Product engagement assembly, related systems and methods
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorsRyan Dye, Robert H. Irvine, Eric Fenzl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of engaging a plurality of products, the method includes positioning the plurality of products on a conveyor assembly, driving the conveyor assembly to move the plurality of products in a machine direction, driving a plurality of flight assemblies in a closed path about a product engaging assembly positioned above the conveyor assembly, engaging a respective product with a respective flight assembly, and engaging the respective flight assembly with a respective cam track of a plurality of cam tracks along a cam plate of the product engaging assembly to one of maintain a rotational arrangement of a portion of the respective flight assembly or cause the portion of the respective flight assembly to rotate.
Claims31
A method of engaging a plurality of products, the method comprising:
- positioning the plurality of products on a conveyor assembly;
- driving the conveyor assembly to move the plurality of products in a machine direction;
- driving a plurality of flight assemblies in a closed path about a product engaging assembly positioned above the conveyor assembly;
- engaging a respective product with a respective flight assembly;
- and
- engaging the respective flight assembly with a respective cam track of a plurality of cam tracks along a cam plate of the product engaging assembly to one of maintain a rotational arrangement of a portion of the respective flight assembly or cause the portion of the respective flight assembly to rotate,
- the respective flight assembly comprises a top plate and a plurality of product engaging plates rotatably coupled to the top plate, the portion of the respective flight assembly is the plurality of product engaging plates, and the plurality of product engaging plates arranged for at least partially receiving a respective product therebetween,
- the plurality of product engaging plates are rotatably coupled to the top plate through a pinion, the flight assembly further comprising a cam follower extending from a rack operably coupled to the pinion for causing rotation of the plurality of product engaging plates relative to the top plate.
A system for engaging a plurality of products, the system comprising:
- a conveyor assembly configured to move the plurality of products in a machine direction;
- and
- a product engaging assembly positioned above the conveyor assembly, the product engaging assembly comprising a plurality of flight assemblies for engaging a respective product of the plurality of products, the product engaging assembly comprising a cam plate and a plurality of cam tracks extending at least partially therealong,
- the plurality of flight assemblies movably supported along a closed path for engaging a respective cam track of a plurality of cam tracks for one of maintaining a rotational arrangement of a portion of the respective flight assembly or causing the portion of the respective flight assembly to rotate,
- the respective flight assembly comprises a top plate and a plurality of product engaging plates rotatably coupled to the top plate, the portion of the respective flight assembly is the plurality of product engaging plates, and the plurality of product engaging plates arranged for at least partially receiving a respective product therebetween,
- the plurality of product engaging plates are rotatably coupled to the top plate through a pinion, the flight assembly further comprising a cam follower extending from a rack operably coupled to the pinion for causing rotation of the plurality of product engaging plates relative to the top plate.
A product engagement assembly for engaging a plurality of products, the product engagement assembly comprising:
- a plurality of flight assemblies for engaging a respective product of the plurality of products;
- a cam plate;
- and
- a plurality of cam tracks extending at least partially along the cam plate,
- the plurality of flight assemblies movably supported along a closed path for engaging a respective cam track of a plurality of cam tracks for one of maintaining a rotational arrangement of a portion of the respective flight assembly or causing the portion of the respective flight assembly to rotate,
- the respective flight assembly comprises a top plate and a plurality of product engaging plates rotatably coupled to the top plate, the portion of the respective flight assembly is the plurality of product engaging plates, and the plurality of product engaging plates arranged for at least partially receiving a respective product therebetween,
- the plurality of product engaging plates are rotatably coupled to the top plate through a pinion, the flight assembly further comprising a cam follower extending from a rack operably coupled to the pinion for causing rotation of the plurality of product engaging plates relative to the top plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.