US2695484A

US2695484A - Machine for packaging articles in tubes

Info

Publication number: US2695484A
Application number: US83042A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilmer Elmer Ellsworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-03-23
Filing date: 1949-03-23
Publication date: 1954-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1971-11-30

Description

Nov. 30, 1954- E. E. wlLMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 Ie sheets-sheen 1 Nov. 30, 1954 E. E, WILMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 [/mer 5 UV/mer Nov. 30, 1954 a. E. wlLMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 z /mer f'. lf/7271er E. E. WILMER MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Nav. 3o, 1954 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 23, 1949 asl Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. wlLMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 n? Ci gmc/Wto@ *7676. s f/rer Uf/mer E. E. WILMER Nov. 30, 1954 MACHINE FOR PJXUXGING ARTICLES IN TUBES 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 23, 1949 l /mer E CUT/mer.

NOv- 30, 1954 E. E. WILMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES I N TUBES Filed March 25, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 [/mcer wwf/mer Nov. 3o, 1954 E, E, WILMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheen 8 [/rner w'/mer Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. wlLMl-:R 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 25, 1949 1e sh'eets-sheer 9 u V 777mg w/mer Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. wlLMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet lO Il Il Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. WILMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 2s. 1949 1e sheets-sheet 11.

Q wwe/Mov 7m er W7/mer Nov. 30, 1954 E. E, WILMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 Issu oIIS H+ 2.20 i' G E/mer Ew//mef f @www Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. WILMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 23, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet 13 aforneg NOV- 30, 1954 E. E. wlLMER MACHINE: FCR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed March 25 1949 Nov. 30, 1954 E. E. WILMER MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed March 23 1949 '[/mer Uf/mer Nov. 30, 1954 E, E, wlLMER 2,695,484

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES Filed March 25, 1949 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 nl l .ff/177er E. Uff/mer UnitedStates Patent Oiice 2,695,484 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES IN TUBES l Elmer Ellsworth Wilmer, Baltimore, Md.

Application March 23, 1949, Serial No.` 83,042

4 claims. (cl. 53-89) vIhis invention relates to a machine for packaging ar ticles in tubes.

Although the machine is illustrated as being designed for packaging drinking straws it is obvious that it may be used for packaging other similar articles of an elongated generally cylindrical formation. Most machines heretoforedesigned for this purpose have fed one or two articles and one tube together untilthe articles were t packaged in the tube before the machine could begin on additional articles and tubes. Such machines were relatively slow in their production of packaged articles.

The instant invention is directed to the packaging of the articles in tubestthat are `made by the machine itself. The tube material is relatively thin and fragile and the tube is printed and formed and placed on the machine before the articles are fed to it. Such fragile tubes can scarcely be successfully fed from a hopper. l

of the conveyors holding the separate tubes and articles H are maintained in longitudinal alignment in order to maintain the tubes and articles in longitudinal alignment and while the group or series of tubes and articles are so held in longitudinal alignment the articles are gradually forced from the articlestholding pockets into the ,t

tubes in the tube holding pockets.

This process of inserting the articles in the formed tubes is stopped before the trailing ends of the articles are finally enclosed by the tube and a final tap is given to the articles going into each tube to force them all the way into the formed tubes.

After this forcing by a final tap of the articles all the way into the tubes the end of the tube is crimped to seal it. The other end of the tube had been crimped after its release to the tube holding conveyor, so that each article or group of articles in each tube as they finally enter the tube go into the tube only. so far as `the far crimped end of the tube permits.

Another object of the invention is to expel from the machine all articles which do not have an aligned tube f to receive them prior to the removal of the filled and closed tubes from the machine.

Since the tubes are constantly being filled at relatively slow step-by-step movement of the articles, it will be apparent that a large number of tubes per minute cant be filled and discharged from the machine. The machine has already been operated to fill several hundred tubes per minute.

Other objects and advantages of the invention as embodied in the machine illustrated will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the completed machine. p

Figure 2 is an elevation of the in-feed `end of the machine showing the tube forming mechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation at the infeed end, showing the article conveyor and feed.

Figure 4 is a side `elevation of the Wrapper strip or" tape feed.

Figure 5 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the device which commences the curving of the wrapper tape.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the mechanism for completng the formation of the tube from the tape and of the cutting knife and its anvil.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view on line 8-8 of Figgure 7. p

Figure 9 is a top plan view partly in section and partly broken away of the tube forming mechanism shown in Figure 7.

Figure l0 is a side elevational view of the in-feed end of the machine showing the tube forming mechanism and the mechanism for placing the tube in the tube conveyor.

Figure 1l is a fragmentary view of the tube cut-olf mechanism.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism for accurately locating the tube in the tube conveyor. 1

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 12. r

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the mechanism for crimping the rear end of the tube.

Figure l5 is a fragmentary plan view of one form of mechanism for inserting the articles into the tubes.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 16-16 of Figure 15. p

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 17-17 of Figure 1.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view on line 18-18 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view on line 19--19 of Figure 17. g g

Figure 20 is a fragmentary 4top plan view of the delivery end of the article and tube conveyors showing the final crimping and the tapping mechanisms.

Figure 21 is a `cross-sectional view on line 21-21 of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a side elevational view of the delivery end of the machine.

Figure 23 is a side elevational view of the other side of the delivery end of the machine.

Figure 24 is a sectional view on line 24-24 of Figure 23. t

Figure 25 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 25-25 of Figure 23. t

Figure 26 is a fragmentary elevational view of the box shaking mechanism.

Figure 27 is a side elevational view of the cam to free the ends of the articles from the article conveyor.

Figure 28 is a fragmentary view partly in section of the final tube crimping mechanism and its drive and of the article tapping mechanism.

Figure 29 is a sectional view on line 29-29 of Figure 28.

Figure 30 is a fragmentary view partly :in section of the means to adjust the relative positions of the two conveyors to maintain their pockets in alignment.

Figure 3l is a fragmentary top plan view` of theautomatic speed increasing device.

Figure 32 is a vertical sectional view of the speed increasing hydraulic valve. i

Figure 33 is a top plan view of an alternate form of mechanism for feeding the articles into the tubes.

Figure 34 is an enlarged fragmentary view thereof.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary end view showing the lug return guide.

Figure 36 is al horizontal sectional view on line 36-7-36 of Figure 35.

Figure 37 is a side elevational view of this guide alone, reversed.

Figure 38 is a fragmentary end view of the alternate form of pusher with the end guide removed.

Figure 39 is a sectional view on line 39-39 of Figure 38.

Figure 40 is a vertical sectional view showing the entrance of the articles into the tubes with the alternate form of pusher. ,l

Figure 41 is a transverse sectional view on line 41-41 of Figure 40.

In the drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The tubes may be formed from rice paper taken from roll 1 in the form of strip or tape2 which may be passed around rolls 3 to carry it overprinting elements 4 receiving their inkfrom fountain rolls 5 in ink fountains 6, the paper being pressed against the printing elements on rolls 4 by presser rolls 7. After printing the strip may be carried around other rolls 8 before its final entry mto the tube forming mechanism. All the above mechanism 1s mounted on brackets 9 supported from the frame 10 of thepackaging machine proper.

The strip or tape 2 is then threaded between upper and lower feed rolls v11 and 12, from which it passes to initial curving or curling plate 13, under the mandrel 14 mounted from above on 'bracket 15 and through tube 16 having thereabove overlapping

fingers

17 and 18 to com pletely close the formed tube around the mandrel 14 and before its entry over small knurling wheel 19 and under large knurling wheel 20. These knurling wheels seal the tube longitudinally after which the tube passes over one pocket 21 of the tube conveyor or magazine 22 and the leading end passes under spring 23 to gradually guide it down into the pocket 21 which at the moment is stationary. While the pocket is still stationary a knife 24 acting on anvil' 25 cuts one tube length from the continuous tape or strip of material.

Power for the above operations is ,obtained from driven shaft 26 which has gear 27 thereon driving shaft 28 on which is gear 29 `which in turn drives gear 30, which drives gear 31 on shaft 32 on which the lower feed roll 12 is mounted. These gears are mounted on bracket 33 extending from arm 34 on bracket 35 on the supports of the main machine. Intermediate gear 30 is mounted on adjustable plate 36. should it be desirable to replace gears 29 or '31 with larger or smaller gears to change the speed of drive of the roll 12. The vertical position of the shaft 32 mounted in plate 37 may'likewise be changed by adjustably positioning that plate 37 through means of screws 38 and 39 which may be moved vertically in plate 33 through vertical slots 40 and 41 l therein. The same screw 39 passes through the slot 42 vin plate 36 to adjust the location of the gear 30 mounted thereon.

The upper feed roller 11 is mounted on shaft 43 carried in bracket 44 having handle 45, the bracket being pivoted vat 46. The bracket is pulled down to hold the roll 11 in contact with the tape by spring 47 held at its other end by pin 48 on the plate 37. An L-shaped cam 49 pivoted at its heel, may be raisedby its handle 50 under the end 51 of the bracket 44 to hold the roll 11 up, leaving a space between rolls 11 and 12. After the tape is threadedbetween the rolls 11 and 12, it may be guided by arms 52, and properly adjusted for its further feeding through the tube former ythe cam 49 is released. The curling plate 13 is vertically and laterally adjustably supported on bracket 53 on upright 54 on arm 34.

Shaft 26 through gear 55 drives gear 56 on'shaft 57 which also has thereon gear 58 which drives gear 59 mounted on plate `60 adjustable on arm`34. Gear 59 in turn drives gear 61 on shaft 62. Plate 60 is made adjustable to allow for the movement lof gear 59 in case it `should be desirable to substitute a smaller or larger gear lin place of gears 58 or 61 or both.

Shaft 62 has an upper gear 63 thereon which drives gear 64 on shaft 65 mounted in bracket "66 having a T-headed back riding in way 67 and pulled down by spring 68. The large upper knurling'wheel 20 is on the other end of shaft 65.

The printing mechanism above described is driven through means of chain 69 by a gear 70 on shaft 71, the

printing mechanism forming no part of the invention.

The cutting mechanism above described is mounted between plates 72 transversely slidable on rod 73 and shaft 26. The plates 72 are urged outwardly by spring 74 surrounding shaft 26 and they are periodically pushed inwardly against the spring by yfollower 75 ratably mounted on its own axis, but whose vaxis is iixedly mounted on shaft 26 by collar 76 in which it is mounted, surrounding shaft\,26.4 `Fixedly attached to adjacent ,plate 72 is cam 77 which'th e"foll,ower` rolls upon and periodically pushes plates 72 inwardly against the action of spring 74.

Keyed toshaft 26 and mounted between and moving with plates 72 is a gear 78 which drives gear 79 mounted on bearings in plates 72 and on which the knife 24 is pivoted at 80. The rear end of the knife is held back against the hub of gear 79 by spring 81. One of the plates 72 has an extended end 82 on which anvil 25 having slots 83 in its base 84 is mounted by means of screws 85.

The extended arm 82 also has thereon a striking roll 86 adjustably mounted at the end of arm 82, adjustable by screw 87 against which the extreme end of the knife 24 initially strikes and when the rotation of the gear 79 carries this end of the knife from the roll 86, after the extension of spring 81, it is released there by the continued rotation of the gear 79 and the added effect of the spring 81 carries the knife rapidly to the anvil 83 to sever the section of the tube already past the anvil. The sliding of the plates 72 carrying the knife and its operata ing mechanism-and lanvil allows for the travelling of the knife with the tube, at the same speed as the tube.

The tube forming mandrel bracket `15 and the tube forming elements 16, `17 and 18 are supported `on bracket 87 mounted on the frame 10 of the machine. The vertically sliding bracket 66 holding the upper knurling roll 20 may be held up against the action of spring 68 by means of pivoted cam V88 when vthe large Lportion of the cam is turned `upwardly `against a lower seat or ange 89 on the bottom of the bracket 66. It is desirable `to hold this upper Vknurling roll up when the strip or tape 2 is initially threaded through the tube former.

The conveyor member 22 having a pocket 21 therein is one Hight of a continuous or endless conveyor or magazine of similar flights all connected together by and mounted on chain 90 riding on supports 91 and passing around

end sprockets

92 and 93 mounted respectively on shafts 94 and 95.

The tube as it comes from the former is immediately over the initial horizontal iiight or pocket as shown in Figure 7. As previously stated the forward end of the tube before its severing from the continuous strip is guided downwardly into this initial pocket 21 by the spring 23. The throw of the knife blade 24 in the severing act tends to push the trailing end of the tube downn wardly into the same pocket, as previously stated the conveyor is stationary when the tube is rst inserted.

