Continuous loading system

摘要

A system is disclosed for loading a plurality of items into a plurality of containers. The system may include a plurality of pucks (132), each puck adapted to retain an item. A puck delivery sub-system may include a puck-infeed conveyor (112) to move each of the pucks along an in-feed conveyor path, and a transition apparatus (174) operable to facilitate the transition of the pucks to a continuous puck unloading conveyor. The puck un-loading conveyor (116) may have a releasable engagement mechanism such that when each of the pucks is engaged with said puck unloading conveyor, each of said pucks is fixed in a relative longitudinal position relative to the puck unloading conveyor. An item transfer apparatus (151) may transfer an item from each puck when engaged with the puck un-loading conveyor, to a corresponding container.