Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCENDI NG GRI D FOR CASE PACKER
This invention relates generally to case packers
of the type having a grid with shifting riding strips, into
which grid charges of articles are received in an upper por-
tion of the grid for gravity feed into upwardly open packing
cases moved sequentially to a loading station below the
grid.
More particularly, this invention deals with a
shifting grid which includes a funnel subassembly for de-
celerating the articles as they drop downwardly through the
grid, which funnel subassembly is adapted to move vertically
in timed relationship with the gravity fed articles to move
up and clear a case being fed into the loading station, and
to move down and mate with the case while it remains on the
case conveyor at the loading station to guide the articles
during free fall and to also decelerate them as they drop
downwardly into a case at the loading station.
Shifting grid case packers are used to pack arti-
cles of uniform size and shape, as for example bottles or
similar articles, in upwardly open cases or cartons which
may include compartments or cells for holding the individual
articles. A charge or slug of articles to be loaded is fed
from an infeed conveyor across a deadplate into the upper
portion of the grid, and a grid assembly is movably mounted
on longitudinally extending ways such that the charge can be
shifted downstream slightly while the line pressure of the
oncoming articles on the infeed conveyor is interrupted by a
line brake or a similar holdbac~ system. The grid assembly
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includes a shifting grid frame, which frame includes riding
strips to support the articles in the upper portion of the
grid in one position of the strips, and to allow the arti-
cles to drop downwardly when the strips are shifted to a
second position. A funnel subassembly is supported below
the shifting grid and is movable vertically downwardly as
the articles drop in order to guide the articles into the
upwardly open packing case. The packing case is fed on a
horizontally extending case conveyor to a load station
located on the case conveyor itself, and the funnel sub-
assembly actually mates with the sides of the case, and/or
the compartments or cells within the case, when in its lower
position, but is nevertheless adapted to clear the case for
movement of the cases on the case conveyor in the upper
position of the funnel subassembly.
The primary object of the present invention is to
provide a unique funnel subassembly for a shifting grid
style packer of the type described above, which funnel sub-
a3sernbly is adapted for vertical movement in timed relation-
ship with shifting of the grid, and dropping of the articles
through it, so that a case can be packed while it rests on a
horizontally extending case conveyor, and the necessity for
lifting of the case to mate with the funnel subassembly is
effectively obviated.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a removable funnel subassembly which is not only
vertically movable as described abovel but which can be
removed for replacement or repair without necessity for
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altering the generally rectangular grid frarne itself.
The foregoing advantages are achieved in a shift-
ing grid style packer of the type which is adapted to rec-
eive columns of articles from an infeed conveyor between
side-by-side longitudinally extending lane guides so that
the articles can be assembled in a group for deposit down
wardly into an upwardly open packing case. The machine
frame has longitudinally extending ways oriented parallel
to the lane guides, and a grid assembly is movably mounted
on these ways for at least limited movement in the longi-
tudinal direction of the lane guides. Cross slide means,
in the form of parallel longitudinally spaced shafts, are
oriented perpendicular to the ways and a shifting grid
frame is provided on these cross slide shafts and includes
a riding strip subassembly for supporting the columns of
articles when the grid frame is in one position and which
shifting grid serves to moves these riding strips in align-
men-t with the lane guides to allow the columns ox articles
to drop downwardly when in a second position. A single
fluid actuator moves the grid frame transversely between
these two positions and a funnel subassembly is movably
supported from these same cross slide shafts for vertical
movement between up and down positions. In the up position
the funnel subassembly is clear of cases moved along on a
case conveyor provided below the grid frame. Stop means is
provided in association with this case conveyor for inter-
rupting the movement of cases in order to provide each case
in turn at a stationary load station or position on the case
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conveyor, which load station is immediately below the grid
structure described above. In the down position for the funnel
subassembly the lower portion thereof mates and enters the
upwardly open case held at the load station for guiding the
articles dropped into the case. The vertical motion of the
funnel subassembly is achieved in timed relationship with
shifting of the grid riding strips so that the funnel mechanism
moves downwardly at the same time that the articles are dropped.
This relationship reduces the relative motion between the
dropping articles and the funnel mechanism as the articles are
deposited in the upwardly open packing case.
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions
of a case packer illustrated in schematic fashion, and with
portions broken away, and illustrate the environment for the
present invention The vertlcally movable funnel subassem-
bly of the invention being illustrated in solid and brokenlines to illustrate its up and down position respectively.
The case being packed is also shown on its conveyor.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the shifting
grid packer illustrated in Fig. 1 with the fixed lane guides
illustrated in phantom lines and with portions of the Fig. 1
apparatus ommited for clarity.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally
on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative
embodiment of vertically movable funnel subassembly suitable
for use in a shifting grid similar to that of Figs. 1-3.
Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the shifting
grid and movable funnel shown in Fig. 4.
Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, Fig.
l shows a continuously operated article infeed conveyor lO,
the downstream end of which conveyor is located in closely
spaced relationship to a case packer to be described so that
columns of articles of uniform shape and size A, A are
adapted to be fed in a downstream direction indicated by the
arrow 14 between fixed lane guides 12, 12 supported from the
fixed frame of the packer (not shown). The lane guides and
articles are shown in phantom lines in Figs. l and 2 and
Fig. illustrates only two lanes for the articles A, A but
it will be apparent that any number may be provided between
an appropriate number of lane guides.
A conventional packer of the type forming the en-
vironment for the present invention comprises laterally
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spaced longitudinally extending legs 18, 18 (only one of
which is shown in Fig. 2) and these legs provided a fixed
framework for supporting the grid assembly to be described.
Fig. 3 shows the fixed frame leg 18 and a longitudinally
extending guideway 18a defined thereon for receiving one
of several rollers 24, 24 such that the grid assembly is
free to move in a longitudinal direction in conjunction
with shifting movement of the grid frame to be described.
To achieve this shifting of the grid frame a fluid
operated actuator 34 is connected between the machine frame
leg 18 and the grid frame 30 for movement of the grid frame
from the position shown to a second position wherein the
articles are free to drop through the grid frame into a
packing case positioned therebelow, and as suggested in
Fig. 1 at C.
The means for so shifting the grid Erame 30 is oE
a conventional configuration having a vertical post portion
33 provided between the frame 30 and the movable portion of
actuator 34. More particularly, the grid assembly of Figs.
2 and 3 comprises longitudinally extending parallel side
members 20, 20 only one of which is shown) each of which
members 20 carries two rollers 2~, 24 referred to previous
ly. This grid assembly further includes cross slide defin-
ing means in the form of parallel shafts 26 and 28, which
shafts have their end portions secured in the members 20, 20
so as to slidably support the transversely shifting grid
frame 30. Tnis frame 30 is of open rectangular shape and
includes slide bearing portions (not shown) such that this
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rectangular frame is adapted to move on these parallel cross
slide shafts 26 and 28 in response to retraction and exten-
sion of the fluid actuator 34. Stop collars 31, 31 are
provided to define the limit positions for the frame all
as described in one or more of the above mentioned pending
patent applications. In the position shown for the frame
30 articles A, A are adapted to be received between the lane
guides 12, 12 and to be supported on the riding strips 32,
32 as these articles are moved by line pressure from the
infeed conveyor lO in the downstream direction 14 to fill
the upper portion of the grid.
As best shown in Fig. l a conventional line brake
assembly, indicated generally at 15, is adapted to clamp one
or more articles against a fixed deadplate 13 so that the
group of articles provided in the grid can be shifted down-
stream providing clearance for dropping them into the case.
That is, in conjunction with transverse shifting movement oE
the frame 30 the grid frame is also moved in the downstream
direct.ions as a result of a Eixed cam plate 3~ which defines
an inclined slot 3~a such that a roller 40 provided on a
post associated with the cross slide shaft 26 causes limited
longitudinal downstream motion of the entire grid assembly
to provide the requisite spacing between the articles
clamped on the deadplate 13 by the brake 15 and those
in the grid frame.
Lane detectors 17 are provided on a cross beam 19
which is adjustably mounted longitudinally on rails provided
for this purpose and best shown at 20 in Fig. 1. Depending
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upon the size of the charge of articles to be dropped these lane
detectors, and more particularly the beam 19, will be positioned
for allowi.ng the requisite number of articles to be received in
each o the lanes defined by the mixed lane guides referred to
previously. The riding strips 32, 32 are supported on fixed
guides or cross bars 52, 52 provided for this purpose in the grid
frame 30. Each riding strip 32 has an end block 54 at its
upstream end and end block 56 at its downstream end such that
these strips are releasably secured to laterally extending
upstream and downstream legs of the rectangular frame 30. Screws
58, 58 are provided in the downstream end blocks 56 to properly
locate each riding strip 32 in the desired lateral location with
respect to the associated lane defined by the lane guides 12, 12.
Alternatively these riding strips may instead be mounted on a
subassembly such as that sugges-ted at 50 in Eig. 2, such
subassembly i.tself comprising a rectangular frame def.ining the
.l.aterally extending upstream and downstream members 52, 52 and
longitudincll members 50, 50. In this case, that is where a
subframe or subassembly is used to support the riding strip the
frame 30 must be secured thereto by sui-table means which may
include means for releasably securing one to the other.
Turning next to a more complete description of the
funnel subassembly, clusters of depending fingers 70a serve
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to guide the descending articles as they drop downwardly through
the open grid, and it is an important feature of the present
invention that these finger clusters also descend as the articles
enter the upwardly open pocket defining portions thereof so as to
more efficiently decelerate these articles as they drop toward
the upwardly open packing case C. By way of reference, each of
these finger holders is adapted to support up to four fingers in
four adjacent corners of a plurality of associated pockets in a
typical grid funnel assembly. Means is provided for mounting the
finger holders in depending positions on parallel rails such as
the rails shown at 72, 72 in Fig. 1. The zingers are preferably
flexible and are adapted to extend downwardly and outwardly from
the sockets defined in the holders and each finger is releasably
retained in its assembly by opposed clamping of surfaces on a
holder 70b and a retaining member 70d. As so constructed and
arranged each finger is capable oE limited pivotal movement at
least to and away from a normal center position such as -that
shown wherein each einger extends toward the center of its
associated pocket. A sing]e fastener extends upwardly through
the retaining member 70d and may carry a compression spring such
that the restoring force on all fingers on a particular finger
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holder can be varied to cause its associated zingers ko be urged
toward the normal positions shown. Each holder 70b is secured to
its associated longitudinally rails 72 by conventional fasteners
as suggested at 70c in Fig. l
The foregoing description serves to outline the
structure of a case packer in which the improvement of the
present invention can be provided. The longitudinally eY~tending
rails 72, 72 which support the holders 70b are in turn supported
by laterally extending cross members 76 and 78 best shown in Fig.
1 and located parallel to and approximately the same level as the
guide rods 26 and 28 respectively. A second pair of rods 86 and
88 respectively support these cross members 76 and 78 through
brackets 96 and 98, which brackets serve to releasably secure the
funnel subassembly to the parallel cross shafts 86 and 88D Thus,
each bracket 96 has a U-shaped socket at its upstream end so that
it is pivotally supported on the shaft 86 and hence capable oE
being pivoted downwardly so as to be removed Erom the shaE-t ater
disconnecting a downstream bracket 98 from shaft 88. The
clown.strearn bracket 98 inc:Ludes two parts, a first part being
secured to the cross member 78 and a second part 98b movably
mounted on the first part as best shown in Fig. 1. These bracket
parts cooperate to define upwardly open sockets for releasably
securing the funnel subassembly to shaft 88. As so constructed
and arranged each of these sockets can be opened and closed
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manually to drop the downstream end of the funnel subassernblies
so that it pivots about the upstream shaft 86. Thus the entire
funnel subassembly can be removed for convenient replacement or
repair.
In further accordance with the present invention this
removable portion of the funnel subassemblyr toyether with rods
86 and 88, are adapted to be shifted vertically downwardly from
the solid line position shown to the suggested broken line
position as a result of simultaneous actuation of two fluid
actuators 100, 100 only one of which is shown in the drawings.
As best shown in Fig. 3 the actuator 100 has a movable portion
101 which i.s directly connected to longitudinally extending leg
102 in which the cross shafts 86 and 88 are themselves supported.
Two such actuators are provided at the midpoints of opposite
sides of these legs 102, 102. Four corner mounted blocks 10~,
104 are provided as shown, in fixed relationship to the guide
rails 26 and 28, to s:Lidably receive your vertically oriented
corner po.sts 106, :L06. These posts have their lower ends fixed
to the ends Oe the legs 102, 102, and as so constructed and
arranged the funnel subassembly comprising legs 102, 102 shafts
86 and 88, together with brackets 96 and 98 and the rails 72 and
finger clusters 70, 70) are movable vertically.
Vertical movement of the funnel subassembly in the
downward direction is timed with the lateral shifting movement
of the grid riding strips 32, 82. Thus, the downwardly
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dropping articles move through the pockets provided by the
finger clusters as the latter penetrate the packing case C.
Retractable stops S, S associated with the case conveyor T
(Fig. 1) locate the case during this phase of the cyclically
operated packer, and the need for a lift table to raise the
case off the conveyor into engagement with the funnel (and
reduce the shock of the dropped articles) is eliminated.
The expedient of moving the funnel down instead of raising
the case provides a much more efficient case packer. The
fingers themselves are so designed as to decelerate the des-
cending articles and further reduce the impact between them
and the case.
Turning next to the alternative embodiments depict-
ed in Figs. and 5, a grid frame is supported for limited
longitudinal movement on guideways 118a, 118a in the fixed
frame legs 118, 118. Rollers 124, 124 are moun-ted on the
longitudinally extending side members 120, 120 for this
purpose. fluid actuator (not shown, but similar to that
described above with reference to numeral 3~ in Fig 3)
move the shiftiny grid frame 130 both laterally and in the
downstream direction due to the action of cam slots (not
shown, but similar to those described above at 38a).
The grid frame 130 moves laterally on the parallel
cross slide shafts 126 and 128, which shafts have their end
portions secured in the longitudinal members 120, 120 (one
shown in Fig. 5). Shaft 128 actually connects to uprights
122, 122 which uprights are supported by longitudinally ex-
tending legs 202, 202.
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Thus, the grid assembly of Figs. 4 and 5 comprise
members 120, 120 and legs 202, 202 plus shafts 126 and 128
and these components provide the support structure for the
laterally shiftable grid frame 130.
The grid frame 130, like that described above with
respect to frame 30 in Figs. 1-3, has an open rectangular
planform as viewed from above (See Fig. 2 for reference
purposes - no equivalent view is shown for frame 130). As
best shown in Fig. 4 the downstream end brace 130a of frame
130 is spaced vertically above the rest of the frame (up-
stream end 130d and longitudinally extending portions 130c,
130c~. Support block 130b are provided to connect the
raised end brace 130a to these parallel portions 130c, 130c.
As so constructed and arranged frame 130 is slidably sup-
ported on cross shafts 126 and 128 for the purpose of shift-
ing the riding strips 132, 132 and it will be apparent that
these strips serve the same purpose in this Fig. 4 and Fig.
5 version as the strips 32, 32 in Figs. 1-3. Each strip 132
is held in place by devices 158 similar to those described
above with reference to 58, 48 in Fig. 2.
It will be apparent that the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 ver-
sion also has lane detectors (not shown) mounted on a cross
beam similar to that described above with reference to beam
19, and that this structure is adjustably located on the
rails 120, 120 as is beam 19 on rails 20, 20 in Fig. 2. So
too, an infeed conveyor feeds articles into the left hand
end of the grid in Fig. 4 between lane guides 12, 12 and
across a deadplate (not shown, but similar to the plate 13
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of Fig. 2). I,ine brake means stops the articles so charges can
be dropped.
Turning next to a description of the removable funnel
subassembly of the present invention as shown in Figs. 4 and 5,
the finger clusters 70, 70 are provided on longitudinally
extending rails 172, 172 similar to the rails 72, 72 described
above with reference to Figs. 1-3.
Where the funnel subassembly of Figs. 1-3 is provided
with upstream and downstream brackets 96 and 98 so that the
removable portion can be pivotably mounted for downward rotation
on shaft 86 by means of the forward bracket 96, after dislodging
the separable bracket 98 and 98b from shaft 88, the funnel
subassembly of Figs. 4 and 5 has a removable portion adapted to
be slid horizontally into and out of its active position on
longitudinally extending rails 186 (only one side shown in Fig.
5) and is held in the position shown by screws 198, :L98. Thus,
the removable porkion of the funnel subassembly in Figs. 4 and S
compr:ises Eour brackets 196, 1~6 acljacent the four corners of the
tunnel subassembly, -the cross members 176 and 178 to which the
brackets are attached and the above-described rails 172, 172 and
finger clusters 70, 70.
This removable portion of the funnel subassembly is
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in turn mounted on the parallel rails 186, as mentioned pre-
viously, and these rails 186, 186 are connected to the
movable parts 201, 210 of vertically oriented fluid actua-
tors 200, 200. Each actuator 200 is mounted to one of the
two legs 202, 202 mentioned previously and has its movable
part 201 extending through an opening in its associated
leg 202 so that its lower end can be secured to the mid-
point of the rail 186. Four slide blocks 204 are provided
two on either side of each actuator 200 so that vertically
oriented posts 206 carried by the rail 186 move in these
slide blocks to locate and guide the vertically movable
funnel subassembly as it is lowered during loading of a
case, and raised during return movement. As so constructed
and arranged cases can be moved horizontally into and then
out of a load portion on the case conveyor while the funnel
subassembly is raised, and yet the case can be mated with
the funnel fingers when the case is lowered as suggested
in Fig. 1. Both versions exhibit this advantage, but the
second version shown in Eigs. 4 and 5 has an added advantage
attributed to its ability to be easily removed by releasing
screws 198, 198 and then sliding the funnel horizontally.
This removal feature allows the funnel to be removed for
replacement or repair of fingers etc. without requiring
excessive vertical space between the case and the support-
ing structure (86 and 88 in Fig. 1) for said funnel sub-
assembly (compare the pivotal release for the funnel of
Figs. 1-3 with the horizontal release for that of Figs. 4
and 5).
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