US2914899A - End carton filler - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1959 McGlHON END CARTON FILLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1957 I N VEN TOR. LEONARD M GIHQN ,L'ATTORNE r Dec. 1, 1959 Filed Jan. 5, 1957 L. MCGIHON 7 2,914,899

END CARTON FILLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEONARD M G/HON 41% 16- ATTORNE s Dec. 1, 1959 L. M GIHON 2,914,899

END CARTON FILLER Filed Jan. 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 32. & j 22 3 32d 0 Q6 13a 13b v y I II n H 32c 25c 24b INVENTOR.

LEONARD M- GIHON Dec. 1, 1959 McGlHON 2,914,899

END CARTON FILLER Filed Jan. 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. LEONARD M GIHON L'ATTORNEVS Dec. 1, 1959 1.. MCGIHON 2,914,899

END CARTON FILLER Filed Jan. 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4loL INVENTOR. LE ONARD M G/HON 44 A 7 TORNEYS United States Patent END CARTON FILLER Leonard McGihon, San Leandro, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kiug-O-Matic Equipment Corp, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 3, 1957, Serial No. 632,379

8 Claims. (Cl. 53-160) This invention relates to an apparatus forfilling cartons with a plurality of containers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved carton filling apparatus in which diiferent numbers of containers are inserted into opposite open sides of the carton while the carton-and containers are moved along by a conveying system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved carton filling apparatus in which the containers to be placed into the carton are divided into alternate groups of different numbers of containers such that two of the groups are suflicient to fill the carton.

Still-another object of this invention is to provide an improved carton filling apparatus in which the carton is filled through the narrow open sides which are wide enough to permit a group of-containers to be shifted into tainers must be shifted laterally into the carton to move the first group to the central part of the carton so that this centrally disposed group is flanked on the sides thereof by similar groups of containers.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved carton filling apparatus for filling a carton through the narrow open sides which are wide enough to receive two containers simultaneously, said apparatus 'having means for laterally shifting two of the containers into one side of the carton and for laterally shifting two groups each of two containers into the carton from the other side.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing:

- In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved carton filling apparatus in which a plurality of containers are placed into the carton through the open sides thereof. For this purpose the carton is placed upon a moving conveyer and it is moved along between a pair of single file container conveying means. Each of the container conveying means is equipped with container segregating devices which are in the form of rotatable disc members. These disc members are arranged so that they alternately segregate the containers into groups of two and four containers. The container segregating devices are operated in timed relation so that the device on one side of an open carton segregates a group of two containers while the device on the other side segregates a group of four containers. Accordingly, a group of two containers will be placed into the carton from one side thereof and a group of four containers is placed into the carton from the other side thereof, thus filling the carton with six containers. The next open carton that is presented to the device is supplied with a group of four containers from the first device and a group oftwo conthe carton laterally and in which another group of containers from the second device. The segregating devices 2,914,899 Patented Dec. 1, 1959 2 the following specification, claims and drawing in which briefly:

Figs. 1a and 1b together form a plan view of an embodiment of this invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b together form a side view of an embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the apparatus showing the segregation of the containers in the pair of single files of containers into groups which are shifted into the open sides of the cartons being filled therewith;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a container guiding member employed in accordance with this invention; and

Fig. 8 is a view of one of the cartons.

The apparatus of this invention which is of the type illustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 485,943, filed February 3, 1955, to which the modified form of carton filling apparatus forming the subject matter of the present invention has been applied, is illustrated generally in Figures la, lb, 2a and 2b. in which Figures 1a and lb are plan views and Figures 2a and 2b are side views. 1

In general this machine comprises a carton feed station 10 (Figures la and 2a) which is adapted to receive a stack of folded cartons, and inject these cartons one 7 by one to a carton erecting mechanism 11 which is the next mechanism in the line of operation. From the carton erecting mechanism 11, the erected cartons are fed between can feed stations 12. These can feed stations supply single files of cans to the segregating devices 13 which divide the cans into groups and these groups are supplied to station 14 where the cans are shifted laterally into the open sides of the carton. The carton with the cans therein is then carried past station 15 wherein the cans are pushed all the way into the carton and thereafter the carton is carried past a carton flap closing station 16, which performs a preliminary folding of the side flaps to prepare them for the subsequent tucking operation. The cartons are next fed to a flap tucking station 16a where the tucking of the fiaps completes the' cartonclosing operation. a l

