| 摘要 |
<p>Apparatus for handling and packaging articles such as can ends is capable of receiving a continuous flow of articles and automatically delivering groups of articles of a prescribed number, disposed in a nested condition, to a packaging station (30). The apparatus comprises a plurality of generally parallel elongate lanes (22, 24, 26) for simultaneously handling articles, one of the lanes (22) being aligned for delivering articles to the packaging station (30). A transport arrangement (28) linearly advances articles along at least the one aligned lane (22) toward the packaging station (30). A pick-and-place device (40) is selectively movable between positions in alignment with each of the lanes (22, 24, 26) for selectively transferring articles to the one aligned lane (22) from the other lanes (24, 26). A control apparatus (32) controls a predetermined sequence of operation of the transport arrangement (28) and of the pick-and-place device (40) for providing a substantially continuous supply of articles to the packaging station (32). <IMAGE> <IMAGE></p> |
