US2693671A

US2693671A - Carton closing apparatus for packaging machines

Info

Publication number: US2693671A
Application number: US250505A
Authority: US
Inventors: Geisler William
Original assignee: ECONOMIC MACHINERY CO
Current assignee: ECONOMIC MACHINERY CO
Priority date: 1951-10-09
Filing date: 1951-10-09
Publication date: 1954-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-11-09

Description

Nov. 9, 1954 w. GEISLER 2,693,671

CARTONCLOSING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1951 s Sheet-Sheet 1 Java-afar 6 2 7 9 E 285 is" W. GEISLER Nov. 9, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tiled Oct. 9, 1951 3 FJE aw a M r r J N w A I. Z 2 3 e e AN 5 i1- Y @w 2 TH z mw I NR J w m... kw A .kmm H- F, %m I- wwmu & 1L0. z\\/ 0 o C o w. GEISLER 2,693,671 CARTON CLOSING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Nov. 9, 1954 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. GEISLER Nov. 9, 1954 CARTON CLOSING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 Nov. 9, 1954 w. GEISLER 2,693,671

CARTON CLOSING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 5 W. GEISLER Nov. 9, 1954 CARTON CLOSING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 [Werzior United States Patent CARTON CLOSING APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MACHINES William Geislcr, Tenafly, N. J., assignor to Economic Machinery Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,505

23 Claims. (Cl. 5344) This invention relates to packaging machines and more especially to mechanism for automatically closing a carton. As pointed out in the copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 106,824, filed by William Geisler July 26, 1949, it is sometimes advantageous to introduce the filling material into an empty carton through an open side of the latter rather than through an opening at top or bottom. In particular when the filling material is a heavy unit comprising, for example, a dozen filled bottles or cans arranged within a spacer grid, it is advantageous to have the closure flaps at one side rather than at the top or bottom, thus permitting the top or bottom of the filled carton to be a single piece of cardboard without seams or joints, thereby affording a smooth level exterior surface easily slidable along a floor or other support. Such an arrangement further insures against accidental opening such as sometimes occurs when the filled carton is lifted and the entire weight of the filler unit is imposed thereon.

While a carton designed to be filled from the side may have its closure flaps variously arranged, it has been found desirable, both from the standpoint of economy in material and that of security of closure, to provide the carton with a relatively narrow flap hinged to its top wall (the top wall being that which is uppermost when the filler unit is being introduced), a relatively wide flap hinged to the edge of the bottom wall, and end flaps hinged to the lateral edges of said wide bottom flap. In a preferred construction, the wide bottom flap is wide enough substantially to cover and conceal the narrow top flap when the carton is fully closed, and the end flaps are disposed within the carton in contact with the inner surfaces of its respective vertical end walls when the carton is closed.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of automatic mechanism for folding the closure flaps of a carton such as just above described, and disposing them in the carton-closing position. A further object is to provide carton-closing means operative to fold closure flaps, which have previously been provided with adhesive at the proper areas, in the necessary sequence to insure the proper location of the adhesively coated areas when the flaps are closed. A further object is to provide flap-closing means operative to apply closing pressure at the most effective location to cause adhesion of the flaps. A further object is to provide carton-closing means operative to deliver the closed carton in a position such that the weight of the contents of the carton is efiective to hold the folded closure flaps in contact until the adhesive has set. A further object is to provide carton-closing means of simple type, comprising relatively few parts and which is capable of handling cartons of substantial size and weight, for example a carton containing a dozen quart bottles. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with certain parts in vertical section and others broken away, of the carton-closing unit of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section, to larger scale than Fig. 1, on a plane parallel to the plane of the section of Fig. l, but spaced inwardly from the outside of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section, substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

ice

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2, certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted;

Fig. 6 is a view, generally similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the step of delivering the closed carton from the closing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a cardboard blank such as may be used in preparing a carton of a type which is effectively closed by the closing mechanism of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a carton prepared from a blank such as that of Fig. 7, as it arrives at the closing mechanism of the present invention.

In the following discussion, the open side of the carton, through which the filler unit is introduced, and which is closed by foldable flaps, is referred to as the front of the carton for convenience, but without limiting intent, since the open side may as well be at the rear or end.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 3, the closing mechanism of the present invention is indicated by the character M, this closing mechanism being arranged at the delivery end of a conveyor, indicated as comprising horizontal rails 1 on which the carton C is supported as it is progressed toward the closing mechanism by a reciprocating pusher P. The carton moves in the direction of the arrow A and is guided in its movement by a horizontal rail or rails 2. It will be understood that the carton, as it arrives at the closing mechanism, has already been provided with adhesive at the desired areas in passing gluing mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 3 (Fig. 3).

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, there is indicated diagrammatically the type of carton which is to be closed by the mechanism M. Thus in Fig. 7 there is shown a cardboard blank comprising ,integral portions, including the part a which forms the top of the carton, the part b which forms the rear vertical wall of the carton, the part c which forms the bottom of the carton, and the part d which forms the main portion of the front wall of the carton after it has been closed. The parts a, b and c are provided with lateral flaps f-g; h-k; and m n, which in the carton, as set up, form the opposite end walls of the carton, the flaps at each end being secured together by staples S (Fig. 8). The top member a is provided with a narrow front closure flap e, and the main front closure flap d is of a width such that when the carton is closed it overlaps and substantially conceals the flap e. The main front closure flap d is provided at its opposite edges with auxiliary or tuck-in flaps 0 and p which, in the completed carton, contact the inner surfaces of the opposite end walls respectively of the carton, formed by the flaps f, h and m, and g, k and n respectively.

The carton, as it appears in Fig. 8, is advanced along the conveyor rails 1 with one of its end walls (here shown in the wall which comprises the flaps g and n) in advance, that side of the carton which is to be closed by the flaps e and d being open. In passing a filling station (not illustrated) on its way to the gluing and closing stations, a filler unit has been introduced through this open front of the carton. Such filling unit may, for example, consist of a dozen quart bottles, usually arranged within a spacer grid.

The carton in this condition is advanced to the closing mechanism M of the present invention, where it comes to rest upon a pair of normally horizontal, spaced rails 4 and 5, these rails extending at right angles to the lengths of the conveyor rails 1 and being in the same horizontal plane as the latter. A fixed stop member 6 (Fig. 3) limits the advance of the carton as it is progressed from the conveyor rails 1 into the closing mechanism, the carton coming to rest on the rails 4 and 5 with its advancing end in contact with the stop 6.

The closing mechanism M of the present invention comprises a frame, including spaced uprights 7 (Figs. 1 and 3) which are connected near their upper ends by parallel,

horizontal girder members

8 and 8 and near their lower ends by sill members 9. These sill members 9 support a motor base 10 on which an electric motor T is mounted for horizontal adjustment in a direction perpendicular to the axis of its shaft. The. motor shaft is provided with a pulley 11 which is embraced by a belt 12 which passes about a .pulley 13 fixed to a shaft 14 which turns in bearings in a speed reducer 15 secured to one of the frame members 7. A gear 16 is also fixed to the shaft 14 and this gear meshes with a gear 17 fixed to a shaft 18 turning in bearings carried by the frame 7, and this gear wheel 17 meshes with a gear wheel 19 normally free to turn on a shaft 20 which turns in bearings inthe girder members 8 and 8 A sprocket wheel 21 is fixed to the shaft 20. The gear 19 is connected at times to this shaft by a one-revolution clutch mechanism of conventional type having an arm 20 keyed to the shaft 20; a dog 20*, engageable at times with notches (not shown) in gear 19, and a controlling latch 22 which is carried by a lever 23 connected by a link 24 to the plunger of a solenoid 25. Engagement of the latch with the dog 20 disconnects the arm 2t) from the gear 19. This solenoid receives energy from an electrical circuit in which there is arranged a switch S diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 3 which is normally open but which is closed by contact with a carton as the latter comes to rest against the stop 6. The solenoid is thereby energized, thus actuating the latch 22 to cause the clutch mechanism to connect the gear 19 to the shaft 20, the sprocket wheel 21 then making one complete revolution and then automatically stopping. During this single revolution of the sprocket wheel 21, all of the elements of the closing mechanism are actuated, so that the carton is completely closed and delivered from the closing mechanism in a single revolution of the sprocket wheel 21.

A second sprocket wheel 26, in the same plane as the sprocket wheel 21, is fixed to a shaft 27 (Fig. 1) parallel to the shaft 20 and spaced therefrom, the shaft 27 turning in bearings in the rails 8 and 8 A sprocket chain 28 embraces both sprocket wheels thereby driving the sprocket wheel 26 in time with the sprocket wheel 21. The sprocket chain is provided with two, carton-

impelling members

29 and 30, respectively, spaced apart by half the length of the chain, the length of the chain being such that while one of the impelling elements is propelling the closed carton out of the field of action of the closing mechanism, the other is approaching the position for contact With the next carton.

Near its right-hand side, as viewed in Fig. 1, the frame of the machine has spaced, parallel uprights 31 and 32 (Figs. 3 and rigidly fixed to the

rails

8 and 8% respectively, and which are connected near their upper ends by a fixed rod or shaft 32 (Fig. 6). A rocker, comprising a sleeve 33 is mounted to rock on this rod or shaft 32, the sleeve having spaced sockets 34 and 35 (Fig. 3) which receive the lower ends of upwardly directed

rigid arms

36 and 37 respectively, which support a flap closing blade 38 designed to engage and close the flap 2 of the carton. The sleeve 33 .is provided with a duplex crank arm 39 (Figs. 3 and 5) which receives between its spaced parts the upper end 40 of a connecting rod 41 provided at its lower end with a fork 42 (Fig. l) which straddles the shaft 27. The upper part of this fork is provided with a cam follower roll 43 which engages a cam slot 44 in a cam 45 fixed to the shaft 27. Thus, for each revolution of the shaft 27, the sleeve 33 is rocked back and forth so i as to move the flap-closing blade 38 from the broken line position of Fig. 1 down to the full line position and back again.

The spaced rails 4 and 5 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) on which the carton rests during the flap-closing operation are arranged to swing about a horizontal axis 46 at their left-hand ends (as viewed in Fig. 6), being pivoted to spaced, parallel, stationary rails 47 which constitute a support for the closed carton while it is being delivered from the closing mechanism. At the point at which the movable rails 4 and 5 join the fixed rails 47, notches 48 (Figs. 1 and 2) are formed for a purpose heerinafter described.

Connecting rods 49 and 50 (Figs. 2 and 3) are pivotallyconnected to the respective rails 4 and 5 at the

points

51 and 52, the lower end (Fig; 3) of these connecting rods being forked, as shown at 53 and 54 respectively, and straddling the shaft 27. Each of these connecting

rods

49 and 50 is provided with a cam follower roll 56 and 57 (Figs. 2 and 6) respectively, which enter cam grooves in the opposite sides of a duplex face cam 55 (Fig. 3) which is fixed to the shaft 27. Thus at each revolution of the shaft 27, the rails 4 and 5 are swung upwardly about the pivotal axis 46, from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 to the nearly vertical position in Fig. 6, and then returned to the horizontal position.

A horizontal frame member 58 (Fig. 6) extends from one to the other of the

rails

8 and 8 being rigidly united to each rail and supporting a bracket 59 having bearings 60 and 61 (Fig. 4) for a rocker comprising a horizontal shaft 62. This shaft is provided at its opposite ends with rigid disk members 63 and 64 (Fig. 4) to which crank

arms

65 and 66 are rigidly but adjustably secured. These crank

arms

65 and 66 are preferably of sheet metal, bent to the desired shape, and are provided with flap-closing

shoes

67 and 68, respectively at their free ends, these shoes being designed to engage the main, front closure flip d at points closely adjacent to its respective lateral e ges.

As here illustrated, the disk 64 is provided with an eccentric portion (Fig. 6) which carries a crank pin 69 to which one end of a connecting rod 70 is pivotally secured. The other end of this connecting rod is pivoted at 71 to the upper end of a lever 72 (Figs. 4 and 6.) pivoted on a shaft 73 fixed in bearings 76 carried by parallel bracket members 74 and 75 (Fig. 4) integrally joined to the frame member 58. The lever 72 is provided with a hub portion 72 which turns on this fixed shaft 73, and with an arm 77 which-extends down from this hub portion and to which coil springs 78 are socured. The opposite ends (not shown) of these springs are attached to a fixed part of the frame, the arrangement being such that the springs tend to swing the lever 72 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6. This lever 72 has a cam follower roll 79 which engages an edge cam 80 (Fig. 2') fixed to the shaft 20, the arrangement being such that for each revolution of the shaft 20, the

arms

65 and 66, with their flap closing shoes 67, 68 are swung upwardly from their normal inoperative position, shown in full lines in Fig. 2, to the broken line position and then back again.

Brackets '81 and 82 (Fig. 5) are fixed to the

rails

8 and 8 respectively, and provide bearings for parallel, spaced, horizontal shafts '83 and 84, these shafts being parallel to :the rails 4 and 5 when the latter are in their normal horizontal position. Crank

arms

85 and 86 are secured to the

shafts

33 and 84 respectively, the arm 85 projecting upwardly and the arm 86 projecting downwardly, these arms being connected by an adjustable connecting rod 87 which constrains the shafts 83 and 84 to rock to the same extent in opposite directions. The shaft 83 carries 'a bracket 88 to which a flap-bending finger 89 is adjustably secured, and the shaft 84 carries a bracket 90 to which the flap-bending finger 91 is secured. These

fingers

89 and 91 are designed toengage the auxiliary tuck-in flaps 0 and p of the main front closure flap d and thereby to position the tuck-in flaps so that they enter between the end walls of the carton. The shaft 84, as here illustrated, is provided with a crank arm 92 (Fig. 2) to whichan upper end of an adjustable connecting rod .93 is pivotally attached, the lower end of this connecting rod being pivoted to a lever 94 having a hub portion 94 (Fig. 5) which turns on the fixed shaft 73. A second arm 96 is fixed to this hub portion 94 and carries a cam follower roll 97 which engages a cam slot 98 in the face of cam :80. 'The parts are so arranged that for each revolution of the shaft 20, the flapbending fingers 89 and :91 are moved from the inoperative position shownin full lines in Fig. 5., to the operative position shown in broken lines in the same view, and then back again.

After the carton has been fully closed, it is preferably delivered to a compressor mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 9.9 (Fig. 1). This compressor, as here illustrated, comprisesan endless belt conveyor 100 upon whose upper run the carton C rests as it passes through the compressor. Thecompressor also comprises spaced parallel

endless belts

101 and 102 designed to contact the opposite end walls of the carton. These belts pass around vertical rollers carried by shafts 103 which-are turned in opposite directions by belts 104. Since this compressor mechanism forms no part of the present invention it is not further described in detail.

In the operation of the machine, and assuming that a filled carton C, in the condition above described, has been advanced into the closing mechanism and has come to rest on the rails 4 and 5 and in contact with the stop 6, and has thereby closed the switch which energizes the circuit of the solenoid 25, the one revolution clutch is thereby brought into action to initiate a single revolution of the sprocket wheel 21.. Through the mechanism above described, the blade 38 is immediately brought down from the position shown in broken lines in Fig. l to that shown in full lines and in so doing contacts the horizontally projecting flap e of the carton and bends the latter down substantially to a vertical position. The cam which actuates the blade 38 is so designed as to cause the blade to dwell in this position.

