US1779817A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

at. 28, 1930. J. D. LANE 7 l-779,817

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 28, 1930. I J, D LANE 1,779,817

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1930. D, LAN: 1,779,817

, PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 192; v s sneet s-sneet' s Oct. 28, 1930.

J. D. LANE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct.

18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. D. LANE Oct. 28; 1930.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 28, 1930. J. D. LANE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 192.3 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 28, 1930.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1925 8 Shees.-Sheet 7 J. D. LANE Oct. 28, 1930.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed on.

18, 1923 8' Sheets-Sheet 8 r fl /M Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN HQBEY, OF

NASHUA, mew nmrsnmn racnome momma Application filed October 18, 1923. Serial 110.8%,401-

This invention relates to machines for packaging relatively small articles by inserting a predetermined number or quantity in a box or carton of relatively stiff paper board,

or like material. In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described the machine is adapted for packaging articles such as small pieces of candy, but it will be understood that various other articles may be packaged by suitably modifying the means empoyed to segregate charges from a mass of loose articles. a

A carton on which the machine is designed to operate is oblong and rectangular, and ineludes two relatively wide side walls, called the major walls, two narrower edge walls, called the minor walls, tabs on the ends of the minor edge walls, and extensions on the major walls from which end walls and tucking flaps are formed. The carton is supplied.

to the machine in a collapsed or flattened condition, all its parts being arranged in two parallel layers, each including one major wall and its end extension, and one minor I wall and its tabs, the collapsed cartons being arranged side by side ina column which is fed to the machine in a raceway from which the collapsed boxes are detached one at a time.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and effective machine, adapted to automatically detach a carton from a column, open the detached collapsed carton, close it at one end to 'form a chargesupporting bottom, the opposite or upper end being left open for the time being, feed a charge into the open end, close said end, and finally eject the charged and closed box.

The invention is embodied in the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings form-ing a part of this specificatiom Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

- Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is .a fragmentary elevation, showing a rear view of the opening blades, an edge view of which is shown by Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a partial section on line 33 of Figure 1. I

Figure 4 is a similar section on line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a'similar section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar section on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a similar section on line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a similar section on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a similar section on line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a similar section on line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a front elevation, showing a portion of the carton raceway, and means for tucking in the bottom tabs of the cartons, the operating mechanism shown by Figure 1 being omitted.

Figure 12 is a plan view, and

Figure 13 is an end view of the portion shown by Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a section Fi' ure 11.

igure 15 is a section on line 15-915 of Figure 11.

Figure 16 is a section on line 16l6 of Figure 11. I as Figure 17 i is a section on line 17 -17 of Figure 11.

Figure 18 is a section on line 1818. of Fi ure 11.

igures 19, 20, 21 and 22 are sectional views 85 illustrating steps of the operation of closing the lower ends of the cartons only by tucking, and without the use of glue.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of the, delivering end of the raceway, showing the preferred construction when the lower ends of the cartons are closed only by tucking.

Figure 24 is an end elevation, showing the structure represented by Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary perspective View, showing the fillet represented by Figures 23 and 24, as seen from a different point of View.

Figures 26 to 32, inclusive, are perspective on line 14-14 of views, illustrating the steps of closing a glued carton.

Figure 33 is a section on line 33-33 of Figure 26.

Figure Figure 27.

Figures spective views, showing ton-opening blades, Figure blades just before their entrance into a collapsed carton, while Figure 36 shows the blades just after they have opened the carton.

The collapsed cartons are supplied to the machine, as shown by Figures 26 and 33, and arranged side by side, closely packed together in a supplying raceway. Each carton includes two ma or walls a and b, and two mi nor walls 0 and d, the carton being longitudinally creased to define said walls.

The machine is adapted to act, as shown by Figures 26 to 29, on cartons having major end flaps a, b, at opposite ends of the major walls a and b, and minor end flaps 0' and d, at opposite ends of the minor walls 0 and d, mechanism being provided, as hereinafter described, for coating when desired one of the major end flaps at each end of the carton with glue, and pressing the glue-coated flaps against other flaps to seal the carton.

The machine is organized to perform the following operations: The body of the foremost collapsed carton in the raceway (Figure 27) is first opened and left open at both ends. The lowermajor flap a is then coated with glue on both sides, while inclined, as shown by Figures 15 and 28, and is folded against the lower minor flaps 0 and d, as indicated by Figure 29, one of itscoated sides being thus caused to adhere to said minor flaps. The lower major flap b, which has no glue, is then pressed against the other coated side of the lower major flap, as indicated by Figure 18, and is thus caused to adhere to the latter. The carton is thus closed at its lower end, its upper end being left open to receive a charge of merchandise. The carton is then charged, and after charging, the upper end is closed in the manner above described, one of the upper major tabs being coated with glue. Finally the now closed and charged carton is ejected from the machine.

The frame of the machine, Figs. 1, 2, includes a base portion or bed 12, supported by standards 13. Mountedon the frame is a raceway 14, adapted to support and guide a column of the collapsed cartons, and (Figure 2) provided with suitable means, such as a sliding presser 15, for forcing the column forward, the presser being actuated in any suitable manner, as by a weight not shown, connected with the presser by a depending cord 17. The foremost carton in the column is arrested-by spring detents 18, (Figures 23 and 24) on the side walls of the racewa engaging vertical edges of the collapse carton.

34 is a section on line 3434 of 35 and 36 are fragmentary perportions of the car- 35 showing the laced laterally by t e force exerted on the ibremost box, to open it, as shown by Figure 36. The raceway 1S vertically adjustable by means of a dove-tailed slide 20 (Figure 2),

fixed to the bottom of the raceway, and movable vertically in a clamping guide 21, fixed to the base 12, and adapted by a bolt 23 and nut 22, to secure the slide 20 at any desired hei ht.

'l he body of the foremost collapsed carton is opened and left in the condition shown b Fi ure 36, by the mechanism next described eferring to Figures 1, 2, 2, 35 and 36, 24 represents a carrier vertically movable on a fixed guide 25, by means of a lever 26 Figure 1), pivoted at 27, and oscillated as ereinafter described, in a vertical plane, and a connecting rod 28, connecting the swinging end of the lever with the carrier. An arm 29, fixed to the carrier 24, supports a pair of elongated vertically arranged inner opening blades 30, which are reciprocated in a vertical path by the carrier, said inner blades being fixed to the arm 29, and having only a vertical movement.

A slide 31, (Figure 2) horizontally movable on guides 32, fixed to the'carrier 24, supports a pair of outer opening blades 33, which are fixed to the slide, and are yieldingly held in contact with the inner blades 30, as shown by Fi ure 35, by a contractile spring 34, attache at 35 (Figure 2) to the carrier 24, and at 36 to the slide. When the carrier 24 is fully raised, as shown by full-lines in Figure 2, the inner and outer blades are in contact with each other, and their lower ends, which are beveled at their outer sides to collectively form a wedge adapted to be inserted between the major walls of a collapsed carton, are. movable in a path causing them to enter the foremost carton in the raceway when the carrier is lowered. One of the inner blades 30 has an extension 30, which bears on an upper end portion of the foremost carton, as shown by Figure 35, when the blades are fully raised, said extension constituting a detent supplementing the detents 18, in limiting the forward movement of the cartons in the raceway.

When the descending blades (Figure 36) have partly entered the foremost carton, so

The detents are ada ted to yield, or be dis-w that their lower ends are interposed between i the upper portions of the major walls of the carton, the outer blades 33 are moved laterally from the inner blades 30 to fully open the carton. This movement is caused by the cocarrying the blades well into the opened carton.

The outer blades 33 (Figure 36) are provided with hooked ears or pushers 42, which engage the upper edge of the upper maJor flap b, when the blades have partially entered the foremost carton, and push the carton positively downward to the position shown by F i ure 11, to locate the lower end of the carton in operative relation to the flapfolding means shown by Figures'll, 12 'and 13. An-"element of said means (Figure 11) is a fixed ledge, having an inclined portion 44, and a horizontal portion 45. The positive downward movement of the carton causes the folding of the lower minor flap d a ainst the inclined portion 44, as shown by otted lines in Figure 11. The lower minor fiap'c' (Figure 11) is at the same time inserted, without being folded, in an opening between the horizontal portion 45, and the inclined edge portion 46 of another fixed ledge having a horizontal portion 47.

This construction is designed largel to preserve the shape and to ensure proper olding of the flap 0'. It has been the practice heretofore to provide for the folding of both flaps c and d by causing them each to be directed against an inclined edge portion like 44. I have discovered, however, that while the flap d will be thereby properly folded, very often the opposite flap 0' will not be properly folded for some reason not quite clear. To avoid this trouble, I have provided the novel means shown whereby the flap c is first dropped vertically intoaslot between the members 45 and 47 and subsequently bentand folded as described.

The carton in the condition thus far described, is engaged by its positive downward movement with carton-feeding or moving arms on the endless carrier hereinafter described, whereby the carton is moved in the direction of'the arrow (Figure 11). This movement (Figure 11) causes the minor flap c to move on to the inclinedledge portion 46, whereby the said flap is folded inward, and caused to bear on the horizontal ortion 47. The partially folded minor flap is caused to move first, on to the inclined portion 46, whereby its folding is completed, and then on to the horizontal portion 47. The lower minor flaps are now held in the positions shown by Figure 28, on the horizontal portionk47, which constitutes acartomguiding trac The endless carrier above mentioned (F igure 1) is a sprocket-chain 59, supported by sprocket wheels 60 and 61, the upper stretch of the chain being below and parallel with the box-guiding track 47, and supported b the horizontal bed 12. The chain (Figure 1) is moved intermittently by mechanism which may include the well known Geneva movement, comprising arms fixed to a shaft and nected by bevel having studs 63, a cam 64, fixed to the shaft and having salient curved faces 65, and a cam 66, fixed to a driven shaft 67, carrying the sprocket-wheel 60, and having radial slots 68, cooperating with the studs 63, and reentrant curved faces 69, coo erating with the cam 64. The shaft 62 igure 1) is congears 71 and 72, with the driving-shaft 73, and is continuously driven and imparts, in a well known'manner, a stepby-step movement to the sprocket-chain, so

that a carton engaged by the feeding arms on said chain is moved step-by step, and held stationary in different positions.

To the chain 59 (Figure 1) are attached at suitable intervals, base plates 74, each having a pair of box-engaging arms 75, substantially perpendicular 'to the base late. One of the ase plates 74 (Figure 2? and the pair of arms 75 carried thereby, is in position to receive the carton between the arms 75, when the opened carton is forced downward by the opening blades. The chain 59 is at this time at rest, and .its next movement causes the arm 75 to advance the carton in the "direction of the arrow (Figure 11).

When the carton is forced the opening blade ears 42, the lower major fiap. a isinclined outward, as shown by Figare 14, by a fixed inclined ear 77, the lower major flap 5 remaining vertical.

The following movement of the carton downward by (Figure 11) by the endless carrier presentsthe flap a toe fixed curved rod 78, formed and arranged to hold the fiap at a somewhat increased inclination, and to leave portions of its opposite sides exposed, as shown by Figure 15, for the application of glue there- I to by a pair of lower gluing rolls 80 (Figure 3). These rolls are journaled loosely in bearings in one end of an arm 81, which is pivoted at 82 to one arm of a two-armed lever 83. Said lever is pivoted at 84, and its other arm has a trundle-roll 85, held by a spring 86, against a cam 87 on the driving-shaft 7 3.

The oscillation of the lever 83 (Figure 3) I ber 90, which is secured to a fixed holder 91,

and has a spiral face '92, which at different portions of its length (Figures 16, 17) presents difierent inclinations until, as shown by Figure 18,'it is substantially horizontal, and presses the flap 6' against the'flap a, after the latter has been coated and folded inward by a fixed curved rod 93. The condition shown by Figure 18 obtains when the carton has been moved toits third or filling position, one coated side of the flap a being pressed against the minor flaps c and d 5 and the flap I) being pressed against the other coated side of the flap a, so that the carton is closed at its lower end, and is ready to receive a charge, the carton being now held in position to receive a charge from a chute 94, connected with the charging mechanism shown by Figure 7. Said mechanism includes a fixed hopper 95, a rotary circular turret 96, having a hub 97, which is engaged with an inclined shaft 98, journaled in a bearing in a bracket 98. The turret is provided with a plurality of cups 99, which receive material at the lower portion of the turret, and register successively with the chute 94, to deliver their charges. The turret is rotated by connections between the shaft 98 and the driving-shaft 73, including a vertical shaft 100, a universal joint 101, and a worm gear 102, on the shaft 100, meshing with a worm 103 on the driving-shaft.

a dovetailed vertical shank 104, which is adadjusting the turret, and in the universal" joint 101, which maintains an operative connection between the shafts 98 and 100 under all adjustments.

Charges in the cups 99 may be leveled by a rotary brush 109, rotated by a belt 110,.

driven by a pulley 111, on the driving-shaft, and guided by idle pulleys 112.

After the charging of a carton at its third position, (Figure 8) the upper flaps are closed and sealed by means operating like the means whereby the lower flaps are closed and sealed, and including a pair of upper glueapplying rolls 113, mounted loosely on the swinging end of an arm 114, which 1s pivoted at 115, to an ear 116, on a head 117. Said head is fixed to a post 118, adjustable vertically in a clamping socket 119, secured to the bed 12. The arm 114 (Figure 8) 1s provided with a trundle-roll 120, bearing on a cam 121, on a shaft 122, journaled in abearing fixed to the head 117. The. cam is rotated by connections with the driving-shaft, including a sprocket-wheel 123, fixed to the driving-shaft, a sprocket-wheel 124, fixed to a shaft 125, j ournaled in a fixed bearing 126, 65 a chain 127 connecting the said wheels, a shaft The bracket 98 (Figure 7) is provided with 12 8 geared to the shaft 125, and provided wlth a, sprocket-wheel 129, and a chain 130,

connecting the wheel 129 with a sprocketwheel 131, on the cam shaft 122.

The oscillations of the arm 114 present the applying rolls 113 alternately to a roll 132',

contacting with a supply roll 132, in a glue tank 133, and to the upper major flap b of the carton, as indicated by Figure 8, said flap being coated on both sides preparatory to being united to the other upper flaps by folding means, whereby the minor upper flaps a and d are folded inward, asshown by Figure 30, and the major upper flaps b and a are successively folded inward until the upper end of the carton is closed, as shown by Figure 32. The upper minor flap c is folded inward by the movement of the carton, under, a fixed ledge, not shown, corresponding to the ledge designated 46 and 47 (Figure 11). The upper minor flap d is folded inward by an arm 134 (Figures 1 and 6), on an oscillating lever 135, pivoted at 136 to a standard 137, supported by a head 138, having a standard 139, which is vertically adjustable in a clamping guide 140, fixed to the bed 12. The lever 135 is oscillated tofirst move it downward from the raised posis tion shown by Figure 6, and thereby fold the flap d, and then return the arm 134 to said raised position. The mechanism for accomplishing this includes a cam 141, on the driving-shaft, a lever 142, pivoted at 143, and having a trundle-roll bearing on the cam and links 144 and 145, connecting the level 142 with the lever 135. The upper major flaps a and b" may be folded by fixed members similar to the members 78, 90 and 93, which act as above described, on the lower major flaps. Figure 1 shows members 78 and 93*, corresponding to the members 78 and 93. Figures 5 and 9 show alternate means for folding the major flaps of large cartons, in which the length of said-flaps is such that they cannot be advantageously folded by the said fixed members. Figure 5 shows an oscillating folding member 146, which is movable to the positions indicated by full and dotted lines, and folds the lower major flap, when moved to the full line position. The member 146 is operated by a cam 147, on the driving-shaft, and a lever 148 pivoted at 149, a link 150, connecting the lever 148 with a shoe 151, to which the member 146 is attached, said shoe being guided by a fixed curved slotted bracket 152. Another member, not shown, similar to the member 146, may 'be employed to fold the lower major flap a.

Figure'9 shows a member .146, similar to the member 146, and adapted by the mechanism shown to fold one of the upper major flaps. Said mechanism includes the shaft 122 (Figure 8), a cam 153, on said shaft, a lever 154, pivoted at 155, and having a no trundle-roll bearing on the cam 153-, and a link 156, connectingthe lever 154 with a slide 157, carrying the member 146, said slide be ing guided by a fixed segmental slotted bracket 158.

.The guide rolls in the glue tanks are positively rotated to cause them to raise glue from the tanks. Figure 4 shows the mecha nism which rotates the roll 88, in the lower tank 89. The glue roll 132 in the upper tank (Figure 8) is rotated by similar mechanism, not shown. The shaft 88 of the roll 88 (Figure 4) is provided with a gear 159, meshing with a'gear 160, driven by a shaft 161, journaled in a bearing 162, on the bed 12. The shaft 161 is connected by bevel gears 'with an intermediate shaft 163, journaled in a bearing in a fixed bracket 164, and provided with a gear 165, meshing with a gear 166, on the driving-shaft. To permit horizontal adjustments of the glue tank, and its roll, the tank is mounted on a base 167, which is slidable on a fixed horizontal guide 168, and the gear 160 is slidably engaged by a key and groove with the shaft 161.

After the carton has been closed at its upper end, it is ejected from the machine by the ejecting mechanism shown by Figures 1 and 10, and comprising a plunger 170, movable in a fixed guide 171, and reciprocated by a cam 172, on the driving-shaft, through a lever 173, pivoted at 174. One arm of the lever is pressed bya spring 17 5, against the cam, and the other arm has a stud 176, entering aslot 177 in the plunger. When the plunger is moved forward, it str kes the closed carton while the carrier is at rest, with the closed carton inthe path of the plunger, and pushes the carton from the carrier aws between which it was located, lnto a chute 178, of suificient length to guide a plurality of cartons, as indicated by dotted lines 1n Figure 10. The cartons pass under a plate 179, adjustably supported by a bracket 180,

in position, to bear on the upper ends of the cartons, and exert a holding-down, or stroking pressure thereon, while they are being ejected. v

The machine may be readil modified to close cartons at one or both en s, by folding and tucking the end flaps without hung, or to close one end by folding andtuc 'ng, and the opposite end by gluing. For .example,

cartons formed as shown by Figures 23 and, 24, may be closed at their lower ends, by folding and tucking, without the use of glue, and at their upper ends by folding and gluing, each carton having'at the lower end of one of its major walls, a tucking flap composed of an inner portion e and an outer portion f, the

flap being creased at g, between said portions.

The raceway is provided at one of its lower corners with a supporting member, as a fillet.

14 (Figures 23, 24 and 25) which. projects forward over the carrier from the bottom of the raceway, and'forms a stop or support,

while they are entering the carton and be-- fore the ears or jaws 42 engage the upper end ofthe carton to ush it downward. The foremost cartons at t e outer end of the raceway extend-out over. the carrier beyond the bottom wall of the raceway, so that thefillet alone prevents them from descending into the carrier. The fillet engages a lowercorner of the minor wall a of the carton, but it does not extend far enough across the raceway to engage the major wall a that is adjacent to the wall a. When the carton becomes opened by the opening blades, the major wall 5 is caused to swim outward, from the position of Fi 23 or l fillet eing formedto permit the major wall 6 of the carton to, readily slip'or become disengaged therefrom. The fillet 1 1 can not, therefore, obstruct the downward movement of the opened carton when the jaws 42 commence to push the carton downward.

en the carton has the tucking flap e, f, T substitute for the folding means shown by Figures 14 to 18,- inclusive, the meansshown by Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22, including a member 90., having a spiral face 92, and a member 90", located beside a portion of the member 90. Said members are adapted to first incline the flap portion f, as shown by Figures 19 and 20, and then lncline the flap portions f and 6, until the portion f is packed within the carton, as shown by Figure 22.

The main shaft 73 may be driven by a driving-shaft 182 (Figures 1 and 2), and connections such as sprocket wheels 183 and 184 on said shafts, and a sprocket-chain 185, connecting said wheels. The lever 26 which reciprocates theslide 24, carrying the open ing blades,,may be oscillated by an eccentric wrist-pin 187 (Figures 1 and 2), on a disk 188, entering a slot 189 in the lever 26. The disk 188 is fixed to a shaft 190, journaled in a fixed bearing 191, and provided with a gear 192, meshing with agear 193, on the main shaft 73. r a

The connecting-rod which connects the lever 26 with the slide length to permit the height of the slide and of the'opening blades to be raised, when they are fully raised, thus adapting the blades to boxes of different sizes. As shown by Figure 2, the connecting-rod includes two telescopic sections 28 and 28; The tubular section 28 is contractible at its upper end, and is adapted to be contracted on the section 28, and positively grip the latter.

The extent of the lateral movement of the outer opening blades 33, away from the inner blades 30, is determined by the proportions of the cam 39, hence by modifying said cam, as by substituting for one of a given size 24, is adjustable in ig. 26 to that of Fig. 27, the

' combination, means for releasably con ning a flattened carton in a predetermined position, and carton-openin mechanism including inner and outer blades, adapted to simultaneously enter the carton and partially open the same, the inner blades being movable in an invariable .path, and the outer blades being normally in contact with the inner blades and laterally movable .therefrom, means for reciprocating the blades endwise, and blade-separating means actuated by an endwise movement of the blades in one direction, to move the outer blades laterally while they are moving endwise, and thereby complete the opening of the carton.

2. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 1, the said blade-separating means being embodied in a fixed cam having an inclined face and a longitudinal face, and a slide carrying the said outer blades, and yieldingly held in position to cooperate successively with the cam faces, the extent of the lateral movements of the outer blades spring-pressed slide movable on the carrier being determined by the cam, so that the blades .may be adapted to open cartons of difierent sizes by modifications of the cam.

3. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 1, the said outer blades being provided with lugs, adapted to engage a carton, and impart a positive movement thereto. 7

4; A packaging machinecomprisin in combination, means for releasably con ning a flattened carton in a predetermined position, and carton-opening mechanism including a carrier movable in a predetermined path, means for reciprocating the carrier, a

in a path transverse to the path of the carrier, inner opening blades fixed to the carrier, outer opening blades fixed to the slide, and normally held thereby in contact with the inner blades, and a fixed cam located in the path of the slide and having guiding faces adapted to cooperate with the slide in laterally movinlg'and guiding the outer blades.

5. A pac aging machine comprisin a carton raceway, a support therefor, aving means for vertically adjusting the raceway, and holding it at any position to which it may be adjusted, the raceway being provided with means for releasably confimn a flattened carton at its outer end, an carton opening mechanism including inner and outer blades, adapted to simultaneously enter the foremost carton in the raceway, and partially open the same, means for reciprocating the blades endwise, the inner blades being movable in an unvarying path, and the outer blades being normally in contact with the inner blades, and laterally movable therefrom, and blade-separating means effective upon an endwise movement to move the outer blades laterally, and thereby complete the opening of the carton, said separating means including a fixed cam which determines the extent of the said lateral movement, so that the opening blades may be adapted to open cartons of different sizes, by modifications of the cam.

6. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5, the said blade-reciprocating means being adjustable to vary the height of the blades when they are raised.

7. A ackaging machine substantially as specifie by claim 5, comprising also an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to con- -vey an opened carton from the opening 8. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5, comprising also an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to convey an opened carton from the opening mechanism, a glue-ap lying mechanism, adapted to coat a major ap at one end of a, carton engaged with said carrier, means being provided for adjusting said gluing mechanism to conform the same to cartons of different sizes, and for positively supporting said mechanism at any position to which it may be adjusted.

9. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5, comprising also an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to receive an opened carton from the opening mechanism, a lower gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap at the lower end of a carton engaged with said carrier, and an upper gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap at the upper end of said carton.

10. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5, comprising also an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to receive an opened carton from the opening mechanism, a lower gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap at the lower end of a carton engaged with said carrier, and an upper gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap at the upper end of said carton, means being provided for vertically adjusting the upper gluing mechanism, and positively supporting the same at any position to which it may be adjusted.

11. A ackaging machine substantially as specified y claim 5, comprising also an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to receive an opened carton from the opening mechanism, a lower gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap at the lower end of a carton engaged with said carrier, and an upper gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap at the upper end of said carton, provided for horizontally adjusting the lower gluing mechanism, and positively supporting the same at any position towhich it may be adjusted.

12. In a packaging machine, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of flattened cartons, and provided'with means for releasably confining the foremost carton at the outer end of the raceway, and with a fillet projecting from one of the lower corners of the raceway, and adapted to support an edge portion of the foremost carton, after the latter has been moved outward from the bottom of the racewa 1 A. packaging machine havin in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of cartons that are collapsed so that two adjacent walls of each carton require to be moved relatively to each other to open the cart-on, a carton carrier disposed below and forward of the bottom of the raceway, means for releasably confining the foremost carton at-the outer end of the raceway beyond the bottom of the raceway and over the carrier, a suitably fashioned supporting member projecting forward over the carrier from one of the lower corners of the raceway and adapted to be engaged by the lower end of one of the walls of the foremost carton and so as not to be engaged by a wall adjacent to the said one wall, carton opening mechanism, and means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton at the upper end of the carton and to move the said one wall out of engagement with the supporting member to open the carton and to release the carton from the raceway and deposit the opened carton in the carrier, the supporting member being adapted to support the collapsed carton and prevent its movement into the carrier during the opening of the carton by the carton-opening mechanism.

14. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plural ity of cartons that are collapsed so that two adjacent walls of each carton require to be moved relatively to each other to open the carton, means for releasably confining the foremost carton at the outer end of the raceway, a suitably fashioned supporting member projecting from one of the lower corners of the raceway and adapted to be engaged by the lower end of one of the walls of the foremost carton and so as not to be engaged by a walladjacent to the said one wall, cartonopening mechanism, and means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton at the upper end of the carton and to move the said one wall out of engagement with the supportmeans being.

, lapsed cartons,

ing member. to open the cal-ten, the supporting member being adapted to support the carton during the opening of the carton by the carton-opening mechanism.

15. A packaging'machine having, in combination, carton-opening mechanism for opening cartons that are collapsed so that two ad acent walls of each carton require to be moved relatively to each other to open the carton,*a suitably fashioned supporting member positioned so as to be engaged by one end of one of the walls of a collapsed carton and so as not to be engaged by a wall adjacent to the said one wall, and means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter the supporting member-engaged carton at the other end of the said carton and to move the said one wall out of engagement with the supporting member to open the carton,

the supporting member 'being adapted to support the carton during the opening of the carton by the carton-opening mechanism.

16. A machine for opening cartons that it are collapsed so that two adjacent walls of the carton require to be moved relatively to each other to open the carton, the said machine having, in combination, asuitably fashioned supporting member positioned so as to be engaged by one end of one of the-walls of a collapsed carton and so as not to be a wall adjacent to the said one wall, and means for moving the said one wall out of engagement with the supporting member to open the carton, the supporting member being adapted to support the carton during the operation of the, moving means.

17. A machine for operating on articles comprising two walls adapted to fold relatively to each other, the said machine having, in combination, a suitably fashioned supporting member positioned so as to be engaged by one end of one of the walls of the article and so as not to be engaged by the other wall, and means for folding the said one wall relatively to the said other wall to move the said one Wall out of engagement'with the supporting member, the supporting member being adapted to support the said one wall during the actuation of the folding means.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a suitably fashioned supporting member adapted to be engaged by an end of an article, and means for actuating the article out of engagement with the supporting member, the supporting member being adapted to support the article during the operation of the actuating means.

19. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons, carton-opening mechanism adapted to occupy a normal posi engaged by rlot) tion in which it is ineffective to open the colthe carton-opening mechamsm being operative when in the normal position to releasably confine the foremost bination, a raceway adapted to ho collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway, and means for actuating the cartonopening mechanism from the normal position to cause it to enter the said foremost collapsed carton and to open the carton.

20. A packaging machine havin in com- 11% a plurality of collapsed cartons, carton-opening mechanism adapted to occupy a normal posi tion in which it is ineffective to open the col-' lapsed cartons and comprising an opening blade having a portion adapted to engage the foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway to releasably confine the foremost carton in the raceway, and means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism from the normal position to cause it to enter the said foremost collapsed carton and to open the carton.

21. A packagin machine having, incombination, means %or confining a collapsed carton, a plurality of carton-opening blades, and means for actuating the blades as a unit to cause them to enter the collapsed carton and for actuating one of the blades relatively to another blade to open the carton.

22. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for confining a collapsed carton, a plurality of carton-opening blades, means normally maintaining the blades in a relative position in which they are adapted to enter the collapsed carton. means for actu-..

ating the blades while in the said relative position to cause them to enter the collapsed carton, and means operable after the blades have entered the collapsed carton to effect a relative actuation of the blades to cause the blades to open the collapsed carton;

23. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for confining a collapsed carton, a plurality of carton-opening blades, spring means for normally maintaining the blades yieldingly in a relative position in which they are adapted to enter the collapsed carton, means for actuating the blades while in the said relative position to cause them to enter the collapsed carton, and a cam for effecting a relative actuation of the blades in opposition to the force exerted by the spring means to cause the blades after they have entered the collapsed carton to open the collapsed carton.

24. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons, a carton carrier, carton-opening mechanism, means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway and to open the same and to deposit the opened carton in the carrier at a predetermined position in the travel of the carrier, means for actuating the carrier, means for closing the bottom-of the carton and meansfor charging the cartons at a second predetermined position in the travel of the carri r.

25. A packaging mabhine havin in combination, a raceway adapted to hol a lurality of collapsed cartons in substantial y vertical position, a carrier, vertically reciprocating carton-opening mechanism for opening the foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway and depositing the opened carton in vertical position in the carrier, means for actuating the carrier to cause the opened carton to travel past four predetermined points while maintaining its vertical position, means situated at the first predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for closing the bottom of the carton, means situated at the second predetermined point in the travel of the carrier adapted to permit articles to fall by gravity into the carton to charge the carton, means situated at thethird predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for closing the to of the carton, and

means situated at the ourth predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for ejecting the closed carton.

26. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to 'hold a plurality of cartons that are collapsed so that two adjacent walls of each carton require to be moved relatively to eachother to open the carton, a carton carrier disposed below and forward of the bottom of the raceway, means for releasably confining the foremost carton at the outer end of the raceway beyond the bottom of the raceway and over thecarrier, a fillet projecting forward over the carrier from one of the lower corners of the raceway and adapted to be engaged by the lower end of one of the walls of the foremost carton and so as not to be engaged by a wall adjacent to the said one wall, a plurality of carton-opening blades, and means for actuating the blades as a unit and for actuating one of the blades relative to another blade to cause the blades to enter the foremost collapsed carton at the upper end of the carton and to move the'said one wall out of engagement with the fillet to open the carton and to release the carton from the raceway and deposit the opened carton on the carrier, the

- fillet being adapted to support the collapsed carton and prevent its movement into the carrier during the opening of the carton by the carton-opening blades.

27. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons having end flaps, a carton carrier disposed below and forward of the bottom of the raceway, means for releasably confining the foremost carton at the outer end of the raceway beyond the bottom of the raceway and over the carrier, carton-opening mechanism, means for actuatmg the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton and I to open the carton and to release the carton rality of carton-opening blades,

from the raceway and deposit the opened carton on the carrier, means for actuating the carrier, and means situated at a predetermined position in the travel of the carrierfor gluing both sides of a flap, the said means comprising two gluing rolls, and means for actuating the gluing rolls as a unit and respectively into and out of contact wlth opposite sides of the flap at the predetermined position. 1

28. A packaging machine having, 1n combination, a carrier for carrying cartons having 0 en ends, one of the open ends beingprovi ed with end flaps, means for actuating the carrier to cause the open cartons to travel past three predetermined points, two gluing rolls situated at the first predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for respectively gluing the opposite sides of one of the flaps, means for bodily actuating the gluing rolls respectively into and out of contact with the opposite sides of the flap at the said first predetermined position, means for folding the flaps to close the said one open end of the carton, means situated, at the second predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for charging the carton, and means situated at the third predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for closing the other end of the carton.

29. A packaging machine having, in combination, a carrier for carrying cartons having openends provided with end flaps, means for actuating the carrier to cause the open cartons to travel past three predetermined points, two gluing rolls situated at the first predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for respectively gluing the opposite sides of one of the flaps at one end of the carton, means for bodily actuatin the gluing rolls respectively into and out 0 contact with the opposite sides of the said one flap at the said first predetermined position, means for folding the flaps at the said one end of the carton to close the said one end of the carton, means situated at the second predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for charging the carton, two gluing rolls situated at the third predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for respectively gluing the opposite sides of one of the flaps at the other end of the carton. means for bodily actuating the secend-named gluing rolls respectively into and out of contact with the opposite sides of the last-named flap at the said third predetermined position, and means for folding the flaps at the said other end of the carton to close the said other end of the carton.

30. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons, a carrier, a plumeans normally maintaining the blades in a relative position in which they are adapted to enter opened carton on the carrier, means for actuating the carrier to cause the opened carton to travel past four predetermined points, means situated at the first predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for closing one end of the carton, means situated at the second predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for char ing the carton, means situated at the thircf predetermined point in the travel'of the carrier for closing the other end of the carton, and means situated at the fourth predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for ejecting the closed carton. v

31. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons having end flaps, carton-opening mechanism, means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton in the raceway and to open the carton, a carrier for carrying the opened cartons, means for actuating the carrier, two means situated at a predetermined position in the travel of the carrier for respectively gluing both sides of a flap, two'means as a unit respectively into and out of contact with opposite sides of the flap at the predetermined position.

32. A packaging machine having, in com.- bination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons having end flaps, a plurality of carton-opening blades, means for actuating the blades as a unit to cause them to enter the foremost collapsed carton in the raceway. and to open the carton, a carrier for! car ing the opened cartons, means for actuating the carrier, and means situated at a predetermined position in the travel of the carrier for gluing both sides of a flap, the said means comprising two gluing rolls, and means for actuating the gluing rolls as a unit and respectively intoand out of contact with opposite sides of the flap at the predetermined position.

33. A packaging machine having, in .combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of collapsed cartons in substantially vertical position, a carrier, vertically reciprocating carton-openng mechanism for opening the foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway and depositing the opened carton in vertical position on the carrier, the opened carton having four walls each having an end flap, means for actuating the carrier to cause the carrier to carry the opened carton with the end flaps extending from the carton. walls while the carton mainand means for actuating the said tains its vertical position, two means situated at a predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for res ectively gluing both sides of a flap exten 'ng from one of the walls, and means for actuating the said two means as a unit respectively into and out of contact with opposite sides of the flap at the predetermined position in a direction towards and from the said one wall and between thetwo flaps disposed on opposite sides of the said flap.

34. A packing machine having, in combination, a carrier for advancing an open carton, having a plurality of foldable flaps to close the carton, means adjacent the carrier including an angularly positioned flap turning device for turning one flap and a progressively inclined member for turning a second flap; means for actuating the carrier, and means operable at a later point in the travel of the carrier for folding a major flap, said means comprising a flap folding member adapted to travel in a curved path, a shoe for actuating the folding member into engagement with the major flap to fold the same, and a curved guide for guiding the shoe during actuation of the folding member.

35. A packaging machine having, in combination, a carrier for advancing an open carton, the ends of which are provided with a plurality of foldable flaps, means adjacent the carrier including an inclined flap turning device for a lower flap, a slot to receive an opposite lower flap, a shoulder adjacent the slot to turn a major flap as the carton is fed by the carrier forwardly, and means operable at a subsequent point in the travel of the carrier for folding another major flap, the said means comprising a folding member having a guiding shoe, means for actuating the folding member in engagement with the flap to fold the same, and a curved guide for guiding the shoe during actuation of the folding member.

36. A packaging machine having, in combination a raceway adapted to hold a plu rality of collapsed carries, a cartoii carrier, carton opening mechanism including a plurality of opening blades relatively positioned substantially to correspond to the shape of the open carton, means for actuating the carton opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton at the end of the raceway to open the same and deposit the carton in the carrier, means for closing the bottom of the carton, means for charging the carton.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

- JOHN D. LANE.

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