US2909016A - Carton packing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1959. J. H. SHERRILL CARTON PACKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Joseph H. Sherr/Y/ Af/omey Oct. 20, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL CARTON PACKING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1955 INVENTOR. Joseph H. Shem 20, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL 2,909,016

CARTON PACKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYENTOR. Joseph H. Sherri/l PM aw Aflomey J. H, SHERRILL CARTON PACKING APPARATUS Oct. 20, 1959 Filed Dec. 22, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

' Joseph HSherr/l/ BY ITI,IIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ Ma: S, W

Alto/nay Oct. 20,1959 NJ. H.$HERRILL I 2,909,016

CARTON PACKING APPARATUS Filed 'Dec. 22, 1955 n III i H68 Si* 38 i ii i INVENTOR.

Joseph H Sherr/l/ Alia/nay 7 Sheets-Sheet e 'Oct. 20, 1959 J. H. SHERRILL CARTON PACKING APPARATUS.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 22, 1955 INVENTOR. Joseph H. Sherri/l $4M: s, W

Af/omey United States Patent CARTON PACKING APPARATUS Joseph H. Sherrill, Winston-Salem, N.C., assign'or to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 22, 1955, Serial No. 554,684

11 Claims. or. 53-61) This invention relates to apparatus for loading articles into cartons or equivalent receptacles. It is more particularly directed to a machine for packing cartons With cigarette packages, and especially for loading rows of cigarette packages in elongated cartons of conventional type. r

Objects of the invention are to provide new and effective apparatus of the character described, and more particularly to provide an elficient, automatic machine which will receive successive cartons and successive lots or groups of packages and which will efiiciently perform the desired loading operation in a rapid manner and without damage to the packages or cartons. Further objects are to afford automatic carton packing apparatus,

means for receiving groups of articles, viz. cigarette packages, as in a row appropriate for insertion of the carton, and plunger means for simultaneously advancing the group of packages into the carton. The package-receiving means comprises supporting structure which is yieldably mounted, e.g. to swing downward from beneath the packages to a side position, whereby the plunger means, upon being moved downwardly, causes the packages to push the support means of of the way. Thus the row of packages is urged or guided by the plunger means into the desired position in the carton. Reciprocating drive means are provided for moving the plunger means up and down, together with a latching device normally holding the plunger means in its upward position, and a release member sensitive to advance of the group of packages into the machine for unlocking the latch means.

The apparatus also includes, conveniently in combination with means for advancing successive cartons to and through the machine, a carton stop device which normally arrests a carton in loading position, together with means mechanically associated with the plunger operating connections, for shifting the stop means to carton releasing position when the plunger means has actually.

performed a predetermined cycle of packing operation. Further features and details of the apparatus, particularly in its presently preferred forms, will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, which set forth certain advantageous embodiments of the machine.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the machine, with various parts and structures cut away;

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Fig. 2 is a perspective view, structurallysomewhat simplified, of the upper part of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken essentially on line 33 of Fig. 1, with some parts removed or cut away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, with the reciprocating parts in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 55 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view on line 66 of Fig. 1, with certain parts in a difierent position from Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, corresponding generally to Fig. 1, of a modified form of the machine;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view, corresponding generally to Fig. 2, showing a portion of the modified machine of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken essentially on line 99 of Fig. 7, with some parts removed or cut away and showing certain driving or controlling parts not illustrated in Fig. 7.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive is designed for advancing cigarette packages of conventional character into elongated cartons of a sort presently used, i.e. wherein there is to be a double row of five packages each, the packages in each row being disposed flatwise with respect to the other.

By suitable means (not shown) successive cartons 10 are advanced in endwise abutting relation to a conveyor it is arrested by a flag stop 16 having fingers 17 which normally project across the carton path. The cartons are kept in proper alignment by guide rods 19, 20 above the sides of the belt 11, and if desired, further means such as an elongated spring arm 21 pressing moderately against the side of a carton at 10' may be included to cooperated in holding the carton in packing position.

It will be understood that further guide fences or rods.

along the path of the carton, and likewise along the path of cigarette packages as explained below, may be provided as necessary, but are omitted from the drawings for clarity. For like reasons, much of the framing and.v

supporting structure for the machine is deleted or cut away. It will be understood that while a carton is at rest at the locality 10' the belt 11 slips along beneath the carton, as likewise relative to the succeeding carton;

which waits to move up, at locality 10".

