[1]3 @ 3 8 9 9 5 3 2 Uiiited States Patent Office Patented June 25, 1968 3,389,532 PACKAGING SYSTEIM James S. Stelzer, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Peter Eckrich & Sons, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Filed May 7, 1964, Ser. No. 365,612 5 17 Claims. (Cl. 53-128) This inventiontelates to the packaging of articles and especi,ally foodstuffs, and more partictilarly Telates to a device for such packaging in wbich vacuum-sealed en- 10 velopes are folded for mounting on a rigid backing nieniber. In preparing vacuum packages of food products, it has been the practice to dispose the food products, e.-. a stack of sliced s-,tndwich meat or the like, between op- 15 posing webs and bring the webs together about the product while evacuatin- air from the envelope. An inert gas may be injected . between the webs. The webs are sealed together about the product to form an envelope, and the product is thereby contained in the envelope under vacu- 20 um conditions or in the presence of the inert gas. Th-. envelope is often susceptible to damage by puncture or the like during handling. Also, the envelope is flexible and may become distorted duriiig handling, presenting a package of poor appear,,ince to the consumer. Therefore, 2 5 it is desirable to apply a stiff protective or shielding member to the envelope or to apply a stiff-ening back board in order to decrease chances of destruction or distortion of the envelope or the packaged food product. The envelope and backing protective member may be present 30 in a variety of forms, a very acceptable and advantageous structure being that described by me in U.S. Patent No. 3,342,320, entitled "U-Board With Thermoformed Weu issued September 19, 1967, or that described by me in U.S. Patent No. 3,215,333, entitled "Packaging Membe'r" issued Nov. 2, 1965. @;3 In forming the packa.-e described iii the aforementioned applicatioil, it has been the practice to prepare the enveloped food product so that the opposing N@,ebs are joined to form an outward projecting flap or flange gen- 40 erally in the plane of.the package bottom and to thereafter manually apply the envelope containing the packa.-ed foodstuff to a backin.- niember, preferably of the U-board type, after mantially foldin.- portions of the flaps or flanges beneath the envelope. 4 5 It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and useful device for preparing envelopes for mounting on@ backing n-lembers. It is ,ilso an object of this inve-@ition to provide a inew and useful combination system for enveloping food prod- 50 ucts, preparing the envelope for mountin.- on a backing board, -and mounting the envelope on the board, including apparatus for folding, and preferably deadfolding, a portion of the envelope during the preparation for mounting. r )5 It is a further ob.ect to provide a new and useful system for folding envelope edges, e.g. of a flange of flap portion of the enevelope, preparatory to mounting the envelope. Still another object of this invention is to provide a 60 folding device through which envelopes can be continuously fed to produce deadfolds in opposing portions Of an envelope flap or flange, especiilly where the envelope is of the type havina a perip'@ieral flap or flange - cnerally 65 planar with the envelope bottom. In one particular aspect, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and useful folding device usable in accordailce with any one of the foregoing objects and which is capable of creating a downward and inward fold. 70 In :another particular aspect, it is an object to provide new and useful means for creising folds in envelopes. 2 And it is also an object of this invention to provide creased downward-inward deadfolds in envelope pcrrtions, and especially in flange portions of envelopes having peripheral flan.aes planar with the envelope bottom so that the folded flange portions are against the envelope bottom. An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and useful conveyor system for feeding packages to a folditig system, such as from an enveloping zone, in accordance with any of the foregoing objects; and it is further an object to provide for removal of empty packages during such feeding. Yet another object is to provide a control responsive to a jam condition in folding system for stopping operatiorl of the folding system. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the d@rawings in which: FIGURE I is a side view of a system, partially shown schematically, for processing meat products to form pack-a.-ed meat products and employing a form of folding device in accordance herewith; FIGURE 2. is a top view of the system of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a folding device included in the system of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the portion of the foldidg device shown in FIGURE 3 with parts removed for clearer showing of certain elements of the folding zones in the folding device; FIGURE 5 is an end view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 7 is a section taken,along line 7-7 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 9 is a section taken alon.- line 9-9 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 10 is a section taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9; FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a package or envelope containing a meat product showing in phantom flange portions of the package before the folding operation and also showing in full lines the flan.-es as disposed -after partial folding; FIGURE 12 is a package of FIGURE 11 with @the ange portions completely folded and creased@, FIGURE 13 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the device shown in FIGURE 3 with parts broken away for clearer illustration of underlying parts; FIGURE 14 is a section takei along line 14-14 of IGURE 13; FIGURE 15 is a section taken alorl.a line 15-15 of FIGURE 14; FIGURE 16 is an enlarged plan view @of a conveyor s3,stem for conveying packages to the folding system, a portion of which conveyor system is shown in FIGURES I and 2; and FIGURE 17 is a side view of the conveyor system of FIGURE 16. While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is co-isidered to be an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not inten&d to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Turning now to the drawings and referring first especially to F@IGURES 1 and 2, there is provided a system for packa.-ing meat products ind the like in accordance
[2]37389@ 5io,,2 3 with one form of the present invention. Accordingly, a foldin.- device, indicated generally at rcier--nce num--ral 21, is provided for receivin.- packages or envelopes frojii a packaging or enveloping zo-ic 22. The meat prod,,@.ct is packaged withii the envclope by disposi@)g ti@@ rieit product between ',wo opposinwebs of envelope formin.material and sca'lin,a the webs peripherally while evacuatin- from between the webs to form a package slch as illustrated ii FIGURE 11, with peri,)hcril fianges disposed as indicated in phantom at 23a. A complete e.,escription of th,3 envelope containing t@ie me,,it prcduct ,ind its formation to enclosz@ the meat prodtict in a vaculimtight envelope, is described by Stelzer in the above-ic.entifled U.S. Patent No. 3,342,320. A transfer meaiis in the forn-1 of a conveyoi- 24 is pro- 1;3 vided for traqsferring packages 23 froni zor@e 12 to the folding device 21. At the dischar.-e end of foldiiig dei@ice 21, there is provided a second transfer means in the forin of a conveyor 25 for receiving packiges discharged from the folding device. Transfer cotiveyor 25 cotive@,s the 20 packages to a backin-, boai-d applicat;on zoiie '46 which receives the packages from conveyor 25 anci applies a backin.- board to the boitom slirface of the pack,-,2e 23 afl-er the packa-c peripheral flange has bee@i fclded in foldin.- device 21 to the position 23c as shown iii FIGLTRE 12. 25 Preferably, the backing board is of the U-board tyre, havi-i.- end flanges or flaps for foldi@-ig up around the nonfolded portions 23d (FIGURE 12) of the packa.@e flange, as well as the ends of folded portioiis 23c, such as described by me in said patent. 30 Also, preferably the bottom web of the packa-e 23 is of the deadfold type, including at least one la@er of a deadfold material such as -,iluminum in its structure, such as described by nie iii the above-identified patents Ncs. 3,342,320 a@-id 3,215,333. 0,5 Foldi,ig device 21 incliides a receivin.- staion 27 pt ttic inlet thereof and a discharge station 28 at the out@'et there-@f. Packages are received at stalion 27, travel throu-h folding dev,'ce 21 and are foleed thci-eifl, a-id are discharged from fo'@ding device 21 at station 28. 40 It will b.- noted especial!y with res-lect to FIGURE 2 @hat two side-by-side lines of foldio.- eq7-,inment are provi,-ied in the fo@'ding device apd the device has a double receivi-istation 27 and outlet station 28. Wherever elements are described in association with on,- of the two side-by-sidc 45 lines, it is to be und,-rstood that similar elements ar,- associated with the other line. Conveyor 24 conveys the packa,-es 23 in two lines sideby-side from zone 22, the packages 23 having been formed therein and deposiled on conveyor 24 in two 50 lines. As th.- packages are conveyed throtigh the "oldin.- device 21 from the receiving station 27, each package in each line is carried throu,,-h a package straightenin.@ zone for placing the package in correct di@@positioii for proper 55 folding in subsequent folding zones. Each pac',Kage is then conducted through a fli-st foldin- zone for folding the packa.-e fl,-,n,@e dowiward to position 23h of FIGURE II along two opposing genera!ly parillel imaginary fold lines at opposite edges of the package. The package witti the 60 dowiiward folded flange is then coi-iveyo-,l through a second folding zone for foldin.- the downwar-dly exten(!Li-ig flanges inward aln,,ost to tb,- position sbowji in FIGURE 11- it 23c. A giiide zone 34 is providel betw,-en folding zones 32 and 33 for maintaini@i.- proper packa_--e align- c,5 ment dlirin@ travel of the package betv@,eci zones 32 and 33. From z@ne 33, th,- package is fed direc@iy to a creasir,,@ zone 35 which creases the folded flange to a flat cleadfold position as shown bv fold.-d flanges 2,c in FIGURE 12. From creasing zone 35, each. packa.-c is conn,eycd throtigh -i 0 a transfer or conveyor zone 36 fOr -LlidiD.- and cor@duc,in.the packages with folded fl-.nges to discliar.,-e slation 28. Each line of folding equipm@nt i,-i foldi@-.g device 21 inciudes two folliiig zones, a crea@in- zonc, -,ind the gLiicl,-co.,ive),Or zories tlus fztr descr@bed aiid the two lines ol' 7i! 10 4 foldin.- equipnient are in'er@Cecl for concurrent operation. A commoiily drivcn conveyor syslem indic:@-tted ge@ierally by references nurreral 37 (se-- FIGURE 2), pushes the packa,-es throt,.gl,-i both li.-es duri,.ig operation of the d--vice. Foldfijg device 21 is supported by a frame incILiding a pair of -eiierally trian.-vla.- frame memb-.rs 41, each in turn moun,'ed throligh iev-.Iin- slot and bolt assemblies 40 to a pair of I.-gs 42. Legs 42 are bolted to a floor or other supporting surface by bolts 43. Fri@- nes 41 are intercotinecled by cross franic membe.-s 44. Referriig iiow to FIGURE'-@ 1-3, 16 aid 17, the drive for conveying packages or envelopcs tlirough the folding device 21 is provided froni a sproclet 49 iq conveyor system 24. The conveyor system 24 includes co-@iveyor bz@lts 47 is endless b--Its disposed aboiit a spool 48 a-@id pulicys 45. Pulleys 45 are mounted for rot-,tion wi,h a di-iveii shift 46, suitably supported at its ends by bearin.-s. Sprocket 49 is di-iven by a cliain drive system, ivh:ch will b- more particularl,7 described hereinbelow, from the shaft 46 so that chain 50 drives the folding d@-vice in timed relatioti with the convl-yor belts 47. B,-Its 47 are driven clunter-clockwise, as viowed in FIGURE 1, and sprocket 49 is ilso driven colinterelockwise. Di-ive cliain 50 is provided betwc,-n sproc@et 49 and P. sprocket 51 of the foldirg device for drivin- sprocket 51 from sprocket 49 in a counterclockwise direction. Sprocket 51 is secured to a sliaft 52 which is rotatably mounted between two plates 53. One plate 53 is niounted to and surported by each of triangular frimes 41. Referri-,i- especially to FIGURES 1, 3 and 5, a gear 54 is secur@ed to shaft 52 for rotation therewith. A gear 55 is provided as the drive gear for conveyor system 37. Gear 55 is mounted on drive shaft 56 for rotation therem,ith. Shaft 56 is rotatably mounted throu,@h frame 53, by means of bushings 57. Bolts 58 secure bushings 57 to inward turned flarges 59 of @frame members 53. Gear 55 is in mesh vii,h gear 54 and is driven clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, by counterclockwise rotation of gear 54, shaft 52 and sprocket 51. Referring especially to FIGURES 1 ard 5, the drivinsprockets 62 of coriveyor system 37 are mounted on shaft 56 for rotation therewith. A conveyor chain 63 extends over each snrocket 62 in each of the side-by-side lines and the chains 63 are driven clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 1. Pusher members 64 are mour@ted along chaiti 63 at spaced intervals, each by means of a mounting ipember 65. Each pusher member 64 includes a leadir@g concave surface 66 for en@a-ement of a rounded su@-face on a package to be pushed. Of course, otl-ier configurations of surface 66 may be used for engaging, or receiving and pushing packages having other confl-urations. As seen in FIGURE 9, chain 63 is supported during its travel through th-- lower reach by means of laterally extending flanges 67 in th-- form of legs of mounting members 65. The flan@es 67 ride in lateral support slots 68 provided in support rail 69 throu.-hout the lower reach. SLpport rails 69 are sup,,,iorted by frame members 70 secured to cross braces 71 which are in turn secured to and supported by frame mei-nber 41 alo@i.- the lower reach of the conveyor system 37. Chain 63 defines an end@'ess conveyor chain haviig the spaced pusher member 64 carried thereby for plishinpackage members through the foldin.- device. In the lower re,,ich of chai.'l 63, chaiii 63 extends fron sprocket 6'A to sprockets 74 through 78 and thence to sprocket 79. Chain 63 is in mesh with sprocket 62 and each of sprockets 74 throu.-h 79. Chain 63 exterds in its upper reach froni sprocket 79 over -a plurality of cross frame iiietibers 44 between frame members 41 and extends back to sprocket 62 to cowplete the cridless chain loep. Cross fram.- meirbers 44 support strips of stipport material, e.g. plastic strips 91 (FIGURE 8) alon@ the upper reacli,@s of the two conveyor ch:@ins 63. Duripg the upper reacii travel ot tli,- chaii3 63, tli@@ chain 6',' and flanges 67
[3]3;3891532 5 ride on and are stipported by strips 81. The conveyor system 37 defines, in effect, @a pair ol side-by-side overhead pusher systems -for pushing packages from the receiving station 27 to the discharge station 28 (FIGURE 1). Referring to FIGURES 3 and 5, a pair of lateral guide members 84 are provided for each package processing line in the device. Later,,il guides 84 extend from the pickup station at 27 through the first folding zone 32. Lateral guides 84 are provided with downwardly disposed camming surfaces 84a and inwardly disposed camniing surfaces 84b. Surfaces 84a are properly spaced and disposed to engage the top portions of the opposing lateral flanges of packages 23 pushed into the machine from statio.1 27. The inwardly dispc)sed camming surfaces 84b cam the package so as to center it during its travel between the pair of guide members 84 for proper positioning of the package 23 during its travel through strai.-htening or positioning zone 31 for feeding to the subsequent first folding zone 32. The guide m,--mbers 84 are mounted by adjusting screw members 85 for adjustidg their angular disposition as desired or needed. The ;adjusting screws 85 suspend the guide rrembers 84 from a plate or bar member 86 which is in turn supported by and secured to the upper surface of a rail 69. In straighteriing zone 31, the package is supported on a plurality of rubber rollers 87 secured to shafts 88 for rotation therewith. Shafts 88 are in turn rotatably mounted by bearin.-s in a bearing mounting block 89 for free and ir@dependent rotation of the shafts $3. Free rotation of the rollers 87 assists in orientation of the packag-. as it travels between the pair of guides 84. Bearing block 89 is mounted to and supported by support plate 90 which is supported by cross frame 91. Cross frame 91 is in turn slipported by suitable braces from frame 41. Turnin.- now especially to FIGURES 3, 4, 9 and 10, a pickup platform 94 is provided having fingers with beveled ends 95 projectidg among th-@ rollers 87, and ends 95 being beveled for camming each package onto platform 94 as the package nioves from rollers 87 and from right to left vs viewed in FIGUR-ES 3, 4 and 10. At the time of pickup by the platform 94 the package has been adequately centered between guides 84. Platform 94 is supported by a central block 96 which is in turn secured to plate 90. A pair of folding wheels 97 straddles platform 94 providing sufficient room between wheels 97 and platform 94 for passage of the flan.-e of the package 23. Each pair of folding wheels 97 is moi,,nted on a shaft 98 for rotation therewith. Th-- wheels 97;are received at their lower reach in recesses 99 in the iiiterior portion of guide member 84, permitt@ing -,enerally free rotation of viheels 97. Shaft 98 is rotatably supported by bearir,.-s 102 to an overhead bracket 103 which is inlurn secured to a cross brace 104 s,-cured to rail 69 for supportiiig the wheels 97 from rail 69. In operation of the device as thus far d--scribed, the conveyor belt chain 63 moves clockwise as viewed in FIGURES 1, 3 and 10, with the lower reach travelling to the left. Conveyor belt 47 feeds packages to the pickup station 27. Spacers 64 enga,@e the trailing ends of packages 23 at pickup station 27 and remove them from belt 47 onto rollers 87. Guide members 84 guide the paelages to a central position during their movement and present little turning friction to the packa.-cs so that the pushers 64 maintain the packages generally straight for the first folding,op-,ratioA in the foldin.- zoiie 32. Plate 94 is of a preselected width commensurate with the desired spacing of fold lines for folding of the package flanges from position 23a to position 23b. As each package 23 is pushed from wheels 87 and cammed onto plate 94 by bevelled fin.-ers 95, the flanges 23a have been ca@@-nmed by surface 84a to a generally -flat disposition and as the package 23 is pushed further, the leading edges of 6 flan.