US2759401A - Carton opening machine - Google Patents

Description

1, 1956 L. H. TOBEY 2,759,401

CARTON OPENING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. LEON H. 7081:?

HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1956 H, TOB Y 2,759,401

CARTON OPENING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1954 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEON H. 7055) Aug. 21, 1956 H. TOBEY 2,759,401

CARTQN OPENING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1954 v 5 Sheets-Sheet s 135 x IN V EN TOR.

10/ /4 Q LEONH. roasr HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 156 L. H. TOBEY CARTON OPENING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1954 5 SheetsSheet 4 7 jay INVENTOR.

LEON H. 7055) HIS ATTORNEY ug. 21. 1956 L. H. TOBEY 2,759,401

CARTON OPENING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. LEON H. T 08E Y IIIS ATTORNEY United States Patent CARTON OPENING MACHINE Leon H. Tobey, Newark, N. Y., assignor to Bloomer lxi roi Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New This invention relates to machines for opening cartons, and more specifically for opening cartons of the type having automatic bottoms and a plurality of top locking flaps, such as that shown in the patent to William H. Inman and Raynor M. Holmes, No. 2,655,304, issued October 13, 1953.

Cartons of this type comprise hingedly connected side walls foldably connected to end closure flaps. These cartons are supplied in a flat, folded condition. These folded cartons are set up or erected by applying pressure to opposite hinged joints between pairs of side walls, causing same to distend and open, along with their foldably connected bottom flaps. This opening operation is more fully explained and illustrated in the above mentioned patent, and forms no part of this invention.

It has been found, however, that when cartons of the above description are stored for any extended period of time in collapsed condition, they are liable to warp out of plane shape, due to atmospheric moisture and the inherent nature of the paper stock from which they are manufactured. It has been found that when opening pressure is applied to diametrically opposite side edges, as described above, such warped cartons tend at times to buckle in the direction of warpage, rather than to open in the manner for which they were designed. This tendency has caused jamming and stoppage of the machines heretofore in use for erecting this type of carton.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to guard against this buckling tendency of warped cartons, and to provide means for reliably and smoothly erecting the same. It has been found that the tendency to buckle may be eifectively overcome by partially distending the carton and starting the erecting movements thereof prior to the application of final erecting pressure on the edges thereof, as described above. For this reason, another object of the invention is to provide means for initially partially distending said carton as described, in order to facilitate and insure smooth and rapid erection thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a more reliable machine of the above character which may be easily and economically manufactured.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a carton erecting machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig. l with the covers removed to show the mechanism thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the lower parts of the machine showing the driving mechanism in detail;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the carton erecting parts in detail with a folded carton in position prior to erection;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 with the carton in the process of erection;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the carton completely erected and ready for movement along the delivery chute;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view of the machine showing the carton opening parts and a carton partially removed from the hopper;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the carton fully erected and ready for movement along the delivery chute, and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8, but showing a carton moved partially along the delivery chute and engaging the closure flap folding mechanism.

A machine embodying this invention and shown by way of illustration preferably comprises a frame portion shown generally at 10 in Fig. 1, which supports the working parts thereof, a carton chute assembly 11 mounted on the side thereof, and a feed hopper 12 mounted on top.

Frame portion 10 comprises four vertically extending leg members 14 (Figs. 2 and 3), connected by upper and lower horizontal angle members 15 and 16 respectively, and supporting a horizontal top plate 18. Carton chute assembly 11 is mounted at an angle of about 30 to the horizontal on one side of frame 10 by means of brackets 20, as shown in Fig. 3.

Feed hopper 12 which is mounted on the top surface of plate 18, is adapted to hold a quantity of collapsed cartons. Hopper 12 is of generally rectangular cross section; however, since the cartons are thicker at one end they tend to form a curved stack, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and one wall of the hopper is flared outwardly to accommodate this curvature.

A carton feeding and erecting mechanism is mounted at the lower end of hopper 12, and is adapted to feed collapsed cartons from the bottom of the stack contained therein, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. This erecting mechanism comprises a slide member 22 (Figs. 3 and 8) moving longitudinally on upper plate 18 parallel to upper members 15, and sliding under hopper 12. The driving mechanism actuating slide 22 shown in Fig. 3, comprises an electrical motor 24 connected through shaft 25 and clutch 26 to a pulley 27. A belt 28 running over this pulley passes over idler wheel 30 and drives a second pulley 31. Idler wheel 30 is mounted on movable frame 33 which is pivotally attached to a lug 34 projecting downwardly from upper plate 18. Means comprising a crank 35 and screw 36 are provided for pivotally adjusting frame 33 for maintaining the proper tension on belt 28. Pulley 31 in turn drives a horizontal shaft 38 which drives a vertical shaft 40 through beveled gears 41. Vertical shaft 40 in turn drives a third horizontal shaft 42 through a second set of beveled gears 43 and 44, as shown in Fig. 2. A wheel 46 bearing an eccentric pin 47 is mounted on horizontal shaft 42. Eccentric pin 47 engages a connecting link 48 (Fig. 3), which is pivotally connected to a lever arm 49 mounted on pivot 50 carried by lug 52 which forms an upwardly extending projection of a lower cross rail 54 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The upper end of lever 49 is pivotally connected to a second link member 56 which in turn is pivotally connected to a depending projection 57 on slide member 22. Thus, motor 24 drives wheel 46 through the above described clutch, pulley, gear and shaft means, which causes lever member 49 to oscillate about pivot 50 thereby causing slide member 22 to reciprocate back and forth under hopper 12.

As slide member 22 moves rearwardly, towards the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, the weight of the stack of cartons in hopper 12 presses the lowermost one thereof down closely in contact with the bottom of the hopper. As the slide member 22 moves forwardly, towards the right as seen in Fig. 3, the leading edge thereof engages the edge of the lowermost carton 60 and slides it forwardly in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 4. A stop member 61 (Fig. 9), comprising a spring loaded vertically movable strip is fastened to the side of hopper 12 adjacent the lower edge thereof to prevent the feeding of more than one carton at a time.

As the carton 60 slides forward, toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4, it comes into engagement with two spring loaded knife members 62 and 63. Knife member 62 is mounted in the path of the advancing carton on outwardly projecting arm 65, which extends in a direction roughly parallel to the direction of travel of carton 60. Arm 65 is pivotally mounted by a bolt 66 on a bracket 67 (Fig. 9) which is rigidly fastened to hopper 12. A wire spring 69 fastened to a small stud 70 mounted on bracket 66 resiliently urges arm 65 to rotate inwardly towards carton 60, but the extent of this rotation is limited by engagement with an adjustable stop comprising a bolt 72, threadedly mounted in an upwardly extending lug '73 of bracket 67.

Knife member 63 which is mounted on arm 75, is loaded by a second spring 74 (Fig. 4) and pivotally mounted on a bracket 76, in a manner identical to that described in connection with knife member 62. Bracket 76 is mounted on a plate 77 pivotally mounted on leg 14 by means of a bolt 78, as shown in Fig. 4, for purposes that will hereinafter be described.

As carton 60 moves in the direction shown by the straight arrow in Fig. 4 it comes into engagement with knives 62 and 63, as explained above. The leading edge thereof cams the latter outwardly, causing them to rotate about their pivots against the urging of springs 69 and 74, in the direction shown by the curved arrow in Fig. 7. As soon as the leading edge of the carton passes said knives, the inward urging of the above mentioned springs causes the knives to slip into place between the folds comprising the bottoms of the carton, as shown in Fig. 4.

As the carton continues its forward movement under the urging of slide 22, plate 77 (Figs. 4 and is pivoted downwardly, moving knife 63 in a downward are as shown in Fig. 5. This downward motion of knife 63 forces the lower wall of the carton downwardly, while knife member 62 remains stationary, holding the opposite carton wall in substantially horizontal position. This has the effect of partially distending the bottom of said carton as will be clearly seen by inspection of Fig. 5.

The mechanism for rotating knife member 63 comprises a vertically extending link member 85 (Figs. 2 and 5) pivotally connected to a lateral extension 86 forming part of plate 77 and to one end of a horizontal lever 87 (Fig. 2). The central part of lever 87 is pivotally fastened to a lug 88 mounted on frame 10. The other end of lever member 87 carries a rotatable cam follower 89 which rides on a cam 90 mounted on the outwardly extending end of shaft 38, as best shown in Fig. 3 and described above. As shaft 38 rotates, the raised lobe 91 on cam 90 raises follower 89 pivoting the end of lever 87 upwardly, thereby causing link 85 to rotate knife 63 downwardly about bolt 78 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and described above.

The above distending movement of knife members 62 and 63 takes place without interrupting the forward motion of carton 60 under the urging of the slide 22. When the leading edge of carton 60 reaches the outer wall 80 of carton chute 11, it slides downwardly therealong until it reaches the lower corner of said chute, as shown in Fig. 5, where it jams. Further movement of slide 22 will compress the carton causing it to open progressively and to take the position shown in Fig. 6. Since the opening of the carton has been started in the proper direction by the distending movement of knife members 62 and 63 as described above, there is no opportunity for even a badly warped carton to buckle either upwardly or downwardly, as heretofore occurred in carton opening machines not embodying this. feature.

As carton 60 moves forward, knives 6-2 and 63 slide along the end thereof. They are cammed outwardly against the urging of springs 69 by the back edge of the carton and slip out of engagement therewith.

Additional support for the carton during the erecting movement is provided by the upper edge of the inner wall 94 of the carton chute, and the outwardly projecting portions of bracket 95 and roller 96 (Figs. 5 and 9) which are attached to the wall of hopper 12 adjacent to the lower edge thereof. These parts guide the walls of the carton, and prevent undue bowing thereof by the force exerted by slide 22.

It has been found desirable to move slide 22 somewhat further than would be required to completely set up a carton, thereby forcing said carton somewhat beyond its fully open position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. This assures that the erecting movement of the bottom flaps is fully completed and overcomes the natural resiliency of the paper stock, so that the carton when released, will then spring back to a fully opened position.

After the carton has been fully distended, as described above, the carton moving mechanism comes into action to move the same in a longitudinal direction in the carton chute as illustrated in Fig. 8. The carton moving mechanism comprises a sliding plate 191 (Fig. 6) moving on rods 101 parallel to and beneath carton chute 11. An L -shaped member 103 is fastened to plate and projects upwardly through a slot 104 in lower wall 105 of carton chute 11 to engage the cartons therein as shown in Fig. 6. Plate 100 is connected to a downwardly projecting bar 107 (Figs. 2, 3, and 6) which contains a slot 198 (Fig. 2). A lever member 110 is pivoted to an outwardly projecting lug 111 fastened to base 10, and carries pin 112 engaging the slot 108 in downwardly projecting member 107. Lever member 110 also contains a slot 115 near its lower pivoted end which engages an outwardly extending pin 116 mounted on cam 90 which is driven by motor 24, as described above. As cam 90 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, pin 116 causes lever member 110 to pivot in a clockwise direction about lug 111 thereby moving downwardly projecting member 107 towards the right as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby causing plate 100 to slide on rods 101. Member 103 engages the bottom of carton 40, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby forcing it to slide along carton chute 11 in the same direction.

A retainer is provided for holding the cartons in chute 11 during their travel therealong. This retainer comprises a smooth rod 120 (Figs. 1 and 9) mounted on the end of a bar 121, which is hingedly fastened to hopper 12. Rod 120 is resiliently held in place by a small leaf spring 123, fastened to the hopper adjacent to bar 121, as shown in Fig. 9.

When cartons of the type described are erected, the outwardly extending closure flaps come into a position forming planes substantially parallel to and forming extensions of said walls to which they are respectively attached, as shown in Fig. 8. As the cartons are forced outwardly towards the end of the carton chute, they engage four inwardly projecting weighted hook members 125, 126, 127, and 128 (Figs. 4 and 8) which are pivotally fastened to brackets 130, 131, 132, and 133 on the side of carton chute 11. Hooks and 127 are so balanced upon their pivots, and hooks 126 and 128 are so weighted by weights and 136 (Fig. 4) fastened thereto, that the hooked ends thereof tend to move inwardly to engage the leading edges of the carton as they move along chute 11. As the cartons move towards the right as shown in Fig. 8, and are held firmly in carton chute 11 by carton retaining rod 120, the hook members engage the leading edges of said carton flaps and bend them outwardly as shown in Fig. 9. As the carton is forced further down the chute, hook members 125, 126, 127, and 128 prevent the leading edges of said flaps from moving in the same direction and thereby fold them back to their respective walls. This action opens all the carton flaps and thus the machine delivers erected cartons with the tops fully open for quick and easy filling.

The carton chute 11 is extended outwardly far enough to accommodate two or three erected cartons as shown in Fig. 1. When the machine is started, the parts described above operate in synchronization to move collapsed cartons from the hopper and erect the same, and force same outwardly down carton chute 11. Each carton as it is erected and moved down the chute, as described above, forces the erected carton ahead of it to move further down the chute until the leading carton reaches a position at the end thereof. At this point the leading carton engages a small feeler wire 137 which actuates an electric microswitch 138 (Figs. 1 and 2), which operates electrical clutch 26 disengaging motor 24 from the operating parts driven thereby, thereby stopping the action of the machine. As the leading carton is removed from the end of the chute, microswitch 138 closes, causing the clutch to engage, thereby causing the machine to come into action to erect and deliver another carton. Thus, the machine will automatically maintain a constant supply of erected cartons at the outer end of the carton chute, as long as the same are removed for use. However, as soon as the operator fails to remove cartons for use, the machine will automatically stop itself, thereby stopping the erection of cartons, until these are again withdrawn from, the end of the chute.

Thus, this invention provides a fully automatic machine for erecting and delivering cartons, whose speed is regulated by the demand for finished cartons.

It will be seen from the above description that this invention accomplishes its stated objects. It automatically feeds and erects cartons of the type described, in a simple and positive manner, and maintains a steady supply of erected cartons ready for use. While this invention has been herein disclosed by reference of the details by a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangeemnt of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, a pair of thin edged members positioned adjacent said hopper and held in the path of said carton to enter between said opposite pairs of side walls as said folded carton moves along said path, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate the erection of same, and a second means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said second means for completing the erection of same.

2. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type which are adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along-one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, a pair of thin edged members pivotally mounted adjacent said hopper and resiliently held in the path of said carton to enter between said opposite pairs of side walls as said folded carton moves along said path, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate 6 the erection of same, and a second means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed be- 'tween said reciprocating member and said second means for completing the erection of same.

3. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type which are adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, a pair of thin edged members pivotally mounted adjacent said hopper and resiliently held in a position in the path of an end of said carton, whereby said members are engaged by and moved outwardly by the leading edge of said carton moving in said path and resiliently move back and enter between said opposite pairs of side walls when disengaged by said leading edge, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate the erection of same, and a second means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said second means for completing the erection of same.

4. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type which are adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, a pair of thin edged members positioned adjacent said hopper and held in the path of said carton to enter between said opposite pairs of side walls as said folded carton moves along said path, means for holding one of said thin edged members in the plane of the carton, means for moving the other thin edged member at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate the erection of same, and a second means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said second means for completing the erection of same.

5. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type which are adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, means for guiding said carton in said path, a pair of thin edged members positioned adjacent said hopper and held in the path of said carton to enter between said opposite pairs of side walls as said folded carton moves along said path, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate the erection of same, a second means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said second means for completing the erection of same, and means for removing said erected carton from the machine.

6. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type which are adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving .7 same in -apath,.a pair of thin edged members positioned adjacent said hopper .and held in the path of said carton to enter between said opposite pairs .of side walls as said folded carton moves :along said path, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate .the erection of same, a chute means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said chute means for completing the erection of same and means comprising a second reciprocating member to engage said erected cartonto move the same along said chute means.

7. A machine .for .erecting collapsed cartons of the type which are adapted to be erected by application of pressure against the junctions between adjacent walls of opposite pairs of side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, a pair of thin edged members positioned adjacent said hopper and held in the path of said carton to :enter between said opposite pairs of side walls as said folded carton :moves along said path, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate the erection of same, a chute means positioned in the path of said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said chute means for completing the erection of same, means comprising a second reciprocating member to engage said erected carton to move the same along said chute means, and means comprising a plurality of members pivotally supported adjacent to said chute means and extending inwardly to engage the edges of the flaps of said carton and fold same back to open one end of said carton.

'8. A machine :as specified in claim 7 wherein said inwardly extending members comprise hooks weighted to pivot inwardly.

9.. A machine for erecting collapsed cartons of the type which .are :adapted to be erected by application of pressure against 2the junctions between adjacent walls vof opposite pairs of 'side walls, said machine comprising a hopper for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a reciprocating member positioned under said hopper for engaging the lowermost .carton along one of said junctions for removing said carton from said stack and moving same in a path, a pair .of thin edged members positioned adjacent said hopper and held in the path of said carton to enter between said opposite .pairs of side walls as said folded carton moves along said path, means for causing relative movement of said thin edged members at substantially right angles .to the plane of said folded carton, to partially distend and initiate the erection of same, a chute means positioned in the path of .said carton, said carton being compressed between said reciprocating member and said chute means for completing the erection of same, means comprising a second reciprocating member to engage said erected carton to move the same along said :chute .means, and control means mounted at the outer end of said chute means, said control means being actuated :by erected cartons therein, to stop said machine when :said chute means is filled with erected cartons, and to start said machine when said chute means is empty.

10. .A machine as specified in claim 9 wherein said control means comprises an electrical switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,337,404 Jones Apr. 20, 1920 1,351,461 Beckmann Aug. 31, 1920 1,378,579 Bernotow May 17, 1921

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