US2630951A - Selective assembler and carton filler - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1953 P. E. SLIGHTAM 2,630,951

SELECTIVE ASSEMBLER AND CARTON FILLER Filed March 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I FIG. 2

IWIAW INVENTOR PAUL E. SLIGHTAM A TTY.

March 10, 1953 P. E. SLIGHTAM 2,630,951

SELECTIVE ASSEMBLER AND CARTON FILLER Filed March 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3 FIG. 4

| I 44 5 46 43 45 I 4 24 i a m/ 3a I $9} $5 s ee 38 l i V39 w 49 a r I v a u INVENTOR 38 1 l PAUL E. SLYIGHTAM BY alga-1K C. QM

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m 15% mm 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll wlllllll l I! P. E. SLIGHTAM SELECTIVE ASSEMBLER AND CARTON FILLER INVENTOR PAUL E. SLIGHT-AM BY ATTY.

March 10, 1953 Filed March 5, 1947 March 10, 1953 P. E. SLIGHTAM 2,630,951

SELECTIVE ASSEMBLER AND CARTON FILLER Filed March 5, 1947 s Sheec-Sheet 4 PAUL E SLIGHTAM BY (i W ATTY.

March 10, 1953 P. E. SLIGHTAM 2,630,951

SELECTIVE ASSEMBLER AND CARTON FILLER Filed March 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (7 B 93 N N to co .0 a s v N\ I I'\ g? n W \el r m MM A1 Q z N vvvNv N N (\l N m m N) f R. o m In r a m n 0 .qto 1' N (D 8 S E @Q h m" 2 89 33 3 m m N m .0 w & N N m N N m m m 2;

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f l m q, ID as o (D g; 2 N Ll.

2 \w Q 3 Qcou 22 z & Em N E 2 h S! LA n V 3 3 3 5 "Hugo: F R! N 2 INVENTOR PAUL E. SLIGHTAM ATTY.

Pa't'ented Mar. 10, 1953 TENT OFFICE SEEECTIVE ASSEMBLER AND CARTON EI'LLER- Paul E.. Slightam, Chicago, Illl, assignor to General' Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Appli'cationMarclrfi; 1947, Serial No. 732,554

25 Claims.- 1

This; invention; relates te an: apparatus for filling cartons with individual package unitsv and more particularly to such an apparatus in which the. individual package units are of; different kinds and are arrangedwithin the carton in a. predetermined sequence or: relative: position- Various devices are: known for filling'cartons with. a. plurality of individual packages. Such packagesmay consist of. cansflbottles small boxes, or the. like. Such devices, however, have been designed for use with packages of the same kind and; there. has. been. no particular problem of selection or arrangement of different kinds ofunit packages. within the: carton,

It. is: an object. of. the present invention to: provideaselective assembler and. carton filler which can assemble unit packages of different products and can; load said packages: into a larger carton with the individual packages in a given predetermined position. and sequence relative to. each other.

- It is aifurther object of the invention to provide apparatus of this type. for fillin a. carton with a. plurality of rows or layers of individualpaclsages; each. of said rows havi-n-g, packages of different. products. arrangedin predetermined. relative positiom.

Still another obqeet. of the invention is toprovide a device which can arrange: unit packages; c1 twn or more: products into predetermined rela--- tionship to each other; and can then load said. packages into. a. large carton, such, as. a shipping carton-or retail display carton.

It is a further object to provide apparatus for: filling-.- a carton. which: bears external indicia or advertising: showing the'position of packages of diiferent types therein, so. that the packages; placed inv the carton will be arranged therein in. thezsame relative positions shown by the external indicia on thecarton.

Other objects and advantages of thisinvention will be apparent from. the followin specification. in which one embodiment of the present invention hasbeen shown.

' With reference to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure" 1 is a perspective view of a selective assembler and carton filler embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2- is a perspective view of a cartonto be filled by the device of Fig. I;

Fig. 3'- is a top partial view of the final assembler and carton filler of Fig. 1 with the parts inv inactive position;

- Fig. 4 i's. a view similar to Fig- 3 showing the Fig... 7. is a similar view showing. the operation of the loading plunger for filling a carton;

Fig. 8. is a side; elevation. of. the final. assembly station with certain. parts broken. away to show the operating. mechanism for. the transfer means;

i and. filling, plunger Fig. 9 is an. end view, partly in, section, taken onthe line 9'-9;of Fig. 8;.

Fig. 10 is atop view ofthe. preliminary assembly: station of the device. oflEig. 1 showing the trans. fer mechanism in its first position preparatory to assembly of the desired packages. from. the individual conveyers Fig. I1 is a view similar to. Fig L0 with. the.

. transfer mechanism. in its second. position audithe desiredipackages shifted iron-i: the initial co11-= veyersv to. the mtermediate conveyer;

Fig I2 is a side elevation of the. preliminary assembly. station. of Figs. 1, 10,, and 1-1 with certain partsbroken away to. show'the driving mesh ani'sm which operates the. transfer means;

Fig. 113 is. a. circuit; diagram showing. the. electrical connections for automaticallystoppingthe operations at. the. respective. stations under certain conditions;

As shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus; accordinggto. the present invention. comprises. a. final. assembly andfill'ing. station 2.1, at which selected, unit pack.- ages containing cereal. or other desired. products. are arrangedin predetermined sequenceand'posi tion and are then. moved by. suitable plunger mechanismv into the open endof alarger' carton.

The device may also include a. preliminary as-I semblystation, designated generally as 20;, at. which unit packages of two different productsmay be initially combined for transportation. an intermediate. con'veyer, designated generally as 23 to: the final. assembly station. As shown the figure, thereare initially three comleyer lines, designated generally as 6; Hi -end. 25.. eachoi which carries packages of a I designated in case letters 9 respectively (see Fig. 10.). Packages onconveyerst6 and It are combined assembly. station 2th in a desired predetermined order and are subsequently removed from this station by an intermediate conveyer, designated generally as 23, for transportation to the final assembler and carton filler 2 I.

It will be readily understood that the use of additional pre-assembly stations would make possible the combination in pre-arranged order of more than three separate products. Similarly, with the pre-assembly station omitted, two products could be combined as desired at the final station. For the sake of clarity, however, this description has been limited to an operation in which three difierent products are handled, as shown. The operation of the final assembler and carton filler will first be described.

Final assembler and carton filler As shown in Fig. l, conveyers 23 and 25, which may be of any desired standard construction, are employed to feed packages in two approximately parallel lines, one at each side of the final assembly station. In the device illustrated, belt conveyers have been shown. Said conveyers run continuously and are sufficiently smooth for sliding engagement with the bottoms of the packages after the packages have accumulated at the final station. Thus, as individual packages are removed from the final station and inserted into the carton, the belt conveyers will immediately advance the remaining unit packages, so that the supply at the final station wil1 be promptly replenished.

As shown in Fig. 1 the desired cartons are moved laterally from the positions in which they are delivered by conveyers 22 and 24 to a central assembly station or supporting platform. In Fig. 1 this transfer operation has been completed so that there are two rows (26 and 27) of cartons in position on this central platform and ready for ejection into the final shipping or display carton.

A typical final carton is shown in Fig. 2 and is designated as 29. Carton 25 has end fiaps 31 which are left open at the ends. One or more sides of the carton 32 may be provided with external lithographing, printing or other indicia to designate the particular products in the unit packages within the carton, As shown in Fig. 2 the letters C, W, and K have been used to designate not only the nature of the products, but also the relative position of the corresponding unit packages to be placed within that carton.

One open end of carton 29 is designed to be placed against the end plate or guide 33 of the final assembly station. This end plate 33 may be provided with sloping projections 34, against which the open flaps 3i of the carton may be placed. To facilitate the positioning of the carton, flexible guide fiaps 35 are provided and are of such dimensions that they may project slightly into the carton 29 and serve to guide the unit packages smoothly into the open end of the carton during the filling operation. A supporting table 36"and side plate 31 are also provided to assist in positioning the carton. This carton has been omitted from Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness; although the next operation to take place after the parts are in the position of Fig. 1 will be the movement of the filling plunger head 28 to transfer the rows 26 and 2! of individual packages towardthe lower right of the figure and into a carton held against the guide plate 33.

"Transfer mechanism at final assembly station 'I'he transfer. or shifting means for moving the desired unit packages onto the central supporting platform of the assembly station will now be described. As shown in Fig. 3 conveyers 23 and 25 feed their packages in parallel rows, 22 and 24 respectively, at each side of the central assembly station. A reciprocating pusher plate or shifter 38 is mounted for movement laterally across the path of row 22. This plate is at the outside of the row of packages and is adapted to engage the outer face of the desired number of packages, in this case three. Pusher plate 38 also has a side flange 39 which prevents feeding movement of additional unit packages in row 22, while the pusher 38 is in its inner operative position. The two positions of the pusher plate will be readily apparent from a comparison of Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the plate has moved upwardly in the figure to shift the first three packages, W, K and W, of the row 22 out onto the central supporting platform 49 of the assembly station. It may be noted here that the unit packages on intermediate conveyer 23 are in groups of three, with one package of product K between two packages of product W in each group. The manner in which this arrangement is obtained by use of pre-assembler 20 will be described later.

At the other side of the station, shifters or pusher plates 43 and 45, which carry side flanges 44 and 45 respectively, and are mounted for simultaneous lateral movement by means of a connecting bar 41, are adapted to move the desired unit packages from the row 24. In this particular case two such packages are moved; namely, the first and sixth packages, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. As indicated in these figures, the respective pusher plates are so located with respect to each other that the individual packages C from row 24 will be moved onto the supporting platform 49 of the assembly station at each end thereof, while the packages W, K and W from row 22 will be moved into the intermediate portion of the platform. The arrangement of the parts is such in this particular case that the reciprocating movements of the means will be required as shown in Figs. 3 to 6,

inclusive. In Fig. 3, the reciprocating pushers are in their inactive position prior to the initiation of the assembling and filling operation. In Fig 4, the first shifting operation has taken place and a total of five packages, three from line 22 and two from line 25, have been moved onto the supporting platform. In Fig. 5, the reciprocating pushers have moved back to their inactive positions and the conveyers 23 and 25 have advanced the respective unit packages so that the gaps left by transfer of the first five packages from rows 22 and id have been filled.

In Fig. 6, the reciprocating pushers have just completed their second transfer operation, and have moved five additional packages onto the central assembly platform, so that the desired ten packages are now in position in a definite prearranged order. It will be apparent from the figure that there are four packages of product C, two at each end of the platform 49, four pack-,

ages of product W, two at each end just inside of the. packages of product 6., and finally two packages of product K at the very center of; the station.v This arrangement of theunitpackages. with. products in the order W; K, W, C is the same as. that indicated on the: carton in Fig, 2.

'7 shows the final operation of the assem' bling and filling device, in which the reciprocating pushers have remained in the position of Fig. 6 and the loading plunger head 28 hasmoved the assembled; unit packages to the left where they would have entered. a cartonheld in loadin pcsition as previously described. The carton it'- self is omitted from this view.

As will be understood from the foregoing discussion the. pusher plates 38', 43, and tireciprocate. above the supporting platform 4'9, which constitutes the. main assembly station; Beneath this. supporting. plate E9 is. a transverse guide member 5'[ provided with guide slots; best shown in Figs. 1 and 8'. guide member extends at right, angles. to they parallel rows 22 and12 t. Two plates 52. and F23. are sli'dablfe in the. guide 5i", at: the. respective ends of. these. slots, as shown in Figs. 3, to 9. Plate 52 is provided with a supporting bracket 54 whichcarries the pusherplate 38 at one. side. of. the, assembly station. Similarly plate. 53 is provided with a supporting bracket 48 carrying the connecting bar 4"! to. which pusher plates 43. and. 45 are operatively fastened. Thus, sliding. movement of plates 52 and. 5.3 in theslots of guide 5i'will cause corresponding movement of the respective pusher plates laterally across the rows of packages and the assembly station to efiect the transfer of" packages as described above.

It, will be noted; from 31 to.'T particularly that additional guide plates may be provided at the final assembly station. to. prevent. movement of any of the packages except; those. to be actuated bythe transfer or. pusher. mechanism. Thus; guide plates 55 and 56 serve to. position the. pack.- ages which arrive in row 22. at one side of the assembly station and. hold the. unwanted packages in their original line while. pusher plate 38' moves the first three packages of. the row into the central assembly area.

Similarly, v plates 57 and 58 serve as an. initial. guide for packages C in row 24 at. the other. side of the assembly station, while plates. 5.9. and Bi." serve'as; a. further guide for the packages in this lineand also, prevent the intermediate packages.- from being transferred, into the, central. assembly area when pusher members. 43 and 45 effect the desired transfer of the sixth. and. first packages respectively.

It should be noted here that the arrangement of the guide plates and the respective. package lines is such that there are four unmoved packages in the row 2dbetween the two unit packages which are actually moved into the. assembly station.. Thus, the: two desired packages; are positionedl on the supporting plate: separated by a distance equivalent to. the four unmoved packages. Since only threepackages are moved from; the other side of the assembly station from. row 22 into the space between the two separated packages just mentioned, it will be obvious thatthere Will-be aspace equivalent to one-half ofa package at each end of the threepackages being moved into the assembly station. By means of this arrangement, there is sufiicient working space so that there is no' possibility of packagesfrom rows 22 and as engaging each other and being accidentally deflected from their des'iredposition;

6. Birthing connectibns for'transfer'mecfianism I'her reciprocating. plates 5.2 and 53? are. provided with downwardly extending; stub. shafts. 652T and. 63 respectively as. best. shown, in; Fig. 9, These stubs shafts are-of difierent length, shaft Iii-being shown. longer than shaft. 63 in order that the lever; arm's.- used; to.v actuate. these. shafts pass; each other at. diiferent levels without conflict. A. connecting link. 65 is.- pivoted: to. the.- lower, end of stub shaft 641 and. a. similar connecting. link 6'! pivotally fastened. to the lower end of shaft 63. Movement. of the. connecting. links will thus cause reciprocation of the plates 52; and. 53..

Connecting link 65- in turn fastened by a pivot, pin 681:0 one arm 69- of a bell crank lever H, shown inv dotted. outline.- inv Fig. 5.. This-bell.- crank 1. l is pivotallymountedv on a. vertical. shaft llsupported the frame of themachine. movementof, the bell. crank I I. on it. pivot. 12 will. actuate; the: sliding plate 52, and. pusher 3.8; by means of bell, crank arm 69 andconnectin link 65.

Similarly, connecting link. 61. is connected. by pivot. pin 13. to.- one arm v 1.4. of a three arm lever or bell crank 15. Lever I5 is pivotallpmountedi on a; vertical shaft 16-. supported by the frame of the machine... This lever 15 has an. additional crank arm H extending generally parallel to the second lever arm.8'2 of bellcra-nk 11.. These. two crank arms are. connected. together by a further connecting rod 19 which is. pivoteclat 1.8. to. arm H of lever 15 and is further pivoted at 8| to arm 82 of bell crank- 11'. It will thus be apparent; that movement of lever 15 about its pivot 16 willc-ause reciprocating; movement of plate 53 and pusher 63" and 4-5 by reason of" crank arm. T4 and connecting link 6?. Furthermore, such movement of lever; 15 will. be communicated by means of link T9 to the other bell crank I l; an-d'willflthu's cause simultaneous movement of" plate 5 2. In other ords; actuation of lever 15' will produce simultaneous opposed" movements of slides 52 and; 53" and their correspondingpusher plates;x

This movement of lever 15" is achieved by means of the third lever arm 83 on said lever; Arm 8.3 is provided with a. slot 8.4 atone end as shown in Figs. 3 to 7; This slot is ad'aptedito' be engaged by a. suitable st'ud85 on. a connecting linkjiit; (shown in, Fig. 8). 86 in turn pivoted at. 8.7. to one end. of an operating lever 88.. The other end of lever-88: is pivoted at 89 to a suitable supporting bracket 9|: on the. ma: chine frame. Pivot 89 is at right angles to the direction of rows 22 and 24 so that movement of the upper endof the. operating lever 88 and connecting link willbeina direction substantially parallel to these rows or at. right angles to the direction. of" movement of plates 52 and 53;

With the foregoing linkage in mind, it will be clear that movement of operating lever 88' about its. pivot 89 will cause. the necessary reciprocating movement. of plates. 57; and-53L and.the.cor.-

, responding. pusher or transfer plates 38,, Brand;

45. The necessary movement of. operating. arm

88- is obtained by providingsaid arm. with .a. cam

relatively small while section 91. extends over a relativelyl'arger segment of the cam. A spring 98-; fastened atone end ta api'n 99011 operating leverwa and at the otherend? to a-fnam i f' bar I 00, serves to urge operating lever 88 and cam follower 92 constantly against the surface of cam 93. It will be understood that spring 98 is sufficiently strong to move lever 83 and the previously described connecting linkage so as to actuate the plates 52 and 53 and their respec tive pushers, whenever the low portions 93 and 91 of the cam 93 approach the cam follower 92.

' For the sake of convenience the numbers 3, 4,

5, 6, and '1 have been placed upon cam 93 in the drawing, to indicate the portions of the cam engaged by cam follower 92 when the transfer mechanism or pusher plates are in the positions of Figs. 3 to 7 respectively. Thus, in Fig. 8 the mechanism is in a, position corresponding to that of Fig. 3. Subsequent counterclockwise rotation of cam 93 on its shaft IOI will bring the low portion 96 of the cam opposite the cam follower and will permit movement of operating lever 88 under the influence of spring 38 so that the pusher plates will be moved into the position of Fig. 4. Further rotation of the cam will cause engagement of the raised portion 95 of the cam with the cam follower and will move the operating lever 88 to the left in Fig. 8 to restore the pusher plates to their original position, as indicated at Fig. 5.

As rotation of the cam 93 continues, the lower cam surface 91 will be engaged by cam follower 92 and the pusher plates will move into the position shown in Fig. 6 and will remain in that position until the movement of filling plunger 23 has taken place as shown in Fig. 7.

Automatic stop for transfer mechanism A stop mechanism has been provided to prevent operation of the transfer plates 38, 43, and 45 under certain conditions. This stop mechanism includes a locking lever I02 pivoted at I03 to the machine frame. A latching hook 504 at one end of the locking lever I02 is arranged as shown in Fig. 8 so that upon rotation of lever I 02 on pivot I03, the latch I04 will block the movement of operating lever 88. Thus, when latching hook I04 is in position in front of lever 88, the operating lever will be prevented from movement even though the low portions 06 and 01 of cam 93 come into position opposite cam follower 92. This latching mechanism makes it unnecessary to stop the rotation of cam 03 at any time. Thus the cam and its shaft 'IilI may, if desired, be connected to the same driving means used to operate the continuously running belt conveyers which feed the packages to the machine.

Operation of locking lever I02 is achieved as follows:

The end of said lever opposite latch I04 may be bifurcated as shown at I05 in Figs. 8 and 9 and this bifurcated end of the lever is fastened by a pin I06 to the plunger I01 of a suitable solenoid I08. A spring I09 (shown in Fig. 9) serves to urge the bifurcated end H35 of lever i812 and the solenoid plunger I01 to the left in Fig. 9 so as to hold latching arm I04 in inoperative position with respect to control lever 88. Actuation of solenoid I08 will move the plunger I01 and end I35 of lever I02 to the right in Fig. 9 and will move latching hook I04 into position to block the further movement of lever 83. The circuit connections by which the solenoid is actuated are described in a later section of this specification.

Loading plunger mechanism vAs seen from the foregoing description, the assembled packages on supporting plate 49 are moved through the end guide plate 33 and into the carton 29 by head 28 of a suitable plunger mechanism. With reference to Fig. 8, this head 28 is fastened by bolts III to a, plunger member II2. This plunger member is T-shaped in cross section and includes a lateral horizontal flange H3 and a vertical depending central flange H4. The lateral edges of horizontal flange II3 are adapted to be carried by suitable guide members (not shown) of standard construction, so that the plunger II2 can be reciprocated longitudinally within said guide members. The plunger and guide members are contained within a housing II5 (see Fig. 1) and suitable oil fittings II6 are provided to permit lubrication of the plunger and guides without removal of the casing.

With reference to Fig. 8 again, a, driving bracket H1 is fastened to the depending flange II 4 of plunger I I2. One end of a connecting link H9 is pivoted at II8 to this driving bracket H1, and the other end of the connecting link is pivoted at I2I to one end of a plunger operating lever I22. The other end of lever I22 is pivoted at I23 to a supporting bracket I24 on the main frame. The axis of pivot I23 is at right angles to the desired line of movement of plunger II 2 so that rotation of lever I22 about pivot I23 will cause reciprocating movement of plunger H2 in its guides.

To obtain the necessary movement of lever I22 this lever carries a cam follower I25 adapted to engage the operating surface of a plunger cam I26. This plunger cam is mounted on the same shaft IOI which carries the cam 93 for the transfer mechanism. Cam I26 has a substantially circular segment I21, i. e., a segment of continuous radius extending around most of the circumference of the cam. A depressed section I28 of shorter radius is provided at one point in the periphery of the cam, and this low point is so oriented with reference to the transfer cam 93 that the low point I28 will be engaged by cam follower I25 when position 1 of cam 93 is opposite cam follower 92 to position the transfer mechanism as shown in Fig. 7.

It will be understood that the diiierence in radii of cam portions I21 and I28 is such that lever I22 in following the cam will actuate plunger I I2 through the desired distance. A suitable spring I29 is fastened at one end to pin I30 on plunger lever I22 and at the other end to a frame member I3I. Thus, spring I29 will urge plunger lever I22 to the left in Fig. 8 so that the cam follower I25 will be constantly engaged against the surface of cam I20. Plunger II2 will therefore be actuated to the position of Fig. 7 every time the low point I28 of cam I26 comes into position opposite cam follower I25.

Driving mechanism As indicated above, cams 93 and I26 are both mounted on shaft IOI. This shaft is rotatably mounted in suitable journals I32 and I33 on the main frame. Shaft I0! also caries a relatively large gear I34 which is keyed to the shaft and serves to rotate the shaft and the cams as a unit. Gear I34 in turn is driven by a pinion I35 carried by auxiliary shaft I36. The auxiliary shaft I33 is also provided with a pulley I31 which is driven by a belt I38. Belt I38 effectively connects pulley I31 with the drive pulley I39 of a suitable electric motor I4I. It will be apparent that any desired equivalent driving mechanism for shaft IOI may be provided as long as the driving connections are so selected that the speed :of the shaft will be within the desired range. In the present case, it has been found that this device operates satisfactorily if shaft IDI rotates at a speed of approximately 30 revolutions per minute.

It is also possible, if desired, to provide a spring operated brake for one of the drive shafts or for shaft MI, and to further provide a solenoid for retracting the brake to inoperative position against the action of its spring. Such a solenoid may be connected with the motor circuit so that during operation of the motor the brake is disengaged and upon opening of the electrical circuit to the motor, the solenoid will be 'deenergized and the brake actuated to stop the mechanism promptly without coasting or over-run.

Ere-assembler The pre-assembler shown generally at '25 in Fig. 1 is disclosed in greater detail in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive. As shown in Fig. 10, two of the initial conveyers, designated generally as It and I8, are arranged to feed products W and K into this pre-assembler, so that certain of these products may be combined in a pre-determined relative sequence and may then be carried forward by the intermediate conveyer, generally designated as '23, to the final assembly station 2i. The third line of unit packages containing product C is designated generally as 25 and it will be seen from Fig. 10 that this line by-passes the pre-assembler 29 and is not involved in the operation of 'the latter.

For the sake of compactness, however, this third line 25 has been shown with certain of its driving mechanism supported by the main frame of pre-assembler 20. Thus, in Fig. 10 the line 2-5 is carried initially by means of a conveyer belt N2 of ordinary type, and this belt passes over a driving roller I43 fastened to a shaft I44. A similar belt I45 substantially ad- 'J'acent and parallel to the end of belt I42 serves to carry the "packages of product C the remaining distance to the final assembly station. Belt I 45 is driven in turn by a pulley Hi6 carried by shaft I41. Suitable guide plates His and I49 serve to form a channel or pathway to carry the packages of product C from belt I42 laterally to belt I45 by reason of the pressure exerted by the additional packages on belt I42 which are still in driving contact with that belt.

Initial conveyer It for packages of product W likewise comprises an ordinary conveyer belt i! which is driven and sup orted by a pulley !52 carried on shaft I53. With reference to initial conveyer I8, a similar belt 15 driven by pulley .I55, a'lsomounted on shaft I53, serves to bring packages of product K up to the pre-assembler. At the pre-assembly station itself there is a suitable supporting platform 35%, on each edge of which products 'W and Kare deposited in parallel lines IT and I9 by conveyers i6 and :I&. .Stop plates I5? and 558 serve to limit the forward motion of packages of products W and K, and as soon as the lines of packages are consolidated against these stops. it will be apparent that the conveyer belts will continue to move but will slide beneath the bottoms of packages Wand K Without moving said packages further. Suitable guide plates such as "I53, 166, and I 5i maybe provided to maintain the unit packages in their original lines and prevent them from moving accidentally into the ;pre-assembly .station. Additional guide plates I62 and its serve to form 'an ex'it :channel through which the as- 10 .sembled packages will be carried by the intermediate conveyer belt I65. Ihe line of packages carried by belt Hi l constitutes the intermediate conveyer line generally designated as 23 in Figs. 1 to '7. Belt I64 of this intermediate conveyer passes over the supporting plate ace of the preassembler and is driven by pulley I65 on shaft 166. Top guides 575 (Fig. I) prevent tilting.

The object of the pre-assem-bler is to transfer certain selected packages of products W and K from their respective initial conveyer lines I6 and i8 and move the selected packages laterally onto the intermediate conveyer belt I6 for transportation in definite predetermined order to the final assembler. In order to accomplish this lateral shifting or transfer of the desired packages in the {proper sequence, the following mechanism has been provided.

Transfer mechanism for rare-assembler the lateral guide H3 which consists :o'f a slotted member positioned transversely to the mere.

The plate is free to'recip-rocate in the guide 113, in the desired direction.

A driving link H4 is pivotally fastened at I15 to the reciprocating plate H2 as indicated particularly in Fig. 11. The other end of driving link W6 is pivoted at M5 to the end'of one am In of a suitable lever designated generally as I 78. This lever 1 i8 is pivoted at -I l9 to the frame of the machine.

A second arm i8! on lever I18 extends 'inthe opposite direction from arm I1? and is pivotally connected at I82 to a driving link I83. This second driving link I83 is in turn pivoted at I64 to a second reciprocating plate +85. Plate I 85 is slidab'ly mounted 'in transverse guide member 19E? and carries a support-ingbracket I86. Bracket Q33 is fastened to the plate by bolts H31, in an adjustable manner, as described above in connection with bracket Hi9.

Supporting bracket I85 in turn carries'another shifter or pusher plate 488 for cooperation with packages W in line H. Plate I88 has a lateral flange 89 serving as a guide and stop for packages W during actuation of pusher I 88.

'It will be apparent from Figs. 10 and 11 that movement of lever H8 in first one direction and then the other will cause simultaneous reciprocation of pusher plates I 61 and I88 from "the position of Fig. 10 to the position of Fig. 11 and then back again to the position of Fig. 10. During the movement of the parts from the position of Fig. 1-0 to the position of Fig. 11, the desired packages of products W and K will be pushed laterally onto the belt 554 of intermediate conveyor 23. This lateral shifting of the packages may be facilitated by provision of a depressed central area on supporting plate I56 so that the top surface of belt I 64 is no higher than the bottoms of unit packages W and K, while said packages are at the edges of plate I58.

I "in the construction shown, the pusherfplate M?! has a width corresponding to one" of the unit packages. Therefore, one package of product K will be moved onto the intermediate conveyer.

On the other hand, pusher plate I88 has a width equivalent to two unit packages and, therefore, two packages of product W will be moved onto the belt. In this case, the packages of product W will be in advance of the product K.

At this point it will be recalled that in the specific arrangement shown, the final assembler of Figs. -1 to 9 is designed to receive groups of three packages from conveyer 23, with a package of product W in advance followed by a package of product K and then an additional package of product W. Obviously the pre-assembler could be designed to push two separated packages of product W onto intermediate belt I64 and a single package of product K in between the packages of product W. However, it has been considered simpler to construct the pro-assembler as shown and place two packages of product W in advance of one package of product K. Then when the, machine is first operated, the single leading package of product W will be removed from the intermediate conveyer 23 and the packages will thereafter be in the desired order for handling by the final assembler.

Driving mechanism for lire-assembler The necessary actuation of lever I18 is achieved as follows: A lever arm I9I (shown in Figs. 10 to 12) is operably connected to lever I18 so that movement of lever arm I9I will cause corresponding movement of lever I28. Arm I9I is provided with a slot I92 in which a driving pin I93 (see Fig. 12) is adapted to engage. Pin I93 in turn is carried by one end I94 of a suitable connecting link I95. The other end I99 of this connecting link is pivoted at I91 to an operating lever I98.

The operating lever I98 is pivoted at its other end to a shaft I99 carried in supporting brackets 20I on the main frame of the pre-assembler. The mechanism for actuating this arm I98 is similar to that employed for the operating levers in the final assembler. Thus, a cam follower 202 is mounted on the operating lever I98 and is adapted to engage the peripheral surface of a cam 203. Cam 203 in this instance has only two surfaces, namely a portion 204 of larger radius and a portion 205 of lesser radius. The respective portions each constitute roughly one-half the circumference of the cam. This cam 203 is carried on a shaft 206 suitably mounted in the frame of the machine. Engagement of the cam follower 202 with the surfaces of cam 203 is insured by means of spring 291, one end of which is fastened to pin 208 on operating lever I99. The other end of the spring is fastened to one of the frame members 209. Thus, it will be apparent that rotation of cam 203 will move the operating arm I98 back and forth so that the pusher plates I91 and I88 alternately assume the positions of Figs. 10 and 11. The numerals l0 and II have been placed on cam surfaces 204 and 205 respectively, in Fig. 12, to indicate that with portion I0 of the cam engaging the cam follower 202, the parts will be in the position of Fig. 10, and with portion H of cam 203 engaging cam follower 202, the parts will be in the position of Fig. 11.

In order to drive shaft 200 and cam 203 a pulley 2 is rigidly fastened to the shaft. Pulley 2 is connected by belt 2I2 to a drive pulley 2I3 on auxiliary shaft 2 I4. Shaft 2 I4 i mounted in suitable journals on the frame, in any desired manner. Shaft 2 I4 also includes a driven pulley 2I5 firmly connected thereto. This driven pulley is connected by a further belt 2 I6 to the driving pulley 2|? on a suitable electric motor 2I8. It will be understood that any equivalent driving connection between a suitable source of power and the cam shaft 209 may be used. For example, gears might be used, as in the final assembler. Since the motor and cam shaft are adapted to revolve continuously, any one of these shafts may be further connected to the drive shafts I44, I47, I53, and IE6 of the various conveyers. Such connections have been omitted for the sake of clearness.

Automatic stop mechanism for pro-assembler In order to stop the operation of the preassembler in the event that an adequate number of packages have accumulated on intermediate conveyer 23, a locking lever-2I9 has been provided. This lever is similar in construction to locking lever I02 of the final assembler and operates in the same manner. Thus, the lever H9 is pivoted at 22I to the machine frame and is provided at one end with a latching hook 222 which may be moved into the path of operating lever I98 under certain conditions. The other end 223 of locking lever 2I9 is connected to the plunger of a solenoid 224 and to a suitable spring (not shown) similar to spring I09 of Fig. 9. The spring serves to hold the locking lever so that latch 222 is normally clear of the path of operating lever I98. Actuation of the solenoid rotates the locking lever against the action of the spring so that latch 222 will move into position to block the movement of lever I98 and prevent that lever from moving under the action of spring 201, when the low portion 205 of cam 203 approaches cam follower 202.

Should the solenoid be actuated while cam follower 202 is in engagement with the lower portion 205 of cam 203, it will be apparent that the raised portion 204 of the cam will subsequently force lever I98 back past latch hook 222 and into the position of Fig. 12. The latch hook will then prevent further movement of lever (98 until the solenoid is deenergized. Such return movement of lever I98 past the latch is facilitated by provision of the usual tapered end on latch hook 222 as shown, for example, in Fig. 13.

Automatic control circuit The automatic control circuit, by which solenoids I08 and 224 are actuated to stop the operation of the transfer mechanism on the filial assembler and the pro-assembler, respectively, will now be described.

As shown in Fig. 1 a number of'pivoted mercury or equivalent switches are mounted above certain portions of the conveyer lines. Thus mercury switch 225 is pivoted above intermediate conveyer 23 and this switch is provided with a depending finger or arm 220 adapted to be engaged by the tops of the packages carried by the intermediate conveyer. The location of switch 225 is sumciently far in advance of the final assembler to insure the presence of an adequate supply of unit packages for satisfactory operation of the final assembler. The switch is so arranged that when there are no packages beneath arm 220, as will be the case when there is a somewhat inadequate supply of packages at the final assember, the switch 225 will be open. As soon assufiicient packages have accumulated so that at least one package will remain in posi- 13 tion beneath arm "m, such package will hold the switch "225 in closed position. A similar switch 226 mormted for a corresponding purpose on conveyer 25.

Additional switches 22-: and 22-8 are similarly 'mounted'on initial conveyers 15 and +8, respectivelypf ar enough in advance of the pro-assembler '20 to insure the presence of an adequate supply of unit packages at that station. Switches 225, 226, 221 and "228 are all connected in series, as shown in Fig. 13. "The circuit from these switches includes a wire 230 connecting one end of the series of switches to a suitable relay 231 of known type. Further wires 235 "and 236 connect relay '23"! to one terminal 23! of the current supply.

The remaining terminal. 2-38 of the current sup- -plyfis connected 'by' w'ires 251, 252 and 243 to the other end-of'the series of switches, i. e., to switch 228. Thus .it will be apparent that "relay 231 will 'be energized only if :all four of the "abovementi'oned switches have been actuated to their 'on' positions, or,-in other words, only if there is .a supply of packages at each of the correspending locations in the conveyer system. Thus,

when there are enough packages at all points on the conveyors, the-relay 23-1 will be energized and will maintain an open circuit condition between terminals "2'33 and 234 "of the solenoid cir- *cuit.

Should anyone of the Tour switches become open, due to the absence of packages at that point, 'relay "23! would be deenerg'ized and would permit "bridging contact 232 to complete the circuit across terminals 23-3 and "234. Thus this *deenergizati'on "of relay 23! would complete the "electrical circuit to solenoid lilil via wires 236, 235, 244, 245,- and 24!. Actuation or the solenoid, "as previously explained, will move the locking lever 1112 so that latch 1134 moves into the path of operating lever 88 and prevents further operation of the final assembler "plates untilthe supply of packages is "again adequate. As soon as the supply is "replenished, all "of the above four mercury switches will again close, relay 23| will here-energized, and the circuit through solenoid--' I08 will be 'broken to permit spring its to move latch "l 04 out of engagement with 'op'erating'lever '88. "The parts are shown inFig. 1'3 with all four switches 225, 226,, 221 and 22 8 open, and the sole- 'n'oid [08 energized to holdle'ver P52 in looking position.

"One additional mercury switch 229 is mounted a "short distance beyond pro-assembler 25 above intermediate conveyer 23. This "switch is similar to -those previously mentioned and is designed to stop the operation of the pre-asse'mbler when the "packages accumulate on intermediate conveyor 123 to a point where there "is no room 'for receipt of additional packages -from'the pre-assembler.

To'accomplish this purpose, switch 229 is connected at one end by wires 24%,"2'42, and '24! with line terminal 238. The "other'side 'of the "switch is connected by wire 25! to a time delay relay 2' 38. This relay is connected, turn, by "wires M9, 252 and 235 to line terminal 231. The time delay relay is designed to operate a switch 25'! in the event that "mercury switch '22 9 remains closed for more than a predetermined minimum time. This minimum time is chosen as the time normally reuuired'for passe-goof the three packages delivered by the pro-assembler to the intermediate-conveyer '23. Thus, if the final assembler "is "in full operation so that packages are used by it just as rapidly as "they are received 'from the intermedi etc conveyor and pro-assembler, it will be unnecessary to stop the 'preeassembler, and switch 229 will not remain in closedxposition long enough at any one time to actuate the time delay relay 248.

