Package flap folding apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for reliably folding the protruding end flaps of an article filled package against the body of the package and for then securing the end flaps to the package. The apparatus includes a package gripping feed conveyor optionally having a reject mechanism therein. The gripping conveyor receives a line of packages from a wrapping machine and feeds these into pusher flights of a transverse conveying system. The reject mechanism can be manually or automatically actuated and de-actuated to reject defective product and/or packages. The feed conveyor maintains control of the nonrejected packages only until the forward end of each of the packages moves against or near an abutment in a transfer section which urges the forward flaps downwardly as the packages are moved upwardly and transversly out of the transfer section over a plate by the then arcuately moving pushers of a transverse flap folding conveyor which subsequently folds and seals both end flaps against the body of the associated packages. The pushers move the completed packages horizontally along a package supporting plate which extends beyond the discharge end of the folding conveyor for accommodating a plurality of abutting packages as the pushers move downwardly below the support plate. Adjustment means are provided to adjust the feed conveyor and flap folding conveyor to accommodate packages of different widths and lengths.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for folding the outwardly projecting end flaps of filled, spaced, and sealed packages against the ends of the bodies of the packages comprising: feed conveying means for .Iadd.frictionally .Iaddend.engaging and moving each package longitudinally of its length completely into a transfer station before disengagement from the package, .Iadd.said feed conveying means comprising opposed conveyor belts receiving the package therebetween to thereby effect such frictional engagement, one of said belts terminating short of said transfer station while the other extends into the transfer station and thereby tends to controllably feed the package to the transfer station, .Iaddend.abutment means for engaging the leading flap of the package and urging said leading flap downwardly while terminating longitudinal movement of the package, a deadplate for receiving the package at said transfer station, means defining at least .[.one opening.]. .Iadd.two spaced openings .Iaddend.in said deadplate .Iadd.of such dimension that the package bridges the openings when located onto said deadplate, .Iaddend.driven endless flap folding conveying means extending transversely of said feed conveying means and having an input end disposed adjacent said deadplate and an output end, a plurality of pushers pivotally connected to said flap folding conveying means at evenly spaced intervals and being movable through said .[.opening.]. .Iadd.openings .Iaddend.in said deadplate and along a predetermined path, means for maintaining said pushers normal to said predetermined path from said input end to a pusher withdrawal point adjacent said output end, a package supporting plate cooperating with said pushers for slidably supporting the package advanced by said flap folding conveying means, folding means on opposite sides of said path positioned to engage the end flaps of the package and fold them rearwardly against the ends of the package as the package moves therepast, and a motor for driving said conveying means. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said package supporting plate includes an arcuate input section and a horizontal flap folding section, said arcuate section cooperating with said pushers to pivot the package approximately 90° while entering into frictional sliding engagement with said flap folding means. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said package supporting plate includes an accumulating portion extending downstream of said output end of said conveyor .[.of.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.moving the spaced packages with folded flaps into abutting engagement on said support plate prior to withdrawal of said pushers from said package supporting plate at said withdrawal point. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said packages is formed from thermoplastic wrapping material and additionally comprising heating means on an opposite side .[.of.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.said path of heating said wrapping material to a temperature sufficient to bond the end flaps to the ends of the body of the package. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said heating means includes a heat sealing shoe on each side of said path for heating the flaps as they move .[.the.]. therepast and for maintaining the flaps in folded condition while being heated. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 5 and additionally comprising resilient means for urging at least one of said heat sealing shoe against said package with a predetermined sealing force. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said sealing force of about 1/4 pounds per square inch and a temperature of about 250° F. are required when the heat sealing shoes are 18 inches long and when the packages are spaced about 3 inches apart and are moving at the rate of between about 150-240 packages per minute. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said packages are each formed from thermosealing wrapping material, and additionally comprising heating means on opposite sides of said path for heating said wrapping material to a temperature sufficient to bond the end flaps to the ends of the body of the package. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed conveying means comprises a package support deadplate, a pair of driven endless conveyors positioned to frictionally engage the side edges of each package supported by said plate for moving said package into said transverse station, one of said endless conveyors terminating short of said transfer station and the other endless conveyor extending into said station to move the package against said abutment. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 9 and additionally including means for adjusting the spacing between the package contacting surfaces of the pair of endless conveyors for accommodating packages of different widths. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising a package reject mechanism associated with said feed conveying means for preventing certain packages from entering said transfer station, and power means for actuating said reject mechanism. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 11 and additionally comprising control means for automatically activating said power means for moving said reject mechanism to its package rejecting position for a predetermined time interval in response to starting said motor. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said control means additionally includes a cam synchronized with the movement of the packages and effective to momentarily actuate a synchronizing switch which allows operation of said power means only when the spaced packages are free from interfering with the movement of the reject mechanism. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said control means additionally includes a manually operable switch for operating said reject mechanism to reject packages from said feed conveying means in timed relation with the movement of the packages therealong. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said package supporting deadplate has a reject opening therein, and additionally comprising a package reject mechanism associated with said conveying means for preventing certain packages from entering said transfer station, said reject mechanism including a floor plate pivoted to said package supporting deadplate and adapted to be moved between a position closing said reject opening to a position opening said reject opening, a package deflecting plate secured to said floor plate and movable between a position spaced above the path of movement of the packages when the reject opening is closed, and angled downwardly into the path of movement of the packages to deflect packages out of said reject opening when said floor plate is moved to an open position, and power means for pivoting said reject mechanism between its two positions. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 15 and additionally comprising control means for automatically activating said power means for moving said reject mechanism to its package rejecting position for a predetermined time interval in response to starting said motor. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said control means additionally include a cam synchronized with the movement of the packages and effective to momentarily actuate a synchronizing switch which allows operation of said power means only when the spaced packages are free from interference with the movement of the reject mechanism. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said control means additionally includes a manually operable switch for operating said reject mechanism to reject packages from said feed conveying means in timed relation with the movement of the packages therealong. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said abutment means is a driven roller having its flap contacting surface driven downwardly to urge the foremost end flap downwardly. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for receiving elongated filled packages with extended end flaps from a wrapping machine and thereafter folding the end flaps of only properly formed packages against the ends of the body of the packages comprising: feed conveying means including a pair of .Iadd.opposed .Iaddend.endless belts for frictionally engaging opposite side walls of the packages .Iadd.therebetween ep for moving the packages along a first path in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the packages .Iadd.toward a transfer station wherein one of said belts terminates short of said transfer station while the other extends into said transfer station and thereby tends to controllably feed the packages to said transfer station.Iaddend., a first slide plate for supporting the packages as they are moved by said belts, and defective package rejecting means for forcibly deflecting defective packages from said first path; flap folding means including a .[.slotted.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.slide plate .Iadd.being slotted and .Iaddend.having a flat portion and an arcuate input end, endless folding conveyor means having a plurality of lugs spaced at even intervals therealong and projecting through the slots in said .[.slotted.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.slide plate for engaging the packages received from the feed conveyor and for moving packages along a second path in a direction normal to the longitudinal axes of the packages, folding means on opposite sides of said second path positioned to engage the end flaps and fold them rearwardly as each package moves therepast; and means defining a transfer .[.section.]. .Iadd.station .Iaddend.between said feed conveying means and said flap folding .[.conveyor.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.including a slotted deadplate disposed in planar alignment with said first slide plate and at an elevation lower than that of the flat portion of said second slide plate for receiving and supporting the packages discharged from said first slide plate .Iadd.wherein the slots of said deadplate are of such dimension that the packages bridge said slots when located on said deadplate, .Iaddend.and an abutment means for terminating movement of the packages .Iadd.into said transfer station .Iaddend.received from said feed conveying means in position to be accepted by the lugs of said folding conveyor means, said folding conveyor means being effective to pivot the packages 90° as the packages are moved .[.around.]. .Iadd.over .Iaddend.the arcuate portion of said .[.slotted.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.side plate. .Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  An apparatus for folding the outwardly projecting end flaps of filled, spaced, and sealed packages against the ends of the bodies of packages comprising: feed conveying means having at least one upright surface for frictionally engaging and moving each package longitudinally of its length into a transfer station, said feed conveying means comprising opposed conveyor belts receiving the package therebetween to thereby effect such frictional engagement, one of said belts terminating short of said transfer station while the other extends into the transfer station and thereby tends to controllably feed the package to the transfer station, abutment means for engaging and terminating longitudinal movement of the package, a deadplate at said transfer station, said deadplate serving to receive and support a package disposed thereon by said feed conveying means, at least two apertures in said deadplate, said apertures being of insufficient size to allow the package to pass therethrough or to snag thereon, driven endless flap folding conveying means extending transversely of said feed conveying means for moving the package along a predetermined path, a plurality of pushers pivotally connected to said flap folding conveying means at evenly spaced intervals and being movable through said apertures in said deadplate and along a predetermined path, a package supporting plate cooperating with said pushers for slidably supporting the package advanced by said flap folding conveying means, folding means on opposite sides of said path positioned to engage the end flaps of the package and fold them rearwardly against the ends of the package as the package moves therepast, and power means for driving said conveying means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. An apparatus for folding the outwardly projecting end flaps of filled, spaced, and sealed packages against the ends of the bodies of the packages comprising: feed conveying means for frictionally engaging and moving each package longitudinally of its length completely into a transfer station before disengagement from the package, resilient means urging said feed conveying means into firm frictional gripping engagement with the packages while moving said packages into said transfer station, said feed conveying means comprising opposed conveyor belts receiving the package therebetween to thereby effect such frictional engagement, one of said belts terminating short of said transfer station while the other extends into the transfer station and thereby tends to controllably feed the package to the transfer station, abutment means for engaging the leading flap of the package and tending to urge said leading flap downwardly while terminating longitudinal movement of the package, a deadplate for receiving and supporting the package at said transfer station and having an upper surface in planar alignment with the lower surfaces of the foremost package advanced by said feed conveying means, means defining at least two spaced slots in said deadplate of such dimension that the package bridges said slots when positioned onto said deadplate, driven endless flap folding conveying means extending transversely of said feed conveying means and having an input end disposed adjacent said deadplate and an output end, a plurality of pushers pivotally connected to said flap folding conveying means at evenly spaced intervals and being movable through said spaced slots in said deadplate for transferring the packages from said deadplate and along a predetermined path, a package supporting plate cooperating with said pushers for slidably supporting the package advanced by said flap folding conveying means for maintaining said pushers normal to said predetermined path from said input end to a pusher withdrawal point adjacent said output end, folding means on opposite sides of said path positioned to engage the end flaps of the package and fold them rearwardly against the ends of the package as the package moves therepast, and power means for driving said conveying means..Iaddend.