GB1075061A - Improvements in or relating to machines for packaging articles in cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

1,075,061. Endless conveyers; screw conveyers; hopper discharge; delivering, erecting, filling and closing cartons. R. A. JONES & CO. Inc. Nov. 25, 1963, No. 46482/63. Headings B8A, B8C and B8S. Feeding collapsed cartons from magazines.-The bottom carton of a stack 20 (Fig. 20) in a magazine is pulled downwardly by suction cups 146 into engagement with rails 166 so that it is bowed, leaving a space between it and the stack, into which fingers 150 are then moved. The disengaged carton is then released by the suction cups, and is pushed through opening devices by slotted pushers 18 on an endless chain 168. Opening the cartons.-As the cartons are pushed along guides 231 (Fig. 23) fingers 227 (Fig. 20) swing down through recesses 96 (Fig. 23) in the end flaps 95 to engage the end flaps 92 and fold them about guide surfaces 166 to the position shown in Fig. 20. The flaps are then held in this position by guides 223 (Fig. 22) while a ramp 231 engages the leading flaps 94 (Fig. 23) to initiate erection. Pins 233 (Fig. 22) on cranks 228 then swing through gaps 96 (Fig. 23) in the flaps 94 to engage the upper flaps 90 to carry erection further. The erected cartons fit without a gap between adjacent pushers 244 (Fig. 22) on an endless chain 242 to complete their erection. Gripping, cans to be packed. Feeding cans into cartons.-Cans from a plate conveyer (38) (Fig. 7, not shown) are distributed equally between two plate conveyers (12), (14) by a toothed wheel (44) which has magnets (62) in alternate recesses to divert the corresponding cans on to the conveyer (12). The cans on each conveyer are subsequently divided into groups of three by screw conveyers (24) (Fig. 8, not shown) the thread (270) of which increases in thickness along the length of the screws to increase the spacing between groups. The cans are then delivered to plate conveyers (26) (Fig. 9, not shown) where the spacing between groups is maintained by pushers (28), which co-operate with fixed guides (50), (52), (306) to push the cans sideways into erected cartons (20) travelling along the conveyer (240). The guide (306) can be swung aside against a spring if the conveyer jams. Folding back carton flaps. Gluing and closing cartons.-The upper flaps (90) (Fig. 2, not shown) are folded upwardly by ploughs (328), and the lower flaps (92), which have already been fold d downwardly (see Opening the cartons above) are held down by ploughs (330). The leading and trailing flaps (94), (95) (Fig. 17, not shown) are folded inwardy respectively by a fixed plough (338) and by folders (346) carried on endless chains (342). While they are held in this position by the plough (336) the inturned flaps receive glue from a roller (32) (Fig. 5, not shown), and the upper and lower flaps are subsequently turned down on them by ploughs (383), (385) and held in this position by guides (380), (384) long enough to ensure adhesion. Delivering the filled cartons.-At the end of the pusher conveyer (240) (Fig. 10, not shown) the cartons are pulled off the conveyer ahead of the pushers (244) by a pair of friction belts (388). Controlling the speeds of the conveyers.-The speed of the conveyers (12), (14) (Fig. 7, not shown) feeding the cans is controlled by switches operated by feelers (82). Should the feed of cans to these conveyers fail the operation of the later part of the machine is stopped, and the whole machine is stopped if cans jam at any point. Specification 1,075,061 is referred to.