US1775753A - Means for squaring and closing collapsed cartons - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16, 1930. H. L. EVANS ET AL- MEANS FOR SQUARING AND CLOSING COLLAPSED CAR'I'OIIS Filed Nov. 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS V flarzylgfzms i'azgejfifil I ATTORNEY Sept. 16, 1930. H. L. EVANS ET AL IEANS FOR SQUARING AND CLOSING COLLAPSBD CARTOIS Filed Nov. 8. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a z m w m i W a m a I i e I I m mm .401 w m. 5 .vmBL a a 4/ Z e i ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY L. EVANS AND GEORGE I. HOHL, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOBS TO GABTONING MACHINERY CORPORATION,

POBATION OF NEW JERSEY OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, A COR- ms 1'03 seuanme AND cnosnve coLLarsEn eazarons Application sled November 8, 1929. serial no. 405,590.

flatly collapsed carton, and thereupon to move the side flaps thereof to closed position, and-then to close and tuck the closure tuck flap thereof.

The mechanism of this invention is adapt- 5 ed for either independent use or for ,use in combination with or as a functional part of v an -automatic machine for setting up, filling and closing cartons or boxes.

The invention has for an especial object to i provide novel automatic mechanism adapted to manipulate initially collapsed cartons provided with side flaps whic when brought into closed relation to an end of the carton,

overlap one another, while at the same time providing means for moving the tuck closure flap of such cartons to closed position after the overlapping side flaps have been folded I to closed position. v

, Other objects of this invention, not at this 30 time more particularly enumerated, will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the ,accompanymg drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a plan view of'the novel means for settin up and closing cartons of the kind above re erred to.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of portions of the preliminary carton flap I folding means, and igure 2A is an end elevation of the carton as related thereto atone stage of the preliminary flap folding operations. a h

Fi re- 3 is a fra mentary plan view of orti% ns of the prelii ninar carton fla foldmg means;' and'Figure 3 is an en elevation of the carton as related to the prehnnnary carton flap folding means shown in 50 Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary lan view similar to that shown in Figure 3 ut illustrating the operation of the carton expanding or setting up mechanism in the act of squaring a collapsed carton; and Figure 5 is a view 0 these parts, taken on line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 6-6 in Figure 1, to illustrate the operation of the initial tuck closure flap folding means.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 77 in Figure 1; Figures 8 and 9 are fra mentary sectional views through the tuck c osure flap folding means at points denot ng the progress of the carton relative thereto; and Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 10--10 in Figure 1,

showing the means for finally closing. the

width of the carton od so that, when closed, the flap c overlaps the ap b) and a foldable closure flap d havin a tuck portion 0 at its free end. Cartons 0 this .type are generally,

made of heavy aper or light cardboard, and furnished by in collapsed or flat form (see Fig.1), with the side flaps and closure flap projecting in unfolded condition from the respective ends of the carton body. The operation of raisingthe body a of the carton from initial flat or collapsed condition to properly setup or,

opened condition-is frequently spokenof by users as squaringthe carton. In the use of such cartons the same are squared and the side and closure [flaps at one end thereof closed preparatory to filling the carton t e manufacturer to the user through the remaining open end. It is the.

operations of squaring and closing the flaps at one end of the carton that the mechanism of the present invention is adapted to automatically carry on in rapid and eflicient manner.

The novel mechanism of this invention comprises a platfrom 11 over which the cartons are moved so as to be subjected to the action of the several mechanisms and devices making up the squaring and flap folding means. A supply of fiat or collapsed cartons is supported in a vertical stack (not. shown) at one end of said platform 11, so as to be subject to the operation of a reciprocable feed plunger 12, the timed reciprocation of which serves to eject the cartons from the bottom of the supply stack thereof, and successively deliver the same to the squaring and folding mechanism.

Fixed on the platform 11, so as to lie in the path of movement of the flaps to be manipulated, as the carton is advanced by the plunger 12, is a preliminary folder block 13. This folder block 13 presents to the approaching carton an inclined plane 14, which rises from the surface of the platform 11 and extends forwardly and upwardly in the direction of carton movement. The inner side or face 15 of said folder block is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said platform 11 and is parallel to the end of the carton body a from which extend the flaps to be manipulated.

Vertically reciprocable, through suitable openings provided in the platform 11, is a carton expanding or squaring device. This device consists in a bifurcate member 16, having at its forward side stop-arms 17 and at its rearward side an expander arm 18, of somewhat less height, and having an inwardly facing chamfered upper margin 19. The distance between the stop-arms 17 and expander arm 18 is slightly greater than the width of the carton body a, when the latter is opened or squared. Means (not shown) are provided for reciprocating the expanding or squaring device in timed relation to the movement of the cartons as delivered by the plunger 12, and as propelled by a conveyer means subsequently referred to. Initially the expanding or squaring device is positioned so that its sto arms 17 project slightly above the level 0 the platform 11, while its expander arm 18 is withdrawn below the level of said platform.

Also fixed on the platform 11 is a second folder block 20, which is aligned with said preliminary folder block 13 but spaced forwardly therefrom to provide an intermediate gap of a width less than the width of the carton closure flap 01, and yet sufficiently wide to permit free turning movement of the side flap 0. The forward end of said second folder block 20 is undercut as at 21, to permit the side flap 0 to initially move thereunder before the carton is squared. The opposed adjoining s aced ends of the preliminary and second older'blocks 13 and 20 are approximate- 1y opposite the position of the expanding or squaring device. The width of the opposed adjoining ends of said folder blocks 13 and 20 approximate the length of the closure flap d exclusive of its tuck portion 6.

In the operation of the mechanism, as thus far described, a collapsed carton is ejected by the plunger 12 from the bottom of a supply stack and advanced over the platform 11 until its forward longitudinal side edge is stopped against the upwardly projecting ends of the stop arms 17 of the expanding or squaring device.

As the collapsed carton moves toward the expanding or squaring device, the side flaps c, b and closure flap d will ride up over the inclined surface 14 of the preliminary folder block 13, and will, by such engagement therewith, be thereupon turned upward about the score lines intermediate the same and the carton body a into a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the collapsed body a: of the carton (see Figures 2 and 2A). In order to prevent uptilting movement of the .carton body a, while the flaps are subjected to the up-turning movement of the preliminary folder block 13, a movable body retaining guide 22 is provided, which is operatively positioned over the carton body a, while the carton is moved toward the expanding or squaring device, but which, by timed actuation, is withdrawn during the carton squaring operation. Said body retaining guide 22, when in operative position, parallels the inner side faces of the folder blocks 13 and 20 so as to engage the carton body a back of the point from which the flaps to be manipulated project. Said body retaining guide is substantially vertical and is supported by an arm.23 from a pivoted actuating lever 24, the latter being upwardly off-set by the former so as to provide sufficient clearance for the passing of the up-turned' flaps (see Fig. 2). The actuating lever 24 is. operated by a cam 25, to produce properly timed in and out service disposition of the body retaining guide. Said cam 25 is in turn rotated by a lay shaft 26 driven from a driver shaft 27 through sprocket and chain transmission 28. Such driving means, however, is merely illustrative and may be widely varied.

The up-turning of the flaps, as above described, is a necessary preliminary to certain flap folding sequences as will be subsequently explained, but in addition to this there is a marked advantage in so initially folding the flaps since it results in a sharp back-folding of the closure-flap 03, along the score line joining the same to the body a, which backfolding sufficiently breaks the fiber of the paper stock at such point as to eliminate therefrom undue resiliency or spring, so that, when the closure-flap d is finally turned to closed position, and its tuck portion tucked within the carton end, tendency illti Hill of the closure flap to spring back and out of normal fully closed position is obviated.

. The collapsed carton isso disposed, relative to the platform 11 and the expandin or squaring device, that a margin of the un e'rlying face thereof abuts the stop means 17, while the underlyin side, coincident in 3 plane with said under ying face, rests above the expander arm 18, thus leaving the overlying side and face disposed so that the former occupies a forward position relative '-to the latter. With the carton thus positioned, it follows that upward pressure exerted on the underlying side will turn the same? about the score line intermediate such side and said underlying face, thus lifting the overlying face, and turning upward the over- .lying side about the score line intermediate the same and the forward margin of said underlying face.

. As the collapsed carton approaches the stop arm 17 the up-turned side flap 0 will escape from the restraint of the preliminary folder block 13, and will swing downward 5 through the gap intermediate folder blocks 13 and 20, so that, by the time the carton reaches stopped position against stop-arms 17, said side flap 0 will partially underlie the undercut end 21 of said folder block 20. When the car-ton is thus positioned the side flap b and closure fla (1 will still remain in upturned position, ing so held by the folder block 13 (see Figures 3 and 3A).

