Packaging arrangement

A packaging arrangement for packaging products, comprising:

• a. a movable endless conveyor comprising a plurality of substantially identical support pallets, spaced equally apart along the endless conveyor, each of which is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases;
• b. means for intermittently moving the endless conveyor through substantially equal incremental movements, from an upstream direction to a downstream direction with stops between each movement, such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at spaced stations in the packaging arrangement;
• and
• c. each pallet includes a plurality of alignment cones which align with a plurality of conical alignment cavities in equipment at stations along the endless conveyor to precisely align the equipment relative to each pallet, and wherein each pallet is rectangularly shaped, and includes an alignment cone at at least two diagonal corners of the rectangular pallet.

A packaging arrangement for packaging products, comprising:

• a. a movable endless conveyor comprising a plurality of substantially identical support pallets, spaced equally apart along the endless conveyor, each of which is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases;
• b. means for intermittently moving the endless conveyor through substantially equal incremental movements, from an upstream direction to a downstream direction with stops between each movement, such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at spaced stations in the packaging arrangement;
• c. each pallet includes a plurality of alignment cones which align with a plurality of conical alignment cavities in equipment at stations along the endless conveyor to precisely align the equipment relative to each pallet;
• and
• d. an optical inspection station which includes a pneumatic drive cylinder, and an inspection head which is driven by the pneumatic drive cylinder, and conical alignment cavities to align the inspection head with a pallet, and the inspection head is coupled to the pneumatic drive cylinder by a plurality of floating joints to allow the inspection head to shift laterally a slight amount while the alignment cones are engaging the conical alignment cavities to precisely align the inspection head with a pallet.

A packaging arrangement for packaging products, comprising:

• a. a movable endless conveyor comprising a plurality of substantially identical support pallets, spaced equally apart along the endless conveyor, each of which is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases;
• b. means for intermittently moving the endless conveyor through substantially equal incremental movements, from an upstream direction to a downstream direction with stops between each movement, such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at spaced stations in the packaging arrangement;
• c. each pallet includes a plurality of alignment cones which align with a plurality of conical alignment cavities in equipment at stations along the endless conveyor to precisely align the equipment relative to each pallet;
• and
• d. a heat sealing station, having a pneumatic drive cylinder, and a heated sealing head which is driven by the pneumatic drive cylinder, and conical alignment cavities to align the heated sealing head with a pallet, and the heated sealing head is coupled to the pneumatic drive cylinder by a plurality of floating joints to allow the heated sealing head to shift laterally a slight amount while the alignment cones are engaging the conical alignment cavities.

A packaging arrangement for packaging products, comprising:

• a. a movable endless conveyor comprising a plurality of substantially identical support pallets, spaced equally apart along the endless conveyor, each of which is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases;
• b. means for intermittently moving the endless conveyor through substantially equal incremental movements from an upstream direction to a downstream direction, with stops between each movement, such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at spaced stations in the packaging arrangement;
• c. at an initial station, a loader loads an array of package bases in the support pallet then at the initial station;
• d. at a subsequent foil placement station, a placer unit places at least one sheet of laminated foil covers over the array of package bases;
• e. at a subsequent mechanical chucking station, at least one movable chucking arm mechanically chucks each sheet of laminated foil covers to ensure that the sheet of laminated foil covers is properly positioned and aligned relative to the array of package bases;
• and
• f. at a subsequent heat sealing station, a heated sealing head heat seals the laminated foil covers to the package bases.