Article packaging machine

• US 5,355,657 A
• Filed: 03/08/1993
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbert E. Veniard, Pierre Chevalier
• Original Assignee: Gilbert E. Veniard, Pierre Chevalier
• Inventors: Chevalier, Pierre, Veniard, Gilbert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Linda B.
• Application Number:
  US08/027,845
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 53/206, 53/207, 53/208, 53/209, 53/210, 53/220, 53/376.2, 53/376.3, 53/377.4, 53/378.3, 53/383.1, 53/387.2, 53/461, 53/462
• US Class Current: 53/209
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/004 in blanks, e.g. sheets precut and creased for folding
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/22 and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/14 Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for packing articles of different sizes which is accordingly intended to use containers that vary in their dimensions and particularly in height.

It is characterized in that it includes a working plane 20 and a reference plane 22 that are substantially perpendicular to one another, and an ascending ramp 24-105-106 extending from one to the other, movable devices 23, 23a kinematically connected to a motor 45, guides located on the path that the closure panels 6 must follow in the course of the displacement of container-article sets 1, at least one pressure element 27-54 having a smooth active base 29, mounted to be movable perpendicular to the working plane 20 and elastically urged toward it, at least one pressure element 30-60 having a smooth active face 34, mounted to be movable perpendicular to the reference plane 22 and elastically urged toward it, and means 70 to 72 intended for the fixation of panels 6 of containers 1 equipped with their contents A.

Claims

1. Apparatus for packaging an article in a container formed from a plate of pliable material having a flap portion, a base portion and a closure panel disposed in integral, coplanar relation, said apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal working surface;

a conveyor having a surface movable in a direction alongside said working surface and disposed in substantial coplanar relation therewith, said conveyor comprising a side proximal to said working surface and a side opposite said working surface;

a guiding obstruction upstanding from the side of said conveyor opposite from said working surface and extending parallel to said conveyor, said guiding obstruction presenting a guide surface on its side proximal to said conveyor along which said conveyor moves in parallel relation thereto and having a first portion on said proximal side free for reception from said working surface of said plate carrying an article thereon retained between said base portion and said flap portion and moved against said first portion transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said conveyor;

means on said guiding obstruction to permit extension of said closure panel to the side of said guiding obstruction distal from said conveyor when an article disposed on said base portion is moved onto said conveyor into engagement with the proximal side of said guiding obstruction; and

forming means disposed on said distal side of said guiding obstruction for engaging said closure panel and displacing said closure panel from the plane of said base portion to a position substantially perpendicular thereto as said plate and article are moved along said guiding obstruction by said conveyor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for urging said plate with the article disposed thereon against the proximal side of said guiding obstruction as said plate and article are moved beyond said guiding obstruction first portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said urging means engages the flap portion of said plate to press it in tight folded relation across the exposed surface of said article on said base portion, and means for biasing said urging means for forcing said plate and article into engagement with the proximal side of said guiding obstruction.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including a scoring tool for producing a score line on said plate intermediate said base portion and said closure panel as said plate and article are moved by said conveyor along said guiding obstruction, said score line being produced at positions varying in response to changes in the size of the article borne by said plate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said scoring tool is mounted on said guiding obstruction with its scoring edge substantially flush with said proximal surface of said guiding obstruction.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said scoring tool is a circular blade rotatably mounted on said guiding obstruction.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said forming means includes ramp means having a generally curvilinearly formed surface operative to engage said closure panel on the distal side of said guiding obstruction and to displace said closure panel from the plane of said base portion.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said forming means is positioned downstream, in the conveyor moving sense, from said scoring tool and includes ramp means having a generally curvilinearly formed surface operative to engage said closure panel and to fold it to a position substantially perpendicular with respect to said base portion.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3 including a vertically movable pressure element operative to engage said flap portion folded across said article and to press it downwardly to tightly enclose said article.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including a scoring tool mounted on said pressure element and operative to score said perpendicularly disposed closure panel when said pressure element achieves a lower limit of its downward movement.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said pressure element comprises a horizontally extending body and said scoring tool is mounted on said body with its scoring edge substantially flush with the surface of said body.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said scoring tool is a circular blade rotatably mounted on said pressure element.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 including forming means downstream, in the conveyor-moving sense, from said pressure element-mounted scoring tool for folding said closure panel across said folded flap portion to enclose said article.

14. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for applying a strand of adhesive to said closure panel adjacent the leading edge thereof as said plates are moved by said conveyor.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said adhesive applying means includes a movable nozzle, and means for moving said nozzle in response to a sensed position of the leading edge of said closure panel with respect to said nozzle.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 including a vertically movable pressure element operative to engage said flap portion and to press it against said article for pressing it downwardly to tightly enclose said article;

and means on said pressure element for connecting said movable nozzle thereto, said connecting means including means for moving said nozzle in inverse relation to the movement of said pressure element.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 including connecting rods forming an articulated parallelogram for moving said pressure element vertically with respect to said flap portion;

and at least one of said connecting rods connecting with said nozzle for moving it in inverse relation to the movement of said pressure element.

18. Apparatus for packaging an article in a container formed from a plate of pliable material having a flap portion, a base portion and a closure panel disposed in integral, coplanar relation, said apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal working surface;

a conveyor having a surface movable in a direction alongside said working surface and disposed in substantial coplanar relation therewith, said conveyor comprising a side proximal to said working surface and a side opposite said working surface;

a guiding obstruction upstanding from the side of said conveyor opposite from said working surface and extending parallel to said conveyor, said guiding obstruction presenting a guide surface on its side proximal to said conveyor along which said conveyor moves in parallel relation thereto and having a first portion on said proximal side free for reception from said working surface of said plate carrying an article thereon retained between said base portion and said flap portion and moved against said first portion transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said conveyor;

an elongated slot along the bottom end of said first portion of said guiding obstruction in substantial alignment with said working surface and said conveyor surface to permit extension of said closure panel to the side of said guiding obstruction distal from said conveyor when an article disposed on said base portion is moved onto said conveyor into engagement with the proximal side of said guiding obstruction; and

forming means disposed on the distal side of said guiding obstruction for engaging said closure panel upon extension through said slot for displacing said closure panel from the plane of said base portion to a position substantially perpendicular thereto as said plate and article are moved along said guiding obstruction by said conveyor.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 including means for urging said plate with the article disposed thereon against the proximal surface of said guiding obstruction as said plate and articles are moved beyond said guiding obstruction first portion.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 in which said urging means includes means for engaging the flap portion of said plate to press it in tight folded relation across the exposed surface of said article on said base portion, and means for biasing said urging means for forcing said plate and article into engagement with the conveyor and with the proximal side of said guiding obstruction.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which said urging means includes a transversely movable pressing element having a body containing a substantially smooth surface elongated in the direction of said conveyor, and means for forcing said pressing element in a direction toward said guiding obstruction to place said plate and article in engagement with the proximal side thereof.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 including a vertically movable pressing element having a body containing a substantially smooth surface elongated in the direction of said conveyor, and means for forcing said vertically movable pressing element downwardly to press said flap portion against said article.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which said pressing elements extend from a position adjacent an entry of said slot to a position adjacent said forming means whereby said portions of said plate are placed in substantially tight engagement with said article as said forming means engage said closure panel to displace it upwardly from the plane of the base portion of said plate.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 including a scoring tool positioned upstream from said forming means in the conveyor-moving sense and operative for producing a score line on said plate intermediate said base portion and said closure panel as said plate and article are moved by said conveyor between said pressing elements said score line being produced at positions varying in response to changes in the size of the articles borne by said plate.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 in which said scoring tool is mounted on said guiding obstruction with its scoring edge extending across said slot in substantially flush relation with the surface of said proximal side of said guiding obstruction.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 in which said scoring tool is a circular blade rotatably mounted on said guiding obstruction adjacent said slot.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 including motor means for rotatably driving said blade.

28. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said forming means includes ramp means having a generally curvilinearly formed surface operative to engage the portion of said closure panel extending through said slot and to displace said closure panel upwardly from the plane of said base portion.

29. Apparatus according to claim 24 in which said ramp means is positioned downstream, in the conveyor moving sense, from said scoring tool.

30. Apparatus according to claim 18 including means for applying a strand of adhesive to said closure panel to bond it, when folded, to the facing surface of said plate.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30 in which said adhesive applying means includes a movable nozzle, and means for moving said nozzle in response to a sensed position of the leading edge of said closure panel with respect to said nozzle.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31 including a vertically movable pressing element for forcing said flap portion downwardly onto said article;

means for moving said pressing element; and

means on said pressing element for connecting said movable nozzle thereto, said connecting means including means for moving said nozzle in inverse relation to the movement of said pressing element.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32 including connecting rods forming an articulated parallelogram for moving said pressing element vertically with respect to said flap portion;

and at least one of said connecting rods connecting said nozzle for moving it in inverse relation to the movement of said pressing element.

34. Apparatus according to claim 30 including forming means operable on said closure panel to displace it from its upward displacement from said base portion to a disposition across said flap portion.

35. Apparatus according to claim 30 including downwardly biased pressing means operative to engage said adhesive-bearing closure panel in its folded condition and to maintain it in tight engagement with the facing surface of said flap portion.

36. Apparatus for packaging an article in a container formed from a plate of pliable material having a flap portion, a base portion and a closure panel disposed in integral, coplanar relation, said apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal working surface on which an article is placed on the base portion of said plate and said flap portion manually folded across a substantial portion of the exposed part of said article.

a conveyor having a surface movable in a direction alongside said working surface;

means forming a guiding obstruction substantially coextensive with said conveyor, said means including first and second longitudinally extending body portions disposed in upstanding relation to said conveyor and containing an opening between said body portions, said guiding obstruction presenting a guide surface on its side proximal to said conveyor along which said conveyor moves in parallel relation thereto, said first body portion including a portion on said proximal side that is free for reception from said working surface of said plate carrying an article thereon retained between said base portion and said flap portion and moved against said proximal side of said first body portion transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said conveyor;

an elongated slot extending along the bottom end of said first body portion in substantial transverse alignment with the surface of said conveyor to permit extension of said closure panel to the side of said first body portion distal from said conveyor when said plate is moved onto said conveyor surface with the article carried thereby in engagement with the proximal side of said body portion;

urging means for pressing said article against said first body portion and for maintaining said flap portion in tight engagement with the exposed surface of said article;

first forming means disposed on the distal side of said first body portion of said guiding obstruction for engaging said closure panel and displacing said closure panel upwardly from the plane of said base portion to a position substantially perpendicular thereto as said plate and article are moved by said conveyor and

second forming means disposed with respect to the second body portion of said guiding obstruction to fold said closure panel from its upwardly displaced position to a position across the facing surface of said flap portion.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 including means for applying a strand of adhesive to said closure panel for bonding it to the facing surface of said flap portion.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37 in which said urging means includes a transversely movable pressing element operative to engage the flap portion folded across said article;

and means for moving said element to advance said plate onto said conveyor with said article in engagement with the proximal side of said first body portion of said guiding obstruction and said closure portion extending through said slot to the distal side of said obstruction.

39. Apparatus according to claim 38 in which said urging means further includes a vertically movable pressing element;

and means for forcing said pressing element downwardly for pressing said plate portions and said article between said pressing element and said conveyor.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39 in which said pressing elements comprise bodies containing a substantially smooth surface elongated in the direction of said conveyor.

41. Apparatus according to claim 37 in which said adhesive applying means comprises a movable nozzle;

and means for moving said nozzle in response to variations in the size of the article disposed on said plate.

42. Apparatus according to claim 41 including means for connecting said movable nozzle to said vertically movable pressing element, said connecting means including means for moving said nozzle in inverse relation to the movement of said pressing element.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42 including connecting rods forming an articulated parallelogram for moving said pressing element vertically;

and at least one of said connecting rods connecting said nozzle for moving it in inverse relation to the vertical movement of said pressing element.

44. Apparatus according to claim 40 in which said first forming means comprises ramp means having a generally curvilinearly formed surface operative to engage the portion of said closure panel extending through said slot and to displace said closure panel upwardly from the plane of said base portion.

45. Apparatus according to claim 44 including a first scoring tool positioned upstream in the conveyor-moving sense from said first forming means and operative as said plate and mounted article are moved by said conveyor for producing a score line on said plate defining the boundary between said base portion and said closure panel to assist upward displacement of said closure panel by said first forming means said score line being produced at positions varying in response to changes in the size of the article borne by said plate.

46. Apparatus according to claim 45 in which said first scoring tool is mounted on said first guiding obstruction body portion with its scoring edge extending across said slot in substantially flush relation with the surface of said proximal side of said first guiding obstruction body portion.

47. Apparatus according to claim 46 in which said first scoring tool is a circular blade rotatably mounted on said first guiding obstruction body portion adjacent said slot.

48. Apparatus according to claim 47 including motor means for rotatably driving said blade.

49. Apparatus according to claim 36 including a scoring tool positioned upstream in the conveyor moving sense from said second forming means to produce a score line for assisting said second forming means in folding said closure panel from its upwardly displaced position to a position across the facing surface of said flap portion.

50. Apparatus according to claim 49 in which the position of said score line is automatically adjustable in response to the vertical dimension of said article.

51. Apparatus according to claim 39 including a scoring tool carried by said vertically movable pressing element and positioned upstream in the conveyor-moving sense from said second forming means to produce a score line for assisting said second forming means in folding said closure panel from its upwardly displaced position to a position across the facing surface of said flap portion, the position of said score line on said closure panel being variable in response to the vertical movement of said pressing element to automatically adjust the position of said score line in response to the vertical dimensions of said article.

52. Apparatus according to claim 51 in which said scoring tool is a circular blade rotatably mounted on said pressure element with its scoring edge substantially flush with the pressing surface of said element.

53. Apparatus according to claim 37 in which said opening between said first and second guiding obstruction body portions includes guide means for transferring said upwardly displaced closure panel from said ramp means on the distal side of said first body portion to the proximal side of said second body portion.

54. Apparatus according to claim 53 in which said second forming means includes a forming tool carried by said second guiding obstruction body portion and operative to engage said closure panel and to displace it downwardly for bonded adhesive engagement with the facing surface of said flap portion.