| 摘要 |
This apparatus packages a preselected number of like small flat items, such as cards, directly in a series of cartons. Each carton, when loaded, is automatically removed from a loading station and replaced by an empty carton, while cards are supplied to the station without interruption. Cards are delivered successively from a conveyor above the loading station and dropped flatwise, while guided by a cage, to form a stack on a platform that is moved downwardly within the open front of the carton so as to keep the top of the stack at a substantially constant height within the cage. An electronic counter causes the platform to move downward according to the speed at which cards are supplied to the stack. When the counter reaches the preselected number, a knife moves horizontally into the cage to temporarily support the stream of cards while the platform moves rapidly downward to a lower limit position and is then withdrawn from the carton, leaving the stack in the carton. The loaded carton is then automatically advanced from the loading station, while an empty one is being moved into said station. Meanwhile, the platform is withdrawn, raised, and then moved into the open front of the empty carton; whereupon the knife is removed and the empty carton is loaded as above described.
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