US2973611A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

H. E. ENGLESON El AL I 2,973,611

March 7, 19 1 PACKAGING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 13, 1957 INVENTORS'. HARRY EENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK BY We? ATT'Y s March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETA]. 2,973,611

PACKAGING MACHINE INVENTORS: HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK 36 WMMJJ ATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EI'AL 7 I PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 15, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 4 ELMER D. SRAMEK BYQ Z? g ATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EI'AL 2,973,611

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.5

\N: 2 l I 24 a 29 2Q I24 28 L INVENTORS: HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER. D. SRAMEK WW/ex March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EIAL 2,9 3,5

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS:

HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 zzvmvroas; HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,97

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATT' YS INVENTORSI HARRY E. ENGLESON \h ELMER D. SRAMEK March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EIAL 2,973,611

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ir IL INVENTORSI 7 FIG. 20 HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 2,973,611

March 7, 1961 PACKAGING MACHINE 1o Sheet-Sheet 10 Original Filed March 15, 1957 INV TORS: RY E. E E ER D. SRAM HAR ELM mwm MW ATT Ys ero, IlL, assignors to F. B. Redington C0., Bellwood, 111., a corporation of Delaware Original application Mar. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 645,736. Divided and this application Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,969

10 Claims. (Cl. 53-266) This invention relates to machines for packaging articles in cartons of cardboard or the like, and more particularly thisinvention'relates to such machines for packaging elongated articles which may be stacks of paper cups or the like, stacked together and considered as a unit. Specifically;, this invention relates to a conveyer arrangement necessary to accomplish successive steps of packaging and sealing the cartons, and which must occupy a minimum of area or factory space.

This invention consists generally oiia packaging machine for receiving elongated articles such as stacks of paper cups moving axially along a first conveyor, a second conveyer. with a carton handling mechanism associated therewith to insert-a single expanded carton into each of successive pocketson the second conveyer, and

an article transferring arrangement for cyclic operation to insert the articles received from the first conveyer into M the cartons held by the second conveyer.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for receiving articles from a first conveyer such that the articles are raised and held axially in align ment with a carton held on a second conveyer, thereby permitting a cyclic transfer mechanism to engage and move the articles into the cartons.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for removing flattened cartons singly of thermagazine, whereupon a movable stripper member may be inserted into ithe gap and into engagement with the lowermost carton. for moving. the carton apart from the magazine; and anotherspecific object provides a means for expandingthe flattened carton wherein a restraining" member having suction cups thereon will adhere to an rupper panel of the carton while a, transfer 7 member, also with suction cups thereon, will adhere to a lower panelto pull the carton downwardly while a restraining force pulls the'top panel of the carton upwardly. Thus the carton is expanded and thence is carried downwardly intoa pocket of the conveyer.

Another objectof this invention is to provide an improved packaging machine for operating intermittently and in. cycles, each cycle being initiated when an elongated-article, such as a stack of paper cups, is received from a firstconveyer. The cycle of operation will includethe raising of the article above the first conveyer and the transferring thereof into a paper carton held on the second conveyer, which c'onveyer will. thence move by a predetermined increment of travel. Successive movements-of the second conveyer accomplish the steps of foldingend: flapson the carton, applying glue thereto,

sealing thecarton and discharging. the carton to a verti- I from a magazine, for expanding the cartons from their cal magazine... A position sensing electrical switch will be operated stopping the machine and completing the cycle, whereafter another successive cycle may be initiated.

A more complete understanding of the present invention, its mode of operation, and its advantages may be gathered from further reading of this specification together with an inspection of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front side elevational view of a specific packaging machine employing the teachings of this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line 22 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a single carton as it would be expanded and held'by the second conveyer of this machine, together with a portion of the elongated article which may be a stack of paper drinking cups and which is positioned for insertion into the carton;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionxof the packaging machine along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a terminal portion of the first conveyer together with the article transfer mechanism including an elevator trough and a transfer chain whereby the article may be moved into an awaiting carton;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are similar vertical elevational views, at reduced scale, of the mechanism shown generally in Fig. 5, the transfer mechanism illustrated therein being shown progressively in time sequence during the operation thereof; 1 r

Fig. 9 is an. enlarged vertical section along the line 9'--9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section along the line litl10 of Fig. 2 showing a fragmentary portion of the packaging machine and particularly illustrating the mechanism removing the flattened cartons singly from the magazine;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10; I i

Fig. 12 is a vertical section along the line 12--12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section along the line 13-13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section along the line 14-14 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the magazine for holding a stack of flattened cartons and with the mechanism for removing a single carton from the-bottom of the stack;

' Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end offthe magazine and mechanism 1 generally illustrated in Fig. l5-and showing the drive means for operating the suction arms and the stripper members therein; i Fig. 1-7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the packaging machine of this invention, particularly illustrating the mechanism for gluing, sealing and discharging the cartons;

Fig. 18 is a perspective View of the packaging machine of this invention with many parts removed to show only the driving arrangement for reciprocating a vertical carriage;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the power or driving mechanism of the machine of this invention wherein the supporting structure has been removed to more clearly illustrate the drive means; I

Fig. 20 is a horizontal section along the line 20-20 of Fig. 19 and showinga fragmentary part of the driving arrangement more completely illustrated in Fig. 19; and

Fig. 21 is a schematic representation illustrating the movementsofcartons as they progressfrom. the supply magazine to the second conveyer, past a sealing mechanism and thence to a discharge magazine.

General arrangement The packaging machine of this invention includes generally a first conveyer 1 for transporting the elongated articles or stacks of paper cups 2, and a second conveyer 3 for holding and carrying fibrous cartons 4 into which the paper cups are to be inserted. A cycle of operation is initiated when the articles 2 move to a terminal part of the first conveyer 1 and actuate a detector means such as a pivotal arm 5 which will be depressed downwardly, Figs. 6 and 7. The detector arm 5 is coupled to operate an electric switch 6, Fig. 5, which in turn causes operation of an article elevating means such as an elevator trough 7 positioned to engage and raise the articles 2. An article transfer means such as a transfer finger 8 attached to a movable chain 9 thence moves the cups forwardly into a carton 4 held by the second conveyer 3 and positioned in axial alignment with the articles 2.

The second conveyer 3 is driven intermittently by a drive means including at Geneva gear 10, Fig. 2, such that the conveyer 3 will move forwardly by a predetermined or incremental amount. The conveyer 3 is supported by a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shafts 11 and 12 with sprockets 13 and 14 mounted thereon, and therefore the conveyer 3 will move vertically around the shafts 11 and 12 by incremental or discreet intervals of travel. The shaft 12 is supported by suitable bearings and the sprockets 14 are keyed thereto, while the sprockets 13 are journaled on the shaft 11.

A carton 4 is removed from a magazine 15 and expanded and inserted into a pocket or bucket 16 which is held at rest between intervals of travel at the uppermost part of the conveyer 3 over the shaft 11, Fig. 2. The mechanism for removing cartons 4 from the magazine 15 and expanding and inserting them into the conveyer 3 will be described subsequently. After a carton is inserted into the pocket 16 at a station A atop the conveyer 3 the conveyer may move by a single increment of travel carrying the carton to a station B, Fig. 2, which is in axial alignment with the article 2 positioned on the elevator trough 7.

After insertion of the article 2 the conveyer moves the carton 4 to a rest station C, Figs. 2 and 21, whereinthe carton is merely held with the cups therein, without further processing. The conveyer thence moves the carton around the lowermost shaft 12 and sprockets 14 and thence upwardly to a station D. In a subsequent movement the carton is carried from station D to a station E during which interval of travel glue is applied to certain end flaps of the carton and the flaps are closed upon each other and held firmly to permit the glue to set. The cartons are thence expelled from the conveyer at station E by a pusher member 17, Fig. 21, which moves the carton horizontally from the pocket 16. The carton then passes through a discharge or delivery magazine 18 wherein each successive carton is raised by elevator fingers 19, Figs. 1 and 18, thereby raising the cartons one on the other, stacking them as indicated in Fig. 21, whereupon an attendant may remove the cartons for shipping.

The erected cartons are held in the pockets 16 as they pass from station A to station E by transversely spaced retaining rails 1611, Figs. 2 and 15.

Article transfer mechanism As shown in Fig. 5, the first conveyer 1 may be a pair of spaced apart V-belts 20 trained around a pair of pulleys 21 mounted on a shaft 22 at the terminal end of the conveyer, and supported at intermediate points along the conveyer -1 by further pulleys 23. The shaft 22 is journalled in a fixed support 24, and the belts 20 are driven continuously such that when an elongated article 2 is placed thereon it will move to the terminal end, as indicated in Fig. 6. The detector arm 5 is pivotally mounted at a point 25 and extends diagonally upward between the spaced apart belts 20 of the conveyer 1, and therefore, as an article 2 moves to the terminal end of the conveyer 1 the detector arm 5 is pivoted downwardly to operate the electric switch 6, Fig. 5. The elec tric switch 6 iselectrically coupled to energize a solenoid 26 which is coupled to rock a bell crank 27 by a connecting link 28. A tension spring 29 is connected to an arm of the bell crank 27 in opposition to the solenoid 26, and therefore the bell crank 27 is normally pivoted to an extreme clockwise position about a pivot point 30, as shown in Fig. 5.

