GB256383A - Improvement in carton folding and closing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

256,383. Marks, E. C. R., (Automat Molding & Folding Co.). July 7, 1925. Packeting by wrapping-up. - Relates to a carton folding and closing mechanism for folding a carton about an article or a stack of articles, such as bars of butter. According to the invention, a carton is folded about an advancing article having rearwardly extending side flaps, the advance is momentarily arrested and a folder moves against the rear of the article to fold a side flap against the rear, the end flaps are subsequently folded, certain outer end portions of the flaps being bent to provide inserting tongues adapted to be tucked inside the carton. The article or stack may be brought to the position at which it is to be enclosed in a carton by mechanism such as is described in Specifications 264,068, 264,385, and 264,728 for preliminary feeding, preliminary wrapping, and stacking respectively. As shown, a member 49, Fig. 6, co-operates with a shelf 71 to assemble preliminarily wrapped blocks into a stack of four, for collective enclosure in a carton. The shelf 71, on which forms part of stacking paddle 70 is mounted, with subsequently acting members 102 - - 105, on a frame 72, actuated by bell-cranks 75, an arm 87 and link 86 to move in a path Z. A carton Y is next fed between guides 100, 101 in front of the advancing stack, the continued movement of which is effected by the spaced members 102 - - 105 on the frame 72. The blank is of the form shown in Fig. 13, having a central panel a, top and bottom panels b, d and side panel e and flaps and closing tabs as shown. In moving from the position G, Fig. 6, to the position H. the stack engages the central panel a, the panel d is raised into contact with the bottom of the stack and the panel b is folded on to the top. A pivoted folder 106 folds the flap c down upon the rear side of the stack. During this folding operation, a holding member 107 engages the front of the stack. A finger 127 holds the flap c on the rear side of the block, and at the next forward movement, the member 103 turns up the flap e, fingers 126 mounted for vertical rotation on the member 103 turning in the flaps f, g, and k upon the ends of the package. During this part of the advance, curved guides turn in the leading end flaps l, m, having only the end closing flaps j, h outstanding. Prior to folding in these flaps, the portions j, h<1> are bent at right angles to the portions j, h to form tucking flaps. During the passage of the carton, the flap h comes under an anvil member 140, Fig. 10 and a hammer 141 rises and turns up the portion h<1> at right angles. At position K, Fig. 6, the flaps h<1>, j<1> are tucked in to complete the enclosure of the stack. Oppositely curved tracks 150, 151, Fig. 11, are arranged on each side of the track 13, and the flaps h, j, and with them the portions h<1>, j<1>, are turned through right-angles by plates 152, 158, having spring- held attachments 154, 159. In order to ensure the entry of the portion h inside the package, a finger 164 is inserted between the stack and the upper wall of the carton, and a similar device may be provided at the other end of the carton. At the next movement of the feed frame, the member 105 engages the package and pushes it beneath a spring-pressed plate and out of the machine.