AU670853B2 - A packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for Service: Invention Title: R.L. WINDSOR SON PTY. LTD.

A.C.N. 009 665 678 MAXWELL CHRISTOE DOWZER CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Old. 4000, Australia.

A PACKAGING APPARATUS *0 .oee e o e *o **o Details of Associated Provisional Applications: No. PL7613 Filed 3 March 1993 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:= THIS INVENTION relates to a packaging apparatus. In particular, the invention concerns an apparatus for packaging discrete containers in the shape of tubs which normally are filled with foodstuff such as marc,3rine, microwave heatable convenience foods and the like.

Tubs of the type for which the apparatus of the invention is particularly adapted are manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes. These tubs are typically made of thin plastics material, have a lipped open top to which a lid is snap fitted. The tubs are often of a frusto-conical shape with the base smaller than the top and a continuous outwardly tapered side wall extending upwardly from the base. Another common shape is a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners and a continuous upwardly extending side wall which tapers outwardly to provide a container having a footprint of an area less than the area of the top of the container.

Containers of this general type are flimsy and difficult to handle. The contents for such containers is typically deposited into the container while still in liquid or fluid form and the flimsy nature of the construction of the containers does not lend itself readily to rapid packaging in a packaging apparatus.

2' It is usual for such containers to be arranged in layers consisting of two or more rows of a plurality of collated containers. Depending upon the size of the containers, each layer typically consists of two rows of four or two rows of three containers. These rows are 0: then stacked on top of one another and sealed in an outer carton of fibreboard material. Machines which achieve this need to be able to operate at relatively high speeds and hence are complex in their construction and expensive to make.

Machines capable of packaging containers of the type discussed have been constructed. One such earlier machine included a down stacker which had a vertically movable table onto which layers of containers consisting 20: s I o S o/ :2: o l

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of rows and columns of containers were assembled.

Machines which included down stackers were not particularly versatile or cheap in their construction.

This was because of the fact that down stackers must have a table capable of being lowered and able to be stopped at progressively lower random levels depending upon the height of the containers being packed. Once the desired number of layers had been stacked onto the table, the layers of containers would then need to be stripped off the table and this was a slow operation. A carton over product machine was then required to seal the layers of containers into the carton. The very nature of the containers was such that they did not lend themselves readily to being handled in the manner adopted in such machines.

Another earlier machine proposed for this purpose had dual container collators spaced from each other and across the machine. The layers produced by the collators were stacked on top of one another employing a complex shuttle arrangement which resulted in a slow operation. A downstacker of the type mentioned above was located downstream of the shuttle mechanism and was used to receive the layers of containers. This machine was expensive in .ts construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging apparatus which at least minimises the disadvantages referred to above.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a packaging apparatus including an upstream and a downstream end, a feeder for receiving rows of containers and transporting the containers downstream of the apparatus, the feeder including a feeder arm pivotal about an axis extending longitudinally of the apparatus and movable longitudinally of the apparatus, a loader downstream of the feeder and adapted to receive layers of containers transported to the loader by the feeder arm, the loader subsequently transporting the stack of containers downstream of the apparatus, a conveyor extending from upstream of the feeder to an upstream end of the loader for progressing containers along the apparatus, a stacker having opposed stacking members movable towards and away from one another and vertically to elevate a layer of containers assembled on the loader whereby once a layer of containers has been lifted the feeder may transport a subsequent layer of containers to a location on the loader and beneath the elevated layer and the loader transporting stacked layers of containers to the downstream end of the apparatus.

The feeder, as mentioned has a feeder arm movable pivotally towards and away from the path of travel of containers through the apparatus and movable along the apparatus for transporting a collated layer of containers onto the loader. A stop member may be associated with each row of containers presented to the feeder. The stop members are operable to periodically prevent the passage of containers towards the feeder arm.

It is preferred that the stop members have associated with them a sensor for detecting the presence of containers in a zone of influence controlled by the stop members. Any suitable sensor may be used. For example, a proximity sensor may be used. Alternatively an optical sensor may be employed. The sensor is preferably located :oo'just downstream of the stop members and upstream of the 2. feeder arm. Where an optical sensor is used, the sensor may consist of a light source and light detector. More preferably still, the sensor includes a light source and a light detector arranged on one transverse side of the apparatus and a reflector on an opposed side of the apparatus.

The stop members are movable into and out of engagement with containers in the rows. In one embodiment the stop members consist of cylinder assemblies operable so that when the rods of these assemblies are extended the move into abutment with the containers in the rows.

Pneumatic cylinder assemblies are particularly preferred.

To ensure that the containers on the conveyor do not progress onto the loader table in an uncontrolled manner, further stop members may be located just upstream of the loader table. These stop members are preferable located at the downstream end of the conveyor. These stop members may move towards and away from the path of travel of containers along the apparatus. Preferably these further stop members may comprise stop fingers pivotally movable towards and away from the path of travel.

To ensure that the feeder arm is free to pivot from a vertical orientation into its position where it extends across the path of travel of the containers a sensor may be used to only allow this movement when a gap exists in the stream of containers progressing along the apparatus. A proximity sensor may be used. Preferably an optical sensor is used. The sensor may be of the same construction as the sensor associated with the stop members located upstream of the feeder arm. Preferably the sensor associated with arm is located at the same location along the apparatus as the arm or just upstream of it.

A drive is present for pivoting and moving the o *arm in the longitudinal direction along the apparatus.

The drive may include a motor and a translating mechanism -for converting rotary motion of the motor into pivotal and linear movement of the arm. The mechanism may include a cam drive and translating arms. The translating arms may be operative to move endless drive members such as belts or the like trained over pulleys or toothed wheels. The feeder arm may be mounted to a guide which extends along the apparatus. The guide may comprise a guide shaft. Preferably the guide shaft is a splined shaft such that rotation of the shaft may cause the feeder arm to pivot as previously mentioned. The splined shaft is rotated by the drive mentioned above.

The loader includes a table mounted for reciprocable movement along the apparatus. The loader includes a drive for reciprocable driving the table. The drive may include a motor and a translating mechanism.

The translating mechanism may include a cam drive coupled to the motor and translating arms. The translating arms may move endless drive members such as belts or the like trained over pulleys or toothed wheels.

The stacker may include opposed stacking or lifting members. The lifting members have an inner edge with a profile conforming to the peripheral shape of containers to be lifted. Depending upon the size of the containers and the desired number of containers in each row the lifting members each have shaped recesses of a number and shape corresponding to the number and shape of the containers in the rows. Where the containers are relatively large and where three containers are present in each row, the lifting members each have three shaped recesses. Alternatively, where the containers are relatively small the lifting members and there are four such containers in each row, the lifting members each have four shaped recesses. The lifting members may be mounted to a support and the support be adapted for supporting the lifting members during movement towards and away from one another. Spacer blocks may be employed for adjusting the position of the lifting members relative to the supports to cater for containers of a variety of different sizes.

The stacker includes a drive for moving the lifting members towards and away from one another as well as for moving the lifting members in a vertical direction. The drive may include a motor, a cam drive and a translating mechanism. The translating mechanism may include connecting arms and levers for converting the rotational motion of the motor into vertical and transverse reciprocal movement of the lifting members.

A particular preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 'a Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 1 with the housing removed to reveal details of the apparatus; Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the apparatus shown in figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a feeder which forms part of the apparatus shown in figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a loader which forms part of th apparatus shown in figure 1; Figure 5A is an elevational view of the loader of figure 5; and, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a stacker which forms part of the apparatus shown in figure 1.

In the figures, the left hand side is indicative of an upstream end of the apparatus or of that part of the apparatus shown in that particular figure while the right hand side is indicative of a downstream end of the apparatus or of that part of the apparatus shown in the figure.

With reference to figure 1, the apparatus has an upstream end 11 and a downstream end 12. An infeed mean (not shown and not part of the invention) is located o: upstream of end 11 and presents two rows of containers to the apparatus. These containers are presented to the apparatus 10 in two rows with a respective one of each the rows present between wall 13 and partition 14 and between partition 15 and 14. These containers are transferred towards the downstream end 12 by conveyor 16 which extends from end 11 to a location concealed by the A° housing 17. The apparatus has a stand consisting of a base 18 upon which the housing 17 rests and legs 19, and 21. Base 18 provides a bed and support for various components of the apparatus of the invention discussed below.

0* Adjacent the downstream end 12 of the apparatus a wrap around carton folding and sealing machine (not shown) is positioned and which receives stacked layers of containers from the apparatus 10 and seals them within 8 the wrap around carton.

Figure 2 shows greater detail of the apparatus with the housing 17 (see figure 1) removed to reveal detail of the construction of those aspect the apparatus normally concealed by the housing 17. A feeder, which includes feeder arm 25 mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the apparatus is shown and when in the feeder arm is shown in the position it assumes when moving longitudinally of the apparatus The two rows of containers confined between wall 13 and partitions 14 and 15 are periodically prevented from being transported further downstream past the arm 25 by pneumatic cylinder assemblies shown diagrammatically by numerals 26 and 27. These cylinder assemblies have rods with enlarged free ends which, when the rods are extended, may be moved into abutment against the containers in the rows on conveyor 16 to prevent them from being moved downstream past cylinder assemblies 26,27. When arm 25 is pivoted from the position shown in the figure to a substantially vertical orientation away from the path along which containers travel along the apparatus 10 and the rod of assemblies 26,27 are retracted the containers may progress downstream of the assemblies 26,27 as the conveyor 16 dictates. A loader 30 which includes a table 31 is movable from the position shown in figure 2 to a position where the table projects beyond the downstream end 12 and into the carton sealing machine (not shown). When the table 31 is in that extreme downstream position a stripping arm which forms part of the carton sealing machine is moved to project transversely of the longitudinal path along which the containers progress through the apparatus 10. Once this occurs the table is returned to the position shown in the figure 2 and the containers are stripped from the table oee and remain in the sealing machine The carton may then be wrapped around the containers.

Also shown in figure 2 is a container stacker which may grip a collated layer of containers, lift them to enable another collated layer of containers to be fed downstream by arm 25 to a location below the lifted layer of containers and the raised containers may then be lowered onto the layer below. This process is repeated until the desired number of layers of containers is stacked on top of one another. Once this is achieved, the loader 30 functions to transfer the stacked containers into the carton sealing machine (not shown).

Figure 3 shows that part of the apparatus from just upstream of assemblies 26,27 to the downstream end 12 of the apparatus 10. The arm 25 is mounted to splined shaft 36 and is caused to pivot with shaft 36. The arm can be driven along the shaft in the manner described below such that when the arm is in the position shown in the figure and moved along the shaft, any containers located on conveyor 16 are fed or transported towards the downstream end of the apparatus. Once the arm is moved downstream along the shaft, the shaft is pivoted and 0 hence the arm 25 is moved into a vertical position to one side of the apparatus and away from the path along which *containers travel through the apparatus 10. When in that vertical orientation the arm can be moved back upstream into the position shown in the figure provided of course containers which move along the apparatus are clear of that part of the conveyor 16 over which the arm pivots to return to the position shown in figure 3.

A photo sensor consisting of a source of light and a reflector is arranged to project a sensing beam across the apparatus in the path along which the arm extends across the apparatus when in the position shown in figures 2 and 3. Movement of the arm 25 into the position of these figures is only permitted when a gap is detected in the stream of the two rows of containers which travel along the apparatus from the upstream to the downstream end. A further photo sensor, also consisting of a source of light and a sensor, is arranged to extend its influence across the apparatus but at a location just downstream of the cylinder assemblies 26,27. The further sensor monitors for the presence of containers within the influence of the assemblies 26, 27 and registers a count of the number of containers which have been allowed to progress past assemblies 26,27 on the conveyor 16. Once the desired number of containers have moved past the assemblies 26,27 the rods of these assemblies are caused to extend and abut containers in the stream of the rows moving along the apparatus. This prevents further containers from progressing downstream. Once the sensor associated with arm 25 detects a gap the arm may then be moved into the position shown in figure 3. Following this, the arm may then be moved longitudinally of the apparatus and along the shaft 36 to feed the collated layer of containers to the stacker 35. The cylinder assemblies, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, are pneumatic cylinder assemblies. The sensors have been omitted from the figure in the interest of clarity. The sensors may each consist of on or more light emitting devices such light emitting diodes and a transversely spaced reflector.

The conveyor 16 is divided into two lanes by partition 38. This partition extends from the upstream position of the arm 25 as shown in figure 3 to the upstream end of the stacker The stacker 35 has two support members 40 (only one of which is visible in the figure). The stacker has two opposed lifting members 41,42. Members 41,42 have a shaped inner periphery as shown with four zones and Q. each zone corresponding in profile to the peripheral profile of a substantial part of three sides of a container. Four such zones are present and thus the members 41 and 42 together are able to receive four containers between them and lift those containers to facilitate the stacking of collated layers of containers on top of one another. In this figure, a second alternative opposed pair 43,44 of lifting members is shown. The members of this second pair have three shaped 11 zones each with each zone being suitable for lifting containers of a size larger than those fir which the members 41,42 are adapted. The lifting members are secured to supports 40 by blocks 45 (only one of which is visible in the figure). The figure incorrectly shows members 43 and 44 which are intended to act upon larger containers of the type for which the apparatus has been designed mounted between block 45 and a respective one of the supports 40. In fact, the members 41 and 42 which are designed for use with smaller containers than that for which members 43 and 44 are intended are fitted to the apparatus between supports 40 and blocks 45. The members 43 and 44 intended for larger containers are in fact secured to the upper surface of blocks 45 and in this way the members 43 and 44 are spaced further from the table 31 and for a distance commensurate with the added height of the larger containers. The supports have a lever pivoted at location 46 and the free end of these levers have a pin locatable in a recess or slot in the underside of block. Pivotal movement of the lever causes the block and hence the lifting member mounted to it to move transversely of the apparatus 10. By moving the members in unison in this way the members may engage opposite sides of containers to enable them to be lifted in the manner described below. Supports 40 are adapted for vertical reciprocabie movement.

As shown in figure 3, opposed stop fingers 51 are arranged at the downstream end of the conveyor 16.

These fingers are pivoc"ally movable towards and away from one another and into and out of the path of travel of containers along the apparatus. When the fingers are in the position shown, containers on the conveyor 16 are prevented from progressing further downstream of the apparatus than the location of the fingers. Only when the desired number of containers have been assembled in each of the two rows on the apparatus are the fingers 50,51 pivoted away. The arm 25 is able to feed the containers on the conveyor 16 further downstream of the 12 conveyor and onto the loader Stop fingers 52,53 operate in a manner similar to that of fingers 50,51 except that they prevent the containers from being moved beyond the downstream end of the table 31 when they are moved onto the table by the arm 25. Once the desired number of layers of containers are stacked on top of one another by the stacker 35 and just befoe the stacked layers are moved into the carton sealing machine by the loader 30, the fingers 52 and 53 are pivoted out of the way to allow for this movement.

Figure 4 shows greater detail of the way in which the arm 25 is caused to pivot and move transversely cf the apparatus. Motor 60 is connected to a gear box 61. Gear box 61 drives output shaft 62 to which is mounted a cam wheel 63. Wheel 63 has its opposed faces provided with grooves (not shown) along which cam followers coupled to an intermediate part of arms 64 and track causing the arms to pivot about axle 66. The location of the cam member associated with arm 64 is shown by the numeral 67. The free end of output shaft 62 is journalled in bearing 68. One free end of arm 64 is couple to connecting rod 69 which in turn is coupled to lever 70. Lever 70 is mounted for pivotal movement at an intermediate location by bearing 71 fixed to base 18 (shown in figure The other end of lever is coupled to a lower end of a connecting rod which only has its upper end 72 visible in figure 4. End 72 is mounted to an end of splined shaft 36 by a coupling 73 such that rotation of cam wheel 63 causes the splined shaft 36 to rotate and hence arm 25, which is mounted to the shaft 36, is caused to pivot to a vertical position from the o. position shown in the figure and from a vertical position back to the position shown in the figure.

Toothed gear wheels 80 and 81 are arranged spacrd from one another and are adapted to drive a tootheC belt (not shown). Linear bearing 83 receives slide 84. The slide has a lower part 85 and an upper part 86 between which the toothed belt is clamped. Thus longitudinal reciprocable movement of the slide 84 causes wheel 81 to rotate. Wheel 81 is mounted to the same shaft as toothed wheel 87. The relationship between wheels 81 and 87 is chosen to provide a three to one drive ratio. A toothed belt (not shown) is trained over toothed wheel 88, over toothed wheel 89, around a major part of the circumference of wheel 87 and over an upper part of the circumference of tensioning roller 90. The spacing between roller 90 and wheel 87 is adjustable so that the belc just mentioned may be maintained at the proper tension. Slide 91 has the shaft 35 passing through it and is adapted to move along the shaft in unison with arm 25, This slide 91 has a clamp 92 secured to it. This clamp is similar in its construction to clamp comprised of parts 85,86 and clamps onto the belt trained between wheels 88 and 89. Thus, as this belt is moved over the toothed wheels 88,89 and 87, the slide 9! is caused to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction along the shaft 36.

Reciprocation of slide 84 and hence movement of the two belts mentioned above is achieved via a connecting rod 93 coupled between slide 84 and arm 94.

The arm 94 is caused to pivot by a cam follower which tracks in a groove in cam 63 formed in the face of cam 63 2 opposite to the face which has the groove for the cam follower mounted to shaft 67.

Figure 5 shows greater detail of the loader i The loader 30 includes a table 31 adapted to reciprocate along bearing pads 100, 101. Pads 100 and 101 have a gap 102 between them through which the mechanism which couples the clamp 103 to the mounting apertures 104 is able to travel. Frame member 105 carries a plate 106.

Toothed wheels 107, 108 and 109 and tensioning roller 110 have a toothed belt trained over them. Rotation of wheel 108 causes the belt to move over these wheels and because clamp 103 is clamped to the belt and secured to the table as previously mentioned, this movement of the belt causes the table to reciprocate in the longitudinal of the 14 apparatus. The way in which the wheel 108 is driven is best seen in figure 5A. In that figure the mechanism 111 which attaches the clamp to the table is shown. Motor 112 is coupled to gear box 113. The gear box drives shaft 114 which has one end journalled in bearing 115.

Arm 116 is journalled at 117 for pivotal movement. This movement is achieved by cam member 118 which tracks in a groove in cam wheel 119 mounted on the shaft 114. The free end of arm 116 is coupled to one end of connecting rod 120. The other end of the rod 120 is connected to clamp 121. Wheel 108 is mounted to a common shaft with toothed wheel 122. The ratio of the sizes of the wheel.: 108 and 122 is such that a three to one drive is achieved. A belt (not shown) is trained over wheels 122, 123 and clamp 121 which is clamped to the belt just mentioned. Thus, as cam 119 is driven, the arm 116 pivots causing the clamp 121 to move along linear bearing 124. The belt trained over the wheels 122 and 123 thus causes the wheel 108 to rotate which in turn moves the i:4: belt trained over wheels 107 and 109. Because clamp 103 is fixed to that belt, the table 31 is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus.

Figure 6 shows greater detail of the stacker 35. The stacker 35 has lifting members 41,42 or .:oo alternatively members 43,44 as discussed in relation to figure 3. These members are mounted to support 40. Stop fingers 50, 51 and 52, 53 are clearly visible in this figure. Table 31 is located below the fingers. The members 41,42 or 43,44 depending upon which are used, are caused to move towards one another and then vertically to lift containers supported on the table 31. Once a subsequent layer of containers is fed beneath the lifted layer of containers supported by the lifting members, the lifting members are then lowered slightly and moved apart to release the lifted containers to allow them to come to rest on top of the immediately lower layer of containers below the uppermost layer of containers. The lifting members then move to a lower position and the opposed members are then moved towards one another to grip the lower layer of containers of a stack of two layers of containers. With the two layers lifted off the table a further layer of containers is fed by the feeder to a position below the two lifted layers. Then the lifting members are lowered slightly and then moved apart to release the two upper layers of containers. The lifting members then move to a lowermost position against blocks Following this, the loader is driven longitudinally to transport the stacked layers of containers into the carto.l: ealing machine (not shown).

The way in which the lifting members are moved in this sequence is as follows. Motor 130 is coupled to gear box 131. Gear box 131 drives shaft 132. This shaft is journalled at one end in bearing 133. Cam wheel 134 has grooves formed in its faces and cam followers coupled to arms 135 and 136 located on opposed faces of the cam wheel are caused to pivot as the wheel rotates.

Connecting rod 137 is coupled to extend between arm 135 4: and arm 140 while connecting rod 139 is coupled to extend o between arm 136 and arm 156. Connecting rod 157 extends between arm 138 and arm 155. A similar connecting arm (not visible) extends between arm 154 and the other arm 155 obscured by the lifting members. Shaft 141 is journalled in bearings 142,143. Arms 135 and 136 are pivotally coupled to shaft 144. Shaft 145 is journalled in bearings 146,147. Arms 148,149 are mounted to shaft 145 and are caused to pivot when the shaft 145 rotates.

These arms are connected to connecting rods 150,151, 30. which in turn are connected to support 40 via posts 152,153. Thus, rotation of shaft 145 causes the supports and hence the lifting members to be moved in the vertical direction.

The lifting members are moved towards and away from one another in the following manner. As shaft 141 is rotated arm 138 and 154 are caused to pivot. This in turn pivots arms 155 (only one of which is visible in the figure). The shafts to which the arms 155 are pivoted have shcrt arms coupled to them which have pins at their free end which locate in slots in the blocks 45. This action causes the blocks, and hence the lifting members mounted to them to move relative to the supports 40 and in a direction transverse of the apparatus Although not shown in tie figures, the apparatus of the invention includes 3 sheet feeder for positioning an interlayer of fibreboard material between adjacent layers of containers. Thus were the apparatus assemblies three layers of containers on top of one another, the sheet feeder ensures that such an interlayer or layer pad is placed between the uppermost layer and the middle layer of containers and between the middle and the lowermost layer of containers. This is achieved by employing a sheet feeder (not shown) located in aperture in figure i1. The construction and configuration of the sheet feeder is known and does not form part of the invention the subject of this application. The sheet *feeder has a supply of interlayer sheets or pads and individual sheets are removed as required and positioned on top of collated layers of the containers while the containers are located on the conveyor downstream of arm When the arm moves the layer downstream to the stacker the interlayer or pad is transported with the layer of containers.

The apparatus of the invention is relatively fast in its operation and can easily be adjusted so as to "be suitable for use with containers of a variety of sizes. By using either lifting members 41,42 or lifting members 43,44 it is easily possibly to use the apparatus for providing stacked layers two rows of four smaller containers or stacked layers of two rows of three larger containers. This can readily be ach '-ved by mounting the lifting members between the supports 40 and the blocks or by mounting the lifting members on top of the blocks

Claims (14)

1. A packaging apparatus including an upstream and a downstream end, a feeder for receiving rows of containers and transporting the containers downstream of the apparatus, the feeder including a feeder arm pivotal about an axis extending longitudinally of the apparatus and movable longitudinally of the apparatus, a loader downstream of the feeder and adapted to receive layers of containers transported to the loader by the feeder arm, the loader subsequently transporting the stack of containers downstream of the apparatus, a conveyor extending from upstream of the feeder to an upstream end of the loader for progressing containers along the apparatus, a stacker having opposed stacking members movable towards and away from one another and vertically to elevate a layer of containers assembled on the loader whereby once a layer of containers has been lifted the feeder may transport a subsequent layer of containers to S.a location on the loader and beneath the elevated layer i 20: and the loader transporting stacked layers of containers to the downstream end of the apparatus.

2. The packaging apparatus of Claim 1 including a stop member associated with each row of containers and operable to periodically prevent the passage of containers towards the feeder arm. 3o The packaging apparatus of Claim 2 including a sensor for detecting the presence of containers in a zone of influence controlled by the stop members.

4. The packaging apparatus of Claim 3 wherein the sensor is located downstream of the stop members and upstream of the feeder arm, the sensor includes a light source and a light detector arranged on one transverse side of the apparatus and a reflector on an opposed side of the apparatus.

5. The packaging apparatus of any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the stop members comprise cylinder Sassemblies including rods movable to extend into abutment with containers in the rows. I 6. The packaging apparatus of any one of Claims 2 to 5 including further stop members located upstream of the loader and at the downstream end of the conveyor, the stop members at the downstream end of the conveyor being movable towards and away from the path of travel of the containers along the apparatus.

7. The packaging apparatus of Claim 6 wherein the further stop members comprise stop fingers pivotally movable towards and away from the path of travel of the containers.

8. The packaging apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 7 including a proximity sensor associated with the feeder arm for controlling pivotal movement of the feeder arm.

9. The packaging apparatus of Claim 8 wherein the proximity sensor comprises an optical sensor including a light source and a light detector arranged on one transverse side of the apparatus and a reflector on an opposed side of the apparatus, the proximity sensor being located adjacent the feeder arm or just upstream of it. The packaging apparatus of Claim 1 including a drive for pivoting and moving the arm in the longitudinal direction along the apparatus, the drive including a motor and a translating mechanism for converting rotary motion of the motor into pivotal and linear movement of the feeder arm. oo

11. The packaging apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the translating mechanism includes a cam and translating arms and an endless drive member movable by one of the translating arms.

12. The packaging apparatus of Claim 11 wherein the feeder arm is mounted on a splined guide shaft along r which the feeder arm may move and rotation of the guide shaft causing pivotal movement of the feeder arm.

13. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the loader includes a table mounted for reciprocable movement along the apparatus and a drive for reciprocating the table.

14. The apparatus of Claim 1, 11 or 13 wherein the stacker includes opposed lifting members each having an 19 inner edge with a profile conforming to the peripheral shape of containers to be lifted. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the lifting members are mounted to a support for supporting the lifting members during movement vertically and towards and away from one another.

16. The apparatus of Claim 14 or 15 including a drive for moving the lifting members, the drive including a motor and a translating mechanism including a cam and connecting arms.

17. The apparatus of Claim 1 or 13 including stop fingers adjacent a downstream end of the loader for retaining the containers on the loader and movable away from the containers to allow the loader to transport the containers downstream of the apparatus.

18. A packaging apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 3 day of March, 1994. R.L. WINDSOR SON PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys eCULLEN CO. oee0 •oo ABSTRACT A packaging apparatus is disclosed having a conveyor a feeder arm pivotal about a longitudinal axis extending along the apparatus and movable along the apparatus for transporting containers downstream of the apparatus. A load table (31) downstream of the feeder arm (25) and upon which layers of containers are received and movable for transporting containers downstream of the apparatus. A stacker (35) is present adjacent the loader table and has opposed stacking members (41, 42) for lifting containers and placing them on top of a layer of containers assembled on the loader table. c a a a S S S S *S.S