US3747737A

US3747737A - Article handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3747737A
Application number: US00198179A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Brooke
Original assignee: Delamere and Williams Co Ltd
Current assignee: Delamere and Williams Co Ltd
Priority date: 1971-11-12
Filing date: 1971-11-12
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24
Also published as: CA975392A; DE2255474B2; DE2255474C3; GB1398550A; DE2255474A1

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a conveyor provided with pairs of jaws arranged to take hold of the upper edges of the tea bags presented thereto in succession in a common plane, turn the tea bags around to an angular position with respect to said plane of presentation and deposit them in a column for example, on a counter with the bags in parallel relaton.

Description

Elite States Patent moire 5] July 24, 1973 ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 2,878,496 3 1959 Terzuoli 198/179 [75] Inventor: Arthur Alan Brooke, Toronto,

Canada Primary Examiner--Richard E. Aegerter [73] Assignee: Delamere & Williams Company AtwmeynRoberli Gammons at Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: NOV. 12, 1971 211 App]. No.: 198,179 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus comprising a conveyor provided with pairs 193/31 198/33 193/179 ofjaws arranged to take hold of the upper edges of the f Cl; 8 g 47/24 tea bags presented thereto in succession in a common [58] Field of Sea ch 198/33 31 AA, plane, turn the tea bags around to an angular position 193/20 with respect to said plane of presentation and deposit them in a column for example, on a counter with the References Clted bags in parallel relaton.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,779,453 1/1957 Lippert 198/33 AB 34 Claims, 8 Drawing; Figures W H L I o O 0 O O G o D c O Q I 0 Q O O 0 O 0 O O o I O O 9 o I o J v I 1 v 6 e 6 22 A M1 0 981 L 22120 g o 96 1/ 20 000 000 uOuOOcoOi 9o Ll- I a n r7/ 36 'III 1.1 k j coum'zn Pnlenlnd July 24, 1973 7 Sheets-Sham I Patented July 24, 1973 3,747,737

7 Sheets-Sheet 7:

Patented July 24, 1973 Fig. 3

7 Sheets-Sheet 15 Patented July 24, 1973 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 24, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Apparatus designed to redistribute articles moving along in a single row to form two rows and to orient the articles during such redistribution is not new, such ap paratus being commonly employed in container filling and labeling machinery and in machinery for loading containers into cartons. Apparatus of the foregoing kind is designed for relatively large and bulky articles and hence has no utility for the relatively small articles such as tea bags and like relatively flat packets and is not adapted to be modified or redesigned for such purposes. The apparatus herein illustrated is designed to handle relatively small, substantially flat articles, specifically tea bags which have just been filled while travelling along in single file edge-to-edge to turn them around to dispose them in parallel face-to-face relation in a single or double column.

SUMMARY The apparatus disclosed herein is to take tea bags presented thereto in succession in a common plane, for example, from a bag closing machine, turn them at angles to said plane and deposit them in one or two columns face-to-face, for example, in a counter from which they may subsequently be removed in predetermined numbers and deposited in cartons, and comprises a continuous orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the packets presented thereto, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities so that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at the place of meeting with a packet to take hold of said edge of the packet, means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the packet around to said angle, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packet. The instrumentalities are rotatably mounted on the conveyor and there is means fixed with respect to the movement of the conveyor to effect their rotation as they travel. The instrumentalities are further mounted for movement transversely of the conveyor and there is means fixed with respect to the movement of the conveyor to effect movement of one instrumentality to one side of the center line of the conveyor and the next to the other side so as to deposit the packets in two rows side-by-side. The conveyor comprises spaced parallel chains between which there are mounted carriers spaced lengthwise of the chains. Bars are mounted on the carriers for movement transversely thereof with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor and the instrumentalities which are in the form of pairs of jaws are mounted on the bars. A link is pivotally connected at one end to each pair of jaws at a radial distance from the axis of rotation thereof and at its other end to the carrier and operates when the bars are moved transversely to effect rotation of the jaws. There is also means operative in the event of ma]- functioning of the apparatus and/or the counter at the place of deposit to release the packets before they reach the place of deposit to allow them to fall on a counter provided for this purpose. Invention also resides in a method of reforming a single line of relatively flat envelope-like packets arranged with their broad sides in a common plane and with their edges aligned into two lines in which the packets are collocated with their broad sides face-to-face, comprising gripping the edges of successive packets in said common plane, moving them linearly along a predetermined path, while so moving them linearly moving them laterally and simultaneously rotating them about axes situated in said common plane and perpendicular to said edges, and following such lateral and rotational movement depositing them in succession in one or more columns.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the orienting conveyor of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing a portion of the conveyor by means of which. the tea bags are delivered tothe orienting conveyor of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a transverse elevation taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for the sensing means.

