U.S. patent number 3,707,063 [Application Number 05/125,134] was granted by the patent office on 1972-12-26 for apparatus for packaging ribbon-like material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Christie Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Newman McIntyre.
United States Patent |
3,707,063 |
McIntyre |
December 26, 1972 |
APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING RIBBON-LIKE MATERIAL
Abstract
An apparatus for packaging a ribbon-like material, such as
elastic webbing, in a rectangular open top container. The apparatus
includes means for feeding the material along a downward path of
travel, means for alternately engaging opposite faces of the
material to impart a zig-zag movement thereto and to guidingly
position the same in overlapping runs in the container, and means
for reciprocating the container to form overlying layers each
comprising overlapping zig-zag runs. A pair of hold down arms are
positioned adjacent the sides of the container to apply a holding
force on the material and thereby preclude voids along the
container sides caused by movement of the material toward the
center of the container.
Inventors: |
McIntyre; Newman (Shelby,
NC) |
Assignee: |
Christie Manufacturing Company
(Shelby, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
22418331 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/125,134 |
Filed: |
March 17, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/116;
493/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H
45/107 (20130101); B65B 63/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
63/04 (20060101); B65B 63/00 (20060101); B65H
45/00 (20060101); B65H 45/101 (20060101); B65H
45/107 (20060101); B65b 003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/116 ;270/79,62 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for packaging a ribbon-like material in an open top
rectangular container comprising
means for supporting the container,
means for linearly reciprocating said supporting means in a
horizontal plane,
means positioned above said supporting means for feeding the
material along a downward path of travel and including means for
linearly reciprocating the material in a direction transverse to
the direction of movement of said supporting means and at a speed
considerably in excess of the speed of said supporting means to
deposit the material in the container in overlying layers having a
zig-zag configuration, and
means positioned above said supporting means and extending
downwardly into the container for applying a holding force to the
overlying layers of material deposited in the container.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means for
lowering said supporting means at a predetermined speed correlated
to the buildup of material in the container.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including means for
rapidly elevating said supporting means after the filled container
has been removed from the supporting means.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for
linearly reciprocating said supporting means includes means for
providing for a period of dwell at the terminal end of each
reciprocation to assure the deposit of a sufficient amount of the
material along the ends of the container.
5. An apparatus for packaging a continuous ribbon-like material in
a container in overlapping zig-zag runs comprising
means for feeding the ribbon-like material from a source into an
open top container,
means including a pair of feeder arms cooperating with said feeding
means for alternately engaging opposite faces of the fed
ribbon-like material to impart a zig-zag movement thereto and to
guidingly position the material in overlapping runs in the
container, and
means for reciprocating the container in timed relation to said
feeding means to control the amount of overlap of the successive
runs of the ribbon-like material and to arrange the same in layers
in the container.
6. An apparatus for packaging a ribbon-like material in an open top
rectangular container comprising
means for supporting the container,
means for linearly reciprocating said supporting means in a
horizontal plane,
a pair of cooperating rollers positioned above said supporting
means for feeding the material along a downward path of travel,
a transitory storage hopper positioned below said rollers and
adapted to receive the material fed by the rollers and retain a
limited quantity of the material therein in relaxed condition, said
storage hopper having opening means in the bottom thereof for
permitting the withdrawal of the material therefrom, and
means for withdrawing the material from the storage hopper and for
linearly reciprocating the same in a direction transverse to the
direction of movement of said supporting means and at a speed
considerably in excess of the speed of said supporting means to
deposit the material in the container in overlying layers having a
zig-zag configuration.
