Patent GB-975808-A (GB)
Title: Method of and machine for packaging stockings and other articles
IPC: B65B25/20
Filed: 1963-03-26
Abstract: 975,808. Wrapping-machines. KOUSENFABRIEKEN HIN N.V. March 26, 1963 [Oct. 8, 1962; Jan. 7, 1963], No. 11861/63. Heading B8C. In a machine for folding stockings A around an insert B and then applying a wrapper C, the insert is held in position on the stockings during folding by suction acting through a part of the stockings. The inserts are rectangular sheets of paper supplied from a reciprocating tray 33, and the wrappers, which are rectangles with their shorter sides folded into flaps, are supported on ledges 37 within a container 36 by their longer sides. Before operating the machine a pair of stockings A is laid on a table 11 with its welts touching a fixed abutment 13 and its heels lying adjacent one of a series of equally spaced push-buttons 14 which serve to determine its size. An appropriate button 14 is then depressed to raise a printing bar 45 with the size thereon into an operative position beneath a printing ribbon 27, and the lower ends of the stockings are folded manually to the position shown in Fig. 6. Buttons 15 and 16 are then depressed to operate the machine, so that an insert B is lifted from the tray 33 in its raised position by suction nozzles 35 on a reciprocating arm 34 which then advances to lay the insert on the stockings whereupon suction is interrupted and the arm withdrawn. Suction nozzles 17, 18, and 20 in a recess 12 below the stockings operate to hold the insert B in position, whilst a folding rod 21 reciprocates to fold inwardly the bottoms of the stockings and a roller 26 depresses the insert into contact with the printing ribbon to print the size thereon. The folding is completed by a rod 24 reciprocating to fold inwards the stocking welts which are guided into position by a vertical rod 30 and a swinging fin 28. During the folding operation a wrapper C is taken from the container 36 by suction nozzles 40 on an arm 39, and placed in position on a pair of rods 41 which have stepped portions so that their distance apart is greater beneath the container 36. The rods swing rearwardly beneath the wrapper, which is held by lips 44, so that the flaps thereon are opened by a plate 42 carried by the rods and held in the open position by projections 41a on the rods, which then move forward carrying the wrapper with them. The folded stockings and their insert are raised by a plate 19 on which the suction nozzles 20 are situated and when they contact the wrapper suction is released and grippers 47 act to fold inwardly the flaps and support the wrapper against an arresting member 54, which prevents bulging of the package, whilst the plate 19 descends and rods 41 swing rearwardly. The grippers 47 and members 54 are operated by a projection 52 connected to the rods 41, and a second projection 50 operates a second pair of grippers 49 which swing inwardly and upwardly to raise the package into a position just below a conveyor having catches 56 thereon which engage the package and slide it on to a guide plate, from where it is pushed into a slideway by a striker connected to the driving wheel of the conveyor, and thence slides from the machine along supporting rods. In a second embodiment the inward folding of the stocking welts is achieved by dispensing with fin 28 and rod 30 and instead blowing the edge of the welt over by compressed air from nozzles in the table 11, and guiding it by a curl on an extended folding arm 24.