GB1198021A - Improvements in Wrapping Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,198,021. Conveyers. ROSE FORGROVE Ltd. 10 Jan., 1969 [6 Feb., 1968], No. 5835/68. Heading B8A. Apparatus for feeding articles, e.g. chocolate bars 100 to a wrapping machine (not shown) comprises reciprocating feed bars 1-3 and reciprocating leading and trailing grippers. The grippers, having closed on the first two articles 100, advance the articles by different amounts to provide a definite spacing between them, after which the articles are released and the grippers returned to grip another pair of articles. Feed bars. The centre bar 2 receives substantially horizontal movement from a cam 6, levers 7, 9, 10 and a link 8, and a small vertical movement from a cam 19, levers 16, 17, 20, 21 and links 22, 23. The bars 1 and 3 are given a substantially horizontal movement only by a cam 26 and a. lever 27, these bars being supported at their leading ends by a carrier 28 having pillars 29 and, at their rear ends, by pillars 30 on a rocking lever 33. The bars 1, 3 begin to decelerate near the end of their leftward movement at the moment when the bar 2, having accelerated up to speed in its leftward movement, comes level with the bars 1, 3, after lifting slightly. Continuing to be lifted, the articles are carried leftward on the bar 2 and the bars 1. 3 return to the right, below the articles. Grippers. The trailing gripper comprises a gripper jaw 36 pivoted to the centre bar 2 which acts as a co-operating lower gripper when a lever 37 is permitted by a cam 38 to descend under the action of a spring 63 and to allow the jaw 36 to descend under the action of a spring 41. At the moment it is gripped, the article 110B is touching the article 100A which is in contact with a vertically movable stop 53 and gripped by the jaws 42, 43 of the leading gripper 101. These jaws are interconnected by meshing gear segments 143, 144 and are controlled by a cam piece 49 on the lever 37, a runner 50 on the jaw 42 and a spring 51 between the jaws. Horizontal movement of the leading gripper is caused by the cam 6 through the lever 7, a link 44 and a lever 45. Since the trailing gripper is also operated by the cam 6, both grippers move together but, due to differing lever ratios, the leading gripper moves further than the trailing gripper and spacing between the articles 100A, 100B results. The leading article 100A is pushed from a platform 52 by a face 142 on the jaw 42, and is fed to the wrapping machine by a chain conveyer 56. Articles having irregular bases may require the bars 1 and 3 to have vertical movement as well as the bar 2. The apparatus may be used to feed groups of articles and there may be provision for counting articles. A constantly moving belt may be used in place of the feed bars.