GB1262371A - Automatic carton stapling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,262,371. Stapling machines. T. M. MARQUIS. 29 April, 1969 [30 April, 1968], No. 21734/69. Heading B4C. [Also in Division H1] A machine for stapling the upper and lower flaps of cartons comprises bars 57, 58 (Fig. 4) extending between two endless chains 47 driven by a motor 61 for moving cartons over idle rollers 33 to a stapling unit 28. The stapling unit comprises a pair of upper stapling heads 183, 184 (Fig. 5), and pair of lower stapling heads 147, 148 mounted in a frame 133 which is movable transversely of the carton feed direction by means including a motor 152. The machine includes control means such that a carton upon reaching the stapling unit is halted whilst a first stapling operation is performed, the frame is shifted transversely and a second stapling operation is performed. The machine is initially set up for receiving cartons of a particular size by adjusting guide bars 119 (Fig. 5) which are connected to bars 121 lockable in adjusted positions by set-screws 122, and by adjusting the height of a bar 179 (Fig. 4), by appropriately positioning nuts (181, Fig. 3, not shown) on screw-threaded rods 178. Extending forwardly from the bar 179 are arms 190 between which a shaft 191 extends. Two levers 192 are pivotally mounted on the shaft and pivotally carry members 194, 197 and a carton flap closing shoe 200. The members 194, 197 are slidably mounted at their rear ends on shaft 212, 213 which extend between two yokes 220 to permit transverse movement of the yokes, which are connected rigidly to a member 223 on which the upper stapling heads are mounted, relative to the carton feed direction. The member 223 is movable vertically relative to frame members 224. The rear end of the shoe is slightly below the upper stapling heads, and is connected to the member 197 by links 211. Thus if a carton of excessive height is moved into the stapling unit the shoe and the yokes will be moved upwardly. The machine is controlled by an electric circuit (Fig. 7) including switches 105, 106 which are actuated by pegs 89, 90 adjustably secured on a disc 78 which is freely mounted on a shaft 73 (Figs. 8 and 9). Pins 85 on the disc 78 are connected via springs 87 to pins 86 on a disc 76 which is secured to the shaft 73. During anticlockwise movement (Fig. 8) of the disc 76, the disc 78 is caused to be rotated until one of the pegs engages a spring-biased lever 103. Continued rotation of the disc 76 then causes tensioning of springs 87 and when the pins 86 abut the diametrically opposite side of apertures 80 in the disc 78 through which the pins 86 project, the disc 78 will be rotated to displace the lever 103. Snapping of the disc 78 to its normal position relative to the disc 76 will cause the one peg to momentarily actuate either switch 105 or both switches. In operation a carton fed on to the rollers 33 actuates switch 65 (Figs. 4 and 7) to close contacts of relay R-1 and to energize the motor 61. Thus the carton is advanced until peg 89 on the cam disc 78 momentarily closes the switch 105. Closure of switch 105 will energize left-hand ends of relays R-2, R-3 to move their contacts to the left, thus de-energizing motor 61 to stop the carton advance and upon closure of a timedelayed contact R-3T actuating relay R-4 and valve V-1 to permit compressed air to pass to operate the stapling heads. Contacts R-4T after a delay will be moved to the left under action of relay R-4 and thus terminate stapling. The right-hand end of relay R-3 will then be energized to move its contacts back to the position shown. The motor 152 will then be energized and through shaft 153 (Fig. 23), sprocket 155, chain 163 and sprocket 162 will drive shaft 161 which carries a crank-arm 166. A pitman 168 (see Figs. 5 and 23) is pivotally connected to a crank-pin 167 and the frame 133. Thus the frame is shifted from its initial position. The position'of the pin 167 along the crank arm 166 is adjustable. A cam 169 having two lugs spaced by 180 degrees is rigid with the shaft 153. As the shaft 153 rotates, a lug will momentarily close switches 175-A, 175-B, and motor 152 will be stopped with the frame 133 in its second position (Fig. 6 not shown) and the relay R-3 will be actuated to initiate a second stapling operation. At the completion of the second stapling operation the motor 61 is again energized and' the carton is further advanced until the long peg 90 momentarily closes switches 105 and 106. The machine will function-as before to perform third and fourth stapling operations, and energization of the motor 152 will move the frame back from its second position to its initial position (Fig. 5, not shown). At the completion of the fourth stapling operation the motor 61 will not be energized since closure of switch 106 has energized right-hand end of relay R-1 and caused its contacts to open unless another carton has closed switch 65. If transverse movement of the frame 133 is not required, a manually operable switch 230 can be operated to isolate motor 152. The amount the carton is advanced relative to the stapling unit can be varied by adjusting positions of pegs 89, 90 in slots 79 (Fig. 8) on the disc 78. If application of only the first and second operations are required, the peg 89 may be removed. Alternatively if application of more than two sets of staples is required an appropriate number of pegs 89 may be provided.