GB696043A - Improvements relating to case erecting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

696,043. Packaging. LEVER BROS. & UNILEVER, Ltd. Aug. 14, 1951 [Aug. 17, 1950], No. 19094/51. Class 94(i) [Also in Group XXIV] A case erecting machine comprises a trolley, means for reciprocating the trolley, a case magazine for flat cases mounted on the trolley, an arresting edge, and suction pick-up means for taking a flat case from the magazine and forcing it against the arresting edge to erect the case. A trolley 3 carrying a magazine 6 holding a stack 7 of flat folded cases (collapsed cartons) is reciprocated between an outer 'position (to the left in Fig. 1) and an inner position (to the right) by linkage means 10 actuated by a cam 11 on a main cam shaft 8 driven through a clutch 9 (see Group XXIV). A pivoted suction arm 12, to which vacuum is supplied by a cam operated valve, is oscillated by a cam on the shaft 8 to grip a collapsed case 16 when the trolley 3 is at its inner position and to erect the case against an arresting edge 17 on the trolley as the trolley moves outwards, cam operated arms 18 assisting in maintaining the case in its erected position. The flaps extending from one end of the erected case are folded in to close that end when the trolley is stationary, owing to the shape of its actuating cam 11, in the outer position. The vertical flaps at one end, 24, Fig. 14c are bent outwards by cam operated pivoted arms 25, Fig. 3a, (not shown), the horizontal flaps 29 are then folded in by arms 30, Fig. 4, (not shown), then the flaps 24 are folded over the flaps 29 by arms 33 Fig. 5, (not shown), and at the same time a front vertical flap 37, Fig. 14f, is bent out by arms 38, Fig. 6, (not shown). When this has been effected the shaft 8 has made one complete revolution and further rotation is prevented, by disengaging the clutch 9, until a filled previously erected case has been ejected from the article assembly means 21. Engagement of a roller 53 on the clutch 9 with a pawl 57 on a normally-lowered, pivoted lever 54 disengages the clutch. As each layer of articles to be packed is fed to the assembly means 21, a small counterweight 58, Fig. 13, is engaged by the topmost article to rock a lever 59 pivoted to a pusher plate 63 so that the other end of the lever 59 is engaged by a constantly reciprocating lever 62. This causes the pusher 63 to push the case and its contents against a counterweighted arm 65, until, as the filled case is pushed out on to discharge rollers 22, a pawl 68 on the arm 65 operates a valve 69 in the vacuum system to lift the lever 54 and allow the clutch 9 to engage. The trolley 3 thereupon moves in and a rod 70 thereon pushes the filled case along the discharge rollers 22, the trolley placing an erected case in line with the assembling means 21, the upper horizontal flap having been lifted slightly by an arm 72, Fig. 8, (not shown). The arm 65 is then moved clockwise by cam-actuated vacuum means to push the case over the assembly magazine. Specification 616,902 is referred to as describing article assembling means..