Patent GB-495733-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to wrapping-machines
IPC: B65B11/54
Filed: 1937-08-26
Abstract: 495,733. Wrapping-machines. SAPAL SOC. ANON. DES PLIEUSES AUTOMATIQUES. Aug. 26, 1937, No. 23394. Convention date, Sept. 1, 1936. [Class 94 (i)] In a machine for wrapping articles having a varying cross-section, a sheet of wrapping material, applied over the article to form a tube, is adapted to conform to its shape by wrapping tools at various stations, gripping devices with clamping jaws being arranged to engage simultaneously articles at each station and to transfer each to the next station, one at least of the grippers being arranged to effect a wrapping operation. The transfer devices, moving parallel to the opening and closing movement of the jaws, are removed from the articles in a perpendicular direction and returned to the preceding stations in a parallel direction. A guide rail 6, Fig. 1, carried by a slide 20 reciprocated by a rod 21, supports two slides 7, 8 disposed along the upper and lower faces respectively and actuated by rods 14, 15. Clamping jaws 22, 23, 24 are arranged with their right-hand jaws secured to the upper slide 7 and their left-hand jaws secured to the slide 8. When the jaws are open they may be moved backward by the slides 20. The jaws 22, 24 are coated with soft material while the jaws 23 are a negative of the surface engaged by the jaws. A vertical guide rail 9, rigid with the main frame carries a slide 10 to which is secured an arm 11 carrying slidable plungers 12, 13 provided with springs urging the plungers downwardly. The plunger 13, Fig. 6, is provided with a contacting surface 26 forming a negative of the article and carries a spindle 27, which with the plunger 12, maintains the articles in position when the jaws are removed. A sheet of wrapping material 2, such as aluminium foil is laid on the article 3 supported by a vertically movable carrier 1, a plunger 1a being applied against the sheet 2. The article is raised to the level of table 5, the sheet 2 being folded by members 4, 4a during which time the jaws 22, 23, 24 are moving to the left. The jaws move forward to grip the article, the jaws 22 engaging the article at station A, the carrier 1 and plunger 1a being removed, while the folder 4a moves to the right. The article is then brought to the station B by the jaws 22, the folder 4 folding the other side of the sheet 2 whereupon the plunger 12 descends and holds the article while the jaws 22 open, a tool 25 rising and applying the ends of the sheet 2 against the article. The jaws are retracted and move to the left, and again move forward, the jaws 23 engaging the article at station B causing the sheet 2 to conform to the shape of the article. The plunger 12 is lifted and the jaws 23 take the article to the station C, where the spindle 27 of the plunger 13 is lowered on the article, and upon the jaws being retracted, the shaped portion 26 of the plunger 13 is lowered to complete the shaping of the wrapper. After the plunger B has been raised, the jaws 24 grip the article at the station C and take it to station D, where it is placed on a conveyer belt 16 to remove it from the machine. The wrapping members may move along inclined planes and the clamping jaws may effect a movement of rotation instead of moving rectilinearly.