US3500609A - Means for packaging cuboid containers - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1970 c. GUNYOU MEANS FOR PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet l mvnmm JOHN C. GUNYOU v by W W ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970 J. c. GUNYOU MEANS FOR PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 5, 1963 mwk mm V m B A g, 7 b v I .r i 2 Q a d U 10% I M a, 5

ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970 J. c. GUNYOU 3,500,609

MEANS FOR PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-$het 5 Origihal Filed Oct. 5, 1963 IN VENTOK BY JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970 J. c. GUNYOU MEANS FOR PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 INVENTOK JOHN cawwou 15W Q ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970 J. c. GUNYOU I MEANS FOR PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Original Fiied Oct. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATfORNEYS March 17, 1970 J. c. GUN YOU 3,500,509

MEANS FOR PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Qriginal Filed Oct. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 mvEmo v Jorm c. euuvou Elw ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 53124 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stack of filled cuboid containers formed of thin sheets of soft bendable material is loosely arranged on a support. Pressure is applied simultaneously to all sides of the stack by means of pressure plates, to cause the containers to fit snugly together. While the stack is compressed wrapper panels are applied and the adjoining edges of the panels are secured together to hold the package under compression.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my copending applica. tion No. 313,667 filed Oct. 3, 1963, now Patent No. 3,315,435, issued Apr. 25, 1967, for "Method of Packaging Cuboid Containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of invention The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to means for packaging cuboid containers. In modern packaging many products are packed in individual cuboid containers, a number of which are then assembled into a stack and are wrapped with an outer protective material for shipment. The containers are usually made of thin sheets of cardboard, fibre board, metal, plastics or like material. These sheets are sufiiciently rigid and strong to retain the contents under normal use but are so resilient or flexible that they will bulge and twist or otherwise get out of shape, and if subjected to vibration, shock, jarring or compressive force, as, for instance, during shipment, will break and spill the contents. This is particularly so if the contents are of a fluid nature such as granular detergent, flour, sugar, etc. An example of such containers is the ordinary cardboard carton in which so many products are packed.

It is therefore necessary to have a strong shipping container or wrapper for a stack of such containers to prevent damage during shipment and double faced corrugated paper is commonly used. It is bulky and comparatively expensive and difiicult to apply. According to this invention a stack of filled cuboid containers can *be wrapped for shipment in a much lighter wrapper. For example a stack which has heretofore been wrapped with double faced corrugated cardboard could be wrapped with single faced corrugated paper or flat surfaced cardboard.

It has been found that if stacks of uniform containers are kept under compression during the wrapping operation the complete package of containers will have great strength and can be wrapped for shipping with a wrapper of less strength than would otherwise be required.

Description of prior art 3,500,609 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 engaging the sides of the stack and means for actuating the engaging means to apply pressure substantially simultaneously to all sides of the stack. The patent to Fingerhut discloses means for successively applying pressure to a stack of containers, but not for simultaneously applying pressure as specified in the claims of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The underlying principle is rather difficult to express. It may be said, however, that the application of pressure to the stack forms a compact rigid structure of less dimension than the uncompressed stack. In the case of cartons containing fluid material there is a tendency for the lower part of the carton to bulge. The application of pressure eliminates the bulges and causes the sides of the cartons to lie closely adjacent one another over their whole faces. When articles are loosely packaged there is a cannonball effect when they are jarred. The loose contents gain momentum and may break the outer wrapper. Wrapping under compression will reduce or eliminate this effect.

This invention takes advantage of the above mentioned principle and proposes a method and means whereby pressure may be applied on all sides of a loosely arranged stack of cartons substantially simultaneously, so that they will be set up or squared up and compressed so that the compressed stack is of smaller volume than the uncompressed stack A separate sheet of wrapping material may be used for each side of the stack. This sheet will be pre-cut to approximately the area of the compressed side of the stack to which it is to be applied. One or two wrappers may be pre-creased to form six panels approximately the area of the sides of the stack after they have been compressed.

A preferred wrapper is made of single faced corrugated paper with the corrugations inside. Preferably two rectangular sheets will be used transversely creased so that they will fold into a channel shape. One of such wrappers would enclose the top and ends of the stack and the other enclose the bottom and sides of the stack. The wrapper may be T-shaped in plan, being formed of two channel shaped sections, the end of one being secured to the side edge of the other intermediate its ends.

The sections are joined or butt jointed so that the interior surfaces, at least, of the walls of the shipping container are regular and unbroken, there being no overlaps so that such walls are capable of achieving a continuous fit around the containers which they enclose. This in turn is thought to lead to a reduction in the cannonball effect caused by the shifting of containers withi the package and consequent damage.

The amount of compression required depends on the volume of the stack, the strength of the individual containers and their contents. It must be sufiicient to true up the stack and compress it into approximately the smallest possible volume without rupturing the individual containers. The natural tendency of the individual containers to spread or bulge will create a certain amount of outward pressure which when restrained by the wrapper will put the stack under compression.

The first step in the wrapping method is to substantially simultaneously gradually apply pressure to all six sides of the stack. This may be done in various ways. Pressure can conveniently be applied by pressure plates of substantially the same area as a side of the stack. Pistons having flat plates or heads secured to their free ends may be used to press the exposed sides of a stack Pressure is applied in three directions, normal to the op and bottom faces of the stack, normal to the ends f the stack and normal to the sides of the stack. Once he stack is put under simultaneous pressure, compression nay be maintained even though pressure in one direction a withdrawn. The pressure in the other directions will maintain the stack in compressed condition in those diections and the. friction of the invidiual cartons in the tack will maintain the pressure in the direction in which uressure hasbeen withdrawn. Keeping the pressure on he other sides, 1 pressure may be released on one side to ermit the application of a wrapper. Pressure can then e re-applied on that side and the wrapper folded over .nother side or sides, releasing the pressure to permit his to be done and re-applying' the pressure immediately .fter. The adjacent edges of the applied wrapper may be ;lued together while pressure is maintained. Pressure vill be maintained long enough to permit theglue'to et after which the wrapper will retain the stack under -.ompression.

The wrapper may be placed on one Or more sides of he stack prior to the application of pressure.

If the wrapper is to be applied before the application If pressure, parts may, for instance, be placed .over one urface of the stack which may rest upon a table or )ther support. Another part of the wrapper may be )laced beneath the stack between the lower face of the tack and the table. Preferably, if the stack is not a cube, he wrapper will be applied to the major surfaces. ressure may then be applied simultaneously on all six ides of the stack until the stack is compressed. Mainaining the pressure on the other sides, pressure on two opposite sides may be removed and the wrapper folded vver these sides along the pre-creased line of fold. Presme can then be applied to the folded over sides of the vrapper pressing them against the sides of the stack. The )ressure on the other sides may be removed and the :anels or fiaps of the wrapper turned up over adjoining ides of the stack and then pressed against the stack. [he edges of each wrapper may then be glued to the :dges of the adjacent wrapper. For this purpose there nay be a glue flap on the edges of the wrappers or adlesive tape may be stuck on the outside of the wrappers tlong the adjoining edges to hold them together.

The means for operating the pressure plates may be arious and well known in the art of packaging'and wraping. Instead of having pistons which move in and out vith the surface of the plate parallel to the sides of the tack, plates may be provided for simultaneously folding he flaps of the wrapper over the stack and applying presure to maintain the stack under compression. In this nethodthe blank may be T-shaped and pre-creased to orm' panels or flaps adapted to be folded around the ides or ends of the stack. A form will be provided com- )rising a base and a vertical back wall at right angles the base. The wrapper can be placed with the cross lrm on the base and the stern extending upwardly at 'ight angles to the cross arm against the back wall. The :tack is then placed on the base on top of the wrapper. lat plates may press against the other four sides to :ompress the stack against the form. Other plates may then re brought in substantially parallel to the first plates tnd to the surfaces of the stack and will engage the laps of the wrapper and press them onto a surface of he stack while the original pressure plates are being vithdrawn. After all the panels have been folded and )ressed down onto the stack they may be glued together 0 hold the stack under compression.

