Abstract: A method for collecting commodities in a group, a longitudinal series of commodities being fed set by set into a tapered pusher on which stages having enough size to accommodate square commodities are continuously formed, a pusher advancing a length equal to one commodity so that the commodity group is pushed out in such a condition that the contacting surfaces of the commodities in the row disagree with the contacting surfaces of the commodities in the adjacent rows. A device for collecting commodities uses a tapered pusher on which stages having a longitudinal length shorter than a length of a square commodity and a substantially same lateral length as a width of the square commodity are continuously formed, the pusher being disposed on an operation table provided at a side of a conveyor for conveying commodities to move in a longitudinal direction parallel to the conveyor.

Abstract: A case packing head for the packing of rectangular containers into cases. In a first embodiment of the invention, the containers are passed through arcuate paths on skid blades such that the containers fan apart above the top edges of the cross fingers of the packing head, avoiding the cross fingers upon shifting of the skid blades. In another embodiment, the skid blades are angled downwardly and the stop blocks are adapted to withdraw a sufficient amount to allow the containers to tilt on the skide blades and separate. A separating grid is then driven between the containers to space them apart with the spaces positioned above the top edges of the cross fingers. In yet another embodiment, the skid blade assembly comprises a pair of blades, one slidable upon the other. The stop block is connected to the sliding blade which has teeth thereon for contacting the containers.

Abstract: A carton over product packaging apparatus including infeed means for conveying a plurality of containers to be packaged to a collating zone in which the containers are collated into a plurality of rows, container indexing means for moving the containers in the collating zone from that zone to a packaging zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging eggs supplied by a feed conveyor, said eggs being supplied from said feed conveyor via transfer means to a carton. For the purpose of simultaneously packaging more than one row of eggs, the successive rows of eggs are transferred from said feed conveyor by means of a star wheel and at least one reciprocating sliding plate arranged downstream of said wheel, to two or more successive rows of egg holding or carrying means.

Abstract: In a case packing machine, an article transport apparatus for transporting groups of containers from a continuously-running infeed conveyor of the case packing machine to a case loading station. The article transport apparatus includes a reciprocating carriage having longitudinally extending bladders which are inflatable for gripping a group of containers to the carriage. The reciprocating carriage moves upstream to encompass a group of containers, and upon inflation of the bladders, the bladders grip the group of containers to the carriage. The carriage then moves downstream, and upon deflation of the bladders, deposits the group of containers at the loading station.

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: Elongated rectangular pouches are longitudinally compressed for packing in a conventional packing case by a pair of counter-rotating paddle assemblies. Each paddle assembly has four paddles arranged in staggered relationship around an associated shaft, the shaft being located outside of and slightly below the path of movement of the pouches as the pouches move in side-by-side relationship between two upright paddles. Two horizontally arranged adjacent paddles receive the pouches at a load station, and rotation of the paddle assemblies drops the pouches between the paddle assemblies as these two paddles move into depending vertical positions where they are more closely spaced relative to one another than the upright paddles in order to compress the pouches as the pouches drop into the case.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading articles into trays where the articles are first separated into rows with a divider assembly, then separated into groups with a grouper assembly and then pushed onto a dead plate to form a load. Different divider and grouper assemblies are provided to make different load configurations. A tray blank is moved under the dead plate and pushed out from under the dead plate synchronously with the movement of the article load over the dead plate so that the article load is deposited on the tray blank. Thereafter, the flaps on the tray blank are folded to erect the tray around the group of articles. Mechanical folding mechanisms are provided to fold certain of the flaps on the tray without folding the other flaps. The method of loading the articles in the tray and forming the tray around the articles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A case packer for loading open side cases and trays with generally upright articles includes apparatus for controlling the location of the case flaps during the loading operation. A pair of doors is interposed in the path of the articles being loaded. The articles contact the doors, which swing open to push the side flaps out of the way. A plow-like strip is employed to control the location of the case bottom flap. The case blanks are stored in generally vertical stacks in an open-bottom hopper. The blanks are folded and supported so that pulling the lowest blank downwardly partially unfolds the blank before it is deposited onto a conveyor. The conveyor completes the unfolding process while transporting the case to the article loading station.

Abstract: A device for applying molded plastic clips to unattached containers to form multiple container packages which includes a container alignment device for aligning the unattached containers for application of the clips by generating uniform forces between the unattached containers during the application of the clips. This is accomplished by a series of star wheels that generate a predetermined downstream force and a predetermined upstream force by adjusting the predetermined phase angle between the star wheel means. This results in a substantially zero resultant force which ensures uniform expansion and precise alignment of the containers during application of the clips.

Abstract: The apparatus forms multi-stack arrays of compressible, generally flat articles--for example, elongate catamenial napkins--on a receiving platform disposed adjacent a stack forming apparatus by pushing one stack against the back wall of the receiving platform, and then pushing successively formed stacks into adjacent relation with the last stack pushed onto the receiving platform. This is done with a stack pusher, and controlling the lengths of its successive strokes as required. Upon moving each stack into its respective position on the receiving platform, it is individually compressed to reduce the height of the stack to about the height of the carton into which the array is to be loaded as a unit. An array pusher then pushes the array orthogonally with respect to the direction of pushing the stacks onto the receiving platform to displace the array as a unit into a carton through a loading funnel.

Abstract: A machine for segregating and packaging a plurality of articles in a wrap-around carton first separates a selected number of articles from those on an infeed conveyor, brings the selected articles together with an opened carton blank, and wraps and secures the carton blank about the articles.

Abstract: A packaging machine includes moveable spaced metering bars and guide means for supplying groups of articles from an infeed conveyor to a packaging station and is arranged to tighten a carrier blank about a group of articles while the blank and articles are moved by the metering bars and includes tightening means movable along the group of articles on each side thereof and which engage portions of the blank on each side of the group near the bottom portions of the articles by means which moves at substantially the same velocity as the velocity of movement of the group of articles and blank and which imparts a downward tightening force thereto without causing any substantial frictional dragback and which need not move in precisely timed sequence with a blank and an associated group of articles.

Abstract: A method for stretch film wrapping of goods aggregates (6) in a line operation including keeping the stretch film tensioned between a ready-wrapped goods aggregate and a stretch film store, and forming a new goods aggregate (6) by moving at least two articles towards each other and into contact with either side of the stretch film so that the stretch film is clamped between the articles (4) in the new goods aggregate. The stretch film can then be parted between the new goods aggregate and the ready-wrapped goods aggregate (6'), after which the new goods aggregate (6) is wrapped with stretch film with the aid of a conventional wrapping means. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes, apart from a conventional stretch film wrapping apparatus, means (8) for ejecting a wrapped goods aggregate (6') from the wrapping station.

Abstract: A system for the handling of lightweight plastic containers into and through a case-packing operation wherein the containers are moved in a single line onto a conveyor where a diverting guide will move the containers into a multiple lane receiver. The multiple lane receiver is rotatable about its longitudinal axis through a 90.degree. angle, either with the container bottoms facing to the left or facing to the right. On the left side of the receiver, a carton-handling arrangement tips a carton toward the containers which are held in the receiver. A pusher mechanism moves the containers, as a group, from the receiver into the carton, and the carton is then returned to its original position.

Abstract: A case loader for loading pet beverage or other product bottles with a prominent neck flange in cases includes support rails spaced by gaps which support the bottles by the neck flange in suspended condition as they are moved by pusher bars from a grouping station to a case filling station.

Abstract: Packing apparatus for packing layers of cylindrical articles in a container. The apparatus includes means for accumulating a layer of alternately staggered lines of cylindrical articles arranged end-to-end at a pickup position. The apparatus also includes means for making vacuum contact with each article and transferring the entire layer to the container where it is released and forms a tightly packed flat layer. The packing apparatus also includes means for folding back the top flaps of each empty container as it is conveyed to the loading station.

Abstract: A case packing system, including apparatus and method, wherein cans or like products are introduced to an accumulator in a generally random single file, collected in multiple rows or lanes, and loaded into cartons or cases. Limit means associated with the accumulator define removable abutments against which the leading cans, in the several rows, engage. Switches are provided for sensing the presence of the completed group of cans defined by the multiple rows and, in response thereto, effecting a retraction of the limit means. The accumulator is followed by an infeed belt which introduces the grouped multiple rows of cans into a packing station and onto a pair of support panels mounted for vertical pivoting for a downward discharge of the cans into a subjacent case. Empty cases are conveyed sequentially into the packing station in underlying relation to the panel supported cans.

Abstract: A method and a machine for loading articles into cases utilize indexed rotary movement of a carousel device having a series of angularly spaced platforms, with a case holding device directly above each platform. Articles are pushed onto one of the platforms at an infeed station, in the configuration they will take when packed, with an open-bottomed case held directly above. Then the platform and empty case are rotated to an offloading station, and the platform is raised up into the bottom of the case by camming action, in response to the rotation. At the offloading station, flap folders push the minor bottom flaps of the carton up into closed position, and the case is pushed off the platform onto a conveyor, which also effects closure of the leading major flap up against the minor flaps. There may be three stations, the cases being drawn from flattened, stored configuration and gripped by the case holding device at a station following the offloading station.

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: An apparatus for packaging product-filled sealed bags in cases includes an inclined plate and an extensible pushing plate operable to arrange a predetermined number of bags fed from an infeed conveyor in a row on the inclined plate. The row is supported thereon by a movable support pivotable from a holding or supporting position to a retracted position in which the row is free to slide downwardly off the inclined plate and onto a retractable bottom plate. The movable support further operates to position each row formed in an upright position on the bottom plate, where a predetermined number of rows are successively accumulated. The accumulated rows are laterally supported on one side by the movable support and on the other side by a cylinder having a supporting back plate at the end. When a predetermined number of rows have been accumulated, the bottom plate is retracted to allow a cylinder-operated pushing plate to push the rows downwardly into an underlying open case.

Abstract: A packaging machine and method for automatically packaging articles such as fruit one layer at a time into containers is provided. Means are provided for disposing the articles in a nested relationship at several supply positions. Means are also provided for situating containers at loading stations adjacent to said supply positions. The articles are lifted from the supply positions and deposited into the containers at the loading positions. Each array of articles comprises a separate layer in a box or container. After such layers are deposited simultaneously at each of said loading stations, the boxes are advanced to the next loading station wherein the cycle is repeated until the container is filled. Preferably, a number of supply and loading positions and containers is equal to the number of layers which will fit into the box, so that the net result is having one box filled for each machine cycle.

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

Abstract: A load of filled containers to be cased is assembled into a caseload by moving the containers in a column to a loading station at one end of a normally stationary conveyor. A control device determines when a complete caseload row is accumulated at the loading station and causes a platen to sweep such row laterally onto the conveyor and to thereafter permit a second row to accumulate at such loading station. A second control device determines when an appropriate number of rows of containers have accumulated on the conveyor to form a caseload and then causes the conveyor to be driven to carry the completed caseload away from the loading station and in spaced-apart relation to other caseloads so that the operator may easily and quickly fit an open case over the caseload.

Abstract: A method of joining an assembled multi-compartment medicinal dispensing device and an assembled multi-compartment extender to each other to provide an increased capacity device using an assembly fixture whose maximum capacity is no greater than that of the device. The fixture includes plural rows of openings, each opening being arranged for accommodating a respective compartment of the device during assembly thereof. The method comprises placing an assembled device on the fixture in a location wherein one row of openings is exposed, placing an assembled extender on the fixture with the compartments thereof being disposed within respective openings of said row, and with a portion of said extender disposed over a portion of said device and thereafter securing said portions to each other to join the device and the extender.

Abstract: A case packing machine is described for bottles having enlarged neck flanges. The machine first arranges bottles received from a conveyor into a group on an escapement mechanism. The grouped bottles are suspended from their enlarged neck flanges by an escapement mechanism at a first station. The group is released as a ram engages the bottle finishes and shifts them downwardly to a second station. An actuator on the ram functions to operate the escapement mechanism and a bottle stop mechanism is also operated directly from the ram to halt further progress of bottles toward the escapement mechanism during release and movement of the previous group of bottles to the second station. Bottles may be received by an invertible holder at the second station. The holder forms the bottles into a prescribed rectangular array and supports the bottles until a subsequent group is received. The subsequent received group engages and moves the first group downwardly into a case waiting at a packing station below.

Abstract: A machine for placing groups of containers, preferably bottles, into cases. Successive groups of bottles are moved horizontally to a first station where they are releasably suspended on escapement bars. The bottles are suspended at enlarged neck flanges adjacent their finishes. A cam mechanism moves the bars apart to release bottles allowing them to be moved vertically downward to a second station. The bottles are releasably received within one of two horizontally movable chutes at the second station. The chutes are also pivotable relative to one another so that the bottles may be inverted piror to being loaded into a case at a case packing station below. The two chutes are reciprocated horizontally relative to the first station so one chute may be unloaded into an awaiting case while the remaining chute is being loaded through operation of the escapement mechanism. Each chute may be inverted as the chutes are horizontally reciprocated.

Abstract: Bottle-shaped containers of biaxially-oriented blow-molded plastic material are introduced into the space formed between the helical blade continuously rotated and the backup plate of a screw conveyor, and are conveyed in one direction to next conveyor by the rotation of the helical blade of the screw conveyor. The bottle-shaped containers are stood by at the end of the conveyor. When the bottle-shaped containers thus conveyed are aligned in predetermined longitudinal and lateral arrary in predetermined number to be stood by, they are simultaneously held by the bottle-shaped container group holding mechanism utilizing negative pressure, and are then raised from the standby position.

Abstract: Goods to be packed are continuously collected in units of goods. Parallelly therewith plain package blanks are preformed to package containers, which are completely open at least at one vertical side. The units of goods and the open package containers are moved in a continuous feeding movement side by side with the same speed, and with the open container side facing the unit of goods. During the feeding movement a unit of goods is pushed sideways into a package container. The open container side or sides are closed and sealed, and the package is moved away from the packaging station. The front side and the rear side of the preformed package container as considered in the feeding direction are widened in relation to each other before the units of goods are pushed into the containers to facilitate the pushing in of the units of goods into the package containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a box with objects, such as praline assortments, comprises an insertion plate having compartments into which the objects can fit, each compartment having an apertured base, and a table for receiving the insertion plate. The table has a plurality of plungers, one associated with each compartment, each having a shape inversely corresponding to the shape of the aperture of the associated compartment. The plungers are movable simultaneously to push the objects from the insertion plate and a suction device holds the objects above the plate while movable walls compress the objects into a space corresponding to the internal area of the box. The suction device, walls and held objects are then moved as a unit to a filling station and deposited in the box at the station.

Abstract: In a packaging apparatus, articles are collated and formed into a module on a carriage assembly and are transported into a draped wrapping film and to means for sealing the wrapped module. Common movement of the sides of the carriage assembly are provided so as to ensure the stability of the collated article pattern. The draped wrapping film is under tension and is aligned with respect to the direction of travel of the carriage assembly. Side and transverse rear sealing of the wrapped module is provided, and the means for rear sealing the module also cuts the wrapping film and splices the unused wrapping film for return to its draped position. The wrapped and sealed module is transferred by a conveyor means from its wrapping position to a means for shrinking the wrapping film over the article module.

Abstract: An apparatus of high capacity is provided for simultaneously filling a plurality of individual containers into a predetermined number of empty cases. The containers are conveyed to two staging areas disposed in adjacent relation to a first station and then are simultaneously moved from each staging area to the first station. When the containers are disposed at the first station, they are arranged in a predetermined pattern which is compatible with the interior configuration of the cases into which they are to be loaded. A second station is provided which is disposed beneath the first station and is adapted to receive a predetermined number of empty cases to be filled by the container positioned at the first station. A means is provided which releasably engages the containers at the first station, lowers said containers into the empty cases at the second station, and then releases the containers in the cases and returns to its initial position.

Abstract: A device for aligning a plurality of rows of articles, such as tea bags, on a receiving tray for subsequent packaging in a container, comprises, means for feeding a sheet of the material along a feed path. A first row of the articles is then aligned over the top of the sheet and a loop is formed directly adjacent the trailing edge of the row of articles using a first loop-forming arm which moves upwardly through the feed path to deflect the sheet upwardly into a loop behind the first row of articles and a second arm which moves downwardly behind the upwardly deflected sheet so as to form the other side of the loop. The tray thus formed includes a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced apart loops which are formed upwardly in the bottom of the sheet material.

Abstract: Articles of fruit are fed to a receiving head, positioned in a predetermined pattern for packing, transferred in that pattern to a transfer rack which advances toward and pivots into a container to be loaded, and deposits the fruit in the same pattern. Apparatus for pivoting the transfer rack as it advances toward the container includes rotational members connected by a chain. Additional articles of fruit in a different pattern are deposited as a second layer by means of adjacent duplicate apparatus.

Abstract: A carton filling machine for receiving a plurality of tapered wall containers from a serial conveyor and loading them into cartons. The containers are assembled in a collecting area within the machine and engaged by a clamp head assembly. The clamp head assembly is moved horizontally to a position above a case conveyor. Opened cases on the case conveyor are moved vertically into a container receiving position below the cup clamp assembly to receive containers therefrom.