US1388422A

US1388422A - Apparatus for sealing containers

Info

Publication number: US1388422A
Application number: US260247A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanton W Forsman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1918-10-30
Filing date: 1918-10-30
Publication date: 1921-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1938-08-23

Description

S. W. FORSMAN.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1918.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921,

4 SHEETSSHEET l- IN VENTOR J. n FORM/AM ///3 ATTORNEYS ZZEMW S. W. FORSMAN.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 30, 1918.

1,388,422. Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 11v VENTOR s. n/. FU/FJMAM MQJ 3" ATTORNEYS S. W. FORSMAN.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII I1 11 I1J\1II f I I I I II '3 3 i I WITNESS I N VEN TOR i/VFO/RSM/Ml I wMQ mt HA5 A TTORNE YS S. W, FORSMAN.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3% 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

Application filed octobereo, 1918. Serial No. 260,247.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known thatI, STANTON V. F OR$MAX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles and State of California, have inyented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Sealing Containers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an apparatus for sealing containers, particularly paper boxes or fiber shipping cases having flaps which are glued in place to seal the container.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically sealing ,the closing flaps of containers in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for successively and automaticallyperforming the functions of applying an seal flaps, moving said flaps into contiguity with the body of the container and pressing and holding said flaps in position until the adhesive sets.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing. will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full, that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one specific form of the apparatus of my invention and a modification thereof, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such forms, since the invention, as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of other forms.

eferring to said drawings: v

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus of my invention, part thereof being broken away to reduce the size of the figure.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section, taken on the line 22 Fig.1, part of the apparatus being broken away to reduce the size of the figure.

Fig. 3 is a continuation of Fig. 2, parts thereof being broken away to reduce the size of the figure.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 4+4 Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section through the adhesive trough and rollers.

Fig. 6 is a section taken. on the line 66 Fig.

adhesive to the under side of the Fig. 7 is a perspectix'e view of the container with the sealing flaps extended.

Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modified form of apparatus. parts thereof Eeing broken away to reduce the size of the gure.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 99 big. 8

The apparatus of my invention comprises means for conveying the container and means operative on the container during its movement for holding extended the sealing flaps of the container, applying an adhesive to the under side ofthe sealing flaps, moving the sealing flaps into engagement with the body of the container, pressing the flaps firmly in place and holding them in place while the adhesive sets, all of the various mechanisms cooperating to seal the container as it is advanced through the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a suitable frame 2 upon which the various mechanisms are mounted. Arranged on the frame are two superposed synchronously movable endless conveyers 34, their adjacent surfaces traveling in the same direction. Secured to each conveyer at spaced intervals, are a plurality of groups of closely arranged flights 56, the groups being so disposed that a group 5 on the lower side of the upper conveyer is disposed directly above a group 6 on the upper side of the lower conveyer. Secured to the conveyer and disposed behind each group of flights is a backing plate 7 for holding the container in place on the conveyers. The container 8, rests on the group of flights 6 on the lower conveyer, and the group of flights 5 on the upper conveyer, together with the backing plates, hold the container firmly in place as it is moved through the apparatus. The upper run of the lower conveyer is supported by the rails 9, secured to the frame. The conveyers 31 are driven from the drive shaft 12 through the gears 13-l4, the shafts 151617 and the sprockets l8 and 19. r

Arranged in .front of the intake end of the conveyers. is. a feed table 21, the upper surface of which lies in the plane of the upper surfaces of the flights on the upper run of the lower conveyer and the table is provided with a slot or a cut out portion, into which the flights rise as the lower conveyer moves. The container 8 is placed on the table and is picked up by the flights and l the backing 'container is partly supported on .tainer is usually formed with inner folding flaps 23 against which the sealing flaps 24 are pressed in the sealing operation and means are provided for holding the inner flaps folded inward until the sealingfiaps are pressed against them. Supported on the frame and arranged between the upper and lower conveyers are presser or confining plates 25, spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the container. These confining plates 25 lie on opposite sides of the container as it is carried along by the conveyers and hold the inner flaps folded in place. These plates extend forward over the table 21 and are curved outwardly on their ends to form a convergingpassage so that the containers may be readily placed therein. The sealing flaps 24 may lie at various angles when the container is placed on the table and means are provided for moving them into extended horizontal position as the container moves into the apparatus. Secured to the confining plates at their forward ends are curved guide rods 26 which curve upward and downward from a point approximately midway between the conveyers to points adjacent the conveyers. The container is p1aced on the table with the sealing flaps extending from the top bottom of the container and these flaps engage the guide rods, which are arranged outside of the confining plates, and are moved to and held thereby in horizontal extended position. Arranged above the lower run of the upper conveyer and extending out over the table on opposite sides of the conveyer are depressing rods 31 which press down the upper sealing flaps to horizontal position, if they are bent upwardly. The upper flaps are held horizontally between theguide rods and the depressing rods. The guide rods and depressing rods terminate in advance of theadhesive applying rollers, but hold the sealing flaps extended horizontally until the leading edges thereof are in contact with the rollers.

