Shelf packer
AssigneePrototype Equipment Corporation
InventorJames A. Goodman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process for packing a box with a plurality of groups of pouches or other flexible containers and inserting a support shelf between the groups. A conveyor is used to support and convey boxes such that means for inserting a first group of pouches into a box inserts a group of pouches into the top portion of a box. The boxes are then positioned such that means for inserting a support shelf into the box inserts a shelf into the box before means for inserting a second group of pouches inserts a second group of pouches into the box. The support shelf is inserted from the bottom of the box such that the first group of pouches is supported above the second group of pouches and the support legs of the support shelf rest on the bottom of the box.
Claims24
An apparatus for packing a box with a plurality of flexible containers and inserting an intermediate self-supporting shelf means in the box to support a portion of the containers in the box comprising:
- means for positioning the box having side walls and top and bottom closable ends in a first orientation with the bottom end open;
- means for inserting a first group of containers into the box through the open bottom end with the box in the first orientation to partially fill the box;
- means for inserting the shelf means into the box through the open bottom end in said first orientation into close proximity with said first group of containers, said shelf means including a first container-supporting portion and second shelf-supporting leg portions extending transversely from opposed ends of the first portion a selected extent toward the open bottom end of the box;
- means for inserting a second group of containers into the box through the open bottom end in said first orientation between the leg portions and onto the container-supporting portion of the shelf means;
- means for closing the open bottom end of the box;
- and
- whereby when the box is inverted into a second orientation the closed bottom end of the box engages with the supporting leg portions of the shelf means and the shelf means provides support for the first group of containers in the box independent of the second group of containers.
An apparatus for packing a box with a plurality of flexible containers and inserting an intermediate self-supporting shelf means in the box to support a portion of the containers in the box, the shelf means including a container-supporting portion, two stiffening legs, and two shelf-supporting legs formed from a shelf blank, comprising:
- means for positioning the box having side walls and top and bottom closable ends in a first orientation with the bottom end open, including a conveyor;
- means for inserting a first group of containers into the box through the open bottom end with the box in the first orientation to partially fill the box;
- means for positioning the shelf blank above the box packed with the first group of flexible containers;
- a shelf-supporting leg folder;
- a stiffening leg folder;
- means for inserting the shelf means into the box through the open bottom end in said first orientation into close proximity with said first group of containers, said shelf means including the first container-supporting portion, the second shelf-supporting leg portions, extending transversely from opposed ends of the first portion a selected extent toward the open bottom end of the box, and the third stiffening leg portions running perpendicular to the shelf-supporting leg portions along the container-supporting portion;
- means for inserting a second group of containers into the box through the open bottom end in said first orientation between the leg portions and onto the container-supporting portion of the shelf means;
- means for closing the open bottom end of the box;
- and
- whereby when the box is inverted into a second orientation the closed bottom end of the box engages with the supporting leg portions of the shelf means and the shelf means provides support for the first group of containers in the box independent of the second group of containers.
An apparatus for packing a box with a plurality of flexible containers and inserting an intermediate self-supporting shelf means in the box to support a portion of the containers in the box, the shelf means including a container-supporting portion, two stiffening legs, and two shelf-supporting legs formed from a shelf blank, comprising:
- a first flexible container conveyor;
- a first vacuum head mechanism for gripping and transferring from the first pouch conveyor to the box;
- a first pneumatic cylinder including a piston rod;
- a shelf gripper for gripping a shelf blank, the shelf gripper fixed to the free end of the piston rod and cooperating with the pneumatic cylinder to move a shelf blank above a box;
- a vacuum head for gripping a shelf blank;
- a support leg folder for forming the support legs and guiding the support legs of the shelf means into the box;
- a second and a third pneumatic cylinder, the pneumatic cylinders, vacuum head, and support leg folder cooperating to insert the shelf into the box;
- a second pouch conveyor;
- a second vacuum head mechanism for gripping and transferring flexible containers from the second flexible container conveyor to the box;
- and
- a means for orienting a box such that the flexible containers can be inserted into the box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.