US2106975A - Article feeding and packaging mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1, 1938. J. N. FRANCIS 2,106,975

ARTICLE FEEDING AND. PACKAGING MECHANISM v Filed Sept. 18, 1934 Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE FEEDING AND PACKAGING MECHANISM Application September 18, 1934, Serial No. 744,545

7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for feedingand packaging articles as from a machine in which the articles are made, so as to'largely eliminate the necessity of handy operations. More particularly the'invention has been developed for the feeding andpackaging of cylindrical'articles, especially such as are-of light weight, as, for example, cylindrical paper tube containers intended to be used in the packaging of coin. While not restricted to such use, it will be more fully described'in connection with amachine for forming'such coin containers illustrated in my Patent No. 1,690,287 granted November 6, l928'for Meth- 0d and machine for making paper tubes.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing inwhich Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of'a portion of a coin .wrapper forming machine-illus- 0 trated in my patent hereinbefore mentioned,

showing the mechanism of this invention attachedthereto, the feeding trough or chute being shown in section.

Figure 2 is aside elevationoi the same.

Figure 3 is-a fragmentary top plan of the same.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing the end of the packaging chute and the carton in which the articles are to be packaged.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 I of Figure 3-, but drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

In Figures 1, 2, and 3 at I is indicated a portionof theframe. of the paper tube forming machine illustrated in my PatentNo. 1,690,287 and at 2 in Figure 1 is indicated a rotary shaft journaled insaid frame, this shaft corresponding to theshaftnumbered 34am Figure 6 in the patent. To thisframeis secured a supplemental supporting frame 3, this supplemental frame being shown: as secured to the frame I as by the screws 4. This frame has journaled crosswise therein a. shaft: 5 on, which is secured a bevel pinion 6 and two gears I and 8. The gear-1. is in posi tionto mesh,wlth a gear 9 corresponding to the gear 341 shown in my'patent and which is se cured to the shaft 2'. The gear-B meshes with a gear llliournaled on the shaft H, but arranged tc be clamped thereto by means shown best in Figure-6. Thegear l0 isprovided with a hub 12 having a, bore l3- for the reception of the shaft H, this bore being provided with a lateral enlargement l4 within which ispositioned-a friction shoe l5. This shoieimaybe formed of leather; or.- any other suitable material, and is arranged to be pressed into frictional engagement with the shaft i l as by means of the set screw [6 threaded through the hub l2 and bearing at its inner end against the shoe 15. This provides a driving connection between the gear Ill and the shaft H which can slip, should the parts intended to be driven from the shaft H offerundue resistance. It also permits easy angular adjustment of the wheel to time it with the discharge of tubes from the forming machine.

The shaft H carries outwardly of the frame 3 a pinion H! which may be pinned thereto and which meshes witha ring gear 24 secured to a wheel 11. This wheel I! is journaled on a shaft l8, one end of which extends into the frame member 3, and the other end of which is held in a bracket securedas by-a screw 2| to frame member 3. This wheel I! is arranged with a plane of rotation substantially axially disposed relative to an open topped chute or trough member 22, the end of which next to the wheel being shown as supported by an arm 23 extending from the bracket 20. V

The wheel I! as shown is provided with a pair of parallel spaced sets of peripheral teeth 25, the teeth of each set being arranged oppositely disposed to each other so as to define between them spaces such as 26 within which may be placed articles to be fed and packaged, as, for example,

the paper tubes such as 21. These tubes as they r are formed by the machine are ejected onto an endless conveyor 30 shown in Figure '1 as comprising a belt 32 extending over the end rollers 33 and 34. One of these rollers such as 34 is provided with a pulley 35. over which a belt 36 passes. This belt leads about a pulley 31 on a shaft 38 which also carries a beveled pinion 39 meshing with the pinion 6. Thus the belt 30 is driven at a relatively rapid speed so that as the articles are delivered thereto from the machine they are quickly transferred endwise and projected into the space between adjacent pairs of teeth 25 onthe wheel ll.

In order to make sure that these articles are positioned properly locatediendwise so as to de liver on rotation of the wheel to the chute 22, guiding and positioning means have been illus trated. Such means comprises an abutment plate 45 which is arcuate to follow the curvature of the toothed periphery of the wheel ll, this-plate e:';-

chute 22 so that as the articles 21 are initially projected between the teeth of the wheel, they impinge on the plate 45 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, whereupon as the wheel I! is rotated they are brought back to proper endwise position to enter the open end of the chute 22. Cooperating with the plate 45 is shown a second arcuate plate 46 positioned on the opposite side of the wheel in position to prevent excessive rebound of the articles as they strike the plate 45. These two plates cooperate to position the articles properly lengthwise, both converging at their lower ends to the sides of the chute.

The bottom wall of the chute has an extension 50 at its entering end, as shown best in Figures 3 and 5, provided with fingers 5| which extend between and on either side of the sets of teeth 25 to form supporting elements to receive the articles 21 as they are lowered thereonto by rotation of the wheel [1, and in order to insure the discharge of these articles into the mouth of the chute, the lower face of each of the teeth 25 on the discharge side of the wheel is formed convexed as at 53 so as to act as a cam to force the articles onto the chute as the wheel I! is rotated. The upper side of'each of the teeth on this side of the wheel is preferably concave as at 54 to form a receptacle to retain the articles in position until they are lowered onto the chute extension 50.

As shown the chute 22 has its outer end formed to be inserted into the carton 60 in which the articles are to be packaged and in order to facilitate the insertion of the chute, its wall portions may be cut away on each side as at 6| and 62,

leaving the bottom wall 63 extended so as to be.

easily insertable in the carton. Thus the articles to be packaged are fed in through the chute into the carton and as the portion of the chute extending thereinto becomes filled to the open end of the carton, the top flap 65 may be lowered into the chute, thus holding the articles therein while the carton with the contents may be slipped ofi from the end of the chute. The side wall 62 of the chute is cut away to a substantial extent further than the opposite side wall which permits the hands of the operator to be inserted freely when the carton is nearly withdrawn so as to aid in insuring the complete filling of the carton as it is withdrawn.

In order to facilitate the complete filling of the carton, the article shown being of small heightwise dimension relative to the carton and elongated to nearly the width of the chute, means may be provided for preventing or impeding reverse motion of the articles in the chute and also to guide those coming in after the lower portion of the chute has been substantially filled, into superposed relation thereto. As shown this means consists of a baffle plate 10 of angular form which is shown as pivoted at 1| to the upper portion of the chute side walls near their entering end. It hangs down freely by gravity into the chute and is of sufiicient length so that the articles may pass easily toward the carton, but the plate prevents or impedes reverse direction movement of the articles. The portion 13 of the plate extends upwardly inclined toward the carton end of the chute, thus acting to guide articles which are pushed therepast' after the chute has become partially filled, toward the upper portion of the chute, thus to permit the articles to be fed in until the carton is full to the top of the chute. The carton may then be withdrawn and the top fiap .65 pushed down, after which the carton may beentirely withdrawn in filled condition from the chute. The plate may be lifted to permit removal of any articles which may become caught or jammed at the entrance to the chute.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a chute, a wheel having a plane of rotation substantially in the axis of said chute and projecting above the bottom of said chute, said wheel having peripheral teeth defining between them article receiving spaces from which articles are fed to said chute as said wheel is rotated, means for feeding articles successively into said spaces above the bottom of said chute in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation of said wheel, an abutment on one side of said wheel forming a stop against which the articles so fed may impinge, and inclined toward said wheel adjacent to said chute, means for rotating said wheel, and means cooperating with said abutment on the other side of said wheel to position said articles laterally of said wheel.

2. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a chute, a wheel having a plane of rotation substantially in the axis of said chute and projecting above the bottom of said chute, said wheel having peripheral teeth defining between them article-receiving spaces from which articles are fed to said chute as said wheel is rotated, means for feeding articles successively into said spaces above the bottom of said chute in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation of said wheel, an abutment on one side of said wheel forming a stop against which the articles so fed may impinge, and means for rotating said wheel, said abutment being spaced from said wheel where articles are fed thereto and converging toward said Wheel adjacent to said chute.

3. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a chute, a wheel having a plane of rotation substantially in the axis of said chute and projecting above the bottom of said chute, said wheel having peripheral teeth defining between them article-receiving spaces from which articles are fedto said chute as said wheel is rotated, means for feeding articles successively into said spaces above the bottom of said chute in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation of said wheel, an abutment on one side of said wheel forming a stop against which the articles so fed may inpinge, means for rotating said wheel, said abutment being spaced from said wheel where articles are fed thereto and converging toward said wheel adjacent to said chute, and a stationary guide member on the opposite side of said wheel from said abutment cooperating with said abutment to position the articles laterally as they enter said chute.

4. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a chute shaped to enter and support a carton for packaging articles, means for feeding articles of small heightwise dimension relative to said carton successively along the bottom of said chute into said carton, and aplate hinged to the upper portion of said chute and free to swing on its hinge axis and inclined downwardly and in the direction of passage of articles therein toward said carton, said plate having an upward extension from its lower portion inclined toward said carton in position to direct said articles into said carton in superposed relation.

5. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a, chute shaped to support a carton for packaging articles, means for feeding articles of small heightwise dimension relative to said carton and to the depth of said chute successively along the bottom of said chute into said carton, and an obstruction in the upper portion of said chute and normally depending therein to a position adjacent to its base but spaced therefrom by an amount sufiicient to permit the passage of a single layer of said articles therebeneath.

6. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a chute shaped to support a carton for packaging elongated articles arranged laterally of the chute and of small heightwise dimension relative to said carton and to the depth of said chute, means for feeding said articles successively along the bottom of the chute into said carton, and guide means in said chute extending from a position adjacent to said base but spaced therefrom sufficient for the passage of a single layer of articles therebeneath and inclined upwardly in the direction of feed and with the lower face of which said articles may engage to direct said articles into superposed relation into said carton until said carton is substantially filled.

7. A mechanism of the class described, comprising a chute shaped to support a carton for packaging elongated articles arranged laterally of the chute and of small heightwise dimension relative to said carton and to the depth of said chute, means for feeding said articles along said chute, and a guide plate in said chute depending in said chute to a position adjacent to the bottom thereof but normally spaced therefrom sufiicient to allow said articles in a single layer to pass therebeneath and obstructing said chute above said space against passage of the articles, the lower face of said guide plate being inclined upwardly in the direction of feed to direct said articles into superposed relation in said carton until said carton is substantially filled.

JOSEPH N. FRANCIS.

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