Patent GB-765912-A (GB)
Title: Wrapping machines
Inventor: FORSTER LESLIE GORDON
IPC: B65B25/18
Filed: 1954-01-15
Abstract: 765,912. Wrapping machines. FORSTERS MACHINE CO., Ltd. Jan. 14, 1955 [Jan. 15, 1954; June 4, 1954; Aug. 6, 1954; Aug. 6, 1954], Nos. 1307/54, 16642/54, 22969/54 and 22971/54. Class 94(1). [Also in Group XXX] In a machine in which articles are moved in succession along a bed between side guides and each article engages a wrapper and carries it through a folding-box, the guides and side members of the box are constituted by two series of transverselymovable plates interconiiected by vertical pivots which allow relative transverse movement between adjacent plates, each opposed pair of plates being urged towards one another by springs so that they adjust themselves automatically to variations in the width of the articles passing through the machine. Stacks A of round biscuits, supported by an endless band 9, are fed into the machine between adjustable guides by pushers 4 carried by endless chains 5, each stack being received by a platform 28 mounted on pivoted arms 54 which is lowered through linkage actuated by a cam 65 to deposit the stack on the machine bed 7 where it is engaged by one of a series of pushers 27 mounted on stems 23 which project through a longitudinal slot 22 in the bed and are carried by an endless conveyer. The latter drives the shaft 66 of the cam 65. The feed conveyer and machine bed may be slightly inclined upwardly to prevent the biscuits rolling forward. The side guide and folding plates comprise pivoted plates 12 having their ends resting on the platform 28, guide plates 13, 14, 17 and 18 and folding plates 15<SP>1</SP>, 15 and 16, 161 separated by inclined slots 43 and 44. the plates of each series being interconnected by double vertical hinges 19, 20 of which the latter is a pin and slot connection. The pivot 67, Fig. 6, of each plate 12 is carried by a bracket 68 secured to a support rail 69 carried by an arm 72 which is adjustably secured to the outer end of a bar 73 extending inwardly below the bed 7, the inner end of this bar being secured to a slider 74 mounted in anti-friction bearings 75. Arms 81 depending from the bars 73 are coupled by links 79 to a central two-armed lever 78, and springs 83 connected to the links and lever 78 urge the plates into contact with the ends of the stacks of biscuits. The plates 13-17 are similarly mounted except that they are rigidly secured to brackets on the rails 69. To facilitate the entry of each stack of biscuits between the plates 12, the latter are moved apart as they reach their uppermost position through linkage operated by a cam 85 on the shaft 66. The final guide plates 18 are secured to bars 94, Fig. 3, suspended by parallel links 95 which are coupled together by gears 98 acted on by springs 99. The side guide and folding plates are covered by spring-loaded top plates 34, 39 and 40 adjustably supported from transverse bars 102, and gaps which may occur between the sides of the plate 39 and the folding plates 15, 15<SP>1</SP> are covered by plates 105 carried by spring-loaded parallel links 106. As each stack of biscuits is moved past the hinges 19(1), 20(1) it engages a length of wrapping material W<SP>1</SP> which has been fed downwardly through a transverse gap 31 in the bed 7, and further movement between the plates 13 causes the downwardly and upwardly-extending parts 29 and 32 of the wrapper to be folded on to the lower and upper faces of the stack by the edge of the gap and a flange 33 on the top plate 34, and its sides to be tucked in by flanges 35 on the plates 13. The partially-wrapped stack then engages a second wrapper W<SP>2</SP> which has been fed downwardly through a transverse gap 37 in the bed, and this wrapper is folded and tucked in a similar manner by the edge of the gap, a flange 38 on the top plate 39 and flanges 42 on the folding plates 15. The laterally-extending flaps thus formed are then folded downwardly and upwardly by the inclined slots 43 and 44 and secured by heaters 45 carried by the plates 17, and the partially-wrapped stack is finally brought to rest on hinged supports between the plates 18. A plunger 125 carrying a folding plate 126 and spring-loaded fibre end pieces 127 then moves downwardly between the plates 18 to complete the folding of the rearwardly extending parts of the wrappers after the sides thereof have been tucked in. Each pusher 27, Fig. 5, comprises a body part 135 fitted with fibre end pieces 131 which are urged by springs into contact with the side plates. Plates 109, 110 are movable longitudinally through linkage operated by a cam 108 on the shaft 66 to decrease the width of the gaps 31 and 37 during the initial folding operations. Specifications 645,418 [Group XXX], 668,081 [Group VIII], 668,230 [Group XXX], 680,115, and 668,080, 668,082 (both Group VIII], 681,412 [Group XXXIV], 712,829 [Group XXXV], 727,118, 763,462, mentioned in Provisional Specification are referred to.