3 , 3 3 3 @ 6 7 6 United States Patent Office Patented Aug. 1, 1967 3,333,676 APPARATUS FOR GROUPING ARTICLES Earle C. Sherman, Monroe, La., assignor, by mesne assi,onments, to Olinkraft, Inc., West Monroe, La., a cor- 5 poration of Delaware Fiied Nov. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 509,405 6 Claims. (C]. 198-34) ABSTRACT OF TIRE DILSCLOSLTRE 10 This disclosure teaches an apparatus for forming package units by grouping a plurality of containers, inserting a partition to separate the containers one frdm - another, and mechanically folding and interlocking a wrapper 15 blank about the group The disclosure teaches a novel apparatus for first separating continuously movin@ rows of containers into groups into which a partition may be inserted and about which a wrapper blank can be folded and interlocked to form a package unit. 20 In apparatus according to this invention, containers are delive red to a packa.-ing machine in one or more rows by a continuously moving conveyor. The packaging machine 25 compr ises three main sections which may be identified as: (1) A groupin.- section in which one or more rows of contai ners are separated into spaced groups of two or more containers into which a partition may be inserted. The apparatus for so groupin.- the containers is described 30 in detail in this application. The apparatus for applyin.- partiti ons to such groups is described in detail in my copendin g application, S.N. 507,818, filed November 15, 1965. (2) A blank applying section in which a wrapper blank -5 is ali.- ned with -and placed on each group. Blank applying appar atus which may be used with this invention is describe d in detail in U.S. Patent 3,162,488, issued Dec. 29, 1964. (3) A folding section wherein the wrapper blank is 40 mech anically folded about the group and interlocked to form a packa.-e unit. Foldin.- apparatus which may be used for this invention is described in detail in my copending application, S.N. 250,434, filed Jan. 9, 1963. Vario us devices are known in the prior art for sepa- 45 rating one or more movin.- rows of containers into groups. These devices take the form of separating plungers mount, ed on continuously moving ch-ains, or stop members interpos ed at spaced intervals between moving rows of con. tainer s to hold back the rows while groups having a 50 predet ermined number of containers are formed. There are certain inherent disadvantages in the known prior ar,t structures due to their relatively complicated design which makes them difficult to maintain and to adjust. The most serious disadvantage, however, is that the lines of 55 contai ners bein.@ delivered to the machine enc6unter a mome ntary delay while they are grouped. The delay necessary for grouping reduces the overall sp@-ed and efficiency of the packa.-in.- machine, since the rate at which the containers can be grouped determines the overall speed 60 at which the machine can run. This invention discloses novel mechanism for groupin,@ containers being fed to a packaging machine in one or more continuously moving lines which is simple in desi,@n, efficient in operation, and requires no momentary 65 delay as the containers ate grouped. The mechanism is furthe rmore readily adjustable to accommodate containers being fed tio the machine in single or double rows -and can be readily adjusted to provide groups of two or more contai ners for each packa.-e unit. Moreover, the grouping 70 is such that a partition may be inserted into the group to separ ate the containers one from another. It is the strue2 ture which provides this latter feature that forms the basis of this -application, and is an improvement over U.S. Patent 3,194,381. To carry out this invention, three pairs of continuous chains are adjustably mounted on opposite sides of a pair of fixed support plates. The support plates extend lonaltudinally of the machine and are spaced from each other to provide a oap between the plates of predetermined width. The containers are moved in single or double rows toward the first support plate by conventional conveyor means and are moved onto the plate by conveyor pressure. A first pair of chains, desi.-nated selector chains, is mounted on opposite sides of the first support plate. Each of the selector chains is a continuous chain traveling in a fixed path around a plurality of sprockets, one of which is a driven sprocket. The path of travel of each selector chain includes a po-rtion inclined toward the first support plate, -a portion runnin.- parallel to the plate, and a portion inclined away from the plate. Each selector chain is provided with a plurality of lugs adapted to en.-a.-c a group of containers and propel the group alon.- the plate. The lugs on each chain are spaced apart so that they will engage behind every second or third container in the row, depending on the number of containers desired in a packa-c group. The selector chairis thus initially select the nmber of containers that will be in the pack@age group and drive these containers along as -roups toward a second pair of chains. It should be understood that the lugs on one selector chain are laterally ali.-ned with correspondin.- lugs on the other selector chain so that the containers are en.-aged on both sides of the support plates. It should also be noted that the selector chains are driven at the same speed as the conveyor which delivers the containers to the machine so that there is no delay or relative movement of the containers in the transfer from the conveyor to the selector chains. A second pair of chains, designated intermediate spacer chains, is mounted generally forward of and above the selector chains on opposite sides of the support plates. Each of the intermediate spacer chains travels in a continuous path around two or more sprockets, one of which is a drive sprocket. The path of travel of each intermediate spaced chain includes a portion intersecting and ali@ned with a portion of the path of travel of a correspondin@ selector chain so that drivin.a lugs on an intermediate spacer chain may engage each container of the group bein.- delivered by the selector chains. Since the path of travel of the intermediate spacer chains is in a plane ECbove the path of travel of the selector chains, it is possible to arrange for the smooth transfer of each container in a row from a group bein.@ driven by the selector chains to driving en.-a.- ement with a Itig on an intermediate spacer chain. Theintermediate spacer chains accordingly include aligned lu.-s, one for each container in a group bein.- delivered from the selector chains. The intermediate spacer chains are driven at a greater linear speed than the selector chains, and the lu.-S on the intermediate spacer chains are spaced apart a greater distance than the breadth of the container being driven. Accordin.aly, each container in a group is accelerated and separated from an adjacent container in the sanie row. It is this separationdf the containers in a group which provides for space between the containers sufficient for insertion of a partition, !as detailed in my copending application, S.N. 507,818, filed Nov. 15, 1965. A third pair -of chains, designated sl)eed-up chains, is mounted generally forward of and in a different plane than the inter-mediate spacer chains on opposite sides of the support plates. Each of the speed-up chains -travels in a continuous path around two or more sprockets, one of which is a drive sprocket. The path of travel of each speed-

3,333,676 3 up chain includes a portion intersecting and aligned with a ,portion of the pa-th of travel of a corrcspondinintermediate spacer chain so that a &iving lug on an intermediate spacer chain and a driving lug on a speed-up ,chain can engage a given container at the same point in 5 the movement of the group along the support -plate. Similar -to the selector chain-intermediate spacer chain relationship the path of travel of the speed-up chains is in a plane @ifferent than the path of travel of the intermediate spacer chains. Thus, it is possible to arrange for 10 the smooth -transfer of a group of spaced containers from driving engagement with lugs on the intermediate spacer chains to driving engagement with corresponding aligned lugs on the speed-up chains. The speed-up chains are driven at a still -reater linear speed than the intermediate 15 spacer chains, and include lu.-s to drive each group of containers; thus, the lugs on the speed-up chains are spaced apart a greater distance than the lugs on the selector chains. The spe@d-up chains accelerate the containers as a group so that relative movement occurs be- 20 tween the containers driven by the speed-up chains and the following containers driven by thpintermediate spacer chains. The containers of a group are thus allowed to become more closely associated, spaced apart only by the partition previously inserted. ConcurrentlY, the grOuPs 25 of containers are thus spaced from each other by the speed-up chains and the grouping of the containers is completed. Each spaced group of containers is driven by the speedup chains across the gap between the first and second sup- @0 port plates. As the group is propelled across the gap, the ' path of travel of the speed-UPchains diverges away from the support plates and the lugs of the speed-up chains disengage from the group. At this point a flight bar extendin- transversely across the path of travel @of the con- 35 tainers moves into the space between two spa:ced groups of containers and engages bebind the first group to propel the group through the succeeding stations of the machine. The flight bars are arranged so that there is a flight bar ready to en.-age each group of containers as it is dis- 40 engaged by the speed-up chains. These and other features of this invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which: FIGURE I is a sectional side view of a portion of the machine above described; 45 FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the grouping section of the machine of this inventi@on in detail; and, FIGURE 3 is a top plan view showina the details of the grouping section of the machine of this invention. The packa,-ing machine of this invention comprises 50 three main sections, portions of which are shown in FIGURE 1 as a -rouping section (A), a blank applying see,tion (B), and a folding section (C). The grouping section of this invention is shown in FIGURE 2 as being mounted on the base, generally in- 55 dicated 1, of a packaging machine at the rear end thereof. Containers are delivered in one or more rows to the maebine by a conventional conveyor, generally - indicated 2. The containers are moved by the conveyor 2 onto a first rigid plate 3, the plate 3 including if so desired a divider 60 bar B to space the rows bf containers one from another. A second ril-id plate 4 is mounted on frame I forward of plate 3 and is spaced from plate 3 to provide a gap 5 between the plates. (Note FIGURE 3.) Plate 4 extends forwardly beyond the grouping section, into the blank 65 applyin- section B and on into the foldin- section C of the machine. (Note FIGURE 1.) Extending transversely across base I are a plurality of support members 6. Slidably mounted on the support members on opposite sides of ri,-id plate 3 are a pair of 70 support plates 7 and 8. Each of the support plates 7 and 8 is movable into partial overlapping relation with rigid plate 3. The adjustable mounting of the suppor-t plates allows the grouping apparatus to be moved toward and away 75 4 from ri,-id plate 3 in order to accommodate a single row of containers or a double row of containers moving into the grouping section of the machine. The grouping appara-tus in general includes three pairs of chains, now to be described in detail. Since the grouping apparatus on one side of the rigid plate 3 is identical to the grouping apparatus on the opposite side of the rigid plate, it wiU only be necessary to describe -the apparatus on one side in detail. Selector chains A first pair of chains generary indicated 9 and 10, designated selector chains, is mounted on opposite sides of rigid plate 3. Chain 9 is a continuous chain mounted for movement in a fixed path about a plurality of sprockets. The sprockets include idler sprockets 11, 12 and 13 and a drive sprocket 14. (Note FIGURE 2.) Sprockets 11, 12, 13 and 14 are -mounted on shafts 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively. Each of the shafts is moiinted on support pla-te 7 in a conventional manner. Chain 9 is provided with a plurality of drive lugs 19 spaced a predetermined distance apart. The lugs are arran-.ed to engage behind the last container of a predetermined number of -containers to drive the containers as a group along rigid plate 3. The lugs 19 on chain 9 initiaffy select the number of containers which wul constitute the package unit. The number of containers in the group can be adjusted merely by adjusting the spacing of lugs 19. 'Chain 9 is mounted so that a portion 20 of the chain converges toward rigid plate 3. This allows lugs 19 to be smoothly in-terposed behind the last container of the selected group to drive that particular group along rigid plate 3. A second portion 21 of chain 9 runs parallel to rigid plate 3. A third portion 22 of chain 9 diverges away from rigid plate 3 so that the driving lugs on tbe chain can be smoothly disengdged from the -containers. It should be noted at this point that chain 9 is driven at the sa-me speed,as conveyor 2, so -that no relative movement occurs between the containers driven onto the plate by the conveyor 2 and those being driven by the lugs on -chain 9. There is continuous uninterrupted movement of the containers along rigid plate 3. Intermediate spacer chaiiis A second pair of chains generally indicated 109 and 110, designated intermediate spacer chains, is mounted generaffy forward of selector chains 9 and 10 on opposite sides of the rigid plates 3 and 4. Intermediate spacer chain 109 is a continuous chain mounted on sprockets 113, 114 and 115. Sprocket 115 is mounted on shaft 17 along with and -above sprocket 13 of selector chain 9. Sprocket 114 is a drive sprocket mounted on a vertically extending shaft 118, and sprocket 113 is an idler sprocket mounted on a shaft 117. Intermediate spacer chain 109 is provided with a plu@ rality of drive lugs 119 each adapted to engage a container in the same manner as drive lugs 19 on chain 9. Chain 109 includes a portion 131 converging towards rigid plate 3, a portion 132 running parallel to rigid plate 3, and a portion 133 diverging away from rigid plate 3 to facilitate the entry, driving engagement, and disengagement of the lugs 119 with the containers in a manner similar to chain 9. However, the lugs 109 are such in number and spacing as to engage each of the containers of the group being driven by lugs 19, for reasbns to become apparent shortly. Thus, as the leading container of a group on chain 9 approaches sprocket 115, a lug 119 engages such container, this pror-ess being repeated for each container in the group until a lug 119 coincides with a lug 19 behind the last container of a group. This arrangement allows the smooth transfer of the containers from selector chain 9 to intermediate spacer chain 119. Chain 119 is driven @at a higher speed than selector chain 9. The difference in speed of the chains produces relative movement between those containers driven by

5 the selector chain 9 and those driven by the intermediate spacer chain 119. The relative movement causes a space to develop between each of the containers and separates them a predetermined distance. To compensate for the relative movement of the containers, the driving lugs 119 on the intermediate spacer chain are spaced apart a greater distance than the driving lugs 19 on the selector chains. It is at this point that the partition discussed hereinbefore is inserted. Employing apparatus such as that disclosed in my copending application S.N. 507,818, filed Nov. 15, 1965, a partition may be inserted into the space between the containers provided by the intermediate spacer chains 119, it being evident that space between the rows of containers is provided by the divider bar B. The inserted partition, indicated as P, is then free to travel along with the group of containers in which it is inserted. Speed-up chains A third pair of chains generally indicated 23 and 24, designated speed-up chains, is mounted generally forward of intermediate spacer chains 109 and 110 on opposite sides of the rigid plates 3 and 4. Speed-up chain 23 is a continuous chain mounted on a pair of sprockets 25 and 26. Sprocket 26 is mounted on shaft 17 along with, but in a different plane than, sprocket 113 of interrnediate spacer chain 109. )Vhile the sprocket 26 may be mounted below sprocket 113, it is here illustrated as being above. Sprocket 25 is a drive sprocket mounted on a vertically extending shaft 27. Vertical shaft 27 depends from a miter box 27A mounted on a support member 28 which extehds transversely across the machine above rigid plate 4. A horizontal drive shaft 29 mounted on top of support inember 28 is connected by conventional gear means mounted in miter box 27A to vertical shaft 27. Vertical shaft 27 is adjustably mounted relative to support 28 so that sprocket 25 can be adjusted laterally along with the sprockets mounted on support plate 7. The adjustable mounting includes a plurality of slots ffi support plate 28 and an adjustable sleeve 29A for shaft 29. Speed-up chain 23 is provided with drive lugs 30 adapted to engage,a group of containers in a inanner similar to drive lugs 19 on chain 9. Chain 23 includes a portion 31 converging towards rigid plate 3, a portion 32 running parallel to rigid plate 3 and a portion 33 divergin,- away from rigid plate 3 to facilitate the entry, drivin,@ enga.- ement, and disengagement of the lugs 30 with the containers in the same manner as chain 9. The cbain 23 is arranged relative to the chain 109 such that a lug 30 on the chain 23 en.aages a group of containers being delivered by chain 119. Thus, the containers of a group selected by the selector chain 9 are first separated by the intermediate spacer chain 119 for insertion of a partition. As the leading container of a group is disengaged from chain 119, its motion ceases until -a followin- container moves forward and forces the leading continer forward. This process is repeated for each container until the last, when a lug 30 on the speed-up chain 23 coincides with a lug 119 on the intermediate spacer chain lug behind the last container of a group. This arrangement allows the smooth transfer of the containers from intermediate spacer chain 109 to speed-up chain 23, and also serves to decrease the space between adjacent containers created by the intermediate spacer chain 109. Since the partition is in place, such space is no longer required, and the containers may again be driven along as a group. , Speed-up chain 23 is driven at a higber speed than intermediate spacer chain 109. The difference in speed of the chains produces relative movement between those containers driven by the intermediate spacer chain 109 and those driven by the speedup chain. The relative movement causes a space to develop between adjacent groups of containers being delivered by the intermediate spacer chain 109 and separates them into the groups which will comprise the package units. To compensate for the relative movement of the containers, the driving lu,@s 30 3,333,676 6 on the speed-up chain are spaced ap-art a greater distance than the driving lugs 19 on the selector chains. The groups of containers, each including,a partition, are thus spaced from each other by the speed-up chains and the grouping of the containers is completed. Subsequent operations The spaced -roups of containers are driven by speed-up chains 23 and 24 across the gap 5 between rigid plates 10 3 and 4. As a given group of containers is driven across gap 5 it is disengaged by the lugs of the speed-up chains as they diverge away from the containers. Coincident with the disengagement of the containers by lugs 30, the containers are engaged by a flight bar 40 15 which drives the containers spaced groups through the succeeding sections of the machine. Flight bars 40 are disposed transversely of the machine and travel in a continuous path which extends above and below rigid plate 4. (Note FIGURE 1.) The flight bars 2o are mounted between a pair of laterally spaced continuous flight chains 41 and 42. Flight chain 41 is mounted on a plurality of sprockets 43, 44 and 45 which are in turn mounted on shafts 47, 48 and 49 journalled in the side frames of the machine. Sprockets 44 and 45 are 25 shown in FIGURE 2. Sprocket 43 is not shown. Flight chain 42 is mounted on a plurality of sprockets 43', 44' and 45' which are also mounted on shafts 47, 48 and 49 respectively. (Note FIGURE 1.) As is apparent from FIGURE I of the drawings each flight bar 40 travels in -90 a continuous path around rigid plate 4. The spacing and speed of the flight bars is arranged so that a flight bar moves up through gap 5 into engagement with a group of containers just as the containers are reieased by the lugs of the speed-up chains. The flight bar propels the 35 grouped containers through the blank applying section B and through the folding section C of the machine. The flight bars 40 drive the group of containers at the same speed as they leave the speed-up chains 23 and 24. Thus there is no relative movement between the groups 40 of containers leaving the speed-up chains and those groups of containers bein,@ driven by the flight bars. The fli-ght bars arepositioned to maintain the spacing between the groups of containers. Power system 4,@) The flight bars and all the chains previously discussed are driven from a common power source 60 by an arrangement of sprockets and chains which will now be described. By driving these elements through a common 50 power source the problem of cobrdinating the relative speed of these elements is minimize-d sinc& the speed of a sin,-le drive motor is constant, whereas in those arra.@ements where several drive motors are used the relative speed of the drives varies and poses a coordinating 55 problem. Referring now to FIGURE 1, electric motor 60 is connected to shaft 47 by means of chain 61 and a sprocket 62 which is mounted adjacent sprocket 43. Shaft 47 in tum drives flight chains 41 and 42. Flight chains 41 and 60 42 diive shafts 48 and 49 through their respective sprockets as shown in FIGURE 1. A sprocket (.not ehown) is mounted on shaft 49 adjacent sprocket 45 and is connected to a sprocket 50 on shaft 29 by means of chain 51. (Note FIGURE 2.) Shaft 29 drives shaft 27 through 65 the gears (not shown) in miter box 27A. Once again only the driving arrangement of the speed-up chain and selector chain on one side of the rigid plates will be described, it bein,@ apparent that the drive on the other side of the rigid plates through the other miter box 27B 70 is identical in operation. Shaft 27 drives sprocket 25 which drives speed-up chain 23. The speed-up chain 23 drives sprocket 26 wbich is keyed to shaft 117. Shaft 117 mounts idler sprocket 113 whip-h is free to rotate relative to the shaft. Keyed to shaft 117 below plate 7 is 75 another sprocket 152. (Note FIGURE 2.) Sprocket 152

7 drives shaft 118 through sprocket 153 and drive chain 154. Shaft 118 has keyed thereto sprocket 114 which drives the intermediate spacer chain 109, which is mounted on drive sprocket 114, idler sprocket 113, and sprocket 115 keyed to shaft 17. Similar to the relationship for the interinediate spacer chain as described abbve, shaft 17 mounts idler sprocket 13 which is free to rotate relative to the shaft. Keyed to shaft 17 below plate 7 is another sprocket 52, which drives shaft 18 through sprocket 53 and drive chain 54. Shaft 18 has keyed thereto above, the plate 7 sprocket 14 which drives the selector chain 9, which is mounted on drive sprocket 14 and idler sprockets 11, 12 and 13. By the arrangement of chains above described, it is possible through appropriate design of the sprocket sizes to have the selector chains, intermediate spacer chains, speed-up chairis, and flight bars driven at predetermined different relative speeds from the same power source, motor 60. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modifications of form, size, arrangement of parts and detail of operation, -but rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set fort-h in the appended claims. What is