Abstract: An automatically operated feeding and reorienting apparatus for vertically oriented stacks of nested preformed containers including a continuously advancing infeed conveyor 10 for advancing individual vertical stacks of nested containers to a transfer means assembly 12, whereat a single stack of containers 84A is separated and transferred to a tilting carriage assembly 14, whereupon the nested stack is reoriented by tilting to a substantially horizontal disposition, upon completion of said reorientation the now horizontally oriented stack of containers is advanced onto a denesting conveyor assembly 16 by a stack advancing assembly 66.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the feeding and placing of a preformed cover(44) on a linearly advancing preformed container(130), said improved apparatus being automatically operated in response to an "on-demand" condition, said improved apparatus including a frame assembly(12), an inclined hopper assembly(14), a cover separating assembly(16), a transfer chute assembly (18) an infeed conveyor assembly(20), and a cover seating assembly(22). This improved apparatus may also provide selective orientation of a pour spout or bung located in a circular cover.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for separating and feeding a preformed container fron a nested stack, said apparatus adapted for accepting a nested stack of containers in a vertical array, tilting the nested stack to a horizontal array by means of a tilting carriage assembly (34), advancing the horizontal stack (170) on an advancing portion (36), stopping the nested stack at a preferred position and immediately lifing the nested stack from the advancing portion (36) by means of an elongated rail assembly 96. A separating assembly (38) separates a first container from the nested stack, said first container advances to a pivoting hook assembly (40) where the first container is oriented from a substantially horizontal array to a substantially vertical array, and a stabilizer assembly (42) steadies the horizontal container for transfer to subsequent machinery.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for separating a preformed cover from an inclined nested stack of covers, advancing and simultaneously rotating said cover from a substantially vertical disposition to a substantially horizontal disposition by means of a transfer chute, said cover advancing to a placing position, by means of gravity, on an inclined chute. Said cover being placed on a matching container, said container advancing on a process conveyor. Said apparatus adapted for feeding and placing a range of covers of like design without the need for intermediate adjustments.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a troughing conveyor for products such as bags, boxes, cartons and the like. It is anticipated that products of like configuration and initial orientation are carried to an orienting conveyor means. This conveyor system has a stop plate that is actuated as and when required to insure that an oriented product has exited the system before entrance of another product to said system. Two plate-like conveyors are arrayed in tandem and are of like size and extent. These conveyors are troughed to provide a shallow included angle and the upper extents are also formed with convex arc so that the product is transported on two points. Each of these conveyors is independently driven by variable-speed gear motors, each with computer programs controlling the speed of each of the conveyor extents. An electric-eye counter device insures that an oriented product has exited the system before another product has been delivered.

Abstract: This invention shows two mechanisms for receiving, separating, delivering covers to a gravity chute, and thence to metering and cover-positioning and -pressing means. The feeding of covers may be automatic or may be hand-loaded. One embodiment shows the separation mechanism employing Y-members that are actuated by a reciprocated ring with jaws and guide supports in a common plane. Adjusting means for size and cover thickness, both metal and plastic, is contemplated. The other mechanism utilizes jaw arms that are stacked one above the other and preferably are arranged as four pairs, with upper arm jaws moved by one cycled ring and the lower arm jaws moved by another cycled ring. Vacuum cups remove and carry the removed cover to a gravity chute and a metering and cover-pressing apparatus that provides insured placement of only the forwardmost cover on a traveling container. Orienting means is also contemplated, and plural delivery chutes are shown. A height-adjusting means is also depicted.

Abstract: There are depicted, described and claimed an apparatus and method for receiving and transporting tray blanks of corrugated cardboard. Cutouts provide means for bending of flap portions of the blank which form the outer retaining walls or members. Asjustment is provided for the frame support and for the size of the tray as to its width, length and sidewall height. The tray blanks are advanced forwardly to and into a hopper where the lowermost tray blank is withdrawn from a stacked array by a plurality of vacuum cups carried by and on arms. The tray is erected on a reciprocably-moved table by apparatus whereat the back edge portion is brought to a normal position, then the partially erected tray is filled with containers brought by conveyors and said containers are inserted by pushers. The forward end of the tray is brought to a substantially vertical condition by Y-fingers. The rear inner side flaps are moved to a position against the containers by pivoted finger mechanism.

