Package Machinery Co. Inc.

Paul J La Fleur, Jr

Robert A Josefek

A storage reel mechanism for use in a gum stick wrapping machine or the like comprises a pair of similar reels for strip material arranged for alternate operation with the inoperative reel available for reloading. A reel support shaft is swingable through 180.degree. to reverse reel position from operational to reloading. Manually operable locking mechanism releasably secures the reels in position and a brake is selectively engageable through a gear connection with the operational reel for control of the rate of delivery of strip material therefrom.

Storage and supply reel mechanism for elongated strip material

A gum stick wrapping machine with gum stick wrapper storage and feed means advancing wrapper blanks in strip form, a wrapper mechanism assembles conveyor advanced gum sticks and wrappers with the latter enveloping the former. Band storage and feed means advance bands in strip form and a wrapper mechanism folds the same about the sticks of gum. A stacker provides stacks of wrapped and banded sticks and a package wrapper mechanism folds the wrappers about the stacks. The package wrappers are also stored in end-to-end elongated strip form. Band feed rolls and package wrapper feed rolls are driven by associated discrete servo motors in slave-master relationship with a main servo motor. Computer control means regulates motor speed ratios and provides for correction of errors in band or package wrapper length and/or band or package wrapper registration. Photoelectric eyes read registration marks on band and wrapper strips and advise the computer control means of errors to be corrected by speed adjustment of the band and/or package wrapper servo motor. Errors are corrected prior to completion of the next succeeding cycle of machine operation and on the occurrence of a pre-determined number of discrete cyclical speed corrections in the same direction, a permanent correction is effected in motor speed ratios.

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Wilbraham, MA, United States of America

Paul J La Fleur, Jr