Abstract: In a carton loading machine which receives load items from an infeed conveyor and which has a carton loading station in which a plurality of load items are loaded simultaneously into a carton, improvement of a load accumulator. The load accumulator is located between the infeed conveyor and the carton loading station of the carton loading machine and is arranged to admit load items into each of the single load transporting compartments in turn as each of the successive compartments are located in the input station. The discharge station located with a group of at least two load transporting compartments opening into the carton loading station of the carton loading machine. A transfer mechanism is mounted for movement between the discharge station and the carton loading station and is operable to transfer load items from the group of load transporting compartments located in the discharge station into the carton loading station to load a carton located therein in use.

Abstract: An injection needle assembly for injecting a fluid into a meat product comprises an injection needle which has a proximal end and a distal end and a bore which extends from the proximal end to the distal end. A discharge passage opens through the needle from the bore at the distal end of the needle. A valve member is slidably mounted on the needle for movement relative to the needle between a first position in which it closes the discharge passage to retain fluid within said needle and a second position in which it opens the discharge passage to permit fluid to be discharged therethrough into the meat in use.

Abstract: In a carton loading machine, there is provided a mechanism which will initially displace one row of cylindrical-shaped objects with respect to its adjacent row such that load items in one row are located in a staggered relationship with respect to the load items in the adjacent row. The load items are then displaced into the open end of a container. When the assembled load is substantially fully located within the container, the movement of one row is arrested while the movement of the other row continues until the items of the adjacent rows are arranged in a side-by-side relationship. This serves to permit the width of the accumulated load to be reduced until the load is substantially fully located in a carton and thereafter the load is rearranged to its maximum width to fit in a close fitting relationship within the carton.

Abstract: A packaging machine for wrapping a flexible web around an assembled load in a wrapping station consists of a wrapping mandrel which is located in the wrapping station and a web dispenser for dispensing a web into the wrapping station and a wrapper mechanism which grasps the leading end of the web and pulls it around the mandrel. The web is cut after it has been wrapped around the mandrel. The dispenser mechanism which dispenses a web of flexible material from a coil includes a coil support and a belt drive which engages the coil and serves to rotatably drive the coil to dispense the web from the coil support. The shipper package which is formed in the machine consists of an assembled load and a wrapper which is wrapped around the assembled load. A first tear tape is attached to the outer face of the web and a second tear tape is attached to the inner face of the web in an underlying relationship with respect to the first tear tape.

Abstract: In a load transporting conveyor of the type which has a plurality of load confining compartments located thereon which are transported by the conveyor along a load transporting path, there is provided a load settling mechanism. The load settling mechanism includes a load support platform which forms a bottom wall of each compartment. Resilient suspension members support the bottom wall with respect to the conveyor such that it is free to vibrate with respect to the conveyor. A vibration activator mechanism is located along the load transporting path so as to engage successive load support platforms as they are transported along the load transporting path to cause the load support platform to vibrate to thereby vibrate any load which is located thereon to cause the load to settle into the load confining compartment.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism of the type having a pair of conveyor chains which have co-extensive portions of their length which are guided by guide tracks so as to extend along a conveyor path in close proximity to one another, the improvement wherein the guide tracks are arranged one above the other in an overlapping relationship and the load confining members which are conveyed by the chains are arranged to extend in first and second load confining planes which are laterally spaced from one another by an amount which is less than the lateral width of the second conveyor chain thereby to provide a narrow array of load confining members along an edge of the conveyor path.

Abstract: A carton loading machine for use in loading items into a carton of the type which has two load storage compartments which are separated from one another by a divider wall and which has an end wall located opposite the divider wall. The carton loading machine has first and second loading stations arranged in a side-by-side relationship in which a carton is located with its divider wall separating the station. The loading machine has first and second gates mounted above the loading station for movement between a first position in which they are remote from loading station and a second position in which they extend into the first and second loading station respectively, one on either side of a divider wall of a carton to support the divider wall and guide load items into the load storage compartments.

Abstract: A packaging machine for wrapping a flexible web around an assembled load in a wrapping station consists of a wrapping mandrel which is located in the wrapping station and a web dispenser for dispensing a web into the wrapping station and a wrapper mechanism which grasps the leading end of the web and pulls it around the mandrel. The web is cut after it has been wrapped around the mandrel. The dispenser mechanism which dispenses a web of flexible material from a coil includes a coil support and a belt drive which engages the coil and serves to rotatably drive the coil to dispense the web from the coil support. The shipper package which is formed in the machine consists of an assembled load and a wrapper which is wrapped around the assembled load. A first tear tape is attached to the outer face of the web and a second tear tape is attached to the inner face of the web in an underlying relationship with respect to the first tear tape.

Abstract: Notches are formed in the oppositely disposed side closure flaps of a carton to provide clearance for tucking blades to extend into the load storage compartment to tuck the distal panel of each side closure panel in behind its proximal panel.

Abstract: A method of cooling pieces of meat comprises the step of injecting a cooled gaseous medium into the pieces of meat at a plurality of injection sites. The meat curing machine is provided with a system for injecting a cooled gaseous medium through the injection needles thereof into individual pieces of meat in order to cool the meat pieces.

Abstract: A load accumulator for accumulating a load which consists of a plurality of items and transferring the accumulated load into a receptacle of a carton loading machine. The accumulator has a load accumulator spool which has a plurality of pockets formed therein at circumferentially spaced intervals about its perimeter. A transfer channel extends circumferentially of the spool from its perimeter to a radial depth which is greater than that of the inner end of each pocket. A load accumulating platform is provided which has a load arresting extension which extends into the transfer channel and serves to arrest the movement of the load articles which are carried by the spool such that the load items are discharged onto the platform in a side-by-side relationship. A backstop is slidably mounted on the platform for movement toward and away from the spool.

Abstract: A carton loading machine for loading cartons which have first and second side closure flaps each comprising a proximal panel and a distal panel. The machine includes a tucking mechanism which serves to fold the distal panels into a face-to-face relationship with their associated proximal panels and thereafter, if folds the proximal panels inwardly along their hinge connection with the side walls of the carton while setting the distal panels at an oblique angle with respect to the side walls of the carton.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for feeding load items in a predetermined spaced relationship into a loading station of a carton loading machine comprises at least two conveyors which move at different speeds along the same path and elevator ramps on each of the conveyors. The primary conveyor has a forward run mounted for movement at a first predetermined speed in a forward direction. The forward run has an input end for receiving load items and it extends forwardly from the input end into a spacing station. The secondary conveyor has a forward run mounted for movement at a second speed in the forward direction which is faster than the first speed. At least a portion of the forward run of the second conveyor is located adjacent and coextensive with a portion of the forward run of the primary conveyor in the spacing station. A plurality of elevator ramps are mounted on the secondary conveyor at longitudinally spaced intervals therealong.

Abstract: A machine for erecting, loading and closing an end loading carton. The machine has a dispenser station in which a knocked-down carton is removed from a storage magazine and deposited in the form of an open sleeve. A top closure station is provided in which the top closure flaps are folded along their hinge lines from their open position to their closed position. A collar flap tucking station is provided in which the collar flaps of the carton are folded inwardly. A loading station is provided in which load items are inserted through a loading opening in the top of the otherwise closed container. A load tamping station is provided in which the load items are tamped to permit the top closure flaps of the carton to assume a locking position with respect to the load item. A discharge station is provided in which loaded cartons are discharged from the carton support assemblies.

Abstract: A loader mechanism for loading articles into receptacles which are mounted at spaced intervals on a conveyor which is continuously driven through a loading station comprises a platform located above the conveyor and load aligning rollers on each receptacle. The platform has a support surface extending parallel to the loading path. A feeder is provided in the loading station which is operable to feed articles one at a time onto the input end of the support surface of the platform from above said platform. The load aligning roller is arranged to extend above the support surface as its associated receptacle passes below said platform while moving through the loading station.

Abstract: A load compactor for compacting compressible loads of a carton loading machine is provided with compactor members which reciprocate vertically and are located directly above the load as it is driven through the loading station. The compactor members are mounted on a compactor conveyor which consists of a pair of endless chains. A plurality of carriers are mounted on the endless chains at spaced intervals. Carriages are slidably mounted on each carrier and have a compactor head at their lower end which bears against the compressible load. A guide track is provided for guiding the movement of the carriages toward and away from the load. The guide track has a forward run which is vertically spaced from its return run so that the heads of the compactors are vertically spaced from one another during the forward run and the return run and overlap one another to achieve a compact lateral configuration.

Abstract: A meat tenderizing needle is sharpened to provide first and second side faces which converge and meet at its distal end to form a pair of sharp tangs which are separated by a notch. The first and second side faces having first and second root edges extending along the perimeter of the passage formed in the distal end of the needle. The first root edge is sharp and forms a cutting edge toward which sinew in the meat which is being penetrated by the needles will be guided by the notch to be cut by the cutting edge rather than merely deflected out of the path of the needle.

Abstract: A carton loading machine has an endless carton conveyor which extends in a horizontal path which in plan view extends in a generally square configuration. A plurality of carton receptacles are mounted on the endless conveyor for movement therewith. Retainer bars are arranged opposite the open ends of the receptacles along at least three sides of the square configuration of the path and these retainer bars are mounted for simultaneous movement with respect to the receptacles so that the space between the retainer bar and the oppositely disposed wall of the receptacle can be adjusted to accommodate articles of different sizes. A further retainer bar is located below the open lower end of the receptacles and extends along at least two sides of the square configuration of the conveyor path. These second retainer bars are also simultaneously adjustable in height with respect to the receptacles so as to accommodate cartons of different length in the receptacles.

Abstract: A carton opening mechanism for use in opening knocked-down cartons has a carton storage magazine which has a discharge opening. The mechanism has a first suction face which is circumferentially spaced 120 degrees from the discharge opening of the magazine. The mechanism is mountable so as to locate the receiver compartment equidistant from the discharge opening and first suction face. A rotary transfer mechanism is mounted for rotation about the central axis and has a suction head formed with a transfer suction face.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a loading station in which load items are loaded into a container. A load transport conveyor extends through the loading station. A load supporting compartment is formed on the conveyor. The compartment has a discharge passage opening from the trailing end thereof and a guide at the trailing end for guiding a load item toward the discharge passage. A receiver is located in said loading station for receiving a load item discharged from the load supporting compartment. A stop is located in the loading station and extends into the path upstream of said receiver whereby the movement of a load item carried by the load supporting compartment along the path is arrested by contact with said stop means and continued movement of the load transporting conveyor causes the load item to engage the guide to be directed thereby through the discharge passage into the receiver.