US2285283A

US2285283A - Carton loading machine

Info

Publication number: US2285283A
Application number: US371029A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruel A Jones
Original assignee: RA Jones and Co Inc
Current assignee: RA Jones and Co Inc
Priority date: 1940-12-20
Filing date: 1940-12-20
Publication date: 1942-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-02

Description

Jun'e 2, 1942. R. A. JONES 2,285,283

CARTON LOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. zo, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 HHH I Il .InHL d ATTORNEY June 2, 1.942.

R. A. JoNEs yCARTON LOADING MACHINE Filed Deo. 20, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m. v \,m m m W m m QJ a IIW 2m a b, M D w o O o o O o 0 O O o @Rw e@ @@rl, OXO OV@ @j l m C@ b mm c Q s f m wm Q wn m v June2, 1942. R. A. JONES CARTON LOADING MACHINE Filed Deo. 20, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR Patented June 2 CARTON LOADING MACHINE Ruel A. Jones, Covington, Ky., assignor to The R.. A. Jones & Company, Covington, Ky., a cor poration of Kentucky Application December 20, 1940, Serial No. 371,029

8 Claims.

This invention relates to packaging machines, and particularly to a type in which articles are placed within cartons.

The cartons usually are made of a paperboard material, each formed to providea rectangular tube-like container body. with the walls thereof at their opposite ends having flap extensions folded to constitute closures for the open ends of the container. The carton structure for commercial purposes is folded to a flat knock-down position, and in the packaging machine are grouped in their flat condition in a stack within a magazine, from which they are successively withdrawn, erected to put the same in an open condition, and advanced in a successive order in pockets of a conveyor. i i

The articles to be depositedin the cartons likewise are advanced in pockets of a second conveyor traveling alongside of the carton conveyor and in registry therewith, adapting the articles to be moved endwise into a carton with which they are in registry; whereupon the carton end flaps are folded in their closed position. The

travel of the cartons and articles is constant or uninterrupted during the process of packaging and carton closing.

The present invention is'directed primarily to the means for pushing or moving the advancing articles into correspondingly advancing cartons. The pockets of the conveyor f or the articles to be packaged are open at their opposite longitudinal ends, adapting the 'article in each pocket to be engaged at one end by a finger and pushed into the open carton during the continued advance of the carton and article conveyors. The lingers respectively depend from an endless chain carrier, superposed above the pockets and disposed to move the fingers transversely and correspondingly in the same direction with the pockets, and centrally therethrough, so that the articles are pushed endwise into the carton without 'interruption in travel.

A plurality of lingers are effective at the same time. so that the loading is progressively carried on for a plurality of cartons. The lingers and chain carrier, therefore, are supported upon acontrols an electric circuit for the drive of the mechanism to bring the same immediately to a stop or at rest.

It is therefore an object of the invention to load a continuously conveyed or traveling carton with merchandise moving coordinately with the carton and along an open end thereof, and to push the merchandise into the carton by a coniinuously moving loader unit, the loader unit effective for simultaneously loading a plurality of cartons and adapted to be automatically moved to an inactive position upon the merchandise encountering any resistance in its movement into a carton, and to control the driving power for the carton and merchandise conveying mechanism and loading unit. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the carton loading portion of the machine, disclosing a. section of an adjoining pair of endless conveyors respectively for carrying cartons and articles to be packed or deposited within the cartons, and a conveyor at an elevation above the article conveyor normally at an angle thereto provided with lingers for pushing the articles crosswse from one conveyor into a carton on the second adjoining conveyor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail top plan view of the rear or pivotally supported end of the loading mechanism, including a diagrammatic illustration of an electric motor controlling circuit.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 4 of the loading unit in a released or unlatched position.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6 6, Figure l.

As the present invention is directed solely to the mechanism for loading or pushing the merchandise into the cartons, `the drawings and following description thereof are confined to such phase of the machine.

The machine in its complete organization is representative of a. type as fully illustrated and described in a prior patent issued to me November 14, 1933, Number 1,935,269, and to which reference may be had for the portions classiiiable as separate from the present invention. In the machine of the patent, as herein, fingers dependingly supported from a continuously moving endless chain vare employed for pushing the merchandise from within the conveyor translated open-ended pockets into the cartons. The loading conveyor is positioned to move transversely or at an angle to the merchandise conveyor to advance the fingers thereof in a direction centrally intercepting the pockets and also advancing coordinately therewith.

The machine is preferably designed to operate upon a, carton consisting of a rectangular tubular body portion I having end closure flaps 2. The cartons are supplied to the machine from a magazine in which they are stacked in a collapsed or at condition, one upon another. The cartons, as each assumes its lowermost position in the stack, are successively ejected from the magazine and suitably erected and deposited in a spaced order upon an endless conveyor 3. The conveyor in its forward run travels upon a travel supporting plate 4. The cartons in the erected position upon the conveyor are successively engaged by lugs 5 extending laterally from the conveyor, and the cartons slidingly bear against a pair of

rails

6, 6, extending longitudinally above the forward run of the conveyor to sustain the cartons ln erected position upon the conveyor.

The closure flaps extending from the opposite ends of the cartons are held in a fully opened position during the period of loading, and this applies particularly for the end of the carton which initially receives the merchandise in loading. The merchandise for deposit into the cartons is conveyed in pockets 1 of channel form, carried in spaced relation by an endless conveyor 9 traveling alongside of the carton conveyor with the pockets thereof in alignment and registration with the adjoining cartons.

In the drawings, the merchandise for packaging within the cartons is represented as bottles I0, and four thereof in successive order are simultaneously and progressively operated upon for movement into relative cartons, advanced adjoingly therewith by the conveyor. The number of bottles operated upon is selected -to avoid undue length of the loading unit and a reduction in machine cost.

The loading unit comprises a radial arm Il at one end pivotally mounted upon a vertically disposed shaft I2 journalled Within a bracket I3, vertically mounted upon the frame I4 of the machine. The shaft beneath the pivoted end of the radial arm I I has a sprocket wheel I5 fixed thereto. The hub of the sprocket wheel in the normal position of the arm bears upon the upper end of the journal I6 of the bracket I3. The sprocket wheel I5 has its teeth engaged with the links of an endless sprocket chain I1, -and the chain at the forward end of the arm is engaged about an idler sprocket wheel I8, journalled upon a stud I9, fixed to and laterally projecting from the forward end of the arm. The sprocket chain at uniformly spaced intervals has pins or fingers 20, each secured to a respective link of the chain, and projected laterally therefrom and dependingly from the chain.

The arm in a normal or active position of the loading unit-has its forward end over-reaching a section of the merchandise conveyor, with the forward run of the chain traveling at an angle thereto and in a corresponding direction therewith for traversing the fingers centrally intersectingly through the channel of a respective pocket for engaging the merchandise in the pocket and pushing the same therefrom into an adjoining registering carton.

'I'he operation of the loading fingers and their conveying chain, insofar as utilized for pushing 75 the articles from the pockets of one conveyor into the second in alignment therewith on the second conveyor, follows substantially the corresponding parts of the loading mechanism described in the aforesaid prior patent.

In mounting the finger carrying chain upon a swinging radial arm, the loading unit can be swung outwardly away from and clear of the merchandise conveyor, giving freedom of access to the article loading pockets in the event of any jamming or interference in a loading operation. Incidentally, through the pivotal connection of the radial arm upon the drive shaft I2 for the finger carrying chain I1, and the frictional contact with the hub of the driving sprocket I5, there is a tendency to correspondingly rotate the radial arm unless arrested, and this motion is utilized for automatically swinging the arm outwardly to render the loading unit ineffective for loading and to clear the merchandise conveyor.

The arm, therefore, normally is latched in its active position by a spring tensioned plunger 2| slidably supported in a horizontal plane within a tubular head 22 `of a bracket 23 fixed upon the machine frame. The plunger within the bore in the head of the bracket is provided with a collar or annular shoulder 24 engaged by an end of a spring 25 about the plunger and housed within said bore. The opposite end of the spring 25 bears against a sleeve nut 26 concentrically about the stern of the plunger and is screwthreaded into the rear `end of the bore of the bracket head. Adjustment of the nut 26 provides for a regulation of the tension of the spring 25 for exerting an arresting pressure against the arm, counteracting its rotative tendency administered through its frictional connection with the drive shaft I2 and sprocket wheel I5.

The arm is provided with a radially extended lug 21, the free end of which bears against the head 28 of the plunger 2|. However, should any jamming or interference occur in pushing an article from the merchandise conveyor into a carton, applying added resistance to a pusher nger sucient to overcome the tension of the plunger spring 25, the arm will be moved to unlatch the lug 21 from a latch tooth 29 extending laterally from a latch 30, pivotally mounted on a bracket 3| fixed to the frame of the machine.

'I'he arm or loading unit normally is latched by the latch 30 in a depressed position against the tension of a spring 32 housed in Ia bore in the journal of the drive shaft I2. The laterally extended tooth 29 of the latch 30 extends through an aperture in the bracket 3| and over the arm lug 21, and a slight rotative or swinging motion of the radial arm II will release the lug 21 from the tooth of the latch, whereupon the loading unit will be elevated by the spring 32, moving the ngers above an engaging contact with the articles in the pockets of the merchandise conveyor. This also frees the lug 21 of the radial arm from the plunger 2|, leaving the arm free to rotate under the frictional influence with the shaft I2 and driving sprocket wheel I5 until brought to rest by the lug 21 contacting with a stationary stop 33 extending vertically from the plunger supporting bracket 23.

The spring 32 for elevating the loading unit is housed within a bore 34 in the journal portion of the bracket I3, supporting the loading unit, and is coiled about the drive shaft I2 with one end thereof engaged against the inner end of a sleeve 35 concentric about the shaft and slidable within the journal bore 34, so that when the radial am is unlatched, the spring 31 will elevate the shaft I2 and its supporting and connecting parts comprising the loading unit. The shaft at its lower end is splined to a gear 36 of the transmission means for rotating the shaft which is in driving connection with the transmission for driving the carton and merchandise conveyors or other power means for synchronously transmitting the several conveyors.

As the drive for the machine generally constitutes'an electric motor, the plungerl 3l is also utilized for a' starting and stopping'drcuit control for the motor, as illustrated in Figure'3.

The rear end of the plunger 2l has an arm 31 extending laterally therefrom, with its free end carrying a set-screw 3l for contact with a stem `39 of a spring actuated movable electric circuit controlling switch element 40 engageable with a the pressure necessary'to poise the arm in position for normal operation, and to trip immedi stationary contact 43 by means of the conductor guided and sustained against sagor ilex by a pair of

rails

53, 53, xed upon the underside of the arm. The arm directly sustains the chain, so that any load imposed upon the fingers which in'- stitutes an abnormal pressure thereon, as results ately when any undue resistance or overload occurs.

The plunger is regulated for a pressure commensurate with the weight and other characteristics of the articles. 'In handling light fragile articles, for example tooth-paste tubes,V wherein any undue pressurewould dent or mar the tube and render it unfit as merchandise, the plunger is spring loaded just slightly in excess of that necessary to overcome the normal release thrust of the arm to permit the arm to trip readily should any obstruction -o`ccur in the transfer of the tubes, with little or no damage to the tubes. Upon release, the arm rises vertically and swingsradially' to a position clear of the conveyor pockets, and the mechanism stopped for correction by an attendant.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a carton' loading machine, a pair of endless conveyors, one for continuously advancing cartons in a consecutive order and the second having pocketsY for correspondingly continuously advancing merchandise for packing into the cartons, the conveyors moving the carton and the pockets with their contents in adjoining 'endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement of the merchandise and cartons, the merchandise is inserted respectively into the carton, an endless carton loading conveyor anda movable support therefor sustaining the same above' said merchandise conveyorwitl the forward run of the conveyor moving obliquely across and direcv support in an active position automatically refrom an article encountering any obstruction in its advance into the carton suilicient to depress the trip plunger 2|, eil'ects an unlatching of the arm; whereupon, itv will be instantly elevated by the spring 32 and moved outwardly to an inactive position and out off the driving power.

Upon removing `the obstruction, the arm can be easily manually swung back to active position and depressed, continuing the operation of the machine. As it is a common practice `to include printed matter in an enveloping position over an end of the article, for feeding the same along Vwith the article in the carton, displacement thereof occasionally results, causing a jam between the articles in the cartons, and unless immediately arrested( and removed, may result in injuries to the machine.

The power control may be readily modiiled over the form illustrated herein which is of a conventional character, as it is obvious that variousforms for electric circuit controlling switch devices may be employed operated by the arm from some otherpoint than that herein selected.

The rotation of the drive -shaft i2 has a tendency to swing the', arm bodily on its axis because of a degree of friction inherent in the unit plus the loading eiect of the articles being translated in the conveyor pockets. These forces are counteracted by the spring loaded latch plunger 2 I, regulated by the adjustable sleeve nut 26 for leasable by the pressure exerted by a finger encountering resistance in leading the merchandise .from the pockets into the cartons.

,advancingu merchandise for packaging into the cartons, the `conveyors moving the cartons and the pockets with their contents in adjoining endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement of the merchandise and cartons, the merchandise is inserted respectively into the cartons,` an endless carton loading conveyor movably sustained above said merchandise conveyor with the forward run of the loading conveyor moving obliquely across and directionally with the merchandise conveyor, and carrying lingers, each for traversing a merchandise conveying pocket for moving the merchandise therein4 into a registering carton, said loading conveyor movable for displacing the loading conveyor and dislodging the fingers from said conveyor pocket traverse, and latching means for holding said loading conveyor in an active position automatically releasable by pressure exerted by a linger encountering resist? ance in loading the merchandise from a pocket into a carton. t I

3. In a carton loading machine. a pair of endless conveyors. one for continuously advancing cartons in a consecutive order and the second having pockets for correspondingly continuously advancing merchandise for packaging into the cartons, the conveyors moving the cartons and the pockets with their contents in adjoining endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement of the merchandise and cartons, the mer- 4chandise is inserted respectively into the cartons, an endless carton loading conveyor movably sustained above said merchandise conveyor with the forward run of the loading conveyor moving obliquely across and directionally with the merchandise conveyor, and carrying nngers, each for traversing a merchandise conveying pocket for moving the merchandise therein into a registering carton, said loading conveyor movable for displacing the loading conveyor and dislodging the ilngers from said conveyor pocket traverse, latching means for holding said loading conveyor in an active position automatically releasable by pressure exerted by a finger encountering resistance in loading the merchandise from a pocket into a carton, and means actuated by the displacing movement of said loading conveyor for controlling the power transmission of all of said conveyors.

4. In a carton loading machine, a pair of endless conveyors, one for continuously advancing cartons in a consecutive order and the second having pockets for correspondingly continuously advancing merchandise for packaging into the cartons, the conveyors moving the-cartonsvand the pockets with theiizcontents in adjoining endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement of the merchandise and cartons, the merchandise is inserted respectively into the cartons, an endless carton loading conveyor movably supported above one of said conveyors with the forward run of the loading conveyor moving obliquely across vand directionally therewith, and carrying fingers, each for 'imparting relative movement to said merchandise and cartons for inserting the merchandise into a registering carton, said loading conveyor movable to a nonloadingposition, and latching means for holding said loading conveyor inl an active position automatically releasable by pressure exerted by.

a yfinger encountering resistance in loading the merchandise into a carton.

5. In a carton loading machine, a pair of endless conveyors, one for continuously advancing cartons in a consecutive order and the second having pockets for correspondingly continuously advancing merchandise for packaging into the cartons, the conveyors moving the cartons and the pockets with their contents in adjoining end- -wise registration; whereupon upon relative movement of the merchandise and cartons, the merchandise is inserted respectively into the cartons, an endless carton loading conveyor movably supported above one of said conveyors with the forward run of the loadingconveyor moving .obliquely across and directionally therewith, and

carrying fingers, each for imparting relative movement to said merchandise and cartons for inserting the merchandise into a registering carton, said loading conveyor movable to a nonloading position, latching means for holding said loading conveyor in an active position automaticartons in a consecutive order and the second for correspondingly continuously advancing merchandise for packaging into the cartons, the conveyors moving the cartons and merchandise in adjoining endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement thereof the merchandise is inserted respectively into the carton, anendless carton loading conveyor carrying ngers, each for moving the merchandise into a registering carton, a radial arm pivotally mounted for supporting said loading conveyor in a loading position above said merchandise conveyor, with the forward run of the conveyor. moving the fingers in a line obliquely across and directionally with the merchandise conveyor or in a nonloading position away from the merchandise conveyor, and latching means for holding said radial arm in a loading position automatically releasable by the pressure exerted through a ilnger encountering resistance in loading the merchandise into a carton, and causing movement of the arm to a non-loading position.

7. In a carton loading machine, a pair of endless conveyors, one for advancing cartons in a consecutive order andthe second for correspondingly advancing mechandise for packaging into the cartons, the conveyors moving the cartons and merchandise in adjoining endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement thereof the merchandise is inserted respectively into the carton, an endless carton loading conveyor carrying fingers, each for loading the merchandise into a registering carton, a radial arm pivotally mounted for supporting said loading conveyor in a loading position above said merchandise conveyor, with the forward run of the loading conveyor moving the fingers in a line obliquely across and directionally with the merchandise conveyor and perpendicularly movable for elevating the fingers to a non-loading position and away from the merchandise conveyor, and latch- ,ing means for holding said radial arm in'a loading position automatically releasable by the pressure initiated by a finger encountering, resistance in loading the merchandise into a carton,

Vand free the arm for movement of the conveyor finger to a non-loading position.

8. In a carton loading machine, a pair of endless conveyors, one for continuously advancing cartons in a consecutive order and the second for correspondingly continuouslyadvancing merchandise for packaging into the cartons, the conveyors moving the cartons and merchandise in adjoining endwise registration, whereupon upon relative movement thereof the merchandise is inserted respectively into the cartons, an endless cartonY loading conveyor carrying fingers, each for moving the merchandise into a registering carton, a radial arm pivotally mounted for supporting said loading conveyor in a loading position above said merchandise conveyor, with the forward run of the conveyor moving the fingers in a line obliquely across and directionally with the merchandise conveyor and to swing thearm to position the vconveyor in a non-loading position away from the merchandise conveyor, said arm yieldingly movable perpendicularly to elevate the nger to an inactive position, and latching means for holding said radial arm in a loading position automatically releasable by pressure imposed through a finger encountering resistance in loading the merchandise into a carton for movement of the arm to a non-loading position.

RUEL A. JONES.