Patent GB-611178-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to wrapping machines
IPC: B65B11/02
Filed: 1946-04-24
Abstract: 611,178. Wrapping-up. TURNER, R. April 24, 1946. No. 12389. [Class 94 (i)] A method of wrapping an article consists in resting it on a wrapping over an opening, thrusting it and the wrapping by means of a plunger through said opening past wiper means with one motion on to a fixed base to lie adjacent stop means and then moving a combined device comprising top and end folding elements and pusher means which engage the partly wrapped article succesively in another single motion transversely to its first motion to further wrap the article whilst held by the stop means, and moving the latter to allow the device to thrust. the partiy wrapped article into contact with further folding means for the wrapping to be completed. The partly wrapped article after the first motion may be held during further folding operations by front and rear stop means and then released by the front stop means to be moved through final folding operations. An article 12 is placed on a wrapping 13 over an opening 3 and is thrust down by the depressor 5 through a wiper box 1 having inner walls, preferably resilient, e.g. due to brushes 4 forming slots 10. The article then rests on the base plate between the front and rear stop means 14 and 15, the latter of which is fixed, the former being controlled to descend from the path of the article. The article has the wrapping folded up its sides and ends with a substantially inverted triangular knife-edge fold at each corner. On moving a hand lever 17 the top folder is moved to fold the rear side of the wrapping down, attached end fold formers 18 folding the rear triangular end folds inwardly on to the article, after which the article is pushed by a member 19. On advancing the member 19 the cam levers 20 linked to the operating means 21 lower the stop means 14, and the article is pushed under a stationary top folding plate 22. At the same time the flared ends 23 of two guide members fold the remaining side end folds inwardly, the upper parts of the end folds being then accommodated in guide slots 24 (Fig. 5). The handle 17 is now reversed, the recess 26 in the cam levers 20 allowing the stop means 14 to rise to. prevent withdrawal of the article. The next article pushes along the first article beneath the plate 22 to flatten down the last formed top flap. The top end folds are turned from the horizontal through an angle of 90 degrees by the flared ends 23 and led through slots 29. By passing through slots 30 in the plate 22 the end folds come over the top to complete the wrapping of the article. While wrapping the folds may be sealed by automatic gumming. With waxed paper, for example the folds can be sealed by heating the folding elements. A different type of fold can be produced by having a wiper box with no brushes and slots and arranging fingers 31, 32, Fig. 13, at each end to tuck in the ends, the lower and upper folds being then consecutively formed by inclined slots 33 and 34 in end guides 35. Wrapping material can be fed automatically by an associated guillotine actuated e.g. by the depressor mechanism. Articles could also be fed automatically or by manually operated means beneath the depressor. In a machine for wrapping ice cream blocks which are severed from a co:umn in a vertical hopper wherein the column is horizontally cut through by a knife mounted in guides moved by a hand lever, continued movement of the knife causes a horizontal pusher to push the blocks beneath a depressor whilst the column is supported. On withdrawing the knife the column moves down. A wire or chain passing over a pulley and attached to a foot treadle is used to move the combined folder and pusher.