Apparatus for guiding and cushioning a plurality of articles as they move into a container

摘要

An apparatus for guiding and cushioning a plurality of articles deposited into a container positioned beneath it. It is comprised of a rigid framework of spaced, elongated members having guides positioned at intervals along the members. The guides are tapered upward and extend outward on either side of the elongated members to define passages through which the articles pass, which passages are bounded by members on two sides and by the extended guide portions on the other sides. Flexible fingers extending downwardly and toward the center of each passage have mounting portions fastened to the elongated members by the tapered guides; preferably two fingers extend into different passages from a common mounting portion. The tapered guides align each article with a passage where the flexible fingers cushion and precisely position the article as it moves into the container. Each mounting portion can be resiliently fastened in place to provide adjustability of the cushioning effect by adjusting the resiliency.