US3191358A - Automatic packaging machinery - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1965 Filed June 18, 1962 R. E. SCHERR ETAL 3,191,358

aumormxc mmeme MACHINERY 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS lease/iv" a. sewa e J54 E. Mat/40E? 6502 4,- A.- #40115) Jay/v I. az/eflwse B? aw, m 454.4

ATTORN 5 June 29, 1965 R. E. SCHERR ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed June 18, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 29, 1965 R. E. SCHERR ETAL 3,191,358

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed June 18, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 05587 5. SCI/ERR .7154 4104/4052 6:0265 7 AVAWAEY .70 //A/ A. aucrr/ve June 1965 R. E. SCHERR ETAL 3, ,3

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY Filed June 18, 1962 '7 Sheets-sheet 4 June 29, 1965 Filed June 18, 1962 R. E. SCHERR ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 29, 1965 R. E. SCHERR ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 18, 1962 Fla /0 0 V w mri e 5 5?? U 05 0 4 e Twaw N m a M W M mark i Z 5 M e w 546% Z? R. E. SCHERR ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY June 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7- Filed June 18, 1962 INVENTORS 208527 5. 561 /6198 Jew/v 5- M00405? 660665 R. 1444/4 46) J'OA/A A. BU'TI'A/AE 47' raen/ggs United States Patent 3,191,358 AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINERY Robert E. Scherr, Old Greenwich, and Jean E. Moulder,

Huntington, Conn., George F. Hawley, Bogota, N.J.,

and John H. Buettner, Ridgefield, Conn., assignors, by

mesne assignments, to AEL Food Automation Division,

Inc., Stamford, Conn.

Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,280 22 Claims. (Cl. 53-240) This invention relates to automatic packaging systems and machinery for handling various articles and for placing the articles in controlled positions in suitable containers. In particular the present invention relates to automatic packaging systems and machinery adapted for handling fragile articles and for carefully controlling their placement into containers while providing an efiectively high packaging rate. The systems and machinery described herein as illustrative of this invention are well suited for packaging confections, such as chocolates, in controlled positions in the respective boxes so as to provide for automatic, high-speed packaging of attractive assortments of chocolates or other confections.

Among the many advantages provided by the systems and machinery described herein as illustrative embodiments of the invention are those resulting from the fact that variously shaped and elongated articles of a fragile or delicate nature, such as confections, are carefully handled and accurately controlled during their placement into containers, such as confectionary boxes, so that each article is placed at a predetermined position in the box, and the article is arranged in a predetermined orientation at said position. Moreover, this careful, accurate control of the individual articles in position and in orientation is provided in spite of variations in their size and irregularities in their conformation such as occurs in a production run of confectionary articles which are all nominally the same.

Machinery and apparatus embodying the present invention are adapted to be used in packaging systems of the general type as disclosed in US. patent application Serial No. 38,543, filed June 24, 1960. In said prior systems the confectionary articles, for example chocolates, are placed in suitable wrappers, for example wrapper cups such as the conventional small paper cups with fluted or crinkled side walls, and then the articles together with their wrapper cups are positioned into a box at a predetermined location in the boX.

In systems and machinery embodying the present invention, a much greater flexibility and universality is provided in the packaging operation in enabling the dependable and rapid handling of irregularly shaped and elongated confectionary articles which are controlled in position during their placement into the box, and in addition, the orientation of each article is controlled with respect to the box and the other articles in the box so as to create a predetermined pattern in the completed assortment. The control of the orientation of irregular or elongated articles prevents overlapping or crushing between the various articles as they are closely nestled into the box. An efiicient packaging operation is provided wherein the various irregular or elongated articles are interfitted into a compact pattern assortment which is-well suited for shipment and for attractive display purposes.

Among the further advantages provided by the systems and machinery described herein are those resulting from the fact that they enable irregular or elongated confectionary articles to be packaged automatically closely together at an effectively high packaging rate with the individual articlesoriented at various controlled angular positions in the box so that they complete a predeterice mined pattern with a minimum of waste space in the box. Consequently the completed package is adapted for shipment without jostling or disarrangement of or damage to the packaged article. The pattern of the completed assortment is attractive to the consumer, and the contents of the box are in excellent condition.

In this specification and in the accompanying drawings are described and shown embodiments of this invention, and various modifications thereof are indicated, but it is to be understood that these are not to be construed as exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but on the contrary are given for purposes of illustration in order that other skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the manner of applying the automatic packaging systems and machinery in practical use.

The various objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an automatic packaging system embodying the invention. A main conveyor is illustrated carrying the containers to be loaded which are shown, for example, as confectionary boxes. This main conveyor extends generally through the center of the packaging system, and there are packaging machines positioned at spaced points along the main conveyor for loading the various articles into suitable wrappers and then for placing the wrapped articles down into the boxes in predetermined positions and orientations therein. In packaging certain types of assortments of confections, it is desirable to place unwrapped confections into their boxes, and the present invention enables the handling and boxing of unwrapped confections, such as chocolate candies, when desired; or alternatively, various combinations of wrapped and unwrapped chocolates can be handled whenever desired.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational sectional view of a portion of a packaging machine embodying the present invention, this section being taken generally along the line 22 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2A is a top view of an elongated confectionary article, for example such as a chocolate candy in its wrapper, said wrapped article being of a type which is rapidly and dependably handled by the automatic packaging systems and machinery embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2B is a top view of an irregular elongated confectionary article, for example such as a chocolate candy having a piece of fruit or multiple fruit or nut elements forming the core and shown resting in its wrapper cup, said Wrapped article being rapidly and dependably handled by the automatic packaging machinery and systems embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 20 is a diagram of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 and illustrating certain velocity relationships;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 2 as seen from the left in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of apparatus for placing the wrapped articles down into a container such as a box in a predetermined position and orientation therein. This apparatus illustrated in FIG- URE 4 is similar to the apparatus shown at the right in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, on enlarged scale, of a control cam portion of the apparatus of FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken along the line 8-8 looking downwardly;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view corresponding generally with FIGURE 4, but shown on enlarged scale and illustrating various operating positions of the apparatus;

. FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view, shown partially in section, of a modified embodiment of the invention in apparatus for placing articles down into a container such as a box in a predetermined position and orientation;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 1111 in FIGURE 10 and showing the article placing means on enlarged scale;

. FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of the control cam shown in section in FIGURE 10, and FIGURE 13 is an elevational view of this control cam as seen either from the right or left in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational View of a modified packaging machine embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 15 is an end elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 14 as seen from the left in FIGURE 14.

General description and operation In the automatic packaging system shown in FIG- URE 1 as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a main conveyor generally indicated at it} progresses continuously in the direction of the arrow and carries suitable containers 12 for the articles 5.1 which are being packaged. In this example of the invention the articles are shown as confections being packaged so as to form an assortment, for example such as an assortment of chocolates in container boxes -12. The conveyor 10 includes a suitable prime mover and a con tinuously moving endless driven member 14, such as chain mechanism, having uniformly spaced container carrying means in the form of brackets for moving the individual boxes along in sequence and uniformly spaced apart as they are being filled with the articles.

In order to place the articles 11 into their wrappers -16 (FIGURES 2, 2A, 2B) and then to position the wrapped'articles down into the boxes 12 in the desired respective positions therein, there are provided a plurality of packaging machines 13 at spaced points along the conveyor 10. In various systems these packaging machines .18 may be located on either or both sides of the main conveyor it? depending upon the desired arrangement of the assortment being packaged. Each of these packaging machines 18 may be considered to be in the nature'of a satellite of the main conveyor, for

each machine is adapted to be operated in timed relationship with the movement of the boxes 12 as they are carried along by the main conveyor. For a detailed description of a whole packaging machine of the general type of one of the machines 18 reference may be made to said prior copending application Serial No. 38,543. However, each machine 18 embodying the present invention comprises certain structure and apparatus which is not disclosed in said prior application and which is described in detail hereinafter for providing a flexibility in the packaging operation by enabling the dependable and rapid handling of irregularly shaped and elongated confectionary articles.

7 Each machine 18 includes wrapper dispensing mechanism :20 which serves to place the individual wrappers 16 at spaced positions on wrapper conveyor means 22, shown in FIGURE 2 as a moving conveyor belt 24 travelling along over a smooth support plate 26. The wrappers 16 are here shown as being the familiar cup-type paper wrappers having downwardly converging fluted walls such as are used in packaging many assortments of confections. The conveyor belt 24 carries means 28 for engaging and moving the individual wrapper cups '16 so that the position of each cup 16 on the belt 24 is controlled. In this example, the wrapper position controlling means 28 is in the form of pairs of pin elements,

from, as seen most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3.

As the empty wrap-per cups 16 are being moved along by the conveyor means 22, the confectionary articles 11 are loaded into each cup in sequence by article supplying and wrapping means 39, comprising a short wide belt conveyor 32, a rotary vibratory conveyor 34, an article dispenser 36 and a wrapper loading mechanism 38. For the purpose of supplying the confectionary articles 11 to the wrapper loading mechanism 3 8, the operator manually loads the confectionary articles onto the wide conveyor belt 32 from a .tray which he carries. The operator slides the confectionary articles off from the tray onto the wide belt 32 which continuously moves these articles onto the rotary vibratory platform conveyor 34. This rotary conveyor 34 holds a relatively large reserve of the confections 11 and continuously circulates these articles in thedirection of the arrow. In a chocolate confection packaging system as shown, the operator conveniently brings the freshly made chocolates from the manufacturing stage on the tray like tote boards customarily used for carrying the freshly made candies, and he slides the chocolates from the tote board onto the belt 28.

As the articles 11 circulate on the rotary vibratory platform 34, they progress outwardly, more or less in a spiral, toward the perimeter of the platform and then slide down a ramp 35 in single file into the dispenser 36. This dispenser supplies the confectionary articles 11 one at a time to the cup wrapper loading mechanism '38 which then places the article down into a cup 16 on the moving belt 24. The result of these steps is to provide the conveyor means 22 (FIGURE 2) with a series of confectionary articles 11 each resting in its own cup wrapper l6, and these cupped confections are then delivered by the conveyor belt 24 to the portion of the machine which is shown in FIGURE 2.

It is to be noted that the wrapper dispensing mechanism 2t and the article supplying and wrapping means 30, including thev conveyor 32, the rotary vibratory conveyor 34, the article dispense-r 36 and the wrapper loading mechanism 38 may be identical in construction with the corresponding apparatus which is described in detail in said application, and hence these parts of the machine 18 will not be described in further detail herein.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the conveyor belt 24- moves toward a stationary supporting'platforrn 44?, called a dead plate, and having a smooth upper surface adapted to receive thereon one of the wrapped confectionary articles. To assure that each cupped confection 11, id is controlled during movement and positioned at exactly the same spot on the dead plate 455, each cupped confection is pushed outward by means of a pusher cradle member 42 which is cyclically operated so as to engage each cupped confection in turn and push it out to the desire-d position at 11', 16' on the dead plate.

In order to remove the wrapped confectionery article from its position 11', 16 and to place this wrapped confection down into a box 12 at the desired position and orientation therein while the box is being moved along by the conveyor ltl, article placing means 44 are provided as shown in FIGURE 3. As indicated by the motion arrow, the article placing means .44 moves past the dead plate 40 and removes the wrapped confection therefrom. This article placing means 44 includes grasping means 45 comprising a pair of opposed, relatively movable clasping jaws 4-6 and 4'7 for grasping the cupped confection therebetween, as shown in FIGURE 4. An expansible conical iris guide structure 4-8 extends downwardly below the jaws 46 and 47. These jaws are moved and controlled so as to turn the cupped confection 11, 16 to a desired orientation and to lower the cupped confection down through the expansible cone guide structure 48 into the box 12, as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

When the bottom of the wrapper cup 16 has reached a position near to the supporting surface 50, then a soft plunger pad 52 (FIGURE 9) pushes the cupped confection down onto the supporting surface 50 and holds it down firmly thereagainst while the conical guide 4-8 is withdrawn upwardly. Finally, the plunger pad 52 is lifted up away from the wrapped article 11, which remains at the desired position and orientation in the box 12.

During the loading of the wrapped article 1 1 into a container 12, the article placing means 44 is driven, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, so as to move along a portion of an oval path 53. Thus, the article placing means 44 moves from the position in which it initially grasped the wrapped article at its position 11, 16 on the dead plate and moves around the curved end of the oval path, as indicated by the curved arrow, and is then travelling along the other side of its oval path at the same pace as the container :12, which is simultaneously moving along the main conveyor 10. Consequently, the horizontal movement of the container 12 and the horizontal movement of the article placing means 44 are synchronized while the wrapped article is loaded down into the moving container.

In order to drive the loading means 44 along its oval. path 53, there is provided a suitable drive mechanism of the type shown in detail in said prior application and including a drive chain 49 which follows the oval path 53.

Detailed description and operation The conveyor belt 24 is of the type having gear teeth formed on the lower surface thereof such as on a timing belt. As this conveyor belt passes around a gear drum 54 fastened to a shaft 55 located near to the dead plate 40, its teeth mesh therewith and serve to rotate this gear drum 54 without slippage. Thus, the rotation of this gear drum 54 is synchronized with the movement of the belt 24. The ends of the shaft 55 are journaled in side frame members 56 and 57 secured to a base frame 58.

In order to reciprocate the pusher cradle member 42, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a sprocket 60 is secured to the same shaft 55 as the drum 54 and drives a sprocket chain 61 which engages a driven sprocket 62. This driven sprocket 62 is affixed to a shaft 63 journaled in a pair of sleeve bearings 64 and 65 which are mounted in opposite ends of a tubular mount 66. The tubular bearing mount 66 is supported in a base bracket 68 comprising a rectangular tubular member extending along the base frame 58. The other end of the shaft 63"has a crank arm 78 suitably fastened thereto as by a pin 79. A connecting rod 80 is attached by a pivot bolt 81 to the crank arm, and the other end of this connecting rod is attached by a pivot bolt 82 to the medial portion of a swing link 84.

Thus, the swing link 84 is caused to swing back and forth about a shaft pivot 86. The swing link 84 is suitably mounted on this shaft 86; for example, it is fastened thereto by a pin 87, and a collar 88 is fastened to the other end of the shaft 86 by a pin 89. The shaft 86 is journaled in a pair of sleeve bearings 90 and 91 which are mounted in opposite ends of a tubular mount 92.

As the swing link 84 swings back and forth, it reciprocates the article pusher cradle member 42 by means of an intervening. reciprocating linkage which is described hereinafter. The upper end of this link 84 is pivotally connected by a bolt 93 to a block 94 slidingly mounted on a reciprocating rod 95. A collar 96 is pinned to the rod 95 adjacent to the forward end, i.e. left end in FIGURE 2, of the slide block 94, and another collar 97 is pinned to the rear end of the rod 95 with a shock-absorbing spring 98 positioned between the collar 97 and the block 94.

The purpose of the rod 95 is to accommodate the arcuate motion of the upper end of the swing link 84, while transmitting rectilinear movement to the reciprocating support means for the article pusher cradle 42. This reciprocating support means comprises a pair of parallel s- lidable rods 99 and 100 with brackets 108 and 133 rigidly connected between their front ends. The reciprocating rod 100 is slidingly mounted in a pair of bearings 101 and 102 in one side of a bearing block 103, and the other rod 99 is similarly mounted in the other side of this hearing block. A connecting bracket 104 is rigidly fastened to the rear end of the reciprocating rod 100, and the forward end of the rod is pivotally connected thereto by a shoulder bolt 105. A U-shaped support bracket 106 extends rigidly between the bearing block 103 and the top of the frame bracket 68, and a similar bracket 107 is afiixed to the support plate 26.

As the pusher cradle member 42 moves forwardly, i.e. toward the left in FIGURE 2, it engages against one of the cupped confections 11, 16 for pushing it out onto the dead plate to the posit-ion 1'1, 16'. On the return stroke, the pusher cradle member 42 is swung upwardly so that it can pass over the next cupped confection and thereafter swing down into position behind it.

As described previously, there is a support bracket 108 rigidly connected between the front ends of the two parallel reciprocating rods 99 and .100. The pusher member 4-2 is swingably mounted in this bracket .108 by means of a shaft 110 having bushings 111 and 112 journaled in openings in the opposite sides of the bracket 108, as will be understood from FIGURES 2 and 3. The upper edge of the pusher member 42 is attached to a block element 114 which is secured to the shaft 110 by means of a stop pin 113. This stop pin 1513 engages the rear of a slot 116 in the bracket 108 when the pusher cradle member 42 is upright as shown in FIGURE 2.

In order to urge the pusher cradle member 42 toward its upright position, a torsion spring 118 engages a pin in the bracket 108 and engages the stop pin 113 and normally holds this pin against the rear of the slot 116. A control arm 120 serves to swing the pusher cradle member 42 back into a horizontal position during the return stroke of the support means 99, 100, 108. During the return stroke of the pusher cradle mechanism, the reciprocating support means 99, 100, 108 travels toward the right in FIGURE 2, and this control arm 120 strikes against the forward surface of a pivoted gate flap 122 which is hinged by a pivot 123 so that the flap 122 can swing back to the inclined position shown in FIGURE 2. In this inclined position the lower end of the flap 122 strikes against the forward end of a control element 124 having a horizontal lower surface 127. The flap 122 and element 124 provide a cam control surface wherein the front surface of the flap 122 defines a downwardly inclined region, and the lower surface 127 defines a horizon-. tal region. Thus, during the return stroke of the pusher cradle mechanism, the upper end of the control arm 120 slides down beneath the inclined forward surface of the gate flap 1-22 and continues sliding rearwardly beneath the horizontal control surface 127.

When the control arm 120 is sliding along beneath the cam surface defined by the flap 122 and the control element 124, the pusher cradle member 42 is swung backwardly and up to an elevated horizontal position so that it can pass freely above the next cupped confection 11, 16 which is being advanced by the conveyor 22. The return stroke of the pusher cradle mechanism 99, 100, 108 terminates with the control arm 120 remaining beneath the surface 127, so that the pusher cradle 42 is still in its elevated position.

During the initial portion of the forward stroke of the pusher cradle mechanism, the control arm 120 slides forwardly ofi from the forward end 125 of the control element 124. The flap 122 is now freely hanging in a vertical position. Consequently, the spring 118 causes the control arm 120 to swing quickly up to its vertical position, while the pusher cradle 42 swings down behind the cupped confection 11, 16. To accommodate this upward swinging movement of the upper end of the control arm 120, there is a clearance space 121 in the control element 124.

As the pusher mechanism continues its forward stroke, the cradle 42 engages behind the article 11, 16 and pushes the article forwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2, away from the pins 28 and continues pushing the article out onto the dead plate 40 until the article is at the position 11', 16'. During this forward stroke, as the control arm 121) strikes against the rear surface of the freely hanging flap 122, the flap is pushed ahead of the control arm and swings up out of the way. After the control arm 120 has passed forward beyond the flap 122, the flap swings down again to its vertical position. 1

The cam control element 124 and the flap pivot 123 aremounted on suitable support means 126, for example such as a bracket, mounted on the support plate 26. A brace 128 extends between the plate 26 and the side frame 57 and a similar brace 129 extends between the other side frame 56 and the plate 26. The dead plate 40 is mounted upon a pair of forwardly extending braces 139' as seen in cross-section in FIGURE 3.

The pusher cradle member 42 has a pair of clearance openings 128 in its lower edge so that it can clear the pins 28 as it moves forward against a cupped confection.

With reference to FIGURE 2C, it is noted that as the pins 28 are being moved along by the straight portion of the belt 22, each part of the pin 28 is moving at the same velocity, as indicated by the two arrows of equal length. However, as soon as the belt 22 begins to carry the pins 28 around the drum 54, as indicated at the position 23, then the upper end of each pin instantly begins moving at a substantially greater rate of speed because it is travelling along a curve of greater radial length, as indicated by the two curved velocity arrows. This sudden whip-like increase in velocity of the pins 28 would have the tendency to impart an abrupt kick to each of the cupped confections 11, 16, thus knocking the confection to an indeterminate position or even of rupturing or tearing the wrapper.

The pusher cradle 42 is adjusted so that it engages a cupped confection and moves the cupped confection forward away from the pins 28 so that the pins 28 are prevented from imparting any velocity kick to the cupped confection. Advantageously, the pus-her cradle 42 is driven so that it has a substantially sinusoidally varying velocity. Its maximum velocity occurs as it is moving the cupped confection away from engagement with the pins 28, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thereafter, the velocity of the pusher cradle 42 slows down so that it pushes the cupped confection smoothly to a dead stop at position 11', 16' on the dead plate.

, The forward stroke of the reciprocating rod 101) is adjusted by moving the collar 96 along the rod 95 to the desired position, and the spring 98 accommodates this adjustment.

In order to adjust the forward limit of travel of the pusher cradle 42, the bracket 108 is adjustably connected to the drive rod 100, as shown in FIGURE 3, by an adjustable connection at 131, for example such asby a bolt which can be adjusted along a slot in a small intermediate bracket 133. The other reciprocating rod 99 is free to assume any longitudinal position, and thus the adjustable connection at 131 defines the limit of forward movement of the cradle 42.

It is an advantage of this embodiment of the invention that unwrapped confections, such as chocolates, can be automatically handled with speed and accuracy. The bare confectionary articles are transported along the conveyor belt 24 (FIGURE 2) and are automatically placed into the boxes 12 at the desired position and orientation therein.

The article placer means 44 (FIGURES 3, 4, and 9) comprises carriage means 130 for carrying the grasping means 45 and the expansible iris cone guide structure 48. A vertical plunger control rod 132 is slidably mounted in the carriage means 130, and the upper end of this rod has a cam follower wheel 134 mounted thereon and rolling along the lower surface of a plunger-control cam rail 136, as described in detail in said prior application. A compression spring 138 surrounds the control rod 132 above the carriage means 131) and presses up against a 8 collar on the rodso as to hold the wheel 134 up against the cam rail 136.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the lower end of the plunger control rod 132 has an axial socket 141 therein, and a plunger rod 142 fits up into this recess. This plunger rod 142 has a plurality of spring biased ball detents 143 which engage in a corresponding plurality of recesses 144 in the socket so that the plunger rod 142 is rigidly secured to the rod 132, but these detents 143 enable the plunger rod 142 and its associated apparatus to be conveniently removed from the socket 141 and replaced for rapid servicing of the machinery or for inserting a different size of plunger and grasping jaw apparatus for quick change-over to handling an entirely different type of confection.

Surrounding the lower end of the plunger rod 142 is a plunger barrel 146 having a head 148 at its lower end for holding the soft annular plunger pad 52. A shoulder 150 on the rod 142 serves to hold the barrel 146 thereon. A compression and torsion spring 151 surrounds the plunger. barrel 146 between a washer 152 and an internal flange 153 on a jaw-mounting sleeve 154.

In order to grasp the cupped confection 11', 16, firmly but gently, grasping means 45 are provided as mentioned previously. The grasping means 45 comprises the jaw mounting sleeve 154 and the relatively movable clasping jaws 46 and 47. The jaw 47 is rigidly mounted on a band 156 embracing the jaw sleeve 154. The other jaw 46 is mounted on a hinge member 158 which is secured by a hinge pin 159 (FIGURE 5) passing through a pair ofbosses 160 on the sleeve 154. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, a spring 162 encircles the hinge pin between the bosses 160 and urges the jaw 46 toward the closed position.

For purposes of opening the jaw 46, a control arm 163 is attached to the hinge member 158 and carries a roller 164 at its free end. A control rail 166 for opening the jaw 46 extends along near the dead plate 40 and engages the roller 164 so as to swing the jaw 46 open. The jaw 46 is held open as shown in FIGURE 3 until the plunger pad 52 has begun to pass directly over the cupped confection on the dead plate at 11', 16', at which time the roller 164 leaves the end 167 of the control rail 166, and then the jaw 46 closes. However, just before the jaw 46 closes, the jaw 4'7 engages the cupped confection and begins to move it along the surface of the dead plate.

This engagement of the jaw 47 with the cupped confection followed by the closure of the opposed jaw 46 against the opposite side thereof provides a highly desirable and predictable orientation of any elongated confections such as are shown in FIGURES 2A and 2B. These elongated confections become oriented so that their long axis is parallel with the opposed surfaces of the jaws 46 and 47, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIGURES 4 and 9.

To provide any desired orientation of the cupped confection 11, 16 in the box 12, the grasping means 45 is revolved about the axis of the plunger rod 142 while the cupped confection is being placed into the box. This rotary movement of the grasping means 45 is produced by the torque of spring 151 and is controlled by an orientation-control roller 170 attached to the jaw-mounting sleeve 154 and cooperating with an orientation control cam 172, as shown most clearly in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. This orientation control cam 172 is connected by suitable releasable fastening means to a base part 173 of the carriage means 130; for example, the releasable fastening means is shown as comprising a pair of machine screws 174 passing through holes 175 and screwed into the carriage base part 173.

The spring 151 serves the dual function of a compression spring and of a torsion spring. To provide the desired torque, its upper end is secured at 169 in the washer 152. This washer 152 is connected rigidly to the plunger barrel 146 so that the upper end of this spring is effective- 9 ly anchored to the plunger rod 142. The lower end of this spring is secured at 171 in the internal flange 153 of the jaw-mounting sleeve 154. Thus, this spring 151 continuously urges the jaw-mounting sleeve 154 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 4 about the plunger rod 142.

To provide angular adjustment means for conveniently setting the final orientation of the grasping means 45 with respect to the box 12, a stop element 178 is adjustably connected to the fixed washer 152. This adjustment is provided by a plurality of holes 177 inthe stop element, any one of which may be engaged with a pin 181 which is rigidly secured to the fixed washer 152. The stop element 178 includes a lug 187 adapted to abut against the side wall of a slot 189 (FIGURE 4) in the jaw-mounting sleeve 154 so as to limit the extent of counter-clockwise rotation of this jaw-mounting sleeve. The upper rim 197 of the jaw-mounting sleeve 154 has been machined down to provide a clearance space 199' which extends around a 90 are beginning at the top of the slot 189. Consequently, this jaw-mounting sleeve can be turned in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 5 against the action of the spring 151, because of the clearance space 199' which prevents engagement with the lug 187. When the control roller 170 moves upwardly along a helical cam surface 179 of the control cam 172, the jaw-mounting sleeve 154 is turned clockwise against the action of the spring 151.

Thus, the clasping jaws 45 are adapted to be rotated through an angle up to 90, and the control cam 72 is adapted to produce this 90 rotation. When the pin 181 is in the last hole 177 as shown in FIGURE 5, a full 90 of rotation is permitted. By placing the pin 181 in the other holes of the clasping jaws 45, the rotation is limited to 77 /2 45, 22 /2 or 0, respectively. As soon as the lug 187 encounters the wall of the slot 189, then the control roller 170 leaves the cam 172 during the downstroke, as will be explained further below, and the clasping jaws 45 continue descending without further rotation.

As described above, the article placing means 44 is moved along an oval path 53. After the cupped confection 11, 16 has been grasped between the jaws 46 and 47 and has been transported to aposition beyond the edge of the dead plate 40, then the plunger control roller 134 encounters a downwardly inclined portion of the control cam rail 136 so that the plunger control rod 132 begins to be depressed. Thus, the lower end of the control rod 132 begins to press down against a collar 176 which in turn presses down on the stop element 178 so as to apply force down upon the washer 152 and the spring 151. Thespring 151 urges the jaw-mounting sleeve 154 downwardly and urges this sleeve to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the orientation-control roller 170 to begin rolling down along beneath the helical cam surface 179 of the control cam 172 so as to allow the spring 151 to revolve the grasping means in a counter-clockwise direction to a new orientation, which is determined by the setting of the stop element 178.

In FIGURE 4 the roller 170 is shown as having already travelled substantially all of the way down along the helical cam surface 179, with the result that the grasping means 45 has been turned almost 90 with respect to its position at the moment of pick-up of the cupped confection from the dead plate 40.

In order to guide the cupped confection down into the box 12 and to assure that there is a suitable space for this new arrival among the neighboring cupped confections 11-A, 16-A, 11-B, 16-B, etc., which are already in the box, the expansible conical guide structure 48 is provided. This conical guide structure 48 comprises a circular mounting rim 180. having afirst pair of opposed tapering leaf-spring fingers 182 fastened to the rim and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom. The lower ends 183 of these first tapering fingers 182 have a substantial width of at least 4 of an inch, and in this example,

. 10 r are shown as having a width of of an inch which is optimum for accommodating typical elongated confections having configurations as shown in FIGURES 2A and 2B, as will be explained hereinafter. When the tapering fingers 182 are in their relaxed or normal position, their lower ends 183 are in closely spaced parallel relationship, that is, they are spaced less than A of an inch apart so as to enter into the space between the existing wrapped articles in the box. In this example, these ends 183 are spaced of an inch apart which is optimum for handling the articles shown in FIGURES 2A and 2B.

A second pair of opposed tapering leaf-spring fingers 184 are fastened to the rim 180 at points which are offset 90 from the mounting points of the respective fingers 182. These second fingers taper down to a narrow point 185 and are inclined inwardly so that their narrow tips 185 are closely adjacent and between the respective wider ends 183 of the other guide fingers.

In operation the lower ends 183 and 185 of the guide fingers in the cone structure 48 are lowered down into the box adjacent to the supporting surface 50 therein before the cone structure is expanded by the movement of an article down through the cone. This supporting surface 50 may be the bottom of the box, or in the case of multiple-layer boxes, it may be a suitable horizontal divider of stiff paper or cardboard. For controlling the up and down movement of the carriage means 130, there is a stationary channel camrail 186 (FIGURE 3), and a camfollower roller 195 is mounted on a bracket 188 connected to the carriage means 130 and the roller 195 engages between the flanges of the channel rail, as explained in detail in said prior application.

As soon as the various parts have reached the operating relationship as shown in FIGURE 4, the channel rail 186 inclines downwardly at the same angle as the plunger cam rail 136, thus lowering the tips 183 and 185 of theguide fingers down adjacent to the supporting surface in the box. Thereafter, the channel rail 186 becomes level, while the plunnger cam rail 136 continues to depress the plunger rod 142. Consequently, the wrapped article 11, 16 is now lowered down through the conical iris guide structure48 causing this iris cone to expand.

To assure that the wrappers 11a, 11b, etc., of the existing confections in the box 12 are gently pushed aside around the entire perimeter of the space which is to be occupied by the descending confection, the novel guide structure 48 is provided in the form of an expansible iris cone (FIGURES 4, 7, 8, 9) wherein a plurality of flexible slippery leaves 190, 191, 192, 193 of sheet material are arranged so that the trailing edge T of each leaf in succession overlaps the inside surface of the adjacent leaf, as seen most clearly in FIGURES 7 and 8. These leaves 190-493 are cut from flexible slippery sheet material; for example, they are formed from a sheet material having a slippery plastic surface, such as cloth coated with a plastic such as polytetrafluoroethylene or a sheet of such slippery plastic. These leaves have sufiicient thickness so that they will maintain their successive overlapping positions as shown in FIGURE 8 without crumpling, and yet they are very flexible in operation so that they will slide open in the fashion of an expanding iris and will curve and deflect into their open position, as shown in FIGURE 9, for allowing the passage of a wrapped article therethrough. The extent of the overlap is at least onequarter of an inch more than enough to maintain an overlapped relationship upon the full extent of expansion of the iris cone structure.

By virtue of the fact that this novel expansible iris cone structure 48 provides a continuous wall surface around the descending article, it completely excludes the adjacent confections and their wrappers 11a, 16a, 11b, 16b, etc., from the desired space in the box so that there is no possibility ofcrushing any portion of the existing confections or wrappers beneath the descending confection.

, Advantageously, these flexible leaves are supported in overlapping relationship by cementing their leading edges L (FIGURE 8) to the outside surfaces of the respective pairs of leaf- spring fingers 182 and 184 so that the reespective leaves are free from attachment to the inside surfaces of the fingers 182 and 184, as will be understood from the sectional view in FIGURE 8. In this way, the individual leaves are free to slide and deflect through-out their full operational areas as the wrapped article passes through the iris cone.

The iris cone structure 48 is oriented so that the narrower guide fingers 184 are adjacent to the ends of the elongated wrapped article being moved down through it. Consequently, the lower ends 185 of these fingers 184 provide an advantageous centering action tending to center the elongated article with respect to the jaws 46 and To provide for turning the iris cone structure 48 to the desired orientation corresponding with the final limit of rotation of grasping means 45 as provided by the setting of one of the holes 177 in the stop element 178 on the pin 181, the rim'180 is seated in a circular seat 196 in an opening in a carriage platform 198, and the rim 180 is adapted to be turned withrespect to this platform. For this purpose, the rim 180 is clamped in position against the seat 196 by releasable clamping means 199 shown as an eccentric cam clamp which is operated by a lever 201. This eccentric clamp 199 is mounted on the rim 180 and applies force against the lower surface of the platform 198 so as to hold the rim 180 against the seat 196. By releasing the clamping means 199, the rim 180 can be turned to any desired angular position. In operation this rim 180 is positioned so that a stop block 202 is positioned directly below the orientation-control roller 170 when the lug 137 has engaged the wall of the slot 189. The platform 198 is attached by quick-disconnect screws 200 to the carriage base 173, thus enabling convenient changing of the cone structure 48 for handling various sizes of articles.

Directing attention to FIGURE 9, it is noted that when the wrapped article 11, 16 has reached its position (as shown in full lines) near to the supporting surface 50, then the downward movement of the jaws 46 and 47 is arrested by the orientation roller 170 which now engages down into the stop block 202 having a saddle surface 284. This stop block 292 is rigidly attached to the rim 180 and prevents further downward movement of the jawmounting sleeve 154. However, the plunger rod 142 continues to be depressed by the cam 136, with the spring 151 becoming partially compressed, and the lug 187 moves down along the slot 189 so that the plunger pad 52 pushes the wrapped article down partially out from the jaws 46 and 47. Thus, the wrapped article is now seated down upon the surface 50 as illustrated by the dash and dot indication 16'.

As soon as the article rests upon the surface 50, then the rail cam 1S6 begins to raise the cone structure 48, as illustrated by the dash and dot indication at 154, 170', 198'. The plunger pad 52 continues to hold the wrapped article down against the surface 50 until the bottom of the cone structure has been elevated completely above the top of this newly placed article. During this elevation of the cone structure while the plunger remains down, the spring 151 is further compressed. After the bottom of the cone has cleared the newly placed article, then the plunger pad 52 also commences to be elevated by an upward inclination of the cam rail 136 which allows the spring 138 to raise the plunger control rod 132.

The carriage platform 198 is elevated to a position so that it will pass beneath the dead plate 40 when the next cupped confection is being picked up from the dead plate by the jaws 46 and 47 It will be. understood that the relative thickness of the slippery flexible leaves 190493 and of the resilient fingers 12 182, 184 is exaggerated in FIGURES 4 and 8 for purposes of illustration. The slippery flexible leaves also are advantageous during the packaging of unwrapped confections, such as bare chocolate candies. They guide the unwrapped confection down into the box while protecting it from marking or damage.

, FIGURES 10 through 15 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention and elements of the appartus therein performing functions corresponding with elements in FIGURES 2 through 9 have corresponding reference numbers followed by the suffix A. As shown in FIGURE 14, this embodiment of the invention is particularly well suited for handling bare confectionary articles, for example, such as chocolate candies 11 which are supplied by conveyor means 22. These conveyor means 22 are the same in construction as the conveyor 22 shown in FIGURE 2.

In order to assure that each confection 11 is controlled in its movement and positioned at exactly the desired location for engagement by the grasping means 45A, as shown in FIGURE 10, there, are provided confection supporting and positioning means 40A which are cyclically reciprocated between extended and withdrawn locations. The supporting and positioning means 48A provide the function of moving the confections away from the conveyor means 22 into the desired position, such as is accomplished by the pusher 42 and associated mechanism in the embodiment of FIGURES 2-9. Also, the supporting and positioning means 40A support the confections preparatory to engagement by the grasping means 45A as is accomplished by the supporting means 48 in the apparatus of FIGURES 2-9.

The supporting and positioning means 40A include a plate 41 onto which the confection 11 is propelled by means of the pin elements 28, and the velocity of the confection 11 is sufiicient to assure that it slides across the surface of the support plate 41 and bumps into contact with a stop 43. During this transfer of the confection 11 from the conveyor 22, the supporting and positioning means 40A are in their inner or retracted location, which is adjacent to the crest of the conveyor belt 24 where it curves over the top of the drum 54.

After the confection 11 has come to rest against the stop 43, the supporting and positioning means 40A are shifted outwardly with the confection 11 thereon to the extended location shown in FIGURE 10, which positions the confection in alignment with the path of movement of the grasping means. 45. For purposes of moving the supporting and positioning means 40A, there are reciprocating drive means including a rotatable shaft 210 (FIGURES 14 and 15) extending between the side frame members 56 and 57. This shaft 210 is driven in a fixed relationship with respect to the conveyor belt 24 by means of a suitable mechanical drive linkage as schematically illustrated at 212. A hub 214 is mounted on this shaft 210, and an eccentric cam 216 is adjustably secured on this hub 214 by means of a set screw 218. Engaging the rim of this eccentric is a cam follower roller 220 attached to a swing link 84A which is pivoted at 86A on a bracket 68A fastened to the frame member 56. The lever 84A swings between the position shown and an alternative position 84A.

A flexible cable 222 extends from a connection at 224 on the lever 84A around a pulley 226 to a connection 228 secured to a slide rod in a bearing block 103. When the lever 84A swings up to 84A, the cable 222 withdraws the slide rod 100 against the action of a return spring 230 and thus retracts the support plate 41. This plate 41 is adjustably secured by knurled screws 232 to a bracket 108A. One side of this bracket 108A is mounted on a spacer 234 on the slide rod 100, and the other side is similarly mounted by a spacer 234 on a freely moving slide guide 99. The slide rod 100 and slide guide 99 are slidably mounted in the bearing block 183.

' In order to adjust the timing of the cyclic movement of the supporting and positioning means 40A with respect to the arrival of the pin elements 28 and with respect to the orbital movement of the grasping means 45A, the angular position of the cam 216 is adjusted about its hub 214. The extent of outward movement of the bracket 108A is conveniently adjusted by means of a hand knob 236 which is connected by a shaft 238 to an eccentric stop member 240 for limiting the downward movement of the lever 84A. This stop 240 can be turned to different angular positions by the knob, and a spring 242 urges the stop 249 against a suitable detent 244 so as to hold it at the desired adjusted angular position. Also, for alignment purposes the support plate 41 can be adjusted outwardly with respect to the bracket 108A by utilizing the knurled screws 232.

The article placer means 44A shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 is generally similar to the article placer means 44 shown in FIGURES 3-9, and only the differences will be described hereinafter. Surrounding the lower end of the plunger rod 142 is a plunger barrel 146A having a washer 148A affixed onto its lower end and forming a plunger head with a soft annular plunger pad 52 secured thereto. A spreader 246 for spreading apart the resilient guide fingers 182 of the expansible guide structure 48A is fastened above the head 148A. A pin 181 projects up from the head 148A through an arcuate slot in the spreader 246. This pin also engages in an arcuate slot 177A in the mounting 154A which supports the opposed clasping jaws 46 and 47. A compression and torsion spring 151 surrounds the plunger barrel 146A and its lower end 171 fits into a hole in the internal flange 153 of the mount 154A. Its upper end 169 fits into a hole in a washer 152 which forms an external flange on the barrel 146A. For opening the movable jaw 46 against the action of spring 162, the hinge pin 158 is secured as by a fastening pin 248 to the hinge portion 158 of the jaw 46. The hinge pin 159 passes through hinge bearing eyes 160 on the mount: ing 154A, and the end of this hinge pin is bent to provide a control arm 163A adapted for engaging a suitable jaw control element such as the control element 166 shown in FIGURE 3.

To provide any desired orientation of the confection 11 in the container boxes 12, the grasping means 45A are revolved about the axis of the plunger rod 142 by the torque of the spring 151, and the amount of the angular movement is controlled by a pair of orientation control rollers 170 in cooperation with a cylindrical cam 172A, which is also shown in FIGURES l2 and 13. The orientation control cam 172A is connected to the base 173 of the carriage means 130 by a bracket 250. This cam 172A has a pair of opposed longitudinal slots 252 with their edges shaped to provide a pair of helical cam surfaces 179 which are engaged by the rollers 170. These rollers are attached to a,,pair of upwardly eXtend ing portions 171 of the jaw mounting 154A. The shape of the cam surfaces 179 determines the extent of angular movement of the jaw mounting 154 with respect to' the plunger barrel 146 and this movement can be any desired amount from up to 90". During the last part of the upward stroke of the plunger rod 142, the rollers 170 travel upwardly along the cam surfaces 179 thus turning the jaws 46 and 47 to their initial positions as seen in FIGURE 10. During the initial part of the downward movement of the plunger rod 142, the spring 151 turns the jaw mounting 154A until the end of the arcuate slot 177A engages the pin 181 and stops this angular movement.

During the later stages of the downward movement of the plunger rod 142 particularly during the final period when the confection 11 is pushed down by the pad 52 and is being released from the jaws 46 and 47, the opposite sides of the spreader member 246 engage the pair of narrow resilient guide fingers 182 and spread them apart. Consequently, these fingers 182 open up a region among the existing confections in the containers for receiving the confection 11. The spreading of these fingers 182 accommodates the passage therebetween of the confection 11 and reduces any contact between the delicate surfaces of the confection 11 and the fingers 182. The wider fingers 184 are spread apart by engage ment with the outer surfaces of the jaws 46 and 47. Soft resilient pads 252 of yielding material, for example such as sponge rubber, are fastened to the jaws 46 and 47 for gently holding the bare confection 11 therebetween.

