US3486292A

US3486292A - Automatic case loader

Info

Publication number: US3486292A
Application number: US589877A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence Duane Ninneman
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Inc
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1966-10-27
Filing date: 1966-10-27
Publication date: 1969-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-30

Description

Dec. 30, 1969 D. NINNEMAN 3,486,292

AUTOMATIC CASE LOADE'R Filed Oct. 27, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR LAWRENCE DUANE NINNEMAN ATTORNEYS M 4. Sic/m2; ale/M Dec. 30, 1969 L. D. NINNEMAN 3,486,292

AUTOMATIC CASE LOADER Filed Oct. 27; 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet z FIGIA INVENTOR LAWRENCE DUANE NINNEMAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1969 L. D. NINNEMAN AUTOMATIC CASE LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2'7, 1966 \NVENTOR LAWRENCE DUANENINNEMAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1969 L. D. NINNEMAN 3,486,292

AUTOMATI 0 CAS E LOADER Filed Oct. 27, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR LAWRENCE DUANE NINNEMAN w. F/'. JZAMM 1 K. ma

ATTORNEY5 Dec. 30, 1969 L. D. NINNEMAN AUTOMATIC CASE LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 27, 1966 INVENTOR LAWRENCE DUANE NINNEMAN ATTORZEYS hired States Patent 3,486,292 AUTOMATIC CASE LOADER Lawrence Duane Ninneman, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Illinois, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 589,877 Int. Cl. B651: 21/06, 21/14 US. C]. 53-61 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus is provided for packing groups of containers in cases. The containers are assembled in groups having a plurality of rows. The group is engaged about its periphery by clamping means which are then rotated about a horizontal axis to invert the group to a position overlying the case.

This invention relates to an apparatus for loading articles into cartons, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for automatically loading containers into cases.

It is frequently desirable to package containers such as bottles. whether empty or filled, into cardboard shipping cases. with the containers being packaged in. the case in the inverted. or upside-down position. For example, the manufacturer of containers frequently package the containers in open-topped cases, which cases are subsequently used by the purchaser of the containers for shipping the filled containers. In such instances, it is frequently desirable to package the empty containers in the open case in the upside-down condition so that, when the containers are removed from the open-topped case, the containers will be in the upright position ready to be fed through automatic filling equipment.

Numerous devices have been provided in the past for use in packaging containers in cases with the containers in the inverted position, but these devices have normally required the open case to be inverted and placed over the case load of upright containers, with the containers and the case being subsequently turned upside-down to permit further handling. These devices have not been entirely satisfactory in that they have been relatively slow, and normally have required the open case to be manually inverted and placed over the case load of containers.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved, fully automatic, high speed case loading apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the containers are packaged in the case in the inverted condition.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus in which a plurality of containers are assembled into a group, in the upright condition, then automatically inverted and inserted simultaneously into the open top of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which a case load of containers are assembled into a group, then inverted and partially inserted into the open top of the case, then permitted to fall by gravity into the case in the inverted condition.

In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects, an important feature of the invention resides in providing a container conveyer for transporting the containers to be packaged in an upright condition to a group-forming apparatus which forms the containers into successive groups each containing a predetermined number of containers. A second conveyer conveys the open cases in succession to a position adjacent the group-forming apparatus, where they are temporarily held in position to receive the group of containers. A pivotally mounted chuck is moved into position around a formed group of containers and simultaneously clamps the group from four sides, then rotates 3,486,292 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 the group of containers through to partially insert the top portion of the individual containers into the open case. The chuck then releases the formed group, and the containers fall by gravity into the open case.

While one case load of containers is being inverted and dropped into an open case on the case conveyer, the groupforming equipment forms a second case load of containers into a group in position to be clamped by the chuck means. As the second case load is being clamped by the chuck, the case conveyer moves the loaded case, and positions a second open 'case adjacent the group-forming equipment in position to receive the second case load. The simultaneous group-forming and case-loading operations make it possible to load the cases at a very high rate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an automatic case loading apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 1(a) is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 with certain parts shown in alternate position, and illustrating the simultaneous group-forming and case filling operations;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the chuck mechanism employed to clamp, invert, and transfer the assembled group of containers to the open case;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with certain parts broken away to more clearly disclose other parts;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail. an automatic case loader according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1(a) of the drawings as including a driven belt conveyer 10 for conveying articles, in a single row, between the movable guides 11, 12 of a conventional group-forming mechanism illustrated generally by the reference numeral 13. The containers are collected against a movable stop 14 in a plurality of parallel rows separated by adjustable guides 15 until the desired number of rows each containing the desired number of containers is collected into a group. The stop 14 is then moved to permit the collected rows of containers to be moved by conveyer 10 along the converging guide members 16, 17 to a clamping station where the group engages and is stopped by the stop member 18 projecting over the top of conveyer 10. The presence of the group is sensed by suitable sensing means such as

switches

19, 20 having actuating arms 21, 22, respectively projecting into the group-forming area in position to be engaged and actuated by the individual container 23.

A second driven belt conveyer 24 is positioned in parallel side-by-side relation to conveyer 10 to convey cases to and from a filling station opposite the clamping station. A conventional carton flap opening and folding device 25, and flap hold down wire 26 is provided to fold the carton or case flaps open and hold them in the open position during the loading operation. This case flap opening mechanism, per se, is conventional and as such forms no part of this invention. A retractable stop 27 positions the open case at the filling station.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings, the mechanism for loading the grouped containers into the open cases will be described in detail. The loading mechanism, illustrated generally by the reference numeral 30, includes a base 31 supporting an upright frame mechanism 32 between the

conveyers

10 and 24. A

pair of journaled

bearings

33, 34, supported on frame 32, as by bolts 35, mount an elongated shaft 36 for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel to and spaced between conveyers and 24. A generally rectangular frame 37, consisting of a pair of parallel, spaced

side angles

38, 39 connected at one end by an angle member 40, and at their other end by a counterweight member 41, is mounted on shaft 36 for rotation therewith. A pair of mounting blocks 42 are rigidly fixed, as by bolts 43, one on each of the

side angle members

38, 39, with the mounting blocks 42 each having a bore 44 formed therein for receiving the shaft 36. A key 45 rotatably fixes the blocks 42 to shaft 36 for rotation therewith. Blocks 42 are rigidly fixed on

angles

38, 39 near the ends thereof which are connected by the counterweight 41 so that the rectangular frame 37 projects laterally from shaft 36 a distance sufficient to

overlay conveyer

10 or 24 depending upon the rotational position of shaft 36.

A first elongated shaft assembly 46, consisting of a threaded central section 47 having

end sections

48, 49 mounted thereon by

shaft couplings

50, 51 respectively, is rotatably mounted on frame 37 in spaced parallel relation to shaft 36, with shaft 46 being journaled for rotation in frame 37 by bearings in

housings

52 and 53. A bracket 85 is rigidly fixed, as by welding, on angle member 38, and supports a reversible motor 54. Shaft 46 is connected, through shaft coupling 55, to the reversible motor 54 for rotation thereby in either direction. A pair of bevelled gears 56, 57 are rotatably fixed, one on each of the

shaft end sections

48, 49, for rotation therewith.

Bevelled gears 56, 57 mesh with identical bevel gears 58, 59 whch are rotatably fixed on the end section 60, 61, respectively of a pair of

parallel shaft assemblies

62, 63, which, in turn, are rotatably mounted on side angles 38, 39, respectively, of frame 37. Shaft 62 includes a central threaded section 64 and a second end section 65, with end sections and 65 being mounted on section 64 by couplings 66, 67, respectively. Shaft assembly 62 is supported for rotation on angle 38 by hearings in housing 52 and 68.

Shaft assembly 63 includes a threaded portion 69 which is connected to end section 61 by coupling 70, and the assembly is supported for rotation on angle member 39 by bearings in housing 53 and bearing block 71. A bevelled gear 72 mounted on end section 65 of shaft 62 meshes with a bevelled gear 73 rotatably fixed on the end section 74 of a fourth shaft assembly 75. The shaft assembly includes a threaded segment 76 connected to end segment 74, as by coupling 77, and is supported along angle section 40 for rotation about an axis parallel to shaft assembly 47 and shaft 36 by bearings in housing 68 and bearing block 78. As best seen in FIG. 2, the arrangement of the bevelled gears on the

shaft assemblies

46, 62, 63 and 75 is such that, upon rotation of the shaft 46 by the motor 54, the

shafts

62, 63 and 75 will simultaneously be rotated, with the shafts which are parallel to one another being rotated in the same direction.

Each of the

shaft segments

47, 64, 69 and 76 are threaded along a portion of their length adjacent each end thereof, with the threads on the opposite ends of each shaft being of different hand. The shafts are oriented on the rectangular frame 37 so that the threads formed on corresponding ends of the parallel pairs of shafts are identical as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A first pair of elongated clamping bars 80, 81 having laterally offset, generally parallel central portions 80(a), 81(a), respectively, each have one end threadably supported on the threaded shaft segment 47, one on each end thereof, and their respective other ends threadably supported on the corresponding end of threaded segment 76 of shaft 75. Thus, the clamping bars 80, 81 each have their respective ends supported on shaft threads of the same hand, but with the hand of the thread supporting clamping arm 80 being opposite to the hand of the thread supporting shaft 81. Since

shafts

46 and 75 are rotated in the same direction upon rotation of motor 54, the

clamp ing arms

80, 81 will be moved simultaneously along their supporting shafts in opposite directions with their central portions 80(a), 81(a) remaining parallel. Similarly, .1 second pair of clamping

arms

82, 83 having laterally offset generally parallel central portions 82(a), 83(a), respectively, are mounted on the

shafts

62, 63 in generally perpendicular overlaying relation (FIG. 1(a)) with

arms

80, 81 for simultaneous movement toward or away from one another upon rotation of the supporting shafts by motor 54.

Since all the shaft assemblies (46, 62, 63 and 75) are rotated simultaneously and in equal amounts by the motor 54, acting through the various bevelled gears, the clamping

arms

80, 81, 82, 83 therebetween simultaneously close from four sides. For example, rotation of motor 54 in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the driven end of shaft 47) will result in shaft 75 also being driven in the clockwise direction, and clamping

arms

80, 81 will be moved toward one anoher. At the same time,

shafts

62 and 63 will be driven in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the ends thereof closest to shaft 46) so that clamping

arms

82, 83 will be driven toward one another. By providing identical bevelled gears to drive the shaft assemblies, and by forming the thread on the various shafts with the same pitch, the clamping arms will be moved the same distance so that the perpendicular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 will always be maintained. Thus, articles spaced between the clamping arms may be simultaneously clamped from four sides with equal clamping pressure being applied to each of the four sides.

The laterally offset configuration of the respective clamping bars is desirable to facilitate clamping of relatively large groups of articles while maintaining the size of the rectangular frame at a minimum. Preferably, resilient clamping pads 84 are secured to the clamping face of the respective clamping arms to compensate for any slight misalignment or size variation of the articles clamped.

To control the extent of movement of the clamping

arms

80, 81, 82 and 83, a lever 86 is supported on the end of arm 81 for movement therewith along shaft element 47. A pair of

electrical switches

87, 88 are mounted on a bracket 89 rigidly supported on frame 37 adjacent shaft 46. The switch 87 is connected in the control circuitry for the motor 54, and is positioned to be actuated by the lever 86 to limit the movement of the respective clamping arms toward one another. Similarly, the switch 88 is connected in the control circuitry to the motor .54 and positioned on the bracket 89 to be engaged by the lever 86 to control the extent of movement of the clamping arms away from one another.

Switches

87 and 88 may be adjusted along the length of mounting bracket 89, by any suitable means, not shown, so that the chuck mechanism may readily be adjusted to clamp loads of any desired size within the physical limits of the apparatus.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the mechanism employed to rotate shaft 36 to thereby move the chuck mechanism between the load clamping position shown in the full line and the load releasing position shown in phantom line in FIG. 3 will be described in detail. An electric motor 90 mounted on base 31, acting through shaft 91, pulley 92, belt 93, and the electromagnetic clutch-brake mechanism 94, drives the input shaft of a reduction gear mechanism 96 mounted on base 31. A crank arm 97 is rotatably fixed, as by key 98, on the output shaft 99 of the reduction gear mechanism 96. A crank pin 100 rotatably supports one end of a piston rod 101 which is pivotally connected, through spherical rod end 102 and piston pin 103, to an elongated Vertically extending piston 104. The piston 104 is supported within housing assembly 105, and guided for vertical reciprocal movement therein by

bushings

106, 107 and by lubrication seal 108. Housing assembly 105 is rigidly supported on frame 32 by bolts 109.

A shaft 120 is mounted within housing 105 for rotation about a horizontal axis in alignment with shaft 36 by

suitable antifriction bearings

121, 122. Shaft 120 projects outwardly from housing 105, and a suitable lubrication seal 123 mounted on housing 105 maintains a lubricationtight condition with the housing. Shaft 120 is connected to shaft 36 for rotation therewith by a coupling sleeve 124 and

keys

125, 126. A pinion 130 is rotatably fixed, as by key 131, on shaft 120 within housing 105, and a rack 132 formed on the side of piston 104 meshes with pinion 130 so that vertical movement of piston 104, acting through the rack 132 and pinion 130, results in rotation of the shaft 120.

An electrical switch 140 having an elongated actuating arm 141 is mounted on frame 32 with the arm projecting laterally therefrom in position to be actuated by a roller cam 142 carried on crank pin 100 when the piston rod 101 and the piston 104 are in their uppermost position illustrated in the full line position in FIG. 3. A similar electrical switch 143 having an elongated actuating arm 144 is mounted on frame 32 in position to be actuated by the roller cam 142 when the output shaft 99 has been rotated through 180 from the FIG. 3 position to place the piston rod 101 and the piston 104 in their fully lowered position.

Switches

140 and 143 are connected into the electric control circuit for the electromagnetically actuated clutch-brake mechanism 94 to stop rotation of the output shaft 99 of the reduction gear mechanism 96 when the piston 104 is in the fully elevated and fully lowered positions.

Switches

140 and 143 are also connected in the control circuitry for the motor 54 so that the motor 54 is driven to move the clamping arms only when the piston 104 is in the fully extended or lowered position to position the chuck mechanism in either the clamping or releasing position. Similarly, switches 87 and 88 are connected in the control circuit to the clutch-brake 94. For example, the clutch can be moved from the clamping station only after the motor 54 has driven the clamping arms toward one another and lever 86 has actuated switch 88, and the clutch can only be moved from the releasing position after lever 86 has actuated switch 87.

In operation of the device, articles such as empty containers 23 are fed in single file along conveyer between the movable parallel guide rails 11, 12 and collected by the group forming mechanism 13 into a plurality of parallel rows, each including a predetermined number of containers, in a conventional manner. The formed rows of containers are released by the movable stop 14 and permitted, to move on conveyer 10 between the converging guide rails 16 and 17 and be collected against the adjustable stop member 18 as a compact group supported in a fixed or clamping position on the conveyer 10. Suitable sensing means such as the

switches

19 and 20 are employed to sense the presence of a formed group at the clamping station. The containers are permitted to move onto the group-forming station only when the chuck is moving toward or at the releasing position, and when a complete group of containers is sensed, the electromagnetically actuated clutch-brake mechanism 94 is actuated to drive the reduction gear 96 to move the piston 104 toward the fully elevated position. This upward movement of the piston 104, acting through the rack 132 and pinion 130 rotates shaft 36 which, in turn, swings the rectangular frame 37 and the chuck mechanism supported therein from releasing position over the filling station on the adjacent conveyer 24 to the clamping position above the container conveyer 10. At this point, switch 140 actuates the clutch-brake to stop rotation of shaft 99 and energizes motor 54 to drive the clamping arms toward one another to simultaneously clamp the assembled group of containers from all four sides. When the clamping arms have been moved sufiiciently to clamp the formed group of containers, lever 86 actuates switch 87 to deenergize motor 54 and to actuate the clutch-brake mechanism 94 to drive the rack and pinion in a direction to swing the chuck mechanism and the group of containers clamped thereby through an arc of about the horizontal shaft 36. This 180 arc inverts the containers of the assembled group, and partially inserts the neck of the containers into an open case positioned at the filling station on the conveyer 24. As the clutch mechanism reaches this position, switch 143 is actuated to actuate the clutch-brake mechanism 94 to stop shaft 99 and to energize motor 54 to drive the clamping arms in a direction to release the clamped group of containers simultaneously from all sides to permit the inverted group to fall, by gravity, into the open, case. After a predetermined movement of the clamping arms, switch 88 will be actuated to deenergize motor 54 and if another group of containers have been sensed at the clamping station to actuate clutch-brake 94 to automatically repeat the operation. As the second group of containers is being clamped, the filled case is released and another empty case is positioned at the filling station ready to receive a second case load of containers. Thus, the operation is fully au omatic.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto, but that I do intend to cover all embodiments thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a case loading apparatus, an article clamping and transfer mechanism comprising a frame, first and second pairs of elongated spaced parallel clamping bars, said second pair of clamping bars extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of bars in overlaying rela: tion and cooperating therewith to form the four sides of an open centered generally rectangular clamp, support means mounted on said frame out-board of said rectangular clamp movably supporting each of said clamping bars, drive means for moving the clamping bars of each pair toward or away from one another to clamp or release articles disposed within said rectangular clamp from four sides simultaneously, and means supporting said frame for rotation about an axis spaced from said generally rectangular clamp.

2. The article clamping and transfer mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said rectangular clamp is normally disposed in a horizontal plane, said frame being supported for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel to one side of said rectangular clamp.

3. The article clamping and transfer mechanism defined in claim 2 further comprising means for oscillating said frame about said horizontal axis through an arc of substantially 180 to simultaneously transfer and invert articles clamped in said rectangular clamp.

4. An apparatus for packing articles in cases comprising, in combination, a conveyer for transporting the articles to be packaged in an upright condition, group forming means for forming a predetermined number of the upright articles conveyed on said conveyer into a group comprising a plurality of rows at a grouping station, chuck means mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from said grouping station between a clamping position above said grouping station and a releasing position spaced from said clamping position, said chuck means including means for simultaneously clamping the group of articles from opposite sides thereof when said chuck is in said clamping position, and means for rotating said chuck about said axis to simultaneously invert a group of articles clamped thereby and transfer the group from said grouping station to a case filling station beneath said releasing position, said chuck means comprising first and second pairs of elongated spaced parallel clamping bars, said second pair of clamping bars extending substantially perpendicular to said first pair of bars in overlaying relation and cooperating therewith to form the four sides of a generally rectangular clamp, support means outboard of said rectangular clarnp for supporting each of said clamping bars, and drive means for moving the clamping bars of each pair toward or away from one another to clamp or release articles disposed within said rectangular clamp from four sides simultaneously.

5. The case packing apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said support means include means of supporting each of said clamping bars at each end thereof.

6. The case packing apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said drive means moves each of said clamping bars an equal amount to clamp or release articles disposed in said rectangular clamp.

7. The case packing apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said clamping bars are movably mounted on said support means, and said drive means includes means for moving said clamping bars on said support means toward or away from one another.

8. The case packing apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said support means comprises an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in outwardly spaced generally parallel relation to each of said clamping bars, and screw threads of opposite hand formed on opposed ends of each of said shafts for engaging mating screw threads on one end of each clamping bar of one pair of said clamping bars, one of said clamping bars engaging the screw thread on each end of each said shaft.

9. The case packing apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said drive means includes motor means for simultaneously rotating each of said shafts, said motor means being operable to drive said shafts in either direction to simultaneously move the clamping bars of each pair of bars toward or away from one another.

10. An apparatus for packing articles in cases comprising, in combination, a conveyer for transporting the articles to be packaged in an upright condition, group forming means for forming a predetermined numberof the upright articles conveyed on said conveyer into a group comprising a plurality of rows at a grouping station, chuck means mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from said grouping station between a clamping position above said grouping station and a releasing position spaced from said clamping position, said chuck means including means for simultaneously clamping the group of articles from opposite sides thereof when said chuck is in said clamping position, means for rotating said chuck about said axis through an arc of substantially 180 to simultaneously invert a group of articles clamped thereby and transfer the group from said grouping station to a case filling station beneath said releasing position, means for conveying empty cases to said case filling station and for conveying full cases from said case filling station, and group sensing means for sensing the presence of a group of containers at said grouping station, said group sensing means being operatively connected with said chuck rotating means to prevent movement of said chuck from said releasing position to said clamping position in the absence of a formed group of articles at said grouping station.

11. An apparatus for packing articles in cases comprising, in combination, a conveyer for transporting the articles to be packaged in an upright condition, group forming means for forming a predetermined number of the upright articles conveyed on said conveyer into a group comprising a plurality of rows at a grouping station, chuck means mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from said grouping station between a clamping position above said grouping station and a releasing position spaced from said clamping position, said chuck means including means for simultaneously clamping the group of articles from opposite sides thereof when said chuck is in said clamping position, means for rotating said chuck about said axis through an arc of substantially 180 to simultaneously invert a group of articles clamped thereby and transfer the group from said grouping station to a case filling station beneath said releasing position, means for conveying empty cases to said case filling station and for conveying full cases from said case filling station, motor means for actuating said chuck to clamp a group of articles when said chuck is in clamping position and to release a group of articles clamped thereby when said chuck is in said releasing position and means for preventing movement of said chuck from said clamping position until said motor means has actuated said chuck to clamp articles at said clamping station, and for preventing movement of said chuck from said releasing position until said motor means has actuated said chuck to release articles clamped thereby.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,563,858 8/1951 McGinley et a1 53388 2,627,335 2/1953 Gedris l98-33 2,637,268 5/1953 Culver 100232 FOREIGN PATENTS 69,236 9/ 1940 Czechoslovokia. 864,405 4/ 1961 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.