US1502314A

US1502314A - Ice-cream-packaging machine

Info

Publication number: US1502314A
Application number: US574642A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mojonnier Julius John; Phillips Harley Ray; Lewis W Warren
Original assignee: Mojonnier Bros Co
Current assignee: Mojonnier Bros Co
Priority date: 1922-07-13
Filing date: 1922-07-13
Publication date: 1924-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1941-07-22

Description

J. J. MOJONNIER ET Al,-

Ids 01mm PACKAGING MACHINE "Filed July 13. 1922 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 any" luly 22 1924.

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227 MC 2 Wmpmd Patented July 22, 1924. r

z 3 iii JULIUS JOHN MOJ'ONNIER AND HARLEY nay rnmnns, or can PARK,'A1\TD HENRI B. WARREN, nnfcmsnn, LATE or OAK PARK, rumors; BY LEWIS w. WARREN, nnmmrs'rmmon or OAK PARK, rumors, ASSIGNORS TO MOJONNIER BROS. cc, of onrcaeo, rumors, A CORPORATION or rumors. I

'IGE-oREAM-PAGKAGING MACH NE.

Application filed July 1a, 1922. semi No. 574,642.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that JULIUs JOHN MOJON- NIER, HARLEY R. PHILLIPS, and HENRI B. WARREN,' the latter deceased, LEWIS W. WARREN being the administrator of his estate, 'all citizens of the United States, .and

residents of Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Cream Packaging Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ice cream packaging machines wherein multiple layers of the same or differing colors or flavors of ice cream are packed in cartons or containers, and has for its object the provision of a ma chine of this character which will simultaneously measure and deliver the ice cream, of the same or differing colors or flavors to the cartons or containers automatically fed thereto.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of amachine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. '2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the machine to Fig. 1.

v Fig. 3 is a plan .view, parts being omitted for clearness. Y

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 9, through one of the hopper compartments disclosing a filling unit, thevalve co-opera'ting therewith, the

' the elements for holding the flaps of the carton or container.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the measuring and filling units, the valves co-operating therewith and the carton or container conveyor or feed.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section taken along line 99 of Fig. 2 illustrating the hopper construction, the worms co-operating therewith, together with the valves and the cut-off operable after filling the cartons or containers.

Fig. 10 is a plan elevation of the cut-off co-operating with the valves.

Fig. 11' is a longitudinal section taken through the cut-off along line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of said cut-off.

Fig. 13 isa perspective view of one of the valves interposed between the hoppers and the filling and measuring units.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken along line 1414 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the mechanism for operating the carton or container feed or conveyor. V

Fig. 15 is a similar section taken along line 15'-15 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the 'control for the operation of the filling and measuring units from the cartons or containers Fig. 16 is a horizontal section through the shaft of the conveyor or feed for the cartons or containers showing the ratchet mechanism I for advancing it.

Fig. 16 is a .sectional view illustrating more particularly the table supporting hub.

Fig. '17 is an enlarged plan view of the mechanism at the left of Fig. 15 for the operation of the filling and measuring units under the control of the cartons or containers.

Fig..18'.is a side elevation thereof. with parts broken away.

Fig. 19 is a section along line 1919 of Fig. 17 to illustrate the clutch mechanism.

taken along line 2222 of Fig. 21 to illustrate the valve control mechanism.

Figs. 23, 24 and 25 are illustrations of details of the mechanisms. shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

. tween the units and the hopper, said valves- Fig. 26 is a vertical transverse section taken along line 26-26 of Fig. 1 to show the arrangement of the filling and measuring units. d

Fig. 27 is an elevationof the valve casing showing a detail of the valve operatmg mechanism.

As is well known, ice cream. is commercially packed in cartons or containers in layers or sections of difierlng flavors or cartons, the numbers of layers or sectlons being usually three, though frequently thls number is increased or decreased or a single flavor or color is packed in the carton or container. The resent machine is designed to receive several flavors or. colors of ice cream from the freezers in a plastic or semi-fluid condition and deliver measured quantities thereof to the cartons or containers, always maintaining the various colors or flavors separate and distinct until they have been placed in the cartons or containers. Generally this is accomplished by having a hopper divided into several compartments, one of which is provided for-each color or flavor of cream. These compartments each have a worm screw or other conveyor in the bottom thereofby means of which the hoppers contents are continually moved toward the discharge or outlet opening centrally 'located in the bottom thereof. A measu ing and filling unit is provided for each hopper and is designed to receive and discharge a predetermined quantity of ice cream and in order that the filling and measuring units may alternately be filled and discharged a series of valves, one for each unit, is interposed bealternately connecting the units to the hopper compartments and to discharge openings in the valve casing. An intermittently operable conveyor or carton feed successively feeds the cartons or containers to positions below the valve casing where they receive the simultaneous discharge of) the units when the valves are properly positioned for this purpose. In the event it is desired to pack a single color or flavor, the hopper compartments may all be filled with ice cream of the same flavor or color, while by increasing or decreasing the number of hoppers, valves and filling units the number of layers or sections packed in a single carton or container may be correspondingly increased or decreased. Reference being had more particularly to the drawing, 10 designates the base plateof the machine, supported by the uprights 11 terminating at their lower ends in the spread legs 12. Mounted on this base plate 10, as

will behereinafter more fully described, is a hopper H, designed to receive, if desired, three separate and distinct colors or flavors of ice cream and which for this purpose is divided by the artitions 13 into three compartments 14. ach of these compartments 14 receives one flavor or color of ice cream and as this material is placed therein from continuous pipe 16. therein, which is supplied with brine through the pipe 17 passing through the outer plate of one of the walls 15.

In this manner, brine is circulated through the outer walls '15 of the hopper H maintaining the contents at a proper low degree of temperature, the brine escaping after circulation through the outlet pipe 18. As a suitable lid 19 is provided to cover all of the compartments 14 of the hopper H, it will therefore be seen that the hopper contents are not only protected from dust or dirt but that they are maintained at the required temperature to prevent loss of volume and a return to a liquid or fluid condition.

The side walls 15 and the partitions 13 of the hopper H converge toward the bottom 20 thereby making the bottom of each compartment narrower than the top, said bottoms in effect constituting the curved pockets 21 (Fig. 5) extending longitudi-- nally of the hopper. Medially of its length outlet opening 22 in the bottom thereof, the openings 22 of all of the compartments being a igned one with the other transversely of the machine. (lo-operating with these outlet openings 22 is a discharge block 23 in which are formed the convergent passages 24 creating continuations of the outlet openings 22. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 9, this block 23 enters the outlet openings 22 and is embraced by the bottom of the hopper, where the latter is in part supported by said block as will be later pointed out. In order-to insure the delivery of the compartment contents to the outlet openings 22 through which the contents pass to the passages 24 of the block 23, each pocket 21 has a shaft 25 extending centrally throughout the entire length thereof and projecting through one end wall of the hopper where it is surrounded by a stuffing box 26 to prevent leakage. The opposite ends of these shafts 25 are enclosed in the bearings 27 formed from a plate 28 secured to the hopper end opposed to the end through which the shafts pass. The projecting ends 29 of the shafts 25 have the meshing gears 30 keyed thereto on the exterior of the hopper, whereby the rotation of one shaft rotates all of the others simultaneously therewith and for this purpose one of the projecting ends 29 of the shafts is provided with an extension 29*, the free endof which is mounted in a bearing 30- carried at the upper end of a vertical bearing frame 31 fastened to the so i moans I base or bed plate 10. At the free end thereof, the extension 29 has a beveled gear 32 fixed thereto to which power is applied, by means of the instrumentalities to be hereinafter described, whereby said extension 29 is rotated and all of the shafts likewise rotated. Each shaft 25 has a pair of opposed worm conveyors or feeds 33 thereon extending from the opposite ends of the pocket 21 and terminating adjoining the outlet opening 22 in the pocket bottom. Upon the rotation of the shafts 25 as aforesaid, the opposed worm conveyors or feeds of each compartment constantly bring the ice cream in the pocket 21 toward and to the out-let opening 22 where it is deposited for discharge through the passage 24 of the block 23 co-operating with the opening 22 and thus the entire contents of each compartment 14 is positively delivered to the outlet opening 22 and the hopper contents are generally somewhat agitated to prevent adhesion thereof to the hopper and compartment walls.

To further agitate the contents of the compartments to prevent adhesion to the walls thereof, an oscillating shaft 34 is transversely mounted in suitable bearings 35 secured'to the top edges of the sidewalls of the hopper H in central vertical alignment'with the outlet openings 22 and has the paddle arms 36 fixed thereto by means of the clamps 37. One arm 36' extends into each compartment and terminates adjoining the pocket 21 so that as the shaft 34 oscillates, the arms swing longitudinally of the I hopper compartments 14 and keep the entire mass of the contents thereof thoroughly agitated. At one terminal the shaft 34 projects beyond the hopper wall and there has "an arm 38 fixed thereto which at its free end is pivoted'to one end of a pitman 39.

