Abstract: A robot system for encasing cone-like articles, comprising a robot movable along a path, and an aligning and supplying device for cone-like articles, empty cases for receiving the cone-like articles and an inverting device for carrying and inverting the plurality of cone-like articles which are disposed along the path of the robot. The robot includes a first gripper for gripping and carrying the cone-like articles aligned on the aligning and supplying device and a second gripper for gripping and carrying the cone-like articles inverted on the inverting device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a case packer for placing bottles in a case having dividers separating the bottles. The packer employs horizontally acting trap doors upon which bottles are placed in rows and columns as they are indexed from an infeed conveyor. Half the bottles are placed on one trap door and the other half are placed on the other by the indexing means. As the trap doors are actuated the upper portion of the bottles strike alignment bars and are pivoted and oriented into proper alignment to drop into the case which is located beneath the trap doors.

Abstract: In a method of dispensing metered quantities of snuff and of packaging the individual quantities of snuff, the individual snuff quantities are shaped while being packaged, there being used an upwardly and downwardly open frame (1) divided by internal walls into a plurality of spaces (5) of the same size. These spaces (5) are closed downwardly by means of a base sheet (2) welded to the frame, a metered quantity of snuff is evenly distributed in the spaces (5) and the frame (1) is hermetically closed on the top side by means of a top sheet (10), optionally after being placed in a vacuum chamber (9) or after mechanical compression of the snuff in the individual spaces (5).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading and unloading a transport and storage rack, such as a cart-rack (9). Packages (2) of goods, arriving on a conveyor (3), are directed to the appropriate support plates (6) of an intermediate storage (4) equipped with a lifting and lowering device, the plates being situated at a distance from each other corresponding to the distance between the shelves in the cart-rack (9), in which case a number of goods packages corresponding to the number of shelves in the rack are transferred simultaneously into the rack by means of a separate pushing device (5), the several pushers (11) of this device carrying out the transfer. The rack (9) is unloaded by pushing by means of a pusher (5) all the goods packages (2) in it simultaneously into the intermediate storage (4) and from there one at the time onto the conveyor (3). At this time the conveying direction of the lifting device is opposite to the loading procedure.

Abstract: A pneumatic bottle stop for a case packer is presented. Fundamentally, the bottle stop consists of a cylinder associated with each lane of a case packer. A piston of each cylinder extends into the lane for making contacting engagement with oncoming bottles or articles. The bottles compress the piston into the cylinder, expelling air therefrom through an adjustable orifice of an associated quick dump valve. The pistons are extended by the application of exhaust air derived from a head control cylinder when the piston of that cylinder is drawn to position skid bars in the head to receive oncoming bottles. A bleeder valve is provided such that the cylinders associated with each lane are maintained at atmospheric pressure after extension of the associated pistons.

Abstract: A machine and method for automatically cartoning fruit in the cells of a protective honeycomb, in which the method includes the steps of positioning a foldable carton blank at a first station, disposing an expanded honeycomb defining a plurality of open cells over the blank, depositing articles such as fruit in the cells to form a fruit-filled honeycomb on the blank, and forming the carton blank into a base portion and side and end portions closely embracing the periphery of the fruit filled honeycomb, thereby to form a self-supporting fruit containing carbon.

Abstract: A rotary packer has pendulously supported grids spaced around a circular orbit that includes a discharge station where each grid mates with a case to be loaded with articles dropped from the grid. Two adjacent grids are required to be so mated, at least during movement of one grid toward and the other grid out of the discharge station. The cases are moved at matching speeds by advancing the odd numbered cases with a first case conveyor and providing a second case conveyor for the even numbered cases.

Abstract: A machine and method for loading irregularly shaped articles into cartons. The packages are collected from an input conveyor into partial carton loads which are combined into a complete carton load which is moved into an inverted opened carton which is then turned over and moved to further machinery for flap closing and sealing.

Abstract: Discrete articles moving on a conveyor belt are first laterally aligned in rows extending transversely to direction of movement of the conveyor belt and then engaged in compartments arranged in rows extending across the conveyor belt. The compartments containing the articles are then shifted to overlie packages located beneath the compartments and the aligned rows of articles from within the compartments are permitted to drop into the packages.

Abstract: A bottle packer grid assembly is disclosed which is capable of packing two cases simultaneously wherein the construction provides the capability for each individual single case grid section to be separately removable from the surrounding support structure. The configuration of the packer grid basically includes four transverse members and preferably five longitudinally extending members which divide the bottles to be packed into grids of variable numbers of rows and columns, the most common being 4.times.6. Preferably a dead plate support is positioned to hold one bottle in between the two cases being loaded in order to better maintain alignment with the cases positioned therebelow. The cooperation of a plurality of pin means with the transversely extending members which define apertures therein for receiving the pin means allows two arrays of 4.times.6 with a dead bottle position therebetween and yet allow upon removal of certain pins the easy maintenance of a specific bottle receiving cell.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for the loading of a carton with a full complement of plastic bags and a cardboard insert. A plunger descends and contacts an insert which, in turn, forces a stack of plastic bags into an empty carton disposed directly below. A pair of intermeshing rollers are also provided to further guide the bags into the carton. Both gusseted and non-gusseted bags can easily be loaded pursuant to the teachings of the present invention.

Abstract: A device and method for packing chocolates or related products includes a mold with a series of cavities. Product push devices cross the bottoms of the cavities so that the chocolates are pushed out of the mold to later be drawn together and carried into a box. The mold includes slots which receive longitudinal and transverse separating partitions. Product push devices push the partitions out of the slots while the chocolates are pushed out of the mold, so that the partitions remain between the chocolates for placement into a box.

Abstract: A packaging machine for automatically packaging articles in a honeycomb structure which includes mechanisms for providing a honeycomb structure in an expanded condition in a loading station. The articles to be packaged are directed into the loading station, dropped into the expanded honeycomb structure, and the articles and honeycomb are subsequently dropped into the container. This is automatically done on a repeated basis until the container is filled, after which the container is automatically moved out of the loading station and a new container is moved into place.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for loading containers into a carrier tray having individual rows of cutouts for receiving the containers. The apparatus includes feed control conveyors for spacing the containers at a uniform predetermined distance and a gating mechanism for directing the containers into a plurality of feed lines. The feed lines include feed-control screws which cooperate to advance the containers so that a container is discharged from the end of each feed line simultaneously, the discharge containers being laterally aligned in a transverse row. A container conveyor advances the aligned containers discharged from the feed lines. A tray conveyor underlying the container conveyor receives and advances carrier trays so that the aligned containers reach the discharge end of the container conveyor simultaneously with a row of cutouts in a tray, the containers falling downwardly directly into the row of cutouts in the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously transferring a plurality of stacks of sliced or bulk food product from a holding station, such as the output of a slicing and stacking machine, to a receiving station, or the like, for loading and packaging of the food product. The device includes a rapidly and continuously operating accumulating conveyor for transferring a plurality of stacks from the holding station to a transfer station, and a shuttle-like, product-engaging member mounted proximate the transfer station for rapid, reciprocating movement transverse to the conveyor for transferring the plurality of stacks from the transfer station to a loading station. The product-engaging member has a plurality of concave portions, each formed to receive one stack of the plurality of stacks of product.

Abstract: A dispensing container or box for pills or capsules having multiple individual compartments, which can be individually opened for extracting or dispensing a pill or capsule. The individual compartments are formed by partitions within the container. A top or cover is provided which is initially integral and which provides a plurality of tabs arranged so that an individual tab covers each compartment, the tabs being attached to the cover by a frangible part that can be manually broken free. Each tab is provided with means in the form of a depending rib shaped to snugly fit into the top of its respective compartment to provide an air tight fit. Latching detent means are provided as between the integral cover and the container so that when the cover is positioned it cannot be taken off or removed from the container.

Abstract: Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying cases for transporting stowed articles, including a carriage (7), displaceable between a station for supplying bottles lying head to tail and a station for loading containers, bearing a tackle-block (16), and a centering frame (17) adapted to cooperate with a plate (24) equipped with gripping suction cups (25). Carriage (7) rolls on a runway (1) which is curved in a semi-circle above the containers in order to allow the loading of one half and the other half of the containers, and an orientable guiding member (28) enables the position of the plate (24) during its rising and descending movements to be corrected.

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 hoist includes an upper support plate connected to a lower guide plate by two sliding rods. The hoist is designed for lifting a plurality of elongated articles, such as projectiles, by hooking each article onto a fastener attached to the lower surface of the upper support plate with the article extending through one of several holes in the lower guide plate. The holes in the lower guide plate serve to keep the articles from banging together. Springs may be used to bias the upper support plate towards the lower guide plate. An associated method of using the hoist is especially well-suited for moving projectiles between pallets having different center-to-center or projectile separation distances.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling rod-like articles incorporates a buffer reservoir system using trolleys having vertical compartments for storing the articles in stack formation. The compartments receive the articles from outlets in a first conveyor and may return articles to a second conveyor through inlets. The first conveyor may form part of a conveyor system linking one or more cigarette making machines to one or more cigarette packing machines. The outlets are closable by a gate and a platform is moved through each compartment to lower articles from the outlet. The bottoms of the compartments are provided with removable slats. A particular form of closure suitable for separating a stack of rod-like articles and apparatus for loading and unloading containers with rod-like articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for centering cases into which articles such as bottles are deposited from an article loading machine. The case into which the articles are to be deposited are fed by a conveyor to a position below a grid set upon which the articles are carried. The case is shifted longitudinally and laterally by means of movable arms to a centered position directly below the articles so that the articles are properly positioned for loading into the case. In one embodiment, the movable arms are connected as tongs which engage the front and rear edges of the case when shifting the case to the centered position. In another embodiment, the arms are in the form of space plates that are carried on spring loaded linkages that are positioned an equal distance from a centered position in alignment with the article loading machine. In a third embodiment, arms having inclined surfaces adjacent the ends thereof are manipulated by a power operated cylinder for shifting the case to the centered position.

Abstract: A bottle loading machine having a bottle transfer conveyor transferring charges of bottles in aligned rows to a case loading station for being deposited through a grid set into a case carried therebelow. Aligned pairs of gripping arms are carried in the path of the transfer conveyor directly over the grid set for receiving the aligned rows of bottles. A pair of abutments are carried adjacent the forward end of the grid set for tilting the leading bottle of the charge of bottles so that when the bottles are dropped, they drop freely into the case. A plurality of stops are carried on a pivotal arm positioned adjacent the junction of the transfer conveyor and the grid set for restraining the incoming bottles as the charge is being dropped into the case.

Abstract: A packaging machine for automatically packaging articles in a honeycomb structure which includes mechanisms for providing a honeycomb structure in an expanded condition in a loading station. The articles to be packaged are directed into the loading station, dropped into the expanded honeycomb structure, and the articles and honeycomb are subsequently dropped into the container. This is automatically done on a repeated basis until the container is filled, after which the container is automatically moved out of the loading station and a new container is moved into place.

Abstract: A box packing machine in which containers such as bottles are fed continuously to form a group of a given number with certain rows and columns and the containers in one group are spaced apart one another at a predetermined distance before being loaded into a box such as a carton. A container space regulating unit is reciprocatingly movable between the first position and the second position defined in the box packing machine. The container space regulating unit receives containers of a given number at the first position. The containers carried on the space regulating unit are spaced apart one another at a predetermined distance while they are being transported to the second position, where the containers are transferred into a box in unison.

Abstract: This disclosure is of apparatus which picks up a plurality of tapered cups containing any of a variety of products, such cups being closed with lids or heat sealing, moves such cups as a unit in a vertical lift, and then deposits such cups as a unit in a vertical discharge into a tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the feeding of cases into an article handling machine from a moving conveyor which feeds a continuous line of cases thereto. The apparatus includes an abutment carried in the path of flow of the cases. The abutment extends above the conveyor for engaging a front end of a first case of said line of cases stopping the forward movement of the cases on the conveyor. A movable post is carried below the front end of the case and is selectively raised for lifting the front end of the case over the abutment so that the case can be indexed forwardly on the conveyor and into the article handling machine.

Abstract: A case packer head including a grid frame for receiving a plurality of rows of abutted articles therein and a skid blade frame carried by the grid frame for article support and release action are provided, together with a movable support means for the downstream end of the grid frame, and a control member operably engages this support means to move the downstream end of the grid frame vertically so that the grid frame can be inclined downwardly for article loading action and be positioned horizontally for article drop.