Abstract: An apparatus and method for accumulating specified weights of objects, such as apples, and delivering them to a plurality of off-load conveyors, the off-load conveyors delivering the apples to chutes which can then guide the apples into a single bagging apparatus. The flow of the apples on the chutes is controlled by a gate overlying all the chutes and a speed control brush that rotates at a desired speed to control the flow rate of the apples down the chute into the bagger. The apparatus and method are controlled by the interaction of a computer and a programmable logic controller.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: In a commissioning system (1) comprising at least one central belt (3) for receiving products to be taken from a stock (16) by commissioners and to be assembled according to an order, and a conveying installation (8) to move away in collecting containers (9) the products transferred at a transfer site (3a) at the end of the central belt (3), containers (14) are adjacently arranged below the central belt (3) to receive the products, and a pre-determined number of the adjacently arranged containers (14) each define a respective commissioning region (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, B.sub.3, . . . B.sub.n) for a commissioner (A to F), a pre-determined number of product types on stock (16) is associated to each commissioning region (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, B.sub.3, . . . B.sub.n), and at least one of the commissioning regions neighboring a respective commissioning region forms a supplementary commissioning region to that commissioning region.

Abstract: A method for flavoring tea with a granular flavoring agent includes the step of removing from a reservoir a predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent. The predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent is placed as a small heap onto a moving endless filter paper strip. Subsequently, a predetermined amount of tea is placed adjacent to or onto the small heap of flavoring agent. The tea and flavoring agent heaped onto the filter paper strip are subsequently enclosed in a tea bag made from the filter paper strip accordingly. The inventive device for performing the method includes a device for moving the endless filter paper strip in an advancing direction. A tea metering device and a metering device for a flavoring agent are positioned directly above the endless filter paper strip whereby the metering device for the flavoring agent is positioned upstream of the tea metering device in the advancing direction.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine includes a first conveyor which carries a batch of small items along a path extending in a first direction. A second conveyor carries boxes in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. A depositing structure in the form of a twisted funnel rotates the products from the first direction to the second direction before inserting them into a box. An oscillating plate carrying the funnel moves back and forth to fill the box while traveling in a first half of back and forth motion. Then, in the second half of that motion, returns to fill the next box. The oscillating plate may carry a plurality of funnels on each of its opposite sides. A memory of the type of small item carried by each funnel enables a single box to be loaded with different products.

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: The system involves the use of shallow boxes having an integral base and lid, with the lid being foldable down to close the box as part of the automated packaging of stacks of sheets of labels or other sheet material. The system involves one or more accumulators having buffering capability between sheet stackers and the cartoning equipment. The lids may be scored and subject to a pre-breaking step so that their three layer construction may be readily formed into boxes in the course of the packaging process.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser having a control unit which can eliminate the possibility of erroneously putting tablets in a wrong tablet storage space. The tablet dispenser has a tablet storage unit and a packing unit. Tablets designated by drug information are dropped from the tablet storage unit. When tablets in any of a plurality of tablet storage cells in the tablet storage unit run short, tablets are manually supplied into this cell by opening its cover. Before supplying tablets, the control unit reads a code on the tablet container with a bar code reader, compares this code with a code that represents tablets to be supplied into the above particular cell, and indicates on a display if these codes coincide. An operator checks the display to see if the codes coincide, and if they do, the operator then supplies tablets in the tablet container into the particular cell.

Abstract: A system for collecting prescribed injection ampules. In this system, it is possible to collect any ampules that cannot be collected from an automatic ampule dispenser with high efficiency. An ampule collecting apparatus has a tray supply unit for supplying trays. The trays supplied from the tray supply unit are sent into an ampule dispenser by an elevator unit and a conveyor unit, and moved downward in the dispenser by the downward conveyor unit. While the trays are being fed in the dispenser, ampules are put in the respective trays. The trays then exit the dispenser and stacked by the tray stacker. A drug name list is put in each tray. Of the ampules that are specified in a prescription, those which have not been collected from the ampule dispenser are highlighted on the list. Thus, a pharmacist can instantly see which ampules are not in the tray and can collect the missing ampules from a separate shelf.

Abstract: A medication packaging apparatus for packaging solid medications specified by prescriptions at a hospital, pharmacy, etc. The medication packaging apparatus is equipped with: a plurality of tablet cases which hold solid medications separately by type; a turntable which is located under the tablet cases and which turns to receive and gather the medications at the outer periphery thereof by the centrifugal force thereof; a guide which is formed around the turntable and which has a dispensing port; and a heat sealing mechanism for forming a roll of thermally weldable packaging paper into small bags in succession. The mechanism for collecting the medications which have been released from the tablet cases can be made thinner and therefore, the entire medication packaging apparatus can be made smaller.

Abstract: A high speed multiple conveyor packaging system having product separating bars that separate a product into specific sized groups on moving opposing conveyors. Two product streams diverge to meet the separating bars, and subsequently reconverge after separation for loading into a carton or package. Separated conveyed product is channeled from opposing conveyors into another conveyed product carton from opposing carton ends. A tight package is formed by sets of formed guide bars which cause the package flaps to be stretched or formed to the position of maximum tightness about the product.

Abstract: A drug packaging device having a shutter provided in a guide path which can prevent drugs from rebounding from the shutter once they land on the shutter so that they can settle on the shutter as quickly as possible. The shutter is made up of a plate-shaped body made from a soft, flexible silicone resin, and a Teflon resin coating layer formed on the body. Such a shutter can absorb shocks when drugs land on the shutter and prevent them from rebounding when they land on the shutter. Thus, drugs stabilize quickly after they land on the shutter.

Abstract: A billing system for combining into a statement pack, fitted within a minimum number of master mailing envelopes, individual user billing statements and other desired inserts. Each billing statement is comprised of one or more constituent documents, from the same or different service providers that are to be delivered to a common mailbox. Postal coding information is utilized for determining which user billing statements are delivered to the common mailbox.

Abstract: A device for loading and distribution of articles or material to be packaged in a packaging machine comprising an upper hopper for receiving the articles, a series of radial channels for conveying the articles towards peripheral points of collection of portions of articles a unit for distribution of the articles received via the hopper means to the conveying channels placed above said conveying channels, and drive means, provided for rotating the distribution unit around a vertical axis in order to consent the transfer of the articles to the conveying channels. In the device the distribution unit further comprises at least a first and a second distribution element extending radially and connected to each other in order to rotate together.

Abstract: An automated system for individual dosage medication distribution 10 is provided. The system 10 includes a medium rate dispenser 20, a fast rate dispenser 30, a low rate dispenser 40, a conveyor 50, a diverter 60, a bagger 70, and collection bins 80 and 85. The dispensers 20, 30, and 40 are arranged to be able to deliver individual dosage packages of drugs to the conveyor 50. The conveyor 50, in turn, is configured to transport individual dosage packages to the bagger 70 or the collection bin 85. A programmable controller 12 receives patient prescription order information from health care providers and directs the dispensers 20, 30, and 40, conveyor 50, diverter 60, and bagger 70 to automatically pick the prescribed medication dosage unit, place it in a transportable package, and label the package for the health care personnel.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In a preferred form, the saddle (36') is in the form of a block having first and second lower surfaces (118, 120) corresponding to the shape and located adjacent the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20) in their mating side (32).

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling foundry cores comprises a conveyor (4) operating between a removal station (1) of a core shooting machine (2) and a transfer station (3), a packing assembly (5) having at least one first manipulator (6) and adhesive applicators (8), and an adjoining dip bath (9), if need be, as well as a subsequent drying oven (10). To automatically and rapidly assemble even complex core packs (20) with the least possible equipment, the apparatus is designed and constructed such that the packing assembly (5) is supplied, the via transfer station (3), with cores (11) from at least two core shooting machines (2), and the first manipulator (6) serves to grip and deposit or stack the cores (11), and that the cores (11) may be placed, one on top of the other, on a carriage (15) or a running gear.

Abstract: An order selection system is disclosed together with a method of operating the system for retrieving multiple types of items stored in preselected storage locations and delivering retrieved items in an orderly sequence to a plurality of packing stations in accordance with the specific requirements of different orders. The order selection system comprises: a dispenser; a conveyor; a dispensing control system; a sorter; a plurality of stacking devices; and identifying means to identify the end of each order.

Abstract: A device and a method for continuously packing tablets in which the refilling of tablets can be done without stopping the device. The tablet packing machine has a case housing a plurality of tablet feeders. The case is also provided with backup tablet feeders and backup discharge channels through which tablets discharged from the backup tablet feeders are dropped into a hopper in the tablet packing machine. The backup tablet feeders are filled with tablets beforehand. When the stock of tablets in one or some of the tablet feeders decreases to a predetermined level, the backup tablet feeders containing the same kind or kinds of tablets are activated to discharge tablets from these backup feeders. Thus, it is possible to continuously discharge tablets and thus to pack tablets continuously without interruption.

Abstract: A food material transferring apparatus basically includes a heating device, a pushing member, and a tray. Food materials are placed on a tray, and inserted into the heating device. The heating device heats the food material, and the pushing member is driven to push the food material from the heating device while folding the food material. An arm is provided with a hand having absorption pads to be able to absorb the food material. The arm is attached to a bi-directional straight proceeding mechanism, which moves the hand in the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the food material is taken out from the tray and inserted into the heating device.

Abstract: An automatic packing device for the filling of containers with superimposed layers of products, in particular fruits such as oranges, comprises a transport device capable of dividing the flow of citrus fruits into two separate streams, two separate feed stations suited to arrange each stream of citrus fruits according to a predetermined distribution, a packing station, and gripping elements capable of gripping alternately a layer of citrus fruits square with each feed station, and of effecting their transfer towards the packing station. Each feed station comprises a conveyor belt (8, 9) extending along a descending slope, which is constructed to run in a longitudinal direction opposite to that in which the products are fed, and an interchangeable cradle (10, 11) whose form is suited to ensure that the products endowed with a rotating movement take up position inside the cradle.

Abstract: A goods accommodation method and apparatus in which a container is set such that its opening is directed horizontally, and box-shaped goods are stacked on a slide such that their surfaces facing the opening of the container are aligned with each other. The goods are transferred into the container while they are held in the stacked state by inserting the slide together with the goods stacked thereon into the container and then quickly pulling the slide out of the container at a speed higher than the speed of insertion such that the stacked goods remain in the container. The container is then turned up such that its opening is directed upward.

Abstract: In a plant for making and packaging cigarettes, comprising a plurality of cigarette-making machines and a plurality of machines for packaging cigarettes in packs, the makers and packers are combined in a number of modules. The output sides of the modules comprising makers and the input sides of the modules comprising packers are arranged in side-by-side relationship and face a central transport track on which driverless, remotely controlled transport vehicles circulate in one direction. Furthermore, there is provided at least one store which is situated at the transport system with at least an input and an output side and which serves as a buffer between the makers and the packers. The transport system is completely isolated from other transport systems with which packaging materials are supplied to the various modules.

Abstract: A system for producing and packing tobacco items, particularly cigarettes, wherein two packing machines are supplied with items by at least as many production machines, and wherein the outputs of the production machines are connected to one another by a conveyor channel for conveying the items and from which extend input channels connecting the conveyor channel to the individual packing machines; the items being fed along the conveyor channel by means of reversible conveyors.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which can assign drugs to respective buckets running on a conveyor with accuracy and high efficiency and transport them. A case accommodates a plurality of storage/delivery conveyors. Near the drug inlets for the respective conveyors, displays are provided which indicate the prescription number. Buckets running on a conveyor each carry an IC card. A detector reads the data on the IC card of each bucket so that the drug indicated by the data will be discharged into a right bucket from the storage/delivery conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacked article groups in a packaging process, comprising a linear conveyance mechanism having an upstream end and a downstream end; and at least one article input and combining station, the article input and combining station including high and low article input lines and a combining wheel, the combining wheel being disposed tangentially with respect to the conveyance mechanism and further being arranged to receive a high single level article group from the high input line and to transport the high single level article group to a point of intersection with the conveyance mechanism, the low article input line intersecting the conveyance mechanism at a position which is located upstream with respect to the intersection point and depositing a low single level article group on the conveyance mechanism, and wherein the combining wheel merges the high and low single level article groups to form the stacked article group at the intersection point.

Abstract: A system for loading product into a container comprises a conveyor with side by side staggered delivery portions, a pair of side by side bottom opening receptacles fed at different times by the deliver portions of the conveyor, a hopper moveable in an alternating manner to a product receiving position beneath each of the receptacles and a container holder below and fed by the hopper.

Abstract: A high speed multiple conveyor packaging system having product separating bars that separate a product into specific sized groups on moving opposing conveyors. Two product streams diverge to meet the separating bars, and subsequently reconverge after separation for loading into a carton or package. Separated conveyed product is channeled from opposing conveyors into another conveyed product carton from opposing carton ends. A tight package is formed by sets of formed guide bars which cause the package flaps to be stretched or formed to the position of maximum tightness about the product.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for making up consignments from articles supplied in packs. It consists essentially of a consignment-assembly unit (9) that supplies individually supplied articles via a sorter (10) having inward conveyors (30,31) to an array of rack sections (14) through which the articles pass to be assembled into consignments via an outward conveyor (32). The individual articles are unpacked from the packs and the packs are temporally buffered by means of an intermediate store (6). Control is effected by a computer (2) which issues control data (d) to the intermediate store (6) and the various positions of the consignment-assembly unit (9) on the basis of goods received data (a) and customer order data (b) so as to determine, starting from the intermediate store (6), which article is to pass at which time to any particular rack section (14) and is to be available at a further particular time at the outlet in a consignment.

Abstract: To mechanize the accumulation of nuclear fuel rods into fuel bundle groups, fuel rods are uploaded onto an input table from a succession of trays containing fuel rods of different rod types. The serial number of each fuel rod is read during procession across the input table to an output queue. An input elevator uniformly distributes fuel rods from the output queue to plural levels of an accumulation rack until each level contains an identical number of fuel rods of each rod type necessary to completely assemble one fuel bundle. An output elevator then empties the accumulation rack, one level at a time, to an output table, from which the fuel rods from each level are downloaded into separate bundle trays.

Abstract: An orientation and loading device for vials, and in particular syringe vials (A), which are disposed with their axis substantially vertical. The vials are fed by a feeder (1) to an endless conveyor (5) comprising a plurality of orientable cells (6), each of which removably receives a fed vial. In an assigned position (R) of the conveyor (5) the cells (6) and hence the vials received therein lie substantially horizontal above a container (7) provided with several cavities (8) for receiving the vials and intended to form part of the package in which the vials are sold. When in this horizontal position, a release means (9) operates to release the vials (A) from the cells (6) and cause them to fall into the underlying container (7), for example a thermoformed container.

Abstract: The drug packing apparatus, provided with: a drug storing section in the upper portion of its casing; a packing machine in its lower portion, for making drug packs; a multiplicity of elongate tablet cases which extend upwardly and are in planar arrangement to one another; a transfer mechanism for collectively transferring into a pack a predetermined number of drugs extracted from a selected drug cases and sealing the pack; and a transport means for delivering the packs out of the drug packing apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine is custom constructed from standardized modules in order to reduce cost and standardize operational and maintenance procedures. The standardized modules include conveyor chain modules which may be ganged to maintain synchronization of operations. Various types of attached may be attached to the conveyor chain in order to mandrels adapt the machine to load different types of products. A cam pin guides and directs selective transfers of products when both box and product are present and to cancel transfer when one of said box or product is absent. One example of such a customized machine is a machine for loading golf balls.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing sealed postal mails or other sealed envelope assemblies using a discrete envelope blanks split from an envelope-forming continuous sheet, an intermediate element split from an intermediate element-forming continuous sheet and additional inserting elements, both having sizes adapted to be enclosed within the envelope blank. The apparatus includes a reader for reading an encoded data preliminarily printed on the intermediate elements that produces an output signal corresponding to the number of insert sheet elements to be enclosed together with the intermediate elements. A grouping station is provided for stacking the insert sheets successively supplied to be enclosed together with the intermediate elements. The grouping station is activated in response to the output signal from the reader. A feeder is provided for feeding a selective collection of inserting elements and intermediate elements from the grouping station to an envelope folding.

Abstract: In a document insertion machine, third-party advertising documents are fed from downstream insert stations (36, 37, 38, 39). The third party insert stations include an optional insert station (39) from which documents are to be fed only if the additional weight occasioned by the feeding does not cause an increase in the postage for a customer's stuffed envelope. The other third party insert stations (36, 37, 38) are chargeback stations which feed documents regardless of the impact of feeding upon the weight of a customer's stuffed envelope. The insertion machine apportions, among the chargeback stations (36, 37, 38), any increase in postage cost which occurs when the feeding of documents from the chargeback stations causes a customer's stuffed envelope to be classified in a more expensive postage category.

Abstract: An installation for making up batches of articles, the installation being characterized in that it comprises at least one work station for one operator, said station including a storage member (4) for storing said articles species-by-species, said articles each being provided with automatically readable identification means, said station also including a reader (19) for automatically reading the said identification means and a hatch (17) communicating with a chute (18) whose opening is controllable, said installation further including an endless chain of buckets (21) disposed in such a manner that the buckets pass beneath the chutes, and a moving belt (25) disposed beneath the buckets and receiving the boxes (26) for receiving the batches of articles via an inlet station, each bucket being provided with a controllable pivoting device in order to cause the article contained therein to fall into a box, the installation including a station (20) from which loaded boxes are removed and being controlled by a comput

Abstract: A pellet collating system includes a tray positioning station located adjacent a pellet collating line with a tray transfer robot located therebetween. The tray positioning station has mobile carts lodged thereat, some supporting pellet supply trays and others supporting pellet storage trays. Pellets on one supply tray and later placed on one storage tray are of the same enrichment. Pellet enrichments on some trays are different from on others. The collating line includes pellet input, work and output stations arranged in tandem. The robot is operable to transfer supply and storage trays one at a time to and from the positioning station and the respective input and output stations. An input sweep head is operable for sweeping pellets onto the work station from a supply tray on the input station. A gripping and measuring head is operable for measuring a desired length of pellets on the work station and then separating the measured desired length of pellets from the remaining pellets, if any.

Abstract: An insertion machine system provides for the rapid determination of a value of postage required for a mailpiece by a table search technique which searches for and locates the value of postage in a predetermined table of postage values, the search being guided by the information provided by a predetermined data key.

Abstract: In an inserting machine for collating inserts and placing a collation of said inserts into an envelope, a method is disclosed of determining the amount of postage to be applied to said envelope into which said collation of inserts have been inserted. The inserting machine includes a feed deck and a plurality of feed station adapted to selectively feed said inserts onto said feed deck.

Abstract: In an insertion machine a track 20 moves groups of items past feed stations 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, during respective machine cycles. The feed stations selectively feed items onto the track 20 for inclusion with a group of items and eventual stuffing into an envelope. A master control item 46 fed from station 31 for each group has indicia 50 thereon which provides an indication from which of the feed stations items can be fed. In order for data processing means 102 to calculate the amount of postage appropriate for the stuffed envelope, an operator uses a keyboard and display 110 to input predetermined per item weight values for items held at select stations. A data processor 102 uses the predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items held in the stations to obtain a calculated total weight for each group of items.

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum

Abstract: An inserter is provided for use with one or more feeders. The inserter will receive material ejected from the first feeder, create at least one fold in the insert and then direct the insert into an awaiting envelope. The envelope is gradually opened as it is moved into position to receive the insert. A second insert may be urged into the first insert to initiate the fold in the first insert and urge the first insert into the envelope. The envelope preferably is provided with a pair of slits on one surface to facilitate the initial separation of the opposing surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A system for in-line processing of envelopes and the like includes a first upstanding feed hopper for feeding primary envelopes through a first printing station operative to print predetermined indicia on the primary envelopes after which they are conveyed in the direction of their major longitudinal axes through a plurality of inserter stations operative to insert special event envelopes between selected ones of the primary envelopes. The primary and insert envelopes are conveyed by conveyance means in-line past an ink jet type printer station operative to print particular cluster data on each successive envelope making up a set, followed by a station for the automatic collating and packaging of sets of envelopes into cartons. The conveyance means include a endless vacuum belt which holds the envelopes flat in a continuous stream and allows easy transfer to and from the conveyance means.

Abstract: For transporting cigarette groups (20) within or in conjunction with a packaging machine, a pocket conveyor (21) is used, and in this pockets (24), each receiving one cigarette group (20), are connected to one another so as to be free of play and free of wear by means of connecting joints (25) with rolling bearings. As a result, the pocket conveyor (21) can be used as a high-performance conveyor for cigarette groups with exact relative positions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for collating sheets into sets from stacks of sheets wherein the number of sheets in each collated set may be greater than the number of stacks which can be supported within the apparatus for collating the sheets. Also disclosed is a system for carrying out the above-described method including a collating machine, an envelope handling assembly, and a set handling assembly. Also disclosed is the set handling assembly for feeding and storing sets of collated sheets for use with the collating machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting insert items into an enclosure, the ert items being selectively compiled by data coding. At the insertion station of the apparatus the insertion items are inserted without reduction in speed by top belts and bottom belts, past lateral insertion guides which are pivoted into the inside edges of the enclosure, directly into the enclosure which is aligned by means of movable cams operated in timed relation to the apparatus and which is opened by top and bottom vacuum devices. The filled enclosure is then conveyed by a segmental roller such that the insertion items retain their speed throughout the insertion operation and do not stop.

Abstract: In an insertion machine a track 20 moves groups of items past feed stations 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, during respective machine cycles. The feed stations selectively feed items onto the track 20 for inclusion with a group of items and eventual stuffing into an envelope to which postage need be applied. A master control item 46 fed from station 31 for each group has an indicia 50 thereon which provides an indication from which of the feed stations items can be fed. In order for data processing means 102 to calculate the amount of postage appropriate for the stuffed envelope, an operator uses a keyboard and display 110 to input predetermined per item weight values for items held at select stations. A data processor 102 uses the predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items held in the stations to obtain a calculated total weight for each group of items.

Abstract: A system for in-line processing of envelopes and the like includes a first upstanding feed hopper for feeding primary rectangular envelopes through a first printer press operative to print predetermined indicia on the primary envelopes after which they are conveyed in the direction of their major longitudinal axes through an inserter station operative to insert special event envelopes between selected ones of the primary envelopes. The primary and insert envelopes are conveyed in-line past an ink jet type printer operative to print particular customer data on each successive envelope making up a set, followed by automatic collating and insertion of sets of envelopes into cartons. A pulse encoder and photoelectric sensors cooperate with various elements of the system and an electronic data processor to effect automatic high speed operation of the system.

Abstract: The high density packaging of generally conical articles is effected by mechanism which feeds two rows of the suspended articles onto a conveyor so that the articles lie on their sides in a single horizontal row arrangement aligned in spaced relation along the path of travel imparted by the conveyor. This arrangement is such that the articles lie in head-to-toe relation. At a downstream region, the progress of the articles is arrested so that they sequentially crowd into touching relation define a contiguous sequence. Transfer mechanism transfer a group of articles from the sequence as a layer and deposits the layer in a receptacle. The transfer mechanism then transfers a second group in the receptacle as a layer nested with the first layer. To achieve high density, the second group of articles has an orientation relative to the sequence which is different from that of the first group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying articles comprises a conveying surface, baffles for orienting the articles as they pass along the conveying surface into columns and a controller for selectively permitting articles from one of the columns to pass further along the conveying surface.