US3251172A - Card feeding apparatus for a packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

May l7, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 MALT INVENTORS E. DUGLE ROLAND W. WAGNER Attorneys Mayil7, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE I Filed May 15, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUGLE ROLAND W. WAGNER Attorneys May, 17, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUGLE BY ROLAND W. WAGNER I MS '17 1 Attornevs y 7, 1966 "r. E. DUGLE ETAL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

FIG.

INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUGLE ROLAND W. WAGNER Attornevs May 17, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.

INVENTOR. THOMAS E. DUG LE ROLAND W.WAGNER wwwww May,\17, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 15, 1963 L V INV HOMAS E. DU

ENTORL GLE B ROLAND W. WAGNER Aflornevs y. 17, 1966 T. E. DUGLE ET AL 3,251,172

CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 -IO30 JQO FIG. 22

R. THOMAS 5.1%? O ROLAND w. WAGNER AHornevs 3,251,172 CARD FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE Thomas E. Dugle, Indian Hill, and Roland W. Wagner, Sharonville, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Warrick Equipment Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 15, 1963, Ser. No. 280,541 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-195) This invention relates to packaging machinery. More particularly, this invention relates to a card feeding apparatus for a machine for packaging articles in groups.

An object of this invention is to provide a packaging machine in which a card of board is fed from a stack of boards to a tray or bucket where a predetermined number of the articles are loaded therein at a loading station.

A further object of this invention is to provide a card feeding arrangement for a machine of this type in which the card is folded into the bucket and, after the card has been folded into the bucket, the bucket is advanced along a track which grips and holds edges of the card to hold the card in the bucket until articles have been mounted therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type in which the card is gripped between two arch-shaped members which engage the card to fold the card into the bucket and shape the card to an arched configuration so that the card can advance along an arched or curved track to the loading station.

A further object of this invention is to provide a card feeding device of this type in which one of the card forming and folding members includes spaced arms which fit on opposite sides of the bucket so that, as the bucket is advanced or indexed, the bucket can pass the member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this type in which, as the card is folded into the bucket, pivoted or swinging card holding members are swung back sufficiently to permit the card to enter the bucket and then return to a card holding position so that the other card folding member can be removed from the bucket before the bucket is indexed.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation showing a machine for packaging articles having a card feeding arrangement constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

FIG-2 is a plan view of a card feeding end of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation showing details of construction of the card feeding arrangement, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction, a card feeding arrangement being shown in a first position in which vacuum cups thereof engage cards;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of the card feeding arrangement with the card feeding arrangement in a second position in which vacuum cups are released from the cards;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the card feeding and folding mechanism looking in the direction of the lines 55 in FIG. 4 some parts of the card feeding mechanism being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in upright section taken on the lines 6--6 in FIG. 5 showing details of construction of a valving mechanism forming a part of the structure of the card feeding device;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the card holding portion of the machine, cards being shown therein in dotdash lines;

- United States Patent 0 3,251,172 Patented May 17, 1566 FIG. 8 is a view in section taken on the line 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken on the line 99 in FIG. 8 some fastener elements being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken on the line 10-10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view in section taken on the line 11-11 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view in section taken generally on the line 12-12 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken on the line 1313 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the same line as FIG. 13, card catching segments being shown in an outer position in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section showing card folding mechanism in partly folded position;

FIG. 16 is a view in section taken on the line in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is enlarged fragmentary view partly in section showing a bucket and bucket supports in further positions;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of an inner card for use in the machine;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a wrapper card or board for use therewith, lines of fold being indicated in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a card catching and folding member forming a portion of the machine;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary View in section taken on the line 21-21 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 21A is another fragmentary view in section taken on the line 21-21 in FIG. 15 and FIG. 22 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of a main housing showing drive connections, some parts being omitted for clarity.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a machine 9 for counting and packaging articles which embodies a card feeding and folding arrangement constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. The machine is constructed for counting and packaging articles such as Wiener sausages or the like and placing same in packages containing a predetermined number of articles (10) in each package with two layers mounted one on top of the other, eachlayer containing half of the articles. This invention represents an, improvement over the machine shown and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 115,041, filed lune 5, 1961.

The machine as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes an article conveyor 12 which delivers wieners 13 to a loading section 14. The loading section 14 includes a main housing 15 which supports card feeding appara s 1 6 and a loading end of package conveyor 17.

21 mounted on a frame element 22 (FIG. 5) which is supported on a wall 23 of the main housing 15 of the machine. Upper and lower card carrying chutes or bins 24 and 26 (FIG. 4) are mounted on the plate 21 and can be welded thereto.

As shown in FIG. 10, the upper card chute 24 is of generally channel shape. Angle-shaped rails 27 and 28 are adapted to support a plurality of wrapper cards or boards 29, indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 19, each of the wrapper cards 29 has a body 30 provided with outwardly extending portions 31 and 32 which terminate in shoulders 33 and 34. The rails 27 and 28 (FIG. 11) are so spaced that the shoulders 33 and 34 can rest on the rails in the manner that-the wrapper card 29a is shown in FIG. 7. Lower ends of upper flanges of the rails 27 and 28 are bent upwardly as indicated at 36 and 37 (FIG. 10) to form catches or stops against which the wrapper cards are held. A

D weighted card holder 38 runs on the rails 27 and 28 behindthe wrapper cards to hold the wrapper cards against the upwardly turned stops 36 and 37. In addition, the wrapper cards are held by upper catch or stop members 39 and 41, one of which is mounted on the plate 21 and the other of which is mounted on a chute forming plate 42. The chute forming plate 42 is mounted on the card chutes 24 and 26 and can be welded thereto and is attached to the upright plate 21 by a strut 43 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

The lower card chute 26 is of channel shape in section as shown in FIG. 11 and can be welded to the plate 21 as well as to the plate 42. Track members 44 and 46 which are of W-shape in section, are mounted in the chute member 26. Lower end portions 47 and 48 of the track members 44 and 46, respectively, are turned upwardly, as indicated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, to form catches or stops for lower edges of cards 49, shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 18, each of the cards 49 can be of rectangular shape. Upper edges of the cards 49 are held by a spring catch 51 which is of generally angle shape and can be formed of spring metal or the like and is mounted on the underside of a web 53 of the upper card chute 24 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A weighted card holder 54 mounted on the track members 44 and 46 behind the rectangular cards 49 engages the rectangular cards to hold the rectangular cards in engagement with the stops 47, 48 and 51. The

wrapper cards 29 and the rectangular cards 49 can be formed of paperboard or the like.

Cards are removed from the stacks thereof by vacuum cups 54 and 56. The vacuum cups 54 and 56 are mounted on a vacuum line 57 which communicates with an elongated blind bore 58 (FIG. 6) in a supporting shaft 59. The shaft 59 is mounted in a bearing 61 and in a bearing and valve member 62 for reciprocation so that the vacuum cups 54 and 56 can move from an inner position shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 at which the vacuum cups can engage the cards and an outer position shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 to withdraw one card from each of the upper and lower card carrying chutes. A tension spring 63 draws the shaft 59 and the vacuum cups 54 and 56 toward card engaging position. One end of the spring 63 is attached to a stud 63a (FIG. 4) mounted in the plate 21. The other end of the spring 63 is attached to an upright pin 6312, which extends through the shaft 59 and is engageable with a pad 65 (FIG. of nylon mounted on the plate 21. A vacuum can be impressed on the vacuum cups 54 and 56 by means of a vacuum line 66 (FIG. 6) which is attached to a suitable source of vacuum. The bearing and valve member 62 houses spaced bearing and sealing sleeves 67 and 68 which are mounted adjacent ends of the bearing and valve member 62 and form an annular internal chamber thereinside surrounding the shaft 59 and in communication with the vacuum line 66. When the vacuum cups are in the FIG. 4 position, a vent opening 69 (FIG. 6) in the shaft 59 connects the vacuum cups to the atmosphere so that there is no vacuum impressed thereon and the vacuum cups are released from the cards. On the other hand, when the vacuum cups are advanced to the FIG. 9 position, the vent opening 69 (FIG. 6) is closed inside the bearing and sealing sleeve 68 and an opening 71 in the shaft 59 communicates with the space surrounding the shaft and with the vacuum line 66 so that a vacuum is impressed upon the vacuum cups when in the FIG. 9 position.

When the vacuum cups are moved outwardly, each vacuum cup removes a card from the end of one of the chutes, releasing the card from the stop members associated therewith. Then, as the vacuum cups advance outwardly toward the FIG. 4 position, the vent opening 69 comes free of the bearing and sealing sleeve 68 to release the vacuum, whereupon the cards drop downwardly, the wrapper card falling to the position indicated at 2% in FIG. 8 in front of a card guide member 71a quarter turn.

and the rectangular card falling to the position indicated at 491) in FIG. 8 behind the wrapper card 2%. At this position the cards 49]) and 2% are supported upon lower card support flanges 72 (FIG. 8) and 73 (FIG. 9). The flanges 72 and 73 are part of a card catching and folding member 74 which is mounted on the cross bar 43, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Details of construction of the card catching and folding member 74 are shown in FIG. 20. The card catching and folding member 74, as shown in FIG. 20 includes a central plate portion 76. A flange 77, extending downwardly therefrom, is provided with openings 78 and 79 for receiving fasteners 81 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) for attaching the card catching and folding member 74 to the cross bar 43. At the upper edge of the central plate portion 76 (FIG. 20) are provided a card folding plate portion 82 on one side of the central plate portion 76 and the card supporting flanges 72 and 73 on the other side of the central plate portion.

The vacuum cups 54 and 56, the vacuum line 57, and the shaft 59 are drawn in card picking direction to the right in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 by a cable 84 which is attached to the upright pin 63b. The cable 84 runs over a pulley 86 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). A lower end of the cable 84 is attached to a fitting 87 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 88. The stud 88 is mounted in an angle shaped crank or card folding member 89. The crank 89 is mounted on and keyed to a shaft 90 (FIGS. 5 and 12) which extends into the main housing 15. As the card folding member 89 swings clockwise, as shown in FIG. 4, in a card holding direction, the vacuum cups move toward card engaging position, and as the card folding member 84 returns in counter-clockwise direction, cards are removed from the chutes or bins 24 and 26.

The crank 89 and the shaft 90 are driven by mehcanism inside the main housing 15 which is illustrated in FIG. 22. An electric motor 91 provides power for operating the mechanisms of the machine. The motor 91 drives an input to an electric clutch 92. The clutch 92 can be similar in construction to that shown in our above identified co-pending application. When a cycle of the card picking and folding mechanism is to be initiated, the clutch 92 is energized by mechanism (not shown), which causes the clutch to engage so that a drive or output shaft 93 is driven to drive a chain 94 which, in turn, drives a shaft 96. A cam 97 mounted on the shaft 96 engages a cam follower 98. The cam follower 98 is mounted on a crank arm 99 which, in turn, is mounted on the shaft 99 so that, each time the shaft 96 and the cam 97 perform one revolution, the angle-shaped crank 89 swings from the full line poistion of FIG. 4 to the FIG. 3 position and returns. In addition, the shaft 96 also drives a chain 100 which drives a Geneva gear impeller or driver 101 which, in turn, drives a Geneva gear 102. The Geneva gear 182 is mounted on a shaft 103. The driver 101 has two rollers 193a, each of which is engageable in slots 103b of the Geneva gear, and, each time the driver 101 turns one-half turn, the Geneva gear 102 is turned one- Electric limit switch mechanism (not shown) assoicated with the Geneva gear driver releases the clutch at the end of one half turn advance thereof.

The angle-shaped crank 89 carries a paddle or head 104 (FIG. 4) which is of arc shape and engages cards as the crank 89 swings from the full line position of FIG. 4 to the dot-dash line position and, as the cards are driven to the right, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 15, wrapper card 29c (FIG. 15) is folded as it is advanced to the right with a lower end portion being engaged by the card catching and folding member 74. A card folding projection 106 (FIGS. 7 and 8) mounted on the plate 21 is engaged by an upper portion 107 of a wrapper card to be folded in a similar manner as indicated in FIG. 15. As the cards are advanced to the right, the cards are brought into engagementwith card arching members or strips 188 and 199 (FIG. 5), which are arched in a complementary manner to the paddle or head 104. The strips 108 and 109 are mounted on an arm 111 (FIGS. 4, 5, and 12) which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 90. A tension spring 112 linking the arm 111 and a stud 113 mounted on the wall 23 urges the arm 111 and the strips 108 and 109 to the position shown in FIG. 4. at which the arm 111 engages a bumper 114, which is carried by a spring strip 116 (FIG. 9) mounted on the strut 43. As shown in FIG. 15, rectangular card 490 and the central portion of the wrapper card 29c are formed to an arch shape between the paddle 104 and the strips 108 and 109 as the cards are'advanced to the right. The paddle 104 advances the cards between card catching arcs 117 and 118. As shown in FIG. 13, the are 118 is mounted on a hinge arm 119 which is hinged on a block 121 mounted on the housing wall 23. The arc 117 is mounted on a hinge arm 122, hinged on a block 123 which is mounted on a circular plate 124. The circular plate 124 is supported on the housing wall 23 by a support bracket 126. Leaf springs 127 and 128 urge the arcs 117 and 118, respectively, to the position shown in FIG. 13 and, in full lines, in FIG. 14. However, as the cards are ad vanced between the arcs, the arcs can swing back to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 14 to permit the cards to advance along wedge faces 129 and 131 of the arcs 117 and 118, respectively, to pass therebetween until the cards are received between arc-shaped tracks 132 and 133, and the arcs 117 and 118 prevent withdrawal of the cards as the paddle 104 swings back therebetween. The radius of curvature of the tracks 132 and 133 is substanstantially equal to the radius of curvature of the head 104 of the card folding member.

Guide bars 134, 134a, 134b, and 1340 (FIG. mounted in the tracks 132 and 133, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 21A, prevent inadvertent displacement of the cards. The guide bars are received in slots 135 in the arcs when the arcs are in the position shown in FIGS. 21 and 21A. When the cards are in the position shown in FIG. 14, the cards are received in a bucket 136. Details of construction of one of the buckets is shown in FIG. 17. The body of the bucket is of angle shape and includes a base 137, on which the central portion of the wrapper card is received, as indicated at 29d, and a rear wall 138 which extends outwardly therefrom for engagement with the portion 105 of the wrapper card. Lugs 139 and 141 extend downwardly from the base 137 and are mounted on upstanding portions 142 and 143 respectively. of links of a conveyor chain 144. The conveyor chain runs on a sprocket wheel 145; as shown in FIG. 13, the sprocket wheel 145 is mounted on the shaft 103, which, as already indicated, is driven by the Geneva gear 102 (FIG. 22). A front closure arm 146 (FIG. 17) is pivotally mounted on a pin 147, which connects the lugs 141 to links 143 of the conveyor chain 144. A leaf spring 148, attached to the underside of the base137, urges the front closure to closed position. An arm 149 of the front closure is engageable with an arc-shaped track 151 to hold the front closure arm in the position at which an arm 146a is shown in FIG. 17. The track 151, as shown in FIG. 3, is supported on brackets 152 and 153, mounted on the circular plate 124, as shown in FIG. 13.

When the cards have been advanced to the FIG. 14

position, the paddle 104 is withdrawn, and the conveyor chain 144 can be indexed or advanced to bring the bucket from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the position in which the bucket 136a is shown in FIG. 17. As shown in FIG. 14, the card arching strips are received on opposite sides of the rear wall 138 of the bucket, and the rear wall can pass therebetween. As the bucket is advanced, the cards advance along the tracks 132 and 133 (FIG. 14). As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the track 133 is of C-shape in section in its upper portion and includes an outer flange 156 in its upper portion which terminates short of the arcs 117 and 118. The track 132 is of similar construction but is a mirror image thereof. As the bucket and cards advance, the cards are brought under the outer flange 156 of the track 133 and a similar flange, not shown, of the track 132 and the tracks hold the cards in the buckets as the buckets advance to the 136a position of FIG. 17. At this position, a group of wieners 13 is loaded in the buckets above the cards by loading mechanism 158 (FIG. 2), not shown in detail but which can be of the construction illustrated and described in our already identified co-pending application. Then, the bucket can be advanced to the right to the position at which the bucket 136 is shown in FIG. 17. As the bucket advances to this position the arm 146 is released from the track 151, and the leaf spring 146 closes the closure arm 146 to fold the wrapper card 29d around the wieners 13 and hold the cards in place as the closure arm 146 is closed.

The card feeding arrangement for a packaging machine illustrated in the drawings and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine which comprises a bin for holding a plurality of cards in an upright position, a vacuum cup mounted adjacent the bin for movement toward and away from cards in the bin, the vacuum cup being engageable with one of the cards in the bin when in a card engaging position, means for impressing a vacuum on the vacuum cup when in card engaging position, means for releasing the vacuum when the vacuum cup is in a card releasing position spaced from cards in the bin, whereby the card falls from the vacuum cup, means for arresting the card in an upright position at a card folding station, a card folding member at the card folding station having a head engageable with the card centrally thereof, a package conveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of the card folding member into engagement with the central portion of the card to advance the central portion of the card into the bucket at the card receiving station, guides engaging end portions of the card as the card is advanced by the card folding member for catching end portions of the card to fold the end portions away from the central portion, the head of the card folding member being arched, a pair of spaced card arching members having faces complementary to the head of the card folding member and engageable by the card opposite the head of the card folding member, means for resiliently urging the card arching members toward the head of the card folding member to arch the central portion of the card, the card arching members being received on opposite sides of the bucket when the central portion of the card is received in the bucket, means for holding the central portion of the card in the bucket as the head is withdrawn therefrom, means for advancing the package conveyor to advance the bucket along an' arcuate path from the card receiving station to a loading station, are shaped tracks engaging edges of the central portion of the card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the card in the bucket, the radius of curvature of the tracks being substantially equal to that of the head of the card folding member, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, and means for advancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the card coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holding the card in the bucket when released by the tracks.

2. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine which comprises means for holding a wrapper card at a card folding station, a card folding member at the card folding station having a head engageable with the card centrally thereof, a package conveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of the card folding member into engagement with the central portion of the card to advance the central portion of the card into the bucket at the card receiving station, guides engaging end portions of the card as the card is advanced by the card folding member for catching end portions of the card to fold the end portions away from the central portion, the head of thecard folding member being arched, a pair of spaced card arching members having faces complementary to the head of the card folding member and engageable by the card opposite the head of the card folding member, means for resiliently urging the card arching members toward the head of the card folding member to arch the central portion of the card, the card arching members being received on opposite sides of the bucket when the central portion of the card is received in the bucket, means for holding the central portion of the card in the bucket as the head is withdrawn therefrom, means for advancing the package conveyor to advance the bucket along an arcuate path from the card receiving station to a loading station, are shaped tracks engaging edges of the central portion of the card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the card in the bucket, the radius of curvature of the tracks being substantially equal to that of the head of the card folding member, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, the card coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holding the card in the bucket when released by the tracks.

3. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine which comprises a bin for holding a plurality of cards in an upright position, a vacuum cup mounted adjacent the bin for movement toward and away from cards in the bin, the vacuum cup being engageable with one of the cards in the bin when in a card engaging position, means for impressing a vacuum on the vacuum cup when in card engaging position, means for releasing the vacuum when the vacuum cup is in a card releasing position spaced from cards in the bin, whereby the card falls from the vacuum cup, means for arresting the card in an upright position at a card folding station, a card folding member at the card folding station having a head engageable with the card centrally theredf, a package conveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for operating in timed relation with the vacuum releasing means for advancing the head of the card folding member into engagement 'with the central portion of the card to advance the central portion of the card into the bucket at the card receiving sation, a card holding member engageable by the card opposite the head of the card folding member, means for resiliently urging the card holding member toward the head of the card folding member, means for holding the central portion of the card in the bucket as the head is Withdrawn therefrom, means operating in timed relation with the card folding member for advancing the package conveyor to advance the bucket from the card receiving station to a loading station, tracks engaging edges of the central portion of the card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the card in the bucket, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, and means for advancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the card coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holding the card in the bucket when released by the tracks.

4. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine which comprises means for holding a wrapper card at a card folding station, a card folding member at the card folding station having a head engageable with the card centrally thereof, a package conveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of the card folding member into engagement with the central portion of the card to advance the central portion of the card into the bucket at the card receiving station, the head of the card folding member being arched, a card arching member engageable by the card opposite the head of the card folding member, means for resiliently urging the card arching member toward the head of the card folding member to arch the card, means for holding the card in the bucket as the head is withdrawn therefrom, means for advancing the package conveyor to advance the bucket along an arcuate path from the card receiving station to a loading station, and arc shaped tracks engaging edges of the central portion of the card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the card in the bucket, the radius of curvature of the tracks being substantially equal to that of the head of the card folding member, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, the package conveyor advancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the card coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holding the card in the bucket when released by the tracks.

5. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine which comprises means for holding a Wrapper card and an inner card in alignment at a card folding station with the inner card opposite a central portion of the wrapper card, a card folding member at the card folding -station having a head engageable with the inner card, a package conveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of the card folding member into engagement with the inner card to advance the inner card and the central portion of the wrapper card into the bucket at the card receiving station, means for advancing the pack-' age conveyor to advance the bucket from the card receiving station to a loading station, tracks engaging edges of the inner card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the cards in the bucket, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, and means for advancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the cards coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holding the cards in the bucket when released by the tracks.

6. A card feeding and folding device for a packaging machine which comprises a bin for holding a plurality of wrapper cards in an upright position, a second bin for holding a plurality of inner cards in upright position, a pair of vacuum cups mounted adjacent the bins for movement toward and away from cards in the bins, each of the vacuum cups being engageable with one of the cards in one of the bins when in a card engaging position, means for impressing a vacuum on the vacuum cups when in card engaging position, means for releas ing the vacuum when the vacuum cups are in a card releasing position spaced from cards in the bins, whereby the cards fall from the vacuum cups, means for arresting the wrapper card and the inner card in an upright position at a card folding station with the inner card opposite a central portion of the wrapper card, a card folding member at the card folding station having a head engageable with the inner card, a package conveyor including a plurality of card receiving buckets, means for advancing the package conveyor to bring one of the buckets to a card receiving station adjacent the card folding station, means for advancing the head of the card folding member into engagement with the inner card to advance the inner card and the central portion of the wrapper card into the bucket at the card receiving station, guides engaging end portions of the wrapper card as the cards are advanced by the card folding member for catching end portions of the wrapper card to fold the end portions away from the central portion, the head of the card folding member being arched, a pair of spaced card arching members having faces complementary to the head of the card folding member and engageable by the Wrapper card opposite the head of the card folding member, means for resiliently urging the card arching members toward the head of the card folding member to arch the inner card and the central portion of the Wrapper card, the card arching members being received on opposite sides of the bucket when the inner card and the central portion of the wrapper card are received in the bucket, means for holding the inner card and the central portion of the Wrapper card in the bucket as the head is Withdrawn therefrom, means for advancing the package conveyor to advance the bucket along an arcuate path from the card receiving station to a loading station, are shaped tracks engaging edges of the inner card and the central portion of the Wrapper card on opposite sides of the bucket as the bucket advances to hold the cards in the bucket, the radius of curvature of the tracks being substantially equal to that of the head of the card folding member, means for loading articles in the bucket at the loading station, and means for advancing the bucket from the loading station, the tracks terminating adjacent the loading station, the cards coming free of the tracks as the bucket is advanced away from the loading station, the articles holding the cards in the bucket when released by the tracks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,076 7/1897 Rose 53-195 X 2,834,262 5/ 1958 Labomarde 9349 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

P. H. POHL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 6. A CARD FEEDING AND FOLDING DEVICE FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE WHICH COMPRISES A BIN FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF WRAPPER CARDS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, A SECOND BIN FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF INNER CARDS IN UPRIGHT POSITION, A PAIR OF VACUUM CUPS MOUNTED ADJACENT THE BINS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CARDS IN THE BINS, EACH OF THE VACUUM CUPS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE OF THE CARDS IN ONE OF THE BINS WHEN IN A CARD ENGAGING POSITION, MEANS FOR IMPRESSING A VACUUM ON THE VACUUM CUPS WHEN IN CARD ENGAGING POSITION, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE VACUUM WHEN THE VACUUM CUPS ARE IN A CARD RELEASING POSITION SPACED FROM THE CARDS IN THE BINS, WHEREBY THE CARDS FALL FROM THE VACUUM CUPS, MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE WRAPPER CARD AND THE INNER CARD IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AT A CARD FOLDING STATION WITH THE INNER CARD OPPOSITE A CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD, A CARD FOLDING MEMBER AT THE CARD FOLDING STATION HAVING A HEAD ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INNER CARD, A PACKAGE CONVEYOR INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CARD RECEIVING BUCKETS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE PACKAGE CONVEYOR TO BRING ONE OF THE BUCKETS TO A CARD RECEIVING STATION ADJACENT THE CARD FOLDING STATION, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER CARD TO ADVANCE THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD INTO THE BUCKET AT THE CARD RECEIVING STATION, GUIDES ENGAGING END PORTIONS OF THE WRAPPER CARD AS THE CARDS ARE ADVANCED BY THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER FOR CATCHING END PORTIONS OF THE WRAPPER CARD TO FOLD THE END PORTIONS AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL PORTION, THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER BEING ARCHED, A PAIR OF SPACED CARD ARCHING MEMBERS HAVING FACES COMPLEMENTARY TO THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE BY THE WRAPPER CARD OPPOSITE THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER, MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY URGING THE CARD ARCHING MEMBERS TOWARD THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER TO ARCH THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD, THE CARD ARCHING MEMBERS BEING RECEIVED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BUCKET WHEN THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD ARE RECEIVED IN THE BUCKET, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD IN THE BUCKET AS THE HEAD IS WITHDRAWN THEREFROM, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE PACKAGE CONVEYOR TO ADVANCE THE BUCKET ALONG AN ARCUATE PATH FROM THE CARD RECEIVING STATION TO A LOADING STATION, ARC SHAPED TRACKS ENGAGING EDGES OF THE INNER CARD AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPER CARD ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BUCKET AS THE BUCKET ADVANCES TO HOLD THE CARDS IN THE BUCKET, THE RADIUS OF CURVATURE OF THE TRACKS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF THE HEAD OF THE CARD FOLDING MEMBER, MEANS FOR LOADING ARTICLES IN THE BUCKET AT THE LOADING STATION, AND MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE BUCKET FROM THE LOADING STATION, THE TRACKS TERMINATING ADJACENT THE LOADING STATION, THE CARDS COMING FREE OF THE TRACKS AS THE BUCKET IS ADVANCED AWAY FROM THE LOADING STATION, THE ARTICLES HOLDING THE CARDS IN THE BUCKET WHEN RELEASED BY THE TRACKS.

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