US3225512A

US3225512A - Packaging machine

Info

Publication number: US3225512A
Application number: US223743A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F Bulger; Lucas Stephen; Walter D Gurdack; James F Cain
Original assignee: BAYUK CIGARS Inc
Current assignee: PHILLIES CIGAR Co
Priority date: 1962-09-14
Filing date: 1962-09-14
Publication date: 1965-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 R. F. BULGER ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1962 8 S1f1e1ets-S1ueei*l l ATTOR NEYS Dec- 28, 1965 R. F. BULGER ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 K 0 70S mmsmm .w n OWARA j N TUGUC m R NBUG d E L .F O ww VE DS y T N E T WTF-HM A @Q my? i-: @Q M Filed Sept. 14, 1962 Dec- 28, 1965 R. F. BULGER ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 loo ROBERT F. BULGER STEPHEN LucAs Fl G. 3. BY wALTER n. suRDAcK a JAMES F. GAIN Dec. 28, 1965 R. F. BULGER ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed sept. 14, 1962 e sheets-sheet 4 HllllllllllllllllllllilllllHlll lllllllllllllllllllllIIIII IIIII Il Il Il Il Il H INVENTOR ROBERT F. BULGER F I G 4 STEPHEN LUGAS BY WALTER D. GURDAGK B JAMES F. GAIN ATTORNEYS DCC- 28, 1965 R. F. BULGr-:R ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 14, 1962 Dec. 28, 1965 R. F. BULGER ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 14, 1962 FIG. 8.

INVENTORS nw A GSD LARN uwwm BL .C D FNRF E MHP-s EPTE BELM OTAA RSWJ Y mi wif* @yay ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1965 R F, BULGER ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed sept. 14, 1962 8 sheets-sheet v se 39o /395 6 394 ses 397 39e sal- E E arl-rIE ses 54 o. m

@152 L/'ssa 384 U f 5 'i n 376 Y 37e aso FIG. IO.

INVENTORS ROBERT F. BULGER STEPHEN LUGAS BY WALTER D. GURDAGK 8 JAMES F. GAIN gm, M154 Y #Mfg ATTOR N EYS Dec. 28, 1965 R. F. BULGER ETAL 3,225,512

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS ROBERT F. BULGER STEPHEN LUCAS BY WALTER D. GURDAGK & JAMES F. GAIN United States Patent O 3,225,5l2 PACKAGING MACHINE Robert F. Bulger, Levittown, Pa., Stephen Lucas, Ilellmawr, NJ., and Walter I). Gnrtlaclr and .lames F. Cain, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner-s to Bayul; Cigars Incorporated, Fhiladclphia, Pa., a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 223,743 Claims. (Cl. 53-159) This invention relates to the art of packaging and, more particularly, to a machine which automatically counts a predetermined number of packages, stacks the packages, opens a carton, inserts the stack of packages into the carton, partially closes said carton and discharges the partially closed carton..

In the cigar manufacturing industry it is customary to sell cigars in pocket sized packages containing live cigars commonly referred to as fivepacks. It is also conventional practice to display such five-packs at a tobacco counter in a display carton, the display carton containing perhaps ten five-packs and having a flap portion carrying an advertisement concerning the cigars contained therein.

Prior to the present invention, it was necessary to employ a considerable number of persons to count and stack each ten five-packs and insert them into a display carton prior to shipping the cartons to the tobacco distributor. The present invention eliminates this manual labor by providing a machine which accomplishes all of these steps in a fully automatic manner and which requires the presence of only one attendant for operating a group of such machines.

In addition, the present invention greatly increases the production rate of such packaging so that the rate of the entire manufacturing process from beginning to inal packaging is substantially increased.

The above objects, as well as others more particularly relating to the details of construction and operation, will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the complete packaging machine;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, top plan View showing the central portion of the machine illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view, partly in section, taken along the plane indicated by line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken along the plane indicated by line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7 7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational View taken along the plane represented by line 8 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional View taken along the plane indicated by line 9 9 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 1G is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line N ll) in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE ll is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry which controls the automatic operation of the machine.

Reference is first made to FIGURES l through 4 wherein the various components of the packaging machine are shown as being mounted on upper and

lower shelves

20 and 22, respectively, the shelves being secured to a plurality of upright legs one of which is shown ICC at 24 in FIGURE 3. This double shelf construction permits the location. of all of the operating components i.e., those components which come into contact with the livepacks and the display cartons, to be located in a common plane on the upper shelf removed from most of the drive elements such as the various gears and power sources which may be conveniently positioned on the lower shelf,

thus requiring a minimum of iloor space along the proe duction line.

