US1721811A - Bundling machine - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1929. H. EVANS ET AL BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 23, 1929. H. L. EVANS ET Al. 1,721,811

BUNDLING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 4 IJuly 23, 1929. H. 1 EVANS ET AL BUNDLING MACHINE filed NOV. 14 1927 July 23, l929. H. 1 EVANS ET AL 1,721,811

BUNDLING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14, 1927 5 Shee'S-Sheet 5 Patented July 23, 1929.l

UNITED STATES HARRY I1. EVANS AND GEORGE I. HOHI-J, 0F NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 PATENT oFFlcE.

CARTONING MACHINERY CORPORATION, 0F NEWPORT, vRHODE ISLAND, A. COR- PonA'rIort or NEW JERSEY.

BUN DLING MAGHINE.

Application tiled-November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233,060.

This invention relates to an improved automatic machine for bundling elongated or rodlike articles such as pencils or any other kind of tricle of stick-like form.

The invention has for its principal obj ect to provide an automatic machine which is adapted to aggregate a predetermined number of articles, and then to insert said arti# cles iny an encircling band or other desired form of holder; and to this end the machine of this invention is adapted to manipulate a preformed tubular casing or band, which is initially furnished in a collapsed or flat condition, whereby said casing or band is opened or squared and thereafter positioned to receive the insertion therethrough of the articles to be enclosed thereby; and the machine is also designed to automatically divide from a bulk or supply of articles, such as pencils, a predetermined number thereof and arrange the same in symmetrical relation preparatory to inserting the same into the opened and presented casing or band, and thereupon to complete the inserting operation whereby the desired bundle of articles operated upon is obtained.

The invention has for a further object to provide means whereby the articles to bebundled may be arranged in a plurality of horizontal layers, and whereby separating partitions may be inserted bet-Ween the respective layers before the articles thus aggregated are inserted in the casing or band.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel arrangement and organization of mechanism whereby the several steps involved in manipulating casings or bands, aggregating the'` articles for insertion into said casings or bands, and if desired inserting partition members between layers ofthe aggregated articles, are coordinated and relatively timed for operation so that the casings and bands will successively and speedily pass through the machine and receive their respective quotas of articles to be bundled thereby, all in a manner whereby the various `operations are automatically carried on in timed relation and'so as to rapidlyproduce and deliver the articles in desired bundled O form.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated. will be clearly understood from the following de-y tailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the novel bundling machine made according to and embodying the principles of this invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 2 2 in Figure 1 but drawn on an enlarged scale; Figure .3 is a rear side elevation of the machine with certain parts of the hopper and article feeding mechanism shown in section; Figure 4lis a detail transverse section taken on line 4 4 in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 in Figure 1 but-drawn on an enlarged scale; Figure 6 is a detail section taken on line 6-6 in Figure 1, being also drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters ofl reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indi-cate corresponding parts.

The machine of this invention is adapted to manipulate a form of casing or band comprising a rectangular hollow tubular body 1 having open opposite ends, said body being so scored longitudinally', between the sections making up the sides of the same, that it may be initially collapsed into a relatively flat condition as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The casing or band in this form is preferably' made of light weight cardboard and is furnished by the manufacturer thereof to the user in the aforesaid collapsed or flat form. The operation ofraising the casing or band 1 from such initial flat or collapsed condition to a properly set up or open condition may be referred to as squaring the casing. The machine,

which is the subject of the present invention,

same are opened .andthereafter -positioned to receive the articlesto be inserted'therein.

The reference character 2 indicates a suitably supported base plateor bed, upon which `is simpel-ted, by standards 3, a deck plate or platform 4, which is spaced above said bed in horizontal relation thereto, but which is longitudinally offset toward the left end of be passed through the machine.

said base plate or bed. Mounted iff/bearings 5 in transverse extension over the right handI end of the b ase plate or bed 2 is a power transmission shaft' 6. The shaft 6 Nis started, driven.. and stopped by lmeans of a clutch mechanism 7, with which the same is provided. Said clutch mechanism 7 is operated through suitable transmission means, such as drive chain 8, from any suitable source of power, such e. g. as an electric motor (not shown). Also mounted in bearings 9,for extension over and adjacent to the rear longitudinal side of said base plate or bed 2, is an auxiliary transmission shaft 10; this shaft 10 being driven from said shaft 6 through intermeshing bevel gears 11.

bami deli/very and., Sgam-ng T he casing orv mechamsm.

Supported upon the right handend of said platform 4 isa magazine or stacker 12 which is adaptedto contain a supply of the initially flat -or collapsed casings or bands desired to Means are provided for successively ejecting the collapsed casings or bands from said magazine or-stacker 12, and delivering the same to the squaring mechanism; said means comprises a slide block 13, which is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in guides 14, and which is provided with a plunger 15 suitably affixed thereto. Said plunger 15 is provided rearward of its forward end with a transverse shoulder 16 of a height not exceeding the thickness ofa single collapsed casing or band.

