USRE25852E - Case loader - Google Patents

Description

Sept 7, 1965 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAL Re 25,852

CASE LOADER l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 Y NN .QM mnu/MMM v, my pw w M R -1', E ATT w imp .wm M OHMS @WHW HEMA BWRJ a E vl B QQ 2 w: u: ww Q mm 93,21- /.m5 Q lm Lin Mh ..O /L Q mw E SePt- 7, 1965 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAI. Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS Sept 7, 1965 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAL Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 Sept 7, 1965 B. J. NlGRELLl ETAL Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 A T TOR/VFY Sept- 7, 1965 B. J. NlGRx-:LLI ETAI. Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 293 297 INVENTORS BMG/0 J. /v/GRELL/ WEA/DELL E. srA/voLEY maw/m0 a. w/rMA/wv JAMES w/rrMAA//v Sept. 7, 1965 B. J. NlGRELLl ETAL Re 25,852

CASE LOADER original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 12 sheets-sheet e dmv kv hm. WV L [il .QQ

INVENTORS B/A G/U d /V/GRELL/ um wm Sept- 7 1965 B. J. Nicam-:LLI ETAL Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 12 5heet5 5heet 7 INVENToR 5ms/0 /v/GRELL/ wE/VDELL E. srAA/DLEY @fc/MRD s. w/TrMA/v/v JAMES W/rrMA/v/v SePt- 7, 1965 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAL Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Arrow/Er Sept. 7, 1965 B. J. NlGRl-:LLI ETAL Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Feb. 29. 1960 INVENTORS B/AG/o J. /v/GRE/ L/ wE/voELL E. sA/vzJLEr R/cHARo e. w/rTMAA/N .JAMES w/rrMA/v/v 5y [d Arron/v51 Sept- 7, 1965 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAL Re- 25,852

CASE LOADER 12 Sheets-Sheet lO Original Filed Feb. 29, 1960 HlI- Elnl JNVENToR ,9ms/0 /v/GRELL/ WEA/DELL E. STA/umn mal-IARD a w/rrMA/v/v .JA/wss w/rrMA/v/v BY d- ATTORNEY 2 m 1H4 w. MM um @4 ma 2 um I 9 m Nw 1m v y@ G am .m I 1 m SEPL 7, 1965 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAL Re. 25,852

CASE LOADER 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed Feb. 29. 1960 iFIG. 20 67 Ffa'. 24

INVENTORS BIAS/0 J. /V/GHELL/ WEA/DELL E. .STXJ/VDLE)I RICHARD B. W/TTMN/V JAMES I. W/TTMA/V/l/ 268 F'Q-23 By d Arron/115V United States Patent O 25,852 CASE LOADER Biagio J. Nigrelli, Northbrook, Wendell E. Standley, Lake Forest, and Richard B. Wittmann and James I. Wittmann, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Johns-Nigrelli-Johrls, Inc., Skokie, lll., a corporation of Illinois Original No. 3,053,025, dated Sept. 11, 1962, Ser. N. 11,7 69, Feb. 29, 1960. Application for reissue Nov. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 333,780

28 Claims. (Cl. 53-159) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to mechanism for loading shipping cases, either in the `form of cases with closures or in the form of open trays, with a plurality of packages or articles, such packages or articles being loaded into the cases `in groups or layers.

An important object of the invention is to provide eicient and rapid mechanism for the transfer of groups of articles from an article conveyor to cases on a case conveyor while both the articles and cases are travelling on their conveyors in substantially straight lines and both convey-ors are in substantially constant operation.

An other object is to provide relatively simple and effective mechanism to enable two or more groups or layers of articles, coming from a line of conveyed articl-es, to be delivered successively into a plural layer case, either provided with closure aps or in the form of an open top tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and eicient case loading mechanism for handling magnetically permeable articles, such as packages of filled cans which can be employed to load either single layer or plural layer cases.

An additional object is to provide effectively operable guiding means for directing a group or layer of articles into cases, particularly cases made of corrugated or fibre board, in which the side walls of some of the cases to be loaded may be bowed inward or otherwise accidentally distorted `in such a way that unguided .article layers might come into contact with the upper edges of the walls with the result that cases would be damaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide efficient spacer or segregating mechanism for separating groups of articles on a conveyor during continuous operation, .and at the same time assuring that each separated group will contain the proper, predetermined number of articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a front flap `hold-down mechanism for cases with closure aps, such hold-down mechanism being contained in the restricted space between the poles ofthe magnets in the magnetic conveyor section.

A still further object of the invention is to provide mechanism adapted alternatively to load single layer or plural layer cases with a simple and easily effected rearrangement of conveying mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an effective system or arrangement for accurately timing the delivery of cases to the loading station with the conveying means for bringing the article groups into their loading position and, in the event of stoppage due to lack of cases or deficiency in the supply or articles to be loaded, subscquent resumption ofthe operation will be controlled so that accurate timing is maintained.

Additional and more sepecic objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Re. 25,852 Reissued Sept. 7, 1965 Frice In the drawings:

FIG.1 is .a side elevational view, somewhat schematic, showing the machine adjusted to load cases with two layers or articles;

FIG. la is a view similar to FIG. l, but with a number of parts omitted, and showing the machine adjusted to load single layer cases or trays;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational views which, taken together, are similar to FIG. l showing, respectively, the separator mechanism for separating groups of articles of a size to be loaded into a case; the first case loading station with guide means for guiding an article group into a case; and the stripper mechanism for completing loading the first or lower article layer into a two-layer case together with the second loading station with guide means for the second article layer;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the end of an article group as it is propelled along the under surfaces of the magnets and just bef-ore the top layer is released into the case;

FIG, 6 is a fragmentary plan View, partly in section, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 showing group separator mechanism and drive therefor, including clutch actuating means;

FIG. 6a is a fragmentary `plan view showing an article group just being released from the spacer and showing the preceeding group about to be engaged by the pusher means to carry the group along the magnetic conveyor;

FIG. 6b is a view in cross-section taken along line 6b 6b of FIG. 6a showing two can packages on the conveyor belts and supported by side and center guide bars;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3 to show the `positive case stop;

FIG. 8a is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section, taken along line 8-3 of FIG. l below the article conveyor to show means for adjusting the case conveyor to various heights;

FIG. 8b is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. l above the article conveyor to show the means for adjusting the magnet section up and down;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, `partly in section, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3, showing a case in initial loading position and an article group about to be advanced between the guides positioned over the case;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9, showing the arrangement by which the pivoted arm holding the article guiding means is depressed by the pusher rods for advancing the article groups;

FIG'. ll is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary detail plan view showing how the article in moving against the guide tends to swing it forwardly and outwardly, causing the guide, in its lowered position, to bear against the case side wall;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary .plan view taken partly in section along line 113-13 of FIG. 3 showing a case at rest at the first loading station;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the stripper mechanism in fully raised position;

FIG. l5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14, showing the stripper bars in a partially lowered position;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, top plan View, partly in section, taken along line 16-16 of FIG. l5, showing the stripper mechanism from above;

FIG. 17 is a partial, vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details of the discharge end of the front Hap hold-down mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 19-19 of FIG. 18, showing the cam guiding means for the hold-down ngers;

FIG. 20 is a partial, vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 20-20 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details of the rear end of the ap hold-down mechanism;

FIG. 21 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 21*2l of FIG. 20, showing the rear end of the cam guiding means;

FIG. 22 is a detail sectional view ofthe cam guide plate taken on line 22-22 of FIG. 2l;

FIG. 23 is a detail view, partly in section, taken on line 23-23 of FIG. 4, showing the rear flap depressing mechanism at the second loading station;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary detail view of the cam for the flap depressing mechanism, as viewed from the left side of FIG. 23 as it appears in the drawing; and

FIG. 25 is a schematic plan View showing actuating means for various parts with control switches therefor and a wiring diagram.

The mechanism of the present invention, as herein disclosed, is particularly applicable to the loading of rectangular cases with packages of cans. The can packages may vary in size and number of cans but in the present instance the packages are represented as containing six Cans in two rows of three, held in tubular cartons somewhat shorter than the can rows so that the end cans project outside the open ends. The packages, in effect, thus have rounded corners. As the invention is applicable to loading cases with other objects or articles `as well as packages the term articles will, for convenience, generally be employed in the description which follows.

The mechanism disclosed has a case loading station to which cases are delivered on a conveyor. The case is brought into position against a yieldable stop that holds the case while the conveyor continues its advancing movement. The stop is designed to hold the case while empty but may be displaced to allow the case to advance when greater force is exerted against the stop. The groups of articles are brought to the loading station on an overhead magnetic conveyor which is disposed at a small angular relationship to the case conveyor so that the article group rst enters the upper part of the case adjacent the leading wall. As soon as the leading face of the article group engages the inside of the case front wall the case is forced past the yieldable stop.

The article group is propelled by an endless chain member having pusher rods which transfer the groups from a feeding conveyor to the magnetic section. As the pusher rods propel the article group toward the waiting case, the article group moves in between a pair of vertically disposed guide plates held near the ends of pivoted arms. Mechanism timed with the advancing movement of the article group causes the arms to swing down to bring the lower ends of the guide plates inside the case along the side walls and thus assure smooth entrance of the article group into the case without likelihood of the bottom surface of the group contacting the upper edges of the side walls.

The articles are arranged in groups on a feeding conveyor having belts on which the articles are assembled in two rows in end-to-end abutted relation. The belts are operated at a constant speed to bring the articles to a spacer mechanism located intermediate the ends of the feeding conveyor. This spacer mechanism operates at a speed slower than the feeding conveyor. When the speed of the articles is retarded by the spacer, the belts slip beneath the articles without damage either to the articles or the belts. As each group is released from the spacer it is moved at the normal belt speed and thus advances faster than the group controlled by the spacer mechanism to create a space to admit one of the pusher rods which propel the groups to the cases.

In the loading of two-layer cases, after the rst article group has been inserted part way into the case, the guides which assisted the rst group to enter the upper part of the case are raised to clear the rear wall and the pusher rods, still engaging the articles, move the case to a conveyor section where a rapid acting stripper mechanism applies sudden downward pressure on the article group to detach the group from the magnets and force the articles uniformly into the case. The case, now containing its lower layer, is carried to the second loading station just ahead of the succeeding article group. At this loading station the case is stopped for a short interval and held at an inclination to the magnetic conveyor on a section of anti-friction rolls until the succeeding group enters the top portion of the case and again causes the case to advance by forward pressure of the leading edge of the group against the front wall. The second loading station has guide elements similar to the guides at the rst loading station to facilitate entry of the article group. As the case then advances, with the article group partly inserted into the case and still held suspended by the magnetic conveyor, it arrives at the discharge end of the loading mechanism. When the case passes the last magnet unit the articles are allowed to drop into the case which then, having received its full load, is conducted to the next treatment or handling station on the independent conveying means.

When the machine is to be employed to load single layer cases, the case conveyor is suitably adjusted into a higher position, so that when the leading wall ofthe case is against the yieldable stops the case will be in proper position for entry ofthe article group. An auxiliary conveyor section is arranged to extend from the discharge end of the rst conveyor section at a downward inclination to the discharge end of the machine thus bridging over the second loading station. The stripper mechanism will be rendered inactive and current will be disconnected from all the magnet units beyond the end ofthe first conveyor section. Thus, as the articles pass the last energized magnet unit, they will be allowed to drop into the case which then moves onto the auxiliary, downwardly inclined conveyor section and from this section onto the independent conveying means referred to above.

For cases having closure flaps on four sides, the trailing flap, extending rearward, is allowed to travel freely and the side aps are plowed down by cam rails to keep them relatively close to the case side walls. The ap on the leading wall is held approximately in the plane of the top edges of the walls by a hold-down nger on a chain located between the poles of the magnets and passing over sprockets located at opposite ends `of the magnetic conveyor. This hold-down finger has a portion which is guided between cam rails so that, on rearward travel of the hold-down linger, it will be retracted substantially within the contour described by travel of the chain and thus will remain clear of the upper portions of the magnets or other structure. The trailing closure flap for twolayer cases arriving at the second loading station is moved down if in position extending above the level of the case wall so that movement of the article group destined as the top layer will not be impeded by such trailing Hap,

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and la of the drawings, the mechanism is supported on a plurality of vertical, transverse and longitudinal frame members designated at 10, 10, 1l, 11 and 12, 12. On these frame members there are suitably supported a feeding conveyor 13 combined with a spacer mechanism indicated as a whole at 14. The feeding conveyor is arranged to deliver groups of can packages 1S, for convenience referred to as articles, to an overhead magnetic conveyor, indicated as a whole at 16, comprising a group of magnets 17 and a chain conveyor 18 having pusher rods 19 to move the article groups along on the downwardly facing poles of the magnets.

