US3469366A

US3469366A - Packaging device having a fixed center,sliding split cover

Info

Publication number: US3469366A
Application number: US591918A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert J Broersma
Original assignee: Royer Foundry and Machine Co
Current assignee: Royer Foundry and Machine Co
Priority date: 1966-11-03
Filing date: 1966-11-03
Publication date: 1969-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-30

Description

p 1969 R. J- BROERSMA 3,469,366

PACKAGING DEVICE HAVING A FIXED CENTED. SLIDING SPLIT COVER Filed Nov. .5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a]? 9 W r-- q- 1' "W n Q- A) INVENTOR ATTUPA/EVJ Sept. 30, 1969 PACKAGING DEVICE HAVING A FIXED CENTER. SLIDING SPLIT COVER Filgd Nov. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a n S E co I- '3 Q 5 I @v I 4;, r-- E g INVENTOR I POBEPT c/ BPOZPJ'M/J p 30, 1969 R. J. BROERSMA 3,469,366

PACKAGING DEVICE HAVING FIXED CENTER. SLIDING SPLIT COVER Filed Nov. 3, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 U Li "4 I |52? 38 (\SI @O@ 1/// "5 "Z I5 V Y Z. '6 8 CA4 ///////\///A B U 1/ LL INVENTOR B05557 J 5P0F5MA AT/UFA/ZVF Y United States Patent US. Cl. 53-124 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 'A packing machine having a casing formed of at least three arcuate sections, the lower section being fixed and the upper sections being mounted for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower section. The'casing sections permit the packing material placed in the casing sections to be shaped into' a generally cylindrical form. A pusher element is provided to push the packing material and the nursery object packed therein out of the casing. Intermittent feed meansis provided for transporting a measured charge of packing material from a supply hopper to the casing. Guide means is provided adjacent the movable casing sections to guide same into mating relationsliip with the fixed section. The latter guide means also acts as a receiving means for a portion of the packing material whereby the movable sections fold the packing material over the nursery objectwhen the casing sections areclosed.

This application is an improvement the machine disclosed in my copending applications Ser. No. 243,044, filed,Dec,.'7, 1962, now Patent No. 3,284,981. and Ser. No. 576,807, filed Aug. 31, 1966, now Patent No. 3,426,- 359.

This invention relates to a packing machine and, more particularly, relates to a machine for packing items of nursery stock into packages for storage, handling and merchandising.

In a machine intended for the same general purposes as herein contemplated, which machine is disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 243,044, there is provided means for supplying dirt or other packing material to a shuttle, the shuttle then places a measured amount of the. packing material into a plurality of open clamshell-like casing sections, a plant is airanged thereon, the casing sections are closed to form the packing material around the plant roots, and then a ram moves the packing material and plant together out of the closed .casing and into l3. container, such as a pot or a bag.

This machine works very successfully but, in a continuing effort to improve the same, certain additional features have been developed which provide substantially improved operation under certain operating conditions.

- Particularly, in the earlier machine, the casing sections are of generally arcuate shape which are fastened by continuous hinge members at the lower edges thereof. When the casing sections are opened outwardly to receive a measured amount of the packing material, the hinge is exposed to the packing material as it is deposited into 3,469,366 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 no clogging of the hinge structure. However, certain types of packing material have a tendency to become trapped in the hinge structure, thus requiring a greater amount of power to open and close the casing sections. Furthermore, such a collection of packing material in the hinge requires that the casing sections and the associated hinge structure be periodically cleaned to insure proper machine performance. Accordingly, in the present development there is provided a plurality of easing sections which cooperate in a manner so as to require no hinge inner connections between the casing sections or any other related structure.

A further problem encountered with the previous ma- I chine was that some or all of the casing parts upon which the casing section. Generally, the packing material causes v the packing media rested were moved when the casing was closed and this sometimes shifted the quantity of packing media and the plant more than was entirely desinable. Accordingly, in the present development there is provided a lower semi-circular casing section in which the packing media can be deposited by the shuttle but which does not move during the closing of the remainder of the casing and hence the undesired movement of the central portion of the packing materal does not occur. A still further problem encountered with the previous machine was that the casing sections were actuated by a power means located beneath the sections, the power means generally consisting of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder being coupled to the casing sections by means of a yoke or a linkage. Furthermore, the power means, being located beneath the casing sections, was exposed to a considerable amount of contamination due to packing media either falling through or spilling over the easing sections. The power cylinder thus had to be periodically cleaned and the seals periodically replaced due to the large amount of packing material which collected in this area. Accordingly, in the present development, there is provided power cylinders which are directly coupled to a split casing cover, thus eliminating the need for any yokes or linkages therebetween and thus simplifying the construction and maintenance of the machine. Furthermore, the power cylinders are located above the lower casing section and are therefore not exposed to the packing material which spills therefrom. The power cylinders are thus in a much cleaner environment and require much less maintenance than in the previous machine.

Another problem encountered with other previously known machines was that the packing material was generally deposited between the casing sections in a single operation, a suflicient quantity of material being deposited to fill the entire sections, the plan then being placed on the packing material and the casing sections closed to form the packing material around the plant. These machines encountered the problem that the movement of the packing material when the casing sections were closed caused the plant to be displaced from the center of the casing section. Other machines, to overcome this problem, utilized a two-step operation whereby a portion of the packing material was initially deposited into the casing area, the plant was then positioned on the packing material, and then an additional amount of packing material was deposited over the top of the plant before the casing sections were closed. These machines are successful in maintaining the plant centered relative to the casing but require a two-step operation for depositing the packing material therein. Accordingly, in the present development, there is provided a lower semicircular casing section having fixed flanges thereon, the packing material being deposited in the lower casing section and onto the flanges by the shuttle in a single-step operation, the plant then being deposited on the packing material in the lower casing section and the movable casing sections then being closed to scrape the packing material off the flanges and fold the same over the top of the plant so as to maintain the plant in the desired central portion of the casing.

Further, in prior devices, plants with large roots presented a loading problem with respect to which previous attempted solutions have been of only limitedly satisfactory nature. Particularly, the opening previously provided adjacent the tube forming means in prior devices for inserting large plant roots has presented some danger to the operators fingers.

Accordingly, the major objects of the present invention include:

(1) To provide an improved machine for packing material around the roots of a plant and then further packing same into a container, such as a pot.

(2) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which is similar in purpose to the machine shown in my application Ser. No. 243,044 and application Ser. No. 576,807, but which is easier to construct and easier to maintain.

(3) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, in which the casing for holding the item to be packed and for shaping the packing material around the item is comprised of at least three separate sections, one of which is fixed, forming an upwardly open receptacle for receiving the packing material and the item to be packed, the other sections being reciprocally movable into engagement with the fixed section so as to form substantially a cylinder and in so moving to the second position to force the packing material around the item and shape the packing material into a substantially cylindrical shape.

(4) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, in which the lower casing section remains stationary while the upper casing sections are moved from a first position out of engagement to a second position into engagement with the first casing section.

(5) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, in which the movable casing sections are positively moved to and from a closed position by power operated means.

(6) To provide an improved packing machine as aforesaid, in which the movable casing sections are positively movable by means of a power source which is mounted above the lower casing section.

(7) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, in which the upper movable casing sections are connected directly to power cylinders, thus eliminating the need for any movable linkage means therebetween.

(8) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, in which the casing sections are moved together into abutting relationship during the closing operation, thus eliminating the need for any hinges or equivalent structure therebetween.

(9) To provide an improved packing machine, :as aforesaid, in which the packing material is deposited into the casing sections in a single operation, while accurately maintaining the plant in a central position within the casing when the casing sections are closed.

(10) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, which retains the advantages of the machines described in my applications Ser. No. 243,044 and Ser. No. 576,807, and which has additional operational advantages.

(ll) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, which will provide means for feeding to the machine plants with large roots but which will do so without introducing a danger of injury to the operator.

(12) To provide an improved packing machine, as aforesaid, which will guide both roots and leaves of a plant smoothly and neatly into place.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with machines of this type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an improved packing machine according to the present invention with one of the power cylinders removed for purposes of clarification.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the apparatus with the hopper and diverter structure removed, the apparatus being shown with the casing sections in a closed position and the container C having been filled.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a preferred form of the invention taken along the line III-III of FIGURE 1 showing the casing sections in a closed position with the shuttle retracted into the hopper.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the casing sections in an open position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating a. second embodiment of the invention showing the casing sections in a closed position with the shuttle retracted into the hopper.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the casing sections in an open position.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view showing placement of a pot on the apparatus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary oblique view of the pusher and loading funnel.

General description The packing machine according to the present invention comprises a casing formed of at least three arcuate sections, one of the sections being fixedly mounted to the machine and the other sections being mounted above the fixed section for reciprocal movement toward and away from the fixed section. The casing sections can be brought together to form substantially a cylinder whereby the item of nursery stock and the packing material placed in the casing are shaped into a generally cylindrical form. A pusher element is provided to push the packing material and the object packed therein out of the casing and thence out of the machine. The hopper for supplying the packing material is disposed above the casing. Intermittent feed means, such as a reciprocal shuttle or feed drawer is provided for transporting a measured charge of packing material from the hopper to the casing. A suitable funnel and guide structure is provided between the feed drawer and the casing in order to guide the packing material into the casing sections. Guide means is also provided adjacent the upper movable casing sections to guide the movable sections into proper mating relationship with the fixed section. The latter guide means also acts as a receiving means for a portion of the packing material deposited into the casing whereby the movable sections fold the packing material over the plant when the casing sections are closed.

Detailed description In the following description, certain terminology will be used for convenience and reference which will be recognized for convenience only, and as not limiting. For example, the terms rightward and leftward will refer to directions to the right or left as appearing in the drawings in connection with which such terminology is used. The terms upward and downward will refer to directions with respect to the apparatus in its normal position in use. The terms inward and outward will refer to directions toward and away from the geometric center of the apparatus. Such terminology will also include derivatives of said words above mentioned as Well as words of similar import.

Referring first to the drawings, there is provided a 'table 1 supported on any convenient frame indicated only schematically at 2 and 3, the same being arranged to stand upon the floor or any convenient support. Supported upon such table is a plate 4 which in turn supports an inverted channel member 8 whose flanges are aflixed to the plate 4, such as by welding. A pair of end plates 9 and 11 are aflixed to the opposite ends of said channel 8 and extend upwardly therefrom.

A plurality of substantially arcuate casing members, shown as

sections

12, 13 and 14 are arranged between the end plates 9 and 11 for relative movement therebetween. The lower casing section 12 is generally fixed relative to the machine, here by being connected to the end plates 9 and 11 by any suitable means, such as by welding. The lower casing section 12 is preferably formed as a hemicylindrical member with flanges 15 extending from the opposite edges thereof. The upper casing sections 13 and 14 are mounted for approximately opposed reciprocal movement, the sections 13 and 14 being guided by and slideable on the flanges 15. Movement of the upper casing sections to a closed position causes the upper sections 13 and 14 to be brought into abutting relationship simultaneously with each other and with the lower fixed casing section 12. The casing sections are shown in a closed position in FIGURE 3, while FIGURE 4 shows the casing sections in an open position.

Any convenient means may be provided for moving the casing sections between the open and closed positions. As shown in FIGURE 3, pneumatic or

hydraulic power cylinders

51 and 52 are mounted outwardly of the movable casing sections 13 or 14 for controlling the reciprocal movement thereof. The movable casing sections in this embodiment have a block 16 welded to the exterior surface thereof, the block being provided'with a suitable threaded aperture therein. The piston rod of the power cylinder is threadedly connected to the block 16, thus permitting the power cylinders to control the reciprocal movement of the casing sections 13 and 14. A lock nut 17 is provided adjacent the block 16 to lock the movable casing sections and their respective piston rods in aselective relative relationship. Suitable limit switches (not shown) can be fixedly mounted on the machine, such 'as on the flanges 15 or the end plates 9 or 11,'to coact or cooperate with the piston rods to control-the stroke extremities of the movable casing sections if desired.

