Carton dating apparatus

Claim 2

In carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type having reciprocating closure forming means for forming an end closure on cartons successively conveyed thereto, said end closure including a rib formed from a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, dating apparatus for applying indicia to at least one of said panels comprising: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, said filling and sealing apparatus having means for moving at least one of said panels between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means connected to said closure forming means for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other in response to movement of said closure forming means toward and away from successive cartons, so as to apply a date to one of said panels when said panel is between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said closure forming means comprises top breaker apparatus for pre-bending carton tops preparatory to filling said cartons and to sealing said tops, and wherein said means for moving one of said dater block means and said anvil means includes a cam surface mounted on said top breaker apparatus so as to engage one of said anvil means and said dater block means when said top breaker apparatus is moved toward a carton.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said carton filling and sealing apparatus includes a carton conveyor for conveying cartons to said dating apparatus and thereafter to said top breaker apparatus, said anvil means and said dater block means being spaced upstream from said top breaker apparatus a predetermined distance so that a date is applied to one carton while a previously stamped carton is treated by the top breaker apparatus downstream of said one carton.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said dater block means is mounted on a leaf spring so as to be movable toward and away from said anvil means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said cam surface is disposed to engage said dater block means to move it toward said anvil means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said dater block means is provided with a heater means for heating said indicia applying means so that said panel is branded by said indicia applying means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said heater means is an electric heater and further including electrical control means for regulating the heat output of said heater so that the darkness of said brand can be adjusted.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said anvil has at least one passageway, and an inlet and outlet thereto, said inlet being connected to a source of coolant to provide cooling for said anvil.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said dating apparatus further includes an elongated mounting member connected at respective ends to a portion of said carton filling and sealing apparatus, said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted on said mounting member.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said filling and sealing apparatus includes a carton conveyor, said elongated mounting member being disposed beneath said conveyor and said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted on said elongated mounting means but elevated above said conveyor so as to be in proximity to a top portion of cartons conveyed by said conveyor.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said anvil means and said dater block means are slidably mounted on said elongated mounting means so as to be laterally adjustable with respect to said conveyor and said conveyed cartons.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said filling and sealing apparatus includes two carton conveyors for conveying two lines of cartons therethrough, said dating apparatus including an anvil means and a corresponding dater block means for each conveyor, each anvil means and dater block means combination being slidable on said elongated mounting member for adjustment with respect to a respective conveyor and cartons conveyed thereby.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said filling and sealing apparatus includes a top breaker apparatus downstream of said dating apparatus, said top breaker apparatus reciprocating toward and away from cartons downstream of said dating apparatus, and said dating apparatus further including cam means mounted on said top breaker apparatus for engaging respective dater block means and moving them toward corresponding anvil means to apply indicia to carton panels when said top breaker apparatus moves toward downstream cartons.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said filling and sealing apparatus comprises conveying means for conveying two lines of cartons, said dating apparatus further including an anvil means and dater block means for each line of cartons.

Claim 16

In apparatus for filling and sealing tubular milk cartons having end closures terminating in a rib which includes a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, said apparatus being of the type having a carton conveyor and a reciprocating top breaker means for engaging and prebending carton tops preparatory to filling said cartons and to sealing said tops to form said end closure, dating means for applying indicia to at least one of said panels prior to said pre-bending, said dating means including: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, and means for heating said indicia applying means, said dater block means and said anvil means being mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, said carton conveyor being operable to successively convey said cartons to said dating means such that one of said panels is disposed between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means attached to said top breaker means for engaging and for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other to apply indicia to said one panel in response to movement of said top breaker means toward a downstream carton.

Claim 17

In apparatus for filling and sealing tubular milk cartons having end closures terminating in a rib which includes a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, said apparatus being of the type having a carton conveyor and a reciprocating top breaker means for engaging and prebending carton tops preparatory to filling said cartons and to sealing said tops to form said end closure, dating means for applying indicia to at least one of said panels prior to said pre-bending, said dating means including: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, and means for heating said indicia applying means, said dater block means and said anvil means being mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, said carton conveyor being operable to successively convey said cartons to said dating means such that one of said panels is disposed between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means attached to said top breaker means for engaging and for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other to apply indicia to said one panel in response to movement of said top breaker means toward a downstream carton.

Claim 18

Carton dating apparatus for use in a carton filling apparatus, said dating apparatus comprising: an elongated mounting member, dating means comprising an anvil element and a dater block element, each mounted on said elongated mounting member, said dater block element adapted to mount changeable indicia applying means therein, said anvil element and said dater block element being operationally aligned and normally spaced from each other, a leaf-spring mounted on said elongated mounting member, one of said anvil element or said dater block element being movably mounted on said leaf spring so that said one element is movable relatively toward the other to press a carton portion therebetween, said leaf-spring normally biasing said one movably mounted element to a position spaced from the other element, said spring means being yieldable to allow said one element to be moved toward the other element, and means for cooperating with a movable element of the carton filling apparatus for moving said one movable element toward the other.

Claim 19

Carton dating apparatus for use in a carton filling apparatus, said dating apparatus comprising: an elongated mounting member, dating means comprising an anvil element and a dater block element, each mounted on said elongated mounting member, said dater block element adapted to mount changeable indicia applying means therein, said anvil element and said dater block element being operationally aligned and normally spaced from each other, a leaf-spring mounted on said elongated mounting member, one of said anvil element or said dater block element being movably mounted on said leaf spring so that said one element is movable relatively toward the other to press a carton portion therebetween, said leaf-spring normally biasing said one movably mounted element to a position spaced from the other element, said spring means being yieldable to allow said one element to be moved toward the other element, and means for cooperating with a movable element of the carton filling apparatus for moving said one movable element toward the other.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said dater block element is mounted on said leaf spring for relative movement toward and away from said anvil element.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said anvil element and said dater block element are slidably mounted on said elongated mounting member.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 16 including heater means in said dater block element for heating said indicia applying means when mounted in said dater block.

Claim 23

Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said heater means is an electrical heater and further including electrical control means for regulating the heat output of said heater so that the darkness of brands applied to cartons can be adjusted.

Claim 24

Apparatus as in claim 19 including coolant passages in said anvil element and coolant inlet and outlet means.

Claim 25

Apparatus as in claim 16 including means for adjusting the anvil element and the dater block element in a direction transverse to the elongated mounting member.

Claim 26

Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said anvil element includes an anvil surface for cooperating with said indicia stamping apparatus and further includes a tapered guide surface extending from said anvil surface in a direction away from said dater block element for aiding alignment of carton panels between said anvil element and said dater block element for dating.

Claim 27

Apparatus as in claim 16 including a transverse passage in said dater block element for receiving indicia applying means therein and a gate means movable into a position at one end of said passage to capture and hold said indicia applying means in said passage.

Claim 28

Apparatus as in claim 16 comprising two sets of dating means, each having an anvil and a corresponding dater bloCk.

Claim 29

Apparatus as in claim 16 adapted for use in a carton filling machine of the type having a top breaker apparatus for pre-bending a top portion of a carton when moved toward a carton downstream of a dating means, said carton dating apparatus including a cam means connectable to said top breaker, said cam means in use engaging said dater block element to move it toward said anvil element when said top breaker is moved toward said downstream carton.

Claim 30

Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein each of said anvils and said dater blocks are adjustably mounted on said elongated mounting member.

Claim 31

Apparatus as in claim 16 further including a collar means slidably mounted on said elongated mounting member, an anvil support column, means adjustably mounting said anvil support column on said collar means transverse to said elongated mounting member, said anvil being connected to said support column, means connecting one end of said leaf spring to said anvil support column, and said dater block being mounted on another end of said leaf spring, operationally aligned and spaced from said anvil, said dater block and said anvil being adjustable as a unit in a direction along said elongated mounting member, and in a direction transverse thereto.

Claim 32

In a carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type including means for conveying a line of cartons therethrough and further including a reciprocating member, carton dating apparatus for applying dates to carton panels, said dating apparatus comprising: anvil means, dater block means including indicia applying means, a leaf spring attached to said filling and sealing apparatus in proximity to said line, one of said anvil means or said dater block means being attached to said leaf spring at a point spaced from said spring''s attachment to said apparatus, said anvil means and said dater block means being aligned and normally spaced apart with respect to each other and disposed so that carton panels can be conveyed therebetween, and means attached to said reciprocating member on said filling and sealing apparatus for engaging said one of said anvil means or dater block means attached to said leaf spring and for moving one of said anvil means or dater block means toward the other in order to engage and to apply indicia to a carton panel between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 33

In a carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type including means for conveying a line of cartons therethrough and further including a reciprocating member, carton dating apparatus for applying dates to carton panels, said dating apparatus comprising: anvil means, dater block means including indicia applying means, a leaf spring attached to said filling and sealing apparatus in proximity to said line, one of said anvil means or said dater block means being attached to said leaf spring at a point spaced from said spring''s attachment to said apparatus, said anvil means and said dater block means being aligned and normally spaced apart with respect to each other and disposed so that carton panels can be conveyed therebetween, and means attached to said reciprocating member on said filling and sealing apparatus for engaging said one of said anvil means or dater block means attached to said leaf spring and for moving one of said anvil means or dater block means toward the other in order to engage and to apply indicia to a carton panel between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 34

Carton dating apparatus as in claim 29 wherein said reciprocating member of said carton filling and sealing apparatus comprises a portion of a carton top breaker means.

Claim 35

Carton dating apparatus as in claim 30 including heating means in said dater block means for heating said indicia applying means so that a date is branded into said carton panel.

Claim 36

Carton dating apparatus for use in a carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type including reciprocating means for treating successive cartons at a station spaced away from said carton dating means, said carton dating apparatus comprising: an anvil, a dater block including indicia applying means, said anvil and dater block being disposed on opposite sides of at least a portion of a carton, and means connectable to said reciprocating means for moving said anvil and said dater block relatively toward and away from each other to apply said indicia to a carton in response to reciprocal movement of said reciprocating means.

Claim 37

Carton dating apparatus for use in a carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type including reciprocating means for treating successive cartons at a station spaced away from said carton dating means, said carton dating apparatus comprising: an anvil, a dater block including indicia applying means, said anvil and dater block being disposed on opposite sides of at least a portion of a carton, and means connectable to said reciprocating means for moving said anvil and said dater block relatively toward and away from each other to apply said indicia to a carton in response to reciprocal movement of said reciprocating means.

Claim 38

Carton dating apparatus as in claim 32 including heater means for heating said indicia applying means.

Claim 39

Carton dating apparatus as in claim 32 wherein said dater block is mounted on a leaf spring for movement toward and away from said anvil, said means for moving said anvil and said dater block together comprising a cam means mountable on said reciprocating means to engage said dater block and move said dater block toward said anvil.

Claim 40

Carton dating means as in claim 34 wherein said reciprocating means comprises a top breaker disposed at a station spaced from said carTon dating means.

Claim 41

Carton dating apparatus as in claim 32 wherein said filling and sealing apparatus has a conveyor for moving cartons to and away from said dating apparatus and said reciprocating means, said dating apparatus disposed in use to date cartons upstream of said reciprocating means.

Claim 42

In carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type having reciprocating closure forming means for forming an end closure on cartons successively conveyed thereto, said end closure including a rib formed from a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, dating apparatus for applying indicia to at least one of said panels comprising: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, said filling and sealing apparatus having means for moving at least one of said panels between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means cooperating with said closure forming means for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other in response to movement of said closure forming means toward and away from successive cartons, so as to apply a date to one of said panels when said panel is between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 43

In carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type having reciprocating closure forming means for forming an end closure on cartons successively conveyed thereto, said end closure including a rib formed from a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, dating apparatus for applying indicia to at least one of said panels comprising: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, said filling and sealing apparatus having means for moving at least one of said panels between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means cooperating with said closure forming means for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other in response to movement of said closure forming means toward and away from successive cartons, so as to apply a date to one of said panels when said panel is between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 44

Apparatus as in claim 37 wherein said reciprocating closure forming means defines a closure forming station and said anvil means and said dater block means define a dating station spaced from said closure forming station.

Claim 45

In carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type having movable carton treating means for engaging and treating cartons successively conveyed thereto, said cartons having top end closures, each including a rib formed from a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, dating apparatus for applying indicia to at least one of said panels comprising: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted so that one is movable relatively toward and away from the other, said filling and sealing apparatus having means for moving at least one of said panels between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means cooperating with said carton treating means for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other in response to movement of said carton treating means, so as to apply a date to one of said panels when said panel is between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 46

In carton filling and sealing apparatus of the type having movable carton treating means for engaging and treating cartons successively conveyed thereto, said cartons having top end closures, each including a rib formed from a plurality of panels disposed in adjacent parallel planes, dating apparatus for applying indicia to at least one of said panels comprising: anvil means, dater block means having indicia applying means aligned with and normally spaced from said anvil means, said anvil means and said dater block means being mounted so that one is movable relatively toward and away from the other, said filling and sealing apparatus having means for moving at least one of said panels between said anvil means and said dater block means, and means cooperating with said carton treating means for moving one of said anvil means and said dater block means toward and away from the other in response to movement of said carton treating means, so as to apply a date to one of said panels when said panel is between said anvil means and said dater block means.

Claim 47

Apparatus as in claim 39 wherein said movable carton treating means defines a carton treating station and wherein said anvil means and said dater block means define a carton dating station spaced from said carton treating station.

Claim 48

Apparatus as in claim 40 wherein said carton treating means are operative to at least partially form end closures on said cartons.