US2029933A - Razor blade packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb.. 4, 1936. M1 MELMOE' 2,029,933

RAZOR BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July :5, 19,29 7 sheets-sheet 1 NVENTOR.

mBYM.

.A TTORN EY Feb. 4 1936.. M J. MILMQE I 2,029,933

RAZOR BLADE PACKAGING MACHINEl Filed July s, 1929 7 sheets-sheet 2 Fmi 1 l IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 4, 1936.,

M. J. MILMOE RAZOR BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed 'July 5, '1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Flan A TTORNEY Feb. 4, 1936. M WLMOE 2,029,933

A Y RAZOR BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July s, 1929 v sneets-sneet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Feb 4, 1936. M. J. MILMoE RAZOR BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE:

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Julyv 5, 1929 QAUE fri-'vorm Ey Fel 4, 1936# -M. J. MlLMoE l RAZOR BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July if, 1929 7 sheets-Sheet 7 .An/9, El

MIM..

l, EJE

\ N VE Nrrow.

Patented Feb. -4, 1,936

UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,029,933l RAzoa BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Michael J, Milmoe, Chicago, Ill., assignor to vF. B.

Reclington Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application/July 3,21929, Serial No.'3'l5,i16

40 claims. (cime-14) lo ing these stacks of articles into cartons. It is very -important in machines of 'this nature that the correct number lof articles be placed in each carton and especiallythat there are at least the ad.- vertised number of articles inleach carton.

15` One object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a means for detecting when a stack of articles contains less than the required number of articles so that none of the stacks which contain less' than the requirednumber vof'articles 20 will be inserted in any of the cartons.

. Another object' of this invention is to provide a means for ejecting each and every stack of articles from the support upon 'which theyare mounted, into some suitable receptacle other than 25 the cartons in which the stacks are normally to be placed. Articles collected in the receptacle are later placed in the feeding machine which feeds the articles into stacks on the support.

Another object of this invention is to stop the :lo operation of the machine as soon as a stack of articles is ejected from said support into said receptacle to enable the operator to place a stack containing the correct number of articles in the place of the stack ejected from the support.

:i Referring more particularly to the drawings:-.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embody- -ingmy invention;V f

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the device for lo stopping the machine afterfone of the stacks of articlesA has been ejected from the conveyer;

Fig.'4 is a plan viewiof part o f the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken along the line 45 5-5 of Fig. 3; Figs. and 'l are rviews similar toFig.- 3 showing the parts in various positionsof adjustment; Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which a stack of articles is ejected from the conveyer when it '0 is found that said stack cntains less than the required number f articles Fig. 9-is a plan view of part of" the mechanism shown in Fig', 8; and

Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, show part ofthe eject- 55 ing mechanism shown in Fig. 8 but with the vari- 4which Vsupports said Geneva gear. Gfeneva gear and thesprocket are rigidly fastened to the shaft 9 as best illustrated in Fig.' 5 so that ous members of this mechanism in different positions of adjustment.

My invention is shown embodied in a machine for packaging safety razor blades..l These blades are relatively thin and it is .very diiicult to de- 5 tect by means of the eye when less than the re quired number of blades are in a stack, especia y in view of the fact that the machine operates very rapidly. However, it is very important that at least the required number of blades beinserted 10 in a cartonsince a customer is often displeased,

and rightfully so, when he discovers that a carton contains lessthan the advertised number of blades. It often happens* that the feeding means vdoes not form a stack having at least the advertised number of blades due to the fact that tl'ie supply of blades in the feeding mechanism runs out or due to the fact that a blade is not picked up by one of the conveyers in the feeding mechanism. Itis rarely the case that the stack` of arv Y ticles contains more than the required number of blades and evenpif it did, there would be very little necessity for providing means to detect this as a customer is seldom displeased by receiving more than the required number of articles. The ,25

manufacturer', on 4the other hand, loses very little by having an extra blade occasionally inserted in a package. Therefore, the main object of this invention is to provide means for insuring that at least the minimum advertised number of blades Awill be inserted in each carton.

Referring more particularly to Fig.i 1, it will 'be seen that the machine comprises a 'frame I having al suitable base (not shown) for supporting the frame in an upright positon. This frame Y I is substantially T-shaped in cross-section, as -V will be readily seen from an inspection of Fig. 2,

and is adapted to support practically all of the/V elements connected with the operation of this `machine. I- have shown a bracket member 2 40 rigidly supported on one end of the frame l. This bracket member 2 vcarries a projecting member 3 vwhich has a bearing'member 4 rigidly fastened thereto and this bearing member -4 is adapted to support a shaft 5 which car'resa sprocket 45 pver which a conveyor chain 6 having pockets 22 therein is trained, said )chain also being supported by a second sprocket 'l -(1ig..5) which isI located behind the Geneva. gear 8 and is mounted on the shaft 9 which is the same shaft 50 Both the whenever the Geneva gear is rotated, the sprocket l will rotate therewith,-and, as a result, cause 55 the chain to move in the same direction as the teeth on the sprocket.

