US3727366A

US3727366A - Casing machine

Info

Publication number: US3727366A
Application number: US00082042A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Schlueter; M Noble
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1970-10-19
Filing date: 1970-10-19
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17

Abstract

Upright containers are fed into the casing machine from a multiple lane supply line, assembled into one tier, and the tier is transferred and reoriented by tiering fingers which deposit the containers in a tiering chamber. The open end of an empty case is manually positioned adjacent the tiering chamber, and pusher feet insert the tier in the case. A feature of the casing machine is a rocking differential which smoothly accelerates and decelerates the tiering fingers to prevent damage to the containers. Other features include a timing pin and chain mechanism which can be manually adjusted to control the number of tiers loaded into a case, rapid change structure in the zone where the tiers are assembled so that the machine is readily adaptable to handle a range of container sizes, and a lowerator mechanism under positive mechanical control for gently lowering the loaded cases to a discharge position.

Description

United States Patent [191 Schlueteret al.

[11] 3,727,366 51 Apr. 17, 1973 CASING MACHINE 75] Inventors: David F. Schlueter, l-loopeston, Vermilion, 111.; Myron C. Noble, St.

Joseph, Ind.

[73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif. 22 Filed: Oct. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 82,042 A Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 757,876, Sept. 6, 1968.

52 U.S.Cl ..53/6l, 53/l64 51 Int. Cl ....B65b 57/10, B65b 35/40 [58] FieldofSearch ..53/61,164

[56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,940,579 6/l96 0 Murphy ..53/164 X 3,201,912 8/l965- Wozniak ..53/6l Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney-Francis W. Anderson [57] ABSTRACT Upright containers are fed into the casing machine from a multiple lane supply line, assembled into one tier, and the tier is transferred andreoriented by tiering fingers which deposit the containers in a tiering chamber. The open end of an empty case is manually positioned adjacent the tiering chamber, and pusher feet insert the tier in the case. A feature of the casing machine is a rocking differential which smoothly accelerates and decelerates the tiering fingers to prevent damage to the containers. Other features include a timing pin and chain mechanism which can bev manually adjusted to control the number of tiers loaded into a case, rapid change structure in the zone where the tiers are assembled so that the machine is readily adaptable to handle a range of container sizes, and a lowerator mechanism under positive mechanical control for gently lowering the loaded cases to a discharge position.

7 Claims, 34 Drawing; Figures INLET END PATENTEU m 1 7 ms sum 0 1 OF 15 INVENTORS DAVID F. SCHL UETER MYRON C. NOBLE [1/ ATTORNEYS H Eh-hfil PATENTEU APR 1 Y 1975 sum 02 OF 15 NiN mmN 5Q 0m m INVENTORS DAVD E SCHLUETER MYRON O. NOBLE ATTORNEYS Pmgmgnnmssn ,7 7,355

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DIFFERENTIAL I00 OUTPUT GEAR I42 80 DIFFERENTIAL KINPUT GEAR I4I so ONE REvoLuTIoN 0F 20 INPUT GEAR I4I AND DIFFERENTIAL CAM s5 o I I I I 6 9'0 Io 2T0 3550" SH! FTER SHIFTER STROKE RETURN START RETURN LOWER RETRACT CONTAINERS Q IN CASE PUSH Tllfimlz INVENTORS DAVID F. SCHLUETER MYRON O. NOBLE ATTORNE Y5 PATENIEB m 1 7 I975 SHEET as; DF 15 F'll3 1 1A INVENTORS DAVlD F. SCHLUETER MYRON c. NOBLE W /L' a 0 ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR 1 71973 sum 10 HF 15 INVENTORS DAVID E SCHLUETER MYRON C. NOBLE ATTORNEYS PATENTEU 1 71975 3, 727, 366

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SHEET lu {1F 15 INVENTORS DAVID E SCHLUETER I? MYRON C. NOBLE AT TOR NE YS PATENTED I 71975 3, 727. 366

SHEET lSUF15 INVENTORS DAVID F. SOHLUITER IYRON C. NOBLE jam ATTORNEYS CASING MACHINE This is a division of application Ser. No. 757,876 filed Sept. 6, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to container handling machines, and particularly to machines which insert a tier or tiers of containers into a case. More specifically, the invention concerns casing machines of the type including sets of aligned tiering fingers which lift multiple row tiers of upright containers from a centrally apertured separator adjoining the end of a container supply line, and which reorient and transfer the tier of containers to a tiering chamber from which they are inserted endwise into a case.

2. Description of the Prior Art The present invention concerns a casing machine of the typedisclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,650,009 to Kerr, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. One disadvantage of the Kerr apparatus is that undesirable shock' loads are sometimesimparted to the containers and to the driving mechanism of the machine because of the sudden engagement of a single revolution clutch which drives the tiering fingers that transfer the containers, and due to the inertia of the fingers and their almost instantaneous acceleration to maximum speed.

Also, the tiering fingers must travel upward approximately 3 inches before contacting the bottoms of each assembled tier of containers to allow time for a shifter mechanism to block the incoming containers that must be isolated from the tier. As a result, the containers are subjected to shock and/or denting because the tiering fingers are moving near maximum velocity at the time they engage the containers. Additional shock and jarring is experienced by the containers as they are transferred onto the floor of a tiering chamber because the tiering fingers which effect the transfer, travel at a constant velocity. Also, containers whose height is approximately equal to or less than their diameter tend to become disorientedwhen entering the tiering chamber at a high velocity and the top rows of containers tend to spill forwardly.

Pusher feet in the patented structure transfer the tiers of containers into a case. The pusher feet trace a path similar to a parallelogram in a vertical plane, and the forward and rearward cycles are identical. The resulting motion is quite rapid, tending to upset tiers of short cans, and the case flaps are sometimes torn by the pusher feet due to their immediate lifting in the rearward stroke.

Another problem with the Kerr apparatus is the difficulty of changing the machine to handle other can sizes or to pack different members of tiers, because a large number of change-over parts and many hours of labor are required to accomplish a conversion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present apparatus is rapidly converted to handle different sizes of containers or to load various numbers of tiers either by adjustment only, or by addition or removal of common parts and with a minimum of parts peculiar only to one size of container. This is accomplished by means including unique timing, counting, sensing and inlet control mechanisms.

An important feature of the present invention is a rocking differential drive mechanism, by means of which the cans are smoothly accelerated from rest to maximum velocity, and are then decelerated as they are deposited on the floor of the tiering chamber where they are assembled into case loads. This eliminates undue shock which might otherwise damage the containers or their product. The tendency for container misorientation or spilling is eilminated by moving pusher feet slowly forward to transfer the tiers of containers into the case, but utilizing a rapid return stroke of the pusher feet so that theoverall cycle is not prolonged. Further, the pusher feet are retracted to clear the case before being lifted at the beginning of the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective of the casing machine of the present invention, with the inlet end of the machine at the right.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the casing machine viewed from the side opposite to the side shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the casing machine viewed from its inlet end. 7

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the drive train ofthe casing machine.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of a shifter mechanism which controls the flow of containers into. the casing machine and is viewed in a downstream direction. I

FIG. 6 is a section taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of two divider units which. cooperatively define a lane for a row of cans in the area indicated by the arrow 7 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken along lines 8-8 on FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective of a rocking differential indicated by the arrow 9 on FIG. 4.

FIG. 9A is a section, at reduced scale, taken through the center of the rocking differential shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the input and output speeds of the rocking differential.

FIG. 10A is an elevation of a cam and follower arm, shown in the FIG. 4 drive train, for rocking the differential.

FIG. 11 is a perspective of pushers, and their mounting and actuating members, views from below, that push a tier of containers into a case.

FIG. 11A is a fragmentary plan indicated by the arrow 11A on FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a trace of the motion of the pushers shownin FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13-16 are fragmentary elevations of a synchronization control shown in FIG. 2, and illustrate successive operational positions of the control elements.

FIGS. 17 and 17A are enlarged fragmentary plans of an inactive and an active timing pin, respectively, which are part of the synchronization control.

FIG. 18 is a perspective primarily illustrating a lowerator which supports an empty case in filling position, and lowers the filled case to a discharge position.

FIG. 18A is an elevation of a lowerator cam which actuates thelowerator shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 18B is a fragmentary elevation of a trip lever mechanism partially shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 19 is a schematic electrical control diagram.

FIGS. 20 and 20A are fragmentary, diagrammatic elevation and plan views, respectively, which illustrate the inlet end portion of the casing machine and an associated supply conveyor.

FIGS. 21 and 21A are diagrammatic elevation and plan views, respectively, illustrating a mechanism for sensing when each of a plurality of longitudinal rows of cans in one assembled tier is complete.

FIGS. 22-26 are fragmentary diagrammatic elevations illustrating the operational sequence of assembling tiers of cans and loading the tiers in a case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General With reference to FIGS. 1 and 21-26, upright containers, such as cans C, are supplied to the casing machine 20 by a multi-lane feed conveyor 22 which is driven from the casing machine. The cans are divided into multiple lanes on the conveyor by conventional means not shown and are separated by lane dividers 24 (FIG. 1). The cans pass through a transversely movable shifter 26 whose vertical partitions 27 are initially aligned with the lane dividers 24.

The cans advance into a separator 28 having vertical partitions 29 in alignment with the lane dividers 24. When all lanes in the separator 28 are completely filled to constitute one tier of a case, a can stop and sensing mechanism 30 in each lane is actuated to initiate a can transfer or tiering cycle.

Certain drive mechanism of the casing machine is now actuated, causing three sets of equally spaced tiering fingers 32 to rotate l20 about a common support shaft. This moves shifter mechanism 26 laterally to temporarily interrupt the flow of incoming cans. The tier of upright cans are lifted from the separator 28 by one set of tiering fingers which reorients the tier 90 and deposits the tier on edge, with the cans in a lying down position, in a tiering chamber 34.

After the desired number of tiers of cans has been assembled in the tiering chamber 34, pusher feet 35 are actuated to move the tiers into a case A which has been manually positioned over a nozzle 38 and is supported by a lowerator 40. The filled case is then lowered to a discharge conveyor or the like by the lowerator.

After the removal of the filled case, placement of an empty case on the nozzle 38 swings the lowerator 40 to its raised position supporting the empty case.

Power Train With more specific reference to the casing machine 20, power is supplied from a motor M (FIGS. 3 and 4) through a speed reducer R to a power shaft 42. Shaft 42 rotates continuously and supplies power through a sprocket and chain drive 44 to the feed conveyor 22.

A tiering input shaft 46 and a pusherlowerator shaft 48 are respectively driven by

single revolution clutches

50 and 52. On their driving sides, clutches have sprockets 54 and 56 (FIG. 4) which are connected by a chain 57 to a sprocket 58 mounted on the power shaft 42.

Shafts

46 and 48 are driven only when their

respective clutches

50 and 52 are engaged, but the

sprockets

54 and 56 rotate continuously in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4.

When the single revolution tiering clutch 50 is engaged, the tiering input shaft 46 rotates in the same direction as the sprocket 54. The rotation of shaft 46 actuates a shifter cam 60 and also drives one side of a rocking differential 62 which operates the tiering fingers 32. The output of the differential 62 drives a sprocket 63 freely mounted on shaft 46. Sprocket 63, by means of a chain 67, drives a tiering sprocket 64 which is attached to one of two spaced spiders 65 that are mounted on a tiering shaft 66.

One set of tiering fingers 32 is mounted on each of three cross-shafts 68 which are carried by the spiders 65. A three to one speed reduction from the differential output sprocket 63 to the tiering sprocket 64 causes the tiering fingers 32 to be rotated 120 for each complete revolution of the tiering input shaft 46.

Upon engagement of the clutch 52, (FIG. 4) a constant rotation is imparted to the pusher-lowerator shaft 48. The vertical motion of the pusher feet 36 is controlled by a pusher lift cam 70 which is mounted on the shaft 48 and actuates a pusher lift arm 72 by means of a pivoted pusher lift lever 73 having a follower roller engaged with the cam. The horizontal motion of the pusher feet 36 is effected by a pusher stroke cam 74 which is mounted on the shaft 48 and actuates a pusher stroke follower arm 75.

As the result of mounting both the pusher lift and stroke cams on a common shaft 48, their resultant motions are coordinated with a lowerator cam 76 on the same shaft 48. The lowerator cam motion is transmitted to the lowerator 40 by a rod 77 (FIGS. 4 and 18A) which is actuated by a cam follower arm 79.

VARIABLE STROKE SHIFTER The vehicle stroke shifter 26 (FIGS. 1 and 5) functions as a blocking device to interrupt the flow of containers from the feed conveyor 22. For this purpose, a shifter bar 78 is displaced one-half of a can diameter so that each of a plurality of the vertical partitions 27 is placed in blocking relation to an incoming row of cans between the lane dividers 24 of the feed conveyor 22.

The shifter bar 78 (FIGS. 5 and 7) carries a depending shifter bracket 88, and slides on a spacer plate 80. Each end of the spacer plate 80 is supported by and secured to a block 81, as shown in FIG. 5. Downwardly open recesses 83 in the spacer plate 80 locate and retain a plurality of support arms 82, one of which is provided for each of the separator plate partitions 29. The shifter bracket 88 has side ribs 89 (FIG. 6) that slide in grooved guide bars 90. The guide bars 90 are mounted on a pair of transverse tie bars 84 that interconnect Iongitudinal side frame members 86. The shifter bracket 88 (FIG. 5) includes a depending arm 91 having a series of holes 92 which provide for adjustment of the amount of lateral shifter stroke for various diameter cans. I

Thus, a follower roller 94 is mounted in a selected hole 92 corresponding to the desired shifter bar displacment, and so mounted, rides in a slot 96 in a shifter cam follower lever 98. The lever 98 is pivotally mounted to the frame of the machine at 99 and is oscillated between the phantom and full line positions shown by a cam follower 100 which is engaged with the shifter cam 60.

SEPARATOR After passing between the partitions 27 through the shifter 26 (FIG. 1) the cans C enter the lanes defined by the partitions 29 (FIG. 7) of the separator 28. Opposite site sides of the cans are supported by ramps 101, adjacent pairs of which are spaced apart so that the tiering fingers 32 can pass upward between the ramps to lift the containers. The separator 28 includes multiple divider units 102. Each divider unit is provided with a pair of the ramps 101, one of the partitions 29, and is removably mounted on the tie bars 84 by means of a bolt 104 recessed in the support arm 82. The tie bars 84 cooperatively form a T-shaped slot 105, and a square nut 106 which fastens the bolt 104 is captured in the slot 105.

The divider units 102 are positioned to accept a particular diameter of can between adjacent partitions 29 by first removing the spacer plate 80, and then loosening the bolts 104 and sliding the support arms 82 along the tie bars 84. Thus, by substituting a different spacer plate 80, the interspacing of the partitions 29 can be changed to accept a different can size. If a different number of lanes are required, as well as different lane sizes, the divider units 102 are readily rembved by sliding the loosened unit along the slot 105 to a cross-slot 108 (FIG. 7). The divider unit is then removed by sliding it forwardly out of the cross-slot. Othe units can be added in the obvious reverse procedure.

CAN STOP AND SENSING MECHANISM With continued reference to FIG. 7, one of the can stop and sensing mechanisms 30 is mounted on each divider unit 102. Its purposes are to control the number of cans allowed to accumulate in each lane of the separator 28, to control the longitudinal position of the row of cans so that the cans do not partially extend into the shifter 26, and to actuate a control circuit when this lane and the other lanes are full of cans.

The can stop and sensing mechanism 30 for each lane is actuated by the leading can in the row of cans pressing against on upstanding stop finger 110 which is mounted to limited displacement in a downstream direction. When so displaced, the mechanism 30 actuates a flag 112 that interrupts a light beam LB projected across the casing machine. When all lanes of the separator 28 are completely filled and all of the flags 112 have been actuated to clear the light beam, a later described photoelectric control unit is energized to initiate a loading of the assembled containers into the tiering chamber 34 (FIG. 1

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the can stop finger 110 is and slides on a guide rod 120. The ends of the threaded rod 118 are rotatably mounted insypaced crriage blocks 124 and 126, and the guide rod 120 is rigidly secured in the carriage blocks. By turning a nut 130 fixed on one end of the threaded rod 1 18, the support block 116 and the can stop finger mounted thereon are moved along the guide rod to longitudinally adjust the can stop finger 110 for the desired row-length of cans to be accumulated in the corresponding lane. It is believed apparent that because the partitions 29 of two adjacent divider units 102 form the lateral limits of one lane of cans, the outermost divider unit at the left side of the casing machine (viewed in a downstream direction) does not require a can stop finger 1.10 or a flag 112.

Each

carriage block

124 and 126 depends from the support arm 82 in the manner shown for the carriage block 126 in FIG. 8. Thus, each carriage block is provided with a central upstanding tab portion that extends upward into a downwardly open milled slot 127. The tab 125 is provided with a diagonal slot 133 and is retained by a roller 134, mounted on a pin 135, which is disposed in the slot. With this construction, the assembly including the carriage blocks 124 and 126, can stop finger 110, and the support block 116 gravitate to the upstream position illustrated, but move downstream and diagonally upward when a lane of cans pushes against the can stop 110. These movements control the flag 112 to mask or unmask the light beam LB.

The flag 112 is pivoted to the support arm 82 by the pivot pin 135, and is pivoted to the carriage block 126 by a pivot stud 136. Accordingly, when the lane of cans pushes against the can stop finger 110, the pivot stud 136 is moved away from the pivot pin and the flag 1 l2 swings about the pin 135 out of the light beam LB, as indicated by the arrow 1 12a.

The light beam LB originates from a photoelectric unit 137 (FIG. 3) which includes an integral lamp and receiving element and is mounted on one of the frame members 86. The projected light beam LB is received by a reflector 139 which returns the beam to the receiving element of the photoelectric unit 137. Since the light beam is interrupted by any one of the flags 112 in rest position, thus indicating that one or more lanes of cans is not yet complete, the photoelectric unit generates a control signal only when the separator 28 accumulates a complete tier of cans. The signal from the photoelectric unit 137 energizes an adjacent solenoid 140 which in turn causes clutch 50 (FIG. 4) to engage and initiate the tiering cycle.

ROCKING DIFFERENTIAL As previously indicated, the set of tiering fingers underlying the cans in the separator are smoothly accelerated upward to pick up cans from the separator and are smoothly decelerated as the cans are deposited in the tiering chamber by the tiering fingers. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this smooth acceleration and deceleration is performed by the rocking differential 62 (FIGS. 4, 9 and 9A).

The rocking differential 62 provides a variable speed drive connection from the tiering input shaft 46 to the tiering shaft 66, via rotation of a pair of

bevel gears

141 and 142 which are meshed with a spider gear 144. When the solenoid 140 (FIg. 3) actuates the tiering clutch 50 (FIG. 4) to transfer one tier of cans from the separator 28 (FIG. 1) to the tiering chamber 34, the tiering shaft 66 is turned 120 by the rocking differential 62 and the drive

train including sprockets

63 and 64, and the chain 67. During each tier transfer cycle, the spider gear 144 (FIG. 9) of the rocking differential is first translated about the axis of the shaft 46 in the direction of the arrow 144a to substract motion from the drive chain 67 while the tiering fingers 36 lift the cans from the separator 28. While the lifting movement continues, the spider gear 144 is then moved bodily in the opposite direction, indicated by the arrow 144b, to add motion to the drive chain 67 and accelerate the tiering fingers. During the tiering cycle, the rate of motion'of the spidergear in the direction of the arrow 144b is reduced to decelerate the tiering fingers and then reversed to bring the fingers to a smooth stop.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9A, both the gear 141 at the input side of the differential and the differential cam 65 are keyed to the tiering input shaft 46. The gear 142 at the output side is pinned to the sprocket 63. The gear 142 and the sprocket 63 rotate together freely on the shaft 46, so that their motion can be modified by fore and aft motion of the spider gear 144.

The spider gear 144 rotates on a stub shaft 146 that projects from a spider gear hub 148, and the hub rotates freely on the shaft 46. Thus, oscillation of the spider gear hub 148 will add to and subtract from the drive motion transmitted from the shaft 46, by means of the

gears

141, 144 and 142, in accordance with known principles of differential gearing.

The oscillation of the spider gear hub 148 is provided by the differential cam 64 and associated linkage, as will now be described. The cam has a track 151 which is eccentric to the shaft 46. A cam follower 152 rides in the cam track and hence oscillates a cam follower lever 154 which is, pivoted to the frame of the machine by a pivot shaft 156.

The lower end of the cam lever 154 is pivoted at 157 to one end of a cam link 158. The other end of the cam link is pivoted at 159 to a cam crank 160. The crank 160 depends from one end of a sleeve 162 that turns freely on the power shaft 42.

Depending from the other end of the sleeve 162 is a companion crank 163 which is pivoted at 164 to one end of a spider link 165. The other end of the spider link is pivoted at 166 to a spider crank 167 that depends from the spider gear hub 148.

Rotation of the tiering shaft 46 one revolution, by actuation of the tiering clutch 50 (FIG. 4) turns the differential cam 64 one revolution, the eccentric thus driving the cam lever 154 between its two limits of swinging movement. This movement of the cam lever oscillates the spider gear hub 148 and the spider gear 144 fore and aft via the cam link 158, cam crank 160, sleeve 162, companion crank 163, spider link 165 and spider crank 167. I

The oscillation of the spider gear 144 is superimposed on the motion transmitted by the spider gear 144 to the chain 67 so that the tiering shaft 66 (FIG. 4)

rotates with non-uniform motion to accelerate and decelerate the tiering fingers 32 in the manner previously described.

FIG. is a diagram showing the speed change in revolutions per minute of the differential output gear 142, and hence the rotation of the shaft 66 which carries the tiering fingers 32, during one rotation of the differential input gear 141. FIG. 10A illustrates the relation of the differential cam 65 to the FIG. 10 diagram; the degree markings on the cam are the same degree markings of the base line of the FIG. 10 diagram. Reference should also be made to the later described FIG. 22 which illustrates the can transfer operation of the tiering fingers 3-2. The absicissa of FIG. 10 is marked in increments for one complete revolution of the input gear 141 and the differential cam 65. The speed of the input gear 141 is seen to be 60 RPM from the scale along the left margin of the diagram. Starting at 0, the differential cam 65 rotates at 60 RPM upon energization of the tiering clutch 50 to drive the shaft 46. From the 0 reference point (FIG.

' 10A) the cam follower 152 moves toward the shaft 46,

whereby the spider gear hub 148 (FIG. 9) is driven rearward in the direction of the arrow 144a. This subtracts from the linear speed of the chain 67 which powers the tiering fingers so that the tiering fingers start slowly from their rest positions. It will be seen that the 0-90 quandrant of the cam track 151 will decelerate the movement of the differential hub 148 in the direction of the arrow 144a. Accordingly, the output gear 142 gradually accelerates from 0 to 90.

The lowest point of the cam track 151 is at 90, and the cam follower 152 is at its extreme of movement inwardly toward the shaft 46. Accordingly, at 90 the spider hub 148 is briefly motionless and te differential 62 transmits the full 60 RPM rotation of the input shaft 46 to the output gear 142. Translated into movement of the tiering fingers 32 (FIG. 1 this means that the tiering fingers underlying the charge of cams in the separator 28 rapidly accelerate after contacting the cans at the beginning portion of the can transfer movement.

Between 90 and 180 degrees, the cam follower 152 moves outward from the shaft 46 and drives the spider hub 148 (FIG. 9) forward in the direction of the arrow 1446. This adds to the linear speed of the chain 67 which powers the tieing fingers. It will be noted that the 90-180 portion of the cam track 151 is symmetrical with the 090 portion. ConsequentLy, the 90-180 rotation of the output gear 142 smoothly accelerates the tiering fingers from 60 RPM to their maximum speed of RPM as the cam 65 rotates to its position. It should be noted that the hub 148 at this time has not attained its forward limit of movement in the direction of the arrow 1441).

From 180 to 270, the cam follower 152 continues to move outward, and the hub 148 forward, although at a reduced rate. Therefore, the speed of the output gear 142 is reduced from its maximum at 180 degrees of cam rotation due to the reduced rate of forward rotation of spider hub 148. At 270 the cam follower 152 has reached its maximum outward excursion and the spider hub 148 is again stationary, as at 90, transmitting the 60 RPM input gear rotation to the output gear 142.

As the cam follower moves from 270 back to 0, the spider hub 148 is moved rearward in the direction of the arrow 144a and reduces the speed of the output gear 142 from 60 RPM to 0 RPM. The tiering fingers during this latter movement thus decelerate the can charge as it is deposited in the tiering chamber 34.

Claims

1. Apparatus for casing containers from a continuous multi-row supply of upright containers comprising separator means for isolating a group of upright containers from the supply, tiering means for tansferring said group of containers into a tiering chamber, lowerator means supporting an empty case in alignment with said transferred group of containers, pusher means for charging said container group into the case aligned therewith, and variable speed drive means connected to said tiering means for moving the container group from said separator means to said tiering chamber at velocities accelerating from rest to maximum velocity and then decelerating to rest in order to minimize shock damage to the containers and to preserve the orientation of individual containers in the group.

2. In a case loading apparatus including a separator for arranging multiple rows of upright containers into a single tier, means defining a tiering chamber remote from said separator for assembling tiers of containers, transfer means for cyclically transferring the tiers of containers from said separator along an arcuate path into said tiering chamber, pusher means operable in a timed relation with said transfer means for pushing a case load of containers from said tiering chamber into an empty case aligned therewith, the improvement comprising a synchronizing mechanism for coordinating the movements of said transfer means and said pusher means, Said mechanism including an endless timing chain driven in timed relation with said transfer means, a plurality of endwise adjustable timing pins mounted across said timing chain, each of said pins being adjustable to an active position in which the common ends of said active pins move through a predetermined path beside said timing chain, and control means having a displaceable actuator lying in the path of said active timing pins and governing said pusher means, the selectively active timing pins thus controlling the number of tiers assembled for a case load.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pusher means includes mulitple pusher feet each aligned with a row of containers in the tier, and driving means for conjointly driving said pusher feet with independently variable horizontal and vertical motions, the combined motions lowering said feet from an elevated rest position, moving said feet forward into a case, retracting said feet to clear the case, and elevating and retracting said feet to said rest position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pusher feet are moved forward at a velocity lower than their velocity during retraction.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 and a pivotally mounted first clutch latch, a pivot stud interconnecting said displaceable actuator and said latch, said actuator being movable endwise upon pivotal movement of said latch and being pivotable to an armed position upon said pivot stud by one of said active timing pins, and a pivotally mounted second clutch latch arranged to be actuated by end-wise movement of said displaceable actuator following arming thereof by an active timing pin.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein pivotal movement of said first clutch latch controls said transfer means for assembling tiers of containers in said tiering chamber, and wherein pivotal movement of said second clutch latch controls operation of said pusher means to insert a group of assembled tiers into a case, said timing chain including an even number of equally spaced timing pins divisible by two, three or four, the timing pins adjusted to active positions thus effecting the transfer of case loads of containers containing from one to four tiers, respectively, when all timing pins are active, or when every second, third or fourth timing pin is active.

7. In a container casing machine of the type wherein incoming containers are assembled into a tier, tiering fingers lift the tier and transfer it to a tiering chamber, pusher feet insert the tier into a case supported on a lowerator, and the lowerator erects and lowers the filled case; the improvement comprising a master camshaft in the machine, pusher foot and lowerator control cams on said shaft, cam follower means for connecting the pusher feet and the lowerator to their respective cams, and means for rotating said camshaft for synchronously operating said pusher feet and the lowerator.