JPS58134822A - Packer for tapered vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a packaging device, and more particularly to a device for packaging a tapered container in a cardboard holder that encloses the container.

It is often desired for commercial purposes to package containers into small group clusters. One widely adopted packaging technique for containers for this purpose uses a cardboard retainer that is folded around the group of containers and is clamped to maintain the integrity of the package. Although this retainer technique has been successful for containers that do not taper inwardly from top to bottom, its use in packaging tapered containers results in: There's a problem.

In one method of packaging tapered containers by the wrap-around retainer technique, the containers are arranged in pairs, side by side in an upright position, so that the opposite sides of the two rows of containers are The tops and bottoms of the packages of product were not parallel to each other as they abutted each other, making it difficult to stack the packages.

In another such packaging method, one row of containers was placed in an upright position and another row of containers in an inverted position. Such rows of containers could be placed side by side or one row could be placed on top of a passive one. However, with this arrangement, the inverted container often leaked. .

These problems encountered in the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which provides a method and apparatus for packaging tapered containers using wrap-around type retainers, which containers are are placed in an upright position in side-by-side rows so that the top and bottom of the final package are parallel to each other to facilitate stacking and minimize leakage. These rows of containers are each charged into a holder, and the relative positions of the containers in each row are controlled as they are loaded into the holder, and this charging is done in such a way as to help the holder rise. It will be done. ,.

The retainer includes a box-shaped support member that fits between the lower portions of the rows of containers to retain one row of containers unfolded to hold the containers spaced apart within the retainer upon completion of packaging. 5 Retainer blanks are placed adjacent to the container blanks which are folded around this row to properly hold the containers of this row in the partially folded retainer blanks. When properly folded around, the struts lie adjacent to the bottom of these containers. Another row of containers is then placed adjacent to said one row of containers and partially folded retainer blank. This second row helps complete the erection of the spine as it is moved into position. The retainer blank is then folded around the second row of containers to properly hold this row. The folded retainer material is then secured to complete the packaging. .

The apparatus of the present invention includes a feed mechanism that feeds the cage blanks individually in a flat, unfolded state to a cage transport mechanism which transports the cage blanks along a straight path into the apparatus. move. A container feeding mechanism is provided to move the containers in two rows in an upright position into the apparatus. A dowel mounting mechanism is provided to properly move one row of containers adjacent to the unfolded retainer blank while maintaining the correct spacing between the containers. As the containers move along with the retainer blank, the blank is partially folded around the first row of containers to place them into the partially folded retainer. As a result, the box-shaped spine is placed adjacent to the bottom of the first row of containers, and one mounting mechanism moves the containers of the second row toward the first row of containers within the partially folded retainer, and finally the first row of containers. The two rows of containers are placed side by side with the first row of containers, so that the bottoms of the second row of containers engage the box-shaped supports to complete their rise, and the spacing between the bottoms is maintained. As the second row of containers is held in place and moved in sync with the partially folded retainer material, this material is folded around the second row of containers to place these containers into the retainer. The mechanism moves the thus mounted and folded retainer through the retainer stop mechanism to securely secure the retainer and maintain the integrity of the package.

The features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description and drawings.

In FIG. 1, a packaging machine 10 includes a cage feed mechanism 11 that feeds an unbent cage material CB into the machine, and a cage feed mechanism 11 that feeds the cage material CB that is not bent into the machine, and a cage feed mechanism 11 that feeds the cage material CB into the machine and transports the material into the machine so that the cage material is loaded and folded into the cage. Cage transfer mechanism 12 that moves along a medium straight path
a container feed mechanism 14 that feeds the containers to be packaged into the machine in a pair of rows; and a container feed mechanism 14 that feeds the container rows from the container feed mechanism 14 into the holder as the holder is moved by the transfer mechanism 12. It includes a container mounting mechanism 15 for holding the package, and a retainer locking mechanism 16 for firmly securing the retainer to maintain the integrity of the package. These various mechanisms are driven by a drive unit 18 which is suitably connected to the various mechanisms via a chain and sprocket arrangement, as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. The container feeding mechanism 14 is driven by a drive unit 18.
However, other mechanisms are connected to the drive unit 18 via a clutch 19 so that the packaging process can be selectively started and stopped.

A cage feed mechanism 11 continuously feeds cage blanks from their source to a cage transfer mechanism 12 which transfers these blanks into the rest of the machine while the packaging process is being carried out. The container loading mechanism 15 moves the row of containers from the container feeding mechanism 14 to a position below the retainer blanks carried by said transfer mechanism and folds one side of these blanks around the containers to secure the row of containers. It should be loaded into a partially bent cage. The same mechanism 15 then moves the other rows of containers into a position adjacent to the first row of containers already loaded into the holder, so that the other rows of containers are aligned with the first row of containers; Additionally, the cage material is folded around other rows of containers to load them into the cage - the cage transfer mechanism 12 then folds the folded cages into the folded cage with the containers loaded therein. It is moved through a retainer stop mechanism 16 which securely holds the folded retainer to maintain the integrity of the package.

The container processed by the machine 10 includes an open top cup CP closed with a lid LD. As shown in Figure 2, the kelp is curved inward from the top to the bottom, so when the containers CT are placed side by side with their tops adjacent to each other and their central axes AC parallel to each other, , the bottoms of the containers are separated from each other.

The cardboard cage CR shown in FIG. 2 is processed by the machine 10 and is of the enclosing type, and is made up of a flat one-piece cage material CB shown in FIG. 3. It is. The material is formed around a centerline CL, with a top panel TP centered on the centerline CLh, and a pair of side panels SP on each side with a bend parallel to the centerline CL along line A. The bends are freely connected. The opposing edges of each side panel SP are bendably connected to the bottom flap BF via a bend line B parallel to the centerline CL. Thus, when the top panel TP is placed over the top of a group of containers, the side panels SP are folded down over the sides of the containers along fold line A, and the bottom flag BF' is then folded down below the containers. are folded inwardly along fold line B so that the projecting ends of the bottom flaps BF overlap each other to form a retainer CR around the group of containers as shown in FIG. .

The particular cardboard holder CR shown is for packaging six tapered containers CT arranged in two side-by-side rows of three containers in each row. However, the holder can be designed to accommodate any number of such containers arranged in two side-by-side rows.

Therefore, the length of the retainer material CB is equal to the length of the two rows R1+R of the three containers CT, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
2, and the width of the top panel TP is such that the vertical axis AC of each row of containers is parallel to the center line CL and on both sides from the center line CL by a distance approximately equal to the radius of the top of the containers. It is the width that covers two rows of containers located along separate PRs. The JJn section panel TP has a plurality of holes DI spaced apart from each other along the center line CL, which holes allow the blank CB to be engaged and moved in the machine 10. The pipe also has a plurality of central projections cT, which fit between adjacent sections of the tops of the two rows of containers so that the sections rest on top of each other. They are folded downward from the top panel to prevent them from rising.These protrusions are also placed along the center line CL of the top panel when folded downward. Bending line A
A plurality of cutouts TC are provided along each of the cutouts TC so that when the side panel SP is folded downwardly along opposite sides of the container, the top edge of the container fits into the cutouts to hold the container properly. . In order to prevent the projecting portions of the tops of the containers from catching on containers in adjacent cages when the cages are stacked, a suitable protective piece GT is provided in the cutout TC.

Since the bottom cutout BC is provided along the bending line B below the material CB, when the side panel SP is folded downward along the opposite side of the row of containers and the bottom flap BF is folded below the containers, The bottom of the container CT is a bottom cutout BC
Go inside O. The container bottom is thus retained in the cutout BC, and each of the side panels SP includes a second fold line C along the top of the cutout BC. Thus, both the upper and lower cutouts TC, BC engage the outer parts of the two rows of containers and serve to hold them correctly in the retainer CR.

The matching cutouts RC used to keep the bottom flaps BF aligned with each other while the retainer is in the locked condition are also made of material C.
B along the bottom bend line B. One of the bottom flaps BF comprises a box-shaped strut member shown in FIG. 3.4 which, when the retainer is completed as shown in FIG. It seems to fit in between. The bottom flap with the spine is provided with a plurality of stop cutouts LC, while the opposing bottom flap BF
The protruding edge of the is provided with a plurality of stop tabs LT, which provide stop cutouts LCO when the bottom flaps are folded over one another to securely maintain the integrity of the retainer CR.
rush inside.

The m-part panel TP also includes a tear strip TS which is removed to separate the holder when it is desired to remove the container from the holder.

The interbranches are cylindrical and have a generally square cross-sectional shape when in the operative position shown in FIG. One side of the support bone is bendably joined to the protruding edge of the bottom flap BF by a bending wire, while the other side is glued to the bottom flap BP via an attachment piece AT. The vertex TS of the vertebrae is
It extends along the length of the bottom flap BP and is connected to the attachment piece AT and the bottom m-y luff BF by side edges SS along both sides along the fold line E. One of the side edges ss is connected to the bottom flap BF along the bending line,
The other one is connected to the attachment piece AT via a bending line F.

Thus, the interbranchial can be changed from the flat position of FIGS. 3-5 to the elevation of FIG. 2 by folding the sides up from the bottom flap until the sides SS are approximately perpendicular to the bottom flang BF. I am woken up by my posture. Before loading the container, the trabeculae are
It is tilted from the flat position shown in the figure to the initial folded position shown in FIG. 6 in a partially raised position.

The top side TS has a plurality of arcuate cutouts AC that align with the bottom cutouts BC of the blank CB, and the cutouts AC face each cutout C8 of the side SS, thereby keeping the container bottom apart and retaining the holder. When the retainer material is raised up for placement in the longitudinal direction of the container, adjacent portions of the container bottom are inserted into the arcuate cutouts AC. Since the bottom flap BF with the support bone has a plurality of arcuate protrusions AP facing the cutouts cs in the side sides SS of the support bone,
The container bottom adjacent to this side rests on these protrusions AP.

The cage feed mechanism 11 is of similar construction to that used in conventional packaging machines that mount cages of the wrap-around type, and is shown in FIGS. The mechanism includes a magazine assembly 2 that supports the overlapping retainer materials CB so that the retainer materials CB are taken out from the magazine assembly 20 one by one.
Contains o.

A swingable suction device 21 is placed adjacent to the magazine assembly, so that the suction device is placed at the beginning of the magazine assembly in order to remove the materials individually from the magazine assembly and place them on a pair of feed chains 22. is swung against the material. The feed chain 722 includes protrusions 24 that engage each material and advance it in a timed manner to lower the plurality of supports 25. In this example, the protrusion 24 on the chain engages the blank CB through the bottom cutout BC and conveys the blank above the support 25. A pair of restraints 26 extend above the material CB and hold the material against the protrusions 24 on the chain to maintain a freely drivable hold. The suction device 21 and the feed chain 22 are driven at regular time intervals with respect to each other, so that the material C8 is placed on the chain end to end. In this manner, the feed chain 22 forces the material along a linear path extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine io.

As the blank CB is propelled by the feed chain 22, the top panel TP passes over and is supported by a guide plate 28, which plate has slots along its length;
This hole coincides with the center line CL of the material. Material is information board 2
8, the wheel 29 with the protrusion 30 is rotated on the top surface of the material, so that the protrusion 30 engages with the central protrusion C on the material and bends it downward into the working position. ,
Thus, the central projecting piece cT projecting downward passes through the slot of the guide plate 28. Mounted on the axis of the wheel 29 is another wheel 31 with a protrusion 32, the wheel 31 having a top edge T between the struts projecting from below the bottom flap BFO of the material.
I am facing the S part. Protrusion 32 on wheel 31
is the side S connecting the top side TS to the bottom flap BF.
It extends into the cutout cs of S, displacing the top edge TS downwardly from the bottom flap and partially raising the spine. A guide plate 34 is provided adjacent to the wheel 31, which operates in conjunction with the wheel to displace the vertebrae enough to cause the vertebrae to assume the position shown in FIG. Material CB
As it is loaded into the tank, it is moved to a fully standing position.

As the stock CB is fed down the guide plate 28, the stock engages the cage transfer mechanism 12 and the protrusion 24 on the chain 22 separates from the stock, so that the mechanism 12 transfers the stock into the machine.

The cage transfer mechanism 12 is of a construction similar to that used in conventional packaging machines for wrap-around cages, and includes an endless chain 35 which runs around an idler sprocket 36 at the feed end. At the delivery end it is mounted around a driven sprocket 38, so that the chain 35 moves along a path extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine. The driven sprocket 38 is synchronously rotated by the drive unit 18 via the clutch 19, as shown in FIG. A plurality of support plates 3 along the chain 35
9, the support plate 39 engages with the top panel TP when the material passes through. Every other supporting plate 39 is provided with a hemispherical protrusion 40 which enters the material top panel TPO hole DH for driving the material by the transfer mechanism 12. The protrusions 40 are appropriately spaced along the chain 35 so that they align with holes DH in the stock as it is fed end-to-end from the feed mechanism 11. When the projection 40 first engages the hole DH, the material is supported on the guide plate 28 opposite the projection 40. Chain 35 then moves the material away from guide plate 28 and onto the tops of a row of containers, so that the material is supported on the tops of these containers opposite plate 39 and projection 40 and in driving engagement. It is maintained. The protrusion 40 moves the material into the machine along a horizontal straight path PL,
Figure 9A shows that the center line of the material is aligned with this path.
This is shown in FIG. 9B.

The container feed mechanism 14 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a pair of spaced apart conveyors 41, which convey containers C
machine 1 along mutually parallel paths.
Move into 0. Each conveyor 41 includes a hold-down plate 42 that engages the top of the container to keep the container upright and in operative engagement with the conveyor. A pair of side guide pieces 44 are provided to keep the containers laterally on the conveyor 41 so that the containers on the conveyor are oriented in a single row as each conveyor 41 transfers containers into the machine 10. It is located in . To distinguish between the two conveyors, one is designated 41a and the other 41b. Side guide piece 4 on conveyor 41a
4 horizontally transports the row R1 of containers from the conveyor 41a to the first
moving the first row of containers R1 along the mounting path P1, deflecting the container to a position where it should engage the container mounting mechanism 15;
The vertical axis AC of the containers of row R1 is aligned with one of the row paths PR on the material CB carried by the transfer mechanism 12. A side guide piece 44 on the conveyor 41b displaces the containers in the second row R2 laterally of the conveyor and allows them to move along a path P2, which is distant from the path P1 but generally controlled by the mounting mechanism 15. It is parallel to P1.

The container loading mechanism 15 is shown in Figures 9-13 and includes a first conveyor 4 for positioning the row R1 of containers relative to the stock.
5 and a second conveyor 46 for positioning the row R2 of containers relative to the stock.

To support the row R1 of containers positioned on the conveyor 45, a horizontally extending sliding piece 48 is provided, onto which the bottoms of the containers of the row R1 are transferred from the conveyor 41a. The sliding piece 48 is oriented parallel to the path PL and is also aligned perpendicularly to the row path PR on the blank which is placed between the center line CL of the blank and the bottom flap BF with the support. The sliding piece 48 moves the moving mechanism 1 by a distance corresponding to the height of the container.
2, the sliding piece keeps the top of the container against the underside of the workpiece to maintain driving engagement between the moving mechanism 12 and the workpiece CB. Sliding piece 48
extends from the conveyor 41a into the machine, in order to first support the containers of row R1 until they are installed in the holder, and then to support the holder after row R1 is installed. .

Positioning conveyor 45 serves to engage and hold the retainer blank CB on the inside of row R1 to leave the outside exposed for folding over the outside of container row R1. The conveyor includes an endless conveyor chain 49 having a pair of spaced apart sprockets 5 which are rotatable about a vertical axis so that the chain moves in a horizontal plane.
It operates around 0. The vertical support shaft 51 to which one of the sprockets 50 is attached is driven from the drive unit 18 via the clutch 19, so that the conveyor chain 49 is moved synchronously with the movement of the workpiece CB on the transfer mechanism 12. Conveyor chain 49 includes a plurality of container engaging members 52 equally spaced along its length, and these members 52 have retaining convex surfaces 54 on both sides so that each retaining member 52 is located in row R1. The row R1 is fitted between adjacent containers of
It helps to keep the containers in an upright position with the correct spacing to align the top of the container with the top cutout TC in the blank.

Conveyor 45 can also move container CT along path P1 synchronously with the movement of blank CB by transfer mechanism 12 to keep the container aligned with top cutout TC in the blank.

Since the materials CB move end-to-end along the path PL, the containers in the row R1 are automatically aligned with each material, so there is no need to separate them into separate groups for each material. Therefore, materials of different lengths can be received without changing the adjustment of the conveyor 45.

Since the conveyor 45 is placed at a height Hl which is greater than the height between the support members when it is raised and above the sliding piece 48, the support members come into contact with the container engaging member 52 during the bending operation to be described later. do not. As shown in FIG. 9A, as the conveyor chain 49 moves clockwise around the hasp chain 50, the container engaging member 52 engages the containers sent from the feed conveyor 41a at the left end of the conveyor and moves them into the row R.
1 moves it to the right edge. When the container engaging member 52 first engages the container CT at the feeding end of the conveyor 45, the conveyor 4
One side guide piece 440 on 1a supports the container opposite member 52, as shown in FIG.

When the conveyor 45 moves the container row R1 synchronously with the material after passing the side guide piece 44, the side surface of the material with the support rib is bent over the outside of the container row, so that the top cutout TC is made as shown in FIG. engage the top of the container as shown. This bending is performed while the top panel TP is being held down by the holding member 57.

This is done by a bending rod 55 shown in FIG.

The retainer serves to position the top of the container relative to the material. As the containers and materials continue to move synchronously by the conveyor 45 and cage transfer mechanism 12, another bending rod 5
5 engages with the partially bent side of the material and bends each material S
Since it will be folded around O and C, cut out the bottom part of the material B.
C engages the bottom edge of the container to position the bottom of the container relative to the material. The bending rod 56 also bends the bottom flap of the spine support under the slide piece 48. Bottom flap has sliding piece 4
The rear sliding piece 48 bent under 8 has an inclined slot 5.
8 passes through this slot so that the bottom flap BF can pass through this slot and ride on top of the slide piece 48 as shown in FIG. This places the interbranches along the inside of the row R1 of the containers, so that the arcuate cutouts AC of the stems are placed opposite the bottom cutouts BC. At this time, since the bottom flap BF rests on the top of the sliding piece 48, the containers in the row R1 are completely supported in the partially bent blank CB.

At approximately the same time, the bottom flap is moving upwardly through the slot 58 in the slide and the conveyor 45 releases the container, since some bending of the container is already ensured by the material. The bending rod 56 is attached to the side panel S toward the outside of the container.
As soon as P is folded, side guide pieces 79 engage the outside of the side panels to keep the material in place as it moves through the machine. Each of the partially folded blanks is then prepared for loading in row R2.

A horizontal sliding plate 60 is provided to support row R2 of containers as it is positioned on conveyor 46. Sliding plate 6
0 is on the same plane as the sliding plate 48 and coincides with the path P2 in the vertical direction, a first straight portion 61, and a second inclined portion 62 located at the end of this straight portion and facing the feed conveyor 41b. and this conveyor 41b is inclined toward the path P1. The first part 61 is the infeed conveyor 4
1b to a position past the exit end of the conveyor 45, the second portion 62 extends from the exit end of the first portion 61 to a second sliding piece 64, which 1 is located adjacent to and extends parallel to one slide 48 from a slot 58 in the slide 48 to the exit end of the machine. The sliding piece 64 is on the same plane as the sliding piece 48, and is perpendicularly opposed to the path PR in which the row R1 of containers is aligned.

