US3162294A - Article timing mechanism for packaging machines - Google Patents

Description

J. A. DIETER Dec. 22, 1964 ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1962 INVENT 1 197' T0/Ey5' ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 J. A. DIETER RTICLE TIMING MECHANI KAGING MACHINES Dec. 22, 1964 SM FOR PAC 1l Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jly 5, 1962 INVENTO m/mwfw ATT/VYS.

J. A. DIETER 3,162,294 ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM PoR PACKAGING MACHINES Dec. 22, 1964 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 5, 1962 o 1W 5. m ffm V N mM l m um mw: .MH rn om: Av \\o.v /W Y l mm. f A T. A um Nv m V 'Y v 1M mm A m. .n./I ...ln/WH'.. H.././.- .l 3L uw mm -1- 1U. mw w o l.' w .QlA/U/w/Lm. o @A K O mw on n G la mm m. wmv Om ww o o o o o o o o o o o .vw ww o@ AI' k om N v ma Sv ma ,Nv

J. A. DIETER 3,162,294

ARTICLE TIMINC MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Dec. 22, 1964 l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 5, 1962 Si O. am m f n, E v m@ m mwmwnml H 0 f l A l my mm# wk. wm C n n 0 Wm @o an... Mvg so m. mm Il wm mop mw mn... moT\/ I7 M J mm. lv I. :d WB llhwnhlr k .,sTl v 1.1 .J ld/5j@ 8 n |-I-yl- -.l\1 m NS .vm AW f o o o o o o o L .Y Q o o w uw x wm mw) @R n! QN. OO A mx mw w, o L o o o o o o o o o o o o o o @n o o Nm d@ ow @n ow I -A\ Nv Q Q m Dec. 22, 1964 J. A. Dix-:TER 3,162,294

ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 t (INl/'ENTO n www@ Dec. 22, 1964 J. A. DIETER 3,162,294

ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 22, 1964 J. A. DIETER 3,152,294

ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 f lNvEN R N 2N 18% A T TOA/EYS.

Dec. 22, 1964 .1. A. DIETER 3,162,294

ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1962 1l Sheets-Sheet 9 J. A. DIETER Dec. 22, 1964 ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES 1l Sheets-Sheet lO Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTO ATTEA/Y J. A. DIETER Dec. 22, i964 ARTICLE TIMING MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES ll Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed July 5, 1962 A# R PRESSURE A7 Tam/5y@ cnRculT T32 the check weigher in relation United States Patent O 3,i.62,294 ARTICLE Tilt/HN@ MECHANISM FOR PACKAGHNG MACHINES Julian A. Dieter, Cincinnati, Ghio, assignor to R. A.

Jones & Company, Inc., Covington, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed July 5, 1962, Ser. No. 207,725 Claims. (Cl. wt- 34) This invention relates generally to packaging machines and is directed particularly to a timing mechanism for transferring articles from a processing machine, such as a pouch filler, to a carton loading machine in time with Ithe operating cycles thereof. Upon advancement to the carton loading machine, the articles or pouches are inserted into individual cartons which are subsequently closed and `discharged from the cartoning machine, ready for shipment and retail sale.

One of the primary objectives of the invention has been to provide a timing apparatus which is adapted to receive the articles, such as envelopes or pouches issuing from a processing machine at irregular spacing, to space the articles uniformly, and to advance the articles to the buckets of' a cartoning machine conveyor in time with the advancement of the buckets, thereby to load the successive conveyor buckets in a rapid, reliable manner.

In the present disclosure, which has been selected to illustrate the principles of the invention, the timing mechanism coacts with a iilling machine of conventional design which loads individual pouches with a granulated material, such as dehydrated soup mix; however, it will be understood that the timing apparatus may be utilized with machines for processing other articles. The granulated material is loaded into envelopes or pouches which are formed of pliable sheet material, such as plastic, the pouches being sealed after the lling operation is completed. After the filling and sealing operation, the filled pouches are fed to a check weigher arranged to eject pouches which may be over or under the predetermined weight limits. After passing across the check weigher, which includes a conveyor, the filled pouches are transferred to the timing mechanism of the present invention. The timing apparatus, in turn, is arranged to space the individual pouches with respect to one another and to advance the pouches to the buckets of the cartoning machine conveyor in time with the advancement of the buckets so that each bucket is properly filled with one or more pouches as it advances toward the cartonng machine.

In the present disclosure, two pouch filling mechanisms, associated check weighers and timing mechanisms are utilized to advance the filled pouches to the bucket conveyor for cartoning. Each pouch filling machine is driven by its own individual electric motor independently of the timing mechanism, cartoning machine and associated bucket conveyor. These motors are adjusted to cause the fill-ing machines to deliver pouches one by one at a rate which corresponds, to the operating cycles of the cartoning machine, in terms of the number of pouches which are filled and discharged during a given period of time. However, the lilled pouches are delivered to the timing apparatus in a somewhat random fashion because of the operation of the associated check weigher and because of certain inherent characteristics of the pouch filling machine itself. The timing mechanism of this invention therefore operates to compensate for the temporary variations between the output of filled pouches issuing from to the operating cycles of the cartoning machine.

The cartoning machine, which is conventional, is adapted to erect individual cartons from a collapsed state,

' to shift the articles from the conveyor buckets endwisely into'an open end of the erected carton, to close or seal the flaps of the carton, then to discharge the completed package to a delivery conveyor. A modern cartoning machine of this -type is capable of tilling the cartons in this manner at relatively high rate of speed. In the present example, the two pouch fillers and associated timing mechanisms are spaced apart from one another along the bucket conveyor and are arranged to load alternate buckets of the cartoning machine conveyor. In other words, the downstream timing mechanism loads the articles into alternate buckets and the empty buckets are loaded as they advance along the upstream timing mechanism, such that each bucket is tilled as it advances into the cartoning machine. Each timing mechanism feeds two superposed pouches into the designated buckets, such that two pouches are inserted into each carton upon reaching the cartoning machine, It will be understood however, that the apparatus may be arranged to feed a single pouch into each carton or to feed more than two pouches in each carton, utilizing the operating principles of this invention.

Described generally, each timing mechanism of this invention comprises a timing conveyor having a pair of spaced parallel belts communicating with the conveyor of the check weighing apparatus with an overhead holdback conveyor disposed above belts of the timing conveyor and arranged to engage the leading edge of the pouches on the belt conveyor. The timing belt conveyor is advanced at a higher linear speed then the hold-back conveyor, which includes downwardly depending hold-back lingers adapted to engage the leading edge of the spaced pouches resting on the belts of the timing conveyor so as to advance the pouches at properly spaced intervals toward the bucket conveyor.

Upon reaching the delivery end of the hold-back conveyor, the packages are transferred to an infeed conveyor, which includes upwardly projecting pusher iingers which engage the trailing edge of the individual pouches to ad# Vance them at properly spaced intervals toward the dead plate of a sweep mechanism mounted above the bucket conveyor. The sweep mechanism includes paddles or fingers moving in unison with the buckets of the conveyor and arranged to pass across the dead plate, thereby to en gage and transfer the pouches from the sweep mechanism into the buckets in time with their advancement.

Another objective of the invention has been to provide a photoelectric control apparatus operating in response to the advance of the pouches to space the pouches uniformly as they are advanced at random from the check weighlng apparatus to the timing conveyor and its associated hold-back conveyor.

Described briey, each pouch lling machine includes its comprises a pair of photoelectric cells spaced longitudinally above the spaced belts of the timing conveyor and spaced downstream from the overhead hold-back conveyor to act in response to the pouches as they are issued at random from the check weigher. Mounted below the conveyor belts are spaced lamps which project light beams upwardly between the belts to the overhead photoelectric cells. The arrangement is such that the light beams are interrupted in sequence by the individual pouches as they issue from the check weigher conveyor at normal spacing along the belts of the timer conveyor toward the holdback fingers. arresting element mounted relative to the belts of the timer conveyor downstream from the hold-back fingers and arranged to temporarily arrest any pouch which is Y both light beams are interrupted concurrently by a pair own photoelectric control apparatus. Each apparatus f The photoelectric apparatus includes anarresting device in the event that,

. '-10 pouches are accelerated by the belts of the timer ,conveyoru after passing the photoelectric apparatus, so as to bejinter;

cepted by the slower movingy hold-back fingers as they pass downwardly about an idlersprocket andfall into a stopping position with respectto the path of advance'-v ment of the pouches. .Y 4 j p' A further objective of the inventionhas been to pro vide a hold-back conveyor which is adapted to compensate automatically in the eventfthata pouch is advanced by the belts of the timing conveyor beyond the vphoto-- 4 charge portion of the infeed `conveyor in relation to the bucket conveyor of the cartoning machine.

FIGURE S is Vacross sectional Vview taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7, Vdetailing the infeed'conveyor structure.

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 9,-9 of FIGURE 2,-detailing the hold-back conveyor and its relationship to the pusher-typefinfeed conveyor which advances the pouches tothejcartoning machine conveyor. ,A f i vFIGURE 10 is a ydiagrammatic top plan view showing the drivingsystem which interconnects the several cornf ponents of the timing apparatus with the bucket conveyor of the cartoning machine for timed operation. I lFIGURES 1'1 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustratingthe action of the hold-back conveyor with respect to v a pouch which .is improperly timed.

FIGURES 13-15'are diagrammatic views illustrating '.1 the operation of the photoelectric .controlV system with electric apparatus in improperly timed relationshipwith.

respect to the fingers ofA one hold-back conveyor.

According to this aspect of the invention, the pouches advancing along the belts of the .timing conveyor., after having passed the photoelectric apparatus, willv be posi` tioned somewhat Vbehind the hold-back ingerand somerespect to a pair of filled pouches which advance toward the hold-back conveyor inv overlapping relationship, wherebythe Vtrailing pouch is arrested then released in time with .the"advancement off the hold-back Vconveyor' fingers; v

FIGURES 16 and 17 are similar diagrammatic Niews,

K showing the operation of the photoelectriclcontrol system what ahead .of the nextringer. However, in the eventof a malfunction in which a given pouch `would arrive at the hold-back finger somewhaty late, then thisjiinger, in mov'- ing around the sprocket of the downstream endof the yhold-back conveyor, normally would'engage the top suraceiof the pouch and puncture it. Howeven to avoid this, the hold-back fingers are pivotallyA mounted with respect to the chain which advances them. Therefore, when f suchva condition occurs, the finger falls againstand rests upon the top surface of the improperly timed pouch, Vthen pivots upwardly relative tothe chain, allowing-theV late arriving pouch to be advanced by the faster belts .ofV the Y timing conveyor forwardly to the next finger aheadwith= out any damage to the pouch and without'disrupting the timing of the apparatus. n v .3

The various other features and advantagesfof the'presa ent invention will be moreV clearly apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings. f

In the drawings: f

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatick top planview illustrating the pouch iiliing machines'and the timing apparatus which spaces the filled pouchesy for ytimed delivery/to the conveyor buckets of the cartoningmachine.

Y FIGUREV 2 Visga side elevation', as

. ciples ofthe'i'nventio'n (FIGURE 1), the cartoning machine` isV arranged torinsert two filled pouches in each viewed along thel line 2-2 of .FGURE 1, yillustrating yin .a generalwayI thcl l' .pouch timing apparatus andthe conveyor ofthe carton-V ing machine. f

FIGUREis an 4enlarged fragmentary side elevationjof the pouch timing apparatus taken frornFIGUREZ.

vof the photoelectric timingapparatus.

with respect to Va pair of pouches, whereinv the two pouches are advanced at a spacing which is less than the minimum spacing, as distinguished from the. overlapping condition shown inLFIGURES 13-15.

FIGURE `18 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating-in a general Way, the electrical and air pressure control system General Arrangement y As noted earl-ier, the pouch timing apparatus ofithis invention is intended to receive pouches as they areprocessed by the pouch iilling machines arid 4to deliver the filled pouches to the bucket conveyor of the cartoning machine in properly timed sequence. It will be understood that the pouch filling machines are power-drivenindependentlylof the cartoning machine and independently of one another.L Thus, the timing apparatus compensates for temporary variationsrbetween the'output of the pouch illingmachines and the rate of advancementv of the bucket conveyor of the cartoning' machine.

According to the example selected to illustrate the princarton,l .For this operation,l two pouchlling machines ,and associatedpouch timers are llocated along the bucket conveyorvdownstream from the cartoning machine. As

` Aviewed in yFIGURE 1,"the downstream pouch filling ma-y FIGURE 4 is'aatop plan view of the timingV apparatus as'projected from'FIGURE 3. Y v Y FIGURE 5 is'an enlarged fragmentaryy sectional view taken along line 5-5 of; FIGURE 4, showing the receivf' ing end portion of the pouch timing apparatusincluding the belt-conveyor,` the photoelectricV apparatus, andthe hold-backiconveyor which spa-ces the illed pouche's'rela''QV tivetof'one another on thebeltlconveyorifor delivery in v time with the advancing'bucketsV of the cartoning machine,A

conveyor.

vances `the spaced pouches towardthe advancing buckets of the cartoning machine conveyor.V

.i. FIGURE 7fy is an enlarged Y FIGURE 6 is a ragmentaryis'ectional view taken along v y lineV `6"--6 ofFIGURE4 (SimilartoFIGURE 5) Showingy i.,

' the; delivery .end of the 'hold-back' conveyor and'Y a portion `o'f the Voverlapping pusher-type infeed-conveyor which ,ade

i I I gmeitary ysectional view; l V

mkg along '1i-6 7710? FGU-RE i. leaning the da.

retailer. .1

vchine'is indicatedgenerally at 1 and the upstreamlling f machine vis-indicatedatx2'. Each lling machine 1 and 2 includes 'any individual pouchtiming apparatus,.indi cated generally at 3, which communicates with the vbuckets 4 of the cartoningmachine conveyor f5. `These-buckets advance thei'illed pairs of pouches "to the cartoning machineV .6,k asA noted fabove. Thenca'rtoning machine 6 is' conventional A. andV 4'isV v arranged,r to ,insert the vsuperposed pouches intoljrespective cartons, .to close the cartons, then to advance Vth I'cartons to a delivery: conveyor 7 ready.- to be packed .into cases for` delivery to vthe wholesaler or i' It 4vvillfhe understood/,at `'this point, that'th'e pouch or article `timing apparatus lof thisyinvention may be yutilizedfwith arrangements oth erthan that shown inl FlG- URE. 1. Forv example, `if,y a single pouch is to bepa'cked f into each carton, then a single illingmachine'and associated timing yapparatu'sjmay bemounted' to communica tewith'the` bucket-conveyorSL 'On the other hand, if mo'rethan ,two pouches areto be'packag'ed, l.thenafc'orre-- spending number of pouch iiIlersand-timers `may'beemf paratus toward the bucket conveyor 5.

ployed, utilizing lthe same operating principles outlined above.

In the arrangement illustrated, each alternate bucket 4 of the cartoning conveyor 5 receives two superposed pouches 8 (FIGURE 5) from the downstream filling and timing apparatus 1. The alternate empty buckets, upon advancing past the upstream pouch filling and timing apparatus 2, each receive a second pair of superposed pouches. As described later, the delivery end of each pouch timing apparatus 3 includes a sweep mechanism which receives the two superposed pouches, then sweeps the two pouches into the advancing buckets 4.

It will be understood at this point that, in the present example, the cartoning machine 6 is provided with a sensing apparatus (not shown) which checks each conveyor bucket 4. Inthe event of temporary failure of one or both of the pouch filling machines 1 and 2 or associated timing apparatus 3, the sensing apparatus conditions the cartoning machine to feed cartons only in relation to the buckets which contain pouches. In this manner, the cartoning machine continues to package the pouches issuing from the operative pouch filling and timing apparatus, while remaining inactive with respect to the empty buckets. As soon as `the inactive apparatus is again placed in operation, the cartoning machine, through its sensing apparatus, resumes normal operation.

The pouch lling machines 1 and 2 are conventional and forV this reason are not disclosed in detail. Briefly,

. each pouch ller is arranged to feed granulated material,

such as dehydrated soup mix or a similar product into a relatively flatrectangular pouch 8 (FIGURE 5) and to deliver the pouches in sealed condition ready for use. The pouch filler are driven lindependently of the bucket conveyor 5 by individual motors 11i-10, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Both filling machines 1 and 2 include a respective delivery conveyor 11 leading to respective weight checking machines 12 and 13. The check weighing machines are also conventional, each including a suitable scale (not shown) arranged to check the weight of the lled pouches and mechanism to eject any pouch which may weigh more or less than a predetermined amount.

