Patent GB-1263301-A (GB)
Title: Article packaging or handling apparatus
Inventor: THURSTON FRANKLIN JOHN
IPC: B65B5/06
Filed: 1969-02-17
Abstract: 1,263,301. Packaging machines. KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP. 17 Feb., 1969, No. 8585/69. Heading B8C. Apparatus for placing one or more articles in predetermined positions on receivers includes a conveyer for feeding receivers along a path, means for feeding articles to a loading station adjacent the path, article transfer means for transferring articles from the loading station to a receiver, and driving means for driving the conveyer and transfer means in unison, the conveyer and transfer means being interlocked and driven by a single driving means. A machine which places candies in a box or tray includes a walking beam conveyer 20 feeding boxes or trays 22 step-by-step along a path, a number of loading stations spaced along the path to each of which candies are delivered from separate groups of shoots 36 supplied from vibratory trays 26 and bowls 28, transfer means 37 at each loading station to transfer the candies located at the lower ends of the shoots to a box or tray at that station, and means for driving the conveyer 20 and the transfer means in unison. Each tray 26 is fed with candies of one sort, and the shoots are adjustable in width and carry opposed pairs of frusto-conical rollers spaced therealong so that the candies 24 pass singly down the shoots by gravity. The transfer means at each loading station includes an upright arm 120, Fig. 10, which may be pivotally adjustable about its lower end, carrying a shaft 123 about which an arm 128 oscillates from the full line position of Fig. 10 adjacent the shoots to the broken line position adjacent the box to be filled. A transfer head 312 is rotatably supported at the free end of the arm 128 by a tube 131, Fig. 16, not shown, and includes a number of pick-up units 314, each of which is connected to a vacuum source to pick up a candy and is adjustable in three directions relative to the head. The vacuum is applied when the head is in its loading position and is cut off to release the candies when the head is above a box. For this purpose a valve in the vacuum supply line is operated in synchronism with the conveyer and transfer head drive. The walking beam conveyer includes a beam 54, Figs. 3 and 4, with longitudinally adjustable pusher members 48 spaced therealong for con-   veying boxes 22 along a stationary surface 40 below which the beam is longitudinally and vertically reciprocated. Vertical reciprocation is provided by a pair of longitudinally spaced vertically reciprocated yokes 58 carrying pairs of rollers 60 engaging within angle members 52 extending along the beam sides. The yokes are driven by an adjustable rotary cam 84, Fig. 4, which drives bell cranks 76, 80 connected to push rods 74, 82 attached at their opposite ends to crank arms 72, Fig. 5, which drive crank arms 64 acting on the lower ends of the yokes. Horizontal reciprocation of the beam is effected by a lever 94 pivoted at 96 and oscillated to and fro by a crank 90 carrying a radially adjustable stud with a roller engaging a slot 98 in the lever; the upper end of the lever carries a roller 105 which engages a slotted block 103 fixed to the beam. Both drives are effected by a motor 110 acting through a variable speed drive unit 106 and a speed reducing unit 77; the cam is driven from the unit 77 by a chain 75. Rotation of the cam-shaft 86 produces oscillations of a shaft 112 which drives a shaft 114 such that the latter oscillates through one cycle of back and forth movement through an angle of about 180 degrees in synchronism with the beam movement. Such shaft drives the transfer means 37 via chain and sprocket drives, and also operates the vacuum supply valves associated with the transfer heads. Guide rails 46, Fig. 3, for the conveyed boxes are adjustable laterally of the beam. Each vibratory tray 26 and bowl 28 is driven by a shaker motor 196, Fig. 13, drivingly connected to the bowl via bowl clamping plates 224, 226 whereby the bowl is adjustable about a vertical axis. The tray is carried by supports 204, 206, 208, 210 and leaf springs 212, 216 which ensure its reciprocation in its longitudinal direction. The tray reciprocation is produced from the bowl oscillation by means of a block 230 on the upper clamping plate 224 carrying an adjustable stud 234 which abuts the edge of a plate 238 pivoted at 236 and abutting the end of a screw 240 secured to the depending part 214 of the tray support 210. The upper surface of the bowl includes a ramp 218 and an inclined surface 220 leading to a gate receiving the entrance end of a shoot. Guides 250, 251 act to deflect incorrectly orientated candies as they approach the gate and deflect them from the ramp down the inclined surface. Each shoot has a support 164, Fig. 10, extending parallel to it, the lower end of the support being adjustably received on a slotted plate 161 extending from the side of the beam conveyer. When a predetermined number of candies are contained on the shoot a switch 192 is retained closed for a sufficient period to operate an electrical circuit which cuts off the supply to the shaker motor.