US2331018A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1943. w.'.J. FEDORCHAK ETAL 2,331,018

' PACKAGING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 25, 1940 10 Sheets- Sheet 1 ATTORN YS Oct. 5, 1943. w, FEDORCHAK r 2,331,018

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed 001;. 25, '1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N V E N TO RS WcZ'Fedorcha/k JR. ]hnson ATTORN YS QQQQQQ Q Q Q Oct. 5, 1943- w. J. FEDORCHAK ETAL 2,331,018

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS m s .m w J n w M .A

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ATTO R N YS 0d. 5, 1943- w. J. FEDORCHAK ETAL I ,331,

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wcl'iedorcbak, JRxJbhnson,

ATTORN YS Y INVENTORS 1943. w. J. FEDORCHAK ETAL 2,331,013

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 \m W IM INVENTORS HIM III) 4 Oct. 5, 1943. w. J. FEDORCHAK arm. 2,331,018

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 5, 1943. V w. J. FEDORCHAK :rm. 2,331,018

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 {L0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 5, 1943. w. J. FEDORCHAK ETAL 2,331,018

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Z 4 a I! III 2% I llllllllllllllllllllllll I.

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INVENTO RS Wcliedorchalr, JR.cT0 m.son,

ATTO R N Oct; 5, 1943; w. J. FEDORCHAK ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25. 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTbRS ZEf'edorchak, JIR.J0hnsor1,

Jnkson ATTORNE S -Oct. 5, 1943 w. J, po c ETA], 2,331,018

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 A 6. Jackson ATTOR N S Patented Get. 5, 1943.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PACKAGING meme William J, Fedorchak, Granite City, John R. Johnson, Alton, and Albert S. Jackson, Wood River, 111., assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application October 25, 1940, Serial-No. 362,816

' 12 Claims.

Our invention relates to packaging apparatus adapted for packing bottles, Jars or other articles in cartons. The'invention in the form herein illustrated is adapted for automatically placing bottles or like articles, a row at a time, in a carton which is provided with conventional partitions to divide the carton into individual cells.

At the present day in the manufacture and packing of bottles, jars and the like, the ware is usually inspected as it is taken from the annealing leer and packed by hand into cartons.

An object of our invention is to provide automatic means by which the bottles or other articles may be carried on a single line conveyor to a packaging zone and there transferred to the cartons. The invention provides an endless belt conveyor by which the bottles are carried to a packaging station, means for advancing the cartons step by step beneath the conveyor at said station, and means for transferring a row of bottles from the conveyor to the carton after each step movement of the carton, to fill one row of cells in the carton, the articles being directed through a chute, either in an upright position or inverted position into the carton.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an apparatus particularly designed for packaging bottles in accordance with our invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation at on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation at the line H on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of gearing for driving various parts of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation at the line 6-6 on Fig. 3, showing the Geneva drive and associated gearing;

Fig. '7 is a section at the line 'l-l on Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation showing a one revolution clutch mechanism, the section being substantially at the lines 88 on Figs. 1 and 9;

Fig. 9 is a section at the line 99 on Fig. 8 showing the one revolution clutch mechanism and the timer device;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the timer device, the section being taken at the line HIID on Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section at the line HIl on Fig. 5,

the line 3-3 showing cam operated means for tilting the bottles into the chute by which they are guided into the cartons; i

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail at the line l2l2 on Fig. 8 showing means for actuating the clutch dog;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation at the line 13-43 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a section at the line l4-ll on line 5;

Fig. 15 is a section at the linei5-'-l5 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus; Fig. 17 is a sectional detail view, the section being taken at the line 11-11 on Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view taken as indicated by the line IBI8 on Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a sectional elevation of the tilting device by which the bottles are tilted into the guiding chute and directed into the carton;

Fig. 20 is a view. similar to Fig. 19 but showing the tilting means in a different position;

Fig. 21 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus, parts being broken away, the section being at the line 2l-2l on Fig. 15;

Fig. 22 is a detail sectional view at the line 22-22 on Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is adia'gram of the electrical controlling apparatus for the clutch.

A brief description of the general construction of the apparatus and its methodof operation will now be given, followed by a more detailed description. The apparatus as herein illustrated is designed and adjusted for packing bottles in cartons,.each of which is partitioned to provide individual cells arranged in four rows of six cells each. The bottles B are fed forward on a conveyor 25 (Figs. 1 and 2) driven continuously by a'motor M having driving connection therewith as hereinafter described. The bottles as they advance engage an electrical counter .in the form of a star wheel 26' (Figs. 1 and 2) and rotate it step by step. The star wheel as shown has six points so that the passage of six bottles imparts a complete rotation to the wheel. This operates to close an electric switch,

thereby actuating an electromagnetic clutch control device 21 (Fig. 9) so that a one revolution clutch is operated to effect a cycle of movements of the various parts of the packaging apparatus.

This cycle includes an operation of a bottle tilting apparatus 28 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 19, 20) by which a row of six bottles is'tilted oil the conveyor into a chute 29 and guided into a carton C therebeneath. The carton is then indexed or moved a step forward horizontally to position it for receivin the next row of bottles. The means for advancing the carton step by step comprises a pair of sprocket chains 38 carrying pusher arms 3| which engage the carton.

By reference to Fig. 15, which shows a carton with the first row of bottles therein, it will be noted that four indexing movements of the feeder chains 36 are required for packing each carton. The fourth indexing movement from the position shown .in Fig. carries the carton beyond the filling chute 29 and brings the next succeeding carton into position to receive its first row of bottles. This last indexing movement, it will be seen, must be through a comparatively long distance to provide for the space required for the wall thickness of the cartons with their folded flaps and also the space between adjacent cartons to accommodate the pusher arms 3|. The mechanism for causing these indexing movements through periodically varying distances is fully described hereinafter.

The empty cartons may be moved automatically onto a receiving latform 32 (Figs. 15 and 21) by conveyor mechanism (not shown) which advances said cartons horizontally in a direction parallel with the bottle conveyor 25. The cartons are intermittently moved forward .from the platform 32 ina direction perpendicular to the conveyor 25, into position to be engaged by the indexing arms 3|. This movement is effected by a pusher plate 33 (Figs. 15 and 21) attached to and projecting upward from the rearend of 83 plate 34 which is reciprocated lengthwise by means of a rack 35 attached to the under side thereof and driven by a gear 36 which is periodically rotated in opposite directions as hereinafter set forth.

A more detailed description of the apparatus will now be given.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the electric motor M which may be run continuously, has a belt driving connection 31 with a shaft 38 which is connected through speed reduction gearing within a gear box 39 to a drive shaft 40. Driving connections for the endless conveyor 25 include a sprocket chain 4| driven by the shaft 40 and driving a shaft 42 connected through bevel gears 43 with the driving pulley 44 of the conveyor 25. The drive shaft 40 has attached thereto a sprocket wheel 45 which drives a sprocket chain 46 trained over a sprocket wheel 41. (Figs. 3 and 9) mounted on a tubular shaft 48 to Which it is secured by bolts 49 (Fig. 9). The tubular shaft 48 is mounted on a nonrotating shaft 50. Keyed to the shaft 48 is an annular clutch member 5| (Figs. 8 and 9) cooperating with a clutch dog 52 mounted to rock on a pivot pin 53 on a clutch disk 54. The latter is keyed to a tubular shaft 55 mounted for rotation on the shaft 50. The dog 52 is held in engagement with the ratchet 5| by means ofa coil spring 56 (Figs. 8 and 12), mounted on a rod 51 movable lengthwise in bearings 58 on the clutch disk 54, the spring being held under compression between one of said bearings and a stop 59 on the rod.

The tubular shafts 48 and 55 (Fig. 9) are mounted respectively in bearings on standards The electromagnetic clutch control device 21 is mounted on the standard 60 and includes an electromagnet coil 92 (Fig. 23) and armature or core 63 to which is connected 8. pin 68. When the magnet is deenergized, the locking pin 64 is projected by means of a coil spring 64 into the path of the dog 52 in position to hold it disconnected from the ratchet 5! as shown in Fig. 8. When the magnet is energized the locking pin 64 is withdrawn, permitting the dog-to be moved by its spring 56 into engagement with the ratchet 5|. The continuously rotating shaft 48 is thus connected to drive the shaft 55 through one complete rotation. As the clutch disk 54 is completing its rotation the locking pin 64, which in the meantime has been projected to its dogholding position, engages a cam surface 65 on the dog and releases it from the ratchet and stops the shaft 55.

As before noted, the operation of the clutch magnet is controlled by the star wheel or counter 26 which is given a step by step rotation as the bottles advance. Referring to Fig. 23, the electrical controlling circuits for the clutch magnet will now be described. Electric current is supplied from the mains 66, 66 to the primary coil 61 of a step down transformer. The star wheel 26carries a wiper contact 68 which as its rotates bridges a pair of stationary contacts and establishes a circuit through the secondary coil 69 of the transformer. This circuit may be traced through a conductor 16, wiper 68. wires H and I2, brush. 13 of a timer T, segment 14, brush 15, wire I6, switch H, wire 18, coil 19 of a relay switch 80, wire 8| to the transformer. The coil 19 being thus energized operates the double pole switch 89 to establish a circuit for the clutch magnet coil 62, which circuit can be traced from the main 66 through relay switch 80, wire 8|, magnet coil 62, switch to main 66. The coil '62 being energized withdraws the clutch pin 64 (Figs. 8, 9) so that the clutch is operated and imparts one rotation to the shaft 55.

When the star wheel operates to establish a circuit for the coil 19, it also energizes the coil 83' of a relay switch 83 (Fig. 23). This circuit may be traced through conductor 1.8, star wheel contacts, conductors H, II. coil 83' and conductor 8|. The switch 83 is therefore closed and establishes a circuit for the coil 19 independent of the star wheel, which circuit may be traced through a conductor 85, switch 83, wire 86, timer brush 84, segment 14, brush 15, wire 16, switch 11, wire 18, coil 19 and wire 8|. The closing of switch 83 also establishes a holding circuit through coil 83 by way of wire 85, switch 83,

,wire 96, timer brushes 84, 13, wire 12, coil 83 and wire 8|. The circuits through coils 83' and I9 are maintained until the timer contact 13 runs off the segment 14, breaking the circuits through said coils. The switch 88 is thus opened and the clutch magnet deenergized so that the holding pin- 64 is moved into the path of the clutch dog so that the clutch is released at the completion of a revolution. The purpose of the switch 11. and a switch l'l (Fig. 23) in parallel therewith will be described later.

- The intermittent clutch disk 54 (Figs. 8 and 9) has a driving connection through a pair of intermeshing gears 98 and Bi to gearing within a gear case 93 (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7). The gear 90 The gearing. is so proportioned that the shaft 92 is given one complete rotation for each complete rotation of the intermittent clutch disk 54.

The Geneva driving element cooperates in a conventional manner with radial slots 9'! in-the and disconnect the gears I and I03.

I Geneva gear wheel to impart a step rotation to the latter for each rotation of the shaft 92.

The Geneva wheel 95 operates through differential gearing which will now be described to impart intermittent movements to the indexing sprocket chains 30 and arms 3| for indexing the cartons. Mounted on the shaft 96 and keyed thereto are gears 98 and 99 which mesh with gears I00 and IM mounted to rotate on stud shafts .mounted within the gear casing. The gears I00 and IN are adapted to-mesh respectively with gears I03 and I04 carried on a squared portion of a shaft I05 (Figs. 4, 5 and 7), The gears I03 and I04'are mounted on a sleeve I06 (Fig. 7) slidable on the shaft for shifting the gears into and out of mesh with the gears I00 and IOI respectively. The gear 99 is of larger diameter than the gear 98 while the gear I00 which meshes with gear 98 is of larger diameter than the gear IOI which is in mesh with the gear 99.

Means for shifting the gears I03, I04 comprises a rock arm IN on a rock shaft I08 to which is also attached a rock arm I09, the outer end of which carries a cam roll running in a cam track I I0 formed in a cam disk III mounted on a bearing sleeve II2 (Fig. '7) on the shaft I05. The cam disk is rotated intermittently by means of a sprocket chain II3 trained over a sprocket wheel on the shaft 92 and a sprocket wheel II4 attached to the cam disk. The sprocket wheels are so proportioned that four rotations of the Geneva drive shaft 92 impart one complete rotation to the cam disk. The cam track includes a cam section II 0 which operates the rock arms I09, I01, for shiftingthe pair of gears I03, I04, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to a position in which the gear I04 meshes with the gear IOI while the gear I03 is disconnected from the gear I00.

The indexing sprocket chains 30 are trained over sprocket wheels on a shaft H5 (Fig. 21) and .corresponding sprocket wheels on the drive shaft I05 (Fig. 5). A step rotation of the Geneva wheel '95 transmits a motion either through the gear train 98, I00 and I03, or gear train 99, I0I,

I04, for imparting a step rotation to the shaft I05 and thereby indexing the chains 30 and carton carried thereby. The carton is thus advanced step by step and receives a row of bottles through the chute 29 after each step movement. After the last row of bottles has been placed in the carton, the next succeeding step movement brings the next succeeding carton into position to receive its first row of bottles. This requires a movement through a comparatively long distance to compensate for the thickness of the carton walls and the pusher arms 3|, as heretofore noted. This longer indexing movement is effected by shifting the gears I03, I04 (Fig. 5) to bring the gear I04 in mesh with the gear IM This shifting of the gears is effected by the cam section' II0 of the cam track and takes place while the Geneva wheel 95 is at rest after the last row of bottles has been deposited in the carton so that when the Geneva wheel is again indexed, it operates through the gear train 99, IOI and I04. After this indexing movement to bring an empty carton to loading position, the gears I03, I04 are returned to the Fig, 5 position for the three comparatively short indexing movements which take place during the loading of the carton.

The bottle tilting device 28 for tipping the bottles off the conveyor, inverting them and ing bottles.

directing them into the chute 29 will now be described. This device, shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, l9 and 20 includes a pair of rock arms II6 fixed to a rock shaft II! to which is also seemed a rock arm II8. Means for 'rocking the shaft II'I in- 'cludes a cam I20 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 11) keyed to the Geneva drive shaft 92. The cam operates a lever I2I fulciumed at I22 and connected through a rod I23 to the rock arm II8. A rock arm I24 (Figs. 1, 19, 20) is fulcrumed to swing about a pivot pin I25 adjustably mounted in a slotted bracket arm I 26 secured to the supporting frame I21 of the conveyor 25. The upper end of the rod I24 is connected to a pivot pin I 28 which is adjustably secured in a slotted arm I29 clamped to a horizontal bar I30 extending between and journalled for rocking movement in the arms I IS.

A pusher bar I3I, parallel with the bar I30, has at its ends, arms I32 extending at right angles thereto, said arms being anchored in the ends of the bar I30. A coil tension spring I33 is attached at one end to one of the arms I I8 and is anchored at its opposite end to the conveyor frame and serves to hold the cam roll on lever I2I (Fig. 11) in contact with its cam.

The operation of the bottle tilting device is as follows. As the cam I20 advances from the position shown in Fig. 11, it permits a quick movement of the lever I2I owing to the abrupt drop in the cam surface so that the spring I33 swings the arms II6 from'the Fig. 19 position inwardly to the Fig. 20 position. The pusher bar I3I dur-- ing this movement engages the neck portions of the row of bottles and tips them over so that they are guided neck end downward through the wise direction about its longitudinal axis sufficiently to partly counteract the downward component of movement of the bar I3I caused by the swinging movement of the arms I I6. The pusher bar is thus given a movement in the required direction to cause the bottles to be directed into the chute. Where it is desired to introduce the bottles in an upright position into the cartons a modified construction may be employed in which the pusher bar engages the bottles at a lower point, means also being provided to prevent the bottles from tipping over. It will be noted that this bottle tilting mechanism is given a cycle of movements each time the Geneva drive shaft 92 is rotated. The parts are timed to cause the transfer of a row of bottles to the carton while the latter is at rest after' each indexing movement of the carton conveyor chains 30.

As the bottles are carried forward by the conveyor into position to be tilted by the pusher bar, the foremost bottle is arrested by an adjustable stop I34, and each bottle in turn provides a stop for the next bottle until the row of six bottles is in position for the transfer.

the bottle tilting mechanism while the latter is in operation, we provide stop mechanism for the bottles including a stop 'arm or lug I35 (Figs. 2 and 3) pivoted on a stationary -plate I36 for swinging movement into the path of the oncom- The arm I35 is moved forward into the path of the bottles by a coil spring I31 mounted on a rod I38 connected at its forward end to said arm. The rod carries at its opposite end a finger I39 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which projects behind one of the arms IIB. When the pusher bar I3I is moved forward to tip the bottles, the rod I38 moves forward and swings the stop arm I35 In order to pre-" 'vent interference of the oncoming bottles with into the path of the bottle immediately adjacent to the bottles which are being tilted, thereby holding the oncoming bottles on the conveyor 25 until the pusher bar has returned, and the stop arm has been retracted.

Each carton C (Figs. 13 and 15) comprises a bottom I43, side walls I4I, end walls I42, end flaps I43, and side flaps I44. Spacers I44 divide the interior of the carton into individual cells for the bottles. The empty carton may he slid into position on the platform 32 (Fig. 21) from one side of the packaging apparatus, either by hand or by an automatic conveyor or the like. The side flaps I44 are folded downward against the sides of the carton as shown in Fig. 15 before the carton is placed on the platform. As shown in Fig. 21, the platform is made in sections horizontally spaced to accommodate a pusher device presently to be described by which the cartons are advanced to the indexing fingers 3I. Extending forward from each section of the platform is a side plate or ledge I45 to support the carton as it is moved forward off the platform. The cartons as they are advanced are guided between rails I46 positioned above and laterally beyond the ledges I45. The end portions I41 the rails on one side of the apparatus which are curved as shown (Figs. 2, 21), serve as guides to the cartons C as the latter are moved forward onto the platform 32.

The mechanism for advancing each carton from the platform into position to be engaged by the indexing fingers 3I will now be described. Such mechanism includes the horizontal plate 34 positionedat a plane just beneath the platform 32 and extending forward parallel with the indexing chains 36, the plate 34 being mounted to reciprocate in guideways I49. Attached to the rear end of the plate 34 is an angle bar comprising an arm I49 projecting upwardly therefrom (Figs. 15; and 16). The pusher plate 33 is provided with a shank II adjustably supported in a bearing on the arm I49, permitting adjustment of the pusher plate. The plate 34 has attached to its under surface and extending lengthwise thereof the rack bar 35 reciprocated by the pinion 36. The latter is keyed on a shaft I52 (Figs. 15, 13, 14) to which is also keyed a pinion I53. The pinion is rotated alternately in opposite diiections by a rack bar I 54 mounted to reciprocate in a guideway I55. The rack I54 is connected through a link I56 to a rock arm I51 (see Figs. 14, 4 and 5) having a pivotal connection I56 with a stationary arm I59. The arm I51 is rocked by means of a cam plate I 66 mounted for rotation on a shaft I6I. The cam plate is formed with a cam track I62 in which runs a cam roll I63 on the arm I51. The cam is rotated by means of a sprocket wheel I64 connected thereto and driven by a sprocket chain I65 trained over the wheel I64 and a driving sprocket pinion I66 (Fig. 6)

keyed to the shaft 92.

The sprockets I66 and I64 are so proportioned that the cam I6!) is given one complete rotation for four rotations of the sprocket pinion I66 and its driving shaft 92, the latter as heretofore noted being given one complete rotation for each indexing movement of the chains 36. The cam track I62 is also so formed that it reciprocates the arm I51 during one rotation of the drive shaft 92 and then remains at rest during the next succeeding three rotations of the drive shaft. In

other words, the arm I51 is rcciprocated during every fourth indexing movement of the carton and through the connections above described reciprocates the pusher plate 33 for advancing an empty carton to the filling zone.

The end flaps I43 of the carton, owing to their inherent resiliency, tend to swing inward toward a closed position. In order to counteract this tendency and hold the flaps fully open during the placing of the bottles in the carton, a pair of stationary guide rails I61 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) are provided. These rails are positioned and shaped to engage beneath the flaps I43 as the carton advances and gradually swing the flaps upwardly, outwardly and downwardly to fully open position with the flaps substantially horizontal and to hold them in such position until the carton has been filled and passes beyond the filling zone.

The guide rails I61 are anchored to the framework of the machine by means of straps I61 and include straight portions extending horizontally in the direction in which the cartons are advanced through the filling zone and positioned at opposite sides of the cartons. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear ends of the rails are comparatively close together, the rails being flared from said ends outwardly and forwardly with respect to the direction in which the cartons are advanced therebeneath. In other words, the rails are forwardly and outwardly divergent in the direction of travel of the cartons therebeneath. The free ends of the rails are so positioned that as a cara stop pin I16 (Figs. 17, 18).

carrying the stop plate I68 nears the limit of its formed on the plate I69.

ton commences its forward movement toward the filling zone the ends of the rails will engage beneath the flaps I43. The forwardly divergent portions of the'rails have an upwardly convex form or curvature as shown in Fig. 3 to facilitate the swinging movement of the flaps I43 as the carton advances. The rails are so shaped that when the carton reaches the filling zone the flaps have been swung thereby to their fully open position.

In order to hold the forward side flap I44 of the carton downward against the side wall I as shown in Fig. 15, while the carton is moved forward from the platform to the next preceding carton, there is provided a U-shaped holding plate I68 or stop plate (see Figs. 15, 17, 18 and 21). This stop plate is pivotally mounted on a supporting plate 163 to swing from a vertical position, forwardly and downwardly to a horizontal position. The plate I69 is connected by bolts I16 to the longitudinally reciprocating plate 34. The pivotal connection for the stop plate I66 includes bearing lugs I1i fixed to said plate and mounted to swing on pivot pins I12 on the plate I69.

The stop plate I66 is yieldingly held in its upright position by a pair of coil springs I13 mounted on rods I14, said rods pivoted at one end to the bearing lugs HI and slidable in arms I15 While the carton is being advanced the plate I68 is held by means of the springs I13 in its vertical position against As the plate 34 forward movement a trip arm I11 (Figs. 17, 18) on the lug I1I engages a stop I18 and moves said arm to the dotted line position i Fig. 18), thereby a stop I18, thereby reversing the trip'arm and throwing the stop plate I68 up to its operative position.

When a carton is moved forward oflf the platform 32, movement of a succeeding carton onto the platform is prevented until the platform has been clearedh This is accomplished by a stop I80 (Figs. 16 and 21) on the free end of an arm I8I, the other end of which is connected by a pivot I82 to a bracket on a stationary back plate I83 at the rear of theplatform 32, said back plate forming a guide for the empty cartons as they are moved onto the platform. An adjustable stop pin or bolt I84 carried on the arm I8I engages the arm I49 when the pusher plate 33 is in its retracted position and,thereby holds the stop I80 out of the path of thecartons. .As soon as a carton starts its forward movement toward the filling zone, the arm I8I is free to swing inward a short distance, bringing the stop lug I80 over the platform and thereby preventing the next carton from being moved onto the platform'. This movement of the stop lug is effected by a coil spring I85 mounted on-a rod I86 pivoted to the rod I8I and slidable in a stationary bracket arm I81. The inward movement of the stop lug I80 may be adjustably limited by stop nuts I88 on the rod I86.

The switches IT and 1'! (Fig. 23) are comprised in a safety mechanism now to be described by which indexing of a carton at the filling station is prevented unless an empty carton has been positioned on the platform 32 at the proper time-that is, immediately after the preceding carton has been advanced from the platform to the filling zone. The switch 11, as shown in Fig. 21, is so positioned that it is held closed by a carton when the latter is in position on the platform 32. The switch 1'! (Figs. 1 and 23) carries aroll I89 on the switch arm in the path of a lug I90 on the shaft I05 which, as before described, serves as adrive shaft for the indexing chains 30. This switch operating lug is arranged to hold the switch Il' open at the time the star I wheel closes its circuit. If at this time an empty carton is properly positioned on the platform, the switch 11 is held closed thereby as indicated in the wiring diagram (Fig. 23). If, however, there is no carton in suchposition, the switch TI is held open. Both said switches being held open, connection between the wires I6 and I8 is broken and no controlling circuit for the clutch magnet can be established by the star wheel. Consequently, operation of the mechanism is arrested until the operator properly adjusts the cartons. When a carton moves forward normally from the platform, it releases the switch ll so that it is opened but the switch 11' is closed, permitting the circuit through the relay magnet controlling the clutch to be maintained until the circuit is opened by the timer.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and Scopeof our invention.

We claim:

1. Packaging apparatus comprising means for V advancing a carton intermittently step by step through an article receiving zone, meansfor introducing a row of articles into the carton at each step movement thereof within said zone, and means operable after each carton has completed its movement through the zone to move a succeeding carton up to said zone in the direction in which the cartons are moving through said reciprocating the pusher bar and causing it to advance said succeeding carton by a single step zone, said last mentioned means including a pusher bar and automatic means for periodically movement through a distance corresponding to the entire movement of the preceding carton through said zone.

2. Packaging apparatus comprising means for moving a carton step by step through an article receiving zone, means for transferring articles to the carton as it passes through said zone and thereby filling the carton, a platform for receiving empty cartons, automatic means for advancing a succeeding carton from the platform to the said zone when the preceding carton has been filled, and safety mechanism operable automatically to prevent operation of said first mentioned means when an empty carton has been moved to the receiving zone until a succeeding carton has been positioned on said platform, said safety mechanism comprising an electro-responsive device controlling the operation of said first mentioned means, and a switch in circuit with said electro-responsive device and positioned and arranged to be actuated by a carton when the latter is positioned on the platform.

3. Packaging apparatus comprising means for moving a carton step by step through an article receiving zone, means for transferring articles to the carton as it passes through said zone and thereby filling the carton, a platform for receiving empty cartons, automatic means for advancing asucceeding carton from the platform to the said zone when the preceding carton has been filled, and safety mechanism operable automatically to prevent operation of said first mentioned'means when an empty carton has been moved to the receiving zone until a succeeding carton has been positioned on said platform, the means for effecting said step by step movements of the carton including an electromagnetic clutch, electrical control means for controlling the actuation of the clutch, and a switch in the control circuit, said switch positioned to be actuated by a carton when the latter is positioned on said platform. I

4. Packaging apparatus comprising a support for empty cartons, a conveyorfor advancing cartons, means for actuating said conveyor intermittently and imparting step by step movement to the cartons, a pusher plate positioned to engage behind a carton when the latter is placed on said support, means for periodically reciprocating said pusher plate toward and from said conveyor for advancingcartons from said support to said conveyor, a holding plate arranged to engage the forward side of a carton while on said support to hold the carton flap folded against the side of the carton, said holding plate being connected to reciprocate with said pusher plate, and automatic means for swinging said holder plate out of the path of the carton as the latter moves up to a preceding carton on said conveyor. h

5. The combination of means for positioning articles in rows at a transfer station, means for advancing empty cartons horizontally to a receiving position beneath the articles at said station, means comprising a pair of horizontally disposed stationary guide rails arranged above the path of the cartons and having ends in position to engage beenath the upper flaps of the carton, the rails being flared from said ends outwardly and forwardly with respect to the direction in which the cartons are advancing and arranged for swinging the carton flaps to a fully open position and holding them in said position while the carton is advanced to the transfer station, and means for transferring the articles in rows to the carton at said station.

6. A packaging machine comprising mechanism for automatically advancing the cartons serially step by step and causing each carton during a cycle of operations of said mechanism to pass through an article receiving zone in a predetermined number of stepsysaid mechanism including automatic means by which a carton is caused to move a greater distance through one step than another in its passage through said zone, said mechanism including a driving element, a conveyor on which the cartons are carried to said zone, parallel gear trains between the driving element and conveyor, and automatic means for shifting the driving connections from one gear train to the other.

7. Packaging apparatus comprising in-combination a continuously traveling conveyor f by which articles carried thereby and spaced at intervals therealong are advanced toward a transfer station, means for arresting the articles and causing them to accumulate in a row at said station, a counter wheel in the path of said articles and rotated step by step by the advancing articles, means for advancing a carton step by step through the transfer station, means actuated by said counter wheel to bring into activity said carton advancing means, means for transferring a row of articles to the carton after each said step movement of the carton, means for holding a succeeding carton stationary in a predetermined position during said step by step movement, and automatic means for advancing the succeeding carton from said position to the transfer station by a single step movement.

-8. The combination of a horizontally traveling conveyor by which articles are carried into a packaging zone, means for moving cartons in succession through said zone, comprising mechanism for moving each carton intermittently step by step through said zone in a direction transverse to the conveyor, an electrical counter comprising a star wheel in the path of the articles and actuated by said articles as they advance with the conveyor, means providing an electrical circuit extending through said counter, a safety switch in said circuit,electro-responsive means in said circuit and controlled by said counter for automatically bringing into activity said step by step mechanism when a predetermined number of articles required to complete a row have been brought to a transfer station, mechanism for transferring the articles in rows from the conveyor to the carton, and means for supporting each carton in a predetermined position while the next preceding carton is being moved through the said packaging zone, said safety switch being positioned and arranged to be controlled by the carton while in said predetermined position and controlling the operation of said electro-responsive means.

9. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination a horizontally disposed endless conveyor, means for driving the conveyor continuously and thereby bringing articles thereon to a packaging station, a stop to arrest the articles and cause them to accumulate in a row, a horizontally disposed carton conveyor beneath said article conveyor, a platform for supporting cartons, means for moving cartons from the platform to the carton conveyor, mechanism for moving the carton conveyor and a carton thereon step by step, said mechanism including an electromagnetic clutch, means providing an electrical circuit for the clutch magnet, an electrical counter comprising a star wheel in the path of the articles and operated by said articles, a switch in said circuit actuated and controlled by said counter for causing said clutch to be operated when a predetermined number of articles have been positioned at said station and thereby effecting a step movement of the carton conveyor, automatic means for transferring a row of articles to the carton after each step movement thereof, and a safety switch in said circuit a carton while the latter is supported on the preceding carton has completed its movement off the platform, said preventing means comprising a stop positioned to obstruct the movement of a carton onto the platform, and means providing an operating connection between the carton advancing means and said stop for moving the stop to an inoperative position.

11. Packaging apparatus comprising automatic mechanism for advancing a carton step by step during a cycle of operations of said mechanism and comprising means by which one step of advance during the cycle is greater than another, said mechanism including a driving element, a conveyor by which the cartons are advanced-gear trains between said driving element and the conveyor including parallel shafts and differential gears on each shaft, gear shifting mechanism for shifting the gears on one shaft each into and out of mesh with a gear on the other shaft, whereby the conveyor is alternatively connected through different gear trains to the driving element, and automatic means for periodically actuating the gear shifting mechanism.

12. Packaging apparatus comprising automatic mechanism for advancing a carton step by step during a cycle of operations of said mechanism and comprising means by which one step of advance during the cycle is greater than another, said mechanism including a driving element, a conveyor by which the cartons are advanced, gear trains between said driving element and the conveyor including parallel shafts and differential gears on each shaft, gear shifting mechanism for shifting the gears on one cam driven by said driving element, and a gear shifting device actuated by the cam.

WILLIAM J. FEDORCHAK. JOHN R. JOHNSON. ALBERT S. JACKSON.

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