Large container loading system for a packaging machine
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B65B-005/04
B65B-035/56
B65B-035/58
B65B-035/20
B65B-021/24
출원번호
US-0005773
(2011-01-13)
등록번호
US-9021773
(2015-05-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Ford, Colin P.
출원인 / 주소
Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
8
초록▼
A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in
A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.
대표청구항▼
1. A packaging machine comprising: a transfer flight having a reorientation region;a plurality of cradle lugs arranged in spaced relationship along the transfer flight;a conveyor assembly for moving the cradle lugs in a downstream direction along the transfer flight;an articulating attachment betwee
1. A packaging machine comprising: a transfer flight having a reorientation region;a plurality of cradle lugs arranged in spaced relationship along the transfer flight;a conveyor assembly for moving the cradle lugs in a downstream direction along the transfer flight;an articulating attachment between each cradle lug and the conveyor assembly, the articulating attachment facilitating movement of the cradle lug from a first orientation to a second orientation; anda control mechanism coupled to each cradle lug for progressively moving the cradle lugs from the first orientation to the second orientation as the cradle lugs are conveyed through the reorientation region of the transfer flight,wherein each cradle lug of the plurality of cradle lugs comprises a cradle extending from a base for at least partially supporting a container in the cradle lug as the cradle lug moves from the first orientation to the second orientation, and at least one puck is removably disposed in at least one cradle lug of the plurality of cradle lugs adjacent the respective base for engaging the container in the at least one cradle lug as the cradle lug moves from the first orientation to the second orientation. 2. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and wherein each cradle lug is configured to cradle a container and to constrain the container as the cradle lug moves from the first orientation to the second orientation. 3. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising rails formed in each cradle lug for reducing sliding friction between the cradle lug and a container cradled therein. 4. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cradle has a back and two sides that are oblique with respect to the back, and the rails comprise at least one rail on each of the two sides. 5. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising an opening in the base sized to allow a push rod to extend through the opening for pushing the container out of the cradle lug. 6. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising an ejector slot formed in each cradle lug sized to receive an ejector for ejecting the puck from the cradle lug. 7. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the conveyor assembly comprises an endless chain and wherein the cradle lugs are attached to the endless chain. 8. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the articulating attachment is a pivot. 9. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the control mechanism comprises a static rail. 10. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the control mechanism comprises a cam and cam follower. 11. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a push rod for pushing the container out of the cradle lug away from the base. 12. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base comprises a first hole and the puck comprises a second hole, and the push rod extends at least partially through the first hole and the second hole to push the container. 13. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cradle comprises a rib that at least partially retains the puck adjacent the base as the push rod pushes the container away from the base. 14. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises an ejector slot that is generally aligned with the puck proximate the base, and the ejector slot is for receiving an ejector arm configured to eject the puck from the cradle lug. 15. A packaging machine comprising: a transfer flight having a reorientation region;a plurality of cradle lugs arranged in spaced relationship along the transfer flight;a conveyor assembly for moving the cradle lugs in a downstream direction along the transfer flight;an articulating attachment between each cradle lug and the conveyor assembly, the articulating attachment facilitating movement of the cradle lug from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein each cradle lug is configured to cradle a container and to constrain the container as the cradle lug moves from the first orientation to the second orientation;a control mechanism coupled to each cradle lug for progressively moving the cradle lugs from the first orientation to the second orientation as the cradle lugs are conveyed through the reorientation region of the transfer flight; anda first plurality of rollers on each of the cradle lugs positioned to support the container in the cradle lug and facilitate movement of the container out of the cradle lug when the cradle lug is in the second orientation. 16. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising a transfer block associated with each cradle lug and having a second plurality of rollers, each transfer block being in a transfer position with the second plurality of rollers aligned with the first plurality of rollers on the cradle lug when the cradle lug is in the second orientation. 17. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 16 and wherein the transfer block is movable to the transfer position and further comprising a cam arm coupled at one end to the transfer block and at an opposite end to the cradle lug, the cam arm moving the cradle lug from the first orientation to the second orientation as the transfer block moves toward the transfer position. 18. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising a cam track extending along the transfer flight at least in the reorientation region and a cam follower attached to each of the transfer blocks and riding in the cam track, the cam track being configured to move each of the transfer blocks into the transfer position as the transfer block and its associated cradle lug move in the downstream direction through the reorientation region. 19. A container conveyor and reorientation assembly for a packaging machine having a transfer flight and a carton flight moving synchronously in a downstream direction, the container conveyor and reorientation assembly comprising: a cradle lug comprising a cradle extending from a base for at least partially supporting a container in the cradle lug;a puck removably disposed in the cradle lug adjacent the base for engaging the container in the cradle lug;an articulating mount securing the cradle lug to the transfer flight;the articulating mount facilitating movement of the cradle lug between a substantially upright orientation and a substantially sideways orientation; anda control assembly for progressively moving the cradle lug from the substantially upright orientation to the substantially sideways orientation as the cradle lug moves with the transfer flight in the downstream orientation. 20. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 19 and further comprising a transfer block associated with the cradle lug and being in a transfer position between the cradle lug and the carton flight when the cradle lug is in its substantially sideways orientation. 21. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a push rod for pushing the container out of the cradle lug away from the base. 22. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the base comprises a first hole and the puck comprises a second hole, and the push rod extends at least partially through the first hole and the second hole to push the container. 23. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cradle comprises a rib that at least partially retains the puck adjacent the base as the push rod pushes the container away from the base. 24. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cradle comprises an ejector slot that is generally aligned with the puck proximate the base, and the ejector slot is for receiving an ejector arm configured to eject the puck from the cradle lug. 25. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cradle has a back and two sides that are oblique with respect to the back, and the cradle lug further comprises at least one rail on each of the two sides for reducing sliding friction between the cradle lug and a container cradled therein. 26. A container conveyor and reorientation assembly for a packaging machine having a transfer flight and a carton flight moving synchronously in a downstream direction, the container conveyor and reorientation assembly comprising: a cradle lug;an articulating mount securing the cradle lug to the transfer flight;the articulating mount facilitating movement of the cradle lug between a substantially upright orientation and a substantially sideways orientation;a control assembly for progressively moving the cradle lug from the substantially upright orientation to the substantially sideways orientation as the cradle lug moves with the transfer flight in the downstream orientation;a transfer block associated with the cradle lug and being in a transfer position between the cradle lug and the carton flight when the cradle lug is in its substantially sideways orientation; andan array of rollers on the cradle lug and an array of rollers on the transfer block, the array of rollers on the transfer block being substantially aligned with the array of rollers on the cradle lug when the cradle lug is in its substantially sideways orientation. 27. A container conveyor and reorientation assembly for a packaging machine having a transfer flight and a carton flight moving synchronously in a downstream direction, the container conveyor and reorientation assembly comprising: a cradle lug;an articulating mount securing the cradle lug to the transfer flight;the articulating mount facilitating movement of the cradle lug between a substantially upright orientation and a substantially sideways orientation;a control assembly for progressively moving the cradle lug from the substantially upright orientation to the substantially sideways orientation as the cradle lug moves with the transfer flight in the downstream orientation;a transfer block associated with the cradle lug and being in a transfer position between the cradle lug and the carton flight when the cradle lug is in its substantially sideways orientation, wherein the transfer block is progressively movable toward the transfer position; anda cam arm coupled at one end to the transfer block and at an opposite end to the cradle lug, the cam arm progressively moving the cradle lug to its sideways orientation as the transfer block is moved toward its transfer position. 28. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 27 and wherein the control assembly comprises a cam track and cam follower arrangement. 29. The container conveyor and reorientation assembly as claimed in claim 28 and wherein the cam track extends along the transfer flight and wherein the cam follower is attached to the transfer block and rides in the transfer flight, the cam track being configured to move the transfer block to its transfer position and, through the cam arm, the cradle lug to its sideways orientation.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Monti,Guiseppe, Apparatus for transferring products from a first conveying line to a second conveying line, in particular for feeding a boxing machine.
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