US 5,638,659 AGranted

Packaging machine

AssigneeRiverwood International Corporation

InventorsFrank N. Moncrief, Herman J. Steinbuchel, IV, Steven Brown

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Abstract

A packaging machine (5) for moving a spaced series of groups of containers along a path of travel in a packaging machine line is disclosed. The packaging machine includes a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly (12) having a pair of conveyor chains (61, 62) equally spaced from a longitudinal axis extending along the path of travel, and a pair of generally parallel side guides (17) mounted one each on a pair of accessory rails (14) movably supported on the framework (7) of the packaging machine, and extending along opposite sides of the path of travel. The conveyor chains are constructed to be moved laterally toward and away from each other, and the side guides are constructed to be simultaneously moved laterally toward and away from the conveyors with the accessory rails, respectively, as the conveyor chains are moved. Each conveyor chain includes a spaced series of pop-up lug assemblies (63) in which a pop-up lug (92) of each assembly can be individually selected for reciprocal movement from a lowered position flush with respect to the surface of the conveyor chain into a raised position extended above and with respect to the surface of the conveyor chain for varying the pitch of the pop-up lugs along the length of the conveyor chains. Each conveyor chain also includes a plurality of modular table-top lugs (65) which are constructed to be yieldably urged into position on an endless chain (84).

Claims16

Dependent claims

A packaging machine for packaging a series of groups of generally cylindrical containers moved along a path of travel through the packaging machine, the packaging machine having a means to pass separate carton blanks downwardly over each group of containers as it is moved along the path of travel, each carton blank having at least one pre-scored flap area defined therein, the series of containers having a diameter and a radius which may differ from series to series of groups of containers, the packaging machine including an elongated framework, an infeed end supported on the framework, a spaced discharge end, the infeed end of the packaging machine being supplied with a random series of the containers from an untimed mass flow conveyor, the packaging machine including means for forming the random series of containers into phased groups of containers delivered to the path of travel, said packaging machine comprising:

a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly supported on the framework along the path of travel constructed and arranged to receive groups of containers from the infeed end of the packaging machine, said conveyor belt assembly having a pair of spaced conveyor chains forming a generally horizontal transport surface and including a spaced series of lugs along the length thereof, each of said lugs being constructed and arranged for individual and reciprocal movement from a lowered position flush with respect to said transport surface into a raised position extending above said transport surface for forming flights therebetween along said conveyor belt assembly;
a flighted side lug conveyor assembly positioned downstream of said conveyor belt assembly, said side lug conveyor assembly being constructed and arranged to receive groups of containers from said conveyor belt assembly;
at least one modular tab folding assembly positioned adjacent the path of travel, said tab folding assembly being constructed and arranged to fold the flaps of the prescored carton blanks inwardly toward the group of containers;
a pair of accessory rails supported on the framework of the packaging machine and being spaced equally from the path of travel, each of said accessory rails including an elongated side guide mounted thereon, said side guides being spaced equally from the path of travel on opposite sides of said conveyor belt assembly;
wherein said side lug conveyor and said tab folding assembly are each supported on said accessory rails;
and
means for moving said accessory rails laterally toward and away from the path of travel.

4 more elements

A method of packaging a series of groups of generally cylindrical containers moved along a path of travel through a packaging machine, the packaging machine having a means to pass separate carton blanks downwardly over each group of containers as it moves along the path of travel, the carton blanks having at least one prescored flap area defined therein, the containers within each series of groups of containers having a diameter and a radius which may differ from series to series, the packaging machine including an elongated framework, an infeed end supported on the framework, a spaced discharge end, the infeed end of the packaging machine being supplied with a random series of containers from an untimed mass flow conveyor, the packaging machine also having means for forming the random series of containers into phased groups of containers delivered to the path of travel, said method of packaging including the steps of:

moving separate groups of containers along the path of travel with a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly supported on the framework from the infeed end of the packaging machine toward a flighted side lug conveyor assembly positioned on the framework downstream of said conveyor belt assembly;
providing a spaced series of lugs along the length of said conveyor belt assembly;
positioning said lugs in a lowered position flush with respect to said conveyor belt assembly;
selectively moving at least one of said lugs into a raised position extended above said conveyor belt assembly and forming at least one flight along the length of said conveyor belt assembly;
moving the groups of containers along the path of travel within said at least one flight;
moving the group of containers along the path of travel with said flighted side lug conveyor assembly toward at least one modular tab folding assembly positioned on the framework adjacent the path of travel;
equally spacing a pair of accessory rails supported on the framework from the path of travel, providing a pair of side guides mounted one each on said accessory rails, respectively, and spacing said side guides on opposite sides of said conveyor belt assembly;
and
moving said accessory rails laterally toward and away from the path of travel in response to a series of groups of containers having a different diameter and radius from series to series of groups of containers.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/577,188Filed 22 Dec 1995
Granted: 17 Jun 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B65G 19/265
Pivotal: for article conveyors, e.g. for container conveyors
B65B 35/44
Arranging and feeding articles in groups: by endless belts or chains
B65B 59/001
Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages…
B65B 59/005
Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages…