US2656081A

US2656081A - Case filling machine

Info

Publication number: US2656081A
Application number: US220747A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan C Davis
Original assignee: DAVIS CASER Co
Current assignee: DAVIS CASER Co
Priority date: 1951-04-13
Filing date: 1951-04-13
Publication date: 1953-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-20

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,656,081

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

Q //Q1 6 Dav/1s WMQM CZ-ffow-mej Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,656,081

CASE FILLING MACHINE I Filed April 13, 1951 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'TOR. CW/an G Dc: ums,

Wihym Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS I 2,656,031

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

Oct. 20, 1953 A. C. DAVIS CASE FILLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 13, 1951 i: IF I I'l i--- I: 251i... Er.

INVENTOR- .a//cu1 c, Dear/1s 4 BY 2 g L fforney Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,656,081

- CASEYFILLING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1951 9- Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 0 2 0* 1.3

lfforngy Oct; 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,655,081

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

62m 6: Dal/ZS Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS CASE FILLING MACHINE 9 Shets-Sheet 7 Filed April 13, 1951 INVENTOR.

D cw c 8 BY C(ffor l- HU Filed April 15, 1951 9 SheetsSheet 8 w. o Y /M B m P/ J i=3:

A. C. DAVIS CASE FILLING MACHINE Oct. 20, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 13, 1951 IINVENTOR. l5 M My. W

. Q1 0 r-rrgy CZ//cz/'7 Cf Dczcr Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STA'IE CASE FILLING MACHINE poration of Maryland Application April 13, 1951, Serial No. 220,747

g 20 Claims. 1

of my copending application, Serial No. 19

series of 1948, filed October 26, 1950. More particularly the invention relates to improvements in the charge depositing mechanism and in the automatic control mechanism for the machine.

In the above application there was disclosed as one modification a mechanism for releasing articles from the charge depositing carriage involving rocking bars which were controlled by an arm fixed to one of the bars and a rack to transmit the rocking of the one bar to the other bars. The speed of release was dependent on the speed of lowering of the article depositing mechanism, since the arm was tripped by a plate in the path of the arm during the lowering of the depositing mechanism. This mechanism operates satisfactorily for light articles when the depositing carriage is lowered slowly-but it is not so satisfactory for heavier articles since with them there is a tendency for the bars to release very rapidly with a snap action when the arm is partly rotated by the plate and for the charge of articles to slam" into the case.

In order to overcome this tendency, there is provided as a feature of the present invention a piston and cylinder mounted on the article depositing mechanism, the rocking of the bars bein ermitted by the gradual exhaustion of the cylinder. There is thus accomplished a release which can be accurately controlled for different weight articles and which is independent of the speed of lowering of the depositing mechanism.

To still further accomplish a cushioning effect and gradual lowering of the bottles into the case, there disclosed a modification having an improved eXpansib-le inverted frusto-conical rubber tube for cooperation with special stub spring fingers. This tube is more flexibly mounted and more sharply pointed than th tube disclosed in the prior copending application and the tube and stub fingers cooperate particularly advanta geously with the piston and cylinder control in depositing heavy articles.

Further features of the present invention are improvements in the individual pockets, the means for mounting the pocket supporting frame and in the control circuit for the machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a left side elevation of a bottle case filling machine constructed like that in the above- 2 I mentioned copending application except for the improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial fragmentary transverse sectional view at the front of the machine.

Figure 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken below the grid.

Figure 4 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating the charge depositing mechanism or basket in upper charge receiving positjion, and in dotted lines in lower depositing posiion.

Figure 5 is a partial right side elevation of the basket in lower charge release position, almost at th end of downward movement.

Figure 6' is a diagrammatic View illustrating the electric control circuit for the machine.

Figure '7 is a partial transverse sectional view at the front of the machine illustrating a modified basket or bottle depositing mechanism.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a single pocket removed from the basket of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line Ill-l i! of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line ll-H of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the line l2-!2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a partial transverse sectional view partly broken away, of the basket of Figure 7.

Figure 14 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines l4--! :3 of Figure 13.

In the drawings the same numeral refers to similar parts throughout the several views.

Briefly, referring to Figures 1 and 2, bottles 13, being the articles with which the machine is described, enter the machine on the right side at the rear in a single line from a supply or conveyor l. A delivery member or chain conveyor 2 having nights 3 receives a predetermined number of bottles into the compartments between each successive pair of flights in upright position and advances them forwardly over a charge collecting device comprising a grid 4 and an upper and lower stationary guide structure 5.

When the desired number of rows of bottles are on the grid to form a charge, longitudinal grid members or rails 6 of the grid are shifted laterally to position the bottles to drop through the grid vertically upon the further movement or" the flight, into a charge receiving device or basket 1. The basket or receptacle is then lowered to deposit the bottles into a waiting receiver 3 or case C having partitions P, Figure 5, forming cells. The machine illustrated is entirely automatic, having control devices to initiate and coordinate the various steps in its operation.

The bottle feed conveyor I is driven by means of motor 8, Figure 6. The machine is illustrated as designed for four rows of six bottles in each row. As the sixth bottle of each row moves into a row in the chain conveyor 2 from the bottle conveyor I, the first bottle on the left contacts a switch arm 9, Figure 6 (upper right), actuating a switch 19 to initiate intermittent movements, or steps of the chain conveyor 2. The mechanism for intermittently driving the chain conveyor 2 can be seen in Figure l and comprises a pneumatic cylinder I! and piston l2. A pusher plate 13 which is adapted to engage the flights 3 is advanced by the piston I2 when pressure is admitted to cylinder II to advance the chain conveyor 2. When the cylinder H is exhausted, springs l4 retract the piston and pusher plate 13, and the pusher plate engages the next following flight 3, in readiness for the next advance. The cycle is then repeated.

In Figure 2 and in Figure 6 (upper left) is illustrated a switch lever l5 pivotally mounted to the right of the machine at the front of the grid 4. This lever is rotated by the sixth bottle of the first row as the chain conveyor 2 advances the fourth row of bottles onto the grid and actuates switch 16, Figure 6, to cause grid rails 6 to be shifted to allow the dropping of a charge of twenty-four bottles into basket 7, upon further movement of conveyor '2.

The basket 1 rides up and down on tracks 17 by means of lower rollers 18 mounted at the rear of the basket and rolling on the forward surfaces of the tracks and upper rollers H on the rear surfaces of the tracks. A cylinder 28 is mounted on the framework 2! which supports the machine. Piston rod 22 engages bracket 23, Figure 2, which is fastened to the U-shaped roller mounting plate 24 of carriage 24 of the basket 1,

After the charge of bottles is dropped from the grid into the basket, the cylinder is exhausted to lower the basket to position above a case. The conveyor for moving cases into postiion beneath basket i is seen in Figure 3 and comprises a roller conveyor 25 driven by motor 26 (Figure 6). A

table comprising the rollers 2'! in the machine I extends rearwardly beneath the basket 1 further than supply conveyor 25 so as to extend in width to discharge rollers 28, offsetting the discharge from the feed. The case enters the machine guided by side rail 29 toward the front of the table and strikes case stop abutment plate 3% closing switch 3% to actuate the case positioning mechanism. This case positioning mechanism includes cylinder 32 and case pusher 33 attached to the piston in the cylinder, and the pusher is moved longitudinally from front to rear across the table by the piston and cylinder 32. After the case is filled with a charge of bottles, cylinder 32 is exhausted, case pusher 33 is retracted across the table by springs 34 and the case leaves the machine at the left on the discharge rollers 28, the case temporarily depressing a second case abutment plate 35 to open switch 36 and prevent the case positioning mechanism from operating until the filled case has cleared the table.

In the foregoing description, those parts of the case filling machine which necessarily cooperate with the improvements of the present invention or are necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention have been set forth. For a more detailed description of the machine, reference may be had to the aforementioned copending application.

The carriage 24 includes an angle member 31 forming the rear and sides of the carriage and ledges 38 and 39 on the sides of the member 31 mount the pocket frame front and rear cross supports 43 extending from left to right across the basket. Intermediate cross supports 41 are fastened to longitudinal end plates 42 and center plate 43, the end plates in turn being carried by the front and rear cross supports to complete the pocket frame. Twenty-four pockets M are mounted between the cross supports, as illustrated in Figure 3, and are spaced in accordance with the cells of the case to be filled. The pockets comprise small rectangular frames, each having outwardly curving bottle guiding ears or flanges 45 on all four sides and right angle pocket supporting lips 46 on the front and rear sides of the individual frames, Figure 2. The pockets are held in the large pocket frame by means of set screws 41 and plates 49 each pressing a set of three pockets suspended between adjacent cross supports and against center plate 43. Spring urged pin 50 and bolt and nut 51 (Figure 2) hold the assembled pocket frame in the carriage, the nut of nut and bolt 5| bearing against the front of front cross support 40 to keep it from sliding forwardly on ledges 38. To remove the pocket frame, the nut and bolt 5! are removed, the pin 56 is retracted and the assembled pocket frame is pulled out of the carriage, the front and rear cross supports 40 sliding forwardly on ledges 38 and 39.

Mounted on the frame of each pocket are left and right inwardly bent springs-52 and front and rear straight springs 53. The front and rear springs 53 .are adapted to be bent inwardly as shown in Figure l, 2, 3 and 4 by means of rocking bars 54. These bars are cylindrical with laterally expanded, flattened portions 55 engaging the straight springs 53. A cylinder 56 is mounted on the carriage by pin 5'! and bracket 59. The piston 60 is connected to a crosspiece 61 having head Bi thereon. Springs 62 extend between the crosspiece 5| and bracket 59 to retract the piston. A shaft 63 is carried by head 61 and operates crank 64 which is fixed to the front rocking bar 54, at the right of the basket. At the left the other bars 54 are connected for rocking with the front bar by means of cranks 65 and connecting arm 66.

The operation of the machine and the improvements in the control circuit of the present invention will now be readily understood.

Power is supplied to the machine by supply conductors 10, H. Conductor H is designated with a plus sign and conductor 10 with a minus sign for convenience in following the operating circuits of the solenoids. When the operating switch 12 is closed, the bottle conveyor motor 8 and the case conveyor motor 26 are set in motion through conductors 73 and 14. When six bottles have entered the chain conveyor 2 between flights 3 and switch arm 9 has been actuated to close \switch Hi, the chain conveyor cylinder air inlet valve operating solenoid I5 is operated by the circuit from plus conductor 14 through conductor l6 (center, Figure 6), manual chain conveyor stop switch 11, chain conveyor air inlet valve operating solenoid l5, strap I9, conductor 80, switch If! (upper right, Figure 6), conductor 8|, switch I6 (top contacts) to minus conductor l3. Solenoid l5 raises armature 82, raising lever 83 to open valve 84 to air supply line 5 85. -Airthen enters chain conveyor cylinder H through pipe 86 and fiow adjustment valve 81.

The pusher plate I3 is then advanced to step the conveyor and bolt 89 carried by plate I3 contacts pin 90 of switch 9I to open the switch at the end of the step. As soon as flights 3 advance, switch I opens by the passage of the bottle from arm 9. The holding circuit for solenoid I5, to insure the completion of the step of conveyor 2, extends from strap I9 through switch. 92, which is closed by arm 93 on the raising of armature 82, through conductor 94, switch 9|, conductor 95 to the "minus conductor I3. This circuit is broken by the opening of switch 9I and solenoid I releases, opening the exhaust 95 of valve 84 to exhaust cylinder II to retract the pusher plate, by springs I4.

When the first row of bottles of a complete charge reaches lever I5, Figure 2, at the front of the machine, the lower contacts of switch I6, Figure 6, are closed and the upper ones opened. The grid shifting solenoid 9! is then energized from "minus conductor 13, through switch I6, conductor 99, solenoid 91, conductor I00. switch IOI, when closed, conductors I02, I03 to "plus conductor I4. As seen in Figures 2 and 6, a pin I04 is bolted to the right side of the carriage 24. When the basket is in upper charge receiving position, this pin contacts roller I05 of switch lever I06 mounted on the frame of the machine, to close switch IOI. Thus the grid can only be shifted when the basket is in proper upper position, and switch IOI is closed. When the grid 4 has shifted, blade I91 carried by the grid moves between roller I05 and pin I04 to hold switch IOI closed and the grid shifted as long as switch lever I5 is contacted by a bottle. When the charge has dropped through the grid and has cleared it properly, switch lever I5 will clear the main body of the bottle and rotate to the position shown in Figure 6 to open the lower contacts of Switch I6 to release solenoid 91, so that grid 4.

can return to its charge receiving position. It will be understood that the chain conveyor cannot be stepped while the upper contacts of switch I 6 are open.

The above described part of the control circuit is similar to that in my copending application.

The case positioning cylinder 32' is energized by a case depressing abutment plate 30, Figure 6,

lower right, to close switch 3!. The minus supply conductor I0 then connects through conductors I09, H0, switches 36, 3I, conductor III, case pusher solenoid I I2, and conductor I03 to the plus supply conductor II, operating the solenoid H2. Armature H3 is raised to open valve H4 to air supply 85 to position a case.

The raising of arm H5 of valve H4 by armature H3 also raises intermediate link H6 connected to the arm, which in turn closes the upper contacts of switch III (lower left, Figure 6). The basket raising cylinder solenoid I I9 was being held energized through its holding circuit extending from plus supply conductor II through conductor I20, solenoid H9, strap I2I, holding switch I22, conductor I23, the lower contacts of switch III, conductor I24 and conductor I09 to the minus supply conductor III. This circuit is opened when switch I I1 is operated by the case positioning solenoid H2 and elevating solenoid H9 is deenergized exhausting cylinder through pipe I25, flow adjustment valve I26 and exhaust I 21 of valve I29.

At thi point in the operation, the rocking bar cylinder 56 is under pressure by virtue of the energization of solenoid I30 through minus" conductor 13, switch I 3|, conductor I32, solenoid I30, conductors I33 and I6 to "plus conductor I4.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the switch I3I it controlled by roller arm I34 acting on plate I35 mounted at the rear of carriage 24 on the left side. At a predetermined point in the downward travel of the basket I, the plate I35 disengages from arm I34, and switch I3I is opened. This deenergizes solenoid I30 allowing armature I36 to lower, opening exhaust I3I of valve I39. Cylinder 56 is then exhausted through flexible hose I40, flow adjustment valve MI and exhaust I31. The speed of release of the charge by the spring fingers 53 may be positively controlled for any weight bottles independently of the speed of descent of the carriage 24 by flow valve MI. The point of descent of the carriage to initiate the exhaustion of cylinder 56 is controlled by the proper construction of plate I35 and the positioning of switch arm I34.

When the basket has reached its lower position and cylinder 56 is sufiiciently exhausted to have permitted the release of the charge into a case, as in Figure 5, the switch I42, Figure 4, is actuated by the curved end I43 of connecting arm 66 contacting roller arm I44 of the switch. This opens the right contacts of switch I42 (center left, Figure 6), deenergizing case pusher solenoid H2, to release the filled case from the machine by opening the holding circuit through conductor III, strap I45, holding switch I46 and conductor I47. Switch I42 also operates the basket raising solenoid through its left contacts, conductor I49 and strap I 2|.

When the basket is raised, arm I34 contacts plate I35 closing switch I3I, and in turn closing the basket fingers to hold another charge.

The modification of Figures 7 through 14 necessitates no changes in the carriage, large pocket frame, or charge release cylinder and these parts being identical to the parts previously described are given the same reference numerals. Reference is made to the description in connection with Figures 1 through 6 for an understanding of the operation of these parts.

The pockets of the embodiment of Figures '7 to 14 have small rectangular frames as previously, but fixed to the four sides of each frame is the elongated top I 50 of the improved expansible rubber tube I5! of this invention. The tube is freely suspended from the pocket frame and. is molded about the modified rocking bars I52 as indicated at I53 to promote the even hanging of the tube Figure 8. Openings I54 in the tubes admit the spring finger actuating blades I55. Curved stub spring fingers I56 are mounted on the left and right sides of the pocket frames, outside the frames, between the tube and the pocket and stub straight fingers I5! are similarly mounted at the front and rear of the pockets. The lower part of each blade I55, as seen in Figure 9 is slightly longer than the upper in order to obtain equal inward deflection of the front and rear straight spring fingers I51.

The inverted frusto-conical expansible portion I59 has a sharply pointed end comprising separate inwardly sloping folded points IIiI, Figures 9 and 12. These folded points are continuous with folds I60 when viewed from within the tube as shown in Figure 10, but make possible the expansion of the tube from a very sharp point to the maximum cross-section of the articles to be passed therethrough. This sharply pointed tube has a special advantage in connection with the filling or collapsible cardboard. cartons oi the type commonly used for carrying six bottles, where there is more tendency for the bottle re ceiving openings to: be out of; line. The pointed tube tends to. move the openings into alignment to receive the charge of bottles and to direct the bottles towardthe openings.

The; special advantage of the present improved tube is its flexibility, being suspended from the very top of the basket. This is important as.- a safeiw feature. In.- the practical operation of the machine, the operatonwin case of difficulty, may pull the case being filled out of the machine and then look for the difficulty. With the flexiblysuspended tube-, this results in no tearing of the tube: or damaging of the bottles even if the basket has not raised properly.

The stub fingers in this modification are CD11.- trclled. in their release in a manner similar to that of the longer fingers. However, additional cushioning: effiect is now accomplishedby the ex,- pansible tube. The stub fingers of the present embodiment promote perfect centering of the bottles and release a charge. of bottles uniformly and surely; as well as gradually, independent of thespeed of lowering'oi the basket. The gradual release of the bottles into the tubes has a tendency topromote. better centering of the bottle cardboard cartons andthe like by the tubes; The present flexibly suspended. sharply pointed. tubes are. not likely to foul. on the partitions of av case or to be: injured when: a case is pulled out before the basket has been properly raised.

Whatisclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is;

1. In. an article packing machine for fillin a cellv case with a charge ofarticies. charge cepositing mechanism and means. for delivering a charge to saidmechan-i'snr. said mechanism. comprising a. carriage movablebetween charge receiving and charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage to correspond to the cells of a case, means. in each pocket to retain an article therein, said retaining means being movable between article retaining and release positions,v means to efiect said movement means for guiding thev movement of said carriage from charge receiving to. charge release position, and a piston and cylinder mounted on said carriage and connected to said effecting means to control the release. of said article retaining means in releasing articles from said pockets.

2. In an article packing. machine for filling, a

cell case with a charge oi articles, a charge. de-

positing mechanism and means for delivering a charge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release. position, and a plurality of pockets in the carriage to. correspond to the cells of a case, means, in each pocket to retain an article therein, said retaining means eing movable between article retaining and re.- lease positions, means to efiect said movement and a piston and cylinder carried. by said carriage and connected to said efi'ecting means to control. the release of. said article retaining means, to release articles from said pockets in lower carriage position, said piston and cylinder operating said article retaining means, toset the same. to retain articles in the pockets in the upper carriage position.

3. In an article pacln'ng machine for filling a cell case. with a charge 01 articles, a charge depositing mechanism and means for delivering a charge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a. carriage-movable from upper charge receiving tolower. charge release: position, and a plurality of pockets in the carriage to correspond to; the cells oi a case, means in each pocket to retain an article therein, said retaining means being movable between article retaining and release positions, means to effect said movement and a piston and cylinder carried by said carriage and connected to said efiecting means to control the relcaseoi said article retaining means to. release articles from said pockets in lower carriage position, said piston and cylinder operating said article retaining means to set the same to retain articles in, the pockets, in theupper carriage. position and means disposed intermediate upper and lower positions. of. said carriage actuated by the movement of said carriage to. exhaust the cylinder as the carriage is lowered to gradually release said article retaining means.

4. In an article packing machine for filling a cell case with. a. charge of articles, a charge, depositing. mechanism. and means. for delivering a charge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a carriage, movable from. upper charge receiving. to lower charge release. position, and a plurality oi pockets in the carriage mounted in rows. and columns to correspond to. the. cells of a. case, movable converging fingers beneath each. pocket. to retain an. article therein means in. the carriage to. move the fingers between positions of article release and retention and pneumatic means mounted. on said. carriage and connected to said moving means to release, said fingers from converging position, to release articles from the pockets. in. lower carriage. position, and to restore the fingers to article retaining position after the release of articles from the pockets.

5. In an. article packing machine for filling a cell. case with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism and. means for delivering a charge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release. position,. and a plurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspond to. the cells of a. case, fingers beneath each pocket, means in the carriage to move the fingers between positions of article release. and retention, pneumatic means mounted on said carriage and connected to said moving means to operate said moving means, to. release the. fingers from article retain.- ing position in lower carriage position and to restore the fingers. to article retaining position after they release of articles from the pockets, means. tor raising and lowering said carriage and means. actuated upon. the operation. of the pneumatic means to. restore the fingers to article retaining position to actuate the raising means for the carriage.

6. In an article packing machine for filling. a cell case with. a charge.v of articles, a charge depositing, mechanism and meansv ior delivering a charge to said mechan sm, said mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, and a plurality of pockets in the carriage, to. correspond to the cells of a case, fingersv beneath each pocket and, havingv an articlev release position, means to hold said fingers in converging relatron to. retain an. article in the pocket and, a, piston and cylinder mounted on said carriage and connected to the holding means to control the release of said holding. means; to: release, the fingers from converging relation torelease arti-s cles from said pockets in lowercarriage position, said piston and cylinder operating said holding means to hold the fingers in converging relation to retain articles in the pockets in the upper carriage position.

7. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pockets adjacent said bars and having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar, and pneumatic means connected to said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position.

8. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pockets adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar, and a piston and cylinder mounted with said carriage for movement therewith and connecting with said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position.

9. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspond to the cells of a container, 3, bar rotatably mounted in said carriag and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pockets adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar, and pneumatic means connected to said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position, means for raising and lowering said carriage and means actuated upon the rocking of said bar to press the fingers to article obstructing position to actuate the raising means for said carriage.

10. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pockets adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar, and a piston and cylinder mounted with said carriage for movement therewith and connecting with said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstruct: ing position, means for raising and lowering said carriage and means actuated by the rocking of said bar in releasing the articles to actuate the raising means for said carriage,

11. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage arranged in rows and columns to correspond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pockets adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar, and pneumatic means connected to said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position, means for positioning a container below said carriage and means actuated by the rocking of said bar in releasing the articles into the container to release the container positioning means.

12. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage arranged in rows and columns to correspond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pockets adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar, and a piston and cylinder mounted with said carriage for movement therewith and connecting with said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position, means for positioning a container below said carriage and means actuated by the rocking of said bar in releasing the articles into the container to release the container positioning means.

13. In an article packing machine having a pneumatic cylinder for raising and lowering a charge depositing mechanism and a pneumatic cylinder for positioning a case in charge receiving position beneath the depositing mechanism,

and valves to admit pressure to said cylinders,

and electro-magnetic means to operate the valves, and a holding circuit for the electro-magnetic means operating the charge depositing cylinder valve, the improvement comprising a link connected to the electro-magnetic means actuating the valve controlling the pressure for said case posltioning cylinder, a switch operated by said link in the holding circuit for maintaining the charge depositing cylinder under pressur with the mechanism in raised position, the actuation age-racer ll of saidcase positioning cylinder "to "position a case moving the valve and link to open the holdingcircuit switch to exhaust the charge depositing cylinder to'lower the charge depositing mechanism to the case.

14. In an article packing "machine for filling a celled container with a charg of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising "a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a plurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspond tothe cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and "extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pocketsand dependin therefrom adjacent said bars, the "fingers having an article release position, means on said bars cont cting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar and a rubber tube having an elongatedtop suspended from "the top of each pocket with the fingers Within 'thetube's, and the tubes having an opening therein for admitting the finger contacting means on said bars, said tu'bes having inverted frusto-conical expansible bottoms.

15. 'In an article packing machine 'for "filling a celled container with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality ofpockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns to correspondtothe cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets and depending therefrom adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct "the pockets and hold articles therein in one position or said bar and arubbertube having an elongated to suspended from the top oi" each pocket with the fingers within the tubes and the tube having an opening therein for admitting the finger contacting means on said bar's, said tubes having inverted frusto-conical expansible bottoms and pneumatic means connected to said bar to control the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position.

16. In an article packing machine, "for "filling a celled container'with .a charge or articles, a charg depositing mechanism comprising a carriage movable "from upper charge receiving 'to lower charge release position, a plurality or pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorresp'ond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatabl mounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mounted with said pockets and depending therefrom adjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said bars contacting-s'aid fingers "and pressingsaid fingers into said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar and a rubber tube having anelongated top suspended from the top "of each pocket with the finger's within the tubes and the tube having an opening therein for admitting the finger contacting means on said "bars, said tubes having inverted movement therewith and connecting with said bar tocontrol the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position.

17. A carriage for a charge of articles, to hold articles and to release them therefrom, "partitions in the carriage dividing the carriage into "a pin:- rality of pockets, flexible article holding fingers depending from the top of the pockets, the fingers having an article release position, rubber tubes enclosing the fingers and depending from the top "of each of 'thepockets, means to bend the fingers to article holding position and to re lease them therefrom.

'18. A carriage for "a charge or articles, to hold articles and to release them therefrom, partitions in the carriage dividing the carriage into a plurality of aligned pocket-s, flexible articles holding fingers depending from the top of the pockets, certain or the fingers being on one side of the pockets and being aligned with each other, the fingers having an article release position, rubber tubes enclosing the fingers and depending from the top of each of th pockets, a rod extending adjacent the aligned fingers on *one side of the pockets having means thereon to bend thefingers to article hold-ing position and to release them therefrom, the rubber tubes having openings therein to admit -the finger bending means.

'19. In an article packing machin for filling a celled container with a charge of 'artic'les, a

charge depositing mechanism comprising 'a carriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, a'plu-rality' of pocle ets 'in the carriage mounted in rows and coluinns to correspond to the cells of a container, said pockets comprising rectangular frames having at the tops thereof outwardly curved flanges forguiding articles into the pockets.

20. In an article packing machine for filling a cell case with a charge of articles, a charge depositing mec han-ism'havinga plurality of pockets therein and means for guiding articles vertica-Ily through said depositing mechanism to "a case comprising an open resilient hose in each pocket attached at its upper periphery "to the edges of the pocket, the lower end or ea'ch hose being resiliently vertically 'fiute'd to restrain an article passing therethrough, the extreme lower end of the flutes 'being point-ed downwardly -toward the axis of the hose to fit into the cell of a-case, the-flutes expanding upon the releaseoi an article through the pocket to =a case and then again contract-ing,

-"C. DAVTS.

References Cited in the dle of this patent UNITED "STATES PATENTS