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AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsDennis Rejcek, Terry Brinkerhuff, Ron Rieger, Dennis Lenart, Mike McGee, Johnny Black
Estimating the term…
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for compressing a plurality of objects into a compressed grouping and transferring said compressed grouping to a transfer conveyor. The apparatus includes a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of receiving areas positioned around the circumference of the cylinder for receiving a plurality of objects in expanded arrangement from an infeed conveyor at a receiving position. The apparatus also includes first and second compression members, one positioned on each end of said cylinder adjacent the receiving areas and covering a circumferential-portion of a side of said cylinder. The compression members include inclined portion which force the end objects toward the longitudinal center of the cylinder. In addition, a transfer conveyor running longitudinally through the cylinder for capturing a compressed grouping at the transfer position.
A method for compressing a plurality of objects into a compressed grouping and transferring said compressed grouping with an apparatus comprising a rotatable body including a receiving area positioned on a peripheral surface of said body and extending lengthwise along said body for receiving a plurality of objects from an infeed conveyor at a receiving position, and compression members adjacent said rotatable body for forming a compressed grouping at a transfer position, and a transfer conveyor for transporting said compressed grouping away from said transfer position, said method comprising the steps of:
The method according to claim 4, wherein each of said rotatable bodies includes a plurality of receiving areas.
A method for compressing a plurality of objects into a compressed grouping with a compression apparatus comprising a rotatable body having two ends and a center between the two ends including a receiving area positioned on a peripheral surface of said rotatable body and extending lengthwise along said body for receiving a plurality of objects from an infeed conveyor at a receiving position, and compression members positioned on the ends of said rotatable body and surrounding a portion of the ends of said rotatable body, said compression member having an inclining portion commencing from a start position located on a side of said compression member facing the center of said rotatable body and inclining toward the center of said rotatable body to a transfer position, said start position aligned adjacent said receiving position, said method comprising the steps of:
A method for compressing a plurality of objects into a compressed grouping and transferring said compressed grouping with an apparatus comprising a rotatable body having a peripheral surface, two ends and a center between the two ends including a receiving area positioned on the peripheral surface of said rotatable body for receiving a plurality of objects in expanded arrangement from an infeed conveyor at a receiving position, a compression member positioned on an end of said rotatable body and surrounding a portion of a side of said rotatable body, said compression member having an inclining portion commencing from a start position located on the side of said compression member facing the center of said rotatable body and inclining toward the center of said rotatable body to a transfer position, said start position located adjacent said receiving position, and a transfer conveyor located adjacent said rotatable body and including a capturing member for capturing said compressed grouping at said transfer position, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.