While the blade 38 is moving down, or even before the downward movement of blade 38 begins, the

flapbending fingers

89 and 91 swing upwardly and inwardly toward each other. The parts are so timed that the flaps and p are bent to lie in slightly convergent planes, approximately at right angles to the flap d, as shown in broken lines (Fig. otherwise the upward movement of the front closure flap d would cramp the edges of the flaps 0 and p against the end walls of the carton The

fingers

89 and 91 continue to hold the flaps 0 and p in the inwardly inclined position of Fig. 5 until the front flap d moves upwardly to a point where the flaps 0 and p have entered the carton. The

fingers

89 and 91 then return immediately to their normal position, leaving flaps 0 and p in contact with the inner surfaces of the carton end walls. The

arms

65 and 66 have already begun to swing upwardly so as to contact the

shoes

67 and 68 with the under surface of the main, front closure flap a. The

shoes

67 and 68 are of substantial length, and the right-hand ends of these shoes (as viewed in Fig. 2) first contact the flap d. As soon as they contact the under surface of the flap d, they begin to turn the flap upwardly about its junction with the bottom member c of the carton, the flaps 0 and p (which have been bent inwardly by the

fingers

89 and 91 above described) sliding in contact with the inner surfaces of the end walls of the carton as the flap d swings upwardly. As the arms 64 and :55 continue to rock upwardly, the elongate surfaces of the

shoes

67 and 68 slide relatively to the surface of the flap cl so as to provide a continuing turning pressure against said surface as the flap turns upwardly and while the

arms

64 and 65 continue to swing. When flap d nears the vertical position, the contact between the shoes and the flap is at the upper portions of the shoes. As the front flap :1 nears its closed position, its upper free edge overlaps the lower part of the flap 2 which is still held in position by the blade 33. As soon as the upper edge of the flap d has overlapped the flap e, the blade 38 is retracted, thus permitting the inner surface of the upper part of the flap d to overlie the flap e. Assuming that either of the flaps e or d has been supplied with adhesive at the proper location, this adhesive will secure the flaps in closed position. t may also be assumed that the outer surfaces of the flaps 0 and p have been provided with adhesive before they are turned in, and thus when the carton is closed the parts are all adhesively united.

As soon as the blade 38 has been retracted from the flap e, the rails 4 and 5 begin to rise from the horizontal position to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus tipping the closed carton through an angle of 90. The notches 48 facilitate this operation, since the edge of the carton finds a fulcrum point at these notches and does not tend to slip while being turned. The shoes 67 and 6% are rocked downwardly toward their normal position, in time with the tipping of the carton (Fig. 6), so as to ease the latter down onto the rails 47. The carton-propelling

members

29 and 30 are so positioned on the sprocket chain 28 that, as the carton completes its tipping movement and comes to rest with the closed front flap d h contacting the rails 47, one of the impelling elements comes into engagement with the carton, contacting that wall of the carton which was the bottom Wall during the filling and closing operation, and propelling the carton into the compressor mechanism 99. This completes a cycle of operations, the parts all being restored to their initial position as the one-revolution clutch completes its cycle of operation and the sprocket wheel 21 comes to rest.

It is contemplated that automatic stop mechanism may be provided, if desired, to prevent the entry of a new carton into the closing mechanism until the completion of the cycle of operation above described, but since such stop mechanisms are well known in this art, it is con- 6 sidered unnecessary to illustrate or describe such mechanism in further detail.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein been illustrated and described by way of example it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for closing a set up carton, open at one side only and having closure flaps hinged to opposite edges respectively of its open side, one of said flaps having auxiliary fiaps hinged respectively to those of its edges which intersect its own hinged edge and which are disposed wholly within the carton when the latter is closed, said apparatus comprising folding means operative to dispose the closure flaps in closed position, said folding means comprising oppositely moving fingers, op.- erative to fold the auxiliary flaps to lie in slightly convergent planes, approximately at right angles to the closure flap to which they are hinged, before closure of the last-named closure flap is initiated.

2. Apparatus for closing a set up carton, open at one side only and having closure flaps hinged to opposite edges respectively of its open side, one of said closure flaps having auxiliary flaps hinged respectively to those of its edges which intersect its own hinged edge and which are disposed wholly within the carton when the latter is closed, said apparatus comprising folding means including a flap-contacting element for closing said lastnamed closure flap, and oppositely moving parts operative to dispose the auxiliary flaps in closed position, the folding means including actuating cams so contoured that the auxiliary flaps are moved to lie in convergent planes, making angles slightly less than with the closure flap to which they are hinged before the closing of the latter closure flap is initiated.

3. Apparatus for closing a set up carton, open at one side only and having closure flaps hinged to opposite edges respectively of its open side, one of said flaps having auxiliary flaps hinged respectively to those of its edges which intersect its own hinged edge and which are disposed wholly within the carton when the latter is closed, said apparatus comprising folding means operative to dispose the closure flaps in closed position, said folding means comprising a rocker carrying an elongate blade engageable with the outer surface of one of the closure flaps and means for turning the rocker thereby to fold said latter flap, a second rocker turning about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of the first rocker, and flap-engaging means, carried by said latter rocker, operative to turn the other closure flap to closed position, and means operative to turn the auxiliary flaps to lie in planes approximately perpendicular to the plane of the flap to which they are hinged.

4. Apparatus for closing a setup carton, open at one side only, and having closure flaps hinged to opposite edges respectively of its open side, one of said flaps having auxiliary flaps hinged respectively to those of its edges which intersect its own hinged edge and which are disposed wholly within the carton when the latter is closed, said apparatus comprising folding means operative to dispose the closure flaps in closed position, said folding means comprising substantially parallel rockers and means for turning them in opposite directions in timed relation, a folding blade carried by one rocker, said blade being operative to engage the outer surface of one of said closure flaps and to turn said flap to closed position, a pair of spaced arms fixed to the other of said rockers, each of said latter arms being provided with a shoe operative to engage the outer face of the other closure flap adjacent to the lateral edges of the latter, respectively, and to turn the latter flap to closed position, and means operative to turn the auxiliary flaps to lie in convergent planes so that their free edges are closer together than their junctions with the flap to which they are attached.

5. Apparatus for closing a setup carton, open at one side only, and having closure flaps hinged to opposite edges respectively of its open side, one of said flaps having auxiliary flaps hinged respectively to those of its edges which intersect its own hinged edge and which are disposed wholly within the carton when the latter is closed, said apparatus comprising folding means operative to dispose the closure flaps in closed position, said folding means comprising substantially parallel 7 rockers .and means for turning :them in opposite directions in timed relation, a folding blade carried by one rocker, said blade being operative to engage :the outer surface of one of said closure flaps and to turn said flap to closed position, a pair of spaced arms fixed to'the other of said rockers, .eachofsaid latter arms .being provided with a shoe operative to engage the outer face of the other closure flap adjacent to the lateral edges of the latter, respectively, and 10 turn the latter flap to closed position, anda pair of rock fingers, turning about parallel axes in planesperpendicular to the axes of the aforesaid rockers, and meansfor'turning said rock fingers in opposite directions, said rock fingers being engageable with the auxiliary flaps thereby .to turn the latter so that they lie in planes whichconverge so :that the free edges of the auxiliary flaps are nearer :together than their junctions with the closure .fiap to which they are attached.

6. Apparatus for closing a carton :open at one side only and having a .top front-closure flap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom frontfclosure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top closure flap when the flaps are closed, and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom closure flap, said apparatus comprising parallel rockers disposed in horizontal planes above and below the lower and upper walls respectively of the carton, a blade carried by the upper rocker operative to fold the top front-closure fiap downwardly to closed position, a pair of spaced arms .carried by the lower rocker operative to fold the bottom front-closure flap upwardly to closed-position, and means operative to fold the auxiliary flaps .so that they lie in slightly convergent planes, and means for rocking the two rockers and for moving said auxiliary flaps, being so constructed and arranged that the auxiliary flaps are folded while the top front-closure flap is held in folded position and before closure of the bottom front-closure flap is initiated.

7. Apparatus according 'to claim 6 and wherein the means for folding the auxiliary flaps comprises .a pair of ifingers rockable about parallel axes in planes per-- pendicu'lar to the axes of the rockers, and means for turning said fingers oppositely in timed relation.

8, Apparatus for closing a set up car-ton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed, and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of .the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means for guiding the I carton to move along a predetermined path, abutment means engageable by the advancing face :of the carton thereby to terminate forward motion of the carton, means operative to dispose the 'top and bottom frontclosure flaps and the auxiliary flaps in closed position, and means for thereafter tipping the closed carton so that it rests upon the folded flaps.

9. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls. a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure .flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough 'to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining a path along which a carton may move toward a closing station, means defining a second path, intersecting the first path. along which a closed carton may move from the closing station, means at the closing station for disposing the top and bottom front-closure flaps and the auxiliary flaps in closed position, and means operative to initiate movement of the closed carton along said second path.

l0. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear Wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two catileast of the aforesaidwal ls,

a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper Wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom frontclosure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton may move to and from a closing station, means at the closing station for disposing the top and bottom front-closure flaps and .the auxiliary flaps in closed position, means operative to tip the closed carton so that it rests upon the closed flaps, and means for advancing the carton while so positioned along the second of said paths.

11. Apparatus for closing acarton open at one side and having a top front-closure flap hinged to the edge and its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed, and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising a folding blade engageable with the outer surface of the top front-closure flap, means to move said blade downwardly thereby to dispose said flap in substantially vertical closed position, a pair of folding shoes engageable with the bottom front-closure flap closely adjacent to those edges of the latter to which the auxiliary flaps are hinged, said shoes being elongate thereby to contact the flap for a substantial distance along each of said edges, a pair of rock fingers engageable with the outer surfaces of the auxiliary flaps, respectively, means for moving said fingers thereby to turn said auxiliary flaps so that they lie in slightly convergent planes, and means for moving the shoes to dispose the bottom front-closure flap in closed position where it overlaps the top front-closure flap while the fingers continue to hold the auxiliary flaps in said-convergent relation whereby said auxiliary flaps are entered between the ends walls of the carton.

1'2. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means for folding the top and bottom front-closure flaps successively, and means operative to bend the auxiliary flaps until their free edges are nearer together than their bases whereby they are constrained to enter the carton as the bottom frontclosure flap is being folded.

13. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined'to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateraledges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatuscomprising means for folding the .top and bot-tom front-closure flaps one after the other, respectively, and oppositely :moving fingers engageable with the auxiliary flaps and which are operative to fold said .flaps so that they .lie in nearly parallel but slightly convergent planes as the bottom front-closure flap is vbeing folded.

14. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end 'walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of theaforesaid walls, atop front-closure flap "hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliaryfiaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton may move toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, means for advancing a carton along one of said paths toward the closing station WilhIhB open side of 'the carton atone side of the-path and with a-vert'ical end wall of the carton in advance, means to terminate advance of the carton when it reaches 'the closing station, means at the closing station operative to fold the several flaps and to dispose them in closed-position, means operative to -tip the carton so that its closed flaps are at 'the bottom, means to move the carton while so positioned away from the closing station along the second path, and means operative to apply pressure to the end walls of the carton as it moves along the latterpath.

15. Apparatus for closing a set .up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to :the forward edge of its lower wall, said ilatter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure .fl-ap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary 'fiaps hinged -to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton is moved toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, means for advancing a carton along one of said paths toward the closing station with the open side of the carton at one side of said path and with a vertical end wall of the carton in advance, an abutment engageable with the advancing end wall of the carton thereby to terminate its advance when it arrives at the closing station, means for folding the flaps so that the auxiliary flaps lie against the inner surfaces respectively of the vertical end walls of the carton and the bottom front-closure flap overlaps the top closure flap, means for tipping the closed carton so that it rests upon the closed flaps, and means for advancing the carilon while so positioned along the second of said pa s.

16. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton may move toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, means for advancing a carton along one of said paths toward the closing station, means to terminate advance of the carton when it reaches the closing station, folding means at the closing station for disposing the several flaps in closed position, and means, including a one-revolution clutch, for actuating the folding means.

17. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls. a top front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to the forward edge of its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed, and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining a path along which a carton moves toward a closing station, means for advancing a carton along said path, means to terminate advance of the carton when the carton reaches the closing station, folding devices at the closing station operative to dispose the several flaps in closed position, actuating means for the folding devices including a part driven by a one-revolution clutch, comprising a controlling dog, and means for actuating said dog.

18. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel too and bottom walls. a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure fiap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said ,apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton moves toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, a reciprocating pusher for advancing a carton along one of said paths toward the closing station with the open side of the carton at one side of the path and with a vertical end wall in advance, folding means at the closing station operative to bend the several flaps to closed position, drive means for the folding means including a part driven by a onerevolution clutch means automatically operative to start rotation of said part when a cartonenters the closing station, an endless chain for moving closed cartons away from the closing station along the other of said paths, said chain having spaced carton propelling elements, means operative to tip a ,closed carton so that it rests upon its closed flaps, and means operative to move the chain thereby to propel .the closed carton along the second of said paths.

19. Apparatus for closing a set up carton 'open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting horizontal paths along which a carton may move toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, a reciprocating pusher for advancing an open carton along the first path toward the closing station, folding devices at the closing station, means for actuating the folding devices for closing all of the several flaps and an endless chain having spaced carton-propelling elements for moving the closed carton away from the closing -station, and means for actuating the pusher and chain in timed relation.

20. Apparatus for closing a set up carton open at one side only and comprising parallel top and bottom walls, a rear wall, end walls each comprising united tabs integrally joined to two at least of the aforesaid walls, a top front-closure flap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining a path along which a carton moves toward a closing station, means at the closing station for disposing all of the several flaps in closed position, means at the closing station defining a support upon which the carton rests while the flaps are being closed, said support being hinged to tip upwardly about one edge, and means for tipping the support thereby to tip the closed carton so that it rests upon its closed flaps.

21. Apparatus for closing a carton open at one side and having a top front-closure flap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to is lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton may move toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, means at the closing station for closing all of the several flaps, spaced parallel rails defining the second of said paths, said rails having movable parts constituting the effective floor of the closing station, said floor being pivoted to rock upwardly about a horizontal axis transverse to said second path, and means for rocking said floor thereby to tip a closed carton resting thereon through an angle of approximately 22. Apparatus for closing a carton open at one side and having a top front-closure flap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said an paratus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton may move toward and from a closing station located at the intersection of said paths, means constituting the effective floor of the closing station upon which a carton rests while its flaps are being closed, said floor being pivoted to rock about a horizontal axis transverse to the second of said paths, means at the closing station for closing all of the several flaps, and means for rocking said fioor thereby to tip the closed carton so that it rests upon its closed flaps.

23. Apparatus for closing a carton open at one side and having a top front-closure flap hinged to the edge of its upper wall, a bottom front-closure flap hinged to its lower wall, said latter flap being wide enough to overlap the top front-closure flap when the flaps are closed and auxiliary flaps hinged to the lateral edges respectively of the bottom front-closure flap, said apparatus comprising means defining intersecting paths along which a carton moves toward and from a closing station atthe intersection of said paths, spaced rails defining the second of said paths, said rails having rockable portions which constitute the eflective floor of the closing station and which are pivoted to rock about a horizontal axis transverse to the second path, the rails having notches adjacent to the pivotal axis of their rockable portions, means for closing all of the several flaps at the closing station, and means for swinging said rockable portions of the rails upwardly about their pivotal axes whereby a closed carton resting upon them is tipped, the notches being so constructed and arranged as to receive the edge of the carton, as said pivotal portions of the rails rise, thereby to provide a fulcrum about which the carton is tipped to rest upon its closed flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number