In the method and means hereafter particularly decribed and illustrated, the stack is wrapped without releasing the pressure on the sides of the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter particuarly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawngs in which:

FIGURES l to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic views of the apparatus showing the various steps of the wrapping method;

FIGURE'9 is a view of of cartons; I

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a wrapper;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary section through the upper carriage of the wrapping apparatus showing the package in its final position before being discharged;

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal section on the line-1212 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 12A is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of-the package shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the package of cartons prior to closure of the top flap and in dotted lines the position of feed cradle and the discharge cradle prior to the feeding operation and during the discharge operation;

FIGURE 13A is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of the package shown'in FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 14 is a transverse section along the line 1414 of FIGURE 13.

In the drawings, corresponding reference numerals refer to corresponding parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS t For the sake of simplicity, the air lines, valves and timing mechanism used for operating the machine and coordinating the movement of it are not shown. They do not form part of this invention and can readily be devised by anyone skilled in the art.

In the specification and claims package means a wrapper enclosing a stack of filled containers. A stack is formed by two or more containers arranged side by side. Wrapper means the covering for the package in assembled or unassembled condition. The wrapper is made up from a blank or a plurality of blanks cut and creased to a predetermined size. A panel is the portion of a wrapper or blank which covers a single side of a stack of containers. If the wrapper comprises three panels the centre panel is the main panel and the outer panels are flap panels. If the wrapper" is T-shaped the central panel of the cross member is the main panel and the outer panels are flap panels and likewise with the stemmember. Extensions from panels for adhering the edge of the panel to the edge of an adjacent panel are sealing flaps or glue flaps or adhesive flaps. The

a complete wrapped package wrapper is made of packaging stock, i.e., sheets of.

strong cardboard, fibre board, metal, plastics or the like, preferably single face corrugate. If the wrapper or blank is not made of a single sheet of packaging stoc it is formed of sections each section comprising one ormore panels. The containers are made of thin sheets of cardboard, metal, plastics, or like. stiff bendable material usually lighter and less strong than the material of which the wrapper ismade. The assembled wrapper may be called a shipping container but will generally be referred to as the wrapper or the assembled wrapper to avoid confusion with the containers which are enclosed in the wrapper.

Reference will first be primarily to FIGURES 11, 12, 13 arid 14 with occasional reference to other views. The machine comprises a rectangular main frame having four upright frame members 20, 21, 22 and 23,, longitudinal frame members 24 and 25 and transverse frame members 26, 27 and 28, all of angle steel.

Supported above the main frame is an upper frame (FIGURES 11, 13 and 14) formed of two longitudinal members 29 and 30 and two transverse members 31 and 32, all U-shaped in cross section. Transverse member 32 has been cut away in all the figures except FIGURE 8, where it is shown diagrammatically and broken away.

This upper frame is supported on four pistons 34, 34, 34 and 34 in power cylinders 35, 35, 35 and 35 secured to the vertical corner members of the frame. By means of the power cylinders and pistons the upper frame may be raised and lowered to and from the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 13 to the position shown in phantom lines.

Horizontally supported and longitudinally slidable on the upper frame is a carriage having two longitudinal U- shaped frame members 40, 41 which slide in the U-shaped members 29 and 30 of the upper frame, and transverse frame members 42, 43 and 44. This carriage is slidable longitudinally in the longitudinal U-shaped members 29 and 30 of the upper frame. The carriage is divided into two relatively movable parts separable by means of a piston 45 mounted in a horizontally arranged power cylinder 46 secured to the transverse frame member 42 of the carriage. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 13, the longitudinal frame members 40 and 41 of the carriage are divided into two parts. What may for convenience be called the rear part of the carriage is formed by transverse member 42 and the rear parts of longitudinal members 40 and 41. Rear part of longitudinal member 41 is numbered 41a in FIGURES 8 and 13. Rear part of longitudinal member 40 is not shown in the drawings but is the same as rear part 41a. What may be called the front or forward part is formed of transverse frame members 43 and 44, and the forward parts of longitudinal members 40 and 41. The forward sliding movement of the rear part of the carriage in the upper frame is limited by spring stop S shown in FIGURE 8. The forward end of the carriage is normally held in its forward position by coil spring 47, secured at one end to the carriage and at the other end to the cross member 31 of the upper frame as shown in FIGURES 5, 8 and 13.

Piston 45 may be actuated to pull the forward portion of the carriage back to join the rear portion as shown in FIGURES 6, 6A, and 7. The purpose of this and more details of the construction and operation of the carriage will be described hereinafter.

Having now described in a general way the framework and parts of the machine, the various steps of the method and the positions of the apparatus will be described in sequence having particular reference to FIGURES 1 to 8 inclusive. These figures are diagrammatic and many parts have been omitted or cut away to show the sequence of operations.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing two cradles 50 and 51, other parts and mechanisms being omitted or broken away for the sake of clarity. Cradles 50 and 51 are in the positions shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 13, except that plates 50a and 50b of cradle 50 are in package ejecting position rather than package compressing position. Also shown are positioning lugs 96, 96 secured to longitudinal frame members 29 and 30. See also FIG- URE 12.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view. As shown in FIG- URES 2 and 10 the wrapper 48 comprises a transverse section 48a and a longitudinal section 48b. Section 48b is placed on cradle 51 and section 48a is supported between plate 50b and positioning lugs 96 and 96. The lower edge of section 48a is held parallel to and adjacent the rear edge of section 48b. The two sections have sealing flaps or glue flaps to glue them together to form a T-shape. Preferably the wrapper is formed of single faced corrugated paper board or fibre board with corrugations on the inside running transversely on the cross bar of the T and longitudinally on the stem of the T. The wrapper is cut and/or precreased to form panels corresponding in size to the sides of the package to be wrapped when under compression. Glue flaps extend from the edges of the wrapper for sealing the package. The wrapper may, however, be formed of separate pre-cut panels or partly of separate panels and partly of precreased panels. Instead of glued flaps for connecting the panels, separate glue strips may be applied to the corners of the assembled wrapper.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a stack ST of 16 cuboid containers placed on the wrapper section 48b ready for wrapping and 3A is a side elevation of FIGURE 3. The stack is supported on wrapper section 48b by the realtively fixed under plate 51a and the movable front plate 51b of the cradle 51. For convenience the side of the stack which is supported by plate 51a may be referred to as the underside; the opposite side, the upper side; the side supported by plate 51b, the front side; the opposite side, the rear side; and the other two sides the left and right sides respectively. However, the orientation is not important. The above nomenclature is only for the purpose of describing the relative positions of the different sides.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view and 4A is a side view showing the cradle 51 as having been rocked up so that the under plates 50a and 51a of the cradles are substantially horizontal and the plates 50b and 51b of the cradle are substantially vertical. Plates 50a and 51a are on the same plane with their adjoining edges close together so that the sack ST may be slid from one to the other. This is done by means of cylinder 68 and piston 69 and cylinder 52 and piston 53 as shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 pivoted on the floor or base of the machine and pivoted to bell crank levers and 54 shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 which support the cradles 50' and 51 respectively. In FIGURE 13 the bell crank lever 70 and cradle 50 are shown in phantom lines in their lower position with the plates arranged for ejecting the package and in full lines in their upper or pressure applying position; and the bell crank lever 54 and cradle 51 are shown in phantom lines in their lower or filling position and in full lines in their upper or pressure applying position.

Longitudinal frame members 59, 59 (shown in FIG- URES 13 and 14) support another cylinder 55 shown in FIGURES 12 and 14 which actuate piston 56 secured to a plate 57 adapted to press the stack of cartons ST against fixed plate 60. See FIGURES 12 and 14.

The upper frame which is shown in upper position in phantom lines and in lower position in full lines in FIG- URE 13 as already described, is supported on four pistons 34, 34, 34 and 34 actuated by air cylinders 35, 35, 35 and 35. Secured to the upper frame are two plates 61 and 62 slightly spaced apart, so that when the upper frame is lowered by pistons 34 the upwardly projecting flap of the wrapper 48b will extend between the plates, and the plate 61 will apply pressure to the stack of cartons, pressing them down against the lower plate 51a of the cradle as shown in FIGURE 5. Guide means (not shown) may be provided to guide the flap to the space between plates 61 and 62.

Also shown in FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 13 is a cylinder 63 and piston 64 which is supporting a spring mounted roller 65 for a purpose which will be described later.

The plate 51b of cradle 51 is supported by piston 66 actuated by cylinder 67 on rocker arm 54 and when cradle 5 1 is swung up to the horizontal position shown in FIG- URES 4 and 13 this piston will move the vertical plate 51b of the cradle 51 contrary to the direction of movement of the vertical plate 50b of cradle 50.

In FIGURE 4 the cradle 50 is also shown in the elevated position shown in full lines in FIGURE 13, having been swung up into that position by means of a cylinder 68 pivoted to the floor or the frame and a piston 69 pivoted to bell crank lever 70. Cylinder is secured to lever 70 and actuates a piston 94 which is' secured to plate 50b of cradle 50. In FIGURES 4, 4A and 6, 6A and 6B pl-ate 50b has been moved forward. It will be observed that section 48a of the wrapper is supported by positioning lugs 96, 96' and plate 50b so that the main panel is in register with the opposed side of the stack ST. Cradle 50 and cradle 51 are rocked up simultaneously to the position shown in FIGURE 4, whereby they engage wrappers 48a and 58b and press them against the sides of the stack as shown in FIGURE 4A. Plate 51b is at its withdrawn position and engages a stop which holds it steady. Plate 50b is at its advanced position under pressure and 7 he relative positions of plates 50b and 51b is such that alate 50 presses the stack against plate 51.

In FIGURE the pistons by means of a valve arrangement (not shown) have been actuated to simultaneously tpply pressure in six directions on the stack of cartons. Cradles 50 and 51 have been rocked up to the position vhere vertical plate 50b compresses the stack against )late 51b of cradle 51. Plate 57 is pressed inwardly by )iStOD. 56 to compress the stack against the fixed plate 60. late 61 presses downwardly on top of the stack of carons to compress it against the lower plate 511: of cradle 51. Thus the stack is under pressure from all sides. In his way, the space between the originally loosely packed :artons is taken up and sagging or bulging of the car- :ons is reduced so that the faces of the cartons are all in :lose contact.

The main panel of wrapper 48b is pressed between verical plate 51b and the stack of cartons and the forward lap panel of the wrapper 48b is pressed between the .ower plate 51a of the rear cradle and the under side of he stack. One flap panel of wrapper 48b is standing upright between plates 61 and 62. The main panel of wrapper 48a is compressed between the stack and vertical plate 50b. The end or flap panels of wrapper section 48a ex- :end outwardly on each side of the plate 50b. As already :xplained the wrapper is cut so that it comprises six pan- :ls coinciding in size with the six sides of the stack or :artons ST when under compression and is provided with Fold lines permitting the wrapper to be readily folded along the edges of the stack of cartons.

At this stage, if the wrapper. section 48a has not been previously secured to the wrapper section 48b along the due of contact, this may be done by adhering sealing flap 180 on the end of wrapper section 48b to the side of wrapper section 48a. Sealing flap 48c consists of an ex- :ension of the facing of the corrugated material of seciion 48b having applied to its upper face a pressure sensizive adhesive. However, any suitable kind of adhesive nay be used or the flaps may be dry and adhesive applied thereto at the time of adhesion. When the vertical plate 50b of cradle 50 presses against the wrapper, the sealing lap 48c engaged by the lower edge of plate 50b and pressed against the edge of wrapper section 48a to seeure the sealing flap to the wrapper. See particularly FIG- URE 4A. Spring fingers 71, 71 on the lower plate 51a of cradle 51 prevent sealing flap 480 from being bent downwardly and hold it up so that it is engaged by the plate 50b as it moves in towards the stack of packages.

The piston 45 is now withdrawn into cylinder 46 drawing thefront part of the carriage back against the spring 47 from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. The stop S shown in FIGURE 8 prevents the rear part of the carriage from moving forward. Plates 61 and 62 mounted on the carriage are moved back causing the upper flap of the wrapper section 48b to be pressed down on top of the package 46 as shown in FIGURES 5A and 6 while at the same time maintaining pressure on the package. The plate 62 is located slightly higher than the plate 61 by about the thickness of the wrapping material. In FIGURE 6 this operation has been completed. The piston 64 then forces roller 65 downwardly as shown in FIGURE 6A pressing pressure sensitive adhesive flap 48d over the edge of wrapper 48a and sealing it. Roller 65 is spring pressed towards the package, as by mounting on a torsion bar whereby it is pressed against the package as particularly shown in FIGURE 6A. Thus the wrapper is sealed around the upper and lower and front and back sides of the package holding it under compression in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGURES 6, 6A, 7, 8, 11 and 13 the cylinder 63 is secured to a bracket 97 secured at each end to longitudinal carriage frame members 98, 98' shown in FIGURE 14. The frame members 98, 98' extend between transverse carriage frame members 43 and 44 and extend below them to support the folding plates 61 and 62.

The package is then pushed back between fixed vertical guide plates 72 and 73 as shown in FIGURE 6B. These plates are supported on the main frame by transverse members 99, 99. These plates are spaced the width of the package under compression so as to maintain the package under compression. To push the package back between these guide plates 72, 73, pressure is applied to piston 66 greater than the pressure on piston 94. As pressure plate 51b advances, pressure plate 50b recedes and the package then slides back onto plate 50a between plates 72 and 73. Pressure on plate 57 may, if necessary, be slightly relieved as the package is pushed back, maintaining sufficient side pressure to keep the stack under compression; but in practice this has not been found to be necessary.

As the package is pushed back, pressure plate 62 on the carriage which is pressing on the upper side of the package as shown in FIGURES 6, 6A, 6B and 11 moves with the package to position shown in FIGURE 7, maintaining its downward pressure and keeping the package under compression to the position shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 7 and in FIGURE 11. The steps S shown in FIG- URE 8 are spring tongues secured to the channel formed by upper frame members 29 and 30 and projecting rearwardly to prevent rear frame members 41a of the carriage from moving forwardly past that point. However, when the package is pushed back the friction between the plate 62 and the package causes the whole carriage to move back towards the rear end of the upper frame as shown in FIGURE 7. The spring stop S is pressed down by the rear portion of the carriage to permit this rearward movement. When the carriage returns under pull of spring 47 to the position shown, for example, in FIGURE 8 the stop S will spring up to prevent the rear part of the carriage from returning the whole distance.

To turn the sealing flaps in, bell crank guide arms 74, 75 pivoted to plates 72 and 73 as shown in FIGURES 6B, 7 and 12 are actuated by pistons 76, 77 in cylinders 78 and 79 on frame members 59, 59. Sealing rollers 80 and 81 on arms 74 and 75 press pressure sensitive sealing flaps 48e and 48 over the adjoining side of the wrapper 48b.

As the wrapped stack is pushed back between side plates 72 and 73 and upper and lower plates 62 and 50a, sealing strips are applied to the upper and lower side edges to secure the edges of wrapper part 48b to the edges of wrapper part 48a as shown in FIGURE 6b. The side plate 72 is provided with a lower flared corner 85 shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, and plate 73 is provided with a similar lower flared corner concealed from view in those figures. Plates 72 and 73 are provided with upper flared corners 87 and 88 respectively shown in FIGURES 6B and 7. These flared corners or horns are formed in a known manner to receive glued sealing tapes or strips 90 fed from rolls 91 in a known manner. Any type of adhesive may be used. If it is desired to moisten the adhesive, a moistening device may be attached. Also any known means may be provided for feeding the strips and cutting them to length. The sealing means is indicated diagrammatically since the specific means used does not form part of this invention. Application of these sealing strips completes the sealing of the wrapper holding it under tension and the package under compression.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing how the wrapped package isfinally discharged from the machine. The various movable pressure applying plates are Withdrawn, the cradles 50 and 51 are rocked back to their original positions shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 13 and roller 65 is raised. The upper frame has been raised to the position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 13. The carriage has also been pulled back by its spring to its initial position. The rear part of the carriage has been advanced into engagement with the forward part.

The fully wrapped and sealed package 74 is shown in FIGURE 8, as being ejected from cradle 50. This is accomplished by means of a piston secured to plate 50a and actuated by cylinder 101 secured to bracket 102 on bell crank lever 70 (see FIGURE 13). When the pressure plates 51b and 61 have been withdrawn the cradle 50 is rocked back by piston 69 and piston 100 is actuated to advance the plate 50a to the piston shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 13 and in full lines in FIGURE 8. This ejects the package onto a table or conveyor 103 (in FIGURE 13). The package is deposited in the position shown in FIGURE 9 with the corrugations inside engaging the stack of containers and arranged as indicated by phantom lines, i.e., the corrugations on the vertical sides are all vertical and the corrugations on the horizontal sides run horizontally. This arrangement gives maximum strength to the completed package.

In describing and claiming the invention it is to be understood that when reference is made to means or a plate for applying pressure to the sides of the stack, such means or plate is not necessarily actuated or moved to apply pressure but may be fixed or normally stationary and arranged to co-operate with a movable pressure apply ing means or plate to compress the stack between them, in which case the fixed or stationary means or plate is deemed to be a pressure means or plate.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means for packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed of thin sheets of stiff bendable material in a wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the sides of the stack when under compression, comprising: a frame; a cradle for supporting a loosely arranged stack of said containers, said cradle being rockable from a receiving position to a wrapping position, and comprising an underplate on which the stack is supported, and a front plate at right angles to the underplate; pressure plates including the said underplate and front plate, adapted to engage the sides of the stack; means for actuating the plates to apply pressure substantially simultaneously to all sides of the stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; means for applying wrapper panels to the sides of the stack while compressed; and means for securing adjoining edges of the panels together to hold the package under compression, said front plate of the cradle being adapted to be moved to push the wrapped stack 01f the underplate.

2. Means for packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed of thin sheets of stilf bendable material in a Wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock precut and precreased to the dimensions of the sides of the stack when under compression, comprising: a frame; a cradle for the stack, said cradle being rockable from a receiving position to a wrapping position and having an underplate on which the underside of the stack is supported and a front plate at right angles to the underplate; a second cradle for the stack, said cradle being rockable from a stack receiving position to a stack discharging position and having an underplate and a backplate at right angles to the underplate; means for actuating the front plate and back plate in opposite directions to engage the front and back sides of the stack and compress the stack beween them; pressure plates adapted to engage the upper and right and left sides of the stack to compress the stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; means for actuating the front plate to push the stack off the underplate of the first support and onto the underplate of the second support; means for maintaining the stack under compression as it moves from one support to the other; means for securing the adjoining edges of the panels together to hold the package under-compression; and means for rocking the second cradle to discharging position after the stack has been wrapped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,979,871 4/ 1961 Kieckhefer 53-3 3,017,730 1/1962 Rodish 53-124 WAYNE A. MORSE, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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