Device for guidance of objects connected in strip form

• US 5,375,391 A
• Filed: 01/31/1992
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Persson, Goran, Akesson, Micael
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Linda B.
• Application Number:
  US07/830,358
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 226/199, 53/128.1, 53/133.1, 53/133.2, 53/133.3, 53/135.1, 53/136.1, 53/389.4
• US Class Current: 53/133.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/205 for adding drinking straws to a container

Abstract

A device for guiding objects that are connected to one another in a strip form and that are to be individually applied to packaging containers includes a feed wheel for receiving the objects and feeding them in a forward direction. A guide plate surrounds an end of the feed wheel and the guide plate is connected to an arrangement that allows the position of the guide plate to be adjusted relative to the feed wheel.

Claims

1. A device for guiding a strip of connected straws to a position at which the straws are individually separated from the strip and applied to packaging containers, comprising a feed wheel having an outer peripheral surface and oppositely positioned ends, said feed wheel having a plurality of recesses formed in its outer peripheral surface for receiving the straws, drive means connected to the feed wheel for rotatably driving the feed wheel to feed the straws in a forward direction, a guide plate surrounding at least a portion of one of the ends of the feed wheel, and means for adjusting the position of the guide plate relative to the feed wheel in a direction along the length of the feed wheel.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said guide plate is provided with an opening through which extends the feed wheel, said opening having an inner surface that faces toward the outer peripheral surface of the feed wheel, the inner surface of the opening being spaced from the outer peripheral surface of the feed wheel by a distance of about 0.1 mm-0.8 mm.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting the position of the guide plate includes an adjustment spindle having a screw-threaded end that threadably engages the guide plate, said adjustment spindle extending from the guide plate in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feed wheel.

4. The device according to claim 3, including at least one guide axle extending through an opening in the guide plate for guiding the guide plate during movement relative to the feed wheel, said adjustment spindle being connected to said at least one guide axle and said adjustment spindle including an adjusting knob positioned on an end of the adjustment spindle that is located opposite said screw threaded end for adjusting the position of the guide plate.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the end of said feed wheel that is surrounded by said guide plate is notched.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein said feed wheel extends through an opening in the guide plate and said guide plate includes a cut-out that allows access to the outer periphery of the feed wheel so that a separating device can separate individual straws from the strip of straws, said cut-out extending from an outer periphery of the guide plate and communicating with the opening in the guide plate.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said feed wheel is substantially horizontally positioned and said recesses extend in a direction along the length of the feed wheel.

7. A device for guiding a strip of connected objects so that the objects can be individually secured to packaging containers, comprising a rotatably mounted feed wheel for receiving objects on the strip and for feeding the objects in a forward direction, said feed wheel having a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis, an outer peripheral surface of said feed wheel being provided with a plurality of recesses for receiving the objects, and a guide plate surrounding at least a portion of one end of the feed wheel, said guide plate being movable relative to the feed wheel in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feed wheel.

8. The device according to claim 7, including means for rotatably driving said feed wheel about the longitudinal axis of the feed wheel.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said guide plate is positioned on a supporting plate, said feed wheel being secured to said supporting plate and extending through a through opening in the guide plate.

10. The device according to claim 9, including at least one guide axle that extends through an opening in the guide plate for guiding the guide plate during movement.

11. The device according to claim 7, including means for adjusting the position of the guide plate relative to the feed wheel in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feed wheel.

12. The device according to claim 7, including an adjustment spindle for adjusting the position of the guide plate relative to the feed wheel in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feed wheel, said adjustment spindle having one screw-threaded end that threadably engages the guide plate and an opposite end that is provided with an adjusting knob for rotating the rod and adjusting the position of the guide plate relative to the feed wheel.

14. The device to claim 7, wherein said feed wheel is substantially horizontally positioned and said recesses extend in a direction along the length of the feed wheel.

15. The device according to claim 12, including two guide axles extending through the guide plate for guiding the guide plate during movement relative to the feed wheel.

16. An apparatus for guiding a strip of connected objects and for severing individual objects from the strip so that the individual objects can be secured to packaging containers, comprising:

a rotatably mounted feed wheel for receiving objects on the strip and for feeding the objects in a forward direction, said feed wheel having a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis, an outer surface of said feed wheel including a plurality of recesses for receiving the objects;

a separating device for separating individual objects from the strip of objects; and

a guide plate surrounding at least a portion of one end of the feed wheel, said guide plate being movable relative to the feed wheel in a direction along the length of the feed wheel.