Numeral 26 generically designates a conveyor which may be of the belt type or merely a chute through which the individual five-packs are conveyed in the direction of arrow Ztl into the machine at the feed point indicated by letter A in FIGURES l through 4. In this position, one live-pack is supported by the horizontal, upper surface of a plunger Sta rigidly secured to the upper end of a push-rod 32. The upper portion of rod 32 passes through a guide block 36 rigidly secured to a vertically extending support 33 the lower end of which is bolted to bracket 3% stationarily mounted on shelf 22. The lower end of rod 32 carries a movable guide block lll which is limited to vertical motion by a pair of vertical bars 42 also secured to support 3S. Movable block 49 carries a roller 34 and a laterally extending pin 44 to which one end of tension spring i6 is connected, the other end of the spring being secured to stationary pin i5 thereby providing a biasing force in the downward direction so as to maintain roller 34 in constant engagement with the surface of a cam Sti. Cam 50 is secured to drive shaft 52 journaled in bearings 5d and 56 whereby plunger Sil is reciprocated vertically for the purpose of pushing each individual ve-pack upwardly into stacking and counting mechanism 6d.

Stacking and counting mechanism 60 includes a pair of members 62 which are pivotally mounted on rods 64 secured to support plates 66 such that the upper ends of the members are capable of lateral movements toward and away from each other, the lower ends of plates 66 being secured to frame 68 and the upper ends thereof being secured to shelf 2li. Each of the members 62 is biased toward the other by a compression' spring 70 contained in a cylinder 7l mounted on each of plates 66. The closed end of cylinders 7l mount adjustment screws 72 whereby the biasing force Aof the springs may be adjusted. The amount of movement of members 62 toward each other is limited by the heads of bolts 74 which are also secured to plates 66. Each of the members is further provided with a converging cam surface 76 against which the five-pack bears as it is pushed upwardly by plunger 3d. Thus, the members are forced away from each other against the biasing force of springs 7@ as each live-pack is pushed upwardly therethrough. As each live-pack is raised to the extent that its lower surface is slightly above the plane defined by the upper, horizontal surfaces of members 62, the members snap back to the position shown in FIGURE 3 under the influence of the springs. In this manner, members 62 coact to form a false bottom for mechanism 60 the upper portion of which is dened by

vertical wall members

78, 79, 80 and a pair of spring biased doors 82.

Wall member 78 adjustably mounts a switch 138, the vertical position of which may be set so that the switch is actuated by the top live-pack when the stack reaches a preselected number such as ten.

As most clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 each of doors 82 includes a vertical, non-rotational shaft 84 which is mounted at its upper end in a suitable bracket 86 attached to one of crosspieces 88, the lower ends of the shafts 84 being secured by brackets 9G positioned on shelf 2Q. Each shaft carries a torsion spring 92 one end of which is secured by collar 94 rigidly carried by the shaft and the other end of which bears against the surface of the associated door 82. Thus, each of doors 82 is capable of opening in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 2 so that the stack of tive-packs may be moved to the left over plate 95 from position A to po.- sition B by lateral displacement mechanism 100 which is actuated by switch 138.

The lateral displacement mechanism 100 includes a pair of

endless chains

102, 104 running over

sprockets

106, 108 and 110, 112 respectively. Sprockets 108 and 112 are journalled for rotation on adjustable shaft 113, whereas,

sprockets

106 and 110 are driven by shaft 114 which, as shown in FIGURE 4, is driven by chain 116 from drive sprocket 120.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the chains are rigidly connected by three

bridges

122, 123 and 124 which carry pairs of

arms

126, 127 and 128, respectively. It will be understood that the chains rotate clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, so that

arms

126, 127, and i128 are operative to slide the stack of five-packs from position A to position B over plate 95 as will be subsequently described in more detail. At this point, it should be noted that the push arms are positioned so as to straddle a hold-down bar 130 which is loosely supported at opposite ends by a pair of bolts 132 secured to