Arran ed on opposite sides of the container c annel between the conveyers are pairs of

rollers

27 and 28 for applying adhesive to the inner surfaces of the extended sealing flaps 24. The roller 27 is positioned so that the under side of the upper flap 24 passes over the roller and the roller 28 is positioned sothat the upper side of the lower fla passes under the roller. The lower rol er 28'rotates in a trough 32 contaming glue or other adhesive and the up-.

27, but b and y ward by per roller 27 is coatedwith the adhesive from the lower roller. The troughs 32 are suitably supported on the frame and the sides thereof adjacent the rollers are provided with projections 40 lying adjacent the ends of the rollers. A packing strip 33 is arranged on each side and is in contact with the ends of the rollers to prevent leakage of the glue between the sides and the ends of the rollers. The shaft of the upper roller is journaled in an eccentric bearing 34, so that the distance between the rollers may be adjusted to produce the desired distribution of the glue. The lower roller 28 passes through an opening in the bottom of the trough, and rotates upwardly into said trough through said opening. Arranged within the. trough at the opening and in close proximity to the surface of the lower roller, is a lip 35, which forms a narrow elongated passage between it and the surface of the roller. The thickness of the passage is such that the glue on the roller is not stripped therefrom as it rotates upward into the trough and the viscosity of the glue is such that it does not flow downward through said opening when the roller is rotating.

The upper sealing flaps 24 are pressed against the upper adhesive rollers 27 by the spring pressed rollers 36 arranged above and in advance of the adhesive applying rollers. The lower surface of the roller 36 lies in advance, and below the top line of the roller 27 and presses the flap firmly against the roller virtue of its position in front of the roller 27 it does not contact therewith and become glue coated in the interval between two containers. Similarly the lower flaps 24 are pressed'against the lower rollers by the spring pressed rollers 37 arranged below and in advance of the lower rollers. The glue rollers are driven from the shaft 15 through the sprockets 38 and 39 and chain 41, shaft 42, and gears 43, 44 and 45.

After having passed the glue applying rollers, the sealing flaps 24 are bent inward toward. the sides of the container by the rods 46 secured to the frame and extending forward to engage the outer surfaces of the flaps. These rods bend the flaps inward but do not press them against the sides of the container. The confining plates 25 are bifurcated at their rear ends, being provided with two extensions 47 whichhold the inner flaps 23 in place while the sealing flaps are being bent inward by the rods 46.

While the sealing flaps are held bent inthe rods 46, the leading end of the container enters between the presser plates 48 which cause the sealing flaps to be pressed against the sides of the container. The presser plates are curved outward at their forward ends, to permit the entry of the inwardly bent flaps and to gradually press I drive shaft 12,

, conveyers 57, the distance between on the bars 59,

them against the sides. The presser plates are arranged at the end of the tracks 29 and 30, which extend slightly beyond the

shafts

15 and 16 on which the conveyer sprockets are arranged.

Arranged adjacent the ends of the tracks are two vertical squeeze rolls -19, having yielding surfaces preferably formed of rubber, between which the container passes and by which the sealing flaps are tightly pressed into place. Thesqueeze rolls are rotated to continue the advance of the container by the which is connected to the shafts of the r lls by gears 51 and 52 and bevel gears and 54. The sealed container is carried by the squeeze rolls from the conveyers 34 onto the horizontal endless conveyer 55 which is mounted on the frame and which has its intake end disposed adjacent the squeeze rolls. The upper run of the conveyer 55 is supported on rolls 56 and the conveyer is .of such length that the glue is set before the container is discharged. Arranged on opposite sides of and above the conveyer 55 are vertically disposed endless the adjacent runs of the conveyers 57 being substantially equal to the width of the container. The adjacent runs of the containers are backed by the rollers 58 which are mounted pressed toward each other by the springs 61, so that the side conveyers press against the sealing flaps and hold them tightly in place while the glue sets. The conveyers 55 vand 57 are driven synchronously from the drive shaft 62 which is preferably belted to the same line shaft as the drive shaft 12.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a modified form of sealing apparatus particularly adapted for sealing containers having sealing flaps 63 of such size that they overlap when folded against the side of the container. The presser plates 48' are not placed directly above each other, as in the prior construction. but are staggered, one being arranged in advance of the other,so that one flap is folded in before the other, so that they will properly overlap. The upper conveyer 3 is'also eliminated in this construction, which is designed to seal containers of less depth than the former construction, and the container is carried through the adhesive applying apparatus and the flap folding apparatus' by the lower conveyer 4. In other respects the two forms are similar.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for sealing containers having sealing flaps, means for applying adesive to said flaps comprising a trough. a roller rotatable. within and extending below said trough. a second roller adapted to receive adhesive from said first roller, means for rotating said rollers, a conveyer for the containers. and means for holding the flaps on opposite sides of the containers extended so as to engage said rollers.

2. In an apparatus for sealing containers having sealing flaps, means for applying adhesive to said flaps comprising a trough having upstanding sides. rollers arranged between said sides and extending from the trough one being above and the other below said trough. packing strips between said sides and the ends of the rollers. a conveyer for the containers and arranged to move the Containers past the rollers. means for holding the flaps extended in position to engage the rollers as the containers move past the rollers and means to press the flaps against the sides of the containers.

3. An apparatus for sealing containers. having sealing flaps comprising a frame. a conveyer on the frame, opposed confining plates extending along the conveyer. means for moving certain of the flaps into horizontal position, upwardly and forwardly ranging spaced extensions at the inner ends of the confining plates for holding the other of the flaps in against the container. adhesive applying rolls disposed on said frame so as to engage the extended flaps. and rods arranged beyond said rolls for folding the extended flaps inwardly between the extensions upon the held-in flaps.

4. An apparatus for sealing containers having sealing flaps, a frame, a conveyer on the frame. opposed confining plates along the conveyer and between which the containers pass. bars on the plates arranged to extend certain of the flaps into horizontal position.

spring rods cotiperating with the bars and between the bars and which rods the flaps pass. adhesive applying rollers arranged to engage the extended flaps, spaced upwardly and forwardly ranging extensions arranged one above the other on each confining plate at points beyond the rollers and adapted to hold certain of the flaps in against the container and rods yieldingly engaging and forcing the extended flaws in against the last named flaps between the extensions.

5. In an apparatus for sealing containers having inner and outer sealing flaps, on opposed sides thereof. a frame. a conveyer for moving containers along the frame. opposed confining plates between which the containers .pass with the inner flaps thereof held in by said plates, means to extend the outer flaps substantially horizontally. adhesive applying rollers arranged to apply adhesive to theinner faces of the outer. upper flaps on one end of the container. adhesive applying rollers arranged to apply adhesive to the inner faces of the flaps on the lower end of the container and contacting with the first named rollers. and means to press the outer flaps into engagement with the inner flaps after the containers are moved past the rollers.

6. A machine for sealing cartons and the like having pairs of inner and outer flaps on opposite sides, havlng in combination, a conveyer for the cartons; and means operative on the container during its movement for holding the outer flaps extended and the inner flaps closed, coordinate rollers for ap plying adhesive to the inner faces of the outer flaps, and means for infolding and pressing the coated flaps against the inner, closed flaps, the rollers arranged to transfer paste from one to the other from a common source. 7. A machine for sealing cartons and the like having in vcombination a conveyer; means adj acent the front end of the conveyer for opening outer flaps outwardly from the sides of the carton; means for holding inner flaps retracted to the sides; superposed rollers to which the cartons are carried by the conveyer from the opening means, for applying adhesive to the extended flaps, and means for infolding and pressingthe coated flaps against the inner flaps, the rollers transferring paste from one to the other, and a trough'for supplying paste directly to one of the rollers.

8. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, having in combination, a conveyer for advancing the cartons; means adjacent the forward end of the conveyer for unfolding and supporting pairs of outer flaps on opposite sides of the carton; laterally spaced, coordinate parts of rollers for applying adhesive to the inner faces only of the said flaps; means beyond the said rollers for infolding the coated flaps against inner flaps; and means for holding the inner flaps closed while traversing the machine until the outer flaps are closed thereon, the rollers of each pair mutuallv transferring paste from one to theother.

9. A'machine forsealin cartons and the like, having in combination, a conveyer for moving the cartons through the machine;

means adjacent the front end and at opposite sides of the conveyer for opening and hold ing open the outer flaps; pairs of coordinate adhesive applying rollers-underand over which the unfolded flaps concurrently pass in contact to receive adhesive on their inner faces only; means interposed between and independent of the holding means and the said rollers to press the outer flaps against the rollers; and means for sealing the outer against the inner flaps.

10. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, having in combination, a conveyer for advancing the cartons, means at" opposite sides of the conveyer for opening and holding open the'outer flaps; pairs of coordinate rollers at the opposite sides of the conveyer for simultaneously applying adhesive to the inner faces of the outer flaps; yielding presser rollers interposed between the open mg means and the said rollers to press the .like, having in combination, a conveyer for advancingthe cartons, side guides for retaining the inner flaps closed; means for opening and retaining open, the outer flaps; means adjacent to the said means for applying adhesive to the inner faces, only, of the outer flaps: means for infolding the outer flaps, and a pair of squeeze rollers having softsurfaces for pressing the sealing flaps against the inner flaps.

' 12. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, having in combination, a conveyer for advancing the cartons; side guide plates for retaining the inner flaps closed; means for out-turning the outer flaps and means cooperating therewith to hold the out-turned flaps; coordinate rollers in vertical pairs over and below which the outer flaps pass to be coated with an adhesive on one side of each; means between the out-folding means and the rollers to press the outer flaps on the rollers; means for infolding the coated flaps; a pair of opposite endless removing and pressure conveyers; and intermediate cushion rollers for squeezing the outer flaps against the inner flaps before the cartons enter the removing conveyers. I

13. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, having in combination, a conveyer for advancing the cartons; means for out-folding the outer flaps, a pair of coordinate adhesive applyin rollers at each side of the conveyer for coating the inner face of each outer flap; and yielding rollers arranged between the said means and the coating rollers for pressing the outer flaps to the coating rollers.

14. In an apparatus for sealing containers having sealing flaps, a pair of superposed endless conveyers spaced apart vertically and between which the container is carried through the apparatus, means arranged intermediate the conveyers for moving the sealing flaps outwardly to horizontal position, means for applying an adhesive to said flaps, and means arranged adjacent the rear ends of the conveyers for pressing the flapsagainst the sides of the container.

15. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, havingin combination, means for extending and holding extended the adjacent outer flaps; pairs of cooperative rollers disposed wholly between the paths of movement 120 of the flaps, the rollers of each pair applying adhesive concurrently to the inner face of adjacent flaps, the rollers of each pair being arranged in close juxtaposition so as to transfer paste from one to the other.

16. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, having in combination, means for extending and holding extended the adjacent outer flaps; pairs of cooperative rollers disposed wholly between the paths of movement 130 of the flaps, the rollers of each pair applying adhesive concurrently to the inner face of adjacent flaps and a supply means for each pair, arranged between the said paths.

1?. A machine for sealing cartons and the like, having in combination, means for extending and holding extended the outer flaps pairs of cooperative rollers disposed wholly between the paths of movement of the flaps, the rollers of each pair applying adhesive concurrently to the inner face of adjacent flaps, a supply means for each pair, arranged between the said paths, and guide plates between which the cartons advance to said rollers and on the outer faces of which, said means are secured.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 18th day of October, 1918.

STANTON V. FORSMAN.

In presence of- H. G. P110512