US3589101A

US3589101A - Apparatus for filling a carton with glass jars or the like

Info

Publication number: US3589101A
Application number: US791293*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hermanus N Bavinck
Original assignee: Machinefabriek Breda
Current assignee: Machinefabriek Breda
Priority date: 1968-01-15
Filing date: 1969-01-15
Publication date: 1971-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-29
Also published as: GB1234923A; FR2000263A1; BE726853A; NL6800592A; DE1901662A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a filling of a carton with glass jars wherein for each row of the filling the jars are supplied in two contiguous rows with a strip of cardboard placed vertically between them, the first jars of said rows being alternately pushed transversely to form a single row, said strip assuming a corrugated form around the jars, and a front portion of said single row together with the corresponding portions of the other single rows formed being pushed into a carton open at the side.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Hermanus N. Bavinck Breda, Netherlands Appl. No. 791,293 Filed Jan. 15, I969 Patented June 29,1971 Assignee N .V. Machineiabriek Breda voorheen Backer & Rueb Breda Netherlands Priority Jan. 15,1968

Netherlands 6800592 APPARATUS FOR FILLING A CARTON WITH GLASS JARS OR THE LIKE 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. U.S. Cl 53/128, 53/157,53/159 Int. Cl B65b 35/54, B655 61/00 Field of Search 53/128, I57, 159

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,097 8/1941 Wood 53/157 2,384,494 9/1945 Schutter 1. 53/157 X 2,556,188 6/1951 Jakob l 53/157 3,350,836 11/1967 Dillon et al. 1. 53/128 X Primary ExaminerTheron E, Condon Assistant Examiner-Robert L, Spruill Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen PATENTED M29 191: 35891 01 APPARATUS FOR FILLING A CARTON WITH GLASS JARS OR THE LIKE This invention relates to a method of filling a carton with glassjars or the like, the latter being separated in the carton by a protective intermediate layer of cardboard or the like. In the prior art methods, the cartons are provided with a lattice partitioning of cardboard strips and the jars are then placed in the lattice openings from the top. if the size of the jars is not too small, automatic filling can be carried out, the jars falling into the carton. In some cases this may cause difficulty since breakage may occur and the labels may be damaged. The object of the invention is to provide a method which can be carried out fully automatically and which practically eliminates any risk of damage to the jars and labels. The invention also provides economies in the amount of packaging material.

According to the invention, for each row of filling that the carton is required to' contain the jars are supplied in two contiguous adjacent closed rows with a strip of cardboard or the like placed on edge between the rows, the jars at the front end of the rows are alternately pushed towards one another transversely from each row to form a single row, the strip of cardboard assuming a corrugated form around the jars, a portion equivalent to the length of the required filling is separated from the said single row by cutting the strip of cardboard, the said portion of the row together with the corresponding portions of the other single rows formed is pushed horizontally into a carton open at the side, and the carton is then closed at said side. During the formation of the single rows, the protective strips are automatically applied in the correct way so that it is not longer necessary for the protective strips to be placed in the carton manually beforehand. The jars are now pushed into a carton, the protective strips already being situated between the jars. In such conditions there is no risk of any damage to the jars or labels. Since the cartons are filled at the side edge, the carton opening can be small so that the flaps can also be smaller and less cardboard is required. The amount of protective material can also be reduced in comparison with a lattice partitioning. The invention also relates to apparatus for filling the carton with glass jars or the like in the manner described hereinbefore. According to the invention, means are provided for supplying the jars and guides for arranging the jars in adjacent rows, the number of guides being equal to twice the number of rows in the filling, means are provided to receive reels of the strips of cardboard and for guiding such strips from the reels between each two adjacent rows of jars, the guides for two adjacent rows are followed by a distributing system which can alternately pass ajar from one row and ajar from the other row, and each distributing system is followed by a guide having an inlet portion for a single row so as to arrange the jars that have passed through into a single row, said guide leading on to a movable table which is provided with lowerable guides and at the rear of which there is a stop for the jars and at the front of which there is a cutting device extending transversely of the guides to cut the strips of cardboard, and an element is provided for pushing a filling off the table into a carton situated next to the table. With apparatus of this kind, the various operations can readily be synchronized and be carried out completely automatically in succession. For example, the jars can be supplied by means of a conveyor belt or a roller table which operates continuously, so that the jars simply have to be stopped and move on again directly as soon as they are released. When the element for pushing the filling off the table is actuated, the distributing systems can be blocked so as to stop the supply of jars. The cardboard strip is automatically driven by the jars so that it requires on separate drive.

According to the invention, the table can perform a rocking movement composed of two translatory movements, namely one in the direction of the guides for the jars and one in a direction perpendicularly thereto, so that the strips of cardboard which join the jars on the table and the first jars in front of the cutting device are unreeled to some extent under tension. As a result, space is formed between the jars to allow the passage of the cutting device blade, and at the same time the cardboard strips are kept under tension so that they can readily be cut.

According to the invention, the guides on the table can disappear beneath the top surface thereof during the rocking of the table. The jars are then in the correct position with respect to one another on the table so that the guides are no longer required. By coupling the guides with the actuating elements for rocking the table it is an easy matter to ensure that the said guides are rendered inoperative at the correct time.

According to the invention, a bridge-shaped pusher can extend transversely over the rows of jars in front of the cutting device, means being provided for pressing the bridge member downwards in order to retain the jars situated in front of the cutting device.

This increases the reliability that the rows of jars cannot move further on, but in addition the jars are completely fixed during the cutting ofthe strips ofcardboard.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, each distributing system can consist of at least two adjacent discs which are coupled together and between which a small opening is left free and which each have a number of recesses into which ajar fits, and as a recess in one disc passes the other disc it is situated opposite the center ofa portion of said other disc situated between two recesses. Since a small opening remains between the discs, the strip of cardboard can pass through without obstruction. Under the pressure of thejars supplied, a jar of one row automatically comes into the correct position in a recess directed towards said row. A portion without recesses is then directed towards the other row. As soon as the jar of one row has passed, the first jar of the other row assumes a position in a recess of the other disc, so that ajar from one row and ajar from the other row are alternately passed automati-- cally.

The invention also relates to a carton containing glass jars or the like filled in the manner described hereinbefore.

According to the invention, the carton has a side closure, the axis of the jars is parallel to the plane of the side closure and a strip of cardboard is wound in corrugated form around the jars in each row extending in parallel to the said plane of the side closure.

The invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to an exemplified embodiment and the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a carton with a filling situated next to it and applied in the manner set forth in the application;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plane view of a distributing system during the winding of the strip of cardboard in corrugated form around the jars.

The apparatus according to the invention consists of a frame 1 in which a conveyor belt 2 is mounted and extends over the entire width. Above the conveyor belt are

guide bars

3, 4, 4', 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8', and 9. The outer guide bars 3 and 9 adjoin transversely extending guide bars 10 and 11 forming part of a frame 12 in which a conveyor belt 13 is mounted which extends transversely of conveyor belt 2. The frame 14, of which only half is shown, bears a reel 16 containing a strip of cardboard 17, said reel being mounted on a shaft 15. The strip 17 is fed via a guide plate 18 and a guide roller 19 above the

guide bars

4, 4 to the rear.

The guide bars 3 and 4, and 4' and! 5 respectively are followed by distributing device 20 (FIG. 3). The latter consists of two discs 22 and 23 on a spindle 21, and two discs 25 and 26 on a spindle 24. The discs 22 and 23 have recesses 27 situated one above the other, while the discs 25 and 26 have recesses 28 situated one above the other. The

spindles

21 and 24 are coupled together so that when the discs rotate a recess 27 on passing the associated disc 25, for example, is situated just opposite the center of the portion of the said disc situated between two recesses 28. Between the discs 22 and 23 on the one hand and the discs 25 and 26 on the other hand there is a small opening through which the edgewise strip 17 can pass. The guides limited by the

guide bars

5, 6, 6 and 7 are followed by an equivalent distributing

system comprising discs

29 and 30, while the guide system formed by the guide bars, 7, 8, 8 and 9 is followed by a distributing

system comprising discs

31 and 32.

The distributing systems are followed by

guide bars

33, 34, 35 and 36 which bound three guides, one of which follows each distributing system. These latter guides lead on to a movable table 37 provided with guide strips adjoining

guide bars

33, 34, 35 and 36. In front of the table is a framework 38 in which a cutting device 39 can move up and down. The cutting device is driven by a cylinder 40. The pneumatic cylinder 41 is also secured on the frame 38 and can actuate a pusher 42 extending transversely of the guides. The pusher 42 can be moved up and down by means of the cylinder 41.

The apparatus operates as follows. The jars 43 which have to be packed are supplied by means of the conveyor belt 13. For the sake of clarity, the drawing shows only a limited number of jars. The jars 43 driven by the conveyor belt 13 meet the guide bar 9 and are pressed by the following jars on to the conveyor belt 2 whereupon they are driven by the latter. When the supply ofjars 43 is sufficient, the six guides bounded by the

bars

3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8' and 9 become completely filled with jars 43.

