Apparatus for mounting a lid on a container

Abstract

A method and apparatus for mounting a lid on a container wherein the lid has a central portion and a pair of end flaps and a pair of side flaps foldably connected to the central portion of the lid.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many commodities are packaged in containers, for example corrugated paperboard boxes, wherein the top of the box is formed by flaps which are foldably connected to the sides of the box. However, when packaging certain commodities, it is desirable to use tops or lids which are not integral with the box. Such a situation may arise when the box is so large that it would be impractical or impossible to obtain a box blank that included top flaps. Alternatively, it may be desirable to employ a separate lid which has flaps connected thereto and wherein the length of the flaps is equal to the height of the box. Such box-lid combinations are known to the packaging art and are often employed where it is desired to obtain a box or container which has increased stacking strength. Thus, if a lid is employed which includes flaps having a length equal to the height of the box, the flaps on the lid will, when adhesively secured to the sides of the box, function as an additional wall and will thereby provide increased stacking strength.

An example of an instance wherein it has been found desirable to use a corrugated paperboard box in combination with a lid having flaps connected thereto is the packaging of large quantities of meat, for example 100 to 150 pounds. Although containers of the type described above have been designed and can be effectively used to package large quantities of meat, a problem is presented with respect to the mounting of the lid on the box. Thus, if such a box-lid combination is to be useful, a reasonably automated system is required whereby a separate lid with flaps can be automatically and quickly mounted on a box which is filled with meat. The method and apparatus disclosed herein provides a solution to this problem.

Additionally, the method and apparatus disclosed herein provides a solution to a number of other problems which often arise when a large quantity of relatively heavy material is to be packaged in a box of the type described above. More specifically, one of the problems which often occurs in such a packaging operation is the distortion of the container. For example, the unlidded box may be filled with the commodity to be packaged and a substantial period of time may elapse before the lid is applied to the box. As a result, the filled, unlidded box is subjected to an outward pressure from the material contained therein. As a result, when the lid is then applied to the box, the open top box may be substantially distorted, i.e., the side walls thereof may be bowed outwardly. When such a distortion of the box occurs, it is difficult to obtain an acceptable adhesive bond between the entire surface of the flaps and the side walls of the box. The method and apparatus disclosed herein also provides a solution to this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of this invention, a machine is provided wherein a box lid having side flaps and end flaps may be automatically mounted on and secured to a filled, open top box. The machine preferably includes a section for storing a quantity of such lids and means for sequentially feeding such lids to a lid support section. In operation, a filled container is positioned below the lid support section. Mounted above the lid support section is a reciprocable mandrel. Pivotally mounted on opposed sides of the mandrel are squeezer plates. Mounted on top of the mandrel are a pair of double cylinders for actuating the squeezer plates. When operated, a double acting cylinder causes the mandrel to descend which pushes a lid past the lid support section and onto the top of the box. The mandrel presses down on the central portion of the lid and thus holds the lid in place on top of the box. While the lid is so disposed, the double acting cylinders on the mandrel are actuated causing the squeezer plates to move into parallel relation. Thus, the end flaps on the lid, which have an adhesive disposed on the under side thereof, are secured to the end panels of the box.

Thereafter, after the mandrel has been withdrawn, the box may be moved horizontally. During such horizontal movement, the box is subjected to a first transverse compression wherein any outward bulging of the box is removed. Adhesive is then deposited on the side flaps and the side flaps are folded down adjacent to the side walls of the box. The side flaps and the box are subjected to a second transverse compression.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 are perspective drawings showing the steps performed to mount a lid on an open top box.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a machine constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the section line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the section line 6--6 of FIG. 4

FIG. 7 shows the apparatus elements of FIG. 6 in their operative position.

FIG. 8 is a partial side view taken along the section line 8--8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view taken along the section line 9--9 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along the section line 10--10 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 suggest the general operations performed by the machine disclosed herein. Thus, in FIG. 1, there is shown a box or container 15 which is a filled, open top box preferably made of corrugated paperboard. Disposed on top of the box 15 is a lid 16 which has a central portion 17, end flaps 18 and 19 foldably connected thereto and a pair of side flaps 20, 21 which are also foldably connected to the central portion 17. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an adhesive is provided on the under surface of the end flaps and the side flaps. As suggested in FIG. 1, the first step in mounting or applying the lid 16 to the box 15 is to downwardly fold the end flaps 18 and 19 so as to compress them against the walls of the box 15. When an adhesive bond is secured, the side flaps 20 and 21 may be folded downwardly as suggested in FIG. 2. Similarly, the side flaps 20 and 21 are folded downwardly into face abutting relation with the side walls of the box 15 and held or compressed against the side walls until an adhesive bond is secured thus providing the box construction shown in FIG. 3. As may be noted from a consideration of FIG. 3, the side flaps of the lid 16 are the same height as the height of the container 15. As such, if the side flaps are bonded to the side walls of the container across their entire surface, the side flaps essentially provide a second wall which, in turn, provides substantial stacking strength. Additionally, since the side flaps are integral with and foldably connected to the central portion 17, they help to resist the outward forces imposed upon the box 15 by the material packaged therein and thus assist in maintaining the container in an upright configuration, i.e., the side flaps together with the central portion 17 tend to prevent the container side walls from being bowed outwardly.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown therein a top view of a machine constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instant invention and generally referred to in FIG. 4 by the reference number 25. The machine 25 includes a plurality of upright and horizontal members generally designated by the reference number 30 and, in combination, constituting a frame. In general, the machine 25 shown in FIG. 4 includes three sections, namely, a lid supply and feeding section 31, a forming section 32 and a compression or second forming section 33.

The lid supply and feeding section 31 is generally comprised of a conventional paperboard blank feeding mechanism. Thus, only a brief description thereof will be given since this section will be familiar to those skilled in the art.

Attached to the horizontal frame members 30, which are preferably angle iron members, are horizontally disposed support plates 35. A quantity of lid blanks 16 are vertically stacked at the right hand end of the lid supply section 31. The blanks are supported by disposing end flaps 18 and 19 upon the horizontal support members 35. Disposed below the plane defined by the horizontal support members 35 is a chain 40 which carries a kicker plate 41 and is driven by a motor 42. Additionally, below the support members 35, there are mounted two vacuum cups 45, 46 connected to a vacuum source 47.

When it is desired to feed a lid to the forming section 32, the motor 42 and the vacuum cups 45, 46 are actuated. Thereby, the lowermost lid in the stack is drawn downwardly and, as the chain moves, the kicker 41 engages the right hand edge of the lowermost lid and moves it to the left, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, a blank is fed from the lid storage section 31 to the forming section 42 and comes to rest in the forming section 42 where, as shown in FIG. 4, the left hand edge of the side flap 20 abuts the longitudinal frame member 30a. Preferably, the lid storage section 31 includes glue guns 50, 51 disposed as shown in FIG. 4 so as to deposit a quantity of adhesive material, e.g. a hot melt glue, upon the under side of the flaps 18, 19 as the lid is fed to the forming section 32. The glue guns 50, 51, may be actuated by any conventional means, for example a switch or photocell which detects the movement of the end flaps of a lid past the glue guns.

Considering FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the forming section of the machine 25 includes a reciprocatingly mounted mandrel plate 60. To provide the desired reciprocating action, an overhead cross member 61 is mounted on the frame of the machine as shown in FIG. 4. Mounted on the overhead cross member 61 is a double acting piston and cylinder 62. As may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the piston 62a is affixed, at its lower end, to the mandrel 60 as shown at 63. Thus, when the double acting piston and cylinder 62 are actuated, the mandrel 60 will reciprocate between the horizontal support members 39.

Two shafts 68, 69 are transversely mounted on opposite ends of the plate 60 and appropriately journaled for rotation. Also mounted on top of the plate 60 are a pair of longitudinally disposed, double acting cylinders and pistons 70, 71 and 72, 73. The end of the cylinder 70 is fixedly attached to the top of the plate 60 as at 75. Similarly, the end of the piston 72 is fixedly attached to the top of the plate 60 as at 76. The pistons 71, 73 are fixedly attached to collars 80, 81, respectively, which are mounted on the shafts 69, 68 respectively. Thus, when the double acting cylinders 70, 72 are actuated, the shafts 69 and 68 will rotate through a predetermined angle.

Also mounted on the shafts 68, 69 are collars 84, 85 and 86, 87 respectively. A pair of squeezer plates 90, 91 are connected to the collars 86, 87 and 84, 85 by arms 92, 93 and 94, 95, respectively.

Considering particularly FIG. 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that a box or container 15 has been positioned beneath the mandrel 60 and is disposed upon a conveyor 100. The conveyor belt 100 is trained over rollers 101, 102 which are driven by a motor which is not shown in the drawings. A support plate 103 is disposed beneath the top of the conveyor belt 100 and is affixed to the frame 30 of the machine. When the machine 25 is started, the conveyor 100 will be activated and will continue to run until a filled container is fed to the conveyor. When a container is introduced onto the conveyor 100 it will be moved into the forming section 32. The longitudinally disposed guide bars 89, 99 insure that the container is transversely aligned on the conveyor. The conveyor 100 will continue to operate until the container is positioned beneath the mandrel 60. To detect that the filled container is in the desired longitudinal position beneath the mandrel, a container position detector, such as photocell 101 in FIG. 6, may be employed to generate a signal and stop the conveyor. In the event that the inertia of the container causes it to move beyond the desired longitudinal location, rotatably mounted arms, shown in section at 106 and 107 in FIG. 6, may be provided on the frame of the machine and which, in response to the signal from the container position detector 101, rotate so as to abut the end walls of the container and thus positively insure the longitudinal position of the container on the conveyor. Also in response to the signal from the container position detector 101, a lid blank may be fed from the lid supply section 31 by actuating the motor 42 and the vacuum cups 45, 46.

Considering now the operation of the forming section 32 of the machine 25, the sequence of operations will commence after a lid blank 16 has been fed to the forming section and is supported below the mandrel 60 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and a filled, open top box or container 15 has been positioned thereunder. Thus, referring specifically to FIG. 6, the double acting piston and cylinder 62 is actuated, for example, in response to the delivery of the lid blank, causing the mandrel 60 to move downward and bear against the central portion 17 of the lid 16 and thus pushing the lid 16 downwardly past the support members 39. Thus, the central portion 17 of the lid 16 is disposed upon the top of the container 15 and is maintained in position by the downward force of the mandrel 60 bearing against the central portion 17. While the lid 16 is thus held in position, the double acting pistons 70, 72 are actuated with the result that the squeezer plates 90, 91 are moved into parallel opposing relation and, in the process thereof, bend the end flaps 19, 20 downwardly and into face abutting relation with the end walls of the container 15. Recalling that an adhesive had previously been deposited upon the under side of the end flaps 19, 20, it will be appreciated that this movement of the squeezer plates 90, 91 secures the end flaps 19, 20 to the end walls of the container 15. Referring to FIG. 7, this configuration of the container 15, the squeezer plates 90, 91 and the end flaps 19, 20 will be seen. After maintaining the squeezer plates 90, 91 in the position shown in FIG. 7 for a period of time sufficient to insure a secure adhesive bond, the double acting cylinders 70, 72 are reverse actuated and thereby return the squeezer plates 90, 91 to the position shown in FIG. 6. Thereafter, the piston and cylinder 62 are reverse actuated and the mandrel plate 60 is reciprocated upwardly leaving the container 15 in a condition wherein the lid 16 is mounted on the container 15 by the end flaps 19, 20. At this point in the process, it will be appreciated that the side flaps 20, 21 are horizontally disposed.

After the sequence of steps described above, the conveyor belt 100 commences to move and thus delivers the box 15, with the lid 16 thereon to the conveyor belt 110. Preferably, the conveyor belt 110 is continuously operated whereas the conveyor belt 100 is discontinuously operated, i.e., with respect to the conveyor belt 100, when a box is delivered to the machine the conveyor belt 100 is actuated so as to position the box 15 below the mandrel 60 whereupon the conveyor belt 100 stops. After the forming sequence described above, the conveyor belt 100 is again actuated to deliver the box 15 to the continuously running conveyor belt 110.

Referring again to FIG. 4 and particularly to the compression section 33 of the machine 25, it will be seen that immediately downstream of the forming section 32, there are provided a plurality of vertically disposed, longitudinally aligned rollers 115. Additionally, referring to both FIGS. 4 and 7, it will be seen that two pairs of rods 116, 118 and 119, 120 are fixed to the frame 30 and are horizontally disposed outwardly of the rollers 115.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 8, it will be seen that downstream of the rollers 115, which define a first transverse compression section, the rods 116, 118 and 119, 120 are arcuately disposed so as to curve inwardly and downwardly such that at the end of the rods, i.e., adjacent to the roller 125, the bottom rod of each pair is somewhat inwardly disposed with respect to its respective top rod and each of the pair of rods, as shown in FIG. 8, is disposed adjacent to the conveyor belt 110. As previously indicated and as shown in FIG. 8, a hold down roll 125 is rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it will be seen that downstream of the hold down roll 125 there is provided a second configuration of rollers, namely rollers 130 which are disposed similar to the configuration of the rollers 115 and provide a second transverse compression zone. The conveyor belt 110, as shown in FIG. 4, extends throughout the length of the compression section 33 so as to move a container through the first and second compression sections defined above.

The following comments will describe the operation of the compression section 33 of the machine 25. Referring to FIG. 7, after the squeezer plates 90, 91 have been retracted and the mandrel 60 has been withdrawn above the level of the support shelves 39, the conveyor 100 is activated to deliver the container 15 to the compression section, i.e., onto the top of the continuously moving conveyor 110. A close inspection of FIG. 7 will reveal that the vertically aligned rods 119, 120 define a space therebetween which is longitudinally aligned with the horizontally extending side flaps of the lid 16 on the box 15. Thus, as the box 15 moves into the compression section, the side flaps are maintained in a horizontal position by the vertically aligned bars 119, 120 and 116, 118. As the box proceeds into the compression section 33, it will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 4 that the vertically disposed compression rollers 115 will compress the side walls of the box 15. Thus, any deformation of the box which has occurred because of the outward forces imposed thereon by the contents of the box will be removed. Such a first or initial compression is particularly significant when attempting to seal a lid to a box which contains meat. Thus, it has been found that large quantities of meat, when packaged in a container, tend to settle over a period of time and thus impose outward forces upon the walls of the container. However, it has also been found that large quantities of meat in a package display somewhat plastic properties. Thus, although meat may settle in a container and thus push the side walls outwardly, it has been found that if the container is then subjected to a transverse compression, the meat will be slightly compacted and will maintain this compacted state for a short period of time. Thus, the function of the vertically aligned rollers 115 is to subject the side walls of a box 15 to a first transverse compression whereby the symmetry of the box is regained through compressing the contents of the box.

As previously indicated, while the box is passing through the first compression stage, the side flaps of the lid are maintained in a horizontal position by the bars 119, 120, and 116, 118. As the box exists from the rollers 115, upwardly directed glue guns 150, 151 are provided on the frame of the machine as shown in FIG. 4. Through the use of appropriate sensing devices, for example photocells or switches, the glue guns 150, 151 may be actuated so as to apply or spray an adhesive on the under surface of the side flaps as they pass the glue guns as shown in FIG. 9.

As the side flaps of the lid pass the glue guns 150, 151 do to movement of the container 15 on the conveyor 110, the flaps enter the section of the compression section 33 wherein the bars 116, 118 and 119, 120 curve inwardly and downwardly. The purpose of providing this arrangement of the bars is to fold or plow down the side flaps 20, 21. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the side flaps 20, 21 are folded downwardly towards the side walls of the box 15. Thereafter, the box passes beneath the hold down roller 125 which subjects the box to a vertical compression and the box then enters a second transverse compression section which is defined by the longitudinally aligned, vertically disposed rollers 130. At this point, it will be appreciated that when the box enters the second compression section, the side flaps 20, 21 have had glue applied to their under surface and have been folded downwardly adjacent to the side walls of the container. Thus, as the conveyor belt 110 moves the box 15 between the rollers 130, the rollers compress the side flaps 20, 21 against the side walls of the container as shown in FIG. 10 and thus a uniform and secure adhesive bond is obtained between the side flaps 20, 21 and the sides of the container 15. Thereafter, referring to FIG. 4, the conveyor belt 110 delivers the sealed container to a delivery station 135. Containers delivered to the station 135 will appear as shown in FIG. 3.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has hereinbefore been described, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention. For example, in the preferred embodiment of my machine as described above, adhesive is deposited upon the under side of the end flaps when the lid blank is fed to the forming section. Similarly, in the above described machine, adhesive is applied to the under surface of the side flaps during movement of the container through the compression section 33. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a number of different, but equivalent, method steps or apparatus elements may be used to provide the necessary adhesive for sealing the flaps of the lid. For example, rather than depositing adhesive on the under side of the flaps, an adhesive may be applied to the side walls or end walls of the container at an appropriate location within the machine. Similarly, machine elements other then rollers may be employed to provide the desired transverse compression as a container moves through the machine. Thus, it will be understood that the scope of my invention is to be determined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

I claim:

1. An apparatus for applying to a filled container a lid, which includes a central portion having opposed side flaps and end flaps foldably connected to said central portion, which comprises:

a. a frame;

b. a reciprocable mandrel mounted on said frame;

c. means for reciprocating said mandrel;

d. a pair of squeezer plates pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said mandrel;

e. means for positioning a container below said mandrel;

f. means for depositing an adhesive so as to be disposed between said end flaps and the end walls of said container when said lid is mounted on said container;

g. means mounted on said mandrel for moving said squeezer plates into parallel relation with each other whereby downward movement of said mandrel holds said lid on said container while said squeezer plates compress the end flaps of said lid against said container;

h. means for laterally moving said container after the end flaps of said lid have been secured thereto; and

i. means for securing said side flaps to said container while said container is moving laterally.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adhesive depositing means deposits adhesive on the under surface of the end flaps of a lid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adhesive depositing means deposits and adhesive on the outer surface of the end walls of a container.

4. An apparatus for applying to a filled container a lid having a central panel and end flaps and side flaps foldably connected to said central panel, which comprises:

a. a frame;

b. a mandrel reciprocally mounted on said frame for holding the central panel of a lid on a filled container positioned under said mandrel;

c. means mounted on said mandrel for compressing the end flaps of said lid against said container while said mandrel is holding said lid;

d. first and second transverse compression sections;

e. means intermediate said first and second transverse compression sections for folding down said side flaps; and

f. means for moving said container through said first and second compression sections after said end flaps have been compressed against said container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said end flap compressing means comprises:

a. a pair of downwardly extending squeezer plates pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said mandrel; and

b. means mounted on said mandrel for moving said squeezer plates into parallel relation with each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 which further includes:

a. means mounted on said frame for supporting a lid above a filled container positioned within said frame;

b. means for storing a supply of lids; and

c. means for sequentially feeding lids from said storage means to said support means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plate moving means comprises a pair of double acting pistons and cylinders mounted on the top of said mandrel, each of said pistons and cylinders being connected to a respective one of said squeezer plates.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for moving said container comprises a first conveyor belt below said mandrel and a second conveyor belt extending from the beginning of said first transverse compression section to the end of said second transverse compression section.