US 4,537,008 A · Method and apparatus for packing soft packages into boxes

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for packing tubular bags into boxes by machinery. The tubular bags to be packed are conveyed over various conveyor belts to a positioning belt and from the positioning belt to a positioning table. Layers of tubular bags are then moved onto a rake-like main base that is lowered in a stepwise fashion to receive consecutive layers of tubular bags. When the desired number of tubular bag layers is positioned on the main base, the main base is lowered to deposit the tubular bags onto an intermediate base which together with side walls makes up an intermediate container. Once the intermediate container is in a lower position, a box is pushed over the intermediate container and the intermediate container is swung through a 90.degree. arc onto a conveyor belt. The intermediate container is then removed from the box and by this process the tubular bags which were previously in the intermediate container are transferred into the box. The intermediate container then swings back to its lower position.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of packing a plurality of tubular bags in a box comprising the following steps:

(a) placing the tubular bags in layers between two lateral walls and one depth bounding wall and supported by a stepwise lowerable, rake-like main base;
(b) lowering the main base after a desired number of layers of tubular bags has been deposited thereon in order to deposit the tubular bags in an intermediate container which comprises an intermediate rake-like base, and a pair of side walls disposed outside of the lateral walls when the intermediate container is situated in an upper position;
(c) lowering the intermediate container to a lower position and the main base to a position below the intermediate base;
(d) moving a box over the intermediate container;
and
(e) depositing the tubular bags from the intermediate container into the box.

3 more elements

An apparatus for packing a plurality of tubular bags in boxes, said apparatus comprising:

two spaced columns;
a rake-like main base;
an intermediate container comprising a rake-like intermediate base and two side walls;
means for moving the main base vertically between the columns;
means for moving the intermediate container vertically between the columns;
two lateral walls and a back wall fixedly mounted with respect to the columns to form a first container in cooperation with the main base when the main base is in an upper position, said two lateral walls separated by a distance less than the separation of the two side walls such that the first container is sized to fit partially within the intermediate container;
means for placing the tubular bags in layers in the first container and supported by the main base as the main base is lowered in a stepwise fashion;
said main base movable vertically from a position above the intermediate base to a position below the intermediate base such that the layers of bags in the first container are transferred to the intermediate container as the main base is moved below the intermediate base;
means for moving a box over the intermediate container when the intermediate container is in a lower position;
and
means for transferring the bags from the intermediate container to the box.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for packing soft packages into boxes

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for packing soft packages into boxes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10