Patent US3797198A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3797198A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic twist wrapping apparatus
Assignee: Tenchi Kikai Co Inc
•
Filing: 1972-10-24
•
Granted: 1974-03-19
•
Expires: 1992-10-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus comprising a first carrier for carrying articles to be wrapped to a predetermined position individually at a regular spacing in a horizontal direction, means for supplying wrappers to the articles brought to the predetermined position so as to position each article approximately at the center of the wrapper, a second carrier adapted to traverse the first carrier horizontally thereof in synchronism therewith to grip the wrappers and articles together and transfer the same to an intermediate path of travel, means disposed in the path of advance of the second carrier for bending the wrappers at the projecting ends thereof other than one end thereof to be twisted, a third carrier having grippers for transferring the wrapped articles gripped by the second carrier from the terminal end of the wrapper bending means to a final path of travel, and means for folding the wrappers and twisting the projecting open ends thereof in the path of advance of the third carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 H Fukuzaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/06; B65B11/28; B65B11/30; B65B11/34; B65B25/00; B65B25/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
469 words
An automatic twist wrapping apparatus comprising, first carrier means for carrying articles to be wrapped to a predetermined position individually at regular spacing in a horizontal direction, wrapper feed means for sending severed wrappers to the predetermined position in timed relation to the supply of each of the articles by the first carrier means so as to permit the articles to position approximately at the center of the wrappers in face-to-fact relation, second carrier means operable in timed relation to the first carrier means to pass vertically across the first carrier means and having a group of gripping members for gripping the wrappers and the articles at the predetermined position and transferring the same from the first carrier means to an intermediate path of transport, wrapper bending means including a member positioned at one side of the path of transport by the second carrier means for bending one projecting end of each of the wrapper gripped by the second carrier means along with the article for transport, members continuous with the member for bending upper and lower projecting ends of the wrapper, and rotatable members movable into the path through windows formed in a suitable portion of the first-mentioned member or folding in the first-mentioned projecting end over the article, re-gripping means for temporarily freeing the gripping members of the second carrier means from the gripping approximately at the terminal end of the wrapper bending means and for causing the gripping members to grip the articles over the bent wrappers again, third carrier means having another group of gripping members operable to intersect the second carrier means at the terminal end of the wrapper bending means, to grip the articles wrapped with completely bent wrappers at the opposite sides thereof at right angles with the faces gripped by the gripping members of the second carrier means when passing through the intersection, and to transfer the wrapped articles to a final path of transport one after another upon the articles being released from the gripping members of the second carrier means, folidng means including a member operable in the path of advance of the third carrier means in synchronism with the third carrier means to fold the first-mentioned projecting bent end of each wrapper over the article, another member likewise operable in synchronism with the third carrier means to push one of the upper and lower bent ends of the wrapper in the direction of its advance beneath the other bent end for folding, and another member for folding the other of the upper and lower bent ends by the advance of the wrapped article, and twisting means dispsoed at one side of the third carrier means and movable in timed relation to the advance of the wrapped articles to grip and twist a projecting open end of the wrapper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
469 words
An automatic twist wrapping apparatus comprising, first carrier means for carrying articles to be wrapped to a predetermined position individually at regular spacing in a horizontal direction, wrapper feed means for sending severed wrappers to the predetermined position in timed relation to the supply of each of the articles by the first carrier means so as to permit the articles to position approximately at the center of the wrappers in face-to-fact relation, second carrier means operable in timed relation to the first carrier means to pass vertically across the first carrier means and having a group of gripping members for gripping the wrappers and the articles at the predetermined position and transferring the same from the first carrier means to an intermediate path of transport, wrapper bending means including a member positioned at one side of the path of transport by the second carrier means for bending one projecting end of each of the wrapper gripped by the second carrier means along with the article for transport, members continuous with the member for bending upper and lower projecting ends of the wrapper, and rotatable members movable into the path through windows formed in a suitable portion of the first-mentioned member or folding in the first-mentioned projecting end over the article, re-gripping means for temporarily freeing the gripping members of the second carrier means from the gripping approximately at the terminal end of the wrapper bending means and for causing the gripping members to grip the articles over the bent wrappers again, third carrier means having another group of gripping members operable to intersect the second carrier means at the terminal end of the wrapper bending means, to grip the articles wrapped with completely bent wrappers at the opposite sides thereof at right angles with the faces gripped by the gripping members of the second carrier means when passing through the intersection, and to transfer the wrapped articles to a final path of transport one after another upon the articles being released from the gripping members of the second carrier means, folidng means including a member operable in the path of advance of the third carrier means in synchronism with the third carrier means to fold the first-mentioned projecting bent end of each wrapper over the article, another member likewise operable in synchronism with the third carrier means to push one of the upper and lower bent ends of the wrapper in the direction of its advance beneath the other bent end for folding, and another member for folding the other of the upper and lower bent ends by the advance of the wrapped article, and twisting means dispsoed at one side of the third carrier means and movable in timed relation to the advance of the wrapped articles to grip and twist a projecting open end of the wrapper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first carrier means comprises an article feed disc surrounded by a wall fixed to a frame and rotatable in horizontal position, the feed disc being formed along its periphery with equidistantly spaced and vertically extending holes for permitting the articles to drop in one in each hole, and a guide track positioned beneath the vertical holes for receiving the articles in the holes and permitting the articles to slide on, the feed disc having a gently sloping conical upper face, each of the vertical holes having an opening opened at the outer periphery of the disc for permitting passage of the gripping member of the first carrier means, the guide track having a cutout to be vertically registered with the vertical hole at the aforementioned predetermined position and having the same length at the vertical hole in the circumferential direction, the cutout permitting passage of the gripping member of the first carriEr means and having a projection for supporting the article within the vertical hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wrapper feed means comprises means for supplying a roll of wrapping paper and severing the paper in predetermined dimensions, means for leading the severed wrappers into a supply passage, a rotary wheel rotatable in synchronism with the first carrier means for supplying the wrappers to the aforementioned predetermined position one after another, and a wrapper tray disposed above the first carrier means at the predetermined position and having an opening for permitting passage of the gripping members of the second carrier means, the rotary wheel being provided in equidistantly spaced arrangement along its periphery grippers for grasping one end of each of the supplied wrappers and operation members for causing the grippers to grasp the supplied wrappers at the outer periphery of the rotary wheel and to release the same onto the tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
198 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second carrier means comprises an intermediate rotary wheel rotatable in synchronism with the first carrier means, first gripping members pivotally mounted on the rotary wheel in equidistantly spaced arrangement along its periphery, second gripping members in opposing relation to the first gripping members in pairs and pivotally mounted on the rotary wheel in equidistantly spaced arrangement along its periphery, a first cam for operating the first gripping members when the rotary wheel is driven, and a second cam for operating the second gripping mebers when the rotary wheel is driven, the first gripping members being under the control of the cam to bypass the predetermined position where the wrappers are to join the articles and thereby position their grippers above the wrappers, the second gripping member being movable to vertically pass across the first carrier means upward from thereunder and to fit together and grip the wrappers and articles between their grippers and the first gripping members under the control of the cam, the second gripping members being under the control of the cam to release the wrappers and articles at the intersection with the third carrier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the re-gripping means comprises a protrusion in the path of advance of the second gripping members of the second carrier means, projections formed on the gripping members for contact with the projection, and a recess formed in the second cam, the gripping members being inclinable in a direction opposite to the direction of advance of the second carrier means under the control of the cam upon the projections on the gripping members striking against the protrusion so as to release the articles and permit the projections to shift to a position to clear the protrusion, the gripper members being operable by the cam upon the projections thereof clearing the protrusion to cause the grippers thereof to come into contact with the wrappers and thereby grip the articles again.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the third carrier means comprises a rotary wheel rotatable in synchronism with the second carrier means for final stage of transport, movable gripping members pivotally mounted on the rotary wheel in equidistantly spaced arrangement along its periphery, stationary gripping members fixedly mounted on the rotary wheel in equidistantly spaced arrangement along its periphery and opposing the movable gripping members in pairs, and a cam for controlling the movable gripping members when the rotary wheel is driven, the movable gripping members being operable to cooperate the stationary gripping members to grip therebetween the wrapped articles released from the second carrier means at the terminal end of the wrapper bending means and to release the articles at the terminal end of the path of the final transport.
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) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |