US3861115A

US3861115A - Box flapper

Info

Publication number: US3861115A
Application number: US435880A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony R Peres
Original assignee: PRESS ELECTRONIC MACHINES Inc
Current assignee: PRESS ELECTRONIC MACHINES Inc
Priority date: 1974-01-23
Filing date: 1974-01-23
Publication date: 1975-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-21

Abstract

A box flapper positions a transverse flap on each of a succession of boxes that are spaced apart and have their main side flaps fully opened. It uses a horizontally rotatable arm alongside the path of travel of the boxes and driven by a motor through a solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to rotate rapidly in 90* arcs in time with the boxes for either opening or closing a transverse flap.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Peres Jan. 21, 1975 {5 BOX FLAPPER 3,662,516 5/1972 Wiseman 53/76 [75] Inventor: Anthony R. Peres, Bristol, NY. Primary Examiner Travis S McGehee [73] Assignee: Press Electronic Machines, Inc., Attorney, Agent, or FirmCumpston, Shaw &

Bristol, N.Y. Stephens [22] Filed: Jan. 23, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 435880 A box flapper positions a transverse flap on each of a succession of boxes that are spaced apart and have [52] US. Cl 53/76, 53/374, 53/382 their main si flaps fully opened. It uses a horizon- [51] Int. Cl B65b 57/02, B65b 43/39 tally rotatable arm alongside the path of travel of the [58] Field of Search 53/76, 382 boxes and driven by a motor through a solenoidcontrolled clutch and brake to rotate rapidly in 90 {56] References Cited arcs in time with the boxes for either opening or clos- UNITED STATES PATENTS mg a transverse 3,296,769 1/1967 Patton 53/76 21 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTED JANZ 1 I975 SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEB JAN 2 1 I975 SHEEI 30F 4 PATENTED 3,861,115

sIIEEI nor 4 FIG. I?

LEADING END TRAILING END OPENS CLOSES PHOTOCELL PHOTOCELL CIRCUIT 43 CIRCUIT TIME 1 7 44 I\fzw ADJUSTABLE ADJUSTABLE DELAY 45 r D Y -45 I I I I AIR soLENoID 33 AIR SOLENOID CYLI CONTROLLED CYLINDER CONTROLLED CLUTCH a CLUTCH a BRAKE I BRAKE I I GATE RAIsEs ARM ACTUATES GATE LOWERS ARM DELAYS To WIRED & RAE: SU zICEEDING BOX FLAP STOP BOX BEH'ND RETuRNs T o R ST SUCCEEDING BOX AIR LINE AIR LINE soLENoID 4e sc LENc Io ,46

OPENS L03 3 F IG. 8

BOX FLAPPER THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Box flappers for positioning transverse flaps on boxes have used rack and pinion operated arms driven in reciprocal motions to swing into engagement with a transverse flap and then move out of the way of a succeeding box. Such mechanisms are slow, cumbersome, and require frequent repairs.

The invention involves a realization of a way to make a box flapper that operates faster and more reliably, allows faster box speeds past the flapper and requires less maintenance. The invention aims at a box flapper that is versatile, reliable, economical, and efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive box flapper positions a transverse flap on each of a succession of boxes that are spaced apart and have their main side flaps fully open as they move through a flapping region. A horizontally rotatable arm having flap engaging means on each end is arranged alongside the path of travel of the boxes through the flapping region, and the arm has a rest position approximately parallel with the path and an operating position transverse to the path. A motor rotatably drives the arms through a solenoid-controlled clutch and brake, and the approach of a transverse flap on one of the boxes is detected for rotating the arm approximately 90 in an arc curving in the general direction of motion of the box to the transverse position of the arm where the flap engaging means on the arm overtakes, engages and positions the flap. Then the solenoid-controlled clutch and brake operates after the positioning of the flap to rotate the arm approximately 90 in an arc in the general direction of movement of the box to returnthe arm to the rest position. The invention can be used for closing the trailing transverse flap of a succession of boxes or for opening both the leading and trailing flaps of the succession of boxes.

DRAWINGS FIGS. 1-3 are partially schematic, side elevational views of a box having both its transverse flaps opened as it proceeds through a preferred embodiment of the inventive flapper;

FIGS. 4-6 are partially schematic, plan views of a box proceeding through the flapper of FIGS. 1-3;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partially schematic, side elevational views of a box having its transverse flaps closed as it proceeds through another embodiment of the inventive flapper;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are partially schematic, plan views of a box proceeding through the flapper of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIGS. 11-14 are partially schematic, plan views of the operation of a box separating device cooperating with the inventive flapper;

FIG. 15 is a partially schematic, plan view of a preferred embodiment of a box separating device;

FIG. 16 is a partially schematic, perspective view of the box separating device in FIG. 17;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a portion of the inventive flapper; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the time relationship of events in a preferred embodiment of the inventive flapper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The inventive box flapper can either open the transverse flaps of a box as shown schematically in FIGS. 1-6 or close the transverse flaps of a box as shown schematically in FIGS. 7-10, and in either case, the main side flaps are spread fully open in generally known ways. Also, the boxes are spaced apart as they proceed through a flapping region, and the flapping is generally accomplished by a rotatable arm 10. Arm [0 has rollers 12 for engaging the

transverse flaps

13 and 14 of a box 15, and guide bars 11 plow open the main side flaps 16 of the box 15 in a generally known way. Box 15 is carried through a flapping region adjacent to arm 10 by a flapper conveyor 17 moving relatively fast to advance box 15 faster thana supply conveyor.

Beginning with FIG. 1, box 15 is approaching a flapping region adjacent arm 10 and is moved along by conveyor 17 with its main side flap 16 open, and its transverse flaps l3 and 14 extending upward from box 15. When box 15 reaches the position of FIG.- 2, arm 10 rotates rapidly to move roller 12 into engagement with flap 13 to pivot flap 13 forward of box 15 where it is held down by a guide bar 18. In such a position, arm 10 is transverse to the path of box 15 and extending over the top of box 15 as illustrated, and arm 10 stays in this position while box 15 advances to the position of FIG. 3 where a trailing roller 12 on arm 10 engages flap 14 to bend flap 14 rearward of box 15 so it will pass under guide bar 18 and be held down.

This process opens all four flaps of box 15 so that box 15 can be loaded with items, and the above-described operation is illustrated in plan view and FIGS. 4-6.

In a similar operation, the inventive flapper can close the transverse flaps of box 15 for sealing box 15 closed after it is loaded. Main side flaps 16 are again plowed open in the usual way by guide bars 11, and leading transverse flap 13 is forced down by guide bar 18 as box 15 is advanced through a flapping region adjacent arm 10 by flapper conveyor 17 as shown in FIG. 7. When trailing flap 14 moves to the proper position, arm 10 rotates rapidly to bring wheel 12 into engagement with flap 14 to bend flap l4 forward so that it will move under guide bar 18 and be held closed. Then main side flaps 16 are swung closed to seal box 15, and the abovedescribed process is schematically illustrated in plan view in FIGS. 9 and 10. Arm 10 need only have leading rollers 12 and does not require any trailing rollers 12 when it is operated as shown in FIGS. 7-10 only for closing a trailing flap 14.

Boxes are preferably spaced apart as they move through a flapping region, and a preferred way of spacing the boxes is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 11-14. Flapper conveyor 17, as previously described, carries the boxes rapidly'through a flapping region and supply conveyor 19 delivers a succession of boxes having letter identifications in FIGS. 11-14. For simplicity of illustration, flaps are not shown on the boxes of FIGS. 11-14.

A gate 20 is positioned between conveyors 1'7 and 19 to be inserted into the path of the boxes or withdrawn from the path of the boxes desired. Gate 20 preferably moves up and down, and is described in greater detail below. Box separating arms 21 move pivotally in and out alongside the row of boxes in synchronization with gate 20, and arms 21 carry spring loaded wedges 22 for separating boxes. When gate 20 is up, as shown in FIG.

l1, arms 21 are separated, and when gate 20 lowers to let a box pass, arms 21 close as shown in FIG. 12.

Beginning with gate 20 up, as shown in FIG. 11, the boxes on conveyor 19 are stopped and a sequence of events is ready to begin. When gate 20 lowers, as shown in FlG. 12, box A advances onto flapper conveyor 17 and accelerates away from box B which moves along on the slower feed conveyor 19. Lowering of gate 20 also pivots arms 21 inward so that wedges 22 spring in behind the trailing edge of box B and stop the leading edge of box C. Box B then moves toward gate 20 as box A moves through the flapping region. As box A enters the flapping region, as shown in FIG. 13, gate 20 raises behind box A and box separator arms 21 open to let box C advance. When box A completes its pass through the flapping region, as shown in FIG. 14, gate 20 lowers to let box B pass and separator arm 21 close against the side of box C to move in past the trailing edge of box C and stop box D. The sequence of events is timed so that for continuous operation, gate 20 lowers before a box reaches it without stopping boxes, because preceding boxes have moved rapidly enough through the flapping region. If there is any delay or accident, however, gate 20 stops the boxes on conveyor 19 to keep them from running onto flapper conveyor 17.

The preferred box separating mechanism is shown in more detail in FIGS. and 16. Gate has a cam shape and is raised and lowered by a pneumatic cylinder 23 in time with the machine. A pair of follower rollers 24 ride on the sides of gate cams 20 and move the ends 25 of arms 21 which are pivoted in supports 26 for pivotal motion in synchronization with gate 20 as described above. Wedges 22 are mounted in housings 28 and biased outward toward boxes by springs 27. Then when arms 21 pivot inward, wedges 22 engage the opposite sides of a box and are depressed into housings 28 to compress springs 27 When the trailing edge of a box passes by wedges 22, they spring inward under the bias of springs 27 to stop the leading edge of a succeeding box. The operation of air cylinder 23 is timed with the flapping machine as described below, and the timing element preferably includes aphotocell circuit including a light source 29 and a receiver 30 arranged across the path of travel of the boxes.

Arm 10 is supportedon a shaft 31 and driven by a motor 32 through a solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33 and a gear box 34. Solenoid-controlled-clutch and brake 33 is a fast-acting, electrically controlled device for either releasing a brake and engaging a clutch in a drive train between motor 32 and arm 10, or disengaging the drive train and engaging the brake to stop arm 10, and meanwhile, motor 32 operates continuously so that power can be quickly applied for rotating arm 10 and quickly shut off for stopping arm 10.

Motor 32, solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33, and gear box 34 are mounted on a support plate 35, and shaft 31 and arm 10 are supported on a bracket 36 below plate alongside the flapping region. Arm 10 has a pair of leading rollers 12 for overtaking and engaging a flap as arm 10 rotates in the forward direction and a trailing roller 12 for engaging a trailing flap passing under arm 10. A micro switch 37 is positioned to engage an end of arm 10 when arm 10 is in a transverse operating position as illustrated in FIG. 17 for stopping arm 10 in such transverse position by disengaging the clutch and applying the brake of solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33. Another micro switch 38 is positioned to engage an end of arm l0'to stop arm 10 in. a rest position by disengaging the clutch and engaging the brake of solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33. A signal timed with the movement of boxes through the flapping region starts arm 10 in motion by engaging the clutch and releasing the brake of solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33, and such motion is stopped by engagement of arm 10 with one of the

micro switches

37 or 38. i

To aid in opening or closing transverse flaps, air nozzles 39 are arranged between leading rollersl2 and are fed with air supplied through an air inlet 41, a rotatable union 42, and air lines 40. Nozzles 39 are aimed to direct an air blast up under the bottom surface of a leading flap to raise the flap enough for secure engagement by rollers 12. Air is preferably supplied to inlet 41b opening a solenoid valve only when arm 10 rotates into the transverse operating position to conserve air and reduce noise so that no air is delivered when arm 10 is in a-rest position. Also, in many flapping operations, air nozzles 39 are not required.

The timing of the operations of the inventive flapper is best shown schematically in FIG. 18 relative to an advancing time line 43. Timing is preferably accomplished through the photocell circuit of sensor 29 and receiver 30 as shown in FIG. 15, and FIG. '3 illustrates the operations for opening both the leading and trailing flaps of a box.

The opening or interrupting of the photocell circuit by the leading end of a box at point 44 is used for timing several operations. The photocell circuit preferably includes an adjustable delay 45 that can vary the timing of events after interruption of the photocell circuit or after reclosure of the photocell circuit as desired. This allows the timing of the flapper to be adjusted without physically moving the photocell circuit. Then adjustable delay 45 is properly set to, operate air cylinder 23 to start raising gate 20 behind the box that interrupted the photocell circuit to stop the next box and release the succeeding box. Also, solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33 is operated to rotate arm 10 into a transverse operating position to openthe leading flap of the box. If air nozzles are used next to rollers 12 to assist in this, air line solenoid 46 is opened at this time. Arm

10 then stays in the operating position as the box moves under arm 10 and time elapses along line 43.

When'the trailing end of the boxpasses beyond the photocell circuit to reclose the circuit at point 47, adjustable delay 45 times several other events. Air cylinder 23 is operated to lower gate 20 to release the next box to advance onto the flapper conveyor and to stop the box behind the succeeding box which proceeds toward the gate. At the same time, the solenoidcontrolled clutch and brake is operated to move the flapper arm back to its rest position, and if air nozzles are used, the air line to the nozzles is closed by operation of solenoid 46. I v

if the inventive flapper is used only for closing a trailing flap of a box, the operation can be adjustably timed by the reclosure of the photocell circuit by passage of the trailing end of the box past the photocell circuit. instead of

microswitches

37 and 38, as previously described for stopping arm 10 in a desired position, arm 10 can be operated on signal for a predetermined interval and then stopped automatically by expiration of the interval. Timing signals can be produced by devices other than a photocell circuit, and other mechanisms can be used for separating the boxes as they proceed through a flapping region. There are also many timing,

control, and valve operating devices that can be used with the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The use of a continuously driven motor 32 selectively coupled to the flapper arm by a solenoid-controlled clutch and brake 33 allows rapid and accurate operation of arm which can swing quickly through a 90 arc to overtake and open or close a transverse flap accurately, even though the box may be moving relatively fast through the flapper region. The quick, successive 90 rotations of arm 10 allow higher speed box travel, insure accurate flapping of the box, and are accomplished with little wear or requirements for maintenance. Hence, the inventive flapper is fast, efficient, reliable, and trouble-free.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spiritof the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate the many control systems, box spacing mechanisms, and other devices that can be used with the inventive flapper to fit various circumstances.

I claim:

1. A box flapper for positioning a transverse flap on each of a succession of boxes, said box flapper comprismg:

a. means for spacing said boxes apart as said boxes move through a flapping region;

b. means for fully opening the main side flaps of said boxes as said boxes move through said flapping region;

c. a horizontally rotatable arm arranged alongside the path of travel of said boxes through said flapping region;

d. said arm having a rest position approximately parallel with said path and an operating position transverse to said path;

e. each end of said arm having flap engaging means;

f. a motor;

g. a solenoid-controlled clutch and brake driven by said motor and selectively transmitting said motor drive to said arm;

h. means for detecting the approach of said transverse flap of one of said boxes to said flapping region;

means responsive to said approach detecting means for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to rotate said arm approximately 90 in an arc curving in the general direction of motion of said one box to said transverse position of said arm where said flap engaging means of said arm overtakes, engages, and positions said transverse flap of said one box; and j. means for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake after said positioning of said transverse flap to rotate said arm approximately 90 in an arc in the general direction of movement of said one box to return said arm to said rest position.

2. The box flapper of claim 1 including a first micro switch engageable by said arm in said transverse position for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to stop each rotation of said arm at said transverse position, and a second micro switch engageable by said arm in said rest position for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to stop said rotation of said arm at said rest position.

3. The box flapper of claim 1 wherein said flap engaging means comprises rollers on each end of said arm.

4. The box flapper of claim 1 including air nozzles arranged for blowing air to raise said flap for reliable engagement by said flap engaging means.

5. The box flapper of claim 1 including a box supply conveyor and a flapper conveyor receiving boxes from said box supply conveyor and moving substantially- 7. The box flapper of claim 1 including delay means for operating said arm returning means a predetermined interval after rotating said arm to said transverse position.

8. The box flapper of claim 1 wherein said transverse flap is a leading flap of said one box, said approach detecting means detects the approach of the leading end of said one box, actuation of said arm opens said leading transverse flap of said one box, and including means for holding said arm in said transverse position to open a trailing transverse flap of said one box.

9. The box flapper of claim 8 including means for de tecting the exit of said one box from said flapping region, and said arm return means being responsive to said exit detecting means.

10. The box flapper of claim 9 including a photoelectric circuit across said box path, said photoelectric circuit being arranged so that said approach detection occurs on interruption of said photoelectric circuit by said leading end of said one box, and said exit detecting occurs on restoration of said photoelectric circuit by the passing of the trailing end of said one box.

11. The box flapper of claim 8 wherein said flap engaging means includes both leading and trailing rollers oriented on each end of said arm relative to the direction of rotation of said arm so that leading rollers engage and open said leading transverse flap of said one box and trailing rollers engage and open said trailing transverse flap of said one box.

12. The box flapper of claim 11 including a first micro switch engageable by said arm in said transverse position for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to stop said rotation of said arm at said trans verse position, and a second micro switch engageable by said arm in said rest position for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to stop said rotation of said arm at said rest position.

13. The box flapper of claim 12 including means for detecting the exit of said one box from said flapping region, and said arm return means being responsive to said exit detecting means, and including a photoelectric circuit across said box path, said photoelectric circuit being arranged so that said approach detection occurs on interruption of said photoelectric circuit by said leading end of said one box, and said exit detecting occurs on restoration of said photoelectric circuit by the passing of the trailing end of said one box.

14. The box flapper of claim 13 including air nozzles arranged for blowing air to raise said flap for reliable engagement by said flap engaging means.

15. The box flapper of claim 14 including an air line supplying air to said nozzles, a solenoid-controlled valve in said air line, and means for opening said solenoid-controlled valve in response to said approach detecting means and for closing said solenoid-controlled valve in response to said exit detecting means.

16. The box flapper of claim including a box supply conveyor and a flapper conveyor receiving boxes from said box supply conveyor and moving substantially faster than said box supply conveyor for moving said boxes through said flapping region, and wherein said box spacing means includes a gate moveable into and out of said box path.

17. Thebox flapper of claim 16 including means operable with said gate for stopping a box following a succeeding one of said boxes proceeding behind said one box when said gate moves from said box path to admit said one box into said flapping region.

18. The box flapper of claim 17 including means responsive to said approach detecting means for moving said gate into said box path behind said one box and ahead of said succeeding box, said box stopping means being deactivated to release said following box upon movement of said gate into said box path ahead of said succeeding box.

19. The box flapper of claim 18 including means responsive to said exit detecting means for moving said gate from said box path and operating said box stopping means, and wherein said gate includes cam means, and follower means engaging said cam means operates said box stopping means.

20. The box flapper of claim 19 wherein said box stopping means includes a pair of spring-loaded wedges engaging and riding along opposite sides of said succeeding box and for springing inward to stop said following box when the trailing end of said succeeding box moves past said wedge means.

21. The box flapper of claim 20 wherein said flap engaging means includes both leading and trailing rollers oriented on each end of said arm relative to the direction of rotation of said arm so that leading rollers engage and open said leading transverse flap of said one box and trailing rollers engage and open said trailing transverse flap of said one box.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 3 1 115 Dated January 21, 1225 In t r-( Anthony R. Peres It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The name of the assignee should read Peres Electronic Machines, Inc.

Signed sealed this 15th of April L375.

F ORM PO-105O (10-9) USCOMM-DC 60375-P69 l.l.5 GOVERNMENT PRINUNO OFFICE: 8 6 9- 9 o

Claims

1. A box flappeR for positioning a transverse flap on each of a succession of boxes, said box flapper comprising: a. means for spacing said boxes apart as said boxes move through a flapping region; b. means for fully opening the main side flaps of said boxes as said boxes move through said flapping region; c. a horizontally rotatable arm arranged alongside the path of travel of said boxes through said flapping region; d. said arm having a rest position approximately parallel with said path and an operating position transverse to said path; e. each end of said arm having flap engaging means; f. a motor; g. a solenoid-controlled clutch and brake driven by said motor and selectively transmitting said motor drive to said arm; h. means for detecting the approach of said transverse flap of one of said boxes to said flapping region; i. means responsive to said approach detecting means for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to rotate said arm approximately 90* in an arc curving in the general direction of motion of said one box to said transverse position of said arm where said flap engaging means of said arm overtakes, engages, and positions said transverse flap of said one box; and j. means for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake after said positioning of said transverse flap to rotate said arm approximately 90* in an arc in the general direction of movement of said one box to return said arm to said rest position.

5. The box flapper of claim 1 including a box supply conveyor and a flapper conveyor receiving boxes from said box supply conveyor and moving substantially faster than said box supply conveyor for moving said boxes through said flapping region.

6. The box flapper of claim 1 wherein said box spacing means includes a gate moveable into and out of said box path.

7. The box flapper of claim 1 including delay means for operating said arm returning means a predetermined interval after rotating said arm to said transverse position.

9. The box flapper of claim 8 including means for detecting the exit of said one box from said flapping region, and said arm return means being responsive to said exit detecting means.

12. The box flapper of claim 11 including a first micro switch engageable by said arm in said transverse position for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to stop said rotation of said arm at said transverse position, and a second micro switch engageable by said arm in said rest position for operating said solenoid-controlled clutch and brake to stop said rotation of said arm at said rest position.

16. The box flapper of claim 10 including a box supply conveyor and a flapper conveyor receiving boxes from said box supply conveyor and moving substantially faster than said box supply conveyor for moving said boxes through said flapping region, and wherein said box spacing means includes a gate moveable into and out of said box path.

17. The box flapper of claim 16 including means operable with said gate for stopping a box following a succeeding one of said boxes proceeding behind said one box when said gate moves from said box path to admit said one box into said flapping region.