Abstract: An automatic conveyor packaging apparatus for high speed packing of frozen confections in containers with provision for interaction between product conveyors carrying confections from a confection manufacturing process and a conveyor carrying empty cartons to be loaded with these confections. Provision is made for interrupting the flow of confections from the manufacturing process to the packaging apparatus without necessity of stopping the manufacturing process. The mechanism provides for placing the confection pieces in rectilinear arrays within cartons and includes inhibiting mechanisms to prevent improper loading if certain portions of the apparatus malfunction.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is mounted on a briquetting press (12) and receives briquettes (14) in a magazine (18) which consists of two side rails (22, 24) and a smoothly polished base (28). A sensor (30) determines when the magazine (18) is full and operatively effects, through a programmable controller or microprocessor (not shown), the actuation of a motor (40) to withdraw the base (28) and discharge vertically the row of briquettes (29) from the magazine (18) onto one of a series of pallets (82, 84, 86, 88) transported transversely at a location below the surface of the magazine (18). Pallet position is sensed automatically so that briquettes (29) discharged from the magazine (18) are disposed at a preferred location on the pallet (82, 84, 86, 88). The operations of loading the magazine (18), detecting the magazine (18) as being fully loaded, and discharging the briquettes (29) from the magazine (18) onto a pallet, are coordinated with the movement with the pallets so that loading occurs automatically.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for multipackaging bottle-like containers as they are continuously moved through the apparatus. Continuously moving jaw stations incorporating opposing pairs of upstanding shell-like stretching members coact to continuously highly stretch a tube of thermoplastic material and release the stretching force after the plurality of bottles to be packaged are placed within the perimeter of the stretched tube.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for grouping flat items in stacks, particularly cookies which are advanced to a grouping device in at least three mutually parallel channels. The grouping device forms mixed groups of the items such that each group contains at least one item taken from each channel. For the purpose of compensating for an undersupply of items in at least one channel, the quantity of items which is normally taken from such an undersupplied channel is decreased by a first quantity and the quantity of items which is normally taken from the other, normally supplied channels is increased by a second quantity such that as the cadenced removal of items from the channels progresses, the number of items in the obtained mixed groups remains constant.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating and stacking articles, such as sausages or other food products, in cylindrical shaped casings, includes a conveyor moving the articles in groups to positions where portions of the group are removed by a conveyor to positions from which they are further moved into a conveyor having carriages receiving a group portion as a lower tier of a stack thereof and subsequently receiving another group portion as an upper tier.

Abstract: A machine and method which serves to introduce measured amounts of different items (e.g., pieces of different fruits) into containers such as cans or jars. Features of the machine and method include high filling speed, straight-line movement of means carrying separate measured amounts of the items, volumetric measuring pockets that are adjustable, and simplicity of construction and operation. Preferably the machine also incorporates means for orienting, slicing, and depositing a predetermined number of cherry halves into the containers.

Abstract: Herein described is an automated machine for filling a carton or crate with containers such as liquid filled plastic bottles. The machine includes a filling station, a stand having a conveyor line sequentially feeding empty cartons to the filling station and a conveyor line sequentially removing filled cartons from the filling station. The conveyor line to the filling station is substantially higher in elevation than the conveyor line from the filling station. A ramp interconnects the two conveyor lines and is positioned directly under the filling station. Empty cartons from the higher conveyor line are allowed to slide down the ramp on suitable tracks onto the lower conveyor line. Appropriate stop mechanism timed with mechanism in the filling station cause the carton being filled to stop at selected positions in order to be filled with bottles. A feed conveyor line sequentially supplies bottles to the filling station and onto a platform positioned directly over the ramp and empty cartons disposed therein.

Abstract: A tray indexing apparatus is disclosed for indexing trays containing rows of containers to be filled beneath a filler head. The apparatus includes means for supporting trays for movement along a predetermined path, means for indexing the supported trays beneath a filler head where the respective rows of containers are filled, and means for successively moving the supported trays along the predetermined path to a position for indexing by the indexing means and moving indexed, supported trays containing filled containers further along the predetermined path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lowering and pivoting rail mechanism for a carton filling machine for guiding and loading blanks into transport containers, in which the lowering rail can be lowered more or less vertically to the vicinity of the floor of the transport container or to a previously loaded layer of blanks and in which the pivoting rail can be moved into a position above the layer of blanks to be loaded.

Abstract: Randomly spaced articles in serial order are separated into predetermined linear configurations or rows of a predetermined number of articles and thereafter simultaneously transferred into compartments in rows in a container. In reverse operation, articles from the compartments in the container are transferred into single file order. The apparatus used in these operations includes a conveyor upon which the predetermined linear configuration of articles is established, and a conveyor which moves the container and its rows of compartments into alignment to receive the articles, and an elevator assembly for transferring the articles in the predetermined configuration between the first conveyor and the rows of the container. Separably operable conveyor segments and separator plates establish the predetermined linear configuration on the conveyor, and the conveyor moves to avoid interference with the movement path of the articles transferred by the elevator assembly.

Abstract: Switch apparatus for the positioning drive of a lowering and pivoting rail for the guiding of blanks into transport containers in a carton filling machine. With the pivoting rail and the aid of a belt running along the pivoting rail, previously imbricated delivered blanks are delivered to loading position in the transport container such as a carton. The lowering rail serves as a counter support so that the pivoting rail and lowering rail cooperate at the loading point of the blanks to guide and control the loading of the blanks as far as possible into their final position in the transport container.

Abstract: An automatic tray loading apparatus for cookies or the like in which cook are divided into two rows with cookies in each row separated into groups of a given count and continuously conveyed to a loading station for loading into trays. A pair of drop chute members are aligned with the rows of cookies and each arranged to receive a discrete cookie group dropped therein by a drop gate device. The cookie group dropped into one of the drop chutes is moved laterally into close proximity to a second cookie group resting in the second drop chute to bring the cookie spacing into register with the spacing of cookie receiving compartments in the trays. Drop gate slides for each drop chute are then activated to open chute outlet openings to drop each cookie group into an appropriate compartment of a waiting cookie tray. A tray conveyor then carries away the cookie-filled tray and spots an empty tray below the drop chute outlet openings.

Abstract: An egg packer in which the eggs are aligned while being conveyed to a transfer position with the eggs thereat having their narrow ends in an abutting relation with a transversely disposed vertical wall. A receptacle is disposed adjacent the end of the conveyor into which the eggs are guided with the larger end of the egg first entering into the receptacle. Upon rotation of the receptacle, the egg is turned and assumes a position with the narrow end facing downwardly. A pair of shell members receive the egg and move it into alignment with the egg carton or other receiving means at which the shell members are opened and the egg is deposited with the narrow end thereof downwardly facing.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for loading sausages into trays, which includes a conveyor for the sausages and another for the trays. The sausages and trays are carried in the same direction laterally adjacent each other, and the trays are arrested one by one at a loading station. A low-friction table surface is located immediately above the tray and sausages are placed in side-by-side relation on the table. When the requisite number of sausages are accumulated on the table, a pusher blade shoves the sausages past the forward end of the table surface and into the forward end of the tray. The tray is then moved forward one-half its length, so that the next batch of sausages is inserted in the rearward end.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for packing articles, for example apples and other readily damaged fruits, in a close-packed array. A first feeder operates to pack a first supply of the articles in spaced-apart groups and a second feeder operates to fill the spaces between these groups. The feeders are preferably rotary members rotating in a vertical plane and having circumferential depressions. These depressions cooperate with peripheral confining barriers, eg. belts, to carry the articles downwardly and release them as required. The packages for receiving the articles, preferably pieces of expanded structural honeycomb material, may be carried under the feeders by a movable, synchronized conveyor. This conveyor may have protruberances for holding the honeycomb material expanded during filling. Unloading may be effected by raising the filled package into a confining frame in which it is then moved for deposition in a carton.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding tubes into receptacles comprising conveyor means for intermittently shifting a receptacle, a chute for feeding rows of tubes, a frame for moving rows of the tubes onto the upper side of the receptacle and a stuffing plate for stuffing the tubes into the receptacle.

Abstract: An all purpose indexing device primarily for interrupting the motion of baking pans on a continuously moving conveyor, the baking pans having spaced indentations therein, comprising a U-shaped index bar pivotally mounted to fixed portion of the conveyor frame having a central crosspiece disposed across the conveyor, at least two indexing fingers extending downwardly from the crosspiece toward the conveyor and engagable with the indentations of a baking pan. Air cylinders are connected between the U-shaped index bar and the fixed portion of the conveyor frame at points adjacent respective lateral ends of the index bar. A sensing rod is pivotally mounted to the conveyor frame and disposed parallel to the index bar. A sensing finger is connected adjacent the middle of the sensing rod and extends downwardly towards the conveyor.