Package making – Progressively seamed cover web or web folds – With closing of web between package units
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-02
2001-02-20
Sipos, John (Department: 3721)
Package making
Progressively seamed cover web or web folds
With closing of web between package units
C053S568000, C053S374400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189300
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to packaging machines, and in particular, to machines for individually wrapping objects, such as candies.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
Packaging machines have been produced in the past for wrapping individual articles, such as candies. The candies usually pass along a conveyor where a continuous strip of wrapping film is laid on top of the candies and folded transversely around the candies. The peripheral edges of the wrapper can be sealed together under the candies, if desired, and the wrapping film is then transversely sealed between the candies and cut off to produce the individually wrapped candies.
There are several difficulties with the prior art wrapping machines discussed above. One is that the candies are haphazardly placed on the conveyor resulting in breaking or cracking of the candies, and this causes jamming and clean-up problems, not to mention machine down time. Another difficulty is that the candies are not located uniformly on the conveyor, so it is difficult to determine where the transverse wrapper seals should be located between the candies. Another problem is that even if the candies are located uniformly on the conveyor, the candies are allowed to shift or move around while they are being wrapped, so the wrapper seals do not occur exactly where they should. This is particularly problematic for printed wrappers, since the printing must be precisely located on the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention ensures that the objects to be wrapped are held and positively and timely placed on the conveyor, and that the wrapper seals are located precisely by using a gripping conveyor that grips successive objects to be wrapped through the wrapping film and holds the film in place relative to the objects while the film is being sealed and cut off.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a wrapping machine for individually wrapping objects. The machine comprises a delivery conveyor including a plurality of longitudinally arranged stations. Each station is adapted to receive one object to be wrapped. Means are provided for moving the conveyor longitudinally. A film stand is provided for supplying wrapping film longitudinally along the moving delivery conveyor in contact with the objects to be wrapped. The film has longitudinal peripheral edge portions that extent laterally and are sufficiently wide to wrap around the objects to be wrapped. A folder is mounted on the delivery conveyor and has side arms for folding the film edge portions along side the objects to partially wrap the objects. A gripping conveyor is located adjacent to the delivery conveyor to receive the partially wrap objects. The gripping conveyor includes a plurality of clamping devices spaced-apart longitudinally equidistantly with the delivery conveyor stations. Means are provided for moving the gripping conveyor and thus the clamping devices longitudinally in synchronization with the delivery conveyor. The clamping devices include opposed gripping fingers. Actuation means are provided for causing the gripping fingers to close to grip the received partially wrapped objects through the wrapping film. Crimping means are located between the clamping devices for crimping closed and cutting off the wrapping film between the wrapped objects. Also, the actuation means includes means for opening the gripping fingers to release the wrapped objects.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of individually wrapping objects. The method comprises the steps of providing a moving conveyor and placing the objects to be wrapped on the conveyor at equal intervals. A continuous strip of wrapping film is placed in contact with the objects to be wrapped and the longitudinal edges of the film are folded along side the objects to partially wrap the objects. The partially wrapped objects are gripped through the wrapping film and the gripped objects are pulled off the conveyor. The wrapping film is crimped around the objects to complete the wrapping of the objects. The wrapping film is cut off between the objects and the wrapped objects are released.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for feeding objects uniformly to a conveyor of a wrapping machine. The apparatus comprises a hopper having a floor pan and an upright peripheral wall. The floor pan has an opening for passing objects therethrough to the conveyor. A selector plate is located adjacent to the floor pan and has a plurality of holes therethrough for loosely accommodating the objects. Means are provided for moving the selector plate to cause the objects to enter the holes and for causing the holes to be located selectively over the peripheral opening. A spring finger is mounted in the peripheral wall and extends to engage and retain an object in the selected hole located over the peripheral opening. A piston is located opposite a selected selector plate hole located over the peripheral opening. Also, timed actuator means are provided for actuating the piston to push the object past the spring finger and through the peripheral opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1320699 (1919-11-01), Leumann
patent: 3001351 (1961-09-01), Brook
patent: 3417544 (1968-12-01), Grevich
patent: 4183193 (1980-01-01), Klingelhofer et al.
patent: 4429513 (1984-02-01), Beckers et al.
patent: 5109654 (1992-05-01), Suga
patent: 5775068 (1998-07-01), Starsser et al.
Ridout & Maybee
Sipos John
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