Packaging apparatus for random size articles
First Claim
1. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading and transporting articles of an order to a scanning station, said load station having a means for separating orders;
a rejection station, said rejection station including a means for automatically diverting and extracting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles from said order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on each of said random size and shape articles;
a packaging station for mechanically loading said articles into packages; and
a computer having a program for interacting with said stations to process, reject and package said articles and having a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated interative apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising a group of stations in seriatum for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles. The stations include: at least one station for loading and separating articles into orders; a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia on articles; a weighing station; a rejection station for rejecting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles; an orientation station for angularly orienting articles; a packaging station for loading articles into packages; a sealing station for sealing cartons and a computer having a program for interacting with the stations to process and package articles and a data file corresponding to indicia marked on each of the articles.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading and transporting articles of an order to a scanning station, said load station having a means for separating orders;
a rejection station, said rejection station including a means for automatically diverting and extracting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles from said order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on each of said random size and shape articles;
a packaging station for mechanically loading said articles into packages; and
a computer having a program for interacting with said stations to process, reject and package said articles and having a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading and transporting articles of an order to a scanning station, said load station having a means for separating orders;
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14. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random Size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on each of said random size and shape articles, said load station having a means for separating orders;
a rejection station for rejecting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles from said order, a packaging station for loading said articles into packages; and
a computer having a program for interacting with said stations to process, reject and package said articles and having a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles;
an orientation station for angularly orienting each of said articles before loading said articles in a package, said orientation station comprising, a rotary table for changing the angular orientation of each of said articles;
an overhead imaging means for interacting with said computer to angularly position said articles; and
a means for transporting each of said articles on and off said rotary table, said means for transporting each of said articles on and off said rotary table is an overhead transporter, said transporter being comprised of a frame, said frame having a pair of spaced apart sides, a pair of longitudinal belts, each of said belts being rotatively mounted on one of said sides, a plurality of lateral pusher blades, each of said blades having opposite end portions attached to said belts whereby said belts and said pusher blades advance as a unit in a longitudinal direction to transport articles on to and off of said rotary table; and
a means for driving said longitudinal belts.
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
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15. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on each of said random size and shape articles, said load station having a means for separating orders, said means for separating orders being comprised of a sensor which is a magnetized piece on one of said articles and a sensor mounted in said load station which is responsive to said magnetized piece;
a rejection station for rejecting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles from said order, a packaging station for loading said articles into packages; and
a computer having a program for interacting with said stations to process and package said articles and having a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles.
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
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16. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on each of said random size and shape articles, said load station having a means for separating orders;
a rejection station for rejecting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles from said order, said rejection station comprising a means for weighing articles and a means for diverting articles in said apparatus, said weighing and said diverting means interacting with said scanning station and said computer to reject said mismarked, out of date or recalled articles, a packaging station for loading said articles into packages; and
a computer stations to process and package said articles and having a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles.
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
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17. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on said order comprising an assortment of random size and shape articles, said load station having a means for separating orders;
a weighing station for determining the weight of each of said articles;
a rejection station for rejecting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles;
an orientation station for angularly orienting each of said articles;
a packaging station for loading said articles into cartons;
a means for supplying cartons to said packaging station;
a sealing station for sealing said cartons after the filling of said cartons with said articles; and
a computer having a program for interacting with said stations to process and package said articles and having a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles.
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
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18. An apparatus for packaging random assortments of random size and shaped articles comprising:
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
a scanning station for scanning and entering into a computer indicia marked on each article of said order of an assortment of random size and shape articles, said load station having a means for separating orders;
a weighing station for determining the weight of each of said articles;
a rejection station for rejecting mismarked, out of date or recalled articles;
an orientation station for angularly orienting each of said articles;
a packaging station for loading said articles into packages, said packaging station including a pair of arms, said arms having end portions which are adapted to grasp each of said articles, a first power screw drive for reducing the distance between said arms to grasp an article, a second power screw drive is for moving said arms in a vertical direction, a third power screw drive for moving said arms in a longitudinal direction, a fourth power screw drive for moving said arms in a lateral direction; and
an overhead imaging means for interacting with said power screw drives and a computer to mechanically pick up and load said articles in said packages;
a means for supplying cartons to said packaging station;
a sealing station for sealing said cartons after the filling of said cartons with said articles; and
a computer having a program for interacting with said stations to process and package said articles and a data file corresponding to said indicia marked on each of said articles. - View Dependent Claims (19)
- a group of stations in seriatim for processing and packaging random assortments of random size and shape articles, said stations including, at least one load station for loading articles of an order;
Specification