US3712021A

US3712021A - Container closure apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3712021A
Application number: US00130389A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Logemann; G Voelz
Original assignee: Ekco Products Inc
Current assignee: Ekco Products Inc
Priority date: 1971-04-01
Filing date: 1971-04-01
Publication date: 1973-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-23

Abstract

An apparatus for securing covers over the upper rim of an open top container wherein the rim of each container is defined by an outwardly projecting bead and each cover is provided with a marginal flange includes cornering dies movable toward and away from the corners of the container along fixed lines of travel diagonally of the corners of the container effective to tuck the cover flange into underlying engagement with the bead of the container.

Description

United States Patent [191 Logemann et al.

[4 1 Jan.23, 1973 CONTAINER CLOSURE APPARATUS Inventors: George H. Logemann, Mundelein, 111.; Gerhardt G. Voelz, Jr., Elk Grove Village, 111.

Assignee: EKCO Products, Inc., Wheeling,

Filed: April 1, 1971 Appl. No.: 130,389

US. Cl ..53/329, 53/344 Int. Cl. ..B65b 7/28 Field of Search ..53/287, 326, 353, 346, 331,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Cheeley et a1. ..53/378 X Powell ..53/184 2,928,222 3/1966 Lindstaedt ..53/297 3,017,729 1/1962 Cheeley ....53/134 X 2,975,574 3/1961 Jorgenson et a1 ..53/287 Primary Examiner-'1ravis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney-Robert D. Teichert and Donald J. Koprowski [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for securing covers over the upper rim of an open top container wherein the rim of each container is defined by an outwardly projecting bead and each cover is provided with a marginal flange includes cornering dies movable toward and away from the corners of the container along fixed lines of travel diagonally of the corners of the container effective to tuck the cover flange into underlying engagement with the bead of the container.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH23 I975 SHEEI 1 BF 5 PATENIEDJAH 23 I575 SHEET 2 BF 5 YIIIIIII. lll'l rllllllln Ill PATENTEDJAH 2 3197s sum 5 0F 5 CONTAINER CLOSURE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to packaging apparatus and more particularly to a machine for applying a formed cover to an open-top container.

A package of the type with which the present invention is concerned includes a container of any desired depth and size made out of thin aluminum foil or plastic having a rim defined by an outwardly projecting bead. After a product, such as a pre-cooked frozen food product, has been placed in the container, a formed cover having a marginal flange is placed on the container and secured thereto by tucking the flange inwardly beneath the bead of the container. It is desirable to apply and secure the cover to the container while the container is moving continuously in a straight line on a conveyor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for continuously applying and securing lids to containers conveyed at a constant rate in a straight line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a cover securing apparatus of my invention in place on a machine for completely packaging a product.

FIG. la is a perspective view of a container of the type with which the invention is concerned in place on a conveyor, and a corresponding cover therefor.

FIG. lb is a perspective view of the container showing tuckers wiping the corners of a cover flange into closing relationship with the container.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cover securing apparatus, partially cutaway.

FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2a-2a of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view, partially cross-sectioned, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing is accomplished by the provision of an apparatus having cornering dies or tuckers which are movable toward and away from the corners of a container along fixed lines of travel diagonally on the corners of the container whereby the tuckers are effective to tuck the cover flange into underlying engagement with the bead of the container. The tuckers are mounted on a die plate which is reciprocably movable both horizontally and vertically effective to enable the tuckers to move along with a container as it moves on the conveyor and to then move upwardly, backwardly and downwardly to engage the next following container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION cover 28 in closing relationship to container 20. Flange I 30 terminates in a downwardly extending skirt 32 which is adapted to be tucked into underlying engagement with bead 26 of container 20. The corners between each side wall 22 and end wall 24 are indicated by the reference numeral 34 and the corresponding corners of cover 28 by the numeral 34'.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown an apparatus for so securing a cover 28 in closing relationship to container 20 including a frame 36 adapted to support a conveyor 38 and other mechanisms hereinafter described. Frame 36 may be of any suitable construction providing the necessary strength, rigidity and support for the several mechanisms and preferably is constructed from standard structural shapes such as straps, angles, and channels all formed from a suitable material, preferably steel. The members are suitably secured together, as by welding to provide the desired rigidity of the frame 36.

Conveyor 38 is adapted to transport containers 20 along a fixed line of travel continuously in one direction (left to right as shown in FIG. 1) with two opposite sides (preferably those of longest dimension) of each container 20 parallel to the direction of movement. The conveyor 38 includes a pair of endless con-' veyor elements, preferably chains 40 which pass over pairs of aligned

sprockets

42 and 44 carried on

shafts

46 and 48 journaled in bearings mounted in frame 36.

The conveyor 38 is driven at a constant speed by suitable means such as an electric motor 50 connected to sprocket 52 which drives chain 54 trained around sprocket 56 which is secured to and thereby drives shaft 48.

Conveyor 38 is provided with carriers 58 for supporting a plurality of containers 20 which are secured to chains 40 in spaced relation throughout the length of the chains 40. Each of the carriers 58 includes a plurality of flat segmented bars 60 which support the bottom of the container 20 and a pair of locator plates 62 secured to the end bar 60 on each carrier 58 which prevent longitudinal movement of the container 20 in relation to conveyor 38. Preferably the plates 62 are inclined outwardly as shown, substantially parallel to the end walls 24 of the containers. Stationary guide bars 64 prevent lateral displacement of the container on the carrier and are so located as not to interfere with the placing of items into the containers or the application of the cover 28.

Located at successive points along and in overhead relation to conveyor 38 are a container depositor 66, a container filler 68 and a cover depositor 70. Each of these mechanisms may be of types known in the art and are so located and timed with respect to carriers 58 on conveyor 38 so as to deposit a single container 20 in a carrier 58, fill the container 20 with a desired amount of its intended contents, and deposit a cover 28 on the filled container as the container 20 passes below respectively the

mechanisms

66, 68 and 70.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a cover securing apparatus at a point along the conveyor 38 just beyond the cover depositor 70 which is generally designated by the numeral 72, and shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 through 8.

The apparatus 72 includes a main frame 73 which is secured by suitable means such as bolting to frame 36. As will be explained hereinafter, secured to frame 73 are elements of the apparatus that are movable respectively vertically, horizontally both along with and opposite to the direction of travel of conveyor 38, and diagonally of the corners 34 of the container 20 to which a cover 28 is to be secured.

To activate these elements in the above manner, drive chain 74 passes around sprocket 75 (not actually shown, but would be located behind sprocket 56 in FIG. 1) on shaft 48 and sprocket 76 on shaft 77. In turn, the drive force is transferred by chain 78 to sprocket 80 which is fixedly secured to and thereby drives main drive shaft 82 of the cover securing apparatus 72. This description of the drive transmission is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Cam wheels

84 and 86 are fixedly secured to drive shaft 82 journalled in suitable bearings in bearing housing 87. Drive gear 88 fixedly secured to shaft 82 drives gear 90 on shaft 92. Gear 90a on shaft 92 will rotate along with gear 90.

Gears

90 and 90a, drive gears 94 and 94a bolted to

studs

96 and 96a and, in turn, sprockets 98 and 98a bolted to

studs

96 and 96a are driven along with gears 94 and 94a. Chains 100 and 1000 pass over sprockets 98 and 98a and also over

idler sprockets

99 and 99a.

Disposed between and secured to

chains

100 and 100a-substantially perpendicular to their line of travel is a bar 102 which extends through and is rotatable in a circular aperture in yoke 104 which is fastened to a carriage tie rod 106. Secured to the opposite end of tie rod 106 is another yoke 108 which is rotatably fastened to stud 110 which is mounted in a clevis 112.

A carriage 114 is mounted for reciprocable horizontal sliding movement on a pair of horizontal guide bars 116 set in blocks 117 by means of bushings 118 encircling guide bars 116. Thus, it can be seen with the description this far given that carrier 114 is imparteda reciprocating horizontal motion by the action of

chains

100 and 100a on bar 102. More particularly, as sprockets 98 and 98a rotate in a

clockwise direction chains

100 and 100a will be driven in a clockwise direction. When bar 102 is on the upper course of the chains it will be driven forward and the carriage 114 will be imparted a corresponding forward motion by virtue of its attachment through the carriage tie rod as-. sembly. When bar 102 passes around between sprockets 94 and 94a and begins moving backwardly on the bottom course of the chains the direction of travel of carriage 114 will likewise be reversed. A die plate 120 having supports 121 extending upwardly therefrom and supporting bushings 122 is disposed below carrier 114. The circular apertures in bushings 122 enable the bushings and thus the die plate 120 to be slidable horizontally in alignment with carriers 114 on guide rods 124 mounted. in blocks 125. Vertical studs 126 bolted to die plate 120 maintain the die plate in alignment with the carrier 114 as they move back and forth horizontally but at the same time apertures in bushings 128 on carrier 114 allow slidable reciprocating vertical movement of studs 126 and thereby plate with respect to the carrier 114. A cover die 129 adapted to hold cover 28 in place during the cover securing process is removably secured to and depends from die plate 114. Preferably the die is of substantially the same shape as the cover of the container 20, but slightly smaller in length and width so that die 129 will nest within the area bordered by the marginal flange 30 of cover 28. The reciprocating vertical movement of the die plate and die is transmitted to these parts through plates 132 to which the mounting blocks are fixedly secured. The reciprocating vertical motion is provided by means of the

cam wheels

84 and 86 which, as stated above, are fixedly secured to main drive shaft 82 with the aid of a keyway arrangement 133. When

cam wheels

84 and 86 rotate they drive cam followers 134 which rotate on studs 136 bolted to plates 132. The cam followers 134 move in cam tracks 138 in

cam wheels

84 and 86 thereby imparting reciprocating vertical motion to cam followers 134 and plates 132 as the cam wheels rotate. FIG. 2 shows the plates 132 in a lowered position. As the cam wheels rotate approximately 180 the plates would be raised to an upper position.

As the plates 132 move vertically they are guided by means of apertures in bushings 139 which are slidable on vertical guide bars 140 which are, in turn, set in mounting blocks 142 fixedly secured to the stationary main frame 73 as best shown in FIG. 6. Blocks 144 support the bushings 139.

While the horizontal and vertical movements of the above parts and their movements relative to each other will be described below in greater detail I will now move on to the description of the cover tucking mechanism which moves diagonally of the corners 34 of the container 20 to which a cover 28 is to be secured.

The diagonal movement is accomplished by means of spring loaded tucker cams 146 located diagonally outwardly of the

corners

34 and 34' of container 20 and cover 28 respectively as shown best in FIG. 7. Gear racks 148 are bolted or fastened immovably in any suitable manner to stationary plates 73. The tucker cams 146 are fixedly secured to wide-faced gears 150 which mesh with racks 148. A stud 152 is bolted to plate 120, allowing rotation of gears 150 and cams 146 on stud 152. Because of the wide face of gears 150, as plate 120, cam 146 and gear 150 move vertically as described hereinbefore, gears 150 will constantly remain meshed with gear racks 148.

All four cams 146 shown in the drawing operate in unison to drive cam followers 154 which are rotatably mounted on studs 156 which are, in turn, bolted to tucker bars 158. Cornering dies or tuckers 160 are bolted to bars 158 and may be separated therefrom by spacers 162. Tucker bars 158 are bolted to slide blocks 164 which are slidable on gibs 166. The tuckers 160 and bars 158 are spring loaded inwardly by the action of springs 168 which are fixedly disposed between anchors 170 secured to die plates 120 and necks 172 of slide blocks 164.

Each tucker 160 has a closing face 161 which is shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the corners 34 of containers 20, and is preferably inclined from bottom to top of tucker 160 to enable the tucker 160 to progressively wipe the corners 34' of skirt 32 of cover 28 into underlying engagement with bead 26 of container 20 at the corners 34 thereof.

OPERATION As explained above, a stack of containers 20 is placed in a container depositing apparatus 66 and containers 20 are deposited one at a time in each carrier 58 as the conveyor 38 moves at a constant speed without stopping in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. Each container 20 is then filled with a desired amount of its intended contents by filler 68. A cover 28 is placed in position on the rim bead 26 of the container 28 and the package is ready for final closing as it travels into the area occupied by the cover securing apparatus 72.

As described above, carriage 114 is actuated into a reciprocating motion along with and opposite to the direction of travel of conveyor 38 by the action of the

chains

100 and 100a transmitted to carriage 114 through carriage tie rods 106. Cover die 129 is thus also imparted this horizontal movement by virtue of its fixed attachment to die plate 120 which moves horizontally with carriage 114. It should be pointed out that carriage 114 moves only horizontally and not verti-v cally.

Die plate 120 and cover die 129, however, also move vertically in a reciprocating manner between an upper position and a lower position on plates 132 by virtue of the rotating action of

cam wheels

84 and 86 on cam followers 134. Thus, plates 132 move only vertically and not horizontally.

The net effect of these combined horizontal and vertical movements is that die plate 120 and cover die 129 follow a generally counterclockwise path when these members are viewed in side elevation, as, for example, in FIG. 2. More particularly, the

cams

84 and 86 for vertical motion are so timed with respect to the horizontal motion activated by

chains

100 and 100a and the travel of containers 20 on conveyor 38, that, when a container 20 enters the area beneath the cover securing apparatus 72, the cover die 129 will be lowered to its lower position to nest on the cover 28 of the container 20 within the border of marginal flange 30. The die 129 will then travel forward along with the conveyor and hold the cover 28 in closing relationship to the container 20 while the flange 30 of cover 28 is being tucked beneath the bead 26 of the container 20. To accomplish the tucking, cams 142 are timed to start moving diagonally inwardly toward the corners 34 of the container 20 just before die 129 reaches its lowest point to engage cover 28. It should be appreciated that because the trucker 160 and their accompanying cam 142 are also attached to die plate 120, they will move horizontally and vertically in unison with the die plate 120 and with die 129. Thus, as the die 129 moves downwardly and approaches cover 28, tucker 160 will have started their inward movement and will be approaching the corners 34' of cover 28. The downward motion of the tuckers 160 in close relationship to the corners 34' will enable the tuckers 160 to wipe downwardly any part of the flange 30 that might otherwise interfere with the final lateral closing action of tuckers 160. As the container 20 and cover 28 are moving along forwardly in unison with and in engagement with die 129, the tuckers 160 move inwardly to progressively wipe the corners 34' of skirt 32 of cover 28 into underlying engagement with bead 26 of container 20. This action at the corners of the cover is sufficient to cause the skirt 32 on the ends of cover 28 to be tucked into closing relationship beneath bead 26 at the end walls 24 of the container 20. In most cases it is also sufficient to tuck skirt 32 beneath bead 26 along the side walls 22 of container 20. However, if the type of container to be closed is excessively long, it may be necessary to provide auxiliary closure rolls 174 and 176 beyond the tucking mechanism on each side of conveyor 38 to wipe the edges of skirt 32 underneath 26 along the side walls 22 to effect a satisfactory and complete closure. The rolls are preferably segmented so as to only engage the portion of skirt 32 that has not already been wiped inwardly by the action of the tuckers 160. Rolls 174 are secured to studs 178 totally mounted in frame 36 and rolls 176 are secured to shaft 180 also rotatably mounted on frame 36.

Rolls

174 and 176 are rotated in unison by means of a train of

gears

182 and 184 mounted on studs 178 and shaft 180. Drive gear 186 mounted on one of studs 178 is propelled through a suitable system of gearing or chain (not shown) to drive the rolls. 1

After the tuckers 160 have completed their closing action, the action of the cams 146 causes them to begin to withdraw from the corners 34 of the container 20 back toward their outward position. At the same time, the action of

cams

84 and 86 will cause the cover die 129 and the tucking mechanism to be elevated to their upper position, thus clearing the container 20 and cover 28, and the action of chains and 100a on carriage tie rod 106 then causes the die 129 and the tucking mechanism to move horizontally in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of containers 20. The

cams

84 and 86 cause the die 129 and tucking mechanism to be lowered into position to intercept the next container 20 and the process is repeated.

To accommodate different sizes and shapes of containers it is only necessary to change cover die 129 and tuckers and vary the dimensions of carriers 58 on conveyor 38.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for securing covers over the upper rim of an open top container having corners wherein said rim of each container is defined by an outwardly projecting bead and each cover is provided with a marginal flange adapted to occupy a position surrounding the area occupied by the rim of the container preparatory to establishing said cover in closing relationship to the container to be associated therewith, said apparatus including cornering dies movable substantially horizontally toward and away from the area occupied by the container along fixed lines of travel coincident with lines drawn diagonally of the corners of the container, and means for operating said cornering dies toward and away from a position effective to tuck said cover flange into underlying engagement with said flange of said container, said means for operating each of said cornering dies including a cam and a gear concentrically mounted rotatably on a stud, a stationary gear rack engageable with said gear to cause rotation of said gear in one direction as said cam and said gear move forward horizontally and rotation in an opposite direction as said cam and said gear move backward horizontally; and a cam follower adapted to cooperate with said cam to move said cornering dies toward and away from a position effective to tuck said cover flange into underlying engagement with said flange of said container.

2. Apparatus for securing covers over the upper rim of an open top container having corners wherein said rim of each container is defined by an outwardly projecting bead and each cover is provided with a marginal flange adapted to occupy a position surrounding the area occupied by the rim of the container preparatory to establishing said cover in closing relationship to the container to be associated therewith, said apparatus including cornering dies movable substantially horizontally toward and away from the area occupied by the container along fixed lines of travel coincident with lines drawn diagonally of the corners of the container, and means for operating said cornering dies toward and away from a position effective to tuck said cover flange into underlying engagement with said flange of said container, a conveyor on which said container is transported along a fixed line of travel at a constant speed in one direction with two opposite sides of said container parallel to the direction of movement of said container, a die plate carrying gears, cams and tuckers first in unison with said container in a horizontal lowered position to enable said cornering dies to move inwardly in closing relationship with said container and said cover, then upwardly to clear said container after said cornering dies have moved outwardly of said container, then horizontally in a raised position in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said conveyor, and then downwardly into a position to its initial position with respect to the next following container on said conveyor, horizontally reciprocable carriage operable to move said die plate in the direction of travel of the conveyor while said die plate and said cornering dies are in said lowered working position and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the conveyor when said die plate and said cornering dies are in said elevated idle position, a first endless chain rotating about a first pair of sprockets; a tie rod disposed between said chain and said carrier; and means for rotatably securing said tie rod to said chain, whereby said carriage is moved in the direction of travel of said conveyor when said tie rod securing means is moved by said chain in a like direction, and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the conveyor when said tie rod securing means is moved by said chain in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a second endless chain spaced apart from and parallel to said first endless chain, said second endless chain rotating in unison along with said first endless chain on a'second pair of sprockets each sprocket of said second endless chain being spaced apart from each sprocket of said first pair of sprockets and aligned on a common axis therewith, and wherein said tie rod securing means comprises a bar rotatably disposed between said first endless chain and said second endless chain.

4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gear is of sufficient width to enable said gear to remain meshed with said gear rack while said gear moves reciprocably in a vertical direction.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a conveyor on which said container is transported along a fixed line of travel at a constant speed in one direction with two opposite sides of said container parallel to the direction of movement of said container, a die plate carrying gears, cams and tuckers first in unison with said container in a horizontal lowered position to enable said corner dies to move inwardly in closing relationship with said container and said cover, then upwardly to clear said container after said cornering dies have moved outwardly of said container, then horizontally in a raised position in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said conveyor, and then downwardly into its initial position with respect to the next following container on said conveyor.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said vertical movement of said die plate is provided by means of a rotating cam which is operable to move said die plate and said cornering dies between an elevated idle position and a lowered working position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a horizontally reciprocable carriage operable to move said die plate in the direction of travel of the conveyor while said die plate and said cornering dies are in said lowered working position and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the conveyor when said die plate and said cornering dies are in said elevated idle position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a first endless chain rotating about a first pair of sprockets; a tie rod disposed between said chain and said carrier; and means for rotatably securing said tie rod to said chain, whereby said carriage is moved in the direction of travel of said conveyor when said tie rod securing means is moved by said chain in a like direction, and in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the conveyor when said tie rod securing means is moved by said chain in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said conveyor.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including a second endless chain spaced apart from and parallel to said first endless chain, said second endless chain rotating in unison along with said first endless chain on a second pair of sprockets each sprocket of said second endless chain being spaced apart from each sprocket of said first pair of sprockets and aligned on a common axis therewith, and wherein said tie rod securing means comprises a bar rotatably disposed between said first endless chain and said second endless chain.

10. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a cover die secured to said die plate in underlying relation thereto, said cover die being adapted to firmly hold said cover of said container in closing position while said cornering dies are operating to tuck said flange into underlying engagement with said bead of said container.

11. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a roll rotatably mounted in a stationary position on each side of said conveyor to engage said flange of said cover beneath said rim of said container whereby said flange along each of said two opposite sides of said container parallel to the direction of movement of said container is more securely tucked beneath said rim.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said rolls are segmented so as not to engage said flange at said corners of said cover.

Claims

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a second endless chain spaced apart from and parallel to said first endless chain, said second endless chain rotating in unison along with said first endless chain on a second pair of sprockets each sprocket of said second endless chain being spaced apart from each Sprocket of said first pair of sprockets and aligned on a common axis therewith, and wherein said tie rod securing means comprises a bar rotatably disposed between said first endless chain and said second endless chain.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gear is of sufficient width to enable said gear to remain meshed with said gear rack while said gear moves reciprocably in a vertical direction.