US2316867A

US2316867A - Packaging machine

Info

Publication number: US2316867A
Application number: US432224A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanlcy R Howard
Original assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Current assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Priority date: 1942-02-25
Filing date: 1942-02-25
Publication date: 1943-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1960-04-20

Description

April 20, 1943. s. R. HOWARD PACKAGING MACHI NE Filed Feb. 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M 1?. kw: BY

ATTORNE April 1943- s. R. HOWARD 2,316,867

PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1942 J06 J42 J40 INVENTOR (I? M BY QMQW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING MACHINE Stanley E. Howard, Milton, Mass., aSSignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 25, 1942, Serial No. 432,224

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a packaging machine and more particularly to a bottom sealing machine for sealing the bottom flaps of cartons.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved packaging machine of the character specified, capable of continuous operation at a relatively high rate of speed and in which provision is made for applying substantial pressure in a novel manner to the closed and sealed bottom fiaps of a carton to firmly set the same during the continuous operation of the machine.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the packaging machine and in the various structures, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bottom sealing machine embodying the present' invention; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the pressure applyin mechanism, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel and improved sealing machine adapted to close and seal the flaps of cartons while the latter are continuously conveyed through the machine, and, in which provision is made for applying substantial pressure to the closed and sealed flaps to firmly set the same during the continuous movement of the cartons. In the preferred embodiment of the invention provision is made for supporting the cartons in carton holding pockets mounted upon a continuously moving carrier chain and with the top and bottom flaps of the carton extending beyond the top and bottom respectively of the pocket. The cartons thus held are advanced past flap closing and adhesive applying mechanism for adhesively securing together the bottom flaps of the carton. In order to firmly press and set the adhesively sealed flaps, pressure applying mechanism of novel and improved structure is provided, and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention such pressure applying mechanism comprises a vertically reciprocal plunger or forming block arranged to be introduced into the open end of the continuously moving carton and to be moved along therewith. The plunger thus inserted is arranged to cooperate with a continuously moving bottom plate to effect substantial pressure upon the folded and sealed bottom flaps while the carton is supported in the carton holding pocket. Thereupon, the plunger is removed from the carton and the latter is discharged from the machine to be delivered to subsequent machines for filling and top closing the cartons.

Referring now to the drawings, in general, the different features of the invention have been shown for illustrative purposes as embodied in a packaging machine in which provision is made for feeding collapsed cartons from a stack or supply thereof and for opening successive cartons and deliverin them into successive carton holding devices forming a part of a continuously travelling endless conveyer. The latter functions to present the cartons to successive operating stations Where the extended bottom flaps of the cartons are supplied with adhesive and closed while the cartons are held and continuously advanced by the carton holding devices on the conveyer. Thereafter, successive cartons are presented to pressure applying mechanism by which the closed and sealed bottom flaps are firmly set in their operative position. The bottom sealed cartons are then automatically discharged from the machine onto an outgoing conveyer which may deliver the cartons to subsequent machines for filling the cartons, and for closing and sealing the top flaps to complete the packaging operation.

As herein shown, the illustrated machine includes continuously driven conveyer chains Ill provided with a plurality of spaced carton holding and gripping members I 2 adapted to receive opened cartons from carton feeding mechanism indicated generally at M and to operatively support the cartons with their top and bottom flaps in open condition.

The carton feeding mechanism 54 may comprise any usual or preferred form of carton feeding mechanism now upon the market, such as is illustrated in the United States patent to Robinson No. 1,599,248, dated September 7, 1926. Such mechanism essentially comprises a magazine for holding a supply of collapsed cartons It in a vertical position. Provision is made, during the operation of the machine, for withdrawing the endmost collapsed carton from the stack, opening it, and introducing it into one of the carton holding devices or pockets l2 upon the continuously moving chains l0. Inasmuch as the details of the carton feeding mechanism in itself form no part of the present invention, reference is made to the above patent for a further and more complete disclosure and description thereof.

As herein illustrated, each pocket l2 includes a relatively fixed arm I 8 extended from a bracket 20 carried by the chains Ill, and a movable arm 22 pivotally mounted upon 'a stud 24 in the bracket 25. The pivotally mounted arm 22 is normally held in engagement with the side of the carton by a spring 26 in order to retain the carton firmly in the pocket. As herein shown, a stationary cam 28 disposed adjacent the chain I is arranged to cooperate with a roller 30 carried by an extension 32 of the arm 22 in order to open the pocket at the discharge station, indicated generally at 34, to permit the carton to be removed. The cam piece 28 is extended to hold the pocket in its open position until it passes the carton feeding station I4 whereupon the arm 22 is again closed 'upon the thus deposited carton.

The carrier chains I0, as herein shown, are arranged to run over

double sprockets

36,38 and are continuously driven throughconn'e'ctions from a worm 40, and worm *gear 42, see Fig. 2, the worm shaft 44 being rotated through any usual or preferred driving connections, now shown. The worm gear 42 is rotatably mounted .upon-a central stationary-shaft-48,=the wormgear having secured thereto a hollow shaft 50 upon which the double sprocket 36 is keyed.

The cartonthus held with its top and bottom fiaps extended is moved through the-fiap holding and adhesive applying. mechanism. indicated =generally'at 52 where thelnarrow-end flaps-are tucked and folded in, the side flaps'spread outwardly and provided with adhesive, and then folded inwardly to'close the flaps as the carton is continuously moved therethrough. As herein shown, the flap folding and adhesive applying mechanism 52 includes -a stationary rail :having flared edges, 54, 56=arranged toengage and spread 1' 15,235 .herein shown, is fast upon a short shaft Hand is arranged to be continuously rotated in timed relation to the advance of the cartons through connections including a chain and .sprocketdrive 16, shaft I8, and bevel 'ige'ars 80, '82, the latter being -fa'ston a-shaft 84 to'which the double sprocket 38 is fixed.

As illustrated in Fig. -1,-the 'outspread :side flaps 58,60 are arranged-topass-over adhesive applying rollers 85, 86 mounted upon ashaft 90 arranged to be rotated through a chain and sprocket 'drive 92 ;connected tov "the shaft 7 10. The rotation of

therollers

86, 88 is such that the surface speedthereof is equal to the forward movement of the cartonsyvhereby to provide a uniform film of adhesive to the innerisurface -of each sidefiap Thereupon, as 'the'cartons progress through the'fiap foldin gand 'adhesive applying mechanism,'the'side flaps 58,60 aresuccessively 1 engaged and folded upon the bottom of the carton by stationary curved *rails .94, Siito complete thegfoldingandsealing operation in preparation for the pressure applyin operation to firmly set thewadhesively secured flaps.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the pressure {applying mechanism includes 'a rotatable dlsc ';I00, upon which the bottomof :the carton is-arranged to rest during the pressure applying operation, and a plurality of vertically reciprocal plungers I82 arranged to enter successive cartons, and, in cooperation with the rotatable disc, effect substantial pressure against the adhesively sealed flaps. As herein shown, the disc I00 is keyed to the hollow shaft 50, the hub I04 of the disc resting upon a flanged portion I06 of the hollow shaft, and the double sprocket 36 bearing against the top of the disc, as shown in Fig. 2. Each plunger member IE2 is yieldingly mounted upon a stud Hi3 secured to a slide member III] mounted'to reciprocate vertically in a. grooved supporting member I I2. The supporting member H2 is 'attachedto a rotatable member H4 fixed to the upper end 'of'thehollow shaft 50, and is rotata'ble therewith about the central stationary shaft 48'. A bushing I I6 is provided for the upper end of the rotatable member H4, as shown.

Provision is made for reciprocating the plunger's Ill-2 in :timed relation to the arrival of "suc- .cessive;1cartons to the pressure applying mechanism, and, as herein shown, each slide member H0 is connectedbya link H 8 to a-crank"arm I20 keyed'to a shaft I22 journalled in a hub I24 formed on the top 'of each'supporting member I- I2, Each :s'haft I22 is provided with a 'bevel gear I26, I26 fixed thereon and -,arranged to mesh "with 'a stationary bevel gear I28 keyed 'to the central stationary shaft 48. Wlth this construction it will be seen that, in "operation, as the plunger units are rotated about the central shaft 548 with the rotatable member "I'M, the bevel gears I26, 126' are rolled about the stationary bevel gear I28 to effect rotation 'o'f the crank .arms I20 thus raising and lowerin the plunger members as'theyrare revolved about the'central shaft. The centralsha'ftAB,*as3indi- .catedin dotted'linesin "Fig. 2, is supported. at its upper end in a :bracket I30 attached to "the .machine frame, I and, at its lower Tend, ismounted in a base member 132 forming part of the machine frame.

It will be fobs'erved thatalthough the-pitch diameters of thegears I26, 'I26'yary in order to'fit them into the space available, they are arranged toengage' different 1 portions of the relatively wide .face of iftlle stationary "gear I 2 8 so that, in oper- .ation, a ratio of oneto one may he maintained 'toefiect one complete revolution of each'ro'f the several crank arms I20 as the latter'arerevolved one revolution ab'outth central shaft. Inoper- 'ation and-as shown in Fig.2, aplungeri I02 isin. its raised position as it is revolved in'to'alignm'ent with an oncoming carton and is gradually lowered into the carton until it engages'the'bottom thereof whereupon substantial pressureisbrought to bear "against "the bottom'flaps as the'plungers are yieldingly pressed thereagainst.

, 'Assliown in Fig. 2, theyieldablemountin'g"for each plunger I02 comprises a coil spring I34 interpfosed between the top of the plunger :anil a nut and washer l 36m'ounted' on therod I 03. The plunger head I02 is vertically movable on therod ;I 08, and, as herein shown, is limited in its "outward-movement by the 'provisi'on'lof a collar 138 on the rod I08 arran'gedtobeartagainst ashoulder I40 of a threaded member I42 received :in the top of the plunger, as clearly illustrated in 'crosssection in Fig. 2. A'set screw 'l ldprovided'in'the plunger head and arranged tobe projected into a longitudinalr'groove I46 provided in the lower end of 'the rod, serves to :preverit frotatio'n iof the plunger head on its own axis. Thus, when 'l'the' plunger head is brought into engagement with the bottom of the carton, the downward stroke of the slide member H and rod N38 is continued, the overstroke being taken up by the yielding connection, and during the first part of the Withdrawing stroke -the pressure is continued until the limit of extension of the head is reached, thus obtaining a relatively long period of compression during the continuous movement of the carton.

Thereafter, in the operation of the machine, the plunger is completely withdrawn from the carton and the latter is discharged upon a rotatable disc I48 and guided between rails I50, I52 onto an outgoing conveyer I54. As previously described, the movable side 22 of the pocket I2 is arranged-to be opened at the discharge station up on engagement of the roller 38 with the stationary cam piece 28 to permit the carton to be withdrawn from the pocket 12 as it passes the discharge station 34.

From the description thus far it will be observed that in the operation of the machine, the flaps are sealed during the movement of the carton through a straight path, while the application of pressure to the sealed flaps is caused to take place during the movement of the cartons through a curved path. In this manner ample time is afforded for proper setting of the sealed flaps, while permitting the machine to operate at relatively high speed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold a carton with at least one set of end flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said end flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the same including a reciprocal member adapted to enter a carton while the latter is supported in said continuously moving pocket and to exert substantial pressure upon said sealed flaps.

2. In a packaging machine, in combination, continuously moving carton supporting means arranged to support a carton with at least one set of flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure to said a-dhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the same, including a presser member arranged to enter a carton while the latter is supported in said continuously moving carton supporting means,

3. In a packagin machine. in combination, a continuously moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold a carton with at least one set of flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the same comprising a vertically reciprocal member arranged to enter a carton while supported in said continuously moving pocket and a continuously moving supporting member cooperating with said vertically reciprocal member to perform the pressure applying operation,

4. In a packaging machine, in combination, a moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended,

means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure'to'said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the same comprising a presser member arranged to engage the inner surface of the sealed carton flaps and to move along with the carton while the latter is supported in said moving pocket and a moving supporting member cooperating with said presser member to perform the pressure applying operation, said presser member and said supporting member being mounted for relative movement to effect the pressure applying operation.

5. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed tohold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and-means for applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps including a plurality of vertically reciprocal members arranged to enter successive cartons and to move along therewith to perform the pressure applying operation.

6. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets each constructed to hold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the same including a plurality of vertically reciprocal and revolubly mounted plungers arranged to enter successive cartons held in said continuously moving pockets and to move along therewith during the pressure applying operation,

'7. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets each constructed to hold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the same including a plurality of vertically reciprocal and revolubly mounted plungers arranged to enter successive cartons held in said continuously moving pockets and to move along therewith during the pressure applying operation and a rotatable flap supporting member cooperating with said revolubly mounted plungers.

8. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets each constructed to hold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed bottom flaps to firmly set the same including a plurality of vertically reciprocal and revolubly mounted plungers arranged to enter successive cartons held in said continuously moving pockets and to move along therewith during the pressure applying operation and a rotatable flap supporting member cooperating with said revolubly mounted plungers, said plungers and said supporting member being mounted for relative yielding movement whereby to permit the application of pressure to be maintained for a relatively long period of time.

9. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrier mounted to move in a straight path during one part of its movement and in a curved path during another part of its movement, said carrier provided with a :biurality :of canton-moldinggpozkets 6011?- structd it'o hold a, coat-ton "with :at sleast one Feet "of itsriiaps extien' zled,. -xneam's:ior tbiosingzaiid-zaii- .hesively sealing said flaps "while 117118383111 :mnier is "traveling, the straight portion o'f its gmth, andimean's for ioon-tinuouslysapplyin g FsfibStantiQI pressure to said l'zidhesivetrsealingifiaps for jaxsub- 'stantial 'period .of :time to :fnmly :set the s'am'e while sa-id carrier isztravelinguthrough:saidi curved portion 10f 'its path. i

10. In-a packagingirxfa'chizre,:in'comlainzatidn, a, continuouslymovingcarrierszmounteditomovein a straight path during one part of its movement and in "a curved math-during another Zpant ='of its movement said carrieriprovitied with a plura'lity of 'cajrton holding pockets .EaZGh iconstr'u'ct'ed. 170 11016 a carton "with at least e'one set df "its ifia'p's 'extende'd, means for .closfng'andzadhesively seal ing esaid flaps whire' the :said carrier is 1' traveling in 'thezstraight'portion (if fits pat'h;an'drmeans for :structemto hold-.aicarton" with at least zoneuset its fflaps *exten'ded, m'eans' for closing and TfidhG? sively "sealing said flaps-while the; said car'rierfis travelingrin the straight portioncof-itsjapathxand means 1 for applying substantial -pressure to said adhesivesealing'iiapsto firmly-set thei samewhiie said carrier is traveling through saidccurvedcpor tion'of it's :path,isaid: pressure" applyin-gmeanxineluding two "cooperating relatively movabiewresser members disposed to engage-opposed .511!- faces o'fsai'dfs'et tifssealedsfiaps;said:presserm'xmbers being" mounted to move with the carton in said -curved path.

- STANLEY-R. 'HOWKRD.