GB1381712A - Apparatus for packaging similarly shaped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

1381712 Packaging; trays P E ELFORD 19 June 1972 [18 March 1971] 7199/71 Headings B8C and B8P An apparatus for erecting a tray blank, Fig. 1, around an array of similarly shaped articles includes an arrangement for raising tabs 18-21 prior to the erection of wall portions 11, 13. In a first embodiment, Fig. 2, the articles, which may be cans, jars, bottles and packets, are pushed in to a tray blank positioned on a vertically reciprocable platform 36 and then the platform 36 is lowered so that four projections 22-25 raise the tabs 18-21 before the wall portions 11, 13 are raised by plates 80. In a second embodiment (Fig. 4), the articles and the blank are placed on a stationary platform (36) and pivotable erecting plates (104, 106), each having pairs of projections (112, 114) for engaging the tabs 18-21, effect the raising of the tabs 18-21 and then the erection of the wall portions 11, 13. In both embodiments the package is completed by pushing the partially formed package from the platform 36 on to a further platform 82 and into a channel defined by strips 86, by means of a ram 74. End portions 26-29 of the wall portions 11, 13 are folded inwardly and around the tabs 18-21 by projections 78 on the face of the ram 74 and by the ends of the strips 86. The still unerected wall portions 10, 12 extend through opposed slots 88 and have blobs of quick-setting adhesive applied thereto by ball applicators such as 92, 94. The wall portions 10, 12 are then raised by movement over ramps 96 and pressed into contact with the end portions 26-29 by opposed pairs of rollers 100, 102. The articles to be packed are supplied by a continuous conveyer belt to a matrix (46<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3), from which they are pushed by a ram (54, Fig. 3), on to a dead plate 42. The matrix (46<SP>1</SP>) may be vertically reciprocable. The blanks 62 may be fed to the platform 36 manually or by a pneumatic feeder 64 which grips by suction the lowermost blank in a magazine, pivots in the direction of the arrow, moves downwards and drops the blank on to a conveyer belt 68. The operation of the apparatus is synchronized and interlock means prevent operation of the various components until the conditions for their operation have been attained. The package may be transferred to a shrink-wrap apparatus.