US3592003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the packing of filled tubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-07-22
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-07-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides apparatus for packing filled tubes, such as toothpaste tubes, in individual rectangular boxes with the end closure fins of the tubes extending diagonally of the boxes. A tube conveyor includes tongs movable in a horizontal endless path and adapted to suspend the tubes by their fins. The tubes are received from a rotary table and transported to a packing station at which the erected boxes are presented by a compartmented wheel. The tongs lower the tubes individually into the boxes at the packing station.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Stichhan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:38
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B5/00; B65B5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for packing filled tubes in individual boxes of rectangular cross section with the end closure fins of the tubes located diagonally of the boxes, comprising tube conveying means including means for individually gripping the filled tubes to be packed, said tube-gripping means being movable in an endless horizontal path through a packing station; box-conveying means including means for individually gripping the boxes, said boxgripping means being movable in an endless horizontal path also through said packing station; and stepwise driving means for driving said tube-conveying means and said box-conveying means synchronously in a stepwise manner whereby each tube-gripping means is aligned with an appropriate box-gripping means at said packing station, said tube-gripping means comprising tongs adapted to grip the tubes by their closure fins, guides on said tube-conveying means, said tongs being vertically movable on said guides, and actuating mechanisms for the tongs such that when each tube reaches the packing station, the respective tongs are moved on their guide to insert the tube into a corresponding box supported at the packing station by respective box gripping means with the end fin of the tube located diagonally of the box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for packing filled tubes in individual boxes of rectangular cross section with the end closure fins of the tubes located diagonally of the boxes, comprising tube conveying means including means for individually gripping the filled tubes to be packed, said tube-gripping means being movable in an endless horizontal path through a packing station; box-conveying means including means for individually gripping the boxes, said boxgripping means being movable in an endless horizontal path also through said packing station; and stepwise driving means for driving said tube-conveying means and said box-conveying means synchronously in a stepwise manner whereby each tube-gripping means is aligned with an appropriate box-gripping means at said packing station, said tube-gripping means comprising tongs adapted to grip the tubes by their closure fins, guides on said tube-conveying means, said tongs being vertically movable on said guides, and actuating mechanisms for the tongs such that when each tube reaches the packing station, the respective tongs are moved on their guide to insert the tube into a corresponding box supported at the packing station by respective box gripping means with the end fin of the tube located diagonally of the box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said tube conveying means comprises two endless traction cord means and two guide wheels guiding each of said cord means for movement in a respective one of two parallel planes located one above the other, and in which said guides for said tongs comprise a plurality of guide bars interconnecting said traction cord means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, which further comprises rotary table means for advancing tubes to be packed, said two guide wheels for each cord means being disposed respectively adjacent said rotary table and said packing station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said tube conveying means is arranged above the level of said rotary table for advancing the tubes and above the level of said box-conveying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said tong actuating mechanisms include a fixed guide rail associated with the tube-conveying means and guide elements on said tongs and cooperating with said fixed guide rail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said guide elements at the same time serve as actuating elements for opening and closing said tongs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said tongs comprise stop jaws vertically displaceable on said guides and gripping jaws pivoted to said stop jaws for cooperation therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising spring means operative between said gripping jaws and said stop jaws to bias the tongs towards their closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said gripping jaws are rigidly connected to said guide elements for said tongs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said guide elements comprise support bars extending from said tongs and rollers which are arranged on the distal ends of said support bars and which are supported on said fixed guide rail when the tongs are in the tube-conveying state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said fixed guide rail extends along said tube-conveying means and has a respective opening in the region of a tube transfer station at which tubes are to be placed on said tube-conveying means and in the region of said packing station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said tong-actuating mechanisms include at each of said openings in the fixed guide rail an associated shifting element cooperable with said tong guide elements for displacing the tongs along said guides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said guide elements include rollers and means journaling said rollers on said tongs, said rollers being cooperable with said fixed guide rail and in which said actuating mechanisms include a fixed guide bar, said shifting element being displaceably mounted on said guide bar and having a fork for accommodating said rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which said fork is in the form of a horizontal U and has a top end position, in which its bottom arm is located in the associated guide rail opening at the level of the guide rail.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said tongs comprise stop jaws vertically displaceable on said guides, bottom stop means defining bottom positions of said stop jaws, and gripping jaws pivoted to said stop jaws, said guide rollers being journaled to said gripping jaws, said fork being downwardly movable beyond a position in which said stop jaw engages said bottom stop means whereby to open the respective tongs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said box conveying means comprises a rotary table and uniformly distributed pairs of box-retaining fingers projecting from the periphery of said table to define individual compartments for boxes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising common adjusting means for simultaneously and equally adjusting the distances between the retaining fingers of the individual compartments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 in which said rotary table comprises a rotary body comprising at least one first rotary disc and at least one second rotary disc turnable relatively to said first rotary disc by means of said adjusting means, onE retaining finger of each of said pairs of fingers being pivoted to said second rotary disc, curves on said first rotary disc and an extension on each of said fingers which extension is guided on a respective one of said curves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said rotary table comprises two of said second rotary discs disposed on opposite sides of and spaced apart by said first rotary disc, one finger of each pair being pivoted to one of said second discs and the other finger of each pair being pivoted to the other of said second discs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, in which said adjusting means comprises two nuts which are carried respectively on the two second rotary discs and which are coaxial with each other, and a pin having thereon an adjusting wheel and right-hand and left-hand screw threads which respectively engage said two nuts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said rotary table comprises a plurality of coaxial, axially spaced rotary bodies which are arranged concentrically of each other and means for adjusting the axial spacing between said rotary bodies.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises, for the purpose of sealing the open rear ends of filled tubes of thermoplastic material, devices for compressing and welding the ends of the tubes when on said tube-conveying means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 22, in which said tongs comprise clamping jaws which are inclined towards each other in a V-shape for receiving and compressing the open ends of the tubes, the distance between the clamping jaws at their apex being such that the flatly compressed end edges of the tubes pass between the clamping jaws when inserted and project beyond the clamping jaws.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 23, which further comprises heating rail means for heating the projecting end edges of the tubes and extending in the direction of conveyance of said tubes by said tube-conveying means, and a fixed, intermittently operable pressing tool disposed at the end of the heating rail means for compressing and welding the heated end edges.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, which further comprises a cooling device disposed downstream of the pressing tool for cooling the welded end edges.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes box-erecting means for withdrawing boxes one at a time from a magazine of boxes in a collapsed state and for erecting the boxes so withdrawn and placing them on the box-conveying means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |