US1618911A

US1618911A - Delivery mechanism for carton-sealing machines

Info

Publication number: US1618911A
Application number: US714976A
Authority: US
Inventors: George H Bent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-05-21
Filing date: 1924-05-21
Publication date: 1927-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1944-02-22

Description

'Feb'. 22, 1927. I 1,618,911 1 G. H. BENT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES Fi1ed1uay 1, 1924 e sheets-Sheet 1 \m l I I k ATTORNEYS Feb, 22,1927. 1,618,911

' G. H. BENT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES file M y 21, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 .66 i 66 '86 I z IN VEN TOR I BY mm, CM w r ATTORNEYS Feb. 22 "1927.

\ G. H. BENT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1924 6 SheetsI-Sheet 5 v INVENTOR W'H- 631M BY mm, WW1} mm r ATTORNEYS/EA);

Feb. 22, 1927.

G. H. BENT DELIVERY uncamrsm FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES File May 21, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR cm W:

A TTORNE G. H.- BENT DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES Feb. 22 1927,

Filed May 21, 1924 5 t 5 A TTORNE YS on driven

shafts

23 and 24 suitably journaled on a stationary part of the machine. The lower belt 20 extends beyond belt 19 to provide in effect amoving platform onto which the cartons are deposited and moved between both belts which grip and carry the filled cartons to a final point of delivery (see Figs. 4 and 5). Suitable drier rollers 25,

belt tighteners

26, 27, belt and roller supporting frames 28, 29, and a supporting pedestal 30 are indicated in Fig. 1, the operation and arrangement of these parts being well understood and not requiring a detailed explanation.

The carton transferring means comprises a plurality of independent relatively mvable clamps reciprocable transversely of the paths of travel of the conveyor 6 and belt 26.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, two

clamps

31 and 32 are employed. These clamps are disposed vertically for attachment at their upper ends to

brackets

33 and 34 which respectively project from and form a part of relatively

movable carriages

35 and 36 substantially Cshaped in cross-section (Fig.5). These carriages are mounted on a track 37 attached at its ends to the side frames 1, 1, and extending transversely over conveyor 6 and belt 20, said carriages preferably being provided with anti-friction rollers 38 which engage the track and provide a rolling travel of the carriage. Since clamp 31 traverses the path of travel of conveyor 6, the said clamp is preferably of less width than clamp 32 in order to provide sufficient clearance with respect to the moving formers and followers and to enable a maximum number of the same to be employed. Reference to Fig. shows this difference in width of the clamps and also a carton top-engaging stop 39 on the inner side of wide clamp 32 which stop prevents vertical displacement of the carton when engaged between the clamps and also acts as a guide when the carton is being moved out of engagement therewith.

Clamps

31 and 32 serve to engage the filled cartons on followers and transport the same to the delivery conveyor, where the filled cartons are deposited on belt and conveyed away as above described.

In order to insure that the transferred cartons will be released from the clamps and engaged between

belts

19 and 20, mechanism for this purpose is provided comprising a plunger 40 positioned above belt 20 and reciprocable between

clamps

31 and 32 in their carton delivery position (Fig. 4). Plunger 40 is mounted in any suitable manner and operated by any suitable mechanism. In the a form shown, the mounting for the plunger comprises

stub shafts

41 and 42 positioned in the same horizontal plane and at tachedto the right-hand side member 1 by nuts 43. A lever 44 and a bell-crank 45 are journalled on said stub-shafts, the upwardly extending arms of which are equal in length. The upper ends of said lever and bell-crank are provided with hearing pins 46 on which bearings 47 projecting from one side of the plunger rod 48 are journalled.

The driving and operating mechanisms for the above described devices preferably comprise a source of power, as an electric motor 49, rigidly secured to the machine frame, preferably near the bottom thereof, the attaching means for said motor being of any suitable construction, here shown as a bracket 50 secnred to the frame by bolts 51. The main drive shaft 52 is journalled in suitable bearings 53 on the top rails of side frames 1, l and carries at its far end a pulley 54 connected by a belt 55 to the driving pulley 56 of motor 49.

