US2634565A

US2634565A - Carton closing and printing device for cartoning machines

Info

Publication number: US2634565A
Application number: US70454A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Currivan
Original assignee: Emhart Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Emhart Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1949-01-12
Filing date: 1949-01-12
Publication date: 1953-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-14

Description

April 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 INVENTOR John E Cur/i van wv f fl Attorneys A ril 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l. l 1 l x I I I &

nvvmron John F Curr/van Attorneys April 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,634,565

CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 IIIIIIIII/l INVENTOR John F Curr/van BMMJZW Attorneys April 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,634,565 CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES- Filed Jan. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR V John E Curr/val? l 1 I I April 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,634,555

CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTlNG DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I57 [29 eg 12 4 /6 r' J u [Lita ,63 ml 23 I4! 0 36 EIEWIEIEIIEE =5 //v VEN ran J 0/10 F Carri van Attorneys April 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,634,565

CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENT'OR John F Curr/van Attorneys Aprll 14, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,634,565

' CARTON CLOSING AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Fig. /2

\ v INVENTOR John F Curr/van MMM M Attorneys Patented Apr. 14, 1953 CARTGN CLOSING AND PRINTING, DEVICE FOR CARTONING MACHINES John F. Currivan, Dayton, Ohio, assignor; by; mesne assignments to Emhart Manufacturing, Company, a corporation of Delaware Application danuary'12, 1949, Serial No. 70,454

21 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to cartoning machinesvor the like; andin particular-to devices thereon for finallyclosing the end flaps thereon and printing on the cartons before they are discharged from the cartoning machine.

Theinvention is particularly adapted as an improvement in cartoning machines of the: type shown in the United States application of Alexan- 1 der I-L'Ross, Serial No. 731,395, filed February 27, 1947, and entitled Cartoning Machine. In machines of that type, flattened cartons are fed from a magazine onto a transport conveyor where they are erected to rectangular shape,

loaded with an article of merchandise, and onev or both of their ends closed. on the transport the cartons are-moved in a direction transverseto their end openings and the movement is smooth.

and-"continuoua- They are spaced one from the other along their path of travel, and are moved along that path by fingers that protrude through the supporting surface of the transport, so thatuntil. the. carton have been discharged at-the end of the transportthey. are moved there along at a constant speed.

One of the. last operations upon the cartons before theirdischarge isthefinal closing of the top or end flaps, which top or end flaps, if not secured in place by. adhesives, generally have tuck. flaps at-their free ends.. These tuck flaps areslipped into the ends of the carton. andretain thetop flaps. closed after they have once'been pushed to.

fully-closed position. Fixed devicesin; the. path of movement'of the top flaps andlattached, tuckv flaps. firsticrease the tuck flapswith respect to the top flaps andthen: turn. the latter towards closed, position while guiding and inserting the tuck flaps. into the carton ends. As disclosed in the aforesaid application Serial'No. 731,395 after the. cartonshave passedthe tuck flaps creasing and: inserting assemblies the top flaps are not fully. closed against-the end of the cartons and the. tuck flaps are. not fully inserted, and final closing is. accomplished by pairsof freely, rotating rollers adjacent thepaths .of the ends .of'the cartons, which rollers successively engage the'top flaps: of the mOVillg cartons: and: pres them to.

fully closed position.

The freely rotating closing rollers perform their intendedfunction. satisfactorily when the cartons are" fabricated of relatively heavyweight cardboard. However; cartons formedv oflightweight or thin'cardboard react differently to the tuck flap creasing. and inserting .assemhliessand; arezfrequentlypulled out of their rectangular cons-- figuration.;. Thisi-out-.-oi.gsquare.condition is; fur.-

ther aggravated upon contact. of the .top flapaa I have. overcome this difficulty by theprovision;

of power driven closing devices, which in theilluse} trated, examples comprise :rollereor chains that are driven at a rate faster.thanthemovementnfxthe cartons. along. the transport; sothat thereres a suits. a wiping. engagement between 1 the; rollers; or chains and the top flaps or the cartons. This; wiping engagement not only completes the-solos.- ingv of the. topflap'over; the end; of 'the-carton, but if the carton hassbeen deformed into angout' of square condition during the-tuck; flap-creasing and inserting operation thecarton is returned to; its normal intended shape;

It. is. frequently desirable to printcertaininformation: upon the ends of the cartons. E -x-.

amples of such information are-the dateofwexe! closingdevices, inorder to assure-that even in the..-

case of. thin walled cardboardfcartons; theiton, flaps will i be correctly closed and, the. cartons properly formed tofacilitate the printing.

It is accordingly the primary object ofmy i i-.5- ventionto provide improved closing meansfor;

carton flaps whereby the top and-tuck-flaps are accurately andfully closed.

Another important objectof myinvention, is, the; provision of; combined carton c10sing.- and; printing means.

It is anotherimportant object to:providean im-;

proved carton flap closing: meanswhich will-not; deform fragile cartons; andn-which willurestore' proper configuration to. deformedcartons.

Another important object is--.the-provis ipn of a; powerdriven closing; device for carton flaps com-r bined with printing means. for printing. upon the flaps afterthey areclosed.

It is, another, import-antobject .to provide ime: proved flap closingdevices for. cartonsiwherein thev ;c1osing:,devices have. a.--movem ent"in the same};

direction as the cartons but at a faster rate whereby a wiping action between the flaps and closing devices results in accurate closing of the fiaps.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accomp y g drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my carton closing device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the closing assemblies of Figure 2, as viewed substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 3, as viewed from the right thereof.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of final closing device.

Figure 5a is an enlarged sectional view along line 5a5a of Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of Figure 5, as viewed'from the top of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged partial sectional view along the line 1-4 of Figure 5, with portions behind the section line omitted for the sake of clarity.

Figures 8 and 9 are top plan and side elevation views of one form of final closing device combined' with a printer, and Figure 10 is a partial sectional view along the line Il0 of Figure 8; and

Figures 11 and 12 are top plan and side elevation views of another form of final closing device combined with a printer.

In Figure 1 is shown a portion of a cartoning machine of the type shown in the aforesaid application Serial No. 731,395. A transport base or frame l mounts a pair of spaced longitudinally extending table plates l3 and I1 which form a planar surface along which the cartons l8 are moved from right to left as viewed in Figure 1. The cartons are moved along at a constant speed by fingers which project upwardly through the space between the table plates. The rear or trailing wall of each carton is engaged by a pair of transversely spaced fingers i9 and 23, and in Figure 1 one of these pairs is shown beginning to disappear beneath the table plates as the chains which carry them round the sprockets on the headshaft which is not shown in Figure 1 but which is mounted within the base I5 and is motor driven to drive the cartoning machine. A handwheel 2| is mounted on'the headshaft for free rotation with respect thereto, but may be positively connected thereto for the purpose of driving the machine by hand during adjustments, etc. Although it may be said that the cartons are pushed along the plates l3 and IT by the pairs of trailing fingers l9 and 23, they are also confined against these fingers by forward fingers 22 (only one of which appears in Figure 1) which are carried by a central chain 23, also driven by a sprocket on the headshaft. In Figure 1, only one-chain 24' which carries the trailing fingers 20 isshown, the other similar chain that carries the opposite fingers l9 being out of sight behind one of the two

intermediate surface plates

25 and 26. A hold down bar 21 carried by an overarm 28 holds the cartons against the table plates so that they do not shift with respect to the table plates while they are being loaded with merchandise and their flaps are folded and closed etc. As described in the aforesaid application Serial Number 731,395, the

compounds

29, 30 and 3!, and the overarm 28 are adjustable, and the longitudinal distance between the leading fingers 22 and the trailing fingers I9 and is adjustable so that the carto-ning machine can handle cartons of various sizes within the range of adjustments. For that reason my improved final closing devices and the printing means are also adjustable to accommodate cartons within the same range of sizes.

Referring still to Figure 1, five of the cartons 3 are visible to the left of the overarm 28 and it can be seen that the two cartons closest to the overarm have their tuck fiaps 32 creased with respect to the top flaps 33, and the tuck flaps are by plows and other devices carried by the comonly partially inserted into the end of the carton. A similar condition exists with respect to the top and tuck flaps on the other ends of the cartons, although as will be apparent from the rightmost cartons in Figure 1, the top flaps 33 are bent downwardly and the tuck fiaps 32 are inserted adjacent the bottom carton walls, since the illustrated cartons are of the reverse tuck type.

It is the function of my improved closing device to fully press the two top flaps against the ends of the carton, thus closing them completely and forcing the tuck flaps completely into the carton, without deforming the flaps or cartons, and in fact restoring them to proper configuration if they have been deformed during prior operations. As previously mentioned, the device may also include a printer for printing upon the completely closed top flaps.

Referring still to Figure 1 which illustrates one form of my invention, a mounting plate 36 is se-. cured to the horizontal leg of an angle member' 31, which is in turn mounted upon the face plate 38 of a compound 39. The details of construction of the compound 39, and of the other compounds shown, are not repeated here since they are fully described in the aforesaid copending application Serial No. 731,395. It is suflicient to state here that compound 39 is supported by a bracket 40 suitably affixed to the outer side wall of the base [5 and that the movable parts of the compound, including its face plate 38 are adjusted horizontally and perpendicularly towards or away from the center of the machine by turn ing the thumb screw 4!. This moves the mounting plate 36 and all of the elements carried thereby, to proper position depending upon the size of of bands, and which provide frictional engagement with the top flaps of the cartons. Details of construction of the drive for the drums 41 and 48 of Figure 1 are shown in Figures 2 to 4 and for that reason are not shown on Figure 1, being out of sight under the protective cover 49 affixed to the movable compound 39. Visible however in Figure 1 is a sprocket chain 50 that is trained over sprockets on shafts 45 and 46, over a tension adjustment sprocket and also over a drive sprocket that is driven from the trans-- port head shaft as shown in detail in Figures 2 to 4. The shafts t5 and at are driven clockwise as viewed in Figure 1 and at such a rate that the peripheral speed of the drums 47 and 48 is greater than the rectilinear speed of the cartons IS on the transport, the result being that the rubber coverings on the drums exert a wiping action on the top flaps of the cartons, in the direction that the cartons are moving while at the same time drum' iil pushes'the top flap slightly further towards closed position and then drum 47 closes it stillfurther.

Attached to the bottom of mounting plate 36 by screws'fil passing through slot in the mounting plate is a vertical plate 5-: that extends downwardly and preferably rests upon the table plate 18 to give additional support to the mounting plate. The vertical plate 54 may be adjusted to be parallel to the movement .of the cartons so as to merely hold the :top .fiaps closed, or it may be inclined with respect to their path of movement so as to complete the closing operation, this adjustment being made by the screws 5! and their slots. Also, the position of the mounting plate 36 may be adjusted in the horizontal plane by reason of the screws 55 passing through slots in the mounting plate and securing it to angle member 3?. This permits rotating the mounting plate slightly to adjust the relative positions of the rotating drums ll and 38 with respect to the ends of the cartons. These adjustments are important, because depending upon the dimensions of thecartons and the material of which they are made, adjustments of the drums and of the plate 5% are needed to fit the particular situation, in addition to the adjustment for carton length provided by the adjustable compound 39. Another'vertical plate 56 may be secured to the mounting plate 36 in such position as to hold the top flaps of the cartons closed to the extent that they have been closed by the drum 48 and before they are further closed by drum 41.

On the other side of the transport another adjustable compound 5? mounts an assembly that is identical with the one just described and has closing drums mounted on power driven shafts 58 and 59 directly across the transport from the shafts i5 and 45. They are driven from the transport head shaft in the same manner as shafts 45 and 53, by another power take off of the type shown in Figure 4 but mounted upon the right side of the transport base i5 of Figure l, the mechanism being out of sight under the coverguard 69.

Figures 2 to 4 show another embodiment similar in most respects to the'left hand closing assembly of Figure l, but wherein the two assemblies on the opposite sides of the transport are identical, so that only one single power take off shaft El (Figure e) extending transversely through the transport base and protruding through its

opposite side walls

62 and 63 will drive both assemblies through bevel gears as shown at 6A and 65 in Figure 4. A sprocket 66 is keyed to the power take off shaft El and is driven from the transport head shaft by a sprocket chain 61.

Since the assemblies on the opposite sides of the transport are identical, and identified generally of the reference numbers 68 and t9 the description will be confined to the upper assembly 68 in Figure 2, which is also shown in side and end elevations in Figures 3 and 4.

The .adjustable compound i secured to the transport base 115 :by the bracket 11 and an angu-- lar memberhaving ahorizonta'l leg 12 is fixedly secured to the face plate '13 of the compound.

A mounting plate 11 is .adjustablysecured .in a

horizontal plane to the leg :12 by the screws :14 passing through slots in the plate. A pair :of shafts 7'5 and .16 are mounted .upon the plate 11 for rotation about verticalaxes, by means of ball bearing assemblies .held :within housings 18 andiii that are afhxed to the plate 11. Figure 3 shows for-shaft 1.6, how each shaft has a reduced upper end providing .a shoulder abutting the bearing inner race, the shaft being held-within the race by a screw 80 and washer 8I. Sha-fts i5 and zit zhave keyed thereto therdrums 82 and- 83 each of which iscovered with a f-rictionalsurface as for example the rubber bands -841i. The shafts i5 and 16 also have affixed theretqasibyset screws, the chain sprockets85 and-85 respectively. .As in Figure 1, the *peripheral-surfaceoi' the drums? is-slightly farther from the-ends-of the cartons than the surface of drum 82,-so that drum .82 will close the top *flaps further "than drum 33.

The bevel gears '64 and (Fig. 4) are in "a housing 81 that is secured to the transport base side wall 52 by means of screws *88, and a hearing housing=89 secured to the housingBl mounts a pair of bearing assemblies that journal ashaft 9D for rotation about a vertical axis, *the shaft 9%) having the'bevel gear '65 keyed thereto. At

its :upper end the vertical shaft 9!] has keyed thereto a chain sprocket 9| around which is. trained :a sprocket chain 9i. which also passes around the sprockets 85 and -86 on shafts and 16, as well as about a tensioning sprocket 93 mounted upon a vertical spindle 94 that is adjustably secured to the top of the side wallshows only an elongated vertical back up plate- 54 following the rubber covered power driven drums, the embodiments of Figures '2 to 4 em ploys a combination of back up plate'and freely rotating final closing roller. A vertical backup plate 98 is secured to a block'sflthat is in turn adjustably secured to the mounting plate 11 by screws IEO that pass through slots in the mounting plate so that the angle of the plate 98 with respect to the path of the ends of the cartons may be adjusted. At its rear end, or the left end as viewed in Figure '3, the back up plate 98 is cut away along vertical and horizontal lines IDA and Hit (Fig. 3) so that the cylindrical surface of a freely rotatable final closing roller Hi6 can protrude therethrough. The roller I06 is hollow, to reduce its weight, and is mounted for free rotation upon a stud shaft H]?! by means of a ball bearing assembly [68. The stud shaft l9! protrudes through a slot I09 (Fig. 2.) which permits lateraladjustment of the roller .lllihand it is secured in adjusted position by nuts ill] (Fig. 4-): below the mounting plate 1'! and .an acorn nut I ll above the mounting plate.

Both the roller I06 and the drums r82 and 83, extend to .close proximity .to the table plate L6,,

butthe back up plate 98 preferably rests upon the table plate, thus giving additional'support to the mounting plate 11 without interfering with the transverse adjustment provided by the compound 10. As in the embodiment of Figure 1, the amount of closing accomplished by each of the

drums

82 and 83, by the back up plate 98 and by the roller I08 can be adjusted by reason of the slots through which pass the screws 14, I00, and the stud shaft I01, it being understood that cartons of various sizes and materials will generally require independent adjustment of these elements, and that another factor is whether the top flaps are hinged to the bottom wall of the carton or to the top wall thereof.

A cover guard II2 covers the sprockets 9| and 93 and most of the chain 92, being fastened to the mounting plate 11 as by screws II3. As in the embodiment of Figure 1, the power driven

drums

82 and 83 have a faster peripheral speed than the linear speed of the cartons I8, so that they will effect a wiping action on the carton top flaps. The back up plate 98 has its forward edge II4 (Figs. 2 and 3) closely adjacent the periphery of drum 82 and sufficiently behind it so that the carton top flap leaving the drum 82 will not get caught on the back up plate. Another backup plate II5 (Fig. 2) is secured to the mounting plate 11 between the drums .32 and 83 by a screw IIG to prevent the opening of the top flap after leaving drum 83. This plate H5 is omitted in Figure 3 in order to more fully expose the drums and chain, etc. to view. As shown in Figure 4, a graduated scale II1 on the movable compound cooperates with a fixed index mark II8 on the bracket 1I so that settings of the compound and the assembly carried thereby can be recorded for future reference when resetting the compound again for cartons of that same size.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of my invention wherein power driven converging platform chains engage the top flaps of the cartons to close them fully and to return the carton ends to correct rectangular configuration if they have been deformed by previous tucking or creasing operations, etc.

