GB698890A - Improvements in machines for packing bottles, cans and like cylindrical containers into crates and like receptacles - Google Patents

Abstract

698,890. Packaging-machines. CAMPBELL, H. Sept. 17, 1951 [Sept. 22, 1950], No. 23302/50. Class 94(i) [Also in Group XXX] A machine for packing bottles into crates, of the kind wherein the bottles are received in an oncoming series with their axes extending substantially vertically, comprises means for selecting a group of bottles corresponding in number to the bottle spaces in each row of the crate, means for tilting the bottles from vertical to horizontal positions, means for moving a crate to align successively each row of bottle spaces with selected bottles and means for pushing said bottles into said bottle spaces. As shown, bottles 3 are fed into the machine in an upright position by an endless conveyer 1 and crates 4 are fed on their sides into position to receive the bottles by a roller conveyer 2 terminating in four driven rollers 16 which deliver the crates in succession to a lifting unit 17 comprising four intermittently-rotated rollers 18. The bottles are separated into groups of four by a rotary disc 5 formed with four recesses 6 and an arcuate part 7 which holds back the oncoming bottles while each selected group is advanced to the loading position by the conveyer which then stops for a short time to permit the insertion of the bottles into the compartments of the crate. This is effected by pairs of cam-operated push rods 11 which engage the bases of the bottles and cause the bottles to tilt by engagement of their necks with a fixed bar 12 arranged above the conveyer. The bottles fall backwards into a horizontal position on the pairs of rods which continue to move forward to form a support for the bottles as they are pushed into the crate compartments by further push-rods 14 acting directly on the small ends of the bottles or through a common transverse bar attached thereto. The rods 14 are withdrawn after the rods 11 so as to avoid the possibility of the bottles being withdrawn with the rods 11. The lifting unit 17 is operated by cam and lever mechanism 33, 35 and 36 to raise the crate step-bystep for the filling of its three rows of compartments and finally to raise it to the level of a delivery conveyer 19 comprising driven rollers 20, after which the unit returns to its lowest position in which the rollers 18 are aligned with the rollers 16. The rollers 18 are driven through gearing 29 by clutch plates 27, 28 carried by a sleeve rotatable in a cage 26 secured to the lifting unit. This sleeve is slidable on a driven shaft carrying clutch plates 24, 25 which engage the plates 27, 28 respectively at the extreme limits of travel of the unit, whereby the rollers are only driven when the unit is aligned with one or other conveyer. The unit 17 is fitted with a guard plate 30 which prevents movement of the next crate during the loading operations. Movement of the crate during the insertion of the bottles is prevented by a roller 31 carried by levers 40 which is moved into engagement with the bottom of the crate by a cam 34 operating through linkage 42, 43. If the roller moves too far to the left due to the absence of a crate, contacts 61, 62 are engaged to stop the machine. The filled crates are fed by the rollers 20 against a stop 63 and then turned through 90 degrees and transferred to a discharge conveyer 21 by the arms 59 of a rotary tipping device operated intermittently by a Geneva mechanism. In a modification, the bottles are positively located prior to their insertion into the crates by a gripper device which reciprocates between a position adjacent the rotary disc 5 and the loading position, in which case it is not necessary to stop the conveyer 1 while the bottles are being inserted. In a further modification, the bottles are tilted from the upright to the horizontal position while being conveyed into the machine.