Machine for packaging articles

July 24, 1962

3,045,401

H. GANZ

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Filed Sept. 21, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR

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July 24, 1962

3,045,401

H. GANZ

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Sheets-Sheet 2

Filed Sept. 21, 1960

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INVENTOR

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July 24, 1962 h. ganz 3,045,401

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Filed Sept. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

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July 24, 1962 h. ganz 3,045,401

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Filed Sept. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4

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3,045,401

Patented July 24, 1962

United States Patent Office

3,045,401

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Henry Ganz, Teaneck, N.J., assignor to Continental Can

Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York

Filed Sept. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 57,493

Claims. (Cl. 53—48)

The invention relates to the tightening of a wrap-around paperboard earner about the containers which are to be packaged within it.

My invention has special application for use with the paperboard cartons which have closure and locking means of the type disclosed in patent of Arthur J. Weiss, Number 2,990,997, 'granted July 4,. 1961, To close and lock such a carton my invention can make use of a form of closing and locking means similar to· that of the machine disclosed in my Patent Number 2,986,857, granted June 6, 1961.

Summary

In packaging articles in wrap-around paperboard carriers, experience has; taught that there are many advantages to be obtained by producing a tight package. By tightening the carton blank about the articles, the blank grips the articles and prevents them from accidentally falling out of the open end portion of the package. Furthermore, tightening the carton blank during the closing operation insures the proper engagement of the carton closure arrangement. A further advantage of producing a tight package is that it prevents relative motion between the articles which can mar their surfaces and labels or otherwise injure the articles.

In accordance with my invention a conveyer is provided for moving the containers to· be packaged through the machine. The carton blanks which are to be applied to groups of the containers include a top panel, side panels, and bottom closure panels. One of the bottom closure panels is provided with a latching flap having catches disposed along the fold lines from which the flap extends. Opposite to the catches the latching flap is provided with tab members. The other bottom, closure panel is provided with a plurality of latch openings each being adapted to receive and engage 'the catches and upon completion of the closure to receive arid engage the tab portions.

The carton blanks are applied to the groups of containers being conveyed through the machine. Subsequently the side panels of the blank are folded downwardly along the outer sides of the containers. As the travel of the carton and the group of containers continues, the carton blank is folded about the containers to form the package. As the carton blank is being folded about the containers, tightening forces are applied to· the side panels of the carton blank in a lateral direction in order to tighten the blank about the containers prior to the final closing operation.

As the carton blank and the group of containers advance, a folding bar swings the bottom closure panel having the latch openings in an upward direction beneath the containers. At the same time an additional folding bar initiates the upward swinging of the other bottom closure panel and the directing Of the catches in the direction of the latch openings.

To close the package it is essential that the catches be inserted into the latch openings. To· perform this operation in a smooth and efficient manner it is necessary to tighten the wrap-around carton blank firmly about the containers. This operation is performed by tightening members which are reciprocated into contact with the portions of the side panels of the carton blank between the containers and adjacent to the bottom closure panels.

The application of force by the reciprocating members at these locations draws the wrap-around blank tightly about the containers and positions the bottom closure panels so that the path of travel of the latching flap will carry the catches into engagement with the latch openings. The reciprocating motion enables the tightening members to slowly and progressively advance into contact with the side panels and then to steadily apply the tightening forces to the carton blank. A plurality of tightener members- can be employed which are spaced apart at distances from one another corresponding to the interval between the containers.

The reciprocating tightening members then -are moved along with the containers and carton blank as the closure of the blank is completed. By moving the tightening members at the same speed as the containers and carton blank, the tightening forces are maintained during the entire closing operation. After closure of the carton blank has been completed, the tightening members are reciprocated away from contact with the side panels so that the package is -free to be advanced through the exit portion of the machine.

In one form of the machine the reciprocating tighteners are operated by cam means. The cam operating means enables the approach of the tighteners toward the carton blank to have a controlled motion so that force may be applied in a predetermined manner. The cam operating means for the tightening members has the -additional advantage in that it provides an integrated and compact tightening means which can be readily adjusted to tighten carton blanks about containers of varying dimensions.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Description

In the drawings, I have illustrated a machine to show the best mode contemplated by me for carrying out my invention as to the tightening of a wrap-around carton blank 'about containers to be packaged within it.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine showing the tightening members and their cam operating means.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the chain drive for moving the tightening members.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the tightening members.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4—4 in FIG. 1, showing the initial upward folding of the bottom closure panel.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 5—5 in FIG. 1, showing the tightening of the carbon blank about the containers.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 6—6 in FIG. 1, further showing the application of the tightening forces to the container.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the tightening members engaged with the slide panels of the carton blanks.

-FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the group of containers packaged in the wrap-around carton blank.

Bottles 10 which are to be packaged are delivered into the machine along support plates 12 (FIG. 1). The bottles are delivered into and conveyed through the machine by means of pushers 13 which are pivotally attached to drive chains 14. As the bottles are delivered along support plates 12, carton blanks 11 are placed upon the incoming bottles with top panel 15 of the blank positioned above the bottles.

The top panel of carton 11 is provided with openings 16 adapted to receive necks 17 of bottles 10 (FIG. 8). In addition, carton blank 11 has side panels 18 and 19 and bottom closure panels 20 and 21. Side panels 18 and 19 may be provided with cuts 22 and 23 as well as fold lines

3,045,401 so that the side panels can fit tightly about the lower portions of the bottles adjacent to their bottoms.

The closure arrangement of carton blank 11 may be similar to that described in the patent of Arthur J. Weiss, Number 2,990,997, granted July 4, 1961. The closure includes latching flap 25 extending from bottom closure panel 21 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). Bottom closure panel 20 is provided with latch openings 26 which are adapted to receive catches 27 extending from latching flap 25 adjacent to bottom closure panel 21. Upon engaging catches 27 within latch openings 26 (FIGS. 5 and 6), the closure is completed by swinging the latching flap upwardly and passing tabs 28 through latch openings 26 until the latching flap is against bottom closure panel 20. During the closing operation catches 27 remain engaged with the portion of latch openings 26 adjacent to bottom closure panel 21 so that the two bottom closure panels remain in contact with one another.

As the bottles are advanced along support plate 12, carton blank 11 is deposited upon the bottles so that necks 17 pass through openings 16 in top panel 15. Side panels 18 and 19 are then folded downwardly along the outer side portions of the bottles. The arrangement for depositing the carton blanks onto the bottles may be similar to that of the patent of Robert H. Ganz, Number 2,998,685, granted September 5, 1961. Hooked portions 29 of pushers 13 convey the group, while at the same time surfaces 30 of the pushers contact the trailing edges of side panels 18 and 19 and urge the carton blank in the direction of travel. Drive chains 14 to which pushers 13 are pivotally attached are driven by sprockets 31.

As a group of bottles and a carton blank advance along support plates 12, folding bar 32 (FIGS. 1 and 4) initiates the upward folding of panel 20. With further movement along support plate 12 the leading edge of bottom closure panel 21 contacts folding bar 33 and in turn is folded upwardly (FIGS. 1 and 4). As the bottom closure panels continue to be folded upwardly the bottles and carton blanks are advanced along tapered portion 34 of support plate 12. At this location the carton blank is approaching the point at which catch 27 must be directed through latch openings 26 in order to initiate the closing operation of carton blank 12. Consequently at this location it is necessary that side panels 18 and 19 be pressed tightly about the bottles and that the bottles be positioned against the bottles in the adjacent row so that alignment of the catches and latch openings may be insured.

To insure that carton blank 11 is drawn tightly about the bottles as the closure of the bottom panels is initiated, tighteners 35 mounted in a reciprocating manner in supports 36 are provided (FIGS. 2 and 3). Supports 36 are attached to drive chains 37 and are spaced apart at an interval substantially corresponding to the distance between the bottles of the group within a carton blank. To assures that tighteners 35 are maintained in a position straddling the central bottle of a group of bottles, drive chains 37 which are disposed about sprockets 38 and 39 travel in substantially vertical planes. By suitable drives the path velocity of chains 37 is maintained substantially equal to that of chains 14 by means of which the synchronism of the tighteners and the carton is maintained throughout the travel of a package through the machine.

Each of the tighteners 35 are provided with head members 38 which have both sloping surfaces 39 and 40 adapted to maintain clearance with the bottles and end surface 41 adapted to be substantially parallel to the side panels of the carton blank. Tighteners 35 include rod 42 to one end of which is attached head 38 and to the opposite end of which is attached roller follower 43. In order that the tighteners perform their tightening function, it is necessary that they be made to bear upon the carton blank and exert inwardly directed forces against the carton blank and bottles. It is also necessary that the tighteners be free of the carton blank prior to the point at which the tightening pressure is to be applied. To fulfill these requirements cam means are provided to reciprocate the tighteners with respect to the carton blank. The cam means includes cam members 44 having ramp portions 45 and 46 at their opposite ends. Roller followers 43 are biased against cams 44 by means of springs 47 attached to pins 48 extending from rods 42 and pins 49 extending from supports 36. Whenever a roller follower passes beyond ramp portion 46, spring 47 retracts rod 42 until pin 48 bears upon support 36, thereby preventing further outward movement of the rod. The rod remains in this position until the roller follower again enters upon ramp portion 45.

As the bottles and cartons are advanced beyond tapered portion 34 of support plate 12, bottom closure panel 20 travels along the straight portion 50 of folding bar 32 (FIG. 1). At the same time, bottom closure panel 21 is folded beneath straight portion 51 extending from support plate 12 by the action of folding bar 33. At this point the leading tightener of a pair is advanced about sprocket 38 and onto the upper reaches of chains 37. As tightener 35 travels upwardly about sprocket 38, roller follower 43 contacts ramp portion 45 with the result that tightener 35 is moved with respect to support 36 toward the carton blank. Due to the synchronization of drive chains 14 and 37, the leading tighteners are advanced between the forward and center bottles of a group until head members 38 contact the side panels of the carton blank and initiate the tightening operation. As roller followers 43 advance beyond ramp portions 45 and onto the straight portion of cams 44, the trailing tighteners are reciprocated inwardly by ramps 45 until they also come into contact with the side panels of the carton. In this manner the tightening forces are applied in succession to the portions of the carton blank side walls disposed between fold lines 24 adjacent to the junction of the side panels and the bottom closure panels. The sequential operation of the tightener provides a gradual tightening of the carton blank. The profile of ramp portions 45 may be varied to control the rate of movement of the tighteners and therefore the rate of application of the tightening forces.

Side rails 52 initially hold the carton blank side panels adjacent to the bottles (FIG. 4). Upon the advancement of tighteners 35 in the direction of the carton blank, head members 38 force the side panels inwardly between the bottles and thereby urge the bottom closure panels toward one another. This operation serves to tighten the package and at the same time insure the free alignment of catches 27 with latch openings 26 (FIG. 5).

With roller followers 43 of tighteners 35 travelling along the straight portions of cam 44, the closure of carton blank 11 is completed by means of the type disclosed in my Patent Number 2,986,857, granted June 6, 1961. Blade 53 forces bottom closure panel 20 against the bottom of the bottles adjacent to it. The action of folding blade 54 and edge 55 then serve to direct catches 27 through latch openings 26. During the remainder of the travel of the carton blanks, latching flap 25 is rotated upwardly and tabs 28 are directed through latch openings 26 so as to complete the closing operation.

As the carton advances adjacent to the end portion 56 of the closure apparatus, the application of the carton to the containers is substantially completed and there is no further need of maintaining the tightening forces of tighteners 35. Consequently at this point cam 44 is provided with ramp portion 46 which enables the tighteners to disengage from contact with the side panels of the carton. Springs 47 urge the roller followers 43 to remain in contact with cam portions 46 to complete the disengagement of the tighteners. The retraction of the tighteners is sufficiently rapid to permit a free exit of the carton blank and bottle assembly from the machine along support plates 57 and 58.

Operation

Bottles 10' are advanced into the machine along with

3,045,401 carton blank 11 disposed over them by the conveying action of pushers 13 driven by chains 14. As the assembly of bottles and carton blank advances, the bottom closure panel is folded upwardly by means of folding bar 32. At the same time folding bar 33 initiates the upward folding of bottom closure panel 19. As the carton blank and bottles advance along tapered portion 34 of support plate 12, it becomes necessary to apply lateral forces to the carton blank side panels to tighten the blank about the bottles in order that catches 27 may be engaged with latch openings 26.

The means of tightening the carton blank and bottles include tighteners 35 which are mounted for reciprocation by supports 36 attached to chains 37. Chains 37 operate over sprockets 38 and 39 in substantially vertical planes. Tighteners 35 include head members 38 attached to rod members 42 and adapted to intersect a portion of the side panels of the carton between the end and center bottles of the group to be packaged. The drive to chain 37 and chains 13 are synchronized so that tighteners 35 can be actuated as they travel along with the group of bottles and cartons and apply lateral pres' sure thereto as the closure of the carton is being completed.

As the bottles advance from tapered portion 34 of supports plate 12 toward straight portion 51, roller followers 43 of the leading tighteners of a pair contact ramp portions 45 of cam members 44 as they travel upwardly and about sprockets 38. As the followers leave the ramp portions, the tighteners are sufficiently advanced that head members 38 contact the portions of the side panel of the carton disposed between the leading and middle bottles of the group adjacent to the junction between the side panels and bottom closure panels. Subsequently the succeeding tighteners of the pair are similarly advanced by the action of ramp portions 45 so that their head members contact the side panels of carton blank between the middle and the trailing bottles of the group. The tighteners maintain pressure substantially adjacent to the plane of the bottom closure panels so that the carton blank is drawn tightly about the bottles and the bottom outside portions of the bottles project into the region of the carton blank including cuts 23 and 22 as well as fold lines 24.

While the tighteners maintain side pressure on the cartons, the group is advanced and the closure of the carton blank is completed. Roller followers 43 then move onto ramp portions 46 of cam member 44, thereby retracting and relieving the side pressure on the cartons. The withdrawal action of the tighteners insures that the carton blank and bottles have complete freedom to travel through the exit portion of the machine.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and there is no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described as fall within the scope of the claims.