US3137980A

US3137980A - Apparatus for packing articles

Info

Publication number: US3137980A
Application number: US178363A
Authority: US
Inventors: Partridge Robert Dennis
Original assignee: Metal Box PLC
Current assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 1961-04-14
Filing date: 1962-03-08
Publication date: 1964-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-23

Description

June 23, 1964 R. D. PARTRIDGE 3,137,980

APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet l lnvenlor ROBERT D; PARTR\DGE B MMdW Attorneys June 1964 R. D. PARTRIDGE APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1962 Inventor ROBERT D. PARTRIDGE B WwAdM Attorneys June 23, 1964 R. D. PARTRIDGE 3,137,980

APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I n ven [or ROBERT D. PARTRHD G E WaMdM A ilorneys J1me 1964 R. D. PARTRIDGE APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 8, 1962 Inventor A tlorneys R. D. PARTRIDGE APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES June-'23, 1964 Filed March 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnvenlor ROBERT D. ?ARTR\DGE By Attorney June 23, 1964 R, PARTRIDGE 3,137,980

APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 \9 Inven or ROBERT D. PAR DGE By W am A ttorney:

June 23, 1964 R. D. PARTRIDGE 3,137,980

APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Inventor ROBERT 'D. PART RDGE.

B Mama Attorneys June 23, 1964 R. D. PARTRIDGE 3,137,980 APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES Filed March 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I nvenlor ROBERT D. PARTR \DGE.

A Horneys United States Patent 3,137,980 APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES Robert Dennis Partridge, Sussex, England, assignor to The Metal Box Company Limited, London, England,

a British company Filed Mar. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 178,363 Claims priority, application Great Britain Apr. 14, 1961 21 Claims. (Cl. 53-123) This invention relates to apparatus for packing articles and in particular to apparatus for packing a bulbous article, such as an electric lamp, in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for packing a bulbous article, such as an electric lamp, in a four-sided carton the walls of which are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of an article aligned with said article-engaging members, a pair of folder elements for each pair of article-engaging members of the carton, a mounting block for each pair of folder elements, said mounting block being supported for movement towards and away from a carton supported by said locating memher and said folder elements being pivoted to the mounting block for movement therewith and towards and away from each other, springs urging the folder elements of the pairs towards each other and permitting separation of the folder elements following initial engagement of the elements with the article-engaging members to be folded inwards thereby and during the continued movement of the folder elements by the mounting block towards the bulbous portion of the article located in the carton, and actuating means operable in timed relation with the positioning of a carton and article on said locating member to effect said movements of the mounting block.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood two embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton to be packed by apparatus according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section through a carton and illustrates a bulbous article packed therein,

FIGURE 3 is a pictorial exterior view of a machine embodying apparatus according to the invention,

FIGURE 4 is a top plan of apparatus according to the invention,

FIGURE 5 is a section on line VV, FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a section on line VIVI, FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 7 illustrates a detail of the apparatus,

FIGURE 8 illustrates the mode of operation of one pair of folder elements,

FIGURE 9 is a circuit diagram,

FIGURE 10 is a top plan, with some parts brokenaway, of apparatus according to the invention but embodying an alternative form of mechanism for folding inwards article-engaging members and a shoulder provided on a carton,

FIGURE 11 is a section through a part of the apparatus of FIG. 10,

FIGURE 12 is a section illustrating the operation of a pair of folders included in the apparatus of FIG. 10, and

FIGURE 13 is a top plan of FIGURE 12.

In the drawings like references refer to like or similar parts.

The carton which is to be packed by apparatus according to the invention is of known kind but, for ease of reference, the carton will be briefly described.

