Improvements in Wrapping Up Cubical Articles, and in Machines therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE ROBERT WARD, of Carnegie Buildings,
Pittsburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer.]
Improvements in Wrapping Up Cubical Articles, and in Machines
therefor.
I JAMES JOHNSON of 4 Clayton Square, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
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 :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wrapping and folding machine.
Figures 2, 3, and 4, are longitudinal vertical sections, showing the parts in their
successive positions assumed during the operation.
Figure 5 is a top plan view. Figure 6 is a vertical cross section on the
line VI-VI of Figure 5 with parts broken away.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the wrapping box. Figure 8 is a detail of the
operating shaft therefor.
Figure 9 is a vertical cross section on the line IX-IX of Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a vertical cross section on the line X-X of Figure 1.
Figure 11 is a detail view of the pasting mechanism.
Figure 12 is a cross section on the line XII-XII of Figure 1.
Figures 13, 14, and 15 are detail views of the locking device for the wrapping
box shown in different positions; and
Figures 16-23 are perspective views showing the successive steps of folding.
Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each figure.
My invention relates to machines for supplying wrappers to cubical articals,
such as cakes of soap, and is designed to greatly simplify, cheapen and improve
such machines and provide a compact machine having means for cutting, printing,
folding, and pasting the wrappers about the articles, which shall be of few parts,
easily operated, and occupy a small space.
screws 5.
From
In the drawings, 2 and 3 represent the rolls of paper for the inside and outside
wrappers respectively, which are wound about shafts 4, held in place by thumb-
A pinch brake 6 is provided for regulating the tension upon these
shafts, this brake being adjusted by the central adjustable bolt or screw 7.
these rolls the two sheets pass hetween the cutting rolls and 9, the roll 8 being
covered with felt or similar material and provided with a longitudinal recess having
a rubber filling 10 through which projects the longitudinal knife 11. The roll 9 is
provided with a similar recess and a projecting rubber filling 10', this filling having
a longitudinal groove to receive the splitting knife 11. The roller 9 is also
provided on its surface with fixed type which print any desired matter on the outer
wrapper and contact with the inking roller 12.
The lower wrapper passes over a shaft 13 before reaching the splitting rollers,
and this shaft 13 carries at its ends the toothed wheels 14 intermeshing with
pinions 15 upon a shaft 16 which is driven with a suitable pulley 17. The
shaft 13 also carries a toothed wheel 18 intermeshing with a similar wheel 19 upon
the shaft of the middle roll 9 which actuates the upper and lower rolls 8 and 12.
From the rolls 8 and 9, the wrappers enter a swinging guide-sheath 22 pivoted

page_text: at its rear end to the frame and composed of two parallel plates held apart by side
strips 23. On its underside as shown in Figure 9, this table is provided with
parallel guides 24 which support a loose plate 25 having upon its bottom the
transverse bars 26 between which reciprocates the transverse bar 27 supported
upon standards 28. The standards 28 rise from the sides of a movable head 29.
carried upon the transverse slide 30 which moves in slots 31 in the framework.
Beneath the head 29 when in its forward position as in Figure 2, is a table 32
supported upon a stem 33 which moves within a hole in a crosshead 34 and is
surrounded by a coiled spring 35. Directly above the table 32 is carried the
rotating wrapping-box 36 in which the paper is wrapped about the soap or other
material. This wrapping box, as clearly shown in Figure 7, consists of a metal
box open at the top and bottom, and having side lining pieces 37 of sheet-metal
which terminate at the top and bottom respectively in lips 38, each lining piece
having two lips, these pairs of lips being located at diagonally opposite corners of
the box and co-operating with plates 39 to form nippers for the ends of the
wrappers. The plates 39 are secured to rods 40 pivoted on opposite sides of the
box and provided at one end with triggers 41, the plates being normally held in
contact with the lips by coiled springs 42. The box is provided with a filling
piece 43 which fits neatly therein and is provided at its ends with leather or other
suitable packing-strips 44 which bear upon inwardly-projecting plates 45 upon the
ends of the box and create sufficient friction to hold the filling piece in any
position into which it is forced. This box is pivoted at each end upon short hollow
shafts 45, the line of the axis of which passes through the box and each having at
one end a bar 46 which enters a recess at the end of the box, and one of them
having at its outer end a ratchet wheel 47 while upon the outer end of the other
is mounted the locking wheel 48 of Figure 12. Through these hollow shafts pass
the screw bolts 49, which are screwed into the ends of the box and draw it firmly
against the bars 46. The ratchet wheel 47 is operated by the rack 50 which is
pivoted to the wheel 14 and rests loosely upon the wheel 47 being held there by its
own weight, or by a spring suitably attached thereto, while the locking wheel is
operated by a lever 51 (Figure 13) which is pressed against the edge of the
locking wheel by a spring 52, and is pivoted loosely upon the shaft of the inking
roller. The rack and locking lever are held in position by the circular guard
plates 53 held upon the outer faces of the ratchet wheel and locking wheel
respectively.