The flanges 15 of'the fixed casing section 12 have a flat upper surface 18 which is parallel to the axis of the piston rods, The lower edges 21 and22 of. the movable sections 13 and 14 slide upon the surface 18 during the reciprocal movement of the sections so as to push any packing material deposited on the flanges into and over the packing material deposited into the semicylindrical portion of the lower casing section 12.

' Any convenient means for urging the casing sections 13 and 14 into the open position may be provided. As shown, the

power cylinders

51 and 52 are double acting and are thus energized in the reverse direction to drive the piston rods outwardly to open the casing sections. However, any other suitable means, such as springs or the like, could be utilized for opening the casing sections since the only loads encountered during the opening operation is the weight of the piston and the associated casing section.

- A circular opening 33 is provided through the end plate 9 of approximately the same size and coaxial width, the interior diameter of the cylinder formed by the casing sections when the same are closed with respect to each other. A guide cylinder 34 is affixed rigidly to the end plate 9 coaxial with said opening 33, the leftward or discharged end of said guide member 34 being shaped in any of many ways for facilitating the discharge of packed material from said guide member to a bag or other container indicated in broken lines at C.

A circular opening 37 is located centrally of the plate 11, the opening 37 having a diameter substantially equal 6 to and coaxial with the internal diameter of the casing section 12 afiixed thereto. A pusher 38 is provided with a radius slightly smaller than that of the opening 37, but nevertheless, capable of clearing the same only slightly as it reciprocates and thereby passes through the end plate 11. Said pusher 38 may, if desired, be of a single or multipart construction. Pusher 38 is provided with an opening 39 of radius slightly larger than the radius of the plant to be packed. Said opening may be circular, ovate or a slot as desired. The pusher 38 is removably secured to a rod 41 which is mounted on a slide 42, the slide 42 reciprocating on a guide member 43 which is supported by

brackets

44 and 46 rigidly on the table 1. The rod 41 is reciprocated by any convenient means, such as a plunger 48 of a suitable power cylinder 47. Preferably, said power cylinder 47 will be pneumatically operated but this is a matter of choice.

Any convenient hopper means 50 (FIGURES 3 and 4) may be provided above the casing sections and may be operated either manually or automatically for dispensing packing material into said lower casing section 12 when desired. In the embodiment illustrated, the hopper is stationarily supported on the frame, being vertically and sidewardly offset from the end plates 9 and 11, but being lo? cated in lateral alignment therewith. The hopper is provided with an opening 54 through which a reciprocating trap device 53 is extendable. Said trap 53 is provided with an open portion 56 for defining a measured quantity and a solid shuttle 57 for closing the opening 54 when same extends therethrough. If desired, plate-like spacers may be secured in the feed drawer to adjust the volumetric capacity of the opening 56 therein. The lower side of the feed drawer 53 is close by a wall 59 when the drawer is directly underneath the hopper 50. A power cylinder, such as an air cylinder 58, is provided for reciprocating the trap 53. While any convenient responsive means may be used, a fluid pressure switch 61 is here provided to be actuated by the slide 42 when same is in its retracted position (rightward in FIGURE 1) whereby to energize the cylinder 58 for conveying packing material from the hopper 50 into the casing section 12 when the casing sections are in their open position. A second pressure fluid switch (not shown) may be provided for operation when the casing sections are in their closed position so as to energize the cylinder 47 and cause plunger 48 to move leftwardly (as seen in FIGURE 1) for purposes as set out further hereinafter.

As shown in FIGURE 3, a foraminous cover plate 62 extends between the upper edges of the end plates 9 and 11. A pair of spaced-apart side walls 63 and 64 also extend between said end plates. The rear side wall 63 has an opening 66 therein through which the feed drawer 53 can re ciprocate, the front side wall 64 being closed. The

lower portions

67 and 68 of the side walls 63 and 64 converge in a downward direction substantially as shown. The side walls 63 and 64 in conjunction with the end plates 9 and 11 function as a funnel and guard structure to confine the flow of packing material as it drops by gravity from the feed drawer 53 into the lower casing section 12, leakage of the packing material thus being minimized.

The

power cylinders

47, 51, 52 and 58 may be operated either manually or automatically in a predetermined sequence with a minimum effort on the part of the operator by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic control system. Such control systems are well known in the art and thus could obviously be incorporated into the present apparatus for control thereof. Furthermore, such a control system is shown in my copending application Ser. No. 243,044.

A funnel 36 is preferably provided on the pusher 38 and may be additionally supported, if desired, on the rod 41. The funnel 36 is of shape converging toward the opening 39 and may be fastened in place by any convenient means, such as welding.

Operation Assuming for purposes of illustration that the device thus far described is to be used for packing smalland flexible plants such as carnations into peat moss and then into a receptacle such as a paper bag, the hopper 50 will be appropriately supplied with peat moss, a supply of such plants will be placed on the table 1 adjacent the end plate 11 and a supply of receptacles is placed on the table adjacent the other end plate 9. The trap 53 will be in its retracted position in the hopper as shown in FIGURE 3, while the casing sections will be in an open position as shown in FIGURE 4. The operator will, in starting the machine, actuate cylinder 58 which causes the shuttle 57 to extend outwardly from the hoppe (rightwardly as shown in FIGURE 4) over the lower casing section 12. The opening 56 carries a predetermined amount of peat moss which is thus deposited into the open casing section. The opening 56 is sized so as to deposit enough packing material to completely fill both the upper and lower casing sections when they are in a closed condition. The shuttle 57 is then retracted into the hopper wherein the opening 56 is again filled with peat moss.

After the shuttle 57 has been extended over the open casing sections, the material contained in the opening 56 will fall through the funnel and be diverted by the converging

side plates

67 and 68 into the region of casing half 12. The falling packing material will then be deposited into the lower casing section 12 and onto the extending flanges 15. By proper design of the parts sufficient packing material will be deposited into the semicircular casing section 12 to essentially fill the same with the remainder of the packing material spilling out of the casing section onto the flanges 15. The broken line 69 indicates the usual pattern assumed by such packing material at this point. The operator, by means of the opening 39, and using funnel 36 if desired, will then lay a plant on the upper surface of the peat moss which has been deposited in the lower Casing section with the roots of the plant to the left of the end plate 11 and the upper part of the plant extending through the opening 39 and lying to the right of the end plate 11. The operator then places the mouth of the receptacle over the guide cylinder 34.

The

power cylinders

51 and 52 are then actuated to move the upper casing sections 13 and 14 inwardly toward the fixed casing section 12. As the upper casing sections slide along the surface 18 of the flanges 15, the packing material deposited thereon is pushed into and over the packing material and plant previously deposited into the fixed casing section 12. The movable casing sections 13 and 14 continue to move inwardly until they come into abutting relationship with each other and with the lower fixed casing section 12. The closure of the casing sections thus forms the packing material therein around the plant with the plant substantially centered in the packing material. Such centering is assured due to the fact that only approximately one-half of the packing material was originally deposited into the lower casing section, the remainder of the packing material being deposited onto the flanges 15. The cylinder 47 is now energized to urge the pusher 38 forwardly (leftwardly as appearing in FIGURE 1) by which the body of the packing material with the plant therein is urged axially of the closed casing sections outwardly therefrom through the guide cylinders 34 and into the receptacle C. The receptacle C with the packing material and plant therein may now be drawn off from the guide cylinder 34 and the packing cycle is completed. Simultaneously therewith, or immediately thereafter,

cylinders

51 and 52 are de-energized in the inward directions and energized in the outward directions to permit the pistons to return to their original positions and thereby retract the upper casing sections 13 and 14 to their original open position as shown in FIGURE 4. Cylinder 47 is likewise energized in the reverse direction to retract the pusher 38 into the starting position and the machine is ready for the energization of cylinder 58 and the commencement of another cycle.

Modification FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the basic machine described above. Since the modified machine utilizes the same basic support structure, hopper structure and ram structure, the same reference numerals have been utilized to denote these elements as were used above.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, there is shown a plurality of

arcuate casing sections

112, 113, and 114 arranged between the end supports 9 and 11 for relative movement therebetween. The lower casing section 112 is generally fixed relative to the machine, here by being connected to the end plates 9 and 11. The lower casing section 112 is provided with horizontal flanges on the opposed edges thereof. The

upper casing sections

113 and 114 are mounted for opposed reciprocal movement in a horizontal direction between the end plates 9 and 11. Movement of the upper casing sections to a closed position causes the

upper sections

113 and 114 to be brought into abutting relationship with each other at their upper edges and into abutting relationship with the lower casing section 112 at their lower edges respectively. The casing sections are shown in the closed position of FIGURE 5, while FIGURE 6 shows the casing section in the open position.

The

movable casing sections

113 and 114 are reciprocated by means of

power cylinders

151 and 152 in the same manner as previously disclosed. Actuation of the

power cylinders

151 and 152 causes the movable casing sections to slide along the upper surfaces of the flanges 115, thus forcing any packing material deposited thereon into and over the packing material already deposited into the semicircular portion of the lower casing section 112.

Where the device is intended to fill relatively small pots in place of the sack-type containers C, a pot P may be placed over the end of the guide cylinder 34 and held in place, usually by hand, as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 7. The apparatus and the rest of the operation of the device remain the same as above described.

It will be recognized that by this mechanism a single operator can pack a large number of items of nursery stock in a relatively short time but that the device may be changed readily with respect to the type of plant being packed, the type of packing material being used, and the type of container into which the packing is placed all without modification of the apparatus. Hence, this machine is particularly suited for handling relatively small quantities of a diversity of products and packing situations and it will accomplish such packing both accurately and efiiciently.

Further, the machine described is of low cost both to build and to maintain. The machine requires no complicated linkages for the operation of the casing sections and, therefore, dependability of operation is assured. Furthermore, all power mechanisms and moving parts are located in a region which is remote from the packing material, thus eliminating contamination and clogging of the movable parts. Thus, very little cleaning and maintenance of the machine is required, time spent for repair thus being held to a minimum resulting in the most eflicient utilization of the machine.

The machine described is furthermore well adapted for varying degrees of automation which may be applied thereto. For example, any or all of the

air cylinders

47, 51, 52 and 58 may be eliminated and the operations performed thereby may be readily carried out by hand upon the application of suitable handles to the rod 41, shuttle 57 and casing sections 13 and 14 respectively. Suitable conveyors may be provided both for supplying plants and containers to the machine and for removing packed containers away from the machine. Hence, the machine, though simple, is extremely versatile and the single basic machine may be widely adapted to many specific packing conditions and requirements.

Although particular preferred embodiments have been described above for illustrative purposes, it will be recogmzed that variations or modifications of such disclosure which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu- Trve property or privilege is claimed are defined as folows:

1. packaging device, primarily for nursery stock, comprising in combination:

a frame;

a substantially horizontal cylindrical packing casing comprising a lower casing section and at least two upper movable casing sections;

means fixedly mounting the lower casing section relative to said frame whereby the inner arcuate surface thereof opens upwardly in a vertical direction;

closure control means for effecting reciprocable movement of said upper casing sections between an open position in which said upper casing sections are spaced outwardly from said lower section and a closed position in which said upper sections abut each other and said lower section and define a generally cylindrical packing space, said upper casing sections when moved from said open to said closed position by said closure control means each having a component of motion in opposition to one another;

reciprocable ram means positioned adjacent one longitudinal end of said casing sections and aligned with the packing space defined by said casing sections when they are in said closed position, and means for effecting reciprocation of said ram means into and out of said packing space so that when the casing sections are in an open position packing'material can be deposited therein and then said casing sections can be moved to their closed position in order to shape said packing material into a generally cylindrical shape, following which said ram means may be moved lengthwise through said packing space to discharge the packing material therefrom; and

flange means fixedly positioned adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of said lower casing section, said flange means extending outwardly at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

2. A packing device according to claim 1, in which said closure control means is disposed above said lower casing section and includes two reciprocable members, each of which is respectively coupled to one of said upper movable sections, said members movable inwardly to move said upper casing sections to said closed position and movable outwardly to effect movement of said upper casing sections to said open position.

3. A packing device according to claim 2, in which said flange means includes flanges extending from each longitudinal edge of said lower casing section, each of said flanges acting as a guide means for one of said upper casing sections.

4. A packing device according to claim 3, further including feed means for depositing packing material into the lower casing section when the upper casing sections are in the open position, said feed means depositing a suflicient quantity of packing material during one operation thereof to completely fill the packing casing when the sections are moved to the closed position, approximately one-half of the packing material being deposited in the lower casing section with the remainder of the material being deposited onto the extending flanges thereon whereby the material may be removed from the flanges and folded over into the cylindrical casing when the upper casing sections are closed.

5. A packing device according to claim 3, in which said extending flanges lie in a plane which is angularly inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and wherein said closure control means includes a first and second power source respectively coupled to the upper movable casing sections, each of said upper casing sections being reciprocably movable on one of said extending flanges whereby said casing sections move in substantially opposed directions when the casing sections are closed.

6. A packing device according to claim 3, in which said extending flanges lie in a horizontal plane, and wherein said closure control means includes a first and second power means respectively coupled to said upper casing sections, whereby said upper casing sections are reciprocably slideable on said extending flanges in opposed directions when said upper casing sections are moved from an open to a closed position.

7. A packing device according to claim 3, in which said lower casing section is substantially a hemicylindrical member, and said upper casing sections are each substantially a quarter-cylindrical member.

8. The device of claim 1 including an opening through said ram means for introducing therethrough the plant to be packed.

9. A packaging device, primarily for nursery stock, comprising in combination:

a frame;

a substantially horizontal cylindrical packing casing comprising a plurality of relatively movable casing sections;

means mounting said casing sections on said frame for relative movement between a closed position in which said sections abut each other and define a generally cylindrical packing space and an open position in which at least one of said casing sections has the inner arcuate surface thereof opening upwardly in a vertical direction so as to permit packing material to be deposited therein;

closure control means for effecting movement of said casing sections between said open position and said closed position;

reciprocable ram means positioned adjacent one longitudinal end of said casing sections and aligned with the packing space defined by said casing sections when they are in said closed position, said ram means including an opening through said ram means for introducing therethrough the nursery stock to be packed;

funnel means associated with said ram means for guidin-g said nursery stock to said opening, said funnel means having one end thereof fixedly secured to said ram means in partial surrounding relationship to said opening with said funnel means diverging outwardly away from said opening, and said funnel means extending longitudinally away from the one longitudinal end of said casing sections when said reciprocable ram means is positioned adjacent said one longitudinal end; and

means for effecting reciprocation of said ram means into and out of said packing space;

whereby when the casing sections are in an open position packing material can be deposited therein after which said casing sections can be moved to their closed position in order to shape said packing material into a generall cylindrical shape and thereafter said ram means may be moved lengthwise through said closed casing sections to discharge the packing material therefrom.

10. A packaging device according to claim 1, in which said closure control means includes a first fluid pressure cylinder interconnected to one of said upper casing sections for lineraly moving same from the open to the closed position, and a second fluid pressure cylinder interconnected to the other upper casing for linearly moving same from the open to the closed position, said fluid pressure cylinders being positioned on opposite sides of said lower casing section wit-h each of said upper casing sections having at least one longitudinal edge thereof slideably guided on said flange means as said upper casing sections are moved toward said closed position.

11. A packaging device according to claim 1, further including feed means for depositing a predetermined quantity of packing material into said lower casing seca ll tion and onto'said flange means 'When the upper casing sections are in the open position, said predetermined quantity of packing material being deposited. during'one operation of the feed means and being sufficient to completelyfill the packing casing when the casing sections are moved to the closed position, approximately onehalf of the predetermined quantity of packing material being deposited in the opened lower casing section with the remainder of the predetermined quantity of packing material being deposited onto the extending flange means and folded over into the cylindrical packing space when the up'per casing section-s are closed.

References; Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,824 10/1958 Fair '100 232 3,055,153 -9/196'2 RomineL; 53 -124 3,143,836 8/1964 Weller 53-124 3,001,345 9/1961 2 1181 53-124 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner