US2982078A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 1961 D. c. MORTON ETAL 2,982,078

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wwn, K44, zuml mag,

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* 4 MW, z maw/m v 2,982,078 PACKAGING APPARATUS David Charles Morton, Woodley, and Percival James Paclrman, Twyford, England,assignors to The Forgrove -Machinery Company Limited, Leeds, England,

a company of Great Britain 7 Filed June 9, 1959, Ser. No. 819,186 10, Claims. (Cl. 53-390 like having pleats or corrugations in its upstanding wall.

The chocolates forming a layer in a box have different shapes and require to be packed in a definite pattern.,

The upstanding corrugated walls of those of the cups which receive non-circular chocolates have to be deformed to suit to shape of the chocolate. Hitherto the packing of the cups and chocolates into the boxes has been performed manually but by the use of a suitable platen this operation can be largely mechanised. I The invention provides a platen, for use in filling into a group of cups of glassine paper or the like a number of articles which are to constitute a layer in a box or like container, the platen comprising a framework having therein throughgoing recesses shaped approximately to the form of the articles and arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which the articles are to be arranged in the layer, each recess serving to receive and retain an individual cup and means beneath the framework for supporting the bases of the cups contained in the recesses, saidmeans being movable in relation to the framework to a position permitting of downward transfer of the cups from the recesses after they have been filled with articles.-

Preferably the supporting means is a withdrawable slide supported in, the lower part of the framework.

The cups may be retained in the recesses by a fixed keep plate located above the framework and having holes registering with but of smaller size than the re- 2,982,078 Pa ed Ma 961 are constricted by passage into the recesses and efiective to retain the cups in the recesses by frictional contact with the walls thereof while nevertheless permitting of upward withdrawal of the cups from the recesses.

Finger holes are conveniently provided in the framework adjacent each recess to facilitate manual lifting of individual chocolates from the platen for the addition of a make weight of chocolate or change of chocolate in the event of the cup assembly being found to be underweight when check weighed.

Two alternative forms of platen according. to the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the first form of platen.

Fig. 2 is-a side elevation, partly in section, on the line A-A in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, looking from the left'hand side of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the second form of platen,

Fig. 5 is a corresponding end elevation,

Fig; 6 is a section on the lineVI-VI in Fig. 4 and I Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the machine for weighing the chocolates.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the figures.

'Each of the two forms of platen shown in the drawings is adapted to reecive two identical groups of chocolates, each chocolate being contained in an individual glassine cup and the two groups of chocolates being destined to constitute individual layers in 'a two layer box.

The platen shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises a framework 10 of synthetic plastic or other suitable material, which is formed in each half with twelve throughgoing recesses 11 to receive the individual chocolates of a layer. As will be seen, these recesses, are differently shaped in correspondence with the shapes and required orientations of the chocolates, and are arranged in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the final disposition of the chocolates in the box. The recesses 11 are separated by a distance greater than that separating the chocolates in the box since, after discharge of the chocolate filled cups from the platen, each group of cups is compacted, both sideways and endwise, before introduction into the box, as described in application Serial No. 820,789,

, filed June 16, 1959. A

cesses, the holes in thekeep plate constricting the mouths cups have expanded to normal shape after passage 1' through the holes in the keep plate.

It is generally desired, after the cups in' the platen have been filled with chocolates, to weigh the contents of the platen prior to transferring the chocolates downwardly from the platen into a suitable carier from which a the chocolates are afterwards, transferred to the box or carton in which they are finally packed. Whenthe cups are retained in the recesses by a keep plate, the filled chocolates cannot be displaced upwardly through the keep plate and it is necessary to weigh the filled platen when it is desired to. check the weight of theoontained chocolates. The platens are liable to pick up pieces of chocolate as they are passed in succession through'the packaging machine and, as the result, do not maintain a standard weight. Also, it may not always be convenient to utilise a number of platens all of identical nominal weight.

In the preferred form of platen according to the invention, therefore, there is no keep plate and the recesses are smaller than the rims of the cups; so that said rims -I' shape to the recesses 11 but of somewhat smaller size.

Angle section metal strips 17, secured by screws 18 to the ends of theframework, serve as guides for supporting a sheet metal slide 19 having at its end a hook 20 whereby it may be withdrawn when it is desired to transfer the filled cups downwardly from the recesses in the framework. Buttons 21 on the slide coact with catches 22 on the strips to limit the outward movement of the slide and the latter coacts with bent portions 23 of the strips to'limit the inward movement of the slide.

