GB765212A - Improvements in and relating to conveying and article handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

765,212. Packing machines. ADAMS POWEL EQUIPMENT, Ltd., [formerly ANGLO SCOTTISH TOOL CO., Ltd.], and POWEL, W. S. Feb. 16, 1954 [Nov. 17, 1952], No. 28975/52. Class 94(1). [Also in Group XXX] In a packing machine, batches each consisting of a predetermined number of articles which have been removed from a conveyer (see Group XXX) are received in turn on seven continuously driven conveyer belts 56 so that each article in batch is on a different belt, the belts being inclined to different degrees to deliver the articles against stops 60 on plates 59 arranged one above the other. From plates 59 the articles are formed into a stack of staircase form and delivered to packing cases 75 by successive operations of a series of pushers 61 controlled by pressure-sensitive switches 27 and carried adjustably on a bar 61 on a slide 63. To deliver a block of fifty-six cartons for packing into a case the pushers are arranged to be reciprocated three times for the width of a carton followed by once for four times the width of a carton, so that a block of four cartons long by two cartons wide by seven cartons high can be delivered every fourth operation. The required movements of the pusher slide 63 are obtained by a lever 74 connected by links 65, 66 to two crank gears of different throw, one of the links having a resilient connection to allow the cranks to work independently. The cranks are driven in appropriate sequence by one revolution clutches actuated by solenoids 71 controlled by switches 67, 68 operated by a selector cam 69 driven from the lever 74. Instead of cranks, cams 85, 86, Fig. 6, may be used. The one revolution clutches are actuated by keys 107 controlled by solenoids 101 and each cam follower 93 is allowed to move freely during operation of the other cam by providing a gap 111 in the outer wall 112 of each cam track. As a further alternative hydraulic or pneumatic means may be used to reciprocate the slide 63. The one revolution clutch driving shaft 22 consists of a loose driven collar provided with recesses engagable by a detent on a spring-urged lever 45 carried by a fixed collar but normally held out of engagement by a stop bar 50 engaging a detent 48 on the lever 45, the bar 50 being moved to release the clutch by a solenoid 51 controlled by the switches 7. At the end of a rotation, switches 7 having been re-opened, bar 50 re-engages detent 48 to lift lever 45 away from the loose collar, reverse rotation being prevented by a back stop 36 engaging a detent on the fixed collar. If during operation, cartons accumulate excessively on the belts 56, the drive to the apparatus is arranged to be cut off by the provision at the side of one of the belts 56 of a feeler switch 83 operating to cut off the drive if contacted for more than a predetermined length of time by a passing article. The block of cartons delivered at each fourth stroke of the pushers 61 is received in a funnel 75 which compacts them. A packing case (not shown) is placed on a pivoted support arm 76 loosely mounted on a shaft 79<SP>1</SP> to which it is releasably connected by a catch (not shown). This catch is normally disengaged, allowing arm 76 to be manually swung upwards to place the case with its mouth over the end of the funnel 75 so as to receive a block of cartons therefrom on a subsequent operation of pushers 61. At the end of the filling stroke of pushers 61 the catch is tripped causing the shaft 79<SP>1</SP> to be coupled to the support arm 76. Shaft 79<SP>1</SP> is driven in a direction to lower the support arm 76 with the filled case gradually to its original position, in which it is automatically uncoupled from the support arm.