As advanced by a conveyor belt 24 and cooperating mechanism designated 25, a continuous series of cigarette packages 26, disposed flatwise and in successively abutting relation, is urged down an inclined chute 28 across entrance apron 29 of the machine and over a pair of elongated normally flat support members or flaps 30, '31.,

These fiap supports 30, 31, in their normal upper position, constitute a path or bed to receive a row of cigarette packages, e.g. five packages, directly above the carton loading locality 10'. Upstanding guides 32, 33 are provided at the sides of this path.

The flaps 30, 31 are respectively mounted on longi- V tudinal rods 34, 35 which are journalled at their ends in the bed structures 36, 37 so that the rods can rotate and the flaps can thereby rock from' the illustrated normal, horizontal position downward to a vertical position as shown in Fig. 4. At one end (beyond the package path, Fig. 2), the rods respectively carry arms 38, 39"

which are each urged in a direction to hold the flaps up, by tension springs 40, 41 extending to a cross member 42 of an upright structure 43. Retaining stops 44, 45

are provided for the arms' 38, 39, such that the springs 40, 41, pulling the arms against thestop's, hold the flaps j Patented Oct. 20, 9

30, 31 in horizontal position. The flaps, under downward force, may rock to the vertical position, against the tension of the springs 40, 41.

Above the locality of the support flaps 30, 31 and thus above therow of five cigarette packages disposed thereon, there is. a vertically reciprocable plunger assembly generally designated 49 and including a horizontally elongated packing plunger 50 which has a lower face 51 substantially coextensive with the upper surface area of the five cigarette packages and which is thereby adapted to move down flatwise against the upper face of the row. For convenience of operation, the horizontal dimensions of the face may be slightly less than that of the assembled packages. At its end nearest the entering line of packages the plunger 50 has a tall upright face 52, so that when it. moves down, as explained below, to push the row of packages into the carton, the face 52 will prevent advance of further packages from the apron 29, i.e. until theplunger is-withdrawn to its normal upper position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The plunger 50 is carried by an upright column or bar 54, conveniently rectangular in section, and sliding in conforming bushings 55,. 56 integrally projecting from an upright support or casting 57. At a locality conveniently between the bushings 55, 56 the column 54 has a head assembly 60 mounted thereon. A long coil spring 61 under tension extends from this head assembly 60 to the rear bed plate 63 of the machine, constantly urging the plunger assembly 49 downward. The assembly, however, is normally retained in its upper position (Figs. 1 and 3) by latching means comprising a vertical latch arm 65 having a shoulder 66-which seats beneath an edge of the head 60 and is pivoted at a lower stationary locality 67 to rock from the latched position (seating the head 60) to unlatched position indicated in dotted lines at 65'. A link 68 extends from a central point of the latch member to a crank arm 69 mounted on the same shaft 70 as a trigger or release plate 71 which has. its lower end disposed in the path of cigarette packages advanced across the support flaps 30, 31. Thus when a row of packages is pushed into loading position in the machine, the leading package abuts the trigger flap 71, tending to rock it counterclockwise (Fig. l) to the dotted line position 71', for unlocking the latch 65. The latching assembly is biased in locked position by a spring 74 extending from the arm 69 to the cross bar 42.

The plunger assembly also includes a long connecting rod or link 75 pivoted to the head 60 and extending down below the bed plate 15, where it is pivoted to the end of a rocker arm 76-which swings about a fixed horizontal pivot support 77. The rocker arm, at a mid-point, carries a follower roller 78 adapted to abut the surface of a cam wheel 80 mounted on the shaft 81 and continuously rotated by appropriate driving means such as the motor 82 connected through gear box 83. For convenience of illustration, the belt driving roller 12 is indicated as driven from the same means 83, although it will be understood that there is no synchronism required between these parts except in that successive cartons are to be moved up as rapidly as possible when needed, and similarly advanced away from the machine (to the left in Fig. 1) when filled.

It will be noted that when the latch 65 is in locking position, the follower 78 is held up, along with the other parts of the plunger assembly 49, so that it does not drop down and follow the contour, i.e. the lower portions of the cam 80. However, the mutual positioning of the parts is conveniently such that the highest region of the cam 80 engages the follower 78 when the plunger assembly is latched, and slightly elevates the assembly, e.g. as indicated by the position of the latch shoulder 66 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 as slightly below the edge of the head 60. Thus with the cam Sil'shaped as shown, the plunger assembly is raised slightly from its restraining latch once for each revolution of the cam, and

at such time if the row of cigarette packages is pressing against the trigger flap 71 (by the action of the means 25 urging the entire line of packages forward) the flap can be rocked to its position71', moving the latch 65 to released position. Thereupon the plunger assembly 49, under the action of the spring 61, commences and continues to move downward with the follower engaging the surface of the cam 80. in this fashion a cycle of reciprocation of the assembly 49 can only be initiated when angular position of the cam corresponds to the upper position of the plunger 50; the pressure of the head 60 on the latch shoulder 66 keeps the latch locked at all other times.

As will now be appreciated, the downward movement of the plunger 50,. under the action of gravity and the aid of the spring 61, which in effect keeps the follower on the surface of the cam 80, is such that the plunger engages the top face of the row of cigarette packages 26,

' pushing the flaps 30, 31 downwardly, i.e. rocking them to the vertical position shown in Fig. 4 so as to permit' downward passage of the packages simultaneously into the open top of the carton at 10.

In the machine of Figs. 1 to 5, the arrangement is for fiatwise disposition of the row in the carton, so that,

two successive rows must be separately loaded. Upon completion of the upward stroke of the plunger assem bly, as the rising or high portion of the cam 80 carries the rocker arm 76 upward, the parts return to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, with the latch restored to its locked relation. Indeed, as the head 60 rises it simply cams the previously returned latch out of the way against the spring 74, until it passes the shoulder 66 whereupon the latch snaps into holding position.

When a new row of cigarette packages is thereafter moved into position on the support flaps 30, 31, and the high region of cam 80 again reaches the follower 78, the

operation is repeated, loading the second row in the open carton at 10.

The apparatus also includes means for shifting the. carton stop 16 to non-arresting position, in response to completion of a predetermined cycle of reciprocation of the plunger assembly 49. Thus therocker arm 76 isprovided with projecting structure 84 carrying a pawl 85 which is spring-pressed (as diagrammatically indicated by tension spring 85a, Fig. 6), against the toothed periphery of a ratchet wheel 86 that is mounted on a suitably supported shaft 87, adapted to turn only under the infiuence of the pawl (Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6). The ratchet wheel is arranged so that the pawl turns it a predetermined distance for each rising movement of the rocker arm 76 from a lower position of the plunger assembly 49 to its upper position. Conveniently this distance may represent approximately the distance of one tooth spacing on the ratchet periphery. The ratchet also carries a plurality of projecting pins 90, one for each two teeth of the wheel, that are adapted to strike a finger 91. The finger 91 is mounted on a shaft 92 which also carries the carton stop 16, the latter rising from the shaft through an appropriate slot 94 in the bed of the machine. The finger 91 is normally retained against a stationary stop 95 by a tension spring 96.

In the illustrated machine, the arrangement of the pins and the ratchet wheel 86 is such that for every other upward advance of the pawl 85, one of the pins 90 is brought against the finger 91, rocking it counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 5, to the dotted line position 91' (solid line in Fig. 6), and correspondingly causing the stop 16 to rock. to the non-arresting position 16'. The timing of this operation of the finger 91 and the stop is such as to occur during the second upward rise of two successive loading operations of the plunger 50, i.e. after a second row of cigarette packages has been inserted in the carton and the plunger is moving back to its normal upper position. Withdrawal of the stop 16 permits the filled car- "en the belt 11, allowing a succeeding carton to move immediately into place.

The arrangement of the pins 90 and the finger 91 is .such that as the ratchet 86 completes its described, sec ond. angular displacement, the engaged pin moves clear of the finger, whereupon the stop 16 can move back into place. Actually, the carton may still be moving out, so that the fingers 17 are detained by the sliding passage of .the filled carton. As soon as the latter has passed, however, the stop returns to its normal position (Fig. holding the next succeeding, empty carton, in loading location.

Means are preferably provided to keep the ratchet wheel 86 from turning otherwise than by actual movement of'the pawl 85. For example, a brake arrangement may be employed such as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. A bracket 97 carries a block 97a having secured to its upper and lower faces, the ends of a leather strap 98 which is drawn tightly around a collar 99 fixed on the shaft 87. The ends of the strap 98 are fastened to the block 97a under such tension that the shaft and its ratchet wheel 86 cannot rotate by coasting or by vibration or like eifects, but may nevertheless be turned with the collar 99 moving against the frictional resistance of the strap, when the pawl 85 is carried upward. The bracket 97 may, if desired, also carry a bearing support 97b for the shaft 87, between the collar 99 and the ratchet wheel 86.

As will be appreciated, further conveyor or guiding means for bringing empty cartons to and withdrawing filled cartons from the apparatus of Fig. l, as well as means for delivering cigarette packages to the belt 24, may be of any type appropriate to the general organization of the. plant in which the machine is installed. To insure positive advance of a line of cigarette packages to the apron 29 and the flap supports 30, 31, the means 25 comprises not only the belt 24 and its supporting roller 100 (which may be driven directly or by driving the belt at another locality) but also a coacting roller 101 immediately above the roller 100 and driven from the latter by loosely meshing gears 102, 103 respectively on the shafts of the rollers. The rotating assembly 101-103 is carried on a horizontal arm 104 pivoted at 105 so that this assembly, which may have considerable weight, tends to rest by gravity on a cigarette package passing between the belt 24, at roller 100, and the roller 101. That is, the arrangement is such that when there is no package the separation between the roller 101 and the belt is slightly smaller than the normal thickness of a cigarette package. In this way a continuous, side-by-side line of packages is advanced along the means 28, 29, 30 and 31, with sufiicient force to actuate the latch release member 71 at appropriate times, yet when the described means are fully occupied by packages, the belt 24 and roller 101 may slip relative to the packages which they engage. It is believed that the operation of the machine will be self-explanatory from the foregoing description. An empty carton is advanced into the position and there held by the stop 16, the flap of the carton being upstanding at the forward side of the machine as seen in Fig. l, i.e. clear of the operating parts above. A row of cigarettes packages is advanced along the supports -30, 31, to press against the trigger plate 71. When the resistance of the latch assembly to movement is relieved by slight elevation of the plunger assembly head 60 due to engagement of the high part of the cam 80 with the follower 78, the pressure of the packages against the trigger member 71 releases the latch, and the plunger assembly performs a single reciprocation, in accordance with the contour of the cam 80. Downward'displacement of the packing plunger 50 carries the group of packages past the supports 30, 31 (which swing down) and into theopen carton at 10. Upon return of the plunger to its upper position, the latch is reinstated and the appgratusisready for another cycle. I

Upon entry of a subsequent row of five packages over the supports 30, 31, the same reciprocation is repeated, thereby depositing the second row of packages in the carton. During the return travel of this second reciprocation the finger 91 is rocked by one of the pins 90 on the ratchet wheel 86, swinging the carton stop 16 out of the way and permittingdischarge of the filled carton by the conveyor belt 11. At the same time the next succeeding empty carton moves into place and is arrested by the return of the flag stop 16 to its operating position, as the loaded carton passes. The plunger assembly in the meanwhile has returned to its upper position and been locked by the latch 65, there being thus ordinarily at least one revolution of the cam 80 after the flag stop 16 has performed its carton-releasing function. On the next or other succeeding rise of the plunger assembly head 60 to a slight extent above the latch shoulder 66, pressure of a fresh row of cigarette packages, introduced in the meanwhile on the flaps 30, 31, rocks the trigger element 71 and reinitiates a complete cycle of carton packing.

Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive illustrate another embodiment of the apparatus, designed to load cartons with an arrangement of cigarette packages which is somewhat different from that contemplated by the machine of Figs. 1 to 6. For the most part the various elements function in a similar way to those of Figs. 1 to 6, so that detailed description of their structure and operation in such respects is unnecessary. The driving and some supplementary arrangements may likewise be similar and are therefore conveniently omitted from the illustration in Figs. 7 to 9.

This modification of the machine is adapted to load cartons which open at one of the long sides, rather than at a broader face designated as the top'in Figs. 1 to 6. Such a carton is shown or indicated at in Figs. 7 to 9, extending lengthwise but having an upright position so that a narrow side is open at the top, with a pair of flaps 111, 112 which are eventually to be folded down for closing the carton. The cigarette packages must thus be inserted in an upright position, i.e. with their longest dimension vertical, and so that there will be two parallel upright rows of such packages 114,- each packages having one of its ends or smallest faces seated on the bottom of the carton. That is to say, the actual arrangement of the group of ten packages desired in the carton is the same as in Fig. 1, except that the arrangement is turned 90 about its long axis and the packages must be inserted through a narrow rather than wide side of the carton.

As in the other embodiment, the cartons are advanced lengthwise on a belt 11 which continuously travels from right to left in Fig. 7. The same flag stop 16, with fingers 17, is provided to arrest successive cartons in loading position, while guide rods 19, 20 at opposite sides of the path of the cartons on the belt 11, keep each carton in proper positional alignment as explained above. Further accessories may be provided with respect to guiding and advancing the cartons, as indicated above.

The cigarette packages 114 are advanced to the machine on a conveyor belt 116, at a level above the carton path, the packages being so advanced in a double upright ro-w confined by and sliding along a plurality of guide rods 117, 118 appropriately supported by framework as indicated at 120 from a plate 121 beneath the belt 116. In the package feed path, where the packages are advanced in a double row as illustrated a 114', 114', Fig. 9, the rods indicated at 117 may include a pair of vertically spaced rods between the two rows of packages so as to facilitate their entering the machine at opposite sides of the fence described below. For positive positioning of the packages as they enter the machine, a plurality of non-driven guide rollers 123 may be disposed above the double row of-packages, i.e. bearing on their uppermost" ends, as shown in Fig. 7. The rows of packages may be supplied to the belt 116 and guide structure 117, 1:18 in any suitable way, it being understood that the illustrated advancing structure may be kept filled with the packages, under which the belt 116 will simply slip at a time when'no packages can be received by the loading section of the apparatus.

The two rows of packages are thus arranged to be fed across the pair of flat support members or flaps 30, 31, which are arranged to function as in Figs. 1 to 5, except thathere each flap supports the ends of a complete row of five pack-ages, i.e. individually of the other flap (Fig. 9). As will be understood, the flaps are carried on the shafts 34, 35 and can be rocked down against the tension of springs 40, 41 which extend to the arms 38, 39 on the ends of the respective shafts.

At the locality where the packages 114' are received on the flaps 30, 31, a vertical fence or plate 125 is mounted (as by appropriate support at its ends, not shown) in stationary position to separate the two rows of packages, one row passing on each side of the fence as the latter are advanced from the guide structure 117, 118. Pairs of guide rods 126, 127 extend along the outer sides of the package paths at the flaps 30, 31 as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, but omitted for clarity from Fig. 8. Thus the arrangement is such that two rows, for example of five packages each, are received in the apparatus in upright, edgewise abutting relation of the packages in each row.

The vertically reciprocable plunger assembly 129, corresponding to the assembly 49 of Fig. 1, includes a horizontally elongated packing plunger 130, which has somewhat higher side walls than the plunger 50 and which has a longitudinally bifurcated or slotted construction, e.g. as shown by the slot 132. The plunger is mounted on an upright column or bar 134, like the column '54, it being noted that the slot 132 bisects not only the plunger along its bottom and both end walls (including the end having the tall face 135), but also part of the supporting and operating column 134. That is to say, the bisected plunger arrangement is slotted to a sufficient vertical extent so that when the assembly is moved downward to push the two rows of cigarette packages into the carton 110 below, the two parts of 'the moving assembly will pass on opposite sides of the fence 125 to the extent necessary for the full downward stroke.

It will be understood that the rectangular column 134 reciprocates vertically in suitable bushings or guide bearings 55, 56 carried by a support or casting 57, similar to the same parts in Fig. 1. The column 134 also has secured to it a head assembly 138, corresponding to the structure 69 of Fig. 1, with a similar coil spring 61 (Figs. 7 and 8) urging the assembly downward. The assembly, however, is normally retained in its upper position by a pair of separate latching means respectively comprising the latch arms 140, 141 having corresponding shoulders 142, 143 adapted to seat under the edge of the head 138 and pivoted at their opposite ends 144, '145to appropriate frame or base structure of the machine, each of these arms being essentially identical with the arm '65 of Fig. l. Links 146, 147 extend respectively from the latch arms 14%, 141 to crank arms 148, 149 (Figs. 7 and 8). The latter arms are mounted respectively on concentric shafts 159, 151 which are supported in bearings on the bracket 152 from the bed plate 153. That is to say, the shaft 150 is of tubular structure so that the shaft 151 passes through it and extends to the forward or outer end of the shaft 150, as shown in Fig. 8, each shaft being independently rotatable.

The shafts 158 and 151 which terminate at localities spaced across the machine above the ends of the :flaps 30, .31, respectively carry depending trigger or release plates 154, 155, each corresponding to the trigger plate 70 of Figs. 1 and 2. The release plates 154, 155 are disposed above the ilaps 31, 30 and thus at the ends of 8 l the desired paths of travel of the two rows of upstanding cigarette packages. The function of the plate'70 in Fig. l is duplicated with respect to the 'two plates 154, 155 of Figs. 7 and 8. That is to say, the 'latch arms 140, 141 are normally retained in latching position "by the tension of springs 156, 157 which extend to the crank arms 148, 149 from a stationary, upright assembly 158, but can be rocked to a position for releasing the plunger head 138 upon impingement by the leading package of an entering row of packages. Actual release of the plunger assembly is only achieved When both latch arms are shifted and thus when both release plates 154, '155have been rocked counterclockwise as seen in Figs. 7 and '8.

The plunger assembly also includes the long connecting rod or link extending down to the rocker arm 76 which carries the follower 7 8 for cooperation with a cam wheel 160 mounted on a shaft 161, the wheel 160,1the shaft 161 and the drive of 'thelatter'being conveniently identical with the corresponding wheel and shaft '81 of Figs. 1 to 5, except that'the wheel 160 has .a considerably higher rise in order to provide the longer vertical path of travel required for the plunger assembly 129 to push the upright cigarette packages into the carton 110. Further illustration of the parts for driving and controlling the reciprocation of the plunger assembly are not shown otherwise than as indicated in Fig. 9, since these may be the same as in the first described embodiment of the machine.

Where the cartons 116 have a pair of upright flaps 111, 112 as indicated, appropriate guide structure can be provided for the flaps, e.g. by a pair of long guidebars or plates 164, 165, which are fixed in position lengthwise of the machine above the conveyor belt 11, and specifically above the level of the bodies of the cartons and along their upper side edges so that the flaps pass outside the guide plates. The guide plates may be curved in a lateral direction to converge at the entering end of the apparatus, e.g. at 166, 167, so as to facilitate spreading the flaps 111, 112 into fully open position and specifically into position so that the flaps slide along outside the guide plates. As will be seen from Fig. 9, the package supporting flaps 30, 31, on rocking downwardly (Fig. 4') will in this instance swing toward or against the inner vertical faces of the respective guide plates 164, 1'65,

The apparatus also includes the spring-pressed pawl carried by the main rocker arm 76 and adapted to abut a ratchet wheel 86 carried'on a shaft 87, in a manner identical with the ratchet wheel 86 and shaft '87 of Figs. 1 to 5, and for like purpose, i.e. to rock the flag stop 16 out of the way of the leading end of a carton after it has been loaded with cigarette packages. 'In this instance, however, the plunger assembly 129 is effective to load all ten packages into a carton at one stroke,so that the stop 16 is required to be reciprocated after the conclusion of each downward, loading stroke. In consequence, the ratchet wheel 86 has its teeth so arranged, with respect to the stop-actuating pins 90, that the latter advance the full operating distance, one-fourth turn, during each upward reciprocation of the rocker arm 76. Thus the wheel 86 has only four ratchet teeth, i.e. half the number illustrated for the wheel 86 of Fig. 5, while the stroke of the rocker arm and thus of the pawl 85 is correspondingly lengthened, to provide essentially the same angular displacement of the wheel as is occasioned by two pawl operations in Fig, 5. As implied above, the longer stroke of the rocker arm 76 cooperates with the required higher rise of the cam 16!) as necessitated by the greater vertical stroke of the packing plunger assembly.

It Will now be seen that the apparatus of Figs. 7 to 9 functions in essentially the same way as that of Figs. 1 to 6, except with respect to the packing of a different arrangement of a row of cigarette packages into each carton. That is to say, with a carton arrested in loading position 110' (while the belt 11 slips beneath it) by the fingers 17 of the stop 16, cigarette packages, in upright, I

abutting succession have been or are being advanced in two parallel rows, spaced by the fence 125, upon the respective support flaps 30, 3E. The plunger assembly is held in upper position, with the plunger 130 above the entering rows of packages, by the latching shoulders 142, 143. The cam 160 continuously rotates from a low position (160, Fig. 9), through the high position (solid line in Fig. 9) and back to low position, with its surface clear of and below the upwardly retained follower 78, except for a brief interval during which the highest portion of the cam is passing. As previously explained, the cam then slightly lifts the head 138 of the reciprocating assembly from the latch shoulders 142, 143, allowing the head to fall back on the latch shoulders if they are not released during this interval.

When both paths for cigarette packages are filled above the carton, i.e. on the flaps 30, 31, the force of further packages behind, on the belt 116, urges the respective rows against the trigger flaps 155, 154. If both rows are thus in place, both trigger flaps are swung counterclockwise and the latch arms 140, 141 are shifted (to the left in Fig. 7) into releasing position, as soon as the highest part of the cam 160 slightly raises the head 138 and thus frees the latch mechanism for the releasing movement. Thereupon the plunger assembly is enabled to move downwardly under the-influence of spring 61 and gravity, with the follower 78 traveling on the surface of the cam 160. The bifurcated packing plunger 130, at its fiat under surfaces 164, 165, strikes the upper ends of the cigarette packages in the two rows and pushes both rows of packages simultaneously downward, swinging the flaps 30, 31 out of the way and causing the packages to drop into the carton 110 in appropriately aligned manner as indicated in Fig. 9.

The rocker arm 76 and plunger assembly 129 thereafter commence their upward travel as the engaging surface of the cam 160 progresses upwardly from its lowest position. During this reverse stroke, the pawl 85 turns the ratchet wheel 86 and shaft 87 one-fourth revolution, with corresponding displacement of the flag stop 16, as shown and described in connection with Fig. 5. The loaded carton is thus permitted to be advanced out of the machine, so the left as indicated in Fig. 7, by the belt 11. A succeeding carton comes into position, the flag stop moving back into place ahead of it as also 'described above. The apparatus is then ready for a repeated cycle of operation. It will be seen that in each of its forms the machine is effectively automatic and is adapted for rapid loading of success1ve cartons with the desired number of packages in a safe and eflicient manner, involving no hazard to the articles and providing delivery of filled cartons in asubstantially continuous line.

It is to 'be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific devices herein disclosed but may be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising, in combination, means for receiving an open carton to be loaded, support means disposed to receive a row of articles above the first-mentioned means, plunger means having a face to engage the row of articles and mounted to move from a position above the articles on the support means to a lower position, for displacing the articles into the carton, latch means including a shiftable member positively engageable with the plunger means, for normally holding the plunger means in an upper position, release means responsive to displacement of a row of articles into received position on said support means for shifting said member to effect release of the latch means, and means for reciprocating the released plunger means to and from its lower position.

'2. Apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising, in combination, means for receiving an open carton to be loaded, means disposed to receive a row of 10 articles adjacent the received carton and in position to be displaced into said carton, reciprocable means having a face to engage the row of articles and movable from one location to another, for displacing the articles from the article-receiving means into the carton, said reciprocable means being biased to move from the first location to the second location, latch means including a shiftable member positively engageable with the reciprocable means, for normally holding the reciprocable means in its first location, release means responsive to displace,

ment of a row of articles into position on said articlereceiving means for shifting said member to effect release of the latch means, and means for reciprocating the released reciprocable means to and from its second location.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the reciprocating means comprises repeatedly cycling means engageable with the reciprocable means, for directing the reciprocable means through cycles of reciprocation, said latch means normally having forcible engagement of its shiftable member with the reciprocable means'to hold the latter out of engagement with the cycling means throughout all but a minor portion of each cycle, said cycling means comprising structure adapted to engage and shift the reciprocable means slightly during said portion of each cycle, to facilitate operation of the release means in response to presence of a row of articles on the support means.

4. Apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising, in combination, means for receiving an open carton to be loaded, support means disposed to receive a row of articles above the first-mentioned means and movable to permit displacement of the articles into the received carton, plunger means having a face to engage ,the entire row of articles and mounted to move from .holding the plunger means in an upper position, release means responsive to displacement of a row of articles into received position on said support means for shifting said member to effect release of the latch means, and means for reciprocating the released plunger means to and from its lower position.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the plunger means has associated cam follower means connected thereto and wherein the reciprocating means comprises a rotatable cam having an eccentric surface engageable by the cam follower means and spring means urging the cam follower means toward the cam means, said cam means having a low region and a high region respectively corresponding to the lower and uppermost positions of the plunger means, said latching means and its shiftable member being arranged, in the engagement of said shiftable member with the plunger means, to hold the follower means away from the cam surface throughout the passage of all but a small portion of the highest region of said cam surface, and said cam surface'being shaped to lift the plunger means slightly away from the latching means at the highest region of said cam surface, to facilitate displacement of said latching means by the release means.

6. Apparatus for loading cigarette packages into cartons comprising, in combination, means for receiving successive cartons to be loaded, including means providing a path along which the cartons are advanced in succession, and including shiftable stop means mounted to swing across said path about an axis parallel to the path, into a first position engaging the leading end of a carton to hold said carton in loading position, and into a second position releasing the carton, means adjacent said carton receiving means for receiving a row of cigarette packages, reciprocable means adapted to engage the row of packages and mounted to move from one position to another position for displacing the row of packages from the packagereceiving means into the carton, said reciprocable means being biased to move from its said first position to its said second position, means for reciprocating the reciprocable means between its said position, latch means including a shiftable member positively engageable with the reciprocable means and arranged to hold the reciprocable means against displacement from its first position and including actuating means engageable by the row of packages for shifting said member to effect release of the reciprocable means to permit reciprocation thereof, and means connected with said reciprocable means for swinging the carton stop means out of its said first carton arresting position into its said second position upon completion of a predetermined cycle of reciprocation of the reciprocable means.

7. Apparatus for loading cigarette packages into cartons comprising, in combination, means for receiving successive cartons to be loaded, including shiftable stop means to hold a carton in loading position, movable support means above said carton-receiving means for receiving a row of cigarette packages, said support means being yieldably mounted to move out of supporting position, upon pressure on the packages, to permit displacement of the packages into the carton, plunger means having a face shaped to engage the entire row of packages and mounted to move from a position above the received row of packages to a lower position for displacing the row of packages past the shiftable support means and into the carton below, means for reciprocating the plunger means between its said positions, latch means including a shiftable member positively engageable with the plunger means and arranged to hold the plunger means against displacement from its upper position and including actuating means engageable by the row of packages for shifting said member to effect release of the plunger means to permit reciprocation thereof, and means connected with said plunger means for shifting the carton stop means out of carton arresting position upon completion of a predetermined cycle of reciprocation of the plunger means.

8. Apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising, in combination, means for receiving successive cartons to be loaded, including means providing a path along which the cartons are advanced in succession, shiftable stop means mounted to swing across said path about an axis parallel to the path, into a first position engaging the leading end of a carton to hold said carton in loading position, and back into a second position releasing the carton, means adjacent said carton-receiving means for receiving a group of articles to be disposed in the carton, reciprocable means for efiecting displacement of the group of articles from the article-receiving means into the carton, means for reciprocating said last-mentioned means, and means actuated by said reciprocable means and in response to completion of a predetermined cycle of reciprocation thereof, for swinging the stop means to permit discharge of a loaded carton, said reciprocable means being movable, under operation of the reciprocating means, through an article-displacing stroke and a return stroke, and said means actuated by the reciprocable means comprising a movable device, means actuated by said movable device at a predetermined position in its path, to swing the stop means out of its said first carton-arresting position into its said second position, and means operated by the reciprocable means and only on each return stroke thereof, for displacing the movable device through a predetermined distance in the direction of said predetermined position.

9. Apparatus for loading articles into a carton comprising, in combination, means for receiving successive cartons to be loaded including means providing a path along which the cartons are advanced in succession, and including shi-ftable stop means mounted to swing across 12 said path about an axis parallel to the path, into a firstposition engaging the leading end of a carton to hold said carton in loading position, and into a second position releasing the carton, means above said carton-receiving means for receiving a group of articles to be disposed in the carton, vertically shiftable means, including means for reciprocating the same, for effecting displacement of the group of articles from the article-receiving means into the carton, and means actuated by said vertically shiftable means and in response to completion of a predetermined cycle of reciprocation thereof, for swinging the stop means out of its said first carton-arresting position into its said second position to permit discharge of a loaded carton, said means actuated by the vertically shiftable means for swinging the stop means comprising a pawl carried by the reciprocating means, a ratchet wheel engageable by said pawl for angular displacement upon upward movement of the vertically shiftable means and means carried by the ratchet wheel and engageable with the stop means at a predetermined locality in the angular travel of the ratchet wheel for displacing the stop means from cartonholding position.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the stop means comprises a member pivoted on the aforesaid axis and arranged to swing across the path of the cartons for arresting a carton as aforesaid, said member having an actuating finger rigidly associated therewith and extending oppositely from the pivot, and said stop-displacing means on the ratchet wheel comprising pin means engageable with said finger during predetermined movement of the ratchet wheel to swing the stop means away from carton-holding position.

11. Apparatus for loading articles into cartons, comprising, in combination, means for receiving an open carton to be loaded, support means disposed to receive a row of articles above the first-mentioned means and movable to permit displacement of the articles simultaneously downward, reciprocable plunger means having a face to engage the articles, movable from a position above the articles to a lower position, for pushing the articles past the movable support means into the carton, and biased to move from the upper to the lower position, cam follower means connected to said plunger means, reciprocating means comprising a rotatable cam having an eccentric surface whose high and low regions correspond respectively to the upper and lower positions of the plunger means, engageable with the cam follower means and adapted to provide positive elevation of the plunger means from the lower position to the upper position, latch means including a shiftaole member positively engageable with the plunger means in its upper position for arresting and normally holding said plunger means in said upper position, said latch means being disposed so that the follower means is thereby held away from the cam surface throughout the passage of all but a small portion of the higher region of said cam surface, release means responsive to displacement of a row of articles into received position on said support means for moving said shiftable member to efiect release of the latch means, said cam surface being shaped to lift the plunger means slightly away from the latch means at the highest region of said cam vsurface, to facilitate displacement of said shiftable member by the release means, and said shiftable member being otherwise forcibly engaged with said plunger means to prevent release of the latch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,086 Camp Oct. '16, 1900 1,568,082 Mitton Jan. 5, 1926 2,053,418 Braren Sept. 8, 193.6

CERTIFTOATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noo 2,909,016 October 20, 1959 Column 1, line 47, for "of", first occurrence, read out --3 column 2, line 38, for "cooperated" read cooperate column 6, line' 44, for "packages" read m package 3 line 67, for "a", second occurrence, read at column ll, line 4,, for "position" read positions 0 .Signed and sealed this 3rd day of May 1960.,

SEAL) Attest:

KARL H .AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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