US3315435A - Method of packaging cuboid containers - Google Patents

Description

A riE 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU 3,315,435

METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOK JOHN C. GUNVOU BY ATTomvEys April 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1963 INVENTOR JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS A rii 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 5, 1963 JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS I m T N E V m A ril 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 3, 1963 INVENTOK JOHN CGUNYOU @456 g 1 ATTORNEYS Aprii 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 5, 1963 Z o 5 w 5 3 3 'NVENTOR JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS April 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU 3,315,435

METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 5, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 as 50b 9 59 INVENTO JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS United States Patent OfiFice 3,315,435 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,315,435 METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS John C. Gunyou, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Signet Packaging Enterprises Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,667 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Oct. 23, 1962, 40,167/ 62 5 Claims. (Cl. 5324) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 92,493, filed Mar. 1, 1961, and now Patent No. 3,227,354.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to a method and apparatus for packaging cuboid containers, and packages of such containers.

In modern packaging many products are packed in individual cuboid containers, a number of which are then assembled into a stack and are wrapped with an outer protective material for shipment. The containers are usually made of thin sheets of cardboard, fibre board, metal, plastics or like material. These sheets are sufficiently rigid and strong to retain the contents under normal use but are so resilient or flexible that they will bulge and twist or otherwise get out of shape, and if subjected to vibration, shock, jarring or compressive force, as, for instance, during shipment, will break and spill the contents. This is particularly so if the contents are of a fluid nature such as granular detergent, flour, sugar, etc. An example of such containers is the ordinary cardboard carton in which so many products are packed.

It is therefore necessary to have a strong shipping container or wrapper for a stack of such containers to prevent damage during shipment and double faced corrugated paper is commonly used. It is bulky and comparatively expensive and difiicult to apply. According to this invention a stack of filled cuboid containers can be wrapped for shipment in a much lighter wrapper. For example a stack which has heretofore been wrapped with double faced corrugated cardboard could be wrapped with single faced corrugated paper or flat surfaced cardboard.

It has been found that if stacks of uniform containers are kept under compression during the wrapping operation the complete package of containers will have great strength and can be wrapped for shipping with a wrapper of less strength than would otherwise be required.

The underlying principle is rather difiicult to express. It may be said, however, that the application of pressure to the stack forms a compact rigid structure of less dimension than the uncompressed stack. In the case of cartons containing fluid material there is a tendency for the lower part of the carton to bulge. The application of pressure eliminates the bulges and causes the sides of the cartons to lie closely adjacent one another over their whole faces. When articles are loosely packaged there is a cannonball effect when they are jarred. The loose contents gain momentum and may break the outer wra per. Wrapping under compression will reduce or eliminate this elfect.

This invention takes advantage of the above mentioned principle and proposes a method and means whereby pressure may be applied on all sides of a loosely arranged stack of cartons substantially simultaneously, so that they will be set up or squared up and compressed so that the compressed stack is of smaller volume than the uncompressed stack.

A separate sheet of wrapping material may be used for each side of the stack. This sheet will be pre-cut to approximately the area of the compressed side of the stack to which it is to be applied. One or two wrappers may be pre-creased to form six panels approximately the area of the sides of the stack after they have been compressed.

A preferred wrapper is made of single faced corrugated paper with the corrugations inside. Preferably two rectangular sheets will be used transversely creased so that they will fold into a channel shape. One of such wrappers would enclose the top and ends of the stack and the other enclose the bottom and sides of the stack. The wrapper may be T-shaped in plan, being formed of two channel shaped sections, the end of one being secured to the side edge of the other intermediate its ends.

The sections are joined or butt jointed so that the interior surfaces, at least, of the walls of the shipping container are regular and unbroken, there being no overlaps so that such walls are capable of achieving a continuous fit around the containers which they enclose. This in turn is thought to lead to a reduction in the cannon-ball effect caused by the shifting of containers within the package and consequent damage.

The amount of compression required depends on the volume of the stack, the strength of the individual containers and their contents. It must be sufiicient to true up the stack and compress it into approximately the smallest possible volume without rupturing the individual containers. The natural tendency of the individual containers to spread or bulge will create a certain amount of outward pressure which when restrained by the wrapper will put the stack under compression.

The first step in the wrapping method is to substantially simultaneously gradually apply pressure to all six sides of the stack. This may be done in various ways. Pressure can conveniently be applied by pressure plates of substantially the same area as a side of the stack. Pistons having fiat plates or heads secured to their free ends may be used to press the exposed sides of a stack which has been placed in a form or against an opposing piston which may be moved simultaneously into contact with the opposite side of the stack to press the cartons into close contact as described above.

Pressure is applied in three directions, normal to the top and bottom faces of the stack, normal to the ends of the stack and normal to the sides of the stack. Once the stack is put under simultaneous pressure compression may be maintained even though pressure in one direction is withdrawn. The pressure in the other directions will maintain the stack in compressed condition in those directions and the friction of the individual cartons in the stack will maintain the pressure in the direction in which pressure has been withdrawn. Keeping the pressure on the other sides, pressure may be released on one side to permit the application of a wrapper. Pressure can then be re-applied on that side and the wrapper folded over another side or sides, releasing the pressure to permit this to be done and re-applying the pressure immediately after. The adjacent edges of the applied wrapper may be glued together while pressure is maintained. Pressure will be maintained long enough to permit the glue to set after which the wrapper will retain the stack under compression.

The wrapper may be placed on-one or more side of the stack prior to the application of pressure.

If the wrapper is to be aplied before the application of pressure, parts may, for instance, be placed over one surface of the stack which may rest upon a table or other support. Another part of the wrapper may be placed beneath the stack between the lower face of the stack and the table. Preferably, if the stack is not a cube, the wrapper will be applied to the major surfaces. Pressure may then be applied simultaneously on all six sides of the stack until the stack is compressed. Maintaining the pressure on the other sides, pressure on two opposite sides may be removed and the wrapper folded over these sides along the pre-creased line of fold. Pressure can then be applied to the folded over sides of the wrapper pressing them against the sides of the stack. The pressure on the other sides may be removed and the panels or flaps of the wrapper turned up over adjoining sides of the stack and then pressed against the stack. ,The edges of each wrapper may then be glued to the edges of the adjacent wrapper. For this purpose there may be a glue flap on the edges of the wrappers or adhesive tape may be stuck on the outside of the wrappers along the adjoining edges to hold them together.

The means for operating the pressure plates may be various and well known in the art of packaging and wrapping. Instead of having pistons which move in and out with the surface of the plate parallel to the' sides of the stack, plates may be provided for simultaneously folding the flaps of the Wrapper over the stack and applying pressure to maintain the stack under compression. In this method the blank may be T-shaped and pre-creased to form panels or flaps adapted to be folded around the sides or ends of the stack. A form will be provided comprising a base and a vertical back wall at right angles to the base. The wrapper can be placed with the cross arm on the base and the stem extending upwardly at right angles to the cross arm against the back wall. The stack is then placed on the base on top of the wrapper. Flat plates may press against the other four sides to compress the stack against the form. Other plates may then be brought in substantially parallel to the first plates and to the surfaces of the stack and will engage the flaps of the wrapper and press them onto a surface of the stack while the original pressure plates are being withdrawn. After all the panels have been folded and pressed down onto the stack they may be glued together to hold the stack under compression.

In the method and means hereafter particularly described and illustrated, the stack is wrapped without releasing the pressure on the sides of the stack.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES 1 to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic views of the apparatus showing the various steps ofthe wrapping method;

FIGURE 9 is a view of a complete wrapped package of cartons;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a wrapper;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectign through the upper carriage of the wrapping apparatus showing the package in its final position before being discharged;

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 12A is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of the package shown in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the package of cartons prior to closure of the top flap and in dotted lines the position of feed cradle and the discharge cradle prior to the feeding operation and during the discharge operation;

FIGURE 13A is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of the package shown in FIG. 13; and

FIGURE 14 is a transverse section along the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13.

In the drawings, corresponding reference numerals refer to corresponding parts.

For the sake of simplicity, the air lines, valves and timing mechanism used for operating the machine and coordinating the movement of it are not shown. They do not form part of this invention and can readily be devised by anyone skilled in the art.

In the specification and claims package means a wrapper enclosing a stack of filled containers. A

stack is formed by two or more containers arranged side by side. Wrapper means the covering for the package in assembled or unassembled condition. The wrapper is made up from a blank or a plurality of blanks cut and creased to a predetermined size. A panel is the portion of a wrapper or blank which covers a single side of a stack of containers. If the wrapper comprises three panels the centre panel is the main panel and the outer panels are flap panels. If the Wrapper is T-shaped the central panel of the cross member is the main panel and the outer panels are flap panels and likewise with the stern member. Extensions from panels for adhering the edge of the panel to the edge of an adjacent panel are sealing flaps or glue flaps or adhesive flaps. The wrapper is made of packaging stock, i.e., sheets of strong cardboard, fibre board, metal, plastics or the like, preferably single face corrugate. If the wrapper or blank is not made of a single sheet of packaging stock it is formed of sections each section comprising one or more panels. The containers are made of thin sheets of cardboard, metal, plastics, or like stiff bendable material usually lighter and less strong than the material of which the wrapper is made. The assembled wrapper may be called a shipping container but will generally be referred to as the wrapper or the assembled wrapper to avoid confusion with the containers which are enclosed in the wrapper.

Reference will first be primarily to FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14 with occasional reference to other views. The machine comprises a rectangular main frame having four upright frame members 20, 21, 22 and 23, longitudinal frame members 24 and 25 and transverse frame members 26, 27 and 28, all of angle steel.

Supported above the main frame is an upper frame (FIGS. ll, 13 and 14) formed of two longitudinal members 29 and 30 and two transverse members 31 and 32, all U-shaped in cross section. Transverse member 32 has been cut away in all the figures except FIG. 8, where it is shown diagrammatically and broken away.

This upper frame is supported on four . pistons 34, 34, 34 and 3 4 in power cylinders 35, 35, 35 and 35 secured to the vertical corner members of the frame. By means of the power cylinders and pistons the upper frame may be raised and lowered to and from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 13 to the position shown in phantom lines.

Horizontally supported and longitudinally slidable on the upper frame is a carriage having two longitudinal U- shaped frame members 4 0, 41 which slide in the U-shaped members 29 and 30 of the upper frame, and transverse frame members 42, 43 and 44. This carriage is slidable longitudinally in the longitudinal U-shaped members 29 and 30 of the upper frame. The carriage is divided into two relatively movable parts separable by means of a piston 45 mounted in a horizontally arranged power cylinder 46 secured to the transverse frame member 4 2 of the carriage. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, the longitudinal frame members and 41 of the carriage are divided into two parts. What may for convenience be called the rear part of the carriage is formed by transverse member 42 and the rear parts of longitudinal members 40 and 41. Rear part of longitudinal member 41 is numbered 41a in FIGS. 8 and 13. Rear part of longitudinal member 40 is not shown in the drawings but is the same as rear part 4151. What may be called the front or forward part is formed of transverse frame members 43 and 4 4, and the forward parts of longitudinal members 40 and 41. The forward sliding movement of the rear part of the carriage in the upper frame is limited by spring stop S shown in FIG. 8. The forward end of the carriage is normally held in its forward position by coil spring 47, secured at one end to the carriage and at the other end to the cross member 31 of the upper frame as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 and 13.

Piston 45 may be actuated to pull the forward portion of the carriage back to join the rear portion as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, and 7. The purpose of this and more details of the construction and operation of the carriage will be described hereinafter.

Having now described in a general way the framework and parts of the machine, the various steps of the method and the positions of the apparatus will be described in sequence having particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive. These figures are diagrammatic and many parts have been omitted or cut away to show the sequence of operations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two cradles 50 and 51, other parts and mechanisms being omitted or broken away for the sake of clarity. Cradles 50 and 51 are in the positions shown in phantom lines in FIG. 13, except that plates 50a and 50b of cradle 50 are in package ejecting position rather than package compressing position. Also shown are positioning lugs 96, 96' secured to longitudinal frame members 2 9 and 30. See also FIG. 12.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 the wrapper 48 comprises a transverse section 48a and a longitudinal section 48b. Section 48b is placed on cradle 51 and section 48a is supported between plate 50b and positioning lugs 96 and 96. The lower edge of section 48a is held parallel to and adjacent the rear edge of section 48b. The two sections have sealing flaps or glue flaps to glue them together to form a T-shape. Preferably the wrapper is formed of single faced corrugated paper board or fibre board with corrugations on the inside running transversely on the cross bar of the T and longitudinally on the stem of the T. The wrapper is cut and/ or precreased to form panels corresponding in size to the sides of the package to be wrapped when under compression. Glue flaps extend from the edges of the wrapper for sealing the package. The wrapper may, however, be formed of separate pre-cut panels or partly of separate panels and partly of pre-creased panels. Instead of glued flaps for connecting the panels, separate glue strips may be applied to the corners of the assembled wrapper.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a stack ST of 16 cuboid containers placed on the wrapper section 48b ready for wrapping and 3A is a side elevation of FIG. 3. The stack is supported on wrapper section 48b by the relatively fixed under plate 51a and the movable front plate 51b of the cradle 51. For convenience the side of the stack which is supported by plate 51a may be referred to as the underside; the opposite side, the upper side; the side supported by plate 51b, the front side; the opposite side, the rear side; and the other two sides the left and right sides respectively. However, the orientation is not important. The above nomenclature is only for the purpose of describing the relative positions of the different sides.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and 4A is a side View showing the cradle 51 as having been rocked up so that the under plates 50a and 51a of the cradles are substantially horizontal and the plates 50b and 51b of the cradle are substantially vertical. Plates 50a and 51a are on the same plane with their adjoining edges close together so that the stack ST may he slid from one to the other. This is done by means of cylinder 68 and piston 69 and cylinder 52 and piston 53 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 pivoted on the floor or base of the machine and pivoted to bell crank levers 76 and 54 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 which support the cradles 50 and 51 respectively. In FIG. 13 the bell crank lever 70 and cradle 50 are shown in phantom lines in their lower position with the plates arranged for ejecting the package and in full lines in their upper or pressure applying position; and the bell crank lever 54- and cradle 51 are shown in phantom lines in their lower or filling position and in full lines in their upper or pressure applying position.

Longitudinal frame members 59, 59 (shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) support another cylinder 55 shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 which actuate piston 56 secured to a plate 57 adapted to press the stack of cartons ST against fixed plate 60. See FIGS. 12 and 14.

The upper frame which is shown in upper position in phantom lines and in lower position in full lines in FIG. 13 as already described, is supported on four pistons 34, 34, 34 and 34 actuated by air cylinders 35,- 35, 35 and 35. Secured to the upper frame are two plates 61 and 62 slightly spaced apart, so that when the upper frame is lowered by pistons 34 the upwardly projecting flap of the wrapper 48b will extend between the plates, and the plate 61 will apply pressure to the stack of cartons, pressing them down against the lower plate 51a of the cradle as shown in FIG. 5. Guide means (not shown) may be provided to guide the flap to the space between plates 61 and 62.

Also shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 13 is a cylinder 63 and piston 64 which is supporting a spring mounted roller 65 for a purpose which will be described later.

The plate 51b of cradle 51 is supported by piston 66 actuated by cylinder 67 on rocker arm 54 and when cradle 51 is swung up to the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 4 and 13 this piston will move the vertical plate 51b of the cradle 51 contrary to the direction of movement of the vertical plate 50b of cradle 50.

In FIG. 4 the cradle 50 is also shown in the elevated position shown in full lines in FIG. 13, having been swung up into that position by means of a cylinder 68 pivoted to the floor or the frame and a piston 69 pivoted to hell crank lever 70. Cylinder 95 is secured to lever 70 and actuates a piston 94 which is secured to plate 50b of cradle 50. In FIGS. 4, 4A and 6, 6A and 6B plate 50b has been moved forward. It will be observed that section 48a of the wrapper is supported by positioning lugs 96, 96' and plate 50b so that the main panel is in register with the opposed side of the stack ST. Cradle 50 and cradle 51 are rocked up simultaneously to the position shown in FIG. 4, whereby they engage wrappers 48a and 48b and press them against the sides of the stack as shown in FIG. 4A. Plate 51b is at its withdrawn position and engages a stop which holds it steady. Plate 50b is at its advanced position under pressure and the relative positions of plates 50b and 51b is such that plate 50b presses the stack against plate 51b.

In FIG. 5 the pistons by means of a valve arrangement (not shown) have been actuated to simultaneously apply pressure in six directions .on the stack of cartons. Cradles 50 and 51 have been rocked up to the position where vertical plate 50b compresses the stack against plate 51b of cradle 51. Plate 57 is pressed inwardly by piston 56 to compress the stack against the fixed plate 60. Plate 61 presses downwardly on top of the stack of cartons to compress it against the lower plate 51a of cradle 51. Thus the stack is under pressure from all sides. In this way, the space between the originally loosely packed cartons is taken up and sagging or bulging of the cartons is reduced so that the faces of the cartons are all in close contact.

The main panel of wrapper 48b is pressed between vertical plate 51b and the stack of cartons and the forward flap panel of the wrapper 48b is pressed between the lower plate 51a of the rear cradle and the under side of the stack. One flap panel of wrapper 48b is standing upright between plates 61 and 62. The main panel of wrapper 48a is compressed between the stack and vertical plate 50b. The end or flap panels of wrapper section 48a extend outwardly on each side of the plate 50b. As already explained the wrapper is cut so that it comprises six panels coinciding in size with the six sides of the stack of cartons ST when under compression and is provided with fold lines permitting the wrapper to be readily folded along the edges of the stack of cartons.

At this stage, if the wrapper section 48a has not been previously secured to the wrapper section 48b along the line of contact, this may be done by adhering sealing flap 48c on the end of wrapper section 48b to the side of wrapper setcion 48a. Sealing flap 48c consists of an extension of the facing of the corrugated material of section 48b having applied to its upper face a pressure sensitive adhesive. However, any suitable kind of adhesive may be used or the flaps may be dry and adhesive applied thereto at the time of adhesion. When the vertical plate 50b of cradle 50 presses against the wrapper, the sealing flap 48c engaged by the lower edge of plate 50b and pressed against the edge of wrapper section 48a. to secure the sealing flap to the Wrapper. See particularly FIG. 4A. Spring fingers 71, 71 on the lower plate 51a of cradle 51 prevent sealing flap 48c from being bent downwardly and hold it up so that it is engaged by the plate 50b as it moves in towards the stack of packages.

The piston 45 is now withdrawn into cylinder 46 drawing the front part of carriage back against the spring 47 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. The stop S shown in FIG. 8 prevents the rear part of the carriage from moving forward. Plates 61 and 62 mounted on the carriage are moved back causing the upper flap of the wrapper section 481) to be pressed down on top of the package 46 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 while at the same time maintaining pressure on the package. The plate 62 is located slightly higher than the plate 61 by about the thickness of the wrapping material. In FIG. 6 this operation has been completed. The piston 64 then forces roller 65 downwardly as shown in FIG. 6A pressing pressure sensitive adhesive flap 48d over the edge of wrapper 48a and sealing it. Roller 65 is spring pressed towards the package, as by mounting on a torsion bar whereby it is pressed against the package as particularly shown in FIGURE 6A. Thus the wrapper is sealed around the upper and lower and front and back sides of the package holding it under compression in the vertical directon.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7, 8, 11 and 13 the cylinder 63 is secured to a bracket 97 secured at each end to longitudinal carriage frame members 98, 98 shown in FIG. 14. The frame members 98, 98' extend between transverse carriage frame members 43 and 44 and extend below them to support the folding plates 61 and 62.

The package is then pushed back between fixed vertical guide plates 72 and 73 as shown in FIG. 6B. These plates are supported on the main frame by transverse members 99, 99'. These plates are spaced the width of the package under compression so as to maintain the package under compression. To push the package back between these guide plates 72, 73, pressure is applied to piston 66 greater than the pressure on piston 94. As pressure plate 511) advances, pressure plate 50b recedes and the package then slides back onto plate 50a between plates 72 and 73. Pressure on plate 57 may, if necessary, be slightly relieved as the package is pushed back, maintaining suflicient side pressure to keep the stack under compression; but in practice this has not been found to be necessary.

As the package is pushed back, pressure plate 62 on the carriage which is pressing on the upper side of the package as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 6B and 11 moves with the package to position in FIG. 7, maintaining its downward pressure and keeping the package under compression to the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 11. The stops S shown in FIG. 8 are spring tongues secured to the channel formed by upper frame members 29 and 30 and projecting rearwardly to prevent rear frame members 41a of the carriage from moving forwardly past that point. However, when the package is pushed back the friction between the plate 62 and the package causes the whole carriage to move back towards the rear end of the upper frame as shown in FIG. 7. The spring stop S is pressed down by the rear portion of the carriage to permit this rearward movement. When the carriage returns under pull of spring 47 to the position shown, for example, in FIG. 8 the stop S will spring up to prevent the rear part of the carriage from returning the whole distance.

To turn the sealing flaps in, bell crank guide arms 74, pivoted to plates 72 and 73 as shown in FIGS. 63, 7 and 12 are actuated by pistons 76, 77 in cylinders 78 and 79 on frame members 59, 59. Sealing rollers 80 and 81 on arms 74 and 75 press pressure sensitive sealing flaps 48e and 481 over the adjoining side of the wrapper 48b.

As the wrapper stack is pushed back between side plates 72 and 73 and upper and lower plates 62 and 50a, sealing strips are applied to the upper and lower side edges to secure the edges of wrapper part 48b to the edges of wrapper part 48a as shown in FIG. 6B. The side plate 72 is provided with a lower flared corner shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, and plate 73 is provided with a similar lower flared corner 85 concealed from view in those figures. Plates 72 and 73 are provided with upper flared corners 87 and 88 respectively shown in FIGS. 63 and 7. These flared corners or horns are formed in a known manner to receive glued sealing tapes or strips 90 fed from rolls 91 in a known manner. Any type of adhesive may be used. If it is desired to moisten the adhesive, a moistening device may be attached. Also any known means may be provided for feeding the strips and cutting them to length. The sealing means is indicated diagrammatically since the specific means used does not form part of this invention. Application of these sealing strips completes the sealing of the wrapper holding it under tension and the package under compressron.

FIG. 8 is aperspective view showing how the wrapped package is finally discharged from the machine. The various moveable pressure applying plates are withdrawn, the cradles 5t and '51 are rocked back to their original positions shown in phantom lines in FIG. 13 and roller 65 is raised. The upper frame has been raised to the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 13. The carriage has also been pulled back by its spring to its initial position. The rear part of the carriage has been advanced into engagement with the forward part.

