Drop-through case packer

Claim 2

For use with a container-handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame having a power-driven endless belt conveyor therein for moving containers from a receiving end to a discharge end and having a grid structure thereover adjacent the discharge end with a series of parallel plates for arranging containers on the conveyor into parallel lanes along which the rows of containers in said lanes are moved by the conveyor, the invention comprising a drop-through case packer which comprises: a. a pair of parallel sideplates, one secured to each side of said supporting frame so positioned that rows of containers moving off the discharge end of the conveyor pass between them, b. a container-receiving plate extending between said sideplates at a level to receive the rows of containers being discharged from the conveyor, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid positioned over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form in effect a continuation of the lanes formed by said grid structure, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars thereacross extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable between normal position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are positioned under the divider plates, f. gating means supported between said sideplates over said container-receiving plate movable vertically from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks such movement, g. means arranged to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to container-dropping position and lowering the gating means to block the movement of containers into said open frame and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to a normal position; and h. means for supporting a carton in container-receiving position under said transversely movable frame.

Claim 3

The drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein the transversely movable frame is vertically adjustable for maintaining the container-supporting bars level with the container-receiving plate.

Claim 4

The drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein the transversely movable frame is vertically adjustable for maintaining the container-supporting bars level with the container-receiving plate, and said sideplates are vertically adjustable with respect to the conveyor for maintaining the container-receiving plate level with the discharge end of the conveyor.

Claim 5

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a common operating means arranged to operate both the gating means and the transverSely movable frame, and a yieldable lost motion means between said common operating means and said gating means arranged to permit continued transverse movement of the transversely movable frame to container-dropping position after the gating means has effectively blocked the travel of the containers and delay the lifting of said gating means until after the transversely movable frame has started its return to normal position.

Claim 6

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein said gating means comprises a vertically movable bar having a friction element depending therefrom over each lane between the divider plates and resiliently urged downwardly by springs, and means for raising and lowering said bar to raise and lower said friction elements in unison.

Claim 7

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 5 wherein there is a transversely movable bar over said first-named bar for effecting vertical movement of said first-named bar when said transversely movable bar is moved horizontally in one direction and to effect raising of said first bar when it moves transversely in the opposite direction, and fluid pressure means for effecting transverse movement of said second bar.

Claim 8

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 6 wherein there is a lever pivotally supported on one of said sideplates intermediate its ends with one end of said lever passing through said transversely movable bar for rocking said lever when said bar is moved, and a link connecting the other end of said lever with said transversely movable frame whereby the transversely movable frame and the gating means are operated in unison.

Claim 9

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a carton-supporting platform arranged to support a carton under said open bottom frame and under said transversely movable frame, said container-receiving plate being pivotally supported for tilting movement in a vertical arc, said open bottom frame being arranged to tilt when a group of containers is dropped through said open bottom frame into the carton, whereby the carton may slide off said platform, and means for returning the platform to a horizontal position after the loaded carton has been discharged.

Claim 10

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for returning the platform to horizontal position is a fluid pressure cylinder and valve means operated by the tilting of said platform for energizing said cylinder.

Claim 11

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a transversely movable bar attached to said transversely movable frame at the end of the open bottom frame remote from the container-receiving plate, said transversely movable bar having a projection thereon at the end of each lane between the divider plates against which the endmost containers in the several lines abut when the transversely movable frame is in the normal position, but which are shifted sideways by the movement of said transversely movable frame to the container-dropping position to thereby relieve the pressure of containers one against another in the several lanes when the transversely movable frame moves to container-discharging position.

Claim 12

A drop-through case packer as defined in claim 1 wherein there is means at the end of each lane in the open bottom frame most remote from the container-receiving plate for relieving pressure on the containers in the respective lanes when the transversely movable frame is moved to container-dropping position.

Claim 13

A drop-through case packer attachment for application to a basic unit having two parallel spaced structural sections, one at each side thereof, with an endless conveyor belt positioned between them and having a dead plate at the top end of the conveyor belt onto which containers are moved by the belt, the basic unit having a grid structure adjacent the discharge end portion of the conveyor having a plurality of parallel divider plates for arranging containers into a plurality of parallel rows, said attachment cOmprising: a. a pair of spaced parallel sideplates with means thereon for securing each one to one of said structural side sections of the basic unit, b. a container-receiving plate extending between the sideplates flush with the dead plate on the basic unit and providing in effect an extension thereof, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form a continuation of the lanes provided by the divider plates of said grid, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars thereacross extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable between a normal position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are under the divider plates, f. gating means mounted between said sideplates movable vertically from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks off movement of the containers, g. means to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to the container-dropping position and lowering said gating means to block the movement of containers off said container-receiving plate and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to normal position; and h. means for supporting a carton under said transversely movable frame.

Claim 14

A drop-through case packer attachment for application to a basic unit having two parallel spaced structural sections, one at each side thereof, with an endless conveyor belt positioned between them and having a dead plate at the top end of the conveyor belt onto which containers are moved by the belt, the basic unit having a grid structure adjacent the discharge end portion of the conveyor having a plurality of parallel divider plates for arranging containers into a plurality of parallel rows, said attachment cOmprising: a. a pair of spaced parallel sideplates with means thereon for securing each one to one of said structural side sections of the basic unit, b. a container-receiving plate extending between the sideplates flush with the dead plate on the basic unit and providing in effect an extension thereof, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form a continuation of the lanes provided by the divider plates of said grid, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars thereacross extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable between a normal position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are under the divider plates, f. gating means mounted between said sideplates movable vertically from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks off movement of the containers, g. means to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to the container-dropping position and lowering said gating means to block the movement of containers off said container-receiving plate and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to normal position; and h. means for supporting a carton under said transversely movable frame.

Claim 15

A drop-through case packer attachment as defined in claim 12 wherein said spaced parallel sideplates have laterally projecting flanges thereon that rest on the tops of the parallel spaced structural sections of the frame of the basic unit, bolts passing through said flanges and into the structural sections for securing the attachment to said sections, and adjusting screws in said flanges engaging the tops of said sections for adjusting the height of the attachment relative to the conveyor whereby said container-receiving plate may be set flush with the top of said dead plate on the basic machine.

Claim 16

For use with a container-handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame having a power-driven endless belt conveyor therein for moving containers from a receiving end to a discharge end and having a grid structure thereover adjacent the discharge end with a series of parallel lanes along which the rows of containers in said lanes are moved by the conveyor, the invention comprising a drop-through case packer which comprises: a. a pair of parallel sideplates, one secured to each side of said supporting frame so positioned that rows of containers moving off the discharge end of the conveyor pass between them, b. a container-receiving plate extending between said sideplates at a level to receive the rows of containers being discharged from the conveyor, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid positioned over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form in effect a continuation of the lanes formed by said grid structure, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars there across extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are positioned under the divider plates, f. gating means supported between said sideplates over said container-receiving plate movable verticaLly from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks such movement, g. common operating means arranged to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to container-dropping position and lowering the gating means to block the movement of containers into said open frame and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to a normal position, said common operating means including a yieldable lost motion means between said common operating means and said gating means arranged to permit continued transverse movement of the transversely movable frame to container-dropping position after the gating means has effectively blocked the travel of the containers and delay the lifting of said gating means until after the transversely movable frame has started its return to normal position. h. means for supporting a carton in container-receiving position under said transversely movable frame.

Claim 17

For use with a container-handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame having a power-driven endless belt conveyor therein for moving containers from a receiving end to a discharge end and having a grid structure thereover adjacent the discharge end with a series of parallel lanes along which the rows of containers in said lanes are moved by the conveyor, the invention comprising a drop-through case packer which comprises: a. a pair of parallel sideplates, one secured to each side of said supporting frame so positioned that rows of containers moving off the discharge end of the conveyor pass between them, b. a container-receiving plate extending between said sideplates at a level to receive the rows of containers being discharged from the conveyor, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid positioned over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form in effect a continuation of the lanes formed by said grid structure, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars there across extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are positioned under the divider plates, f. gating means supported between said sideplates over said container-receiving plate movable verticaLly from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks such movement, g. common operating means arranged to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to container-dropping position and lowering the gating means to block the movement of containers into said open frame and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to a normal position, said common operating means including a yieldable lost motion means between said common operating means and said gating means arranged to permit continued transverse movement of the transversely movable frame to container-dropping position after the gating means has effectively blocked the travel of the containers and delay the lifting of said gating means until after the transversely movable frame has started its return to normal position. h. means for supporting a carton in container-receiving position under said transversely movable frame.

Claim 18

For use with a container-handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame having a power-driven endless belt conveyor therein for moving containers from a receiving end to a discharge end and having a grid structure thereover adjacent the discharge end with a series of parallel lanes along which the rows of containers in said lanes are moved by the conveyor, the invention comprising a drop-through case packer which comprises: a. a pair of parallel sideplates, one secured to each side of said supporting frame so positioned that rows of containers moving off the discharge end of the conveyor pass between them, b. a container-receiving plate extending between said sideplates at a level to receive the rows of containers being discharged from the conveyor, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid positioned over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form in effect a continuation of the lanes formed by said grid structure, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars thereacross extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable between normal position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are positioned under the divider plates, f. gating means supported between said sideplates over said container-receiving plate movable vertically from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks such movement, g. means arranged to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to container-dropping position and lowering the gating means to block the movement of containers into said open frame and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to a normal position; and h. means for supporting a carton in container-receiving position under said transversely movable frame, i. means at the end of each lane in the open bottom frame most remote from the container-receiving plate for relieving pressure on the containers in the respective lanes when the transversely movable frame is moved to container-dropping position.

Claim 19

For use with a container-handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame having a power-driven endless belt conveyor therein for moving containers from a receiving end to a discharge end and having a grid structure thereover adjacent the discharge end with a series of parallel lanes along which the rows of containers in said lanes are moved by the conveyor, the invention comprising a drop-through case packer which comprises: a. a pair of parallel sideplates, one secured to each side of said supporting frame so positioned that rows of containers moving off the discharge end of the conveyor pass between them, b. a container-receiving plate extending between said sideplates at a level to receive the rows of containers being discharged from the conveyor, c. an open bottom frame structure projecting rearwardly from said container-receiving plate, d. a plurality of divider plates supported between said sideplates extending in line with the parallel plates of said grid positioned over said container-receiving plate and over said open bottom frame to form in effect a continuation of the lanes formed by said grid structure, e. a transversely movable frame under said open bottom frame having parallel container-supporting bars thereacross extending in the direction of said divider plates, said transversely movable frame being movable between normal position where there is a container-supporting bar midway between each two divider plates to a container-dropping position where the bars are positioned under the divider plates, f. gating means supported between said sideplates over said container-receiving plate movable vertically from a raised position where it is clear of containers moving over said container-receiving plate into the open bottom frame to a lower position where it blocks such movement, g. means arranged to simultaneously move the transversely movable frame from its normal position to container-dropping position and lowering the gating means to block the movement of containers into said open frame and for simultaneously lifting the gating means and returning the transversely movable frame to a normal position; and h. means for supporting a carton in container-receiving position under said transversely movable frame, i. means at the end of each lane in the open bottom frame most remote from the container-receiving plate for relieving pressure on the containers in the respective lanes when the transversely movable frame is moved to container-dropping position.

Claim 20

In a drop-through case packer, wherein containers on a traveling conveyor are first arranged between a grid structure into lanes for advancement, having a drop-through frame with divider plates positioned to provide a number of receiving lanes matching the advancing lanes, each receiving lane accepting an equal number of containers, said drop-through frame having transversely movable means thereBelow each lane and movable from a container-supporting position to a container-dropping position where all the containers are free to drop simultaneously into a carton positioned therebeneath, the improvement comprising means for restraining the travel of containers into said receiving lanes when said transversely movable means is moving to or is in container-dropping position which improved means comprises: a. a bat positioned over and extending crosswise above the advancement lanes, b. means for raising and lowering said bar, effecting the lowering of said bar before said transversely movable means has shifted to container-dropping position and raising same after said transversely movable means has started its return to container-supporting position; c. a plurality of restraining elements on said bar, one over each lane so that when said bar is lowered said restraining elements frictionally restrain the containers therebelow, and when said bar is in a raised position said restraining elements are raised permitting passage of said containers, and d. a common operating means for shifting said transversely movable means to effect dropping of said containers and lowering said bar to frictionally restrain containers, and thereafter raising the bar to permit passage of containers and shifting said movable means back to container-supporting position.

Claim 21

In a drop-through case packer, wherein containers on a traveling conveyor are first arranged between a grid structure into lanes for advancement, having a drop-through frame with divider plates positioned to provide a number of receiving lanes matching the advancing lanes, each receiving lane accepting an equal number of containers, said drop-through frame having transversely movable means thereBelow each lane and movable from a container-supporting position to a container-dropping position where all the containers are free to drop simultaneously into a carton positioned therebeneath, the improvement comprising means for restraining the travel of containers into said receiving lanes when said transversely movable means is moving to or is in container-dropping position which improved means comprises: a. a bat positioned over and extending crosswise above the advancement lanes, b. means for raising and lowering said bar, effecting the lowering of said bar before said transversely movable means has shifted to container-dropping position and raising same after said transversely movable means has started its return to container-supporting position; c. a plurality of restraining elements on said bar, one over each lane so that when said bar is lowered said restraining elements frictionally restrain the containers therebelow, and when said bar is in a raised position said restraining elements are raised permitting passage of said containers, and d. a common operating means for shifting said transversely movable means to effect dropping of said containers and lowering said bar to frictionally restrain containers, and thereafter raising the bar to permit passage of containers and shifting said movable means back to container-supporting position.

Claim 22

The combination as specified in claim 16, wherein a resilient lost motion means is provided between said common operating means and the means for raising and lowering said bar whereby said transversely movable means continues in movement to container-dropping position after said restraining elements block the travel of containers and delaying the raising of said restraining elements until after said transversely movable means has started to return to container-supporting position.