US3589249A - End flap folding mechanism - Google Patents

End flap folding mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3589249A
US3589249A US855630A US3589249DA US3589249A US 3589249 A US3589249 A US 3589249A US 855630 A US855630 A US 855630A US 3589249D A US3589249D A US 3589249DA US 3589249 A US3589249 A US 3589249A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
members
flange
tube
cap
pivot axis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US855630A
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English (en)
Inventor
Stanley R Norbutas
Bela Kertay
Jan Mieleszuk
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Signode Corp
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Signode Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Signode Corp filed Critical Signode Corp
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Publication of US3589249A publication Critical patent/US3589249A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
    • B65B7/285—Securing closures on containers by deformation of the closure
    • B65B7/2857—Securing closures on containers by deformation of the closure and the container rim

Definitions

  • the folding mechanism for folding flat flanges to the configuration described includes first and second members adapted to engage space portions of the end cap flange and respectively pivoted about spaced parallel pivot axes.
  • Linkage means interconnect the two members and cooperate with drive means to pivot the first member about its pivot axis from a first substantially side-by-side relation with respect to the second member to an overlapping relation to fold the cap flange around the tube flange.
  • the folding mechanism further includes latch means maintaining the second member in a fixed position until the first member is pivoted to the overlapping position and which is released in response to the second member moving to the second pr ition to allow pivotal movement of both members about the second pivot axis whereby to further fold the flanges from a position extending perpendicular to the axis of the tube to a position extending substantially parallel to the tube.
  • the present invention relates generally to apparatus for connecting an end closure to a container and more particularly to an improved flange folding mechanism for folding flanges extending from the container closure and the body of the container.
  • the container tube has a flange which includes a first portion extending substantially perpendicular from the container tube and a second portion extending upwardly from the first portion in a slightly spaced relation to the wall of the tube.
  • the container cap includes a flange having a first portion which extends upwardly outside of the second portion of the tube flange, a second portion which extends inwardly from the end of the first portion and a third portion which extends downwardly from the end of the second portion and between the second portion of the tube flange and the wall of the container.
  • the present invention provides an automatic folding mechanism which is capable of being incorporated into a packaging assembly line and which is simple and inexpensive to incorporate into existing packaging assembly lines.
  • the folding mechanism bf the present invention includes first and second folding members adapted to engage spaced portions of an end cap flange with the container tube flange superposed on the second portion of the cap flange.
  • the two members are pivoted about spaced parallel pivot axes and are interconnected with linkage means which has drive means connected thereto so as to pivot the first member from a side-by-side position to an overlapping position with respect to the second member.
  • the folding mechanism further includes latch means which maintains the second member in a fixed position during the above-mentioned pivotal movement of the first member and which is released upon movement of the first member to the overlapping position so that the drive means subsequently pivots both members about a single pivot axis.
  • the first portion of the cap flange is folded over the container tube flange and substantially encompasses the tube flange and, dur ing the second portion of pivotal movement, the two folding :nmiberr. eooperate to maintain the folded relation of the espective flanges and to further fold the flange portions from osition substantially perpendicular to the tubular axis to a a ion ufistantially parallel thereto for subsequent attachment ofa ligature thereto.
  • FIG. I is a plan view of an assembly line having the present invention incorporated therein;
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along lines 2-2 of FIG. I;
  • FIG. 3 is a FIG. sectional view taken generally along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4- is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the folding mechanism in its intermediate operative position
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the folding mechanism in its final operative position as the flange portions are moving away from the folding mechanism.
  • FIG. I of the drawings discloses a fragmentary plan view of a packaging assembly line It) having conveyor rolls l2 and is suitably journalcd in support structure, only a portion of which is shown at 16.
  • a container tube I8 and an end closure 20 are adapted to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A" with the article contained .herein to a final station at which the end closure or cap 20 is secured to the open end of the container tube 18.
  • side flaps 22 Prior to reaching the final station, side flaps 22 are folded from a flat position parallel to the main body of the end cap to a position perpendicular to the cap and substantially parallel E0 the wall of the container tube. Since the side flap folding mechanism forms no part of the present invention, no detailed description thereof is necessary.
  • a folding mechanism is incorporated into the assembly line at the final station and includes mechanism for folding end flanges or flaps of the container cap and the container tube from a position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 5, as will become apparent hereinafter. Since the folding mechanism for each end is substantially identical, only one of the mechanisms is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail. However, it is to be understood that a folding mechanism identical to that described will be located at the opposite end of the container tube to fold the flanges or flaps of the opposite end. The folding of both end caps preferably takes place'simultaneously.
  • the folding mechanism of the present invention includes first and second folding members or plates 32 and 34 which are respectively pivoted on spaced parallel pivot axes and which are manipulated in a manner to fold flanges 36 and 38, respectively extending from container tube IE and end cap 20, from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 5.
  • the flat flange 336 (FIG. 1)
  • the tube flange is folded from a flat condition to a generally L-shaped condition and the container cap flange 38 is folded from a flat condition to a substantially U-shaped condition encompassing the L-shaped flange.
