Automatic tray loader

Claim 2

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said conveyor belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from said inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. a linear pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of the tray, and in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of the tray, i. means moving said pusher from its retracted to its extended position to sweep into the open mouth of the tray a linear row of containers held stationary on the moving conveyor belt by said blocking means and then back to its retracted position, said row tending to lose its linearity due to lengthwise pressure exerted on the stationary containers by the conveyor belt moving beneath the same, and j. means maintaining the linearity of said row of containers while it is in a stationary position on the moving conveyor belt in front of the open mouth of the tray and as it is swept off the conveyor belt into the open mouth of the tray, said last named means comprising a linear retainer parallel to said pusher, means to reciprocate said retainer horizontally and to reciprocate said retainer vertically, said retainer moving means moving said retainer from a starting position synchronously with said pusher as the pusher sweeps a string of containers off the conveyor belt into the mouth of the tray, moving said retainer upwardly after the string of containers is swept off the conveyor belt and thereafter moving the retainer back to its starting position.

Claim 3

A tray loader as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means reciprocating the retainer vertically moves the retainer upwardly before the means moving the pusher horizontally completes its movement of a string of containers into the tray.

Claim 4

A tray loader as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means reciprocating the retainer vertically moves the retainer downwardly after the means moving the retainer horizontally moves the retainer on its way back to starting position a distance beyond a string of containers freshly moved into the tray by the pusher.

Claim 5

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect transversely round containers, b. first and second tray loading stations, c. means associated with said stations for horizontally supporting at each a tray having an open mouth with the mouths facing in the same direction and in transverse alignment, d. a flat topped conveyor, e. means supporting said conveyor for travel Successively in front of the open mouths of trays at said loading stations from the inlet through a position upstream of the upstream loading station to a position downstream of the downstream loading station, f. means for moving said conveyor so that it moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first and second pusher means each associated with a different one of said loading stations for transferring strings of containers from said conveyor off said conveyor into the trays at the first and second tray loading stations, said pusher means being selectively operable first to at least substantially fill a tray at one of said loading stations and then a tray at said other loading station, h. said conveyor being a conveyor belt that moves continually, i. first means downstream of the first loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. second means downstream of the second loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt so that when said first blocking means is in container blocking position, the first pusher means is effective, and when in container passing position the first pusher means is ineffective and the second blocking means and the second pusher means is effective, and k. means maintaining the linearity of a string of containers blocked by either of said blocking means while the string is in stationary position on the moving conveyor belt in front of the open mouth of a tray and as the string is transferred off the conveyor belt into the open mouth of a tray at the loading station at which the string of containers leaves the conveyor belt.

Claim 6

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect transversely round containers, b. first and second tray loading stations, c. means associated with said stations for horizontally supporting at each a tray having an open mouth with the mouths facing in the same direction and in transverse alignment, d. a flat topped conveyor, e. means supporting said conveyor for travel Successively in front of the open mouths of trays at said loading stations from the inlet through a position upstream of the upstream loading station to a position downstream of the downstream loading station, f. means for moving said conveyor so that it moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first and second pusher means each associated with a different one of said loading stations for transferring strings of containers from said conveyor off said conveyor into the trays at the first and second tray loading stations, said pusher means being selectively operable first to at least substantially fill a tray at one of said loading stations and then a tray at said other loading station, h. said conveyor being a conveyor belt that moves continually, i. first means downstream of the first loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. second means downstream of the second loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt so that when said first blocking means is in container blocking position, the first pusher means is effective, and when in container passing position the first pusher means is ineffective and the second blocking means and the second pusher means is effective, and k. means maintaining the linearity of a string of containers blocked by either of said blocking means while the string is in stationary position on the moving conveyor belt in front of the open mouth of a tray and as the string is transferred off the conveyor belt into the open mouth of a tray at the loading station at which the string of containers leaves the conveyor belt.

Claim 7

A tray loader as set forth in claim 4, wherein the means for maintaining the linearity of a string of containers comprises a different linear retainer parallel to each associated pusher means, means to reciprocate each retainer horizontally and to reciprocate each retainer vertically, said retainer moving means moving each retainer from a starting position synchronously with the associated pusher means as that pusher means transfers a string of containers off the container belt into the mouth of a tray at a loading station, moving said retainer upwardly after the string of containers is transferred off the conveyor belt and thereafter moving the retainer back to its starting position.

Claim 8

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. first and second tray loading stations, c. means associated with said stations for horizontally supporting at each a tray having an open mouth with the mouths facing in the same direction and in transverse alignment, d. a flat topped conveyor, e. means supporting said conveyor for continual travel successively in front of the open mouths of trays at said loading stations from the inlet through a position upstream of the upstream loading station to a position downstream of the downstream loading station, f. means for moving said conveyor so that it moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first and second pusher means each associated with a different one of said loading stations for transferring strings of containers from said conveyor off said conveyor into the trays at the first and second tray loading stations, said pusher means being selectively operable first to at least substantially fill a tray at one of said loading stations and then a tray at said other loading station; and h. means upstream of the first loading station to segregate a linear string of a predetermined number of containers equal in total width to the width of a tray in stationary position with the conveyor belt moving therebeneath and from time to time to release the string for movement downstream to one or the other of the loading stations to be transferred off the same into an associated tray.

