Patent GB-1220690-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for forming packages
IPC: B65B61/20
Filed: 1968-03-15
Abstract: 1,220,690. Wrap-round bottle &c. packages; endless conveyers; feeding sheets. CONTINENTAL CAN CO. Inc. 15 March, 1968 [17 March, 1967], No. 12609/68. Headings B8A, B8C and B8R. Apparatus for packaging groups of articles, e.g. bottles, in wrap-round blanks includes tightening means, on opposite sides of the path of the articles and applied blank through the machine, for engaging apertures in the closure flaps to tighten the blank about the articles before securing the flaps the apertures being ones through which part of the contents protrudes. The apparatus operates continuously and also applies separate package end closures, and bottle neck engaging inserts which are sited beneath the top wall of the package. General arrangement (Figs. 1A, 1B, 3,11,35).- Bottles are fed in in two parallel rows by conveyer chains and are divided into groups by dogs 58 on chains on either side of them. An insert element P, Fig. 3, is placed on the necks of each group by mechanisms 120 and wrapper blanks B, Fig. 11, are fed on to a conveyer running above the groups. The blank sides are ploughed down and eventually they descend on to the groups and are secured about them, all by means 25, Fig. 1A. Each group is then turned by a rotating gripper turret 400 so that its open ends are presented to either side of the path of movement and mechanisms 500 insert end closures E, Fig. 35. The packages are again turned 90 degrees by conveyer chains of differing speeds and discharged from the machine. Applying inserts and wrappers (Figs. 1A, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 18).-The inserts P are drawn off the base of a stack 77 by suction cups 83 on an arm 81 and picked up by lugs 132, Fig. 2, on a chain 87. A knurled roller 145 directs the leading edges on to a plate 141 from which the inserts are placed one between the two rows of each group of six bottles, the necks of the latter fitting into slots S, Fig. 3. The wrapper blanks B are fed by cups 212, 213 on arms 210, Figs. 9, 11 on to chains 226, 227, the blank leading edge being deflected by a reciprocable roller 256 towards the bight of rollers 236, 237 and the trailing edge picked up by lugs 235 on the chains. Rotatable folders 278 fold down each blank's side panels 174, 176 and guide rails 280, Fig. 1A, following the conveyer, lead the blank downwards to seat on a bottle group. Lugs 293 on chains 291, 292, Fig. 13, to each side of the path of movement engage the depending blank sides to progress it with the bottles, and tightening elements 314 on further chains 310, 313 close in from opposite sides. Each element 314 includes a projecting finger 315, see also Fig. 18, which initially engages apertures 178 in the blank sides, Fig. 11, the aperture edges 181-184 being shaped to enable these fingers to align misplaced blanks to facilitate later engagement of tongues 188 and slots 186. The fingers pass beneath the bottles to assist in supporting them during the tightening process. Plough plates 330, 331, Fig. 13, fold the bottom closure flaps into overlapping relationship and the main portions of the elements 314 engage edges 183, 184 of the apertures to draw the blanks tight. Means, not detailed, but which may be as in U.S. Specification 2,986,857, folds up the tongues 188 into the slots, the tongues being forced one between each pair of bottles and thus further tightening-up the package. Package reorientation (Figs. 1B, 22).-The packages are advanced by a belt 360 and spaced by dogs 402 on a chain 401 which restrain them by engaging their leading ends. Depending from a rotating turret 425 are suction cups 453 and co-operating pins 455. Each cup and pin engage a package P<SP>1</SP> side face to rotate it through 90 degrees for forwarding by lugs on chains 475, 476. End closure insertion (Figs. 1B, 34, 35, 37, 44).-End closures E, stored flat in magazines on opposite sides of the path are each drawn off the base of the stack by suction cups on arms 535, 536 between plates 532, 533 which fold up side flaps 508, 510, Figs. 34, 35, 37. The arms 535, 536 halt at about 45 degrees to the horizontal and cups on a further arm 570 grip the closure and feed it between guide plates 601, 602 into the adjacent package end. The arm 570 also carries a bar 609 having projections at its ends which ensure that the lower portion of the closure is pushed well home. The arm 570 (one on each side of the path) is mounted for reciprocating movement parallel to the path so that the closure may be inserted in the moving package. A further arm 590 duplicates the movements of the arm 570 and carries on an extension 614, a projection 613 which assists in pushing the closure home. Arm 590 also carries elements 635, 636 which bend over the upper flap 507 of the closure in the preceding package, Figs. 37, 44 and pins 630, 631 which ensure that tongues 513, 514 on the flaps 508, 510 interlock with the apertures 178 adjacent the package ends. Finally, a pin 673 on a lever 672 swings down to press in the marginal portions at the end of each top panel, Fig. 44. Reorientation and discharge (Fig. 1B).-The completed packages pass on to a pair of chains 690 (691), see also Fig. 33 (not shown) travelling at different speeds. The packages are thus swung through 90 degrees against a rail 715 and are fed out of the machine.