Automated handling system for articles

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, including the further steps of continuously feeding said ends in face-to-face relation along a second path; intermittently removing groups of said ends from said second path to form said plurality of stacks; and delivering each stack to said first path.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 2, in which said stacks are arranged in side-by-side relation in said first path.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1, in which said sheets produce a connection between adjacent stacks.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 4, the further steps of delivering said plurality of interconnected stacks to a subsequent location; feeding said interconnected stacks along a second path at said subsequent location; and severing one of said sheets along each stack to accommodate removal of said ends.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 5, in which said sheets are collected on a roll after said ends are removed.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 4, including the further improvement of arranging said stacks into a plurality of superposed rows and banding said superposed rows for shipment.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 8, including the further steps of producing an extension of said material adjacent an outermost stack; feeding said extension to a collection station at said subsequent location, and collecting said material at said collection station after the articles are removed.

Claim 12

A method as defined in Claim 8, in which the step of severing said material along said ends is accomplished by continuous severing along said flexible material.

Claim 15

A method as defined in claim 11, in which stacks are positioned in side-by-side relationship and said opening includes severing said material transversely of said path and longitudinally of each stack.

Claim 16

A method as defined in claim 12, in which said severing is accomplished by cutting said material.

Claim 17

A method as defined in claim 12, in which said severing is accomplished by heating said material.

Claim 18

A method as defined in claim 11, in which said material comprises two sheets located on opposite sides of said stacks, with said sheets sealed longitudinally along opposite edges; and said opening includes removing said edges to expOse said stacks.

Claim 19

A method as defined in claim 15, in which said sheets are sealed transversely between each of said spaced stacks and said opening includes severing one of said sheets between each of the respective seals, the further steps of collecting said edges and said sheets on at least one roll.

Claim 22

A method of packaging as defined in claim 17, in which the container ends are arranged in a plurality of transversely spaced stacks and said sheets are sealed at spaced locations between each pair of adjacent stacks.

Claim 23

A method of packaging as defined in claim 18, extending said sheets a considerable distance beyond one edge of an endmost stack to produce a leader for use in unpackaging said ends including the additional step of.

Claim 24

A packaging system for nestable articles such as container ends comprising means for delivering a continuous supply of articles in face-to-face relation along a path; support means adjacent said path for receiving a plurality of said articles; delivery means for sequentially delivering stacks of articles in face-to-face relation to said support means; means for feeding a first sheet of sealable material between said support means and said stack of articles; means for delivering a second sheet in superposed relation to said stacks; and securing means sealing said sheets on opposite sides and opposite ends of each of said stacks whereby to encase said stacks while on the support means with said sheets producing an interconnection between adjacent stacks, said securing means comprising first and second sealing elements aligned together on opposite sides of said sheets adjacent said support means and relatively movable toward and away from each other, with at least one of said sealing elements being a heat sealing element.

Claim 25

A packaging system for nestable articles such as container ends comprising means for delivering a continuous supply of articles in face-to-face relation along a path; support means adjacent said path for receiving a plurality of said articles; delivery means for sequentially delivering stacks of articles in face-to-face relation to said support means; means for feeding a first sheet of sealable material between said support means and said stack of articles; means for delivering a second sheet in superposed relation to said stacks; and securing means sealing said sheets on opposite sides and opposite ends of each of said stacks whereby to encase said stacks while on the support means with said sheets producing an interconnection between adjacent stacks, said securing means comprising first and second sealing elements aligned together on opposite sides of said sheets adjacent said support means and relatively movable toward and away from each other, with at least one of said sealing elements being a heat sealing element.

Claim 26

A packaging system as defined in claim 20, in which said support means includes a member having a plurality of spaced article receiving pockets; and drive means for said member to locate successive pockets at a receiving station.

Claim 27

A packaging system as defined in claim 22, in which said member comprises a drum having said pockets on the peripheral surface thereof and rotatable about a fixed axis.

Claim 28

A packaging system as defined in claim 20, in which said heat sealing element comprises a die having a continuous heated surface for simultaneously heat sealing said sheets together along opposite sides and ends of each of said stacks.

Claim 29

A packaging system as defined in claim 20, in which said first and second sealing elements each have a continuous heated surface.

Claim 30

An article handling system for a plurality of nestable articles such as container ends comprising means for delivering a continuous supply of said articles in face-to-face relation along a path; means for encasing a plurality of stacks of said articles at spaced locations in side-by-side relation between first and second sheets at a first location adjacent said path, said sheets maintaining a connection between said plurality of stacks; and means at a second location spaced from said first location for removing said plurality of stacks from said sheets and arranging said plurality of stacks in end-to-end relation to produce a continuous supply of said articles at said second locatIon.

Claim 31

An article handling system for a plurality of nestable articles such as container ends comprising means for delivering a continuous supply of said articles in face-to-face relation along a path; means for encasing a plurality of stacks of said articles at spaced locations in side-by-side relation between first and second sheets at a first location adjacent said path, said sheets maintaining a connection between said plurality of stacks; and means at a second location spaced from said first location for removing said plurality of stacks from said sheets and arranging said plurality of stacks in end-to-end relation to produce a continuous supply of said articles at said second locatIon.

Claim 32

An article handling system as defined in claim 25, in which said means at a second location comprises feed means for delivering successive stacks of articles to a station; means for severing at least one of said sheets at said station to accommodate removal of said articles; and means for collecting said sheets for disposal.

Claim 33

An article handling system as defined in claim 26, in which said feed means comprises a drum having a plurality of pockets at circumferentially spaced locations and each adapted to receive and support a stack of articles and drive means for locating successive pockets at said station each of said pockets being adjacent said means for severing when located at said station.

Claim 34

An article handling system as defined in claim 26, in which said means for severing includes first cutting means for continually removing opposite edges of each of said sheets extending beyond opposite ends of said stacks, and second cutting means for severing only one of said sheets transversely along each of said stacks.

Claim 35

An article handling system as defined in claim 28, in which said means for encasing comprises a drum having a plurality of spaced pockets formed on the peripheral surface thereof; means for continually supplying said first and second sheets in superposed relation adjacent said drum, with opposite edges extending beyond opposite ends of said pockets; means for intermittently delivering stacks of articles between said sheets to said pockets at a first position and means for sealing each of said stacks between said sheets at a second position.

Claim 36

An article handling system as defined in claim 28, in which said means for encasing includes a die having first and second relatively movable elements; support means for a stack of articles between said elements; means for continually supplying said first and second sheets between said elements; means for intermittently delivering stacks of articles from said path between said sheets to said support; and means for sealing said sheets together around each of said stacks.

Claim 37

A container end handling apparatus for unpackaging a plurality of elongated stacks of container ends encased in side-by-side spaced relation in a flexible film having an encompassing portion for each stack and a connecting portion adjacent stacks comprising first means for feeding said stacks and film along a path; second means for severing the encompassing portion of said film for each stack in a manner that the adjacent connecting portions remain interconnected; third means for delivering said stacks to a second path wherein all of said stacks are in end-to-end relation; and collecting means for collecting said film.

Claim 38

A container end handling apparatus for unpackaging a plurality of elongated stacks of container ends encased in side-by-side spaced relation in a flexible film having an encompassing portion for each stack and a connecting portion adjacent stacks comprising first means for feeding said stacks and film along a path; second means for severing the encompassing portion of said film for each stack in a manner that the adjacent connecting portions remain interconnected; third means for delivering said stacks to a second path wherein all of said stacks are in end-to-end relation; and collecting means for collecting said film.

Claim 39

A container end handling apparatus as defined in claim 31, in which said first means includes a drum defining a peripheral surface having circumferentially spaced axially extending pockets defined therein, each of said pockets adapted to receive a stack of container ends; and means for rotating said drum.

Claim 40

A container end handling apparatus as defined in claim 31, in which said severing means comprises a cutter and means for moving said cutter transversely of said path.

Claim 41

A container end handling apparatus as defined in claim 31, in which said severing means comprises a first heated element extending transversely of said path and disposed in the path of movement of said encompassing portions; and a second heated element located on opposite ends of said stacks to remove the opposite edges of said film.

Claim 42

A container end handling apparatus as defined in claim 31, in which said means for severing is a single means for severing a single layer of said flexible film.

Claim 43

An article handling system as defined in claim 25, in which said means at a second location comprises means for delivering successive stacks of articles to a station; means for severing only one of said sheets transversely along each of said stacks, to accommodate removal of said articles, in a manner that said connections beTween said stacks remain interconnected; and means for collecting said sheets for disposal.