Patent GB-586336-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to mechanisms for wrapping blocks of rectangular shaped articles
IPC: B65B11/42
Filed: 1944-10-07
Abstract: 586,336. Wrapping-machines. ARKLE, F. M., and COFFIN, E. V. Oct. 7, 1944, No. 19274. [Class 94 (i)] In mechanism for wrapping blocks of rectangular-shaped articles such as packets of cigarettes, wherein a reciprocable plunger presses each block into one of a series of pockets on the periphery of a drum thereby partly folding the wrapper, the wrapping being completed during one rotation of the drum and the block ejected, the drum is power-driven to move in stages on the manual operation of a control member. The article to be wrapped may comprise twenty packets each comprising ten cigarettes. The packets are fed five abreast from a cigarette-packing machine by a plunger on to a table between extensions of guide plates 58, 59. The operator places a heat-sealable waxed paper wrapper 123 on a table 8 and beneath the plates 58, 59 to register over an aperture 57 in the table, then slides four batches of five packets of cigarettes over the wrapper and beneath a plunger 61. The plunger presses the article (packets) and wrapper into a slot or pocket 110 in a rotatable drum 11 whereby the wrapper encloses the bottom and two sides of the article. A plate 71 extending the width of the drum, and a plate 76 on each side of the drum, carried by an arm 70 are moved to fold the top left and two left end flaps. On rotation of the drum to the next stage where a heater 38 for the top folds is situated, fixed side plates 23 fold the two right end flaps. Movement to the next stage carries the article past a presserroller 40 which also acts as a cooler. At the third stage side plates 26 are actuated to fold the top flaps, and in moving to the fourth stage fixed side plates 51 fold the bottom flaps. A heater 55 at the fifth stage acts on the end folds, and a cooler and presser 56 therefor is situated at the sixth stage. At the seventh stage the wrapped article is ejected on to a table 47 by a plunger 29. Rotation of the drum 11 from stage to stage is controlled by the operator who, by depressing a lever 124, engages a one revolution clutch 5 with motor-driven gearing. The machine comprises a bedplate 1, a casing 2 for the motor driving means, two side frames 6, 7 (not shown) secured to the casing and carrying the table 8 and drum shafts, and a leg mounted on the bedplate and carrying a feeding-table forming an extension of the table 8. A mounting 19 on the casing 2, having an arcuate surface the same width as the drum and extending from a point 45 to the platform 47, carries the cooler 56, heater 55, fold plates 51, and a pair of flat retaining plates 50. A bracket 20 secured to the table 8 is provided with an arcuate surface the same width as the drum, and carries the heater 38, the cooler and presser 40, and the fold-plates 23, 26. The drums 11 comprises two castings bolted together in spaced relationship, each half being rotatably mounted on a separate shaft. A common housing 27 for the inner ends of the shafts also comprises a slideway for the plunger 29. A crank rod 92 oscillated by the clutch 5 is pivoted to a lever 94, which reciprocates the plunger 61 through a pivoted lever 65 and link 64, and to one end 88 of a bell-crank lever 82 fixed on one shaft 31 of the drum. A driving- pawl 91 on the end 88 is shown as engaging a stud 99 secured to the drum; there are eight such studs, and upward movement of the rod 92 will bring the pawl into engagement with the next stud 100 so that the downward movement of the rod will rotate the drum clockwise to the next stage. The drum is locked at each stage by a latch 101 engaging one of the studs, but a cam-shaped surface 86 on the upper end 83 of lever 82 trips the latch when it swings anticlockwise and again when it swings back. A pawl 84 on the end 83 engages a detent 87 on the fold lever 70 during this movement of the lever 82 to swing the lever 70 forward. The lever 70 is mounted on the shaft 31, and has an extension connected to a lever 81 which rocks the fold plate 26. Oscillation of the shaft 31 by the lever 82 operates the plunger 29 through levers 96, 97.