Improvements in Machines for Wrapping Parcels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1898.
DORT MEIE DI BUITIATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINE
COMPANY, of New York, in the State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Machines for Wrapping Parcels.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a machine for placing and sealing wrappers upon
packages of goods, the object being to provide a machine which will do this work
efficiently and rapidly and be automatic in its action to the greatest possible
extent.
The improved machine has an endloss belt made up of links hinged together and
passing over two rollers; the belt carries a plurality of parcel holders each of
which is equipped with folding blades or devices. An automatic feeding mechanism
is provided for dopositing the parcels in the holders as they successively pass a
given point, and an automatic device is provided for inserting a label or wrapper
in the holder before the parcel is deposited therein. The machine also contains
means for applying mucilage or other sealing material to the wrapper, devices for
applying and maintaining pressure upon the sealed flap of the wrapper to give
time for the sealing material to stick and devices for feeding and holding the
labels or wrappers and other devices all of which will be hereinafter fully
described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate how this invention may
be carried into effect,
Figure 1 represents a side clevation of the complete machine :
Figure 2 and Figure 3 shew details of the holders and folding devices:
Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the under side of the belt and a device
for releasing the parcels from the holders;
Figures and 6 illustrate respectively an elevation and a central vertical section
of the device for depositing the parcels in the holder;
Figure 7 shews in plan the same device illustrating its operation;
Figures 8 and 9 are views of details of the same device also illustrating its
operation;
Figure 10 is a plan of the feeding table;
Figure 11 illustrates a portion of the parcel feeding mechanism;
Figure 12 is a representation of details of the pneumatic apparatus for placing
the wrappers or labels in the holders;
Figure 13 shews a sectional view of the shaft of the label applying device,
and
Figure 14 is a front view of the label holding box.
Referring to the drawings by the reference lotters A represents a travelling belt
made up of rigid links a hinged together at a¹ on the under side. This belt is
mounted to move over two polygonal drums B and B'; the drum B¹ has twice as
many sides as the drum B and the sides of the drum B' are substantially the same
width as the links of the belt, so that as the belt passes over the drum B¹
the adjacent linka will turn on their hinges and assume different planes, but while

page_text: passing over the roller B each succeeding pair of links will remain in the same
plane constantly and thus maintain the same relative position while passing around
the drum, the object of which will appear later on. The drums are mounted in a
suitable frame A¹ and are driven by power applied through a pulley A 2 which is
geared in the manner shewa to the drum B. Every other pair of links of the
belt carries a parcel holder consisting of two upright plates a 2 a 2 one attached to
each link of the pair. These are adapted to receive the parcels between them.
On the forward link a right angle lever a 3 is pivoted, one arm of which extends
above the link and the other below it, the link having an opening for this purpose.
The upper arm carries a bent spring plate a 4 which I shall call a folding blade
and a spring a 5 is used to hold the folding blade in its inoperative position. To
the rear of the holder is a similar right angled lever a 6 with its arm projecting
above and below the plate similar to a 8 and carrying at its upper end a hinged
rigid folding blade a 7. A spring a 8 is used to throw the lever into its inoperative
position and another spring acts upon the blade a 7 to hold it in contact with the
upper part of the holder and to press it downward upon the package when it is
resting thereupon us shewn in Figure 3. On the under side of the belt is provided
for each holder a latch for the lever a 6. This consists of a pivoted plate a 10
baving a cam surface all and a pin a 12: it is pushed by a spring a 13 over the
-edge of the lower arm of the lever a 6, when the said arm is lifted in the manner
to be hereinafter described. The lever in swinging upward strikes the cam
surface a 11, springs the latch backward, permits the lever to pass and then the
latch locks it in this position. These right angled arms carrying the folded blades,
are operated by means of a cam b which is merely a stationary plate fixed under-
neath the upper portion of the belt to a suitable part of the frame. The inclined
edge of the cam first strikes the lower arm of lever a 3 lifts it and holds it elevated
until the same cam surface strikes the lower arm of lever a 6 and throws the lever
upward, at which time the lever a 3 drops off the rear of the cam plate. When
the lever a 6 is thrown upward it is locked in that position as before described by
the latch a 10 and continues to he locked while the holder passes around over
drum B and to a point below the drum B' at which point is located a plate b¹ having
a cam edge b2 against which the pin a 12 of the latch comes in contact aud
is moved backward against the pressure of spring a 13 thus roleasing the lever a 6
and allowing it to assume the position shewn in Figure 2.
At the left of the machine is mounted a box c containing the labels or wrappers ¹
which are to be placed and sealed around the packages. The bottom of this box
is formed by a belt c 2 upon which the labels staud on end. The belt passes over
suitable rollers to one of which is fixed a ratchet wheel c3 and adjacent to this a
pawl 4 carried by lever o 5 pivoted at c6. The lever extends forward into the
path of the pin c7 carried by the belt a. When the lever is struck by this pin the
belt c2 is moved forward and the bunch of labels fed slightly ahead. The front
end of the box is partially closed by a plate c8 laving a central spring tongue c9,
against which the labels or wrappers are pushed, and from which point they are
taken one by one by a device hereinafter described, and placed successively upon
the holders of the main belt.
Above the drum B' and mounted in the frame parallel with the shaft of said
drum, is a hollow shaft d, shewn in Figures 12 and 13, carrying a sprocket wheel d'
by means of which it is rotated through a chain from the shaft of the drum B',
the chain being shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1. This shaft carries three radial
tubular arma d 2 opening at their outer ends through flat heads d 3. Inside of the
shaft is a stationary tube d 4 having a segment of its wall removed from its upper
side portions to form an opening d5 affording communication between the arms d 2
and the tube d 4. The lower remaining portion of the tube d4 forms a out-off
valve which closes communication between the tubular arms while they are passing
around the lower sides of the axis. The tube d4 is connected, by means of a
pipe d6 flexible or rigid with an exhaust machine D driven by any suitable motor.
The arms d 2 rotate in the direction of the arrow Figure 12, and are of such length

page_text: as to rub over the spring tongue 9 of the label box and against the upper end of
the label presented at the front of the box. The function of the spring tongue is
to separate the labels without so much frictional contact as to make it difficult to
reinove the front label: at the same time it yields slightly to permit the circular
movement of the heads of arms d 2. As soon as the arm passes the upper end of
the spring tongue, the suction causes the front label to adhere to the end of the
arm and it is lifted out of the box and carried to a parcel holder where it is
deposited in the manner hereinafter described.
Behind each of the parcel holders is an upright transverse plate e having a notch
in its upper edge of such width as to permit the heads d3 to pass through, but
narrower than the labels or wrappers. This notch is formed by two lugs el at each
end of the plate. The movements of the parcel holders to the right and of the
arms 2 to the left are timed so that one of the arms will always meet a holder as
it reaches the point immediately above drum B'. In this position of the parts the
label is standing horizontally above the holder as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2
and the suction is cut off by a valve on the lower side of the tube d4. The corners
of the label then strike the lugs el and as the holder and arm d2 continue their
movements in opposite directions, the label is deposited upon the top of the holder
where it rides to the point where the parcel is inserted in the holder as will now bo
described.
is an endless belt or apron shewn in Figures 1 and 10 travelling in the direction
indicated by the arrow. Upon this the operator places the parcels to be wrapped
or labelled, by the machine; these parcels are indicated at p. As the belt moves
along it forces the parcels on to the feeding table and against a stop 2 thereon.
The parcel here illustrated is a coil of braid, but it will be understood that the
machine may be used to wrap up chewing-gum, tobacco, soap or any other article.
The feeding plate extends over the belt a and is provided with an opening 3
immediately above the path of the parcel holders. This opening is of substantially
the same width as the holders. f4 is a reciprocating feeding head mounted in a
suitable guide 5 on the feeding plate. It is arranged to reciprocate in a direction
at right angles to the travel of the belt a and it forces the parcel p immediately in
front of it over to a point above the opening f3 where it rests upon the edges of
said opening as shewn in Figure 8.
The feeding head is reciprocated by means of an armf6 pivoted upon a
shaft/7: the shaft is provided with two lugs f8 projecting in opposite directions
and the arm is provided with latch 9 pivoted at 10 and having a shoulder ₤11
adapted to be engaged by the lugs 8. A spring f12 ensures the engagement of
the lugs and shoulder at the proper time. 13 is a pin for unlocking the latch
at the proper time and 14 is a spring for moving the arm 6 in one direction.
The shaft in rotating in the direction of the arrow, Figure 11, engages with the
shoulder 11 by means of one of its lugs f6 and swings the arm 6 to the left,
thereby forcing the parcel of braid in front of the reciprocating head into the
position before described. At the end of this stroke, the latch strikes the pin 13
and disengages with the lug 8 when the spring 14 returns the arm 6 to its
original position ready for feeding another parcel.
When the parcel is of compressible material such as a coil of braid, it is desirable
to compress it before the wrapper or label is placed around it, and I have provided
mechanism for doing this, which, however may be dispensed with when the parcels
are of different nature. Flanking each side of the opening f3 is a plate g pivoted
at the end most remote from the reciprocating hend f4 upon vertical pivots g'.
These plates normally diverge from their pivoted ends towards the reciprocating
feeding bend and form a V-shaped chamber into which the parcel p is forced by the
reciprocating head. The diverging ends of the plates are thrown away from each
other by arms g 2 pivoted at g 3 and having their upper ends provided with pins y 4
standing in the plane of the disc y5 which has two cam lugs 96 arranged
diametrically opposite each other. Two springs 97 act upon arms 92 to force
them apart while the cam lugs g 6 force them together and suddenly release them.

page_text: Immediately above the opening f3 in the feeding plate is a plunger h consisting
of a rectangular frame, the lower cross piece h' of which forms the head of the
pluuger while its sides run in suitable guides 2 of the frame. Springs h3 are
arranged between the plunger and the frame to force the former downward when
opportunity is presented and a buffer h4 of rubber receives the stroke of the
plunger at the lower end of its movement. Along one end of the links of the
belt a is arranged an upwardly projecting flange 5 the flange being in section
corresponding to the links. The section of flange immediately opposite the parcel
holder is cut away diagonally to form a cam 6: the plunger h is provided with a
foot 7 that runs upon the top of this flange and is held in its elevated position
by the flange. When, however, the cut-away section of the flange is presented,
the plunger drops suddenly under the force of spring h3 but immediately commences
to rise by contact with the cam 6.
The feeding of tho parcels into the holders therefore consists in first forcing the
parcels between the diverging plates g, then squeezing the parcel between the
plates to a size permitting it to pass through opening f3 and to fit the holder, then
driving the parcels from between plates g through the opening f3 into the holder
by means of the plunger, these operations being properly timed by means of the
gearing. The label having been previously adjusted across the top of the holder,
is forced into the holder with and beneath the parcel and thereafter assumes the
position shown in Figure 2. The belt then carries the holder forward to the
device for applying mucilage or glue to the label, which will now be described.
i is a double ended arm swinging upon a centre and having sections of
rubber 2 or other flexible material and at its extremities daubers i3. jis a drum
having a smooth periphery dipping into the reservoir of glue or other suitable
cement. This drum is rotated slowly and the daubers i3 in travelling in the
direction of the arrow make contact with the drum taking the glue therefrom, and
immediately thereafter make contact with the flap of the label, leaving the
moist glue thereon. The arm a 3 is struck by cam b and the folding blade a4 is
forced over, turns the short end of the label down upon the top of the parcel.:
next the arm a 6 is struck by cam b and the blade a 7 forces the long end of the
label down upon the short end: simultaneously a 3 leaves the cam and blade a 4
does not interfere with the work of the blade a 7. Arm a7 therefore continues
to press upon the label and the top of the packago under the pressure of spring a 9
while the holder is travelling over drum B to the cam . This gives the
mucilage an opportunity to dry and stick. When cam 1 is reached the latch a 10
is released in the manner before described and as soon as the two parts a of tho
holder are separated by the opening of the links on the drum B the parcel falls
into the receptacle.
It will thus be seen that the entire operation of wrapping the parcela ia auto-
matically accomplished except the work of placing the parcels upon the feeding
belt and this operation may be done with more or less irregularity as long as a
parcel is alivays against the stop f2.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a parcel wrapping machine an endless belt provided with a parcel holder
or holders adapted to open and rolease the parcel when the belt beuds, iu com-
bination with two polygonal drums having different numbers of sides over which
the belt passes, substantially as herein beforo described' and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a parcel wrapping machine, the combination of an endless belt carrying a
series of parcel holders and two folding blades for each holder also carried by the
belt and acting in opposite directions upon the wrapper, and mechanism located
under the belt for operating said blades, substantially as herein before described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. In a parcel wrapping machine the combination of an endless belt carrying a
series of parcel holders, two arms pivoted to the belt for each holder and extending
through openings in the belt, folding blades carried by said arms and a stationary
cam located under belt for operating said arms, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustratod by the accompanying drawings.
4. In a parcel wrapping machine the combination of a parcel holler and an arm
pivoted adjacent thereto, said arin carrying a hinged folding blade and a spring
adapted to press the blade against the parcel, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5. In a parcel wrapping machine, a travelling belt carrying a serios of holders
for the parcels and their wrappers, a series of folding blades pivoted upon the belt
and respectively adjacent to the holders, a stationary flange or the like against
which the said blades are adapted to impinge and be moved, and means for
returning the blades to their normal positions, all constructed arranged and
operating as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
6. In a parcel wrapping machine the combination of a parcel holder, a folding
blade moving therewith, a latch for holding the said blade against the folded
wrapper and a releasing device for the latch, substantially as herein before
described and as illustrated by the accompanyiug drawings.
7. In a parcel wrapping machine the combination of a travelling parcel
holder, a stationary label or wrapper holder, a hollow arm aud means for creating
a suction therethrough, the said arm being adapted to lift a label from the label
holder and deposit it upon the parcel holder, substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
8. In a parcel wrapping machine the combination of a stationary label holder,
a hollow shaft carrying a series of. hollow radial arins, means for creating a
suction through said arms and shaft, and means for rotating the shaft, all coo-
structed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
9. In a parcel wrapping machine, the combination of a moving parcel holder,
a pair of pivoted plates located opposite the same, and two plungers, one adapted
to force the parcel to be wrapped between the plates and the other to force it from
the plates into the holder, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
10. In a parcel wrapping machine, the combination of a parcel holder, a feeding
plate with an opening in it located above the holder, a pair of squeezing plates
flanking the open, and a plunger adapted to drop the parcel from its position between
the plates through the opening and into the holder.
11. In a parcel wrapping machine, the combination of a belt carrying a series
of holders, a flange on the said belt, a plunger located above the path of the
holders and riding upon the flauge, the flange having notches located opposite the
holders permitting the plunger to fall, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of August 1896.
WILLIAM GEO. HEYS.