Patent US3780491A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3780491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for wrapping small articles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-02-11
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-02-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for wrapping small articles, especially sweets, having wrapping units mounted one at each end of a reciprocating carrier which moves between two delivery stations in the form of apertured discs, each wrapping unit having means for picking up a sweet from its associated disc and means for drawing wrapping paper from a supply and locating the paper and the sweet in prewrapping positions preparatory to wrapping the paper around the sweet, the arrangement being such that in each limit position one wrapping unit is picking up a sweet from its associated disc while the other wrapping unit is wrapping a sweet previously picked up from its disc. There can be two or more wrapping units at each end of the carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 W Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for wrapping articles comprising a wrapping unit, an article delivery station and means for effecting relative movement therebetween, said wrapping unit including first gripping means for collecting an article from said delivery station, and second gripping means for drawing wrapping material from a supply thereof, both said gripping means being mounted on a common support for movement in unison to transport, said wrapping material and said article to a wrapping position preparatory to wrapping of the material around the article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for wrapping articles comprising a wrapping unit, an article delivery station and means for effecting relative movement therebetween, said wrapping unit including first gripping means for collecting an article from said delivery station, and second gripping means for drawing wrapping material from a supply thereof, both said gripping means being mounted on a common support for movement in unison to transport, said wrapping material and said article to a wrapping position preparatory to wrapping of the material around the article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first gripping means comprises a pair of arms mounted for opening and closing movement in order to grip an article between them, said second gripping means comprising further arms at least one of which is movable to grip a wrapping material between them.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including means whereby the wrapping material is closed around the greater part of the article and means for completing wrapping and ejecting the wrapped article from the machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for closing said wrapping material around the article comprises a tubular former and a pusher member adapted to push the article and wrapping material through the former.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for completing the wrapping comprises a further pair of arms mounted for opening and closing movement in order to grip a partially wrapped article between them, and plate members mounted adjacent said arms and arranged such that on relative movement between said arms and said plate members the wrapping operation is completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wrapping unit is mounted on a reciprocating carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said carrier is provided with a wrapping unit at each end thereof and duplicate article delivery stations so arranged that in each limit position of the carrier one of the wrapping units comes into working relationship with one of the delivery sTations while the other wrapping unit effects a wrapping operation upon an article previously removed from the other delivery station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein more than one wrapping unit provided at each end of the recipro-cating carrier there being a delivery station positioned appropriately for each wrapping unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said reciprocating carrier is arranged to dwell in each limit position before its direction of movement is reversed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said carrier is driven by a cam member having a track designed to provide said dwell period at each end of the reciprocatory movement of the carrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said wrapping unit is detachably mounted on said carrier by quick-release mounting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said mounting means comprises a bolt depending from the body of the wrapping unit, passing through an aperture provided therefor in said carrier, and engaged by a nut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said aperture comprises a slot providing for adjustment of the wrapping unit relative to the carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a depending peg carried by said wrapping unit and engaged in said slot to prevent rotation of the wrapping unit relative to the carrier about the axis of said bolt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein all move-ments of the components of said wrapping unit are effected from a single input shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said input shaft carries a cam or cams for operating said arms for gripping an article, and further cams for operating said pairs of arms for gripping said wrapping material and the means for completing wrapping.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said wrapping unit is mounted on a reciprocating carrier and said input shaft is rotated by a sprocket wheel engaged with an auxiliary chain drive coupled to said carrier for movement in synchronism therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 whrein said chain drive is continuously driven in a constant direction such that the reciprocating movements of said carrier result in said sprocket wheel rotating in one or other direction or remaining stationary at different stages during the operating cycle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said arms for gripping said wrapping material comprise two fixed fingers and two movable arms which are urged towards the respective fixed fingers under spring action and the movement of which is controlled from said input shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said arms for gripping an article and said arms for gripping said wrapping material are interconnected such that the former prevent operation of the latter when no article is present at the associated delivery station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said arms for gripping said wrapping material are provided with lugs extending into the paths of movement of said arms for gripping an article such that the latter prevent operation of the former except when the article gripping arms are maintained apart by the presence of an article.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for supplying wrapping material from a continuous roll and means for severing suitable lengths of material from the roll for use in wrapping each article.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said means for severing said material comprises a pair of blade members movable to and from one another and arranged such that said means for collecting an article moves between said blade members in their open position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each said delivery station comprises a rotary disc provided with a circumferential series of openings each adapted to accommodate an article.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 including indexing means serving to rotate each opening of said disc in turn into a delivery position, and ejector means operable to raise an article from the aperture into a position in which it may be collected by the associated article-collecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |