US2603047A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

nFuly i5, 1952 c. J. MALI-"0T PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 25. 1946 IIIIIIIIIJII (nl. ll.||||

.iwf/225711? .Puy l5, 1952 c. J. MALHIOT PACKAGING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1946 C. J. MALHIOT PACKAGING MACHINE July 15, .1,952

l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 25, 1946 d LW@ J `luy 15, 1952 c. J. MALHloT PACKAGING MACHINE 1l Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 25, 1946 KNN fra/@nii- July 15, 1952 c. J. MALI-MOT PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1946 July 15, 1952 c. J. MALHloT 2,603,047

PACKAGING MACHINE July 15, 1952 c. J. MALHloT 2,603,047

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 25. 1946 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 July 15, 1952 c. J. MALI-no1' PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 25. 1946 july l5, 1952 c. J. MALHloT 2,603,047

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 25. 194e 11 sheets-sheet s www Jy l5, E952 c. J. MALI-no1 PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed May 25, 1946 QmN NNN ,/z. m14 ..,n. 4.. 1, NNN A .Y I QNNI July l5, 1952 c. J. MALI-MOT PACKAGING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed May 25. 1946 Patented July 15, 1952 PACKAGING MACHINE Clarence J. Malhiot, Oak Park, Ill., ass'ignor to F..B. Redington Co, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application May 25, 1946, Serial No. 672,199l

This invention relates to a packaging machine,

and to the method of packagingarticles,espe.

cially foodstuffs such as butter, oleomargarine D. Mullinix. 'I'he package disclosed in said patent comprises'a laminated blank which is formed of at least one relatively heavy paper sheet, and at least one relatively light sheet 'of material. The blank is treated with a moistureproof, adhesive substance which secures the heavy sheet throughout its area to the light sheet, and renders the blank substantially impervious to air and moisture. The blank in said patent utilizes spaced parallel fold lines which extend transversely of the laminated central portion of the blank. The heavy sheet is less in width than the light'sheet but is preferably made the same length. The sheets of the vblank are positioned with their medial longitudinal lines coinciding as disclosed and claimed in said Patent 2,335,019.

It is well known to use a scored carton in which butter and other foodstuffs are cartoned, the carton being bent along certain scored lines to provide a, pocket into which the article is received. The carton is foldedalong certain scored.

lines. to partlypre-form a cartonto-receive the article. Finally the closure ends vare bent and then the tuck flaps are inserted into; the carton. A machine for packaging butter utilizing the conventional carton is disclosed in Patent 2,171,131, issued August 29, 1939, and assigned to the presentv assignee.

It isv also well known tol employ a wrapping machine to wrap articles in a sheet of wrapping material. The wrapper is folded about the article and then the ends, of the wrapper are folded to form a wrapped package.

An entirely different principle presents itself when an article to be packaged utilizes a scored blank of the type disclosed in said Mullinix Patent 2,335,019, wherein there is not only employed the principles of a cartoning machine and the principles of a wrapping machine, but certain elements must be omitted from each, certain new elements or devices added, and'proper synchronism and `correlation must be maintained with respect to the mechanical elements for eiecting the forming, folding and packaging steps in proper order.

The primary object of the present invention,

therefore, resides in the provision of Aa new andY "tion, certain parts being broken away furtherY 2 novel packaging machine which is` adapted to package articles in vpackage form in a blank yof.. the type disclosed in said Mullinix Patent v;

2,335,019. Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and novel method for causing the blank to be bent or folded along v. certain scored or fold lines, then forming folds.. at the ends of the blank where the material ,is of a single thickness only, then nally forming bends or folds so as to completely encase the Aar` ticle in package form, and finally heat sealing the seams to form an airtight and moistureproof package. g y w A further object of the invention residesjinl the provision of a newv and improved machine;` having certain parts correlated with other.cer..; tain parts so as to 'effect the proper folding and packaging operations in a step by step manner, the various elements of the machine for performing the certain steps required in packaging, being synchronized properly so that articles are intermittently fed packaged continuously, and then the packaged article heat sealed before it it finally discharged from the machine. Still anotherr object of the inventionconsists ln new and improved apparatus, properly syn` chronized, having partsy correlated with other operating parts so that an articlemay be fed intothe machine and packaged in a so-called Mul-V linix wrapper to form a moistureproof, airtightf sealed package. i Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of. the spec'- ii-lcation which follows. j y The accompanying drawings illustrater aselected embodiment of the invention, andtheviewsj therein areas follows: y 1 g Fig. 1 is a detail elevationalview ofthe rightA hand side of a machine embodying the inven-.i

sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a detail plan section on the line 2 2g of Fig. 1; Y ....I

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view. partly; section; 'P

Fig. 4 is a detail-elevational view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts ina further; adr vanced position; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view o f a :part Q fgf the machine showing the manner inV which.; the article is being inserted in a partially creasedror., folded blank; i ;A Fig. 6 is a detail perspective-view showing'the manner in which the article `is' arranged-.inthe 3 partly folded blank with a fold finger in engagement with a part of the blank to fold a longitudinal part of the blank along a score line and against a rear face of the article being packaged;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of certain of the machine mechanism and showing the article encased within a blank, the blank being folded about the sides and edges of the article;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan sectional view on the lines 8--8 of Figs. 1, 3 and 4, showing the manner in which both edges of the packaging means are folded against the body of the article;

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view on the lines 9 9 of Figs. l, 3, 4 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a part o the machine showing a part of the transport mechanism, and the manner in which the side edges of the blank are folded against the ends of the article;

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of another part of the machine, including a part of the transport mechanism, and showing the manner in which a lower extending fold of a blank is folded against the ends of the article;

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of some of the mechanism disclosed in Figs. l and ll, but showing the article to be packaged in the position intermediate the positions shown in Figs. and 11; l

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on the line III-I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective' view'of certain of the machine parts situated at the front of the machine and showing mechanism for effecting the last fold of the blank by folding the projecting ends of the blank against the ends of the article and over a previously folded end, the View also showing delivery mechanism for delivering the packaged article to heater elements on a ccnveyor where the seams and folds ci the blank are sealed; Y

Fig. 15 is a detail vertical sectional View of certain conveying mechanism showing the article completely packaged and arranged in heater elements to effect sealing of the package;

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view on the line IB-IB of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the completed improved, airtight and moistureproof package;

Fig. 18 is'a perspective view of a blank with which the present invention deals, the blank being of the kind disclosed in said Mullinix Patent- Fig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line I9--I9 of Fig. 18'; and

Fig. 20 is a transverse sectional view onthe 1ine`20-20 of Fig. 18. v

The machine of the invention comprises a supporting structure or frame I which'isv supported Y '.60 article conveying mechanism 2, Figs. 1 to 4, de-

by, or mounted upon, any suitable base. An

livers articles 3 to position so as to be packaged in the new type blank. The article conveying mechanism 2 may be of any practical type desired, but is shown herein in the form of a wheel 4 which is mounted on a driven shaft 5. vThe Y wheel 4 has a plurality of peripherally spaced pockets 6 in which articles 3, to be packaged, are

positioned. The articles 3, to be packaged, may` 4 tion as a machine for packaging oleomargarine, and the article will be referred to as oleomargarine, because machines constructed in accordance with the present invention, and in actual use in commerce, have operated successfully in packaging oleomargarine.

The oleomargarine articles 3, being delivered from the pockets 6 of the delivery wheel 4 are packaged in folded blanks and are relatively rectangular in shape, preferably in one pound blocks. The shape and size of the article to be packaged may, of course, vary depending upon the kind and weight of the article to be packaged.

The delivery wheel 4 is driven synchronously with other operable parts of the machine so as to deliver each article 3 at a proper time, and in a proper position, to effect proper packaging thereof. Articles 3 are fed properly into the pockets 6, and inasmuch as the means for feeding articles 3 into the pockets 6 is not pertinent to the present invention herein claimed, reference in connection with the feed of the articles need not be made.

The article delivery wheel 4 is intermittently rotated by a Geneva wheel 2I'l on a transverse shaft 5, each article 3 (such as a parchment packaged rectangular pound of oleomargarine) is moved to delivery position designated at 8, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The length of each pocket 6 is less than the length of the article, so that each end of the article may project or extend a predetermined distance beyond the side edges of each pocket 6.

A guided, relatively U-shaped ejector member 9 is secured to a reciprocating rod I0 which is suitably mounted in bearings II secured to the machine frame. The arms of the ejector member 9 are provided with inwardly extending ejector fingers I2 which engage a rear face of the article at the point where the article extends beyond the sides of the pockets, and ejects or pushes the article out of a pocket 6 after the delivery wheel 4 has delivered the article to delivery position 8, Figs. l and 3.

A supporting' structure I3, Fig. l, is carried by the machine frame and carries a magazine I4 which supports a plurality of blanks I5, Fig. I. Each blank I5 comprises at least one relatively heavy paper sheet, and at least one relatively light sheet of material such as cellulose. The blank I5 is treated with a moistureproof, adhesive substance which secures the heavy sheet throughout its area to the light sheet and renders the blank substantially impervious to air and moisture. The blank I5 is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel fold lines which extend transversely of the laminated central portion I6 of the blank, Figs. 18-20. The heavy sheet of the blank is preferably less in width than the light sheet but is of the same length. The two sheets which constitute the blank are positioned with their medial longitudinallines coinciding. The laminated central section of the blank is relativelyA stiff. The blank is adapted to be readily bent or folded along the scored lines so that the central laminated portion of the blank constitutes a relatively rigid body part having a rectangular section along the top, sides and bottom of the article to be packaged. The light sheet extends marginally beyond the side edges of the heavy sheet, and these marginally extended portions are adapted to be folded to close the ends of the package. The overlapping folds are then sealed to make the package substantially impervious to air, moisture and other deleterious influences which-might affect the contents ofV the package. Eachblank,therefore, comprises an outer sheet upon which there is securednin Figs. 18 to 20. The material of the blank be"v tween the score lines I8 and I9 forms one edge of the package. The space between the score lines I'I and I8 defines one side of the package; the space between the score lines I9 and 20 denes the other side; and the material extending outwardly from the score lines I'I and 20 forms theclosure for "the other edge of the package. Freeends 2I, Figs. 18 and 20, extend outwardly` from the central rigid portion I6, and these vfree ends 2I are adapted to be folded to form-folds which are later pressed together and sealed so as to complete the airtight package.

The magazine I4 is arranged in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1, 'and comprises a supporting yoke 22 to which upstanding vertical corner 'guides 23 are secured. Supporting bars, strips or ledges 24 for the blanks are secured to the guides 23 of the yoke 22 in any desired manner, the ledges 24 extending beneath and supporting the bottommost blank I of the stack of blanks arranged in the magazine I4. A centrally positioned blank supporting ledge 24, Fig. 1, extends downwardly to support and guide a bottom blank during its discharge from the stack. These members 24 have engaging fingers 25 which extend beneath the stack of blanks near the center of the magazine and assist in supporting the stacked blanks in proper position. The fingers 25 are inclined downwardly from a point at the bottom to facilitate withdrawal of a bottom blank.

Means are provided for removing the blanks one by one from the bottom of the stack in the magazine, and this means comprises pneumatic or suction means, including a plurality of spaced suction heads 2S, Figs. 1 and 4, which are carried by a .voke or frame 2l. This suction frame or yoke 2'! is operatively secured to a support or bar 28, and is adapted to be fixed to a shaft 29, suitably carried by a part of the machine frame or superstructure, Fig. 1. A lever is also rigidly secured to the shaft 29 and is operated by a link 3| being pivoted thereto, as indicated at 32, Fig. 1.

The link 3| is also pivoted at 33 to one arm of a bell-crank 34 which is pivoted to a part of the machine frame, as indicated at 35, Fig.` 1. The other end of the bell-crank 34 comprises a cam follower cooperating with one of the cams 35 which is operated by a shaft 3'I. The operation of the bell-crank 34 by the cam, causes vertical movement of the suction yoke or frame 2'I to move the suction heads 26 into engagement with the lowermost blank I5 of the stack of blanks in the magazine I4, moving this blank into position into one of a plurality of pockets 38 of a blank receiving transfer wheel 39, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The lowermost blank, as it is being removed from the magazine by the suction heads 26, is caused to be bended or folded along the score lines I8 and I9 as the blank is being inserted in a pocket 38 of the transfer wheel 39.

This blank receiving transfer wheel 39 comprises spaced spider members or wheels 40, Fig. 2, each Aof which is arranged in alignment to provide the'pockets 38,-Fig`. 2.V The `blank receiving transfer wheel 39,-which comprisesvthe spaced members or wheels 49, `is rigidly*securedito-'aI shaft 4|-, YFigs'. 1 to 4, which is drivenby agear.v

42, Fig. 1,l secured to the shaft 4I,Figs."1;and 2. The gear 42 may be a-Geneva wheel andis driven intermittentlyl .inany suitable manner. Therefore, the blank receiving pockets 38 ofthe transfer vwheel 39-will be moved synchronously` and in timed relation vwith the operation and'y movement of the Asuction heads 26. Y

The suction yoke or frame 21 is provided with bores inthe arms thereof leading to the suctionheads-26 so as to permit or cause suction as desired. Insteadof providingbores in the arms ofthe framel 26, the arms may be channel members which carry tubes-leading to the suction heads `26;` Thesuction' yoke or vframe v2-'Ifhas 2,171,131 and comprises a cut away or notched portion into which a friction member or pin is received to guide the-plunger in the casing 48, as disclosed in said patent. There is provideda spring pressed friction member bearing against the outer end of the -pinV` and frictionally retard'- ing the plunger, thereby preventing it from operating too freely vwithin the valve casing bore and restraining it against inadvertent movement'. The valve casing .48 is also providedv with a bore extending therethrough and communicating with the bore in whichA the plunger 49 operates. This latter bore has one side thereof connected to :a suction source and its other side connected to the bores or passages in the suction yoke or frame 2l leading to the suction .heads 28. The plunger 49, Figs. lrand 4, is provided with a bore or passage which is adaptedvto align with the last mentioned passage or bore. The plungerv 49, therefore, which has limited movement in the casing, is adapted to close the last nainedpassageA when the plunger is in one position and permit a continuous `passage when the plunger is in another position sothat the last named passage aligns with they aforesaid, previously mentioned passage. Thus, during vertical movement of the plunger 49 in thecasing, suction is permitted, or is shut oif, depending upon the position of the plunger 49. The plunger is operated by an upper plunger operating member 43, Fig. 1, and by a lower"plung'er operating member 50, Fig. 4, which is arranged in. fixed position. When the. suction frame .or yoke 21 is raised to its uppermost posi-l tion due to the operation of the parts 28-34. thefupper end of the plunger 49 will engage the upper plunger operating member 43 and move the plunger to position to permit a vsuction to occur in the suction heads 26. While the suction frame 2'I is-in its uppermost position, Fig. 4, the suction heads 26 will engage the lowermost blank of the stack between the score linesv I8 and I9 and draw the blank against the suction heads by the suction created therein. As parts 2-34, inclusive, cause the suction frame 2'I to lower, the suction will stillbe on. The suction will continue until the blank/has been received within a pocket 38 in the transfer Wheel 39, at which time the 'suctionf heads will be near the end of their down- 7 Ward movement. As the suction heads approach the end of their downward movement, the lower end of Ythe plunger 49 will engage the lower plunger operating member 50 and cause the plunger 49 to be moved upwardly in the casing and cut off the suction.

When the suction has been totally cut off, the' blank will be arranged in a pocket 38, and the suction heads will be away from the bottom of the blank. The pulling of a blank by the suction heads 26 into the pockets 38 will cause the blank to be inpartly folded or pre-formed position, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the blanks areproperly arranged in cooperating pockets 38, and the suction heads are away from` the blank being positioned. When the suction heads have reached the limit of their downward travel, thev blank receiving transfer wheel 39 will operate in a counter-clockwise direction, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, .to bringA another pocket 38 into position to receive the next succeeding blank I5, Fig. 4.

The machine may also be provided with means'.

to effect the insertion of an article within the package after a partly folded blank is in position and moved to receiving position. This article may comprise an advertising slip or folder, or it may comprise an envelope containing coloring matter when the machine is used for packaging oleomargarine. ployed for inserting the article into the package may be of the type disclosed in the aforesaid Milmoe and Malhiot Patent 2,171,131, particularly in Fig. 1 of said patent.

The blank receiving transfer member 39 rotates intermittently and receives blanks I in the pockets 38 in substantially U-shaped form, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A blank I5 arrives at article receiving position 5I, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, particularly Figs. 1 and 3,.which position is opposite article discharge position 8. The arms of the ejector member 9 push an article 3, Fig. 3, into a pocket 38 between the extending legs 52 and 53. of U-shaped blank I5, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The moving of an article 3 from discharge position 8out of a pocket 6 of the wheel 4, toward receiving position 5I of the wheel 39, will cause an upper blank spreader 54 to operate, Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, particularly Fig. 5. v

The operation of thel upper blank spreader 54 causes it to be moved upwardly into4 engagement withthe upper ledge or leg 52 of the now pre-1 folded blank I5, andraises this ledge 52 upwardly so that an opening will be provided which will be large enough for` the article to move into position without bending, breaking or otherwise fouling the upper leg or ledge 52 of the blank. This upper blank spreader 54 compriseszspaced fingersv 55 and 56 rigidly fixed to a pin or rod51 which' is pivotally. mounted in bearings 58 secured to, a guide 59 surrounding the delivery wheel 4. weight of the fingers 55 and 56 holds the spreader downwardly normally, but they arefree toY pivot, and when engaged byan article 3,will move;up wardly, from the position shownin Figs. 1 and 4 to the position shown in Figs.,3 and 5, to'holdtheA upper projecting ledge or leg 52 of av blank I5 in position. After an article 3 has passed into a pocket in wheel 39, the 1ingers55 and 56 will drop downwardly in normal position, as shown in Figs. land 4.

A lower blank spreader 6U, Figs. 3, 4 and 7, is carried by a rigid fiange 6I located adjacent delivery position 3. This lower spreader 60 moves downwardly when an article 3 is passing out of a pocket 6, and as article 3'passesout'of a pocket 6',

rIhe means which may be ern-v The.

it will` depress thenormally upstanding spreader 60 tocause the lower part of a blank I5 to be pushed downwardly. The lower blank spreader 60 has ar fiat, relatively thin three fingered element 62, Fig. 7, which is rigidly secured to a pin 63 pivotally. supported in bearing 64 on the rigid fiange 6 I The three fingered element 62 is urged by springs 65, Figs. 3 and 4, to maintain it normally in its upper position, as shown in Figs. 1,4 and 7. The element 62 is returned to normal position by the spring. 65 after the article has been inserted in a pocket 38 in the blank transfer wheel 39, Figs. land 4. The blank transfer wheel 39 and the delivery wheel 4 are stationary during the period of transferring an article 3 from the wheel 4to the wheel 39. The upper and lower spreaders 54 and 60 operate to hold the upper and lower edges 52 and 53. respectively, of a blank I5 in spaced apart position, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A side holder or folding element 66, Figs. l, 3 and 4, is adapted to-fold the upper flap or ledge 52 of a blank I5 as soon as an article 3 is received in the blank receiving wheel 39, the wheel39 being caused to move another intermittent step as soon as an article 3 is positioned in a partly pre-formed blank in the transfer wheel 39. The sidefoldermember 66 comprises an arm 61 which Vcarriesa folding and holding finger 68. Figs. 1, 3,

4 and 6. The arm 61 is secured rigidly to an oscillating shaft 69, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The arm 61 operates in proper timed relation with respect to the blank receiving transfer wheel 39, and its purpose is to bend the blank I5 along the score line II and force the ledge-52 against a side (the rear side) of the article 3, in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The finger 63 engages the part 'I0 of the blank, Fig. 4, which extends rearwardly beyond the edge ofthe article 3 and beyond the score line IT, Figs. 4 and 6. The folder and holder member G'I operates in timed relation with respect to the transfer wheel 39, so that just before the wheel 39 starts to rotate another intermittent step; the folding and holding finger 68 will come down and engage that part 'I0 of ablank I5 which extends beyond the score line II and bend the blank along that score line against a side of the article 3. The finger 68 holds the part 1i] of the blank against the article 3 during the beginning of the movement of the transfer wheel 39. The tra-nsfer wheel 39, when turning, causes the lower projecting end 1I of the blank to be bent along the score line 20; the part II of the blank being engaged by the edge 'I2 of the rigid fiange GI, Fig. '7. The movement of the wheel 39, therefore, causes the blank I5 to be bent or. creased along the score line20, whereby the lower side edge 'II of the blank is forced against the outside of the upper ledge or part i3 of the blank, the part 10 having been previously bent into position and held inpcsition by the folding and holding finger G8. The finger 68 is timed to come down and bend the part T3 of the blank and then hold the blank in its bent position until the wheel 39 startsv its next intermittent step. The rotation of the wheelcauses the lower part 'II of the blank to be forced against the outside of the previously folded part- 'lill of the blank, by the movement of the wheel passing over the rigid flange 12. The fiange I2 isv preferably an integral part of a; curved guide I3 which partly surrounds the transfer wheel 39, Figs. l, 3 and 7; The steps of feeding the articlev into the partly pre-formed blank and then bending the blank along the score line. II by the finger 68, and then later bending 9 the blank along. the score line 28 over the rigid flange 12, as the wheel turns, occur successively. During each intermittent movement of the wheel 39, a new blank is received in pre-formed position in a next succeeding pocket 38. Therefore, from the time a blank is first inserted into'a pocket 38, four steps have occurred until the blank is folded to the position shown in package form, as indicated -at 1d, Fig. 4. After the creasing of the blank along the score lines |1 and 20, the parts 18 and 1| of the blank are held in position by the curved guide member 13 which surrounds the lower part of the transfer wheel 39, Fig. 4. The

successive steps occur intermittently with respect to the wheel 39, and the partly packaged article is discharged from the blank receiving wheel 'at a discharge point station indicated generallyby the numeral 15.

A guided, relatively U-shaped ejector member 16, like the ejector member 9, also is fastened to the reciprocating rod ll). This ejector member 16 pushes the partly packaged article out of the transfer wheel 39. The ejection of the partially wrapped article out of a pocket 38 atdelivery position occurs simultaneously during the time an article 3 is moved from discharge position 8 to receiving position 5|. The ejector member18, and the ejector member 9, being both secured to the same" reciprocating rod I8, move simultaneously, whereby an article 3 is fed on one side of the wheel 39, while a partly packaged article is removed from the opposite side of the same wheel 39. As the'arms of the ejector member 16 push or eject the article from the wheel 39, they are received on the top of the spaced bars 11 of a stationary supporting member 18. Stationary fold fingers 19 mounted on opposite sides of the bars 11, of the support 18, are spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the article, and crease, or fold over, the thin ends 2| of that part ofrthe blank whichextends outwardlyfrom the central laminated part. The ends 2| of the blank are forced inwardly by the fingers 19 as the partly packaged article is moved out of the transfer wheel 38 onto the bars 11 of the support 18, as L clearly shown in Fig. l1. The forward ends of the blank are thus folded inwardly against the edges of. the article, as shown in Fig. (the forward end now being what was formerly the rear end,because 'the article has'been turned 180 degrees from receiving position 5| todischarge or delivery position 15). The stationary supporting member 18 includes the spaced bars 11 which are secured rigidly to stationary parts of the machine frame or support.

Rear holders or folding mechanism 88, FigsfZ, 8, 9 and 10 are carried on each of the 'spaced arms of the ejector member 18 so as to fold the protruding parts 2| of the blank against the ends of the article;` the protruding parts 2| of the blank now being at the rear of the package. y

Each folder 88 comprises an arm 8| whichis pivotally mounted at 82 to a part connected to the spaced arms of the ejector member 16. Each folder armV 8| is provided with a folding finger 83 which is adapted to move inwardly to fold the thin material 2| at the rear edge of the article and against the ends thereof. The for"- ward end of each arm 8| is provided with a cam roller 8l?, each of which is adapted to contact a camway 85 on spaced rigid cam bars 86. The normal inoperative position of the folder arm 8| vand the folding finger 83 is that shown in Fig. 2

where the face of the folding finger 83 is substantially flush with the face 16a on the ejector 16. The rollers ..815 areadapted toengage the caznway on thecam bars 86 duringv the forward movement of the ejector member 16jand cause thearmsl 8| to turn ontheir pivots 82 to bring the `folding fingers 83 forwardly to their position shown in Fig. 8 and begin to crease in, or fold, the rear protruding edge ofthe thin part 2| of the blank I5 after the ejector `member 16 begins .its forward movement. The pivotal movement ofthe arms 8|, therefore, cause the fingers 83 to effect a folding andwiping action againstv the blank, and press and lfold the rear side edges of the protruding part 2| of the blank againstfthe ends of the article, asclearly shown in Figs. 8 to 10. The fingers 83 are bifurcated, as indicatedat 81, Fig. 9, so as to permit the fingers to pass over the stationartr fold fingers 1 9. The. camways 85, acting on thel cam rollers 84 during a forward movement of the ejector;v 1 6, causes. the folding fingers 83 to be lmoved to fold the now rear end of the blank. Springs are provided to return the arms 8| to their normal inoperative position upon movement of the ejector member f18 during itsl return reciprocating movement,. n; u

The partly packaged article, with tneforward and rear .side folds pressed against the endsof lthe article, is guided between side-.guides 89which may .constitute forward extensionson ther stationary foldiingers 19, Figs.`9 to '11. v The partly packaged' article, therefore, has its lower surface mounted on top of the bars 11` and'its ends conA fined. between the side. guides 89A. Pivotally mounted spring pressedtop presser membersg are mounted to bear against the top ofthe package, asclearly shown in Figs. Sto 12, inclusive. Plurality o'ftpairsof longitudinal spaced vspring iinger'members-SL Figs. 3, 8 and 10, are provided to*v bear against the forward edge of its package on its'travel from fthe transfer whee1139 soas. to maintain' the 'OVerlappingedges of the wrapper along itsforward side alonggthe guideways lor members 11'. :These presser fingers 9|, Figs. 3 and 4, are pivotally mounted, at 92; to a rigid'part of the machine structure andr include a tail piece 93'to which a 'spring 94 lis attached forrurging the spring Afingers toward the package,'as shown in jFigs. 3'and 4. The package,` having been ejected from the' transfer;V wheeli 39 is now mounted on the supportingbars11.-... g: The next step in the operation consists in folding the bottom forward -protrudingpart atthe bottom=95vof thei'package, Figs. 10 and 12. YTo effect this folding 'operation the lpackage is adaptedto be moved along the guideways 11 by means of ,transport mechanism 95, Figs; 1,3, 9 and 12. Thistransport mechanism 96 comprises spaced side bars 91 which are connectedto driving arms, or links,'98, Figs. 1 and 9.v The driving arms' 98 are operated so as to move in a parallel orbital path so that they will first move in a longi-V tudinal direction, then in a vertical direction, then in aparallel longitudinal direction and'then in'aver'tical direction. Thespaced'side bars 91 are provided with'spaced fingers 99, Fig. 12, so thatwhen the; transport mechanism' moves in a forward direction', the spaced fingers 98 will come up behinda package, engage a rear side thereof, and move the package in a forward direction for a predetermined distance. The transport mecha nism thenV will move downwardly away from the package, then move rearwardly and upwardly to engage the rear ofthe next succeeding package to move the succeeding package forwardly.l At the lsamei time thesucceeding package is being movedforwardly, anotherset of ngers 39 on the transport mechanism will engage the previous package' and shove it forwardly along the rods 11 a distance equal to the distance the succeeding package is being moved. There are preferably at least four sets of these fingers 99, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby four packages are being moved along the supporting guide rods 11 ofthe stationary Vguideway 18. The fingers 99, on the bars 91, of the transport mechanism 96, are ar- 'ranged on opposite sides of the central bar .11, as shown' in Fig. 9. The transport mechanism 96 has mounted onthe outer face of the side bars 91 a plate |00, Figs. l2 and 13, which is urged by spring means against the outer face of the package so as to exert a'pressure against the ends of the package. The plate |00 is curved outwardly as shown at |02, Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and has its forward edge turned outwardly, as indicated at |03, Figs. lland 12, so that when the transport mechanism moves upwardly and longitudinally, it Will engage the protruding end 95 on each end, Fig. 12, and force each lower protruding end 95 of the blank, Figs. 10, 12 'and 13, and fold it over on each end thereof, as indicated at |04, Fig. ll. Each end 95, Fig. 12, extends over the outside' of an outer bar 11 and, therefore, when the transport mechanism moves upwardly, it will engage the lower protruding edge 95 on each end and fold it upwardly, and inasmuch as the transport mechanism also moves longitudinally, it will have a wiping, pressing action against the outside lof the folded element |04, Fig.v 1l. In order tomaintainthe sharp crease along the bottom edge of the package and to prevent damage to the ends of thearticle during the folding operation of the protruding part 95 at each end of the blank, there is provided on opposite sides of the package a rigidly mounted, relatively thin plate |05, Fig. 12. Each plate is arranged in a Vcutout in each bar 89, Fig. 12. Each plate |05 presses against the outside of the package against the previously formed folds, the Vprotruding part 95 of the blank, at each end, being bent over the plate |05. The continued operationof the transport mechanism, in effecting its' cycle, moves the partly packaged article to the end of the transport mechanism and beneath'a bar |06, Fig. 14. The bar |06 is' part of the presser means 90. The bar |06, Fig. 14, carries spaced, fiexible presser fingers-|01, which are secured to the cross-bar |06 and may be pivotally mounted at |08, and locked into position by a locking dog |09, Fig. 14. The transport mechani'sm 96 moves the package beneath a pair of oppositely disposed, relatively triangular shaped folding members I I0, Figs. 14 and 15, so that the stillremaining unfolded upper fiapl on each end of the package will be arranged beneath the bottom edges ||2 of the members ||0. Delivery mechanism ||3, Figs. 14 and 15, removes the packaged article from the transport mechanism.

The delivery mechanism ||3 comprises a plurality of fingers ||4, Figs. le and 15, which engage the now underside of the package and carries it up along curved guideways ||5. The upward movement of the package along the guideways ||5 causes the bottom edges ||2 of the members 0 to fold the remaining flaps against 'each end of the package. The package is shifted 90 degrees by the delivery mechanism ||3 so that the package will rest on its side with the longitudinal seam I6 at the rear bottom edge of the article on the delivery mechanism ||3.

The conveyor mechanism ||3, Figs. 14 and l5,

comprises the fingers 4 which are pivotally mounted on pinsl |1 carried by the arms ||8 of spider members ||9. The spider members ||9 are mounted on a shaft |20, Fig. 15, which is adapted to be driven. Rigidly mounted to a part of the machine frame is a stationary cam |2| which has cam grooves therein to operate the fingers ||4 on the spiders H9, Fig. 15. The pins ||1 'upon which the fingers ||4 are pivotally mounted, extend through the opposite legs of the spider and engage a groove in a cam |2|, Fig. 15. The fingers ||4 each carry a pin |22, Fig. l5, which also engages a groove in the cam |2| so that the arms may be successively folded or extended in the manner shown in Fig. 15. The fingers ||4 pick up the package and move it from the lower position shown in Figs. 14 and 15 to the upward position shown in Fig. 15. Near the upper end of the transferring or delivery movement, whereby the package is moved from side supporting position, Fig. 14, to edge supporting position, Fig. l5, the outer or rear side of the package is engaged by a plurality of spaced fingers or arms |23, Fig. l5. The arms |23 are mounted on an endless chain conveyor member |24, whereby individual packages are moved continuously along a guideway |25.

The guideway |25, Figs. 15 and 16, has mounted on its bottom a hotplate |26, so that the longitudinal seam I6 of the package will engage the hotplate and melt the wax or other adhesive of the package, and later after the wax becomes cooled, cause the bottom seam ||6 to become sealed in moisture and airproof condition. A side hotplate |21, Fig. 16, is mounted on opposite sides of the guideway |25, so as to engage the ends of the packages and seal the ends thereof. The hotplates |26 and |21 have a resilient bearing against the bottom and the ends of the package, there being springs |28 interposed between outer rigid plates |29 at the sides and a rigid plate |30 at the bottom.

The chains |24 carrying the pusher arms |23 are driven by shafts 3|, Fig. l5, (only one of which is shown, the other being an idler shaft) carrying sprockets |32 (only one of which is shown). The conveyor chain |24 is driven in synchronism with the operation of the shaft |20 and the shaft |3| to effect a synchronized drive.

The package with all folds completely made a?? sealed is indicated generally by the numeral Each package |33 when it is discharged from the delivery conveyor will be in the form of an airtight, moistureproof package, Fig. 17, and delivered to a continuously operating conveyor (not shown) by the fingers |23.

Driving mechanism The driving mechanism for operating the various parts of the machine comprises a belt 200, Fig. 1, driven by an electric motor indicated generally by the numeral 20|. The belt 200 drives a wheel 202 which is fixed to a shaft 203, Fig. 1. A pinion 204 is mounted on the shaft 203 and drives a gear 205, Figs, l and 2. The gear 205 meshes with a gear 2015 on the shaft 31 and rotates the cam 36. The cam 35 drives the suction means 21 as previously described. The shaft 31 carries a gear 291 which meshes with a gear 208 on a shaft 209. The gear 208 meshes with a gear 2|0 on a shaft 2| 'The gear 210, on the shaft 2| I, drives a gear 212 which meshes with, and drives an idler, the idler meshing with a gear 2|3. The gear 213 carries, rearwardly thereof, a disc member 2|4 carrying an arm 2|5 and a pin 2|6'. The pin`2|6 engages the grooves in a Geneva wheel 2 The Geneva wheel is mounted on the shaft 5 and causes the shaft 5 to be driven intermittently, to intermittently rotate the delivery wheel 4.

The gear 2|9 on theshaft 2| Fig. 1, carries a disc 2 3 which carries a pin 2 9, the pin 2 I 9 meshing with the openings in the Geneva wheel 42 and thereby causing intermittent rotation of the blank receiving transfer wheel 39.

The gear 265 which is mounted on a stub shaft 222 meshes with a gear 223 on a shaft 224.- The shaft 224 carries an arm 225 to which there is pivoted at 226 a link v221. The link 221 is pivotally connected at 228 to an arm 229 on the ejector member 9, and inasmuch as the ejector member 9 is rigid with the slide shaft I, the shaft Iii will be caused to reciprocate in the bearing The ejector arm 'I6 is also rigidly connected with the shaft I5 and is therefore caused to reciprocate Valong with the reciprocation of the ejector member 9. y

v,The transport mechanism 96 to which the arms 98, 98 are pivotally connected is driven kfrom the shaft 224, Fig. l. The arm 98 (to the right, Fig.r1) is pivotally connected at 230 to an arm 23| on a bell-crank 232, the bell-crank 232 idling on a stub shaft 233. .The other arm 234 of the bellcrank 232 has pivotally connected thereto, at 235, a link 236. vThe link 236 is pivotally connected at 23'! to an arm 238 cf a bell-crank 239. The bellcrank 239 idles on a driven rock shaft 24U. .The rock shaft 240 is rocked by an arm 24| keyed to the shaft 246. The arm 24| carriesv a roller 242 which operates in a camway 243 of a cam 244 on the rotating shaft 224, Fig. 2. The bell-crank 239, Fig. l, has its other arm 245 pivotally connected at 246 to the left arm 98 of the transport mechanism 96, the upper end being pivotally connected at 24T to an end of the transport mechanism 56, to the left, Fig. 1.

vA rocker arm 242vis fixed to the rock shaft 245 and is rocked therelziy.v rIhe upper end of the rocker arm 248 is pivotally connected to a link 24B, which link is also pivotally connected to the left arm 98 of the transport mechanism 96. rock shaft 256 rocks a rocker arm 25|, Fig. l, and a link 252 connects this rocker arm 25|{to the arm 238 of the bell-crank 239. The rock shaft 256 is rocked by an arm 252 which is xed to the shaft 250. A cam roller 253, Figs. 1 and 2, engages a camway in a cam 254 which is driven by the shaft 224, Fig. 2. The shaft 224 thusrocks the shafts 240 and 256 through the medium of the rocker arms 24| and 252 which are rocked by the cams 244 and 254, respectively. The'bellcranks 232 and 236 are rocked, and by the connection from the bell-cranks to the transport mechanism 96, the transport mechanism is moved in a parallel orbit as previously described.

The shaft 22-4 carries and drives a gear 255, Fig. 1, which meshes with a gear 256 on a stub shaft 251. The gear 256 meshes with a gear 253 on a shaft 259. This gear 258 may mesh with a gear 260 on a shaft 26|, the gear 260 meshing with a gear 262 which drives a gear 263 on the shaft IBI, Fig. 15. The gear 262 carries an integral smaller gear 263 which meshes with a gear 264 on the shaft |3| and drives the chain |24. The gear 258 drives a gear 265 on the` shaft |20 through the medium of an idler gear. Whereby, the chain |24 and the arms IIS operate in the direction of the directional arrows shown in Fig. i5. The mechanism I3 and the chain conveyor 14 |24 are thus driven in proper timed relation with the lother operating parts of the machine, l' y-The mechanism which drives the holder and folder finger 68 comprises a rocker arm 266 fixed tothe shaft 68 and rocks this shaft. lA link 26'! has one end (to the left, Fig. 1,) pivotally connected to the rocker arm 266, and its other end (to the right, Fig. 1) connected to an arm 268 which is pivoted at 269 to a part on the machine frame structure The arm 268 has'a cam roller 210 fastened thereto which may engage a cam- Way in the cam 24a-Fig. 2. The finger 68 is therefore reciprocated in an arc, and is adapted to operate in timed relationship with other parts of the machine, so as to effect the proper operations at the particular proper time intervals.

Articles are delivered at station 8: outA of pockets in the wheel 2 by the ejector member 9 which deposits the article into a partially folded blank l5 between the legs 52 and 53 of the blank. Just prior to the insertion of the article into the prefolded blank, the members 54 and 6 operate to spread the legs 52 and 53 apart so as to permit easy insertionr of the article into the prefolded blank.

Blanks 5 are separated from a stack of blanks arranged in a magazine I4. A lowermost blank is engaged by a suction head 26 and placed in a pocket 38 of the wheel 39, successively. The folder finger 68 operates to press inwardly eX- tending partv of the legA 52, just prior to the rotation of the wheel 39, and holds the bent part against the article at the beginning of the movement of the wheel 39. The rotationof the wheel 32 causes the bottom edge 53 of the blank |5 to be folded by the flange '|2. The top part;of the blank is thus against the-article and 4the bottom edge cf rthefblank is pressed overs-the prescored part 52, Fig. 1. The ejector mechanism 'I6 ejects the articles from thel wheel 39 onto aguideway. The forward sides of i the blank will engage a stationary folding finger 'I9 to fold the forward-ends. A camY operated structure 8 is then operated to fold the material of the blank at the rearward `side on each end. The transport mechanism 96v then moves the article successively along'the guide-.'- way, thebottom projecting part ofthe blank on each end being folded upwardly by themem'- ber |00, the member |56 causingv the upward folding during the upward movement-of. .the transport mechanism. The folding is 'done against the relatively thin plate. ||35"soy as to insure a sharp, square bend at the bottomv of the article.

The remaining upper projecting part of 'theA wrapper is folded by raising the article 'upwardly against the bottom edges ||2 of trian'gularly shaped' members The article is moved by transfer mechanism H3 and depositedl on 'a guideway |25. The articles are moved along the guideway |25 by means of arms |23 carried"on an endless chain |24. The article travels along the guideway |25 and is engagedbyvhotplates |21 and |26 so as to seal the seam-and the end folds. The arms |23 move the completely sealed packages off the guideway 25 to delivery position, particularly to an endlessbelt conveyor.

The invention providesv a machine which is properly synchronized and the parts are correlated so as to effect a proper operation intermittently, and in proper sequence, at the proper time, whereby all the steps of performing'the operation are in proper timed relation. ""The'ine vention employs the use of a particular type of package whereby a blank is rst bent along certain score lines to encase the article and then other parts of the blank are formed into folds or flaps that are sealed. The blank to which the invention applies is preferably a laminated sheet of the type disclosed in said vMullinix Patent No. 2,335,019.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, and the method may be varied to certain degrees without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly Within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank having a central laminated scored portion extending throughout the full length of the blank but narrower in width so as to provide thin projecting side edges of the blank at the ends, means to fold said blank along certain of said score lines to form the blank into U-shaped form to provide a side and spaced legs, operable means to spread the legs of the U-shaped formed blank to permit easy insertion of an article between said legs, means to Vinsert an article in the U-shaped formed blank, means for folding the blank along other score lines to bring the free outer edges ofthe blank into engagement with a side of the article into contacting overlapping relationship, and means to fold the thin projecting side edges of the blank against the article.

2. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank having a central laminated scored portion extending throughout the full length of the blank but narrower in width so as to provide thin projecting side edges of the blank at the ends, means to deliver a blank to a predetermined position relative to an operable member having pockets,` said means while delivering the blank in a said pocket causing "the blank to be bent along certain score. lines to form the blank into an article receiving pocket, means to insert an article into the article receiving pocket of the blank, means to crease the blank along other score lines to encase the article, means to eject the blank encased article from the operable member, rigid means to effect folding of the projecting thin edges of the blank at one side against the article, cam operated means to effect folding of said thin edges at another side against the article, transport mechanism movable in a parallel orbital path to effect folding of the thin side edges at another side against an end of the article, and means to effect folding of the other remaining thin side edges against the ends of the article.

3. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank having a central laminated scored portion extending throughout the full length of the blank but narrower in width so as to provide thin projecting side edges of the blank at the ends, means to deliver a blank to a predetermined position relative to an operable member having pockets, said means while delivering the blank in a said pocket causing the blank to be bent along certain score lines to form the blank into an article receiving pocket, means to insert an article `into the article receiving pocket of the blank, means to crease the blank along other score lines to encase the article, means tolejectthe blank encased article from 16 the operable member, rigid means to effect folding of the projectingl thin edges of the blank at one side against the article, cam operated means f to effect folding of said thin edges at another side against the article, transport mechanism movable in a parallel orbital path to effect folding of the thin side edges at another side against an end of the article, and rigid means for folding the remaining thin edges against the ends of the article during a cycle of operation of the transport mechanism. l

4. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank having a central laminatecl scored portion extending throughout the full length of the blank but narrower in width so as to provide thin projecting side edges of the blank at the ends, means to deliver a blank to a predetermined position relative to an operable member having pockets, said means while delivering the blank in a said pocket causing the blank to be bent along certain score lines to form the blank into an article receiving pocket, means to insert an article into the article receiving pocket of the blank, means to crease the blank along other score lines to encase the article, means to eject the blank encased article from the operable member, rigid means to effect folding of the projecting thin edges of the blank at one side against the article, cam operated means to effect folding of said thin edges at another side against the article, transport mechanism movable in a parallel orbital path to effect folding of the thin side edges at another side against an end of the article, rigid means for folding the remaining thin edges against the ends of the article during a cycle of operation of the transport mechanism, conveyor means to engage the articles at a rear surface thereof, and heating elements engageable with the ends and bottom of the articles which are being moved by the conveyor means.

5. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank comprising means to carry an article with the blank encasing the article on four sides and with end margins of the blank extending beyond the ends of the article, ejector means to eject the blank containing the article from said carrying means, folding members mounted on said ejector means for movement with respect thereto for folding marginal edges of the blank, and means operable t0 actuate said folding members after the ejection has started.

6. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank comprising means to carry an article with the blank encasing the article on four sides and with end margins of the blank extending beyond the ends of the article, ejector means to eject the blank containing the article from said carrying means. folding members pivotally mounted on said ejector means for folding marginal edges of the blank, and means operable to actuate said folding members after the ejection has started.

7. A packaging machine for packaging an article in a package blank comprising means to carry an article with the blank encasing the article on four sides and with end margins of the blank extending beyond the ends of the article, ejector means to eject the blank containing the article from said carrying means, folding members pivotally mounted on said ejector means for folding marginal edges of the blank, and cam means operable to actuate said folding members after the ejection has started.

17 8. A packaging machine for packaging an REFERENCES CITED article in a package blank Comprising means to The following references are of record in the carry an article with the blank encasing the le of this patent:

article on four sides and with end margins of the blank extending beyond the ends of the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS article, ejector means to eject the blank con- Number Name Date taining the article from said carrying means, 1,330,354 Smith Feb. 10, 1920 folding members mounted on said ejector means 1,426,429 Weightman et al. Aug. 22, 1922 for movement with respect thereto for folding 1,784,835 Harris Dec. 16, 1930 marginal edges of the blank, and stationary cam 10 1,955,331 Howard et al Apr. 17,1934 means operable to actuate said folding members 1,984,850 Van Buren Dec. 18, 1934 after the ejection has started. 2,171,131 Milmoe et al Aug. 29, 1939 2,400,682 Bronander May 21, 1946 CLARENCE J. MALHIOT. 2,407,313 Malhiot sept. 10, 1946

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