U.S. patent number 3,583,447 [Application Number 04/834,944] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-08 for machine for filing cartons.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Riegel Paper Corporation. Invention is credited to Donald T. Peterson.
United States Patent |
3,583,447 |
Peterson |
June 8, 1971 |
MACHINE FOR FILING CARTONS
Abstract
A machine for bowing out a side panel of a flexible carton
formed with two end panels and two side panels so that the carton
can be easily filled with a measured amount of product at a filling
station. Each carton is moved at high speed with one end panel
leading by a carton carrier along a first straight path, then along
a curved path through a filling station, and then along a second
straight path. The carrier is attached to a drive chain, an the
chain is trained around a sprocket to establish the curved path
through the filling station. Attached to the sprocket and extending
radially outward therefrom are a number of pairs of pivoted fingers
which travel in a path that is coextensive with the curved path of
the cartons. As the cartons move along their path from the first
straight portion to the curved portion, successive pairs of fingers
move into registry with successive cartons. When in registry, the
fingers of each pair are spaced on opposite sides of the end panels
of the respective carton. Prior to filling of the cartons, the
fingers of each pair are pivoted toward one another and into
engagement with the end panels of the respective carton forcing the
end panels toward one another and bowing out at least one of the
side panels of the carton to open the latter widely for filling.
After each carton passes through the filling station, the fingers
are pivoted to spread positions and then moved out of registry with
the carton.
Inventors: |
Peterson; Donald T. (Rockford,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Riegel Paper Corporation (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25268182 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/834,944 |
Filed: |
June 20, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/114; 141/165;
53/381.1; 53/564; 141/168 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
43/305 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
43/30 (20060101); B65B 43/26 (20060101); B65b
043/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/186,381,382
;141/114,129,154,165,166,168,314,316 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Geiger; Laverne D.
Assistant Examiner: Earls; Edward J.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed side panels,
opposed end panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a
frame, a carrier on said frame operable to support a succession of
spaced cartons and advance the same open end up along a
predetermined path through a filling station with one of the end
panels of each carton forming the leading end of the carton, and
means in a filling station for engaging the end panels and pressing
one toward the other to bow at least one of said side panels of
each carton away from the other side panel to spread the carton for
receiving a charge of product at the filling station.
2. The machine of claim 1 in which said means comprise a pair of
pivoted fingers, said fingers being movable in unison from
positions out of engagement with the end panels to positions in
engagement with the end panels.
3. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed end panels,
opposed side panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a
frame, a first carrier on said frame operable to support a
succession of spaced cartons and advance the same open end up along
a first predetermined path through a filling station with one of
the end panels of each carton forming the leading end of the
carton, a second carrier on said frame, at least one pair of
opposed fingers each mounted on said second carrier to pivot about
a vertical axis, said second carrier being operable to move said
fingers along a second path coextensive with said first path from a
point ahead of the filling station to a point beyond the filling
station in timed relation with the advance of the cartons, and
means operable when said paths are coextensive to pivot the fingers
toward one another and into engagement with the end panels of one
of the cartons to press the end panels toward one another and
thereby bow at least one of said side panels away from the other
side panel to spread the carton for receiving a charge of product
at the filling station.
4. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed end panels,
opposed side panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a
frame, a first carrier on said frame operable to support a
succession of spaced cartons and advance the same open end up along
a first predetermined path through a filling station with one of
the end panels of each carton forming the leading end of the
carton, a second carrier on said frame, a number of pairs of
opposed fingers supported on said second carrier with each finger
being mounted to pivot about a vertical axis, the fingers of each
pair normally being spaced apart a distance greater than the
spacing between the end panels of each carton, said second carrier
being operable to move said pairs of fingers in timed relation with
the advance of the cartons along a second path which becomes
coextensive with said first path from a point ahead of the filling
station and which remains coextensive with said first path to a
point beyond the filling station and being operable to move
successive pairs of fingers into registry with successive cartons
as said pairs of fingers and said cartons pass said point at which
said paths become coextensive so that one finger of each pair is
positioned ahead of the leading end panel and the other finger is
positioned behind the trailing end panel of the respective carton
as the latter approaches said filling station, and means therefore
pivoting the fingers of each pair toward one another and into
engagement with the end panels of the respective carton to press
the end panels toward one another and thereby bow at least one of
said side panels away from the other side panel to spread the
carton for receiving a charge of product at the filling
station.
5. In a machine for filling cartons having opposed end panels,
opposed side panels and open upper ends, the combination of, a
frame, a first carrier on said frame operable to support a
succession of spaced cartons and advance the same open end up along
a first predetermined path through a filling station with one of
the end panels of each carton forming the leading end of the
carton, said first path being substantially straight to a first
point ahead of the filling station, arcuate to a second point
beyond the filling station and thereafter straight, a second
carrier on said frame, a number of pairs of opposed fingers
supported on and spaced along said second carrier with each finger
being mounted to pivot about a vertical axis, said fingers of each
pair normally being spaced apart a distance greater than the
spacing between the end panels of each carton, said second carrier
being operable to move said fingers in timed relation with the
advance of the cartons along a circular path having a portion
coextensive with said arcuate portion of said first path and being
operable to move successive pairs of fingers into registry with
successive cartons as said pairs of fingers and said cartons pass
said point at which said paths become coextensive so that one
finger of each pair is positioned ahead of the leading end panel
and the other finger is positioned behind the trailing end panel of
the respective carton, means operable thereafter to pivot the
fingers of each pair toward one another and into engagement with
the end panels of the respective carton to press the end panels
toward one another and thereby bow at least one of said side panels
away from the other side panel to spread the carton for receiving a
charge of product at the filling station, means operable after the
carton has been advanced beyond the filling station for pivoting
said fingers away from one another to release the filled carton,
and said second carrier thereafter being operable to move said
pairs of fingers out of registry with the filled cartons as the
cartons move past said second point thereby to free the filled
carton.
6. The machine of claim 5 in which said second carrier is a
circular member mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, said pairs
of fingers being angularly spaced about the periphery of said
member, and further including a pivot member mounting one finger of
each pair and the adjacent finger of the adjacent pair to pivot
about a common vertical axis.
7. The machine of claim 5 in which said means to pivot the fingers
of each pair includes an actuator common to each pair and pivotally
connected to each of said fingers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a machine for filling flexible walled
cartons and more particularly, to a machine in which the cartons to
be filled have opposed end panels and opposed side panels and in
which the cartons are advanced one at a time by a carrier through a
filling station to receive a measured amount of product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary aim of the present invention is to facilitate filling
of the cartons by positively bowing the cartons to widely open
positions during their advance toward the filling station and in a
manner which enables advance of the cartons at faster speeds than
has been possible heretofore and which, at the same time, avoids
the danger of contaminating the insides of the carton during the
bowing operation.
It is a related object to bow open the cartons by forcing the end
panels toward one another thus bowing at least one of the side
panels outwardly.
It is a further object to accomplish the above through the
provision of novel pairs of pivoted fingers with the fingers of
each pair being positionable on opposite ends of a carton and
movable toward one another to engage the end panels of the carton
to force the end panels toward one another and thus bow out at
least one of the side panels.
Another object is to position the fingers alongside opposite end
panels of the cartons in a novel manner as the cartons are moved
toward the filling station.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a carton filling machine
embodying the novel features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantially
along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bowed carton.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross section on a reduced scale taken
substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken substantially
along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, the carton being shown in
phantom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the
invention is embodied in a carton filling machine 10 (FIG. 1)
operable to dispense measured amounts of material such as
strawberries and their juice into upright cartons 11 (FIGS. 1 and
3) which are advanced continuously at a high rate of speed through
a filling station 12 (FIG. 2) with their open ends passing beneath
a discharge nozzle 13 to receive the material delivered to the
nozzle from a suitable hopper or tank (not shown). After the
cartons have been filled, their open ends are sealed closed, and
the product is frozen within the cartons prior to shipment.
Each of the cartons 11 herein comprises a closed bottom and two
opposed, resiliently flexible side panels 14 and 15 (FIG. 3)
connected along opposite side margins to two narrow rectangular end
panels 16 and 16a. To close the upper ends of the cartons, side
flaps 17 and 18 and end flaps 19 and 20 projecting upwardly from
the panels are folded across the upper ends. The closure flaps are
resiliently hinged at 21 to the panels and normally assume upright
positions until folded over and sealed closed.
