US3323275A

US3323275A - Case packing machine and wrap-around method of case packing

Info

Publication number: US3323275A
Application number: US416752A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles M Kingsbury; Jr Elden H Mills
Original assignee: Newfrey LLC
Current assignee: Newfrey LLC
Priority date: 1964-12-08
Filing date: 1964-12-08
Publication date: 1967-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-06

Description

June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGSBURY ETAL 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKING Filed Dec. 8, 1964 9* Sheets-Sheet l Q' LL I NVENTORS CHARLES M- K l NGSBURY ELDEN H.. M lvl-l.. S, JR

ALM

ATTCRNEYS June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGSBURY ETAI. 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKING 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. a. `1964 June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGsauRY ETAL CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKING Filed Dec. 8, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGSBURY ETAL 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAPAROUND METHOD OF' CASE PACKING 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 8. 1964 June 6, 1967 c. KINGSBURY ETAL 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF' CASE PACKING Filed Dec. 8, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 YNNNO. O @sur mw r.

June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGSBURY z-:TAL 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKING Filed Dec. 8, 1964 9 Sheets-$heet 6 F'BGJ oOooocvoooo- June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGSBURY ETAL 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKING Filed Dec. 8. 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 'l June 6, 1967 c, M. KlNcssBuRY ETAL. 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKING Filed Dec. 8, 1964 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 T I I L. -J

June 6, 1967 c. M. KINGSBURY ETAL 3,323,275

CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD OF CASE PACKNG Filed Dec. 8, 1964 F-"IGJCD F-'IGJI m @if 0% M U Z l @z o ZM m Z Wow oo .1,

United States Patent O 3,323,275 CASE PACKING MACHINE AND WRAP-AROUND METHOD F CASE PACKING Charles M. Kingsbury, Manchester, and Elden H. Mills,

Jr., West Hartford, Conn., assignors to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 416,752 22 Claims. (Cl. 53-32) This invention relates to a new method of casing a pack of articles in stiff paperboard or corrugated paper material or the like by wrapping a blank of such material around the pack, and the invention also relates to a case packing machine which is particularly adapted to practice the method of the invention.

lt is the general object of the invention to provide a method of casing a pack of -articles by wrapping and sealing a stili at blank around them to provide an end-opening case at a saving in case material, and it is a part of the general object to provide a machine capable of performing this method in high speed production operation and which can be used in casing a wide variety of articles even including very fragile articles, such as glass containers, without damage to them and which will produce -a tightly wrapped pack or case which can easily be handled and which is well suited to reduce and to avoid damage to the contents in any such later handling.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, the blank utilized in casing or wrapping the pack of articles preferably has pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack, and to facilitate connection of the rear panel to the bottom panel, a manufacturers flap is provided on the bottom panel to be bent upwardly against the rear of the pack for attachment to the rear panel by gluing or the like. The bl-ank is also provided with pre-cut iiaps for closing the ends ofthe pack and, preferably, there are four such flaps provided at each end so that the iiaps on the top and bottom panels can be closed over them and secured thereto.

The pack to be wrapped or cased is pre-formed and advanced toward the end of a conveyor. The blank is placed at this end of the conveyor with its front and bottom panels Ibent downwardly into a generally vertical plane so that the pack can be advanced into the corner formed in the bent blank. As the pack closely :approaches this corner, the end flaps on the rear panel are bent downwardly and the bottom panel is bent upwardly substantially simultaneously. Then, an overhead ight bar conveyor bends the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack and the pack is moved oli" the iirst conveyor onto a second conveyor. The second conveyor includes a flight bar mechanism which bends the manufacturers flap upwardly under the descending rear panel which has had glue previously applied thereto so that the rear panel can be secured over the manufacturers flap.

As the pack with the blank wrapped around it continues to move along the second conveyor and then along a third conveyor, the end llaps are glued and closed. The overhead flight bar conveyor continues to move the pack onto the third supporting conveyor which is of the ilight bar type. This third conveyor has Hight bars which are designed to provide pressure through the pack from front to rear so sas to seal the glued joint between the rear panel and the manufacturers flap, and side belts are associated with this third conveyor to -apply transverse pressure to the pack and thus to compress the Isealed connection of the end aps. The overhead ight bar conveyor becomes disengaged as the pack moves along the third conveyor, and when the pack reaches the end of its travel on the third conveyor, the glue joints have set and the cased pack is ready for any necessary handling thereafter.

Patented June 6, 1967 The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as deuing or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the wraparound case packing machine provided in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the case-forming blank is lbent as it is Wrapped around the pack;

FIG. 3 is a view in .a plane transverse to the path of travel of the pack and illustrates the mechanism utilized in feeding a blank into the path of travel of the pack, the View being taken as indicated generally by the line 3-3 in FIG. 4; i

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the blank feeding mechanism taken generally as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG, 5 is a somewhat schematic elevational View of the machine taken in a longitudinal plane at the side of the path of movement of the pack through the machine;

FIG. 6 is a much enlarged elevational view showing the details of a portion of the mechanism for bending the bottom panel of the blank upwardly and the additional mechanism for bending the manufacturers llap upwardly as the rear panel is being bent downwardly thereon;

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through the overhead flight bar conveyor which is utilized to close the rear panel and to assist in the advance of the pack;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in an irregular plane through the overhead flight bar mechanism as indicated generally by the line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional View taken through the previously mentioned. third conveyor and showing its association with the overhead flight bar conveyor;

FIG. l0 is a still further longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view through the third conveyor illustrating the manner in which its llight bars engage a closed case; and

FIG. 1l is a transverse sectional view through the third conveyor taken as indicated generally Iby the line 11--11 of FIG. l0.

The general] arrangement of the machine and the method of wrapping the case blank wroulnd the pack As will be seen with referenceto FIG. l, a machine provided in accordance with the present invention includes an infeed section indicated generally by the reference numeral l0 wherein a pack of articles P is formed and advanced toward the end of a conveyor 12. The direction of advance of the pack toward the end of the conveyor 12 will be referred to hereinafter as longitudinal, and the movement of the pack -P throughout the entire machine is generally from left to right as viewed in FIG. l.

The longitudinal movement of the pack yl is substantially continuous, and there are a plurality of such packs formed and advanced in longitudinally spaced apart relationship so that a plurality of such packs will be operated on simultaneously in the machine but in successive steps of operation thereof. However, for convenience, the operations performed on only one pack with only one blank will be described although a plurality of such packs and blanks are shown.

The longitudinal advance of the pack is continued beyond the infeed section 10 by moving the pack off the end of the irst or infeed conveyor 12 onto a second conveyor 14. An overhead flight bar conveyor 16 helps bend a blank around a part -of the pack before it leaves the first conveyor 12, and this overhead liight bar conveyor continues to assist movement of the pack off the seco-nd conveyor 14 and onto a third conveyor indicated generally by the reference numeral 18.

A blank B is fed into the machine at the end of the first conveyor 12 for association with each pack P reaching said end of the conveyor. The mechanism for feeding the blank into the machine is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and is adapted to thrust the lowermost such blank from a stack thereof at the left of the machine when viewed in the direction of pack travel. As has been mentioned, and as will be more fully described, a portion of the blank is bent downwardly into a generally vertical plane before the blank is positioned at the end of the first conveyor 12. The construction of the blank, or its conliguration, will be more fully described in the following description of the method by which the blank is wrapped around a pack.

As -best shown in FIG. 2, each blank B is pre-cut to the proper size for the pack around which it is to be wrapped. Thus, each blank B has a pre-sized top panel 22, bottom panel 24, front panel 26, and rear panel 218 for the top, bottom, front and rear yof the associated pack P. The blank B is stiff and flat in the pre-cut form and, preferably, it is provided with crease lines or otherwise prepared to facilitate bending the

panels

22, 24, 26 and 28 from each other. Also, the stiff flat blank is provided with pre-cut flaps in a suflicient number to close the ends of the pack when the blank is wrapped therearound.

referably, each panel is provided with a flap at each of its ends for this purpose, these end aps being designated 22a, 24a, 26a and 28a, respectively.

Additionally, a manufacturers flap 30 is provided on the edge of the bottom panel 24 so that it can be bent upwardly for connection with the rear panel 28.

The at panel B is thrust edgewise from the bottom of the stack or magazine of the panels in a generally horizontal direction which is transverse to the direction of horizontal longitudinal movement of the pack with which it is to be associated. The blank feeding mechanism 20 does the thrusting of the bottom blank from the stack, and this mechanism includes plows 32, 32 (FIG. 1) or other means for bending that portion of the blank B including the front and

bottom panels

26 and 24 downwardly into a generally vertical plane while the remainder of the panel remains in a substantially horizontal plane. Thus, when the blank B reaches the end of the first conveyor 12 it is bent into the position shown in FIG. 1 and also shown in FIG. 2.

While disposed at the end of the first conveyor 12, waiting for the pack P to be thrust into its corner, the bottom panel 24 of the blank is bent upwardly toward the bottom of the advancing pack, and at substantially the same time, the end flaps 28a, .28a are bent dorwnwardly from the rear panel 28. As the bottom panel 24 is bent upwardly, its

end flaps

24a, 24a engage plow means like 33 to -bend these flaps downwardly relative to the bottom panel.

Then, as the pack moves into the blank which has been bent into generally U-shape on its side, the rear panel 28 is bent downwardly on the advancing pack toward the rear face thereof. The rear panel 28 is bent downwardly by the overhead conveyor mechanism 16.

After leaving the end of the infeed or first conveyor 12, the manufacturers flap 30 is bent upwardly on the rear of the advancing pack, this being accomplished by a liight bar mechanism forming a part of the second conveyor 14. In the meantime, a yight `bar on the overhead ilight bar conveyor 16 continues to close or bend downwardly the rear panel 28 on the said manufacturers flap 30 so that it can be secured thereto. Preferably, the rear panel 28 and manufacturers flap 30 are glued together. Also, as a matter of preference, the glue for the connection is applied to the bottom of inside marginal edge of the rear panel 28, and this is done, as will be more fully described, during the time that the blank B is moved out from the stack toward the path of the advancing pack.

As the rear panel 28 is bent downwardly, its previously

bent end aps

28a, 28a will assume a semi-closed position with respect to the ends of the pack. The

aps

24a, 24a on the bottom panel 24 are held down by a pair of

plows

34, 34 so that they will not interfere with the closing of the end flaps 28a, 28a on the rear panel respectively. The flaps on the front and rear panels are moved into fully closed positions by engagement with another pair of plows 36, 36 (FIG. 2) as the pack continues lto advance along the second conveyor 14 toward the third conveyor 18.

Upon closing of the aps on the front and rear panels, glue is applied to the inner sides of the

end aps

22a, 22a and 24a, 24a on the top and bottom panels respectively. This is accomplished by means of

conventional nozzles

38, 38 shown in FIG. l. Then, the end flaps on the top and bottom panels are bent inwardly on the previously inturned end aps of the front and rear panels by

conventional plows

40, 40` (FIG. 1).

During the time that the pack moves along the conveyor 14 and again after reaching the conveyor 18 pressure is maintained on the glued connection between the rear panel 28 and the manufacturers ap 30 by exerting opposing force on the front and rear panels, respectively. Also, as the pack moves along the third conveyor 18, pressure is maintained on its ends by side belts 42, 42 (FlIG. l) so that the glued connection of the end flaps .will properly` set. Thus, when the pack leaves the third conveyor 18 the case or blank which has been wrapped around the pack will remain in place because the glue at the llap joints will have had an opportunity to set with pressure thereon.

The pack forming or infeed section It will be understood that a pack P can be formed by any desired method utilizing any type of machine prior Vto the time that its case blank is wrapped therearound in keeping with the aforedescribed method. It will also be understood that the same method can be employed in casing a single tier or multiple tier pack. For purposes of illustration, a double tier pack has been shown, and this pack can be pre-formed or pre-assembled by the mechanism of the infeed section 10 which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.

This mechanism includes two conveyor systems, namely an upper system for assembling the upper tier of the pack and a lower system for assembling the lower tier of the pack.` The upper system is located over and to the side of the lower system. Included in the upper system is a single line conveyor 44 for advancing a single vfile of articles, such as metal containers or cans, which are to be' assembled to form the pack for casing. A pivotally supported chute 46 is located at theend of the single tile conveyor 44 to direct the cans into a plurality of lanes 48, 48.

The proper number of cans in the lanes 48, 48 to form the upperV tier of the pack .are divided out by an overhead flight bar type conveyor 50 which moves the cans along a deadplate or platform 52 to a position wherein they can be engaged by a much wider overhead flight bar conveyor 54. This last-mentioned overhead flight bar conveyor continues to move the tier of cans along the deadplate or platform 52 which is provided with side rails to maintain the assembled relationship of the cans and which is directed laterally and downwardly to a position directly over the lower tier of cans which is being formed by the lower conveyor system.

The lower conveyor system also includes a pivoted lane-dividing chute 56 which directs cans into a plurality of

lanes

58, 58 where they are separated into a tier by an overhead flight bar conveyor 60. This conveyor transfers the lower tier to a second overhead flight bar conveyor 62 which in turn transfers them to a liight bar conveyor 66 operating above a lower deadplate or platform 64 and having flight bar means extensible upwardly through slots in the upper deadplate S2 to engage the top tier.

This last-mentioned flight bar conveyor in the lower conveyor system is the conveyor which advances the assembled pack toward the pre-vent blank B and it is the conveyor 12 which has been heretofore referred to as the iirst conveyor in the case packing or wrapping machine. The conveyor 12 has a flight bar structure which will engage the rear row of cans in the lower tier to move that lower tier along to the position wherein the upper tier is swept olf the upper deadplate 52 onto the top of the lower tier. At this position, the flight bar 66 (FIG. 5) is elevated so that it will engage the rear row of cans in both tiers and thus move the entire double tier pack toward the blank B at the end of the conveyor 12. The flight bar 66 is elevated and retracted by follower means 68, 68 which ride in suitable cam tracks (not shown) to effect the desired flight bar movement. As has been said, t-he flight bar 66 on the conveyor 12 moves the double tier pack P toward the pre-bent blank B. When the pack engages that portion of the blank B which has been bent downwardly into a generally vertical plane and starts to carry the blank along, the overhead flight bar conveyor 16 starts to bend the rear panel 28 of the blank downwardly. The tiight bar 66 on the conveyor 12 is retracted by its control cam so as to be out of the way of the descending panel.

The blank feeding mechanism As best seen with reference to FIG. 3, the stack of blanks B, B is located to the left-hand side of the path of travel of the pack on the conveyors 12, 14 and 18, the centerline of such path of travel being indicated by the line CL in FIG. 3. The bottom blank is thrust from the stack and started on its way toward the path of travel of the pack with which Vit is associated by a reciprocable pusher which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. This said reciprocable pusher comprises a plurality of lingers '72, 72 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are supported on a carriage 74 (FIG. 3). The

fingers

72, 72 are supported on a carriage 74 so that they will engage the edge of the bottom blank B farthest from the path of travel. Thus, when the carriage 74 is advanced toward the path of travel, the bottom blank is moved out from the bottom `of the stack toward the advancing pack. A mechanism 76 is provided at the side of the stack nearest the path of the pack travel to permit only the bottom blank B to be moved out from the stack and to prevent any additional blanks from moving therewith. Thus, as the carriage 74 is reciprocated toward and away from the said path, it will move blanks successively from the bottom of the stack. That is, the fingers 72 will engage the farthermost edge of the bottom blank during its advance toward the path and the said tingers will be biased downwardly during the return movement of the carriage 74 to spring back upwardly in position to engage the next bottom blank during the next advance movement of the carriage. The said carriage 74 is reciprocated toward and away from the path of movement of the pack on one or more guide rods 75, the said carriage being provided with a plurality of

rollers

78, 78 riding yon such rod. and the said carriage being connected to a rod or link 80 which is connected to one end of a lever 82 which is driven to oscillate.

The means oscillating the lever 82 comprises a continuously driven electric motor 84 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which has a speed-reducing unit 86 connected to its driven shaft and having a double ended output shaft 88. One end of the output shaft 88 is connected as by a belt and pulley or chain and sprocket unit 90 with a one revolution clutch unit 92. The one revolution clutch unit is electrical, and it is energized by closing a limit switch (not shown) which will be enegaged by a pack approaching 'the end of the first conveyor 12. When this limit switch is engaged and the clutch unit 92 is thus energized, its output shaft 94 will rotate through one complete revolution to turn a crank 96. The crank is connected by a link or rod 98 to the lever 82 on the opposite end thereof from the connecting rod 80. Thus, during the one revolution of the clutch unit 92, the pusher 70 completes one cycle of reciprocation to advance toward the path of movement of the pack and to retract therefrom, thus advancing the bottom blank B is the stack toward the said path.

In addition to the reciprocable pusher 70, the feeder for moving a blank into the path of an advancing pack includes superimposed upper and lower rolls which are preferably provided in two pairs, each comprising an upper roll 100 and a lower roll 102 with at least the lower roll being driven. The upper roll 100 comprises a plurality of axially spaced apart discs and the lower roll comprises a pair of spaced apart rollers which cooperate with the discs in the upper roll to engage a blank therebetween. The pair of rolls adjacent the stack of blanks is operated at .a relatively lower speed than is the pair adjacent the path of movement of the pack. Both such pairs are driven off the speed-reducing driven shaft 88 as by chain and

sprocket units

104 and 106 and by interconnected gearing 108 (FIG. 4).

As each blank is moved in turn out of the stack and between the superimposed rolls on its Way to association with a pack, it passes between suitable blank feed guide means 110, and the marginal edge portion of the blank at the rear panel 28 has glue applied to the underside thereof by gluing nozzle 112 (FIG. 3). This marginal edge portion of the blank extends beyond the superimposed rolls 100, 102 in the upstream direction of the path of travel of the packs. Also, while the blank is being advanced by the said superimposed rolls toward t-he path of travel, that portion of the blank including the front panel 26 and the bottom panel 24 is bent downwardly into a generally vetrical plane because it is engaged by the previously mentioned plow means 32. It will be noted with reference to FIG. 4, that the said downwardly bent portion of the blank extends in the downstream direction beyond the superimposed rolls 100 and 102.

