Apparatus for forming stacked article groups utilizing clip-type carriers

An apparatus for assembling stacked article group carriers, comprising:

• a) an article grouping and clip-type carrier application assembly, said assembly having at least one input and first and second output lines, and comprising:
• i) means to input two metered, linear streams of article groups;
• ii) a conveyor assembly constructed and arranged to receive said streams of article groups from said input means and longitudinally translate said groups in a pair of side by side, downstream conveyance paths;
• iii) an overhead transfer mechanism constructed and arranged above each said conveyor assembly to deposit a clip-type carrier onto a top surface of at least one said article group traveling thereon, said overhead transfer mechanism including means to supply clip-type carrier blanks, means to convey said carrier blanks, and means to guide said carrier blanks, said conveyance means comprising at least two lugged chains;
• and
• iv) means to bring said clip-type carrier into mating engagement with said top surface of at least one said article group;
• b) a first conveyor disposed to receive and transport first article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said first output line, said first article groups being transported at a first vertical level;
• c) a second conveyor disposed to receive and transport second article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said second output line, said second article groups being transported at a second vertical level which is above said first vertical level;
• and
• d) means to merge said second article groups over the top surface of said first article groups.

An apparatus for assembling stacked article group carriers, comprising:

• a) an article grouping and clip-type carrier application assembly, said assembly having at least one input and first and second output lines, and comprising:
• i) means to input two metered, linear streams of article groups;
• ii) a conveyor assembly constructed and arranged to receive said streams of article groups from said input means and longitudinally translate said groups in a pair of side by side, downstream conveyance paths;
• iii) an overhead transfer mechanism constructed and arranged above each said conveyor assembly to deposit a clip-type carrier onto a top surface of at least one said article group traveling thereon, said overhead transfer mechanism including means to supply clip-type carrier blanks, means to convey said carrier blanks, means to guide said carrier blanks and means to downwardly bias said carrier on said guide means;
• and
• iv) means to bring said clip-type carrier into mating engagement with said top surface of at least one said article group;
• b) a first conveyor disposed to receive and transport first article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said first output line, said first article groups being transported at a first vertical level;
• c) a second conveyor disposed to receive and transport second article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said second output line, said second article groups being transported at a second vertical level which is above said first vertical level;
• and
• d) means to merge said second article groups over the top surface of said first article groups.

An apparatus for assembling stacked article group carriers, comprising:

• a) an article grouping and clip-type carrier application assembly, said assembly having at least one input and first and second output lines, and comprising:
• i) means to input two metered, linear streams of article groups;
• ii) a conveyor assembly constructed and arranged to receive said streams of article groups from said input means and longitudinally translate said groups in a pair of side by side, downstream conveyance paths;
• iii) an overhead transfer mechanism constructed and arranged above each said conveyor assembly to deposit a clip-type carrier onto a top surface of at least one said article group traveling thereon;
• iv) means to bring said clip-type carrier into mating engagement with said top surface of at least one said article group;
• and
• v) a frame structure supporting said overhead transfer mechanism and said engagement means, said frame structure being vertically movable with respect to said input means and said conveyor assembly to permit removal of said overhead transfer mechanism and said engagement means from operation on article groups translated by said conveyor assembly;
• b) a first conveyor disposed to receive and transport first article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said first output line, said first article groups being transported at a first vertical level;
• c) a second conveyor disposed to receive and transport second article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said second output line, said second article groups being transported at a second vertical level which is above said first vertical level;
• and
• d) means to merge said second article groups over the top surface of said first article groups.

An apparatus for assembling stacked article group carriers, comprising:

• a) an article grouping and clip-type carrier application assembly, said assembly having at least one input and first and second output lines, and comprising:
• i) means to input two metered, linear streams of article groups;
• ii) a conveyor assembly constructed and arranged to receive said streams of article groups from said input means and longitudinally translate said groups in a pair of side by side, downstream conveyance paths;
• iii) an overhead transfer mechanism constructed and arranged above each said conveyor assembly to deposit a clip-type carrier onto a top surface of at least one said article group traveling thereon;
• and
• iv) an overhead containment assembly constructed and arranged above said conveyor assembly downstream from said overhead transfer mechanism, said overhead containment assembly including at least one endless belt having a longitudinally oriented bottom surface for contact with a top surface of said article groups, said engagement means further comprising at least one disc-shaped rotatable plow operable on said clip-type carrier;
• b) a first conveyor disposed to receive and transport first article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said first output line, said first article groups being transported at a first vertical level;
• c) a second conveyor disposed to receive and transport second article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from said second output line, said second article groups being transported at a second vertical level which is above said first vertical level;
• and
• d) means to merge said second article groups over the top surface of said first article groups.