Case loader
AssigneeBurtoft, LLC
InventorMatthew Robert McCafferty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A case loader is fed containers by a container conveyor. The containers then rest on a hinged ledge. When the number of containers required to fill the case is present in the loader, a first sensor is activated. The cases are conveyed to the loader below and beside the position of the containers. The cases are tipped up and, when in place, they activate the second sensor. When both sensors are activated, the containers drop and fall into a chute (directing the containers from the loading station and into the cases. When the containers have dropped, the ledge is reset to receive the next group of containers. The force of the containers tips the case back onto the conveyor and it is carried away. An optional device may assist in case tipping. An optional device may move case facing edge of each chute.
Claims19
A case loader, comprising:
- a frame;
- a container station configured to receive containers therewithin;
- a container release;
- two chutes disposed, adjacent to each other, along a case movement direction, under the container station, each chute from two chutes comprises two side walls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall being adjustable and being detached from the two side walls, the bottom wall comprising a container facing edge and a case facing edge, each chute from the two chutes being sized and shaped to gravity load containers, received within the container station and released with the container release, into a case though an open end thereof, the case being positioned at an incline relative to a case discharge position with the open end facing a respective chute;
- wherein an angled side wall of one chute crosses over an angled side wall of another chute to accommodate a size expansion and a size contraction of a container during a sliding movement from the container station into the case.
A case loader, comprising:
- a frame;
- a container station configured to receive containers therewithin;
- a container release;
- a chute adjacent the container station, the chute at least including two side walls disposed at a distance from each other across a width of the chute and a bottom wall, the bottom wall being detached from the two side walls;
- an arm attached to the frame;
- and
- a device with a first portion adjustably mounted on the arm and a second portion designed to contact one side wall near a case facing edge thereof, the first portion being adjustably moveable to move a case facing edge of the one side wall to increase or decrease a width of the chute.
A case loader, comprising:
- a frame;
- a container station configured to receive containers therewithin;
- a container release;
- a chute adjacent the container station, the chute at least including two side walls disposed at a distance from each across a width of the chute and a bottom wall, the bottom wall being detached from the two side walls;
- a device with a first component mounted on the frame, a second component comprising one end connected to a bracket being disposed closer to a case facing edge of the bottom wall than to a container facing edge of the bottom wall, and a threaded connection between the first component and the second component, the second component designed to move the case facing edge of the bottom wall between the two side walls.
A case loader, comprising:
- a frame;
- a container station configured to receive containers therewithin;
- a container release;
- a container guide under the container station, the container guide at least including three sides disposed at a distance from each other and in a series with each other along a case movement direction and two slide components, each slide component being detached from respective side walls, the container guide being sized and shaped to gravity load containers, received within the container station and released with the container release, into a case though an open end thereof, the case being positioned at an incline relative to a case discharge position with the open end facing the container guide;
- and
- a powered case assist device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.