US1988507A - Box lidding machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1935. H, lPAxToN 1,988,507

Box LIDDING MACHINE Filed May 13,l 195@ Nj? zo @mm1/Emol? f BY- ATTORNEY.

Patented .18.11.22, 1935 PATENT oFFlcE V 1,988,501 Box LIDDING MACHINE Hale Paxton, Redlands, Calif., assigner to Paxton Credit Corporation, Sanger, Calif., a corpora,-

. vtion of California Application May 13', 1930, serial No."452,o6z`

19 Claims.

My invention relates to a box lidding machine.

In the fresh fruit industry it is usual to pack the fruit into the boxes and then to lid the boxes preparatory to shipment. The boxes are usually lled with fruit above the top edge, and a lid of springy material is used to hold the fruit firmly therein. Because of these facts there has been difficulty in 'holding the lid squarely on the box for nailing, especially in view' of the fact that the lid is constructed slightly longer than the box to permit it to bulge in the center. I l

It is an object of my invention to provide a lidding machine for applying to a box overflled with fresh fruit or the like a lid which is longer l5 than the box,the lid being so applied that after it is arched into shape over the contents of the box with the ends of the lid against the ends of the box, the lid will be symmetrically aligned upon the box. In the following description as ,E

illustrated by the accompanying drawing further objects and advantages of my invention will be made manifest. 1

In the drawing accompanying this specification Fig. 1 is a side fractional view of a lidding ma- 264 chine showing my improvement thereon. Fig. 2

is a front view vof the lidder as shown in Fig.v 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fractional view of the device from the back. Fig. 4 is a fractional sectional view along the section line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

LReferring specifically to the drawing, my invention is here seen as a vembodied in a nailing machine 10 having a frame 11, a hydraulic cylinder 12, a nailing table 13, and a lid supporting and nailing mechanism 14.

Frame 11 includes channel iron side standards 15, these having feet 17 preferably formed of heavy angle iron, thesefeet being connected by a solid beam 18.

The hydraulic cylinder 12 isrigidly secured in upright position on the beam 18, and hasa piston rod 20. The cylinder 12 is provided with a suitable valve 22 for admitting fluid under pres` sure into the cylinder 12, and releasing this therefrom'to cause the operation of this cylinder. 4 Nailing table 13 is thoroughly covered in my copending U. S. application Serial No. 468,680, filed July 17, 1930', and accordingly this will not be described in detail herein. The nailingI table 13, however, includes a solid beam 25 which is supported on the upper end of a piston-rod 20. The upper end of this piston rod is rounded and lits into a shallow recess shaped to receive this in the lower face of the solid beam 25 so as to make it possible for the beam 25 to rock slightly on 65 the piston rod 20. Fixed to the upper end of the `a boxon these rollers.

.27 into the beam 25 and. feet I31 are bolts 32.

Surrounding the bolts 32 and spaced a slight distance below the flange 27 are spacers 33, there being coiled springs 34 disposed about the spacers 33 and compressed between the flange 27 and heads of the bolts 32. As the ange 27 is spaced 10 a small distance below the beam 25, it is thus seen that a slight rocking movement of this beam on the piston 20 is permitted, the beam, of course. being normally held at right angles to the piston rod 20 by the springs 34. 15

The solid beam 25 has nailing anvils 36\and 37 mounted on its opposite ends, and an auxiliary table 38 is yieldably supported from these anvils f by spring devices 39 in the same manner as pointed out in my aforementioned co-pending applica- 20 tion, Serialy No. 468,680. As also shown in that application the auxiliary table 38 is provided with rollers 40, and automatic stops 41 for positioning The nailing table is provided with flanged rollers 48 which engage for- 5 ward flanges of the vertical standards 15 to guide the nailing table 13 in its vertical movement.

The lid supporting and nailing mechanism 14 is mounted upon heavy voverhanging arms 50 `which are connected together by c ross bars 51; 30

and have a series of lugs 52 extending inwardly from their lower edges. Fixed upon lower faces 53 of the lugs 52 are lid guiding supports 54, these supports having upwardly converging faces 55 which terminate at the lower faces 53 of the 35 lugs 52. Pivotally mounted between adjacent pairs ofthe supports 54 are rollers,l 56, the rollers 56 at opposite ends of the machine beingspaced apart approximately the length of the box to be lidded. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the 40 rollers 56 extend inwardly beyond the converging faces 55 of the support 54 so as to form notchlike recesses in which opposite ends of a lid may b e trapped as shown in Fig.` 2. Also mounted on 45 the arms 50 are downwardly extending lingers 58, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for limiting rearward movement of a lid when this is positioned as shown in Fig. 2.

