US2441445A - Method and machine for forming and filling reclosable cartons - Google Patents

Description

May 11., 1948 w. A. RINGLER El AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed April 12, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIL /HM n RINGLER' WALTER E. soox kuaoz. pum mvs'roont A INVENTOR.

W. A. RINGLER El AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed April 1 2, 1945 v 78heets-Sheet 2 R w a 5% 6 v! ma. 1 ww m A R 0 E. 9w 9 a w oomoooooooer m +m r\ .4 mR M. RN! v v v M 0 mm mm m mm @N 4 hm k ooaooooeaooo ooe May 11-, 1948. w.- A. RINGLER El AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed April 12, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 WILLIRM n. RINGLER WALTER E. 500).

RUDOLPH M. VON SYDOW INVENTORS.

w. A. RINGLER El AL 2,441,445-

Filed April 12, 1943 7 Shets-Sheet 4 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMINGAND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS May 11, 1948.

R w Jlr 9m 26 mm m m \QW:\ W J m +m R O W V H s v. m M Q R R H \w .m W 36w:- mmm .v Q i m 5 m m um, ,& k Maw Q m fiui E ms; NZ to a a w a m. a 0 mm b a a 55 W a aw mu 7 MS Y u '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 11, 1948. w. A. RINGLER T AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed April 12, 1945 May 11, 1948. w. A. RINGLER ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLQSABLE CARTONS Filed April 12, 194; 7 SheetS-Sheget e WILL/HM H. RINGLER. WHLTER E. 500V. RUDOLPH MVU/VSYDOW.

x .3 +2 $8 7 new INVENTORS.

May 11, 1948. w. A. RINGLER ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS 7 Shts-Sheet '7 Fiied April 12, 1943 WLLLIHM n. ems/.512. WHL'TER E. soon RUDOLPH W .Y0/V$YDOW nwnnhn nduh k myEmoRs.

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' Patented May 11, 1948 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING RECLOSABLE CARTONS William A. Ringler, Walter E. Sooy, and Rudolf W. von Sydow, Middletown, Ohio, assignors to The Gardner-Richardson Company, Middletown,'0hio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 12, 1943, Serial No. 482,806

19 Claims. (01. 93-6) Our invention has for its principal object the provision of a machine for forming up, filling and closing a type of boxboard carton for which the usual filling and sealing mechanism is not available. The carton itself is not herein claimed, but

it will be described since an understanding of its I nature is necessary to an understanding of the present invention. Generally characterized, it is a tubular carton having (preferably) at one end the usual seal end construction, but at the other a cover member, articulated to the body of the carton and swingable from a closed to an open position. When the cover is in closed position, coacting parts effect a retention of the cover in that position and offer a substantial resistance to the opening of the cover. The action is automatic, and the carton may be opened and closed indefinitely, within the wear-strength of the board from which it is made.

The exemplary carton employed for purposes of illustration herein is one intended for use as a pocket container for pipeand cigarette tobacco. It will be understood, however, that the carton may be given various sizes and shapes for a variety of uses. Various subcombinations of the. apparatus and method herein disclosed may be employed in treating cartons of other types than the exemplary one, and in this event the body of the carton may be widely changed through a variety of known types, as well asthe nature of the bottom end closure. Also our invention in some of its aspects is applicable to the formation of top end closures of modified type with'or without the automatic feature mentioned above. ;Closures having the automatic feature will hereine after be referred to for convenience as click top closures. 1 I I It is an object of our invention to provide means and a method for forming a click top closure on a carton. 1 y

It is an object of our invention to. provide a means and method effective for erecting a carton, filling it, closing and sealing the bottom end, forming a, click top structure, closing'the top, and delivering the finished package, as a series of interconnected steps. Since the formation of the click-top closure involves the making of a plurality of folds in a plurality of directions, it is an object of our invention to simplify the formation of these folds by mechanical means, and more particularly to correlate the operations so that the formation of certain folds is a factor in the formation of others, as will hereinafter be explained.- i Theseand other objects of our invention, which will be later set' forth or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, we accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts and by that mode of operation, of which we shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the drawings which form a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank for the exemplary carton.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the carton in tubed condition, 1. e. in the form in which it may be delivered to our machine.

Figures 3 to 11 inclusive are perspective views of the carton showing the several operations performed by the machine.

Figure 12 is a partial sectional view showing the relationship of a feeder to a conveyor for the cartons.

Figure 13 is a similar view showing the action of erecting fingers which we prefer to provide.

Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 are partial plan views taken along the length of the machine, to be taken together and in the order in which the figures are numbered. I

' Figure 18 is an elevational'view of the entering portion of the machine.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary elevation showing cam mechanism for operating the carton feeder and erecting fingers.

Figure 20 is a transverse section taken along the line Zfl-Zll-of Figure 18, and showing mechanism concerned with theoperation of feeding-contents into cartons.

Figure 21 is a sectional view of the machine taken along the line 2|2l of Figure 15, and relating to the folding of bottom flaps.

. Figure 22 is a section taken along the line '22-22 of Figure 15, and relating to a gluing operation.

Figure 23 is a longitudinal sectionon an enlarged scale taken of the portion of the machine shown at the left handendof Figure 16.

Figure 24 is a section related to the line 2424 of Figure 16. V V 1 Figure 25 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of instrumentalities at'the delivery end of the machine.

Figure 26 is a partial end elevation of the delivery end of the machine.

In the blank for the exemplary carton, as shown in Figure 1, four body walls I, 2, 3 and 4 are articulated together by score lines shown as dotted lines. A glue flap 5 is articulated to the wall 4. At the lower ends of the body walls, there are sealing flaps ofusual form, indicated at 6, I, 8 and 9.

' remainder of the cover parts.

To the top of the front body wall 3 there is articulated a click flap ill, the function of which will hereinafter be described. To the top of the back body wall I, there is articulated a cover top wall I I, to which, in turn, is articulated a cover front wall [2, bearing an abutment flap l3. Cover side walls I4 and [5 are articulated to the cover front wall 12; and these bear glue tabs I6 and I! which are ultimately to be attached to the cover top walls l4 and [5, but not by mechanical means acting directly on the glue tabs l6 and H. The operation is mechanically a simple one. We are thus able to leave our glue tabs It and l! free for the application of glue, (which is indicated by stipple marks); but we avoid the necessity of moving folding means acting on the glue tabs. The reason why the glue tabs rise to the position shown in Figure 8 is that the board lacks complete resiliency, .and when the cover side walls havebeen'zbent over into superposed relationship I with theglue tabs (as in Fig. '7) and then bent folded on two of its longitudinal score lines,":and'

its glue flap 5 attached to the wall I. When. this is done, the blank is in the fiat form shown in Figure 2. By means of the same machine with a suitable attachment, or by means of a separate machine, We prefer to fold over the abutment flap l3 and glue it to the cover front wall 12. In this condition the collapsed cartons are shipped to the manufacturer of the goods to be packaged in them.

A consideration of the steps through which the carton passes in our machine will indicate our manner of operating upon the carton and will help in an understanding of the mechanism sub sequently described. The first operation is that of erecting or squaringup the tubular-carton, whereby it is brought into the condition shown in Figure 3. Next, the "bottom end sealing flaps are spread apart sufficiently to be out of the way, and the contents are insertedinto the erected carton body through its lower end. In Figure 4 a charge of tobacco previously wrapped in paper, as at i8, is'shownbeing inserted as a unit into the carton. While this is being done, the click-flap it may be turned over outwardly so as to lie-against the front wall I When the charge of tobacco'has been fully inserted, operations for closing the bottomof the carton are begun. In'our operation,'one-of the longer sealing .flaps 8 is bent over against the front wall 3 so as toget'i't outiof the way, and the shorter sealing 'flaps are bent over as shown in Figure 5. The sealing flap 6 may then be bent upwardly'against the sealing flaps 7 and '9 as shown inFigure'B. While this is being done, the

cover front wall I2 is beingbent upwardly carrywherein .the bottom glue flap 8 has been-folded v iinto final position,"(whereby the bottom closure and seal is completed), and wherein the cover 7 front wall [.2 has been folded back again to its original position. It 'will'benoted'that'the cover side walls l4 and I5 are still coplanar with the cover front wall l2. .The'result of the folding op-- eration is to cause the glue tabs' i6 and 11 to project upwardly at an angle tothe plane of the This "eifect has been accomplished by folding means acting upon the cover front wall and'th'e'associated'coverside back (as in Fig. 3), the glue tabs spring away somewhat from the cover side walls, but will not reassume a 180--relationship with them.

As a 'fur'therconsequence of this procedure and actionwit'will be seen that when the cover directly upon them. lf' new-the cover front Wall closed .car ton is complete as such. Needless to say, it maybe subsequently wrapped, as in Cellophane 'where' this is desired; and in the packag- "i-ng of'tobacco products it will be usual to afiix a revenue stamp =i-n-s-uch manner that the stamp must be'brken to open the cover of the carton.

With the carton in closed position as in Figure 11, the click-flap it lies inwardly against the cover front Wall 12 and cop'lanar or substantially so with the abutment 13. Thus resistance is offered to the-opening of thecarton, for the clickflap I0 mustswingupwardly until the abutment is released.

doing this, it depresses the upper edge o'fthe-front body wall 3 bf the-carton. The car-ton may have its cov-erepened and closed indefinitely and the click-top "construction and 0pe-ration is such that the'cover, when closed, will always be held in closed-position against acciden- 'ta-l opening.

'Ashereiri above indicated,- the cartons in the condition-shown Figure '2 are delivered to the machine of our invention and are placed in a feeder-instacked relationship. This feeder comany suitable one. I It-may as shown in Figs. 12,

1 3 and 14, be mounted in a -cutout in the bed 23, on rollers which ride in grooves in the sides of thecutout. The' thickness of the pusher is not greater than the-normal thickness of the folded I blank of Figure 2. =Pushe-r fee'dersas such are kno'wn in the art, and' it will-be readilyunder- =-stood that as the' pusher is"w'ithdrawn-to the :left

in Figure 12, so as to come out from beneath the stack :of col-lapsed cartons, the sstack will descend un'til th'e lowermost earton'flies in the plane of the pus'her. -=We prefer toattach :toitsforward end stop "means 25 to prevent the trailing end of the carton blankifro'm descending "too far and possibly fouling on the 'fing'ers' hereinafter described. Upon movement :of the" pusher to the right in FigurelZ, the lowermost carton will be movedforwardly-and thereby ta'kenaout :of the stack. The hopper l9 will keep the remainder of the cartons in the stack.

The cartons are moved through the machine in erected condition on a conveyor comprising belts, chains or other flexible moving means, with blocks spaced on the conveyor to accept the erected cartons in the spaces between. These blocks not only insure movement of the cartons through the machine, but also maintain them in erected condition. In Figures 12 and 13 we have shown a conveyor comprising a flight of chains 26 passing over sprockets 2'! on a shaft 28. On the chains are aflixed the series of blocks 29. It will be seen in the figures that erected cartons 3c are engaged between the blocks on the straight flight of the conveyor. As a collapsed carton 3| comes out of the stack under the influence of the pusher 2|, the timing and the distance of travel of the pusher with respect to the blocks on the conveyor may be made such (by means of the shape of the operating cams hereinafter tobe described) that it not only brings the carton 3| against the trailing edge of a block 29, but also pushes the carton ahead faster than the travel of the conveyor so as to accomplish a partial erection of the carton. In this way, the erection of the carton may be carried on by the combined action of the pusher and the block to such a degree that the leading edge of the next succeeding block, which at this timeis traveling in an arcuate path about the sprockets 21, can engage the carton and, as it swings into the straight flight of the conveyor, can fully erect it and hold it against the preceding block.

As the erected cartons move along the conveyor, an overhead guide or hold down 32 maintains the cartons between the blocks.

While the operation just described is a mechanically simple one, various factors may affect it. One of these is the matter of change of dimensions of parts of the machine with humidity conditions, especially where such parts are made of wood. At a time when metals are largely unobtainable, we have been making our machines with the use of as much wood as possible, and have illustrated in our drawings a machine with large numbers of wooden parts. In the type of erecting operation just described dimensional changes in the blocks 29 tend to affect it in considerable measure, and we prefer the more positive action of erecting fingers and attendant mechanism which we will now describe. In suitable bearings 33 on uprights 34 of the machine frame we mount a shaft 35 and to this shaft we non-rotatably aflix erecting fingers 36. The length of the blocks 29 is somewhat less than the length of the carton bodies so that, the fingers 36 may contact the carton bodies off the ends of the blocks. In Figure 12, as the carton 3| is delivered into position to be engaged by the blocks, the spreader fingers 35 move upwardly from a positionshown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines. During the reverse movement of the pusher plate 2|, as shown in Figure 3, the fingers 3'6 engage the carton 3| and by moving the trailing edge of it forwardly at a greater speed than the speed of travel of the blocks, erect the carton as indicated. During this operation the trailing edge of the carton is engaged in notches near the ends of the erecting fingers. On the end of the hold down 32 we prefer to mount a roller 3! in a resilient fashion so as to prevent the erected or partially erected cartons from moving upwardly so as to come out of engagement with the blocks and with the conveyor, and so as to insure that the erected cartons will ride properly under the end of the hold down 32. The roller 31 is pivoted on arms 38 which in turn are pivotedin bracket boxes 39 on the end of the hold down structure. Within the bracket box the arms 38 may be provided with a projection upon which a spring acts as shown, and may also be provided with another projection which, coming against an abutment prevents too great a descent of the roller 31. The hold down proper, 32, is held in position by a bracket or arm- 32a, and the hold down roller may be mounted on a forward extension of this bracket as at 40. This extension, as indicated in Figure 14, may have projecting portions extending up to or beyond the roller 31 which also assist in introducing the cartons beneath the hold down 32.

The hold down 32, with some interruptions for the passage of shafts, extends substantially throughout the machine to the delivery end thereof, as can be seen from a consideration of Figures 15 to 17 inclusive.

For the operation of instrumentalities thus far described we attach certain cams to the driven shaft 28. The character of these cams will be best understood from Figure 19. A 3-pronged cam 4| acts upon a cam follower 42 on a lever 43 which is pivoted on a bracket 44 to the machine upright 34. The upper end of the lever 43 15- connected by a linkage 45 to an arm 46 (for the arm see Figure 14) which is'fastened to the pusher plate 2|. To cause the cam follower 42 to follow the cam we may employ a spring 41 (shown in Figures 12 and 13) which connects the pusher plate with the end of the bed 23. We could of course employ a spring directly upon the lever 43, and in some instances we have employed, in addition to the pusher plate spring, a coil spring at the pivot. 44. For

the operation of the erecting fingers 36 we provide another cam 48 on the shaft 28. A cam follower 49 for this cam is aflixed to a lever 50 which in turn is non-rotatably fastened to the erecter finger shaft 35. Another lever 5| also non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 35 is connected to the upright 34 by a tension spring 52 so as to cause the cam follower 49 to follow the cam 48. r

The main conveyor chain or chains 26 extend to the exit end of the machine and return over a sprocket or sprockets on a shaft 53 mounted on the frame of the machine (see Figure 17). A motor 54, through a gear box 55 drives the conveyor. The conveyor chain 26, of course, drives the shaft 28 at the entering end of the machine.

Asthe cartons pass along the conveyor between the blocks, and beneath the hold down 32, the bottom end closure flaps are bent outwardly out of the way, as shown in Figure 4. A kicker 56 (Figure 14) is employecl'to knock forwardly the leading short bottom sealing flapl. This kicker is mounted on one end of a lever 51, pivoted as at 58 on the machine frame, and having at its other end a depending arm 59. A cam follower roller 60 is mounted on the end of the arm, and coacts with a cam 6| mounted on the shaft 28. The lever 51 will be provided with spring means (not shown) to hold the cam follower against the cam. The kicker 56 has beveled sides as shown. The timing is such that the kicker rapidly moves toward the carton and its beveled front edge bends flap 1 forward. The kicker then stays between flaps '6 and 8 while the carton moves forwardly on the conveyorso 77 that it -rear bevelededge can move backward ly the sealing flap 9.

Ciirved statio'nary sweeps movefiapst and 8 outwardly; 'Tlie sweep ior' flap 8 is] indicated st er-m Figures 14 and 20, the latter'figure show ing how" it may be supported f rom the central holddowri 32; In this-figure also'the stationary sw'ees forflap' 6 is indicat'edat 63;" Sweep 62 is contin'ued and; configured until, as indicated Figure 14 at 'GZw, it has bent nape o-V'er'bfitb thatc -want of the carton. I l

For filling the cartons, We provide in connection with the bed 23; another conveyor 64 (Figures 14 and-18) consisting of a chain or chains (or other flexible members) passingover a sprocket on shaft 28 and another spaced sprocket (not shown). This second conveyor bears-spacers or blocks 65 between which the charges" [8 may be engaged." A feeder having a hopp'ei' 66 is provided for these charges. Since there-is in connection with this feeder nop'roblem of erecting a carton, and since the charges It? are of ample thickness, the blocks 65 themselvescan act as pushers to withdrawth'e charges from the stack. The conveyor 6'4" moves" with conveyor 28 so that the charges are maintained opposite the cartons into which they areto be introduced, while both are in motion.

As the charges is move along opposite" the cartons, they are driven transversely to the conveyor-64 so as to introduce andpu'sh them into the cartons. This is preferably accomijpli'she'ctbyproviding pushers on a flight of chain =5!v which runs diagonally of and above the conveyor 64'. The chain 61 passes over sprockets ifi' and 69. The stub shaft of sprocket 58; is journaled in a bearing ll) (Figure 18) on'the bed-23. The shaft bears a bevel gear ll mesh- :ing with another bevel gear 12 affixed. to shaft 128. Thus-the chain 6'! is driven synchronously with chains 26 and 64. The stub shaft of sprocketfill is provided with a similar bearing on tl 1ebed'23.

At intervals along the length of the chain 161, aredep'ending'arms 13 (Figures 14", 18 and-20) carry rollersor flat pusher members; 14, thelatter being so disposed'that they extend down between the blocks 65 so as to engage the charges l8.- The charges are thus gradually introducedinto the erected cartons while both are moving. If necessary the chain 61 may be supportedthroughout its working length. A

) We prefer to introduce the charges into the containers by the means and procedure 'just described, Other mechanisms may, however, be

employed: We have, by Way of example, employed a stepped pusher plate operatimg transversely to the conveyor 64 and so timed in its movements that the several steps of the plate eifects uccessive movements of the charges I8 transversely to the conveyor 64 and into the cartons; As shown, the spaced relationship" of conveyors 26 and is such'that' when the blocks 65'n'o longer engage the charges I8 so as to mbvj'e them longitudinally of the machine, the charges it-can -be engaged and folded to itsfin'al position by the same stationary sweep" 15. An exemplary rcrnior this'niechani'siii' comprises a notched, rotating disc- 16; This is mounted on a. stub snarttjourfialcd as at IT in bearing means which may 'be fastened tOa side frame member of the machine; Tliisshaft also bears a sprocket l8 which-is driven 'by'me'ans of a chain 19 from a sprocket 80 011: the stub shaft' of sprocket 69 for convyor' tili The notched parts of the disc 16 act as forwardkickers on the trailing flap ii. To this" endth'e'y must move faster than the travel of the-cartons; The size ofsprockets 18 and 80 andthe spacing of the'notches on the disc 15 as we'll'iasits' size are" apportioned to effect the desired speed/0f operation while" maintaining the necessary tin'iin'g. .v

ln-Figures'ldand 21 it may be seen how, just after the swep ldcompletes'the folding in of the fiaps2'l and 9, azsweep 8i folds the bottom sealing-flap upwardly. A continuation of this sweepi' as at? 8 la maintains" the folded condition of. flaps 5,1 and 9 to arid through a point at which glue isapplied to flap 8. In the travel of thetcarton as'it approache's the'glu'e application point; an: overhead sweep or stationary folder (Figure' 15') indicated at'BZ folds the flap 8 down intorvertical'positioh so that: it may receive the glue.

Meanwhile, e; 1 series of folding operations have been conducted "on-the top structure of the carton. From FigureZI it 'willbe clear how the top portion cfthe 'cartongmcves a ong over the bed 23 of the machine. Ai'member 33- fastened to the machine bed may: overlie theunfoldedtop constructio'nof the cartonandserve-as an abutment to prevent endwise displacernent of the cartons b'etween the-block's 29" on the'con'veyor 2B, A stafishery-sweep 84 maybe employed to turn over the c'lick flap It ontothewall a," and a suitable continuat n"-of sweep inthe form of a hold db'Wr'i strie samay-maintem the folded condition or tip [9 substantially throughout the length ortne machmei- I a A stationary sweep-86 is' next employed to fold over the cov'r" front wall 12" onto the cover top wall: 5 While folding over tnec'over side Wall-5 M 'IB 'o'nto the cover glue tabs l5 and El as heretofore ex'folaineii in connection with Fig-tires S' and' '7. Displacement of the glue tab's' I6 and l ispreventedf because these tabs are riding al'ohg on the heart. A sword (not's'hown in the d'r awih'g si may be empldydin order toenforce the bending of th'e boxboard'along the line of articulation }b'etw'een"-cover walls" [2 and H and between the cover side wall's an'd their attached sealing tabs? The a'ctiohillustrated iri Figure 8', we find, is facilitated-by 'pressing the blank along the line of ai'ticula'tioiijust mentioned} To this end, at a pemt wherc" the machine bed'is interrupted, we m'cunt a pressing roller 87 on the side frame of -m'achi'rie; sothat-it' may eng'ag'the blank fromlbeneathsand 'i'n' abrack'et 88 we journal an upper-{pressingroller 89; one or bothof these rollers m'ay' 'be sprin'g" pressed-"or, as detailed in Figures l5 'and 22'; the upper roller may be mounted eccentrically on a shaft 99 bolted into the-bracket 8 81 while-a handle 99 1 permits an adiujstmentbI the position of the roller Ellw'hich then"cah -b'e fiked by means of the belt.-

7 At the glue application point 'a transverse shaft l isjoiii rialed'; 'Tl'1i's shaft bears-a glue applicater 93 with fi'xed ofi adjustable 'teeth so-positi'on'ed'as to apply' glue to theglue tabs rs and I1 without applying it to the intervening cover top wall II. The shaft 92 also bears a glue applicator disc 95 positioned to apply a stripe of glue to the under side of the bottom sealing flap 8. Thus the application of glue islocalized at one point in the machine.

A glue transfer roll 96 on a shaft 91 turns in a glue pct 98. This pot may have any suitable mounting together with any suitable heating means. It is convenient to mount the pot on pivoted arms 99 On a sub-base I supported on the machine frame. This permits swinging the pot to a position in which the glue transfer roll 96 contacts the glue applicators 93 and 95, and also to an open position as shown in dotted lines. An adjustable stop means IOI may be employed to determine the contact of the applicators and the transfer roll. Instead of a solid roll we may employ transfer discs, as will be clear, either in the same or in separate glue pots. In either event, we prefer to drive the shaft 91 from shaft 92 by means of a chain I03 or other suitable drive. The shaft 92 is itself driven by means of a chain I04 and suitable sprockets from another trans- Verse shaft I (Figure 16) about which more will be said later.

In order to insure contact of the carton parts to which glue is to be applied and the glue applicaters, we prefer to provide overhead hold down or presser rollers I06 at both ends of the carton. When the carton has left the glue application point in Figure 15 a stationary sweep I01 is employed to fold downwardly the bottom sealing flap 8 into final position. The package has now been filled and the bottom closure is complete except for pressing and holding it until the glue has set. A continuation of the sweep I01, as at I01a in Figure 16, maintains the final position of flap 8 until pressing means can be brought against it.

Considering these pressing means, they preferably comprise, first, a presserbelt I08 (Figures 16 and 1'7).' This belt passes over a tail sheave I09 journaled on the machine frame and a forward sheave IIO aflixed to a stub shaft III journaled as at II2on the frame of the machine. A sheave Il3 alsoafilxed to'the stub shaft is driven by a belt II4 from a sheave H5 aflixed to a transverse shaft II6 about which more will be said hereinafter. A belt tightener is preferably employed and may comprise a roller I I1 mounted on an armor arms II8 pivoted as at II9 on the frame of the machine and either acted on by a spring (not shown) or fixed in a belt tightening position by. a set screw 911.

The forward moving flightof belt I08 parallels the movement of the carton ends as the cartons arecarried'along by the blocks 29 on the conveyor 25. We prefer to provide throughout a portion at least of this flight of the belt a series ofpressing elements. As shown, these may comprise small rollers I20 journaled in frames I2I which in turn are centrally pivoted to an angle iron or the like I22. This angle iron forms an abutment on the machine frame, and compression springs I23 engage between it and the frames I2I. This "gives a presser construction, which nevertheless is flexible and is capable of accommodating itself'to irregularities of travel'in the operating flight of belt I08.

Theremaining operations to be performed on the top part of the carton arethose operations il-f lustrated in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive. In the first oflthese operations the cover front wall I2 and its associated cover side walls I4 and I5 171f9 10 back again into a position coplanar with the cover top wall II. This is accomplished by means of a stationary sweep indicated at I25 at the right hand end of Figure 15. This sweep has, of course, an outward and downward configuration as respects the cartons and the result of the foldin operation is to bring the carton top into the condition shown in Figure 8 where the glue tabs I6 and I1 on the cover side walls I4 and I5 are caused to extend upwardly, although they have not been contacted by folding instrumentalities. The next operation will be that of bringing about the condition shown in Figure 9, for which purpose we employ a series of instrumentalities next to be described. As shown in Figures 16 and 23 on the transverse shaft I05 we mount a sprocket I26 which is the tail sprocket for another longitudinal chain I21, the upper flight of which rides along in a groove on the machine bed 23 in a position underlying the cover parts of the cartons. The chain I21 returns over a sprocket affixed to a shaft I30 (Figure 16). This shaft bears a sprocket I28 engaging a chain I29 passing over a sprocket I 30b (Figure 17) on the main drive shaft 53 of the machine. It will be clear that the chain I21 is thus driven from the motor 54.

The chain I21 carries spaced blocks I3I arranged to travel synchronously with blocks 29 of the main conveyor 26. The blocks I3I are arranged to lie between the top portions of successive cartons on the conveyor. The blocks have beveled edges and their movement around;the sprocket I26 as well as their positioning on the straight flight of the chain I21 is such as to cause an upward bendingof the cover side walls I4 and I5 if the cover front wall I2 is depressed between the blocks. This action will be clear from Figure 23. For depressing the cover front wall I2 between the blocks I3I we provide an appropriately shaped and appropriately timed rotating star wheel I32. This wheel is mounted on a shaft I33 which may be journaled as at I34 (Figure 16) in a bearing member afiixed to a bracket on the machine frame or aflixed to a supported end of the hold down 32. The shaft I33 has a chain and sprocket drive (including the chain I35) from a shaft I36 which will hereinafter be described.

The result of depressing the cover front wall I2 between the blocks I3I is to turn up the cover side walls I4 and I5. This produces an inward disposition of the glue tabs I6 and I1 (as shown in Figure 9) still without the necessity of contacting these glue tabs with folding instrumentalities. The next step is the bringing of the carton top into the condition shown in Figure 10. This is accomplished by folding upwardly the cover front wall I2. A stationary sweep I31 performs this action. The swee preferably has a ledge oroverhang I38 (Figure 24) which prevents the cover top 'wall II from rising upwardly, and obviates the use of a sword. The bending of the cover front wall I2 upwardly, as in Figure 10, results in positioning the glue tabs I6 and I1 on top of and against the cover top wall II while the books I3I still act to prevent spreading of the cover end walls I4 and I5. To insure adherence of the glue tabs to the cover top wall they must now be pressed and held thereagainst. This is accomplished by means coming down from above and traveling with the'cartons, engaging glue tabs I6 and I1 and pressing them against the cover top wall I I which in turn is supported from beneath by the chain I21.

A shaft I36 is mounted in bearing members I39 and I40 which'rise considerably above the plane of themachine bed. The shaft 136 bears a sprocket 1&1 about which travels a longitudinal chain M2 paralleling the chain 121. This chain 1&2 returns overasprocket 141a (Figure 17) near the forward end of the machine, the sprocket 141a being secured-to a shaft H 6. The chain 129 passes partially around the undersideof a sprocket 1313c, mounted on the'outer end ofshaft l 15,.the chain being held in driving contact with the sprocket 1390 by an idler sprocket 130d, the axial center of this idlersprocket being on :or nearthe horizontalaxial plane of shaft 1 15, thechain 1-29 passing over the upper periphery of sprocket 130d and passing onto sprocket 12-8 and thence returning to sprocket 135b, furnishing driving power to shafts 1'38, 136,195,11Band92.

The chain M2 bears presser blocks M5. When the'carton tops have been brought into the condition shown in-Figure .10 these presser-blocks swing into position within the carton tops "and, gradually descending, pressglue tabs 1 5 and 1'1 against the wall 11. lhe gradual descend 0f the blocks 1-45 after they have swung around the sprocket 14! is accomplished by the provision'of a pressure trackway 146 for the chain 1 '42. The trailing end of this trackway tapers upwardly as shown in Figure 23. We have found it preferable to relieve the presser blocks 145centrallyas at Mlso as to confine their'pressure to the glue tabs Iii-and 1'1. Also we prefer, wherethe presser blocks are made of wood to line the operating surfaces thereof with metal as at 148. The length or travel of chain 14-2 in the machine-is chosenin such manner that positive adhesion between the glue tabs 16 and 11 and the-covertop-wall 1-1 will-have been achieved bythe timethe chainMZreturns around its forward sprocket 1 4 1a.

The final operationis the closing of thelid of the package. This may beaccomplishedlby.means of a'final stationary sweep- 149.

While other forms of delivery or stacking means -maybe employed, we have :devised a simple and advantageous .one the characteristics of which will be apparent from Figures (1'7, 25 and 26. Ontheend of the machine frame we have fastened a pair of carton Pengagement means or trackways 151) which-are'thin' panel-like members, one oneach side of the blocks 29 of the main conveyor and .so shaped as to remove :the ifilled and closed cartons'from between the blocks and deliver them on edge at a slightly lower jlevel than the top flight of the maineonVeyorCZo. The members 1-59 are enabled to exert this. action on the cartons b'ecause,-as hereinabove explained,

theblocks 29-are slightly shorter than the cartonsthemselv'es. The cartons are-delivered inv an on edgeposition to 'a'slide hopper 151 .-extending from the end of the machine. In-sordersto move the stack of cartons forwardlyrso that a space will"beqprovided atlts.rear into which the next carton can drop, ave employ a vpusher member 152 whfchis fixednn'a shaft 1-53, which permits pivotal 'rrovemen't act "the f pusher. The shaft is journaled in uprights? at the-:end ofthermachine. Urging the :shaft counterclockwise so? that .the pusher "can: assume the: position shown in solid lines in Figure z5,-we;provide thesh'aft 153 with a rigid 'arm 1-54, extending:rearwardly:of the machine, on which a weight 155 is; preferably adjustably mounted The upper-end ofthepusher isigiven a' cam shapedcontour-at 156 as shown in'Figure25. --When the; pusher is in the position shown in solid lines, the delivery-:trackways 150 deliver the carton to the "slide beyond the pusher. :But' asvthe 'block- 29 'on the main con veyor swings around the sprocket "53c, it contacts the cam surface 156 thereby moving the pusher into the position shown in "dotted lines in Figure 25. This is a position in which the block 2910211 clear the pusher; but it is also -a position requiring forward movement 'of the-stack of cartons in the slide or hopper by at least thethickness of one of the cartons. We also provide on the uprights a pair of thin, steel spring fingers 162 and163. These are shaped and positioned to be deflected by-a filledcarton duringthezforward movement of the stack as pushed by the pusher 152 and'then to spring into position behind the last carton to prevent retrograde movement of the stack.

As soon as the block has cleared thecam .surface, the weight returns the pusher to the position shown in solid lines. In order tomaintain the forward end of the stack we provide abutment means 15'! whichare slidable-i-n-alrabbeted groove 158 in the-bottom of the slide. When a sufiicientnumber of filled and closed cartons accumulates in theslide, the operator removes themor a portion of them, thereafter .moving theabutment 151 to the leftin Figure 17.

The guide 146 on the overheadchain14.2;may be givenv a resilientmounting whereby itisspring pressed downwardly. The ,under chain '12 which bears the blocks operating to erect .the coverlside wallsmay be terminated before thepresser chain 142 and the carton top wall 11 may .therea'fterbe supported for pressing by imeans iof a belt 159 overlying and slidingwalongtheibed 23. This belt may be driven by a pulley 1 64 ifixed on the shaft 53 and may returnover-another pulley on -a stub shaft as at 1130 in Figurenl6. Inplaceof the pressing members 121 we may in instances employ wooden blocks or strips 161 (Figure 24) either solidly mounted onthe machine bed or resiliently mounted thereon. We have illustrated our machine in the form in whichjtis currently being made by us withavailable .maliflrials; but inthe light of our teachings herein there may obviouslybe changes indesign in the adaptation of more suitablemetalmembers.

Modifications 'may be made in our invention without departing from the spiritofit.

Having thus described, our invention, what we claim as new and desire -to secure by.Letters Patent, is:

1. -A method of forming end closures on cartons having a'tubular body and anendclosnre-having a top wall, a front wall-articulated tothe top wall, side walls articulatedito the ends-of therfront wall and glue tabs articulatedtothe sidewalls, said method comprising J folding .through a .substantial anglesaidflfront andside walls with respect to theremainderof saidsparts thengfolding them back substantially to original position whereby said glue tabs are brought upwardly with respectto said top wall, thenfoldin Said side walls with respect. to said frontwall whereby said lue tabs are b ou ht-i ward .towa eeaoh other, andfolding saidjront wall .With respect ,to d p all, whereby to pos t on aid lu tabs fiatwise ag i s s idt nwall- .2. The process cla medinsc a mil in ludin t step .of appl g-ad s v t s.ai lueetebshprio to moving saidsglue tabsnwith respect to saidtop wall,

,3. .Th process Q mdins a mlJ-n which, sai stepsare carried onwhile thecartons are incontinuousmotion. r

"4. A method of, forming end 010.51 1.65. On ,Qartons having .a tubularhody andian endplosure havinga top wall,afront wallarticulatedto the top wall, side walls articulated to the ends of the front wall and glue tabs articulated to the side walls, said method comprising folding through a substantial angle said front and side walls with respect to the remainder of said parts, then folding them back substantially to original position whereby said glue tabs are brought upwardly with respect to said top wall, then folding said side walls with respect to said front wall whereby said glue tabs are brought inwardly toward each other, and folding said front wall with respect to said top wall, whereby to position said glue tabs flatwise against said top wall, adhesive having been applied between said top wall and'said glue tabs, and pressing said glue tabs againstsaid top wall, afterward folding said top wall over with respect to said tubular body whereby to move said end closure to closed position.

5. A method of forming and filling cartons of a type having a tubular body, an end closure at one end having a top wall, a front wall articulated to said top wall, side wallsarticulated to the ends of said front wall, and glue tabs articulated to said side walls, and seal end flaps on the other endof said body, said method comprising squaring up the tubular body, moving it in a path, folding through a substantial angle said front and side walls with respect to the remainder of said parts, applying adhesive to said glue tabs, bending said front and side walls back through a substantial angle whereby said glue tabs are caused to be angularly related to said top wall, bending said side walls with respect to said front wall whereby said glue tabs are brought inwardlyv toward each other, folding said front wall with respect to said side Walls whereby to position said glue tabs flat wis'e against said top wall, and pressing said glue tabs against said top wall, and concurrently-with some at least of the aforesaid operations on the carton conducting another series of operations thereon comprising spreading said seal end flaps, introducing contents into said body, folding and sealing said seal end flaps, an adhesive being applied to at least one of them, and pressing the end seal; V

6. The method of claim in which the said steps are so correlated that the application of adhesive at both ends of the carton occurs at the same point of the cartons path of travel.

7. The method of forming a three dimensional structure from a carton blank part in which twomain walls are articulated to each other, side walls are articulated to one of said main walls, and tabs are articulated to said side walls, and in which said tabs must be positioned by .a two-directional movement against one of said main walls, said method comprising folding said main walls relative to each other in one direction, then in another, then again in the first direction, with an intermediate folding of the side walls, whereby to position said tabs as aforesaid without folding them, and solely by the folding of other parts.

8. A method of folding carton blanks which includes the steps of folding in one direction certain parts which are articulated together, with respect to other parts articulated to the first mentioned parts but not to each other, and then reversing the folding of said first mentioned parts with respect to less than all of said other parts whereby to produce differences in the angularity of said other parts to said first mentioned parts.

