US2932140A - Apparatus for filling, folding and closing containers of paper, cardboard, or the like carton-forming material - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1960 Filed July 7, 1958 ''fi. Fig. 1

W APPARATUS FOR FIL CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD, OR

THE LIKE CARTON-FORMING MATERIAL DRESE LING, FOLDING AND CLOSING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 12, 1960 w. DRESE 2,932,140

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, FOLDING AND CLOSING com AINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD, OR THE LIKE CARTON-FORMING MATERIAL.

Filed July 7, 1958 21 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1960 w. DRESE 2,932,140

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, FOLDING AND CLOSING CON NERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD, OR TH IKE CARTON-FORMING MATERIAL Filed Juiy 7, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet :s

r 2,932,140 APPARATUS FOR FILLING. FOLDING AND CLOS- ING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD, OR THE LIKE CARTON -F ORMING MATERIAL Wilhelm Drese, Dusseldorf, Germany, assiguor to .lagenherg-Werhe Akt.-Ges., Dusseldorf, Germany The present invention relates broadly to the art of filling and closing containers.

More particularly, this invention relates to a method of and means for filling and closing containers of paper, cardboard or the like carton-forming material and which containers are of the type generally intended to hold liquid such as milk.

Specifically, the present invention constitutes an improvement over the subject matter of prior application, Serial No. 602,007, filed August 3, 1956, now US. Patent No. 2,888,794, in the name of Gunther Meyer Jagenberg, and entitled Method and Apparatus for Filling, Folding and Closing Containers of Paper, Cardboard or the Like Carton Forming Material. Y .4

Therefore,-the invention relates to apparatus of the type embodied in the said prior filed application in which containers of suitable carton forming material are .employed that include a wall structure which is multi-sided in an area above a filling level and which has fold lines which delineate a foldable gable-type top with one wall having a closure flap-forming extension adapted to be folded over and sealed against the facing wall structure by a heat and pressure sealing operation.

Basically, the apparatus of the present invention includes a filling station, a sealing station displaced from 'the filling station, and a folding blade arrangement extending from the sealing station toward the filling station. A movable cell structure mounted for movement along 'the line between the filling station and the sealing station and adapted to receive successive containers to be filled, closed and sealed. In accordance with the teachings of the prior application, this cell structure includes prefolding blades operable to prefold certain of the wall portions toward one another to initiate similar movement of the other oppositely arranged wall portions and to beheld in this prefolded condition while the cell is displaced toward the sealing station. During this displacing move- "ment, the said other opposite wall portions are folded toward one another until they engage along a closure line, whereupon the closure flap-forming portion or extension is folded over in overlapping relation prior to entry into the sealing station, wherein heat and pressure is applied to effect a closure seal, it is of course understood that the closure flap-forming portion is provided with a suitable heat activatable adhesive to ensure the formation of a proper seal.

Thus, the invention is directed to a manually operable filling, folding and closing mechanism of economical construction, in which a cell structure, movably mounted on a fixed support, in sequence receives an empty container to be filled, superpositioned beneath the filling station and when filled is moved toward a sealing device to effect sealing at the sealing station. During this movement, the prefolding mechanism on the cell structure is actuated and the folding blades effect the formation of the folded closure. This mode of operation necessitates affording a certain period of rest asregards the movement of the cell-structure in order tocarry out the necessary opera- 2332,14 Patented Apr. 12, race tions of filling and sealing. In other words, with the mechanism and mode of operation as set forth in the said prior filed application, it is impossible to provide an overlapping of the individual working steps, because, while a container is being filled or being sealed, no other operation can be carried out. Thus, while the mechanism and method disclosed in the said prior filed application affords an economical relationship, it does require certain definite time intervals in the working cycle between a complete filling, folding, closing and sealing operation that place a limitation upon the rate of production or output of the mechanism.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the type referred to in said application constructed, arranged and operated to aflord an increased rate of production while maintaining the economic advantages of simplicity of construction and ease of operation.

Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of filling and closing successive containers in which there is at least a partial overlapping in the operation of the filling step with the closing step, which provides for an increased rate of production. Accordingly, while one container is being sealed and is stationary at the sealing station, the steps of inserting another container and manipulating the same to the filling the other to form station and the commencing of the filling operation can be carried out in such container is still being filled, the-first and sealed container can be removed from the sealing station and deposited elsewhere.

It is a particular object ofthe invention to provide apparatus for manipulating containers between a filling station and a sealing station which includes a movable cell means adapted to receive a container and to be displaced between the filling station and the sealing station and in which the cell means is of two-part construction with each part capable of accommodating a container.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel container-carrying cell of two-part construction with support means for the cell and in which latching means are provided for securing the parts to- 'gether at one station, said latching means being opened at a second station and return means associated with one of the cell parts to return said one cell part back to the first station, independently of the container, while the other cell part remains at the second station until the process step being carried out at that station is completed.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a two-part cell structure, each including wall means adapted to support a container with the wall means being shaped and positioned to permit telescoping of one part within a unitary cell and with one cell part carrying a latch and the other cell part carrying a member that cooperates with the latch to hold the coil parts together.

As a further specific object, return means are associated with one cell part operable after unlatching of the parts at a position remote from that where they were coupled together to automatically return said one part to a starting position and in which each cell part-has a partial base structure for supporting a bottom of an upright container with the base structure of said one cell part having its upper surface below the level of the base structure of the other cell part so that said one cell part can be withdrawn from beneath the container without disturbing the same.

Consistent with the foregoing objects, it is an additional object of this invention to provide a method of performing a series of operations on successive containers relation that while said another condition at a first work station such as a filling station, completing a filling at the station and manually displacing the filled container to a second work station such as the sealing station and while supporting said firstcontainer at the sealing station and effecting a sealing thereof, manually manipulating another container to the filling station and supporting the same in upright condition to be filled, while filling said another container completing the sealing of, the first container and while displacing it back toward the filling station removing the sealed container during the completion of the filling of said another container and manually repeating such steps in sequence on successive containers. Further and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating the two-part cell structure in coupled relationship to form a cell unit,

Figure 2 is a top view of the arrangement of Figure 1 in horizontal section along lines 22,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating the cell parts in separated relationship,

Figure 3a is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line 3a3a of Figure 2, and

Figures 4 to 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating several steps in a filling, folding and sealing operation.

The structural components of this invention are in many respects similar to those in the said prior filed application, Serial No. 602,007, and thus the supporting base and framework has not been illustrated. Essentially, the components include a filling mechanism denoted at 1 including a downwardly directed filling spout and conventional mechanism for dispensing a predetermined quantity of a liquid such as milk. The filling mechanism can also be of the type disclosed in said prior filed application. A fixed carrier rail 4 is supported below the filling mechanism and extends horizontally away therefrom to terminate beneath a suitably supported sealing head 3. Extending from the sealing head and back toward the filling station is a folding and laying down blade arrangement 2. The said blade arrangement and sealing mechanism are similar to that disclosed in the prior filed application. Movably supported on the rail 4 is the cell structure consisting of two cell parts A, B, respectively including rear walls 5, 6, side Walls 7, 8 and bottom or bases 19, 20. As shown in Figure 1, side walls 7 of one cell part are at a higher level than the side walls 8 of the other cell part and the base structure 19 of the one cell part is in effect bifurcated while the base structure 20 of the other cell part fits between the two base parts 19. The opposite sides of the base structure 19 have a short upstanding portion 19' to assist in positioning a container with its open end up at the filling station.

The containers to be manipulated in accordance with the present invention are those which are either multisided in cross section such as square or rectangular or those in which the upper portion is multi-sided and the body tapers downwardly and merges into a round bottom. However, the Wall structure of such containers in the area above the filling level are, as disclosed in the said prior filed application, scored or lined to form a gabled closure in which the opposite walls fold toward one another in a prefolding relation to initiate movement of the other pair of opposite walls toward one another so that they can be moved between the blades indicated at 2 to complete the folding of the closure and a guiding of the same into the sealing head as shown in said prior application. Accordingly, the cell structure parts are each provided with a counterweighted prefolding blade arrangement 18 movable about a pivot means 17.

Each cell part includes supporting plates 10 attached to the respective rear walls and 6 and these supporting plates carry roller means such as at 11 for guiding and facilitating the movement ofthe cell parts along the fixed rail 4. The cell part A that is nearest the filling station has a latch 12 of hook formation pivoted at 12' to the supporting plate 10. A stop pin 12" projecting out from the rear of this supporting plate 10 prevents the latch from falling out of a position other than horizontal and ensures the holding thereof over a pin 13 that projects horizontally from one of the side walls 8 of the other cell part B. As shown in the drawings, the nose of the latch 12 is at an angle, so that when the two pocket parts are moved together, the latch is cammed up by pin 13 and then drops thereover to hold the parts together in a position of Figure 1. When the thus coupled cell parts are moved away from the filling station toward the sealing station and reach that station, the nose 14 of the latch engages a cam stop 15 in alignment with the path of movement with the latch so that this beveled nose 14 rides up the cam surface at the right hand end position of the coupled cell parts and releases the latch connection between said cell parts. As soon as the latch is released, a return mechanism such as a spring-tensioned return cord device illustrated diagrammatically at 16 returns the one cell part back to the filling station, that is, to its original position. A suitable stop on buffer means, not shown, is engaged by the returning cell part. The operation of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 9. In Figure 4 the parts are shown in a position in which cell part B is at the sealing station and supporting a filled and closed container for sealing, while cell part A is positioned at the filling station to receive a container to be filled. A container to be filled is removed from the stacking device 21 and as shown in Figure 5 positioned on cell part A with the filling operation being commenced. At the same time the operator with one hand moves cell part B back toward the filling station until as shown in Figure 6 the filled, closed and sealed container has moved from beneath the folding blade arrangement 2, whereupon the sealed container is removed and the cell part B is displaced to the left to a position shown in Figure 7 and latched to cell part A, so as to completely surround the filled container. The operator then manipulates the prefolding blades 18 and moves the coupled cell parts and filled container to the right through the folding blade arrangement 2 and into the sealing station. Figure 8 illustrates the coupled cell parts in an intermediate position. As soon as the coupled cell parts carrying a filled container with its folded over closure into the sealing head reaches the position shown in Figure 9 the cam 15 lifts latch 12, so that cell part A is automatically returned to the filling station by moving in the direction of the arrow in Figure 9, so that the parts resume the position shown in Figure 4, whereupon while the handle for the sealing head is still held down with one hand the operator removes another container from the magazine and deposits it on cell part 9 and actuates the filling valve control with his other hand. Following this, the handle for the sealing head is raised to a position shown in Figure 5, and the operator manipulates cell part B back toward the filling station along the track 4, lifts out the second sealed container, and then moves cell part B into coupling relation with cell part A, during which time the filling process has been completed and the parts are again in the position of Figure 7 ready to transport the third container to the sealing station.

In order to ensure that the return movement of cell part A toward the filling station after it has been unlatched is not hindered due to any downward pressure exerted on the base structure by the filled container, the bottom plate structure 19 of cell part A is at a lower level than the bottom plate structure 20 of cell part B, which permits the withdrawal of cell part A from beneath the filled container without any undue friction. Further, the plate structure 20 of cell part B is chamfered, so that when it is moved to the position shown in Figure 7, it does not unduly effect a container being filled in passing therebeneath, while the cell parts are being coupled together. 1

It is also to be pointed out that the invention contemplates a further increase in the production capacity of the filling and sealing mechanism by incorporaing a plurality of filling and sealing devices and constructing and arranging the cell parts so that each part can simultaneously receive two or more containers. Obviously the structure could be such that the containers are arranged either behind one another or alongside one another.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for filling and closing containers comprising a filling station, a sealing station displaced from the filling station, a cell means adapted to support a container for filling and sealing, means supporting the cell means for movement between the stations and said cell means comprising a two part structure adapted to cooperate to form a unit and each part being independently and individually displaceable relative to the other and each part including supporting surfaces capable of supporting an individual container.

2. Apparatus for filling and closing containers comprising a filling station, a sealing station displaced from the filling station, a cell means adapted to support a container for filling and sealing, means supporting the cell means for movement between the stations, said cell means comprising a two part structure adapted to cooperate to form a unit, each part being independently and individually displaceable relative to the other, and each part including supporting surfaces capable of supporting an individual container, and further including releasable latching means operably associated with said parts to couple the same together as a unit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said latching means includes a component carried by each cell part, one of said components being movable and includ ing a latching surface engageable with the other component responsive to movement of the cell parts toward one another into engaged position.

4. Apparatus for filling and closing containers comprising a filling station, a sealing station displaced from the filling station, a cell means adapted to support a container for filling and sealing, means supporting the cell means for movement between the stations, said cell means comprising a two part structure adapted to cooperate to form a unit, each part being independently and individually displaceable relative to the other, and each part including supporting surfaces capable of supporting an individual container, releasable movable latching means operably associated with said cell parts to couple the parts together as a unit, and unlatching means at an end position of movement of the cell means at one of the stations mounted for cooperation with said latching means to release the same responsive to movement of the unit to said end position.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and a return mechanism operably associated with one of said cell parts to return the same to an initial position independently of the other cell part when the latching means is released.

6. Apparatus for filling and closing containers comprising a filling station, a sealing station displaced from the filling station, a cell means adapted to support a container for filling and sealing, means suporting the cell means for movement between the stations, said cell means comprising a two part structure adapted to cooperate to form a unit, each part being independently and individually displaceable relative to the other, and

6 each part including supporting surfaces capable of supporting an individual container, the surfaces of each part that are capable of supporting an individual container including a bottom surface, and the bottom surface of one part including at least a portion lying in a different vertical level than the bottom surface of the other.

7. In apparatus for filling and closing containers ofpaper, cardboard or the like carton-forming material and which containers are of the type which include an upper wall structure extending above a filling level that is multisided, lined to determine a folded closure and in which one wall has a closure flap forming extension thereon adapted to be sealed by the application of heat and pressure, the improvements comprising a filling station wherein successive containers are adapted to be filled, a sealing station displaced from said filling station and including means adapted to seal a folded container, a folding blade structure extending from the sealing station toward the filling station and adapted to complete the folding of the closure, said folding blade structure including spaced fold-forming blades, a cell structure adapted to support a container with its open end up, means mounting the cell structure for movement between the filling station and the sealing station, pre-folding blades movably mounted on the cell structure and adapted upon actuation to initiate movement of opposite walls toward one another to impart similar movement to the other walls whereby displacement of the cell structure between the filling station and the sealing station with the pre-folding blades maintained in pre-folding position moves the container wall structure toward and between the spaced folder blades to complete the formation of the folded closure and to guide the now completed folded closure into the sealing station so that it can be sealed, said cell structure comprising two complementary oppo sitely facing half cell parts, each supported for individual movement and including surfaces capable of supporting a container.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the means mounting the cell structure comprises afixed rail extending between the filling station and the sealing station, each half cell part including roller means for mounting the parts for movement along the rail, a releasable latching means operably associated with the parts and movable to latching position in response to movement of the parts together, and means at the sealing station and in the path of movement of the latching means for unlatching the same when the latched cell parts reach said sealing station.

9. In apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the said fixed rail extends horizontally between the filling station and the sealing station, and means connected to that cell part that is nearest the filling station for returning the same to the filling station independently of the other cell part in response to release of the latching means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which each cell part includes a partial bottom structure each capable of supporting a container in upright condition and the partial bottom structure of the cell part adjacent the filling station lying at a level slightly below the level of the partial bottom structure of the other cell part to facilitate return movement toward the filling station.

Gillican Jan. 26, 1945 Earp et a1. June 19, 1956

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