Patent GB-722093-A (GB)
Title: Machine for banding bundles of envelopes
Inventor: INGLIS JOHN FAIRNINGTON
IPC: B65B27/08
Filed: 1950-10-07
Abstract: 722,093. Wrapping-machines. CARLAW (ENGINEERS), Ltd., D. Aug. 8, 1952 [Oct. 7, 1950], No. 24545/50. Class 94 (1). A machine for banding bundles of envelopes comprises a banding station to which each bundle is fed, and which is occupied initially by a withdrawable former in which the bundle is temporarily supported, a gummer adapted to engage one end of a band and move in a circular path so as to wrap the band partly around the former, opposed folders adapted to act on the end portions of the band to complete the wrapping operation and adhesively unite said portions, and means for discharging the wrapped bundle from the banding station. The machine shown comprises a gumming arm'29 projecting from a ring 30 which is journaled on a fixed circular block 31 and is formed with gear teeth 32 by which it is rotated intermittently through gearing 65-70A from a main shaft 7 driven by an electric motor 5, the gearing including a one-way clutch 78 and a pawl-and-ratchet coupling controlled by a lever 75 operated by a cam on the shaft 7 and the arrangement being such that each complete revolution of the arm comprises a short movement followed by a short period of rest and then a long movement followed by a long period of rest. A pawl-controlling pin 72 on the lever 75 is adjustable to enable the machine to deal with bands of different lengths. The left-hand folder 35 is carried by a block 85 slidable on a ledge 86, opposite ends of the block being connected to a chain 87 which passes over guide pulleys 88 and around a pivoted toothed quadrant 89 which is rocked by a link 91 coupled to a lever 92 fulcrummed on a shaft 18 and carrying a roller 83A engaging a cam 83 on the shaft 7. The right-hand folder 36 is mounted on a carriage 93 which is fitted with a roller 94 riding on a ledge 95 and is supported by a lever 96 fulcrummed on the shaft 18 and actuated through linkage 98, 100 by a bellcrank lever 101 also fulcrummed on the shaft 18 and carrying a roller 84A engaging a cam 84 on the shaft 7. A pile of bands 16 is contained in a magazine 15 carried by a lever 17 fulcrummed on the shaft 18 and carrying a roller 64A engaging a cam 64 on the shaft 7; the base of the pile being supported by a platform 19 on a rod 24 which is movable upwardly relative to the magazine by a weight 21 connected to a chain 22, but is normally locked in position by a spring-loaded friction pawl 20. The bundle of envelopes is pushed through a guide 8 into a former comprising upper and lower plates 13 and 14 supported by a block 40 carried by a rod 46 which is movable axially of the support 31 by a lever 44 actuated by a side cam face 42 of a cam 43 on the shaft 7, the plate 13 being movable vertically relative to the plate 14 by mechanism actuated through a link 51 by a peripheral face 50 of the cam 43. As the arm 29 moves from its initial position shown in Fig. 1, it makes contact with a roller 33, which dips into a bath of adhesive 34, and then comes to rest opposite one end 11A of the uppermost band of the pile 16. The magazine is then moved upwardly by the cam 64, whereby the pawl 20 strikes a stop 28 and is disengaged from the rod 24, and the platform 19 is urged upwardly by the weight 21 to press the end of the band against the arm. The magazine then returns to its initial position leaving the band adhesively attached to the arm. The latter then continues its circular movement to carry the end of the band around the former 13, 14 the folder 35 is moved inwardly and stops temporarily adjacent the edge of the lower plate 14 to position the lower end of the band, and a member 37 is moved inwardly through linkage operated by a cam 106 on the ring 30 to impose a drag on the band so that it is applied under tension. When the arm again comes to rest, the folder 35 moves further inwardly to hold the end of the band against the plate 14 and the folder 36 moves inwardly to detach the end 11A from the arm and press the gummed surface thereof against the end held by the folder 35. After withdrawal of the member 37, the plate 13 is depressed under the control of the cam surface 50 to relieve the grip of the band, the former is withdrawn by the action of the cam surface 42, the bundle being retained by stops 107, and the folders move to the right together so that a pusher 35A on the folder 35 moves the wrapped bundle into a discharge channel defined by plates 38, 39.