Packaging apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for packaging material, the combination comprising means for conveying a longitudinally extending row of interconnected packages along a predetermined path of travel, guide means inclined downwardly from a junction with said path of travel for receiving and guiding said interconnected packages, leading packages in said row being advanced down said guide means under the influence of gravity and being initially restrained by interconnection with trailing packages engaged by said conveying means, a means mounted adjacent said guide means for successively severing endmost packages on said guide means from said row for enabling said severed packages to travel freely down said guide means under the influence of gravity, said conveying means and said guide means including elements for conveying and guiding a plurality of side by side longitudinally extending rows of interconnected packages, and said severing means comprising rotary cutter means, and means for moving said rotary cutter means back and forth across said plurality of rows.

Claim 3

A combination, as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises a member for engaging and pushing packages in said row at a location spaced substantially from said junction of the guide means with the path of travel, the weight of the interconnected packages on said guide means maintaining packages remaining on said path of travel between said member and said junction under tension.

Claim 4

A combination, as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for severing packages is located substantially below said junction so that remaining interconnected packages on said guide means after severing of leading endmost packages have sufficient weight to pull trailing interconnected packages on said path of travel down onto said inclined guide means.

Claim 5

A combination, as defined in claim 1, wherein said severing means includes backup blade means disposed for engaging the packages oppositely from said rotary cutter means, means supporting said backup blade means for movement into and out of engagement with the packages, and means for actuating said rotary cutter means and said backup blade means.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for packaging material and discharging such packages, the combination comprising means for conveying a longitudinally extending row of interconnected packages along a generally horizontal path of travel, guide means inclined downwardly from a junction with said path of travel for receiving and guiding said interconnected packages, leading packages in said row being advanced down said guide means by gravity and initially being restrained by interconnection with trailing packages, means mounted adjacent said guide means for successively severing leading endmost packages on said guide means from said row at a location spaced below said junction so that a portion of the interconnected packages remains on said guide means after each leading endmost package is severed, said guide means comprising spaced apart guide rails engageable beneath opposite marginal portions of the packages, which packages have body portions projecting between the rails, said rails having lower terminal discharge ends, and means for supporting containers beneath said ends for receiving successive packages sliding down said rails.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for packaging material and discharging such packages, the combination comprising means for conveying a longitudinally extending row of interconnected packages along a generally horizontal path of travel, guide means inclined downwardly from a junction with said path of travel for receiving and guiding said interconnected packages, leading packages in said row being advanced down said guide means by gravity and initially being restrained by interconnection with trailing packages, means mounted adjacent said guide means for successively severing leading endmost packages on said guide means from said row at a location spaced below said junction so that a portion of the interconnected packages remains on said guide means after each leading endmost package is severed, said guide means comprising spaced apart guide rails engageable beneath opposite marginal portions of the packages, which packages have body portions projecting between the rails, said rails having lower terminal discharge ends, and means for supporting containers beneath said ends for receiving successive packages sliding down said rails.

Claim 8

A combination, as defined in claim 5, wherein said conveying means comprises means for intermittently indexing said row of packages to advance a predetermined plural number of the packages to the severing means, and said severing means comprises a plurality of blade elements corresponding to said predetermined plural number for simultaneously severing said plural number of packages from said row.

Claim 9

A combination, as defined in claim 5, wherein said conveying means comprises guide rail means and rotatable package engageable members spaced along said guide rail means for advancing the packages past a filling mechanism, a sealing mechanism at which the rows of packages are joined transversely as well as longitudinally, and a severing mechanism for severing the longitudinally extending rows of packages from each other.