[0001] The present invention relates to an article package and method and apparatus for
forming packages, and particularly to method and apparatus for automatically wrapping
one or more articles into a package utilizing a continuous web of material and wherein
the web is automatically wrapped around the article or articles to be packaged, severed
into individual wraps, and the wraps being completely wrapped around the articles.
[0002] Package forming apparatus of the type utilizing a continuous web of plastics material
are known. Some years ago a machine was developed which has been found to function
satisfactorily and is in commercial use. This machine is the subject of U.S. reissue
patent No. Re. 28,535, granted September 2, 1975. Further a somewhat different package
forming machine has been developed which has been demonstrated to others and is the
subject of copending U.S. application Serial No. 734,876 entitled PACKAGE FORMING
MACHINE, filed October 22, 1976, which application issued on April 11, 1978 as U.S.
Patent No. 4,083,163.
[0003] The present invention seeks to provide an improved method and apparatus for forming
packages.
[0004] Accordingly the present invention provides apparatus for forming packages each including
a cluster of articles and a surrounding wrap, said machine comprising conveyor means
for supplying clusters of articles in spaced relation and means for continuously supplying
a wrapping film, characterised in that there are provided cooperating upper and lower
conveyors for conveying clusters of articles along a predetermined path, and continuously
circulating film drawing means mounted above said path and movable down between adjacent
clusters
.to draw the film down between the adjacent cluster.
[0005] The clusters which are to be wrapped are supported by both upper and lower conveyors
which move in unison with the upper conveyor or having retaining elements which serve
to prevent tipping of the articles in the cluster and at the same time assure a clamping
of the wrap film relative to the clusters during the drawing thereof.
[0006] Advantageously the lower conveyor includes plural sets of individually mounted-support
elements which fully support the articles of the clusters and are at the same time
individually movable with respect to the articles so as to permit the folding of the
lower closure flaps beneath the cluster.
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention simple means are provided for folding
a rear closure flap beneath a cluster, the simple means being an auxiliary support
which simultaneously folds the portion of a rear closure flap beneath the cluster
and clamps the same against the underside of the cluster in a supporting relation
for the rear portion of a cluster whereby the rear one of the support elements may
be released from the cluster, after which air blast means carried by the auxiliary
support may direct the rear closure flap fully beneath the closure to a position where
the rear support element may return to its cluster supporting position with the rear
closure flap in its fully folded position.
[0008] Advantageously the apparatus includes a wrapped package receiving platform which
serves to support the front - portion of a cluster while the rear of the cluster is
still supported by a rear one of the support elements and the movement of the partially
wrapped cluster onto the platform serves to fold the front bottom closure flap into
place and at the same time tightly draws the wrap about the cluster to provide a tight
package.
[0009] In a further embodiment of the present invention separate draw means are provided
movable down between adjacent clusters to draw the wrap film required for wrapping
each cluster, the draw means including draw elements which first serve to tension
an intermediate portion of the wrap film for severing and later serve to push the
wrapped package along a platform and onto a take-away conveyor.
[0010] A preferred feature of the draw means is that the spacing of the draw elements thereof
is greater than the spacing of the clusters and there being a lost motion arrangement
beneath the path of travel of the clusters for accommodating this greater spacing,
and this greater spacing permitting wrapped clusters to be conveyed away from the
end of the wrapping mechanism at a rapid rate to increase the spacing between wrapped
clusters as compared to the spacing between unwrapped clusters.
[0011] The apparatus is conveniently provided with spacer means movable in between adjacent
partially wrapped clusters for stabilizing such clusters and holding the wrap film
against the front and rear sides of the clusters.
[0012] Advantageously the upper part of the wrapping mechanism in separately mounted wherein
the machine may be readily adjusted to receive articles to be wrapped of different
heights.
[0013] A further preferred feature of the apparatus resides in a supply conveyor arrangement
wherein containers or like articles are received in transversely nested rows and move
through a simple path arrangement wherein unnesting automatically occurs and containers
in adjacent rows become transversely aligned.
[0014] Y The present invention further provides a method of forming a tight package of the
type including a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows and a web wrapped
around the articles, characterised in that said method comprises the steps of cutting
a web to a length to provide a top panel, two side panels, a partial bottom panel
and a substantially full bottom panel with said partial bottom panel having a width
substantially no greater than the transverse dimension of one of the rows, wrapping
said web around said articles transversely of said rows with said partial bottom panel
directly underlying one of said article rows and said substantially full bottom panel
directly underlying the remainder of said article rows and said partial bottom panel,
and then by pushing on that one of said side panels to which said partial bottom panel
is directly connected sliding the wrapped articles along a support surface to tighten
the package.
[0015] The present invention also provides an article package characterised by a plurality
of articles arranged in at least two rows, said rows including two exterior rows with
one of saia exterior rows being a reference row, a web wrapped around said articles,
said web including a partial bottom panel and a substantially full bottom panel, said
partial bottom panel being of a width substantially no greater than the transverse
dimension of said reference row and directly underlying articles in said reference
row, ana said substantially full bottom panel directly underlying all other of said
articles and said partial bottom panel.
[0016] The present invention still further provides apparatus for forming packages by feeding
spaced clusters of articles along a continuous path and wrapping the clusters with
a wrap supplied as a continuous web, characterised by film drawing means comprising
a plurality of draw members, conveyor means mounting said draw members for movement
along a predetermined path, said predetermined path including movement of each said
draw member between first and second clusters to draw film for wrapping the two clusters
and movement at a later point along said cluster path behind the first cluster to
push the same first cluster out of the machine.
[0017] The present invention still further provides apparatus for forming packages by wrapping
clusters of articles with a surrounding wrap including front and rear bottom flaps,
characterised by a conveyor for conveying clusters of articles along a predetermined
path during the application of wraps thereto, said conveyor including plural sets
of support elements, each set of support elements including separately mounted front
and rear support elements positioned for supporting front and rear portions of clusters,
said front support element being mounted for directly engaging articles only, and
means for controlling the movement of said rear support elements to temporarily move
away from an associated cluster to permit the positioning of a rear flap of the wrap
to be engaged with the underside of the rear portion of each cluster and above the
respective rear support element.
[0018] The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the entrance portion of the machine
and schematically shows the arrangement of containers into clusters and the feeding
of clusters to the wrapping station;
Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view showing the step-by-step sequence of
wrapping a wrap film around a cluster of containers;
Figure 3 is a plan view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and shows specifically the manner in which nested columns of articles
are longitudinally shifted relative to one another automatically to effect the arrangement
of the articles in transversely aligned rows
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the wrapping section of the machine
for forming the wrapping sequence illustrated in Figure 2;
Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the wrapping section
at the entrance thereof;
Figure 7 is a schematic side elevational view showing the path of draw elements of
the wrapping means including the manner in which the draw film is supported for severing
thereby and the final function of one draw element of each pair to push wrapped clusters
from the machine;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing specifically the details of
film severing means and the guard therefor;
Figure 9 is a schematic side elevational view showing the mounting and function of
an auxiliary support for both supporting a rear portion of a cluster and folding a
rear bottom closure flap therebeneath;
Figure 10' is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 9, showing the
rear portion of a cluster supported by the auxiliary support and the rear bottom closure
flap being blown into position, the view also showing the rear support element of
the lower conveyor means returned to its supporting position with respect to an adjacent
cluster;
Figure 11 is a schematic side elevational view of the machine at the final wrap and
discharge portions thereof, and shows the manner in which the partially wrapped cluster
is transferred to a receiving platform in a manner wherein the wrapping is complete
and the wrap is drawn tightly around the cluster;
Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, but shows most specifically the manner in
which the rear portion of the cluster is supported as it passes onto the platform
and the rear support element therefor is released; and
Figure 13 is a schematic view of the drive of the machine.
[0019] Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated
a machine which is specifically adapted to receive articles arranged in transverse
rows and separated into clusters for wrapping in a wrap film which is preferably formed
of plastics material which is heat shrinkable in a shrink oven in a conventional manner.
The illustrated machine is specifically constructed to receive cans arranged in two
transverse rows of three cans each. It is to be understood, however, that the machine
is not so limited. While the machine is primarily intended to receive articles arranged
in two transverse rows, the number of articles in each row may vary from one to a
much greater number as may be convenient for forming a package of such articles. Further,
while the articles have been illustrated as being cans, the articles could be other
types of containers including boxes, bottles and jars.
[0020] When the articles are of circular cross-section, such as cans or bottles, the articles
will be supplied to the machine along a delivery path generally designated by the
numeral 10 in Figure 3, and this delivery path is of a width determined by the spacing
of side guides 12 so that the articles will be arranged in columns in nested relation
which is the normal relationship assumed when such articles are randomly delivered
in a crowded condition. The nested columns of articles are received by an aligning
device which is generally identified by the numeral 14. The aligning device includes
an endless c
on- veyor 16 which functions as a moving support for the articles and serves to convey
the articles from right to left as viewed in Figure 3. Positioned above the conveyor
16 is a guide assembly 18, which guide assembly in the case of three columns of articles
defining a straight central path 20, and two outer paths 22. As is clearly evidenced
from Figure 3, when the articles move through the guide assembly 18, the articles
of the center column move directly along the central path 20, while the articles of
the outer column move along the longer outer paths 22. The length of the outer paths
22 is greater than the length of the central path 20 by one-half of an article diameter
so that an article A which is to the rear of two transversely adjacent articles A
at the entrance to the guide assembly 18 would advance so as to be transversely aligned
with those two forward adjacent articles when the three articles exit from the guide
assembly 18 as is clearly shown in Figure 3.
[0021] It will be seen that the articles exit from the aligning device 14 in transversely
aligned rows and are immediately thereafter received by a further mechanism to be
described next. It is to be understood that there can be certain slippage of the articles
with respect to the conveyor 16 in that it is only natural that the articles push
each other along the respective paths 20, 22.
[0022] At this time it is pointed out that while the aligning device 14, as illustrated,
will only receive three columns of articles, if there are four columns of articles
there will be four paths which are of respective lengths to cause the automatic transverse
alignment of the articles in the same manner as that shown in Figure 3.
[0023] The articles pass from the aligning device 14 and are received on support strips
24, there being one support strip for each column of articles. The articles proceed
along the support strips 24 and are engaged by an infinitely variable spacing feeder
to assure the transverse alignment of the rows of articles. As shown in Figure 1,
the feeder 26 includes flight bars 28 having thereon pairs of pins 30 which engage
behind the articles and assure the movement thereof along the strips 24 in transverse
alignment. The feeder is the subject of pending U.S. application Serial No. 811,980,
filed July 25, 1977.
[0024] The transversely aligned and columnized articles pass to an infeed conveyor 32 while
still supported on the support strips 24. The infeed conveyor 32 includes two conveyor
chains 34 which have extending transversely therebetween flight bars 36. Each flight
bar 36 has pairs of pins 38 projecting upwardly therefrom with pins of each pair being
disposed on opposite sides of a respective one of the support strips 24 for engaging
a rear portion of an article in the same manner as do the pins 30 of the flight bars
28. The spacing of the flight bars 36 is such that the articles are moved along the
support strips 24 arranged in clusters C of, in the illustrated form of the invention,
six articles, the articles being arranged in two transverse rows of three articles
each. The infeed conveyor 32 feeds the clusters C to the wrapping station of the machine,
the wrapping station being generally identified by the numeral 40.
[0025] It is to be understood that each cluster C is to be wrapped with a wrap film supplied
from a continuous roll 42 of such film. The film is delivered from the roll 42 by
a feed mechanism 44 at a constant rate in accordance with the predetermined demands
of the wrapping station 40. The feed mechanism 44 includes a drive roll 46 and a back-up
roll 48. The drive roll 46 is carried by a support 50 and has a fixed axis of rotation.
The back-up roll 48 is carried by a pivotally mounted support 52 which is connected
to the support 50 by means of a spring 54 so as constantly to urge the back-up roll
48 toward the drive roll 46 and thus form a nip assuring the positive driving and
feeding of the wrap film, which film is identified by the numeral 56. The film 56
passes around a pair of idler rolls 58, 60 into the wrapping station 40.
[0026] As is clearly shown in the sequence of Figures 1 and 2, a cluster C to be wrapped
passes under a portion of the film 56 leading into the wrapping station 40 and underlies
the cluster. While the film is held against the top of the cluster, the film behind
the cluster is drawn down past the cluster and between that cluster and the next following
cluster until the necessary film to form the required wrap has been drawn. The drawn
film is then severed as shown in Figure 2b with the result that the cluster C has
the wrap W now disposed over the top and down the two sides thereof and the wrap includes
a front bottom closure flap 62 and a rear bottom closure flap 64. The flap 64 is preferably
of a length no greater than the longitudinal dimension of the article and the flap
62 is of a length approaching the longitudinal dimension of the cluster. This is clearly
shown in Figure 2b.
[0027] As is shown in Figures 2c and 2d, the flap 64 is folded beneath the rear portion
of the cluster and then the cluster is moved onto a supporting platform, generally
identified by the numeral 66 which simultaneously folds the front flap 62 beneath
the cluster and effects tightening of the wrap W about the cluster to form the completely
wrapped cluster of Figure 2g, which wrapped cluster is then delivered to a conventional
shrink tunnel (not shown) where the flaps 62, 64 are first heat bonded together and
then the film is heat shrunk in a conventional manner.
[0028] Reference is now made to Figure 5 wherein all of the general details of the wrapping
station 40 are illustrated. First of all, the wrapping station 40 includes a lower
conveyor generally identified by the numeral 68. The lower conveyor 68 includes two
transversely aligned chains 70 which carry transversely aligned support plates 72.
Each transversely aligned pair of support plates 72 carry a pair of pivotally mounted
arms 75, 76 which, in turn, carry a front support element 78 and a rear support element
80.
[0029] Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, the specific configuration of the arms 74
and 76 is illustrated. Each arm 74 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 82 carried by the
respective support plate 72.and has connected to the outer end thereof the respective
transversely-extending front support element 78. The inner end of the arm 74 is provided
with a cam follower 84 which engages a first cam 86 for positioning the front support
elements 78. As shown in Figure 11, associated with the pivot 82 is a spring 88 which
constantly urges the arm 74 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 82 to hold the
cam follower 84 against the cam 86. Rotation of the arm 74 in a clockwise direction
is restricted by a pin 90 extending through a slot 92 in the plate 72.
[0030] The arm 76 is of a similar construction and mounting, but is of a different configuration.
Each arm 76 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 94 carried by its respective support plate,
and is urged to rotate about that pivot in a clockwise direction by a spring 96 as
shown in Figure 11. The outer ends of pairs of the arms 76 are joined by the respective
rear support elements 80 and the inner end of each arm 76 is provided with a cam follower
98 which engages a cam 100. Each arm 76 also carries a pin 102 which is received in
a slot 104 in the support plate 72 to limit the rotation of the arm by its spring.
,
[0031] The wrapping station 40 also includes an upper conveyor, generally identified by
the numeral 106. The upper conveyor 106 includes a pair of transversely spaced and
aligned conveyor chains 108 which have extending therebetween sets of retainers, each
set of retainers including a front retainer 110 and a rear retainer 112. The front
retainers 110 are preferably in the form of angle members and engage upper front corners
of the clusters. The rear retainers 112 have resilient pads 114 on the undersides
thereof, which pads engage the upper surface of the rear portion of a cluster. The
relationship of the retainer 110 and pad 114 with respect to a typical cluster is
best shown in Figure 6.'
[0032] It will be readily apparent from Figure 5 that the lower conveyor 68 and the upper
conveyor 106 cooperate fully to support a cluster and to transport the cluster from
the infeed conveyor 32 to the supporting platform 66.
[0033] The wrapping station 40 also includes a draw unit generally identified by the numeral
116. The draw unit 116 functions both to draw the film 56 down between adjacent clusters
and to feed wrapped'clusters off of the supporting platform 66. The draw unit 116
also includes a pair of transversely aligned and transversely spaced conveyor chains
118 which are suitably mounted for movement in unison. Extending between the chains
118'are pairs of draw members 120 and 112. The draw member 120 leads the draw member
112 and serves as the primary drawing element to draw the film between adjacent clusters.
The draw member 122 cooperates with the draw member 120 when the film is below the
predetermined path of movement of the clusters to tension the film to facilitate cutting
thereof in a manner to be described hereinafter. The draw member 120 also functions
to position wrapped clusters from the supporting platform in a manner also. to be
described hereinafter.
[0034] The wrapping station 40 further includes a spacing device generally identified by
the numeral 124. The spacing device 124 also includes a pair of transversely spaced
and transversely aligned conveyor chains 126.. A plurality of spacing units 128 are
carried by the conveyor chains 126. Each spacing unit.128 includes a pair of support
plates 130, 132 carried by each of the chains 126. As best shown in Figure 6, each
support plate 130 has pivotally mounted thereon an arm 134. Each support plate 132
also has mounted thereon an arm 136. The remote ends of the arms 134, 136 are pivotally
joined together to form a scissors arrangement. Extending between the joined together
outer ends of the arms 134, 136 is a spacer element 138.
[0035] The arm 134 has rigidly secured thereto a further arm 140 which carries a second
spacer element 142. The scissors arrangement of the arms 134, 136 permits the conveyor
chain 126 to pass around sprockets while the rigid mounting of the arm 140, which
supports the spacer element 142, permits the spacing between the support elements
138 and 142 to remain-constant.
[0036] At this time it is pointed out that the spacing between spacer units 128 is'the same
as that of the spacing of the elements of the lower conveyor 68 and the upper conveyor
106.
[0037] Returning now to Figure 5, it is to be understood that the conveyor chains 70 may
be mounted on any suitable sprocket arrangement and all that is required is that the
chains 70 include drive sprockets 144 which are carried by a driven shaft 146.
[0038] In a like manner, the conveyor chains 108 of the upper conveyor 106 may be supported
in any desired sprocket arrangement except that the chains must have a horizontal
lower run. The sprockets do include a drive sprocket 148 for each of the chains 108.
The drive sprockets 148 are carried by a drive shaft 150.
[0039] The spacing device.124 has the conveyor chains 12
6 thereof mounted on any desired sprocket arrangement which will permit the passage
of the spacing units as required, and the only limitation is that the conveyor chains
126 must have a horizontal lower run. In other words, the upper runs of the chains
70 and the lower. runs of the chains 108 and 126 must be parallel to one another and
to the path of movement of the clusters through the wrapping station 40. The sprockets
for the conveyor chains 126 include-drive sprockets 152 which are carried by a drive
shaft 154.
[0040] The mounting of the conveyor chains 118, however, provide a different problem. The
general mounting of the chains 118 above the path of movement of the clusters is variable.
However, the path of the conveyor chains 118 generally in alignment with the path
of movement of the clusters must be controlled as shown in Figure 5. Further, because
the spacing of the draw members is greater than the spacing of the elements of the
upper and lower conveyors and the spacing device, there must be provided means for
absorbing this extra spacing beneath the path of the clusters and this is specifically
shown in Figure 7 and will be described in detail Hereinafter.
[0041] The conveyor chains 118 are, however, driven by drive sprockets 156 which are mounted
on a drive shaft 158. It is to be noted that the drive shafts 150, 154 and 158 are
disposed adjacent one another.
[0042] Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that the infeed conveyor 32 and the support
strips 24 terminate adjacent a pair of combined support and feed rolls 160, 162. These
rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed as the infeed conveyor 32, and as the
front articles of a cluster C move thereon, they are fed and supported by the rolls
160, 162. As the front articles of the cluster move off of the roll 160, the associated
front support element engages beneath the articles and serves to support and convey
the articles at the same speed as previously fed by the infeed conveyor 32. Then,
the rear articles of the cluster pass onto the rolls 160, 162 and out of control of
the infeed conveyor 32. The rolls 160, 162 feed the rear articles to the left and
before the rear articles pass off of the roll 160, they are engaged by the rear support
element 108. Thus, the articles of each cluster C are readily transferred from the
infeed conveyor 32 to the lower conveyor 68 in an uninterrupted continuous action.
[0043] It will also be seen from Figures 5 and 6 that the front retainer 110 fully engages
the front corner of the cluster at the same time as the front articles.of the cluster
are fully supported by the front support element so as to prevent the forward tipping
of the articles. The front retainer 110 loosely engages the film 56 and permits the
drawing of the film over the new cluster. At about the time shown in Figure 6, the
resilient pad 114 of the rear retainer 112 engages the upper surface of the rear portion
of the cluster and serves to clamp the film 56 thereagainst. At this time, the drawing
of the film for the preceding cluster has been completed and the resilient pad 114
now serves to hold the film 56 for the drawing thereof to effect wrapping of the new
cluster.
[0044] At this time the next following draw member 120 has engaged the film 56 rearwardly
of the cluster and has started drawing the film down beyond the cluster.
[0045] It is to be noted that the spacer elements 138 and 142 follow the draw members 120
and 122 down between the adjacent clusters and the spacer element 142 serves to hold
the film against the front of the trailing cluster as is clearly shown in Figure 6.
[0046] Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, it will be seen that at this time the associated
portions of the conveyor chains 118 are passing under sprockets 164, then over sprockets
116, and under sprockets 168 so as to change the spacing between the draw members
120, 122 of that particular set of draw members. This results in the tensioning and
supporting of the film 56 so that it may be engaged by a hot wire 168 and severed.
