US2378324A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1945- v D. R AY ETAL 2,378,324

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTO P N EY Jlll'le 1945- .D. RAY ET AL F 2,378,324

' PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 46 i" 42 I E 4 p 6 14 f4] 41,

- .Dwv KAY,

CARLO KAY,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY 'J,';1'z,'1945; D. RAY m'L 2,378,

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1941 e Sheets-Sheet a iiWi/l/Zmqiilllllll a mgm INVENTQR mm, 7 r r l ATTORNEY D. RAY ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE June 12, 1945.

Filed May 22, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY RAY ET I Jun June 12,1945. Df RAY ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 o 1 v 0m1 N m 0 C A .,upon the filling machine. 7 ing, containers are air-tight and hermetically-- LW pI the li Patented June 12, 1945 PATENT fo FFICE ,rAoKAGmG V Don Ray andCarloRay, Beverly Hills; Calif., as

signors to Kraft of Delaware 1' Cheese Company, a corporation Application Ma 22, 1941, semi. No. 394,632

I 6 Claims. (o11 93-60) The present invention pertains to methods'and devices for packaging various materials'gparticularly food stuffs. More ,speoiflcallm'j-the:.invention is directed to a method and 1 apparatus whereby:containersmay be formed, ifilled and sealed rapidlyand economically withminimum amountssof container material within acompact vspace,:the resulting packages being hermetically sealedso that-the. contents are maintained sterile for a .substantially'indefinite period of time.

Manyi food stuffs, such as for example cheese,

arebeing packaged in containers .made' from .glass, metal, metal foil, or in preformed' con- ,tainers. which need be provided with a' liner or require-that the cheese be first wrapped and In manyinstances then placed in a container. the container, is dipped in wax or other material in an attempt to render the container air-tight.

The various operations involved in making the containers,,filling the containers, and then in wrapping, folding vor dipping the containers are gusually. accomplished upon different machines and often at different plants. -The present in- .vention eliminates the use of expensive mate- --rials and the use of liners andpermits the manufacture of the container to be accomplished Moreover, -the resultsealed without the necessity of dipping the same Generally stated, the method of the present invention comprises intermittently advancing a series of retainers past forming; preparing, filling, cover placing, sealing and ejecting, zones,

- intermittently feeding bendable strip'material provided with a thermoplastic coating" into the forming zone, cutting the material to; form a container blank, forming the blank into a container having an inner" thermoplastic coating, placing the same into a-retainer, moving the container into a preparing zone, outwardly flaring the'upper edge portion of the container in the preparing zone, then moving the prepared container into a filling zone, filling the container therein,

container with the thermoplastic coating in con- The .retainer with its pressure. The retaineris then moved into an ejecting zone in which the now completely =formed,'-filled,and sealed container is ejected from the retainer. A 1 1.

All of the above operations may abe carried out in an eflicient .andjeconomical mannerqupon a singlemachine sothat a high output of filled containersmaybe readily attained withlimited amount-of space; 1 A L :3

Theinvention also, contemplates in itsjpreferred form, a particular form of containerand apreferr'edformlof machine.

The varicusobjects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the method and exemplary forms of a: machine in which the method may be readily carried out. The illustrative form of machine hereinafter described in detail, is, shown in the appended drawings, in

which:

Figs. 1, 2 andcB constitute diagrammatic representations of the process as it may be carried out automatically.

plane VIII-VIII of Fig. 7, showing the container in process of formation. I

, Figs. 9 and 10 are vertical sections taken along the planes IX-IX and XX respectively of i1 is a vertical sectiontaken through the Fig. 12 is a plan view of 1 a container blank "with fold; lines indicated thereon,

container at intermediate steps in the process.

. Figs. 15 and 16 .-are vertical sections through 18 is an enlarged section of a portion only of-Fig. 17.

In the diagrammatic representations, Figs. 1 to -3, a-work table of a machine is indicated with a continuous conveyor l extending thereover, this conveyor being provided with a plurality of retainers 2 to I2 inclusive. The conveyor I is intermittently driven :by means, not shown, the driving means being geared to other operating elements of the machine so that the operations can take place in precise timed relation. A container forming zone is indicated at A, a container preparing zone is indicated at B, the filling zone is indicated at C, the cover preparing and placing zone is indicated at D, the heat sealing zone at E and an ejection zone at F, These various operating stations are immediately above of contiguous to the even-numbered retainers 2 to l2. Intermediate positions of the conveyor are indicated by the odd-numbered retainers 3 to I l. Although a straight line operation is shown, it is to be understood that instead of a belt type continuous conveyor, the conveyor I may be in the form of a rotating turret above which the various zones A to F may be positioned.

In the forming zone A a forming head is generally indicated at l3, a die table at I4 and a forming plunger at I5, this plunger being actuated by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder and piston l6. It will be evident that other means of actuating the forming plunger may be used.

By referring to Figs. 4 to inclusive, the construction of the forming head will be made evident. As indicated in Fig. 4, the conveyor chain l carries a retainer 2 which should be of a size adapted to receive the container. It will be. noted that the retainer 2 is pivotally connected to the conveyor las at I! and the bottom is provided with an opening [8. The outer edge of the retainer 2 may be stepped to receive a yielding ring is whose upper surface is at a slightly higher elevation than the inner edge of the retainer 2.

Stationarily mounted above the conveyor I is the forming head l3 which may comprise suitable supports carrying a plate-like member 21 having a circular opening therein. Circularly arranged about the opening are folding elements 22, 23, 24 and the like, these elements being circumferentially spaced one from the other. more specifically shown in Fig. 6, each of the folding elements includes a face portion 26 which is substantially vertical, and an upwardly and rearwardly extending curved portion 21. The folding element 25 illustrated in Fig. 6 is shown provided with a rearwardly extending lug 28 which rests upon the plate 2| and is attached thereto by means of the screw 29. i The face portion 26 of the folding element is wider than the upwardly and rearwardly curved portion 21. Moreover, the face portion 26 is provided with laterally extending side wings 30 and 3| which are tapered in horizontal section to a slightly rounded but relatively sharp side edge. The wings 30 and 31 add width to the face 26. Sharp corners should not be present on any of the edges of the folding elements.

Positioned beneath each stationary folding element is a readily movable presser plate which maybe in the form of an angle element having a vertical leg 32 and a horizontal leg 33. The horizontal leg 33 may be provided with aslot 34 so as to facilitate movement of the element toward and away from the center of the aperture in the forming head plate 2| (see Figs. 6 and9). Additional presser elements may be positioned between the stationary folding elements, such as, for example, the elements 35, 36, 31 and'the like. These presser elements may also include an upper elements.

face and be provided with slots such as 38 (Fig. 10) and means for holding the elements in movable relation on the forming head plate 2|. All of the various presser plates may be yieldably urged toward the center by spring means as, for example, a continuous encircling spring 39. The presser elements, such as 32, and/or the auxiliary presser elements 35,. 36, 31,. may be heated or provided with heating means if desired.

Positioned immediately above the forming head I3 is the die table I4. This die table is provided with an opening indicated at 4| of the proper size and contour to delineate a container blank. Above the die table is a frame 42 in which a cutting die '43 is slidably mounted. The cutting die may be operated in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of a yoke or arms 44 engaging stud bolts 45 extending through slots being operated in timed relation with the means for actuating the cutting die 43, the conveyor 1 and other elements of the machine.

The cutting die 43 is preferably hollow and the forming plunger i5 is vertically movable throughthe cutting die and through the aperture 4| in the die table into the forming head. The forming plunger I5 is preferably of polygonal cross section, the number of faces being preferablytwice the number of forming elements in the forming head. The forming plunger is mounted upon the shaft l5 and is actuated by the fluid pressure cylinder IE or in any other suitable manner in precise timed relation to the other'operations of the machine.

After the strip material 50 has been advanced over the die table l4, the cutting die 43 is actuated so as to cut-out the container blank. The

cut-out portion drops onto the upwardly and 'rearwardly curved upper portions of the forming The forming plunger l5 then moves downwardly through the die opening 4| carrying the cut-out container blank into th forming head. Fig. 7' shows the forming plunger after it has moved the paper partly through the forming head. The partly formed container is indicated at 53 and the folding action is illustrated in Fig.8. The operation of the folding elements and the conversion of a substantially circular disc into a cylindrical container will perhaps be best understood by a contemplation of Figs. 8, 12, 13 and 14, Fig. 13 showing the blank in a partly formed and partly expanded position whereas Fig. 14 shows the completely folded container.

By referring to Fig. 12, it will be observed that-areas delineated by parallel lines, such as horizontal leg and an inwardly directed vertical 5 of the resulting container are positively bonded together by the thermoplastic coating.

The forming plunger moves the precut disc of material through the forming head directly into the retainer 2 and deposits the container therein. The forming plunger l5 may be provided with aplurality'of air-release bores 15'',

zaszasze in av push rod.80 actuatedxby acam 8| .pushes tainer isprepared. for filling. By referring to Figs.,15 and 16 it will be 'seenthat the retainer,

having a container 53 therein, comes to rest beneath a flaring head 60 carried by thelower end of a vertically reciprocable shaft Bl. .The fiaring head 60 is provided with a cylindrical portion 62 of slightly larger diameterthan the internal di- --am et'er of the retainer 4 and with a conical portion 63 extending therebelow, the conical 'portion 63 blending into the cylindrical portion inv a concave curve. The head 60 moves downwardly into the container 53 and bends the upper edge v i portions of the container outwardly into the position indicated, in Fig. 15. This downward movementof the flaring head 60'is immediately followed by a downward movement, of the presser element 64 which is movable with respect to the f.

flaring head 60. v

The presser element 64 presses downagainst f the outwardly fiaring edge portions 53? of the container and forms a shoulder extending outwardlyfrom the upper portion of the container 53. The limit of downward movement of the presser 64 is indicated in Fig. 16. It will be noted that the presser compresses the edge portion 53 of thecontainer 53 against the yielding ring l9 carried by the retainer 3.

I After theretainer 2 has hada container deposited therein in the manner stated, the chain advances by two movements into zone B wherein the condevices at rest inFig.1,the -origina1 fiare head The conveyor chain I' then moves the retainer together with its formed and flared con tai-ner into position beneath a filling spout, generally indicated at 65 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The

. productto be packed is deposited within the congs tainer and the chain I again advances the retainers, the next operation beingthat of preparing and placing a cover sheet onto the filled container.

'By referring to seen that a cutting head 66 operating within a cylinder 5'! and against a. ;die plate 68 cuts a stripof intermittentlyiadvanced fibrous mate'- rial Bland-places the cut disc directly upon the filled container in the retainer 8. It is to be understood that'the cutting head 86 is operated in timed relation. with: theother movements hereinbefore and hereafter described. I w

The .filled'con'tainer thenmoves into the seal-- Figs. .1, -2 and 3, with par- 1-2 ticular attention to zones D thereof, it. will be ing zone E,.wherein-the sealing element is generally indicated at 10. By referring to Figs. 17 and 18, it will be seen that'the sealing element comprises an actuating shaft II carrying'a plate I 12 provided with a downwardly extending pe-fi ripheral lip 13. A heating element. generally indicated at 1,4, is carried by the plate 1'2 and is suitably insulated from the actuating shaft 1 I.

The cover disc 69 is of larger diameter than the body of the container 53 so that it overlies the outwardly flaring lip 53 of the container.

The lower surface of the cover disc69' carries a film of thermoplastic material and the inner its retainer is moved to the ejection zone F wherein positionin -Fig.;2 and-the presser in position in Fig. 3. ,Comparison of'zonesD'shows .the strip materialGQ being advanced in Fig. 1 and a cover disc being-cut outiin Fig. 2, this cover disc being shown in position in Fig. 3. A comparison of zones E shows 'the sealing el'ement' rising and falling whileaccomplishing the sealing operation. A comparisonofzones F shows the progressive discharge of the filled-and sealed container from its retainer onto'a -slide or conveyor 83.

It is to be understood that after the container has been made, prepared, filled and sealed in the manner described. it may be-subsequently packaged but packaging devices "are well known in the trade and need not be described here.

The-method and apparatus vherein'above described are-particularly adapted for use in packaging processed Lcheese since processed cheese is available inv substantially liquid condition for filling the containers, the cheese-cooling and hardening readily. The use of bendable materials coated with thermoplastic films gives rise to added advantages in the handling of cheese since the containersareair and moisture-tight and cheese maybe keptindefinitely therein; =Weolaim:

1. A packaging machine comprising: a vertically reciprocable formingplunger; a forming head including a plurality of forming elements arranged in a circle through which: said forming plunger may -move, eachf forming element including a substantially vertical lower face portion, a narrow upwardly and'rearwardly curved upper portion, the lower face portion having laterally extending wings provided with relativelythin edge portions and inwardly and rearwardly inclined rear'surfaces; a narroW supporting member for-each forming element adapted to provide unrestricted passageways for blanks in the rear of said'laterally extending wings and between-opposing win'gs of spaced .formingelements, a plurality of presser elements arranged in a circle beneath'saidformin'g elements; means for moving said plunger through said forming head, and means for yieldably urging said presser elements toward said plunger when moving through said forming head.

2. In a packaging machine: a vertically reciprocable forming plunger; a forming head including a plurality of forming elements arranged in a circle throughwhich said forming plunger may move, each forming element including a substantially vertical lower face portion, a narrow upwardly and rearwardly curved upper portion, the lower face portion having laterally extending wings provided with relatively thin edge portions and inwardly and rearwardly inclined rear surfaces; a narrow supporting memher for each forming element adapted to provide unrestricted passageways for blanks in the rear of said laterally extending wings and between opposing wings of spaced forming elements, and a plurality of presser elements arranged in a circle beneath said forming elements and means :ior yieldably urging a pair at least of said presser elements toward the :center :of said circle.

.3. In a packaging machine, the combination of: a vertically reciprocable forming plunger; a forming head including a plurality of forming elements arranged in a circle through which said forming plunger may move, each forming element including a substantially vertical lower face portion, a narrow upwardly and rearwardly curved upper portion, the lower face portionhaving laterally extending wings provided with relatively thin edge portions and inwardly and rearwardly inclined rear surfaces; a narrow supporting member for each forming element adapted to provide unrestricted passageways for blanks in the rear of said laterally extending wings and between opposing wings of spaced forming elements; and a plurality of presser elements arranged in a circle beneath said forming elements, and means for yieldably urging a part at least of said presser elements toward the center of said circle.

4. In apparatus for forming an open-ended container having a laterally outwardly extending rim flange embodying a plurality of rebent 'portions presenting multi-ply flange portions on opposite sides of single-ply flange portions, the combination of means for folding a sheet material blank into a container having bottom and side walls integrally connected with said bottom wall and with each other, the side walls being provided with rebent portions incident to the formation thereof, a holder for receiving said container from said folding means, said holder embodying a wall portion surrounding the side wall of the container, and said surrounding wall having its upper end recessed, .a resilient material element seated in said recess and extending above said upper end of the surrounding wall, a plunger embodying inner and outer parts, the inner part being movable into the open end portion of the container to flare an upper marginal portion of the container outwardly; and said outer part being movable towards said resilient material element to cooperate therewith to bend said outwardly flared marginal portion into predetermined laterally extending position, and to yieldingly press together the multi-ply portions of said flange.

5. In apparatus for forming an open-ended container having a laterally outwardly extending rim flange embodying a plurality of rebent portions presenting multl-Zply flange portions on opposite sides of single-ply flange portions, the combination of means for folding .a sheet material blank into a container having bottom and side walls integrally connected with each other and wherein the side walls have downwardly tapered rebent portions, a holder for receiving said container from said folding means, said holder embodying a wall portion covered on its upper end with a resilient material cushion, a plunger embodying inner and outer parts, the inner part being movable into the open end portion of the container and so formed as to flare an upper marginal portion of the container wall outwardly over said cushion-covered end of said holder side wall, and said outer 'part being movable toward said resilient material end cushion to bend said outwardly flared marginal portion into predetermined laterally extending position,

said outer part co-operating with said resilient material element to press together the multiply portions of said rim flange.

6. In apparatus for forming an open-ended container having a laterally outwardly extending rimflange embodying a plurality of rebent portions presenting multi-ply flange portions on opposite sides of single-ply flange portions, the combination of means for folding a sheet material blank into a container having bottom and side walls integrally connected with each other and wherein the side walls have downwardly tapering rebent portions, a holder for receiving said container from said folding means, said holder embodying a wall portion having its outer upper end portion recessed so as to provide a thin, upwardly extending flange contiguous with the inside of the holder wall, .a resilient material element seated in said recess outwardly of said thin upstanding flange, a plunger embodying inner and outer parts, the inner part being movable into the open end portion of the container and so formed as to flare an upper marginal portion of the container side wall outwardly, and said outer part being movable towards said resilient material element to cooperate therewith to fold said outwardly flared container wall portion to predetermined laterally extending container-flange position, and to press together the multi-ply portions thereof,

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