US992112A - Container-closing machine. - Google Patents

Description

R. S. CLARKE.

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1910.

Patented May 9, 1911.

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R. S. CLARKE.

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1910.

992,1 12, Patented May 9,1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH S. CLARKE, OF WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES S BIRD, OF EAST WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

- CONTAINER-CLOSING MACHINE.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed November 16, 1910. Serial No. 582,707.

To all who'mfit may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH S. CLARKE, of Walpole, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Container-Closing Machines, of which the fol-. lowing is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention relates to an improved machine for closing and sealing the flaps of containers or cases in which merchandise, preferably packed in cartons, may be shipped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature adapted to close and seal the flaps of containers 01' cases of comparatively large dimensions and formed or constructed of comparatively thick paper board or; similar material.

Another object ofthe invention is to improve the fiap folding devices of machines of this nature.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists in such peculiar features of construction and novel combination of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1', represents a side elevation of the improved container closing machine, parts of the same being broken away. Fig. 2, represents a plan view of the machine with parts thereof broken away. Fig. 3, repre-' sents an end view of the machine. Fig; 4, represents an enlarged sectional detail view showing the manner in which the' presser rolls are mounted. Fig. 5, is a side'elevation of parts of'the machine illustrating, diagrammatically, the closing of the end flaps of the container. Fi 6, represents a perspective view of one en of the box, case or container particularly ada ted to be closed by this machine. Fig. is a side view of said box, case or container showing the flaps in the position as when said cont ainer is placed on the machine. Fig. 8, represents a cross sectional view taken on line 8-8 Fig. 5, diagrammatically ,illustrating the turning outward of the fourth flaps and the engagement of the third flaps, to which adhesive has previously been applied, by the winding guides which 'ultimately turn said third flaps against the first and second-flaps. Fig. 9, represents a similar view taken on line 9- 9 Fig. 5 showing the fourth flaps in engagement with the winding guides which close said fourth flaps against the third flaps.

Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

Containers of the nature herein particularly mentioned are intended for use as boxes, or cases in which cartons or articles of merchandise are packed for shipment. These containers are formed of compara tively thick paper board and are preferably rectangular in shape; having end fia s a-a and 6-0 which, in the order of their folding are herein referred to as first and second flaps a, a, third flap b, and fourth flap c which are scored at their line of juncture with the main bod d. The machine for closing these containers d, d is su ported on a main frame having the longitudinal members 10, 10, mounted on the standards 11, 12 and 13 and suitably cross braced. To the cross piece or brace 14, between stand ards 13 are secured the inwardly curving supporting arms 15, 15 for receivin the package or container d, which is to be c osed, and supporting the same between the parallel guide plates 16, 16 mounted on brackets extending from the members 10, 10 and forming a runway leading between the glue or adhesive receptacles 17, 17 supported above the main frame and furnished with rolls 18, 18 mounted on the shafts 19, 19 which are journaled in bearings of the frame 20, 20 and have'sprockets 21, 21 driven by chains 22, 22' from the sprockets 23, 23 of the shafts 24, 24 which latter are journaled in bearings of said frames 20, 20 and have the sprockets 27, 27 of the shaft 28 journaled in bearings, mounted on the standards 12, and operated by the chain 29 engaged with the sprocket 30, of said shaft 28, and with the sprocket 31 of the main shaft 32, which latter has the loose pulley 33 and the tight pulley 34. Pivotally mounted on the frames 20, 20 of the glue applying mechanism are the arms 35, 35 carrying shafts on which are rotatable the rolls 36, 36 which bear against the peripheries of the rolls 18, 18 whereby these rolls 36, 36 are frictionally driven by and receive adhesive from said rolls 18, 18 and deliver said adhesive tothe upper or outer surfaces of the flaps c, c of the container (1 when said flaps pass between the rolls 18 and 36. It is preferred to use rolls 36 of less length than those marked 18 when adhesive is to be applied only to such portions of the outer surface of the flaps 0, 0 as are to be overlapped by the flaps b, b.

Extending from the glue or adhesive receptacles 17, in the direction in which the containers travel are the straight guides 37 37 the lower edges of which are above the line of the edges of the flaps b, I) of the containers d when said containers pass through the machine, and the length of'which guides 37 37 to the downwardly and outwardly curved ends 38, 38, thereof is preferably somewhat greater than the length of said flaps b, 6. Supported on the standards 39, 39 mounted on the frame members 10, 10 are the winding guides 40, 40 and 41, 41 of which guides 40, 40 extend-above the glue rolls 18, 18 at the ends of said guides nearest said rolls, and then extend gradually downward and curve inward at 40', 40 to meet the straight portions40 40 thereof, while the guides 41, 41 starting from points. outside of the ends 38, 38 of the guides 37 37 curve inward and upward at points 41, 41 beyond the curves 40, 40 of guides 40, 40 to meet the straight holding portions 41 41 At the ends of the straight portions 40 and 40 of the respective guides 40 and 41 is located the compression mechanism which comprises frames 42, 42 mounted on the frame members 10, 10 and having longitudinal members 43, 43 carrying spring pressed supports 44, 44 in bearings of which are mounted the presser rolls-45, 45 which bear against the belts 46, 46, when said belts are used, mounted on the rolls 47 and 48 s the shafts of which are journaled in bearings mounted on the members 43, 43 the shafts 49, 49 of the rolls 48, 48 having at their lower ends bevel gears 50, 50, Fig. 3, which are driven from similar gears 51, 51 on the shaft 52, journaled in bearings mounted on the standards 11', 11 and having the sprockets 53, 53 and 54 of which the latter .is driven bythe chain 55 from the sprocket 56 of any ordinary clutch member 57 mounted on the main shaft 32.

J ournaled in bearings of the frame mem bers 10, 10 near the standards 13, is. the shaft 58 having sprockets 59, .59 on which, and the sprockets 53, 53 of shaft 52, are mounted the carrying chains 60, 60 furnished with the pivoted arms 61, 61 suitably braced by the rods 62, 62 pivotally connected with said arms 61, 61 and with the chains 60, 60. The pairs of arms 61, 61 being connected by cross rods 63, 63 which also act as means for preventing the drawing together of said chains at the points unsupported by their.

sprockets.

\Vhen the main shaft 32 is driven, the glue rolls 18 are driven through their connect-lens with the sprocket 31 and the adhesive, preferably a solution of silicate of soda, in the receptacles 17, 17 is thus kept mixed and in condition for use while the container carrying means, comprising the chains 60, 60 and their arms 61', 61 is not necessarily driven.

clutch member with said shaft 32 chain 55 and sprocket 54 with shaft 52 and its connected mechanism is operated. 1 After the container (Z has been packed it end flaps a, a are turned inward against the goods as shown in Fig. 6 and its flaps b, b are then turned against said flaps a, a to hold said flaps a, a in the closed position while the flaps c, c extend outward in line with the top of the container. The operative, holding with his hands the flaps b, I) now places the container 03 crosswise on the supports 15, 15 and pushes said container between the plates 16, 16, the flaps c, 0 overlapping the upper edges of said plates 16, 16. When, now, a pair of the arms 61, 61 engage said container they carry it (the container) along in their movement with the chains 60, 60 until the flaps c, c are carried, between the pairs of rolls 18, 36 and receive adhesive. After the container (1 has been moved sufliciently beyond the receptacles 17 17 to permit the flaps b, b to be turned outward said flaps are engaged at t-heir upper forward corners by the curved portions 38, 38 of'the guides 37, 37 which enter between said flaps I), Z) and aya and, as the container (2 is moved along turns outwardthe flaps b, b sufiiciently as shown in Fig. 8 to permit the turning downward of'the flaps c, c b

the bends 40, 40 of the guides 40, 40 unt1l the under surfaces of said flaps c, 0 are closed against the flaps a, a, as shown in Fig. 9 and are secured theretoby the adhesive on said under surfaces of said flaps 0, a. At this time the turned outward flaps b, b are engaged by the upward and inward curves 41, 41' of the guides 41, 41 and are a 41 and enter between the belts 46, 46 where \Vhen the sprocket 56 is connected by its pressure is exerted on the ends of the cartons by the spring pressed rolls 45, .45 and, finally, the closed and sealed containers and delivered to the inclined way 65.

- It is of course evident that the mechanism fore, it is not my intention to limit my invention except as herein claimed.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. A container closing machine of the nature described comprising a runway, adhesive applying devices at both sides of said runway, and having means for applying adhesive to both sides of container flaps extending laterally above said runway, means for moving a container through said runway and organized means acting on flaps of said container after said container passes the adhesive applying means for progressively turning outward and inward certain of the container flaps and for folding inward said flaps having adhesive as an intermediate step in said folding operation, substantially as described.

2. A closing machine for a container having at both ends pairs of flaps, one adapted to overlap the other when closed, comprising organized means for carrying said container forward with the overlap flap of each pair closed, means for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the open flaps, means for turning outward said overlap flaps means for turning inward said flaps having adhesive, and means for turning inward said overlap flaps.

3. A closing machine for containers having at both ends two or more flaps adapted to overlap when closed, comprising means for ap lying adhesive to both sides of certain of said flaps, means for turning outward other of said flaps, means for turning inward and holding the first mentioned flaps,

means for turning inward and holding said second mentioned flaps, and means for moving said container while such pairs of flaps are independently held in closed position.

4. A closing machine for containers having at both ends two or more flaps adapted to overlap when closed comprising a runway of which the sides are formed by means for holding certain of said flaps in the closed position, organized means for applying adhesive to other of said flaps, for opening said first mentioned flaps, and for operating independently on said flaps in succession to close the same and hold them in the closed position, and means for carrying said containers through said runway.

RALPH S. CLARKE. Witnesses H. J. MILLER, H. H. MILLER.

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