Abstract: A system is disclosed for loading a plurality of items into a plurality of containers. The system may include a plurality of pucks, each puck adapted to retain an item. A puck delivery sub-system may include a puck-infeed conveyor to move each of the pucks along an in-feed conveyor path, and a transition apparatus operable to facilitate the transition of the pucks to a continuous puck unloading conveyor. The puck un-loading conveyor may have a releasable engagement mechanism such that when each of the pucks is engaged with said puck unloading conveyor, each of said pucks is fixed in a relative longitudinal position relative to the puck unloading conveyor. An item transfer apparatus may transfer an item from each puck when engaged with the puck un-loading conveyor, to a corresponding container.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for loading a plurality of items into a plurality of containers. The system may include a plurality of pucks, each puck adapted to retain an item. A puck delivery sub-system may include a puck-infeed conveyor to move each of the pucks along an in-feed conveyor path, and a transition apparatus operable to facilitate the transition of the pucks to a continuous puck unloading conveyor. The puck un-loading conveyor may have a releasable engagement mechanism such that when each of the pucks is engaged with said puck unloading conveyor, each of said pucks is fixed in a relative longitudinal position relative to the puck unloading conveyor. An item transfer apparatus may transfer an item from each puck when engaged with the puck un-loading conveyor, to a corresponding container.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for loading a plurality of items into a plurality of containers. The system may include a plurality of pucks, each puck adapted to retain an item. A puck delivery sub-system may include a puck-infeed conveyor to move each of the pucks along an in-feed conveyor path, and a transition apparatus operable to facilitate the transition of the pucks to a continuous puck unloading conveyor. The puck un-loading conveyor may have a releasable engagement mechanism such that when each of the pucks is engaged with said puck unloading conveyor, each of said pucks is fixed in a relative longitudinal position relative to the puck unloading conveyor. An item transfer apparatus may transfer an item from each puck when engaged with the puck un-loading conveyor, to a corresponding container.

Abstract: A rotary object feeder comprises a sun member having a sun axis and being rotatable about a sun axis of rotation at a rotational speed of W1. The feeder also has a planetary member mounted for connection to the sun member, the planetary member having a planetary axis located at a constant distance X from the sun axis. The planetary member is rotatable about the planetary axis of rotation and is also mounted for rotation around the sun axis with the sun member. The planetary member is rotated about the planetary axis at a rotational speed of W3 which is opposite in direction to W1. N pick-up members are mounted on the planetary member, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The pick up members are rotatable with the planetary member about the planetary axis and rotate with the planetary member around the sun axis.

Abstract: A rotary object feeder comprises a sun member having a sun axis and being rotatable about a sun axis of rotation at a rotational speed of W1. The feeder also has a planetary member mounted for connection to the sun member, the planetary member having a planetary axis located at a constant distance X from the sun axis. The planetary member is rotatable about the planetary axis of rotation and is also mounted for rotation around the sun axis with the sun member. The planetary member is rotated about the planetary axis at a rotational speed of W3 which is opposite in direction to W1. N pick-up members are mounted on the planetary member, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The pick up members are rotatable with the planetary member about the planetary axis and rotate with the planetary member around the sun axis.

Abstract: A rotary object feeder comprises a sun member having a sun axis and being rotatable about a sun axis of rotation at a rotational speed of W1. The feeder also has a planetary member mounted for connection to the sun member, the planetary member having a planetary axis located at a constant distance X from the sun axis. The planetary member is rotatable about the planetary axis of rotation and is also mounted for rotation around the sun axis with the sun member. The planetary member is rotated about the planetary axis at a rotational speed of W3 which is opposite in direction to W1. N pick-up members are mounted on the planetary member, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The pick up members are rotatable with the planetary member about the planetary axis and rotate with the planetary member around the sun axis.

Abstract: A rotary object feeder comprises a sun member having a sun axis and being rotatable about a sun axis of rotation at a rotational speed of W1. The feeder also has a planetary member mounted for connection to the sun member, the planetary member having a planetary axis located at a constant distance X from the sun axis. The planetary member is rotatable about the planetary axis of rotation and is also mounted for rotation around the sun axis with the sun member. The planetary member is rotated about the planetary axis at a rotational speed of W3 which is opposite in direction to W1. N pick-up members are mounted on the planetary member, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The pick up members are rotatable with the planetary member about the planetary axis and rotate with the planetary member around the sun axis.

Abstract: A conveyor system has a bucket with a pivoting side wall. The pivoting movement of the leading side wall is actuated by a cam follower which engage; a cam rail. As the bucket passes through a carton loading station, the cam rail moves the cam follower to adjust the rotational position of the side wall. This pivoting movement will push back the leading side flap of a carton, thus making the loading of the carton easier. For different sized cartons, the transverse position of the cam rail can be adjusted thus altering the relevant rotational movement of the pivoting side wall.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotary object feeder, which feeds objects from a by rotating the objects from a pick-up location to a drop-off location. The object is picked-up by at least one pick-up member having a suction cup. Suction at the suction cup is controlled by a vacuum generator proximate the suction cup. Additionally, a control valve is interconnected to a programmable controller that controls the presence or absence of suction at the suction cup. The controller may be dynamically programmed for flexibly adjusting the pick-up and drop-off locations for objects. The controller may further advance the turn-off position of vacuum at the suction cup, in order to implement a speed compensation system to accurately deliver objects to the drop-off location. The invention is particular well suited for use as a rotary carton feeder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotary object feeder, which feeds objects from a first location to a second. The object feeder feeds the object from a pick-up location to an off-loading location, by moving an object pick-up member along a trajectory formed by rotating the object pick-up member about a first axis of rotation; rotating this first axis of rotation about a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation and spaced therefrom; rotating the second axis of rotation about a third axis of rotation substantially parallel to the second axis of rotation and spaced therefrom. The invention is particularly suited for use in a rotary carton feeder having numerous suction cup pick-up members, used to feed cartons from a pick-up location, through an operating location to a drop-off location. The relative rates of rotation of the pick-up members may be chosen to minimize their tangential velocities at the pick-up, operating or drop-off locations.