Gluing machine

Claim 1

For use with containers having a foldable top closure with an edge flap, a gluing machine for presenting said top closure in container closing condition and for securing said top closure edge flap to a side wall of said container comprising an elongated rigid frame, a conveyor provided on said frame and substantially co-extensive therewith, said conveyor having a feed end for receiving a container with the top closure in open condition and a discharge end for discharging said containers in closed condition, means for operating said conveyor, elongated rigid guide members disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor adjacent the feed end thereof, an adhesive dispensing unit provided on one side of said frame and comprising an adhesive discharge nozzle located at a height above said frame for dispensing adhesive onto one side wall of the container, control means for activating said adhesive dispensing unit during a predetermined period of travel of a container, said control means comprising a trip arm located in the path of travel of the container, a normally open switch engaged to said trip arm, normally closed valve means whereby upon engagement of said trip arm by a container said switch will be closed and said valve means open for emission of adhesive against said one side wall of the container, said adhesive dispensing unit being located adjacent the end of said elongated guide members remote from said feed end, guide elements provided adjacent said adhesive dispensing unit for engaging the said one side wall of said container above the applied adhesive, there being top closure directing means presented downstream of said guide elements, said directing means comprising a mounting bar located spacedly above said conveyor to permit movement of a closed container thereunder, a first directing member formed of rod stock and fixed at its forward end to said bar and progressing rearwardly in a direction toward the feed end of said conveyor in elevated relationship to said conveyor having a forward portion substantially axially parallel with the path of travel of the conveyor and its rearward portion extending upwardly, rearwardly, and laterally outwardly toward the side of said conveyor opposite that upon which said adhesive dispensing unit is mounted for engaging the normally upper side of the container top closure for cammingly directing same downwardly into folded or containerclosed condition, and a second directing member of relatively reduced length with respect to said first directing member being fixed at its forward end to said bar laterally of said first directing member and having a forward portion axially parallel to the forward portion of said first directing member and a rearward portion turned relatively abruptly laterally and slightly upwardly into overlying relationship with respect to the forward portion of said first directing member for cooperating with the latter in maintaining the closure in closed condition, a flat guide section located adjacent said conveyor immediately rearwardly of said bar for engaging said top closure edge flap to urge same against the applied adhesive on said one side wall, and means downstream of said directing means for retaining said container-closed condition during travel to the discharge end.