Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
108S~08
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different types of multipackaging methods and
apparatus are known in the art for multipackaging containers
with a stretchable plastics material carrier or device.
Representative methods and machines of that art are
shown in the following United States patents: 2,864,212;
2,929,181; 3,032,943; 3,032,944; 3,383,828; 3,404,505; ,
3,407,563; 3,611,656; 3,621,628; and 3,742,677.
As the prior art shows, while the containers are
essential elements in the operation of those machines, and
while to some degree the containers may hold part of a
carrier during the application procedure, in no instance
is the container itself used as the primary carrier applying
element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As opposed to the teachings of the prior art, the
present invention involves using the containers as the
primary elements for applying a~stretchable plastics
material carrier to the containers to multipackage the
containers. To so function in the method and apparatus
of the invention, the containers must be used in opposed
pairs.
.1
.
.. . .
108S7()8
In one broad aspect, the invention comprehends
the method of applying a continuous strip of elastic
plastics material multipackaging devices over one end of
a plurality of containers in which the strip comprises a
plurality of end-to-end connected multipackaging devices,
each of which comprises a plurality of rows of band areas
extending longitudinally thereof along the opposite out-
ward sides thereof in ranks. Each band area is circum-
ferentially complete and of a peripheral dimension less
than the outer circumferential dimension of each of the
plurality of containers adjacent one end thereof,
comprising the steps of arranging the plurality of cont-
ainers in a plurality of rows and in ranks, and moving
the plurality of container rows in the direction of the
rows of containers. Opposed outer sidewall portions of
each successive rank of containers are relatively inserted
through the band areas of successive ones of the ranks of
band areas and against the transversely outward band por-
tions of the plurality of rows of band areas of the strip
of multipackaging devices, with the strip of multipackaging
devices in a transversely unstretched condition. The move-
ment of the plurality of rows of containers continues and
concurrently moves at least the opposed outer sidewall
portions of each rank of the plurality of rows of containers
successively apart to urge the opposed outer sidewall por-
tions of each successive rank of the containers against the
outward band portions of the plurality of rows of band areas
to tension the multipackaging devices of the strip in
directions transversely thereof. The remainder of the
plurality of rows of band areas extending from the outward
band portions are secured about the remaining sidewall
portions extending from the opposed outer sidewall portions
of each rank of the containers.
~'.
-- 2 --
~ . . .
~)8S708
The invention further contemplates an apparatus for applying
an elastic plastics material multipackaging device over one end of
a plurality of containers in which the multipackaging device com-
prises a plurality of band areas extending longitudinally thereof
along the opposite outward sides thereof in ranks and in which each
band area is circumferentially complete and of a peripheral dimen-
sion less than the outer circumferential dimension of each of the
plurality of containers adjacent the one end thereof. The apparatus
comprises means arranging the plurality of containers in a plurality
of rows and in ranks and relatively inserting opposed outer side-
wall portions of at least the outermost rank of containers through
the band areas of one of the ranks of band areas and against the
transversely outward band portions of the plurality of rows of band
areas of the multipackaging device, with the multipackaging device
in a transversely unstretched condition. Means move at least the
opposed outer sidewall portions of each rank of the plurality of
rows of containers apart to urge the opposed outer sidewall portions
of each rank of the containers against the outward band portions
of the plurality of rows of band areas to tension the multipackag-
ing device in directions transversely thereof. Means are provided
for causing securement of the remainder of the plurality of rows
of band areas which extend from the outward band portions about the
remaining sidewall portions extending from the opposed outer side-
wall portions of each rank of the containers.
More particularly, the invention disclosed involves taking a
pair of containers and moving them together or tilting them toward
each other so that the ends of the containers to which the carrier
is to be applied are within the openings or apertures of the carrier
bands to be applied to the containers. A pair of carrier bands com-
prising closed loops and the close ends of the containers are rela-
tively brought together, such as by merely draping the carrier onto
the containers, with each band over one of the close container ends
of the pair of containers, and with the furthermost opposed portions
-. ` - . ,". ., ' ~ '
10~5708
~f the pair of bands engaging the furthermost opposed sidewall
surface portions of the close container ends of the pair of con-
tainers. The pair of containers are then moved apart or tilted in
opposite directions which moves the furthermost opposed sidewalls
outwardly relative to each other to tension or stretch the pair of
carrier bands. As that latter movement or tilting occurs, properly
initially formed bands of the pair of bands will tend to move in
both directions from the initially engaged sidewall surface portions
of the containers about the remainder of the sidewall surface of
each of the containers. With some container end shapes, and with
some carrier band shapes, that latter movement apart or opposite
tilting can result in a complete application of the carrier to the
containers. With other container end shapes and with other carrier
shapes and stretching characteristics, the containers with the
partially applied bands can be moved beneath a plow-like element
which will, upon relative axial movement between that element and
the containers, in effect exert a force toward and between the
containers and against the carrier to cause complete application
of the carrier to the containers.
Although the invention as shown in the drawings uses a con-
tinuous carrier strip of two rows of container bands in one embod-
iment and three rows in another embodiment, the invention contem-
plates that the carrier strip may comprise any selected number of
intermediate bands between the two outboard rows of bands. A car-
rier of three rows of bands is shown for example in United States
patent 4,018,331. The method and apparatus of the invention con-
template that where the carrier strip includes intermediate rows of
bands, concurrently with or after application of the outboard bands
to the two rows of containers, the two rows of containers are moved
or held apart in a transverse direction to stretch or tension the
intermediate rows of bands. A number of intermediate rows of con-
tainers equal to the number of rows of intermediate bands are then
moved relatively toward and into axial alignment with the inter- ;
mediate bands to progressively force the intermed-ate containers
- 4 -
j~ . . . .
~0~5"~08
through the intermediate bands. If necessary, plow-
like elements as will be hereinafter described in
detail may be used on the opposite surface of the
intermediate bands from that engaged by intermediate
containers to aid in complete encirclement of the
intermediate containers by the intermediate bands.
Where the carrier strip is a continuous strip of
indeterminate length, some known cutting means may be
used to transversely sever the carrier strip between
applied carrier bands to form multipackages of a selected
number of containers in each row. The method and
apparatus of the invention contemplates that the multi-
packages formed in the use of the invention need not be
merely consumer packages, but may also be distributor
packages. Such distributor packages for example, can
comprise a package large enough in row lengths and
numbers of rows to cover the entire surface of a standard
shipping pallet.
The method and apparatus of the invention further
contemplates that the containers need not be merely
cylindrical cans such as shown in the drawings, but may
be bottles, boxes or containers of other shapes which can
be multipackaged by practicing the invention.
lQ85~08
The method and apparatus of the invention further
contemplates that the carrier may take other shapes ~nd
forms from that shown in the drawings. For example
each container band may have an integral cover portion,
such carriers being shown for example in United States
patents 3, 331, 500 and 3, 784, 002.
~ ~ .
The primary object of the present invention is
to provide a multipackaging method and apparatus for
multipackaging containers with a stretchable plastics
material carrier in which the method and apparatus ;
essentially uses the containers in opposed pairs as the
carrier applicating elements.
Other objects and features of the invention will
be apparent upon a perusal of the hereinafter following
detailed description read in conjunction with the drawings.
- 6 -
~V85~8
I~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
FIG. l is a side elevational view of one form of
machine for practicing the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine of FIG. 1
with the carrier and carrier reel, feed roller, and carrier
hold-down mechanism removed;
FIGo 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of
the machine shown in FIGS. l and 2 substantially within
the area enclosed by the bracket numbered 3 in FIG. 27
and including the carrier and the lower flight of the hold-
down mechanism shown in FIG. l
FIGo 4 is an end elevational view of the portion
of the machine shown in FIG, 3 and viewed suhstantially
along the :line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 5-13 are views similar to FIG. 4 showing
the central portion of the machine in cross section at
various locations proceeding from the input end toward the ~-
output end of the machine, and viewed respectively sub-
stantially along the lines 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 1O-1OJ
11-11,12-12 and 13-13 of FIG. 21
' .
':
.
- 7- ~ :
..; . ~ ' : ':
l~S~8
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of another form
of machine for practicing the invention;
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the machine of
FIG. 14 with the carrier and carrier reel, feed rollerJ
and carrier hold-down mechanism removed;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion : ~
of the machine shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and taken sub- ~:;
stantially along the line 16-16 of FIG. 14;
.
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of
the machine shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and taken substantially :
along the line 17-17 of FIG. 15; -.;
~.
FIG. 18 is a view similar to that of FIG. 17 but
showing an alternative form of conveyor Eor the intermediate
row of containers; and
'~' .
FIGS. 19-22 are fragmentary cross-sectional views .~:
taken respectively substantially along the lines 19-19, 20-20, :
21-21, and 22-22 of FIG. 15 to show the operation of the -:
machine in the area of carrier application to the intermediate ~.:
row of containers.
::
~: :
- . .
, .,.,. ~ , . -
; . .
J ~85~8
DET~ILED DESCRTPTION OF` T~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
.. _ . . . ..
By way of example the drawings show one type of
container that can be used to practice the subject invent;on
as cylindrical cans having an upper chime, and the carrier
or multipackaging device as comprising two rows in one form
and three rows in another form of container bands integrally
interconnected in rows and ranks.
Many different forms of carrier structures may be
used in the practice of the present invention. Suc,h carriers
may be seen for example in llnited States patents 3, 733,100;
3, 778, 096; 3, 874, 502; 4, 018, 331; 3, 331, 500 and 3, 721, 337.
A preferred form of carrier is one in which the conta;ner
receiving apertures are elongated in the direction of the
carrier strip for relatively easy initial capturing engaae-
ment by the containers. Preferably, the carriers are in
the form of a lon~ strip permitting substantially continuous
application, and are formed from a resilient elastic plastics
material such as low density polyethylene. Further, the
inner peripheral dimension of each of the bands is preferably
smaller than the outer circumferential dimension of the area
of the containers to which the carrier is to be applied so
that the carrier bands in a stretched applied condition
will grippingly encircle and hold the containers.
One embodiment of the basic method of the invention may :
be understood by viewing FIGS, 8-13 of the drawings. As may he
~V~S7C78
seen therein, containers 10 are firstly arranged as in FIG. 8
in opposed pairs with the longitudinal axes intersecting in ~ ;
an obtuse angle. Thus as may be seen in FIG. 8, two edge ~;
portions of the two container tops 11 are closer together than
any other portions of the tops 11 with the top edge portions
which are diametrically opposed from the edge portions
of closest spac;ng being of furthermost spacing. The
containers 10 must be tilted sufficiently so that the top
edge portions thereof of furthermost spacing are spaced
apart a distance less than the distance between the inner ~
peripheries of the transversely outwardmost band portions ~ ;
of the bands of the carrier 12. That initial alignment of
,~l the containers 10 permits the carrier 12 to be draped or
¦ applied as shown in FIG. 9, where the carrier 12 is shown
in a transverse edge view, with the transversely outward-
most band portions 12a over the chimes and against the
upper sidewall surfaces of the opposed containers 10.
.,
The next step in the method is shown in FIG. 10, and
that step involves a tilting of the containers 10 toward the
parallel axes position shown in FIG. 13. In that manipulation
of the containers 10, the chimes, on the top 11 and the outer
sidewall surfaces of the containers 10 will tend to capture or
hold onto the two outer band portions of the transversely opposed
bands of the carrier 12. Depending upon the particular carrier
''` ~'` '
~` :
.:,
,. .. . . . . , ~ . - -
1()t~S'^~C~8
band configuration and transverse dimension of the carrier
relative to the si7e of the containers 10, the described
tilting action step toward the parallel axis position of
FIG. 13 may also have to be accompanied by a movement of
' 5 each opposed pair of containers 10 apart to insure that the
carrier bands are stretched and tensioned against the
engaged outer surfaces of the containers 10.
As tilting of the containers 10 further proceeds
through the position shown in FIG. 11 and toward the
parallel axis position shown in FIG. 13, the container bands
will progressively slide over and encircle more and more
of the outer surfaces of the containers 10. ~ :
With some carrier and container configurations it
; will be found that a continuation of the described container
movements and carrier stretching actions wi].l result in a
complete encirclement of each carrier band about one of the
containers 10. With other carrier and container configurations
a further step in the method of the invention will involve the
application of a force in the direction of the arrow 13 shown
in FIG. 12 contemporaneously with the tilting action to ~; .
, insure the encirclement of each container 10 by one of
the carrier bands. In the embodiment of the machine
: described hereinafter that force is effectively applied by a plow-like fixed member or hold-down blade shown
immediately below the arrow 13 in FIG.12 with the
- 11 -
: ~ . - ,: - . . . . :
10~}S~8
longitudinal central portion of the carrier 12 being urged
downwardly as the underside of the plow-like member is
inclined downwardly toward the output end of the machine.
Alternatively, the relative movement of the containers 10
upwardly toward the blade-like element will accomplish
the desired results as well. ~ ,
'-:
In practicing the method of the invention with a
carrier of more than two rows of bands such as shown in
FIGS. 15-22, a number of alternative arrangements may be
practiced for using the containers to apply the carrier thereto.
In some arrangements the two outboard rows of bands are
first applied to two rows of containers as described above. ;
Thereafter the two outboard rows of containers with the ~ ;~
longitudinal axes of the containers being maintained parallel,
are moved or maintained transversely apart to render the
¦ intermediate rows of bands taut and tensioned. In addition to
rendering the intermediate bands taut, carrier configurations
in which the intermediate bands are initially elongated in the
direction of the rows will require sufficient spreading of the
;1 20 outboard rows of containers to stretch the intermediate bands
so that the apertures approximate the shape of the intermediate
containers. The next step in the method of more than two rows
of containers involves the movement of each intermediate row ~;
of containers axially toward the tensioned intermediate bands.
With some carrier and container configurations, the ends of
, the intermediate containers can be merely pushed through
- 12 -
~ ~, . . :.
--
~08S708
;, :
the apertures of the intermediate bands. W;th some
carrier and container configurations it may be preferred
to tilt the intermediate containers in a vert;cal plane
between the rows of outboard containers and throu~h the
intermediate bands so that one top side edge of each
container initially passes through the ape~rture of an
intermediate band. In such an arrangement the inter-
mediate containers may be thereafter tilted in the opposite
direction to bring the longitudinal axes of the intermediatc
containers substantially perpendicular to the plane of the
intermediate bands to produce progressive encirclement of
the intermediate containers by the intermediate bands. The
invention also contemplates an alternative method in which
initial partial entrance of the intermediate row or rows of
containers into the intermediate row or rows of carrier bands
can occur substantially concurrently with the final app]icatit)n of
, the outboard carrier bands to the outboard rows of containers.
In some instances in the practice of the method of the invention
with more than two rows of containers, plow-like elements may
also be used to aid in completing the application of the inter-
; mediate bands to the intermediate containers.
; ~
,~ The drawings show two embodiments of a machine of thc
subject invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in
! the art to practice the invention by constructing a complete
machine. Many standard well known parts necessary for the
operation of the machine have been omitted in order to clearly
and concisely describe the invention. Those standard omitted
- 13 - ;
, ,.~,,,, . . ~ . , .: . .
108S708
parts will be easily understood and supplied by persons skilled
in this art.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a ~ -
frame 20 which supports the various elements of the machine.
At the input end of the machine an input conveyor 21 is provided
for carrying two rows of containers 10 into the machine. The
input conveyor 21 is shown substantially diagrammatically as a
continuous conveyor belt mounted on a pair of drive or sprocket
wheels 22. Any known power source may be used to drive the
conveyor 21 at an appropriate speed for a selected or desired
machine operation speed. Above the conveyor 21 and on each
side of the two rows of containers 10, a pair of screw elements
23 are provided. The screw elements 23 are mounted on
suitable known driving and support means (not shown) for
simultaneously rotating the screws 23 in opposite directions at
a predetermined speed. The screws 23 in operation serve to
accurately align and release each opposed pair of containers
10 for accurately spaced reception by the elements of the
carrier applying stations of the machine.
As each opposed pair of containers 10 leave the output
end of the screws 23, each such pair of containers 10 is picked
up by the conveying fingers 24 of the two container conveyors
25. The fingers 24 and the chains on which they are carried
are omitted in FIG. 1 to avoid obscuring the elements between
the container conveyors 25.
- 14 -
:-
lV8570E~
The fingers 24 are the elements for moving the containers
10 through the carrier applying stations of the machine. Those
fingers 24 are shown in FIGS. 5-13 to show the manner in which
they engage the containers 10 and FIGS. 5 and 13 partially show
further details of the mounting of the fingers 24 in the container
conveyor 25. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 13 each finger 24 has a
vertically disposed base element 24a. The upper end of each base
element 24a is secured by a fastener 26 to a L,-shaped bracket
27. The T~-shaped brackets 27 are in turn secured to pins of 4
continuous roller chains 23, two roller chains for each container
' conveyor 25. AS may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each roller
chain 28 is carried about a pair of sprocket wheels 30 which are
J~ longitudinally spaced apart in the machine, there being an upper
pair of sprocket wheels 30 and a lower pair of sprocket wheels
30 in each container conveyor 25. The inboard flight of each of
the roller chains 28 is carried in a fixed channel member to
maintain the inboard flights along substantially straight lines
between the sprocket wheels 30. The upper chain 28 of each
container conveyor 25 is carried in a channel member 31, and
each lower chain 28 iS carried in a channel member 32. The
cross sectional configuration of the channel members 31 and 32
is shown in FIGS. 5 and 13. As may be seen in FIG. 2 as the
sprocket wheels 30 are rotated in the direction of the arrows
shown thereon, the fin~ers 24 urge each pair of opposed containers
10 through the carrier applicating stations of the machine. FIG. I
shows the sprocket wheels 30 as carried on shafts 33 and 34.
- 15
- .
108S~08
~ .
The shafts 33 and 34 are driven by known drive means (not
shown) to move the containers 10 at substantially the speed of
the input conveyor 21.
As the container conveyors 25 move each opposed pair -~
of containers 10 through the machine, each opposed pair of con-
tainers 10 is progressively tilted to andthrough the various
positions as consecutively shown in FIGS. 5-13. The tilting
motion is produced by a number of container guide e]ements ~ -
extending longitudinally through the carrier applicating stations
of the machine. Those guide elements may take different shapes
from those shown as will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art. To simplify the description of the invention, the guide
elements are shown in the drawings in the relatively simple form
~¦ of rods and plates. '
~t the input end of the carrier applying stations, the
guide members are 4 in number, and they comprise a pair of
rods 35 and 36 on the outboard side Oe each pair of opposed con- ~ -
, tainers 10, and two members 37 and 38 between the two rows of
cans 10, as may be seen in FIG. 5. FIG. 2 shows the rods 35
and 36 in top plan view and as they extend substantially completely
through the carrier applicating stations of the machine. The rod
~1 35 may also be seen in side elevation in FIa. 1.
The member 37 may be seen as a rod-like member
between the two rows of containers 10 in FIG. 2. The
{I 25 member 37 widens from a rod-like members into a flat
. ~ .
~ - 16 -
. I .
.. . . . .. . ..
~oss~08
bar as it extends throu~h the carrier applicating stations of the
machine, and at the output end of the machine again becomes a
rod-like member as shown in FIGS. 2 and 13. The cross sec-
tional shape of the member 37 at indicated positions therealong
is further shown in FIGS. 4-13.
The member 38 shown in FIG. 5 as a round member
widens into a triangular plate which may be seen in FIG. 2 in
dotted lines. Two rods 40 and 41 are each secured at one
end thereof to the underside and wide end of the member 38
as may be seen in FIG. 6. From the member 38 the two rods
40 and 41 are angled apart substantially as shown in FIG. 2.
Those rods 40 and 41 are further shown in cross section in
FIGS. 7 and 8. Between the cross sectional views shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, the rods 40 and 41 are supported by a standard
secured to the base 20 of the machine.
The guide members for the containers 10 further ~;
comprise a pair of bottcm guide rods 42 and 43 which may
be seen in FIG. l as beginning immediately after the input
conveyor 21 and extending through the carrier applicating
stations to terminate at the forward end of an output conveyor
44 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bottom guide rods 42 and 43
in proceeding from the input end of the carrier applicating
stations to the output end thereof are spread apart and
brought together again as may be seen in the consecutive
cross sectional views proceeding from FIG. 6 through
:
- 17 - .
,
lV85~08
FIG, 13, Various unnumbered supporting standards are
secured between the guide members and the base 20 of
the machine support the guide members as shown and described.
As noted above, the described guide members
` produce the container tilting actions such as is seen in ;
FIGS. 5-13. That tilting action begins from the upright
parallel axis position of the containers shown in FIG. 5
and results in a progressive tilt of the bottoms of the
., 10 containers 10 outwardly with the upper ends of the containers
10 assuming the relative pOSitiOIlS shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. .'
At about the tilt positions of FIGS. 8 and 9, the furthermost
spaced apart portions of the container tops 11 are spaced
apart a distance less than the distance between the inner ~ :
' 15 peripheries of the transversely outwardmost band portions
of a transverse pair of bands of the carrier 12, A top plan
view of FIG. 9 is shown at the position indicated by the
numberal 45 in FIG. 3, and that position is substantially
the first position at which the carrier 12 has been draped
onto the containers 10 for capture of the carrier 12 by the
j containers 10.
:3 ., .
FIG. 1 shows a carrier delivery arrangement for the
machine. A reel 46 having a long continuous strip of carrier
12 wound thereon is rotatively carried on a standard 47.
The standard 47 is only partially shown in FIG, 1. Those
:.~
. . .
_ 1 8 _
~"o~5~,~)'3
skilled in the art will readily understand that the lower end
of the standard 47 which is not shown will convenient]y
have a bifurcated lower end which will be mounted at 48
and 49 on the base 20 of the machine as shown in FIG. 2,
The strip of carrier 12 is directed from the reel 46 about
a feed roller 50 shown in FIG. 1. The feed roller 50 may
be mounted by any known bracket arrangements on the base
20 of the machine and further driven by known arrangements
in proper timed relation to the container conveyors 25 to
drape or drop the carrier 12 onto the upper ends of the
containers 10 as described. As the captured carrier 12 is
held and stretched by each rank of containers 10 as the
containers are tilted toward the upright pOsitiOIl as shown
in FIGS. 9-13, the bands of the carrier 12 will slide over
and about the upper ends of the containers 10 to completely
encircle them.
.:
Those skilled in this art will understand that the
best mode for the machine will be that which is most
simple and of a minimum number of parts. Thus, if a
particular shape of the containers 10 and the carrier 12
results in complete encirclement of each container by one
of the bands of the carrier, the machine need not include
any further elements in addition to those described above.
However, in reductions to practice of the invention with
cylindical cans such as cans 10 shown in the drawings
and with a carrier configuration such as shown in FIG. 3,
_ 19 _
~0857(~8
it was further desirable to provide the machine with a ~ '
plow-like member 51 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1,
The plow-like member 51 compri,ses a plate that is carried
from the base of the machine to be aligned in a vertical
plane between the two rows of containers 10. Preferably,
the lower edge of the fixed plow-like member 51 is inclined
downwardly in the direction the containers 10 move through
the machine so that as the containers 10 with the partially
applied carrier 12 move beneath the plow-like member 51,
the lower edge thereof prog~essively exerts a force on the
upper side of the carrier 12 longitudinally centrally thereof
to insure complete encirclement of the containers 10 by the
carrier bands as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
In some reductions to practice the invention it further
appeared that a carrier hold-down mechanism would be
advantageous to prevent accidental slipping of a carrier ,
band from its associated container, particularly during
the initial stages of association between the carrier and
the containers. Such a carrier hold-down mechanism is ~ ~
shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 at numeral 52. The carrier ~ '
hold-down mechanism 52 comprises two continuous roller
chains 53 with each roller chain 53 carried about a pair
of sprocket wheels 54. Each pair of sprocket wheels 54 is
rotatively carried in the machine for rotation about hori-
zontal axes. The two pairs of sprocket wheels 54 are
~ ~'
. .
- 20 -
. ., ~
~()85708
further spaced transversely apart to carry the roller
chains 53 above the two rows of containers 10 as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. Each roller chain 53 is provided with
a plurality of IJ-shaped carrier hold-down brackets 55.
, 5 The base portion of each hold-down bracket 55 is secured
to one of the chains 53 as shown in :E~IGS. 3 and 4. The legs
of each hold-down bracket 55 are spaced apart a distance :
sufficient to position each leg between an adjacent pair of
containers lG and against the web connnecting adjacent
bands of the carrier 12, such as shown in FIG. 3. The
carrier hold-down mechanism 52 further includes a pair :
of vertical plates 56 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The vertical
plates 56 are fixed in the machine to rest against the upper . .
side of the lower flight of each chain 53 to maintain the
hold-down brackets 55 against the carrier 12 between the
containers 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. If desired, the
,I hold-down brackets 55 may further be spring biased to :
produce a resilient holding force of the hold-down brackets
55 against the carrier 12. In some reductions of practice .
~; 20 of the invention it has been found that the carrier hold-down
mechanism 52 need not be driven other than by the containers
10 as the containers 10 are moved through the carrier apply-
ing stations of the machine by the fingers 24.
The output conveyor 44 which i5 shown substantially
diagrammatically comprises a known conveyor chain assembly
' .
- 21 -
S708
carried on a pair of horizontally spaced apart sprocket
wheels. The output conveyor 44 is intended to be driven
at substantially the speed of the fingers 24 and, as can
be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, receives the two rows of con-
tainers 10 with the strip of carrier 12 completely applied.
If desired, a known cutting mechanism may be provided at
the output end of the machine above the output conveyor
44 for transversely severing the carr;er 12 between selected
containers 10 to produce individual multipackages of a
selected number of containers 10 in two rGws. Such a
mechanism may be seen in FIGS. 34 and 35 of United States
Patent No. 3, 204, 386. . -
FIGS. 14-22 of the drawings show further forms
of the method and machine of the invention. Many of the
.
parts of the machine of those figures are substantially the
same as comparable parts in the machine of FIGS. 1-13
and therefore need not again be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the machine is an
embodiment of the invention for applying a carrier strip of
three rows of container encircling bands to three rows of
containers. In that machine a frame 60 supports the various
elements of the machine. At the input end of the machine two
input conveyors 61 are provided and operatively mounted on
the frame 60 in a horizontally spaced apart relationship as
- 22 -
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can be seen in FIG. 15. Each of the input conveyors fil
carries one row of containers 10 into the machine. As
shown in FIG. 14, each of the conveyors 61 comprises a
continuous conveyor belt mounted about a pair of drive or ~ :
sprocket wheels 62. Any known power source may be
used to drive the conveyors 61 simultaneously at an appro-
priate speed for a selected or desired machine operation
s pee d .
A third conveyor 63 is mounted on the frame 60
to carry a third or intermediate row of containers 10 into
and through the machine. The conveyor 63 comprises a
` continuous conveyor belt mounted about a pair of driving
or sprocket wheels and the conveyor belt is provided with ~ -
extending fingers or plates 64 along its outer surface for
positively moving the intermediate row of containers lO
through the machine. In the embodiment shown, the lnput
;l, end of the conveyor 63 is carr-ied on a sprocket wheel 65
and the output end is carried on a sprocket wheel (not shown)
behind the sprocket wheel 66 shown in FIG. 14. The sprocket
wheel 66 carries the output end of an output conveyor 67.
The input end of the output conveyor 67 is carried on a
sprocket wheel 68. As shown in FIG. 15, two output con-
veyors 67 are provided, one on each side of the output end
of the intermediate conveyor 63. The output conveyors 66
are operatively carried on the frame 60 and, if desired,
~,
23
1085708
:
need not be power driven conveyors in some embodiments
of the machine where the intermediate conveyor 63 drives
the containers lO to which the strip of multipackaging
devices 70 has been applied.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 14-22 the spacing between
the containers lO on the spaced apart conveyors 61 requires
~;~ that the containers 10 of the outboard rows be tipped toward
each other over the intermediate row of containers for
reception of the outboard bands of the multipackaging de-
l 10 vices of the strip 70 thereon. However, the invention
i! contemplates other embodiments in which the two outboard
.~( .
rows of containers 10 are carried into the machine in an
upright closely spaced attitude as the containers 10 are
carried into the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2. In such an
arrangement the outboard rows of bands of the multipackaging
devices of the strip 70 can be draped or applied over the
two rows of containers 10 without tipping or tilting the con-
tainers toward each other. However, in such an arrangement
as opposed to the embodiment of FIGS. 14-22, the intermediate
row of containers 10 cannot be brought upwardly toward the
strip 70 until the outboard rows of containers 10 have been
moved transversely apart a distance sufficient to admit the
, l, intermediate row of containers 10 therebetween.
.
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.,
~S71~8
The strip 70 of multipackagin~ devices comprising
three rows of container encircling bands is shown in a plan
view in FIG. 16 and may further conveniently be made as
the carrier strip shown in United States Patent 4, 013, 331
mentioned above. Those skilled in this art will further
understand from a study of the method and machine embodiment
of FIGS. 14-22 that a carrier strip of more than three rows
of bands can be applied to more than three rows of con- ~;
tainers with a modified form of the machine of FIGS. 14-22.
It may be seen that the intermediate conveyor 63 may be
made wide enough to carry any selected number of inter-
mediate rows of containers with a spreading apart of the
conveyors 61 and 67 and the other conveying mechanisms ~ ;
associated therewith to admit a wider intermediate con-
veyor therebetween. In such other arrangements the two
outboard rows of containers are carried into the machine
with a spacing between the rows that will permit the outboard
bands of the carrier strip to be captured by the outboard
rows of containers. The outboard rows of containers are
then gradually moved apart as those rows move through
the machine, and when those rows are moved apart suf-
ficiently to admit the intermediate rows of containers
therebetween, the intermediate rows of containers are
brought upwardly in a proper timed relationship to the
movement of the outboard rows and through the apertures
of the intermediate rows of bands of the carrier strip.
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lV~S7Q8
Similarly to the first described embodiment, the
embodiment of FIGS. 14-22 includes a pair of screw elements
23 on each side of the outboard rows of containers 10 at the
input end of the machine for accurately aligning and releasing
each rank of outboard containers 10 for accurate spaced
reception in the carrier applicating areas of the machine.
Two container conveyors 25 substantially identical
to previously described conveyors 25 are provided and
include conveyor fingers 24 for moving the outboard rows of
containers through the carrier applying stations of the
machine. The conveying fingers 24 are further shown in
FIGS. 16 and 19-22, In FIG. 19 the numbered parts are
the same as the identically numbered parts of the first embodi- ~ -
ment and the construction of those parts need not be here
described again in detail.
As the container conveyors 25 move each outboard
row of containers 10 through the machine, the containers 10
are progressively tilted to and through various positions
and particularly as consecutively shown in FIGS. 19-22.
As in the first embodiment, the tilting motion is produced
by a number of container guide elements extending longi-
` tudinally through the carrier applicating stations of the
~,~ machine. Those guide elements function substantially as
the above described guide elements 35-38 and are shown
at 71-74.
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108S'^~08
.
~ reel 46 having the strip 70 of carriers wound
thereon is rotatively carried on a standard 47 supporting
the reel 46 centrally over the machine and so that the
strip 70 may be fed about a feed roller 75. From the
feed roller 75 the carrier strip 70 is fed downwardly over
the outboard rows of containers 10 and at the position
where each successive rank of containers reaches the
position of maximum tilt, the outboard band portions of
the outboard rows of container encircling bands of the
strip 70 are draped over the outwardmost opposed por-
tions of each rank of container ends. ~t that position,
the machine may further be conveniently provided with
a carrier strip hold-down mechanism 52 shown in FIG. 14
and intended to be substantially the same as the like
numbered mec:hanism described above relative to the
first emhodiment. Since the outboard rows of containers
are further apart in the embodiment of FIGS. 14-22 than
in the first described embodiment, the carrier hold-down
mechanism 52 should be made wider so that the chains ~ -
53 are further apart and appropriately positioned to carry
the hold-down brackets 55 against the outboard portions of
the outboard rows of carrier bands and between the containers
of the outboard rows of containers.
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~5~08
As the outboard rows of cl)ntainers move from
the position where the carrier strip 70 has been initially
applied thereto, each rank of containers 10 in further
moving through the machine are tipped toward the upright
positions to clasp or capture the outboard band portions
of the outboard bands of strip 70 such as shown in FIG. 19.
As the tilting toward the upright position of the containers
10 continues, the strip 70is stretched transversely and
the bands begin to slide Eurther and further over and about
the upper ends of the containers 10. If necessary to aid in
the complete application of the outboard carrier bands to
the outboard rows of containers, a pair of plow elements
76 and 77 are provided. The plow elements 76 and 77 are
shown in a top plan view in FIG. 15 and are carried by
suitable brackets (not shown) secured to the frame 60
over and on each side of the intermediate row of containers
10. The lower ends of the plow elements 76 and 77 are
further shown in FIGS. 20-22. As the containers 10
carry the carrier strip 70 beneath the plow elements 76
and 77, the carrier strip on each side of the intermediate
row of bands is urged against the underside of the plow
elements 76 and 77 to cause a relative downward movement
of the outboard carrier bands completely about the outboard
rows of containers 10 as shown in FIG. 21.
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lV~5~08
When the outboard rows of containers 10 have
been spread apart sufficiently to permit the intermediate
row of containers 10 to enter therebetween, the inter-
mediate conveyor 63 progressively moves the containers
10 of the intermediate row of containers 10 upwardly
toward the strip 70 as shown in FIGS. 19-22. Wh;le
the machine of FIGS. 14-22 essentially carries the inter-
mediate row of containers 10 into contact with the
intermediate row of carrier bands after the outboard
carrier bands have been substantially completely applied,
alternatively the intermediate row of containers 10 can
be brought into contact with the strip 70 before complete
Il application of the outboard carrier bands. Further
¦ alternatively, the intermediate row of containers 10 need
not be carried into contact with the intermediate row of
carrier bands at an angle such as shown in FIG. 17 but
may be brought upwardly into contact with the strip 70 with ;
the longitudinal axes of the containers 10 vertical as shown
in FIG. 18. In many carrier strip embodiments, the angled
entrance of the intermediate row of containers into the
intermediate row of carrier bands is advantageous. In
the machine embodiment shown in FIGS. 14-17, the angled --
entrance of the intermediate row of containers 10 is produced
by the angle of the conveyor belt of the conveyor 63.
FIG. 16 which is a top plan view of FIG. 17 further shows ~ ,
'
lV8S708
how the intermediate row of containers initially enter at
an angle into the intermediate row of carrier bands of
the carrier strip 70. FIG. 18, which is substantially dia-
grammatic, shows a plurality of reciprocating plungers
78 supporting the intermediate row of containers 10 and
moving the containers 10 vertically upwardly into and
through the apertures of the intermediate row of carrier
bands of the strip 70. The plungers 78 may be carried
in known forms of conveyors with the lower ends of the
plungers 78 having cam rollers which will roll on a fixed
cam plate there beneath to produce the desired vertically
reciprocating motion as the plungers 78 are carried from
the input to the output end of the machine in timed relation
with the movement of the outboard containers 10 through
16 the machine.
~fter complete application of the strip 70 to the
three rows of containers 10 known cutting mechanisms
may be provided at the output end of the machine above
the output conveyors 67 for transversely severing the strip
70 between selected ranks of containers 10 to produce
multipackages in any desired multiples of three cont~iners.
Having described the invention, it is to be under-
stuod that changes can be ma.de in the described embodiment3
by thc,se skilled in the art witllirl the spirit and scope of t~le :
ciaims. . .:
.
.
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