US2353005A

US2353005A - Automatic packaging machine

Info

Publication number: US2353005A
Application number: US360944A
Authority: US
Inventors: Behrent Eric; Eugene F Marresford
Original assignee: Nat Biscuit Co
Current assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
Priority date: 1940-10-12
Filing date: 1940-10-12
Publication date: 1944-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1961-07-04

Description

July 4, 1944. E. BEHRENT En A1.'

AUTOMAT 'I C PAGKACT I NG MACHINE Filed Oct 1L 194D '7 Sheets-Sheet INVENTCRS [EIC fHRE/VT EUGENE f.' MAERESFORD A RNEY Z l July 4, 1944. E. BEHRENT ETAL 3531,05

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Occ. l2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ER/C/ BEI/RENT El/G'A/E F.' MAR'REJFORD July 4, 1944. E. BEHRENT ET AL. 2,353,005

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i INVENTORS July 4, 1944- E. BEHRENT ErAL 2,353,005

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. l2. 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 o NvEN-rons imc mes/v7' EugL/VE E MAAA'EJFORD July 4, 1944. E. BEHRENT E-r AL 2,353,005

AUTOMATI C PACKAGING MACHNE Fi'ied oct. 12, A1940 v Isheets-sheet 5 I INVENTORS ER/c BEHRENT EUBGYENE E MAKKESFOKD RNE;

July 4, 1944. E. BEHRENT r-:TAL

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. l2. 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IllTII I4 INVENTORS ERIC EEP/RENT EUGENE E MAEESFORD July 4, 1944. E. BEHRENT ET AL.

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. l2, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS ERIC BEI/RENT EUGENE f. MAEEESFOR/J RNEY y Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcza AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Applicatlonoctober 12, 1940, Serial No. 360,944

11 Claims.

Our invention pertains torautomatic packaging machines and has for its principal object to increase both the speed of operation of such machines and the accuracy of weighing the unit quantity (as 1 lb., l/2 lb., etc.) of the product that is filled into each carton or container.

Another `object is to provide means whereby a carton or other container being filled is the timing means that controls operation of the machine,

Another object is to provide means whereby a container that is being filled sets the timing means in operation before the filling is completed, so that the lag or time interval necessary for the container moving mechanism to take up the slack therein and begin functioning has elapsed by the time thev container is filled and there is no interval between the filling of the container and the start of its removal. i

Another object is to provide means for accelerating the removal of a filled container from the point of filling immediately that the container is filled.

Another object is to weigh automatically a unitL quantity of material andfill it into a selected one of a line of empty containers that are being advanced by a continuously moving conveyor, in combination with means controlled by the container that is being filled to relieve it from side pressure of its adjacent containers while it is be-` ing filled.

Another object is to provide a weighingmeans and filling chute constructed and cooperating so that a weighed quantity of a product will be fed uniformly from the weighingfmeans'along the chute and into the container without clogging, breaking r bunching Another object is to provide a by-pass in the delivery chute to the weighing apparatus which may be operated either manually or by remote electric control to divert the flow of material in case of a jam in the weighing apparatus ordelivery chute, or mal-functioning of any part of the mechanism.

Another object is to provide an yautomatic vweighing and carton filling machine wherein the cycle of movement of the mechanism is shorter than the time required for filling a carton and in part overlaps the filling, and the carton feeding means operates at a speed'sufiicient to supply empty cartons faster than they can be filled and removed.

Another object is to provide meansf in a carton vfeeding and filling machine in which the cartons are fed to and from the machine by anendless belt, whereby the last of the cartons in the line or train will be fed to and from the machine without manual assistance.

Another object is to provide an automatic weighing and lling machine wherein the maximum speed of the filling mechanism in filling unit weights or volumes of material into containers exceeds the maximum speed or rate vat which the weighing mechanism can weigh or measure the unit quantities,

The above and other objects of the invention are attained by the embodiment thereof shown lin the accompanying drawings wherein we have illustrated a cartonffilling machine particularly adapted for weighing and filling crackers, but `the invention is adapted for use with many kinds of products and many kinds of containers. The machine shown is but illustrative of the invention and not a limitation thereon.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, with the weighing mechanism and delivery chute omitted, of a carton feeding and'filling mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the automatic weighing mechanism and delivery chute, and also showsthe carton liner spreader fingers.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, looking from the left to right of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, with parts broken away, of the by-pass of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Y

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figs. 4 and 8, showing the liner opening ngers.

Fig. 8 is a view, looking from right to left of Fig. 7, showing the operation of the liner lopening fingers. I

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9.9 of Figs. 2 and 12, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the linelD-KIU of Figs. 2 and l2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the. line lI--ll of Fig, 9 showing the' mechanism whereby a carton that is being filled controls thetiming and operation of the apparatus.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view, as indicated rby the line i2-l2 on Fig. 11, with parts broken away to show the mechanism beneath.

The machine, which we have chosen to illustrate one embodiment of our invention, is designed for automatically weighing and packaging crackers in waxpaper lined cartons. vHow- 56 ever, the invention is not limited to this use and is equally well-adapted for weighing and packaging any kind of material or small articles which will fiow readily and containers of any type can be used such as unlined cartons, paper bags, glass jars, fiber containers and the like.

Referring first to Fig. 3, a continuous belt or conveyor 20 carries crackers continuously to the upper end of a delivery chute 2| where the crackers upon leaving the belt flow over a by-pass gate 22 and a coarse screen 23, through which crumbs and small pieces of cracker sift out, thence over a delivery plate 24 to a weighing scale having four rotatable vanes 25, 25, 21 and 25. In some cases the screen 23 is not used, in which case it is covered with or replaced by a sheet metal plate, or spaced parallel bars may be used instead of a screen with some kinds of material. The weighing scale is a commercial article and the vanes are adapted to receive and discharge definite quantities by weight of the crackers in succession. The weighing scale discharges to a filling chute 23, the lower end of which discharges into a carton 30 that is to be filled. The weighing scale is adjusted so that each weighed quantity is suiiicient to fill one carton 35. These cartons are lined and the liner 3l extends above the top of the carton and it is held open or spread apart by sets of

spreader nngers

32, 33 on two sides while it is being filled by crackers flowing down the filling chute 23.

The carton 30 that is being filled is supported on a movable platform or timing scale 34 (Fig. ll) to which the empty cartons are supplied by a continuously moving endless belt 35. When the carton on the timing scale is filled it is automatically removed and the next carton on the belt 35 is moved into position to receive the next lot of crackers. The timing scale is actuated by the weight of the partly filled carton while it is being filled and controls the operation of the

fingers

32, 33 which open the liner and of

stops

35, 31 which engage the carton that is being filled so as to properly locate it on the timing scale under the filling chute and a following empty carton in the line, so as to prevent the following cartons from pressing on the carton that is being filled. The control mechanism is set in operation by movement of the timing scale due to the weight of the carton while it is being filled so that all of the slack in the mechanism has been taken up and the time necessary for it to start functioning has elapsed by the time that the complete charge is received in the carton so that there is no delay in removing the filled carton and bringing the next empty carton into position` In other words, the carton which is being filled is itself the timing means which controls the operation of the machine. By this means a filled carton will be removed the instant that it has been filled and if there is any delay in filling it, it will remain in position until the filling operation is complete. This has enabled us to speed up the operation of weighing unit quantities of the crackers (as say, one-half pound or pound units) and placing them in cartons two, three or four times the maximum speed that has been attainable heretofore.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the belt 35 that carries the empty cartons to the timing scale and carries away the filled cartons comes.in from the left in these figures and passes around a pulley 35 which is adjacent the entrant edge of the timing scale platform.34. The belt then passes over one of two driving pulleys 39, thence over an idler 45 and around a pulley 4l vadiacent the delivery end of the timing scale 34. The belt then passes around an idler 42 and back over another idler 43 and around a second driving pulley 44 from which it passes around a take-up pulley 45; thence back to the left where it passes around another idler to come up to the upper run of the belt 35 where it receives the empty cartons from the carton forming and lining machine.

The take-up pulley 45 is mounted on a shaft which rotates in a pair of sliding

blocks

45, 41 supported on guideways and in which the screw threaded

shafts

43, 49 engage. Each of these shafts near its righthand edge carries a spiral gear which meshes with similar spiral gears 5I, 5| keyed to a shaft 52 to one end of which the hand wheel 53 is fixed. Rotation of the hand wheel 53 will move the sliding

bearings

45, 41 and the pulley 45 with them to adjust the tension of the belt 35.

The belt is driven from any suitable source of power as an electric motor 54 which through a chain 55 drives a sprocket 56 which is keyed to a shaft 51. The shaft 51 carries a gear 5l meshing with a gear 59 keyed to the shaft driving pulley 44. The shaftv 51 also carries a sprocket which through a chain '5l drives a sprocket 52 keyed to the shaft 53 that drives the driving pulley 33. It will be noted that the two driving

pulleys

39, 44 rotate in opposite directions to drive the belt 35.

The shaft 53 extends across the machine and on its opposite sides carries a sprocket 54 which drives a chain 55, running over a sprocket 55 `that is connected to one element of a one-revolution clutch 51 which normally rotates freely on a cam shaft 55 to which the other element 59 of the one-revolution clutch is fixed. This clutch is a usual type of one-revolution clutch. such for example as the single revolution clutch made by The Hilliard Corporation, and need not be described in detail, because its construction is well known to engineers and mechanics and, per se, it is not part of our invention. The shaft 55 carries a cam 10 which controls the operation of the

liner spreader fingers

32, 33 and also carries a, cam 1I which controls the operation of the

stops

35, 31 and also of an accelerating roller 12, the function of which is to engage the bottom of a carton that has been filled on the timing scale and accelerate or assist in its removal therefrom so that the next empty carton can be moved into filling position promptly by the belt 35.

The operation of this timing mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12. The platform of the timing scale 34 is secured to a pair of depending arms 13 which are connected to the free ends of a pair of long links 14 and at their lower ends are similarly connected to a pair of short links 15. The other ends of the links 14 and 15 are pivotally connected to a triangularly shaped frame 15. This frame has a forwardly projecting arm 11 pivotally connected with it to which one end of a coil spring 18 is connected, the lower end of the coil spring being connected to a pin 19 which connects the links 15 to the lower ends of the arms 13. 'I'he tension of the spring is selected or adjusted by an integral screw and pin 11', the upper end of the pin bearing on arm 11, so that the timing scale will not be depressed by an empty carton but it will be depressed by the carton when it is partly filled, usually to about one-half to three-quarters of its capacity. The arms 13 at their lower ends carry a laterally extending finger 33 which lies between two adjustable stops 3|, 32 so as to limit the up and down movements of the platform 33. y

A mercury switch 33 is connected to oscillate with the short arms 13. It will be noted that because of the shortness of the links13, they will oscillate through a much greater arc than do the links 13 with the same vertical movement of the scale platform 34. l Thus, a very slight movement of the platform is sufiicient to tilt the mercury switch 33 so as to close the contacts. The wires 3l, 33 from the mercury switch are connected to a source of power to energize a solenoid 33 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) The solenoid 33 has an armature which is connected to one end of a pivoted latch 33 that engages and normally prevents rotation of the clutch element 33 that is fixed to the shaft33. When the weight of a carton 30 is sufficient to depress the scale platform 34 and tilt the mercury switch 33, the solenoid 33 is energized and releases the latch 33 from the clutch. This causes the shaft 33 to make one complete revolution when it will again be brought to rest by reason of the clutch element 33 11e-engaging the latch 33 at the end of the revolution.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, the linerk3| of the carton as it comes from the forming machine and is delivered to the belt 33 is or may be bowed in on its two sides as indicated at 33, 30 in Fig. '1. The function of the

spreader fingers

32, 33 is to press back the bowed sides of the liner against the sides of the carton while it is being filled. We preferably use three fingers 33 on one side of the carton which are staggered with respect to two fingers 32 that are used on the opposite side of the carton. The three fingers 33 are fixed to an oscillating shaft 3| which has a short arm 32 connected to one end of a link 33, the opposite end of which is connected to a longer arm 33 fixed to a shaft 33 carrying the two fingers 32. Either' the shaft 33 may carry a short arm or one of the fingers 32 may have a short extension 33 to which the upper end of a link 31 is connected. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, vertical reciprocating motioxr of the link 31 will oscillate the shaft 33, carrying the fingers 32 with it and through the crank

arms

33, 32 and link 33 will oscillate the shaft 3| carrying the fingers 33.

Usually the liner for the carton has a seam or lap on one side as 33 and that side bows inwardly less than the side 30. The side 30 at times may bow in so far that it would be struck by the center 'finger 33 if the finger 33 came down into the carton before the bowed side'30 were out of the way. By having the crank 34 longer than the crank 32 and slightly in advance thereof, the fingers 32 will enter Within the liner and press the bowed side back far enough so that it cannot be struck by the centerfinger 33 before any of the fingers 33 get down into the top of the liner. Then as the shaft 35 continues to oscillate due to the continued upward stroke of the link 31, the speed of oscillation of the shaft 3| will increase so that the fingers 33 will speed up and be fully down inside the liner and holding the side 33 back in position by the time that the fingers 32 are fully down.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the 1mg s1 is connected at its lower end to an arm 33 which is pivoted at 33 to the frame of the machine and at its opposite end is connected to a spring |0|. Intermediate its point of support 33 and the link 31, the lever 33v carries a roller |02 which is adapted to engage in a groove in the cam 13 that shown in Fig. 8. When the fingers are in this retracted position a filled carton can be removed from the platform 3l and an empty carton positioned thereon ready vto be filled with crackers. The roller |02 engages in the recess in the cam 10 when the shaft 33 is at` rest and the groove in the cam is relatively deep so that the roller |02 operates to locate accurately the driven part 33 of the one-revolution clutch when it has completed its revolution. This groove and roller |02 take the place of a brake to hold the clutch at the point of disengagement and prevents chattering which would occur otherwise without a brake.

When the string of cartons is approaching the timing scale from the left as in'Fig. 11 it is necessary to locate the carton 30 that is to be filled accurately on the timing scale and since the belt 33 is driven continuously and is carrying a long string of empty cartons, it is necessary to prevent this string of cartons from pressing against the side of the carton that is being filled. If there were any considerable pressure against the side of the carton 30, it kwould tend to hold up the carton and prevent its weight from being exerted or measuredvaccurately'upon the timing scale platform 30.

In order to position the carton 30 accurately and to prevent side pressure against it from the on-coming string of emptyfcartons, we provide two stop

fingers

33, 31 the first of which engages the forward or advance side of the carton that is to be filled and accurately locates it upon the timingv scale. The other finger 31 passes between twoffollowing cartons and holds back the string of cartons on the belt 33 so that they cannot press against the carton 30 (see Fig.` il).

As shown in Figs. 9 and 12 the

stop fingers

33, 31 are made from relatively thin metal and are pivotally mounted at |03, |03 on the frame of themachine and springs |03 (Fig. 9) tend to press the

fingers

33, 31 of the stops inward so that they project into the line or path of travel of the cartons. Each of the stops has a U-shaped recess as shown in Fig. 9 which loosely embraces a roller |03, |01-v carried by arms |03, |03 keyed to arock shaft I0 mounted in bearings on the frame of the machine. The shaft ||0 carries a rocker arm to which one end of a vertical link ||2 is connected. The lower end of the link is connected to an arm |I3 that is keyed to a shaft ||I the opposite end of which carries another arm |I5 connected at its free end to push-rod |I3 which at its opposite end has a fork ||1 fitting over the shaft 3l and a roller or follower ||3 that rides upon the cam -1|` The shaft ||3 which carries the pulley 3| also carries a sprocket |20 driving a chain |2| that engages a sprocket |22 keyed to a shaft v|23 that is mounted in bearings on a swinging frame |20 supported by bearings |23, |23 on the shaft ||3. The shaft |23 extends to'one side ofthe swinging frame and has the accelerating roller 12 fixed to it. The timing scale platform 33 has is filled the rotating roller is swung up through the opening so that it engages the bottom of the filling carton and accelerates its movement from the scale.

The accelerating roller is moved into and out of contact with the bottom of the carton through its connection with the shaft ill, the movement of which is controlled by the cam ll. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 11. the shaft lil has an arm |28 to the outer end of which the lower end of the link |29 is connected. The upper end of this link is connected to the swinging frame |24. As the shaft Ill is oscillated so as to rock the shaft and withdraw the stops $4, l1. it also swings the frame |24 upward until the roller 12 contacts the bottom of the filled carton as shownindcttedlinesinFig. 11.

Referring now to Fig. l1. the cams 1li and II rotate counter-clockwise. The roller ||l on the push-rod llt is in engagement with the high part of the cam which embraces about 270 and is concentric with the axis of rotation so that when the roller lil is riding on this high part of the cam there will be no movement of the shaft Ill and its connected parts. The cam also has a short concentric part Il! which embraces about 75 and is lower than the high part of the cam. The active part of the cam consists of a short drop III and a similar short rise |12. As the cam rotates counter-clockwise and the miler or follower lll rides down the short deeline lll, the spring |33 pulls the follower in toward the low concentric portion III and rocks the shaft ||4 clockwise. This movement withdraws the stops 38, l1 and raises the roller 12 into contact with the bottom of the carton. This operation is timed so that the fingers are withdrawn and the roller brought into contact with the bottom of the carton at just about the instant that the carton Il has received its full quantity of crackers. When the shaft t4 has rotated about one quarter of a revolution the roller lil rides up on the rise |22 which rocks the shaft ||4 back to its original position withdrawing the roller 12 and releasing the stops 3i, Il which are then free to be pressed inward by the springs to engage the next cartons. The time that the roller Ill is in contact with the low part of the cam ISI is less than it takes for the filled carton to move entirely ofi' from the scale platform so that when the stops li, 21 are released. the springs bring them back into contact with the sides of the cartons. They are then in position to enter between two cartons as soon as the edges of the cartons that they are contacting come up to the stops.

In order that the stops may enter between adjacent cartons with certainty, we provide means for moving the carton which is on the scale platform and the next adjacent carton slightly out of `line with the empty cartons on the left hand end of the belt 35 and the filled cartons on the right hand end of the saine belt.

