Crosspush conveyor for carton loader

A crosspush conveyor for use in a package loading machine, having a frame and a product conveyor for moving articles along the product conveyor in a first direction of movement, the crosspush conveyor moving the articles laterally of the first direction of movement, and the crosspush conveyor comprising end guides supporting a moving endless flexible member having a first length between the end guides positioned adjacent articles, a plurality of paddles pivotally mounted to said endless flexible member about axes that are generally perpendicular to the first direction of movement, said paddles having at least a limited free pivotal movement relative to the endless flexible member, and a flat support having a guide edge fixed relative to the frame, the guide edge slidably engaging an edge surface of each of the paddles for preventing the paddles from moving about their axes in a first pivotal direction away from the articles beyond a working position as the paddles move along the first length of said endless flexible member, said paddles being free to move in the first pivotal direction beyond the working position after moving past the support, said paddles having conveyor plate members that have surfaces positioned at an angle relative to the first length, said surfaces being parallel to the direction of movement of packages to be loaded as the paddles slide along the support.

A crosspush conveyor for use in a package loading machine, having a frame and a product conveyor for moving articles along the product conveyor in a first direction of movement, the crosspush conveyor moving the articles laterally of the first direction of movement, and the crosspush conveyor comprising end guides supporting a moving endless flexible member having a first length between the end guides positioned adjacent articles to be conveyed, a plurality of paddles pivotally mounted to said endless flexible member about axes that are generally perpendicular to the first direction of movement, said paddles having at least a limited free pivotal movement relative to the endless flexible member, and a support fixed relative to the frame slidably engaging the paddles for preventing the paddles from moving about their axes in a first pivotal direction away from the articles beyond a working position as the paddles move along the first length of said endless flexible member, said paddles being free to move in the first pivotal direction beyond the working position after moving past the support, said paddles having a substantially planar base edge surface and the support comprises a guide rail extending along the first length and having an outwardly facing edge surface to slidably engage and support the planar base edge surfaces of the paddles as the paddles move along the first length.

A crosspush conveyor for use in a package loading machine, having a frame and a product conveyor for moving articles along the product conveyor in a first direction of movement, the crosspush conveyor moving the articles laterally of the first direction of movement, and the crosspush conveyor comprising end guides supporting a moving endless flexible member having a first length between the end guides positioned adjacent articles, a plurality of paddles pivotally mounted to said endless flexible member about axes that are generally perpendicular to the first direction of movement, said paddles having at least a limited free pivotal movement relative to the endless flexible member, and a support fixed relative to the frame slidably engaging the paddles for preventing the paddles from moving about their axes in a first pivotal direction away from the articles beyond a working position as the paddles move along the first length of said endless flexible member, said paddles being free to move in the first pivotal direction beyond the working position after moving past the support, and a separate pneumatic cylinder mounting opposite ends of the support, said pneumatic cylinders controlling the load applied to the support for holding the paddles in their working position, and means to provide a sense signal when the load on the support causes movement of components of the pneumatic cylinders.