The forward movement of the plunger 15 car- Y ries said shoulder 16 into engagement with the rearward edge of the bottommost collapsed carton of the pile thereof contained in the magazine or stacker 12, so that as vthe plunger is moved forward said bottom casing or band is engaged and pushed outwardly from the magazine or stacker 12. The means for producing a properly timed reciprocation of the ejecting plunger 15 comprises a fulcrum member 17 secured upon the basel plate or bed 2 with which is pivotally connected a lever 18, the upper end of which is connected' through a link 19 with the slide block 13. Actuated bythe transmission ,shaft 6 is an eccentric 20,-the connecting rod or arm 21 of which is pivotally attached to the lever 18 intermediate its ends, all whereby, as the eccentric is rotated, a forward and back oscillation of the 'lever arm will be produced effective to in turn produce the desired forward and back reciprocation of the slide block 13 and ejecting plunger 15.

Disposed beneath the magazine or stacker 12 and, extending longitudinally forward therefrom in spaced relation above the deckplate or platform 4 are a plurality of radially spaced supporting bars 22l upon which the casings or bands are supported and over which they move as they proceed through the prises a race cam 25 rotated by the transmission shaft 10 and operative through a connecting rod 26 to oscillate a lever 27, the free end of which is connected by a link 28 with the tail end 29 of said clamp blade. The operation of the race cam 25 is such that a properly timed forward movement of the clamp blade 24 is produced, whereby the same is caused to insert itself between the collapsed walls and upon the bottom wall of the ejected casing or band, to thereby firmly and nonshiftably retain theilatter in its initial ejected position subject to the action of squaring mechanism to be presentl described. In order to prevent endwise isplacement of the ejected casing or band while the clamp blade comprises a vertically reciprocable squaring member 32 the lower end of which is slidably in a guide member 33. The upper end of said squaring member is formed to provide upstanding forward fingers 34 and spaced rearwardly therefrom, for a distance corresponding to the width 'of the opened or squared casing or band, upstandin rearward fingers 35 provided with invaria ly chamfered free ends 36. The .fingers 34are of slightly greater height than the fingers 35. Initially, as a casing or band is being ejected from the magazine or stacker 12, the squar-v ing member 32 occupies a lowered position intermediate its fully lowered and its fully raised positions, so that the free ends ofthe fingers 34 are projected slightly above the level of the supporting bars 22, while the free ends of the fingers 35 are below such level. In this position, as theejected collapsed casing or band is moved out of the magazine or stacker, the forward ed'ge of the same is stopped against the slightly upwardly projecting ends of the fingers 34, thus properly disposing the same for the reception of thel clamp blade 24, After the clamp blade has been inserted, the squaring member is caused to rise and as it rises the fingers 34 and 35 are carried above the supporting bars 22 with the effect that the chamfered ends of the fingers engage an underlying side Wall of thet collapsed casing or band so as to turn the same upward, thus raising the sides and upper portions of the casing or band causing such parts'to turn about the score lines `intermediate the same, thus opening the cas-v 'ing into the squared or tubular form ready for the reception of the articles to be inserted therein, as will be understood from an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings.

The means for producing the properly timed vertical reciprocatory motions of the squaring-member 32 comprises a race cam 45 actuated by the transmission shaft 10 and in turn actuating a bell crank mechanism, the

' one arm 46 of which is pivoted to connecting rod 47 which is actuated bythe race cam 45, and the other arm .48 of which cooperates with a stud 49 extending from the lower end of the squaring member 32 whereby oscillations of the bell crank means are converted into -properly timed vertical reciprocations of said against longitudinal displacement as the clamp blade is withdrawn therefrom after the squaring operation, a stop means is provided comprising a lever arm 37 pivotally supported by fulcrum blocks or cars 38 mounted on top of the guide block 23, so that said lever arm extends toward the adjacent end of the Said lever arm is normally which is backed by a stationary bracket or abutment 40 connected with said guide block 23. In order to so dispose the lever arm 3T Cil -as not to interfere with the squaring operation exercised upon the casing or band, means are provided in the form of a cam 4l carriedon the topc of the clamp blade 24 and cooperating with a nosing 42 on the underside of the lever arm 37 whereby when the clamp blade is entered in the casing or band said cam 41 is positioned to raise the lever arm 37 against the compression of the spring 39. As the clamp blade is retracted, however, said cam portion 41 isremoved from engagement with the nosing 4 2 and the. tension of the spring 39 depresses the lever arm 37 to lower its free end whereby a transverse lip 42 'provided at. the upper outerend of said arm is caused to engage with and over the marginal end portions of the said arm registers against the adjacent end of the casing or band, thus firmly i holding the latter against displacement by the reti-active movement of the clamp blade.