-es 23a engage the bottom reaches of the opposing wheels 97 and are cammed or -folded downward between wheels 97 and plate 94, as best seen in FIGURES 9 and 10. After the package 23 has been pushed completely beyond the wheels 97, assuming no further folding, the package would be configurated as shown in full lines in FIGURE I 1. The second folding zone 33 receives the package from the first folding zone and functions to fold the downward10 ly dis@posed flanges inwi@rd. Accordinglly, the -conveyor continties to push the package from plate 94 onto plate 107, of the same width as plate 94 and generally contiguous therewith. As the packa.-e is pushed along plate 107 from right to left as viewed in FIGURE 4, the lateral 15 j7,arallel edges of plate 104 guide the package flanges in gliide zoiie 34 to keep the package properly aligned. Upstanding guide sid,-s 10'a are also provided laterally of plate 107 to help maintaiii the package properly aligned. The guide sides 108 have outwardly tur-ned entry ends 109 20 to prevent tearing epga.aement with the packa.-c dtiring its transportation throu-h the foldin- zone 33. As best se.-n in FIGURES 3, 4 and 14, each support plate 107 is ir, the form of a pair of angles, each baving one le,@ 107a forming a support surface extending the 25 supporting top surface of the central supportirg block 96 in a different lateral direction. The other le.- 107b of each an@le is sectired by a retainin- bar 110 aainst block 96. S-aita,ble screws, bolts or the @like (not sliown) are used to impale r.-taini.@-ig,bar 110 and the leg 107b to tightly clamp 30 the le.@ 107b belween the retainiiig bar 110 and block 9,6. Spaced beneath the supporting surface leg 107a of each angle -member 107 is a cammin.- guide mcmber Ill which, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 14, especially, is in the form of an aiigle and includes a downwardly project35 in- leg Illa ext.-ndin,@ at an an.ale inwardly from the in1-@t end 109 of the second folding zone. The other leg Illb of member Ill is disposed below, spaced sligbtly from the parallel to the support le.-s of angles 107. As the packages are plished throu.-h the second foldin.- zone 40 33 from the entry end, a downwardly disposed leg illa 6f an angle member Ill engages each of th.- downwardly -disposed flaps of tl)e package flanges and as the package moves throti.-h the zone 33, the le@as illa cam the packai,,e flanges inwai7d until the package flan.-cs rest be45 tween the generally horizontal le.-s 107a of angles 107 and Illb of Ill beiiig wrapped around the edges of 1--.-s 107a, as shown in FIGURE 14. SLipport: columns 112 are provided for supporting cammi-n.@ members Ill and guides 108 in positions prop-.r'iy spaced from le-s 107a to 50 pei-mit foldin@ of the packa.@e flanges tberebetween. It will b, noted iii the second folding zone 33, with particular reference to FIGURE 4, that the angle members 107, 108 and Ill are of different length and the mombers Ill are at different an,-Ul-,t@r dispositions in the 55 side-by-side lines of foldin.- equipm,-nt. Blocks 96 are also of different length as nlay be ottier components of the two lines. Such provision has b.-en made merely for sake of convenience and comp-tctness in design to perinit close spacin- of the two processin.- lines and downstream stag60 gering'of two creasing zones, which because of movements of various parts in the creasing zones, may i@-iterfere with each other if disposed side-by-side, as will be apparent from the descriptic-n of the creasing zones below. In any event, the short-,ning or lengthenin@ of@ the 65 second folding zones does not materially affect t'heir opcratio-@i for their intended purposes. In each creasin- zone 35, the package is supported from bercath by t'wo different typcs of stipport surfaces. The central portion of the packa-e is supported by a plat7o form 119 which is provided as o@ne le- o' an angle member having the other leg secured to the'e@n'd block 96. Platforni 119 spans a -ap between the stipport surfaces of b-l@ook 96 and an.-le 1,-.@s 107 -and an ali.-Ping trou.-h 120. P-rojecting from below witbin the gap are a pair of iip75 standin.-I rollei-s 115 spaced ap,,ii't stifficient to provide
[4]7 tread surfaces for supportin.- folded ed.-cs of the package receivecl from the second foldin,@ zoi-,.e. As best se,@n in FIGURE 14, rollers 115 ai-e mounted by bcai-i@i.-s 116 to shalt 117 so that each of rollers 115 is irdep,-nciertiy -rotatable. Trough 120 i,-icludes a platen slipportitig slirface and i,as upstandin@ sides 121 spaced apart a dista@,.ce sji-htly .-rc,,iter than the width of the packa.-c b.-ing pro,- essed. At the entry end of trou.-@h 120, tiic support surface is cleviated downward at 122 b@neath platform 119 fDr easier sliding of packagcs from platfo,rpa 119 into tioti,.,i 120. At the entry eiid of the Lipstardin- sides 121, @ill; sides are deviated outward at 123 to he].) direct the packa@e into trou-h 120 witholit ti@idlie dama-c. Wliilc travelli;..- throu-h'trdtigh 129 the packa,-e r'emains alig@ied. Trou.@li l@76 maintains --Ii.-nment of the packaize r,.ot only for transportation throu.-h a subsequent troli.- h bL]t IIFO helps maintain the package a'ii,-ned diirin- the creasin@ operation in the creasin.- zone, wliich will 'be explained hereinbe,low. TroLi.@h 120 is suppc)rted by a channel member 124 whicti is in turn seclired to plate 90 (see also FIGURE 6). In the creasin.- zone of each line, a paii- of bi-ackets 130 mour-ts a bridge 131 between opposirlframe members of frame 41. Brid.-e 131 comprises two parallel plates 132 spanning the gap between the lat@ral frime -members 41. EacTi pair of plates;"@'112 supports a shaft 133 through and between plates 132. A pair of cylinder block members 134, each havin.- a ,cylinder cavitv, are mounted for pivotal or hin-ed movemelit about a common axis by bifurcated ends 135 to each shaft 133. The pair of hin,@ed bocks 134 mounted to each shaft 133 are normally disposed dow-riwardly, inclined toward dii'Terent sides @of the processin.- line at aj-)proximately t@te same angle. The cylinder of each blo,-k 134 has a linin,@ bushin.@ 136 which receives a shaft 137 r@,ciprocal in bushin@ 136. A wheel 138 is rotata:bly motinted on each shaft 137 throti.-h a bearin.- 139 at the lower end of each shaft 137. The shafts 137 and -block-s 134 are on an iie'@ine such that treads of wheels 138 r.ormally rest upo@-i respectiv-. rollers 115. As best seen in FIGURE 14, a pair of lin'l-s 142 are pivotally motinted by a pin 143 to each shaft 137. The other eiids of each pair of links .142 are 1,3ivotally ii-iourited by a pin 144 to a bracket 145 which is in turn secured to brackets 130. As seen ii, FIGURE 15, each wheol 138 includes a bevelled cammin.- face 1,1,7 and a bevelled tread face 148 each term:natin.- laterally i-@i a poiiited circular eJ-e 149. Wheels @i8 are freely rotatable on shafts 137 and are disposed with tread face 148 downward and the cai-a-rrin., face 147 disposed inwardly and facing an opposing camir@ing face 147 of another wheel 138. Shafts 137 are telesconi--ally received .n the hinged blocks 134 for telescopic moveiiient aiid are Divotal w'th bitiged blocks 134 abolit pin 133, for raising and loweri@ig wheels 138 from rollers 115. As a package is fed directly from the second foldin.zonp. to the creasi,-i.- zo,@,.e, the folded pic'A-age flange ei-igages be'ween ro'@ler 115 and surface 148 ot wheel 138 ,t each iolded edge f the packa-e. The cer@ter rortion of th-- packag-- issuppor',ed by b@-idge 119. Prior to entry of the packa@e between roller 115 -,ind wheels 133, wheels 138 are iii a normal restin.- pos-tion nivoted inwardly slightly os shown for the left-ha@-id line of FIGURE 14. As the folded packa.- c edges, including the fold lin,-s, are pushed beta,een the rollers and wheels 138, ia,heels 138 ride up on tt-c leading ed.-e of the package, with wheels 138 sti'il e.-.'sposed generally inwarcily. The raising of wliecls 133 p@.vots shaft 137 about point 133 to pivot wheels 133 oLitwa.-d. E,@iga.- ement of the rounded leadin.@ portion of the paci-,,ige sides, where the envelope is backed by a stack ol roiini@l. qliced meat, witli c-,immirif,, slirfice 147, will P;Vr-lt ti-ic WHCCIS fFCely OLItW,11'(] if ilIC pack@ige sides eiiga@,,c the wheels. This lreveiits iiiashing 3)389)532 of the packige contents by viheels 138. As wh2el 138 and sla-.ift 137 are pivoted oLitw,-@rd, link 142 p:@Vots upward P..bout poi-ot 144 and, through its connection with shaft 137 by pin 1.43, ur-es sliaft 137- telescopically into the cylinder of block 134 to provide a proper creasing clear-.nce between roller 115 and wheel 138 by raising wheel 138 slightly. T@lie -packi-a is now in the p-3sition shown in the ri-lht-hand line of FIGURE 14 with wheel 138 creasin.@ the envelope fold liqe to provide creased flaps 10 23c as the p-,ck,-@@e is piislied by pusher 64 throuah +he creasii- zor@e. TI@@ pa,-ka@e 23 is received at th@.'outl,-t crid of tp, creasing zone in trough 120 and the pusliers coitini:e to plish the packa-c -,Ion- trou-h 120. L:,-.ik 142 serves to aive -,clded lift of wh--cl l,'3 bv 1,5 telescopin.- the shaft 137 i,-lto block 134. Thus, as whe-I 133 rol@is around a pick,,ge 23, the whzel 138 will ridce dom,,l ci top of t]-@e Lincre,-,sed fold portion o, package 23, iatlier tl-iiii masi'ilnl- the fold i@-iwird from the side of p-,ici-,a,,,e 23. Dui-ing the cre,,isin.-I the wei.-ht of the wheel 20 is s,,ifficient to provide pressure on the iiarrow tre@-ld 1-18 for creasing the of the pacla.-e, preferably to a deadfold conf-,-,Liration, but the r-,sistarce to lateral movenient of wh-.els 138 by forc,-s applied to surface 147 is inslifficiciit to damage the conlents of package 23. 25 In all zonp-s described liereinabove, t,ic coiiveyor system 37 is disj-,osed ibove the support slirfaces the proper distance so that the dependiii.- ptisher -member 64 functions to p,,ish the package bein.- fold,-d throiigh ihe zones over the supl)ort surfaces. The same -eneral overhead 30 rail 69 is used th,-oLi@hout the lower reach of the chain 63 except where interrupted for sprockets. Beyond the ili.-ning trotigii 120, the conveyor pusbes the -packa.-cs through a transport trough 152 wbich extends the leiigth of tn,- conveyor or transfer zone 36 for '-5 transportin@ the packages i,@,ith folded envelores to The backing board application zone 26. In the illustrated foi-m, the transfer zorie 36 functions also to elevate tlie packages above the folding le@,el for introduction into a top feed b-,ickin- board application zone Ps schematically illus40 ti-at-d by the top ported zone 26 havi-@ig ports 26a (FIGURE 2) for receiving pack,-,ges. As will be seen especially i@@i FIGURES 3 and 6, the trough 120 termiiates within transport trou,a'zi 152, the two troughs overlappin-. with a si.-ht step-down from 45 trou@h 120 into trough 152. Trou@h 152 includes a support surface 153 and s,'.de walls 154 upstand.'ng aloji, e,,ich side of the trough. The trough has an entry end 155 into wliieh troti.-h 120 is disposed and an exit end 156 at the dischar.-e station 12'. At the outlet end of 50 e,,ich trough 152 th-- folded paeka.-es are dischar.-ed and fall upon the conveyor 25 for dis,ribution to either of ports 26a of the backing board application zo-.ie 26. Both of the troiiglis 152, i.e. and both of the side-by-side lines, are supportcd by common frame members 157 wliicli 5 5 are susn,-Pd.-d and supported by frame 41. It w-ill be noted that trough 152 extends generally horizoital for a distance and then deviatcs upward. At the urward deviation, sdrockets 74 throtigh 78 are pr-)- videcl for c@,angi@ig th.- direct@on of the conveyor chaiii Go in the co@,-.vent;opal manner. Each of the sprockets 74 throii-h 78 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 159 which is in turn mounted between a pair of plate rr@errbers 158. Plate members 158 are seciirecl by cross braces 160 to fraire mcipbers 41. ]3eyond the sprockets 74 through 78, 6,5 another It-n.-th of rail 69 is used to su@pport the conveyor chain. The ]en.-th cf rail 69 t,- rrr@iiatcs short of sprocket 7@/, i.e. near the end of the lower reach of the conveyor chain. As described nbove, the upper reach of the conveyor chaiii -s siipported by strips 81 during its returji 70 for additioria; pickup of packapes for cotiveyance througli the fclding device, in continuin.- endless conveyor operat@on. - Iii the conveyor system 24, is described above, the corveyor belts 47, WhiCil SLIPPORL the p,-,cla,,,es 23 dLIriiII., of 'Lhe coiveyor system, are 75 their travel over tla--
[5]3)389)532 9 supportecl at one end of the conveyor by spool 48 and are supported and driven from the other end of the conveyor by pulleys 45. Turnina. now more particularly to FIGURES 16 and 17, tlie conveyor system includes a frame 167 @nloiinted to the frame 163 of packaging zone 22. Sliaft 46 and st)ool 48 are rotatably mounted at each end and supportedby the frame 167. A sprocket 169 is secured to sh-,ift 46 for driving shaft 46 by a chain 170 from a sprocket such as shown at 172, mounted on a timing dr:ve shaft 171. Shaft 46 is driven co,,interclockwise, as viewed iii FIGURE 17. The timin.a drive shaft 171 may be the timi@ig shaft in thee@iveloping zone 22 for driving components therein in tiwed relation with the conveyor system 24. The shaft 171 is schematically shown as bein.- driven by a ir@otor '@173 throtigh SLlitab!e drive means 174. A-@iother sprocket 177 is mounted on shaft 46 for rotation therewith and for drivi,,ig chain 178 cxt-Indin.- from @sprocket 1:77 to sprocket !179 on s.qaft 1,89, sprocket lSl on shaft 1182 and idler sprocket 183 on shaft 1;34. Shaft 184 is mounted on a beam 1:87, whi,-h is in t!arn pivolally mounted on shaft l,8C, secured to irame 168. Beam 187 c,i.rries an adj,,istable stop .188 at its lower end for stopping pivotal mbvew-ent of beam 187 about shaft 186 in ,t counterclockwise direction, stop il8,8 abutting frame 1163 in the full counterclockwise position of beam 187. A spring 139, biasin.- a.-ainst suitable tramework, is provided for nor-,nally ur.-in.- beam 187- counterclockwise to its positio.,i with stop,183 abtitt,.Dg frame of 22. A seco.,id adjustal5le stop,190 is also provided, seciired to suitable Lrameviork, for stoppir,- the clockwise pivotin,a of beam 1.87 about shaft 186. A liniting switch 1,9,1 is mount.-d Nvith iLs siviteli plun@er 192 en@aging beam :187 so that movement of beam 187 to its full coiinterclockivise position closes switch '191, wiiiie movement of beam 187 to its full clockwise posilion opens sw,@tch!191. Sprocl,eL 49, for driviii.- chain @50 to drive the fold'@n.systein, as described herei,iabove, is also molinted on shaft 192 for TOtation tberc-@,iith. During normal drivin.a If chain 173 and sliaft @1;82, th@@ bearn lu@'7 is held by sprir@IS9 i@l coutiterclockw'lse position. 'Upon occurrence of a jarn condition irl the foldin.- device, additional load is placed on chain 50, shaft 182 ard chain 1'78, catisi@ichain 178 to move idler pulley 183 and beam '187 clockwise about sliaft 186, overcoming the ur.-ing of sprin.@ ,189, and as beam 187 moves to ;I@s flill clockwise position abutting stop 190, switoh 19ii is opened. Switoh 19,1 is connected by suitable lead lines between motor 173 and a power source 19,4 for motor 173. When switch 19,1 is opened, motor 4173 is de-energized, stoppin.- the conveyor system 24 and the folding devic.- 21, as well as compor.ents of the enveloping zone 22 which may be driven from the iiiiiing shaft -171. After removal of the jamming package, motor 173 is re-energized with switch 19kl closed. Co@-iv.-yor system 24 is also provided with nicans for re.-@iovin.- empty packages from the conveyor belts 47. A:,cordin.-ly, as packages are moved by c,-nveyor belts - '@7 from ri.-ht to left, as viewed i@i FIGURES 16 and I", they pass throiigh the empty packa-e removal zone indicated g.-ner2,lly at refereiice nuineral 196. A nori-nally off" air valve 19-3 is mounted in zone 196 by sui'able brackets and incILides an actuatiilg arm '199 which is depressed to open the valve. Air valve .198 is slipplied bY a compressed air line 200 wilh col-npressed air from compressed air supply 201. A comrjresst-,d air lire 202 conncets the outlet of valve 198 w;th a pqir ,of tubes 203 disposed aloii.- the path of travel of packa,,es and at the centrally disposed edges of the two 1,.'nes of packages carried by 'oelts 47. A cam l@-7 is r,iounted for rotation with shaft 192 iii timed relation with the packages carried by belts 47. Cam,197 has oiie A lobe for depressing arm 1199 each time cam 197 is rotated through one revolutioii. The driving of cam 197 and the s@acir@.- of packages on b.-Its,47 are timed so that 10 cae-h tii-@ie a packa@e has its edges disposed over ports 204, the lobe of cam 197 depresses arm l@99 to open valve 19@8 and permit air flaiv from ports 204. Thus, a blast of air is provided from ports 204 each time a package is r, disposed thereover and the ,iir is of sufficient streiic,,th to blow an empty packa,-e from belts 47 biit insufficient to blow a full package thercfrom. A deflector 20@5 is mounted above the ports 204 for deflecting packages outward as the air blast ]if Ls the inner edges; of the packa.ae, 111) restiltin.- in blowing or slidin.- of the packa.-e frbm the lateral edge of the conveyor. The packaging zone 22 includes a packa,-e pick-off system for delivering packages from molds, such as shown at 207, to the conveyor belts 47. Two generally I r, parallel line3 of molds are indexed to package receiving stalions abov-- a pair of suction cup type packa.-e pick-off devices as ;Ilustrated generally in FIGURE 17. In operation of th.- packag-- pick-off system, pick-off devices 20-3 are reciprocated between a ra;sed position at t-iie package 20 receiving station, and a lowered position be'iow the upper -reach of belts 47. The @ackage pick-off devices are suitably timed and driven to reciprocate one tiine for each rotation of shaft 182; each devi@-e en.-ages a paclia-c from a mbld 207, removes the packag@ from the mold and 25 deposits the package on belts ;47 durin.- each r eciprocation. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the pres-.nt invention provides new and useful packa.-in.- apparatias which is particularly useftil in preparing@ ai, envelope or 30 racka.-@- containin- an enveloped food product for app@icat',On of a backin.- board thereto. There is also provi--cd a new and useful folding device includin.a foldin.and creasing zo-,aes which may be -Ldvantac,@ousiy used to prodiice a deadfold crcase in a package flan.-e, if de35 sired. The folding device may be used in a separ-,te operation or may be used in lir@, with an enveloping zone where means are provided for transfe@rriD.- packaged or enveloped foodstuffs froni the enveloping zone to the folding device. The folding device may also be used 40 in combinat:ion with a backin.- board application zone with suit6ble provis@on as exemplified hereinabove for distribulion of the folded packag,-s to such zone. I