In this instance, the cartons 11 are supported and advanced along a
first straight path 22 (FIG. 1), then along a semicircular path 23
through the filling station 12 and beneath the discharge nozzle 13
and finally along a second straight path 24. The cartons are
supported and advanced on an endless carrier comprising a pair of
parallel horizontal chains 25 and 26 (FIG. 2) trained around
vertically spaced lower and upper sprocket wheels 27 and 28
journaled on a frame 29 and suitably driven at a high rate of
speed. The bottoms of the cartons slide on a stationary track 30
(FIG. 2) extending around the outside of and beneath the chains
while the inner side panel 15 and the end panels 16 and 16a of each
carton fit into and are carried by two vertically spaced holders 31
(FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) spaced equally along and connected to the outer
sides of the chains. Each holder is formed with outwardly
projecting legs 32 (FIG. 1) engaging the end panels and with a web
33 spanning the legs and supporting the inner side panel 15. To
prevent the cartons from tipping outwardly, a curved horizontal
rail 34 (FIG. 2) upstands from and is connected to the track and
positioned alongside the semicircular portion 23 of the carton path
to guide the side panels 14 as the cartons are advanced.
In accordance with the present invention, the end panels 16 and 16a
of each carton 11 are forced toward one another just prior to the
filling of the carton thus bowing out the side panel 14 to open the
carton widely to receive a large amount of product in a short time
interval and to receive product chunks larger than the unbowed
thickness of the carton. For these purposes, pairs of fingers 36
(FIG. 4) are suspended beneath and pivotally supported by the upper
sprocket wheel 28 with the fingers of each pair spaced apart and
positionable on opposite sides of the end panels of a carton. The
fingers of each pair may be pivoted toward one another to engage
the end panels of the carton thus forcing the end panels toward one
another and bowing out the side panel 14. With this arrangement,
every carton, even though being advanced at a high rate of speed,
will be bowed open prior to filling to facilitate the filling and
this is accomplished with greatly reduced chances of interferring
with the advance of the cartons. Further, such bowing is
accomplished without the necessity of inserting any object into the
cartons thus helping to maintain the insides of the cartons in an
uncontaminated condition.
In this instance, each finger 36 is one portion of an L-shaped
squeezer 37 (FIG. 4) which preferably is pivotally mounted to turn
about a vertical axis by a pin 38 at the corner of the L on the
horizontal leg 39 of an L-shaped support 40 (FIG. 2) whose other
leg is vertically extending and connected by a pair of bolts 41 to
the underside of the upper sprocket wheel 28. The other portion of
each squeezer is formed as a pivot arm 42, (FIG. 4) which extends
at a right angle from the finger. When parallel, the fingers of
each pair of squeezers are spaced apart a greater distance than the
distance between the end panels 16 and 16a of the cartons 11. From
FIG. 4, it will be observed that the fingers extend radially
outwardly from the pivot pins 38 a distance great enough that the
free ends of the fingers can project beyond the outer margins of
the cartons.
The squeezers 37 are paired with the pivot arm 42 of each pair
extending toward one another and with the fingers 36 extending
generally parallel to one another in their normal positions as
exemplified by the fingers in FIG. 1 which are not between the
cartons. Because the upper sprocket wheel 28 is driven by the chain
26, the pairs of the squeezers are moved along a circular path,
half of which is coextensive with the semicircular path 23 of the
cartons 11, and the squeezers are moved along the path in timed
relation with the advance of the cartons. At the point at which the
first straight path 22 becomes generally tangent to the circular
path of the squeezers, the fingers 36 of each pair of squeezers
move into registry with an advancing carton. From FIG. 1, it can be
seen that one finger of each pair moves in front of the leading end
panel 16 and the other finger moves behind the trailing end panel
16a. In the reverse manner, the fingers of each pair move out of
registry with the respective carton when the semicircular carton
path changes to the second straight path 24 and recedes along a
tangent to the sprocket wheel. Thus, the fingers of each pair of
squeezers encompass a carton as that carton moves along the
semicircular path and through the filling station 12.
To effect the bowing of the cartons 11, the pivot arms 42 of each
pair of squeezers 37 can be swung in unison to swing the free ends
of the fingers 36 toward one another and into engagement with the
end panels 16 and 16a of the carton disposed between the fingers.
The outer end portion of a link 44 (FIG. 4) is pivotally connected
to each pivot arm. The inner end portions of the pivot rods for
each pair of squeezers are pivotally joined to one another and to
the outer end portion of a cam rod 45 by a pin 45a, and the cam rod
extends radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the upper
sprocket wheel 28. A roller 46 (FIG. 4), rotatably mounted on the
inner end portion of each cam rod extends upwardly therefrom and is
seated in a cam track 47 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). The cam track is
formed as a recess in a solid member 48 (FIG. 2) rigidly connected
to the frame 29. The cam track is, as seen in FIG. 1, generally
eccentric and is nearer the axis of rotation of the upper sprocket
wheel 28 in the area of the filling station 12. With this
arrangement, as each carton approaches the filling station, the
associated cam rod is gradually pulled inwardly toward the axis of
rotation by the cam track thereby pulling the pivot rods 44
inwardly to pivot the associated pair of squeezers 37 and swing the
free ends of the fingers 36 toward one another just prior to the
filling of the carton 11.
The swinging of the free ends of the fingers 36 toward one another
brings them into contact with the leading end panel 16 and trailing
end panel 16a of the carton 11 forcing these panels toward one
another and bowing out the side panel 14 to open the carton widely
for filling. From FIG. 4, it will be seen that the free ends of the
fingers extend beyond the outermost side panels 14 of the cartons.
As the fingers of each pair swing toward one another, the fingers
initially contact the carton at the vertical junctions 50 (FIG. 4)
joining the end panels to the outermost side panel 14 thereby
causing the end panels to be forced toward one another along
inwardly extending lines so as to help insure that the side panel
will bow outwardly. To further insure that the side panel 14 will
bow outwardly rather than inwardly, the side panels of the cartons
are formed with a slight outward bow when made, and the memory of
the material forming the cartons retains this slight bow.
Referring to FIG. 4, it will be observed that each cam rod 45 is
slidably mounted through and suspended from the upper sprocket
wheel 28 by a guide 51. The guide is formed in this instance by a
rectangular block 52 (FIG. 5) connected at its upper surface to the
underside of the upper sprocket wheel 28 by four bolts 54 (FIGS. 1
and 5), and a recess 55 (FIG. 5) just slightly larger than the cam
rod is formed in the bottom of the rectangular block. To hold the
cam rod within the recess, a cover plate 56 is connected by bolts
57 to the underside of the rectangular block. For access purposes,
openings 57a (FIGS. 1 and 2) are formed in the upper sprocket wheel
above each cam rod. Lubricant can be ejected into the recess 55
through a lubrication port 58 (FIG. 2) formed in the block 52.
The squeezers 37 are advantageously mounted on the L-shaped
supports 40 so that one pivot pin 38 can be used to mount two
squeezers. One squeezer of one pair is mounted either under or over
the adjacent squeezer of the adjacent pair of squeezers, and the
pivot pin extends through both squeezers to pivotally connect them
to the support. In the present instance, the squeezers of the same
pair are mounted on different levels. That is, one squeezer is the
upper of two on one pivot pin and the other squeezer is the lower
of two on the adjacent pivot pin.
It will be observed from the above that the utilization of pairs of
squeezers 37 registering automatically with and encompassing the
advancing cartons 11 is a particularly advantageous arrangement
since the cartons may be advanced, bowed, and filled at extremely
high speeds. By bowing out the side panel of each carton externally
with the squeezers, each and every carton is positively bowed open
without missing any cartons and without interrupting operation of
the machine as a result of malfunctions or jamming. Since the
bowing is achieved externally and without need of inserting any
members into the carton, the danger of contaminating the inside of
the carton is reduced. Additionally, the mounting of adjacent
squeezers of adjacent pairs of squeezers on the same pivot pin 38
helps reduce the overall cost of the machine.
* * * * *