Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically packaging fish at high speeds into horizontally oriented cans. Speeds of approximately 600 cans per minute may be obtained with the preferred configuration of the present invention, wherein two incoming streams of fish are split into eight lanes, to achieve canning speeds of approximately twice the speed of prior art machines. Each incoming stream of fish is split into four separate processing streams or channels, primarily to reduce the operational speeds of the equipment components. Each incoming stream of fish is split by a first dividing knife into two forming chambers carried by an intermittently moving turning wheel. The fish is split again by knives located at second and third work stations of the rotating turning wheel. Four fish cakes are formed simultaneously at the second and third work stations and simultaneously discharged downwardly into horizontally oriented cans.

Abstract: A carton filling apparatus has a primary conveyor section 1 for transporting cartons 2 along the length of the apparatus, and a secondary conveyor section 3 for conveying objects 4 intended to be inserted into the cartons in parallel with the cartons. Each object 3 is aligned with an open mouth of a carton 4. A pushing mechanism incorporates an overhead gantry arm 5 arranged above the conveyors to be moved along the conveyors in the longitudinal direction. A pusher bar 8 is arranged to be moved across the gantry arm over the conveyors. Pushers 9 act upon the objects in such a way as to move the objects into the cartons as the cartons and objects are moved along synchronously on the conveyors.

Abstract: In an envelope-filling apparatus for mail-processing machines, the adjustment of the push-in depth of enclosures into open envelopes in the operating stroke of a pivot-lever arrangement, which bears a push-in-finger arrangement, is simplified in that said pivot-lever arrangement is designed as a three-lever rectilinear-guidance mechanism, of which the third lever, which serves as the carrier hand for the push-in-finger arrangement, has, at its free end, a slide guide which can be secured and is intended for adjusting the distance between a push-in-finger shaft for the push-in-finger arrangement and the point of articulation of the longer lever of the three-lever rectilinear-guidance means on the carrier hand.

Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheet-like articles, in particular in an envelope-filling station, the smoothness of running is increased, even in the case of high cycle speeds, in that a guide control means is provided so that push-in fingers, which are moved back and forth by an actuating arrangement, can be lowered and raised relative to a base plate both in the operating stroke and in the return stroke, it being the case that provided for the operating stroke is a framework-side guide part and for the return stroke is a diverter-like changeover guide part, which is actuated by the guide contact element itself and ensures in each case smooth transitions to the housing-side guide part.

Abstract: A high speed sheet feeder machine includes at least one pusher that follows a loop-shaped path of travel as the machine operates. The pusher pushes an insert into an envelope during a forward and downward part of its path of travel and then retreats rearwardly and upwardly along the loop-shaped path of travel before repeating an insertion. In this way, the pusher makes no abrupt changes in its path of travel. Very high rates of insertion are made possible by providing multiple pushers at longitudinally spaced apart intervals along the loop-shaped path of travel. A stop plate is integrally formed with each pusher assembly and a fixed position barrier is mounted on the machine adjacent the rearward end of the loop-shaped path of travel to prevent over-rotation of each pusher member at very high speeds.

Abstract: On a continuously operating cigarette packing machine, a group of cigarettes is transferred from a pocket—integral with an endless conveyor having at least one substantially straight portion—to a first seat—carried on an input wheel of a wrapping line and movable with respect to the input wheel—by transferring the group axially from the pocket to a second seat, which is fed by an intermediate wheel along a portion of the endless conveyor and is movable with respect to the intermediate wheel; and by then orienting the first and second seats with respect to the respective wheels so that one of the first and second seats penetrates the other for a given time.

Abstract: A carrier (4) with articles (2) provided thereon is moved quickly toward a package (3) and is slowed down at the package (3) such that by utilizing the articles (2) kinetic energy, they slide off the carrier (4) and move into the package (3). The carrier (4) can thus be returned to an article receiving position during the feed-in process for the articles (2) in order to receive new articles (2), which can be, for example filled tubular bags.

Abstract: A bucket on a bucket conveyor has a movable member or wall movable to a laid down position for receiving a horizontally disposed item. The member or wall is moved to reorient the item into an upright position for loading into a carton with another item later introduced into the bucket on another side of the movable member from the first item. Multiple items, inserts and/or multiple products can be handled. Methods and apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Device and method for inserting an information carrier in a substrate. The information carriers are stored in a storage and with the aid of transfer means are removed one by one from said storage with the aid of vacuum. The transfer means then place the information carrier concerned in the insertion element, which then executes the insertion stroke.

Abstract: A mandrel for an automatic packaging machine enables a loading of product when a great precision is required or when the characteristics of a product will not tolerate mandrels with a plurality of separate parts. The mandrel is machined with great precision from a block of metal. A conveyor on the automatic packaging machine carries a plurality of mandrels around a closed path. To enable an exchange between different types of mandrels, an air cylinder controlled quick coupler enables an installation of the mandrel on and a release of the mandrel from the conveyor. The quick coupler is a stud on the bottom of each mandrel and a slide at each location on the conveyor where a mandrel is carried. The slide has a keyhole with a large end which allows the stud to pass into and out of the keyhole and be released from the packaging machine. The stud is captured in the small end of the keyhole.

Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a package transporting means, in particular a folding box transporting means, and a transverse pushing device comprising a plunger which can be displaced substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction of the package transporting means, by means of which a package disposed on the package transporting means can be displaced perpendicularly to the transport direction. Several plungers are thereby displaceably disposed at equal distances on an endless transport device circulating substantially parallel with respect to the transport direction of the package transporting means, wherein a cam track defines the displacement of the plungers and comprises a first section for axial extension of the plunger and a subsequent second section for axial retraction of the plunger. To enable simple and quick adaptation to the format of the folding box to be displaced, at least the first section of the cam track is formed by an adjustable abutment surface on which a first roller travels.

Abstract: A title sheet inserting machine includes a space forming mechanism that bends an optical disk case body from the developed, upwardly facing condition into a flat inverted V-shape, thereby deforming the transparent cover sheet of the case into a flat general V-shape through its own weight, to form an insertion space for inserting a title sheet between the case body and the transparent cover sheet. The title sheet inserting machine further includes an upper mold that has a corrugated contact face with a plurality of apertures for suction of air or ejection of compressed air to attach or detach the title sheet and that is insertable into the insertion space formed by the space forming mechanism, and a lower mold that has a corrugated contact face with a corrugation corresponding to that of the corrugated contact face of the upper mold, and that is positioned opposite the upper mold while being movable toward and away from the upper mold.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a transfer device for inserting a product into a package, and a circulating leaflet transport device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders, each receiving one leaflet and by means of which the leaflet can be disposed between the product and the package in the region of the transfer device for insertion, together with the product, into the package. A stop is disposed in the region of the transfer device and in the transport path of the tong-like holder to open the holder for releasing the leaflet. If there is no package in the transfer station, the stop can be removed from the transport path of the tong-like holders into a non-operating position, for passage of a holder without opening thereof.

Abstract: Tissue clips are selectively turned 90 degrees on a bucket conveyor for endwise flat carton loading, or left alone for boutique carton loading. Extensible pushers engage the sides of tissue clips configured for flat cartons at longitudinally displaced positions for turning the clips and dropping them into transverse channels across the bucket floors. Boutique clips are later depressed into the channels they span for configuration and sideways transfer into boutique cartons. The channel floors lie below the bucket floors. Transfer guide buckets have floors at the same level as the bucket channel floors and are used to facilitate clip transfer into cartons of a selected configuration. Tamps descend from above the buckets to confine the clips and/or selectively form the boutique clips at least partially into the channels. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A loader arm assembly for use in a packaging system, comprising an arm, a housing, and a load jam detector. The housing is operably connected to at least one motive mechanism, and is adapted for moving the arm to load product into a package. The arm has both a latched state and a released state with respect to the housing. The arm normally is in the latched state to load product into the package, and enters the released state to relieve pressure upon detecting the load jam condition. The arm includes a base plate and a loading head. The housing is formed with a guide passage that is adapted for receiving the base plate. The load jam detector preferably includes at least one detent adapted for holding the base plate with respect to the housing in the latched state. The detent preferably is formed by a tip of at least one plug extending through the housing to the guide passage. The tip is adapted for applying a holding force against the base plate.

Abstract: The invention proposes a handling apparatus for moving sheet-like articles, in particular an inserter for pushing inserts into envelopes, in which apparatus a link hand, which forms part of a rectilinear-guidance mechanism formed from three links, has spring-loaded fingers which are articulated at the free end of the link hand and slide over a base plate during the operating stroke, while, during a return stroke, the fingers are raised off together from the base plate by means of a control guide arrangement. Said apparatus operates at high cycle speeds without disruption and requires the arrangement as a whole to be of just a small overall height.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes first and second conveyors for moving products from a receiving station to a first transfer station and a plurality of product-carrying elements mounted on the conveyors. The product-carrying elements of the first and second conveyors form respective first and second groups of product-carrying elements. The products are conveyable from the receiving station to the first transfer station alternatingly by the two conveyors. A first discharge mechanism at the first transfer station includes a plurality of product-pushing elements for displacing products transversely to the advancing direction. The product-pushing elements are spaced identically to the spacing of the product-carrying elements. A third conveyor extends from the first transfer station to a second transfer station.

Abstract: The base of the machine consists of three modular casings (1, 2, 3) which are aligned with one another and fixed together and inside which the synchronized systems for the various work stations are arranged. The frames of the parallel and vertical-axis belts (C1, C2) which are designed to convey the boxes (B) with a vertical arrangement are supported cantilever-fashion by the base casings, via upturned portal structures (6). The operating stations of the machine are supported by the frames of the belts or by the base casings, such that the box conveying line is free at the bottom so as to allow better cleaning and better inspection. The middle module (2) inserts the product (V) into the boxes.

Abstract: A carton filling device incorporates a conveyor 1 for moving cartons 3 and objects 2 to be located in the cartons simultaneously down a track with the objects respectively facing opposite to open ends of the cartons located at one side of the conveyor, A control arm 5 is situated in a start position at the other side of the conveyor and carries pushers for engaging the objects 2 and pushing them towards and into the open ends of the cartons 3. A control mechanism is adapted to move the control arm 5 not only across the conveyor 1, but also down the conveyor at the same speed of movement as the conveyor and to return the control arm 5 back to the start position once the objects have been inserted into the cartons.

Abstract: A process and device for packaging elongate products where a packaging material is drawn from a supply in a transportation direction includes sealing around the elongate products longitudinally and transversely. The packaging material is delivered in the form of a partial tube having one open longitudinal side and one closed longitudinal side, and a width between the open longitudinal side and the closed longitudinal side. A plurality of first transverse seals are made across the partial tube, extending less than the width of the partial tube, to form a plurality of transverse pockets in the tube and the elongate products are inserted into the pockets. A plurality of second transverse seals are made to form a transverse sealing seam across the full width of the tube. A seal is made on the open longitudinal side of the partial tube to form a longitudinal sealing seam.

Abstract: A case packer includes a mass flow conveyor moving containers in defined lanes and lane deflectors for urging containers laterally across the conveyor into a selectively actuable metering station. Containers are selectively metered into row groups of select count and segregated by transfer guides on an underlying transfer conveyor. The row groups are directed to move rearwardly or upstream on the forward moving transfer conveyor into alignment with an open case mouth. A rotary loader has extensible can pushers maintained in parallel with open case mouth during a substantial portion of movement of the cases past the rotary loader. This maintains the rows of cans in proper alignment for final case loading and prevents undesirable "A" pattern lock up. The transfer guides and rotary loader can be adjusted and/or modified to handle varied row counts of cans.

Abstract: The assembly and method are disclosed for the mechanical automated loading of cut cucumbers into jars. The cucumbers are sized in length and delivered to one or more cutter and loader stations where they are cut into slices or the like, and the slices are divided between a pair of pivot chutes. The pivot chutes are pivoted away from each other and into alignment respectively with a pair of jar chutes, the latter of which extend into the openings of the jars to be loaded. The cut cucumbers are delivered through the jar chutes at a substantial angle to both the plane of the opening of the jar and the axis of the jar, and toward the outer wall of the jars against which they are deposited. As each load is deposited into a jar, the jar is rotationally indexed in readiness for the next load, and the previously deposited loads are held against the outer wall of the jar by a mandrel which extends into the jar during the loading operation.

Abstract: A feeder for the gripper head of wrapping machines for small- and medium-size products, comprising: a disk, which substantially lies horizontally and rotates about a vertical axis; recesses for receiving a respective product, which are distributed all around the disk, are spoon-shaped and have a slot which is open towards the outside of the disk and can be crossed substantially along a plane that passes through the vertical axis; an extractor which cooperates, in a transfer station which corresponds to one of said recesses and to a gripper, with a corresponding complementary element and with a device for dispensing a piece of material in sheet form and is suitable to intersect and pass beyond the recess with an active stroke in the vertical plane, passing through the slot in an upward and outward direction so that the product and the material in sheet form are secured against the complementary element and so that by means of the complementary element the product and the material are inserted in the gripper, w

Abstract: In the production of large packs (10) each comprising a pack group (11), in particular comprising cigarette packs (12), different-wrapper versions have to be taken into account. For this purpose, two folding turrets (21, 22) for different packaging material are provided, namely a folding turret (21) for cardboard blanks (13) and a folding turret (22) for blanks (20) made of paper or film. The two folding turrets (21, 22) are arranged one beside the other in horizontal alignment. Each folding turret (21, 22) is provided with four pockets which each run through three operating stations.

Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing hinge-lid packets for cigarettes from individual, prefabricated blanks (11) which are delivered as piles (10) of blanks. Before being transferred to a packaging machine, each pile (10) of blanks is laterally aligned in respect of the exact relative position of the blanks (11), by aligning devices (21, 25, 27, 28) acting on all the upright side faces of the pile (10) of blanks. A separate aligning member, namely a slide (37) serves to align a lower, incorrectly positioned blank (11). This slide is effective in the region of a residual pile of the pile (10) of blanks, namely by raising a predominant upper partial pile.

Abstract: An air jet carton reopening apparatus for use with an article cartoning machine. The apparatus produces a stream of pressurized gas or a gas mixture that opens carton sleeves to receive articles for packaging. The air jet apparatus comprises a gas emitting mechanism, a gas supply connected to the gas emitting mechanism, and a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to dispose the gas emitting mechanism operationally adjacent to the carton sleeves. The stream of pressurized gas is directed at the carton sleeve such that it opens and maintains the relatively rectangular dimensions of the carton sleeves to permit the article cartoning machine to successfully load articles into an optimally sized carton.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine inserts small items, such as candy coated chewing gum, into a box with the small items arranged in a desired orientation. First, the small items are swept into a grid of individual pockets in plates on a conveyor. Then, the grid is inverted over an insertion tray having grooves which receive the small items without disturbing the desired orientation. The entire tray is inserted into a box and then withdrawn from the box. A ridge is formed adjacent said grooves for lifting a side of the box confronting the small items while the tray is inserted into the box so that there is almost no friction between the small item and the box, which might otherwise disturb the desired orientation. The small items are blocked during a withdrawal of the tray so that they are laid down in the desired orientation on the bottom of the box.

Abstract: A fish-canning machine having two adjacent parallel rotary turrets each having fish-receiving forming pockets in the periphery thereof. The turrets are positioned to align two of the pockets with each other to form a single combined pocket which is then filled with fish from a corresponding large size feed chute of increasing cross-sectional area. The fish in the pockets is severed between the turrets and the turrets are rotated by different amounts to move the filled pockets laterally out of alignment with each other. The fish in both filled pockets is formed into the shape of a can and ejected endwise from the pockets into two separate cans. Turret shoes and forming shoes are associated with the turrets which extend beyond the turret plate widths to define, with the immediately adjacent plate inserts, the forming pockets. The width of the shoes employed may easily be altered depending on the desired thickness of the pack.

Abstract: A fish-canning machine having two adjacent parallel rotary turrets each having fish-receiving forming pockets in the periphery thereof. The turrets are positioned to align two of the pockets with each other to form a single combined pocket which is then filled with fish from a corresponding large size feed chute of increasing cross-sectional area. The fish in the pockets is severed between the turrets and the turrets are rotated by different amounts to move the filled pockets laterally out of alignment with each other. The fish in both filled pockets is formed into the shape of a can and ejected endwise from the pockets into two separate cans. Spaces between the turrets and the housing provide for plate inserts and variation in the thickness of the forming elements so as to accommodate a variety of pack sizes and characteristics. The plate inserts include studs which extend through the housing with attachment spacers to engage attachment bars.

Abstract: A machine for automatically packaging pasta strips of wide flat type, in particular pasta known as lasagne, having at least two matching conveyors provided with a plurality of containing elements, which carry stacks of pasta strips from a horizontal conveying position to a halted discharging position rotated through 90.degree., adjacent transfer devices being provided to insert the reconstituted stacks into packaging containers carried into a halted position in succession by a further transporting device, the conveyors and transporting device being motorized in mutual stepwise synchronism.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine is adapted to insert a plurality of layers of product into a carton. In a preferred embodiment, the product is carried in an X-Y tray which is able to expand or to contract in width and to raise or lower, thereby giving two dimensional geometrical adjustments. A first layer of product is loaded into the X-Y tray. Then the tray is lowered and a second layer is placed over the first layer. The process is repeated for any number of layers. Thereafter, the stack of layers is pushed into a carton.

