US2700922A

US2700922A - Carton setup machine

Info

Publication number: US2700922A
Application number: US310321A
Authority: US
Inventors: Curtis S Jordan
Original assignee: GEN PACKAGE CORP
Current assignee: GEN PACKAGE CORP; GENERAL PACKAGE Corp
Priority date: 1952-09-18
Filing date: 1952-09-18
Publication date: 1955-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1972-02-01

Description

Feb. 1, 1955 c. s. JORDAN 2,700,922

CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l INYENTOR. 640125 5 daraazz,

BY W WW0 Feb. 1, 1955 c. 5. JORDAN CARTON SETUP MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1952 1i| Ill-IIIIIIFIII Nmw mi E I V0 mJ Feb. 1, 1955 c. 5. JORDAN 00,922

CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Cuff/5 5 Jordan,

Feb. 1, 1955 c. s. JORDAN CARTON SETUP MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 18, 1952 WHY NQ km Feb. 1, 1955 c. s. JORDAN CARTON SETUP MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 18. 1952 INVENTOR. claim 5 Jordan BY Mr- [/W Feb. 1, 1955 C. 5. JORDAN 2,700,922

CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

cwzz a Jordan, BY

United States Patent CARTON SETUP MACHINE Curtis S. Jordan, Maywood, Califl, assignor to General Package Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1952, Serial No. 310,321 12 Claims. (Cl. 93--37) This invention relates to a machine for setting up paperboard cartons and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a machine for setting up egg cartons of the type which is illustrated in the patent to Troyk No. 1,783,397 dated December 2, 1930, for Cushion Cartons.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved carton set-up machine which is adapted to feed successive collapsed cartons from a magazine and set-up the same rapidly and efiiciently, with the individual cartons being transferred from the machine, when set up, to a delivery mechanism, without damage to the foldable wall and partition members of the carton.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a machine for erecting or setting up cartons of the type which are formed from a single blank and which are characterized by integrally connected side and bottom walls and integrally connected cross partition formations which are foldable in two directions relative to the side walls to which they are joined, and into an upright position relative to the bottom wall, with portions of the partions being engaged in apertures provided in the bottom wall, the bottom wall being partially folded upon itself to form a longitudinal central partition in the carton, and the cross partitions being interlocked with said longitudinal partition formation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carton set-up machine comprising a stack or magazine for receiving a plurality of the cartons in collapsed knocked-down condition, in combination with feed mech anism for feeding the lower-most carton forwardly of the stack and into position for operation thereon by a plurality of set-up instrumentalities which include a reciprocating partition set-up head on which the body of the carton is supported while it is being set-up, and a serie of oscillating arms operable on the bottom and side walls of the carton to move them into position for receiving the cross-partition members which are simultaneously moved into bottom engaging relation by operation of suitable folding plates on the set-up head.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide set-up mechanism for erecting containers of the type described which comprises a supporting frame having a top surface at one end of which there is mounted a magazine for receiving a stack of the containers in partially folded, collapsed condition, a feed mechanism for delivering successive containers from the magazine and advancing them along the top surface of the supporting frame to a plurality of wall erecting instrumentalities, a container supporting head mounted for reciprocation, above the top surface of the supporting frame, between the magazine and the wall erecting instrumentalities, the head being adapted to advance into a forward position to receive the successive containers as the side walls thereof are erected and having cross partition folding mem bers automatically operable upon forward movement of the head to engage the container cross partitions and move the same into position for interlocking engagement with the container walls, and mechanism for removing the erected containers from the head and advancing them forwardly therefrom as the head is retracted.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the carton-set-up apparatus which is shown by way of illustrations in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carton set-up machine WhlCh embodies the principal features of the invention;

2,700,922 Patented Feb. 1, 1955 ice Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side elevation of the set-up machine;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken generally on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse section taken generally on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the set-up head;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the feeding arm;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a carton in the collapsed condition in which it is positioned in the feeding compartment of the machine; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the carton in the set-up condition in which it is discharged from the machine.

The Troyk type carton, which the present machine is particularly adapted to manipulate or set up for use, is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. The carton is formed from a unitary paperboard blank, cut, creased or scored, folded and glued as hereinafter described. It is supplied to the user in knocked-down condition as shown in Fig. 10.

The carton which is designated by the reference numeral 10 comprises a relatively narrow end panel or locking strip 11 extending across one end of the blank from which the carton is formed and having locking hooks along its free edge. The locking strip 11 is bendable along transverse score line 12 with respect to a cover 13 which adjoins the same and which is bendable along a fold line 14 with respect to a rear wall 15. The rear wall 15 is bendable along a fold line 16 with respect to a bottom forming panel 17, which is in turn bendable with respect to substantially duplicate bottom forming panel 18 along a medial crease or score line 19. A row of inwardly directed openings 20 (Fig. 10) is formed along the juncture of the

bottom forming panels

17 and 18 to receive the transverse cell defining partitions 21 in the set-up condition of the carton. A row of transversely spaced elongate openings 22 are provided in the bottom forming panel 18, each of which is adapted to receive a hooked end 23 of a transverse partition 21 of the erected carton. The bottom forming panel 17 is also provided with a row of openings 22 which are identical in size and location except for the central opening, indicated at 24, which is somewhat longer and which traverses fold line 16 a substantial distance into the rear wall 15 (Fig. 10).

The openings in the two panels are in alignment in the folded condition of the panels with the central opening 24 in the bottom panel 17 extending at one end beyond the end of the somewhat shorter central opening 22 in the bottom panel 18 so that a portion or area 25 of the bottom panel 18, which is the uppermost panel, is accessible through the opening 24 in the bottom panel 17, in the knocked-down condition of the carton. This permits the spreading or opening up of the body of the carton by the hereinafter described carton body spreading member during the operation of the machine.

The bottom forming panel 18 is foldable with respect to a front side wall 26 along a fold line 27. A plurality of individual transverse partitions 21 are cut out as a unit from a panel extending between front side wall forming panel 26 and a terminal glue strip 28, which latter is attached by adhesive or other similar fastening means to the inner surface of rear wall 15 to lie in face contacting engagement therewith. In the knocked-down condition of the carton the transverse partitions 21 are folded along medial score line 29 to lie coplanar with and against one another, forming a double ply of material. In setting up the carton, when the

carton walls

15 and 26 spread apart, the transverse partitions 21 open out into flat horizontal extending position between the

Walls

15 and 26, and are thereafter swingable from flat, coplanar relation to vertical relation between and normal to the

side walls

15 and 26. The last named swinging occurs on opposed generally triangular hinge forming portions 30.

Each transverse partition 21 is provided at its outer end with opposed identical hooks 31, which face each other, and which are adapted to engage in the slots 22 in the bottom

wall forming panels

17 and 18.

In the erected condition of the carton 10, the

bottom forming panels

17 and 18 are folded on the median line 19 into inverted V formation to extend between thc hooks 31 (Fig. 11), of the spaced transverse partitions 21, forming a two-walled longitudinal partition which cooperates with the transverse partitions 21 to divide the carton into two rows of cells. The medial portion above the opening between the hooks 31 of each transverse partition extends through the opening adjacent the juncture of the

bottom panels

17 and 18 and the opposed hooks 31 extend through the openings 22 in the

bottom panels

17 and 18, being firmly engaged therein and locked positively against withdrawal.

The machine of the present invention is adapted to erect cartons of the type shown in Figs. 10 and 11, from the fully flattened out, knocked-down condition in which they have been shipped to users, as shown in Fig. 10, to the fully erected article receiving condition shown in Fig. 1].

The operating parts of the machine are mounted on an upright supporting base or frame which comprises vertical corner post members 41 terminating at

top side rails

42, 43 and a top cross rail 44 which connects the

side rails

42, 43 at one end of the frame and forms therewith a generally rectangular top supporting structure.

A magazine or hopper 45 for receiving a stack of knocked-down cartons of the type described herewith, is supported on the top structure of the frame. The magazine 45 comprises pairs of rear and front angle

iron corner uprights

46 and 47, respectively, both pairs of uprights being supported in a suitable manner on the end rail 44 and the

side rails

42, 43 with the uprights located or spaced in proper position to receive the stack of cartons. Longitudinally extending, laterally spaced

elongate plates

48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 extend between the end cross rail 44 and a cross rail 55 spaced toward the forward or discharge end of the machine, which plates form a floor or bottom for the magazine 45 and extend a substantial distance forwardly of the same. The bottom carton blank rests on the top of the plates, all of the latter having their upper surfaces in the same horizontal plane. A bracket 56 at the rear end of the magazine holds the cartons in an inclined position to facilitate the feeding of the bottom carton, the carton blanks being arranged with the bottom wall panels 17 in the downwardly facing position. Successive bottom cartons are fed from the magazine 45 in a forward direction by a reciprocating feed mechanism.

The collapsed carton feed mechanism comprises four longitudinally extending

bars

57, 57 and 58, 58 which are secured to a transversely extending carrier or cross tie plate 60. The

feed bars

57, 57 and 58, 58 are arranged in parallel edgewise supported relation on the cross plate 60 for reciprocating movement in the spaces between the

support plates

49, 50, 51, 52, 53. The plate 60 is secured to a central reciprocating bracket member 61 which is provided with an elongate internal bore receiving a guide bar 62 which extends longitudinally of the center of the supporting frame 40 and is attached at its ends to the rear cross rail 44 and the forward cross rail 55. The carrier bracket 61 is reciprocated on the guide rod 62 by a properly timed operated mechanism which will be subsequently described.

The center feed bars 57. 57 are identical and each carries a spring-pressed feed finger 63. The outer feed bars 58, 58 are also identical and each carries a feed finger 64. As shown in Fig. 9, feed finger 64 is mounted in a longitudinal slot 65 in the forward end of the bar 58 by a pivot pin 66 at the forward end of bar 58 and is urged in counter-clockwise direction by a wire spring 67 secured at one end to the bar 58 and extending at the other end beneath the feed finger 64 at the rearward end thereof. The feed finger 64 is provided with an abutment forming portion 68 extending upwardly of the portion rearwardly of pivot 66, which is adapted to engage in a slot 22 in the bottom wall forming panel 17 of the bottom carton in the magazine 45 on the forward movement of the feed mechanism. The finger 64 is provided at its forward extremity with a forwardly opening generally V-shaped abutment member 69 for a purpose which will be described subsequently. The fingers 64 on the outer feed bars 58 are identical while the feed fingers 63 on the inner feed bars 57 are of the same construction except for the abutment formation 69 on the forward extremity which is omitted therefrom.

As the individual cartons are advanced or fed forwardly from the bottom of the magazine 45, they are held in flattened relation on the

bars

48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 by a pair of spring clamp members 70 (Figs. 1 and 2) which extend forwardly and downwardly of a cross plate 71 on the front wall of the magazine 45, the clamp members 70 being attached, at the one end thereof, to the cross plate 71 above the

top support plates

50, 52. The carton is fed forwardly and held in flat condition by the springs 70 until it reaches a predetermined point where the forward movement is interrupted by engagement with a plurality of oscillating arms 72. The arms 72 have a hook-like abutment formation 73 on the ends (Figs. 1 and 5) which engage the advancing carton. The arms 72 are secured to a cross shaft 74 which extends between the top side rails 42, 43 and which is provided at one end with an operating arm 75 connected to an operating mechanism which will be described sub sequently. The hook portions 73 of the arms 72 are movable upwardly above the top of the supporting frame 40 and provide abutment stops against which the forward edge of the knocked-down carton engages.

A central carton spreading finger 76 (Figs. 3 and 5) is arranged to move upwardly in proper timed relation to the movement of the fingers 72, the movement of the former lagging somewhat the upward movement of the fingers 72. The spreading finger 76, which is curved and moves in a curved path, is connected at its lower end to the end of an operating link member 77. The link member 77 is pivoted at the other end on a relatively short fixed supporting shaft 78 which extends between the side frame rail 42 and an inwardly extending bracket 79 mounted on the top cross rail 44. The link member 77 is provided with a cam roller 80 which is held in engagement by means of tension spring 81 with a cam 82 on cross shaft 83, which constitutes the main cam shaft of the machine. The finger 76 is moved upwardly in proper timed relation to the movement of the carton feed mechanism and the stop arms or fingers 72 to bring the end of the finger 76 through the aperture 24 in the bottom wall forming panel 17 of the blank and into engagement with the area 25 of the wall forming panel 18. Operation of the spreading finger 76 causes wall 26 to move upwardly in relation to the wall 15, bringing the carton into the position shown in Fig. 5 so that the cross partition forming panels may be properly engaged against an oscillating head 84 on which the carton is adapted to be supported for the remainder of the setting-up operatlons.

The carton supporting head 84 is mounted for oscillating movement in a path above the top of the supporting frame 40. It is attached at its ends to generally vertically

side arm members

85 and 86, each of which is pivoted to a cross shaft 87 supported in suitable bearings 87 at the base of the machine. The

vertical arm members

85, 86 are provided with cam rollers 88, 88' engaging in operative relation with the cams 89 and 90 on opposite ends of the main cam shaft 83. The head 84 is oscillated or reciprocated by the earns 89 and 90 in timed relation to the movement of the other folding or setting-up instrumentalities on the frame 40. Tension springs 85' and 86' secured at one end to the

arm members

85 and 86 and at the other end to the frame 40 hold the

cam rollers

88, 88 in engagement with the cams 89 and 90.

The set-up head 84 comprises a generally rectangular frame 91 secured at its sides or ends to the top portions of

arms

85, 86 and having upper and lower frame bars 92 and 93 between which there is pivotally mounted a plurality of cross partition folding leaves 94 which are arranged in spaced relation across the width of the head 84, with the number of leaves 94 being determined by the number of cross partitions in the carton which is being set-up by the machine. The leaves 94 are of the same general shape as the partitions which they are adapted to operate upon but somewhat smaller in size. Each of the leaves 94 is supported between the frame bars 92 and 93 on a pivoted shaft 95 and each leaf carries, intermediate its top and bottom edges, a radially projecting forked lug 96 which is pivotally connected to an actuating bar 97 extending cross-wise of the head in approximately the center thereof. At

one side of the leaves 94 adjacent the pivoted support therefor there is arranged a pair of fixed folders or abutment members 98 which extend forwardly of the top and

bottom bars

92 and 93. 't he fixed folding members 98 cooperate with the folding leaves 94 and also initiate or start the folding of the cross partitions 21. The leaves 94 extend outwardly and forwardly of the head 84 at an angle to the abutment members 98 and are adapted to be moved toward the abutment members 98 to complete the erection of the cross partition members and to engage the hooked ends 23 thereof in the apertures 22 in the

bottom walls

17 and 18 when the carton is completely erected. All of the plates 94 are simultaneously operated by movement of the cross actuating bar 97 with which they are all pivotally connected. Two of the leaf supporting pivot bars 95 are extended at the top and carry on the extended ends 99 thereof operating arms 100 which are rotated upon movement of the head 84 by springs 101. The springs 101 are connected at the one end 102 to the outer ends of the arms 100 and at the other end 103 to the front cross plate member 71 on the supply magazine 45 for the carton blanks. The head 84 is provided, on the upper surface of the top cross bar 92, with a guide or guard plate 104 which forms an abutment for limiting the upward movement of the side wall panel 26 as the carton is moved into setup position on the head 84.

As the head 84 is moved forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the fingers 72, which have held the carton against forward movement up to this point, and the central tucking finger 76, move in the counterclockwise direction out of engagement with the carton. As the fingers 72 recede a plurality of lifting fingers or arms 105 are moved up into engagement with the carton. The fingers 105 are 1 frame at the forward end of the machine.

mounted on a cross shaft 106 and each is provided with Y a V-shaped recess 107 ad acent the end for engaging the

bottom panels

17 and 18 of the carton adjacent the score line 19. The cross shaft 106 is rotated in proper timed relation by means of a crank arm 108 secured at one end to the shaft and at the other end pivotally connected to one end of the link 109, the latter being in'turn pivotally connected at its other end to the upper end of a vertically extending oscillating arm 110. The arm 110 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the cross shaft 87 and is provided with a cam roller 111 in engagement with a cam 112 on the cam shaft 83. A tension spring 110' connected at one end to the arm 110 and at the other end to a fixed portion of the frame holds the cam roller 111 in engagement with the cam 112.

As the head 84 moves forwardly into engagement with the partially opened-out carton which is being lifted towards the head 84 by the operation of the arms the cross partition folding plates 94 are pivoted into position normal to the front face of the frame 91 to bring the cross partition members 21 about the hinges 30 into position for insertion of the hooked ends thereof into the slots 22 in the

bottom wall members

17 and 18. As the fingers 105 carry the carton into engagement with the head 84 a plurality of bottom tucking or erecting fingers 114 move upwardly towards the position shown in Fig. 7. The tucking fingers 114 comprise the upper legs of generally U-shaped body members 115 having the other legs 116 thereof attached at their ends to a cross shaft 117. The cross shaft 117 is supported in side brackets 118 depending from the

side frame members

42 and 43 and is rotated or oscillated by a crank arm 119 secured to the shaft 117 at one end and at the other end pivotally connected to one end of a link member 120. The link member 120 is pivotally connected at its other end to the upper end of a generally vertically extending oscillating arm 121 which is supported at its lower end on the cross shaft 87 and provided with a cam roller 122 which is held in engagement with the operating cam 123 on the cam shaft 83 by tension spring 121'. In the retracted position, the tucking fingers 114 are beneath the top surface of the frame 40. As the supporting shaft 117 is rotated clockwise the tucking fingers 114 move into engagement with the

bottom panels

17, 18 of the carton along the line 19 and carry the

bottom panels

17 and 18 into final position with the hook portions 31 of the cross partition members 21 engaged in'the apertures or slots 22. Thereafter the tucking fingers 114 immediately retract and move beneath the top surface of the frame to permit the carton, which is now fully erected, to be discharged from the machine.

When the carton is released by the fingers 72 and started by movement of the lifting arms 105 toward the head 84 the feeding fingers for the blanks begin their retracting movement to pick up the next succeeding blank. The feeding fingers 63, 64 are swung down out of feeding position as they move back into position beneath the next succeeding carton in the bottom of the stack. As the fingers 63, 64 reach fully retracted position the abutment portions 68 thereof are moved by the springs 67 into the slots 22 for the forward feeding movement. As the feeding mechanism moves forwardly on the feeding stroke the V-shaped portions 69 on the ends of the feeding fingers 64 engage the trailing edge of the preceding carton, which has been erected on the head 84, and move it forwardly out of engagement with the head 84. At this point the head 84 begins to retract and releases the set up carton, the partition folding wings 94 being pulled into normal position as shown in Fig. 1 by the actuating bar 97 which is urged toward its retracted position by a tension spring 124 connected to one end of the actuating bar 97 and to the post 125 on the upper end of the side member 85. As the set up carton moves forwardly it is ejected onto a delivery mechanism indicated at 126 by a plurality of laterally spaced ejecting fingers 127 (Fig. 3) which are mounted on a sleeve 128 on a cross shaft or bar 129 which extends between the uprights 41 of the The supporting sleeve 128 for the ejecting fingers 127 is operated by a cam arm 130 connected to one end of the link 131 which is in turn connected at its other end to one arm 132 of a bell crank which is rotatably mounted on the power shaft 133 (Fig. 4) and which carries on the end of the other arm 134 a cam roller 135 for engagement with the operating cam 136 on the cam shaft 83. A tension spring 132', connected at one end to the arm 132 and at the other end to the frame 40 holds the cam roller 135 in engagement with the cam 136. The ejecting or kick-off members 127 are each provided with a hooklike end 137 which is adapted to engage the trailing edge of the carton and move it onto a discharge conveyor 138 in the discharge chute 126. The conveyor 138 is driven by a sprocket 139 on the cross shaft 129. The cross shaft 129 is rotated by means of a sprocket 140, at one end of the shaft 129, which is in turn driven by sprocket 141 on the power shaft 133 and connecting chain 142. The power shaft 133 is mounted in end bearing blocks 143 which are supported on longitudinally extending laterally spaced supporting rails 144 forming part of the main frame. The power shaft 133 is driven by a pulley 145 and belt 146 connecting with a motor pulley 147 on the motor 148 which is supported on the base of the frame beneath the shaft 133.

The power shaft 133 (Fig. 4) is connected by drive gears 149 and 150 with the cam shaft 83, which also extends crosswise of the machine, and. is journaled in suitable bearings 151 supported on the rails 144.

The cam 89 on the end of cam shaft 83 (Fig. 2) is connected by a link 152 and an arm 153 to the bottom cross shaft 154 which is supported in suitable bearings 155 on the base of the frame. The rock shaft 154 carries an upright arm 156 which is pivotally connected at 157 to the bracket 61 for operating the carton blank feed mechanism. The rock shaft 154 also carries the arm 158 (Fig. 3) which is pivotally connected to the lower end of link 159, the upper end of the latter being pivotally connected to the arm 75 for oscillating the shaft 74.

The discharge mechanism 126 has not been shown or described in detail because the exact structure employed may be varied considerably. Preferably, two or more inclined guide bars 160 are arranged at the discharge end of the machine to facilitate delivery of the set-up cartons in a direction forwardly from the set-up head to the discharge mechanism 126.

While the machine as illustrated is adapted to operate on a 2 x 6 paperboard carton in which there is provided a total of seven cross partition members which are movable into partition forming relation in the same direction, it will be understood that the machine may be modified by suitable changes in the set-up head and the direction of movement of certain of the folding plates 94 to set up a carton in which the cross partition members are not all movable into position in the same direction, as is the case with a divided or divisible carton in which half of the partition members are movable into position from the opposite direction. Also the number of feeding fingers for removing the lowermost carton out of the stack may be varied and located so as to feed a carton of somewhat different character. All that is required is that suitable apertures be provided in the wall of the carton to receive the feeding fingers and permit the lowermost carton to be moved forwardly out of the stack the required distance to bring it into set-up position in front of the head 84. Likewise the number and location of the folding or lifting and tucking fingers may be varied depending on the specific construction of the carton which is being set up.

While specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the invention it will be understood that other details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for setting up a collapsed cellular paperboard carton which carton is characterized by a connected series of panels adapted to be erected into container side and bottom wall forming members and cross partition forming members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall forming members, means for advancing successive cartons in flattened collapsed condition into a set-up zone, a set-up head mounted for oscillation into and out of the set-up zone above the path of movement of the collapsed carton, said head having movable cross partition folding plates, oscillating stop members movable into the set-up zone and engageable with the leading edge of the successive collapsed cartons as they are advanced into said zone, cooperating oscillating carton expanding means movable upwardly from beneath the path of movement of the collapsed carton through an opening in a downwardly facing wall of the carton to engage and move upwardly therefrom the opposite upwardly facing wall thereof whereby to separate the side wall forming members of the carton and position the top wall panel for engagement with the oscillating head as the latter moves into said set-up zone, and an oscillating carton bottom tucking finger movable into engagement with the partially set-up carton along a line coinciding with the leading edge thereof to move the bottom wall forming members toward the head and into final set-up position, the head having means for moving the cross partition folding plates into partition folding relation as the head moves forwardly.

' 2. Mechanism for setting up a collapsed cellular paperboard carton which carton is characterized by a connected series of panels adapted to be erected into container side and bottom forming members and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, a magazine for receiving a stack of the collapsed cartons, oscillating feed mechanism having pivoted fingers engageable with the lowermost carton in the magazine to move said carton forwardly thereof in a predetermined path into a set-up zone, a set-up head mounted for oscillation between the magazine and the set-up zone above the path of movement of said carton, said head having cross partition folding plates, oscillating stop members movable into the path of movement of the carton and engageable with the leading edge of the collapsed carton, cooperating oscillating carton expanding means movable upwardly through an opening in a downwardly facing wall of the carton to engage and move upwardly therefrom the opposite upwardly facing wall of the collapsed carton whereby to separate the side walls of the carton and position the top wall for engagement with the oscillating head as the latter moves in the forward direction and an oscillating bottom tucking finger engageable with the partially set-up carton along a line coinciding with the leading edge thereof to move the bottom wall panels toward the head and into final set-up position, the head having means for moving the cross partition folding plates into partition folding relation as the head moves forwardly.

3. Mechanism for setting up a collapsed cellular paperboard carton which carton is characterized by a connected series of panels adapted to be erected into container side and bottom wall forming members and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, a magazine for receiving a stack of the collapsed cartons, oscillating feed mechanism beneath said magazine having pivoted fingers engageable with the lowermost carton in the magazine to move said carton forwardly thereof into a set-up zone, a set-up head mounted for oscillating between said magazine and the set-up zone above the path of movement of said carton, said head having cross partition folding plates, stop members movable into the path of movement of the carton and engageable with the leading edge of the collapsed carton, cooperating carton expanding means movable through an opening in a downwardly facing wall of the carton to engage and move upwardly therefrom the opposite upwardly facing wall of the collapsed carton whereby to separate the side walls of the carton and position the top wall for engagement with the oscillating head as the latter moves in the forward direction, and a movable bottom tucking finger adapted to be positioned for engaging with the partially set-up carton along a line coinciding with the leading edge thereof to move the bottom wall panels toward the set-up head and into final set-up position, said set-up head having means for automatically moving the cross partition folding plates into partition folding relation as the head moves forwardly.

4. Mechanism for setting up a collapsed cellular paperboard carton which carton is characterized by a connected series of panels adapted to be erected into container side and bottom wall forming members and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, means to advance the cartons into a set-up zone, a set-up head mounted for oscillating between said magazine and the set-up zone, said head having a series of pivoted cross partition folding plates, oscillating stop members movable upwardly into the path of movement of the cartons and engageable with the leading edge of successive cartons, cooperating oscillating carton expanding means movable through an opening in a downwardly facing wall of the carton to engage and move upwardly therefrom the opposite upwardly facing wall thereof whereby to separate the side walls of the carton and position the top wall for engagement with the oscillating head as the latter moves in the forward direction, and an oscillating bottom tucking finger mounted for engaging with the partially set-up carton along a line coinciding with the leading edge thereof to move the bottom wall panels toward the set-up head and into final set-up position, the head having spring means for moving the cross partition folding plates into partition folding relation as the head moves forwardly.

5. Mechanism for setting up a collapsed cellular paperboard carton which carton is characterized by a connected series of panels adapted to be erected into side and bottom wall forming members and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, a. supporting frame, a magazine at one end of said frame for receiving a stack of the cartons in collapsed condition, reciprocating feed mechanism having pivoted fingers engageable with the lowermost carton in the magazine to advance said carton forwardly thereof above said supporting frame, a set-up head mounted for reciprocation between the magazine and the other end of said supporting frame, said head having pivotally mounted cross partition folding plates, reciprocating stop members movable transversely of the path of movement of the advancing carton and engageable with the leading edge thereof to interrupt the forward movement of said carton, reciproeating expanding means movable upwardly'through an opening in a downwardly facing wall of the collapsed carton to engage and move upwardly therefrom the opposite upwardly facing wall of the carton whereby to separate the side walls of the carton and position the top wall connecting said side wall for engagement with the reciprocating head as the latter moves in the forward direction, a. reciprocating bottom tucking finger mounted for engaging with the partially set-up carton along the leading edge thereof to move the bottom wall panels toward the head and into final set-up position, and means for pivoting the cross partition folding plates into partition folding relation as the head moves forwardly.

6. A machine for setting up cellular paperboard cartons, said cartons being characterized by a series of connected panel members which are movable into side and bottom wall formations and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel member and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, said machine comprising a supporting frame, a magazine at one end of said frame for receiving a stack of the cartons in partially folded condition, means for advancing successive cartons edgewise from beneath the magazine, a set-up head mounted for reciprocating movement above said frame, means for advancing each carton beneath said set-up head and along the top of said supporting frame, a plurality of reciprocating fingers mounted on said supporting frame for arresting the forward movement of each successive carton, for separating the side wall members and for moving the carton side and bottom wall members into set-up position on said set-up head, said set-up head having means for moving the cross partition members into position for interlocking engagement with said bottom wall members as said set-up head advances to receive a carton and means to deliver the set-up carton forwardly of said set-up head while said set-up head returns to its initial position.

7. A machine for setting up cellular paperboard cartons, said cartons being characterized by a series of connected panel members which are movable into side and bottom wall formations and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel member and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a magazine at one end of said frame for receiving a stack of the cartons in partially folded condition, a set-up head adjacent said magazine mounted for reciprocating movement above said frame, means for advancing successive cartons edgewise from the bottom of said magazine, beneath said set-up head and along the top of said supporting frame, oscillating fingers mounted on said supporting frame for engaging each successive carton, for separating the side wall members and for moving the carton side and bottom wall members into set-up position and onto said set-up head, pivoted folding platemembers on said set-up head for moving the cross partition members into position for interlocking engagement with said bottom wall members as said set-up head advances and receives a carton thereon and means on said carton advancing means to deliver the set-up carton from said set-up head.

8. A machine for setting up cellular paperboard cartons, said cartons being characterized by a series of connected panel members which are movable into side and bottom wall formations and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel member and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members,

said machine comprising a supporting frame, a magazine at one end of said frame for receiving a stack of the cartons in partially folded condition, means for advancing successive cartons edgewise from beneath the magazine, a set-up head mounted for reciprocating movement above said carton advancing means and along the top of said supporting frame, a plurality of movable fingers mounted on said supporting frame for interrupting the forward movement of each successive carton, for separating the side wall members and for moving the carton side and bottom wall members into set-up position and onto said set-up head, swingable plates pivotally mounted on said set-up head for moving the cross partition members into position for interlocking engagement with said bottom wall members, spring actuated means for simultaneously swinging said plates to move said cross partition members as said set-up head advances and receives a carton and means on said carton advancing means to deliver the set-up carton from said set-up head as the latter returns to its initial position.

