GB650904A - Improvements relating to the pre-folding or reversing of cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

650,904. Packaging. QUAKER OATS, Ltd. July 14, 1948, No. 18943. [Class 94(i)] A method of reversing collapsed cartons comprises feeding the collapsed carton from the bottom of a stack with the fold edges at right angles to the direction of feed, inclining the collapsed carton to bring the leading edge into engagement with displaceable stop means whereby the carton is partially opened, advancing the carton by pressure on the trailing fold edge to bring the leading edge into contact with a fixed stop whereby the carton is fully opened, and exerting pressure on the lower trailing edge and rear side panel to collapse the carton in the reversed condition. Dogs 16 on a pair of endless chains 17, driven from a transverse shaft 19, engage the rear edge C2 of the lowermost of a magazine M of collapsed cartons to convey the carton below a vertically movable gate 7 on the magazine, which gate has been raised by a link 11 loosely pivoted on a rock shaft 12 and moved by a stop 14 secured to said shaft, the shaft 12 itself being oscillated, through lever means, by a cam 47 on the shaft 19. The dogs 16 also serve to move the next lowest carton, by frictional engagement of their top surfaces therewith, against the gate 7 which drops as soon as the lowest carton passes. From the magazine the dogs carry the carton on to pivoted lifting fingers 32 which have been inclined upwardly, through lever means, by a cam 33 on the shaft 19, and move the carton up these fingers to bring its leading edge C1 into contact with fingers 41 on the oscillating shaft 12, which fingers recede more slowly than the dogs 16 advance so that the carton will begin to open. The fingers 41 recede past a fixed stop 49 which is then engaged by the leading edge of the carton at the same time as forward faces 55 of pushers 54 extending outwardly from a pair of discs 53 on the rotating shaft 19 engage the trailing carton edge C2 and cause the carton to open out with its upper face abutting bars 50, the lifting fingers 32 having been lowered. Continued movement of the pusher discs 53 brings second pusher faces 56 into engagement with the rear panel C3 of the carton to begin its collapse into a reversed state and, continuing its collapse, push the carton off the stop 49 under reversing guides 51 into the bight of a pair of idle rolls 57 and a co-operating pair of stepped rotary elements 61, driven from the shaft 19 at twice the speed of the pusher discs 53, which complete the collapse of the carton and feed it to a delivery conveyer 52 into overlapping relationship with a previously reversed carton. Suction means may be provided for starting the carton opening action. Alternate stop means may be provided to cut out the driving motor if there are insufficient cartons in the magazine or if a carton becomes misplaced.