US2917882A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1959 c. s. BUCK 2,917,882

- PACKAGING MACHINE CEc/L s. `BUCK WML/74M? y Arron/vn Dec. 22, 1959 c. s. BUCK PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1958 INVENTOR. CEC/L S. BUCK BY/uwd--Me2w A TTOR/VE Y Dec. 22, 1959 c. s. BUCK 2,917,882

- PACKAGING MACHINE' Filed Oct. 16, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet yI5 INVENTOR. CEC/L S. BUCK A T TURA/EY Dec. 22, 1959 c. s. BUCK 2,917,882

l PACKAGING MACHINE Filed OCT.. 16, 1958 l n 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lo 24 78 so 24 Fe. N L68 M23 /l 23 e 9 6 66 y f7 a l 57 l l l e2 sa 4' :Isl 68 6.5 /66 7 INVENTOR.

CEC/L S. BUCK ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 c. s. BUCK 2,917,882

' PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

CEC/L S. BUCK A r ron/v5 Y United States PatentO PACKAGING MACHIN Cecil S. Buck, Denver, Colo.,` assignor to Adolph Coors Company, Golden, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application October 16, 1958, Serial No. 767,596

13 claims. (cl. sai-,159)

This invention relates to packaging machines and more particularly to a packaging machine which includes means for grouping a plurality of cartons or other articles and encasing the group in an open top box or tray of cardboard or other suitable material. t

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which is automatic in operation, eicient and dependable for its intended purposes.

One or more rows of cartons, filled with canned or other products, are fed to a longitudinally moving relatively low speed conveyor located adjacent to and in alignment with a relatively high speed conveyor to which `the cartons pass from the first conveyor. In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, two rows of such cartons move side by side. Means for grouping a plurality of the cartons are mounted above the relatively high speed conveyor near its receiving end. The machine shown and described herein is designed to group four cartons, side by side and end to end. However, the grouping of the cartons may be varied as to number and arrangement within the scope of my invention.

Open top trays move in a single row in a gravity chute wherein they are inverted before they reach the end from which the trays, one by one, engage the forward end of a group of cartons and fall downwardly thereon so that the bottom of the tray covers the top of the grouped cartons and the sides of the tray cover or partially cover the exposed side walls of thev cartons. The conveyor carries the trayl covered grouped cartons toward the exit end-of the machine where the packaged units are inverted and leave the machine, the trays resting on their bottom surfaceswith the upper faces of the grouped cartons exposed.

An important feature of the invention is -the carton grouping means which comprises a rotatable grouper wheel having radially extending axially spaced apart side members in which are mounted a plurality of horizontally disposed, circumferentially spaced rollers which are paral- -lelto the axially horizontal shaft on which the wheel is mounted. When -the wheel is rotated, the rollers move into the path of the cartons carried by the conveyor. Rotary motion is imparted to the wheel by pressure exerted against one of the rollers by approaching cartons, and accelerated motion is imparted to the wheel intermittently by spring pressed cam means for the purpose of causing a roller to forcibly contact the rear faces of the cartons of a group to push the rearward cartons firmly against the others and thus compact and square the departing group. .Another feature is` the provision of tray engaging means associated with the gravity chute for controlling the passage of the trays on and from the chute.

Electrically operated control means are associated with the tray engaging means and the conveyor drive means 'for regulating the movement ofthe parts and interrupting Athe operation in the vent of irregularity in nor-mal opera- 70 vtigrtof the machine parts. l

Means also are provided for insuring the proper place`= ment of the inverted trays on the 'grouped cartons.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention and the drawings showing same.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a packaging machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, on a larger scale, showing the left hand portion of the machine, and Fig. 3 is a continuation of Fig. 2, showing the right hand portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of part of the machine, in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another part of the machine, inthe plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. f v

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, in the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, enlarged, showing the grouper wheel and associated spring pressed cam.

' Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a detail, on an enlarged scale, in the plane of the line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

In that embodiment of the invention shown inthe drawings, the bed 10 of the machine is supported on 'legs11, 12, the latter being extended upwardly to provide support for a motor 13.

A relatively low speed endless conveyor 14 is supported on sprockets 15 and rolls 16 mounted on the bed 10. A relatively high speed endless conveyor 17 is supported by sprockets 18 and rolls 19 mounted on the bed 10. The conveyors 14 and 17 are horizontally and longitudinally aligned. The motor 13 is operatively connected by a chain or belt 20 to the right hand sprocket 18-to drive the conveyor 17, the top run moving from left to right as shown in the drawings. The conveyor 14r is driven by its right hand sprocket 15 operatively connected by belt 14 to the left hand sprocket 18, but at a lower speed than that of the conveyor 17, due to the dilerent sprocket diameters. A plate 21 extends across the machine bed to bridge the space between the conveyors 14, 17. Guide rails 22 are located adjacent the sides o f the conveyors. A plurality of carton contacting'members are mounted on spacers 23 extending horizontally from supports 24 at opposite sides of the conveyors 14, 17 (Fig. 6). In the embodiment shown herein, the carton contacting members on spacers 23 are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of two cartons 25 when located side by side on the conveyors.

A pair of upright frame members 26, one at each side of the conveyor 17, opposite its receiving end, support bctween them the grouper mechanism indicated as a whole by the numeral 27. The upper ends of the frame mem'- bers 26 support a gravity chute which will be described hereinafter. 1 l

The grouper mechanism 27 comprises a horizontal shaft 28 rotatably mounted in bearings 29 on the frame members 26 above the conveyor 17. A grouper wheel is fixed on the shaft 28 and comprises two spaced apart sides 30 on the inner surfaces of which are welded hubs 31 pinned to the shaft 28. The sides 30 are centrally circular and each has four radially extending spokes 32, equally spaced apart circumferentially of the wheel'. Rollers 33, parallel to the shaft 28, have their vends mount* ed in the outer ends of the registering spokes of the-Wheel sides 30 and extend across the space between said sides. The rollers 33 are as long as the combined width of two cartons when located side by side on the conveyor. Brace rods 34 also connect the sides 30 together.

A cam 35 is xedly mounted on one side 30-of the grouper wheel, concentrically -with the shaft-28; andro,- tate's with.the-whee1. HThe peripheraltrsurfa'ce ofthe is 'providedwith four identical slightly curvedfaces 36 between which are located depressed faces 37 joined to the faces 36 by steep surfaces 38. A cam follower or roller 39 is rotatably mounted on the lower end of a follower Vrod 40 located between pairs of rollers 41 42, on horizontal stub shafts 43 mounted in one of the frame members 26. A horizontal plate 44 is iixed on the rod y4() between its ends and provides a seat for a coiled spring 45 which surrounds the rod 40 and bears atits upper end against a stop 46. The stop 46 engages the rod 40 and is bolted to the frame 26 in adjusted position by bolts 47 which extend through slots 48 in the frame. The expansive tendency of the spring 45 bearing on its seat 44 urges the rod 40 and roller 39 downwardly, to engage one of the depressed faces 37 on cam 35, and to `normally hold. the grouper wheel inthe position shown in Figs. l, 2, 6 and 7. The cam is fixed on one side of thewheelin such position that engagement between the follower 39 and one of the depressed faces 37 results in the spokes 32 being disposed as best shown in Fig. 7, with the depending or downwardly directed pair of spokes inclined slightly to the left of vertical center.

yIn the normal position of the spokes 32, as shownin Fig. 7, the roller k33 which is mounted in the downwardly directed pair of spokes is located in the path of approaching cartons carried by the conveyor 17. When the pressure exerted by said approaching cartons against that roller 33 is suicient to overcome the tendency of the spring pressed follower 39 to remain seated in the depressed area 37 and hold the cam and wheel in the position-shown in Fig. 7, the moving cartons push the roller 33 and wheel spokes to the right, thereby imparting counterclockwise rotation to the wheel and forcing the cam follower 39 to move upwardly on the adjacent steep surface 38 onto the curved upper face 36. The described rotary motion of the wheel, imparted by the passing cartons, thus moves the downwardly directed spokes to thev right and upwardly, out of the path of the traveling cartons. Simultaneously, the spokes shown in the drawing as directed to the left are moved downwardly about 45 degrees and the roller 33 mounted therein lightly bears on the tops of a pair of moving cartons and then moves into the space between two pairs of cartons. It will be understood that due to the difference in speed of movement of the conveyors 14, 1 7, cartonsdelivered by conveyor 14 to 17 will be carried at a higher rate of speed on conveyor 17 than those following them and therefore spaces are provided between the rearward faces of a pair of cartons and the forward faces of the following pair of cartons when they reach the conveyor 17.

When the aforementioned roller 33 has been moved into the space rearwardly of a pair of cartons, the follower 39 will vhave moved over the camface 36 and then moves very quickly downwardly over the steep surface 38 to another depressed face 37. This quick downward movement is insured by the combinedfinuence ofthe spring 45 and the natural tendency of the followerv 'to move downwardly on the steep surface 38. This-action causes-the roller 33 forcibly tocontact the lrear surfaces of the two cartons which form the rear pair of the' group of four, thereby pushing the rearward cartons against the forward pair to compact and square the group. Thus itwill be seen that a forward pair of cartons imparts rotation to the grouper wheel by pushing against one roller 33, and .the` rotated wheel under-influenceoffthe springV pressed cam -causes the next roller 33 (to-the'lefti-of'the irst'one) to contact the rearward pairV of cartons and forciblyv push them toward the rst pairrto move the four cartons intora compact group.

Before describing the continued movement of the group of'cartons carried by the conveyor 17, reference will be made to the gravity chute and to the trays 49 which-packageithe cartons. Y

rs s 1 1ownV in VFigs. 1 arid 2, vtlteuprightr frarrienaem- 26 support-a `gravity clute 50 whichcomprisessup'- porting surfaces or oors and side rails constructed so that at the top entrance the chute supports open top trays 49 with their bottoms resting on the oor 51, and after the trays pass through the curved portion 52, they are automatically inverted and supported on the edges of their side walls on the floor 53. An escapement device 54 is pivotally mounted at 55 in the Hoor 53 in the path of the trays 49. The escapement device 54 permits trays to pass over the chute oor 53 without hindrance as long as cartons 2'5 xare moving in predetermined order through the machine, but the device 54 automatically moves into tray restraining position when normal operation is tinterrupted. The escapenent device 54 is controlled by a solenoid 56. An lelectrically controlledphoto-eye 57 is mounted on the side of the chute adjacent the device 54 and another photo-eye 58 is located near the exit end of the chute. The function of these parts will be explained hereinafter in the description of operation of the machine.

Means for placing an inverted tray over a. group of cartons, with the inner surface of the forward end wall engaged by the forward end of a carton group, now will bedescribed.

Upright supports 60 are mounted on the bed of the machine at opposite sides adjacent the exit end of the chute 50 and bolts 61 pivotally connect a pair of links 62 to the supports. A tubular cross piece 63 is rigidly connected to the lower ends of the links 62 and extends across the space between them as shown in Figs. 2 ar 1 d 4. The `cross piece 63 is positioned to bear on the trays 4 9, as they I eavethechute. A leaflspring 64 l1as one end connected to theeross piece `63, vand its free end bears onea xedportion of the side guides for the purpose of oatingly Vadjusting and spreading the weight of the cross piece and aiding in self-adjustment of the bear ing pressure of the c ross piece 63 on the trays. The trays move out of the chute toward the sidebars 6 5 and on the upwardly and outwardly inclined flanges 6 6 connected to said vbars 65l (Fig. 8). The construction of the side bars 65-66 provides automatic adjustrnent of the support designed to receive the trays which rest on the inclined surfaces 66 without becoming wedged as they are likely to do between parallel vertical surfaces. The degree of bearing weight of the cross piece '63 may be adjusted by any'suitable means, as for example, by placing shot therein through an opening closed by aplug 67. Adjusting means 68 permit the links `62 to be positioned as required for proper bearing of the cross piece '63 on the trays. v

To further insure proper seating of the trays onthe grouped cartons as the encased groups leave the tray placement area, the machine is provided with a presser plate 7 0 (Figs. -l and 3) pivotally connected at jits left edgev to a horizontal shaft 71 which extends across machine and is journalled at opposite ends in the support 72. The free end of the presser plate 70 has attached thereto across bar 73 which rests on supportsA 74.. A laterally projecting linger 75 is welded to the `plate 70 to contact the under side of a V cable 76 connected toa switch 77 o'n the support 72. The function of the presser plate 70 is to bear on and press downwardly on the exposed surface of a tray bottom as the inverted tray rests on-a group of cartons. If a tray has not been properly positioned the plate 70 will be held in a4 plane above its intended predetermined position andV the-finger I75'w ill therefore raise the cable 76 to actuate the ,switch 77 whereby the operation of -the machine will'be interrupted to permit correction ofthe tray position.

After the tray covered cartons pass under `the plate 70 on conveyor 17, they reach the curved cover 80 of a gravity chute and automatically move from ,the horizontal upperfportionof conveyor 17 to the inclined oor SLo'f--thefchute In-thispassage the-tray coveredgrou'p of cartons is inverted so that when supported onthev door 81 the bottoms of the trays rest on the floor and the tops of the cartons therein are exposed.

The operation of the machine has been described in connection with theexplanation of the var ious parts, but will be summarized briefly to include reference to the means for regulating the movement of certain parts of the mechanism and for interrupting the operation in the event of irregularity in normal operation. A photo-eye 78, not previously mentioned, may be termed a carton release control and is mounted on the bed of the machine in position to be passed by moving cartons. The eye 78 is electrically connected to the motor 13 in such mannerthat when the conveyors 14, 17 travel and cartons pass the eye as intended, the operation is normal and motor operation is not interrupted. I f cartons 25 are not available or fail to cover the eye 78 in passing on the conveyor 17, the motor operation is interrupted until the condition is corrected.

Photo-eyes 57 and `58 adjacent the tray chute serve as safety switches. The eye 57 adjacent the tray escapement device 54 is electrically connected to the carton release eye 78. If the eye 57 is not covered by a tray 49 it indicates that a tray is not available and then the eye l57 and in cooperation with the eye 78 interrupts the power input to the motor 13. Consequently travel of the conveyors is interrupted until the normal movement of trays 49 is restored. When restored, the eye l57 permits tripping of the escapement device to release a tray and motor and conveyor operation resume.

Photo-eye 58 is electrically connected to photo-eye 78 and if a tray does not cover eye 58 as intended, then eye 58 in cooperation with eye 78 interrupts power input to the motor and thus motor and conveyor operation are interrupted. Also, if a tray has covered eye 58 but does not uncover it within a predetermined time, the eye 58 again in cooperation with eye 78 stops the power input to the motor, and consequently motor and conveyor operation are interrupted until the condition is corrected.

Photo- eyes 57 and 58 are electrically connected to cause eye 58 to be inoperative while eye 57 is uncovered and eye 78 is carton covered. As soon as escapement control eye 57 is covered again, with carton release eye 78 still covered, eye 58 becomes operative again for normal operation of both trays and cartons. The escapement device 54 holds the rear end of a tray 49. If photo-eye 57 is covered, as intended, the escapement device permits the tray to move downwardly on the chute; otherwise it holds the tray until normal operation is restored.

The controls described insure the normal operation of the machine which in this embodiment includes feeding of cartons 25 in two rows to the conveyor 14 where they are carried at low speed to the plate 21, across which they are pushed by following cartons to the higher speed conveyor 17, with spaces between the ends of the cartons, due to the difference in travel speeds of the two conveyors. Next, a pair of approaching cartons contacts a roller 33 mounted in downturned spokes 32 of the grouper wheel on the loosely mounted shaft 28, the spokes being held in shown position by the spring'pressed cam follower 39 contacting a depressed surface 37 of the cam 35. The spring 45 is adjustable to vary the bearing pressure of the follower 39 on cam 35. In the present embodiment the adjustment is such that the pressure of four pairs of cartons against a roller 33 is required to rotate the wheel in counterclockwise direction and cause the follower to move upwardly on a steep surface 38, then over surface 36 and quickly downwardly on the opposite steep surface 38 to another depressed face 37. The quick downward movement causes another roller 33 to forcibly contact the rear surfaces of moving cartons to quickly push them forwardly against the forward cartons of that group.

Then the grouped cartons are carried by conveyor 17 to the area where an inverted tray is engaged by the forward end of the carton group to place the tray on the 6 group, as previously explained, and vthe. tray encased group is carried to the area where the tray is pressed downwardly by plate 70 to insure proper seating of the tray, as also previously explained. Then the encased cartons move toward the delivery end of the conveyor 17 into the curved portion of a covered chute, where they are inverted automatically so that when they reach the flat portion 81, the trays rest on their bottoms and the upper faces of the cartons are exposed. l A`s stated, the machine easily may be adapted for handling single yrows of cartons or a plurality of rows of cartons which may be grouped in side and end contacting `arrangements other than the double row, four carton group describedherein.

Changes may be made in the form of parts, and in the details of construction and arrangement shown herein, without departing from the invention, and such changes are kintended to be within the scope of the invention a defined by the claims.

I claim:

l. A machine for packaging groups of articles in a container, comprising an article conveyor, means moving the conveyor longitudinally, a grouper wheel, a support in which the wheel is loosely rotatably mounted above the conveyor, a plurality of article contacting members on the wheel spaced apart circumferentially of the wheel and movable'successively into article intercepting position by rotation of the wheel, means operatively connected with the wheel holding an article contacting member in article intercepting position and intermittently imparting accelerated rotary motion to the wheel, means located above the .group articles for delivering` a container, and means placing the container on the grouped articles.

2. The machine defined by claim l, in which the grouper wheel includes spaced apart side members having radially extending spokes, and the article contacting members are rollers mounted in spokes of opposite side members parallel to the axis of the wheel.

3. The machine defined by claim l, in which the means operatively connected with the wheel intermittently imparting accelerated rotary motion thereto comprises a cam fixed concentrically on the wheel, said cam having a plurality of peripheral curved surfaces separated by depressed faces and steep surfaces connecting the peripheral curved surfaces to the depressed faces, and a spring pressed cam follower associated with the cam.

4. The machine defined by claim l, in which the means for delivering a container comprises a gravity chute having a reversely curved portion intermediate its ends whereon the container is inverted.

5. The machine defined by claim 1, in which the means for placing a container on grouped articles comprises spaced apart side supports adjacent the conveyor, links pivotally connected to the supports, a cross piece connected to the ends of the links, and means adjusting the bearing pressure of the cross piece on a container.

6. The machine defined by claim 1, in which the means for placing a container on grouped articles comprises spaced apart side supports adjacent the conveyor, a shaft mounted in the supports, and a presser plate pivotally connected to said shaft between the supports in position to bear on the container.

7. The machine defined by claim l, in which the article conveyor includes a relatively low speed endless conveyor and a relatively high speed endless conveyor longitudinally aligned and in the same horizontal plane.

8. A machine for packaging groups of cartons in an open top container, comprising a relatively low speed first conveyor, a relatively high speed second conveyor in longitudinal alignment with the first conveyor, a motor operatively connected to one of the conveyors to drive it longitudinally, operative connections between the two conveyors transmitting motion from the driven conveyor to the other at a different speed, supports adjacent 2,191 as-s2 the second conveyor, carton grouper mechanism moiinted in "the supports above the second conifeyorincluding m ars intercep'ting cartons carried by the conveyorand means intermittently accelerating movement of l'other carton's', carton control means adjacent the sle'cond'conveyor in crrupting power input to the motor when cartons fail to pass said means, a gravity chiite located above the second conveyor delivering containers to grouped cartons, an escapem'ent device vmounted on the chiite, `escapement control means v'electrically connected to the 'car-ton control means, and means bearing on said cont'aiiers over gropedcartons.

9. The machine denedby Vclaim 8, in which 'the gravity chute includes a curved covered chawel having a oorvwhich supports containers initially i'estingn their bottoms and a lower reversed direction floor over which :saidfcontainerspass Vin inverted positions. y

I0. In a ypackaging machine including a longitudinally driven endless conveyor having a horizontal article carrying surface, the improvement which comprises mechanism for grouping articles in end contacting relat nship,

said mechanism comprising a support, a shaft eik transversely of the conveyor mounted` in the supp above the conveyor, a freely rotatable wheel having spaced apart side members on the shaft, spoke extending radially from each of fsaid sides, yarticle contacting 'members mounted in spokesof opposite sides eiitending Vacross the space between them and parallel tol said :sh ft, means associated with the wheel intermittently moving id article contacting 'n'ieriiljer into article c ep'ting positiQnrelatively vto the ti:ciil'v'eytfr tently accelerating 'movement of an article 'coritactinfg member .into rear end contact with articles on the conveyor.

,1.14, manolo-ging machine' ihddfng.annatoliauy ,drliooooslloo's ooo'vo'ylor having fa horizontal tliolocrryling surface, the improvement whichcomprises-mechanism 'for grouping articles in 'en d contacting relationship, said mechanism comprising a support, a shaft extending trans- Vfoly of, tho ,oorlvioof moofod iiltho Support eb'ovo the. Coo oyoftjv frooly ,rotatable Whoolh'avioe srl'o'od opor/t 'Sldoioooioof's oohio shaft, ispjokos d'ollx, ftolo oooh .ofsaitl Sides, ,fliolo oolt Tooslilonld. ifo SPokoSfof .opposite SdoS oXtoo in .tho Spaoo bow/,ooo fho'marid. iarollol to Sidjshatt cam mounted onone of the whe el sides, said cambiavios Porpho'r'ol Curro@ ,Surf-'loos Separated@ radially lolo- 'Pssod tacos. ood vsloop .Sl'lrfa'oj`s-oonno'orine Said poliph- ,oral Y.fllrvorl ollrfao ,s to Said depressed fooslari "a Spring pressed cam fol1ow er -o'u Y being rotated by pressure of intercepted arti'c 8 on an article 'contacting member and intennittentlyaf'- celerated in rotary motionby engagement between the cam follower and one of said s teep surfaces.

12. A machine for packaging groups yof cartonsinan open to'p v container, comprising fa relatively lo-'w speed conyeyona lrelatively high `speed cnveyorin longitudinal alignment with the rst'cony'eyr, inesinoving said conveyors,longitudinally, "a support adjacent ppsite sides of the relatively high sped conveyorfarton grouper mechanism 'mounted in the support in ipo'sit'in to intercept cartons carried by the conveyor, Asaidgrouper mechanism 'including means for intermittently interceting moving cartonsl and 'intermittently accelerating move ment of other cartons, comprising a horizontal 4s'haft loosely mounted Yin the support, awheel 'havingspaced sides xed 'onfthe shaft, a vplurality fofv rollers in said side members-and extending across the space between them',` 1a earn fixedon one of the sides, and a spring `'pressed vcam follower associated with the cani, means locatedabove the high speed conveyor for 'de livering containers vto grouped cartons, yand means bearing s aid containers and pressing them downwardly ong'roupidicrfori's: A

13, 'A machine for packaging groups of cartons `1' n a Ycont iner, 'cor 1 1pris`ing a relatively low speed conv` a l"relatif/' :ly speed conveyor vin longitudinal alignmentwith the rst conveyor in position to vreceive caritons from 'said first c onveyor, means moving said k rc`e sp'e` tive conveyorsfatrelativelylow and relatively high speeds whereby cartonson the receiving vend of thehigh speed Conveyor. aire S'Pood. longitudinally from ,tho folloW" oarton's, '.'oarfongrooPor mechanism above fliohghpood cc J `i\(eyor` in position to intercept Acartons `t l i ereon, `said grooror` nioo'haism iooludingjintorooptins "In'ois (infor- Iottontlyjtomooraly jintorooiitin'g Y. moving oflrtoiis f 2d accelerating means intermittently movableV into thespaee bot .following Cartons and bowing a'gholt tho raf- Vrfaceof a following carton, means int' in imparting accelerated vmovement to saild `a`ceel` means whereby 'saidfollowing cart'o`n is `q kly moved forwardly on andrelatively to the high speed conveyor and against jtherearwardfa'ce ofthe intercepted 'cartn to form and compact a group of cartons.

References Cited in theflle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,453,767 Reese et a1. May v1, 1923 l1,775,255 Risser ,s'ept. 9, 1930 2,052,840 Nussbaum sept. y1, 19,36 2,640,637 Baeehle runen, 1953 2,840,223 ,shoppse June '24, 1958

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