US2661883A - Automatic packing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 M. E. FRANCISCO I I AUTOMATIC PACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1950 MARSHALL E. FRANCISCO lNl/LNTO/i HUEBNER, BEE'HLER, WORRE'L,

HE 'RZ/G 8 CALDWELL A TTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 M. E. FRANCISCO 2,661,383

AUTOMATIC PACKING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HUEBNER, BEEHLERfWO/PREL,

776.3. HERZ/G a CALDWELL ATTORNEYS MARSHALL E. FRANCISCO Dec. 8. 1953 ME. FRANCISCO T AUTOMATIC PACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed April 5, 1950 MARSHALL E FRANCISCO /NVEN7'O/? ccccccccc S "m 0 W M W D 0 ..Lr mun m8 am a N E w H Dec. 8, 1953 Filed April 5, 1950 M. E. FRANCISCO AUTOMATIC PACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MARSHALL E. FRANCISCO INVENTOR HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL,

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 2,661,885; AUTOMATIC PAoKINd ni riiitlijrus Marshall E. Francisco, JEE,

Application April 5, 1950, S erial No. 154,099

The present inventionrelates to packing apparatus and more particularly to an automatic packingdevice adaptedto receive a plurality of articles tobe packed and to deposit the same in a: container therefor in. predetermined attitudes and: relations, as for-display purposes- The problems whichthe present invention has overcome aresconveniently. illustrated byreference to the packing. of stuffed olives in transparent glass bottles. .Stuifed olives are generally received in .bulkfrom various Southern European sources and hand packed in the-United Statesinto the small glass bottles ofthe-type generally displayed in grocery stores, .delicatessen stores, and the like. .Conventionally,-theolivesare selected from bulkand, placed by handwith the aidof tweezers in the bottles with the stufilng outwardly disposed and faced against the bottle walls so as exteriorly to..present a smooth. and pleasingappearance. The olives are circularly arranged in the bottles and compacted, so vthatby their ownresilience in. thecircular arrangement, firm engagement with the walls of thebottles ismaintained. Successively superimposedcircular layers of theolives are usually positionedin. the containerto provide vertical alignment of corresponding olives ineach layer in stackedarrangement. This is a-tedious and expensive processimposing a labor-charge. on the finished productcomprising a substantial portion of the total cost of .each bottle of olives.

Although uniformity .of resultsis desirableand greaterspeed and economy of packing has been a continuous objective since the .marketing of stuffed olives in this manner originated, it has heretofore been considered impossible. mechanically to perform the packing operations because of the delicacy of the olives .andtheir stufiing, thevery limited space within. the containersqin which to perform the packing operations, and the precise fitting of the olives so that by their. own resilience in their circular arrangements each olive will be urged radially outwardlywithapressure appropriate to achieve the desired facing of hev fiin a a tlthewalls of the containers".. nn object of the present inventioneis more economically to make available to consumers, stuffed olives and-theiike heretofore requiring tedious and expensive hand packing operations.

-Another object is to minimize the expenses and wasted time incident to the packing offruit and the likerby handin-containers therefor under conditions requiringrpredetermined ordered arrangementof the fruit and proper facing thereof, asfordisplay.purposes.- r v v ,v y o Another object is automatically and mechanically to pack articles in selected numbers in predetermined relation and attitude in containers provided therefor. Another object is to provide a mechanical packingaid adapted simultaneously to position aplu-- rality of articles in predetermined circular arrangement in a container therefor and upon release of the articles in the containers to urge the sameradially outwardly.

Another object is to provide improved releasable holding means for fruit-and the like adapted dependably to support and release the same with a minimum of damage thereto.- e

. Other objects areto provide improved elements and-arrangements thereof in a device of the characterv and for the purposes set forth that is dependable in operation, economical to produce and rapid in the performance of its packing function.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification...

In the drawings:

llig. 1.is a -side. elevationof a device for packing olives and. the like. inbottles therefor embodying the principlesof the present invention, showing portions of-thedevice in vertical section for illustrative convenience. I

Fig. 2..is afragmentary enlarged side elevation of the device shown in Fig; 1 illustrating an olive holding anddepositing subassembly thereof, as seen-at .a loading station adapted to receive olives andthelike. Fig. 3 is a side elevation o in Fig. 2 shown extended into a container illustrated in verticaLseetion and positioning olives in a first;layer. .therein. e.

