Abstract: A bottle loading machine for loading bottles 22 such as 1, 2 and 3 liter bottles into sockets 12 of cases 14 from a substantially continuous flow of bottles. The bottles are successfully fed in aligned rows to an upper end of an inclined slide 20 so that bottles slide down the slide on their bottoms in abutting relationship to a loading station 18. An elongated case feeding plate 26 is positioned below said inclined side for guiding cases to the loading station. A case feeding device 32 carried adjacent the elongated case feeding plate engages the cases and forces the cases at a preset feed rate towards the loading station in an end to end abutting relationship. Elongated members 80 engage the shoulders of the bottles as the bottles drop off the incline slide 20 to force the bottles into sockets 12 provided in the cases 22. A braking member 34 is carried adjacent the loading platform 18 for retarding the movement of the cases as they are loaded.

Abstract: A carton erecting and finishing machine is disclosed as including a conveying system for directing stacks of flat carton blanks to a lifting station whereat a stack is vertically lifted to present the topmost blank to a feed station. A blank separating device is arranged to feed each of the blank seriatim to a carton erecting station to be actetd upon by vacuum caps to open the carton by erecting the side panels. While at the erecting station and immediately after erecting of the side panels, a first pair of flap-folding devices are activated to fold the bottom end flaps of the erected carton. While still at the erecting station and immediately after activation of the first set of flap-folding devices, a second pair of flap-folding devices are activated to partially fold the bottom side panels over the previously folded end flaps. A raking device is next activated to move the erected carton to a gluing station where gluing devices are arranged to apply glue to the folded bottom end flaps.

Abstract: A carton is disclosed for use in storing, transporting and displaying a plurality of articles and including a base member for supporting the articles and a top cap cover telescoping over the articles and upturned panels of the base member. The cover is detachably connected to the base member by adhesive material applied to the corners of the base member. To remove the cover, a user inserts his fingers between adjacent panels of the cap cover and base member and quickly extends his hands outwardly to break the adhesive binding thereby releasing the cover for removal.

Abstract: In a case packing machine, an article transport apparatus for transporting groups of containers from a continuously-running infeed conveyor of the case packing machine to a case loading station is disclosed. The article transport apparatus includes a reciprocating carriage having longitudinally extending bladders which are inflatable for gripping a group of containers to the carriage. The reciprocating carriage moves upstream to encompass a group of containers, and upon inflation of the bladders, the bladders grip the group of containers to the carriage. The carriage then moves downstream, and upon deflation of the bladders, deposits the group of containers at the loading station.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for aligning articles in parallel rows as the articles are being moved forward on a conveyor in a single row. A plurality of spaced apart dividers are provided for defining parallel lanes into which the articles are to be conveyed. A pivotally mounted guide chute is used for directing the articles into the respective parallel lanes. The guide chute can be readily exchanged for another guide chute by merely disconnecting various quick release mechanisms. A fixed frame member is carried above a conveyor which transports the articles and is used for supporting the guide chute. The guide chute includes a top plate which has a forward end that is pivotally mounted on the fixed frame member. A plurality of stops are carried on the top plate and are spaced apart a predetermined distance corresponding to the spacing between the various parallel lanes. Indexing mechanism is provided for indexing the guide chute between the various lanes.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is an apparatus for automatically aligning and feeding articles on an article loading machine between dividers to form lanes of articles. The apparatus includes a pivoting guide chute which swings back and forth across a conveyor to discharge a predetermined number of articles intermittently into parallel lanes through actuation of jaws and/or a presser bar clamp assembly. An indexing assembly for the guide chute is provided which includes a double acting pneumatic cylinder and a connecting block which is slidably mounted and connected to the piston of the double acting cylinder. The connecting block has a plurality of interconnected guide slots in its upper surface with a stop position at each end of each slot. A second pneumatic cylinder having a cam follower which slides within the guide slots, blocks and releases the cam follower at each stop and thereby frees the first cylinder to move the chute to the next lane.

Abstract: In a case packing machine, an article transport apparatus for transporting groups of containers from a continuously-running infeed conveyor of the case packing machine to a case loading station. The article transport apparatus includes a reciprocating carriage having longitudinally extending bladders which are inflatable for gripping a group of containers to the carriage. The reciprocating carriage moves upstream to encompass a group of containers, and upon inflation of the bladders, the bladders grip the group of containers to the carriage. The carriage then moves downstream, and upon deflation of the bladders, deposits the group of containers at the loading station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a case packer for placing bottles in a case having dividers separating the bottles. The packer employs horizontally acting trap doors upon which bottles are placed in rows and columns as they are indexed from an infeed conveyor. Half the bottles are placed on one trap door and the other half are placed on the other by the indexing means. As the trap doors are actuated the upper portion of the bottles strike alignment bars and are pivoted and oriented into proper alignment to drop into the case which is located beneath the trap doors.

Abstract: A rake conveyor (A) for incrementally advancing containers on an article loading machine is disclosed which includes a linkage assembly (34) having a pair of generally parallel linkage bars (36,38) between which a plurality of pivotal dogs (C, 44, 44a) are carried. An air cylinder (58) actuates the rake linkage assembly (36, 38) by a connector (66) connecting the piston rod (60) of the air cylinder to the linkage bars (36, 38). The linkage bar (38) moves relative to the bar (36) at the onset of the forward stroke of the rake to cause the dogs (44) to pivot outward to a container engaging position prior to their forward movement. Motion limiting elements (80, 82) limit the pivoting movement of dogs (44) on the return stroke to a linear movement. Positioning elements (E) are provided in the form of positioning blocks (90, 92, 94, 98) which stop the containers at selected positions along the conveyor as is necessary for processing and loading the containers.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for opening the major and minor flaps of a box container being conveyed on an article loading machine designated generally as (A). The apparatus includes a flap opening foot (54) carried on the end of a rocker shaft (46) which is, in turn, carried on a carriage (48). The end of the rocker shaft is attached to a bell-crank lever having an arm (80) and a pin (82) which travels in a cam slot (52) formed in an elongated guide plate (50). The guide plate (50) is clamped onto the edge of a side flap engaging plate (68). The slot (52) is contoured to impart a rocking motion to the foot (54) through the bell-crank linkage so that the foot dips under a closed flap (16a) of the box and lifts it toward an open position. An elastic cord (110) engages the flap and retains it in the open position. A rear minor flap opening device is illustrated at (102) which includes a claw (104). The arm (102) is pivotable and as the box (16) is conveyed therebeneath, the claw (104) catches a closed end flap (16d).

Abstract: An article unscrambler which utilizes at least one elongated wall which is reciprocated back and forth in contact with the articles as the articles are moved in a large mass to a restricted width of articles for ensuring an orderly movement thereof. The reciprocating elongated wall is hung on the conventional rails extending over the conveyor system and is thin and flexible so as to reciprocate around corners. During the reciprocating motion, the bending or flexing action of the wall shifts along the length of the wall as the wall is reciprocated back and forth around the corner of the rail. Such prevents dead spots from forming on the table conveyor in the corner.In one embodiment, a pair of opposed reciprocating walls are utilized which are shifted in synchronism in opposite direction so as to rotate the articles wedged therebetween in opposite directions to prevent jamming of the articles therebetween.

Abstract: A device for feeding cartons in succession from a stack of cartons for being deposited on top of articles carried in a case being moved on a conveyor. A plurality of picker fingers are selectively moved to and from the stack of cartons, and outwardly extending projections carried on top of the picker fingers extend between the lowermost carton and the next carton. Upon lowering of the picker fingers, the lowermost cartons of the stack are deposited on a feed chute for delivery to the case. The case is moved along the conveyor under a pressure foot which presses the cartons down over the tops of the articles for securing the articles in packages.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding cartons in succession from a stack of cartons carried in an elongated chute onto a receiving chute. The apparatus includes a support member which has a plurality of picker fingers carried thereon. The support member is moved from a carton grasping position to a carton release position. When the support member is moved to the carton grasping position, picker fingers including power-operated cylinders having enlarged gripping heads provided on the end of the piston thereof are activated for retracting the heads for grasping the edge of the last carton in the stack for lifting said carton above an abutment and allowing the carton to drop into the receiving chute when said support member is moved back to the depositing position.

Abstract: A device for depalletizing tiers of articles and depositing said articles carried on a multi-tier pallet A onto a receiving table.The device includes an elevator clamp C which extends over the multi-tier pallet A and, upon being lowered to the top tier of articles, four spaced walls of the clamp are moved inwardly for gripping the bottles therebetween. The elevator is then raised with the top layer of articles and shifted forward over a receiving table E. The elevator with said articles are lowered for depositing the articles onto the receiving table. Prior to the articles being deposited on the receiving table E, side walls of the receiving table are moved apart so that the articles can be readily received therebetween. After the articles are deposited on the table E, the side walls are brought back together forcing the articles into alignment so that a wiper arm F can shift successive rows of articles onto a table top conveyor G.

Abstract: A device for feeding cartons in succession from a stack of cartons for being deposited on top of articles carried in a case being moved on a conveyor. A plurality of picker fingers are selectively moved to and from the stack of cartons, and outwardly extending projections carried on top of the picker fingers extend between the lowermost carton and the next carton. Upon lowering of the picker fingers, the lowermost cartons of the stack are deposited on a feed chute for delivery to the case. The case is moved along the conveyor under a pressure foot which presses the cartons down over the tops of the articles for securing the articles in packages.

Abstract: A device for centering cases into which articles such as bottles are deposited from an article loading machine. The case into which the articles are to be deposited are fed by a conveyor to a position below a grid set upon which the articles are carried. The case is shifted longitudinally and laterally by means of movable arms to a centered position directly below the articles so that the articles are properly positioned for loading into the case. In one embodiment, the movable arms are connected as tongs which engage the front and rear edges of the case when shifting the case to the centered position. In another embodiment, the arms are in the form of space plates that are carried on spring loaded linkages that are positioned an equal distance from a centered position in alignment with the article loading machine. In a third embodiment, arms having inclined surfaces adjacent the ends thereof are manipulated by a power operated cylinder for shifting the case to the centered position.

Abstract: A bottle loading machine having a bottle transfer conveyor transferring charges of bottles in aligned rows to a case loading station for being deposited through a grid set into a case carried therebelow. Aligned pairs of gripping arms are carried in the path of the transfer conveyor directly over the grid set for receiving the aligned rows of bottles. A pair of abutments are carried adjacent the forward end of the grid set for tilting the leading bottle of the charge of bottles so that when the bottles are dropped, they drop freely into the case. A plurality of stops are carried on a pivotal arm positioned adjacent the junction of the transfer conveyor and the grid set for restraining the incoming bottles as the charge is being dropped into the case.

Abstract: A crown release pressure tester for testing the pressure that is required for a crown carried on a container to fail or if the crown is leaking. The device includes an elongated housing which has a bore extending therethrough. The top portion of the container which has the crown that is to be tested threaded thereon is severed from the container and secured to the top of the housing in axial alignment with the bore. A piston threadably carried in the bore is rotated to increase the pressure imparted through liquid and compressed air until the crown releases from the top of the container. The pressure that the crown releases is recorded on a pressure gauge.

Abstract: A tester for testing the physical characteristics of bottles such as the degree of stretch of a plastic bottle and the pressure required for rupturing a glass bottle. The apparatus includes an elongated cylinder having a bore extending therethrough. A piston is threadably carried within the bore so that when the lower end of the cylinder is secured to the top portion of a bottle, the piston is in axial alignment with the bottle. Upon feeding the piston into the bottle filled with an incompressible fluid, pressure is exerted on the interior of the bottle stretching or exploding the bottle depending on the test being performed.

Abstract: An article retarding device for use with a grid set of a case loading machine for breaking the fall of articles as they are dropped through the grid set into a case. The grid set includes a trip-bar assembly which is shifted to drop the articles. Positioned below the trip-bar assembly are a plurality of pivotally supported downwardly extending fingers carried in the form of a matrix which guide the articles into the case as they are being loaded. A camming mechanism selectively forces the fingers of respective passages to the center of the passages for breaking the fall of articles into the case. Means is provided for retracting the camming mechanism to a second position so that the articles can be gently loaded into the case.