US3314217A - Egg carton closing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 1967 s. SOENNICHSEN EGG CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1964 for 2250 z Flora We? a S. SOENNICHSEN EGG CARTON CLOSING MACHINE April 18, 1967 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1964 April 18, 1967 s. SOENNICHSEN 3,314,217

EGG CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, 1964 5 Sheet5-5heet .5

United States Patent 3,314,217 EGG CARTON CLOSING MACIHNE Soenke Soennichs-en, Chicago, 111., assignor to Premier Tool Works, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 33, 1964, Ser. No. 341,387 7 Claims. (Cl. 53376) This invention relates to an egg carton closing machine, and, more particularly, to a machine having a novel combination of rail and roller means for effecting closure of the carton top without damage to the eggs contained in the carton.

Among the cartons which are advantageously closed according to the instant invention is the type of carton seen in US. Patent No. 1,783,397. Generally, egg cartons have a dozen compartments defined by interlocking paperboard members and an elongated top terminating in a flap adapted to be received in locking engagement with the carton-defining paperboard members. This top is initially provided generally coplanar with the rear wall of the carton so as to facilitate insertion of the eggs. After the eg s have been installed in the carton, it is necessary to crease or fold the top along two lines to achieve the locking just referred to.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a general object of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically closing an egg carton.

A more specific object is to provide an egg carton closing machine embodying a plurality of rails and wheels or rollers provided in spaced, cooperating arrangement, whereby the various creasings and locking are achieved while the carton is uniquely supported against distortion which might tend to break the eggs.

Other advantages and objectives of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in the following specification.

The invention is explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a View in side elevation of the upper portion of a machine for closing filled egg cartons;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine appearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the machine on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the carton inlet end of the machine as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another transverse sectional View taken through a part of the machine as seen along the sight line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of the parts appearing in the central portion of FIG. 1 and which will be more fully referred to later;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of certain parts appearing in FIG. 6 but on a reduced scale; and

FIG. 8 is a view in end elevation of a filled egg carton which has been closed after passing through the machine.

Referring first to FIG. 8, the symbol C designates a carton which is manipulated by the inventive machine shown in the other views of the drawing. The carton C has a top designated T which is folded along a longitudinal line in conventional fashion to define a flap F. The edge of the flap as at L is equipped with a plurality of locking projections which snap in under the coop-' erating latching portion L provided on the carton C. The symbol E in FIG. 8 designates an egg which is positioned in each compartment of the carton.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the machine is seen in side elevation and includes a frame generally designated 10.

Provided as part of the frame 10 are stanchions or columns 11 so as to support a flat, generally horizontallydisposed platform 12. The platform 12 is arranged to be coplanar with an inlet conveyor 13 and an outlet conveyor 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 15 designates generally a belt conveyor which is advantageously constructed of rubber and equipped with transverse corrugations or ribs as at 15a in FIG. 3. The drive mechanism generally designated 16 for the endless belt conveyor 15 includes (as seen in FIG. 1) a drive pulley 17 rotatably mounted on the frame 10. At the entering end of the frame 10, a driven pulley 18 is provided, and intermediate the ends is provided a tensioning pulley or roll 19. The roll 19 is mounted on a pivot arm 20 and tensioned by means of a spring 21.

The numeral 22 designates a motor fixed on the frame 10 which operates through a sprocket 23 to transmit power to a sprocket 25 by means of a chain 24. The sprocket 25 is mounted on shaft 26, which also carries the pulley or roll 17.

A cross shaft 27 is provided at the entering end of the machine to carry the pulley or roll 18. Additionally, the shaft 27 (as best seen in FIG. 4) carries a pulley 28 in which is reeved a belt 29. The belt 2? in turn extends, as seen in FIG. 3, about the second pulley 29a so as to drive a first wheel 31) (see particularly FIGS. 2 and 4).

The first wheel 30 is disposed for rotation in a generally horizontal plane, while a second wheel 31 (see FIG. 1) is mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane. The second wheel 31 is also driven by power from the shaft 27 as through the belt and pulley system designated 32 in FIGS. 1 and 4. In FIG. 4, it will be seen that the shaft 27 is journaled in bearings 27a which are secured to the underside of the platform 12.

An elongated rail 33 is provided in general alignment with the second wheel 31 (see especially FIG. 4). By referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the initial condition to the top T is altered when this portion of the carton comes under the influence of the rotating first wheel 3%. The first wheel 30 pivots the top downwardly toward the carton to the alternative position illustrated in FIG. 4 and wherein the underside of the top bears against the rail 33. At this juncture, the top T comes under the influence of the second wheel 31, which intiates the development of the fold defining the flap F. It will be noted that the first wheel 39 is rearward (considering the direction of travel of the belt conveyor 15) from the second wheel 31. Thus, the wheel 30 has ample time to develop the folded top T before the flap is developed by cooperation of the Wheel 31 and the first rail 33.

Still referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the plat form is equipped with guides 34 on its top surface to provide ways for the belt 15. The guides 34 are suitably anchored to angles 35, which in turn are secured to the platform 12. Additionally, the angles 35 provide supports for other rails 36 and 37. The rails 36 and 37 (as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 6) extend generally over the entire length of the frame 10 so as to support and confine the longitudinal sides of the carton C during the closing operation. Thus, any tendency of the carton to become distorted and thereby crush the eggs E is avoided.

The wheel 30, as mentioned previously, is driven from the cross shaft 27 by means of a belt 23 entrained in a pulley 28. The driven pulley in this system, which is designated 29a in FIG. 3, is mounted on a vertical shaft 40 (see FIG. 4) suitably journaled in a bearing 39 carried by an angle clip 38. The wheel 30 is equipped with beveled edges as at 41 in FIG. 4.

In like fashion, the Wheel 31 is equipped with beveled edges as at 42 (still referring to FIG. 4), and it is seen that the wheel 31 is also equipped with a generally cylindrical portion as at 42a to coact with the circular cross section rail 33 in developing the crease or fold defining the flap F.

Still referring to FIG. 4, the numeral 43- designates a superstrucure fastened to the platform 12 which supports the wheel 31 for rotation. The superstructure 43 includes a horizontal shaft 43a rotatably mounted thereon carrying the wheel 31 and being operatively associated with the belt and pulley system 32.

Now moving forwardly in the direction of carton movement, the next structure encountered is a plow-like rail 44 (see FIG. 6). Rail 44 is suitably supported on the platform 12 by means of the angle clip 44a carrying a plate 44/). The plate 44b includes a flange 440 which is partially broken away and which supports the rail 44 by means of a post 44d.

Cooperating with the rail 44 in further defining the crease providing the flap F is a pivot rail 45. The rail 45 is pivotally mounted on a post 46 and is equipped with a roller 47 (see FIG. 7). The pivot rail 45 is urged against a stop or post 48 by means of a leaf spring 49. Prior to contacting the pivot bar 45, the fiap F of the carton C encounters an idler roller 50 suitably supported on the frame platform 12 as at 50:: (see FIG. 6). The function of the rails 44 and 45 is to align the flap F with the inside front wall of the carton C, as is illustrated in the upper dashed line showing in FIG. 5. There, the plow rail 44- has already served to urge the top T downwardly and the pivot rail 45 has performed its function in urging the flap F into a generally vertical plane.

While all this is happening to a carton, the hinge side of the top T is being creased by means of a parallelogram linkage bar 51 carrying rollers 52, 53 and 54 (compare FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). In FIG. 2, for example, it will be seen that the rollers 52 and 54 are spaced apart sufficiently so as to act upon a given carton before that carton engages the plow rail and even after the time the flap has been locked in place. The parallelogram linkage bar 51 is equipped with a spring 55 tending to urge the rollers 52-54 downwardly against the carton top, as is illustrated in heavy line in FIG. 3. For this purpose, the linkage bar is equipped with links as at 56, the up position of the bar 51 being shown in dotted line in FIG. 3.

After the flap has been properly positioned for insertion through the coaction of the rails 44 and 45, the surfaces of the top immediately adjacent the flap F engage a first locking roller 57 (see FIG. 6). The roller 57 is mounted on an arm 58 which, in turn, is pivotally carried on a pedestal 59. A spring 60 interconnects the arm 58 with the platform 12, urging the roller 57 downwardly against a stop 61. The pedestal 59 carries a second roller 62 mounted on its arm 63, which in turn is v spring-loaded as at 64 against a stop 65. As can be appreciated from FIG. 6, the carton is closed by the time it issues from under the roller 62, the function of the rollers 57 and 62 being further appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 5, where the roller 57 is clearly seen.

In the operation of the invention, a carton filled with eggs but having an open top is advanced toward the frame 10 of the input conveyor 13. The conveyor belt 15, powered through the motor 22, conveys the carton along the length of the platform 12 which is relatively narrow. The platform 12 provides guides and ways in the form of elements 3436 (sec especially FIG. 5), which guide the belt and confine the longitudinal sides of the carton against distortion, i.e., bowing, under the stresses imparted to the carton from the various rails and wheels to which it is subjected in closing the top T. The first element encountered for effecting closure of the top T is the bevel-edged disc or wheel 30' (see FIG. 4), which engages the leading edge of the upstanding top T and folds the same downwardly through about a 60 arc until 4 the top engages the longitudinally-extending first rail 33.

The crease or fold defining the flap F is brought about by the coaction of the rail 33 and the second wheel 31, the wheel 31 being spaced forwardly from the wheel 30, as can be readily appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 2. The wheel 31 has a bevel-edged portion as at 42 and a cylindrical portion as at 42a, which is optimally constructed of soft rubber, so as to develop the crease defining the flap F.

As the top exits from under the wheel 31, it comes under the influence of the plow rail 44 (see FIG. 6). Substantially simultaneously, the flap F is engaged by the idler roller 50 and thereafter is engaged by the pivot rail 45these elements also being shown clearly in FIG. 6. The plow rail 44 is a rigid member, while the pivot rail 45 is spring-loaded as at 49 in FIG. 7. By virtue of having encountered the rails 44 and 45, the top i now ready for the locking action, which is performed by the lever-mounted rollers 57 and 62 (see FIG. 6). These rollers 57 and 62 ride immediately above the front comer of the top (see FIG. 5) to urge the locking elements L under the latching portions L (compare FIGS. 6 and 8). Once this is achieved, the output conveyor 14 takes over and conveys the now-completed carton to a site of shipment.

During the entire operation, it is unnecessary for any manual handling to occur, and further the shape of the carton is preserved notwithstanding the fact that substantial stresses are applied to properly shape and move the top and flap portions of the carton.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose of explanation, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flap tops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongated platform, means on said frame for advancing a carton across said platform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to the opposite end thereof, wheel means mounted for rotation in a generally horizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path for initially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platform adjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the carton top under the urging of said wheel means by bearing upwardly against said top, second wheel means on said frame spaced forwardly of said first wheel means in the direction of carton travel and mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane for developing a flap edge portion in said top by folding a portion of said top over said first rail means, second rail means on said frame spaced forwardly in the direction of carton travel from said first rail means for further developing said flap edge portion and positioning the same for locking insertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly of said second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into locking relation with said carton.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which fourth wheel means are provided on said frame spaced forwardly of said first wheel means and on the same side of said path for creasing the line of junction between said top and the carton body.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which side rails are provided on both sides of said path extending generally over said path and below the previously-mentioned rail means for confining the carton sides during the folding operation performed on said top.

4. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flap tops, comprising a frame, a generally horizontally-disposed, elongated platform on said frame, an endless conveyor belt extending lengthwise of said platform for conveying egg-filled cartons therealong, a tapered edge wheel rotatably mounted on said platform adjacent one side of said conveyor for initially folding said carton top downwardly toward the remainder of the carton from a generally vertical orientation, means on said frame for rotating said first wheel in a generally horizontal plane, a first rail rigidly mounted on said frame opposite said first wheel and extending beyond said first wheel in the direction of carton travel on said frame, said first rail cooperating with said first Wheel in limiting the folding of said carton top, a second wheel rotatably mounted on said frame above said first rail and cooperating therewith in defining a flap edge on said top after said top has been brought into bearing engagement With said first rail under the urging of said first wheel, a pair of rails on each side of said path extending generally over the length of said conveyor for confining the vertical sides of a carton being advanced on said platform by said conveyor, second and third rails generally aligned with said second wheel for further developing the flap edge of said top, said third rail being mounted for pivotal movement against said flap and being positioned below said second rail, third and fourth wheels rotatably and pivotally mounted on said frame forwardly of said second Wheel and generally aligned therewith by virtue of being on the same side of said conveyor, said third and fourth Wheel functioning to insert said flap into locking engagement with said carton, and a parallelogram linkage equipped with rollers for creasing said carton along the line of juncture of said top with the remainder of said carton.

5. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flap tops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongated platform, means on said frame for advancing a carton acros said platform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to the 0pposite end thereof, wheel means mounted for rotation in a generally horizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path for initially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platform adjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the carton top under the urging of said wheel means, second wheel means on said frame spaced forwardly of said first wheel means in the direction of carton travel and mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane and cooperating with said first rail means in developing a flap edge portion in said top, second rail means on said frame spaced forwardly in the direction of carton travel from said first rail means for further developing said flap edge portion and positioning the same for locking insertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly of said second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into locking relation with said carton, said second rail means including a pair of rails vertically related to each other, the upper of said pair of rails being fixed relative to said platform and equipped with an upswept end first contacting the top of a carton, the other of said pair of rails being pivotally mounted on said platform and resiliently urged against said fiap to orient the same in a generally vertical plane and cooperating with the first rail in positioning said top and flap for movement downwardly into locking relation with said carton.

6. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flap tops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongated platform, means on said frame for advancing a carton across said platform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to the opposite end thereof, wheel means mounted for rotation in a generally horizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path for initially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platform adjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the carton top under the urging of said wheel means, second wheel means on said frame spaced forwardly of said first wheel means in the direction of carton travel and mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane, and cooperating with said first rail means in developing a flap edge portion in said top, second rail means on said frame spaced forwardly in the direction of carton travel from said first rail means for further developing said flap edge portion and positioning the same for locking insertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly of said second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into locking relation with said carton, said third wheel means including a pair of rollers resiliently urged against the top of a carton passing thereunder, said pair of wheels being spaced apart in the direction of carton travel in said path, the first encountered wheel of said third wheel means having operably associated therewith a stop member limiting the downward movement of the first encountered wheel to a position higher than the second whee-l of said third wheel means.

7. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flap tops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongated platform, means on said frame for advancing a carton across said platform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to the opposite end thereof, Wheel means mounted for rotation in a generally horizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path for initially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platform adjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the carton top under the urging of said wheel means, second wheel means on said frame spaced forwardly of said first wheel means in the direction of carton travel and mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane and cooperating with said first rail means in developing a flap edge portion in said top, second rail means on said frame spaced forward- -ly in the direction of carton travel from said first rail means for further developing said flap edge portion and positioning the same for locking insertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly of said second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into locking relation with said carton, both the first-mentioned wheel means and the second wheel means being equipped with beveled edges, said second Wheel means additionally being equipped with a cylindrical-edged portion for cooperation with said first rail means in defining a crease for developing a flap on said top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,200 12/1936 Ford et a1 53376 2,242,304 5/1941 Johnson 53-376 X 2,625,778 1/1953 Wood 53---376 X 2,909,880 10/1959 Mumma 53-377 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR CLOSING EGG CARTONS EQUIPPED WITH PIVOTED LOCK FLAP TOPS, COMPRISING A FRAME PROVIDING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL, ELONGATED PLATFORM, MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR ADVANCING A CARTON ACROSS SAID PLATFORM ALONG A GENERALLY LINEAR PATH FROM ONE END THEREOF TO THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE ON SIAD PLATFORM ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID PATH FOR INITIALLY FOLDING THE CARTON TOP FROM A GENERALLY VERTICAL ORIENTATION TOWARD A HORIZONTAL ORIENTATION, FIRST RAIL MEANS ON SAID PLATFORM ADJACENT THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PATH LIMITING THE FOLDING OF THE CARTON TOP UNDER THE URGING OF SAID WHEEL MEANS BY BEARING UPWARDLY AGAINST SAID TOP, SECOND WHEEL MEANS ON SAID FRAME SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF CARTON TRAVEL AND MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE FOR DEVELOPING A FLAP EDGE PORTION IN SAID TOP BY FOLDING A PORTION OF SAID TOP OVER SAID FIRST RAIL MEANS, SECOND RAIL MEANS ON SAID FRAME SPACED FORWARDLY IN THE DIRECTION OF CARTON TRAVEL FROM SAID FIRST RAIL MEANS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPING SAID FLAP EDGE PORTION AND POSITIONING THE SAME FOR LOCKING INSERTION INTO SAID CARTON, AND THIRD WHEEL MEANS SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAID SECOND WHEEL MEANS FOR URGING SAID FLAP EDGE PORTION INTO LOCKING RELATION WITH SAID CARTON.

Images