GB952320A - Method of and apparatus for counting, stacking and packaging articles - Google Patents

Abstract

952,320. Packaging machines. J. MORGAN, [trading as MORGAN & CO.]. May 11, 1960 [Feb. 11, 1959], No. 4721/59. Heading B8C. An apparatus for counting, stacking and packaging articles comprises feed means consisting of an endless belt conveyer which coacts with a dead plate incorporating a stop for controlling the feed means, an elevator, associated with the dead plate, on to which the articles are passed, a stacking device above the elevator capable of holding spaced rows of articles and a pusher mechanism associated with the stacking device to transfer stacked rows of articles into pre-erected containers. The articles are fed by an overhead belt 2 across a dead plate 1 on to an elevator platform 10. When a certain number of articles have been fed the leading article meets a stop 5 on a feeler arm 6, thereby actuating two microswitches 7, 8. The microswitch 7 closes the circuit of a solenoid 4 which controls the raising and lowering of the belt 2, and at the required number of articles the belt is raised and the feed thereby stopped. The number of articles so counted is set by the position of the stops 5 on bars 9. The microswitch 8 opens the circuit of a solenoid 23, a switch 27 being in series. The elevator platform 10 is raised and lowered vertically, while itself remaining horizontal, by parallel links 11 pivoted to the frame at 12 and moved by a bell crank 13 which carries on one arm a pawl 14 engageable with a plate 15 on one link 11 and the other arm of which is operated from a cam 18, on a shaft 19, through linkage 17, 16. If all the articles are counted in the solenoid 23 will not be energized when the switch 27 is operated by a cam 28 on the shaft 19, but should the articles fail to reach the stop 5 the switch 27 will complete the circuit and the solenoid 23 will move the pawl 14 out of engagement with the plate 15 and render the elevator inoperative. The stacking mechanism comprises a pair of vertical side plates 24 which are adjustable laterally to deal with different sizes of articles. The articles, as they rise, pass catches 25 which spring back underneath them. When the stack is completed the topmost article encounters adjustable trip bars 29 which operate microswitches 30, so energizing a solenoid 39 which, through a rod 40, operates a lever 49 to allow a catch 48 thereon to release a pivoted bracket 45. A cam track 44 on the bracket 45 accommodates a roller 43 on the end of a pawl 37 and when the bracket 45 is permitted to turn about its pivot 46 the pawl 37 engages the end of an arm 52 which extends from arms 34 of a parallel link motion and the cam track thus moves the arms about their pivot 35. An ejection plate 31, carried by brackets 32 between the arms 34, thus moves in a straight line horizontally and ejects the stacked articles. An outer carton may be presented to receive the stacked articles, which may be ejected in successive rows, and microswitches 56 are positioned to be operated by an outer carton when it is pushed forward, wired so that the ejector cannot operate till the microswitches 56 are closed. A resetting mechanism is provided for the bracket 45, comprising a cam 53, follower 54 and rod 55.