Fig.3 4 is a side elevation of the structure shown- Fig.7 is..a horizontal transverse-section of the subassemblytaken dnline 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the subassembly illus trating the means for resiliently holding and ejecting the olives. Fig. {9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower endof an eje or portion of the olive holdmg and depositing ubasseinbly. H,

Rig. 10 is afragmentary side elevation .6"

olive noidiii'g and ejecting subassembly 'niiist'it f the structure shown ing a modified form adapted concurrently to pack two layers of two olives each with the olives of each layer in substantial alignment and in ninety degree relation to the olives of the other layer.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the fragmentary structure of Fig. viewed at a position ninety degrees removed from the position viewed in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the structure of Figs. 10 and 11, as viewed fromline i2-l-2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. l3is a fragmentary side elevation of an olive holding and ejecting subassembly illustrating a further modified form adapted concurrently to pack two layers of three olives each with the olives of each layer in one hundred twenty degree relation and in sixty degree relation with adjacent i f olives of the other layer.

as viewed from line l4l4 thereof.

Provided for descriptive clarity, Fig. is a side elevationof a bottle of stuffed'Qlives as results from employment of'the'olive holding and ejecting subassembly of Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive.

-Fi 16 is aiside elevation of a bottle of stuffed olivesjas results fromempioyment of the olive holding andejecting structure of Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive.

. .Fig. 17 is a horizontal section of theolivepack shown in Fig. 15 as taken on line !l|l thereof. Referring in greater detail to the drawings: v I n Fig;-1, a' support frame is indicated generallyjat 19 having a floor portion H supported on feet [2. Legs it are upwardly extended from the-floor H and formed with inwardly turned brackets Min elevationally spaced relation to the floor H5 A table top 15 is rested on the brackets i land secured thereto as by the stub bolts-l6. The table top hasa bore ll formed therethrough for purposes soon to be described. n endless conveyor 253 of belt, link, or other suitable form is mounted for substantially horizontal travel beneath the table; top i5 on drive rollers one-of 'Which is illustrated at 2l. Support rollers 2-2 are transversely: mounted below the upperrun of the conveyor as in bearing 23 supported ;by 5Ql11OW b1OCkS 24 mounted on the floor H. The support rollers provide dependable maintenance of'articles carried on the conveyor at a;predeterrnined'levely .;In the; device of thepresent invention, bottles 2 are carried along; the conveyor. 23 to a position in alignment with the bore ll. The bottles may be retained againstcontinued travel with the conyeyor by lubricating the surface of the conveyor; and providing any of the well known synchronous holding means as employed in loottlingg capping, labeling, .and casing machines.

Therepbeing vmanyfsuch retaining means well known'in' the art, no'particular form is illustrated inrither drawings. 1

Dependably to position the bottles 28 relative tgthesid edgesof the conveyor to facilitate alignment of the bottles with the bore 11, guides 2.9 are mountedbetween the legs was by brackets 30. The guides arespaced to receive the bottles 28 therelgetween and preferably lubricated so that a minimum of resistance to bottle movement is Qfiered by the guides,

g' lhe preceding structure is essentially conventitinal ems; described to facilitate explanation of t the present invention through representation of a suitable operational environment. It is to be understood that the preceding structure in no way limits the present invention. Any mane yr echan i a s s ivelylqea in 5d makes it desirable to brace the shelf as by -means of a gusset plate 37. gA pillowblock flii is mounted on the shelf 36 as by stub bolts 41 and mounts a crank shaft 42 for horizontal rotational movement. The crank shaft isrotated by any suitable source of power, not shown. A crank arm 43 is radially extended from the crank shaft and provides a rotatable cam follower 4 axially parallel to the crank shaft 32' at'the outerend of the crank arm.

"'An upwardly extended bracket 58 is mounted on the shelf 36 as by bolts 49 preferably approximately in' the plane of the cam follower M. An

. elongated drive: arm 59 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 38. and provides an elongated camway. 5!. formed longitudinally thereof which receives the cam follower 44 of the crank. arm 43. Rotation of the crank shaft 42 pivotally reciprocates the drive arm 56, the extended end of which;rises and falls at a speed dependent upon the speed of crank shaft rotation.