As soon as the collapsed carton comes to as rest over the expanding or squaring device as stopped by the stop arms,17, a transversel reciprocableclam blade 29 istimedtoad vance and enter tween the walls of the carton (see Figures'l and 4). This clamp blade 29 is of a width corresponding to the underlyin face of the collapsed'ca'rton, and is adapte to overlie such part so as to firmly hold .the same upon the platform 11 during ,theoperative upward movement of the expending or squaring device. a As the expanding'or squaring device rises, the chamfered end 19 ofthe expander arm 18 -will turn, up the underlying side of the carton,whic h infturn, will 11ft the overlying face and lilrewise turn up the overlying side, thus expanding or squaring the carton (see Fi res4and5).

- f 's the underlying side oft-he carton turns upward. the flap b will .be carried therewith, but while; being thus moved will still be retained by the side-of preliminary folder block '13 in foldedin-turned position at right allgles tosaid underlying side, so that, as said side turns to upstanding position, said flap b will turn into closed position end of the carton see Figure 5). v

As the overlying side of the carton turns upward the down swung flap 0 will be carried I and moved against the inclined surface of the undercut e of said second folder block 20,

across the through w "ch the conve er means may opwhereby the same will be in-folded across the end of the carton, and so that its free end will As the overlying face of the carton is lifted to raised position, the closure fla d, which remains up and back turned un er the re-, straint of the inner side of said preliminary folder block 13, finally escapes the restraint of said folder block 13, and thereupon tends to swing down into horizontal plane, so as to extend outwardly, over the upper surfaces of the opposed ends of the folder blocks 13 and20. The outer sides of said folder blocks 13 and 20, adjacent to their opposed ends, are preferably angularly undercut as at 30 to provide a sharp creasing edge 30 over which the tuck portion e of the closure flap d may be turned, as well as to provide clearance for in-turning movements imparted to the latter. down-turning of closure flap (Z is, preferably, positively assisted by the movement thereof against thecurved extremity 31 of a/fixed shear rod 32 which overhangs the path of the rising and forwardly moving overlying face of the expandingcarton (see Figures 4 and 5).

' Means are provided to turn downward the tuck-portion e of the closure flap at over the creasing ed 30. This means comprises an oscillatable lever ,33 having a folder member 34 carried at one end thereof. Said lever is fixed on a shaft 33, and the rearward end of said lever 33 is pivoted to a connecting rod The I 35, which is actuated by a race cam 36 rotated 1 by said driver shaft 27, whereby properly timed rise and fall of said folder member34 is attained. The folder member 34 is provided with an angular projection 37 at its upper end, forwardly pro ecting therefrom.

' When the carton has assumed expanded or squared? condition, the folder member 34 is timed to descend. In so descending said folder member 34 engages and turns'down the tuck ortion 6, while its projection 37 overlies the c osure 'flap d (see Figure 6), and remain in such position while the expanding or squaring device is downwardly retracted out of the path of the squared carton, and while the clamp blade 29 is retracted, and also while'a conveyer device (tobe described) moves into, engagement with the squared carton.

A reciprocable conveyer means, actuated by suitably timed o erating means (not shown), is moved beneat the squared carton,-rise's into. ropelling enga ementtherewith, and

then is moved rw'ar to carry the same forward along the platform 11. This'conveyer means thus possessing a dicated by the, arrows in igure 7. The platform 11 is rovided with slotted openings 38 erate, and the latter pre erably com rises a pair of plates 39 havmf upper ortions adapte brace t e"squar'ed carton.

path of travel as inpockets 40 m their to receive and em- While the squared carton is operatively engaged by the conveyer means and propelled forward thereby, the down-turned tuck portion e will be carried into engagement with a guide block 41, which is positioned to extend along and outwardly of the forward end portion of said folder block 20 over which the closure flap d is moved, whereupon the folder member 34 may be retracted to normal raised and inactive position.

Said forward end portion of said folder block 20 is gradually cut back or relieved toward its forward extremity to permit of the down-turning of the closure fiap d, and also the guide block 41 is provided with a spiral or cam-like guide surface 42, which engages the tuck-portion e and gradually leads the same, as the closure fiap d is down-turned, to a position wherein its free end is guided to and enters the open end of the carton, as the closure flap d is swung toward said open end to close the same. The down-turning of the closure flap 0! is effected by means of a curvilinear guide-rod 43 against which the said flap moves as the carton is propelled forward by the conveyer. This guide-rod 43 is supported from a bracket arm 44:. The heretofore mentioned shear rod 32 serves also to lead the closure flap (:3 beneath the rearward end of the guide-rod 43, as movement of the squared carton by the conveyer means is initiated.

At the end of the propelling stroke of the conveyer means, the squared carton with its closed side flaps b and c and partially closed closure and tuck flap d and e, is brought to rest on the platform 11 opposite a final end closing means. This latter means comprises a rock-shaft 45, actuated for timed operation through lever to, link 47, and lever 48; said latter lever being fixed on the shaft 33 so as to also be actuated by the cam 36 and connecting rod 35. Fixed on said rock-shaft 45 are push-fingers or shutters 4C9, which, when swung toward the end of the carton opposed thereto at the end of the propelling stroke of the conveyer means, serve to engage the partially closed closure-flap d and its partially entered tuck portion 6 and thereupon thrust the same home to finally closed position with the tuck portion 6 fully entered into the carton end.

Upon completion 'of the end closing of the squared carton, in the manner and by the novel combination and arrangement of means above described, the same is ready to receive the content to be deposited therein through the remaining open end thereof.

As already mentioned, the novel carton squaring and end closing means of this invention may be utilized as an independent mechanism, from whlch the set up cartons Y may be taken to be filled by hand or by other automatic filling and carton closing mecha nism; or the mechanism may be incorpoalso operate with such cartons even though the side flaps do not overlap.

.It will also beunderstood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, as well as in the details thereof, without de parting from the scope of the claims here following, and consequently we do not limit ourselves to the exact .combinations and arrangements of the various devices and parts as described in the foregoing specifications,

nor do we confine ourselves to the exact details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

1. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising side flaps and a closure flap, a carton squaring means, and folder means to bring said side flaps to closed position during the operation of said carton squaring means.

2. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising side flaps and a closure flap, a carton squaring means, folder means to bring said side flaps to closed position during the operation of said carton squaring means, and additional folder means for closing said closure flap after the carton is squared.

3. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising side flaps and a closure flap, a carton squaring means, and folder means to successively bring said side flaps into .closed position during the operation of said carton squaring means.

4. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closin flaps comprising side flaps and a closure fiap, a carton squaring means, and folder means to successively bring said side flaps into closed position during the operation of said carton squaring means, and additional folder means for closindg said closure flap after the carton 1s square 5. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising side flaps and a closure flap provided with a tuck portion, a vertically recip- Eiti rocable carton squaring. means, and folder meansto bring said side flaps to closed position during the operation of said squaring means while at the same. time holding said closure flap' and its tuck portion against obto bring said side flaps to closed position the closing movements 0 during the operation of said squaring means while at thesame time holding said closure flap and its tuck portion a ainst obstructing I said side flaps, means to angularly fold said tuck portion relative to said closure flap preparatory to closing movement of the latter, and means to complete the closing of said closure flap and its tuck portion.

7. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising side flaps and a closure flap provided with a tuck portion, a vertically reciprocable carton squaring'means, folder means to bring said side flaps to closed position during the operation of said squaring means while at the same time holding said closure flap and its tuek portion against obstructing the closing movements of said side flaps, means to angularly fold said tuck portion relative to said closure flap preparatory to closing movement of the latter, means for closing said closure flap, and means to guide said tuck-portion for entrance into the carton end while closing said closure flap.

8. In a mechanism for squaring and clos-' ing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising-side flaps and a closure flap provided with a tuck portion, a vertically reciprocable carton squaring means, folder means to successively bring said side flaps intoclosed position during the operation of-said squaring means while at the same time holding said closure flap and its tuck-portion against obstructing the closing movements of said side flaps, means to angularly fold said truck portion relative to said closure flap preparatory to closing movement of the latter, means relative to which the squared carton is moved for turningisaid closure flap to closed position and simultaneously guiding its tuck-portion for entrance into the carton end, and means for completing the closing of said closure flap.

9. In a mechanism of the kind described, a vertically reciprocable cartonsquaringmeans, means to advance collapsed cartons to said squaring means, means engageable by open flaps at an end of a collapsed carton as the latter moves to said squaring means wherebycertain of said flaps are up-turned and so held during the carton squaring operation, and

means for turning other of said flaps to closed position during the carton squaring operation.

10. In a' mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising overlappingside flaps and a closure flap, a vertically reciprocable carton squaring means, means to advance collapsed cartons to said squaring means, folder means engageable by said flaps at an end of the collapsed carton as the latter moves to and is moved by said squaring means, whereby the side and closure flaps are turned into the plane of the carton end and then the forward side flap released for return to theplanelof the collapsed carton prior to squaring of the latj ter', said folder means having a portion to retain the rearward side flap in the plane'of the carton end during the operation of said car ton squaring means, said folder means ha another portion to turn said forward side flap into the plane of the carton end andin overlapping relation to' said rearward side flap during the operation of said carton squaring means, and said folder means further operating to hold said closure flap against obstructing the closing movements of said side flaps during the carton squaring operation.

11. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsedcartons having end closing flaps comprising overlapping side flaps and a closure flap, a vertically reci rocable carton squaring means, means to a vance collapsed cartons to said squaring means, folder means engageable by said flaps at an end of the 001- lapsed carton as the latter moves to and is moved b said squaring means, whereby the side an plane of the carton end and then the forward side flap released for return to the plane of the collapsed carton prior to squaring of the latter, said folder means having a portion to closure flaps are turned into the retain the rearward side flap in, the plane of i the carton end during the operation of said carton squaring means, said folder means having another portion to turn said forward side flap intothe plane of the carton end and in overlapping relation to said rearward side flap during the operation of said carton squaring means, said folder means further operating to hold said closure flap a ainst obstructing the closing movements o said side flaps during the carton squaring operation, and additional folder means for sure flapafter the carton is squared.

12. In a'mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing flaps comprising overlapping side flaps an a closure flap provided with a tuck portion, a vertical reciprocable carton squaring closing the clomeans, means to advance. collapsed cartons engageable by said flaps at an end of the collapsed carton as the latter moves to and is moved by said squaring means, whereby the side and closure flaps are turned into E the plane of the carton end and then the forward side flap released for return to the plane of the collapsed carton prior to squaring of the latter, said folder means having a portion to retain the rearward side flap in the plane of the carton end during the operation of said carton squaring means, said folder meanshaving another portion to turn said forward side flap into the plane of the cartonend and-in overlapping relation to said rearward side flap during the operation of'said carton squaring means, said folder means further operating to hold said closure flap and its tuck portion against obstructing the closing movements of said side flaps during the carton squaring operation, means to angularly fold said tuck-portion relative to said closure flap preparatory to closing movement of the latter, and means to complete the closing of said closure flap and its tucli portion.

13. In a mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having end closing fla 8 comprising overlapping side flaps and a a osure flap provided with a tuck portion,

a vertically reciprocable carton squaring means, means to advance collapsed cartons tolsaid squaring means, a body retaining guide cooperative with collapsed cartons advancing to said squaring means, folder means engageable by said flaps at an end of the collapsed carton as the latter moves to and is moved by said squaring means, whereby the side and closure flaps are turned into the plane of the carton end and then the forward side flap released for return to the lane of the collapsed carton prior to squaring of the latter, said folder means hav1ng a portion to retain the rearward s1 de flap in the plane of the carton end during the 4 operation of said carton squaring means, said folder means having another portion to turn said forward side flap into the plane of the carton endand in overlapping relation to said rearward side flap during the operation of said carton squaring means, said folder means further operating to hold said closure flap and its tuck portion against obstructing the closing movements of said side flaps during the carton squaring operation, means to angularly fold said tuck-portion relative to said closure flap preparatory to closing movement of the latter, means for closing said closure flap, and means to guide said tuck-portion for entrance. into the car- 9 ton and while closing said closure flap. 14. In a'mechanism for squaring and closing collapsed cartons having and closing ,j flaps comprising overlapping side flaps and means, means to advance collapsed cartons to said squaring means, a body retaining guide cooperative with collapsed cartons advancing to said squaring means, folder means engageable by said flaps at an end of the collapsed carton as the latter moves to andis moved by said s uaring means,

' whereby the side and closure aps are turned into the plane of the carton end and then the forward side flap released for return to the plane of the collapsed carton prior to squaring of the latter, said folder means having a portion to retain the rearward side flap in the plane of the carton end during the operation of said carton squaring means, said folder means having-another portion to turn said forward side flap into the plane of the carton end and in overlapping relation to said rearward side flap during the operation of said carton squaring means, said folder means further operating to hold said closure flap and its tuck portion against obstructing the closing movements of said side flaps during the carton squaring operation, means to angularly fold said tuck-portion relative to said closure flap preparatory to closing movement of the latter, means relative to which the squared carton is moved for turning said closure flap to closed position and simultaneously guiding its tuck portion for entrance into the carton end. and means for completing the closing of said closure flap.

In testimony, that we" claim the invention set forth above we have hereunto set our hands this5th day of November, 1929.

HARRY L. EVANS. GEORGE I. HOHL.

a closure flap provided-with a tuck portion,

a vertically reciprocable carton squaring

Images