US3048953A - Tape wrapping machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1962 J. H. CASEY TAPE WRAPPING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1959 INVENTOR.

JAMES H. CASEY ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. CASEY TAPE WRAPPING MACHINES Aug. 14, 1962 Filed June 8, 1959 INVENTOR. JAMES H. CASEY @MW/g @244) A j/ ATTORNEYS Aug. 14, 1962 J. H. CASEY TAPE WRAPPING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1959 JIVVENTOR. JAMES H. CASEY ATTORNEYS 3,648,953 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 use 3,048,953 TAPE WRAPPING MACHINES James H. Casey, Roseviile, Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,909 3 Claims. (Cl. 53-198) The present invention relates to tape wrapping machines having a releasable jaw, which machines are of the type which dispense a length of tape from a roll thereof to seal or mark an article, or to wrap a number of separate articles to form them into a wrapped bundle. Machines of this type are described and claimed in Norman J. Bouchard application executed June 2, 1959 (Serial No. 818,682), and being filed concurrently herewith.

A typical wrapping machine of the kind to which this invention relates contains a recess into which the article or articles to be wrapped are placed (against the adhesive coated surface, near the free end, of a supply of tape) and a transporting shuttle which acts to withdraw tape from the supply and apply it to the article or articles as the shuttle is moved across the recess, over the top of the article. The adhesive side of the transported tape adheres to the adhesive side of the free end of the tape, and is then severed, forming a flag type wrap around the article.

Tape wrapping machines as above briefly described have heretofore been so constructed that the wrapped articles must be removed from the machine by reversing the movement made by the operator in placing the article into the machine; e.g. the unwrapped article is pushed down into the recess, by the operator, and then pulled up by him out of the recess after wrapping. An object of the present invention is to provide means for removing the wrapped article from a machine by continuation of the same motion (e.g. downward motion) which was made in inserting the article into such machines, which motion is continued to accomplish the wrapping of the article. A wrapping machine of this invention, having a releasable jaw, permits the operator to place an article to be wrapped into the machine, to wrap the article, and to remove the wrapped article, all with one continuous motion, thereby providing an easier and quicker method of wrapping articles with such a machine.

The embodiment of this invention to be hereinafter particularly described, has been adapted for special utility for applying a wrap of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape about the neck of a bag. It will be apparent, however, as this description proceeds, that the releasable jaw may be used on other machines which have been adapted for sealing, holding or marking purposes, and that said invention can be adapted or modified for more varied usage, without departing from the concept involved.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a wrapping machine with a releasable jaw attached thereto, and with a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape mounted therein, showing the machine in rest position, with part of one side of the machine broken away, for purpose of clarity,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing a cross-section of the releasable jaw,

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, with parts of the machine broken away, or shown in section, for the purpose of showing detailed construction,

FIGURE 4 is a detailed exploded view, in perspective, showing the knife of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, and the bracket in which said knife is mounted.

FIGURE 5 is a detailed perspective view of the slide channel contained in the machine shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1, showing that machine in operating position with the neck of a bag inserted therein, and with part of one side of the machine removed, for purpose of clarity. The position which the releasable jaw takes in its rotated position is shown in broken lines.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 3, the wrapping machine shown will be seen to include generally parallel side members 10 and 11 which are held together in upright position, in spaced relationship to each other. Side members 10 and 11 are pivotally attached to bolt 12, which bolt is attached through brackets 14 and 15. Brackets 14 and 15 are attached to base member 16 by screws 17. Post 13 is also pivotally attached to bolt 12, between side members 10 and 11, and extends upwardly therefrom to support tape roll 20. Tape roll 20 is mounted on hub 19, and bolt 18 is inserted through hub 19 and post 13, rotatably attaching hub 19 to post 13. Hub 19 is provided with ridges 21 to engage the inner circumference of tape roll 20 more firmly. Post 13 is bent to accommodate the periphery of tape roll 20, and tape roll 20 is mounted in such a manner that the adhesive coated surface of the unwound tape T will face upwardly, and be aligned to pass between side members It) and 11, as tape T is unwoun'd from the roll 20 and threaded forwardly through the machine.

As the tape T passes forwardly from the tape roll 20, it is first threaded between rollers 22 and 23, which rollers are rotatably attached to, and between, side members 10 and 11. Roller 22 has a smooth surface, but the peripheral surface of roller 23 contains corrugations 24, and roller 23 is prevented from rotation in the clockwise direction (when viewed as shown in FIGURE 1) by metallic strip 25 which is keyed into apertures 28 in side members 10 and 11. Spring 27 is mounted in apertures 26 in sides 10 and 11, and bears downwardly against the top surface of strip 25, causing tip 29 of strip 25 to ride upon corrugations 24 in roller 23, when said roller is moved in the counter-clockwise direction. However, tip 29 is wedged between adjacent corrugations 24 to prevent movement of roller 23 in a clockwise direction. Tape T is thus prevented from moving between the rollers 22 and 23, toward tape roll 20.

After passing between rollers 22 and 23, tape T is threaded into slide channel 30 and the tape passes along the floor of said channel toward the front of the machine. Slide channel 30 is pivotally mounted between side members 1t and 11 on pin 31. Retainer 32 is pivotally mounted within slide channel 30 by means of extensions 33 which extend into slots 34 in the side of slide channel 30. Spring 36 is attached to pin 37 and to the rearward end 38 of retainer 32, and since pin 37 is attached to side members 10 and 11, spring 36 acts to urge the rearward end 38 of retainer 32 upwardly. Thus the forward end 35 of retainer 32 is urged in the downward direction by spring 36, and, since the forward end 35 of retainer 32 acts against the forward end 40 of slide channel 30, urging it in the downwardly direction, the rearward end 38 of slide channel 30 is urged upwardly. This pivotal movement of slide channel 30 is limited by the edges of slots 41 in slide channel 30, which edges bear against pin 37. The forward end 35 of retainer 32 also bears downwardly against the adhesive surface of tape T, and serves to hold said tape along the bottom surface of slide channel 30.

From slide channel 30, tape T passes forwardly across recess 60, over adapter 42 and onto receiving block 43. Recess 60 is formed between side members 10 and 11 and releasable jaw 48. Adapter 42 is attached by screws 44 to receiving block 43, and said adapter can be removed to increase the depth of recess 69 when articles of greater bulk are to be wrapped by the machine. Receiving block 43 and nose plates 46 and 47 are formed as one piece into releasable jaw member 48. Receiving block 43 includes projecting portion 49, and said receiving block is pivotally attached through said projecting portion to side members and '11 by bolt 50. Pin 66 is affixed to projecting portion 49, and spring 65 is attached at its one end to pin 66 and at its other end to hook 64. Hook 64 is affixed to housing 62, which housing is attached to the interior surfaces of side members 10 and 11 by screws 63. Spring 65 is extended when releasable jaw 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction, and acts to urge said jaw in a counter-clockwise direction.

Semi-circular shaped nose plates 46 and 47, which are afiixed to each side of receiving block 4-3, extend both upwardly and downwardly from said receiving block. Below receiving block 43, nose plates 46 and 47 are farther apart from each other than are side members 10 and 11, so that during the pivotal movement of releasable jaw 48 these portions of nose plates 46 and 47 move parallel to side members 10 and 11 closely along the outer surfaces thereof. The upper portions of nose plates 46 and 47, above receiving block 43, are spaced apart a distance about equal to the distance between side members It) and 1 1. Resilient member is attached to the lower surface of receiving block 43, so that when releasable jaw 48 is caused to pivot on bolt 50, the lower area of nose plates 46 and 47 will move along the outside of side plates 11) and 11, until said resilient member bears against side plates 1t) and 11.

The lower portions of nose plates 46 and 47 are provided with slots 52 and 53 extending inwardly from the lower edges of said plates and latch 55 is urged into said slots by spring 56. Latch 55 is slidably held between side members 10 and 11, and said latch extends outwardly through apertures (not shown) in said side members to engage into slots 52 and 53. Spring 56 is held at one end by bolt 61, and said spring is attached at its other end to extension 67 on the bottom of latch 55. Bolt 61 is afiixed to housing 62. The counter-clockwise rotation of releasable jaw 48 is stopped by means of projections 54 and 57 on the lower area of nose plates 46 and 47, which projections are forced against latch 55 when said releasable jaw is rotated by action of spring 65. When the machine is in rest position, as shown in FIGURE 1, latch 55 is urged into slots 52 and 53 by spring 56, and latch 55 serves to hold releasable jaw 48 in that position.

Shuttle 70 is composed of spaced parallel shuttle bars 71 and 72, and said shuttle is mounted between side members 10 and 11 on pins 73 and 74. Lever is attached to shuttle bars 71 and 72 by pin 73, and said lever extends upwardly between said shuttle bars to form cant 88. Lever 80 is pivotally attached to sides 10 and 11 by bolt 81, and said lever is also pivotally attached to one end of parallel arm members 82 and 83 by pin 84. Arm members 82 and 83 are pivotally attached at their other ends by pin 85 to bracket 86, which bracket is attached by screws 87 to base 16. Lever 80 extends forwardly at its center portion to form cam 89, and said cam is positioned to bear against the lower surface of slot 69 in latch 55 when said lever is rotated about bolt 81.

Slide 75 is retained on shuttle 70, between shuttle bars 71 and 72, by pins 76 and 77. Pins 76 and 77 are attached to bars 71 and 72 through tracks 78 and 79 in slide 75, so that slide 75 is movable along said pins on said tracks. Spring 90 is inserted in track 79 so that it bears against the rear of said track and against pin 77. Spring 90 acts to urge slide 75 rearwardly, so that the front of track 79 rests against pin 77 and the front of track 78 bears against pin 76. Knife 91 is aifixed to the forward end of slide 75 by screw 92. Roller 93 is retained between shuttle bars 71 and 72 by pin 94, and bracket 95 is suspended from pin 94, below roller 93. Knife 91 is retained within bracket 95 and is movable in the forward direction through said bracket, by movement of slide 75. The forward movement of slide 75 is accomplished by cam 88 on lever 811*, when said lever is pivoted in the clockwise direction on bolt 81.

Link member 190 is pivotally attached between shuttle bars 71 and 72 by pin 74, at one end of said link member, and the other end of said link member is pivotally attached to side members 10 and 11 by bolt 101. Parallel connecting bars 1113 and 104-are pivotally attached at their forward ends to link member 109 by pin 105, and said connecting bars are attached at their rearward ends to post 13 by pin 106. Spring 107 is attached at one end to link member and at its other end to adjustable pin 103. Adjustable pin 198 is attached to side members 10 and 11 through apertures 169 in side members 11) and 11, and pin 198 can be moved into any of the three positions in apertures 1419, thereby adjusting the tension applied against spring 107. When the machine is in rest position, the action of spring 1437 against link member 101) will cause shuttle 79 to be held rearWa-rdly, until the rear surface of the upper part of lever 81 bears against stop 11%), which stop is attached to, and between, side members 19 and 11 by bolt 102.

In the operation of this machine, with the tape T threaded as described above, the article to be taped, here the neck of a bag B as shown in FIGURE 6, is held by the operator at substantially right angles to the machine, and then pressed downwardly into recess 69, against the adhesive side of tape T. Thus, the free end of the tape will extend upwardly, along the front of recess 6%}, against receiving block 43, and the portion of the tape on the other side of the neck of bag B will extend between the bag and the forward end 49 of slide channel 39. Continued downward pressure against bag B will force the tape against adapter 42, and sides 10 and 11 will be moved in downward pivotal movement about bolt 12, toward base 16. This movement of sides 19 and 11 will cause the downward movement of bolts 81 and 101, and the action of arm members 82 and 83, against pin 84 and pin 85, causes lever 84 to pivot on bolt 81. The pivotal movement of lever 80 moves the forward end of shuttle 70 in an upward (slightly) and forward direction, and the movement of shuttle 70 carries pin 74 forwardly, pivoting link member 101) about bolt 191, against the action of spring 107, causing connecting bars 103 and 104 to move forwardly and to pivot post 13 in a clockwise direction about bolt 12.

As shuttle 76 is carried slightly upward and forward, roller 93, on pin 94, is forced against the non-adhesive side of tape T, and the tape is carried forwardly over roller 93 by the movement of said shuttle, stripping tape through slide channel 30 and rollers 22 and 23 as shuttle 70 moves across recess 60, above the bag B. As shown in FIGURE 6, during the movement of shuttle 70 the upper surface of said shuttle moves upwardly against the for- Ward end 40 of slide channel 30, causing slide channel 30 to pivot on pin 31. Spring 36 acts to hold the forward end 40 of slide channel 30 against the upper surface of shuttle 70.

When the tape T has been transported beyond recess 60, the adhesive side of hte tape carried on shuttle 70 contacts the adhesive side of the free end of the tape, and the adhesive surfaces of the tape adhere to each other to form a flag type seal around the neck of bag B. At this point in the wrapping operation, the action of lever 80 on pin 73 causes the forward end of shuttle 70 to move slightly downward and forward, toward receiving block 43, as is shown in FIGURE 6, and cam 88 on lever 80 begins to bear against the rear surface of slide 75, to move said slide forwardly, against the force of spring 90. The forward movement of slide 75 causes knife 91 to move forwardly in bracket 95, and as slide 75 moves forward, knife 91 is moved outwardly, through bracket 95 and against the tape carried over roller 93, severing said tape and forming a completed wrap around the neck of bag B.

The pivotal movement of lever 80 on bolt 81 also serves to move cam 89 in slot 69, thereby moving latch 55 downwardly from slots 52 and 53 in nose plates 46 and 47, so that said latch is completely removed from said slots as soon as the tape is severed. With latch 55 removed from slots 52 and 53, the downward pressure of the bag B against adapter 42 causes jaw 48 to pivot on bolt 50, releasing and rotating releasable jaw 48 in the clockwise direction to the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6. The bag B is thus permitted to be moved out of the machine in the downward direction, along the upper surface of the upper area of nose plates 46 and 47, due to this rotation of releasable jaw 48. Lever 80 continues to pivot on bolt 81 until the rear surface of the lower part of said lever bears against stop I, stopping the downward movement of sides 10 and 11 and serving to hold latch 55 downward, compressing spring 56.

After the bag B is removed from the machine, spring 107 acts to return the moving parts of the machine to rest position, and releasable jaw 48 is counter-rotated by spring 65 until projections 54 and 57, on nose plates 46 and 47, bear against latch 55. Spring 56 urges latch 55 in the upward direction, forcing latch 55 into slots 52 and 53, to hold the jaw 48 in the rest position shown in FIGURE 1.

The forward movement of post 13 has moved tape roll in that direction, in order that it not be necessary to strip tape from said roll during the forward movement of shuttle 70. However, when post 13 is returned to its original position, tape is stripped from the roll since the tape which has passed between rollers 22 and 23 is prevented from moving toward tape roll 20 by action of metallic strip 25 against roller 23. Thus tape which was moved forwardly during the wrapping operation is retained in that forward position, and when the machine is returned to its rest position tape T will overlie recess 60 and receiving block 43, ready for the next article to be wrapped.

Variations in the operation of the above described embodiment undoubtedly suggest themselves, and various modifications of my machine, embodying some or all of the novel features herein disclosed, can be envisioned. Such variations are comprehended, and I do not intend to be limited only to the specific embodiment herein disclosed, but, rather, I intend to be limited by my disclosure taken as a whole, including the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a tape wrapping machine having a base, a supporting structure movable toward said base and a recess into which an article is pressed downwardly for wrapping; a rotatable jaw having a rest position and a release position, said jaw in its rest position defining a portion of said recess, said jaw being mounted on said supporting structure to move from its rest position toward said base and to its release position upon application of downward pressure to said article, said movement of said jaw permitting further downward movement of said article out of said machine, a latch normally in engagement with said jaw to prevent rotation thereof during movement from its rest position to its release position, and means for disengaging said latch from said jaw to permit rotation thereof, said last-mentioned means being actuated only after a predetermined degree of movement of said supporting structure toward said base, means being provided to urge said jaw to its rest position.

2. In a tape wrapping machine having a base, a supporting structure movable toward said base and a recess into which an article is pressed downward for wrapping; a rotatable jaw having a rest position and a release position, said jaw in its rest position defining a portion of said recess, said jaw being mounted on said supporting structure to move from its rest position toward said base and to its release position upon application of downward pressure to said article, said movement of said jaw permitting further downward movement of said article out of said machine, an edge portion of said jaw being formed with slots, a latch spring-biased for engagement with said slots to normally prevent rotation of said jaw, and means for disengaging said latch from said slots to permit rotation of said jaw, said last-mentioned means being activated only after a predetermined degree of movement of said supporting structure toward said base, means being provided to urge said jaw to its rest position.

3. In a tape wrapping machine having a base and a supporting structure movable toward said base, a rotatable jaw, said jaw including spaced apart nose plates, said jaw being attached to said supporting structure for movement downwardly from a normal rest position to a release position, said jaw in rest position defining an edge of a recess into which an article is pressed downwardly for wrapping, said jaw in release position rotating to open said recess and permitting further downward movement of said article out of said machine, said jaw being provided with slots, said machines being provided with a latch, said latch being in engagement with said slots when said jaw is in rest position, and cam means positioned to act upon said latch to disengage said latch from said slots only when said jaw reaches its release position after a predetermined degree of movement of said supporting structure toward said base, means being provided to urge said jaw to its rest position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,787,102 Kreuger Apr. 2, 1957 2,841,935 Kreuger July 8, 1958 2,882,663 Leighton Apr. 21, 1959

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