The inturned portions 24 of the strips serve as runners providing a minimum friction surface on which the platen may slide. Shoulders 25 on the framework provide hand grips whereby the platen can readily be lifted from a continuously moving conveyoron which it is situated. while it is loaded with paper cups and chocolates. The side 26 of the platen is flat, so that there is no risk of the hooked end of the slide of an adjoining platen interlocking with it. The platen has formations which serve to register it accurately on a carrier on the conveyor, these formations being constituted lay-asymmetrical projections or recesses on the platen which engage corresponding recesses or projections on the carrier to ensure correct positioning of the platen.

The platen may be traversed by the conveyor in the direction of the arrow X beneath a cup transfer mechanism of the construction described in application Serial No. 810,010 filed April 30, 1959, now abandoned which deposits cups downwardly through the holes 16 in the keep plate and into the recesses 11 in the framework. This transfer is achieved by suction members on a head which has downwardly tapering pins which engage holes 28 in the keep plate, so effecting any minor adjustment of the platen in relation to its carrier required to ensure correct register of the platen with the suction members.

It will be noted that some of the recesses 11 are shaped to receive round chocolates or, at any rate, chocolates of a shape such that the bases of the cups can be introduced without distortion into the recesses. Some of the chocolates are, however, long and narrow and the recesses to receive these have indentations 29 in their sides. These indentations ensure that there will be no side pressure on the base of the cup, so that the shape of the cup will be preserved after it has entered the recess. As already explained, the mouth of the cup will be constricted as it passes through the hole in the keep plate, but due to the corrugated walls of the cup, its mouth will afterwards spring open again so that its periphery will be situated beneath the body of the keep plate. The base of the cup is centralized by the indentations in the recess and the fact that there is no distortion of the cup during its transfer into the platen ensures that its upper edge will click past the keep plate and be trapped. The top control of the cup by the keep plate, together with the centralisation, maintains a uniform height of the cup during preforming, as later described, and ensures a neat appearance of the cups after package in the box.

If desired the keep plate may be hinged to the platen, or movable therefrom, so that it may be displaced to a position permitting the filled cups to be lifted from the platen for the purpose of check weighing.

After the cups have been introduced into the platen, preforming tools may be introduced into those recesses which are to accommodate non-circular chocolates to preform the cups to the shape of the chocolates to be received.

The platen shown in Figs. 4-7 is of generally similar construction to that just described, but it has no keep plate, so that the filled cups can be lifted upwardly from the recesses 11 in the framework for check weighing as later described. The recesses 11 are shown as circular but they will, where necessary, be differently shaped as in Figs. 1-3 in correspondence with the shapes and required orientations of the chocolates.

The base of the platen is constituted by a sheet metal slide 19, having upturned side edges 30, which are mounted to slide in grooves 31 in the framework and which retain the slide in position. At one end the slide has an upwardly bent end 20, forming a hook whereby the slide may be withdrawn when it is desired either to weigh the chocolates or to transfer the filled cups downwardly from the recesses 11. At its other end the slide is provided with a knife edge 32. Adjacent each recess 11 the framework is formed with a pair of finger holes 33, which enable a non-round chocolate to be located easily in the correct orientation in the recess during manual loading of chocolates into cups already placed in the recesses. The finger holes also enable a chocolate to be easily removed from a recess.

In use, the platens are moved in succession past a cup transfer mechanism which deposits glassine cups 34 (Fig. 6) downwardly into the recesses 11 as described in British application No. 14936/58. Afterwards chocolates 35 are introduced manually into the cups. Aswill be noted from Fig. 6. the recesses 11 are sufficiently deep to ensure that the cups 34 resting on the slide 19 are protected from displacement in the recesses as the result of draught or accidental brushing of the upper surface of the platen by the sleeve. As the cups are pushed downwardly into the recesses their rims are constricted slightly, so providing a friction lock to prevent accidental upward movement of the cups out of the recesses.

' After the cups have been introduced into the platen, preforming, tools descend into those recesses which are to accommodate non-circular chocolates and preform the cups to the shape of the chocolates to be received.

As the result of such preforming, the friction lock between the rims of the cups and the recesses is not materially changed.

After the cups have been loaded with chocolates, the cups are transferred in succession to a weighing machine 36 (Fig. 7). The weighing machine is mounted on a platform 37 which is guided for vertical'movement in relation to a fixed framework 38 by guides 39. The platform 37 has racks 40 at its opposite ends which engage toothed quadrants 41 coupled together by chain and sprocket gearing 42 and one of which is rotatable by a lever 43.

Upstanding from the weighing machine are a number of rods 44, one for each recess in the platen and each carrying at its upper end a pad 45. The platen of which the contents are to be weighed is placed, as shown, on the support 38, the platform being then in its down position and the pads 45 being disposed immediately beneath the slide. The slide is then withdrawn and the lever 43 actuated to cause the pads 45 to lift the individual chocolates from the recesses in the platen as shown in Fig. 7, so affording an indication of the weight of the chocolates on the dial 47 of the weighing machine.

When the lever 43 is returned to its initial position, the weight of the chocolates is sufiicient to cause the cups to return into the recesses in the platen, and when the slide 19 is moved back to its initial position the knife edge on its end strips the chocolate filled cups .from the pads 45. This stripping action is facilitated by reason of the cups having a radius between the base and the upstanding wall. Adjustable stops 48 are provided for determining the bottom position of the platform 37.

It will be appreciated that, as an alternative to the construction shown in Fig. 7, the weighing machine could be stationary, and arrangements made whereby the side supports 38 and platen 10 can be lowered, after withdrawal of the slide 19, in relation to the stationary pads 45.

The platen according to the invention has the following advantages:

(1) The loading of chocolates into the cups is a very simple operation since the cups are maintained open when trapped in the platen.

(2) The orientation of the performed cups is clearly defined. I

(3) The slide constituting the base support enables the recesses in the platen to be made large enough to compensate for the substantial variation in size of the chocolates normal in chocolate manufacture.

(4) The accurate location of the recesses opens up the possibility of automatic loading of the chocolates into the cups.

(5) The cups are positively controlled and are not disturbed by draughts, accidental brushing by the hand or when the platen is handled during the weighing operation.

(6) It is a simple matter to preform the cups.

(7) The platen is easy to handle and hygienic.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A platen, for use in filling into a group of cups of glassine paper or the like a number of articles which are to constitute a layer in a box or like container, said platen comprising. a framework having therein through-going recesses shaped approximately to the form of the articles and arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which the articles are to be arranged in the layer, each recess having a depth exceeding that of the cups and serving to receive an individual cup and retain said cup against accidental upward movement from the recess and at least some of said recesses having different shapes and orientations, and a slide for supporting the bases of the cups contained in the recesses, said slide being mounted for endwise movement in said framework, from a closed position beneath said recesses to an open position permitting of downward transfer of the cups from the recesses after they have beenfilled with articles, and having a flat unindented upper surface.

2. A platen according to claim 1, wherein the slide is formed with a knife edge at its inner end.

'3. A platen according to claim 2, wherein the slide is formed with a hook at its outer end to facilitate movement thereof to the open position.

4. A platen according'to claim 1, in which the framework is provided with stops defining the open position of the slide and preventing further movement of said slide beyond said open position.

5. A platen according to claim 1, wherein the recesses are smaller than the rims of the cups so that said rims are constricted by passage into the recesses and effective to retain the cups in the recesses by frictional contact with the walls thereof while nevertheless permitting of upward withdrawal of the cups from the recesses.

6. A platen according to claim 1, wherein the framework is provided with finger holes adjacent the recesses to facilitate manual lifting of articles from said recesses.

7. A platen for use in filling into a group of cups of glassine paper or the like a number of articles which are to constitute a layer in a box or like container, said platen comprising a framework having therein through-going recesses shaped approximately to the form of the articles and arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which the articles are to be arranged in the layer, each recess serving to receive and retain an individual cup, a slide for supporting the bases of the cups contained in the recesses, said slide being mounted for endwise movement in said framework, from a closed position beneath said recesses to an open position permitting of downward transfer of the cups from the recesses after they have been filled with articles, and having a flat unindented upper surface, and a keep plate situated above the framework for retaining the cups against upward withdrawal from the recesses, the keep plate having holes registering with but of smaller size than the recesses, the holes in the keep plate temporarily constricting the mouths of the cups as they are introduced into the recesses from above.

8. A platen for use in the packing into a box of chocolate or like delicate articles each contained in a corrugated conical paper cup, comprising a framework of substantial depth formed with throughgoing recesses to receive said cups, said recesses being deeper than said cups and being arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which the articles are to be arranged in the box and some at least of said recesses being of irregular shape, said recesses retaining said cups against accidental upward displacement therefrom, being shaped approximately to the form of the articles they are to receive and permitting of deformation of said cups, after they have been placed in said recesses, to a shapeconforming with that of the articles to be placed in said cups, and a slide for supporting the bases of the cups placed in said recesses, said slide having a flat unindented upper surface and being mounted for endwise movement in said framework from a closed position beneath said recesses to an open position permitting of downward transfer from said recesses of said cups and articles contained therein.

9. A platen according to claim 8, wherein said recesses are smaller than the rims of the cups so that said rims are constricted by passage into the recesses and effective to retain the cups in the recesses by frictional contact with the Walls thereof while nevertheless permitting of upward Withdrawal of the cups from the recesses.

10. A platen according to claim 8, which includes stop means for preventing complete withdrawal of said slide from said framework.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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