US3186136A

US3186136A - Machine and method for packaging articles

Info

Publication number: US3186136A
Application number: US227255A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ganz Henry
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1962-10-01
Filing date: 1962-10-01
Publication date: 1965-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-01

Description

H. GANZ MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 1, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WM ATTORNEY R NMM Mm & mm 0 0 a :R 5;

June 1, 1965 GANZ 3,186,136

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 1, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Q A/EIVAY A/VZ A RNEY H. GANZ June 1, 1965 MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 1, 1962 NVENTOR. AwivgwA z A'liORNEY June 1, 1965 H. GANZ MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 1, 1962 INVENTOR. f/E'MPYQANZ H. GANZ June 1, 1965 MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001;. 1, 1962 flaw,

INVENTOR Haney -A/vz United States Patent v O York Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,255 20 Claims. (Cl. 53-3) The invention relates in general to the packaging of cans and like containers having chimes, and more particularly to a machine for applying wrap-around paper board carriers to cans and the method of applying such carriers utilizing the machine.

This invention particularly relates to a machine of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,986,857 granted on June 6, 1961, and pertains to a modification of the machine disclosed in that patent.

This invention relates particularly to a machine for use in applying a wrap-around carrier or carton of the type wherein the side walls of the carton are provided with chime-cuts for the reception of chimes of containers, and the top and bottom Walls of the carton are provided with cushion tabs which are struck therefrom and folded into overlying relation with respect to the chime-cuts, the cushion tabs further having slits which correspond generally to the chime-cuts whereby chimes of containers pass through both the cushion tabs and the side Walls of the carton.

In accordance with this invention, it is the primary object to provide a novel apparatus for operating on a carton blank to move cushion tabs out of the plane of the blank and into overlying relation with respect to the chime-cuts, and to interlock the cushion tabs with respect to the side walls of the carton blank wherein the cushion tabs are held in alignment with the chime cuts as the carton blank is being applied to a plurality of containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for applying carton blanks to a plurality of con tainers, apparatus for first moving cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blanks, then folding the cushion tabs into overlying relation to chime-cuts of the carton blanks, after which While portions of the cushion tabs are held against movement, portions of the side walls of the carton blank immediately adjacent the chime-cuts are pushed outwardly and through slits in the cushion tabs to interlock therewith and thus retain the cushion tabs in alignment with the chime-cuts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel machine for applying cartons of the wrap-around type to containers having chimes, such containers including cans, the machine including means for continuously feeding individual carton blanks and while feeding the carton blanks first striking from the plane of the carton blank cushion tabs, after which other means of the machine fold the cushion tabs over into face-to-face engage ment with the adjacent portions of the carton blank and into alignment with chime-cuts formed therein, the machine further including means for clamping thecushion tabs against the adjacent material of the carton blank while other means function to push portions of the side walls of the carton blank immediately adjacent the chime-cuts up through slits in the cushion tabs to interlock the cushion tabs With the side walls and thus retain the cushion tabs in place as the carton is being wrapped around a plurality of containers. j

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel machine for automatically applying cartons to a plurality of cans, the machine receiving individual carton blanks and progressively feeding the carton blanks along an upper run of the machine during which time suitable apparatus of the machine acts upon the carton blank to lift and fold cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank and into ICC overlying relation with respect to chime-cuts in the carton blank, the machine including other means for interlocking the cushion tabs with the adjacent portions of the carton blank to retain the cushion tabs in place, and the machine further acting to fold the carton blank around the plurality of cans while the cushion tabs are retained in place until such time as the cushion tabs engage with the cans and form interlocks therewith, at which time the cushion tabs are released from the adjacent portions of the carton blank but are retained in place by the cans disposed within the carton blank.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of preparing a carton blank for application to cans and the like chime bearing containers, the method including the steps of moving cushion tabs from the plane of the carton blank, then folding the cushion tabs in overlying relation to adjacent portions of the carton blank, and then while clamping portions of the cushion tabs to the carton blank, pushing other portions of the carton blank through slits formed in the cushion tabs to interlock the cushion tabs with the carton blank and thus retain the cushion tabs in place whereby the cushion tabs are retained in place due to the application of the carton blank to a plurality of containers.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view with parts broken away showing that portion of a machine for applying cartons to cans which incorporates the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and shows more specifically the details of the machine which is the subject of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2 and shows the apparatus for initially moving cushion tabs and separator tabs out of the plane of the carton blank.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 44- of FIGURE 1 and shows the means for effecting the interlock of the side walls of the carton blank with the cushion tabs and the means for guiding and retaining separator tabs as the carton blank passes through the machine.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the machine generally along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 and shows the specific details of the means for operating on one cushion tab of a carton blank.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5 and shows the manner in which a cushion tab is initially moved out of the plane of the carton blank.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 5 and shows the manner in which a folding blade fold-s the cushion tab of FIGURE 6 into overlying relation with respect to the adjacent portion of the carton blank including a chime-cut formed therein.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 5 and shows the manner in which the machine engages the carton blank to clamp a cushion tab against an underlying portion of the carton blank while lifting an adjacent portion of the carton blank to interlock the cushion tab with the adjacent portion of the carton blank.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the carton blank along the a 3 line 9-9 of FIGURE and shows the specific details of the interlock between the cushion tab and the adjacent portion of the carton blank.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view looking down on the carton blank and shows the manner in which the cushion tab is interlocked with the adjacent portion of the carton blank.

FIGURE ll is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a completed package incorporating the carton blank and shows the manner in which the cushion tabs are ultimately folded and engaged by the chimes of cans.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, reference is first made to FIGURE 1 wherein there is shown a carton blank, generally referred to by the numeral 10, which is to be applied to six cans. The carton blank as far as this invention is concerned, is divided into a centrally located top wall panel 11, a pair of side wall panels 12, and bottom forming panels 13 and 14. The bottom forming panel 13 is provided with a plurality of projecting locking tab 15 which are engageable through openings 16 in'the bottom wall forming panel 14 for locking the panels 13 and 14 together in the manner generally described in my prior Patent No. 2,986,857.

In accordance with this invention, the side wall panels 12 are separated from the top wall panel 11 by fold lines 17 and from the bottom forming panels 13 and 14 by fold lines 18. In order to provide an interlock between cans and the side wall panels 12 of the set up carton, which carton is wrapped around the can each of the side wall panels 12 is provided with a plurality of chimecuts 19 spaced along and adjacent the fold lines 17 and 18. Also, the top wall panel 11 and the bottom wall forming panels 13 and 14 are provided with cushion tabs 20 which cooperate with the chime-cuts 19. The details of the chime-cuts 19 and the cushion tabs 20 will be set forth hereinafter.

The carton blank 10 is also provided with can spacing tabs 21 which are bendable out of the plane of the top wall panel 11. Further, the bottom forming panel 14 is provided with can spacing tabs 22 which are to be folded out of the plane thereof. It is to be understood that in the completed package, cans will be maintained in two rows by the carton and adjacent chime portions of the cans will be spaced apart by the can spacing tabs 21 and 22. It is, therefore, necessary that the can spacing tabs 21 and 22 be disposed normal to the planes of the top wall panel 11 and the bottom forming panel 14 at the time these panels are applied to a series of cans as the carton blank 10 is wrapped therearound.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, it will be seen that there i illustrated a portion of the carton blank 10 on a large scale and the specific details of a chime-cut 19 and a cushion tab 20 are shown. It is to be noted that a typical chime-cut 19 is generally C-shaped in outline and includes end portions 23 which extend transversely across the general line of the fold line 18 with the fold line 18 being interrupted by the chime-cut 19. It is also to be seen that the chime-cut 19 has a bowed central portion 24 which defines a projecting ear 25 on the side wall panel 12. In order to facilitate flexing of the car 25, the side wall panel 12 is provided with a out line 26 which extends normal to the fold line 18 and is centrally located with respect to the car 25.

A typical cushion tab 20 is oval in outline and is defined by cooperating C-shaped cut 27 and a fold line 28 which extends between the ends of the C-shaped cut 27. Fold line 28 is disposed parallel to the fold line 18. Each cushion tab 20 is divided into two

halves

29 and 30 by the combination of a fold line 31 which extends parallel to the fold line 28, and a C-shaped cut or slit 32 which opposes the chime-cut 19. The half 30 of the cushion tab 20 i directly connected to the associated portion of the carton blank 10 along the fold line 28 while the half 29 of the cushion tab 20 is carried by the cushion tab half 30.

Referring now to FIGURES 10 and 11 in particular, it will be seen that each of the cushion tabs 20 is utilized for the purpose of reinforcing the respective side wall panel 12 of the resultant carton along the chime-cut. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 10, each cushion tab 20 is first folded into overlying relation to the associated side wall panel 12 along the fold line 28. When the cushion tab is so folded, the cut line 32 overlies the chime-cut 19 and the fold line 31 is aligned with the fold line 18. In order that the cushion tab 20 may :be retained in its position relative to the chime-cut 19 as the carton blank 10 is being wrapped around a plurality of cans, it is desirable to provide a temporary interlock between each cushion tab 20 and the associated side wall panel 12. To this end, the car 25 associated with each of the cushion tabs 20 is passed through the slit 32 to overlie a part of the cushion tab half 30 in the manner best shown in FIGURE 10. It is to this specific folding of the cushion tab 20 and the interlocking thereof with the side Wall panel 12 that this invention relates.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a major portion of a machine for applying cartons to cans. The machine 35 includes a pair of parallel conveyor chains 36 having lugs 37 projecting therefrom in spaced intervals. The carton blanks 10 are carried by the upper runs of the conveyor chains 36 beneath mechanism, generally referred to by the numeral 38 which is formed in accordance with this invention, for the purpose of folding the cushion tabs 20 in the manner described above. The carton blanks with the cushion tabs 20 and the can spacing tabs 21 and 22 in their folded positions, are moved by the conveyor chains 36 at the right end of the upper run thereof around an arcuate path and into overlying relation to a group of six cans 39 which are arranged in two rows. In the application of a carton blank 10 to a set of cans 39, the top wall panel 11 is initially brought to rest on the upper ends of the cans 39. Then by means of suitable folding mechanisms, the side wall panels 12 are folded down alongside the cans, after which the bottom wall forming panels 13 and 14 are folded up beneath the cans and interlocked together in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Basically, the machine 35 includes a frame, generally referred to by the numeral 40. The machine of the frame 40 includes upper longitudinally extending carton blank support plates 41 at opposite sides of the center of the machine. Angular cross-sectional carton blank guide members 42 overlie each of the support plates 41. The guide members 42 are so positioned with respect to the support plates 41 to provide narrow shelves 43 on which the extreme ends of the carton blanks 10 rest. This is clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. It will be readily apparent that the carton blanks 10 will be supported by the shelves 43 and the conveyor chains 36. The carton blanks 10 are deposited on the shelves 43 and the conveyor chains 36 in any suitable manner and are engaged by the lugs 37 and the conveyor chains to move the carton blanks 10 through the machine 35.

The mechanism 38 includes a transverse shaft 44 which extends between remote portions of the frame 40 and is suitably journalled in bearing elements 45 carried by the frame 40. The shaft 44 underlies the path of carton blanks 10 supported on the shelves 43. The shaft 44 is provided with a sprocket 46 which is driven by means of a drive chain 47 in any suitable conventional manner with the shaft 44 being rotated in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor chains 36.

The shaft 44 carries a plurality of circular plates which include a first set of identical plates 48 for engaging the cushion tabs 20 carried by the bottom wall forming panels 13 and 14. Each of these plates 48 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers 49 which project radially outwardly of the periphery of the associated plate 48 and with the fingers 49 secured to one face of the respective plate 48.

The shaft 44 also carries a pair of circular plates 50 which are alignable with the cushion tabs 20 carried by the top wall panel 11. The circular plates 50 carry a pair of fingers 51 as opposed to the three fingers carried by the plates 48. However, if the number of cushion tabs 20 provided on the top wall panel 11 is increased to three, then the plates 50 will be identical to plates 48. It is pointed out that the fingers 51 are secured to a flat face of the respective plate 50 and project generally radially outwardly therefrom.

A circular plate 52 is provided on the shaft 44 for the purpose of lifting the can spacing tabs 21 out of the plane of the carton blank 10. The circular plate 52 is provided with fingers 53 in accordance with the spacing and number of the tabs 21. A further circular plate 54 is carried by the right hand end portion of the shaft 44 generally in alignment with the can spacing tabs 22. The plate 54 is provided with fingers 55 in accordance with the spacing of the tabs 22.

At this time, it is pointed out that as the carton blank 10 passes over the shaft 44, it is engaged by the fingers of the various circular plates. While the carton blank 10 may come to bear against the peripheral surface of the circular plate, it is primarily supported by the shelves 43 and the chains 36. Further, suitable elongated supports 56 may underlie the carton blank 10 intermediate the shelves 43 and adjacent ones of the chains 36. The support plates 56 will be suitably supported from the frame 40.

The mechanism 38 also includes an overhead structure, generally referred to by the numeral 57. The overhead structure 57 includes a transverse support shaft 58 which has the ends thereof suitably journalled in bearings 59 which are carried by upstanding support 60 secured to the guide members 42. A pair of longitudinally extending arms 61 are secured to the shaft 58 and extend upstream therefrom in the manner shown in FIGURE 1.

Transverse straps

62 and 63 extend beneath and are secured to the undersides of the arms 61. in the manner best shown in FIGURE 3. The straps 63 extend transversely outwardly beyond the arms 61 and rest upon adjustable support members 64 which are in the form of bolts which are threadedly engaged in brackets 65 secured to the guide members 42. Lock nuts 66 are carried by the bolts to retain them in adjusted positions. The straps 62 and 6.3 are connected together by longitudinally extending straps '67 inwardly of the arms 61.

In order to prevent the undesired upwardly movement of the carton blanks 19 as they are engaged by the fingers of the various circle plates 48, the

straps

62 and 63 carry holddown plates 68, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The holddown plates 68 are secured to the straps *62 and 63 by means of angle brackets 69. It is to be noted that the holddown plates 68 are disposed outwardly of the circular plates 48. i

A guide assembly, generally referred to by the numeral 70, is associated with each of the

plates

48 and 50. Each guide assembly 7 includes offset angle brackets 71 and '72 carried by the

straps

62 and 63, respectively. An elongated plate 73, the outline of which is best shown in FIGURE 2, is carried by each set of

angle brackets

71 and 72. Each plate 73 includes a lower offset folding blade 74 for the purpose of engaging an upstanding cushion tab 20 which has been elevated by one of the

fingers

49 and 51 and progressively folding over such cushion tab 20 until it substantially overlies an adjacent portion of the carton blank 10.

A guide assembly, generally referred to by the numeral 75, is supported by the

straps

62 and 63 in cooperation with the plate 52. The guide assembly 75 includes a straight guide plate 76 and a guide plate 77 which has the major portion thereof in spaced parallel relation to the guide plate 76. The guide plate 77 does, however, have an upstream portion 78 in the form of a folding blade which engages an upwardly struck can spacing tab 21 and serves to continue to move the tab 21 upwardly 6 to a substantially vertical position between the plates 76 and 77. The plate 76 and 77 are separated by core plate 79 and suitable angle brackets 80 support the plates 76, 77 and 79 from the

straps

62 and 63.

A further guide assembly, generally referred to by the numeral 81, is associated with the plate 54. The guide assembly 81 includes an outermost straight guide plate 82 which is supported from the guide member 42 by suitable transverse support members 83. A second guide plate 84 having a major portion of its length in spaced parallel relation to the plate 82 is secured to the plate 82 with a spacer 85 therebetween. The plate 84 is provided with a forwardly curved folding blade portion 86 to facilitate the continued folding of can spacing tabs 22 to vertical positions between the plates 82 and 84.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 in particular, it will be seen that the mechanism 38 includes a transverse shaft 87 which extends between opposite portions of the frame 49 and is rotatably journalled in bearings 88 carried by the frame 40. The shaft 87 is provided with a sprocket 89 disposed in longitudinal alignment with a sprocket 90 carried by the shaft 44, and the shaft 87 is driven in timed relation with the shaft 44 by means of a driving chain 91 which is entrained over the sprockets $9 and 90.

The shaft 87 is provided with a plurality of clamp wheels 92 which are positioned to underlie the folded over cushion tabs 20, as is best shown in FIGURE 4. The clamp wheels 92 are provided with fingers 93 which are secured to flat faces thereof and which extend radially therefrom beyond the peripheral surfaces of the clamp wheels 92. It is to be understood that the two outermost clamp wheels 92 will be provided with three of the fingers 93 whereas the two innermost clamp wheels will be provided with only two of the fingers 93 in accordance with the number of cushion tabs 20 carried by each carton blank 10 in alignment with the respective clamp wheel 92.

Each of the plates 73 has secured to one side thereof a bracket 94 which, in turn, supports a clamp wheel 95 in overlying relation to a respective underlying clamp wheel 92. Each clamp wheel 95 is seated within a recess 95 formed in the respective plate 73 in the manner best shown in FIGURE 2.

The supports 64 are vertically adjusted so as to provide for the desired clamping coaction of the

clamp wheels

92 and 95. It will be seen that the coaction of a pair of the

clamp wheels

92 and 95 assures the clamping of the half 30 of each of the cushion tabs 20 to an underlying portion of the carton blank 10. At the same time, the cushion tab half 29 is free to hinge upwardly along the fold line 31. With the individual cushion tab 20 so clamped, as a respective one of the fingers 93 engages the underside of the carton blank 10 adjacent a respective ear 25, the ear 25 is lifted upwardly and causes the respective overlying cushion tab half 29 to also lift upwardly with the result that the ear 25 snaps past the projecting portions of the cushion tab half 30 and forms the interlock shown in FIGURE 10 when the finger 93 is lowered.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2 in particular, it will be seen that the machine 35 includes a guide struc ture 96 which is a continuation of the guide 75. Also, it will be seen that there is supported from the frame 40 a guide 97 which is a continuation of the guide 81. The

guides

96 and 97 properly position the can separating tabs 21 and 22 preparatory to the engagement of the carton blank with the cans 39. The

guides

96 and 97 are supported by suitable transverse straps 98, best shown in FIGURE 2, which are suitably supported by the frame 40.

The endless conveyor chains 36 pass around sprockets 99 carried by a transverse shaft 100 which is suitably journalled for rotation relative to the frame 40. The shaft 100 also carries a plurality of support wheels 101 which are best illustrated in FIGURE 1. Any type of guide which is suitable for the intended purpose may be associated with the support wheels 101 to assure the curving of a carton blank 10 around the axis of the shaft 100 in a manner best shown in FIGURE 2, to a position overlying a plurality of the cans 39. The cans 39 are fed along suitable support plates 102 and are initially presented to the support plates 102 in sets by a pusher mechanism 103. A can set conveying chain 104 passes upwardly on each side of the plates 102 and the two chains 104 are connected together by transversely extending pusher plates 105 which engage behind the rearmost ones of the cans in each can set to urge the set of cans along the support plates 102. It is to be noted that the conveyor chains 104 are supported by sprockets 106 carried by a transverse shaft 107. It is also to be noted that the cans 39 are prevented from moving transversely of the machine 35 by suitable guides 108.

After each carton blank 10 is turned upside down, if is held against the upper ends of the cans of the set of cans 39. A pair of folding blades 109 carried by a rotating shaft 110 engage each carton blank in turn on opposite sides of the top wall panel 11 and fold the carton blank along the fold line 17 of FIGURE 1. Thus, the side wall panels 12 are brought down alongside the set of cans.

As the set of cans 39 and the partially folded or set up carton move along the lower portion of the machine 35, from right to left, as viewed in FIGURE 2, the bottom wall forming panels 13 and 14 are engaged by a conventional folding and locking mechanism, generally referred to by the numeral 111 with the result that the bottom wall forming panels 13 and 14 are interlocked to complete the wrapping of the carton blank around the set of cans 39.

Operation The apparatus will be described with respect to one of the cushion tabs 20 and the respective chime-cut 19. Referring first to FIGURES and 6, it will be seen that as the carton blank approaches one of the plates 48, for example, the fold line 28 is disposed in alignment with the associated plates '73. As the carton blank 10 passes over the plate 48, a respective one of the fingers 49 carried thereby engages beneath the associated cushion tab to move the same upwardly and out of the plane of the carton blank, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 6. As the carton blank 10 continues to advance, the upstanding cushion tab 20 is engaged by the folding blade 74 of the plate '73 and the cushion tab 20 is reversely folded by the combined efforts of the folding blade 74 and the main portion of the plate 73 in the manner generally shown in FIGURE 7.

The carton blank 10, with the cushion tab 20 thereof folded substantially in overlying relation with adjacent portions of the carton blank 11), then passes into overlying relation to the clamp wheels 92. The clamp wheel 92 substantially underlies the cushion tab half 30 and the clamp wheel 95 engages the upper surface of the cushion tab half 30 adjacent the fold line 28 thereof to effect the tight clamping of the cushion tab half 30 against the underlying portion of the carton blank 10. While the cushion tab half 30 is so clamped, one of the fingers 93 carried by the clamp wheel 92 engages the carton blank 10 in the vicinity of the associated ear thereof to lift the ear 25 upwardly in the manner best shown in FIG- URE 8. The upward movement of the car 25 results in an upward movement of the overlying cushion tab half 29 to the relative position shown in FIGURE 8. At this time the ear 25 has snapped from beneath the cushion tab half 30 to a position overlying the same.

Referring now to FIGURE 9 in particular, it will be seen that when the finger 93 moves out of engagement with the car 25, the car 25 will move downwardly with the resultant downward movement of the associated cushion tab half 29 to the interlocked position shown in FIGURE 9.

The cushion tab 20 remains interlocked with the respective side wall panel 12 of the carton blank 10 in the manner shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, as the carton blank is being applied to the set of cans 39. When the side wall panels 12 are folded downwardly alongside the cans 39, as is shown in FIGURE 11, the ear 25 will snap out of engagement with the cushion tab half 30 and the cushion tab half 30 will overlie the upper end of the can 39. The cushion tab half 29 will lie in face-to-face engagement with the inner surface of the associated side wall panel 12 and the chime C of each can 39 will project through the openings in the cushion tabs 20 and the side wall panels 12 defined by the cut lines 32 and the chime-cuts 19, respectively.

It is to be understood that when the bottom wall forming panels 13 and 14 are folded beneath the cans 39, the cushion tabs 20 associated therewith will likewise be folded in half and brought into engagement with the cans in the manner described immediately above.

It will be readily apparent that the specific mechanism disclosed and illustrated herein automatically accomplishes the purpose of folding and locking the cushion tabs in the desired manner whereby the cushion tabs are accurately positioned and retained in such positions as the carton blank is being applied to a set of cans.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a blank for a carton for containers wherein the carton has chimecuts in side walls thereof and cushion tabs foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts and interlockable with the carton side walls to temporarily retain the cushion tabs in position during the application of the carton to containers, said mechanism comprising first means for swinging the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank along fold lines, second means adjacent said first means for folding the previously swung cushion tabs into reversely folded positions overlying the chimecuts, and cooperating third and fourth means disposed adjacent said second means for interlocking the folded cushion tabs with the carton side walls, said third means being in the form of clamp means for clamping a part of each folded cushion tab against an adjacent portion of the carrier blank, and said fourth means including means for momentarily lifting portions of the carton side walls and the cushion tabs and forming interlocks therebetween.

2. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a blank for a carton for containers wherein the carton has chimecuts in side walls thereof and cushion tabs foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts and interlockable with the carton side walls by the insertion of ears on the side walls at the chime-cuts into slits in the cushion tabs to temporarily retain the cushion tabs in position during the application of the carton to containers, said mechanism comprising first means for swinging the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank along fold lines, second means adjacent said first means for folding the previously swung cushion tabs into reversely folded positions overlying the chime-cuts, and cooperating third and fourth means disposed adjacent said second means for interlocking the folded cushion tabs with the carton side walls, said third means being in the form of clamp means for clamping a part of each folded cushion tab against an adjacent portion of the carrier blank, and said fourth means including means for momentarily lifting portions of the carton side walls and the cushion tabs to position the side wall ears in the cushion tab slits and foming interlocks between the side walls and the cushion ta s.

3. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a blank for a carton for containers wherein the carton has chimecuts in side walls thereof and cushion tabs foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts and interlockable with the carton side walls to temporarily retain the cushion tabs in position during the application of the carton to containers, said mechanism comprising feed means for longitudinally feeding carton blanks along a predetermined path, first means disposed along said path for swinging the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank along fold lines, second means spaced along the path for folding the previously swung cushion tabs into reversely folded positions overlying the chime-cuts, and cooperating third and fourth means further spaced along the path for interlocking the folded cushion tabs with the carton side walls, said third means being in the form of clamp means for clamping a part of each folded cushion tab against an adjacent portion of the carrier blank, and said fourth means including means for momentarily lifting portions of the carton side walls and the cushion tabs and forming interlocks therebetween.

4. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a blank for a carton for containers wherein the carton has chimecuts in side walls thereof and cushion tabs foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts and interlockable with the carton side walls by the insertion of ears on the side walls at the chime-cuts into slits in the cushion tabs to temporarily retain the cushion tabs in position during the application of the carton to containers, said mechanism comprising feed means for longitudinally feeding carton blanks along a predetermined path, first means disposed along said path for swinging the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank along fold lines, second means spaced along the path for folding the previously swung cushion tabs into reversely folded positions overlying the chime-cuts, and cooperating third and fourth means further spaced along the path for interlocking the folded cushion tabs with the carton side walls, said third means being in the form of clamp means for clamping a part of each folded cushion tab against an adjacent portion of the carrier blank, and said fourth means including means for momentarily lifting portions of the carton side walls and the cushion tabs to position the side wall ears in the cushion tab slits and forming interlocks between the side walls and the cushion tabs.

5. A mechanism for use in conjunction with a blank for a carton for containers wherein the carton has chimecuts in side walls thereof and cushion tabs foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts and interlockable with the carton side walls to temporarily retain the cushion tabs in position during the application of the carton to containers, said mechanism comprising first means for swinging the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank along fold lines; second means adjacent said first means for folding the previously swung cushion tabs into reversely folded positions overlying the chime-cuts, and cooperating third and fourth means disposed adjacent said second means for interlocking the folded cushion tabs with carton side Walls, said third means being in the form of a pair of opposed rolls for clamping a part of each folded cushion tab against an adjacent portion of the carton blank, and said fourth means including fingers engageable with the carton blank adjacent the chime-cut while the cushion tabs are clamped for momentarily lifting portions of the carton side walls and the cushion tabs and forming interlocks therebetween.

6. The mechanism of claim wherein said fourth means fingers are carried by said third means rolls.

7. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first means are in the form of rotating fingers.

8. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second means are in the form of fixed folding blades.

9. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first means are in the form of rotating fingers, and said second means are in the form of fixed folding blades.

10. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said first means are in the form of rotating fingers.

11. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said first means are in the form of rotating fingers, and said second means are in the form of fixed folding blades.

12. In a machine for applying carton blanks to containers to form readily handleable packages wherein the carton blank has side walls with chime-cuts therein and cushion tabs foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts and interlockable with the side walls to temporarily retain the cushion tabs in place, said machine comprising first means for swinging the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank along fold lines, second means adjacent said first means for folding the previously swung cushion tabs into reversely folded positions overlying the chime-cuts, cooperating third and fourth means disposed adjacent said second means for interlocking the folded cushion tabs with the carton side walls, said third means being in the form of clamp means for clamping a part of each folded cushion tab against an adjacent portion of the carrier blank, and said fourth means including means for momentarily lifting portions of the carton side walls and the cushion tabs and forming interlocks therebetween, and means for folding the carton blank around containers having chimes with the container chimes passing through said cushion tabs and said chime-cuts to lock the containers in place in the carton.

13. The machine of claim 12 wherein said cushion tabs are released during the folding of the carrier around the containers.

14. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first means are in the form of rotating fingers, and said mechanism includes cooperating blank retainers for engaging the blank oppositely from said fingers and in offset relation thereto to limit the movement of said blank by said fingers.

15. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said second means are in the form of fixed folding blades, and said mechanism includes readily movable frame means supporting one roll of each cooperating pair of rolls and said folding blades for movement to an out of the way position.

16. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first means are in the form of rotating fingers and means for rotating all of said fingers in timed relation to the movement of said blank feed means.

17. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the carton blank has spacer tabs for engagement between adjacent containers, means mounted for movement in unison with said first means for projecting said spacer tabs, and guide means for holding said spacer tabs in upright position.

18. A method of preparing a carton blank for engagement around containers wherein the carton blank has cushion tabs with slits and side walls with chime-cuts defining ears with the cushion tabs being foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime-cuts, said method comprising the steps of folding the cushion tabs out of the plane of the blank and into overlying relation to the chime-cuts and then while clamping a portion of each cushion tab moving the respective side Wall ear into the cushion tab slit to temporarily interlock the cushion tabs with the side walls.

19. In the method of applying a carton blank to containers having chimes and wherein the carton blank has cushion tabs with slits and side walls with chime-cuts defining ears with the cushion tabs being foldable into generally overlying relation to the chime cuts, the steps of folding the cushion tabs out of the plane of the carton blank, temporarily locking the cushion tabs with the side walls to hold the cushion tabs in place, and then folding the carton blank around containers and simultaneously releasing the cushion tabs from the side walls.

20. In the method of applying a carton blank to containers having chimes and wherein the carton blank has cushion tabs with slits and side walls with chime-cuts defining ears with the cushion tabs being foldable into 3,186,136 1 1 l 2 generally overlying relation to the chime cuts, the steps of References Cited by the Examiner folding the cushion tabs out of the plane of the blank UNITED STATES PATENTS and into overlying relation to the chime-cuts, and then while clamping a portion of each cushion tab moving 2768741 10/56 Currie T 206 65 the respective side wall ear into the cushion tab slit to 5 2,790,590 4/57 Toensmeler 20665 XR temporarily interlock the cushion tabs with the side walls, 1016563 1/62 Holmes et 53-48 XR and then folding the carton blank around containers and simultaneously releasing the cushion tabs from the FRANK BAILEY Prlmary Examiner side walls. TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.