초록 ▼

The invention greatly increases the versatility and the speed at which an automatic packaging machine may fill boxes or other containers. Two fill stations are provided for alternately filling empty boxes as they move in single file past two separate fill stations. If no empty box is available to re

The invention greatly increases the versatility and the speed at which an automatic packaging machine may fill boxes or other containers. Two fill stations are provided for alternately filling empty boxes as they move in single file past two separate fill stations. If no empty box is available to receive the product, a transfer cup is diverted and travels over one of two alternate paths at the fill station would otherwise fill the missing box. The product dumped from any non-diverted transfer cup goes into a corresponding box. The product dumped from any diverted transfer cup is returned to the start of the fill cycle. This way, the machine may simultaneously (i) fill one box with two separate products, (ii) fill alternate boxes with two different products or product volumes, or (iii) fill different kinds of boxes with product. A swing arm enables a part to be moved at each of the fill stations so that it may be repaired, maintained or cleaned without having to disassemble the machine. The resulting machine not only acts much faster, but also is able to simultaneously handle different products, and boxes in many different ways.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of transferring product through an automatic packaging machine for controllably loading at least two different products, said method comprising the steps of: (a) simultaneously transporting a plurality of bottomless measuring cups, bottomless transfer cups, and boxes around closed paths whi

A method of transferring product through an automatic packaging machine for controllably loading at least two different products, said method comprising the steps of: (a) simultaneously transporting a plurality of bottomless measuring cups, bottomless transfer cups, and boxes around closed paths which converge with each other in at least two different predetermined points along said paths; (b) supporting products within said measuring cups and said transfer cups by individually associated underlying surfaces which are interrupted at predetermined locations to selectively allow product to fall in a two step operation out of said cups in order to transfer product from said measuring cups to said transfer cups and from said transfer cups to said boxes in at least said two predetermined points; (c) detecting the presence or absence of any of said boxes as they move around said path; and (d) continuously moving said cups over said surfaces in coordination with movement of said boxes in order to produce a three step fill sequence at each of said predetermined points, said fill sequence comprising (i) transferring product from said measuring cups through one of said surface interruptions into said transfer cups, (ii) transferring product from said transfer cups through another of said surface interruptions into said boxes which are individually associated with said transfer cups; and (iii) selectively deflecting the path of one of said transfer cups responsive to the detection of an absence of a box in step (c), said selective deflection being effective at one of said two predetermined points where the absent box would otherwise be filled, so that product is not transferred from said transfer cup through said other interruption while it is in said deflected path.