초록 ▼

An apparatus and method are disclosed for promoting preselected article orientation by elimination of unoccupied spaces in an assemblage of articles at a staging area, and, more particularly for precisely grouping cans prior to palletization thereof. The apparatus has opposite side walls, at least o

An apparatus and method are disclosed for promoting preselected article orientation by elimination of unoccupied spaces in an assemblage of articles at a staging area, and, more particularly for precisely grouping cans prior to palletization thereof. The apparatus has opposite side walls, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, adjacent to a transfer surface for alternately expanding and contracting the area allotted to article staging, while the articles are being assembled to thereby cause articles to occupy unoccupied spaces and thereby enhance quantity reliability of articles within a given area.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for promoting preselected article orientation in an assemblage of articles, said assemblage extending longitudinally and transversely contiguous to a reference surface at a staging area having said reference surface thereat, said apparatus including means for urging said articles throug

An apparatus for promoting preselected article orientation in an assemblage of articles, said assemblage extending longitudinally and transversely contiguous to a reference surface at a staging area having said reference surface thereat, said apparatus including means for urging said articles through a predetermined path having a plurality of segments in a first direction while at said staging area, and said articles having a first surface contiguous to said reference surface during movement through said predetermined path, said apparatus comprising: pressure exerting means adjacent to said reference surface and having at least a first portion and a second portion each extending along different segments of said predetermined path for exerting pressure at a surface of at least some of said articles in said assemblage of articles at said staging area other than said first surface, said first and second portions being configured for causing differential article displacement; and pressure varying means connected with said pressure exerting means for repeatedly varying said pressure being exerted at said surface of said articles by said pressure exerting means to thereby cause movement of at least some of said articles while at said staging area in directions angularly oriented with respect to said first direction in a manner sufficient to promote at said staging area said preselected article orientation of said assemblage of articles at said staging area.