Apparatus for transferring articles between conveyors

An apparatus for transferring articles between conveyors, comprising in combination;

• a first conveyor;
• pushing means for pushing articles transversely relative to said first conveyor;
• gripping means for grasping said transversely pushed articles, said gripping means being pivotably mounted enabling said gripping means to pivot from a first position in which said gripping means grip said transversely pushed articles to a second position in which said gripping means release said transversely pushed articles;
• driving means for driving said gripping means together with said grasped articles in a direction transverse relative to said first conveyor onto a second conveyor disposed adjacent and transverse relative to said first conveyor,
• said second conveyor conveying wrapped and sealed articles from said gripping means when said gripping means is disposed adjacent a second station whereat said articles are released from said gripping means, said second conveyor conveying said articles through a heat shrinking oven which shrink wraps said articles, said second conveyor conveying said shrink wrapped articles under a bar disposed transversely relative to said second conveyor, said bar toppling said shrink wrapped articles onto a third conveyor which moves in a direction substantially parallel to said first conveyor.

A machine for moving packages between adjacent conveyors comprising in combination;

• a first conveyor for conveying said packages therealong;
• transferring means for transferring said packages laterally relative to said packages moving along said first conveyor;
• a package supporting table disposed adjacent said first conveyor for receivably supporting said laterally transferred packages;
• package supporting arms for supportingly engaging said packages;
• means for moving said arms from a first position in which said arms supportingly engage said packages to a second position in which said arms release said packages;
• a second conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor for conveying said packages in a direction laterally to and away from said first conveyor;
• and
• driving means for driving said arms parallel to said direction of movement of said second conveyor, said driving means driving said arms at substantially the same speed as the speed of said second conveyor such that toppling of the packages is inhibited when the packages are released from said arms onto said second conveyor.

An apparatus for transferring packages between adjacent conveyors comprising in combination:

• a first conveyor for conveying said packages along said first conveyor;
• sensing means disposed adjacent said first conveyor for sensing the presence of packages moving along said first conveyor;
• a gate disposed adjacent said first conveyor for impeding the flow of said packages therealong, said gate being controlled by said sensing means;
• a pushing means for pushing a plurality of said packages laterally relative to said packages moving along said first conveyor;
• a plate hingedly secured above said laterally moved packages, said plate rotating about an axis parallel to said packages moving along said first conveyor, said plate stabilizing said plurality of packages during lateral movement of said packages relative to said first conveyor;
• a package supporting table disposed adjacent said first conveyor for receivably supporting said laterally pushed packages;
• package supporting arms for supportingly engaging said packages;
• means for moving said arms from a first position in which said arms supportingly engage said plurality of packages to a second position in which said arms release said packages;
• a second conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor for conveying said packages in a direction laterally and away from said first conveyor;
• and
• driving means for driving said arms parallel to said direction of movement of said second conveyor, said driving means enabling said plurality of packages to be moved from a wrapping and sealing station in which said plurality of packages are supported by said table and said arms disposed in said first position to a second station in which said plurality of packages are released by said arms disposed in said second position and driven at substantially the same speed as said second conveyor to transfer said plurality of packages onto said second conveyor.