The fully wrapped and sealed package 74 is shown in FIG. 8, as being ejected from cradle 59. This is accomplished by means of a piston secured to plate 50a and actuated by cylinder 101 secured to bracket 102 on bell crank lever 70 (See FIG. 13). When the pressure plates 51b and 61 have been withdrawn the cradle 50 is rocked back by piston 69 and piston 10% is actuated to advance the plate Stla to the position shown in phantorn lines in FIG. 13 and in full lines in FIG. 8. This ejects the package onto a table or conveyor 103 (in FIG. 13). The package is deposited in the position shown in FIG. 9 with the corrugations inside engaging the stack of containers and arranged as indicated by phantom lines, i.e., the corrugations on the vertical sides are all vertical and the corrugations on the horizontal sides run horizontally. This arrangement gives maximum strength to the completed package.

In describing and claiming the invention it is to be understood that when reference is made to means or a plate for applying pressure to the sides of the stack, such means or plate is not necessarily actuated or moved to apply pressure but may be fixed or normally stationary and arranged to co-operate with a movable pressure applying means or plate to compress the stack between them, in which case the fixed or stationary means or plate is deemed to be a pressure means or plate.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed of thin sheets of stiff bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stacks when under compression, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stock, and then: applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of the loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; applying wrapper panels to the stack while compressed; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold the package under compression.

2. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers, formed of thin sheets of still bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stack when under compression, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stack, and then: applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of the loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; releasing the pressure on opposite sides of the stack successively to apply wrapper panels to the sides of the stack while maintaining the stack under compressi-on; reapplying pressure after applying said panels; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold the package under compression.

3. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers, formed of thin sheets of stiff bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stack when under compression, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stack, and then applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of the loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; applying wrapper panels to at least one side of the stack prior to applying pressure to the stack; releasing pressure on opposite sides of the stack successively to apply wrapper panels to the other side of the stack while maintaining the stack under compression; reapplying pressure after applying said panels; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold the package under compression.

4. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed of thin sheets of stiff 'bendable material, in a Wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stack under compression, whereby some of the panels are hingedly connected to others, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stack, and then applying a wrapper panel to at least one side of the stack prior to applying pressure to the stack;

applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of the loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; releasing pressure on opposite sides of the stack successively; folding panels over said sides while maintaining pressure on adjacent sides of the s-tack; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold the package under compression.

5. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed of thin sheets of stilf bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels of packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stacks when under com pression, comprising: arranging said containers loosely in a stack, and then applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of the loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together; applying wrapper panels to the stack without releasing the pressure on any side; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold the package under compression.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,903 3/1916 Rehfuss et al. 53-124 1,726,927 9/ 1929 Shaffer.

2,402,476 6/1946 Weeks 53-24 2,605,897 8/1952 Rnndle 206- 2,707,553 5/1955 Young 206-65 2,855,741 10/1958 Shaw et al 53-124 X 2,969,629 l/1961 Blais 53-124 2,974,452 3/1961 Vogt 53-24 2,979,871 4/1961 Kieckhefer 53-24 X 3,006,119 10/1961 Fingerhut 53-24 3,068,624 12/1962 Linda 53-124 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, BERNARD STICKNEY,

Examiners.

W. T. DIXSON, A. E. FOURNIER, R. L. FARRIS,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. METHOD OF PACKAGING A STACK OF FILLED CUBOID CONTAINERS FORMED OF THIN SHEETS OF STIFF BENDABLE MATERIAL, IN A WRAPPER FORMED OF PANELS OF PACKAGING STOCK PREFORMED TO THE DIMENSIONS OF THE STACKS WHEN UNDER COMPRESSION, COMPRISING ARRANGING SAID CONTAINERS LOOSELY IN A STOCK, AND THEN: APPLYING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSURE TO ALL SIDES OF THE LOOSELY ARRANGED STACK TO CAUSE THE CONTAINERS TO FIT SNUGLY TOGETHER; APPLYING WRAPPER PANELS TO THE STACK WHILE COMPRESSED; AND SECURING THE ADJOINING EDGES OF THE PANELS TO HOLD THE PACKAGE UNDER COMPRESSION.

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