The carton is a four-sided carton made of cardboard or similar material, the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton, thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members 1 and 2 adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article, shown as an electric lamp, in the carton as illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

Referring to FIGURES 3 to 9 of the drawings, apparatus for packing an article in the carton comprises a base plate 3, FIGURE 5, supported by a frame or casing 4 surmounted by a window 5 having an aperture formed therein through which the carton C is inserted to receive a bulbous article shown as an electric lamp L to be packed in the carton. The aperture in the window has the shape of the cross-section of the opened carton and the cartons are inserted manually one at a time through the opening by an operator. The cartons as supplied to the operator are in a flat condition but are readily set-up to the open condition thereof by pressure exerted thereon between a finger and thumb of the operator. When the opened carton is inserted by the operator through the opening in the window it is positioned by the operator over a locating member shown as a block 6 which fits into the end of the carton and supports the carton in the open condition thereof with the article-engaging members of the carton located just above the locating member 6.

The operator then inserts an electric lamp into the carton as indicated in FIGURE 5 until the bulbous end of the lamp is engaged by portions 7 of the locating block which locate the lamp in the carton with the bulbous portion thereof aligned with the article-engaging members 1, 2. As the lamp is moved into engagement with the portions 7 it also depresses a switch member 8, FIG- URES 5, 7, and 9, which forms part of a start switch, FIGURE 9, which also includes a normally closed switch member 9 connected in an electric circuit which controls operation of folder elements to be described below. The switch member 8 is normally open and the circuit is sup plied through a mains switch 10 which is closed before packing operations commence.

Connected to the under side of the support 3 is an air cylinder 11 which houses a double-acting piston 12, FIGURE 9, connected to a piston rod 13. The air cylinder is connected with a source, not shown, of air supply through

pipes

14, 15 and a valve 16 operated by

solenoids

17, 18, FIGURE 9. The piston rod 13 has a transverse member 19, FIGURE 5, secured thereto and four adjustable links 20 are connected by pivots 21 to the member 19. Each link 20 is also connected to a rocking lever 22 of which there are four, each rocking lever 22 being rockable about a pivot 23 carried by a bracket 24 secured to the under side of the support 3. The rocking levers 22 are movable in slots 25 formed in the support 3 and at the outer ends thereof each rocking lever carries a pair of

folder elements

26, 27. The folder elements of a pair are pivoted respectively at 28, 29 to a mounting block 30 which is secured to the outer end of the rocking lever 22. The mounting block 30 and folder elements connected thereto are readily removable from the rocking lever to be replaced by other elements suitable for use with cartons of a different size. The

folder elements

26, 27 are urged towards each other by a spring 31 the ends of which pass through holes formed in the folder elements for connection to

anchor pins

32, 33.

The switch member 9 is carried by one of the rocking levers 22, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, so as to close the 3 switch when the rocking levers are in the withdrawn positions thereof shown in FIGURE 5, and the rocking lever which carried the switch member 9 also carries a further switch element 34 forming part of a normally open switch.

On depression of the switch member 8 by the lamp L, which is steadied by the operator during operation of the folder elements, the solenoid 17 operates valve 16 and causes the piston rod 13 and member 19 to be moved axially towards the support 3 thereby rocking the rocking levers 22 inwards towards the lamp L. Each of the

folder elements

26, 27 is formed at its leading end with a notch 35, FIGURE 8, which engages with a corner of the carton as the folder element makes initial engagement with the carton, the continued inward movement of the rocking levers 22 causing the article-engaging members 1, 2 to be folded into the carton by the folder elements until the members 1, 2 engage the lamp L when the contour of the lamp causes the

folder elements

26, 27 to be moved apart towards the opposite ends of the carton, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, thereby to cause the article-engaging members 1, 2 also to be folded towards the opposite ends of the carton to the positions thereof illustrated in FIGURE 2 in which the article-engaging members support and hold the lamp in position in the carton. When the rocking levers 22 are moved to the innermost positions thereof the switch member 34 closes the switch of which it forms a part thus through solenoid 18 commencing the return movement of the rocking levers 22. At this time the operator removes the loaded carton from the apparatus and switch 8 is returned to the normally open position thereof. If, however, there should be a slight delay between the closing of switch 34 and the operator effecting removal of the loaded carton, this is accommodated by the stroke of the piston 12.

The carton also includes side portions at one end thereof which are scored or creased to form a shoulder 36, FIGURE 2, which is adapted to be folded into and across the end of the carton as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Folding of the shoulder 36 is effected simultaneously with the folding of the article-engaging members 1, 2 and is effected by a shoulder-folder 37, FIGURES 4 and 6, the shoulderfolder 37 being pivoted at 38 and rockable about the pivot by a connecting rod 39 which is also connected to the member 19.

FIGS. to 13 illustrate an alternative form of the apparatus for folding inwards the article-engaging members 1, 2 and the shoulder 36. As illustrated in these figures of the drawings the locating block is a hollow member 6a into which a set-up carton C is inserted after a lamp L has been positioned therein to engage electrical contacts 40, 41, FIG. 11, electrically connected with a source of supply to test whether or not the lamp will light up. The locating block is secured in position beneath the base plate 3 and when fully inserted into the block 6a depresses switch members 8a to initiate operation of the carton folding elements.

In this embodiment of the invention the article-en gaging members 1, 2 are infolded by folder elements 2611 each of which is provided at the leading end thereof with an edge 42 for initial engagement with a corner of the carton and with folding faces 43, FIG. 13, which diverge away from the edge 42. FIG. 12 illustrates a pair of folder elements 26a for one pair of article-engaging members 1, 2 and the folder elements of the pair are independently pivoted to a mounting block 3011 therefor and are urged towards each other with a scissors-like action, about the pivots 28a, 29a by a spring 31a. The mounting block a is supported for movement in a straight path by a slide member 44 movable between the base plate 3 and

guides

45, 46 secured thereto and the path in which the block 30a is moved is at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the carton C.

Operation of the folder elements 26a is effected by a cam 47 supported between the base plate 3 and a flange 48 secured to the base plate. The cam 47 is oscillatable about the longitudinal axis of the carton C by an air cylinder 11a, FIG. 10, operation of which is initiated by depression of the switch members 8a. The cam is provided with slots 49, one for each pair of folder elements 26a, in each of which there is located a roller 50. Each roller 50 is carried by one of the slide members 44 so that on rotation of the cam 47, counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 10, the folder elements are moved from the positions thereof shown in full lines in FIG. 12 to the positions shown in broken lines in that figure. Accordingly, the four pairs of folder elements are operated simultaneously to effect the infolding of all of the article-engaging members 1, 2 of the carton. The piston rod 13a of the air cylinder 11a is connected with the cam 47, to effect oscillation thereof, by a link 51 which is pivoted at 52, FIG. 10, to the cam 47.

In order that the apparatus may operate at a relatively high speed, while avoiding possible damage to the lamp by impact from the folder elements, the folder elements 26a of each pair are positively separated during the movement thereof by the mounting blocks 30a towards the lamp. This is effected by projections 53, FIG. 13, shown as pins, which extend laterally from each folder element 26a. For each pair of folder elements 26a there is provided a stationary wedge-like cam 54 which is carried by the guide 45 and is located thereby in the path of the projections 53. The sloping

sides

55, 56 of the cam 54 are engaged by the projections 53 to effect separation of the folder elements of the pairs as they approach the lamp after effecting initial inward folding of the article-engaging members 1, 2 of the carton. Stop pins 57 carried by the mounting blocks 30a determine the extent of rotation of the folder elements about the pivots 28a, 29a due to the action of the springs 31a.

It will be understood that if the apparatus is to be operated at a slower rate such that the lamps would not be likely to be damaged by impact with the folder elements, then the cams 54 and projections 53 need not be employed as the folder elements will be cammed apart by the lamp as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

In the machine as just described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 the cam 47 is provided with peripheral projections which perform the functions of the

switch members

9 and 34 described above and a peripheral contour 58 formed on the cam 47 effects operation of a shoulder-folder 37a, FIGS. 10 and 11, which folds the shoulder 36 of the carton simultaneously with the folding of the article-engaging members by the folder elements 26a. The shoulder-folder 37a is movable in a straight line path between guides 59 and is pivotally connected at 60 to one end of a link 61. The other end of the link 61 is pivoted at 62 to an arm 63 secured to a rock shaft 64 to which there is also secured an arm 65 carrying a cam follower 66 which is held in engagement with the cam contour 58 by a spring 67.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of the article aligned with said article-engaging members, a pair of folder elements for each pair of article-engaging members of the carton, a mounting block for each pair of folder elements, said mounting block being supported for movement towards and away from a carton supported by said locating member and said folder elements being pivoted to the mounting block for movement therewith and towards and away from each other, springs urging the folder elements of the pairs towards each other and permitting separation of the folder elements following initial engagement of the elements with the article-engaging members to be folded inwards thereby and during the continued movement of the folder elements by the mounting block towards the bulbous portion of the article located in the carton, and actuating means operable in timed relation with the positioning of a carton and article on said locating member to effect said movements of the mounting block.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including an air cylinder, a double-acting piston housed in the cylinder, a piston rod effecting connection between the piston and said actuating means, and valve means connected with the cylinder to control operation of the piston.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including solenoids connected with said valve means to effect operation thereof and in an electric circuit which includes a normally open switch arranged to be closed on location of a carton in position on said locating means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the actuating means comprises for each mounting block a rocking lever connected to the mounting block and to the piston rod.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a projection movable with each folder element and extending laterally therefrom, and stationary cams supported in the path of said projections for engagement thereby to effect separation of the folder elements of the pairs during movement thereof towards the article and following initial engagement of the folder elements with the article-engaging members of the carton.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the leading end of each folder element is provided with an edge for initial engagement with a corner of the carton and with folding faces which diverge away from said edge.-

7. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of the article aligned with said article-engaging members, a pair of folder elements for each pair of article-engaging members of the carton, each folder element having a notch formed therein to engage about a corner of the carton on initial engagement of the folder element with the carton, a mounting block for each pair of folder elements and to which the folder elements are pivoted for movement therewith and towards and away from each other, a spring urging the folder elements of each pair towards each other, a rocking arm connected to each said mounting block to effect movement of the folder elements carried by the block into and out of engagement with a pair of article-engaging members and to cause the folder elements to follow the contour of the bulbous portion of the article in the carton so as to separate the folder elements against the action of said spring thereby to press the article-engaging members of the pair into the carton and away from each other towards the opposite ends of the carton and into engagement with the bulbous portion of the article to support and hold the article in the carton, a piston rod connected to each of the rocking arms to effect simultaneous rocking thereof, a double-acting piston connected to said piston rod and housed in an air cylinder, and valve means connected with the cylinder to control operation of the piston.

8. Appaartus according to claim 7, including solenoids connected with said valve means to effect operation thereof and in an electric circuit which includes a normally open switch arranged to be closed on location of a carton in position on said locating means.

9. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of the article aligned with said article-engaging members, a pair of folder elements for each pair of articleengaging members of the carton, a mounting block for each pair of folder elements, said blocks being supported for reciprocating movement in straight line paths at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carton supported by the locating member and having the folder elements pivotally mounted thereon for movement therewith and towards and away from each other to engage and press the article-engaging members of the pairs thereof into the carton and away from each other towards the opposite ends of the carton and into engagement with the bulbous portion of the article to support and hold the article in the carton, a spring urging the folder elements of each pair thereof towards each other, a cam supported for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of the carton, a cam follower movable with each mounting block and co operating with the cam to control movements of the mounting blocks, and an operating device connected with said cam to eifect rotation thereof.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the oper ating device comprises an air cylinder, a double-acting piston housed in the cylinder, a piston rod effecting connection between the piston and said actuating means, and valve means connected with the cylinder to control operation of the piston.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, including solenoids connecting with said valve means to effect operation thereof and in an electric circuit which includes a normally open switch arranged to be closed on location of a carton in position on said locating means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, including a projection movable with each folder element and extending laterally therefrom, and stationary cams supported in the path of said projections for engagement thereby to effect separation of the folder elements of the pairs during movement thereof towards the article and following initial engagement of the folder elements with the article-engaging members of the carton.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the leading end of each folder element is provided with an edge for initial engagement with a corner of the carton and with folding faces which diverge away from said edge.

14. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, and which at one end thereof is further scored to form a shoulder adapted to be folded into the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of an article aligned with said article-engaging members, folder means supported for movement towards and away from the carton and operable on movement towards the carton to press the article-engaging members of each pair into the carton and away from each other towards the opposite ends of the carton and into engagement with the bulbous portion of the article disposed in the carton thereby to support and hold the article in the carton, a shoulder-folder operable to fold said shoulder into the carton, and actuating means operable in timed relation with the positioning of a carton and article on said locating member to effect said movements of the folder means and shoulder-folder.

15. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, and which at one end thereof is further scored to form a shoulder adapted to be folded into the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of an article aligned with said articleengaging members, folder means supported for movement towards and away from the carton and operable on movement towards the carton to press the article-engaging members of each pair into the carton and away from each other towards the opposite ends of the carton and into engagement with the bulbous portion of the article disposed in the carton thereby to support and hold the article in the carton, a shoulder-folder operable to fold said shoulder into the carton, and actuating means operable in timed relation with the positioning of a carton and article on said locating member to effect simultaneously said movements of the folder means and shoulder-folder. 16. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, and which at one end thereof is further scored to form a shoulder adapted to be folded into the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of an article aligned with said article-engaging members, a pair of folder elements for each pair of article-engaging members of the carton, each folder element having a notch formed therein to engage about a corner of the carton on initial engagement of the folder element with the carton, a mounting block for each pair of folder elements and to which the folder elements are pivoted for movement therewith and towards and away from each other, a spring urging the folder elements of each pair towards each other, a rocking arm connected to each said mounting block to effect movement of the folder elements carried by the block into and out of engagement with a pair of article-engaging members and to cause the folder elements to follow the contour of the bulbous portion of the article in the carton so as to separate the folder elements against the action of said spring thereby to press the article-engaging members of the pair into the carton and away from each other towards the opposite ends of the carton and into engagement with the bulbous portion of the article to support and hold the article in the carton, a shoulder-folder supported for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with said shoulder and operable to fold the shoulder into the carton, connecting means connected to said rocking arms and shoulder-folder for simultaneous operation thereof, and an operating device co-operating with said connecting means to effect operation of the folder elements and shoulder-folder.

17. Apparatus for packing a bulbous article such as an electric lamp in a four-sided carton the walls of which adjacent each corner are cut and scored at each of two spaced positions considered lengthwise of the carton thereby to provide pairs of article-engaging members adapted for folding into the carton to support and hold an article in the carton, and which at one end thereof is further scored to form a shoulder adapted to be folded into the carton, comprising a locating member to support a carton in the open condition thereof with the bulbous portion of an article aligned with said article-engaging mem bers, a pair of folder elements for each pair of articleengaging members of the carton, a mounting block for each pair of folder elements, said blocks being supported for reciprocating movement in straight line paths at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carton supported by the locating member and having the folder elements pivotally mounted thereon for movement therewith and towards and away from each other to engage and press the article-engaging members of the pairs thereof into the carton and away from each other towards the opposite ends of the carton and into engagement with the bulbous portion of the article to support and hold the article in the carton, a spring urging the folder elements of each pair thereof towards each other, a shoulder-folder guided for reciprocating movement in a straight line path at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carton and operable to fold the shoulder into the carton, a cam supported for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of the carton, a cam follower movable with each mounting block and cooperating with a track formed in the cam to control movements of the mounting blocks, actuating means connecting the shoulder-folder to said cam to control movements of the shoulder-folder, and an operating device connected with said cam to effect rotation thereof.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said actuating means comprises rocking arms rockable by a a peripheral contour of said cam, and a link connecting the rocking arms to the shoulder-folder.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the operating device comprises an air cylinder, a double-acting piston housed in the cylinder, a piston rod effecting connection between the piston and said actuating means, and valve means connected with the cylinder to control operation of the piston.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, including solenoids connected with said valve means to effect operation thereof and in an electric circuit which includes a normally open switch arranged to be closed on location of a carton in position on said locating means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19, including solenoids connected with said valve means to effect operation thereof and in an electric circuit which includes a normally open switch arranged to be closed on location of an article in position on said locating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS