Grouping Articles On Edge In A Linear Relationship Patents (Class 53/542)
  • Publication number: 20030233816
    Abstract: A device for packing flat articles in transport containers includes a feeder for feeding the flat articles in imbricated form and a conveyor disposed downstream of the feeder, in travel direction of the flat articles. The conveyor has an at least approximately vertically extending end for discharging the articles into the transport containers for filling the transport containers therewith at a filling location. Equipment for further conveying the transport containers at the filling location includes two lateral belt conveyors disposed at the filling location for moving the transport containers forward during the filling thereof with the articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Hartmut Klapp, Wolfgang Diehr, Klaus Steves
  • Patent number: 6637178
    Abstract: An improved can end bagging system comprises four subassemblies: (1) the end gathering and stick assembly apparatus, (2) the bag feeding, opening, and loading apparatus which places a predetermined number of stacked can ends into an open end bag, (3) the vertical positioner apparatus for moving the bagged sticks into a folding device, and (4) the bag folding, closing and transfer apparatus. The loading mechanism includes a servo controlled pusher which is driven with controlled acceleration and deceleration to avoid tipping of the ends making up a stick, to avoid bursting of the bags during filling, and to assure complete and uniform filling of each bag. Sponginess which results primarily from variations in compression of the rims of the ends pressing against each other in the gathering and counting process is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Dayton Systems Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Cook, Brian W. Clark, Steffen W. Kracis, Dennis F. Moore, Jr., William E. Schneberger, Timothy A. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 6578344
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging tubular canisters in a charging direction with a stack of face-to-face oriented flat items, includes a conveyor for supporting and positioning an item stack thereon; a canister holder for supporting and positioning a canister; an arrangement for advancing the item stack in an item feeding direction from the conveyor into the canister positioned by the canister holder; an elongated guide member movable parallel to the feeding direction for introduction into and withdrawal from the canister positioned by the canister holder; a holding plate supported at an end of the guide member and being pivotal into a first position in which it projects into a feed path of the item stack for engaging a leading item of the item stack and into a second position in which it is clear of the feed path; and a drive for moving the guide member parallel to the feeding direction and for rotating the holding plate into the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: SIG Pack Systems AG
    Inventor: René Fluck
  • Publication number: 20030041570
    Abstract: A device for packaging sheet-like folded packages in an overlapping shingled relationship from a delivery conveyor into opened boxes without changing the direction of the flow of packages, comprises a frame, a feeder and a packer mounted on the frame for receiving the packages from the delivery conveyor at a receiving end thereof and for receiving and carrying boxes therein, respectively. The feeder includes a first conveyor for conveying packages through the feeder in a continuation of the direction of the flow and a detector for detecting each package entering the feeder. The packer includes a second conveyor for conveying transversely and downwardly the boxes adjacent to the feeder relative and opposite to the direction of the flow for packages to stack up and fill in the boxes by successively falling therein. Preferably, the feeder includes a stopper for blocking the packages from entering the feeder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Dominic Theriault
  • Patent number: 6508352
    Abstract: The stack of flat mail pieces that are arranged adjacent to one another on a support can be portioned with the aid of at least one displaceable holding support containing a conveyor belt because the support is divided into a horizontally oriented, stationary section and an adjacent section that can be pivoted about a pivoting axis positioned at the end of the pivotable section in the stacking direction. During the portioning process, the pivotable section extending downward at an angle from the stationary section is pivoted downward into a horizontal position. A holding support with a conveyor belt that is driven downward during the pivoting process is arranged underneath the stationary section at its border with the pivotable section. An additional support is arranged on the frame of the pivotable section of the support above the mail pieces. This additional support holds the stack remaining on the stationary section of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Enenkel, Armin Zimmermann, Dirk Nolte
  • Patent number: 6453645
    Abstract: A method for packaging flat articles in a stack in a package such as a box. In particular, the method is used to stack articles having different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their plane. A stack portion is gripped by a gripping device and rotated 180° from the direction of an adjacent stack portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Jomet Oy
    Inventors: Jouni Suokas, Kari Heikkilä
  • Patent number: 6408602
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for compressing a plurality of objects into a compressed grouping and transferring said compressed grouping to a transfer conveyor. The apparatus includes a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of receiving areas positioned around the circumference of the cylinder for receiving a plurality of objects in expanded arrangement from an infeed conveyor at a receiving position. The apparatus also includes first and second compression members, one positioned on each end of said cylinder adjacent the receiving areas and covering a circumferential-portion of a side of said cylinder. The compression members include inclined portion which force the end objects toward the longitudinal center of the cylinder. In addition, a transfer conveyor running longitudinally through the cylinder for capturing a compressed grouping at the transfer position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis Rejcek, Terry Brinkerhuff, Ron Rieger, Dennis Lenart, Mike McGee, Johnny Black
  • Patent number: 6398482
    Abstract: For handling elongate and flat workpieces flowing in a manufacturing line, two arrangements are disclosed, one being an arrangement including a workpiece posture changing device which changes the posture of each workpiece at the time when the workpiece is transmitted from a first conveyer to a second conveyer, and the other being an arrangement for bundling the workpiece flowing in the manufacturing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Asano, Toru Okabe, Kimio Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6279299
    Abstract: A file block or a drawer filler for supporting file folders, envelopes, and the like within file drawers or containers. The file block has a rectangular structure with six rectangular walls. At least one wall resiliently extends outward, which creates pressure against file folders and the like to be supported. Also disclosed is a blank for the file block, from which the file block is easily assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: Kevin L. Lee
  • Patent number: 6217276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for nesting taco shells, comprising: a stop for positioning a first taco shell, a pusher for urging taco shells toward the stop, pusher drive means for moving the pusher reciprocally relative to the stop, and control means for causing the minimum mutual distance between the stop and the pusher to increase stepwise during successive strokes of the pusher during making of a nest of taco shells. The invention also relates to a method of nesting taco shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: Franciscus Hohmann, Gert Jan Rein Leppink
  • Patent number: 6199680
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted to bunch together a predetermined number of inverted PTPs and uninverted PTPs into a bundle, and then transfer each PTP bundle to a bucket conveyor which moves intermittently in parallel with a conveying passage. A multitude of PTPs, a portion of which are inverted with respect to the conveying direction and the rest of which are not inverted, are conveyed along a first conveying passage while maintaining the blistered surfaces of the inverted and uninverted PTPs in parallel with each other. A selected portion of the PTPs being conveyed in the first conveying passage is pinched and separated from the same passage. The separated PTPs are bunched together while the spacing between the separated PTPs is narrowed in the conveying direction. The bunched PTPs are transferred onto a second conveying passage across the first conveying passage. The bunched PTPs are loaded into a bucket provided on a bucket conveyor which intermittently travels along the second conveying passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Omori Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Sakai, Toshio Omori
  • Patent number: 6189294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a package filled with individually foil wrapped, rectangular, in particular square, flexible slices of a highly perishable food, wherein a large number of wrapped slices are disposed, standing substantially upright, as a stack in a container that is open at the top, wherein the stack is enclosed by the four vertical outer walls of the container and the wrapped slices stand on the container bottom, which is preferably ribbed. The entire container can be sealed in a transparent plastic wrapping. A lower front sidewall of the container facilitates removal of individual slices from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Natec Reich Summer GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Baur
  • Patent number: 6182814
    Abstract: An in line feed method and apparatus for forming slugs of incoming items, which are standing on edge and aligned front-to-back is disclosed. The process uses a conveyor belt and a vacuum chamber aligned end to end for separating the flow of items and creating slugs. The items introduced to the system are on a conveyor belt. The belt is periodically stopped and the items blocked from being sucked into the vacuum chamber. While the product is blocked from entering the vacuum chamber a moving finger which travels through the chamber is introduced at the mouth of the vacuum chamber and the items are released from the conveyor belt such that they are sucked into the vacuum chamber but are limited by and stack up against the finger. In this manner slugs are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: SIG Pack, Inc., Doboy Division
