Patent GB-993148-A (GB)
Title: Shirring machine and method
IPC: B62D1/26
Filed: 1961-08-18
Abstract: 993,148. Shirring machines. TEE-PAK Inc. Aug. 18, 1961 [Sept. 19, 1960], No. 29938/61. Heading A2B. [Also in Division D1] In an automatic shirring machine a continuous tubular casing is led on to and shirred on a floating mandrel and severed lengths of the shirred casing are then transferred on to separate and distinct receiving mandrels. Casing 4 from a roll 5 is led over the measuring roll 9 having a co-operating squeeze roll 8 and is guided on to the leading end 21 of a floating tubular mandrel 22 through which air is passed to inflate the casing and is shirred by a shirring head 31, e.g. as described in Specification 764,455, comprising shirring belts 34 trained over pairs of pinions 35, 36, 37, 38. The shirred casing 43 is compacted by fastrotating, resilient grooved compaction rolls 44, 45 and is periodically severed by the cutting yoke 99 of a severing means 93 into strands 115, (A, Fig. 3) which are compressed in turn, by the jaws 119 of a reciprocated carriage 116 which close on the mandrel 22 and push the strand 115 against a clamp 65, Fig. 1, (B, Fig. 3) which serves to hold the trailing end 63 of the floating mandrel 22 against endwise and sidewise movement. One of a series of receiving mandrels 187 on a rotatable turret 177 and indexable to twelve positions is then moved into supporting engagement with the mandrel 22 and clamp jaws 65 open (C. Fig. 3) to allow the strand 115 to be pushed into contact with a compressor/doffer 199 (D, Fig. 3). The receiving mandrel 187 is then disengaged from the mandrel 22 and by indexing (rotation) of the turret 177 is moved to a position where the compressor/ doffer 199 is acted upon by the pusher rod 204 of a hydraulic compressor 206 to push the shirred strand against a compressor member 201. A further indexing of the turret then causes the compressor/doffer 199 to be retained by a holding member 209 (E, Fig. 3). Several subsequent indexes of the turret finally bring the end of the mandrel 187 clear of the compressor member 201 allowing a hydraulically operated doffer means 212 to doff the strand 235 (F, Fig. 3). The machine driving mechanism comprises an electric motor 17 which through sprocket and shaft systems, Fig. 2, rotates the measuring roll 9, drives the shirring head 31 (by rotating pinions 38), drives machine and head counters 283, 282, and operates the severing mechanism 93 via horizontal shaft 56, vertical shaft 54, gears 53, vertical shaft 52, bevel gears 51, and shaft 100. The latter shaft drives the compaction rolls 44, 45 through a sprocket and chain system. Shaft 54 further effects through reduction gearing (three speeds provided) comprising a gear shifter yoke 85, the rotation of a shaft 83 which through a worm 82 and worm wheel 81 rotates a shaft 80 (and extensions 79, 78 thereto) carrying cams 167, 114, 77, 143, 193, 184. Cam 167 causes reciprocation of a block 164 on a chain 163 which through a sprocket/shaft/gear system causes reciprocation of a chain 146 and the carriage 116 which is attached to it. Cam 114 causes the severing means 93 to operate, cam 77 the opening and closing of the clamp jaws 65, cam 143 the turning of rails 117, 118 on which the carriage is mounted to open and close its jaws 119 and to raise it clear, and lower it toward, the mandrel 22, cam 193 the endwise shifting of the receiving mandrels 187 and cam 184 the indexing of the turret 177. The electrical system comprises conductors 218 connected to the electricity supply and connected through switches 219 to conductors 220. The circuit to the motor 17 is completed through tear switches 19 which break the circuit if tear rolls 18 move together as a result of the inflated casing collapsing. The motor 17 is also deenergized if a magnetic transducer close to the mandrel 22 detects the latter out of alignment. Solenoids 208, 217, 174 controlling valves 207, 216 and 173 respectively of the hydraulic compressors 206, 212 and 172 (the latter assists the carriage to move from right to left, Figs. 1 and 2) are connected between conductors 220-220 for energization in the proper timed relationship through contacts 221a-223a by cams 221-223 on a shaft 227 which is chain and sprocket driven from shaft 80. Similarly, contacts 221a-275a are synchronously opened and closed with respect to the operation of the severing means 93 and form part of an electrical control circuit, Figs. 9 and 10, not shown, which includes electrically energized clutches 12, 58 and brakes 11, 57 on the driven shafts 10, 56, and machine and head counters 283, 282 which accurately measure the number of revolutions of the shaft 10 and thereby the length of casing 4 passing between the rolls 8, 9. This control circuit operates when splices, which may occur at random locations along the casing 4 cause squeeze roll 8 to jump up temporarily and operate the contacts of a splice detecting switch, which causes variation in the normal operating sequence of the shirring head 31 and severing means 93 so that the splice is just moved past the focus of severing before the cutting or scoring yoke 99 operates. The severing means 93 comprises a finger or digger 95 which moves upwardly to engage the casing and fast-rotating pinch rolls 96-96 cause an intermediate portion of the casing to extend and become unshirred; the bifurcated yoke 99 then moves up to sever the casing at this point and the pinch rolls then re-shirr the extended severed end of the casing. The finger 95, yoke 99 and pinch rolls 96 are all arranged to move along with the casing as they operate. The shirred casing handling mechanism 3 is movable endwise with respect to the shirring head 2 so that various lengths of shirred casing can be produced. Figs. 12-17 and 40-43, respectively, not shown, illustrate the exact construction of the severing means 93 and turret 177 which are only shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1, 2. Air to inflate the casing is provided through clamps 65, when closed, or through the tubular receiving mandrels when these are in supporting engagement with the floating mandrel. Lubricant, e.g. mineral or other inert oil, is applied to the casing by the shirring belts, and by a revolving brush to the receiving mandrels. A modification is described in which the carriage jaws 119 compress the shirred casing directly against the compressor/doffer 199, clamp members 65 being opened earlier than is normally the case.