These various mechanisms will be described in sequence following the description of the frame and the drive mechanism. 1

Frame and drive mechanism rality of legs 18 along their length. The side members of the frame are connected together by cross members that are provided with a raised central pad portion on which the longitudinal track member or plate 19 is secured. v

The drive forthe machine includes a motor 20 shown in Fig. 2b, that is connected by a suitable chain and sprocket mechanism 21 with a transverse shaft 22 suitably journaled in housing members 23 attached to the respective side members of the frame. The shaft 22 is connected by suitable chain and sprocket mechanism, such as shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 485,493, with a drive shaft carrying suitable sprockets thereon to drive the two main conveyer chains 24 for a purpose later described. The shaft 22 is also connected at either side ofthe frame by a set of bevel gearing positioned in the housings 23 with longitudinal shafting 25 which extends through the flap tucking mechanism, the flap folding mechanism, and the can feeding mechanism previously mentioned.

3 Carton feed mechanism The carton feed mechanism includes a platform 26 carried by an auxiliary frame member 27 that is attached to the main side frame members. This platform is provided for the purpose of supporting a stack of collapsed cartons that are positioned so that the lowermost carton of the stack may be engaged by the feed slide 28 which is of conventional construction and which is connected to be driven by the sprocket 29d of the chain and sprocket drive 29. The sprocket 29a is driven by the chain 2% from a sprocket that is mounted on the shaft 29 of the carton erecting mechanism 11, which is described in detail in the aforesaid application, Serial No. 485,943. The mechanism 11 also includes a shaft 29c which is provided with suitable sprockets for engaging the conveyer chain of the carton erecting mechanism and also the chains 24.

The slide 28 once for each revolution of the sprocket 29d will move the lowermost carton from the stack in the carton feed station and bring this carton into engagement with a set of ejecting or draw out rubber rolls 10a. These rubber rolls 10a are carried by suitable shafts and they are arranged in opposed pairs so as to grip a carton therebetween and move it rapidly from underneath the stack once the carton feed is initiated by the feed plate 28. The shafts carrying the lower sets of rolls are driven from the sprocket 29e as shown in Fig. 2a.

A carton ejected by the rollers 10a is fed between a pair of side rails 11a and beneath respective inclined bars or guides 11b on the rails 11a to hold the carton down and to direct it into engagement with respective progressing and erecting means of the carton erecting means (not shown).

The can feed mechanism 12 comprises generally a pair of opposite single file can conveyers 22 and 23 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which may be mounted and driven in any suitable manner, on which the cans 24b and 24c are progressed in two parallel files at opposite sides of the carton erecting mechanism 11 until they are seperated into groups and introduced as groups into the open sides of the cartons, such as, carton 30'.

At the end of each of the respective single file conveyers 22 and 23, a can segregating member or disc 13 is provided. Each disc or can segregator 13 is carried by a shaft 47 journaled in a housing 49 as shown in Fig. 2a and these shafts 47 are driven through suitable gear mechanism from the shafting 25. Each disc 13 has four can receiving pockets or sections which are separated by can separating projections 13a, 13b, 13c and 13a in the case of the upper disc 13 shown in Figs. 1a, 3 and 4 and projections 13e, 13 13k and 13i in the case of the lower disc 13 also shown in these figures. These projections all have inclined outer surfaces. The pockets between the projections 13a13b and 13c-13d of the upper disc 13 (Fig. 1) serve to segregate the single file of cans from conveyer 22 into sets of two cans each and the projectlons 132-13 and 13h13i of the lower disc 13 segregate the cans from conveyer 23 into sets of two cans each. On the other hand the projections 13b-13c and 13d13a of the upper disc 13 serve to segregate the single file of cans from the conveyer 22 into sets of four cans each and the-projections 13f-13h and 13i13e of the lower disc 13 serves to segregate the single file of cans from the conveyer 23 into sets of four cans each.

As the discs 13 are rotated by the shafts 47 supporting these discs, the leading or forward end of each of these projections enters between adjacent cans fed on the single file conveyers and retards the cans following the group of cans segregated. Because of the inclined can engagmg edge of each projection a slow progressing action of the following file of cans continues, so that no abrupt stopping and starting thereof is involved. It is therefor seen that the similar can segregating discs 13 operate similarly on the two files of cans so that each disc alternately segregates groups of two and four cans which travel over platforms 22a and 23a in timed relation such that a group of two containers 24a is segregated by the upper disc 13 while the lower disc 13 segregates a group of four containers 24d and vice versa, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These containers are then moved along by the progressing fingers 31 projecting out at either side of the carton conveyer chains 24. The cans separated and conveyed by the discs 13 are carried out over the platforms 22a and 23a and they are attracted to the side members 22b and 23b by permanent magnets 22c and 23c attached to these members 22b and 231), respectively, as shown in Fig. 7. These members 22b and 23b are supported by the bolts 32b and 32c at the forward ends of the guide rails 32 and 32a, respectively. The rails 32 and 32a are pivotally supported by the bolts 32b and 32c, respectively, and each of these rails are spring urged inwardly by the springs 32d. These yieldable rails serve to introduce the upright cans sidewise into the open sides of the carton 30, and if a jam should occur, outward movement of the rail involved in the jam will open a limit switch 321; which controls the power circuit of motor 20.

The groups of cans are propelled by projections on the discs 13 and 13a as described above and by the fingers 31 and 31a along a converging course leading to the cartons 30 carried by the conveyer chains 24.

The operation comprising the segregation of the containers is accompanied by another operation whereby the last two containers in a group of four are laterally shifted into the open side of a carton. For this purpose there is provided a mechanism including the members 40 and 40a which are pivotally supported by the pivots 41 and 41a adjacent to the rotatable container segregating devices 13 and 13a. The members 40 and 40a are pivotally positioned below the side members 22b and 23b and they are adapted to be swung on their pivots by the rotatable members 42 and 42a, which are provided with rollers 43 and 43a, that engage the members 40 and 40a, respectively, and cause these members to swing across the platforms 22a and 23a, respectively, for the purpose of shifting the last two containers of a group of four into the side of an open carton. The shifting of two such containers 24d is shown in Figure 4 where the member 49a is shown swung out across the platform 32a in the act of shifting the last two containers in a group of four containers 24d into the carton 30.

Each of the rotatable members 42 and 42a is mounted on a shaft as shown in Figures 5 and 6 wherein the drive for one of these members is illustrated in detail. This drive includes a pair of gear wheels 44 and 48 which may be of equal size and which are supported on the swingable arm 46 in meshing relation. The gear 44 is attached to the rotatable member 42a by the bolts 45 which engage this member in the slots 45a so that it may be rotatably adjusted to the extent permitted by the slots 45a, with respect to the gear 44. The arm 46 is rotatably supported by the shaft 47 and this arm is provided with a spring 46a, one end of which is attached to the free end of the arm, and the other end of which is attached to the frame of the machine. This spring places tension on the arm 46'so that this arm supports the rotatable member 42 in position adjacent to the pivoted member 40a whereby during the course of rotation of the member 42a, the roller 43a is caused to engage a surface of the pivoted member 40 and swing this member on its pivot 41a against the tension of the spring 41b which surrounds the pivot.

In order that the rotatable member 42a may be rotated as described above, the apparatus is provided with a pair of gears 44 and 48 also described above. The gear 48 is arranged to mesh with the gear 49a that is supported by the shaft 47 and is keyed thereto by the key 47a which also serves to key the flange member 47b to this shaft. The disc 13 is attached to the flange member 47b by means of bolts 470 that arepositioned in slots 47d cut into this disc. In this way the disc 13 may be adjusted with respect to the flange member 47b to an extent determined by the length of these slots. The disc 13 and the gear 49a are accordingly rotatable together by means of the shaft 47 which is driven by the shaft 25 through a gearing arrangement that is positioned in the gear box 49. The operation of the container segregating disc 13 and the container shifting member 40 is thus timed so that the last two containers of each group of four containers segregated by the device .13 are laterally shifted by the shifting member 40 as shown in Figure 4.

In this way the last two containers of a group of four are directed into the open side of a carton 30 by the combined action of a container progressing member 31 and the container shifting member 40a as shown in Fig. 4. These two containers are thus directed into the open carton and as this carton is moved along by the conveyor chains 24, the progressing members 31 move forward and cause the first two containers of the group of four to engage the angularly disposed rail 32a which guides these two containers toward the open side of the carton 30 and shifts them into this carton when it is opposite to the free end of the angularly disposed rail 32a. Thus all four containers of the group of four are placed into the carton from one open side thereof and the last two containers so placed push the first two containers into the central part of the carton. While these last two containers are being shifted into the carton 30 from one side thereof, the group of two containers 24a are shifted into the open carton from the other side by the angularly disposed rail 32 which cooperates in this respect with the container progressing member 31 approaching this rail.

The above operation is repeated and the next open carton is also filled with six containers; however, in this case, the group of four containers is placed into the open carton from the opposite side since this group of four is segregated by the device 13a, and the group of two containers which is segregated by the device 13 is placed into the carton from the side corresponding to this latter device. Accordingly, these devices 13 and 13a alternate in segregating groups of two and four containers. The filled cartons are then carried by the conveyer chains 24 to the next stations which perform the functions required to position the side tabs of the carton so that they function to retain the containers in the carton.

The cartons adapted to be employed with this apparatus may be of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 402,872, filed January 8, 1954, for Carton. This carton includes a top panel 50, a bottom panel 51 and two end panels, such as, panel 52 and top and bottom side tabs 51a and 51b on both of the open sides thereof. This carton when erected forms a substantially rectangular structure having open sides through which the containers 54 adapted to be placed therein are inserted. These containers engage side tabs such as tab 53 which is tucked between the end containers and the carton end walls so as to hold the top and bottom tabs 51a and 51b erected for holding the containers in the carton as described in detail in the aforesaid application, Serial No. 402,872.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. Carton filling apparatus comprising a conveyer for progressing an open carton along a path, a pair of single file container conveying means for supplying a single file of containers on each side of said conveyer substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said conveyer, a pair of rotatable container segregating devices, one of said devices being positioned on one side of said conveyer and cooperating with one of the single file container conveying means and the other of said devices being positioned on the other side of said conveyer and cooperating with the other of the single file container conveying means, means for rotating said segregating devices, each of said segregating devices having means for segregating the single file containers into alternate groups of equal numbers of containers with adjacent groups of different numbers to provide larger groups and smaller groups, means for laterally guiding the smaller of said groups from one of said devices into one end of an open carton, means for dividing the larger of the container groups from the other of said devices into two equal subgroups and for laterally shifting one of said subgroups into the other end of said last mentioned open carton and additional means for laterally shifting the other of said subgroups into said open carton to push the first one of said subgroups toward the center of the open carton.

2. Carton filling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said rotatable container segregating devices each comprise a horizontal disc having container receiving recesses formed in the circumference thereof.

3. Carton filling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means for dividing the larger container group into subgroups comprises a pivotally supported swingable member and means for swinging said swingable member laterally against the containers of the larger container group to divide this larger group into subgroups.

4. Carton filling apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said means for swinging said swingable member is provided with means mechanically connecting it to one of the rotatable container segregating devices to be operable in step therewith.

5. Carton filling apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said conveyer includes means for urging the last of the subgroups of containers away from the swingable member and into the open side of a carton aligned by the conveyer with said swingable memher.

6. Carton filling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that alternate ones of the container receiving recesses of each of the horizontal discs are shaped to receive the same number of containers and said discs are arranged so that they alternately segregate the same number of containers whereby alternate open car-tons progressed by said conveyer are filled with the same number of containers from the same side.

7. Carton filling apparatus comprising a conveyer for progressing an open carton along a path, single file container conveying means for supplying respective single files of containers in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of said conveyer on either side thereof, a pair of container segregating devices, one of said devices being positioned on one side of said conveyer and the other of said devices being positioned on the other side of said conveyer, means for operating said segregating devices adjacent to said single file container conveying means, each of said segregating devices having means for segregating the single file containers into alternate groups of equal numbers of containers with adjacent groups of different numbers toprovide larger groups and smaller groups, means for laterally guiding the smaller of said groups from one of said devices into one end of an open carton, means for dividing the larger of the container groups from the other of said devices into two subgroups and for laterally shifting one of said subgroups into the other end of said last mentioned open carton and into said open carton.

8. Carton filling apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further Characterized in that said means for dividing the larger container group into subgroups comprises a member supported for movement adjacent the path of the containers, and means for operating said member to move it toward said containers and push one subgroup toward the canon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Doolittle Aug. 20, 1918 Brogden June 20, 1944 Malhiot Jan. 20, 1953 Swaflford Dec. 15, 1953

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