US2677222A - Bundle wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

May 4,- 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1950 INVENTDR P5727? ANTHGNY mar-1mm ATTOR May 4, 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER 2,677,222 BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzmon PETER ANTHONY MATT/665R ATFORNE May 4, 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28. 19 0 INVENTOR PETER ANTWDNY PRATT/N651? BY ATTORNE May 4, 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28. 1950 INVENTOR PTR ANTHONY FRATT/IVGER ATTORNE y 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER 2,677,222

BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1950 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVINTOR ATTORNEY May 4, 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 28, 1950 INVENT'OR PEER ANN/O/VYFRATT/NGER I I 063. ATTORNEYS May 4, 1954 P. A. FRATTINGER 2,677,222

BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 I NVEN OR PETER ANTHONY m4 TT/MEER Y 7 a A?- ATTORNEYS I Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES QEFFIJCE' BUNDLE WRAPPING MACHINE Peter Anthony Frattinger, New Westminster,

British Columbia, Canada, assignor' to Robert. Auguste Durand, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada Application June 28, 1950, SerialNo. 170,804"

that the size the articles to be wrapped islimited. This invention is particularly for Wrapping comparatively large, bulky bundles made up of one or more articles, in an economical and eiiicient manner. The machine is particularly designed for wrapping bundles made up of a plurality sheets of plywood, the dimensions of which are usually four feet by eight feet or five feet by ten feet, and isso described-herein, but it is to be understood that other materials or articles formed into bundles may be wrapped. Paper is described as the wrapping material, but it is to be understood that throughout this specification and the accompanying claims, the term paper is intended to include any other material, a

such as cloth, which may be used for this purpose.

A heet of wrapping material, such as paper,- is lied to the top and bottom of the bundle to be .vrapped. These sheets extend beyond the edges of the bundle so that there is sufllcient material to be folded over the bundle sides-and ends. The sheets may be applied by handor automatically, and they may be pre-cut tothe desired size, or the paper may be fed from rolls and cut as required. Conveying means is provided for moving the bundle audits sheets along a course, along which folding means is provided for lapping the sides of the sheets over thebundle edges as it moved along said course, thus forming the sheets into a tube around the bundle. Suitable means is provided for securing the lapped sheet sides together. It is preferred to use an adhesive for this purpose, but staples or other fastening means may be used. When an adhesive is used, it may be applied to the appropriate surfaces of the paper during the folding operation.

At the end of this course, the bundle is ready to have the sides of the sheets projecting beyo its oppositeends over said" ends.

ifthe' bundle is substantially square in shape, it-

anddirecting the" latter to the secondconveyingmeans. If the bundleis rectangular in shape,

the second course is located near the end of the; first course and preferably extends substantially;

at right angles thereto so that the bundle need only be moved laterally after it has finished the first course in order to start it along the second. course, along which folding means is located for lapping the other sides of the sheet over the other bundle edges as it is moved, along said course. These lapped sides are secured together either by an adhesive or by other fastening means, such staples. When an adhesive is used, it is applied to the appropriate surfaces of the paper sides during the folding operation. Completely "wrapped bundles are discharged from the second course.

In this Wrapping'opera-tion, it is desirable to fold the side of one paper 'sheet'over the folded sides of the other paper sheet along each edge of the bundle, but it is obvious that these folded sides may not overlap, in which case they would have to be secured to the bundle. Another possibility is the fact that this machine may be used to apply paper to the bundle and during this operation, suitable fastening means, such as wire An example of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a plan view'of the part of the ma. chine for feeding bundles into the main portion of the machine,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3, is a'plan View of the main portion of the machine, including the paper feeding and cutting apparatus, wherein the first folding operationtakes place,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown inFigure 3,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the portion of the machine in which the second folding operation takes place, and including the means for feeding the bundles thereto,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Figure ,5, with part thereof omitted,

Figure 7 is an enlarged section takenwonthe line 1-! of Figure 3 through the feed rollers and cutters,

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3,

Figure 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5,

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line |l G of Figure 5, and

Figures 11 to 14 diagrammatically illustrate four stages of the folding operation.

The machine illustrated in these drawings includes a feeding section A, Figures 1 and 2, which directs the bundles and the sheets of paper therefor to the folding operation of the machine; a cutting section 13, Figures 3 and 4, for cutting the paper into desired lengths; folding section C, Figures 3 and 4, in which the first folding operation takes place; tucking and feeding section D, in which the ends of the paper are tucked in and the bundles are directed to the next folding operation; and a folding section E, in which the second folding operation takes place.

