GB1292378A - Conveyor system - Google Patents

Abstract

1292378 Endless conveyers; wrapping up articles MEAD CORP 18 March 1970 13094/70 Headings B8A and B8C Articles arriving from a packing machine (not shown) are accelerated on a conveyer 1, comprising two juxtaposed endless belts (13a), (13b), Fig. 5 (not shown), and fed to an orientating device 2 for rotation through 90 degrees. The articles are then fed in spaced relation by a pair of opposed endless belts (70), (76), Fig. 10 (not shown), on to an accumulator 4 comprised of an endless chain 82 with lugs 83 to engage the last article P1 of a series of articles P1-P4 to arrange the articles in abutment for positioning below a paper feed mechanism 5 which deposits a blank B atop each series of articles. Successive folding stations 7, 8 respectively fold the blank into sides (B1), (B2), Fig. 3 (not shown), and bottom panels (B3), (B4). A gluing machine 8 secures the bottom panels into position on the block of articles. The orientating device 2 comprises a pair of endless chains 26, 29 supporting a plurality of parallel bars 42 which in turn mount plates 44 to which are secured pedestals 43, which are freely rotatable about a vertical axis and have an article engaging or supporting surface movable in a plane parallel to the plane of the conveyer. Pairs of sliders 45a, 45b movable along the bars 42 under the action of guide rails or cams 48, 49 engage each article to rotate the same through 90 degrees in its passage along the conveyer. Upon obtaining its final position the sliders 45a, 45b are located fore and aft of the articles to retain the same in their desired position. The articles are further stabilized during rotation by a stabilizing element (51), Fig. 6 (not shown), mounted on an endless chain 51 to engage the upper surface and move with the article. The chain 51 is mounted on a framework vertically adjustable in relation to the conveyer 2 to accommodate different sized articles. Similarly, the arms 46, 47 on the sliders 45a, 45b are adjustable for different sized articles.