9. A machine for setting up cellular paperboard cartons, said cartons being characterized by a series of connected panel members which are movable into side and bottom wall formations and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel member and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, said machine comprising a supporting frame, a magazine at one end of said frame for receiving a. supply of the cartons in partially folded condition, means for advancing successive cartons edgewise from beneath the magazine, a set-up head mounted on upright side arms for oscillating movement above said frame and said carton advancing means, oscillating fingers mounted on said supporting frame for halting the forward movement of each successive carton, for separating the side wall members and for moving the carton side and bottom wall members into set-up position on said set-up head, pivotally mounted plates on said set-up head, 'spring connecting means between said plates and said magazine operative to move said plates to engage the cross partition members and move them into interlocking engagement with said bottom wall members as said set-up head advances and receives a carton thereon and means to deliver the set-up carton from said set-up head as the latter returns to :its initial position.

10. A machine for setting up cellular paperboard cartons which cartons are characterized by a series of connected panel members which are movable into side and bottom wall formations and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel member and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, said machine comprising a supporting frame, a'rnagazine at one end of said frame for receiving a stack of the cartons in partially folded condition, reciprocating carton feeding fingers for advancing successive cartons edgewise from beneath the magazine, a set-up head mounted for reciprocating movement above said frame, said feeding fingers advancing each carton beneath said set-up head and along the top of said supporting frame, movable hook members mounted on said supporting frame for engaging each successive carton, movable means for separating the side wall members and for moving the carton side and bottom Wall members into set-up position on said set-up head, folding plates pivotally mounted on said set-up head for engaging the cross partition members and mov ing the same into interlocking engagement with said bottom members as said set-up head advances to receive a carton and pusher elements on said carton feeding fingers for engaging the set-up carton to advance the same as said set-up head returns to its initial position.

11. A machine for setting up cellular paperboard cartons which cartons are characterized by a series of connected panel members which are movable into side and bottom wall formations and cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top wall panel member and into interlocking engagement with the bottom wall members, said machine comprising a supporting frame, means at one end of said frame for supplying the cartons in partially folded condition, means for advancing successive cartons edgewise in a predetermined path across the top of said frame, a set-up head mounted on said frame for reciprocating movement in a path above the path of said cartons, a plurality of fingers movably mounted on said supporting frame beneath the top thereof, means for moving said fingers upwardly into the path of movement of said cartons to temporarily arrest the forward movement of each successive carton, to separate the side wall members of the carton and position the carton with said side and bottom wall members in set-up condition on said set-up head, swingable folders on said set-up head for moving the cross partition members into position for interlocking engagement with said bottom members as said set-up head advances and a carton is positioned thereon and means responsive to forward movement of said set-up head to swing said folders into partition engaging relation as the carton is positioned thereon, said fingers being retractable below the top of said frame to permit continuous forward movement of the carton after it is set 'up and discharge thereof from the other end of the machine.

12. In a machine for setting up cellular cartons, which cartons are each formed from a paperboard blank cut and creased to provide connected side and bottom walls and a plurality of cross partition members foldable out of the plane of a top panel connecting opposite side walls, said blank being initially folded to bring the wall forming portions thereof into partially assembled collapsed condition, a main supporting frame, a carton supporting frame mounted for reciprocation above the top of said main frame and having cross partition folding means movably mounted thereon, means for delivering successive collapsed cartons beneath said set-up head and into position in advance of said carton supporting frame, a plurality of folding members movable upwardly from a position beneath the top of said frame and into engagement-with wall forming portions of each successive carton whereby to move the successive cartons into erected position and onto said carton supporting frame as said carton supporting frame is advanced over said main frame and means for automatically moving said partition folding means into partition engaging relation while saidcarton supporting frame is advancing and receiving a carton in set-up position thereon, said folding members being retractable beneath the top of said main frame to permit the set-up carton to advance over the top of said main frame to a discharge position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS