Patent GB-1162612-A (GB)
Title: A Machine for Securing Together Limbs of an Artificial Christmas Tree
Inventor: DIEFFENBACH PERCY
IPC: A41G1/02
Filed: 1967-04-19
Abstract: 1,162,612. Making Christmas trees. P. DIEFFENBACH. 19 April, 1967 [11 July, 1966], No. 18063/67. Heading A4X. [Also in Division B8] A machine for wrapping a cross-limb 16 of an artificial Christmas tree around a main limb 14 thereby forming a tree limb having three tips comprises an endless chain 160 for moving the tree limbs from a feed station A to a wrapping station B and then to a discharge station C, and a mechanism at the wrapping station B for wrapping the cross-limb 16 around the main limb 14, the wrapping mechanism being operative when the conveyer chain is stopped and vice versa. An eccentric arm 40 on a shaft 36 driven by an electric motor 30 is pivotally connected to a rod 46 pivotally connected to a rocker arm 50 pivoted on a shaft 52. The oscillating movement imparted to the rocker arm by the rod 46 is converted into clockwise rotation of a sprocket 64 by a pivoted pawl 58 on the rocker arm engaging one of three equispaced notches 62 on a ratchet wheel 56 on the return stroke only of the rod 46. The sprocket 64 thus rotates intermittently, each rotation being a third of a revolution. The sprocket 64 is coupled by a chain 72 to a small sprocket 70 which drives a shaft 68, Fig. 6, having an eccentric arm 78 carrying a parallel shaft 76 having an annular disc 82 slidably received on its free end. Each one third revolution rotation of the large sprocket 64 causes the parallel shaft 76 to rotate three times around the shaft 68 and during these rotations the disc 82 engages an end of a cross-limb 16 and wraps it around a main limb 14. The endless chain 160 is carried by two spaced sprocket wheels (150), 158, the wheel (150) being driven intermittently from the shaft 36 by means of a rod 104, a rocker arm 106, a pivoted pawl 108 and a ratchet wheel 114, the mechanism being similar to that for driving the wrapping mechanism; but the two mechanisms are out of phase so that when one is stopped the other is moving. The mechanism for driving the endless chain 160 is additionally provided with a positive stop means in the form of a spring urged pivoted lever 124 having an end 122 adapted to engage in rectangular recesses 120 in the ratchet wheel 114, disengagement being effected by the rocker arm 106 during its idle counter clockwise movement. The mechanism for driving the endless chain is also provided with an adjustable brake which is continuously applied and comprises a V-belt 142 disposed in a V groove of a pulley 140 rotating with the driven sprocket wheel (150). The endless chain 160, Fig. 12, has links provided with teeth forming gaps in which an operator places a cross-limb 16 and a main limb 14 in crossed relationship; and in order to hold the limbs in place during movement of the chain and when the end of the cross-limb is being wrapped around the main limb a stationary guide member 194, Fig. 6, having a pair of spaced plates 196, extends downwardly between the two rows of chain links and presses on the limbs. Each tree limb comprises a pair of twisted wires which capture filaments of polyvinyl chloride.