GB1382180A - Conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

1382180 Pusher conveyers/wrapping machines FMC CORP 25 Oct 1972 [12 Nov 1971] 49154/72 Headings B8A and B8C To enable a pusher conveyer 10 to feed articles of different sizes to a wrapping machine 12, pushers 20 are pivoted to an endless chain 18 and moved to a pushing position by a cam 121 reciprocated into a pusher engaging position at a constant rate, and the speed of the endless chain 18 is varied to thereby vary the spacing between activated pushers. The chain 18 is driven by a sprocket connected to the output shaft 46 of a gear-box the input shaft 42 of which is connected to a driven shaft 16 of the wrapping machine 12. A gear (56, Figs. 6 and 7) is slidable on the output shaft 46 and is engageable, via an idler gear (66), with a selected one of a plurality of gears of differing diameters on the input shaft 42, by means of a manual selector 22 which can be locked in position by a stud (80). The driven shaft 16 is also connected via chains and sprockets, bevel gears and a shaft 32 to a disc 36 carrying a striker 116 operative to engage and raise the cam 121. The cam 121 is biased to its lowermost position by a spring 134 and is guided between plates 124, 126, the cam carrying a roller 130 engaged in a slot 132 in the plate 124. The pushers 20 carry rollers 148 which, when the cam 121 is raised, engage a surface 120 to pivot the pushers to the active position. The active pushers are maintained in position by a guide track 150. The articles are pushed into a web W from a roll R formed into a tube by a former F, the tube being transversely sealed and severed by a rotary sealer 5.