7. An apparatus for linearly reciprocating a ribbon-like material
to form overlapping zig-zag runs of the same in an open top
container or the like comprising
means for feeding the material along a downward path of travel,
a first downwardly directed feeder arm carried laterally adjacent
said material path of travel and being pivotally mounted for
oscillation about a first horizontal axis, said feeder arm
including a horizontally disposed first guide arm carried at the
lower end thereof,
a second downwardly directed feeder arm carried laterally adjacent
said material path of travel on the side thereof opposite said
first feeder arm, said second feeder arm being pivotally mounted
for oscillation about a second horizontal axis extending generally
parallel to said first axis and including a horizontally disposed
second guide arm carried at the lower end thereof,
means for oscillating said first and second feeder arms in a
coordinated sequence such that said first guide arm oscillates
along an arc which intersects said material path of travel and
extends laterally to a terminal position generally below said first
axis, and said second guide arm oscillates along an arc which
intersects said material path of travel and extends laterally to a
terminal position generally below said second axis,
means for deflecting the material from said first and second guide
arms during oscillation away from their respective terminal
positions,
means for engaging the material by said first and second guide arms
during oscillation toward their respective terminal positions,
whereby the material is sequentially engaged by said first guide
arm and translated laterally in one direction and then engaged by
said second guide arm and translated laterally in the opposite
direction, and
means for retaining the material upon reaching said terminal
positions whereby the material is deposited in overlapping
runs.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including means for
supporting the container immediately below said material feeding
means, and means for linearly reciprocating said supporting means
in a horizontal plane and in timed relation to said feeder arms
oscillating means whereby the overlapping runs of the material are
arranged in overlying layers in the container.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for
deflecting the material from said first and second guide arms
comprises a cam carried along one side edge of each guide arm and
being adapted to laterally deflect the material upon contact
therewith.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for
engaging the material by said first and second guide arms comprises
rotatable bearings carried along the side edge of each guide arm
opposite said cam to thereby facilitate the movement of the
material thereacross during movement of the guide arm toward its
terminal position.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the bearings
carried on each guide arm are laterally spaced to define an
intermediate channel adapted to center the material as it moves
thereacross, the channels of said two guide arms being laterally
offset and on opposite sides of the material path of travel such
that the material is translated away from the path of travel at an
acute angle with respect to the movement of the guide arms, and
said means for supporting the container is aligned so as to be
reciprocated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
direction in which the material is translated by the guide
arms.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for
retaining the material upon reaching the terminal positions
comprises a pivotally mounted hold down arm adapted to normally
rest upon and engage the material adjacent each of said terminal
positions, said hold down arms including a cam surface adapted to
be engaged by said guide arms to lift the hold down arms and
thereby release the underlying material as the guide arms approach
said terminal positions.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for
feeding the material along a downward path of travel comprises a
pair of cooperating nip rollers adapted to receive the material
therebetween and feed the same in a downward direction, means for
rotating said nip rollers, a transitory storage hopper positioned
immediately below said nip rollers and adapted to receive and
retain a limited quantity of the material, and opening means
positioned in the bottom of said storage hopper for permitting the
withdrawal of the material upon a downward force being applied
thereto.
14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said opening means
includes a pivotable gate adapted to release the material upon an
axial force being applied thereto and to otherwise engage the
material to prevent continuous withdrawal of the same from the
storage hopper.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including means
responsive to a predetermined amount of material being in the
storage hopper for laterally separating said nip rollers to
terminate the feeding of the material into the storage hopper.
16. An apparatus for packaging a ribbon-like material in an open
top rectangular container comprising
means for supporting the container,
means for linearly reciprocating said supporting means in a
horizontal plane,
means positioned above said supporting means for feeding the
material along a downward path of travel and including means for
linearly reciprocating the material in a direction transverse to
the direction of movement of said supporting means and at a speed
considerably in excess of the speed of said supporting means to
deposit the material in the container in overlying layers having a
zig-zag configuration, and wherein said means for linearly
reciprocating the material includes a pair of downwardly directed
feeder arms positioned adjacent the material path of travel with
one arm on each side thereof, and means for oscillating said feeder
arms in a coordinated sequence whereby the material is sequentially
engaged by one feeder arm and translated laterally in one direction
and then engaged by the other feeder arm and translated in the
opposite direction, and
means for applying a holding force to the overlying layers of
material deposited in the container.
Description
The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging a
ribbon-like material, such as elastic textile webbing, into a
rectangular open top container or box. More particularly, the
present invention relates to an apparatus for depositing a web of
narrow fabric in a number of overlying layers, with each layer
comprising a series of flat untwisted segments folded into a
zig-zag configuration.
Elastic webbing and other narrow fabrics employed in the clothing
industry are normally woven or otherwise produced by an independent
manufacturer who then packages and ships the material to the
clothing fabricator. In packaging such material, it is conventional
to continuously feed the leading end of the web into an open top
box or cylindrical container, such that the web is positioned
therewithin in random folds and twists. Obviously, this procedure
is inefficient from a packaging point of view since the random
folds and twists occupy an inordinate volume. Also, difficulties
are often encountered in removing the web from the container since
the web tends to become entangled upon itself.
To alleviate the above problems, it has been proposed to feed the
material into a rectangular container which is simultaneously
reciprocated in two directions at right angles to each other, with
the speed of reciprocation in one direction being faster than the
speed in the other direction. By this arrangement, the downwardly
directed web of material is deposited in the box in horizontal
layers each having a zig-zag pattern. It has been found however
that this process is too slow for modern production requirements,
and in addition, the box will not be filled along the edges since
the movement of the box will tend to pull the ends of the zig-zag
segments toward the center.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for efficiently and uniformly packaging a ribbon-like
material such as an elastic webbing or the like in a rectangular
open top container.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus
capable of rapidly positioning a ribbon-like material in a series
of uniform, untwisted folds within a container to thereby
facilitate the subsequent withdrawal of the same without
tangling.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are
achieved in the embodiment illustrated herein by the provision of
means for supporting the container, means for linearly
reciprocating the supporting means in a horizontal plane, and means
positioned above the supporting means for linearly reciprocating
the material in a direction transverse to the direction of movement
of the supporting means. The means for linearly reciprocating the
material include a pair of downwardly directed feeder arms
positioned on opposite sides of the material path of travel. These
two arms are oscillated in a coordinated sequence such that the
material is selectively engaged by one feeder arm and translated
laterally in one direction, and then engaged by the other feeder
arm and translated in the opposite direction. A pair of pivotally
mounted hold-down arms are disposed adjacent the sides of the
container and are adapted to engage the material to prevent the
same from being drawn toward the center of the container.
Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been
stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the portion of the apparatus
shown in the lower portion of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly sectioned, of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and facing opposite the view shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line
5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a sectional front elevational view taken substantially
along the line 6--6 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating in manner in
which the material is positioned in the container;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view, partly sectioned, illustrating
the direction in which the material is laterally translated by the
feeder arms;
FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration indicating the arcs along which
the guide arm portions of the feeder arms oscillate;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of a guide
arm;
FIGS. 11--15 are schematic illustrations of the various sequential
positions of the feeder arms during one oscillation thereof,
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along the
line 16--16 of FIG. 14.
Referring more specifically to the drawings, the apparatus will be
seen to include a generally box-like supporting framework
comprising the lower support members 22, four vertical uprights 24,
25, 26 and 27, upper horizontal support members 28 and 30 extending
between the uprights 24 and 25, and 26 and 27 respectively, and an
upper transverse support member 32 connected to the members 28 and
30.
A web of ribbon-like material 35 is fed to the machine from a
source of supply (not shown), and initially across a reversely
rotating beater roller 36 which is designed to remove any twist
which may be present in the material. From the beater roller, the
material is fed laterally across the top of the apparatus to a
guide arm 38, and then generally along a downward path of travel by
feeding means 40 which includes nip rollers 41 and 42, the storage
hopper 44, and gate 46, all as hereinafter further described. Upon
leaving the gate 46, the material is alternately engaged on
opposite faces by the means 50, which includes feeder arms 52 and
54, for linearly reciprocating the material and guidingly
positioning the same in overlapping runs in the underlying
container 56.
The container 56 is supported by means generally indicated at 58,
and both the container and supporting means are adapted to be
linearly reciprocated in a direction transverse to the direction of
movement of the reciprocating means 50, but at a substantially
slower speed, whereby the material 35 is deposited within the
container in overlying layers each having a zig-zag configuration
as best seen in FIG. 7. To ensure that the end edges of the
container 56 do not interfere with the deposit of the material
therein, there is provided a pair of brackets 59 as seen in FIGS. 1
and 2 positioned on the upper end edges of the container to
maintain a slightly bowed configuration.
To now describe downward feeding means 40 more specifically, the
nip roller 41 is rotated at a substantially constant speed by an
arrangement hereinafter described, and the following nip roller 42
is pivotally mounted so as to be selectively withdrawn from the
roller 41 to thereby terminate the feed of the material 35. More
particularly, the roller 42 is carried by interconnected arms 60
and 61, which are pivotally mounted about the axis 62. The arms 60
and 61 are connected to the lever arm 63 which is in turn connected
to the central shaft of the solenoid 64. A spring 66 is positioned
to normally bias the arm 63 downwardly and thus maintain operative
engagement between the rollers 41 and 42, but upon actuation of the
solenoid 64, the arm 63 is lifted to release the driving engagement
between the same.
The storage hopper 44 is adapted to receive the material fed by the
rollers and retain a limited quantity of the material in relaxed
condition, and comprises an open top rectangular box 68 having an
opening 69 in the bottom wall adapted to permit one-way movement of
the material 35 therethrough. In particular, the gate 46 is
positioned beneath the opening 69, the gate being pivotable against
the spring arm 70 to its open position upon a force being exerted
on the material in the downward direction. By this arrangement, a
sufficient quantity of the material is always available which may
be freely withdrawn from the box 68, and withdrawal will
immediately terminate upon termination of the applied force. Also,
since the material may be freely withdrawn from the box, there will
be no significant pulling force on the previously laid run as the
material is linearly reciprocated by the feeder arms as hereinafter
further described. Thus the tendency to displace the previously
laid run is minimized.
To assure a proper supply of the material within the box 68, the
hopper 44 includes a spring biased wand 72 extending laterally
across the bottom wall of the box. The wand is operatively
connected to a switch 74 which in turn controls the solenoid 64. By
design, the weight of a normal amount of the material 35 acting on
the wand will not trigger the switch 74, but if an excessive amount
is present, the switch is actuated to close the solenoid 64. The
nip rollers 41 and 42 are thereby separated to terminate the
feeding operation. When a predetermined amount of the material has
been withdrawn from the box, the solenoid 64 is opened to again
initiate the feeding operation.
The means 50 for linearly reciprocating the material includes the
first downwardly directed feeder arm 52 carried laterally adjacent
the gate 46, the arm 52 being pivotally mounted for oscillation
about the horizontal axis at 76. The second downwardly directed
feeder arm 54 is carried laterally adjacent the gate 46 on the side
thereof opposite the feeder arm 52, the second arm 54 being
pivotally mounted for oscillation about the horizontal axis at 78.
The first feeder arm 52 includes a horizontally disposed guide arm
80 carried at the lower end thereof, and the second feeder arm
carries a similar guide arm 82 at its lower end. As will be
observed from FIGS. 7 and 8, the axes 76 and 78 are substantially
parallel to each other, and the feeder arms move in parallel planes
lying on opposite sides of the centerline C of the gate 46. The two
feeder arms are interconnected by the rod 84 so that they are
oscillated in a coordinated sequence, and a second rod 85 is
employed to transmit the oscillatory motion to the two arms, the
rod 85 being connected to the crank 86 having an adjustable arm 87
such that the extent of movement by the rod 85 may be
controlled.
FIG. 10 illustrates the structural details of the guide arm 82,
which will be seen to include an integral tab 90 on the terminal
end of the arm 54, and a forward horizontally disposed journal 92
mounting a pair of spaced roller bearings 93 and 94 to define a
channel 97 therebetween. A horizontally disposed flange 95 is
secured to the tab 90 and presents an arcuately curved cam surface
96 along the side of the arm opposite the bearings. As will be
understood, the guide arm 80 is of a similar construction.
As best seen in FIG. 9 which illustrates the sequence of movement
by the two feeder arms during one oscillation, the feeder arm 52
oscillates along an arc A such that the guide arm 80 intersects the
path of travel of the material leaving the gate 46 and extends
laterally to a terminal position generally below the axis 76.
Similarly, the guide arm 54 oscillates along an arc B such that the
guide arm 82 intersects the path of travel at approximately the
same location and extends laterally to a terminal position
generally below its axis 78. By design, the arm 52 will be at its
terminal position during the time that the arm 54 is in the
vicinity of the gate 46, and the arm 54 is at its terminal position
when the arms 52 is adjacent the gate. Also, it will be noted from
FIGS. 7 and 8 that the terminal positions of the two feeder arms
will be established to substantially coincide with the outside
edges or sides of the container 56.
It will be apparent from FIG. 9 that the guide arms 80 and 82 must
twice "pass through" the web during movement from their respective
terminal positions toward the gate 46. To accomplish this function,
there is provided means for deflecting the material from the guide
arms during movement in this direction. In the illustrated
embodiment, this deflecting means comprises the cam surface 96
carried along one side edge of each guide arm, as well as a pair of
cooperating cam surfaces 98 and 99 fixedly mounted to the frame of
the apparatus. More particularly, and viewing FIGS. 11-13, it will
be observed that the cam surface 96 on the arm 80 initially
laterally deflects the material to permit its passage approximately
midway in the traverse of its oscillation, note FIG. 13. The arm 80
deflects the material a second time at the point indicated in FIG.
14. At this latter point, the fixed cam surface 99 cooperates with
the cam surface 96 on the arm to assure the deflection of the
material. Obviously, the cam surface 96 on the arm 82 functions in
a similar manner during its oscillation toward the gate 46.
During the oscillation of each guide arm toward their respective
terminal positions, it will be apparent that the roller bearings 93
and 94 form an abutment surface for engaging the material and
translating the same laterally toward the associated terminal
positions. The bearings serve to facilitate the movement of the
material thereacross, and the channel 97 formed between the
bearings has been found to facilitate the centering and retention
of the material on the arm by forming a slight indentation in the
material, note FIG. 10. Thus during operation, one guide arm
initially engages the material and translates the same laterally
toward its terminal position, and then the other guide arm
laterally translates the web in the opposite direction to form
overlapping runs.
To facilitate the deflection of the material 35, the centerlines
(or channels 97) of the guide arms are offset and positioned to
move in planes lying on opposite sides of the gate centerline C,
note FIG. 8. For this reason, the movement of the material from the
gate 46 will be at a slight angle with respect to the movement of
the guide arms, and thus the overlapping runs will be positioned at
an acute angle D with respect to the centerline C. Typically the
angle D is about 2.degree.-4.degree.. As will be further described
below, the container 56 and its supporting means 58 may be canted a
similar angle to assure that the material 35 is positioned parallel
to the ends of the container.
A pair of pivotally mounted hold-down arms 100 and 102 are mounted
to releasably engage the material upon the associated guide arm
reaching its terminal position, such that the material is retained
at the terminal position and deposited in overlapping runs as seen
in FIG. 8. More particularly, each hold down arm is pivotally
mounted about the axes 104 and 106 respectively, and each includes
a lower pad 108 having two downwardly directed teeth 110 adapted to
contact the web. As best seen in FIG. 10, the teeth are tilted
outwardly to firmly engage the material as the guide arm oscillates
in the reverse direction, and they are positioned in alignment with
the channel 97 to avoid contact with the associated guide arm. When
the feeder arm oscillates toward its terminal position, the forward
abutment edge of the guide arm strikes the inclined lower cam
surface 112 of the hold down arm to lift the arm and thereby
release the material. The pad 108 then drops onto the material as
seen in FIG. 10 to retain the same closely adjacent the side edge
of the container as the guide arm swings away.
The overall operation of the feeder arms will be apparent from a
study of FIGS. 9 and 11-15. In particular, in FIG. 9 the guide arm
80 is at its terminal position generally below the axis 76, while
the arm 82 is at the end of the arc B opposite its terminal
position and on the opposite side of the gate 46. From this
position, the two arms oscillate clockwise through the positions
shown in FIGS. 11-13 wherein the cam surface 96 of the guide arm 80
has deflected the material laterally a distance sufficient to
permit passage of the guide arm, while the abutment surface of the
guide arm 82 on feeder arm 54 has engaged the web and is
translating it laterally toward the hold-down arm 102. In FIG. 14,
the guide arm 80 in cooperation with the fixed cam 99 again
deflects the material laterally to permit passage. Also, the arm 82
is approaching its terminal position and has lifted the hold-down
arm 102 to release the underlying web and permit entry of a new
overlapping run. At this point, it should be noted that the
hold-down arm 100 at the opposite end of the run is engaging the
material to prevent movement toward the center of the container. In
FIG. 15, the position of the two feeder arms is reversed from that
shown in FIG. 9, and they are now in position to oscillate
counter-clockwise to draw the web in the opposite direction in a
similar manner.
The supporting means 58 for the container 56 includes a platform
116 which is supported by a wheel assembly 118 positioned along
each of its side edges, note FIGS. 2 and 5. In addition, the
platform carries a laterally directed side pin 120 for linearly
reciprocating the platform in a manner further described below, as
well as two intersecting raised side walls 121 and 122 defining a
corner for accurately locating the container. The wheel assemblies
118 ride on the spaced trackways 124, 125 of a carriage 126, the
trackways being slightly offset or canted as seen in FIG. 5. The
carriage 126 includes four vertically directed wheel assemblies 128
for supporting the same against lateral movement, the wheel
assemblies riding along the vertical support members 24-27. A lift
jack assembly 130 is provided for vertically supporting the
carriage 126, and thus the platform 116 and container 56, the lift
jack being adapted to lower the container at a predetermined speed
correlated to the buildup of material therein. Also, the lift jack
includes means for rapidly elevating the platform after the
container has been filled and removed from the platform.
To more specifically describe the jack assembly 130, reference is
made to FIG. 3. A hollow vertical post 132 is secured to the
carriage, and is adapted to freely receive a threaded stud 133
therein. An internally threaded sleeve 134 is carried by the stud
and supports the lower end of the post. The sleeve 134 is rotated
by the mating bevel gears 135, 136, which are connected through the
reduction gears 137, 138, universal connector 139, and gear box 140
to the variable diameter pulley 141. The pulley 141 carries a belt
142 for connecting the same to the pulley 143, and an adjustable
idler 144 is employed to adjust the tension in the belt and thereby
the diameter of the pulley 141 and thus the speed at which the
carriage 126 is lowered. Preferably, the carriage is lowered at a
speed correlated to the build up of overlying layers of material in
the container such that the material is deposited at a
predetermined fixed elevation therein. To rapidly elevate the
carriage 126, a motor 146 is connected through shaft 147 and gear
box 148 to the stud 133. Thus, upon actuation of the motor 146, the
normally stationary stud 133 is rotated to lift the post 132 and
carriage 126. A clutch-brake device 149 may be positioned on shaft
147 to preclude rotation of stud 133 during the lowering
operation.
The driving arrangement for the apparatus is best seen in FIG. 4
and includes a main drive motor 150 connected to a gear reducer
152. The reducer carries the crank assembly 86 for driving the
feeder arms as described above, and also carries a sprocket 154 and
chain 155 for rotating the main drive shaft 158. The main drive
shaft 158 is connected across the chain and sprocket assembly 160
to the shaft 162 carrying a pulley 164 and belt 165 at one end for
driving the pulley 166 and feed roller 41. The shaft 162 also
carries a pulley 168 for rotating the web beater roller 36. As seen
in FIG. 1, the belt 169 interconnecting the pulley 168 and roller
36 is crossed such that the roller 36 rotates in a direction
opposite to the movement of the web.
The main drive shaft 158 is also connected to the platform traverse
shaft 172 by an arrangement which permits selective rotation of the
shaft 172 in either direction. In particular, the drive shaft 158
and traverse shaft 172 carry mating gears 174, 175 which, when
interconnected by the clutch assembly 176, serves to rotate the
traverse shaft 172 in a direction opposite to the main drive shaft
158. A chain and sprocket assembly 178 is also provided which, when
interconnected by the clutch assembly 177, serves to rotate these
two shafts in the same direction.
The platform traverse shaft 172 is externally threaded, and carries
an internally threaded follower 180 which is slidably retained
within the bracket 181. The bracket 181 is fixedly connected to a
plate 182 which is mounted for lateral translation by upper and
lower wheel assemblies 184, 185 respectively, and mating trackways
186, 187. Thus, upon rotation of the traverse shaft 172, the
follower 180 is held against rotation by the bracket 181, and thus
the follower 180 and plate 182 will be moved laterally along
trackways 186, 187. When the direction of rotation of the shaft 172
is reversed, it will be seen in FIG. 4 that there will be a period
of dwell in the movement of the plate 182 since the follower 180 is
axially longer than the bracket. Since the guide arms are not able
to position the material in contact with the ends of the container,
the period of dwell assures the deposit of sufficient material to
fill the container along its ends.
The plate 182 carries a pair of spaced downwardly directed arms
189, 190 which by design are positioned on opposite sides of the
side pin 120 of the platform 116, note FIGS. 2 and 4. Thus, the
platform 116 is translated laterally with the plate 182. Also, the
interconnection between these two members permits the platform 116
to be raised or lowered while maintaining their
interengagement.
As will be noted from FIG. 5, the direction of the trackways 124,
125 is offset at an acute angle to the machine direction. By
design, this offset correspondgs to the angle D in FIG. 8, and thus
the platform 116 and container 56 will be linearly reciprocated in
a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which
the material 35 is translated and positioned in the container 56.
The side walls 121 and 122 of the platform 116 are similarly offset
from the machine direction, and thus the material is positioned in
the container 56 in over-lapping rows which, when the platform is
stationary, are generally parallel to the container end walls. Thus
the reciprocation of the platform 116 and container 56 resulting
from an automatic sequential reversal of the traverse shaft 172
serves to deposit the material in overlying layers of overlapping
zig-zag runs, and the speed of reciprocation controls the amount of
overlap of the successive runs.
The electrical controls for effecting the sequential reversal of
the shaft 172 are of conventional construction well known to those
skilled in the art and will therefore not be described in detail
herein. Generally however, it will be understood that upon
completion of the filling process, the operation of the motor 150
is manually terminated, and the filled container 56 removed from
the platform 116. The high speed return motor 146 is then manually
actuated to elevate the platform to its initial position, and the
filling operation is restarted with an empty container.
While in the illustrated embodiment the material is deposited in an
open top rectangular container, it will be understood that in
certain cases it may be desirable to deposit the material directly
onto the platform 116 without using a container. The resulting
bundle could then be suitably tied to retain its configuration
during shipment.
In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a
preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms
are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only
and not for purpose of limitation.
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