US2412369A - Carton forming machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1946.v E. s. TASCHER- CARTON FORMING MACHINE l RR t OCL l ww h ,qw u M MM e 32 Z 1m 2 H vS 4 3 d ,0 .Y 8 Z 9 manco l l l I aceoooo-aeooo oo, 4 o 5 l 3 l 3 4 o w --l y Il: ,l B l l l l 7 3 033 1 7 3 u w 4 l ,f u l .Z .1 f 1. .l r f 1| Il wnw. 9 d oo L lsu e |||M1||J||| l oocoaaaouoooo oo W.. 2 IUHHHH HHHHHH 2 l 7. M 3 f 9 T m 2 2. t|\\ .mv 2 lv .l n/k f r IU/ 0 s 4) Dec. 10, 1946. E 5. TASCHER 2,412,369

' CARTON FORMING MACHINE l Original Filed April 17, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY WTZ'ZJY Dec. '10, 1946.

E. s. TASCHER CARTON FORMING MACHINE orgina1 Filed Apr11 17, 1941 ssheets-sheet sl IN VEN TOR f. s. Msc/ fm f ATTfF/YEY Dec. 10, 1946. E, s, TAS`CHER 2,412,369

' CARTON FORMING MACHINE Originalv Filed April 17, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 5. /ISCHH? AaH/VEY Dec. 10, 1946. E. s. TASCHER CARTON FORMING MACHINE original Filed Ap'ril 17, 1941 8 Sheets- Sheet 5 INVENTOR. I E. 5 TSC/ftq BY 26! Dec. 10, 1946. E. s. TASCHER 2,412,359 v `GRTON FORMIG MACHIN original Filed April 1v, 1941 s 'shams-sheet e INVENTOR. E 5. TASCHER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENToR.

.original Filed April 17. 1941 5.' FISCHER Dec. 10, 1946.- E. s. 'AscHER 2,412,369

CARTON FORMING MACHINE Originl Filed April 17, 1941 8 Sheets-SheetvS I "In l INVENTOR. l E. s. TA .SCH/5R BY 'f '.0 ,ff

AZE'Y Patented Dec. 10, 1946 N ational- Biscuit Company,"` New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey v i Original application Divided 'an 1945, Serial No."595,511 v 12 Claims. (Cl. .Q3-351.1)

My invention pertains to carton forming machines.

The embodiment thatl have selected for illustration is designed particularly y'for forming cartons, such vas are commonly used for pack-` aging crackers, cookies, and other vfood products but the invention is not limited thereto. Such cartons are formed fromcarton blanks having side and end flaps4 andinterlockingtongues and slits. yI nmachines"heretofore used for forming andjfolding these cartons, all `operations' oi folding the sides and flaps and inserting the locking tongues'in the slits have been performed by cam actuated arms' 'a`nd"` 1evers.v This requires very accurate adjustment, and'tir'ning of all the parts and'the constant attendance of a mechanic to maintain the adjustment. Even with the greatest Acare;maladjustments and incorrect timing will occur and `many Acartons will be destroyed inthe operation. Also, because of the intricacy ofy the mechanisn'i Yand close adjustments required, the speed of Ythemachine and the nurnber of cartons that can' be formed 'in a stated time interval are limited. Another 'objection to machines Vas heretofore used is that they lack flexibility and adjustability, a complete machine April 17, K1941, serial Nov d this application' May 211.

by the machine may be adapted toforming and lockingcartons of many different sizes and shapes; h

vThe above and other objects and adyantages over prior carton `for-m ng machines l are attained Aby my invention,an adaptation Aof which 1 have illustrated in' the accompanying drawings' to which referenceis-had Yfor a Vfull understanding thereof. 'l f' i Fi'g. 1 is a vertical section of a carton forming machine madein accordance with my invention,

the view being taken substaritially onthefline I-Iof Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a front View,l partly` in elevation, partly in section and `With parts broken away; indicated by mel une' 2.-.2 fon' Fig. '1;

l Figw's a plan View, partly int, section substantially on the line 3?@ otQFig.- 2.

Fie. 4, is an enlarged Stegtqhl ,view awning 4the carton slitsy and invA the fynean'sl for opening serting the locking tongues, and also the4 means being required for each size and style of carton.-

An important Vobject of my yinvention is to simplify the construction and operation of 'car-y ton forming 'and filling machines and increase their speedandcertainty of operation.

Another object is 4todoaway 'with the complicatedl camand ylever mechanisms heretofore used, 'thereby obviating the difficulties inherent in 'their opera-tion and timing.

' Another `ob-ject is tofprcvide a machine in which the movement ofthe` carton as it is being formed times the operations of folding', opening the slit andV inserting the locking tongues, or in whichlall operations ofthe machine are timed by the 4articles -being operated upon.

Another object is tocprovide sub-.frame assemblies carrying the carton -folding and locking means that cariberemoved as units and quickly replaced by other similar interchangeable units to adapt the machinel to -form different sizes of cartons.

Another object is to ymake different sizes of forming headsv or blocks interchangeable on Vthe cross-bar or vbars and operative with theinterchangeable sub-frame assemblies.

Another'object is to provide an improved means for removing -thelv carton land liner'froiynV the former lock.

Still another-object is toprovide means, wherefor fremoving the carton from the' tormer, the section being indicated byA theline 4-4 on'Fig, 2 1.l is" a view at right `angles to Fig.v fi,A the Fig. 5 section being Aindicate/d by the line Vtif-" on'xFg. 3'ar1`d4. mh

Fig; 5-f-A shows howthe slit in Vthe carton blankis opened? to `insert the tongue. v

Figo -is 'a `perspective View of a lFig. 7 is a similar View of a rear sube-iframe assembly or unit, i

Fig. 8 is a sectionon the line `8-.8 of Fig.'` 3. Fig. 9 shows a former or mandrel about which a large size'c'artonl may be formed.

Fig. lofshpws'a- Smau size former and new it is. attached to in Fig.'9.

Fig. 11 is a section A,Online Il-II of rFig.10

@65eme @OSS-bar as, that Stern showing the adapterthat is used toconnect` the formerto the cross-bar. o o

lFigs. 12 to 16 show ve steps in the formation of a carton from a blank and liner as performed by my invention. l MyV invention inrits many aspects anddetails is adapted toruse withA different kinds or types of carton forming -r'nachinesjV In Figs. loto 111', I have shown how therinventiori may be adapted to a machine havinganumber of forming`blocks moving in an endlessl cycle, and deliveringlonly empty' cartons; But the machine mayfutilize hollowV formers or blocks and deliveriilledfla'rr tons. 'i

This application 1s division of the joint-aplfront subing through which which'y are'. secured f eine@ 'p'lieetien ef wiuiem Bazant April 17, 1941, Ser. No. 388,958.

and myself, filed Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, vertical frames and 2 are connected at the top by a removable rear top plate3 anda removablefront top 1plate .Y

4 and support fafpair of.` vertical columns 5, 6']

which have adjustable ends for a shaft 1. of sprockets 8, 9 over which a pair of endless chains I0, run. Y The lower ends of theseY chains pass around a pair of secured to a shaft I4 mounted the lower part of the frames |`and 2." I4 extends beyond the frame member bearings at their upper meshes with a gear I6 secured'toa l1 mounted in bearings in the framesl and 2, parallel to the shaft I4.

shaft |1 carries a gear.

Y|3 that meshes with a pinion Bc secured to a gear I 8b, both ofwhich vThe shaft 1 carries a pair;v

`io sprockets l2, .I3-j in; bearings "nr' l The shaft# (Figs. 2

and 3) where it is secured to a gear l'thatv cam shaft The opposite endfof the l.

are mounted on aV stubrshaft. The-geary |8bv meshes with a blophjlof which that isfxed in an adjustablearm-ZD. The arm 2 `i's v adjustable about a bearing 26a that is co-axial with theshaftof afmotor 2| havinga pinion' 2| a for` driving theggear |912.

vA's'be'st'shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the top plates 3 and 4 are spaced apart so vas to provide an openthecarton forming blocks 22l may pass, carrying carton blank and liner down through the opening with them@` The carton formers or heads 2 2 near their Opposite ends 4to tneeiieins mill. distance beyond the chainsjwhere their ends are widened toprovide cross-heads 24, 25which slide in'the'vertical' guides 2621that are secured to the-frame members land 2. M A

The'rear top plate 3 has a pair of bearings 281, 29,' inwhicha rock shaft 38 is mounted. This `roclf"shaft has liner holding bars 3| secured toit andone .of these bars vhas a short extension or armfto which one end of a link 32 isY connected.

The' upper ehdfof this link isconnected to one a'rm 'of' a bell-crank 33 mounted'on a'shaft 34 supported in bearings on the vertical columns 5,

The `other`e`nd of the bell-crank carries a Y,roller 34V which is adapted to be actuated by a earn 32'Y carried by the shaftfl. 4 ,Asslflown in Fig,1, thecam 35 may be a split cam which is readily adjustablebnthe shaft 1. :Across-frame member 36 is supported on the coluin'rl's'5,V4 6 andy carries a pair of pivotally mounted fold straightening lingers 31, 38 which have short arms vadjustably connected Vto a pair of link s.3, Mirthe upper endsof which are cony nected to the outer end of the horizontal armtof the bellcrank 33. i

Theinner or forward edge ofthe top plate 3 tween 'thefplate's and will fold -upthe bottom end flaps Vof the carton blan HA, pair of downwardlyextendingguides 48, 43 are securedito the underside of the rear top 'plate The cross-bars extend a shortA pinion l'secured to a gear |9a, are mounted on a stub shaft |911 aresecured tol cross-'bars 23 blocks.

-- VThe two back closing plates arexed in operation but are adjustable on short stubs 54, 55 so Y V[that their inclination or slope can be adjusted.

It willA be noted that the liner holding bars 3|,

and have downwardly and inwardly inclined'sufeces su, 5| which turn in the back endrne'ps of the carton blank, as best shown in Fig.-1.

Near the lower ends of these vertical guides are` a vpair of Yfixed back-closing vplates 52,.,53. which fully turn up the back sidef of :the carton blank to complete the formation of the Vcarton as the blank is carried down by one of the forming the guides 42, 43, the arms'44, 45, the vertical -guide s- 48, 49, andthe back closing'plates 52, 53 are all secured to .and supported by the rear top plate 3' and this entire assembly is removable as a unit from the machine simply by removing the four screws or bolts 56, 51, 58 and 59 (Figs. 3

and 7).

secured te the frame members end 2 below the front'top plate 4 isa .cross-plate 60 (Figsvl and 2) which is connectedv by a pair of brackets 6| 62to the top plate 4. The brackets extend j rearwardly` andsupport a feed. table 63 anda pair of carton'tfblanlgand liner guides 64, 65. The inner edge of the feed table is recessed to receive a folding plate, 66 to the opposite endsV of which are pivoted the wings 61, 68. The plate 6 6 is fixed to a, rock shaft 69 which is supported in bearings adjacent the front edge of the top plate 4.` At one end the shaft 63 has a short crank 16 (Fig. 3) which is connected to the upper end of a pusher Yrod 1|, the lower end of which is slotted to straddle the shaft l1 and has a roller engaging in a'groove in a cam12 fixed to the shaft |1.

The lower side of the folding' plate 66 has av Y pair.. of lugs 13, 14 in which levers 15, 16 are piv otally supported. The outer ends of these levers are connected by short links tothe underside of the wingsr 61, 68. Theinner `endsfof the levers.

75, rent loosely in eneend of levery n which is pivoted tothe top plate 4 and at its opposite ,end is connected to a spring 18 the lower end of which is connected in any suitable manner to the cross-' plate 60.- l ,Y

A pairof vertical front guides 19, Sil (Figs. l and 2) are connectedat their upper ends to the top'plate' and adjacent their lower ends to the cross-plate'l). Near the tops of these vertical guides are secured vertical front flap guides 8|, 82`ea`ch of which hasa slit near the top through which, the no'seforpoint of a springr pressedl breaker finger` 83, 84y projects. Secured to the vertical guides 1S, 8,0is ashort fixed shaft 585 to which are'. fixed a pair of tongueguide fingers 86,81 (Figs. 2 and 4). Beneath the tongue guide fingers, Veach of the front guides carries a tongue downwardly at.4|jtoward the opening will be noted that the breaker llingers, the tongue guide 38, 89 and a tongue presser roller 80, 9|. As best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5,'fthe guide 88 and roller`9 are carried by an arm 90' pivoted to the guide V1|! and are urged inwardly by the spring 98"'. Similarly, theguide 89 and ,roller 9| Vare carried by the pivoted arm 9|' which is yieldably ypulled inward by the spring 9|". I t

guide `fingers, the tongue guides, and the tongue presser rollers are substantially in alignment and theyare adjacent the path which will be travelled by the slits cut in the carton blanks arecarried down bythe former-heads..

The'front top plate 4the cross-plate 60, the brackets 6|, 62, the feed table 63, the-front folding plate 66,- the wings61; 68, theshaft 68,'Y the 18, the Vertical guides Y levers 13, 16, 11,`the spring blanks.y as the carton.

1.9, 80, the flap; guides 8|, 82', the breaker fingersy 83., 84, the tongue guide fingers 36, 31., the tongue guides .88, 89 -and the presser rollers 90, 9|. are all secured together as a unit and' can be removed frein the machine asa unit simply by disconnecting the pusher rod' 1|, the lever |03 land removingv the three bolts 92, 93, 9.4 in the top plate andthe two bolts. 05., 90m the cross-plate. This unit may be. provided with eye-bolts for ease in handling, as. shown in Fig.. 6. Thefeed table. has a carriage is. secured toa pair of racks 98, meshing with a pair of pinions 99 which in turn mesh with a pair of? racks |00.r formed incr secured to theY support'- ingbrackets 6|, 62. The pinions 99 are keyed to a shaft |'0| to which a link |.02i is pivotally connected, theother end of the link being pivoted to a rocking lever |03,-the lower end ofwhich is loosely mounted on a rock shaft; |04. A shortv arm is keyed to the shaft |04 adjacent the lever |03 and atits'free end hasa slot |06 through which passes a bolt` |01 which screws into the lever |03. By means of this slotted arm the limits of the stroke ofthe feed carriage can be adjusted.

,The shaft |04 is mounted in bearings on the frame membersy and 2 and at one end has an arm |03 keyed to it, the free end of the arm being pivotally connected to the lower end` of a pusher rod |09 which at its upper end has a slot straddling the shaft |1 (Fig. 1) and a follower which runs inthe. groove of a cam ||0 keyed to the shaft |1.. The constructionv of the feed carriage 01 and of the racks and pinions by which movement of the lever |03 is transmitted to the feed carriage is not shown in all of its details because it is of usualconstruction and per se does not form any part of theY present invention. The operation and construction of these parts are well-known to those skilled in this art.

Returning now to Fig.l 1 there are six` carton forming heads 22 shown on the chains butA any suitable number may be used. These formers are rectangular in outline and the bottom of each former as it descends on the left hand side of the chain (Fig. 1) is of substantially the same size as the bottom of the carton that is to be formed. Each. of these formers` or heads has a recessl oneach sidegwhich, as it carries:v the cartonjblank downward, willhave its lowerinclined' edge come substantially in alignmentwit-h the slit that isformed in thel front flaps ofthe cartonblank. These recess'es'l andr the slit inthe carton blank come in alignment: with the breaker fingersj83f, 8,4, the function; of whic'hzis to press in onthe carton materialy adjacent the slits and break anyl iibers 'that Imay be' adheringfor` which were not cut completelyl through 'when the carton blank wasl cut out. As the former then passes down carrying the carton with it, the guidefingers 86, 81 engage thel locking tongues on the rear carton iiaps and turn them inV so that theyy will` engage behind the guides 88, 89 Vand'` then'V as the former continues on down the rollers 90; 91|l will press the material of the carton adjacent the top edge 'of the slit into the recesses so that the slit' is opened, and the locking: tongue can be forced through the slit tor complete the formation ot the;carton, (Figs. 5, 5'-A). i

When the carton reaches the lower end of the` guides.A 19?, 80, it is completely formed' aroundthe forming block. 'I'he tucking ii'ap 3f||y extends up from the rear wall: of the carton: as shown in Figs. 1` andv 16r as is usualr in'. this type of carton. Since these cartons' areI not filled 'they are very lighty andi will not drop; always from the formers` 9.1 (Fig. 1) which ILO due to theirown weight. In vorderltolassure-re' moval of the'cartons from 'the' formers I haveprovided. the striker arms which are. bestA show-n in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. f `Astriker head |-|'2-',V which may be madein two parts so as to be adjustable', |4. and carries. a pairv of is' secured to the shaft pivoted varms ||3., ||.4. which are. restrained-v againstV movementreverse to' the direction' of'` roi- An arm ||1 carrying a stop ||8 is adjustable on the stub 55 that carries the back closing p1'ate'53'.

will be in the position shownin dotted lines inv Fig. 4. When the arm (as say,l ||3`) strikesthey roller |20, itv will be stopped butr the shaft.4 |.4.wi11

y continue to rotate thus relatively turning the arm ||v3 backward about its pivotal support and put.- ting tension on the spring ||`5. As; the'y shaft.

continues to rotate, a point is reached, asshownx by dotted lines in Fig. 4, when the striker |;|3. will snap-past the roller |20 andstrikeA the up'- standing edge of the closingY flap 3|6 ofthe cartonand push it from the former., The. carton. will then drop to the'conveyor belt |2 |A and ber-carried'V upto the packaging machine or wherever it isto be used;

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 11 is designed.`

to make cartons of many diierent sizes. Here. tofore, when changing a machine of this general type to make a diiferent size carton, it Wasi necessary to substantially rebuild the machine; because the blank feeding mechanism and all the.

guides and stops on the front and rear plates had.,

tobe changed and the opening between the .two plates either narrowed o'r widened to s'uitthe different size carton. It wasl also necessary to change the timing of` alli the cams and'v operating levers throughout the machine. It was also necessary tol change the relative position of the chains. I0, because the forming blocks 22'were.- of different heights fory different' cartons. It was a matter of several days Work to change. a machine over from one size to another and required.y

the services of highlyskilled mechanics'.`

By means of the present invention, themachine can. be changed over from one size toy another in avery short time, usually not more than 1/2 hour by two mechanics.- This is a great advan' tage over previous machinesv which were so* diftl'- cultv to adjust `for use of 4different size cartons that it was theusual practice to have a complete machine for each size carton.

kWith'the present invention, it l"is not necessary* tochange the timing of anyv of the mechanism when changing from one size carton to` another. All that is done is to remove `the front and.` rearA interchangeable units, las illustratedl in'Figs. 6

andl 'Land replace each one' with a corresponding unit adapted for the new size of cartf0n'."'The formers'22 are also changed but these are' adapted to be connected to the cross-bars 23 so that'the lower edge of each former, as it comes down in contact with the carton blank, is the same dis tance `below'its cross-bar 23 irrespective of the size of the' carton or former. Thel means" for interchangeably connecting the differenti for-mers@v to the ,cross-bars is illustrated in Figs. 9 to .11;

-the lugs 23 abut the two sidesof the former.

Pins orbolts 22a then secure the formers toi the cross-bar; In '.Fig. V10 we have illustrated the smallest size of former which may be used on the machine; In this case an. adapter 22h is secured to the former 22. and at its upper end thisY adapter has a vslot to receive the cross-bar 23 andis of the same length as the former 22 so that the adapter will t snugly between thelockinglugs 23. The adapter is then secured to the cross-bar 23 by the same pins or bolts 22a that are used for securing the other sizes` ofV formers.

- The adapter 22h is of such length that .when the former 22' is secured to the cross-bar the distance from the cross-bar to the bottom of the former would be exactly the same as'the distance from the cross-bar to the bottom of the former 22; This relation is the same for allr sizes of formers intermediate the largest and smallest sizes illustrated. BY keeping this distance con; stant from the cross-bars to the bottom of the formers, iti is not necessary to change the timing of the4 chains 10, 1 I when changing from one size carton. to another.. All that is necessary then in changing therformers is to remove the pins or bolts 22a which releases the formers then on the machine and to replace them with a different size, securing the' new formers in exactly the same'relative position to the chains by means of the pins 22a. When the formers are thus assem-v bled on the machine and the properv size removable front and rear units are in place the machine is ready for operation with the new sizecarton and it is not necessary to change the timing of any of the parts except in some cases it may bey advisable to make a slight adjustment of the striker arms 113, 114.-

The'method of folding the` carton blank andi liner is shown in Figs. 12 to 16. `A carton blank v229;and liner 230 are fed into the machine as shown in Fig. 12 spanning the lgap betweenfthe front plate 4 and the rear plateS. The carton blank is marked with score lines ysoas to provide apanel`310 which will form the bottom of the 1 carton and which' lies directly over the-opening inthe top frame and beneath Vthe former 22. Other score lines on the blank provide bottom end flaps 311, 312, a front panel or side 313, a back side or panel 314, a cover 315 and a tuck 316. At the two ends of the front panel 313 are front flaps 311, 318 each of which is provided with a slit 319, 320. 'Iherback wall of the carton wall 313 of the carton. At the same time, through the pull of the spring 18, the' end flaps 61, 6.8.are turned in `folding in chefsides of the liner and the front end flaps `311, 318 as shown in Fig. 13. As the former continues to press the carton blankv and liner down the next operation is for the roll- A ers 46, 41 to fold up the bottom end aps 3| 1,312.1l

together with theoverlying fold of the liner as shown in Fig. 14. YIn this position the fold straightening ngers 31, 38have straightened;

out'the rear folds 23| in the liner and thecarton is substantially in the position shown inFig. 14..l

The fingers 31, 38 are now swung up and as the; cartoncontinuesV to descend,`the'back panel 3114i I of the carton and top 315 are folded up' by the downwardly and inwardly inclined front edge Y41 of there'ar plate 3. The inclined faces 50, 51 of the vertical guides 48, 49' engage the flaps '321,

322, 321 and 328'and gradually'fold'them in' wardly. During this time the slits 319,320 have passedbeneath the breaker fingers 83,84 which break open the slits provided they have not been cut fully open when the carton blanks were formed. As the carton descends further the locking tongues 323, 324 will engage in the grooves in the Vguide lingers 86, 81^which are inclined inwardly toward the former and as the tongues slide along 314 is provided with opposite end flaps 321, 322

, each of which has a locking tongue 323, 324

which, when the carton is formed enter the respective slits 319, 3213. Cuts 325, 326 separate top closing aps 321, 328 from the cover 315 and these top flaps are connected along score lines to the 1 end or locking flaps 321, 322. This carton blank starts to force the carton blank down between the front and rear top plates is for the cam 12 i to rock the shaft 69 which raises the front plate l 66 folding up the frontof the liner andthe frontv them they are turned in toward theV slits and also` are positioned the correct distance from the slits so that when the rear side of the carton is-folded into its nal position by the plates 52, 53, the tongues will be in exact alignment and ready to enter the slits 313, 320 when the latter-are opened by `pressure of the rollers 93, 91 on both the tongues and the carton above the slits. (See Fig.v

5-A.) These rollers not only open the slits but" also press the locking tonguesrmly against the sides of the ilaps 311, 318 directly above the slits so that as the tongues are pressed forward by the back closing plates 52, 53, the tongues must enter in the slits and lock the carton in formed position."

ASV-the former 22 carries the cartondownbelow the rollers 90, 91 one of the strikersr113, 114 strikes the flap 31B and pushes the carton olf,

" y if4 it does not drop off of. its own weight; to theI belt-,121 (Fig. 1). .I

Asf clearly shown in Fig. 2, the arms carrying the rollers 911,111 springs or other suitable means. While I have shown `rollers for opening the carton slits, rounded surfaces or cams on the arms operate satisfactorily* but there is less friction and wear when rollers 90,91areused. Y A l .'Ihefoldstraighteningfngers 31,. 38 shown in Fig. 2 generally are notnecessary when the cartons are small,l as say'lessthan one pound capacity, but when larger cartons are used, 'they assist Y materially in keepingrthe liner folds straightlan'd" contribute to higher speed of operation. `.Whenr the machine is usedfor. forming cartons without liners, lthe linerhol'ding'bars 31 and the fol-d straightening lingers 31, 38, Itogether with their' operating mechanisms, are omitted.

v Asfshown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8," therrear removable unit used With the machinewof Fig. 1 may be Y positioned on the frame by dOWels 355, 356.2V

I have greatly simpliedthe construction'and operation of carton *forming 'machines' particularly `machines adapted Ito form cartonsk from Y blanks having interlocking Itonguesand slits;

HeretoforIe, in machines for vforming cartonsof this type',` theV back closing plates, vthe breaker; fingers V(ifk used);lthe tongue guideengers, and the slit, opening lingers. (corresponding topresseri `rtillersflllt;91) were all operatedby levers-which;

are urged inwardly by` coil` 9 in turn were actuated by cams. This required very accurate manufacture of all the operating parts and necessitated their being kept inexact adjustment, otherwi-se the machine would malfunction. This has always been -very difdcultto doY and it has limited the speed at which such machines could be operated,

` By means of the present invention all' of these moving parts l(cams, levers, shafts, fingers) are done away withand theseveral functions of -foldi-ng up the back ofthe carton, opening the slits, inserting the tongues-and so forth are performed automatically by stationary parts as the carton being formed is carried pastthese several parts. In other words, timing of ther-mechanism is done away with and -the carton bengoperated upon is its own timing means, so that all functions must be performed at the proper time and in the proper sequence.` This greatly simplifies the operation of the machine and enables it to be operated at speeds heretofore unattainable because no matter how fast the carton blanks are carried down by the formers, the sequence of operations necessary to fold the blanks into cartons and lock them together are timed and performed automatically by the descent of the carton.

vHaving thus described my invention and illustrated how it may be used in carton forming machines, VI claim yall adaptations and equivalents thereof that may come within the spirit or within the scope of any of the following claims.

vWhat I claim is: y

l. In a machine of the class described having a supporting frame, a removable uni-t assembly Comprising 'a top plate, a cross-plate below the :1.,

Atop plate, parallel front guides connecting the top plate and cross-plate, fixed front flap guides perpendicular to the frontgu-ides and secured adj acent thereto,yieldable breaker fingers fixed to the front fiap guides -and engageable by carton flaps moving along the'guides, fixed guide fingers secured adjacent theouter edges of the front guides below the front ap guides, and yieldable tongue pressers fixed to the front guides below the guide fingers, the breaker fingers, guide ngers and 1 -ftongue pressers being substantially in vertical alignment successively, the top plate and cross- Aplate having means for securing the unit assem- 'bly to the frameiof the machine.

2. In a machine of the class described-having 'a supporting frame, -a removable unit assembly comprising atop plate, a cross-plate below the top plate, parallel front guides connecting the top plate and `cross-plate, fixed front fiap guides perpendicular to the front guides and secured adjacent thereto, fixed guide fingers secured adjacent the outer edges of the front guides below the front flap guides, yieldable tongue pressers fixed to the front guides below the guide fingers, a rock shaft supported on the top plate adjacent its front edge and above the front guides, a folding plate secured to vsaid shaft and normally lying within a recess in the top of said top plate, and a feed table secured to said top plate, all of said parts comprising a removable unitary structure, the top plate and cross-plate having means for securing the unit assembly to the frame of the machine.

3. In a machine of the class described having a supporting frame, a removable unit assembly comprising a top plate, a cross-plate below the top plate, parallel front guides connecting the top plate and cross-plate, fixed front ap guides perpendicular to the front guides .and secured adjacent thereto, yieldable breaker fingers fixed ft'o'lthe front ap guides, fixed guide fingers secured adjacent the outer edges of the front guides below the, front flap guides, yieldable tongue -pressers secured to the front guides below the guide fingers, a rock shaft supported on -the'top plate adjacent its front edge and above the front guides, a folding plate secured to said shaft and `normally lying withina recess in .the top of said top plate, a feed table secured -to said top plate, and a pair of brackets having vertical legsconnecting vthe top plate and cross-plate and horizontal legs supporting said feed table, all of ,said parts comprising a removable unitary structure, ,thetopplate and cross-plate having means for securing the unit assembly to the frame'of ythe machine.

4. In a-machineof the class described having -a supporting frame, a removable unit Vassembly comprising a rear top plate, liner guide fingers and stops secured to the top of said plate,bottom `flap folders secured to the top plate and vextending forwardly and inwardly therefrom, a'pair ,of downwardly Aand 4oppositely disposed vguides fixed at their upper ends to the top vplateand-supported wholly thereby, downwardly and forwardly inclined kback .closing plates disposed between th'e guides and secured one to each guide adjacentits lower end and supported wholly'thereby, the rear ltcp plate having means for securing the` unit assembly to the frame of the rr-iachine.

5. In a machine vof the classdescribed, a removable unit assembly comprising a rear top plate, 'liner guide fingers and stopssecured to the top of said plate, bottom fiap rfolders Vsecured to the topy plate and extending forwardly and in- :wardly therefrom, a pair of downwardly and oppositely disposedguides fixed at their upper Vends Ato the top plate, fixed. downwardly and forwardly inclined back closing plates disposed between the lguides and secured one to each guide adjacent Aits lower end and supported wholly thereby,I and means for adjusting the inclinationof vthe'bac'k vclosing plates.

6. In a machine for forming a carton 'from' a blank `having flaps with i slits and flaps with tongues adapted to be Iinserted Ain `the slits, the combination` of av table having an Aopening therein and adapted to receive a` carton blank, Ia carton former adapted to force the blank downward through said opening, means for folding the sides and fiaps on the `blank as the former descends, and stationary means inthe path of the descend-` ing blank becoming automatically operative by the descent of the blank to open the lslits and insert the tongues therein.

7. In a machine for forming cartons from blanks having flaps with slits therein and flaps with locking tongues thereon, the combination of a frame having a horizontal table with an opening therethrough, means for positioning a carton blank on the table over the opening, a carton forming head, means for moving the forming head downward through the opening to carry the carton blank with it, vertical guides extending downward from the table adjacent-the front edge of the opening, means for folding up the aps having slits as the forming head forces the blank through the opening, the forming head having recesses over which the slits are folded, breaker fingers secured to the vertical guides in the path of the downwardly moving slits and adapted to press into the recesses, fixed means in the path of the descending carton blank adapted to fold the flaps having tongues so that the forward edges of the tongues lie adjacent the Slits, fixed tongue pressers secured to said guides -belowthe breakersV and ini the Vpath ofi-said tongues, lslits and recesses, whereby the pressers will open therslits and press the entrant edge, of the tongues into the-plane of the slitf openings,

landmeans for pressing vthe tongues into the slits.

33.'- In a machine for forming cartons from forming head, means for moving the forming head downward through the opening to carry the carton blank with it, vertical guides extending downward from-the table 'adjacent the front edge'of the opening, means forfolding up the vflaps having slits as the forming head forces the .'blankthrough the'opening, the forming head having recesses 'over which the slits are folded, iixed means in the path ofthe descending cartonblank adapted to fold the flaps having tongues so that the forward edges of the tongues lie adjacent the slits, vfixed tongue pressers secured to said guides 'below' the breakers and in theV path ofV said tongues, slits and recesses, whereby the pressers willODen theslits and press the entrant edge of the tongues into the plane vof the Vslit openings, and means for pressing the tongues into the slits.

9. In a machine for formingVK cartons from blanks havingaps with slits therein and iiaps with*v tongues adapted toV interlock in theslits,

' th'ecombination of a horizontal table having an opening therethrough of approximately the size ofthe bottom of the carton to be formed, means l.for positioning a carton blank on the table with its bottom Vpanel over the opening, means for vforcing the blank downward through the opening,

vertical guides dependingfrom the table adjacent l the front and rear sides of the opening, the rear guides having means forfolding the tongues for- V.ward adjacent the slits, the front guides having fixed pressers for opening the slits and pressing the tonguesinto the plane Vof the opened slits, andV fixed means onthe rear guides for pressing the vtongues forward and into the opened slits.

Y10.'1In 'a machine for forming cartons from blanks Vhaving flaps with slits therein and flaps with tongues adapted to interlock in the slits, the combination of a horizontal table having an opening therethrough of approximately the size of the bottom'of the carton to be formed, means for :positioning a carton blank on the table with its bottom panel over'theopening, means for forcing the blank downward through the opening, vertical guides depending from theA table; advjacent the front and rear sides of the opening,

means adjacent theV rear guides for folding'the tongues Vforward toward the f slits, stationary pressers adjacent the frontguides for opening the slits and pressing the tongues into-the plane of the opened slits, and stationary meansfad-jacent the rear guides for-pressingthetongues forward and into the opened slits, said stationary pressers andsaid stationary vmeans operating to moved downward past them. u t A 111. In a carton forming: machine having`v a frame, a removable unit assembly Vcomprisinga rear top plate', spaced carton blankjguideson said top plate, bottom riiap folders secured ,toA ,theftop perform their functions as theAcarton-blanlfzvis plate and extendingY forwardly andfinwardly l therefrom, a pair of downwardly and oppositely disposed guides fixed at their upper ends to the top plate and supported wholly thereby, V dQwn.- l

4wardly and forwardly-inclinedback closing plates disposed between the` guides and secured one; to each guide adjacent its lower end and supported whollythereby, Vthe rear top plate having means v for securingvthe unit assembly to the frameof the machine. f Y f 1 2. In a machine for forming a carton froma blank having bottom; front, rearand en d panels formed thereon and end apswith slits therein and end flaps with tongues adapted to interlock in the slits; the combination of a frame, front and rear top plates secured to said frame Yand spaced apart a distance substantially equal'to'the lwidth of the bottom panel of the carton blank,

means for positioning a cartonblank on said plates with its bottom panel over the space fbe- Y tween them, a carton forming head, means for moving the forming head downward between said plates to carry the cartonblank with it; means fixed to and supported'by the `frontvtop plate (for .successivelyturning upthe front panel and the slitted endsilaps, andopening the slitsas 'the forming head carries the blank downward;

means xed to and supported by the rear top plate for successivelyturning up the end panels, then jturning up-the rear Apanel :and endiiaps with .tongues andv pressing the tongues fully into the vslits as the forming head .carries theblankjdown.-

ward; said front and rearr top'platesV with their respective supported means being Aremovably lsecured to said frame and being removableY therevfrom as distinct front and rear units. Y f i EIVJGENEv s. TASCHERQ

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