Patent GB-328310-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in cigarette packaging machines
IPC: B65B19/24
Filed: 1928-10-22
Abstract: 328,310. Marks, Sir G. C., (American Machine & Foundry Co.). Oct. 22, 1928. Packeting by wrapping-up. - A machine for packaging cigarettes and like articles has a hollow support about which sheet material is wrapped and into which a compacted group of articles is inserted. Tinfoil is fed by rolls 76, 77 from a drum 57 between insulated guides 86, 87 to the right hand side of the uppermost of 12 rectangular hollow supports or pockets 63 carried by an intermittently rotated turret 50. The guides 86, 87 and a contact 83 are connected in an electric bell circuit so that if the strip breaks or otherwise becomes slack the bell 84 rings. The foil is clamped to the side of the pocket 63 by a spring-pressed clamp 69 which, during the feed of the foil, is retracted by cam-operated mechanism on the machine frame. The clamped foil is then severed by a cam operated cutter 91 and during the movement of the pocket 63 from the position XII to I as on a clock dial, stationary rods 134 and brushes 142, Fig. 11, fold over the free ends of the foil T and a plunger 65 within the pocket is forced outwards by a stationary cam 138, Fig. 7, until it forms a bottom for the open end. In the position I a spring-pressed clamp 71, Fig. 11, is retracted by cam-operated mechanism on the machine frame. Two resilient plates 156, 157 are then advanced, to fold the foil completely around the pocket 63, the clamp 71 is allowed to advance, its resilient tip 179 smoothing the overlapping foil, and the plates 156, 157 are withdrawn. Just before the pocket 63 reaches position II the projecting advance side D of the tinfoil is tucked in, as shown in Fig. 33, by a stationary block 181, Fig. 1, which is then moved out of the way. The two adjacent sides are then tucked in by fingers 200, Fig. 16, carried by parallel arms 201 - - 204. The pocket is then moved to position III where a sheet L, Fig. 17, for making the pouch, is supplied by a transport chain (not shown) and a frame 221 carried by parallel arms, the clamp 69 being again withdrawn by another part of the same operating mechansm. The clamp closes on the sheet L, the frame 221 is withdrawn, and the pocket is moved to position IV, the projecting flaps being folded over by stationary rods, brushes, and resilient plates similar to 134, 142, 156 and 157 but the clamp 71 is not opened until the plates have commenced their operation. One of the plates is insulated and connected in a bell circuit so that the absence of a sheet L causes the bell to ring. At position V the narrow projecting sides A, Fig. 35. of the pouch are then tucked in by fingers similar to 200. If desired the finers 200 may be omitted and in this case the fingers at position V tuck foil and pouch material together. The rearward B flap is then folded over by a lever 263. Fig. 27. During the movement to position VI the advance flap C which has a daub of paste, is folded down by a roller 281 and guide 280. In position VI a pad 282, Fig. 28, having a rubber or like face, is advanced by a toggle 288, supported by a spring 290. to press the flap C &c., against the plunger 65 which in this' position is supported by a fixed roller. The paste is dried, after position VI by a heated plate 299 attached to the pad 282 at one end and hinged to the machine frame at the other. By this means the heated plate is applied to the pouch end at each rest position but is withdrawn while it moves. During this movement also the plunger 65 is withdrawn by its cam 138, Fig. 7, and at position IX its roller 137 enters a groove 306 in a slide 307 which then makes a rearward movement, by reason of cam 321 &c. to allow a container 62, Fig. 1, with a compacted group of cigarettes, to be introduced between the pocket 63 and plunger 65 which then makes a forward and reverse stroke to transfer the cigarettes to the pocket and stop with its roller 137 in line with the cam groove 138. As the pocket moves past the positions X, XI to XII the plunger 65 is advanced, by its cam, to push the cigarettes completely into the pouch. At position XI brushes are operated to clear loose tobacco from the plunger 65. At position XII the roller 137 of the plunger enters the groove of a slide, similar to the slide 307, which causes the plunger 65 to advance and push the cigarettes and pouch from the pocket 63 and then return, the clamps 69, 71 being withdrawn to permit this. The package is supported at its closed end during this movement by a spring-mounted plate 348, Fig. 31, carried by rod 350 moved with the plunger 65 and is then held between guides 369, 370 and a plate 368 while fingers 371, similar to the fingers 200, tuck in the narrow sides E, Fig. 35, of the projecting foil. Then a plate 392 is advanced to tuck in the rear flap and the plate 368 is advanced to push the package into a shoot having a fixed wall 141 and a wall 408 which with the guides 369, 370 is withdrawn during each advance of the plate 368. During this movement the last flap is folded over by engaging the front edge of the wall 141. The various parts of the machine are moved through linkwork by cams on shafts 46, 47, 113 &c. which are driven through gearing and a hand-operated clutch from a pulley 429. When the clutch is open the machine may be driven by a handwheel 443.