US3527019A - Systems for automatically wrapping pulp bales - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1970 w, FURRER ET AL SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY WRAPPING PULP BALES- Filed. Dec. 27, 1966 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 N QE T QRNH SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATiCAL-LY w Fll ed Dec. 27, 1966: '46

w. FURRER ET A1.

WRAPPING PULP BABES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4 WERNER FURRER INVENTORS MAURICE A. GANDEY BY f ATTORNEYS v I Se t.i8 1970 I w, F R ETAL 3,527,019

7 SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY WRAPPING P LP BALES Filed Dec. 27,1966 4 Sheets-Sheet a A WERNER .FURRER 1 I MAURICE A.-CANDEY INVENTORS.

E BY ATTORNEYS SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY wmxrme PULP BALI-3S 27, 1966 I Sept. 8, 1970' w. FURRER ETAL 4 Sheets-Shet &

I i Dec.

WE'RNFER r 'FURRER MAURICE A. GANDEY I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY WRAPPING PULP BALES Werner Furrer' and Maurice A. Candey, Hoquiam, Wash.,

assignors to Lamb-Grays Harbor Co., Inc., Hoquiam,

Wash.

- Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 604,710

Int. Cl. B65b 11/02 US. Cl. 53-209 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to systems for automatically wrapping and tying pulp bales. More particularly, this invention relates to a system for automatically applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales.

Pulp mills have become more and more automated in the last few years. The point has now been reached where the more difficult functions are being automated. One of the more difficult functions is pulp bale finishing where top and bottom wrapper sheets are applied to a pulp bale, folded and then tied to produce a finished, wrapped pulp bale. Automatic bale wrapper sheet folders are now being provided. However, until the present invention, there was no automaticsystem for applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to the bale for automatic folding therearound.

A primary objectof this invention is to automatically apply top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales in a pulp bale finishing system. Another object is to provide means for automatically accumulating top and bottom wrapper sheets to reduce the time required to place the wrapper sheets on pulp bales and to provide for conveying pulp bales into position for application of the wrapper sheets from the accumulator means. A further object is to provide such a system which automatically applies top and bottom wrappers to pulp bales without the necessity of raising or lowering the pulp bales. Another objectis to provide novel means for automatically applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales. A further object is to provide novel means for automatically folding the top and bottom wrapper sheets around opposing sides of the pulp bales preparatory to placement of the first strap on the wrapped bale.

These and other. objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view taken from the right hand end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of the bottom wrapper sheet dispensing station depicted in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a detail view in cross-section of an embodiment of wrapper sheet pick up and dispenser means depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in cross-section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the underside of the FIG. 5 detail;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the top wrapper sheet dispensing station depicted in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end elevation view of the bale side folding station depicted in FIG. 1.

In brief, the system of this invention comprises means for automatically applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales. Such means may comprise a single wrapper dispenser station with accumulator sections adapted to apply wrapper sheets separately to the tops and bottoms of pulp bales; or such means may comprise separate top and bottom wrapper dispenser stations. Further, means are preferably provided to automatically fold the top and bottom wrapper sheets around the bale sides at a bale side folding station.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary system employing separate top and bottom wrapper dispenser stations comprises a bottom wrapper dispenser station 10, a top wrapper dispenser station 20, and a bale side folder station 30. Wrapper dispenser station 10 comprises a wrapper sheet platform 11 for supporting a stack 12 of wrapper sheets, an accumulator 13, and a wrapper sheet dispenser assembly 14 for transporting wrapper sheets from stack 12 to accumulator 13. The top wrapper dispenser station 20 is basically similar in component function to the bottom wrapper dispenser station 10 and comprises a wrapper sheet platform 21 for supporting a stack 22 of wrapper sheets, a wrapper sheet accumulator 23 and a wrapper sheet dispenser assembly 24 for transporting wrapper sheets from stack 22 to accumulator 23. The bale side folder station 30 comprises a bottom assem- 'Bly 31 for folding the side edges of bottom wrapper sheets around the bottom side edges of a pulp bale 40 and against the sides of bale 40, and an overhead assembly 32 for folding the side edges of top wrapper sheets around the top side edges of bale 40 and against the sides of bale 40. A first bale conveyor assembly 60 transports a pulp bale 40 into engagement with the leading edge section of a bottom wrapper sheet at pickup point 16 and onto a second bale conveyor assembly 70. The second bale conveyor assembly 70 transports a pulp bale into position for application of the top wrapper sheet and for folding the top and bottom wrapper sheets against the bale sides, and transports the thus-wrapped bale to a tying or strapping station 80.

The components of the bottom wrapper dispenser station 10 can best be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3-6.

The platform 11 for sheet stack 12 comprises a scissor lift with a roller top 111. A palletized stack 12 of wrapper sheets is rolled onto the roller top 111 when scissor lift 110 is retracted and then the scissor lift 110 is gradually extended, either hydraulically or pneumatically, to maintain the elevation of the top of stack 12 within predetermined limits as wrapper sheets are dispensed therefrom. These predetermined elevational lim its are set by upper and lower sensing photo cells (not shown) to maintain the top wrapper sheets in close proximity to the dispenser assembly 14.

The dispenser assembly 14 is supported in cantilever fashion from crossheader a of a framework 140' by left and right hand cantilevered arms 141 (one being shown). Assembly 14 comprises an upper link member 142 pivotally hinged at its upper end between the outer ends of cantilevered arms 141, a lower link member 143 pivotally hinged at its upper end to the lower end of upper link member 142, a suction head frame member 144 pivotally hinged at its rearward end to the lower end of lower link member 143, a suction head 145 rigidly attached to the forward end of frame member 144, left and right hand roller arms 146 (only one being shown) connected at their rearward ends to the lower end of lower link member 143 in a manner such that the angle between lower link member 143 and the roller arms 146 is adjustable, a cross-shaft 147 connected to the forward ends of roller arms 146, a plurality of rollers 148 (one being shown) spaced along cross-shaft 147 and rotatably journalled thereto, a first actuating cylinder and cylinder rod mechanism 149 connected to the framework 140 and to the lower link member 143, a second actuating cylinder and cylinder rod mechanism 150 connected to the mechanism 149 and to the suction head frame member 144, and means (not shown) for drawing air through the suction head 145. The top of the stack 12 is maintained at the elevation of the lower edges of the rollers 148 so that rollers 148 will ride on the uppermost wrapper sheet. The dispenser assembly 14 is designed such that the rollers 148 will ride on the stack 12 forwardly of the stack midpoints, and such that the suction head 145 will be positioned between the rollers 148 and the forward edge of the stack 12 and near the leading edge of the uppermost wrapper sheet.

With particular reference to FIGS. 46, the suction head 145 comprises a rectangular plenum chamber 152 that extends almost the width of the dispenser assembly 14 and that opens upwardly through apertures to a plurality of eduction tubes 153 and downwardly through a rectangular opening 154 in a base plate 155. To facilitate wrapper sheet pickup, the opening 154 is covered with screen or other porous material 156, the leading section of base plate 155 is provided along its width with a plurality of spaced elongated transversely-positioned separator bars 157 (one being shown) mounted on narrow spacer plates 158 that extend across the opening 154, and a plurality of spaced needles 159 are provided (one being shown) which protrude forwardly and downward through opening 154 between the spacer plates 158.

Matching pluralities of upper driven and lower drive nip rollers 130 and 131 (one of each being shown) are provided between the legs of framework 140 to feed dispensed wrapper sheets to the wrapper sheet accumulator 13. A cross-shaft 132, driven by motor means (not shown), extends between the legs of framework 140 and mounts lower rollers 131. Rollers 130 are mounted by lever arms 133 to a non-rotatable cross-shaft 134 and are gravity rollers.

Accumulator 13 includes a Wrapper sheet receiving chute structure which has an upper inlet end adjacent the rollers 130-131 and a lower discharge end positioned below the first bale conveyor assembly 60. The chute structure comprises a wrapper supporting plate 135 and a plurality of spaced retaining guide bars 136 (one being shown). The chute structure includes a photo cell assembly 138 near the entry thereto, a wedge-shaped sheet-directing member 139 at the entry thereto, and a wrapper sheet control mechanism 170. Control mechanism 170 comprises a pivotable wrapper stop lever 171, having an upwardly extending finger 171a at the forward end thereof, intermediately mounted on a shaft 172, a link 173 connected at one end to the rearward end of lever 171 and at the other end to a shaft mounted lever 174, a cross-shaft 175 extending betwen frame members 178 to which lever 174 is attached, a crank arm 176 attached to shaft 175 and to a cylinder and cylinder rod assembly 177 mounted on frame 178, and a plurality of spaced rollers 179 (one being shown) connected to shaft 175 by levers 180 and adapted to contact a motor driven drive roll 181 that extends between frame members 178 adjacent to the underside of plate 135. Drive roll 181 is exposed to the chute structure interior through opening 182. The control mechanism 170 is so constructed that when the finger 171a of the wrapper stop member 170 is lowered as shown, the upper rollers 179 are pivoted into driving contact with drive roll 181 and that, when finger 171a is raised above plate 135, the upper rollers 179 are pivoted out of contact with drive roll 181. A second wrapper supporting plate 137 extends from the lower dischage end of the chute structure beneath the first bale conveyor assembly 60 to point 16 at the entrance to the second bale conveyor assembly 70. Another motor driven drive roll 183 is positioned adjacent to the underside of plate 137 intermediate the ends thereof and is contacted through opening 187 by a plurality of gravity rollers 184 (one being shown) that are pivotally connected to a shaft 185 by lever arms 186.

The bottom wrapper dispenser station 10 operates as follows:

With a palletized stack 12 of wrapper sheets in proper position, cylinder assembly 150 is extended to lower suction head 145 onto a stack. The suction created by air being withdrawn through suction head 145 causes one or more of the wrapper sheets to adhere to the suction head base plate 155. The cylinder assembly is retracted to pivot suction head 145 upward and to pivot or peel the leading edge section of the uppermost wrapper sheet about the pivot rollers 148 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Because of the unevenness of the suction head underside created by spacer plates 158 and separator bars 157, air gaps are created between the top wrapper sheet and the suction head underside. Air being drawn through these air gaps into suction head 145 causes a Bernoulli effect which acts to keep the top wrapper sheet, but not the other wrapper sheets, adhered to base plate 155. The combination of peeling the wrapper sheets from the stack and the Bernoulli suction effect enhances the likelihood that only one wrapper sheet at a time will be taken from the stack 12.

Cylinder assembly 144, formerly in an extended position, is now retracted to transport the suction head, and the leading edge of the wrapper sheet adhering thereto, to the nip rolls 131. As the wrapper sheet is shifted to the nip rolls, needles 159 protruding from the base plate 155 dig into the wrapper sheet to insure it will not slip away from the suction head. Nip rolls 130-131 feed, or dispense the wrapper sheet down into the chute structure wherein the wrapper sheet is stopped by the upraised finger 171a of the wrapper stop lever 171. If two wrappers are to be applied simultaneously, the dispenser assembly 14 will recycle to place another wrapper sheet into the chute structure. The photoconductive cell 138 at the top of the chute structure is employed to regulate the recycle condition. The sheet directing wedge 139 is employed to insure that the leading edge of a second wrapper will not jam against the trailing edge of the first wrapper.

A pulp bale is conveyed into position toward sheet pickup point 16. In a timed manner, the wrapper sheet control mechanism operates to lower finger 171a and engage rollers 179 to transport the wrapper sheet or sheets along wrapper supporting plate 137. The timing is such that the pulp bale will pinch the wrapper sheet between itself and the conveyor assembly 70 at pickup point 16 when a predetermined length of wrapper sheet material has protruded upwardly therefrom. The bale and bottom wrapper sheet are then conveyed to the top wrapper dispenser station 20 for application of the top wrapper.

The components of the top wrapper dispenser station 20 can best be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7.

The platform 21 for sheet stack 12 and the dispenser assembly 24 are substantially identical to the platform 11 and dispenser assembly 14. The identical components for platform 21 and dispenser assembly 24 therefore are given the prime numbers of platform 11 and dispenser assembly 14 and the reader is referred to the foregoing discussion for a description of these components.

The wrapper sheet accumulator 23 comprises components that are substantially identical in structure and function to the components of accumulator 13. These identical components are given the prime numbers of accumulator 13 in the following description.

Matching pluralities of upper driven and lower drive nip rollers 130 and 131' (one each being shown) are provided between the legs of framework to feed dispensed wrapper sheets to the wrapper sheet accumulator 23. A cross-shaft 132, driven by motor means (not shown), extends between the legs of framework 140' and mounts lower rollers 131. Rollers 130' are mounted by lever arms'133' to a non-rotatable cross-shaft 134 and are gravity rollers.

Accumulator 23 includes a wrapper sheet receiving chute structure which has an upper inlet end adjacent the rollers 130'-131' and a lower discharge end positioned at about the elevation of a pulp .bale upper surface. The chute structure comprises a wrapper supporting plate 135 and a plurality of spaced retaining guide bars 136' (one being shown). The chute structure includes a photo cell assembly 138' near the entry thereto, and a wrapper sheet control mechanism 170. Control mechanism 170' comprises a pivotable wrapper stop lever 171', having an upwardly extending finger 171a at the forward end thereof, intermediately mounted on a shaft 172', a link 173' connected at one end to the rearward end of lever 171' and at the other end to a shaft mounted lever 174, a cross-shaft 175 extending between frame members 178 to which lever 174' is attached, a crank arm 176' attached to shaft 175' and to a cylinder and cylinder rod assembly 177 mounted on frame 178, and a plurality of spaced rollers 179" (one being shown) connected to shaft 175 by levers 180 and adapted to contact a motor driven drive roll 181 that extends between frame members 178' adjacent to the underside of plate 135'. Drive roll 181' is exposed to the chute structure interior through openings 182'. The control mechanism 170' is so constructed that when the finger 171a of the wrapper stop member 170 is raised as shown, the upper rollers 179 are pivoted out of contact with drive roll 181' and that, when finger 171a is lowered, the upper rollers 179' are pivoted into driving contact with drive roll 1 81'. A motor driven drive roll 183' is positioned adjacent the discharge end of the chute structure and is contacted by a plurality of guide rollers 184' (one being shown) that are pivotally connected to a shaft 185' by lever arms 186'.

The operation of both the wrapper dispenser assembly 24 and the sheet control mechanism 170' are the same as the operation of the wrapper dispenser assembly 14 and the sheet control mechanism 170 and the reader is referred to the foregoing disclosure for a description of such operation. The path of the top Wrapper sheet after it leaves the chute structure will be described subsequently in conjunction with the operation of the bale side folderi station 30'.

The components of the bale side folder station 30 can best be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. The bottom assembly 31 comprises left and right hand bottom folder housings 310-311 that flank, in a parallel manner, opposite sides of the second bale conveyor assembly '70. Each housing contains several sets of cylinder and cylinder rod assemblies to activate the respective bottom edge of folder plates 312. These cylinder and cylinder rod assembly sets comprise an inwardly located cylinder and cylinder rod assembly 313 pivotally connected to the respective housing base and to the inward or lower edge of the respective folding plate 312, and an outwardly located cylinder and cylinder rod assembly 314 pivotally connected to the respective housing base and to the out- 'ward or upper edge of the respective folding plate 312. The cylinder and cylinder rod assemblies are normally retracted such that the folding plates 312 lie flat at an elevation just below the top of the second bale conveyor assembly 70 with the folding plate inner or lower edges being in close proximity to the sides of the second bale conveyor assembly 70. The cylinder and cylinder rod assemblies are pneumatically or hydraulically operated together to both raise and pivot the folding plates to a vertical position around the pulp bale lower side edges and against the lower side sections of the bale.

The overhead assembly 32 comprises an overhead framework 320 that straddles the second bale conveyor assembly 70 and supports a vertically movable overhead carriage 321. Carriage 321 is suspended from framework 320 by a chain drive mechanism comprising two cylinder and cylinder rod assemblies 322 mounted on opposite upper ends of the frame-work 320, a first drive chain attached to each cylinder rod and extending over a sprocket 323 and down to a. tie bolt anchored to a corner of carriage 321, and a second drive chain 326 attached to each cylinder rod and extending over sprockets 323 and 325 and down to a tie bolt anchored to the opposite corner of carriage 321, such that the carriage 321 will move ver tically as the cylinder rods are extended and retracted in unison.

Forward and rearward folder brackets 327 and 328 are rigidly suspended from the carriage 321 on each side of the second conveyor assembly 70 and are each interconnected at the bottom ends by a wrapper support beam 329 aligned parallel with the second conveyor assembly 70. The overhead framework 320 is positioned such that the wrapper support beams 329 are aligned with the discharge end of the chute structure of the top wrapper dis-' penser 23. Wrapper support plates 330 are mounted on to of each wrapper support beam 329, their respective edges nearest the chute structure discharge end of the top Wrapper dispenser 23 being downturned to guide the top wrappers thereacross. The outermost wrapper support beam 329, furthest from the chute structure discharge end, also mounts upright wrapper sheet stop board members 331.

Between each set of for-ward and rearward folder brackets 327-328, a set of downwardly depending forward and rearward folder arms 332 and 333 are journal mounted to the respective folder brackets and spaced apart by a cylindrical cross rod 334 and braced by brace members 335. A counter weight 336 is mounted between an upper, outwardly extending appendage of each folder arm and tends to pivot the lower ends of the folder arms inward. Stops 337 are mounted on the folder brackets in a position to be contacted by the folder arm appendages and hold the folder arms in a normally vertical position against the counter weight-caused tendency to pivot inward. The opposing sets of folder arm sets are also resiliently held in an upright position by a coil spring 338 connected to and extending between opposite brace members 335.

Left and right hand elongated folder rods 339 are pivotally connected to the folder arms 332-333 of each folder arm set by inwardly extending forward and rearward brackets 340 and 341 mounted on a cross-shaft 342. Folder rods 332-333 extend forwardly of the wrapper folding station 30 to the tying station 80. Each cross-shaft 342 is journalled to and extends between the folder arms 332-333 of the respective folder arm set. Levers 343 are attached to each end of the cross-shafts 342 and extend outwardly therefrom. A coil spring 344 is attached to each lever outer end and extends upwardly to a connection with the adjacent brace member 335 to resiliently urge the bracket-supported folding rods 339 downward. Stops 345 are mounted on the folder arms 332-333 in a position to be contacted by the levers 343 and hold the folding rod brackets 340-341 in a normally horizontal position.

The bale side folder station 30 operates as follows:

The top wrapper sheet, or sheets, is discharged from the chute structure of the top wrapper dispenser station 20 by Wrapper sheet control mechanism Rollers 184 and drive roll 183 transport the wrapper sheet across the rear wrapper support plate 330, across the top of a pulp bale positioned adjacent the chute structure discharge end, and across the outermost wrapper support plate 330, whereupon the wrapper sheet leading edge contacts the stop board members 331 and the wrapper sheet settles onto the top of the pulp bale.

Cylinder assemblies 313-314 on both sides of the pulp bale are extended so that the folder plates 312 contact the lower side edges of the pulp bale and then pivot around the respective lower edges and up the respective sides of the pulp bale, thereby effecting a sharp crease in the bottom wrapper sheet at the bale lower side edges and folding the wrapper sheet up against the bale sides.

Cylinder assemblies 322 on the top of framework 320 are then extended to lower the carriage 321. As carriage 321 is lowered the folding rods 339 contact the top side edges of the pulp bale. Further lowering of the carriage causes the brackets 340341. mounting folding rods 339. to pivot upwardly relative to the downward movement of the folding arms 332-333. such that the folding rods 339 are drawn around the respective top side edges of the bale and down the bale sides to effect a sharp crease in the top wrapper sheet at the bale top side edges.

The spring constant of spring 338 is sufiicient to prevent the folding arms 332-333 from swinging outward as the carriage is lowered and the brackets 340-341 pivoted upward. However, when the folding rods 339 are drawn down to the sides of the bale, the lever action effected by springs 324 causes the folding rod brackets 340-341 to pivot back to their original position thereby forcing the folding arms 332333 to pivot outwardly to the position shown in dotted line in FIG. 8. In this dotted line position, the spring 338 urges the folder arm sets toward one another to hold the folding rods 339 lightly against the bale sides to keep the top wrapper against the bale sides as the bale is conveyed to the tying station 80 for placement of a tie or strap around the bale sides.

The embodiment of the system described above can be modified to employ a single stack of wrapper sheets. Such could be accomplished by suitable design of the wrapper dispenser mechanism whereby wrapper sheets could be alternately dispensed from the common stack to separate top wrapper and bottom wrapper accumulator sections.

A further modification of the system would be the arrangement of the discharge ends of the top wrapper and bottom wrapper accumulator sections such that top and bottom wrappers are applied to pulp bales simultaneously. This could be accomplished by providing an elevated or overhead tape conveyor with moving tapes at the height of the top surfaces of pulp bales, and by permitting the top wrapper to protrude downwardly so that the top leading edge of the pulp bale would pinch the protruding tOp wrapper and draw the wrapper onto itself as the bale proceeds under the elevated conveyor, as is down below with the bottom wrapper and bottom conveyor in the system described above.

The illustrated system is designed for use with stacks of individual wrapper sheets. However, the principle of automatic application of top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales embodied in the illustrated system can be employed with wrapper roll stock. Such could be accomplished by providing a roll, or rolls, of wrapper sheet stock, means for severing the roll stock into individual sheets as the material is unrolled, and means for accumulating the severed sheets in top wrapper and bottom wrapper accumulator sections for application to the tops and bottoms of pulp bales. A separate roll of wrapper sheet stock and the associated severing means could be employed at a bottom wrapper dispenser station and at a top wrapper dispenser station. Or, one roll of wrapper sheet stock and the associated severing means could be employed with accumulator means designed to alternately provide top and bottom wrapper sheets from the common roll.

The system described above is equally suitable for either continuous operation where the bale does not stop during application of the wrappers, or stop and go operation where. for example, the bale would be stopped during applications of the top wrapper and folding of the top and bottom wrappers around the bale sides.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of our now-preferred illustrated embodiment. Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is accordingly our intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for placement in a pulp bale finishing line for applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales which comprises means for dispensing wrapper sheets from a wrapper sheet supply; means for conveying pulp bales into position for application of top and bottom wrapper sheets; bottom wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the bottom surfaces of pulp bales including bottom wrapper sheet collector means and a sheet control mechanism adapted to permit transfer of bottom wrapper sheets from said bottom wrapper sheet collector means to the undersides of pulp bales; and top wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the top surfaces of pulp bales including top wrapper sheet collector means and a sheet control mechanism adapted to permit transfer of top wrapper sheets from said top wrapper sheet collector means to the topsides of pulp bales.

2. Apparatus for placement in a pulp bale finishing line for applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales which comprises bottom wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the bottom surfaces of pulp bales; top wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the top surfaces of pulp bales; means for conveying pulp bales into position for application of top and bottom wrapper sheets; means for dispensing wrapper sheets from a wrapper sheet supply comprising a bottom dispenser assembly adapted to transfer the uppermost sheets of a stock of wrapper sheets to the bottom sheet accumulating means and a top wrapper dispenser assembly adapted to transfer the uppermost sheets of a stack of wrapper sheets to the top sheet accumulating means, each such wrapper dispenser assembly comprising a suction head and means mounting said suction head such that said suction head can be lowered onto the uppermost sheet of a wrapper sheet stack and pivoted upwardly to raise the leading edge of the uppermost sheet from the stack and to transfer the uppermost sheet with its leading edge raised to the respective sheet accumulating means, each suction head mounting means comprising a jointed link assembly, a suction head frame pivotally connected at one end to said jointed link assembly and rigidly connected at an opposite end to said suction head, roller means connected to said jointed link assembly, means for pivoting said suction head frame upward and downward to raise and lower said suction head. and means for operating said jointed link assembly to transversely move said suction head frame.

3. Apparatus for placement in a pulp bale finishing line for applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales which comprises means for dispensing wrapper sheets from a wrapper sheet supply; means for conveying pulp bales into position for application of top and bottom wrapper sheets; bottom wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the bottom surfaces of pulp bales comprising a bottom wrapper sheet collector chute and a sheet control mechanism adapted to permit transfer of bottom wrapper sheets from said bottom wrapper sheet collector chute to the undersides of pulp bales; and top wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the top surfaces of pulp bales comprising a top wrapper sheet collector chute, and a sheet control mechanism adapted to permit transfer of top wrapper sheets from said top wrapper sheet collector chute to the topsides of pulp bales.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the top and bottom wrapper sheet control mechanisms each comprise a wrapper stop member adapted to be extended into the respective collector chute to block passage of wrapper sheets and to be retracted to permit passage of wrapper sheets, rotatable drive means adapted to transfer wrapper sheets from the respective collector chute, and control means operatively interconnecting said wrapper stop member and said drive means such that said drive means is actuated to transfer wrapper sheets when said stop member is retracted.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including pulp bale side folding means which comprises a bottom sheet folder means adapted to fold bottom sheets up against the sides of pulp bales, and a top sheet folder means adapted to fold top sheets down against the sides of pulp bales.

6. Apparatus for placement in a pulp bale finishing line for applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales which comprises means for dispensing wrapper sheets from a wrapper sheet supply; means for conveying pulp bales into position for application of top and bottom wrapper sheets; bottom wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the bottom surfaces of pulp bales; top wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the top surfaces of pulp bales; and pulp bale side folding means comprising a bottom sheet folder means adapted to fold bottom sheets up against the sides of pulp bales including folder plates and means for raising and pivoting said folder plates to upright positions such that said folder plates contact the bottoms of pulp bales and pivot upwardly around the bale bottom side edges to crease the bottom wrapper sheets at such bottom side edges, and a top sheet folder means adapted to fold top sheets down against the sides of pulp bales.

7. Apparatus for placement in a pulp bale finishing line for applying'top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp b'ales which comprises means for dispensing wrapper sheets from a wrapper sheet supply; means for conveying pulp bales into position for application of top and bottom wrapper sheets; bottom wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the bottom surfaces of pulp bales; top wrapper accumulating means for receiving dispensed wrapper sheets for application to the top surfaces of pulp bales; and pulp bale side folding means comprising a bottom sheet folder means adapted to fold bottom sheets up against the sides of pulp bales, and a top sheet folder means adapted to fold top sheets down against the sides of pulp bales including folder arms pivotally mounted for movement about horizontal axis and inwardly positioned folder rods pivotally connected to said folder arms for movement about horizontal axis and means for lowering said folder arms such that said folder rods contact the tops of pulp bales and are downwardly drawn around the bale top side edges to crease the top wrapper sheets at such top side edges.

8. Apparatus for placement in a pulp bale finishing line for applying top and bottom wrapper sheets to pulp bales which comprises a bottom wrapper sheet collector chute adapted to receive dispensed wrapper sheets; a bottom wrapper dispenser assembly adapted to transfer the uppermost sheets of a stack of wrapper sheets to the bottom sheet collector chute; a sheet control mechanism adapted to permit transfer of bottom wrapper sheets from said bottom wrapper sheet collector chute to the undersides of pulp bales; a top wrapper sheet collector chute adapted to receive dispensed wrapper sheets; a top wrapper disenser assembly adapted to transfer the uppermost sheets of a stack of wrapper sheets to the top wrapper sheet collector chute; a sheet control mechanism adapted to permit transfer of top wrapper sheets from said top wrapper sheet collector chute to the topsides of pulp bales; and means for conveying pulp bales into position for application of top and bottom wrapper sheets.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the top and bottom Wrapper dispenser assemblies each comprise a suction head, and means mounting said suction head such that said suction head can be lowered onto the uppermost sheet of a wrapper sheet stack, pivoted upwardly to raise the leading edge of the uppermost sheet from the stack, and transfer the uppermost sheet with its leading edge raised to the respective sheet accumulating means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the top and bottom wrapper sheet control mechanisms each comprise a wrapper stop member adapted to be extended into the respective collector chute to block passage of wrapper sheets and to be retracted to permit passage of wrapper sheets, rotatable drive means adapted to transfer wrapper sheets from the respective collector chute, and control means operatively interconnecting said wrapper stop member and said drive means such that said drive means is actuated to transfer wrapper sheets when said stop member is retracted.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each suction head mounting means comprises a jointed link assembly, a suction head frame pivotally connected at one end to said jointed link assembly and rigidly connected at an opposite end to said suction head, roller means connected to said jointed link assembly, means for pivoting said suction head frame upward and downward to raise and lower said suction head, and means for operating said jointed link assembly to transversely move said suction head frame.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8 including pulp bale side folding means which comprises a bottom sheet folder means adapted to fold bottom sheets up against the sides of pulp bales, and a top sheet folder means adapted to fold top sheets down against the sides of pulp bales.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said bottom sheet folder means comprises folder plate and means for raising and pivoting said folder plates to up right positions such that said folder plates contact the bottoms of pulp bales and pivot upwardly around the bale bottom side edges to crease the bottom wrapper sheets at such bottom side edges.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said top sheet folder means comprises folder arms pivotally mounted for movement about horizontal axis, inwardly positioned folder rods pivotally connected to said folder arms for movement about horizontal axis, and means for lowering said folder arms such that said folder rods contact the tops of pulp bales and are downwardly drawn around the bale top side edges to crease the top wrapper sheets at such top side edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,858,657 11/1958 Guthrie 53-218 2,879,636 3/1959 Zuercher 53389 X 3,180,069 4/1965 Rose et al. 53-209 3,237,373 3/1966 Lewis 53-378 3,327,452 6/ 1967 Cranston et al. 53-209 X 3,026,659 3/ 1962 Harrison 53--389 X 3,039,767 6/1962 Staines 27126 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. 'SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 53-218, 389

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