Patent GB-723018-A (GB)
IPC: B65B5/06
Abstract: 723,018. Packaging-machines. KELLOGG CO. Jan. 30, 1952, No. 2565/52. Class 94 (1). [Also in Group XXX] In a machine for packaging articles, e.g. shredded wheat biscuits, in a carton or box, the biscuits are fed over driven rollers 6, Figs. 4 and 6, on to a series of parallel endless belts 16 arranged in five groups of three, the groups. being separated by partitions 24 and the belts in each group by intermediate partitions 27. The belts, partitions and adjustable cover strips 39 define passageways through which the biscuits are moved end-to-end on to a platform 37 from which they are discharged in transverse rows under the control of gates 54 carried by five rocking shafts 50 coupled by linkage to five solenoids 46 which are periodically energized to raise the the gates against the action of springs 56. A finger 63 controlling a micro-switch 61 projects through a slot in the cover strip 39 above each belt into engagement with the biscuits, the switches being connected in series and the arrangement being such that if one of the switches is allowed to open due to a gap in the line of biscuits on one of the belts, the solenoids 46 and other parts of the machine are rendered inoperative. The motor driving the belts continues to operate, however, so as to close the gap. The biscuits pass from the platform 37 on to a second series of belts 64 which feed them in five groups of three on to a platform 67 which defines with the partitions five packaging stations 69-73, Fig. 7. A pair of transverse endless chain conveyers 102, 103, Figs. 7 and 8, passing over sprockets 100, 101, carry article receivers 113 and are driven intermittently through pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by a hydraulic cylinder to position each receiver successively in alignment with the five packaging stations. The receivers are fitted with slidable bottoms 118 carrying rollers 122 engaging a fixed cam groove 117. The groups of biscuits are moved into the receivers by reciprocating pushers 93 operated through locking shafts and linkage by a hydraulic cylinder 82, one group being fed at each station, as shown in Fig. 7, and the bottom of each receiver being lowered an appropriate amount during the movements of the conveyers due to the rollers 122 engaging an inclined portion of the groove 117. The pushers are carried by parallelogram linkages 87-91 so that they are raised clear of the oncoming biscuits on the return stroke. A corrugated cardboard separator is fed into each receiver after each group of biscuits by mechanism comprising five corrugated feeding rollers 134 spaced along a transverse shaft 132 which is rotated intermittently through pawl and ratchet gearing operated by a hydraulic cylinder 152 to cause the rollers to feed corrugated cardboard strips 156 over a fixed shear plate 125. Blades 179 are carried by a frame 169 slidable vertically on guide rods 167 under the action of a hydraulic cylinder 174 and co-operate with the plate 125 to cut off the required lengths of strip which are deposited in the receivers by spring fingers 183 carried by the frame, the separators being temporarily supported by spring fingers 94 on the pushers 93. The cylinders 82, 152 and 174 and the cylinder driving the chain conveyers operate in synchronism under the control of cam-actuated valves. On leaving station. 73, the stack of biscuits and separators in each receiver is aligned with the wall 116 of the receiver by a jigging plate 291 operated through linkage by a solenoid 292, and an inverted carton 282 is positioned over the receiver. When the receiver and carton reach the lower run of the conveyers the bottom 118 is moved downwardly by a further inclined portion of the groove 117 to slide the filled carton off the receiver on to a delivery belt 284, lateral displacement of the carton being prevented by guide rails 289, 290. Specifications 716,210, [Group XXX], and 716,569 are referred to.