It is desirable to have the pair of superimposed rolls adjacent the path of pack travel operating at a higher speed than the other superimposed pair so that the blank B can be moved rapidly into the path of pack travel after it has been removed from the stack. The limit of such movement of the blank is fixed by preferably adjustable stops such as the stops 114, 114 (FIGS. 2 and 3). It is also preferable that blank ffeeding guides, such as the guide 116 (FIG. 5) be provided to maintain the bent portion of the blank in a substantially vertical plane. The said stops and guide cooperate to position the downwardly bent portion of the blank directly in the path of the pack at the end of the first conveyor 12. It is in this position that the blank is further bent so as to wrapped around the pack, as will now 4be described.

The mechanism for wrapping the blank around the pack As shown in FIG. 5, when the pre-bent blank B has been thrust fully into the path of the pack so as to engage the stop means 114, it will have cleared the blank feeding guide means and the forward portion thereof can drop from the full line position to the broken line position determined by the horizontal leg of the guide 116. While in this position, and before the pack is fully engaged in the corner of the bent blank, the end flaps 28a, 28a on the rear panel 28 are bent downwardly and the bottom panel 24 is bent upwardly while the

bottom panel aps

24a, 24a are bent downwardly.

The means for bending the end flaps 28a, 28a on the rear panel downwardly include a pair of blank

engaging devices

118, 118, and the means for bending the bottom panel upwardly includes a blank engaging device 120. The blank

engaging devices

118, 118 which are transversely spaced apart to engage the

respective end flaps

28a, 28a are respectively spaced at the ends -of a blank support channel 122 (FIG. 5) which supports the glued edge portion of the blank. The said

devices

118, 118 comprise pivotally supported arms which are pivoted by a connecting rod 124 which isconnected to the end of a crank arm 126 having its other end keyed to a shaft 128 to which the

arms

118, 118 are secured. The other end of the connecting rod 124 is pivotally connected to a bell crank linkage 130 which is connected for operation by a link 132 extending from a lever 134 pivotally mounted at 136. The lever 134 has a cam following roller 138 mounted thereon in engagement with a cam 140 which is keyed to a cam shaft 142 being continuously rotated off a speed-reducing unit 144. The cam shaft 142 is connected to the unit 144 by means of a sprocket and chain unit 146 and the said unit is driven by a motor (not shown). It will be observed with reference to FIG. that for each rotation of the cam 140i, the

arms

118, 118 will be oscillated downwardly and then upwardly. During the downward movement of the arms, the

end aps

28a, 28a are bent downwardly from the rear panel 28 which is held in the horizontal position by the channel member 122.

The same cam operator is utilized to bend the bottom panel 24 upwardly. That is, the blank engaging device 120 comprises an arm connected as by a rod or link 148 to the cam operated lever 134 Therefore, during each rotation of the cam 140 the arm 120 is oscillated from the full line position shown in a substantially vertical plane to the broken line position shown in substantially a horizontal plane and it is then returned. In moving from the vertical to the horizontal plane, the arm 120 will engage the bottom panel 24 and bend it upwardly on the advancing pack P at the end of the first conveyor 12. As the said bottom panel is thrust upwardly, its

end flaps

24a, 24a are bent downwardly because they engage plow means 33 (FIG. 2) which prevent them from being bent upwardly with the bottom panel. Thus, at about the time the pack P is thrust into engagement with the front panel 26, the blank has been bent into a generally U-shape with the top and rear panels and with the fbottom panel extending horizontally. In this position, the manufacturers flap 30 and the rear panel 28 trail the advancing pack so that they can be bent inwardly into engagement with each other at the rear of the pack.

The rear panel 28 is started downwardly toward the rear of the pack by the overhead llight bar conveyor 16 as the pack transfers from conveyor 12 to conveyor 14. It will be seen in FIG. 5 that the overhead llight bar conveyor 16 includes a pair of longitudinally extending endless chains having the flight bar devices extending transversely therebetween. The chains are indicated by the reference numeral 150 in FIGS. 5-9 and each ight bar device is designated generally by the numeral 152.

Each flight bar device 152 comprises an arm 154, having its centerline residing in a vertical longitudinal plane, and a transversely extending plate 156 at the end of the said arm, having its centerline residing in a horizontal plane. The arm 152 is pivotally connected to the

flight bar chains

150, 150 at 158. The flight bar 152 is held in the position shown during its return movement or at the upper extent of the

endless chains

150, 150 by resting against a transversely extendin-g bar 160 which extends between and is connected to the

chains

150, 150. As each flight bar moves around from the inactive position on the return pass of the chains toward the bottom or active pass thereof, it is prevented from unrestricted dropping around its pivot 158 into the vertical position by a guide means 162 (FIG. 5). After passing this guide means, the flight bar arm 154 is extended to engage the rear panel 28 on the blank at the rear of the pack on the rst conveyor 12. The flight bar is l extended in controlled operation by a cam. This cam is best shown in FIG. 6.

The cam is identified by the reference numeral 164 and it will be seen that this cam extends longitudinally and has one track 166 which is engaged by a cam following roller 168 on the flight bar 152. However, before the cam following roller 168 engages the track 166, an additional cam following roller 170 on the flight bar 152 engages a cam 172 to prevent the ilight bar arm 154` from dropping without control. Also, the cam follower roller 170 while it engages the cam 172 guides the main follower roller 162 into proper engagement with the main cam track 166. Soon after such engagement is obtained, the follower 170 leaves the cam 172 to surrender complete control of the ilight bar 152 to the track 166 and roller 168. This control is such as to swing the flight bar arm downwardly into engagement with the rear panel 28 of the blank B while the pack is still on the rst conveyor 12. This engagement of the ilight ba-r 152 with the panel 28 bends it downwardly toward the rear face of the pack, and the longitudinal movement of the flight bar prevents the upper tier of the pack from toppling. The rear panel 28 is fully closed on the pack only after the pack has been moved onto the second conveyor 14 which will now be described.

The second conveyor 14 (FIG. 5) comprises a high speed belt conveyor indicated generally at 174 and a slower speed flight bar conveyor indicated generally at 176, both such conveyors being driven by the electric motor and speed reducing unit to which they are connected by the chain and sprocket units 178 and .180, respectively. The conveyor 14 also includes a plurality of rollers 182, 182 which support the pack as it is advanced by the overhead ilight bar 152 after the pack leaves the high speed belt conveyor 174i.

The pack P with the blank B partially wrapped therearound is thrust by the lrst conveyor 12 oil the said first conveyor and onto the high speed belts and this cornpletes the closing of the bottom panel 24 of the blank on the pack. Thus, upon reaching the high speed belt, the pack has been fully enclosed on the top, front and bottom.

The high speed belt conveyor 174- is utilized to advance the pack rapidly into engagement with a pack position ilight bar 184 on the llight bar conveyor 176 which moves more slowly than the high speed belts. The position control flight bar 184 is used to locate the pack on the second conveyor 14 properly for the purpose of having a ilap tucking flight bar mechanism 186 engage the manufacturers ilap 30 on the blank and bend it upwardly into position under the descending rear panel 28 as shown in FIG. 6.

The flap tucking ilight bar mechanism 186 includes a lever 188 having a following roller 190 thereon which follows a cam track 192 to pivot the said lever about its connection 194 on the chains of the llight bar conveyor 176. This lever in turn pivots a bracket 196 which is connected to a carrier 200 for a llight bar plate 202 which is to be moved into and out of engagement with the manufacturers llap 30. The carrier 200 also has a roller 204 which follows a cam track 206. A spring 205 is connected between the chain 176 and bracket 196 to keep follower in engagement with track 192 and a spring 207 is connected between the carrier 200 and bracket to keep follower 204 in engagement with track 206.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the 4flight bar mechanism swings upwardly into the active pass of the light bar chains, the follower 204 on track 206 projects the flap engaging plate 202 progressively upwardly as indicated by the two left-hand broken line positions thereof to the fully extended full line position thereof. This causes initial engagement with and upward bending of the manufacturers flap 30. Then, as the follower 190 rides up the incline of the track 192, the lever 188 and bracket 196 are pivoted to pivot the carrier 200 which draws the plate 202 and ap 30 closer to the rear of the pack, thus continuing to bend the flap up. Finally, the roller 204 -rides down the decline on the track 206 to retract or withdraw the plate 202 from engagement with the ap 30 as is indicated by the right-hand broken line positions thereof. The plate 202 is finally withdrawn only when the overhead flight bar 152 has bent the rear panel 28 into position over the llap and can elect the glued connection therewith.

In continued advance of the pack along and off the conveyor 14, the overhead liight bar 152 will continue to exert pressure on the rear of the pack against the position control flight bar 184. The position control iiight bar 184 is moved out of engagement with the front face of the pack just prior to the time that the pack is moved olf the conveyor 14. However, pressure is still maintained on the -rear of the pack by the flight bar 152 as the pack is moved along the rollers 182, 182 toward the conveyor 18.

As has been previously described, the front and rear end flaps 26a and 28a are closed on the ends of the pack as it moves along the conveyor 14 and glue is applied to the top and bottom end flaps 22a and 24a. Then, at about the same time the pack leaves the conveyor 14, the said top and bottom end flaps are closed by the plows 40 to effect the sealed or glued joint at the respective ends of the pack. However, this can be done before or afterthe pack leaves the second conveyor.

Accordingly, the pack has been substantially fully Wrapped and its joints have been closed and glued in movement along the second conveyor. In the event that operation of the machine is stopped while there is a pack located on the second conveyor 14 or While there is a pack being thrust onto `the third conveyor 18, pressure will be maintained on the sealed joint at the manufacturers flap. Such pressure is maintained in either location by means of a fluid motor 210 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which is supported by the machine framework and which has a piston or plunger 212 directed vertically downwardly. This plunger is arranged to engage the upper flight bar structure 152 to bias it downwardly and into pressure engagement with the rear faceof the pack to maintain pressure on the glued joint. It will be understood that the fluid motor or motors 210 are energized or supplied pressure to thrust their pistons downwardly only when machine operation has ceased.

The overhead flight bar conveyor is utilized, as has been mentioned, to move the wrapped pack olf the second conveyor 14 and onto the third conveyor 18 which is also a flight bar conveyor and which may be referred to hereinafter as the compression unit conveyor. As best seen in FIGS. and 9-11, the conveyor 18 has a pair of

llight bar chains

220, 220 upon which are mounted a cam operated flight bar 224 for engaging the front face of the pack and cam operated llight bar 226 for engaging the rear face of the pack.

A llight bar 224 is pivotally connected to the llight bar chains 220 at 228 and it is normally biased to a retracted position adjacent said chains by a spring 230. However, it also has a cam following roller 232 which engages a cam plate 234 during travel of the flight bar chains on the upper extent, and this extends or erects the ight bar 224 so that the front face of the pack will engage the same as the pack is moved onto support bars 236i, 236 carried transversely of the conveyor by the

chains

220, 220.

The rear flight bar structure 226 is also pivotally connected to the

chain

220, 220 at 238 and this liight bar is normally biased to a retracted position by` a spring 240 which is connected to a cross piece 242 on the chains. Also, it has a cam following roller 244 following a cam track 246 which is shaped to project or extend the flight bar 226 into an erect position on the upper pass or extent of the

flight bar chains

220, 220. A spring-biased plate 248 -is carried by the ll'ight bar 226 to engage the rear face` of the pack at the glued joint of the rear panel 28 and the 10 manufacturers flap 30. Thus, pressure is applied to this glued joint between the front and rear flight bars 224 and 226.

As will be observed in FIG. 9, as the pack moves along the conveyor 18, the overhead flight bar 152 moves upwardly yat the end of its travel and becomes disengaged from the pack which is being carried away by the conveyor 18. The conveyor 18 can be driven off the motor for the speed-reducing unit 144 or by any other drive unit, and this conveyor moves the pack through the compression unit which includes the

side belts

42, 42 which apply pressure to the glued end llaps. As the overhead ilight bar 152 moves upwardly, it becomes disengaged from its control cam track and is merely gravity biased. It will then fail to rest against the cross bar which helps carry it in the upper pass of the upper Hight bar conveyor chains.

The invention claimed is:

1. The method of casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stili flat blank around them, the

blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and pre-cut flaps for closing both ends; comprising the steps of bending downwardly that portion of the blank including the front and bottom panels into a generally vertical plane, advancing the pack into the corner delined by the bent blank, bending the bottom panel upwardly to engage the bottom of the advancing pack, bending the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack and securing it to the bottom panel, then bending inwardly the flaps .at both ends of the pack into engagement therewith, and securing the flaps to each other at the respective ends of the thus for-med case while continuing to advance the pack.

2. The method of casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stili flat blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack, all of which have pre-cut flaps for iclosing both ends; comprising the steps of bending downwardly that portion of the blank including the front and bottom panels into a generally vertical plane, advancing the pack into the corner defined by the bent blank, bending downwardly the flaps at both ends of the rear panel, bending the bottom panel upwardly to engage the bottom of the pack while continuing to advance the same and at the same time bending downwardly the flaps at both ends of the bottom panel, bending the -rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack yand securing it to the bottom panel, bending the llaps at both ends of the front panel inwardly on the advancing pack, then bending inwardly the flaps at both ends of the top and bottom panels, and securing the last bent end flaps to the previously inwardly bent end flaps.

3. The method of casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiff llat blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and also having pre-cut end flaps for closing both ends of the pack, and the bottom panel having a trailing edge flap which is to be secured to the `rear panel; comprising the steps of bending downwardly that portion of the blank including the front and bottom panels into a generally vertical plane, advancing the pack into the corner dened by the bent blank, bending the bottom panel upwardly to engage the bottom of the advancing pack, bending the trailing edge flap upwardly from the bottom panel, bending the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack and securing it to the trailing edge flap, then bending inwardly the iiaps Aat both ends of the pack into engagement therewith, and securing the llaps to each other at the respective ends of the thus formed case.

y4. The method of casing a pre-formed pack of articles by Wrapping a single stil flat blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack, all of which have pre-cut flaps for closing both ends, and the bottom panel having a trailing edge flap which is to be secured to the rear panel; comprising the steps of bending downwardly that portion of the blank including the front and bottom panels into a generally vertical plane, advancing the pack into the corner defined by the bent blank, bending downwardly the flaps at both ends of the rear panel, bending the bottom panel upwardly to engage the bottom of the pack while continuing to advance the same and at the same time bending downwardly the aps at both ends of the bottom panel, bending the trailing edge flap upwardly, bending the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack and securing it to the trailing edge flap, bending the flaps at both ends of the front panel inwardly on the advancing pack, then bending inwardly the flaps at both ends of the top and bottom panels, and securing the last bent end flaps to the previously inwardly bent end flaps.

5. The method of casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single lstiff flat blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and pre-cut flaps on both ends of all of the panels, and the bottom panel having an edge flap which is to be secured to the rear panel; comprising the steps of advancing the pack in a generally horizontal longitudinal path while feeding the blank from a side thereof and at the same time bending downwardly that portion of the blank including the front and bottom panels into a generally vertical plane in front of the advancing pack and during such feeding of the blank applying glue to the bottom of the trailing marginal portion of the rear panel, continuing the advance of the pack into the corner defined by the bent blank, bending downwardly the flaps at both ends of the rear panel while substantially `simultaneously bending upwardly the bottom panel into engagement with the advancing pack and `at the same time bending downwardly the flaps at both ends of the bottom panel, bending the edge flap of the bottom panel upwardly, bending the rear panel downwardly over the pack and edge Hap and continuing to advance the pack and to secure the glued portion of the rear panel to the edge flap by applying pressure to the rear panel, bending the flaps at both ends of the front panel inwardly on the advancing pack, applying glue to the inner surfaces of the end flaps of the top and bottom panels and bending them inwardly on the previously inwardly bent end flaps, and continuing to ladvance the pack while applying pressure to the rear and both ends thereof.

`6. A machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping -a single stiff fiat blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and pre-cut flaps for closing Iche ends of the pack, said machine comprising a first conveyor for advancing the pack in -a generally horizontal longitudinal path, means for feeding the blank to the end of said first conveyor and for bending the portion thereof including the front and bottom panels downwardly into a generally vertical plane for engagement by the advancing pack -at said end of the conveyor, a second conveyor for supporting the advancing pack as it is thrust off said first conveyor, `means positioned between said first and second conveyors for bending the bottom panel upwardly into engagement with the bottom of the pack as it moves from the first to the second conveyor, a driven overhead Hight bar conveyor having a flight bar adapted to bend the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack into connection with the bottom panel and to continue the advance of the pack off said second conveyor, and means supported at the sides of said path for closing and connecting the flaps at the respective ends of the pack as it moves along and olf said second conveyor.

7. A machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiff flat blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack, each of which is provided with end flaps and the bottom panel having a trailing edge flap, said machine comprising a first conveyor for 'advancing l2 the pack in a horizontal longitudinal path, means for feeding the blank to the end of said first conveyor and for bending the portion thereof including the front and bottom panels downwardly into a generally vertical plane for engagement lby the advancing pack at said end of the conveyor, said feeding means also including means for applying glue to a portion of the rear panel, a second conveyor for supporting the advancing pack as it is thrust off said first conveyor, means positioned between said conveyors for bending the bottom panel upwardly into engagement with the bottom of the pack as it moves from the first to the second conveyor, driven flight bar means disposed below said second conveyor and movable upwardly to bend the trailing edge flap of the bottom panel upwardly at the back of the pack, a driven overhead flight bar conveyor having a flight bar adapted to bend the rear panel downwardly on the 4advancing pack to effect a glued connection with said trailing edge flap andV to maintain pressure thereon while continuing the advance of the pack off said second conveyor, and means supported at the sides of said path for bending the end flaps of the front and rear panels inwardly and for applying glue and then bending the end flaps of the top and bottom panels inwardly over the previously bent end flaps as the pack moves along and off the said second conveyor.

8. A case packing machine as set forth in claim 7, and including a third conveyor, of the iight bar type and which is driven, this conveyor being positioned to receive the pack as it is thrust off the second conveyor and having iiight bar means engageable at the front and rear of the 'pack to maintain pressure on the glued connection between the rear and bottom panels.

9. A case packing machine as set forth in claim IS and including means for applying pressure to the glued flap connections at the ends of the pack as it moves along the said third conveyor.

10.- In a machine for wrapping a stiff fiat blank around a pack of articles being advanced in a longitudinal path, the sub-combination of a mechanism for feeding such blank into the path of the pack from the bottom of a stack at the side of the path, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable pusher engageable while being advanced with an edge of the bottom blank to thrust it toward the path, drive means 4for advancing and retracting said pusher in timed relationship with advance of the pack, superimposed driven rolls disposed between said stack and said path and adapted to receive the moving blank therebetween to continue its advance toward the path, and means engageable with the moving blank beyond one end of said rolls to bend a portion of the blank into a generally vertical plane, whereby the pack can engage said vertical portion of the blank as an early step in having said blank wrapped around it by said machine.

11. In a machine for wrapping a stiff fiat blank around a pack of articles being advanced on a longitudinal conveyor so as to encase them, the sub-combination of a mechanism for feeding such blank transversely from the bottom of a stack in a magazine into the path of the pack on the conveyor, said mechanism comprising a drive motor, la reciprocable pusher engageable while being advanced with an edge of the bottom blank to thrust it from the magazine toward the conveyor, selectively operable motion transmitting means interconnecting said motor and said pusher to advance and retract the same in timed relationship with advance of the pack, a first superimposed pair of driven rolls adjacent said magazine and a second superimposed pair of driven rolls adjacent said conveyor, each of which pairs is adapted to receive the moving blank between its rolls to continue the advance of the same and the second pair serving to thrust the blank into position at the end of said conveyor, motion transmitting means interconnecting said motor and each of said pairs of rolls, and means engageable with said blank during movement from the magazine toward the conveyor to bend a portion thereof into a generally vertical plane, whereby the pack is being advanced oft the end of said conveyor can engage said vertical portion of the blank as an early step in having said blank wrapped around it by said machine.

12. In a machine for wrapping a stit at blank around a pack of articles being advanced in a longitudinal path, the blank being provided with pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and the bottom panel having a Hap which is to be tucked inside of and .glued to the rear panel, the sub-combination of a mechanism for feeding such blank into the path of the pack from the bottom of a stack at the side of the path, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable pusher engageable while being advanced with an edge of the bottom 'blank to thrust it toward the path, selectively -operable drive means for advancing and retracting said pusher in timed relationship with advance of the pack, superimposed driven rolls disposed between said stack and said path adapted to receive the moving blank therebetween to continue its advance toward the path, means for applying glue to the bottom of the edge portion of the moving blank defined by said rear panel; and means engageable with the moving blank beyond one end of said rolls to bend a portion thereof including said ilap downwardly into a generally vertical plane, whereby the pack can engage said vertical portion of the blank as an early step in having said blank wrapped around it by said machine.

13. A machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping la single stiff blank around them,` the blank having presized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack, said machine comprising a first conveyor for advancing `the pack in a generally horizontal longitudinal path, means for supporting a blank at the end of said irst conveyor with the front land bottom panels thereof bent downwardly into a generally vertical plane for engagement by the advancing pack at said end of the conveyor, means for bending said bottom panel upwardly toward engagement with the bottom of the advancing pack including a blank engaging device and drive means `for moving the same out of and into engagement with the blank to bend the same, and an overhead conveyor driven by said drive means in timed relationship with said blank engaging device and having a flight bar adapted to bend the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack toward connection with the bottom panel.

14. A machine for casing `a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiif blank around them, the blank having presized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack, said machine comprising a first conveyor for advancing the pack in a generally horizontal longitudinal path, means for supporting a blank at the end of said rst conveyor with the front and bottom panels thereof bent downwardly into a generally vertical plane for engagement by the advancing pack at said end of the rst conveyor, means for bending the `bottom panel upwardly toward engagement with the bottom of the advancing pack including a pivotally supported arm engageable with the bottom panel to bend the same, a drive motor, motion transmitting means interconnecting said drive motor and arm to oscillate the arm, `and an overhead conveyor driven by said motor in timed relationship with the oscillation of said arm and having a ilight bar adapted to bend the rear panel donwardly on the advancing pack toward connection with the bottom panel.

15. A machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiff blank around them, the blank having presized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and pre-cut flaps for closing the ends of the pack including a flap at each end of the rear panel, said machine comprising a irst conveyor for advancing the pack in a generally horizontal longitudinal path, means for supporting a blank at the end of said rst conveyor with the front and bottom panels thereof bent downwardly into a generally vertical plane for engagement by the advancing pack, means for bending the flaps on the rear panel downwardly and for bending the bottom panel upwardly toward the advancing pack including a drive motor, devices engageable respectively with the rear panel aps and the bottom panel, and motion transmitting means interconnecting said drive motor and said devices, an overhead conveyor driven Vby said motor in timed relationship with said devices and having a flight bar adapted to bend the rear panel downwardly on the advancing pack toward connection Iwith the bottom panel, and means operable on said pack thereafter to close all of said end aps thereon.

ld. A machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiff blank around them, the blank having presized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and pre-cut aps for closing the ends of the pa-ck including a ap at each end of the rear panel, said machine comprising a first conveyor for advancing the pack in a generally horizontal longitudinal path, means for supporting a blank at the end of said first conveyor with the front and bottom panels thereof bent downwardly into a generally vertical plane for engagement by the advancing pack, means for bending the flaps on the rear panel downwardly and for bending the bottom panel upwardly toward the advancing pack including a drive motor, pivotally supported arms engageable respectively with the rear panel end flaps and with the bottom panel, and motion transmitting means interconnecting said motor and all of said arms, an overhead conveyor driven by said motor in timed relationship with said arms and having a ilight bar engageable with said rear panel to bend it downwardly on the advancing pack toward connection with the bottom panel -after said rear panel ilaps and said bottom panel have been bent respectively downwardly and upwardly, and means operable on said pack thereafter to close all of said end flaps thereon.

17. In a machine for casi-ng a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiff blank around them, the blank having presized panels for the top, bottom, yfront and rear of the pack and having a Hap on the bottom panel to be secured to the rear panel, wherein the pack is advanced with the top, front and bottom panels of the blank around the pack and with the rear panel and said ap extending rearwardly generally horizontally therefrom at the top and bottom respectively, the combination comprising a drive, a supporting conveyor for the pack operated by said drive and including Hight bar chains and a cam track and a flight bar following and controlled by said track to be extended into engagement with and to bend said Hap inwardly on the rear of said pack and to then be withdrawn from engagement with said ap, and an overhead conveyor operated by said drive and having `a flight bar engageable with said rear panel to bend it downwardly on the advancing pack and into engagement with said flap and to continue the advance of said pack while exerting pressure on the rear panel and flap con- Inection.

18. rIn a machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stilf blank around them, the blank having presized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and having a flap on the bottom panel to be secured to the rear panel, wherein the pack is advanced with the top, front and bottom panels of the blank around the pack and with the rear panel and ilap extending generally horizontally rearwardly therefrom at the top and bottom, respectively, the combination comprising a drive, a supporting conveyor for the pack operated by said drive and including a high speed belt for advancing the pack, la cam track, Hight bar chains having a rst light -bar engageable by the pack being advanced by the high speed belt to locate it on said conveyor and also having a second Hight bar following and controlled by said track to be extended into engagement with and to bend inwardly said flap on the rear of the pack engaging said rst iiight bar and to then be withdrawn from engagei5 ment with said flap, and an overhead conveyor operated by said `drive and having a flight bar engageable with said rear panel to bend it downwardly on the advancing pack and into engagement with said flap and to continue the advance of said pack while exerting pressure on the rear panel and flap connection.

19. In a machine for casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stili blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and having a flap on the bottom panel to be secured to the rear panel, wherein the pack is a-dvanced by a first conveyor into the blank which has been pre-bent so that the pack will move olf the first conveyor with the top, front and bottom panels of the blank around it and with the rear panel and flap extending generally horizontally rearwardly therefrom at the top and bottom, respectively, the combination comprising a drive, an overhead conveyor operated by said drive and having a flight bar engageable with said rear panel of the pack on said first conveyor to bend it downwardly toward the pack, and a second conveyor operated by the drive to support the pack leaving said first conveyor and including flight bar chains, a cam track and 1a flight bar following and controlled by said track to be extended into engagement with and to bend said flap inwardly on the rear of said pack and to then be withdrawn from engagement with said flap, the overhead fiight bar being operable while the pack is on said second conveyor to close the rear panel on said flap and to maintain pressure thereon while moving said pack off said second conveyor.

20. In a machine Vfor casing a pre-formed pack of articles by wrapping a single stiff blank around them, the blank having pre-sized panels for the top, bottom, front and rear of the pack and having a flap on the bottom panel to be secured to the rear panel, wherein the pack is advanced by a first conveyor into the blank which has been pre-bent so that the pack will move off the first conveyor with the top, front and bottom panels of the blank around it and with the rear panel and flap extending generally horizontally rearwardly therefrom `at the top and bottom, respectively, the combination comprising a drive, an overhead conveyor operated by said drive and having a iiight bar engageable with said rear panel of the pack on said first conveyor to bend it `downwardly toward the pack, and a second conveyor operated by the drive and including a high speed belt for advancing the pack as it is moved off said first conveyor, -a cam track, ight bar chain having a first flight bar engageable by the pack being advanced by the high speed belt to locate it on said second conveyor and also having a second flight bar following and controlled by said track to be extended into engagement with and to bend inwardly said iiap on the rear of the pack engaging said first flight bar and to then be withdrawn from engagement with said flap, the overhead flight bar being operable while the pack is on said second conveyor to close the .rear panel on said flap and to maintain pressure thereon while moving the pack off said secon-d conveyor.

21. A pack casing machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein an additional driven `conveyor is provided to receive the pack with the blank wrapped therearound and which comprises a flight bar conveyor having a first flight bar against which the pack is thrust and also having Ia second flight bar engaging said rear panel to maintain pressure on the pack lagainst said first flight lbar as the pack is advanced out of engagement by the overhead flight bar.

22. A pack casing machine as set forth in claim 20 wherein a third driven conveyor is provided to receive the pack from said second conveyor while it is still being advanced by the overhead ight bar and which comprises a flight bar conveyor having a first Hight bar against which the pack is thrust by the overhead flight bar and also having a second flight bar engaging said rear panel to maintain pressure on the pack against said first flight bar as the pack is advanced out of engagement by the overhead flight bar.

No references cited.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, iR., Primary Emmi-en

Claims

1. THE METHOD OF CASING A PRE-FORMED PACK OF ARTICLES BY WRAPPING A SINGLE STIFF FLAT BLANK AROUND THEM, THE BLANK HAVING PRE-SIZED PANELS FOR THE TOP, BOTTOM, FRONT AND REAR OF THE PACK AND PRE-CUT FLAPS FOR CLOSING BOTH ENDS; COMPRISING THE STEPS OF BENDING DOWNWARDLY THAT PORTION OF THE BLANK INCLUDING THE FRONT AND BOTTOM PANELS INTO A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE, ADVANCING THE PACK INTO THE CORNER DEFINED BY THE BENT BLANK, BENDING THE BOTTOM PANEL UPWARDLY TO ENGAGE THE BOTTOM OF THE ADVANCING PACK, BENDING THE REAR PANEL DOWNWARDLY ON THE ADVANCING PACK AND SECURING IT TO THE BOTTOM PANEL, THEN BENDING INWARDLY THE FLAPS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE PACK INTO ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, AND SECURING THE FLAPS TO EACH OTHER