Patent GB-699260-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to an apparatus for unloading containers
IPC: B65B43/39
Filed: 1951-03-28
Abstract: 699,260. Unpacking-machines. BRUCE ENGINEERING CORPORATION. March 28, 1951 [April 3, 1950], No. 7176/51. Class 94(i) [Also in Group XXX] A machine for removing metal containers from cartons having side flaps and end flaps includes devices which operate on each carton as it is moved by a chain conveyer 12 to fold back the side and end flaps in succession, and a belt 108 which travels over the undersurface of a magnet 106, the charge of containers being held against the lower face of the belt 108 as the carton leaves the conveyer 12 so that the carton is free to fall on to a belt 120 and the containers being deposited on a delivery conveyer 116 as they move out of the magnetic field. The cartons are fed into the machine by a conveyer 26, each carton being retained by detents 27, 27A until it is tilted by one of a series of pushers 28 on the conveyer 12 and fed on the conveyer by friction rollers 11A, 11B. The pusher slides under the carton and engages the rear face of the preceding carton to force it past spring detents 32. This arrangement ensures an equal spacing between cartons on the conveyer. Prior to the folding back of the slide flaps, the carton is squeezed between rollers 34, 34A, mounted on cam-operated rocker arms, to spring the side flaps upwardly, the cams being driven from one of the sprocket shafts of the conveyer so the inward movement of the rollers is synchronized with the movement of the carton and the rollers engage the carton between the central rows of containers. The mechanism operating the rollers includes a safety release device which prevents damage if the rollers engage the carton in line with a row of containers. The side flaps are folded back by a pair of stationary ploughs 54, 54A and are retained in the downwardly-folded position by the sides 56A, 56B, Fig. 4, of a channel member 56. The circuit of the electric motor 15 driving the machine includes a contact switch 59 mounted on the member 56 and two similar switches 58, 58A on the ploughs, the connections being such that the machine is stopped unless both or neither of the switches 58, 58A are engaged by the flaps. The mechanism for folding back the end flaps comprises a pair of endless chains 64, 66. Figs. 2, 4 and 5 driven intermittently from one of the sprocket shafts of the conveyer 12 at a faster speed and carrying rotatable shafts 62 and 63 on which are mounted pairs of fingers 82, 82A and 83, 83A respectively. The orientation of the fingers is determined by stationary cams 88 and 89 which engage dogs 84 and 85 on the shafts. When the shaft 63 is on the lower run of the chains and travelling forwardly, the dog 85 strikes the inclined leading end of the cam 88 and the fingers 63, 63A are swung forwardly to engage under and fold back the leading end flap 102A until it engages under the belt 108. As the shaft 63 moves away around the chain sprocket 67, the shaft 62 moves downwardly around the sprocket 68 and the dog 84 engages the top of the cam 89 to swing the fingers 82, 82A into line with the chains so that they may pass over the flap 102B. When the dog 84 rides down the inclined end 89A of the cam, thus allowing the finger to swing rearwardly, the motion of the chains is temporarily arrested so that the fingers engage under and fold back the flap 102B, Fig. 7 (not shown).