[0047] The wrapping station 40, of course, includes a frame 170 which may be of any construction
and a portion only thereof is shown in Figure 8. The frame 170 includes frame members
172 which have pivotally mounted thereon support arms 174 which are joined together
by a transverse connecting arm 176. The connecting arm 176 carries an upper support
member 178 which, in turn, carries an inverted yoke 180 including the hot wire 168.
[0048] A cam shaft 182 extends transversely of the machine and carries a cam 184. The cam
184 is engaged by a cam follower 186 which, in turn, is carried by the support arm
174 by way of a bracket 188.
[0049] The frame 170 also includes frame members 190 having a first transverse rod 192 extending
therebetween. A spring 194 extends between the rod 192 and the support member 178
and normally holds the hot wire 168 in a retracted position and the cam follower 186
against the cam 184.
[0050] Since the hot wire 168 is always heated, it is necessary to protect against engagement
thereof by the film after the film has been cut. To this end there is provided a guard
unit 196. The guard unit 196 is carried by a pair of arms 198 pivotally mounted on
the rod 192. The arms 198 carry a bracket 200 which supports a cam follower 202 which
engages a cam 204 carried by the cam shaft 182.
[0051] The guard unit 196 is constantly urged toward a retracted position by means of a
spring 206 which extends between a bracket 208 carried by the frame 170 and an arm
210 carried by the bracket 200.
[0052] The guard unit 196 includes a shield plate 212 which normally overlies the hot wire
168. Further, a flap 214 extends upwardly from the shield plate 212 to wipe against
the depending front flap 62.
[0053] After the film 56 has been drawn and severed, the draw members 120, 122 play no part
in the wrapping operation, and it is merely necessary to absorb the extra spacing
of the draw members by running the conveyor chains 118 over further sprockets 216,
218, 220 and 222, as shown in Figure 7.
[0054] The film having been severed and the wrap W now being in the form of a separate piece
of film, it is necessary to fold the rear bottom closure flap 64 beneath the rear
portion of the cluster, followed by a folding of the front bottom closure flap under
both the cluster and the rear bottom closure flap. The rear bottom closure flap is
first folded into place in the manner shown in Figures 9 and 10.
[0055] The wrapping station includes an auxiliary support 224 which is mounted for movement
in an orbital path 226. The auxiliary support 224 extends transversely of the machine
and.is carried by a pair of upstanding arms 228 each of which is secured to a pair
of endless conveyors 230, 232 positioned vertically above one another and having like
paths of movement. The conveyor 230 is supported by a pair of sprockets 234, 236 which
are driven in unison while the conveyor 232 is supported by'a pair of sprockets 238,
240 which are also driven in unison and at the same rate as the sprockets 234, 236.
[0056] It is also pointed out at this time that the auxiliary support 224 carries an air
nozzle arrangement 242 for directing an air blast generally longitudinally of the
path of movement of the clusters and beneath the same.
[0057] The auxiliary support 224 moves into position. beneath the rear portions of the rear
articles of the cluster while the rear support element 80 is still supporting the
articles. Once the auxiliary support 224 is in the required supporting position, the
rear support element 80 retracts as shown in Figure 10. This is caused by the cam
followers 98 engaging the recesses 244 in the cams 100. This assures the arms 76 being
pivoted in a clockwise direction by the springs 96.
[0058] The rear support element 80 having moved away from the underside of the cluster,
the rear bottom closure flap 64 is now free to be blown beneath the rear articles
of the cluster and this is accomplished by the air nozzle arrangement 212. After sufficient
time has elapsed for the blowing of the flap 64 into place, the cam followers 90 ride
up onto the surface of the cams 110 with the result that the rear support element
now swings back into place as shown to the left in Figure 10, clamping the rear bottom
closure flap 64 against the underside of the rear of the cluster C.
[0059] It is to be understood that the air nozzle arrangement is operated only for a short
period of time and is'controlled by a valve arrangement to be described hereinafter.
[0060] Referring now to Figure 11, it will be seen that the cluster, with the flap 64 in
place, now approaches the supporting platform.66. At this time it is pointed out that.the
supporting platform is formed by a pair of transversely extending rods 248 which are
fixed against rotation and which are of a slightly lesser diameter than the rollers
246 so that the leading portion of the platform 66 has a step.
[0061] As the front portion of the cluster C-moves up onto the rods 248, the front flap
62 is folded beneath the front portion of the cluster. As the front portion of the
cluster progresses onto the platform 66, the front support element 78 retracts, as
is clearly shown in Figure 11, due to the cam followers 84 going down ramp portions
250 of the cams 86. The springs 88 cause pivoting of the arms 74 to effect this retraction.
[0062] When the cluster is in the position illustrated in Figure 11, it is still being stabilized
by .the front spacer element 138 and is supported by the rear support element 80.
It is also stabilized by the resilient pad 114. However, the front retainer 110 has
begun to disengage.
[0063] As the cluster continues to move to the left, the front flap 62 is continued to be
folded beneath the cluster. Shortly before the rear flap 64 approaches the first rod
248, an air blast from an air nozzle tube 252 is directed against the underside of
the flap 64 and holds it tightly against the underside of the cluster. Due to the
step arrangement of the leading edge of the platform 66, the leading edge of the flap
.64 passes up over the adjacent portion of the flap.62 and over the leading rod 248,
as shown in Figure 12.
[0064] When the leading portions of the rear articles of the cluster become supported by
the leading rod 248, as shown in Figure 12, the rear support element 80 may now be
retracted since tipping of the rear articles of the cluster is prevented by the spacer
element 138.
[0065] The spacer element 138 now becomes substantially the sole means for advancing the
cluster. As the cluster advances onto the supporting platform 66, the resilient pad
114 moves out of engagement with the top of the cluster and the cluster is supported
solely by the supporting platform 66. As the spacer element 138 pushes the cluster
along the supporting platform, the front flap 62 is folded completely beneath the
cluster and at the same time, due to the frictional resistance against movement of
the flap 62 over the first rods 248, the wrap W is drawn tightly around the cluster
C to form a tight package.
[0066] At this point, the spacing unit 128 begins to elevate and at the same time the related
draw member 120 moves around a sprocket 396.into engagement with the lower rear portion
of the wrapped cluster, as shown in Figure 7. The draw member 120 now takes over the
responsibility of discharging the wrapped cluster off of the supporting platform 66
and moving the same onto a discharge conveyor 254 which is a part of a shrink tunnel
(not shown). The discharge'conveyor 254 may be of any construction and includes drive
sprockets 256 carried by a drive shaft 258. The operation of the wrapping station
is now completed.
[0067] It is also to be noted at this time that since the spacing of the draw members 120
is greater than the spacing of the spacer elements 138, the wrapped cluster is advanced
more rapidly and away from the following cluster which has not had the wrapping thereof
completed. Thus, there is an increase in spacing of the clusters delivered to the
shrink tunnel over that of the spacing of the clusters in the wrapping station.
[0068] Referring once again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the conveyor chains 34 of
the infeed conveyor 32 extend around a suitable pattern of sprockets which include
drive sprockets 260, carried by a drive shaft 262. The top run of the infeed conveyor
32 is the only effective run, and the path of movement of the top runs are controlled
by guide bars 264, as shown in Figure 6. In a like manner, the paths of conveyor chains
108 above the paths of movement of the clusters are controlled by sets of guide bars
266. Further, the paths of movement of the lower runs of the conveyor chains 126 above
the path of movement of the clusters are controlled by guide bars 268.
[0069] As far as this invention is concerned, the point of drive of the machine is immaterial.
However, for descriptive purposes and as is shown in Figure 13, the discharge conveyor
254, which leads into the shrink tunnel, may be considered to be the source of drive,
and the shaft 258 thereof carries a sprocket 270 which is coupled to a sprocket 272
carried by a transverse shaft 274 by a chain 276. On the near side of the wrapping
station 40 the shaft 274 carries a sprocket 278 with which there is meshed a chain
280. The chain 280 drives a sprocket 282 carried by the drive shaft 158. A chain 284
extends from another sprocket (not shown) on the shaft 158 to a sprockec 286 carried
by the drive shaft 154 to drive the drive shaft 154. The drive shaft 154 carries a
sprocket 288 which drives a sprocket 290 on the drive shaft 150 by means of a .chain
292. This completes the drive for the upper part of the wrapping station. It is pointed
out here, however, that the relative sizes of sprockets have been varied only for
purposes of illustration and the sprockets 148 and 152 are to rotate at the same rate
when they are the same diameter and the sprocket 156 is to rotate at a higher speed
because of the greater rate of travel of the conveyor chain 118.
[0070] On the near side of the machine, the drive shaft 146 is driven from the drive shaft
274 by a sprocket 292 on the shaft 274 and a sprocket 294 on the shaft 146, the sprockets
292 and 294 being interconnected by a chain 296. At this time it is pointed out that
the conveyor chain 70 must be driven at the same rate as the conveyor chains 108 and
126.
[0071] The drive shaft 274 also drives a drive shaft 298 by a drive which is mounted on
the near side of the machine. To this end the drive shaft 274 has a sprocket 300 driving
by way of a chain 302 a sprocket 304 carried by the shaft 298. The drive shaft 298
prbvides the drive for the rear of the machine.
[0072] Most specifically, the drive shaft 298 by means of sprockets 306 and 308 and a chain
310 drives a speed reducer 312. The speed reducer 312 has an output shaft 314 carrying
a sprocket 316 driving a chain 318 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 320 carried by
a shaft 322 on which the drive roll 45 is mounted. In this manner, the film 56 is
delivered from the roll 42 at the same rate as is required in the wrapping of the
clusters. The speed reducer 312 is variable for this purpose.
[0073] The drive shaft 298 also carries a sprocket 324 which drives a sprocket 326 through
a chain 328. The sprocket 326 drives a sprocket 330 of the toothed belt and by way
of a belt 332 drives a sprocket 334 coupled to the support and feed roll 160 for driving
the same. This drive is also on the far side of the machine.
[0074] On the near side of the machine the support and feed roll 162 drives the support
and feed roll 160 by means of a toothed belt and sprocket drive arrangement 336.
[0075] The drive shaft 298 drives a further shaft 338 by means of sprockets 340, 342 and
a chain 344. If desired, the shaft 338 may be that element which has been previously
described as the rod 192.
[0076] The shafts 338 and 262 have suitable sprockets thereon connected by a chain 246 for
driving the infeed conveyor 32. Incidentally, an idler sprocket of the infeed conveyor
32 may be carried by the shaft 298.
[0077] The shaft 338 also drives the cam shaft 182 by means of sprockets 348 and 350 and
chain 352.