If, however, the final'assembler .is stopped, and the unit packages accumulate on the intermediate conveyor 23 so that switch 229 is held closed for a substantial periodioi time, them time :delay relay 248 will actuate switch 251 to close said switch and complete the circuit through solenoid 2-24. This circuit :will be completed through the solenoid by Wires 236, 252, 253, 254.,and241. "Operation of solenoid i224, just as in the case of solenoid H38, will cause movement .of locking lever .219 so that latch 2-22 will block the path of operating lever 1'93 and will prevent further operation of the "transfer plates :on the pro-assembler. As soon as the-final assembler resumes operation so thatswitch 229 again opens, the :relay 124.8 will be de-energized to :open switch 25 i :and lie-energize the solenoid. The :return spring 'willthen movelatch 222 :of locking lever 219 out ofiengagement with operating lever .l'98and permit further operation of the pre-"assembler.

In Fig. 13, switch :229 isshown in open position. The solenoid is consequently die-energized, so that latch 222 does not prevent .normal operation of the pro-assembler.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a 'novelmethc'dand apparatus have been provided 'for efficient assembly of "unit packages in a desired predetermined order and :forloading of such packages into a final shipping carton or display container. It is also clear that by suitable modification in the relative size and/or position of the various reciprocating transfer or'pusher plates of this apparatus, any desired relative arrangement of "the different pro'ducts may be obtained.

The present invention is accordingly'not limited to the specific methods of selection, structural *features or relative arrangements (disclosed, but is intended to cover such changes "and modifications as are readily apparent to those persons skilled'inthe art and which fall within the spirit and scope of the :follow'ing claims.

I claim:

1. The method o'f'fi lling-car tons withunitpackages of different products, which comprises "providing a carton having external indicia showing predetermined relative positions of the different products within the carton with at least two packages of one product shown as separated by at least one intermediate package of another product, feeding selected packages of the respective products to an assembly area, assembling the selected packages in said definite predetermined relative positions "in which at least two 'pac'kages of one product are separatedloy at least one intermediate package of another product,

and moving the assembled package's into said carton without change in said relative positions.

2. The method of filling-cartonswith unit'packages of different products, which comprises providing a carton having external indicia "showing predetermined relative positions of "the different products within the carton with at least two packages of one product shownas separated by at least one intermediate package of another product, feeding the packages of the respective I products in groups adjacent to an assemblyarea,

transferring selected packages of each product from their respective groups 'into the "assembly l ate package of another product, and moving the assembled packages into the carton without change in said relative position.

3. The method of filling cartons with unit packages of three different products, A, B and C respectively, which comprises feeding packages of product A in a first row at one side of an assembly area; feeding packages of products B and C in a second row at the opposite side of said assembly area, with the packages in said second row arranged in successive groups of three, in the order BCB; transferring one of said groups from the second row into said area; transferring two packages from said first row into said area with one package of product A at each end of said one group; transferring a second group from the second row into said area adjacent the first group and between said end packages; transferring two additional packages from said first row" into said area with one additional package of product A at each end of said groups and adjacent said first package of product A, thereby forming in the assembly area two identical adjacent lines of five packages each, in the order AB-CBA; and moving said assembled lines of packages into a carton, without change in their relative positions.

4. A selective assembling apparatus comprising a first conveyer feeding packages of a first product adjacent an assembly station, a second conveyer feeding packages of a different product "adjacent said station, a first shifter for moving at least one selected package of said first product into said station, and a second shifter for moving a different number of selected packages of said different product into said station in a predetermined position which is longitudinally displaced relative to the point at which the first package is moved into the station.

5. A selective assembling apparatus comprising 'two conveyers for feeding packages to an as sembly station in two separate rows with packages of different products in the respective rows, a first shifter of predetermined width mounted for movement across one row to engage and shift at least one selected package of the first product into said station, a second shifter of different width mounted for movement across the second row to engage and shift a different number of selected packages of the second product into said area in predetermined longitudinally spaced positions relative to said first selected package, and

-means for moving said selected packages away from said area without change in their relative longitudinal positions.

6. A selective assembling apparatus comprising two conveyors for feeding packages to an assembly station in two separate rows with packages of different products in the respective rows, a first shifter having longitudinally spaced portions mounted for movement across one row to engage and shift two selected separated packages into said station, and a second shifter mounted for movement across the second row to engage and shift at least one selected package into said station between said first two selected packages.

7. A selective assembling apparatus according to claim 6, in which said second shifter engages and shifts three selected packages into said station.

8. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus comprising conveyors for. feeding packages to an assembly station in two separate rows,

, a first shifter mounted for movement across one row to engage and shift at least one selected package from said row into said station, a second shifter mounted for movement across the second row to engage and shift at least one selected package from said second row into said station in predetermined position relative to said first selected package, a positioning guide at said station for a carton to be filled, and a loading plunger mounted for movement across said station to engage said assembled selected packages and move them to said guide and carton without change in their predetermined relative longitudinal positions.

9. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus as in claim 8, in which said second shifter engages and shifts a different number of selected packages from said second row.

10. A selective assembling and carton fillin apparatus as in claim 9, in which said first shifter engages and shifts two separated packages from said first row into said station, and said second shifter engages and shifts three adjacent packages from said second row into said station .between said separated packages. I

11. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus as in claim 10, including driving mechanism for moving said shifters and said loading plunger in timed sequence, said shifters being moved through two complete cycles for each complete cycle of movement of the loading plunger.

12. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus comprising an assembly station, conveyers for feeding packages to said station in two parallel separated rows at opposite sides of said station, a first pusher movable transversely across one of said rows and said station, a second pusher movable transversely across the second row and said station, supporting means for said pushers, driving mechanism connected to said pushers for reciprocating them back and forth across said rows and station, said first pusher shifting at least one selected package from said first row into said station when said first pusher is reciprocated, said second pusher shifting at least one selected package from said second row into said station in predetermined position relative to said first selected package when said second slide is reciprocated, a loading plunger mounted for reciprocating movement across said station parallel to said rows for engaging said assembled selected packages and moving them from said station to a carton to be filled, without change in their predetermined relative positions, and operating mechanism connected to said plunger for reciprocation thereof in timed sequence after assembly of said selected packages.

13. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus as in claim 12, in which said pusher driving mechanism includes first and second crank levers pivotally mounted at said station, said first crank lever having one arm operatively connected to said first pusher and said second crank lever having an arm operatively connected to said second pusher, and a connecting link pivoted to another arm of each crank lever, the relative location of the crank arms and pivots producing simultaneous movement of said cranks and pushers in opposite directions.

14. The method of filling cartons with unit packages of different products, A, B and C respectively, which comprises: feeding packages of product A in a first row at one side of an assembly area; feeding packages of products B and C in a second row at the opposite side of the assembly area with the packages arranged in ae cei groups containing at least one package of each of products B and C; transferring one of said groups from the second row into said area; transferring at least one package of A from the first row into said area in predetermined relative position at one end of said one group; transferring a second group from theseecndrow into said area adjacent-the first group; transferring at least one additional package of A from the first row" into said area at one end of said g'roups and adjacent Said one" package of A, thereby forming in the assembly area two identical ad'- jacent lines, each containing a package of each product in predetermined relative positions; and moving the assembled package's" into a carton while maintaining their relative positions;

15'. The method of filling cartons wi'th un'it packages of different products, A, B and C respectively, which comprises? feeding packages of product A in a first row adjacent an assembly area; feeding packages of products B and C in asecond row adjacent the assembly area with the packages arranged in groups containing at least one package of each of products B and C; transferring one of said groups from the second row into said area; transferring at least one package of A from the first row into said area in predetermined relative position adjacent said one group; and moving the assembled packages into a carton while maintaining their relative positions.

16. The method of assembling packages of different products, which comprises feeding the products in separate longitudinal rows at opposite sides of an assembly area with each product included in only one such row, shifting at least one package from one row into the area, simultaneously shifting a different number of packages from the other row into the area at a predetermined position which is longitudinally displaced relative to the packages shifted from said one row, and moving the shifted packages out of the area while maintaining their predetermined relative longitudinal positions.

17. The method of assembling packages of different products, which comprises feeding the products in separate longitudinal rows at opposite sides of an assembly area with a given product included in only one such row, shifting at least one package from one row into the area, shifting at least one package from the other row into the area at a predetermined position which is longitudinally displaced relative to the packages shifted from said one row, and moving the shifted packages out of the area while maintaining their predetermined relative longitudinal positions.

18. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus comprising conveyers for feeding packages adjacent an assembly station in two separate rows, a first shifter mounted for movement across one row to engage and shift at least one selected package from said row into said station. a second shifter mounted for movement across the second row to engage and shift at least one selected package from said second row into said station in a predetermined position which is longitudinally displaced relative to said first selected package in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of one of the shifters, a positioning guide at said station for a carton to be filled, and a loading plunger mounted for movement across said station to engage said assembled selected packages and move them past said guide and into said carton without change 18 intheir predetermined relative longitudinal positions.

19. A selective assembling and carton filling apparatus comprising conveyers for feeding packages adjacent an assembly stat-ion two parallel separated rows at opposite sides of said station, a first pusher movable transversely across one of said rows-- and said station; a second pusher movable transversely across the second row and said station, supporting means for said Pushers, driving mechanism connected to said pus'hers for reciprocating them backand forth across saidrows and statiorl said first pusher shiftingat least one selected pack-age from said first row into said station when said first pusher is recip'rc'cated, said second pusher shifting at least one selected package from said second row into said station in a predetermined position which islongitudinally displaced relative to saidfirst selected package when said second pusher is reciprocated, a loading plunger mounted for reciprocating movement across said stationparallel to said rows for engaging said assembled selected packages and moving them from said station to a carton to be filled, without change in their predetermined relative longitudinal positions, and operating mechanism connected to said plunger for reciprocation thereof in timed sequence after assembly of said selected packages.

20. A selective assembling apparatus comprising means feeding packages in two parallel rows at opposite sides of an assembly station, first shifter means having spaced portions for engaging and shifting at least two spaced packages from the first row into the station without disturbing the remaining packages in the first row between said spaced packages, and second shifter means for engaging and shifting a selected number of packages from the second row into the station between the spaced packages from the first row, the spaced portions of said first shifter means being separated by a distance corresponding to the space occupied by at least one more package than said selected number of packages from the second row.

21. A selective assembling apparatus comprising a conveyor for feeding packages in a row adjacent an assembly station, and a shifter having separate portions spaced from each other 1ongitudinally of the row a distance greater than the size of an individual package, said shifter being mounted for movement across the row to engage and shift at least two separated packages into said station while leaving at least one intermediate unshifted package in the row.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 having a guide between the row and station engaging the packages between said separate portions and holding them against transverse movement during operation of the shifter across the row.

23. The method of filling cartons with unit packages of different products, A and B respectively, which comprises providing a carton having external indicia showing predetermined relative locations of packages of A and B to be contained therein; feeding packages of products A and B adjacent an assembly area; assembling said predetermined number of packages of A and B in said area in the same relative positions with respect to each other as shown by the carton indicia; and transferring the assembled packages of A and B into the carton while maintaining said relative positions and thereby placing the packages within the carton in the relative locations shown by the carton indicia.

x 24. The method of filling cartons with unit packages of difierent products, A and B respectively, which comprises providing a carton having external indicia showing predetermined numbers and relative locations of packages A and B to be contained therein; feeding packages of product A in a first group adjacent an assembly area; feeding packages of product B in a second group adjacent said area; transferring the predetermined number of packages of A from the first group into the area; transferring the predetermined number of packages of B from the second group into the area in the same relative positions with respect to the other packages as shown by the carton indicia; and transferring the assembled packages of A and B into the carton while maintaining said relative positions and thereby placing the packages within the carton in the relative locations shown by the carton indicia.

25. The method of filling cartons according to claim 24 in which the predetermined number of 20 packages of Ais different from the predetermined number of packages of product B.

PAUL E. SLIGH'IAM.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 976,264 Johnson 1. Nov. 22, 1910 1,467,019 Tzibides Sept. 4, 1923 1,515,589 Beckmann Nov. 18, 1924 1,527,337 Wilcox Feb. 24, 1925 1,995,161 Van Buren Mar. 19, 1935 2,090,129 Kimball et al. Aug. 1'7, 1937 2,141,212 Kimball et a1 Dec. 27, 1938 2,315,670 Tascher et al. Apr. 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 356,874 Great Britain Sept. 1'7, 1931 654,821 Germany Dec. 31, 1937

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