In the example shown in FIGURE 1, the filled pouches issuing from the downstream pouch filler 1 are transported by its conveyor 11 directly to the check weigher 12 and to the timer 3, as indicated by the arrows. The pouches which issue from the upstream filling machine 2 are advanced by a. similar conveyor 11 to the check weigher 13. However, in .this case, the pouches pass from the check weigher 13 to a turntable 14 which advances the pouches through a half-turn, then delivers them to the timing apparatus 3. The turntable 14 is utilized simply to conserve oor space in the layout illustrated in FIGURE 1. A

Each timing apparatus 3 includes a pusher type, inteed conveyor, indicated generally at 15 which is arranged to advance the individual pouches from the timing lap- In other words, the timing 'apparatus of each pouch filler segregates and times the individual pouches relative to the associated infeed conveyor 15. The infeed conveyor, in turn, advarices the pouches to an associated sweep mechanism which subsequently feeds them to the conveyor buckets 4 in time with the advancement of the buckets, as explained later in detail.

It will be understood at this point, that the motors 1li-10 are arranged-to drive the pouch filling mechanisms 1 and 2 at speeds which are related to the operating cycles of the carton machine 6. Thus, if the pouches ,are to be packaged two to a carton, as noted above, then each timing apparatus isarranged to advance two pouches to alternate buckets 4 of the conveyor 5. Thus, the first pair of pouches are Afed -into 'a first ybucket `by `the downstream apparatus 1, the second bucket is skipped, and the `third bucket is loaded by the downstream apparatus 1.

6 The alternate empty buckets are then filled as they ad- Vance past the upstream apparatus 2. Thus each bucket contains a pair of superposed pouches after it passes both inteed conveyors 15 and enters the cartoning machine. As noted earlier, the timing apparatus of the invention may be utilized in various combinations and speeds other than that illustrated to load -a selected number of articles into each carton, utilizing the same operating principles.

Although the pouch fill- ing machines 1 and 2 may be driven by their respective motors 10 at rates which correspond with the rate of operation of the cartoning machine 6, in terms of units handled in a driven time period, nevertheless, it is necessary to time the |advancement of the filled pouches -accurately with respect to the advancing buckets 4 of the cartoning machine conveyor 5. For this purpose, as explained later in detail, the pouch timing mechanisms 3 3, their associated infeed conveyors 15-15, and sweep mechanisms are in driving connection with the bucket conveyor 5 so that these components operate in synchronism with one another.

As explained later in detail (FIGURE 1), each infeed conveyor 1S leads to a dead plate 16 mounted above the bucket conveyor S and forming ya part of asweep mechanism, indicated generally at 17. Each infeed conveyor is arranged to feed two pouches sequentially to the dead plate 16 to form the pair of superposed pouches; the sweep mechanism 17 is timed to sweep the pair or pouches into the appropriate conveyor buckets. The sweep mechanisms 17 are driven by the common driving system in time with the other components of the machine, as noted earlier.

Briefly therefore, the pouch timing mechanisms 3 3 correct yany irregularity in the spacing of the pouches issuing from the pouch lling machines 1 and 2, then the infeed pusher conveyors 15-15, also operating in time with conveyor 5, advance the individual pouches to the dead plates 167-16. The pouches dwell momentarily in superposed pairs on the dead plates, then they are transferred by the sweep mechanisms 17-17 into the advancing buckets 4 of the conveyor 5.

Common Driving System As viewed in FIGURE l, the cartoning machine 6 is driven by a main motor indicated at 18. This motor includes a drive shaft 2G, extending parallel with the bucket conveyor 5 and including driving connections for operating the pouch timing mechanisms 3-3, the infeed pusher conveyors 15, and the sweep mechanisms 17 in time with the conveyor 5, and in time with the cartoning machine, as described below. In other words, all components of the installation shown in FIGURE l are driven in time with one another and with the cartoning machine by the drive shaft 20, except the pouch filling machines 1 and 2, which are driven by their own motors 11i- 10, as noted earlier.

The driving system 1is shown diagrammatically in FIG- URE l0, in relation to the timing apparatus of the downstream pouch liler apparatus 1. It will be understood that the driving system for the upstream timing apparatus 2. is identical, and that the following description applies to both mechanisms.

Referring to FIGURE 10, the downstream end of the common drive shaft 2t) (which parallels the bucket conveyor 5) includes a bevel gear 21 meshing with a bevel gear22, which is keyed to a .cross shaft 23 (FIGURE 2) arranged to drive the sweep mechanism 17. For this purpose, the cross shaft 23 (FIGURES 2 and 7) `is journalled in the frame 24 and includes a sprocket 25 on its end opposite the bevel gear 22. The sprocket 2S drives a sprocket chain 26 which is trained about a cornpanion sprocket 27 keyed to a cross shaft 28. The cross shaft 'Z'is also journalled in the frame 24 and forms a part of the sweep mechanism 17 which transfers described Ain detail later.

f cludes a sprocket'f drivingV a sprocket sgr-eene In order to drive the infeed pusher conveyor in time i Y Vshaft V (-FIG-V with the other components, main drive across the dead URE 10)I Vfurther includes"V .a drive sprocket A31 located Y i along theside kof the `pusher conveyor 15 opposite the bevel gear-21. Asshown'inFlGURE 2, a sprocket chain interconnects the drive sprocket 31 with Va driven sprocket' mounted* oniaacrossshaft 34 Which-is jour-A rra'lled infthe -rame 35 of the infeed pusher conveyor 15.` As shown in FIGURES'7Y andrS, the cross shaft 34 iny chainfS' which includes spaced pairs offpusher ngers;

8, as indicated in broken line-s, s'o as to advance thek pouches to the dead plat-e716 intime with the advance" ment ofthe sweep ngens 30. The structural details of the pusher conveyor 15 arealso* described inA detail later.

y sis-3s. These l' fingers engage', the trailing edge of the respective pouchesVv Each timing apparatus 3 includes a belt-typeconveyor,1V i

indicatedv generally at 40' (FIGURE l0), which co-operates with anioverhead hold-backvconveyor 41- in timing the pouches. y I I veyor 41' `(FIGURES 5 and- 6), photoelectri'c control system; asV explained later, space the para 453; hasta andirspfscka 4s: ma Sprocket:

45, adriving connection is also established with thehold' back-conveyor -bythe gears'f48 and50'which mesh with one'another asf'sh'owri` inf FIGURE/9 to driveV thecross shaft Slfrof theheld-backconveyor.V4 Y' In`v` order' to'clarify the driving^ systemgrthe hold-back' thev rgears 48a`ndl Sbeing indicated in Vthisy view "by the broken lines ',53"\. It will beunderstood that the driving system? is' arranged'fto advancejth'e kbeltconveyor 40 at a 4rate Vslightlyfaster than theholdba'ckiconveyor 411, so

that'lthe: V'poucl'les (which rest upon 'the advancing? belt) are restrainedvby the hold-bachi iingers 42"and advanced at proper'lspacingftothesweep mechanism 17.'v Y.

r 'Fondi-.Timing Coveyoil System? v i `R'referring leach timing japparatus :3v

essentially". comprises thejbelt conveyor 4l','t he hold-back conveyor;y 41j,V and therpouch arresting device, which/.is indilcatedf generally VatV '54. Asrex'pla'ined ear1ier,"'tl1e filled pouchesgywhichrissue from the pouch filling machines 1 andfZg'.aret'advancedby'thecheck weighers 13 and I4 to the Vd 'ec'eivir'rg vend` `55%(F4IGURE `5)`L of the* belt conveyor 401' by' means' of aV f snlitableu conveyingapparatusKnot shown in detail) which is indicated diagrammaticall'yv at 56; ,f

The Y belt,c :orn'leyor 40' comprises apair ofparallel belt runs Vr57;"-57 spaced'y apart Y 4Va`n`d' 9S)V arranged toi support' the opposite sideportions of vthe pouches 8` with. the hold-back nge'rs 42 of the' hold-V pouches accurately relative to one another astheyissue from the check WeigherV 13', which includes a suitablebe'lt- As noted earlier, the pouches issue 'somewhat atrandomr fromV the check 'Weig`h`er1andf-1 conveyor (not shown). r

are properlyltimed by operation of the beltv conveyor 4Q' 1 and hold-back conveyor 412. I. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 9 41 isV provided the''hold-'back conveyor conveyor 40. The` belt slightly,l greater than the strained bythe hold-back the timing mechanism 3.

yIn order to'. advance the belt conveyor 40 'andholdback coriveyor'41 at related ratesy and inV time with the other machine components,rr` the-cross shaft 34 Z(FIGURES 7, 9 and l0) of the'pushericonveyor 15" includesadrive r sprocket 43 for driving the *belty conveyor 40 and hold-j back'conve'yor- 415 Sprocket 43-fdrives a sprocket chain-v 44y trained about a driven sprocketS which is mounted upon a cross shaft 46. Cross shaft46gis -journalledin lthe with spaced', hold-backl fingers V42 which project downwardly between the' spaced belts of Athe'beltV conveyor ri advances'atj a rate hold-back fingers, such that the pouches 8,whiY hrestupo'n/theV belt conveyorsfarerefingers as they advance through:

idler'rsha'ft 61j for controlling thetension of the belts. i 5757f heframe '47 of the timing'kapparatus yis supp'orte'dlthe standards 63`--634'FIGU RE'2)',jyvhich rest engage 'the leading'edges of l the pouches. As'bestrshown in FIGURE 6, the belts arek driven bythe pulleys'- 5.8,-58 keyed tothe cross shaft 46, which,asnoted earlier, is journ'alled inthefconveyo'r trarne' 47j and driven by the I chain 44 from driveshaft 20'.` 'Y

thefbelt" loops, ST1-57 are trainedd vIl'Ieoppositeendof v p Y w about the idierepuue'ys V601-60. (FIGURES 4 and 5), which arernounted upon an irrth`el-frarne'47v.' "Ijhe" frame includes respective adjustmentdeviceswZY-GZ V(FIGURES.,3j and 4) engaging the upon the' door.

' 'il The: hold-'back.conveyor41,` ,which is'r'mounted above the spaced 'conveyor' belts `57,;is Asujp'poi"ted `by the bearing fplateS, previously. indicated lat 5L-#512' at its downstream frame 47v of the belt conveyorfitl, which forms a'continua- Y tion of the'frarne 35 of the pusher conveyor 15; Thebelts ofthe conveyor' 4%" are Ytrained Vabout' pulleys which vfaire V keyed tovthe cross shaft 46, as explained later. i Y fTheVhold-back conveyor- 41 belt conveyor 4@ by means of a'drivinggear 48` (FIG URES Z and' 9), which is keyed to Vthe cross shaftfde on isdriven in tirriewith the the side opposite fthe rsprocketl45j" Driving gear ,48-

meshes'with a driven gear 50 .which Ais keyed to across` shaft 51 formingl a partrofthe holdbfaclik conveyor 41.

conveyor 40.-

drivev shaft" y2l) is in driving connection with]the.svvee'pj"Q f` the ibevel gears 121 andfZ-Z `and mechanism 17 Y,by way o end and by a pair ofsimilarbealing'plates 64;-64 (FIG- URES 2454)` at its upstream'end, the bearing plates being 1f vattaclie'djtoV the frame 47 at Vopposite sides. The ystructure `fprtlrer includes a series orfrverticall bars `Y V(FIGURES l3 5 and 9)'jwhi`ch support 'the chain loop 660i thehold'- In "general, the hold-back conveyor( 41V comprises the single'cha'in 1001566 (FIGURES 3 6) having'its forward 1 endtrainedabout the drive` sprocket v67 fof1 cross shaft 51 journallediin the `bearing plates 52f-52," As noted' earlier,V

Vthe .cross s haftQSlisx driven 'invr time rwith the machine components Lb'y the' sprocketehain 44y which is connected to the mainl driveshaft 20. i

l The downstream,endoflchain Vloopft passes aroundV Y .anV idler sprocket 6j8,('FIGUR'E 5) `mounted upon an Cross' lshaft; fis Vjournalled in lbearing platesgZ-SZ Y 65 which project upwardly from.; the frarriejfilV ofithe belt ispalso in/driving'conneetion wit the pusher conveyor 15;

` by way of the sprocket'lrchain and sprocket 33. @Afal' driving connec'tion'is alsoestablishedfr'omfthejpusher V`VeonveyorflS to the belt conveyor 40riby'ineans of the "barsf A, A .Y

arly up ortedpo afrailf 74-"rmou'nted ponglhe s rsxrn'il Vlower cross idler shaft A journall'ed .in y'the bearing plates/,6 4A-6Z3- ,Y Asbest shown 3, they bearing plates 64,4464 v eachinclude an adjustment devicef71` engaging lthe oppok y '1 site ends ofridler shaft 70gto 'r'eg'ulate-.the tension of Injsummary'rwith reference to-FIGUREilQ, thefrnainn:vv Y "f asvyiewgd-in kvFiGURsss' nd"9',fai upper vmit time i chain loopedirs; supported l'ya rail V72 mounted upon a l series 'of crossp'rnembers v7?; extending between V.the 'vertical ,Thedow runoffthe Vchairrloop66 is conveyor 41V' is shown displaced laterally.' from' the belt conveyor' 40 inFIGURE 10,thetrneshinglengagement of from one another (FIGUR-ES l idler shaftv '61, also journ'alled spaced pouches.

The pusher fingers 42 of the hold-back conveyor 41 are generally triangular as viewed from the side (FIGURE 'each finger being pivotally connected as at 76 to the chain loop 66. As explained later with reference to FIGURE l1, the pusher lingers 42 are arranged to pivot upwardly, if necessary,'as they advance along the lower run of the chain loop 66. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent damage to the pouches 8 in the event that a pouch accidently is advanced by the belt conveyor 4t) ina position in which the pusher linger 42 engages the 'top of the pouch, as shown in FIGURE 1l.

In order to permit upward swinging motion of the hold-back fingers 42, each linger (FIGURES 5 and 6) includes an arcuate slot 77 formed in its swinging portion and traversed by a screw 78 passing through the chain loop 66. As viewed in FIGURES 6 and 9, the trailing or heel portion 8) of each linger 42, which includes the slot 77, slides upon the upper rail 72 as the linger passes along the upper run of the chain loop 66, thus holding the ngers in the upright position illustrated. For this purpose, the rail 72 projects laterally from the chain loop 66, as shown in FIGURE 9.

In order to permit the hold-back fingers 42 to pivot upwardly (FIGURE 9) along 'the lower run of chain loop 66, the lower guide rail 74 does not extend transversely from the chain loop 66. As a consequence, each linger 42 depends by gravity from the lower chain run and is adapted to be rotated about its pivot point 76 in an upward and rearward direction upon encountering an obstruction, as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE ll. However, the slot 77 and screw 78 prevents the linger from being pivoted in the opposite direction, such that the finger resists the forward pressure imposed upon it by the article which is being advanced against the linger by the belt conveyor 4l).

As the pouches S are transferred from the conveyor 56 of the pouch filling machine (FIGURE 5), the opposite end portions of the pouches rest upon the belt runs 57-57 (FIGURE 9). As explained earlier, the belt runs advance at a rate faster than the hold-back lingers, such that the leading edge of the pouch is intercepted by an advancing hold-back linger 42 which projects downwardly between the belts. As shown in FIGURE 9, the pouches S'are conlined upon the conveyor belt runs 57--57 by the guide rails 81-31 which 4are mounted upon the frame 47 along opposite sides of the belt runs.

In order to control the spacing of the pouches S as they advance from the conveyor .56 of the check weigher, each timing apparatus 3 includes vthe arresting device 54, comprising a vertically shiftable pouch arresting plate indicated generally at 82 (FIGURE 5). The arresting plate 82 is mounted upon a piston rod S3 projecting upwardly from a piston conlined in an air cylinder d4. The lower end of the air cylinder 84 is mounted upon a plate 85 secured -to an angle iron 86 which extends transversely across the frame 47 of the timing apparatus. The upper surface of the arresting Vplate 82 includes a pad 87,

` formed of foam rubber or the like, which is arranged to establish a frictional engagement with a` pouch when the arresting plate S2 is elevated.

As best shown in FIGURE 4, the arresting plate has a width dimension less than the spacing between the belt runs 57 to permit the plate to be shifted by its cylinder S4 kto a position above the plane of the belt runs to arrest temporarily any selected pouch, as indicated in FIGURE 14,]thereby to time the pouches with respect to the advancing hold-back lingers 4. TheA arresting plate 32 of each timing apparatus normally resides in a plane spaced below vthe top surface of the belt conveyor 40 so as to oler no interference with the advancement of normally Y Photoelectrz'c Apparatus The operation of each arresting plate 82 is regulated fby ak respective pair of photoelectric cells 88-88 (FIG- URE 5) which are mounted on a bracket 90 projecting outwardly from one of the bearing plates 64 of the holdback conveyor 41. As shown in FIGURE 4,v the bracket includes a pair of lateral arms 91 arranged to support the photoelectric cells in a centered position above the spaced belt runs 57-5'7 of the belt conveyor 40.

The apparatus includes a pair of lamps or light sources 92-92 (FIGURE 5) adapted to project respective light beams upwardly to thephotoelectric cells 88. The light sources are mounted upon respective brackets 93-93 projecting outwardly from the lower portion of the frame 47. The light sources 92 are also mounted between the belt runs 57 and in vertical alignment with the photoelectric cells so that each lamp 92 projects a light beam upwardlybetween the spaced belts to its coacting phototube, as indicated diagrammatically at 94 (FIGURE 5 As explained later, the photoelectric cells 88 are interconnected in a `suitable amplifying circuit lto regulate the operation of the air cylinder S4 of the arresting plate 82.

It will be understood that the light beams 94 are interrupted Iby the pouches l8 as they advance along the belt runs 57 (FIGURE 5). However, if the successive pouches are located at the proper spacing along the belt runs 57 (conveyor 40), then the arresting plate 82 remains in its lowered, -inactive position. In other words, the spacing of the light `beams 94 is greater than the length of the pouches; therefore, any given pouch sequentially interrupts the first beam which is indicated at A, then interrupts the next beam, indicated at B, but does not interrupt yboth beams at the same time. In the present example, the light beams are spaced apart from one Ianother a distance of 6% as indicated at C, while the length of the pouch is 6, as indicated at D. The photo cells 8f3-8S are connected in series in the control circuit and the control circuit is arranged to elevate the arresting plate only if both light beams are interrupted atV the same time. As explained later, this action causes the spacing is obtained between the two pouches.

FIGURES 13 and 14 illustrate a condition wherein a pouch E issues from the pouch :lilling mechanism (conveyor 56) vin overlapping relationship with a previously issued pouch In this example, the pouch F intercepts the light -beam B of one photoelectric cell and the pouch E intercepts the lbeam A. Accordingly, both light beams are interrupted at the same time, thus conditioning the control circuit to elevate the arresting plate 82 (FIG- URE 14), thereby to halt the pouch E temporarily.

After the trailing end of pouch F passes beyond the light -beam B (FIGURE 14), the circuit is conditioned to lower the arresting plate since only one of the beams (beam A) is now interrupted. The pouch E is thus replaced on the conveyor belts 57 when the normal spacing, indicated at G (FIGURE l5), is restored between the pouches. This spacing corresponds generally with the spacing` of the lingers 42 of the hold-back conveyor 41, as noted earlier. By virtue of the fact that the belt runs 57 advance at a rate faster than the hold-'back conveyor 41 (lingers 42), pouch F will advance into engagement with the hold-back linger H (FIGURE l5), while the released pouch E will advance into engagement with the next hold-back finger I after it passes around the idler sprocket, as indicated.

In the example illustrated in FIGURES 16 and 17, the pouch filling mechanism (conveyor 56) has advanced a pouch K to the belt runs S7 too quickly, such that the spacing L between the pouches K and -M is less than the normal spacing, previously indicated at G (FIGURE 15). Without the photoelectric apparatus, the pouch M would advance into engagement with the hold-back finger N and hold-back ringer O, would engage the top surfaceV of the pouch K, thus disrupting the machine operation. It will be noted in this case, that the two pouches also intercept the light beams A and B at the same time, again causing the control circuit to elevate the arrestingv plate .fingers 42'."

4engagedA against indicated attP.

Y Asthe pouchesfa're advancedgfalongfthe krinfed.Y con# 11 82 @FIGURE 17 thereby to arrest pouch Aftery the leading pouch M'advances beyond thebeam. B, the cir= cuit will.'lwv'erftheY arresting plate, allowing the pouch K to follow: the pouch Mv at the normal spacing,l previously indicated at G in FIGURES 15 and 17, therebyto time pouch K fwith respect to the holdlback 'linger O.

Ifeed Conveyor are advanced fro'mfthe downstream endiof the timingapparatus 3'v to the infeed conveyor 15 to be .deliveredatY properspacing tol the ,sweepV mechanism 17 of Veach .of

the pouchllillers 1 and 2. V-The'infeed conveyor 15 of" each ll'er is driven in time fwiththe othercomponents .ofthe machine by means of Vv the commonY drive shaft 20- and sprocket chainV ,4A-,fasi noted earlier' withA referencev to n, v

FIGUREio. n

Y Described in detail i(FlGUREr7,)the infeed conveyor; chainloop, previously'indicatedat 37, is trainedaround the driving sprocket of shaftrl.` The opposite 'endlof chain loopl 3;'7 :is trained aroundV an idler sprocket 95 (FIGURE 6),', which -is mounted upon af'cross shaft 96, t also journalled inthe side members of. frame 47.rk "Asrv shown in FIGURE 6, chain loop 3-7 is mounted below the chain loop 660i' the holdl-backkconveyor :anidits' n downstream portion (loop 37) overlaps the upstream por-- tion of the holdv'back chain ytfrandlits belt Vruns 57--'r7.VV

By virtue1 of this arrangementQGFIGURE') the trail,-

ing. edge of each pouch 8 is eng'agedbythe *disappear ``V ingpusher iingers Sfand, at about the same time, A the leading edge 'of the pouch is releasedby the. hold-#back jThus ras kshown in'FIG'URE l6, the pouch Y8 f Y tbelt conveyor 40gwith its leading y,edge the advancing hold-back ngerLwhich is f At about4 the time the hold-back finger g P swings upwardly about the sprocket67,lthe pusher'n- Y` is advanced bythe ger Q springs upwardly aboutfthe idler'sprocket'95 in a reaching the end of the belt conveyor@ '40,fthen'its' advancement isV continued -by operation of the pusher iinvAs best shown inFIGVURE 9, the'pusherriingers 38 are arranged in pairs spracedfla'terallyYfrorn one another and straddlin'g,` the hold-backfingers 42, such-.that there is noA Vpossibility `ot interferencebetween the; coacting "sets of .position slightly spaced-'behind lthe trailing edge of, the 'pouch 8. Thus, the pouch may pause momentarily upon pivot by gravity toward the.

kare inclined downwardlyY dead plate.

Yproject outwardlyfrom opposite. sides 'ot theV chain and,`

overlie the upper surface 'of `each .tailpiece 97,. such that each tailpiece' is' confined between jits'rail 9Sandi cross pin v103 along-the upperlrun.r -As viewed inFIGURE 7, the t, end portion -of 'theitail'piece rails v Y Y Y l drive sprocket 36 and-their end portions are curved down- `As lnoted above ('FIGURESQI- yand 6), the pouches SV 98-98.V -straddle' the wardly as 'at 104 aboutfaf radius co'mrnontoV the axisy of the sprocket 3,6.;` Thepusherngers 38 are thus free to ychain run` as. they pass about lthe idler'sprocket',95'\(FIGURE6) yas indicatedv at 105 in broken'.` lines in fthis View'.y Whenfth'e tailpiece engages the upstream-'end 106 Vofv-thel tailpiecerail98, the iinger yis pivoted abruptly by Vvthe railtoitsl operating Vposition into' engagement with the trailing edgeV of the pouch. v A

Again referring'to FIGURE 7, the Vportions of the article i support rails 102,y ywhichextend beyondfthe sprocket36.

the downwardly inclined. `portions"107 are connected Vto the dead plate 16,'.whi`ch isV vmounted-directlyabovetlie vr'bucket conveyor 5:., 'The rate of Vadvancementof the infeed conveyor 15 isfsufiicient tok propel the pouchesV against Y the stop 108 whichfismounted. along .onefedge of the Ase'xplained-r r'earlie1,.the lapparatus is timed to feed twopou'che's,y one-above-.the' other, to theY dead plate, thenpthef sweep mechanismV 17 transfersl the two pouches to; the appropriate conveyor-bucket. In order to permitvthe second pouchy Rto ybe placed upon the lower pouch S, .the deadv plate 16 isin' thefform=-of a pocket, `oneend`of Awhich-is delineated by' the curved'V section 1'10 extendingV from Vthe downwardly inclinedk rail' portion 107.

The, opposite' end of the' pocketis delineated by thestop 108; After being transferred to the dead plate, the superposed pouches Rand S dwell momentarily, thenthey are transferred; by the sweepngers 300i the sweep mecha- Y nism l17v into the advancin' g.l conveyor bucket.

` `Sweep 'Mechanism M As ldescribedy earlierwith reference to .FIGURES 2, 7

, and l0, each sweepfmechani'srn'17 isgdrivenin time with the several componentsof the machine by way of the main Vshaftlll, crosslffshaftv 23, and sprocketschainr 26, lwhich drives.the power shaft`28l of the sweep mechanism. The

drivingrsystem advances the sweep fingers k30 of eachsweep mechanism at'a linear ratecorre'sponding'to lthe advancefingers in the overlapping portion of the two conveyors.x

inorder tohold Ithe advancing pouches properly in alignment wlthrespect to the infeevdfconveyor.

, Asshown in-FIGV'UREG, herpusher fingers:y y

the nge'rs'located onv opposite sides of the'cl:1ain.^ VV Eachl g Y pusher: finger includes a tailpiece 97; the-tailpiecesfslide upon the Vupper, surfaceof Vrespective Vtailpipe rails; 9.8

The guide'rails, previouslyfindicated at81-'81j, eXtend', fwithoutinterruption from the beltconveyor 40 and along .theiinfeed pusher conveyor 1Sto. thejsweep rmechanis'rng..

extending4 along opposite sides-of the 1 upper .run of chain t s1 (PIGURE;8); The rails as thashold the nngersfssm the. `uiliight' position as.4 theyv push theV pouches 8 Talon g1 the Y `.Described in vdetail uwi, hereference ment of the buckets 4 ofthe bucketconveyor 5. However,

the sweep ngers,:ot each sweep mechanism, inthe present example; are spaced apart irorn/ one VVanother Vtozadvance in timewith the'alternatejbuckets of the conveyor; Thus,

asrioted earlier, thesweep'jmechanism of the'downstream pouch ller 1 transfers onepairrof pouches R andl S from l t ,its Vdeadz platefqinto given conveyor lbucket and, skips each alternate bucket; f Atsiniilarpair of superposed pouches 'lfand Usare transferred-intothe alternate'empty buckets as they advancerelative'vto the sweep mechanism ofthe upstream lillerlmecha'nis'm 2,.'

Y o toFIG'UREs 2, `7 and 10,1which .representVT the downstream-'sweep 'mecha-f nism, the power shatZS of .theswe'ep rnechanismhas itsV opposite ends.y rotatably journall'ed Vin'itheY spaced sidel plates upper runf ofV the infeed conveyor ltowardftheI sweep mechanism. The upper ru'nrofeachV chain loop 37;'is`si1'pposed between the rails 93%98;

of fthe .framef24 orfathe bucket conveyor.r4 Respective v :f'laterally .spaced-.'sprockets" t 111;-1'112y are..l keyed `to the supported uponfspaccd article suppor'tfnfrailsltlzV-IM.

powershaft Zlme'tw'eenVV vther/side plates ofthe conveyor frame, eachP 'sprocket'.including' a respective chain loop (FIGURE: VAl().)-fpass around respective', idler sprockets (FIGURES) whicharespacedfab'ove the rails- 98 andV ferencej-rornj the beltconveyorffto the railslilln zd .l fromthe upstream idlerfpulley 5.83ct the belt conveyor w40, `such that the pouches vare .transferredzJ-without' inter-V 'rticlesilplortiA 1 l extendingtransverselybetweenthe"chain loops 112V and Yhaving. *their `opposite f ends 'fc'onriectedfto thej chains by brackets: nsf-;` (FIGURE- 7); 4 .The sweepnnge'rs,

previously indicatedljat. 30,*proje =downwardlyinpairs asY at 107. The. lower end ofv from each crosspiece 109.

The arrangement is such that the sweep fingers along the lower run of the chain loops 112 pass across the dead plate 16 in registry with the trailing edge of related conveyor bucket 4 at the same rate of advancement.

The spacing of the sweep fingers is such that respective pairs of sweep lingers of each sweep mechanism 17 register with alternate buckets 4 of the conveyor 5, as noted above. The lower ends of the sweep lingers 30 re spaced slightly above the top I'surface of the dead plate 16 as at 116 (FIGURE 7) such that the iingers engage both superposed pouches 8 which rest upon the dead plate. As the fingers 30 advance across the dead plate, the superposed pouches drop by gravity into the related conveyor bucket 4 for advancement toward the cartoning machine. As explained earlier, the two sweep mechanisms thus load the alternate buckets of the conveyor for advancement of the pouches to the cartoning machine 6.

Control System The electrical control circuit (FIGURE 18) which operates the arresting platesA 82-82 in response to the advancement of the pouches 8, is conventional and is not disclosed in detail. In general, the system includes an amplifying circuit interconnected with the photoelectric cells 3S and adapted to operate the arresting plates in response to the signals from the cells. As noted earlier, the light beams 94 of each timing mechanism are interrupted by the pouches which are advanced from the illing mechanism to the belt conveyor 4th (FIGURE 5). When the light beams of the related pair of photocells are interrupted individually by the normally spaced pouches 8, the control system causes the arresting plate of that pair to remain in its normal lowered position. However, when the pouches are improperly spaced (FIG- URES 13-17) causing both light beams of a given pair to be interrupted at the same time, then the control system elevates the arresting plate to restrain the trailing pouch until the normal spacing between the pouches is reestablished.

As shown generally in FIGURE 18, the control system is energized by the power lines 117 which are connected tothe respective pairs of lamps 9.2-9.2 by the branch lines 118-118. The power lines 117 also energize the amplifying circuit 120, which is of conventional design. The amplifying circuit includes the necessary amplifying tubes and coacting transformers and rectiers for operating the tubes.

The pairs of photoelectric cells 88 are connected to the amplifying circuit by way of the pairs of output lines which transmit the. signals from the cells to the amplifying circuit. Thus, the branch lines 121 and 122 interconnect the cells 38 of the downstream timing apparatus with the amplifying circuit 12), while the branch lines 123 and 124 interconnectthe cells of the upstream apparatus with the amplifying circuit.

It will be recalled that the respective arresting plates 182, normally reside in their lowered position and are shifted to the elevated arresting position by the respective air cylinders 84. Operation of these cylinders is regulated by respective electrical reversing valves 125. An rair line 126 supplies air pressure to the electrically operated valves 125 by way of the branch lines 127-127- Air pressure is transmitted to the cylinders S4. by branch During normal operationof either timing apparatus,

vwith the pouches properly spaced, the amplifying circuit 7120 conditions the related electrically operated valves In this valve the atmosphere, thus holding the arresting plate in its lowered position. However, when both light beams 94 lines 128 and 134il which lead from the reversing valves 125 to the opposite ends of the cylinders 8484.

of a given pair are interrupted concurrently by overlapping or improperly spaced pouches, then the related cells signal the amplifying circuit by way of lines 121 and 122 or lines 123 and 124 to energize the related reversing valve 12S. In response to this signal, the ainplifying circuit energizes the power lines 131-131 o1' 132-132 leading to the electrically operated valve of that timing apparatus.

Upon being energized, the electrically operated valve 125 transmits air pressure from air line 126 by way of the conduit 131) to the lower end of the cylinder. The valve also opens the upper conduit 12S to the atmosphere, causing the piston of that cylinder to elevate the arresting plate 82. As soon as normal pouch spacing is restored, with only one of the light beams interrupted, the amplifying circuit shifts the reversing valve back to its normal position so as to lower the arresting plate for normal advancement of the pouches.

Having described my invention I claim:

l. In a mechanism for receiving articles which issue from a machine at random and for advancing said articles at a substantially uniform normal spacing, a belt type article conveyor adapted to receive successive articles delivered from the said machine and to frictionally engage and advance the articles at said random spacing, a hold-back conveyor mounted relative to the article conveyor, said hold-back conveyor advancing in the same direction and at a rate slower than the articles conveyor, said hold-back conveyor having hold-back elements adapted to intercept and restrain the articles which' are frictionally transported on the belt type article conveyor, al photoelectric apparatus mounted relative to said article conveyor and adapted to respond to the advancement of the articles at random spacing along the article conveyor, said photoelectric apparatus including an arresting device operating in response to the photoelectric apparatus and adapted to arrest a trailing article on the article conveyor which is located at less than the normal spacing relative to an adjacent leading article, said arresting device adapted to release the arrested article in response to operation of the photoelectric apparatus when the normal spacing thereof relative to the adjacent leading article is reestablished, whereby said articles are advanced into engagement with the hold-back conveyor at substantially uniform spacing.

2. In a mechanism for receiving .articles which issue at random spacing from a processing machine and for advancing said articles at a substantially uniform normal spacing, a belt type article conveyor adapted to receive and advance the successive articles in spaced relationship to one another, a hold-back conveyor mounted'relative to the article conveyor and adapted to advance in the same direction and at a rate less than the rate of advancement of the article conveyor, said hold-hack conveyor having hold-back elements mounted thereon at uniform spacing, said hold-back elements adapted to intercept and restrain the articles which are transported upon the belt type article conveyor, thereby tol advance the articles at uniform spacing corresponding tothe spacing of said hold-back elements, and a photoelectric apparatus mounted relativeto said belt type article conveyor at a point upstream from theVhold-back conveyor and adapted to respond to the random advancement of the articles along the article conveyor, said photoelectric apparatus including an arresting device, said arresting device, in response to operation of the photoelectric apparatus, adapted to engage and lift an article from the article conveyor which is located relative to an adjacent article at a spacing less than the spacing of said holdback elements, thereby to arrest said article, said arresting device adapted to lower said arrested article into engagement with the article conveyor in response to operation of the photoelectric apparatus when the normal spacing thereof relative to the adjacent article is reestablished, whereby said articles are advanced along saidv article conveyor beyond said-.photoelectric apparatus at a spacing which corresponds generallyto the sr'aacingofv Y the hold-back elements, of the holdback conveyor;`

3L ln a; mechanism for receiving larticles which ,issue at. randomy spacing from a processing machine'andi for advancing saidarticles at a'substantially uniform normal? spacing,l a belttype article conveyorY adapted tonreceive l and advance the successive articlesain spaced relationship to one another, -a hold-back conveyor mounted relative lto the article conveyor and adapted to advance inthe same directionV and at a rate. less than the. rate of advancement of the. article conveyor, said hold-back; conveyor having 'hold-.back elementsymounted thereonV atuniforrri f article V`conveyor tolal successive hold-back element.

5 In a;'mechanism for receiving articles whichk issue from a machine atfrandom and for advancing said articles aty a; substantially 'unifornfr normal spacing, a belt type Varticle conveyor adapted to. receive,successivearticles delivered from theY said machineand to frictionally engage andgadvance'the articles at said random spacing, a holdspacing, saidholdfbaclc elementsl adapted to intercept restrainv the articles whichy are transported Vuponthe belt type article conveyor, thereby tovadvance the articles at uniform spacing corresponding to thespacing of said Vhold-back elements, andra photoelectric apparatus mounted relativejto saidbeltftype article conveyor at a point vdownstream fromthei hold-back, conveyor `and b aclr conveyor mountedV relative tothe article conveyor,

said hold-back conveyor advancing at'a vrate slower than ythe, article Yconveyor andf"adapted to intercept sand restrain' the articles. which aren'frictionally transported on vthe belt type article conveycfar,VVV an article arresting apt paratus mounted relative adapted' to respond to the randomV advancementV ofi the t articles-along the varticle conveyor; said Vphotoel/ectric j to said article conveyor in a positionV Vupstream from the.;hold-backVv conveyor and adaptedI to respondio ther advancement of the articles yat' Vrandomspacing along the article conveyor, a photoapparatus including. ari-arresting elementrwhich'is'.responsive to operationzof the 'said phot'oelectric apparatus, said arresting element adapted to'engage and lift antarticle ,from the article, conveyor which is locatedl relative to an adjacent articleV at la spacing less thanvth'e spacingbf said hold-back elements, fthereby to arrestfsaidv article,

to `actuate the'` same, said article arresting apparatus,

said arresting Yelement adaptedKA to lower the larrested i article into' engagement; with'v the article conveyor' in response to. operation-ofthe photo'electric apparatus,

thereby to release'V said-arrested: article `when thel normal spacing'thereof relativeV to the adjacentV article isreestabrv lished, whereby said articlesk are advanced along said article conveyor beyond' said photoelectri'c apparatus atl a spacing which corresponds generally to the. spacing of said hold-back elements, said'farticlesl being `advanced individually by the said article conveyor into engagef ment with the trailing edgevof respective holdfback elef ments, said hold-back conveyor being adapted to restrain the articles at substantially-uniform spacing as the Varticles are advanced by the article conveyor.

` 4. In Vvravtrrieohanisrn for receivingarticles vs /hichi/issuev at random vspacing'l from la processing machinel and for advancing said articles at a substantially uniform normal electric apparatus mountedrelative totsaid article conveyorl and'adaptedto respondfjto the advancement of the articles ivhich are advanceda 'random` spacing on the article conveyor, said photoelectric apparatus interconnectedwith said article' arrestin'gapparatus and adapted response 4to' operation ofgthe .'photoelectric apparatus, adaptedto arrest a trailing articlefonrthe article conveyor whichi'sV 'located 'atfle'ss 'than then'ormalfspacing relative lt0 .an' adjacent leading article and` tof'release thearrested 'arti-clewhen 'the normal' spacing thereof Vrelative to :the adjacent leading-article is reestablished, lwhereby 'said articles aref advanced into engagement withy the holdlbackiconveyorl -at substantially uniform spacing.-

6.',In a mechanisniforreceiving articles which issue jat randomY spacing fromfa processing'machineA and for advancing,y said articlesQat a` substantiallyuniform normal spac1n g, a belt typearticle' conveyor adapted to receive Y and. advancerthe successive articlesin spaced relationship to oneanother, av hold-*backV conveyor mounted rela- .#tive to the` article conveyor v and ladapted' toy advance in spacing, a beltftype 'article conveyor adapted` to receive and advance the successive articles in spacedirelation-V ship to o ne another, .a hold-back conveyor mountedlrela- 'Y tive to the artlcle conveyor and adapted tot advance in `the same direction and at a rate` less. than the ratelvof advancement ofthe article conveyor, esaidv hold-,back con-y elements pivotally mountedfvk 1- veyor having hold-back,

thereon iat-uniform spacing,`said. l hold-back` elements# adapted toswingto'an inactive retracted position in the directionfof` advancement of theVV article. conveyor, said hold-'back Yelements adapted tov intercept and :restrain the articles which areV transportedaupon thevrbelt type Varticlef conveyor, lthereby' to. advance the articles Vat uniform 'l v id photo 55.

spacing' corresponding'tov theiispacing Vof vsaid hold-.back

elements,5and a photoelectric apparatusfmounted relativer to said belttype, article conveyor'at'ravpoint downstream from the holdbackconveyorancl Vadapted tok .respond tofthe random ladvancement `L`of; the articles along' the` article f conveyor, said vphotoelect'ric apparatusincluding anarres'tirigelement whichisjresponsive to` operation of` i the photoelectric apparatus-said arrestingelementadaptefd Vto vengage and lift 'anlarfticle '-from-the' article icom'zeyo'r;

".fsaid jiarticle conveyor' beyond which is located relative tora'n adjacent article at aspacing less than the spacing of said'holdebackelernents, "there-f,

;V advance the artieles'. into engagementfwithl'the ltrailing by to arrest said article,said"arrestingaelenent adapted;

to lower saidV arrested article into engagement ivvithz the` 'a article conveyor in response to operationof the .'ph'o'toj electric"apparatus,'fthe1eby;to release salidlVarre'sfted-farticle. A when thefnorrnalspacingthereofqrevla'tive tothe adjacent 1 yarticle is reestablish'ed, w-hereby vsaid articles areadvanceidi' l'rold-backy conveyor, adapting 57:31u a' rnechan" advancing'fsaidjarticles ,at a

1 the same direction; at arateless than ,therate offadvancementY of",v thejarticle conveyor, said vholdeback conveyor vhaving loldibaclc-elementsV mounted thereon' at uniform spacing, said holdaback elements adapted to :intercept and restrain-the articles which are transported upon the belt type articleV conveyor, therebyjto advance the articles at unifornr spacingv corresponding ,toY the spacing -of said hold-back elements, and a photoelectric article arrestin g apparatusmountedfreltive to said belt type, article` conapointsupstreamfrom' .ft;he holdbackY conveyor, electric arrestingA apparatus adapted to'respond toV the random advancement of V-the articles along v,the article conveyor, said article? esting apparatus includ- Y ing shiftable: means responsive-fto operationKof-thephotoelectric article arresting apparatus,an'cll adapted toxarrestV anU article on,l the article? conveyor. which; ist. located. rela- Vt-ive'toJan fadja'cer'itle'adi'n'g article at a 'spacing-less than ments', said shiftable means being responsive to they therebyL to release; fsaid arrested-t artile'fvvh'en the normal arresting. appainatus at a spacing which kcorresponds generally to the :spacing a f 'the-holdback elements-v ofthe heY 1 article conveyor to sides ofthe .holdback .elemen l et` celect1icv g'arresting 'j apparatusl and adapted to befshiftedtoarelease position,

spacing thereofrelative to thei,adjacent leading article j Y yfokrec-el, ying'"- arti-cles'p'vvhieliaissue v at .randomsspacingfrom ay processingfmachine .andi for.

suhstantiallyuniform spacing, v-

an article conveyor comprising la pair of spaced parallel belts adapted to receive the opposite end portions of the articlesy and to advance the same, a hold-back conveyor mounted above said article conveyor and adapted to ad- Vance at a rate less than the rate of advancement of the article conveyor, said hold-back conveyor having holdback elements mounted at a normal uniform spacing, said hold-back elements projecting downwardly relative to the spaced belts of the article conveyor and adapted to engage and restrain the articles which are transported upon the spaced belts of the article conveyor, and photoelectric article arresting means mounted relative to said belt type article conveyor at a point upstream from the hold-back' conveyor, said photoelectric article arresting means adapted to respond to the random advancement of the articles along the article conveyor, said photoelectric article arresting means including a shifting element adapted to arrest an article on the article conveyor which is located relative to an adjacent article at a spacing less than the spacing of said hold-back elements of the holdback conveyor, said shiftable element of the photoelectric article arresting means adapted to release said arrested article when the normal spacing thereof relative to the adjacent article is reestablis'hed, whereby said articles are advanced along said article conveyor beyond said arresting means at a spacing which corresponds generally to the spacing of said hold-back elements.

8. In a mechanism for receiving articles which issue at random spacing from a processing machine and for advancing said articles at a substantially uniform spacing, an article conveyor comprising a pair of spaced parallel belts adapted to receive the opposite end portions of the articles and to advance the said articles, a hold-back conveyor mounted above said article conveyor and adapted to advance at a rate less than the rate of advancement of the article conveyor, said hold-back conveyor having hold-back elements mounted at a normal uniform spacing, said hold-back elements projecting downwardly relative to the spaced belts of the article conveyor, said hold-back elements adapted to engage and restrain the articles which are transported upon the spaced belts of the article conveyor, and article arresting means mounted relative to said belt type article conveyor at a point upstream from the hold-back conveyor, said arresting means adapted to respond to the random advancement of the articles along the article conveyor, said article arresting means including an arresting element interposed between the spaced parallel belts of the article conveyor and normally residing in an inactive position relative to said belts, said arresting means adapted to shift said article arresting element to an active position relative to the belts of the article conveyor in response to the advancement of an article on the article conveyor which is located relative to an adjacent article at a spacing less than the spacing of said hold-back elements of the hold-back conveyor, said arresting means adapted to shift said arresting element back to said inactive position and to release said trailing article when the normal spacing thereof relative to the adjacent article is reestablished, whereby said articles are advanced along said article conveyor beyond said arresting means at a spacing which corresponds generally to the spacing of said hold-back elements.

9. A mechanism for receiving articles which issue at random spacing from a processing machine and for transferring said articles to a cartoning machine conveyor at substantially uniform spacing in time with the cartoning machine conveyor, said mechanism comprising, an article Aconveyor adapted to receive said articles at random spacing, an article arresting mechanism adapted to operate in response to the advancing articles on the article conveyor, said arresting mechanism adapted to arrest an article which is disposed at less than a normal spacing relative to an adjacent article and to release said article when a normal spacing is reestablished, a hold-back conveyor mounted relative to the article conveyor and advancing at a rate slower than the article conveyor, said hold-back conveyor adapted to engage and restrain the normally spaced articles on the article conveyor downstream from the arresting mechanism, and a sweep mechanism mounted relative to the cartoning machine conveyor and adapted to receive the spaced articles advanced from the holdback conveyor, said sweep mechanism having a sweep element advancing in the same direction as the cartoning machine conveyor and at the same rate of speed, said sweep element adapted to engage and transfer the article from the sweep mechanism to the cartoning machine conveyor in time with the advancement thereof.

l0. A timing mechanism for receiving articles which issue at random spacing from a processing machine and for transferring said articles to the buckets of a cartoning machine conveyor in time with the advancement of the cartoning machine conveyor, said cartoning machine conveyor being disposed substantially at right angles to the timing mechanism, said timing mechanism comprising a belt conveyor adapted to receive said articles at random spacing, an article timing mechanism mounted adjacent the belt conveyor, and adapted to space the articles uniformly on the belt conveyor, a holdback conveyor mounted relative to the belt conveyor and advancing at a rate slower than the belt conveyor, said holdback conveyor adapted to engage and restrain the normally spaced articles on the belt conveyor downstream from the timing mechanism, a dead plate mounted above the cartoning machine conveyor and adapted to receive the articles advanced from the hold-back conveyor, and a sweep mechanism mounted above said dead plate and having a sweep element adapted to pass across the dead plate in the same direction as the cartoning machine conveyor and at the same rate of speed, said sweep element adapted to engage an article resting upon the dead plate and to transfer the article from the dead plate into a bucket of the cartoning machine conveyor.

l1. A timing mechanism for receiving articles which issue at random spacing from a processing machine and for transferring said articles to the 4buckets of a cartoning machine conveyor in time with the cartoning machine conveyor, said cartoning machine conveyor being disposed su-bstantially at right angles to the timing mechanism, said timing mechanism comprising, a belt conveyor adapted to receive said articles at random spacing, an article timing mechanism mounted adjacent the belt conveyor and adapted to space the articles uniformly on the belt conveyor, a hold-back conveyor mounted relative to the belt conveyor and advancing at a rate slower than the belt conveyor, said hold-back conveyor adapted to engage and restrain the normally spaced articles on the belt conveyor downstream from the timing mechanism, an infeed conveyor mounted downstream from the hold-back conveyor and adapted to engage the trailing edges of the normally spaced articles at the downstream end of the hold-back conveyor, a dead plate mounted at the downstream end of the infeed conveyor above the cartoning machine conveyor and adapted to receive the articles advanced by the infeed conveyor, and a sweep mechanism mounted above Said dead plate and having a sweep element adapted to passacross the dead plate in the same direction as the cartoning machine conveyor and at the same rate of speed, said sweep element adapted to engage the article resting upon the dead plate and to transfer the article from the dead plate into a bucket of the cartoning machine conveyor.

12. A timing mechanism for receiving articles which issue at random spacing from a processing machine and for transferring said articles to the buckets of a cartoning machine conveyor in time with the cartoning machine conveyor, said cartoning machine conveyor being disposed substantially at right angles to the timing mechanism, said timing mechanism comprising, a belt conveyor adapted to receive said articles at random spacing, an

Claims (1)

1. IN A MECHANISM FOR RECEIVING ARTICLES WHICH ISSUE FROM A MACHINE AT RANDOM AND FOR ADVANCING SAID ARTICLES AT A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM NORMAL SPACING, A BELT TYPE ARTICLE CONVEYOR ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES DELIVERED FROM THE SAID MACHINE AND TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE AND ADVANCE THE ARTICLES AT SAID RANDOM SPACING, A HOLD-BACK CONVEYOR MOUNTED RELATIVE TO THE ARTICLE CONVEYOR, SAID HOLD-BACK CONVEYOR ADVANCING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND AT A RATE SLOWER THAN THE ARTICLES CONVEYOR, SAID HOLD-BACK CONVEYOR HAVING HOLD-BACK ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO INTERCEPT AND RESTRAIN THE ARTICLES WHICH ARE FRICTIONALLY TRANSPORTED ON THE BELT TYPE ARTICLE CONVEYOR, A PHOTOELECTRIC APPARATUS MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID ARTICLE CONVEYOR AND ADAPTED TO RESPOND TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ARTICLES AT RANDOM SPACING ALONG THE ARTICLE CONVEYOR, SAID PHOTOELECTRIC APPARATUS INCLUDING AN ARRESTING DEVICE OPERATING IN RESPONSE TO THE PHOTOELECTRIC APPARATUS AND ADAPTED TO ARREST A TRAILING ARTICLE ON THE ARTICLE CONVEYOR WHICH IS LOCATED AT LESS THAN THE NORMAL SPACING RELATIVE TO AN ADJACENT LEADING ARTICLE, SAID ARRESTING DEVICE ADAPTED TO RELEASE THE ARRESTED ARTICLE IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF THE PHOTOELECTRIC APPARATUS WHEN THE NORMAL SPACING THEREOF RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT LEADING ARTICLE IS REESTABLISHED, WHEREBY SAID ARTICLES ARE ADVANCED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOLD-BACK CONVEYOR AT SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM SPACING.

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