US2948094A

US2948094A - Packaging

Info

Publication number: US2948094A
Application number: US558523A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wells Roger
Original assignee: Diamond National Corp
Current assignee: Diamond National Corp
Priority date: 1956-01-11
Filing date: 1956-01-11
Publication date: 1960-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-09

Description

R. WELLS PACKAGING Aug. 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. ll, 1956 HWENTORA www BY Magg, LDIJFLQQICS @Lgt ATTORNEY R. WELLS PACKAGING Aug. 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 O n w o.

Filed Jan. 11, 1956 INVENTOR 5%@ M,

lm (A).

A LOCKS ATTORNEY A118 9, 1960 R. wEpLs 2,948,094

" PACKAGING Filed Jan. 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY R. WELLS PACKAGING Aug. 9, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 11, 1956 I N VENTOR ATTORNEY AU8 9, 1960 R. WELL-s 2,948,094

PACKAGING Filed Jan. 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR jyw 71%,

L i. BY nu @Af-'FLomcs ATTORNEY United States Patent PACKAGING Roger Wells, Plattsburgh, N.Y., assignor to Diamond National Corporation, :a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 11, 1956, Ser. No. 558,523

32 Claims. ((1531-37) This invention relates to packaging :and the continuous handling lof :rolls of web material produced axially in .plural numbers at leach of more than `one station and more :particularly it involves a novel method and structural arrangement for handling rolls of waxed paper produced in multiple at each of more than one station and continuously .and successively loading the rolls individually into a series of individual open cartons each provided with a tray `having side wings and -a `cover locking slit and a cover includingl :a lock top, `and continuously and in succession closing said loaded cartons with said wings folded inwardly and said lock tabs inserted in said locking slit.

Prior to the instant invention individual machines have been devised for Winding and slitting rolls of web material and individual machines "have been devisedfor 'manufacturing cartons, =but the problem of continuously loading the :s'litted rolls has remained relatively in- 'eliicient and time and labor consuming.'

It `is :an `object lof the instant invention to teach a novel method of handling :and packaging rolls of Web material.

It is :a further object to provide an eiiicient apparatus for handling and packaging rolls of web material.

It is vstill another object to teach a ynovel method of moving rolls `of Web from a `plurality of manufacturing stations to a single packaging station.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide Va novel apparatus for moving rolls of web material iirom Aa plurality Vof manufacturing stations to a single packaging station.

Another object is to provide a `novel packaging apparatus for waxed paper rolls.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention Will be apparent from the following `description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view in side elevation of the apparatus Ashown iin Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line `3'-3 ofV 'Fig l and vlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is `an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line 5--5 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. V6 is an enlarged vertical section similar to Fig. 5 of a portion thereof.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and looking .in the direction of the arrows.

' Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical elevation ktaken 'along line 9 9 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

ICC

Fig. l0 is a vertical section .taken ,along `line 10-10 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. -11 4is a sectional View taken transversely 4of the .axis of the wax paper roll through the loaded and sealed wax paper roll `carton.

`Referring to Figs. 1 rand 2, `the constant Winder and slitting machine 20 mamifactures a group .of live individual rolls 21 of wax paper on the spindle 22. These Wax paper rolls are of the usual size used .by the housewife in the kitchen for `wavering foods .and Wrapping sandwiches and the like.

Though 'as manufactured, 4the individual roll size .is obtained from a large jumbo roll by nnwinding .the .required length and slitting to axial :size while .maintaining the axial group formation, .the `ends of the rolls .in the group do have a tendency to stick together. After the group is manufactured, a .lug 23, see Fig. 3, removes the group of five Wax paper rolls from the .spindle 22 and thereafter the group `of .rolls 4travels on the conveyor `24 to a position beneath the breaker .roll 25 whereupon the individual rol-ls are guided 4onto .the `conveyor 26 which travels about ten percent faster than Jthe conveyor `241.

The conveyor 26 has a portion 27 Which runs up a slope of about `20 so that the portion 27 rof the conveyor 26 makes an angle with the conveyor 24 of .approximately lA6O. The `coordinated `action Iof the conveyor 24 with breaker `roll 25 and the conveyor 26 includes a separating of the individual rolls, .during their continuous travel, so that as the :rolls continue in .their -axial Atravel they are separated by a distance of approximately .three quarters of an inch.

The group of live rolls continues to travel .on conveyor 26 unt-il the rst roll of the group contacts the limit switch 28 which in turn actuates the solenoid operated pusher 29 and effects the pushing of .the .axially aligned separated `five rolls down .the inclined table .30, see Fig. 4.

Passing through the inclined table are the two `stop bars 31 which serve to keep the group of Vrolls rolling down the inclined table .30 axially aligne-d. These stop bars are arranged transversely of the table 30 and are about eighteen inches apart. The :stop bars 3d alternately appear above the table 30 .and disappear in order to leffectively align the rol-ls axially in their travel to the conveyor 32 which is provided with pusher hars 33. These pusher bars 33 .are `spaced from each other on the conveyor 32 for a distance which is a multiple of the diameter of the individual rolls.

A second constant Winder 40 which is arranged parallel to the constant Winder 20 serves to simultaneously manufacture a second group of wax paper rolls which are slit into individual rolls21. This second group of individually slit rolls is formed on spindle 42 and is removed therefrom -by a conveyor 44 which may be identical with conveyor 24 and is similarly provided Wit-h a removing lug similar to lug 23. The breaker roll 45 is identical with the breaker roll 25, previously described, and the conveyor 46 is to .the conveyor 26 `and its inclined portion 47 is similar to the inclined portion 27 of `the conveyor 26. The breaker roll 45 in combination 'with the conveyor 44 and the portion 47 :serves to separate the individual rolls 21 by about three quarters of an inch as the group of rolls travels toward `the limit switch 48. The limit switch 48, like the limit lswitch 28, serves to actua-te the solenoid operated pushing mechanism 49to push the second group of `axially .aligned separated rolls on to the inclined table 50 which is located above a portion of the conveyor 32.

The second group of rolls on the inclined .table 50 rolls into Vthe star Wheel type of rotating gate 51 which serves to maintain `the second group of rolls axially aligned 4and to dispense them on to the conveyor 32 between the lugs 3 33 thereby combining the second group of rolls with the first group of rolls, see Fig. 5.

The conveyor 32 may be driven by a variable speed motor so that the speed can be increased and the accumulating table 52 more `or less completely filled as required.

The conveyor 32, which is now carrying both first and second groups of rolls, feeds the inclined accumulating table 52 which in turn feeds the rocking or oscillating dispending gate 53. This oscillating gate or metering member dispenses or meters one group of rolls at a time on to the conveyor 54 (see Figs. 5 and 6) which has a horizontal or a level portion 55 and an upwardly ir1- clined portion 56. The upwardly inclined conveyor portion 56 feeds the downwardly inclined chute 57 which is wide enough to accommodate one roll so that the rolls from the group on conveyor 54 are separated into individual rolls with their axes parallel to each other and with the rolls one behind the other.

In order to keep the axes of the rolls transverse of the chute 57 as they roll down, there is provided on the side margins of the chute a pair of moving belts S which travel at a speed somewhat in excess of the speed with which the rolls roll down the chute 57. Accordingly,

if one of the rolls tends to become askew it will roll toward one of the belts and as the trailing end of the roll contacts the more rapidly moving belts the roll which was askew will straighten itself so as to have its axis transverse of the chute 57.

The chute 57 feeds the escape mechanism controlled star wheel 59 which in turn dispenses individual rolls into open empty set-up cartons 60 which travel on conveyor 6 1 below the escape mechanism controlled star wheel 59, see Fig. 7.

The loaded or iilled but open cartons travel along conveyor 61 with-the rolls in the cartons having their axes parallel to each other and one behind the other until they reach conveyor 62 whereupon the direction of the cartons is changed to an axial direction. Lugs 63 on conveyor 62 carry individual cartons in a direction parallel to the axis of the roll within the carton and beneath the rotating forcing member 64, see Fig. 8, which serves to fold in the rear wing 65 of each individual carton 60. As the individual cartons pass along on the conveyor 62 the forward wing 66 of the cartons 60 is automatically folded in by the bar 67. As the cartons 60 pass further along the conveyor 62 after both

wings

65 and 66 are folded in, the cover 68 is folded in by the action of the fixed cam 69.

The locking tab '70 is maintained outwardly of the cover until it passes beneath the second rotating forcing member 71 which serves to insert the locking tab 70 into the locking slit 72 in the front wall of the carton, see Figs. 9, l0 and 1l.

At the end of the travel of the individual cartons on the conveyor 62, the individual cartons are loaded, folded and sealed and they are passed to the conveyor 73 where again the axes of the rolls within the cartons are parallel to each other and one behind the other. The conveyor '73 may serve to load a master or multiple carton machine or the individual packaged rolls may be taken from conveyor 73 and loaded into large or master shipping cartons by hand.

Referring specifically to Fig. 3, the conveyor 24, which is a moving belt, is located below the constant Winder 20. The moving belt 24 passes around the

pulleys

100 and 101. The pulley 100 is mounted on the shaft 102 on which is also mounted the sprocket wheel 103 having thirty-two teeth thereon. Through the medium of the chain 104 and the sprocket wheel 105 having thirty teeth, which is driven through chain 106 by sprocket `wheel 107 on motor 10S, sprocket 103 is driven at a somewhat lower peripheral speed than the pulley 109 which is mounted on shaft 110 on which sprocket wheel is also mounted. Accordingly, it will be understood that the conveyor 26 which may be a belt travels at a lineal speed approximately ten percent greater than the lineal speed of belt 24 and the rolls 21 will separate approximately three quarters of an inch as shown on the inclined portion 27 of the belt 26 under the influence of the combined action of the breaker roll 25, the belt 24 and the portion 27 of the belt 26. The bottom of the breaker roll 25 is spaced from the

belts

24 and 26 about two and one-quarter inches when the diameter of the rolls 21 is about two inches.

Referring specifically to Fig. 4, the air cylinder 111 operates a piston therein which in turn causes oscillation of the lever 112 about the fixed pivoting shaft 113 which.

in turn causes reciprocating motion of the two stop bars 31 so that when the higher stop bar 31 is in exposed position as shown in Fig. 4, the lower stop bar 31 will disappear below the top of the inclined table 30. When the higher stop bar 31 is in the position below the top of the table `30, then the lower stop bar 31 will be exposed. Accordingly, it will be understood that as the groups of rolls roll down the inclined table 30 they are stopped for a relatively short period of time for the purpose of aligning the individual groups of rolls and then they are permitted to roll on in axial alignment until they are again stopped and again axially aligned should any partial disalignment occur, until they are conveyed on to the conveyor 32 where they may be pushed along by the pusher bars 33.

Referring specifically to Figs. 5 and 6, after the groups of rolls have been combined by the action of the star wheel type of rotating gate 51 so that the groups of rolls passing down the inclined table 50 are combined with the rolls between the pusher bars 33 on the conveyor 32, the groups of rolls are accumulated on the inclined table 52 and are momentarily stopped in their travel by the oscillating gate 53 which is a portion of a long tube 114 journalled for oscillation at its opposite ends with a portion cut away for a length somewhat larger than the axial dimension of a group of rolls. The tube 114, of which the oscillating member 53 -is a part, is fabricated from a pipe about two and one-half inches in diameter and about six feet long. Only the center portion is cut out which leaves about three lineal inches of solid pipe at each end. In this solid portion at each end a small stub shaft is inserted so that tube 114 may be mounted for oscillation. The dimension of oscillation of the member 53 is from full bathing position, as shown in Fig. 5, through an arc of approximately 150 in a counterclockwise direction and during this period of oscillation a stack of groups will be baffled on inclined table 52 while one group is transferred to conveyor belt 54. When an entire group of rolls has been transferred by the conveyor belt 54, the switch member 115 will fall and close the circuit 116 to solenoid 117 which will pull the lever 113 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 119 so as to release the lock 120 and permit the member 53 to oscillate.

The shaft 121 fixed to the ends of the tube 114 of which the oscillating member 53 is a part, receives its oscillatory motion from the rotating driving wheel 122. The lever arm 123 fixed to the shaft 121 is connected by means of a weak spring to -a fixed point 124. The lever arm 125 which is also fixed to the shaft 121 is connected to the periphery 126 of the wheel 122 by the strong spring 127. Accordingly, as the wheel 122 constantly rotates, the member 53 will oscillate through an are of approximately when the lock 120 is in open position so as to successively dispense a group of rolls from the table 52 to the conveyor 24. The switch 115 is so located as not to interfere with this roll dispensing or transferring action, as shown in Fig. l.

Referring specifically to Fig. 7, cartons 60 which have already been set up manually or automatically on conveyor 61 pass below the escape mechanism controlled 5 i i u star `wheel 59 to receive `individual rolls. As will be observed from Fig. 7 the cover 68 contacts the lever 128 which has a A'fixed pivot at '129 causing it to ,rotate counterclockwise and push connect-ing lever 130 which is pivotally connected .at 131 to the escape member 132 which cooperates with the lugs 133 `on the escape wheel134 which is constantly urged to rotate ina counterclockwise direction. After a roll 21 has been dispensed into a `carton A60the lever 1128 falls of its own weight and is again ready 'to be actuated by the next succeeding carton 60 during its continuous travel on conveyor 61.

When there `are no more set-up cartons to be loaded the Wheel 59 will no longer Ibe actuated. A system of switches assures that there are always enough iilledcartons on conveyor '61 to exert a positive pressure suicient to rapidly pushanother'carton into the carton closure as soon as=one `is carried away.

Referring specifically -to Fig. 8, the rot-ating `forcing member '64 isshown forcing the rear wing '65 into folded position after the front wing 66 has .already `been folded by "the :action of the bar 67. "On conveyor 62 and immediately behind the rotating rforcing member 46'4 is a similar carton 60 which is 'fully open and ready to be acted upon by the forcing member 64H. The speed of rotation 'of the 4element 164 is such 'that it makes one 'revolution per carton and, accordingly, it is coordinated with the speed of the conveyor 62.

Referring -specically to Figs. 9, 10.and `l'1, the con- :veyor v62 has served to carry the cartons 60 beneath the cover folding and inserting plate 69 to the position beneath the rotating forcing member 71 which comprises a lforcing finger 135 lwhich in turn serves to engage, insert 'and forceyinwardly the locking tab 70 on the cover 68 Aof the 'carton 60. 'Plate 69 is of generally inverted 'L-shape cross-section, and the 4two legs thereof are positioned --relatively uto the way `in which the cartons 60wpass "sothat the 'tuck flaps on the covers of the cartons '60 are lfolded and then the leading edges of these tuck flaps are inserted behind the carton front wall, the cover is forced downwardly as the ,cartons advance, and due to ,the natural resiliency ofthe carton material, `the locking tab vis somewhat outstanding relatively `to the tuck flap.

The rotating forcing member 71 may be driven by the sprocket chain l1 36 which drives theshaft 137 which in turn drives lthe shaft 138 through a universal joint 139 `so that the shaft 138m=ay beat an angleto 'the shaft 137 and in order that 4:the locking tab 70` may be `engaged b.y the linger `i135 in such a manner that Athe locking tab 70 Awill beforced downwardly and inwardly through the lock- `ing lslit '72 Iformed in the front w-all of the .tray portion `of the carton 60.

Thespeed of rotation of the forcing element 71 is such that it makes one revolution per carton and lit is, ,ac- Icordingly, coordinated with the speed of the conveyor 62.

The carton closing `apparatus described runs at a speed of about yseventy-five cartons per minute.

lThus 'itwfill be understood `that in accordance with -the invention, cartons may be loaded with wax paper rolls :and sealed at a high irate yof speed `in coordination Awith the manufacture of groups of rolls of wax paper .on an intermittent basis and'at a relatively lower rate of speed,

, withfthe manufacture lof said trolls taking Vplace at more than one station. The coordination `of the continuous `manufacture `ofwa-x paper rolls and the continuous .loading wand sealing of Ycartons effects a saving of labor and corresponding decrease in cost. `In coordinating Vthe manufactured product withthe packaging of the product .the continuous conveyance of the rolls both as to direction, change of direction `as well as change of level, lthe advantages described lare achieved. This coordination fis present in the instant invention irrespective ofthe speciic apparatus recited as the procedure aswell as Athe apparatus is of significance `in achieving the desired relstilts.

:It Lwill be obvious to lthose skilled in the art thatvarious other changes may be made without departing from the .spirit `of the invention and, therefore, Athe invention is not limited `to what is shown in the-drawings ,and describedin ,the specification, but only as indicated in the .appended claims.

rWhat is claimedis: i

1. In a waxed paper roll handling and packaging apparatus, first means for successively manufacturing groups of aplurality `of axially Aaligned waxed paper rolls, first means for axially separating individual rolls in each group of said vaxially aligned rolls made by. said rst manufacturing means, rst means for successively and transversely moving each said groups, 4first means for axially aligning said successively moving groups in ltheir transverse travel, second means for successively manufacturing -groups of a plurality ,of axially `aligned waxed paper rolls, second `means for `axially separating individual rolls in each group of `said axially aligned rolls made by saidsecond manufacturing means, second means for successively and transversely moving .each of said groups made by said second manufacturing means, Sec- .ond means for axially -aligning and successively moving groups made by said ,second manufacturing means -into the line of travel of groups made by said first manufac .turing means, means for accumulating groups made by said rst and second manufacturing means.

2. In a roll handling and `packaging apparatus, rst means for successively manufacturing groups of a plurality of axially aligned rolls, first .means for axially separating individual rolls .in -each group of said axially aligned rolls :made by said first manufacturing means, first means for successively and transversely moving each said groups, .irstmeans for .axially aligning said successively moving groups in their ltransverse travel, second .means for successively manufacturing groups of a plurality of axially aligned rolls, second Vmeans for axially separating .individual rolls in each Vgroup of said axially .aligned rolls made by said second manufacturing means, second -means for successively and transversely moving each `of -said groups made by said second manufacturing means, second means for axially .aligning and successively `movinggroups made by said second manufacturing means into the line of travel .of groups made by `said rst `manufacturing means, means for accumulating groups made by said rst and second ymanufacturing means.

3. I-'hestructure recited .in claim .2, said `first .and second .manufacturing means being laterally spaced `from eachother, at least a part of said second means forimoving `said `groups `made by said vsecond manufacturing 'means beingat a -higher level than at least a part `of -said iirst means Ifor successively moving said groups made :by said first manufacturing means, whereby said groups made by said second manufacturing means Will join the line Vof travel of said groups Vmade by said first manufacturing means by "travelling from a higher to a'lower level.

- 21. The structure Arecited 1in claim 2J means for `moving said `accumulated groups successively in `an axial direct'ion, means `for successively moving at a generally high rate of speed individual `rolls from'said accumulated groups in a transverse direction with the axes of individual rolls parallel to each other and one Abehind the other `and lat right angles .to their line `-of travel, means for ,movingopen and empty cartons `at a generally high rate of speed, means for successively loading one `roll into each carton.-

5. The structure recited in claim 4, at least .a portion `of asaid `generallyhigh speed 4roll :moving means being located at a higher -level than said generally high speed carton moving means, whereby each of said cartons `is loaded from above.

6. The structure recited in claim 4, generally thigh 4speed means for successively moving isaid open loaded cartons in axial direction in end-to-end formation, means for successively closing said cartons.

7. The structure recited in claim 6, means for successively moving said individually loaded closed cartons in a transverse direction in a single row with the rolls within the cartons having their axes parallel to each other and one behind -the other as opposed to end-to-end formation.

8. The structure recited in claim 6, said cartons each comprising a tray having two inwardly foldable side wings located at opposite ends thereof, `a foldable cover comprising a'locking tab and a front wall provided with a locking slit, means for folding in the rear wing of each carton, means for bringing down the front cover of each carton, and means for inserting the locking tab within the locking slit.

9. The structure recited in claim 8, means for successively moving said individually loaded sealed cartons in a transverse 'direction in a single row with the rolls within the cartons having their axes parallel to each other and one behind the other as opposed to end-to-end formation.

10. The structure recited in claim 8, said means for folding in said rear wing comprising a rotating forcing member.

11. The structure recited in claim 8, said means for inserting the locking tab within said locking slit comprising a rotating forcing member.

12. The structure recited in claim 10, said rotating forcing member being in timed relation with said high speed means for moving said open loaded cartons in endto-end formation so that said rotating forcing means makes one revolution as said high speed means for moving said open loaded cartons in end-to-end formation moves a distance equal to the length of one carton.

13. The structure recited in claim 1l, said rotating forcing member being in timed relation with said high speed means for moving said open loaded cartons in endto-end formation so that said rotating forcing means makes one revolution as said high speed means for moving said open loaded cartons in end-to-end formation moves a distance equal to the length of one carton- 14. The structure recited in claim 1l, the axis of rotation of said forcing member being at an angle of less than 90 with the line of travel of said cartons in endto-end formation.

15. In a closing device for successively closing a series of cartons each comprising a tray having two side wings located at opposite ends thereof, a foldable cover comprising a flap having a locking tab and a front wall provided with a locking slit, means for successively moving open cartons in end-to-end formation, means for successively folding in the rear wing of each carton, means 'for successively bringing down the cover of each carton and inserting the iiap thereof behind said front wall, and means for inserting the locking tab through the locking slit comprising a shaft, a finger fixed to and extending generally radially of said shaft, said shaft supporting said finger for rotation in a plane that is parallel to the line of movement of said cartons and that is inclined relatively to the carton side walls with the finger being directed from outside said carton downwardly towards the bottom thereof while engaging said locking tab.

16. The structure recited in claim l5, said means for folding -in said rear wing comprising a rotating forcing member.

17. The structure recited in claim 16, said Vrotating forcing member being `in timed relation with said means for moving said open loaded cartons in end-to-end formation so that said rotating forcing means makes one revolution as said high speed means for moving said open loaded cartons in end-to-end formation moves a distance equal to the length of one carton.

18. The structure recited `in claim 15, said linger being simultaneously in timed relation with said means for moving said open loaded cartons in end-to-end formation so that said finger makes one revolution as said high speed means -for moving said open loaded cartons in end-to-end formation moves a distance equal to the length of one carton.

19. The structure recited in claim 2, said first means for axially separating individual rolls in each group comprising a first moving belt and a second moving belt, a breaker roll for forcing the transfer of individual rolls from said first belt to said second belt, means for causing said second belt -to move faster than said first belt.

20. The structure recited in claim 19, said second belt being at an angle of approximately 160 to said first belt.

21. The structure recited in claim 2, said first means for axially aligning said groups in their transverse travel comprising an intermittently operated stop bar arranged parallel to the axes of said groups.

22. The structure recited in claim 2, said second means for axially aligning and successively moving groups made by said second manufacturing means comprising a Wheel of star-like section having a length corresponding to the length of a group.

23. The structure recited in claim 4, and means to successively release one group of said accumulated groups comprising an oscillating member formed of a tube having its central portion cut away in part so as to form a combination metering pocket and stop, means for rotating said oscillating member about its axis through an arc of approximately means for timing the period of oscillation of said oscillating member.

24. The structure recited in claim 4, said means for `successively moving individual rolls from said accumulated groups in a transverse direction with the axes of individual rolls parallel to each other and one behind the other comprising an inclined plane for causing the rolls to roll down said plane, a pair of moving belts forming the side margins of said plane, means for moving said belts at a velocity greater than that of the rolls rolling down said inclined plane.

25. The structure recited in claim 4, said means for successively loading one roll into each carton comprising a star Wheel metering element, means for controlling the rotation of said metering element in response to the motion of said empty cartons.

26. The method of handling and packaging rolls of web material comprising moving first groups of a plurality of axially aligned rolls in an axial direction, separating individual rolls in said first groups, moving said separated groups in a transverse direction while maintaining their alignment, moving second groups of a plurality of axially aligned rolls in an axial direction, separating individual rolls in said second groups, moving said separated second groups in a transverse direction and maintaining their alignment, accumulating said first groups with said second groups.

27; The method recited in claim 26, accumulating said first groups with said second groups by moving said second groups downwardly into the line of travel of said first groups.

:28. The method recited in claim 26, successively moving individual rolls `from said accumulated groups with their axes parallel and one behind the other while successively moving individual open cartons in the same general direction, moving individual rolls into individual cartons.

29. The method recited in claim 28, wherein said last step involves moving individual rolls downwardly into said individual cartons.

30. The method recited in claim 28, successively moving said loaded cartons in endto-end formation and simultaneously sealing said cartons.

31. The method recited in claim 29, successively moving .Said ,loaded and sealed cartons inV transverse 9 -formation with their axes parallel and one behind the other.

32. The structure recited in claim 4, said means for successively loading one roll into each carton comprising `a star Wheel metering element, means for controlling the rotation of said metering element in response to the position of a moving open carton.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Marcalus Oct. 13, 1931 Shock Mar. 25, 1941 Monaco July 30, 1946 Holmberg Jan. 9, 1951 Schmied May 27, 1952 Wood Jan. 12O, 1953 Boyce Nov. 24, 1953 Wood Jan. l2, 1954 Lear lluly 26, 1955 Rose May 29, 1956 Rose Oct. 9, -1956