At the left hand side of the machine as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, shaft 52 is provided The operating mechanism for the carton transporting carriages and clamps comprises a lever 67 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a bracket 68 secured to one end ofth-e near side frame 1 (Fig. Said lever carries at its lower end a roller 68 which engages in a cam groove 69 formed in a cam wheel 70 mounted on shaft 10, whereby a rocking movement is imparted to lever 67. An adjustable link 71 is connected at one end to the upper extremity of lever 67, the opposite end of said link being connected to one arm 72 of a bell-crank lever 73 vertically journalled in a suitable bearing 74 on the side frame 1 at the left of The attaching devices for link 71 with lever 67 and arm 72 are preferably of the universal type, con'iprising in this instance a pair of pivotally connected yokes 7 7, 78 at each end of the link, the yokes of each pair being disposed at right angl s to each other. An adjustable link 79 is pivotally connected at one end to the other arm 80 of bell-crank lever 73, by means of a yoke 81, the opposite end of link 79 being attached to carriage35 by means of a. yoke 81 pivotally connected to a yoke 82 projecting rearwardly from said carriage and preferably formed integral therewith.

Carriages

35 and 36 are interconnected in such manner as to be reciprocated together along track 37 by the operating mechanism above described, while at the same time means are provided for intermittently imparting relative movement to said carriages in either direction, whereby the clamps 31 .and 32 willbe caused to grip and release the filled cartons at proper intervals during transportation of the cartons from conveyor 6 to

belts

19 and 20. The interconnecting means for said carriages comprises a pair of links 83 and 8:1, disposed in a vertical plane, the lower ends of the links being pivotally connected to the upper part of

carriages

35 and 36. Said links converge toward each other and their upper endsare pivotally connectedby .a pin of the usual type carrying a roller 85. 'Roller engages in a cam guide or groove 86 formed in an upstanding bracket 87 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to track 37, the cam guide and roller constituting the means for intermit tently imparting relative movement to the carriages and clamps during their travel along track 37. For this purpose, cam groove or guide 861(Fig. 3) is formed with a long, straight, high portion 86 and short,

low portions

86, 86" curved upwardly and joining the ends OfSZtld high portion.

The operating mechanism for plunger 10 comprises a cam wheel 88 mounted on shaft 10 and a roller 89 engagedin the cam groove 90 of said wheel and mounted on the lower arm 90 of bell-crank lever 15. The movement of'conveyor 6, carriages 3'5, 36,

belts

19 and 20, and plunger 40 are thus all derived from a common source of power, and the operating parts for each device are timed with relation to each other to actuate the same in the following manner:

The alternating formers and followers of conveyor 6 carry empty and filled cartons pastthe flap folding and sealing devices to the carton transferring mechanism comprised by

carriages

35, 36 and

clamps

31, 32,

When a follower 15 carrying a filled carton reaches said mechanism, the clamps have been moved'to the position shownin Fig, 2 and the filled carton passes between the same, the top of the carton being engaged understop 39. In this position the clamps have received their maximum movement to the left, said movement of wide clamp 32 terminating a short distance to the right. of follow-c1115 .to provide clearance for the latter in its continued feeding movement. Clamp 31 begins to move to the right, displacing the filled carton laterally from the follower. During the movement of clamp 31 across the path of travelof follower, 15, there will be sufficient clearance for the latter in its continued feeding movement, due 7 to move as a unit. towardthe delivery con veyor, until they reach approximately-the delivery. position (Fig 3)-{'where the cam groove and roller moveLt-he apex ofi-links 83 and 841 downward, spreading the clampsand releasing the carton for depositon'be'lt 20. At this moment, plunger40 is moved betweenthe clamps toeject the carton therefrom and start it. on its. way to be gripped betweenbelts 19. and 20, as. above described. During transfer of the carton from follower 15 to beltQO a former 14; carrying an empty carton will .have passed by the pathiof travel of the carriages and clamps, and when the latter again move to the carton-receiving position (Fig. 2) another follower carrying a filledcarton. willihave1noved: up i to "the clamps which then'engageanditransfer the carton as before; i i

