Patent GB-190312931-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting and Wrapping Candy Caramels and other Small Articles
Inventor: FAIRWEATHER WALLACE
Filed: 1903-06-09
Granted: 1903-08-27
Abstract: 12,931. Fairweather, W., [Page, W. B., and Hopkins, A. E.]. June 9. Parcelling. - Candy caramels and other small articles are cut and wrapped by apparatus such as that shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 12<a>, 12<b>, and 13. On the base-plate A, Fig. 1, are standards to support the driving-shaft C, carrying the cams D, D', D'. Mounted on a sleeve on the shaft is the carrying-wheel E adapted to be rotated intermittently. Surrounding the shaft C, and fixed to the base-plate is a camplate E'. At the front of the cam-plate are standards to support the table F<1> having side flanges f, within which the strip of caramel &c. is fed, and a slide F, Fig. 13, which carries devices by which the strip is fed and cut. The slide F is reciprocated by the cam D', and the arms G, G', which are pivoted underneath the slide a)d carry the feeding and cutting devices, are moved to and from one another by connection with the cam D<1>. The arm G carries at the end an open box G' having ai the sides cutting-blades g, g<1>, and the arm G<1> has a box G<3> carrying a cutting-blade g<2>. When the arms are brought together, the blades g, g<2> work at opposite sides to cut the strip, and the blade g<1> extends right across the feed-slide to separate the cut article from the next that is being cut. Pins g<4> on the arms engage with the strip, and aid the knives in feeding the strip along while it is being cut. The arms approach one another gradually and recede suddenly. A clip holds the strip while it is being cut, and suitable flanges or guides are provided to prevent the cut article from falling out laterally. The cut article is next fed, by means of a plunger P, into one of the pockets e in the periphery of the carrying-wheel E, the wrapping-paper having been previously fed into position, so that the article, on being fed into the pocket, carries the wrapper with it. The paper feeding and cutting device is shown in Fig. 4. The paper passes from a roll n over a roller n<3> on a spring arm N<1> pivoted to the roll-supporting hanger N, and thence over a roller n' on an arm N<2> pivoted at the base of the hanger, and carrying a spring n<1>, which rests against the roll. It then passes over a smooth guide-plate n<5>, to which it is pressed by a brush n<7> carried on the spring plate n<6>, and from thence through a tube m having slits at the sides, through which work the feed-rolls m<1>. On emerging from the tube m, it passes between the fixed cutter M' and the movable cutter M<2>, suitably actuated, by which the wrapper is cut off. The spring n<1> normally acts as a brake, but is lifted when, by the feeding of the strip, the roller n' is drawn upwards. In the case of waxed paper, the wire N<3> serves to separate the layers. The pockets e in the carrying- wheel are provided with yielding-strips e<1> adapted to hold the article when inserted in the pocket. The carrying-wheel is advanced a step at each revolution of the shaft C by means of pawl-andratchet gearing, actuated by a crank-pin through a connecting-rod which is longitudinally adjustable. The bottom of each pocket consists of a plunger O secured to a rod, which passes through the inner wall of the pocket and through a lug O<1> secured near the centre of the wheel. The rods have tappet arms, against which springs press to hold the plungers in the retracted positions. The plungers of the receiving-pocket and of the discharge pocket at the shoot S, Fig. 1, are moved outwards by the cam D which actuates slide bars having tappets engaging with tappet arms, the parts being adjustable so that the length of stroke of the plungers O can be regulated. When the plunger P pushes the article and wrapper into the pocket, the plunger in the pocket is moved out against the wrapper, and supports it in its movement inwards. As the carrying-wheel is intermittently rotated, the edges of the wrapper are folded over the article. For this purpose, there are provided tucker blades or shoes T', Fig. 4, extending between the pockets and yieldingly secured on arms mounted on the carrying-wheel and provided with cranks, which engage in grooves in the disc E'. A curved finger t<3> pivoted on an arm secured to the disc E' is also provided above the periphery of the carrying-wheel. First, a lower shoe T' moves upwards to fold the lower flap of the wrapper against the article. The finger t<3> next folds the upper flap over the lower, as shown in Fig. 25. The lower edge of the blade T<1> next in advance slides down and holds the fold, which it retains until just before the article is discharged. When the carrying-wheel next stops, the article is under the tucker blades t<5>, Fig. 4, which swing inwardly and break the paper downwardly to form the end folds, as indicated in Fig. 26. Next, tucker blades T<8> are actuated to fold the end fold, as shown in Fig. 27, and afterwards tucker blades T<9> are actuated to fold the opposite side of the pocket, as shown in Fig. 28. The article is then brought before the shoot s. The final fold, as shown in Fig. 29, is made during the passage of the article into the shoot, by means of tucker blades carried on arms S<1> provided with intermeshing gear. When the article is being pushed by the plunger 0 into the shoot, the ends of the tucker blades on the arms S<1> engage the ends of the article, and they swing inwardly behind the article when this is pushed into the shoot, thus completing the fold. Means are provided by which, should the article become jammed in the shoot, the succeeding articles fall down at the receiving end of the shoot, and means are also provided for automatically stopping the machine in the event of an article jamming in the pocket.