US3009301A - Cigarette package handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

N V- 1, 196 F. HOLLINGER 3,009,301

CIGARETTE PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Levon EHoIlmger ATTORNEY N V- 21, 1 L. F. HOLLINGER CIGARETTE PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i "mil 50 1 I 52 h Uh. a? 360 66 I l6 I6 J A i INVENTOR Lcwon F. Hollinger ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,009,301 CIGARETTE PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Lavon F. Hollinger, 2538 N. Minneapolis, Wichita, Kans. Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 8,810 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-131) This invention relates to cigarette package handling apparatus, and in a more particular phase to means for unpacking, stamping, conveying and repacking of packages of cigarettes. Still more specifically, the invention relates to means for feeding cartons of packages of cigarettes to a stamping machine and for returning the stamped packages in the carton to the general vicinity of the end of the handling apparatus from which they were originally unpacked, where they are repacked into cases.

Heretofore, the operation of a cigarette package tax stamping machine such as used to stamp cartons of cigarettes with. tax stamps and the like required an operator at each end of the machine, one to feed the machine and the other to receive the stamped cartons or packages and repack them at the other end of the machine. The use of two individuals instead of one to operate the device resulted in excessive expense to the distributor of the cigarettes or other such articles. Also, it was necessary to provide additional space at the end of the machine to be used for repacking the cartons. In some cases, conveyors were used to bring the entire case of cartons of cigarettes to the machine, and in such cases, additional conveyors were necessary at the other end of the machine to receive the stamped cigarettes for reconveyance to the shipping platform.

In accordance with the present invention, a new handling apparatus has been provided whereby a single operator can feed a cigarette package tax stamping machine and repack the cartons of stamped packages from a single position at one end of the apparatus. Means have been provided to receive a full or one-half case of unstamped packages of cigarettes in cartons at one end of the apparatus, from which the cartons are removed and placed on a suitable track leading to the cigarette package tax stamping and metering means, and from which the stamped and sealed cartons are discharged and conveyed back to the same end of the apparatus, where the same operator can then repack the cartons in a case or one-half case for shipping. The apparatus of the present invention is inexpensive to construct and and metering means, and are conveyed from the exit of the cigarette stamping and metering means back to the original end of the handling apparatus for repacking.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, economic handling apparatus particularly adapted for use with cigarette tax stamping machines.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a two level handling apparatus whereby various objects can be fed to work machines on one level and returned therefrom on the other level.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the 3,009,301 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the handling apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic section showing the conveyor in relation to the table top and the power source.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view through the conveyor track.

The following is a discussion and description of a preferred specific embodiment of the new handling apparatus of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus of the invention is shown generally at 10 and includes an elongated table 12 having a generally flat top 14 which is supported by a plurality of legs 16. A usual cigarette package tax stamping and metering apparatus 16 is mounted on the top of said table intermediate its ends in any suitable manner. The tax stamping and metering means 16' includes a receiving track 18 at one end there of and an exit or discharge track 20 at the other end thereof, or the tracks 18 and 20 can be a part of the handling apparatus, as is the case in some of the common models. The tax stamping and metering means 16 used with the handling apparatus of the invention can be any of the devices known to the art, and the machine, as such, constitutes no part of this invention. A typical machine of the type suitable for use with the invention is shown in US. Patent No. 2,090,919, issued August 24, 1937, to J. A. Strother et a1. and assigned to the Pitney- Bowes Postage Meter Company. Other package tax stamping and metering mean-s can, of course, be used in connection with handling apparatus of the invention.

The tax stamping and metering means of the type used with the invention is preferably one which receives a carton of unst-amped cigarettes from the receiving track 18, which conveys the carton to the means 16, which then opens the top of the carton, stamps each of the packages of cigarettes therein with the tax stamp, automatically indicates on the metering device, the total number of packages stamped, closes the top of the cigarette carton and glues and reseals it, and then conveys the carton of stamped packages of cigarettes to the discharge or exit track 20'.

An elongated rectangular hole or opening 22 is cut through the table top 14 at the end of the discharge track 20. The hole 22 is slightly wider than the carton of cigarettes or other article being handled, and is sufficiently long so that a carton of cigarettes or the like, coming from the discharge track 20, will move over the hole 22, until gravity pulls the end of the carton into the hole 22.

A conveyor belt pulley 2/4 is mounted on the table beneath and table top -14 and is spaced therefrom. The conveyor belt pulley 2:4 is mounted beneath the rear portion of the hole 22 in the manner shown in FIG. 2 for a reason to be explained hereinafter. A second conveyor belt pulley 2 6 is mounted beneath the table top 14 and is spaced from the top of the table by the same distance as the conveyor belt pulley 24. The second conveyor belt pulley 26 is near the opposite end of the table from the conveyor belt pulley 24.

An electric motor 28, or other suitable drive means, is suitably mounted on the framework of the table, preferably beneath the second conveyor belt pulley 26. The conveyor belt pulley 26 is rotated by the electric motor 28 through suitable drive belts indicated at 30. One or more intermediate pulleys 32 may be used between the electric motor 28 and the conveyor belt pulley 26 to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the pulley 26. While the drive means 28 is shown mounted beneath the pulley 26, it can, if desired, be connected so as to drive the conveyor belt pulley 24 instead.

A channel shaped guide 34 is mounted on the table framework beneath the top 14 and extends from the top edge of the conveyor belt pulley 26 beyond the conveyor belt pulley 24. The guide 34 is open at the end adjacent the conveyor belt pulley 26 and is closed at the other end. The guide 34 may be closed by a block shaped element 36 which is mounted within the channel shaped guide, or it may be closed by bending a portion of the end guide to a position between the sides of the channel shaped guide 34. The stop 36 is preferably beneath the portion of the table top between the end of hole 22 and the adjacent end of the table. The guide 34 is positioned on the table framework so that the bottom portion of the guide is approximately at the same level as the top edges of the conveyor belt pulleys 24 and 26. A portion of the bottom of the guide 84, directly above the conveyor belt pulley 24 and directly under the hole 22 in the table top 14 is cut away as shown at 38, so that guide 34 can straddle pulley 24. The guide 34 may be formed of a suitable metal, such as sheet metal, which may be easily bent into the preferred channel shape, or it may be made of wood, plastics, or other suitable materials. A corrugated sheet metal has been found particularly satisfactory, since the corrugations in the sides and bottom provide a minimum amount of friction for a member moving along the guide. The guide 34 may be supported intermediate its ends by a portion of the table framework shown in 40. In some applications, the guide may consist of two spaced side pieces, individually mounted on each side of the conveyor belt pulleys.

A flat, endless conveyor belt 42 is rotatably mounted on and extends between the conveyor belt pulleys 24 and 26 and is rotated by electric motor 28, acting through the intermediate drive belts 30. The conveyor belt 42 passes through the opening 38 in the bottom portion of the channel shaped guide 34, travels through the length of the guide and out the open end adjacent the conveyor belt 26. The conveyor belt 42 can be supported along the bottom by one or more rollers 44, which are rotatively held in brackets 46 secured to the table framework 40. The rollers 44 and the brackets 46 may be dispensed with in some applications where the distance between the conveyor belt pulleys 24 and 26 is short or the conveyor belt pulley '42 is a light belt construction. The conveyor belt 42 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates the conveyor belt 42 within the guide 34. The belt 42 is preferably of such a width as to cover most of the bottom portion of the channel shaped guide 34.

A platform 50 is secured to one side of the table top 14 to the framework of the table. The platform 50 has a top surface 52 which is preferably slightly lower than the top 14 of the elongated table and on which one-half of a case of cartons of cigarettes is placed when operating the device. The top 52 should be of such a height that the cartons of cigarettes can be conveniently removed from the case and fed to the track 18 and the package tax stamping and metering device 16. The platform 50 is preferably near the end of the table 12 opposite from the hole 22.

A shelf 60 is secured to the supporting framework below the table top 14. The shelf 60 is spaced from the top 14 of the table and extends beyond the side of the table. Shelf 60 is preferably on the opposite side of the table from the platform 50. The top surface of one side of the shelf 60 is adjacent the top of the conveyor belt pulley 26 so that the item being carried on the conveyor belt 42 will be delivered to the shelf 60 when the belt 42 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. The shelf 60 can have a short side wall 62 extending around three sides, as shown in FIG. 1, to prevent the articles placed thereon by the rotation of the conveyor belt from being accidentally removed. A packing stand 64 has been provided which will hold an empty one-half case into which the conveyed articles on the shelf 60 is packed. Packing stand 64 is preferably inclined and is secured to and depends from the flat surface of the shelf 60. The packing stand 64 is also secured to the framework of the elongated table 12. A flange or short side wall 66 may be secured to the lower portion of the inclined surface of the stand 64 which will aid in retaining the packing case thereon.

In operation, a one-half case of cartons of cigarettes is emptied on the top 52 of the receiving platform 50, with the cartons in stacked relation. An operator standing at the end of the table removes the individual cartons of cigarettes 70 from the platform and places them on the receiving track 18. The cartons of cigarettes 70 move along the track 18 into the tax stamping and metering means 16, where the top of the cartons are opened, and the individual packages of cigarettes therein are stamped, and the top of the cartons are reglued, closed and sealed, and they then leave the machine by the exit or discharge track 20. As the cartons of cigarettes 70 leave the discharge track 20, they fall into the elongated hole 22. The channel shaped guide 34 is directly below the hole 22 and the cartons of cigarettes 70 will fall within the guide 34. The guide has been cut away at 38 so that the conveyor belt 42 will pass therethrough, and the cartons of cigaretes will fall on the surface of the belt 42. Cartons 70 will be turned almost on their ends when they fall through the hole 22 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. With the cartons in this position, the rotating belt 42 will be in friction engagement with the end of the carton, and will cause it to rotate about its end and be turned over degrees as indicated by the cartons in dotted lines at the right side of FIG. 2. The sides of the channel shaped guide 34 will prevent the carton 70 from falling on its sides during this rotation. The cartons 70 will then be conveyed through the guide 34 by the belt 42 and as the belt rotates from the pulley 26, the cartons will be deposited on the shelf 60. As the cartons are accumulated on shelf 60, they are moved to the outside and then packed into an empty case, which is placed on the inclined stand 64. The cartons 70 can be packed therein either individually as they come 01f the conveyor, or they can accumulate on the stand 60 and be packed in the case by rows.

The rotation of the carton 70 about its end, as previously described, is an important feature of this invention. The rotation of the carton places the top of the carton, which has been opened and rescaled by the tax stamping and metering means '16, next to the belt 42. The weight of the cigarettes in the carton 70 will press down on the top of the carton against the belt 42 and aid materially in resealing the carton. Furthermore, the tops of the cartons of cigarettes will still be in the down position when they are on the shelf 60, and they can be packed in the empty case on the stand 64, in this position, which will put additional weight on the top of each carton to further aid in securing the top. While the tax stamping and metering means 16 replaces and seals the top of each carton, it has been found from experience that this sealing alone is often ineffective to retain the top in place. With the weight of each carton of cigarettes resting upon the just sealed top, during the conveying and packing operations, as hereinbefore described, the problem of maintaining the top sealed, which has caused the cigarette distributor so much trouble int he past, has been solved.

As will be apparent from the construction and operation hereinbefore described, the handling and stamping apparatus of the present invention can be operated by one operator standing at one end of the table to unpack the cartons of cigarettes, feed them to the machine, and repack the stamped cartons of cigarettes. This results in a material savings of manpower and money for the distributor, since the prior art devices require one operator at one end of the table to feed the machine, a second operator at the other end of the table to repack the cartons of stamped cigarettes in a case, and in many operations requires a third man to take the cases, as they are emptied, from one operator to the other operator, where they are repacked. Since the profit margin on cigarettes is extremely small, the elimination of one and sometimes two men from this operation is often the difference between a profitable and an unprofitable operation.

The table and the attached platform and shelf are shown in the drawings as being made of wood, however, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other materials, such as metals and plastics, can be used if desired. The platform and shelf are preferably made integral with the main table portion, however, they can be made detachable for easy shipment or storage.

While the apparatus has been described in connection with a cigarette package tax stamping and metering means, it will be obvious that the apparatus described may be used in connection with other products or machines, and that the applications of the invention should not be limited to the particular use described.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of the invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this description and discussion, without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated table having a generally flat top and supported by a plurality of legs, a cigarette package tax stamping and metering means secured to the top of said table intermediate the ends thereof, said stamping and metering means having a receiving track at one end of the cigarette tax meter and a discharge track at the other end of said cigarette tax meter to direct cartons of cigarettes into and out of said meter, an elongated rectangular hole in the top of said table near one end thereof and at the end of said discharge track of said cigarette tax meter, a first conveyor belt pulley mounted on said table beneath said table top and spaced therefrom, said first conveyor belt pulley being adjacent the end of said table having said elongated hole therein and positioned beneath the portion of said elongated hole opposite from said discharge track, a second conveyor belt pulley mounted on said table beneath said table top and spaced therefrom, said second conveyor belt pulley being near the other end of said table, an electric motor mounted on said table beneath said second conveyor belt pulley, a channel shaped guide between said table top and said conveyor belt pulleys and extending from said second conveyor belt pulley beyond said first conveyor belt pulley, said guide being closed at the end extending beyond said first conveyor belt pulley and open at the other end, an opening in said guide over said first conveyor belt pulley, a flat endless conveyor belt rotatively mounted on and extending between both of said conveyor belt pulleys and passing through said opening in said guide and out the open end of said guide, said conveyor belt being rotated around said conveyor belt pulleys and through said guide when said second conveyor belt pulley is rotated by said electric motor acting through said drive belt, a receiving platform on one side of said table near the receiving track of said cigarette tax stamping and metering means, said platform being integral with said table, a shelf secured to said table beneath and spaced from the top of said table, said shelf being adjacent the top of said second conveyor belt pulley and extending from the side of said table, an inclined packing stand depending from said shelf at the side of said table, said device being constructed and adapted and said rectangular hole in said table top and said conveyor belt being positioned relatively so that a case of cartons of cigarettes can be placed on said receiving platform and one carton at a time fed to the receiving track at one end of said cigarette meter whereupon said cartons of cigarettes will drop through said elongated hole in said table top onto said conveyor belt and be turned over, and will then be conveyed through said guide to said shelf so that they can be packed in a case on said packing stand.

2. A cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a table having a generally fiat top and supported by a plurality of legs, a cigarette package tax stamping and metering means mounted on said table, a discharge track on said table at the end of said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means, a hole in the top of said table at the end of said discharge track, a first conveyor belt pulley secured to said table beneath said table top, a second conveyor belt pulley secured to said table beneath said table top, a conveyor belt rotatably mounted on said conveyor belt pulleys, drive means rotating said conveyor belt pulleys and moving said conveyor belt, guide means beneath the hole in said top and at the sides of said conveyor, means at the side of said table to receive a case of cartons of cigarettes, additional means at the side of said table to receive an empty case to be filled with cartons of stamped cigarettes, said apparatus being constructed and adapted and said hole in said table top and said conveyor belt being so positioned relative to each other that a case of cartons of cigarettes can be placed on said receiving means at one side of said table and fed to said cigarette tax stamping and metering means therefrom, whereupon said cartons of cigarettes will exit therefrom onto said discharge track and fall through said hole onto said conveyor belt between said guide means to be conveyed thereby to the means of the apparatus which receives said empty case for packing said stamping cartons of cigarettes therein.

3. A cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a table, a cigarette package tax stamping and metering means mounted on said table, guide means at the discharge of said stamping and metering means to receive and guide cartons of cigarette packages, a first conveyor belt pulley carried by said table below the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means, a second conveyor belt pulley carried by said table below the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means, a conveyor belt rotatably mounted on said conveyor belt pulleys, drive means rotating said conveyor belt pulleys and moving said conveyor belt, guide means at the sides of said conveyor, means communicating between said guide means at the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means and said conveyor to direct a carton of cigarette packages moved by the force of gravity during passage from the discharge of said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means to said conveyor, means at the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means to receive cartons of cigarette packages to be stamped, and additional means with said table near the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means to receive cartons of stamped cigarette packages, said apparatus being constructed and adapted and said means communicating between said guide means at the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means and said conveyor belt being so positioned relative to each other that cartons of cigarette packages can be placed on said receiving means and fed to said cigarette tax stamping and metering means therefrom, from which said cartons of cigarettes are directed to said conveyor belt between said guide means at the sides thereof to be conveyed thereby to said means to receive cartons of stamped cigarette packages.

4. A cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a table, a cigarette package tax stamping and metering means mounted on said table, conveyor means carried by said table and positioned below the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means, means communicating between the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means and said conveyor means to direct a carton of cigarette packages moved by the force of gravity during passage from the discharge of said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means to one end portion of said conveyor means, said conveyor means being positioned relative to said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means to in operation deliver cartons of stamped cigarette packages to the other end portion of said conveyor means near the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means, and said apparatus being constructed and adapted to receive cartons of cigarette packages at the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means, tax stamp the cigarette packages in the cartons, deliver the resulting cartons of stamped cigarette packages to said conveyor means via said means communicating between said tax stamping and metering means and said conveyor means and deliver the cartons via said conveyor means to a point near the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means.

5. A cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a table having a generally flat top and supported by a plurality of legs, cigarette package tax stamping and metering means mounted on said table, a discharge track on said table on the end of said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means, a first conveyor belt pulley with said table, a second conveyor belt pulley with said table and spaced from said first conveyor belt pulley, a conveyor belt rotatably mounted on said conveyor belt pulleys, drive means rotating said conveyor belt pulleys and moving said conveyor belt, guide means with said table and positioned adjacent said conveyor 'belt to prevent dislodgement of an article thereon, means communicating between said discharge track for said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means and said conveyor belt to direct a carton of cigarette packages from said discharge track to said conveyor belt, means at the side of said table to receive a case of cartons of cigarettes, additional means at the side of said table to receive an empty case to be filled with cartons of stamped cigarettes, said apparatus being constructed and adapted so that a case of cartons of cigarettes can be placed on said receiving means at one side of said table and fed to said cigarette tax stamping and metering means therefrom whereupon said cartons of cigarettes will exit therefrom onto said discharge track and be directed to said conveyor belt to be conveyed thereby to the means of the apparatus which receives said empty case for packing said stamped cartons of cigarettes therein.

6. A cigarette package tax stamping and handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a table, cigarette package tax stamping and metering means mounted on sad table, conveyor means carried by said table and having one end positioned near the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means, means communicating between the discharge of said tax stamping and metering means and said conveyor means constructed and adapted to direct a carton of cigarette packages from the discharge of said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means to said one end portion of said conveyor means, said conveyor means being positioned relative to said cigarette package tax stamping and metering means to in operation receive cartons of stamped cigarette packages therefrom and deliver same to the other end portion of said conveyor means near the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means, said apparatus being constructed and adapted to receive cartons of cigarette packages at the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means, tax stamp the cigarette packages in said cartons, deliver the resulting cartons of stamped cigarette packages to said conveyor means and convey same to a point near the inlet of said tax stamping and metering means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,399 Witt Aug. 20, 1912 1,519,154 Mitton Dec. 16, 1924 2,893,188 Cook July 7, 1959

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