US3589096A

US3589096A - Packaging machine

Info

Publication number: US3589096A
Application number: US805741A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard T Podvin
Original assignee: RPR IND Inc
Current assignee: Rpr Industries Inc; RPR IND Inc
Priority date: 1969-03-10
Filing date: 1969-03-10
Publication date: 1971-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-29

Abstract

A machine for automatically placing articles into a carton and automatically closing and sealing the ends of the carton. The machine has a suction mechanism for removing a carton from the bottom of a stack of cartons and erecting the carton in alignment with an infeed conveyor. The mouth of the carton is held open by a movable ramp which directs the articles from the infeed conveyor into the carton. A transfer mechanism moves the carton from the loading station to a sealing unit having heating units which seal the closed ends of the carton. An elevator below the sealing unit operates to elevate the sealed carton.

Description

United States Patent X /oo 3 3 3 5 [72] Inventor RichardT.Podvin 2/1963 Russell...........

Minneapolis, Minn. 805,741

5/1964 Weber et al.

[2| 1 Appl. No.

Filed 9/1967 Pearson..........

[22] Mar. 10,1969

Patented June 29, 1971 3,412,652 ll/l968 McIntyre...................::::

[73] Assignee RPR industries, inc.

Primary ExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant ExaminerE. F. Desmond Minneapolis, Minn.

Attorney-Burd, Braddock & Bartz [54] PACKAGING MACHINE ABSTRACT: A machine for automatically placing articles into a carton and automaticall th 19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

y closing and sealing the ends of e carton. The machine has a sucti'o n mechanism for remov- [51] Int. B65b43/28, ing a carton from the bottom ofastack ofcartons and erecting B65!) /l B 1 57/14 the carton in alignment with an infeed conveyor. The mouth [50] Field of oflhe carton is held open by a movable ramp which directs the onveyor into the carton. A transfer 59 articles from the infeed c from. the loading station to a g units which seal the closed ends of m n an em mm 05 mm w mh h n .m m mu ea mm a C n m d R m 5 l the carton. An elevator below the sealing unit operates to UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,269,091 8/1966 Martin.............

53/252 elevate the sealed carton.

PACKAGING MACHINE SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention relates broadly to a machine for automatically and sequentially placing articles into a carton. The machine has a carton-opening mechanism operable to open a carton and to position the open carton in alignment with a l flaps closed. Located below the sealing unit is an elevator which operates to raise the sealed cartons to create a stack of sealed cartons. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an open carton in the loading position showing the guide member at the mouth of the open carton;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the infeed conveyor including the guide member in an upright position adjacent the open mouth of the carton;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the guide member in its down position against the lower flap of the carton;

FIG. Sis a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the machine showing the carton erection apparatus and the sealing unit;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the fluid control system of the packaging machine.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 the packaging machine of the invention indicated generally at 15 operable to automatically place articles 16, as a plurality of eggs located on a tray, into cartons l7 and subsequently seal,

the cartons 117. The machine 15 has an infeed conveyor 18 for:

receiving the articles and delivering the articles to a position immediately in front of an opened carton. The infeed conveyor is adjacent a carton erection apparatus indicated generally at 119 operable to open a carton and hold the carton at a loading station for receiving the articles from the infeed conveyor 18. After the articles are placed in the open carton, the loaded carton is laterally transferred to a sealing unit indicated generally at 21 by a transfer mechanism 22. On movement of the carton from the loading station to the sealing unit, the end fl ps of the carton are closed and positioned against the upright sides of the sealing unit where they are secured together. The end flaps are coated with an adhesive or bonding material which when subjected to heat secures the flaps together,

The machine 15 has a right-angle frame indicated generally at 23 supported on a plurality of upright legs 24. The carton erection apparatus 19 is located in the midsection of the machine where it receives the articles from the infeed conveyor 13 in a direction normal to the movement of the carton to the sealing unit. The infeed conveyor 18 is located adjacent the front of the erection apparatus 19 and the sealing unit 21 is adjacent the side of the erection apparatus. This space relation between infeed conveyor 18, the erection apparatus 19 and the sealing unit 21 permits the articles to be rapidly loaded 70 through the open end of the carton in an effective and efficient manner.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the infeed conveyor 18 comprises a pair of spaced

parallel belts

26 and 27 located between the

frame side members

32 and 33. The forward ends of the belts are trained over a pair of

first pulleys

28 and 29 mounted on a transverse shaft 31. Opposite ends of the shaft 31 are rotatably mounted on the

side members

32 and 33. As shown in FIG. 1, a second pair of pulleys 36 and 37 mounted on a transverse shaft 38 rotatably mounted on the outer end portions of the

side members

32 and 33 serve as supports for the belts so that the articles or objects to be packaged are horizontally positioned on the infeedl conveyor. The

belts

26 and 27 are driven by a motor 34 in the direction of the arrow move the articles toward the loading station having the erected carton.

