US1641794A - Carton-closing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6 1927.

W. S. WEBER CARTON CLOSING MECHANISM Filed May i5. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l W'izer 5. Weben Sept. 6 1927.

w. s. WEBER CARTON CLOS ING MEGHANI SM Filed May 15. 1926 3 sheets-sheet 2 bw. 5W h, www. .WMI

61H01 new Sept. 6 1927;

W. S. WEBER CARTON CLOSING MECHANISM Filed May l5. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet Wait# 5. Weben I i Patented -Sept.. 6, 169,27.

- UNITED STATES' P TENT; OFFICE.

WALTER SWEBEB, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORl TO- WH. ,LUDEN, INC., OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CARTON-CLOSING MECHANISM.

'Application mea nay' 15,

This invention relates to improvements in box or carton machinery, and more particularly to novel mechanism for closingpasteboard cartons after they have been filled with any desired substance. The device is especially useful for closing the small pasteboard cartons used for cough drops and the iure.

It is customary in many factories at the present time, to use machinery for filling wax-paper lined cartons with the material to be sold, and to subsequently fold the upper end of the wax-paper lining and close the iiaps at the top of the carton, by hand. This 16 latter operation is not only slow andrequires manual labor, but it is not as sanitary as might be desired.

The primary object of the present inven-Y tion is to providemechanism arranged' to receive the open filled cartons from the filling machine, and to sequentially Ifold in the upper portion of the wax-paper lining; then fold one of the upper end side flaps and the wax-paper; then fold in the upper end of other side iap and the wax-paper;

then fold the upper end back flap and the wax-paper; and finally insert the tongue of Vthe back flap into the box and bend the back flap in such manner that said flap will remain in closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for performing these opera- 4tions on a series of cartons one after the other; the mechanism being so designed that ing machine', (the latter machine is not il-` lustratedas itlperforms no part in thepresent invention). D

Fig.v 2 is an enlargedsimilar vlew of a certain parts will be operating 'on one carton lVith the foregoing objects outlined, andv 192e. serial no. 109,208.

portion of the closing machine, showing certainparts in'another position to illustrate themanner of closing.y

3 is a side view of the machine.

Figs. 4, 5 'and 6 are transverse vertical sectlonal views all taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3, each'showing the back flap closing mechanlsm in a certain position, to illustrate the manner of closing the back iap.

. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Flg. 1, but showmgvthe partsl in a diferent'position.

1 8 isa view of the carton before closing t e same.f

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the carton after the end flaps have been folded.

Fig. 10 1s a similar view of the carton after it has been closed.

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig.- 1.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 gf Fig. 2.

In the drawing, 1 designates the discharge runway of a filling machine through which the -open cartons 2 are fed one after the other in abutting relation. The end carton comes to rest temporarily against the vertical wall 3 of the.transverse pusher 4 of the closing mechanism. The cartons rest on an endless belt 5, which passes over a station-v ary plate 6, arranged at the receiving end of the closing machine frame. The belt has one of its ends arranged on" a pulley 7, mounted on a shaft 8, which carries a worm wheel 9, driven by a worm wheel 10, fixed on'the mainY driving shaft 11. The shaft 8 is transversely arranged and `is supported by depending brackets 12 and 13, carried by the frame of the machine.

The transverse pusher 4, preferably consists of an angular plate which includes the upwardly extending 'vertical walls 3 andl 14, and the horizontal part 15. This angular plate is xedly mounted on a horizontal stepped plate 16, a portion of which slides beneath the' stationar plate 6, when the pusher is reciprocate laterally. The step plate has a transversely arranged slot 17 to receive a supporting pin 18 (,see Fig. 11)

depending from the frame of the machine. A bearing washer 19 engages the pin, vand is arranged on the lower side of the stepped plate 16 to support the latter. .The step plate has 'a bracket 20 projecting beyond one side of the frame and having an upclosin l wardly extending arm 21 provided with a horizontal slot 22, which receives the shaft 11. Due to this construction, the pusher 4 1s adapted to reciprocate transversely and .the following means are provided for causing this reclprocation. The arm 2l carrles a roller 23 which rides on a cam 24, fixed at one end of the driving shaft 11. This cam will move the pusher in one direction, and aspring 25 will pull the pusher in the opposite direction, the spring has one of its ends connected to thev arm 21, at the point 26, and the other end of the spring may be secured to any fixed part, as indicated at 27.

With this construction, it may be seen from Fig. 1 that the belt 5 which continuously moves, forces the cartons 2, toward the machine, and when the pusher 4 1sv move in one Adirection a sufficient distance, the wall 3 will be moved out of the path of the end carton of the series, so that the belt Will move the line of cartons and cause the end carton to abut against the end wall 28 of one of the vertical side walls 29 of the frame of the machine. Then, when the pusher 4 moves in the opposite direction, it will push the last mentioned carton to one side, and against the opposite vertical wall 3() of the frame. At thistime it may be stated that the vertical walls 29 and 30, and horizontal plate 31 of the frame form a channel or guide-way for the cartons as best illustrated in Figa` 4, 5 and 6. The carton which has been moved into the channel or guide-way of the closing machine is now ready to be closed by the mechanism which will now be described.

Arranged at one side of the frame is a longitudinally sliding plate 32, having lengthwise slots 33 and 34 to receive the bearing pins 35, projecting from the side 30 of the frame. This sliding plate is pulled in one direction by a spring 36 having one of its ends connected to the plate at 37, and its other end connected to a pin 38, which is fixed to the side 30 of the frame. The sliding plate is moved in the opposite direction by a cam 39, which is fixedly mounted on the main driving shaft 11, and engages a roller 40, rotatable on a p in 41', which is fixed to the sliding plate 32.

The plate 32, is provided at one end with a longitudinal pusher 42, adapted to feed the cartons along the guide-way of the machine. The pusher includes parallel horizontal plates 43 which when the pusher is reciprocated slide in slots 44, located in the side plate 30 of the frame. Posts 45 extend upwardly from the pusher and function as bearings for a reciprocating folder plate 46, which is adapted to fold down one end flap of the carton with the wax-paper lining at that end. This plate' 'has slots 47 for the pins 45, and an arm 48 projects horizon- 'tally from thisplate. This arm engages a fork 49, arranged at the upper end of a lever 50, said lever being pivotally mounted at 51 on the pusher 42. A spring 52 has one of its ends connected to the lever, and its other end connected to the pusher for normally holding the plate 46 in the position shown"in Figs. 1 and 3. Referring to these figures, it will be understood that when the pusher 42 commences to move toward the left, it will carr the lever along with it, and at this time, a small roller 53, arranged on an arm 54 at the lower end of the lever, will engage a stationary cam 55, fixed by screws 56 on the wall 30 of the frame, so that the lever will be turned in a counter-clockwise direction to move' the folder 46 relatively to the pusher, for forcing down the right end flap of the cartonA beingoperated upon. However, before this folding takes place,.the main folder blade 57 has operated to fold in the upper end of the wax-paper lining, in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. This main folding blade is carried by a bell-crank lever 58, pivotally mounted at 59 on a vertical pin carried by the sliding plate 32. The arm 60 of the bell-crank is pivotally connected at 61 to a rod 62. This rod passes through a friction clamp 63, carried by a bracket 64 which is fixed on the side wall 30 of the frame. The friction clamp permits the rod 62 to yield, `if undue resistance is olferedto the blade 56, and due to this construction, the blade will be protected and be prevented from breaklng.

It will therefore be seen that when the sliding plate 32 and pusher 42, are movingy toward the left, the blade 57 will be moved into the position shown in Fig."2 so as to bend in the upper end of 'the paper lining of the carton, and immediately after this, the sliding plate 46 will be shifted toward lthe left, slightly in advance of the pusher 42, so as te bend the end flap 65 of the carton downwardly, and with it, the wax-paper lining at this point.

As the pusher continues. to move toward the left, it will push the carton in the same direction, until the other end flap v66 of the carton abuts against the stationary horizontal folding blade 67. When the flap 66 impinges against the blade 67, the latter will fold the flap downwardly, and with it the wax-paper lining at this point. The blade 67 is fixed to the inner folding member 68, which is adapted to fold the back ,flap 69 of the carton. This member 68 is triangular in vertical transverse cross section, and it is supported by a bracket 70, which is fixed by screws or the like 71, on the upper edge of the side wall 30 of the frame. As the carton moves along the guide-way of the frame, one. side edge of its back fiap will engage the inclined'edge '72.of the outer back ap folding. member neewea 7 3. vThis member consists of a piece of sheet metal'includin a horizontal portion 74, an upwardly inclined portion 75, and a downwardly extending inclined portion 76; the portions 75 and 76 forminor an inverted ll-shaped section at the rear half of the member 73, the edge of which is rounded or beaded to prevent cutting the passing carton. The extremities 77 and 78 of the portions 75 and 76 are specially bent to insure bendiyng the back flap into the position shown in From the foregoing, it will be understood thatas the cartons. are moved along the guide-way, the mechanism is timed to iirst, fold the wax-paper lining in, by the blade 57, thenfold the flap down, and with it the wax-paper adjacent the same, then fold the flap 66 down with the wax-paper beneath the same, and at this time, the spring 36 is beginning to pull the pusher back to ward the right, so. that the blade 57 is moved outward into position to start the following operation.

After the flaps have been folded, and the carton is in the condition shown in Fig. d, 'l

it is pushed by the following cartons into position beneath the back ap tongue, inserting and creasing device. This is best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. .lt consists of .a bracket 79, fixed to the side wall 30 of the frame, and carrying rods 80 on which a carriage 81 reciprocates. This carriage has a projecting arm 82, engaged by a fork 83 on one end of the bell-crank lever 84. This bell-crank lever rocks on a shaft 85, carried by a bracket 86 supported on the side wall 30 of the frame. The depending arm 86 of this bell-crank lever carries a roller 87, which is actuated by a cam 88 arranged on `a disc 89, which is ixed on a main drivey shaft 11. The cam moves the lever in one direction, anda spring 90 moves it in the opposite direction. This spring has one of its ends connected to the lever, and its other end connected to a pin 91 fixed on lthe side wall 30 of the frame. As best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a second carriage 92 is also slidably mounted on the post 80. The carriage 81 has projecting pins 93, to .which an opening blade 94: is connected.; This blade is adapted to move downwardly into the carton between the front Wall 95 of, the latter and the paper lining, as indicated in Fig. 5, and then the carriage 92 descends to cause the plunger 96 to press the tonguer 97 on the back flap into the carton. This plunger has teeth 98 at one. of its edges which are adapted to press into the back flap near the rear fold line of the same for indenting said flap to prevent the latter from springing out of position after it has been closed. After the plunger 96 has descended i its full distance, the blade 94 is withdrawn from the carton and subsequently the plunger 96 is raised, and then the carton is 101 to a bell-cranklever 102, the latter being rockable on the pin 85, and having a\ de-` pending arm 103 carrying a roller 104. This roller'engages a cam 105,` mounted on the disc 89. This cam causes the bell-crank lever 102 to move in one direction, and a spring 106 is provided to move it in the opposite direction. This-spring connects lthe arm 103 of the lever to the fixed pin 91.-

It will be understood from the above, that the cartons are intermittently fed into the runway of the frame, and that during this intermittent movement there will be rest periods. It is during a. rest period that the back lla 69 is closed.

The rive shaft 11 ofthe machine is supported in bearings 107, and itis driven by a sprocket chain (not shown), which engages the sprocket wheel 108, fixed on` the shaft.

From the above, it is believed that the construction, operation and' advantages of the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and it is apparent that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

ll/'hat is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

v1. A machine for closing the flaps of a carton, comprising a guideway, a member carton comprising means for folding one end flap of the carton, other means for closing the other end flap of the carton, means for folding and creasing the back ilap of the carton, and means for inserting the tongue ofthe back flap into the carton, and for in. denting the back flap near its fold line for preventing the tongue of the back Hap from subsequently springing out of the carton.

3. A-machine for closing an end of a lined carton, comprising `a guideway, means for moving a carton along said guideway, means mounted on and movable with the lastmentioned means for folding in one side of the lining of the carton, whilev the latter is in said guideway, means for folding the end fla s of the carton and the portions of the linmg adjacent thereto, and means on the guideway .for creasing and folding the back Hap and for inserting the tongue of the back flap into the carton while folding the other side of the lining.

4. A machine for closing an end of a lined carton, comprising means for sequentially folding in one side of the 1ining,'fold ing the end flaps of the 'carton and the portions of the lining adjacent thereto, creasing Aand folding' the. back flap, and inserting the tongueof the back flap into the carton while folding the other side of the lining, the means for inserting the tongue'including a device for indenting the back flap near its fold line to 'prevent the `tongue from springing out of the carton. y

5. In a machine for closing a lined carton, a guideway, means formoving a carton along the guideway, means mounted on the last mentioned means and coacting therewith to fold one side of the lining and one of the end flaps of the carton while the latter is in the guideway, means on the guide way for folding the other end flap and the back flap of the carton while the latter is moving along the guideway,and means cooperating with the guideway to insert the tongue of the back Hap into the carton.

6. In a machine for closing a lined carton, a guide-way, means for moving the carton along the guide-way, means coacting therewith to sequentially fold one side of the lining, the end flaps and the back flap of the carton while the latter is 'moving along the guide-way, and means cooperating with the guide-way to insertthe tongue of the back flap into the carton, said last mentioned means including a device for ,indent-s ing the back flap to prevent the tongue from subsequently springing out of the carton.

In a machine for closing cartons, a first guideway, means for feeding cartons along said guideway, a second guideway arranged parallel to but out of'alignment with the first guideway, a pusher movable perpendicularly to said guideways for pushing thel cartons from the first guideway to the second, a longitudinally movable pusher for moving the cartons along the second guide-a way, and means cooperating with the second guideway for folding the flaps of the carton and inserting the tongue of 4the back flap of the carton into the latter, a part of Ithe last mentioned means being movably moun-ted on saidlongitudinal pusher.

8., In a machine for closing cartons, airst runway, means for feeding cartons'along said runway, a second runway arranged out of alignment with the first runway, a transverse pusher for pushing the carton from the rst runway to the second,` a longitudinal pusher for moving the cartons along the second runway, and means cooperating with the second runway for foldingv the iaps of the carton and inserting the tongue of the back flap of the carton intoV the latnaamw ter, said last mentioned means including1 a toothed member for indenting the back flap of the carton adjacent its fold line to'pre-v vent the tongue from subsequently spring-y runway, v'a longitudinal pusher for moving the cartons alongy the second runway, and a transversereciprocating pusher for moving the cartons from one runway to the other,

dmeans for slidably mounting the transverse pusher, a drive shaft, an arm connected t0 the transverse pusher and having a s lot through which the drive shaft passes, and a cam on the drive shaft for moving the arm and transverse pusher in one direction;

l0. In a carton closing machine, a guideway for the cartons, a reciprocating pusher for moving the cartons along the guide-way, a folder movably mounted on the pusher, and means for moving the folder relatively to the pusher as the latter reciprocates, for causing the folder to fold the flap of the carton. i

1l, In a carton closing machine, a runway forvthe cartons, a reciprocating pusher for moving the cartons along the runway, a sliding plate folder movably mounted on the pusher,a rocking lever mounted on the pusher and engaging the folder, and means engaging the lever when the pusher moves ,in one direction, for causing the folder to move relatively to the pusher for folding down a flap of they carton.

12. In a carton closing machine, a runway for the cartons, a reciprocating pusher for'moving the cartons along the runway, y

a reciprocating blade for folding in the ,lining of the cartons as the latter moves along the runway, a bell-crank lever connected toy said blade, a pivot for the lever, movable with the pusher, a rod connected to the bell-crank lever, and means for hold- .ing the rod to insure rocking of the lever when the pusherl reciprocates.

13. In a carton closing machine, a runway for the cartons, a reciprocating pusher for moving the cartons along the runway, a plate slidably mounted adjacent to the runway and carrying said pusher, a roller mounted on said plate, a drive shaft, a cam fixed to the drive shaft and engaging the roller for moving the pusher and plate in one direction, means for moving the plate and pusher in the opposite direction, and folding elements movably mounted on the plate and pusher, and arranged to actuate when the pusher and plate reciprocate for folding portions at one end of the carton.

14:. In a carton closing machine, a runway for the cartons, aplunger for forcing the back flap of the carton toward the latter, and means associated with the plunger for indenang said back aap adjacent to its fold .to enter the carton near the front wall of the latter to provide a space in the carton to receive the tongue of the carton flap, a reciprocating plunger cooperating with the blade and adapted to force the Hap of the carton toward thelatter and to move the tongue of the Hap into the carton alongside of the blade, and means controlling-the blade and plunger for causing` the blade to move into the carton before the plunger engages the Hap, and to cause the blade to move out of g ghe carton before the plunger disengages the 16. In a machine for closing wax-paper lined paste-board cartons having end and backiiaps, a runway having an entrance end, means for feeding cartons one after the other into the entrance end of the runway, a sliding plate movably mounted adjacent to said run- Way, a pusher movable with said plate and adapted to move the cartons along said runway, means associated with the plate for folding 'in one side of the carton, a' folder movable with, and movable relatively to the pusher for folding in one end flap and a part of the lining, as the carton moves along the runway` under the influence of the pusher, means for foldingA the other end iap and another portion of the lining at a further point along the runway, creasing and folding means for 'the back flap of the carton associated with the runway, and means associated with the runway for inserting the tongue of the back Hap of the carton into the latter and for indenting the backiiap adj acent its fold line.

In testimony whereof I ai`x my signature.

WALTER S.,WEBER.

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