US2683959A - Carton feeding apparatus for article cartoning machines - Google Patents

Description

y 0, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS, Glam 5e C. Came/E, 852M420 0. 04m, low: E MlK/NJ & MAUE/C' 610mm.

ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 & MAUI/CE 600ml, INVENTORS.

BY v M ATTORNEYS- July 20, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 5, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 300 Gem 2 6. Cum 1'95 296 fiEk/V/MD Q .OAN5, 295 100/5 5 lV/L AfNJ F j INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

y 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY M ATTORNEYS.

y 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 270 W .l @i J 5 i I s U'JL L 270 Y a/ Q 32 25/ Gem m awn/e,

3 MAURICE 8. 0am; I NVENTORS.

BY g v m ATTORNEYS.

y 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 /50 6201 52 6. (um/g 224, 1a? Mue/ufifluuv, INVENTORS.

BY {Mnw ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1954 Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 62mm 6. Cum/1; 622mm 2 0AM;- 1 00/5 f W Kl/vJ 6c MAW/vi 5. 0am

I N VE N TOR-5.

ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 & Mme/c5 6 NM INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 20, 1954 CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Grover C. Currie, Bernard D. Dans, Louis F. Wilkens, and Maurice B. Dunn, Charlotte, N. C.

assignors to Dacam Corporation,

Charlotte:

N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application June 25, 1951, Serial No. 233,414

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for receiving bottled beverages, placing the same in a carton, sealing the carton and delivering the filled carton from the machine, and more especially to an improved apparatus for positively feeding the cartons into the machine so as to be accurately positioned for receiving the bottled beverages relative to other moving parts of the machine regardless of the speed of the machine.

The improved apparatus for feeding the cartons into the machine is particularly adapted for use with a machine of the type shown in the co-pending application of Grover C. Currie et al., Serial No. 788,fi02, filed November 28, 1947, and entitled Means for Placing Articles in Cartons, now Patent No. 2,603,924.

The machine embodied in said co-pending application is of a type to which filled bottles, cans or other containers are delivered from a bottling machine or the like and the machine will then position open-bottomed cartons at a predetermined point and means are provided for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other and then other means are provided for raising a group of bottles up into the carton. The cartons and bottles are then held in elevated position while the elevating means is moved away from the lower surface of the bottles. Then, the bottom flaps of the carton are moved to horizontal position against the bottoms of the bottles, in which position they are secured and the carton filled with bottles is delivered onto an endless conveyor for discharging the same from the machine.

Now, in the machine embodied in said co-pend- I ing application, the cartons have been stacked in a magazine from which the cartons were moved, one at a time, to a position immediately .above the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other, after which the lastnamed carton was rotated from a, horizontal to a vertical position and then permitted to move, by gravity, downwardly to a position between said means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other to receive the group of bottles raised into the carton. However, the means described for positioning the cartons one at a time between the means for opening the sides of the cartons apart from each other has necessarily limited the speed at which the machine could be operated due to the cartons usually being of a relatively light material and as a result of which the speed at which the carton is moved downwardly, by gravity, could not be controlled. Consequently, in the event of the speed of the machine being substantially increased, the carton would not be properly positioned between the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other in proper timed relation to the operation of the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a positive means for feeding the cartons to the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other and wherein said positive means operates in accurately timed relation to the various other moving parts of the machine to thus insure that each successive carton is properly positioned for reception of the bottles which are subsequently raised thereinto.

More sp c fi a y, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type de-v scribed comprising a hopper or magazine disposed above and to one side of the vertical plane of the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other and said hopper being adapted to contain a stack of superposed car tons therein and having means for directing the lowermost of the cartons in the hopper, one at a time, onto a carton positioning plate or platform which is pivotally mounted on the machine.

There is also an oscillatable carton edge gripping or grasping device which is disposed adjacent the edge of the platform remote from the magazine and which is in a normally open position as the carton is moved to the platform and means are provided to operate in timed relation to the various other moving parts of the machine which will cause the grasping or gripping device to clamp the corresponding edge of the carton and to simultaneously rotate the carton about the axis of the grasping device.

Moreover, at the time the carton is rotated, the platform is rotated automatically about its axis disposed to one side of the grasping device to thus permit the carton to be revolved from a.

horizontal to a vertical position. Upon the carton being revolved to a vertical position, the grasping device is then moved downwardly by a mechanical means and, upon moving downwardly to a predetermined position adjacent the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other, the grasping device then releases the carton and returns to its original position whereupon, said last-named means operates in the manner described in said Patent No. 2,603,924 to move the opposed sides of the carton apart from. each other for the reception of the bottles or other articles raised thereinto.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bottle cartoning machine showing the improved apparatus for positively feeding the cartons to the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking at the lefthand side of Figure 1 with many of the parts being omitted and other parts being shown in section for purposes of clarity;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view looking down at the top of Figure 1 but omitting many of the parts which are disposed at the lower portion of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the central left-hand portion of Figure 5 taken substantially along the line 44 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 1 with many of the parts being shown schematically and showing the grasping device in an intermediate position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the lower actuating means for the carton edge grasping device and is taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Figure 4;

Figure '7 is an enlarged elevation of the grasping device shown in the upper left-hand portion of Figure 5 but showing the grasping device in an elevated position;

Figure 8 is a top plan view with parts in section taken substantially along the line 88 in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view with parts broken away taken substantially along the line 98 in Figure 1 and showing a part of the means for opening and closing the jaws of the grasping device which is instrumental in moving the cartons downwardly to a position between the device for moving the sides of the carton apart from each other;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line Iii--19 in Figure 3;

Figure 11 is an isometric view looking substantially in the direction of the arrow I l in Figure 5 and showing the manner in which the hopper for the cartons is constructed;

Figure 12 is an isometric view of the grasping device showing the top thereof and the righthand end thereof as shown in Figure 8.

Inasmuch as those parts of the machine other than the improved apparatus for positively feeding the cartons to a predetermined position are substantially the same as those described in said Patent No. 2,603,924, only those parts of the machine which are particularly pertinent to the present invention will be described in detail.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral Hi broadly designates the frame of the machine which includes left-hand and righthand vertically disposed side frame members H and I2, respectively, which are shown as being of cast construction.

The front and rear portions of the upper ends of the side frame members I! and I? are bridged by respective horizontally disposed frame members l3 and It, the lower front portions thereof being bridged by a horizontally disposed frame member 15 There are also disposed between the side frame members I I and [2, intermediate transverse frame members l5, ll, 18 and [9, the frame members I5 to I51, inclusive, being substantially the same as those shown in said patent and being suitably secured to the side frame members H and [2 at opposed ends thereof.

It will be observed in Figures 1 and 2 that the side frame members H and 12 are suitably secured to the upper surface of a base member 25. These sicle frame members have Shearing blocks 26 suitably secured to the front surfaces thereof (Figure 1) in which a driven cam shaft 21 is 'rotatably mounted, this cam shaft 2'! may be driven in the manner shown in said patent.

In order to avoid confusion, many of the cams are omitted from the cam shaft 21' and only those which are pertinent to the present invention are shown mounted on the cam shaft 21. However, it is to be understood that the cams shown in said patent mounted on the cam shaft may also be included on the cam shaft 21 shown in Figures 1, 2 .and 5.

As is clearly described in said patent, the cartoning machine includes .an endless conveyor designated generally at C onto which filled bottles, cyiindrioally-shaped cans or other articles are delivered from a bottling or canning machine or the like. The endless conveyor C is mounted on a pair of sprocket wheels 30 which are fixedly mounted on a transverse shaft .3] rotatably mounted in bearing blocks or stands 32 which project outwardly and are suitably secured, as by screws 33, to the transverse frame member l5 (Figures 1 and 5) This shaft 3| may be driven in the mamier shown in said patent.

The filled bottles, cans or the like, which will hereinafter be referred to as articles, are moved along by the conveyor C and are subsequently positioned in side-by-side relation on a vertically movable platform or elevator 35 which is provided with means for raising the same, as .is clearly shown in said patent, and to thus position the group of articles carried thereby between the proximate faces of a pair of transversely spaced grasping devices or units 36 and 31 which are provided with suitable suction means on the proximate faces thereof for moving the opposed sides of a carton C-l apart from each other after the carton (3-! has been positioned therebetween, in a manner to be later described, and before the elevator 35 has moved upwardly to position the group of articles between the grasping devices 36 and 31', with the result that the articles are then moved upwardly into the carton supported by the grasping devices 36 and 31.

The carton C-l may be of the type shown in .the co-pending application of Grover C. Currie et al., Serial No. 788,603, filed November 28, 1947, now U. S. Patent No. 2,556,069, and entitled Bottle Carton.

After the articles are positioned between the opposed sides of the carton C-l, the grasping devices 36 and 31 move inwardly to urge the opposed sides of the carton inwardly against the articles disposed therebetween and to thus clampingly support the articles and the carton C-l while a pair of folding members 40 and M are moved inwardly beneath the articles in the carton by conventional means, not shown, and, in so doing, these folding members 40' and 4| engage and fold the bottom flaps of the carton C-I beneath the articles disposed between the sides of the carton C-I.

Now, since at least one of the flaps on the lower portion of the carton C-l is provided with an adhesive, upon the folding members 40 and 4| moving into position beneath the articles in the carton C-I, the bottom flaps of the carton are caused to adhere to one another.

The grasping devices 36 and 3'! move apart from each other slightly following the movement of the folding devices or members it and M to a position beneath the articles in the carton (3-! so as to permit the carton to be slid off of the folding members 49 and 4| by a plunger 42 which is operated by conventional means in timed relation to movement of the folding members 4G and 4| to a position beneath the articles in the carton C! and this plunger moves the filled carton 0-! off of the folding members Ml and M onto a suitable conveyor or other means for discharging the filled carton from the machine. This plunger 42 is mounted for horizontal sliding movement in a guide member d3 which is suitably secured, as by screws M (Figure 4) to the transverse frame member 16.

After the filled carton C-l has been slid off of the folding members ill and M, the folding members and M move apart from each other to their original position to complete a cycle in the machine as originally designed. It is in association with a machine of the type heretofore described that the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated.

The hopper, which is broadly designated at 50, may be identical to the hopper shown in said Patent No. 2,603,924 or as shown in the present drawings. This hopper comprises a front wall including a pair of vertically disposed and laterally spaced bars 5! which are suitably secured, as by screws 52 (Figure 5) to a transverse bar 53. The hopper 5% also comprises a rear wall including a pair of vertically disposed and laterally spaced bars 55 which are suitably secured intermediate their ends, as by screws 5 to another transverse bar 5?. Opposed ends of the transverse bars 53 and 51 are suitably secured, as by respective bolts 50 and 6! to the upper surfaces of respective portions 62 and 63 which are integral parts of laterally spaced brackets designated broadly at 65 (Figure 3).

It is most clearly shown in Figure 11 that the portion 62 of each of the brackets 55 is in the shape of a letter T and the portion 63 of each of the brackets '65 extend rearwardly from the lower end of the shank of the T-shaped portion 82 and then upwardly at an angle and again rearwardly and has a longitudinally extending slot 68 therein which is penetrated by the corresponding bolt 6! to thus permit the bar 5! and the corresponding vertically disposed bars 55 to be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly for varying the displacement between the bars 55 and the bars 5i according to the size of the cartons adapted to be stacked in the hopper 50. The laterally spaced brackets 55 are suitably secured, as by bolts El (Figure 11) to the upper surface of the transverse frame member !4 heretofore described.

This transverse frame member i4 also supports a bottom plate 153 which serves as the bottom to the hopper 5d and on which the lowermost of the cartons in the hopper 5B is adapted to rest. Side walls l2 and 12 of the hopper 59 are shown in the form of vertically disposed laterally spaced plates and the medial portions of these side wall plates '52 and '52 are suitably secured, as by welding (Figures 3 and 11), to the proximate ends of substantially L-shaped brackets i3 and 13.

The horizontal legs of the brackets 73 and '53 are slotted, as at M and 14 and these slots are penetrated by respective screws 15 and l5 for securing the respective brackets 13 and 13' to the upper surfaces of the T-shaped portions 62 of the corresponding brackets 65.

It is thus seen that the side wall plates 12 and i2 may be adjusted relative to each other and that the bar 51, to which the vertically disposed bars 55 are secured, may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to thus accommodate cartons of various sizes.

The bottom plate 10 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced slots 11 and ll" in which corresponding carton ejecting blocks BI] and have freedom of movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine. The blocks 80 and 80' have respective pusher plates or bars 8! and 8| suitably secured thereto, as by screws 18. The leading edges of the pusher bars BI and 8 l project upwardly from the corresponding blocks 80 and 8i! and their leading edges are also spaced rearwardly of the tapering leading edges of the corresponding blocks 80 and 80 (Figure 5).

The blocks 80 and 80 are suitably secured, as by welding, to the opposed ends of a laterally extending support bar 82 which is suitably secured, as by screws 83 (Figure 3), only one of which is shown, to the upper surface of a carrier block 84 which is shown as being dovetailed for forward and rearward sliding movement on a dovetailed guide bar 85. The guide bar 85 is suitably secured, as by screws 86, to the lower surface of the transverse frame member 14 heretofore described.

Gne end of a link is pivotally connected, as at St (Figures 5 and 11) to one side of the carrier block 8d. This link 9% extends forwardly and is pivotally connected, as at 92, to one end of crank arm 93 which is fixedly mounted on a transverse shaft 94. The transverse shaft 94 extends substantially half the distance between the frame members I I and I2 and is supported at one end thereof in the frame member H and. its medial portion is oscillatably mounted in a bracket 95 depending from and being suitably secured to the lower surface of the transverse 3 frame member I4.

The crank arm 33 has a slot 96 therein in which a pin 9'? has longitudinal sliding movement. The pin 91 is fixedly secured in one end of a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod or link if!!! which is pivotally connected, as at 18!, to an tegral with the bracket 35 heretofore described.

As is most clearly shown in Figures 5 and 11, the

sleeve I93 has a plate Hi6 suitably secured there-- to, as by screws lei, only one of which is shown in Figure 5 and these screws Hi7 penetrate suitable tab portions integral with the plate I05. This plate I06 has a pair of carton positioning arms H0 suitably secured thereto and normally projecting upwardly therefrom as shown in Figure 5. These arms iii) are secured to the plate 296 by any suitable means such as screws Hi. The bottom plate Til is provided with suitable longitudinally extending slots I I2 at the front edge thereof (Figure 3) which are loosely penetrated by the arms HQ. The function of these carton positioning arms Hi1 will be later described.

Now, referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the shaft 95 extends outwardly beyond the side frame member 5 l and has a crank arm I I3 fixedly mounted thereon to the free end of which.

link :I'M extends downwardly and is .pivotally connected, as at I it, adjacent one end of a lever arm Ill. The lever arm H1 is oscillatably mounted on the side frame member I I, as at I29, and has a cam follower I2I on the end thereof remote from the send adjacent which the link H4 is pivctally connected. This cam follower I2I is normally urged into engagement with the peripheral surface of an irregularly shaped cam wheel I22 by a tension spring I23 which is connected at its lower end ;to the rear free end of the lever arm H I and which is suitably connected at its other end, as at I24, to the side frame member I1 at a point spaced substantially above the lever arm ll 5.

It is thus that the cam I22, which is fixedly mounted on the driven cam shaft 2?, will cause oscillation to be imparted to the shaft 94 in accordance with the configuration of the cam wheel E22. Thus, as the shaft 34 is caused to move in a counterclockwise direction in Figures and 11, the crank arm 93 will also move in a like direction ther by moving the carrier block 84 and the corresponding blocks .8!) and 85" as well as the pusher plates SI and 5t from right to left in Figures .5 and 11. The height of the free front end of the pusher plates BI and BI is such that they will engage only the lowermost car-ton disposed in the hopper 5t and will thus slide the same along the upper surface of the bottom plate 70, this plate extending substantially beyond the bars 5| which define the front wall of the hopper 59.

It will be observed in Figure 5 that the lower ends of these bars 5i are spaced slightly from the upper surface of the bottom plate 73 to thus provide space therebetween for passage of the low-- ermost carton in the hopper 55 therebetween. As the carton is slid along the plate l6, it moves into engagement with and between a pair of upper traction wheels E and a pair of lower traction wheels I26, only one of the lower traction wheels being shown in Figure 5.

The lower traction wheels H25 are fixedly mounted on a transverse shaft I21 which is rotatably mounted in the side frame members II and I 2 andwhich is driven by conventional means substantially as shown in said Patent No. 2,603,924. Therefore, a detailed illustration and description of the manner in which the shaft I2? is driven is deemed unnecessary.

The upper traction wheels I25 are fixedly mounted on a transverse shaft I35 which is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks ISI (Figure 10) disposed inwardly of and adjacent the opposed side frame members I; and I2. Each of the bearing blocks l3I is oscillatably mounted intermediate its front and rear ends, as at I32, in an upwardly extending portion 533 of a bracket I34.

The upper traction wheels I 25 may be driven in any desired manner, such as by frictional contact with the lower traction wheels 25 or by means of the carton passing between the upper and lower traction wheels. The upper traction wheels 125 are normally urged downwardly in Figures 5 and 10 by a compression sprin I31 associated with each of the brackets I33, and it will be observed in Figure 10 that the upper end of the compression spring I31 bears against the medial portion of the corresponding bearing block I3! and the lower end thereof bears against the bracket I35, the brackets I3 l being provided with suitable cavities Ii'ia for reception of the lower 8 ends of the corresponding compression springs I31.

The bearing blocks I3I as well as the brackets I35 extend rearwardly beyond the compression springs I3? and the brackets I34 are threadably penetrated by respective adjustment screws I38, the upper ends of which bear against the lower surfaces of the bearing blocks I3I. These adjustment screws I38 are held in proper adjusted position by lock nuts I39.

It is thus seen that the compression spring I 3'! associated with each of the bearing blocks I3I normally urges the shaft I35 downwardly and the adjustment screws 38 prevent the rolls I25 and I26 from being moved apart from each other beyond a predetermined point.

It will be observed in Figure 5 that the upper surfaces or" the bottom traction rolls I26 are disposed at a slightly higher elevation than the upper surface of the bottom plate 10 of the hopper 55 and it is evident that the plate W is provided with suitable openings through which the traction rolls I25 project. If so desired, there may be a suitable means provided for applying an adhesive material to one or more of the flaps of the open ended cartons adapted to be used with this machine. However, since this adhesive applying means is not a necessary part of the present invention, a detailed illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary. It might be stated, however, that the adhesive applying means may be identical to that shown in said patent.

The length of stroke of the pusher plates or bars 8! and SI (Figures 3 and 5) is such that the lowermost carton disposed in the hopper 50 will be moved forwardly to be engaged by the upper and lower sets of traction wheels or rollers E25 and IE5. The pusher plates SI and BI will then return to the position shown in Figures 3 and 5 while the traction wheels I25 and I26 will cause the corresponding carton to be moved forwardly beyond the front edge of the bottom plate it of the hopper 50 and onto a carton positioning plate which normally rests in a horizontal position substantially as shown in Figure 3.

The carton positioning plate I35 is provided with a notch I35 at its front edge and the front edge of the plate I35 is rcenforced by a pair of stop blocks or bars I350, which are suitably secured to the upper surface of the plate I35. The plate I35 is provided with transversely extending adjustment slots I45 which are penetrated by bolts I ZI for securing a side guide member or bar I42 to the upper surface of the carton positioning plate I35 when the plate is in a horizontal or raised position.

In order to insure that the carton which is thrown forwardly by the upper and lower traction wheels I25 and I26 will remain in engagement with the upper surface of the carton positioning plate I35, there are spaced slightly above the plate I35 a pair of transversely spaced carton hold-down bars I43 which are turned upwardly at their rear ends to insure that the carton will pass therebeneath as it is thrown forwardly by the traction wheels I25 and I25. Each of these bars I43 is also bent upwardly at an angle at the front end thereof and is then bent again in a vertical manner and is suitably secured, as by a screw I45, to the rear surface of the transverse frame member I3i One of the bars I43 is disposed substantially midway of the plate I35 when said plate I35 is in elevated position and the other of the bars I43 is disposed adjacent the free end of the plate I35 and has an angle bar I46 suitably secured thereto, as by welding, the horizontal flange of which serves to support the corresponding edge of the carton as the carton is thrown onto the plate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26.

It is thus seen that as the carton is thrown onto the carton positioning plate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26, the guide bar I42 serves to insure that the opposite edge of the carton, that is, the edge thereof having the flaps thereon, is positioned tightly against the vertical leg of the angle bar I45. Moreover, the bars I35a prevent the carton from being moved beyond a predetermined point as it is thrown onto the plate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26.

As the carton is positioned on the carton positioning plate I35, the leading edge of this car ton is moved between the proximate surfaces of the jaws of a grasping device broadly designated at I56 and which will be later described in detail.

The plate I35 is suitably secured at one end thereof, as by screws II, to the lower surface of a block I52 which is fixedly mounted on one end of a horizontally disposed stub shaft I53. The shaft I53 is oscillatably mounted in abearing block I55 which is suitably secured, as by screws I56, to the lower surface of the transverse frame member I3. The stub shaft I53 also has a pinion I51 fixedly mounted thereon (Figures '1, 3 and 9), the hub of which is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed radially extending arms I56, one of which is adapted to engage the lower surface of a stop screw I6I when the pinion I51 and the shaft I53 are urged in a counter-clock- Wise direction in Figure 1 by means to be presently described. This will insure that the upper surface of the carton positioning plate 535 will be positioned in substantial alinement with the horizontal leg of the angle bar I46 as the carton is thrown onto the plate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26 (Figure 5).

The pinion I51 is engaged by a segmental gear I65 integral with a lever arm I66 which lever arm is oscillatably mounted, as at I61, on the side frame member II. This lever arm I66 extends outwardly beyond the pivot point I61 and is pivotally connected, as at I16 to a cult member I'EI which is slidably penetrated by a vertically disposed rod I12. The upper end of the rod I12 has a pair of lock nuts I13 threadably mounted thereon and the lower end thereof threadably penetrates the upper end of a connecting rod I14 (Figures 1 and 2). The rod I12 also has a pair of lock nuts I15 threadably mounted on a medial portion thereof, these look nuts I15 being spaced from the lower surface of the cuff member HI and there being a suitable compression spring I16 surrounding the rod I12. The upper end of the compression spring I16 bears against the upper surface of the uppermost of the lock nuts I 15.

The connecting rod I 14 extends downwardly and is secured in the upper end of a yoke mem-' ber I11 which straddles the driven cam shaft 21 and is mounted for sliding movement thereon. The medial portion of the yoke member I11 has a cam follower I86 thereon which is urged downwardly against the upper peripheral surface of a cam wheel I8I fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 21. The cam follower I86 is urged against the cam wheel IBI by a tension spring I82, the upper end of which is suitably secured, as at I83, to the upper end of the connecting rod I14 and 10 the lower end of which is suitably secured, as at I84, to the side frame member II.

It is thus seen that the cam wheel I8I will cause the lever arm I56 to oscillate and upon the lever arm I66 being moved in a clockwise direction in Figure 1, the corresponding arm I56 on the hub of the pinion I51 will engage the lower surface of the adjustment screw NH and this will prevent further clockwise movement of the lever arm I66. However, the rod I14 will be permitted to continue its upper movement until the cam follower I86 has been elevated by the highest point on the cam IM and since the lever arm I55 will remain stationary for a part of this upward movement of the rod I16, the compression spring I16 will permit the rod I12 to move upwardly in the cuff member I1I thus overriding the lever arm I56. This insures that the upper surface of the carton positioning plate I35 may be accurately positioned in alinement with the upper surface of the horizontal leg of the angle bar I55 in Figure 1.

It is evident that, upon the lowermost point on the cam I8I moving into engagement with the cam follower I86, the lever arm I will be caused to move in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig ure 1 to a substantially vertical position thus moving the plate I35 away from the lower surface of the corresponding carton previously positioned thereon since this carton will then be supported by the grasping device I56 and the angle bar I45.

Carton edge grasping or clamping device Now, as heretofore stated, as the carton is thrown forwardly onto the carton positioning plate I35, the front edge of the carton is positioned between the opened jaws of the carton edge grasping device I56. The lower stationary jaw of the grasping device, to be presently described, being positioned in the opening I35 provided in the front edge of the carton positioning plate I35. At this time, the carton edge grasping device I56 is disposed in substantially the position shown in Figure 7.

The carton edge grasping device I56 comprises a stationary jaw I96 which is suitably secured to the upper surface of a rearwardly extending substantially flat portion Hit of a cast bracket I92. It will be noted that the stationary jaw I65 is positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane as the carton positioning plate I35 when the carton edge grasping device I56 is in a raised position and this jaw I56 is then positioned in the notch I36 and extends in a horizontal plane.

The bracket I52 also has a downwardly extending flange portion or car I62a integral therewith and an enlarged front end portion I63 integral therewith. This enlarged front end portion I93 is fixedly mounted on the rear end of a stub shaft 1% to which the bracket 592 is suitably secured, as by a dowel pin E65. This stub shaft :95 is oscillatably mounted in a vertically movable grasping device carrier block broadly designated at I95 and which is mounted for vertical sliding movement on a vertically disposed dovetailed guide bar I61 (Figures 5 and 8).

It will be noted in Figure 8 that the grasping device carrier block I95 is provided with a gib 266 which engages the front surface of the dovetailed guide bar I61 and, in this instance, the gib 266 has an upwardly extending portion 26I integral therewith (Figures 2, 6 and 7) from which a spring anchor pin 262 extends. This spring anchor pin 262 has the upper end of a tension spring 263 connected thereto. The tension spring 263 extends 11 downwardly and is connected to another spring anchor pin 264 which penetrates and is fixedly mounted in an arm 205 and on the outer end of which a follower roller 286 is rotatably mounted.

The arm 205 has an eccentrically located boss portion 291 integral therewith which is fixedly mounted on the outer or front end of the stub shaft I94, heretofore described, and which is secured thereon by any suitable means such as a set screw 2 III. The proximate ends of the boss portion Zill and the enlarged portion I93 of the respective arm 265 and the bracket I92 slidably and rotatably engage the front and rear surfaces of the grasping device carrier block I95 thus preventing endwise movement of the shaft i534 therein.

Referring again to the stationary jaw bracket 92, it will be observed in Figures. '7 and 8. that the boss portion I93 thereof is straddled by forwardly extending portions 2I2 of an upper or movable jaw support bracket broadly designated at 2 I3. These portions 2I2 are oscillatably mounted on a hinge pin or rod 2 I 4- which is fixedly mounted in the enlarged or boss portion. I83 of the bracket I92. The movable jaw support bracket 2i 3 extends rearwardly and has an upper or movable jaw which is shown in the form of a bar 2I5, suitably securedthereto, as by set screws 2 I 6, and corresponding lock nuts 2 I I.

It will be observed. in Figure '7 that the lower ends of the set screws. 2 I 6 extend slightly beyond the corresponding surface of the movable jaw 2I5 so the lower ends of these screws 2E6 preferably engage the upper surface. of the lower jaw Isl rather than the lower surface of the jaw 2I5 engaging the jaw I90 whenthe jaws are in closed position. Thus, when the. jaws are in closed position and there is a carton disposed therebetween, the ends of the screws 2I6 will engage the corresponding portion of the carton at spaced points thus insuring. the carton will be tightly clamped by the grasping device Ifl..

In order to insure that the carton is properly introduced to the jaws 2I5 and let, of the grasping, device the lower jaw I99 extends rearwardly slightly beyond the vertical. plane of the upper jaw 215 when the jaws I99 and 225 are in the horizontal position shown in Figure '7. Moreover, the leading upper edge of the lower jaw I9!) is beveled,,as at. 220, to further insure that the leading edge of the carton directedthereto will ride up this beveled surface 221! and will thus be positioned properly betweenthe upper and lower jaws 2 I 5 and I 30, respectively.

The upper or movable jaw 2 I 5 is normally urged downwardly or toward the stationary jaw I90 by a tension spring 22!, the upper end of which is connected to a spring anchor 222 extending from an upwardly projecting portion 223 integral with the movable jaw support 2 I3.. The movable jaw support 2 I 3 is provided with an opening 224 therethrough and the jaw I93 as well as the support bracket I92 therefor are also provided with coinciding openings, 225. therethrough. The tension spring 22I extends downwardly from the spring anchor 222 in Figure '7 and through the openings 224- and 225 and the lower end thereof is. connected'to a suitable spring anchor 22E projecting from the, downwardly extending flange portion I 92aof the stationary jaw support bracket I92.

The flange portion I92a.of the bracket I92 has a pin 222 projecting therefrom on which the lower end of a toggle link 238 is pivotally mounted. Thistoggle link fill-extends upwardly or towards the movable jaw support bracket 253 and ispiw otally connected as at 23I to the proximate end of a second toggle link 232. The end'of the toggle link 232 remote from thel ink 230 is pivotally connected, as at 233, to the upper or movable jaw support bracket 2I3. It will be observed in Fig.- ure 8 that the pivotal connection between the toggle links 236 and 232 has a. roller 234 rotatably mounted thereon which is adapted to be engaged, by means to be presently described, for moving the proximate ends of the toggle links 238. and 232 in one direction or the other beyond. deadcenter.

It will be observed in Figure '7 that the roller 23.4 is shown positioned beyond dead-center relative to the free ends of the stationary and movable jaws 93 and 2I3 and the tension spring 22I tends to urge the proximate ends of the tog le links 23s and 23.2 forwardly to where at least one of the toggle links will engage astop pin 235 projecting from the. bracket I92 This causes. the jaws 598- and 2I5 to remain in a substantially opened position,v that is, to remain spaced apart from each other so as to. permit the correspondingedge of a cartonto be positioned therebetween in the manner heretofore described.

It is evident that, upon the proximate ends of the toggle links 230 and 232 being. moved from left to. right. in Figure 7 beyond dead-center, the movable jaw 2I5. will. be caused to. move to. closed position by virtue of the. tension spring 22I.

Now, as the. carton C-I is positioned on the carton positioning plate I35.-in themanner heretofore described, the leading edge of. the carton is positioned. between the movable andstationary jaws 2I5; and I90, respectively, whereupon the roller 234 is engaged by thelower portion. of a first jaw actuating. arm 240 which is. fixedly mounted on one end of atransverse shaft 24in. This shaft MI is rotated. a partial revolution in a counterclockwise direction. in Figure '7; by means to be presently described, and causes the first jaw actuating. arm. 240 to move in. a like manner. Thus, the. arm 240 engages the. roller 234 and movesthe proximate endsv of the. toggle links 230' and 232 rearwardly beyond dead-center whereupon the upper or movable jaw 2I-5 will move-to closed position by the spring. MI in order to clamp. the corresponding edge of the carton. previously positioned between the jaws I and 2'I5.

The stub. shaft MI is oscillatably mounted in a bearing block' or bracket 243 which is secured to the lower surface of' the transverse frame member l3, by any suitable means such as bolts 244. This bearing block or bracket 243 also extends. forwardly and the upper end of the vertically disposed dovetailed guide member I97 is suitably secured to the front end of the bracket 243 as. by a screw 245 (Figure 3-).

Referring to Figure 9,.itwill. beobserved that the end of the stub shaft. 24I. remote. from the.

end on which the arm 240 is fixedly mounted.

The. bearing blocks 253' The shaft 252 extends outwardly and also has another eccentric arm 255 fixedly mounted thereon to the free end of which the upper end of a longitudinally adjustable link or connecting rod 256 is pivotally connected, as at 25'! (Figure 9). It will be observed in Figure that the lower end of the connecting rod or link 25% is pivotally connected, as at 252, to the free end of one arm of a bell crank 253 which is oscillatably mounted on a stub shaft 294 projecting from and being suitably secured to the side frame member II. The arm of the bell crank 263 remote from the arm to which the connecting rod 251 is pivotally connected has a cam follower 265 projecting laterally therefrom which engages the periphery of a cam wheel broadly designated at 265 which is provided with diametrically opposed raised portions 251 integral therewith. This cam wheel 295 is fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 2! heretofore described.

The end of the shaft 252 remote from the end on which the eccentric arm 295 is fixedly mounted has a substantially inverted L-shaped second jaw actuating member 219 (Figures d, 5, 6 and 9) fixedly mounted thereon which extends upwardly therefrom and the upper end of which is adapted to be disposed in the path of the roll er 234 at the juncture of the toggle links 239 and 232 (Figure '7) when the grasping unit is moved to a lowered position which is substantially lower than the position shown in Figure The manner in which the carton edge grasping device I59 is raised and lowered will be presently described.

As heretofore described, the grasping device carrier block I95 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on the vertically disposed dovetailed guide member I91, the upper end of the dovetailed guide member I91 being supported by the bracket 243. The lower end of this dovetailed guide bracket is supported by a bracket 215 which is shown in the form of a vertically disposed angle bar and which is suitably secured to the front face of the transverse frame member I6 by any suitable means such as screws 275 (Figure 1).

The angle bar 215 extends substantially above the transverse frame member III and is penetrated by a screw 21'! which slidably penetrates a spacing member or sleeve 218 and is threadably embedded in the lower portion of the vertically disposed dovetailed guide member I97 (Figure 1). This dovetailed guide member I9! is also provided with a projection 28I at the lower end thereof (Figures 4 and 5) which is threadably penetrated by a stop screw 282 held in adjusted position by a suitable lock nut 293. This stop screw 282 is provided so as to be engaged by the lower surface of the grasping device carrier block I96 when this carrier block I95 has been moved to its lowermost position by means to be presently described.

It will be observed in Figures 5 and 7 that the lower portion of the grasping device carrier bracket I95 is provided with a slot 285, the side walls of which are disposed astride the projection 23I when the bracket I96 is disposed in its lowermost position. Referring to Figure 1, it is evident that the tension spring 293 (Figure 7) normally urges the shaft I94 in a clockwise direction. However, when the grasping device carrier block I96 is in its fully raised position, the follower wheel or roller 296 engages the lower surface of a laterally projecting cam portion 28'! (Figures '7, 8 and 9) of a substantially L-shaped bracket 290 which extends rearwardly and is suitably secured, as by welding, to a bar 29! which is adjustably secured, as by screws 292, to the outer surface of the dovetailed guide member I91.

The bar 29I is provided with elongated slots 293 (Figure 9) which are slidably penetrated by the screws 292 thus facilitating adjustment of the bar 29! and the corresponding L-shaped bracket 292 relative to the dovetailed guide bar I91.

It is evident that this means of adjusting the L-shaped bracket 299 is necessary to insure that the jaws I99 and 2l5 of the carton edge grasping device may be disposed in a horizontal plane or in parallel relation to the carton positioning plate I35 when the grasping device carrier block I96 is in the elevated position shown in Figure 7.

Since the roller 299 (Figure '7) engages the lower surface of the laterally projecting cam portion 287 of the L-shaped bracket 299 as the block I98 is moved upwardly to fully raised position, this will cause the shaft I94 along with the jaws I99 and 2I5 of the carton edge grasping device to rotate substantially a quarter revolution in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 1 to thus cause the lower or stationary jaw I99 to be disposed at substantially the same level as that of the upper surface of the carton positioning plate I35.

Now, as the grasping device carrier block I96 is subsequently moved downwardly, it is evident the tensien spring 293 will cause the arm 295 along with the grasping device I59, including the bracket I92, to rotate in a clockwise direction in Figure 1. This rotation of the arm 265 is limited to substantially a quarter revolution because the free end of the arm 2&5 engages an adjustment screw 295 (Figures 5 and 7) which threadably penetrates an outwardly projecting arm 296 integral with the grasping device carrier block I96. This adjustment screw 295 is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 29?.

It is thus seen that, immediately upon the grasping device carrier block I93 moving downwardly, the corresponding grasping device I59 along with the carton carried thereby will be rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position. Thus, the carton C-I, which is usually made from a flexible material, such as cardboard, when rotated about the axis of the bracket I 32, will cause the lower or right-hand end of the carton to be biased slightly so as to move away from above the horizontal leg of the angle bar Hit in Figure l and to thus permit the carton to be moved from a horizontal to a vertical position.

As the grasping device carrier block I96 continues to move downwardly, the movable jaw sup-,

port member 253 is disposed in a vertical posi tion as shown in Figure 5 and, therefore, the roller 234 at the juncture of the toggle links 239 and 232 will be disposed below the corresponding grasping device and, upon the roller 234 moving into the horizontal plane of the second jaw actuating arm 216, one or the other of the raised portions 29'! on the cam wheel 269 (Figure 5) engages the cam follower 265 causing the bell crank 263 to move a partial revolution in a counterclockwise direction. This will cause the connecting rod 256 to move downwardly and, in so doing, will cause the shaft 252 to move in a, clockwise direction in Figure 9 or a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 5. This moves the upper end of the secondjaw actuating arm 219 forwardly l5 whereupon this arm 2 70 engages the roller 234 and causes the toggle links 23% and 232 to move forwardly or to substantially the position shown in Figure '7.

This will cause the movable jaw 2I5 to move away from the stationary jaw I30 to thus release the carton from the grasping device I50. The means for moving opposed sides of the: carton apart. from each other, which means is represented by the grasping devices 36 and 31 in Fig.- ures 5 and 4 will then move inwardly to engage the outer: surfaces of the flaps of the carton to thus move the flaps of the carton apart from each other in the. manner described in said Patent No. 2,603,924. The carton edge grasping device I53 will then immediately be. elevated again to the position substantially as shown in Figures. 7 and 9 and, at the same time, the jaws will be moved to the horizontal position shown in Figures '1' and. 9 because of the roller 28S again moving into engagement with the laterally extending portion 281 of the L-shaped bracket-290.

It will be noted that both the first and the second jawactuating members 243 and 270 are D- erated simultaneously although only one of these arms is effective at one time since the arm which is efiective will depend upon whether the grasping device I55 is in an elevated or lowered position.

Therefore, it is evident that one or the other of the raised portions 261 on the cam wheel 2-66 (Figure moves into engagement with the cam follower 265 immediately before the bracket L52 assumes a fully raised. position and as this same raised portion 231 on the cam wheel 2E6 moves out of engagement with the cam follower 2E5, the arm 24!! will move rearwardly or in a counterclockwise direction in Figure '7 to thus again permit the tension spring 22I to move the movable jaw 2 I5 to closed position. The length of arc of the raised portion on the cam wheel 266 is such that the carton from the hopper 50 will have had ample time to be admitted to the jaws I99 and 2I5 of the grasping device 53 before the.

in Figures 1, 2, 5 and '7 and is pivotally connected, as at 352, to the lower end of the substantially vertical leg of a substantially L shaped carrier block positioning arm 333.

This arm 333 is shown as being L-shaped but it is evident that this arm 303 may extend outwardly and the link 360 could be relatively longer than. is shown in the drawings and thus connected to the free end of the arm 333. The. arm 303- extends rearwardly and is fixedly mounted on a, shaft 305 which is rotatably mounted in laterally spaced bearing blocks 326 (Figure 3) suitably secured, as by screws 331 (Figure 5), to the transverse bar 53 to which the bars EI forming the front wall of the hopper 56 are secured.

The shaft 335 extends outwardly beyond the outermost of the bearing blocks 36% and has one end of an arm 3 I ll fixedly mounted thereon. This arm 3 I 0 extends forwardly and has the upper end of a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod or link 3II pivotally connected thereto, as at 2 (Figure 5). It will be observed in Figure 5 that the lower end of this connecting rod 3 I I- is pivotally connected, as at 313, to one arm of a bell crank 3M, the other arm of which has a cam follower 3I 5 projecting therefrom. This cam follower 3 I5 is normally urged into engagement with a cam wheel 3H5 by a tension spring 3I'I' (Figure 2), the upper end of which is suitably connected to the free end of the arm 3H) and the lower end of which is suitably connected to the side frame member II. The cam wheel 3I6 is fixedly mounted on the driven cam shaft 2! heretofore described.

It is thus seen that. upon the low point of the cam 3H5 moving into engagement with the cam follower 3i the bell crank 3 I 4 is urged in a clockwise direction, in Figure 5, by the tension. spring 31?. This will, in turn, cause the grasping device carrier block let to move downwardly until it engages the upper surface of the stop screw 282 in Figure 5. Now, the spring 3|! will urge the block I36 into engagement with the upper surface of the stop screw 283 although the low point of the cam 3i6 may normally permit the cam follower 315 to move further in a clockwise direction in Figure 5.

This will insure that the carton C-I is accurately positioned so that, when the side flaps of the carton are moved apart from each other by the grasping devices 36 and 37, this carton will be properly positioned for reception of the articles admitted thereto by the elevating means heretofore described. It is evident that upon the higher portion of the cam wheel 3 I 5 moving into engagement with the cam follower 3I3, the free end of the arm 3H] will be moved upwardly in Figure 5, in the opposite direction from that in which it is biased by the tension spring 31 "I, to thus move the grasping device carrier block I96 from lowered to raised position.

It is evident that vertical movement of the grasping device carrier block I96 and rotation of the carton positioning plate I35 is such that the free end of the carton positioning plate I35 will move downwardly to a vertical position as the grasping device carrier block I96 is moved downwardly to substantially the position shown in Figure 1 thus insuring that the plate I35 will clear the carton C-I as the carton is rotated about the axis of the shaft I94.

It is thus seen that we have provided an improved means for successively positively feeding the empty cartons from the hopper to a position between the grasping devices 36 and 37 and wherein the cartons are moved, one at a time, from the hopper, with the cartons positioned in a horizontal plane, to a position above the means for moving the opposed sides of the carton apart from each other and then the particular carton positioned above the means for moving both sides thereof apart from each other is rotated about an axis midway of the carton and then moved forceably downward to an accurately predetermined position whereupon the means for moving the carton downwardly releases the carton and returns to its original position for reception of another carton as the opposed sides of the previous carton are moved apart from each other for reception of the articles.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles, such as bottles and the like, in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposed sides of a normally flat carton apart from each other and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of the means for moving opposed sides of the carton apart from each other, said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at a time above the means for moving opposed sides of the carton apart from each other, means for gripping the edge of the carton and rotating the carton so positioned about an axis transverse of the carton and intermediate the upper and lower ends of said carton to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to a vertical position, and mechanically operable means for moving the carton downwardly a predetermined distance for positioning said carton between the means for moving opposed sides of the carton apart from each other.

2. An improvement in a machine for placing articles in cartons, said carton being 01' a type having side flaps normally positioned in juxtap-osed relation to each other, said machine having a hopper in which the cartons are adapted to be stacked in a horizontal position and said ma chine also having a means spaced below and to one side of the vertical plane of said hopper for moving the flaps on opposed sides of a carton po-- sitioned therebetween apart from each other, said improvement comprising positive means for transferring the cartons from the hopper, one at a time, to a position between the means for moving opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other comprising a carton positioning plate normally disposed in a horizontal position adjacent the hopper and spaced above the means for moving opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each. other, means operable automatically for moving the lowermost carton in the hopper onto said carton positioning plate, a vertically movable and horizontally rotatable carton edge grasping means disposed adjacent the edge of said carton. positioning plate remote from the edge adjacent which the hopper is disposed, means on the grasping device for grasping the corresponding edge of the carton as it is admitted to the carton positioning plate, means operable auto matically upon the carton being positioned on said carton positioning plate for actuating the grasping means for grasping the corresponding edge of said carton, means operable automatically upon said grasping device being actuated for simultaneously moving the carton positioning plate ill from the lower surface of the carton previously positioned thereon and for rotating the carton edge grasping device substantially a quarter revolution for moving a corresponding carton from a horizontal to a vertical position, means operable automatically as the carton is being moved from a horizontal to a vertical position for moving the carton edge grasping device downwardly a predetermined distance to thereby position the carton carried thereby between the means for moving the side flaps of the carton apart from each other, and means operable automatically upon d carton edge grasping device moving said "ed erinined distance for releasing the carton he carton edge grasping device whereby the for moving the side flaps of the carton from each other may perform the latter operation.

In a structure according to claim 2, said carton grasping device comprising a sta tionary jaw and a movable jaw cooperatively inter -:n.ected and extending in parallel relation to each other, the upper surface of at least one of said jaws normally extending in a horizontal plane in substantially the same horizontal plane as the carton positioning plate for reception of the corresponding edge of the carton as it is admitted to the carton positioning plate, means operable automatically upon said carton being positioned between the movable and stationary jaws of the carton grasping device for moving the movable jaw to a closed position and for clamping the corresponding edge of the carton between the movable and stationary jaws, means operable automatically upon said jaws being moved to closed position for rotating the jaws about a common axis for substantially a quarter revolution and simultaneously moving the carton positioning plate downwardly and out of the vertical plane or" the carton previously positioned thereon to thus move the carton from a hori zontal to a vertical position, means operable automatically for simultaneously moving the stationary and movable jaws from a raised to a lowered position adjacent the means for moving the opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other means operable automatically upon said jaws being moved to a lo ered position f or again moving the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw for releasing the carton therefrom to be operated upon by the means for moving the opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other.

4. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles in cartons, said machine having a station at which. group of articles are adapted to be positioned in a carton and also having a hopper disposed at a different level than said station and to one side of the vertical plane of said station and in which a plurality of cartons are adapted to be stacked in superposed relation to each other, said machine also having means for directing a singl carton at a time horizontally from the hopper to a position in vertical alinement with station and means for opening the cartons for reception of said articles, said improvement comprising means for gripping and rotating each carton successively positioned in the vertical plane of the station substantially a quarter revolution about a horizontal axis to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to a ertical position and mechanically operable means for moving the carton from the level of the hopper to the level of the station for positioning said carton for reception of said group of articles.

5. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles in cartons, said machine having a station at which a group of articles are adapted to be positioned in a carton and also having a hopper disposed at a different level than station and to one side of the vertical plane of said station and in which a plurality of cartons are adapted to be stacked in superposed relation to each other, said machine also having means for directing a single carton at a time horizontally from the hopper to a position in vertical alinement with said station and means for opening the cartons for reception of articles, said improvement comprising means for rotating each carton successively positioned in the vertical plane of the station substantially a quarter revolution about a horizontal axis to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to a vertical position, mechanically operable means for moving the carton from the level of the hopper to the level of the station for positioning said carton for reception of said group of articles and means operable automatically upon said carton being positioned at said station for releasing the carton from the mechanically operable means for moving the carton and then returning said mechanically operable means to its original position at the level of the hopper.

