US3877205A - Packing machine - Google Patents

Packing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US3877205A
US3877205A US424830A US42483073A US3877205A US 3877205 A US3877205 A US 3877205A US 424830 A US424830 A US 424830A US 42483073 A US42483073 A US 42483073A US 3877205 A US3877205 A US 3877205A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
container
containers
conveyor belt
rotor wheel
press
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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
US424830A
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English (en)
Inventor
Marius Gundersen
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Vefi AS
Original Assignee
Vefi AS
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Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3877205A publication Critical patent/US3877205A/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
    • B65B7/26—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by closing hinged lids

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A table type machine for packing goods into containers having lids and closing means of the press-button type with complementary container-locking elements located in respectively the container and lid edge portions, comprising an endless conveyor belt for sequentially receiving containers in an open position at an infeed end thereof for filling the containers with the goods, and conveying the filled containers towards a closing station at the outlet end of said conveyor belt with the lids being in a generally closed position,
  • the machine includes a rotor wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending spoke members being positioned above the endless conveyor belt proximate said closing station, the radially outer free ends of the spoke members following a circular path of movement intersecting the linear movement of the containers on said conveyor belt.
  • a first one of the spoke members upon the container reaching a predetermined position relative to the rotor wheel is contacted by the container in pushing engagement so as to impartsrotation to the rotor wheel and cause the subsequent spoke member to be pivoted downwardly into punching contact with the container-locking element on the lid edge portion so as to bias the latter toward and into locking engagement with the complementary element on the container.
  • PATENTEDAPR 1 51975 sumznrz F i g. 6
  • the present invention relates to a table type packing machine for packing goods in plastic containers or boxes provided with hinged covers or lids. the lid at the closing being attached to the container by means of complementary press-button-like locking elements provided along the container edge and the lid edge. respectively.
  • Such containers have in more recent years come into broad usage in connection with packing and marketing. among others. of food products. such as tomatoes. fruits. eggs. etc.
  • a relatively simple packing machine used for packing goods in such containers consists of a packing table including a horizontally extending conveyor belt. at the beginning of which there is positioned a magazine or supply of containers whereby the containers may be fed. one after the other. onto the moving belt.
  • the filling of the containers usually takes place manually while the containers are moving along the belt in an open position.
  • the containers are closed and preferably locked together before further handling and transport.
  • Containers of this type are usually made by vacuum forming of plastic sheet material or film which is preferably formed of a material such as shock resistant polystyrene or polyvinyl cloride.
  • the container is configurated with partitions or rooms for a certain number of units of the goods, and the push-or press-button elements are provided in that the plastic sheeting material is impressed or formed with complementary male and female configurations along the abutting edge portions of the container and lid. respectively.
  • the edge portion of the container there is therefore present. par example. a tap-like recess and in the complementary edge portion of the lid there is provided a corresponding taplike protrusion or recess whereby these may be pressed together. if desired, with a snap action. The locking action. as such.
  • the goods usually fragile goods. such as tomatoes. may easily be damaged.
  • the present invention hasits object to provide a relatively simple mechanical devicefor effecting the automatic closing and locking of such containers subsequent to completion of filling of the containers.
  • the machine in accordance with the invention. is of the type comprising an endless conveyor belt means for receiving the containers from a supply thereof. one after the other. effecting advancement of the containers in open position and filling the same with goods. such as tomatoes. and a closing station towards the outlet end of the conveyor belt.
  • the containers being provided with closing means of the press-button type with complementary elements located in the container and the lid edge portions. respectively.
  • the machine is characterized in that above the final part of the conveyor belt.
  • a rotor wheel which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending spoke members. the other parts of which follow a circle extending down into the path of movement of the containers advanced on the belt. effecting that when each separate container reaches said rotor wheel.
  • the container pushes a first spoke on the rotor wheel forwardlywhereby the subsequent spoke on the wheel is pivoted downwardly into contact with the lid on the container into register with the press-button means and effecting compression and mutual locking-together of the complementary pressbutton means on the container and the lid. respectively.
  • the dimensioning of the rotor wheel and the spokes etc. and the mutual location of the parts must obviously be accurately adapted to the shape and size of the containers in question. If the container has only one press-button locking means the rotor wheel is only provided withone set of circumferentially arranged spokes.” If. however. the container has two or several press-buttons. the rotor wheel must be provided with a corresponding number of laterally arranged sets of rods.
  • the containers are advanced on the belt with the hinged lid tion.
  • the rotor wheel is suitably provided with two types of spokes which in alternate fashion constitute sensor spokes and punching spokes. and the punching rods are preferably somewhat longer than the sensor rods which hit against the side of the lid.
  • Each of the punching rods is imparted such length that it exactly extends down into the press-button recess in the upper edge of the lid when this part of the container is positioned vertically below the rod at the passage of the container. so as to ensure the complete togetherbringing of the locking elements.
  • the containers are seated against spaced cleats attached to the belt.
  • a further feature of the device in accordance with the invention consists in that above the part of the conveyor belt ahead of the rotor wheel is provided with a device effecting the preliminary closing action of the lid onto the container.
  • FIG. I shows a schematic lateral view of a packing machine constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a detail lateral view which in an enlarged scale, shows the device in accordnce with the invention.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are detail lateral views which, in an enlarged scale, illustrate two stages during the operation of the machine respectively, and
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view which in detail shows a modified embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention.
  • the frame of the machine is given the reference number 2, and which comprises a table 4 having legs 6 and 8.
  • a table 4 having legs 6 and 8.
  • an endless conveyor belt 10 which runs ,over rollers 12, 14 located at each end of the table. the belt being driven by an electric motor 16 through a strap 18.
  • the upper run of the belt is positioned flush with the table and is framed by side edges 15, 17 so as to form a chute or trough 19 along the table.
  • a feeding device 20 for a stacked supply 22.of containers 23 so that these one after the other may be fed down onto the belt 10 in an open position, slated against pushing cleats 24 attached to the belt.
  • an upright post 26, 28 in which there is journalled a transverse shaft 30 for a rotor wheel 32 provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced spoke members 34, 36, etc. which, as best appears from FIG. 3, extend down into the feeding path of the containers on the belt.
  • a horizontally arranged cover having a backwardly extending, upwardly sloped tray portion 42.
  • the cover 40 and the tray 42 each have an opening slit along the center section thereof in order to pass therethrough the spokes 34, 36 etc. on the rotor wheel.
  • two posts 46, 48 between which there is pivotally journalled a forwardly directed yoke 50 having downwardly directed hook means 52.
  • the containers 23 are being fed one after the other in a flat opened position down onto the belt 10 from the supply magazine 20 so as to rest against a pushing cleat 24.
  • the containers are being filled with goods, for instance tomatoes, by operators, standing along the sides of the table.
  • the hook means 52 come into engagement with the lid 23, as shown in FIG. 3, having the consequence that the lid, during the advancement of the container, is turned up and into a closed position as indicated by the number 23" in FIG. 3.
  • the punching spoke 36 is pivoted further downwardly and is thereby presses the pressbutton elements progressively together into the completely assembled position as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the punching spoke 36 stands vertically.
  • the cleat 24 which is attached to the belt 10 is configurated so that the cleat is adapted to the contour of the container and, to a large extent. forms a biasing surface below the edge or flange portion of the container around the press-button elements with the exception of an open zone along a forwardly open groove 62, as best shown in FIG. 6.
  • the cleat 24 therefore serves as an anvil for the punching spoke 36 and provides a bias securing the complete interlocking of the complementary press-button elements on the container and the lid, respectively.
  • the punching spoke leaves the container while the rotor wheel is turned a further distance until the punching spoke 36 also leaves the press-button element recess and, at this moment, the rotor wheel discontinues rotation. In this position the rotor wheel has arrived at a position in which the next container hits the spoke 37 (a pushing spoke), whereby the process is repeated.
  • a friction coupling 64 is suitably located in connection with the bearings of the rotor wheel.
  • the configuration of the rotor wheel, the thickness of the spokes or rods and the length of same, and the dimensioning and positioning of the various parts must be exactly calibrated to the type of container which is to be packed or handled in the machine.
  • An essential point is that the distance between the spokes on the rotor wheel is adapted and exactly calibrated so that the pushing rod provides for that the punching spoke hitting into the press-button elements of the container.
  • a container for four tomatoes there is illustrated a container for four tomatoes and it is provided with a single press-button lock. If the machine is to be utilized for packing containers having. for instance. two press-button locks along one lateral edge.
  • the rotor wheel must be provided with two axially or laterally spaced sets with punching rods so that there is obtained simultaneous locking of the two press-button locks on the container. provided the locks are positioned transverse to the direction of movement.
  • the spokes on the rotor wheel must always be adapted to the container in question and can otherwise be configurated in various fashions. lt is. however. usually sufficient to provide one set of pushing rods which. for instance. are suitably positioned along a circle between the sets of punching rods or spokes. In the embodiment shown in the Figures it can. in some cases. be practical to arrange the punching rods and pushing rods, respectively, laterally displaced on the rotor wheel such as indicated in FIG. 6.
  • the pushing spokes 34 may also be configurated as laterally extended plate-shaped elements instead of individual spokes. and such spokes may be built together in couples so that one pushing spoke and one puching spoke together are configurated as a fork. the stem on which is attached to the hub of the rotor wheel.
  • hinged connection between the container and the lid respectively.
  • the hinge can thus be formed integrally and in one piece with the container and the lid respectively. or separate hinge elements. such as pivot pins, can be used.
  • the hinge can be realized by any knid of releasable hinge means. such as press-button means, which are assembled prior to the handling in the packing machine, as described.
  • a table type machine for packing goods into containers having lids and closing means of the pressbutton type with complementary container-locking elements located in respectively the container and lid edge portions, comprising an endless conveyor belt for sequentially receiving containers in an open position at an infeed end thereof for filling said containers with said goods. and conveying said filled containers towards a closing station at the outlet end of said conveyor belt with said lids being in a generally closed position.
  • the improvement comprising; container advancing cleats attached to the conveyor belt in spaced relationship along the upper run thereof. said cleats each having surfaces therein conforming to the configuration of the containers and means to position each of the containers on the belt against one each of said advancing cleats; a rotor wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced.
  • spoke members being positioned above said endless conveyor belt proximate said closing station. the radially outer free ends of said spoke members following a circular path of movement intersecting the linear movement of said containers on said conveyor belt; a first one of said spoke members. upon said container reaching a predetermined position relative to said rotor wheel. being contacted by said container in pushing engagement so as to impart rotation to said rotor wheel and cause the subsequent spoke member to pivoted downwardly into punching contact with the container-locking element on the lid edge portion so as to bias the latter toward and into locking engagement with the complementary element on said container.
  • a packing machine as claimed in claim 1. said container advancing cleats each having a surface portion shaped so as to substantially encompass the underside of the press-button element on the container so as to form a complementary biasing anvil for the spoke members punching the press-button element on said lid portion.
  • a packing machine as claimed in claim 1. said rotor wheel comprising a plurality of laterally spaced sets of said spoke members extending transversely to the path of movement of said conveyor belt and containers positioned thereon. said sets of spoke members being adapted to effect progressive closing and locking of containers having a corresponding number of laterally spaced press-buttons along the lengths thereof.
  • a packing machine as claimed in claim 1 said cleats each having a slit-shaped open recess at the leading edge thereof adapted to encompass the pressbutton element on the container.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
US424830A 1972-12-15 1973-12-14 Packing machine Expired - Lifetime US3877205A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO04657/72A NO129732B (nl) 1972-12-15 1972-12-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3877205A true US3877205A (en) 1975-04-15

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US424830A Expired - Lifetime US3877205A (en) 1972-12-15 1973-12-14 Packing machine

Country Status (14)

Country Link
US (1) US3877205A (nl)
BE (1) BE808702A (nl)
CA (1) CA996075A (nl)
CH (1) CH574842A5 (nl)
DE (1) DE2362347A1 (nl)
ES (1) ES421485A1 (nl)
FI (1) FI53098C (nl)
FR (1) FR2210541B3 (nl)
GB (1) GB1404268A (nl)
IT (1) IT1000465B (nl)
LU (1) LU68999A1 (nl)
NL (1) NL7317062A (nl)
NO (1) NO129732B (nl)
SE (1) SE384990B (nl)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4030272A (en) * 1975-05-28 1977-06-21 Vefi A/S Means on packing machine
US4970845A (en) * 1989-06-06 1990-11-20 Steven Ausnit Method for preparing and filling continuously linked trays
US5634323A (en) * 1995-04-28 1997-06-03 Elopak Systems A.G. Carton end panel folding mechanism
US20040007438A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-01-15 John Baranowski Dispensing systems and methods
US20040007444A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-01-15 John Baranowski Dispensers and methods of dispensing items
US20040016765A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-01-29 John Baranowski Control systems and methods of dispensing items
US20040053449A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-03-18 Chich-Shang Chang Method for producing plastic active panel displays
US20040134758A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-07-15 John Baranowski Dispensers and methods of dispensing items
US20040134926A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-07-15 John Baranowski Dispensing systems and methods
US20040148056A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-07-29 John Baranowski Control systems and methods of dispensing items
US20040164088A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-08-26 John Baranowski Dispensing and diversion systems and methods
US7036679B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-05-02 John Baranowski Dispensing and diversion systems and methods
US20070084744A1 (en) * 2005-10-17 2007-04-19 Paul Appelbaum Apparatus and method for packaging articles in clear plastic packages
EP2070821A1 (en) * 2007-12-12 2009-06-17 Nuovo Scatolificio Valtenna S.r.l. System and machine for automatic closing of one-piece cardboard boxes, of the type composed of bottom and lid connected by a common side

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE421607B (sv) 1978-07-07 1982-01-18 Volvo Ab Forpackning innefattande en behallardel foretredesvis av genomsynligt material
SE447892B (sv) * 1985-06-20 1986-12-22 Stricab Ab Anleggning for automatisk packning av produkter i en forpackning

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2998688A (en) * 1958-09-11 1961-09-05 Jr Arthur E Randles Egg carton closing machine
US3722176A (en) * 1970-04-07 1973-03-27 Hordijk G Houtind Zoandam Nv Package handling

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2998688A (en) * 1958-09-11 1961-09-05 Jr Arthur E Randles Egg carton closing machine
US3722176A (en) * 1970-04-07 1973-03-27 Hordijk G Houtind Zoandam Nv Package handling

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4030272A (en) * 1975-05-28 1977-06-21 Vefi A/S Means on packing machine
US4970845A (en) * 1989-06-06 1990-11-20 Steven Ausnit Method for preparing and filling continuously linked trays
US5634323A (en) * 1995-04-28 1997-06-03 Elopak Systems A.G. Carton end panel folding mechanism
US20040164088A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-08-26 John Baranowski Dispensing and diversion systems and methods
US7036679B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-05-02 John Baranowski Dispensing and diversion systems and methods
US20040016765A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-01-29 John Baranowski Control systems and methods of dispensing items
US7152756B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-12-26 Campbell Soup Company Dispensing systems and methods
US20040134758A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-07-15 John Baranowski Dispensers and methods of dispensing items
US20040134926A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-07-15 John Baranowski Dispensing systems and methods
US20040148056A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-07-29 John Baranowski Control systems and methods of dispensing items
US20040007438A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-01-15 John Baranowski Dispensing systems and methods
US6993884B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-02-07 Campell Soup Company Dispensing systems and methods
US20040007444A1 (en) * 2002-06-24 2004-01-15 John Baranowski Dispensers and methods of dispensing items
US7063215B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-06-20 Campbell Soup Company Control systems and methods of dispensing items
US7099741B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-08-29 Campbell Soup Company Control systems and methods of dispensing items
US7128203B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-10-31 Campbell Soup Company Dispensers and methods of dispensing items
US7128204B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2006-10-31 Campbell Soup Company Dispensers and methods of dispensing items
US20040053449A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-03-18 Chich-Shang Chang Method for producing plastic active panel displays
US20070084744A1 (en) * 2005-10-17 2007-04-19 Paul Appelbaum Apparatus and method for packaging articles in clear plastic packages
US7308784B2 (en) * 2005-10-17 2007-12-18 Paul Appelbaum Apparatus and method for packaging articles in clear plastic packages
EP2070821A1 (en) * 2007-12-12 2009-06-17 Nuovo Scatolificio Valtenna S.r.l. System and machine for automatic closing of one-piece cardboard boxes, of the type composed of bottom and lid connected by a common side

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES421485A1 (es) 1976-04-01
CA996075A (en) 1976-08-31
IT1000465B (it) 1976-03-30
FI53098C (nl) 1978-02-10
FR2210541B3 (nl) 1978-03-17
GB1404268A (en) 1975-08-28
NL7317062A (nl) 1974-06-18
DE2362347A1 (de) 1974-06-27
CH574842A5 (nl) 1976-04-30
NO129732B (nl) 1974-05-20
FI53098B (nl) 1977-10-31
FR2210541A1 (nl) 1974-07-12
LU68999A1 (nl) 1974-02-22
BE808702A (fr) 1974-03-29
SE384990B (sv) 1976-05-31

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