US2270820A - Carton closing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 20, 1942. w. G. KALISKA CARTON CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Apfil 2, 1938 I5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 20, 1942. w. G. KALISKA CARTON CLOSING MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1938 lnwc/n on bfriz,

Patented Jan. 20, 1942 CARTON cnosmc MECHANISM William G. Kaliska, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to The Coca-Cola Company, Wilmington, Del., a cor poration of Delaware Application April 2, 1938', Serial No. 199,644

Claims.

This invention relates to the beverage industry, and more particularly to a new and improved closing and locking device intended primarily for use in the placing of bottles in cartons and closing and locking the containers in such manner that they may be transported without the loss of their contents.

Today, cartons of what is generally known as the open type are popular, many millions of these being used in the United States each year. Bottles are generally placed in such containers by hand, the carrier then being brought together and fastened, this manual operation entailing the expenditure of a varying amount of time, depending upon the skill of the packer and the difficulty which he may experience in fastening the carton once it is filled; the aggregate of which time is considerable in large bottling plants and like places where such operations are carried on extensively.

An object 01 the present invention is to provide a closing and locking device which is automatic in its operation.

Another object is to provide in such a device positive means for locking a carton without the Another object is to provide a time saving device ior the bottling industry.

These and other objects made apparent throughout the further progress 0! this specification are accomplished by means of my closing and. locking device, a full and complete understanding of which is facilitated by reference to porting bed, and closing frame of myinvention.

Fig. 4 is anenlarged end view 015 the jaws and bed showing in detail certain features thereof.

illustrating a closing or locking operation in progress.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along-the line 66 of Fig. 4, and showing in detail the manner in which the closing frame clears on the hinge side of the jaw.

Fig. 7 is a view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, showing the locking operation completed. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7, in which the carton has been closed.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of an assem- I bled carton removed from the closing machine and ready to be transported.

The instant device is intended primarily for use with containers of the type disclosed and described in detail in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 178,668 for Cartons, although it is not to be limited-to such use, and as a mat-' ter of fact, with certain modification, may be adapted to other carriers without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention.

The carton shown comprises essentially a blank or strip I 0 having apertures II for; receiving the basesof bottles, and aligned openings l2 through which are passed ,the necks thereof, the upper portion of the blank having a cut out section [3, throughwhich is passed a flap ll (Fig. 5), said flap then being bent upwardly for the purpose of forming a carrying surface which will be easy on the hand (Fig. 7)

From one side of the upper portion of blank Ill is cut or stamped a locking tab I5, said tab being provided with an aperture it near the end thereof, of such circumference as to pass over the cap and upper neck portion of a bottle 'I'l disposed on the opposite side of the carton from that from which said tab is formed.

A carton of the above description is shown the drawings in conjunction with, my locking device, which device comprises asupporting bed l8 anchored to the top of a table l9, said table having legs [9' supporting the working surface thereof at a suitable working height above the floor, said supporting bed having hinged to oppo- Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 4

site sides thereof a pair of jaws 20, which combined structure forms a cradle or mold in which the carton may be placed and filled.

Jaws 2. (Figs. 3 and 4) comprise identical bottles protruding from the carrier. To prevent an endwise movement of the carton strip during the assembly operation, edges 24 are provided for said jaws, said edges at their bottoms being perforated as at 25 to receive pintles 26 whichare passed therethrough and likewise through ears inside of said jaws for the purpose of receiving the bases of bottles placed in the carton; and coil springs 28 may be attached to outside portions: of the jaws and to table l9, thereby holding said members in a normally open position.

A pair of wearing plates 29 and 29' is secured to the lower outside portions of jaws 20, plate 29' forming a greater angle with its associated element than does 29, thereby facilitating the locking movement of the device by insuring a slight difference in the starting time for the upward movement of said aws. That is, the inertia of one member has been overcome by the closing frame and that member is in movement before the opposite jaw is contacted, this spaced starting having beneficial result as above. addition, thi difference in angle serves a useful purpose in synchronizing the action of the elements which effect the actual locking .of the carton, as will be evident from the description of such movement set forth later in this specification.

On one of jaws 20 and near the top thereof is securely anchored a flat spring 3t, said spring having-a curved upper portion 3i and an end 32' pointing slightly upward. Element 30 is preferably disposed midway between the ends of the jaw with which it is associated; and on the opand nut then uniting said pedal with 31 in such manner as to form a slip-joint at this point.

Pedal 4| is pivoted to a cross member 43 of table 59 as .by being placed between oppositely disposed angle members 44, securely anchored to said support, protrusions 45 on opposite sides of said pedal seating in rounded apertures provided in said angle members for this purpose.

The operation of my device is as follows:

A carton strip ii] is placed between the jaws 2t, and six bottles inserted therein in such manner that the bases thereof register with openings M and indentations i la, the necks of said bottles then being passed through apertures l2 and lying in notches 23. Pressure is now exerted on the end 66 of pedal til, with the result that said member elevates column 31 and closing frame 34 against the tension of springs 28 and 38, said closing frame rising to a point where it seats with wear plates 29' and 29; and as the pressure on pedal 4!! increases, said closing frame travels upwardly, and, exerting a wedge-like action on jaws 28, brings them to a vertical position. While this is being accomplished, prongs posite jaw is securely anchored a pair of stifi prongs 33 which may be stamped from a single sheet of metal as shown in the drawings (Fig. 8), or comprise separate elements. In either event, said prongs protrude from the tops of the points established by middle notch 23, and then lie in a'plane approximately at right angles to that of the side 2| of the jaws.

Attention is now directed to the closing frame of the instant device, said frame comprising essentially a hollow square element 34, formed of metal or other suitable material, and having inside dimensions slightly greater than the outside measurements of'supporting bed l8.- Element 34 is reinforced by a series of downwardly extending supports 35, suitably anchored thereto. at the top, and being bent inwardly as at 36 to unite and form a single column at 31. A pair of coil springs 38 (Fig. l) encircle supports 35 in such manner that the tops of said springs bear against the under side of table I9 adjacent the points where said supports pass therethrough, and the bottoms of said springs are secured to the supports as at 39, so that there exists a normal tendency for closing frame 34 to return to a position approximating that shown in Fig. 1, in which said member rests on the top of table l9.

The bottom of column 31 is forked, as by terminating the front and rear supports somewhat sooner than are the two side ones, said forked member then being drilled'as at '40 and passed over the end of a pedal 4|, which end is pro-. vided with an elongated slot 42; a bolt, washer,

33 have served to retain locking tab E5 in a position substantially at right angle to the bases of the bottles in the carton, said prongs now serving to guide said locking tab over the top of bottle ll, which is the middle bottle cradled in the jaw opposite that upon which are mounted prongs 33. Flat springs 30 has served to steady said bottle and hold it in the desired position during this movement, and as prongs .33 guide locking tab l5 over the top thereof, unites with said prongs in guiding the opening it of the tab over the bottle cap and down onto the upper portion of the container. The position of opening it in the locking tab is such that a slight strain must be exerted to force it over the largest diameter of the cap, which fact, plus the normal tendency of the carton to open, assures that the tab will stay under the cap until such time as it is forcibly removed, this in eflect guaranteeing a continuing locking of the carrier.

When pressure is released from pedal 41, the closing frame returns to its normal position and the jaws likewise assume the spread or openstate illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, springs 28 and 38 augmenting this action; and the locked carton remains upright and ready to be removed from the closing device, upon which a new blank may be inserted and the process repeated.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have disclosed a new and useful device for the purposes indicated; that the structure thereof is simple, economical, and eflicient; and that same may be readily and easily operated; all of which result in the saving of considerable labor and in eliminating a substantial degree of fatigue on the part of workers in bottling plants and the like.

It will further be apparent that certain modifications, changes, reconstructions, and alterations may be made in the preferred embodiment of my invention as disclosed herein, without departing from the scope of the appended claims which are to be broadly construed.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting framework, a supporting bed placed thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, said jaws being adapted to receive a carton and bottles placed therein, a closing jaws and swinging same inwardly about their 7 frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto and normally out of contact with the jaws, means for elevating said closing frame thereby engaging said jaws and swinging same pivots to a closed position and locking a carton supporting framework, a supporting bed placed thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, saidjaws being adapted to receive a carton and bottles placed therein, a closing frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto and normally out of contact with the jaws, a series of reinforcing elements anchored to said frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a' pedal pivoted to the supporting framework and to the bottoms of said reinforcing elements in such a manner asto raise the closingframe when said pedal is depressed, thereby engaging said jaws and swinging same inwardly about their pivots to a closed position, and means for locking a carton held by said jaws, simultaneously with said closing movement.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting framework, a supporting bed placed thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, said jaws being adaptedto receive a carton and bottles placed therein, a closing frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto, a series of reinforcing elements anchored to said frame and extending downfilled with bottles and supported by the jaws,

said prongs and'curved spring serving in conjunction with said upward movement to guide a tab on the carton over the top of a bottle dis-.

posed on the side of thecarton opposite the tab, and to secure said locking tab in place on the upper portion of such bottle.

7. In a device of the character described, a

supporting framework,-a supporting bed placed thereon, apair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides wardly therefrom, spring means associated with said reinforced elements and tending to hold said closing frame out of engagement with said jaws, a pedalpivoted to the supporting framework and to the bottoms of said reinforcing elements in such a manner as to raise the closing frame when said pedal is depressed, thereby engaging said jaws and swinging same inwardly about their pivots to a closed position, means for looking a carton held by said jaws, simultaneously with said closing movement, and spring means serving to hold said jaws in a normally open position.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting bed, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted to opposite sides of 'said bed, the jaws being adapted to receive a carton and bottles placed therein, means for moving'said jaws upwardly,

and means for closing and looking a carton held by said jaws and bed, simultaneously with said upward movement.

therefrom, a curved steel spring extending from the other jaw, a closing frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto and normally out of contact with the jaws, means for elevating said closing frame thereby engaging said jaws and swinging same inwardly about their pivots to a closed position and locking a filled carton supported thereby. v

6. In a device of the character described, a supporting framework, a supporting bed placed with the jaws, means for elevating said closing of said bed, a series of notchesin the upper portions of said jaws for engaging necks of bottles,-

a pair of stiff prongs secured to the upper portion of one of said jaws and protruding therefrom, a curved steel spring extending from the otherjaw, a-closing frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto and normally out of contact with thetjaws, means for elevating and swinging same inwardly about their pivots to a closed position and looking a filled carton tions of said jaws for engaging necks of bottles,

indentations formed in the inside lower portions of said jaws for receiving the bases of bottles, a

pair ofstifl prongs secured to the upper portion of one of said jaws and protruding therefrom, a curved steel spring extending from the other jaw,

a closingframe surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto and normally out of contact frame thereby engaging said jaws and swinging same inwardly about their pivotsto a closed position and locking a filled carton supported thereby. I

9. In a device of the character described, a supporting framework, a supporting bed placed thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, a series of notches in-the upper portions of said jaws for engaging necks of bottles, indentations formed in the inside lower portions of said jaw for receiving the bases of bottles, strips disposed at opposite ends of said jaws for preventing the 'sidewise movement of a carton and bottles cradled by said jaws, a pair of stiff prongs secured to the upper portion of one of thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, a .pair of stiff prongssecured to the upper portion of one of said jaws and protruding therefrom, a curved steel spring extending from the other jaw, a closing frame. surrounding said bed in spaced relationship'thereto and normally out of contact with the jaws, means for' elevating said closing frame thereby. engaging said 11. In a device of the characterdescribed. a

supporting framework, a supporting bed placed thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, a series of notches in the upper portions of said jaws for engaging necks of bottles, indentations formed-in the inside lower portions of said jaws for receiving the bases of bottles, wear plates securedto the outside of said jaws, means for limiting the downward movement of the jaws, a pair of stiff prongs secured to'the upper portion of one of said jaws and protruding the other jaw, a closing frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship thereto and normally out of contact with the jaws, means for elevating said closing frame thereby engaging said jaws and swinging same inwardly about their pivots to a closed position and locking a filled carton supported thereby.

12. In a device of the character described, a supporting framework. a supporting bed placed thereon, a pair of jaws pivoted to opposite sides of said bed, a series of notches in the upper portions of said jaws for engaging necks of bottles, indentations formed in the inside lower portions of said jaws for receiving the bases of bottles,

wear plates secured to the outside of said jaws,

and protruding therefrom, a curved steel spring extending from the other jaw, a closing frame surrounding said bed in spaced relationship .thereto and normally out of contact with the jaws, means for elevating said closing frame 1 thereby'engaging said jaws and swinging same inwardly abouttheir pivots to a closed position and locking a filled carton supported thereby. i

13. Apparatus for loading and folding bottle laav szo therefrom, a curved steel spring extending from carrier cartons having' bottle engaging slots..

comprising, means for flexing the carton walls relative the carton base including a wall engaging member having open-ended slots in register with the carton slots adapted to permit insertion of a bottle portion through the carton slots to project to the exterior of the carton during. the

folding operation.

15. Apparatus for loading and foldingbottle :carrier cartons having bottle engaging openings comprising a carton base engaging member, carton wall engaging members hinged to the ends of the said carton base engaging member, said base engaging member and wall engaging members arranged to be movable relative one another to fold the carton walls relative the carton base and openings in a wall engaging member adapted to permit insertion of a bottle portion through the carton opening to project to the exterior of the carton during the folding operation.

" WILLIAM G. KALISKA.

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