Positioned transversely adjacent the forward ends of the infeed conveyor 18 is a plate member or ramp 39 which has a dual function as a stop and a ramp for the articles to be placed in the carton. The plate member 39 is secured to a transverse shaft 41 rotatably mounted on the

side members

32 and 33. The shaft 41 is rotated with a power motor 42, as a solenoid or air motor, having a movable member connected to a chain 43. The chain 43 is trained about a sprocket 44 secured to the shaft 41. As shown in FIG. 2, the free end of the chain 43 is attached to a spring 46 anchored on the side frame member 33. On operation of the motor 42, the chain is pulled in an outward direction rotating the plate member 39 to an upright position shown in FIG. 3. When motor 42 is deenergized, spring 46 returns the plate member 39 to the ramp position or generally horizontal position as shown in the FIGS. 1, 2,4 and 5.

Referring to the FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a pair of Q movably mounted

arms

47 and 48 located adjacent opposite ends of the plate member 39. The arms extend in a forward direction toward the open mouth of the carton 17. A bracket 49 secured to the side member 32 carries an upright pivot member 51 operative to pivotally mount the arm 47 on the 5 bracket. A spring 52 secured to the arm and bracket urges the forward end of the arm 47 in an inward direction toward the center of the mouth of the carton. In a similar manner, a bracket 53 secured to the side member 33 carries an upright pivot member 54 for pivotally mounting the arm 48 on the bracket. A spring 56 attached to the arm 48 and bracket 53 biases the outer or forward end of the arm 48 in an inward direction toward the arm 47. The

arms

47 and 48 in conjunction with the plate member 39 are operative to hold the bottom flap 17A and

end flaps

17C and 17D in open positions for receiving the articles. The top flap 17B of the carton projects in a forward slightly upward position so that all of the flaps do not interfere with the movement of the articles into the carton. The carton 17 is supported on a pair of spaced

parallel plates

58 and 59 secured to top of the frame 23. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the plate member 39 is in its ramp position, the plate member engages the bottom flap 17A clamping the bottom flap into engagement with. the top of the plate 48. The arms 48 are located adjacent the inside portions of the end flaps 17C and 17D respectively. These arms are moved in opposite outward directions by the articles as they are transferred into the carton. The

arms

47 and 48 also function as guides for centrally locating the articles in the carton.

Returning to FIG. 2, a push apparatus or pusher indicated 0 generally at 61 is movably mounted on the frame for picking up the articles from the infeed conveyor and transferring the articles into the open carton 17. The push apparatus 61 comprises an upright block 62 slidably mounted on a pair of

parallel rods

63 and 64 secured to the outside of side member 32. Pivotally mounted on the upper end of the block 62 is a pusher foot 66 having an outwardly directed stub shaft 67 pivotally located in a hole in the upper end of the block 62. The pusher foot 66 has a generally rectangular shape and a straight forward edge 68. The pusher foot 66 extends in a forward and downward direction toward the plate member 39, This position is maintained by a counter weight 69 secured to the shaft 67. The counter weight 69 has an outwardly directed lip 71 which engages the forward side of the block 62 to limit downward angular movement of the pusher foot. The pusher foot 66 can rotate in an upward direction so the forward edge 68 can pass over the articles on return movement of the pusher.

In use, the forward edge 68 of the pusher foot engages the back of the articles. On operation of a fluid motor 72 having a movable member or rod 73 connected to the block 62, the pusher foot 66 is moved toward the plate member 39. The articles are moved over the plate member 39 into the open carton 17. The fluid motor 72 is a double-acting air cylinder having a piston connected to the piston rod 73. The piston rod 73 is located parallel to and between the

guide rod

63 and 64 adjacent the outside of frame side member 32.

The carton erection apparatus 19, shown in FIG. 1, has a pair of spaced

upright sideplates

74 and 76 connected together with

transverse crossbars

77 and 78 to form a generally rectangular shaped enclosure for storing a stack of folded flat cartons 82. The side plates are supported on frame 23 by upright legs 79. Upright fingers 81 secured to the plates and crossbars form extensions for keeping the stack of folded cartons 82 in generally vertical alignment.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, located below the stack of cartons is a generally flat horizontal manifold 83 carrying a plurality of upwardly open suction cups 84. Manifold 83 carries five spaced suction cups 84. Positioned centrally below the manifold 83 is an upright fluid motor or air cylinder 86 mounted on a crossmember 87 secured to the legs 24. The air cylinder 86 has an upwardly projected piston rod 88 attached to a connector 89 used to mount the manifold 83 in a horizontal position. A guide structure comprising a U-shaped upright guide rail 91 attached to the frame of the machine forms a track for an outwardly directed finger 92 secured to the manifold 83. As the manifold moves up and down, the finger follows the guide track of the rail 91.

Located between the mainfold 83 and the bottom of the stack of cartons 82 are a pair of

upright rollers

93 and 94. The

rollers

93 and 94 are rotatably mounted and transversely spaced on a bracket 96 adjustably secured to the top of the frame 23. In use, the

rollers

93 and 94 cooperate with the manifold 83 to set up or erect the bottom carton 17 and position this carton in the loading position for receiving the articles. As shown in FIG. 7, the

rollers

93 and 94 engage the rear side of the bottom stack of the cartons. On elevation of the manifold 83, the bottom side of the carton is attracted to the suction cups. Contraction of the air cylinder pulls the bottom carton in a downward direction. As the carton moves down, the horizontal edge of the carton rolls on the

rollers

93 and 94 changing the edge to the vertical position. The suction cups remain attached to the bottom of the carton during the loading of the articles into the carton. This holds the carton in the erected position against the

rollers

93 and 94 with the bottom of the carton resting on the

frame plates

58 and 59.

The transfer assembly 22 comprises a transverse flight bar 98 located adjacent the rear side of the erected carton 17. The flight bar 98 is attached to forwardly projected

members

99 and 101 having upright

rear ends

99A and 101A attached to the back of the bar 98. The

members

99 and 101 are square elongated rods located adjacent and secured to

endless chains

102 and 103. The

members

99 and 101 as shown in FIG. 6, ex tend in a forward direction on opposite sides of the mainfold 83 along the inside edges of

plates

58 and 59 and serve as supports for the bottom of the erected carton. Attached to the outer ends of the flight bar 99 are forwardly directed ears 104 which fold the rear flaps of the box in a forward direction on forward movement of the flight bar 98 toward the sealing unit 21.

Chain 102 is trained about a sprocket 105 mounted on a shaft 106 secured to the frame below the flight bar 98. Chain 103 is trained about a similar sprocket (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, chain 102 extends longitudinally from the carton erection apparatus to the sealing unit 21. Below the sealing unit 21, chain 102 extends longitudinally from the carton erection apparatus 15 to the sealing unit 21. Below the sealing unit 21, chain 102 is positioned over a pair of

directional sprockets

107 and 108 and around an end sprocket 109.

Brackets

111 and 112 mount the

directional sprockets

107 and 108 on the frame 23. The sprocket 109 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 113 attached to the leg 24. The chain 103 is trained about similar directional sprockets and end sprocket rotatably mounted on the frame and leg respectively. The

chains

102 and 103 are moved about their sprockets by an air cylinder 114. The air cylinder 114 is a double-acting fluid motor having an upwardly movable piston rod 116. The piston rod 116 is attached to a crossmember 117 secured at its outer ends to the

chains

102 and 103. On extension of the piston rod 116, the upper runs of the chains move in a forward direction carrying the flight bar 98 toward the sealing unit 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, the carton erection apparatus 19 is spaced from the sealing unit 21. Located in this space are cooperating pairs of flap-closing

plows

118 and 119 which have converging inclined faces for closing and overlapping the top flap and the bottom flap. The forward end flap is closed with horizontally directed fingers 121 secured to the forward leg 79. The bottom closing plows 119 are secured to outwardly directed bifurcated feet 122 attached to the

plates

58 and 59 with fastening bolts 123. These plows 119 are adjustable angularly and laterally so that they can be made to effectively close the carton flaps in an overlapped relationship. The top flap closing plows 118 have upright flat wall portions which guide the closed carton 17 into the sealing unit 21.

The sealing unit 21, shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, has a pair of longitudinally

upright sideplates

124 and 126 secured to the frame 23. The

plates

124 and 126 are laterally spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the length of the closed carton 17. The folded end flaps of the carton are located in slight frictional engagement with the inside surfaces of the

plates

124 and 126. Longitudinally mounted on the lower portions of the

plates

124 and 126 are elongated heater means or

heater bars

127 and 128 which have flat heating surfaces in general alignment with the inside faces of the plates. The heater bars 127 and 128 function to heat the adhesive material on the overlapped flaps so that the flaps will be bonded or otherwise secured together.

Positioned above and longitudinally with respect to the heater bars 127 and 128 are one-

way stop members

129 and 131 pivotally mounted on the

plates

124 and 126 respectively. The stop member 129 is a right-angle member secured to a rod 132 rotatably mounted on the plate 124. The outer end of the rod is attached to an elongated weight arm 134 which normally holds a flange of the stop member 129 in a horizontal position projected inwardly through a hole 124A in the sideplate 124. The stop member 131 is a right-angle member secured to a rod 133 rotatably mounted on the plate 126. A weight arm 136 secured to the outer end of the arm holds one flange of the stop member 131 in a horizontal position and projects it through a hole 126A in the side member.

The

stop members

129 and 131 operate in conjunction with an elevator platform 137 to support the sealed cartons in a stacked relation between the

plates

124 and 126. The elevator platform 137 is attached to an elevator air cylinder 138, as a double-acting fluid motor, mounted on frame structure of the machine. The air cylinder 138 has an upwardly directed piston rod 139 secured to a connector 141 mounted to the center portion of the elevator platform 137. Located adjacent the outside edge of elevator platform 138 is an upwardly directed U-shaped guide rail 142 secured to the frame 23. A horizontal finger 143 secured to the platform projects into the guide rail 142 to direct the upward movement of the platform 137.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown the diagrammatic view of the fluid control system for the air cylinders to sequentially and automatically operate the packaging machine. Located on the frame 23 adjacent the back side of the carton, as shown in FIG. 6, is a carton sensor switch or valve 144 operative to provide for the flow of air under pressure to an article-sensing valve 146 located in the infeed conveyor region of the machine. A finger lever 147, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is moved down by the tray of articles to operate the valve 146, thereby activating the air cylinder 72 and the motor 42. The

valve 146 disconnects the energy from the motor 42 whereby the spring 46 moves the plate member 39 to the down ramp position clamping the bottom flap of the carton 17. On operation of the push air cylinder 72, the pusher 61 slides the articles off the infeed conveyor over the plate member 39 and into the open carton 17. The block 62 engages a first control valve 148 reversing the flow of air to the cylinder 72 and supplying air under pressure to the transfer air cylinder 114. The cylinder 114 drives the flight bar 98 toward the sealing unit 21. The valve 143 also cuts offthe vacuum pressure to the suction cups 134 so that the carton is free to move along with the transfer assembly 22 toward the sealing unit 21.

As the transfer air cylinder 114 reaches its full extension, a second control valve 149 is operated to reverse the air cylinder 114 moving the transfer bar 98 back to its initial position. As soon as the transfer bay 98 has reached its initial position, a third control valve 151 operated to simultaneously raise the manifold cylinder 86 and the elevator cylinder 138. The valve 151 also connects the suction cups 84 to a source of vacuumso that a second carton can be picked up. The elevator platform 137 raises the cartons in the sealing unit 21 to stack them until the bottom carton is held on the one-

way stop members

129 and 131. When both the manifold cylinder 86 and the elevator cylinder 138 have reached their full extensions, another control valve 52 is actuated to reverse the

cylinders

86 and 138. When the manifold cylinder 86 is in its lowered position, a new carton has been erected in the loading position.

The control valves can be air valves or micro switches which operate solenoids for controlling fluid valves. The control system can have electrically operated motors as well as electric switch units for fluid motors.

in use, the packaging machine as described as placing a tray of eggs into a carton, closing the end flaps of. the carton and sealing the end flaps. Other articles, as packaged items, cans, and objects can be packaged with the machine 15. If necessary, the structure of the infeed conveyor can be changed to accommodate other shaped articles. The tray of eggs is moved along the infeed conveyor 18 to a position adjacent the plate member 39 located in an upright stop position. Plate member 39 momentarily stops the tray of eggs immediately in front of the open carton. The tray moves the finger lever 147 in a downward direction to actuate the article sensor control unit. This control unit deenergizes the power motor 42 whereby the spring 46 moves the plate member to the down ramp position clamping or pinching the bottom flap 17A of the carton against the plate 58.

The carton 17 being in the erected position actuates a carton sensor unit 144 which supplies power to the unit 146. With the power supply to unit 146, the actuation of the finger lever 147 also supplies power to the pusher cylinder 72 which operates to move the pusher foot 66 toward the mouth of the open carton 17. The forward edge 68 of the pusher foot engages the rear portion of the tray and pushes the tray of articles over the plate member 39 and into the open carton 17. The block 62 carrying the pusher foot 66 actuates the control 148 which reverses the power to the pusher cylinder 72 and supplies power to the transfer cylinder 114. The transfer cylinder 1114 moved the

chains

102 and 103 to carry the trans verse flight bar 98 toward the sealing unit 21. The flight bar engages the trailing side of the carton 17. The forwardly directed ears 104 on opposite ends of the flight bar 98 close the rear end flaps of the carton.

As the carton moves toward the sealing unit 21, the fingers 121 close the forward end flaps while the flap-closing

plows

118 and 119 move the top and bottom flaps in overlapping closed positions. The carton is held or retained in the flapclosing position until another carton is loaded with a tray of articles. The second carton on operation of the transverse cylinder moved the first carton from the flap-closing plows between the

sideplates

124 and 126 of the sealing unit. The carton in the sealing unit has its lapped flaps located adjacent and in engagement with the heater bars 127 and 128. The bars being connected to a source of electrical power are continually heated to heat the adhesive material on the flaps so that the flaps will adhere to each other. The elevator platform 137 on operation of the cylinder 138 will raise the carton to form a stack of cartons in the sealing unit. The

stop members

129 and 131 function to hold the stack of scaled cartons in a position above the heater bars 127 and 128. The manifold 83 of the erection apparatus moves in conjunction with the elevator platform to pick up and erect a new carton. The carton sensing unit 144 will prevent another tray of articles from being pushed into the loading station in the event that a carton is not set up.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim exclusive property or privilege are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for placing articles into a carton comprising: means for storing a plurality of cartons in stacked flat positions, erection means for moving a carton to a loading position, carton-opening means cooperating with the erection means to open a flat carton during movement of the carton to the leading position, guide means movable into one open end of the carton, an infeed conveyor for moving an article to the guide means, push means for moving an article off the infeed conveyor over the guide means and into the open carton, said push means comprising a pivotally mounted pusher foot engageable with a rear portion of an article, and power means operable to move the pusher foot toward and away from the open carton.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the erection means comprises a manifold adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, suction members on the manifold and means to raise and lower the manifold whereby the suction members pick up a carton and carry the carton to the loading position, said suction members operable to hold the open carton in the loading position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the carton-opening means comprise at least one member engageable with a side of the carton, said member on movement of the carton to the loading position locating said side in an upright position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide means comprise: a transverse plate located adjacent said open end of the carton, means pivotally mounting the plate for movement to an upright stop and a down ramp position, and means to pivot and hold the plate in both a stop position and a ramp position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including: a substantially horizontal frame member located forwardly of the transverse plate, said open carton having a bottom flap located on said frame member, said transverse plate when in a down ramp position operable to clamp the bottom flap between the plate and the frame member.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 including: arm means located on opposite sides of the plate, said arm means having forward ends extended toward the open end of the carton and means for biasing the forward portions of the arms toward each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including: means for closing and sealing the ends of the carton, and transfer means operable to move the carton carrying the articles to the means for closing and sealing the ends of the carton.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the closing and sealing means include a pair of spaced upright plates engageable with the closed ends of the carton and heating means mounted on each plate to heat and seal the closed ends of the carton.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including; means to elevate the carton located between the plates and stop means on each plate operable to hold the carton in the elevated position.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the transfer means comprise a transverse flight bar, a pair of chains secured to the flight bar, and chains extended from. the leading position to the sealing means and motor means for moving the chains whereby the flight bar engages the loaded carton and moves the carton toward the sealing means.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 including: plow means for closing the ends of the carton during movement of the carton from the loading position to the sealing means.

12 The apparatus of claim 1 including: a continuously moving infeed conveyor for carrying an article to the guide means, said guide means comprising a transverse member located adjacent said open end of the carton, means pivotally mounting the member for movement to an upright stop position for holding the article on the moving infeed conveyor and to a down ramp position, whereby the article is pushed over the member into the open carton.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 including sensing means to sense the location of the article being held on the moving conveyor adjacent the transverse plate, said sensing means operable to move the plate to its down ramp position.

14. In an apparatus for placing articles into a carton having a bottom flap at the open end of the carton: a guide plate located adjacent said opened end of the carton, means pivotally mounting the plate for movement to an upright position and to a down ramp position, said plate when located in the down ramp position being in engagement with the top of the bottom flap, means to selectively pivot and hold the plate in both the stop position and the ramp position, an infeed conveyor for carrying the articles to the guide plate, push means for moving the articles off the infeed conveyor over the guide plate when located in a down ramp position and into the open carton, said push means having a pivotally mounted pusher foot engageable with a rear portion of the articles and power means operable to move the pusher foot toward and away form the open carton.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 including: forwardly directed arm means located on opposite sides of the plate, said arm means having forward portions projected toward the open end of the carton, and means for biasing the forward portions of the arms toward each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 including: control means for sensing a carton in the loading position and activate the means to pivot the plate to the ramp position when a carton is in the loading position.

17 The apparatus of claim 14 including: plow members located adjacent the ends of the carton operable on movement of the carton to close the end flaps of the carton, a pair of spaced generally parallel upright plates engageable with the closed ends of the carton to hold the flaps in the closed positions, heating means mounted on each plate to heat and seal the end flaps, means to elevate the carton located between the plates after the sealing of the end flaps, and stop means operable to hold the carton in the elevated position.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 including: transfer means operable to move the carton relative to the plow means and to a position between the upright plates.

19. An apparatus for placing articles into a carton having a mouth comprising: means for storing a plurality of cartons in a stacked, flat position, erection means for moving a carton to a loading position and opening the mouth of the carton, continuously moving infeed conveyor means for moving an article toward the open mouth of the carton, guide means including a movable member located adjacent the infeed conveyor and the open mouth of the carton, said member being positioned in a first upright position for holding the articles on the moving conveyor adjacent the open mouth of the carton and movable to a second down ramp position for guiding the articles into the open carton, and means for pushing the articles off the infeed conveyor, over the member in the down ramp position, and into the open carton.

Claims

1. An apparatus for placing articles into a carton comprising: means for storing a plurality of cartons in stacked flat positions, erection means for moving a carton to a loading position, carton-opening means cooperating with the erection means to open a flat carton during movement of the carton to the loading position, guide means movable into one open end of the carton, an infeed conveyor for moving an article to the guide means, push means for moving an article off the infeed conveyor over the guide means and into the open carton, said push means comprising a pivotally mounted pusher foot engageable with a rear portion of an article, and power means operable to move the pusher foot toward and away from the open carton.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the transfer means comprise a transverse flight bar, a pair of chains secured to the flight bar, and chains extended from the loading position to the sealing means and motor means for moving the chains whereby the flight bar engages the loaded carton and moves the carton toward the sealing means.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 including: plow means for closing the ends of the carton during movement of the carton from the loading position to the sealing means. 12 The apparatus of claim 1 including: a continuously moving infeed conveyor for carrying an article to the guide means, said guide means comprising a transverse member located adjacent said open end of the carton, means pivotally mounting the member for movement to an upright stop position for holding the article on the moving infeed conveyor and to a down ramp position, whereby the article is pushed over the member into the open carton.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 including : sensing means to sense the location of the article being held on the moving conveyor adjacent the transverse plate, said sensing means operable to move the plate to its down ramp position.

14. In an apparatus for placing articles into a carton having a bottom flap at the open end of the carton: a guide plate located adjacent said opened end of the carton, means pivotally mounting the plate for movement to an upright position and to a down ramp position, said plate when located in the down ramp position being in engagement with the top of the bottom flap, means to selectively pivot and hold the plate in both the stop position and the ramp position, an infeed conveyor for carrying the articles to the guide plate, push means for moving the articles off the infeed conveyor over the guide plate when located in a down ramp position and into the open carton, said push means having a pivotally mounted pusher foot engageable with a rear portion of the articles , aNd power means operable to move the pusher foot toward and away form the open carton.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 including: control means for sensing a carton in the loading position and activate the means to pivot the plate to the ramp position when a carton is in the loading position. 17 The apparatus of claim 14 including: plow members located adjacent the ends of the carton operable on movement of the carton to close the end flaps of the carton, a pair of spaced generally parallel upright plates engageable with the closed ends of the carton to hold the flaps in the closed positions, heating means mounted on each plate to heat and seal the end flaps, means to elevate the carton located between the plates after the sealing of the end flaps, and stop means operable to hold the carton in the elevated position.