GB1075830A - Packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,075,830. Packaging-machines; endless conveyers. NATIONAL BISCUIT CO. Dec. 30. 1964 [Jan. 6, 1964], No. 52906/64. Headings B8A and B8C. Apparatus for assembling groups of articles for packaging comprises a conveyer feeding the articles to an accumulating device in which the group is formed and means to sweep the group from the device on to another conveyer or into the packaging position. In the illustrated embodiment, groups of four articles e.g. packets of biscuits, are formed in stacked pairs. The articles are fed by conveyers 15A, 15 each comprising two spaced belts, to a vertically reciprocable accumulator 65 between the belts which receives the first pair on an upper platform 77, Fig. 1C, and then rises to receive the second on a platform 78. The lowermost platform is then elevated above the belts for removal of the group by pushers 106 on a conveyer movable at right angles to the conveyer 15. A stop 59 checks oncoming articles on the latter conveyer driving accumulator movement and group transfer. The transfer conveyer comprises elements 101 on chains 38, bell-crank lever 112 being pivoted to each element 101 and having a follower running in a cam track 119, Fig. 4. The pusher is pivoted on the lever and has an integral pinion engaging a gear sector on the element 101, Fig. 6. Movement of the lever by the cam track causes an initial relative forward pivoting of the pusher to ensure vertical alignment of the ejected articles and then a rapid rearward pivoting. The ejected groups are received in pockets 67 on a conveyer belt 44 moving in the original article feed direction. The conveyers 15A, 15 and accumulator may be duplicated to feed groups from both sides on to the belt 44. Obstruction of the elevator by an article stops the machine.