    Inventor: Philip A. Koehler
  • Patent number: 6128887
    Abstract: In a method for packaging flat articles, articles are brought in a continuous stack (P) along a support level to a grouping station so that their planes are upright from the support level, wherein product batches to be placed in a package, such as a box, are separated from the stack by an automatic grouping device. For grouping articles having different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their plane, a stack portion (OP) is separated from the stack, the stack portion is gripped by a gripping device, and it is rotated around one axis so that its direction deviates from the original. The first stack portions (OP) so rotated are placed next to such second stack portions, whose directions in relation to said one axis deviate 180.degree. from the direction of the first stack portions, and the first and second stack portion so placed next to each other are formed to the product batch to be placed in the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Jomet Oy
    Inventors: Jouni Suokas, Kari Heikkila
  • Patent number: 6089000
    Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus for packing items in selectively variable numerical quantities includes a track assembly adapted to support a plurality of strip items in parallel array. In a first section of the track assembly, a lateral slot receives consecutive batches of strips in parallel array. A plurality of pusher elements extend through a track slot, pushing the strips to impinge on each other in edge-adjacent fashion, and to translate distally from the first stage. A second stage of the track assembly includes a sufficient length of the track to accumulate a large number of strips. At the distal end of the track, a strip collection cylinder receives the strips. One end of the cylinder is configured to receive the open end of a bottle package, and the other receives a plunger to push the accumulated strips from to the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Kinematic Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Carlberg, Theodore V. Meigs
  • Patent number: 6041578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a packaging machine to form groups of products and insert them into cartons at a cartoning station. The device comprises a stacking line equipped with a controlled outfeed hopper in which an alternating product presser operates. The stacking line comprises a container located at the bottom of the hopper and having a tongue inside it designed to retain the products forming the group which thus grows downwards towards an endwall of the container. The container moves alternately from a position in which it is connected with the hopper to a position in which it is connected with the cartoning station where the group is extracted from the container and transferred to the carton. The tongue is actuated by linear actuating means synchronized with the packaging machine by programmable control means and providing the enable signal to cut off the hopper to allow the container to move to the cartoning station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Tecnomeccanica S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 6018933
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing a row of vertically arranged, wrapped disposable articles, by pushing on three sides of a six-sided row of the articles, while confining the other 3 sides of the row with a confining surface. One of those confining surfaces, a gate, is movable into and out of its confining position, and prevents blow-out of the middle portion of the row that otherwise occurs in the absence of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventor: Denis Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6006499
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging article goods, such as paper goods, forming a stack comprises a conveyor adapted to carry a continuous stack formed by identical individual articles, such as envelopes, and a displacer device located along one side of the stack advancing path and provided with a detector for a count article constituted by one of identical articles and protruding from the stack. A separator element is adapted to penetrate into the stack for producing a gap between a stack portion to be separated first from the stack and the rest of the stack. The apparatus also includes a pusher element which is located at the front of the separator element in the advancing direction of the conveyor and is adapted to move across the stack advancing path for displacing the stack portion to a further processing unit located along the other side of the advancing path. The separator element is aligned with a gripper which is adapted to clasp the protruding count article and then release it to be left in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Jomet Oy
    Inventors: Jouni Ramo, Jouni Suokas
  • Patent number: 5950405
    Abstract: A handling device for conveying layered cellulose products (1), such as cotton wool pads formed successively during production, between a production station (2) and a packaging station (3) is provided with an intermediate storage system (4) with at least one pair of separate holding chambers (5, 6) for the serial holding of the cellulose products (1) delivered successively from the production station (2) to the packaging station (3) and for the transfer of the cellulose products (1) held in this way as a package (67) into a respective conveying cartridge (10). One holding chamber (5) of the pair can be coupled to the outlet of the production station (2) at the same time the other holding chamber (6) is in a transfer station (11) and is coupled to a conveying cartridge (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Peter Wolfel, Jean-Pierre Pringuer, Christof Karl Stary
  • Patent number: 5942188
    Abstract: An interactive control system for controlling the automatic consolidation of contact lenses in a contact lens product flow, the interactive control system comprises a product line having random variations in product flow. A consolidation buffer receives the products from the product line. A controller initiates consolidation of the random variations in the product flow. The consolidation is preferably performed by at least one stacking cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Mark Lepper, Russell James Edwards, Daniel Tsu-Fang Wang
  • Patent number: 5893259
    Abstract: A product filler head system having an input conveyor with a first drive motor for delivering product items, an index pusher for receiving the product items from the input conveyor, accumulating the product items into groups of a selected size and releasing the groups onto a staging area, the index pusher including a second drive motor, an index lug chain for receiving selected numbers of the groups of product items from the index pusher and displacing the selected number of groups of product along the staging area, the index lug chain including a third drive motor, a ram for displacing the groups of product items from the staging area into a receptacle, the ram including a fourth drive motor, and a selectively programmable computer control for individually actuating the first, second, third and fourth motors such that speeds of the conveyor, index pusher and lug chain are synchronized with respect to each other and with sequencing of the ram, so that changes in the size of the groups of product items and cha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Planet Products Corporation
    Inventor: Joe F. Posge
  • Patent number: 5887409
    Abstract: A method of packaging a particulate material is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a flexible plastic bag having an opening at one end, placing the bag in a mold which generally takes the form of an open-topped box, introducing the material into the bag through the opening, creating a vacuum in the bag and sealing the bag to close the opening while maintaining the vacuum in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Van Leer South Africa (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Carlos Alberto Leal Pereira Da Silva
  • Patent number: 5863177
    Abstract: A lid handling system employs a lid alignment assembly for aligning lids randomly placed on a rotating input disc, a lid separation assembly for separating lids spinning on a pair of horizontal spin bars into a counted stack, a vacuum pickup assembly for picking up a counted stack of lids, a pick and place assembly for transporting and placing stacks of lids into trays having upwardly bent side members, and a conveyor for conveying filled trays toward a carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: CBW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Carson, Darrell B. Johnson, Donald L. Powell
  • Patent number: 5822953
    Abstract: A film packaging system has a tubular casing arraying and conveying device for arraying and conveying tubular casings each housing a roll of unexposed photographic film, a packing device for inserting the tubular casings into respective first packaging cartons each having a packaging carton housing and a tongue-like hanger integral with the packaging carton housing, a packaging carton conveying device for successively conveying the first packaging cartons, and a charging device for picking up a desired number of first packaging cartons conveyed by the packaging carton conveying device, arraying the desired number of picked-up first packaging cartons and a desired number of second packaging cartons, each having a packaging carton housing and a tongue-like hanger integral with the packaging carton housing, such that the hangers are oriented in opposite directions, and placing the array of first and second packaging cartons into a box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sakae Kagawa, Kazunori Nagano
  • Patent number: 5820335
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting plates from two rows of plates travelling side-by-side on a moving conveyor comprising inverting plates sequentially in one row of plates and merging said two rows of plates by depositing a plate from one row onto a plate in the other row to form a single row of double plates each having an inverted plate, and assembling a single row of said double plates into stacks. The double plates are assembled into stacks preferably by shingling the double plates to assemble a plurality of overlapped double plates, stacking shingled double plates to form horizontal stacks, turning each horizontal stack onto a side or end of the stack to form a vertically-stacked bundle, and rocking the vertically-stacked bundle on the side or end to align the plates on the side or end, rotating the bundle vertically through 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Cominco Ltd.
    Inventors: Normand Croteau, Fergus M. Groundwater, Jean Guy Caron
  • Patent number: 5809745
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously counting, stacking, and packaging relatively rigid and stackable articles, such as frozen meat patties, is provided. The apparatus includes a bottom stacker for stacking stackable articles in a column, a stack mover for moving the stack of articles to a packaging station, and a packager for packaging the stack of articles. The packager can provide an open plastic bag without injecting air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Excel Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Reinert
  • Patent number: 5749205
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility includes: a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined amount of individual packages from an inspection station to an intermediate consolidation buffer and depositing the packages on the consolidation buffer; a control device for tracking and identifying each individual contact lens conveyed from the inspection station to the consolidation buffer and including memory and logic circuits for staring the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses that have been previously determined at the inspection station as being out of specification, and, generating a signal to enable the first robotic device to discard any individual package identified as out of specification; and, a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring a second predetermined amount of individual packages from the consolidation buffer to a second processing station, th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell James Edwards, Mary Louis Dolan, Svend Christensen, Borge Peter Gundersen, John Mark Lepper, Daniel Tsu-Fang Wang, Richard Wayne Abrams, Thomas Christian Ravn
  • Patent number: 5720156
    Abstract: An integrated and automated case packing device and method is disclosed. The device and method uses multiple stations to: separate a flattened case from a supply of such cases, detect whether the case in an A or B-type case, open the case according to the type of case, place a predetermined number of imbricated articles into a group standing on edge, move that group under the erected case, place the case over the stationary group, close the flaps to the case, and move the case downstream to a case invertor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Roberts Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy R. Bridges, Phillip S. LaChapelle, Claude E. Monsees
  • Patent number: 5699651
    Abstract: A selector assembly for dividing a continuous line of products moving along a processing path is positioned between a product infeed line and packaging machine line. As the line of products enters the selector assembly, the products are engaged by a rotating starwheel which meters the further flow of the products into a product grouping area of the selector assembly. Thereafter, the lugs of upper and lower selector belts selectively engage the line of products to divide the line of products into groups of products for packaging. The selector lugs engage the groups of products at the product infeed speed and thereafter are progressively accelerated to accelerate the groups of products up to the speed of the packaging machine line for transfer of the groups of products to the packaging machine line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Thomas Edward Weitkamp, Steve Brown
  • Patent number: 5678395
    Abstract: An apparatus for bundling truss plates includes comprises means for forming a plurality of truss plates and means for forming these truss plates into a unitized bundle that is easily shipped, stored, and handled. The apparatus can include means for orienting each of the plurality of truss plates so that the backing members are substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, aligning means for aligning the oriented truss plates so that the peripheries of their backing members are substantially aligned, stacking means for stacking the oriented and aligned truss plates, and interconnecting means for interconnecting the stacked truss plates into a unitized bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Tee-Lok Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Black, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5669754
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting plates from two rows of plates travelling side-by-side on a moving conveyor comprising inverting plates sequentially in one row of plates and merging said two rows of plates by depositing a plate from one row onto a plate in the other row to form a single row of double plates each having an inverted plate, and assembling a single row of said double plates into stacks. The double plates are assembled into stacks preferably by shingling the double plates to assemble a plurality of overlapped double plates, stacking shingled double plates to form horizontal stacks, turning each horizontal stack onto a side or end of the stack to form a vertically-stacked bundle, and rocking the vertically-stacked bundle on the side or end to align the plates on the side or end, rotating the bundle vertically through 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Dynamics Corporation Ltd.
    Inventors: Normand Croteau, Fergus M. Groundwater, Jean Guy Caron
  • Patent number: 5664407
    Abstract: A machine for packaging uniform-sized articles having generally flat, parallel sides and uniform length, width and thickness comprising the use of an array of articulating vanes attached in tandem and moved in a closed curvi-linear path. As the vane passes a loading station, each vane receives a single article upon a loading surface thereof. Each vane then carries such article to an unloading station (which may include means for packing said articles into boxes). During the aforesaid transit, the article is retained between adjacent vanes, side retainer and inner and outer retaining rods the latter rods operating together which operate together to strip the article toward and into a packing box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventors: Clayton C. Cooper, III, David R. Gordon, William B. Drobish
  • Patent number: 5638658
    Abstract: An apparatus for bundling truss plates includes a unit for forming a plurality of truss plates and a unit for forming these truss plates into a unitized bundle that is easily shipped, stored, and handled. The apparatus can include a station for orienting each of the plurality of truss plates so that the backing members are substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, an aligning station for aligning the oriented truss plates so that the peripheries of their backing members are substantially aligned, a stacking station for stacking the oriented and aligned truss plates, and an interconnecting unit for interconnecting the stacked truss plates into a unitized bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Tee-Lok Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Black, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5636494
    Abstract: An apparatus for bundling truss plates includes comprises means for forming a plurality of truss plates and means for forming these truss plates into a unitized bundle that is easily shipped, stored, and handled. The apparatus can include means for orienting each of the plurality of truss plates so that the backing members are substantially parallel to a predetermined plane, aligning means for aligning the oriented truss plates so that the peripheries of their backing members are substantially aligned, stacking means for stacking the oriented and aligned truss plates, and interconnecting means for interconnecting the stacked truss plates into a unitized bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Tee-Lok Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Black, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5599160
    Abstract: A plurality of tape cassettes fed in succession from a conveyor are oriented vertically on an end stretch of the conveyor itself terminating at a position in side by side relation with a tiltable collection element. The cassettes are pushed laterally from the end stretch of the feed conveyor for being loaded onto the collection element until they form thereon a row comprised of a given number of cassettes. The collection element is then tilted to let the cassette row fall onto a tray previously positioned under the collection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Tapematic U.S.A.,, Inc.
    Inventor: Luciano Perego
  • Patent number: 5588285
    Abstract: A system for packing a plurality of packages into a container has an input conveyor for delivering the packages one at a time at regular intervals and at a constant input speed to a transfer station and an output conveyor having a perforated lower belt and an upper belt together defining a path extending from an upstream end at the transfer station to a vertically displaceable downstream end at a loading station. A container conveyor extends past the loading station for displacing a succession of the containers through the station. A controller connected to all of the drives operates the output conveyor at a low stacking speed to form an overlapped group of the packages on the output conveyor. It periodically switches the output conveyor from the low stacking speed to a high gapping speed when a predetermined number of the packages have been deposited on the output conveyor by the input conveyor to form a space on the output conveyor between succeeding groups of packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Ostma Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz F. Odenthal
  • Patent number: 5560183
    Abstract: A collator and stacking apparatus, system and method for the collation and stacking of asymmetric plastic blister packages having a blister at or toward one end on a flat card, which comprises package-receiving inverter and sliding trays each with a tray surface, upwardly extending sides and a one and other end, for receiving each a package thereon, the received package being in the same orientation on each tray surface. The inverter trays have stops to position the received package on the tray surface as it moves between a package receiving position and an inverted package discharge position, wherein the package is inverted and placed within a collation track perpendicular to the trays, the track having a first and second end for receiving periodically an inverted package from the inverter tray and a slidable package from the sliding tray in a spaced-apart alternating arrangement within the track rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Sencorp Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. James
  • Patent number: 5548945
    Abstract: A device for packing packs of filled tea bags has a channel for collecting filled tea bags to form a stack. The channel has a first stack holder for securing the leading tea bag and a first stack pusher for advancing the completed stack. A rotary device has two cassettes for receiving the completed stack. A transporting device has a second stack holder and a second stack pusher for transporting the completed stack from the rotary device after rotation into a position above the box for packing. A pushing device for pushing the completed stack into the box is provided. A tea bag feeding device feeds individual tea bags to the channel for forming the stack. Two oppositely arranged retaining fingers are positioned at an upstream end of the channel. A tea bag holder is positioned in an initial position at the beginning of forming a new stack at the upstream end of the channel and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Helmut Nippes
  • Patent number: 5515667
    Abstract: A device for forming a stack of printed sheets. The device includes a conveying device for conveying the printed sheets in an imbricated flow vertically downwards and an approximately horizontal stack support disposed below the conveying device and having an entrance end for receiving the printed sheets. The stack support has a working region where stacks of the printed sheets are formed, and, disposed downstream of the working region in a stack formation direction, a pressing region where formed stacks of the printed sheets are compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: GRAPHA-Holding AG
    Inventor: Hanspeter Roosli
  • Patent number: 5410859
    Abstract: A predetermined number of articles, as open ended, nested hollow articles, are packed in a container by an apparatus including a first holding means for said articles including a first retaining means, as a gate means, adjacent the end portion thereof. Means are provided for moving the first holding means with nested articles thereon into an adjacent carton, means are provided for moving the gate means into the open position to permit the articles to be removed from the first holding means, and a second retaining means is provided for holding the articles in the carton while removing the first holding means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul F. Kresak, Shanky Lau
  • Patent number: 5311722
    Abstract: Products which are somewhat self-supporting are carried in tandem on a first conveyor toward a second conveyor with an edge of the product transverse to the direction of travel. When each product reaches the point of transfer between conveyors, it is transferred downwardly on edge onto the second conveyor and the products are reverse-shingled in batches on edge in a partially upright fashion on the second conveyor. Each batch of products is then moved on the second conveyor on edge by a loader for insertion into a container or for transfer to another device for further processing or handling. When inserted into a container, a wall of the container is temporarily bowed inwardly to guide the products while they are being loaded into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Colleen Staton
  • Patent number: 5280694
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking small goods, particularly small packages, in a container, the apparatus including a separating module by means of which the small goods are conducted over a surface disposed upstream of the container. The opening of the container is arranged to be pivotal at the end of the surface and a pusher is disposed on the surface so as to move in the direction of the container opening, the apparatus further including a retaining threshold and a downwardly pivotal rake that is arranged downstream of the retaining threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs GmbH
    Inventor: Siegmar Malow
  • Patent number: 5251244
    Abstract: A nuclear fuel pellet loading system includes pellet handling apparatus and cladding tube handling apparatus functionally interfaced by a bushing assembly. Pellet rows of varying zone lengths are alternately built up on two tracks, measured for zone length, weighed and then loaded by separate pusher carriages through separate bushing assembly passageways into a pair of empty cladding tubes indexed into loading positions by the tube handling apparatus. Separate zone interface tapes affixed to the pusher carriages indicate to an operator the length each pellet zone is to be built to. The tube handling apparatus accommodates cladding tubes of varying lengths and is equipped to automatically read a serial number imprinted on each tube endplug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David F. Wazybok, Bobby R. Cosper, Harold B. King, Jr., David K. Underwood, James E. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5235796
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for grouping cookies, cracker, or other planar objects, and dispensing a group of said objects into a receptacle. A conveyor is provided which dispenses such planar objects into a substantially vertically-oriented stack. The height of the stack is controlled by providing a combination of a pressure sensor, which, through conventional circuitry, causes an object-supporting carriage to be indexed, depending upon the height of the object stack held by the carriage. Upon receiving a preset number of objects within the carriage, or upon a preset height of objects stacked being accomplished, the carriage is pivoted from a substantially vertical position into a substantially horizontal position, whereupon the group of objects is dispensed into a tray or other conventional receptacle. A dual-stack configuration is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Campbell-Hardage, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Campbell, III, Timothy W. Hardage, Neil G. Nash
  • Patent number: 5233814
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale D'Automatisme CGA-HBS
    Inventors: Jean-Marcel Bergerioux, Laurent Pellegrin
  • Patent number: 5218813
    Abstract: A device for bundling a plurality of flat flexible structures received serially from a feed conveyor, applying top and bottom protective sheets, and strapping the structure together. The device includes a support conveyor adjacent to the feed conveyor and movable in a downstream direction along a path, a first conveyor movable in the downstream direction adjacent and substantially parallel to said support conveyor, at least one first blade on the first conveyor movable in a perpendicular direction toward the support conveyor to a support position. The first blade acts as a rest for the structures, and is movable away from the support conveyor to an inoperative position out of the path. When in the support position, this first blade advances in the downstream direction as the structures are deposited on edge onto the support conveyor, whereby a bundle of structures is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Graphic Management Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy R. Seidel
  • Patent number: 5207727
    Abstract: A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartments for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments by simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Rapsco Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald A. Pearce, Ira D. Hooker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5195304
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward providing apparatus for separating newsprint and other sheet material prior to recycling the newsprint and a wrapper, formed of material which may be recycled with the newsprint, to be used with the apparatus of the invention. The invention is used by the individual householder and will serve to eliminate many intermediate steps in the recycling of newsprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Anthony C. Capaci
  • Patent number: 5175980
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles, such as can ends, in a sleeve drawn from a roll of continuous sleeve material is described. Means are disclosed for feeding the can ends to a packaging location, for segregating the can ends into package-size groups and for inserting the groups into the sleeves. The machine further includes means for feeding the sleeve material to the packaging location, means for retaining the sleeve material at the packaging location and means for clamping and severing the sleeve material to form an individual sleeve. Means for forming and sealing end-flaps on the contents containing sleeve is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Sardee Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne T. Chiappe, Larry R. Ambrose, Donald P. Dalmon, Bernard R. Juskie, Raymond E. Godwin
  • Patent number: 5175981
    Abstract: A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into a multiple non-palletized units capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like and fitted into shipping containers and utility vehicle cargo spaces comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into selected size stacks of at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: A.C.X., Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Gombos, Moshe Leashno