Patent GB-539687-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to parcelling machines
IPC: B65B57/10
Filed: 1940-05-22
Abstract: 539,687. Packeting. RUAU, F. F., BINGHAM, A., and MOLINS MACHINE CO., Ltd. May 22, 1940, No. 9043. [Class 94 (i)] Relates to a parcelling machine in which a batch of articles is separated periodically from the leading end of a column composed of superimposed rows of articles in contact with one another, the column being moved lengthwise towards the separating-position. According to the invention, a movable control member is mounted in the path of the column and is normally moved by the leading article, but remains stationary and prevents the separation of the batch if the upper row of articles is incomplete. Secondary trip mechanism, operated by the control member, may be arranged to prevent the operation of wrapper-feeding and adhesiveapplying mechanism for one cycle of operation of the machine. The articles 1, Figs. 2 and 3, arranged in a column of two superposed rows, are moved stepby-step by a pusher 2 along a support 3. A batch of articles is removed periodically from the front of the column by a pusher 5 which moves the batch in a transverse direction towards wrapping-mechanism. A central member or feeler 6 is mounted on a horizontal spindle 7 above the support 3, and is urged into the path of the upper row of the column by a spring 12 surrounding a rod 10 which is connected to and moved by the spindle 7. A lever 14 rotates about a spindle 15 journalled in a trip arm 16 which, in turn, is pivoted on a shaft 17 and is normally urged upwards by a spring 104. A tail-piece 20 on the lever 14 is provided with a slot 105, Figs. 1A and 3, which is adapted ;to pass over a pin 106 on a sliding bar 21 that is reciprocated by a cam. A rod 22 has its upper end 107 pivoted on the spindle 15, and its lower end 23 is pivoted to a lever 24 which has a V-shaped notch 28 arranged to engage a notch 29 in the operating-lever 30 of the pusher 5. Thus, when the column of articles is complete, the feeler 6 is engaged and rotated by the leading article in the upper row of the column, and a pin 13 fixed to the rod 10 engages the lever 14 and rotates it about the spindle 15. This rotation moves the tailpiece 20 so that the slot 106 does not engage the reciprocating bar 21. If, however, one or more articles are missing from the upper row of the column, the leading article does not rotate the feeler 6, and the pin 106 engages the tailpiece 20 and the bar 21 moves the trip arm, and therefore the rod 22, downwards. This movement causes the notches 28, 29 to engage and prevent the operation of the pusher 9 so that the batch of articles is not moved. The lever 24 is connected by a link 32. Fig. 1A. with a bell-crank lever 34 which is movable into or out of contact with a notch on an arm 35 of the mechanism that pushes a box blank towards folding devices. The lever 34 stops the feed of the blank when the feeler 6 is not rotated. A similar arrangement also stops the rotation of adhesive-applying wheels 50. Continued movement of the pusher 2 feeds the column of articles forward until the feeler 6 is rotated and the operation of the pusher 5 is resumed, the incomplete batch being received on a support 109, Fig. 3. A complete batch of articles, moved transversely by the pusher 5, is received in a pocket in a holder 52. Fig. 1A, which oscillates through 180 degrees and conveys the batch to a support 55 The batch is moved off the support by a pusher 56 and pressed against a box blank which has been fed to the position P. Further movement of the pusher causes the blank to be folded around the batch by folders 57, 65, 69, 75 and 195, adhesive being applied to portions of the blank by wheels 50. Finally, the finished parcel is lifted into a stacker or dryer 82 by a reciprocating platform 83. A hand lever 191, associated with the lever 24, enables the operator to stop the feed of the batch by the pusher 5 for one cycle of operation of the machine.