Referring to the drawings (FIG. I), the apparatus comprises a continuous orienting conveyor 10 on which there are mounted at uniformly spaced intervals instrumentalities in the form of pairs of jaws 12, the conveyor being entrained about longitudinally spaced sprocket means 14-14 mounted on a supporting frame comprising transversely spaced side members 18-18 (FIG. 3) provided with bearing members 20-20 at their opposite ends for rotatably receiving said shafts 16-16 and transversely disposed members 22 joining the side members. Supporting legs 23 are bolted to the side members at opposite ends for mounting the structure in the proper relation to conveyor means 11 (FIG. 5) for supplying tea bags thereto from filling and closing apparatus on which the tea bags are arranged in a single line edge-to-edge.

The conveyor 10 comprises spaced parallel link chains 24-24 (FIG. 3) entrained about spaced sprockets 25-25 comprising the sprocket means fixed to the shafts 16-16. Carrier members 26 are mounted by means of blocks 28 secured at their opposite ends on extensions 30-30 of adjacent pairs of pins 32-32 connectingthe links of the chain. The carriers are arranged in spaced parallel relation longitudinally of the chains and are situated on the outer sides of the chains and each contains a transversely extending way 34 of substantially rectangular cross-section in which there is slidably mounted a bar 36 by gibs 37-37 bolted to the carrier along the opposite sides of the way over the edges of the bar.

Each bar 36 has mounted on it one of the instrumentalities 12 which comprises a pair of pivotally supported confronting jaws 38-38 (FIG. 3) mounted on pins 40-40 supported in a slot 42 in one end of a post 44 rotatably supported in a bearing assembly 46 secured to the bar 36 by fastening means 48. The post extends through the bar 36 and through a slot 50 in the carrier 26 and has secured to its projecting end a split clamp plate 52 secured thereto by a bolt 54. Each clamp plate 52 has fixed to it at a radial distance from the axis of rotation of the post a pin 56 (FIG. 4) upon which is pivotally mounted one end of a link 58. The opposite end of the link is pivotally mounted on a pin 60 secured to the carrier 26 and this link provides, as will appear hereinafter, for effecting rotation of the jaws about the vertical axis of the post 44.

The post 44 contains a central, longitudinally extending opening in which there is mounted a rod 62, the rod being supported at the opposite ends of the post by

bearing sleeves

64 and 66 for movement longitudinally thereof. One end of the rod 62 has a double rack 68 which meshes with pinions 70-.70 fixed to the pins 40-40 on which the jaws 38-38 are mounted so that longitudinal movement of the rod will effect rotation of the pinions and correspondingly open and close the jaws. The post 44 contains a chamber 72 intermediate the

sleeves

64 and 66 within which there is mounted a spring 74 which bears at one end against an end of the chamber and at its other end against a shoulder 76 on the rod so that spring pressure is applied to the rod 62 in a direction to maintain the jaws in a closed position. The rod projects from the post inwardly of the carrier and has at its end an adjustably mounted pin 78 provided with a head 79 which, as will appear hereinafter, provides means for separating the jaws on appropriate occasion.

As related earlier, the bar 26 supporting the jaws is movable transversely on the carrierand such movement is effected by means of a pin '80'fixed to the end of the bar on which there is rotatably mounted a cam roller 82 which is engaged within a cam groove 84 formed in a cam plate 86 fastened by means of bracekts 88 to the side member 18. There are cam plates 86 at each side of the conveyor and the alternate and intermediate bars are provided, respectively, with pins 80 at one end for engagement with the cam groove at that end. The cam plates 86 are mounted by means of brackets 88-88 along the upper and lower runs of the chains and, as shown in FIG. 2, the cam grooves 84 extending along the lower run converge from a maximum spacing at the right-hand end so that as the carriers are advanced from right to left the bars are moved transversely in opposite directions to displace the jaws with respect to the center line of the conveyor. This displacement provides for depositing the tea bags taken from the single row of tea bags at the place of presentation in two rows side-by-side. The cam grooves parallel to the upper run diverge from a minimum spacing at the left end of the apparatus to a maximum spacing at the right to return the jaws to the center line of the conveyor coinciding with the line of delivery of the tea has thereto.

The tea bags are presented to the orienting conveyor in single file edge-to-edge by means of the conveyor 11 (FlG.. upon which they are releasably supported, with the plane of their edges coinciding substantially with the center line of the orienting conveyor and with their upper edges situated at levels intersecting the path of movement of the jaws on the lower run of the conveyor. The jaws 3838 at the place of meeting with the packets must be disposed with their confronting gripping faces in planes parallel to the opposite sides of the packet. The aforesaid linkage 58 is designed so that when the bars supporting the jaws are equidistant from opposite sides of the chains the jaws occupy the aforesaid position and are in a position to take hold of the upper edges of the packets. As the carriers move from this position toward the place of deposit the cam tracks move the bars transversely and during such transverse movement the aforesaid linkage 58 rotates the jaws approximately 90 to dispose the packets at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the conveyor and in parallel relation to each other. On the return movement of the jaws from the place of deposit to the place of presentation of packets thereto, the bars are moved transversely to their initial position to return the jaws to their initial position for receiving packets.

The jaws are spread apart at the place of presentation of packets thereto; closed upon the packets as they travel in proximity with the conveyor 11 and are maintained closed as they travel toward the place of deposit; separated at the place of deposit; allowed to close upon each other as they move away from the place of deposit back to the place of presentation; and separated as they again approach the place of presentation for engagement with the packets. Actuation of the jaws is provided for by cam members 90 (FIG. I) mounted inwardly of the conveyor chains for engagement with the heads 79 of the pins 78 projecting inwardly from the jaws. The configuration of the cam members 90 are such that as the jaws travel around the right-hand end of the structure toward the place of presentation of the packets they depress the pins 78 so as to open the jaws and hold them open until they move into position of interception with the upper edges of the packets and thereafter release the pins so that the jaws are closed by the springs 74 to grip the packets. At the left end of the apparatus the cam members again depress the pins to open the jaws so as to release the packets and after the packets have been released disengage the pins to allow the jaws to come together. The cam members 90 are supported on the cross-frame members 20 by bracket members 91.

The tea bags are presented to the jaws in timed relation with the movement of the jaws by means of the conveyor 11, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 5, on which there are clamps 93 which releasably hold the tea bags at their lower edges with their upper edges in a position to be grasped by the jaws as they move around to the lower run of the conveyor. Movement of the two conveyors in timed relation with each other so as to present tea bags to the instrumentalities as the latter move into position for receiving them is accomplished by a mechanical drive diagrammatically illustrated at X which maintains them in timed relation to each other.

The apparatus as described is designed primarily to take flat envelope-like packets delivered thereto in a single line edge-to-edge, turn them to approximately 90 and then deposit them face-to-face in parallel engagement for counting and subsequent packaging. The counter comprises spaced parallel belts having upper horizontal runs travelling from the place of deposit away from the orienting conveyor on which there are mounted transversely spaced, parallel, upstanding blades between which the packets are deposited by the jaws on the orienting conveyor as they are opened, one

If for any reason it is desirable to reject the packets prior to reaching the place of deposit such, for example, that the counter belts are not running or that the conveyor delivering the packets to the orienting conveyor is not functioning properly as, for example, not separating successive packets or is causing mutilation of the packets, there is provided means for effecting separation of the jaws so as to release the packets and allow them to fall into a receptacle supported below the conveyor. As herein illustrated, the means for effecting release of the packets comprises cam members 96-96 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) supported intermediate the place of presentation and the place of discharge at a level such that their lower surfaces 98-98 are above the upper ends of the heads 79 of the pins 78 so that the heads under normal operating conditions will pass below the cams without being depressed. The cam members 96-96 are mounted in transversely spaced positions (FIGS. 6 and 7) so as to be respectively above the heads 79 of the actuating pin 78 which, at this position, have been laterally displaced in opposite directions with respect to the center line and are mounted on a supporting plate 100 by means of bolts 102 extending through slots 104 screwed into the cam members. The plate 100 is supported along one edge by a hinge member 1106 which may be a flexible plate, one edge of which is secured to he plate 100 by screw bolts 108 and the other edge of which is secured to the frame by screw bolts 110. A motor Me is mounted by means of bolts 112 to the frame above the plate 100 and has protruding from its lower end a piston rod 114 (FIG. 7) which is operable to depress the plate 100 far enough to bring the cam members 96-96 into the path of movement of the heads 79 at the upper ends of the pins 76 so that the cam surfaces 96-96 will depress these pins and separate the jaws. The motor Me is pressureoperated and is supplied with pressure fluid in conventional manner through a valve V (FIG. 8), operation of the latter being effected manually or automatically in response to a sensing device or sensing devices S1, S2, the sensing device S1 being located at the place of deposit to detect the malfunctioning of the counter and the sensing device S2 being located in a position to determine whether the packets held by the jaws are mutilated or otherwise unfit for packing. In FIG. 8 the valve V is shown in a circuit containing the sensing devices S1, S2 which are in the form of electric eyes. The valve V is operated by a rotary solenoid R, the latter also being manually rotatable by a knob K.

Because ofthe rather high speed operation of the apparatus it is desirable to keep the heads 79 at the upper ends of the pins 78 lubricated so that excessive wear is minimized. Accordingly, a receptacle 116 (FIGS. 1 and 6) is mounted on the frame above the path of movement of the pins 78, at the bottom of which there is a pad 118 in the form of a wick which will take the oil from the receptacle and transfer it by rubbing engagement to the heads 79. An oil cup 120 provides for replenishing the receptacle 116 with oil when required.

The physical configuration of the conveyor, as herein illustrated, is not to be considered as limiting since it is evident that in place of link chains entrained about spaced sprockets a wheel supplied with spaced parallel circular frame members mounting carriers peripherally thereof provided with suitably arranged cams would be equally effective for the intended purpose.

While the invention has been described specifically with reference to handling tea bags, it is within the scope of the invention to handle packets of the same kind and packets comparable thereto regardless of their configuration and/or the filling contained thereby.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereon in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions such as to dispose the packets faceto-face and to move the instrumentalities laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to effect deposit of the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and meansat the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is means for presenting the packets to said orienting conveyor in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal center line of the conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is means for presenting the packets to the orienting conveyor in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said orienting conveyor and wherein the means for effecting lateral movement of the instrumentalities operates to displace one instrumentality to one side and the next tothe other side of said longitudinal center line to form two columns side-by-side situated at opposite sides of the path of travel of the orienting conveyor with the packets in said columns in parallel relation to each other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1., comprising manually operable means for disabling an instrumentality.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for turning the instrumentalities turns them through angles of 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instrumentalities are rotatably mounted on the conveyor and there is cam means fixed with respect to the movement of the instrumentalities to cause the instrumentalities to take hold of the packets at the place of presentation, turn the instrumentalities to said angular positions as they move toward the place of deposit and at the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release their hold on the packets.

7. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each instrumentality comprising a pair of jaws, means operative to cause each pair ofjaws at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operative as the pairs ofjaws travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to maintain the jaws closed, to turn the jaws to angular positions such as to dispose the packets face-to-face and move the jaws laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to dispose the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said jaws on the packets.

8. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each of said instrumentalities comprising a pair of jaws, spring means normally urging the jaws of each pair of jaws closed, and cam means operable as the pairs ofjaws approach the place of presentation to separate the jaws, at the place of presentation to release the jaws to allow them to close on the edges of the packets and to remain closed until they reach the place of deposit, and then to separate the jaws at the place of deposit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising cam means situated intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit operable to effect release'of the packets by separating the jaws, said cam means being held in an inoperative position so long as the apparatus is functioning normally, and sensing means opcrative in the event of malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said cam means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising cam members, means supporting said cam members adjacent the path of movement of said means associated with each pair of jaws, said cam members being normally held in inoperative positions but being movable to an operative position of interception of said means associated with the jaws to effect their separation, and sensing means responsive to malfunctioning of the apparatus to move the cam members into operative position.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the means for effecting movement of the cam members into operative positions is a motor, operation of which is initiated by said sensing means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a hinge plate supports the cam members in said inoperative positions above the path of movement of said means associated with the pairs ofjaws, and a motor provided with a rod is supported with the rod engaged with said plate so that operation of the motor to extend the rod displaces the plate and cam members carried thereby.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said hinge plate comprises a flat flexible spring plate fastened at one edge to the machine frame and having fastened to its other edge the cam members.

14. Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of packets thereto to a place of deposit of the packets, carriers mounted on the conveyor for movement therewith, pairs of confronting clamping jaws, means rotatably mounting a pair ofjaws on each carrier, means associated with each pair of jaws and movable therewith as they travel toward the place of deposit, said means being operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to effect separation of the jaws as they approach the place of presentation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation and effect separation of the jaws at the place of deposit, a bar slidably mounted on each carrier for movement transversely of the carrier with respect to the direction of movement, cam means on each bar and cam means fixed relative to the conveyor operable to move the bar and jaws mounted thereon laterally with respect to the longitudinal center line of the conveyor, one pair of jaws to one side and the next to the other side of said center line, and means operable by said movement to rotate the jaws from a position in which the confronting faces are in planes parallelling said edges to a position in which they are at corresponding angles thereto.

15. Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising spaced parallel link chains entrained about spaced sprockets, carriers connected at their opposite ends to the chains in spaced parallel relation, a pair of jaws mounted on each carrier, said carriers containing transversely extending ways, bars slidably retained in said ways for movement transversely with respect to the path of travel of the chains, a pin fixed to one end of each bar, said pins on adjacent bars being at opposite ends thereof, cam means disposed adjacent the conveyor embodying tracks within which the pins are engaged, said tracks converging with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor from the place of presentation to the place of deposit, and diverging in the opposite direction so as to displace the jaws alternately to one side and then the other side of the center line of the conveyor, and a link pivotally connected at one end to each of the rotatably supported jaws at a radial distance from its axis of rotation and at its other end to the carrier on which it is mounted such that the transverse movement of the bar relative to the carrier effects rotation of the jaws.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the jaws are rotatably mounted on the carrier, a link is pivotally connected at one end to each of the rotatably supported jaws at a radial distance from its axis of rotation and at its other end to the carrier on which it is mounted such that the transverse movement of the bar relative to the carrier effects rotation of the jaws.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for presenting the packets to said orienting conveyor.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for effecting movement of the packets in succession to said orienting conveyor in timed relation with the movement of the instrumentalities to said position of presentation.

19. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a supply conveyor embodying means for releasably supporting the packets at their lower edges and having a part thereof situated in relation to said orienting conveyor such as to present the upper edges of said packets to the instrumentalities at said place of presentation.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a supply conveyor embodying means for releasably supporting packets at their lower edges for presentation of their upper edges to said instrumentalities at the place of presentation, and kinematic means operably connecting the two conveyors such as to cause the packetholding means on the supply conveyor to confront the instrumentalities on the orienting conveyor at said place of presentation.

21. Apparatus for orienting flat articles presented thereto in a line in which they are disposed edge-toedge in a common plane, comprising first and second conveyors arranged with portions thereof in overlapping parallel alignment, means for effecting movement of the conveyors in the same direction such that for a predetermined interval said overlapping parallel portions travel in consonance, uniformly spaced holding means on one of the conveyors operable to releasably support said flat articles in said common plane, uniformly spaced gripping means on the other conveyor cooperable with the holding means on the one conveyor while said overlapping parallel portions of the conveyors are moving in consonance to take the articles from said holding means, means for effecting release of the holding means and for effecting gripping of the gripping means to effect transfer of the articles from the one conveyor to the other, means for rotating the gripping means following movement thereof beyond said place of transfer to dispose the articles transversely of said common plane in parallel relation to each other, and means for causing the gripping means to release the articles at a predetermined place following such orientation.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the holding and gripping means on the respective conveyors travel in spaced parallel relation at the place of overlapping, said holding means are adapted to releasably hold the articles at one edge and the gripping means are adapted to take hold of the articles at the opposite edge.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein there is means supporting said gripper means for movement laterally with respect to the line along which the holding means moves, and means operable as the gripping means travels toward the place of release to effect lateral movement of the gripping means first to one side and then the other to form two columns of articles.

24L Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to a malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said release means.

25. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent said place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to the absence of a carton at the place of deposit to effect operation of said release means.

26. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereto in succession in a com mon plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a porition thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of said edge of the packet, means operable as the instrumentality travels from the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packet, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, release means operable to move the jaws away from each other, and cam means supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the jaws for movement into an operative position for engagement of said release means therewith to effect actuation of said release means, and means for moving said cam means into said operative position.

27. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelopelike packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a por' tion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, and means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, gear sectors fixed to said jaws at their centers of rotation, a rack bar supported between and in engagement with said gear sectors, said rack bar being movable therebetween to swing the jaws away from each other, and cams supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the instrumentality movable at times to positions to cause the rack bar to swing the jaws away from each other.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the rack bars have ends disposed in positions to be intercepted by the cams when the latter are in their operative positions, and means for moving the cams into said operative positions at such times as it is desirable to release the packets before they reach the place of deposit.

29. Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets of the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, each instrumentality comprising a pair of pivotally mounted confronting jaws, a post to one end of which the jaws are pivotally mounted on spaced parallel pins, gear sectors fixed to the pins, said post containing an axial opening, a rack bar disposed in said opening with an end situated between the gear sectors and in mesh therewith, said rack bar extending from the outer end of the post and spring means disposed in the axial opening between a shoulder bounding the inner side of the opening and a shoulder bounding the bar, said spring means biasing the rack bar in a direction to hold the jaws engaged, and said rack bar being movable within said opening in a direction to separate the jaws.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein bearing sleeves disposed at the ends of the opening in the post support the rack bar for axial movement therein.

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the post has at said one end a diametrical slot within which the proximal ends of the jaws are pivotally mounted by said pins, the latter being set into the post across said diametrical slot.

32. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a sleeve within which the post is concentrically mounted supports the post for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

33. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said extending end of the rack bar contains an axially threaded hole and a headed pin is threaded into said hole, said headed pin comprising an adjustable cam operable at times by displacement to effect opening of the jaws.

34. Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of the packets thereto to a plane of deposit of the packets, said conveyor having outer and inner sides with respect to its support, carriers mounted on the conveyor at intervals, pairs of confronting jaws, means mounting a pair of jaws on each carrier, said carrier travelling on the outer side of the conveyor with the jaws extending outwardly therefrom, means associated with each pair of jaws extending inwardly from the carrier operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to separate the jaws as they approach the place of orientation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation, and separate the jaws at the place of deposit, said means associated with each pair of jaws comprising a pin adapted to be depressed by engagement with said cam means to open the jaws, a wick supported in a position such as to have rubbing engagement with the pins as they travel from the place of presentation to the place of deposit, and means for supplying a lubricant to the wick.

Claims

1. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereon in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions such as to dispose the packets face-to-face and to move the instrumentalities laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to effect deposit of the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is means for presenting the packets to the orienting conveyor in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said orienting conveyor and wherein the means for effecting lateral movement of the instrumentalities operates to displace one instrumentality to one side and the next to the other side of said longitudinal center line to form two columns side-by-side situated at opposite sides of the path of travel of the orienting conveyor with the packets in said columns in parallel relation to each other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising manually operable means for disabling an instrumentality.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for turning the instrumentalities turns them through angles of 90*.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instrumentalities are rotatably mounted on the conveyor and there is cam means fixed with respect to the movement of the instrumentalities to cause the instrumentalities to take hold of the packets at the place of presentation, turn the instrumentalities to said angular positions as they move toward the place of deposit and at the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release their hold on the packets.

7. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent the place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each instrumentality comprising a pair of jaws, means operative to cause each pair of jaws at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of one of said edges of the packet, means operative as the pairs of jaws travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to maintain the jaws closed, to turn the jaws to angular positions such as to dispose the packets face-to-face and move the jaws laterally with respect to the plane of presentation to dispose the packets in a column situated at one side of said plane, and means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said jaws on the packets.

8. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane comprising an orienting conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, each of said instrumentalities comprising a pair of jaws, spring means normally urging the jaws of each pair of jaws closed, and cam means operable as the pairs of jaws approach the place of presentation to separate the jaws, at the place of presentation to release the jaws to allow them to close on the edges of the packets and to remain closed until they reach the place of deposit, and then to separate the jaws at the place of deposit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising cam means situated intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit operable to effect release of the packets by separating the jaws, said cam means being held in an inoperative position so long as the apparatus is functioning normally, and sensing means operative in the event of malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said cam means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a hinge plate supports the cam members in said inoperative positions above the path of movement of said means associated with the pairs of jaws, and a motor provided with a rod is supported with the rod engaged with said plate so that operation of the motor to extend the rod displaces the plate and cam members carried thereby.

14. Apparatus for orienting flat envelope-like packets presented thereto with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor supported for movement of successive packets from a place of presentation of packets thereto to a place of deposit of the packets, carriers mounted on the conveyor for movement therewith, pairs of confronting clamping jaws, means rotatably mounting a pair of jaws on each carrier, means associated with each pair of jaws and movable therewith as they travel toward the place of deposit, said means being operable to spread the jaws apart, cam means fixed with respect to the path of movement of said last means operable to effect separation of the jaws as they approach the place of presentation, allow the jaws to close on the packets at the place of presentation and effect separation of the jaws at the place of deposit, a bar slidably mounted on each carrier for movement transversely of the carrier with respect to the direction of movement, cam means on each bar and cam means fixed relative to the conveyor operable to move the bar and jaws mounted thereon laterally with respect to the longitudinal center line of the conveyor, one pair of jaws to one side and the next to the other side of said center line, and means operable by said movement to rotate the jaws from a position in which the confronting faces are in planes parallelling said edges to a position in which they are at corresponding angles thereto.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a supply conveyor embodying means for releasably supporting packets at their lower edges for presentation of their upper edges to said instrumentalities at the place of presentation, and kinematic means operably connecting the two conveyors such as to cause the packet-holding means on the supply conveyor to confront the instrumentalities on the orienting conveyor at said place of presentation.

21. Apparatus for orienting flat articles presented thereto in a line in which they are disposed edge-to-edge in a common plane, comprising first and second conveyors arranged with portions thereof in overlapping parallel alignment, means for effecting movement of the conveyors in the same direction such that for a predetermined interval said overlapping parallel portions travel in consonance, uniformly spaced holding means on one of the conveyors operable to releasably support said flat articles in said common plane, uniformly spaced gripping means on the other conveyor cooperable with the holding means on the one conveyor while said overlapping parallel portions of the conveyors are moving in consonance to take the articles from said holding means, means for effecting release of the holding means and for effecting gripping of the gripping means to effect transfer of the articles from the one conveyor to the other, means for rotating the gripping means following movement thereof beyond said place of transfer to dispose the articles transversely of said common plane in parallel relation to each other, and means for causing the gripping means to release the articles at a predetermined place following such orientation.

24. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positionS, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to a malfunctioning of the apparatus to effect operation of said release means.

25. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession with their edges in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent said place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of one of said edges of the packets, means operable as the instrumentalities travel with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentalities to angular positions, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentalities on the packets, release means operable at a place intermediate the place of presentation and the place of deposit to cause the instrumentalities to release the packets, and sensing means operable in response to the absence of a carton at the place of deposit to effect operation of said release means.

26. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a porition thereof adjacent a place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with a packet to take hold of said edge of the packet, means operable as the instrumentality travels from the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packet, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, release means operable to move the jaws away from each other, and cam means supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the jaws for movement into an operative position for engagement of said release means therewith to effect actuation of said release means, and means for moving said cam means into said operative position.

27. Apparatus for orienting successive flat envelope-like packets presented thereto in succession in a common plane, comprising a conveyor arranged with a portion thereof adjacent a place of presentation and a portion thereof adjacent the place of deposit, uniformly spaced instrumentalities mounted on the conveyor, said instrumentalities being movable with the conveyor in timed relation with the presentation of the packets to the instrumentalities such that successive instrumentalities meet the packets at the place of presentation, means operative to cause each instrumentality at its place of meeting with the packets to take hold of said edge of the packets, and means operable as the instrumentality travels with the conveyor toward the place of deposit to turn the instrumentality to an angular position, means at the place of deposit for releasing the hold of said instrumentality on the packets, said instrumentalities comprising opposed, pivotally supported jaws, means yieldably biasing said jaws toward each other, gear sectors fixed to said jaws at their centers of rotation, a rack bar supported between and in engagement with said gear sectors, said rack bar being movable therebetween to swing the jaws away from each other, and cams supported in an inoperative position adjacent the path of movement of the instrumentality movable at times to positions to cause the rack bar to swing the jaws away from each other.