Feeding section A This section is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and it includes a frame 20 supporting a horizontal table 2| substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof. An endless conveyor 2 3 having transverse flights 25 thereon extends around sprockets carried by shafts 26 and 2'! at the opposite ends of the table. One of these shafts is connected to a suitable source of power, as hereinafter described.

Supports 30 and 3| are provided respectively above and below the table 2!, and carry one or more transverse shafts 32 and 33 upon which rolls of paper 34 and 35 are mounted. The paper rolls are in pairs, one above the other, and the rolls of each pair are of the same width, but different from the rolls of the other pairs. Each of the shafts 32 is provided with a brake 38 thereon, while each of the shafts 33 is provided with a brake 39 thereon for preventing the free rotation of their respective shafts. Stops 32 and 43 are slidably mounted on the shafts 32 and 33, each of said stops including suitable means, such as a set screw, for fixing it to the shaft. The roll of paper on each shaft is positioned thereon by these stops. If desired, the shafts may be adjustable longitudinally and vertically on their supports.

A guide bar 45 extends longitudinally of the table to one side of the conveyor 2|, said bar having a stop 35 at one end thereof. This guide bar and its stop are adjustable transversely of the table. Each bundle to be wrapped, which in this example, is made of a plurality of plywood sheets, is placed on the table either manually or mechanically against the guide bar with the outer end thereof fitting against the stop 16. When the conveyor 24 is in operation, a flight 25 comes into contact with one end of the bundle and moves it longitudinally of the table. The forward end of each bundle is moved through section B of the machine and into the beginning of section C by this conveyor.

Actually there need be only one roll of paper above and one roll below the table, but it is desirable to accommodate a plurality of paper rolls of different widths in order that the machine may be quickly changed over to handle bundles of different widths.

Cutting section B This section .is clearly illustrated in Figures 4 '7 and 8 of the drawings. Strips of paper 50 and 5! from the desired rolls 34 and 35 in the feeding section pass between pressure rollers of two sets of such rollers 5 and 55, and on between cutters 5? and 58. Sprockets 60 and 6|, see Figure 4, are connected to one of the pressure rollers of the sets 54 and 55, and a chain 62 extends around these sprockets and around another sprocket 63 which is connected through one or more speed reduction units 64 to a motor 65. The rollers 54 and 55 are driven to draw the strips of paper 56 and 5| from the paper rolls and to direct them through the cutters 57 and 58.

The cutter 57 consists of transverse, stationary and movable cutter blades 19 and l l, respectively, while the cutter 58 consists of transverse, stationary and movable cutter blades 14 and 15, respectively. Suitable means is provided for moving the blades 5? and 58 downwardly and up-- wardly in vertical guides relative to their cooperating blades Hi and 1 3. One way of doing this is illustrated in Figures 7 and 3. A shaft Bil extends transversely of the machine beneath the cutter blades "H and 15 at each of their opposite ends, there is a similar mechanism at each end of the shaft for doing this, and as these are duplicates, one only will be described. A lever BI is fixed to the shaft adjacent an end thereof and extends outwardly and upwardly therefrom, just off the vertical plane passing through the shaft center. The outer end of the lever is connected by a pitman 82 to the cutter blade '55 near the end thereof. Another lever 84 is fixedly mounted on the end of the shaft and projects outwardly and downwardly therefrom just off said vertical plane, but on the opposite side thereof to lever 3i, see Figures 7 and 8. The outer end of this lever is connected by a pitman 85 to the lower end of a turnbuckle 88, the upper end of which is connected to the end of the cutter blade I When the shaft 83 is turned in an anti-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 7, the outer end of the lever 85 moves upwardly to cause the cutter blade 75 to move in the same direction, and at the same time, the outer end of the lever 84 moves downwardly to move the cutter blade H in the same direction. If the outer ends of the levers 3i and 84 are moved across the vertical plane of the shaft to corresponding positions on the opposite sides thereof, the cutter blades are returned to their normal positions. When these levers are returned to their first positions, the cutter blades are again operated.

The rod 88 may be rotated in any convenient manner. For example, a lever 88 may be fixed thereto and project upwardly therefrom, the upper end of which is connected to the ram 90 of a pivotally mounted hydraulic or air operated cylinder 9!. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder and controlled in any convenient manner. In this example, the fluid is air.

Folding section 0 Each bundle with sheets of paper lying over the top and bottom thereof is moved along a course through this section by suitable conveying means. In this example, the folding section includes a bed [00 above which is located a support NH, said support being adjustable vertically in relation to the bed. The conveying means may consist of an endless belt [05 extending around drums I06 and I0! rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of the bed, and another endless belt H0, extending around a sence:-

drums III and H2 rotatably mounted adjacent theopposite ends of the support. One beltis directly above the other, and they are both narrower than the narrowest bundle to be movedthrough the machine. The adjacent runs of the belts pass over rollers I i3 and I I4 carried by the support iii! and bed Ifill, respectively. Slack tighteners H5 and N6 of well-known construction may be provided for the belts I05 and III]. The conveying belts may be driven together in any convenient manner, such as by chains and sprockets. In this case, sprockets I and III may be mounted on the shafts of the drums I01 and H2. An electric motor I24 rotates a shaft I25'upon which a sprocket I26 is mounted. A- chain I2! extends around this sprocket and around the sprocket I2 I, the outer surfaceof one side of said chain also extending around a portion of the sprocket I29, see Figure 4. A tight ener I29- of known construction may be provided'for this chain. With this arrangement, the motor I24 drives both of the belts I95 and I I0 through the chain 52?.

- When a bundle with its sheets of paper over the top and bottom thereof enters the section C, it is engaged by the belts I05 and III] to move it and the sheets as a unit through the section. As previously stated, the support IQI may be adjusted vertically to accommodate bundles of different thicknesses. The sheets of paper above 1 and below the bundle project beyond the sides thereof, and suitable means is provided in this section for folding the sides of one sheet against the corresponding bundle edges, and lapping the sides of the other sheet over the folded sides of the-first sheet. In this example, two folding bars R5 are located along the course over which the bundles are moved. It is preferable, although not absolutely necessary, to space these bars from the entrance end N6 of thesectiona distance equal at least to the length of the longest bundle to be handled. Each bar I lies parallel with and to one side of the conveying belts, and has a flared portion I39 at its forward end which starts substantially in a horizontal plane and twists up to the vertical plane in which the bar is located. The horizontal section of each flared portion E39 lies in substantially the same plane as the upper run of the belt I65.

Following the folding bars I35, similar folding bars M2 are located on opposite sides of the conveying belts. Each of the latter foldingbars is provided at its forward end with a flared portion hi3 which starts in a substantially horizontal plane and twists down to the vertical.

The horizontal section of each mediately after the beginning ofv the folding bars I35. Eachglue pet has a roller I49. whichv may or may not be power driven, as desired.

The motor I24 drives belts I85 and. H0 at. exactly the same speed, and it is desirable to.

drive the conveyor 25 of the feeding section Aata.

this same speed. This may be done by means of. a shaft Ilil, see Figure 3, which isconnected.

at one end by bevel gears I55 to the shaft. I25?- and at its opposite end by bevelgears I57 to-a. shaft I58. This shaft. has-a. sprocket I59; omits... outer endwhich is connectedby. a chain IGII to 15; Theasheetsiofl plywoodare either manually onw asprocket I BI mounted on the shaft 26 of. the

feeding section;

The support IBI may be. carried by a plurality of vertical screws I65 rotatably mounted invertical standards I66 located on opposite sides of the: machine.

support". It is preferableto turn these screws by power, and one way of doing this is diagram! matically illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Ashaft I'Hl'extends longitudinally of the section C at oneside. thereof, and is rotated by a motor I'II which is connected thereto by sprockets-and chain I12. Thisshaft is connected to each screw I65 on'its side of the" machine through a suitable turning mechanismdiagrammatically illustrated at I15. Each of 'these mechanisms also rotates a shaft I'IB which extends across the machine to a similar mechanism for rotating a screw I65 on theother side thereof. Thus, the motor I'II may be operated to raise and lower the entire support-- it; Theshaft I'lfl may also operate a rotatingimechanism diagrammatically illustrated at I'I=9 whichis adapted to lengthen orshorten theturn-buckle 85 of the cutting section B located on the same side of the machine as the shaft. This mechanism H9 may also rotate -a shaft I; see Figures 7 and 8, which extends across the machine to a similar turning mechanism on the turn-buckle on the opposite side thereof.

Thus, rotation of the shaft I'Iil lengthens or shortens the turn-buckles 88 to allow the support IBI to move up or down in relation to the bed me without interfering with the operation of the cutters.

Each" of the folding bars I35 and H52 is mounted on oneor'more slides I which are carried by tracks I86'extending inwardly from the side of the bed H10. Each slide has a nut I31 projecting outwardly from a side thereof. The nuts I8I- of' each of the folding bars on one side of the machine are aligned with similar nuts on each of the bars on the opposite side of the machine. A screw shaft I89 extends transversely of the bed through each opposed pair of nuts I87. Each shaft 39 has a left hand thread at one end and a right hand thread at its opposite end, so that when the shaft is turned, the nuts I87 thereon either move towards or away from each other. bybevel gears IQZto a common shaft 5 e3 extending longitudinally of the machine. This shaft may bepower rotated, or it may be provided with a wheel I94 thereon by means of which it may 'be manually rotated. Thus, the distance between the opposed folding bars I35 and the opposed folding bars in may be adjusted by turning' the shaft N3.

As it is desirable to shift the guide bar 45 of thesection- A laterally at the same time as the folding bars are shifted laterally in the section C; the shaft i 913 may be continued along the section-A. The guide bar is may be mounted on one or more slides its which ride on tracks I99- carried by the table 21.

distance asthe folding bars located on the same side of the machine in the-section 0.

Operation of sections A, B, and 0 Each screw. I65 may be turned in any convenient manner to raise and lower the Each screw shaft I8 is connected 1 Each slide is providedmechanically stacked on the table 2I of the feeding section to form a bundle. This bundle is positioned in the right place by the guide bar. 45 and stop 46. When the motor I24 is started, the conveyor 24 moves until a flight 25 engages an end of the bundle and moves it towards the cutting section B. The bundle moves between the rollers of the two sets of driving rollers 54 and 55 of the cuttin section towards the folding section C. As the bundle progresses, it operates an electrical switch ZIB which starts the motor 65 to cause the feed rolls 54 and 55 to rotate. This feeds the strips of paper 50 and 5| to the top and bottom of the bundle. The switch is so located that the free ends of these strips extend beyond the forward edge of the bundle. This action feeds a sheet of paper to the top and bottom of the bundle and they enter the space between the belts I55 and III) together. Each strip of paper is wider than the bundle so that portions thereof extend beyond the bundle sides. When the bundle has advanced so that it is almost completely between the conveying belts, a master switch is operated to stop the motors I24 and 65, simultaneously stopping the movement of the bundle and the paper. This master switch actually operates a time delay switch, not shown, which shuts off the motor I24 for a predetermined time. As time delay switches are well-known in electrical art, this need not be described herein. The master switch may be mounted in the section C in an appropriate position near the conveying means, or as shown, a switch 2I2 may be located in the section A adjacent the conveyor 24 where it is engaged at the proper time by a flight 25 of the conveyor 26. The position of this switch may be adjusted longitudinally of the section in order that it may be adjusted for bundles of diff erent lengths.

As the bundle stops moving, the cutter blades 51 and 53 are operated to cut the strips of paper 58 and 5 I. The air supply to the cylinder 9| may be controlled by an electrically operated valve which is governed by an electrical switch located in section C at a suitable point which it is engaged by a bundle at the right time, or it may be positioned in section A and operated by a flight 25 in the same manner as the master switch 2 I 2.

As an alternative to this, an air valve may be located in either of the sections A or C for controlling the air supply. In this example, a ratchet-type air valve 2I5 for two-way operation is adjustably mounted in section A adjacent the master switch so that said valve is operated at the same time as the switch by the flight 25 moving the bundle entering the folding section. This valve is connected by pipe 2I6 and 2H to opposite ends of the cylinder 9 I, and it alternatively supplies air to the opposite ends of the cylinder to operate the cutter blades to cut off the sheets of paper lying over and under the bundle. When the valve is directing air to one cylinder end, it allows air to escape from the opposite end thereof. This type of valve is well known to the trade. The switch 2I2 and valve 2I5 are so positioned that when they are operated, the bundle is stopped and the sheets of paper out off with portions thereof projecting beyond the rearward edge of the bundle.

After a predetermined time has elapsed, the delay switch starts the motor I24 so that the bundle and its sheets are moved forwardly in the machine by the conveying belts I05 and III]. The sides of the bottom sheet of paper ride on to the flared portions I39 of the folding bars I35 8 and are turned up by said portions against the adjacent edges of the bundle. By the time the forward end of the bundle reaches the opposite ends of the folding bars, the sides of the lower sheet are completely folded against the bundle edges and retained there by the folding bars.

As soon as the sides of the lower sheets start to fold upwardly, the undersurfaces of the sides of the upper sheet ride over the rollers I49 of the glue pots I48 so that a layer of glue is applied to these sides as the sides of the lower sheets are being folded upwardly. While thi folding and gluing operation is taking place, a second bundle has passed through the cutting section B into the folding section C, and when this latter bundle operates the master switch, the conveying belts stop so that both bundles remain stationary. At this time the first bundle is located between the folding bars I35. When the belts start to move again, the sides of the upper sheet of paper are directed downwardly by the flared portions I43 of the folding bars I42, and the latter lap said sides over the folded sides of the bottom sheet. When the third bundle entering the section C operates the master switch, the first bundle is stopped between the folding bars I42. These press the glued sides of the paper sheets together, and the stop is sufficient to enable the glue to set to hold said folding sides together. If desired, the folding bars I42 may be provided with heating elements 225 to help set the glue. When the conveying belts start up again, the bundle is discharged from the folding section C. At this time, the sheets of paper have been folded into a tube enclosing the bundle, the opposite ends of this tube projecting beyond the opposite ends of the bundle.

Tracking and feeding section D As each bundle is discharged from the folding section C, the sides of the ends of its paper tube need to be tucked in and the tops and bottoms of said ends folded against the bundle ends. This may be accomplished by providing a table 225 at the discharge end of the folding section C, said table being provided with a plurality of transverse rollers 226, at least some of which are driven by a motor 221 through a chain drive 228, see Figure 6. A bumper 235 is mounted on the outer end of a spring-loaded, normally-extended ram 23I of an air or hydraulic cylinder 232 fixedly mounted on a block 233 movably carried by the table, This bumper lies across the path of the bundles moved by the rollers 226 along the table, the end of each bundle coming into contact with said bumper when the bundle is completely clear of the folding section C.

In this example, air is used to retract the bumper, and a flexible pipe 235 extending from a suitable source of air supply (not shown) is connected to the cylinder 232. A solenoid operated control valve 236 is located in this pipe. When this valve is opened by its solenoid, air is directed to the cylinder to retract its ram and the bumper, and when the valve is released, it permits the air to escape from the cylinder so that the bumper is returned to its normal position.

The bumper has switches 260 and 26I projecting outwardly therefrom which are engaged by the bundle as it strikes the bumper. The switch 260 at this time stops the motor 227. As it is desirable to have the powered rollers 226 rotating at the same time as the conveying means of the paper tube around the bundle. the bundle engages the switches 269 and 26! on the first folding section, the motor 22'! may be set into operation by the master switch 2 l2.

A pusher bar 268 is movably mounted at one side of the table 225 and lies parallel with the bundles on the table after they have left the fold- .ing section. This pusher bar is reciprocated across the table by a motor 219,:see Figure 5, the drive shaft 21! of which is connected thereto through gears 212 and 2'53, shaft 2'54, pinion H5 and rack 276, see Figure 9. This rack extends across the table to the pusher bar beneath the upper surfaces of the rollers 228. The pusher bar actually has a base 2?? which rides on a track 218. Switch 26l on the bumper starts the motor 210 to move the pusher bar across the table, and a switch 289 mounted adjacent track. 2'58, see Figure 9, is operated by said bar or its base 2Tb when the latter reaches the opposite side of the table to reverse the motor and return thebar to its normal position. Switch 23% under the normal position of the bar adjacent the track, see Figure 10, is operated by base 2'52 and stops the bar in its normal position. The timing of this apparatus is such that the pressure bar moves across the table and back again while the time delay switch holds the conveying means in the first folding section stationary.

When the pusher bar leaves its position, a

switch 284 located beneath the normal position of the bar adjacent track 258, see Figure 10, is released by base 217 and causes the solenoid of valve 236 to open the latter to retract the bumper When the pusher bar returns, switch 284 is operated to close the valve, thereby permitting the bumper to return to its normal position.

Tucker bars 290 are mounted on the pusher bar 268 at its opposite ends and project inwardly of the table 226. These tucker bars are spaced apart a distance which is just slightly greater than the length of a bundle so that when the pusher bar moves towards the bundle, these tucker bars overlap the bundle ends. The tucker bars may be moved upwards and away from each other in any convenient manner. One way of doing this is to mount each tucker bar on the outer end of a rack 292 which extends inwardly along the pusher bar and engages with a pinion 293 therein, see Figure 9, mounted on the end of a shaft 294 which projects outwardly from the bar and has a hand wheel 295 thereon. One of the racks lies over the pinion, the other rack under said pinion. When the hand wheel is turned in one direction, the tucker bars are spread apart, and when is turned in the opposite direction, said bars are moved towards each other.

than the length of the smallest bundle to be handled by the machine.

Av pair of spaced-apart, stationary tucker bars 300 are mounted adjacent the opposite side of the roller table substantially in line with the tucker bars 290. The tucker bars Silt are normally stationary, but they may be adjusted in relation to each other in the manner hereinafter described.

.In this example, the stationary tucker bars are located in the second folding section E.

Operation of ing and feeding section D The conveying means of the first folding section C directs each bundle on to the rollers 22E .of the table 225 and the powered rollers move the bundle along the table towards the bumper 230. This bumper is small enough to enter the end of The end of The length of the pusher bar should always be less the bumper, theformer stopping the motor 22! of the rollers, and the latter starting the pusher bar 268 across the table. As soon as the pusher bar starts to move, switch 28 operates to cause the bumper 23.0 to be retracted, said movement being sufficient to clear it of the paper tube. As the bar approaches the bundle, the tucker bars 29!! engage the sides of the portions of the paper tube extending beyond the bundle ends and tuck said sides against said ends. Further movement of the pusher bar moves the bundle laterally of the table. In this example, the pusher bar feeds the bundle into the second folding section E. As the bundle continues to move in this direction, the tucker bars 3% engage the other sides of the ends of the paper tube projecting beyond the bundle ends and tuck these sides against the bundleend. Itwill be noted here that when the pusher bar'reaches the end of its travel, the-tucker bars 290 have moved inside the tucker bars 300 so that when the former. are withdrawn, the latter retain the tucked-in-portions against the bundle ends. When the pusher bar returns to its normal position, the bumper is moved outwardly to its normal position.

Folding section E This section is very similar to the first folding section C since all that remains to be done is to lap the remaining sides of the paper sheets over the bundle ends. As said sheets are by this time formed in a tube around the bundle, it is not necessary tohave' an upper and lower conveyor in this section.

The section E includes a bedded having suitable conveying means, suchas spaced endless chains 310 which extend around sprockets 3H and SH at the opposite ends of the section. Lugs 3l3 are 'mountedon the chains for engaging the bundles to move them with the chains. The sprockets 311 are mounted on a transverse shaft 3M, and the-sprockets 3E2 on a transverse shaft SIS, either of which may be rotated-in any convenient manner. As it is desirable to have the conveyor 3l'0 moving at the same time and at approximately the same speed as the conveying means of the first folding section, this conveyor may be driven by the motor i2 3 of said section. This may be accomplished by mounting a sprocket 320 on the shaft 25 of section 0, see Figure 3, which is connected by a chain 321 to another sprocket 322 mounted on a shaft 323 which extends longitudinally of and to one side of the section E. This shaft is connected by bevelled gears 324 to the shaft 3! 5.

Folding bars 3353 having flared portions 33! at one end thereof, and folding bars 335 having flared portions 336 at one end thereof are provided on opposite sides of the course formed by the conveyor 3). The folding bars 335 and 335 correspond with and act in the same manner as the folding- bars l 35 and 142 of the first folding section. The folding bars of the section E are mounted for lateral movement in the same manner as the folding bars in the first folding section. It'will be noted that the tucker bars 39!] are substantially in line with the folding bars 336 and even overlap the flared portions 33l thereof, see Figure 6. These tucker bars are also mounted in the same manner as the folding bars andare adjusted'laterally by the same mechanism. Similarly, the block 233 of the bumper cylinder 232 is shjftedlongitudinally of the roller table by thesame mechanism that moves the folding bars and stationary tucker bars, see Fi ure 5.

Glue pots 345 having rollers 345 are mounted adjacent the folding bars 338 immediately behind the flared portions thereof. These glue pots are mounted to move with their respective folding bars. The rollers 346 may be power driven, if desired.

Operation of folding section E In this example, the pusher bar of the tucking and feeding section D feeds the bundles into section E. This action also starts the folding operation of this section. As soon as the upper ends of the paper tube enclosing the bundle move past the tucker bars 300, the sides of the lower sheet start to be folded up by the flared portions 33l of the folding bars 330. During continued movement of each bundle, these folding bars press the said sheet sides against the bundle ends.

' At the same time, glue is applied to the lower surfaces of the overhanging ends of the upper paper sheet. As soon as the bundle is completely on the conveyor 3H1, lugs 3M thereof engage the side of the bundle to continue its movement through the section. As the bundle advances, the flared portions 336 of the folding bars 335 turn the sides of the upper sheet down over and against the folded sides of the lower sheet, and the folding bars press said sides against the bundle ends. If desired, these folding bars may be provided with heating elements 350 for applying heat to the bundle ends to help set the glue.

Actually, the conveyor stops while each bundle is between the bars 335. The next movement of the conveyor discharges the bundle from the section.

Figures 11 to 14 diagrammatically illustrate a bundle in four different stages of the wrapping operation. In Figure 11, a bundle 365 has sheets of paper 366 and 361 lying over the top and bottom thereof. It will be noted that all edges of these sheets project beyond the corresponding edges of the bundle. This is the relative position of the sheets and bundle just after the sheets have been cut from the strips of paper extending from the feed rolls, and are positioned in section C ready for the first folding operation.

In Figure 12, the sides 368 of the lower sheet 361 have been folded upwardly against the bundle edges, and the sides 369 of the upper sheet 35% have had glue applied to them and have been folded over the sides 368 and pressed thereagainst. It will be clearly seen that the sheets have been folded into a tube around a bundle with the opposite ends thereof projecting beyond the bundle ends. This is the condition of the bundle and sheets when they are discharged from the folding section C.

In Figure 13, the sides 3' of the portions of the paper tube projecting beyond the bundle ends have been tucked against said ends. This took place in the tucking and feeding section D, and the bundle is fed therefrom into the second folding section E. v

Figure 14 illustrates the bundle after it has passed through the folding section E. In this section, the sides 313 and 314 of the lower and upper sheets, respectively, projecting beyond the bundle ends, have been overlapped after an ad hesive had been applied to the undersurfaces of the sides 314, and the latter pressed against the other sheet sides and the bundle ends to finish the wrapping operation.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A bundle wrapping machine comprising conveying means for moving a bundle with sheets of paper over the top and bottom thereof along a course, said paper sheets extending beyond the bundle edges, folding means along the course for lapping the sides of the sheets over corresponding bundle edges as it is moved therealong to form a tube enclosing the bundle with the ends of the former projecting beyond the ends of the latter, a plurality of transverse rollers at the end of the course for receiving the bundle therefrom, a motor for rotating the rollers, a retractable bumper in line with the course positioned to be engaged by a bundle completely on the rollers, said bumper fitting into the tube of the bundle, means for retracting the bumper, a pusher bar for moving the bundle laterally from the rollers, means for moving the bar across the rollers and back to its normal position, means at the bumper engageable by the bundle to cause the bumper to be retracted and the bar to reciprocate across the rollers, conveying means extending from the rollers for receiving and moving the enclosed bundle along a second course substantially at right angles to the first course, and folding means along the second course for lapping the other sides of the sheets over the other bundle edges as it is moved along said second course.

2. A bundle wrapping machine comprising conveying means for moving a bundle with sheets of paper over the top and bottom thereof along a course, said paper sheets extending beyond the bundle edges, folding means along the course for lapping the sides of the sheets over corresponding bundle edges as it is moved therealong to form a tube enclosing the bundle with the ends of the former projecting beyond the ends of the latter, a plurality of transverse rollers at the end of the course for receiving the bundle therefrom, a motor for rotating the rollers, a retractable bumper in line with the course positioned to be engaged by a bundle completely on the rollers, said bumper fitting into the tube of the bundle, means for retracting the bumper, a pusher bar for moving the bundle laterally from the rollers, a reversible motor, driving means between the bar and the motor, a, switch at the bumper engageable by the bundle to start the motor and move the bar across the rollers, another switch engaged by the bar after it has moved across the rollers to reverse the motor and return the bar to its normal position, a second switch at the bumper engageable by the bundle to cause the bumper to be retracted from its normal position, another switch operated by the returning bar to cause the bumper to move out to its normal position, conveying means extending from the rollers for receiving and moving the enclosed bundle along a second course substantially at right angles to the first course, and folding means along the second course for lapping the other sides of the sheets over the other bundle edges as it is moved along said second course.

3. A bundle wrapping machine comprising conveying means for moving a bundle with sheets of paper over the top and bottom thereof along two courses, said paper sheets extending beyond the bundle edges, folding means along one course for lapping the sides of the sheets over corresponding bundle edges as it is moved therealong, said folding operation forming the sheets into a tube around the bundle, a table for receiving the bundle from the first course, a pusher bar on the table for moving the bundle on to the conveying means of the second course, a folding bar extending along each side of the conveying means of the second course, each folding bar having a flared portion lying in a horizontal plane at the end thereof near the table and each flared portion twisting into the vertical plane of its bar, a stationary tucker bar in line with and spaced slightly from each folding bar and overlapping the flared portion thereof, and a pair of tucker bars mounted on and extending inwardly of the pusher bar, said last-mentioned tucker bars overlapping and fitting within the stationary tucker bars when the pusher bar moves the bundle on to the conveying means of the second course.

4. A bundle wrapping machine comprising conveying means for moving a bundle with sheets of paper over the top and bottom thereof along a course, said paper sheets extending beyond the bundle edges, folding means along the course for lapping the sides of the sheets over corresponding bundle edges as it is moved therealong to form a tube enclosing the bundle with the ends of the former projecting beyond the ends of the latter, a plurality of transverse rollers at the end of the course for receiving the bundle therefrom, a motor for rotating the rollers, a pusher bar for moving the bundle laterally from the rollers, means for moving the bar across the rollers and back to its normal position, conveying means extending from the rollers for receiving and moving the enclosed bundle along a second course substantially at right angles to the first course, a folding bar extending along each side of the conveying means of the second course, each folding bar having a flared portion lying in a horizontal plane at the end thereof near the table and each flared portion twisting into the vertical plane of its bar, a stationary tucker bar in line with and spaced slightly from each folding bar and overlapping the flared portion thereof, and a pair of tucker bars mounted on and extending inwardly of the pusher bar, said last-mentioned tucker bars overlapping and fitting within the stationary tucker bars when the pusher bar is moved across the rollers.

5. A bundle wrapping machine comprising conveying means for moving a bundle with sheets of paper over the top and bottom thereof along a course, said paper sheets extending beyond the bundle edges, folding means along the course for lapping the sides of the sheets over corresponding bundle edges as it is moved therealong to form a tube enclosing the bundle with the ends of the former projecting beyond the ends of the latter, a table for receiving the bundle from said course, conveying means extending from the table for moving a bundle in its paper sheets along another course substantially at right angles to the course, a pusher bar lying substantially parallel with a bundle on the table for moving the bundle laterally from the table on to the second conveying means, means for reciprocating the bar, a bumper for stopping each bundle on the table at the same place, said bumper fitting into the tubes of the bundle, means for retracting the bumper after it is engaged by a bundle end, and means for returning the bumper to its normal position after the pusher bar has moved the bundle on to the second conveying means, spaced tucker bars projecting from the pusher bar, said tucker bars just clearing the ends of the bundle when the pusher bar moves towards the latter to tuck in the sides of the portion of the folded paper sheets projecting beyond the bundle ends, and folding means along the second course for lapping the other sides of the sheets over the other bundle edges as it is moved along said second course.

6. A bundle wrapping machine as claimed in claim 5 including stationary tucker bars spaced on the opposite side of the bundle from and substantially in line with the pusher bar tucker bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,634,711 Ferguson July 5, 1927 1,946,056 Birdsey Feb. 6, 1934 1,998,842 Mosley Apr. 23, 1935 2,215,545 Demler Sept. 24, 1940 2,289,820 Ardell July 14, 1942 2,291,645 Nordquist Aug. 4, 1942 2,296,142 Campbell Sept. 15, 1942 2,318,208 First May 4, 1943 2,443,327 Salfisberg June 15, 1948 2,456,059 Grupe Dec. 14, 1948

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