walls

78 and 134 by means such as blocks 136. It will also be noted that a microswitch 83 is adjustably mounted on crosspiece 88 at a position such that it is engaged by the edge of the bridges as they move the five-packs from position A to position B, the purpose of this switch being deferred at this point.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, numeral 140 designates a pneumatic power cylinder having a push block 142 secured to operating plunger 144. Wall 134 carries a microswitch 146 which is operative to actuate cylinder 140 so as to move pusher 142 in the direction of arrow 148 so that the stack iof live-packs may be moved from position B to position C, the latter position being the point at which the five-packs are inserted into a display carton as will be subsequently described in detail.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 1, 2, and 9 which illustrate the display carton holding mechanism 150. This mechanism includes a pair =of spaced,

parallel rails

152, 154 which underlie a pair of transversely extending

support members

156, 158 having L-shaped crosssections as shown in FIGURE 5. Rail 152 also serves as a support for vertically extending wall 160 which has a pair of

upstanding members

162 and 164. Member 156 also supports a pair of

upstanding members

165 and 166, While member 158 supports an additional pair of

upstanding members

168 and 170. A second pair of

support members

172 and 174 extend toward each other and are welded together along their interfaces at 176.

Member 172 is supported at one end from rail 154, whereas, member 174 is supported by connection to transverse member `158. In this manner, the right angle corner formed by

members

172 and 174 forms a cantilever support for

upstanding members

178, 180 and 182, member 174 also supporting upstanding member 184. Thus, the upstanding members act collectively to define an L-shaped area in which a plurality of folded display cartons 185 may be stacked vertically. It will also be noted that each of the upstanding members is supported such that its bottom edge is spaced a short distance above the plane of shelf so that a clearance space is provided through which the bottommost display carton may be slid out from under the stack.

As most clearly shown in FIGURE 9, the amount of this clearance space may be adjusted by varying the vertical position of a plate 186 secured to the upstanding wall portion of support member 172 by a pair of screws 188 passing through slots 190. The upper portion of plate 186 is bent at right angles so as to provide a tab 192 through which an adjusting bolt 194 extends, the

bottom of the bolt bearing against the horizontally extending portion of member 172. n

As further shown in FIGURE 9, one end of a guide plate 208 is suspended from support member 172 by means of a pair of

blocks

202, 204 having

bolts

206, 208 passing therethrough. This guide plate extends to the right as viewed in FIGURE 2 having its mid-portion suspended from transverse member 158 by means of depending

blocks

210, 212 having

bolts

214, 216 passing therethrough. Plate 200 extends further to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, and terminates along edge 218 which forms a junction between plate 200 and plate 95, it being understood that the upper surfaces of these two plates are coplanar.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5, plate 200 also serves as a support for the inserting mechanism 300 the details of which will be described hereinafter.

Immediately below carton stacking mechanism shelf 20 is provided with a pair of

slots

220, 222 which receive a pair of slide bar-

s

224 and 226, respectively. As most clearly shown in FIGURE 6, a horizontally disposed plate 228 is rigidly secured to the upper surfaces of

bars

224 and 226 which are also rigidly connected to crosshead 230 by means of

bolts

232 and 234. These bolts also carry a pair of lateral guide bars 236, 238 which slide over spaced

support members

240 and 242 rigidly secured to the bottom surface of shelf 20. In this manner, reciprocating motion of crosshead 230 is transmitted to plate 228 so that the right hand edge 244 is 0perative to engage the lowermost carton and move the carton from beneath the stack to the right so that flap portion 187 of carton 185 comes to rest beneath plate 200 and inserting mechanism 300, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Continuing with particular reference to FIGURE 5, a vacuum supply tube 246 is mounted beneath shelf 20 and supplies a vacuum pressure through fitting 248 and through a plurality of ports 250 to the underneath side of the bottommost carton so that the suction pressure pulls the bottommost carton flatly against shelf 20 prior to the actuation of plate 228.

Reciprocating motion is transmitted to crosshead 230 and plate 228 by means of plunger 252 of pneumatic cylinder 254 which lis suspended beneath shelf 20 by a pair of

brackets

256, 258.

The carton opening mechanism 260 will now be described with particular reference to FIGURES l, 2, 5 and 7. This mechanism includes a tilting plate 262 the lower edge of which is hinged to the bottom surface of shelf 20 by a suitable hinge 264 so that the plate may move from the slanted position illustrated in FIGURE 5 to the vertical position illustrated in FIGURE 1. Movement of the plate is accomplished by means of a lever 266 the upper portion of which is secured to the underneath side of the plate. The lower portion of lever 266 carries a laterally extending pin 268 to which one end of a tension spring 269 is connected, the other end of the spring being secured to stationary bracket 270 which depends from shelf 20. Between lever 266 and the point at which the spring is attached, pin 268 passes beneath a latch 272 having a notch which receives and locks pin 2.68. Latch 272 is pivotally secured to bracket 276 by pin 278 and is rigidly connected to depending lever 280 which, in turn, is .actuated by plunger 282 of solenoid 284. In this manner, the solenoid is operative to pivot latch 272 so as to unlock pin 268 and thereby permit spring 269 to tilt plate 262 from the slanted position of FIG- URE 5 to the vertical position of FIGURE 1.

Lever 266 is also pivotally connected to an `actuating rod 288 which extends from the lever, through an oversize aperture 290 in cross head 230, `and terminates in a free end 292 which carries a rigid stop 294 and an abutment spring 296. It will be understood that plunger 252 is operative to move crosshead 230 to the left from the position shown in FIGURE 5. This compresses spring 296 against stop 294 and moves rod 288 to the left-most position illustrated in FIGURE 5 against the action of spring 269 whereby plate 262 is pivoted from the vertical position shown in FIGURE 1 to the slanted position shown in FIGURE 5 wherein it is held by latch 272. A microswitch 298 is rigidly supported beneath shelf 23 at the position shown in FIGURE 5 so that it is actuated by crosshead 230 when the latter is moved to its left-most position. This microswitch i-s connected to actuate .a solenoid valve for reversing the direction of plunger 252 as will be subsequently described in detail.

The inserting mechanism 300 will now be described with particular reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 5. Referring rst to FIGURE 5, the inserting mechanism includes a pair of

vertical walls

302 and 304 the bottom portions of which are bent at right angles and secured to support plate 201) by a plurality of boits. A ceiling 3136 is supported between the walls by a pair of angle braces 368 and 3M. A cross-member 312 is secured to the ceiling and provides a pair of

upstanding projections

314, 316 which receive one end of .a pair of springs 313, 320. The opposite ends of the springs are secured, respectively, to each one of a pair of

doors

321 and 322 which are hinged to the walls along their vertical edges. A third door or flap 324 is hinged to ceiling 306 with a horizontally disposed hinge so that the ap hangs vertically when

doors

321, 322 are closed as shown in FIGURE 5. However, as the doors are opened to the position shown in phantom line in FIGURE 2, ap 324 swings upwardly and assumes a horizontal position .as also shown in phantom line.

The inserting mechanism 300 further includes a vertical back-up door 326 which is suspended from suitable side brackets 32S and 330 by means of a horizontal hinge. The back side of door 326 is provided with a weigh-t 332 so that the door provides a movably backing surface for the display carton which is capable of being swung upwardly to a horizontal position so as to permit the display carton to pass therethrough in the direction of arrow 334.

The discharge mechanism will now be described with particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 8. As shown in FIGURE 1, a pair of

vertical walls

336, 338 extend horizontally along the edges of a conveyor belt 340 which, as shown in FIGURE 4, is driven by endless chain 342 overrunning

sprockets

344 and 346.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a gui-de wml 34S is cantilevered from wall 333 so that it forms a narrow passage in conjunction with wall 336, the latter of which supports a switch 337 the operation of which will be subsequently described. The display cartons containing the live-packs pass through this narrow space in an upright position, ie., a position wherein the five-packs are stacked vertically and actuate switch 337. In order to tilt the display cartons so that the stack of vepacks lie in a horizontal position, a knock-over bar 356 is positioned such that it engages the display carton at a point above its midcenter and knock-s the carton over to a horizontal position.

At the extreme upper right corner of FIGURE 1, a pneumatic cylinder 352 is illustrated which includes a plunger 354 to which a pushing block 356 is secured. Block 356 carries a horizontal cam strip 35S which actuates microswitch 360 and a second microswitch 362 is secured to a rear wall 364. Each di-splay carton actuates microswitch 362 as it is moved in the direction of arrow 366 by the conveyor and it will be understood that

switches

360 and 362 control the operation of cylinder 352.

An additional wall 368 is provided parallel to wall 364 and the former includes a .sloping portion 37) which guides the display carton and acts to fold the flap of th-e carton as it is discharged in the direction of arrow 372 under the pushing action of 'block 356. A hold-down spring 355 is secured to Wall 336 in order to frictionally engage the last carton and prevent it from moving back- Wards upon the sudden release of the compres-sive force exerted by block 356 when the latter is retracted.

The mechanical drive for each of the above described components will now be set forth with particular reference to FIGURE l0. Shaft 52, supported in

bearings

54 and 56, is rotated by sprocket 375 carrying drive chain 377 which may be driven from any suitable power source (not shown). Shaft 52 rotates cani 56 so as to reciprocate plunger 3ft in the manner set forth hereinbefore in the description of FIGURES 3 and 4. In addition, shaft 52 rotates shaft 376 through bevel gears 373 and 379. Shaft 376 is journalled in bearing 360, 332 and carries a sprocket 384 which drives chain 386 in a continuous manner. This continuous drive is converted to an intermittent drive -by means of brake and clutch assembly 390.

rThis assembly includes a shaft 391 journalled in

bearings

392, 393 which rotatively carries a brake disc 394 and clutch disc 395. Chain 386 continuously rotates a sprocket 396 kwhich is journalled on shaft 391 so as to rotate relative thereto. Thus, shaft 391 rotates sprocket 121) and chain 116 only when clutch disc 395 is shifted into engagement with :sprocket 396 by clutch solenoid 397. Conversely, rotation of shaft 391 may be stopped by disengagement of the clutch disc and simultaneous engagement of brake disc 394 by brake 393 actuated by brake solenoid 399. In this manner, the continuous drive from chain 336 is converted to an intermittent drive for operating lateral shifting mechanism 160.

A motor 460 is secured to shelf 22 having an output drive shaft 462 which rotates sprocket 346 so as to continuously drive conveyor belt 34) through chain 342 and sprocket 344. Thus, plunger '36, lateral shifting mechanism and conveyor belt 346 are each driven through the mechanical drive means just described, whereas, pneumatic cylinders are employed to actuate

push blocks

142, 356, plate 22S and tilting plate 262. The control system for these cylinders will now be described with particular reference to FIGURE lil.

Pneumatic cylinders

146, 254 and 352 are actuated by double-acting solenoid operated valves 464, 4116 and 438, respectively. The windings of these solenoids are connected to a power source 410 having a manual on-off :switch 412 through a plurality of the previously mentioned switches as follows. The first winding of solenoid 494 is 4connected to the power source through switch 146 such that the closure of this normally open switch moves the Valve associated with solenoid 434 so as to extend pusher 142. The second winding of solenoid 434 and the first winding of solenoid 4416 are connected to the power source through normally open .switch 337 such that closure of this switch moves the valves associated with the respective solenoids whereby pusher 142 is retracted and crosshead 236 is simultaneously extended. The second winding of solenoid 466 is connected through switch 298 such that, when the crosshead is fully extended, it closes normally open switch 298 which actuates the valve associated with solenoid 406 to retract the crosshead. Similarly, the windings of solenoid 468 are connecte-d to the power 4source through

switches

362 and 360. Thus, when a filled display carton depresses normally open switch 362, the valve associated with solenoid 433 is actuated so as to extend pusher 356. On the other hand, normally open switch 360 is of the type wherein the movable contact is biased outwardly so that it is held in open position by cam strip 358 until the pusher is fully extended. Thus, when the pusher is fully extended, the right-hand edge of the cam strip is to the left of switch 36), whereupon, the switch closes and energizes solenoid 408 so as to reverse the valve associated therewith and thereby retract pusher 356. In this manner, the vepacks automatically actuate the various switches and, in turn, the switches actuate the cylinders which move the stack to the next position.

Motor `411@ is connected .to a second power source 414 through a manually operated on-off switch 416 so that conveyor 340 is operative whenever switch 416 is closed. Power source 414 also supplies power to a relay 418 to which it is connected through

switches

138 and 83, these switches being in series between the power source and the relay but being in parallel with respect to each other. Relay 418 is shown as being in its deenergized position wherein the movable contact 420 connects a D.C. power source 422 to brake solenoid 399. When normally open switch 138 is closed, the relay is energized so that movable contact 420 deenergizes the brake and energizes the solenoid of clutch 397. As will be subsequently described, switch 83 is then closed so that this switch holdsy movable contact 420 in the latter position when switch 138 is subsequently opened. Thus, the brake remains disengaged and the clutch remains engaged until switch 83 is subsequently opened, whereupon, the clutch disengages and the brake is engaged. In addition, it will be noted that switch 138 is directly connected to solenoid 284 which actuates latch 272 so that the latch is released when switch 13S is actuated.

