Counting mechanism for creamer filling machine

摘要

The specification of the present application discloses an apparatus and method for dividing the multiple parallel output of a multi-lane container packaging machine to allow bulk packaging of a number of containers independent of the number of containers in one parallel output. This is accomplished by changing the parallel container output into a series output in which the container spacing and position relative to other containers is determined by the output rate of the multi-lane packaging machine and the speed of a second conveyor positioned at the discharge of the machine to change the parallel input of containers to a series format. A segmenting means is associated with the indexing of the multi-lane packaging machine and divides the time between successive indexes into divisions representative of the number and spacing of containers on the second conveyor. These divisions are then used to determine when a specified number of containers have been bulk packaged, at which time the series output of containers is interrupted in preparation for loading another bulk container.