초록 ▼

An apparatus for controlling the input of articles to a packaging machine. The apparatus comprises a dead plate, a plurality of stop posts and an actuator connected to each stop post. The dead plate has top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of lanes located on the top surface and extending from a

An apparatus for controlling the input of articles to a packaging machine. The apparatus comprises a dead plate, a plurality of stop posts and an actuator connected to each stop post. The dead plate has top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of lanes located on the top surface and extending from a proximal edge to a distal edge, across which articles are moved, and at least one aperture disposed in each lane. Each stop post is aligned for extension through a corresponding dead plate aperture. An actuator is connected to each stop post, whereby the stop posts are extendible and retractable above the top surface of the dead plate, the stop posts impeding travel of articles across the dead plate when extended and permitting travel of articles across the dead plate when retracted.

대표청구항 ▼

An article infeed mechanism of a packaging machine, comprising: a) at least one article infeed line supplying a stream of articles, said article infeed line having a conveyor and a plurality of guides disposed above said conveyor and which define a plurality of article transport lanes; b) an article

An article infeed mechanism of a packaging machine, comprising: a) at least one article infeed line supplying a stream of articles, said article infeed line having a conveyor and a plurality of guides disposed above said conveyor and which define a plurality of article transport lanes; b) an article group selection and transport line intersecting said article infeed line at a predetermined angle, said article group selection and transport line having a conveyor and a plurality of spaced, flight bars fixed on said conveyor, said flight bars raking articles from said article infeed line to form article groups of a predetermined pattern which are transported in a linear direction by said conveyor subsequent to formation; and c) means to prime said article group selection and transport line with completed article groups, said means to prime comprising: i) a dead plate having top and bottom surfaces, said dead plate being disposed at an interface between said article infeed line conveyor and said article group selection and transport conveyor, said proximal edge of said dead plate abutting said infeed conveyor and said distal edge abutting said selection and transport conveyor, said dead plate further having a plurality of lanes located on said top surface and extending from a proximal edge to a distal edge, across which articles are moved, and at least one aperture disposed in each said lane; ii) a plurality of stop posts, each said stop post being aligned for extension through a corresponding dead plate aperture; and iii) means to move said stop posts, whereby they are extendible and retractable above said top surface of said dead plate, said stop posts impeding travel of articles across said dead plate when extended and permitting travel of articles across said dead plate when retracted.