Patent US3816969A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3816969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fully automatic wrapping machine
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A fully automatic article wrapping machine which first forms a fold from a continuous film web around and trailing the article, with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article. The machine measures the length of the film web in accordance with the length of the article and then cuts the web off at the measured length. In the course of forming the first fold, the article is advanced against a vertically disposed film web and the article is pushed through the vertical plane thereof and onto an array of conveyors. The array includes inboard and outboard sets of double-decked conveyors with means to advance the partially enfolded article serially from one conveyor to the next and thence to an output conveyor. Tucking means are associated with said conveyor array to tuck the film wings inwardly and upwardly against the undersurface of the article, before the article is discharged from the conveyor array.
Inventors
- 👤 T Zimmerman
- 👤 C Michels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/06; B65B11/18; B65B11/20; B65B11/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A wrapping machine comprising folding means for partially enfolding a wrapping film about an article with film wings extending beyond both sides of the article, a conveyor array including inboard and outboard sets of double-decked conveyors, means to advance the partially enfolded article serially from one conveyor to the next and tucking means associated with said conveyor array to tuck the film wings inwardly and against the article before the article is discharged from the conveyor array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A wrapping machine comprising folding means for partially enfolding a wrapping film about an article with film wings extending beyond both sides of the article, a conveyor array including inboard and outboard sets of double-decked conveyors, means to advance the partially enfolded article serially from one conveyor to the next and tucking means associated with said conveyor array to tuck the film wings inwardly and against the article before the article is discharged from the conveyor array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the said inboard and outboard sets of conveyors respectively have input and discharge conveyors, said inboard set of conveyors being stationary, the outboard set being swingable to selectively align the swingable end of its input conveyor with the input and discharge conveyors of the inboard set, in the course of serially advancing the enfolded article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The machine of claim 2 in which the input conveyor of the outboard set has reversible drive means to selectively advance the article in one direction when it is aligned with the input conveyor of the inboard set and to advance the article in the opposite direction when it is aligned with the discharge conveyor of the inboard set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The machine of claim 3 in which the folding means leaves the article with a trailing film tail as the article arrives on said conveyor array, said tail depending downwardly between the adjacent ends of the discharge conveyor of the inboard set and the input conveyor of the outboard set as the input conveyor of the outboard set is reversed, whereby said tail is folded beneath the article as it is transferred to the discharge conveyor of the inboard set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 4 in which the input conveyors of said sets are the lowermost conveyors thereof, the discharge conveyors of said sets being the uppermost conveyors thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the tucking means comprises paired tucking arms and means for advancing said arms concurrently toward each other and beneath the article supported on one of said conveyors, thus to sweep the film wings beneath and against the article.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 6 in combination with means to initially adjust the lateral spacing between said tucking arms in accordance with article width.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
The machine of claim 7 in which the means to initially adjust the lateral spacing between said tucking arms comprises a splined shaft, a lead screw parallel to said shaft, said tucking arm having crank sectors with gear teeth engaged with said splined shaft whereby rotation of said splined shaft will pivot the tucking arms about the axis of the lead screw and rotation of the lead screw will advance the tucking arms along the splined shaft, and means to turn said lead screw in relation to the width of an article.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine of claim 6 in which the means for advancing said arms comprises a motion transmitting element and mechanism for actuating said element selectively in an adjustment mode and in a driving mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
The machine of claim 9 in which said mecHanism comprises a rotor having gear teeth, coupling means between said rotor and said motion transmitting element, a first swing arm upon which said rotor is mounted, a second swing arm having a sector face and a rack along said face and engaged with the rotor teeth, means for swinging the first swing arm with respect to the sector to cause the rotor to walk along the rack and actuate the motion transmitting element in one of said modes and means for swinging said second swing arm with respect to said first swing arm to swing the rack past the rotor to turn the rotor and actuate the motion transmitting element in the other of said modes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 6 in which said tucking arms have suction means to adhere the film wings thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The machine of claim 6 in which said tucking arms have retractable wiper blades with friction surfaces whereby to tighten the film around the article when the blades are extended and release the film wings when the blades are retracted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 6 in which said one conveyor has an elevator to lift the article as the tucking arms sweep the film wings therebeneath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 13 in which the elevator comprises an arm, said one conveyor having a well in which the arm is retractable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the folding means comprises means for advancing a continuous film web and disposing it in an upright plane, means for advancing the article on a transverse plane and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said means advancing the article beyond said upright plane and onto the input conveyor of the inboard set, and sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for partially enfolding the web about the article with laterally extending marginal film wings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The machine of claim 15 in which said sweep arm means comprises a folding arm which contacts the film web and a barrier sheet non-adherent to the film web and which intervenes between adjacent runs of the film web formed by the sweep action of the sweep arm means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 15 in which the means for advancing the continuous film web includes control means responsive to the length of the article to control the length of film advance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 17 in which the control means comprises a package length sensor and a web driver intermittently actuated by said sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for making a first fold of wrapping film material about an article with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article, said apparatus comprising a table, film advancing means for advancing a continuous signle web of film material and disposing it in upright plane beyond the end of the table, said film advancing means including shiftable web holding means below the table to draw the web downwardly in said upright plane, article advancing means for advancing the article along said table and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said article advancing means advancing the article beyond said upright plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof to leave laterally extending wings extending at both sides of the article and control means responsive to the size of the article to control the length of film advance, said control means comprising means to shift said web holding means downwardly through a distance sufficient to draw a length of film web appropriate for the size of the article.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for making a first fold of wrapping film material about an article with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article, said apparatus comprising a table, film advancing means for advancing a continuous signle web of film material and disposing it in upright plane beyond the end of the table, said film advancing means including shiftable web holding means below the table to draw the web downwardly in said upright plane, article advancing means for advancing the article along said table and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said article advancing means advancing the article beyond said upright plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof to leave laterally extending wings extending at both sides of the article and control means responsive to the size of the article to control the length of film advance, said control means comprising means to shift said web holding means downwardly through a distance sufficient to draw a length of film web appropriate for the size of the article.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for folding wrapping film material about an article and comprising a table, means for disposing a single continuous film web in an upright plane beyond the end of the table, means for advancing the article along said table and against said web and beyond said uprigHt plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article and below the level of the table for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof and forming a loop of said material below said table, said sweep arm means comprising a fold arm which contacts the film web and a barrier panel above the fold arm which is nonadherent to the film web and which intervenes between adjacent runs of the film web loop below the table as formed by the sweep action of the sweep arm means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for folding wrapping film material about an article and comprising a table, means for disposing a single continuous film web in an upright plane beyond the end of the table, means for advancing the article along said table and against said web and beyond said uprigHt plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article and below the level of the table for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof and forming a loop of said material below said table, said sweep arm means comprising a fold arm which contacts the film web and a barrier panel above the fold arm which is nonadherent to the film web and which intervenes between adjacent runs of the film web loop below the table as formed by the sweep action of the sweep arm means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which the control means comprises an article length sensor, said means to shift said web holding means being intermittently actuated by said sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in further combination with web fold shaping means movable with said article and which engages the bight of the web at both sides of the article to shape the film wings extending laterally therefrom.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for making a first fold of wrapping film material about an article with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article, said apparatus comprising means for advancing a continuous film web and disposing it in upright plane, means for advancing the article on a transverse plane and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said means advancing the article beyond said upright plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof to leave laterally extending wings extending at both sides of the article and control means responsive to the size of the article to control the length of film advance, said means for advancing the continuous film web comprising a vacuum box, said vacuum box having a perforated suction plate substantially in said upright plane and which will attract the leading edge of said film web, and means for moving said vacuum box in said plane to draw the web along said plane in order to advance the web a distance appropriate for the length of the article to be enfolded.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for making a first fold of wrapping film material about an article with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article, said apparatus comprising means for advancing a continuous film web and disposing it in upright plane, means for advancing the article on a transverse plane and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said means advancing the article beyond said upright plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof to leave laterally extending wings extending at both sides of the article and control means responsive to the size of the article to control the length of film advance, said means for advancing the continuous film web comprising a vacuum box, said vacuum box having a perforated suction plate substantially in said upright plane and which will attract the leading edge of said film web, and means for moving said vacuum box in said plane to draw the web along said plane in order to advance the web a distance appropriate for the length of the article to be enfolded.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 23 in which the means for advancing the continuous film web also comprises a feed roller and means for driving said roller which is coordinated with the means for moving the vacuum box for concurrent action thereby on said web.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which the means for advancing the continuous film web further comprises a feed roller, and means for rotating said roller to advance the web in said plane in order to advance the web a distance appropriate for the length of the article to be enfolded.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which the continuous film web is trained in a loop over a dancer, the means for rotating the feed roller being responsive to said dancer whereby to replenish film to said loop.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for making a first fold of wrapping film material about an article with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article, said apparatus comprising means for advancing a continuous film web and disposing it in upright plane, means for advancing the article on a transverse plane and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said means advancing the article beyond said upright plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof to leave laterally extending wings extending at both sides of the article and control means responsive to the size of the article to control the length of film advance, said means for advancing the continuous film web comprising two drive roll sets, a dancer intermediate said sets, a vacuum box and means for moving the vacuum box, means for driving one drive roll set in response to movement of the dancer and means for driving the other roll set in response to movEment of the vacuum box.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for making a first fold of wrapping film material about an article with film wings extending laterally beyond both sides of the article, said apparatus comprising means for advancing a continuous film web and disposing it in upright plane, means for advancing the article on a transverse plane and against a midportion of the upright web and within marginal portions of the web at both sides of the midportion of the web, said means advancing the article beyond said upright plane, sweep arm means for sweeping along said upright plane and behind the advanced article for folding the web against the article and rearwardly thereof to leave laterally extending wings extending at both sides of the article and control means responsive to the size of the article to control the length of film advance, said means for advancing the continuous film web comprising two drive roll sets, a dancer intermediate said sets, a vacuum box and means for moving the vacuum box, means for driving one drive roll set in response to movement of the dancer and means for driving the other roll set in response to movEment of the vacuum box.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in combination with a web cutoff means, and means for drawing the web taut while the web is being cut.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
135 words
Mechanism for actuating a motion transmitting element selectively in an adjustment mode and in a driving mode, said mechanism comprising a rotor having gear teeth, coupling means between said rotor and said motion transmitting element, a first swing arm upon which said rotor is mounted, a second swing arm having a sector face and a rack along said face and engaged with the rotor teeth, means for swinging the first swing arm with respect to the sector to cause the rotor to walk along the rack and actuate the motion transmitting element in one of said modes and means for swinging said second swing arm with respect to said first swing arm to swing the rack past the rotor to turn the rotor and actuate the motion transmitting element in the other of said modes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
135 words
Mechanism for actuating a motion transmitting element selectively in an adjustment mode and in a driving mode, said mechanism comprising a rotor having gear teeth, coupling means between said rotor and said motion transmitting element, a first swing arm upon which said rotor is mounted, a second swing arm having a sector face and a rack along said face and engaged with the rotor teeth, means for swinging the first swing arm with respect to the sector to cause the rotor to walk along the rack and actuate the motion transmitting element in one of said modes and means for swinging said second swing arm with respect to said first swing arm to swing the rack past the rotor to turn the rotor and actuate the motion transmitting element in the other of said modes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
73 words
The mechanism of claim 29 in combination with an article wrapping machine having an article feed table with laterally adjustable article sizing means and an article wrapping station with laterally adjustable film tucking arms, said motion transmitting element being connected to said film tucking arms, one of the swing arm swinging means of said mechanism being connected to said sizing means for concurrent adjustment of the sizing means and said film tucking arms.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 30 in which said wrapping machine has a cam shaft and a cam engaged with the other of the swing arm swinging means, whereby to drive said arms in their driving mode.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 23 in which the control means comprises an article length sensor, the means for moving said vacuum box being responsive to said sensor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |