Abstract:
A method and apparatus, for individually packaging units of a compressible material, compress the material and then enclose the material within a plastic film. The unit of the compressible material, e.g., a batt of insulation, is introduced between a pair of converging conveyors whereby opposing surfaces of the conveyors apply compressive forces to major faces of the compressible material to compress the material to the desired degree. After the material is compressed to the desired degree, it is introduced between a pair of continuous sheets of plastic film. The material is located between the sheets so that lateral edge portions and transverse portions of the sheets extend beyond the peripheral edges of the compressed material. The lateral edge portions and transverse portions are then heat sealed together to enclose the units of compressed material. This operation successively packages a number of individual units with the heat sealing operation for the transverse portions of the sheets simultaneously sealing the trailing transverse portions of the sheets for one unit, sealing the leading transverse portions of the sheets for another unit and reducing the integrity of the sheets at the juncture between these transverse portions to such an extent that the sheets enclosing the units of material can be separated.
Abstract:
A winding mandrel for material such as felted mineral fiber blankets which have resilience in the major plane of the blanket and normal to that plane including two elongate members generally paralleling the winding axis for the blanket and adapted to support the initially wound portion of the blanket. Axial motion of the wound blanket on the elongate members incidental to the unloading of the mandrel is facilitated by arranging the members to be moved toward each other thereby relieving the pressure between the blanket and members and relieving the attendant frictional forces. Spool ends support the elongate members one of which is coaxial with the winding axis. One spool end is removable from the elongate members and the other mounts the eccentrically carried elongate member for motion toward and away from the axis. Means for automatically spacing the movable member at its outer limit prior to winding and for maintaining that spacing during winding are provided.
Abstract:
Tubes are contacted by belts on the upper portion of their outer surface to advance the tubes along a path paralleling their longitudinal axes with the lower well being slit and a guide subsequently being engaged to position the tube with its slot paralleling an edge of a sheet of jacketing material advanced toward the tube and positioned adjacent thereto whereby belts acting normal to the path of the tubes contact the upper portion of their outer surface to roll the tubes about their longitudinal axes to engage the sheet jacketing material wrapping it about the tube being rolled thereover.
Abstract:
In a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction at two different levels, a packaging station is provided which has a common packing area for the strips of material on both levels. The strips of material on the lower level are conveyed directly into the packing station. The strips of material on the upper level are conveyed past the packing station. Once past the packing station, the strips of material on the upper level are guided through an arcuate or semi-circular path which both reverses the direction of travel of the strips and inverts the strips. After their reversal and inversion the strips are introduced into the packing station at a common level with the strips introduced into the packing station from the lower level.
Abstract:
A duct of thermal insulation is jacketed with a gas impermeable sheet material with a longitudinal seam formed by turning the mating ends of the sheet material outwardly and thermally fusing those ends into a linear nodular bead. In the case of metal foils of a few thousandths of an inch in thickness the bead is of the order of a thirty-second of an inch and is turned into the foil jacket to present a smooth non-cutting surface. Semi-butt welds of foil are made by clamping the foil in face to face relationship along an essentially line contact and moving an arc welding electrode with associated gas jets for a nonoxidizing gas parallel to and in close spaced relation to the clamp line. Jacketing for preformed ducts of glass or other fiber type insulation is drawn from a supply of sheet stock to form a caternary loop in which a preformed duct is placed. Jaws forming unitary clamps and welding electrodes are closed to close the opposite sides of the loop of foil around the duct and upon each other. The foil is severed closely adjacent the clamps and the electrode with its jets for the gas is moved along the exposed edges of foil adjacent the electrode clamps while drawing an arc to fuse the opposed foil surfaces together. The clamps are then released, the jacketed duct removed from the welding apparatus and the radially extending, fused foil bead pressed parallel to the outer face of the duct.
Abstract:
A duct of thermal insulation is jacketed with a gas impermeable sheet material with a longitudinal seam formed by turning the mating ends of the sheet material outwardly and thermally fusing those ends into a linear nodular bead. In the case of metal foils of a few thousandths of an inch in thickness the bead is of the order of a thirty-second of an inch and is turned into the foil jacket to present a smooth non-cutting surface. Semi-butt welds of foil are made by clamping the foil in face to face relationship along an essentially line contact and moving an arc welding electrode with associated gas jets for a nonoxidizing gas parallel to and in close spaced relation to the clamp line. Jacketing for preformed ducts of glass or other fiber type insulation is drawn from a supply of sheet stock to form a catenary loop in which a preformed duct is placed. Jaws forming unitary clamps and welding electrodes are closed to close the opposite sides of the loop of foil around the duct and upon each other. The foil is severed closely adjacent the clamps and the electrode with its jets for the gas is moved along the exposed edges of foil adjacent the electrode clamps while drawing an arc to fuse the opposed foil surfaces together. The clamps are then released, the jacketed duct removed from the welding apparatus and the radially extending, fused foil bead pressed parallel to the outer face of the duct.
Abstract:
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TUBULAR ARTICLES FORMED OF FIBROUS MATERIAL WHEREIN A MOVING MAT OF FIBROUS MATERIAL IS WRAPPED ABOUT A MANDREL ROTATING ABOUT AN AXIS MOVING ALONG THE PATH OF THE MAT. THE MAT IS THEN WRAPPED AROUND THE MANDREL UNTIL A DESIRED QUANTITY OF FIBROUS MATERIAL IS ACHEIVED. THEREAFTER, THE MAT AND MANDREL ARE CONVEYED TO A SIZING STATION WHERE THE OUTER DIAMETER AND CONFIGURATION OF THE TUBULAR ARTICLE ARE FINALLY SET.