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: An apparatus for automatically collecting and packing a selected number of units of vertically oriented breakable product into a carton is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame and a collecting assembly mounted to the frame. The collecting assembly includes collecting support apparatus for indexing forward, counting and collecting a row of units of products in a vertical orientation until a selected number of such units of products is collected. The apparatus of the present invention also includes a feed station operatively aligned with the collecting support apparatus such that the feed station receives a row of collected product from the collecting support apparatus.

Abstract: A method of producing packages and an apparatus for implementing the method wherein each package contains a whole number of stackable objects which are conveyed in a row for packaging and the weight of each package is to remain within given limits. The method includes counting a number of contiguous objects in the row, forming groups of objects each having the counted number of objects, determining the length of each respective group in the direction of the row, bringing each respective group to a balance scale only if the group has a length within predetermined limits, measuring the weight of each respective group and rejecting a group if its weights lies below a given weight value.

Abstract: A loading and indexing mechanism for loading articles into successive compartments in a circular tray is shown. It is particularly adapted for use with slide transparencies and their circular trays. The mechanism uses a pawl and gear arrangement to catch and hold successive compartments of a tray in registration with the insertion station. Cams are used to cause turning of the axle on which the tray is mounted and engagement and disengagement of the pawl and gear in coordination with each insertion operation.

Abstract: End closures for cans fed horizontally at given intervals at a high speed are shifted in direction, one after another, to be substantially perpendicular to a support passage extending substantially horizontally, received separately by the passage rapidly and positively, and lotted out when a predetermined number has been reached by the pieces received. Each lot thus compacted to a solid cylinderical form is put into an elongate paper bag, and the open end of the bag is closed.

Abstract: End closures for cans fed horizontally at given intervals at a high speed are shifted in direction, one after another, to be substantially perpendicular to a support passage extending substantially horizontally, received separately by the passage rapidly and positively, and lotted out when a predetermined number has been reached by the pieces received. Each lot thus compacted to a solid cylinderical form is put into an elongate paper bag, and the open end of the bag is closed.

Abstract: A device for filling a package with a predetermined weight of items, such as pieces of chicken, is disclosed. The device, under the control of a computer, determines which, of several pieces of chicken held in a plurality of holding means, should be added to a partially filled package in order to bring the contents of that package up to the predetermined weight.

Abstract: The specification of the present application discloses an apparatus and method for dividing the multiple parallel output of a multi-lane container packaging machine to allow bulk packaging of a number of containers independent of the number of containers in one parallel output. This is accomplished by changing the parallel container output into a series output in which the container spacing and position relative to other containers is determined by the output rate of the multi-lane packaging machine and the speed of a second conveyor positioned at the discharge of the machine to change the parallel input of containers to a series format. A segmenting means is associated with the indexing of the multi-lane packaging machine and divides the time between successive indexes into divisions representative of the number and spacing of containers on the second conveyor.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for automatically boxing cylindrical goods with the same size, with means for aligning said goods and move same by gravity to a filling station, as well as means for discharging the filled boxes. A suitable box is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging tall, narrow receptacles with small, plate-like items of like size and shape. The apparatus has at least one counting and charging unit having a plurality of axially aligned counting wheels having a plurality of pockets along their periphery for receiving individual items and a funnel arranged underneath the counting wheels for receiving items discharged by the counting wheels and for directing them into a receptacle arranged below the funnel. There are further provided a plurality of orienting channels arranged between the funnel and each counting wheel. Each orienting channel is arranged to receive items from the associated counting wheel and to orient the items such that upon discharge of each item from the orienting channels into the funnel, the main plane of each item is parallel to the main plane of the receptacle situated underneath the funnel.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a vibration interrupting device for use with a coin wrapping machine, in which coins are conveyed, while being counted, to a piling cylinder, in which this cylinder is vibrated by a vibrator so that the coins may be regularly piled in the cylinder, and in which a preset number of coins piled are carried to wrapping rollers by a coin receiving arm so that they may be wrapped. The vibration interrupting device includes a brake circuit which is operative to control the vibrator such that the vibrations to be applied to the piling cylinder are promptly interrupted by the time when the coin receiving arm is brought to receive the preset number of the coins piled in the cylinder. Thus, the coins piled can be prevented from being destroyed to pieces or getting scattered or lost when they are to be carried by the coin receiving arm.

Abstract: End closures for cans fed horizontally at given intervals at a high speed are shifted in direction, one after another, to be substantially perpendicular to a support passage extending substantially horizontally, received separately by the passage rapidly and positively, and lotted out when a predetermined number has been reached by the pieces received. Each lot thus compacted to a solid cylindrical form is put into an elongate paper bag, and the open end of the bag is closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting filled bag-like containers into despatch or display boxes, cartons or the like, comprising the steps of feeding the containers to a conveying system which has a plurality of compartments for receiving the containers, each compartment extending transversely to the conveying direction conveying the containers to an ejector station, ejecting a preselected number of containers at the ejector station from said compartments to a buffer store where initially the containers are loosely arranged, subsequently pressing the containers in the buffer store closely against each other, moving the tightly packed containers into a position directly in front of the opening of a carton to be filled and loading the tightly packed containers into the opened carton.

Abstract: In a system for dispensing weighed or counted articles, articles are fed from a supply hopper by a vibratory conveyor to maintain a controlled level of articles in a bowl-shaped feeder hopper. In a weigher embodiment, articles are initially discharged from the feeder hopper through two discharge openings into an accumulator bucket. A weighing unit monitors the weight of articles in the bucket and signals a door to close one of the discharge openings as the weight of articles in the bucket begins to approach a predetermined weight. The weighing unit subsequently signals the feeder hopper drive to slow its feeding action as the weight of articles in the bucket more closely approaches the predetermined weight. The feeder hopper discharge openings are arranged near each other at locations where the door-controlled opening will provide a rapid, bulk feed of articles, while the other opening will provide a single-file trickle feed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counting paper straws and the like is disclosed, wherein the straws are arranged within channels of an endless conveyor so that the straws may be counted by an optical scanning device. As the straws are manufactured, they are conveyed to a hopper by means of a first endless conveyor. The hopper terminates in a pair of feed compartments above a second endless conveyor having a plurality of transverse channels. Rotating brushes are provided at the sides of the feed compartments, adjacent to the second conveyor to oscillate the straws in the compartments and to urge the straws into the transverse channels. The rotating brushes prevent more than one straw from occupying any one of the transverse channels. An optical scanning device accurately counts the straws while they are on the second conveyor, before they are deposited into a boxing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lasagne noodles from the stripper of a high production pasta oven and packaging the noodles in a continuous processing line. The output of the stripper is split and directed along separate paths whereby the rate at which product is discharged to each path is reduced in half, as compared to conventional strippers. Conveyors transfer the respective split components of the stripper output away from the stripper and through successive accumulator, inspection and sawing stations. After departing from the sawing stations, the noodles are shingled into sub-components of a predetermined number of noodles and these sub-components are then displaced into containers for final packaging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing finished disc records in envelopes and stacking the thus-filled envelopes include pushing, by a suitable push pin, a finished record along a predetermined substantially straight path into an empty envelope which is held at the latter path by way of a releasable holding structure capable of being actuated to drop the filled envelope onto a stack of filled envelopes after each envelope receives a finished record. The empty envelopes are derived from a stack of empty envelopes situated beside the stack of filled envelopes. These stacks of empty and filled envelopes are arranged beside each other in a direction which is transverse with respect to the path along which each finished record is pushed.