Claims
- 1. A wrapping machine comprising a web supply, an article transport conveyor having a platform defining run for moving articles in sequence at a preselected rate, web pulling means carried by said article transport conveyor at preselected regular spacing, plural article retarder means for movement in advance of articles being wrapped and in overlying relation to said platform defining means at a rate less than said preselected rate, means for separating said web supply into separate web portions and plural article clamp means for movement in overlying relation to said platform defining means behind articles being wrapped and for cooperation with said article retarder means to fixedly clamp a separated web portion to each article being wrapped.
- 2. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein the spacing of said article retarder means and said article clamp means is less than said preselected spacing.
- 3. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein the spacing of said article retarder means and said article clamp means is the same but less than said preselected spacing.
- 4. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein the rate of movement of said article retarder means and said article clamp means along said platform defining run is the same.
- 5. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein said web pulling means in conjunction with said article clamp means forms said means for separating said web into said separate web portion.
- 6. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein said article retarder means have a path of movement transversely of a path of movement of a web from said web supply to an article with said article retarder means forming means for drawing a web down in front of an article being wrapped.
- 7. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein said article clamp means have a path of movement transversely of a path of movement of a web from said web supply to an article with said article clamp means forming means for drawing a web down behind an article being wrapped.
- 8. A wrapping machine according to claim 6 wherein said article clamp means have a path of movement transversely of a path of movement of a web from said web supply to an article with said article clamp means forming means for drawing a web down behind an article being wrapped, and separate web drawing means for drawing a web portion down between said article clamp means and said article retarder means between two adjacent articles.
- 9. A wrapping machine acording to claim 8 wherein said article transport conveyor has an opening therethrough in advance of each of said web pulling means, and said web portion through said opening and into engagement with said pulling means.
- 10. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein there are separate web drawing means for drawing a web portion down between said article clamp means and said article retarder means between two adjacent articles.
- 11. A wrapping machine according to claim 10 wherein said article transport conveyor has an opening therethrough in advance of each of said web pulling means, and said web drawing means are operative to pull the web portion through said opening and into engagement with said web pulling means.
- 12. A wrapping machine according to claim 11 wherein the rate of movement of said article transport conveyor is faster than that of said article retarder means, and said article transport conveyor forms means for pulling a trailing part of a web portion beneath an article being wrapped.
- 13. A wrapping machine according to claim 5 wherein said web pulling means has a plurality of fingers spaced transversely of said article transport conveyor for reception in preformed openings in said web, said fingers being different to provide for a sequential engagement with a web to effect progressive rupture of the web.
- 14. A wrapping machine according to claim 13 wherein each of said fingers is generally pointed and has a wide base, and each of said wide bases is joined to a supporting bar portion by a narrow neck which defines web locking shoulders on said fingers.
- 15. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 together with a guide disposed on opposite sides of a path of articles being wrapped, the web supply being wider than articles being wrapped, and said guides forming means for both folding a web at ends of an article being wrapped and centering such articles on said article transport conveyor.
- 16. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said article clamp means includes a clamp bar having a cushioned face for conforming to that portion of an article being engaged to assure clamping of a web fixedly relative to an article being wrapped.
- 17. A wrapping machine according to claim 16 wherein said cushioned face includes a soft compressible member resiliently held against said bar by a resilient sleeve.
- 18. A wrapping machine according to claim 16 wherein said clamp bar is an angle member including two legs, a support member extends between said legs, and said sleeve clamps said soft compressible member against said support member.
- 19. A wrapping machine according to claim 18 wherein said resilient sleeve is disposed within a wear resistant outer sleeve.
- 20. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 wherein said article clamp means includes a plurality of clamp bars each extending between link units carried by two endless conveyors, each of said link units including a carrier link and a pair of support links between which said carrier link extends, said support links and said carrier link having pivotal connections wherein when said link units pass from an arcuate path to a straight line path an associated clamp bar is advanced.
- 21. A wrapping machine according to claim 20 wherein one of said support links is fixedly secured to its respective conveyor and the other of said support links is pivotally secured to that respective conveyor.
- 22. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 together with means for supplying articles to said article transport conveyor in the form of a plurality of containers arranged in rows and columns.
- 23. A method of wrapping articles utilizing a continuous web, said method comprising the steps of utilizing an article transport conveyor having a platform defining run and web pulling means at regularly spaced intervals, placing articles serially on said platform defining run and advancing articles at a preselected rate, supplying a web in overlying relation to said articles, positioning a retarder member in front of an article to be wrapped and moving the retarder member at a rate slower than said preselected rate, positioning a clamp member behind an article to be wrapped and clamping the web to a rear portion of the article while clamping the article between said retarder member and said clamp member, utilizing an associated one of said web pulling means in association with the clamping of the web to tension and rupture the web into a web portion, and then wrapping end parts of said web portion beneath said article.
- 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the web is drawn through an opening in said platform defining run into interlocked contact with said web pulling means prior to a trailing portion of said web being clamped to the article being wrapped.
- 25. A method according to claim 23 wherein the web is progressively ruptured.
- 26. A method according to claim 23 wherein the article being wrapped is engaged at opposite ends by guide members which also fold the web against opposite ends of the article.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 709,724, filed Mar. 8, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,647.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
709724 |
Mar 1985 |
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