US2100282A - Tucking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 23, 1937. D. E. KEECH 2,100,282

TUCKING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZZZ 6,1

Nov. 23, 1937.

D. E. KEECH 2,100,282

TUCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 23, 1937. D. E. KEECH 2,100,282

I TUCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5. r 5 a I a I r I a v I 5 r.

Nov. 23, 1937. D. E. KEECH TUCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWI 70F Patented Nov. 23, 1937' PATENT OFFICE TUCKING MECHANISM Dana. E. Keech, Glendale, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Food Machinery Cornotation, a corporation of Delaware Application February 12, 1934, Serial No. 710,845

22 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of lidding overfill'ed boxes and the like and is: particularly use- 111 in the: fruit andvegetable packing industries.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide. improvedmeans for tucking in or gathering in. that'portion'of the contents of an overfilled box which. tends to overflow the sides and ends of the box as the lid is being pressed onto thebox.

..The manner of accomplishing the foregoing object as: well as further objects and advantages will? be. made manifest in the following description. taken. in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a box lidding machine comprising a preferred embodiment parts included in the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4; is' a. horizontal sectional view taken on V the. liner4--4 of. Fig. 1.

Fig. is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of'Fig. 4 showing the operative position of certain parts. disclosed therein- Fig. 5A is an enlarged sectional detail view taken on the line 5A5A of Fig- 5;

'.Fig. 6- is a vertical sectional view taken on the linex66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional View taken on the line l-l ofFig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a portion of the mechanism included in the machineof my invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. l illustrating the operation of certain parts thereof.

Figs. 10- and 11 arefragmentarysemi-diagrammaticala views showing the operationof certain parts of my invention.

Figs. 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a modified form of lidding machine of my invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line: iii-i3 ofiFig. 12.

Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional views similar to Fig. 13 showing successive operative positions of i the mechanism disclosed. therein.

Referring specifically to. the drawings, a box lidding machine I comprising a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in Fig. 1, this machine including a frame it, a'power unit 22, a nailingtable .13, a nailing mechanism It, a strapper: l5, and a control mechanism IS.

Withthe exception of the nailing table IS, the machine It disclosed herein is substantially identical to the lidding machine shown and described in the copending application of Hale Paxton, Gerald C. Paxton, and Harry D. Benson for Automatic lid nailing and strapping machine, Serial No. 688,104, filed September 5, 1933. The frame ll, power unit I2, nailing mechanism 14, strapper I 5, and control mechanism l6 will be described but briefly herein, a more detailed description thereof being set forth in the above referred to copending application.

The frame I l includes a rectangular angle iron base portion Hi to which the lower ends of four vertical posts l9v are secured. Provided on each of the posts 69 is a bearing (Figs. 2 and 8) in which the trunnion 2| of a cam plate 22 is journailed. Fixed on the trunnion 2| outside of the posts l9, as shown in Fig. 2, are levers 23 having springs 24 attached thereto, the latter urging the cam plates into the position shown in Fig. 2. Connected to the upper ends of the posts 19 are front and rear horizontal plates 25, one of the latter being shown in Fig. 1.

The power unit I2 is also clearly shown in the aforesaid. application and includes an electric motor and suitable mechanism for raising and lowering the nailing table l3 under the power of said motor.

The nailing table l3 includes front and rear longitudinal frame members 26 and transverse members 27 and 28 as shown in Fig. 4, the members 26 being fixed to the upper end ofthe power unit 12. Journalled at opposite ends thereof in the transverse members 21 and 28 are front and rear shafts 29 as shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 8. At opposite ends of the shafts 29 are depending arms 30, the latter being positioned just inside of the transverse members 2? and 28 of the table l3 as shown in Fig. 1. Rotatably mounted on suitable pins 32 at the lower ends of each of the arms are rollers 33, the latter being positioned so as to contact the cam plates 22 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Formed on each of the shafts 29 adjacent the arms 39 are bearings 34 and extending upward from each of the shafts 29 between the bearings 34 are four Vertical bars 35. Fixed on the bars 35 above the shafts 29 are horizontal bars 36 having arcuate portions 31 at opposite ends thereof. Bolted to the upper ends of the bars 35 are horizontal flusher plates 40, the outer ends of which are provided with bearings 4| which are axially aligned with the bearings 34 of shafts 29. Fixed on the extreme outer ends of the shafts 29, outside of the transverse members 21, are arms 42. The arms 42 of the front shaft 29 extend downwardly while the arms 42 of the rear shaft extend upward as shown in Fig. 8. Joining the ends of the arms 42 at each end of the nailing table l3 are diagonal cross-links 43 by means of which the rotational movements of the shafts 29 are equalized.

Suspended between the lower ends of the arms bell crank 84, and pulls the'stop 'II downward below the bottom of the box B so that the'springs 8| urge the stop 11 to extend under the box B as shown and described in the above referred to application. As the stop TI is thus shifted to the right the pawls 69 of the units 45 are returned to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 7.

When the shafts 20 rotate, the vertical shafts 88 swing from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4-to that shown in Fig. 5. As the shafts 88 are thus moved the links 94 retain the ends of the arms 9I against outward movement, thus rotating the vertical shafts 88 and causing the end flusher bars I M to be swung over the ends of the box B, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, so as to move the pack of the box B inward from over the ends of the box.

While the end flushers IOI are operating, the side flusher plates 40 move inward so as to tuck the pack 0 inward from over the upper edges of the sides of the box B. It is thus clear that a complete overflow gathering function at the sides and ends of the box B is accomplished in response to movement of the stop II by the box B. As the vertical shafts 88 swing inward toward the box B the rotation of these'shafts brings the fingers 95 into contact with the ends of the box B and centers the latter longitudinally on the table I3, the bar 36 and its arcuate ends 3'! centering the in transverse relation with the table I3.

As also clearly shown and described in the aforesaid copending'application, the high end of the sloping conveyor section I05 of the nailing table I3 is lowered by inward swinging of the side fiushers so that this conveyor section is now level.

Afterthe flushers are moved in as shown in Fig. 5, the operator of themachine I0 depresses the foot pedal I26 causing the power unit I2 to elevate the mailing table I3. As the table I3 rises, the rollers 33on the ends of the arms 30 (Fig. 2A) of the shafts 29 pass upward between the posts IQ of the frame II and the earns 22, the latter pivoting about their trunnions 2I to permit this. When the rollers 33 are carried above the cams 22 the latter are returned by the springs 24 to theirnormal positions as shown in Fig. 2.

As the box B moves upward toward the nailing units-I06 the end fiusher bars IOI contact the fingers II-I of the lid end supporting bars II4 as shown in Fig. 10 and cause the bars II4 to be swung outward from under the lid L allowing the ends of the lid to be held firmly between the flusher bars IM and the lid end pressing members II2. At this time the rollers 98 on the levers 91 of the end flushers I0! contact the cam bars I as shown in Fig. 9 causing the end flusher bars IOI to be swung from under the ends "0f the lid L as shown in Fig. 11.

During the balance of the upward movement of the box B the lid L is nailed and strapped to the box, whereupon the operator releases the pedal I26 allowing the nailing table to start down. As the table moves down, the rollers 33 contact the cam plates 22 on the posts IQ of the frame I! and the shafts 29 are rotated back to their normal position, the springs 55 of the units 45 being compressed and held in the posi tion shown in Fig. 7 by the pawls 59' in readiness for the next lidding operation. After the box B is lidded it is discharged from the machine I0 onto a suitable discharge conveyor I23.

Referring particularly to Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, I have shown therein a lidding machine I30 29 of the machine I0.

which includes a modified form of side tuckers I 3|. The machine I30 is substantially identical with the aforedescribed machine I0 with the exception of the side tuckers IBi and the fact that the machine I30 is designed particularly to lid paper lined vegetable crates. It will be noted that similar parts of the machines I0 and I30 are indicated by the same reference numerals. The side tuckers I3I of the machine I38 include horizontal shafts I35, the latter being mounted and actuated in the same manner as the shafts Extending upward from the shafts I are arms 35, to the upper ends of which horizontal bars I36 are fixed. Also fixed to the arms 35 just below the bars 536 are bars I31, the ends of the latter being bent inward to provide crate positioning fingers I38. Fixed to the bars I36 and I3! are pairs of vertically aligned bearings I40 in which rods I4I are slidably received. Mounted on the upper ends of the rods MI by means of lugs I42 are side tucker plates I43.

The plates I43 are urged upward tothe position shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14 by compression springs I45, the upper ends of the latter bearing against pins I45 in the rods I ll. The pins I46 also limit the upward movement of the rods MI by contact with the upper bearings I50. When a crate, such as a lettuce crate C, is delivered onto the nailing table i3 of the machine I30, contact of the crate with the stop ll causes the side tuckers I3I to be swung from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 14, it being noted that the plates Hi3 (only one of these being shown) are positioned inward from over the crate sides so as to move the pack 0 and paper liner P thereof inward.

After the side tuckers I3I are actuated the crate is raised in the same manner as described relative tothe machine I0 and the tucker plates I43 are forced downward between the pack 0 and the sides of the crate C as shown in Fig. 15 by suitable stationary fingers I'll provided on, the machine I 39. This causes any surplus portion of the liner P at the sides of the crate C to be neatly tucked behind the crate sides while a lid L is being pressed and nailed to the crate C.

To avoid unnecessary duplication, I have not shown end tuckers on the machine I30, it being understood that the end tuckers IOI shown on the machine I0 might be used on the machine I30.

Although I have shown and described but one preferred and one modified form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications might be made in these without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. In particular I would note that while the shafts 29 and I35 are shown as spring operated to fold in the tuckers, these shafts might, where considerable resistance confronts the tuckers, be cam actuated as in the aforementioned copending application.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in said machine;.means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said box inward; and means for actuating said overflow moving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box.

2. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled. boxes the combination of cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in said machine; means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said box inward; means for actuating said overflow moving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box; and means to move said overflow moving means to inactive position on said cover pressing mechanism completing its cycle of operation.

3. In a machine for pressing covers on overfllled boxes the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in said machine; means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said box over the sides thereof inward; and means for actuating said overflow moving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box.

4. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in said machine; tucker means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said box over the ends thereof inward; and means for actuating said overflow moving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box.

5. In a machine for pressing covers on over- *fil1ed boxes the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in said machine; means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said box over the sides and ends thereof inward; and means for actuating said overflow moving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box.

6. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes, the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; gathering means mounted on said machine for movement inward toward a side of a box in said machine to move overflow inward from over said side; a second gathering means mounted with said first gathering means so that said two gathering means move as a unit, said second gathering means being adapted to gather overflow inwardly from over an end of said box when in inward position; and means to coordinately move said two gathering means to cause these to perform their respective gathering functions.

7. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes, the combination of cover pressing mechanism, gathering means movably mounted on said machine for movement inward toward a side of a box in said machine to move overflow inwardly from over said side; a second gathering means pivotally mounted on one end of said first gathering means for movement inwardly therewith; said second gathering means being adapted to gather overflow inwardly from over an end of said box when in inward position and when rotated about the axis of its mounting; and means for coordinately moving said two gathering means inwardly and rotating said second gathering means as aforesaid to cause said two gathering means to perform their respective gathering functions.

8. In a machine for pressing covers on overflow boxes, the combination of cover pressing mechanism; a pair of side gathering means mounted on said machine for movement inwardly from laterally retracted positions toward opposite sides of a box in said machine to move overflow inwardly from over said sides; a pair of end gathering means one of which is mounted with each of said side gathering means so that each such end and side gathering means move inwardly as a unit, said pair of end gathering means being adapted to cooperatively gather overflow inwardly from over an end of said box when in inward positions; and means to coordinately move said two pairs of gathering means inwardly to cause these to'perform their respective gathering functions as aforesaid.

9. In a machine for pressing covers'on overfllled boxes, the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; a pair of gathering members pivotally mounted on different axes to swing in towards each other and against the overflow along a single given straight edge of the top of a box in said machine, said edge constituting the upper boundary of one face only of said box; and means for coordinately actuating said gathering members to gather in the overflow along said edge.

10. A combination as in claim 9 in which said edge is at an end of said box; and means for moving said members out from over said box end just before the consummation of the cover pressing operation.

11. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combination of: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging surfaces; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; a side tucker; means provided on said table and supporting said side tucker adjacent the overflow along one side of a crate resting on said table, said tucker supporting means being adapted to be actuated to shift said tucker inwardly against said overflow and to permit relative vertical movement between said tucker and said table; means for actuating said tucker supporting means for shifting said tucker inward to tuck said overflow over the interiorof said crate; and means for thereafter causing said tucker to extend vertically into said crate just-inside an adjacent upper side slat thereof 12. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combination of: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said overhead structure to press the ends. of the cover onto ends of the crate; tucker supporting arms pivotally mounted on said table; a side tucker; yieldable means on the upper ends of said arms for supporting said tucker with the latter disposed horizontally opposite the overflow along one side of a crate resting on said table, said yieldable means permitting relative vertical movement between said tucker and said table; means for swinging said arms inward to cause said tucker to engage said overflow and to shift the tucker and the overflow inwardly over the interior of said crate; and means on said overhead structure for engaging said tucker incidental to said cover pressing operation to cause relative vertical movement between said table and said tucker to extend the latter into the interior of said crate just within an adjacent upper side slat thereof.

13. In a machine for pressing covers on overfllled boxes the combination of: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging surfaces; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; a side tucker; means provided on said table and supporting said side tucker adjacent the overflow along one side of a crate resting on said table, said tucker supporting means being adapted to be actuated to shift said tucker inwardly against said overflow and to permit relative vertical movement between said tucker and said table; means for automatically actuating said tucker supporting means for shifting said tucker inward to tuck said overflow over the interior of said crate before said lid is pressed onto the contents of said crate with a'substantial pressure; and means for thereafter actuating said tucker supporting means in timed relation with said lid end pressing operation-to cause said tucker to extend vertically into said crate just inside an adjacent upper side slat thereof.

14. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combination of: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging surfaces; means for elevating said table towards said overhead structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; a side tucker; means provided on said table and supporting said side tucker adjacent the overflow along one side of a crate resting on said table, said tucker supporting means being adapted to be actuated to shift said tucker inwardly against said overflow and to permit relative vertical movement between said tucker and said table; means for actuating said tucker supporting means for shifting said tucker inward to tuck said overflow over the interior of said crate; and means on said overhead structure for thereafter actuating said tucker supporting means to cause relative vertical movement between said table and said tucker to extend the latter vertically into said crate just inside an adjacent upper side slat thereof.

15. In a cover press the combination of means for pressing opposite ends of a cover onto opposite ends of an overfilled box; an end gathering member for pressing overflow product inward from over an end of said box to prevent said overflow being pinched in said cover pressing operation; means for mounting said gathering member on a substantially vertical axis to swing about said axis between gathering and non-gathering positions; and means on said last aforementioned means to permit said gathering member to shift from gathering position to a nongathering position without substantial rotation of said gathering member about said vertical axis.

16. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, the combination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging means; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; end gathering member supporting means on said table; and an end gathering member mounted on said supporting means to swing relative to said supporting means about a substantially vertical axis between gathering and non-gathering positions; and means for moving said end gathering member supporting means towards a crate resting on said table and, coordinately with said movement, swinging said gathering member into gathering position.

17. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, the combination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging means;

means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; a pair of end gathering members for gathering overflow inwardly from over the ends of said crate; means for mounting said end gathering members on said table; means extending under and supporting ends of a cover over ends of said crate during said cover pressing operation, said end gathering members engaging and dislodging said cover supporting means from between said box and said cover towards the conclusion of said cover pressing operation.

18. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, the combination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging means; means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; a pair of end gathering members for gathering overflow inwardly from over the ends of said crate; means for mounting said end gathering members on said table; means for shifting said end gathering members into operative positions to move overflow inwardly from over the ends of said crate; and means, associated in the aforesaid relative movement with said overhead structure, for shifting said end gathering members out from between said box ends and the ends of said cover during a concluding portion of the relative movement of said table and structure to press said cover on said crate.

19. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, the combination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engaging means;

means causing relative vertical movement between said table and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting on said table; means for moving overflow inwardly from over the upper edges of said crate; and crate responsive means for automatically operating said last mentioned means to move said overflow as aforesaid in timed relation to the delivery of said crate to said table and prior to the operation of said relative movement means.

20. A combination as in claim 19 in which said automatic moving means includes power storage means in which power is stored by said relative movement means during one cover pressing cycle, said power being expended in the operation of said overflow moving means incidental to a subsequent cover pressing cycle.

21. In a machine for pressing covers on overflow boxes, the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; side gathering means normally spaced laterally from a side of said box and adapted when moved inwardly toward said side to move overflow inwardly from over said side; and end gathering means normally spaced laterally away from the aforesaid side of said box and adapted when shifted inwardly toward said side adjacent one of the ends of said box to gather overflow inwardly from over said end; and means for coordinately shifting said gathering means from their laterally spaced positions inwardly to cause them to perform their respective gathering functions as aforesaid.

22. In a machine for pressing covers on overflow boxes, the combination of: cover pressing mechanism; side gathering means normally spaced laterally from a side of said box and adapted when moved inwardly toward said side to move overflow inwardly from over said side; and end gathering means normally spaced laterally away from the aforesaid side of said box and adapted when shifted inwardly toward said side adjacent one of the ends of said box to gather overflow inwardly from over said end; and means for simultaneously shifting said gathering means from their laterally spaced positions inwardly to cause them to perform their respective gathering functions as aforesaid.

DANA E. KEECH,

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