Patent GB-1233937-A (GB)
IPC: B65B1/24
Filed: 1968-08-07
Abstract: 1,233,937. Packaging sandwiches; applying stoppers; feeding conveyers. MICROTHERM Ltd. 7 Aug., 1968 [7 Aug., 1967], No. 37759/68. Headings B8A, B8C and B8T. General machine operation.-Frankfurter sandwiches are assembled and packaged within cylindrical containers 34 by apparatus comprising adjacent horizontal conveyer chains 10, 12, Fig. 5, each respectively supporting a plurality of open-ended sandwich and container carriers 16, 54, which are simultaneously intermittently indexed, in groups of four, to a station at which four sandwiches are each transversely compressed by the downward movement of a complementary member 71 into abutment with each of the carriers 16, whereafter a group of four containers are each displaced by a piston 72 into coaxial abutting alignment with an end of the co-operating carriers 16 and members 17 and the compressed sandwiches each transferred into a container 34 by a piston 82. Alignment and circularizing of the containers 34 is ensured by a conical head 80 on the pistons 72 and a conical counterbore at the end of the co-operating elements 16, 71 inwardly terminating at a shoulder corresponding to the thickness of a container 34. The pistons 82 are provided with a compressible pad 83 and enter the co-operating elements 16, 71 at a conical counterbore. The filled containers 34 are then indexed to successive stations at which end closure caps are successively inserted by pistons 110 from magazines 112 into opposite ends of the containers 34. The sandwiches are assembled on the carriers 16 at successive stations at which half buns are manually deposited, mustard is automatically dispensed, frankfurters are manually deposited, and further half buns are manually deposited to complete the sandwich. The containers 34 are loaded on to the carriers 54 from an automatic hopper and, at a successive station, container detecting switches act in the absence of a container 34 to declutch a camshaft which controls the timing of the machine, via switches actuated thereby, including the operation of electrically operated valves controlling a compressed air supply to cylinders which actuate the pistons 72, 82, 110, and to a cylinder 70 which actuates the members 71. Automatic container dispensing hopper (Fig. 3). The containers 34 fall from a hopper 28, via apertures 38 in a member 36 reciprocated from a motor 40 by a crank 44, 45, into four parallel channels defined by walls 50 wherefrom they are deposited into the carriers 54 by semicylindrical shells 52 upon simultaneous rotation thereof through 360 degrees. Container closure applying mechanism (Fig. 8). The closure caps, comprising sheet plastics shaped to a recessed end plug with an outwardly projecting end flange, are applied to each container end from four magazines at successive stations and each comprising a U-shaped channel member 114 partially closed at the open end by flanges 116 and having at the base a pair of hinged doors 118 resiliently closed by springs 120 and through which an end cap is displaced into a container 34 by a piston 110, the opposite end of the container 34 being urged against a centralizing dishshaped member 90, which is loaded by an adjustable tension spring 98 whereby it yields if a closure cap does not enter the container 34. The recessed nature of the closure facilitates engagement with a member 90 when a closure is applied to the opposite container end at a following station.