[0078] Finally, the drive of the auxiliary support 224 is driven from the shaft 338. At
each side of the machine there is a shaft 354 which is driven from the shaft 338 by
means of the sprockets 356, 358 and a chain 360. The shaft 354 carries the sprocket
238. The sprockets 234, 236 and 240 are carried by shafts 362, 354 and 366, respectively.
The shafts 354, 362, 364 and 366 carry sprockets 368,. 370, 372 and 374, respectively,
all lying in a single plane and interconnected by an encircling chain 376.
[0079] The infeed conveyor 32 has for each chain thereof an idler sprocket 378 carried by
a shaft 380, and the shaft 380 serves as a drive for the feeder 26 by way of sprockets
382, 384 and chain 386.
[0080] It is to be understood that the conveyor 16 may be suitably dirven in any manner,
either by a separate drive or from the drive of Figure 13, including the drive shaft
380. To this end, as shown in Figure 4, the conveyor 16 includes a drive drum 338
mounted on a drive shaft 390 carrying a sprocket 392 driven by a chain 394.
[0081] Referring once again to Figure 13, it will be seen that the cam shaft 182 is provided
with two further cams 398 and 400. The cam 398 is associated with a valve 402 which
controls the supply of air under pressure from air line 404 to an air line 406 leading
to the nozzle 242.
[0082] There is also a valve 408 which controls the flow of air from the air line 404 to
the air line 410 leading to the air nozzle tube 252.
[0083] It will be seen from the shape of the cams 398, 400 that air is supplied to the respective
nozzles only at certain times in timed relation to the movement of a partially wrapped
cluster relative to the respective nozzles. The timing has been described hereinabove.
[0084] Although the illustrated machine is particularly adapted for wrapping articles (can.)
of a predetermined height, it will be readily apparent that by suitably elevating
the upper conveyor 106 and possibly the spacing device 124, the wrapping station 40
may be adapted to the wrapping of like clusters but wherein the articles forming the
clusters are of a different height.
[0085] Although only a prefered embodiment of the machine has been specifically illustrated
and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in
the machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
in the appended claims.
1. Apparatus for forming packages each including a cluster of articles and a surrounding
wrap, said machine comprising conveyor means for supplying clusters of articles in
spaced relation and means for continuously supplying a wrapping film, characterised
in that there are provided cooperating upper and lower conveyors for conveying clusters
of articles along a predetermined path, and continuously circulating film drawing
means mounted above said path and movable down between adjacent clusters to draw the
film down between the adjacent cluster.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that continuously circulating
spacer means are mounted above said path for movement between partially wrapped clusters
for holding the film against adjacent clusters and for maintaining the spacing between
adjacent clusters.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that said film drawing means
includes a plurality of draw members movable in a path in unison in between adjacent
clusters and down below said path to draw between adjacent clusters an amount of the
film to enclose sides of the cluster and form bottom closure flaps.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that wherein a certain draw member
of said plurality first moves down between said adjacent clusters to draw the film
down between said adjacent clusters and thereafter assumes a pushing position relative
to a wrapped cluster to effect discharge of the wrapped cluster from the apparatus.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that the wrapped cluster is the
forwardmost one of the adjacent clusters between which the respective certain draw
member passes.
6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, 4 or 5 characterised in that said draw members
are mounted in pairs, and the path of movement includes a portion wherein when the
required film is drawn it is held tensioned between the two draw members of each pair,
and there are cutter means for engaging the tensioned wrap between the two draw members
to sever the same.
7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 characterised in that a leading one of each pair
engages a wrapped cluster and effects the discharge of such wrapped cluster from the
machine.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 7 characterised in that said upper and
lower conveyors include cluster engaging v members arranged at a like first spacing
and said draw members are arranged at a second and greater spacing.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 characterised in that said upper conveyor
includes plural sets of retaining elements, each set of retaining elements including
a front retaining element for engaging a front upper corner of a cluster of containers
having film-overlying the same and a rear retaining element for overlying a top rear
portion of a cluster and clamping film thereagainst.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 characterised in that said lower
conveyor includes plural sets of support elements, each set of support elements including
separately mounted front and rear support elements positioned for underlying and supporting
front and rear portions of clusters.
11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 characterised in that said front support element
is mounted for directly engaging articles only, and there are means for controlling
the movement of said rear support elements to temporarily move away from an associated
cluster to permit the positioning of a rear flap of the wrap to be engaged with the
underside of the rear portion of each cluster and above the respective rear support
element.
12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 characterised in that there is provided
an auxiliary support movable to cluster supporting rearwardly of each rear support
element at a predetermined point along said path.
13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 characterised in that means mount said auxiliary
support for movement along said path for drawing the rear flap forwardly under an
associated cluster.
14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 characterised in that said axiliary support
has associated therewith air blast means for blowing the rear flap forwardly under
the cluster for engagement by the respective rear support element.
15. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 14 characterised in that there is a
platform for receiving wrapped clusters, said front support elements being mounted
for disengagement with a cluster at a time when a front portion of the cluster is
supported by said platform, and said platform in association with the movement of
the cluster along said path forming means for drawing a front flap of the wrap rearwardly
both to complete the wrap and to tighten the same about the cluster.
16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 characterised in that there are air blast means
positioned adjacent said platform for holding a rear wrap flap against the bottom
of the cluster to facilitate movement of the rear flap onto said platform.
