Standalone Packaging Manipulation Apparatus

A standalone packaging manipulation apparatus disposed adjacent to a rotary container transportation apparatus having an arcuate transportation path and performs predetermined packaging manipulation operations on containers being transported along the arcuate transportation path, said standalone packaging manipulation apparatus comprising:

• a main arm having a pivoting fulcrum at an exterior of said arcuate transportation path and configured to pivot horizontally;
• a sub-arm provided at a distal end portion of said main arm and configured to rotate horizontally;
• a packaging manipulating member provided on said sub-arm and configured to ascend and descend relative to said main arm;
• a drive means for pivoting said main arm horizontally;
• a drive means for rotating said sub-arm about an axis thereof;
• a drive means for raising and lowering said packaging manipulating member;
• and
• a control unit for controlling said drive means
• to advance said packaging manipulating member along said arcuate transportation path in synchronism with transport of said containers and, upon reaching a point of advance end, move said packaging manipulating member back to an initial position thereof, and
• to raise and lower said packaging manipulating member at predetermined timing during reciprocating stroke of said packaging manipulating member.

A standalone packaging manipulation apparatus disposed adjacent to a rotary container transportation apparatus having an arcuate transportation path and performs predetermined packaging manipulation operations simultaneously on a plurality of containers being transported along the arcuate transportation path, said standalone packaging manipulation apparatus comprising:

• a main arm having a pivoting fulcrum at an exterior of said arcuate transportation path and configured to pivot horizontally and to extend and retract;
• a sub-arm provided at a distal end portion of said main arm and configured to rotate horizontally;
• a plurality of packaging manipulating members configured to ascend and descend relative to said main arm, said packaging manipulating members being installed on said sub-arm with a predetermined spacing therebetween and for performing packaging manipulation operations simultaneously on said plurality of containers;
• a drive means for pivoting said main arm horizontally;
• a drive means for extending and retracting said main arm;
• a drive means for rotating said sub-arm about an axis thereof;
• a drive means for raising and lowering said packaging manipulating members;
• and
• a control unit for controlling said drive means
• to advance said plurality of packaging manipulating members along said arcuate transportation path in synchronism with transport of said plurality of containers and, upon reaching a point of advance end, move said plurality of packaging manipulating members back to initial positions thereof, and
• to raise and lower said plurality of packaging manipulating members at predetermined timing during reciprocating stroke of said packaging manipulating members.