US2929183A

US2929183A - Flap-lifting mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2929183A
Application number: US756707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter S Magna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-08-22
Filing date: 1958-08-22
Publication date: 1960-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-22

Description

March 22, 1960 P. s. MAGNA FLAP-LIFTING MECHANISM 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 INVENTOR. PETER a. M46444 BY w ZW v LN! (Ii a March 22, 1960 P. S.-MAGNA' v FLAP-LIFTING' MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 INVENTOR. PETER .s. 4146M Mfi M ATTORNEY FLAP-LIFTING MECHANISM Peter S. Magna, Pittsburg, Calif. Application August 22, 1958, Serial No. 756,707 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-374) This invention relates to a mechanism for lifting front and back cover flaps of cartons or boxes to facilitate handling them in a conventional sealing apparatus.

Immediately after a carton is filled with articles, such as nails, its four cover flaps commonly project at downward angles from the horizontal. A conventional sealing apparatus includes a slider bed, a chain and bar arrangement for pushing cartons along the bed, and means associated with the bed for closing the cover flaps. The

latter means cannot close the two flaps which fold along lines transverse to the direction of travel (i.e.fron t and back flaps) preliminary to sealing, unless these flaps project at upward angles. The sealing apparatus has been equipped with satisfactory means for lifting and closing the two fiaps which fold along lines parallel to the direction of travel (i.e. side flaps), but when transversely folding flaps project downwardly, it has been necessary heretofore to lift them manually before the closing and holding means can act.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism adapted to be installed on a conventional carton sealing apparatus for automatically lifting the transversely folding flaps to positions Where conventional elements of the apparatus can close them.

A further object is to provide a simple mechanism which acts on each carton of a series moving therepast to lift the transversely folding flaps from downwardly projecting angles to upwardly projecting angles, thereby enabling other mechanism to engage and close these flaps.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a portion of a sealing apparatus equipped with my flaplifting mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the lifting means for a front flap showing the parts in the position they occupy before engagement by a carton;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the parts in the position they occupy after fully lifting a front flap;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the lifting means for a back flap showing the parts in the position they occupy before engagement by a carton; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the parts in the position they occupy while a carton is passing.

Figure 1 shows a portion of a conventional cartonsealing apparatus which includes a slider bed 10, a drive sprocket 11 journaled at the exit end of the bed, a take-up sprocket 1'2 journaled at the entry end, and an endless chain 13 running over said sprockets alongside the bed. A similarly arranged chain and sprockets are situated on the other side of the bed. A plurality of spaced apart carton-pushing bars 14 extend between the two chains where they can engage the back walls of carton C C C C and C supported on the bed. The drive sprocket 11 is driven continuously by any suitable mechanism 15,

whereby the bars continuously push the cartons along the bed. Each carton has a transversely folding front cover. 1 flap 16, a transversely folding back cover flap 17, and

parallel-folding side cover flaps 18, all of which normally project at downward angles from the horizontal, as shown on carton C The apparatus also includes a finger 19 pivoted on a horizontal axis above bed 10 for depressing the back flaps 17 and a plate 20 fixed above the exit' portion of the bed for closing andlholding both of the transversely folding flaps, as shown on carton C Conventional means, not shown, automatically lowers finger 19 as each carton passes beneath for depressing the back; flap to a position where plate 20 can hold it closed. Thej.

apparatus also includes means for closing the parallelfolding side flaps 18 and for sealing the cartons, but

'since the present'invention does not involve these parts,

they are not shown. a P

It is apparent from Figure 1 that neither finger 19 nor plate 29 can properly engage the transversely

folding flaps

16 and 17 unless they are projecting upwardly from the horizontal. If these flaps were to remain in 'the positions shown on carton C they would merely pass under the finger and plate without closing. In accordance with my invention, the sealing apparatus is equipped with a flap-lifting mechanism which includes cooperating

means

25 and 26 for automatically lifting the transversely folding front and

back flaps

16 and 17 respectively to positions where the finger and plate can engage them.

The lifting means 25 for the front fiap 16 is located ahead of fingers 19 and comprises upright plates 27 fixed with respect to opposite sides of the slider bed 10 outside chains 13. The two plates 27 are horizontally aligned and are alike except of opposite hand. Each contains.

a slot 28 which slopes upwardly toward the exit end of the bed. A rod 29 is slidably supported in'the two slots 28 and extends across the bed in spaced relation there above. Normally the rod gravitates to the lower ends of the slots where it is lower than the bottom edge of a downwardly projecting front flap 16, as shown in Figure 2. As the front wall of the moving carton engages the rod, it pushes the rod up the slope of slots 28, as shown on carton C in Figure l. The rod thus moves upward-. ly under the front flap 16 and lifts this flap about its adjacent the bed, and a link 34 connecting the solenoidplunger with the end of the lever toward the exit end of the bed. Lever 32 bends outwardly toward the entry end of the bed, and a cam-shaped extension. 35 is pivoted to the inner face of the bent portion on an-axis perpendicular to the axis on which the lever itself pivots. A

spring 36 normally holds the extension 35 in a position overlying the edge of the bed, as shown in Figure 4. Where the front wall of a carton engages the extension, the extension pivots out of the way to allow the carton to pass, as shown in Figure 5. Thereafter the extension springs back under the back flap 17 of the carton. A limit switch 37 is mounted on the bed and is engaged by the carton as soon as the extension springs back. The limit switch closes to energize solenoid 33 while the carton is passing, and thus swings lever 32 clockwise about its pivot. The extension 35 lifts the back flap about its transverse fold line so that finger 19 can engage it. Immediately thereafter the finger depresses the back flap, as shown on carton C in Figure 1. Next the carton Patented Mar. 22, 1960 3 passes under plate 20, which holdsbothtransverselyfolding flaps'down, as already explained.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that my invention aifords' a simple mechanism for automatically and positively, lifting transversely folding flaps of a carton to positions where conventional, closing. means on a sealing apparatus can engage these flaps. The mechanism has further advantages that it can be installed on existing. apparatus without otherwise altering the structure, and it eliminates the effort and safety hazard of lifting the flaps manually.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that other modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I". In a sealing apparatus which includes a slider bed, means for pushing cartons along said bed, each carton having front and back cover flapswhich fold along lines transverse to the direction of travel along the bed and initially project at downward angles from the horizontal, and means'for closing the transversely folding flaps and holding themin closed position, the combination there with of a mechanism for lifting the transversely folding flaps of each carton to angles which project upwardly from the horizontal comprising means mounted on said bed in advance of said closing and holding means and actuated by each carton for lifting the front flap, and cooperating means mounted on said bed in advance of said closing and holding means and actuated by each carton for thereafter lifting the back flap.

A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said means for lifting the front flap includes upright plates mounted in horizontal alignment on opposite sides of said bed, said plates having slots which slope upwardly toward the exit end of the bed, and a rod slidably mounted in saidslots and extending across said bed in spaced relation thereabove.

3, A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said meansfor lifting the back flap includes a lever pivoted on a. horizontal axis with respect to said bed, motivating means connected to said lever, a cam extension pivoted to, said lever on an axis perpendicular to the axis on which the lever itself pivots, spring. means urging said extension to a position overlying said bed, said extension being adapted to pivot out of the way while a carton 'is passing andreturn to its position overlying the sea in time to lift the back flap of the carton, and

actuating means for said motivating means operated by the carton when the extension returns.

4. In a sealing apparatus which includes a slider bed, means for pushing cartons along said, bed, each carton having front and back cover flaps which fold along lines transverse to the direction of travel along the bed and initially project at downward angles from the horizontal,

and means for closing the transversely folding flaps and 1 holding them in closed position, the combination thereofa mechanism for lifting the transversely folding. flaps'co'mprising a pair of upright plates mounted in hori-,

zontal alignment on opposite sides of said bed in adspect to said bed, motivating means connected to said lever, a cam extension pivoted to said lever on an axis perpendicular to the axis on which the lever itself pivots, spring means urging said extension to a. position overlying said bed, said extension being adapted to pivot out of the way while a carton is passing and return to its position overlying the bed in time to lift the back flap of the carton, and actuating means for said motivating means operated by the carton when the extension returns.

5. In a sealing apparatus which includes a slider bed, means for pushing cartons along said bed, each carton having. a front cover flap which folds along a line transverse to the direction of travel along the bed and initially projects at a downward angle from the horizontal, and

1 means for closing the front cover flap and holding it closed, the combination therewith of a device for lifting the front flap of each carton before it reaches said closing and holding means, said device comprising a pair of upright plates mounted in horizontal alignment on opposite sides of said bed in advanceof said closing and holding means, said plates having slots which slope upwardly toward the exit end of the bed, and a rod slidably mounted in said slots and extending across said bed in spaced relation thereabove and adapted to ride up the slots under a. front flap as the carton advances along the bed.

6. In a carton sealing apparatus which includes a slider bed, means for pushing cartons along said bed, each. carton having a back cover flap which folds along a line transverse to the direction of travel along the bed lever, a cam extension pivoted to said lever on an axis perpendicular to the axison which the lever itself pivots, spring means urging said extension to a position overlying said bed, said extension being adapted to pivot out of the way while a carton is passing and return to its position overlying the bed in time to lift the back flap of. the carton, and actuating means for said motivating means operated by the carton when the extension returns.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,406,165 Beckmann Feb. 14, 1922 1,974,192 2,764,123 Derderian Sept. 25, 1956 Paxton Sept. 18, 1934.