| 摘要 |
<p>METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND CARTONING MULTI-STACK ARRAYS OF COMPRESSIBLE ARTICLES The apparatus forms multi-stack arrays of compressible, generally flat articles -- for example, elongate catamenial napkins --on a receiving platform disposed adjacent a stack forming apparatus by pushing one stack against the back wall of the receiving platform, and then pushing successively formed stacks into adjacent relation with the last stack pushed onto the receiving platform. This is done with a stack pusher, and controlling the lengths of its successive strokes as required. Upon moving each stack into its respective position on the receiving platform, it is individually compressed to reduce the height of the stack to about the height of the carton into which the array is to be loaded as a unit. An array pusher then pushes the array orthogonally with respect to the direction of pushing the stacks onto the receiving platform to displace the array as a unit into a carton through a loading funnel. Preferably, elongate articles such as catamenial napkins are oriented in the associated stacker so that, relative to the length dimension of the articles, the stacks are displaced sideways from the stacker onto the receiving platform so that the stacks are oriented in side-by-side relation with each other. Individual compression of each stack substantially obviates any interleaving or damage of the articles in adjacent stacks which might otherwise occur: particularly at high stack pusher velocities.</p> |
