US2259302A - Package making and filling machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1941; H. L.IVEVAN4S 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 azgl.

? ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1941. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLINGMACHINE Filed Ma rch 28, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet .2

0a. 14, 1941. H L, VANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed Ma r-ch 2a, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY.

Oct. '14, 1941. H, L, VANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28/1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 l3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 14, 1941. H. L. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 0 Na 5 M w T2 I. Jr J v z I. u m h w Y a w 1 Oct. 14, l941.- H. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 13'51168135-511861; 7

.1 w a f HHJ "M M|H L I II W m Wm M i m L- w 0 z 0/0 F u T n W /p/@ n m .u L 4M 8 w l a/ m, 4 G y W Oct. 14, 1941. EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING ANDFILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

ATTORN H. L. EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE 13Sheets-Sheet 9 I Oct. 14, 1941.

Filed March 28, 1959 OQQ INVENTQR. fizzy Oct. 14, 1941. H, EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR.

BY t wdfiz ATTORNEY.

Oct; 14, 1941. EVANS 2,259,302

' PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28 3339 l3 Sheets-Sheet 11 eu Ema-ma; ////////////////////////////////////V//////////////II////4 I INVENTOR.

I M ATTORNEY.

Oct. 14, 1941.

H. L. EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Fild March 28-, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR.

Oct. 14, 1941. H. L. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE 13 Sheets-$heet l3 I J y 78374 Filed March 28, 1939 ATTORNEY.

Patented 14, 1941 2,259,302 PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Barry L. Evans, Newport, R. I., assignor to United States Automatic Box Machinery 00., Inc., Roslindale, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 28, 1939, Serial No. 264,553

20 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic package making and filling machinery.

The invention has for its general object to provide a novel fully automatic machine adapted to form packages from sheet material, and more particularly from metallic foil, then fill the same with material to be enclosed therein, and then, after closing the filled packages, to discharge the same from the machine.

The invention has for a further object to provide, in a machine for the purposes stated, an endless conveyer mechanism having a train of gripper devices to receive and hold the sheet material from which the packages are to be formed subject to successive forming and filling operations by coordinated mechanisms mounted along the path of movement of the conveyer mechanism, together with means for automatically delivering the sheet material to the gripper devices of said conveyer mechanism.

The invention has for another object to pro-' vide novel mechanism for feeding sheet material from a supply roll thereof, including means for preformin'g the same to desired package body shape, severing thesame into suitable package forming lengths, and then folding said lengths into initial package body formation and simultaneously delivering such body formations to the gripper devices of the conveyer mechanism sub- Ject to final forming and'filling operations.

The invention has for another object to provide, in combination with the sheet material feeding mechanism, novel means for automatically controlling the feeding movement of such material when .pre-printed with spaced label imprints in a manner calculated to assure accurate register of said imprints on the formed package body faces.

Other objects 'of the invention are to provide,-

at successive stations along the path of the conveyer mechanism, means for forming package closure seams, and means for sealing said seams so as to produce a substantially air and moisture proof package.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine according to this invention, parts of the sheet material feed driving and control mechanism and of the conveyer drive mechanism being broken away.

a slightly enlarged scale, the same showing the sheet material feed driving and control mechanism and the conveyer drive mechanism; and Fig. 2A is a fragmentary plan view of the sheet material as pre-printed with spaced label imprints and control patches.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1, but drawn on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary plan view of the sheet material after submission to the package body shape preforming means.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the sheet material preforming means, taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the conveyer drive mechanism, taken on line 66 in is a further enlarged plan view of the package side seam scoring'blocks in normal initial position; and Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively views similar to that of Fig. 10 showing successive operative positions of said scoring blocks.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing package side seam folding means in side elevation; Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view: of package side seam folding means in normal initial condition; and Fig. 15 is a view similar to that of Fig. 14, but showing operative conditions of package side seam folding means.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view oi seam lap pressing blocks in normal initial con- 0 dition; and Fig. 17 is a similar view showing said pressing blocks in operative positions.

Figs. 18, 19, and 20 are respectively end views of the package illustrating successive operations in the formation of double lap side seams thereof.

Figs. 21 and 22 are enlarged vertical sectional views through seam lap pressing blocks with which are cooperatively associated suction means for somewhat expanding the open .end or mouth of a formed package.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view showing package side seam sealing mechanism in side elevation.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary elevational view showing means for expanding the mouths of formed Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine on 66 packages prior to filling the same; and Fig. 25

is another view of the same, looking from left to right in'Fig. 24, but with parts broken away.

Fig. 26 is a framentary sectional view showing the package filling mechanism in side elevation; and Figs. 27 and 28 are fragmentary vertical sectional views illustrating stages in the operationsof said'package filling mechanism. Fig. 29 is a fragmentary elevational view showing means for contracting the mouth of a filled package preparatory to the formation of the end closure seam for closing said package mouth.

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the package and seam scoring means in side elevation and in normal initial condition; and Fig. 31 is an enlarged. similar fragmentary view showing the operative condition thereof.

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary sectional view show? ing package end seam folding means in side elevation and in normal initial position; and Fig. 33 is an enlarged similar fragmentary view showing the operative condition thereof.

Fig. 34 is 'a fragmentary elevationalview showing a first end seam lap presser means.

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the means for completing and heat sealing the package end seam.

Figs. 36 to 40 inclusive are respectively side edge elevational views of a package showing various steps in the formation of a double lap end closure seam therefor.

Fig. 41 is a fragmentary sectional view show- .ing the package discharge me chanism of the The conveyor mechanism and driving means therefor Supported from said bed-plate I, by standards 2, are a pair of parallel laterally spaced longitudinally extending rails 3. Aflixed to and extending between said rails 3, ma position adjacent to one end of themachine, is a bearing bridge 4, the vertical bearing portion of which is centrally located between said rails and aligned over a bearing block which is mounted on said bed-plate I (see Figs. 6 and 7). naled in and between said bearing bridge and bearing block 5 is a vertical driven shaft 6, upon the upper end of which is aflixed a conveyor drive sprocket 1. Similarly mounted at the opposite end of the machine is a vertical idler shaft 8, upon the upper end of which'is arranged a conveyer idler sprocket 9. Running over and between said sprockets 1 and 9 is an endless conveyer chain I0. Said conveyer chain is arranged to move in horizontal plane and in a clockwise direction. Carried by said conveyer chain are a plurality of equi-spaced gripper devices adapted to receive and hold sheet material from which packages are to be formed. Each such gripper device comprises a carriage member II which is suitably amxed to the conveyer chain 10, and which is provided at its bottom with a slide shoe l2. Aflixed to said Jour-.

carriage member I I is an outwardly oflset bracket 13 provided with an upstanding stationary gripper jaw i4. Pivotally connected with said offset bracket' I3-is an upstanding movable gripper jaw I5 to cooperate with said stationary gripper jaw l4, Said movable gripper jaw I5 is provided with a downwardly and outwardly extending lever means l6 for actuating the same. Compression spring means l1 isarranged between said bracket l3 and lever means Hi, and is effective to yieldably urge said lever-means I6 to normal outwardly swung disposition operative the conveyer chain running between the" sprockets 1 and 9.

Drive mechanism is provided for actuating the conveyer mechanism with an intermittent motion adapted to cause the gripper devices carried thereby to progressively advance and periodically dwell at successive stations along the circuit of -the conveyer where the various package forming, fillingand closing operations are to be carried on. An illustrative form of driving transmission suitable for this purpose, as shown (see Figs. 2, 6 and 7), comprises, a suitably supported transverse drive shaft l9 located at the end of the machine adjacent to which the conveyer drive sprocket 1 is disposed. This drive shaft I9 is continuously driven from any suitable source of power and through the agency of a suitable power transmission means (not shown). Afiixed to and extending between the rails 3, outwardly of the drive sprocket 1 and its shaft -6, is a bearing bridge 20, the central vertical bearing portion of which is aligned over a bearing block 2! which is mounted on said bed-plate l. Journaled in and between said bearing bridge 20 and bearing block 2| is a vertical shaft 22 upon which is fixed a bevel gear 23. Fixed on said drive shaft I9 is a pinion 24 which meshes with and drives said bevel gear 23, and thus the shaft 22. Also affixed to and extending between the rails 3, between the bearing supports of the drive sprocket shaft 6 and the vertical shaft 22, is another bearing bridge 25, the central vertical bearing portion of which is aligned over a bearing block 26 which is affixed to the bed-plate l. Journaled in and between said bearing bridge 25 and bearing block 26 is a vertical countershaft 21. Operative between the vertical shaft 22 and the countershaft 21 is a ,Geneva gearing, comprising the male Geneva gear 28 which is aflixed to shaft 22, and the female Geneva gear 29 which is affixed to the countershaft 21. Operative between the coun- .tershaft 21 and the drive sprocket shaft 6 is transmission gearing, comprising a drive gear 30' on said countershaft 21 which meshes with a driven gear 3i on said drive sprocket shaft 6.

Sheet material delivery means Supported above and extending transversely across the driven end of the conveyer mechanism is the means for feeding and initially preparing, folding and delivering the sheet material, from which the packages are to be formed, to the gripper devices of said conveyer mechanism. An illustrative form of this sheet material delivery means, as shown (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), comprises framework providing a pair of suitably supported laterally spaced and parallel frame members 32. Journaled in and between said frame members 32, adjacent to the right hand end of the framework as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, is a cross shaft 33 upon which is mounted one feed roller 34 of a pair thereof, the

other feed roller 35 of said pair being mounted on a parallel cross shaft 36 which is mounted in bearings 31 vertically movable in housing means 38 with which the frame members 32 are provided, and so as to be urged by spring means sheet material idler guide rollers 49 and 4|.

- Aflixed to and upstanding from said framework is a standard 42 which supports a spindle 43 for rotatably mounting a reel 44 adapted to carry a supply roll of sheet material 45 from which the packages are to be made. The sheet material, employed to form the specific package which the mechanism according to this invention is especially adapted to produce, consists of metallic foil although it will be understood, that in its broader aspects, the mechanism according to this invention is adapted to work upon other kinds of sheet material as well; In hereinafter referring to the sheet material, however, it will be referred to as foil without thereby intending any unnec essary limitation) The foil 45 is drawn off the supply roll and led over the idler guide rollers 46 and 41, to thence pass between the feed rollers 34 and 35. If desired, web tensioning means, such as the pivoted -spring tensioned arms 46 and their rollers 41 may be employed in the manner and for purposes well known in the art. The feed rollers 34-35 are intermittently driven, by suitable transmission mechanism to b subsequently described,

whereby the foil 45 is advanced step by step, in

' provide a hollow package body of predetermined size and shape. This preforming means comprises a stationary frame or block 48 having in its under face longitudinally spaced cavities 49 of peripheral shape adapted to define the peripheral limits and outline shape desired to be given to preformed sections or areas of the foil blank from which the package is to be made. The portions of said frame or block 48 which skirt said cavities 49 provide clamp sections 59 to engage the top face of the foil registered therewith. Vertically movable on suporting rods 5|, dependent from the ledges 52 with which the frame members 32 are provided, is a combined movable clamp, and female stretcher block 53 which .is

erai limits and'outline shape desired to be given to the preformed sections or areas of the foil blank. The portions of said clamp and stretcher block 53 which skirt its cavities 55 provide clamp sections 56 to engage the bottom face of the foil registered therewith, and so as to cooperate with the clamp sections 58 of the stationary frame or block 48. The timed operation of said clamp and stretcher block 53 is controlled by a rotatable cam 51 carried by a driven shaft 58. Said shaft 58 is journaled in and between bearings 59 carriedby said rame members 32. Said clamp and stretcher block 53 is provided with dependent slotted arms 60 through which the shaft 58 extends, and between the free ends of which is mounted an anti-friction roller 6| for cooperation with said cam 51. Provided in connection with the stationary frame or block 48, perpenmediate the peripheries thereof and the periph-- eries of said cavities 55 of the clamp and stretcher block 53. Said plunger rods 63 are afiixed by their upper ends to a cross head 65. Said cross head 65 is perpendicularly slidable on upstanding supporting rods 66 carried by said stationary frame or block 48, andis yieldably urged downwardly by compression springs 66' which, when free to act, serve to thrust said male stretchermembers 64 into operative relation to the foil desired to be stretchingly preformed. The timed operation of said male stretcher members 64 is controlled by rotatable cams 61 which are mounted on and actuated by the driven shaft 58. These cams 61 cooperate with anti-friction rollers 68 carried by arms 69 dependent from said cross head 65. Intermediate th cavities of the respective blocks 48 and 53 are cooperating transverse foil scoring means comprising a male scoring means 10 and a female scoring means 1|,

whereby the foil blank is transversely scored' along a line intermediate the concayo-convex preformedsections thereof and about which said sections are to be subsequently folded into superposed relation.

While, by the operation of the cams 51 and 61 respectively, the clamp and female stretcher block '53 is depressed against the tension of the springs 54, and the male stretcher members 64 are raised against the tension of the springs 66',

yieldably urged by compression springs 54 toward said stationary frame or block 48., Said block 53 is provided in its top face with spaced cavities 55 constituting female stretcher means.

Said cavities 55 correspond in peripheral shape to the peripheral shapes of the stationary frame or block cavities 49, and thus also to the periphthe foil 45 is advanced by the feed rollers 34- 35 to deposit a blank forming length thereof subject to the preforming action of these devices. In ,operation, the cam 51 first operates to release the block 53 for upward movement under the thrust of the springs 54, whereby the areas of the foil marginal to the portions to be preformed ,are first clamped by ,and between the clamp sections 56 of the block 53 and the clamp 'sections 50 of\the block 48, while at the same time the scoring means 19 1,I are brought together. to/ produce the transverse score 12 (see Fig. rm/m the foil When the 011 is thus gripped/the cam 61 operates to release the male 'stretgher members for downward movement under'the thrust of the springs 66'. The down wardly thrust male stretcher members 64 en,

gage the underlying areas of the foil extending intermediate the cavities 49 and 55 of the blocks 48 and 53, thereby forcing the foil downwardly into the cavities 55, and thus stretching those portions of the foil extending across the clearance spaces, between the peripheries of the cavities 55 and the peripheries of said male stretcher members 64, whereby the desired preformed concavo-convex package body formations are pro-.

duced, after which the male stretcher members 64 and clamp and stretcher block 53 are returned to normal initial positions.

Supported by and between the frame members 32, beyond the foil preforming or package body shaping means above described, is a shear means for severing the package forming'blanks from the run of foil fed from the supply roll thereof. This shear means, in one illustrative embodiment thereof, comprises a pair of pivoted shear blades I2 and I3 which are respectively operatively connected by links I4 and 15 to actuating bell-crank means I6. Said bell-crank means is fixed on a rock-shaft 'I'I mounted in bearings 19 connected with'one of the frame members 32;

and afllxed to said rock-shaft is a crank-arm I9. To eflect timed actuation of said shear means,

'as'well as other mechanisms to be subsequently described, a longitudinal lay shaft 89 is provided.

This lay shaft 89 is journaled in suitably disposed bearingmembers 9 I upstanding from said bed-plate I, so as to dispose said lay shaft 99 parallelto the outgoing course of the conveyer mechanism. Said lay shaft 89 is driven from said drive shaft I9 by gearing comprising a bevel 1 gear 82 on the latter shaft which meshes with 'a' bevel gear 93 on'said lay shaft. Mounted on said lay shaft 99 is a shear timing and actuating cam 94. Said cam 84 cooperates with the forked end plate 95 of a connecting rod 86, the upper end of which is connected with one arm of a pivoted lever 81. The opposite arm of said letending foil folding and guiding portions 99,-

adapted to project toward and in alignment with the path of movement of the gripper devices of the conveyer mechanism.

Supported from and in upstanding relation to the frame members 32 are vertical slideway posts 9|. Mounted on and between said slideway posts 9I is a vertically reciprocable cross head 92 to which is secured a'plunger blade 93. The means for affecting timed reciprocation of said cross head 92 and its plunger blade 93 comprises an actuating cam94 which is mounted on said lay shaft 99. Said cam cooperates with the forked end plate 95 of a connecting rod 96, the upper end of which is connected with a crank arm 91 fixed on a rocker shaft 98 which is journaled in bearing standards 99 upstanding from said frame members 32. Fixedv on said rocker shaft 98 is a lever arm I99, the free end of which is connected by a link I9I to said cross head 92.

In operation, a length of. preformed foil constituting a package forming blank, when advanced through the open shear mechanism,

engage actuating lever I6 of the movable intermediate scored portion aligned beneath the normally upraised plunger blade 93. By the timed operations involved, the thus advanced length of foil is severed from the fed run of foil by the actuated shear mechanism, whereupon the plunger blade 93 is caused to descend, whereby the foil blank is folded lengthwise upon itself, as it is pushed downward between the folding and guiding portions 99 by the descending plung er blade, thereby at the same time opposing the preformed concave-convex sections of the foil blank one to, theother in package body forming relation. These foil blank folding and delivery operations are timed to occur while the conveyer mechanism is at rest so as to dispose a gripper device thereof in the path of plunger blade movement. Prior to descent of the plunger blade 93, a means for opening the awaiting gripper device is caused to function. This gripper device opening means comprises a pivoted gripper trip lever the upper arm I92 of which is disposed to I'll).- per jaw I5 of said awaiting gripper device, while the lower arm I93 thereof is operatively engaged by a cam I94 which is mounted on the lay shaft 89. Said cam I94 so times the operation of the gripper trip lever so asto cause the same to open and hold open the movable gripper Jaw l5 until the folded end of the foil blank is'carried downwardly between the stationary gripper jaw I4 and the opened movable gripper jaw I5, whereupon the gripper trip lever is caused to return to normal initial position, so that the movable'gripper jaw I5 is closed by the tension of spring I! upon the actuating lever I6, thus en.- gaging the folded foil blank to support the same in upstanding relation to the conveyer mechanism soas to be carried thereby. As soon as the folded blank is thus delivered to a gripper device of the conveyer mechanism, the plunger blade 93 is retracted to normal initial upraised' position.

