GB1335223A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1335223 Packaging machines J SALOMON 21 Dec 1971 [22 Dec 1970] 60880/70 Heading B8C In a packaging machine a collapsed box blank is erected to a tubular configuration, its bottom flaps are closed, and it is placed, in an inverted configuration, over a group of tea bags being moved along a guide 44 by fingers carried by a conveyer 64. The blank is removed from a magazine (2, Fig. 2) by a suction gripper 3 carried by an arm 4 which is pivoted to urge the blank-wall, adjacent that engaged by the gripper 3, against a bar 6, thus causing the blank to be erected. A frame 8, carried by parallel arms 12a, 12b, is then raised to surround the tubular blank, and suction pads 58a carried by the frame engage the sides of the blank to hold it in the frame. A folding bar 16 is then retracted by a jack 16a so as to cause a tab 22 at the edge of a main bottom flap 28 of the box to be folded by an angular folding plate 19. At the same time a pair of shafts 24a are extended by two jacks 50 so that cranks 51a carried thereby are moved clear of cams 26a, thus permitting a spring (27, Fig. 6), connected between the cranks 51a, to pivot the shafts 24a to cause folding members 23a on the shaft to downfold two smaller bottom flaps 25a. The shafts are then retracted. The frame 8 is then moved forwardly and downwardly towards a group of tea bags whilst an arm 21, connected to the folding plate 19 by a spring 21a, is pivoted to cause the plate 19 to fold the main bottom flap 28 on to the two smaller flaps 25a and to insert the tab 22 between the smaller flaps 25a and the box-wall. As the frame 8 is lowered, a main top flap or lid 32 is engaged by a bar 33 and folded thereby to a substantially horizontal position for engagement by suckers (33a, 33b) which pull the box over the tea bags. The frame 8 then releases the box and is raised, the box being engaged for further movement by a chain conveyer 36a. Rotating snail cams 40a, 41a urge the box against the guide so as to enable two smaller top flaps 34a, 34b to be folded inwardly by a stationary serrated folding member 42 and two moving members 43a, 43b. During this time a tab 38 at the edge of the lid 32 is engaged by a bar (37) and down-folded thereby. The lid 32 is then closed in two stages; in the first, the horizontally disposed lid is folded downwardly by a plate 45 carried on a rotary shaft 47, and in the second, the lid is folded upwardly against the floor 44 of the guide by a second plate 46 carried by the shaft 47 at right angles to the plate 45. The closed box is then fed on to a receiving table 44a.