US2394936A

US2394936A - Packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2394936A
Application number: US465007A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank D Palmer
Original assignee: KRAFT FOODS CO
Current assignee: KRAFT FOODS Co
Priority date: 1942-11-09
Filing date: 1942-11-09
Publication date: 1946-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1963-02-12

Description

Feb. l2, 1946. F. D PALMER PACKAGING APPARATUS 11'y Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1942 Feb. 12, 1946. F. D. PALMER v PACKAGING AFPARATUS Filed Nov.-` 9, 1942 11 sheets-sheet 2:1

l1 Sheefs-Sheet 3 f77/(jawn:

F. D PALMER PACKAGING APPARATS Filed Nov. 9, 1942v M M M M M M M M M M U Feb. 12,1946.

O. NQ

1l Sheets-Sheet 4 F. D. PALMER PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9./1942 Feb.- 12, 1946.

Feb. 12, 1,946. F. D. WLMi-:l2v 2,394,935'

` PACKAGING. APPARATUS Filed NOV. 9. 1942 l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 12,1946. F. D. PALMER 2,394,935

PACKAGINGPPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, l1942 11 sheets-sheet e Feb. l2, 1946. n F. D. PALMER 2,394,935

` PACKAGING APEARATUS' A Filed Nov. 9, 1942 i1l Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 12, 1946. F. D. PALMER 4PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 12, 1946.

1F. p. PALMER y PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nev( 9, `1942 1i Smets-sheet 9 Hrw/5.

Feb. l2, 1946. Y F. D. PALMER 2,394,935

' PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9. 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 /58 j Q I 729g jizz/@nbr l 'a/zaner Patented Feb. 12, 1946.

UNITED `*STATE PACKAGING APPARATUS r, Frank D. Palmer, Chicago, Illl, :assigner to Kraft Foods Company, a corporation of Delaware Application November 9, 1942, Serial No. 465,007

13 Claims. (Cl. 932) This invention relates to improved packaging apparatus. The apparatus herein contemplated acts on a package which is delivered by other package-forming and sealing apparatus and which delivers a wrapped content in a boat or tray-like container. The apparatus of the present application receives such package and completes it by the application of a. container to close the open side of theftray-like package.

The main object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for packaging materials whereby costs of the package proper may be reduced, both in respect of the material required and the fabrication of the blanks for forming the package, to provide a package-forming apparatus -which will operate rapidly and eiiiciently and which will produce a neat and well formed package of adequate strength and impervious qualities to protect and preserve the packaged material; to provide a simplied package structure which when opened, will give free access to the packaged material, especially when the packaged material is in the form of a loaf of cheese or the like, so as to facilitate slicing of the same and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for producing the same. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompany drawings /(11 sheets) wherein there is disclosed apparatus for producing a package embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. '1 is a side elevation of the improvedr ap.-

paratus. f

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

psition and Figs..17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 are Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 37-3 j of Fig. 1.

Fig, 4 is a perspective of a detail. Fig. 5 is a plan corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2 but on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on the line'l-l of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7. Figs, 9, 10 and 11 are sections respectively on the lines 99, llll0 and I l-H of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2-I2,of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a section corresponding to a portion of Fig. 12 but showing certain parts in a changed position.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line lll-I4 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5l5 of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a section corresponding to a portion of Fig. 15 but showing the parts in a changed 55 and its components.

l :I'he package structure herein contemplated cmprisesa bottom member B having side flaps 25 and end aps 26.extending therefrom and a. top member T which, in this instance, is illustrated as having a transparent Window W within its area. The top includes side and end flanges 21 and 28 respectively which depend from the windowed top and are suitably locked in a tray or cover forming condition by means of corner naps or otherwise, as is well understood in the packaging art. The package content C is initially enclosed or wrapped in a sheet of suitable wrapping material, the wrapper" being folded around the package content andv sealed in any desired manner. Wherethe material packaged is of a -thermo-plastic nature, cheese for example, the wrapper is preferably of .an impervious material, for example, a. transparent sheeting coated with thermo-plastic material on one side. y

The wrapped contentis disposed within the bottom member, the side flaps 25 and 26 of whichy are folded upwardly against the sides of the wrapped content and the top member is then telescoped over the upstanding sides of the bottom member. Incident to the tendency of the packaged material to spread, there is a. tendency forv the side ila s 25 and 26 of the bottom member to be forced outwardly into frictional engagement with the walls of the cover member so that cover member will be effectively held in assembled relationV to the bottom member. l

It willbe noted thatthe vdescribed package structure employs only one pre-formed container unit, namely the cover or top member T, and that the bottom memberl'is not prefabricated into the form of a receptaclafand in fact is at no time secured in receptacle-forming position, except so far as the side walls of the cover member serve to hold the side walls of the bottom member in upstanding, receptacle-forming relation; to the bottom. Hence, the cost of prefabricating the bottom blanks into container form is `eliminated as is also the cost and diculty of handling set upreceptacles to serve as the bottom part of the package. The further advantage of the described package structure is found in the fact that the bottom member, being usually formed of paperboard, may be unfolded to fiat position when the cover is removed, to thereby facilitate the slicing of the wrapped package with the bottom member serving as a cushion to stop the cutting knife without engagement of the table surface on which the package is placed.

Other apparatus which I have developed forms a paperboard blank into the form of a tray (such as the top or cover member of the above described package) or receives such trays and inserts a suitable lining therein and thereafter carries the lined tray to a filling machine which deposits the material to be packaged within the lined tray. Such other apparatus then operates to seal the liner over the open top of the package and delivers tl'ie package in the form illustrated in Fig. 17. As there shown, the outer or protective receptacle T is the receptacle which ultimately constitutes the top or cover of the package structure, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. The liner or Wrapper for the package content has triangular ear portions E extending endwise from each end of the then top of the package.

According to the method herein contemplated, the package received in the condition shown in Fig. 17 is automatically inverted land deposited on the central panel of the bottom-forming blank shown in Fig. 18 upon' which there has previously been deposited an insert certificate or advertisement 29, so that the relationship of the parts is substantially as shown in Fig. 20.

` Thereafter the top element is raised from the package content and the side flaps and 2G of thebottom member folded upwardly, after which the top member is returned to substantially its initial position relative to the package content, excepn'that the side naps 25 and v2t of the bottom member are additionally received within the sidev walls of the top member. As an incident to the folding of the end wall flaps 26 of the bottom member` upwardly, the ears E of the wrapper will, vof course, be folded upwardly against the ends ofthe'package content.

General -eplanation of the apparatus The'appa'ratus herein disclosed embodies a belt conveyor 30, one end of which is supported by a suitable roller 3| journalled in brackets carried by the'framework 32 of the apparatus. The other end of the conveyor 30 maybe guided and supported by 'a roll or the like constitutingV a part of a unit of' apparatus which produces the package structure shownv in Fig. 17. Thus it will be understood'that packages in the form and condition illustrated in Fig. 17 enter the present apparatus moving endwise with the conveyor belt 30 which may becontinuously or intermittently driven as best suits the requirements of the preceding '.package-forming apparatus; The drive for the belt 30 may also be embodied in the preceding apparatus wherefore no drive for said belt is herein shown. However, if desired, said belt 3U may be continuously or intermittently driven by any Well-known form of driving mechanism convnectedto a driven shaft of the present apparatus,

one or more of which will hereinafter be referred to.

. -Adjacent .the receiving end of Vthe present ,complete the package by folding the side flaps 25 and 26 of the bottom member into receptacleforming position and to, in elect, introduce them into the cover or top member T, after which the packages are completed and delivered to a conveyor 39 which carries the packages to other equipment for subsequent handling.

Detailed emplanation of the apparatus The conveyor which carries the bottom member blanks B from the rack R. through the various stations above mentioned comprises a pair of chains 40. They chains 4U are supported byl sprockets such as indicated at 4l,.42, 43 and 44, all suitably journalled in bearings carried by the frame 32 of the apparatus. As indicated in Fig. 1, the sprockets 44 are journalled in brackets which are adjustably mounted on vthe frame'so as to permit movement of the brackets and sprockets to control the slack in the chain.

The sprockets 43 are of larger diameter than the others and they are carried by a shaft 45 which also carries a ratchet 46. The chains 40 are moved step by step through the agency of a pawl 4'1 which acts against the ratchet 46 and is pivoted to an arm 48, which arm is rockably mounted on the shaft 45. A spring 49 serves normally to'retract the arm 48 and pawl 4l to starting position. Feed movement of the arm 48 and pawl 4T is effected by a rotary cam 50 which is carried by a shaft 5l suitably journalled on the framework of the machine and driven by means of a bevelled gear connection 52 (see Fig. 10) with the main cam shaft 53. The cam shaft 53 is suitably' journalled in bearings carried by the 'framework of the machine and it is driven preferably by `an electric motor indicated at 54 (Fig. 1) which is connected through a suitable speed reducing unit, if desired, and a drive sprocket 54,' a chain 55 and a driven sprocket 56, the latter being secured to the shaft 53.

The cam acts against a cam-following roller 51 carried by an arm 58 Which is rockably mounted on a suitably supported shaft 59. The arm 58 constitutes one arm of a bell crank, the other arm 6U of which has pivotally connected to its free end a link or connecting rod 6l which has its other end connected to an arm 62 which is rigid with the pawl-carrying arm 48. It will be seen that the cam 50 is operative to rock the bell crank

arms

58 and 60 andthe

arms

62 and 48 so as to thereby rotate the ratchet 46, shaft 45 and sprockets 43, step by step,`whereby said conveyor chains 40 are also advanced step by step.

The conveyor chains 4U are additionally supported by tracks 40a which are suitably mounted on the machine frame and each chain is provided at properly spaced intervals with special links or with attachments to certain of the links, to. provide flights or pusher members 63 (see Fig. 7), which are operative. to engage the bottom-forming blanks to propel the same through the machine.

The rack R comprises (see Fig. 9) a series of vertically disposed bars or guides connected together'by transverse straps and supported in iixed position on the framework 32 through the agency of brackets 64. The brackets 84 are mounted on a normal stationary plate 65 which is 'in turn supported in upwardly spaced relation to the adjacent frame members 32 by means of spacers 66. Suitable fastening screws or bolts connect the plate 65 and frame members 32 to hold the same rigidly in assembled relation.

Certain of the vertical bars of the rack R have their lower ends provided with short, inwardly extending ledges 61 which serve to engage marginal portions of the blanks B'to support a stack thereof in the rack. Other of the vertical mem- ,bers of the rack have their lower yends provided vwith members 08 having downwardly and inwardly inclined serrated edges 69 which'serve to insure separation of the lowermost blank from the next following blank upon withdrawal of the lowermost blank.

The ledges 61 are preferably arranged to engage the outer edgesy of the flaps 25 of the blank,Y

and the serrated edges 69 are preferably so arranged that they will act against the opposite side edges of the end flaps 26.

The blanks B are fed downwardly from the rack R by means of a vertically reciprocated vacuum device comprising a vertically slidably mounted stem or post 19 and a cross-arm 10 which is provided at its opposite ends with rubber or like vacuum cups 1| (see Figs. 7 and 9). The post 19 is slidable in a bushing 12 xedly mounted in a suitable bracket 13 which is in turn secured to the plate 65. The post 19 is adjustably connected by means of a turn-buckle device 14 to an arm 15, the lower endy of which is slotted as indicated at 16 and positioned on the shaft 53 adjacent a cam 11 on said shaft. The cam 11 acts against a roller 18 carried by an extension of the arm 15 to effect downward movement of said arm and said vacuum cup carrying post Upward movement of the arm 15 and vacuum cup carrying post 19, when permitted by the cam 11, is effected by means of a pair vof springs 80 which are connected at their upper ends to the frame member 32 and at their lower ends to a cross-arm 8| which is pivotally secured to the lower end of the arm 15, preferably on the pivot axis of the roller` 18.

As best shown in Fig. '1, the postl 19 is provided with a passageway 82 having one end 83 communicating withan internal, longitudinally extending slot orrecess 84 in the bushing 12 and its other end communicating as shown at 85 with a passageway 86 with the cross-,arm 10. Each of the vacuum cups 1| includes centrally disposed anchoring members 81 which secure the members 1| to the cross-arm 86 and said anchoring members are rbored out as shown to establish communication with the passageway 86 in said cross-arm. Anylsuitable arrangement may be employed for preventing turning of the cross-arm about the axis of the stem 19. For example, a pin |94 may be anchored in one end of the cross-arm and'slidably tted in an opening |95 in the plate 65. By means of a suitable vvacuum pump connected through a pipe or tubing 88 to the slot 84, air maybe drawn inwardly through theopenings in the vacuum cup anchoring members through the passageways 86 and 82, so that when said vacuum cups 1| are moved upwardly into engagement with the bottomv face of the lowermost blank,said blank will be' pneumatically attached to the vacuum cups. Thereupon, downward movement of the vacuum cups will serve to pull the lowermost blank downwardly from the rack, past the ledges 81 and serrated edges 69. The blank withdrawn from the bottom of the rack R is to be deposited on top of elongated guide members 89 and S30- 90, the members 90-90being disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor chains 40 and the member. 89 being disposed intermediate said chains.- e

It is desirable to cut off and ,relieve the vacuum in the vacuum cups 1| at about the time the lowered blank reaches the guide members 89 `and 90,

and this may be effected by properly proportioning the length of the slot 84 with reference to the end 83 of the passageway 82 in the .post 19. However, more accurate timing may be effected byvemplcying a separate valves'tructure for that purpose. In this instance such a valve structure is employed and it comprises a stem or post 9| vertically slidably mounted in a bushing 92 which is fixedly mounted in a suitable bracket 93 mounted on a part of the frame32. The stem 9| is normally urged to move downwardly by means of a spring 94 located between a washeror flange 95 carried by the lower end of the stem and the adjacent endfof the vbracket 93.- The lower end 'of the stem has a roller 96 securedto itand lsaid roller engages a cam 91 whichis carried bythe shaft 53 and which cam is operative to move the stem 9| upwardly. The bracket 93 is bored out and tappedto receive pipe connections,l one of which may be the Aconduit 88 and the other of which, indicated at 98, may extend tothe vacuum pump. The sleeve or bushing 92 is provided with diametrically disposed ports 99 which establish communication between said

conduits

88 and 98 and the interior ofthe sleeve 92. The stem 9| is also provided with a diametrically disposed passageway |00 and with a longitudinally extending recess or passageway |0| which servesv to maintain communication between the passageway |00 and the conduit 88 in all positions of the stem 9|. The stem is lockedagainst rotation by means vof oppositely disposed ats formed on theupper The cam s1 is so timed that at about thetimev the vacuum cups 1| reachtheirloweredposition,

as shown in Fig. '1, communication between the port'99 and the passageway |00 will be broken and a vent |03 may be providedto relievethe vacuum previously developed in said vacuum cups 1|. The cam 91 may be so shaped-that the valve stem 9| will be lowered to establish communication between the vacuumv pump and the vacuum cups just before the vacuum cups come into-engagement with the lowermost blank B. The cam may have an inactive portion constituting a rest period kduring which the valve stem 9| remains stationary and during whichl the vacuum cup carrying stem 19 .is lowered 'so as to carry the lowermost blank fromthe rack'R downwardly to the guides 89 andf90..

A carton blank delivered to the guide members v89 and 90, as already explained, lwill be fededgewise along said guide members between.. side guides |04, one such side guide being disposed on each of the outside members 90-90.' Forward movement of the'blank alongisaid guides will, of course, be eected by engagement of a pair of l y l nights 63 with the rearwardly disposed ends or edges of the side naps 25 of the blank B. As best shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 11, said nights 63 are so shaped that portions thereof extend inwardly into overlying relation to the end naps 26 so as to be capable of preventing upward displacement of the otherwise free blanks. The inward extension of said nights 63 also enables the nights to engage the ends oi' the completed package after the,

means of a printing wheel such as indicated at |06, the same embodying a well known variable or adjustable structure which, in this instance, is mounted 'on a rotatably driven shaft |01 which is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the framework 32 of the apparatus. The shaft |01 and printing mechanism |06 may be rotated in rproperly timed relation with the advancement of the carton blanks by means of a drive chain |08 which engages a sprocket |09- secured to said shaft |01, a sprocket I0 carried by the shaft lll on which the conveyor sprockets 4| are secured,

and an idler sprocket ||2 suitably mounted on the frame structure and preferably -arranged to permit adjustment of the tautness of the chain |00. It will be apparent that timing of the printing mechanism |06 may readily be adjusted by rotary adjustment of the mechanism on its shaft |01. v

The printing operation is effected during movement of the carton blank, after which the carton comes'to rest in transversely aligned relation to the insert magazine or rack 34. The magazine or rack 34 is in general similar to the magazine or rack R and it is supported in this instance by means of a bracket ||3 which is in turn secured to a plate ||4 carried by the framework of the apparatus. Also, the magazine 34 is provided with adjustable screw means such as indicated at H5 for supporting the stack of inserts (see Figs. 5 and 10). The insert elements 29 may conveniently be of a thin grade of paper and they are adapted to be fed one by one from the bottom of the rack 34 by means of a vertically reciprocated vacuum cup H6. y

The vacuum cup ||6 is secured to the upper end of la vertically slidably mounted post ||1 which is, in general, similar to the previously described vertically slidable post 19 in respect of the provision of passageways therein and connections through a valve to a suitable vacuum'pump. A

" valve ||8, provided for controlling the vacuum to the vacuum cup ||6 is similar in construction to the valve previously described for controlling the vacuum to the vacuum cups 81.

Reciprocation of the vacuum cup post ||1 is enected by means of a cam ||9 which' is carried by the shaft 53 and acts against a roller |20 mounted intermediate the ends of an arm |2|. The arm 2| is pivoted at one end as shown at |22 in a bracket depending from a part of the framework 32, and the other end of the arm is connected by means of a short link |23 to the lower end of the post ||1. A spring |24 connected between th'e free end of the arm |2| and a conveniently accessible frame part serves to pull the arm and post downwardly and to maintain the roller |20 in engagement with the cam I9.v

A cam |25 also carried by the shaft 53 (see Fig. 1) acts against a roller |26 carried by the lower end of thestem of the valve ||8 to operate the latter.

'I'he vacuum cup 6 serves in its downward movement to carry the lowermost` insert member 29 downwardly and deposits the same on a normally stationary plate |21 which extends transversely across the central portion of the area of the rack 34. Said plate is provided with an opening |28 through which the vacuum cup I6 moves up and down. Said plate |28 is supported adjacent its inner end on the horizontal nange part of the adjacent guide member |04 (see Figs. 5 and 10) and adjacent its outer end on the plate H4. Suitable spacers or shims |29 and |30 are employed for positioning said plate |21 at the desired level along which the inserts 29 are to be fed.

Edgewise movements of the inserts 29 from the magazine 34 into position on the blanks B are effected by a horizontally movable slide |3| (see Figs. 4, 5 and 10). The slide |3| is in the form of an H-shaped member and its outer sides are provided with longitudinally extending flanges |32 which slidably nt in ways provided between the plate ||4 and guide strips |33 which are secured to said plate ||4. The plate ||4 is provided with an elongated opening through which depending lugs |34 extend and in which said lugs move back and forth. The lugs |34 support a .roller |35 which is embraced by the forked end of 'anarm |36, the opposite end of which is secured to a shaft |31. The shaft |31 is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame structure and 40 it is provided with another arm |38 which has operative engagement (not shown) with a cam |39 (Fig. 1) carried by the shaft 53. The cam |39 is so shaped as to enect rocking movement of the shaft I 31 for controlling reciprocation of the slide |3| in properly timed relation to the delivery of a blank B in receiving position opposite the insert rack 34. Feed movement of the slide is preferably effected by means of a spring |42 which is connected between the arm |36 and a conveniently accessible rigid frame part or bracket, (see Fig. 10) and return movement is effected by the cam |39.

The front ends of the side members of the slide |3I are provided with recesses |40 which receive the rear edges of the inserts 20 and prevent the same from being displaced upwardly incident to the feed movement of the slide member. The lower front end portions are also extended as indicated at |4| to provide ledges which normally underlie the insert 29 when it is fed downwardly from the bottom of the stack by the vacuum cup H6.

The slide 3| advances the insert until it is positioned over approximately the middle portion of the bottom forming panel of the blank B, the insert being slid over the plate |21 and over the surface of the blank. When the slide |3| begins its rearward or outward movement, the weight of the insert 29 and its frictional contact with the blank B is ample to prevent it from following the slide with which it has only limited contact on the lips |4I.

The package delivering and inverting station disposed in transverse alignment with therack 34 comprises the aforementioned belt 30 and an underlying bracket |42 which is rigidly supported by being suitably mounted on the frame of the apparatus. The bracket |42 has the aforementioned curved shelf or chute 36 formed integrally therewith, the arrangement being such that the surface of the belt 30 is approximately flush with the uppermost portion of the curved element 36.

After 4an insert 29 is delivered to the blank B, the plunger 35 is moved inwardly to thereby slide the package (then in the form shownin Fig. 17) onto chute 36 on which it slides downwardly by gravity until it engages the lip or ledge 31, which causes the package to roll.. over and come to rest in an inverted position on top of th'e insert 29 and box blank B which is already in place to receive the package. The relationship of the inverted package, the insert 29 and the box blank Bis then as shown in Fig. 20.

The box blank and insert are accurately positioned between the side guides |04 and the package is guided into proper relationsh'ip to the blank by means of a pair of guide rodsl |43 and |44 which are suitably mounted at their ends on brackets provided for that purpose, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. To further insure passage of the package into the space between the guide rods |43 and |44, there is provided a guide plate |45, the same being supported in the illustrated angular position by means of suitable bracket arms |46 which' are mounted on the plate |4| (see Figs. 5 and l) The plunger or pusher 35 is actuated in properly timed relation by means of a cam |41 carried by the shaft (see Fig. V10). Said cam acts against a roller carried by one end of a lever |48 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a suitable pivot shaft mounted on the frame 32. The other end of said lever |48 is suitably connected as indicated at |49 to a rod |50 which' is slidably mounted in a supporting member |5| to which rod the pusher 35 is secured. A spring |52-,connected between the lever |48, and a conveniently accessible stationary part serves to effect the for. ward or operative movement of the plunger, and the cam |41 effects retraction thereof.

The packages carried by the conveyor 30 are stopped in proper position for transverse movement by means of a stop member |53 which may be in the form of a plate suitably mounted on a conveniently accessiblek stationary part of the apparatus. Said plate may be provided with an opening or terminated at such a point that a roller |54 carried by a switch arm |55 may project into the area which should be occupied by a package when in position forY transverse delivery to the blank B. The switch arm |55 is suitably connected toa switch mechanism |56 and is capable of interrupting the electric circuit to thev driving motor of the apparatus when the arm |55 and roller |54 are in their out or `extended position, wherein the roller 54 projects into the space normally to be occupied by a package. In the event that there is a failure of package delivery, the switch arm |55 will be permitted to remain in its extended position, in which case the operating motor circuit will be broken and the operation of the apparatus stopped.

It will be apparent that the switch |56 must be so arranged as to control the motor circuit only during the intervals in which a package should be in position against the stop |53. This is accomplished by providing a second switch |51 (see Fig. 3) which is controlled by a cam |58 carn ried -by the shaft 53 and so formed as to keep the switch |51 closed during all of the time that a package is not normally against the stop |53. The cam |58 permits the switch |51 to open the circuit only during the intervals that the switch |56 should be closed incident to the presence of a package against the stop |53.

After the package is delivered in inverted position to the blank B, the conveyor chains 40 advance the package to the next operating station, the details of which are best shown in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive.

The forward movement of the package to the next and last operating stage is terminated by stopping of the conveyor chains 40 and accurate positioning of the package is effected by causing the same to engage depending lip parts |59 which may be formed as an integral part of a vaccum lifter head |60. The vacuum head |60 is formed integrally with or connected to an upwardly exl mounted intermediate its ends on the bracketl |63 and suitably connected at one end, as indicated at |65, tothe post or stem I6|. The other end of the lever |64 is pivoted, as shown at |66, to a connecting rod or link |61, the lower end of which is pivoted to one arm |68 of a bell crank which is rockably mounted on a shaftY |69 suitably supported between portions of the frame structure 32. Said bell crank has its other arm |10 provided with a roller |1| which engages a cam |12 carried by the shaft 53 and so formed as to cooperate with a spring |13 toactuate the vacuum head |60 at the proper times. The spring |13 may be connected between an extension of the bell crank arm |68 and a stationary part of the apparatus, as best shown in Fig. 11, and it serves to affect the downward movement of the vacuum head and to maintain the cam following roller |1| in engagement with the cam- |12.

The vacuum head |60 is initially positioned at a yslight elevation with reference to the plane of the top of the package being delivered into the zone of operation of the same so that there will be no interference of movement of the package into engagement with the stop ears |59. The cam |12 is so shaped that the vacuum head will first be moved downwardly a slight distance to cause its rubber vacuum cups |14 to engage the top surface of the package, whereupon connection is made through suitable passageways in the vacuum head and stem |6| and through a suitable cam and spring actuated controlling valve |6|a of the character already described, to an exhaust pump so as tov effect pneumatic attachment of the package cover to the vacuum head |60. vThereupon, the vacuum head |60 is elevated a short distance, approximately as indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 12, where it is held stationary during the performance of other operations on the bot- 4in Fig. 11. The member |11 has aroller |16 secured to it and said roller engages a cam |19 and is operative to effect upward movement of the member |11, post |16 and plate |15. A spring |80 connected between a suitable part of the member |11 and a normally stationary part of the apparatus serves to yieldingly pull the member |11 downwardly so as to maintain its roller in engagement with the cam and to effect downward movement of the plate |15 when permitted by the cam |19.

The vertically movable member |82 has adjustably connected to it a plurality of pivot blocks |85, each of which is pivotally connected by means of an arm |86 to upstanding ears or lugs |81 provided on the stationary member |83. Said arms |86 are rigidly secured at their inner ends to upstanding side presser plates |88, there being one such presser plate for each end and for each side of the package.

When the vacuum cup head |60 lifts up the top member of the package carton'y the plates |15 and |82 are moved downwardly to an extent which will effect complete removal of the wrapped package content from the top member.

To insure withdrawal of the package content from the top member T, there is provided for eachend of the package, an angularly disposed, generally vertically slidably mounted bar |89 provided at its lower end with a plate |90, slightly smaller in width than the width of the wrapped package content. Said members |89 and |90 are moved downwardly just before or at about the same time that the vacuum cup head |60 starts its upward movement. Such downward movement of the members |90 causes the lower ends thereof to engage the triangular end ears E closely adjacent the bottom end edges of the wrapped package. The arrangement is preferably such that the members |90 will lightly vclamp the endwise-extending ears of the package wrapper against the paperboard member B and the plate 15. Said members |90 are also moved downwardly in conformity with the-downward movement of the plate |15 sov that said members |90 are operative to insure withdrawal `of the wrapped package content from the slightly elevated top part T. l

The bars |89 are slidably mounted, as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, in the member |62; Properly timed vertical reciprocation thereof is effected by a cam 200 (see also Fig. 2) which vacts against a roller 20| carried by one arm of a bellcrank lever 202. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 202 is connected by a rod 203 toan arm 204 which is secured to a shaft 205, the latter being rockably mounted in the bracket |63. Said shaft\205serves also as the pivot for the rock arm |64.A Arms 206 are rigidly secured to the shaft 205 so as to rock in unison therewith, one of said arms being an integralextension of the arm 204. The free ends of the arms 206 are slidably and pivotally connected to the respectively adjacent bars |89 as shown at 201 and thus, when rocked by reason of their connection to the cam 200, impart the desired reciprocation to the bars |89 and plates |80.

The downward movement of the package on the plate |15 occurs within the surrounding plates |88 which are initially in the position illustrated in Fig. 12. By examination of-Fig. 12, it will be seen that downward movement of the package as mentioned will cause the members |89 to turn the end ears E upwardly into substantially over lapping relation to the members |90. A sharp fold is thus made at the junction of the ears E with the corner of the wrapped package.

'I'he bars |89 and plates |90 are then moved upwardly and withdrawn from between the package end and the ears E.

The withdrawal of the members |90 in the manner explained preferably occurs at about the time that the plate |15 approaches its lowermost position. During the main part of the downward movement of the plate |15, the plate moves -in unison with the member |82. Just before the lowermost position of the plate is reached, it comes into engagement with the upper end |9| of the collar 8| and serves to transmit downward movement to said collar and to said member |82, whereby, in the final stages of the downward movement of the plate |15, the arms |86 are rocked downwardly and the plates |88 rocked outwardly. Thus, the members |90 are permitted to freely escape from between the ears E and the adjacent package ends.

Incident to the downward movement of the wrapped package and the folding of its ears upwardly, in the manner explained, the package bottom blank B is also moved downwardly, so as to cause its side end flaps 25 and 26 to be folded upwardly into engagement with the sides and ends of the wrapped package.

The members |89 and |90 having been withdrawn, the plate |15 and shaft |16 begin their upward or return movement. The first portion of said upward movement embodies relative movement of the member |82 and sleeve |8| upwardly relative to the fixed member |83, so that the pivot pin supports |85 are moved upwardly relative to the stationary member |83. Such upward movement results in outward rocking of the connection links |86 and inward rocking of the end and side members |88. The condition thereby produced is best shown in Fig. 16, wherein it willbe seen that the upper portion of the package, as it emerges from between the oppositely disposed members |88, is slightly reduced in horizontal dimensions so that it will more readily fit into the cover member T. Inward movement of the members |88 is limited by the engagement of the members |88 with the respective side walls of the package content or in any event by engagement of theplate |82 with the bottom of the hub part of the plate |83, the springs |84 serving to more or less cushion the application of force to said members |88.

As best shown in Fig. 16, the plates |88 serve to reduce the area of the upper portion of the wrapped package content sufficiently to insure entrance of the package into the top member T without interference from the sides of the latter. When the plate |15 approaches its fully elevated position it acts as a spreader for the plates |88 by engaging the same as indicated at |92 (Fig. 12) so as to thereby fully release the package from said side pressers |88.

As the package 4approaches its fully elevated position on the plate |15, the top or cover thereof is also lowered so as to complete the relative telescopic movement between the top and bottom parts of the package. The cam |12 is appro- 2,734,936.51" A. c t article and then ktelescopically.assembling said priately shaped to effect downward movement of the vacuum cup headV |60 and the package cover to the extent indicated, at which time the vacuum is cut off and relieved and the head |60 again moved upwardly to approximately the same ele-v vated position it had occupied when holding the package cover member in elevatedposition.

When the head |60 is so elevated, the lower ends of its ears |59 are above the top of the package so that the package may move forwardly with the next step of movement of the conveyor chains 40.

The packages thus completely enclosed are then delivered to a conveyor |93 which may be driven by a suitable gear and chain connection to the driven shaft 53, as shown at the lefthand end of Fig. 1. Said conveyor |93 serves to carry the completed packages to other apparatus or inspection or storage tables, as may be desired.

Changes in the described mechanism may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

' I claim:

1. Packaging apparatus comprising means for engaging said receptacle receivingva package, and means for moving said package prising a chute arched convexly in the direction of movement of said package, and an upstanding ledge for engaging the forward bottom edge portion of a package moving downwardly on said chute to cause the package to roll over said ledge to inverted position incident to its -movement down said chute.

2. In packaging apparatus, the combination of a conveyor, means for depositinga box blank on said conveyor, means for depositing a filled receptacle having an open side on said box blank with its open sideY down, and means for effecting folding of said box blank into an open-topped receptacle formed around the content of said first-mentioned receptacle and with the side wall forming portions of said blank disposed within the side wall portions of said first-mentioned receptacle, said last-mentioned means comprising means for lifting the first-mentioned receptacle from the content thereof while the latter remains on said box jblank, means for folding side wall forming portions of the latter upwardly around said content, and means for effecting relative ,laterally and inverting the same com-A receptacle and the folded portions 'of 'saidjbox blank, comprising pneumatic means for engaging and withdrawing said receptacle from the article, means for effecting movement of said article oppositely to said withdrawing movement of the receptacle, means surrounding said article and operative upon said movement thereof to effect folding ofl said box blank portions into overlapping relation to the sides of said article, means for effecting movement of said article and the folded box blank toward and into said receptacle, and means for effecting release of said receptacle from said pneumatic means.

5. In apparatus for applying a flanged bottom closure to a package embodying a receptacle and a fill of material therein', a conveyor, means for depositing a box blank on said conveyor, means for depositing an open sided package on said box blank with the open side of the package down, means forl engaging said package to position the same in a predetermined location in the path of travel thereof on said conveyor, means for so as to support the same independently of the support of said material, means for effecting withdrawal of the material` from said receptacle, means for folding portions of said box blank upwardly over the sides of said material as an incident to the withdrawal thereof from said receptacle and means for effecting return movement of said material and the folded box blank so as to assemble said folded box blank and receptacle in completed package form.

scribed, the combination of a conveyor, means telescopic movement between said receptacle Vand theV folded side wall portions of the blank to enclose the latter within said receptacle.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an intermittently actuated conveyor, means for depositing a box blank on said conveyor, means spaced laterally from and in elevated relation to said conveyor and box blank thereon for receiving a package embodying a package content and an open topped receptacle, means for delivering said package in inverted position from said laterally spaced and elevated means to said box blank on said conveyor, said delivery being effected during a period of rest of said conveyor and box blank, and means operative during a subsequent period of rest of said conveyor to effect upward folding of portions of said box blank and enclosure of the portions so folded within the inverted receptacle to thereby complete thepackage.

4. In packaging apparatus means for removing a receptacle from an article contained therein and folding portions of a box blank around said for depositing a box blank on said conveyor, means lfor depositing on said box blank an incompleted package embodying an open-sided receptacle and a wrapped package content having wrapper ears extending laterally from the opposite ends of the package at the open side thereof, the package being deposited in inverted position with said ears flatwise on said box blank, means for effecting vertical separation of said receptacle fromsaid package content and said box blank, said means embodying devices operative to engage said wrapper ears so as to hold said wrapped content -in place on said blank, thereby to insure `withdrawal of the wrapped content from said receptacle, means for folding portions of said box blank upwardly around the sides of said wrapped package content, and means for telescopically assembling said folded box blank with the wrapped package content therein into said receptacle. v

7. In packaging apparatus of the class described,l the combination of a conveyor, means for depositing a box blank on said conveyor; means for depositing on said box blank an incompleted package embodying an open-sided receptacle and a wrapped package content-having wrapper ears extending laterally from the opposite ends of the package at the open side thereof, the package being deposited in inverted position with said ears iiatwise on said box blank, a vacuum head movable vertically, means for effecting engagement of said vacuum head with the top of said receptacle for pneumatically attaching said receptacle to said head, a downwardly movable support for said package, means for `effecting downward movement thereof when said receptacle is attached to said vacuum head. downwardly movable means operative to engage said earsgof the wrapped package adjacent the i c. ,c

ends thereof and to move downwardly in unison with said support to thereby withdraw the wrapped content from the receptacle, means surrounding the wrapped content during its downward movement for engagingy and folding upwardly portions of said box blank and said ears to form bottom member side walls around said package content, and means for effecting return movement of said wrapped package and the folded carton blank into said receptacle so as to thereby complete the package, and means for releasing the pneumatic attachment of said receptacle to said vacuum head to thereby permit removal of the completed package.

8. Packaging apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the means surrounding the package for folding portions of the carton blank upwardly comprise pivotally mounted plate members, and means for effecting inward rocking movement thereof so as to compress the package at its upper end to facilitate reinsertion of the wrapped content in the receptacle.

9. In packaging apparatus, the combination of a conveyor, means for depositing a box blank on said conveyor, means for depositing a filled rel ceptacle having an open side on said box blank with its open side down, and means for ejecting the content of said receptacle from said receptacle and as an incident thereto, effecting folding of said box blank into an open topped box around said content, said last mentioned means being also operative to replace said receptacle around said content and the side wall portions of said box.

10. In packaging apparatus, the combination of a conveyor, means for depositing a box blank on said conveyor, means for depositing a lled receptacle having an open side o'n said box blank with its open side down, means for successively effecting relative vertical movement of said receptacle and its content to first expose the sides of said content, and then to return the content into the receptacle, and means operative intermediate the `operations of said last mentioned means to fold portions of said box blank into side wall4 positions over the exposed sides of said content, whereby a box is formed around said content and 'said-,box and content are telescoped into said receptacle.

11. In apparatus` of the class described, a driven conveyor for receiving and propelling a package embodying an open sided receptacle and a package content, means for stopping the movement of said package on said conveyor at a predetermined location, a second driven conveyor disposed in substantially parallel, laterally spaced relation to-said first mentioned conveyor, means for depositing a box blank on said second conveyor whereby said box blank is propelled, means for stopping the movement of said box bl-ank on spaced relation to said predetermined package location, means for effecting lateral movement and inversion of said package to deposit the same in predetermined inverted position on said box blank, and means for successively effecting relative lvertical movement of said receptacle and its content to first expose the sides of said content and then to return the content into the receptacle, and means operative intermediate the operations of said last mentioned means to fold portions of said box blank into side wall position over the exposed sides of said content, whereby the box is formed around said content and said box and content are telescoped into said receptacle.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an intermittently actuated con veyor, means for depositing a box blank on said conveyor, means spaced laterally from and in elevated relation to said conveyor and box blank thereon for receiving a package embodying a package content and an open sided receptacle, and means for delivering said package in inverted position from said laterally spaced and elevated means to said box blank on said conveyor during a period of rest to said conveyor and box blank, said last mentioned means comprising a convexly arched chute extending laterally and downwardly from said elevated package receivingA means, means for feeding said package laterally from said receiving means to said chute so as to cause said second conveyor in predetermined, laterally the package to slide down said chute, and an abutment associated with said chute for engaging the lower front portion of the package sliding down said chute, whereby the `momentum of the package will cause the same to roll over said ledge and to drop downwardly in inverted position to predetermined position on said box blank. 13. Apparatus for applying a box bottom to a partially completed package embodying an open sided receptacle and a content enclosed inl a wrapper having end ears extending laterally from the receptacle over the open side edges of one pair of oppositely disposed side walls, comprising means for receiving a box blank with said partially completed package thereon with its open side and ears in engagement with said blank, means for effecting vertical separation of said receptacle from said package content and said box blank, said means embodying devices operative to engage said wrapper ears so as to hold said wrapped content in place on said blank, thereby to insure withdrawal of the wrapped content from said receptacle, means for folding portions of said box blank and incidentally folding said ears, upwardly over the sides of said wrapped package content, and means for reversing said vertical separating movement so as to effect insertion of said folded box blank with the wrapped package content therein into said receptacle.

FRANK D. PALMER.