Patent US4125480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3925964A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3925964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Arrangement for pulling a tube of heat-shrinkable plastic downwardly over a stack of goods
Assignee: Maschinenfabrik E Moellers GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1974-12-26
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1994-12-26
Abstract
Abstract For enclosing a stack of goods in a sheath of a heat-shrinkable plastic material, the plastic material is supplied in the form of a flattened tube pleated along its longitudinal edges. Initially the tube is gradually opened by spreading its contacting flattened surfaces and pleated edges and then individual spaced pleated portions along each edge are gripped by pairs of conveyors for pulling each of the pleated edges in an opposite direction so that the tube is opened into a generally rectangular shape. After passing downwardly from the conveyors, the lower end of the opened tube is gripped interiorly and the gripping members are moved laterally outwardly stretching the tube to a desired extent and then the gripping members pull the tube downwardly until the stack of goods is partially enclosed and the tube is spaced outwardly from contact with the goods. As the downward movement of the tube is interrupted, a section of the tube is severed and welded closed at its upper end. The severed section is displaced laterally from engagement with the conveyors and the downward pulling action is then continued until the section of tube encloses the stack of goods.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Birkenfeld
- 👤 Friedrich Wieligmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/10; B65B9/13; B65B9/135
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
Apparatus for placing a tube of heat-shrinkable plastic over a stack of goods by moving the tube over the goods, the tube is originally supplied flattened in a roll with longitudinally extending pleating sides extending along the flattened side of the tube, the apparatus including first means for removing the flattened tube from the roll and partially opening the tube, second means for receiving the partially opened tube from said first means and for opening and spreading the tube, third means for severing a section of the tube and closing the severed end after a partial movement of the tube by said second means, and said second means arranged to move the severed section of the tube over the goods, wherein the improvement comprises that said second means includes conveyor means arranged to receive the partially opened tube at each of its opposite pleated sides from said first means for moving the tube from said first means and for continuing to spread the pleated sides while holding at least a portion of the pleated sides, said conveyor means having an inlet end arranged to receive the partially opened tube from said first means and an outlet end, gripping means located adjacent the outlet end of said conveyor means for engaging the opened end of the tube moving from the outlet end and for spreading the tube to a size sufficient for movement over the goods in contact-free relation therewith, and displacing means associated with said conveyor means and being movably displaceable for withdrawing the pleated portions of the tube from engagement with said conveyor means so that the downward movement of the severed tubular tube section can be completed for movement over the stack of goods.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
Apparatus for placing a tube of heat-shrinkable plastic over a stack of goods by moving the tube over the goods, the tube is originally supplied flattened in a roll with longitudinally extending pleating sides extending along the flattened side of the tube, the apparatus including first means for removing the flattened tube from the roll and partially opening the tube, second means for receiving the partially opened tube from said first means and for opening and spreading the tube, third means for severing a section of the tube and closing the severed end after a partial movement of the tube by said second means, and said second means arranged to move the severed section of the tube over the goods, wherein the improvement comprises that said second means includes conveyor means arranged to receive the partially opened tube at each of its opposite pleated sides from said first means for moving the tube from said first means and for continuing to spread the pleated sides while holding at least a portion of the pleated sides, said conveyor means having an inlet end arranged to receive the partially opened tube from said first means and an outlet end, gripping means located adjacent the outlet end of said conveyor means for engaging the opened end of the tube moving from the outlet end and for spreading the tube to a size sufficient for movement over the goods in contact-free relation therewith, and displacing means associated with said conveyor means and being movably displaceable for withdrawing the pleated portions of the tube from engagement with said conveyor means so that the downward movement of the severed tubular tube section can be completed for movement over the stack of goods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises four pairs of conveyors with each pair comprising a first conveyor belt and an oppositely disposed second conveyor belt arranged so that a pleated portion of the tube can be held and moved between them, each of two of the four said pairs of conveyors defining one side of a generally rectangular space, said two pairs of conveyors defining one side being in end-to-end alignment at the inlet end of said conveyor means with the adjacent ends each arranged to receive a spaced pleated portion of the partially opened tube passing from said first means, and each pair of conveyors in the two pair of said conveyors along one side of the rectangular space arranged to move the pleated portion of the tube held between them in opposite directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each said pair of conveyors is pivotally mounted at its inlet end so that the outlet end of each said pair of conveyors can be displaced relative to the inlet end for accommodating the opening of the tube to the cross-sectional size of the goods to be covered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said displacing means comprises a pivotally displaceable lever associated with each said pair of conveyors and arranged to be pivoted in a path intercepting the path of movement of the tube between the inlet and outlet ends of said pair of conveyors with which it is associated for displacing the pleated portion of the tube from gripped engagement between said pair of conveyors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein each said first conveyor is positioned above said second conveyor with which it forms a pair, each said pivotally displaceable lever is positioned upwardly from the upper one of the pair of said conveyors with which it is associated and is arranged to extend in generally parallel relation with said pair of conveyors and also to extend for approximately the length of said conveyors, each said lever being pivoted at the end adjacent the outlet end of said conveyors with which it is associateD, each said lever spaced inwardly from said pair of conveyors with which it is associated toward said pair of conveyors on the opposite sides of the rectangular space defined by the conveyors, and means for pivoting each said conveyor so that it moves downwardly from its position in parallel relation with said pair of conveyors into contact with the tube held by each said pair of conveyors for displacing the tube from engagement between each said pair of conveyors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each said pair of conveyors is arranged to incline outwardly and downwardly from its inlet end relative to the other said pair with which it defines one side of a generally rectangular shape, said gripping means comprises a plurality of upright posts with each said upright post arranged to be aligned below one corner of the rectangular space defined by the outlet ends of said conveyors, and means associated with said upright posts so that they can be moved in the upward-downward direction and transversely thereto in the inward-outward direction for effecting insertion into the lower end of the tube as it passes downwardly from the conveyors for further spreading the lower end of the tube outwardly and for moving the tube downwardly over the stack of goods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said upright posts are of a relatively short height so that they can be inserted into the open lower end of the tube for holding and opening the lower end of the tube leaving the remainder of the upwardly extending corners of the tube free between said upright posts and the outlet ends of said conveyors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the upper end of each said upright post has a thickened head portion extending laterally outwardly from the lateral surface of said post.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said gripping means includes a carriage for each said upright post, an upright support member, said carriage mounted on said upright support member for movement in the upward-downward direction, and said upright post secured to said carriage and movable therewith in the upward-downward direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said carriage is arranged to move transversely of the upward-downward direction for moving said post attached thereto for spreading the open end of the and for adjusting the position of said post to accommodate various transverse cross-sectional sizes of the stack of goods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each said first conveyor is positioned above said second conveyor with which it forms a pair, each said pair of conveyors is arranged to incline outwardly and downwardly from its inlet end relative to the other said pair with which it defines one side of a generally rectangular space, each said pair of conveyors is pivotally mounted about the axis at the inlet end of the lower one of said conveyors of each said pair.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each said pair of conveyors is mounted for movement toward and away from the pair of said conveyors on the opposite side of the rectangular space defined by said four pairs of conveyors for adjusting the position of said conveyors to the cross-sectional sides of the stack of goods to be enclosed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, including an upright frame, said upright support members for said carriages forming the corner members of said frame, said frame also forming a support for said first means, said third means and said displacing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, including a vertically endless chain mounted on each said upright support member and arranged to be driven in the upward and downward direction, and each said carriage attached to one of said endless chains for movement in the upward-downward direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3621638A
Cited
US3676980A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |