Patent GB-1056671-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automatic packing methods and apparatus
Inventor: INC FRANKLIN JOHN THURSTON
IPC: B65B5/10
Filed: 1964-02-24
Abstract: 1,056,671. Packaging-machines. U.S. INDUSTRIES Inc. Feb. 24, 1964, No. 7602/64. Headings B8A, B8C and B8H. In a packaging machine, particularly for placing chocolates in individual corrugated cups and transferring the filled cups to a box, the cups are first placed in a row on an indexing table at spacings greater than those required in the box and with their mouths spread. The table then rotates to a second indexing station at which chocolates are placed in the cups, the table is further rotated to a third position during which rotation, the row length and width is reduced to that required in the box. At this station the row of cupped chocolates is removed from the table and packed in the box which contains spacers to extend between the rows. The cups, chocolates and filled cups may be moved in groups by pneumatic pick-up devices carried on arms oscillated between pick-up and discharge positions by transfer mechanism as described in Specification 1,040,145. General arrangement.-The cups are delivered from a standard vibratory hopper down inclined shoots 45 in stacks to the transfer mechanism 46A. The arm 46H carries eight pick-up heads, each of which engages a cap. The arm is then moved through an arcuate path to deliver the cups at station A to one of four assembly areas 50A-50D, delineated by walls 60A-60D, 62A<SP>1</SP>-62D<SP>1</SP> on a table 35 which indexes through 90 degrees movements. As they are deposited, so they are spread by the pick-up devices. The row of cups is then indexed to a filling station B. At station B the chocolates are delivered via inclined shoots 55 from vibratory feeders 56 which may be as described in the U.S.A. Specification 3,114,448 where a transfer mechanism 46B picks up a row of them and places them into the caps. The row is contained between the walls 60A-60D, 60A<SP>1</SP>-60D<SP>1</SP> on the table and during indexing through station C to station D the walls and a pusher 62A<SP>1</SP>-62D<SP>1</SP> moving radially between them contract the row to packaging size and then open out again to permit its removal by a transfer mechanism 46D to a box, retained by stops 37. The apparatus deposits one row only in the box which is fed on a belt 31 past other identical machines to complete the filling. Partition strips 33 are spread by resilient fingers 40, 41 prior to placing each row. The entire operation is dependent on the presence of a box at the filling position, sensor means 38, 38A operated by the box initiate filling, indexing and transfer operations. Spreader and pick-up devices, Figs. 4, 7 (not shown) and Fig. 3.-The devices for picking up the paper cups consist of a housing 70 and support and spreader element 73, in which housing a plunger 76, having a bore 77 reciprocates, being restrained by the engagement of a lip 85, on the plunger with 0-ring 84. A 360 degrees slit, the width of which is determined by the length of a spacer 91, is defined by the adjacent surfaces of 76 and an end cap 86. Compressed air flows downwardly through the housing and bore 77, and upwardly through the slit 90 producing a reduced pressure which causes the cup to collapse inwards and separate from the stack, which allows it to be lifted. When the heads descend to press the cups against the table 35, the core is pushed up into the housing 70, thus cutting off the flow of air through the slot 90. Simultaneously, the caps are expanded out by the under surface of the member 72. The air supply is then cut off and the heads raised. In a second embodiment of the core, Fig. 4, an end cap 86 is supported from the top of core 76<SP>1 </SP>by a screw 78<SP>1</SP>. The compressed air is supplied through ducts surrounding the screw slit aperture 90<SP>1</SP>. The pick-up heads for the chocolates and filled cups are similar and differ only in that the central core 76A, Fig. 7, is telescopically connected to a duct 101 entering its bore, there being no housing 70, and has a sleeve 110 connected about it by screws 111. The compressed air, via slit 90 blows up between the sleeve 110 and the core, producing reduced pressure at the mouth opening 112, and allowing the chocolates or filled cups to be lifted. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the core may be mounted in a fixed position adjacent the transfer arm and the sleeve 110 may be extended to the movable head with a flexible hose and rubber tube which functions as a suction pick-up. Indexing table, Figs. 9, 10 (not shown) and Fig. 1.-Just prior to the arrival of an assembly area at position A, a vacuum line is connected to holes 187 in the floor of the area at the station to hold the cups in position, and disconnected immediately after the area leaves position B. Cam means 140, 160 and toggle links 143 move the walls towards each other. A single compacting ram 170 (62A<SP>1</SP>-62D<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 1) is moved radially outwards by cam means to reduce the length of the row. The row of cupped chocolates is thus compressed to fit into the box 32. Spacer spreader mechanism (Fig. 12, 13, not shown).-The spreaders 40, 41 are mounted on shafts 190, 191 supported in vertical elevators 192, 192<SP>1</SP> which are reciprocated on rods 193 by a pneumatic actuator 42. The spreaders are spring loaded to a normal spaced vertical position. When actuator 42 is energized the spreader assembly is driven downwardly and cam followers 225, 225<SP>1</SP> on shafts 190, 191 engage cams 226, 226<SP>1</SP> to cause spreaders 40, 41 to swing inwardly. On further downward motion the cam followers over-travel the cams and the separators are sprung apart forcing one spacer upright. After the upwards withdrawal of the spreader mechanism the pick-up heads of transfer arm 46H<SP>11</SP> are removed from the box. Positive sensing microswitches 230, 231, Fig. 14, actuated by elevator 192, assist in controlling the sequence of operations.