US3879920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for forming wrap-around shipper packages
Assignee: HJ Langen and Sons Ltd
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Filing: 1974-01-17
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1994-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A packaging machine in which the shipper package is formed from a carton blank which is wrapped around the article to be shipped. The packaging machine includes a loading station having a loading mechanism for loading an aritcle into each compartment as the compartments move continuously through the loading station. The loading mechanism includes a loading platform disposed above the path of travel of the article receiving compartments and wiper blades mounted for movement along the loading platform in the direction of travel of the compartment to remove an article deposited on the loading platform and to deposit it in a compartment as the compartment moves out from under the loading platform. A wrapping station is provided wherein the article receiving compartments are moved longitudinally through the wrapping station on a conveyor and are moved laterally of the conveyor so as to project over an edge of the conveyor when passing through the wrapping station. A carton blank locating mechanisms also provide for stripping a carton blank from a stack of knocked down blanks, partially folding the blank and locating the blank in the partial folded condition in the path of travel of the article receiving compartment. Detectors are provided for detecting the presence or absence of an article in the article receiving compartments after the loading station and for detecting the presence or absence of a wrapper after the wrapping station so as to prevent the formation of a carton without any contents located therein and to prevent the discharge of the contents from the article receiving compartment into the same receiver which receives the correctly wrapped packages.
Inventors
- 👤 Marinus J M Langen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/004; B65B11/06; B65B11/08; B65B11/10; B65B35/00; B65B35/10; B65B35/20; B65B35/205; B65B43/00; B65B43/12; B65B43/14; B65B43/16; B65B43/18; B65B43/185; B65B49/00; B65B49/02; B65B49/12; B65B57/00; B65B57/02; B65B57/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A packaging machine comprising a. a carton wrapping station having an input and an output end, b. a first conveyor means having a longitudinally extending marginal edge spaced laterally from said wrapping station, c. a plurality of article receiving compartment forming members mounted on said first conveyor means for movement therewith in the longitudinal direction of travel of said first conveyor, d. means for moving said compartment forming members laterally of said first conveyor means into and out of said wrapping station as said compartment forming members move in the longitudinal direction of travel of said conveyor, e. means for locating a carton blank in said wrapping station in advance of each compartment forming member, f. means for wrapping said carton blanks about each compartment forming member as it moves through said wrapping station to form a wrapper sleeve, g. discharge means for discharging an article and its wrapper from said compartment forming members at the output end of said wrapper station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A packaging machine comprising a. a carton wrapping station having an input and an output end, b. a first conveyor means having a longitudinally extending marginal edge spaced laterally from said wrapping station, c. a plurality of article receiving compartment forming members mounted on said first conveyor means for movement therewith in the longitudinal direction of travel of said first conveyor, d. means for moving said compartment forming members laterally of said first conveyor means into and out of said wrapping station as said compartment forming members move in the longitudinal direction of travel of said conveyor, e. means for locating a carton blank in said wrapping station in advance of each compartment forming member, f. means for wrapping said carton blanks about each compartment forming member as it moves through said wrapping station to form a wrapper sleeve, g. discharge means for discharging an article and its wrapper from said compartment forming members at the output end of said wrapper station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 including means for detecting the presence of a wrapper sleeve located in an operative position about a compartment forming member, said discharge means being operable in response to a signal from said means for detecting the presence of a wrapper sleeve indicating the presence of a wrapper sleeve and inoperable in response to a signal indicating the absence of a wrapper sleeve whereby an article in said article receiving compartment is not discharged at said wrapping station unless it is located within a wrapper sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
167 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 including first guide track means extending longitudinally of said first conveyor means for controlling the lateral position of said article receiving compartment means with respect to said first conveyor means, second guide track means extending longitudinally of said first conveyor means for controlling the lateral position of said discharge means with respect to said article receiving compartment means, said first and second guide track means extending in a spaced parallel relationship over a major position of the length thereof whereby said article receiving compartment means and discharge means move without relative movement therebetween laterally of the conveyor into and through said wrapping station, said second guide track means having a first section at the outlet end of said wrapping station which extends away from said first guide track means whereby relative lateral movement occurs between said discharge means and said article receiving means to cause said discharge means to discharge said wrapping article from said article receiving compartment means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second guide track means includes a second section at said output end of said wrapping station extending parallel to said first guide track means for preventing relative lateral movement between said discharge means and said article receiving compartment means, wrapper detector means disposed in advance of said first and second sections of said track means for detecting the presence of a wrapper in an operative position about an article receiving compartment, track switch means operative in response to a signal from said wrapper detector means indicating the presence of a wrapper to guide said discharge means along said first section oF said second track means to discharge a wrapped article from said article receiving compartment means, said track switch means being operative in response to a signal from said wrapper detector means indicating the absence of a wrapper to guide said discharge means along said second section of said second track means to retain an unwrapped article in said article receiving compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second guide track means has a short portion in advance of and adjacent to said first section thereof which is spaced from said first guide track means a distance greater than the spacing of the first and second guide track means over the major portion thereof so as to cause relative movement between said discharge means and said article receiving compartment means to push the article inwardly to said sleeve wrapper so that the article does not interfere with subsequent closing of the adjacent end of the sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 including carton retainer means in said wrapper station for engaging a carton prior to withdrawal of its article receiving compartment forming member to prevent withdrawal of said carton from said wrapping station when said article receiving compartment means is laterally withdrawn from said wrapping station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 including a platform having an input end and an output end, said input end of said platform being disposed in said wrapping station to receive a partially wrapped article and its associated compartment forming means, and second conveyor means extending from a position located rearwardly from and adjacent said input end of said platform, said second conveyor including means for engaging and driving a wrapped article along said platform after said wrapped article is discharged from its associated article compartment forming means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A packaging machine for use in forming a shipper package from a paperboard blank which has a front and back panel connected to one another at one edge thereof by a side panel and side flaps connected at the other edges of said front and back panels, said side flaps being connectable to one another to form an open-ended sleeve and end flaps at opposite ends of said sleeve for closing said sleeve, as claimed in claim 6 including, guide rail means disposed above said platform and extending longitudinally thereof in a spaced parallel relationship at a height above said platform sufficient to receive a sleeve wrapped around said article receiving compartment forming means for movement therebetween in a closed fitting sliding relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 8 including means disposed inwardly from said input end of said platform for guiding said second conveyor through an arcuate path to reverse its direction of motion, said second conveyor means moving towards said platform means when travelling along said arcuate path, said means for engaging and driving a wrapped article along said platform comprising blade means mounted on and projecting from said second conveyor means, the movement of said blade means being synchronized with respect to the movement of said article compartment forming means to engage a lower side flap of a wrapper and to fold said flap towards said article compartment forming means to form the required sleeve configuration as said blade travels with said second conveyor means around said arcuate path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 9 including rotary blade means disposed above said platform means for folding said upper side wall flap to a position extending normal to said top wall panel for engagement with said lower side wall flap to form said sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said article receiving compartment forming means comprises a U-shaped trough extending transversely of said conveyor means and opening upwardly therefrom, said trough having a height and a width in the dIrection of travel of said conveyor substantially equal to the internal width and thickness of the wrapper to be formed thereabout.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first conveyor comprises a pair of spaced parallel endless chains connected to one another by means of a plurality of transversely extending shafts, said U-shaped trough member and its associated discharge means being mounted for movement along at least one of said shaft members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said U-shaped trough has a length substantially equal to the distance between said spaced parallel chains.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said U-shaped trough members has a first end which is movable from a position at said longitudinally extending marginal edge of said conveyor and a second end at the other edge of said conveyor and first mounting bracket means adjacent said second end and second mounting bracket means disposed substantially centrally of the length of said U-shaped trough member for slidably mounting said U-shaped trough member on its transversely extending shaft member or members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said discharge means includes dispenser means, comprising an end wall forming plate adjustably mounted within said U-shaped trough for movement towards and away from the edge of said trough which is disposed adjacent said first marginal edge of said conveyor to provide a variable capacity article receiving chamber for an article to be wrapped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein said dispenser means includes a mounting bracket slidably mounted on said trnsversely extending shaft means for supporting said end wall forming plate for transverse movement independently of said U-shaped trough member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein the bottom wall of said U-shaped trough member has a longitudinally extending passage opening therethrough, said mounting bracket of said dispenser means projecting into said U-shaped trough member through said longitudinal extending passage means, an end wall forming plate disposed within said U-shaped trough member and adjustably mounted on said mounting bracket means of said dispenser, said longitudinally extending passage means having a sufficient length to permit sufficient relative movement between said end wall forming plate and said U-shaped trough member to permit said end wall forming plate to eject an article from said article receiving chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said discharge means includes a transverse wall means mounted in said U-shaped trough member, and means for moving said transverse wall means longitudinally of said trough member to discharge an article therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3014321A
Cited
US3821874A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |