Patent GB-1492526-A (GB)
Title: Packing machines
IPC: B65B41/06
Filed: 1975-02-11
Abstract: 1492526 Wrapping apparatus MOLINS Ltd 17 Feb 1975 [15 Nov 1973 12 Nov 1974] 53158/73 and 48840/74 Headings B8C and B8R Apparatus for forming overlapped wrappers comprises means (not described) for cutting a web longitudinally to form two discrete webs and for cross cutting the webs to form a succession of wappers each composed of two pieces, wrapper feeding means 70, 72 and a carrier 75 composed of a pair of members (80, 84) each having a suction surface to receive a wrapper piece, the members (80, 84) being movable towards each other to overlap the piece and being movable together towards a wrapper conveyer 77. The adjacent edge portions of the two section surfaces are in different planes to permit the overlapping. The member 84 may be concave, or the two members may be at different levels, or one member may have a chamfered surface. The wrapper feeding means include a suction drum 70 having a pair of suction transfer drums (71) 72 arranged about its periphery, there being a separate carrier 75 and a conveyer 77 for each drum. Suction valves are so arranged and actuated in the drums that alternate wrappers are fed to each transfer drum. As the carrier 75 pivots about a shaft from the drum 72 to the conveyer 77 a cam 86 causes the member (84) to slide towards the member (80). Each member has projections which extend into grooves in the drum 72 so that a wrapper passes on to the underneath surface of the member to be held by suction from ports (96) 96a. Adjustable lips (91), 91a engage the leading edges of the wrapper-pieces and are pivoted into the carrier when they engage the conveyer 77. The conveyer 77 is a suction conveyer belt having a horizontal rim to receive the wrapper and vertical run to feed it in conjunction with another conveyer belt 121, Fig. 6, into the path of the article to be wrapped. Article feed and compression.-A hopper CH, Fig. 1, discharges two bundles of cigarettes at a time into a pair of pockets 10 in a conveyer BC. Devices 11 subsequently test the firmness of the ends of the bundles. At positions P7, P8 pushers 12, Fig. 6, push a pair of bundles through guides 13 into compression boxes 14, Each pusher is driven by a rotary cam (15, Figs. 4, 5, not shown) driving a pivoted lever (18). If a defective bundle is detected by a device 11 a detent arm (30) prevents the appropriate lever (18) driving the appropriate pusher. The boxes 14 are mounted on vertically movable beams 40. As the boxes move downwardly fixed cams cause the sides and top of each box to move inwardly to compress the bundles. Wrapping.-At the bottom position of each box 14 a pusher 68 on a chain conveyer 37 pushes the bundle out of the box and against the wrapper fed by the belts 77, 121 into a slot 38a. The wrapper is folded into a U-shape about the bundle by engagement with a base plate 38 and the lower run of the belt 121. A plate 112 is moved into the position shown to assist the trailing wrapper piece pass around a roller 122 of the conveyer 121. Folders 150 fold the tucks of the wrapper inwardly and ploughs 152, 154 fold the top and bottom side flaps against the sides of the bundle. The pusher 68 moves the partially wrapped bundle on to a base plate 155 of a channel 156. The end tucks at the trailing end of the package are folded inwardly by pivoted tuckers 171 (171a) which are mounted on a plate (166, Fig. 13, not shown) movable along a rail (165) so that the tuckers move the package into the P12, position, Fig. 1. At this position the bottom end flap is folded upwardly by a pivoted folder (198, Fig. 15, not shown) as the tuckers are withdrawn and then another pivoted folder (209) folds the top end flap downwards and moves forward to feed the finished package into a transfer unit TU. Package feeding and insertion of a coupon and an inner carton frame.-The unit TU comprises for each packaging line a carrier (236 or 237, Fig. 22, not shown) intermittently rotatable about a horizontal axis and mounting three equi-spaced holders so connected by gearing to a fixed sun gear that they maintain a horizontal orientation as the carrier rotates. The carriers moves the packages from P13 to P14 positions where pushers (246) move a pair of packages into a carrying device (261) on a turntable IT. Each device is rotatably mounted on the turntable and through a planetary gear arrangement rotates through 180 degrees relative to a fixed line on the turntable during each 60 degree step rotation of the turntable. Each device includes a clamp plate (276, Figs. 23, 24, 26, not shown) which clamps with resilient pads the pair of packages during rotation of the turntable. The plate (276) is vertically movable by means of a push rod (272) extending through a central base (271) of the device. The push rods of the devices are raised when the turntable is stationary by a ring (284, Fig. 27, not shown) which is supported on links (291 ...) connected to a pair of cam followers (310, 311) of cams (303, 304). At position P16 a coupon &c. may be fed on top of each package and at P17 the inner frame of a flip top carton may be added to the package. At position P18 pushers 314 discharge the packages from the turntable and feed them towards the apparatus of Specification 1,459,091 which inserts the packages into partially formed flip-top cartons. Each pusher 314 is movable along a respective guide rail (328, Fig. 23) by an arm (352) connected to a bell crank lever (347) which is oscillated by cams (330, 331). After the pushers 314 have moved through the carrying device (261) the guide rail is raised by the cams (303, 304) permitting further rotation of the turntable while the pushers return. If a faulty &c. package is not to be removed at position P18  but at P19 a solenoid withdraws a rod 356 connecting the arm (352) to the bell crank lever (347). The pushers 366 at P19 are generally similar to the pushers 314 except that the bell crank lever is connected to the pusher without the rod and arm connection. The cigarette package produced has the wrapper formed of two components, a main wrapper piece (146, Fig. 20, not shown) and a smaller wrapper piece (147) forming a top front position which can be removed when a flip-top carton containing the package is opened. The package also has the coupon and carton inner frame added.