The chain 6 is moved intermittently by means of the Geneva gear 8 and co-operating gear 9 which is mounted on shaft I and carries the pin I9 and the segmental portion Il, as in the usual Geneva gear construction. The gear 9 is given a continuous movement of rotation by means of the chain I2 driven from the sprocket I3 mounted on the shaft I4 and-trained over sprocket I2 rigid with shaft I0', the shaft I4 being driven vdirectly by means of co-operating bevel gears I5 and I 6 mounted on the rain drive shaft I1 and the shaft I4,`respectively. The continuous rotation of the gear 9 imparts an intermittent rota'- tion to the gear 8 in a manner which is well understood since the type of Geneva movement shown is one which is old and well known.

F The extension 3 carries a bracket I9 and` this bracket together with the bracket 2 supports the rotatable shaft I9 which carries a plurality of wheels 20 for feeding razor blades to the conveyer chain 6. These wheels 20 are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 and reciye razor blades from hoppers 2| arranged in alinement therewith.

, 'I'his means for feeding therazor blades to the conveyer is only diagrammatically illustrated in 'the drawings in view of the fact that it forms no part of the invention herein disclosed but is shown merely for the purpose of illustrating that some sort of automatic means is used to feed thearticles` to the conveyer. For a completev description ofl the feeding means, it is only necessary to refer to my patent, No. 1,711,647, on a Feeding mechanism, issued'on May 7, 1929. Briey.

fhowever, it might be stated here that eachvof the' wheels 20 is so timed .with relation to the intrmittent movements -of the conveyer 6 thaty 4 each will deposit a. sing1c blade in' the adjacent pocket 22 ofthe conveyer between each suc- 3 cessive movement of the conveyer. Each successive movement of the conveyer 6 moves a-pocket Thus, it will be seen that each from the position illustrated to the ,position oc-Y cupied by the pocket directly in frontthereof. cket will receive a blade from each of the whee s 29 and if five lwheels are used, each pocket to the right of and including the pocket indicated at A should have ve razor blades therein and the pockets B, C, D

and-E should have I, 2, 3 and 4 bladestherein,

respectively, after. each feeding of ,blades into the pockets adjacent the wheels'2ll.` Sometimes; however, one of the wheels 20 does not deposita blade in the pocket located directly therebelow; and, consequently, when the pockets leavel the position A, they contain less than the required number of blades. Due to the fact that the conveyer moves rather rapidly and also -due to the blades being very thin, it is very difficult to determine by observation whether or not each pocket contains. the required minimum number of blades and it is necessary to provide an automatic means for that purpose. This automatic means not only detects when .a pocket contains less than the required number of blades but also providesa means for electing all of the blades from the pocket which contains less than the required number so that the operator can insert a stack of blades in said pocket Without the necesthat he fails to place the required number of blades in a vacant pocket before it reaches a predetermined position, an automatic 4stop mechaanism on the machine will stop the movement of the chain so that the pocket can be filled before 'it reaches the position where an ejector is provided for moving blades in a pocket into a carton adjacent said position.

I will rst proceed to describe the means for detecting when' there is less than the required number of blades in a pocket. This means is b est illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 to 13, inclusive, and comprises a plate 23 fastened by means of the screws 24 to the apron 25 on the frame I. This plate 23 has upstandng brackets 26 rotatably supporting a shaft 21 to which the arms 23 and 29 are rigidly fastened so as to constrain said arms to move .with the shaft 21.

In order to impart. movement to the shaft 21'. I provide a rod 3U slidably mounted in suitable bearings in the apron 25 and in the boss 3 I. 'The bracket 32 is rigidly clamped to the rod ali-'big means of the screws 33 and a guide 34, fastened to the frame I by the bolt35, is adapted to engage a. groove in the lower end of the bracket 32 to prevent the rod 30 from rotating in its bearings A link 36 has one of its ends pivotally connected as at 31 to the bracket 32 and has the opposite end thereof pivotally connected atA 33 to the ar'm 39 rotatably mounted on'the shaft y4I) which is arranged in substantially parallel relation with the shaft I1. The shaft I1 has a cam 4I rigidly fasthe conveyer comes to rest. and to cause the shaft 30 to move to the left just before the conveyer' again begins its movement. y The rod 30 is provided with the bracket 45, rigidly fastened tothe end opposite to that on which the bracket 32 is mounted, and is adapted to carry anejector 43 which moves the articles from the pockets into 'the cartons in a manner well known in the art to which this invention pertains. Rigidlyfastened to the bracket 45 is an arm 41 pivotally connected by means of a link 48 to the arm 29 so that as the rod 33 reciprocates, the arm 29 is given a rocking movement about the axis of the shaft 21 and this in turn causes a `rocking movement of the arm 29. for a purpose I willlaterdescribe. a

Referring to Fig. 8. it will be noted that the frame I carries a bracket 49and that a shaft 50 supported thereby carries a. bell crank lever 5I which has one arm thereof pivoted at 52 to the link 53 and which has an extension 54'rigidly connected to the other arm thereof. Movement is imparted to the bell crank lever 5I' by means of the link 53 due to itsconnection with the oscillating arm 55 rotatably mounted onA the shaft 40.

This oscillating arm 55 is similar to the oscillating arm 39 and is oscillated'byiineans of a roller 56 on extension 51 thereof operating in a groove 58 Vof the cam 59 rigidly fastened tol the shaft I1. The cam groove 58 is so designed as to im L, a counter-clockwise rotation of the bell crank lever 5I just after the chain comes to rest and to impart a clockwise rotation to said bell crank prior to the time when the chain again begins to move.

Thus, it willbe seen that the arm 28 begins its ings 6| and 62 for slidably supporting the lejector counter-clockwise rotation about the shaft 50' to move the extension 54 toward the chain 6.

Fig. 10 illustrates the-position of the arm 28 and extension 54 shortly after they have begun their movement toward the chain 6. The plate 23 carries lan integral bracket member 6|) having bearbar 63 which is non-rotatably mounted in said bearings vand carries a lug 64 at one endl thereof, the vopposite end being provid 'd with a head 65 for ejecting articles from th pockets 22 of the conveyer. l cated on the` under side thereof and is adapted to slide in the groove 81 (Fig. 1) so asto make sure the pockets.

that thel edges of all blades. in the pocket are engaged by the ejector h'ead 65 or ejector 46 which is similar to ejector 63, as said ejectors move into An arm 66 is vpivote'd on a stud 61 mounted on theejector bar 63 and a pinI 68 extends through an opening 69 in the arm 66, said opening being substantially larger than the pii 68 so as to permit a. slight rocking movement of the arm 66 about the stud 61./ A spring 10 normally holds the arm 66 in the position illustrated in Fig. .10 and this arm is adapted tobe moved downwardly against'the action of the spring 10 by meansr of a pin 1| -adjustably mounted on the end of the extension 54 and locked in place by means of the lock nut 12. A second adjustable pin 13 is mounted intermediate the ends. of the extension 54 and is held in place by means of the Y lock nut 14.

Fig. l` illustrates. a pocket provided with the correct number of blades therein andthepins 13 and 1I are adjusted so that when the lower end of the pin 13 is just' touching the topmost blade of the stack in the pocket, the lower end of the pin 1| is just resting upon the upper surface of the arm 66 and thus, no movement will be "imparted to the'arm 66 when the link 53 4moves the bell crank 5| in a counter-clockwise direction. This permits the plate 15 on the end of the arm 28 to pass by the lug on the arm 66 without engaging the same.. Therefore, it willv be seen that when the correct number of blades are in the pockets of the conveyer, the plate '15 will not en:- gage the lug 16 as the arm 28 moves to the right, and, consequently, the ejector bar 63 will not be operated and the blades will remain in the pockets.

The link 53 is connected to trieben crank 5| by means ofvr a lost-motion connection which comprises a pin 11 mounted rigidly on one of the -arms of the bell crank 5| and adapted to pass through 'agslot 18 arranged longitudinally of the link 53 at one end thereof. A second pin 18 is rigidly fastened tothe link 53 and a spring 86 normally holds the pin 11 against the right-hand portion of the slot 18.A

' When the correct number of blades are in the pocket beneath the pin 13, said pin will come into contact with the top blade of the stack before the link 53 has reached its full movement to tle right and thiswill stop rotation of the bell crank 5|. Thereafter, as the link 53 continues its movement to the right, the spring 88 will be ex tended and the` pin 11 will ride in the slot 18. The cam 58 is so designed as to cause the extension 54 toA begin its upward movement just after'the plateV 15 on the arm 28 has passed by the lug' 416, as is b'estillustrated in Fig. 11. This is for a purpose which will later be described,

'I'he head 65 has a tongue 65 lo- In Figs. 12 and 13, I have illustrated the operation of the mechanism just described in the event that there are less than the required number of blades in the pocket. 'Ihese figures show four blades in the pocket just below the pin 13' and since this is less than the required number, it is desired to provide means to eject these blades from the pocket. As the extension 54 descends, the pin 13 will come, into contact with the top bladeof the stack in the pocket and since this top-blade is lower than the top blade of the stack containing ve blades, the pin 13 will descend farther than it would when five blades are in the pocket and, as a result, the pin 1| will also move downwardly farther than illustrated in Fig. l0.` This extra movement of the pin 1| rocks the lever 66 about its pivot 61 and places the lug 16 in the path of movement of the plate 15 on the arm 28, the arm 66.moving against the action of the spring 10. Therefore, the plate 15 will come into contact with the lug 16 and since the lug 16 is-connected to the ejector bar 63, this ejector bar will be caused to move to the right and as it enters the pocket 22, it will engage the ends ofl the blades therein and continued movement of the ejector bar-to, the right will cause the blades to be ejected from the pocket into the receptacle 8| provided for that purpose. The extension 54 raises the pin 13 'from engagement withthe blades in the pocket in ample time to permit the ejector to eject the blades from the pocket without interference, as willV be seen in Fig. 13. n

The lug 64 on the -ejector bar 63 is provided for the purpose of replacing the ejector bar in the position illustrated in Fig. after it has been Amoved to the position shown in Fig. 13. This lug is adapted to be engaged by the plate as the same moves tothe left or in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot. At the end of thevmovement of the plate 15 to the left, this e plate will have moved the ejector bar-to its extreme left-.handr position, as is best illustrated in Fig. 8. The spring 10 returns the arm 66 to its normal position as soon as the lug 16 is released by the plate 15 during its rearward movement.

The parts then are in a position to operate as required by the stack of blades in the next pocket presented below the pin 13.

The operation of the device so far describedmerely has to do with the -ejecting of the blades from the pocket in the event that there are less than the required number therein, it being obvious that where there are more than the required number of blades in the pocket, no movement will be imparted to the ejector bar 63 the same .0therwise, when the empty pocket'comes to the` position where. the blades. normally are ejected from the'pockets into the cartons, there will be Vno blades in the pocket to be ejected and, consequently, the carton will not receive any blades.

After the ejector bar 63 has ejected the blades from a pocket which contains lessthan the r'equired numberof blades, the chain ,will continue its intermittent movement until the empty pocket is directly under the extension 82 of the lever 83 pivoted at 84 to a bracket 8 5 on the frame I,

as illustrated in Figs. 3 or 7. As the empty pocket reaches this position, the extension 82 moves ,downwardlyand the finger 86 thereon moves into the notch 81, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and '1.

vThis movement of the extension 82 causes the lever 9|.which/will carrylsaidprojection subrod 88 to move downwardly due to the fact that the rod 88 is pivoted at 89 to the extension 82 and lever 83. The lower end of this rod 88 is guided in a bracket 98 on one arm of the bell crank lever 9| pivoted at 92 to the frame I, the other end of the bell crank lever being arranged to engage the pin I8 on the Geneva gear 9 at each revolution of theGeneva gear. yAs the pin I8 engages the bell crank lever 9|, they bell crank is caused to rotate clockwise about-its pivot 92, andthis, in turn, causes the lower end of the bell crank to move to the left, as viewed in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. 'I'his movement' of the bell crank lever is instigated after the rod 88 has moved downwardly the' full permitted extent of its travel. rl'hus, if the pocket is empty, the rod is permitted y to move'downwardly as far asillustrated in Fig. 7, the nger 86 limiting the downward movement of the rod 88 by the engagement of said nger with the bottom of the slot 81.v In this position, the lower end of the rod 88 is arranged just to the rightof a block 93 mounted on the clutch shifting link 94 connected byl means of atoggle link 95 and pin 96, operating in the groove 91, to onel member 98 of the clutch which connects the motor 99 in driving relation with the shaft I1 through the intermediary ofthe gears |88, I8I, |82 and |83. The other member II4 of the clutch is rigidly attached to the gear I8I.

'Ihe projection II5 on the bell crank lever 9| normally has a. movement about the' bell crank stantially all the way toward the block 93 but does not come into contact with the block and therefore will not shift said block' and. as a result, the mlutch shifting link 94, to disengagethe clutch members. However, when an empty pocket presents itself ,below the extension 82 andthe lower end of the rod 881s thus'arranged 4between the block 93 and' the projection II 5, the` projection' IIS will engage the lower end of the. rod 88 before it completes its clockwise rotation about the pivot 92 and, as va result, the continued movement of the projection in the same direcwtionmoves the lower end of the rod 88` and the block 93 to the left,'as viewed in Figs. 3, 6 and LU thus causing the clutch'members 98 andiI I4 to disengage, to interrupt the driving connection between the motor 99 and the shaft I1. The rod 88 is made of su'flicient thickness so` that when it is interposed between the block 93 and the projectionl II5, the projection vI I Awill move the clutch operating link 94 sufliciently to disconnect the clutch members 98" and I'I4., The thickness of the rod 88 may be varied tosuit the conditions of the particularmachine in which it is used. Since the Genevagears 8 and 9 are driven from the shaft I1, it will vreadily be seen that as soon as/the driving connection between the motor and theshaft I1 is interrupted, the conv'eyer chain 6' will stop and remain stopped until the operator again puts the machine in motion. Before placing the machine in` motion again, he inserts a stack containing the correct number of blades in the empty-pocket, it being necessary for him to first raise the lever ,83 to bring the finger 88 out of the pocket. When the inger 86 is brought down upon the top of this stack of blades which the operator has placed. in the previously empty pocket, the lower .end of the, rod 88 will. not be, interposed between the block 93 and the projection II5 and, consequently, the clutch operating llink may be moved to the right by meansl of thel member I6 which is the remaining movemen ly below the extension 82 contains the correct number of blades, then it will readily be seen that the rod 88 will not move downwardly as far as illustrated in Fig. 7 due to the engagement of the finger 86 with the top blade of the` stack in saidpocket. The rod 88 is adjusted so that with the nger 88 in engagement with the top blade of a. stack containing the correct number of blades, the lower end of said rod will be arranged entirely above the lblock 93 on the clutch shift link 94, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Therefore, as the bell crankvlever 9| is rocked about its pivot in a clockwise direction, the link 94 will not be `smoved to the left, as previously described, but

`- movement of the chain to its next successive position. For this purpose, I provide an arm |84 pivoted at '|85 to a bracket |86 on the frame I.

This arm |84 has an arm |81 wardly toward the base 'of the arm I81- carries a roller the cam groove |89 of t extending downmachine and this |88 adapted to engage he cam II8 which yis adapted' to rotate with the shaft I4. I'he arm |84 is adapted to engage a pin III on the lever 83 and, as the arm |84 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the lever 83'wi1l be moved upwardly due to the engagement of the arm |84 with the pin III. the arm |84 permits the lever 83 to rotate counter-clockwise `due to its own weight and the Weight of the parts carried thereby. The cam groove v|89 is so designed as to cause the lever 83 to be raised just prior to the time when. the chain begins its movement to its next successive position so that the nger86 will c r the par` titions between the various pocketsi f The arm I 84 is also provided with a pressing most blade ofthe stack of blades in the pocket which is. at the position Where the ejector-48 movesrthe blades from 'the pocket into the carton. The pressing'member IIB engagessa'idetopmost blade close to the limit of its clockwise rotation,

t in said clock-wise direction being for the purpose of causing the pressing member III topress the blades firmly intoengagementwith each other so that as the ejector 48 begins to move the blades into .the carton, they will occupy a minimum amount of space so as to enable them to enter the carton more readily. After the endsof the blades adjacent the carton have begun their movement into the carton, the pressing member III is risd so as not to interfere With the further movement of the ejector 48.

Itwill be noted that the links of the-chain each carry a projection I|1 having beveled portions |I8 on that part oi the projection which located at the front of the machine. As the'links come` into alinement, the

pockets 22 are formed The clockwise movement of 'adaptedto engage the topaozaosa by means of the opposed faces of adjacent projections H1 on the'links. The beveled edges on the projections are for the purpose of assisting the movement of either ejector into the pockets.

'I'he operation of the device is as follows:-

The wheels 20 each deposit a blade in the adjacent pockets 22 of the conveyer 6 at each successive movement of said conveyer and if the correct number of blades are in the pockets 22 after they pass the position. A, then the chain will continueits intermittent movement due to the fact that the pin 1| will not cause the lug 16 to move into the path of the plate 15 and thus cause the ejecting of the blades from the pockets whichmove successively past said ejector. If all the pockets are full as they pass the position below the extension 82, there will be no actuation of, the clutch shifting link 93 for the reasons previously setforth. If, however, there are less than the required number of bladesinthe pocket after it passes the position A, then the blades will be ejected from this pocket and the 'clutch shifting link 93 will be operated as soon as any pocket which the operator does not previously illl reaches the position below the extension 83, as previously described. The operator is warned that a pocket has been emptied by the ejector bar 63 by the recoil of the ejector and if able todo so places a stack containing the correct number of blades in the empty pocket before it reaches@ the stop mechanism. As soon as the machine is stopped, the operator can manually lift the lever` 83 and place a stack containing the correct number of blades in the empty pocket and move the clutch shifting lever H2 to re-establish the connection between the vclutch members S8 and. H4'. The machine will then continue to function until another empty pocket is presented below the extension 82. Thus, it will be seen that a very simple arrangement has been provided for detecting when a pocket contains less than the required number of blades and for automatically ejecting the blades from the pockets which contain less than the required number of blades and for thereafter stopping the mac e to permit l the operator to insert the correo number of blades in theV empty pocket if and when necessary. It will be understood, however, that. if desired,

I may use a diiferent form of conveyer than that plurality of articles.

illustrated as itis possible to^readily adapt this, Also, 1

invention to other types of machines. may use various other means for imparting to the several parts of my machine the movements which I have described for said parts as the embodiment shown merely illustrates my invention as applied toa particular machine.

Also, it willbe understood, of course, that while I have shownv my invention applied to a razor blade packaging machine, it is equally applicable -to machines for packaging other articles, whether a single article isto be placed in a carton or-,a For instance, in machines where articles such as tooth paste tubes and the like are inserted in the pockets by hand, the op- 7 erator occasionally neglects to -put an article in a each of the pockets. The-package also may con- .taln bulk goods or the like.

Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope `of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the precise construction herein dis'-l closed; Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the- United States is:-` 1. A machine ofthe class described comprising means for receiving a ,predetermined number of articles formed in a stack, a single means'for detecting when there are less than the required number of articles in said stack, and a normally inoperative ejector operated by said detecting means for ejecting the stack of articles from the receiving means in the event that there are less than the required number of articles therein.

2. vA razor blade packaging machine comprising a support for receiving a stack of .razor blades containing a predetermined number of said blades, means for moving the support to a'position where the blades are ejected into a carton, means for detecting when there is less than the required number of blades in said stack, and means for stopping the movement of said support when the detecting means detects that there are less than the required number'of blades in a stack on said support. v 3. A razor blade packaging machine comprising a support, a means for placing a predetermined number of blades in a stack on said suppbrt, means for detecting when a stack contains vless than the required number of blades, means for moving a stack of blades oi of said supportA when it is found to contain less than the required number of blades, and means to stop-the4 movement of said support thereafter.

4. A packaging machine comprising a movable support adapted to support a plurality of stacks of articles thereon each stack being intended toY contain a predetermined `number` of articles, means for movingsaid stacks to a position where said stacks will be ejected from said support into a carton, means for detecting when there is less than the required number of articles in any one of said stacks, and for thereafter stopping the movement of said support.

5. In a razor blade packaging machine, the combination with a movablesupport adapted to be intermittently moved from'a loading position to an unloading position; means for placing a stack of razor blades on said support, a detector member movable to a series of detecting positions in engagement, with said stack for detecting when there is less than the required number of razor blades in said stack, and an ejector member for ejecting a stack of razor blades from said support when it is found that said stack contains less than the required number of razor blades, said ejector member being adapted to operate prior to the time when said support reaches the unloading position.

6. A packaging machine for packaging a plurality of articles comprising an intermittently movable support adapted to have stacks of articles arranged thereon and movable therewith, means for intermittently moving said support to thereby cause stacks of articles supported by said support tomove to successive positions between a loading position and a normal unloading position, a'detector member movable to a series of detecting positions in engagement with said stack for detecting when a stack contains less than the required numberv of articles, and an ejector for moving each stackv which contains less than the required number of articles oi of said support at one ofthe successive positions which said vstack occupies between the loading and normal' unloading position.v

7 A device as claimed in claim 6 in which means is provided for stopping the movement of the support when a stack of articles containing less than the required number of articles, is moved oi of said support.

8. A packaging machine comprising a support, means for stacking articles thereon in` superimposed relation to f orm a stack, means for moving said support fromva loading to an unloading position, an ejector, and means vfor engaging the end of said stack adapted to'actuate the ejector to move the articles oif of the support if and when the stack contains less than the required number of articles and before the same reach said unloading position.

9. A razor blade packaging machine compris-v, ing a conveyer, pockets 'in said conveyer each adapted to receive a stack of blades in superim` posed relation, meanscfor intermittently moving said conveyer so that said. stacks occupy successive positions relative to the machine, an ejector member located at one of said positions forejecting each stack of blades arriving at said position if and when it is determined that said stack contains less than the required number of blades, said ejector member being controlled by a detector member engageable with the top of said stacks.

10. A machine of -the class described comprising an endless conveyer, pockets in said endless conveyer, means for intermittently moving said conveyer sol that, the pockets occupy successive positions, an ejector for ejecting a stack of blades from its respective pocket when saidpocket arrives at one of said positions, and means for rendering said ejector operative only in theevent that the stack of blades in saidpocket contains less than the required number, said last named means comprisinga single detector member engageable with the stack.

11. In a razor blade packaging machine, the combination with' a support, of an endless conveyer mounted on said support, means for movingI said endless conveyer, pockets in the conveyer for receiving stacks of blades, means for ejecting all stacks which contain less than vthe required number of blades from their respective pockets as said pockets are positioned adjacent the ejecting means, and means for stopping the movement o f the conveyer after a pocket has been emptied. v

12. In a razor blade packaging machine, the combinatiouwith a support, of an endless conveyer mounted on said support, means for moving said endless conveyer, pockets in the conveyer for receiving stacks of blades, meansfor ejecting all stacks which contain less than the required number of blades from their respective pockets as 'said' pockets are positioned adjacent the ejecting sition adjacent the ejecting means.

13. In a packaging machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted to support aseries of stacks of articles, an arm having means thereon adapted to engage the uppermost article in each stack as said stacks arrived at a predetermined position, an ejector for ejecting a stack of articles located at said position, a continuously moving member for imparting a reciprocating movement to said ejector, means for operatively connecting said continuously moving member to said ejector to enable the ejector to eject a stack of articles oi of said conveyer, and means controlled by the means which contacts-with the up'- permost articlein the stack for establishing operative connection betw'een said continuously moving means and said ejector if and when a' 'stack contains less than the reqiured number of by the means which contacts with the uppermost blade inthe stack for establishing operative connection betwee said continuously moving means and said ejecto if and when a stack contains less than the required number of blades, and meansV to stop the movement of the conveyer when a stack of blades has been ejected oi of the conveyerby the ejector.