Abstract: An upstacker jaw clamp and palletizer apparatus in which containers are fed one at a time to an upstacker station and an elevating platform whereat these containers are lifted and at the extreme lift are retained by opposed jaw clamps. These jaw clamps are moved substantially simultaneously to and from retaining condition in response to electronic control signals. The jaw clamps carry pins that are reciprocably retained in bores with forward movement provided by a bias. When a round metal container is palletized, each jaw clamp has two substantially alike pins with blunted forward ends. When the container is plastic with a contoured bottom, the pins are threaded and retain a contoured member. No matter the container shape, the jaw, when moved forwardly, causes the lip portion to move under the elevated container with the pin ends, the contoured member, or the plate disposed immediately above the lip portion and biased forwardly to engage the side walls of the container.

Abstract: This invention pertains to pins carried by and in a retainer head member with the pins actuated when and as the head member and an associated contact member reaches the outermost portion of a paperboard member whereat the pins are caused to move obliquely to this surface and penetrate the paperboard sufficiently to engage and retain the paperboard. These pin ends by latch members are maintained in the desired penetrating position during transfer. This latch is actuated to release the projected pins when transfer is completed. The paperboard is conventionally of corrugated paperboard construction and the extent of pin end protrusion is carefully controlled so that the pin ends in the penetrating position do not protrude and penetrate the rear panel or wall of the paperboard so that only one penetrated paperboard member is transferred. The embodiments shown are adapted for use with paperboard which is not supple or flexible as is cloth or leather.

Abstract: This invention pertains to bail applying mechanism particularly for plastic containers with molded-on ears with access openings to the interior of the ear. These plastic containers are usually provided with wire bails when the container is empty. These plastic containers may have their body formed with a taper. "Shingling" of tapered containers is prevented by a guide rail disposed immediately above the transported containers. This guide rail extends through the bail applying station. A backup is also provided when and where the plastic container is provided with molded-on ears having an access opening. This bail applying mechanism may also be used with metal containers with attached sheet metal ears which may be absent apertures for the wire bail or the apertures may be mispositioned if present.

Abstract: A conveying system for bailed containers receives said containers after bail-application and with the bails supported in a substantially vertical manner advances the containers to and through a turning station. The container is first detected as to its presence on a conveyor belt and then by electric eye means a spot on the container is "read". If the spot is on the desired side no turning is performed but if the spot is detected on the opposite side the container is turned by raising a turning rail that engages the bottom rim of a container and causes the container to turn a half revolution. During turning the bail is maintained in an upright position by a magnet bar. The conveyors also may deliver bailed containers to a merge and stop unit having flow control means for delivering these containers in timed array to further processing, such as packaging.

Abstract: A conveying system for bailed containers receives said containers after bail-application and with the bails supported in a substantially vertical manner advances the containers to and through a turning station. The container is first detected as to its presence on a conveyor belt and then by electric eye means a spot on the container is "read". If the spot is on the desired side no turning is performed but if the spot is detected on the opposite side the container is turned by raising a turning rail that engages the bottom rim of a container and causes the container to turn a half revolution. During turning the bail is maintained in an upright position by a magnet bar. The conveyors also may deliver bailed containers to a merge and stop unit having flow control means for delivering these containers in timed array to further processing, such as packaging.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus and method for receiving small containers and articles in a determined array and from a single side accumulating and feeding these containers or articles in a series of loading moves into the end of an erected carton. In the embodiments shown, provision is made for a carton size change within determined limits. These case packing apparatus assemblies shown are for packing small containers such as quart or pint paint containers and in an alternate arrangement for packing a multiplicity of sponges. Automatically actuated fingers that engage the lower extent or surface of folded cartons and then move into slots to engage upper flaps or carton extents are also shown.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for improvements in the receiving of folded cartons in a vertical manner and in a storage chute having a beam transport and reciprocating this beam in such a controlled manner so that on the forward stroke this beam is lifted to advance the cartons at a selected rate. From this horizontal chute and the reciprocated beam the cartons are delivered to a relatively horizontal delivery chute from which they are drawn one-at-a-time for erecting. Positive carton edge engagement and release is provided in a novel escapement means so that irregularly made cartons can be accommodated for delivery at a regular rate. This novel escapement insures that only one carton is engaged and pulled from the chute when engaged by the vacuum cups on the swinging suction arm of the erecting station.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a container actuated converging apparatus wherein bailed containers in random order are delivered from one or two bail-applying mechanisms in oriented condition with their bails slidably retained in bail guides. These bailed containers are advanced to a converging mechanism where apparatus is provided to insure that only one container at a time is fed from these plural conveyors to a single conveyor. This converging apparatus is so arranged and disposed that it will accept and pass a stream of containers from either of the conveyors to the single conveyor when the other conveyor is empty of containers.