US3218777A - Can packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

1965 R. L. BRUNSING CAN PACKAGING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 6 6 MN m M T/ w P NM 0 E T V T Wm A L a R v. B 0 m mm O 6; i W w 9 5 mm v 6 K \w Kn u\| Nov. 23, 1965 R. BRUNSING 3,218,777

CAN PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 1Q Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR RE X L. BRUNS/NG ATTORNEYS 1965 R. BRUNSING CAN PACKAGING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 /N V EN TOR REX L. BRUNS/NG BY 6%, )7? 4114, 1001/ ,4 7'TORNEV5 Nov. 23, 1965 R. L. BRUNSING 3,218,777

CAN PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 1,0 Sheets-Sheet 4 35 EXAM W IN V EN TOR.

RE X L. BRU/VS/NG BY ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1965 R. L. BRUNSING 3,218,777

CAN PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG; 5

1N VEN TOR.

REX L. BRUNS/NG BY 4 T TOR/VEVS Nov. 23, 1965 BRUNSING 3,218,777

CAN PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N VEN TOR.

REX L. BRU/VS/NG 171,11. uuw/ A T TOR/V56 Nov. 23, 1965 BRUNSING CAN PACKAGING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 5 w FL m F M IN V EN TOR. REX L. B/PU/VS/NG BY In all. W

Nov. 23, 1965 1.. BRUNSING CAN PACKAGING MACHINE 1Q Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 wk v YAFQ Q 9% we [a //V VE/V TOR RE X L. BRUNS/NG AT TOR/VEVS Nov. 23, 1965 R. BRUNSING CAN PACKAGING MACHINE 1,0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 IN VE N TOR RE X L. BRUNS/NG B) 5 401, 177 LUooe/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1965 R. L. BRUNSING 3,218,777

CAN PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 lo Sheets-Sheet 10 //3 F/G /9 FIG. /.9A

INVEN TOR. 8/ 7 4 REX L. BRU/VS/NG AT TURN/5V5 United States Patent 3,218,777 CAN PACKAGING MACHINE Rex L. Brunsing, San Francisco, Calif, assignor of three percent to Walter Kieckhefer, and four percent to Gordon A. Coats and Patricia A. Coats Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,381 14 Claims. (Cl. 53-48) This invention relates to a machine for packaging cans, and more specifically, for securing two or more cans together by carriers that engage the chimes of the cans, an example of which carrier and package is shown in copending application Serial No. 47,433, filed August 4, 1960.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a machine that is adapted to apply carrier clips to connect and to form a Package of a plurality of cans while the cans are continuously moving through the machine without injury to the clips or to the cans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine that is adapted to automatically orient a plurality of conventional, lithographed cans so that the labels or display material on the sides of the cans of each package respectively face in the desired direction to present the best or most desirable appearance.

An additional object is the provision of a method of orienting cans to be connected for forming a package whereby the seams will be substantially cancealed or out of sight in the package or in the least objectionable position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means in a carrier applying machine for maintaining a large supply of carrier clips for the cans in -a relatively small space and for dispensing said carrier clips to the machine in a position for movement to a position below the cans that are to be secured together.

The machine illustrated herein is adapted to form what is known in the industry as a 6-pack package of cans, in which there are two parallel rows of cans in side by side relation with three cans in each row providing three pairs of cans, although the invention is adaptable to form packages having more or less than three pairs of cans.

In this invention two spaced rows of upright cans in side by side relation are carried along two spaced parallel paths of travel to a point of convergence of said paths and before reaching this point of convergence the cans in the two rows are rotated to position their seams, and consequently the display material on their sides, in a uniform position in each row. For example, the labels imprinted on the cans may face oppositely outwardly of the ends of the pair of rows.

After this pro-orientation is accomplished, the paths converge so that the two rows of cans are in relatively close side by side relation, and during the movement of the cans along the converging portions of the paths, the leading pair of cans to be connected may be rotated so their display material or labels face in the direction in which the cans are moving and they will slide over opposite marginal portions of the carrier connection at the leading end of the latter into laterally oppositely outwardly opening seats formed in the connector, and over spring tongues that will be snapped past the chimes to secure the cans to the carriers.

The second pair of cans that immediately follows the first pair may be rotated so their labels face oppositely outwardly and will be seen to best advantage at opposite sides of the package. These cans also move onto the carrier clip into seats and over spring tongues the same as the first pair.

The third pair of cans may be rotated so the display material faces rearwardly of the package, and they are ice then moved into the third pair of seats on the connector, and over a third pair of spring tongues.

All that remains to be done to form each package is to spring the tongues past the adjacent chimes on each pair of adjacent cans. The package will then be completely formed, since the seats mentioned as being on the carrier clips will fit against the sides of the cans just above the lower chimes preventing accidental separation of the cans from the clip. 7

When the completed package is inverted so that the carrier clip is uppermost, the package may be easily carried by two fingers of the hand. Suitable openings in the carrier clip provide for the insertion of such finger in more or less bowling ball fashion.

Provision is made in the machine for adjusting it in a matter of several minutes to package cans of different heights. Some beverages, for example, are in 11 and 12 ounce cans of the same diameter as cans holding 15 and 16 ounces. Since the same plant may package cans of both sizes, it is a distinct advantage to be able to package both sizes with the same machine removing parts and replacing them with others.

Other objects and advantages than those hereinbefore mentioned will appear in the description and in the drawmgs.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a semischematic top plan View of the machine partly broken away, including the infeed device leading to the machine, and along which infeed device the pre-orienting step is performed. The carrier clip feeder which is on top of the machine is omitted from this view, and the hold-down belt on top of the machine at the left end of the view is broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine without the carrier clip feeder but with the vertical guides for the carrier clips indicated. The view is enlarged slightly over FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine, slightly larger than FIG. 1, but reduced relative to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the operation of th structure shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the upper straight track shown in FIG. 4 at the right hand end of the machine showing the can orienting device along said track, at approximately the juncture between said track and the machine proper and showing the pre-can orienting devices along said track.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the tooth of one of the orienting devices of FIG. 5, as seen from line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of a part of one of the head sheaves in the machine proper including the curved track along which final orientation of the cans is effected.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the head pulley or turret of FIG. 9, and substantially along line 1010 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of I FIG. 10.

hold-down belt for attaching the carrier clips against the lowermost sides of the cans.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 16-16 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the clip feeding mechanismthat is adapted to be supported over the machine proper of FIGS. 1, 2.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of one side of the clip feeder of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an end elevational view of the feeder of FIGS. 17, 18.

FIG. 19A is an elevational view of part of the feeder of FIGS. 17-19.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of one of the carrier clips as it would be seen in a position in the machine for connecting to a can.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view showing the clip connector below an adjacent pair of cans with the spring tongue under tension preparatory to being sprung upwardly past the chimes of said pair of cans.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to that of FIG. 21 in which the spring tongues have been sprung past the chimes.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of a package having the clip connector connected to the cans. This would be a top plan view of the finished-package after the package on the machine has been inverted.

Infeed portion of machine The infeed portion of the machine is the portion at the right as seen in FIGS. 1-3, and upright cans having radially and axially projecting chimes at their lower ends are fed onto infeed conveyors generally indicated at 1 and 2 for movement to the left, as seen in FIG. 1. These cans are upside-down relative to any display material on their sides, and the seam on a lateral side of each can presents a relatively sharp leading shoulder (FIG. 8) when the cans are rotated clockwise, whereas a relatively smoothly rounded shoulder surface would be presented at the seam as a leading surface were the cans rotated counterclockwise.

Each of the conveyors 1, 2 comprises conventional endless chains having horizontal platform flights that provide a continuously moving platform on the upper runs of the chains for carrying the rows of cans toward the left. These chains extend between and over sprocket wheels 4 (FIG. 1) at their infeed ends and sprockets 5 at their opposite or discharge ends (FIG. 3), the latter being carried by shaft 6 that is journalled for rotation on the stationary frame 7 of the machine.

Suitable, parallel guide rails 8 are supported at opposite sides of each infeed conveyor, and these extend parallel with each conveyor to maintain the cans in a single row on each conveyor.

Near the infeed ends of the conveyors 1, 2 is a pair of horizontally elongated control members 9, which members are vertically pivoted at their ends nearest the infeed ends of said conveyors for swinging about vertical axes respectively at one of the sides of each conveyor, and at a height adapted to engage the sides of cans carried and moved by said conveyors. The rear ends of these members that extend away from their pivotally supported ends extend slantingly into the paths of cans on the conveyors, whereby cans moving in a row on each of said conveyors will swing the rear ends of the members to one of the sides of each of the cans.

The pivots 10 mounting the forward ends of the control members are supported on the stationary frame of the machine, or they could be carried on the nearest guide rail 8, and these control members will be urged against yieldable switch elements on microswitches 11 to compress the latter against yieldable resistance when the cans swing the members 9 to one of the sides of each row to thereby close electrical circuits extending from the microswitches. These are conventional microswitches of the type having yieldable switch elements. The electrical means actuating the can packaging machine is in said circuit, hence as long as cans are being carried on conveyors 1 and 2 the can packaging machine will continue to operate. When there is no can on either one or the other of said conveyors, the circuit will be broken and the packaging machine will stop, but conveyors 1, 2 will continue to run so the circuit will again be closed when the cans are being delivered along by both conveyors to the packaging machine.

Pie-orienting device At the discharge ends of the conveyors 1, 2 the cans are successively shunted by convergently extending guide rails 14 (FIG. 1) for movement in the same direction by two sets of chains 15, 16 (FIGS. 3, 5).

Referring to FIGS. 5-7 and particularly FIG. 6, when the cans are shunted by the rails 14, they are moved from each of the conveyors 1, 2 to between horizontally extending pairs of upper guide rails 17, 18 that are positioned relative to each other so that the guide rail 18 is lower than guide rail 17, and the spacing and arrangement is such that the cans 19 will be slightly tilted so their lower chimes 20 will each make a point contact with a table 21 that is parallel with said rails. Thus, if the cans are pushed in a direction longitudinally of the rails 17, 18, they will roll on the table 21 at their point contacts with the table.

As seen in FIG. 1 the rails 17 of the two pairs of guide rails are on the same side, so the cans in both rows will be similarly inclined.

The chains 15, 16 are positioned at about the same level as the table 21 (FIG. 6) and are at and below the raised portions of chimes 20 that occur by tipping the cans, but are offset sufficiently to enable can pusher pieces 23 (FIG. 8) secured to each of the chains to extend between the adjacent cans in each row.

The pusher pieces secured to chain 16, which is the uppermost of the pair thereof as seen in FIG. 1, is shown in FIGS. 58 and comprises a generally triangular shaped member 23 supported on an elongated carriage element 24 in a position extending longitudinally of the chain. The leading end of element 24 is pivotally connected to one of the link connecting pivots of the chain 16 for swinging of the trailing end of said carriage element, including the pusher piece 23, downwardly. Said trailing end carries a roller 25 (FIG. 5) that rides on a track 26 (FIG. 6) that, in turn, extends longitudinally of the chain 16 for maintaining the carriage parallel with the chain and for maintaining the apex of the pusher piece 23 between the adjacent cans 19 (FIG. 8).

The pusher piece 23 includes a tooth 27 (FIG. 8) having its point engaging the side of the can that is supported ahead of the tooth for rolling the can along the table 21. Since the can 19 ahead of the tooth is in merely point engagement with the table 21 and with the guide rails 17, 18, very little force is required to roll the can, which can is rolled counterclockwise so that rotation stops immediately upon the tooth engaging the relatively sharp shoulder of the seam 29 on the can. This seam will be engaged upon or at a point less than one complete rotation of the can, according to the position of the seam when it passes between guide rails 17, 18 at the infeed end. Thus all cans to the outfeed or discharge end of the guide rails 17, 18 will have their seams in a uniform position when they reach said ends of the guide rails.

On chain 15 the can pusher members indicated at 30 in FIG. 1 are the same as the can pusher pieces 23 except that they are not on a carriage 24 but are directly secured to one of the chain links.

The reason for the pivotally mounted carriage 24 is that the pusher member and tooth thereon must move out of the path of travel of the cans at the discharge ends of the rails 17, 18 to permit the cans of the row that are moved by chain 16 to move toward the row of cans moved by the chain 15. The seam locating teeth of the pusher pieces 23 being between the two rows, such converging of the cans moved by chain 16 would be blocked by the pusher pieces 23 unless they moved out of the way.

The trailing end of each carriage element 24 will automatically drop as soon as the end of track 26 is reached (FIG. 1), carrying the tooth 27 with it, thus offering no obstacle to the movement of the can transversely.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the cans in each of the two rows that are respectively moved by the can pusher elements or chains 15, 16 will be uniformly positioned with their seams all facing in the same direction by the time the cans reach the discharge ends of the chains.

Final orienting device At the discharge ends of chains 15, 16, and of guide rails 17, 18, are a pair of turrets generally designated 31 (FIG. 4), which turrets are supported for rotation on vertical stationary shafts 32, which shafts, in turn, are

supported on the stationary frame of the machine.

The vertical axes of the turrets 31 are respectively on the center lines of the paths of travel of the cans between the pairs of guide rails 17, 18. Hence the cans discharged or moved from between the guide rails at the discharge ends of the chains 15, 16 will be moved directly into a turret 31.

These turrets are of the same structure, hence the description of one will suffice for both.

FIG. shows one of the turrets in cross section. Each turret comprises a pulley 33 rotatable on shaft 32, and an endless belt 34 of special design extends around the pulley. This belt is of substantial vertical width and is formed with laterally outwardly opening equally spaced recesses 35 (FIG. 4) extending vertically from edge to edge of the belt, each recess being adapted to receive one of the cylindrical sides of a can 19 thereon and each recess extends the major distance between the ends of each can. The inner side of the belt may be formed with vertical grooves, as indicated in FIG. 4 to facilitate movement of the belt around the pulley.

Power driven pulleys 36 are at the discharge ends of the belts 34 and secured on vertical shafts 37 (FIG. 1), the latter being connected through conventional gearing with a motor for moving the belts in a direction away from pulleys 33.

These belts are related to the final orienting step only in that the cans are engaged between the belts after they have been moved from their positions at the discharge ends of chains 15, 16 around the belts at the pulleys 33 through substantially an arc of 90, and it is during the movement of the cans through this arc that the final orienting of the cans occurs.

The orienting means will now be described in detail.

Turret 31 carries upper and lower horizontal plates 38 having six equally spaced, radially outwardly projecting portions 39 (FIG. 4) each of which carries a roller 40 (FIGS. 4, 10) rotatable about a vertical axis.

Also journalled for rotation in the pulley 33 are six vertical shafts 41 equally spaced from the axis of shaft 32, and from each other. The lower end of each shaft 41 terminates at its lower end in a right angle extension having a roller 49 supported for rotation about a vertical axis in a position projecting radially outwardly of pulley 33. The upper end of each shaft 41 terminates above the pulley 33 and carries horizontally disposed rockers secured thereon, each rocker having arms 42, 43 extending angularly away from the juncture between said arms. Shaft 41 is secured to the rocker at said juncture.

Horizontal rollers 44, 45 are rotatably carried at the outer ends of said arms respectively, the roller 45 corresponding in position to roller 49 on the extension at the lower end of shaft 41, while roller 44 on the outer end of each arm 42 is a cam follower and arms 42 support these 6 followers at three different levels for engagement, respectively, with superposed cams 46, 47, 48 (FIGS. 10, 11-- 13) secured on shaft 32.

At this point it is to be understood that cams 46-48 are purely exemplary to illustrate cams having risers of different lengths as may be employed, but their arrangement relative to each other may differ as Well as the lengths of the risers.

Inasmuch as the carrier clip to which the cans are to be connected has, in the illustration, place for six cans in two rows of three cans each, the turrets will, in one complete revolution, deliver cans for two of the carrier clips. Hence, the two sets of three cans each and their cam followers on each turret are correspondingly arranged in each set.

Carried on shaft 32 adjacent to its upper end are six permanent magnets 50, and six corresponding magnets 51, at the lower end of the turret are secured to the latter for rotation therewith. The upper magnets are on the periphery of a plate 52 in exactly the same arrangement as magnets 51, plate 52 being rotatable on a hub that is vertically slidable on shaft 32 from a lower position (indicated on full line in FIG. 10) to an upper position 53, said hub being secured in either position by a set screw 54 that is adapted to slide from its lower position to its upper position in a vertical recess when loosened for moving the hub that rotatably carries the plate 52. In its lower position the magnets are adapted to engage the upper chimes on 11 and 12 oz. cans, while in its upper position the magnets are adapted to engage the upper chimes 15 and 16 oz. cans.

A vertical positioning pin 55 is secured on the upper end of pulley 33, which pin slidably extends through an opening in plate 52 to both drive the magnets by the pulley and to position the magnets correctly relative to the rockers and other rollers.

The magnets of the upper and lower set are accurately positioned with respect to the can rocker arms, as seen in FIG. 9, and the arm or pole pieces of each set of magnets are positioned to face the cans 19 at the level of the upper and lower chimes on the cans so that the chimes on the cans will move directly into contact with the magnet arms without change in the positions of the chimes relative to the vertical axis of each cam. This is clearly shown in FIG. 9.

The pusher elements of the pre-orienting device or structure, already described, may be synchronized in their movement with the movement of the turrets 31 to successively deliver the cans 19 to the magnets in the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the cans are immediately held by the magnets upon leaving the pre-orienting device.

Once the cans from the two rows are held by the magnets, the cans so held will be moved toward each other parallel with the convexly curved guide rails 57 that have their curvatures concentric with the axes of shafts 32 (FIGS. 4, 9). As long as the cans are held by the magnets they are spaced from said guide rails 57.

Cams 46-48 are secured on each shaft 32, the latter being stationary. As the turrets 31 revolve on shafts 32 to carry the cans with the magnets, the cam followers will engage risers 58, 59, 60 on cams 46, 47, 48 respectively (FIGS. 10-13).

When the cam followers 44 are actuated by their engagement with the risers, the rollers 45, 49 will be swung to force each can away from the magnets that were holding the cans, and the cans will be held against the curved guide rails 57 by rollers 45, 49 and 40 for rotation of the cans by engagement with said guide rails. The lengths of the cam risers 5860 determines the degree each can will roll, and the degree each can is to be rolled depends upon the result to be desired, such as the final placement of the seams on the cans, or the final placement of the printed matter on the cans when the cans reach the belts 34 and are delivered to the recesses on the belts, after which no further movement can occur insofar as rotation of the cans about their axes relative to the other cans in each package.

In FIG. 4, a can carrier or can connecting clip is indicated at 61 in a position having already received the first two cans in each of the two rows of cans.

In FIG. 4A, which is purely schematic, six cans A, B, C and A, B, C being shown in positions P, P, the positions P being the uppermost row shown in FIG. 4A and the cans in positions P being in the lowermost row.

The seams 29 of the cans when they are first held by the magnets are indicated by radial arrows at their peripheries, and the positions these seams are to occupy n the clip 61 are shown between the positions P and P of the cans. Since the cans of the upper row in positions P will rotate counterclockwise along rail 57 while the cans in positions P will rotate clockwise, it is obvious that the leading pair of cans at positions P, P will rotate different degrees to position the seams facing rearwardly, one rotating about 360 and the other rotating a very short distance. The lengths of the cam risers will therefore vary, since the cans will rotate only when freed from the magnets by the cams.

The second pair of cans will also rotate different distances in order to have the seams facing each other, while the same circumstance exists with the third pair of cans in order that the seams face forwardly. That is why the cams illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 are merely illustrative of cams of difierent lengths. Also it may be that the cans have one main label, and a certain arrangement of the labels relative to the package may be desired, or the can may have labels on two opposite sides, or it mayeven have three or four equally spaced labels. To obtain the desired arrangement of such labels in the package so the latter will have the best appearance depends upon the lengths of the risers on the cams and the relation between the risers.

In any event, the cans will be delivered to the receiving ends of the belts 34 where they will be gripped firmly between the adjacent runs of the belts in opposed recesses 35 for movement longitudinally of the parallel opposed runs of the pair of belts 34.

The carrier clip At this point in the description the carrier clip 61 is important since the leading pair of cans in a series of three in each row will be moved onto the leading end of the carrier clip as soon as the said leading cans are carried between the opposed sides of belts 34.

The movement of the belts is such that the outwardly opening can receiving recesses in the opposed parallel runs of the belts will be exactly opposed to each other as the belts are actuated.

The clip 61 that connects the six cans (two rows of three cans each) is seen in FIG. 20. These clips are .supported between vertical guide posts 65 (FIGS. 1, 2)

through an opening 66 in the machine frame onto the upper runs of a pair of endless chains 67 (FIGS. 14, 15, 16) extending over a pair of head sprocket wheels 68 (FIG. 3) and discharge wheels 69, the latter being at the discharge end of the machine and being power driven.

Secured on each of the chains at spaced intervals approximately equal to the length of each clip are upstanding lugs 70 (FIG. 14) that are adapted to successively engage the lowermost clip in the stack over opening 66 for removing the lowermost clip and moving it along a horizontally extending path of travel extending below the rows of cans. The chains themselves are supported on elongated guides 72 (FIG. 15) during the movement of the clips to the discharge ends of the chains, hence any downward pressure on the clips will be transmitted directly to the rigid guides 72 that, in turn, are secured on the rigid frame of the machine.

Also, chains 67 carry horizontal platforms 73 thereon that are coplanar from end to end of the upper runs of the conveyor chains for supporting the longitudinally extending marginal portions of the clips.

Referring to FIG. 20, which is a top plan view of a clip as it appears looking downwardly as it is supported on the platforms on the pair of chains 67. The carrier clip as seen in FIG. 20 will be connected with the lowermost ends of the cans 19, and then the cans with the clip attached thereto will be inverted so that the clip is uppermost, which is the normal position of a completed package. Hence, the side of the clip seen in FIG. 20 will actually be the underside of the clip in the finished package. However, for purpose of clarity, the words upper and lower, or words of similar import used in describing the clip and the method of attaching it to the cans will refer to the sides of the clip as positioned in the machine, and not as seen in the completed package.

Clip 61 of FIG. 20 has coplanar longitudinally extending marginal portions 74 and connecting end marginal portions 75 coplanar with portions 74. A central upstanding rib 76 extends from end to end of the carrier, and the laterally outwardly facing surfaces of the upwardly projecting rib are formed with three oppositely outwardly opening arcuate recesses 77 providing three seats on opposite sides of the rib in each of which the oppositely outwardly facing cylindrical sides of a cylindrical can adjacent to the lowermost chimes 20 of said cans are adapted to be seated.

At each of the three places where the recesses 77 are formed in rib 76 an opening 78 is formed and while each rib 76 extends centrally across each opening, the lower surface 79 of the rib (FIG. 21) is offset upwardly a disstance from the upper surface of the marginal portions 74 a distance equal to the width of the lower chimes 20.

Between the adjacent pairs of openings 78 the rib 76 is spread and divided to form a circular opening 80, there being two such. openings. These form finger openings for carrying the carrier and cans of the finished package.

Spring tongues 81 extend toward each other and toward the rib 76 in an upwardly inclined direction into openings 78 from opposite marginal portions 74.

FIG. 22 shows the normal position of these tongues 81 both before and after they have been sprung into can engaging and holding position.

The outer free edges 82 of the tongues 81 are arcuately curved and are spaced from the arcuately curved sides of the recesses 77 so as to substantially follow the curva ture of the radially inwardly facing surfaces of chimes 20 when the tongues are sprung past the chimes.

The lengths of the tongues 81 from their straight line hinge connections with the marginal portions 74 to their arcuate outer free edges is such that, when the lower chimes 20 on the cans are positioned below ribs 77 and against surface 79 of the ribs, and when the lower axially facing surfaces of the chimes are in engagement with the upper surfaces of marginal portions 74, the tongues 81 must be sprung past the lower axially facing surfaces of the chimes to spring back up to the position of the tongues in FIG. 22, and in which positions the tongues will not only be in nonyielding engagement with the radially inwardly facing surfaces of the chimes but will be in yieldable engagement with the lower heads 83 of cans 19 as seen in FIG. 22.

The clip applying mechanism Referring to FIG. 1 the arcuate guide rails 57 at the final orienting station direct the cans past a divider piece 85 (FIGS. 1, 4, 9) and below a supporting bracket 86, and as the clips reach a point where their vertical axes are substantially in the same plane with that in which the axes of the turrets 31, the adjacent runs of belts 34 will commence to progressively close on the oppositely outwardly facing sides of the pair of rows of the cans.

In FIG. 1 it is seen that a rigid backing plate 87 supported against the belt 34 on the side thereof opposite to the can engaging side is inclined in a horizontal plane to urge the cans in the row engaged by this belt toward the cans of the other row, and a corresponding backing plate (not shown) engages the other belt to urge it into progressively closer relation to the cans of the other row. Maximum pressure is applied at a point intermediate the ends of plates 87 and then the tension is progressively relieved as plates 87 extend slightly di- Vergently outwardly from the intermediate point. Plates 87 may be sprung centrally toward each other by screws 88 (FIG. 1) urging a pressure block against each plate at a point intermediate the end of each plate while the ends of the plate are held.

As a result of the above structure it is apparent that the adjacent sides of the cans in said rows will be tightly forced against the seats 77 in ribs 76 of the carrier clips.

At the same time as the above action occurs, a holddown belt 89 (FIG. 2) above the rows of cans will progressively force the cans downwardly against the clips. The lower run of this hold-down belt is slidably held against a rigid hold-down plate 90 that extends slantingly downwardly at the end 91 thereof under which the cans successively pass in their movement to the left. This hold-down belt is power actuated by conventional gears, sprocket wheels and chains that connect the rear end pulley 92 with a motor 93, and is timed to move at the same rate of speed as the cans.

As the cans move under the hold-down belt, the tongues 81 will be moved to the position shown in FIG. 21 in which they are substantially coplanar with marginal portions 74 and in this position they are under a substantial tension tending to spring them past the chimes to the position seen in FIG. 22, and in some instances they will automatically spring to this position.

In order to positively insure springing of the tongues past the chimes and to the position shown in FIG. 22, the spring tongues may each be formed on its underside with a small projection 94 (FIGS. 21, 22) and before the cans reach the discharge end of the hold-down belt they will pass over a first tucker wheel 95 (FIGS. 14, 16).

Tucker wheel 95 is formed with radially outwardly extending arms 96 that resemble spokes. This wheel is secured on a power driven shaft 97 for driving it counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 14. The outer ends of arms 96 are formed with feet 98 having radially outwardly facing surfaces that are concentric with the axis of shaft 97, but straight in cross sectional contour transversely of the wheel. The width of these feet is such as to engage and project past the axially downwardly facing surfaces of the chimes 20 and over the projections 94 on the spring tongues. Arms 96 are spaced apart so the feet will successively engage the said chimes where the chimes on the cans in one row are adjacent to the chimes on the cans in the other row as the tucker wheel 95 is rotated and as the cans are moved therepast.

Most of the tongues will spring past the chimes under pressure from the tucker wheel 95. It should be noted that this wheel rides on the chimes of the cans, and the feet are bevelled along their outer edges. Since the radially outwardly facing surfaces of each foot is arcuate circumferentially of the wheel, the pressure on each tongue is progressive, and not violent, and the holddown belt progressively springs the clips by pressure along the free end edges of the tongues, which is where the feet 98 apply their pressure. The tongues are not sprung by pressure applied other than adjacent to their free edges. This is an important feature, since there would be likelihood of the tongues breaking were they to he suddenly sprung (instead of progressively) and if the springing pressure were closed to the marginal portions 74.

A second power driven tucker wheel 100 may be pro- 10 vided after the tucker wheel 95, and this is preferably positioned substantially below the power driven pulley of the hold-down belt just before the cans move from under said belt.

Wheel has arms 101 the same as wheel 95, but instead of the feet 98, it is provided with resilient feet 102 that are also concentric with the axis of power driven shaft 103 to which the wheel 100 is secured. These feet 102 may be formed with a groove 104 (FIG. 15) adapted to receive the chimes 20 on the cans, and the portions of the feet at opposite sides of the groove will be urged past the chimes in an upward direction to yieldably urge the outer ends of any spring tongues that did not snap past said chimes, in an upward direction to positively insure movement of the tongues to can locking position.

As soon as the last pair of cans on a clip have moved past the rear end of the hold-down belt 89 the package is fully formed, and when inverted, will appear as seen in FIG. 23 with the clip 61 on top of the cans.

Before concluding this portion of the description, reference to FIG. 4 will show that the sides of recesses 35 in belts 34 are formed by vertical ribs 105 that are adapted to tightly engage the cylindrical sides of cans of slightly different diameters. For example, a can for 11 ounces of beverage may have the same diameter as one for 15 ounces, but a can for 12 ounces or 16 ounces may be slightly larger in diameter. When cans of either diameter are between the belts, the latter will hold them with equal firmness, and, as pointed out, the backing plates against the adjacent runs of cans is adjustable should it be necessary to regulate the pressure on the cans.

From the foregoing explanation, it is clear that there is no crimping action in applying the clip to the cans. The clip is not permanently deformed, and the tongues are held against the radially inner facing sides of the chimes by a thrust action that allows no yieldability, yet the sprung tongues yieldably engage the heads. This is a unique method of holding the cans together. The cans may, however, be easily separated from the clip by a combination twisting and swinging action.

It is also to be noted that there is no tipping of the cans in order to pivot the cans to a holding connection with clips, as has been attempted previously, and with the present invention, the package may be lifted as a whole by lifting one of the end cans, which is a desirable feature from a safety standpoint.

The clip feeder In FIG. 2 guides 65 and posts 108 may function to support the clip feeder, generally designated 107, in a position for feeding clips between the guides and feed opening 66 in FIG. 1.

This feeder, in brief, is adapted to carry a plurality of stacks of refills to refill the magazine that is formed by the guide strips 65.

Heretofore most carriers for beverages have been in the form of cardboard cartons. The machines form flat cardboard blanks around the groups of cans to form the package. Hence, the problem of maintaining large supply of flat cardboard blanks for feeding to the packaging machine is not diflicult.

Where the clips having substantial thickness and irregular contours form the carriers, the problem becomes complicated.

In the present instance a horizontally disposed upper endless chain 109 and a similarly disposed lower endless chain 110 are supported at one of their ends on an upper sprocket wheel 111 and a lower wheel 112 that, in turn, are secured to a vertical power driven shaft 113 (FIG. 18). These sprockets and the ends of the chains at said sprockets could be termed the discharge end, since the vertical stacks of clips are discharged at this end of the machine. The rear ends of chains 109 and 110 extend around upper and lower sprocket wheels 115, 116 sup- 1 l ported of a shaft 117 that is journalled at its ends for rotation in hearings on the frame 118 of the feeder.

Carried by said chains is an endless row of vertical, laterally outwardly opening channel strips 119. The upper ends of these strips are closed by a plate 120 (FIG. 17) having a laterally outwardly opening slot 121 formed therein. The backs of the channel strips are secured to the chains, hence the open sides of said strips are directed outwardly of the chains carrying them, and the slots 121 open outwardly in the same direction as the channel strips.

Along one side of the feeder (the lower side as seen in FIG. 17, and near side in FIG. 18) is an endless belt 123 having a horizontal upper run 124 that is supported by a rigid plate 125 for its entire length. This belts extends under the channel strips 119 at their lower ends in a position in which it is approximately half below the strips and half beyond them as seen in FIG. 17.

A stack of carrier clips supported on the upper run 124 of belt 123 extending transversely thereacross would extend for approximately half of their length into each of the channel strips 119 when the stack is balanced on the belt.

Suspended from the upper end of each channel strip in a position extending particularly over the plate is a horizontal strip 126 having openings 127 (FIG. 17 formed therein adjacent to its ends. Either of these openings is adapted to removably receive an upwardly extending pin 128 on plate 120 spaced beyond the closed end of slot 121.

A pair of vertical rods 129 (FIG. 19) depend from strip 126, these rods each being of a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of each of the finger openings 80 in the clips 61, and the spacing between the rods being equal to the spacing between the openings 80.

The rod and strip 126 may be lifted bodily off the upper end plate 120 of each channel strip 119 and as easily positioned on said plate 120.

An operator will load the rods. 129 with a stack of clips, the rods functioning as aligning means to keep the clips in accurate alignment. The stack or load of clips with the rods extending through the openings 80 in the clips are then positioned in the channel strips and strip 126 is positioned with the pin 128 extending through one of the openings 127 in said strip. The lower ends of the rods extend past opposite sides of belt 123, hence the stack of clips will be supported on the belt 123. Belt carrier 123 is connected by a conventional worm gear connection, as seen in FIG. 19A.

Extending from the discharge end of the belt 123 is an arcuately extending track 131. Each stack of clips successively moved to this track will be carried over it to the upper end of the feed magazine 65 (FIG. 17).

Electrically actuated motor 132 drives chains 109, 110 and conveyor belt 123 intermittently, and independently of the rest of the machine. In the electrical circuit acmating the motor is a photoelectric cell 133 (FIG. 18), the ray of which is intercepted to open the circuit to the motor as long as any carriers are in the feeder channel 119 that is over the magazine 65, but as soon as the last carrier clip in the channel is fed into the magazine 65, the beam is established to the selenium cell to start the motor, and to move the next carrier filled channel over the magazine, at which time microswitch 135 (FIG. 19) is actuated by a projection 136 on the plate 120 to break the circuit to the motor.

In operation, an operator will keep the channel strips on the feeder filled wit-h stacks of clips on the side of the feeder that is adjacent to belt 123. As the empty rods move past the magazine, they can be removed and reloaded. In actual practice practically all of the channel strips may be empty before each refilling operation, at which time the empty rods which are at the side of the feeder opposite to the conveyor belt 123 may be removed for reloading.

I claim:

1. A machine for connecting the annular chimes on one of the corresponding ends of a pair of adjacent cylindrical cans to a relatively rigid strip of material having opposite marginal portions adapted to extend over the axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their adjacent sides and which strip has oppositely outwardly facing can engaging seats between said marginal portions adapted to engage the adjacent cylindrical sides of the cans of such pair at said chimes and spring tongues inclined relative to and carried by said marginal portions having free outer end edges adjacent to said seats adapted to spring past said chimes into engagement with the radially iwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their said adjacent sides when said cylindrical sides are seated against said seats and said marginal portions are against said axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes; said machine comprising: strip supporting means for supporting such strip for movement in one direction along a predetermined path of travel; actuating means connected with said strip supporting means for so moving the latter along said predetermined path of travel; can moving means adjacent to said path enegageable with a pair of cans for moving said pair of cans onto said strip against said seats on the latter and onto said marginal portions during movement of said strip along said path; tongue engaging means adjacent to said path movable into engagement with the spring tongues on said strip for springing said tongue past the chimes on the said cans that are on said marginal portions during such movement of said strip along said path.

2. A machine for connecting the annular chimes on one of the corresponding ends of a pair of adjacent cylindrical cans to a relatively rigid strip of material having opposite marginal portions adapted to extend over the axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their adjacent sides and which strip has oppositely outwardly facing can engaging seats between said marginal portions adapted to engage the adjacent cylindrical sides of the cans of such pair at said chimes and spring tongues inclined relative to and carried by said marginal portions having free outer end edges adjacent to said seats adapted to spring past said chimes into engagement with the radially inwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their said adjacent sides when said cylindrical sides are seated against said seats and said marginal portions are against said axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes; said machine comprising: strip supporting means for supporting such strip for movement in one direction along a predetermined path of travel; actuating means connected with said strip supporting means for so moving the latter along said predetermined path of travel; can moving means adjacent to said path engageable with a pair of cans for moving said pair of cans onto said strip against said seats on the latter and onto said marginal portions during movement of said strip along said path; tongue engaging means adjacent to said path movable into engagement with the spring tongues on said strip for springing said tongue past the chimes on the said cans that are on said marginal portions during such movement of said strip along said path, said can moving means including a pair of turrets supported in spaced side by side relation at opposite sides of said path for rotation about parallel axes for movement of the adjacent sides of said turrets in said one direction; means supporting said pair of cans for movement to corresponding sides of said turrets spaced from said path and magnets on the sides of said turrets for magnetically holding said cans for carrying said cans therewith in said one direction toward said path; can releasing means on said turret actuatable for releasing said cans from said magnets upon movement of said cans to said path and to said positions on a strip.

3. A machine for connecting the annular chimes on one of the corresponding ends of a pair of adjacent cylindrical cans to a relatively rigid strip of material having 13 opposite marginal portions adapted to extend over the axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their adjacent sides and which strip has oppositely outwardly facing can engaging seats between said marginal portions adapted to engage the adjacent cylindrical sides of the cans of such pair at said chimes and spring tongues inclined relative to and carried by said marginal portions having free outer end edges adjacent to said seats adapted to spring past said chimes into engagement with the radially inwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their said adjacent sides when said cylindrical sides are seated against said seats and said marginal portions are against said axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes; said machine comprising: strip supporting means for supporting such strip for movement in one direction along a predetermined path of travel; actuating means connected with said strip supporting means for so moving the latter along said predetermined path of travel; can moving means adjacent to said path engageable with a pair of cans for moving said pair of cans onto said strip against said seats on the latter and onto said marginal portions during movement of said strip along said path; tongue engaging means adjacent to said path movable into engagement with the spring tongues on said strip for springing said tongue past the chimes on the said cans that are on said marginal portions during such movement of said strip along said path; can supporting means along opposite sides of said path for supporting said pair of cans for movement of said cans to said can moving means; and

guide means engageable with the lateral sides of said cans for holding said cans tilted on said supporting means for rolling said cans along said supporting means to said can 'moving means; and means for moving each of said cans on said supporting means and along said guide means to adapted to engage the adjacent cylindrical sides of the cans of such pair at said chimes and spring tongues inclined relative to and carried by said marginal portions having free outer end edges adjacent to said seats adapted to spring past said chimes into engagement with the radially inwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their said adjacent sides when said cylindrical sides are seated against said seats and said marginal portions are against said axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes; said machine comprising: strip supporting means for supporting such strip for movement in one direction along a predetermined path of travel; can moving means adjacent to said path engageable with a pair of cans for moving said pair of cans onto said strip against said seats on the latter and onto said marginal portions during movement of said strip along said path; tongue engaging means adjacent to said path movable into engagement with the spring tongues on said strip for springing said tongue past the chimes on the said cans that are on said marginal portions during such movement of said strip along said path, said tongue engaging means comprising a Wheel having radially outwardly extending arms thereon; means supporting said wheel in a position for rotation of the outer ends of said arms into engagement With both of the tongues on said pair of cans at a point along said path where said cans are against said seats and on said marginal portions.

5. A machine for connecting the annular chimes on one of the corresponding ends of a pair of adjacent cylindrical cans to a relatively rigid strip of material having opposite marginal portions adapted to extend over the axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their adjacent sides and which strip has oppositely outwardly facing can engaging seats between said marginal portions adapted to engage the adjacent cylindrical sides of the cans of such pair at said chimes and spring tongues inclined relative to and carried by said marginal portions having free outer end edges adjacent to said seats adapted to spring past said chimes into engagement with the radially inwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their said adjacent sides when said cylindrical sides are seated against said seats and said marginal portions are against said axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes; said machine comprising: strip supporting means for supporting said strip for movement in one direction along a predetermined path of travel; actuating means connected with said strip supporting means for so moving the latter along said predetermined path of travel; can moving means adjacent to said path engageable with a pair of cans for moving said pair of cans onto said strip against said seats on the latter and onto said marginal portions during movement of said strip along said path; tongue engaging means adjacent to said path movable into engagement with the spring tongues on said strip for springing said tongue past the chimes on the said cans that are on said marginal portions during such movement of said strip along said path, said can moving means including a pair of turrets supported in spaced side by side relation at opposite sides of said path for rotation about parallel axes for movement of the adjacent sides of said turrets in said one direction; means supporting said pair of cans for movement to corresponding sides of said turrets spaced from said path, and magnets on the sides of said turrets for magnetically holding said cans for carrying said cans therewith in said one direction toward said path; can releasing means on said turret actuatable for releasing said cans from said magnets upon movement of said cans to said path and to said positions on a strip; endless belts extending around said turrets at one of their ends and laterally outwardly opening recesses in said belts in which each of said cans is adapted to be received, pulleys at the opposite ends of said belts from said turrets around which the opposite belts extend, and means positioning said pulleys for supporting one of the flights on each belt in opposed relation to one of the flights of the other belt whereby the said recesses in said flights will be in opposedly opening relation for holding one of the cans of said pair in each recess; and means adjacent to each turret holding the end portions of said opposed flights in positions extending convergently relative to each other in direction away from said turrets.

6. A machine for connecting the annular chimes on one of the corresponding ends of a pair of adjacent cylindrical cans to a relatively rigid strip of material having opposite marginal portions adapted to extend over the axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their adjacent sides and which strip has oppositely outwardly facing can engaging seats between said marginal portions adapted to engage the adjacent cylindrical sides of the cans of such pair at said chimes and spring tongues inclined relative to and carried by said marginal portions having free outer end edges adjacent to said seats adapted to spring past said chimes into engagement with the radially inwardly facing surfaces of said chimes at their said adjacent sides when said cylindrical sides are seated against said seats and said marginal portions are against said axially outwardly facing surfaces of said chimes; said machine comprising: strip supporting means for supporting such strip for movement in one direction along a predetermined path of travel; actuating means connected with said strip supporting means for so moving the latter along said predetermined path of travel; can moving means adjacent to said path engageable with a pair of cans for moving said pair of cans onto said strip against said seats on the latter and onto said marginal portions during movement of said strip along said path; tongue engaging means adjacent to said path movable into engagement with the spring tongues on said strip for springing said tongues past the chimes on the said cans that are on said marginal portions during such movement of said strip along said path; said strip supporting means including a pair of spaced parallel conveyors, and means along each of said conveyors for rollingly supporting said cans on one of their ends for predetermined degrees; each of said cans being of the type having a seam on one of its sides; and means on said conveyors adapted to engage each of such seams at a predetermined point along said conveyors for limiting the degree of rotation of each can to said predetermined degree.

7. In a packaging machine adapted to connect a pair of parallel rows of cans together at one of their corresponding ends with a carrier clip: a pair of spaced can supporting means for supporting said two rows of cans having side seams upright on their lower ends for movement longitudinally of said rows in the same direction along parallel paths of travel; means for rotating the cans in said rows about their axes during said movement; clip supporting means between said pair of can supporting means for supporting such carrier clips for movement in said same direction; seam engaging means along each of said can supporting means engageable with said seams on the cans of said rows during said rotation of said cans for holding said cans in each row against rotation thereof by the seam of each can when the seams on the cans in each row face the same direction; means for moving said cans, and said clips in said one direction; clip applying means at a point beyond the position of said seam engaging means in the direction of travel of said cans for securing said carrier clip to the cans of said rows at one of the corresponding ends of said cans.

8. In a packaging machine adapted to connect a pair of parallel rows of cans together at one of their corresponding ends with a carrier clip: a pair of spaced can supporting means for supporting said two rows of cans having side seams upright on their lower ends for movement longitudinally of said rows in the same direction along parallel paths of travel; means for rotating the cans in said rows about their axes during said movement; clip supporting means between said pair of can supporting means for supporting such carrier clips for movement in said same direction; searn engaging means along each of said can supporting means engageable with said seams on the cans of said rows during said rotation of said cans for holding said cans in each row against rotation thereof by the seam of each can when the seams on the cans in each row face the same direction during said movement of said cans in said one direction; clip applying means at a point beyond the position of said seam engaging means in the direction of travel of said cans for securing said carrier clip to the cans of said rows at one of the corresponding ends of said cans; means along said path between said seam engaging means and clip applying means releasing said seam engaging means from engagement with said seams; said seam engaging means including teeth respectively slidably engaging a lateral side of each can; and means including said teeth for moving the cans in each row in said same direction during said rotation of said cans to positions in which said seams thereon are in engagement with said teeth.

9. In a packaging machine adapted to connect a pair of parallel rows of cans together at one of their corresponding ends with a carrier clip: a pair of spaced can supporting means for supporting said two rows of cans having side seams upright on their lower ends for movement longitudinally of said rows in the same direction along parallel paths of travel; clip supporting means between said pair of can supporting means for supporting such carrier clips for movement in said same direction; seam engaging means along each of said can supporting means engageable with said seams on the cans of said rows for holding said cans in each row with the seams on the cans in each row facing the same direction during said movement of said cans in said one direction; clip applying means at a point beyond the position of said seam engaging means in the direction of travel of said cans for securing said carrier clip to the cans of said rows at one of the corresponding ends of said cans; said clip applying means including an endless chain adapted to support one of said carrier clips thereon for movement in the same direction as said rows of cans, and on which said pair of rows of cans is adapted to be supported at their lower ends, can moving means engageable with the cans in said pair of rows for moving them onto said clip in positions for securing said clips to said cans; and means for connecting said clips to said cans including a hold-down belt spaced above said chain for firmly holding said cans against a clip on said chain, and means below said clip for actuating the latter to can connecting relation.

10. In a packaging machine for packaging a pair of rows of upright cylindrical cans having radially and axially outwardly projecting chimes at their lower ends and a seam on one side of each can; can supporting means for moving said cans longitudinally of said rows in one direction in separate paths of travel; can engaging means for rolling said cans on said can supporting means along said paths of travel about the substantially vertical extending axes of the respective cans of said rows; seam engaging means adapted to engage the lateral sides of said cans during such rolling thereof and into holding relation with the seams of such cans for stopping the rolling of each can upon such engagement of said seam engaging means with said seams; said seam engaging means being at the same side of said rows of cans whereby the seams of the cans of said rows will be oriented to face in the same direction during said movement of said rows of cans in said one direction.

11. In a packaging machine for packaging a pair of rows of upright cylindrical cans having radially and axially outwardly projecting chimes at their lower ends and a seam on one side of each can; can supporting means for moving said cans longitudinally of said rows in one direction in separate paths of travel; can engaging means for rolling said cans on said can supporting means along said paths of travel about the substantially vertical extending axes of the respective cans of said rows; seam engaging means adapted to engage the lateral sides of said cans during such rolling thereof and into holding relation with the seams of such cans for stopping the rolling of each can upon such engagement of said seam engaging means with said seams, said seam engaging means being at the same side of said rows of cans whereby the seams of the cans of said rows will be oriented to face in the same direction during said movement of said rows of cans in said one direction; can moving means along said paths enageable with said cans after the engagement between said seam engaging means and the seams on said cans for moving the end cans of said rows topositions generally facing the cans between said end cans whereby the seams on said end cans will be substantially concealed by the cans therebetween, and means for connecting a can holding clip on one of the corresponding ends of the cans of said rows for securing the cans of said rows together.

12. In a packaging machine for packaging a pair of rows of upright cylindrical cans having radially and axially outwardly projecting chimes at their lower ends and a seam on one side of each can; can supporting means for moving said cans longitudinally of said rows in one direction in separate paths of travel; can engaging means for rolling said cans on said can supporting means along said paths of travel about the substantially vertical extending axes of the respective cans of said rows; seam engaging means adapted to engage the lateral sides of said cans during such rolling thereof for connecting with the seams of such cans and for stopping the rolling of each can upon such engagement of said seam engaging means with said seams, said seam engaging means being at the same side of said rows of cans whereby the seams of the cans of said rows will be oriented to face in the same direction during said movement of said rows of cans in said one direction; can moving means along said paths engageable with said cans after the engagement between said seam engaging means and the seams on said cans for moving the end cans of said rows to positions generally facing the cans between said end cans whereby the seams on said end cans will be substantially concealed by the cans therebetween, and means for connecting a can holding clip on one of the corresponding ends of the cans of said rows for securing the cans of said rows together; said can moving means including a pair of annular rows of magnets positioned to intercept the cans of said rows thereof; means supporting the magnets of said rows thereof for movement about vertical axes at the ends of said paths in the same direction at the adjacent sides of said rows whereby said cans will be carried by said magnets toward each other from the ends of said paths; means for carrying the cans away from the adjacent sides of said rows of magnets and away from said magnets along parallel rows.

13. In a packaging machine adapted to connect together successive groups of cans in a pair of parallel rows thereof by elongated can connecting clips extending longitudinally of said pair of rows in a single row extending longitudinally of said pair of rows comprising: can supporting means for supporting a pair of parallel rows of upright cans for movement horizontally in one direction longitudinally of said rows; clip supporting means for supporting a single row of elongated clips in longitudinal alignment for movement longitudinally of said single row in the same direction as the direction of movement of said pair of rows and in positions below said rows of cams with the cans in each group in lapping engaging relation with one of the clips in said single row; means for feeding clips to one end of said single row for movement therewith in said one direction comprising a vertical magazine adapted to hold a vertical stack of said clips with the lowermost clip coplanar with the clips of said single row; means for supplying clips to the upper end of said magazine comprising a horizontally extending row of clip carriers each adapted to carry a stack of said clips to and over the upper end of said magazine for discharge into said upper end; and clip supporting means supporting said clip carriers of said row for movement thereof successively to the upper end of said magazine and actuating means 18 connected to said clip carriers for effecting said movement thereof.

14. In a packaging machine adapted to connect together successive groups of cans in a pair of parallel rows thereof by elongated can connecting clips extending longitudinally of said pair of rows in a single row extending longitudinally of said pair of rows comprising: can supporting means for supporting a pair of parallel rows of upright cans for movement horizontally in one direction longitudinally of said rows; clip supporting means for supporting a single row of elongated clips in longitudinal alignment for movement longitudinally of said single row in the same direction as the direction of movement of said pair of rows and in positions below said rows of cans with the cans in each group in lapping engaging relation with one of the clips in said single row; means for feeding clips to one end of said single row for movement therewith in said one direction comprising a vertical magazine adapted to hold a vertical stack of said clips with the lowermost clip coplanar with the clips of said single row; means for supplying clips to the upper end of said magazine comprising a horizontally extending row of clip carriers each adapted to carry a stack of said clips to and over the upper end of said magazine for discharge into said upper end, and clip supporting means supporting said clip carriers of said row for movement thereof successively to the upper end of said magazine and actuating means connected to said clip carriers for effecting said movement thereof; said clip carriers including a horizontally extending endless conveyor for directly supporting the clips of each stack thereon for movement with said conveyor and supports for holding each stack of clips vertical and together during said movement of said stacks with said conveyor, said conveyor extending to the upper end of said magazine along parallel rows,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,498 2/ 1935 Nordquist.

2,577,341 12/1951 Magnusson 19833.2 2,843,253 7/1958 Peterson et a1. 198-334 2,892,296 6/1959 Fisher 53-48 X 2,919,525 1/1960 Rothenberger 53-48 X 3,096,575 7/1963 Cook 19833.2 X

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. 7. IN A PACKAGING MACHINE ADAPTED TO CONNECT A PAIR OF PARALLEL ROWS OF CANS TOGETHER AT ONE OF THEIR CORRESPONDING ENDS WITH A CARRIER CLIP: A PAIR OF SPACED CAN SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID TWO ROWS OF CANS HAVING SIDE SEAMS UPRIGHT ON THEIR LOWER ENDS FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID ROWS IN THE SAME DIRECTION ALONG PARALLEL PATHS OF TRAVEL; MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CANS IN SAID ROWS ABOUT THEIR AXES DURING SAID MOVEMENT; CLIP SUPPORTING MEANS BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF CAN SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCH CARRIER CLIPS FOR MOVEMENT IN SAID SAME DIRECTION; SEAM ENGAGING MEANS ALONG EACH OF SAID CAN SUPPORTING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SEAMS ON THE CANS OF SAID ROWS DURING SIAD ROTATION OF SAID CANS FOR HOLDING SAID CANS IN EACH ROW AGAINST ROTATION THEREOF BY THE SEAM OF EACH CAN WHEN THE SEAMS ON THE CANS IN ECH ROW FACE THE SAME DIRECTION; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CANS, AND SAID CLIPS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION; CLIP APPLYING MEANS AT A POINT BEYOND THE POSITION OF SAID SEAM ENGAGING MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID CANS FOR SECURING SAID CARRIER CLIP TO THE CANS OF SAID ROWS OF ONE OF THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID CANS.

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