Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VARI~BLE PL~NE COMPRESSION
APPARATUS, METI~OD OF UTILIZING SAME,
AND CARTON FOR USE THEREWITEI
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This invention relates in general to
new and useful improvements in the formation
of packages wherein cartons of the wrap around
type have side panels pulled tightly around
the articles being packaged with the tightened
side panels being held in that state while the
closure panels of the carton are folded into
position and secured relative to one another.
Most particularly, this invention relates to
an apparatus which is an improvement on the
apparatus disclosed and claimed in my prior
U.S. Patent No. 3,474,590 and an improved
carton of the type disclosed in my prior U.S.
Patent 3,556,386.
The major advantage of the
compression system of this invention is that
it greatly simplifies and shortens the
changeover time when going from one pack size
or grouping to another. Presently, the
internal compression system provides a
tightening lug for each container in a
package. The tightening lugs are carried by
chain.s which must be replaced or the
individual lugs moved with respect to the
chains when changing the apparatus from one
container grouping or one container diameter
to a different one. This operation is the
most time-consuming part of an entire
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changeover.
In accordance with this invention,
the tightening lugs are disassociated from the
individual containers which, first of all,
permits the use of fewer lugs. By placing the
individual cut outs on the closure panels in
positions remotely located from the individual
containers, a common compression cut out
location may be used in conjunction with
cartons or wraps covering a ranye of diEferent
sizes and groupings. As a result, when
utilizing the present apparatus, no
compression changeover is required other than
moving the compression chains closer or
farther apart to accommodate different
container sizes. This operation can be easily
calibrated and automated for greatly
simplified changeover procedure accomplished
in less than half the present time.
With the above and other objects in
view that will hereinafter appear, the nature
of the invention will be more clearly
understood by reference to the following
detailed description, the appended claims, and
the several views illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan view of an
apparatus for applying cartons to a plurality
of articles, such as containers, to form
packages and incorporates the compression
apparatus of this invention.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical
sectional view taken generally along the line
2-2 of Figure 1 and shows further the details
of the compression apparatus in relation to
the cartons.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank
for forming a carton in accordance with this
invention.
5Figure 4 is a schematic transverse
vertical sectional view taken generally along the
line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shows the fingers of
the compression lugs initially engaglng in
compression cut outs in closure panels of a
carton.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical
sectional view taken generally along the line
5-5 of Figure 1 and shows the compression lugs
as they move together with the fingers thereof
engaged in the closure panels as they fold
upwardly beneath the containers.
Figure 6 is a fragnnentary sectional
view taken generally along the line 6-6 of
Figure 1 and shows the closure panels in their
fully closed positions and lower portions of
the side panels drawn tightly together about
the containers.
Figure 7 is a ~ragmentary sectional
view taken generally along the line 7-7 of
Figure 1 and shows the cornpletely closed
carton and the manner in which the compression
lugs are supported as they are laterally
withdrawn relative to the package.
Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of
a typical compression lug and the finger
carried thereby.
Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional
view taken through one of the conveyor chains
for the lugs and shows the mounting of a
typical lug on a barrel pin carried by the
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associated carrier chain.
Referrlng now to the drawings in
detail, reference is first made to Figure 3
wherein there is illustrated a carton blank
for a carton formed in accordance with this
invention, the carton blank being generally
identified by the nurneral 10. The carton
blank 10 is in the ;Eorm oE an elongated,
generally rectangular, strip of paperboard
with the strip being generally identified by
the numeral 12. The strip 12 has a central
portion in the form of a top panel 14 which is
set out from the remai.nder of the strip 12 by
a pa.ir of transverse fold lines 16, 18. A
first side panel 20 is joined to the top panel
14 along the fold line ]8 and, in turn, has
connected thereto along a transverse fold line
22 an inner closure panel 24.
A second side panel 26 is connected
to the top panel 14 along the fold line 16 and
in turn carries an outer closure panel 28
which is connected thereto along a transverse
fold line 30.
The side panel 20 has a lower panel
portion 32 which extends between the fold line
22 and a fold line 34 with the fold line 34
being interrupted by part circular cuts 36
defining flaps 38. The flaps 38 are centered
on the containers which are to be packaged
within the carton formed by the blank 10. In
alignment with each of the flaps 38 is a
locking cut out 40 which extends partially
across the fold line 22 into the closure panel
24. The base of each of the containers or
like article which is to be packaged within
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the resultant carton projects through and is
locked within the cut out 40.
The side panel 26 has a like lower
portion 42 which extends between the fold line
and a transverse fold line 44 which is
interrupted by a second set of arcuate cut
lines 46 defining flaps 48. A further locking
cut out 50 is aligned with each of the flaps
48 for receiving the base of a container. The
cut outs 50 extend across the fold line 30
into the closure panel 28.
The closure panel 24 is considered
to be the primary locking panel and carries
primary locks 52. On the other hand, the
closure panel 28 may be considered to be a
male locJcing panel and carries male locks 54.
The top panel 14 may be provided
with suitable openings 56 for receiving necks
of bottles. Further, there are provided
combinations of cut lines 58 and fold lines 60
defining tabs 62 which, when pushed into the
interior of the resultant carton, define
finger receiving openings 64.
The carton blank 10, as described,
is in accordance with my U.S. Patent No.
3,556,386 and as such is known. The carton
blank 10 and the carton formed therefrom is
i.mproved in accordance with this invention by
the provision in the panels 24 and 28 of
compression cut outs 66. Each compression cut
out 66 includes a generally rectangular base
portion 68 which is generally parallel to the
respective one of the fold lines 22, 30 and is
remote therefromO Each compression cut out 66
also includes a portion defined by an arcuate
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cut line 70 so as to have a domed appearance.
The arcuate cut line 70 generally faces the
respective one oE the fold lines 22, 30.
It is to be understood that the
compression cut outs 66 may be positioned as
desired in the width direction of the panels
24, 28 with the positions of the compression
cut outs 66 being in no way dependent upon the
positions of the locking cut outs 50 and the
intended position of articles or containers
within the resultant carton.
Having described the carton
improvernent in accordance with this invention,
reference is now rnade to Figures 1, 2 and 4-7
which show generally the details of a package
forming apparatus having associated therewith
the compression apparatus which is a feature
of the invention. In a known manner, when
packaging bottles, for example, arranged in
columns and rows, such bottles or like
containers are arranged in groups which in the
illustrated embodiment of the invention
contains six containers. The carton blank 10
will be placed into overlying relation to each
group of containers and in the case of
containers having necks and closures, the
necks and closures will pass through the
openings 56. Thereafter, the side panels 20,
26 will be plowed down to extend down along
side the group of containers in the manner
generally shown at the right in Figure 2. At
this time the closure panels 24, 28 will
depend down as continuations of the side
panels 20, 26.
In the absence of the tightening of
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the carton with respect to the containers, in
a conventiorlal manner utilizing suitable
plowers or the like identified by the
reEerence numerals 72, 74 in E'igures 4 and 5,
the closure parlels 24 and 28 will be folded up
beneath the group of containers with the
closure panel 24 being advanced ahead of the
closure panel 26. As the closure panels 24,
26 approach their horizontal positions of
Figure 6, the primary locks 52 and the male
locks 54 w.ill be sequentially engaged so as to
lock together the closure panels 24, 26. The
details of this are not illustrated in that it
in of itself does not form part of this
invention.
In accordance with this invention it
is desired that the lower portions of the side
panels 20, 22 be drawn tight around the
containers with the panel portions 32, 42
being tightly drawn around the base portions
of the containers in the manner shown in
Figure 6 so as to interlock the containers
with the side panels 20, 26. To this end
there is provided the compression cut outs 66
and a variable plane compression apparatus
generally identified by the numeral 76. The
apparatus 76 includes a pair of chains 78, 80
which carry at regularly spaced intervals sets
of lugs 82 as is best shown in Figure 1. The
chains 78, 80 lie in a common plane below the
plane of supports for the containers, which
supports are illustrated as flat strips 84 in
Figures 4 and 5. The chains 78, 80 are
continuous and pass about a predetermined
path. The path of the chains 78, 80 include a
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first converging portion 86 wherein the chains
78, 80 rapidly move together. This is
followed by a second converging portion 88
wherein the chains 78, 80 slope only slightly
with respect to the path of movement of the
group of containers. It is along this portion
of the path that the closure panels 24, 28 are
drawn together so as to draw the panel
portions 32, 42 tightly about the containers
which are being packaged.
The path of the chains 78, 80
include diverging portions 90 where the chains
move away frorn the formed containers.
Reference is now nnade to Figures 8
and 9 wherein there is illustrated a typical
lug 82. Each lug 82 is of a rectangular
outline and is formed of a thick plate. One
edge of the lug 82 is bevelled as at 92 while
the remainder of the lug is of a uniform
thickness except for having a groove 94 in
which there is seated a major portion of a
finger 96. The finger 96 is secured to the
lug 82 by a pair of screws 98 having
countersunk heads.
It will be seen that each finger 96
projects beyond the lug 82 and has a rounded
nose 100 which is offset to one side of the
center of the finger 96 so as to facilitate
entry of the finger 96 into a respective
compression cut out 66. At the opposite edge
of the finger 96, the projecting part of the
finger is provided with an arcuate guide
portion 102 which serves to center the
projecting nose of the finger in the
respective compression cutout 66.
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Each of the carrier chains 78, 80
carries at intervals support bars 104 which
have extending therebetween a barrel pin 106
which is vertically disposed. The barre] pin
106 extends through a larger diameter bore 108
in the bevelled portion 92 of the lug 82 as is
clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9. The bore
108 is at an angle to the horizontal as is
clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9. This
permits the lug 82 to assume an operative
horizontal position, as shown in solid lines
in Figure 9, while permitting the lug 82 to
drop or pivot to a downwardly sloping tilted
position as shown in phantom lines in Figure
9. It is to be understood that the downward
tilting of the lug 82 is restricted by the
walls of the bore 108 engaging the pin 106.
It is also pointed out at this time
that the fingers 96 of the lugs of each set of
lugs are spaced in accordance with the spacing
of the compression cut outs 66 in a respective
closure panel of the carton to be applied. As
will be described hereinafter, ~he compression
cut outs will be uniformly spaced in all
cartons which are to be applied to a group of
articles to form packages in accordance with
this invention.
Referring now to Figure 4, it will
be seen that as the lugs 82 converging, the
30 noses 100 of the fingers 96 will be at
elevations to be received in the compression
cut outs 66. Then as the lugs 82 pass along
the path of the apparatus together with the
articles being packaged and the cartons, the
lugs will move further together in a gradual
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manner while the closure panels 24, 26 are
folded up beneath the articles being packaged.
The fingers 96 having been engaged within the
compression cut outs 66, will effect an upward
pivoting of the lugs 82 until the lugs assume
horizontal positions as is best shown in
Figure 6. At this time the lugs 82 have drawn
the closure panels 2~ into a maximum
overlapped relation with the result that the
panel portions 32, ~2 of the side panels 20,
26 are drawn around the base portions of the
articles being packaged and interlocked
therewith in the manner shGwn in Figure 6.
It is to be understood that by
having the f.ingers 96 recessed in the upper
surfaces of the lugs 82, an edge 110 of each
lug 82 remote from the bevelled portion 92
thereof may function as a stop surface
limiting the projection of each finger 96 into
the respective compression cut out 66 with the
surface 110 then effectively forming the means
for drawing the closure panels 24 and 26
together and effecting compression of the
articles being packaged within the side
panels 20, 26 in the manner shown in Figure 6.
After the package has been formed,
it is necessary to withdraw the lugs 82 and
the fingers 96. In order to assure movement
of the lugs 82 in a horizontal plane, support
bars 116 are provided. These support bars, as
is shown in Figure 7, underlie the lugs 82.
After these lugs 82 reach the position shown
in Figure 7, the support bars 116 are
discontinued and the lugs 82 are free to pivot
relative to the pins 106 and drop to their
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- tilted dotted line position of E'igure 9 for
passage around the path of the chains 78, 80
for engagement at a later time with another
carton blank in the same manner as described
hereinabove.
Inasmuch as the compression lugs
engage in the separately formed compression
cut outs 66, it will be apparent that by
utilizing a common compression cut out
location cartons or wraps covering a ranch of
different sizes of articles or containers as
well as a different range of groupings, may be
operated on by merely moving the compression
chains closer or farther apart to accommodate
diameter differences. Even this operation can
be easily calibrated and automated for greatly
simplified changeover procedure which can be
accomplished in less than half the time of the
prior arrangement.
Although only a preferred embodiment
of the compression system and the carton blank
arrangement has been specifically illustrated
and described herein, it should be understood
that minor variations may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
This application is a division of
application Serial No. 504,538, filed March 19,
1986.