Pivoted about the stationary collars 54 which form the bearings for the shafts 45,
are disks 55, and pivoted to these disks are the links or connecting rods 56, 57, 58,
and 59, which are pivotally connected with the crosshead 34, the slide 30, an upper
crosshead 60, and a horizontal slide 61. The pinions 62, and 63 are secured to
these disks and are operated by the racks 64 actuated by the toothed wheels 14.
These racks may be provided with suitable springs or weights to hold them in
position. The head 60 carries a pressure-plate 65 which operates to force the
soap into the folding box, while the slide 61 operates an ejector 66 which in its
forward movement pushes a cake of soap from the hopper 67 to the folding box,
the series of cakes resting upon a stationary plate 68 over which the ejector
moves.
From the table 32, the cakes, with wrappers partly folded thereon, pass into
the trough 69 which is provided with pasting wheels 70, one of which is shown in
Figure 11, these wheels having upon their shafts the ratchet wheels 71 operated
by the ratchet-levers 72 pivoted to the disks 55. In front of the pasting wheels
are the folding ears 73 which make the final fold and force the pasted folds
together.
The operation is as follows -Starting with the parts in the position of Figure 2,
the two sheets of paper passing between the rolls 8 and 9 are cut thereby into
wrappers after the outer wrapper has been printed upon and the two have been
fed through the sheath 22 with their ends projecting from the forward end thereof
as shown. The folding box at this time is in upright position and the nippers are

page_text: held upon by the triggers 41 engaging fixed stops 74, and the ends of the wrappers
pass between the nippers. As the machine rotates further, both sets of nippers
are released and the upper nippers seizing the wrappers pull them forward into the
position of Figure 3, a cake of soap at the same time being pushed forward by
the ejector, while the upper and lower crossheads 60 and 34 are being moved
toward each other and the head 29 is moving rearwardly. As the box continues
to revolve to complete a half turn, the cake of soap is forced from the stationary
plate 68 by the ejector 66 and deposited on the moving paper over the plate 25.
During this latter part of its movement, the paper is drawn from under the soap,
The downward
keeping it taut and tending to draw the soap forward over the box.
movement of the presser 65 with its projecting lip, limits the movement of the
soap in this direction and retains it on the top of the box at the moment the
latter comes to rest. In the meantime the head 29 has withdrawn the plate 25
leaving the top of the box free for entrance of the soap. The box having
completed a half turn, the pin 75, bolted into the side of the pinion 62 on the
The
disk 55 is brought against the rack 50, lifting it from the ratchet wheel 47.
lever 51 now locks the wheel 48 holding the box securely. The paper has been
drawn over the shield 76 and the nippers opened by the stops 74, leaving the
paper free at its ends. The disks 55 still move however, drawing the presser 65
downward and driving the soap downward into the box and forcing the filling-
block 43 to the opposite side of the box (Fig. 4). When this operation has been
accomplished, the presser 65 is retracted and the head 29 moves forward and drives
the plate 25 forward. The plate 25 forces the ends of the wrapper from the
guide-sheath 22 (Fig. 2) over one side of the soap. The next revolution of the
box brings the opposite end of the wrapper against the edge of the shield 76 and
folds it over the end previously folded by the plate 25. The revolution of the box
brings this package and wrapper to an inverted position. As the box revolves,
the head 29 is retracted, and as it clears the table 32 the latter is raised upwards
by the crosshead 34 acting against the spring 35 and driving the table 32 towards
the box. The table rises in time to receive the package after having passed
from the shield 76. As the box stops and the presser 65 is forced downwards,
the new cake on top of the box, forcing the filling block 43 downwards, drives
the previous cake with wrappers out of the box and with the table 32 downward
to the level of the trough 69. On the crosshead 34 are a pair of folding ears 77
spaced to enclose the ends of the cake. Owing to the relative positions of the
links connecting the heads 65 and 34 with the disks 55, while the presser 65 moves
downward driving the lower package before it, the head 34 remains almost
stationary. The ends of the package are thus forced against the ears 77, making
the end folds of the package. When this has been completed, the head 29
carrying the folders 78 moves forward making the first corner folds of the
package, the ears 77 in the meantime being withdrawn. When the folders 78
have made their folds, the face of the head 29 abuts against the side of the
package and forces it forward into the trough 69. When entering the trough,
The
the forward corners of the package are forced against the folding blades 79.
package remains in this position while the head 29 retracts. While this head
retracis, the toothed lever 72 operates on the ratchet-wheel 71 and turns the
pasting wheel 70 in its reservoir, the arms of the wheel 70 depositing paste against
the under side of the projecting folds of the ends of the package. The next
operation of the head 29 drives a new package forward and moves the previous
one before it, bringing the projecting ears against the wings 73. These fold the
ends of the package downward and complete the operation of wrapping the
package and pasting the ends of the same. In course of being driven through
the trough 69 the folds are bound firmly together and the paste given time to dry.
The wrapping box is so constructed as to allow a sufficient length of paper
between the nippers and the opposite side of the box to make one side and a top,
fold over the article. The function of the filling block is to provide a floor for
the incoming cake and to support it in the box during the revolution, but this
-

page_text: filling block might be dispensed with, the cake being retained in the box by the
friction upon its sides, and the nippers being extended to give a sufficiont length
of paper.
To adjust the machine to different sizes of soaps, I may make the various parts
adjustable, but I prefer to replace the wrapping box by another fitted to the
different sizes of cakes thus avoiding a large number of adjustments.
The advantages of the machine will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The parts are few in number, operate in a small space, and perform a variety of
functions. The paper is drawn from the reels continuously with a regular motion,
thus avoiding any jerking intermittent motion tending to tear it.
The nippers are distant from the rolls only the length of one wrapper so that
the wrapper is fed to the article at the earliest possible moment and only one
length of wrapper is projected at a time. The paper is grasped by the nippers
as soon as cut, and hence intermediate machinery is avoided. The depositing of
the soap upon the paper while the box is turning, brings a tension upon the paper
and keeps it taut. One cake of soap serves to eject from the box the previous
wrapped cake, the moving of one cake displacing the other. The forward motion
of the blade below the cake-supporting shelf serves to fold one side of the paper
and being stopped in this position temporarily acts as a floor for the soap to move
over, protecting it from abrasion by the burning box. The turning of the box folds
one side of the wrapper over the other side and at the same time draws another
wrapper or pair of wrappers into position on the top of the box.
It will be seen
that the box rotates or turns upon itself, whereas in former machines moving
carriers have always been used therefor. Each revolution of the machine turns
out a package, there being no multiplied movements, one turn of the box giving one
revolution of the paper rolls and one oscillatory movement of the discs and heads.
As the crossheads and slides are all operated from the same moving part, their
movements are absolutely uniforma relatively to each other. The only handling
of the soap required is its feeding into the hopper, it being turned out with a
perfectly folded, pasted, and printed wrapper or wrappers thereon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The method of wrapping consisting in forcing a wrapper and article into
a bottomless box, rotating the same a partial revolution, and forcing a second
wrapper and article into the box, thereby ejecting the first; substantially as
described.
Second. The method of wrapping consisting in forcing a wrapper and article
into a bottomless box, rotating the same a partial revolution, and simultaneously
bringing a second wrapper and article over the bottom of the box and then forcing
the same thereinto thereby cjecting the first; substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a bottomless wrapping box, of means for rotating
the same upon itself, and means for forcing the article and wrapper thereinto and
ejecting it therefrom; substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a bottomless wrapping-box and means for rotating
the same upon an axis intermediate of its length of nippers located thereon and
arranged to pull forward the wrapper; substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with a bottomless. rotatory wrapping box, of means for
forcing the article and wrapper thereinto, means for rotating the box upon an
intermediate axis and nippers thereon arranged to pull forward the wrapper;
substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory wrapping-box and means for
rotating the same about an intermediate axis, of nippers located thereon and
arranged to pull forward the wrapper, and means for opening the nippers and
closing them upon the wrapper; substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with a bottomless rotatory wrapping box, of ens

page_text: for rotating the same about an intermediate axis, and of a shield arranged to fold
the wrapper as the box turns; substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory wrapping box, of means
for rotating the same about an intermediate axis, means for forcing the article and
wrapper thereinto and ejecting it therefrom, and a movable table arranged to
receive the same when forced from the box; substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory wrapping-box, of means for
rotating the same about an intermediate axis, means for laying the wrapper and
article upon its open top, and means for forcing the same thereinto and ejecting it
therefrom; substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination with a bottomless box, of means for rotating it upon
an intermediate axis, and mechanism for forcing a wrapper and article thereinto,
said mechanism being arranged to operate each partial revolution of the box,
whereby the first article is ejected by the second; substantially as described.
Eleventh. The combination with a bottomless rotatory wrapping-box of means
for forcing a wrapper and article part-way therethrough, means for rotating the
box, and nippers upon the box arranged to pull a second wrapper into place in its
rotation; substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of means for rotating
the same upon an intermediate axis, a movable head arranged to force the wrapper
and article thereinto, and a movable table arranged to receive the same when
ejected therefrom; substantially as described.
Thirteenth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of means for
rotating the same upon an intermediate axis means for feeding the wrapper and
article thereto, a movable head arranged to force the wrapper and article there-
into, and a movable table arranged to receive the same when ejected therefrom;
substantially as described.
Fourteenth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of a movable
head arranged to force the wrapper and article thereinto, a movable table arranged
to receive the same when ejected therefrom, and a sliding crosshead arranged to
raise the table; substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of a movable head
arranged to force the wrapper and article thereinto, means for rotating the box
intermittently upon an intermediate axis, and a movable table arranged to receive
the same when ejected therefrom, substantially as described.
Sixteenth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of a movable head
arranged to force the wrapper and article thereinto, a movable table arranged to.
receive the same when ejected therefrom, and a slide arranged to push the wrapped
article from the table; substantially as described.
an
Seventeenth. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of a slide
arranged to feed the article thereto, a movable head arranged to force the wrapper
and article thereinto, means for rotating the box intermittently upon
intermediate axis, and a movable table arranged to receive the wrapped article ;
substantially as described.
Eighteenth. The combination with the feeding and cutting mechanism, of a
sheath through which the wrapper is forced, and a wrapping box rotatory upon an
intermediate axis and having nippers arranged to pull the wrapper into place;
substantially as described.
Nineteenth. The combination with the feeding and cutting mechanism of a
sheath through which the wrapper is forced means for depositing the article upon
the wrapper, aud a rotatory wrapping-box, pivoted upon an intermediate axis
and having nippers arranged to pull the wrapper into place, substantially as
described.
Twentieth. The combination with the feeding and cutting rolls, of a sheath
through which the wrapper is forced, means for depositing the article upon the
wrapper, a rotatory bottomless wrapping-box into which the article and wrapper

page_text: are forced, and means for rotating the box intermittently upon an intermediate
axis; substantially as described.
Twenty-first. The combination of a bottomless rotatory box, of a movable head
arranged to force the wrapper and article thereinto, a movable table arranged to
receive the same when ejected therefrom, and folding flanges arranged to act upon
the wrapper as the table is lowered; substantially as described.
Twenty-second. The combination with a bottomless rotatory box, of a movable
head arranged to force the wrapper and article thereinto, a movable table arranged
to receive the same when ejected therefrom, folding flanges arranged to act upon
the wrapper as the table is lowered, and a slide having folding ears and arranged
to move the wrapped article from the table; substantially as described.
Twenty-third. The combination with continuously rotating feeding rolls, of an
intermittently rotating bottomless wrapping-box to which the wrapper passes;
substantially as described.
Twenty-fourth. The combination with continuously rotating feeding rolls, of an
intermittently rotating bottomless wrapping-box to which the wrapper passes, and
means for forcing the wrapper and article into the box and ejecting it therefrom;
substantially as described.
Twenty-fifth. The combination with the rotatory bottomless wrapping-box, of
turning mechanism therefor, upper and lower movable crossheads, and a horizontal
pusher, all of which are connected by links to the same actuating mechanism ;
substantially as described.
Twenty-sixth. The combination with the rotatory bottomless wrapping box, of
turning mechanism therefor, an article-feeding slide, upper and lower movable
crossheads, and a horizontal pusher, all of which are connected by links to the
same actuating mechanism; substantially as described.
Twenty-seventh. The combination with the rotatory bottomless wrapping box,
and a slide arranged to feed the article thereto, of a movable floor arranged to
support the article in its movement during the rotation of the box; substantially
as described.
Twenty-eighth. The combination with the rotatory bottomless wrapping-box
and a slide arranged to feed the article thereto of a movable floor arranged to
support the article in its movement during the rotation of the box, and a head
arranged to force the article into the box; substantially as described.
Twenty-ninth. The combination with the continuously moving wrapper feeding
mechanism, of means for depositing the article on the wrapper while it is being
drawn forward, a wrapping box arranged to rotate about an intermediate axis, and
means for forcing the article and wrapper thereinto; substantially as described.
Dated the 26th day of August 1895
J.
JOHNSON,
Patent Office, 4 Clayton Square, Liverpool.