Patent GB-1084620-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to packaging machines
IPC: B65B43/48
Filed: 1966-07-15
Abstract: 1,084,620. Carton filling and closing machines; reciprocating conveyers. ANDERSON BROS. MFG. CO. July 15, 1966 [Aug. 23, 1965], No. 31953/66. Headings B8A and B8C. Cartons are advanced through a filling machine by main and auxiliary transfer mechanisms comprising reciprocating pusher elements, the auxiliary mechanism moving cartons to and from a downwardly opening filling nozzle and the main mechanism being in two sections moving in unison, one on each side of the auxiliary mechanism on the inlet and outlet sides of the machine respectively. The machine may package ice-cream. Collapsed tubular cartons C of the kind having upper and lower closure flaps, Figs. 30, 30a (not shown), are pulled from a magazine 12 by suction cups 65, projections 68 engaging the flaps on the trailing wall so that the carton is squared up as it leaves the stack, and is placed between rails 311, 32<SP>1</SP>. The lower trailing flap is folded up by an oscillating plate 83 which is also movable bodily in the carton advancing direction to support the carton as it is moved by the pusher dogs 56 of the main transfer mechanism inlet section 52. Other bottom flaps are folded up by means (15), Figs. 1-3 (not shown), as described in Specification 638,645 in which a fixed obstruction wipes down-the leading flap and the side flaps are ploughed in, with consequent engaging of tongue-and-slot elements, by a channel member having a triangular cut-out at its flap receiving end at which its section is semicircular. At the exit end, the section is that of a shallow flatbottomed channel. Transfer mechanisms. See also Figs. 10A-14 (not shown).-The dogs 56 are spring mounted on plates 55, 55<SP>1</SP> which reciprocate along the rails 31<SP>1</SP>, 32<SP>1</SP>. As the plates move back the dogs pass round either side of a carton and engage its trailing wall. This form of construction is common to both the transfer mechanisms. Further dogs 58 are mounted at the leading ends of the plates, the plates being cut so that these dogs may intercalate with dogs 102 on the intermediate mechanism and permit the latter to take over a carton from them. The dogs 102 are resiliently mounted on reciprocating plates 101 (101<SP>1</SP>) which also carry stops (104) to steady the advancing carton by engaging its leading wall and further spring dogs 103 for pushing a filled carton clear of the filling nozzle. The outlet section of the main mechanism is linked directly to the inlet section and carries three sets of dogs 111, 112, 113. Filling and closing.-The erected carton, after having been passed through the bottom closing mechanism by the inlet transfer dogs 56, 58, is drawn by the dogs 102 on to an elevator 175, the leading top closure flap having been folded outwards by an oscillating arm (88) to clear the mouth, see also Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6 (not shown). The elevator rises to telescope the carton over a filling nozzle (16) and during filling is lowered by the increasing weight until the nozzle has been cleared. The dogs 103 then feed the carton to the outlet section where it is taken over by the dogs 111. An arcuately oscillating folder 211 engages under and then folds down the trailing closure flap and the leading flap is folded down by a fixed rail (232), Figs. 20-27 (not shown), to overlap the trailing flap. The side flaps are folded in by means the same as that closing the bottom flaps. The machine is adjustable for variations of carton size. Among other things, the spacing of the rails 31<SP>1</SP>, 32<SP>1</SP> may be adjusted by means 34<SP>1</SP> ,  39.