Method and apparatus for banding articles

Claim 2

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, The improvement comprising means for advancing the articles in spaced longitudinal progression, means progressively compressing the articles as they advance, means for delivering band sheets in time with the advancing articles, means for applying said band sheets to one face of the compressed articles as the articles advance and in time therewith and with the leading edge of the band sheet initially engaging the articles at a predetermined location therealong and following portions of the band sheet subsequently and progressively contacting the articles as they advance, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 in which said band sheet is wider than the article and said means for applying the band sheet comprises means for contacting a medial portion of the sheet with the article surface, leaving wing portions extending laterally of both sides of the article.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for compressing the articles comprises upper and lower conveyors having spaced converging runs and succeeding parallel runs for maintaining the imposed compression.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 3 wherein two upper conveyors are longitudinally aligned above a linear article feed path and separated by a band delivery gap downstream of said converging runs.

Claim 6

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising upper and lower conveyors for advancing the articles including spaced converging runs for compressing the articles and succeeding parallel runs for maintaining the imposed compression including two longitudinally aligned upper conveyors above the article feed path and separated by a band delivery gap downstream of said converging runs, pairs of band sheet delivery belts with each of said pairs having contiguous runs which grip band sheets and deliver said sheets through said band delivery gap to one face of the compressed articles, means for holding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band.

Claim 7

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising upper and lower conveyors for advancing the articles including spaced converging runs for compressing the articles and succeeding parallel runs for maintaining the imposed compression including two longitudinally aligned upper conveyors above the article feed path and separated by a band delivery gap downstream of said converging runs, pairs of band sheet delivery belts with each of said pairs having contiguous runs which grip band sheets and deliver said sheets through said band delivery gap to one face of the compressed articles, means for holding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 1 including sheet supply means triggered by advancing articles to feed a web of banding material and cut a measured sheet from the web in synchronism with article movement so that the band sheet is delivered to the article in time therewith.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said sheet supply means comprises a cut-off knife, a drive roller, an idler roller, intermittant feed means for moving said idler roller against the web to press the web against said drive roller to feed the web to said cut-off knife, and actuating means for moving said cut-off knife against the web to sever a band sheet.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 7 wherein said intermittant feed means and actuating means comprises a motor connected to said knife and said idler roller, a clutch-brake unit having an output shaft with timing cams and switches operatively associated with said cams, a first switch in the article feed path engageable with advancing articles, a circuit connected to said cam switches and said feed path switch to energize said timing motor and rotate the cams to energize said knife and roller motor to feed the web, cut off a band sheet from the web, and interrupt web feed.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 8 including means for mounting said switch to afford adjustment of the linear position of said switch in the feed path to vary the position of the band on the article.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 8 including a second switch in said linear feed path to open a circuit path to said timing motor so that said timing motor is de-energized upon completion of one revolution of said cams.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 8 including a third switch located in advance of said first switch and Having a feeler engageable with the advancing articles to maintain current flow to said timing motor while said feeler is in contact with an article to continue rotation of said cams and feed multiple band sheets to the article.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said articles are advanced in spaced succession to said means for applying band sheets and including means associated with the article feed path to sense the position of the advancing articles to actuate the sheet applying means for successively applying individual band sheets to each of the advancing articles.

Claim 15

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising means for compressing the advancing articles, means for applying band sheets to one face of the compressed articles, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band, and wherein said articles comprise layered logs and including means associated with the article feed path to sense the presence of the logs to actuate the sheet applying means and apply multiple spaced bands to the logs.

Claim 16

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising means for compressing the advancing articles, means for applying band sheets to one face of the compressed articles, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band, and wherein said articles comprise layered logs and including means associated with the article feed path to sense the presence of the logs to actuate the sheet applying means and apply multiple spaced bands to the logs.

Claim 17

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising means for compressing the advancing articles, means for applying band sheets to one face of the compressed articles, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band, and wherein said means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the article comprises spaced plows and batteries of rollers downstream of the plows and located on opposite sides of the article feed path.

Claim 18

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising means for compressing the advancing articles, means for applying band sheets to one face of the compressed articles, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band, and wherein said means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the article comprises spaced plows and batteries of rollers downstream of the plows and located on opposite sides of the article feed path.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 14 including roller support brackets and means for tilting said brackets to afford adjustment of the position of the axes of said rollers in a vertical plane parallel to the sides of the articles.

Claim 20

The improvement of claim 14 wherein said rollers are inclined to induce vertical tension in the side panels of the band as articles advance between the compression rollers.

Claim 21

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising means for compressing the advancing articles, means for applying band sheets to one face of the compressed articles, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band, and including a lower conveyor assembly having belts for advancing the articles being wrapped and wherein said means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the article to complete the band comprises first and second longitudinally staggered plows associated with said lower conveyor assembly.

Claim 22

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the improvement comprising means for compressing the advancing articles, means for applying band sheets to one face of the compressed articles, means for folding extending wing portions of the band sheets along the sides of the compressed article, and means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band, and including a lower conveyor assembly having belts for advancing the articles being wrapped and wherein said means for folding the ends of the band sheets inwardly about the article to complete the band comprises first and second longitudinally staggered plows associated with said lower conveyor assembly.

Claim 23

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said lower conveyor assembly includes adjacent first and second conveyor belts with said first belt terminating at a point upstream from one said plow to provide a first folding gap free of belts and said second belt extending adjacent said first plow to advance the article past said first plow, a second folding gap downstream of said second belt and between said second belt and said second plow for folding the other band side panel beneath the article, a third belt longitudinally aligned with said first belt and said first gap and extending adjacent to said second plow, to move the article past the second plow.

Claim 24

The improvement of claim 18 including plates bridging said gaps to support the advancing articles.

Claim 25

The improvement of claim 19 wherein said plates are co-planar with said conveyor runs and spaced upwardly above the upper surface of the plows to provide clearance for movement of the folded wings beneath the plates and above the plows.

Claim 26

The improvement of claim 1 including Means for applying glue to the margin of one of the wing portions of the band sheet prior to folding the wing portions along the sides of the article.

Claim 27

Apparatus for banding articles comprising first and second upper conveyors longitudinally aligned along a linear feed path and separated by a band delivery gap, a lower conveyor spaced below said upper conveyors, said upper and lower conveyors having converging runs for compressing the articles in advance of said band delivery gap and parallel runs for maintaining the articles in a compressed state during the band wrapping sequence, means for delivering sheets of banding material through the band delivery gap to the advancing articles, and means triggered by the articles on said conveyors for supplying the sheets of banding material to said sheet delivery means for application to the articles as the articles arrive at said band delivery gap.

Claim 28

Apparatus for banding articles comprising first and second upper conveyors longitudinally aligned along a linear feed path and separated by a band delivery gap, a lower conveyor spaced below said upper conveyors, said upper and lower conveyors having converging runs for compressing the articles in advance of said band delivery gap and parallel runs for maintaining the articles in a compressed state during the band wrapping sequence, means for delivering sheets of banding material through the band delivery gap to the advancing articles, and means triggered by the articles on said conveyors for supplying the sheets of banding material to said sheet delivery means for application to the articles as the articles arrive at said band delivery gap.

Claim 29

Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said means for delivering sheets of banding material through the band delivery gap comprises spaced pairs of band carrier belts having contiguous runs for gripping band sheets.

Claim 30

Apparatus for banding articles comprising conveyors defining a linear article feed path, said conveyors including converging runs for progressively compressing the article as it advances along the feed path, band applying means, means in said feed path for sensing article position and a circuit connecting said sensing means to actuate web feed and web cut-off mans to supply measured band sheets to said band applying means in time with movement of the articles with the leading edge of the band sheet initially engaging the articles at a predetermined location on the article and following portions of the band sheet subsequently and progressively contacting the articles as they advance.

Claim 31

Apparatus for banding articles comprising conveyors defining a linear article feed path, said conveyors including converging runs for progressively compressing the article as it advances along the feed path, band applying means, means in said feed path for sensing article position and a circuit connecting said sensing means to actuate web feed and web cut-off mans to supply measured band sheets to said band applying means in time with movement of the articles with the leading edge of the band sheet initially engaging the articles at a predetermined location on the article and following portions of the band sheet subsequently and progressively contacting the articles as they advance.