15. In a device of the class described'the combination with an endless conveyer, of pockets in said conveyer for receiving stacks of blades, means for moving said conveyer past a position Where all stacks containing less than the required number of blades are to be moved out of the pockets in which they are located, means 1ocated at said position for moving said stacks out of their respective pockets, a continuously moving means adapted to be operatively connected to said last-mentioned means to cause' said last-f mentioned means to move toward the conveyer for the purpose of moving said stacks out of said .pocketsfand means adapted to contact with the stacks as they arrive at said position for establishing said operative connection if and when a stack located at said position contains less than the required number of blades.

16. A device such as claimed in claim 15 winch includes a means for stopping the operation of the conveyer when a stackpf blades has been moved out of its respective pocket.

1'7. In a machine ofA the class described, the combination with a continuously moving chain having pockets therein, a movable arm located over said chain, means for moving said arm to cause it to move toward a pocket located therebeneath, a pivoted rod carried by said arm, a clutch, a continuously moving clutch shifting lever adapted to move into close proximity with meansv operatively connected to said clutch, said clutch being adapted to connect the driving means for the machine to the means which drives said chain, said rod being so arranged as to be interposed between the clutch operating lever and the means which is operatively connected to the clutch when an empty pocket is presented beneath said arm, so that the clutch shifting lever will transmit motion to said means connected to I said clutch forshifting said clutch into inoperative position. i

fil

18. Means for stopping the movement offa conveyer having a plurality of article. receiving- -pockets therein, comprising a movable arm having an extension which is adapted to enter each pocket as it is presented at a predetermined position, a clutch operatinglever and movable means for operating said lever movable relatively toward and from each other but not contacting with each other under normal conditions so that the movable means will not operate said lever, said movable arm having means carried thereby adapted tg be interposed between said movable means and sa'icilever when an empty pocket is presented at said position so that said movable means will operate said lever to release a clutch which connects the driving means with the conveyer, thereby stopping the movement of said conveyer whenever an empty pocket is presented at said position.

' 19. A device of an ejector for moving articles out of their normal position on a support, means for contacting with the articles on said support having 'a normal movement which willy not operate said ejector when the correct number of articles are arranged on said support adjacent the ejector, said contacting means being permitted to have an extended movement which' will operate said ejector when the articles on said conveyer adjacent the ejector i are less than the required number.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting a series of stacks of articles, of means for moving said stacks past a predetermined position to a packaging position, and an injector`for ejecting all stacks oif said rst-mentioned means which contain less than the required number of articles before the same reach saidpackaging position,

said ejector being inoperative toremove any stacks which are delivered at said first-mentioned position which contain at least the correct number of blades, said ejector being controlled by a single detector member 'engageable with saidu 21. In a machineof the class described, the combination with -a means for supporting al plurality of groups of articles, of means for moving said groups of articles toward a lpackaging posit-ion, means for ejecting each and every group of articles having an unintended number therein from said supporting means before it reaches said packaging position, said ejecting means being inoperative to remove any groups from said supporting means which have at least the required number of articles therein, said supporting means being accessible for the placing of articles thereon as it approaches said paekagingposition.

22. In apackaging machine, the combination with means for'moving a plurality of groups of articles along anormal predetermined path, of a;

member for moving groups of articles out of their normal path .if and when said group contains an incorrect number of articles, saidmember being inoperative whenever there are the correct number of articles in a. group, saidmember being conthe class described comprising and mechanism for removing a group from said support before the same reaches said position if j and when said group contains less than the req'uirednumber of articles, said support being accessible for the placing vof blades thereon as it approaches said cartoning position.

24. I n a packaging machine, the combination with a conveyor for feeding groups of articles along a predetermined path to a packaging position, of a member for engaging and ejecting from said path each and every group of articles which contain less than the desired number of articles to prevent their reaching said position without preventing the groups having at least the correct number of articles therein from reaching said position, and means for ejecting all the articles from said conveyer at said packaging position.

25. In a packaging machine, the combination with means for moving groups of articles along a predetermined pah, of normally stationary means for moving a group of articles out of said path when said group contains less than the required number of articles, and a single detector member adapted to contact with each of said groups for detecting when a group contains less than the required number of articles and for thereafter actuating said normally stationary means for the purposes hereinsetforth.

26. A machine of the class described, compris.

ejector member being inoperative except in Ithe event that said group contains an. undesired quantity of said articles and being controlled by a detector member movable to a series of detecting positions in engagement with said group of articles.

27. In a'lpackaging machine, the combination with a conveyer adapted tosupport a plurality of groups of articles, of a contact member movable to engage each group of articles at a. predetermined position, a member movable in timed relation 'to the movement of said conveyer, an ejector for removing the articles from said conveyer at said position, and driving means carried by said ejector and said movable member adapted to be normally out of operative relation with each other but rendered operative to drive said ejector when said contact member engages `a group of articles which contains an undesired number thereof. -Y

28. In a packaging machine, vthe combination with aconveyer adapted to support a plurality of groups of articles, of a contact member movable to engage each group of articles at a predetermined position, a member movable in timed relation to the movement of said conveyer, an ejector for removing the articles from said conveyer at said position, driving means carried by said ejector and said movable member adapted to be normally out ofv operative relation with each other but rendered operative to drive said ejector when said contact member engages. a group of articles which contains an.undesired number thereof, and means for stopping said conveyer repeating cycle, for imparting movement to said ejector, means for operatively connecting said last-mentioned member to said ejector t cause said ejector to move a stack of articles out of its normal position, and means lcontrolled by the detectorwhich contacts with one of` said stacks ofarticles; for establishing operative connection between said ejector and said member which moves in said continuously repeating cycle, if and when a stack contains an undesired number of articles.

31. In a packaging machine, the combination with a'conveyer movable to convey groups of articles to a predetermined position, of a movable member having a contact. thereon for engaging said groups at said position, after a predetermined movement of said lmovable member, an ejector movable to engage a group of articles at said position and move the said group out of its position on said conveyer, a second member movable in a predetermined timed relation to the movement of said conveyer, adjustable means constrained to .move with said ejector and movable into and out of a position in the path of movement of said second member, and means on said first member for vmoving said adjustable means into the path of said second member when a group of articles which has an undesired number of articles there, in is arranged at said position thereby permit ting an extended movement of said first member which' causes' that member to operate said ad- -justable means and position the same in the path of. said second member. a a

v32,'In a machine of thex class described, the combination with a means for moving stacks of articles to a predetermined position. of an ejector which is movable to move articles from that position, amember movableinto and out of a position'adjacent the position occupied by said stacks when at saidposition, a reciprocating member, operative connections between said ejectorl and said reciprocating member, means normally holding, said connections inactive; means for rendering said connections active when said movable member is permitted to have a predetermined amount of movement, and means for preventing said movable member from having said predetermined amount of movement whenever a stack having the desired number of articles therein is moved tosaid position to intercept the movement of said movable member, stacks having otherA than the desired number of `articles being ineffective to render saido'perative connections active.A f

33. A device as set forth in claim 32 in which a driving mechanism positively actuates said movable Vmember through its path of movement and in which a yielding connection is provided in said driving mechanism to permit less than the intended movement of said movable member when said movable member engages a stack having a desired number of articles therein.

34. A device as set forth in claim 31 in which means is provided for returning said ejector t9 its inoperative position after a group of articles has been moved thereby out of its position on said support.

35. Means for stopping the movement of a conveyer having a plurality of article receiving pockets therein, comprising a movable arm having an extension which is adapted to enter each pocket as it is presented at a predetermined position, a clutch operating lever and movable means for operating said lever movable relatively toward and from each other but not contacting with each other under normalconditions so that the movable means will not operate said lever, said movable arm and movable means having a detachable connection rendered operative to connect said movable means and said lever when an empty pocket is presented at said position so that said movable means will operate said lever to release' a clutch which connects the driving means with the conveyer, thereby stopping the movement oi said conveyer whenever an empty pocket is vpresented at said position.

36. In a packaging machine, the combination with a conveyer having'a plurality of pockets therein and movable along a predetermined path,

said pockets being adapted to receive articles therein to be conveyed by said conveyer to successive positions along the path of movement of said conveyer, a pair of ejectors located at different positions along-said path of movement of said conveyer, one of said ejectors being for the purpose of ejecting articles from said conveyer into a carton, and the other' of said ejectors being for the purpose of ejecting'all articles froma pocket which is incompletely filled without being operative on the pockets which contain at least the correct number of articles, and means for actuating each of said ejectors to perform its intended function.

37. In a packaging machine, thecombination with a conveyer having a plurality of article receiving pockets, means for positioning a. plurality of articles in each of said pockets, means,

for moving said conveyer to present said pockets at different positions, and a pair of ejectors adapted to ioperate on diierently constituted groups of articles in said pockets at diierent positions, one of 'said ejectors being' adapted to discharge an improperly constituted group of articles from a pocket at a given position, and the other of said ejectors beingadapted to eject properly constituted groups of articles at anotherposition'and position them in a container whereby improperly constituted groups are not ejected from said conveyer into a container.

38. 4In a machine of the class described, means for placing a stack of superposed articles upon a conveyer, a/single detector for detecting the size of the stack while on the conveyer, and an ejector controlled by said detector for ejecting the stack from the conveyer when said stack is not of predetermined size. 39. In a machine of the class described, a traveling conveyer having a pocket for receiving an article, a means operable atA one position of' the pocket for detecting the condition of the article and for ejecting it from the pocket when the article is not in predetermined condition, and means operable when the thus emptied pocket reaches a second position in emptied cinditionv to stop the conveyer, the pocket being accessible,`

- between its-first and second positions for the reinsertion of anarticle Iof proper condition.

40. In a machine of the class described, means o! while on said conveyer, and an ejector confor placing a stack of articles in superposed retrolled by said detector for ejecting the stack lation upon a conveyer, a detector member movfrom the conveyer when said stack is noi'l of preable to a series of detecting positions in engagedetermined size.

5 ment with said stack to determine the size there- MICHAEL J. MILMOE. 5

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