Title of Invention

"A FEED APPARATUS OF WRAPPING MACHINE"

Abstract

This invention relates to a feed apparatus for a wrapping machine. The feed apparatus has a discharge conveyor for discharge of the products into the infeed system of a wrapping machine. A pusher is provided for discharging the product from the discharge conveyor. According to the invention a feed conveyor has a discharge and a feed end. The discharge end of the feed conveyor adapted to discharge the products into the discharge conveyor. The feed conveyor is disposed at an inclination with respect to the horizontal.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a feed apparatus of a wrapping machine. In particular, this invention relates to a feed apparatus for products which are thin and packed in a collated or stacked condition. Reference is made herein to the product as being biscuit. Though the present invention has an advantageous application with respect to biscuits, it is to be understood that reference to biscuits is only by way of example and without intending to imply any limitation thereto. PRIOR ART In a typical wrapping machine, flow wrap or envelop fold, products are placed in an inclined magazine with its lower end disposed just above a belt conveyor. Belt conveyor is either continuously moving or indexes forward every cycle of the machine. At the end of the belt conveyor, the biscuits are pushed by a mechanical pusher that executes a stroke at right angle to the conveyor. This action separates a slug of products from the rest in the conveyor. The slug is then transferred into the infeed system of the wrapping machine. Belt carrying products move to fill the gap created by the departing slug. Belt depletion is covered by feed from magazine which is fitted at an inclination to let product flow by gravity. Such an arrangement has several disadvantages. Gap created by slug feed has to be filled by products sliding down the magazine by gravitational force. When rate of depletion is high, magazine angle is increased to allow quicker slide of products. This makes it progressively more difficult to feed the magazine to replenish the out flow as work required to lift stacked products and arrange them into a steep (vertical) magazine is much more than to feed a shallow magazine. This problem is more severe when product in the magazine is thin and is stacked on edge. In this orientation product is fairly unstable. In case of any slug product slips or lies down, it makes the magazine feeding very cumbersome. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to propose a novel construction of a feed apparatus for a wrapping machine. Another object of this invention is to propose a feed apparatus for a wrapping machine which obviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art. Yet another object of this invention is to propose a feed apparatus for a wrapping machine and wherein the products can be conveniently fed into said apparatus. A further object of this invention is to propose a feed apparatus for a wrapping machine which is efficient. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION According to this invention there is provided a feed apparatus for a wrapping machine comprising: (i) a discharge conveyor for discharge of the products into the infeed system of a wrapping machine ii) a pusher for discharging the product from said discharge conveyor iii) characterized in a feed conveyor having a discharge and a feed end iv) said discharge end of the feed conveyor adapted to discharge the products onto said discharge conveyor v) said feed conveyor disposed at an inclination with respect to the horizontal. In accordance with this invention, the feed apparatus comprises a discharge conveyor having a pusher and fixed stopper known as such in the art. The pusher pushes the products from the discharge conveyor into the infeed system of a wrapping machine. Specifically, in accordance with the present invention, a feed conveyor is provided for receiving the products at the feed end and discharges the products at the discharge end onto the discharge conveyor. The feed conveyor is driven by the drive means of the discharge conveyor. Further, the feed conveyor is disposed only at a slight inclination with respect to the horizontal. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein: Fig. 1 shows a front sectional view of the feed apparatus; and Fig.2 shows a plan view of the apparatus. Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a supporting frame 1 disposed at an inclination, such as at angle of 15 to 25 to the horizontal. On the lower end of frame (1) is a shaft (3) supported on bearings (4) housed in the frame. On one side of the shaft a gear is mounted that engages with gear (5) through an idler gear (6) mounted on a swinging arm assembly so that its position can be adjusted, whenever there is a change in position of gear (5) at the time of belt tensioning gear (5) is mounted on the driven end shaft of a flat belt conveyor (7). This arrangement drives shaft (3) whenever belt conveyor (7) moves. Shaft (3) carries a pulley (8). A small width belt (9) passes over this pulley. On the driven side, belt pulley (9) adjusting screws (10) provide proper tension to the belt (9). On the driven side a bracket (11) is mounted to fit an air nozzle (12) that blows a continuous stream of pressurized filtered air through a flow control valve. A base plate is fitted on the magazine structure that extends beyond the drive pulley (8) to smoothly transfer product to conveyor (7), alongwith side guides (13) complete the construction of magazine in which products are placed. As belt conveyor (7) moves and executes a stroke it moves the products on it towards end stop (14). A cross pusher (15) separates a slug of these products, creating a gap equal to the length of the slug. This gap is filled by feed from the inclined feed apparatus. This feed is assisted by the belt (9) on this magazine that is driven through gear arrangement (5,6) whenever conveyor (7) executes its stroke. At the start of the stroke, there is a tendency of last biscuit to topple because of sudden inertial force. Small pressure exerted by flowing air through nozzle (12) prevents toppling of the last biscuit. WE CLAIM: 1. A feed apparatus for a wrapping machine comprising : i) a discharge conveyor for discharge of the products into the infeed system of a wrapping machine ii) a pusher for discharging the product from said discharge conveyor iii) characterized in a feed conveyor having a discharge and a feed end iv) said discharge end of the feed conveyor adapted to discharge the products onto said discharge conveyor v) said feed conveyor disposed at an inclination with respect to the horizontal. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive means of said discharge is associated with the drive means of said feed conveyor. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the drive means for the feed conveyor comprises a drive pulley provided at the discharge end of the feed conveyor and a driven pulley at the feed end of said feed conveyor, said drive pulley driven by an inter gear making with a gear of the drive means of said feed conveyor. 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a nozzle at the feed end of said feed conveyor for directing an air stream onto the products. 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said nozzle is connected to an air supply. 6. A feed apparatus for use with a wrapping machine substantially as herein described and illustrated.

Documents:

641-DEL-2002-Abstract-28-03-2008.pdf

641-del-2002-abstract.pdf

641-del-2002-claims.pdf

641-DEL-2002-Correspondence-Others-28-03-2008.pdf

641-del-2002-correspondence-others.pdf

641-del-2002-correspondence-po.pdf

641-del-2002-description (complete).pdf

641-DEL-2002-Drawings-28-03-2008.pdf

641-del-2002-drawings.pdf

641-del-2002-form-1.pdf

641-del-2002-form-18.pdf

641-del-2002-form-2.pdf

641-DEL-2002-Form-3-28-03-2008.pdf

641-del-2002-form-3.pdf