Abstract: A push-in mechanism pushes articles into a box that is opened sideways. The push-in mechanism is provided with a box standby part, an article placement part, a push-in plate, a horizontal movement mechanism, and a lifting/lowering mechanism. The box standby part causes the boxes to wait. The article placement part has a placement surface on which the articles are temporarily placed. The push-in plate is installed in a standing state so as to have a pressing surface for pressing the articles toward the box. The horizontal movement mechanism causes the push-in plate to reciprocate horizontally above the placement surface so that the push-in plate moves toward the box or moves away from the box. The lifting/lowering mechanism moves the push-in plate so as to change a separation distance in the height direction between a lower edge of the pressing surface and the placement surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bundle (11) of rolled bars, comprising bar conveying means (4), an inclined plane device (1) for forming a layer of bars and bar accumulation means (5), wherein the inclined plane device (1) comprises a plurality of support elements (2), arranged parallel to each another and defining a first plane inclined by an angle (a) with respect to a horizontal direction, and adapted to receive a predetermined number of bars defining the layer of bars on said first plane from said bar conveying means (4), handling means (60) for translating the inclined plane device (1) from a first maximum advancement position distal from the conveyor means (4) to a second maximum retraction position proximal to the conveyor means (4) to unload the layer of bars onto the accumulation means (5), at a speed such to prevent the bars resting on said supporting elements from being dragged.

Abstract: A device (1) for forming rolled bar (3) bundles which allows to obtain perfectly tidy and super compact bundles, in which the bars (3) are perfectly aligned with one another without twisting, tangling or overlapping, both inside and outside the bundle, conferring an excellent shape and regular appearance to the same. A process for forming rolled bar bundles by using the aforesaid device is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glove packing apparatus for packing gloves into a box, and to a method of packing gloves into a box, particularly to the packing of disposable medical gloves. A glove packing apparatus (1) for packing gloves into a box comprises a receptacle (26) for forming a stack of gloves to be packed, the receptacle having a perimeter wall (24, 25) for containing a stack of gloves, a floor (22) within the perimeter wall for supporting the stack of gloves, and an opening (27) opposite the floor into which additional gloves may be added to during stacking of gloves. The floor (22) is movable relative to the perimeter wall (24, 25), so that, in use, the floor may be moved relatively away from the receptacle opening (27) so that as gloves are added to said stack of gloves, the perimeter wall continues to contain the stack of gloves. The floor (22) may then be moved relatively toward the opening to remove the stack of gloves from the receptacle (26).

Abstract: A loader includes a sling for supporting a one or more items. The sling is secured on opposite sides of a loading chamber. The loader also includes a lowering mechanism. The lowering mechanism can lower the sling. The loader includes a release mechanism that secures one or both sides of the sling. After the sling is lowered by the lowering mechanism an adequate distance to place the one or more items close to the receptacle, the release mechanism releases one or both sides of the sling, which places the one or more items in or on a receptacle. The loader includes a take-up mechanism attached to one side of the sling. The take-up mechanism takes up the sling when the opposite side of the sling is released by the release mechanism. The loader is capable of inserting close fitting items into receptacles, such as a stack of trays of produce.

Abstract: An automatic system for orderly packaging of plastic preforms in carton boxes includes a manipulator unit (6) having a vacuum gripping head (23) and one or more units (10) for handling and inserting separators (12) in the carton box (13) to be filled. The head (23) includes a plurality of compartments (30) conforming to the shape of the preforms (2) whereas the separator (12) has a plurality of partitions (12a) parallel to one of its sides and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to the length of the preform (2).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for loading stacked food product into packages. Open top containers are arranged in rows and movable into a loading station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface having an end region extendable to a position arranged above the containers of a row of the containers. A guiding and pushing apparatus is arranged above the row and includes guides that are lowered to capture a row of stacked food products on the conveying surface, and plungers within the guides that lower and press a top of the stacks. When the conveying surface is retracted from beneath the guides and the row of containers, the guides are lowered further, adjacent to the containers, and the plungers are lowered with respect to the guides to push the stacks into the containers.

Abstract: Container packing system for use with conveyed articles. The system includes a carton having four sidewalls with four carton upper edges and four carton lower edges. Four upper flaps are connected to the respective upper edges and four lower flaps are connected to the respective four lower edges. The sidewalls define a carton inner space sized to receive therein a layer of the conveyed articles. A movable support platform receives thereon the conveyed articles and is sized for location in the carton space between the sidewalls. The support platform is actuatable to move between the upper edges and the lower edges. Two of the lower flaps are folded inwardly and upwardly towards a lower surface of the movable support platform. A method of using the system to pack a carton is also provided.

Abstract: The apparatus for dispensing change of the present invention comprises: a data input device for inputting change data; a base sheet supplier for supplying a base sheet; a top sheet supplier for supplying a top sheet; a cash deliverer for delivering cash based on the change data input to the data input device; and a change pack producer for producing a change pack by packing the cash delivered by the cash deliverer between the base sheet supplied by the base sheet supplier and the top sheet supplied by the top sheet supplier.

Abstract: Upon filling cans with fiber band, the movable bottom of the cans, as the filling process proceeds, moves downwardly from an initial upper to a lower final position. As this happens, between two elements, one inside, one outside the circumferential shell of the can, a force field is built up in such a way that the element inside the can supports the can bottom and because of the force field, this bottom is held at the same elevation as the element outside of the can. Further, the desired operating height of the can bottom can be correspondingly held. For the lowering of the can bottom, one of the two elements between which the force field exists, is moved relative to the other in the direction of the lower final positioning of the can bottom and the remaining element follows after, because of said force field, until both elements again stand across from one another at the same height.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for packaging goods from a continuous stack. A conveyor is arranged on a base to move the continuous stack in a conveying direction. A separator means separates a stack portion of a predetermined size from the continuous stack. The stack portion is pushed aside from the conveying direction to a position within reach of a gripper. The gripper is used to transfer the stack along a second direction to at least one packaging position in a box or on a packaging blank. The gripper comprises at least two jaws which compress and hold the stack during the transfer. The gripper is arranged parallel to the base so that the base supports the stack portion from below during the transfer. In the method of the present invention, the stack portion is moved onto a cover part of a packaging blank and the packaging blank is folded around the stack portion to form a box.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the transportation and storage of compressible items in a compressed state, the apparatus comprising a lower member featuring a horizontal floor; an upper member featuring a horizontal roof, the upper member being slideably connected to the lower member; a platform between the floor and roof that is slideably connected to the upper and lower member; a rotational expulsion mechanism attached to the lower member, upper member, and platform; and an attachment point, said attachment point facilitating the connection of the apparatus to a vehicle. Compressible items may be loaded onto the platform, after which the platform is raised so that compressible items may be loaded between the floor and platform. The roof may then be lowered, compressing both those items between the roof and platform and those items between the platform and floor.

Abstract: A device for loading storage containersfor elongated articles, particularly tobacco products, wherein a feedbox for the articles presents an output window facing a horizontal platefor supporting an orderly mass of articles; the output window is defined by the side by side output openings of a number of side by side channels for respective columns of articles; the horizontal plate is movable vertically along a storage container positioned with its input opening facing the output window, and presents side by side seats on top for respective articles; each output opening faces a rib separating two respective adjacent seats on the horizontal plate;and the channels are all inclined to the same side in relation to the plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for putting small, slender, cylindrical cells in a box in an aligned row. By using the force of a magnet, multiple cells are suspended from the lower side of a conveyor belt, and are aligned and held in this position. By releasing the magnetic force, the cells drop, so that large numbers of cells, in a suspended and aligned state, can be simultaneously put into a cell container waiting below.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for loading ligating clips into ligating clip cartridges. Ligating clips are fed to an inversion wheel having cavities for receiving the clips. The clips are inverted by rotating the wheel. The clips are pushed into ligating clip cartridge covers by an insertion blade. The cartridge cover is indexed by an automatic control system to receive the clips. A cartridge base is inserted into the cover after it has been loaded with clips to form the assembled cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling cartons with horizontal stacks of containers includes a chute assembly and a carton indexing table positioned thereunder. The chute assembly holds a single horizontal stack of containers to be placed in a plastic-lined carton previously placed on the carton indexing table. The chute assembly includes front and rear downwardly and inwardly projecting fixed guides and a pair of pivoting side guides. The pivoting side guides are arranged for motion between an inward retracted position and an outward extended position.

Abstract: The plant, which is used in the working of fruits such as applies and similar, collects the fruits (9) from water conveyor channels (6), and inserts them below a bell (3), from which the fruit will successively be transferred, by force of gravity, inside container bins (1); the bell (3), apart from being capable of axial movement, is capable also of translation movement which allows it to be positioned over various transport channels, with which a plant is usually equipped; the bell (3) further comprises an aspiration pump (10) which creates a vacuum inside it, so as to favor the accumulation of fruit inside the bell (3).

Abstract: A pneumatically operated flex-pack case packer for servicing a form-fill-seal machine. The flex-pack case packer employs a two-stage displacement cylinder to move an interchangeable head assembly having grippers that, when moved into position to receive severed flexible pouches from the form-fill-seal machine, grasp the flexible pouches. The head assembly is then retracted and swung from its horizontal position to a vertical position. Once an open top container is indexed into position, the head assembly is lowered toward the container and the grippers open to release the flexible pouches. Also, the lateral distances between the flexible pouches as they are held by their respective grippers can be expanded or contracted by using an air cylinder to actuate a rocker arm. A programmable controller coordinates all air control valve and solenoid activity.

Abstract: A device for filling boxes, especially at the output of a machine sorting flat objects, particularly postal items, has at least one inclined support plate for diverted letters, a jogging member and a sliding plate subject to a restoring force. The device includes at least one bar retractable through at least one aperture in the box. Each bar is formed by two arms, of which a first arm is freely pivoted to the frame of the machine at its first end. A scrod arm extending the support plate in its operative position is freely pivoted on the second end of the first arm and rests with its first end of the bottom of the box.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compiling deformable, substantially cylindrical bodies and for packing them, comprising vibrating said bodies being positioned at pile delivery substantially parallel adjacent and superposed to each other and being aligned in at least one row of parallelly positioned bodies adjacent to each other, whereafter this row is loaded into a substantially parallelepipedic magazine (6) that is substantially spaceless charged with bodies and thereafter transferred to a magazine discharge station (E) and positioned below a substantially similar transfer magazine (12), into which the bodies are transferred and which is thereafter transversely shifted above a reception space (14) for said bodies into which the bodies enter by gravity and are divided into streams moving downwardly into the area of two or more adjacent discharge devices (17) from which the bodies being compiled to predetermined groups are conveyed at the same time into cups of a cup conveyer (FIG. 4).

Abstract: An automatic wrapping apparatus of cylindrical articles, particularly plastic bobbins. The apparatus includes feed rollers for feeding two wrapping sheets therebetween in opposed manner to form a bottom portion for a wrapping bag. A loading device is provided for loading bobbins onto the bottom portion by holding each unit of regularly arranged bobbins and dropping it in an orderly state. A support member is provided for supporting the bobbins unit by unit from underneath and causing the bobbin unit whenever dropped to descend by the bobin height, thus stacking bobbin units one upon another. A basket-like retainer is provided for receiving the bobbin units descending with stacking to retain them in the place so as to keep the orderly state. A heat sealer is provided for uniting the bottom portion and a top margin of the wrapping bag. A side heat sealer is provided for uniting both sides of the bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing flexible packages, comprises separating and aligning the packages (5) transversely from a single feeding line (11) into plural lines (12), centralizing the packages so as to overlap each other partially (13), subsequently, lifting up the packages in centralizing state through vacuum pads (1), and placing them into an open top outer cartons without dropping the packages by gravity so that they are arranged in tiers as stacked in the cartons.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for forming groups of face-to-face contacting flat items comprises a supply conveyor for advancing a column of serially arranged, flat-lying items; a stack-forming unit situated in a charging station and arranged for sequentially receiving the items from the supply conveyor; a plurality of stacking containers for acommodating a stack of the items; an arrangement for positioning an empty stacking container in the charging station; a stop arranged in the charging station for arresting each item in the stack-forming unit upon delivery by the supply conveyor; an intermittent drive for causing the stack-forming unit to cyclically deposit an item in the stacking container to form an article stack therein; and a sensor which generates a signal indicating a presence of an item to be deposited by the stack-forming unit and which is situated upstream of the stack-forming unit. The signal is applied to the intermittent drive for actuating the same.

Abstract: Stacks which consist of nested cuplike objects and have the basic shape of elongate cylinders are inserted in the form of a plurality of layers consisting each of a plurality of stacks into containers. The stacks are first moved in their longitudinal direction as they are fed to the container above the same and are subsequently transversely pushed in a juxtaposed condition into layer-forming means, which are mounted over the container, until the layer-forming means contain a complete layer consisting of the stacks. Thereafter the layer-forming means together with the layer of stacks are lowered from above as far as the bottom or as far as to a previously formed layer. The bottom of the layer-forming means is then pulled out under the layer and is deflected and pulled up so that the layer is deposited in the container while the mutual orientation of the stacks is maintained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed enabling articles to be rapidly packed into and unpacked from a case. The apparatus has a floating top such that the contents of the case will remain motionless, while the case is lowered or raised by a lifting device so as to achieve the object of rapidly taking the contents into and out of a case. Rod holes are formed on the bottom of the case which are similar in shape and alignment with the cylindrical rods on the lifting device. The lifting device has portable housing, five cylindrical rods of the same diameter, guiding sleeve, a slide plate, a cross-member and other fittings. The five cylindrical rods of the same diameter are inserted into central rod-receiving openings located on the housing to guide the slide plate. The lifting or lowering of the slide plate is controlled by a mechanism located on the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus, particularly, for packing egg cartons into wire baskets includes a movable tray for delivering cartons to a basket filling station where the cartons are lowered into the basket. Tines support the cartons after the movable tray is withdrawn and a movable press urges the cartons downwardly onto the tines while the tines move downwardly. The sequence is repeated and layers of cartons are progressively added to fill the basket. A sensor determines when the baskets are full and removes full baskets and replaces new baskets for filling. The basket filling station is fed from multiple filling trays fed by multiple conveyors.

Abstract: A DIP tube loader and handler including magazine for containing a quantity of empty DIP packaging tubes, a tube singulating mechanism for positioning the tubes one at a time into a position to be loaded with DIPs, a DIP singulating mechanism for loading a predetermined number of DIPs into the tubes, and a tube elevator for transporting the loaded tubes from the loading position into a hopper.

Abstract: Framing system in which plant pot sets (12) are shifted onto a pallet (5) provided with a bottom with holes by means of a roll conveyor (4) extending through the holes in the bottom of the pallet, and in which the pallets filled in this way are stacked.

Abstract: Method and machine for packing bacon bundles in blister packages. Bacon bundles (2) are placed in the blister package (15) by a lifting arm (17) having rotatable rods (21) and transversally extending tines (22). The rods (21) are rotatable over 90.degree.. The distance between the outer tines is slightly smaller than the length of the blister package. If the bacon bundle is too long it will depend over the outer tine and the depending portion (24) will automatically be double folded at the positioning of the bacon bundle in the blister package.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating stacks of superimposed layers or piles of paper sheets has a horizontal platform which receives successive layers from a feeding unit and can open up to permit the properly oriented layer thereon to descend by gravity onto an elevator which is disposed at a level below the platform and at a distance only slightly exceeding the height of a layer. The elevator is then lowered by a step, and the platform receives and discharges the next layer in the same way so that the elevator supports two layers. The accumulation of layers on the elevator is repeated as often as desired in order to accumulate a stack of desired height. The elevator is then opened and permits the fully grown stack to descend through a chute and into a container (such as a carton which is disposed therebelow and is properly centered by a suitable receptacle). The descent of the stack is braked by the column of air which is pushed by the stack in front of it through the chute and into the interior of the carton.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially feeding and stacking elongated or lengthy material in a receptacle channel of a load-carrying bed or stand. The apparatus is constructed to transfer the elongated material to the receptacle channel by a reduced number of support beams which are movable vertically to permit adjustment of the distance the elongated material is to be dropped onto the receptacle channel from the support beams.

Abstract: Set-up open top bottle carriers having apertured bottom walls are continuously supplied in abutting relationship by conveyor means to a loading station while bottles are moved continuously along a dead plate having its outfeed end at said loading station, and a plurality of positioning pins mounted on endless means which is movable in synchronism with movement of the bottles along the dead plate are disposed below the outfeed end of the dead plate and arranged so that the positioning pins enter apertures in the bottoms of the cartons thereby to insure that bottles fed off of the outfeed ends of the dead plate are dropped into the carton therebelow, the bottles being guided during their downward fall into the carton by parts of the pusher means which moves the bottles along the dead plate and downward movement of the bottles being arrested by a cushioned stop due to engagement with the positioning pins which are yieldably mounted.

Abstract: A plant for storing single articles or objects, such as track links, designed to be introduced into a production line turning out the said links, at a point between two consecutive processing center, or units, forming part of the line. A number of special containers, each of which is designed to accommodate the links are formed by rows into `parcels` and are transferred thus along the line using conventional conveyors thereby permitting their optional withdrawal from and redeposition onto the line. An apparatus is designed to receive, hold and position each single full or empty container with respect to the relative conveyor in order to allow such loading or unloading. Loading or unloading of the single container is brought about by transferring the parcels of links into the container, the base of which is formed with parallel slots into which rollers of a conveyor may be introduced.

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

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading containers with articles, such as post parcels, includes the use of a carrier device which is lowered into a container by suitable hoisting means at a rate dependent upon the number of articles deposited on the carrier device. The carrier device is positioned within the upper portion of a container in which articles are to be stored, and a conveyor belt delivers articles onto a pivotal flap member of the carrier device. Once the articles reach a certain height on the flap member, photocells signal the hoisting means to lower the carrier device further into the container, and this process continues until the carrier device is near the bottom of the container. Once the carrier device reaches its lowermost position, the pivotal flap member swings downwardly to release the accumulated articles into the container. The carrier device is then withdrawn from the filled container, and the container may then be removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a plurality of aligned containers from a conveyor and positioning them in spaced rows upon a supporting platform in a tiered arrangement. The containers are removed from the platform in the tiered arrangement and enveloped within a protective bag or like for storage purposes. The containers may be subsequently removed from the protective envelope and positioned upon the supporting platform from where they may be delivered in rows to a conveyor.

Abstract: A collating apparatus for cans or other articles of circular cross-section comprises a plurality of conveyor belts running parallel to one another and a constraining wall inverted just above the belts serving to collate the cans into a nested configuration, i.e., with transverse lines of cans at approximately an angle of 60.degree. to one another whereby a maximum number of cans can be accommodated in a given space. The constraining wall has a transverse portion facing an intake throat aided by zig-zag portions which build up a triangle pattern until the wall space has been filled. A circle of cans is then lifted magnetically.

Abstract: A loading system for loading articles into containers includes a container handling assembly and an article handling assemby, the paths of which intersect at a loading station. The container handling assembly carries a series of empty containers which it intermittently drives for moving the forwardmost one to the loading station while pushing a filled container from the loading station. The article handling assembly includes an input conveyor which moves the articles to a loading conveyor having alternating conveyor sections and window sections passing over the loading station. A platen carries a plurality of upwardly extending pins and is movable vertically between a receiving position with the pins disposed through complementary holes in the bottom of the container at the loading station and a depositing position wherein the pins are withdrawn from the openings in the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a casing loaded with a plurality of articles such as small-sized electronic parts for use in the electronic industries, which ensures that the stored parts will be positively and stably aligned in the casing without the possibility of any play or disorientation from their regular positioning within the casing. The casing is provided with a single piece resilient element which is inserted into the casing, the resilient element being designed to resiliently expand against the inner wall surface of the casing to frictionally engage therewith. Thereafter, a plurality of parts are inserted one after another into the casing so that they become stacked in a serially aligned manner inside the casing against the resilient force of the resilient element, thus preparing a casing loaded with a plurality of parts therein stacked in a serially end-to-end resting state.

Abstract: A container loading machine which includes a frame through which a cross feed conveyor feeds successive open crates, containers or receptacles so as to position the open containers successively in the machine for receiving a plurality of layers of articles, such as egg cartons, therein, and for conveying each loaded container away from the machine. The machine includes a plurality of upstanding carton receiving rods, the ends of which project upwardly through the bottom of the container within the loading zone of the machine so that the upper ends stop adjacent the open top of the container in a position to receive the first layer of accumulated egg cartons from a storage zone, thereabove. An infeed carton conveyor, which includes a pair of spaced, flexible, opposed, endless belts, carry successive egg cartons to the storage zone.

Abstract: A column of flat articles such as chip carrier lids (10) are assembled in a tube (35). A base (18) supports a typical row of such lids (10), each with a back surface (14) on the base (18) and a mating surface (15) facing upward. The base (18) also has an aperture (30) for passing serially downward therethrough, each lid (10) with its back surface (14) facing downward. A bracket (32) having a spring biased pin (34) and a block (38) is provided to support under the base (18) a tube (35) with an open end facing upward at the aperture (30). Plates (22, 23 and 24) are provided to guide to and introduce a lid (10) into the aperture (30) and onto any contents within the tube (35). A frictional plug (45) has fins (46) biased between opposing walls of the tube (35) to yieldably resist downward movement within the tube (35).