  • the mechanism for folding the flanges from the flat condition to the final configuration includes interconnecting means between the members 32 and 34 which are operative to move the members from a substantially side-by-side relationship shown in FIG. 2 to an overlapping relationship shown in FIG. I while maintaining the member 34 in a fixed position and subsequently moving the two members as a unit from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5, all of which is accomplished by a single drive means, such as a fluid motor cooperating with the interconnecting means, as will be described in more detail hereinafter
  • the mechanism for interconnecting the two members or plates and pivoting the plates about spaced parallel axes in cludes spaced arms or links 40 fixedly secured and depending from the plate 34.
  • the depending arms or links 40 are located adjacent spaced members which form part of the support structure 16 and are pivotally supported thereon by stub shafts 42 which defines a pivot axis for the folding member 34.
  • the folding member 34 also has spaced ears 44, which may be considered part of the links 40, while the plate 32 has spaced ears or links 46 extending from a lower surface thereof and received between the spaced cars 44 on member 34.
  • the cars or links 44 and 46 are pivotally interconnected by a pin 48 which defines the pivot axis for the folding member or plate 32.
  • the flange folding mechanism 30 fu ther includes linkage means interconnecting the two members and drive means connected to the linkage means for sequentially pivoting the member 32 about the pivot axis 48 from a substantially sideby-side position to an overlapping position with respect to member 34 and subsequently moving the members as a unit about pivot axis 42.
  • a shaft or pivot member 50 extends between the links or arms 40 on the plate 32 and is pivoted in openings defined in the respective arms 40.
  • the shaft 50 has spaced pairs of arms 52 fixedly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each spaced pair of arms 52 defines a first link of a compound linkage means 53 in rconnecting the two members.
  • the second link 54 of the compound linkage means 53 has one end pivoted on pivot pin 56 extending between spaced arms 52 with the opposite nd thereof received between spaced links or ears 46 and pivoted thereon'by a further pivot pin 58.
  • the links 52 and 54 have adjacent ends interconnected and respective free ends pivotally connected to respective ones of the links 40 and 46 which are defined on the respective members 34 and 32.
  • the compound linkage 53 has first and second positions which respectively define the side-by-side relationship and the overlapping relationship of the two members 32 and 34. These positions are defined by stop means extending from one of the depending links 40 and cooperating with stop means defined on one of the links 52 and 54.
  • the stop means defining the first and second positions for the compound linkage includes first and second lugs 60 and 62 respectively extending transversely from the link 40 and disposed in the path ofa lug 64 carried on one of the arms 52.
  • the respective lugs 60 and 62 may have adjustable stop members 66 extending therefrom while the lug 64 has stop member 68 disposed thereon and adapted to engage the stop members 66.
  • the stop members 66 cooperating with stop members 68 define first and second positions for the compound linkage 53.
  • the folding mechanism of the present invention further includes latch means 70 cooperating with the support I6 and with one of the arms 40 for maintaining the member 34 in a relatively fixed position while the member 32 is pivoted about its pivot axis 48.
  • the latch means or mechanism 70 includes an arm 72 pivoted at one end on a pin or bolt 74 extending from the support 16.
  • the arm 72 is pivoted to a first position about bolt 74 by a spring 76 having one end fixedly secured to a pin 78 extending from the support 16 with the opposite end of the spring 76 connected to the arm at a point spaced from the pivot axis 74.
  • the first position for the latch means or arm 72 is defined by a rod or stop 80 extending from the support 16 and engaging the arm 72 so that the free end of the arm 72 is disposed in the path of a lug 82 fixedly secured by bolts 84 to the lower end of the arm 40.
  • the arm 72 blocks pivotal movement of the link or arm 40 extending from the plate or member 34 so as to maintain the member 34 in a fixed position, for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter.
  • the latch means is designed to be released when the plate or member 32 has been moved to an overlapping position with respect to the member 34, the latter position being defined by the second position of the compound linkage 53.
  • one of the links, link 52 has an arm extending therefrom with an adjustable stop member 92 carried on the free end of the arm 90.
  • the adjustable stop member 92 is disposed in the path of the arm 72 so as to move the arm 72 about pivot axis 74 against the action of spring 76 when the compound linkage is moved to its second position (shown in FIG. 4).
  • link 54 and arm 52 are in a substantially straight line, extended position and pivot 56 is moved past the centerline C extending between pivots 50 and 58.
  • link 54 and arm 52 is a rigid link between 50 and 58 and, therefore, locks plate 32 in place at the end of first fold motion so that neither spring action of the closure cap flange nor any external force will open plate 32 and prevent proper interlocking of the cap and closure flanges.
  • the above condition is maintained all through the second fold motion. Unlocking of the plate 32 is accomplished by the reverse motion of the fluid motor rod.
  • the free end thereof is disposed below the lug 82 to allow relative movement of the lug with respect to the arm, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
  • the folding mechanism includes a single drive means which is capable of pivoting the member 32 about its pivot axis 48 from a substantially side-by-side to an overlapping relation with respect to member 34 and subsequently pivoting the two members as a unit about pivot axis 42.
  • the drive means includes a fluid motor 94 FIGS. I and 2) having a cylinder 96 pivotally supported on the support 16 by a trunnion 98.
  • the fluid motor )4 further includes a piston rod 100 having on its free end thereof a connecting member 102 which extends between one of the links 52 and a further link 104 respectively extending upwardly from shaft 50.
  • the links 52 and 104 and connecting member 102 are pivotally interconnected by a pin 206 so that extension and retraction of the fluid motor 94 will cause movement of the link 52 in a manner which will become apparent hereinafter.
  • the package including container tube 18 and cap 20 having the article contained therein is first moved along the packaging assembly line in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. I to a final closing and securing station, a portion of which is disclosed in the drawings.
  • a final closing and securing station a portion of which is disclosed in the drawings.
  • the flanges or flaps 36 and 38 which are originally in the flat condition shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are folded to the position shown in FIG. 5.
  • the first means of the folding mechanism folds the flange 38 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 4 so as to substantially encompass the flange 36.
  • Such counterclockwise rotation of the shaft will move the compound linkage 53 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that disclosed in FIG. 4.
  • the link 410 is maintained in a fixed position by the latch means 70 so as to cause a pivotal movement of the member or plate 32 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 4.
  • the entire packaging unit including container tube 18, the end cap and the article is lowered from the position shown in FIG, 4 to that shown in FIG. 5 (by mechanism not shown) to cause the end of the container tube 18 having end cap 20 thereon to move between spaced guide members llllt) (only one of which is shown in the drawings) and to finally assume the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5.
  • the final position shown in the dotted line of FIG.
  • the flanges 36 and 38 will be in a position where flange 38 substantially encompasses the greater portion of flange 36 and the two flanges have been moved from a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube to a position parallel thereto.
  • suitable securing means such as a ligature 112
  • suitable pressure sensitive adhesive or other securing means may be utilized for maintaining the flanges 36, 3b in a final fixed position with respect to the tube and the end cap.
  • the present invention provides a simple and effective manner of interrelating a pair of flanges forming part of a packaging unit and in which the entire operation is performed by a single uninterrupted unidirectional movement of the drive means associated with the folding mechanism. Furthermore, the simplicity and the relatively minor costs of the various elements forming part of the present folding mechanisms will allow such mechanism to be incorporated in substantially any type of commercial packaging unit with only minor modifications to the entire unit.-
  • a folding mechanism for folding adjacent flat portions of a container tube and a container cap into an Lshaped portion extending from the container and a U-shaped portion substantially encompassing the L-shaped portion and with the flat tube portion overlying the cap portion and the cap portion extending beyond the tube portion comprising a support, first and second members pivoted about spaced pivot axes, said first member adapted to engage the cap portion extending beyond the container portion and said second member adapted to cooperate with the overlapping portions, intercon necting means between said members and operative to (1 )move said members from a substantially side-by-side relation to a substantially overlapping relation by pivoting said first member about said first pivot axis while maintaining said second member in fixed position and (2) pivoting said second member and said first pivot axis about said second pivot axis to move said members as a unit, and drive means cooperating with said interconnecting means for moving said members about said pivot axes whereby to fold the cap portion extendbeyond the tube portion in overlying relation to the overlyportions and to
  • said interconnecting means comprises linkage means interconnecting said members with said drive means connected to said linkage means, latch means cooperating with said linkage means for maintaining said second member in fixed position while said first member is pivoted about said first pivot axis and means for releasing said latch means when said second member is in overlapping relation with said first member.
  • said interconnecting means includes compound linkage means having opposite ends respectively pivoted on said first and second members with said drive means connected thereto, means defining first and second positions for said compound linkage means, said first position positioning said members in side-by-side relation and said second position positioning said members in overlapping relation.
  • a flange folding mechanism comprising, a support, a first flange folding member adapted to engage said first portion of said cap flange, means defining a first pivot axis on said support for said first member, a second flange folding member pivoted about a pivot axis defined on said first member and adapted to engage said third portion of said cap flange, linkage
  • said second pivot axis to locate first and third portions of said cap flange in superposed relation with said second portion of said tube flange interposed therebetween, and (2 pivoting said members as a unit about said first pivot axis and folding said first and third portions of said cap flange and said second portion of said tube flange to a position substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said tube flange.
  • said last means comprising first means defining first and second positions for said second and third links, latch means defining a first position for said first link and responsive to movement of said second and third links to the second position to accommodate pivotal movement of said first link about said first pivot axis, and drive means connected to said support and one of said second and third links for pivoting said members.
  • a flange folding mechanism for folding a pair of flanges, respectively extending from the main body of a container and a container cap, from a first fiat position to a second position with the cap flange substantially encompassing the main body flange and said flanges angularly related to said main body and cap, comprising first and second transversely spaced members adapted to engage spaced portions of the cap flange; first means operatively interconnecting said members for moving said members from a substantially transverse spaced relation to substantially superposed relation and including linkage means having a plurality of links operatively connecting said members and drive means cooperating with said linkage means;
  • said second means comprising latch means maintaining a first link of said linkage means in a fixed position, and means responsive to movement of said members to superposed relation for releasing said first link and allowing said members to move as a unit whereby one portion of said cap flange is folded to an overlapping relation to said other portion of said cap flange with said container flange interposed therebetween while said members are moved to superposed relation and said flanges are folded as a unit relative to said cap and main body of said container during movement of said members as a unit.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
US855630A 1969-09-05 1969-09-05 End flap folding mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3589249A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US85563069A 1969-09-05 1969-09-05

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US3589249A true US3589249A (en) 1971-06-29

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US855630A Expired - Lifetime US3589249A (en) 1969-09-05 1969-09-05 End flap folding mechanism

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US (1) US3589249A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS4934069B1 (enExample)
CA (1) CA929095A (enExample)
GB (1) GB1275228A (enExample)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3964375A (en) * 1974-10-18 1976-06-22 Signode Corporation Method and apparatus for providing containers with folded caps
US4055110A (en) * 1976-05-26 1977-10-25 R. A. Pearson Co. Flap laminating mechanism for carton blanks

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5636225U (enExample) * 1979-08-29 1981-04-07

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2905066A (en) * 1955-05-16 1959-09-22 Acme Steel Co Lock flap carton folding and strapping machine
US3031935A (en) * 1960-06-10 1962-05-01 Henry S Levkoff Slide box tray erecting machine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2905066A (en) * 1955-05-16 1959-09-22 Acme Steel Co Lock flap carton folding and strapping machine
US3031935A (en) * 1960-06-10 1962-05-01 Henry S Levkoff Slide box tray erecting machine

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3964375A (en) * 1974-10-18 1976-06-22 Signode Corporation Method and apparatus for providing containers with folded caps
US4055110A (en) * 1976-05-26 1977-10-25 R. A. Pearson Co. Flap laminating mechanism for carton blanks

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Publication number Publication date
DE2040585B2 (de) 1973-02-08
DE2040585A1 (de) 1971-04-08
JPS4934069B1 (enExample) 1974-09-11
CA929095A (en) 1973-06-26
GB1275228A (en) 1972-05-24

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