Abstract: An apparatus for providing low count packages of absorbent articles during a high speed manufacturing process. The apparatus including a conveyor configured to serially convey a plurality of absorbent articles; a continuously rotating stacker that includes an infeed, an outfeed and a plurality of cassettes; an extraction station that includes an extractor configured to remove at least one absorbent article from at least one absorbent article containing cassette. At least a portion of the extractor is positioned at an angle to compensate for the continuous rotation of the stacker.

Abstract: The method for grouping stackable products arriving in line on a feed conveyor which has an accumulation function and a distribution function of the products, distribution being carried out sequentially to feed a supply conveyor which makes the products available so that they can be collected, the method including collecting the products distributed on the supply conveyor by a transversal collector which is mobile in a vertical plane, depositing the collected products on a take-up station which is located above the level of the supply conveyor and providing the collector with a loop movement, cyclical, in order to collect the products, deposit them and return to the point of departure.

Abstract: A plurality of flat tablets are held in containing holes (211) by pinching the circumferential edge of the flat tablet (t) at the lowermost position at the lower end of the containing hole, and then pinching state of the tablet (t) at the lowermost position is released thus dropping the plurality of flat tablets (t) under a flat state into a capsule body (m) arranged below. The capsule body can be surely filled with a predetermined number of flat tablets under a flat state by preventing occurrence of flat tablets under a standing state effectively.

Abstract: A machine (100) for making filter bags (1) for infusion products, the machine (100) being of the type comprising, one after the other along a production line (P), a plurality of operating stations designed to form the filter bags (1) and at least one operating outfeed station (7) for handling the filter bags (1) made; the operating outfeed and handling station (7) comprises conveying means (8) designed to successively pick up and withhold the filter bags (1) along a certain section (T1) of the line (P); supporting guide means (9) along which an ordered and continuous succession of filter bags (1) is formed and fed along another section (T2) of the line (P); and means (11) for picking up and transferring the filter bags from the conveying means (8) to the supporting guide means (9).

Abstract: A system for continuously packaging or sorting fragile articles having varying thicknesses in a stack includes a plurality of proportional shifters coupled to each of a plurality of stripping devices in an article infeed assembly. Each proportional shifter has an article gauge for measuring the height of a stack having a set or desired number of fragile articles, such as crackers or cookies. An article stripping device may be quickly and accurately adjusted in-process to measure the thickness of a set number of stacked articles contained in a given batch coming from an article infeed. The article gauge provides a measure of the height of a stack of a set number of articles sampled from an article infeed. The stack height is equivalent to the height of the stack of articles stripped by the strip feeder.

Abstract: A packaging machine for closing containers (5) is provided having a supply device (1, 2) for supplying containers (5) to be closed; a removal device (11) for removing closed containers (5?); and a closing device (25) between the supply device (1, 2) and the removal device (11). The closing device (25) is arranged lateral of a main transport path (8) of the containers (5) from the supply device (2) to the removal device (11) and a device is provided which transports at least one container (5) to be closed into the closing device (25) by means of a linear motion while transporting at least one closed container (5?) out from the closing device (25).

Abstract: An automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine includes a plurality of temporary storage members for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a plurality of cavities. The use of the temporary storage cavities enables the machine to process several prescriptions simultaneously. Advantageously, at least one of the temporary storage members is capable of being automatically displaced in a vertical direction in order to increase the capacity of the overall filling system for processing a greater number of solid pharmaceutical products while minimizing the overall footprint of the device.

Abstract: A palletizer for bottles having loader carriage with a plurality of horizontal corridors (11) formed by pairs of laterally adjustable guides (21), which suspend the collars (92) of the bottles, and pairs of laterally adjustable side walls (31), which can move toward each other to lock the bottle bodies from movement along the corridors. During loading of the carriage, the guides are moved to engage the bottle collars and the side walls are moved apart. During unloading of the carriage, the side walls are moved inward to lock the bottles and the guides are moved apart so that the gripper (52) can enter the carriage from above.

Abstract: The jig loading system comprises an assembly of straps 10 for attachment to a support member 14 so as to hang downwardly in spaced apart positions. Each strap 10 has a releasable holder 16 thereon for supporting aircraft stringers 18 at spaced apart positions to enable the stringers to be positioned at the jig 24 for loading thereon. The holders 16 are loop-like and are openable and closeable by means of releasable spring clips 28.

Abstract: A system for continuously packaging or sorting fragile articles having varying thicknesses in a stack includes a plurality of proportional shifters coupled to each of a plurality of stripping devices in an article infeed assembly. Each proportional shifter has an article gauge for measuring the height of a stack having a set or desired number of fragile articles, such as crackers or cookies. An article stripping device may be quickly and accurately adjusted in-process to measure the thickness of a set number of stacked articles contained in a given batch coming from an article infeed. The article gauge provides a measure of the height of a stack of a set number of articles sampled from an article infeed. The stack height is equivalent to the height of the stack of articles stripped by the strip feeder.

Abstract: A multicomponent filling apparatus for filling a first kind and a second kind of lumped products such as salad leaves into a container comprises a collecting container having a first portion receiving the first salad type and a second portion separated from the first portion by a partition wall for receiving the second salad type. A portion comprises at least one hinged base which forms the bottom and may swing downwards into an open position, a partition wall disposed above the hinged base for forming a first hinged base portion for the first product type and a second hinged base portion for the second product type.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming stacked article groups by supplying at least two streams of articles; forming a stream of first article groups having at least one article; placing a support base on a top surface of each first article group; and forming a second article group, having at least one article, on top of the support base of each first article group, whereby stacked article groups are formed. The stacked article groups are subsequently packaged.

Abstract: Packages arriving continuously one after the other at an input station are loaded into boxes by continuously displacing an endless pocket belt through the input station and loading the packages at the input station into respective pockets of the belt. At a transfer station offset along the belt from the input station groups of the packages in the pockets are displaced transversely of the belt out of the respective pockets while the packages are still being displaced parallel to and synchronously with the belt at least until the packages being displaced transversely are clear of the pocket belt. These groups of packages displaced out of the respective pockets of the belts are then loaded into respective boxes.

Abstract: Stacking device for stacking groups of articles on top of each other, the articles being supplied to that stacking device in a single stream and at a common first level, the device comprising moveable elements which are substantially parallel to the article track, and which are adapted to receive one or more articles each time, and which are designed to move through a first track section and a second downstream track section, wherein in said first track section, articles are to be received and in said second track section, the articles are to be delivered at a subsequent level different to that of said first level, and means, in or beyond the second track section viewed in downstream direction, for positioning a group of articles, successively located at various levels, substantially on top of each other, wherein each time the level of the elements in said first and second track part is substantially the same.

Abstract: Rolls of paper are stacked in layers without any relative movement occurring between the surfaces brought into contact, using a transfer table which pivots about a horizontal axis, such that the end directed toward the wrapping machine can be swung vertically into different positions corresponding in number with the number of layers to be wrapped and matched in height with a set of tiered stacking tables, the lowest of which is also the longest; with each stacking table occupied by one layer of the paper rolls, the several layers move forward as one, in vertical alignment, to the point where the top layers run off the ends of the shorter tables together and each roll settles plumb on the roll beneath.

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: The invention is a loader for loading containers such as large, heavy bottles of bottled-water from a conveyor, into a rack. It comprises a transfer table spaced from the conveyor and generally coplanar therewith. The table includes pairs of upstanding support arms having spacing corresponding to the spacing of the shelves of the rack. Guides are disposed intermediate the conveyor and the table and are adapted to guide the containers in diverging paths from the conveyor into the spaces on the table between the upstanding support arms respectively. Cylinders are provided for moving the containers laterally from the conveyor along the guides and into the spaces. The table is pivotally supported at one end and there is a large cylinder to swing it about the pivot to a vertical position wherein the support arms are horizontal and the containers rest on them. The arms are aligned with the shelves of the rack. Further cylinders are provided to drive the containers from the support arms into the rack.

Abstract: A vertically extending stripper bar is manipulated to strip a stack of articles from a conveyor while the conveyor is carrying the articles downwardly at high speed. A carriage is mounted for being vertically movable. A pneumatic cylinder is coupled to the carriage. The stripper bar is supported on horizontal guide rods which slide in the vertically movable carriage. A pneumatic cylinder moves the stripper bar horizontally in and out relative to the conveyor. When the correct number of articles has accumulated next to the bar, a stripping cycle is initiated. This involves activating one pneumatic cylinder which pushes the stripper bar horizontally across the path of the downwardly moving articles. A gear rack is mounted to the vertically movable carriage and it is engaged by a gear which begins to drive the carriage and stripper bar downwardly at the same speed that the articles are moving downwardly at the instant the stripper bar begins to move horizontally.

Abstract: A container supply system supplies a plurality of containers such bottles encased in a box to a container processing machine such as a bottle washing machine. The container supply system includes a box reverser for reversing the box with the bottles encased therein, a container holder disposed for holding the bottles discharged from the reversed box and thereafter releasing the bottles, a container receiver having a plurality of container receiver members for receiving the bottles, respectively, and a container ejector having a plurality of container ejector members for pushing the bottles from the container receiver to the container processing machine. In one embodiment, the container receiver is positioned below the box reverser. In another embodiment, the box reverser and the container receiver are spaced from each other, and a delivery carriage is provided for receiving the containers from the box reverser and delivering the received containers to the container receiver.

Abstract: An integrated circuit handler provides very high throughput rates and very low manual labor requirements. A sleeve handler portion provides nearly all of the sleeve handling needs of the handler, receiving periodic inputs of a plurality of sleeves, orienting and unloading the sleeves, reloading the sleeves and binning the sleeves according to output category. Once out of the sleeves, the integrated circuits are handled, in turn, by an input buffer, a transport mechanism which presents the integrated circuits to a workstation, a sort mechanism and an output buffer/sleeve loader mechanism. The particular embodiment disclosed in detail comprises a handler optimized for handling SOIC devices. No gravity-driven mechanisms are used in the handler. Throughput rates up to 60,000 parts per hour and more are possible.

Abstract: In a method of grouping, orienting, and packing articles such as ice-cream cones, the cones are advanced in rows on conveyors while being grouped and oriented, and are subsequently gripped in groups by a gripping device. Through suction heads gripping their respective groups, the gripping device is adapted to situate the groups in an open packing box. To permit the process to be carried out at a relatively high speed and low noise level, the articles are initially advanced in a first advancing direction while lying directly on a first endless and continuously running conveyor. They are then received in groups by a second endless and continuously running conveyor, which lifts the cones into contact with the suction heads of the gripping device while the mutual distance of the cones is being adjusted. The transfer of the cones from the first conveyor and through the second conveyor to the gripping device is carried out without stopping the advancing movement of the cones.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically packing sausage links in containers. A high speed feed conveyor feeds a plurality of spaced apart sausage links, in a lengthwise orientation, to a further conveyor having a plurality of transverse compartments. A sausage link is received in each compartment and their arc conveyed transversewise, in side-by-side relationship, to a group forming station. Sensing devices are provided to determine when a predetermined quantity of sausage links are at the forming station. A movable platform then displaces the sausage links from the group forming station to an unloading station where they are reoriented in side-by-side contact relationship and unloaded into a container by a pusher mechanism. While the group of sausage links is being unloaded, another group is being formed at the forming station.

Abstract: There is provided a method of and apparatus for packing rod-shaped articles, especially cigarettes. A rotatable turret is used, into which blanks are introduced into pockets of the turret, with partial folding of the blanks, whereafter groups of articles are axially introduced into the blanks in pockets, the article groups being introduced alternately from opposite sides of the turret. There is also provided an apparatus whereby article groups can be ejected alternately on both sides of a magazine and also an apparatus wherein, to form article groups from three article rows or layers, the middle row containing fewer cigarettes than the top and bottom rows, a lateral chute wall of the magazine terminates above the region of the cigarette groups to be ejected, merely articles of the top and bottom rows being ejectable in this region via a recess in the entraining member associated with the lateral chute, such recess being at the height of the middle cigarette row.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for automatically stacking a plurality of trays containing comestibles such as fruit or the like into packages such as boxes of the like. Trays are synchronously supplied via an incremental belt to a tray stacking portion, where the trays are nested one atop the next. The stack of nested trays is then deposited on a counter-weighted drop shelf situated within the package. The weight of the trays on the drop shelf overcomes the inertia of the drop shelf and its counterweight such that the stack of trays are smoothly lowered into the package or carton. The tray stacking portion is adjustable to permit automatic packaging of different size fruit.

Abstract: An elongated web of exposed and developed photographic film is moved lengthwise and is severed at regular intervals to yield a succession of discrete sections. Related sections (e.g., those belonging to a customer) are assembled into groups of overlapping sections, and such groups are thereupon introduced into discrete envelopes. The assembling of groups takes place in a fan-shaped magazine having a plurality of separate compartments and being movable relative to belts or analogous transporting means for successive sections of the severed film so that each section enters a different compartment. When the magazine accumulates a group of related sections, the sections are expelled from the magazine by a pusher which moves them forwardly (i.e., in the same direction in which the sections were transported to enter the magazine) or sideways and into the respective envelope. The width of each compartment decreases in the direction of forward movement of sections or at right angles to such direction.

Abstract: An egg packer with the eggs picked up from a slotted conveyor by a conveyor of rollers having pockets formed between each of the rollers and an adjacent parallel rod, carried up an incline while being rolled and travelling toward its small end, and contacting a guide tongue as it goes over the top of the roller conveyor which guide retards the large end of the egg causing it to pass point down into a retainer for transfer to a clam-shell transfer means which shuttles the egg between the retainer and a receiving pocket therebelow, while adjusting the horizontal spacing between eggs during their descent to the receiving pockets.

Abstract: An automatic collating machine for organizing into groups a flow of articles, such as ice cream sandwiches, fed to the machine to be packaged into containers includes a carrier feed station and a container loading station, both of which are located along a vertical path of movement of a plurality of equally spaced, elongate, flexible carriers that are moved around a loop including said path in a stepwise fashion. The articles fed to the machine are received at the carrier feed station where a preselected number of the articles are loaded onto an empty carrier thereat. Each time a carrier is loaded, the loop of carriers is incrementally advanced to move the loaded carriers toward the container loading station and to move the next empty carrier to the carrier feed station to repeat the carrier loading cycle.