Patent GB-1264849-A (GB)
IPC: B65C3/12
Filed: 1969-11-12
Abstract: 1,264,849. Wrapping articles. MASCHINENBAU AACHEN-FURSTENAU G.m.b.H. 12 Nov., 1969 [16 Nov., 1968; 4 Oct., 1969], No. 55365/69. Heading B8C. In a method of completely, or partially, wrapping cylindrical articles 10, or single packs of articles, a sheet of material 32 is drawn from a rotatable drum 31 as a rotary conveyer 1 is rotated and an article 10, released from an entry track 10 by a synchronized escapement 21, engages between one of a plurality of pairs 8, 9 of axially-extending rollers, equi-angularly spaced around the circumference of the conveyer 1, and traps the leading end of the sheet which is blown, by means of nozzles 34, into contact with the article as the latter rotatively engages a cylindrical abutment 18, which is preferably internally lined with foam rubber, or the like, to wrap the sheet tightly around the article 10. The correct length of sheet is cut off by a heated wire cutter 37 controlled by weights or cam mechanism. The cutting operation can be controlled so that the article is wrapped twice. A further article 10 is supplied to the succeeding pair of rollers 8, 9 (before the sheet 32 is cut) to ensure continued entrainment of the sheet. Hot sealing, or gluing, of the sheet is carried out during the remainder of the rotational movement of the fully wrapped article 10 before it is conveyed over a dispatch track 40 to a collecting station or further conveyer. A motor 14 drives the rotary conveyer 1, the escapement 21, and cams 42, 43 which, through valves 44, 45, control the blasts of compressed air to the nozzles 34 and a further nozzle 38. The rollers 8, 9 of each pair are mounted at each end respectively in the radial arms 6, 7 of twin carriers which are angularly adjustable, and lockable, by means of screw-and-slot mechanism 13 to vary the spacing between the rollers 8, 9 of each pair. In a modification, Fig. 2 (not shown), an escapement (54) delivers the articles (10), correctly timed, on to the pairs of rollers (8, 9) mounted on an endless chain conveyer (48), the abutment arrangement for rotating the articles comprising two sets of pivotally mounted bars (56, 59), and the cutting of the sheet being effected by a single cutter (62). A conveyer (65) takes off the packed articles (10) and works in conjunction with a spring-loaded co-operating surface (69) which is heated for hot sealing purposes. A further modification, Figs. 3a, 3b, 4 (not shown), also employs an endless chain conveyer (48) which is of the double link chain type, the outer (80, 83) and inner (81, 82) chains respectively supporting the rollers (8) and (9). The number of pairs of supporting rollers can vary, for example, there can be six, eight, fourteen, &c. pairs. The arrangement includes a solenoid-operated escapement (90) and a positive drive (94) for the sheet (32) which drive is synchronized with the drive motor (99) for the conveyer and is set in accordance therewith by a proportional controller (101). A suction device (111) also assists the action of nozzles (108). The abutment for producing the rotary wrapping movement in the articles (10) comprises a pair of bars (117) which extend beneath the upper run of the conveyer (48) and meet the under-surfaces of the articles (10). Further rotary movement of the articles can be derived from an abutment arrange - ment (56) which is located above the conveyer (48), is spring-loaded, and has a heatable abutment plate (56). To accommodate different sized articles the rollers 8, 9 are adjustable with respect to each other, the abutment bars (117) also being adjustable in the longitudinal direction.