Patent GB-1254552-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for packing articles
Inventor: SMITH MICHAEL JOHN
IPC: B65B5/02
Filed: 1968-04-10
Abstract: 1,254,552. Packaging-machines. REED PAPER GROUP Ltd. 1 April, 1969 [10 April, 1968], No.17372/68. Heading B8C. In a packing of a single article, or as shown in Fig. 1, an assembly 19 of articles 18, the assembly is placed on a blank 1 delivered from a stack 3 and on the assembly is placed a blank 2 from a stack 9, blank 1 being folded to provide an open-ended U-cross-sectioned wrapping and blank 2 closing the mouth of the U and providing end closures 11, 12. The blanks are adhesively connected to one another by means of flaps 7, 8 on blank 1 which overlap the longitudinal edges of blank 2. Additionally, cushioning pads 15 delivered from stacks 16, 17 may be glued to the end closure areas 11, 12. Blanks 2 are housed in a magazine (21), Figs. 2A and 3 (not shown), and cushioning pads 15 in magazines (22, 23), reciprocating and alternately operating pushers (41, 46) removing pairs of pads 15 and blanks 2 respectively therefrom to positions on conveyer belts (25) and gluing and pressing mechanisms (47, 48) operating to apply glue to pads 15 and successively pressure to each combination of a pair of pads and a blank 2. Blanks 1 are stored in a magazine (51), Figs. 2B and 5B (not shown), and are removed therefrom by suction cups (53), further delivery being by means of kickers (60) and co-operating rollers and spring strips (66, 67). The formation and deposition of article assembly 19, Fig. 1, is carried out using the apparatus shown in Fig. 5A. Individual articles are delivered by conveyer belt 70 to rest between shelves 71, a predetermined number of articles is transferred from shelves 71 to shelves 75 by pusher 73, whereupon shelves 75 are indexed downwardly to await a further group, and a predetermined number of groups, as shown five, is transferred from shelves 75 to carrier shelves 86 by a pusher 91. Thereafter carrier shelves 86 descend to a blank 1 resting on conveyers 111, and the articles are released by lateral withdrawal of the shelves on actuation of scissors mechanism (105), Fig. 7 (not shown), when side wall portions of blank I have been folded upwardly through almost 90 degrees by pivoted folders 114, Fig. 5A. After deposition, a blank 2 is laid on the assembly and folders 114 move to bring the side wall portions vertical. Actuation of conveyers 111 brings the inside surfaces of flaps 7, 8 into contact with adhesive nozzles 127 and subsequently these flaps are folded on to blank 2 by rollers 128, Fig. 8, and pressed downwardly by bands 129 co-operating with idler rollers 132. A frame 135 on which the partially wrapped package now rests is lowered to bring the package into engagement with conveyers 140. Movement therefrom causes closure flaps 11, 12 to contact folding bars (145, 147, 150), Fig. 9 (not shown), and adhesive nozzles (149), the package being completed by downward folding of flaps 13, 14, Fig. 1, downward folding of end closures 11, 12, application of glue to flaps 13, 14, and engagement thereof with the bottom wall of blank 1. In the embodiment described, the articles are sleeved fluorescent tubes. The apparatus is fully automatic and incorporates stop mechanisms (not further described) actuated should the supply of blanks to the combination zone 20, Fig. 1, be interrupted.