Claim 32

Web feed and cut-off apparatus comprising a bed knife, a movable knife, a reciprocable knife bar carrying said movable knife, a motor connected to said knife bar for moving said knife bar between a retracted position and a cutting position, a drive roller, an idler roller, a frame, bearing discs rotatably connected to a said frame, said bearing discs eccentrically and rotatably supporting said idler roller, bearing clamps connected to said bearing discs and having cam followers, a pair of follower levers, a cross shaft fixed to one end of said follower levers and pivotally supported on said frame, cam slots in said follower levers receiving said cam followers on said bearing clamps, and ball joints connecting said follower levers to said knife bar to afford movement of said idler roller toward said drive roller to clamp the web against the drive roller when said knife bar is in a retracted position and to move said idler roller away from the web when said knife bar is moved into a cutting position.

Claim 33

Web feed and cut-off apparatus comprising a bed knife, a movable knife, a reciprocable knife bar carrying said movable knife, a motor connected to said knife bar for moving said knife bar between a retracted position and a cutting position, a drive roller, an idler roller, a frame, bearing discs rotatably connected to a said frame, said bearing discs eccentrically and rotatably supporting said idler roller, bearing clamps connected to said bearing discs and having cam followers, a pair of follower levers, a cross shaft fixed to one end of said follower levers and pivotally supported on said frame, cam slots in said follower levers receiving said cam followers on said bearing clamps, and ball joints connecting said follower levers to said knife bar to afford movement of said idler roller toward said drive roller to clamp the web against the drive roller when said knife bar is in a retracted position and to move said idler roller away from the web when said knife bar is moved into a cutting position.

Claim 36

The method of claim 26 including the steps of applying a second band sheet to the compressed article, folding the second band sheet along thE side of the compressed article, and folding the end of the band sheet inwardly about the compressed article to complete the band.

Claim 37

The method of claim 26 in which a medial portion of the band sheet is applied to the article, leaving band sheet wings extending laterally at both sides of the article and folding both wings along the article sides and up against its bottom and into overlapped relation.

Claim 38

The method of claim 28 including the step of maintaining compression on the article throughout the folding steps.

Claim 41

The method of claim 30 in which the wings are threaded through gaps between the plates and belts to bring them into contact with the article bottom.

Claim 42

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the subcombination of a lower conveyor assembly for overwrapping a glued side band panel flap upon an unglued side band panel flap comprising, first and second belts having co-planar upper runs, said first belt having a run shorter than said second belt, a first plow located downstream of said first belt and spaced from the end of said first belt to provide a first belt free gap for folding a band side panel flap beneath the article and said second belt extending along side fist plow to advance the article past the first plow, a second plow for folding the other band side panel flap beneath the article, said second plow being spaced from the downstream end of said second belt to provide a second belt free folding gap for the other band side panel flap, a third belt having a run co-planar with said upper runs of said first and second belts and extending adjacent said second plow for advancing the articles past said second plow and plates co-planar with said upper runs of said first, second and third plates and bridging said gaps to support the articles as they move past said gaps, and throats beneath said plates and above said plows to afford movement of the folded panels between said plows and said plates and a fourth conveyor belt downstream of said third conveyor belt for compressing the glued panel against the unglued panel to complete the band.

Claim 43

In apparatus for banding compressible articles, the subcombination of a lower conveyor assembly for overwrapping a glued side band panel flap upon an unglued side band panel flap comprising, first and second belts having co-planar upper runs, said first belt having a run shorter than said second belt, a first plow located downstream of said first belt and spaced from the end of said first belt to provide a first belt free gap for folding a band side panel flap beneath the article and said second belt extending along side fist plow to advance the article past the first plow, a second plow for folding the other band side panel flap beneath the article, said second plow being spaced from the downstream end of said second belt to provide a second belt free folding gap for the other band side panel flap, a third belt having a run co-planar with said upper runs of said first and second belts and extending adjacent said second plow for advancing the articles past said second plow and plates co-planar with said upper runs of said first, second and third plates and bridging said gaps to support the articles as they move past said gaps, and throats beneath said plates and above said plows to afford movement of the folded panels between said plows and said plates and a fourth conveyor belt downstream of said third conveyor belt for compressing the glued panel against the unglued panel to complete the band.