NZ241637A - Loading bottles into box by guiding bottles down sloping conveyor - Google Patents

Description

241637 Cofjiploie Cpc::,"cV.'r.i: ;/SI'.3-"5V£_ n^; £<?£$£ (o$; . .#<bS-&L/J&?t,IZ.a,, Pub'ica :on Dc-t"3* . ."J PA !??*. P.O. JotTHc!, fio: Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN DROP PACKERS I, RICHARD JENNE, a U.S.A. citizen of 3127 West 84 Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102, U.S.A., hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (followed by page la) H.I. PATENT office 18 FEB 1992 RECEIVED Iw—CT«JUHI.J.H. IIIU.II IIIBKMIIH IMPROVEMENTS IN DROP PACKERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This Invention relates to a continuous bottle packer where the bottles are conveyed to packing cases, and deals particularly with packers of the type referred to which can be retrofit to existing drop action packers without changing their function as drop packers. Drop packers of the prior art handle the flow of bottles In slugs Including means to alter the number of containers 1n each slug.

In the past such drop action packers have been subject to Interruptions 1n production caused by problems In the placement of bottles 1n the packing cases such as jamming and stoppage of the packers which requires inachlne-side prior presence of operators and down-time for the machine. Said machines are automatically operated and readily malfunction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presently preferred form of the invention involves apparatus for providing for movement of an undetermined mass of ungrouped bottles In bottl e-to-bottl e contact and gravity fed down an inclined path or paths and deposited 1n sequence Into cases moving in case-to-case contact horizontally beneath the paths on conveyor means and positioned beneath and adjacent the exit end of the inclined paths, the center line of each bottle becoming further apart upon descent and becoming tangent to the bottom of the plane of a case passing beneath the same. Said cases can be of any length capable of housing the bottles i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 bottles, etc. 1n a lane. Any combination of the same can be randomly fed non-stop through the packing operation. e rails carrying In adjacent lanes la (followed by Page la) The 1 ant oF'.faWEwfaprdrfrMpr 1: 11 APR 1994 2416 two or more series of bottles antl the apparatus can be retrofit 4 to existing continuous drop packers and conveyor means associated therewith or employed with other conveyor means leading to and away from the packing site. Means are provided 5 to control the speed of the bottles leading to the cases of the packer of this Invention. Control means are also provided to automatically detect any failure of delivery of bottles to the Inclined path, lane or rails and to stop the machine 1n such an event until bottles are again delivered In a line to the path or 10 paths whereupon the movement of bottles In the line 1s once more resumed and control means are also provided to Indicate and stop the machine If improper spacing occurs between the cases or the bottle Improperly seats 1n a case or the like.

An object of this Invention 1s to produce bottle 15 packing mechanisms which can be retrofit on straight-through case feed drop packers and to feed thereto bottles 1n a continuous manner Into the cases by placement of the same therein without interruption 1n the process and without the need of standby operating personnel to re-establish the operating 20 cycle when malfunction occurs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous motion packer which is inexpensive In manufacture, highly efficient 1n use, and which provides Increased productivity and avoids delays 1n the operation and the use of 25 unnecessary manpower.

Other objects of the Invention and the Invention Itself will become more readily apparent from a preview of the following description 1n which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 24 1 63 Figure 1 1s a top view of the apparatus of the Invention showing bottle and case conveyor means retrofit to Infeed bottle and case conveyors of the prior art.

I Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figures 1* and 2A are enlarged top and side views respectively of the bottle carrying and case carrying mechanism of the apparatus of the invention secured to portions of the prior art Infeed lines of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 3 Is a rear enlarged view of the apparatus of Figures 1 A and 2 A.

Figure 4 1s a side view of the improved bottle packing apparatus of the Invention.

Figure 5 1s a front view of the apparatus of Figure 4.

Figure 6 Is a rear view of the apparatus of Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 1s a fragmentary view of a bottle hold down device.

Figure 8 Is a top view of a device shown in Figure 1. 241637 Figure 9 Is an enlarged view of a pair of spaced rails shown In Figure 1 and showing a bottle held therebetween.

Figure 10 Is a top plan schematic view of electric connections employed In the Invention.

Figure 11 Is a side plan schematic view of the electrical connections of Figure 10.

Figure 12 Is a wiring diagram of the apparatus of the Invention. \ 24 163 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 4 Referring now more specifically to the drawings, In all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, in Figures 1 and 2 portions of a prior art drop packer are Indicated at 10, and a continuously operated Infeed case conveyor Is Indicated at 11 and a continuously operated Infeed bottle conveyor 12 of said drop packer. The apparatus of my Invention comprises a frame 20 on which Is mounted a continuously operating case conveyor 14 and a continuously operable bottle conveyor 33. The case conveyor 14 and conveyor 33 for bottles "b" are, as later described herein, mounted on the frame work 20 which 1s supported by vertical posts 30 arranged In laterally disposed parallel relationship to the longitudinal direction of motion and provided with rollers 31 or feet adapted to be placed either on a pre-existing longitudinally extending lower conveyor belt or other surface as shown In Figures 1A and 2A. The posts or legs support longitudinally extending and vertically spaced rectangular cross frame means 42 and 43 acting as ways for the case conveyor 14 and bottle carrying rails 40 respectively. The case conveyor 14, as shown In Figures 3, 5, and 6 Is provided with a slide plate 15 which receives empty cases or trays "c" from an infeed case conveyor 11 and transports the same to the outfeed case conveyor 24 carried by the frame and by means of moving contact with motor operated speed rollers and case mover rollers 22a and 22b respectively disposed on either side of the conveyor 24, the rollers contacting opposite sides of the cases or trays "c" as shown In Figure 1A.

It should be noted that the trays or cases Mc" are preferably of a type having no partitions or provided with preformed bottle size partitions of a size sufficient to receive the bottom portions of bottles "b" deposited therein as later described. As shown In Figure 4, each of the cases "c" are either partitioned or sized to accommodate a predetermined number of bottles. 24 1 63 As shown 1n Figures 1A and 2A the cases are moved In 4 case-to-case contact onto the slide plate 15 provided on the case conveyor 14 from the conveyor 11 by action of a feed motor M* shown in Figure 6 driving or braking through a common gear box and chain driven or by other motion means or timing belts. A first set of roilers 22a is operated at a higher speed than those of a second set of case mover rollers 22b by selected action of the gearing and chain drive provided. The rollers determine the speed of the packer and act as case brakers when the machine, for whatever reason stops. The bottles previously seated in the case further act as bottle stops for the oncoming supply of bottles from the rails. The packed cases, once clear of the above described case motion means, move horizontally to receive the bottles moving downwardly on an inclined path as on the rails 40 onto the slide conveyor 24 as shown in Figs. 2A, 4, 9 and 11 and transported along the line by a conveyor 25 aligned therewith or a retrofit conveyor to which the cases are directed from the downwardly inclined conveyor means 24. Automatic controls, as shown In Figures 10, 11, and 12 are associated with the continuous motion packer of this Invention to control the bottle and case supplies and to stop the case drive motor when a case Is blocked or lacks proper timed sequence or spacing. The cases are fed between case top and side guides 27 and 28 mounted on a mounting rod 29 disposed at either side of the slide plate 15, as best shown in Figure 5.

The bottle carrying conveyor of an embodiment of my Invention Illustrated herein comprises a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending rails 40 formed Into lanes 41, which rails are mounted downstream of the case and bottle conveyors 11 and 12 and accept and provided entry of bottles in bottle-to-bottle contact conveyed thereto and transport bottles conveyed thereto by the conveyor 12. The spaced rails 40 1n the embodiment of and as shown In Figures 1A and Figures 3 and 5 are adapted to clasp bottles "b" on either side by adjacent rails and grip the neck of each bottle, as best shown in Figures 3 and 241637 9. The lanes of bottles are held In alignment on the rails by spaced means 50 suspended from the framing 43 by 'threaded bolts 51, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The downwardly Inclined bottle conveyor or Inclined paths are shown 1n Figures 5, 2A, 4, 9, and 11 and as shown descend to a position above and adjacent the exit end of the horizontally disposed case conveyor 14 wherefor the bottles In bottle-to-bottle contact conveyed by the rails or downwardly Inclined lanes or path or paths are gravity fed to the cases passing horizontally below the bottle feed and the bottles are placed automatically 1n appropriate cases passing therebelow. The bottles as they travel down the Incline are at an acute angle enabling the bottles when a case Is filled with the same to maintain 1n a perpendicular position. The center llne of the bottles, It will be noted, becomes farther apart and each succeeding bottle becomes tangent to the plane of the bottom of the case as they descend the incline and approach a case to be filled. Powered belt hold-down means 23 are provided on each bottle lane, as shown 1n the embodiment of Figures 2A and 7, and said means 23 are disposed slightly above the cap of each bottle to assist 1n positioning the bottles Into an appropriate space or spaces 1n the case.

To prime the first case for transport of the cases through the Improved apparatus, empty cases "c" are placed on the slide plate 15 between the case movers and the leading edge I of a case under the top hold-down belt, the lowering rails filled with bottles, the first bottle in each lane placed Into the first case, the top hold-down means 23 jogged until each lane of bottles Is seated 1n a case. The unit is now primed and ready to run automatically.

In the preferred embodiment, as shown 1n Figures 10 to 12 Inclusive, proximity switch means PR9 are provided on each bottle lane, and 1n the event of a bottle not being 1n proper alignment with other bottles 1n the lane, or a lane runs out of bottles the proximity switch means PR9 (common to all lanes) detects the same and the case mover motor M' drive Is stopped. At such time, the bottle supply conveyor 33 and the case supply conveyor 14 ceases to run until the limit switch LSI signals the proximity switch PR9 signalling re 1 ns111u11 on of proper allgnment and placement of bottles In the lanes at which time the motor M1 will be caused to start. Automatic controls PE1 are provided for the case supply and signal when ample supply 1s available. When an ample supply case Is not available the control causes the motor Ml to stop. Restarting of the case movement thereafter can only begin when the controller PE1 Is blocked.

I.S2 as shown 1n Figure 12, 1s an automatic control which acts as a metering switch for operating the bottle conveyor feeding the lanes. It Is operative to turn on the motor upon receipt of bottles from the bottle conveyor 33. When PE9 and I.S2 both signal, a jam or bottle down fault 1s Indicated. Should the packer discharge conveyor back up on PE3, the motor Ml will stop and restart only on clearing of control PE3. PE2 1s located between speed rollers 22a and case rollers 22b and detects any gap between the cases and also operates to stop the motor until an operator eliminates the gap and restarts the motor. When the motor runs, the case and bottle conveyor run.

As shown 1n Figure 12, safety means PE2 detect unwanted spacing of cases between the rollers. The limit switch LSI will be operated when a bottle 1s not seated properly In a case and the bottle Is jammed causing the bottle rail to 11ft up and trips LSI. Other safety devices PR1 and PR3 detect absence of a cap on a bottle in chains leading to lane 1; PR2 and PR4 detect the same 1n chains leading to lane 2; PR5 and PR7 to lane 3; and PR6 and PR8 to lane 4. Any signal or combination of signals may be employed signalling any of the above problems and will stop the case motor and preferably turn on a flashing light to indicate need for correction. A reset button, after correction of the fault, can be pushed to begin the case and bottle transport operations. Open proximity switch PR9 and limit switch I.S2 are both made to Indicate a jam or bottle-down fault 24 1 6 at PR9. Bottles, In the form shown 1n figures 1,2A, 3, 4, 9 and 11 are moved Into engagement with the rails 40 mounted above the case conveyor 14, and constitute fixed lanes for successively carrying bottles In fixed contacting relationship to feed said bottles to cases continuously moved on the operating case conveyor 14 which 1s positioned 1n spaced relation beneath the Inclined bottle carrying rails 40. Each of said cases is adapted to receive a fixed number of bottles therein. The cases "c" as shown receive the bottles "b" at a point adjacent the end of the exit lanes as shown 1n Figure 2 A. It should be noted that downwardly inclined paths or portions whether provided as shown or by movement of the bottles otherwise on a downwardly Inclined sloping surface or path or paths permit the bottles to be deposited by gravity feed down the Inclined sloping paths or portions and succeeding bottles 1n bottle-to-bottle contact with preceding bottles cause such a preceding bottle to drop into an appropriate space 1n the successive cases passing therebelow.

While I have described the Invention 1n terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom such as other motion or control means or for use with other contents, such as cans without however departing from the spirit of my Invention and the scope of the appended claims. i

Claims (7)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An apparatus for loading containers sequentially into open cases comprising: an infeed conveyor means for advancing the containers in a continuous manner along a downwardly inclined surface; and a motor driven case conveyor means adapted to advance cases in a continuous manner, the case conveyor means mounted horizontally below the inclined surface and extending from an upstream end to a predetermined location at which the infeed conveyor means and the case conveyor means converge, the arrangement being such that each container on the inclined surface is disposed at an acute leading angle to an adjacent case being conveyed by the case conveyor means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the centre line of each container descending down the inclined surface becomes perpendicular to the top plane of the adjacent case positioned below the container.

3. An apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 wherein each container is lowered into the adjacent case below from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the adjacent case.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the containers are separately suspended from a downwardly inclined rail.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a plurality of downwardly inclined rails are provided to transport the containers in a suspended manner. - 11 -

6. An apparatus accordingly to either claim 4 or 5 wherein the containers are bottles provided with protrusions extending out from the neck of each bottle which rest upon the inclined rail, the bottles are gravity fed along the inclined rail in a continuous manner and packed into adjacently aligned cases below at an acute leading angle to the adjacent case being conveyed by the case conveyor means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with the reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings. RICP^FD JISJtH-K I $tL*L By his Attorneys BALDWIN, SON & CAREY