After the tube has been severed the conveyor moves forward one step. In its step-by-step motion, it is engaged by the presser foot 96 extending horizontally and longitudinally across the pocket 21. This presser foot is suspended vertically from arm 97 pivoted at 98 on arm 99 which is in turn pivoted on the base of the machine at 100. Arm 99 has spring 101 attached thereto at the approximate center of the arm, the other end being attached to the base of the frame 10 to pull the arm 99 to the rear. Another spring 102 is connected at its ends to

arms

99 and 97 to draw these arms together. An arm 103 is pivoted on arm 97 at 104 and it has at its lower or depending end a yoke 105 which rides over shaft 26 as shown in Figure 10. That shaft 26 has a cam 106 thereon as shown in this same Figure 10 and arm 103 has lfollower 107 rotating thereon, projecting from its side,

and bearing vupon the cam 106. Cam 106 by its rotation periodically raises arm 97 by means of the follower 107 on arm 103. Another arm 108 is pivoted at the base ofthe frame 10 at 109 and it has a follower 110 thereon riding upon the same cam 106. Arm 108 has a longitudinally extending opening 111 therein in which bolt 112 fast in arm 97 may move upand down. Arm 108 is held back against the cam 106 by means of the

springs

101 and 102 and it serves to push the arm 97 forward by the action of the cam 106 on the follower 110.

When the conveyor 22 moves forward one step the foot 96 comes down and guides the formed tube securely and accurately into the pocket where it has previously been placed. The ends of the tube are likewise held down and as the conveyor moves forward one more step the foot 96 through the above described action ofits supporting arm 97 moves forwardly with the conveyor as shown in dotted lines in Figures 12 and 13 at 113. This step of the conveyor and presser foot carries the ends of the tube under side guides 114 and 11S extending above the conveyor. On the next step forward of the conveyor .the arm 97 then raises the foot 96 as shown in dotted lines at 116 in Figure 12, so that it may be ready to lower the foot upon the next arriving tube in its respective pocket.

`cles are pushed lengthwise as shown The trailing end of the tube is then closed by upper and

lower knurling wheels

117 and 118. The shaft of wheel 118 is mounted in frrfnework 119 on the base of the frame and the wheel is` driven through gear 120 from gear 121 on shaft 94. Gear 120 in turn drives gear 122 on the shaft of knurlng wheel 118 and also fixed to this shaft is gear 123 driving gear 124 on the shaft 125 of the upper knurling wheel 117. This shaft 125 is mounted in bearing 126 pivoted at 127 to one side of the frame 119 and the shaft is held horizontal by means of spring 128 mounted in the other side of the frame 119 and bearing upon block 129 enclosing the intermediate part of the shaft 125. This pivoted resilient mounting of the shaft 125 allows the upper knurling wheel to be raised in its knurling or closing action on the tube as shown in Figure 14.

After the knurling or closing of the end of the trailing end of the tube, the tube continues its step-by-step passage with the conveyor along a horizontal or straight line as shown in Figure 1 and the trailing or rear end of the tube is held under the

guides

114 and 115 and the guide 114 has a vertical section 130 which prevents the tube from sliding longitudinally outwardly from the pocket.

The spring 23 is held in mounting angle 131 supported from angle 132 at one end and from the center framework 133 at the other end. i

An article conveyor 135 having a different or dissimilar path or orbit from the tube conveyor 22, is mounted on chains 136 passing around sprockets 13S and 139 on

shafts

140 and 141. The beginning of the horizontal run of conveyor 135 passes under hopper 142 from which the pockets of the conveyor 135 receive articles to be packaged in the tubes heretofore described. For a considerable distance the open pockets of the conveyor 135 pass under the accumulationof articles in the hopper and then the conveyor passes under transversely extending plate 143 which slopes downwardly toward the conveyor in the direction of the forward movement of the conveyor. Brushes 144 brush against the articles in the conveyor to move any articles adhering above the pockets backwardly olf the conveyor into the hopper. These brushes are on shaft 145 and they turn in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 3. As the articles move forward in the conveyor they are held down at the end adjacent the tube conveyor by guide 146 and they are held down adjacent their other end by guide 147 until their extreme other end is caught under pusher bar 14S which extends diagonally across the article conveyor and close to it, from the side removed from the tube conveyor to a position adjacent that conveyor as shown in A Figure l. This bar 148 has an acutely projecting lower edge 149 shown in Figure 16 which extends quite closely to the surface of the conveyor 135 as shown in this figure. Also as shown in this gure the pockets of the article conveyor are relatively shallow in proportion to the diameter of the articles to give the pusher bar edge 149 an adequate grip upon the articles to move them longitudinally with the step-by-step progression of the article conveyor.

The pockets of the respective conveyors are maintained in axial longitudinal alignment so that as the artiin Figure 15 by the bar 143 they enter the axial center of the 'wrapping tubes. As is also shown in Figures l5 and 16 the bar 148 not only has on it the pushing edge at 149, but the bar extends outwardly over the ends of the articles as shown at 150 to hold them down and to prevent their escape from the conveyor pockets. Figures 17, 18 and 19 further show the central positioning of the articles in the tubes as both articles and tubes progress step-by-step with their respective conveyors along the upper horizontal runs of the two conveyors. As illustrated the machine is packaging two articles or drinking straws in each wrapping tube, the two straws beinD in a single pocket longitudinally aligned with a corresponding wrapping tube pocket. lt will be noted that in the packaging of two straws, the conveyor pockets are made wide and the guides hold the tube partially flat, to hold it open, to permit the entry of the two straws.

As the conveyors reach the extreme end of their horizontal run, shown in Figure 20, the bar 14S ends before the articles are inserted all the way into the tubes. As the conveyor 135 rounds its sprockets at this end there is some tendency of the conveyor pocket to carry the ends of the articles around with it and this is overcome by the cam or guide placed between the two conveyors to clear the articles from the article conveyor 135. The action of this guide is clearly shown in Figure 27.

A tapper 156 pivoted on shaft 157 next engages the ends of the articles audit moves from the dotted position of Figures 20 and 28 to the full-line position of these iigures under the action of a quickly released spring 158. This tapper operates periodically as each pocket containing two articles is moved in front of it and gives the articles an endwise tap or ip and throws them longitudinally all the way into their respective wrapping tube.

The vertical extension 130 of the guide 114 has an opening 159 therein as shown in Figure 2l. Should it have become necessary to removeany wrapping tubes from the wrapping tube conveyor because of some imperfection in their formation so that certain flights or pockets of the tube conveyor arrive without wrapping tubes therein, it is not necessary to stop the operation of either conveyor to prevent the delivery of unwrapped articles therefrom, rather this tapping mechanism operates with adequate force not only to throw the articles longitudinally into the wrapping tubes but also to throw articles in tube pockets where a tube is absent through the machine and through opening 159 from the machine into a collector which may be placed near the orice 159 to receive them, from which they may be removed and again placed into the hopper 142 for packaging.

The tubes then pass under the nal knul-ling wheels 161 and 162 which close their open ends and then the tubes pass onwardly and the

guides

114 and 115 terminate so that the ends of the tubes, the tubes being sealed at both ends, are exposed and guides 163 pass in adjacent to sprockets 93 on shaft 95 and lift the filled tubes from the pockets 21 of the conveyor 22. These guides 163 have sides 164 to form a chute down which the packed tubes may fall into carton 165. While the cartons are being changed, the open backed hopper 166 having a bottom 167, the hopper being pivoted at 16S, is released by an operative to fall t-o chute`163, and allowed to catch the oncoming tubes.

Driven shaft 95 has thereon gear 170 which drives gear 171 on shaft 172 carrying lower knurling wheel 162. This shaft 172 also carries gear 173 driving gear 174 on shaft 175 carrying upper knurling wheel 161. Shaft 175 1s mounted in bearing 176 hinged at 177 to upright 173 on the base of the machine. The intermediate portion of shaft 175 is in a bearing 178A held down by spring 179 to allow for a measure of vertical movement of the upper knurling wheel 161 as the tube passes thereunder for closing. l

Shaft 95 has a further gear 180 thereon which drives gear 181 on stub shaft 182 which also has thereon ratchet wheel 183 periodically depressing ratchet 134 on the base 185 of tapper arm 1.56 in order to impart thereto the periodical lifting to release the arm against the articles.

The mechanisms above described are driven from a motor which is turned on and allowed to run idle untll power is desired for the machine. The motor, when power is desired, drives belt 191 extending around sheave 192 which is divided, with the outer section keyed to its shaft and the double inner section iloating between the outer section and a similar outer section for the other sheave 193. These sheaves are mounted on arms 194 pivoted to the base of the frame at 195 and connected at their top by rod 196 which is moved backwardly and forwardly bv the extension 197 from the piston of cylinder 198. The sheave 193 has therearound belt 199 driving pulley 200 holding clutch member 201, Figure 22.

Rod 196 also has thereon sleeve 202 through which slides rod 203 pivotally xed at 204 to the frame of the machine and which rod 203 has collars 205 adjustably xed thereon to limit the extent of forward and backward movement of the arms 194.

Hydraulic fluid is admitted to the cylinder 19S through

tubes

206 and 207. These tubes are connected with hydraulic valve 210 and adjacent these two outlets are

return lines

211 and 212 to return the hydraulic fluid to the small hydraulic pump 213 operated from the main drive shaft of the motor continuously when the motor is running. A fluid pressure line 214 also is connected with this pump which circulates the hydraulic fluid through the valve 210 and in the position of the valve shown in VFigure 32 the pressure is being admitted to the cylinder When the valve piston 215 is moved to operate the machine by pulling the piston to the right in Figure 32, the hydraulic fluid will ilovi through the tube 207 and move the sheaves 192 and 193 to the right in Figure 3, the rst one then expanding and the latter contracting as shown in Figure 31, and the speed of the drive imparted to pulley 200 will gradually increase as the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 198 throws the sheaves 192 and 193 to the right.

Clutch arm 216 to close the clutch on clutch member 201 to operate shaft 217 is actuated by rod 218 having thereon lever 219 connected with rod 226 which is in turn connected with clutch member 216.

Shaft 218 also has thereon lever 221 connected by rod 222 and ear 223 to move the piston 215 lengthwise. This movement is imparted by means of the spaced collars 224 on the piston rod. The free play allowed between these collars first permits the clutch 261 to be closed before actuating the hydraulic valve to either start or stop the main operatingparts of the machine. it will be apparent that rod 218 may be thrown by either lever l225 or lever 226.

Shaft 217 imparts a reciprocal motion to the conveyors through means of reciprocating arm 230 which is made of two

sections

231 and 232 joined by screws 233 through I beam section 234. Shaft 217 has at its extreme end beyond the bearing in the frame of the machine 10, as shown in Figure 23, a rotating plate 235 having therein slot 236, see Figure l2, in which may be adjusted by screws 237 plate 238 on which is mounted stub shaft 239 extending in the bearing 246 at the end of arm 231). This sliding plate makes possible the accurate adjustment of the length of the stroke given the arm 23).

The arm 230 at its other end is mounted in arm 241 rocking on stub shaft 242, the arm 241 carrying dog 243 at its reciprocating end. Dog 243 is held down toward the arm 241 by means of spring 244. Dog 243 works on ratchet wheel 245 also on shaft 242. Also on this shaft 242 is gear 246 which drives gear 247 on shaft 95 to drive the same step-by-step. A co-operating dog 248 is on the reverse side of the ratchet wheel 245 and is held against it by spring 249 to maintain it in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 245 and to prevent the reversed rotation thereof. Shaft 95 drives shaft 141 through means of

sprockets

251, 252 and chain 253, a belt tightener sprocket 254 being interposed between the respective sprockets. Sprocket 252 may be accurately adjusted on shaft 141 to bring the pockets of the two conveyors into alignment, through means of screws and slots 255 illustrated in Figure 22 and in section in Figure 30.

Continuous rotary motion is brought from shaft 217 by means of chain 256 to shaft 71. From this shaft this motion is brought by means of chain 257 to shaft 26, and by means of twisted belt 258 power is brought to stub shaft 259 and from thence by belt 26d to shaft 145 carrying the hopper brushes.

Carton 165 rests upon platform 261 rigidly aiixed to arm 262 pivoted at its lower end to extension 263 from the machine. Arm 262is given a vibratory motion back and forth thereby vibrating the holder 261 and carton 165 by means of arm 264 pivotedly attached to the top of arm 262 at one end and having at its other end a yoke 265 surrounding shaft 217 and reciprocating thereon. The arm 262 is held backward toward the machine by means of spring 266. The arm 262 is pushed outwardly from the machine by means of two-lobed cam 267 on shaft 217 which works against follower 263 rotating on roller bearings and held through means of bolt 269 on arm 264, Figures 23 and 26.

An alternate form of mechanism for pushing the articles into the tubes is shown in Figures 33 to 41 inclusive.

In this form the tube conveyor is identical to that shown in the previously described form. So is the article conveyor identical in every respect except that the pockets are deeper. As shown in Figures and 41 these pockets 270 are substantially as deep as the diameter of the article and the article and tube are aligned by the two conveyors as shown in these figures.

In this modication, rather than having a single pusher bar, as previously described, there are a plurality of lugs 271. 'These lugs have a smooth surface on one side facing .a bar 272, the bar having a groove 273 in the periphery of its edges, in which these lugs 271 fit slidingly. The `gr,oove 2 73 has Lside grooves 274 in which a.A pin 275,

going transversely through each lug, slides. The bar 272 may be assembled with all of its lugs therein by placing them in one at a time, rst in the groove 273 and then by placing the pins through the single opening 276 in the side of one of the grooves 274. After thus assembling the lugs in the bar they form a complete unit and the opening 276 may be closed by plate 277.

The outer or exposed surfaces of the lugs have on them projecting portions 278 which are positioned angularly with respect to the sides of the lugs so that when the bar 272 is angularly placed across the conveyor 135 as shown in Figures 33 and 34, these projecting portions 278 on the lower run of the lugs, t exactly into the pockets 270 of the conveyor 135 as most clearly shown in Figure 38, then as the conveyor moves along it pulls the lugs along which are in the pockets 270 and in that movement of the conveyor forwardly the lugs also move transversely and `push the articles into the tubes by slow step-by-step stages as described in connection with the previous modification. in order to guide the lugs at the ends of the bar 272, plates 279 are placed around these ends having an inwardly directed shoulder 280 which rests over rounded shoulder 281 on one side of the lugs. This plate 279 prevents the lugs from cooking and being blocked in their forward movement around the ends of the bar 272. This action of the plate 279 is clearly shown in Figure 36.

The operation of the machine of the invention with its two forms of pushing device will be apparent from the above detailed description. It will also be apparent that since the articles are pushed by such slow stages into the tubes that there is no mutilating or cocking of these tubes and that since so many are being partially filled at the same time that a very large number may be formed and filled at a very rapid rate.

Changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the machine may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for packaging articles in tubes comprising two parallel travelling magazines each having elongated pockets therein perpendicular to the direction of magazine travel, means to drive said magazines to maintain the pockets in one magazine in longitudinal alignment with those in the other during a portion of their travel, means to place in the pockets of one magazine a series of wrapping tubes, means to place in the pockets of the other magazine a series of articles, and individual lugs having projections entering each article pocket and stationary guide means for said lugs extending over and adjacent the ends of placed articles to hold the articles and lugs in the pockets, and diagonally across the pockets in the article magazine, from near the place of filling the article magazine pockets on the side away from the tube magazine to a place near the tube magazine, in the direction of travel of the magazine, said lugs engaging each article and being guided by the guide across the article magazine and cooperating with the article magazine and the travel of the magazines to push the articles of the series of articles from each article pocket separaely progressively into the aligned tube of the series of tu es.

2. A machine for packaging slender articles in fragile tubes comprising two parallel conveyors each having cross-wise extending elongated pockets therein, certain of the pockets in one conveyor being longitudinally alignable with certain of those in the other conveyor, means to drive said conveyors to maintain said alignment during a portion of their travel, means to place in the pockets of one conveyor a series of slender articles, said article receiving pockets being sized to hold the articles from lateral displacement, means to place fragile tubes formed from continuous stock serially into the pockets of the other conveyor, said tube receiving pockets being sized to hold the tubes from lateral displacement, guides at the sides of said other conveyor to hold the tubes in the pockets and means coacting with the conveyor travel to press the placed tubes into the conveyor pockets and under said guides and means to sever the formed tubes from the stock after locating them Vin said other conveyor pockets, and individual lugs having projections enteringeach article pocket and guide means for said lugs extending over and adjacent the ends of placed articles