' Mounted on inner faces of the arms 50 are nail chucks 60, the lower endsof which are disposed only a slight distance above the horizontal plane of the lugv faces 53. As the lugs 52 serve to protect the chucks'60, these lugs may be considered as assembled with the chucks 60 to furnish a which bear against the brackets 69, and thus operate to adjust the curvature of the crown sheet 68.'

Although not shown in the drawing, it is obvious that the lid supporting and nailing mechanism 14 includes means for driving nails downwardly through the chucks 60 at the will of the operator.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

It is assumed, of course, that the nailing ma- I chine 10 isA placed in a linev of conveyors in the usual manner so that boxes 75 may be fed thereto "from a feed conveyor disposed on the same level as the rollers40 when the nailing table 13 is in its Y normal position. Before a box 75 is fed into the machine 10, however, the operator takes a lid 76 having cleats 77 provided upon its opposite ends, and extending this lid into the machine against the fingers 58 liftsit upward into `the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Owing to the resiliency of the lid 76, it thus becomes arched,^and the ends of the lid snap into position in the recesses formed by the juxtaposed surfaces of the rollers 56 and the converging support faces 55. 'I'he box 75 is now rolled into the machine so the lid and box are positioned as shown in Fig. 2. The operator then manipulates the valve 22 so as to cause the cylinder 12 to lift the nailing table 13 until the ends of the box 75 pass between the rollers 56 and contact the ends of the lid 76. Owing to the convergence of theguide faces 55 further upward movement of the box 75, after contacting the cover 76, causes this cover to be arched or'bowed by cramping the cover 76 longitudinally. This cramping action on the cover 76 terminates with the ends of the cover compressed between the ends of the box 75 and the lower faces 53 of the lugs 52. It is thus seen that the lugs 52 form guards for the chucks 60, `and so may be considered as part of the chuck means. The need for the guards, of course, is to protect the nailing chucks as these operate much more satisfactorily when not in direct contact with the work.

The cramping or centralizing action of the guide faces 55 on the lid 76 takes place concur- -rently with the lifting of the lid by the overllled contents of the crate which extend upwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 3. The. distance which these contents extend upwardly varies of course, but in commercial practice these contents generally engage the middle of the cover before the ends of the box contact the ends of the cover. It is thus seen that the arching of the cover generally results from the engagement of the overfllled contents therewith and the continued engagement' of the guide faces 55 with the ends of the cover'as this arching takes place serves primarily to maintain longitudinal alignment of the cover with the box during the arching of the cover. It is also clear, of course, that if the overlled contents do not extend up far enough to engage the ends of the cover before the ends of the box engage the ends of the cover that the cramping of the cover by the converging guide faces 55 would cause the cover to be arched against the crown sheet independently of the engagement of the overlled contents with the cover. The latter situation, however, is not the case in the usual commercial operation of my machine.

When the compressing of the'lid ends against the lugs 52 stops further upward movement of the box 75, the pressure in the cylinder 12 builds up suiiiciently to compress the spring devices 39 and force the anvils 36 and 37 upwardly against the ends of the box 75 as shown in Fig. 3. Asthe anvils are made of heavy bar metal, and are supported directly on thesolid beam 25 which in turn is hydraulically supported by the cylinder 12, a perfect nailing table is now provided when the nailing means is caused to function to drive nails from the chucks 60 through the ends of the lid 76 and into the ends of the box 75.

In case there is any variation in the height of the combined b'ox and lid ends at opposite ends of the box, the pressure on these ends is equalized by the adjustable mounting of the nailing table on the piston rod 20, as shown in Fig. 3.

The crown sheet 68 is provided to prevent splitting of the lids when they are placed under pressure. To do this, however, it is necessary for the crown sheet to fit the arched lid fairly closely. Different types of farm products are packed t different heights in the boxes 75 thereby requiring lids of greater or less length as it is necessary for these lids to be arched to fit over the excess amount of products extending above the top of the box. By manipulation of the screws 72 the arch of the crown sheet may be varied to adapt it to fit various degrees of curvature of the lids 76 resulting from these being of different lengths.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein the overhanging arms 50 and cross bars l form an overhead structure overhanging the nailing table 13, which structure carries the nailing means and the lid engaging members the latter including lugs 52 and plates 66. The lugs 52, of course, engage the upper faces of the ends of the lid and the plates,66 engage intermediate portions 0f the lid to determine the conformation given the lid when it is pressed upwardly against these members. For suitable identification of these lid engaging members, the lugs 52 might be termed end members and the plates 66 be termed intermediate members. It is also to be noted thatv the plates 66 have separate adjustment meansin the form of the set screws 72.

While I have shown my lid holding means, including the support 54 and rollers 56 as having a vfixed position relative to the nailing chucks 60,

it is to be understood that the lid holding means might be used separately if this was desired, and this means might be mounted in fixed position as in the present embodiment, or it might be mounted for independent vertical movement in a machine in which the nailing mechanism moves down upon the box rather than the box moving up to the nailing mechanism. In fact, a number of other modifications might be made in the preferred embodiment illustrated herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: l

1. In combination with a lidding machine having a nailing table adapted to be raised and lowered, means for raising and lowering said table along a fixed path of travel, means for supporting a lid consisting of a crown sheet posi-I tioned directly over the nailing table, and means for holding a lid directly under said crown sheet in a curved form.

2. In combination with a lidding machine having a nailing table adapted to be given a vertical means. f

3. In a nailing machine for lidding overlled boxes, the combination of nailing means having lower faces for limiting the approach of lid ends thereto; means for supporting a box beneath said nailing means; means for moving one of the aforementioned means vertically toward the other to closely confine opposite ends of a lid between ends of said box and said nailing means; 'a pair`of upwardly converging guides disposed beneath said nailing means and extending downwardly therefrom; and means for supporting a lid with its ends adjacent to said guides a substantial distance downwardly from the lower faces of said nailing means, said lid being adapted to be contacted in said movement by the contents of said box so that said lid is arched upwardly and the ends of said lid lifted from said supporting means, said guides then serving to centralize said lid relative to said nailing means thereby ending said movement with said lid ends superposed directly upon the ends of said box.

4. In a lid applying device, the combination of: means for supporting a box; means for applying a lid to said box; and means associated with said lid applying means for supporting a lid in upwardly arched conformation preparatory to applying said lid to said box.

5. In a nailing machine for-lidding overiilled.

boxes, the combination of: nailing means having -lower faces for limiting the approach of lid ends thereto; an arched crown sheet disposed between said nailing means; means for supporting a box beneath said nailing means; and means for moving one of the aforementioned means vertically towards the other to closely confine opposite ends of a lid between ends of said box and said nailing means and arch said lid to conform substantially to said crown sheet.

6. The combination as in claim 5 .in which means is provided for varying the curvature of said-crown sheet. f

7. In a nailing machine for liddingI over-filled boxes, the combination of: spaced nailing means having lower faces for limiting the approach of lid ends thereto; means for Supporting a box in vertical alignment withsaidnailing means; a crown sheet including two plates hingedly connected to said nailing means and mechanism for varying the yelevation of the inner ends of said plates; and means for moving one of the aforementioned 'ineans with its associated parts vertically towards the other means to closely confine for supporting a box with its opposite ends be-` neath said nailing means; and means for elevating said box support to lift a box upwardly to bring the contents of the box into contact with a lid and cause this lid to conform substantially to the curvature of said crown sheet, the position of said lid longitudinally-being adjustedby said lid guides. Y.

9. A combination as in claim 8 in which means is provided for supporting a lid adjacent to and beneath said lid guides preliminary to a lidding operation. f

10. In a lidding machine, the combination of means for applying a lid to a box with a given crowned conformation; and means for selectively predetermining the conformation given said lid.

1l. In a lidding machine, the combination of:

a crown plate; means for supporting a box;

means for bringing said crown plate and said box supporting means together with a lid disposed therebetween for shaping said lid to iit said crown plate and applying it to said box; and adjustment means for varying the curvature of said crown plate. 4

l2. In a `box lidder the combination of a crown plate in a plurality of parts, adjacent edges of said parts being shiftable relative to each other to permit adjustment of said crown plate to lids varying in length; means for supporting a crown packed box beneath said plate; and means for moving said supporting means and' crown plate relativelyA vertically to compress a lid between said crown plate and said box.

13. In a box lidder, the combination of an arched crown sheet against which a cover may v be lifted to form said cover for nailing to an overfllled box; means for lifting such a box to compress a cover between said box and said crown sheet in bowed conformation; means associated with said crown sheet for nailing a cover, so positioned, to said box; means disposed in spaced relation below said nailing means for supporting`a cover in substantial longitudinal alignment with s aid box; and means disposed between said cover supporting means and said nailing means for engaging ends of said cover 'as it is being bowedkand maintaining said cover in longitudinal alignment with said box during thgbowing of said cover.

14. A combination as in claim 10 in which said rst mentioned means has a plurality of lid engaging members for defining the curvature to be given said lid when the latter is applied to said box; and in which said last mentioned means comprises mechanism for adjusting the relative positions of said members in said machine to change the lid curvature defined by said members.

15. `In va machine forllidding overilled boxes the combination of: a frame; a table for supporting a box to be lidded; a structure supported on said frame and overlying said table; aplurality l of lid engaging members mounted-on said structure, said members dening an upwardly arched curvature and causing a lid to receive such curvature when said lid is pressed upwardly against said members; means causing relative vertical movement betweensaid table and said overhead structure to press said lid on said box with :said lid upwardly arched `in contact with said ,inembers; and means for altering 4the relative posi`- tions of said members on said overhead-structure to selectively predetermine the lid curvature dened by said members.

16. In a machine for lidding overlled boxes, the combination of: a frame; a table for supporting a box to be lidded; a structure supported on said frame and overlying said table; and memberson said structure for engaging upper faces- 5 disposed between said end members, said members dening an upwardly arched curvature and causing a lid to receive such curvature when said lid is pressed upwardly against said end and intermediate members; means causing relative vero tical movementy between said table and said overhead structure to press said lid on said box with said lid upwardly arched in contact with said members; and means for altering the mean height of said intermediate members relative to that of said end members on said structure to selectively predetermine the lid curvature defined by said members.

17; In a machine for lidding overfilled boxes, the combination of a Aframe; a table for supporting a box to be lidded; a structure supported on said fra-.ne and overlying said table; end members on said structure for engaging upper faces of the ends of a lid overlying said box; a plurality of intermediate members on said structure disposed between said endv members, said members defining an upwardly arched curvature and causing a lid to receive suchcurvature when said lid is pressed upwardly against said end and intermediate members; lmeans causing relative vertical movement between s'aid table and said overhead structure to'press said lid on said box with said lid upwardly arched to contact with said members; and means lfor altering the mean height and the angles with the horizontal of said intermediate'miembers 4to selectively predeter-f mine the lid .curvature defined by said members.`

18. In a machine for lidding overlled boxes, the combination of: a frame; a table for supporting a box to' be lidded; a structure supported on said frame and overlying said table; end members on said structure for engaging upper faces of the ends of' a lid overlying said box; a plurality of intermediate members on said structure disposed between said end members, said members defining an upwardly arched curvature and causing a lid to receive such curvature when said lid is pressed upwardly against said end and intermediate members; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said overhead structure to press said lid on said box with said lid upwardly arched in contact with said members; and individual adjustment means for altering the mean height of each of said intermediate members relative to that of said end members on. said structure to selectively predetermine the lid curvature defined by said members.

19. In a machine for lidding overfilled boxes, the combination of: a frame; a table for supporting a box to be lidded; a structure supported on said frame and overlying said table; end members on said structure for engaging upper faces of the ends of a lid overlyingsaid box; a plurality of intermediate members onsaid structure disposed between said end members, said members defining an upwardly arched curvature and causing a lid to receive such curvature when said lid is pressed upwardly against said end and intermediate members; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said overhead structure to press said lid on said box with said lid upwardly arched ,in contact with said members; and individual adjustment means for altering the mean height and angle with the horizontal of each of said intermediate members to selectively predetermine the lid. curvature dened by said members.

HALE PAXTON.

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