Between each two guides followed by a single distributing device 21-24, 29, and 31, 32 there are strips of

cardboard

17 and 44 and 45 respectively. The

strips

44, 45 are supplied from reels (not shown) in the same way as described for strip 17. The distributing systems alternately pass a jar from each row, the jars that have been passed being arranged in a single row. Jars 46, for example, assume a position between the guide bars and 36. In these conditions the strip of cardboard automatically assumes a corrugated position around the jars 46. The strips of cardboard are also driven automatically by the jars as the latter are pushed forward, so that the reels 16 need not be driven.

As soon as the jars 46 in the drawing abut a stop at rear of the table 37, then the table contains the required number of jars and the supply is automatically stopped. The bridge member 42 is pressed down by means of the pneumatic cylinder 41, so that the jars situated beneath this member are held fast. The table 37 now performs a rocking movement in the direction of the rows ofjars and to the side. In these conditions the strips of cardboard I7, 44 and 45 behind the jars 46 and beneath the member 42 are slightly unwound from the jars and some space becomes free behind these jars. The blade of the cutting device 33, which is actuated by the pneumatic cylinder, then cuts through the strips of cardboard. When the table 37 performs the rocking movement, the guide strips for thejars disappear beneath the surface of the table 37.

The table is then followed by a fixed guide track 47. A pneumatically operated pusher element pushes thejars laterally off the table 37 into a carton 48 which stands ready. The carton 48 is then closed in a manner not shown in detail.

As will be apparent from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the jars 46 are separated from one another by the strips of cardboard I7, 44, 45 which are placed around thejars in a corrugated form.

What lclaim is:

1. Apparatus for filling a carton with glass jars or the like comprising feed means for supplying jars and guide means for receiving thejars from the feed means for arranging the jars in adjacent rows, said guide means including a plurality of guides in a number so as to provide two guides for each row, means for supporting reels of strips of cardboard and for guiding such strips from the reels between two adjacent rows of jars, distributing means following the guides of two adjacent rows for alternately passing ajar from one row and ajar from the other row, a second guide following each distributing means and having an inlet portion for a single row to arrange t hel ars that have passed through the distributing means into a sing e row, a

movable table following the second guides and including lowerable third guides with respective front and rear portions, a stop for the jars at said rear portions, cutting means at said front portions extending transversely of said third guides to cut the strips of cardboard, and means for pushing the jars off the table into a carton situated next to the table.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the table can perform a rocking movement composed of two translatory movements, one in the direction of the third guides and one in a direction perpendicularly thereto, so that the strips of cardboard which pass between the jars on the table and the first jars in front of the cutting device are unreeled to some extent under tension.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein during the rocking of the table, the third guides on the table disappear beneath the top surface thereof.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 comprising a bridgeshaped pusher extending transversely over the rows ofjars in front of the cutting means, and means for pressing the bridge member downwards in order to retain thejars situated in front of the cutting means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each distributing means comprises at least two adjacent discs which are coupled together and between which a small opening is left free and which each have a number of recesses into which ajar fits, and as a recess in one disc passes the other disc it is situated opposite the center of a portion of said other disc situated between two recesses.

Claims

1. Apparatus for filling a carton with glass jars or the like comprising feed means for supplying jars and guide means for receiving the jars from the feed means for arranging the jars in adjacent rows, said guide means including a plurality of guides in a number so as to provide two guides for each row, means for supporting reels of strips of cardboard and for guiding such strips from the reels between two adjacent rows of jars, distributing means following the guides of two adjacent rows for alternately passing a jar from one row and a jar from the other row, a second guide following each distributing means and having an inlet portion for a single row to arrange the jars that have passed through the distributing means into a single row, a movable table following the second guides and including lowerable third guides with respective front and rear portions, a stop for the jars at said rear portions, cutting means at said front portions extending transversely of said third guides to cut the strips of cardboard, and means for pushing the jars off the table into a carton situated next to the table.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 comprising a bridge-shaped pusher extending transversely over the rows of jars in front of the cutting means, and means for pressing the bridge member downwards in order to retain the jars situated in front of the cutting means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each distributing means comprises at least two adjacent discs which are coupled together and between which a small opening is left free and which each have a number of recesses into which a jar fits, and as a recess in one disc passes the other disc it is situated opposite the center of a portion of said other disc situated between two recesses.