The opposite end of this'pitman 39 is iv- I otally connected to a sourcef'of power w ich is fimpartedfthr'ough the pitman and arm." 38 for rocking the all aswill befurther described ;After the ice creamleaves the passages 1 24'ofthe'block23, itp'asses to the; passages, 40 completely and vertically; piercing the valve "casing '41 disposed directly belowthe'block 23, said passages 40 being entirely independentand forming "continu'ations or the "passages,24.*-"Tlfel base :ofthe bloc'k 23 has P flange23 which rests "fl (1-- flang At one end iie a 41 are fas'tened opposed *to the cylind ithechamber 54 spas-s t 40 and "on one f or 'conimunication' between 'o'n" end dependent one of the other if desired in so far as being cast in one piece is concerned. Each of these cylinders 44 comprises a filling and measuring unit and is to receive and measure ice cream from one of the compartments 14 through one set of continuing passages 24 andv 40 and after having received and measured such ice cream to discharge it'through the passage 40 into the carton or container positioned to receive it. The uni tary casting 45 in which the cylinders 44 are formed is mounted on the integral supports 46 secured by the bolts 47 to the bed or base plate 10 in such a manner that the inner end of the casing has a water-tight fit against the valve casing 41 at the abutting flanges 48 and 49 on the casting 45 and casing respectively. As will be seen from Fig. 26, two of the cylinders 44 are arranged side by side in the casting 45 while one is disposed above and between these cylinders.

are traversed by the tapered valve seats 52,

each seat tapered from the adjoining cylinder end toward and to the opposite side of the casing where said seats are closed by the casing wall. One valve seat 52 is aligned with each cylinder 44 and at its large end opens into its co-operating cylinder. Hence, if the valve seat 52 were empty there would be a free passage from the cylinder 44 to the co-operating passage 40. However, in

order to alternately connect each cylinder 44 with 'theu pper' end of .its passage 40 for filling from the compartment 14fco-acting therewith and the lower end of its passage 40 for discharge into'the carton or container,

each valve seat 52" has a valve-V mounted for oscillation therein. j This valve, illustrated in'Fig. 13 comprises a' hollow frustruinfof a cone closed as at 53 at small end andopen at its widefe'nd or "base" "fclos'ed end 53- or fthe valve' dairiesa central prb ecang'" threaded, teat"5 5' which. V Y ushagainstas'iinif I g .4 .f 'l l l a l gifl h y the" block 23 and yal'velc'as ng tega et byitbolts' er othersuitaj e fastenin 'Til ifealnsf43 piercing s when the valve isglocated in it seams? p othrough thefwallfof the'ffvalvej casing e; open end fthi wands-r144 f the valve-V valve is a port 56 a aptedflfto form means- 44; thusregistering etth p a' y is are omm'unlcation withf the other of the co-operating passage 40 whereby the upper end of said passage may be I connected with the cylinder 44 through the chamber 54 when the port 56 faces upwardly for filling the cylinder and the lower end of said passage may be connected with the cylinder through the chamber 54 of the valve for the discharge of the previously received quantity of ice cream when the port faces downwardly. It is, therefore, clear that the valve V must be turned in order to alternately connect the cylinders 44 with upper and lower ends of the passages 40. To accomplish this, the valves are simultaneously operated by the slide bar 57 mounted for reciprocation in and across that end of the'valve casing 41 through which project the teats 55 of the valves V. Each protruding end of the teats 55 has a collar 58 fixed thereto by means ofthe nut 59 threaded onto the teat.55, on which is formed a valve arm 60 having a slot 61 in the free end thereof (Fi s. 5 and6) and terminating adjoining the slide bar 57. The slotted ends 61 of these arms 60 enter. a slot 65 formed in the slide bar 57 and receive the pins 62 arranged transversely of said bar where they are held by the thumb nuts 63 on said pins and which bear against a retaining plate 64 extendingover the slotted ends 61 of the valve arms 60 and formed integrally withthe' slide bar 57 by the slot 65 fashioned between the bar 57 and the plate 64 as aforesaid (see Fig. 27). j

From the foregoi "g, it will be seen that as the slide bar57'reciprocates, the valves V will simultaneously .turn with each direction of movement by the bar to alternately connect the'cylinders 44 with the upper ends of the passages 40 and consequently the compartments 14 and withthe lower ends of said passages 40'for simultaneousdischarge into the carton or container. It will further be clear that at all times during its passage from the hopper to the carton, the ice cream from one compartment is left free and clear of the ice cream from' the other compartments.

For the reciprocation of the slide bar 57 and theconsequent .operation of the valves V a lever 66 is pivoted to the base or bed plate 10 by means of abearing 67 medially situated on said lever and receiving pin 68 projecting upwardly .from the plate 10.

The forward end of this lever 66 has a 'lug' 69 thereon which, is connected by the rod 70 with the socket 71,011, the slide bar 57, so that as the lever 66-osci-llates on the pin 68,.

.the slide bar 57 will be reciprocated and the valves V operated. The rear end of the lever' 66 is. pivotally connected. to the operating plate 72 mounted for transverse reciprocation on the bed or base. Plate 10 under the in-fiuence of'a source ofpower as will be later described.

After cylinders have discharged their previously received contents into the carton or container through the lower ends of the passages 40 it is desirable to close the outer ends of these passages to prevent dripping and possible wastage. To that end a cut-off plate 73 is so dovetailed into the lower end of the valve casing 41 that it is free to reciprocate across the lower ends of said passage and is provided with the transverse slots 74 adapted to register with said passages when a discharge into the carton or container is taking place. At the outer end of this cut-off plate/73 is socket 75 for receiving the rod 77 whereby the cut-ofi 73 is connected to the depending lug 76 on the under side of the forward end of the lever 66 adjoining the lug 69. Manifestly therefore the cut-off 73 operates from the lever 66 simultaneously with the slide bar 57 so that when the valves V are in a position for a discharge from the cylinders 44, the slots 7 4 of the cut-off are in registration with the lower ends of the passages 40 and after the discharge are moved out of such registration.

The cartons or containers are fed or carried under the valve casing 41 by means of a conveyor or carrier which comprises a rotary circular plate or table 78 loosely mounted on an upright 79 which is mounted in the bearing 80 of the bracket 80 attached to the bed or baseplate 10 of the machine and terminates at the end of the hopper H where it acts as a support therefor. At its periphery the table 78 has a series of alternating large apertures 81 and small apertures 82 to allow for the cleaning and draining of the table, said apertures being spaced one from the other as shown and may be eliminated if desired. When the cartons are positioned on the table 78 over these large openings or apertures 81, one carton orcontainer C is located over each opening and for the purpose of. holding each carton or container C in its proper place, each aperture 81 is surrounded, except at the edge of the table or plate 78, by the outer rethe cartons. or containers 0 to a position in direct vertical alignm'entwith the valve casing 41 where each carton or container is held a sufliciently long period to be. filled afterv which it is advanced. To so inter mittently operate the-table or plate 78, the under surface thereof is provided with a hub 85 fixed to the table and loose on the upright 79. whereby the rotation of the hub will likewise rotate the table. The hub 85.

[iii

against undue rotary movement on the up-v right 79 by the brake band 89 embracing the hub 85 on the upright 79 and engaging the.

bracket 80. In order to throw the latch or pawl 87 on to the ratchet gear-88 the pawl has a rod 90 connected therewith and resting parallel to the lever 86 which has a lug 91 at its free end through which the rod 90 extends. A collar 92 is medially attached to the rod 90 and forms a bearing for one end of the coil spring 93 encircling the rod between said collar and lug 91 and thus exerts a pressure on the rod toward the ratchet gear 88. It will be seen from this description that as the lever 86 is oscillated, the table will be advanced step by step to bring the cartons or containers successively under the valve casing 41 where they stop during the retrograde movement of said lever. This oscillation of the lever 86 is accomplished by the reciprocating rod 94 pivoted at one end asat 95 to the free end of said lever and connected to an operating mechanism that will be described at its opposite end. To regulate and adjust the throw of the pawl 87, the rod 94 is split midway of its ength into two sections adjustably connected together at the ends by the turn buckle 96, whereby the rod length may be regulated and as a consequence the throw of the pawl. Thus by regulating the throw of the pawl 87, the distance the table 78 is moved may be regulated so that the cartons or containers C may be accurately positioned with respect to the valve casing 41.

In the illustrated adaption of the present invention, the cartons or containers C are filled from the ends thereof and consequently it is necessary to hold the flaps C and C" of the carton or container and its liner (Fig. 6) so that they will not in any way interfere with the free passage of the ice cream into the containeror carton C. This, in the case of two of the flaps, is done by the long retaining pins 83, the flaps being bent backwardly until they rest approximately flush against the carton sides before the carton is placed on the table 78 and when so placed are held bent back by the pins 83. The. two remaining flaps C (Fig. 6) must be bent outwardly and backwardly just prior to the filling and held in this position during that operation. To accomplish this, a supporting rod 97 extends from the upright 79 where it is held by the set screw 98 piercing a collar 99 at the end of the rod and impinging against the upright to a point adjoining the valve casing 41. 'At its opposite or free end the rod 97 has a sleeve 100 secured thereon for carrying the means for removin and holding the flaps C". On one side 0% the sleeve 100 are the convergent somewhat resilient arms 101 extending from the ends of the sleeve and carrying a tongue 102 at their point of convergence, said tongue and arms being curved to approximate the path of movement of the cartons or containers C. On the opposite side of the sleeve 100 are the spring fingers 103 forming continuations of the arms 101 and extending to and beyond the valve casing 41. The arms 101 and the fingers 103 hang below the sleeve 100, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, and the fingers 103 curve downwardly to a point below the upper end of the body of the carton C where they extend horizontally at their terminals in substantially parallel positions as at 104. A guide finger 105 is formed on one of the arms 101 and projects therefrom in the general direction of the upright 79. When the carton or container has been placed on the table 78, the flaps G extend upwardly occupying generally the dotted line position in Fig. 6 and as the table 78 rotates, the tongue 102 enters between these flaps and under them if they happen to be bent inwardly over the end of the carton. The further rotation ofthe table 78 carries the flaps C to the arms 101 which gradually separate them until they drop below the lower edges of the fingers 103 whereby they are bent downwardly until they are held against the carton body by the terminals 104 of the fingers being then located between the terminals 104 and the carton. The guide finger 105 prevents bending the body of the flap and assists in directing it downwardly. The continued rotation of the table 78 removes the carton from engagement by the terminals 104 by which the flaps vertical portion 128 of the bed plate 10 ad-,

joining the periphery of the carrier or table 78 and is designed to exert a' lateral pressure on the cartons C towardthe pins 84 while they are being filled to prevent any slight displacement thereof. This spring pressure arm is U-shaped and has its terminals 127 bent away from I: the carrier or table 78 whereby the cartons may readily enter under the said arm.

Up to this point the various mechanisms and their operations have been described without reference to any control from the cartons or a source of power which constitutes the motor M mounted on an end of the bed plate 10 removed from the table 78. The shaft 106 of the motor M has a pinion 107 keyed thereto for mesh with a gear 108 fixed to the counter-shaft 109 mounted in the hanger 110 below the bed plate 10 and it is from this shaft 109, which is constantly rotated by the motor M that the entire machine is operated.

Avertical drive shaft 111 is mounted in the yoke 112 and has a beveled gear 113 loosely mounted thereon for constant rotaattached to the rod 94 by the socket 117.

Thus it will be seen that while the motor M is operating, the rod 94 will reciprocate to advance the table 78 if the pawl 87 is in its operative position.

For the simultaneous reciprocation of the piston rods 51, and hence the pistons 50, as well as the pitman 39 for swinging the agitator arms or paddles 36 a spur gear 118 is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 111 which projects above the bed or base plate 10, said gear 118 being spaced above the bed plate. This gear 118 has a crank arm 119 located above it and keyed to the shaft 111 with the gear said arm having a longitudinal slots 120 therein for adjustably mounting the crank pin 121. A collar 122 carried by a pitman 123 pivotally embraces this pin 121 so that as the gear 118 and the crank arm 119 rotate the pitman 123 will be reciprocated. The free terminals of the piston rods 51 are connected to the pitman 123 by means of the cross-head 124 slidably mounted on the upper said rods 51 being fixed to this cross-head. The end of the pitman 123 opposedto the pin 121 is pivotally connected to the crosshead 124 by means of the collar 125 engaging a pin 126 secured to the cross-head. Hence, as the gear 118 and the crank arm 119 rotate, the pitman 123 reciprocates imparting a similar movement to the crosshead 124, iston rods 51 and pistons 50 for drawing 0 arges into the cylinders 44 and discharging the contents as heretofore described. To reciprocate, the pitman 39, its lower end is ivoted as at 129 to the crosshead 124 so 313i) as the pistons. 50 reciprocate, the paddles 36 will swing in their compartments 14.

By adjusting the stroke of the cross-head 124 and the pitman 123, the stroke of the pistons 50 and iston rods 51 will be similarly adjusted t us regulating the quantity of ice cream taken into the cylinders 44. In other words, if the. stroke of these elements is increased, the quantity of ice cream is increased and, reversely, if the stroke is decreased, the quantity is decreased. In this manner, the quantity of ice cream received by the cylinders 44 may be accurately regulated and consequently the quantity of cream "face of the bed plate 10- all of terminal of the extension shaft 29 in each layer packed in the carton may be thus accurately measured and determined. In order to so regulate the stroke of the pistons 50 as aforesaid, the pitman 123 is split medially and has its adjoining ends threaded and co-operating with a turn buckle 129. In this manner, the length of the pitman may be increased or decreased and as it increases, the stroke diminishes and vice versa. Of course, any change of the pitman length necessitates changing the position of the pin 121 in the slot 120 of the crank arm 119.

The operating plate 72 of the lever 66 by means of which the valves V and cut-off 73 are operated is located transversely of the bed plate 10 below the gear 118 and has a slot 130 arranged longitudinally therein for the reception of the shaft 111 passing through the plate 72 and on which the plate reciprocates. Adjoining each end of the slot 130 is a roller 131 mounted on the plate 72 for cooperation with the dog or lug 132 fixed on the under face of the gear 118 by the rivets or pins 133 passing through the ends of the dog 132 and engaging the body of said gear. At one end the dog or lug 132 is beveled or cut away as at 134 for contact with the rollers 131 (see Figs. 21 to 25 incl.) As the gear 118 rotates, the dog or lug 132 contacts alternately and successively with the opposed rollers 131 and as the lug or dog is arranged obliquely to the vertical plan causes the rollers to ride successively along the length thereof thereby imparting a reciprocatory movement to the plate 72. Contact of the lug or dog 132 with one roller 131 positions the plate 72 as shown in Fig. 23 and with the other roller 131 causes it to take a reverse movement to position it as shown in Fig. 24. This movement is disclosed in Fig. 25 by the full line and dotted line positions. In this manner, the

valves V are operated and the cut-off 73 is reciprocated by the oscillation of the lever 66 about its pivot 68 under the influence of the gear 118 through the plate 72.

To rotate the shafts 250 f the worm feeds or conveyors 33 by operating the extension shaft 29, the bearing frame 31 has a pair of vertical bearings 135 in which is mounted a shaft 136 having a beveled gear 137 at its upper end meshing with the gear 32 on the At its lower end the shaft 136 has a spurgear 138 fixed thereto and meshing with the gear 118 whereby the rotation of the latter rotates the shaft '29 and consequently the shafts 25 through the shaft 136 and the meshing gears 118, 138 and 32, 137.

" From' the foregoing, it will be readily understood that in order to set all of the aforesaid elements in operation, it is necessary to connect the constantly rotating gear 113 to the shaft 111 so that the latter may be rotated to operate the plate 72', the gear 118, the shaft 136, etc. This is accomplished by a clutch interposed between the gear 113 and the shaft 111 so under the control of the carbons or containers C that the pistons 50, valves V, cut-ofl" 73, worms 33, etc. will remain passive, irrespective of the advance of the table 78, until a carton or container is located in receiving position. A clutch collar 139 is fixed to the shaft 111 by the key 140 and is located directly below the gear 113, the eccentric 115 of said gear operating flush against the upper-face of said collar. Between the shaft 111 andthe periphery of the clutch collar 139 is a clutch pin socket or passage 141 into which a clutch pin 142 carried by the gear 113 is adapted to drop when aligned therewith. Mounted on the upper face of the hub 113 of the gear 113 is a clutch'block 143 curved to conform to the contour of the shaft and periphery ofthe hub 113 and held for movement away from said gear by the guide pins 144 reciprocatingly secured in the pockets 145 formed in the gear hub 113 parallel to the shaft 111. The upper ends of these pockets 145 are" closed by the nuts 146 (see Fig. 19) threaded into the upper ends thereof and through which the guide pins 144 reciprocate. To normally retain the block 143 substantially flush against the upper face of the gear hub 113 and hence project the clutch pin 142 into the clutch pin socket 141 of the collar 139, the pins 144 are surrounded by the retractile springs 147 bearing against the nuts 146 at their upper ends and secured to the terminals of the pins at their lower ends. block 143 away from the'gear hub 113 will be against the action of the springs 147, and these springs will pull the block toward the gear 113 when the block is released for such movement. Above the gear 113, the bed plate 10 supports a depending trunnion 148 on which is loosely mounted a sleeve 149 having an operating stud 150 on one side thereof and a diametrically disposed finger 151 on the other side, the former providing a means for oscillating the sleeve'149 on the stud 148 to swing the finger 151 toward 7 and away from the shaft 111. The free end- 152 of the finger 151 is curved to follow the circumference of the gear hub 113 and is beveled on its upper edge (Fig. 18) to 0perate under a roller 153 projecting outward- 1 from the center of the clutch block 143.

en the sleeve 149 is uninfiuenced, the

' beveled end 152 of the finger 151 rests in the path of the roller 153 as it is carried by the gear 113 during its rotation and when the roller contacts with the beveled end 152, it travels up the incline thereof thus lifting the clutch block 143 and so positioning and holding the clutch pin 142 that it will not enter the socket 141 of the collar 139' and the roller 153 rides on the finger 151 until the Hence any movement of thepin 142 has passed the socket 141 when it is released to allow the springs 147 to act.

Hence, it is clear that shaft'lll remains staas aforesaid are entirely inoperative unless a carton or container C is in receiving position. For this purpose a trunnion 154 is suspended from the under face of the bed plate 10 adjacent the edge of the table 78 and in advance of the valvecasing 41 and has a sleeve 155 loosely mounted thereon and which carries a stud 156 connected by the pitman 157 to the operating stud 150,

so that as the sleeve 155 is oscillated, the sleeve 149 will be similarly moved. A lug 158 carrying a spring arm 159 extends from the sleeve 155 at right angles to the stud 156, the terminal 160 of said arm 159 being bent in the direction of travel of the cartons and in the path thereof. When a carton or container C contacts with the terminal 160 of the arm 159. the latter is moved to the dotted line position in Fig. 15 which swings the finger 151out of the path of the roller 153 allowing the gear 113 to operate the shaft 111 through the clutch.pin 142. In the event no carton or container C contacts with the arm 159. the elements remain passive, the roller 153 riding upon the beveled end 152 of the finger 151 lifting the pin 142 from its socket 141.

The normal position of the finger 151 is in the path of the roller 153 and consequently the normal position of the arm 160 is in the path of the cartons or containers C, and these elements are retained in and returned to these positions by the spring 161 fastened at one end to a collar 162 fixed to the pitman 157 and anchored at the other end to a convenient part of the frame or bed plate 10 (see Fig. 8). At times, particularly for cleaning. it is desired to operate the machineindependently of the cartons or containers C and to do this, it is necessary to move the

members

152 and 160 against the action of the spring 161 from their normal positions and hold them in these abnormal positions. This is accomplished by the bar 163 slidable at one end on the pitman and pivoted at the other end to a crank arm 164 operated from a' handle 165 secured to a shaft 166 mounted on the under face of the bed or base plate 10 and to the inner end of which the arm 164 is also attached. The end of bar 163, slidable with a collar 167 fixed on the 'pitman 157 160 from their normal positions whereby the entire machine operates independently of the control from the cartons or containers C. Upon returning the handle 165 to its original position, the spring 161 acts on the pitman 1.37 to return the

elements

152 and 160 to their normal positions.

The switches, etc. (not shown) for controlling the motor M are housed in a switch box 168 mounted on the bed or base plate 10 adjoining said motor.

The clutch mechanism of Figs. 15, 17, 18, 19 and 20, although fully illustrated and described herein. is claimed in divisional application Serial No. 697,479, filed March 7, 1924.

What is claimed is I 1. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means cO-operating therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers, comprising a fixed finger adapted to enter between the-flaps of the successive cartons or containers.

2. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means co -operas ing therewith for moving and holdlng the flaps of the cartonsor containers, comprising a fixed finger adapted to enter between the flaps of the successive cartons or containers, and arms to receive said flaps from said finger and separate them.

3. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means co -operating therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers compris ing a fixed finger adapted to enter between the flaps of the successive cartons or containers, and arms to receive said flaps from the finger and separate them for delivery to bending andv holding arms.

4. The combination wlth a. conveyor for cartons or containers, of means co-operating therewith for moving and holding the receiving the flaps and bending and hold-- ing them against thecarton or container body.

5. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means c'o-operat- ,ing therewith for moving and holding the flaps o'f-the cartons or containers comprising a; fixed finger-adapted to enter between the fiapsof the successive cartons or containers, arms to receive the flaps from said finger and separate them, and inclined arms forming continuationsof the aforesaid arms 1 carrying the same.

the carton or container body.

6. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of .means co-operating therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers comprising a fixed finger adapted to enter between the flaps of the successive cartons or containers, arms to receive the flaps from said finger and separate them, and arms forming continuations of the aforesaid arms to bend and hold the flaps against the carton or container body.

7. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means co-operating therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers comprising a fixed finger adapted to enter between the flaps of the successive cartons or containers, arms to receive the flaps from said finger and separate them, and arms forming continuations of the aforesaid arms to bend and hold the flaps away from the end of the carton or container carrying the same.

8. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means co-operating therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers comprising a fixed finger adapted to enter between the flaps of the successive cartons or con tainers, arms to receive the fiaps from said finger and separate them, and further arms for bending and. holding the flaps away from the end of the carton or container carrying the same. i

9. The combination with a conveyor for cartons or containers, of means co-cperat ing therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers comprising'a fixed finger adapted to enter between body.

cartons or containers, of means 'co-operating therewith for moving and holding the flaps of the cartons or containers compris: ing a fixed finger adapted to enter between the flaps of the successive cartons or containers, arms to receive the flaps from said finger and separate them, and inclined.

spring arms forming continuations of the aforesaid arms for holding the flaps away from the end of the carton or container .11. In apparatus of the class described, a carton support having meansjfor sustalning thecarton walls against bulging, said means comprising projections of different 10. The combination with a conveyor for 1,502,314 tea heights upwards from said support, certain of said projections being high enough to engage and hold certain of the carton closing flaps in open position.

12. In apparatus of the class described, means whereby a carton may be supported and advanced to a definite position, flap controlling means for bending and holding certain flaps of the carton against the carton body as the carton is being advanced to said position, and means for retaining other flaps of the carton against the carton body independently of its being advanced to said position.

13. In apparatus of the class described, means whereby a carton may be supported and advanced to a definite position, flap controlling means for bending and holding a flap of the carton against a wall of the carton body as the carton is being advanced to said position, and auxiliary means for hearing against the same carton wall to prevent its bulging due to lateral pressure resulting from the placing of material in the carton.

14. In apparatus of the class described, means whereby a carton may be supported and advanced to a definite position, flap controlling means for bending and holding a flap of the carton against a wall of the carton body as the carton is being advanced to said position, and retaining pins projecting upward and bearing against the same carton wall to prevent its distortion due the lateral pressure resulting from the placing of material in the carton.

15. In apparatus of the class described, means whereby a carton may be supported and advanced to a definite position, flap controlling means for bending and holding certain flaps of the carton against the carton body as the carton is being advanced to said position, and pins projecting upward and bearing against a plurality 9f the carton walls to prevent their distortion due to lateral pressure resulting from the placing of material in the carton.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper of considerable length having downwardly converging walls, downwardly converging partitions extending lengthwise of the hopper and dividing the same into compartments of the same length as the hopper and relatively broad at the top and narrow at the bottom, each compartment having a relatively short outlet opening in the bottom thereof substantially midway of its length, feed means in each compartment operative to feed the substance in the compartment from its ends along its bottom to its outlet opening, the openings of the different compartments be-v mg side by side, valve means cooperating with said outlet openings positioned below the hopper and having an individual pas.-

sage therethrough for each compartment outlet opening, said passages terminating close together whereby the substance passing through them is fed in a plurality of closely adjacent streams into a suitably positioned means concurrently in response to mechanical engagement with a properly positioned container.

17. In apparatusof the class described, the combination of a hopper, partitions dividing said hopper into compartments, said compartments having openings in their bottoms side by side, cooperating valves arranged side by side beneath said openings in position to deliver simultaneously into a single carton therebeneath, one valve being provided for each opening, similarly arranged fixed cylinders cooperating each with one of said valves, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, said valves in one position providing communication between said compartments and cylinders and in another position between said cylinders and outlet ports above said carton, andmeans for simultaneously operating said valves to move them alternately into said. positions. 18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of sources of supply of the substance to be distributed, said sources having outlet openings, a valve casing associated with said openings and having an individual passage therethrough for each of said openings, a tapered valve seat for each of said passages, a hollow tapered valve mountedto cooperate with each valve seat, said valve being closed at its small end and open at its large end, and having a port in the wall thereof in alignment with the cooperating passage, cylinders communicating respectively with the open ends of said valves, pistons in said cylinders, means forreciproeating said pistons, a slide bar arranged transversely of said casing, and connections between said bar and valves whereby each reciprocation of said bar alternately aligns the ports of said valves to receive charges of the substance into said cylinders and to discharge them therefrom at a delivery point. 19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper of considerably greater length than width having downs wardly converging partitions extending lengthwise of he hopper and dividing the