Patent GB-374589-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in wrapping machines for loaves and other articles
IPC: B65B59/00
Filed: 1931-05-06
Abstract: 374,589. Bread &c. wrapping machines. S•VIGN•, H. A., 40, Washington Avenue, Winthrop, Massachusetts, U.S.A. May 6, 1931, No. 13425. [Class 94 (i).] A wrapping machine for loaves &c. with a supply guideway for the articles to be wrapped, a cross-feed mechanism for introducing the articles into the machine, a vertical passageway and a feeding and cutting mechanism for the wrapping material is provided with a yielding presser belt beneath which the articles are fed to a pair of cone-shaped discs, adapted to cool and harden the wax of the wrappers at the ends of the articles, and also means for adjusting the whole machine according to the length of the articles to be wrapped. The loaves &c. slide down a guideway 21, the back rail of which is fixed, while the front rail 23 is adjustable to suit different sized loaves, the adjustment depending upon the position of the cross-feed mechanism. The loaves arrive on a plate 36, the limiting position of each loaf being governed by a stop-plate 37, from which they are removed by the cross-feed mechanism which comprises a series of pushers 38, pivoted to the links of a chain 41, rollers 45 engaging a track bar 46 during the operative position of the pushers. Each article is delivered by a pusher 38 to the bottom of a vertical shoot formed of plates 48 .. 51, adjustable with respect to each other. The plates 48, 50 are slotted to permit the passage of lifting-fingers 52 carried in pairs by chains 55. During its passage upwardly through the shoot each loaf contacts with a piece of paraffinwaxed wrapping paper, cut from a web P, which is draped over the top of each loaf, breaking and folding members 219 .. 222 effecting the folding of each end of the wrapper. On reaching the top of the shoot, the movement of the lifting fingers 52 is stopped by a cam track 73 and roller 71 to allow two pairs of tucker members 239, 278, each pair being adjustably mounted with respect to each other, to tuck in the projecting bottom portion of the wrapper on three sides of it. Pushers 83 carried by endless chains 84 now engage each partially wrapped loaf and push it over an apron member 303 during which process the remaining unfolded side of the wrapper is wiped under the loaf. Running at the same speed as the pushers is a belt 89, which, by the provision of a number of rollers 103, yieldingly bears on the top portion of each loaf. The distance between the lower run of the belt and the floor 81 is variably by means of the mountings shown in Fig. 4. As the wrapped loaves are moved along the floor 81 they are subjected to heat, by any convenient means, to melt the wax in the paper and are then quickly cooled to harden the wax to complete the wrapping. The cooling means comprises felt-covered rolls 82, driven in the direction shown in Fig. 4, and rotating in a water bath 109, which cool the bottom portions of the wrapper. To harden the ends of the wrapper a pair of cone-shaped felt-faced discs 110 are provided, rotating on inclined shafts and dipping into the water bath 109. To guide the loaves on the floor 81 pairs of longitudinally extending guiding strips 88, 113 are provided being adjustable with regard to each other to accommodate difficult lengths of loaves. The carrying brackets for the cone-discs 110 are carried by the guiding strips 113 both of which, by the manipulation of a hand-wheel 126, are simultaneously adjusted. Also by the manipulation of the same hand-wheel gearing effects the simultaneous adjustment of the front slide rail 23, a stop plate 142 and the cross-feed mechanism to ensure the correct positioning of loaves of different sizes for engagement by the lifting fingers 52 beneath the wrapping members in the vertical shoot. A hand-wheel 238 is connected by gearing to the breaking and folding members 219 .. 222 and effects the simultaneous adjustment of them and at the same time the overlapping bottom tuckers 239 are adjusted and also two pressing members 267 which temporarily bear on the opposite ends of the loaf while the tuckers 239 are operative and the lifting finger 52 has moved away from the bottom of the loaf. The web of paraffined paper P, driven from a roll 74 and passing through a device 76, which prevents retrograde motion, is fed by feed rolls 77, 78 over a bed 79 when it is cut into lengths by a knife 80 which is reciprocated vertically by a rock-shaft 205 through a mechanism of known construction which prevents a cutting operation if there is no feeding of the web. The length of wrapper cut is varied to suit different heights of loaf by the mechanism shown in Fig. 17. The loaves during the cross-feed pass under a hinged shoe 145 attached by a flexible joint to a compound lever 148, 150. The end of the lever 150 is stepped to engage under a member 156 pivoted at 157 to the frame of the machine. A stud 159 projects from the member 156 adapted to bear on a lever 160 pivoted at 161. A roll 162 moves to and fro under the block 163 attached to the shaft of the upper feed roll 78, which is raised and lowered by a rock-shaft 166. The time during which the feed rolls are gripping is therefore varied. This may also be adjusted by hand through a screw-ended shaft 178 which varies the throw of a link 169 connected to the end of the lever 160 ; a pivoted cam-operated cam lever 185 acting on the roll 174 which through the levers 173, 171 pulls on the link. The knife is adjustable by mechanism 199, 200, 201, and is provided with spring-biased presser rods 198. The leading edge of the web is led across the vertical shoot over a plate 299 which is swung upwardly by the rising loaves and sinks downwardly under gravity, the bedplates over which the web passes before reaching the shoot being slotted to reduce friction.