US2133278A - Method of and apparatus for assembling packages - Google Patents

Description

4 Shets-Sheet 1 R. R. BROGDEN Filed May 15, 1936 I II'I I H METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PACKAGES &

. INV ijona/d w I BY ATTORNEY Oct. 18, 1938. 2,133,278

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PACKAGES R. BROGDEN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1936 INVENTOR figya/d 71? firggderv 60 t W ATTORNEY Oct. 18, 1938. R. RiBR OGDEN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PACKAGES Filed May 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Oct. 18, 1938 R. R. .BROGDEN ,27

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PACKAGES Filed May 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 18, 1938 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PACKAGES Ronald R. Brogden, Orlando, Fla.., assignor to Bank of The Manhattan Company, New York, N. Y., a; corporation of New York, trustee Application May 15, 1936, SerialNo. 79,879

12 Claims.

apparatus for assembling packages and particularly packages of the type including an elastic binder for closing the package.

In packaging certain commodities it is often desirable to secure a container having a separate orattached cover-forming portion or a wrapper about the contents by an endless elastic binder. Where a binder is to be applied to a container or package having certain shapes as, for .ex-

ample, triangular, it is difficult to apply the binder to the container or package in such a way that it is uniformly tensioned and is neatly and evenly disposed about the container or package.

According to the present invention, an elasticbinder is maintained in the form of an extended closed loop and the articles to which the binder is to be applied are disposed over the elastic ;.binder in predetermined relation therewith. A loop or bight at one end of the binder is engaged over an apex or corner portion of the article from one direction and another loop or bight at the other end of the binder is drawn over the apex or corner portion from the opposite direction thereby to engage the binder on the article with the portion of the binder intermediate said loops or bights passing across two opposite faces of the article and forming a loop or loops engaging apexes or corners other than the first-mentioned apex or corner. r

The invention also provides suitable apparat for conveniently applying the binder to the ment adjacent the package-receiving portion' A 'plufor limiting movement of the package. 40 rality of upstanding pillar-like members disposed on opposite sides of the package-receiving portion are adapted to receive the binder and maintain it in a convenient loop form for applying it to the package.

45 The package-receiving portion of the support may be inclined, thereby to support acontainer in such a way that when rollable articles are disposed therein they tend to adjust themselves into an evenly distributed layer or layers in the 'container. Upstanding abutments may also be provided onthe apparatus for bending up sideforming portions of a box blank and for retaining the side-forming portions in upstanding relation during filling of the container, where- 55 after the sides may be suitably secured in upstanding position. Theupstanding pillars may be rotatably supported whereby, when the elastic binder is trained around .the pillar, the latter will rotate a sufficient amount to equalize the tension'on all portions of the binder. ious portions of the apparatus may be made adjustable to accommodate packages and containers of various sizes and shapes.

.Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following 10 particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed outiin the'claims ap- 15 pended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carriedout, may be better understood by referring to .the following description taken in connection with the accompanying 20 drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. top plan view of one form of apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side velevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig; 25

'Fig. 3 .is 'anenlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 3'3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof the apparatus, showing an-electricbinder and a partially filled box in position on theapparatus preparatory to applying the binder to the container;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the container'closed and the binder partially applied thereto; I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4'showing the v binder completely applied to the container;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the completed package after it hasbeen taken'from the apparatus; 1 f

Fig.8 is a perspective view of a modified form of apparatusshowing the binder in position on the apparatus and a box blank disposed above the apparatus in. position to be registered there- Fig. 9 isan enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along line-9'9.'of Fig. 8.;

Fig. 10 is a view-similar toFig. 8', the box blank being shownas'set-up to form a box;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, the box blank being. shown assembled with cover and the binder partially'applied to the container;

Fig. 12 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 10, the binder being shown as=completely applied to the container; and r Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the com- The .varv5 .slot 26.

pleted package after it has been taken from the apparatus.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown one form of apparatus especially well adapted for forming a package from a box-like container of generally triangular shape, which apparatus will be described in connection with my process, for the purpose of illustrating the process.

The apparatus includes an elongated, generally rectangular support or frame I which may be formed of suitable rigid material such as wood, metal or others and may conveniently have longitudinally extending base rails or legs 2. Mounted on the support I are upstanding pillars or studs 3, 4 and 5. The pillar 3 is suitably mounted adjacent one end of the support and pillars 4 and 5 are mounted adjacent the other end of the support and are in alignment along a line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the support I.

Each pillar, as for example pillar 5 (shown more in detail in Fig. 3), may be formed for retaining the elastic binder in the desired formation and may comprise a. cylindrical roller I0.

having secured therein a bushing II carrying a ball bearing I2. Extending through the bearing I2, which extends through an elongated slot I6 in the support I, is a bolt I5 which is secured by a nut I l washers I8 and I9 are interposed between the support I and the bearing I2 and nut I1 respectively. The pillar 3 may be formed similarly to the pillars 4 and. 5 and may be supported on a bolt I8 passing through an elongated The elongated slots I6 and 20 permit considerable adjustment of the position of the pillars longitudinally of the support.

Adjacent the pillars 4 and 5 is a supporting.

portion for a container or package to be wrapped, which portion may be formed as a platform 25 suitably attached to the support by screws 26 and having an inclined upper face.

Adjacent the edge of the platform 25 nearest the pillar 3 is suitable abutment means which may be a plurality of upstanding studs 21 each having a threaded portion 28 and a head 29 and threaded into an opening 30 in the support I.

The abutment means serves to retain the package or container in suitable position onthe platform and prevents it from'being displaced during the application of the binder hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig.4, the apparatus is shown in connection with one form of box which can be conveniently packaged according to the present method and with the present apparatus. The box 40 may comprise a bottom 4| of generally triangular shape and sides 42, 43,44 and 45 upstanding from the edges of the bottom 4|- As shown in Fig. 5 a suitably formed cover 50 with a depending flange 5| may be provided forclosing the box 40.

Prior to filling the box, an elasticbinder 60 which preferably is a rubber band is trained over the pillars 3, 4 and 5, which maintain the binder 60 in the form of an extended closed loop of generally triangular form having a base 6I extending between the pillars 4 and 5, sides 62 and 63'extending from the .base to the pillar 3, and an apex 64 engaging the pillar 3. The portions 6| and 64 of the rubber band thus positioned constitute end bights, both of .which, as will presently appear, are to be looped in opposite directions over that corner of the container shown adjacent pillars 4 and 5m Fig. 4.

Since the pillars 3, 4 and 5 are rotatably mounted, the binder will automatically adjust itself when trained thereover so that all portions are uniformly tensioned. The pillars are positioned relatively to the platform and to each other suitably so that the lengths of the several portions of the binder are in ratio to (i. e. properly correlated to) the corresponding distances over which they respectively extend when applied to the container. The pillars 3, 4 and 5 may be adjusted so that the respective portions of the binder are of suitable length for engaging the corresponding portions of containers of various sizes, and thus the binder, when applied, is under substantially uniform tension throughout its length.

The container 40 is disposed on the platform 25 and its base side wall 43 bears against the abutment studs 21, its opposed corner or apex portion being in general alignment with the end bightslBI and'64 of the binder. .The articles 46 to be packaged are then inserted and the cover 50 is disposed on the container. Where the content comprises rollable articles as, for example, marbles, candies or other generally globular articles,. they will tend to roll toward the side wall 43 and thus adjust themselves into evenly distributed compact layers.

The cover 50 is applied to complete the container and the base portion SI of the binder 60 is carried up over and engaged with the adjacent apex portion of the container, the base side wall 43 of the container being meanwhile held firmly against abutment studs 27 by the tension of the binder which is still looped over pillar 3. Thereafter, the apex portion or bight 64 of the binder is carried up over and across the top of thecontainer, the sides 62 and 63 engaging the side wall 43 and adjacent portion of the top and the apex 64 is carried over and engaged under the same 66 engages it from the bottom. The loops 6'!- and 68 engage the other two corners of the container respectively. Thus, all the corners of the container are engaged by the binder in such a Way that the binder is automatically locked on the container and retains the cover thereon.

Various modifications may be made in theprocess and apparatus in order to adapt the inventive concept to the applying of a binder to various types of containers or packages. Referring to Fig. 8, there is showna second form of apparatus which is especially well adapted for setting up a box blank to form a container and applying an elastic binder thereto.

The apparatus may be broadly similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and may include a support IIlI having pillars IIl3,.I 04 and I05 rotatably mounted thereon. Each pillar may be formed and supported in a manner generally similar to the pillar- 3 of Fig. ,1.

Disposed on the support In I and near the pillars I04 and I05 is a platform I25 which may be constituted by a substantially fiat plate or block having a generally horizontal surface and secured to the support IIlI as by means of screws I26. Up-J standing from the support IOI adjacent one edge of the platform I25 is suitable abutment means such as spaced studs I 21 suitablysecured in the Referring now to Fig. 8, there is' shown one form of blank which can be conveniently set up with the aid of the apparatus to form a box, and then filled and the binder applied, while the box is in position on the apparatus. 1

By way of illustration the blank I30 is shown rests upon the face of: the platform I25. During the downward movement the studs I2'I engage the section I43 and bend it up along score lines I4! and the studs I35 engage the sections I42 and I44 and bend them up along score lines I46 and I48 respectively. Thus a set-up box I is formed as shown in Fig. 10. I

Prior to setting up the box, an endless binder, which may be a rubber band I60, is trained over the pillars I03, I64 and I05 in theform of an extended triangle having a base I6I, elongated sides I82 and IE3 and an apex I64.

After the box I40 has been set up, it may be filled in a convenient manner and thereafter closed by a suitable cover I50 having a side flange I5I adapted to retain the side walls of the box I40 in upstanding position. If desired, flange I5I may extend substantially to the bottom of the box thereby providing a container having side walls of double thickness.

The binder I60 is applied to the container by carrying the base portion I6I up over the apex of the container to engage therewith. Thereafter the apex portion I64 is drawn over and across the top of the closed container and carried under the apex portion and engaged therewith. Referring to Figs. 12 and 13 it will be seen that the binder I60 engages the closed container in a plurality of loops, the loop I65 engaging the apex of the container from the top, the loop I66 engaging the apex portion from the bottom, and the loops I68 and I69 engaging the base corner portion of the container respectively.

Various modifications in the method and apparatus may be made as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, although preferably the base portion of the binder is engaged with the container prior to the apex portion of the binder with the container, this procedure may on the platform and the binder applied in the manner described. Various modifications in the platform and abutments may be made to adapt the apparatus forsettingup containers of other and more'complex construction than the illustrative container disclosed. a

The method is rapid and eflicient and insures that the binder is applied with uniform tension and is neatly and evenly positioned on the container or package. The manipulation of the process with apparatus of the type disclosed is relatively simple-and can be carried out by relatively unskilled labor with desirable results.

While certain novel features of the invention havebeen disclosed and are pointed out in the: annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be'made by those skilled in the art without-departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1; The method of applying an elastic binder to an article of generally triangular shape which comprises disposing and maintaining an elastic binder in extended form to present end bights in predeterminedspaced-apart relation, placing the article with one face cooperatively adjacent said binder intermediate said bights and with one apex or corner portion in general alignmentwith said bights, and looping said bights oppositely around saidapex or corner portion.

2. The method of applying an endless elastic binder to an article of generally triangular shape which comprises disposing the elastic bandin extended loop form, equalizing the tension-in all portions of the band, disposing the article on the band, engaging one end of the loop over a corner of the article and drawing the second end of the loop over and across the top of the article and engaging it under said corner of the article from a direction opposite to said first end of the loop.

3. The method of applying an endless elastic binder to an article having a generally triangular shape which comprises maintaining the binder in extended, generally triangular shape, disposing the article on the binder in reversed apex to base relation adjacent the base of said binder, engaging the base of the binder over the apex of thearticle, and drawing the apex of the binder over and across the top of the article and engaging it under the apex of the article.

4. The method of applyingan endless elastic binder to an article having a generally triangular shape which comprises maintaining the binder in extended generally triangular shape, disposing the article on the binder in reversed apex to base relation adjacent the base of said binder, drawing the apex of the binder over and across the top of the article and engaging it under the apex of the article, and engaging the base of the binder over the apex of the article.

5. The method of applying an endless elastic binderto an article having corner portions, which comprises stretching an endless elastic binder to such length that the several portions thereof are of suitable length to engage the corresponding portions of the article to which the binder is to be applied, the binder so stretched presenting two end bights, establishing contact between a face of the article and a portion of the stretchedbinder intermediate said bights, with a corner portion of said article in general alignment with said bights, and looping both bights over said corner portion in opposite directions.

6. Apparatus for applying an elastic binder to a package or article comprising a support, 'means including a plurality of spaced upstanding pillars mounted on said support for maintaining an elastic binder in extended loop form, and means including a transverse abutment disposed interme upstanding abutments on opposite sides of said first abutment for receiving a. binderto be applied to said box, and maintaining said binder in extended loop form.

8. Apparatus for applying an endless elastic binder to an article of generally triangular shape comprising a support, means for mounting an endless elastic binder on said support in the form of an elongated triangle, and an abutment up- 20; standing from saidsupport adjacent the base of the triangle formed by a binder on said mounting means, for maintaining an article in position to receive a binder from said mounting means.

9. Apparatus for applying an endless elastic 25;- binder to an article of generally triangular shape comprising a support, means including rotatable pillars upstanding from said support for mounting an endless elastic binder on said support in the form of an elongated triangle, in which all 30;; portions of said binder are under substantially equal tension, and an abutment upstanding from said support adjacent the base of the triangle formed by a binder on said mounting means, for

retaining an article in position to receive a binderfrom said pillars.

v10. Apparatus for applying an elastic binder to a package or article, comprising a supporting base, and a plurality of spaced-apart retaining members mounted on said base, said members be. ing. adapted and arranged to retain an endless elastic binder trained about them under tension in the form of an elongated loop and to permit equalization of such tension throughout such loop, said base being adapted to support a package or article over said loop at a locality intermediate the ends thereof.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the mounting of at least one of said retaining members is adjustable to vary the relative spacing of said members along said base and thereby accommodate tensioned binder loops of different lengths.

12. Apparatus for applying an elastic binder to a package or article of generally triangular shape, comprising a supporting base, and three retaining and tension-equalizing members rotatably mounted thereon in upright position, in the form of an elongated triangle, and adapted to retain an endless elastic binder trained about them under tension in the form of an elongated loop, said base being adapted to support a package or article over said loop at a locality intermediate the ends thereof.

- RONALD R. BROGDEN.

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