VARIABLE PITCH PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHODS

摘要

Packaging apparatus includes, in combination, a product receiving or loading station requiring individual product buckets oriented at one pitch for loading with products and a cartoning station requiring groups of buckets oriented at another different pitch for packaging articles into cartons. The apparatus accommodates the packaging of varying numbers of buckets or product stacks in varied width cartons, independent of the orientation of buckets in the product receiving station. Buckets are conveyed in a path through the packaging apparatus under the influence of a linear motor conveyor independently of, and separate from, other buckets in the path and without regard to pitch between other buckets in the path. Apparatus and methods are disclosed.

主权项

1. A packaging apparatus comprising, in combination:
a product receiving station wherein separate product buckets are loaded with one, or a stack of articles to be packaged; a cartoning station wherein products from one or more selectively grouped buckets are introduced into a carton receiving said products from said one or more grouped buckets, the pitch of said grouped buckets at said cartoning station being different than the pitch of individual buckets loading at said product receiving station; and a linear motor conveyor conveying buckets in a path from said product receiving station to said cartoning station independently of other buckets in said path, said path extending through said product receiving at cartoning stations.