US1702176A - Yeast cake forming and wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,176

E. L. SMITH ET AL YEAST CAKE FORMING AND WRAPPING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 31, 1 21 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1929.

E. L. SMITH ET AL YEAST CAKE FORMING AND WRAP-PING MACHINE -6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1921 ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,176

E. L. SMITH ET AL YEAST CAKE] FORMING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1921 e sheets sheet '5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,176

E. L. SMITH ET AL YEAST CAKE FORMING AND WRAPPING 'MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. '1921 e Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,176

E. L. SMITH ET AL YEAST CAKE FORMING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 5 fly o 17/ W z/zj o o I j j f Q n; i 2 Q if f Feb. 12, 1929.

E. L. SMITH ET AL.

YEAST CAKE FORMING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1 21 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR i %[%2% ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER L. SMITH AND HORACEIT. PAYNTER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

SIG-NORS TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OI1 MASSACHUSETTS.

YEAST-CAKE FORMING AND WRAPPING MACHINE.

Application filed August 31, 1921.

The present invention relates to improvements in wrapping machines and associated mechanism, andhas for its object more particularly the provision of a combined mechanism for forming a plastic material like yeast into cakes and Wrapping the same.

In furtherance of this object; mechanism is provided to continuously supply to the wrapping mechanism, cakes or articles of uniform size and length and to Wrap the articles thus supplied in a manner to avoid mutilation of the articles or the wrapper. The Wrapping of yeast cakes is preferably performed with a Waterproof material such as toil, and in consequence, a further object oi the invention is the provision of wrapping devices as will properly handle delicate wrapper such as foil.

It is desirable in a machineojf this character to insure the continuous supply of uniformly shaped cakes or articles for the rapid and efficient operation of the machine and for this purpose preliminary forming means are provided to receive the material in slabs of any length supplied and to divide said slabs into blocks of material which will contain amultiple of equal length uni ts or cakes. Unit cutting mechanism is provided to cut the blocks into the unit or single articles together with means for transferring the same to the wrapping mechanism. l urthermore, the feeding and wrapping of a material like yeast require:- iecial treatment to prevent crumbling or estruction oi the cakes, and the present mechanism designed particularly with the object in view o'i avoiding ssary stresses upon. the material such as friction or pressure would create.

Other and further ohjects of the invention will appear from the following description talzen in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope or the invention will he defined in the appended claims.

ln thedrawings which show a preferred en'ihodiment of the invention,

1 is a side elevational view of the a rticle-ir'ormin g mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line III-J11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a similar sectional view on the line l /FIV oi Fig. 2;

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view'on the line Serial No. 497,311.

7 line XII-XII of Fig. 8;

Fig. 18 is a small scale diagrammatic View of the'bloclr advancing means;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the Wrapping mechanism to which the articleiorming mechanism is connected;

Fig. 15 is a plan viewotthe same With the upper wrapperdeeding mechanism removed;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line XVI XVI of Fig. 15;

Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 are perspective views showing the wrapper and articles in the various steps oi the wrapping operation.

The invention will first be described briefly, to facilitate a clear preliminary understanding thereot'. It consists in general of the forming mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and Qthat is adapted and arranged to advance a block of material to a cutting device that successively severe or cuts from the block of material units oi equal length which for convenience may hereinafter he termed articles. The material supplied to the forming mechanism may be thousual slab of plastic composition such as a ycast which may vary in length but which is prcterahly reclaiignlai in cross section so that yeast cakes ot' regular form and size may be cut therefrom by cutting device operating at right angles to the axis of the slab or block.

The articles formed by being cut or severed from the block may be conveyed by the conveying means or grippers to a table or machine tor subsequent operations, but for the purpose of disclosing one practical advantageous use oi the device it is shown in con nection with a wrapping machine to which the forn'ied articles are conveyed and in which it is enclosed in a wrapper by successive steps, asshown in Figs. 17 to 21. V

A base 1 (see Figs. 1 and 14) is provided and may be supported by the usual standards 2. A bracket 3 is fixed to an end of the base and is provided with bearings &, 5 and 6. A stud 7 fixed to the bracket 3 supports a sliding carriage 8. A shaft 8 rotatably mounted in the carriage 8 has fixed to its forward end a belt-driving pulley 9 and to the rear end thereof is secured a wormgear 10 that is in meshing engagement with and driven by a worm 11, fixed to the end of a rotating shaft 29. A red 12 fixed to the carriage 8 is reciprocably carried in a suitable bearing of the bracket and serves to retain the said carriage in its proper position on the, support 7, as shown in Fig. 1. A shelf 13 is supported by a stud 1.4 fixed to thebracket 3 and extends forwardly thereof to a support 15 carried by a bracket 16 (see Fig. 1d). Plates 17 fixed to both sides and at the forward end of the shelf 13 carry there-between an idler-pulley 18. An endless conveying belt 19 is carried by the pulleys 9 and 18 and as will be seen is supported on its upper run by the shelt13 A tension spring 20 suitably connected to the rod 12 and bracket 3 tends to pull the carriage 3 rearwardly upon its support and functions 7 tokeep the conveying belt 19 taut.

A shaft is rotatably supported in the bearing 6 of the bracket 3 and serves as a source of power for driving the forming mechanism and the conveyor belt. This shaft 25 may be driven by a pulley in the usual manner, but is here shown being operably connected to driving mechanism of the wrapping machine with which the device is used. A gear 26 carried on the end of the shaft 25 is in meshing engagement with anridler 27 carried on a suitable stud of the bracket 3 which idler engages with a driven gear 28 fixed to the shaft 29. The shaft 29 is rotatably mounted in the bearing 5 ofthe bracket 3 and at one portion has the worm 11 for driving the belt- 19 and at another portion of its length adjacent the gear 28 is provided with a screw-thread 3 that is adapted to drive the forming mechanism, as will later appear.

- A'guide rail 32 disposed parallel to the screw 30 is located thereunder and is supported by the bracket 3 at one end and by a bracket 16 at its opposite end. A notch 33 is provided in the guide rail and serves to release or let off the forming mechanism from a further advancing movement, in a manner later to be described.

. v The block forming mechanism for cutting the slab of material into predetermined lengths Wlll now be described with reference particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, me. A

' sleeve member 36 is mounted for reciprocating movement on the driving screw 30 and has a bifurcated or forked portion 36 that engages opposite sides of the guide rail 32 to hold the sleeve member from rotation and to allow its reciprocating movement. A nut member 37 is slidably mounted at one side of the sleeve member 36 and is provided with suitable worm teeth 37 for engaging with the thread 30 of the screw 30. An offset projection 38 carried by the nut 3T. best shown in Fig. 6, serves as an abutment against which a compression spring 39 of the member 36 acts. lhis spring 39 tends to move the nut 37 from engagement with the screw when released by the forming cutter now to be described A cutter-frame 40 has bearing members 41 rotatably mounted on the screw part 30 of the shaft 29 and the inner faces of the bearings 41 abut opposite ends oi the sleeve member 36, whereby the frame 40 may be reciprocated along the screw by the member 36 and may be swung about the screw 30 for the cutting operation. A downi*ardly-projecting arm 4-2 carried by the rear bearing member 41 is provided with a sliding latch 43. A compression spring li carried in a recess of the projection 42 bears against the latch to normally retain it in its latching position shown in Figs 1 and 3 A projecting pin t6 carried by the latch 13 is prcfcr- .ably arranged to intertit a suitable slot in the latch carrier which serves as a stop to limit the outward movement of the latch. The pin 16 may also be raised by hand when desired to release the latch A tension spring 4:? is connected to a lug 48 of the former a0 and to a downwardlyprojecting spring-carrier ed) secured to the reciprocable sleeve member 36, and functions to automatically swing the former -10 to its non-cutting position, shown in Fig. 5, when the latch is released by the notch 33 of the guide rail 32 The longitudinal side of the former 10 is arranged in the form of a straight wall or guide 50 against which a slab of material may be placed, when the former is in its lowered or operating position, and functions to aline the block or slab of material with res .ct to the belt and the longitudinal axis of the machine A transverse flange 51 of the former 10 has lived thereto a vertically disposed cutting blade 52, which when in its lowered position ad jacent the belt 19 serves an abutment against the rear side of which the forward end of a slab advancing on the belt to be cut may be located. An operating grip handle 15 is fixed to the oscillating former 41-0 to facilitate the manual operation of the device, to its cutting position. A cam-plate 53 is adjustably secured to the former 10 by means of a wedge member and an adjustingscrew 55. This cam 53 is preferably arranged to move the nut 37 to an operating engagement with the screw 30 when the forming cutter is moved from its non-cutting position in Fig. 6 to its cutting position shown in Figs. 3 and at. The adjusting V wireor the like an auiusting reel screw to the end of a shaft 66.

means allows the cam to be moved toward the screw to compensate for wear or looseness that may develop in the intertitting nut 37 and threads 80 of the screw.

Aswill be observed, the swinging member 40 carrying the cutter 52 is fed along by th screw until the latch slips through the notch 33 in the guide rail the cutter will swing to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position the nut Si is disengaged from the screw threads so that the member 40 may be moved rearwardly to lo cate the knife 52 at the rear of a block of yeast on the belt. The pitch or lead of the thread of the screw 30 and the arangement of the parts is preferably such that the member iO may be swung); downwardly only at such times as will locate the cutter at distances from the unit cutting mechanism which will be equal to multiples of the width of the units to be cut. l l ith this arrangement, as the cutter 52 is lowered it will cut off the end of a. block on the belt so that the block will. be in length equal to multiples of the units to be cut therefrom The cutter 52 has a further advantageous feature in that when in lowered position it will back up a bloclr of yeast ou the belt and while it travels at the same lineal speed as said belt it will tend to feed the block forwardly so that the block will not slip on the belt; mat is to say, the cutter cooperates with the belt and acts as a pusher to feed the block forwardly to the unit cutting mechanism.

The unit cutting mechanism for cutting units of equal length from the block of material and thus successively form articles will now be described with reference to Figs. 7, 8, 9, 15, and 16. A cutter frame 6-5) as best shown in Fig. 16, carries in its depending spaced portions 61 a cu 'ugr member C of (S3 is provided to tension the cutting member. The cutter frame is adjustably secured. at eel-,0 a bell crank lever Gut-hat is red pending arm (:7 of the lever 65 has a camroll 68 at its lower end that 1n, engage ment with the periphery of a cam 67 fixed to m 0' l A o 60 the operatin smut no. r spiin is con neeted between the cutter frame 60 and the main f1 31 to hold the cam roll in contactwith its cam 67'. The shaft 66 carrying the lever 65 rotatably and reciprocablyiounted in a suitable bearing 68 used to the frame 31. This mechanism is adapted and arranged to swing the cutting frame toward 7 the block of material carried by the belt in a At this time has a suitahl formed wave like track A downwardl "-de' to the belt and to the axis of the advancing block.

lhe means for imparting the reciprocating movement to the cut. up; frame comprises a cam 69 fixed to contiuuously-operating shaft 70 of ti o machine against which one end of he oscillatting shaft 66 is adapted to bear by means of the tension spring- 71 connected to the lever and bearing 68. This cam 69 is preferably of such shape as to allow the spring '71 to carry the cutting frame forwardly at an equal'rate of speed with the blocl: of material and belt 13 during the cutting operation and to return the frame 60 roe wardly the proper distance for a new out after each cutting operation. The coin its periphery to lrcep in contact with the roll 68 of lever during the reciprocating mo vement of shaft 66.

Means are provided to engage opposite sides of the end of tee block, or article being cut tilQ1Qf1"D during the cult/in; operation i a ransfer the formed article from the belt to the wrapping mechanism hereinafter described. This mechanism is arranged to advance with the article in unison with the traveling}; belt during the cutting operation and functions hold the article being formed by the cutter C during its operation and prevents the displacement or disalincmeut thereof with respect to other units of the machine and i follows:

Gripping members 76 fixed upon vertically disposed swingins' shafts 77 are provided with article-engaging surfaces 78 best shown in Fig.8 and are preferably of a shape and size as to lie flush with the vertical forward edges, and the upper and lower edges at each side of the articlefor the purpose later to be 1 The shafts '1 carrying the described.

pers 78 are provided at their lower ends with gear segments 79, whereby a uniform 1 /rs toward e another for the slipping 'lhe reciprocating travel of the grippers so to advance with the article accomplished by the mechanism shown m ore clearly in Figs. 14, 153 and 16. A fore and aft slide 876 is reciproeabl mounted by a dove-tail 87 one side thereof to the bracket 16, and the gripper shafts 77 before mentioned, are pivotally mounted in suitable bearings carried in said slide 86. A connecting rod 88 counects the slide 86 to the operating" lever 89 that is pivoted to th bed 1 at 90. A cam 91 fixed to and driven'by the shaft 93 provided with asuitable cam groove 92 that reeives a cam roll 94. of the lever 89, whereby the lever is swung to reciprocate the slide in its proper timed relation.

The grippers 78 are clamped upon the artis tion but are causedto release the article aft r the article has been conveyed by them to the wrapping mechanism, also they are held in an open position during their retLrn movement to their article-engaging position. This is accomplished by a transversely reciprocating slide 81 carried in the bncnet 1G to the ten ward end of which is secured a longitudinally extending lJ-shaped track or guide 82. in arm-83 carried by one of the gear segments 7 9 has a roll in operable engagement with the guide 82, whereby a reciprocation of the slide 81 and guide 82 swings the arm a nd results in an opening movement of the grippers. A. can 84; fixed upon the operating shattprovided with a suitable cam groove (not shown) in which is carried a cam roll 85 of the slide 81 (see Fig. This cam is preterably adapted to reciprocate the slide 81 and guide 82 in a timed relation with the cutter and other units of the machine, whereby the grippers are allowed to close upon the article by v the action of the spring 80 and are opened by the lever 83.

The wrapping mechanism will now be dcscribed. A shaft 98' carried by the frames 31 and and is driven by means of a gear 93" fixed'thereto which is in meshing engagement with a driving pinion 9-1501 the main shatt 9;. A 97 carried by the shaft 98 is in meshing engagement with a grear 98 on the previously referred to shaft 70 whereby the said shaft 70 receives a continuous motion. A Ge-- neva driver 99 (see lei) is carried by the shaft 70 and actuates a Geneva wiieel 99 fixed to a hollow shaft 100 for delivering to thesha'ft- 100" an intermittent motion in the usual manner. A tumble-box or pocketed wheel 101 is fined to the hollow 100 and is pr vided at its periphery with recesses or pockets 101 which are open at the ends wher by said pocketsare adapted to receive an article and a wrapper folded about three sides ot said article.

ll rappers for the article are preferably cut from a continuous strip of wrapping ni: terial by mecl anism now to be described. fr frame 102 supports on its upper end an arbor 103 on which may be mounted the usual roll W of wrapping material. Feed-rolls 101- and 105 are rotatably carried by the frame 102 and are adapted to unwind a proper length of wrappingmaterial during each cycle of operation of the machine. A sprocket 10$ is 'ixed to the'shaft of the roll 1,02%; and is driven by means ot the chain 107 that receives a continuous motion from the sprocket 108 of the shaft 70. "A rod 109 carried by the '1 nine 108 guides a weighted roller 110 under which the web of wrapping material is fed, which roller serves'in the usual way to tar-1c up and tension the web of material. guide plate 111, as shown in Fig. 1 1, is pr vided over which the wrapping material is A supporting gage the cam roll of the nippcr link 12? ans channel 13' with caln groove 11-1 in one ta fed. Shears 112 are pivotally supported by a lug 113 of the frame 3 and are operated to out a proper length of wrapping material from the strip as it is ted therepast. 'lhe shears 112 are operated by a link 113. lever 1' pivoted at 11-1" and cam 115 tixcd to the ii apper nippers to position and deliver the severed wrappers to their position in the lath of an nd between the same and the pocket 101' the wheel 100 will now be d witl reference to Figg s. ii, 13}, and ripper frame 121 having; a rigid jaw 1 d to the upper end of u reciproc: blc

A movable jaw 153-1 having a resilshoe 12,.

ient wrapper-551i p pla o 125 is pivotally connected by link 1213 to the link 127 which is pre erably lnrovided with a roll as shown. The las are arranged in the form o l a loggle, whereby a swin nig movement 01' the link 127 in one directioi will hold the movable member against the rigid member 122 whil a movement in the opposite direction will cause the members to separate to release frame 128 is torlrcd over a rod 2(1 havin an 2LClj11' 1 3lQ stop nut 201) at its outer end to limit the rocking: movement of said frame under the tendency of said spring; An operating lever i 35) pivoted at 151d is connected by a link 131 to the slide 123 and has a cam roll 12:32 engaging; a cum groove (not shown) of the ram 1 5;; whereby an illation oi the USU lever 13-0 will reciprocate-tlic slide 1221 vertically in a timed relation with the other units of the machine.

A vertical chann l "aching: le *cr 135 pivoted to the frame 16 and said channel member serves to enduring its vertical travel,, and as the lever 1:35 are oscillated moves the liul; 12? to open or close the nipper jaws ":22 and The lever is oscillated by a cam tori; 137 pivotally connected thereto at 138. The cam tor-k 13? is in sliding engagemoi 1; with n ember 13-1; is lined to i a block 139 loosely mounted upon the shunv 2:" and a roll 1-1-0 in operable engagement e o l' the ram 133. The lever 135 carries a pin 203 adapted to abut an adpistable stud screw 201-. carried lll) on the frame 128 so that the swinging movement of said lever 135 to the right viewing Fig. 16 will als swing the rocking frame against the tension of the spring 142. ly the arrangement above described the nippers 122, 125 are caused to travel vertically downward when in closed position tocarry the wrapper w in front of the article to be wrapped. The Parts ofthe machine are so timed that the article grippers T8 are in the act of carrying the article against the wrapper and into the pocket of the wrapping wheel before the wrapper nippers again reach their upper po sition. Therefore, the nippers 122 and nipper frame 123 are carried outwardly during the upward travel thereof so as to avoid interference with the grippers 78, which is effected by the outward swing of the frame 128 in which the nipper frame is slid-ably mounted. It will be observed that the swinging lever 135 which carries the channel 134 to open the nippers likewise effects the swinging of the frame 128 after said nippers are opened.

Each article a cut by the unit cutting mechanism as hereinbefore dcs bed is successively carried by the grippers '18 :rorn the belt 19 against a wrapper and into a pocket 101 of the wrapping wheel which operation causes the wrapper to be folded about the three sides of the article a as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 12. Inasmuch as the forwarchthe upper and the lower edges ofthe grippers 78lie flush with the adjacent edges of the article the wrapper is in effect engaged and folded by the metal surfaces of the grippers 7S coacting with the walls of the pocket 101, and thus avoids the chance of mutilating the soft plastic material. of the article during this part of the folding operation.

l l rapper clamps 14:4; (see Fig. 1-1) located on both sides of the vrap ing wheel 101 are supported upon the rods fixed to an oscillating shaft 14-6. A lever 1 17 fixed to the shaft 146 is moved in an upward position by the tension spring whereby a severed wra per is held in its position between the as 14A; and plate 1 19 after the same has been moved therebetween after the cutting operation. The clamps 1 1% are also arranged to yieldingly press the positioned wrapper against the forward edges of the grippers 78 in the manner shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 12 when the article is being transferred with its wrapper by said grippers into the folding pocket 101'". A cam 150 fix ed on the end of the shaft 23 engages a roll. 151 upon the end of the lever 1 17, and is preferably so formed as to cause the clamps to be swung away from the article and wrapper when they have been delivered into the wrapping wheel.

After the article a and wrapper to have been transferred into the pocket 101 of the wrapping wheel a side folder 153 is operated to fold down one flap of the Wrapper shown in Fig. 10. This side folder 153 is fixed to a shaft 15 1 pivoted in the outer end of an oscillating lever 154E fixed to a shaft 155 that is rotatably carried in the hollow shaft 100. The shaft 155 is oscillated to operate the folder in its proper timed relation by a lever 156 fixed thereto that has a roll engaging with a am groove (not shown) in a face of the gear 98 (see Fig. 15). The movement of the folding lever 153 in folding or wiping down the flap 5 of the wrapper is controlled by special connections so that the folding edge 153 of said lever 153 will tend to describe a convexly curved path as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1O and thus clear the upper corner of the article a in the pocket 101 and press by yielding cont-act the wrapper down upon the article. The wrapping wheel in its further advance provides a clearance for the return of said folder 153 to its initial posi tion for folding the next wrapper. These special connections comprise a link 300 pivoted on a stud 301 fixed to the main frame. A rod 302 has a pin and slot connection at one end with the link 300 and is firmly fixed at its other end to shaft 154.. A spring 303 connects folding lever 153 to the lever 15 1 and acts to yieldingly press the folder against the wrapper and article during the folding operation.

Upon completion of the folding action of folder 153 the wrapping wheel 100 is given a partial rotation to bring a succeeding pocket 101 in position for receiving the next article and wrapper and during this partial revolution of the wheel 100 a stationary folder 152 acts to fold the flap (Z of the wrapper down upon the side of the article a so as to overlap the flap Z) (see Fig. The folding blade 152 is preferably formed as a forward extension of a brush frame 152 which is fixed to the frame of the machine and is disposed circumferentially of the wrapping wheel. 100

shown in Fi 141.

l l hen the wrapping wheel has been interinittently operated to'bring its pocket and the partially wrapped article a to the lower side of the wheel end tucks e of the wrapper at each end of the article are effected as shown in 20. These end tucks are made by vertically moving end folders 160 one at each side of the wrapping wheel which are carried on roos 161 tired to an oscillating shaft 168 (see Fig. 1 1). The shaft 163 is oscillated in proper timed relation by an eccentric 16 1 mounted on the shaft 93, whica eccentric has an arm 164i pivotally connected to an arm 165 fixed to the shaft 93.

Immediately after the end tucks e are effected, and before the end folders are completely withdrawn, the first corner tucks 7 (see Fig. 21) are made at each. end of the article by movable tucker blades (see Fig. 1 1). The tucker blades 157 are mounted one at each side of the wrapping wheel. upon arms 158 which are in turn carried upon a compound reciprocating and os-il'- lating frame 159, operated from an eccentric 159'" mounted on the shaft 93. The frame 159 is formed with a slotted bearing 158 to travel on a block 350 pivoted on the main frame, at 351 whereby said, frame 159 receives from its eccentric 159 a compound oscillatory and reeiprocatory movement. This movement of the frame 159 carries the tucker blades 157 in an elliptical path across the ends of the article to withdraw the same downwardly clear of the wrapping wheel at the finish of said folding operation. I

Mounted at each side of the wrapping wheel in a fixed position on the frame are slotted folding horns 16'? having corner tuclv ers 167 extending therefrom to a point adjacent the end folders 160 (see Fig. 14). As the wrapping wheel carries the article a from its lowermost position and after the tucks e and f have been effected, and preferably before the tucker blades 15?, have left contact with the ends of the article. the corners 9- (see Fig. 21) of the wrapper are engaged by the corner tuckcrs 167 and tucked. against each end of the article. The continued travel of the article tr and its wrapper eventually brings last remaining flaps '5 of the wrapper into the slots 168 of the folding horns which gradually fold down said flaps 2' upon the'ends of the article. The wrapper is thus completely folded about the article and in the further travel of the wrapper wheel, labels or other devices may be applied to the wrapped article by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

When the article reaches the uppermost position on the wheel, it registers with an ejection chute 181 intowvhich it is ejected transversely from the wrapping wheel on to a table 182 by an. ejector 175 reciprocally guided on a support 176. The ejector 17 5 is operated from a link 180 connected to a lever 17 9 pivoted at 179. and operated by its cam roll 250 working in a groove of the cam 179 fixed to the shaft A brush 166 mounted in the frame 152 is disposed circumferentially of the wrapping wheel and. as shown, extends preferably from a pointadjacent the position of the receiving pocket to a point adjacent the position of the ejecting pocket. This brush functionsto hold the articles being wrapped veyor belt 19in synchronism with the unit cutting mechanism and wrapping mechanism of the mach ne. The immediatedriving means or screw of the form ng mechanism is adapted to advance the forming cutter at the same rate of speed as the couveyor belt 19 travels in advancing a block of material toward said unit cutting mechanism, and the forming cutter blade 52 acts as positively acting pusher for the block of material to insure proper travel of the same. The belt 19 serves as a moving; support for the material as it is advanced by the pusher or cutter blade 52 and might be dispensed with in the case of less plastic material than yeast which could perhaps be pushed along a stationary table without disintegration by friction.

Assuming the ma chine is primed for "tarting operation by proper length of block of material placed on the belt 19 in front of the forming cutter 52 for being cut into units of Qt ual length by the unit cutting mechanism, the operation of the machine will coutinuously adv; ncc said block of material toward the unit cutting mechanism. At any time during s d advancing movement of thebloclr, a new slab of material of llllllllllhlured length may be placed by the opera tor on the conveyor belt at the rear o l the cutting blade 52 and the forward end of said slab should be abutted against the rear side of said blade 52 an the longitudinal side of said slab abuttcd against the side wall 50 of said forming mechanism. to properly locate and align the slab on the belt.

lVhen the forming cutter 52 has advanced.

far enou h to brin the latch 4-3 to the notch 33 in the guide rail 32, the cutter frame will be swung upwardly by the spring 41-7 to the position shown in F 5, and the nut 37 will be automatically disengaged from the driving screw 30. The forming cutter and its frame 410 may then be slid to the rear by grasping the handle 45 prcpa atory to the cutting of a new block from the advancingslab on the belt.

The forming cutter 52 cannot be swung downwardly for cutting the new block until the nut 37 is in position for recngaging the threads of the screw 30 due to the coactiou of the cam 53 with said nut 32'. The pitch of the screw is such that the nut 37 cugageable therewith only when the formingc ittcr at a distance from the cutting plane of the unit cutting mechanism equal to a multiple of the unit lengths of the articles to be cut thereby insuring that each block of material fed to the unit cutting mechanism will be cut evenly into units or articles for transfer to the wrapping mechanism. l n this manner the operator can lzeep the machine supplied for cor inuous operation and any remnants or partial units of material may be. removed from the belt at the rear of the forming: cutter without stopping the machinc.

The unit cut-ting mechanis 1. is arranged to cut the articles from a contimiously advancing block and in order to cut the articles ill) perpendicularly to the axis thereof, the cutting wire C and its trame is caused to adance uniformly with the block during the cutting operation by the ii'ieclianisu'i described. As shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, the cutting wire C during the cutting operation, travels in the path 0 to 0. During this cutting operation, the grippers T8 are clamped witl'i yielding pressure uponthe ends of the unit being cut topic-vent its displacement. As soon as the cutting wire G completely severs the unit or article, it caused to ad Vance forwardly and upwardly from the points 0 and c, see I! i ti, and in this tierv d moveu'ient, the cut wire 0 ad slightly faster than advancing article a so to clear the t'orward side thereoi. Upon reachingthe point 0, the cutting wire continues its movement and travels backwardly to its initial position 0 ready tor newcutting; operation. After tl e cake or article is sever d by the c-uttins fire C the rrigpers '(S carry it forward faster than the travel of the cut-ting wire C to clcar the same.

Previous to the gripping and transfer of the article a by the grippers 78 a wrapper to has been positioned in front of a pocket 101 of the wrapping wheel by the nippers 122, 125 of the wrapper advancing means as previously descril'ied, and the wrapper to is securely held in this position by being clamped between the plate i l; and yielding clamps 14st ready for engagement by the forward edges of the grippers 78 as described. The grippers 78 carry the article with its wrapper into the pocket 101 oi? the wrapping wheel as shown in Fig. 9, raid grippers acting to push back the yielding; clan'ips in the manner shown. During this transfer of the article by the grippers into the pocket, the wrapper w is folded by the pocket and the engo qi :.ig edges of the grippers so to li abcut three sides otthe article.

After the article and wrapper are received in the pocket, the clamps l i-l1 are swungback by the mechanism described and the wrapiing wheel 100 begins its ste by step rotation to ca my the article past the various told in;- devic s tor completely wrapping the ar ticle as has 7 been described. Lae fully wrapped article is tinallv ejected train the top of the wrapping wheel by the ejector l7?) on to the table l 32.

l-Vhile we have shown and described a preferred ei'nbodiment of the invention in the term ot' particular mechanism designed to arry out the purposes and objects of the invention, yet itshould be understood that the invention is not limited. to the details shown, but is defined as to scope in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l; n a machine of the cl s. .escribed, unit cutting inec ianism operated to (:1 material advanced thereto into units oif equal length, i

the material so advanced into a block equal. in

length to a multiple of the units to be cut, and

means for driving said blocl. Iorming mechanism to advance with said material toward aid unit cutting mechanism.

2. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechai'iism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units or" equal length, block forming mechanism arrangeifl to term the material so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple oi the uni-Us to be cut, meanstor driving said block forming mechanism to advance with said material toward said unit cutting mechanism, and means for auton'iatically releasing said block forming mechanism from said driving means when advanced to a point adjacent said unit cutting mechanism.

3. In a machine ot the class described. unit cutting mechanism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units o'l' equal length, an underlying support for said material traveling;- with the same. to said unit cutting mechanism, and block forming mechanism arrai'iged to form the material so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple of the units to be cut.

4. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, a continuously moving support tor said mate rial traveling with the same to said unit cutting mechanism, block forming mechanism arranged t form the material so advanced into a block equal in length to multiple oil the units to be out, and means tor driving said block forming mechanism to advance with said material toward a id unit cutting mscluu nism at the. same rate of speed as said traveling support.

5. in a machine 01": the class described, unit cutting; mechanism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, block forming,- mechanism arranged to term said material so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple of the units to be cut, comprising a forming cutter movable to cut said material, means for driving; said block forming mechanism advance with said material toward said unit cutting; mechanism, and means tor automatically disconnecting block teeming mechanism from said e ivinc means when advanced to a point adiaccnt aid unit cutting; mechanism.

, 6. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism operatml to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, block forming; mechanism arranged to term said n'iaterial so advanced into a block equal forming mechanism b6 advance with said material toward said unit cutting mechanism,

said unit cu means for automatically disconnecting said block forming mechanism from said driving means when ad *anced to a point adjacent said unit cutting mechanism, and means for reconnecting said block forming mechanism to said driving means only when said forming cutter is at a distance from the cutting plane it the unit cutting mechanism equal to a multiple of the unit lengths.

7. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism operated to out n erial advanced thereto into units of equal length, block forming mechanisn'i ar 'angcd to form said material so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple of the units to he cut, comprising a forming cut-to; movable to cut said material, means for driving said block forming mechanism to advance with said material toward said unit cutting mechanism. means for automatically disconnecting said block forming mechanism from said criving means when advanced to a point adjacentsaid unit cutting mechanism, and means for "econnecti1gsaid hlock forming mechanism to said driving meansv only when said torming cutter is at a distance from. the cutting plane of the unit cut-ting mechanism equal to a multiple of the unitlengths, said torm' cutter being movable to cut material only'when said loloc l: forming mechanism is in a position for being connected to said driving means.

8. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism operated to cut mat rial advanced thereto into units of equal leng block forming mechanism arranged to tr said material so advanced into a block equa in length to a multiple oi -e units to he cut, comprising a forming cutter movable transversely of the block to out said material, means permitting the operation of said torming cutter to cut said material only when said i'orming cutter is at a distance tn in the cutting plane of said unit cut mechanism equal to a multiple of the unit len 9. ln machine of the class dose a conveyor for advancing with i tting mechanism, bl cl mechanism fill'tlllgGCl to form said material so advanced ablock equal in length to multiple of the units to he cut. compiisi forming cutter nuwahle to cut the material, and means tor driving said block to mine mechanism to advance with said material at d as said conveyor, said as pusher for an ad a vancing block oi material on. said conveyor. described,

10. In a machine of the class unit cutting mechanism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, a conveyor for advancing with material to said unit cutting mechanism, block forming mechanism arranged to form said material so advanced into a block equal in length to a tiplo of the units to be cut, comprising; a forming cutter movable to cut the material, means for driving said bloclr forming mechanism to advance with said material at the same rate of speed as said conveyor, said Forming cutter serving; as a pusher for an advancing block oi? material. on said conveyor, and as an abutment for locatii'i r the forward end of a sicceeding block of material. 1

ll. In a mi l mach ie of the class described, unit cuttii inecl anisni operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, a conveyor tor advancing with matc- "ial to said uiit cutting mechanism, block "orming mechanism arran 'red to 'iorni said "erial s: advanced into a block cqual in v l to a n'iultiplc oi the units to be cut prising a forming; cutter mo able to out material, means for driving; said block ining' meclianisiu to advance with said lliit'GJltIl at the same rate ot speed as said conveyor, said torminfi; cutter serving as a pusher for an advancing block of material on said conveyor and as an abutment tor locating the forward end of a succeedinn block of inateriai, and means arra iged i'or resetting said block forming mechanism at various distances from said unit cutting: mechanism but permitting he connection ot said block form- 1 n echanisin to its iilrivingg means onl at from the cutting plane of said g; mechanism equal to a multiple nit lengths.

machine oi the class described, eshanisin opcratml to cut niathereto into units of equal r to: advancim;- with matcil cutting mechanism. block nism arranged to form said u in to its driving means only at a disthe ruilin n jililllOOfFlld,HI1ll'Cl1i ianism ecu al to a lllrlll'lpltl of: said thi, said termin cutter being move material on said convey r only when said it forming: meehanisn'i is in a ion to be touncoed to the driving nica ns.

13. in a machine of the cass described, unit. cutting mec ianism oncrated to cut mulcrial ad anced thereto into units Of equal lit) lllll length, block forming mechanism arranged to form said material so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple of the units to be cut, comprising a forming cutter movable to out said material, means for driving' said block forming mechanism to advance with said material toward said unit cutting mechanism, means operated by the cutting movement of said forming cutter to connect said bloclrtorming mechanism to its driving means, said forming cutter being movable to out said material only when at a distance from the cutting plane of said unit cutting mechanism equal to a multiple of the unit lengths.

14. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mecl anism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, block forming mechanism arranged to form said iinaterial so advanced into a block equal. in length to multiple of the units to be cut, comprising a forming cut-ter movable to out said material, means for driving said block forming mechanism to advance with said material toward said unit cutting mechanism, means automatically disconnecting said block forming mechanism from its drii ing means when said forming cutter reaches a point adjacent said unit cutting mechanism, means operated by the cutting movement of said forming cutter to connect said bloclr forming mechanism to its driving means, said forming cutter being movable to out said material only when at a distance from the cut ting plane of said unit cutting mechanism equal to a multiple of the unit lengths.

15. In a machine oi the class described, unit cutting mechanism comprising a movable cutter operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, means for advancing material to said unit cutting mechanism by a continuous movement, and means to operate said unit cutting mechanism to out said units at right angles to the axis of the material being advanced, comprisinga carrier for said movable cutter arranged to ad- VSJICG during said cutting operation at the same rate of speed as said advancing material and means to yieldingly embrace the sides of the units being cut during the cutting operation. V

.16. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism comprising an 0scillating cutter for cutting material advanced thereto into units of equal length, means for advancing mate 'ial to said unit cutting mechanism, a reciprocating carrier for said cutter and means for advancing said carrier during said cutting operation at the same rate of speed as said advancing material and means to yieldingly embrace the sides of the units being cut during the cutting operation.

17. Ina machine of the class described,

' unit cutting mechanism operated to cut ma terial advanced thereto into units of equal length, block forming mechanism arranged to form said mate *ial so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple of the units to be cut, a driving screw for advancing said block forming mechanism toward said unit cutting "mechanism, means for connecting said block forming mechanism with said driving screw comprising a nut member for engagement with said driving screw.

18. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism operated to cut material advanced thereto into units of equal length, block forming mechanism arranged to form said material so advanced into a block equal in length to a multiple of the units to be cut, comprising a forming cutter movable to out said material, a driving screw for advancing said block forming mechanism toward said unit cutting mechanism, means for connecting said block forming mechanism with said driving screw comprising a nut member, means operated by the movement of said forming cutter in cutting said material to engage said nut member with said criving screw, said screw being engageable with said driving screw only when said forming cutter is at a distance from the cutting plane of said unit cutting mechanism equal to a multiple of said unit lengths for engagement with said driving screw.

19. In a machine of the class described, mechanism to cut a block of material into units of equal length, block forming mechanism arranged to form material into a block having a length equal to multiples of said units and to feed the formed block to the unit cutting mechanism, and means for em bracing the unit while it is being cut from said block adapted and arranged to separate it from the block after the cutting operation.

20. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism for cutting successive units from a bloclr oi material while the block is being advanced, mechanism for ad-' vancing the block to the unit cutting mechanism and in unison therewith and for form ing the material into a block having a length equal to multiples of said units.

21. In a machine of the class described, unit cutting mechanism for cutting a block of material. advanced thereto into units, a belt for advancing a block to said mechanism, a

cutter movable towards and away from said belt for cutting a block thereon, a support for said cutter arranged to allow a cutting move ment of said cutter only when it is located at distances from said unit cutting mechanism which are equal to multiples of the lengths of the units to be out.

In testimony whereof they have aifixed their signatures.

ELMER L. SMITH. HORACE J. PAYNTER.

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