PACKAGING MACHINE

摘要

A packaging machine (5) for moving spaced groups of containers along a packaging line is disclosed. The packaging machine (5) includes a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly (12) having a pair of eq ually spaced conveyor chains (61, 62) and a pair of side guides (17) mounted on a pair of accessory rails (14) movably supported on the p ackaging machine framework (7) along opposite sides of the packaging line. The conveyor chains (61, 62) are laterally movable. The side guides (17) and accessory rails (14) are simultaneously moved laterally as the conveyor chains (61, 62) are moved. Each conveyor chain ( 61, 62) includes spaced pop-up lug assemblies (63) with pop-up lugs (92) selectively reciprocated from lowered positions to raised positions extended above the conveyor chains (61, 62) for varying the pitch. Each conveyor chain (61, 62) includes plural modular table-to p lugs (65) which are yieldably urged into position on an endless chain (84).