Abstract: A case packing robot comprising a two dimensional articulated robot suspended from the top of a Cartesian gantry-type frame enclosure. All drive motors are fixed to the Cartesian gantry-type enclosure and all packing operations take place within the confines of the gantry frame structure that defines the operating envelope. Such a “hybrid” robot uses an open framework and all slanted or slantable surfaces that are easily sanitized thus providing all of the sanitary advantages of the most desirable articulating robots while supplying many of the operational and maintenance advantages of a Cartesian gantry-type robot, especially the ability to reach down into a packing container.

Abstract: A loading system for the high speed loading of product in varying numbers comprising: an infeed conveyor having an infeed conveyor stop, a staging conveyor moving at a speed greater than the infeed conveyor and having a staging conveyor stop and a picking conveyor moving at or about the same speed as the staging conveyor and having a moveable picking conveyor stop. A photoelectric sensor or other similar counting device located in the region of the staging conveyor stop counts product as it moves from the infeed conveyor to the staging conveyor by counting the gaps between product units induced by the difference in the advancing speed of the infeed and the staging conveyors.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for holding an uncompressed bundle of product from the top with a vacuum assisted end effector and then simultaneously compressing the bundle from all sides at the same time with thin compression plates located about the periphery of a vacuum assisted end effector to form an evenly compressed product bundle that is then placed in a container with the compression plates between the product and the container walls. Once the bundle is received in the container, vacuum is removed; the inward force of the compression plates released and the compression plates removed vertically from between the product and the containers walls. The simultaneous compression from all sides provides even distribution of forces on the product and ensures that all product is compressed or deformed to the same degree. Using the apparatus described herein to place the bottom of the products gently onto the inside bottom of the container is further advantageous.