US 4,982,551 A · Universal packer

A universal packer comprising:

a. an elongated frame;
b. conveyor means for propelling open side container blanks in a downstream direction along the frame in an unfolding path, the blanks being supported by the frame and having foldable flaps, the blanks having leading and trailing edges;
c. metering means for controlling the supply of folded container blanks to the conveyor means, wherein the metering means comprises:
i. a hopper for holding a vertical stack of blanks;
ii. lip means for supporting a first quantity of blanks in the hopper above the conveyor means;
iii. ledge means for selectively holding a second quantity of blanks above and out of contact with the first quantity of blanks and releasing the second quantity of blanks to fall onto the first quantity of blanks on the lip means;
and
iv. gripping means for selectively holding a third quantity of blanks above and out of contact with the second quantity of blanks and releasing the third quantity of blanks to fall onto and be supported by the ledge means;
d. unfolding means for cooperating with the conveyor means to unfold the blanks into open side containers;
e. infeed means for feeding quantities of articles along at least one path in the downstream direction adjacent to the conveyor means;
f. grouper means for forming complements of a desired number of articles and for propelling the complements in the downstream direction in unison and alignment with and in transverse alignment with respective open containers;
g. pusher bar means for propelling the complements of articles downstream in unison and alignment with the open containers subsequent to the propulsion thereof by the grouper means;
h. flap control means downstream of the unfolding means for positively restraining al the flaps of the open containers in respective controlled locations;
and
i. means for loading the complements into respective open containers,
so that the ledge means and gripper means cooperate to control the quantity of blanks supported by the lip means.

13 more elements

A universal packer comprising:

a. an elongated frame;
b. conveyor means for propelling open side container blanks in a downstream direction along the frame in an unfolding path, the blanks being supported by the frame and having foldable flaps, the blanks having leading and trailing edges;
c. unfolding means for cooperating with the conveyor means to unfold the blanks into open side containers, wherein the unfolding means comprises:
i. unfolding arm means for bending selected container blank flaps relative to the frame;
ii. expander means for entering into the interior of the container blank to partially unfold the blank;
and
iii. erector means for contacting a partially unfolded blank to continue unfolding the blank;
d. infeed means for feeding quantities of articles along at least one path in the downstream direction adjacent the conveyor means;
e. grouper means for forming complements of a desired number of articles and for propelling the complements in the downstream direction in unison and alignment with and in transverse alignment with respective open containers;
f. pusher bar means for propelling the complements of articles downstream in unison and alignment with the open containers subsequent to the propulsion thereof by the grouper means;
g. flap control means downstream of the unfolding means for positively restraining all the flaps of the open containers in respective controlled locations;
h. means for loading the complements into respective open containers;
and
i. plow means for cooperating with the unfolding arm means to control the location of the selected container blank flaps after the flaps have been bent by the unfolding arm means, wherein:
i. the plow means comprises at least one elongated plow mounted to the frame for restraining the location of a first container blank flap in a first predetermined location, and tab means fixed to the plow for restraining a second container blank flap in a second predetermined location, the plow and tab means cooperating to create a gap between the first and second flaps;
and
ii. the expander means enters the interior of the blank through the gap between the first and second flaps.

14 more elements

A universal packer comprising:

a. an elongated frame;
b. conveyor means for propelling open side container blanks in a downstream direction along the frame in an unfolding path, the blanks being supported by the frame and having foldable flaps, the blanks having leading and trailing edges;
c. unfolding means for cooperating with the conveyor means to unfold the blanks into open side containers, wherein the unfolding means comprises:
i. unfolding arm means for bending selected container blank flaps relative to the frame;
ii. expander means for entering into the interior of the container blank to partially unfold the blank;
and
iii. erector means for contacting a partially unfolded blank to continue unfolding the blank, and wherein the conveyor means comprises drop lug means for completing the unfolding of the partially open blank, wherein the drop lug means comprises:
i. first chain means for traveling in the downstream direction along the unfolding path;
ii. at least one drop lug assembly pivotally attached to the first chain means and being in close proximity to a container blank;
and
iii. track means mounted to the frame for pivoting the drop lug assembly between an inoperative positive wherein the drop lug assembly is out of contact with the blank and in close proximity thereto and an operative position wherein the drop lug assembly contacts the partially unfolded blank and completes unfolding the blank;
d. infeed means for feeding quantities of articles along at least one path in the downstream direction adjacent the conveyor means;
e. grouper means for forming complements of a desired number of articles and for propelling the complements in the downstream direction in unison and alignment with and in transverse alignment with respective open containers;
f. pusher bar means for propelling the complements of articles downstream in unison and alignment with the open containers subsequent to the propulsion thereof by the grouper means;
g. flap control means downstream of the unfolding means for positively restraining all the flaps of the open containers in respective control locations;
and
h. means for loading the complements into respective open containers.

14 more elements

A universal packer comprising:

a. an elongated frame;
b. conveyor means for propelling open side container blanks in a downstream direction along the frame in an unfolding path, the blanks being supported by the frame and having foldable flaps, the blanks having leading and trailing edges;
c. unfolding means for cooperating with the conveyor means to unfold the blanks into open side containers;
d. infeed means for feeding quantities of articles along at least one path in the downstream direction adjacent the conveyor means;
e. group means for forming complements of a desired number of articles and for propelling the complements in the downstream direction in unison and alignment with and in transverse alignment with respective open containers;
f. pusher bar means for propelling the complements of articles downstream in unison and alignment with the open containers subsequent to the propulsion thereof by the grouper means, wherein the pusher bar means comprises:
i. second chain means located generally above the article path;
and
ii. a plurality of pusher bars attached to the second chain means, each pusher bar having a plate section with a leading edge for propelling the complements of articles along the article path;
g. flap control means downstream of the unfolding means for positively restraining al the flaps of the open containers in respective controlled locations;
and
h. means for loading the complements into respective open containers.

9 more elements

Apparatus for unfolding open side container blanks having leading, top, trailing, and bottom panels and a pair of flaps joined to and extending oppositely from each respective panel and for loading the open containers with complements of articles comprising:

a. an elongated frame that defines a pair of parallel paths for the articles;
b. conveyor means located between the pair of article paths for propelling the blanks in a downstream direction to thereby create blank leading and trailing edges, the blank trailing and bottom panels being supported by the frame;
c. unfolding means for unfolding the blanks into open containers, wherein the unfolding means comprises:
i. expander means mounted in the frame for entering between the container blank top and bottom panels to partially unfold the blank into a parallelogram shape;
ii. erector means mounted in the frame for continuing unfolding the container blank partially unfolded by the expander means;
and
iii. drop lug means traveling in unison with the conveyor means for completing the unfolding of the blanks;
d. means for creating a gap between the container blank top and bottom flaps to thereby facilitate entry of the expander means between the top and bottom panels, wherein the means for creating a gap between the blank top and bottom flaps comprises:
i. unfolding means for bending the blank top and bottom flaps in a first direction relative to their respective panels;
ii. plow means fastened to the frame for positively restraining the blank bottom flaps in their respective first bent directions;
and
iii. tab means associated with the plow means for bending the blank top flaps in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby create the gap between the top and bottom flaps for entry of the expander means;
e. grouper means associated with each article path for forming complements of articles and for propelling them in a downstream direction in unison with and aligned with respective open containers;
f. flap control means for positively controlling the locations of the container flaps;
and
g. means for loading the complements into the open side containers.

13 more elements

Apparatus for unfolding open side container blanks having leading, top, trailing, and bottom panels and a pair of flaps jointed to and extending oppositely from each respective panel and for loading the open containers with complements of articles comprising:

a. an elongated frame that defines a pair of parallel paths for the articles;
b. conveyor means located between the pair of article paths for propelling the blanks in a downstream direction to thereby create blank leading and trailing edges, the blank trailing and bottom panels being supported by the frame;
c. unfolding means for unfolding the blanks into open containers, wherein the unfolding means comprises:
i. expander means mounted in the frame for entering between the container blank top and bottom panels to partially unfold the blank into a parallelogram shape, wherein
the expander means comprises a pair of expander arms rotatably mounted in the frame for rotation about respective vertical axes, the expander arms rotating in timed relation to the conveyor means to enter between the container blank top and bottom panels and partially unfold the blank into the parallelogram shape and thereby raise the blank trailing edge off the frame;
ii. erector means mounted in the frame for continuing unfolding the container blank partially unfolded by the expander means, wherein
the erector means comprises at least one erector arm mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in timed relation to the propulsion of the container blank by the conveyor means to contact the blank trailing edge after the expander arms have partially unfolded the blank and cooperate with the conveyor means to continue unfolding the container blank;
and
iii. drop lug means traveling in unison with the conveyor means for completing the unfolding of the blanks;
d. grouper means associated with each article path for forming complements of articles and for propelling them in the downstream direction in unison with and aligned with respective open containers;
e. flap control means for positively controlling the locations of the container flaps;
and
f. means for loading the complements into the open side containers.

10 more elements

Apparatus for unfolding open side container blanks having leading, top, trailing, and bottom panels and a pair of flaps joined to and extending oppositely from each respective panel and for loading the open containers with complements of articles comprising:

a. an elongated frame that defines a pair of parallel paths for the articles;
b. conveyor means located between the pair of article paths for propelling the blanks in a downstream direction to thereby create blank leading and trailing edges, the blank trailing and bottom panels being supported by the frame;
c. unfolding means for unfolding the blanks into open containers, wherein the unfolding means comprises expander means mounted in the frame for entering between the container blank top and bottom panels to partially unfold the blank into a parallelogram shape, erector means mounted in the frame for continuing unfolding the container blank partially unfolded by the expander means, and drop lug means traveling in unison with the conveyor means for completing the unfolding of the blanks, wherein the drop lug means comprises:
i. a plurality of drop lug assemblies;
ii. chain means supported by the frame for pivotally mounting the drop lug assemblies thereon at spaced intervals therealong and for carrying the drop lug assemblies in the downstream direction;
and
iii. track means mounted to the frame for pivoting the drop lug assemblies from respective inoperative positions to operative positions as the drop lug assemblies are carried downstream by the chain means, the track means being located in relation to the erector means to pivot a drop lug assembly into contact with the trailing panel of a respective partially unfolded blank and to complete unfolding the blank as the drop lug assembly is pivoted to the operative position;
d. grouper means associated with each article path for forming complements of articles and for propelling them in the downstream direction in unison with and aligned with respective open containers;
e. flap control means for positively controlling the locations of the container flaps;
and
f. means for loading the complements into the open side containers.

8 more elements

Apparatus for unfolding open side container blanks having leading, top, trailing, and bottom panels and a pair of flaps joined to and extending oppositely from each respective panel and for loading the open containers with complements of articles comprising:

a. an elongated frame that defines a pair of parallel paths for the articles;
b. conveyor means located between the pair of article paths for propelling the blanks in a downstream direction to thereby create blank leading and trailing edges, the blank trailing and bottom panels being supported by the frame;
c. unfolding means for unfolding the blanks into open containers;
d. grouper means associated with each article path for forming complements of articles and for propelling them in the downstream direction in unison with and aligned with respective open containers, wherein the grouper means associated with each article path comprises:
i. a primary grouper comprising a plurality of primary grouper pins;
and primary chain means mounted in a vertical plane on the frame for carrying the primary grouper pins in the downstream direction, the primary chain means being located to cause the primary grouper pins to penetrate vertically between the articles at a predetermined location thereof along the article path to form a complement of the desired number of articles and to propel the complement in the downstream direction to a transfer point;
and
ii. a secondary grouper comprising
a plurality of secondary grouper pins;
and
secondary chain means for carrying the secondary grouper pins in the downstream direction, the secondary chain means being located to cause the secondary grouper pins to contact the complement of articles at the transfer point and to propel the complement in the downstream direction;
e. flap control means for positively controlling the locations of the container flaps;
and
f. means for loading the complements into the open side containers.

11 more elements

Apparatus for unfolding open side container blanks having leading, top, trailing, and bottom panels and a pair of flaps joined to and extending oppositely from each respective panel and for loading the open containers with complements of articles comprising:

a. an elongated frame that define a pair of parallel paths for the articles;
b. conveyor means located between the pair of article paths for propelling the blanks in a downstream direction to thereby create blank leading and trailing edges, the blank trailing and bottom panels being supported by the frame;
c. unfolding means for unfolding the blanks into open containers;
d. grouper means associated with each article path for forming complements of articles and for propelling them in the downstream direction in unison with and aligned with respective open containers;
e. pusher bar means for propelling the complements of articles in the downstream direction subsequent to the propulsion thereof by the grouper means, wherein the pusher bar means comprises:
i. a plurality of pusher bars, each pusher bar comprising a pair of plates and a center section interposed between and connecting the plates, the plates being formed with leading edges for propelling the complements in the downstream direction, the center section being formed with a leading edge that is non-colinear with the leading edges of the plates;
and
ii. pusher bar chain means for locating the pusher bar plates in alignment with the article paths and for carrying the pusher bars in the downstream direction in timed relation with the conveyor means and grouper means to locate the pusher bar center sections between and spaced from consecutive containers to leave the containers free to be propelled by the conveyor means and to locate the pusher bar plates between and in contact with consecutive complements;
f. flap control means for positively controlling the locations of the container flaps;
and
g. means for loading the complements into the open side containers.

8 more elements

Universal packer

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Universal packer

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Abstract

Claims27