Packaging Method And Apparatus For Stacked Articles
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorsFrank N. Moncrief, David S. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for packaging stacks of articles into containers using selectors for grouping the article stacks. The selectors include arrays of vertically spaced wedge members which engage the articles in each stack. The wedge members are aligned with slots in comb-like guide rails and operate to form groups of predetermined numbers of stacks of articles while keeping the articles in each stack in vertical alignment as they progress through the machine into the containers. A method of grouping stacked articles and a method of packaging stacked articles is also disclosed.
Claims19
A method of modifying a packaging machine for packaging stacks of articles, the machine having spaced guide rails defining lanes through which articles to be packaged are directed, and a means for driving a plurality of selectors relative to the guide rails to thereby select groups of articles and direct the groups into containers, the method comprising:
- providing on the means for driving a plurality of selectors, each selector having a plurality of spaced, article engaging members which are spaced relative to the articles in the stacks of articles to be packaged so that at least some of the articles in a stack will be engaged by at least one member;
- and
- providing the guide rails with comb-like profiles having fingers spaced by slots, the slots being so positioned as to allow the members to pass through them.
A method of arranging stacked articles into groups for packaging into cartons in a packaging machine having a downstream direction and guide rails extending at an angle to the downstream direction for guiding lanes of stacked articles toward the ends of spaced selectors moving in the downstream direction, the method comprising:
- (a) configuring at least the ends of the selectors to have at least one substantially horizontal space;
- (b) configuring at least the ends of the guide rails to have at least one substantially horizontal finger aligned with the space;
- and
- (c) moving the at least one finger through the at least one space as the ends of the selectors move past the ends of the guide rails.
A method of transferring articles to be packaged from infeed lanes between guide rails to spaces between selectors on a selector bed moving at an angle to the guide rails with ends of the selectors intersecting downstream ends of the guide rails, the method comprising shaping the selectors and the downstream ends of the guide rails so that the ends of the selectors and the downstream ends of the guide rails interleave to allow the ends of the selectors to pass through the downstream ends of the guide rails upon intersection.
A method of packaging stacks of articles into cartons in a packaging machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying the stacks of articles in a first direction along a plurality of lanes defined between upstanding guide rails;
- (b) engaging each article of at least some of the stacks of articles within the lanes with spaced selector wedges moving in a second direction past end portions of the guide rails to arrange the stacked articles into groups of stacked articles between selector wedges;
- and
- (c) moving the groups of stacked articles into cartons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.