GB1210097A - An automatic packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,210,097. Packaging apparatus. AZIONARIA COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.p.A. 29 Nov., 1967 [3 Dec., 1966], No. 54373/67. Heading B8C. Automatic apparatus for erecting, filling and closing box-like cartons consisting of an inner flexible envelope and an external protective envelope with foldable end flaps, comprises a conveyer belt mechanism on a supporting frame, means for supplying, opening and transferring the cartons to the conveyer belt, and, successively arranged along the path of the conveyer belt, a unit including tensioning members for spreading said end of the inner envelope in the feed direction, means for heat sealing said one end of the inner envelope, and means for folding up the end flaps of the external envelope. In the arrangement shown, flattened cartons complete with an inner flexible envelope are removed from a magazine 11a 11b, 11c by withdrawal mechanism, consisting of suckers 14 on a pivotable upright 13, and are opened out by mechanism 12, 16 engaging flaps 4 and are transferred into spaces between blocks 8 on an endless belt 7. The blocks 8 have pivoted tangs 9 which are automatically forced out of slots 8b when the belt 7 assumes a curved path as it passes round associated guide pulleys. As each carton is carried in the direction of arrow A between a pair of blocks 8 the bottom flaps 4 are flattened outwards by shoe 20. The carton then passes to a station (Fig. 3, not shown) where a series of cam-operated pivoted fingers 24, 25 conveyed on an endless chain 22 engage the inside of the inner flexible envelope to spread it in the direction of travel so as to bring the opposing sides together. The cartons then pass to an assembly 37 (Fig. 4) where the end of the inner flexible envelope is fed between contacting pressure rollers 39, which also open outwards the flaps of the outer envelope, to a passage 40 between two heating plates 41 and subsequently between a pair of cooled pressure rollers 42 for thermo sealing the end of the inner envelope. The carton then passes to an adhesive applying device 45, 46, 47 which applies adhesive to the opened-out flaps of the outer envelope and subsequently past a member 48b which folds in one side flap 3 and then past an oscillating pawl (50, Fig. 5, not shown) which engages and folds up the leading end flap 2 then past a pair of co-operating slotted driven discoid members (72, 81, Figs. 5-10, not shown) which engage and fold up the trailing end flap 2, and then past a shaped twisted member (82, Fig. 5) which engages and folds up the remaining side flap 4. The carton, subsequently, is conveyed to filling and top closing mechanism.