Patent Publication Number: US-5157896-A

Title: Modularly constructed automatic packaging machine

Description:
This invention relates to automatic packaging machines and more particularly to automatically controlled and modularly constructed packaging machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automatic packaging machines are used for many purposes, for example, inserting almost anything, such as candy, food, small parts, pharmaceuticals, e.g. pills, capsules, etc., in measured amounts into a first container and thence into external display containers, e.g. boxes, bags, etc.,tamper-proof or otherwise. These display containers may also include instruction or cautionary material concerning the use of the contents which must be inserted appropriately into the display container. 
     There is a great amount of prior art concerning the measurement of specific quantities of goods for packaging, their insertion into packages, and the final sealing or glueing before distribution to the retailer. While many of the dispensing mechanisms rely on gravitational forces to move the product, there is a great need to positively control the movement of the product so that the equipment can move in a substantially continuous manner, rather than in a time consuming intermittent fashion. 
     To further the teachings of my own prior art, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,556, issued Jan. 8, 1991, for a MODULARLY CONSTRUCTED AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE, a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 164,010 filed Mar. 4, 1988 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,566, the usage of modular construction permits a great number of advantages, as spelled in those patents, but the necessity of positive control over a semirigid container, such as a bottle, during its transfer between modules requires additional means mounted on a universal type of module which will be adjustable to various sizes within the design limits of the module. In this art the various control items, mounted in spaced relation on a continuous chain over an endless closed path, are collectively normally referred to as mandrels. 
     OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel mandrel unit that can be made a part of such a modular construction and which is capable of carrying product containers from one location to another and further provides means for positive discharge of such product container from the mandrel unit. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide means for spring loaded gripping of the packaged product at one end of a mandrel while means are provided at the other end for positive ejection of such packaged product at a predetermined location. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide suitable cam means for opening the gripping means to their maximum extent, insertion of the product into the gripping means, release from the cam control and activation of the spring-loaded or cam operated gripping of the product for control in movement from one location to the next. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a suitable cam means for moving a spring-loaded mandrel coaxially into the space between the gripping means to positively eject the product. 
     Another object is to provide a method for providing an instruction leaflet in freely disposed draped relation to an open-ended box for insertion by being telescoped into the box by the bottle container being introduced into the box and serving as a pusher or mandrel with the leaflet embracing the bottle. 
     Still another object is to provide a plurality of timed conveyors that are horizontally disposed in predetermined array and with a portion thereof in overlying synchronized relation, and a vertically disposed conveyor having substantial width, adequate to accept and maintain a bottle in an upright position in either normal or inverted relation. This conveyor includes a plurality of abutment means that are spaced a predetermined distance that corresponds to the spacing of the next type of mandrel to which the product is to be transferred. 
     Additional objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of various elements or modules of a packaging machine embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is a further enlarged perspective view of the module of the present invention that incorporates the improved gripping mandrel contemplated by the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved combined gripping and ejecting mandrel of the type contemplated by the present invention, 
     FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 4 as taken along line 4A--4A, 
     FIG. 4B is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 4 as taken along line 4B--4B, and 
     FIG. 4C is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 4 as taken along line 4C--4C. 
    
    
     DETAILED SPECIFICATION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts are designated by similar numerals, the machine 10 contemplated by the present invention and included in this primary embodiment includes a plurality of modular timed synchronized conveyor units 12, 14 and 16. It should be pointed out that unit 12, although being a closed end elongated loop, is schematically illustrated by only the formed boxes that would normally follow one leg of the conveyor, for purposes of clarity in illustration. Such a packaging machine would also include the normal delivery means for box blanks, forming dies for such boxes, delivery means for previously filled rigid containers, e.g. bottles or the like, reject collection receptacles 18, and delivery units 20 for instruction or warning materials to be installed in the boxes along with the rigid containers. 
     The lower conveyor 12, as is normal, will include mandrel means for accepting box blanks or preassembled open-end boxes in spaced relation. As the boxes 13 progress in spaced synchronized fashion, controlled by suitable programmable electronic means, not shown, the delivery unit 20 will have its suction cups 22 pick up a substantially flexible information leaflet, flyer, card, warning, etc.,designated 24, from the stacking supply tray 24 and place the flyer in freely disposed overlying draped relation to each of the boxes 13. In the prior art, it normally is considered necessary to hold the indicia means by fixed means during the insertion into the box. 
     In the mean time, on the other side of the packaging machine 10, a supply 30 of prefilled containers, i.e. bottles 31, are introduced to the conveyor 16. The conveyor 16 includes a plurality of spaced protuberances or fences 34 having a predetermined interval. In this embodiment the fences 34 are spaced a substantial distance greater than the diameter of bottles 31. However, the introduction of the bottles 31 from supply 30 results in the bottles all resting against and driven by the fences 34 thereby insuring the accurate positioning and spacing of bottles 31 for synchronous transfer to the next conveyor 14, as will be explained hereinafter. It should be noted that conveyor 16 is shown being displaced laterally from conveyor 14 to a greater degree than is normal, for purpose of clarity in illustration. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 through 4C, an improved mandrel 40 includes an elongated vertically disposed rigid base 42 having a centrally disposed elongated slot 44. An upper rigid flange 46 is recessed 48 along one edge to accept base 42 and fastened thereto by appropriate fastener means 50, such as screws. At the opposite, or lower end as viewed in the drawings, there is a second cantilever flange 54. Flanges 46 and 54 are both recessed by appropriate bores 56 to accept a pair of spaced rigid slide rods 58 that accommodate and guide slide 60, which may if desired include bearings 62 for friction reduction. A tension spring 64 is retained at opposite ends by capscrew 66 threaded into flange 46 at the top end and by capscrew 67 threaded into the slide 60 near its lower end. (This arrangement of the spring 64 is not shown in FIGS. 4A-4C for purposes of clarity in illustration.). Slide 60, at its lower end, carries a forwardly extending rigid arm 68 with a vertical bore 70 adjacent its end adapted to accept an ejector rod 72 having an enlarged pusher head 74 at its free end and a retaining adjustment set screw 76 extending transverse to bore 70 for adjusting the axial position of head 74. 
     At the lower end of base 42 on lateral side of base flange 54 there is positioned a rigid fixed arm 80, as by screws 82. On the opposite side of base flange 54 there is positioned a spring loaded movable arm 84 having a tapered partial upper flange 88 and a similar partial lower flange 86 that embrace the base flange 54 and carry a pivot pin 90 which the free end of arm 84 to move relative to the fixed arm 80. The lower flange 86 includes a rearward projecting extension 92 having an upwardly extending axle 93 adapted to carry cam follower 94. An adjustable backstop 96 extends from rigid arm 80 into the throat of the gripping means and is adjustable as by the slots 98 and set screws 100. 
     Positioning of slide 60 and pusher head 74 in the operation of the machine is accomplished by a rearward extending axle 102 projecting from slide 60 through the elongated slot 44 and presenting another cam follower 104, whose function is described hereinbelow. 
     Conveyor 14 is generally comprised of a closed endless path defined by the chain-drive means 110 sandwiched between a pair of rigid plate-like members 112 and 114 and, which among other things, serve as the support for the axle bearings 116 supporting the shaft of the sprocket members engaged with the chain-drive 110. A plurality of improved mandrels 40 are spaced along and fastened to the chain-drive means 110, as is well known in the art, and provide the gripping means to open outwardly therefrom. As can be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper plate-like member 114 carries cam means, generally designated 120 and 122, which are adapted to engage the upper cam follower 104; while the lower plate-like member 112 carries cam means (not shown) which are adapted to engage lower cam follower 94 which will activate and move the moveable arm 84 for gripping the bottles 31. 
     As can be best seen in FIG. 3, the conveyor 14 preferably, in this embodiment, moves in a clockwise direction through a series of stations during the transfer of the bottles 31 from the conveyor 16 to the conveyor 14. These hypothetical stations, the conveyor normally moves at a constant speed and does not pause at each station, have been designated by the arrows and letters, A-F. At station A, it will be noted that the arms 80 and 84 are generally parallel. At station B the moveable arm 84 has opened or moved to the left to increase the size of its throat. The enlarged throat is continued by cam action in station C where the bottle 31 is moved by pusher ar 124 and block 125 activated by the eccentric crank 126 moved in synchronized fashion with the conveyor 16 in the direction of the enlarged arrow 128. (It will be appreciated that a planar surface is provided, although not shown, between conveyors 16 and 14 for supporting the bottles 31 during this transfer). At stations D, E, and F the moveable arm 84 is brought into engagement with the bottle 31 until at station F the bottle is firmly gripped between the fixed arm 80 and the moveable arm 84. For clarity in illustration, mandrels 40 have been omitted at the rounded ends, for example, where the numerals 110 and 112 are located in FIG. 3. 
     On top of the rigid plate-like member 114 there are locate cam means 120 and 122. As the mandrels 40 move in a clockwise direction around the chain-drive 110, the cam follower 104 of each mandrel 40 is brought into engagement with an angularly disposed surface 130 which causes the slide 60 to be moved downward with its integral pusher head 74 until it reaches the flat or dwell surface 132. Similarly, cam means carried by the lower plate 112 will engage cam follower 94 and cause the moveable arm 84 to open the throat between arms 80 and 84 and permit the pusher head 74 to engage the bottle 31 and force it against the leaflet 24 and telescope both the leaflet 24 and bottle 31 into embracing relationship within the box 13 (FIG. 2). Sometimes, laws, rules, or regulations, requires the leaflets to be folded over the tops of the bottles. If so, the bottles are loaded upside down in an inverted position onto conveyor 16. Then, the top of the bottle is pushed downwardly against leaflet 24. As the conveyor continues on its journey the cam follower 104 will ride up surface 134 with assistance from the upwardly inclined surface 136 and dwell flat 138 on cam 122 to its fully retracted position with a strong assist from the tension spring 64 to retain the pusher head 74 in fully retracted position. 
     Both cam 120 and cam 122 are supported by adjustable means 140 and 142, respectively, to permit this type of modular conveyor to be adjusted to compensate for varying sizes of bottles to be assembled with boxes and indicia means. 
     This invention is unique in that the conveyor 16 can accept a multiplicity of bottle sizes and with the bottles always perfectly positioned for transfer to conveyor 14 since the abutment fences 34 are spaced apart the distance between adjacent fixed arms 80 on adjacent mandrels 40. Therefore, adjustments for size changes, within the limits of the throat produced by the fixed 80 and moveable 84 arms of mandrel 40 and the spacing of abutment fences 34, are minimal to non-existent and hence equipment conversions between packaging runs of different size bottles is greatly reduced, resulting in great cost savings. 
     The wide spacing of the abutment fences 34 permits a freer movement of the bottles 31 from the supply 30. The use of the fence 34 as a reference point and driver in the movement of the bottles permits faster loading operation of the bottles 31 onto conveyor 16 whether they are in the normal or inverted position. The tapered throat formed between the flexed open adjustable arm 84 and the fixed arm 80 also permits a wider latitude in the transfer operation by the eccentric crank 126 and pusher arm 124 with its forward wall 125. 
     The method of draping the leaflet 24 over the open mouth of the box 13 increases the speed of operation. Previously, the leaflet was introduced when a box was disposed with the open end on its side and, hence, the leaflet had to be held by grippers in a vertical array. This took more time and the present method of draping the leaflet freely reduces both the time and cost of the leaflet insertion. 
     The transfer of the bottles 31 by the mandrel 40 is another increase in precision and a positive step in quality control and accuracy in operation. When the bottles are in the inverted position they will cause the telescoped draped leaflet to be brought into embracing relationship around the mouth of the bottle, a requirement of the FDA, for informing the ultimate user of the proper dosage and any inherent dangers that might exist prior to usage of the pharmaceutical. 
     As is well known in the packaging equipment art, this equipment contemplates the use of a microprocessor for the control and synchronization of the multiple conveyors employed. There, additionally, are a plurality of sensors that feed data to the microprocessor concerning the presence or absence of leaflets, boxes, or bottles, at any particular station, with the microprocessor determining the necessity of skipping various mandrels due to the absence of one or more elements, or stopping the entire operation if the errors exceed a predetermined frequency. 
     Other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art and applicant desires to be limited only by the claims attached.