Sheet material delivery drive One of the features of the instant invention is to provide a sheet material delivery operating or drive mechanism which is adapted to automatically control the feeding movement of the material, such as the foil 45, when pre-printed with spaced label imprints, in such manner as to assure accurate register of said imprints on the formed package body faces. An, illustrative embodiment of' sheet material delivery drive mechanism adapted to .this end, as shown (see Figs. 2 and 3), comprises the following:

A suitably supported drive shaft extension. I9 is drivenjrom said bevel gear 23 by a pinion I95 with which said shaft extension I9 is provided. A suitably supported longitudinal lay shaft I96 is disposed parallel to the return course of the conveyer mechanism, and is driven from said drive shaft extension I9 by gearing 'comprising a bevel gear I91 on the latter shaft which meshes with a bevel gear I98 on said lay shaft I96. The supporting pedestal I99, which is mounted on said bed plate I, and by which the frame members 32 of thesheet delivery mechanism is in part supported, includes a bearing portion II9 for said lay shaft I96, and outwardly of said supporting pedestal I99 is a bearing frame I I I, which likewise includes a bearing portion III for said lay shaft I96. Journaled in drives a gear II9 on the former.

and between said supporting pedestal I09 and said bearing frame I I I, above said lay shaft I06, is a countershaft II2. This countershaft H2 is driven from the lay shaft I 06 by a gear I I3 on the latter which meshes with and drives a gear I I 4 on the former. Said bearing frame III includes, in connection with its upper end portion, a bearing bracket member I I5 having a bearing portion I I6, outwardly offset relative to the upper end portion of said bearing frame II I. Journaled in and between said offset bearing portion H6 and said bearing frame III is a Geneva drive shaft III, which is driven from said countershaft II2 by a gear IIB on the latter which meshes with and Also journaled in and between said offset bearing portion I I6 and said bearing frame III is a Geneva driv-. en shaft I 20, which is disposed above said Geneva drive shaft 1. Fixed on said Geneva drive shaft II! is a male Geneva gear I 2I which cooperates with a female Geneva gear I22 fixed on said Geneva driven shaft I20.

. reciprocable bar I34 is an electric solenoid I38 having an armaturei I39. Rotatably journaled in bearing bracket supports I40 is the shaft I4I of a drive worm I42, and fixed on said shaft MI is a ratchet wheel I43. Pivotally mounted on 3 said shaft I4I, as a fulcrum, is an oscillatable lever I44 carrying a pawl I45 adapted to engage Supported by said bearing frame I I I is a planetary gear set having a drum or casing I23 provlded with an internal or ring gear I24. Fixed on and driven by the inner end of said Geneva driven shaft I20 is a planet gear frame I 25 which carries a series of rotatable planet gears I26 adapted to mesh with said internal or ring gear I24 of the drum or casing I23. Journaled in the supporting pedestal I09, so as to be disposed in axial alignment with said Geneva driven shaft I20, is the foil feed roller drive shaft I21, upon which is fixed a drive gear I28 arranged to mesh with said planet gea'rs I26. The crossshaft 33 of the lower feed roller 34 is driven from said drive shaft I2I by a gear I29 affixed to the latter, and which meshes with a gear I30 afiixed to the former. Preferably the cross shaft 36 of the upper feed roller is driven from the cross shaft 33 of the lower feed roller 34 by a gear I3I affixed to the latter, and which meshes with a gear I32 aflixed to the former. v

When the foil, from which the package forming blanks are produced, is pre-printed with spaced label or other'imprints, as e. g. shown in Fig. 2A, and which are required to be precisely positioned on one or more faces of the completed package, it is necessary to so control the operation of the feed rollers 34--35 that the lengths of foil advanced to provide the package blanks will each contain the imprints so disposed thereon as to be certain of occupying the desired lo cation on the face or faces of the completed packages. To attain such control, the major or approximate foil advancing movement of the feed rollers 34-35 is both timed by the Geneva gearing I2I--I22, whereby a length of foil slightly less than required to furnish a package blank is fed to the preforming or package body shaping means, whereupon a special auxiliary feed roller drive means becomes and controlled effective to complete the advance of the foil to said ratchet wheel I 43. Afllxed to said drum or casing I23 of said planetary gear set is a worm gear I46 which meshes with and is driven by said worm I42. Interconnecting said lever I44 and the armature I39 of said solenoid is a link I4'I.

Supported by a suitable bracket frame I48 carried by the frame members 32 is an electric eye device I49 and also carried by said bracket frame is a light source I50 cooperative with said electric eye device (see Fig. 2). Said electric eye device I49 is directed toward the foil 45 where the same passes over and around the idler guide roller M. The light from said light source I50 is likewise directed toward the foil 45 in such angular relation thereto as to, be reflected therefrom to said electric eye device I49, and so as to strike those areas of the foil 45 which bear and are aligned with the detector spots or patches I33 borne by said foil. Through proper electrical connections and relays (not shown) said electric eye device I49 is electrically related to the windings of said solenoid I38 so as to control the energizing and deenergizing thereof.

In the operation of the foil delivery drive mechanism, the Geneva gearing I 2I--I22 transmits to the shaft I20 a properly timed rotative movement which revolves the planet gear frame I25 and planet gears I26 carried thereby relative to the drum or casing I23 and ring gear I24 of the planetary gear set. Since, during the period of power transmission by said Geneva gearing I2I I22, the drum or casing I23 and ring gear I24 are held stationary by the then inactive worm and worm gear I 42 and I46, the revolution of the planet gears I26 around the stationary ring gear I24 produces a rotation of the former about their axes. The rotary movement of the planet gears I26 is transmitted to the drive gear I28, whereby a major feeding movement is in turn transmitted to the foil feed rollers 34-35. This major feeding movement of the feed rollers operates to draw a length of foil off of the supply roll approximating that required to supply a package forming blank, while at the same time advancing preceding package forming blank lengths respectively toward the preforming or body shaping mechanism, the shear mechanism, and the folding and delivery plunger blade means respectively. As the foil passing from the supply moves over the idler guide roller 4|, it traverses the beam of light projected thereon from the light service I50, whereby the light beam is reflected from the foil surface to the electric eye device I49, thereby activating the latter to produce an output of electrical energy,

- which through proper agencies (not shown), supplies current to maintain the solenoid I38 energized so long as the electric eye device continues to be activated. Since the power transmitting cycle of the Geneva gearing I2I--I22 is so determined as to produce operative movement of the feed rollers 3435 which is somewhat short of that required to feed the full length of foil required to provide a package forming blank, when said Geneva gearing comes to rest, the auxiliary drive cam 31, by its operation, is timed to produce outswinging movement of the rocker arms I35 and I36, with 'consequent outward movement of the reciprocable bar I34 and solenoid I38 carried by the latter. Since, atthe time outward movement thereof is initiated, the solenoid I38 is energized, its armature I39 is strongly held retracted, and consequently the solenoid functions in the character of an electric clutch, whereby the link I41 is operatively coupled to the reciprocable bar I34 so as to participate inits outward movement. The outward movement of the link I41 swings outward the lever I 44, the movement thereof being transmitted through the pawl I49 and ratchet wheel I43 to the drive worm I42, and through the latter to the worm gear I46, thus imparting rotary movement to the drum or casing I23 and ring gear I24 of the planetary gear set. Since the Geneva driven shaft I20 and planet gear frame I25 afllxed thereto have previously come to rest and remain immovable, the rotation of the ring gear I24 produces rotary movement of the planet gears I26 about their axes, which in turn is transmitted to the drive gear I28, to transmit therethrough s a continued-foilfeeding movement of the feed rollers 34-35.

Under the operation of the described auxiliary drive means, the feeding movement of the foil energizing current to the solenoid I38. Immediately the solenoid I38 is de-energized, the armature I39 thereof is released from magnetic attraction, and consequently the electric clutching or coupling effect between the reciprocable bar I34 and link I4! is broken, so that further outward movement of the former is no longer transmitted to the latter, and therefore motion of the planetary gear set ceases and feeding movement of the feed rollers 3435 is completed and stopped. During the period of dwell following a foil feeding operation, the cam I39 operates to return the auxiliary drive devices to normal initial positions, ready for a repetition of its above described functionsduring succeeding foil feeding operation as tinged and initiated by the Geneva gearing I2II' 2.

Owing to the fact that the detector spots or patches I33 are imprinted on the foil in exact spaced relation whereby the intervals are equivalent to the exact length of foil required to form a package blank, and since said spots or patches I33 also bear an exact predetermined relation to the label imprints with which the foil is provided, it will be obvious that not only-will each feeding operation of thefeed rollers 34-35 advance proper lengths of foil, but also the label imprints will always occupy corresponding and proper predetermined positions with respect to the boundaries of each package forming length of foil.

cam shaft 58 of the packagebody preforming or shaping mechanism is driven by a sprocket and chain transmission I 5|, the drive sprocket I52 of which is fixed on and actuated by said counter shaft I I2. 3

It will be understood that in embodiments of the instant invention whereby the=packages are tobe made from plain, i. e. unprinted foil, or other sheet material, the above-described auxiliary feed drive mechanism may be omitted, and the feed rollers 34-35 driven and timed solely by the Geneva gearing transmission means.

It will be understood that in, embodiments of the instant invention whereby flat envelope like packages are desired to be produced, 1. e. packages without preformed side walls, then the above-described package body preforming or Ranged along the course of the conveyer mechanism outgoing from the location of the foil feeding anddelivering mechanism are the means for forming the side closure seams of the produced packages. Such side seam forming means comprises various mechanisms located at successively spaced stations relative to which the upstanding folded package. blanks, as carried by the gripper devices of the conveyer mechanism, are caused to dwell by the intermittent progress of said conveyer mechanism.

After an upstanding folded package blank is deposited in and engaged by a gripper device of the conveyer mechanism, an advancing movement of said conveyer mechanism first carries the same to and brings it to rest at a station and in position to be operated upon by a side seam scoring mechanism (see Figs. 1 and 8 to 12 inelusive).

The side seam scoring mechanism comprises a carrier block I53 having at the front thereof a perpendicular outwardly open recess bounded by side wings I54. Said carrier block I 53 is provided with a pair of slide bars I55 which extend rearwardly from the back thereof. Said slide bars are mounted for reciprocation in a supporting standard I56 which rises from a bridging bracket I5'I affixed between the rails 3. Extending through said .carrier block and into the slide bars I55 thereof are slideway bores I58, to slidably receive the supporting studs I59 of a female scoring block I60, so as to dispose the latter within said recess of the carrier block I53. Compression springs I6I are mounted within said slideway bores I58 behind the supporting studs I59, so as to yieldably thrust said female scoring block I60 to an outwardly projected position, as determined by stop means I62, in which position the operative front face of said female scoring block is normally projected slightly beyond the front ends of the recess bounding side wings I54 of said carrier block. At its front face, said I female scoring block I60 is provided, adiacent to each side thereof, with sets of perpendicular, laterally spaced, scoring grooves I53. Intermediate rier block I53, and the female scoring block I60 yieldably supported thereby, comprises a-suit- Attention is here caued to the factxhat the ably fulcrumed levermeans, the upper arm I of which is operatively coupled with the carrier block slide bars I55, while the lower arm I66 of which is connected by a connecting rod IS'I of an actuating eccentric I'68 driven by the lay shaft Arranged to cooperate with said female scoring block I60 is a male scoring block I69 having a tail-piece I extending outwardly from the back thereof. Said tail-piece I10 is mounted for reciprocation in a supporting'standard I'll which rises froma bracket I12 aflixed to one of the rails 3. At its front face, said male scoring block I69 is provided, adjacent to each side thereof,

with sets of perpendicular, laterally spaced, scoring tongues I13. Intermediate said sets of scoring tongues is an open recess I14 to provide clearance for a shaped body wall of the preformed package blank operated upon. The means for operatively reciprocating the male scoring block I69 comprises a suitably fulcrumed lever means, one arm I-15 of which is operatively coupled with the tail-piece I10, while the other arm I16 of which cooperates with an actuating cam I11 driven by the lay shaft 80.

Normally, the male and female scoring block devices are respectively retracted to an initial separated relation as shown in Fig. 10, and while they are 50 disposed, an operative movement of the conveyer mechanism moves forward and brings to rest a gripper device carrying an upstanding folded package blank, so as to position the latter operatively between the retracted scoring block devices. During the period of dwell of the conveyer mechanism, the actuating eccentric I68, by its timing operation, moves forward the carrier block I5 and female scoring block I60 carried thereby, while the actuatin cam I11, by its timing operation, likewise moves forward the male scoring block I69, with the result that said male and female scoring blocks are moved together so as to engage by and between the rective scorin tongues I13 of the one and the spe g 40 the rock shafts I99 are lever arms 202, the same cooperating scoring grooves I63 of the othenthe superposed side marginal portions of the'interposed upstanding folded package blank, thereby impressing in such marginal portions suitably formed and spaced scores which are calculated to fin line about which subsequently effected 5 de e s 4 shaft 205 upon which is mounted a cam roll 206.

closure seam folds areto be turned (see Fig. 11). As the male scoring block I69 engages the female scoring block I60, the latter will-vyieldingly retreat, against the tension of the springs I6I,

into the recess of the carrier block I53, with the effect of advancing the sidewings I54 relative to the meeting faces of the male and female scoring blocks. Such relative advance of said side wings I54 causes the same to engage freely projecting sections of theside marginal portions of the folded package blank, which extend beyond the outermost score lines, so as to turn the same angularly outward approximately ni e- -ty degrees, thus effecting an initial sta e 0 a first side seam lap folding operation (see Fig. 12). 30

Upon completion of the scoring and initial stage folding operations above described, the scoring block devices are retracted by their actuating and timing means, whereupon the conveyer mechanism is timed to again advance to thereby carry the scored package blank onward and bring into position a succeeding package blank to be scored by a repetition of the above described operations.

The advance movement or movements of the conveyer mechanism carries the scored package blank to andbrings it to rest at a station and in position to be operated upon by a first side seam lap folding mechanism (see Figs. 1 and 13 to 15 inclusive).

The side seam lap folding mechanism coinprises a stationary outer head frame 418 supported by a standard bracket I19 from a bracket shelf I80 aflixe'd to one of the rails 3. This head tically opposed bearing members I8I in which are journaled vertical rock shafts I82. Aflixed to each rock shaft I82 is a carrier member I88, upon the free end'of which is aflixed an anvil plate I84 having, along its perpendicular free margin, a beveled anvil element I85. Afllxed to the upper ends of said rock shafts I82 are lever arms I86. Afllxed to and rising from said bracket shelf I80 are forked standards I81 by which are supported slideway bars I 88 disposed transverse to the conveyer mechanism. Mounted for reciprocation pn said slideway bars I88 is a carriage I89 which is provided with an upstanding tail-block I 90. Interconnected between said tailblock I90 and the respective lever arms I86 are 0 links I9I. The means for effecting properly timed reciprocation of said carriage I89 comprises ,an actuating cam I92 driven by said lay shaft 80. This cam I92 cooperates with an actuating lever I93 which is suitably fulcrumed at its lower end in connection with the bed-plate I, and the upper end ofwhich is operatively coupled by a link I94 to said carriage I89.

Supported by a standard bracket I95, rising from a bridging bracket structure I96 afiixed between the rails 3, is an inner head frame I91. This inner head frame I91 is provided with vertically opposed bearing members I98 in which are journaled vertical rock shafts I 99. Aflixed on each rock shaft I99 is a carrier member 200, upon the free end of which is amxed a folder blade -20I. Said carrier members 200 are suitably shaped so that their intermediate portions cross one. another. Secured to the upper ends of having upstanding anti-friction rollers 203 mounted at their free end portions. Also supported from said bridging bracket structure I96 are upstanding bearing posts 204, and journaled in and between said posts is an overhead cam Said cam roll is provided in connection with its opposite lateral peripheries with indented cam sections 201, which are respectively cooperative with the rollers 203 of said lever arms 202. An interconnecting pull spring 208, which extends between the Ieverarms 202, yieldabiy retains the rollers 203 of said lever arms in operative engagement with the cam roll 206. Said cam shaft 205 is driven from the lay shaft 80 by a sprocket and chain transmission 209. Aflixed to and rising from the bridging bracket structure I96 are forked standards 2I0 by which are supported slideway bars 2 disposed transverse to the conveyer mechanism. Mounted for reciprdcation on said slideway bars 2| I is a carriage 2I2. Supported by said carriage 2I2 is a forwardly projecting carriage arm 2I3 having a bifurcated outer end portion adapted to straddle the crossed intermediate portions of said carrier members commodate inner scores of a package blank, and

an intermediate clearance recess 2I6 to accommodate a shaped body wall of the preformed package blank operated upon. The means for effecting properly timed reciprocation of the carriage 2I2 and backer block 2I4 carried thereby frame I18 is provided with spaced sets of ver-

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