US1840410A - Delivery mechanism for carton sealing machines - Google Patents

Description

1923 4 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. l2, 1932. G. A. ROBINSON DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALTNG MACHINES Filed Oct. 'l0

Jan. 12, 1932. 1,840,410

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES G. A. ROBINSON Filed OCL. lO, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR "mw, Cmwumw/J 4' ATTORNEW "1 Jan. 12, 1932. G. A. ROBINSON 1,840,410

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. lO,

IN VEN TOR Jan. l2, 1932. G. A. ROBINSON 1,840,410

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SEALING MACHINES FiledvOCt. l0, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR f E W. M m. T A

Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. ROBINSON, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T l JOHNSON AUTO- MATIC SEALER CO., LTD., OF BATTLE CREEK, KICHIGAN, A PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIA- TION LIMITED 0F MICHIGAN DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR CARTON SELLING MACHINESl Application filed October 10, 1923. Serial' No. 667,745.

the same to the delivery conveyor, or dryer,-

the frames swinging away from each other to allow the unfilled bottom sealed cartons on the forms or blocks to pass by for return to the front end of the carton sealing machine.

In practice it has been found that carton delivery mechanism of the type above reerred to, while effective and positive in operation, is relatively expensive to build and install, due to the number of parts employed and the necessity for skilled workmanship in installation and running of the machines, the said parts of the mechanism requiring proper co-relation to produce the desired timing thereof with the feeding conveyor of the sealing machine and constant attention by the operative in order to insure proper running of the machine at all times.

The principal obiects of this invention are to provide a carton delivery mechanism whicheliminates the disadvantages incident to mechanism of the type above referred to; which may be readily installed with any of the well-known sealing machines without appreciable alteration in their construction; which is positive in operation and adjustable to meet the requirements incident to handling cartons of different sizes; which avoids ldamage to the carton while handling the same, by the use of resilient carton engaging devices; and which meets the requirements incident to discharging filled cartons from all types of sealing machines by the said resilient carton engaging devices being readily attachable and detachable at any point on the carrier belts or chains of the mechanism.

This invention may be embodied in a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, but

it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In' said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the delivery end of a combination carton sealing machine, the mechanism of the present invention installed therewith, and the receiving end of the drier rolls and conveyor therefor.

Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the carton delivery mechanism. y

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the resilient carton engaging devices, one of the same being removed from its chain link to shcw the method of attachment therewith, an

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the carbon delivery mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the side frames of the carton sealing machine are indicated' at 10, 10 and the top and bottom cross-connecting rails for the delivery end of the machine are indicated at 11 and 11. The carton sealing machine, as shown, is of the type known as a commination sealer but it is to be expressly understood that the delivery mechanism of the present invention may be installed with various other types of carton sealing machines. Said combination carton sealing machine is provided with the usual carton forms or blocks 12 and supports 13 arranged alternately in spaced relation on a conveyor chain 14 passing around the usual sprocket secured on driven shaft 15, the drive for said shaft comprising an endless chain 16 passing around the usual sprocketon 'shaft 15 and a sprocket on the usual driving shaft, (not shown).

The carton delivery mechanism preferably comprises endless chains 17, 18 and 17', 18 arranged in pairs one above the other, the pairs of chains being oii'set from the longitudinal axis of the sealing machine conveyor comprised by endless chain 14, carton forms or blocks 12 and supports 13. Said chains are offset from the sealing machine conveyor a suiiicient distance to receive between their opposed reaches the sealed cartons onthe supports 13 of the sealing machine conveyor. Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the links 19 of the endless chains are yeach provided with a threaded opening 20 to receive a threaded shank 21 of a resilient carton engaging member 22. Said chains are each provided at corresponding points with one or more of said resilient members, the chains being timed to move through a complete cycle in each interval of time necessary to move a carton support 13 to the receiving end of the chains. When a support with its sealed and filled carton reaches the aforesaid position, the resilient carton engaging members 22 will have also reached thesamel position and said members will grip the opposed sides of the carton, remove the same from its carrier and transport the carton to the delivery conveyor. In the intervals of carry, the carton forms or blocks 12 will pass through the space between the inner stretches of the chains without danger of interference with or obstruction by the carton gripping members 22. The resilient carton engaging or gripping devices 22 may be made of any suitable material and attached to the carrier chains by any suitable means. Said devices and their attaching Shanks 21 are preferably formed integrally and made of rubber, the threads on saidy Shanks being formed thereon duringv the moulding or other process used in manufacturing the devices.

The cartonl delivery mechanism is supported ontransversely adjustable frames and is provided with adjustable driving connections, whereby the pairs of chains 17, 18 and 17 18 may be moved toward or away from each other to insure the proper gripping pressure on the cartons and also to provide for accommodation of cartons varyin in size and shape.l As herein shown the adjustable supporting frames comprise carriages 23, 23' slidably mounted on top cross-connecting rail 11 and provided on their underl sides with outwardly projecting brackets 24, 24 having under-cut grooves 25, 25' in which are secured top supporting bars 26, 26. Said top supporting bars are provided with depending standards 27, 28 and 27', 28', the standards being secured to the top supporting bars by bolts 29, 30 and 29', 30'. The bolts 29, 29Valso form the attaching means for top'supporting bars 26, 26' with brackets Bottom supporting bars 31, 31' are secured to the lower ends of said standards and a transverse stay bar 32 having elongated slots 33, and 33' is secured to the outer ends of the top supporting bars by bolts 34, 34' which pass through said slots and provide for transverse adjustment of ,the frame-like structures at their outerends.

Endless chains 17, 18 and 17', 18' pass around sprockets 35, 36, 37, 38 and 35', 36', 37', 38, said sprockets bein adjustably secured on vertically driven s afts 39, 40 and 39', 40' journalled on the ends of the respective supporting frames. The bearings 39" and 39"' for the upper ends of shafts 39, 39' are preferably formed in the brackets 24, 24 and the bearings for shafts 40, 40' are preferably comprised by slots 40' at the outer ends of the supporting frames so that the slack of chains 17, 18, and 17', 18' may be regulated as desired. The inner stretches of the chains are guided by upper and lower guide bars 41, 42 and 41', 42' secured to standards 27, 28 and 27', 28' and by adjustable yokes 43, 44 and 43', 44'. The adjustability of the sprocket wheels along their vertical shafts, provides for relative vertical adjustment of endless chains 17, 18 and 17', 18' to accommodate cartons of varying heights.

Slidable carriages 23, 23 are disposed one at each'side of a supporting bar 45 secured at 46 to an offset portion 47 of top cross-connecting rail 11. Bolts 48 and 49 extend loosely through suitable openings in bar 45 and carry at their lower extremities a pressure bar 50 which bears by its own weight against the tops of the discharging cartons to prevent upward displacement of the same.

The driving connections for vthe carton delivery mechanism are preferably comprised by the following .instrumentalitiesz A drive chain 51 passes around a sprocket 52 on shaft 15 and a sprocket 53 secured on the far end of a driven shaft 54. Driven shaft 54 is journalled in the upper ends of brackets 55 and 56 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to top-cross-connecting rail 11. At the near or tending side shaft 54 is provided with a hand wheel 57 for initially positioning the carton grippers 22 in position relative to carriers 13 as will be subsequently described.

The chain 16 which drives the above described instrumentalities is driven from a suitable source of power (not shown) having the usual clutch whereby the drive may be connected or disconnected as desired. The driven shaft 54 is provided with sliding bevel gears 58, 58' keyed to shaft 54 in the usual Way and meshing with beveled gears 59, 59'

secured to the upper ends of shafts 39, 39'.

with driven shaft 54 thus provides for adjustment of chains 17. 18 and 17', 18 toward or away from each other without disturbing their driving connections.v A\djustments ot said chains are eti'ected by rotation in either direction of a hand wheel 63 at the tending side of the machine, said hand wheel being secured on a shaft (Si having oppositely threaded portions 65 and 65 which engage correspoudin,Llr threads of apertured bosses 66. 66 formed 011 upstandiug ribs 67, 67 of brackets 24, 24. Shaft 61 projects through a bearing bracket- 68 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the underside of top crossconnecting rail 11 and longitudinal movement of shaft 64 is prevented by collars 69.

and 70 secured to the shaft one at each side of the bracket, the colla-r 69 preferably being formed integrally with hand wheel 63.

Hand wheel 57 is provided for the purpose .of initially adjusting chains 17, 18, 17 18 with respect to the conveyor chain 14 so that the resilient carton engaging devices of the chains will always be in position to grip the filled cartons when the same are delivered to the receiving ends of the chains by the supports 13. rl`his synchronizing adjustment is made by disconnecting drive chain 51 by Ameans of the usual clutch lever, placing a filled carton on one of the supports 13 and moving the sealing machine conveyor until the support is' positioned just within the receiving ends of chains 17, 18and 17, 18. The hand wheel is then rotated in the proper direction to bring the resilient carton gripping members 22 into engagement With opposed sides of the carton. After this initial synchronizing adjustment of the sealing machine conveyor and the chains of the carton delivery mechanism, the machine may be operated continuously, the filled and sealed cartons on the successive supports 13 being delivered between the receiving ends of the chains 17` 18 and 17` 18 Where the resilient carton gripping devices 22 engage the cartons and carry the same to the receiving end of the drier or delivery conveyor as above described. Said drier or delivery conveyor, as shown in F 1, comprises superposed endless belts arranged in space relation, the upper belt being indicated at 7l and the lower belt at 72. The receiving ends of said belts pass around pulleys 73 and 74 mounted on shafts 75 and 76, said shafts being journalled on the outer ends of the chain supporting frames` The drive for belt 72 comprises endless belt 77 which passes around a pulley 78- on driven shaft 15 and a pulley 79 on shaft 76. The delivery conveyor is provided with the usual upper and lower trames 8O and 81 in which are journalled the drier rollers 82 and 83 which guide the opposed stretches of belts 71 and 72. The carton delivery mechanism discharges the packages between the upper and lower belts ofthe. drier or delivery conveyor and belt 71 is driven either by engagement of the package therewith or other suitable means, not shown. Y

Should it become necessary to readjust the conveyor of the carton sealing machine and the chains ot' the carton delivery mechanism, after the machine has run for a certain length ot time. said readjustment may be made in the manner described with reference to the initial adjustment. Moreover should it happen that the carton gripping embers 22 of each chain fail to properly grip the package as by being out of line at the carton gripping position, the said members may be adjusted by removing the same from some of the links and attaching the gripping members to other links so that the carton gripping members will occupy corresponding p0- tions on the several chains.

The carton delivery mechanism is moreover adapted for use with the ordinary carton top sealing machine. In machines of this type the conveyor is the same as employed with the combination carton sealing machine except that the carton forms Vor blocks which carry the empty bottom sealed cartons are eliminated, the conveyor chain being provided only with supports. The number of supports employed in a carton top sealing machine is substantially the same as the number of carton forms and supports employed in a combination carton sealing machine. By placing an additional set of resilient carton gripping members on each chain of the delivery mechanism the same will be readily adapted to discharge cartons delivered thereto by the conveyor of a carton top sealing machine. The additional carton gripping members and their position of attachment on the chains is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The construction and operation of the carton delivery mechanism installed with a carton top sealing machine is the same as described above with reference to a combination carton sealing machine except that in each cycle of operation the chains with their two sets of carton gripping members engage and deliver two cartons to the drier or delivery conveyor instead of one carton as above described.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor provided with alternating carton forms and supports. a pair of spaced endless carriers arranged adjacent one end of said feeding conveyor', carton gripping devices of non-metallic resilient material secured at corresponding points on said carriers. and driving means for said conveyor and the carriers timed to provide for passage of said carton forms between the carriers Without contacting said carton gripping devices.

2. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor provided with alternating carton forms and supports, a pair of endless carriers spaced apart and overlapping thpel delivery end of said feeding conveyor, grlpping devices secured at corresponding points on said carriers, means for adjusting said carriers toward and away from each other,.and operating means for said .feeding conveyor and the carriers timed to permit passage of said carton forms betweenthe endless carriers without interference with their gripping devices.

3. In combination with a carton sealing machine, a pair of carriages slidably mounted on said machine for adjustment transversely of the same, a pair of supporting frames secured on said slidably mounted carriages and projecting beyond the delivery end of the machine, endless carriers on said frames for discharging cartons received from the machine, and means for adjusting said carriages, frames, and carriers bodily toward and away from each other to accommodate cartons of different sizes.

4. In combination with a carton sealing machine, a pair of supporting frames one at each side of the carton feeding conveyor of saidmachine and projecting beyond the delivery end thereof, endless carriers on said frames and provided with detachable and adjustable carton engaging members of resilient material, and manually operable means for adjusting said frames and carriers toward and away from each other.

5. In combination, a carton feeding conveyor provided with alternating carton forms and supports, a pair of spaced endless carriers at the delivery end of said conveyor and between which the carton forms and supports pass, one or more resilient carton-gripping devices detachably secured at corresponding points on said carriers, operating mechanism for said feeding conveyor and the carriers, and adjustable means supporting the carriers and providing for relative initial movements of the carriers and the feeding conveyor whereby the gripping devices will engage cartons -on the carton supports and permit said carton forms to pass freely through the carriers.

6. In combination with the feeding conveyor of a carton sealing machine, a p air of spaced adjustable endless carriers adapted to receive and transport cartons delivered -therebetween by said conveyor, a source of power, continuously maintained driving connections between said carriers and said source of power and including intermeshing gears arranged in opposed adjustable sets, and means for adjusting said carriers and said sets of gears toward and away from each other respectively.

7. In a carton discharging mechanism, a pair of endless carton carriers, a source of power, means for driving the carriers including opposed, displaceable sets of intermeshing gears continuously connected with said source and said carriers, and means for adjusting the carriers and said sets of gears bodily toward and away from each other respectively.

8. In a carton discharging mechanism, a pair of adjustable endless carriers, a driven shaft, means continuously connecting said carriers with the driven shaft and comprising intermeshing gears arranged in two sets each driving one of the carriers and bodily movable therewith relative to said shaft, and means for moving the carriers and said sets of gears toward and away from each other.

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