| 摘要 |
A machine (1) for bundling tubes (9) into packs of predetermined configuration comprises a loading station having upper and lower load receiving elements (5, 6) including retractable arms (7, 8) for supporting the tubes at each end thereof and a receiving station positioned below the loading station comprising a cradle (25). Predetermined numbers of tubes (9), which may be delivered from a lift conveyor (103), are counted onto the arms (7) of the upper element (5) in a side-by-side relationship and transferred to the arms (8) of the lower element (6) by retraction of arms (7). The layer of tubes is then lowered into the receiving cradle (25) between support arms (28, 29, 30) and released into the cradle by retraction of the supporting arms (8) which then return to the upper position to receive the next layer of tubes. The process is repeated until a predetermined number of layers of tubes is contained in the cradle (25) at which point the cradle is moved away and the tubes banded into a pack for removal. A microprocessor (21) is programmed to control the machine operation and to count the number of tubes (9) onto the load receiving elements (5) to provide layers of predetermined numbers of tubes whereby the layers are received in the cradle (25) in a predetermined configuration which may be rectangular or hexagonal shaped. For receiving tubes in a hexagonal configuration the arms (29, 30) of the cradle are moveably positioned to retain successive layers of tubes in that configuration. |