Abstract: In packaging equipment suitable for packaging tableted products of a delicate nature, such as tablets of soap, each tablet is directed into a box by one of a succession of push-rods set in motion synchronously with a first feed line conveying boxes, and a second feed line conveying the products. The advancing push-rods pass initially through a diverter capable of movement between a first position and a second position, and are made as a result to follow a first guide, and a second guide respectively. The diverter is timed to alternate between the first and the second positions with the passage of each push-rod, and can be locked for a predetermined duration in the second position.

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: An apparatus for loading stacked article groups into cartons in a continuous motion cartoner assembly. The barrel cam loading apparatus or article group transport mechanism is particularly suited to loading article groups that are unstable or whose articles tend to spin and kick article out of the carton.

Abstract: A special transfer turret (15) is used for conveying packs (10) from, for example, a folding turret to a drying turret. The transfer turret transports the packs (10) along a circular path or partially circular path and in the axial direction at the same time. For this purpose, pockets (16) for packs (10) are fitted on carrying rods (28) which are displaced in an axis-parallel direction during the rotation and in accordance with the same.

Abstract: A device for packaging large series of similar articles or products which are delivered upon conveyor belts or the like, and wherein each subject to be packed is moved from the conveyor, while a bag is taken from a holder, blown up by air and kept by two gripper spoons, such that the bag can slip over the object, and the object is kept in the bag by a pusher.

Abstract: A method for packaging flat or stacked article groups within a packaging unit such as a paperboard carton. The method comprises the steps of supplying a stream of packaging units, for example paperboard cartons, supplying at least one stream of articles, for example beverage cans; forming at least one article group, for example a group of from six to twenty-four cans, optionally placing a support base on a top surface of the article group, and loading the article group in the packaging unit. In a stacked packaging mode a second article group is formed and loaded into the packaging unit, on top of the support base on each first article group disposed in the packaging unit. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An article packaging machine for packaging articles such as beverage cans into open-ended containers and sealing the containers comprises a carton conveyor that defines a carton path. Open cartons are moved along the path and articles are directed in groups toward and into the cartons as they move along the path. An overhead flight assembly is provided and includes pusher lugs that engage and push the top portions of cartons along the carton path so that the cartons do not become skewed. The spacing between adjacent pusher lugs on the overhead flight assembly is adjusted automatically to accommodate relatively wider cartons or relatively narrower cartons so that human intervention is not required when setting up the machine to package different size cartons.

Abstract: A continuous, multiline packaging apparatus for continuously conveying, turning, and loading non-round bottles includes infeed conveyors which convey non-round bottles to timing screw conveyors. The timing conveyors are operable to space the bottles a predetermined distance apart and to feed the lines of spaced bottles to turning conveyors. The turning conveyors are each comprised of high and low speed conveyor chains, and guide rails. The turning conveyors first turn the bottles to an intermediate angled position and thereafter further turn the bottles to a loading position. A grouping conveyor comprising a plurality of fights cooperates with the turning conveyors to cause the bottles to form groups which are transferred to a loading device. The loading device continuously shifts the grouped bottles laterally into cartons as the bottles are continuously moved in a downstream direction.

Abstract: A machine and method for loading a product (5), particularly a food product, to a packaging position (6), for example a receiving pouch. A pair of end-to-end conveyors (1,2) overlie the packaging position (6). The end-to-end conveyors (1,2) are driven in the same direction to convey the product (5) to overlie the packaging position (6). The inner ends of the end-to-end conveyors (1,2) are then moved to allow the product (5) to be dropped to the packaging Position (6).

Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus capable of processing and packaging dough products of differing dimensions includes a plurality of cutting plates supported adjacent one another to form an endless cutting unit. A container positioning mechanism positions a plurality of containers relative to the openings to receive the dough pieces after they are removed by the reciprocating packing mechanism. A servo motor drive actuation of both the cutter bar indexing drive system and the container advancement system allows for accurate positioning by reprogramming the servo drive for a particular product dimension rather than mechanically changing over to alternate equipment. A self-contained container advancement module can be removed and replaced with another container module suitable for delivering containers of different dimensions.

Abstract: A cartoning apparatus for loading stacked article groups into carton sleeves. The cartoning apparatus comprises at least two article infeed mechanisms, each supplying at least one stream of articles at a predetermined height or level, an article selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanisms to form and move a stream of stacked article groups of a predetermined pattern, a carton supply and transport mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with said article selection and transport mechanism to provide cartons with open ends facing the moving article groups, and an article group transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to move article groups into the open ends of the carton sleeves.

Abstract: An apparatus for pushing bag packages or similar compliant articles into folding boxes which includes first and second endless conveying devices. Open folding boxes are conveyed on the first conveying device to a bag filling station and the bag packages are conveyed in the region of the filling section in alignment with the folding boxes by the second conveying device. For pushing the bag packages into the folding boxes, a pusher rod in combination with a pivotably arranged lever having a covering tongue are used. Guiding the lever by a contact-pressure element and guide member achieves low loading on the bag packages which permits a simple construction of the apparatus.

Abstract: A packaging machine (10) for processing fold boxes (15) with integrated support frames (25) has respectively one raising element (47) moving along with each fold box (15), which raises the support frame (25) lying flat against the inside of the fold box (15). A support element (50) is furthermore associated with each raising element (47), which interlockingly supports the support frame (25) during the insertion of objects (30, 35) into the fold box (15).

Abstract: Guide blocks (20) having guide ribs (22) are moved by an endless chain (30) above and in synchronization with conveyor systems (11, 13) carrying groups (1) of containers. The guide blocks (20) and guide ribs (22) form channels for engaging the tops of containers in rows of an uncovered array (3) of respective groups (1) of containers as each group (1) of containers is pushed laterally across the conveyors (11, 13) into cartons (9) which are transported by a third conveyor system (15) which is also synchronized with the other conveyor systems (11, 13).

Abstract: A cigarette packing machine comprises a series of individual cigarette hoppers (18) carried by an endless band (16), the hoppers receiving cigarettes from an input conveyor (15) in a receiving region and supplying groups of cigarettes to a pocketed bundle conveyor (22) in a delivery region. Each hopper (18) may be vertically movable, with its position controlled so that it occupies an upper position in the receiving region and a lower position in the delivery region. The hoppers may be vibrated during movement by the endless band, so as to promote downward movement of the cigarettes. Preferably each hopper has an associated transfer plunger (46) which is extended to deliver cigarettes in the delivery region, the hopper being lifted when the plunger is in its extended position and lowered when the plunger is in its retracted position.

Abstract: A loader arrangement is provided with a first conveyor for delivering an article to a first station, and a second conveyor for delivering a container to a respective first station. A gripper engages the article at the first station of the first conveyor, and a linear actuator, which is coupled to the gripper, moves the gripper along a first linear axis. Once the article has been engaged by the gripper, a rotator moves the linear actuator rotatively so that it parallels a second linear axis which is angularly displaced first the first linear axis. The gripper then is moved along the second linear axis, which is arranged to intersect with the first station of the second conveyor. A tilting arrangement is provided at one or both of the first stations for moving the container and/or the article arcuately to achieve an orthogonal orientation with respect to the second linear axis.

Abstract: A method for halting the function of a high speed packaging machine of the type having a conveyor based article infeed line conveying articles to a flight bar based selection line. The method is useful for performing a clean out procedure used during maintenance, and product or packaging change over. The method comprises the steps of terminating the operation of the infeed line conveyor at a predetermined position; placing an article follower behind a terminal article in each input lane; activating the operation of the infeed line conveyor whereby the articles in each input lane are conveyed to the selection line; and halting the conveyance of the article follower in the input lane prior to the selection line. An article follower and follower system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filling head for loading food articles such as franks into individual packaging trays is adapted for quick connect to a power system and a loader parent machine. The filling head comprises an open frame, at least two spring loaded flapper doors hingeably attached to the frame, and a pusher bar unloading system capable of operable connection to the power system of the parent machine to intermittently discharge food articles from the filling head to the individual packaging trays positioned below the flapper doors. The pusher bar unloading system includes a drive rod which can be connected to the periphery of a flywheel by quick connect means to run in an smooth continuous reciprocating motion to deliver an up and down motion to a horizontal shaft slideably mounted on the frame and an associated set of pusher bars and elongated pusher members.