Patent GB-353642-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the method of and apparatus for folding wrappers around tablets
IPC: B65B11/38
Filed: 1930-06-20
Abstract: 353,642. Wrapping-up tablets. FORGROVE MACHINERY CO., Ltd. and GROVER, F., Oakhurst Avenue, Dewsbury Road, Leeds. June 20, 1930, No. 18860. [Class 94 (i).] In folding a wrapper around a tablet one end is enclosed in a wrapper with projecting wrapper sides which are folded on to the tablet with one of the wrapper sides overlapping the other, the folding of the wrapper sides forming at the unenclosed end of the tablet an open cylinder which is twisted in such a direction as to retain the wrapper sides in their overlapping relationship. Tablets are placed by hand between co - operating a r m s o n parallel chain conveyers and fed thereby along a fixed support to a plunger 8, Fig. 11, which raises each tablet successively into the path of a plunger rod 10 disposed opposite a slot between fixed plates 23, 24. In the meantime, an outer wrapper, fed from a container by continuously rotating rollers on to which the container is lowered periodically, and an inner wrapper out from a web are disposed in front of the plates and the rod 10 pushes the tablet 5 through the slot to fold the wrappers into U-shape about it, a rod 22 engaging the wrappers and front of the tablet to assist in positioning it. Around the rod 10 is a carrier 12, Fig. 4, which supports the tablet and shapes the extending. side portions.of the wrapper during the folding. The rod 10 advances further, leaving the carrier 12, to allow pins 26 on an arm 27 to tuck down the upper parts of the wrappers snugly about the tablets, forming looped portions at the front thereof, prior to folding plates, disposed about slots 35 on a rotatable table 30, turning over these looped portions 73 as shown in Fig. 16. Spring grippers on the table 30 now retain the tablet while the table rotates half a turn to bring the tablet to grippers 36, 37, Fig. 7, adapted to thrust it through the slot 35 between guides 40 to turn the wrapper sides upwards. The upper gripper 36 rises as side grippers 41, 42 take hold of the tablet and a blade 44 folds down one side of the wrapper on to the tablet, the blade holding the fold until the other side has been folded by a similar blade 46 and then being withdrawn. The unenclosed end of the tablet now presents an open cylinder, into which, during its formation, the head 48, Fig. 9, of a rod 49 has been introduced to ensure the cylindrical formation. The rod 49 slides in a sleeve 59 itself slidable in an outer sleeve 60. The outer sleeve 60 carries pivoted grippers 52 which are closed on the open end of the package when the inner sleeve is displaced to the left in the sleeve 60, pins 56 on the inner ends of the grippers engaging slots in plates 58 secured to the end of the sleeve. The displacement takes place against the action of a spring 61 which tends to separate the sleeves. In operation, a lever 63 moves the sleeve 60, and consequently the sleeve 59 towards the tablet, the grippers being open. The head 48 of the rod 49 is withdrawn from the open cylinder and engages the end of the sleeve 59, closing the grippers. A pinion 66 rotates the sleeves and grippers, the grippers 51, 52 holding the folded end of the wrapped tablet moving forwards to accommodate the twisting. The completely wrapped tablet, Fig. 19, is then released and removed.