US1855638A - Machine for feeding inserts - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1932. T. E] LANE 1,855,638

MACHINE FOR FEEDING INSERTS Filed Jan. 29, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 o 0 I 4 3 .90 24 5 o I? O O o 1 -31 6 "Zia as o o 23 P o 0 11 2 0 g j 23 O 10 1:

ZWIM

INVENTOR TTORNE;

A ril 26, 1932. T. E. LANE MACHINE FOR FEEDING INSERTS Filed Jan. 29, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y April 26, 1932. T. E. LANE MACHINE FOR FEEDING INSERTS Filed Jan. 29, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR TTORNEY April 26, 1932. T. E. LANE MACHINE FOR FEEDING INSERTS Filed Jan. 29

INVENTOR BY in um um J h N L T: u Q W as. i i E L w i 4 HF elf NW ,7 N. mm Q N Sm Wm mi ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE MACHINE FOR FEEDING INSERTS Application filed January 29, 1929. Serial No. 335,838.

In the preparation of merchandise for the market it is frequently desirable to include an insert in the package or wrapper in which the merchandise is. enclosed, such an insert consisting of aslip of paper bearing advertising matter, directions for using merchandise, or other information. Most merchandise is now packaged or wrapped by automatic machinery and it is preferable, therefore, to introduce inserts of the character just mentioned by automatic mechanism. To devise a simple and reliable machine for performing this function constitutes the chief object of this invention.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel feature will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an insert feeding machine constructed in accordance with this invention and applied to a carton filling machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the insert feeding machine shown in Fig. 1, and shows, in section, adjacent parts of the carton filling machine;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the insert feeding machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of said machine; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 55, Fig. 2. I

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the carton filling machine partly shown in these figures is of a well known type and includes a conveyor belt 2 on which a series of cartons C rest and are fed forward. A guideway comprising rails 33 laterally supports and guides the entire series of cartons onthe belt. The rails 33 are adjustably supported in brackets 4-4 carried by side rails 5-5. Referring to Fig. 1 it will be'observed that the forward movement of the cartons in this guideway is limited by a stop 6, and that a plunger 7 arranged to be operated by a lever arm 8 is provided to push the cartons laterally oflf the conveyor 2 and out of the guideway. This general arrangement is common in several makes of carton filling machines found on the market.

The insert feeding machine shown in the drawings is arranged to feed inserts one at a time into the cartons as they come into a pre determined relationship in the plunger 7. This machine comprises a frame piece 10 supported on one of the side rails .5 and side brackets 1212 bolted to the frame'piece. The upper ends of the bracket members 1212 are connected by a cross piece 13 and two blocks 14 and 15, respectively, arebolted to the upper surfaceof this cross piece. Similar blocks are mounted on the upper end of the frame piece 10 and on the support 11, and the three sets of blocks cooperate to support a horizontal magazine for holdinga supply of inserts to be fed into the cartons. The floor of this magazine consists of three metal strips or bars 16 on which the inserts I rest and the magazine also includes side rails 1717 for laterally supporting the inserts. Preferably the block 15 is secured in place by a screw 18, Fig. 5, which extends through a slot 19 formed in the cross piece 13 so that it can be adjusted toward or from the opposite side piece, and the corresponding blocks at the front and rear ends of the magazine are similarly mounted, provision thus being made for adjusting the width of the magazine to accommodate inserts of different lengths. The rearward end of the magazine may be supported by a curved post or pedestal 19.

The entire series of inserts in the magazine is urged forward by a follower 20 which is slidably mounted in the magazine and is pulled forward by two Weights 21-21, Figs. 3 and 4, which are connected with the opposite ends of the follower by cords 2222 running over pulleys 23 and 24. The front surface of the follower 20 is inclined, as best shown in Fig. 2, so that it tends to hold the inserts in the entire series in an inclined position.

This follower exerts considerable pressure on the inserts and in order to hold them down on the rails 16 and prevent them from bulging upwardly, two horizontal rods 25-25 are arranged to rest on the upper edges of the inserts. At the forward end of the magazine these rods are welded to a cross shaft 26 which is mounted in clips 27-27 adjustably secured by screws 28-28 to the opposite sides of the magazine. The rearward ends of the rods 25-25 are welded to a cross rod 30 which normally rests in the upper forked ends of two slotted clips 313l adjustably secured by screws 32--32, respectively, to the opposite sides of the magazine.

This construction permits the rearward ends of the rods 2525 to be raised when it is necessary to replenish the supply of inserts in the magazine, the rods swinging about the axis of the cross shaft 26. Normally, however, the rods are locked in their horizontal positionsby a hold-down device comprising a hook-34 formed on the forward end of a sleeve 35 which is mounted to slide vertically ona rod 36 and normally is pressed downwardly by a coiled spring 37 enclosed in the sleeve and surrounding the rod. A han-- die '38 projects rearwardly from the sleeve and may conveniently be grasped in order to lift the hook off the cross rod. The rod 36 extends into and is secured to a part 40 which is fulcrumed at 41 in ears projecting rearwardly from the part 11.

i The inserts are fed out of the forward end of the magazine one at a time by means of one or more friction feed wheels. In the construction shown three feed wheels 43 are used, the surface of each wheel consisting of knurled rubber and all three wheels being secured fast to but adj ustably on a horizontal to rock on the shaft 44. A link 48 connects the upper end of this arm with a block 50, Figs. 3 and 4, which is adjustable longitudinally in a slot 51 formed in an operating lever 52 mounted to rock on the shaft 53.

, The lower end of this lever is forked and machined to receive slidably a block 54 in which a stub shaft 55 is mounted, this shaft being secured to and, projecting laterally from the upper end of the lever 8, previous ly referred (to.

In order to prevent the feeding of more than one insert at a time, three gates, one for each of'the feed wheels 43, are arranged immediately below the forward. end of the magazine and in line with the respective feed wheels. One of these gates is shown in Fig. 2 at 57. It comprises a metal piece provided with a recess in its upper surface in which a soft rubber pad 58 is secured. The gate is 'urged forward toward its feed wheel by a spring 60, and it is guided partly by a metal piece 61 mounted on the upper end of the frame piece 10 and partly by a stem 62 which projects rearwardly from the gate 57 and 7 slides through one of the blocks that supports the magazine rails. Movement of the gate laterally out of the guideway it also operates to give the feed Wheels 43 a feeding movement, this motionvbeing transmitted through the lever 52, link 48 and pawl 46. The knurled rubber'surf'aces of the wheels, acting on the foremost label, carry it downwardiy out of the magazine and past the gates 57.

At this timea carton'is positioned directly in front of the insert feeding machine so that theinsert so fed out of the magazine drops into the upper open end of the carton. As soon as the plunger 7, Fig. 1, withdraws, the belt 2 moves the entire series of cartons forward again and thus positions another car 3 ton in readiness to recelve an nsert.

Suiticient friction is applied to the feed wheel shaft to prevent any backwardrotation of the feed wheels when the plunger moves rearwardly. The inserts at the front of the bythe rods magazine are held down partly 25 and also by a roll 64 mounted on the shaft 26. A wire guide 65, Fig. 2, also'may be provided to assist in directing each insert as it'is fed out of the magazine into the top of the carton. gates 5'7 efiectually prevents the feeding of more than one insert at a time due to the frictional resistance which they apply to the insert immediately behind the one on which the feed wheels are acting. A fairly accurate adjustment of the gate is necessary for this purpose, and such an adjustment is easily obtained by the setting of the nuts 63. It will be observed that any insert must be fed out of the magazine against the frictional drag applied by therubber members- 58 to the surface of the insert opposite to that engaged by the feed wheels. The drag so applied is very appreciable andsi'nce the insert immediately behind the one being fed tends to move with the latter solely through contact with it, the feeding movement so applied is not sufficient to overcome the resistance applied by the rubber, tips 58.

lVhenever the supply of inserts becomes depleted'the hook 34 is lifted ofi the rod 30, the rods 2525 areraised, the follower 20 drawn backwardly, andan additional supply is placedebetween the follower and the series of inserts remaining in the magazine. The rods 2525 are then returned to their normal positions. i i The invention thus provides a relatively simple mechanism for feeding inserts, the machine can be manufactured economically, has a high degree of reliability, and requires The rubber pieces 58 "in the relatively little attention. It has been illustrated in connection with a carton filling and sealing machine since it is frequently used in this relationship, but it will be understood that the machine can be used in other relationships. It may be pointed out, however, that it is of advantage to drive. the feed wheels 43 from the plunger 8 when the mechanism is applied to a carton filling machine or the like, since this arrangement provides a convenient means for timing the operation of the insert feeding mechanism. Usually, also, carton filling and sealing machines are so organized that if the feeding ofthe cartons is stopped for any reason the operation of the plunger which acts on the cartons also is stopped. By deriving the insert feeding movement from the plunger, therefore, the mechanism always remains properly timed with the handling of the cartons.

While I have herein shown and described, a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a guideway for a series of cartons; a plunger for pushing the cartons transversely 01% said guideway; mechanism for delivering an insert to each carton, said mechanism comprising a magazine for holding a supply of said inserts, a friction feed wheel for engaging the foremost insert in the magazine and feeding it out of the magazine, and a friction gate cooperating with said feed wheel to prevent the feeding of more than one insert at a time; and lever and link connections between said plunger and feed wheel for operating the feed wheel.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a guideway for a series of cartons; a plunger for pushing the cartons transversely ofi said guideway; mechanism for delivering an insert to each of said cartons as they arrive, respectively, in a predetermined relationship to said plunger; said mechanism comprising a substantially horizontal magazine for holding a supply of inserts, a friction feed wheel for engaging the foremost insert in the magazine and feeding it out of the magazine, and an adjustable gate positioned closely adjacent to and in alinement with said feed wheel for preventing the feed of more than one insert at a time; and connections between said feed wheel and said plunger for operating the feed wheel intermittently.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a guideway for a series of cartons; a plunger for pushing the cartons transversely off said guideway; mechanism for delivering inserts to the cartons on said erating the feeding means.

4. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of a guideway for a series of cartons; a plunger for pushing the cartons transversely off said guideway; mechanism for delivering inserts to the cartons on said guideway comprising a magazine for holding a supply of said inserts and means for engaging the foremost insert in the magazine and feeding it outof the magazine; and adjustable lever and link connections between said plunger and said feeding means including a pawl and ratchet mechanism through which said plunger is operative to actuate said feeding means.

5. In an insert feeding mechanism, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of inserts, a friction feeding wheel for engaging the foremost insert in said magazine and feeding it out of the magazine, said magazine including a bar on which the inserts rest and said bar having a bevelled end positioned closely adjacent to said feed wheel, a gate mounted immediately below said bar and having a part made of rubber to engage the face of each insert opposite to that engaged by the feed wheel as the inserts are fed one at a time out of the magazine, means supporting said gate for movement toward and from said wheel in a direction approximately parallel to said bar, a spring for pressing said gate forward in said direction toward said wheel, means cooperating with said spring for adjusting said gate backward or forward in said direction relatively to said wheel, and mechanism for operating said feed wheel.

THOMAS E. LANE.

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