The elevator trough 7 is positioned between the spaced apart belts 20 of the conveyer 1, Fig. 9, and is supported at one point by an upstanding arm 31 of the bell crank 27 and at another point by an upstanding arm 32 pivotally connected at one end to the bell crank and at the other end to a fixed point. Thus the arms 31 and 32 together with the elevator trough 7 constitute a parallelogram and, as a part of such, the elevator trough 7 may move upwardly from a normal position below the level of the belts 20, as shown in Fig. 9, by solid lines, to a raised position shown by dotted lines 7', Fig. 9the elevator trough continually maintaining a level positioning by virtue of the parallelogram mounting thereof. When the detector arm 5 is depressed and the solenoid 26 thereby energized, as shown in Fig. 5, the bell crank 27 is pivoted thereby raising the elevator trough 7 to a position wherein the article 2 is supported above the belts 20 of the conveyer 1, as shown in Fig. 5 and as shown by the dotted lines 7 in Fig. 9.

Simultaneously with the raising of the elevator trough 7, the chain 9 moves to transfer the articles 2 into the carton 4. The chain 9 is supported at the ends thereof by end sprockets 33 and is further trained about a drive sprocket 34. The transfer finger 8 in an initial position shown in Fig. 6 is positioned near the drive sprocket 34 and remote from the first end sprocket 33; therefore, a slight time delay takes place after the operation of the solenoid 26 and the raising of the elevator trough 7 before engagement of the article 2 by the transfer finger 8, since the transfer finger must travel a substantial distance along the chain 9 prior to assuming the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7. After engagement with the article 2, the transfer finger 8 moves longitudinally with the lower reach of the chain 9 over the elevator trough 7 thereby pushing against and moving the article 2 into the carton 4, as shown in Fig. 8. The transfer finger 8 thence moves upwardly continuing on the chain 9 to the initial position shown in Fig. 6, while the second conveyer 3 is driven through a predetermined amount of travel at the end of which the cycle is completed, the solenoid 26 is deenergized and the elevator trough 7 is lowered to the initial position for a subsequent cycle of operation, as shown in Fig. 6.

Carton expansion and insertion apparatus The cartons used by the machine of this invention may be of cardboard or other suitable fibrous material and may be rectangular in configuration when expanded. Thus the carton 4, Fig. 3, includes a top panel, 35, a bottom panel 36 and two opposed spaced side panels 37 and 38, together with two sets of end flaps 39, which when closed will form a substantially rectangular container.

When supplied to the machine, the cartons are folded flat such that the panels 35 and 37 lie against each other and the panels 36 and 38 similarly overlie each other. The end flaps 39 are simply straight extensions of the panels 35-38. The flattened cartons are thus stacked in a magazine, as shown in Fig. 15, and are supported by opposed stationary rails 40 and an intermediate stationary rail 41 which are spaced apart from each other and positioned at the bottom of the magazine. Between each pair of adjacent spaced apart rails 40 and 41, a pivotal arm 42 having a pair of "suction cups 43' thereon is positioned to engage the lowermost carton4 in the magazine 15. Each arm 42 with suction cups 43 thereon constitutes a carton engaging means to which the lowermost carton will adhere when vacuum is applied through the connecting hoses 44, Fig. 15. I

. When the arm 42 pivots upwardly on its mounting shaft 45 and vacuum is applied to the suction cups 43 via the hoses 44, the lowermost carton 4 will adhere thereto and then as the arm 42 is pivoted downwardly somewhat, the lowermost carton 4 will sag between the stationary sup porting rails 40 and 4l thereby creating openings or gaps 46 between the lowermost carton 4 and the remaining cartons stacked in the magazine. A stripper member 47, positioned closely adjacent each carton engaging member 42, will move forwardly and a finger 48 of each stripper, Fig. 15, will be inserted into the gap 46 between the lowermost carton 4 and the remainder of the cartons in the magazine. The vacuum to the suction cup 43 is then broken to release the carton for removal from the magazine. As the stripper members 47 continue to move forwardly the lowermost carton 4 will slide transversely from the magazine along the rails 40 and 41 to a rest position 49 apart from-the magazine 15, Fig. 21. A stationary restraining member 50, Fig. 1, is positioned above the rest position 49 and includes a pair of spaced apart suction cups 51 supported thereon. The suction cups 51 are positioned to engage the upper or top panel 35 of the-carton 4 in the rest position 49 while a transfer member 52, having upwardly turned suction cups 53 mounted thereon, is positioned to move upwardly into engagement with the bottom panel 36 of the carton 4. Thus, the cartons are essentially expanded by use of suction cups gripping the top and bottom panels, this arrangement being more efficient than the heretofore used expander.

needle.

While vacuum is being applied to both sets of suction cups 51 and 53; the transfer member 52 moves downwardly pulling with it the bottom panel 36, while a restraining force is offered by the restraining member 50 tending to pull the top panel 35 upwardly. As a result, the carton 4 moves downwardly against the restraining force and is expanded such that the top and bottom panels defining the pockets 16 are arranged to follow a path outside of the plate 54 and the retaining rails16a.

M echanism for sealing and discharging the cartons The machine of this invention is designed to operate in cycles, eachcycle being initiated when the detector arm 5 senses the presence of an article 2 at the terminal end of the first conveyer 1. In the operation of this machine the feeding of the articles 2 upon the first conveyor 1 may be interrupted from time to time, and therefore the packaging machine of this invention is subject to occasional stoppages. It is therefore necessary that the gluing, fiap folding and sealing operations for closure of each carton 4 be completed within a single interval of travel of the second conveyer 3. It will be appreciated that if the gluing and sealing operation is thus accomplished as the carton 4 is moved between the rest station D and the next successive rest station E that a prolonged period of non-operation will not create an adverse effect because the gluing operation may not be completed.

The glue is applied to the inside surfaces of a pair of oppositely spaced side flaps 39; Fig. 3, as the carton is moved upwardly past' a-pair of spaced glue applying'rolls 55. The glue applying rolls- 55 have holes ordepressions 56 therein for holding'glue, Fig. 17, and are mounted to rotate in close spaced relation or engaging relation with a pump 101157. The glue is initially poured as a liquid into a reservoir 58 into which the roll 57 is partially immersed. As the roll 57 rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow 59, Fig. 17, a stationary spaced bar 60 will intercept and retain excess glue thereon, thus permitting an even film of .liquid glue toadhere to the roll 57 and move therewith to be transferred to the glue applying rolls. A pair of drive gears 60 and 61 assure that the rolls 55 will rotate at a uniform linear velocity, as compared to the velocity of the pump roll 57, and therefore, the application rolls 55 will receive a measured quantity of glue from the pump roll 57 to apply to the opposed flaps 59 which will move upwardly on the second conveyer 3 thereagainst.

During advancing of the cartons between stations A and B, the side end flaps at the end of the carton opposite the loading end thereof are closed, and the other side end flaps are closed subsequent to the loading of the carton and during travel of the cartons between stations B and D. Mechanism for effecting these operations is old and well known, and therefore not disclosed in detail. Further, the top and bottom end flaps at each end are folded back to the position as seen in Figs. 2 and 21 so that the glue may easily beapplied thereto.

After each carton 4 passes the glue rolls 55, Fig. 17, the flaps 39 are folded over and closed by means including a pair of stationary spiral folding plates 62 engaging-and folding the side flaps inwardly upon thepreviously closed side flaps at each end of the carton. The folding plate closest to the conveyer and the closedend of the pockets is shaped and arranged to fold over the top flap first so that the bottom flap may be folded over the top flap and eliminate a flap edge which might catch on the brushes 63.

When the carton arrives at the rest position E on the second conveyer 3, both ends thereof have been closed and glued byopposed spaced glue rolls 55 and folding plates 62, one set of which is shown in Figs.

2 and 17. Each end of the carton is securely held' by resilient pressure thereagainst by opposed spaced L-shaped brushes 63, Figs. 1 and 17, and thus the flaps :are held tightly together during an interval of timewhile the glue is setting.

A pusher member 64, Fig. 17, movablypositioned at each end of the carton positioned at rest station E on the conveyer 3 thence engages and moves the carton horizontally from the conveyer between the opposed spacedbrushes 63 and along stationary supporting rails After the carton has been expelled from the conveyer position E, a carton squaring member 66 descends upon eachend thereof and by impingement between the squaring member 66 and the rail 65, the carton is forced to assumea proper square or rectangular shape, while pressure is continued against the flaps 39 by the brushes 63. Thus, during the interval while the glue is somewhat soft, the flaps are held together and the carton is held in a precise rectangular configuration. The squaring member 66 is resiliently mounted upon a vertically movable bracket 67 by means of compression springs 68 therebetween.

The carton 4 will remain in the position beneath the squaring member 66 until, in a subsequent operating cycle of the machine, the pusher member 64 pushes a subsequent carton outwardly from the conveyor and in so doingthe previous carton is pushed to a bottom position in the-delivery magazine 18. Thence the spaced apart elevating fingers 19, Fig. 18, will move upwardly raising the carton in the discharge magazine 18 and raising all other cartons positioned thereabove; thereby providing space for the subsequent carton to be moved to the bottom position of the magazine 18 in a next successive operation of the machine. After the carton 4 has been raised by the fingers 19 in the discharge magazine 18 a spring urged dog 69 will move inwardly of a slot 690 in the guide rail 70 of the discharge magazine 18, thereby preventing the carton 4 from dropping back to its initial position, although the resilient compression ofiered against the ends of the carton 4 by the opposed spaced brushes 63, Fig. 1, is ordinarily sufiicient to maintain the carton in the elevated position.

Power and drive arrangements As shown in Fig. 19, the first conveyer 1 is directly driven from a motor 71 by a pair of pulleys 72 and 73 and a belt 74 trained therearound. Thus it will be appreciated that while the motor 71 is running the conveyer 1 will likewise be running and will maintain a continuous motion at a substantially constant speed. The remaining rotating or operating parts of the machine of this invention are driven by another motor 75 which is coupled by a pulley and belt arrangement 76 to a power control means such as a magnetic clutch 77. The magnetic clutch 77 is electrically coupled with and responsive to the electric switch 6. As shown in Fig. 19, dot ted lines 78 are indicative of the electrical coupling between the microswitch 6, the solenoid 26 and the magnetic clutch 77.

When the detector arm senses the presence of an article 2 at the terminal end of the conveyer 1, the electrical switch 6 causes operation of the solenoid 26 and the magnetic clutch 7 7.

The function of the solenoid 26 has been previously explained as initiating an operating cycle of the machine. Simultaneously with the operation of the solenoid 26 the magnetic clutch 77 functions to drivingly couple the motor 75 to a principal drive shaft 79a which is a sleeve mounted loosely upon the clutch shaft 79 and having a spur gear 80 fixed thereto. Thus the shaft 79 turns continuously causing continuous operation of the glue rolls 55 through the mechanical linkage comprising a chain 81, a sprocket 81a on the shaft 79 and a sprocket 81b on a shaft 82, miter gears 83, a spur gear 84 and the gears 60 and 61. The spur gear 80 rotates only upon operation of the magnetic clutch 77 and during a cycle of operation of the machine, and thus a gear 85 engaged therewith will cause an auxiliary drive shaft 86 to rotate only during operating cycle. The gear 85 will rotate through one complete revolution and a cam 87 will rotate therewith, whereupon a second electric switch 88 will be operated from the cam 87. The operation of the electric switch 88 will function to terminate the operating cycle which was initiated by the electric switch 6 by deenergizing the solenoid 26 and the magnetic clutch 77 During the single revolution of the gear 85, or operating cycle, a pair of gears 89 and 90 will cause rotation of a driving gear 91 engaging the Geneva gear 10. The ratio of the gears 89 and 90 is 1:2, such that the gear 90 rotates one-half revolution during each operating cycle and therefore the Geneva gear will rotate through one-quarter revolution through each cycle. Rotation of the Geneva gear is not continuous during the cycle, but is arranged such that during the first portion of the cycle and during the final portion thereof the Geneva gear 10 will rest, while during an intermediate portion of the cycle a gear 93 will be driven therefrom. The gear 93 is drivingly coupled to the shaft 12 by a gear 94 and is thus drivingly coupled to move the second conveyer 3 during a particular portion of the operating cycle.

A chain 95 trained about a gear 96 and thereby driven from the shaft 86 is trained about an idler gear 97 and around two sprockets 98 and 99. The sprocket 98 is drivingly associated with a rotary valve 100 which is connected to supply vacuum to the three'sets of suction cups 43, 51 and 53. The rotary valve being turned by the sprocket 98, the chain 95 therefore moves in synchronism with the conveyor 3 and with the operating cycle of the machine generally. Thus the timing in applying vacuum to the suction cups .43, 51 and 53 is synchronized with the operating cycle. A vacuum hose 101 is connected to a source of vacuum not shown and further vacuum hoses 44, 102 and 103 connect with suction cups 43, 51 and 53 respectively. A crank 104 is likewise coupled to rotate with the sprocket 98 to produce reciprocal motion transmitted by a link 105 and an arm 106 to rock the shaft 11. The reciprocal motion from the shaft 11 is transmitted by a pair of arms 108 and links 109 to reciprocate the stripper members 47, Figs. 17 and 19. As shown in Fig. 16, the stripper member 47 is attached to a bracket 110 which is slidably mounted on a pair of rods 111. Reciprocation of the bracket 110 also operates the suction engaging members 42. An arm 108a is integral with each arm 108 and connected to the pushers 64 to reciprocate same and eject the cartons from the pockets 16 at station E, Fig. 17.

The conditioning of the lowermost carton in the magazine by the suction engaging members 42 prior to removal of the carton from the magazine is synchronized with the reciprocation of the strippers 47. As the strippers are returned to engage and remove successive cartons from the magazine, the strippers pass beneath the magazine and cartons, and the strippers move in the direction indicated by the single-headed arrow 47a in Fig. 12. At about the time the stripper fingers 48 clear the rear edge of the magazine, a cam follower 110a on each bracket 110 engages a cam surface 45b of a cam lever 45a secured to the shaft 45, Fig. 11. The cam lever 45a is continually biased against the follower 110a. Further movement of the strippers and the bracket causes the cam lever 45a to be cammed upward thereby rocking the shaft 45, Fig. 11, clockwise and moving the engaging members 42 upward into engagement with the lowermost carton in the magazine. Vacuum being fed to the suction cups of the engaging members causes the members to grip the carton. As the strippers are moved forward toward the magazine in the direction of the arrow 47b, Fig. 12, the cam follower 110a, leaving the cam lever 45a,'permits the lever to be lowered thereby bringing certain carton portions down, Fig. 15, so that the stripper fingers 48 may enter between the lowermost carton and the next successive carton and permit the stripper to slide the lowermost carton from the magazine. The vacuum of the engaging member will be broken at about the commencement of the stripper carton removal stroke.

A second crank 1'12 is mounted to rotate with the shaft 86, Figs. 18 and 19, and to impart reciprocal motion to a link 113. The reciprocal motion produced in the link 113 is transmitted to an arm 114 to rock a shaft 115, Fig. 18. The rocking motion of the shaft 115 is transmitted to spaced apart arms 116 and through a pair of links 117 to reciprocate a carriage 118 mounted to move vertically on a pair of slide shafts 119. The carriage 118 includes a pair of brackets 120 at the lower extremity thereof to which is attached the elevator fingers 19. Thus, as the shaft 86 rotates during a cycle of operation of the machine, the carriage 118 is reciprocated vertically and the elevator fingers 19 are carried therewith.

The transfer member 52 connects between the opposed spaced parts of the carriage 118 and constitutes a part thereof. Therefore, as the carriage 118 reciprocates vertically during a cycle of operation, the transfer member 52 likewise reciprocates vertically carrying the suction cups 53 therewith. Also the brackets 67 of the am-sgei squaringmembers- 66 are connectedto the carriage 118 forree'iprocation therewith.

During each cycle of operation the transfer finger 8 moves with the chain 9 which is driven by the sprocket 34, Fig. 19. The sprocket 3d is driven from the gear 99 by a pair of meshing gears 121. Since the "gear 99 is driven from the chain 95 and from" the shaft 86, the motion thereof is synchronized with each machine operation. Therefore, the portion of the transfer finger 8 likewiseis synchronized with the operation of the machine.

Operation of the machine At all times during operation of the machine of this invention, the conveyer 1 is continuously running and the glue rolls 55 arecontinuously rotating. Advancing of the nested cups along the conveyer 1 causesdepression of the detector 5 which'initiates a cycle of operation and simultaneously effects energization of the solenoid 26 andoperation of the clutch '77. Energization of the solenoid 26 serves to elevate the trough 7 and a stack of cupsto the cup loading position. Further, elevation of the trough brings into play the stop 122 which holds up i the flow of more cups to the trough. The article transfer finger 8 then advances the stack of nested cups along the trough 7 and into' the carton held in the conveyer pocket 16 at the cup loading station B. Energization of the clutch 77 effects driving-of the power shaft 86.

During rotation of the shaft 86 through one revolution, the strippers 4-7 are initially retracted beneath the cartons in the magazine and to the carton engaging and removing position. As the strippers 47 retract, the reciprocal pushers 64 are operated to eject a carton from the conveyer pocket 16 at the ejecting stageE. Also, a carton is expanded by action of the restraining member 50 andthetransfer member52, and the transfer member 52 further serves to load the expanded carton into a; pocket 16'of the conveyer 3 at the carton loading station: A; During the loading of the carton, the squaring member 66 effects squaring up of the last ejected carton prior tothe time the carton will be further advanced by the pushers 64-into the vertical magazine 18. Further retracting movement of the strippers 47 rocks the suction engaging members 42 upwardly to engage the next successive lowermost carton. With vacuum being fed to the suction engaging members, the lowermost carton is firmly gripped thereby, and as the strippers initiate their forward stroke to removethe lowermost carton from the magazine, the suction engaging members are rocked downwardly in order to permit insertion of. the fingers 48 on the strippers 47 between the twolowermost cartons. When the fingers have been properly inserted, the vacuum will be broken to the suction engaging members andthe strippers will advance to remove the lowermost carton from the magazine to'the expanding station.

The Geneva gear is then operated to advance the conveyer 3 through one step so that all of the conveyer pockets are advanced to the next successive station. The transfer member 62 then returns to pick up the next successivecarton as it is brought forward by ,the strippers 47, As the transfer member returns, the cartons in the vertical magazine are elevated to make room for the next successive ejected carton. During the advancing of the conveyer pockets, the side end flaps of the carton at the end opposite the loading end of the carton are closed between the stations A and B. The end flaps at the loading end of the carton are closed between the cup loading station B and the dwell station D. Also; the top and bottom end flaps at each end of. the carton are opened to the position shown at station D, Fig.v 2,.to be conditioned for the glue applying operation. Between the dwell stations D and the ejecting station E, glue is applied to the top and bottom end flaps at each end of the carton and these end flaps are folded over a closed position by folding plates 62. The

. 10 inner'folding plates 62 closest to the closed end of the conveyer pockets are shaped or arranged to fold over the top end flaps first. The bottom end of the flaps are folded over last and slightly overlap the top end' flaps so that the carton may be ejected from the conveyer to the vertical magazine 18 without catching the edge of the top end flaps on the brushes 63.

- Finally, at the end of one revolution of the shaft .86 theswitch 88 is actuated to effect denergization of the solenoid 26 and the clutch 77, thereby stopping all moving parts except the continuously running conveyer 1 and the glue rolls 55, and thereby lowering the trough 7 to itsposition for receiving the next load of paper cups. Lowering of the trough 7 also lowers the stop 122 so that the next stack of paper cups may be advanced onto the trough 7 and to the detector 5 for initiating the next successive cycle of operation.

Accordingly, it is seen that each cycle of operation is initiatedby actuation of the detector 5 which operates the electric switch 6 and is terminated by actuation of the switch 88.

The design of the packaging machine of this invention is such to provide a flexibility whereby stacks of paper cups or articles 2 may be of various sizes, and whereby the cartons 4 for containing the cups therein may likewise be of corresponding variable size. The shafts 11, 12 and 86 may be of such lengths as to accommodate the maximum dimensioned carton and article. One end supporting wall 123 is fixed while an opposed spaced end supporting wall 124, Fig. 1, is adjustable in its position and when an article of reduced dimension is desired to be packaged ina carton of reduced dimension the wall may be moved inwardly toward the wall 123, whereupon the shafts llll, 12, 86 and will merely extend outwardly of the wall 124. The positioning of the sprockets 13 and 14 may be altered to vary the dimension of the second conveyer 3 and the pocket attachments 16 may be changed to accommodate a carton of difiernet dimension.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial Number 645,736, filed March 13, 1957.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and

the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. Ina packaging machine, apparatus for transferring an elongated article from a first continuously driven 2. In a packaging machine, apparatus for transferring I an elongated article from a first continuously driven conveyer means into a carton held by a second intermittently driven conveyer means, said apparatus comprising an elongatedelevating member operatively associated with the first conveyer means for engaging and raising the article from the first conveyer means and for holding the article in axial alignment with the carton on the second conveyer means, a transfer finger positioned to extend over the elevating member to engage the article, and a drive means associated with the transfer finger, said drive means being operable to move the transfer finger longitudinally of the elevating member thereby moving the article into the carton.

3. In a packaging machine, apparatus for receiving an pair of spaced apart belts and for transferring the article into a carton which is held on a second conveyer, said apparatus comprising an elevator trough positioned between the belts of the first conveyer, a means drivingly associated with the elevator trough for lifting the elevator trough above the level of the belts and thereby to raise the article from the first conveyer and to provide an abutting end to stop the movement of subsequent articles, and a transfer means operatively associated with the elevator trough for moving the article axially along the trough and into the carton on the second conveyer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the transfer means comprises an endless chain trained around sprockets and having a reach extending longitudinally of and in spaced relation to the elevator trough, and a transfer finger attached to the chain and movable therewith, said transfer finger extending transversely across the elevator trough and engageable with the article there- 5. In a packaging machine, apparatus for receiving an elongated article from a first conveyor which includes a pair of spaced apart continuously moving belts and for inserting the article into a carton held by a second conveyer, said apparatus comprising a trough having a 1ongitudinally disposed and centrally positioned slot, said trough being positioned to move vertically between the spaced apart belts of the first conveyer, a trough raising means drivingly coupled to the trough for raising the trough with the article thereon to a level over the belts of the first conveyer whereby a rearward end of the trough forms a stop against which a subsequent article may abut, said trough and the article thereon being in axial alignment with the carton on the second conveyer, a detector arm extending upwardly through the slot in the trough for sensing the presence of an article on the trough, said trough raising means being responsively coupled to the detector arm to raise the trough and initiate a packaging cycle of the machine when the article appears on the trough, and a transfer means peratively associated with the trough and responsively coupled to the detector arm for moving the article forwardly along the trough and into the carton.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein is included an electric switch operatively associated with the detector arm and wherein the trough raising means includes a solenoid mechanically coupled to the trough and electrically coupled to the electric switch whereby movement of the detector arm and operation of the electric switch will result from the presence of an article on the trough and whereby the operation of the electric switch will result in energizing the solenoid and the raising of the trough thereby.

7. A machine for packaging elongated articles in cartons, said machine comprising a first conveyer for transporting the elongated articles positioned to move longitudinally therealong, detector means operatively associated with the first conveyer for sensing the presence of an article thereon, an elevator means operatively associated with the first conveyer and responsively coupled to the detector means, said elevator means being operable to move from an initial position and to raise the article from the first conveyer while providing a stop for subsequent articles thereon, a second conveyer for carrying cartons, said second conveyer being in spaced relation to hold a carton in axial alignment with the article on the elevator means, means operatively associated with the elevator means for engaging and moving the article axially from the elevator means into the carton on the second conveyer, drive means coupled to the second conveyer for moving the conveyer a predetermined amount after the carton has received the article therein, and a means associated with the drive means for restoring the elevator means to the initial position thereof to complete a cycle of operation.

8. A machine for packaging elongated articles in cartons, said machine comprising a pair of spaced apart belts constituting a first conveyer whereon the elongated articles may be moved axially, an elevator trough positioned between the spaced apart belts and mounted to move upwardly from an initial position below the level of the belts, a detector means operatively associated with the first conveyer for sensing the presence of an article thereon, a trough raising means responsively coupled to the detector means and operatively associated with the elevator trough for moving the elevator trough upwardly and for thereby raising the article above the first conveyer, a second conveyer for carrying cartons, said second conveyer being positioned in spaced relation with the first conveyer and with the elevator trough whereby a carton is held in axial alignment with the article on the elevator trough, means operatively associated with the elevator trough for engaging and moving an article axially along the trough and into the carton, drive means coupled to the second conveyer for moving the conveyer a predetermined amount when an article is received in the carton, and a means associated with the drive means responsive to the conveyer movement and coupled to the trough raising means whereby the elevator trough will be restored to the initial position thereof to complete a cycle of operation.

9. In a packaging machine having a first conveyer and a second conveyer, a magazine for storing collapsed cartons, first means for removing cartons from said magazine one at a time, second means for expanding each carton and loading same on said second conveyer, transfer apparatus for transferring articles from said first conveyer and loading same in cartons on said second conveyer, third means for advancing said cartons on said second conveyer through a plurality of successive stations, fourth means for ejecting said cartons from said second conveyer to a vertical magazine, fifth means for squaring each ejected carton prior to inserting same into the vertical magazine, and sixth means for elevating said cartons in said vertical magazine so that the next successive carton may be inserted in the bottom of said vertical magazine.

10. In a packaging machine having an article conveyer and a carton conveyer, means for loading expanded cartons on said carton conveyer, means for transferring articles from the article conveyer to cartons on said carton conveyer, a plurality of stations along said carton conveyer, drive means for advancing said carton conveyer step-by-step to each successive station, means arranged between the first and last station for closing the end flaps of the cartons and gluing them shut, a vertical magazine arranged adjacent said carton conveyer for receiving the closed cartons for drying, ejector means arranged at the last station for ejecting each closed carton from the carton conveyer and inserting same into said vertical magazine, and means for squaring up each ejected carton prior to its insertion into said vertical magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,298,637 Armstrong Apr. 1, 1919 1,515,589 Beckmann Nov. 18, 1924 1,825,058 Goldstein et al Sept. 29, 1931 1,927,404 Jensen Sept. 17, 1933 1,935,269 Jones Nov. 14, 1933 1,954,278 Adams Apr. 10, 1934 2,045,337 Stone et al June 23, 1936 2,092,786 Taylor Sept. 14, 1937 2,441,445 Ringler et al May 11, 1948 2,651,896 Woodruif et al. Sept. 15, 1953 2,744,372 Cleaveland et al May 8, 1956 2,804,738 Shenigo Sept. 3, 1957 2,904,941 Midnight Sept. 22, 1959

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