Packing Apparatus and Method of Forming Stacks of Cut Segments of Web Material

Abstract

A packer forms stacks of segments cut from a web of material. The packer has a shoe that contacts the segment and pushes the segment onto the stack. A follower is operatively connected to the shoe. A drive shaft is operatively connected to a motor. A drive crank is operatively mounted to the drive shaft operatively pivotally connected to the follower. A motion control assembly is configured for synchronized motion with the drive shaft. The motion control assembly has a member operatively connected to the follower. When the drive shaft rotates, the drive crank moves the follower toward and away from a face of the segment and the motion control assembly operates in a manner to move the follower toward and away from a leading edge of the segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packer for forming stacks of segments cut from a web of material, the packer comprising:
 a shoe adapted and configured to contact a segment and push the segment onto the stack of segments cut from the web of the material;   a follower operatively connected to the shoe;   a drive shaft operatively connected to a motor and being rotatable about a drive shaft center axis;   a first drive crank operatively mounted to the drive shaft offset from the drive shaft center axis, the first drive crank being operatively pivotally connected to the follower;   a second drive crank operatively mounted to the drive shaft offset from the drive shaft center axis;   a motion control shaft having a center axis, the motion control shaft center axis being parallel to and spaced from the drive shaft center axis, the motion control shaft having first and second rocker arms extending outward from the shaft;   a motion control drive linkage extending between the second drive crank and the first rocker arm of the motion control shaft, the motion control drive linkage being pivotally connected to the second drive crank, the motion control drive linkage being pivotally connected to the first rocker arm of the motion control shaft; and   a motion control strut extending between the second rocker arm of the motion control shaft and the follower, the motion control strut being pivotally connected to the second rocker arm of the motion control shaft, the motion control strut being pivotally connected to the follower;   wherein when the drive shaft rotates, the first drive crank moves the follower toward and away from a face of the segment and motion control strut moves the follower toward and away from a leading edge of the segment.   
     
     
         2 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the drive shaft is driven by a belt. 
     
     
         3 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the first drive crank is mounted to one end of the drive shaft and the second drive crank is mounted an opposite end of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the shoe is adjustable relative to the follower. 
     
     
         5 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the first rocker arm of the motion control shaft is mounted to one end of the motion control drive shaft and the second rocker arm of the motion control shaft is mounted to an opposite end of the motion control shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the motion control shaft is mounted for rotary motion in the packer between the drive shaft and the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the second rocker arm is mounted on the motion control shaft so as to oscillate between 60 degrees and 120 degrees when the drive shaft rotates. 
     
     
         8 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the first drive crank is mounted to the drive shaft in a first position and the second drive crank is mounted to the drive shaft in a second position, the first position is offset from the second position by an angle of between 150 degrees and 210 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the first rocker arm is mounted to the motion control shaft in a first position and the second rocker arm is mounted to the motion control shaft in a second position, the first position is offset from the second position by an angle of between 60 degrees and 120 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the first drive crank is mounted to the drive shaft so as to rotate 360 degrees when the drive shaft rotates. 
     
     
         11 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the second drive crank is mounted to the drive shaft so as to rotate 360 degrees when the drive shaft rotates. 
     
     
         12 . The packer of  claim 1  wherein the first rocker arm is mounted on the motion control shaft so as to oscillate between 60 degrees and 120 degrees when the drive shaft rotates. 
     
     
         13 . A packer for forming stacks of segments cut from a web of material, the packer comprising:
 a shoe adapted and configured to contact a face of a segment and push the segment onto the stack of segments cut from the web of the material;   a follower operatively connected to the shoe;   a drive shaft operatively connected to a motor and being rotatably about a drive shaft center axis;   a motion control shaft having a center axis, the motion control shaft center axis being parallel to and spaced from the drive shaft center axis,   first and second rocker arms operatively mounted to and extending outward from the motion control shaft;   first and second drive cranks operatively mounted to and extending outward from the drive shaft;   a motion control drive linkage extending between the second drive crank and the first rocker arm of the motion control shaft, the motion control drive linkage being pivotally connected to the second drive crank, the motion control drive linkage being pivotally connected to the first rocker arm of the motion control shaft; and   a motion control strut extending between the second rocker arm of the motion control shaft and the follower, the motion control strut being pivotally connected to the second rocker arm of the motion control shaft, the motion control strut being pivotally connected to the follower;   wherein when the drive shaft rotates, the first drive crank moves the follower between engagement and disengagement positions of the shoe with the face of the segment, and the motion control strut moves the follower such that the shoe is parallel with the face of the segment when shoe is in the engagement position and the shoe is acutely angled with the face of the segment when shoe is in the disengagement position.   
     
     
         14 . The packer of  claim 13  wherein the drive shaft is driven by a belt. 
     
     
         15 . The packer of  claim 13  wherein the first drive crank is mounted to one end of the drive shaft and the second drive crank is mounted an opposite end of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The packer of  claim 13  wherein the shoe is adjustable relative to the follower. 
     
     
         17 . The packer of  claim 13  wherein the first rocker arm of the motion control shaft is mounted to one end of the motion control drive shaft and the second rocker arm of the motion control shaft is mounted to an opposite end of the motion control shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The packer of  claim 13  wherein the motion control shaft is mounted for rotary motion in the packer between the drive shaft and the shoe. 
     
     
         19 . A packer for forming stacks of segments cut from a web of material, the packer comprising:
 a shoe adapted and configured to contact a segment and push the segment onto the stack of segments cut from the web of the material;   a follower operatively connected to the shoe;   a drive shaft operatively connected to a motor and being rotatably about a drive shaft center axis;   a drive crank operatively mounted to the drive shaft offset from the drive shaft center axis, the first drive crank being operatively pivotally connected to the follower; and   a motion control assembly, the motion control assembly being adapted and configured for synchronized motion with the drive shaft, the motion control assembly having a member operatively connected to the follower;   wherein when the drive shaft rotates, the drive crank moves the follower toward and away from a face of the segment and the motion control assembly operates in a manner to move the follower toward and away from a leading edge of the segment.   
     
     
         20 . The packer of  claim 19  wherein when the drive shaft rotates, the drive crank moves the follower between engagement and disengagement positions of the shoe with the face of the segment, and the motion control assembly operates in a manner to move the follower such that the shoe is parallel with the face of the segment when the shoe is in the engagement position and the shoe is acutely angled with the face of the segment when shoe is in the disengagement position.