Automatic packaging machine for multiple small items with desired orientation
First Claim
1. An automatic packaging machine comprising a plurality of spaced parallel pocket plates forming a first endless conveyor, each of said pocket plates having therein a plurality of pockets arranged in columns and rows to hold small items in a pattern corresponding to a desired orientation of said small items in a container, means for removing any debris and excess small items not resting in a pocket away from on said pocket plate, a plurality of insertion trays forming a second endless conveyor, each of said insertion trays having holding means corresponding to individually associated ones of said columns of said pockets, means for bring said pocket plates and insertion trays into a face-to-face relationship and moving said small items from said pockets and into said holding means, means for selectively moving said insertion tray with said small items remain in said holding means into a container, and stripping means for withdrawing said insertion tray from said container while preventing said small items from leaving said container as said insertion tray is removed therefrom, whereby said small items remain in said desired orientation within said container.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic packaging machine inserts small items, such as candy coated chewing gum, into a box with the small items arranged in a desired orientation. First, the small items are swept into a grid of individual pockets in plates on a conveyor. Then, the grid is inverted over an insertion tray having grooves which receive the small items without disturbing the desired orientation. The entire tray is inserted into a box and then withdrawn from the box. A ridge is formed adjacent said grooves for lifting a side of the box confronting the small items while the tray is inserted into the box so that there is almost no friction between the small item and the box, which might otherwise disturb the desired orientation. The small items are blocked during a withdrawal of the tray so that they are laid down in the desired orientation on the bottom of the box.
25 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. An automatic packaging machine comprising a plurality of spaced parallel pocket plates forming a first endless conveyor, each of said pocket plates having therein a plurality of pockets arranged in columns and rows to hold small items in a pattern corresponding to a desired orientation of said small items in a container, means for removing any debris and excess small items not resting in a pocket away from on said pocket plate, a plurality of insertion trays forming a second endless conveyor, each of said insertion trays having holding means corresponding to individually associated ones of said columns of said pockets, means for bring said pocket plates and insertion trays into a face-to-face relationship and moving said small items from said pockets and into said holding means, means for selectively moving said insertion tray with said small items remain in said holding means into a container, and stripping means for withdrawing said insertion tray from said container while preventing said small items from leaving said container as said insertion tray is removed therefrom, whereby said small items remain in said desired orientation within said container.
- 17. An automatic packaging machine comprising means for feeding small items into a loading position, means for arranging the small items in a desired orientation, insertion tray means for inserting said small items into a carton, means for laying said oriented small items from said arranging means onto said insertion tray means while maintaining said desired orientation, and means for withdrawing said insertion tray means from said carton while blocking a removal of said small items, whereby said small items are laid down in said desired orientation inside said carton.
Specification