A bracketboxttl is mounted on the posts 35 and provides a pair of vertically spacedv slide bearings 56 vertically aligned between the bore I7 and, the extended'e'nd of the drive arm5fl.

A rod 86 is mounted in the slide bearings '56 for-longitudinalslidable. movement. 1 The upper endiof 'the'rod is connected to theextended end of the drive arm bya-linklil pivotally connected therebetween. The means for mounting the rod fidiand;elevationallyfreciprocating the same just described are'also not intended to limit the de- Vice; of the. present invention but merely. to illustrateiasuitabiemountin and driving means for the packing device of the present invention, there being innumerable satisfactory structures for the purpq e. fand evenmanual operation 7 being a marked jimprovement over the'prior'art.

The::lowei' 'en'd 'of the rod '68 is provided "with an: enlarged .he'ad:- eaconveniently of circular forrnand. ofjasize adapted freely to passthrough the bore *tlznAsfs'howriin Figs. 2 to"5an'd"B, a plurality'ofipai'rs.ofispaced resilient fingers 64 are; mounted 'on'thelhead, as by being soldered org-welded thereto, and endwardlyand downwar-oily extendediifrom" the rod; The pairs of fingers arearrangeddn a generally circular pattern in close: proximity to each other. As evident in Figs. 10 to 14,. any desired number of pai-rs o'f esrlr tr dent innfiigs. ,2. to. 51' inclusive'ly. A

i It u t, l l 5.11. -l ,si 1 11 cross head fl-having radially extended stops 13 is mounted below the -head sawim the stops 13 located between the -fingers 64- .ofeach. pair, as IIJy 'means-ofa pair of arms. 14 integralwith the cross 7 head T2 and-secured -in dependent. relation on the slide box by screws 15, as shown in g collar Sit-is mounted on the rod .60 below the slide block 10, as by. a set screw. 81... A helical spring 82 is provided-under initialcompression between the slide .block andthe .collar, thus urging..theJslide-block. andtheflcrosshead 12 upwardly with the cross head engagedagainstthe head-63 ofwthe .rod. .Suchmelatively retracted position of the cross head-is shown; in Figs. 2 and tip- The crosshead. 12, its arms 14, and the s1i'de:.. block f! I! comprise .an. ejector, for articles held between .the. pairs of fingers 63 activated by relative movement of 'the fingers and the cross head in opposition to the forces of the compression spring 82.

gagementwith the receptacle H. of the slide block .lflis mounted below the table top IS. The detents of thecatch engage the receptacle H when-the-subassemblyis lowered. into a bottle, as shown in Fig, 3,.and upon retraction of the rod 6fliretains the slideiblock 1,0 andthus the crosshead-JZ in their lower limit of travel until the fingers 64 havebeendrawn upwardly alongsidethe stops 13; as shown in Fig, 4, ejecting articles qheld byst e. nge fsfli pr d m relative arrangement; in the bottle, at which time the-compression of the spring 82 overcomes the resiliency of thecatch 8,5 andthe slide block is; returned upwardly on the rodretracting the cross head against the head fi3 of the rod and preconditioning the apparatus for reloading. Modified article packing and releasing structure A modified form of article packing and releasing structure is shown in Figs. 10 to 12. This modification" is adapted concurrently to pack two-layers of two olives each with the-olives .of each layer in substantial alignment and in ninety degree relation te ths olives of the otherlayer. As previously described, the rod 60 is provided with the enlarged head 63 at its lower end. Four pairsof fingers, similar-to the fingers 64,. are downwardly extended from the head 63 in generallycircular arrangement. Two pairs of finfigersllfl adapted to hold two olives orthe like,

alignment at the same level, are downwardly extended from the head a distance appreciably greater than intermediate fingers 9| which are adapted tohold a pair of olives or the like,v in alignment at a somewhat .higher; levelv to rest upon and across olives placed .by the fingers 90.

.=.-- -'A'cross head 94 is mounted below. the head -63, as previously explained, ofvtheicross head 12.. The cross head v941 provides downwardlyextended stops 95 .betweenthe fingers 90 and stops -96.at a higher level betweenthefingers 9l. In

short, the .stops 95'and 9.6 preferably bear the same elevational relationship to their respective fingers 90 and 9| asthe stops (3 bear, to. the finthetrod...

In. the. packing of stuffedolives and like dnto ;.containers therefor, li si desi ab e V. I9 1,1319- vide as visually attractive a pack of olives in w th. th re .,downwardly by the. s

ejecting means justdescribed is adapted to pack twolayers at a time in the arrangementoi articles illustrated by the stuffed olives 91in Fig. 16- sew ha modified jorrn'of'drticle packing and re leasing structure v further modificationof the article pa ent and ejecting ,struct iire is illustrated in Figs. .13 and; 14 adapted concurrently to pack twoilayers oi three olives veachwiththe olives of eac'h'lay'er in one hundred twenty degree relation to each other and in sixty degree relation to adjacent olives of their adjaee'rit layer. .In this form six pairs of fingers. are mounted on the head 63 in generally circular arrangement and enctvaiely and downwardly extended therefrom. Three pairs of fingers indicated ,at Iflil are downwardly extended similarly to the fingers 90. in the mom-- fied form just described. {Intermediate'the pairs: of fingers Hi5 shorter, rs of fingers llflflisimil'ar t0 fingers ill are provi ed; Across head [82 ismounted below the head 53' on the arms H5 in the previously described'mannen. j' l'he crossweirdly .extendedj stops head I02. provides do I v ers'of. each of" the pairs I03 intermediate the fing "I00 thereofand relatively" highers'tops Ill; between the'fingers or each, of. thefpai'rs Hi i @When the'first and second ,mo'difiedjforms of. theja'rticle packing and. ejectingfstructurej are employed in means for vertically reciprocatingthe same to andulfrom, bottles. 28' Jsuccess iv'e1 y lo cated at a packing station retraction ofjth'e fingers 90, 9|, I09. and El! prierjtofretraction of their respectiVestQps95,196, .183, and l flfef- .fectively. ejects olives. orhthe'r articles held by the .fingers in predetermined arrangement in the bottles. i r

Operation The operation of the present invention is,believed to be clearly: apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. Bottles 28 are successively located at a predetermined packing station by the conveyor 20,.oranyiother suitablemanual, mechanical. or other. means, Olives, cherries, pearl onions,j or other articles, to bepacked are inserted between the fingers B4, 9t, 9!, 193, and Illl (dependent upon-the type of packdesired) when the ,rod. 6il;is,in its elevated position, The inserting of, the articles, between the fingers may bemanually .accomplished or by any suitable auxiliary mechanism not shown. When the fingers are loaded, ro t ation o ithe; crankshaft d2 lowers, the rod 60 into a bottle 23 1ocated at the loading station, until he ends cf the fingers closely approach the bottom-of the bottle. Upon return movement of the rod the detents 3610i the catch. 85 engage;in: the receptacle H. of the slide block and retaintheslide, block and the crosshead 12, 94 or lfiz connected thereto in its lower limit of travelpntilupward movement of the rod hasdrawn';t h e; fingers alongside their respective steps 13, 95, 916 103, or I04, ejecting the articles from between the fingers, as shown fcOnlcDoL tion 68 is drawn between'the l'lin'f'n afttfie times as fast, in

articles, urging the same endwarclly outwardly Whenstuffed olivesare packed in the bottle. I by the device of the present invention, they are loaded between the fingers with the .pimient'o or suificiently to draw the frusto-conical portion 68 thereof from between the articles and urge the same outwardly, proper positioning of the collar 80 on the rod 60 causes compression of the spring 82 to overcome the resilience of the catch 85 releasing the slide block 10 and retracting the if stops under the urging of'the spring 82 against the head 63 and preconditioning the structure for reloading upon retraction from the bottle into the position shown. in Fig. 1. v

To load successive layers into the bottles, the bottles are either conveyed to successive loading stations at which the packing and ejecting structure is successively lowered into the bottles a distance less than the previously deposited layers or the bottles are completely loaded at a given station which provides for relative movement of the bottleand the packing mechanism, whereby successive layers are positioned therein. Such structures having the stepped elevation or depression of bottles and the stepped elevation of a mechanism utilized with such bottles are well known in the bottle filling, capping and sealing arts and thus are not described nor shown herein. Successive operation of the subassembly shown in Figs. 2 to 5 to pack stuffed olives 9'! into a bottle 28 achieves the pack shown in Fig. 15, there being four olives in each layer and corresponding olives of superimposed layers being aligned. As shown in Fig. 17, the resilience of the olives in their circular arrangement maintains them in position and urges each olive radially outwardly for facing engagement with the side of the bottle. After the olives are packed in the bottles, they are covered with a fluid and the bottles sealed in any suitable manner, as by caps "16.