17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or any of Claims 3 to 16 when appendant to claim
2 characterised in that said spacer means includes pairs of spacer members, and means
mounting said pairs of spacer members for movement between adjacent clusters after
the film has been drawn therebetween.
18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 characterised in that said means mounting said
pairs of spacer members include endless conveying members, and scissors type mounts
maintaining a fixed spacing between spacer members of each pair while permitting the
spacer members to move along arcuate paths.
19. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 and any of Claims 3 to 18 characterised in that
said upper and lower conveyors and said spacer means each include cluster engaging
members arranged at a like first spacing, and said drawing means include draw members
arranged at a second and greater spacing.
20. Apparatus for forming packages by wrapping clusters of articles with a surrounding
wrap including front and rear bottom flaps, characterised by a conveyor for conveying
clusters of articles along a predetermined path during the application of wraps thereto,
said conveyor including plural sets of support elements, each set of support elements
including separately mounted front and rear support elements positioned for supporting
front and rear portions of clusters, said front support element being mounted for
directly engaging articles only, and means for controlling the movement of said rear
support elements to temporarily move away from an associated cluster to permit the
positioning of a rear flap of the wrap to be engaged with the underside of the rear
portion of each cluster and above the respective rear support element.
21. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 20 characterised in that an auxiliary support is
provided movable to cluster supporting rearwardly of each rear support element at
a predetermined point along said path.
22. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 characterised in that means mount said auxiliary
support for movement along said path for drawing the rear flap forwardly under an
associated cluster.
23. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 or 22 characterised in that said auxiliary support
has associated therewith air blast means for blowing the rear flap forwardly under
the cluster for engagement by the respective rear support element.
24. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 20 to 23 characterised in that there is
a platform for receiving wrapped clusters, said front support elements being mounted
for disengagement with a cluster at a time when the front portion of the cluster is
supported by said platform, and said platform in association with the movement of
the cluster along said path forming means for drawing a front flap of the wrap rearwardly
both to complete the wrap and to tighten the same about the cluster.
25. Apparatus for forming packages by feeding spaced clusters of articles along a
continuous path and wrapping the clusters with a wrap supplied as a continuous web,
characterised by film drawing means comprising a plurality of draw members, conveyor
means mounting-said draw members for movement along a predetermined path, said predetermined
path including movement of each said draw member between first md second clusters
to draw film for Wrapping the two clusters and movement at a later point along said
cluster path behind the first cluster to push the same first cluster out of the machine.
26. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 25 characterised in that the spacing of said draw
members is greater than the spacing of the clusters and the rate of movement of said
draw members is greater than the rate of movement of the clusters whereby the pushed
cluster is accelerated.
27. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 26 characterised in that said articles
are of a circular cross-section and said conveyor means includes means for supplying
articles in internested columns, wherein transversely adjacent articles are longitudinally
offset, and an aligning device for moving adjacent articles into transverse rows,
said aligning device including guide means defining a separate path for each column
of articles, said paths varying in length in accordance with the longitudinal offsetting
of the transversely adjacent articles when internested.
28. Apparatus for supplying articles of a circular cross-section in longitudinally
moving transversely aligned rows, characterised in that said apparatus includes means
for arranging the articles in internested columns wherein transversely adjacent articles
are longitudinally offset, and an aligning device for moving adjacent articles into
transverse rows, said aligning device including guide means defining a separate path
for each column of articles, said paths varying in length in accordance with the longitudinal
offsetting of the transversely adjacent articles when internested.
29. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 28 characterised in that single conveyor means is
provided underlying said paths for advancing adjacent articles at different rates.
30. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 28 or 29 characterised in that the articles are
arranged in three columns and said paths include a central straight line path and
two outer arcuate paths.
31. An article package characterised by a plurality of articles arranged in at least
two rows, said rows including two exterior rows with one of said exterior rows being
a reference row, a web wrapped around said articles, said web including a partial
bottom panel and a substantially w full bottom panel, said partial bottom panel being
of a width substantially no greater than the transverse dimension of said reference
row and directly underlying articles in said reference row, and said substantially
full bottom panel directly underlying all other of said articles and said partial
bottom panel.
32. An article as claimed in Claim 31 characterised in that said web is a film of
plastics material.
33. An article as claimed in Claim 31 characterised in that said web is a film of
plastics material with said bottom panels being bonded together and heat shrunk around
said articles.
34. A method of forming a tight package of the type including a plurality of articles
arranged in at least two rows and a web wrapped around the articles, characterised
in that said method comprises the steps of cutting a web to a length to provide a
top panel, two side panels, a partial bottom panel . and a substantially full bottom
panel with said partial bottom panel having a width substantially no greater than
the transverse dimension of one of the rows, wrapping said web around said articles
transversely of said rows with said partial bottom panel directly underlying one of
said article rows and said substantially full bottom panel directly underlying the
remainder of said article rows and said partial bottom panel, and then by.pushing on that one of said side panels to which said partial bottom panel is directly
connected sliding the wrapped articles along a support surface to tighten the package.
35. A method as claimed in Claim 34 characterised in that said web is wrapped around
at least the bottom sides of the arranged articles before being separated from a larger
web.
36. A method as claimed in Claim 34 or 35 characterised in that said web is formed
of a material having a surface coefficient of friction such that opposed surfaces
of said web have a tendency to freely slide relative to one another as opposed to
sliding relative to articles seated thereon.
37. An article package when made according to the method of any of Claims 34 to 36.