Referring to the upper assembly I2I in the plan view of Figure 5, a, generally triangular mounting plate I24 is pivotally mounted upon the compound I25 by a screw I26 threaded into the plate and passing through the horizontal leg I21 of an angle bracket secured to the face plate I28 of the compound I25, the mounting plate lying against the lower surface of the said horizontal leg, and having a transverse through slot I29 so as to enable it to clear the compound I25 and its supporting bracket I23 (Fig. 6). Two other screws I30 and I3I passing through arcuate slots I32 and I33 in the said horizontal leg and threaded into the mounting plate secure the 'mounting plate in any selected angular position around the pivot screw I26.

As shown in Figs. 5, 5a, 6 and '7, each of the shafts I36, I31 and I38 carries two chain sprockets, all of the lower sprockets lying in the same horizontal plane and having a driving sprocket chain I39 (Fig. 6) trained over them. Similarlyv all of the upper sprockets lie in the same plane and have a carton engaging sprocket chain I40 (Figs. 5 and 6) trained over them, this last chain being of the platform type, wherein each link has an elongated face plate I4I (Figs. 5 and 6) integrally mounted thereon. Theface plates I are in a. vertical plane and their adjacent vertical edges are in substantially abutting relationship when the chain I40'is travelingin' a rectilinear path. Thus each of the chains I39 and H40 each follows a substantially triangular path. However in order to back up the carton engaging sprocket chain I40 while it is engaging the cartons between shafts I31 and I38 a hori zontally extending track I42 (Fig. 5) engages the chain rollers. The track I42 is welded or otherwise secured to a horizontal bar I43 that is suitably affiXed by welding or the like to the bottom surface of the mounting plate I24. If desired, the lower sprocket chain I39 may be trained over a track similar to track I42 and secured to the bar I43 below and in parallel arrangement with respect to track I42.

Referring to Figure '7, a shaft I44 is mounted in a bearing housing attached to the transport base side wall 82 by screws I45, and it is driven from the transport head shaft I35 (Fig. 6) by a chain I48 and sprocket I41, the vertical shaft I35 being in turn driven by the bevel gear set I48. Of the two sprockets I43 and I50 on the shaft I36, only the lower sprocket I49 is fixed or keyed to the shaft, so that it thereby drives the lower sprocket chain I39. The upper sprocket I50 rests upon the top of sprocket I49 and is free to rotate on shaft I35, although as will be apparent, it will rotate at the same speed as sprocket I43 by reason of the fact that the upper sprocket chain I40 is trained over the sprocket I50.

Referring to Figure 5a the shaft I31 has a lower head I5I which retains a lower sprocket 152 and an upper sprocket I53 that are journalled for free rotation on oil impregnated bushings I54 and I55, the combined axial length of these bushings being slightly greater than the combined axial length of the two sprockets. A spacer Washer I55 overlies the upper bushing and the upper threaded end of the shaft I31 protrudes through the mounting plate I24 so that an acorn nut I51 can draw the shaft I31 up tightly and secure it to the mounting plate while the sprockets I52 and I53 are free to rotate upon the bush-' ings M4 and I55. The lower sprocket chain I39 passes around sprocket I52 and the upper sprocket chain I40 passes around sprocket I53.

The third pair of sprockets I60 and I 6| (Fig. 6) are journalled for rotation about the shaft I30 which has a single oil impregnated bushing I62 confined between a spacing washer I63 and an enlarged head I64 on the lower end of the shaft. The upper end of the shaft I38 protrudes through an elongated slot I65 (Fig. 5) in the mounting plate I24, which slot is narrower than the diameter of the shaft. The shaft is flattened on two diametrically opposite sides so that it protrudes through the slot and can slide the length of the slot but cannot rotate therein. A member which is U shaped, having upper and lower legs I66 and I51, connected by a yoke I58 embraces the mounting plate I24 as best shown in Fig. 6, and has axially aligned holes through its legs having the same shape'as the flattened upper end of the shaft I33, which protrudes through the legs I65 and I81 as wel1 as the mounting plate I24. A shoulder I69 is formed on each side of the shaft I33 at the lower end of each flattened portion, and these shoulders limit the upward movement of the shaft through the leg I61. A knurled nut I10 is threaded onto the threaded upper end of the shaft I38, and when tightened the shaft is fixed in any selected position along the slot I65 because the mounting plate I24 and the legs I66 and I61 are clamped between the nut I10- and the shoulders I69 on'the shaft. Thus this arrangement provides an adjustment for the tension of the chains I39 and I48 which pass around the sprockets I68 and IISI respectively. A bolt I'II having a knurled head I12 is threaded through the connecting yoke I58 and its end engages 'the edge of the mounting plate so that after the nut III! is loosened, the shaft I38 can be pulled along the slot I85 by turning the bolt "I, thus tightening the chains I89 and I98 to the proper tension, after which shaft I88 can be locked in place by tightening the nut H9. The sprockets I68 and IEI are free to rotate about the bushing after shaft I38 is clamped in place. Instead of being freely rotatable with respect to each other as are the pairs of sprockets on shafts I36 and I37, the two sprockets I58 and IEI are rigidly secured together as by Welding or the like. Thus the driving effort of the shaft I35 is trans: mitted'through the chain I38 to the sprockets I69 and IBI of shaft I38, so that as viewed in Figure where the chains are moving from left to right along the track I42 there will not be any slack in the platform carrying chain I43 between shafts I31 and I38.

In operation, the mounting plate I2 5 is ad- Justed, by means of the clamping screws IBQ and I3I, so that the track I 52 is closer to the cartons at its left .end than at its right end as viewed in Figure 5. The arrangement is such that when.

the carton top flaps are first engaged by the chain face plates MI the tuck flaps 32 are only partially inserted into the cartons, but by the time the face plates MI recede away again from the cartons, indicated by the point identified by reference number lit in Figure 5, the tuck flaps have'been fully inserted and the top flaps pressed flat against the ends of the cartons.

The diameters of the sprocket I47, bevel gears I48, sprocket Hi9 etc. are such that the upper sprocket chain I 49 and the face plates MI carried thereby move faster than the cartons, so that the "face plates eifect a wiping action on the carton .top flaps in the direction of movement of the cartons, thereby squaring up the cartons and flaps where they have been deformed during the previous creasing and tucking operations. As best shown in Figure 6, the length of the face plates I 4| forming the platform surface of the chain MD are such that they extend almost to the top surface of the transport table plate I8,

and also extend an equal distance vertically upwardly above the chain Mi In this embodiment all of the chains and sprockets etc. are below the mounting plate I2 i which thereby provides a partial guard for the operator. For further-protection a pair of downwardly depending skirts H5 and H6 (Figs. 5 and 6) and secured to the edge of the mounting plate I24.-

The assembly I22 on the other side of the machine (Fig. 5) for fully closing the other ends of the cartons may be of identicalccnstruction to the-assembly I2I just described, and symmetrically arranged upon the other side, as will be understood. However, since there is more room on the other side, due principally to the absence o'f-ahandwheel 2 I on that side, the assembly I22 may be slightly modified to reduce the number of parts,'i-n the manner shown in Figure 5.

The vertical; shaft Iii? that powers the assembly I22 is arranged in thesame vertical plane as the transport head shaft I35, which is extended 'through'the side wall cf the transport base and providedwitha*bevel gear to drive a mating bevel .11 gear'on the vertical shaft I '59 in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 7, the shaft I19 being driven in a counter-clockwise manner. The other two shafts I88 and I8I that are carried by the mountin plate I82 are directly laterally opposite to the shafts I38 and I8! respectively of the opposite assembly I2! so that the carton engagin platform type sprocket chain I83 will be directly laterally opposed to the corresponding chain M8 of the assembly I2 I. 7

Due to the fact that the vertical drive shaft I19 is closer to the adjustable shaft I88 than is the case in the assembly I2I, it is possible to drive the platform chain I83 directly by the sprocket I84 on the shaft I'I9, so that no driving sprocket chain corresponding to the lower chain I39 of assembly IZI need be used, and no lower sprockets corresponding tosprockets I49, I68 and I 52 of assembly I 2| are required. The single sprockets I85 and I86 on shafts I88 and I8I respectively are thus merely idling and chain supporting and guiding sprockets to train the chain I83 over the track I81 which is directly laterally opposite to the track I42. Chain I83 moves at the same speed as chain MB.

In the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10 the fln al closing device is combined with a mechanism which prints upon the top-flap on one end of the carton after it has been fully closed so as to have support while the printing impression is made.

The compound I88 is adjustable as are all-the others shown in this application, and described in detail in the aforesaid application Serial No. 731,395. Its mounting bracket I89 fits over a dovetail slide I98 that is rigidly secured to the side wall 62, and a gib I9I engages the under side of the slide and clamps the bracket I89 against the slide by means of screws I92. This permits longitudinal'adjustment of the compound I88 and the assembly carried thereby, lengthwise along the transport base. It should be understood that the device shownin Figures 8 to 10 is operative only upon the top flaps on one side of thecarton, and that final closing devices of some type, such as any of those described in this applicationmust be used to close the top flaps on the other side of the transport, or if the top flaps have already been closed on the other side, there must be a back up bar on that other side, to keep the cartons from sliding transversely of the-transport due to the forces exerted by the combined closing and printing assembly of Figures 8 to 10. This assembly shown in Figures 8 to 10 is advantageously substituted for the assemblies carried by the compound 39 of Figure 1, I8 of Figure 2, or I25 of Figure 5. Also, if printing is desired on both ends ofthe carton an assembly similar to that of Figures 8 to 10 can be used on the other. side of the machine.

An angled member has its vertical leg I93 (Fig. 10) fastened to the face plate I94 of the compound in any suitablemanner. The horizontal leg I95 is bored for the passage of a bolt I96 having an integral knurled head I91, the bolt passing through a spacer bar I98 underlying the horizontal le I95, and being threaded through-fa horizontal mounting plate I99, whereby tightening-of the bolt I96 will secure the mounting plate to the angled memberand to the compound -I'8B for adjustment towards or awayfrom the cartons. A horizontal bar 288 is afiixed to thevertical leg 583 in the same plane as-the mounting plate 199. Bolts 28! and 282 are threaded through the bar 288 adjacent-its ends, asybest zs-nown'ini Figu-re 8, the threaded ends of-the' bolt engaging the I vertical-edge of the mounting plate whereby they may be turned in one direction or the other to adjust the position of the mounting plate about the bolt I96, and to lock it there. Lock nuts 203 on the bolts 20! and 202 secure them against loosening after they have been ad- 'justed.

V The right end of the mounting plate I99, as viewed in Figures 8 and 9, is rigidly supported by a, bolt 204 passing through an arcuate slot 205 in the mounting plate, through a supporting post 206, and threaded into the table plate I6. A pair of rollers 201' and 208 similar to the roller 106 of FiguresZto 4 are carried by bearing assemblies mounted on a horizontal bar 209 which is adjustably secured to the under side of the mountingplate 199 by a bolt 2 I passing through a slot 2 in the mounting plate and threaded into the said bar 209. The bolt has an integral knurled head 2I2, and the bar 209 may be moved towards or away from the cartons and rotated about the axis of bolt 2H3 to adjust the position of the rollers with respect to the moving cartons. This arrangement is similar to the adjustment for the final closing rollers shown and described in the aforesaid application Serial Number 731,395. A vertical plate 213 is suitably secured to the under side of the mounting plate I99, extending downwardlyand resting upon the table plate I6, its purpose bein to hold the top flaps of the cartons in the position that they left the last preceding tuck creasing or inserting apparatus, so that the partially inserted tuck flaps will not slip out of the cartons before they are engaged by the first roller 201.

At 2I'l is shown a rotatable drum of conventional construction, having peripheral grooves for holding removable type. The drum is mounted for rotation about a'vertical axis by means of a shaft 2I8 suitably fixed in the inner race of a ball bearing assembly 2l9 that is secured to' the underside of the mounting plate I99, theshaft 2I8 protruding through the top of the mounting plate and having a chain'sprocket 220 keyed to its upper end. A driving sprocket 22I is keyed to a vertical shaft 222 that is mounted and driven from the transport headshaft in the same manner as shaft I36 in Figures 6 and 7. The sprocket 22I' drives the sprocket 220 by a sprocketchain 223 at such a speed that the speed ofthe type 224 mounted in a groove in the drum is the same as the rectilinear speed of the cartons sothat there will be no slippage between the type and the carton top flaps while the printing'is being made thereon. Only one group of type elements 224 is shown in Figure 8, but the numberwill depend upon the drum diameter and distance between cartons, as will be understood. Slack in the chain 223 is taken up by anidler sprocket 225 on a shaft 226 carried by anarm 22'! adjustably mounted on a pivot post 228that is threaded into the compound I88 and further supported by a bracket 229. The arm 22'! is secured in any selected position'by .a headed screw 230 passing through a slot-23l in the arm' 22! and threadedinto the bracket l i h v V Ink for the type elements 224 is supplied bya rubber inking roller 232freely rotatable upon a vertical shaft passing through and secured to the mounting-plate I99 by an acorn nut 233, the

surface of the inking roller being so arranged I with respect'to' the drum 2I'I that the rotating type elements contact its surface and transfer sufficient ink from the roller to themselves once ,for each revolution of thedrumz H. The inking 12 roller 232 has a flange 234which is engaged by the top flange 244 on the drum 2I'I to drive the inking roller at the same peripheral speed as the drum 2II.

The rubber inking 'roller also contacts and rotates a felt roller 235 freely rotatable upon a shaft 236 secured to the mounting place I99 by an acorn nut 23! (Fig. 10). An ink reservoir is provided by a conventional adjustable drip type oil cup 238 secured to the mounting plate I99 and having a discharge tube 239 (Fig. 10) terminating just above the edge portion of the felt roller 235, so that the ink dripping from the'supply in the cup 238 at a controlled rate'will fall upon and soak into the felt roller.

A vertical backing plate 2M is fixedly secured. to or integral with the mounting plate I99 and. depends downwardly therefrom into close proximity or engagement with the top surface of the table plate I6. Its function is to hold the top flap closed after it has passed the final closing roller 203, and it extends from a point adjacent the roller 298 to the right end of the mounting plate. However, in order to permit the type 224 to print upon the carton ends the backing plate is milled or otherwise cut away as indicated by the edges at 242 and 243 in Figures 8 and 9, this also preventing interference between the top flange 299 of the drum 2|! and the back up plate, since as viewed in Figure 8 the flange would rub against the plate. Some of the cartons handled by the machine are such short height that they might strike against the second edge 2A3 in the back up plate 2M. To prevent that, a bridge member 245 is set into the face of the back up plate 2M, so that it is flush with its working face, and bridges the milled out portion between the plane of the drum flange 244 and the plane of the type elements 224. Also, to the right of the second edge 243 the working face of the back up plate 2M is milled out slightly to provide a depression indicated by the dotted

lines

246 and 241 in Figure 9, so that the ink deposited on the carton top flap by the type 224 will not smear against the back up plate. In order to provide a, gradual release of the top flap by the back up plate as the carton nears the end of the transport, a horizontal slot 248 (Fig. 9) is cut in the back up plate, and the portion 249 below the slot is bent gradually away from the general plane of the back up plate as best shown in Figure 8. This embodiment, wherein the final closing rollers 20! and 208 are not power driven, is suitable where the cardboard forming the carton is sufiiciently stiff so that the carton is not deformed by the previous operations, and so that the carton tuck and top flaps will not be deformed when engaging the freely rotatable final closing rollers. v

In the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 the printing device is combined with power driven closing rollers of the type shown in Figure 2, so that all types of cartons having different de-' grees of rigidity, etc. can be handled with the assurance that there will be no mutilation of the top flap and that the printing will be placed squarely upon the top flap of the closed carton.

The adjustable compound 25I is aflixed to the side wall 63 'of the transport base by a bracket 252, the entire assembly about to be described.

being capable of substitution for the assembly 69 of Figure 2 or I22 of Figure 5, since the cartons [9 of Figure 11 are moving from left to right.

An angle member having its vertical leg 253 sameness T13 safilxedato 'the facemlate-ZM of the compound as by screws' 255, has: a'horizontal leg, 25$ :ex- "tendingtoward'the cartonsv H3 and forming a support for a mounting plate 25E,"which rests upon it nand-is adjustably :secured thereto by 1 screws .258 passing through slots 25% in .the ;=mounting plateand' threaded into the horizontal :leg. Closing drums 'Ziiil and'262 similar to the 'drumsBZ andflt of Figures 2 to 4 are mounted "for rotation by bearing assemblies 253 and 2% fixed to the mounting plate 251. Inorder to ubiingithe frictional coverings 255 and "255011 the closing drums as close as possible'to the top' surface of the table plate I1 and thus engageasmuch of the carton top flaps as possible, :the table 'plate may have .a longitudinal recess .1251 "and the bottom ends of the drums can project down into the recess. Theshafts 259 land 210 of-the closing'drums have sprockets 2?! and '212 respectively keyed tothem. A printing at drum 215 similar to the drum 2!? of Figures :3 tell) is rotatably mounted upon the mounting iplateby a bearingassembly i215 and the drum shaft 21'! has keyed thereto a sprocket 218. The

type held by the: printing drum is inked by a- =rubberroller 279 (Figure vl1), which isin turn inked by a felt roller 230 and an ink-reservoir 128i, Iall 'inzthe "same 'manne'r as described in connection with-Figures 8to 10. The rollers 11219 ;,and'28il: and the reservoir-are"carried by 'the" mounting plate 2 51.

A vertical shaft 282 mounted in a'housing 233 qattached'to the side wall 83 is driven counterclockwise'by .a connection to the transport head :shaft, in the same manner as shaft 535 of 7 ;Figures Sand 7,gand it has-keyed'thereto a rsprocket 28 3. A sprocket chain'285 is trained aroundsprockets

2H

212, 278 and-the driving 1 sprocket ;284as-well,as :around idler sprockets .285 andifi'haand-the relative'diametersiof the .;S,proc ke,ts-- are such thatthe peripheral speed f the--frictionallcoverings on drums "26! and 262 is greater than thelinearzspeed of the :cartons l5,- whilejthe peripheral speed of thetype inithe -:pr inting drum 12l5is: the same as that of the cartons. The idler sprocket $286 is free y 'rc- --tatable ona shaft 283 (Fig. 11) threaded into the horizontal leg 256 of the angle member,'and .its function. is to'guide :the chain 2&5 around the bracket 252, which is also slightly cut away.

at 'zilil -togprovideclearance for the chain. The :other idler sprocket .28! .is for the purpose of adjusting the chain tension, and it 'is' freely -rotatable onashaft' 29tafiized to a horizontal :plate 29i adiustably positioned on top of the cartoningmachine basev by a screw 2'92 threaded ;into the base. andpassingithrough an elongated slot-5293.111 the plate 29!. This providesmeans :for adjusting the chain tension, as is required "when the assembly is shifted laterally to ac- :commodate cartons of :various sizes within=the 'ra-nge' of the cartoning machine, smce theshait 282 and sprocket 2B4 remainnxed during-such adjustments.

A vertical back up plate "294 is adjustaloly mountedupon the mounting plate 25?,being secured by screws 29.5 to a blockwt which is :adiustably secured to the mounting plate by screws 29?, passing through slots in the mounting plate. vThe back up: plate holds the carton flaps closed after they pass drum 282. At its lower edge the back up plate rests upon the table plate .1? within the recess 25?. The back up plate 29 has a window 29% through which the type .on the printing drum1i2l5 projectsto print uponthe-carton :fiaps and' to'itheriright of'ithe window the face of the back :up t-plate has za recess' 299 in its working -:face :so tthat'ithe' ink on the'flap will not-be smeared.

I have thus provided improved devices "for fully closing the top .fiaps, fully inserting the 'tuck flaps and printingion"continuously moving :cartons, in such manner that'the xcartonstare squared if previously deformed, and-so that" the top flaps lie flat against "the carton I ends to assure accuracy of the printing.

While my improved closing devices have been described specifically in connection with the "final closing of cartons having tuck flaps, it is to be understood'that theyrare equally operable upon cartons having'other typesof :end'oritop flaps, for example upon "cartons.havingxnoituck flaps and 'havingttheir end ori-top .flaps :glued, in which caseimyclosing devicesrpress the'glued flaps against the carton and hold them 'there While the-glue or'cement'sets. Also, 'while'the .prnting ro ler istnot'shown .incQnnectiQn-With 'the platform chain "embodiment illustrated .in

specific forms without departing from th-e spirit oressential characteristics'thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative "and "not restrictive,

the'scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which -come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore :intended to be embraced "therein.

What iszclaimed and desired to beisecured'by United. States Letters Patent is:

;l..In a carton ng'machinepa "base; .a'tr'ansport for continuously :moving :a "carton'along said base while it is loaded. stationarymeans for part ally clos ng the end 'fiaps'of the cartons by frictional engagement therewith, "saidvsta- 'tionary means producingia slight'misalignment of the end fiapsmelativetothe cartons; and means movablein the direction of movement .of the cartons and operable 'by fr ct onal 'en- "gagement to complete the closing of the'carton end "flaps and .simultaneously correct any dexfo'rmaticn of the icartons resulting from the "frictional engagement with "said stationary means.

2. In a'cartoningmachinega base; .a trans- IDOT'G for continuously moving cartons alongv said base while their end flaps arepartially closed;

:movable means mounted on said baseadiacent 'the path of the ends of the cartons and frictionally 'engageable with the end iflaps "of the tcartons to close "them; and means operative to drive saidimovable meanstin the direction "of "movement 'of "the cartons -:at speed greater than that'of said transport whereby said. closingmeans exerts'a wiping-action on the cartonend flaps ini-the direction of their zmovement.

3. In acartoningmachine; a'baseya'transpoi't for continuously moving a carton along said'base with its-end flaps 'extendingin opposite direc- 'tions transversely of said base; stationary means on opposite of said transport for creasing the tuck flaps and folding the end flaps partially over-the ends of the cartons while partially "inserting the tuck flaps; "movable final endfla'p "closing means mounted -on--said*base on "opposite '15 sides of said .transport in the path of the partially closed end flaps engageable with the end flaps to close them; and means operative to drive said final closing means in the direction of movement of the cartons at a speed greater than that f of said transport whereby said closing means exerts a wiping action on the'carton end fiaps in -the direction of their movement to correct any deformation of said cartons or end flaps caused by said stationary creasing and folding means.

