US2601481A - Means for opening and loading carton blanks on the conveyer of a packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

2 w m NBS June 24, 1952 v. G. WILLIAMS MEANS FOR OPENING AND LOADING CARTON BLA ON THE CONVEYER OF A PACKAGING MACHIN Filed Feb 28,1949

I IKJ 0 I! 2 2 1 M a b e 0 III I 1 mm a 1 M 1 l H .H w I l 2 mm 2 l I 3 M 4 o "0 II II 4 H 5 l INVENTOR VGWILLIHMS HTTORNEX June 24-, 1952 v wlLLlAMS 2,601,481

MEANS FOR OPENING AND LOADING CARTON BLANK-S ON THE CONVEYER OF A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 I4 I; I I l I I 25 29 I9 F I E E:@ I i 5 i 10'- 27 28 I7 (:ZM Z l1 /2 INVENTOH VGWILL/AMS 5'20 Mam H TTORNEX June 24, 1952 v w s 2,601,481

MEANS FOR OPENING AND LOADING CARTON BLANKS ON THE CQNVEYER OF A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 25 vawlLLmms on fl ATTORNEY.

June 24, 1952 v G, w L 2,601,481

MEANS FOR OPENING AND LOADING CARTON BLANKS ON THE CONVEYER' OF A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVE'NTDR VGWILLIAMS ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 v, w 5 "2,601,481

' MEANS FOR OPENING AND LOADING CARTON BLANKS ON THE CONVEYER OF A PACKAGING MACHINE v FilEd Feb. 28, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR V. G. WILLIAMS.

ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1952 MEANS FOR OPENING AND LOADING CAR- TON BLANKS ON THE CONVEYER OF A PACKAGING MACHINE Victor George Williams, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Delamere & Williams Company Limited, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada Application February 28, 1949, Serial No. 78,788

The invention related to new and useful immovements in carton feeding mechanism for high-speed automatic packaging machines; such mechanism being required to transfer cartons from an adjacent magazineto the conveyor of a packaging machine and co-incidentally to open them for fillin purposes; they being originally supplied in the conventional collapsed or folded form.

Packaging machines have had heretofore to be run below peak efficiency because hitherto available carton feedin mechanisms were incapable of operating safely at high speeds. In most cases this was due to the employment of reciprocating elements therein which had to be returned to neutral position after each carton was loaded on the conveyor. In addition thereto,

such hitherto available mechanisms were also,

Having regard thereto, the foremost object of the invention is to provide mechanism capable of feeding cartons to the conveyor of a packaging machine at a higher rate of speed than was hitherto attainable and to do so without endangering the cartons.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide mechanism of the character described which is of simple and economical construction and substantially fool-proof and efficient in operation.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide such mechanism wherefrom the use of reciprocatin elements and their attendant disadvantages are substantially eliminated.

The structure designed to serve the foregoing purposes is based on a novel method of handling cartons which also constitutes one of the objects of the invention.

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter following description of the elements, parts and principles constituting the invention, whereof a selected embodiment is illustrated, by way of example only, in the annexed drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a substantially schematic view of the invention in plan and includes fragmentary portions of a packaging machine,

Fig. 2-a plan view of a part of the conveyor of the packaging machine during a stage in the loading of a carton thereon,

Fig. 3--a schematic plan view of the invention at a stage in the operation thereof,

Fig. 4--a schematic plan view of the invention and the conveyor during a stage in the operation thereof,

6 Claims. (Cl. 93-53) Fig. 5-an elevatlonal view of the invention as shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 6-a view corresponding to Fig. 2 .at a preceding operative stage,

Fig. 'I-an enlarged plan view of a detail of the invention,

Fig. 8-a view corresponding to and showing the structure of Figs. 2and 6 at an intermediate operative stage,

Fig. 9-a schematic view of the paths followed by certain parts of the invention,

Fig. 10-a section along the line X--X of Fig. 11,

Fig. 1la section along the line XI-XI of Fig. 12,

Fig. 12an enlarged perspective view of one assembly of the invention,

Fig. 13a perspective view of the collapsed carton visualized by the invention,

Fig. i l-a perspective view of theexpa'nded In all of the foregoing views, like parts of the invention are identified by likereference devices.

While the invention is adaptable for use with practically any packaging machine now known, that disclosed in U. S. 1,527,030 to R. D. Delamere and the instant applicant is herein selected for examplary purposes. This machine includes a conveyor 0 generally consisting of an endless belt I arranged to travel in a horizontal plane around a pair of spaced pulleys whereof one is shown fragmentarily at 2 in the drawing. The belt I carries a series of regularly spaced fins 3 projecting radially therefrom which definestalls 4 fo the cartons 5.

The cartons 5, hereby visualized, are of a wellknown type including a tubular body portion divided by axial score-lines into a four-walled structure. The said score-lines being also capable of functioning as hinges, the said structure may thus be selectively collapsed into a flat parcel for delivery purposes or expanded into a rectangular container for filling purposes. For the sake of clarity, the collapsed or flattened carton will hereinafter be referred to as the blank 5'.

In this embodiment of the invention the magazine M, wherein the blanks 5 are stored, is shaped somewhat like a chute and is positioned on a level with and facing the belt I where it rounds the pulley 2. Vertically interposed therebetween is a hollow rotatable column In with a radially projecting arm I I on whose extremity is pivotally mounted the elbow of a bell crank l2 having a cam follower l3 at one end, a suctioncup H at the other end, and a tension spring I5 are not entirely circular in contour.

also interconnected to the arm I: to urge the cam follower I3 into contact with a fixed cam l6 mounted over the column l8 whose function will be duly described.

The parts are so constituted and spaced that the terminal blank in the magazine M is adapted to be seized by the suction cup I4 and to be transported thereby through a 180 arc to a point where its leading edge I! meets and enters into the angle formed by the belt I and an on the column approaching fin 3 while its trailing edge is more or less simultaneously engaged by a revolving claw I9 substantially as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings. The interception of the blank 5 by the fin 3 and the claw I9 is timed to occur while these parts are approaching each other. Thus the blank 5 is thereafter squeezed open in the manner shown progressively by Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawing; the claw I9 also co-incidentally pressing the blank 5, now the carton 5, into the stall 4'formed by the said fi-n 3 and its immediat predecessorfin 3'.

The foregoing action is schematically illu..- trated in Fig. 9 wherein PI denotes the path of the leading edge I! on its journey from the magazine M to the conveyor C, P2 the pathof the trailing :edge I8, and P3 the path of the claw It.

As will be'seen therein, the paths Pi and P2 This eiiect is'manifestly achieved by the use of the fixed cam I6 and is necessitated by several factors. For example, when the leading edge ll enters the fin orbit P4 (Fig. 9) it is exposed to collision with the fin 3 at the point X unless, as is done in this instance, the blank 5 is rotated slightly to avoid such collision. Similarly, as is best shown in 4, when a blank 5 is removed and being carried away from the magazine M, its trailing edge i8 will tend to bear rather heavily and may even crease against the remaining blanks 5 unless it, too, issuitably rotated. However, such rotation, in this instance, is not the only means utilized for precluding the creasing of blanks 5'; the'suction cupll being also yieldable on the bell crank l2 for this purpose.

The contour of the fixed cam E6 is governed by other considerations as well as the foregoing. For example, it guides the suction cup i l on its return to the magazine M for" another blank 5 and ensures positive and intimate connection therebetween at the proper place and time. However, in this instance, the said fixed cam I'd is not by itself capable of procuring the withdrawal of the blank 5' from the magazine M in the requisite manner. As will be seen, the edges of the magazine M at its discharge end are slightly inturned to form blank retaining lips 21-21, past'which each blank 5' has initially to be more or less axially pulled. For'thisspecific purpose, the invention contemplates a second cam 22 oscillably mounted over the column In and adapted to apply a direct thrust to the cam-follower I3 whereby to displace it with respect to the fixed cam I6 and thus rock its associated bell crank I2 so as to cause the leading edge H, at least,of a blank 5' to be withdrawn from the magazine M past the adjacent lip 2| in the manner-illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawings The oscillable cam 22 is motivated.

by a connecting rod 23 attached to one end of an .intermediately' pivoted lever 24, whose other end. also. carries a cam follower 25 in association with a cam 25 rotating with the spindle 2? which carries the finger 28 terminating in the said In order to simplify the foregoing portion of this disclosure, mention was omitted of the fact that the column Ill carries three other arms, namely Ila, llb, He, in addition to that first described; all four arms being identical to each other, similarly equipped with blank seizing apparatus, and being positioned at the same height 18 although regularly spaced apart. Thus it will beseen (in Fig. 1) that when the arm I lb (and its equipment) is in blank seizing position, the arm He will be substantially midway between the magazine M and conveyor C, while arm II will be transferring its blank 5' to the said conveyor C and arm Ila will be en route back to the magazine M for another blank 5.

It should also have been heretofore stated that the column I0 may be rotated intermittently instead of continuously by the so-called internal Geneva movement G of Fig. 5 by which it is driven. In that case, the column Ill may be halted after each turn for a short period during which the claw l9 moves from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 8 in which lattercase its associated rotating cam 26 will trip the lever 24 to institute the train of action culminating in the'withdrawal of a blank '5 from the magazine M; this occurring substantially. co-incidentally with the resumption of movement by the column it. Thus it will be apparent that each quarter-turn of the said column I0 will position one blank 5' for-transferto the conveyor C, at a commensurate rate, while. another blank 5 is prepared for removal from the magazine M. Similarly one complete rotation of'the column lil will procure the successive placement offour blanks 5' on the conveyor C; the claw l9 revolving at a commensurate rate of speed.

In addition to those noted above, several other details of the invention were heretofore omitted for the sake of simplicity. For example, the arms II, Ila, llb and Ho each have a lower, similarly numbered, counterpart arm with which it is vertically aligned and which carries substantially the same equipment namely: bell crank I2 and suction cup I l.

30 by which it is linked to its upper counterpart whereby the two are adapted to co-act in unison. Incidentally, the spacing of the upper and lower arms I l-l I is such that their suction cups I4-I 4 respectively grasp the upper and lower portionsof the blank 5 and also such as to enable a fin 3 to pass therebetween for reasons which will be ob-" vious on examination of Fig. 1. Likewise, the claw l9 and its associated finger 23 are duplicated at a lower level on the. spindle 21; they being also spaced to pass'the guard rail 3| which maintains the cartons 5 in their stalls 4 after the release thereof by the claw I9.

Some mention should also be made of the herein visualized yieldable mounting of the suction cup M on the bell crank I2. As is best shown in Fig. 16, the normally round stem 35 of the suction cup I4 has a flattened seat 36 for the bell crank- The wall 3? of the seat 36 is made diagonal to limit the swivable scope of the suction cup I4 on the bell crank I2 while a tension spring 38 resiliently maintains it in the position required for the initial seizing of a blank 5 and the sub sequent presentation thereof to the conveyor C. Although it was previously stated that the swivabilityof the suction cup I4 was provided in order to avoid creasing the blank 5' while it is being removed from the magazine M, as illustrated in Instead of a cam follower I3; however, each lower bell crank [2 has a pillar.

Fig. 4, it serves a further useful purpose when the suction cup l4 releases the blank 5' following its delivery to the conveyor 3.

Also remaining to be described is the presently contemplated means for applying suction to the suction cups 14. As is best seen from Figs. and 11, the column 19 is fitted with a stationary sleeve 46 which is closed at its upper end and adapted to be connected by its lower end to a suitable vacuum source which is not illustrated in the drawings. A valve is provided at a suitable height thereon, consisting of a semi-circular slot 42 cut into the sleeve 49; the height of the slot 42 corresponding substantially to the height at which communicating ports 43 are formed in the column I9. Each port 43 terminates in a Y-coupling to which each pair of suction cups 14-44 are connected by the tubes 44. Thus by a proper positioning of the sleeve 40 in the column 10, suction may be applied to the suction cups 14 when they are required to hold or grasp oartons and relieved when they are required to release the same, or while each is en route back to the magazine or for another blank 5'.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Mechanism for transferring cartons from a magazine to a conveyor having fins including a column; a bell crank pivotally carried thereby; a cam associated with the column; carton seizing means carried at one end of the bell crank and a cam-follower at the other end in engagement with the said cam; means for moving the said column to present the seizing means to one of the cartons in the magazine and thence to transport the said carton to the conveyor during which transportation the said cam follower and bell crank are guided by the said cam to rotate the carton from time to time whereby to avoid obstacles in its path and to position it in intercepting relation to one of the conveyor fins, and a member adapted to cooperate with the said fin in the engagement and opening of the carton and, coincidentally, to wedge the carton between two adjacent fins.

2. Mechanism for transferring cartons from a magazine to a conveyor having fins including, a column; carton seizing means carried thereby; means for moving the column to present the seizing means to one of the cartons in the magazine and thence to position the seized carton in intercepting relation to one of the conveyor fins; a second carton seizing means carried by the column being so disposed thereon as to be presented to the magazine when the first carton is positioned relative to the said conveyor fin as aforesaid; a member adapted to cooperate with the said fin in the engagement and opening of the said carton and, coincidentally, to wedge the carton between two adjacent fins; an element capable of acting on the second carton seizing means for procuring the withdrawal of a second carton from the magazine, and means associated with the said co-operating member for motivating said element contemporaneously with the installation of the first carton on the conveyor.

3. Mechanism for opening flattened cartons comprising, a magazine for said flattened cartons, a continuously moving flexible endless conveyor having spaced fins defining pockets approximately the size of an open carton, rotatably mounted moveable means for seizing one of the cartons in said magazine and for bodily supporting and transporting the same, along a curved path, to a position where one folded edge of said flattened carton intercepts a fin on said conveyor, a moveable member operable in timed relation to said moveable means arranged to engage the opposite folded edge of said carton as said one folded edge engages a fin and to press said carton edgewise toward said fin to open said carton, and means for thereafter causing said moveable means to release said carton to said conveyor.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said moveable means is mounted for orbital movement along a non-circular path to facilitate movement of said one folded edge into a space between adjacent fins on said conveyor.

5. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said moveable means is carried by a rotatable column, and means for intermittently rotating said column to position said moveable means.

successively at said magazine and adjacent said conveyor.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said moveable means comprises a carton seizing structure mounted on a rotatably mounted support for yieldable limited rotation thereon whereby to yield to pressure applied thereto by said carton during movement to said conveyor and engagement therewith.

VICTOR GEORGE WILLIAMS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,527,030 Delamere et a1 Feb. 17, 1925 2,217,784. Bennett et al. Oct. 15, 1940 2,318,208 First et al. May 4, 1943

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