Although

separate power sources

410, 414 and 422 have been illustrated, it will be understood that these may be replaced by a single power source if all of the associated solenoids are of the A.C. type and of the same voltage. Similarly, a single A C. source may be employed in conjunction with a rectier for operating the brake and clutch if D.C. solenoids are employed for the latter.

The operation of the entire machine is as follows. Conveyor 26 supplies individual five-packs to position A wherein each five-pack is individually raised by plunger 3) through trap doors 62 whereby a stack of five-packs is formed in stacking mechanism 60. When the stack contains the predetermined number, such as ten, the uppermost pack depresses switch 138 which energizes relay 418 so as to move contact 420 into a position whereby the brake is released and the clutch is engaged. Drive is thereby supplied by chain 116 to lateral shifting mechamism i) so that, as seen in FIGURE 3, arms 127 begin to slide the stack to the right through doors 82. However, before switch 138 is released, bridge 122 moves away from switch 83 thereby allowing this normally closed switch to close so that the clutch remains engaged and the brake remains disengaged when switch 138 is released and therefore opens. Arms 127 then slide the stack to position B at which point bridge 124 has moved into engagement with switch 83 so that this switch is reopened and the relay 418 is deenergized. Upon deenergization of the relay, the clutch is immediately disengaged and the brake is engaged so that further movement of the lateral shifting mechanism is prevented.

At this point it must be understood that, when switch 138 actuated the clutch so as to initially drive the lateral shifting mechanism, this switch simultaneously energized solenoid 284 so that latch 272 released pin 268 thereby permitting spring 269 to raise tilting plate 262 and open a display carton. That is, the plate moved from the slanted position shown in FIGURE 5 to the upright position shown in FIGURE 1 so that a display carton was opened in position C during the travel of the stack from position A to position B.

When the stack of tive-packs reaches position B, one of the five-packs actuates switch 146 which is operative to extend pusher 142 so that the stack is pushed through inserting mechanism 300. The operation of this mechanism is such that the forward ends of the tive-packs bear against

doors

320, 322 and ap 324 so that these doors and flap swing into the open display carton and act as a shoehorn in guiding the packs into the carton. Once the packs are in the carton, pusher 142 continues to move the filled carton onto conveyor 340 which then conveys the filled carton between

walls

336 and 348 so that the carton actuates switch 337. Actuation of this switch simultaneously retracts pusher 142 and extends crosshead 230 to the left as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2 and 11.

Movement of crosshead 230 restores tilting plate 262 to the position shown in FIGURE 5 and also moves plate 228 to the left such that ports 250 are uncovered. This suction pressure pulls the bottommost carton downwardly against shelf 20 so that, when crosshead 230 subsequently actuates reversing switch 298 and plate 228 moves to the right, the latter pushes the bottommost carton ahead of it so that ap portion 187 goes under plate 200 and inserting mechanism 300 while the folded portion rides over tilting plate 262. Thus, tilting plate 262 is returned to cocked position and is ready to be released by the energization of solenoid 284 upon closure of switch 138 by the subsequent stack of ve packs.

Once the filled carton has been placed on conveyor belt 340 by the action of pusher 142, the conveyor belt moves the carton in the direction of arrow 366 with the five-packs still in a vertical position. As tripping bar 350 engages the carton, the carton is tipped over to the right as viewed in FIGURE l so that the stack is then in a horizontal position and the conveyor belt continues to move the carton until the bottom surface thereof depresses switch 362. This switch energizes the solenoid associated with power cylinder 352 so that pusher 356 moves the pack to the left in the direction of arrow 372. During this movement, the iiap 187 of the carton is automatically folded against the exposed ends of the fivepacks by angularly positioned wall 370. At this point, the cam strip 358 has moved beyond switch 360 so that this switch is opened and the solenoid valve of cylinder 352 is reversed so that pusher 356 is automatically retracted to its initial position. Thus, each succeeding carton is pushed by pusher 356 so that it, in turn, pushes the preceding cartons through the channel formed by shelf 20 and

walls

364, 368, it being understood that the channel leads to the next machine which, for example, may be a cellophane wrapping machine.