A case conveyor 22 is suitably supported on the frame structure below the article conveyor and is adapted to deliver open top cases, either single or double layer, and with or without hinged top ilaps, to a loading station where the case will be held temporarily to receive the article group. Cases for two layers are indicated at 23 and cases for single layers are indicated at 24.

The article group is conveyed between guide elements, indicated as a whole at 25 which facilitate partial entry of the group into a case. The magnetic conveyor, propelling both the articles and the case, serves to carry the articles beneath a stripper mechanism, indicated as a whole at 26, which is designed to push the first group forcibly down into a case. This stripper mechanism is intended primarily for two-layer cases.

An additional loading station is located beyond the stripper and includes guide mechanism indicated at 27, which may be similar to the guide mechanism 25, for facilitating entry of the top layer into a two-layer case.

Located in the space between the magnet poles is a travelling flap hold-down mechanism, indicated as a whole at 28, arranged to hold the leading ap on cases provided with closures so that the forward edge of the flap will be kept from contact with the gripping surfaces of the magnets or other parts as the cases are advanced.

At the rear end of the second loading station a mechanism indicated at 29 serves to swing down any upwardly extending trailing wall flap so that such flap will not interfere with the oncoming article group.

The packages for which the present mechanism is particularly designed comprise six cans in two rows of three cans each, held in an open end paperboard carton of a length such that the end cans of each row project partially ont from the ends of the carton. The cartons are lled by loading mechanism, not shown, and are conveyed along two adjacent paths whereby the packages or articles may conveniently be arranged in groups of four.

FEEDING CONVEYOR AND ARTICLE SEPARATOR The feeding conveyor 13 as herein shown comprises a pair of endless belts 32, 32 passing over rear and front rollers 33 and 34 mounted on shafts journalled in side frame members 35, 35. Side guide bars 36, 36 and center guide bar 37 serve to keep the articles in line. The belts are preferably driven by a motor 38 mounted on the conveyor frame and connected by a chain and sprocket drive with a shaft 39, journalled in the frame members and carrying pulleys 39a, 39a forming part of a belt tightener mechanism 40. The front belt rollers 34 are preferably of reduced diameter in the interests of compactncss of arrangement. The upper reach of each belt 32 is preferably [supported] supported on a plurality 0f freely rotatable rollers 41, 41 journalled in the side frame members. The belts are preferably of a construction or texture permitting them to slip beneath the articles carried thereon without damage either to the belts or the articles. As will presently be brought out, the flow of articles to the loading station may be stopped at times due to lack of cases on the case conveyor or to a deciency in the supply of articles. In such case the belts 32 will continue operating while the articles supported thereon are prevented from advancing.

The article spacer 14 is located near the discharge end of the feeding conveyor and is arranged to engage the abutted rows of articles on the feeding conveyor and retard the movement of the rows so they will move at a speed somewhat less than the normal speed of the belts 32. Thus, a group of articles released by the spacer near the discharge end -of the belts will be speeded up and will draw away from the next succeeding group engaged by the spacer. As shown in FIGS. 'Z and 6, the spacer comprises two identical sets of driven chains 44, 45, one set being located at each side of the feeding conveyor. The chains 44 and 45 are carried on upper and lower sprockets 46, 46 and 47, 47, secured on vertical shafts 48, 48a and 49, 49a. These shafts are journalled intermediate their ends in bearings 51 and 52, which are carried on frame pieces 53 and 54, located on opposite sides of the conveyor and supported on the conveyor frame. The chains 44 and 45 carry vertically extending, article engaging rods 55, 55 attached at opposite ends to the upper and lower chains. In the present instance there are three vertical rods on each set of chains, spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the article groups being separated. Advantage is taken of the shapes of the articles or packages which, due to the projecting end cans, cause the packages to have rounded vertical corners. The vertical spacing rods are adapted to enter partially in the space between the corners of the adjacent packages and thus suflicient contact is provided to prevent the package or article group from passing out of contact with the rods until such rods begin to move outward around the leading end sprockets 46 and 47.

The spacer mechanism, as above indicated, is adapted to be driven at a linear speed somewhat less than the linear speed of the feeding conveyor belts and the drive is controlled so that it may be stopped automatically in the event of a lack of a sufficient articles on the feeding conveyor or lack of a sufficient supply of eases on the case conveyor. Each frame piece 53 and 54 supports an upright channel frame member 56 and S7 to which are secured gear boxes 61 and 62 in which the end portions of a horizontal shaft S8 are journalled. At one end shaft 58 carries a bevel gear 59 meshing with a similar bevel gear on vertical shaft 48. The shaft 58 also carries near its other end, within the gear box 62, a bevel gear 60 meshing with a similar gear on vertical shaft 49. A sprocket 63 is fixed on the end of shaft 58 adjacent gear box 62. This sprocket is driven by a sprocket chain 64 which in turn passes over a sprocket 65 arranged to turn freely on a shaft 66 journalled in longitudinal frame plates 67, 67. During operation of the loading mechanism shaft 66 will be in constant operation, driven by gearing which will be described below.

The sprocket 65 is mounted to rotate with a clutch part 70 maintained in constant rotating relation with a second clutch part 71, slidable on the shaft 66 and adapted to turn freely thereon. The part 71 is kept in rotating relation with part 70 by a rib and slot connection. A third clutch part 72 is keyed to the shaft 66 and has a slot into which a rib on part 71 is adapted to be received when the part 71 is moved toward the part 72. By sliding part 71 one way of the other while shaft 66 is rotating, the clutch may be engaged or disengaged to drive the chain and sprocket or allow it to remain at rest.

Power means is provided for engaging and disengaging the clutch to control operation of the chain and sprocket drive for the article spacer 14. This comprises a cylinder and piston mechanism operable by compressed air. The cylinder 76 has its closed end pivoted on a bracket 77 on the machine frame and the piston rod 79 has its outer end connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 80 the other arm of which comprises a yoke 81 having pins received into an annular groove 82 in the clutch element 71. Admission of compressed air into the cylinder on the appropriate sides of piston 83 will engage and disengage the clutch, to start and stop the spacer mechanism. The valve means for actuation of the piston and contro-1 of such valve will be explained later.

MAGNETIC CONVEYOR In the normal operation of the feeding conveyor there will be a constant supply of articles in each row. The articles will be in abutted relation and will be advancing at the speed of the spacer mechanism as the feeding conveyor urges the abutted rows against the article engaging rods 55 of the spacer. As soon as the forward spacer rods begin to move around their sprockets the group between the spacer chains begins to advance at the speed of the feeding conveyor belts and, by the time the trailing edge of the released group reaches the end of the belts, there will be a space created sufficient to receive one of the pusher rods 19 on the chain conveyor 18. This chain conveyor comprises a pair of spaced sprocket chains passing over rear sprockets 86, 86 and forward sprockets 87, 87 carried on shafts 88 and 89 respectively, journalled in bearings carried in longitudinal frame members 67, 67 supported on the main frame. The return portions of the chains 18, 18 pass over elevated supporting sprockets 90, 90 carried on a longitudinal frame piece 12a. The advancing portion of the chain conveyor 18 carries the pusher rods on a level somewhat above the level of the discharge end of the feeding conveyor so that the rods will come into contact with the article group between its upper and lower surfaces.

As the article groups leave the feeding conveyor, propelled by the pusher rods, the groups first move along a dead plate 91 aligned with the conveyor and secured on a frame section 92 which is aligned with the frame 35 of the feeding conveyor. Before the articles leave the dead plate they become engaged by the first unit of a series of electromagnets 17, 17 secured in position on the frame members 67. The entire article group is then transferred progressively from the dead plate to the downwardly directed faces of the magnets.

For can packages of paperboard having central, upstanding handle panels, means are provided for folding the handles over to lie hat on the top wall of the carton. For this purpose two folding plows 94, 94 are secured to the frame members in position to engage the handles of the two rows of advancing packages and progressively fold such handles over as the packages advance along the dead plate. The rear ends of the plows are pivoted at 95 and the forward ends are held down yieldingly by springs indicated at 96, 96.

CASE CONVEYOR AND FIRST LOADING STATION The mechanism herein disclosed is adapted to load two-layer or single-layer cases with closure flaps as well as two-layer or single-layer open top trays. The loading of two-layer cases will he described first. The case conveyor 22 may be of any convenient length and is located beneath the article conveyor.

As shown in FIGS. l and 3, the case conveyor comprises a movable frame section 98 having side members 99, 99, to guide the cases. At opposite ends of the frame 98 are rollers 100 and 101 over which extends an endless belt 102. The roller 101 is carried on a shaft 103 (see FIGS. 3 and 7) which serves as a pivotal axis for a companion conveyor section 104 which is hingedly connected with the [seection] section 98. The [seection] section 104 has side frame members 105, 105 and belts 106, 106 passing over rollers 107, 107 on shaft 103 on opposite sides of the roller 101. At the forward end of the conveyor section 104 is a shaft 108 carrying a roller 109 over which run the belts 106, 106.

The shaft 103 is driven by a motor 110 supported on the conveyor frame members 98. A sprocket 112 on the motor shaft has a chain 113 passing thereover which extends in turn over a sprocket 114 on shaft 103. See FIGS. 3 and 8a.

The conveyor section 104 is capable of swinging vertically with respect to section 98 about shaft 103. The right hand end of the section 104, as viewed in FIG. 3, is free to swing down. This is advantageous in the event a case should become jammed and facilitates its easy removal. This section 104 is preferably counterweighted by weights 18 supported on the rearwardly extending bars 111. A rod 115 is secured on the frame 105 of conveyor 104 and has laterally projecting end portions which extend beneath suitable retaining members 116 adjustably supported at 117 on horizontal frame member 12.

Means are also provided for raising and lowcring the conveyor section bodily. For this purpose the ends of shaft 103 are journalled in movable bearings 123 each having a threaded tubular portion 124 to receive a threaded, vertically extending rod 125 rotatable in upper and lower bearings 126 and 127. Worm wheels 128, 128 are keyed to the lower portions of the rods 125, and mesh with worm gears 129, 129 lixed on a horizontally extending shaft 130 formed with a square end arranged to be rotated by a suitable crank. Rotation of the shaft turns both worm wheels thus raising the bearings 124, 124 to adjust the connected ends of conveyor sections 98 and 104 to desired heights.

When the mechanism is to be utilized to load two-layer cases the conveyor sections 98 and 104 are preferably arranged approximately in alignment and upwardly inclined as shown in FIGS. l and 3. The height of adjustment of the conveyor section 104 will be determined by the height of cases to be loaded. As illustrated, a twolayer case will be held on conveyor section 104 at such height that the leading face of an advancing article group will enter the leading portion of the case and move against its front wall. In so doing, the case is advanced and the article group is inserted into the upper portion of the case.

The belts of conveyor sections 98 and 104 are preferably operated constantly while the mechanism is in use, and such belts are designed to slip beneath cases temporarily held stationary without damage either to cases or the belts.

The case ready to receive its load at the loading station is preferably held yieldably until an article group is introduced. For this purpose there are provided on the forward ends of the frame pieces 92, 92 a pair of fingers 135, (see FIGS. 3 and 13) pivoted at 136, 136 and having their free ends extending horizontally inward into the path of the ease. Coil springs 137, 137 each have one end connected to a linger and their other ends secured to a bracket on the frame piece 92. A rearwardly extending piece 138 on each Enger is arranged to abut against an adjustable stop 139 to limit the rearward movement of the finger. The empty case, moving forward against the stop lingers, will come to rest as the strength of the coil springs is suiiicient to hold the case with the belts continuing to travel thereunder. The fingers can be displaced to allow the case to pass when the group of articles has moved partially into the case to bear forcefully against the leading case wall. After a case has been carried past the yieldable stops they return to their original position ready to stop the next empty case.

Means are provided for releasing cases one at a time for movement to the loading station. For this purpose a positive stop element 140 (see FIGS. l and 7) is located a short distance to the rear of the loading station. A bracket 141 extending outwardly of the conveyor has a piston and cylinder mechanism 142 secured thereon, the stop 140 is carried on the end of piston rod 143 and is in the form of a narrow finger or block having a slot to receive a stationary pin 144 to restrict and guide the movement of the stop element. The case guide bar at the side of the conveyor opposite the stop is ared outward at 145 to allow a case to be pushed laterally to assume an angle with respect to the line of travel, and the guide bar on thc side of the stop is interrupted for a short distance and has a small flare at 146 to assist in guiding a released case in its advance on the conveyor. The stop is controlled in time with the article conveyor' to release a case by retraction of the stop. As the conveyor belts are continuously operating, as soon as the stop is retracted the case will advance. Before the case advances beyond the stop, the latter is again moved forward against the side of thc released case. This moves the case at an angle as shown in FIG. 7 and the stop is thus in position to hold the next case while the released case, moved at an angle, continues to move past the stop, being brought back into the proper path by the guide bars. This case then moves on to the loading station where it comes to rest against the yieldable stops and stays there until an article group is inserted which will then move the case past the yieldable stops. For simplicity of illustration, FIG. 7 shows the use of the stop 140 with cases or trays without cover flaps. These eases will of course come into end-to-end contact, whereas cases with front and rear aps will be separated a distance at least equal to a flap length as shown in FIGS. l and 3. In some instances the flaps on adjacent cases may be in edge-wedge contact.

ARTICLE LOADING GUIDES The article groups, propelled by the pusher rods, pass along the dead plate 91, and just before leaving the plate, the articles are engaged by the first magnet unit 17 and will be moved along the magnets to the loading station. As each article group is being inserted into the top of the case at the loading station, the group will first move in between the guide elements which have entered the case well inside the side walls. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the guiding mechanism, indicated as a whole at 25, comprises a pair of downwardly and laterally movable plate elements 149, 149 located in a position intermediate the ends of the case held at the loading station. For the purpose of enabling the plates 149 to be lowered they are preferably mounted on a swingable frame comprising arms 150, 150, pivoted `at 151 on side frame rails 152, 152, suspended from frame plates 67, 67 on brackets 153, 153, `see FIGS. 4, 5 and 14. The arms may swing down a limited distance guided within the U-shaped brackets 154, 154 secured on rails 152, 152, see FIG. ll. Each of the arms is spring loaded to move upward by means of a coil spring 155 which, at its lower end is secured to the arm through a bracket 156. This spring 155 is secured at its upper end to a bracket 157 attached to side frame member 67.

Each plate element 149 is pivotally supported on its arm 150 by equi- length links 160, 160 pivoted to the arm and to the rear face of the plate to provide a parallelogram .arrangement whereby the plates remain in parallelism with the arms and consequently with the case side walls. The links are limited in their rearward swinging movement by a stop block 161 on the arm 150 against which the forward link may bear. A spring 162 secured at one end to the arm 150 and at its other end to the forward link, urges the link against the stop 161 and holds the plate 149 in its farthest inward position. The rear portions of the plates are flared outward at 149a to facilitate entry of the article group between the plates.

Downward movement of the guide plates is timed with the advance of the article gro-up so that just before the group enters between the flared ends of the plates they will be moved down with their lower edge portions below the top edges of the side walls of a case at the loading station. For this purpose an elongated cam plate 163 is bolted to each arm 150, preferably on the inside surface of the arm see FIGS. 3, 9 and l0. From its rear to front ends the cam plate slopes upward away from the arms 150. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the cam plate is arranged to be contacted and depressed by the ends of the pusher rods 19 on the conveyor chains 1S. The same pusher rod that propels the article group will engage the earns 163 and cause the guide plates to dip into the waiting case.

The conveyor chains ride along the upper edges of the rails 152, and extended spindles 164 on the pusher rods 19 are connected to the links of the chain. In order to prevent the pusher rods from being displaced upward by the cams 163, hold-down plates 165, 165 are secured on the side frame plates 67 above the earns. Thus, before the pusher rods contact the cams they pass beneath the plates 165, see FIG. 3, and hold the rods from upward movement. The plates 165 and cams 163 are preferably secured for easy adjustment forwardly or rearwardly on their supporting members.

As the pusher rods pass beyond the forward ends of the cams 163, the springs 155 on the arms 150 pull the arms back to raised position, thus lifting the guide plates so that the trailing wall of the case will move past the plates without hindrance. This manner of mounting the plates, so that they will move into the cases spaced well away from the inside `surfaces. of the side walls, has the advantage that the guide plates will enter the cases without interference even though the side walls might be inwardly warped or distorted. The plates will stay in lowered position as the leading edge of the article group reaches the flared portions of the plates. The article group in moving against these portions causes outward and forward movement of the plates, thus tending to make the plates press outward upon the side walls of the case as the article group advances and begins to enter the case due to its inclination relative to the path of movement of the article group.

When the group engages the case front wall the case will be propelled forward to displace the yieldable stops and immediately after the case begins to move past the stops, the guide plates are lifted from the case. Further movement of the ease to the end of the conveyor section 104 causes the article group to continue to move the case while the group is still held on the under surfaces of the magnets.

The succeeding article group propelled by the next pusher rod 19 will follow the case with the preceding group partially inserted therein. Such succeeding group will move in between the guide plates with comparative ease since the plates will merely swing forward and laterally to allow the group to slip past.

The positive case stop 140 will be controlled as will later be explained to control the release of a case for every two article groups passing the loading station.

STRIPPER MECHANISM As the case leaves the conveyor section 104 it is delivered to another conveyor section 170, a part of which is driven and the remainder has an anti-friction supporting surface. This conveyor section has side frame members 171 supported on the base frame. At the receiving end of the conveyor 170 there is journalled a shaft 172 carrying a belt roller 173 over which runs a belt 174. Near its receiving end the belt extends approximately horizontally and passes over suitable supporting means, such as the plate indicated at 175. At the forward edge of the support the belt passes over an idler roller 176 and thence extends at a downward inclination to roller 177, carried on a driven shaft 178 which is journalled intermediate the ends of the frame members 171. The lower run of the belt passes over tightener rolls 179 and 186 which may be mounted in any convenient manner. The remaining portion of the conveyor 170 and the drive for the belt 174 will be described below.

It is to be noted that the case, which has received an article group as it travels on conveyor section 104 at a small angle to the line of travel of the article groups, will begin to travel approximately parallel with the article path as soon as it reaches conveyor section 170. At this point it is desirable to release the article group from the magnetic conveyor and cause the articles to drop to the bottom of the case. While this could be accomplished by deenergizing the electromagnets, it is preferred to force or strip the article group en masse from the magnets. By so doing, the movement of all the articles in the group is accurately controlled and the likelihood of one article lagging behind the others of the group or falling in such :a manner as to drag unevenly against the container side wall and jam in falling, is eliminated or greatly minimized.

As best shown in FIGS. 4, i4 and l5, the stripper member comprises a pair of thin, rigid hars of stainless steel or other non-magentic material, indicated at 183, 183,

which are arranged to be received in cutaway portions 181, 181 in rails 182 secured on the pole faces of the magnets so that the exposed faces of the stripper bars 183 lie llush with the rails 182 thus allowing the articles group to slide freely under the stripper bars. The bars 183 are formed with lugs 184, 184 to which the lower ends of links 185 are individually hinged. The upper ends of the links are hinged to a vertically movable member 186 having apertured bosses slideable on vertical guide rods 187, 187 having their base portions secured to a plate 188 connected with the longitudinal frame plates 67, 67. The plate 188 is formed with slots to accommodate the links, enabling them to swing forward as the stripper bar advances a short distance as the articles are pushed down. The links are located so that they may operate in the space between the magnet coils as shown in FIG. l5. The rearward links have an upper extension 185a to which one end of a coil spring 189 is attached, having its other end secured to a bracket 190 xed to the plate 186. The

links are thus urged to swing rearwardly or to the left,

as viewed in FIG. l5. to assume normally a vertical position. In the use of the mechanism to handle narrower packages, those, for example, holding a single row of cans, and conveying four narrow packages abreast, an additional stripper bar 183a with similar links 185a will be employed. The middle bar 183a will thus strip the two middle rows of articles. A piston and cylinder unit is employed to move the stripper links down. The cylinder 193 is pivoted at 194 on a frame piece carried by the side plates 67 and has a piston 195 and a piston 1 rod 196. The piston rod is connected to one arm 197 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 198, and the other arm 199 has a yoke engaging the ends of a pin on a lug carried on the underside of the vertically movable member 186.

By admitting compressed air behind the piston the bell crank lever may be rocked to force the links 185 down, thus causing the stripper bars to displace articles as they are moved along beneath such bars. The action of the piston is such that the article group is forced down at a speed in excess of that produced by gravity. The articles are thus under full control of the stripper bars during their downward movement and, as the articles move down and forward, the stripper bars will swing forward against the tension of the springs 189. The control means for the piston acts to return the links rapidly to their raised position and, while the links are moving upward, they will swing rearward and the stripper bars will come to rest in their normal position against the rail 182 on the pole faces. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a trip switch 202 may be employed for actuating the stripper when the case advances and contacts the switch. When the switch is tripped by the case, compressed air is admitted behind the piston through a four-way, double solenoid, momentary contact valve, designed to admit air until the piston has moved a predetermined distance and then immediately reverse to admit air in front of the piston to bring the parts quickly back to original position. It is to be noted that the stripper is empolyed to load only the first, or lower, layer and accordingly the stripper is controlled, as will be explained below, to aet upon every other article group.

SECOND LOADING STATION The two-layer case, having received its rst layer as it passes beneath the stripper, then moves on past roller 176 to the downwardly inclined part of the conveyor belt 174. The second article group continues to follow, spaced from the rear of the case. The conveyor belt moves the half tlled case onto the anti-friction portion of the conveyor section 170 where it comes to rest briefly. The portion of the conveyor indicated as a whole at 203 has a rst part 204 formed with a number of narrow rollers arranged in staggered relation on closely spaced roller shafts to provide a relatively even surface for the forward edge of the case as it moves olf the bell 174. This part extends for approximately a case length. The remaining part of the conveyor indicated at 205 may have more widely spaced rollers.

As the case moves onto the upwardly inclined antifriction conveyor part 204 it will come to rest with the trailing lower edge engaging the belt 174 which will continue to slip easily past such case, allowing it to remain motionless. The case now is in position to admit the second article group into its upper portion. For this purpose article group guide mechanism 27 is employed, similar to the guide mechanism 25 except that the cams 206 on the supporting arms 207 will be engaged by the end of every alternate pusher rod 19. For this purpose cach alternate rod 19 has its ends extending laterally a small distance beyond the other rods and only the ends of the longer rods engage the cams 206. These cams are spaced a small distance farther from the center line of. the machine than the earns 163.

The ease will remain in stationary position only a short interval. The next following article group will then be inserted into the upper portion of the case and will cause the case to advance by contact with the leading wall simi lar to the operation at the first loading station. In the operation of. the second loading station, however, no stripper is required. The pusher bar will propel the arti cle group to the end of the series of magnets and, as the articles pass the last magnet, they drop into the case. By the time the second pair of articles of a group of four passes beyond the influence of the last magnet, the case will reach a position near the end of the forward part 203 of the antifriction conveyor section and the momentum of the case `will cause it to move beyond the upwardly inclined end portion of the conveyor and onto thc takeaway conveyor 208. As the top of the case at no time will be in the path of the pusher rods, such rods will of Course pass without interference around the sprocket 87 to the return portion ofthe conveyor.

An eccentrically mounted supporting element 209 is located at this discharge end of the anti-friction section whereby this section may be easily lowered to assist in clearing any jammed eases at this point. The element 209 is also useful in adapting the mechanism for handling single layer cases as will later be explained.

CASE FLAP GUIDES AND HOLD-DOWN MEANS Cases which have closure flaps will be delivered onto the case conveyor 22 with front, rear and side flaps spread outward approximately on a plane with the edges of the case walls. This may be done manually or by means forming no part of this invention. As the cases travel along conveyor 22 the flaps are held extended by a `holddown plate 212 supported by rods carried on frame member 12. The plate extends beyond the sides of the cases so that the side tiaps will be held down as well as the front and rear flaps.

As the cases advance beyond the end of the hold-down plate 212, which. terminates near the discharge end of belts 32 of the conveyor 13, the front and rear flaps are free to contact the dead plate 91 on which the articles move after leaving the conveyor belts. The rear flap presents no problem in this portion of the ease travel as it will be kept rearwardly extended because there is not sufficient head room for it to swing up more than a small distance. The side flaps are engaged by rods 213, 213 extending about in line with the plate 212 for a short distance and then are bent inward toward the ease side walls and downward to cause the side flaps to swing close to their attached walls. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and I4 the plow rods 213 are carried by short, vertically extending rods 214, 214, welded at one end to the plow rods and at their upper ends connected to the frame piece 92 for a portion of the extent of the plow rods and for the remainder of their extent they are connected to the rails 152 which support the lower run of conveyor chain 18. The rods 213 are brought close to the paths of the ease walls beneath the article group guide mechanism 25 so that the flaps will assume positions close to their attached walls and thereby permit the walls as well as the flaps to flex somewhat when the guide plates 149 are pressed against the inner surfaces of the walls. The plow rods at their forward ends are terminated adjacent the second article guide mechanism 27.

As the forwardly projecting edges of the leading fiaps tend to swing up when freed from the plate 212 and might contact the magnet rail or other parts and cause jamming, or cause the flaps to swing rearwardly, these flaps are held down until the cases arrive at the end of the magnetic conveyor. For this purpose the hold-down mechanism 28 is employed which comprises an endless chain 215 carrying a plurality of hold-down fingers 216. The chains pass around sprockets 217 and 218 located near the rear and forward ends of the magnetic conveyor. The rear sprocket 217 is fixed on the end of a short shaft 219 journalled in a bearing in side frame plate 67 and carries at its outer end a gear 220 meshing with a gear 221 on a shaft 222 extending between the plates 67 and rotatable in journals in such plates. The forward sprocket 218 is likewise secured to a short shaft, indicated at 225, journalled in one of the plates 67 and having a gear 226 fixed thereon outside the plate 67. The gear 226 meshes with a gear 227 fixed on a shaft 228 extending between the plates 67 and journalled in such plates.

The hold-down fingers 216 are preferably fiexible and comprise, in the present instance, coil springs secured on pins carried on short, laterally extending plates 229, each having an apertured boss 230 into which an extended conveyor chain link p-in 231 is rotatably received. In order to guide the hold-down fingers, a short, radial arm 232 is welded to the boss 230 and the end of this arm carries a cam roller 233. The cam rollers travel in a slot-like opening 234 provided in an elongated cam member 235 during the forward movement of the fingers and in slotlike opening 236 during their rearward movement. For convenience, these openings will be referred to as slots. The length of the arm 232 and the distance between the positions of the chain 215 and opening 234 is such that, when the hold-down fingers are advancing, the fingers will be held approximately vertical as shown in FIG. 21. On the return movement the fingers are held approximately horizontal to keep them out of contact with the parts above the chain 215. This provides a compact construction in the limited space within the confines of the magnet poles and also enables relatively large sprocket wheels to be utilized.

The separate parts of cam member 235 are bolted to blocks 237 secured to one of the side frame plates 67, as shown in FIG. 22.

In order to transfer the cam roller from the lower slot 234 to the upper slot 236 and assure that the fingers will assume the position shown in FIG. 19, a rotatable cam roller control disk 239 is arranged in parallelism with the rear face of the cam member 235. This rotary cam disk is fixed on the end of a short shaft 240 aligned with shaft 225 and journalled in a bearing in the opposite frame plate 67 from the one which supports the shaft 225. The shaft 240 is driven at a speed one-half that of the shaft 225 through a gear wheel 241 fixed on shaft 240 and meshing with a gear 242 on shaft 228. As shown in FIG. 19, the earn member 235 has a curved passageway or slot 243 connecting slots 234 and 236, and the rotary disk 239 has a set of grooves cut in its face into which the outer end of the cam roller is adapted to enter. As shown in FIG. 18, the roller projects through the cam member 235 far enough s that its end may travel in the grooves of disk 239. The configuration of these grooves is obtained by plotting and may be described as in the form of two symmetrical curved sections 244 and 244a which join with a straight, radially extending section 245 in generally a Y-shape. The rotation of the disk is timed so that the mouth of groove section 244 will be in registry with the slot 234 as the cam roller reaches the edge of the disk. The roller then moves both in the slot and in the groove as the disk rotates. When the roller reaches the junction of the curved and straight sections it will move some distance outward along the straight section and then will reverse and move inward and thence along the other curved section 24421. The disk in its movement, causes the roller 233 to move at a continuous rate around the curved slot portion 243 and then into the horizontal section 236. As the mouth of groove 244:1 comes into registry with the slot section 236 the roller leaves groove 24421 and continues in such slot section 236. Continued rotation of the disk will bring the mouth of groove 244 again into registry with the lower slot [244] 234 in time to receive the cam roller of the next hold-down finger. The cam disk serves as a positive means for assuring that the cam roller will continue its movement around the slot 243 and enter the horizontal slot 236 in an advanced position with respect to the hold-down finger, as shown in FIG. 19. Without cam disk 239, or other means equivalent thereto, the cam roller 233 would assume a trailing position and the hold-down finger would continue to extend at right angles to its path rather than parallel with such path as shown.

At the rear end of the travel of the hold-down fingers positive means are provided for swinging the hold-down finger arms 232 forward so that the fingers will assume positions at right angles to the travel of the chain 215, as shown in FIG. 21. For this purpose a rotatable camroller control disk 249, arranged in close relation to the elongated cam member 235, is fixed on a short shaft 250 aligned with shaft 219 and journalled in a bearing in the opposite frame plate from the one which supports the shaft 219. The shaft 250 is driven at a speed which is one-half that of the shaft 219 through a gear wheel 251 fixed on a shaft 250 and a meshing gear wheel 252 fixed on a shaft 222. The cam member 235 has an oval shaped slot 253 connecting slots 236 and 234, and the rotary disk 249 has a set of grooves cut in its face to receive the outer ends of the cam rollers 233. These grooves comprise two curved grooves 254a and 254b, which merge into a straight, radially extending groove section 254e. The grooves are arranged in V-shape and are symmetrical with the axis of the disk. Their particular configuration, as shown in FIG. 2l, is obtained by plotting.

As the disk is rotated to bring the mouth of the gr-oove 254a into register with the upper slot 236, thc end of the cam roller which has been travelling along the slot 236 will enter the groove and, as the disk continues to rotate with the cam roller held both in the grooves and in the oval slot portion 253, the cam roller will move outward of the disk into the radially extending section 254e, then reverses and moves inward of Stich portion and thence along the other curved section 254i).

The disk 249 in its movement causes the roller 233 to move around the oval slot and then into the lower horizontal section 234. As the groove 254b comes into reistry with the slot 234 the roller leaves the groove and continues along the slot. Continued rotation of the disk will bring the mouth of groove 25421 again into registry with the upper slot 236 in time to receive the cam roller of the next hold-down finger. During the course of the travel of the cam roller within the grooves of disc 249, the roller, which had previously been caused to advance with respect to the hold-down finger, now retarded, that is, the roller will travel to the rear of its hold-down finger, and the finger is thereby caused to assume a position at right angles to its line of travel.

Since the linear speed of the finger, as it moves along the lower slot 234, is the same as the speed of the pusher rods 19, and as the timing is such that the finger will engage a forwardly extending flap on a case as it begins to move away from the first loading station, it is clear that the finger will hold the flap in forwardly extended position in its travel along the magnetic conveyor until it reaches a point near the end of the conveyor where the case must pause at the `second loading station to receive its top layer of articles. After the case stops, the holddown finger slips off the extended ap and shortly thereafter moves up and around on the return portion of the linger conveying chain.

TRA ILING FLAP HOLD-DOWN MEANS In filling cases having closure flaps with its second article group or layer, it is important to hold the trailing flap down so that, when the case comes to a stop at the second loading station, the oncoming article group, destined for the top layer of the case, will not strike this flap. It is preferred to have positive means for engaging the trailing [lap and moving it down at the moment the case reaches its position at the second loading station. For this purpose a flap engaging rod, illustrated in FIGS. 4. 23 and 24, is pivotally mounted at the side of the path of travel of the case. The rod is designated at 255 and has a free end portion which ycan extend a sufficient distance to contact the flap. The rod 255 has a square portion 256 which is ipivoted on a horizon-tal pin 257, extending through this portion with the ends of the pin carried in a yoke element 258 so that the rod may pivot in a vertical plane. The yoke 258 is carried on the upper end of an oscillating shaft 259 held in upper and lower bracket arms 260 and 261 secured on an upright frame piece 262 secured on the base frame.

The square portion 256 carries at its free end a cam roller 263 adapted to move along the variable cam surfaces on cam element 264 which has a curvature conforming to the arcuate path through which the roller travels about the axis of the vertical shaft 259. On one portion 2642i of the cam, the roller 263, when travelling thereon, holds the rod 255 in an approximately horizontal path. The initial iposition of the rod is forwardly directed and out of the path of the advancing case. Rotation of the yoke clement will bring the roller 263 onto the upwardly inclined carn surface 264b which will cause the free end of rod 25S `to move down as it swings rearwardly. The mounting of the rod is such that it will engage the trailing wall apwhile moving generally in a horizontal plane. The contact with the flap will be along a line spaced somewhat above the flap hinge to minimize the leverage needed to swing the Hap and assure its free swinging movement.

The mechanism for swinging `the shaft 259 comprises a cylinder 266 having a piston 270 and a piston rod 267. The piston rod is connected to a crank arm 268 fixed on the shaft 259. The cylinder is mounted on a pivot 269 at its closed end to permit swinging in a horizontal plane. The roller 263 is held yieldably on the cam face by a suitable coil spring 274 secured at its upper end to an extended part ofthe roller spindle and at its lower end to an extended part on the crank arrn 268.

The piston 270 is actuated by compressed air controlled through a suitable solenoid valve 273 which may be of the type referred to as a four-way, single solenoid air valve. The solenoid is operated by a strip switch 271 having a movable finger 272. The switch is positioned at the second loading station for displacement by the case as it moves into position to receive the second article layer. See FIG. 25. When the switch 271 is moved to its closed position by the case, current from a convenient source will ow through the solenoid winding to move the valve so as to admit air behind the piston to swing the rod 255; and, when the case moves beyond the switch 271, the valve will then move to a position to admit air in front of the piston and swing the end of the rod forwardly out of the ease path and in readiness to engage the ap on the next case moving to the loading station.

Thus, when a case cornes to rest at the second loading station and engages the trip switch, the rod 255 will first be caused to swing horizontally to a position where the flap will be approximately fully raised. The rod 16 thereafter will swing downwardly as well as rearwardly by reason of the roller 263 travelling on the upwardly inclined cam section 264b. The trailing Hap will then remain in approximately a horizontal position, or inclined somewhat downward to provide a clear path for the oncoming article group which will be loaded into the case as the top layer. The exact position to which the l'lap is moved is not of particular importance so long as it is swung down sufficiently to allow the next article group to move freely over the flap without strikmg it.

LOADING SINGLE LAYER CASES When it is desired to load single layer cases as indicated in FIG. la, the two conveyor sections 98 and 104 are raised to an appropriate height. This may vary depending on whether trays are to be lled, or cases with cover aps, inasmuch as trays may frequently be employed that are of less height than the height of the articles to be loaded. While the sections 9S and 104 are shown in alignment, it is to be understood that they need not be in this relation. It is intended that the receiving end of the conveyor section 98 be adaptable easily to the conveyor system employed in any particular plant. After raising the conveyor sections 98 and 104 a removable conveyor section 275 is placed above the conveyor sections and 203. The rear or receiving end of the removable section is supported by a bracket 276 and its forward or discharge end will extend to the take-away conveyor 208. This discharge end will rest on the end of the roller conveyor section 205 and the end of this section will be lowered by rotating the eccentric supporting element 209 through a one-half turn. The discharge end of the removable section will thus be supported in alignment with the take-away conveyor 208.

Only the electro-magnets in advance of the end of conveyor section 104 are energized and all magnets beyond this point remain deenergizcd. The stripper mechanism will be deactivated by disconnecting the stripper switch 202. The depressor rod 255 for the trailing wall flaps need not be moved as this rod remains normally out 0f the conveyor path while inoperative. The trip switch 271 for the depressor rod may be disconnected, and `the guide plates of the article guide mechanism 27 will be removed, together with any other parts which would be in the path of the single layer cases.

After making the changes above referred to, the machine will then be in condition to handle the loading of single layer cases or trays. The cases will be moved up and held momentarily against the yieldable stops as above described. The article groups will be guided by the guide plate mechanism 25 and the advancing edge of the article group will move against the leading wall of the upwardly inclined case and propel it beyond the yieldable stops until the major portion of the case length has moved past the end of the conveyor section 104. As the magnets beyond the discharge end of this section are deenergized, the articles will drop into the case as soon as they are propelled beyond the influence of the last energized unit. The filled cases will then travel by gravity down the inclined, removable conveyor 275 and onto `section 208 on which the cases will be conveyed to the next desired point.

The mechanism herein disclosed is adjustable for articles of varying heights. As shown in FlGS. l and 8b. the longitudinal side plates 67 have their upper edge portions secured to a horizontal angle iron member 277 having laterally extending portions projecting beyond these side plates. Each member 277 has a pair of apertured, threaded bosses one of which is indicated in FIG. 8b, for the reception of a vertical, threaded adjusting rod 279 having its upper and lower ends journalled in parts of the frame 12a. At its upper end the threaded rod has a worm wheel 280 meshing with spaced worm gears 281 and 282 on shafts supported in a double wing bracket 283. A sprocket 284 rotatable with worm 282

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