The employment of the packing and ejecting structure of Figs. 10 to 12 to pack stuffed olives 91 achieves a pack of the type shown in Fig. 16 in which there aretwo aligned olives in each layer and adjacent layers have their aligned.

olives disposed in right angular relation.- The pack shown in Fig. 16 is loaded two layers at a time and corresponding olives of alternate layers are vertically aligned.

8 v ing ten to fifteen times the output in a day attainable by conventional hand packing methods. The greater packing speed greatlyreduces. the labor cost incident to hand packing and thus makes available stuffed olives and the like packed in the described manner at a materially reduced price.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred method and embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and structures.

Having described 'my invention, what I.claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l. A packing device, adapted simultaneously to place a, plurality of articles in predetermined cir' cular arrangement ina container therefor and to It is believed that the pack resultant from the structures of Figures 13 and 14 is self-evident.

'Each layer provides three olives in one hundred twenty degree relation with adjacent layers having their corresponding olives rested interme- :.diate the olives of the lower layer. s

Although frequent reference has been made iherein to the packing of olives, it is tobe understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, being excellently adapted to the packing of cherries, grapes, pearl onions, plums, anchovycaper rolls, and other articles. Whether the packing and ejecting structures are pneumatically, electrically, mechanically, as demonstratedin Fig. 1, or manually operated, the present invention successfully achieves a more rapid packing and a resultant pack of greater uniformity. For example, even hand operation of the device of the present invention permits a packer to pack many actual tests frequently achiev- 5 ment thereonbetween urge the articles radially outwardly in their circular arrangement, comprising an elongatedrod, a spreader having an enlarged end portion endwardly extended from the rod, a plurality of fingers endwardly extended from the rod in'a circular arrangement concentrically of the spreader adapted. to receive articles therebetween, means mounting the rod and endwardly reciprocating the same between a loading station and a packing station, and means responsive to endward reciprocation of the rod for restraining the articles at the packing station upon return movement of the rod therefrom while the fingers are withdrawn from the articles and the enlarged end of the spreader is withdrawn from between the circular arrangement of said articles urging said articles radially outwardly of their circular arrangement. l

2. An automatic packing device adapted simultaneously to place a plurality of articles .in predetermined relation in containers therefor comprising an elongated member, a spreader endwardly extended from the member and termimating in an enlarged end portion, a plurality of pairs of elongated spring fingers endwardly-extended from the member in a substantially circular arrangement concentrically of the spreader, means having driving connection with the member adapted reciprocally to position the same so as to carry the fingers and spreader simultaneously back and forth between predetermined loading and packing stations, and means for restraining the articles at the packing station during return movement of the fingerstoward the loacL'ng station until said articles are removed irom the fingers and thrust radiallyby movement of the enlarged end of the spreader upwardly therebetween.

3. An automatic olive packing device comprising an elongated rod, frame means mounting the rod for reciprocal longitudinal travel between predetermined limits, a spreader integral with the rod and endwardly extended therefrom terminating in an endwardly enlarged frustoconical portion, a plurality of pairs of spaced resilientfingers endwardly extended from the rod concentrically of the spreader, each pair of fingers in cooperation with the spreader being adapted releasably to hold an olive therebetween in predetermined relation to olives heldbetw'een the spreader and other pairs of fingers, an ejector having stops disposed between the fingers slidably mounted on the rod for reciprocal movean extended position with 9. the stops adjacent to theends of the fingers and a "retracted 'positionwith "the stops adj acent' to theend" of the rod from which the fingers are entefidedi" resilient means mounted on the rod.

engagement with the'ejectorurgingthe ejector into retracted positionfsaid ejector being formed with acatch receptacle a side threoffand "a resilient catch mounted in the frame means for engagement with the receptacle of the'ejctorto restrain the ejector against return movement 1, thereof with the rod froirrthelimit of travel'in the direction of finger extension;

lJIn' apacking devicefthe combination of means for resilientlyelasping aplurality'of arti- Qles to be packed and releasably supporting the articles in a predeterminedgenerally annular arene a a dp ea er mci umtary relation with theclasping means concentrically of the predetermined annular arrangement of the articles and providing a frusto-coniv calend portion adjacent to "the clasping means,

mounted on the mounting member and-having an enlarged extended end of substantially frustoconical form, cooperative'pairs' of elongated juxtapositioned concave spring fingers mounted on .1

the mounting member and extended therefrom in substantially parallel relation to the spreader in a f ii staht auy' c rchlararrangemeht concen- -any about the spreader, the fingers of each pair being in substantially symmetrical relation to a lineradial to the spreader passed there betw en: and an'ejector slidal oly mounted on the spreader for reciprocal movement longitudinally thereof {having portions extended between the fingers of each pair.

'mounting member, an elongated rod-like spreader 1h an automatic packing device having a support frame, an elongated rod slidably mountin a substantially erect position in the frame, driving means connected to the rod for vertical reciprocation thereof between predetermined up- I pier and lower limits of travel, a rod-like spreader downwardly extended from the rod, spring fingers Y inountedon the rod for'iinitary elevational inovernent therewith in an arrangement concentric to thespread er and defining article receiving compartrnents therebetween radially related to the spreader, thespreader having a lowerend providing article engaging surfaces directeddownward- 1t and "radially of the spreader adjacent to the compartments, a crosshead having-portions extended between the fingers slidably mounted on the spreader, a slide block slidably mounted on the rod'in spaced relation to the lower'end thereof," arins interconnecting the'crosshead and the slide block in predetermined spacedrelation, a collar-"mounted on the rod intermediate the slide block and the lower end of the roda compres- 'sion' spring mounted in circumscribing relation on the rod between the collar and. the slide block urging the slide block upwardly n the rod, said u slide "block having a detent receptacle formed therein, and a resilient detent mounted in the rame i position n ase ble w h t dete i'e pta'cle at the lower'limitoffjtravel ofther'od.

ing adapted to place a spreader tha plurality of articles in predeteihiihd rflatiorf incontain'ers therefor; a ro d infounted' in a substantially erect position-in tlie franiefmean's for "elevationallyreciprocating the the "between predetermined upper" and lower limits "of" avel, a'"plurality of pairs of spacedrsilient fingers downwardly extended from the rod insubstantiallybircular arrangement/the fingers of each pairb'eing adapted resiliently th'hold a'n artieie therebetween in predetermined relation to articlesheld"by "the other fingers, a spreader dowriwardlyextended from the rod concentrically 'cjfthe'iingers andhaving a downwardly enlarged frus'to-cbnica'l 'elid i oitiom' an ejector having st ops di "'s'd between the fingers slidably mountedonthe 'rod rpr relative mdvementthereon betw en upper limit with the stops ad acent to th upper-ends ofthe 'fingersanda lower limit With fingers, resilient nieans mounted "on the rod in ejector engagement'iirging the ejector upward lyf'b i the rod; and a resiliently releasable eatch moiintediii the fraifne in a position "engagea-b e tv' ththe ejector atthe' lower limit of trave1 o'fthe fed adaptec'l'te restrain the ejector against upward hihyementthereofwith the rod until-said rod is drawn upwardly a distance suflicient 'tocarry' the lower ends'of the fingersinto adjacent relation to thestohsana're1ease the articles held by the '81 an automatic packing device having a support fran'ie; anelbhgat'ed rod slidably mdlint- 'd i'na substantially erect position in the" frame, driving -nneanst6nriie ited to the rod for vertieal reciprocation therecif between predetermindupper aha lower 1 oft'ravel; a rod like s'preader downwardly exten ed'from the rod having a'suhstahtially frustd c'ohical enlarged lower endycbofieratite pairs'oi" wr'ieateq spring n g'e'r mountt eiobland'"-downwarcll y"extended therefrond m s" tantially' 'parallel relation to the substantially circular arrangcinent concentric to the spreader," the fingers-cream pair Theing in substantially symmetrical relation toa lineraigliahofthe spreader passedtherehetjiveenf a crossheadmaving portions "extended betweenfingeifshf'each pair slidably mounted the-"spreader, slide block slidably mounted (in the row upwardly 'spaced' relationto the ib'wwehd thereo'ffapair of arms interconnecthis thecrofs'shad arid the slide'block in predeterm i lf'd spacd relatifili, a collar fiziedy mounted tithe i" ifitrmediate the Slide b10ck ah'd" tlie lowerend oftherod a compression spring'inountcirlcnmseribifig'relation on the' rod between the collar-a fid "the" slide block urgingthe' sli de hid- 1; u ai dly eh therod to draw the ctossheau into eriga eptwith the lower end of the rod,

said sli hatin ga detentreceptacle fgirined therein-arid r efsili'eritly releasable dtent mountedin the frame in'aposition engageable with the athtreeeptane at the lower limit or trav'el'kjf the rod adapted torestrain the slide block against up 'ard "overrient thereof with the rod 'uponupnlpt tli i af i .a met s ki g device h ving a a el n ed r d i l d b in ui thstops adjacent to the lower ends of the he ri m th lower i f i tive pairs ofelongated'sprlng fingers mounted on the rod and downwardly extended therefrom in substantially parallel; relation to the spreader ,in a substantially annular arrangement concentrio to the spreader, the fingers of each pair being in substantially symmetrical relation to a line radial of the spreader passed therebetween, alternately successive pairs of the fingers in the .annular arrangement defining article receiving compartments radially related to the spreader in a common plane normal to the spreader and intermediate pairs of fingers similarly defining article receiving compartments radially related to the spreader in a common plane vertically spaced from the plane of the firstsaid alternately successive pairs of fingers-a crosshead having stops ex- ;tended between the fingers of each pair in abut- ;ting relation with the lower end of the rod for reciprocal movement longitudinally of the spreader, the stops extended between the fingers of said alternately successive pairs thereof being in a common plane and the intermediate stops being in a, common plane elevationally spaced there- -from correspondingly to the elevational spacing of the planes of their respective pairs of fingers, a slide block slidably mounted on the rod in spaced relation to the lower end thereof, a pair of arms interconnectingthe crosshead and the slide block in predetermined spaced relation, a collar mounted on the rod intermediate the slide block and the lower end of the rod, a compression spring mounted in circumscribing relation on the rod between the collar and the slide block .urging the slide block upwardly on the rod to -draw-the crosshead into engagement with the lower end of the rod, said slide block having a detent receptacle formed therein, and a resilient .detent mounted in the frame in a position engageable with the detent receptacle at the lower {limit of travel of therodadapted releasably to v restrain the slide block against upward movement thereof with the rod,

10.--A packing device adapted automatically to place a plurality of articles in predetermined relation in-containers therefor comprising an elongated spreader having an enlarged end portion, a plurality of pairs of spaced elongated spring fingers arranged concentrically ofthe spreader in a substantially circular pattern, means for simultaneously reciprocating the spreader and fingers endwardly between predetermined loading and packing stations, stops mounted for reciprocal movement longitudinally between the fingers, resilient means urging the-stops toward theends ofthe fingers opposite tothe enlarged end of the spreader and means for restraining the stops against movement during initial return move- "ments of the spreader and the fingers from the packingstation to eject the articles from between the fingers and to thrust the same outwardly by movement of the spreader upwardly therebetween.

.11 An automatic olive packing device comprising an elongated rod, frame means mounting the'rod for reciprocal longitudinaltravel between predetermined limits a plurality: of pairs of spaced resilient fingersendwardlyi extended from V the rod concentrically in an 1 annunr arrangement, each pair of fingers being'adapted releasably to hold an olive therebetween in predetermined relation to olives held between other pairs of fingers, an ejectonhaving stops disposed between the fingers slidably mounted on the rod for .reciprocal movement: thereon between an extended position with the stops adjacent to the ends of the fingers anda retracted position with the stops adjacent to the end of the rod from which the fingers are extended, resilient means mounted on the rod in engagement with the ej ector urging the ejector into retracted position, said ejector being formed with a catch receptacle in a side thereof, and a resilient catch mounted in the frame means for engagement with the receptacle of the ejector to restrain the ejector against return movement thereof with the rod from the limit of travel in the directionof finger extension.

12. In an automatic packing device having a support frame, an elongated rod slidably mounted in a substantially erect position in the frame, driving means connected to the rod for vertical reciprocation thereof between predetermined upper and lower limits of travel, spring fingers mounted on the rod for unitary elevational movement therewith in an arrangement concentric to the rod and defining article receiving compartments therebetween radially related to the rod, a crosshead having portions extended between the fingers slidably mounted on the spreader, a slide block slidably mounted on the rod in spaced relation to the lower end thereof, arms interconnecting the crosshead and the slide block in pre determined spaced relation, a collar mounted on the rod intermediate the slide block and the lower end of the rod, a compression spring mounted in circumscribing relation on the rod between thecollar and the slide block urging the slide block upwardly on the rod, said slide block having a detent receptacle formed therein, and a resilient-detent mounted in the frame in a position engageable with the detent receptacle at the lower limit of travel of the rod.

13. In an automatic packing device having a support frame, an elongated rod slidablymounted in a substantially erect position in the frame,

driving means connected to the rod for vertical reciprocation thereof between predetermined upper and lower limits of travel, cooperative pairs of elongated spring fingers mounted on the rod and downwardly extended therefrom in a substantially circular arrangement concentric to the rod, the fingers of each pair being in substantiallysymmetrical relation to a line radial of the rod passed therebetween, a crosshead having portions extended between fingers of each pair slidably mounted on the spreader, a slide block slidably mounted on the rod in upwardly spaced relation to the lower end thereof, a pair of arms interconnecting the crosshead and the slide block in predeter- .minedspaced relation, a'collar fixedly mounted on the rod'intermediate the slide blockand the lower end of the rod, a compression spring mounted in circumscribing relation on the rod between the collar and the slideblock urging the slide blockupwardly on the rod to draw the crosshead into engagement with the lower end of the rod,

; said slide block having a detent receptacle formed therein, and a resiliently releasable detent mounted in the frame in a position engageable with ,the detent receptacle at the lower limit of travel of the rod adapted to restrain the slide block against upwardmovement thereof with the rod upon upward movement of the rod from the lower limit of travel thereof.

14. In an automatic packing device having a support frame, an elongated rod slidably mounted in a substantially erectposition inv the-frame having an enlarged lower end portion, driving means connectedto the rod for vertical reciprocati on; thereof between predetermined upper .Ian'd lower limits of travel, cooperative pairs of elon- 13 gated spring fingers mounted on the rod and downwardly extended therefrom in a substantially annular arrangement, the fingers of each pair being in substantially symmetrical relation to a line radial to the annular arrangement of the fingers, alternately successive pairs of the fingers in the annular arrangement defining article receiving compartments radially related to the annular arrangement in a common plane normal to the rod and intermediate pairs of fingers similarly defining article receiving compartments radially related to the annular arrangement in a common plane vertically spaced from the plane of the first said alternately successive pairs of fingers, a crosshead having stops extended between the fingers of each pair in abutting relation with the lower end of the rod for reciprocal movement longitudinally of the spreader, the stops extended between the fingers of said alternately successive pairs thereof being in a common plane and the intermediate stops being in a common plane elevationally spaced therefrom correspondingly to the elevational spacing of the planes of their respective pairs of fingers, a slide block slidably mounted on the rod in spaced relation to the lower end thereof, a pair of arms interconnecting the crosshead and the slide block 14 in predetermined spaced relation, a collar mounted on the rod intermediate the slide block and the lower end of the rod, a compression spring mounted in circumscribing relation on the rod between the collar and the slide block urging the slide block upwardly on the rod to draw the crosshead into engagement with the lower end of the rod, said slide block having a detent receptacle formed therein, and a resilient detent mounted in the frame in a position engageable with the detent receptacle at the lower limit of travel of the rod adapted releasably to restrain the slide block against upward movement thereof with the rod.

MARSHALL E. FRANCISCO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 496,734 Hall et al. May 2, 1893 944,393 Whitney Dec. 28, 1909 1,043,168 Stiles Nov. 5, 1912 1,246,487 Summers et al Nov. 13, 1917 1,759,185 Campbell May 20, 1930 2,049,298 Jung July 28, 1936 2,365,930 Bayhi et al Dec. 26, 1944

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