster of Figure 2g, which ~rapped cluster is then delivered to a con~entional shrink tunnel (not shown) where the Xl~ps 62, 64 are first heat bonded .
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together and then the film is heat ~hr~nk in a conventional manner.
Reference is now made to Figure 5 wherein all of the general details o~ the wrapping station 40 are illus-trated. First of all, the wrapping station 40 includes alower conveyor generally identified by the numeral 68.
The lower conveyor 68 includes two transversely aligned chains 70 which carry transversely aligned support plates 72. Each transversely aligned pair of support plates 72 carry a pair of pivotally mounted arms 75, 76 which, in turn, carry a front support element 78 and a rear support - element 80.
Referrin~ now t~ Figure 6 in particular, the specific configura~ion of the axms 74 and 76 is illustrated.
Each arm 74 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 82 carried by.
the respective support plate 72.and has connected to the .
outer end thereof the respective transversely extendin~
.. front support element 78. The innex end .of the arm 74 is ---provided with a cam follower.84 which en~ages a first cam 86 for positioning the ~ront support elements 78. As shown in ~igure 11, associated with the pivot 82 is a spring 88 which c~nstantly urges the axm 74 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 82 to hold the cam follower 84 against the cam 86. Rotation of the arm 74 in a clockwise direction is res~riGted by.a pin 90 ex~ending through a slot 92 in the plate 72.
The arm 76 is of a ~imilar construction and mounting, but is of a different configuratian. Each arm 76 is pivotAlly mounted on a piVot 94 carried by it~
39 respective support plate, and is urged to rotate ab~ut that pivot in a clockwise direction by a spring 96 as shown in Figure 11. The outex ends of pairs o the arm~
76 are joined by the respective rear suppoxt elements 80 and the inner end of each.arm 76 is provided with a c~m follower 98 which engages a cam 100. Each ar~ 76 alsQ
carries a pin 102 which is xecei~ed in a slot 104 in the ' , -lo~ 7~32 support plate 72 to limit the rotation of the arm by its spring.
The wrapping station 40 also includes an upper conveyor, generally identified by the numeral 106. The upper conveyor 106 includes a pair of transversely spaced and aligned conveyor chains 1~8 which have extendin~ there-between sets of retainers, each set of retainers including a front retainer 110 and a rear retainer 112. The front retainers 110 are prefexably in the form of angle wembers and engage upper front corners of the clusters. The re~r retainers 112 have resilient pads 114 on the undersides thereof, which pads engage the upper surface of the rear portion of a cluster. The relationship of the retainer 110 and pad 114 with respect to a typical cluster is best shown in Figure 6.
It will be readily apparent from Figure 5 that the lower conVeyor 68 and the upper conveyor 106 cooperate fully to suPport a cluster and to transport the cluster from the in~eed conveyor 32 to the supporting platform 66.
The wrapping station 40 also includes a dra~ unit generally identi~ied by the numeral 116. The draw unit 116 functions both to draw the film 56 do~n between adjacent clusters and to feed ~rapped clusters off of the supporting platform 66. The draw unit 116 al~o includes a pair of transversely aligned and tr~nsversely spaced conVeyor chains 118 which are suitably ~ounted ~or movement in unison. Extending between the chains 118 are pairs of draw members 120 and 112. The draw member 120 leads the draw member 112 and serves as the primary drawin~ ele~ent to draw the film between adjacent clusters~ The draw member 122 cooperates with the draw member 120 when the film is below the predetermined path of movement of the clusters to tension the film to facilitate cutting thereof in a manner to be descxibed hereinafter. The draw member 120 also functions to position wrapped clusters from the supporting platform in a manner also to be dPscxibed here-inafter.
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;32 The wxapping s~ation 40 further includes a spac-ing device generally iden~ified by the numeral 124. The spacing device 124 also includes a pair of transversely spaced and transversely ali~ned conveyor chains 126. A
plurality oE spacing units 128 are carried by the conveyor chains 126. Each spacin~ unit.l28 includes a pair of sup-port plates 130, 132 carrled by each of the chains 126.
As best shown in Fi~ure 6,.each ~upport plate 130 has pivotally m~unted thereon an arm 134. Each support plate 132 also has mounted thereon an arm 136. The remote ends of the arms 134, 136 are pivotally joined together to form a scissors arrangement. Extending between t~e joined to-gether outer ends of the arms 134, 136 is a spacer element 138.
The arm 134 has rigidly secured thereto a fur-ther arm 140 which carries a second spacer element 142.
The scissors arrangement of the arms 134., 136 permits the con~eyor chain 126 to pass ~round sprocXets while the rigid mounting o~ the arm 140, which supports the spacer element 142, permits the spacing between the support elem~nts 13 and 142 to remain constant.
~t this time it is pointed out that the spacing between spacer units 128 is the same as that of the spac-ing of the e~ments of the lower conVeyor.68 ~nd the upper conveyor 106.
Returning now to Fi~ure 5, it is to be under-stood that the convey~r ch~ins 70 may be mounted on any suitable sprocket arrangement and all that is required is that the chain~ 70 include drive sprockets 144 which are carried by a driven shaft 146.
In a like manner, the conyeyox chains 108 of the upper conveyor 106 may be supported in any desi~ed spxocket arrangement except that the chains must have a horizontal lower run. The sprockets do include a drive sprocket 148 for each of the chains 108. The drive sprockets 148 are carried by a drive shaft 150.
~2~ 7~3~
The spacing device 124 has the conveyor chains 126 thereof mounted on any desired sprocket arrangement which will permit the passage of the spacing units as required, and the only limitation is that the.conveyor chains 126 must have a horizontal lower run. In other words, the upper runs of the chains 70 and the lower runs of the chai.ns 108 and 126 must be parallel to one another and to the path of movement of the clusters through the wrapping station 40. The sprockets for the conveyor chains 126 include drive sprockets 152 which are carried by a drive shaft 154.
The mounting of the conVeyor chains 118, ho~ever, provide a different probl~m. The general mounting of the chains 118 above the path of movement of the clusters is variable. ~owever, the path of the conveyor chains 118 generally in alignment with.the path of movement of the clusters must be controlled as shown in Figure 5. Further, -- because the spacing.of the draw m~mbers is greater than the spacing of .the elements of the upper and lower conveyors ~nd the spacing device, there must be provided means for absorbing this extra spacing beneath the path of the clusters and this is specifically shown in Figure 7 and will be described in detail hereinafter.
The conVeyor ~hains 118 are, however, driven by 25 dri~e spxocket~ 156 which are mounted on a drive shaft 158.
It is to be noted that the dxiYe shafts 150, 154 and 158 are disposed adjacent one another.
Refexring now to ~igure 6, it will be seen that the infeed conVeyor 32 and the supPoxt strips 24 terminate 30 adjacent ~ p~ir of combined suppo~t and feed rolls 160, 162, These rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed as the infeed conveyor 32, and as the ~xont articles ~f a cluster.
C moVe thereon, they ~re fed and supported by the xolls 160, ~62. As the fxont ~rticles of *he cluster moVe off of the roll 160, the associated fxont support ele~ent engages beneath the articles and ser~es to support and ,: ~ ' ''' ' ~ ' ' ' ,~ :
~13~ 2 convey the articles at the same speed as previously ~ed by the.infeed conveyor 32. Then, the rear articles of the cluster pass onto the rolls 160, 162 and out of control of the infeed conveyor 32. The rolls 160, 162 feed the rear articles to the left and before the rear articles pass off of the roll 160, they are engaged by the rear support ele-ment 108. Thus, the articles of each cluster C are readily trans~erred from the infeed conveyor 32 to the lower con-v~yor 68 in an uninterrupted continuous action.
It will also be seen from Figures 5 and 6 that the front retainer 110 fully engages th~ front corner of the clus er at the ~ame time as the front articles.of the clus.ter are fully supported by the front support element - .
so as to prevent the forward tipping of the articles. The front retainer 110 lbosely engages the film 56 and permits the drawing of the film over the ne~ cluster. At a~out the time shown in Figure 6, the resiliènt pad 114 of ~he rear retainer 112 engages the upper surface of the rear portion of the cluster and serves to clamp the film 56 thereagainst. At this time, the drawing of the film for the preceding cluster has been com?leted and the resilient - j pad 114 now serves to hold the film 56 for the drawing thereof to effect wrapping of the new cluster.
At this time the next following draw member 120 has engaged the film 56 rearwardly of the cluster and has started drawing the film do~n beyond the cluster! j It is to be noted that the spacer elements 138 and 14~ ~ollow the draw members 120 and 122 down between the adjacent clusters and the spacer element 142 serVes to hold the ~ilm against the front of the trailing cluster as is clearly sho~n in Fi~ure ~. j Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, it will be seen that at this time the associated portions of the con-veyor chains 118 are passin~ undex sprockets 164, then ovex sprockets 116, and under sprockets 168 so ~s to change the spacing between the draw members 120, 122 of that : , ,, : .
76~
particular set of draw members. This results in the ten-sioning and supporting o~ the film 56 so that it may be engaged by a hot wire 168 and severed.
The wrapping Station 40, of course, includes a frame 170 which may ~e of any construction and a portion only thereof is shown in Figure 8. The frame 170 includes ~-frame members 172 ~hich have pivotally mounted thereon sup-port arms 174 which are joined together by a transverse connecting arm 176. The connecting arm 176 carries an upper support member 178 which, in turn, carries an in-verted yoke 180 including the hot wire 168.
A cam shaft 182 extends txansversely of the machine and carries a cam 184. The cam 184 is engaged by a cam followex 186 which, in turn, is carried by the sup-15 port arm 174 by wa~ of a bracket 188.
The fxame 170 also include~ frame members 190having a first transVerse rod 192 extending therebetween.
A spring 194 extends between the rod 192 and the support member 178 and normall~ holds the hot wire 168 in a re-tracted position and the cam ollower 186 against the cam 184.
Since the hot Wire 168 is always heated, it is necessary to pXotect against engage~ent thereof by the film after the film has been cut. To this end there is 25 provided a guard uni~ 196. The guard unit 196 is carried by a pair of arms 198 pivotally mounted on the rod 192.
The arms 198 carry a bracket 200 ~hich supports a cam follower 202 ~7hich engages a cam 204 carried by the cam shaft 182.
The guard unit 196 is constantly urged toward a retracted position by means of a spring 206 which extends between a bracket 208 carried by the frame 170 and an axm 210 carried by the bracket 200.
The guard unit 196 includes a shield plate 212 I, which normally overlies the hot ~7ire 168. Further, a flap214 extends up~7ardly from the shield plate 212 to wipe against the depending Eront flap 62.
"
::
:: : ., -`
-15- ~7~
~fter the film 56 has been drawn and severed, the draw members 120, 122 play no part in the wr~pping operation, and it is merely necessary to absorb the extra spaci~g of the draw members by runnin~ the conVeyor chains 118 over further sprockets 216, 218, 220 and 222, as sho~n in Figure 7.
The film having been sevexed and the wrap W now being in the for~ o~ a sepaxate piece of film, it is neces- .
sary to fold the rear bottom closure flap 64 beneath the rear portion of the cluster, followed by a folding o~ the front bottom closure flap.under both the cluster and the rear bottom closure flap. The rear bottom closure flap is first folded into place in the manner shown in Fi~ures 9 and 10.
The wrapping station includes an auxiliary sup-port 224 which is mounted for mo~emant in an orbital path 226~ The auxiliary support 224 extends transversely of the machine and is carried b~ a pair of upstanding arms 228 each of which IS secured to a pair of~endless conVeyors 230, 232 positioned vertically above one anothex and havin~ like paths of movement. The conveyor 230 is supported by a pair of sprockets 234, 236 which are driven in unison ~hile the conveyo~ 232 is supported by a pair o~ sprockets 238, 240 ~ which are also driven in unison and at the same rate as ; 25 the sprockets 234, 236~ .
It is also pointed out at this time that the auxiliary suppor~ 224 carries an air nozzle arrangement 242 for directing an air blast general`ly longitudinally of the path of movement of the clusters and beneath the same.
The auxiliary support 224 moves into position.
beneath the rear poxtions of the rear articles o~ the I -^
cluster while the xear support element 80 is still support-ing the articles. Once.the auxiliary support 224 is in the : 35 required supporting position, the rear supPort element 80 retracts as shown in Fiyure 10. This is caused b~ the ':' , ~ ' ; ~
. ~
.
~ 3~
c~ followers 9B engaging the recesses 2.~4 in the cams 100. This assures the arms 76 being pivoted in a clockwise direction by the springs 96.
The rear support element 80 having ~oved away from the underside of the cluster, the rear bottom closure flap 64 is now free to be blown beneath the rear articles of the cluster and this is accomplished by the air nozzle arrangement 212. After sufficient time has elapsed for the blowing of the flap 64 into place, the cam ~ollowers 90 ride up onto the surface of the cams 110 with the result that the rear support element now swings back into place as shown to the left in Figure 10, clamping the rear ,. bottom closure flap 64 against the underside of the rear.
of the cluster C.
It is to be understood that the air nozzle arrangement is operated only for a short period of time and is'controlled by a valve arrangement to be described hereinater.
Referring now to Figure 11, it ~ill be seen that the cluster, wïth the flap 64 in place, now approaches the supporting platform,66. At this time it is pointed out that.the supporting platform is formed by a pair of trans-versely extending rods 248 which are.fixed against rota-tion and which are of a slightly lesser diameter than the rollers 246 so that the leading portion of the platform 66 has a step.
As the front portion of the cluster C moves up onto the rods 248, the fxont flap 62 i~ folded ben~ath the front portion of the cluster. As the front portion of the .30 cluster pro~resses onto the platform 66, the front support élement 78 retracts, as is clearly shown in Figure 11, due to the cam followers 84 going down ramp portions 250 of the cams 86. The springs 88 cause pivoting of tbe arms 74 to effect this retraction.
When the cluster is in the position illustrated in Figure 11, it is still being stabilized by.the front , . . .
- ~ ~
, s -:- .
-17- ~ 3~
spacer element 138 and is supported by the rear support element 80. It is also stabilized by the resilient pad 114. However, the front retainer 110 has bPgun to dis-engage.
As the cluster continues to move to the left, the front flap 62 is continued to be folded beneath the cluster. Shortly before the rear flap 64 approaches the first rod 248, an air blast from an air nozzle tube 252 is directed against the underside of the flap 64 and holds it tightly against the underside of the cluster. Due to the step arrangement o~ the leading edge of the platfoxm 66, the leading edge of the flap 64 passes up over the adjacent portion of the flap . 62 a~d over the leading rod 248, as sho~n in Figure 12.
~hen the leading portions of the rear articles of the cluster become supported by the leading rod 248, as shown in Figuxe 12, the rear support element 80 may now be retracted since tipping of the rear articles of the cluster is prevented by the spacer element 138.
The spacer element 138 now becomes substantially the sole means for advancing the cluster. As the cluster advances onto the supportiny platform 66, the resilient pad 114 moves out of engagement with the top of the cluster and the cluster is supported solely by the supporting 25 platform 66. ~s the spacer elemen~ 138 pushes the cluster along the supporting platform, the ~ront fl~p 62 is folded completely beneath the cluster and ~t the same time, due to the frictional resistance against movement of the flap 62 over the first rods 248, the wrap W is drawn tightly around the cluster C to form a tight package.
At this point, the spacing unit 128 begins to elevate and at the same ~ime the related draw member 120 -moves around a sprocket 396 into engagement with the l~ex rear portion of the wrapped cluster, as shown in Figuxe 7.
The draw member 120 now takes over the responsibilit~ o discharging the wrapped cluster of f of the supporting '.
' ,'''. .,' ; . :
, :
i3~
platform 66 and moving the same onto a discharge con-veyor 254 which is a part of a shrink tunnel (not shown).
The.discharge conveyor 254 may be of any construction and includes drive sprockets 256 carried by a drive shaft 258.
The operation of the wrapping station is now completed.
It is also to be noted at this time that since the spacing of the draw members 120 is greater than the spacing of the spacer elements 138, the wrapped cluster is advanced more rapidly and away from the following cluster which has not had the wrapping thereo~ completed. Thus, there is an increase in spacing of the clusters delivered to the shrink tunnel over that of the spacing of the clusters in the wrapping station.
Referring once again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the conVeyor chains 34 of the infeed conveyor 32 extend around a suitable pattern of sprockets which include drive sprockets 260, carried by a drive shaft 262. The top run of the infeed conveyor 32 is the only effective run, and the path of movement of the top runs are controlled by guide bars 264, as shown in Figure 6. In a like manner, the paths of conveyor chains 108 above the paths of move-ment of the clusters are controlled by sets of guide bars 266. Further, the paths of movement of the lo~er runs of the conveyor chains 126 above the path of movement of the clusters are controlled by guide bars 268.
~ s far as this invention is concerned, the point of drive of the machine is immatexial. However, for de-s~riptive purposes and as is shown in Figure 13, the dis-charge conveyor 254, which leads into the shrink tunnel, may be c~nsidered to be the source of drive, and the shaft 258 thereof carries a sprocket 270 which is coupled to a spxocket 272 carried by a transverse shaft 274 by a chain 276, On the near side of the wrapping station 40 the shaft 274 carries a sprocket 278 with which there is 35 meshed a chain 280. The chain 280 drives a sprocket 282-carried by the drive shaft 158. A chain 284 extends fx~
., , .
.
' Z
another sprocket (not shown) on the shaft 158 to a sprocket 286 carried by the drive shaft 154 to drive the drive shaft 154. The drive shaft 154 carries a sprPcket 288 which drives a sprocket 290 on the drive shaft 150 by means of a chain 292. This completes the drive for the upper part of the wrapping station. It is pointed out here, however, that the relative sizes of sprockets have been varied only for purposes of illustration and the sprockets 148 and 152 are to rotate at the same rate when they are the same diameter and the sprocket 156 is to rotate at a higher speed because of the grea~er rate of travel of the conveyor chain 118.
On the near side o~ the machine, the drive shaft 146 is driven from the drive shaft 274 by a sprocket 292 on the shaft 274 and a sprocket 294 on the shaft 146, the sprockets 292 and 294 being interconnected by a chain 296.
At this time it is pointed .out that the con~eyor chain 70 must be driven at the same rate as the conveyor chains 108 and 126.
The drive shaft 274 also drives a drive shat 298 by a drive which is mounted on the near side of the machine.
To this end the drive shaft 274 has a sprocket 300 driving by way of a chain 302 a sprocket 304 carried by the shaft 298. The drive shaft 298 provides the drive for the rear of the machine.
Most specifically, the drive shaft 298 by means of sprockets 306 and 308 and a chain 310 drives a speed ¦.
reducer 312. The speed reducer 312 has an output shaft 314 carrying a sprocket 316 driving a chain 318 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 320 carried by a shaft 322 on which the drive roll 45 is mounted. In this manner, the film 56 is delivered from the roll 42 at the same rate as is required in the wrapping of the clusters. The speed reducer 312 is variable for this purpose. I
The drive shaft 298 als~ carries a sprocket 324 which drives a sprocket 326 through a chain 328. The sprocket 326 drives a sprocket 330 of the toothed belt .-20- ~ 63~
and by way of a belt 332 drives a sprocket 334 coupled to the-support and feed roll 160 fox driving the same. This drive is also on the far side of the machine.
On the near side of the machine the support and 5 feed roll 162 drives the support and feed roll 160 by means of a toothed belt and sprocket drive arrangement 336.
The drive shaft 298 drives a further shaft 338 by means of sprockets 340, 342 and a chain 344. If de~
sired, the shaft 338 may be that element which has been . 10 previously described as the rod 192.
The sha~ts 338 and 262 have suitable sprockets thereon connected by a chain 246 or driving the infeed conveyor 32. Incidentally, an idler sprocket of the infeed conveyor 32 may be carried by the shaft 298.
The shaft 338 also drives the cam shaft 182 by - means of sprockets 348 and 35Q and chain 352.
Finally, the drive of the auxiliary support 224 is driven rom the shaft.338. At each side of the machine there is a shaft 354 which is driven from the sha~t 338 by ~o means of the sprockets 356, 358 and a chain 360. The shaft 354 carries the sprocket 238. The sprockets 234, 236 and ..- - - 240 a-re carried by shafts 362, 354 and 366, respectively.
The shafts 354, 362, 364 an.d 366 carry sprockets 368,.370, 372 and 374, respectively, all lying in a single plane and interconnected by an encircling chain 376.
The infeed conveyox 32 has for each chain there-of an idler sprocket 378 carried by a shaft 380, and the shaft 380 serves as a drive ~or the feeder 26 by way of sprockets 382, 384 and chain 386.
It is to be understood that the conVeyor 16 may be suitably dir~en in any manner, either by a separate drive or from the drive of Figure 13, including the drive shaft 380. To this end, as shown in Figure 4, the conVey~x . .-16.. includes a drive drum 338 mounted on a drive shat 390 35 carrying a sprocket 392 driven by a chain 394.
Reexring once again t~ Fiyure 13, it will be seen that the cam shaft 182 is pxovided with two ~uxther ,. ,~ .
'' ~
-21- ~3~
cams 398 and 400. The cam 398 is associated with a valve 402 which controls the supply of air under pressure from air,line 404 to an air line 406 leading to the nozzle 242.
There is also a valve 408 which controls the flow of air from the air line 404 to the air line 410 leading to~the air nozzle tube 252.
It will be seen from the shape of the cams 398, 400 that air is supplied to the respective nozzles only at certain times in timed relation to the movement of a p'ar- -tially wrapped cluster relative to the respective nozzles.
The timi'ng ha~ been described hereinabove.
Although the illustrated machine is particularly adapted for ~rappin~ articles (cans) of a predetermined height, it will be readily apparent that by ~suitably elevating the upper conveyor 106 and possibly the spacing device 124, the ~rapping station 40 may be adapted to the wrapping of like clusters but ~herein the articles forming the clusters are of a di~farent height.
Although only a preerred embodiment of the machine has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations,may be made in the machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
I
Claims (23)
1. A package forming machine for forming packages each including a cluster of articles and a surrounding wrap, said machine comprising conveyor means for supplying clusters of articles in spaced relation, means for supplying a continuous wrapping film, cooperating upper and lower conveyors for con-veying clusters of articles along a predetermined path from said conveyor means to a discharge in cooperation with one another, continuously circulating film drawing means mounted above said path and movable down between adjacent clusters to draw the film down between the adjacent cluster, and continuously circulating spacer means mounted above said path for movement between partially wrapped clusters separate and apart from said upper and lower conveyors for holding the film against adjacent clusters and for maintaining the spacing between adjacent clusters.
2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said upper con-veyor includes plural sets of retaining elements, each set of retaining elements including an angular front retaining element for engaging a front upper corner of a cluster of containers having film overlying the same and a rear retaining element for overlying a top rear portion of a cluster and clamping film thereagainst.
3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said lower con veyor includes an endless conveyor carrying plural sets of support elements, each set of support elements including front and rear support elements separately mounted on the same endless conveyor and positioned for underlying and supporting front and rear portions of clusters.
4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said front support element is mounted for directly engaging articles only, and there are means for controlling the movement of said rear support elements to temporarily move away from an associate cluster to permit the positioning of a rear flap of the wrap to be engaged with the underside of the rear portion of each cluster and above the respective rear support element.
5. The machine of claim 4 together with an auxiliary support movable to cluster supporting rearwardly of each rear support element at a predetermined point along said path.
6. The machine of claim 5 wherein said means mount said auxiliary support for movement along said path for drawing the rear flap forwardly under an associated cluster.
7. The machine of claim 6 wherein said auxiliary support has associated therewith air blast means for blowing the rear flap forwa-dly under the cluster for engagement by the respective rear support element.
8. The machine of claim 3 wherein there is a platform for receiving wrapped clusters, said front support elements being mounted for disengagement with a cluster at a time when the front portion of the cluster is supported by said platform, and said platform in association with the movement of the cluster along said path forming means for drawing a front flap of the wrap rearwardly both to complete the wrap and to tighten the same about the cluster.
9. The machine of claim 8 wherein there are air blast means positioned adjacent said platform for holding a rear wrap flap against the bottom of the cluster to facilitate movement of the rear flap onto said platform.
10. The machine of claim 1 wherein said film drawing means includes pairs of draw members movable in unison in between adjacent clusters and down below said path to draw between adjacent clusters an amount of the film to enclose sides of the cluster and form bottom closure flaps, the draw members of each pair having a path of move-ment including a portion wherein when the required film is drawn it is held tensioned between the two draw members of each pair, and there are cutter means for engaging the tensioned wrap between the two draw members in spaced rela-tion thereto to sever the same.
11. The machine of claim 1 wherein said film drawing means includes pairs of draw members movable in unison in between adjacent clusters and down below said path to draw between adjacent clusters an amount of the film to enclose sides of the cluster and form bottom closure flaps, the draw members of each pair having a path of upward movement including a horizontal portion wherein a leading one of each pair engages a wrapped cluster and effects the discharge of such wrapped cluster from the machine.
12. The machine of claim 1 wherein said film drawing means includes a plurality of draw members, and means defining the path of movement of certain of said draw members wherein each said certain draw member first moves down between adjacent clusters to draw the film down between and below adjacent clusters and thereafter moves upwardly and assums a pushing position relative to a wrapped cluster to effect discharge of the wrapped cluster from the machine.
13. The machine of claim 12 wherein the wrapped cluster is the forwardmost one of the adjacent clusters between which the respective certain draw member passes.
14. The machine of claim 1 wherein said spacer means includes pairs of spacer members, and means mounting said pairs of spacer members for movement between adjacent clusters after the film has been drawn therebetween.
15. The machine of claim 14 wherein said means mounting said pairs of spacer members include endless con-veying members, and scissors type mounts maintaining a fixed spacing between spacer members of each pair while permitting the spacer members to move along arcuate paths.
16. The machine of claim 12 wherein said draw members axe mounted in pairs, and said path of movement includes a portion wherein when the required film is drawn it is held tensioned between the two draw members of each pair, and there are cutter means for engaging the tensioned wrap between the two draw members to sever the same.
17. The machine of claim 12 wherein said upper and lower conveyors include cluster engaging members arranged at a like first spacing and said draw members are arranged at a second and greater spacing.
18. The machine of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower conveyors and said spacer means each include cluster engaging members arranged at a like first spacing, and said drawing means include draw members arranged at a second and greater spacing.
19. The machine of claim 1 with said film drawing means comprising a plurality of draw members, conveyor means mounting said draw members for movement along a predetermined path, said predetermined path including movement of each said draw member between first and second clusters to draw film for wrapping the two clusters and movement at a later point along said cluster path behind the first cluster to push the same first cluster out of the machine.
20. The machine of claim 19 wherein the spacing of said draw members is greater than the spacing of the clusters and the rate of movement of said draw members is greater than the rate of movement of the clusters whereby the pushed cluster is accelerated.
21. The machine of claim 1 wherein said articles are of a circular cross-section and said conveyor means includes means for supplying articles in internested columns, wherein transversely adjacent articles are longitudinally offset, and an aligning device for moving adjacent articles into transverse rows, said aligning device including guide means defining a separate path for each column of articles, said paths varying in length in accordance with the longitu-dinal offsetting of the transversely adjacent articles when internested.
22. The machine of claim 21 together with single conveyor means underlying said paths for advancing adjacent articles at different rates.
23. The machine of claim 21 wherein the articles are arranged in three columns and said paths include a cen-tral straight line path and two outer arcuate paths.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US89237778A | 1978-03-31 | 1978-03-31 | |
| US892,377 | 1978-03-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1107632A true CA1107632A (en) | 1981-08-25 |
Family
ID=25399868
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA323,934A Expired CA1107632A (en) | 1978-03-31 | 1979-03-21 | Package forming machine |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (2) | EP0004744B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS555380A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU532583B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1107632A (en) |
| MX (1) | MX149750A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA791322B (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4689934A (en) * | 1985-03-08 | 1987-09-01 | The Mead Packaging Corporation | Apparatus for and method of applying wrap to article clusters |
| AU634232B2 (en) * | 1989-05-17 | 1993-02-18 | Molins Plc | Wrapping machines |
| IT1258028B (en) * | 1992-07-31 | 1996-02-20 | Dimac Spa | FEEDING, CUTTING AND WINDING GROUP OF FILMS ON PRODUCT CONDITIONING MACHINES |
| IT1263438B (en) * | 1993-06-18 | 1996-08-05 | Baumer Srl | METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THE WINDING BAND IN THE WRAPPING STAGES OF THE ITEMS IN THE MACHINES PACKING MACHINES OF ITEMS WITH WRAPS OF WRAPPING MATERIAL. |
| DE102006054469B3 (en) * | 2006-11-18 | 2007-12-20 | Franz-Josef Meurer | Integrated foil stamping device, has clamps descending laterally downward before third clamp that is behind conveyor belt, where packages are laid at clamps that are accelerated in short-run manner |
| EP3064440B1 (en) * | 2015-03-02 | 2017-09-13 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | Product wrapping unit for a packaging line |
| DE102019120676A1 (en) | 2019-07-31 | 2021-02-04 | Khs Gmbh | Device and process for the formation of bundles from individual packs |
| DE102019120679A1 (en) * | 2019-07-31 | 2021-02-04 | Khs Gmbh | Device and method for the formation of bundles from individual packs |
| CN111731566B (en) * | 2020-06-23 | 2024-06-28 | 佛山市托肯印象机械实业有限公司 | Automatic binding equipment |
| CN114852434B (en) * | 2022-05-12 | 2024-05-31 | 歌尔股份有限公司 | Automatic board-dividing packaging mechanism and automatic board-dividing packaging production line |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1786483A1 (en) * | 1966-01-24 | 1972-02-24 | Platmanufaktur Ab | Device for distributing packaging units or the like to a machine for group-wise packing of such packaging units or the like. |
| USRE28535E (en) * | 1970-06-22 | 1975-09-02 | Packaging machine and method |
-
1979
- 1979-03-20 ZA ZA791322A patent/ZA791322B/en unknown
- 1979-03-21 CA CA323,934A patent/CA1107632A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-22 AU AU45419/79A patent/AU532583B2/en not_active Withdrawn - After Issue
- 1979-03-28 EP EP79300505A patent/EP0004744B1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-28 EP EP81107023A patent/EP0049377A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-03-29 JP JP3631879A patent/JPS555380A/en active Pending
- 1979-03-30 MX MX177138A patent/MX149750A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS555380A (en) | 1980-01-16 |
| AU532583B2 (en) | 1983-10-06 |
| EP0004744B1 (en) | 1983-02-16 |
| MX149750A (en) | 1983-12-15 |
| EP0004744A3 (en) | 1979-10-31 |
| AU4541979A (en) | 1979-10-04 |
| EP0049377A1 (en) | 1982-04-14 |
| EP0004744A2 (en) | 1979-10-17 |
| ZA791322B (en) | 1980-04-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |