US2781932A - Taping machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1957 Filed Oct. 25. 1954 H. W. HlTTlE ETAL TAPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 19, 1957 H. w. H11-TIE nm. 2,781,932

TAPING MACHINE ATMRNEX United States Patent O TAPING MACHINE Application October 25, 1954, Serial No. 464,374

6 Claims. (Cl. 2169) This invention relates to a taping machine, and more particularly to a machine for applying gummed tape to several stacked cartons.

In the shipping and handling of boxes or cartons of like size it is convenient and desirable to package several cartons together in order to minimize the individual handling of relatively small cartons while preparing them for storage or shipment. The purpose of the present invention is to mechanize the taping together of a varying number of corrugated boxes or cartons for bulk handling.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine for taping several cartons together which substantially eliminates manual handling of the cartons.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for automatically placing a strip of tape across the top of several stacked cartons, for aligning the cartons, and for causing the tape to be secured around the cartons.

In order to accomplish these and other objects, a

machine according to the present invention comprises a platform upon which cartons are stacked and which is mounted on an air cylinder by means of which the platform is raised and lowered, a tape dispenser for causing a length of tape to be placed over the top of the stacked cartons, and a taping head assembly through which the cartons are carried by the air cylinder and which aligns the cartons and seals the tape against the sides thereof. A suitable control system is provided for the operation of the machine.

The novel features of the invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine o Figure l taken along the line 2 2 in the direction of the appended arrows; and

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit and controls provided for the machine of Figure l.

Referring in more detail to the accompanying drawing, a mechanism for taping cartons comprises an upright frame generally designated by the numeral 11 and having a lower bed portion 13, an upright bracket portion l5, and an intermediate shelf 17.

An air cylinder assembly 25 is mouned on the bed portion 13 and includes a vertically mounted air cylinder 27 having a piston rod 29 extending through the top thereof. The cylinder is operated as a double acting cylinder and has combination intake-exhaust ports 31 and 33 located at the bottom and the top of the cylinder. Solenoid valves 35 and 37 are connected to these ports by means of air lines 39 and 41. These valves 35 and 37 are also connected to a source of air under pressure. The air source is not illustrated. Each of the valves is provided with a vent which will permit air to be ex- 2,781,932 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 ICC hausted from the cylinder when the valve is not actuated to cause air under pressure to dow into the cylinder.

A stacking platform 51 is mounted on the end of the piston rod 29 and is dimensioned to receive cartons 52 or other materials for which the machine is designed.

A taping head assembly 61 is mounted on the upper portion 15 of the frame 11. This assembly includes a closed, substantially rectangular frame work 63 which is open in a vertical direction and which is dimensioned to permit the passage through it of the stacking platform 51. yA pair of vertical tracks 65 and 67 are mounted on the frame 63 by means of brackets 69 and 71 respectively. 'Ihese tracks extend downwardly to a point where they may be engaged by the stacking platform 51 at its lowermost position to guide the platform 51 through the taping head when it is raised by the air cylinder.

A pair of aligning rails or shoes 73 and 75 are mounted within the frame 63 at opposite corners thereof. These rails are fabricated from angle irons, for example, in order to accommodate the corners of the cartons and are flared outwardly at the bottom so that they may readily receive cartons which are placed on the stacking platform. The mounting means by which the aligning rails 73 and 75 are secured to the frame 63 include coil springs 77 and 79 respectively which bias the aligning rails inwardly toward the cartons held within them. The biasing force of these springs 77 and 79 is sutilciently strong to retain the cartons by means of friction within the taping head assembly after the stacking platform has been withdrawn.

A pair of vertically disposed taping shoes 81 and 83 are also mounted within the frame 63 on two opposite sides thereof. These shoes are spring mounted on the frame in a manner similar to the aligning rails and are also flared outwardly at the bottom to facilitate the reception of the cartons within the shoes.

A tape dispenser 91 is mounted on the shelf 17 and is aligned so that the tape which is dispensed therefrom will project across the path of the stacking platform 51 and beneath and in line with the taping shoes 81 and 83. The tape dispenser 91 may be any known type of electrically operated dispenser which will meter out a Xed length of gummed tape. A horizontal chute 93 extends from the tape dispenser 91 to direct the tape 94 over the top of the cartons which will be stacked on the platform 51. In order to hold the tape out of contact with the top of the cartons while it is being ejected from the dispenser, an air nozzle 95 is mounted beneath the chute 93 and is directed in the direction of the chute 93. This nozzle is connected to the source of air by means of air lines 97 and 99 and through a solenoid valve 101. The operating coil of this valve 101 is connected in parallel with the operating motor 102 of the tape dispenser 91 so that the air valve will be caused to open when the tape dispenser is actuated. The tape dispenser is actuated by means of a switch button 103 which may be mounted, for example, on the taping head assembly 61. The electrical circuit for this mechanism is illustrated in Figure 3.

The solenoid valves 35 and 37 are connected in parallel to a circuit which includes a pair of series connected switches 105 and 107. The pair of switches is provided only so that both hands of the operator may be engaged while the cartons are forced upwardly into the taping head assembly. The valves 35 and 37 are arranged so that one end of the cylinder 27 is normally open to the air supply and the other end of the cylinder 27 is normally open to atmosphere by means of a vent 36 or 38. With this arrangement when the circuit is closed, the piston within the air cylinder 27 will be caused to move in one direction, upwardly for example, and when the circuit is open the piston will be caused to move in the opposite direction.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described. In its normal position the stacking platform 51 isdown and the air cylinder piston is at the lower portion of the cylinder 27. The vaive 37 is normally positioned to open the upper portion of the cylinder to the air supply causing the piston to be held in the downward position by means of the air pressure. The valve 35 is normally positioned to shut off the supply of air to the lower portion of the cylinder 'and open this portion to atmosphere through the vent 36.' When the desired number of cartons have been pierced on the stacking platfortnv 51, the switch 103 is closedcausing the dispenser 91 to eject a length of tape sufficient to extend over the top of the cartons and downwardly on either side thereof to the lowermos't carton. While the tape is being ejected, it is suspended over the cartons by means ot' an air jet from the nozzle 95. When the dispenser motor stops, the air jet will be shut off permitting the tape to rest on the top of the cartons, The operator by then closing two switches 105 and 107 positions the valves 35 and 37 to direct air into the lower portion of the cyl indcr 27 and to permit the air in the upper portion of the cylinder to' be ejected to atmosphere through vent 38. This causes the cylinder to force the cartons Lipwardly into the taping head assembly where the cartons are aligned by means of aligning rails 73 and 75 and where the tape will be pressed against the sides of the cartons by means of the taping shoes 8l and 83.

As soon as the switches 105 and 107 are opened, the valves 35 and 37 will again reverse themselves and the stacking platform will again be caused to assume its Original position. However, the cartons which are now taped together will be held within the taping head assembly by means of the spring loaded shoes and aligning rails. lf the ends of the tape extend below the bottom surface of the bottom carton, these ends may now be manually pressed against this surface. When this opera tion is repeated and a second group of cartons is forced into the taping head assembly the preceding group will be forced upwardly completely through the taping head assembly and may be tipped onto a conveyor 1li by means of a tipping bar 113 which may be attached to the frame 63.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for taping together a pluraiity of stacked cartons comprising in combination a platform for receiving said cartons, a mechanism for dispensing a fixed length of gummed tape across the top of said cartons,

means for supporting said tape above said cartons while it is being dispensed, means disposed above said platform including spaced spring biased shoes for pressing said tape against the sides of said cartons` means for raising said platform whereby said cartons are carried between said spring biased shoes, means for aligning said cartons between said spring biased shoes, and means for frictionally supporting said cartons when said raising means is withdrawn.

2. A machine for taping together a plurality of stacked cartons comprising in combination a platform for receiw ing said cartons, :l mechanism for dispensing :i lixetl length of gttmmed tape across the` top of said cartons on said platform.v means for supporting said tape out ot' engagement with said cartons while il is being dispensed. a taping head disposed above said platform including n pair of taping shoes disposed to press said tipe against opposite sides of said cartons. means for raising: said platform whereby said cartons are carried into said tsping head into engagement with said taping shoes. means for aligning said cartons in mid taping bevil. and snp porting shoes mounted in sind taping head for frictional- Iy supporting said cartons within said taping head when said raising means is withdrawn. said cartons being lli) adapted to be pushed through said taping head by succeeding cartons stacked on` said platform.

3. In a machine for taping together a plurality of stacked cartons, a platform for receiving said cartons, air cylinder operated means for raising and lowering said platform, a tape dispensing mechanism disposed above said platform, air jet means for carrying said tape across said cartons out of engagement with said cartons during operation of said dispensing mechanism, and a taping head assembly disposed in the path of said platform, said assembly including a Pair of spring biased shoes disposed to press said tape across opposite sides of said cartons, said assembly including aligning rails dsposed to engage opposite corners of said cartons, said alignv ing rails being spring biased whereby said taped cartons are frictionally supported within said taping head assembly.

4. In a machine for taping together a plurality of stacked cartons, a platform for receiving said cartons, air cylinder operated means for raising and lowering said platform, a tape dispensing mechanism disposed above said platform, air jet means for projecting said tape above said cartons out of engagement with said cartons during the operation of said dispensing mechanism, a taping head assembly disposed in the path of said platform, said assembly including a pair of spring biased shoes disposed to press said tape against opposite sides of said cartons, said assembly including aligning rails disposed to engage opposite corners of said cartons, said aligning rails being spring biased against said cartons whereby said taped cartons may be frictionally supported within said taping head assembly, said cartons in said taping head assembly being adapted to be pushed through said head assembly by a subsequent stack of cartons, and means for tipping said prior stack of cartons onto a conveyor.

5. A machine for taping together a plurality of stacked cartons comprising in combination a supporting frame, an air cylinder mounted on said frame and having a piston rod extending from the upper end thereof, a platform rigidly mounted on said piston rod for movement in ai vertical direction with said piston, a taping head mounted on said supporting frame in alignment with said cylinder and platform, said head being dimensioned to receive a plurality of cartons carried on said platform, means for dispensing a xed length of gummed tape across the path of said cartons and platform, air jet means for carrying said tape across said cartons and out of contact with' said cartons while it is being dispensed, spring biased shoes in said taping head disposed to seal said tape against opposite sides of said cartons, a pair of aligning rails ih said taping head disposed to engage opposite corners of said cartons whereby said cartons are frictionally supported in said head, and control means for operating said air cylinder and said tape dispensing mechanism.

6. A machine for taping together a plurality o f stacked cartons comprising in combination a supportingV frame, an air cylinder mounted on said frame and having a piston rod extending from the upper end thereof, a carton receiving platform rigidly mounted on the upper end of said piston rod for movement in a vertical direction with said piston, a taping head mounted on said supporting frame above said platform and in alignment therewith, said head being dimensioned to enclose said cartons placed on said platform, a tape dispensing mechanism mounted on said frame and disposed to dispense a xed length of gummed tape across the path of said cartons and platform. nir jet means for supporting said tape out of contact with said cartons while it is being dispensed, a pair of taping shoes in said taping head disposed to prt-ss` said tape against opposite sides of said cartons when sind cartons are carried into said head by said piston, a pair of aligning rails in said taping head disposed to engage the opposite corners of said cartons whereby said cartons nre aligned upon engagement with Mangez said rails, said rails being adapted to frictionally support said cartons within said head when said platform is withdrawn, a conveyor, means associated with said taping head for tipping said stacked cartons onto said conveyor when they are carried through said head, and control means for operating said air cylinder and said tape dispensing mechanism.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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