6. In a machine for positioning articles in cartons, said machine having a station at which a group of articles are adapted to be positioned in a carton and also having a hopper disposed at a different level than said station and to one side of the vertical plane of said station and in which a plurality of cartons are adapted to be stacked in superposed relation to each other, said machine also having means for directing a single carton at a time horizontally from. the hopper to a position in vertical alinement with said. station and means for opening the cartons for reception of articles; a pivoted carton positioning plate normally disposed in a horizontal plane adjacent the hopper and onto which each carton is successively moved by said means for directing a single carton at a time to a position in vertical alinement with said station, normally open carton edge clamping means disposed in the path of the leading edge of each carton as it is director onto the carton positioning plate, first cam con-- trolled means for closing said carton edge clamping means to cause the corresponding edge of the carton to be clamped by said carton edge clamping means, second cam controlled means for rotating the carton positioning plate from horizontal to a vertical position to one side of the vertical plane of said station, means operal automatically upon said carton edge clampi 5 means clamping the carton for rotating the carton edge clamping means about a horizontal axis for substantially a quarter revolution to thereby move the carton from a horizontal to a. vertical attitude, a third cam controlled means for moving the carton edge clamping means from the level of the hopper to the level of said station, and means responsive to said second cam con trolled means for releasing the carton from said carton edge clamping means upon the carton edge clamping means being moved to the level of said station, whereby, upon said carton clamping means releasing said carton therefrom, the carton will then be positioned for reception of said group or articles.

7. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles such as bottles, cans, and the like in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposed side flaps of a normally flat carton apart from each other, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at a time above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positioned about an axis transversely of the carton for substantially a quarter revolution to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to a vertical position and a first cam controlled means for moving the carton downwardly a predetermined distance for positioning said carton between the means for moving opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other.

8. In a structure according to claim '1, mechanical means for rotating the carton comprising normally horizontally disposed first and second relatively movable jaws, a horizontally disposed shaft on which said relatively movable laws are mounted, a vertically movable carrier block, guide means on the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block for sliding movement thereon, said shaft being rotatably mounted in the carrier block, stationary cam means carried by the machine for normally holding the jaws in said horizontal position, a second cam controlled means for moving said jaws to a closed position upon the corresponding edge of a carton being positioned therebetween, means responsive to said first cam controlled means for moving the carrier block from a raised to a lowered position, spring means urging the jaws from a horizontal to a vertical position as the carrier block moves downwardly away from said stationary cam means for rotating the carton carried by the aws from a horizontal to a vertical position and said second cam controlled means also being operable automatically upon said carton being moved downwardly a predetermined distance to a position adjacent the means for moving opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other for opening said jaws to release the carton therefrom.

9. In a structure according to claim 8, said first cam controlled means also being 0 erable automatically upon said carton being released from said jaws for returning the carrier block to its original position.

1 3. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles such as bottles, cans and the like in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposed side flaps of a normally fiat carton apart from each other, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at a time above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positioned about an axis transversely of the cart-on for substantially a quarter revolution including normally horizontally disposed relatively movable first and second jaws, a vertically movable carrier block, guide means on the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block. for sliding movement thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted in said carrier block and on which the relatively movable jaws are mounted, spring means normally urging said jaws to a vertical position, means for holding said jaws in a horizontal position while said jaws are at the same level as said hopper, means operable automatically for moving said jaws to a closed position upon said carton being moved to a position above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, means opeablc automatically for moving the carrier block to a lowered position upon said jaws being moved to a closed position, and means operable automatically for opening said jaws to release the carton therefrom upon said carrier block being lowered to a predetermined position, whereby said carton is rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position upon being moved from above the means for moving opposed side flaps apart from each other to the level of said lastnamed means.

11. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles such as bottles, cans and the like in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposed side flaps of a normally fiat carton apart from each other, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at a time above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positioned about an axis transversely of the carton for substantially a quarter revolution including normally horizontally disposed relatively movable first and second jaws, a vertically movable carrier block, guide means on the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block for sliding movement thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted in said carrier block and on which the relatively movable jaws are mounted, spring means normally urging said jaws to a vertical position, means for holding said jaws in a horizontal position while said jaws are at the; same level as said hopper, means operable automatically for moving said jaws to a closed position upon said carton being moved to a position above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, means operable automatically for moving the carrier block to a lowered position upon said jaws being moved to a closed position, means operable automatically for opening said jaws to release the carton therefrom upon said carrier block being lowered to a predetermined position, whereby said carton is rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position upon being moved from above the means for moving opposed side flaps apart from each other to the level of said last-named means, a carton positioning plate disposed in the same horizontal plane as the lowermost of the relatively movable first and second jaws while in a raised position for supporting each carton as it is positioned above the means for moving opposed side fiaps apart from each other and means operable automatically for moving said carton positioning plate away from beneath the carton previously positioned thereon upon said carton being clamped between the first and second jaws.

12. An improvement in a machine for position ing articles such as bottles, cans and the like in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposed side flaps of a normally flat carton apart from each other, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at a time above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positioned about an axis transversely of the carton for substantially a quarter revolution including normally horizontally disposed relatively movable first and second jaws, a vertically movable carrier block, guide means on the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block for sliding movement thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted in said carrier block and on which the relatively movable jaws are mounted, spring means normally urging said jaws to a vertical position, means for holding said jaws in a horizontal position while said jaws are at the same level as said hopper, means operable automatically for moving said jaws to a closed position upon said carton being moved to a position above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, means operable automatically for moving the carrier block to a lowered position upon said jaws being moved to a closed position, means operable automatically for opening said jaws to release the carton therefrom upon said carrier block being lowered to a predetermined position, whereby said carton is rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position upon being moved from above the means for moving opposed side fiaps apart from each other to the level of said last-named means, a carton positioning plate disposed in the same horizontal plane as the lowermost of the relatively movable first and second jaws while in a raised position for supporting each carton as it is positioned above the means for moving opposed side flaps apart from each other, and cam controlled means for moving said carton positioning plate away from beneath the carton previously positioned thereon upon said carton be ing clamped between the first and second jaws.

13. In a structure according to claim 12, a horizontally disposed guide member disposed adjacent one edge of the carton positioning plate and means for urging the corresponding edge of the carton against said guide member upon the carton being directed onto the carton positioning plate to thereby insure that the carton is accu rately positioned between the first and second jaws transversely of the axis of the shaft supporting said jaws.

14. In a machine for positioning articles, such as bottles and the like, in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposite sides of a normally flat carton apart from each other and means for storing a plurality of superposed cartons remote from said first means; mechanical feeding means for moving a single carton at a time from said storage point, mechanical means for gripping one edge of said carton and partially rotating the same, and said last-named means also being operable to move said carton between said means for moving the opposite sides of the carton apart for reception of articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,218,683 Milmoe Mar. 13, 1917 1,717,729 Plass Sept. 10, 1929 2,598,071 Rose et al. May 27, 1952 2,601,481 Williams June 24, 1952 2,603,924 Currie et al. July 22, 1952

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