US3418785A

US3418785A - Round table packaging machine

Info

Publication number: US3418785A
Application number: US614517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Duryee George
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1967-02-07
Filing date: 1967-02-07
Publication date: 1968-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1968 G. DURYEE 3,418,785

ROUND TABLE PACKKGING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. l0, 1964 Sheet l of 9 @fr Vf I@ S' v A 36000 CDO/Oo INVEN-ron nl Enea-5 a V55' ATTORNEY Dee. 31, 196s GQDURYEE 3,418,785

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#fm1 iii' 65 /ffwn INVENTOR $504265 Dz/A V65 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,418,785 ROUND TABLE PACKAGING MACHINE George Duryee, Dumont, NJ., assignor to United Shoe Machine Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of New Jersey Continuation of application Ser. No. 417,285, Dec. 10, 1964. This application Feb. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 614,517

17 Claims. (Cl. 53-184) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging machine having a station for loading lmed display cards on an indexing transport which moves the card to a film heating station, a station forming product receiving cavities in the iilm, a station folding the cards to enclose products in the cavities, a station for sealing the folded card and a package removal station.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 417,285, led Dec. l0, 1964 and now abandoned.

Today the trend is toward visible packaging, the packaging of products which visually permits their display in a more attractive array. This creates a desire on the part of the public, since they can actually not only see the product but also the description pertaining to the product, the pricing thereof, etc.

Machinery for packaging articles to permit visual display in many instances has been ineicient, costly, nonproductive in the speed of operation and the number of articles packaged, their versatility in switching over to different sizes and shapes of packages. Also, the rejection ratio, because of defective packaging, has been high.

Visual packaging in general means the adherence to a display card, poster, etc., of a product by a stretchable type membrane, such as vinyl, acetate, etc., which is transparent and capable of taking on the shape of the product supported. The card itself has the information printed thereon relating to the product packaged so that the card and product constitute the entire visual display package which is to be sold. The means of adhering the product to the card via the stretchable membrane forming a part of the card constitutes the subject matter of this invention.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a packaging machine for visual display packaging which is efficient, economical, simple to operate and versatile as to the types of packaging permitted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine for visaul display packaging which permits a minimum of operators and/or attendants and has a considerably reduced percentage of rejects in packaging of the finished product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a round table packaging machine having programming and indexing facilities to permit the actuation of a group of stations in a predetermined sequence so as to cause complete automatic operation in the loading, packaging and removing of the finished article in an eicient and economical manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the specifications and a study of the accompanying drawings and wherein;

FIGURE l is a plan view of the round table packaging machine showing the individual package forming stations according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, partially sectionalized, of the round table of the machine showing the rice programming and indexing facility geared to the rotatable part of the table.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the at card with a transparent membrane in the form of a window centrally located thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a section through the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and refers in particular to the card loading station and the appaartus pertaining thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the line 6 6 of FIGURE 1 and in particular refers to the second or heating station for heating the transparent membrane portion of the packaging card.

FIGURE 7 shows in perspective the packaging card and heated membrane in wrinkled fashion.

FIGURE 8 shows a sectional view through the line 88 of FIGURE l and refers in particular to the product forming cavity press at station three for forming cavity pockets out of the membrane portion of the packaging card.

FIGURE 9 shows in perspective the packaging card and the cavity formation of the membrane portion forming a part of the card.

FIGURE 10 shows a sectional view through the line 10-10 of FIGURE 1 and demonstrates the position of the product within one of the cavity pockets.

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 show a sectional view through the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1 and refers in particular to the card folding station for folding the fiat packaging card in different positions representing different steps in producing the card fold.

FIGURE 14 shows a plan view of the card folding mechanism.

FIGURE 15 shows an end view ofthe card folding mechanism and its position relative to the round table and the packaging card supported thereby.

FIGURE 16 shows a sectional view through the line 16-16 of FIGURE 11 and refers in particular to the card fold guide which positions the point of card fold.

FIGURE 17 shows in perspective the folded card and the product enclosed with the cavity portions of the transparent membrane having a wrinkled consistency.

FIGURE 18 shows a sectional view through the line 18-18 of FIGURE l and refers in particular to the sealing press for sealing the folded cards about the periphery thereof.

FIGURE 19 shows in perspective the sealed folded card with the transparent membrane shrunk around the product and forming a skin-tight and air-tight fittingthereabout.

In general, the packaging machine representing the subject matter of this invention is a rotating type machine having an intermittent motion and so programmed as to permit a plurality of stations to have certain functions performed in connection with the packaging of the particular product that is to be visually displayed. Each of the stations are disposed to operate on the product and card-display associated therewith in a step-by-step manner until the product and card become a finished package in which the product is visually displayed.

Now describing the invention and referring to like or similar parts with the same reference numbers, there is shown in FIGURE l the packaging machine designated generally as 1 and is comprised of eight stations, each of the said stations to be subsequently described in detail. Station one is the loading station wherein the at unfolded card forming the enclosure for the product is removed from the loading hopper and deposited on the rotating platform 2 of the machine. The cards are then heated at station two to permit the stretchable membrane forming the card window to become soft and pliable. The cards are then moved to station three to a membrane forming station which forms the said membrane into dual pockets or the shape of the product to be packaged. Stations four and five are loading stations where the particular product to be packaged is deposited within one of the membrane pockets formed therefor. The cards and products associated therewith are next removed to station six where the card is then folded along a score line provided therefor so as to permit the membrane pockets to completely surround the product and the card extremities to come in contact with each other. The folded cards and products contained therein are next transported to station seven where the folded card is compressed along its outer edges and simultaneously heated to permit the adhesive coating forming a layer on said cards to become activated and cause a bond between the contacting card extremities. Finally, at station eight the packaged product is removed from the rotating machine platform and placed in a heating chamber so as to shrink the stretched membrane, the shrinking membrane thereafter taking on the complete shape and form of the product being packaged.

The foregoing gives a general indication as to what the particular steps are in creating a nished display package which permits the visual observation of the product.

Now describing the machine in greater detail relative to the individual stations:

S tation one Station one, which is the loading area and shown in FIGURES l and 5, comprises a feed hopper 3 having a plurality of rack-like tracks 4 in which a plurality of cardlike members 5 are 'generally vertically stacked. The cardlike member 5, shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, is substantially rectangular and has centrally disposed thereon a window-rectangularly-shaped area 6 covered by a stretchable membrane sheet layer 7, such as vinyl, acetate and the like, and of a slightly larger similar area and adhered to the card member over the said window area along the edges thereof. The card is removed from its hopper feed position by a take-off mechanism 8 which comprises a frame 9 to which is attached a pair of spaced-apart

cam plates

10 and 11 by screws 10a and 11a to define a cam track 12 for receiving a cam track roller 13 rotatably mounted to cam follower lever 14. Cam follower lever 14 is pivotally connected at one extremity to shaft 15 via rod 16, both lever 14 and shaft being journaled to rod 16 and free to rotate with respect to each other. The other extremity of lever 14 has disposed thereon a roller 17 which falls without the cam track 12 and rides on the face of the

cam plates

10 and 11 in response to the movements of cam follower lever 14.

A rectangularly-shaped bracket plate holder 18 has a support arm 19 with a hole 20 journaled on rod 16 and keyed thereto via pin 21. Likewise lever 14 is keyed to rod 16 so that both the bracket 18 and lever 14 have no freedom of motion relative to each other but always move together in unison. The bracket holder 18 has an array of spaced apertures 22 for receiving a plurality of conduit members 23 attached to said brackets by locking nuts 24. Each of the conduit members have attached thereto at one extremity thereof a rubber-like suction cup 25, the other extremity being attached to a exible hose 26 which extends to a vacuum system, not shown. The combination of hose, conduit and suction cup constitute card take-off arms 27. Shaft 15, at the opposite extremity to which is connected lever 14, has connected thereto a driving arm 28 via a rod 29, both shaft and arm being journaled to rod 29 and each xedly connected thereto via

pins

30 and 31, respectively. The driving arm 28 is actuated in response to movements of air cylinder plunger 32 connected thereto and driven by air cylinder 33 which is, in turn, controlled by an air-vacuum system, not shown, and oper- 4 ated in accordance with the predetermined programming content of the machine.

In FIGURE 5, the solid lines show the card take-off mechanism, or card-feeding station, in its initial position. The take-off arms 27, via their suction cup-s 25, attaches to one or more cards 5, depending on the number of packages required, and vacuum applied so as to cause the cards to attach to the take-off arms. Upon gripping the card, the shaft 15, to which the bracket assembly 18 including the take-off arms 27 are attached, is driven in a clock-wise direction by driving arm 2S. As the shaft 15 moves, lever 14 similarly moves, the cam roller 13 following such motion in cam track 12. The cam track 12 is so oriented that the movement of lever 14 undergoes a direction so that roller 17 at the extremity thereof engages slotted member 34, attached to cam plate 10, via slot 35 so as to cause the bracket 18 to undergo an arcuate movement in the reverse direction to its initial movement. This is accomplished when roller 17 in slot 35 causes lever 14 to pivot at the roller extremity and thereby causing reverse movement of said lever and bracket. The reversal of the bracket motion permits the take-olf arms and cards carried thereby to decend upon the table 2 at the appropriate load position between locating pins 36 as shown dotted. During the operation of the card feeder, the rotating platform of the machine has been stationary to permit loading of the cards at the said loading station one. After the loading operation has been completed, the rotating platform moves so as to permit the cards to reach station two, the programming and table indexing means shown in FIGURE 2 designated to permit this intermittent movement.

Station two Station two is provided with a heating unit 40, supported by bracket member 41 attached to support frame 42. Also attached to and supported by frame 42 is a cantilever type heat shield 43. The card member 5 is positioned between the heating unit and heat shield and elevated to a temperature suicient to cause the transparent membrane 7, attached to card 5, to soften as shown in FIGURE 7. The heating unit, as illustrated, may be of any suitable type which can produce the heat necessary to render the transparent membrane soft and pliable in the time allotted for the particular movement of the table. After the card has been suitably heated, the cards are then transported by the rotating table to its next station or station three, the molding or forming station.

Station three Station three is a forming `or molding station wherein the soft pliable transparent membrane is formed to the shape of the product which is to be packaged. The forming device, designated generally as l in FIGURES l and 8, is a press-like device and comprises a structural frame 51 having movable upper and lower platforms y52 and 53 disposed to compressively engage each other, and each plate respectively, having 'mated male and

female molds

54 and 55. The molds are each disposed to engage the card member 5, at the heated membrane portion thereof 7, and to produce a shape comparable to the mold parts. When the rotating platform 2 carrying the card 5 is motionless, the forming press is caused to function wherein the platform 52 is depressed downward by piston arm 56 originating out of air chamber 5-7, the platform being supported by and guided by 'guide posts 58. Similarly platform 53 is raised by

linkage arms

59, 60 as urged by arm "61 connected thereto. Platform 53 is supported and guided by posts 62. The male mold 54 forms the cavity in the iilm, as shown in FIGURE 9, and a vacuum in thev female mold permits the retention of the cavity shapeof the membrane as the male rnold is removed from thecard. Subsequent to the

cavity formation

63, 64 in the transparent membrane 7, as shown in FIGURE 9, the cards are then transported to the loading stationsA 4. and 5 for product loading.

Stations four and five Stations four and five are dual stations for the purpose of loading the product to be packaged. Loading can be done manually or by mechanical means, not shown, wherein the product 65 is placed in one of the cavities 63 formed, the other cavity to be folded over and on top of the product to complete the encasement of the product, as shown in FIGURE 10 prior to encasement. It can be appreciated that the membrane, although shaped to the mold specifications, remains wrinkled and loose about the product in its distended state. Subsequent to loading, the card and product loaded thereon are transported to the next station, station six, or the card-folding station.

Station six Station six is the card-folding station wherein the card is folded along score line 67 as shown in FIGUR-E 10 so as to have the cavity portion 64 of the card membrane 7 enclose the product 65 residing within the other cavity 63. The mechanism for accomplishing the card fold is shoavn in FIGURE 1 and FIGURES ll through 16, respectively. ln particular, the card-folding mechanism, designated generally as 70, comprises a frame support to which is attached a pair of spaced-apart support brackets 71, each having a cam track 72 slotted substantially longitudinally of the said support brackets for receiving dual sets of tandem oriented

cam rollers

73, 74 and 75, 76, the arrangement disposed to support and transport a cam follower carriage mechanism generally designated as 77. The carriage mechanism 77 comprises a cross-bar stmotural member 78, journaled to and supported by a generally L-shaped structural bracket member 79 attached to the cam rollers, and having depending therefrom and attached thereto a plurality of spaced-apart roller arms 80 carrying at their extremities a :group of rollers 81 for producing the card fold when in operable position.

Centrally disposed with respect to the support bracket 71 is a card fold guide device 82 which comprises a U- shaped plate '83 reversibly mounted at its base portion 84 to the bracket 71 by pivot screws 84a, the total guide pivoting about this point when in operation. At the 'opposing extremities y85 there is mounted a longitudinally adjustably mounted plate 86 having transverse paced slotted portions `85 along one edge thereof to clear the dimensions of the product 65 and smaller transverse slotted portions -86 interspersed therewith for clearing the locating or positioning pins 36 -when in operative position. In the initial or home position, the fold guide 82 is positioned in a manner so as to permit plate 86 to hover slightly above the score line 67 `of the card `5 just prior to folding. The positioning of the rotating table at station six, at the initial phase thereof, permits the functioning of cardlifting device 87. This device is composed of a plurality of spaced-apart card-lifting pins 87a, each supported by a bar member 88 which is in turn carried and driven by piston 89 to permit the pins to traverse apertures 90 in the rotating machines turntable. The cards -5 are stationed over the said apertures so that the pins in traversing said aperture hits or impinges the card and causes the upward movement thereof to the extent and degree that the pins are actuated. The movement upward of the card refers to only a one-half portion thereof, as deined by the score line, the other one-half of the card remaining in its original position. Further, the upward movement refers to onehalf of the card undergoing, along the score line, a folding movement so as to have the two

distended pockets

63 and 64 of the packaging card enclose the product when the card has completed its fold.

As the card portion 90, shown dotted in FIGURE 11, are pushed upward by pins 87a, the carriage mechanism 77 begins to function in that the whole thereof is driven by piston rod 91 connected thereto and which is actuated by air cylinder l92. The carriage is driven and made to follow cam track 72 to the position wherein the rollers 81 begin to just come under the tip-lifted cards as shown dotted in the said FIGURE l1. The carriage mechanism continues to move in the sarne direction as guided and carried by

cam rollers

73, 74 in guide track 72 to the position where switch 93 is located. The switch 93 is mounted to support bracket 71 intermediate its ends and has mounted thereto a lever arm 94 pivotally connected at one extremity 95 and disposed to have its other extremity connected to a roller 96 so that the engagement thereof will urge the lever arm in a direction to contact switch toggle 93 to then permit the functioning of switch 93.

The actuation of switch 93 permits the air cylinder 97 to operate. Air cylinder 97 is connected at one extremity 98 to the frame 71 via transverse rod 99, the other extremity, by way of its pistou rod 100, is connected to the cross-bar 101 forming the base portion of the U-shaped card fold guide device '82. The -guide device drive mechanism of which the air cylinder 97 is a part comprises the air chamber 102 and piston rod 100 therein, the piston rod being connected to the cross-bar :101 at the central part thereof by means of bushing 103. The bushing 103 is further disposed to slidably engage an extension 104 of the piston rod in sleeve-like fashion in opposition to the force exerted by coil spring 105 surrounding the said rod extension 104 between the said bushing 103 and a stop-washer 104' hxed-ly connected to the rod extension.

After switch 93 has been actuated by lever 94 in response to the carriage motion and in particular by the contact arm 93a forming a part of the carriage bracket 79 impinging roller 96, which is integrally connected to the said lever, the air cylinder thereafter and the driving portions thereof, including the piston rod, twill cause the guide fold mechanism to operate. At this point the said guide mechanism will swing t0 a position intermediate its full upward swin-g as shown by its position in FIGURE 13. In this particular figure it is to be understood that the carriage mechanism and the card rfold are at some intermediate position prior to the completion of the folding operation and not at the particular positions as shown in the said figure since these positions will be further described in a later portion of the operation.

The movement of the guide member 82 to the intermediate position as shown in FIGURE 13 and driven by piston rod 100, the movement thereof causes bushing 103 to traverse, in slidable fashion, the extension rod 104 to the extent as determined 'by the full throw of the piston within the air chamber of air cylinder 97. The extent of this displacement does not cause spring member 105, surrounding rod extension 104, to undergo much compression. However, as the carriage mechanism 77 continues its forward movement, in the direction to cause the card fold, a roller 106 connected to bracket 79 engages the fold guide 82 along a guide track 107, extending in a plane forming an acute angle with the plane of the fold guide 82 and `forming an integral part thereof. The engagement of the track 107 by the roller 106 during the forward movement of the carriage mechanism causes the fold guide device 82 to continue its upward arcuate movement to the fullest extent possible as determined by compressive coil spring 105 and stop 104 on rod extension 104. When the fold guide has swung to its fullest forward position, as shown in FIGURE l2, the coil spring 105 will have its maximum compression. At this position, the card 5 will have completed its fold, with the roller S1 forming a part of the carriage device 82, still pressing down on the folded card 5.

After the card has been folded, as shown in FIGURE 12, the folding mechanism is re-cycled or placed in position again to start anew the process of card folding. In particular, the Amain air cylinder 92 for driving the carriage, in accordance with its programming device, urges the carriage in a reverse direction to its initial forward position as shown in FIGURE ll. At the same time the roller 106 carried by the carriage mechanism disengages from the track 107 forming a part of the guide mechanism 82 so as to permit the reverse downward arcuate movement thereof in response to forcing action of compressive spring 105 acting on bushing 103 connected to the base portion of the guide mechanism. The guide mechanism is made to come to a halt by the stopping mechanism 110. The stop mechanism comprises a support bracket 111, attached to frame bracket 71, and having a threaded hole 112 for receiving threaded bolt 113, adjustable the-rein and locked by nut 114, the bolt head forming the backing or stop against which the guide mechanism abuts and comes to rest. The resting or initial position is that as shown in FIGURE 1l. After the card fold has been made, as shown in FIGURE 13, the card extremities or fiaps a, 5b, tend to spread apart because of the resilient effect of the card at the fold portion to restore the original position of the card. The card fold is maintained as the rotating platform indexes or carries the card to the next station by a card flap hold down bar 115 which is comparable to a cantilever over-hang bar with a depending ange at the extremity thereof sufficient to engage and contact the card flaps in their movements to the sealing station or station seven. The card reaches this station in a condition as shown in FIGURE 17.

Station seven The cards 5 have coated thereon along the contacting sides an adhesive compound which when upon heat and compression being applied will form a secure bond so that the fiaps of the folded card will become permanently afiixed. The sealing mechanism 120 comprises a support frame 121, comparable -to the frame support 61, supporting upper and

lower base plates

122 and 123, respectively. 0n each of the said base plates is mounted cavity-

type molds

124 and 125 matching the configuration and ydimensions of the product 65 including the transparent membrane 127 forming an enclosure therefor and the yabutting card sides. The base plates and cavity molds thereon are -made to approach each other to cause the cavity parts to enclose the said product and membrane covering same and to compress the card sides to assure complete contact about the whole periphery. Upon compression of the mold parts, heat is applied to the contact parts in any suitable fashion between mold and card so as to cause the adhesive coating 130 on the card to undergo a change in state, solid to fiuid, and thereby activate the bonding elements and cause a complete adhesion between the abutting card sides 131 along the periphery thereof as shown in FIGURE 19. However, in the said figure the transparent membrane 132 is not that as shown but has the wrinkled condition shown in FIG. URE 17. Subsequent to the sealing station seven, the table is indexed to the following or last station eight, as shown in FIGURE l, the st-ation where the package is removed from the table and transported to a conveyor system for final disposition of the said package.

S tation eight The last station or package take-off station comprises both take-ofi apparatus and a heat-tunnel for applying heat to the package to cause the wrinkled membrane about the product to shrink and take on the exact form of the product being packaged. The equipment at the takeoff station may, among others, be taken as that shown in my co-pending application filed concurrently herewith and having a Ser. No. 4l7,339 and filing date Dec. 10, 1964 and may, in general, comprise a plurality of fingerlike plungers 140 having vacuum actuated type suction cups at their extremities, and supported by a carriage mechanism 142 disposed to transport said plungers along a cam track 143 defined along the sides 144 of the frame 145 constituting the heat tunnel. In operation, after the rotating table has indexed to the final station, station eight, the plungers are transported to the package and made to descend thereon, in accordance with the cam track, to permit the suction cups to be compressed upon the said package so as to create a complete seal between said cups and package. A vacuum is then formed within the plunger, in accordance with the programming system, so as to cause the package to firmly adhere thereto, the plunger then being lifted with the package clinging thereto by the carriage mechanism and transported to a moving conveyor belt 146 at which point the vacuum within the said plunger is removed, again in accordance with the programming system, and the packages thereafter released over the said conveyor belt. The conveyor belt, driven by external drive belt 147 and pulley 148, externally powered, transports the packages reposing thereon through heated tunnel 149, the heat being suppiied by any suitable means such as infra-red lamp, heating elements and the like, so as to shrink the wrinkled membrane enclosing the product as shown in FIGURE 19. The ymembrane shrinks so as to produce a tight skin effect about the product which is smooth and pleasantlooking and takes on the same shape and configuration of the enclosed product.

From the foregoing it may be appreciated that various changes in form and design may be accomplished without detracting from the true purpose and intent of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having defined the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A round table packaging machine for product packaging fiat transparent film display cards and having programming and indexing means for intermittently transporting said cards to consecutive individual stations for conditioning the said stations to perform their respective functions to produce package and comprising in combination:

(A) A card loading station for depositing the film display card upon the round table comprising,

(a) card hopper support means,

(b) card removal and transport means for removing and holding the said cards,

(c) means for directing the transport means to permit the placement of the cards upon the rotating table;

(B) A heating station including means for heating the transparent film on said displ-ay card to cause it to become soft, stretchable and pliable;

(C) A forming station for producing cavity formations in said heated film comparable to the product to be packaged and comprising,

(a) dual press means including a pair of oppositely displaceable platforms,

(b) cavity mold means carried by said platforms,

including vacuum means,

the said molds in response to the compressing means of said press and platforms producing a cavity formation in said film with the said film retaining its formation in response to the vacuum created as the cavity molds are removed;

(D) A loading station, including means for receiving the product to be packaged within the film cavities forming a part of the display cards;

(E) A card folding station having apparatus for folding the display card along the middle thereof including a transverse score line thereon and comprising,

(a) a structural frame having defined cam tracks therein for receiving cam rollers thereon,

(b) carriage transport means, including said cam rollers and carried thereby along a path defined by said cam tracks,

(c) card-folding means connected to said carriage -means and disposed to be transported thereby in response to the programming 4mechanism guiding the movements of said turntable stations,

(d) card-lifting means to permit initial lifting of the cards at a time just prior to its engagement thereof by the card-folding means,

(e) guide fold means supported by said frame, in-

cluding driving means responsive to the position of the said carriage transport means along the said cam tracks, for positioning the said `guide relative to the cards to permit the fold thereof about the said score line by the said card-folding means, the card and its -cavity pockets enclosing completely the product to be packaged within the said film pockets;

(F) A card sealing station for sealing the folded cards along the outer periphery thereof, including sealing apparatus comprising,

(a) dual press means, including a pair of oppositely displaceable platforms,

(b) cavity mold means carried by said platform,

including heat-producing means,

(the said molds in response to the compressing means of said press and platforms producing pressure contact between the folded cards along the outer periphery thereof to cause the adhesive coating of the card to become activated in response to the heating means to produce a firm adhesion of the pressure points of the said folded card; and) (G) A packa-ge removal station for lifting and transporting the package to its final location, including apparatus comprising,

(a) vacuum actuated package-lifting fingers, including suction cups at one extremity thereof,

(b) carriage means supporting said ngers and disposed to transport them to and from the round table,

(c) means for actuating said carriage to permit the said fingers to engage and disengage the package to permit the removal thereof from the round table,

(d) conveyor means for receiving the packages from the fingers and transporting same to its final location, and

(e) heating vmeans. in proximity to said conveyor for shrinking the card film to cause .a skin-tight smooth fit about the product being produced.

2. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein the said card removal and transport means includes vacuum [actuated holding plunger-like members for adhering and removing the said cards from the said hopper.

3. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said transport directing means includes ,a cam track for directing and reversing the movements of said transport means.

4. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said film heating means includes infra-red heat members with heat shield for directing the Said -heat to the film.

S. A round table packaging -machine according to claim 1 and wherein said cavity mold means includes male and female members each disposed to mateably engage each other.

6. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said cavity mold vacuum means includes air-vents disposed therein to effect a vacuum to cause the formed membrane to retain its configuration.

7. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said carriage transport means includes an air-driven cylinder and piston connected thereto for operatively driving the carriage in response to the programming arrangement and means of said machine.

8. A round table :packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said card-folding means includes bracket supported rollers disposed to engage 'and up-lift the cards to produce a fold thereon.

9. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said card-lifting means includes airactuated vertically displaced pins disposed to up-lift partially the cards from the machine table.

10. A round table packaging machine according to claim 1 and wherein said guide fold means includes an air-driven cylinder and piston connected thereto for driving and positioning the guide relative to the cards to permit the fold thereof in response to the programming means of said machine.

11. In a machine for packaging products in film covered windows of foldable display cards, said machine having means for transporting said cards to consecutive stations where sequential operations are performed to package the products in said cards the combination of:

(A) A station for depositing said cards on the transport means;

(B) A station having heating means for softening the film covering said windows;

(C) A station for forming a cavity in the softened film in at least one portion of each card;

(D) A station for folding the other portion of each card over said one portion to enclose a product placed in said cavity, said folding station including:

(a) a fold guide engaging the card at a pre-determined fold line intersecting said portions,

(b) lifting means for raising the end of said one portion for initially folding the card about the fold guide,

(c) folding means engageable with the underside of the raised card and movable along the plane of the card for folding said one portion over the other portion in superposed relation for enclosing the product in the film window; and

(d) means controlled by the folding means as it approaches the fold line for retracting the fold guide out of the path of movement of the folding means.

(E) And means for sealing the superposed portions of the folded card to complete the package.

12. In a machine for packaging products in film covered windows of foldable display cards, said machine having a station for folding one portion of each card over the other portion to enclose a product in the window in the card, said station including, a fold guide engaging the card at a pre-determined fold line intersecting said portions of the card; lifting means for raising the end of said one portion of the card for initially folding the card about the fold guide; folding means engageable with the underside of the raised card and movable along the plane of the card for folding said one portion over the other portion in superposed relation for enclosing the product in the film window; and means controlled by the folding means as it approaches the fold line for retracting the fold guide out of the path of movement of the folding means.

13. A machine according to claim 12 in which the folding means includes one or more rollers engaging the card and adapted to roll along the surface of the card adjacent to the window.

14. A machine according to claim 12 in which the lifting means includes one or more pins moved through the plane of said card to raise the end of said one portion for engagement by the folding means.

15. A machine according to claim 12 in which the folding means includes a carriage mounted for movement along defined tracks in a frame, and an air motor for moving the carriage along the tracks to fold the one portion of the card. 16. A machine according to claim 15 in which the fold guide is pivoted on the frame and the retracting means includes an air motor controlled by a valve actuated by the carriage as it is moved along the tracks.

17. A machine according to claim 11 in which the card depositing station includes a hopper supporting a plurality of display cards, vacuum operated plunger-like members for removing said cards individually from the hopper, and means including a cam track for directing and reversing the movement of said members for depositing each card on the transport.

(References on following page) 1 l 12 References Cited 3,138,075 6/ 1964 Martin 93-49 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,199,263 8/1965 Lee 53-373 X 2,284,792 6/1942 Anderson 93 49 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. 2,336,507 12/ 1943 ShieldS 93-49 5 N, ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner. 3,075,329 1/1963 SWeZey et al. 53-184 3,075,330 1/1963 SWCZCY 53-184 U.S. C1. X.R.

3,118,262 1/1964 Messick 53-184 53-373;270-61