US1479065A - Wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

G. T. vcam-ER WRAPPING MACHINE Jan. 191924 Filed March 31, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gear ,e T 5% 1,479,065 G. T. @REER WRAPPING MACHINE mummy l I G. T. GREER WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Marh 514, 1921 ssheet-sheet George I.' Gneer, g

^ ammi,

atented den. l, lil.

GEORGE T. GREEK., OF ROANOKE, VR-GINIA.

WRAPEING- MACHINE.

Application filed March 31, 1921.

To @Z510/wm t may conce/m Be it known that GEORGE T. Genna, a citizen of thel United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State ot' Virginia, has invented certain new f and useful improvements in Wrapping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for wrapping fruit and especially to machines for wrapping oranges. Y

@me of the numerous objects of the present invention is to construct a wrapping machine provided with a hopper into which will be placed the oranges and from which they will :feed two at a time, that is one from each side oi' the hopper to a spoon located beneath a plunger'. In iront ot` each plunger is supported a. roll ot' paper and beyond this is placed a. twister so that as the oranges push the paper forwardly and are secure-d in a clamp the twister while the orange is thus held will twist the wrapper tightly around the oranges. The operation is to be continuous s'o that each succeeding orange forces the one previously wrapped from the clamp to a box or other desired receptacle.

Still another object of the invention is to so form the machine that` the pape in 'the form oi rolls may have printing thereon in certain spaced relation which paper will be cut at the proper place to form the individual wrapper, so that the printing will properly appear on each wrapper.

Still another object 01"' the present invention is to so torm and arrange the different` parts ot the machine that the various steps that is-the feeding of the orange to the spoon below the plunger-trom thence to the twister-the cutting of thewrapper and the twisting of the. wrapper, will all follow in their proper time, so that each orange will have 'a properly cut and properly twisted wrapper thereon.

Still another object ot the present invention is to 'form a stop or cut out mechanism 'toithe .in-achille, so that when desired or necessary to stop the machine, it may be done very quickly, so that in case of a breakdown none ot the paper will be wasted nor will the oranges pass through the machine without being properly wrapped.

Still another object of the invention is to so provide a machine wherein the oranges serial no. 457,402.

to be wrapped will be continuously fed to the machine but will not be forced or jammed or even dropped any great distance,

`which would of course tend to bruise or otherwise injure the fruit.

Still another object ot the invention is to so construct the machine that the diii'erent steps, from the insertion of the oranges to the hopper to 'their emission in a wrapped condition, will be quickly performed; no time being lost in any of the successive operations and all of the steps so timed thatthe oranges will be perfectly wrapped and normally delivered at the rate of about G0 per minute.

Still another' object ol' my invention is to provide a wrapping machine wherein the oranges will be centered when they pass from the hopper and rest in the spoon under the plunger. f Furthermore, after being forced against the lpaper and through the twister, a clamp will securely hold an orange while the twister is being operated and from which clamp the orange may be removed loy hand or may be` lett in the clamp to be forced into a container by the succeeding orange. I

Still another object ot the present invention is to provide an orange wrapping` niachine wherein tne same may be regulated for diiierent sized run ci oranges or tor larger or smaller fruit than oranges, it' desired.

Still another object ot the present invention is to so form the iruit wrapping machinel that there are two complete` sets for wrapping the oranges so that the capacity will be double that oi a single machine. This is desired not only lor the speed attained but that the oranges if removed by hand, will enable the operator to use both oit her hands rather than just one.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain new and novel constructions and combinations ot parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings- Figure l is a top plan view of my improved machine showing the plungers in their retracted position, two oranges being shown in dotted lines in position in it'ront oit the plungers ready to be forced through the twister-s;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, also showing a plunger in its rearward position and an orange being shown on the receiving spoon;

Fig. 3 is a front end view;

Fig. a is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken transversely through the hopper;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of a plunger and a twister, partly in section and a part broken away for sake of clearness;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the twister looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the driving and stopping mechanism for the machine; l

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the paper feeding and cutting mechanism and its associated parts;

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9, the casing being removed;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan of the f knife and its associated frictionally held slide; and

F ig. 12 is a fragmentary detail view of the clutch arrangement for the plungers, a portion of the same being broken away for the sake of clearness.

Referring now to lthe drawings, there is shown a suitable stand or base 1, on the lower portion of which is mounted the small electric motor 2, which in turn drives the suitably mounted wheel 3,which in turn through the belt 4 drives the main shaft 5 on the inner end of which is idly mounted the main drive wheel 6, the said shaft being suitably supported in bearings 7 which are in turn mounted on a cross bar of the frame 1 and a further cross bar 8. About centrally of the frame 1 are the further cross bars 9 which are secured attheir opposite ends to the upper side bars of the frame 1, and extending transversely of these cross bars are the two short -beams 10 which form the track and guides for the two plungers 11. As these plungers are identical, a description of the one will be a description of the other.

Phmgcr mal spoon.

The plunger is preferably provided on its sides with the grooved side plates 12 to receive the opposite edges of the bearing plate 13 which is secured to the top of the eye beam 10 which plate forms a smooth bearing and guide for the plunger. To the under portion 14.- of the plunger 11 is secured a spoon 15, which spoon is slotted at 15', for the reception of the pin 16 and the spoon is also further held and vertically adjustable with relation to the under surface of the plunger by the pin 17 on which there is the `small tension spring 13. This spoon extends rearwardly of the plunger and then downwardly as at 2O and contacts with two stops 20 and 20, and'at its forward end is cup-shaped as at 21 to receive and hold the orange. By having the spoons vertically adjustable the different size run of oranges may be properly centered with regard to the twisters.

rlhe plunger, it will be noticed, has a reduced forwardly extending portion 22 as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the forward end of which as will be later described, contacts with the orange when the same rests in the spoon 21 to force it through the twister and into a clamp. 0n the outer side of each of the plungers is placed a gear rack 23 that extends from the rear of the plunger to the inner end of the reduced portion 22. Mounted on the frame 1 and located to the side of this plunger is positioned the bear-- ings 2a in which revolves a shaft 25, and on this shaft is pinned a sleeve 26 in which sleeve is placed the small spring-pressed clutch pin 27. A gear 28 is idly mounted on the shaft 25 and formed integrally with this gear is a small clutch wheel 29 havingY a beveled opening 30 formed therein for the reception of the spring-pressed clutch pin 27. The gear 28 is always in mesh with the aforementioned rack 23 but idles when the plunger is traveling in one direction as will be shortly described.

Referring for the moment to the main drive wheel 6, it will be seen that mounted thereon is the connecting rod 31 which in turn is suitably connected to the shaft 32 which extends from the inner side of one plunger to the inner side of the opposite plunger, the ends of this shaft fitting within the bosses 32. The revolution therefore of the shaft 5 and the drive wheel 6 will cause the plungers 11 through the connecting rod 31 to move forwardly and rearwardly, the speed of course depending upon the rate of speed applied to the drive wheel 6'.

The small gear wheels 23 in mesh with the gear racks 23 will idle on the forward movement of the plunger due to the clutch pin 27 slipping over the bevel surface of the opening in the clutch face 29, but on the return movement of the plungers the gear wheels 2S will function, as the pin engaging the clutch wheel will hold the saine and revolve the shafts 25. On Athese shafts 25 are mounted the beveled gears 33 which in turn drive the shafts 34: tl'irough the gears 35 mounted on their ends and in mesh with the bevel gears 33.

Located near the forward .fend of the machine are the two uprights 36 in which reet the shaft 37 on which is positioned the paper rolls 38. t

Secured to thel main frame and directly in front of the plunger-s are the two twisters 39 which will be shortly described in detail. These twisters are each provided with a sprocket wheel 40 over which passes the chain 4l which in turn is driven by the sprocket wheel 42 which is driven by the heretofore mentioned shaft 34.

As far as the specification has proceeded, it will be seen that on a revolution of the drive wheel 6, the plunger-s ll on their forward movement will not operate the twisters as the small spring-pressed pin 27 will not engage its cooperating clutch face 29, but on the return of the plungers the gear will be in fixed engagement with its shaft and through the shaft will cause the sprocket through the intervention of the chain 4l to revolve, the operation of the twister being performed by the revolution of the sprocket.

On the outer end of each of the shafts 25 there is a further sprocket wheel 43 over which passes a chain 44 which engages a sprocket wheel 45 mounted on the opposite end of the rollers 45', which rollers are mounted in a box 54 which box is secured on the frame, as will be shortly described. Small clutches may be provided on the ends of the rollers 45 which will be operated by the small hand rollers 4G, the arrangement being similar to the clutch used on the typewriter platen so that any small adjustment of the rolls may be made. It is to be understood that any form of clutch arrangement desired might be used on these rolls or platens.

It is to be remembered that these rollers 45 to unwind the paper are also only operated on the return movement of the plungers, similar to the action or movement of the twisters.

Further, mounted in the box 54 and contacting with the rollers 45 are the further platens or rollers 1GO so that the paper will be gripped and fed downwardly on the revolution of the rollers 45.

Beneath the rollers 45 and in front of the twisters there is shown the partitions or double walls 47 through which the paper from the rolls 38 will pass,- and in the wall are formed the two round openings 48 which are directly in front of the plungers 11 and through which opening the plungers, and fruit pass.

frapper cutting.

Referring now to the manner of cutting the paper into successive wrappers, it .is of course desired that they each be of the same size so that the trade-mark, name or other printed mattei' that may have been previously and successively printed on the rolls will properly appear on each wrapper. To do this therefore it is necessary that the cutting be properly done and work in synchronism with the twistingl of the wrapper.

Referring first to 2 it will be seen that mounted on the main frame between and below the plungers is a small bracket 49 in which is pivoted the upright yoke arm 50 which in turn is provided with a small link 5l which is secured to a yoke 52 which straddles the hopper 58 which hopper is located above the plungers and supported by the uprights 53', a spring 50 holding the arm 50 in its normal position. It might be here mentioned that the `hopper may be of any conventional design, provided its lower portion is bifurcated to form two passageways so that the oranges may be fed to the spoons l5 secured to the plungers 11; the openings of these passageways being, of course, in the path of movement of the said spoons. If, however, the machine should be .built with but one plunger,. then one passageway from the hopper would be sufficient.

Located near the periphery of the drive wheel 6 is a small roller 150 which is spaced slightly over 90 from the pivotal connectien of the connecting rod 3l, and this roller is arranged to contact with and to force the yoke arm 50 inwardly as the plungers 1l make their forward movement.

At the upper end of the walls or partition 47 is placed the aforementioned box 54 which extends completely across the machine and is secured to the uprights 36, the connection between the uprights and the boX being of a slot and pin nature so thatthe box may be slight-ly elevated or lowered if desired. An opening 55 is formed in one face of the box for the inner end of the aforementioned yoke arms 52 to which are secured the horizontally positioned knife 56, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

Grooves 58 are formed in the opposite sides of the box for the reception and guidance of a wooden block 60, while further slots (il are also provided for the opposite end of the knife 56. A. small metal plate 62 is shown mounted on the block GO and below the knife 56 so that the block 60 will not be subjected to the continuous friction of the knife.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10 especially, it is to be noticed that the knife is in fixed relation to the yoke 52 but the block 60 is provided with two spring clamp arms 63 that engage the upper surface of the knife 56 but allow the same to move slightly forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the block 60.

Two stops 64 are provided in the grooves 58 so that as the yoke is pulled rearwardly the block will move rearwardly, being frictionally clamped to the knife, but on contact with the stop 64 will stop and allow the knife to still continue in its rearward movement.

A wooden stop in the form of a block 65 is provided as clearly shown in Fig. 9, so that the paper from the rolls 38 passing through lin the boX and through the wall 47 will be adjacent with the face of this block65. A small slot or groove 66 is shown in this block so that the knife G may pass therethrough, and the block frictionally carried by the knife will, on the fori'vard movement of the yoke arm press the paper against the block and tightly hold the same while the knife forces or shears its waythrough the paper'. ln other words, by providing the frictionally held block (SO to the knife 56, just as the paper is cut or sheared it will betightly held between the forward edge of the block 60 and the face of the aforementioned block 65.

rl`he block (5() will then move rearwardly when the knife is moved rearwardly to allow the new wrapper to be fed, but as before mentioned .this block does not travel the same distance as the knife.

As the paper is fed downwardly its weight together with the action of the rolls will provide an effective and proper feeding of the paper to the knife and as soon as it is sheared it will be forced b v the orange to the twister, the cut-ting action being so timed that the paper will not be allowed to drop beyond the openings 48, but on the other hand is cut just in time to be free to pass with the orange into the twister by the plunger, l1.

Twz'sters.'

Referring now to the twisters and especially to Figs 5 and 6, it will be seen that each one comprises a standard 69 secured to the frame which standard is provided with the circular housing 7 O in which there is provided a sleeve or ring 7l, on the outer end of which is formed the aforementioned sprocket 40. rlhis sleeve is provided with a small outer liange 7i which bears against a portion of the outer surface of the housing 7 0, and about its inner periphery and nearly midway of its width are the pins 72 which contact with an inner wall 73 of the housing, which wall is formed by cutting or coring out a portion on the inner surface of the housing as shown at 74. ln this portion 74 of the housing 70 are arranged the three slots 75, see Fig. 6, these slots being spaced at points about the circumference of the housing and in three separate vertical planes, the lower one being at the outer edge of the portion 74 while the other two are in planes slightly nearer the wall 7 Formed .in the sleeve 71 there are also formed three openings 7 6 which openings are also in three different vertical planes taken through the sleeve, each of these latter slots or openings registering with one of the previous slots mentioned, 75.

Extending through each of the three openings 76 is the small trip arm 77 which in turn is secured to a main twisting arm 78 of the twister. These arms 7 8 are clearly navaoe shown in Fig. 6 and are bent substantially semi-circular in shape and as they are distributed or located at three different points about the sleeve they will assume the position shown in Fig. t3 when closed.

he small trip arms 77 are each connected by a spring 79 to the rotatable sleeve 7l so that when the sleeve is in its normal or starting position, the springs will pull the small arms inwardly and thereby pull the arms 78 to their open position. 'lhisis possible because the small arms 77 will each be opposite its slot of the housing, and the small arms will extend therethrough. As soonas the twister. is operated, however, through its sprocket, the small arms 77 will be forced out of the slot which will swing the main arms 'to their closed position in which position they will remain until the sleeve has made one complete revolution when each one of the small arms will again be in front of its corresponding slot when the springs again will return the arms 78 to their open position. VThe inner surface of vthe cylinder is slotted transversely at three points for the reception of the transverse portion 78 of the arms 78 and the slots on the inner surface of the sleeve are slightly beveled transversely so that the arms 7 8 with their little trip arms 77 may swing to a full open and closed position. Two small to receive the ends 81 of a small circular band 8O which is then placed within the sleeve which holds the'arms 78 tightly in place in their respective slots and also presents a smooth and unbroken surface to the orange as it is passed through the twister.

lt is to be remembered that the twister makes one complete revolution on the return of the plunger 11 so that when the orange on its forward movementwith the plunger ll passes through the twister, the arms 7 8 are in their open position but immediately on the return of the piston the arms 78 swing to their closed position and remain in this position until the completion of the revolution when they again swing open.

Referring now to Figs. l, 2 and 3, there is shown directly in front of the two twisters the small clamps 83 which may consist of two upright arms 84: which are held together at their lower ends by the rods 85, and midway through the arms 8a is placed thc rod 86 which is provided with the small springs 87 which abut against the washers 88 and the upright arms 84C so that as the orange is forced through the twister it will be pushed into this flexible clamp, and there held while the twister is operated as above described. Any form of suitable clamp may be used, and if desired a plurality of them, one in front of the other, might be provided, so that the oranges will be successively forced from one clamp to vthe other from which Levaece theyvniight be removedby hand, or a plurality of clamps might be formed on one base so that as the clamps are filled up the base with the oranges might be removed.

In Fig. 2, however, l have shown but one clamp and directly in front of the clamp there is shown a small bag 89 open at the bottom, the lower end of the bag extending into a box 90 which may be supported on the track 91 and held in position by the trip 92 which when released will allow the box 9() to slide to an endless conveyor 93, from which the box will be removed. By providing a bag in front of cach twister the oranges will not be jammed or bruised when dropping` into the box.

Referring now to Figs. is shown a small starting rangement which consists of a small clutch wheel Ql mounted on the main shaft 5. Secured between this wheel 94 and to the inner face of the drive wheel 6 is a small circular plate 95, and provided on its inner face with an opening 96. Extending transversely of the wheel 94ris the spring pressed pin 97 which is placed in a suitable opening 94X, and extending through an opening 98 in the periphery of the wheel 9e is the small lug 99 which is formed on the pin 97. Located beneath the wheel 94; is the curved plate 110 which has an inner beveled inclined surface 111 This plate 110 is free to slide forwardly and rearwardly, it being held in the guide 112 secured to the cross bar 8 of the main frame. Connecting with this plate 110 is the control rod 113 which extends to the forward end of the machine and to its outer end is fastened the handle 11e.

When it is desired to stop the machine the handle 111i is simply forced inwardly which causes the pin 97 when it contacts with the beveled surface 111 to retract so that it no longer engages with the walls of its opening 9G in the plate 95. The main shaft 5 will of course continue to rotate but the drive wheel 6 which is idly mounted, as will be remembered, on the shaft will of course idle until the rod 113 is again pulled outwardly which will allow the clutch pin 9T to again spring into the opening 96, at which time the machine will again start its various operations.

At the out-er end of the main drive shaft 5 is shown a handle 115 which may be used in case it is desired to revolve the shaft 5 a slight distance, or if desired to run the machine by hand.

Reviewing briefly the operation 'of the machine, it is as follows: @n the starting of the motor 2, assuming the different parts of the machine to be as shown in Fig. 2, on a part revolution of the drive wheel 6, the small roller 150 will force the arm 50 inwardly causing the yoke 52 with the knife thereon to sever the paper, The plungers 11 2, 7 and 8, there and stopping arange will be pushed off the spoon by the continued outward movement of the plunger. The orange will. then be tightly held in the clamp 83, it having forced the wrapper around the orange as it passes through the walls and the twister, the` rearward por- .tion of the wrapper however still extending within the twister. On the return movement of the plunger 11 however the small clutch will cause the rack 23 and the gear 28 to function which causes a complete revolution of the rotatable sleeve 71 of the twister, the arms of the twister closing at the beginning of the revolution, and the action of the arms tightly twisting the wrapper about the orange` Furthermore, as described, the paper feeding mechanism also operates on thereturn movement of the plunger, a new wrapper being lowered to the opening i8 in front of the twister.

Also on the return of the plunger the rearward portion of the spoon 2O contacts with the small stop so that the spoon will again be forced in front or advance of the plunger and in its receiving position for the next orange.

r)This cycle is continuous, the paper being cut during a part of the forward movement of the plunger and the twisting and the feeding of the paper on the rearward movement of the plunger.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the machine is one that may be easily controlled, operates rapidly, successively cuts the wrappers of desired size and firmly twists the wrapper about the orange.

Many slight changes might be made without in any7 way departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. ln a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a plunger mounted for horizontal movement on said base, a. hopper opening in front of said plunger, paper feeding and cutting mechanism, a twister mounted in front of said plunger and thrown into operation by a stroke of said plunger, means for receiving and holding the articles to be wrapped while said twister is operating and means for driving said plunger.

2. In a wrapping, machine the combination of a base, plungers mounted for horizontal movement on said base, a hopper provided with diverging passage-ways opening in front of said plungers, paper feeding and cutting mechanism, twisters mounted in front of said plungers and thrown into op- CES eration on certain strokes of said plungers, means for receiving and holding the articles to be wrapped while said twisters are operating and means for driving said plun ers.

3. n a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a plunger mounted for horizontal movement on said base, a hopper opening in front of said plunger, means for feeding the paper in front of the plunger, means for cutting the paper, means for ten porarily supporting the article to be wrapped in front of the plunger, means for twisting a wrapper on the article, means for holding the article while the twisting means is operating and uneans for driving the plunger to advance the article to be wrapped and to set into motion the paper feeding means, the paper cutting means, and the paper twisting means.

4. In a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a plunger mounted for horizontal movement on said base, means connected to the plunger for supporting the article to be wrapped, paper feeding and cutting mechanism, means for holding the article4 to be wrapped after leaving the supporting means connected with the plunger, means for twisting on a wrapper and means for driving the plunger to advance the article to be wrapped and to throw into operation the paper feeding and cutting mechanisms, and twisting means.

5. In a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a plunger mounted for horizontal movement on the base, a hopper feeding to the plunger, means for supporting the article to be wrapped, said means normally extending in front of the plunger, paper feeding and cutting mechanism, twisting means located in front of the plunger, said plunger adapted to force the article to be wrapped through the twisting means, means for supporting the article to be wrapped after the article has passed through the twister, means for driving the plunger and the twisting means operated on the return movement of the plunger.

6'. ln a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a plunger horizontally mounted on said base for advancing the article to be wrapped, a hopper feeding in front of the plunger, means for temporarily supporting the article to be wrapped, paper feeding mechanism, paper cutting mechanism and paper twisting mechanism, means beyond the twisting mechanism for holding the article to be wrapped after being advanced by the plunger whilev the twister mechanism operates, the paper feeding mechanism and the twisting mechanism operating on the movement of the plunger in one direction and the cutting mechanism operating on the movement of the plunger in the other direction and means for operating the plunger.

7. In a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a plunger mounted on said base for advancing the article to be wrapped, a hopper feeding in front of the plunger, means for holding the article to be wrapped in front of the plunger', a drive wheel connected to said plunger, paper cutting mechanism operated by said' drive wheel while the plunger is making its forward movement, paper feeding mechanism, operated through the medium'of said plunger on its rearward movement, paper twisting mechanism, means for holding the article to be wrapped after being advanced through the twisting mechanism by said plunger and said twister mechanism also operated on the return movement of said plunger.

8. In a wrapping machine the combination of a base, plungers mounted on said base for advancing the articles to be wrapped, a hopper feeding to said plungers, means carried by the plungers forV supporting the articles to be wrapped and means for limiting the forward and rearward movement of said supporting means so that the plungers will push the articles to be wrapped off the supporting means on the complete forward movement of the plungers and will return the supporting means in front of the plungers on the limit of the rearward movement of the lungers, paper feeding mechanism operate on the return movement of the plungers, paper cutting mechanism operating on the forward movement of the plungers, twisting means, clamps for holding the articles to be wrapped after being advanced Vby the plungers, through the twisters, the twister means operated on the return of the plungers, and means for driving the plungers and operating the cutting mechanism.

9. ln a wrapping machine, the combination of a base, a drive wheel, horizontal plunger-s connected to said drive wheel, a hopper feeding from its sides to the plungers, spoons carried by said plungers, stops located below said spoons to limit Vtheir forwardrand rearward movement, a paper feeding mechanism located in front of the plungers and above the same so that the paper will feed downwardly, twister means located beyond the paper feeding mechanism and directly in front of the plungers, said twister means having an opening larger than the articles to be wrapped, paper cutting mechanism operated by said drive wheel and on the forward movement of said plungers, driving means connected with the plungers and the paper feeding mechanisn'l, and driving means connected with the plungers and the twisting means to operate the paper feeding mechanism and the twisting means on the rearward movement of the plungers, and means for holdingk the Varticles to be wrapped when the twisting means is operating.

lO. ln a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a drive shaft, a drive wheel `idly mounted on said shaft and means for holding said drive wheel in locked relation to said shaft, plungers operated by said drive wheel, a hopper feeding to said plungers and means connected to the plungers and movable therewith for receiving the articles to be wrapped, twisting means located in front of the plungers and a drive means connected with said plungers and said twisting means so that said twisting means will operate on a rearward movement of said plungers, adjustable paper feeding mechanism and drive means for said paper feeding mechanism connected with said plungers and adapted to operate on a return movement of said plungers, and clamping means for receiving` the articles to be wrapped while the twisting means is operated.

ll. In a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a drive shaft, a drive wheel idly mounted on said shaft and means for locking said drive Vwheel thereto, plungers driven by said drive wheel, and a hopper feeding to said plungers, means carried by said plungers for receiving the articles to be wrapped, stops for said means so that said plungers will force the articles from said receiving` means and return said receiving means to their normal position, paper feeding mechanism to supply the paper for the wrappers, adjustable cutting mechanism for said wrappers, twisting means located in front of the plungers through which the front end of the plungers, receiving means and the articles to be wrapped pass, means on said drive wheel to operate the cutting mechanism during the forward movement of said plungers, a rack on said plungers, gears operated by said rack and clutch means between said twisting means and said gears so that said twisting means operates on the return movement of said plungers and means for holding the articles to be wrapped while said twisting means operates.

l2. ln a wrapping machine, the combination of a base, a drive shaft and a drive wheel located on said drive shaft, a paper cutting means comprising a knife, a fric-- tionally held block carried by said knife and said knife operated by means located on the drive wheel, a paper feeding mechanism, plungers driven by said drive wheel and means operated by said plunger-s for operating said paper feeding mechanism on a stroke of the plungers, twisting means located in front or the plungers, comprising arms normally held in an open position, clamping means located in front ofthe twisting means, means connected with the pluugers to rotate said arms of the twister and swing them to their closed position to twist on the wrapper when the plungers make their return stroke.

13. In a wrapping machine the combination of a base, a drive shaft, a drive wheel idly mounted on said shaft and means for locking said wheel to said shaft, a paper cutting means comprising an arm'operated from said drive wheel, once to a revolution, a yoke arm connected to said army and a knifeJ carried by said yoke, a; block loosely mounted on said knife and a second block mounted to the base so that on a forward movement of the said knife the two blocks will abut, paper feeding mechanism operated by' the return stroke of said plungers, twisting` means located in front of the plungers, said twisting means provided with arms capable of a rotating and an opening and closing movement, means connected with said twisting means and said plungers to close said arms and cause them to make one revolution on the return movement of the plunger, a hopper feeding to the plungers and means carried by the plungers to hold the articles to be wrapped till passed through the plungers, and means for holding said articles while the arms of the twister are making their revolution in their closed position.

14. A. wrapping machine comprising in part the combination of a base, plungers mounted on said base, a hopper feeding the articles to be wrapped 'to the plun'gers, paper feeding mechanism operated by a stroke of said plungers, paper cutting mechanism op- @rated during a portion of the movement of said plungers, twisters, each comprising a housing, a sleeve in said housing and a sprocket on the outer end of said sleeve, arms pivotally mounted in said sleeve and extending therethrough, said housing provided with slots through which the inner ends of said arms extend when the sleeve is in its normal position, means for rotating the sleeve of the twister thereby causing the arms of the twister to swing to their closed position until the ends of the arm again are opposite the slots formed in the housing.

15. A wrappinlg machine comprising in part the combination of a base, a plunger mounted on said base and means for driving said plunger, paper feeding mechanism, paper cutting mechanism, the former operating on the forward stroke of the plunger and the other operating on the return stroke of the plunger, a twister comprising a housing, a rotatable sleeve in said housing, arms passing through openings in said sleeve and normally into openings in said housing, springs connecting with the inner ends of the arms and the rotatable sleeve, said arms having a portion bent substantially semicircular, said arms being loosely mounted in said sleeve so that they may assume a closed position with relation to each other, means connected with the plunger for rotating said sleeve to thereby force the inner ends of the arms without the slots in the housing to thereby swing them to their closed position and remain closed for one complete revolution of said sleeve, said sleeve making one complete revolution on a rearward stroke of said plunger.

16. A wrapping machine for fruit comorisinfr the combination of a hase two tracks mounted on said base, two plungers mounted on said tracks, a gear rack mounted on the outer side of each plunger, a bearing mounted to the side of each plunger, a shaftI on cach of said bearings and a bevel gear near ,the outer end of each of said shafts, a

sprocket on the outer end of each of said shafts, a gear on the inner end of each of said shafts and meshing with said racks, a clutch cooperating with each of said shafts and with the gears meshing with the racks so that said shafts will operate only on the return movement of said plungers, paper feeding mechanism located above said plungers and operated hy the sprockets mounted on said shafts, twisters located in front of the plungers and operated by the bevel gears on said shafts, a paper cutting mechanism normally held in a `retracted position, a main drive wheel for driving the plungers, means on said drive wheel for operating the cutting mechanism on a portion of the forward stroke of said plungers, a hopper for feeding the fruit to the plunlgers, means carried by the plungers for receiving the fruit from the hopper, and stops for limitingthe movement of said means, clamps for holding the fruit after passing through the twister and while the twister operates, and means for starting and stopping the main drive wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE T. Gli-EER.

Images