In order to arrest the downward movement of the jaws 46 and 47 so that the plunger pad 52 can strip the confection 11 down from the jaws 46 and 47 as the confection is placed down into the container 12, the jaws 46 and 47 have control elements 254 thereon adapted to engage in slots 204A in the wider guide fingers 184. When these control stops 254 reach the bottom of the slots 204A, the mount 154A is arrested, while the plunger barrel 146A continues moving down, thus partially compressing the spring 151.

Then the plunger pad 52 gently holds the confection down in its desired position in the container 12, while the expansible guide structure 48A is withdrawn. The withdrawal of the guide fingers 184 also raises the jaws 46 and 47 by the lifting action of the slots 204A on the control stops 254, thus further compressing the spring 151. After the guide structure 48A is elevated clear above the confection 11, then the plunger pad 52 also is withdrawn, similar to the action of the apparatus of FIGURE 9.

In FIGURE 10, the slots 204A are shown as positioned directly below the control stops 254 when the jaws 46 and 47 are in their uppermost position, which is the relationship when the grasping means 45A are to be lowered without any angular movement. When the grasping means 45A are to be turned during their downward movement, then the guide fingers 184 are oriented on the carriage platform 198 so that they will be engaged by the control stops 254.

The clamping means 280 is a quick-release connection which enables the carriage base 173 to be quickly removed from the carriage for change-over from the handling of a confection 11 as shown to the packaging of a different style or type of confection wherein the use of a slightly differently shaped guide structure 48A may be desirable. Also, the grasping means 45A and associated plunger 146A are quickly disconnected from the plunger rod 142 at the connection 143, 144 for changeover to a different size or shape of jaws 46, 47 and pad 52 as may be desirable. Thus, in a matter of minutes the entire automatic packaging system as shown in FIG- URE 1 can be conveniently changed over for the packaging of an entirely different style or type of confection. Moreover, the final orientation of each article in the box is conveniently changed or adjusted as described in detail above.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the automatic packaging systems and machinery embodying the present invention as described above are well suited to provide the advantages set forth, and since many possible embodiments may be made of the various features of this invention and as the machinery and apparatus herein described may be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illus trative and not in a limiting sense and that in certain instances, some of the features of the invention may be used without a corresponding use of other features, all without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for loading confections into containers such as boxes comprising main conveyor means for carrying the containers to be loaded, confection supply means for supplying the confections to be loaded, confection positioning means for positioning the supplied confections at a predetermined position near said main conveyor means, movable jaw means for grasping the confections at said position and for placing the confections into said containers, means for moving said jaw means toward the containers, and orientation control means for turning said jaw means after grasping the confection and as said jaw means move toward the containers before placing the confections into the containers.

2. An automatic machine for loading confections into containers such as boxes comprising main conveyor means for carrying the containers to be loaded, confection supply means for supplying the confections to be loaded, confection positioning means for positioning the supplied confections at a predetermined position near said main conveyor means, movable carriage means including jaw means for grasping the confections at said position and for placing the confections into said containers and guide mechanism defining a downwardly converging guide structure for preceding the jaw means into the container, and orientation control means for turning said jaw means after grasping the confection and before placing the confections into the containers.

3. An automatic machine for loading confections into containers such as boxes comprising main conveyor means for carrying the containers to be loaded, confection supply means for supplying the confections to be loaded, confection positioning means for positioning the supplied confections at a predetermined position near said main conveyor means, movable jaw means for grasping the confections at said position and for placing the confections into said containers, means for moving said jaw means toward the containers, helical cam means for turning said means as said jaw means move toward the containers, adjustable stop means for setting the desired angular position of said jaw means and plunger mechanism for pushing the confection out of said jaw means after said jaw means have reached said desired angular position. a

4. An automatic machine'for loading confections into containers such as boxes comprising main conveyor means for carrying the containers to be loaded, confection supply means for supplying the confections to be loaded, confection positioning means for positioning the supplied confections at a predetermined position near said main conveyor means, movable carriage means including grasping means for grasping the confections at said position and for moving the confections along a path into said containers and downwardly converging expansible guide structure surrounding the path of movement of said grasping means, and orientation control means on said carriage means for turning said grasping means with respect to said expansible guide structure.

' 5. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for placing the confections into the containers comprising grasping mechanism including a plurality of relatively movable jaw members for grasping and holding the confections, jaw control means for relatively moving the jaw members for receiving and holding the confection in said jaw members, a plurality of converging leaf-spring fingers, drive means for relatively moving the containers, said converging leaf-spring fingers, and said grasping mechanism for bringing said grasping mechanism and said containers into close proximity with said converging leafspring fingers surrounding said jaw members, and plunger means movable between said jaw members for pushing the confection out of said grasping mechanism and into position in the container.

6. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for placing the confections into the containers in predetermined orientations therein, comprising grasping mechanism including a plurality of relatively movable jaw members for grasping and holding the confections and jaw control into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for placing the confections into the containers in predetermined orientations therein comprising rotatably mounted grasping mechanism including a plurality of relatively movable jaw members for grasping and holding the confections and jaw control means for relatively moving the jaw members for receiving and holding the confection in said jaw members, drive means for relatively moving the containers and said grasping mechanism for moving said jaw members and said containers into close proximity, helical cam means for rotating said jaw members into a desired angular position as said jaw members and said containers are being moved into close proximity, and plunger means movable between said jaw members for pushing the confection out of said grasping mechanism and into position in the container.

. 8. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for placing the confections into the containers in predetermined orientations therein as claimed in claim 7 and including torsion spring means for urging said jaw members to rotate in one direction and said helical cam means for rotating said jaw members against the action of said spring means, and an adjustable stop for establishing the amount of rotation of said jaw members.

. 9. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for placing the confections into the containers comprising grasping mechanism including a plurality of relatively movable jaw members for grasping and holding the confections, jaw control means for relatively moving the jaw members for receiving and holding the confection in said jaw members, confection guide structure for providing converging guide surfaces, drive means for relatively moving the containers and said grasping mechanism for bringing said grasping mechanism and said containers into close proximity with said confection guide structure positioned about said jaw members and said guide surfaces converg ing toward said containers, stop means for arresting the movement of the jaw members with respect to said converging surfaces and plunger means movable between said jaw members for pushing the confection out of said jaw members and out of said converging surfaces and into position in the container.

10. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for placing the confections into the containers comprising a plunger control member, grasping mechanism including a plurality of relatively movable jaw members for grasping and holding the confections, spring means for connecting said jaw members to said plunger control member, jaw control means for relatively moving the jaw members for receiving and holding the confection in said jaw members, confection guide structure for providing converging guide surfaces, drive means for operating said plunger control member for bringing said jaw members and said containers into close proximity with said confection guide structure positioned about said jaw members and said guide surfaces converging toward said containers, stop means for arresting the movement of the jaw members with respect to said converging surfaces, said spring means permitting further movement of said plunger control member while said jaw members are arrested, and plunger 17 means connected to said plunger control member and movable between said jaw members upon said further movement of the, plunger control member for pushing the confection out of said jaw members and out of said converging surfaces and into position in the container. 11. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus as claimed in claim It) and wherein said spring means have torsion action, orientation control means for turning said jaw members with respect to said plunger control rod and against the torsion action of said spring means, thereby to turn the orientation of said jaw means.

12. In a machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes, placing apparatus for plac ing the confections into the containers comprising a plunger control rod, grasping mechanism carried by said plunger control rod, said grasping mechanism being movable longitudinally and rotatable with respect to said control rod and including a plurality of relatively movable, jaw members for grasping and holding the confections, coil spring means having one end connected to said control rod and the other end connected to said jaw members, jaw control means for relatively moving the jaw members for receiving and holding the confection in said jaw members, drive means for operating said plunger control rod for moving said jaw members into close proximity with said containers, stop means for arresting the movement of the jaw members, said coil spring means thereby becoming distended and permitting further movement of said plunger control rod while said jaw members are arrested, and a resilient plunger pad connected to said plunger control rod and movable between said jaw members upon said further movement of the plunger control member for pushing the confection out of said jaw members into position in the container.

13. A machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes and the like comprising first conveyor means for moving the containers, second conveyor means for supplying the confections, reciprocating drive means, a positioning and supporting plate driven by said reciprocating drive means between a first position adjacent to said second conveyor means and a second desired predetermined position near said first conveyor means; for moving the confections from said second conveyor means into said desired predetermined position and for supporting the confections at said predetermined position near to said first conveyor means, and confection placing mechanism for receiving the confections from said predetermined position and for positioning them into the containers.

14. Apparatus for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes comprising a plunger control rod, grasping mechanism carried by said plunger control rod, said grasping mechanism being movable longitudinally and rotatable with respect to said control rod and including a plurality of relatively movable jaw members for grasping and holding the confections, coil spring means having one end connected to said control rod and the other end connected to said jaw members, jaw control means for relatively moving the jaw members for receiving and holding the confection in said jaw members, first operating mechanism for operating said plunger control rod for moving said jaw members into close proximity with said containers, a movable confection guide structure for providing converging guide surfaces, second operating means for moving said guide structure into close proximity with said containers with said converging guide surfaces converging about said jaw members in a direction toward said containers, stop means on said guide structure for arresting the movement of the jaw members with respect to said guide surfaces, said coil spring means thereby becoming distended and permitting further movement of said plunger control rod while said jaw membersare arrested, and a resilient plunger pad connected to said plunger control rod and movable between said jaw members upon said further movement of the plunger control member for pushing the confection out of said jaw members and between said converging surfaces into position in the container.

15. Appartus for automatically placing confections into containers as claimed in claim 14 and wherein said jaw members include projectings lugs on their outer surfaces and said stop means includes openings in said guide surfaces into which said lugs are received.

16. Apparatus for automatically placing confections into containers as claimed in claim 14 and wherein said second operating means withdraws said guide structure while said plunger pad holds the confections in place in the container, said stop means withdrawing said jaw members along with said guide structures, whereby said spring means becomes further distended for permitting the withdrawal of said jaw members while said plunger pad is performing the holding operation.

17. A machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes and the like comprising first conveyor means for moving the containers, second conveyor means for supplying the confections, a support near said first conveyor means for supportingthe confections, a reciprocating pusher mechanism operating in timed relationship with respect to said second conveyor means for transferring the confections from said second conveyor means to a predetermined position on said support, confection placing mechanism, and drive means for moving said confection placing mechanism past said support and into the containers for receiving the confections from said position and for placing them into the containers.

1%. A machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes and the like comprising first conveyor means for moving the containers, second conveyor means for supplying the confections, a support near said first conveyor means for supporting the confections, a reciprocating drive mechanism operating in timed relationship with respect to said second conveyor means, a movable bracket connected to said drive mechanism and being reciprocated forwardly and backwardly, a pusher cradle movably connected to said bracket, spring means urging said cradle outwardly during the forward movement of said bracket for engagement with the confections supplied by said second conveyor means for transferring the confections from said second conveyor means to a predetermined position on said support, control mechanism for retracting said cradle during the backward movement of said bracket, confection placing mechanism and drive means for moving said confection placing mechanism past said support and into the containers for receiving the confections from said position and for placing them into the containers.

19. A machine for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes and the like comprising first conveyor means for moving the containers, second conveyor means for supplying the confections, a movable support plate for the confections, reciprocating drive mechanism operated in timed relationship with respect to said second conveyor means and being connected to said support plate for positioning said support plate adjacent to said second conveyor means for receiving the confections therefrom, said drive mechanism cyclically moving said support plate to a predetermined position adjacent to said first conveyor means, confection placing mechanism, and drive means for moving said confection placing mechanism into engagement with the confections on conveyor means for moving the containers, second conveyor means for supplying the confections, reciprocating drive mechanism operated in time relationship with respect to said second conveyor means, a movable bracket being connected to said drive mechanism and being reciprocated thereby, a support being adjustably connected to said bracket for positioning said support adjacent to said second conveyor means for receiving the confections therefrom, said drive mechanism cyclically moving said support to a predetermined position adjacent to said first conveyor means, a manually operated adjustment for regulating the stroke of said drive mechanism, confection placing mechanism drive means for moving said confection placing mechanism into engagement with a con-i fection carried by said support and for moving said placing mechanism into the containers, and turning means for turning said placing mechanism as it moves into the containers.

21. Apparatus for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes and the like comprising conveyor means for moving the containers to be loaded, confection supply means for supplying the confections to be loaded, an expansible conical guide structure, drive means for relatively moving the containers and said conical guide structure for moving said containers into close proximity with said conical guide structure With said guide structure converging toward the containers, and confection moving means for moving the confections through said guide structure into the containers, said guide structure including a plurality of resilient converging fingers. having curved overlapping flexible sheets extending therebetWeen, defining a generally conical surface, said sheets being relatively movablegduring expansion of said guide structure upon the movement of confections therethrough into the containers.

22. Apparatus for automatically placing confections into containers such as boxes and the like comprising conveyor means for moving the containers to be loaded, conr'ection supply means for supplyin the confections to be loaded, an expansible conicalguide structure, drive means for relatively moving the containers and. said conical guide structure for moving said containers into close proximity With said conical guide structure With said guide structure converging toward the containers, and confection moving means for moving the confections through said guide structure into the containers, said guide structure includ- References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,339,115 1/44 Scherer 53-262 X 2,656,081 10/53 Davis 53248 X 2,692,073 10/54 Kelly 53240 2,834,167 5/58 Loueridge 53-61 2,956,384 10/60 Underwood 53-244 X 2,964,893 12/60 Calvache et al. 53237 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR LOADING CONFECTIONS INTO CONTAINERS SUCH AS BOXES COMPRISING MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CARRYING THE CONTAINERS TO BE LOADED, CONFECTION SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPLYING THE CONFECTIONS TO BE LOADED , CONFECTION POSITIONING MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE SUPPLIED CONFECTIONS AST A PREDETERMINED POSITION NEAR SAID MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS, MOVABLE JAW MEANS FOR GRASPING THE CONFECTIONS AT SAID POSITION AND FOR PLACING THE CONFECTIONS INTO SAID CONTAINERS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID JAW MEANS TOWARD THE

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