Patent GB-419060-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for wrapping and banding cigars and like articles
IPC: B65B19/26
Filed: 1933-02-28
Abstract: 419,060. Banding and wrapping cigars &c. TRIGGS, W. W., 57, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.-(International Cigar Machinery Co. ; 5520, 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.) Feb. 28, 1933, No. 6062. [Class 94 (i).] The machine applies bands to cigars and similar articles and wraps them in transparent cellulosic wrapping material. The banding mechanism is independent of the wrapping mechanism and may be placed so that the band is applied before or after wrapping. The cigars, which may have been previously boxed, are retained in the same relative position to each other, to facilitate reboxing. Cigar feed. The cigars C, Fig. 1, are delivered on belts 189 running over pulleys 190, and pass beneath a top tension device comprising a bracket 191 carrying a floating arm with rollers 193 resting on a belt 194. The belts 189 run faster than the delivery conveyer of the cigar magazine to separate them, and they form a block against guide fingers 160 and beneath spring fingers 147. The fingers 160 move forward with the leading cigar and prevent it from turning until it enters a jaw formed by a lifting platform 163<1> and fingers 174. The platform and fingers 174 rise, and bring the cigar between the lowermost set of arms 175, 176 on a turret mounted for intermittent rotation on a shaft 105. The arms 175 are fixed to the shaft and the arms 176 are movable and adapted to close upon the cigar, which, after release by the fingers 174, is carried through a right-angle to a position opposite the first conveyer chain 132. A transfer mechanism, consisting of a plunger 188 and fingers 207 on sliding rods 208 actuated by a rack 205 and segment 204, moves the cigar between fingers 213, 214 on the chain 132, which are momentarily opened by a block 209 on the rods 208 acting on a tail piece 217, after which they close by spring action. There are two similar sets of fingers on chains spaced apart so that the cigar is held towards the ends to allow room for the banding operation. Banding-mechanism. The cigar arrives at position A, Fig. 6, beneath a band magazine 286 from which bands are removed by a turret mounted for intermittent rotation and vertical reciprocation. The turret comprises arms 275 having air channels 282, Fig. 9, and suction heads 283. a non-rotary air regulating head 284, connected to a suction pump, connects the suction heads to the pump at the appropriate times. The turret rises and a band B is removed by the suction head and presented to a moistening device comprising a wheel with a felt ring rotating in a container . The gummed end of the band is pressed against the ring by levers and, after another quarter turn, is brought above the cigar. The turret now moves downward vertically and applies the band to the top surface of the cigar. Fingers 309, 310 move downwards into the position shown in Fig. 9 and fold the band against the sides of the cigar, and remain in this position until the bottom folds are made, to prevent bulging. The first bottom fold is made by a pair of fingers 325, Figs. 9 and 19, pivoted at 327 to a guide plate 326 on a stud 328 on a slide 330 moved into position by a segmental gear 334 and rack 333. The fingers are caused to move downwards by the action of a cam surface 344 on an arm 342 and are then moved upwards by a spring 345. The last bottom fold is made by a roller 346 on a spring pressed arm 348 and actuated by a gear 353 and rack 352. A wedge shaped piece 359 mounted on the sliding carriage 351 engages pins 360 on the folders 325 and causes them to move outwards in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 19, the roller 346 entering between them to make the last fold. The side folders 309, 310 retire and the banded cigar is led by the conveyer chains beneath a resilient plate 367 and over a pressing plate 366, which hold the band until adhesion is ensured. The cigar is now ready for transfer to the wrapping mechanism. Wrapper feed. The wrapping material, which may be of transparent cellulosic material, is fed from a reel R, Fig. 24, over a friction roller 451, guide roller 452 and floating roller 453 into the clamping and cutting mechanism. The web is clamped between a stationary top plate 483, Fig. 20, and a bottom plate 484 pivoted at 486 and intermittently raised into clamping position. While the clamps are open the required length of material is pulled through them by jaws 505, 525 on a sliding carriage 506. The clamps close and knives 477, 480 sever a length to form a wrapper. A sliding carriage 541, having clamping fingers 545 adapted to be opened by trip rollers 558, 563 at each end of the travel, positions the sheet between the cigar C on the conveyer chain 132 and the wrapper chain 411. Wrapping-mechanism. In the course of the wrapping operation, the cigar is transferred from the pocket in the chain 132 into the grip of arms 429, Figs. 6 and 30, in the chain 411. The transfer device comprises a vertically reciprocable head 374 upon which levers 396 are pivoted at 395. The levers carry clamping fingers 398 pivoted at 397 and normally urged inwards by a spring 402 against adjustable screws 403. A cigar C passes into the position shown in Fig. 30 and the head 374 moves upwards. A cam piece 383 frees a roller 384 and allows a rod 387 to move to the right. A bell-crank lever 393 is thereby rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to cause the upper ends to press against the extensions 217 of the grippers 213, 214, which are thus opened. Meanwhile, a rod 401 has been raised to bring a plate 404 against the lower surface of the cigar, and the clamping fingers 398 have closed on the sides, the rollers 400 riding on to the upper thin part of the rod 401 to allow the spring 402 to pull the fingers towards each other. The cigar is now in position between the arms 429 of the chain 411, a contact plate 436, Figs. 6 and 34, assisting the movement. The arms are carried on gear racks 428 moved in opposite directions to open and close them as required. In moving upwards, the cigar carries the wrapper A with it, the arms folding it down as shown in Fig. 6 so that three sides are enveloped. The cigar is next carried to an idle station II, Fig. 6, and to station III at which an inter-locking longitudinal fold is made. On arrival at this station, the right hand depending edge of the wrapper is partly folded up by a plate 591 as shown in Fig. 48, and a blade 590 forces both edges into a recess in the edge of the plate to make the interlocking fold shown in Fig. 49. The plate now turns about its left-hand edge through a half revolution and the cigar is moved to the right, Fig. 52, the fold being pressed smooth by a bridge plate 584. A plate 593 holds the seam while end folding is being carried out at stations IV, V and VI. The wrapper now forms an open-ended tube. At station IV, a bellows fold is made in the ends of the tube by blades 604, Figs. 62 and 66, which approach each other while fingers 605 flatten the end. Guide fingers 629 approach each other and hold the folds during transference to station V, at which creaser dies 641, Fig. 72, crease the bellows fold along a transverse line. A finger 654 is moved forward after the dies separate to turn up the free end for a guide plate to retain it in position during movement to station VI, where corrugating dies 662, Fig. 75, crimp the turned over bellows fold. In order to prevent breakage of the wrapper, the dies move towards the cigar during the operation. At station VII the wrapped cigar is transferred, by a mechanism similar to that described with reference to Fig. 30, into the grippers of a conveyer chain 681, Fig. 6. If the banding is to be carried out after the wrapping, the banding mechanism is arranged in position M shown in broken lines on the right of Fig. 6. Delivery mechanism. On arrival at the position shown in Fig. 80, plates 733 on rods 725 raise the cigar against pressure plates 745, and ejectors 770 expel it over a bridge piece 763 slotted to interengage slots in a corresponding plate 734. The cigar now passes along a table 759 between guides 773, 774, and beneath tension straps 776 weighted at 777, and are slid off the table into a box placed on a shelf 779.