Feeder structure and receiving wheel for high speed inserter

摘要

A multiple station in-line product handling machine (40) is provided which has infeed stations (42-46) equipped with improved feeder and receiving units (60, 62) as well as a unique pusher chain assembly (78). The feeder units (60) include a sucker shaft (88) adapted to successively grip the leading ends (336) of the bottom products (334) in a stack thereof and to pivot such leading ends (336) downwardly without any substantial translational movement of the product (334); the downwardly pivoted ends (336) are then engaged by a cooperating nip roller (100) and feed belt assembly (71) to withdraw the product (334) from the stack. Preferably, the sucker shaft (88) and nip roller (100) are driven by respective cams (106, 108) mounted on a powered shaft (110). The receiving units (62) have receiving structure (74) together with a rotatable wheel (76) equipped with a resilient peripheral product-engaging element (174) which quickly and reliably move the fed product (334) along the length of the machine (10). Preferably, a pusher pin (82) forming a part of chain assembly (78) is moved in timed relationship with wheel (76) so that the element (174) and pin (82) substantially simultaneously engage the product (334) to move it from the receiving unit (62). The chain assembly (78) is made up of a whole number of end-to-end interconnected chain sections (296) each having a plurality of strategically located pin mounts (81) so that changeover of the assembly (78) to handle products of different lengths can be readily accomplished.