After the casing or band has been squared meansare provided to move the same upon the supporting bars 22 to a position ready for the reception of the articles to be inserted therein. The means for so moving the squared casings or bands is arranged to effect step by step or intermittent movements whereby a stationary dwellof the same is provided for at desired location, of sufficient duration to permit the insertion of articles therein.-

A conveyor or transfer mechanism suitable for mtermittently movino' the casings or band comprlses a longitudinally reciprocable carrier block 50, movable in suitable slideways :'31 fixed on the underside of the platform 4. T he means for reciprocating said carrier block 50. comprises a race cam 52 from which extends a connecting rod 53, the free end of which is pivotally connected with an oscillatable lever 54 fulcrumed on a pivoting support 55 mounted on the base plate or bed 2. The said carrier block 50 is interconnected with the vfree end of said lever 54 by means of a link 56,

whereby oscillations of said lever arm 54 will produce the desired forward and backward reciprocatory movements of said carrier block 50. Connected with said carrier block 5() so as to `travel therewith, but being so arranged as toI be `capable of independent vertical reciprocation relative to said carrier block, are the body portions 57 of a pair of laterallyspaced conveyor or transfer members 58 which are adapted to move in the spaces between certain of the supporting bars 22. Said conveyoror transfer members are provided with upstanding fingers 59 so arjacent end of the casing or band, thus firmly ranged as to engage or embrace the squared 'cartons when said conveyor or transfer mem-` bers 58 are moved upwardly toward the latter. The platform 4 is also provided with longitudinal openings 60 to permitl both the longitudinal and vertical reciprocations of said conveyor or transfer members.

The means for producing the vertical reeiprocations ofthe conveyor or transfer members, 58, whereby the same are caused to move in an elevated plane with their fingers 59 proj ecting above the supporting bars 22 into propelling engagement with the casings or bands 1 to move the latter forwardly, and `in a lowered plane with their fingers 59 withdrawn beneath the casings or bands when the conveyor or transfer members are retracted after a forwardly propelling stroke, comprises the followingmechanisms: Fulerumed upon parts 61, mounted on said base plate or bed 2, are bell-crank devices 62. Pivotally connected with the substantially horizontal members of said bell-crank devices, so as to extend longitudinally and horizontally therebetween, and so as to be supported thereby` is a vertically oscillatjable guide cradle 63 which provides a guideway 64.for a roller 64 journaled to extend between the lower extremities of the body portions 57 of said conveyor or transfer members 59, to thereby support the latter and control the raised and lowered positions of the same as governed by .the timed rise and fall of said guide cradle 63. The

properly timed rise and fall of said uide cradle 63 is produced by the oscillation o said bell-crank devices 62, which move harmoniously, since the substantially vertical members thereof are. connected together by a link 65. ,Timed oscillatory movements are imparted to said bell-crank devices 62, through the operation of a race cam (36 which is fixed on said transmission shaft 6, and which actuates a connecting rod 67 the free end of which is pivotally connected with a vertical mem'l` ber of one of said bell-crank devices 62.

Extending from the magazine or stacker 12 parallel to and spaced above the supporting bars 22 for a distance equivalent to the height of a set up or squared casing or band 1 is a keeper bar 68, which is pivotally connected .at its rearward end with a supporting bracket 69 connected with said magazine or stacker 12, and which is supported to its outer end by a holding member 70, in such manner that the same may be raised to give access to the underlying casings of bands if desired.

In the operation of the machine, after the squaring member 32 has risen to square a casing or band which has been delivered from the magazineor stacker 12, the conveyor or transfer mechanism is timed to withdraw the conveyor or transfer` member 58 to its lower level of movement, whereupon the. same is retracted to bringl the rearmost set of embracing fingers 59 beneath the casing or band which has been squared by rise ofthe squaring member 32, whereupon the conveyor or transfer member is caused to rise so that said latter fingers will embrace the casing or carton which has been set uplor squared and 'as this occurs the squaring; member 32 is downwardly withdrawn to its full extent to free the set up carton from the fingers 34 and 35 thereof. Upon withdrawal of the squaring. member 32 and its fingers 34 and 35, the conveyor or transfer member 58 is timed, under the operation of its actuating mechanism, to move forward, thus imparting to the set up and squared casing or band a forwardly propelling movement which carries. the same from the position A indicated in Figure2 to the position B indicated in said Figure 2. A casing or band which has previously been set up or squared and delivered to the station B is at the Sametime embraced bythe intermediate set of fingers 59 and is moved from said station B to station C, which latter sta tion is aligned with the article aggregating and inserting mechanism and which constitutes what may be termed the filling station.

At the same time a casing or band which had .previously occupied the filling station C is' engaged by the remaining finger 59 and is removed away from said station, all of which will be readily understood from an inspection ofFigure 2 of the drawings.

In order to retain the casings or bands against lateral displacement, after the same are delivered to either the station B or C and when disen aged by the conveyor or transfer means, yiel able detent means are provided in connection with one of said supportin bars 22 and with said keeper bar 68. vThe etent means connected with the supporting bar 22 comprises a fiat spring 71 secured by one end in an anchoring means 72 and having its opposite or free end slidably supported in a slide member Said anchoring means 72 and slidevmexnber 73 are affixed to the underside of a supporting bar 22 so that said spring 71 extends beneath and parallel to said supporting bar 22. Secured to said spring adjacent to each station B and C is a transverse yoke devlice 74 provided at each end thereof with upstanding detent fingers 75 disposed one on each side of the supportingbar 22. f Said detent fingers 75 are rounded offl or chamfered at their rearward sidesand nor: mally engage the forward sides of the casings or bands occupyin the said stations B and C.

above the keeper bar 68, a fiat spring f77 and adjacent to the rearward free end f said spring 77 is a stop means 78. Secured upon said slpring member 77 adjacent to each station or C are transverse yoke members 79 having at their ends depending detent fingers 80, the rearward sides of which are beveled or chamfered as shown.l 'I hese detent fingers 80 are so disposed as to engage the rearward sides of casings or bands, which have been moved to the stations B and C. In operation, as the conveyor or transfer member 58 propels a set up or squared casing or band from the squaring station A to the intermediate station B and a casing or band from the station B to the filling station C, the

tions of the latter are`engaged' by the upwardly projected detent fingers 80. As the conveyor or transfermember moves a casing or band from the respective stations B and C the detent fingers' 8O will be depressed against the tension of the spring 71 so that. `i

the said casings or bands will ride `over said detent fingers 80. It will thus be obvious that the detent fingers 75 and the detent fingers 80engaging opposite sides of thec'asings -or bands respectively atgthe upper and lower `portions of said sides will tend to hold the emptyjcasings or bands againstcollapse and intheir proper vset up or squared condition ready for the reception of the articles to be inserted therein, and yet the' detent means thus provlded will readily yield to the' onward movement of the casings or-bands under the lmpulslon'of the conveyor ortransfer means.

T he article aggregating and inserting mechanism.

Arranged laterally adjacent to filling sta tion C is the means for assembling or aggregating articles'from bulk into a group of desired number, and then insert-ing the group thereof into a casing or band. In the ill'ustration of this invention diselosepd in the drawings, the articles operated upon .are lead pencils, although it will be obvious that any other specific kind of article of elongated or stick-like form may be manipulated by the machine.

Fixed by their inner ends to the deck-plate or platform 4 are a pair of spaced apart channeled guide bars 81 to extend transversely and outwardly therefrom. Fixed by its inner end to said base plate or bed 2, to extend transversely and outwardly therefrom and beneath said guide bars, is a bracket plate 82. Interconnecting the outer end of said guide bars and bracket plate are nprights 83 to provide a rigid construction. Mounted in and between said guide bars 81 to reciprocate therein is a slide-block 84 upon which is fixed for movement therewith a plunger block 85 constructed'to provide a primary plunger member 86, and formed at its forward end to provide a secondary plunger member 87 stepped'down in plane and extending forwardly from the operative end of said primary plunger member 86. Formed by side plates 88 suitably supported by frame-pieces 89 to extend along the opposite sides of and above said primary plunger 86 is an assembling box 90 having end closing means 91 at the portion thereof projecting above said primary plunger. Extending longitudinally through the interior of said assembling box 90 in late-rally spaced apart relation receiving spaces within which the articles, such as the pencils 93, may be disposed in vertical tiers. Preferably the upper face of said primary plunger member 86 is longitudinally grooved, so that the lower marginal portions -of said partitions 92 may be engaged therein. Connected with the sides of said assembling box are angle plates 94, the upper lateral ext-gnsions 95 of which project outwardly from opposite sides of and in the plane of the upper open side of said v assembling box, thereby forming a stationary support for the pencils disposed in bulk in a hopper 96 which is mounted above said assembling box, and which is adapted to deliver the pencils as needed into the latter. AIn order to agitate the pencils contained in the hopper and to so roll or move the same laterally back and forth across1 the mouth of said assembling box as to assure the filling of all the'vertical receiving spaces provided by the partition .members theieof, said hopper is provided with a bot-tom opening anddownwardly sloping bottom Walls 97 extending from its ends to each side of said bottom opening, and said hopper is mounted for lateral oscillation. To arrange the hopper to permit of the desired lateral oscillation thereof, supporting arms 98 are pivotally' mounted on the deck-plate or platform- 4 1n spaced apart parallel relation, and with their upper ends in turn pivotally connected with laterally spaced apart points on the under side of the respective bottom walls 97 of saidhopper. The means for producing the oscillation of said hopper comprises a yoke arm 99 extending downwardly from the fulerum point of one of said support-ing arms moved back and forth over the stationary supports 95, I provide upon the latter a plurality of inclined ribs 103 descending toward the sides of the assembling box, so that the pencils will easily roll from one side or the other over the mouth of said assembling box. The hopper bottom walls 97 bordering the supports 95 are notched out to conform. to the ribs 103, as is shown in' Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The plunger block 85, during the operation of the machine, is reciprocated longitudinally beneath said assebling box in which the pencils 93 disposed in a predetermined number of tiers; in the instant case there are four tiers of pencils, and the primary -plunger member is designed to discharge from the assembling box, at each operation, three layers or groups of three pencils from each tier thus assembling onel dozen pencils to make upveach ultimate bundle thereof produced by the machine operations. The means for producing the timed reciprocations of the plunger block 85 comprises a race cam 104 mounted on and rotated by said transmission shaft 10. Pivoted in bearings 105 fixed on the outer end portion of said bracket plate 82 is the fulcrmn spindle 100 of an oscillatable lever 107, the upper free end of which is operatively interconnected by link 108 with said slide block 84, and said lever 107 is oscillated by means of a. crank-arm 109'with/which is connected the free end of a connecting rod 110 adapted to be actuated by said racc cam 104, all of which will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 4 of the drawings more particularly.

sembled pencils w-illdrop down throu h the bottom of th'e box upon theupper sur ace of the secondary plunger member 87 and in front of the'primary plunger end 86 of said plunger block. v The height ofthe primary plunger end 86 is predetermined inthe 1nstant case to equal the height of three layers of pencils, and consequently as the plunger block moves forward threehorizontal layers of pencils, each layer comprising four pen-f;

cils, will be impelled end wise` awayfrom the assembling box by the forward thrust of' the primary plunger end 86, the lthus seggregated and assembled group of one ldozen pencils being supported during such 1n1t1al movement upon the upper surface of said seeondary plunger member 87. The group of eneils thus discharged from the assembling ox, arecarried by the forward thrust of the plunger mechanism outwardly between a pan' df retaining side walls 111 which bound a passageway 112. in andthrough which the sec ondary plunger member 8-7 may be moved, and which serves to retain the pencils in the desired groupedrelation. Arranged at thel .rearward end of said passageway 112 is a vertically disposed frame 113 in which is mounted for vertical reciprocation a vmovable gate member 114. This gate member 114 is actuated, in properly timed relation to the reciprocatory movements of said secondary plunger member 87, by a pivoted' rock-lever 115,one end of which is pivotally v connected with the gate member 114, and

the other end of which is connected by a link 116 to a pivoted actuating lever 117, the outer end of which coaets with a peripheral cam 117', connected with the circumference of I the race cam 45 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4). The

operationof the gate-member 114 is so timed that, when the plunger member 86 and secondaryplunger member 87 moveforward, with the group of pencils impelled by the former while carried on the latter, the gatemember 114 is held in raised position so that thevgroup of pencils may pass with the plunger membei` 8 beneath the same and into the passageway n112. A transverse stop means 118 positioned adjacent to the outer limit of 'the stroke of said plunger member 87 and at the outer end ofthe passageway 112, and above the'level of the top surface of said plunger member 87 serves to retain the group of pencilsf'from forward longitudinal displacement while supported by said plunger l member 87. Prior to the retraction of the plunger member 87, the gate member 114 is `lnember 87 is retr. te vwill drop down to he lower level of the paslhind the group of pencils'entered in the passageway 112, sothat as the said plunger member 87 is retracted the pencils will be retained Within-said passageway When the plunger the group .of pencils sageway 112, and-upon a floor-plate 119 situated inI the plane of the supporting bars 22. In order to retain the group of pencils against vertical displacement 'or disturbanceseof their desired grouped relation, there is provided a keeper-plate 120, adapted to move downward with the pencils when, upon withdrawal of the plunger member 8.7, the same yare lowered to and upon the floor-plate 119. To provide for properly timed actuation of said keeperplate 120, to raise the same prior to entrance passageway 112 and to lower the same upon withdrawal of said plunger member 87,-al

.of the pencils within the upper level of saidpost 122, with its outer end provided with a roller or stud 123 engaged in the race groove of a race cam124 rotated by the shaft 10 to produce properly timed oscillations of said beam 1,25 is coupled at one end by an interconnecting link- 126 with the free end of the actuating-beam 121, and has its opposite end pivotally connected with the keeper-plate (see Figs. 1, 3 land 4).

While the group of pencils rests on the floor-plate 119 and before they are finally propelled outwardly from the passageway 112 and into the awaiting easing or band 1, means are provided for inserting between the horizontal' layers of pencils forl making up the group thereof separating partition devices 127, usually comprising reet-angular pieces of cardboard or other suitable ma terial, said means comprising the following v or platform 4, at the respective sides of the passagewa 112 are shelf members 128 and 129, one o the same, as 128, having its top surface aligned with a plane intermediate the top and middle layers of the group of pencils, and the other,'as 129, having its top surface -aligned with a plane intermediate the middle and bottom layers of the group of pencils, when said pencils rest upon the floor-plate 119 and within the passageway 112. Respectively supported upon said shelf members 128and 129 are npst-anding magazines or staekers 130 to contain supplies separating partition devices 127. Extending between each magazine or stacker 130 and the passageway 112 and respectively spaced above and parallel to the shelf members 128 cess to the group of pencils within thewlatter. 130

Slidably reciprocable on each shelf- member 128 and 129 and beneath each magazlne or stacker 13() are push-plates 133, each of ing timed reciprocation of said push plates 133 toward and away from the passageway 112 and the group of pencils therein, vert-ically spaced apart and opposed racks 135 slidably supported in corresponding slideways 136. Arotatable pinion 137 is mounted in fixed location Yto intermesh at opposite sides thereof with said racks 135. One pushk plate is connected by a coupling block 13S witlrt-he rear end of one rack, and the other push-plate is connected by a coupling block 139 with the rear end of the other rack, all

1n such manner that reciprocatory movement of one rack to actuate one push-plate toward and away" from one side of the passageway 112 will, through the rotation imparted to the pinion 137 produce a reciprocatory movement of the othervrack to simultaneously actuate the other push-plate toward and away from the opposite side of the passageway 112, `the respective shelfmember 128 and 129 having openings or ways 128 and 129 to accommodate the movements of said coupling blocks 138 and 13S) respectively, all as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 5 of the drawings. The means for producing properly timed reciprocations of the racks and the push-plates actuated thereby, consists in an eccentric 140 mounted on and actuated by the transverse shaft 100,"the connecting-rod 141 of which is pivotally attached to a coupling lug 142 connected with the lowermost rack, which lug extends through and rides in an opening 143 provided, 'in the deck-plate or platform 4.

ldeposited in the passageway 112, the forward movement of each push-plate engages by means of the shoulders 134 the bottom partition device of each stack thereof and carries the same-fin supported relation on the push-plates seats out of the respective magazines or staekers. Pivotlally mounted gravity actuated check-pawls 144 having chamfered downwardly directed fingers 145 ride on the surface of veach push-plate. These check-,pawls lat-t yield to the outward movement of the partition devices carried outwardly in the. seats of the push-plates, so as to ride ove the same in such man-ner as to fall or drop behind the rear edges thereof when the push-plates reach the outer limits of their forward strokes, and cons uently, when said push-plates are retractcdmtlhe partition devices are prevented from traveling back therewith, being held by the checkpawls while the push-plates are withdrawn and being thus deposited on the shelf member in front of the free extremities' of pushplates ready to be propelled forward by the latter and inserted between-the layers of a group of pencils subsequently deposited in the passageway 112. These operations will be fully understood froml an inspection of- Fig. 5 of the drawings more particularly.

After the partition devices 127 have been inserted between the layers of pencils making up a groupthereof deposited in the passageway 112, said group 'is ready to be finally ejected from the passageway 112 and inserted in the waiting casing or band 1. The final insertion of the pencils into the casing or band is effected as follows. The primary plunger 86 and secondary plunger 87 having been retracted to pick up from the delivery and segregating means a following group of pencils to be carried int-o the passageway 112 upon the top of the secondary plunger 87 and under t-he thrust of the primary plunger' 8G, the free end of said secondary plunger 87 will on the next forward movement thereof engage the groupof pencils previously deposited in the passageway 112 and on the platform 119 and will thrust the same outwardly and into the awaiting casing or band 1 which is supported in alignment with the plunger at the station C in the manner clearly to be understood, thus completing the bundling operation. The casing or band 1 at the station C 'is retained against longitudinal displacement under the thrust of the pencils by means of -a stationary stop post 146 (see Fig. 1).

After each group of pencils is bundled and encased in the casing or band. the same is removed from the station C b v the push fingers ,59 of the conveyor or transfer members 58, and at the same, time a succeeding empty casing or band is deposited :1t-station C. The completed bundles of pencils are successively pushed along in a train on the supporting bars 22 as they leave the filling station C, from whence they may be removed from the machine ready for boxing, packing or other handling..

I Fromgthe above description of the construction, arrangement andpperation of the vari-f V- ous mechanisms making up the bundling machine of this invention, the functioning of the machine as-a whole `will be clearly underv stoodwithout necessity for furtherorecapitulation except to say that the operations are carried out in a continuous manner, the vari# ous mechanisms being synchronized for proper correlation as will be clearly evident.

It will be obvious that many changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the several cooperatin mechanisms, as well as in the details of t e construction of the same, without departing from mechanisms and parts thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, and such description and showing are to be taken as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim 1. A machine for bundling stick-like articles, comprising a hopper to contain a bulk of said articles, an assembling box beneath and fed by said hopper having means to aggregate articles to form bundles with the articles disposed in symmetrical layers, means to oscillate said hopper over said assembling box to cause said articles to pass from the former into the latter,ymeans to seggregate and initially advance bundles from said assembling box, means to supply tubular Acasings open for the reception of said advanced bundles and into axial alignment therewith, and means to finally thrust said advanced bundles endwise and into said casings.

2. A machine for bundling stick-like articles, comprising a hopper to contain a bulk of said articles, van assembling box beneath and fed by said hopper having means to aggregate articles to form bundles with the articles disposed in symmetrical layers, means to oscillate said hopper over said assembling box to cause said articles to pass from the former into the latter, means to seggregate and initially advance Abundles from said assembling box, means to supply collapsed casings, means to open said casings int-o tubular form, means to present said casings endwise to said advanced bundles, and means to finally thrust lsaid advanced bundles endwise into said casmcs.

l. A machine for bundling stick-like articles, comprising means to assemble from bulk predetermined numbers of articles into bundles, means to supply tubular casings oqpen for the reception of saidbundles and in endwise alignment therewith, means to insert said bundles endwise into said casings, and

means-to supply and directly insert separating members between layers of articles forming said 4bundles latter' into said casmgs. p

4. A machine for bundlingstick-like articles, comprising a hopper to' contain a bulk of said articles, an assembling box beneath and fed by said hopper having means to aggregate articles to form bundles thereof withmeans cooperating' prior to insertion v/of the comprising a hop-per to contain a bulk the articles disposed in symmetrical layers,

means to oscillate sai'd hopper over said assembling box to cause said articles to pass from the former intothe' latter, means to seggregate and initially advance bundles from said assembling box, means to supply collapsed casings, means to open said casings into tubular form, means to present said casings in. axial alignment with advanced bundles for the reception thereof, means to transfer said advanced bundles therefrom and endwise into said casings, and means to directly insert separator elements laterally between the layers of articles of each bundle prior to transfer thereof into a casing.

6. A machine for bundling stick-like artic cles, comprising means to supply collapsed casings, means to open said casings into tubular form, guideway means for said opened casings, means to progressively move opened casings crosswise through said guideway, yieldable means connected with said guideway to engage the sides of and thus retain said casings in open condition prior to filling of the same, means laterally off-set relative to said guideways to assemble from bulk predetermined numbers of articles into bundles, and means to insert said bundles endwise into said open casings while the lat-ter are supported in said guideway.

7. A machine for bundling stick-like articles, comprising means to supply collapsed casings, means to open said casings into tubular form, guideway means for said opened casings, means to progressively move opened casings crosswise through said guideway, yieldable means connected with said guideway to engage the sides of and thus retain said casings in open condition prior to filling of the same, a hopper to contain a bulk of articles, means fed by said hopper and'laterally oit-set relative to said guideways to aggregate articles to form bundles thereof, and means to insert said bundles into said open casings while the latter are supported in said` mittently and progressively move the open guideway.

8. A machine for bundling stick-like articles, comprising means to supply collapsed casings, means to open said casings-into tubular form, guideway means for said opened casings, means to progressively move opened casings crosswise through said guideway, yieldable means connected with said guideway to engage the sides of and thus retain said casings in open condition prior to filling of the same, a hopper to contain a bulk. of said articles, an assembling box beneath and fed by said hopper having means to aggregate articles to form bundles with the articles disposed in symmetrical layers, and means cooperating with said assembling box to transfer said bundles therefrom and endwise into said open casings While the latter are in said guideway.

9. A. machine for bundling stick-like articles, comprising means to supply collapsed casings, means to open said casings into tubular form, guideway means for said opened casings, said casings being disposed transversely of said guideway to move sidewise therein, means to progressively move opened casings through said guideway, yieldable means connected with said guideway to engage the sides of and thus retain said casings in open condition prior to filling of the same, a-hopper to contain a bulk of said articles, an assembling box beneath and fed by said hopper having means to aggregate articles to form bundles with the articles disposed in symmetrical layers, said hopper and asse1nbling box being laterally oliset relative to said guideway, a reciprocable plunger means cooperating with said assen'ibling box to transfer bundles therefrom and to insert said bundles endwise into said casings while the latter are retained in open position in said gui'deway.

10. In a machine for bundling stick-like articles, a support-ing means in horizontal plane, means to supply collapsed tubular casino's at one end of said su ortinO` means means to open said casings, means to interl mittently and progressively move the open casings successively over said supporting means, a keeper bar spaced above and parallel to said supporting means, spring-pressed fingers connected with both said supporting means and said keeper-bar to engage ldiagonally opposite corners of said open casings to i retain the same against collapse While at rest,

means to assemble from bulk predetermined numbers of articles into bundles, and means aligned with a point of rest of said casings adapted to transfer said bundles from said assembling means and into the casings.

11. In a machine for bundling stick-like articles, a, supporting means in horizontal plane, means to supply collapsed tubular casings at one end of sald supporting means, means to open said casmgs, means to'intercasings successively over said supporting means, a keeper bar spaced above and parallel to said supporting means, springpressed fingers connected with both said supporting means and said keeper-bar to engage diagonally opposite corners of said open casings to retain the same against collapse while at rest, a hopper to contain a bulk of said articles, an assembling box beneath and fed by said hopper having means to aggregate articles to form bundles in which .the articles are disposed in symmetrical layers, and a reciprocable plunger means cooperating with sald assem ling box and aligned with a point of rest of said casings operative to insert bundles into said casings.

12. Afmachine as defined in claim 9, including means to directly insert separator elements laterally between the layers of articles in each bundle thereof prior to insertion of said bundles into said casings.

13. A machine as defined in claim 11, including means to directly vinsert separator elements laterally between the layers of ar.- ticles in each bundle thereof. prior to insertion of said bundles into said casings.

14. In a machine of the kind described, an assembling box partitioned lengthwise and open top and bottom, said assembling box heilig adapted to dispose articles in symmetrical layers one above the other, a hopper to contain a bulk of articles, said hopper having inclined bottom portions converging on a bottoni opening beneath which said assembling box is'disposed, means to oscillate said hopper to cause articles to pass therefrom into the partitioned interior of said assembling box, a plunger means stepped to provide a primary plunger adapted to eject a predetermined number of articles from said assembling box to form bundles each comprising a plurality of layers and a secondary plunger extending forwardly therefrom, said plunger means being disposed to reciprocate beneathl the open bottom of said assembling box, a platform beneath said plunger means, means to provide a passageway above said platform and aligned with said plunger means, and into which formed bundles are transferred by said primary plunger, and means to successively position open casings in alignment with said passageway to receive bundles of articles ejected from the latter by said secondary plunger.

15. In a machine of the kind described, an assembling box partitioned'lengthwise and open top and bottom, said assembling box being adapted to dispose articles in symmetrical layers one above the other, a hopper to contain a bulk of articles, said hopper having inclined bottom portions converging on a botplatform beneath said plunger means, means to provide a passageway above said platform and aligned with said plunger means and into which formed bundles are transferred by said primary plunger, means timed in relation to the reciprocation of said plunger means to retain bundles in said passageway while said plunger means is retracted, and means to successively position open casings in alignment with said passageway to receive bundles ofarticles ejected from the latter by said secondary plunger.

16. In a machine of the kind described, an assembling box partitioned lengthwise and open top and bottom, said assembling box being adapted to dispose articles in symmetrical layers one above the other, a hopper to contain a bulk of articles, said hopper having inclined bottom portions converging on a bottom opening beneath which said assembling box is disposed, meansto oscillate said hopper to cause articles to pass there--V frominto the partitioned interior of said assembling box, a plunger means stepped to provide a primary plunger adapted to eject a predetermined number of articles from said assembling box to form bundles each comprising a plurality of layers and a secondary plunger extending forwardly therefrom, said plunger means being disposedv to reciprocate beneath the open bottom of said assembling box, a platform beneath said plunger means, means to provide a.- passageway above said platform and aligned with said plunger means and into which formed bundles are transferred by said primary plunger, means timed in relation to the reciprocation of said plunger means to retain bundles lin said passageway while said plunger means is retracted, means to supply and insert separator elements between the layers of articles while the bundles thereof are at rest in said passageway, and means to successively position open casings in alignment with said passageway to receive bundles of articles ejected from the latter by said secondary plunger.

17. A machine of the kind `described and as defined in claim 16, in which the means to supply and insert separator elements between the layers of articles forming each bundle thereofcomprises, means to provide transverse ways respectively communicating with the sides of said passageway, plungers to reciprocate in said ways, and magazines above' said plungers to supply said separator elements thereto.

In testimony, that we claim the invention set forth above we have hereunto set our hands this 29th day of October, 1927.

HARRY LQ EVANS. GEORGE I. HoHL.

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