9. In a machine for folding cartons which have main walls articulated together, side walls articulated to the ends of one of said main walls, and

ing over through a substantial angle one of said main walls and theSide walls articulated there-.

to with reference to the others of said parts,

- means for reversing the said fold through a substantial angle whereby to change the angularity of said tabs to said unfolded main wall, means for folding said side walls to a substantially normal relationship with the main wall to which they are articulated, and means for folding said main wall to substantially a right angular relationship with the other main wall, whereby to position said tabs substantially in face to face relationship with said other main wall.

10. The apparatus claimed in claim 9 including means to apply adhesive to said tabs, and means for pressing said tabs against said other main wall.

11. Apparatus for forming and filling cartons of a type having a tubular body, an end closure at one end having a top wall, a front wall articulated to said top wall, side walls articulated to the ends of said front wall, and glue tabs articulated to said side walls, and seal end flaps on the other end of said body, said apparatus comprising means for moving a carton in a path with its body in squared-up condition, means for folding through a substantial angle said front and, side walls with respect to the remainder of said parts, means for applying adhesive to said glue tabs, means for bending said front and side walls back through a substantial angle whereby said glue tabs are caused to be angularly related to saidtop wall, means for bending said side Walls with respect to said front wall whereby said glue tabs are brought inwardly toward each other, means for folding said front wall with respect to said side walls whereby to position said glue tabs flatwise against said top wall, means for spreading said seal end flaps, means for introducing contents into said body, means for applying adhesive to one of said seal end flaps, and means for folding and pressing said seal end flaps.

12. Apparatus claimed in claim ll wherein the means for moving the carton comprises a flexible conveyor, and abutment means on said conveyor between which said carton body is held, the carton being positioned on said conveyor with its body transverse thereto so that the end closures on said body project at each side of said conveyor.

13. Apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein the means for moving the carton comprises a flexible conveyor, and abutment means on said conveyor between which said carton body is held, the carton being positioned on said conveyor with its body transverse thereto so that the end closures on said body project at each side of said conveyor, and wherein the means for pressing said glue tabs is means borne by a traveling conveyor and brought thereby into active position, in which said means for folding said side walls comprises means traveling on a conveyor and brought thereby into active position, and in which the means for folding the leading and trailing seal end flaps is a moving means, the remainder of the folding means in said apparatus being stationary folding means.

14. In a machine for forming cartons of a type having a tubular body, an end closure having a-J top wall, a front wall articulated to said top wall,

side walls articulated to the ends of said front wall and glue tabs articulated to said side walls, means for moving the carton in a path with its body in squared-up condition,'means for foldtheremainaer of said parts, means for applying adhesive to said glue tabs, means for bending said front and side walls back through a sub stantial angle whereby said glue tabs are caused to be angularly related to said top-wall, means for bending said side walls with respect to said front wall whereby said glue tabs are brought inwardly toward each other, means for folding said front wall with respect to said side walls whereby to'p'ositi-on said glue tabs flatwise against said top Wall, and means for pressing said glue tabs against said top wall, I

15. In a machine for forming cartons of a type having a tubular body, an end closure having a top Wall, a front wall articulated to the top wall, side walls articulated to the front wall and glue tabs articulated to the side Walls, a conveyor, means on said conveyor to engage erected car-ton bodies and move them in spaced relation, said bodies extending transversely to said conveyon stationary folding means for foldingover said front wall and the associated side walls, means for applying glue to said glue tabs, stationary means 'for folding said front wall and side walls back, means for folding said side Walls with respect to said frontwall, said means comprising a conveyor .parallelin'g said first conveyor, and abutment means on said second conveyor for rising between adjacent cartons and folding a closure side wall of each, stationary means for folding said from; Wall with respect to said top wan, and means for pressing said glue tabs against said top Well, said last mentioned means comprising a third conveyor paralleling the first, and b'earin'g' blocks adapted to enter b'etw'een said side Walls and accom lish said pressing against an op osed'support.

16. Apparatus claliinedjin claim 15 including means acting to depress said "closure front wall respecting said abutment means, and being movable to permit thepassa'g'e of said abutment means.

17. Apparatus claimed in claim 15 including stationary means for folding saidt'op wall with respect to said body whereby to close the com- Dleted closure. I

-18. iAfipa'fatus claimed in claim 15 including stationary means for folding said top wallwith respect to said body whereby to, close thecom pleted' closure; and including means for filling said carton bodies, said last mentioned means comprising a fourth conveyor paralleling the first, means on said fourth conveyor for moving contents charges parallel to and opposite the bodies of the cartons, and means operating transversely to said fourthtconveyor for pushing said charges into said bodies.

19. Apparatus claimed in claim 15- including stationary means for folding. said top *wall with respect to said body whereby to close the com.-

pleted closure, and including means for filling said carton bodies, said last mentioned, means comprising a fourth conveyor paralleling the first, means on said fourth conveyor for moving contents charges parallel to and opposite the bodies of the cartons, and means operating transversely to said fourth conveyor for pushing said charges into said bodies, said bodies having seal end flaps at the end through which. they are filled, and said mechanism includin means for spreading said flaps prior to filling, and means for folding and sealing said flaps after the filling operation.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

WALTER E. SOOY.

RUDOLF WM. VON SYDOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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