GB970908A - Machine for packing containers - Google Patents

Abstract

970,908. Packaging machines; endless conveyers. J. H. WALTER. Oct. 8, 1962 [Oct. 9, 1961], No. 38024/62. Headings B8A and B8C. Bottles or other containers are supplied on a conveyer 60 to an endless conveyer 58, Fig. 2, on which a cam-operated gate opens at intervals to release groups of bottles to the control of bars 162 carried by a pair of endless chains 160, the bottles being assembled between partitions 178 of a frame 176, Fig. 10, until a grid 204 is reciprocated to allow the bottles to drop through partitions 198 into a crate which is raised on a plate 334. Bottle assembly.-The bottles are marshalled into lanes formed by partitions 62. An adjustable cam, Fig. 7 (not shown), operating the control gate enables the number of bottles passing through the four entrances in the gate to be predetermined. The gate is formed by hexagonal rods pivotable on a vertical axis and carrying roller members, Fig. 6 (not shown), which bar the bottle path until the rods are rotated. The chains 160 are driven more slowly than the conveyer 58 so that, on passing through the gate, the bottles are restrained by a bar 162 which precedes them. The leading bottles, passing on to a support plate (not shown), slow down those following until a second bar 162 catches them up and pushes them between the partitions 178, where they rest on members 208 of the grid 204. The bars 162 pass under partitions 64. Crating and crate movement.-A box member 266 having a limited movement on rollers 276 transfers empty crates to a ramp 258 pivoted respectively to the box member and to members supporting the plate 334. The crates are moved by a bar 306 carried by chains 304 and bars 290 carried by chains 288. On reaching the plate 334, the crate is raised to receive bottles which fall through resilient members 202 depending from the partitions 198. The crate raising mechanism comprises a carriage, formed by a pair of forks 338 carried by uprights 342, which is reciprocated up and down in an arcuate path by crank members. The plate 334 and associated members ride freely on the carriage but in a vertical path due to rollers 358 tracking a flange 360 on the machine frame. After loading, the crates pass on to rollers 312 on a ramp 310 pivoted to the plate support at one end and at the other carried by a roller 314. Switches cause the drive of the machine to be broken should the feed of crates or bottles fail, or if a bottle becomes displaced during crating.