US3064404A - Bottle packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ET AL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9,' 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORIS rancdl'zd ,rfzt Grove?" Carme, z] By WM W? Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cH1DsEY,JR.. ETAL 3,054,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1960 INVENTORS' A Nov. 20, 1962 y F. A. cl-nDsEY, JR.. ET AL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N INVENToRS ancfcgzdfg N Grover C. arze, zi-

FIG' 7 Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ETAL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE:

Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jill/l/l www?? Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ETAL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToRs .Franc' c/Q. Czzaijeg, J2. Q Grover G. Carrze, J2".

Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ET AL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q (D S0 S s Q lila. 16

INVENTORS randz'db. C'Znaseg, Jr.' Grover C'. Carrie, JZ".

Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cl-uDsEY, JR.. ErAL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9*, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 F. A. CHIDSEY, JR.. El' AL BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE PIG .20

Nov. 20, 1962 Filed Aug. s, 1960 s ,n m55, W wm W. w Ca @a Q ww c. m .w m C@ W w mw @nited diaree tice 3,964,4@4 BOTTLE PACKAGDJG MACHiNE Francis Chidsey, Jr., Wayne, Pa., and Grover C. Cnrrie, Jr., Chariotte, N13., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Ang. 9, 196%, Ser. No. 58,496

16 Ciaims. (Cl. SES-48) The present invention relates to packaging machines and more particularly to machines for enclosing bottles and similar articles within open end cartons or wrappers.

An important object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, compact machine, particularly adapted for wrapping bottles within a carbon blank having a panel formed with openings through which the necks of bottles may project, and having additional panels which snugly enclose the sides and bottom ends of a group of bottles.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine for enclosing two rows of bottles or similar cylindrical articles within an open end carton or wrapper having bottom panel portions arranged to be connected, and having central retaining members at the carton open ends which serve to prevent outward displacement of the bottles at the ends of the rows.

A further object is to provide a machine of the type described Iwhich is adapted to apply a wrapper type carton blank around a ygroup of bottles with a high degree of snugness so that the enclosed bottles will be tightly held within the wrapper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine having simple and effective means for causing snug engagement of the wrapper against the sloping necks of bottles held within such wrapper.

A still further object is to provide a bottle wrapping machine designed to enclose a group of two rows of bottles in an elongated wrapper which may be divided readily into two separate and complete packages, an example being the initial packaging of a group of twelve bottles, arranged in two rows of six bottles each, within a single wrapper, such package being divisible midway of its length to form two packages each containing two rows of three bottles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for applying adhesive to one of two overlapping bottom panels in a wrapper type carton, of the type above referred to, such bottom panels including upwardly -foldable, bottle-retaining members at the carton open ends, at least one of which receives a coating of adhesive, and combining with such machine a conveyor section having means for holding the retaining members in upstanding position while the adhesive sets.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention- FIG, l is a small scale plan View illustrating the entire machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, with a part broken away, of a preferred form of bottle Wrapper blank for use on the machine;

FG. 3 is a plan view of a package containing two rows of three bottles, being one-half of the unit which the machine of the present invention is designed to producj delivery mechanism and the forming member for folding the sides of the blank against the bottle group and for advancing the partly formed packages past the wrapper treating stations;

PIG. 7 is a partial, side elevational view, being a continuation of FiG. 6, with certain parts broken away or omitted and illustrating the iinal wrapper blank treating stations, and showing in section the conveyor for receiving the completed package;

FiG. 8 is a fragmentary, `detail perspective view, somewhat schematic in form, showing the blank as it begins its advance to the station Where it is delivered in position over a bottle group, and showing the adhesive applying mechanism to apply a strip of adhesive along the blank edge;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail, perspective View showing the mechanism for supporting a blank at the rst assembly station ready to be moved down with the apertures of the blank surrounding the necks of the bottles;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail view taken at the leading edge of the first station and looking toward the right as viewed in FIG. 6, showing the wrapper blank supported just above the bottles;

FiG. 11 is a fragmentary detail, perspective view showing the conveyor on which the bottle group is advanced A and showing the stop elements for holding the bottle group FIG. 4 is an end view of the package illustrated in y in proper position to receive the wrapper blank;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the end forming box or compartment;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view showing the forming box as it appears when it has forced a wrapper blank down over the bottle necks and brought the sides of the wrapper along the vertical sides of the bottle group;

FIG. 14 is a detail, perspective View of the follower element adapted to press the Iwrapper firmly against th shoulders of the bottles;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary detail, perspective view, showing mechanism at the second forming station for folding the end portion of one side of the wrapper beneath the bottle group;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, detail view, looking toward the receiving end of the machine, showing the manner in which one edge portion of the blank is folded in beneath the bottle group by mechanism illustrated in perspective in FIG. `15.

FG. 17 is a fragmentary detail, perspective view, showing mechanism at the third forming station for folding the second end portion of the wrapper beneath the bottle STOUP;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the mechanism for applying pressure laterally against the side portions of the wrapper to cause it to fit snugly around the group of bottles;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary detail view showing vertically movable forming elements which fold upward one set of retaining parts comprising tabs or flaps formed in the wrapper blanks and designed to prevent displacement of bottles from the open ends of the wrapper;

FIG. 20 is a sectional elevation, with parts omitted, taken along line Ztl-20 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing mechanism for applying lateral pressure against the Wrapper and also showing one of the vertically movable forming elements for folding upward the two cooperating bottle retaining parts, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken centrallyA of the package and lengthwise of the machine showing the forming elements for the end retaining members of the wrapper and showing other elements which cause engagement of bottom locking parts formed in the outer edge portions of the wrapper;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are enlarged, fragmentary detail views of the bottom locking parts formed in the wrapper;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary detail view showing an end of the olf-bearing conveyor for receiving freshly glued packages and retaining the upfolded retaining members in position until the -glue sets; and

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a portion of the supporting surface of the off-bearing conveyor.

The machine herein disclosed is similar in numerous respects in its construction and operation to the machine disclosed in the pending application of F. A. Chidsey, jr., and G. C. Currie, Jr., Serial No. 838,276, eld September 4, 1959, now U.S. Patent No. 3,037,334.

The form of carton which the machine is particularly designed to act upon is similar to the carton disclosed in the pending application of F. A. Chidsey, Jr., Serial No. 814,888, led May 2l, 1959, now U.S. Patent No.,3,016, 182. The carton is preferably prepared as a flat, rectangular blank of foldable paperboard comprising a central or top panel having openings to receive the necks of bottles, two side panels and two bottom panels or aps designed to be overlapped and adhesively secured to hold the walls firmly against the sides of an enclosed group of bottles arranged in two rows. In order to prevent accidental displacement of the end bottles from the open carton ends, the outer corners of the bottom aps are formed with suitable diagonal scores and cuts to provide cooperating, upwardly foldable portions. These foldable portions, when secured together in upright position, will form central, upstanding retaining members engaging adjacent surfaces of the two end bottles at each open end of the carton. The blanks are initially made to provide two complete cartons held together along a severable line which is weakened for ease in separation. in the present instance two rows of six bottles each are first enclosed in a wrapper which, when separated, becomes two complete open-end cartons holding two rows of three bottles each.

Essentially the machine as herein disclosed includes conveying means for advancing separated groups of bottles in two parallel rows to an initial assembly station. The carton blanks are conveyed to this station and brought to rest over a bottle group with the apertured central panel in registration with the bottles so that the bottle necks will be received into the openings in the central panel and this panel will come to rest upon the sloping shoulders of the bottles. Just prior to delivery of the Y blank into position over the bottle group a narrow coating of adhesive is applied along an outer edge of one of the bottom llaps. This adhesive also coats the individual upwardly foldable retaining portions provided on such treated bottom flap.

A unitary forming and conveying member is supported for vmovement above the paths of the blanks and the bottles to be packaged. This member has three similar, longitudinally aligned compartments or boxes open at the bottom so that, when the unit is moved down, each one ofthe boxes will surroundV a partially packaged group of bottles. The frame of the forming and conveying member is guided for four-way movement, that is, forwardly to advance the bottle group being packaged, then upwardly, rearwardly andy downwardly to engage succeeding groups. Y

VThe first box or compartment on what may beV termed the rear or trailing portion of the forming member is arranged to engage the-flat blank and fold it laround the bottle group at a location which maybe referred to as the rst treating station. As the forming member is guided on the'dolnward leg of its fourway movement, and just before the lower edge portions of thetrailing box of the forming member come into engagement with Vthe blank, the supports on which the blank initially Vcomes formed package slidably along a relatively thin supporting,

plate which is somewhat narrower than the package width. The forming member is then withdrawn upwardly leaving the partially formed package at the second treating station. is folded partially inward below the supporting plateby a reciprocable flap-folding element.

The partially formed package is then engaged by the middle box of the forming member and advanced from the second to the third treating station along a thin supporting plate aligned with the supporting plate at the first station. As the leading edge of the Vinfolded bottom flap advances it rides up on a sloping extended portion of the plate at the second station, through an openingrbetween the ends of the plates at the lirst and second stations. This causes the infolded flap Vto move from beneath the rst plate and slide along the upper surface of the second plate where the ap will be in direct supporting contact with the bottoms of one row of bottles.

As the forming member moves upward, away Vfrom the partially formed package at rest at the second station, upwardly reciprocating folding elements move against the sections of retaining members located on the bottom ap that has just been brought into position against the bottoms of one row of bottles. This pre-breaks the score lines and facilitates fitting the opposite retaining member sectionsin proper relation at the next treating station. While the package remains at thethird station the second bottom ap is folded partially inward below the supporting plate at this station.

The package is then engaged by the leading box of the forming member on its next downward movement and advanced along a supporting plate to the fourth station. At the end of the supporting plate at the third station is an opening to receive the leading edge of the last infolded bottom flap. A sloping surface is provided at this opening which guides such leading ap edge onto the upper surface of the plate at the fourth station and against the bottoms of the adjacent row of bottles. The freshly glued edge portion of this flap is also brought into lapping relation with the edge of the opposite ap. Y

As the forming member moves upward away from the package at rest at the fourth station, additional, upwardly reciprocable folding elements move against the sections of retaining members located on the two bottom flaps which are now in lapping relation. The individual sections ofthe retaining members are thus brought into their final upstanding positions and in close interiitting relation.

In order to assure snug fitting of the carton around the bottles, pressure members are employed at the third and fourth stations. These members are provided on op- Vposite sides of the path of travel lof the packages and are Y designed to force the carton wall portions closely against the bottles while the bottom flaps are brought into their final position and while the sections of the retaining members are being placed in interfitted relation. Y Y A vertical pusher plate` is carried on the leading'en'd of the frame carrying the forming members. This plate engages the trailing end of a package at the fourth station and moves it into position onV a conveyor'designed to Vhold and advance the completed packages until the adhesive -has set. The pusher Vplate engages against Vthe completed package at the fourth station while succeeding partially formed packages are being advanced from one station to another. The conveyor has a step-by-step motion and each package is carried on three, "adjacent, nar` At this station one of the downfolded bottom flapsk row supporting plates, the center plate having small posts which are brought into holding relation with the retaining members on the carton botte-m aps after the package has been moved into proper position at the receiving end of the conveyor. The conveyor has a suicient length to permit the adhesive on the carton to set by the time the carton reaches the discharge end.

At the discharge end of the conveyor there may be provided a vertically reciprocable blade, not shown, timed with the conveyor travel and designed to sever the connections between the two carton sections with the exception of the connections between the bottom panels, which may be done by other mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the packaging mechanism is suitably mounted on a base frame comprising upper and lower longitudinal members iti, all

and 11, 11 and intermediate longitudinal member i2.

The frame includes vertical members i3, i3 and transverse members 14, 14. Supported on the base frame is a wrapper blank magazine and feed mechanism l5; blank gluing and advancing mechanism 16; a bottle conveyor 17; four-way movable forming and conveying member indicated as a whole at i3; structure comprising a rst treating station including removable blank support means indidicated 4as a whole at i9; additional structure comprising second, third and fourth treating stations indicated at 2t?, 21 and 22 respectively; and an off-bearing, glue drying conveyor indicated as a whole at 23. Partially formed and completed packages are indicated as a whole at 26, made up from wrapper blanks 27 and bottles 28, 2S contained therein. Divided package units are indicated at 26a.

The bottles may be of various shapes, but the bottles herein illustrated are shown with relatively short necks and rounded shoulders and rounded surfaces between the side walls and bottoms. The wrapper blanks are of generally rectangular shape and formed from resilient, foldable paperboard. The blanks as herein shown are designed to wrap twelve bottles arranged in two rows of six bottles each. The packages are intended to be readily divisible into two identical units of six bottles each.

The blanks 27 are creased or scored along parallel lines 28, 2S and 29, 29 to provide narrow panels 39, 30 which will engage the sloping sections 31 ofthe bottles between the necks and side walls. Additional scores 32, 32 and 33, 33 provide narrow panels 343, 34 which engage the rounded parts 35 of the bottles between their sides and bottoms. The top panel 36 of the blank has neck receiving openings 37, 37 and finger openings provided by U-shaped slits 38, 3S permitting hinged tabs 39, 39 to be swung inwardly of the package and providing finger openings for convenience in carrying the package.

The principal side panels of the wrapper indicated at 40, 4t) lie between score lines 29 and 32. The bottom flaps or panels indicated at 41 and 42 are designed to be overlapped and -adhesively joined. For this purpose a strip of adhesive 43 is applied along the free edge of panel 42. Interlocking elements are also preferably employed to ioin the bottom panels. See FIGS. 2, 5, 2l, 22 and 23. Openings 44 are provided in panel 4l by forming V-shaped slits to release tab d5. In the opposite panel 42 there are provided wing shaped locking tabs 46 which may be forced through the openings 4d when the panels are overlapped, as shown in FIG. 2l.

At the ends of each divisible six-bottle unit 26a, there are provided upstanding retaining elements, indicated as a whole in set up form at 49, 49. These are formed as foldable corner portions in the blank adapted to be intertitted and permanently secured in upright condition and disposed centrally of the open ends of the package to restrain bottles from outward displacement. The retaining portions are hinged along diagonal score lines indicated at 59 on panel 41 and 50a on panel 42. Score lines 51 and 51tr at right angles to the respective scores 50 and 6 50a divide the corners into foldably connected sections 52, 53 and 52a, 53a. Sections 53 and 53a are separated from their respective bottom panels by slits and are therefore carried on their companion sections 52 and 52a. The end portions of sections 53 are preferably cut away to simplify the operation of folding these sections. As will be later described in more detail, when the wrapper has Ibeen brought to enclosing condition with bottles therein, upward pressure against the central score lines S1 and Sla on the overlapped corner portions will cause these portions to rise and at the same time they will be folded along such central score lines because of the presence of the bottles. As glue is applied between these portions they will remain permanently in upright condition when the glue has set.

Bottle Conveyor The bottles are brought to the packaging machine on conveyor 17 which may be of the at top chain type passing around a sprocket 55 lixed on driven shaft 56 journalled in the base frame. The conveyor 17 preferably operates continuously land will slip beneath the bottles when held stationary at intervals. The bottles advance on the conveyor in two rows and are suitably separated into groups of twelve by conventional means such as star wheels. Guide bars 56 are provided along the sides of conveyor 17 and a supporting plate 57 is provided along which the conveyor chain elements may slide. The conveyor 17 extends beneath the iirst forming station where the groups of bottles are brought to rest against a movable stop mechanism indicated as a whole at 58. In the present instance the leading bottles of the group, brought to rest at the iirst station, move onto a plate S9 arranged at the level of the conveyor 17. At a suitable point, not shown herein, before the bottles arrive at the first treating station, paperboard dividers are preferably placed within the sub groups of six bottles, as best viewed in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

Blank Delivery The wrapper blanks are placed flat within a magazine having supporting rods 60, 60 from which blanks may be removed downwardly one at a time by a suction cup on a pivoted arm 61 and deposited on horizontal supports 62 which carry at their leading ends a pair of downwardly curved guides 63, 63. See FIGS. 3 and 6. ,These guides serve to position the rear or trailing edge of the blank in proper position over the bottle group at the first station.

After the blank has been deposited on the supports 62 it is moved forward by an oscillating pusher finger 65, timed by suitable mechanism with the Suction cup arm 61 and other operating parts. The blank is advanced by the linger 65 in between upper and lower gripping rolls 66 and 67 carried on the respective shafts 68 and 69 mounted in upright frame elements 13u, 13b carried on the base frame. The shafts are continuously driven in opposite directions through pinions 70 and 71 by means of a motor 72 carried on frame element 13a and operatively connected with shaft 68 through suitable gearing in gear box 73.

As the blank is fed into position at the rst station glue is applied along the edge of panel 42, as indicated in FIG. 2. For this purpose a glue pan 74 is secured on frame element 13b. Within the pan is a roll 75 bearing against a roll 76 secured on the shaft 69. Above roll 76 is a companion roll 77 on shaft 63 arranged to bear on the upper surface ofthe blank an keep the blank edge in proper contact with the glue roll.

First T rearing Station At the iirst station the bottles are held briey by the stopmechanism 58 and the blank is deposited upon a pair of removable support rods 79, 79. See FIGS. 6, 9 land 10. The forward or leading edge of the blank engages the vertical guides Sil, Si?, located on side guide plates 81, 81

just above the bottle stops 58. Between the guides 63 and 80 the blank is caused to be positioned in exact registration with the bottle group. Just before the rear or trailing box of the forming and conveying member 1S moves down to fold the blank about the top and sides of the bottle group the bottle stops will be moved apart, clearing arpath for theadvance of-the bottles, and the blank support rods 79, 79 will be swung downward and outward to allow the blank to drop down with its apertures around the bottle necks.

The removable support rods for holding the blank above the bottle group are each secured on a pair of arms f 83, 83 swingable in vertical planes toward and away from each other as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The arms 83, 83 extend through slots in the plates 81 and have their rear ends secured in blocks 84, each xed on a rock shaft 85 carried in upright frame members-'13C and 13d secured to longitudinal frame members 10, 10. For the purpose of controlling the pairs of arms 83, 83 to swing in unison, each shaft 85 has a pinion S6 thereon disposed within slots in the respective uprights 13e and 13d. Meshing with each pinion 86 is a segmental gear or rack 87 pivoted at 88 inthe respective upright frame members. Each segmental gear yhas an outwardly projecting arm 89 connected by a link 90 Yto a crank arm 91. The two crank arms 911 are secured at the ends of a rock shaft 92 which has a depending crank arm 93 connected by a link 94 Yto a rocker arm 95 mounted on shaft 96 supported in the frame members. The lower end of arm 95 has a cam follower roller 97 riding on cam 98 Vcarried on shaft 99. Seel FIG. 6. A coil spring A100, having one end secured in the frame and the other secured in the lower portion of Ithe arm 95, serves to hold the roller 97 firmly against the cam98.

. As shown in FIG. 6 the cam is in position so that the follower 97 is bearing on its low area. As the cam rotates, rocking the lower end of the arm 95 is a clockwise direction, the blank support arms 83 with rods 79 will be caused to swing down and away from supporting relation to the blank, thus freeing the blank to move down onto the necks of the bottles with thetop panel of the blanks resting on the shoulders of the bottles.

The stop mechanism, indicated as a whole at 58, will now be described. As best shown in FIG. 11, attached to opposite longitudinal frame members 10, v are two supporting and guide members 103, 103 located near the end of conveyor `17. In the upper portion of each member 103 is a guide wayfextending horizontally to receive rack bars 104, 104 movable toward and from each other in a direction at right angles to the conveyor travel. At the inner end of each rack bar is an upstanding bottle engaging stop 1105 which may be formed from a short angle iron section welded to the end of -the guide bar.V

The rack teeth of bars 104 are each in mesh with a pinion 106 rotatably supported in member 2103. An additional, vertically extending rack barV 107 is held in a guide way inY the member 103. At the lower end of each rack Vbar 107 is a pivoted link 10S which is in turn connected the stop elements 105, 105 normally in bottle-group retaining position. A rock leverV 112, fulcrumed on a iixed pivot bar 113, has one end engaged with the rod section of the cam which causes the stops to remain in open position. As the cam rotates and the follower moves to the low section of the cam, the stops are moved to closed position to remain in such position for the desired interval to hold a bottle group at rest at Vthe first station. Y

F arming and Conveying Member The forming and conveying member, indicated as a whole at 18, is guided through a four-directional path, namely, forward, upward, rearward and downward, and functions first to fold the wrapper about the top and sides of the bottle group at the first treating station and then moves the partially formed packages step-by-step past the three treating stations. The completed packages Y are finally delivered to the off-bearing conveyor 23 on which they remain until the adhesive between the bottom iiaps and retaining parts has set.

As best seen in FIGS. l, 6 and 7, the forming and conveying member comprises three elongated, downward opening compartments or boxes 120, 121 and .122 secured to the under-side of a channel lbeam 123, one web of which is secured to a movable supporting frame 124. This frame is mounted for forward and rearward movement on another frame which is mounted for vertical movement on an upstanding stationary frame 126 secured on the base frame. The movement of the forming boxes is controlled by a generally rectangular guide member 127 fixed on a cross piece 128 on the frame 126. The guide member has a pair of inner and outer ribs 129 and 136 which provide a channel within which a roller 131, secured to a depending, V-shaped part -132 on the frame 123 is guided. Y

The frame 124 has a pair of upwardly projecting bosses 134, y134;, apertured to receive a horizontally extending rod 135 having its ends fixedly secured in frame parts 136, 136 of the Yvertically movable frame l125. The parts 136, 136 are suitably apertured to receiveindividually a pair of vertically extending Yrods 137, 137 having their ends xed in bracket elements 138, 138 on the upstanding frame 126.

Means are provided for continuously moving the frame 124 through its guided path. For this purpose a rigid -bar or rod 139 is secured within an apertured boss l140 on the frame 124 so lthat the free end of the rod projects rearward.

The rod 139 is suitably secured to links of a pair of sprocket chains i141, 141 which run respectively over two groups of sprockets, including two pairs of upper sprockets 142, 142e and two pairs of lower sprockets 143, 143, mounted on shafts journalled between the sprockets on a beam 144 secured to the upright parts of the frame 126. See FIG. l. The shaft 145 which carries sprocketse 142g also has a driving sprocket 146 fixed thereon over which passes a sprocket chain 147' (see FIGS. 1 and 6) which extends down and passes around a sprocket 148 on a jack shaft 149. lThis shaft is driven at a substantially uniformspeed while the forming member is moving on the downward, Vforward and upward legs of its closed path. On the rearward'travel ofthe forming member it is moved at an accelerated rate of speed. ForV shaft 116. The gear 151 has a crankpin v-152 .that is received in a slot'of a crank lever 153` keyed on the shaft l116. While the crank pin is in the portion of the slot of 109 and the other carries a.k cam roller 114 bearing on a Y rotatable cam -115H(see FIG. VV6) fixed on a shaft 116, suitablyjournalled on the base Yframe. Rotation of the cam 115 opens and closes the stop elements 105, 105 once for each completeV rotation.

Operation of the stops is timed with the movement ofthe rods 79 which support the wrapper blank and Vwith the forming and conveying` the crank lever nearest the axis ofthe shaft 116 the movement transmitted to the gear 151 is slower than when the crank pin it in positions more remote from the axis of the shaft. The ratios of the various gearsfand the position of the crank lever with respect to the position of the frame 1241's such that the most rapid motion transmitted to the shaft 149 is when the frame 124 is in its rearward movement and guided along the upper part of the guide channel. Y f

'I'he vertically movable `frame 125 is counterbalanced to relieve strain on the driving gear. For this purpose outwardly projecting lugs 156, 156 project from the frame parts 136. The ends of sprocket chains 157, 157 are respectively secured to these lugs. The chains pass over individual sprockets y158 rotatable on spindles located in the upper part of the frame 126. The other end of each chain is secured to a coil spring 159 having its lower end suitably secured on the base frame. For a more detailed disclosure of the mechanism for operating the conveying and forming member reference is made to pending application above referred to, Serial No. 83 8,276.

rI'he forming boxes 120, 121 and 122 are substantially identical and for simplicity only the box 120 will be described in detail. The front and rear walls of the box (see FIGS. 6 and l2) indicated at 160 and -161 extend below the lower edges of the side members '162 and 163, The top 164 of the inverted box is secured to the bottom web of channel beam 123. Beneath the top 164 is supported a follower element 165 having a central longitudinal portion 166 arranged to bear upon the top panel of the wrapper blank between the rows of bottles, and having laterally extending portions 167, 167 to engage the top panel of the blank inwardly of the bottles at the ends of the bottle group. The follower 165 is guided by a pair of pins or rods 168 secured at their lower ends to the follower and passing at their upper end portions through apertured bosses 169 secured on the horizontal web of the channel member 123. Coil springs 170, bearing at their lower ends against the follower, surround the pins 168 and have their upper ends bearing against the top wall 164 to urge the follower downward. Heads 171 on the pins limit their downward movement.

In the operation of the first forming box 120 at the rst treating station let it be assumed that the wrapper blank has been delivered to its supported position on the rods 79 and the bottle group has moved into position against the stops A165. The forming box will have completed its forward motion and will be travelling rearwardly along its closed path. At approximately the time when the forming box begins its downward travel, the cam 98 will rotate so that its high section willbear against the cam follower, moving it clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6. This will cause the linkage connections to swing segmental gear 87 and rotate pinions 86 in opposite directions, causing the arms S3, 83 to swing down to positions where the support rods 79, 79 will move down, as shown in FIG. l0, a sutiicient distance to allow the blank to drop or move down with its apertures around the bottle necks and with the top panel resting against the shoulders of the bottles. Just following release of the blank the cam 115 (see FIGS. 6 and 1l) will be rotated to engage cam follower 114 against the high section of the cam, vthus moving the rocker arm 112 clockwise as viewed in these figures, causing racks 107 to move down and rack bars with their stops 105, 105 to move apart. This clears the necessary space for the leading end 160 of the box 120 to move down in facial contact with the forward end of the bottle group. The trailing end of the box 161 will move down along the trailing end of the bottle group.

As the box 120 moves down toward theV bottle group, with the stops separated and the blank released, the ends 160 and 161 slide along the front and rear of the bottle group and the follower 165 will engage the top panel of the blank (see FIG. 13) to bring this panel snugly down upon the shoulders of the bottles. Further movement will bring the sides 162, 162 of the box against the wrapper side walls 40, 48 to fold such side walls down along the sides of the bottles. The forming member will then have reached the limit of downward travel and will then move forward to deliver the bottle group, with folded wrapper thereon, to the second forming station where the bottle group will be left as the forming member moves upwardly away from the group.

As soon as the bottle group clears the rst station the Second T rearing Station At the second treating station two functions are performed. The first is to prefold the flap 41 in below the plate 59 and the second is to bring this flap up into direct supporting contact with the bottles. This second step is performed as the package begins to be transferred from the second to the third station. The plate 59 on which the package is brought to rest at the second station has a width somewhat less than the width of the bottle group. See FIG. 16, which shows the edge of plate 59 terminating midway of the center of the row on the left, as viewed in FIG. 16. Plate 59 is supported on a pair of vertical posts 174, 174 welded to one of a pair of parallel bars 10a and 18h secured on the base frame. Side guide bars 175 and 176, supported respectively on vertical brackets 177, 177 and 178, `178, retain the packages in proper alignment on the plate 59. These guide bars preferably extend to points adjacent the off-bearing conveyor 26. The guide bars are preferably ared outward, at their receiving ends as shown in FIG. l5, to engage the sides of the wrapper and keep them against the bottle group.

The means for prefolding the first bottom ap 41 comprise an elongated folding element 180 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) which is in the form of an angle bar extending longitudinally of the plate 59. This angle bar is secured on a pair of blocks 181, 181 having guide rods 182 secured therein, slidable in openings in brackets 183 secured on frame member 10b. A link 184 connected to each block 181, has its outer end pivotally connected to rocker arm 185 secured on a rock shaft 186 Supported on the base frame. A short rocker arm 187 is secured on bar 186 and has its lower end pivotally connected to a reciprocable cam-actuated member 188 having a bifurcated end 189, slidably related to a hub 190 of rotary cam 191 secured on a longitudinally extending shaft 192. This shaft 192 carries a bevel gear 193 at its end which meshes with a similar bevel gear 194 on driven shaft 116. See FIGS. 7 and 16.

The member 188 has a cam follower roller 195 which bears on the edge of cam 191 and is held in firm contact with the cam by a coil spring 196 secured to member 188 at one end and to the base frame at its other end. As the high section of cam 191 moves into contact with the follower, the rock lever -185 will be forced to the right, as viewed in FIG. 16, and the folding element 180 will fold flap 41 inwardly beneath the plate 59. The timing is such that the Vfolder moves inward after the package is brought to rest at the second station and is moved outward before the forming and conveying member engages the package to move it away from the second station.

After the fiap 41 has been folded, as above described, the next step is to bring it into flat contact with the bottoms of the bottles. For this purpose the plate 59 is preferably terminated a short distance beyond the point where the leading edge of box 12()v stops in its advancing movement. A narrow portion of a plate 197 is preferably disposed in the same plane with plate 59 and an adjacent portion of plate 197, indicated at 198, is inclined or curved downward below the level of plate 59. As `the package is advanced from the second station by the middle forming box 121 the tlap 41 rides up on this sloping portion 198 so as to slide along the plate 197 where it will come into position between the plate and the bottoms of the bottles as the package is advanced.

T hrd Treating Station At the third treating sta-tion four principal functions are performed. The first is to prefold upwardly the bottleretaining corner parts 52 and 53 on the flap 41 that were Yin EG. l 18.

swingrand bear against thepackage. Thus, the wrapper folded upward and then brought into supporting relation with the bottles as the package was moved to the third station. The second step is to bring the upper and lower narrow panels 39, 30 and 34, 34 snugly against the respective bottle shoulder surfaces and the sloping surfaces between the bottle side walls and bottoms. The third step is to prefold the second ap 42 into position belo'w the` plate 197, and the fourth step is to bring this ap into lapping relation with flap 41 and into supporting relation to the bottles above such flap.

As shown in FIGS. 7, l7 and 18, the plate 197 extends the length of the third station and is supported in asimilar manner to plate 59 upon posts 199 welded to longitudinal frame Vbar 10b. Immediately after the package isibrought to the third station by the center box 121 and the box has risen free of the package, it is desirable to urge the narrow panels against the bottle shoulders and against the inwardly curved or inclined bottle surfaces between the sides and bottoms of the bottles, as best seen in FiG. 18. For this purpose two sets of clamping members are employed, one set operation on each side of the package.

ling elements 29S having their upper ends curved toward the path of the packages and carrying a clamp rod 206, which will engage the narrow upper panel of the wrapper. The block 204 carries a lower clamp element 207 with a bevelled face toengage the lower narrow panel of the wrapper. The' clamping member is moved toward and from the'package by a linkage system including a link 2&8 joined to'a bracket depending from the block2tl4. Thislink is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 209 fixed on a rock shaft A2142i extending longitudinally of the machine with its ends mounted in thevbase frame members. The rock shaft 210 is operated bycarnmeans which also operates clamping members at the fourth treating station, and such cam means will be described in due course in the description of the fourth station.

For supporting the clamping member 261 a bracket 211 suitably carried on the ,base frame, pivotally supports a rockV bar, the end of which is indicated at 212. A-pair of rods 213 are rsecured on the bar 212 to extend vertically.` At their upper ends the rods 213 have a clamping element 214 securedV thereto, adapted to engage the adjacent, upper narrow panel of the wrapper. To engage the lower narrow wrapper'panel there is secured a rod 215 close to and parallel with the rock'bar 212. Projecting outwardly of the bar 212 is a lever 216 to which is pivotally connected a link rod 217, which is in turn pivotally connected to a rock lever 218 fixed on a rock `shaft 219 suitably mounted on the base frame to extend longitudinally of the frame andV parallel with the rock shaft 219. The means for rocking the rock shaft 19 comprises a downwardly extending lever 226 fixed to shaft 210, having a link rod 221 pivotally connected at its end. The link rod y221 isV pivotally connected at its other end to a lever 222 xed to and extending upwardly from the rock shaft 219. It is apparent that when the cam operated rock shaft 210 is moved clockwise, as viewed in FIG. i8, the clamping means 260 will move against the package. Likewise, since the'link rod 221 will move toward the left, this will cause link 218 to swing in a counterclockwise direction, bringing the links 213 and 217 .into substantially a straight line, as shown This causes the clamping member 291 to 12. will be Vpressed firmly against the bottle group by each clamping member. It is to be noted that the clamp rod 215 will swing downward against narrow panel 34 with a wiping action.

While the clamping members are held against the package the bottle retaining parts '52, 53 at the opposite edges of the blank, as Well as centrally of the blank, are folded upward for the purpose of prebreaking the score lines and facilitating the final folding operation of the two overlapping, companion sets of retaining parts at the fourth station. For this purpose there are provided four vertically extending folding blades or fingers 225,V

226, 227 and 228, arranged to move upward through an opening 229 in the plate 197. TheV blades are triangular in horizontal cross section and the edges are arrangedV to bear against the fold line between each respective pair of folded portions 52 and 53, as illustrated in FIG. 19. it is apparent that as the foldably connected portions are raised by the blades, the portion 53, which is carried on the portion 52, will bear against an adjacent end bottle Y and will -thus be folded symmetrically with the portion 52 while the fold line between the two portions will assume a vertical position.

The folding blades are secured at their lower ends on a bar 23%)' held on the upper side of a vertically movable frame 231 having openings into which are received vertical guide rods 232, 232 and 233, 233 secured between lower frame membersll and upper frame members lila Vand 10b. On centrally located lugs extending down from the underside of the frame 231 is a cam follower roller 234 arranged 'to bear uponga rotary cam 235 fixed on shaft 192. vA coil spring 236, having one end secured to the frame 231 and the other secured to the base frame, tends tourge theframe downward to keep the follower in contact with the face of the cam 235. The action of the camV is such that the blades will be moved upward immediately after the wrapper holding clamps have moved inward against the package. The blades need not remain in raised positionfor more'than a short interval so will move downward promptly after being raised.

While the clamping members continue to be held against the package, the flap 42 is folded beneath the plate 197 i by the folding mechanism at the third station. The means for folding this ap comprises an elongated folding element 237 (see FIGS. 7 and `18) which is in the form of an angleV bar extending longitudinally of the plate 197. This angle bar is'secured on a pair of blocks 238, 238 having guide rods 239 secured therein, slidable in openings in brackets 240 secured on frame member 10a. A rock lever 241,.having an elongated pin-receiving opening Y in its upper end,.is connected to an outwardly extending bracket 242,*carrying a pivot pin received in the elongated opening. The rock lever is mounted on a rock shaft supported on the frame and ispivotally connected at its lower end to the end of a cam-actuated member 243 having a bifurcated Yend Y244, slidably related to a hub 245 of a rotary cam 246 secured on the shaft 192. 24'3 has'a cam follower ro1ler147 which bears on theV edge of cam 246 and is held in firm contact with the cam by a coil spring 248 secured Ato member 243. at one end to 'the base frame at its other end. As. the high section of cam 246 moves into contact with the follower, the upper end of rock lever 241 will move to they left, as

Y viewed in FIG. 18, andthe folding element237V will fold The timing is The member 13 depress the tabs 39, 39 in the nger openings 3S. See FIGS. 2 and 7.

The final step of bringing flap 42 into lapping relation with ap 41 and into supporting relation to the bottles is effected as the third box, after coming down over the package, advances it to the fourth station. For this purpose an elongated plate 251, which extends the length of the fourth station, has a downwardly inclined end portion 252, similar in function to the inclined end 198 of plate 197. This inclined end portion extends below the end of the plate 197, and the latter is terminated to provide a gap to permit the folded iiap 42 to slide edgewise therethrough. See FIG. 7. Thus, as the package is advanced, tiap 42 rides up the inclined end 252 and is brought between the bottles and plate 251. The glued edge portion of ilap 42 will also be brought into lapping contact with the edge portion of ap 41.

Fourth T rearing Station At the fourth treating station three functions are performed. The first is to clamp the wrapper again snugly about the bottle group and next, while the wrapper is so clamped, the two sets of end retaining portions, which at this station are in overlapping position, are folded up by additional folding blades. The third operation is to force the Y-shaped locking elements on ap 42 through the openings in ap 41.

The plate 251 on which the package is brought to rest at the fourth station (see FIG. 20) is supported on vertical posts, two of which are indicated at 254, 254, having their lower ends welded on the longitudinal members a and 10b. The plate 251 has an elongated opening to admit the four folding blades 255, 256, 257 and 258.

Immediately after the package is brought to the fourth station by the leading box 122 and such box has risen free of the package, clamping members 260 and 261 at this station will again clamp the wrapper firmly about the bottle group, bearin gupon the upper and lower narrow panels of the wrapper as previously done at the third station. 'I'he members at this station are preferably symmetrical and are supported on reversely disposed L-shaped brackets 262 and 263 suitably secured to respective frame members 10b and 10a. The upper end of each bracket has a pair of guide openings to receive reciprocable rods 264 and 265. The ends of the pairs of rods are secured respectively in blocks 266 and 267 upon which are secured upstanding clamp elements 268 and 269, having inwardly curved upper ends and carrying clamp rods 270 and 271 which engage respectively the opposite narrow upper panels of the wrapper. The blocks 266 and 267 each carry inwardly directed pieces indicated respectively at 272 and 273 which have -bevelled faces arranged to t the downwardly and inwardly sloping lower, narrow panels at opposite sides of the package.

On the lower sides of blocks 266 and 267 are depending lugs onto each of which is pivotally secured a link, indicated at 274 and 275, connected respectively to rock levers 276 and 277 secured on rock shafts 210 and 219, referred to above in describing the third station. Fixed on shaft 210 is a depending arm 27S at the lower end of which is pivotally connected a cam-actuated member 279 having a bifurcated end 280, slidably related to a hub 281 of a rotary cam 282 secured on the shaft 192. The member 279 has a cam follower roller 283 which bears on the edge of cam 282 and is held in firm contact with the cam by a coil spring 284 secured to member 279 at one end and to the base frame at theV other end. This cam mechanism operates the clamping members simultaneously at both stations three and four. As the high section of cam 282 moves against the follower, the arm 278 swings clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 20. This causes clockwise turning of rock shaft 210 and counterclockwise turning of rock shaft 219 which will bring both sets of clamping members at the third and fourth stations into their clamping positions. The timing is such that both 14 sets of clamping members will move inward against the package promptly after the forming member moves upwardly, clear of the package.

Immediately after the clamping members move against the package the vertically movable blades for shaping the bottle retaining members will be caused to rise by means of mechanism similar to that employed at the third station. The blades are mounted on a frame 287 guided on xed, vertical rods. The frame has a cam follower roller 288 held in a depending lugs centrally of the frame. The roller 288 bears on a rotary cam 289 fixed on shaft 192 and the frame is urged downwardly by coil spring 290. As the high section of the cam 289 moves beneath roller 288 the frame with its blades is lifted into contact with the foldably connected portions 52a and 53a on the wrapper flap 42. At this station each one of the series of foldable portions of flap 41 that form retaining members are in overlapping relation with the companion foldable portion on flap 42. As indicated in FIG. 2, a strip of adhesive is applied that coats the foldable retaining member portions 52a and 53a across the entire blank as well as parts in between the foldable portions. Thus, as the retaining members are folded into their upright positions, as shown in FIG. 5, it is to be understood that the glued surface of the portions 52a and 53a will lie against the companion portions 52 and 53. The vertically movable blades will engage these portions along their fold lines and the flat parts of the blades will bear against the portions 52a and 53a, on one side, and the portions 52 and 53 at the other side will bear against the surfaces of the adjacent end bottles of each package unit of six bottles.

Simultaneously with the operation above described a group of four linger elements 293, 293 fixed on the frame 287 move upwardly against the Y-shaped locking parts 46, 46 on ap 42 and force each of these parts through individual openings 44 in flap 41 as indicated in FIG. 23.

The timing of the cam mechanism is such that the blades and ngers on frame 287 will be withdrawn downwardly out of contact with the package and the clamping members will spread apart before the forming member begins its next advancing movement. The completed package at the fourth station is then ready to be moved to the conveyor 23. To effect this movement there is atiixed to the leading face of the forming member a pusher bracket 294 which is brought into position at the trailing end of the package and ejects the package from the fourth station as the forming member advances.

The conveyor 23 is supported on suitable side frame members and comprises a pair of sprocket chains 295 passing around sprockets 296 on shaft 297. For simplicity, only the receiving end of conveyor 23 is illustrated and it is to be understood that the discharge end may be similarly constructed. The links of the conveyor chains support narrow, transversely extending plates in groups of three indicated at 298:1, 298]?, 298C. The eective dimension of the groups of plates measured lengthwise of the conveyor is preferably slightly greater than the width of a package. The inner plate 298b may be made somewhat narrower than the plates on each side and these plates 298b carry short, upstanding posts 299, 299 of a size and shape to lit snugly within the angles of the bottle retaining members. See FIGS. 24 and 25.

The conveyor 23 is driven step-by-step to advance a distance slightly more than a package width. The conveyor is timed with the forming member and after each Y forward movement, the conveyor will stop so that the intermediate plates 29811 are at an inclination Iand the upper ends of the upstanding posts 299 -will not extend above the general level of the plates. An L-shaped supporting member 380 is supported on the conveyor frame at the receiving end of the conveyor. As each package is moved from the fourth station by the pusher bracket 294, it will slide on the narrow conveyor plate 298a and on the horizontal part of the L-shaped member 300. As

therconveyor then advances one step, the posts on plate 298b will move up into position in the angles of the bottle retaining members and will hold these members upright. The retaining members will be held thus until the adhesive has set. The plates of the conveyor 23 may be slidably supported on rails between the sprockets to guide the plates evenly in a single plane. At the discharge end of conveyor 23 the packages may be removed mechanically or by hand, as desired.V v

The drive -for the bottle conveyor, forming member and cam shaft 192 is taken from a motor 301 connected through suitable transmission to gearing within gear box 302, from which yis driven a shaft 303 on which is iixed a pinion 304 meshing with a spur gear .305 on shaft 116. See FIGS. 6 and 7. A sprocket 306 xed on shaft 116 drives a sprocket chain Y307 passing around sprocket 308 on shaft 56 which carries sprocket 55 to drive the bottle conveyor. The cam shaft 99 is driven by a sprocket 369 thereon'around which passes a chain 310 and which in `turn passes around a sprocketiixed on shaft 56. The vacuum cup arm 61 and pusher nger 65 may be operatively connected to cams secured to shaft 99, or Vmay be operated in any other desired manner, the details of which are not vital to the mechanism of the present invention.

The conveyor 23 is suitably driven step-by-s'tep by means of a crank 312 secured on shaft 192. 'Ihis stepby-step driving means may be substantially identical to the drive illustrated for-the off-bearing conveyor in the pending application, Serial No. 838,276, above referred to, or it may be driven step-by-step by `other conventional mechanism.

All of the cams in practice are adjustable to.obtain the `exact synchronism required in the operation Yof vthe various parts. The approximate positioning and shape of the Various cams have been illustrated 4but it is to be understood that these details have not necessarily been shown with exactitude. v

To summarize the operation-for each full movement of the forming member 18 through its closed path a segregated group of bottles will be advanced against the stop-mechanism` 58 and a freshly glued blank will be deposited on the blank support rods 79 at the first treating station. At a point in the travel of the forming member suicientlyahead of its larrival on the downward leg of its movement, the support rods will be withdrawn from j station@ When the box 12) has moved forward the blank support rods and the stops will return to their previous positions. After the box 120 moves away from the package at the second station, and while the packagey is at rest, the flap 41 will be folded under plate 59 by the Afolder 180.

The package Yis then Vready to be advanced, which is done by therse'cond or middle boxV 121. As the package moves forward the flap 41-rides up the inclined part 198 of plate 197 and the ilap is Ythus brought between the bottles and such plate.

At the third station the foldable bottle retaining portions 52 and 53 on 1lapf41 are folded up to pre-break their score lines, side clampsV are applied to the narrow panels of the wrapperto cause these panels to engageV closely the sloping Yshoulders and inwardly sloping lower ends of the bottles.V After theY folding bladeswhich have engaged the portions 52 and 5.3 have Vmoved down, the

Y. folder 237 moves against flap 442 and folds it'beneath ,thea-plater197. The clamps `at Ythethird station are re- The.

l tracted and the leading box'122'encompasses the package and moves it forward. The folded flap V42 will move up the inclined end of plate 251, thus bringing the glued edge portion of this flap beneath the edge of flap 41 as the package moves to the -fourth station.

While the package is at rest at the fourth station the package is again pressed snugly about the bottle group in a manner similar to 'that of the third station and while the 4clamps are in their holding position'folding blades move up to raise the overlapping portions of the bottle retaining members to their upright position. At the same time the Y-shaped locking parts of'ilap 42 are pressed through the openings 44 in flap 41 by fingers 293. The clamps, folding blades and lock operating lingers then move away from the package. The forming member, then having moved down, will engage the package -at the fourth station and will push it onto the conveyor 23 by the pusher bracket 294. As the conveyor moves astep forward the posts 299 on the narrow conveyor plates will move into position to hold the upfolded retainer member n vertical position while the adhesive sets.

From the-foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides an eifective mechanism for the production of bottle packages in which the wrapper snugly encloses the bottles. By providing a conveying and forming member with package advancing boxes each of which is provided with 'a follower to bear'upon 'the wrapper`top panel this part of the wrapper is kept in the desired'position as other portions of the wrapper are treated. At the third and fourth stations. The downward pressure "that is applied to the top panel and the inward pressureapplied by the clamping means tends to assure the correct infolding of the second bottom flap and overlapping of VtheV 'two ilaps as well as the correct upward folding of the retaining members which engage the end bottles of the packages. Further, by the transfer ofthe completed packages to the off-bearing conveyor equipped with small `posts for erngaging within the angles of the bottle retaining members and retaining these posts in such position until the Vadhesive has set, theproduction of an effective package is assured.

While the present description sets forth a preferred'erm- Y Y bodiment of the invention, numerous changes maybe made in the construction without departing from'the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desiredV that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A machine for packing two rows of bottles or similar articles within an open-end, Wrap-around carton ofthe type comprising a at, rectangular blank having a central Y top'wall panel formed with die-cut openings ofV a'size Y to receive the necks ofthe bottles-,to be enclosed and allowing the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottleY tion along a fixed path, means for retaining a group of a predetermined number of bottles at an assembly station on saidv conveying means, means for applying adhesive along the free edge of a bottom flap of a carton of the type referred to, and means for assembling such carton V'with Y the die-cut openings in the top panel surrounding thene'cks Y of a group of bottles at the assembly station, forming'and advacing means comprising an open-bottom', box-like elernent of Ya size to iit overthe bottle group, guide means Yfor the forming element for controlling its movement through;

a rectangular pathin a vertical plane,one'portion o'f-'the path of the forming element on the guide means being vertically downward over the assembly station to encompass the bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold the blank side panels about the sides of the bottle group, the second portion of the path of the forming element on the guide means being forwardly of the conveying path to advance the assembled bottle group and blank beyond the assembly station, the third portion of the path being, vertically upward to remove the forming element from the bottle group, and mechanism effective after the bottle group has advanced beyond the assembly station for folding the bottom flaps into lapping relation against the bottoms of the bottles with the adhesive coated surface between the aps.

2. A machine for packing two rows of bottles or similar articles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel, such blank being scored along parallel lines to define the top wall, side panels and bottom iiaps, the free outer corners of each bottom iap being scored along diagonal lines extending across each corner, such lines at the corners of one bottom ap terminating in a slit to provide, at each of such corners, upwardly foldable, dihedral angle portions, and a second upwardly foldable portion on each corner of the other bottom flap adapted to be joined adhesively to the respective dihedral angle portions, such portions forming, when joined as the carton is set up, upstanding retaining members disposed centrally of the ends of the bottom to prevent outward displacement of 'the end bottles, such machine comprising in combination,

supporting means for advancing thereon a group of two rows of bottles with the rows arranged parallel to the path of movement, and on which bottle group a wrapper blank of the type referred to has been placed in assembled relation therewith, having each side flap and attached bottom ap folded down about the sides of the bottle group and with one of the bottom aps having had applied thereto a fresh coating of adhesive along its edge portion, means for folding the unglued bottom iiap into supporting position beneath the row of bottles adjacent such flap, means acting in sequence for folding the adhesive coated flap into supporting position beneath the other row of bottles and in lapping relation with the opposite bottom flap, and means for folding upwardly the cooperating portions at the free corners of the bottom iiaps, whereby said portions may be adhesively secured in permanently upstanding position.

3. A machine, as dened in claim 2, having combined therewith an o-bearing conveyor adapted to be advanced step-by-step not less than the width of a completed bottle package, and disposed with its path of travel at right angles to the path of travel ofthe bottle groups, intermittently operating means for moving a package endwise onto the ott-bearing conveyor, said off-bearing conveyor comprising a plurality of groups of narrow plates extending transversely of its travel for supporting the packages transferred thereto, one of said plates located centrally of each group having spaced, upstanding, short posts thereon spaced to fit individually within the angle of the upright bottle retaining -members to hold the cooperating portions of said members in contactduring advance of the conveyor while vthe adhesive between the portions becomes set.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, in which the groups of narrow plates are secured on sprocket chain links, rotatable sprockets for said chains, the axes of said sprockets being olset from the path of delivery of the packages in the direction of advancing movement of the off-bearing conveyor, such conveyor being brought to rest between its intermittent movements with the posts on the centrally located plates inclined on the contour of the sprockets, whereby the upper ends of the posts will remain below the general supporting surface of the oft-bearing conveyor, and an independent, at supporting member supported at the level of the conveyor and in close relation to the sprockets, whereby packages, when delivered endwise onto the off-bearing conveyor, are supported in part by a conveyor plate and in part yby the independent supporting member. if l 5. In a machine for packing a group of two rows of bottles or similar articles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a dat, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank having parallel scores therein defining side panels with narrow panels between the side and top panels arranged to bear on the sloping shoulders of the bottle group to be enclosed, the blank including bottom flaps adapted to be secured in lapping relation beneath the bottle group, the combination of means for supporting a bottle group to receive a blank of the type described with the necks of the bottles projecting through the die-cut openings in the top panel, an open-bottom, box-like forming element of a size to fit over the bottle group, means for moving the forming member down over the assembled blank and bottle group to fold the side panels to extend along the sides of the bottle group, a thin, elongated, stationary plate disposed in operative relation to the supporting means for the bottle group, means for moving the forming element into position longitudinally over said plate while encompassing the blank and bottle group to transfer the bottle group onto the plate, means for moving the forming element upwardly out of encompassing relation to the bottle group, a clamping element at a side of the plate mounted for in and out movement to clamp a narrow panel irmly against the sloping shoulder of the bottle group, means for moving the clamping element, a reciprocable bottom flap folder arranged to cooperate with the clamping element and having a folding bar extending lengthwise alongside the plate and arranged for limited inward movement transversely to the plate and in close relation to its under surface to fold a bottom flap inward beneath the plate, means for moving the flap folder to its folding position timed to operate while the clamping element is in clamping relation to the narrow panel.

6. In a machine for packing a group of two rows of bottles or similar articles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank having parallel scores therein defining side panels and bottom iiaps with narrow panels between the side and top panels arranged to bear on the sloping shoulders of the bottle group to be enclosed and with additional narrow panels to bear on the rounded lower ends of the bottles, the bottom flaps being adapted to be secured in lapping relation beneath the bottle group, the combination of means for supporting a bottle group to receive a blank of the type described with the necks of the bottles projecting through the die-cut openings in the top panel, open-bottom, box-like forming element of a size to lit over the bottle group, means for moving the forming member down over an assembled blank and bottle group to fold the side panels to extend along the sides of the bottle group, a thin, elongated, stationary plate disposed in operative relation to the supporting means for the bottle group, means for moving the forming element into position longitudinally over said plate while encompassing the blank and bottle group to transfer the bottle group onto the plate, means for moving the forming element upwardly out of encompassing relation to the bottle group, a pair of upper vand lower clamping elements at aside of the plate mounted for in and out movement to clamp the upper and lower narrow panels firmly against the respective sloping shoulder and lower rounded corner of the bottle group, means for moving the pair of clamping elements, a reciprocable bottom iiap folder arranged to cooperate with the clamping elements and having a folding bar extending lengthwise alongside the plate and arranged for l@ limited inward movement transversely to the plate and in close relation to its under surface to fold a bottom flap inward beneath the plate, means for moving the flap` folder to its folding position timed to operate while the clamping elements are in clamping relation to the narrow panels.

7. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end, Wrap-around carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank having a central top wall formed with die-cut openings to receive the necks of bottles to be enclosed, such blank being scored along parallel lines to dene the top wall panel, side panels and bottom aps, such machine comprising, in combination, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing a group of bottles in upright position along a iixed path, movable stop means for retaining a group of bottles at an assembly station at the discharge end of said conveyor, means for delivering a wrapper blank of the type referred to onto a bottle group at the assembly station, an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold the side walls down about the sides of the bottle grcupsupporting and guiding means for the forming element to guide it from a position above the blank and bottle group vertically downward to encompass the blank and bottle group and thereafter to advance such group beyond the end of the conveyor, and mechanism for moving the stop means from its bottle engaging position prior to the movement of the forming element into full encompassing relation to the bottle group and wrapper blank.

8. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank having a central top wall formed with die-cut openings to receive the necks of bottles to be enclosed, such blank being scored along parallel lines to define'the top wall panel, side panels and bottom flaps, such machine comprising, in combination, a continuously operating conveyor for advancing a group of bottles in upright position along a lixed path, movable stop means for retaining a group of bottles at an assembly station at the discharge end of said conveyor, displaceable blank supports adjacent the stop means and above the group of bottles held by the stop means at the assembly station, means for delivering a wrapper blank of the type referred to onto the displaceable supports, means for displacing the sup'- ports to release the blank onto a bottle group at the assembly station, an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold the side walls down about the sides of the bottle group, supporting and guiding means for the forming element to guide it from a position above the blank and bottle group vertically downward to encompass the blank and bottle group and thereafter to advance such group beyond'the end of the conveyor, and mechanism for moving the stop means from its bottle engaging position prior to the movement of the forming element into full encompassing relation to the bottle group and wrapper blank.

9. A machine for packing two row ofrbottles within an open-end, wrap-around carton ofthe type comprising a rectangular blank having a central top wall formed Y il Y Y open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold the side walls down about the sides of the bottle group, supporting and giuding means for the forming element to guide it from a position above the blank and bottle group vertically downward to encompass the lblank and Ibottle group and thereafter to advance such group beyond the end of the conveyor, the meansr for moving the displaceable supports' being timed to displace the supports immediately prior to the engagement of the forming element with the wrapper blank.

l0. A machine for packing two row of bottles within an openend, wrap-around carton of the type comprising Y a ilat, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored along parallel lines to deline the top wall panel, side panels and bottom flaps, such machine comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancing a group of two rows of bottles in upright positionrto an assembly station at its discharge end, bottom ap folding mechanism located beyond the discharge end of the Vconveyor, including a lfixed, elongated plate aligned with the conveyor to support a bottle group discharged from the conveyor, means for depositing a flat blank of the type referred to onto the bottles at said assembly station with the die-cut openings in the top panel surrounding the necks of the bottles, an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to tit over the top and sides of the bottle group, guiding and supporting means for movably guiding the forming element from a position above the blank and bottle group vertically downward over such blank and bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold the side walls down about the sides of the group,

Y said guiding means'being formed to guide the forming with die-cut openings to `receive the necks'of bottles to K ports, means for moving the supports to release theYY Yblank'onto a bottle group at'the assembly station, and an and advancing element beyond the discharge end ofthe conveyor and onto the elongated plate of the bottom` ap folding mechanism.

11. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an openend, wrap around carton of the type comprising a flat, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed to allow the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored along parallel lines to define the top wall panel, sidepanels and lbottom liaps, such machine comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancing a groupof two rows of bottles in upright position to an assembly station at its discharge end, bottom ap folding mechanism located beyond the discharge end of the conveyor, including a fixed, thin, elongated plate aligned with the conveyor to support a bottle group discharged from the conveyor and including a transversely movable folder arranged to move inward closely below the plate, means for depositing a ilat blank of the type referred to onto the bottles at said assembly station with the die-cut openings in the top panel surrounding the necks of the bottles, an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottle group, guiding and supporting means for movably guid-V ing the forming element ythrough a closed, rectangularY path, one portion of theV path being from a position above the assembly station vertically downward over theblank and bottle group to pressthe top panel against the vance the assembled bottle group and blank from the assembly'station on the conveyor and onto said plate, Vthe third portion of the path of the guiding means being vertically upward to elevate the forming element and leave the bottle group and wrapper on the plate, and means operable following the upward movement of the forming element to move the folder inwardly beneath the plate to fold one of the bottom flaps.

l2. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a flat, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored along parallel lines to deline the top wall panel, side panels and bottom aps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sides and between the sides and bottom flaps, such narrow panels being adapted respectively to engage against the sloping shoulder portions and rounded lower portions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancing a group of two rows of bottles in upright position to an assembly station at its discharging end, bottom flap folding mechanism located beyond the discharge end of the conveyor, including a xed, thin, elongated plate aligned with the conveyor to support a bottle group discharged from the conveyor, means for depositing a llat blank of the type referred to onto the bottles at said assembly station with the die-cut openings in the top panel surrounding the necks of the bottles, an open-bottom, boxlike, forming and advancing element of a size to fit over the top and sides of the bottle group, guiding and supporting means for movably guiding the forming element through a closed, rectangular path, one portion of the path being from a position above the assembly station vertically downward over the blank and bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold the side wall panels down about the sides of the group, the second portion of the path of the forming element on the guiding means being longitudinally of the conveyor and elongated plate to advance the assembled bottle group and blank from the assembly station on the conveyor and onto said plate, the third portion of the path of the guiding means being vertically upward to elevate the forming element and leave the bottle group and wrapper on the plate, means operable following the rising movement of the forming element to press the narrow panels against the bottle shoulders and the rounded bottom portions of the rows of bottles, and means operable while such narrow panel pressing means is in pressing position to actuate the bottom ap folding mechanism to fold a bottom ap inwardly beneath the plate.

13. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored along parallel lines to dene the top wall panels, side panels and bottom ilaps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sides and between the sides and bottom aps, such narrow panels being adapted respectively to engage the sloping shoulder portions and rounded lower portions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, means for grouping bottles, means for assembling a wrapper blank of the type described over a bottle group with the bottle necks projecting through the die-cut openings, means for pressing the top panel onto the shoulders of the bottles and simultaneously folding downward the side wall portions of the blank about the sides of the bottle group, and a pressing element having upper and lower, elongated portions each extending longitudinally of the carton side walls and movable toward the blank in a direction at right angles to the side walls for pressing inwardly lengthwise of the respective upper and lower narrow panels to bring them rmly against the bottle shoulders and rounded lower portions.

14. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the typecomprising a lat, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored along parallel lines to dene the top wall panel, side panels and bottom flaps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sides and between the sides and bottom aps, such narrow panels being adapted respectively to engage the sloping shoulder portions and rounded lower portions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, means for grouping bottles, means for assembling a wrapper blank of the type described over a bottle group with the bottle necks projecting through the die-cut openings, means for pressing the top panel onto the shoulders of the bottles and simultaneously folding downward the side Wall portions of the blank about the sides of the bottle group, a thin, elongated, stationary plate for supporting the bottle group lengthwise of the rows, an elongated pressing element extending longitudinally of the carton side walls and parallel with the stationary plate, a support member on which the pressing element is mounted, said support member being movable in a lateral direction transverse to the length of the stationary plate to move the pressing element bodily transversely of such plate and laterally toward the carton side walls to bear uniformly lengthwise along a narrow panel to press it directly against the bottle shoulders, and means operable while the pressing element is bearing against the narrow panel for folding one of the bottom llaps beneath the stationary plate.

15. A machine for packing two rows of bottles or similar articles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel, such blank being scored along parallel lines to deline the top wall, side panels and bottom flaps, the free outer corners of each bottom flap being scored along diagonal lines extending across each corner, such lines at the corners of one bottom ap each terminating in a slit to provide, at each of such corners, upwardly foldable, dihedral angle portions, and a second upwardly foldable portion on each corner of the other bottom ap adapted to be joined adhesively to the respective dihedral angle portions, such portions forming, when joined as the carton is set up, upstanding retaining members diS- posed centrally of the ends of the bottom to prevent outward displacement of the end bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, conveying means for advancing a group of two rows of bottles in upright position along a fixed path, means for retaining the group at an assembly point on said path, means for supporting a carton blank of the type referred to in position over a bottle group, such blank having had applied thereto a fresh coating of adhesive along the edge of a bottom ap, means for folding the side panels of the blank to lie along the sides of the bottle group, means for folding the unglued bottom flap into supporting position beneath the row of bottles adjacent such flap, means acting in sequence for folding the adhesive coated ap into supporting position beneath the other row of bottles and in lapping relation with the opposite bottom flap, and means for folding upwardly the cooperating portions at the free corners of the bottom flaps, whereby said portions may be adhesively secured in permanently upstanding position.

16. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the top wall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored along parallel lines to define the top wall panel, side panels and bottom aps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sides and between the sides and bottom ilaps, such narrow panels being adapted respectively to engage the sloping shoulder por- 23 tions and rounded lower portions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, means for grouping bottles, means for assembling a wrapper blank of the type described over a-bottle group with the bottle necks projecting through the die-cut openings, means for pressing the top panel onto the shoulders of the bottles and simultaneously folding downward the side Wall portions of the'KV blank about the sides of the bottle group, a thin, elongateds'tationar'y plate' for supporting the bottle group lengthwise of the rows, means movable toward the blank in a direction transverse to the stationary plate for pressing inwardly lengthwise against the upper narrow panel at one side of the plate tor bring such narrow panel rmly against the adjacent bottle shoulders, said panel pressing means including an elongated wiping element mounted on -a pivotal aXis eXtending lengthwise of the stationary plate and adjacent the rounded lowerY portions of the bottles, means for swingingV the wiping element downwardly toward the score line between the narrow panel and the attached bottom flap ofY thecarton blank to force the narrow panel'progressively against the rounded bottle portions at the lower ends of the row of bottles, and means operable while the wiping element is bearing against the lower narrow panel for folding a bottom ap beneath the stationary plate.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,276,129 wesselman Mar. 1o, 1942 2,351,596v Brogden June 2Q, 1944 2,751,730 Gentry June 26, 1956

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