Patent GB-1493917-A (GB)
Title: Packaging machines
IPC: B65B11/00
Filed: 1973-10-18
Abstract: 1493917 Packaging machine; cartons P E ELFORD 17 Jan 1975 [18 Oct 1973] 36469/73 Headings B8C and B8P A machine for forming a package comprising one or more articles in a carton comprises a first carton blank positioning arrangement C adjustable to suit carton blanks of different dimensions and serving to receive and locate a carton blank (Fig. 1), and the article or articles on the blank, the positioning arrangement including a downardly movable platform 63 for supporting the blank on the article or articles are arranged thereon and a pair of adjustable opposed members 67, 71 arranged on downward movement of the platform, to erect an opposed pair 19, 20 of wall portions of the blank, the member 71, being movable to allow the blank with the article or articles thereon to move from the platform to a second positioning arrangement D for erection of another pair 21, 22 of opposed wall portions of the blank. Feeding blanks.-Blanks are stored in a hopper 34 having an adjustable base 37 and are removed from the hopper 34 by a pivoted frame 39 having suction pads 38, and deposited on a frame 41. Each blank is nudged by a pneumatic unit 42 into the nip of a continuously driven roller-belt arrangement 43 which with the aid of guides 68, 69, causes the blank to be delivered on to the platform 63. The above blank feed arrangement is carried by a frame 31 adjustably mounted in the direction of arrow 32 on a fixed frame 30. Article supply and blank folding.-Articles are supplied in lines by conveyer 50 and a pusher arrangement 54 operates twice to form the desired article array on the blank. Platform 63 is carried by pnuematic pusher unit 61, and a plate 64 above the platform is carried by pneumatic pusher unit 62 which is operated to push the platform downwardly to effect erection of sides 19, 20 by members 67, 71. Member 67 is mounted on a pneumatic horizontal pusher unit 65 that is mounted on frame 30 so as to be adjustable along the machine, and member 71 is mounted on a pneumatic vertical pusher unit 70 which is fixed to a frame 81 of the positioning arrangement D, which frame 81 is adjustable along the machine. Thus units 65 and 70 can be positioned according to the width of a blank, and the platform 63 and members 67, 71 can be replaced by appropriately dimensioned units if the blank size is changed. With platform 63 in the lower position, unit 70 operates to lower member 71, and unit 65 operates to push the blank into position P 1  on the arrangement D. Platform 63 is formed as a hollow box with a slit 99 in its top surface (Fig. 6) so that after the blank has been pushed off, the platform may be raised to receive the next blank before member 67 is retracted by unit 65 retraction of member 67 occurring through the hollow platform. Guides 88 serve to bend tabs 24, 25 through 90 degrees, and sections 97, 98 of a plate 96, to which plate 67 is connected by a lost motion linkage, serve to push tabs 23, 26 through 90 degrees. In position P 1 , wall portion 20 is maintained vertical by abutment with the blank in position P 2 , and member 71 is raised by unit 70 to maintain wall portion 19 vertical. In position P 2 , four heads 85<SP>1</SP> apply adhesive to wall portions 21, 22, the heads 85<SP>1</SP> being adjustable both in the machine direction and at right angles thereto. In the case of large blanks, heads 85<SP>1</SP> may alternatively be arranged to apply the adhesive at position P 3 . In position P 3  plates 89 erect the wall portions 21, 22, the plates P 3  being adjustable in position along the machine and at right angles thereto. The packages then pass between pressure plates 92, 93 which are retracted slightly when the packages move. The completed packages are ejected by pusher unit 94 and are passed to a shrink wrapping machine. In a modification Fig. 4 (not shown), blanks are removed from the bottom of a vertical stack by a continuous conveyer, and the pusher unit 170 is adjustable along rails 174. The article conveyer 50 may have four lanes, and the pusher arrangement 54 may comprise a first pusher mounted on a second pusher. A pneumatic or photoelectric limit switch may detect the arrival of a blank on the platform 63. The package may be shrink wrapped by another machine (not described). Carton blanks.-The alternative blank shown in Fig. 2 which forms an octagonal tray comprises four portions 115, 116, 117, 118 which are erected by means, not shown, to form four corner walls, tabs 123, 124, 125, 126 being adhered to walls 121, 122. The blanks may be of paper, paperboard or plastics sheet.