Patent GB-739373-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for packing articles into containers
IPC: B65B5/06
Filed: 1951-04-28
Abstract: 739,373. Packaging-machines. BARRACLOUGH, Ltd., R. W., and BARRACLOUGH, R. W. April 24, 1952 [April 28, 1951], No. 10008/51. Class 94 (1). [Also in Group XXX] A packaging machine comprises means for feeding square-angled articles and arranging them in adjacent rows constituting a horizontal layer, means for transferring successive layers bodily to a position above a stacking platform and depositing them on the platform to form a block thereon and means for transferring the block bodily into a container. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the articles 10 are fed by a conveyer 20 on to a fized platform 23, and when the leading article engages a release device 21, a ram 22 is operated through linkage by a cam 142 on a shaft 143 driven by a motor 144 to move the articles along the platform in rows of two so that they are assembled to form a layer. After three strokes of the ram, a one revolution clutch is tripped to couple a driven shaft 33 to a cam 32, Fig. 3 (not shown), and a crank 148, Fig. 4, whereby a linkage 130-136 is operated to raise an abutment member 137 and an arm 240 carrying a quadrant gear 242 is rocked to cause rotation of a shaft 244 geared to a shaft 79 which drives an endless chain 75 coupled to a slidable platform 70 mounted on rollers beneath the platform 23. The operation of the linkage 130-136 raises a plate 276 carried by the arm 136 and the raising of the abutment member allows a pivoted plate 270 carried by the platform 70 to swing to a vertical position; whereby as the platform moves to the left the layer of articles is moved off the fixed platform 23 on to the platform 70 and carried thereby into position above a stacking platform 24 formed by spaced vertical slats 250 mounted on a vertically movable frame 248. As the platform and abutment member return to their original positions, the plate 270 is swung upwardly and the plate 276 descends to prevent the return of the articles so that they are deposited on the platform 24. The rotation of the cam 32 also trips a one revolution clutch to couple a driven shaft through gearing to a threaded shaft 59 engaging a spring-loaded nut 247 carried by the frame 248, whereby the platform 24 is lowered by a distance corresponding to the height of the articles after the deposition of the layer. The platform is thus lowered in steps as the layers are deposited, and when it reaches its lowest position the frame 248 engages a pin 546 which operates through linkage 543, 544 to trip a one revolution clutch 441 which couples a driven shaft 442 to a cam 349 and arm 440. The latter has a pin and slot connection with a lever 448 which operates a pusher comprising spaced slats 251, movable between the slats 250, to move the stack of articles through a guide 25 into the box. The cam 349 then operates through linkage 346, 345 to rock a lever 340 which engages a pin 249 to withdraw the nut 247 from the shaft 59, whereby the platform 24 is free to return to its upper position under the action of weights (not shown). The arm is retained in its operative position by a latch 342 until the latter is released by a pin 343 when the platform reaches its upper position and the nut is re-engaged with the shaft by spring action. The box is held in position against the lips of the guide 25 by plates 646 carried by arms 642 which are pivoted to bellcrank levers 640, 641 pivoted on a spindle 548 and are coupled by linkage to bolts 740 urged by springs into engagement with notches in bosses 549 on the spindle. The plate is moved to the position shown by a foot-operated lever 644 connected by links 643 to the bell-crank levers. When the articles are moved into the box, the pressure exerted on the plates 646 withdraws the bolts from the notches and the levers 640 swing downwardly to deposit the filled box on a roller delivery conveyer which is formed with gaps for the reception of the levers and arms 642. The depression of the lever 644 to position a box closes a switch A which is in parallel with a second switch B in the circuit of the motor 144, the latter switch being opened by a pin 649 on the frame 248 when the platform 24 reaches its lowest position. Thus, if a box is not positioned for reception of the articles, the opening of the switch B stops the motor 144 and the articles are not transferred from the platform 24. The conveyer 20 may be operated intermittently and may be given a small reverse movement after each forward step to relieve the pressure on the articles fed to the platform 23. The mechanism controlling the operation of the platform 70 is adjustable to vary the number of rows of articles fed to the platform 24 at each operation, and the distance through which the latter is lowered at each step may be varied to suit the height of the articles by altering the ratio of the gearing driving the shaft 59.