The conveyor 46 is an il endless conveyor chain 65
, the chain 65 is rotatable about a vertical axis 9 1
Since it moves around a pair of separated sprockets 66,
The movement of the chain 65 is parallel to the movement of the chain 48 on the conveyor 45Ki. Conveyor chain 65 includes a plurality of equally spaced container engaging members 52 as in conveyor 45, and thus includes a plurality of equally spaced container engaging members 52.
1] Fits between adjacent containers of R2 to keep them in an upright position. Member 52 on chain 65 engages the outside of row R2, whereas guide member 68 engages the inside of row R2 opposite member 52, so that the containers in row R2 are in driving engagement with member 52. It is maintained. Chain 65 also
Moving clockwise as shown in FIG. 9A, the left end of conveyor 46 engages the container fed from infeed conveyor 41b and moves the container along path P2. The container engaging member 52 on the chain 65 is placed on the slide 6o at the same height as the member 52 on the chain 49 of the conveyor 45 is placed on the slide 48.

The conveyor 46 [also includes a second conveyor chain 69 which moves around a sprocket 66 at the outlet end of the chain 65, the sprocket 66 being a dual sprocket and the other sprocket 70 far behind. The side of the chain 69 facing the containers in row R2 is partially bent and the first container in the material CB is folded.
To move diagonally toward row R1 of
An arcuate chain guide 71 is provided between 6 and 70. The second chain 69 also includes container engaging members 52 equally spaced along its length so that these members 52 engage and engage the containers in row R2 at the outlet end of the chain 65. is moved along the inclined path P3 toward the row R1 of containers in the material CB. Guide member 68 is angled to extend along row R2 opposite container engaging member 52 on chain 69 so that driving engagement of member 52 with the containers in row R2 is maintained. The chain 69 moves the containers in row R2 along the path P3 onto the slide 64 so that these containers are moved along the path P4.
is moved along. Sprocket 7o is vertical support shaft 7
2 and this shaft is driven from the drive unit 18 via the clutch 19, so that the conveyor chain 69.65 moves synchronously with the movement of the material CB. Therefore,
The container engaging member 52 on the chain 69 moves the containers in row R2 to follow the path PR on the material, thus
The top of the inner container continues to merge with the top cutout TC on the unbent side of the blank CB. While the material is moved by the transfer mechanism 12 past the conveyor 45, the
A support piece 74, shown in Figure 1, keeps the side of the blank without the spine out of engagement with the containers in row R2.

In this manner, container engaging member 52 on chain 69 is positioned lower than the location of member 52 on chain 65, so that member 52 on chain 69 engages near the bottom of the container.

When the containers of row R2 are transferred from path P3 to path P4, the bottoms of these containers engage the arcuate cutouts AC in the inter-branches of the uprights, causing them to rise as shown in FIG. Press into position. Therefore, it can be seen that positioning the containers in row R2 below the material also helps in elevating the cochlear fossa.

When the chain 69 of the conveyor 46 moves the containers in row R2 to match the path PR on the material, the bending rod 75 bends and lowers the side panel SP in the soil outside row R2, while The member 77 is configured so that the containers in the row R2 are transported to the conveyor 4.
The top panel TP on the unfolded side of the blank is held over the top of the containers as the top cutouts 6 are engaged with the containers to align the containers with the blank. This causes the material CB to engage the containers of row R2 sufficiently to cause row R2 to be transported along the slide piece 64 along with the partially folded material. As each blank CB continues to move on the transfer mechanism 12, another folding bar 76 completes the folding of the outer side panel SP of row R2 and also moves the blank along fold lines B, C. Fold the bottom flap BF along the row R
2 to engage the bottom of the container in fold row R2 to keep the container in place.

The bending rod 76 folds the bottom flap BF under the slide piece 64 and there is an inclined slot 78 in the slide piece 64 so that the bending rod 76 inserts the bottom flap into the slot 78. The bottom flap thus rides on top of the sliding piece 64 and is placed below the already folded bottom flap BF of the spine support, as shown in FIG.

As soon as the side panel SP of the stock is folded down over the outside of row R2, the side beam inner piece 80 engages the side panel to keep it in place during movement of the stock.

As shown in Figure 14, the material is folded together with the cage and all that remains is the bottom flap B of the cage.
P is stopped and the packaging process is completed.

The transfer mechanism 12 moves the bent retainer CR through the sliding piece 48.
．． 64 and through the stop mechanism 16. The stop mechanism 16 is similar to that in conventional machines of the same type and includes a pair of matching discs 81, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 15, which are connected to the sliding pieces 48. 64 and includes tapered members 82 around the disc, which are rotatably mounted on vertical axes on opposite sides of the disk.
engage with the matching cutouts RC on both sides of the folded cage CR as it passes by. The code disc 81 is
Driven by the drive unit 18 via the clutch 19 synchronously with the movement of the retainer CR, the member 82 engages the cutout RC and moves the stopper LT on the bottom flap BF to the other bottom flap BF. Align with the stop cutout LC. While the stopper and cutout LC are aligned in this manner, the protrusion 85 on the detent wheel 84 below the slider 48.64 extends between these sliders and cuts out the stopper LT into the LC. Push the retainer CR into place as shown in FIG. 15 to stop the retainer CR. During this operation, the retainer 86 is
Continue to hold P to the top of the two rows of containers. This completes the packaging process, resulting in the finished package shown in FIG.

Although the above description indicates specific embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the above embodiments as the invention may be practiced in other embodiments.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of the completed cage, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cage material, Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the support section, and Fig. 5 is FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view of a portion of the material showing the support bone in a flat state; FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view of the support bone partially raised; FIG. Line 8-. 9A is a horizontal section taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 1, showing the left half; FIG. 9B is a right half;
10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9A, FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9A, and FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 9A. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 9A, FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 9B; FIG. 10... Packaging machine; ll... Cage feeding mechanism; 12...
Transfer mechanism; 14... Container feeding mechanism: 15... Container mounting mechanism; 16... Cage stop mechanism; 18... Drive unit): CT... Container; CR... Cage; CB... Cage material; 41... Conveyor: 48, 64... Sliding piece; 52.
- Container engaging member; 72... Vertical support shaft nearer 6... Bending rod.

Claims (1)

Claims: A method for packaging containers comprising the steps of: a) moving an unfolded retainer along a predetermined path; C) folding the retainer around the predetermined number of containers to place the retainer over the top of the predetermined number of containers; fixing the position of the containers in the row, and d) moving a second row of containers with a predetermined spacing corresponding to the spacing of the containers in the m1 row toward the containers in the first row, thereby increasing the predetermined number of containers in the second row; e) fold the retainer around the second row of containers to fix the position of the second row of containers relative to the retainer; f) A packaging method as described above, characterized in that it comprises the step of firmly securing the holder to keep the container properly within the holder. 2. A packaging method used for a tapered container and a retainer comprising a bendable box-shaped support that is positioned between the container bottoms when raised to hold the container bottoms apart from each other, The steps of folding the retainer around a predetermined number of containers in the first row serve to place the struts adjacent to the bottoms of the containers in the first row, and also to place the containers in the second row into the containers in the first row. The steps for moving the containers of the second row toward engage the bottoms of the containers of the second row with said struts and raise said struts between the containers of the first and second rows. horizontally first
2. A packaging method as claimed in claim 1, including moving towards the row. 3. The stairway of bending the retainer around the first row of containers is defined by a patent claim that includes raising the support beams on the retainer from a flat state to a partially ascending state before that step. Range 2nd
Packaging method as described in section. 4. A patent claim that includes synchronously moving the first row containers and the holder while folding the holder, and further synchronously moving the second row containers and the holder while folding the holder. The packaging method described in Scope 1. 5. In a device for packaging a group of containers by placing them in a foldable holder that wraps around the circumference 9 of the container and holds it correctly when folded, each of the holders that are not yet folded. a holder positioning device for positioning a container, a first row of containers is placed adjacent to each holder placed by the positioning device, the holder is folded around a predetermined number of containers in the first row; The containers are loaded into the holder, and after bending the holder of the first row container roll, the second row containers are placed adjacent to the holder and the first row containers loaded therein. -26, the above-mentioned packaging device, characterized in that it has a container mounting device for arranging the containers in a second row, bending the container around a predetermined number of containers in the second row, and loading these containers into the container; A packaging device used for retainers and tapered containers that has a bendable box-shaped support that is positioned between the container bottoms when raised to hold the container bottoms apart from each other, and is used for container attachment. The device is adapted to place the struts adjacent to the bottoms of the first row of containers upon folding of the retainer about the first row, and the mounting device is adapted to attach to the second row of containers. Claims 1 and 2 are adapted to move the containers of the second row laterally towards the first row so as to engage said struts and raise them between the first and second rows. The packaging device according to scope 5. 7. The retainer positioning device includes a retainer conveyor that continuously moves the retainer along a predetermined loading path, and the container loading device includes a retainer conveyor that moves the first row of containers at predetermined intervals in synchronization with the motion of the retainer. further comprising a first conveyor for placing a first row of containers adjacent to the retainers such that each retainer engages the tops of a predetermined number of containers in the first row; a first folding device for folding around a portion of the containers and loading the containers into the holders; each holder engaging the tops of a predetermined number of containers in the second row; a second conveyor for moving a second row of predetermined spaced containers in synchronism with the cage movement behind the first folding device so that the containers are arranged side by side with the first row of containers; 7. A packaging device according to claim 6, further comprising a second folding device for folding one side of the container around the second row of containers to load the containers into the holder. 8. The packaging device according to claim 7, which includes a pre-erecting device that partially raises the support bones of each of the holders from a flat state before the first bending device bends the holder. . 9 The first conveyor consists of an endless conveyor chain for movement along an endless track adjacent to the first row of containers, and a plate attached to engage the first row of containers and move these containers at predetermined intervals. a second conveyor for movement along a track adjacent to the second row of containers and spaced apart laterally of said first conveyor; a plurality of container engaging members on the first chain for moving two rows of containers; and a plurality of container engaging members on the first endless chain;
a second endless conveyor chain moving along a track between a position behind the I conveyor and adjacent to the first row containers; to move the containers laterally towards the first row containers.
a plurality of container engaging members mounted on the second conveyor chain to engage row containers.
Packaging equipment as described in section. 10. A first sliding support device for slidably supporting the first row of containers during movement of the containers by the first conveyor, and a first sliding support device for slidably supporting the containers during movement of the second row of containers by the second conveyor; 8. The packaging device according to claim 7, further comprising a second sliding support device for supporting the packaging device. 11 a first sliding support device for slidably supporting the first row of containers during movement of the containers by the first conveyor;
a second sliding support device for slidably supporting the second row of containers during movement by the conveyor; and first and second conveyor chains for maintaining driving engagement of the container engaging member with the second row of containers; 10. The packaging apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a guide device for slidably engaging the second row of containers relative to the upper container engaging member. 12. A packaging device according to claim 11, including a feeding device for storing the unfolded cages and feeding them individually from the source to the cage conveyor. 13. A packaging device 714 according to claim 12, comprising a feeding device for arranging the containers and feeding the containers in the first and second rows out of the array to the loading device. 15. Packaging device according to claim 13, including a stop device for stopping the already folded retainer for continued retention. The method includes the steps of: placing the support in a partially upright position adjacent to the bottom of a first row of containers; moving the second row of containers laterally toward the first row of containers so as to engage the spine and raise it sufficiently to maintain the bottoms of the first and second rows of containers in a spaced apart position; and the above method.