US2280773A - Carton opening, folding, and positioning machine - Google Patents

Description

Ap 28, 1942. J. 1.. FERG USCN CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND PQSITIONING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug 3, 1940 Inventor TfofL z lee l ggaaon,

Ap 28, 1942. J. L; FERGUSON CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug; 3, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snvmtor TfO/L/Z Z66 f guaon (Ittomeg April 28, 1942. J. L. FERGUSON 2,239,773

CARTON'OPENING, FOLDING, AND PUSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet} April 28, 1942. J. L. FERGUSON I 2,280,773

- CARTON OPENING FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE File. Aug. 3, .1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sunmtor Clttoiney April 28-, 1942. J; L. FERGUSON 2,280,773

CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 14 Sfieets-Sheet 5 I A3? Snoentor /B/wz Lee figgusorz Ottomeg April 28, 1942. J. 1.. F ERGUSQN 2,230,773

CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 3, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Zimaohtor flbkra Zee Te r gasorz April 1942- J. 1.. F'QERGUSON 2,280,773

CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND" POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug. -s 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet a Jig/lg 142.

aim, .Zlee ZEggasOlp y/uyflk,

attorney Ap 28', 1942. J. L. FERGUSON 2,280,773 CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug 3, 1940 -14 Sh ets-Sheet 9 linen tot gwon atto'meg Ap 28, 1942. L. IL'ERGUSON CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet l0 Z?) Source qfi Vacuum O I Zinnmtor IJh/z Zeefpgwow,

8n f O Clttomeg April 28; 1942. v J. L. FERGUSON I. 0,7 3

CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Au 5, 1940 1 w 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 I attorney Ap .1. L. FERGUSON 2,280,773

CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING'MACHQINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet; 12

o 7 Y W m A '28, 1942. J. L. FERGUSON ,2 I CARTON ornnme, FOLDING, AND POSITIIONING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Aug. 3, 1940 Zimacntor .Zee Emu/son (Ittomeg April 1942- J. L. FERGUSON 2,280,773

CARTONOPEMNG, FOLDING, AND POSITIONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940. 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 a a 295 Z9 2 ,342. i 294 I h f I Case Line 72min Detector- Switch Momma qoemi'iorz Summer Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STAT ES PATENT- FFl-CE CARTON OPENING, FOLDING, AN POSITIONING MACHINE John Lee Ferguson, .loliet, Ill., assignor to J. L. Ferguson Company, Joliet, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,675

31 Claims. This invention relates to carton opening, folding and positioning machines, and in general aims to provide an improved machine of the character stated which will work automatically with.- out attention from an operator (except occasional replenishment of its supply of cartons). The machine of the invention takes a single collapsed carton, as for example a rectangular fiber board box, opens it or sets it up, folds in the four flaps (which together may form either the top or the bottom of the completed box) opens or folds outward the four opposite flaps, and delivers the ingcarriage which moves the opened cartons out of the machine, also showing in'dotted lines an- 3 other position of thecarriage and some associcarton without further operations to another machine (forming no part of the invention) which fills the carton. The invention has many specific objects not stated at this time because they would be unintelligible without an understanding of theconstruction of the machine; hence in the following description of the preferred embodiment, the specific objects are in large part brought/out.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification-- Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine shown without any cartons;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine viewed from the magazine end;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation showing the the vacuum connections for the lower vacuum positions of some of the parts when a collapsed v carton is about to be moved out of the magazine:

Fig. 4 is a similar-view but showing the positions of the same parts after the cartonhas reached the position where it is to be opened, and also showing the oscillating vacuum arm which assists in the opening or setting up of the carton; v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in elevation showing one of the yieldable fingers which engage the edge of the lowermost carton in the magazine to push it forwardly;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation on a smaller scale showing the collapsed carton with the vacuum arm in full lines and showing in dotted lines the same carton opened and the vacuum arm in the corresponding position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation onv a slightly larger scale showing a carton held by vacuum suction and having its flaps held open. also showin part of the flap folding means,'the view'being from the right side of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation on the scale of Fig. '7

ated mechanisms; i

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation on the-scale of Fig. 9 showing .thecarton and carriage in positions intermediate the full line and the dotted line positions of Fig.9; r

Fig. 11 is a perspective'vi'ew' showing a carton opened but not folded; 1

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a carton partly folded; v

,Fig; 13 is a perspective view showing one of the cartons collapsed and ready for stacking in the magazine;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation showing part of the flap folding mechanisms, also showing a carton opened and its inner flaps folded;

Fig. 15 is a section on line |s' |5 of Fig. 14,

omitting the carton;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section on line li-IB of Fig. 14, showing several positions of one of the flap folding mechanisms;

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional elevation showing cups; I, Fig. 18 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale showing the lower vacuum cups and some adjacent parts; 7

Fig. 19 is a side elevation showing both lower vacuum cups and-some adjacent parts, the scale I being the same as Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the swinging vacuum arm;

Fig. 21 is scale;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary section on line 22-22 of Fig. 20 and on the same scale;

Fig. 23 is a detail in elevation showing the chain tightening means at the pivot end of the a top view of said on the same vacuum arm;

and looking in .thesame direction. but showing the action of other portions-of the flap folding mechanisms; Fig. 9 is an elevation showi the reciprocatgripping arms but omitting the carton and showing the gripping arms in carton-releasing posiproperly through the tions;

Fig. 28 is an elevation ripping arm;

Fig. 29 is an enlarged vertical section substantially on line 28-29 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 30 is an enlarged vertical section. substantially on line 30-" of Fig. 26; showing in dotted lines an engaging arm;

of the short cartonpart of the machine, showing only the main cam shaft and adjacent parts; I Fig. 32 is a side elevation showing particularly an electrically controlled mechanism for stopping the machine, a carton also being illustrated, and showing in dotted lines the machine-stopping position of the part engaged by each carton; Fig. 33 is a top planview of the parts of Fig. 32; Fig. 34 is an enlarged view of the mechanism of Fig. 32 shown with the cam in another position;

alternative position of a flap-- part of a carton and showing 10 Fig. 31 is a vertical section through the lower been folded; in other words the centers of the slides 42 is less than the depth of the carton when folded (see (Fig. 12).

To feed the cartons one at a time irom the bot- "tom of the magazine, a reciprocating plunger 43 is provided, said plunger being horizontally slidable in guides 42a provided adjacent and below;

The plunger 43 carries a pair of the slides 42. carton-pushing fingers 44 (Fig. 5), each or said fingers being adapted to swing vertically about a pin 15 fast to the plunger, and being normally urged upwardly into the position illustrated by a coil spring 48, a pin I! in a Fig. 35 is a wiring diagram for the mechanism 01' Fig. 32.

Before referring particularlyto the drawings it should be explained that the preferred embodiment or the invention provides a magazine forholding a supply of collapsed cartons; mechanism for feeding the collapsed cartons one at a time out of the magazine to the opening or setting-up station; mechanism for opening or setting-up and I holding a carton at said station; erative after the carton is opened mechanism 0pin a certain sequence the four ton on one side which later may form the top or bottom, and to fold outwardly or spread the opposite .flaps of the carton: mechanism to convey the folded cartonout of the machine; and means automatically tot'bring the machine to a cartons are not advancing stop in the event machine. The invention the curved end "to obviate zothe cartons ingpermitted slot 18 preventing beyond the position H have upper suredges of slides 42 and said injury to the edges or The rear edge or the lowermost carton in the magazine is engaged by the nearly vertical surface 81 on each ringer. and the finger may slightly adjust itsel! because oi' the yieldby pring 48 in change in the position of the Itwill be clear from Figs. 3 and 4 that the fingers when engaging the lowermost carton will also slide under the carton next above (which is moved 7 downwardly by its own weight and the weight of to fold inwardlyflaps of the caralso comprises many othermechanisms and'novel combinations and arrangementsoi parts, as will be explained in the following description.

Carton magazine and carton feeding mechanism Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4; the machine or the invention-has a frame 40 at one end of which a magazine is provided for holding a supply 01' collapsed cartons. conveyor (not shown) could be used to convey collapsed cartons into the machine of the inventicn; a-built-inmagazinebeing merely a convenience rather than a necessity. The illustrative magazine comprises four substantially at their lower ends to apart that they will vertical angles 41 secured frame 40 and so spaced hold a stack oi"collansed corners of the cartons fitting inside the four angles ll. be screwed chine, further to enclose the cartons in the magazine. The supply of cartons is replenished from time to time from the the cartons move by gravity to the lower end of the magazine (with the angles serving as carton are fed one at a time 11' desired, plates (not shown) may to angles 4| on either side of the ma-v top of the magazine and th However, a I a cartons C, theiour carton which ismovlng down to take the belt passing over spuney u,

the cartons in the magazine) and that when such en agement takes place, the upper surfaces 52 oi the fingers will slide along the bottom oi the of the one being pushed by the fingers.

Plunger 43 is provided with'rack teeth its bottom, said rack teeth meshing with gear 56 on a countershaft 51 journaled in the frame. Also on 58 meshing with a may' osciliate on a asz bcst shown is driven. by

active, move from the position of Fig. 3 to the position or Fig; '.l and hence move the lowermost no other carton) I! to the extent carton in the magazine. (but along the tops oi the Ilides Setting-up or opening with the carton at the se 4, 6 and 83):,a normally-vertical arm '7, moves thedistance between Figs. 3 and 4 areadapted normally to lie in the plane 01' the top fingers each having a-- the event or a slight lowermost carton.

place a spot fast to the countershai't is a pin-1 sear-" ment II which countershait II having bear- -'up station (Pigs. Y

line position shown in 6. The axis of swing. is the :axis of a horizontal pin II (Figs. 20-23) fast to the machine. frame. When the arm is horizontal, vacuum'cups 12-, which are conne'ctedto asource of vacuum, as will be described, and which are maintained horizontal or parallel to the plane of the collapsed carton, will move downwardly until the flexible edges of said vacuum cups are pressed against the top surface of the carton. Simultaneously the ,cups 12 are connected with the source of. vacuum. Then the cups will be raisedby return swinging of the arm 19 and at the same time suction will be applied to the underside of the carton through a pair of vacuum cups 18 (Figs. 6, 7, 18 and 19) so that the lower side of the carton cannot follow the upper side. Thus the carton is fully opened as will appear in Fig. 11. Before being placed in the magazine, the ends of. each carton blank are stapled as shown at S, or are otherwise united. I

Now referring to Figs. 20-23 inclusive, the arm' 18 is hollow, as shown, not only to save weight but also to serve as a housing for parts to be described; said arm carrying at its upper end a bracket 15 which is bifurcated as shown, one of the vacuum cups [2 being mounted on the extremity of each branch or furcation. Bracket 15 is secured to a pin 15 which may oscillate in bearings provided at the outer or free end of the arm 18. Secured to the pin 15 is a sprocket wheel" with which a sprocket chain 15 meshes, the chain 18 being wholly within the hollow arm 18. The chain 18 is stationary, its opposite ends being held against movement as illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23; "As shown, the ends of the chain 18 are brought around a circular collar "on bolt 12, and J-bolts 88 are hooked on the ends of chain 18 and extend through bores in a lug 8| preferably integral with collar I9. Nuts 82 on opposite sides of lug 8| are used to tighten the J-boltsan'd thus permit adjustment of the tension and position ,of the chain. As the pin H is held stationary on the frame 40 by the nut 88, and lug 8| is also stationary, it follows that the sprocket chain 18 cannot move although hecause of its link pivots it is free to swing with the swingable arm 19. Thus the pin-I6 is turned through an angle equal to the angle of swing of the arm 18, thereby turning the bracket 15 relative to arm 18 to the same extent; and this turning of the bracket 15 exactly counteracts the swing of the arm 18, so that the bracket 15 is always horizontal-or parallel to the top surface of the carton C. Thus the flexible lips of the rubber vacuum cups 12 are simultaneously brought into engagement with the top surface of the carton which is to be opened, and when the source of vacuum is connected to the inside of said vacuum cups, said cups will become firmly attached to the upper surface of the cardboard carton and will tend to lift the entire carton when the arm 15 is swung back to its vertical position. However, lifting will beimpossible because of the suction of lower. vacuum cups I3, and the flnal result of the opposed pulls of the upper and lower vacuum cups will be theopening of the carton asdllustrated.

As shown, each vacuum cup 12 is secured by hollow pin 55 on the end of bracket 15 and said hollow pin is perforated as at 86 so as to be connected to a small tube 81 extending on the under sid'Pof the bracket, said small tube 81 branching as shown in Fig. 21 to extend to both vacuum cups 12. At the pivoted end of the bracket 15 tube 81 communicates with a bore 88 in the hub or disk 89 which is secured to pin 15 by set screw 89a. The pin 19 has a lateral bore 98 opening to the bore 88 and has a longitudinal bore 9| communicating with bore 90, while a tube 92 which extends longitudinallyinside of; arm 10 communicates with the bore 9|. Tube 92 leads to a bore 93 in the pin H and a short screw threaded union 94, secured-to pin H, Figs. 17 and 24, is connected by pipe fittings with a pipe 95, which as described later is connected through a control 'valve with a source of vacuum.

Now referring. to Figs. 18 and 19, it is seen that the lower vacuum cups [3, which constitute holddown means for the carton 0 when it is being set-up, are located between the slides 42 at the setting-up station. The vacuum cups I3 do not,

travel but are moved a fraction of an inch vertically, that is at right angles to the plane of the top edges of slides 42, by means of a cam as will be explained below. The top plane of the flexible edges of vacuum cups 13 is preferably approximately 3 of an inch below the top plane of the slides 42, except when raised above said slides forcibly to engage the bottom of the carton C. To lift the vacuum cups 13, a cam-actuated .T-shaped arm Hill is connected to brackets IOI',

said brackets having flanges I02 with downturned ends I03 fitting over stationary supports 14 connected to the frame of the. machine. A pair of straight rods lfliextend parallel to eachother at right angles to the slides 42 and have their ends received in short vertical slots I06 in said slides. The rods are secured to the brackets IOI and thus limit the vertical movement of the vacuum cups 13 to the length of the slots 16.

The two vacuum cups '13 have their interiors connected by tubes I01 with a small pipe I08 V which extends through a slot I09 in one of the slides 42 and is connected by a flexible tube. for instance a rubber tube H0 (Fig. 1'7) with pipe 95, which leads to a source of vacuum as stated above; The vacuum will be maintained so lon as it is desirable firmly to hold the carton at the setting-up or opening station. When-the carton is to be released, the interiors of the vacuum cups 12, 13 will be connected with the atmosphere as described below, so that the suction will be broken. I

As the action of the setting-up arm 10 must be positive and unfailing, a strong vacuum suction is applied through its cups 12; but this vacuum suction on the relatively flexible fiber board walls of the carton may be sufllcient to cause said carton to bend in the middle, that is, to be higher in the. vertical, plane of the vacuum cups 12 than at the edges where the flaps are folded. I This crowning of the flexible carton might interfere with the subsequent folding of the flaps, and to prevent this crowning, an upper stop and guide H5 (Figs. 32, 33) extends longitudinally of they machine and hence parallel tothe top edges of slides 42. The upper stop and guide H5 has its rear end curved upwardly as indicated at 5a so as to obviate possible interference with the carton when i s. walls are spread apart as described above to assume the open position. The

upper stop H5 is secured to brackets H6 which depend from one of two horizontal rails I", the

brackets I 15 being vertically adjustable by-means of slots H8 and bolts H9 thereby to insure proper and CI are approximately in contact, as

inwardly ference from the other pair, and such 'ence would cause destruction flaps CI;

7 tion shown in dotted lines in Fig.1

- It will be I is also secured.

ated by means cured on shaft m' V actuated of its normal plane as to interfere with of said carton side.

II! are supported at one end from the magazine, as. best shown in Fig. 33, and are also supported by means of large vertical brackets I20 secured to and forming an extension of the machine'frame 49. Brackets I20 are each shaped like an inverted J (Figs.

are riveted or to each other all the way to the deliveryend of the machine (Figs, 1 and i).

Flap opening mechanisms .The carton 'C will now have its flaps folded. Referring to Fig. 11, carton C has a pair of end flaps CI and side lines respectively from the end walls C3 and side walls C4 of the carton. When the carton is first opened, the edges or the. side and end flaps (:2 shown, and if an attempt were made to bend either pair of flaps Ci, C2 there might be inter interferof or injury to the carton, because the folding mechanisms are quite powerful. Hence the machine of the invention provides means for first bending outwardly the before bending inwardly, the end and after bending inwardly the end flaps Ci, the side flaps C2 are folded inwardly so that that sideof the carton has the appearance shown in Fig. 12. This outward bending of the side flaps C2 is illustrated in. Fig. 7, but in the following description reference should also bemade to Figs. 8, I As illustrated, the side flaps C2 are each engaged by a pair 14. and 15.

of spaced fingers I25 which have their ends at right angles to the principal length Figs. 14, to the fullllne position of Fig. I. noted that the fingers I28 swing from a horizontalto a vertical positionbut actually move through more than 90 degrees. The fingers II are secured to a horizontal I21, said arms a shaft III to, which alever l2! Lever Ill has spin and slot bein secured to connection Ill,

wardly to give clearance on that side of the car- Bince there are two side III which simultaneously fingers I24 being secured to a rodifl' rocked by apair of arms I21 seto which a lever I28 is also secured. There is aslot Ill in lever m', and a in ISI' tical rodl'fl', moves'in slot I302 Rod I32 is synchronously with red I32. Thus the two pairs of fingers I25, I25 simultaneously swing to engage the free edges of. both side flaps and bottom of 02 (which are then at the top carton 1C, though actually both flaps C2 form parts of the bottom or top of the carton whenin 2 and 14) and at their.

, rod'IIl which is 1 ,swung upwardly by a pair of arms ill with the lower end of! reciprocated vertical rod I82. The rod I82 is actuto be described later and eii'ects' flaps C2 separated by crease 1 the dotted line I V side of the brackets on theupper end of a reciprocated veras shown in full lines, described, the end flaps CI may now be folded possibillty'of striking flaps folders is best shown subse quent bending of the flaps which are in the plane End 1am mam mechanisms X I Now referring to Fig. 7', and that the bent outwardly and held side flaps C2 are both by the mechanisms just inwardly without any G2 (which might so damage the carton as to makeitunusable) The folding of said end flaps is shown in Fig. 16, but the construction of the in Figs'fl, 14 and 15. a The actual folding of each of'the end naps CI is effected by two horizontal, parallel arms I40 whose rounded ends engage the sideof end flap CI' and push it in until it lies against the body of the i arms HIII furthermore hold the, end flaps, CI until-the side flaps C2 are folded in carton; andsaid by means to be described to assumd'thepositions shown in Fig; arms I4II'move quickly out of the way, assuming position shown at the of Fig. 1e.

The .fiap foldin 'ms each pair being fixed to the top and bottom ends respectively of a short of two spacedconnected arms I53. The arms last mentioned are each secured at their opposite ends to a vertical shaft I44 which oscillates on its axis in bearings I45 secured to the machine I44 (Fig. 15) is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to short levers I41, each secured to one of the shafts I44.- Either shaft I44 has a lever I431 fast to its lower end and'said lever I48 is reciprocated by meansor a earn, as will be described later. To'cause the wm of each shaft 9 I44 to effect the desired motion of flap folding arms I", a link Ifl'is connected at one end by a pivot ISO to each upper bracket I45 and ex-/ tends in a horizontal plane alongside of arms I43. The other end of each link I49 is pivotally' secured to the outer end of a short lever IBI fixed to shaft III, lever IBI being bifurcated i to embrace the end of link I49. Arms I43 swing through an are somewhat less than 90 and this swing pulls the I49 around, but the clear from Fig. 16. A bolt I 52 for flap folding arms. I40.

As shown is dottedflines'in m, 16, arms m I and folders I4. are normally retracted to one I10 by which they are supported, that is, the righthandrbracket' III has said arms and folders on the right side, and the left hand bracket III on the same side oi'the machine hasthevother arms I43 and folders I 40 12. 'I'hen the endflap foldins right side I4II arein as stated,

vertical shaft I, each.

shaft in being oscillatable onits axis within spaced bearings It? which are on the free ends .to the arms I40.

plained. Said opening is shown in Fig. 1 and will be apparent from Fig. 15, if the folders I40 are imagined as being in theretracted positions.

Side flap folding mechanisms v with the end flaps CI folded inwardly, the other two flaps C2 are to be folded inwardly. It will be recalled that the flaps C2 have been held spread by fingers I25 during the folding of flaps CI, but as soon as that folding is completed, arms I21 swing down to the dotted line position of Fig. 7, and fingers I 25 then releases flaps C2. Immediately the arms I21 move inwardly against flaps C2 as shown in Fig. 8, a flat pusher bar I55 actually engaging each of said flaps. pusher bar I55 is welded or otherwise secured at its ends to arms I21 and with said arms and rod I26 forms a swinging folding frame movable from the horizontal position-the position of rest-to a vertical position, thereby to close fiaps .02 against the body of the carton. However, the resilience of the fiber board usually causes flaps C2 to spring back about to the positions shown in Fig. 12, when the carton is released by the machine,

Actuation of flap spreading fingers During swinging of the aforesaid folding frames, fingers I25, I25 extend straight out from said frames (Fig. 8),- that is, the main portions of said fingers are parallel to the arms I21, I21, though their bent ends are at right angles thereto. However, as previously explained, fingers I25, I25 swing inwardly when said fold- Each ing frames move away from flaps C2, thereby to cause engagement of the bent ends of said fingers with said flaps, and spreading of the flaps. This simultaneous backward swinging of the folding frames causes simultaneous rocking of the fingers I25, I25 to the full line position shown in Fig. '1, as will now be explained.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, it is seen that the rods I26, I26each carry a torsional spring I56, I56 one end of which is secured to rod I26 through a collar I51, I51 fast to the rod, the other end of the torsional spring bearing against a relatively stationary member, for instance, arm I21. Each torsional spring I56, I56 normally holds its rod I26, I26 in such angular positions that the fingers I25, I25 extend out as in Fig. 8. But rods I26, I26 carry cam followers I58, I58 at one end, and stationary cams I59, I59 are so secured on the machine frame that their edges are engaged by cam followers I58, I58 respectively, when the upper and lower folding frames are moved upwardly and downwardly respectively. This causes rocking of rods I20, I26 against the resistance of their torsional springs, and rocking of fingers I25, I25 as fully explained.

Flap spreading mechanism Reference should now be made to Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 14, showing the mechanism for folding outwardly or spreading one of the flaps C5. The particular flap spreador folded by the mechanism Is the forward flap C5, that is, the flap which is on the leading end of the carton as it is advanced through the machine; in other words, it is the flap C5 which is-shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The opposite end flap C5 is spread or folded by means which will be described later. 7

On the opposite side of the machine from the forward folding arms I is an end flap spreader comprising a pair of arms I60 which may be substantially identical in individual construction I66, which is fixed on the lower end of shaft I64, wnen reciprocated by power, will rock said shaft onits axis. Arms I63 are preferably secured to each other by means of a block I61 similar to block I53, and a short lever I68, like lever I5I, is secured to shaft I6l at one end and is pivotally connected to a link I69 at its other end, the link I69 being exactly like link I48. Link I69 is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the upper bearing member I65 which forms part of me bracket I20 and hence is a fixed member. As the arms I63 swing on the axis of shaft I64, the link I69 will swing the arms I60 through an angle greater than the angle of swing of the arms I63. he action is exactly the same as that fully shown in Fig. 16, except for the direction of movement of the flaps. The result of the swing of the spreader arms I60 is to move the end fiap Carriage and grippers As soon as the top end flap C5 is spread or folded outwardly as just explained, the carton,

which meanwhile has been released from the grip of the vacuum cups 12, 13, is seized by a pair of vertical grippers or grippingarms (to be described) on a carriage I15, is moved along slides 42 to the forward or discharge end of the machine, is released by the grippers to pass out of the machine, and is filled and sealed by other machines not shown. Referring to Figs. 1, 9, l0 and 26 to 30 inclusive, the carriage I15 is supported on one of the rails I I1 by means of a pair of grooved wheels I16 which roll over the top of said rail, a single grooved wheel I11 being secured to the carriage below the rail and being adapted to engage the under edge of saidrail thereby to hold the carriage on the rail at all times. To make the carriage travel back and forth, a long, bent crank arm I18 is pivotally connected as at I16a to the forward end of the carriage I15, the rear end of the crank arm I18 being pivotally connected toa crank I19 which is rotated in a vertical plane by a shaft I supported in hearings on an extension I8I of the machine frame. The frame extension I8I may be a structural steel member secured to the upright angles H and extending horizontally above the rail II1 over which the carriage !15 travels. Secured to one end of the shaft I80 is a sprocket wheel I82 and a sprocket chain I83 meshes with the sprocket wheel I82 and is trained over idler sprockets I64, I65 on frame 40, said chain I83 being driven by a sprocket wheel I86 which is on shaft I81 turned by the motor driven speed reducer 64. The carriage starts to move forwardly from. the rearmost position illustrated in Hz. 1

as soon as the flap folding and flap spn idlng The folding arms I60 are both tripp positions shown in so that portions and the. short gripper i8! other words, as shown in Fig.

. shown) and a Fig. 26. These gripper arms not only move the carton positively out of holding the carton against collapsing, that is, the carton must maintain its set up condition -even when engaged by stationary parts (to be described) which would tend to cause the carton .to collapse. The gripp r arms comprise a long gripper I90 and a short gripper I9i, both grip- .pers preferably-having rubber contact pieces I92 'ior direct cushioned engagement with the end walls C3 of the carton. The long gripper. I9! is pivoted as at I93 to the rearend or the carrlage I15 and the short gripper I9I is pivoted as at I94 to the forward end or the carriage, the pivots I93, I81 being in the same horizontal plane below rails H1. Both gripper arms are L-shaped of eachgripper overlie the top of the carton as shown, thereby preventing tipping o! the carton On the slides 42. v e

To hold the gripper arms spread apart. a coil spring I85 has its ends connected to pins let, it? projecting respectively from.

near their respective pivots I93, I94. Pivoted to the carriage on s. centrally located pivot Ifil'is I generally triangular in shape and which is adapted tov be rocked in arvertical plane thereby to move the grippers from the position of Fig. 27 to that of Fig. 26 and back again. The extent of the long gripper I69 pressed'air quickly escapes oi the machine but have the important function a lever I99 whichis rocking movement permitted lever I99 is regu-- lated by means of a pin 200 arcuate slot 205 provided in the center of the arc of said' slot pivot I98. A pair of links 252,

which travels in carriage iii, the

H3, each adjustbeing the axis of able in length, as shown, are pivoted to two corners of triangular lever I99 as by pivots 2, 205 respectively. Theother ends of links 282, 203 are pivotally connected location of the several parts are locked as by grippers are moved to pivots is such that the vertical positions, or in 26, the axis of pivot 205 is slightly below the line pivot I98, and t e axis of pivot 20 is in line with or slightly be the line joining pin l9i and pivot I98. Witg the parts slightly beyond dead center, as shown in Fig. 26, the pull of spring I95 will hold the grippers in the vertical positions illustrated and there is no tendency for the grip- *per arms to separate but rather there is a firm gripping of the carton because oi the tension of the spring. As soon, however, as the triangular lever I99 is swung clockwise or toward the posi-- tion shown in Fig. 2'7, the dead center is overto the pinsi96, i537. The

a toggle action when the Joining pin i9! and positions, is very sudden said cylinder; but the comthrough the leak port and hence the cushioning action is only momenas in a pneumatic door stop. A pneumaticspring door stop may indeed'be used in place of the described cushioning means. 2

Referring to Figs. 1 and 9, it is seen that the rail I I 'I on which the carriage travels is provided with a stationary release arm 2N which is so 10'- cated on said rail that it will be struck by a roller pression of the air in 2 (Fig; 29) provided on the pin 200 whichpro 5 'jects through slot 2M sufliciently far on the other side of the carriage I15. Release arm 2I0 may be slotted as shown at 2H) to permit adjustment of its position on the rail. The movement of carriage is beyond the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9 and is so controlled that the release arm 2") will move the pin 200 for part ofthe length of the slot 20!. As soon as the dead center has been overcome, the spring I95 will complete the movement of the triangular lever I99 and of the which will then assume the position of Thus the release arm 2I0 effects swing.-

pp s. Fig. 27.

ing of the grippers to carton-releasing position.

The carriagetrav'els backgto a position immediately above the next carton, that is, to the setting-up station, as soon as the grippers are released as just described.

Now referring to Figs.land9,a gripper-operating arm 2I3 is pivoted as at 2 to the rail II| on which the carriage travels, the said gripperoneratingarniv being swinga'ble vertically on its pivot and being located at the limit of rearward travel of carriage I15. Because of the engagement with the gripper operating arm 2|! 0! a pin Iii projecting .from the axle of the lower carriage wheel Ill, arm ZI3 will beswung clockwise as the parts are viewed in Fig. 9, thus moving 'the pin 299 to the right or clockwise, thereby causing the grippers 0, I9! to moveirom the positions of Fig. 27 to those of Fig. 26. Because of the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts described'above, the action of the gripper arms, both when. engaging the carton and when being moved to carton -releasing and yet there is no possibility of damaging of the cartons because the grippers cannot move inwardly toward each other when they have attained the vertical D0- come and the spring is then effective to raise pivot 29! at one end on the carhas a close fitting piston (not small leak port or valve (not shown), the piston being connected by a piston rod' 2 to the lever I", the connection 209 being.

of course, a pivotal o when the lever I99 movessuddenly from the pofltlon of Fig. 26 to that of and back Gain, the pivotal conncction III will eilfect a sudden inward movement oi the piston in the cylinder 20!. causing a com! machine, an air cylinder 2" is sitions shown in den movement of the grippers is taken advantage of in a manner which will be understood by referring to Figs. 26, 27 and 30. A bracket!" rigidly secured to the short gripper I9I and extending at'right angles thereto, has a pivot III on which is mounted a vertically swingable arm 2" having a downwardproiection 2I9, said projection being adapted to engage flap 05 as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 26. Thus said flap is held in the position illustrated inFig. 12 until the carton is released by the grippers. It is especially desirable to hold the flap C5 substantially at right angles to the end C3 ii the carton is to be positioned on a hollow form (not shown) for supporting the carton while being like. In other words, the enables the machine of flap-holding arm 2 I I chine forming no part of the invention and hence not shown.- In order to mom: with flap C5 the arm 2" cannot move much below the horizontal position shown in Figs. 26 and 30, the pivoted end of the arm 2I9 being so shaped (as indicated at 229) that it will engage the bracket II! on the underside, thereby Figs. 9. 10 and 26. This sudfilled by cans or the the invention. to cowith a hronized carton filling mar insure proper engage-

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