US3442062A

US3442062A - Mechanism for positioning carton flaps

Info

Publication number: US3442062A
Application number: US627705A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F Lense
Original assignee: Riegel Paper Corp
Current assignee: Riegel Paper Corp
Priority date: 1967-04-03
Filing date: 1967-04-03
Publication date: 1969-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-06

Description

y 1969 R. F. LENSE MECHANISM FOR POSITIONING CARTON FLAPS Filed April 5, 1967 w f go I 2 L, ense dwomos United States Patent 3,442,062 MECHANISM FOR POSITIONING CARTON FLAPS Robert F. Lense, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Riegel Paper Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 627,705 Int. Cl. B65b 7/20 US. Cl. 53-374 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carton closing machine in which a rearwardly extending trailing flap of an advancing carton is swung upwardly and forwardly by a flap positioning mechanism before the flap is folded across the end of the carton by a folding shoe. The positioning mechanism includes an arm which is swung out of and returned to the carton path as a result of being engaged by the moving carton, and a finger carried by the arm for swinging the flap into an upright position during the return of the arm.

Background of the invention Summary of the invention The primary aim of the present invention is to provide a novel and simplified flap positioning mechanism which is actuated automatically by the advancing cartons approaching the closing station and which engages and swings the trailing flaps into proper positions as an incident to being actuated by the cartons. The positioning mechanism embodying the features of the invention includes an arm adapted to move from a normal position extending across the path directly in response to being engaged by an advancing carton and then to return to the normal position as the carton passes into the closing station. The arm carries a member shaped to engage and swing the trailing flap into the desired position automatically upon the return of the arm to the normal position.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a machine having a flap positioning mechanism embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the parts in moved postions.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 2 and showing the parts in other moved positions.

Detailed description As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a machine in which a carrier 10 advances rectangular cartons 11 step-by-step along a predetermined path through a filling station 13 where 2 charge of product is deposited in the cartons and ther through a closing station 14 where the upper ends of the cartons are closed and sealed to enclose the product it the cartons. The product herein is ice cream which is dispensed in a semi-liquid condition through a spout 15 and is delivered into the upper ends of the cartons through a forming member 16.

Each of the cartons 11 shown herein is formed by two

rectangular side panels

17 and 18 hingedly connected along opposite side margins by two narrow rectangular edge panels 19. To close the open upper end of the carton,

side flaps

20 and 21 and

edge flaps

22 and 23 initially projecting upwardly from the panels are folded across the open end.

In this instance, the carrier 10 comprises a pair of spaced

parallel side rails

25 and 25a disposed on opposite sides of the path and guiding slides (not shown) for back and forth reciprocation along a line parallel to the path. Usually, the slides carry spring fingers (not shown) which engage the cartons 11 on the forward strokes of the slides to advance the cartons along the path and then spring past the cartons idly on the return strokes of the slides. The slides are reciprocated by a set of lever arms 26 which are connected to the slides and are oscillated back and forth about horizontal shafts 27 by a crank 28, the latter being rotated by a power shaft 29 and being connected to the lever arms by a pair of links 30.

Initially, each carton 11 is delivered to the carrier 10 in an upright position with the side panel 17 leading the side panel 18 and with the

flaps

20 and 23 projecting upwardly from the respective panels 17 to 19*. As the carton is advanced toward the filling station 13, the

side flaps

20 and 21 are folded horizontally and in opposite directions to the positions shown in FIG. 1 by a set of plows (not shown) so that the flaps will not interfere with the delivery of theice cream into the open end of the carton. Upon being filled, each carton advances to and dwells in the closing station 14 where the edge flaps 22 and 23 are folded toward each other and across the open end of the carton by a pair of swingable arms 32 disposed on opposite sides of the path and mounted on a frame 33 supported on the upper sides of the

rails

25 and 25a.

After the

edge flaps

22 and 23 have been folded, the trailing side flap 20 is folded downwardly and forwardly over the edge flaps by a curved shoe 35. As the carton -11 leaves the closing station 14, the leading side flap 21 is engaged by a plow (not shown) extending across the path and is folded downwardly and rearwardly across the edge flaps. Finally, the flaps are sealed in their folded positions by a heat sealing mechanism (not shown).

In this instance, the shoe 35 for folding the trailing flap 20 of each carton 11 is carried at the free end of a rearwardly projecting arm 37 rigid with a horizontal rock shaft 38 journaled at its ends in the frame 33. As the shaft is rocked about its own axis, the shoe swings downwardly and upwardly in an are about the shaft, first to engage and fold the trailing flap of one carton and then to return to a position to catch the trailing flap of the next succeeding carton. In order for the shoe to fold the flap downwardly and forwardly across the end of the carton, the flap must be swung upwardly from its rearwa'rdly extending position and to a position disposed Within the arc of the downwardly sweeping shoe.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a 1ew and improved flap positioning mechanism 40 adapted be actuated simply by the movement of each advancing carton 11 and movable into engagement with the trailing flap as an incident to being actuated so as to swing the flap into a proper position for folding over the end of the carton. To these ends, the mechanism in- :ludes an arm 41 which first moves from a normal position projecting into the path of the cartons upon being engaged by an advancing carton and then returns to the normal position as the carton passes into the closing station 14. Movable with the arm is a member 42 that engages the rearwardly extending trailing flap as the arm returns thereby to swing the flap into a proper position for folding over the end of the carton, the flap herein being swung into an upright position disposed in the path of the folding shoe 35.

In the present instance, the arm 41 of the positioning mechanism 40 is a flat sheet metal member mounted in the closing station 14 for back and forth swinging into and out of the path of the cartons 11. The arm is pivotally mounted at its outer end on a short pin 44 upstanding from the side rail and normally extends transversely of the path as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 with the free end 45 of the arm projecting a short distance into the path. Preferably, the member 42 is an upwardly projecting finger made of wire and welded at its lower end to the free end of the arm. The finger is shaped generally as an upwardly spiraling helix and thus the inner flap-engaging surface 46 thereof curves upwardly and forwardly when the finger is disposed in the normal position (FIG. 3). As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the arm 41 and the lower end portion of the finger are located at a level just below the flap hinges while the upper end of the finger is spaced forwardly of the lower end and is disposed almost level with the upper edges of the flaps.

As each carton 11 approaches the closing station 14 with the trailing flap 20 extending rearwardly, the leading side panel 17 engages the rear side of the arm 41 and swings the arm and the finger 42 clockwise about the pin 44 to the shifted position shown in FIG. 2 in which both the arm and the finger are disposed alongside the path to leave the carton free for advancement into the closing station. Such clockwise swinging of the arm winds a resiliently yieldable torsion spring 47 encircling the pin 44. The lower end of the spring is formed with a hook 4 8 wrapped around the forward side of the arm, and the upper end of the spring is formed with a finger 49 projecting upwardly through a hole extending through a collar 50 fastened to the upper end of the pin by a set screw 51. Thus, the spring urges the free end 45 of the arm against the adjacent edge panel 19 as the carton moves past the arm and into the closing station.

Once the edge panel 19 has moved past the arm 41, the loaded spring 47 automatically swings the arm counterclockwise and back to the normal position (FIG. 3) projecting into the carton path. A stop 52 projecting upwardly from the side rail 25 engages the rear side of the arm to prevent the arm from swinging beyond the normal position. During the initial rearward swinging of the arm, the lower portion of the finger 42 moves beneath the underside of the rearwardly extending trailing flap 20. Continued swinging of the arm causes the curved flapengaging surface 46 of the finger to cam the flap gradually upwardly and forwardly until the flap is substantially vertical (FIG. 3) and is disposed in the path of the folding shoe 35. Accordingly, the upright flap is positioned properly for folding downwardly and forwardly across the end of the carton as the folding shoe sweeps downwardly.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the novel flap positioning mechanism 40 is extremely simple in construction and trouble-free in service use since the arm 42 is operated by the movement of the cartons 11 and without the assistance of mechanical actuators. The mechanism is directly responsive to movement of a carton into the closing station and thus does away with the need of timing devices for controlling the movements of the arm.

I claim as my invention:

1. -In a machine for closing rectangular cartons of the type having opposed edge panels interconnected by first and second opposed side panels and having a closure flap hingedly joined at one end to the end of the second side panel, the combination of, mechanism for supporting a series of spaced cartons in upright positions and advancing each carton along a predetermined path to a closing station with the first panel leading the second panel and with the closure flap projecting from the second panel, an arm mounted in said closing station for back and forth swinging about an upright axis between a normal position projecting into said path and a shifted position disposed alongside the path, said arm being engageable by the leading panel of a carton approaching said closing station and being swung to said shifted position automatically as an incident to such engagement thereby to leave the carton free for advancement into the closing station, resilient means connected to said arm for swinging the latter back to said normal position after the carton has moved into said closing station, and a member carried by said arm and engageable with the closure fiap as the arm moves back to said normal position thereby to swing the closure flap relative to the second panel.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which the free end of said arm is urged against one of the edge panels when the arm is in said shifted position and in which the arm swings back to said normal position after the edge panel has moved past said free end.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 further including an upright pin mounting said arm for swinging between said positions, said resilient means comprising a torsion spring encircling said pin and connected to said arm, said spring being wound as an incident to swinging of said arm to said shifted position.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which said member comprises an elongated finger projecting substantially vertically from said arm.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 in which the closure flap is hinged to the upper end of the second side panel and extends rearwardly from the latter as the carton advances into said closing station, said finger projecting upwardly from said arm and being shaped to cam against the underside of the flap to fold the flap upwardly and forwardly as said arm swings back to said normal position.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5 in which the lower end of said finger is disposed below the hinge joining the flap to the second panel and the upper end of the finger is disposed above the hinge.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6 in which said finger is shaped to spiral upwardly and forwardly when said arm is in said normal position.

8. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which said member is disposed alongside said path when said arm is in said shifted position.

9. In a machine for closing a rectangular carton having first and second opposed side panels and having a closure flap hingedly joined at one end to the end of the second side panel, the combination of, mechanism for supporting and advancing the carton in an upright position along a predetermined path to a closing station with the first panel leading the second panel and with the closure flap trailing the second panel, an arm mounted in said closing station for movement between a normal position projecting into said path and a shifted position disposed out of the path, said ar-m being engaged by the leading panel as the carton approaches said closing sta- 5 6 tion and being moved to said shifted position in response References Cited to such engagement to leave the carton free for advance- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment into the closing station, resilient means connected to said arm and being loaded as an incident to movement 3,032,947 5/1962 Voller 53*374 of the arm to said shifted position thereby to move the 3,264,798 8/1966 Hayes et 53 37 arm back to said normal position after the carton has 5 advanced into said closing station, and a member carried TRAVIS MCGEHEE Prlmary Exammer' by said arm and engageable with the closure fiap as the U S Cl X R arm moves back to said normal position thereby to swing the closure flap relative to the second panel. 53-486; 93 53