ARTICLE GROUPING & TRANSFER APPARATUS

摘要

Apparatus for receipt and select accumulation of individual articles so as to form an article group, and subsequent transfer of the article group in furtherance of cartoning same, is provided. The apparatus includes a track assembly, an article receiver and an article group advancer. The track assembly delimits a track travel path, the track travel path characterized by an individual article ingress segment, and an article group egress segment. The article receiver is operatively supported by the track assembly for travel corresponding to the track travel path, the article receiver receiving individual articles at the article ingress segment of said track travel path. The article group advancer selectively engages and advances an article group formed in relation to the article receiver within a segment of the track travel path downstream of the individual article ingress segment thereof, received articles having a first orientation at the individual article ingress segment of the track travel path, select accumulated articles having a second orientation at the article egress segment of the track travel path.

主权项

1. Apparatus for receipt and select accumulation of individual articles so as to form an article group, and subsequent transfer of the article group in furtherance of cartoning same, the apparatus comprising:
a. a track assembly delimiting a track travel path, said track travel path characterized by upstream and downstream portions, an individual article ingress segment, and an article group egress segment, said individual article ingress segment and said article group egress segment within said upstream portion of said track travel path; b. an article receiver operatively supported by said track assembly for travel corresponding to said track travel path, said article receiver receiving individual articles at said article ingress segment of said track travel path; and, c. an article group advancer for select engagement and advancement of an article group formed in relation to said article receiver within a segment of said track travel path downstream of said individual article ingress segment thereof, received articles having a first orientation at said individual article ingress segment of said track travel path, select accumulated articles having a second orientation at said article egress segment of said track travel path.