The foregoing description of the operation of the machine has been set forth with respect to the advancement of a particular stack of five-packs through the machine. However, it will be understood that, in actual practice, several stacks of five-packs are present in various portions of the machine at any given instant so that there is extremely rapid production of the filled cartons. For example, one stack is being stacked in location A during the same time that the previous stack is being moved from position A through B to C. Similarly, the next display carton is moved into position in inserting mechanism 300 and is opened by plate 262 during the time that pusher 142 is retracting and the next stack is approaching position B. As a result of these simultaneous operations, plunger 30 may be reciprocated at a rate of 150 strokes per minute which, in the example of ten packs per carton, produces fteen filled cartons per minute which represents an increase of approximately three times that which the fastest hand packer could accomplish prior to the invention. In addition, it will be understood that the fully automatic operation permits one operator to run a plurality of such machines or to run this machine as well as those preceding and succeeding it on the assembly line.

Of course, it is to be understood that the foregoing description has set forth the use of the invention in connection with the packaging of cigars only for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment and one use thereof; it being readily apparent that the invention is equally capable of stacking and inserting a plurality of any type of items into a relatively larger container. In addition, since numerous modifications and alternations will become readily apparent from the foregoing description, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only as specifically set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, means for producing a stack of item5, a lOdiIlg SatiOrl, means adjacent the loading station for retaining a supply of folded containers, reciprocating means for successively removing one folded container at a time from said supply and transferring it to the loading station While still folded, a movable member pivotally mounted at the loading station and adapted to underlie one side of the container, means to pivot said member to a substantially vertical position to erect the container and support said one side of the container, means movable into the front of said erected container at the loading station to guide said predetermined number of stacked items into the erected container, a weighted back-up door pivoted on a substantially horizontal axis to back up the rear of the container and means for transferring a predetermined number of stacked items from said stacking means to the interior of an erected container at the loading station and for transferring a container loaded with said predetermined number of stacked items to a point removed from said loading station by advancing the loaded container through the pivoted back up door.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the transferring means is a plunger.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the movable means comprises pivoted plates which swing open into an erected container at the loading station for holding the container open and for guiding the entrance of said predetermined number of stacked items into said container.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the lastmentioned means includes means for removing a predetermined number of stacked items from the stacking means, drive means for continuously driving said stacking means, transmission means for supplying drive from said continuously driving means to said stack removing means and means in said transmission means for converting the ycontinuous drive to an intermediate drive.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which the movable member is a plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,43 0,878 11/1947 Kimball 53-61 2,906,075 9/1959 Vogel a 53-186 2,937,482 5/1960 Lazott et al. 53-159 X 2,947,125 8/1960 Wilson et al. 53-61 2,997,830 8/ 1961 Nelson 53--62 3,060,659 10/1962 Blais et al 53-186 3,107,014 10/1963 Woodrul et al 53-159 X FOREIGN PATENTS 752,579 7/ 1956 Great Britain.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, J R.,

A. E. FOURNIER, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, MEANS FOR PRODUCING A STACK OF ITEMS, A LOADING STATION, MEANS ADJACENT THE LOADING STATION FOR RETANING A SUPPLY OF FOLDED CONTAINERS, RECIPROCATING MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY REMOVIONG ONE FOLDED CONTAINER AT A TIME FROM SAID SUPPLY AND TRANSFERRING IT TO TJE LOADING STATION WHILE STILL FOLDED, A MOVABLE MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THE LOADING STATION AND ADAPTED TO UNDERLIE ONE SIDE OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS TO PIVOT SAID MEMBER TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION TO ERECT THE CONTAINER AND DUPPORT SAID ONE SIDE OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS MOVABLE INTO THE FRONT OF SAID ERECTED CONTAINER AT THE LOADING STATION TO GUIDE SAID PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STACKED ITEMS INTO THE ERECTED CONTAINER, A WEIGHTED BACK-UP DOOR PIVOTED ON A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS TO BACK UP THE REAR OF THE CONTAINER AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STACKED ITEMS FROM SAID STACKING MEANS TO THE INTERIOR OF AN ERECTED CONTAINER AT THE LOADING STATION AND FOR TRANSFERRING A CONTAINER LOADED WITH SAID PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STACKED ITEMS TO A POINT REMOVED FROM SAID LOADING STATION BY ADVANCING THE LOADED CONTAINER THROUGH THE PIVOTED BACK UP DOOR.