US2907159A - Clothespin loading machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1959 J. M. ALL-EN CLOTHESPIN LOADING momma:

Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 6, 1959 J. M. ALLEN CLOTHESPIN LOADING momma 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1958 MM/1W Oct.- 6, 1959 J. M. ALLEN 2,907,159

CLOTHESPIN LOADING momma Filed June 24. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet a 4 Sheets-sheaf 4 Filed June 24, 1958 ATTORNEY? United States Patent CLOTHESPIN LOADING MACHINE John M. Allen, West 'Paris, Maine, assignor to Penley Brothers, West Paris, Maine, a corporation otMame Application June 24, 1958, Serial No. 744,089

10'Claims. (Cl. 53'154) This invention relates to packing machines, and particularly to machines for packing Clothespins in boxes, or cartons, for shipping and merchandising.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will automatically feed clothespins and containers therefor to a loading station, place the clothespins in the containers and move the filled containersfr'om the machine.

-Anotherobject is to provide a machine of this nature which will be capable of packing either spring or slotted type clothespins without necessity for changing the machine to adapt itto one or or the other type.

A more specific object is the provisionof such 'a machine in which the clothespins are arranged in layers, and the container'willbe held at the loading station until'the required number of :I'ayers have been inserted.

A 'further object istoprovide improved inserting means for a machine "of this kind, which will permit insertion in the bottom of a relatively deep container while maintaining complete control of a plurality of articles being inserted simultaneously.

Yet a further object is to provide a packing machine in which the articles to bepacked willbe ted to "the loading station on opposite sides of thes'tation andinserted oppositely in the container. g

:A still further object is to providea pack'in'g machine which-will advance empty containers "to 'a -l'o'ading station at a relatively slow speed and, when filled, move them rapidly-from the machine, leaving a gap between the incoming and outgoing containers to permit roper tunetion of means to hold the containers in the loadingposition.

Other objects 'ofthe invention will become apparent from the "following description of onespractienl embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

111 the drawings:

Figure 1 is atop plan "view or 'a clothe'spin packing machine embodying the principles of the present invention; I

Figure '2 is a section taken on'the line '22 of' Figure 1, showing the major part of the machine 'in side elevation;

:Figure 3 is a central, vertical, transverse section through them'achine,'taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the loading station at the same transverse plane as shown in Figure 3 with one loading mechanism moved to insert a layer of pins in the bottom of the box;

Figure 5 .is a view similar to Figure 4'withthefirst loading mecha'nism retracted and'the second in inserting position;

. tral 'H shaped frame.

2,907,159 Patented Oct. :6, 1959 2 tionalong the container feeding passageway, and is taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3;

-Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the container at the loading station-showing the container holding and positioning means, and is taken on the line 9- -9 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line 1010 of 'Figure -1, showing a clothespin on a feeding belt and embracing a guide fixed alongside the belt.

In general, the packing-machine of the present invention consists 'of a pair of belts feeding articles to be packed to a loading station, to which another feeding means brings a container. The machine has means for stopping and positioning thecontain'cr, means 'to insert full layers in the container from opposite sides, from the two feed belts in alternation, and means to release the filled container and move it quickly from the machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine is shown as supported upon a frame structure 1. This has a transversely extending central 'H-shaped section 2, with the sides 3 and 4 below the cross-members forming legs, and the cross-members 5 a platform which projects laterally to provide a base upon which the drive mechanism-can'besupported. The si'desi6 and 7 above th'e'platform have their tops bridged by table sections 8 "and -9 on either side of the machine. The tables areeut out at necessary places to accommodate the various operating mechanisms.

Along the longitudinal center of the machine there is apassageway 10 for containers, formed by wall plates 11, fixed to the upper legs of the central frame. wall-forming plates extend in pairs, parallel to one'a'nother in opposite directions from the central frame. At either side of the container passage, there is a clothespinfeed line. These are shown at 12 and 13111n'ning from opposite ends of the machine and terminating adjacent a loadingstation 14-. The feed lines include fe'e'd tables 15 and 16, which form continuati'ons of the central table sections8 and'9, supported upon horizontal beams 17 and 18, fixed atone end to the upper legs of thecen- Any other framing, bracing or table structure can-be used as'desired.

It would be'well at this point to-describe briefly one type' of container which maybe used with the machine and which is shown on the drawings. This consistsof a rectangular tray 19 havings'ide Walls '20 which extend Figure 6 is an-enlarged fragmentary top plan'view of above 'thetops of 'theend'w'alls 21, to form top flaps '22. These'are folded 'over'along lines joining the top'corners o'f the end walls to overlie the ends of the clothespin's when'the-box is packed. Theflaps will retain the ends or the:pins within the box and the package may be Wrapped in cellophane, leaving the major portion of the pins visible. This is a conventional package. The containers will beiput in 'thenrachine with'the flaps upright, form;- ing vertical continuations of the side walls (see Figures 4am 5). V V

Theside Walls 11 of the container passageway are spaced'apartjustenough top'er'mit 'free'sliding movement of containers between them. The "containers -are'broug'h't; into the machineupon the top flight ofa container 'feed belt 'Belt :23 has its top 'flight horizontally posi ti'oned, and located :below'the clothespin feed table's 15 and 16 :just the -depth :of the containers with'flaps 2 2 ver: tically positioned. The belt passes over a small pulley 24 located adjacent the'near end of the loading station in the directionofcontainer travel (see Figure 8). Pulley 2 4 is mounted upon shaft 25 journalled in the 'wall plates 11. At the inlet end-of the container passage, belt 23 ;passes aroung a relatively 'large drive pulley 26;, mounted u'p'o'n shaft 27, jonrnalledin plates 11. One end of "shaft '27 projects beyond the wall plate and -car ries a sprocket 28, driven by chain 29 from a sprocket 30 on a drive shaft 31.

able motor 32 through a gear box 33, both mounted on platform 5.

A second belt 34, which is a discharge belt for filled containers, is mounted in alignment with belt 23, and its top flight forms a continuation of the container support.

"A small pulley 35,'mounted on shaft 36, supports the end of belt 34 adjacent the discharge end of the feed belt.

At the discharge end of the machine, the belt passes ing the feed and discharge belts will be such that the discharge belt will move at approximately three times the speed of the feed belt. The reason for this will appear later.

It will benoted from Figure 8 that a container at the .loadingstation will have moved off of the feed belt and be resting entirely upon the discharge belt. Dogs 42 pivotally mounted on pins 43, fixed to brackets 44 on the :walls 11 are adapted to engage the forward edge of the container to limit its movement. The belt, slipping .under the container, will keep it urged against the dogs '42 so that it will be accurately positioned. T he dogs are mounted outside the walls 11, and have inturned -fingers 45 which pass through openings 46 in the walls to project across the belt 34 and lie in the path of movement of the container. Springs 47 bias the dogs to containerstopping position.

Each dog 42 has an inclined cam surface 48 against which actuating levers 49 are adapted to be moved to cause the dogs 42 to swing about their pivots to move the inturned fingers 45 out of the path of'travel of the containers, to permit the belt 34 to remove the container quickly from the loading position. Lever 49 is bifurcated, having operating arms 50 upstanding along the side Walls and pivoted to the side walls at 51.. A single actuating arm 52 projects downwardly to contact a cam 53 mounted on the drive shaft 31. The cam 53 is contoured to provide one operative movement of the lever 49 each revolution of the drive shaft. The pressure of the dogs against the lever 49 will hold it constantly in contact with the cam 53. The rapidity with which the belt 34 moves filled containers from the loading station will provide ample time for the dogs to move back to container-stopping position before the next empty container, on the slower moving feed belt 23, moves up to the loading station.

. As mentioned above, feed tables 15 and 16 lie on opposite sides of the container feed passageway 10, and approach the loading station from opposite directions. A belt 54 has its top flight on the table 15. The belt passes over pulleys 55 and 56 suitably mounted on the frame structure. Pulley 56 is mounted on a shaft 57 which also carries a sprocket 58 driven by a chain 59 from a sprocket 60 on shaft 31. Clothespins will be placed manually on the belt 54 and conveyed to the loading station.

In order to keep the pins in proper upright position for loading and to hold them in alignment, :1 guide bar 61 is arranged horizontally along the table 15 with its inner edge overlying the edge of the, belt. The bar will besupported upon spacers 62 to hold the inner edge at such height as to permit it to lie between the diverging arms of a spring type clothespin 63 ,on the belt 54, as shown in Figure 10. The bar will also enter the slot in the well-known slotted type clothespins when they are being packed. An operator, when, placing the pins on the belt, will orient them properly and position them on the bar. The bar will hold them correctly until they reach the loading station.

The'loading station is defined by a pair of side plates 64 and 65, which span the several feed-belts and are supported on the table sections 8 and 9. The plates are Shaft 31 is powered from a suit-- 95 held against a face cam 96 fixed to shaft 31.

spaced apart substantially the length of a container 19, so that only enough clothespins to form a layer in the container can be accommodated between the plates. Plate 64 will be cut out above the belt 54 as at 66, to allow clothespins to move into the loading station. Plate 65 will form a wall to serve as a stop to position the pins within the station. In like manner to the container, the clothespins will be held in contact with one another and the lead pin in contact with plate 65 by continuou movement of the belt beneath them.

Feed table 16 is equipped similarly with a belt 67 on pulleys 68 and 69. Pulley 69 is mounted on a shaft 70 carrying a sprocket 71, driven by a chain 72. As belt 67 is to move oppositely to belt 54, chain 72 is held in contact with the underside of sprocket 71 by means of an idler sprocket 73, mounted above sprocket 71. Chain 72 is driven by a sprocket 74 mounted on the main drive shaft 31. Guide bar 75 is fixed on spacers 76 on the table 16, and plate 65 is notched, as at 77, to allow the pins to pass through to the loading station. Plate 64 serves as the pin stop for the pins fed on the belt 67.

Thus it will be seen that empty containers 19 are advanced to the loading station and held precisely in position there. Clothespins are aligned on the belts 54 and 67 and sufiicient pins to form layers are accumulated in side-by-side order on each of the belts between the plates 64 and 65, ready for insertion into thecontainer. The clothespins are placed in the containers, one

complete layer at a time, in alternation from the belts 54 and 67, by means of inserting mechanisms 78 and 79.

The inserting mechanism 78 is mounted upon a bed plate 80, bolted to the table section 8 and. extends transversely of the machine from the belt 54 to project beyond the table section 8. The bed plate carries guide blocks 81, which are recessed to form seats upon which an inserting plunger 82 may slide. The inserting plunger is held in the seats by cap plates 83. The forward end of the plunger is provided with a pair of spaced eyes 84, between which the mounting eye 85 of an inserting finger 86 is positioned. The eyes of the respective members are drilled, and a pin 87 put through the openings to pivotally connect the inserting finger to the end of the plunger. The finger is capable of vertical tilting and is held horizontally when the plunger is in withdrawn position by resting upon a rib or lug 88 on the bed plate 80. This position is' shown at the left of Figure 4. When the plunger is retracted, as in Figure 4, inserting finger 86 will form a-continuation of'the guide bar 61. Thus, pins moving along on belt 54 will pass off of bar 61 onto the inserting finger 86. Enough of the clothes- .pins to form a layer in the container, nine as shown, will accumulate on the inserting finger andfill it from end to end.

The plunger is urged forwardly, toward the container, by a spring 89 which has one end connected to the outer end of the plunger and the other to one of the guide blocks 81. Movement of the plunger is controlled by means of a lever 90, pivoted on the platform 5, at 91, and having its upper end connected to the plunger by means of a link 92 connected to a bracket 93, secured to the underside of plunger 82. The bed plate is slotted, as 'at 94, to allow for movement of the bracket 93. Above the pivot 91, and in the horizontal plane of the main drive shaft 31, the lever carries a cam follower roller The cam has a low 97 which will permit the lever to tilt forwardly and the plunger to advance the inserting finger once each revolution of the shaft 31. As the roller moves ofi of the low the lever will retract the plunger to inop erative position.

The plunger 82 carries a gate 98 which forms a continuation of the side edge of the inserting finger and will be moved across belt 54 as the finger is advanced, to hold the pins on the belt against movement until the finger is retracted.

7 versely of the article conveyor to move accumulated group lots of articles into containers at the loading station, means to drive said article and container conveyors and said article inserting means, a container discharge conveyor in alignment with said container feed conveyor and closely adjacent thereto to permit containers to pass from the feed conveyor to the discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor having an entrance end immediately beneath said loading station, means to drive said discharge conveyor at a more rapid rate than said container feed conveyor, releasable means to engage containers and hold them against movement at the loading station, and means to release said releasable means after operation of said article inserting means, whereby filled containers will be moved rapidly from the loading station creating a gap between the discharging container and the next advancing empty container on the slower moving container feed conveyor. 7

9. A machine for automatically packing small articles in containers comprising, a frame, means on said frame to form a loading station, a container feed conveyor to advance containers to the loading station, an article conveyor arranged to transport articles to be packed to the loading station, means at the loading station to arrest movement of articles on the article conveyor to cause accumulation of predetermined group lots of articles at the loading station, article inserting means movable transversely of the article conveyor to move accumulated group lots of articles into containers at the loading station, means to drive said article and container conveyors and said article inserting means, said article feeding conveyor being located above the container feed conveyor a distance at least equal to the height of the containers, and said inserting means including a pivoted inserting finger engageable with the articles of an accumulated group lot, whereby said inserting finger may tilt with the engaged articles to guide the articles to the bottoms of con tainers at the loading station.

10. Mechanism for inserting into cartons clothespins having separated legs comprising, means to support an open carton, means above the carton top and to the side thereof to receive a plurality of aligned clothespins with their separated legs extending away from said carton, a plunger, an inserting finger pivotally connected to the plunger on a horizontal pivot, the plunger and finger movable to insert the finger between the legs of the accumulated clothespins and move the clothespins to the carton, the pivotal connection of the finger to the plunger permitting the finger to swing downwardly to guide clothespins to the bottom of the carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,568,082 Mitton Ian. 5, 1926 1,954,842 Ranney et al Apr. 17, 1934 2,124,962 Ferguson et al July 26, 193 8' 2,179,648 Thayer Nov. 14, 1939 2,320,934 James et al June 1, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 986,164 France Dec. 13, 1949

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