US3037334A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 STAT/0N Ilylml A TTOR/VEY June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEmvJR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Grover C. Carri@ 2.

ATTORNEY June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY `lune 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 June 5, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAL 3,037,334

PACKAGING .MACHINE 'r sheets--sneet 5 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 @NN WKN WKN @WN hmm.

ETAL 3,03 7,334

June 5, l 1962 F. A. CHIDSEY, JR.,

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 QQ Nk NNN 4 /A/VE/VTORS Franezgs c/Z; C'vz'cz/Se ,Jr Grover C. Carri@ J2:

ATTORNEY June 5, -1962 F'. A. cHlDsEY, JR., ETAI. 3,037,334

^ PACKAGING MACHINE Filed sept. 4, 1959 7 sheets-sheet '7 United States Patent 3,937,334 PACKAGING MACHINE Francis A. Chidsey, Jr., Wayne, Pa., and Grover C. Currie,

Jr., Charlotte, N.C., assgnors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,276 11 Claims. (Cl. 53--48) This invention relates to mechanism for packaging articles and more particularly to a machine for enclosing a group of articles within an open end carton which is folded or wrapped around the article group.

An important object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact machine including conveying means for flat carton blanks and for the articles to be wrapped therein, combined with means for advancing the articles and the carton blanks and folding the panels of the carton rmly and accurately around the articles as they are advanced.

Another object of the invention is vto provide a movable carton forming element and operating mean-s therefor which, after partially folding the carton around an article group, will advance the articles into position to receive additional treatment. A further object of the invention is rto provide in a packaging machine an effective forming and conveying member having two or more elements adapted to encompass the partially wrapped article group and t advance the same past a plurality of treating stations, whereby the carton is held firmly around the article group as the package is being formed and completed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a carton forming and conveying device adapted to be moved in a closed path to engage the partially formed packages and move them step-by-step past tre-ating stations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in a packaging machine mechanism for receiving one or more rows of elongated articles conveyed flatwise in sideby-side relation and upending a selected group of such articles preparatory to enclosing them in a wrap-around type carton.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a. machine for applying glued wraparound style cartons to -article groups, a take-off conveyor arranged to hold the cartons firmly around the `article groups until the glue has set.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention- FIG. l is a top plan view, somewhat schematic, of the machine showing a portion of the carton conveyor, part of such conveyor being broken away to show articles being assembled i-nto a group, and indicating the three stations for performing the various operations of folding the carton around an article group;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a completed package, part of the carton being shown broken away to reveal the Iarticles within the carto-n;

FIGS. 2a to 2k, inclusive, are fragmentary views to illustrate details of the packaging mechanism. FIG. 2a shows `the delivery of articles in the form of small elongated cartons having a breadth in excess of the thickness of the carton, the cartons or articles being first carried in two rows laid on `their sides and having their lengths disposed transversely to the path of travel; FIG. 2b shows a sub-group of packages having just been upended; FIG. 2c shows a portion of the carton blank conveyor with a carton thereon beginning to pass along the mechanism for applying to the carton strips of slip resistant coating and lice a strip of adhesive; FIG. 2d shows the carton blank brought to rest on withdrawable supports preparatory to bringing the blank down into its proper position on an article group; FIG. 2e shows a `fragment of the forming member comprising the first inverted box element, illustrating how this element folds the carton blank in a preliminary manner over the article group; FIG. 2f shows the same element after it has advanced the partially formed package to the second treating station and showing the preliminary folder for the short bottom ap; FIG. 2g is an end or sectional View similar to FIG. 2f showing the preliminary folder in its forward position after it has engaged and folded the short iiap; FIG. 2h is a View showing another portion of the forming member constituting a part of the middle box element and illustrating the opening in the package group support and the plow beneath the opening to fold the short flap directly against the bottom surface of the `article group; FIG. 2z' shows the partially completed package located at the third treating station with the second preliminary folder in advanced condition to fold ythe long iiap; FIG. 2j shows another `fragment of the `forming member constituting the third box element which has moved ydown over the partially formed package 4and is ready to advance it onto the holding conveyor and at the same time fold the second bottom iiap directly against the bottom surface of the articie group; and FIG. 2k shows the completed package as it appears `after it has been delivered to an open pocket or holding section of the holding conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, being on a larger scale than FIG. 3 and showing the left half of the machine as viewed in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section taken y along line 4-4 of FIG. l, looking in lthe direction of the arrows, being a companion view to FIG. 3 and showing approximately the right half of the machine as viewed in FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational View as it appears from the discharge end looking forward or to the right as viewed in FIG. il, showing the forming member and the conveyor to hold packages under pressure until the adhesive has set;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken aiong line 5cl-5a of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing details of lthe mechanism for the step-by-step advancing of the holding conveyor;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, partly in section, rtaken along line 6 6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow, showing details of the forming member;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view, partly in section taken along line 7 7 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details of the forming member and showing the folders for the carton bottom iiaps;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line S-- of FIG. 6 showing details of the mechanism to provide for accelerated return movement of the forming member; ,y

FlG. 9 is a schematic view showing details of the driving mechanism; and

FIG. l() is a fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism for upending the articles, shown in side view in FIG. 4.

The mechanism of the present invention, in the embodiment disclosed herein, is particularly useful in the packaging of groups of articles, such as bottles ofdrugs which have been individually packed in cartons suitable for idisplay on retail shelves. The articles are enclosed in display on retail shelves. The articles are enclosed in groups within wrap-around type cartons open at both ends. The carton blanks, delivered ilat to the packaging machine, are rectangular and are creased or scored 3 to provide a top panel, two side wall panels, and two overlapping bottom panels adapted to be secured together by adhesive. The carton blanks at the intake or receiving end of the machine are carried singly in flat condition and delivered in timed sequence to the initial treating station. At this point the at blanks come to rest briefly upon a pair of withdrawablc supporting rods.

A supply of articles is conveyed to the machine on a level below the path of the blanks on belt conveyors. From this supply a predetermined number of articles is segregated and advanced to the initial treating station on a belt conveyor approximately the width of the package to be formed. This group of articles is brought to rest by contact with a removable stop mechanism at the leading edge of the group. At this point the group is in vertical alignment beneath the flat carton when brought to rest on the withdrawable support rods.

A unitary forming and conveying member is supported for movement above the paths of the carton blanks and the articles to be packaged. This member has three substantially identical, longitudinally aligned pockets or boxes open at the bottom so that, when the unit is moved down, each one of the pockets or vboxes may surround a partially packaged group of articles. The frame of the forming and conveying member is guided for four-way movement, that is, forwardly to advance the article group being packaged, then upwardly, rearwardly and downwardly to engage succeeding groups.

The first pocket or box on what may be termed the rear or trailing portion of the forming member is arranged to engage the at carton blank and fold it around the article group. As the forming member is guided on the downward leg of its four-way movement, and just before the lower edge portions of the trailing box engage the blank, the supports on which the blank is resting are withdrawn. This frees the blank to move down so its top panel portion will come to rest on the top surface of the article group. As the forming member continues to move down the edge portions of the trailing box engage the side panels of the blank and fold them down in contact with the sides of the article group. The front and rear walls of the trailing box engage the front and rear faces of the article group. I ust lbefore the forming box reaches the front stop mechanism this mechanism is moved clear to avoid interference with the forming box as it moves to its lowest position. At this point the side panels are in close Contact with the sides of the article group and the bottom panels extend down. approximately in the planes of the respective side panels.

The forming member, having reached its lowest position, now moves forwardly to convey the partially formed package slidably along a thin, narrow supporting plate to the second treating station. The forming member then is withdrawn from the package, as such member moves upwardly and then rearwardly to repeat the above described steps on the next carton blank and article group being delivered to the initial treating station.

At the second station, during the time the partially formed package remains at rest on the narrow supporting plate, one of the bottom aps is folded partially inward below the supporting plate by a reciprocable apfolding element. This ap in practice is made relatively narrow and is intended to be secured by adhesive to the edge of a longer flap on the opposite side of the package.

The partially formed package is moved to the third station on the next forward movement of the forming member. The article group at the third station is slidably supported on a narrow plate similar to the one at the second station. At the forward edge of the second station, on the side where the short flap has been partially folded under, there is an opening to allow the leading edge of the short flap to move therethrough and into direct engagement with the underside of the article group. For the purpose of moving this ap up there is a short plow section extending at an angle downward and rearward at the opening. As the middle box of the forming member comes down and engages the package and conveys it forward to the third station the short flap moves through this opening as it is moved up by the plow section causing the flap to be folded up into contact with the articles. The short ap then slides along on the upper surface of the narrow supporting plate at the third station while the longer bottom tlap remains in a downwardly extended position.

At the third station, during the time the partially formed package remains at rest on the supporting plate, the second bottom flap is folded partially inward below the plate by a reciprocable hap-folding element which is similar to the rst mentioned folding element but moving in from the other side of the path of travel of the packages. The second bottom ap is folded up by mechanism similar to that which folds up the first flap. At the forward end of the third station there is an opening between the supporting plates to allow the second flap to be brought up through this opening. An upwardly curved plow is arranged at the opening to engage the partially infolded flap and raise it as the package is conveyed forward by the forming member which this time engages the package with the leading box. The second flap having previously had adhesive applied to its free edge portion is thus brought up into lapping relation to the first flap. The aps then require a short period for the adhesive to set.

A holding or pressure conveyor is provided, extending at right angles to the path of travel of the packages. This conveyor is in the form of an endless chain. Pressure applying parts or pockets are arranged on adjacent links. One part comprises an angle piece having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. These parts engage respectively against one side wall and the bottom of the package. Adjacent to the angle piece is secured a rear plate adapted to extend vertically to engage the second side wall of the package. The conveyor chain passes around sprockets supported somewhat laterally of the path of the packages discharge from the third station. As the angle piece passes around the sprocket it assumes a position where it is exactly aligned with the lower corner of the package as it is discharged. The rear plate on the adjacent sprocket at this point has not yet passed fully around the sprocket and is somewhat inclined away from a position parallel to the vertical section of the angle piece. The pressure conveyor is driven in a step-byu ep manner which will bring a new pocket into position each time a package is about to be discharged from the forming line. The holding conveyor remains at rest as the forming member makes its forward trip. The third box of die forming member thus engages the package at the third station and advances it. At this time, during the rst portion of its movement, the remaining flap is plowed up into contact with the narrow flap. Further movement will transfer the package from the third station to the waiting pockebforming elements while they are in open position. As soon as the forming member has advanced the package into the pocket it will then move upward, leaving the newly formed package on the pressure conveyor. The drive for the conveyor is so timed that it will then advance one step. This brings the upstanding rear plate to a position parallel with the upstanding plate of the angle piece and the sides of the package are rmly held between these upstanding plates. The length of the pressure conveyor is such that the adhesive will become set prior to or by the time the packages reach the end of the conveyor. The packages may be removed manually or by suitable mechanism for packing in shipping cases.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the packaging mechanism is suitably mounted on a base frame structure comprising upper and lower longitudinal mem- .as a whole at 16; article segregatim7 and upending mechanism, indicated as a whole at 17; -a four-way movable formingand nconveyingmember indicated as a whole at `18; structure comprising a first treating station including a blank support and article supporting means indicated as a whole at 19; additional structure comprising second and third treating stations indicated as la whole at Ztl .and 21, respectively; and a holding and pressure lapplying conveyor indicated as a whole Aat 22. Partially formed and completedpackages, are indicated as a whole at 25, made up'from carton blanks 26 and articles 27, 27 to be contained therein.

The .articles may be of differing dimensions in which event changes would ybe made in the carton blanks. As

hereinshown the articles are in the form of closed cartons or boxes of uniform size, somewhat elongated, and

'having a width somewhat greater than their thickness or edge measurements. These cartons may beV of .a size to hold small bottles of drugs or other commodity, either packaged or bulk. The carton blanks are creased or scored along parallel lines to provide -a top panel 23, side panels 29 and 3i), a main bottom flap 31 carried on sidetpanel 30 and a shorter or narrow bottom flap- 32, such bottom faps being preferably of a length measured from their side wall hinge connections suicient so that they will overlap. As sho-wn in FIGS. 2 and 2k the wider flap 31 overlaps the nanrow fiap 32. The carton as herein shown is arranged to hold eighteen articles arranged in two rows of nine each. Weakened lines are preferably formed in the cartons indicated at 33, 33 to enable the completed packages -to be separated into three smaller packages each holdlng six articles. The particular number of weakened lines or number of articles in a package is not material and may be varied as desired.

CARTGN BLANK DELIVERY Carton blanks are delivered to the first treating station on theblank conveyor 15. This is supported on a vertical frame member 12a, a transverse frame member 13a, and vertically positioned side plates, one of which is shown at lia in EEG. 4. The carton blanks are carried flat on a pair of yspaced sprocket chains 36, 36 having spaced pairs of lugs 37, 37. Longitudinal frame members '33 secured to the side frame members 11a serve yas supporting means for the sprocket .chains 'and side guides for the -lateraledges of the blanks. At the receiving vend of the conve or the -s rocket chains ass over sprockets 39 'on shaft 40 journalled in the frame members 11a and at the delivery end the sprocket chains pass over sprockets 41 xed on a driven shaft 42, journalled in the forward frame members 12a. The forward section of the conveyor is inclined downward to bring its discharge end relatively close to the point of `assembly of the article #gro-ups brought into posi-tion by the article conveyor '16. Chain supporting bars l43 and d4 secured to the frame members 38 serve to support the upper reaches of the conveyor. The chain may also be supported cn its lower reach by idler sprockets 4S, 45 vcarried on stub shafts secured in the side frames.

`portionsa coating of adhesive. To .accomplish this there are provided pans 49 and 50 for holding slip .resistant material and adhesive. Four narrow vrolls or disks Y51, 5l and a similar disk 52 have a portion .of their lperipheries turning in the liquid contained in the respective pans. See FIG. 2c. These disks are mounted Aon `a freely rotatable shaft 53 having its ends yjournalled in the vertical side frames. VA series-of Inarrow applicator rolls or disks indicated at Y54, 54 and at 5S, bear respectively upon the lower disks 51, 51 and 52. These disks are fixed to the driven shaft 47 carrying the loose sprockets 46 above mentioned. Small pressure rollers S7, 57 are arranged to bear against the upper surface of the carton blank to press it into engagement Vwith the liquid applying disks in `Contact with the under surface of the blank. The rollers '57 are mounted on a shaft 5S free to move vertically and carried at the ends of arms S9 having their opposite ends pivotally supported at 6i! yon the frame members 3S.

The shaft 47 has a sprocket 62 fixed thereon whereby the shaft may be driven by a sprocket chain 63 passing around sprocket 64 `on the driven shaft 412. The shaft 42 in turn carries a sprocket 65 which is driven by a sprocket chain 66 which passes around a sprocket 67 secured on a jack shaft 68 which is journalled in suitable bearings in the lower portion of the base frame. lShaft-68 Vhas a sprocket 68a keyed thereon over which passes -a lsprocket chain 69 which at its other end passes over a sprocket 69a on the primary drive shaft described below. As the cartons are conveyed on the chains 36 propelled by lugs 37 they move over the liquid coating applying disks and are held in contact with such disks bythe pressure rollers 57. Strips or bands of slip resistant coating are applied to the interior of the carton walls and a coating of adhesive is applied to a portion of the free edge of the wider bottom flap 31.

The blanks are discharged from the end of the conveyor and come to rest briefly on a releasable support which comprises a pair of rods70, 70. See FlGS. 2d, 4, 6 and 9. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the leading edge of the carton is stopped as the edge strikes thevertical web 71 of an angle stop member which projects laterally int-o the p ath of the carton. These stop members are secured to side guiding plates 72, l72 which in turn are secured to brackets 73 carried on vertical frame members 12b. The inner edges of the stops 71 are spaced apart a distance greater than lthe transverse dimension, that is the width of the package, for the purpose, as will be seen more clearly later, of allowing the forming and conveyor member 18 to move freely between these steps. The rear edges of the blanks engage a curved guide element 74 which insures that the carton leading edge is against the forward stops 71.

The releasable support rods 70 are carried on the upper end of one leg of a U-shaped bracket 76. T he-other leg `of the bracket is secured to an oscillatable rod 77, supported at lits ends in suitable bearings which may 'be secured on the outer side of the side guiding plates 72. Asshown in FIG. 6, the rods 70, 70 are .arranged to swing from a position below and outside the guiding pla-tes72, 72, to a position inside and somewhat abovethe lowertedges of the plates. As shown in FIGS. -4 and `9, the movement of the rods 70, 7G is controlled by suitably guided, vertically reciprocable racks 7Shaving teeth meshing with a pinion 79 on the rod 77. Eachrack is connected atits lower end to a vertical link 80, joined at its lower end to a rock lever '81 on la rock shaft 82 journalled on a block on the lower frame member 11. The rock shaft 82 has another rock lever, designa-ted at 83, fixed thereon. At'the upper end of this rock lever is connected a rodi 84 having a connection at its oppositeend with arock lever 85 pivoted at 86 on vertical frame 12C. Intermediate the ends of-the lever S5 is a cam roller o-r follower S7 lbearing on a-'cam disk S8 fixed on the Shaft 68 which drives the `carton conveyor through sprocket 67 .andksprocket chain 66, The driving -ratio is such that within a xed interval after the carton conveyor delivers a carton to the rods 70, 70 the racks will be reciprocated upward to withdraw the rods from supporting position, permitting the carton blank to lovl toward an article group in position below the carton No particular mechanism has been shown for feeding carton blanks from a supply of blanks to the blank conveyor. This may be done by any one of several convenient mechanisms, such as a vacuum cup mechanism, or blanks could be placed on the conveyor by hand. The only requirement for the present mechanism is that a blank be conveyed by each set of lugs 37 while the mechanism is operating normally.

ARTICLE CONVEYING AND GROUPING The article conveyor in the present instance is designed to receive and convey two rows of 4articles with such articles disposed with their long axes transverse to the conveying path and with the articles laid flat on their wide faces, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b and 4. The two rows of articles as they travel on their wide faces are preferably kept separated by a thin, vertically disposed divider. Before final grouping at the first treating station the articles are upended after which they are brought into a group of two rows with the wide faces of the cartons in one row in contact with such faces in the other row as shown in FIGS. l and 4. Flexible belt conveyors are preferably employed having a surface which will admit of at least a limited amount of sliding movement of the belt beneath the articles while the articles are momentarily prevented from advancing. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2b and 9, three narrow conveyor belts 90, 91 and `92 at their receiving ends pass around rolls 93, 93 on an idler shaft 94 supported in longitudinal ,frame members a. The belts 91 and 92 at their forward or discharge ends pass around rolls 9S, 95 on a driven shaft 96. The middle belt 90 extends beyond the discharge ends of lbelts 91 and 92 and passes around a roll 97 on a driven shaft 98. The shaft 98 carries a sprocket 99 at one end driven by a sprocket chain 100 which passes around a sprocket 101 on primary drive shaft 102. At the other end of shaft 98 is a sprocket 103 over which passes a chain 104 which also passes around a sprocket 105 on the shaft 96 carrying the rolls for belts 91 and 92.

The side belts 91 and `92 are spaced `from the middle belt 90, as seen in FIGS. l, 2a, 2b and 9, and the rows of articles are conveyed with one end portion of the articles on the middle belt and the other end portion on an outside belt. The rows are separated by a divider 108 in the form of a thin, vertically disposed plate supported closely y above the middle belt 90. Bars 109, 109 are secured to this plate with their lower edges spaced from the belt 90 a sufficient distance to permit the ends of the articles to move freely along below the edges of the bars. See FIGS.

2a and 4. Side guide kbars 110 (see FIG. 4) may be em-' ployed along the sides of the belts 91 and 92. These guides are suitably secured to the longitudinal frame members 10a by brackets 111.

During normal operation of the packaging mechanism a solid row of the articles on the conveyors is desirable on each side of the divider plate 108. The rows of articles move toward the rst treating station until they are brought to rest by stops 112, 112. These may be conveniently in the form of cylinders or rollers bolted at their outer ends on stationary brackets 113, 113 secured to a frame member. The inner ends of the stops are spaced away from the guide bars 109 on the divider 103 by a distance permitting the articles to pass edgewise between the ends of the stops and the bars. Selected numbers of articles are upended on the middle conveyor belt 90 and allowed to pass the stops while lthe supply of oncoming articles is momentarily checked.

Upendng M ec/zanism For the purpose of upending the selected number of articles, or subgroups, on each belt upending elements 115, 115 are arranged to act upon articles immediately adjacent to stops 112. These elements are in the form of inverted U-shape rods of small diameter, permitting them to move between the adjacent edges of the middle and outer belts. See FIGS. 2b, 4 and 10. Means are provi-ded for moving the upending rods in synchronism with the other operating parts. For this purpose the rods are supported upon a vertically movable frame 116 including a base plate 117 having upstanding posts 118 thereon carrying cross pieces 119 supporting bearings 120, 120 into which are received rockable rods 121, 121 to which the lower legs of the upending rods 115 are rigidly secured.

The frame 116 is guided in its vertical movement by providing openings in the plate 117 into which stationary guide rods 124, 124 are received. These rods are secured at their upper ends to brackets 125, 125 on the frame member 10 and at their lower ends are secured to a frame plate secured on the lower frame member 11. For greater stability apertured bosses 126, 126 are secured to the bottom face of the plate 117 and the rods 124 pass through these bosses as well as opening in the plate 117.

The frame 116 is moved upward by a rockable cam operated lever or bar 127 pivoted at 128 on a frame member. The bar 127 has its outer end connected to the frame plate 117 by an adjustable length, pivoted link 129. At its other end, the bar 127 carries a roller 130 bearing against an eccentric cam 131 secured to rotate with shaft 63. When the operating surface of cam 131 engages the end of the bar 127, causing it to rock, the upending frame is moved upward, bring the rods 115, 115 into engagement with the individual subgroups of articles on each side of the divider 108, causing them to move to upright position. Further rotation of the cam allows the upending rods to move down. This movement is assisted by a coil spring 132 having one end secured to the end rod 127 and the other secured to the base frame.

After the upending rods have moved the articles substantially to upended position it is desirable to position the articles closely against the outer face of the bar 109. Means are therefore provided for swinging the upending rods inwardly near the end of their upward movement. For this purpose a stationary cam element 13S (see FIGS. 4 and l0) is secured to the base frame member 13a. Disks 136 are fixed on the ends of the rockable rods 121 and to these disks are secured rollers 137 bearing on the straight faces 138 of the cam when the upending rods are in their lower or inoperative position. When the frame 116 is raised to raise the rods the rollers reach the inclined cam faces. This causes the rollers to move outward to rotate the rods 121 to produce an inward swinging movement of the rods 115, forcing the articles firmly against the bar 109 after they have been upended. A coil spring 140 has its ends connected to the lower peripheries of the disks to keep the rollers 137 firmly against the cam faces at all times.

As soon as the upender rods 11S have moved away from the articles, which will be when the rollers 137 have been moved away from the inclined cam faces 139 to the straight faces 133, the articles are moved forward since, by upending them, they will clear the stops 112, and the belt 90, being in continuous operation, will advance the articles.

It is advantageous in some constructions to tip the articles somewhat upwardly at the outer ends and for this purpose a wedge-shaped belt support 141 may be employed beneath the belts 91 and 92, extending approximately the length of the article subgroups. See FIGS. 2a and 2b.

As shown in FIGS. 2b and 4 the rear portions of the upending rods 115, where these portions extend vertically to join with the rods 121, act as stop elements to prevent the rows of articles at the rear of the rods from advancing until the rods have been returned to ylower position.

A stop may be provided to operate in the event the supply of articles on the conveyor belts becomes interrupted so that in the operation of the mechanism the collection of complete subgroups of articles at the upending point will be assured. For this purpose a pivoted stop element 144 (see FiG. 4) having an upwardly turned hook end is located immediately to the rear of the ends of the upending rods on each side of the divider. The stop is supported below the level of the downwardly directed faces of the articles and the hook ends are adapted to move up in the spaces between the middle and outer belts. A link 145 is pivoted to the rear end of the pivoted stop and is in turn joined with the armature of a solenoid 146. The solenoid may be energized through conducting wires, not shown, by a trip switch operating finger 147. So long as the finger of the trip switch is supported by a continuous supply of articles moving in edge-to-edge contact the solenoid will remain inoperative. However, if the article supply on either side of the divider plate is interrupted and either trip finger moves down due to no article being present to support it, the solenoids on each side will be actuated whereby the hook ends of the stops will swing up and prevent further advancing movement of the articles.

After the articles in upended condition pass the stops 112 they are at this time supported only on the middle belt 911. As the articles pass onto the end portion of the middle belt that projects beyond the side belts they clear the end of the divider and the two subgroups move into facial contact. See FIG. 2d.

'The article group is now advanced by conveyor 90 beneath the point where the blank is brought to rest on the withdrawable support rods 78, '78. Stops are provided at this point to bring the leading edge of the group into vertical alignment with the leading edge of the blank. As shown in FIGS. 2d, 4, 6 and 9, the stops comprise a pair of abutment plates 150, 150 secured to outwardly swingable arms 151, 151. These arms are rigidly secured to a pair of meshing pinions 152 and 152a rotatable on shafts or spindles supported on the base frame. A crank arm 153 is secured on one face of pinion 152g and has its outer end pivotally connected to a link 154 which is in turn pivotally connected with the end of a cam operated rocker arm 155. This arm is pivoted at its end on a bracket 156 fixed to the base frame. At the central part of the arm 155 is mounted a roller 157 which bears against the edge of a rotatable cam 158 fixed on the primary drive shaft 102. The operating section of the cam, when coming into engagement with the roller 157, depresses arm 155 to cause rotation of pinion 152a and simultaneous rotation of pinion 152. The stop arms 151, 151 are thus caused to swing away from each other to permit passage of the article group. A coil spring 159 having its ends secured to the arms 151, 151 serves to return the arms to vertical position where they are again effective to stop an article group.

The arm 153 is preferably formed with an elongated slot to permit of adjustment in the extent of angular movement of the arm by the cam operated arm 155. By securing the upper end of the link at different points along this slot the angular movement of arm 153 may be varied.

At the discharge end of the middle conveyor belt 98 there is provided a narrow, elongated supporting plate 153 having its rear end portion extending between the stop supporting arms 151, 151 to a point closely adjacent to the belt 90 to comprise in effect a continuation of the article supporting and conveying surface afforded by the belt. See FIGS. 2d and 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, the article group, segregated by the upending mechanism, is advanced by the conveyor belt 9i) and is halted by the stops 150. ln this position the leading end of the article group is resting o-n the plate 163. By reason of the continued forward travel of the belt the article group 1@ is held against the stops 150, 15G in line with the leading edge ofthe carton blank.

The support for the article group provided by the conveyor belt and rear end of the plate 163, together with the carton blank supporting means are at the position referred to as the fir-st treating station and `designated by numeral 19.

FORMING AND CONVEYING MEMBER The forming and conveying member indicated as a whole at 18 is guided through a four directional path, namely, forward, upward, rearward and downward, and functions first to fold the carton about the top and ysides of an article group at the first treating station and then to move the partially formed packages, that is, the articles within the carton, step-by-step past the three treating stations and finally to deliver the completed packages to the holding conveyor where they are held and advanced while the adhesive on the carton flaps is becoming set. As best seen in FIGS. l, 3, 6 and 7, the forming and conveying member comprises three elongated, downward opening pockets or boxes 164, and 166 secured to the under side of a channel beam 167, one web of which is secured to a movable supporting frame 168. This frame is mounted for forward and rearward movement on another supporting frame 169 which is mounted for vertical movement on an upstanding stationary frame 170, `secured on the base frame. The movement of the forming boxes is controlled by a generally rectangular guide member 171 fixed on the frame 170 by bolts 172, 172. The guide member 171 has la pair of inner and outer ribs 173, 174 which provide a channel 175 within which a roller 176, secured to a depending, V-shaped part 177 on the frame 168, is guided.

The frame 168 has upwardly projecting bosses 180, 180 apertured to receive a rod 181 having its ends fixedly secured in frame parts 182, 182 of the vertically movable frame 169. The parts 182, 182 are suitably apertured to receive individually vertically extending rods 183, 183 having their ends fixed in bracket elements 184, 184 on the upstanding frame 170.

Means are provided for continuously moving the frame 16S through its guided path. For this purpose `a rigid bar or rod 185 is secured within an apertured boss 186 on the frame 168 so that the free end of the rod 185 projects rearward. This bar has rotatably secured thereon two sets of rings indicated at 187, 187 secured to links `of a pair of sprocket chains 188, 188. These sprocket chains run respectively over two pairs of sprockets 189, 189, each pair fixed on shafts 198, 19061, each journalled between the sprocket on a beam element 191 which is rigidly secured at its ends in the upright parts of the frame 170. The chains 183 also pass over two pairs of idler sprockets 192, 192 rotatable on spindles fixed on the beam 191. The shaft 19t) has a sprocket 194 fixed thereon over which passes a drive chain 195 which extends down and passes over -a sprocket 196 on a jack shaft 197. While this shaft 197 may be driven at a constant rate, it is preferred tordrive it so that the speed of rotation yof the shaft is substantially uniform while the forming member is moving on the downward, forward and upward legs of its closed path. On the reverse movement of the forming member it is moved at an accelerated rate of speed. For this purpose a pinion 198 fixed on jack shaft 197 meshes with a gear 199 on a stub shaft or spindle 200 held in a vertical frame element 201.

The stub shaft 200 is in a position somewhat offset from the axis of the primary drive shaft 102. See FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. The gear 199 has a crank pin 202 that is received in a slot 283 of a crank lever 204 keyed on the adjacent end of the primary drive shaft 102. While the crank pin is in the portion of the slot 203 nearest the -axis of the shaft 1112 the movement transmitted to the gear 199 is slower than when the crank pin is in position more remote from the axis of the shaft. The ratios of the various gears and the position of the crank lever with respect to the pol l sition of the frame 168 is such that the most rapid motion transmitted to the shaft 197 is when the frame 168 is in its reverse movement and guided Ialong the upper portion ofthe guide channel 175.

The vertically movable frame 169 is preferably counterbalanced to relieve strain on the driving gear, For tlrs purpose outwardly projecting lugs 298, 208 are provided on the frame parts 182. The ends of sprocket chains 209, 209, are respectively secured to these lugs. The chains pass over individual sprockets 210 rotatable on spindles secured in the upper part of the frame 170. A loop is formed in each chain and the end of the chain adjacent the loop is secured in individual lugs 211, 211 on the frame 170. See FIG. 6. In the lower part of each loop is suspended a small sprocket 212 rotatable in supporting yoke 213. The upper end of a strong coil spring 214 is secured to each yoke 213, the lower end f each spring being secured in individual eye bolts 215 anchored on the base frame. As the frame 169 moves down guided by the downward portion of the guide channel 175 while the forming member moves clockwise around the channel, the springs will be extended, tending to balance the weight of the descending parts. Reversely, when the forming member moves upward the stored energy in the extended springs assists tbe driving means in lifting the forming member.

The forming pockets or boxes 164, 165 and 166 are substantially identical and for simplicity only the box 164 will be described in detail. The front and rear walls of the box, indicated at 218 and 219, in the present instance extend slightly below the lower edges of the side walls 220, 220. The lower edges of the walls 218 and 219 are preferably bevelled to expedite the passage of these walls along the front and rear faces of the article group. Likewise the lower edges of the side walls 220 are bevelled to facilitate folding of the carton blank side panels along the sides of the article group. The side walls of the box are preferably formed of two panels spaced vertically to prevent undue entrapment of air inside the box as it comes into close fitting relation to the article group with the carton folded therearound. The top 221 of the inverted box is suitably secured to the bottom web of the channel beam 167 as by means of welding. Beneath the top 221 is supported a follower plate 222 constituting the operative top. Plate 222 is guided by a pair of pins 223 secured at their lower ends to the plate 222. These pins pass through registering apertures in the top 221 and the bottom web of the channel beam. Coil springs 224 surround the pins 223 and bear at opposite ends against the top 221 and plate 222. Heads 225 on the pins 223 limit their downward movement.

First Treating Station In the operation of the first forming box 164 at the first treating station let it be assumed that the flat carton has been advanced on conveyor to the withdrawable support rods and the article group has been moved up against the stop members 158. The forming box has completed its forward motion and will be travelling upwardly and rearwardly along its closed path. At approximately the time when the forming box begins its downward movement the cam element 88 will be rotated to the point where its operating section will engage the roller 87 on lever 85 and move this lever to actuate the racks 78 through the linkage described above and cause the rods 70 to flip outwardly to drop the carton blank onto the article group. The forming box 164, upon continuing its downward motion will reach a position in which its forward wall 218 will move down along the leading edge of the carton blank. The bevelled lower edges of the side walls 220 will engage the side panels of the blank along line adjacent but outside the score lines along which the side panels are hinged to the top panel, causing the side panels to fold down as indicated in FIG. 2e.

After the side walls 220 of the box 164 have moved along the side panels of the carton only a short distance the follower plate 222 will move into contact with the top panel of the carton blank, holding such panel rmly against the top surface of the article group. Both the wide and narrow bottom flaps of the carton blank will remain substantially in the planes of their respective attached side panels.

As the forming member approaches its lowest position the operating portion of cam 158 will be rotated to the position where it will cause the rock lever to move down thus causing the article group stop elements 150, 155 to swing away from each other to provide a clear path preparatory to the forward movement of the partially wrapped article group. The stop elements remain in their holding position until the front wall 218 of the forming box has come into holding relation with the leading face of the article group. Thus, such front wall takes over from the stops their function of retaining the articles at the front portion of the article group from any possible forward shifting with respect to the remainder of the group. With the box 164- surrounding the upper portion of the article group as illustrated in FIG. 2e and with the stop element 15G, 159 in their separated positions the functions performed at the first treating station are complete and the partially formed package is ready to be transferred to the second treating station. This is accomplished after the forming box has completed its downward movement yand has moved its full distance forward. At this point the box 164 begins its upward travel and leaves the partially completed package at the second treating station. The follower plate 222, being spring pressed downward, will act to eject the package from the box on upward movement of the box 164 and the package will thus be left in proper position on the support at the second treating station.

S ecolzrl T renting S talion It is to be noted that the distance the package is moved between treating stations is somewhat greater than the length of the package. The plate 163, which at its rear end portion forms part of the article group support at the first station, is preferably continued for the major portion of the length of the second treating station. The plate 163 is supported by vertical posts 162, 162 preferably welded to the under surface of the plate and at their lower ends to the base frame. There are principally two functions performed at this station. The short bottorn flap of the carton is folded inward in a preliminary manner, and later this fold is completed so that the flap will be brought into direct contact with the bottom face of the article group by the time the package is advanced past the second treating station.

As the package starts from the first treating station if the side panels are not in fiat contact with the sides of the yarticle group, they will be guided inward by the flaring ends 227, 227 of side guide bms 223, 228. See FIGS. 2f, 3, 4 and 7. The partially completed package thus comes to rest at the second station substantially as indicated in FIG. 2f with its trailing end advanced a short distance forwardly of the ends of the guide bars 228, and the side panels of the carton are held closely against the article group by these guide bars.

The means for folding the short bottom flap inward in a partial or preliminary fold comprises an elongated flap folding element 229 which may be in the form of an angle bar extending longitudially of the support 163. This angle bar is secured on the upper ends of vertically extending frame parts 230, 230. Each part 236 has rigidly secured thereto a guide rod 231. lThese guide rods are slidably received within pairs of aligned apertures formed in elongated blocks or bars 232, 232 (see FIGS. 2f and 7) which -are secured to the base frame.

As best shovm in FIGS. 2g and 7, the elongated supporting plate 163 is of a width somewhat narrower than the width of the package group. The essential relationship, however is that the edge of the plate on the side of the short ap at the second treating station is offset inward of the path of movement of the adjacent lower edge of the article group. The flap folder 229 is supported at such level as to place its upper surface slightly below the under surface of the plate 163. As also indicated in FlGS. 2g and 7, there is a free space between the edges of the plate 163 and the guide bars 228, 228 for the bottom flaps to extend down. As shown in FIGS. 2f and 7, the flap engaging `portion of the folder element 229 is in retracted position, clear of the space between the plate 163 and the adjacent guide bar 228, while the partially completed package is being moved into position at the second treating station. After the package has been brought to rest the folder is moved inward, as shown in FG. 2g, to fold the short flap 32 inwardly at an inclination to the horizontal. The folder is then moved back to its first position as shown in FlG. 7.

The operating means for the folder causes it yto be reciprocated in timed relation with the movement of forming and conveying member 18. For this purpose there is provided a `downwardly projecting lug or bracket 235 on the folder 229, having the end of a link 236 pivotally connected thereto, with the other end of the link connected -to a rock lever 237 fixed on a rock shaft 238 having its ends journalled in members of the base frame. This shaft 23S has also secured thereto a bell crank lever having a laterally extending portion 239 to which is pivotally connected a vertically disposed link '241i which carries at its end a yoke or guide element 241 engaged over a roller 242-2 on a shaft 242-3 extending longitudinally of the base frame. Adjacent the guide element 241 there is secured :a cam disk 244 which engages a cam roller 245. As the shaft 243 rotates the roller 245, riding on the edge of the earn, will periodically raise the link 240 to rock the shaft 238 and reciprocate the folder 229. A coil spring 246, having one end secured to the vertically extending arm 247 of the bell crank lever and its other end secured to the base frame, serves to retain the cam roller firmly against the cam surface and urge the link 240 downward after the cam has lifted the link. The shaft 243 has a bevel gear 2li-3 on one end meshing with a similar bevel gear 249 keyed on the primary drive Shaft 102.

After the flap 32 has been folded as just described, the next step is to bring it into flat contact with the under surface of the article group. For this purpose the plate 163 is preferablyterminated a short distance beyond the point where the forward edge of the box 164 stops in its advancing movement. From this point to approximately the forward end of the third treat-ing station a narrow supporting plate 25)` is employed upon which the package may sl-ide as in the case of the plate 163. This plate 250 is secured in fixed position by means of supporting posts 251, 251 welded to the under surface of the plate and tothe base frame. A portion of the rear end of the plate 250, indicated at 252, is bent downward at an angle and extends rearwardly at an angle under the forward end portion of the plate 163 to form a flap folding plow. As the second forming box indicated at 165 completes its four-way movement it is brought into encompassing relation with the package at the second treating station. When the box 165 moves forward it slides the package from the plate 163 and onto the plate 250. The flap 32 that has been partially folded inward comes into contact with the inclined plow portion 252 which guides the ap smoothly so it will be carried along the upper surface of the plate 250 and will be in direct contact with the bottom surface of the article group. It is to be noted that the follower plate in the box 165, due to its engagement with the top panel of the carton, holds such top panel firmly against the top surface of the article group and causes the side panels to move to their intended position along the sides of the article group. This tends to assure that the hinge -line o'f the flap 32 will be 1n accurate register with the lower edge of the article group.

As the box completes its forward motion, bringing the flap 32 against the artic-le group, it then moves upward to leave the package at rest :at the third treating station.

Third Treating Station The package at this stage is still held-between the guide bars 228 and the long ibottom flap extends down substantially in the plane of its attached side wall. The functions performed at the third station are similar to those performed lat the second station. That is, the long ap 31 is first bent in a preliminary manner after which it is folded up against the bottom surface of the article group and yagainst the short flap 32. The lateral edge of the plate 250 on the side where the Hap 32 bears upon it is preferably in vertical line with the inner face of the guide bar 228 so that the full width of the flap 32 is in contact with the plate. The other edge of the plate is offset inward from the vertical face of the guide bar on that side of the package. See FIG. 2z'.

While the package remains at rest at the third station it is adjacent a second'flap folder which has a flap engaging head 254 having faces `at right angles to each other and supported on the upper ends of vertically extending frame parts 255'each of which has rigidly secured thereto a guide rod 256. These guide rods are slidably received within pairs of aligned apertures formed in elongated `blocks or bars 257, -2'5'7 (see FIGS. 3 and 7) which are suitably secured to the base frame.

T he flap folder 254 is arranged to be mo'ved from a position as indicated in FlG. 7 to the position indicated in FIG. 2i. In moving in this manner the flap is swung up at an inclination below the plate 250. For the purpose of moving the folder ya link T258 is pivotally connected `at one end to a bracket 259 on the folder and at its other end is connected to a rock lever 260 supported on the base frame. Another link 261 is joined to the rock lever intermediate its length and the other end of the link is connected to the lower end of the vertically extending arm of bell crank lever 247 carried on rock shaft 238. It is thus seen that the two ap folders 229 and 254 `are arranged to operate simultaneously. The folder 229 folds the short bottom flap of one package `at the second station while the folder 254 folds the long bottom ap of a preceding package at the third station.

After the long bottom ilap 31 has been folded as just described, the folder 254 is retracted and the forming memlber 18 will be approaching its lowered position at which the package will be encompassed by the forming box 166 and by -its forward movement the package will he moved away from'the third station and onto the holding and pressure 4applying conveyor 22. During the step of moving the package beyond the third station the long ap 31 will be brought up against the bottom -surface of the package group. To `accomplish this result the narrow supporting plate 250 is terminated at its forward end just a short distance in advance of the forward end of the box 166 on its downward travel to provide an opening through which the ilap 31 may slide edgewise. An inclined cam or plow element 264, see FIGS. 2j and 3, is secured on the base frame so that its inclined surface extends from a position below and to the rear of the end of the plate 256 to a position slightly forward of the end of such plate. The upper rear edge of the element 264 is preferably aligned with the top surface of the plate 25) so that the package will move smooth-ly along over the end of the element 264 while the flap 31 is being moved from under the plate 250 to'a position in' which it will Contact the under surface of the iarticle group and its free edge portion, to which a coating-of adhesive has been applied as indicated at 265 in FlG. 2i, will come into contact with the previously folded narrow flap 32.

` l5 Holding Conveyor The package, as it is advanced from the third treating station, is complete except that a short interval is required for the adhesive between the flaps to set. The packages are therefore preferably delivered to the holding and pressure applying conveyor 22 upon leaving the third treating station. This conveyor as shown herein extends at a right angle with respect to the direction of travel on the forming section. As best shown in FIGS. 2k, 3 and 5, the holding conveyor comprises a plurality of two-part, pocket-forming elements indicated at 268 and 269. The element 268 is right angular n shape having a horizontal web to support the completed package and a vertical web against which a side wall of the package may bear. The element 269 is also of angle shape and comprises a vertical web to bear against the apposite side of a package resting on the element 268. The horizontal webs of the elements 268 and 269 are secured to adjacent links of spaced sprocket chains 270, 270, passing around sprockets 271, 271 on shafts 272 at one end of the conveyor and sprockets 273, 273 on a driven shaft 274 at the other end.

The center of sprocket 271 is so related to the line of travel of the packages on the forming conveyor that when a completed package is transferred onto the element 268, as shown in FIG. 5, the element 269 will be traveling up along the contour of the sprocket and will not have reached a position where the vertical web will contact the side of the package. As soon as the conveyor is advanced this element 269 will move up to the level of the element 268 and between the two elements the bottom and sides of the package will be held firmly in squared relationship. The length of the conveyor 22 may be varied dependent upon the time required for the adhesive to set. The packages `are removed in any desired manner, either mechanically or by hand, at the discharge end of the conveyor.

The conveyor 22 is driven step-by-step in timed relation to the forming conveyor. For this purpose a drive chain 275 passes at one end over a sprocket 276 on the driven shaft 274 and `at the other end over a sprocket 277 on a shaft 278, journalled on a lower part of the base frame. See FIGS. 5 and 5a.

The intermittent movement of the conveyor is obtained by a reciprocable rack 280 movable in a guide element 281 fixed on the frame. At one end the rack is connected by a link 282 to a crank 283 on the shaft 243 which is driven by the primary drive shaft 102. The rack teeth mesh with teeth on a rotor element 284 having a bearing turning freely on a shaft 27S. The rotor 284 carries a pivoted detent 285 which is spring loaded to urge it to move counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 and is adapted to engage in recesses 286, 286 formed in a disk 287 fixed on the shaft 278. One face 288e of the recess extends radially of the disk and the other face 28312 extends away from the face 288e at an angle to a radial line. The hook portion of the detent is adapted to ride along the surface of the disk 287 when the rack is moving to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 and when the rack has reached the limit of its travel the hook of the detent moves into the recess in position to engage the straight or radial face. Movement of the rack to the left will then reverse the direction of the rotor carrying the detent, and the latter, being engaged with the face 238e., will rotate the disk 287 through an angle of 180. Reversal in the direction of movement of the rack will cause the hook end of the detent to ride up the inclined face 28812 and back along the cylindrical face of the disk until it reaches the opposite recess 286 where it will again engage the radial face 288g of this recess and on the next movement of the rack toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, the detent will again move the disk through 180. The mechanism just described is conventional. Any other convenient mechanism adapted to move the holding conveyor step-by-step may be employed.

The primary drive shaft 102 has a gear wheel 290 keyed thereon which is driven from motor 291 through reduction gear box 292.

To summarize the operation-for each full movement of the forming member 18 through its closed path a group of articles will be upended on the article conveyor, there will be a carton blank delivered by the blank conveyor onto the withdrawable supports and a single article group, previously upended, will be delivered to the article supporting and conveying means at the first treating station. At a point in the travel of the forming member sufliciently ahead of its arrival on the downward leg of its movement, the support rods will be withdrawn from beneath the blank and the blank is thus freed to move down against the top of the article group. The first forming box 164 then comes into contact with the blank, causing it to be folded over the sides of the article group. Prior to the box 164 reaching its lowermost position the stop elements 150, 150 are moved apart to clear the way for the box 164 to move farther down over the article group. While the stops are still separated the form-ing member moves forward. This will bring the forming box 164 to the second treating station. When the box 164 has moved forward the blank support rods 76, 70 and the stops 150, 156 will return to the positions respectively where a carton blank will be supported and an article group will be stopped. After the box 164 has brought the package to the second treating station it moves upword away from the package to continue moving through its closed path. While the package is at rest at the second station the folder for the short bottom flap will be moved laterally to fold the flap partially toward its horizontal position.

The package is then ready to be advanced which is done by being encompassed by the second forming box 16S which moves the package forward to cause further folding of the short bottom flap and to deliver the package to the third station. The long bottom flap is partially folded by the reciprocable folder at this station, this action being simultaneous with the action of the folder at the second station on a succeeding package. The third forming box 166 then engages and moves the package from the third station with consequent further folding of the long flap and the package is delivered by the third forming box to the holding and pressure applying conveyor.

As each successive package is delivered to this conveyor, the conveyor is moved forward one step to bring one of the pocket forming portions into exact position to receive a package frm the third station. As the conveyor is advanced the trailing pocket forming portion moves into position from around the end of the conveyor so that it will come into firm contact with the package side wall and cause `both side walls to be held securely by the upright portions of the pocket forming portions, giving thc adhesive time to set while the packages are within the pockets.

The machine of the present invention is particularly advantageous for use in the wrapping of a carton around relatively elongated groups of articles compared with their height and width, in which at the same time it is desired to use cartons with a securing flap that is relatively short measured out from its hinge line with the attached side wall. By the use of a reciprocating folder the flap is prefolded along the crease or score, previously unbroken, defining the hinge connection between the flap and side wall. By so prefolding or prebreaking of the score line there is no difiiculty in folding of the flap into its final hori- Zontal position against the bottom surface of the article group.

By employing a plurality of forming boxes the carton is not only effectively folded about the top and sides of the package group but also, as the final folding operation is being performed on each bottom iiap, the top and side panels are kept in close contact with the top and sides of the article group, thus tending to assure that the fold lines between the sides and bottom flaps will be in proper registration with the bottom corners of the article group.

While the present description sets forth a preferred em bodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the `construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for packaging articles within an open end, wrap-around carton comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines to provide a top panel and two side panels with bottom flaps carried by the side panels, the combination of a treating station comprising support means for releasably supporting a flat carton blank, an article support at the treating station adapted yto receive a group of a predetermined number of articles arranged in a row, said article support being in juxtaposition with the carton yblank support means, whereby the blank is arranged in position to contact the article group with the top panel of the blank in register with the top surface of the article group, a forming element comprising opposed side walls spaced to fit closely against the sides of the article group when enclosed within the carton blank, means for moving the forming element through a closed, generally rectangular path, whereby it will move into engagement with a flat carton blank at the treating station in a direction normal to the plane of the blank and into encompassing relation to the article group with the blank folded around the top and sides of the article group and with the bottom flaps extending substantially in the planes of their attached side panels, then forwardly to move the article group away from the treating station, then out of encompassing relation to the article group, and finally in a rearward direction to return the forming element to the treating station where it may again move toward a at carton on the support means at the treating station.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a second treating station which comprises a relatively thin, narrow article-supporting plate disposed in line with the article support at the rst mentioned treating station and upon which article groups are adapted to be advanced from the first mentioned treating station, one edge of the plate being located along a line offset inwardly of the path of the adjacent lower edge of the article group to provide a space to permit the extending bottom flap on that yside of the plate to be folded inward at an angle, a ap folding element supported for in-and-out movement at a level below the level of :the under surface of the plate, whereby the flap folding element is adapted to fold the extending bottom tiap at such edge inwardly at Van angle to the plate, and means for moving such folding element inwardly in timed relation with the travel of the yforming element.

3. Mechanism as dened in claim l, in which the support means for releasably supporting the carton blank comprises a pair of spaced, horizontally disposed elements individually supported to move respectively from their supporting position outwardly beyond two opposed edges of the blank to allow the blank to move freely into position on the upper surface of the article group, and means operating in timed relation with the movementof the forming element for moving said carton blank supporting elements in and out of supporting position.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a second treating station which comprises a relatively thin, narrow, article-supporting plate disposed in line with the article support at the first mentioned treating station and upon which article groups are adapted to be advanced from the first treating station, one edge of the plate being located along a line offset inwardly of the path of the adjacent lower edge of the article group to provide a space to permit the extending bottom llap on that edge of the plate to be folded inward at an angle, means for folding the flap inward, an additional article support aligned with the supporting plate and spaced from the forward edge of said plate to provide an opening to permit edgewise passage of the flap therethrough, plow means secured in general alignment with the plate and extending upwardly and forwardly from a point below and rearwardly of the end of the plate to a point in the plane of the upper surface of the plate, said plow means being adapted to engage the folded flap upon forward movement of the partially packaged article group and move the flap into engagement with the bottom surface of the article group, and means for advancing the partially packaged article group past said plow means.

5. In a machine for packaging articles within a wraparound carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines to provide a top panel and two side panels with overlapping bottom llaps carried by the side panels, the combination of an elongated supporting member on which a group of articles may be arranged and along which such group may be conveyed, said support having a length somewhat in excess of the length of three article groups to provide three treating stations, the first treating station comprising means for segregating a group of articles to be packaged and means for releasably holding a flat, wrap-around carton blank in proximity to an article group at such treating station with its top panel substantially in register with the top surface of the article group, a forming member having three rectangular, aligned, downward opening, forming and conveying elements of inverted box shape, each having end and side walls with interior dimensions adapting each element to fit closely against the ends and sides of an article group when enclosed or partly enclosed within a carton, the forming member being supported to move in a generally rectangular, closed path whereby the three forming and conveying boxes are adapted to encompass in sequence the tops and sides of the partially formed packages conveyed on the elongated support, serving to move such partially formed packages step-by-step past the three treating stations, means for operating the forming member continuously through its closed path, the trailing box being adapted on downward movement to engage a flat lblank arranged above the article group and fold it against the top and sides of the article group as said box moves into encompassing relation to the carton and article group, such trailing box on forward movement of the forming member advancing the partially formed package to the second treating station, and, on vertical movement, leaving such package at rest at the second treating station, means at said second treating station operating during return movement of the forming member to fold one of the bottom flaps partially toward its final position beneath the article group, means operating during the next pass of the forming member when the package is engaged and advanced by the second forming and conveying box for moving such flap to its final position in contact with the article group, means at the third treating station operating during return movement of the forming member to fold the second bottom flap partially toward its final position, and means operating during the third pass of the forming member, when the package is engaged and advanced by the third forming and conveying box, for moving the second flap to its final position in contact with the article group and in overlapping relation to the first flap.

6. ln a machine for packaging articles within an open end carton adapted to enclose an article group byiemploying a forming mechanism which folds the carton blank over the top and around two sides of the article group, the combination of a support adapted to hold an article group, a pair of releasable, flat carton blank supporting elements arranged above said article support such elements being normally spaced to support oppositeV edge portions of a `blank from beneath and each being mounted for outward movement from their blank supporting positions to a positiontout of supporting relation lto the blank, and means for moving said supportingV elements outwardly to allow the ilat blank to move against the top of the article group.

7. In a machine for packaging articles within a wraparound carton comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines to provide a top panel and two side panels with overlapping bottom aps carried by the side panels, the combination of an elongated support adapted for movement therealong of article groups to be packaged, said support having a length in excess of the length of three article groups and a width generally conforming to the width of an article group, whereby when the top and side panels are folded around an article group, the bottom flaps may extend approximately in the plane of the attached side panels below the bottom edges of the article group, one of the `bottom flaps being adapted to receive a coating of adhesive to cause the flaps to adhere when overlapped, there being three treating stations arranged lengthwise of the elongated support, the first treating station comprising means for segregating on the support a group of articles to be packaged and means for releasably holding a dat wrap-around carton blank in proximity to an article group at such treating station with its top panels substantially in register with the top surface of the article group, a forming member having three, rectangular, aligned, downward opening, forming and conveying boxes, each having end and side walls with interior dimensions adapting each box to t closely against the ends and sides of an article group when enclosed within a carton, the forming member being supported to move in a generally rectangular, closed path, whereby the three forming and conveying boxes are adapted to encompass in sequence the tops and sides of the individual partially formed packages conveyed on the elongated support, serving to move such partially formed packages step-by-step past the three treating stations, the trailing box of the forming member being adapted on downward movement to engage a flat blank arranged above the article group and fold it against the top and sides of the article group as said box moves into encompassing relation to the carton and article group, at the second and third treating stations the elongated support comprises aligned, relatively thin plate sections, one edge portion of the plate at the second station being located along a line oifset inwardly of the path of the adjacent lower corner of the article group to provide a space to permit the extending bottom flap on that side of the plate to be folded inward at an angle, a flap folding element supported for in-and-out movement below the level of the plate, whereby said element is adapted to fold the extending bottom ilap at such edge inward at an angle to the plate, means for moving such element inward in timed relation with the travel of the forming member, said plate section at its'forward end adjacent the end of the second station being spaced from the rear end of the plate at the third station to provide an opening to admit the leading edge of the folded ap, plow means extending from a point below and rearwardly of the end of the plate to a point located forwardly of the opening and in the plane of the plate, said plow means being adapted to engage the folded ap upon forward movement of the partially formed package and move the flap upward into engagement with the bottom of the article group, the middle forming and conveying box on the forming member being engageable with the package at the second station to move it onto the supporting plate at the third station, the edge of said plate opposite to the oifset plate edge at the second station being similarly oifset along a line spaced inwardly of the adjacent lower corner of the article group to provide a space to permit the extending bottom flap on that side of the package to be folded inward at an angle, a second flap folding element supported for in-and-out movement below the level of said plate, whereby said folding element is adapted to fold the extending bottom ap at such edge inward at an angle to the plate, means for moving such element inward in timed relation with the travel of the forming member, a package support section, aligned with the supporting plate at the third station, having a rear end spaced from the forward end of the plate at the third station to provide an opening to admit the leading edge of said folded bottom flap, plow means extending from a point below and rearwardly of the end of said plate to a point located forwardly of the opening and in the plane of the plate, said plow means being adapted to engage the folded flap upon forward movement of the partially formed package and move the ilap upward into engagement with the bottom of the article group and with its free edge portion overlapping the tirst upfolded bottom flap to complete the package as it is being delivered to the package support section beyond the third station.

8. in a machine for packaging articles within open end, wrap-around type cartons scored to provide a top panel and two side panels `with overlapping bottom ilaps carried by the side panels, the flaps being secured by gluing, such machine including an elongated support for newly formed packages and means for advancing packages intermittently along the support to discharge one package at a time therefrom, the combination of a package holding conveyor adapted to receive packages intermittently as discharged from said support, and comprising an elongated frame, spaced sprockets or the like journalled in the frame, an endless flexible member passing over said sprockets, a plurality of pairs of pocket-forming elements secured transversely of the flexible member in uniformly spaced relation, the leading pocket-forming portion of each pair comprising two plates or panels disposed at right angles to each other to provide a horizontal support for the bottom and a vertical support for one side of a package, the trailing pocket-forming portion comprising a panel disposed, when in normal carrying position of the flexible member, in parallel relation to 4the vertical panel of the leading portion whereby the two vertical panels are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the package, means for driving the conveyor intermittently to bring the pocket forming portions one at a time into position to receive a package, the axis of the sprocket adjacent the package support from which packages are discharged being aligned substantially vertically below the path of the discharged packages, said leading pocket-forming portion being brought to rest after each intermittent movement in registration with the path of packages on the support said trailing pocketforming portion at that time being on the curved contour of the flexible member passing around the sprocket and thus inclined away from its companion vertical panel on the leading pocket-forming portion, whereby a package may be discharged onto the leading pocket-forming portion, said trailing pocket-forming portion being movable into holding relation with the package on the leading portion with the next advancing movement of the conveyor.

9. In a machine for packaging articles within an openend carton adapted to enclose a group of articles, arranged in rows, by employing a forming element to encompass the sides of the article group, the combination of an elongated support means for supporting the article group lengthwise of the rows, means for releasably supporting a wrapper blank over a row of articles on the elongated support, said blank supporting means comprising a pair of rods each arranged parallel to opposite longitudinal sides of the article support and normally disposed above the level of the article group to support a blank from below, a rockable pivot means parallel with each rod and mounted in bearings outside the edges of the blank, connections between each rod and its respective pivot means whereby each rod is swingable in a downwardly and outwardly directed arc out of supporting relation to the blank to allow the blank to be deposited upon the article group, and means for simultaneously swinging said rods to their blank depositing positions.

l0. In a maching -or packaging articles within an open-end, wrap-around carlton of the type comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines to provide a top panel and two side panels with bottom flaps carried by the side panels, the combination of a support means for an article group arranged in one or more rows, a bottom flap folder mechanism which includes a fixed, thin, elongated plate arranged in operative relation to the support means and onto which the article group may be advanced longitudinally of the rows, means for depositing a flat wrapper blan-k of the -type referred to onto an article group arranged on the support means with the blank arranged transversely of the rows and with the top panel in register with the top of the article group, a forming element comprising side walls spaced to t closely along the sides of the article group when enclosed within the carton blank, means for moving the forming element downwardly into encompassing relation over the assembled carton blank and article group to fold the blank around the top and sides of the group, and means for moving the forming element in a lengthwise direction onto the elongated plate in operative position for folding a bottom ap.

11. A machine -for packing two rows of articles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank scored along parallel lines to provide a top panel and side panels with bottom aps attached to the side panels, the machine comprising, in combination, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing a group of articles along a fixed path, movable stop means for retaining a group of articles at an assembly station at the discharge end of said conveyor, means for delivering a flat wrapper blank of the type referred to onto an article group at the assembly station, a forming element comprising side and end walls spaced to t closely around the article 4group when enclosed within .the carton blank, supporting and guiding means for the forming element to guide it from a position above the blank and article group and thereafter to advance such group beyond the end of the conveyor, and mechanism for moving the stop means from its article engaging position prior to the movement of the forming element into full encompassing relation to the article group and Wrapper blank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,875,423 Daniels Sept. 6, 1932 2,276,129 Wesselman Mar. 10, 1942 2,343,521 Benning Mar. 7, 1944 2,817,197 Amness Dec. 24, 1957 2,896,520 Woelfer July 28, 1959 2,906,075 Vogel Sept. 29, 1959 2,933,870 Gentry Apr. 26, 1960 2,953,883 Gentry Sept. 27, 1960

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