It will thus be apparent thata continuously operatingfmechanism is providedlfor transferring filled: and sealed cartons from followers alternating with formers .on the feeding conveyor to "an offset delivery imveyor, and that each filled carton istransand sealed cartons ia'rel fed to, carton.trans-v ferring devices .wh-ichtransport the success ve cartons from the feed ng ,conveyor alternately to one or the other ofazpair'of offset delivery conveyors, one ateach side .of

said feeding conveyor... The belts o f the oilset. delivery conveyors areindicatedat.91, 92, and 93," 9 1. The cartonifeeding conveyors of the top-sealingvmachinei comprises the usual followers carried von plates 96 which run in grooves on tlie'usual'conveyor way 97 and are attached -.at suitable intervals to a conveyor chaini 98.which.passes around a sprocket 99 secured to thedriven shaft 100. The usualadjustable'guide rails 101 are disposed at each side. of the: carton feeding conveyor for the purpose of pre venting displacement ofw the cartons from the formers 95, said guide rails being slidably mounted in the usual manner on brackets 102 secure1d to' the conveyor .Way 97.

Double acting cartontransferring clamps are provided in the present embodiment the' narrow clamps belng comprised' by' an elongated U-shaped bracket 103- depending from the bracket 104 of a centrallydisposedlcarriage 105, the outer sides of said ;U-sliaped bracketl 'constituting the acting, faces of. the

clamp and providing, in effect, a single struc ture which takes the place of two clamps. The wide clamps 106 and 107 depend from the brackets 108, 109 of carriages 110 and 111, all of the aforementioned carriages being substantially C-shaped in cross-section and provided with anti-friction rollers 112 for engagement with a track 113 which extends transversely of the machine and is attached to the side frames 114.

The receiving ends of

belts

91, 92 and 93, 94 are carried on pulleys 115, 116 and 117, 118. The pulleys and 117 are mounted on driven shaft 119 which extends transversely of the machine, and pulleys 116 and 118 are mounted on stub shafts 120 and 121. Said shafts 119, 120 and 121 are journaled in suitable bearings on the side frames 114 and extend outside of the same, the extended ends of said shafts carrying the sprocket gears by which the shafts are driven.

To insure that the transferred cartons will be engaged between the upper and lower belts of the offset delivery conveyors, there is arranged adjacent each of these conveyors a pair of ejecting plungers 122, 123, one for each conveyor, said plungers operating in the same manner as set forth in connection with the first described embodiment of the invention.

The driving and operating mechanism for the above described instrumentalities comprises preferably an electric motor 124 mounted on a bracket 125 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to one side frame 114. The main drive shaft 126 is journaled in suitable bearings on the top rails of said side frames and carries at one end a large pulley 127 over which passes one end of a driving belt 128, the opposite end of said belt passing around the driving pulley 129 of the motor. Shaft 100 is driven from shaft 126 by the following means :at the left of the machine, the extended end of shaft 100 carries a sprocket gear 130 over which passes a chain 131, the said chain also passing over a sprocket 132 carried by the extended left end of shaft 126. Shaft 100 also carries at one end a sprocket 133 alined with a sprocket 134 of shaft 121, the latter shaft being driven by a chain 135 which passes around sprockets 133 and 1 4. At the right side of the machine the extended end of shaft 100 carries a sprocket 136 alined with a sprocket 137 mounted on the extended end of shaft 120, the latter shaft being driven by an endless chain 138 which passes around sprockets 136 and 137. Shaft 120 also carries a sprocket 139 alined with a sprocket 140 mounted on the extended end of shaft 119, the latter shaft being driven by endless chain 141 which passes around sprockets 139 and 140. x

The operating mechanism for the carton transporting carriages and clamps comprises a. lever 142 pivot-ally mounted intermediate its ends on the bracket 143 secured to the left side frame 114. Said lever carries at its lower end a. roller 144'which engages in a cam groove 145 formed in a cam 7 wheel 146 mounted on shaft 100 whereby on rotation of the latter the cam groove and roller impart a rocking movement tolever 142. The upper end of lever 142 is connected to one arm of a. bell-crank lever 147 in a manner and by means similar to that set forth in the first described embodiment of the invention. The other arm of bell-crank lever 147 is connected by a link 148' to the central carriage 105, said carriage being conneeted with carriages 110 and 111 by toggle levers 149 and 150.

Carriages 105, 110 and 111 are interconnected in such manner as to be reciprocated together along track 113 by the operating mechanism just described, while at the same time means are provided for imparting relative movement to said carriages in either direction whereby the clamps 103 and 106 or 103 and 107 will be caused to grip and release the filled cartons at the proper time during transportation of the same from the carton feeding conveyor to either of the olfset delivery conveyors. The link connections 149 and 150 carry at their a-pices rollers 151 and 152 which engage respectively in

cam grooves

153 and 154 formed on up standing

ribbed brackets

155 and 156 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the track 113. Cam grooves 153 and 154 (Fig. 6) are formed with long, straight, highportions 153, 154 and short, low portions 153", 154 curved upwardly and joining the ends of said high portions respectively.

The gripping, transporting and releasing movements of the clamps are substantially the same as set fort-h in connection with the first described embodiment of this invention except that the three clamps traverse the path of travel of the three conveyors and transfer successive cartons on the feeding conveyor alternately, to the delivery conveyors at both sides of said feeding conveyor.

Each transferred carton is gripped between one narrow face of the U-shaped clamp 103 and either of the wide clamps 106 or 107 in accordance with the direction of movement of the entire carton transferring mechanism. By this construction, the filling, sealing and delivery of cartons with great rapidity is facilitated, since: a greater number of caring plungers 122 and 123c0mprisesjbell- 5 crank levers 1 57 I and 158mounted on stub shafts 159 and 160 suitably-secured to the side frames 114. U Upwardlyextending arms 161 and 162 of said bell-cranks a1-eattacl1ed to the plungers 122 and '123.--The

short arms

163 and 16% of said bell-cranks are pro vided at their ends with rollers 165 and-166 whlch engage in suitable cam grooves (not shown) of cam wheels 167 and 168 secured on driven shaft 100." r

-All of the various instrumentalities of this last,described embodiment of the invention are timed in a suitable manner to produceja continuousoperation of the ma.- chine, the double acting clamps transferring the successive cartons on the carton feeding conveyor alternately ,to the delivery conveyors at each side of the feeding con veyor and the ejecting plungers operating at the proper momentto eject the released cartons from their clamps and insure engagementof the cartons between the upper and lower belts of the respective ofiiset delivery ey sa i cla m 1 a 1 a 1- In c b' a pa of space 00.1 veyors, a pair of clamps for transferring cartons from one to the other of said conveyors a stationary, cam guide, and operat; ing means 'for said clamps cooperating with said cam guide whereby the clamps are caused to successively engage a carton on one. conveyor, transport the carton laterally from said conveyor, andrelease the transported carton on arrival of the same at the other: conveyor. I -c I; 2. In combination a pairof spaced conveyors, a pair of clamps for (transporting cartons from one conveyor tothe otherjconveyor, a stationary cam guide, operating means for said clamps cooperating with said cam guide whereby the clamps are caused to grip a carton on one conveyor, transport the carton laterally from said conveyor, and

release the transported carton upon arrival of the same at the other. conveyor, and means for ejecting the carton from said clamps after release thereby.

3. In combination, a carton feeding sconveyor, delivery means at one side, of said conveyor, a plurality of clamps for, transferring cartons from said feeding conveyor to the delivery means, operating mechanism for said clamps causing the same to engage a carton on the feed ng conveyor and trans.- port the same to. the delivery means, and a device offset from thefeeding conveyor for ejecting the transported carton clamps.

from sai l In. combination, a; carton feedingjc on;

veyor, a delivery eonveyorvat one side of s' n on y a pair of re lte e ms clamps I for transferring cartons from" the.

ed n o v is d. el r -s p rates operating mechanism for saldclamps causa stationary cam guide,

ing thewsame to engage a cartonon: the .feeding conveyor and release the carton afteir it has been; transported to: the 1 delivery; con,- veyor, andza pusher offset fromwthe feeding conveyor for ejectingthe transportedcarton from the clamps onto the delivery conveyor.

5.1111 combination, a pairvof spacediparallel conveyors, a pair of relatively movable clamps for transferring cartons from one to the other off said conveyors, driving mechanism- -f0l--'IeCip1OCati11g:6211612 clamps across the-path of-travel of said conveyors,..a .stationary cam guide, and means connecting said driving mechanism. withvsaidsclamps, saidmeans cooperating with the cam guide to engagethe clamps with a carton; on one conveyor and release the clamps upon arrival of the cartonat the other conveyor. 7

- 6;In combination, two, parallel conveyors, a track extending transversely over said conveyors, a plurality of carriages reciprocable'along said track, driving means for said conveyors and carriages clampsdepending from said carriages for movement across the path of travel of said conveyors,- and means for imparting relative movement of said carriages and clamps at predetermined intervals in their reciprocatory movement,.-said -means comprising :a stationary cam guide and connections between the carriages and-said driving means cooperating with the cam guide. r 1 o 7. In combination, a carton feeding-cone veyor anda delivery-conveyor arranged in parallel spaced'relation, means for transferring cartons from the feeding conveyor to the delivery, conveyor, said transferring means comprisinga plurality of independentc'lamps; reciprocable across the. path of travel of the conveyors, meanscausingsaid clamps v,to successively *engage, transport and release a carton during transfer of the same from thefeeding conveyor tothe delivery conveyor, and means offset from the feedinglconveyor for ejecting the released carton from said clamps. H Y? j 8. ,In combination, two parallel conveyors disposed in overlapping end relation, a trackextending transversely above'the overlapped ends of said conveyors, and means for transferring articles from one conveyor to the other conveyor,.saidmeans comprising independent clamps reciprocable along said track, operating means for said clam'ps,

' and connections between said operating means and clamps cooperatin ithsaid cam guide; 7 j9. I n combination, a pair of spaced conrs,' re'ciprocating devices for transferring-cartons from one to the other of said co veyors, me ohanisnr for reciprocating said i esjwd mea si itt t m ar t ipping I ,r' a' hg m r e devices during their reciprocating movemnt' ,1

10. In combination, a pair of spaced con veyors, a plurality of reciprocating clamps for transferring cartons from one 'to the other of said conveyors, mechanism for reciprocating said clamps, and means for intermittently moving the clamps toward and away from each other during their reciprocating movement.

11. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, delivery mechanism at one side of said feeding conveyor, reciprocating devices for transporting cartons from the feeding conveyor to said delivery mechanism, means for reciprocating said devices, means for intermittently imparting carton gripping and releasing movements to the transporting devices during their reciprocating movement, and means at the delivery conveyor for ejecting the transported carton-s from said devices.

12. In combination, a pair of spaced parallel conveyors, a track extending above the conveyors transversely of the same, a plurality of relatively movable carriages mounted on said track and provided with clamps for transferring cartons from one to the other of said conveyors, mechanism for reciprocating said carriages along the track, and means for intermittently moving the carriages toward and away from each other during their reciprocating movement.

13. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of delivery conveyors one at each side of said feeding conveyor, reciproeating devices for transferring successive cartons on the feeding conveyor alternately to the delivery conveyors, mechanism for reciprocating said devices, and means for intermittently imparting carton gripping and releasing movements to said devices during their reciprocating movement.

14. In combination, a cartonfeeding conveyor, a pair of carton delivery conveyors one at each side of said feeding conveyor, a plurality of clamps for alternately transferring successive cartons on the feeding conveyor to the delivery conveyors at each side of said feeding conveyor, a plurality of stationary cam guides, and operating means for said clamps cooperating with said cam guides.

15. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, two offset delivery conveyors one at each side of said feeding conveyor, a plurality of carriages reciprocable across the path of travel of said conveyors, clamps on said carriages for transferring cartons from the feeding conveyor to the delivery conveyors, stationary cam guides, operative connections between said carriages and said cam guides, and means for reciprocating said carriages.

16. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, two delivery conveyors one at each side of said feeding conveyor, a track eX- tending transversely above said conveyors,

a plurality of carriages reciprocable along said track and provided with depending clamps for transferring cartons from the feeding conveyor to the delivery conveyors, operating means for said carriages, and means for imparting carton engaging and releasing movements to said clamps during reciprocation of their carriages, said means comprising stationary cam guides, toggle levers connecting said carriages and rollers on said levers cooperating with said cam guides.

17. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of delivery conveyors one at each side of said feeding conveyor, a plurality of movable clamps for transferring successive cartons on the feeding conveyor alternately to the delivery conveyors, and a pair of devices offset from the carton feeding conveyor for ejecting the cartons from said clamps onto said delivery conveyors.

18. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of delivery conveyors one at each side of said feeding conveyor and arranged in spaced relation therewith, clamps reciprocable across the path of travel of said conveyors for transferring successive cartons on the feeding conveyor alternately to the delivery conveyors, and a pair of reciprocating plungers one at each delivery conveyor for ejecting the transported cartons from said clamps.

19. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of offset delivery conveyors one at each side of said carton feeding conveyor, a track extending above said conveyors transversely of the same, a central car riage and a pair of side carriages mounted on said track, clamps'depending from the carriages, means for reciprocating the carriages along the track, and means intermittently imparting relative movement to said carriages during their reciprocating movement.

20. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of delivery conveyors one at each side of'said carton feeding conveyor. reciprocating means for transferring cartons on the feeding conveyor to the delivery conveyors, said means comprising a central carton engaging device and a pair of carton engaging devices one at each side of said central device, mechanism for reciprocating the carton engaging devices, and means for intermittently imparting relative movement to the carton engaging devices during their reciprocating movement whereby said devices are caused to grip and release the cartons at predetermined intervals.

21. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of delivery conveyors one at each side of said carton feeding conveyor, reciprocating devices for transferring cartons from the feeding conveyor to the delivery oonveyors, said devices comprising a central carriage, a pair of carriages one at each side of said central carriage, and clamps depending from the central and side carriages, mechanism for reciprocating said carriages and clamps, and means for intermittently imparting relative movement to the carriages during their reciprocating movement whereby said clamps are caused to grip and release the cartons at predetermined intervals.

22. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor, a pair of delivery conveyors one at each side of said carton feeding conveyor,

reciprocating means for transferring car-- tons from the feeding conveyor to the delivery conveyors, said means comprising a narrow clamp and a wide clamp at each side of said narrow clamp, mechanism for reciprocating said clamps,;ind means for intermittently moving the wide clamps toward and away from the narrow clamp during reciprocating movement of said clamps whereby the latter are caused'to grip and release the cartons at predetermined intervals.

23. In combination, a carton feeding con veyor, a pair of offset delivery conveyors one at each side of said carton feeding conveyor, a. track extending transversely of said conveyors, and means for transferring successive cartons on the feeding conveyor ltcrnately to the delivering conveyors, said means comprising a central carriage and a pair of side carriages slidably mounted on said track and provided with track-engaging rollers.

24. Carton transporting means comprising a track, a plurality of carriages slidably mounted on said track, means for reciprocating said carriages, cam guide means, and connections between said carriages cooperating with said cam guide means whereby a relative movement is imparted to the carriages during their reciprocation.

25. Carton transporting means comprising a track, three carriages on said track, means for reciprocating said carriages, cam guides, and connections between said carriages cooperating with said cam guides whereby the outer carriages are moved toward and away from the central carriage during reciprocation of the carriages.

26. In combination, aconveyor provided with spaced carton carrying elements, an

ofiset delivery mechanism, devices movable to and from the conveyor and said delivery mechanism, and operating means for said devices causing the same to transfer cartons on alternate carrying elements of the conveyor to said delivery mechanism.

27. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor provided with spaced carton carrying elements, a delivery conveyor arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said feeding conveyor, clamps reciprocable across the paths of travel of said conveyors, and operating means for said clamps causing the same to transfer cartons on alternate carrying elements of said feeding conveyor to the delivery conveyor.

28. In combination, a conveyor provided with spaced carton carrying elements, a delivery mechanism at one side of said conveyor, devices movable to and from the conveyor and said delivery mechanism, operating means for said devices causing the same to transport cartons on alternate carrying elements of said conveyor to the delivery mechanism, and means for ejecting the transported cartons from said devices.

29. In combination, a conveyor provided with spaced carton carrying elements, an offset delivery mechanism, a pair of reciprocating carton transferring devices, operating mechanism for said devices causing the same to transport cartons on alternate carrying elements of said conveyor to the delivery mechanism, and means imparting carton gripping and releasing movements to the transferring devices during their reciprocating movement.

30. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor provided with spaced carton carrying elements, a delivery conveyor arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to said feeding conveyor, a pair of reciprocating clamps, operating mechanism for said clamps causing the same to transport cartons on alternate carrying elements of the feeding conveyor to said delivery conveyor, and means intermittently imparting carton engaging and releasing movements to said clamps during their reciprocating movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

GEORGE BENT.