4. In the machine described in claim 3, printing means arranged adjacent the path of movement of the carton end flaps following said final closing devices and operable to print upon the end fiaps of the continuously moving cartons.

5. In the machine described in claim 4, said printing means comprising rotating type carrying elements; and means for driving said type carrying elements at the same speed as the moving cartons.

6. In the machine described in claim 3, means adjacent said final closing means for holding the end flaps in final closed position; and printing means cooperating with said flap holding means and operable to print upon the closed end flaps of the continuously moving cartons.

'7. In the machine described in claim 3, a stationary vertical'plate adjacent said final closing means and parallelingthe direction of carton movement, for holding the end flaps in final 1 closed position,'said plate being provided with a transverse opening therethrough; printing means comprising rotating type'carrying elements operable to project through said opening to print upon the closed carton end flaps; and means for driving said type elements at the same speed as the moving cartons.

8. In the machine described in claim 3, said final closing means situated on opposite sides of said transport being directly laterally opposite to. each other to prevent lateral shifting of the cartons during the final closing operation upon their end flaps.

9. In a cartoning machine, a base; a transport for continuously moving a carton along said base while it is loaded and its end flaps partially closed; final closing means on said machine engageable with the partially closed flaps and operable to close them fully; means adjacent said :final closing means for holding the flaps fully 1 closed; and printing means cooperating with said caused by previous operations thereon.

11;:[1'1 the machine described in claim 9, said printingmeans comprising a movable type carrying element; and means for driving said element at the same speed and in the same direction as r the moving cartons while the impression is being made;

12. In the machine described in claim 9, means operative to drive said final closing means in the direction of movement of the cartons at a speed greater than that of the transport, whereby said final closing means exerts a wiping action on the cartonend flaps in the direction of their movement; said printing means comprising a movable type carrying element; and means for driving said element at the same speed and in the same direction as the moving cartons while the impression is being made.

13. In a cartoning machine, a base; a transport for continuously moving a carton along said base, stationary end flap closing means beside said transport for partially closing the end flaps and inserting the tuck flaps; movable final closing means mounted on said base adjacent the path of the end of the cartons and engageable with the carton end flap to close it, comprising an element movable in a path converging with the path of the end of the carton; and means for driving said element along said path at a speed faster than that of said transport so that any misalignment of the carton end flaps produced by the frictional engagement between the stationary closing means and the carton end flaps is eliminated by the wiping action of the final closing means on the carton end flaps.

14. In the machine described in claim 13, said final closing means comprising a rotatably mounted drum and said driving means being operable to drive said drum so that its peripheral speed is' greater than the linear speed of said transport.

15. In the machine described in claim 13, said final closing means comprising an endless element; means supporting one run of said element for movement in a path coplanar with the carton and converging with the path of the end of the carton; and means for driving said element at a speed greater than that of said transport.

16. In the machine described in claim 13, said final closing means comprising an endless chain; means supporting one run of said chain for movement in a path converging with the path of the end of the carton, said chain having elements attached thereto for presenting a smooth surface towards the carton, and said driving means being operable to drive said chain at a speed greater than that of said transport.

17. In the machine described in claim 13, said final closing means comprising a rotatably mounted drum having a friction providing peripheral surface and said driving means being operable to drive said drum so that its peripheral speed is greater than the linear speed of said transport. a

18. In a cartoning machine, a, base; a transport for continuously moving a carton along said base while it is loaded and its end flaps partially closed; drive means for said transport; final end flap closing means mounted on said base and movable in a path converging with the path of the end of the carton, comprising a drum mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the carton and positioned for frictional engagement with an end flap thereof; and means connected to said drive means 'for driving said drum with a peripheral speed greater than that of said transport.

19. In a cartoning machine, a base; a transport for continuously moving a carton along said base; drive means for said transport; closing means mounted on said base and movablein a path having a portion converging with the path of movement of the end of the carton, comprising an endless chain having face plates arranged perpendicular to the path of movement of the end of the carton along said converging path;

and means for driving said chain at a Speed greater than that of saidtransport;

20. In a cartoning machine, a base; a transport for continuously moving a carton along said base while it is loaded and its end flap partially closed; drive means for said transport; final end flap closing means mounted on said base and movable in a path converging with the path of the end of the carton comprising at least a pair of drums mounted for rotation about spaced axes perpendicular to the plane of movement of the carton in p t o s for frictional engagement with the end flaps thereof; means connected to said transport drive means for driving said drums at peripheral speeds greater than that of said transport; mounting means for mounting said drums on said base, said mounting means being constructed and arranged to adjust the location of each of said drum axes transversely of said base in accordance with the size of the carton.

21. In the machine described in claim 20, a rotatable printing drum mounted on said mounting means in the path of the carton end follow- 18 ing said closing means, for printing upon the closed end of the carton; and means connected to said transport drive means for driving said printing drum at a peripheral speed equal to that of said transport.

JOHN F. CURRIVAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,721,922 Roe July 23, 1929 2,064,200 Ford Dec. 15, 1936 2,109,590 Kimball Mar. 1, 1938 2,136,897 Thayer Nov. 15, 1938 2,224,716 Anderson Dec. 10, 1940 2,242,304 Johnson May 20, 1941 2,367,684 Malhiot Jan. 23, 1945 2,380,758 Hohl July 31, 1945 2,448,198 Tennent Aug. 31, 1948