Referring now to Fig. 1, we provide a wedgeshaped member or defiector |34 at one side of the belt 25 so that as the cartons pass it, the deilector causes the advancing edge of one carton to move laterally out of alignment. This is the second carton marked B, Fig. 11, and its being angled in this manner causes a gap |38 to he opened between it and the next forward carton BOA into which gap the nger 31 will be snapped by the spring as it slides off of the edge of the carton 30A (see Fig. l1). The guide rails |62. itl at the two sides of belt 35 converge slightly at the timing scale (Figs. 1 and 12),

at the right (Fig. 11), the offset |61 wm permit' pressure of the finger 3l against the carton Il to move it laterally away from the finger and out of alignment with the following carton 30A so that when the forward edge of the carton 30A comes into position on the platform 34 the finger I8 will be in far enough to engage and stop it. The finger 36 is located so that when the forward face of the carton contacts it, the carton will be properly located beneath the nlling chute 29 and in position so that the liner spreading fingers I2, 33 can enter the top and hold the liner. The space between the stops 21 is slightly greater than the width of two cartons so thatthere is no side pressure on the carton lil while it is being filled except the very slight pressure due to the carton 30A which is not greater than the sensitiveness of the timing scale 34.

Our filling and weighing machine is capable ol very rapid operation. its capacity being 30 or more one-pound cartons per minute. The volume of material handled is considerable and it must be supplied rapidly and uniformly in order for the machine to function properly. In case of a mal-function in any part of the machine, the crackers or other material being packaged will continue to be supplied and within a few seconds will cause a considerable pile up of material. Also the cracke'rs must flow uniformly from the weighing scale into the cartons and not be dumped in in one large bunch or group. Therefore. it is necessary that the filling chute be designed to cooperate with the weighing scale to cause the crackers or other material to flow along it in a uniform stream to the carton that is being filled. In the event of a mal-function or stopping of the filling mechanism for any purpose, we have provided a by-pass by means of which the material coming to the delivery chute 2l can be by-passed until the trouble has been remedied.

Referring again to Figs. 3 to 6, the crackers coming in on the belt 20 pass over the by-pass gate 22 which is secured to a shaft |31 which extends across the delivery chute 2| and is supported to oscillate in bearings III, |30. At one end the shaft |31 carries an arm |40 (Fig. 6) which is adapted to engage either of two adjustable stops |4|, |42 to limit movement of the gate 22 in both directions.

At its opposite end the shaft |21 carries a crank arm |43 which is connected to the upperkend of a link |44, the lower end of which is connected to operating crank or lever |45 which is adjacent the lower end of the filling chute 29 where it may be easily reached by the operator or attendant of the machine. When the operator notes any trouble with the machine or that the delivery chute or weighing scale or filling chute has become clogged, he will rock the lever |45 so as to raise the by-pass gate 22 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. This opens up a direct passage to the by-pass chute |46 through which the crackers or other articles will flow into suitable containers until the difilculty has been remedied. Since the machine attendant may not always be close to the lever |45 in case of trouble, we have provided a remote control for the by-pass gate which is operated electrically from any convenient point as from the check-weighers station |88 (Figs. l and 2). As shown in Fig. 6, a latch plate |41 is mounted loosely on the shaft |31 and Vhas a laterally extended lug |43 which engages under `the arm |43. The latch plate also Vhas a lip |49 that is engaged by a pivoted latch |50 which normally prevents rotation of the latch plate. The'latch plate has a pin |5| to which one end `of a spring |52 is connected. The tension of this spring tends to rotate the latch plate counter-clockwise (Fig. v) and holds the lip |49 `against the latch |50. 'I'he latch |50 is connect- `closing the circuit to the solenoid |54, which will lift the latch |50 and the spring |52 will throw the by-Dass gate over to the dotted line position vshown in Fig. 5. The operation of the switch and solenoid is much quicker than manual operation of .the lever v|45 and usually willbe relied upon for control of the by-pass.

In normal operation the crackers supplied to the delivery chute by the belt 2|! flow over the by-pass gate 22 and across the screen 23, if the latter is used, where crumbs and fine particles are sifted out. The crackers then flow on to the delivery or distributing plate 24 which causes the crackers to be distributed in a uniform layer or stream as they fall onto one of the v anes of the weighing scale. The weighing scale is of a usual commercial type and'has four vanes supported on a shaft which is connected to and supported by one end of the scale beam |51.

The scale moves up and down with varying load as controlled by the adjustable weights on the scale beam |51. A latch |58 is adapted to engage the vane which extends vertically upward and prevents rotation. As shown in Fig. 3, the vane 25 is engaging the latch |50. The delivery or distributing plate 24 is arranged so that the crackers delivered by it will fall on the vane which is `then horizontal, the vane 25 being so shown in this fligure, so that they will pile up on the vane near the axis or center of rotation and not near the outer edge of the vane. We have found -this to be an important feature of the invention and that it contributes materially to the uniform flow of the crackers along the filling chute. The weights on the scale areadjusted so that when a unit quantity of crackers as say, one pound or one-half pound, has fallen onto the vane 25, the scale will descend and the vane 25 will clear the latch |58. The scale starts to rotate and the crackers to slide voff the vane 25 into the filling chute 29. It will be remembered that the crackers are piled up on the vane 25 near the center and few, if any, adjacent its delivery edge. As the vane starts to rotate downward the crackers start to slide off it and against the curved rear part |59 of the filling chute. This part of the filling chute |59 is curved so that as the vane lswings down the distance between the tip of the vane and the curved wall is continuously increasing. This prevents any jamming of the crackers between the edge of the vane and the wall of the chute and also insures a more uniform distribution. For a short distance a part of the chute |50 is straight and it terminates in a curved portion I5| at the delivery end which preferably takes Vthe form of the path that the crackers would travel if they fell freely after leaving the straight part of the chute at about the point |52. In other words, the curved portion of the chute |6| is such that there is little or no friction of the crackers fiowing over it but they enter the carton just as though they were falling freely from the point |52. We have found that the curvature of the'filling chute at |58 where tsdistance from the tip of the vane is constantly increasing and the curvature of the delivery end of the chute so that the crackers fall freely contribute materially to the speed at which the weighing and filling apparatus may be operated and the uniformity at which the material fiows.

The belt `35 which carries a continuous line of .cartons to the filling station or timing scale travthe interval that the roller ||8 is4 traveling from the incline |3| to the incline |32 is less than the time that it takes the carton 30A to travel its full width. The sole timing mechanism is the timing scale 34 and its operation depends upon the rate at which the cartons are filled. The faster the crackers are filled into the carton 30 the more frequently the mercury switch 83 will be tripped and the operating mechanism actuated. The tension of the spring 1B against which the timing scale operates is selected so that the timing scale will move down far enough to close the mercury switch when it has been filled to about one-half or a little more of its capacity. Thus, if the cartons being filled are one pound cartons, the switch will be closed when a little more than one-half pound of crackers are in the carton 30 and the remainder of the pound is still flowing down the filling chute 29. It will thus be seen that the operating mechanism is set in operation before the carton is entirely filled and the carton which is being filled is itself the means which times its own removal. This machine operates very rapidly, weighing and filling up to 30 or more packages per minute so that it is necessary that the means for removing the carton and bringing in an empty carton be set in operation before the carton is completely filled because there is necessarily a slight lag or delay between the time that the mercury switch is closed and when the cams 10 and 1| start to function. Thus, if the switch 83 is closed when the carton is about one-half full, thev rest of the unit quantity of crackers will have been received in the carton by the time that the clutch 61 has been engaged and started to revolve the shaft 68. As soon as the shaft -68 starts to turn, it depresses the roller |02 which through the link 91 raises the

spreader fingers

32, 33 out of the carton to the highest dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. Continued rotation of the shaft next withdraws the stops 3B, 31 and simultaneously therewith moves the accelerator roller 12 against the bottom of the filled carton. Usually when there is a long string of empty cartons on the conveyor 35 which may be 25 ieet or longer there is sufficient pressure exerted by these cartons against the filled carton after the stops I8, 31 have been withdrawn so that movement of the filled carton toward the righthand side of the belt I5 has started before the accelerator roller 'I2 comes into operation. However, when the line of cartons on the belt 3i is short or when the end of the run approaches so that nearly al1 of the cartons have been used up, their pressure is insufficient to shove the lled carton along. at least it will not be shoved along quickly enough. In that case the accelerator roller comes into operation to remove the filled carton quickly and to enable the entire line of cartons on the belt Ii to be moved in and filled.

The belt 20 carrying the crackers to the delivl ery chute 2i is operated at such a speed that it will normally fill and operate the weighing scale about 30 times per minute. 'I'hls means that about once every two seconds a unit quantity of crackers will be started down the chute 28. There must be ,a carton le in position on the weighing scale to receive these crackers whenever they come down. Therefore, in order to take advantage of the maximum speed at which the weighing scale may operate, the means for feeding, positioning and removing the cartons from the timing scale must operate within less time than it takes to supply a unit quantity of crackers to the weighing scale. By having the mechanism for controlling the cartons set in operation before the carton is completely lled, a much faster operation can be attained because there need be no delay between the filling of the carton and its removal.

In some cases as when the line of empty cartons on the belt ll is long enough, or the filled cartons are light enough so that they can be accelerated rapidly, or the speed of operation is relatively slow, the accelerator roller 12 may be dispensed with. But usually the operation will be faster and more certain with the roller in use.

We have shown the belt 35 as continuous on both sides of the timing scale, but this illustrates only one form of conveyor that may be used and the invention is not limited thereto. When we use the term belt or conveyor it will be understood to mean either a one piece belt, as illustrated, or other equivalent means to perform the same function.

While we have shown but one form of our invention and have used specific terms in describing and claiming it, it is to be understood that this is for purposes of illustration only and not as limitations on the invention. We claim al1 modifications and adaptations thereof that may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.

What we claim is:

l. In a weighing and filling machine, the combination of a filling chute, means for intermittently discharging unit quantities of material to the chute. means for positioning an empty lined carton beneath the chute to receive a unit quantity of material therefrom, and spreaders adjacent two opposite sides of the lower end of the chute for spreading and holding open the top of the liner while the material is entering the carton, cranks of different lengths connected to operate the spreaders on the respective sides, the longer crank being in advance of the shorter one, a link connecting said cranks, means for oscillating said cranks to cause said spreaders to enter and withdraw from the top of the carton, the relative angularity of the cranks being such that the spreaders on the side actuated by the long crank enter the top of the carton ahead of the spreaders on the other side.

2. In a weighing and filling machine, the combination of a filling chute, means for intermittently supplying unit quantities of material to the chute, a timing scale beneath the delivery end of the chute, feeding means for supplying empty cartons to the timing scale, means for posltioning an empty carton on the scale to receive material from the chute, the chute being formed to deliver a unit quantity of material in a unlform stream tothe carton, means for removing the carton when it has received a unit quantity of material, control means for said positioning means and removing means, and means set in operation by the timing scale when the carton has received a part only of a unit quantity to actuate said control means independently of said supplying means.

3. In a filling machine, the combination of a timing scale, a continuously driven belt for carrying a line of empty cartons to said scale, a pair of yieldably mounted fingers normally projecting into the path of travel of the cartons, one finger being arranged to engage the forward side of a carton on the scale, the other finger being arranged to engage the forward side of a following carton on the belt and relieve the carton on the scale from pressure of the cartons on the belt, means for withdrawing the fingers against the tension of the yieldable means when the carton on the scale has been filled whereby the cartons are moved forward by the belt, said ngers being released when the cartons have been moved less than their width whereby the fingers re-engage the cartons on their sides and engage the forward sides of the next following cartons as they come into registry therewith, and means for separating the edges of the cartons that are engaged on their sides by the iingers from the next following cartons whereby the fingers may enter therebetween.

4. In a filling machine, the combination of a timing scale, a continuously moving belt for supplying a line of empty cartons thereto, a pair of stops movable into and out of the path of travel of the cartons, one of said stops being adapted to engage the forward side of a carton and position it on the scale, the other of said stops being adapted to engage the forward side of a following carton and hold the line of cartons from pressing against the carton on the scale, means for weighing a quantity of material to fill a carton when it has been positioned on the scale by said stop, means for dumping into the carton said quantity as soon as it is weighed, spreaders for holding the top of the carton open while it is being filled, operating means for said stops and spreaders, and control means for said operating means that is set in operation by `movement of said scale by a carton thereon while it is being filled, whereby the slack in the operating means will be taken up by the time the carton has received the entire weighed quantity.

5. In a weighing and filling machine, the combination of a filling chute, a weighing scale adapted and arranged to weigh and deliver unit tinuously drivenbelt carrying a line of empty cartons to saidtiming scale, a front stop for en- ,i gaging the forward side of a carton to position it on' said timing scale -below the delivery end of ,said filling chute, asecond stop for engaging the forward side of a following carton on the belt to prevent pressure of the line of empty cartons against Vthe carton on the timing scale, means for opening ga'psbetween edges of the respective'cartons tobe engaged by said stops and the next preceding carton to provide' entrances for said stops, spreader 'fingers mounted adjacent the delivery end ofthe filling rvchute adapted to hold open the top of the` carton on the timing scale, a cam shaft having cams for operating said preader fingers and stops, a one-revolution clutch for driving said cam shaft, and means controlled by movement of said timing scale when the carton thereon has received less than the unit quantity of material from the filling chute, to cause said clutch to engage and rotate said cam shaft, whereby the slack will be taken up, rotation of the cam shaft started, and the spreader fingers and stops moved to inoperative position by the time that the carton has received its full quantity, said control means being mechanically independent of said weighing scale.

6. In a weighing and filling machine, the combination of a filling chute, a weighing scale adapted and arranged to weigh and deliver unit quantities of material in succession to the upper end of said filling chute, a timing scale, a continuously driven belt carrying a line of empty cartons to said timing scale, a front stop for engaging the forward side of a carton to position it on said timing scale below the delivery end of said' filling chute, a second stop for engagingthe forward side of a following carton on the belt to prevent pressure of the line of empty cartons against the carton on the timing scale, means for opening gaps between edges of the respective cartons to be engaged bysaid stops and the next preceding carton to provide entrances for said stops, spreader fingers mounted adjacent the delivery end of the filling chute adapted to hold open the top of the carton on the timing scale, a cam shaft having cams for operating said spreader fingers and stops, a one-revolution clutch for driving said cam shaft, and means controlled by movement of said timing scale when the carton thereon has received less than the unit quantity of material from the filling chute, to cause said clutch to engage and rotatelv said cam shaft, whereby the slack will be taken up, rotation of the cam shaft begun and the spreader fingers moved out of the carton when the full quantity has been received therein, said control means being independent of said weighing scale, said cams being arranged to withdraw the spreader fingers from the carton before the stops are retracted from holding position.

7. In a filling machine, the combination of av filling chute, means for placing an empty lined carton beneath the chute to receive material therefrom, a pair of oscillatable shafts mounted adjacent opposite sides of the filling chute and being on opposite sides of the carton to be filled, a plurality of fingers secured to each shaft, said fingers when horizontal extending toward each other between said shafts and above the carton liner, means for oscillating said shafts simultaneously to turn the fingers down into the cartonliner and. press it against'the sides of the carton, said oscillating means comprising cranks of different lengths connected on the respective shafts and a linkl connecting said cranks, whereby oscillation of the'shaftscauses the vlingers on the lshaftv having theA longer crank to yenter and press back one side of 'the'liner before the fingers on the other shaft engage and press back the opposite side of the liner. v

8. In a weighing andfilling machine, ythe combina'tion of a filling chute, a weighing' scaleadapted and arranged to weigh and deliver definite unit quantities of material to the upper. end of the filling chute a timingl scale, a continuously op erating means for supplying a line of empty cartons to and removing filled cartons from the timing scale, means for positioning the leading empty carton of said line on the timing scale to receive a unit quantity of material from the lower end of the chute, and control means for the positioning means Set in operation by the timing scale while the unit quantity is flowing from the chute into the carton thereon, whereby the control means will start to function before. the carton is filled and the positioning means and feeding means will be in operation to remove the filled carton and position the following empty carton as soon as the first carton has received its entire unit quantity, said feeding means, positioning means and control means be ing mechanically independent of but functionally dependent on said weighing scale and delivery chute.

9. In a filling and weighing machine, the comm bination of a timing scale, a continuously driven belt for supplying a line of empty cartons to said timing scale, stop means for positioning the leading carton of the line on the timing scale and for preventing pressure of the line of cartons against the carton on the timing scale, a filling chute positioned to deliver material into the carton onthe timing scale, a weighing scale positioned to deliver definite amounts of the material periodically to said filling chute, a con veyor delivering material continuously to said weighing scale, said weighing scale being independently operable by the material received by it vto deliver to said filling chute a definite amount of the material as soon as it is received from the conveyor, a cam for withdrawing said stop means from the carton on the timing scale, a one-revolution clutch for driving said cam, means actuated by movement of said timing scale when the carton thereon has received less than said definite amount of material to engage said clutch and start rotation of said cam while vmaterial is still flowing down said filling chute, the speed of rotation of the clutch being such that the clutch and cam make one comple-te revolution and come to rest in less time than the conveyor can supply a definite quantity of material to the Weighing scale, and the speed of the belt being such that a filled carton Will be ren moved from the timing scale and an empty carton positioned thereon in less time than said clutch and cam make one revolution, whereby the rate of filling the cartons is controlled by the rate at which material is supplied te the' Weighing' scale yet is mechanically independent thereof.

10. In a filling machine, the combinaties' f y timing scale, means for feeding empli successively to the scale, means for posit the empty carton on the scale, indepenc ily operated means for measuring a 'unit quantity of material and delivering it by gravity to fill the carton. means for removing the filled cartonV from the scale, and means set in operation by` movement of the scale while the material is falling into the carton to cause the feeding means. poaitioninl means and removing means to start their movements andtake up the lag therein bythe time;that the carton has received the full unit quantity of material.

il, In a nlling machine, the combination of a timina scaie.- a continuously driven beit for cartying a line of empty cartons to said scale, means adjacent thescaie for defiecting each carton lateraily from the line as it is delivered to the scale, resilient stop means engaging the side of the deileted carton. means for iilling each carton while on the scale, means for removing the cartons from the scale as they are lled, means for detlecting each filled carton laterally as it leaves the scale, resilient positioning means engaging the side of the deflected filled carton, said positioning means engaging the forward side of the following carton on the scale to position it thereon as the deflected filled carton is carried beyond it, said stop means engaging the forward side of the following empty carton when the denected empty carton has been carriedbeyond it, and means for simultaneously withdrawing said stop and positioning means when the carton positioned on the timing scale has been filled.

ERIC BEHRENT.

EUGENE F. MARRESFORD.