US3239932A - Vertically adjustable carton cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1966 KRAMUCH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIII 1N VEN TORS CARL H. MAYER, JR. 0 NHLTON. R. KRAMUCH M I EDWARD I. KNORPJN 4 March 1966 M. R. KRAMLICH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1963 INVENTORS CARL H. MAYER, MILTON R. KRAMLKZH EDWARD 1. KNORPJNG BY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1963 G. -HN 3% WWW 7 5 AN mmmK m 1 4 N A 6 @WWM A\D CME 9 WW B a /4 5 March 15, 1966 M. R. KRAMLICH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FVT 72 g 2 QJJJ 70 WW g g/ 46 g 3 /44 66 g g f j 6 2;?" /L 2 L 9 56 O A 1 50 62 \w CARL H.MAYERIN3%:ITORS MHJON R. KRAMLKIH EDWARD I. KNORFUNG March 1966 M. R. KRAMLICH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1963 6 RHm 5 mRww W H v AN W WWH H L WW Ruw A\D cmaw United States Patent Illinois Filed June 5, 1963, Ser. No. 285,732 5 Claims. (6130-2) This invention relates generally to devices for automatically opening merchandise-filled cartons and simultaneously forming one or a pair of trays from said cartons. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in tray pack cutters of the type disclosed in the co-pending applications of Ray E. Clark and William N. Garwick, entitled Tray Pack Processing Cutter, Serial No. 47,671, filed August 5, 1960 and now abandoned; Traver J. Smith and Ralph K. Daugherty, entitled Tray Pack Cutter, Serial No. 129,928, filed June 23, 1961 and issued on June 2, 1964 as Letters Patent No. 3,135,048; and Ralph K. Daugherty, Traver J. Smith and Stanley J. Kozuch, entitled Improved Cutter Guard and Piercing Means for Tray Pack Cutter, Serial No. 187,722, filed April 16, 1962 and issued on June 2, 1964 as Letters Patent No. 3,138,049, all assigned to an assignee in common with the subject application.

There was disclosed in the said co-pending applications a novel apparatus for readily and efficiently opening and cutting merchandise-filled cartons of the type found in great quantities in supermarkets, grocery stores, department stores and the like. The apparatus thus filled a long felt need by performing a job mechanically which therefore was being manually and inefficiently done. Simultaneously, the apparatus automatically produced one or a pair of trays from the top and/or bottom of the carton. The trays could then be immediately and conveniently employed for handling, marking, stacking or displaying in bulk the cans or other containers of goods which had been packaged in the carton. The numerous advantages aiforded by the tray pack cutter apparatus were great and obvious.

Quite briefly, the tray pack cutters comprised a horizontal table or conveyor having a vertical framework associated with one edge thereof. Mounted in the framework were a pair of horizontal rotary cutter blades which extended slightly over the edge of the table. The cutter blades could be adjusted vertically to suit a particular carton and provide trays of a particular depth. A cutter guard and piercing member was associated with each of the cutter blades and motor means was provided for driving the blades. In operation, it was simply necessary to move a properly positioned carton along the table toward the framework. The piercing members entered the carton wall and then cooperated with the blades so that the latter efficienly cut said wall as the carton continued its motion. After a wall was completely cut, the carton could be rotated and the operation repeated four times or until all of the vertical walls were cut and the formed.

As already indicated, the tray pack cutters of the copending applications answered a long felt need and have been well accepted. However, as expected with any new machine, continued use of the tray pack cutters under diverse operating conditions has disclosed certain limitations and disadvantageous features. Thus, for example,

detachable trays 'the accumulations of dust resulting from the cutting of the pulp product material cartons by the rotary blades could under certain conditions become noxious or hazardous. Similarly, it was discovered that the floating action of the vertical framework as disclosed in the co-pending' improved tray pack cutter application, Serial No. 129,928 which has matured into Patent No. 3,135,048, did not insure an accurate and efficient cut of the carton walls in every case. Other shortcomings were discovered in the carton top guide structure and the means for vertically adjusting and retaining the same.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a tray pack cutter of the character described having improvements and refinements which overcome all of the shortcomings and disadvantageous features described hereinabove.

Another object is to afford an improved tray pack cutter of the character described having means for automatically gathering and collecting the dust and other debris which invariably results from the cutting of pulp product material cartons.

A further object is to provide an improved tray pack cutter of the character described in which the vertical framework is secured to the horizontal table in fixed and immovable relationship. A related object is to provide such a tray pack cutter in which an accurate and efiicient cut of each vertical carton wall is automatically assured.

Still another object is to afford an improved tray pack cutter of the character described having means for readily adjusting the height of the carton top guide to -accommo date any sized carton and for efliciently and automatically retaining said guide in any adjusted position.

Yet another object is to provide an improved tray pack cutter of the character described having means for simultaneously adjusting the vertical spacing of the upper and lower cutter blades so that two trays of identical dimension will automatically be cut from a carton.

Still a further object is to afford an improved tray pack cutter of the character described having automatically operable indicator means for giving a direct reading of the depth of the trays to be cut from a carton. The cutter blades thus may be quickly and readily adjusted to provide trays of any desired depth.

Yet a further object is to provide an improved tray pack cutter of the character described which is simple to operate and yet is most efiicient and durable for the purposes intended.

F or the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the accompanying draw- Fbe readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an embodying the principles of the inventions with portions being broken away to illustrate certain details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the framework side panels removed and portions broken away for convenience of illustration;

BIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 4 is a similar view taken on the plane of line 44 FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated; 'FIG. 5 is a similar view taken on the plane of line 5-5 FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction indicated; FIG. 6 is a similar view taken on the plane of line 66 in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective view further illustrating the association of parts in the carton top guide and upper cutter assemblies;

FIG. '8 is a fragmentary detail perspective view taken on the plane of line 88 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded View showing the cooperating parts of the dust and debris collecting means; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the relationship of the blower and framework.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally an improved tray pack cutter embodying the principles of the invention. The tray pack cutter 10 comprises a horizontal platform or table 412 and a plurality of conveyor rollers such as 14 may be rotatably mounted thereon for facilitating the movement of cartons thereover. A pair of vertical guide panels 16 and 18 is secured to one edge of the table 12 to aid in properly positioning a carton for the cutting operation as will subsequently be more fully described.

Rigidly secured to the same edge of the table 12 is a vertical framework positioned between the guide plates 16 and 18, and indicated generally by the numeral 20. The framework 20 may include a back plate 22, an upper cross member 24, a top cover 25, a pair of side panels 26, 26, and a bottom motor mount housing 28. A pair of spaced guide rods 30, is mounted in the framework 20 adjacent the front thereof, and a hexagonal adjusting shaft 32 is rotatably journalled rearwardly in said framework. A hexagonal drive shift 34 is likewise rotatably journalled forwardly in the framework 20, said drive shaft being connected to a suitable motor M which is mounted in the motor housing 28.

Slida'bly mounted on the guide rods 30 is an upper cutter assembly 36 and a lower cutter assembly 38. Since the cutter assemblies are of substantially identical construction, the description thereof will be limited to only the upper assembly 36, with corresponding parts on the lower assembly bearing the same identifying numerals but with the sufiix a added. Referring specifically to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, it will be seen that the cutter assembly 36 comprises a mounting block 40 having a pair of holes, 42, 42 formed therein for slideably accommodating the guide rods 30 therethrough. integrally formed at the rear of the mounting block 40 is an internally threaded collar 44. The collar 44 is adapted to cooperate with an externally threaded elongated sleeve 46 which is nonrotatably mounted on the adjusting shaft 32.

The cooperating pairs of collars and sleeves, 44-46 and 46a-46a respectively, are identical in structure and function except that the threadings in each pair are reversed. It may thus be appreciated that when the adjusting shaft 32 is rotated, the cutter assemblies 36 and 38 are caused to simultaneously move in opposite directions, viz, either toward each other or away from each other. A bracket such as 48 is provided for preventing all vertical movement of the sleeve 46a, whereas a channel-shaped bracket 50 is provided for preventing inadvertent vertical movement of the sleeve 46, but permitting a selective vertical movement thereof in a manner which will subsequently be described.

A rotary cutter blade 52 is suitably journalled on the block 40 for rotation by the drive shaft 34. Completing the cutter mount assembly 36 is a cutter guard and piercing member 54 which is attached to the block 40. The member 54 comprises a vertical plate 56 having a slot 58 formed therein for accommodating a portion of the blade 52 therethrough. Integrally formed with, or otherwise secured to, the plate 56 by means of a thin web 60 is a spear-like member 62 having a relatively sharp point 64. It should be noted that the spear-like member 62 is provided with an arcuate channel-shaped groove 66 which accommodates and sheathes the outwardly projecting teeth portions of the blade 52 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). As described in the aforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 187,722, which has matured into Patent No. 3,138,049, the member 54 cooperates with the rotary cutter blade '52 to insure an efficient and even cut through the walls of a carton while at the same time insuring against any damage to the contents of the carton. In this respect, it is important to note that the vertical plates 56 and 56a are in exact vertical alignment with the edge of the table 12 and in exact horizontal alignment with the guide plates 16 and 18 so that accurate positioning of the carton before the actual cutting thereof is assured in every case. The members 54 and 54a may likewise include safety cover plates such as 68 and 68a respectively for protecting the hands of the operator from the rotating cutter blades.

Associated with the upper cutter assembly 36 is a carton top guide assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. The assembly 70 comprises a web 72 provided with openings for slidably accommodating the guide rods 30, 30 and shafts 32 and 34 therethrough (see FIG. 3). The web 72 is connected to the upper cutter assembly 36 by means of the channel-shaped bracket 50 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 6), so that these two assemblies are adapted to slide vertically on the rods 30 as a single unit.

Connected to the web 72 is a carton top guide member 74 and means for releasably retaining this member in any selected vertical position. The said means comprises an upper stationary handle 76 and a cooperating movable handle 78 pivotally mounted on the web 72. A lock lever 8-0 is connected to either end of the movable handle 78, and a lock plate 82 is secured to the free end of each of said lock levers. As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, each of the lock plates 82 is provided with a generally arcuate camming edge 84 which is adapted to bear against the associated guide rod 30. A pair of leaf springs 86 is provided for normally urging the movable handle 78 downwardly and the lock plates 82 into camming or locking engagement with the rods 30.

When it is desired to adjust the position of the top guide assembly 70, it is simply necessary to squeeze together the handles 76 and 78 so that the latter moves upwardly against the action of the springs 86, as indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 5. With the camming action of the lock plates 82 released, the entire assembly 70 may now be adjusted to the desired height so that the carton top guide member 74 will nicely accommodate the particular carton in question thereunder. When this position is achieved, it is simply necessary to release the handle 78 whereupon the entire assembly is automatically and securely locked in place. To facilitate the sliding vertical motion of the top guide assembly 70 and upper cutter assembly 36, these members may be mounted on the rods 30 by means of a pair of bushings 88, 88.

Since vertical adjustment of the top guide assembly 70 causes the upper cutter assembly 36 to move therewith as a unit, the relative position of the carton top guide member 74 and cutter blade 52 does not change during such adjustment. It will thus be appreciated that the depth of the two carton trays simultaneously cut at any given instant by the cutter blades 52 and 52a is always the same. However, the depth of the carton trays cut may of course be varied as desired by means of the adjusting shaft 32, sleeves 46 and 46a and collars 44 and 44a, as already described above.

For purposes of adjusting the tray depth cut, the adjusting shaft 32 is provided at the top thereof with a bevel gear 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Cooperating with the bevel gear 90 is a second bevel gear 92 mounted on an indicator screw 94 which carries a handle 96 on the free end thereof. An indicator 98 is threadedly mounted on the screw 94 and is adapted to move horizontally thereon as said screw is rotated. Practical units of measurements, such as inches, may be calibrated as at 100 on the top cover 25 of the framework 20, so that the depth of tray cut may be accurately set and known at all times.

If desired, the handle 96 may be positioned above the top cover 25, or on an extension of the adjusting shaft 32. In such case, the bevelled gears 90 and 92 and the screw 94 will of course be eliminated. Similarly, the extension of the adjusting shaft 32 may comprise the screw 94 so that the indicator 98 would be mounted thereon for motion in a vertical direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, the novel means for collecting the dust and debris invariably resulting from the cutting of pulp product cartons will now be described. The motor mount housing 28 is provided with an intake opening 102 which communicates with a scroll-type discharge opening 104. An exhaust duct 106 is connected to the housing 28 in communication with the discharge opening 104, and a suitable dust bag such as 108 may be removably connected to said duct. An impeller disc 110 is rigidly mounted on the drive shaft 34 directly beneath the intake opening 102, and said disc is provided with a plurality of upstanding impeller blades such as 112.

When the device is operated, the resulting dust and debris has a natural tendency to fall generally straight downwardly by virtue of the force of gravity exerted thereon. Rotation of the impeller blades 112, however, creates a substantial negative pressure at the intake opening 102. As a result, falling dust and debris is efficiently sucked into said intake opening and thence discharged into the dust bag 108. A filled dust bag may of course then be emptied or discarded and replaced by a new one. In any event, the collection of the frequency hazardous and noxious dust is efiiciently and automatically achieved. To prevent the dust from contacting the motor M, a sectioning plate 114 may like-wise be positioned in the motor housing 28.

To insure even more efiicient collection of the dust and debris, the device may include a small blower such as 116. The blower 116 may be of the squirrel cage type having a scroll 118 which is attached to the back plate 22 of the vertical framework (see FIGS. 2 and 10). The back plate 22 is provided with a slot 120 which communicates with the scroll 118. It is important to note that the slot 120 is inclined downwardly in the general direction of the impeller structure. It will thus be appreciated that operation of the blower 116 causes a stream of air to be directed toward the bottom of the framework and toward the impeller structure. As a result, an even greater negative pressure is produced at the intake opening 102, thereby further insuring efficient collection of the dust and debris.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it should be apparent without further description that We have provided an improved tray pack cutter having numerous novel refinements and improvements. The cutter simultaneously forms two trays from a carton, and the depth of said trays may be simply and readily adjusted as desired. The carton top guide likewise may be simply and readily adjusted to accommodate any carton height, and efiicient means are provided for automatically retaining said guide in any adjusted position. In addition, the problem of dust and debris disposal has been overcome by the novel impeller exhaust system which operates most efiiciently from the single drive shaft.

It is believed that our invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should be manifest that While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

We claim:

1. In a tray pack cutter for cutting trays from cartons and including; a vertical framework, a vertically adjustable cutter blade assembly mounted within said framework, a power source driving said cutter assembly and a carton guide assembly, said carton guide assembly comprising:

a carton top guide associated with said cutter blade assembly for accommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder; and

locking means associated with said carton top guide for automatically and releasably locking the same in any selected vertical position along said vertical framework, the releasing of said locking means permits the vertical movement of said carton guide assembly for adjusting said carton guide top said vertical movement of said carton guide assembly correspondingly moves said cutter assembly vertically, for maintaining thereby an equal distance between said cutter blade assembly and the top of any of said cartons.

2. In a tray pack cutter for cutting trays from cartons and including; a vertical framework, a pair of spaced vertically extending guide rods rigidly attached within said framework, a vertically adjustable cutter blade assembly mounted within said vertical framework, a power source driving said cutter assembly and a carton guide assembly slidably associated with said guide rods, said carton guide assembly comprising:

a carton top guide rigidly associated with said cutter blade assembly for accommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder;

a movable handle pivotally associated with said carton top guide;

a pair of lever plates pivotally connected to the ends of said movable handle;

a camming edge included at the free end of said lever plates; and

spring means bearing against said movable handle to normally urge said movable handle downward and to corresponding cause said camming edge of said lever plates into a locking engagement with said guide rods, for securing said carton top guide at a selected vertical position, the raising of said movable handle releases said locking engagement of said camming edge to permit the slidable vertical movement of said carton guide assembly along said guide rods, for vertically adjusting said carton top guide, said vertical movement of said carton guide assembly correspondingly moves said cutter blade assembly vertically, for maintaining thereby an equal distance between said cutter blade assembly and the top of said cartons.

3. In a tray pack cutter for cutting trays from cartons and including; a vertical framework, a pair of spaced vertically extending guide rods rigidly attached within said framework, a vertically adjustable cutter blade assembly mounted within said vertical framework, a power source driving said cutter assembly and a carton guide assembly slidably associated with said guide rods, said guide as sembly comprising:

a carton top guide rigidly associated with said cutter blade assembly for accommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder;

a stationary handle rigidly associated with said carton top guide;

a movable handle pivotally connected to said stationary handle;

a pair of lock levers pivotally connected to the ends of said movable handle;

a lock plate rigidly attached to the free end of each of said lock levers, each of said lock plates including a substantially arcuate camming edge; and

a leaf spring associated with said carton top guide and bearing against said movable handle, said leaf spring normally urging said movable handle downward to correspondingly cause said camming edges of said lock plates into a locking engagement with said guide rods, for securing thereby said carton top guide at a selected vertical position, the raising of said movable handle toward said stationary handle correspondingly releases said locking engagement of said camming edge to permit the slidable vertical movement of said carton guide assembly along said guide rods, for adjusting said carton top guide, said vertical movement of said carton guide assembly correspondingly moves said cutter blade assembly ver tically, for maintaining thereby an equal distance between said cutter blade assembly and the top of any of said cartons.

4. A carton cutting machine comprising:

a horizontal table;

a vertical framework associated With one edge of said table;

an upper rotary cutter blade and a lower rotary cutter blade, said cutter blades being vertically spaced apart and mounted in said framework so that portions thereof project over said table;

means for adjusting the vertical position of said blades;

a carton top guide associated with said upper cutter blade and accommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder; and

locking means associated with said carton top guide for automatically and releasably locking the same in selected vertical positions along said vertical framework, the releasing of said locking means permits the vertical movement of said carton top guide for adjusting the position of the same, said vertical movement of said carton top guide correspondingly moves said upper cutter blade vertically for maintaining thereby an equal distance between said upper cutter blade and the top of any of said cartons.

5. A carton cutting machine comprising:

a horizontal table;

a vertical framework associated with one edge of said table;

a pair of vertically spaced rotary cutter blades mounted in said framework so that portions thereof project over said table;

means for adjusting the vertical positioning of said cutter blades, said means adapted to simultaneously adjust said cutter blades in opposite directions;

a pair of vertical guide rods positioned in said framework;

a carton top guide slidably mounted on said guide rods and being vertically adjustable to accommodate cartons of varying heights thereunder;

a stationary handle connected to said carton top guide;

a movable handle pivotally associated with said stationary handle;

a pair of pivotally mounted lock levers connected to the ends of said movable handle;

a lock plate secured to the free end of each of said lock levers;

a camming edge included in each of said lock plates;

spring means bearing against said movable handle and normally urging said camming edges of said lock plates into locking engagement with said guide rods, the movement of said movable handle toward said stationary handle releases said locking engagement to permit the vertical adjustment of said carton top guide along said guide rods;

a motor and connected drive shaft associated with said cutter blades for operating the same; and

means operable by said drive shaft for automatically collecting dust and debris resulting from the operation of said cutter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,426,676 8/1922 Rudich 143-37 X 1,643,557 9/1927 Goldman 269- 1,898,910 2/1933 Stein 30-2 1,990,991 2/ 1935 Heubach 30-124 X 2,149,142 2/1939 Jorgenson 269-242 2,256,630 9/ 1941 Shield 30-2 2,537,505 1/1951 Baran 30-2 2,612,805 10/1952 Heinrich 269-167 2,729,885 1/1956 Wahl 30-2 3,103,069 9/1963 Gary 30-133 X 3,135,048 6/1964 Daughtery et al 30-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,521 2/ 1896 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A TRAY PACK CUTTER FOR CUTTING TRAYS FROM CARTONS AND INCLUDING; A VERTICAL FRAMEWORK, A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CUTTER BLADE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FRAMEWORK, A POWER SOURCE DRIVING SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY AND A CARTON GUIDE ASSEMBLY, SAID CARTON GUIDE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A CARTON TOP GUIDE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CUTTER BLADE ASSEMBLY FOR ACCOMMODATING CARTONS OF VARIOUS SIZES THEREUNDER; AND LOCKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CARTON TOP GUIDE FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND RELEASABLY LOCKING THE SAME IN ANY SELECTED VERTICAL POSITION ALONG SAID VERTICAL FRAMEWORK, THE RELEASING OF SAID LOCKING MEANS PERMITS THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CARTON GUIDE ASSEMBLY

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