US1889846A

US1889846A - Mechanism for stacking packages

Info

Publication number: US1889846A
Application number: US559164A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Wright
Original assignee: DIAMOND MATCH CO
Current assignee: DIAMOND MATCH Co
Priority date: 1931-08-25
Filing date: 1931-08-25
Publication date: 1932-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1949-12-06

Description

Dec. 6, 1932.'

c. F. WRIGHT 1,889,846 MEGHANISM FOR sTAcKING PAcKAGEs .Filed Aug.' 25. 1951 l 4 sheets-sheet il.

Dec. 5 1932. c. F. WRRGHT MEGHANISM FOR STACKING PACKAGES r .Fled Aug. 25. 1951` .4 sheets-,Smet 2 Q www in (j l E i ,i ,v M W o Dec. 6, 1932.

cfr-1 WRIGHT MECHANISM FQR STACKING PACKAGES 4sheets-sneet 3 Filed- Aug. 25. 1951 Dec. 6, 1932, c. F. WRIGHT 178399846 l MECHANISM FOR STACKING PACKAGESI Filed Aug. 25. 1931 4 Sheets-*Sheet l4 figg.

Parellad Dye.- 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT ,or-lllcrfzV cHARLRs F. WRIGHT, or AKRON, OHIO, 4AssIeNoR 'ro THE DIAMOND MArcn COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION or MARYLAND MECHANISM FOR STACKING PACKAGES Application led August-25, 1931. Serial No. 559,164.

The object of this invention is. to provide a machine of simple and efficient construction and operation for stacking and arranging packages of matches or other articles in operations, which machine is especially,

though not exclusively, designed for use in connection with or as an attachment for a machine from which wrapped packages are successively delivered.

With this object in View my invention embodies features of novelty and combinations of parts which in a preferred form will be hereinafter described; the scope of the-invention then being expressed in the following claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, showing the package lifter arms in raised position at the completion of a package stacking operation.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan, enlarged, of the machine, the lifter arms being shown in down or 1package receiving position. 1

g. 3 is a transverse vertical section ina plane through the forward ,ends of the lifter arms, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section, as on the une 4.-4 of Fig. 2, showing the conveyer, the

drive mechanism therefor, and adjuncts.

Fig. 5 isa longitudinal vertical section of the machine, as on the line 54-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.

5 of a portion of the receiving end of the stacking L table, the lifter arms and switch control devices therefor, together with stop devices for advancing packages, the said parts being shown in their respective positions during the initial upward movement of the lifter Fig. 7 is a longitudinal `vertical section.'

of a lifter actuating cam and clutch mecha- I nism therefor, as on the line 7-n-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. Sis'a Vtransverse vertical section, as on the line8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section through the its support.

switch A and Figi 10 is a transverse section through tlie switc as on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, 15 designates a frame structure upon which is supported a horizontal bed or table 16 having at its receiving end a downwardly curved portion 17 which overhangs the delivery end of the upper horizontal run of an endless belt conveyer 18. This conveyer is supported and guided by

pulleys

19, 20, whereof the shafts 21 have their bearings in suitably-disposed` brackets 22v on the frame structure. The upper run of the conveyer is also guided `and sustained by a longitudinally extending bed 23 which is supported by bridge members 24 on the frame structure. The shaft 21 of the pulley-20 at the delivery end of the conveyer to impel the conveyer continuously in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrow. (Fig. 5.) In the present instance the shaft 28 is operatively connected through suitable sprocket and chain gearing 30 with an elecso tric motor 31.

The packages (P) to b assembled are sucy cessively placed upon the upper run of the conveyer 18 and are carried ,thereby in more or less close relation `toward the curved portion 17 of the table 16. Preferably the con- 85 veyer is arranged to receive the packages as they are discharged from a wrapping machine of any usual or approved construction, a dryer trunk as 32, being interposed between the wrapping machine and the 'conveyer in order to ensure the\drying of the adhesive on the wrappers'before the packages pass to the conveyer.

The widthA of the conveyer 18 is less than the length of the packages imposed thereon,

so that the ends vof the packages projectbeyopd the respective longitudinal edges of the f Parallel guide rails 33 for the row of packages on. the conveyer are supported adjacent the respective sides of the'conveyer by means of suitably-disposed brackets 34, and means, such as a continuously driven feed wheel 35, for advancing each succeeding package at the receivingend of the conveyor is preferably provided, which wheel frictionally coacts with the tops of the adjacent boxes. The shaft 36 of this wheel has its bearings in brackets 37 on the guide rails and has fast thereon ya sheave 38 which is connected `b abelt 39 with a sheave 40 fast onthe sha t of the pulley 20 at the delivery end of the conveyer.

A shoe 41 extends above the row of packages and insures their orderly arrangement on the conveyer as they approach the curved end of the table, which shoe is supported by a bridge bracket 42 securedto the respective guide rails.

Extending adjacent the respective sides of the delivery end of the conveyer and forwardly of the curved end portion of the table are a pair of lifter arms 43 which are connect ed by a sleeve 441ooseon a cross-shaft 45 that is fixed in suitably-disposed brackets 46 on the supporting. structure. These lifter arms when they are in horizontal position extend sufliciently inward to underlie and receive the ends of a definite number (in the present instructure.'

stance, three) of close-lying leading packages on the conveyer adj acent the curved end of the table. The sleeve 44 is provided with a'crank arm 47 which is connected by means of a link 48 with the longer arm 49 of a lever fulcrumed on a cross-shaft 50 that is fixed in suitably-located brackets 51 on the frame The other arm 52 of the lever carries a roll 53 in contact with a suitable cam 54 on a cross-shaft 55 having its bearings in brackets 56 on the frame structure. This shaft 55 has fast^thereon a sprocket 57 which is connected by means of a chain 58 with a sprocket 59 on the driven shaft 28. The roll 53 is maintained yieldably in contact with the cam 54 by means of a spring 60 which connects the longer lever arm 49 with asuitably-disposed fixture 61, and the cam is automatically fixed to and 'released at intervals from the shaft 55 by means under the control of the advancing packages on the conveyer as will be hereinafter described.

The contour of the cam 54 is such that when it is secured to and rotated by the shaft 55 the lever arm 49 is alternately raised and lowered by the co-action of the cam and the spring 60, thereby effecting through the crank and link connections 47, 48 the upward and downward swinging of the lifter arms 43 through an arc of 90. These arms in their upward travel raise the three opposing packages along the curved portion 17 of the ltable y, and by vlrtue of the partial turning of the packages as they bear upon and slide v.along table. When such packages are thus arranged on the table the lifter arms 43 are immediately swung downward to their previous position below the path of the next succeeding series of packages borne by the conveyer, preparatory to another stacking operation, and so on. As each stack of packages is delivered to the table the preceding stack or Istacks are successively advanced along the table, thus ensuring a row of close-lying uniformly stacked packages from which predetermined numbers of stacks can be readily removed for wrapping or other purposes.

The preferred means for automatically clutching and releasing the cam 54 on the shaft 55 is as follows: The cam has a hub 62 formed with

end heads

63, 64, which hub is loosely mounted on the shaft 55 between the y sprocket 57 and a collar 65 fast on the shaft. The

end heads

63, 64 are faced with friction material 66 in contact with disks 68, 69 on the opposing faces-of the sprocket hub and the collar. The disk 69 is fast on the collar, and the disk 68 is slidably secured to the sprocket hub by pins 690. The disk 68 is pressed' The cam 54`when the lifter arms are in i down or horizontal position is restrained against rotation with the shaft 55 by means of a depending dog 71 in engagement with a Vtooth or shoulder 72 on the end head 63'of` the cam hub, which dog is conveniently pivoted on a suitably-disposed bracket 74. The dog is pivotally connected, as at 75,'with the core of a solenoid 76, the coil of which latter is included in an electric circuit 77 which maybe alternately made and broken by a suitable switch 78 under the control of the predetermined leading packages on the con- `veyer.

p In the present instance a mercury switch is employed, which switch is carried by supporting brackets 79 carried by one of two spaced upstanding arms 83, eachof which is adjustably secured by meansof a screw 8O to a rock-shaft 81 having its bearings in brackets 82 on the frame str ucture directly below the ypath ofthe leading packages on the conveyer. The upper ends of these arms project above the respective sides of the upleadingopackage as it approaches the table. One of the arms 83 is provided with a crankarm 84 from which are suspended adjustable weights 85 which tend to swing the arms forwardly `of the table and with their upperends in the'l path of the leading package. These weights .are so adjusted that there mus/,t

push back the arms 83 against the force of the counterweights. In the present instance three or more packages are required for this purpose. When the leading three packages are located above the lifter arms 43 the 4,switch control arms 83 are swung to their backward liniit,.in which case the mercuryelement of the switch connects the terminals as indicated in Fig. 9 and completes the electric circuit 77, thus the solenoid is energized and the retraction of its core is effected. rIhis retracts the pendant dog 71 from the tooth of the'head 63 on the cam hub, thus releasing the cam 54 and ensuring its rotation concurrently with the shaft 55.

In order to prevent the advancement of the succeeding packages on the continuously moving conveyer 18, during the rise and fall of the lifter arms 43, suitable stop means operatin'g in timed relation to the arms 43 is provided, as ollows:

86 designates a pair of horizontally-disposed arms arranged at the respective sides of the conveyer and secured at their 'forward ends to a rock-shaft 87 havingits bearings in brackets 88 on the supporting'structure..

The rear or free ends lof these arms 8 6 are yieldingly held in raised position by means or a spring 89 one end of which is'secured to a depending arm 90 on the shaft 87, and the other end is secured to the bridge bracket 24 supporting the longitudinal bed 23. The

ends of the arms 86 are formed with lateral projections 92 which underlie the free ends i of the lifter arms 43 and are depressed by the latter against the action of the spring 89 when the lifter arms are in down or package receiving position. Thev projections 92 have secured thereto upstanding stop members 93 which, when the arms 86 are depressed, lie below the path of the packages borne by the conveyer, butgon the initial upward movement of the lifter arms the. arms 86 move slightly upward to project the stop members into the path of the opposing progressing packages, thus temporarily preventing the advancement of the latter, as previously mentioned. The stop members 93 are maintained in raised or active position until the succeeding descent of the lifter arms, whereupon such members are again depressed below thepath of the packages on the carrier'to enable another series to advance upon thelifterarms, and so on. The free ends of the arms 86 have secured thereto upstanding side plates 94 which,.'abutti ng against the under sides of the opposing guide rails 33, limit the upward movement of the arms 86. Y

My invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form of embodiment herein disclosed, as the construction may' be modified within the principle of the invention an the scope of the appendedclaims.

' I clalm- 1. In combination with a package support, l

means on a lower level for advancing a succession of packages toward said support, litter arms which normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages, means including a cam for actuating said lifter arms to raise ,the opposing packages and positionthem in stacked relation on the support,- an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, ank electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controlling the' stopV device and a switch for making and breaking'the circuit, and means extending into the path ofv the leading advancing package 'for controlling the operation lof the switch.

2.. In combination with a vpackage support. means on -a lower level for advancing a suecession of packages toward said support.` lifter arms which normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages, means including a cam for actuating said lifter arms tov raise the opposing packages and position them'in stacked relation on the support, an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an

electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, and means for controlling the operation of the switch including rocker-arms which extend intothe path of the leading advancing package. y

3. In combination with a package support. means on a lowerlevel for advancing a succession of packages toward said support, lift'- er arms which normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages, means including a cam for actuating said lifter arms to raise the opposing packages and position them in stacked relation on the support, an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an electric circ-uit in which are included an elcctro- 4. In combination with a package supportcomprising a table having a downwardly `curved receiving portion, a conveyer `on a lower level for advancing a succession of packages toward said receiving portion, oscil` latory lifter arms whiohnormally underlie the path of a leading series of packages adjallO cent said receiving portion and are operative to move such seriesvv along the receiving portion and position them in 'stacked relation on the table, means including a `rotary cam for actuating said lifter arms, an intermittentlyacting stop device for said cam, an electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, and means extending into the path Vof the leading advancing package on the conveyer for controlling the operation of thc switch.

5. In combination with a package support comprisingratable having a downwardly curved receiving portion, a conveyer on a lower level for advancing Va succession of packages toward said receiving portion, oscillatory' lifter arms which normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages adj acent said receiving portion and position them in stacked 'relation on the table, means including a rotary cam for actuating said lifter arms, an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an' electric circuit in which arc ineluded an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, and means for controlling the operation of the switch including rocker-arms which extend into the path of the leading advancingpackage.

6. In combination with a package support comprising a' table having a downwardly curved receiving portion, a conveyer on a lower level for advancing a succession of packages toward said receiving portion, oscillatory lifter arms which normallyunderlie the path of a leading series of packages adjacent said receiving portion and positionthem in stacked relation on lthe table, means including a rotary cam for actuating said lifter arms, an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, means for controlling the operation of the switch including rockerarms which extend into the path of the leading advancing package, and an adjustable countcrpoise for said switch and rocker-arms. 9

7. In combination with a package support comprising av table having a. downwardly curved receiving portion, a conveyer on' a lower level for 'advancing'a succession of packages toward said receiving portion, oscillatory lifter'arms which normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages adjacent -said receiving portion and position them in stacked relation on the table, means lincluding a rotary cam for actuating saidlifter arms, an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an electric circuit in which areincluded an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device an-d a switch for making and breaking the circuit, meansfor controlling the operation of the switch including rocker-arms which extend into the path of the leading advancing package, an adjustable counterpoise for saidswitch and rocker-arms, and

stop means for the'advancing packages on the conveyer including lvibratory arms extending into'the path of the lifter arms.

8. In combination with a package support,

means for advancing a succession of packages' toward said support, transfer means normally adjacent the path of a leading series of packages, means including a cam for actuating said transfer means to transfen the opposing packages to the support, an'intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnetfor controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, and means extending into the path of the leading advancing package for c ontrolling'the operation of the switch.

9. In combination with a package support, meansfor advancing a succession of packages toward said support, transfer means normally adjacent the path-of a leading series of packages, means-"including a cam for actuating said transfer means to transfer the'opposing packages to the support, an' intermittentlyacting ,stop device for said cam, an electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, means extending into the path of the leading advancing package forcontrolling the operation of the switch, and means forarresting the advancing packages rearward of the transfer means during each operation of said transfer means.

10. In' combination' witli'a package support, means for advancing a succession of vpackages toward said support, transfer means normallyadjacent the path of aleadmeans in timed relation lto the travel of the advancing packages, said electrically-controlled means including an electric circuit having a switch formaking and breaking said circuit, and a rocker arm carrying said switch and extending into the path ofthe leading advancing package.

11. Inv combination with a package support, means for advancing a succession of packages toward said support, transfer means normally adjacent the path of a leading series of packages, and electrically-controlledmeans for operating said transfer means in timed relation to the travel of the advancing packages, said electrically-controlled means inclu-ding an electric circuit having a switch for making and breaking said circuit, a rocker arm carrying said switch and extending into the path of the leading advancing package. and an "adjustable counterpoise for said 'rocker arm and switch.

Signed at Barberton in the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 18th day of August A. D. '1931. i

CHARLES WRIGHT.