Claim 9

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. first and second tray loading stations, c. means associated with said stations for horizontally supporting at each a tray having an open mouth with the mouths facing in the same direction and in transverse alignment, d. a flat topped conveyor, e. means supporting said conveyor for continual travel successively in front of the open mouths of trays at said loading stations from the inlet through a position upstream of the upstream loading station to a position downstream of the downstream loading station, f. means for moving said conveyor so that it moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first and second pusher means each associated with a different one of said loading stations for transferring strings of containers from said conveyor off said conveyor into the trays at the first and second tray loading stations, said pusher means being selectively operable first to at least substantially fill a tray at one of said loading stations and then a tray at said other loading station; and h. means upstream of the first loading station to segregate a linear string of a predetermined number of containers equal in total width to the width of a tray in stationary position with the conveyor belt moving therebeneath and from time to time to release the string for movement downstream to one or the other of the loading stations to be transferred off the same into an associated tray.

Claim 10

A tray loader as set forth in claim 6 wherein the segregating means includes a gate movabLe between a position blocking containers on the belt and a position permitting the passage of containers on the belt and an isolation finger upstream from the gate and movable between a position permitting passage of containers on the belt and a position blocking movement of containers with the belt, the space parallel to the belt between the gate and the finger determining the number of containers in the string.

Claim 11

A tray loader as set forth in claim 6, wherein, after the last one of the string of containers has cleared the segregating means, the segregating means starts to gather a new string of containers.

Claim 12

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until more than a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, and n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof.

Claim 13

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until more than a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, and n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof.

Claim 14

A tray loader as set forth in claim 9, wherein after the last container in the linear string of containers clears the first blocking means, said blocking means is arranged to move back to container-blocking position to commence the grouping of a fresh linear string of containers.

Claim 15

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of thE loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof; and means operable upon each reciprocation of the pusher to vary the position of the second blocking means in a direction longitudinally of the movement of the conveyor belt by a distance equal to one-half the diameter of a container so that strings of containers transferred into the tray will assume a staggered pattern.

Claim 16

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of thE loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof; and means operable upon each reciprocation of the pusher to vary the position of the second blocking means in a direction longitudinally of the movement of the conveyor belt by a distance equal to one-half the diameter of a container so that strings of containers transferred into the tray will assume a staggered pattern.

Claim 17

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers uPstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof; and o. means operable upon each reciprocation of the pusher to vary the distance between the isolation finger and the first blocking means by a distance equal to a diameter of one container.

Claim 18

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers uPstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof; and o. means operable upon each reciprocation of the pusher to vary the distance between the isolation finger and the first blocking means by a distance equal to a diameter of one container.

Claim 19

A tray loader as set forth in claim 11, wherein means is included operable upon each reciprocation of the pusher to vary the distance between the isolation finger and the first blocking means by a distance equal to a diameter of one container.

Claim 20

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position trAnsferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof, o. the second blocking means being selectively shiftable to a container-passing position, p. a second tray loading station downstream of the first tray loading station, q. means associated with said second station for horizontally supporting another tray having an open mouth, r. a third means at the downstream side of the second loading station blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, said third blocking means halting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt when the second blocking means permits movement of the containers with the conveyor belt whereby said third blocking means will halt a linear string of containers at the second tray loading station, and s. a second pusher, said second pusher being located at the second loading station and having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of the other tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of the other tray, said second pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the third blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said other tray through the open mouth thereof.

Claim 21

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position trAnsferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof, o. the second blocking means being selectively shiftable to a container-passing position, p. a second tray loading station downstream of the first tray loading station, q. means associated with said second station for horizontally supporting another tray having an open mouth, r. a third means at the downstream side of the second loading station blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, said third blocking means halting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt when the second blocking means permits movement of the containers with the conveyor belt whereby said third blocking means will halt a linear string of containers at the second tray loading station, and s. a second pusher, said second pusher being located at the second loading station and having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of the other tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of the other tray, said second pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the third blocking means from the moving conveyor belt into said other tray through the open mouth thereof.

Claim 22

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the Moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof, o. a sensor upstream of the isolation finger to detect the absence of a container thereat, and p. means to stop operation of the pusher when no containers are at the sensor.

Claim 23

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from the inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. first means upstream of the loading station selectively blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. an isolation finger upstream of the first blocking means selectively blocking movement of the containers with the conveyor belt and permitting movement of the containers with the conveyor belt, i. second means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, j. said first blocking means in blocking position holding stationary a linear row of containers behind it while the isolation finger is in position permitting movement of containers with the conveyor belt until at least a predetermined number of containers is blocked behind the first blocking means, k. means thereafter shifting said isolation finger to a position blocking movement of containers upstream thereof with the conveyor belt so that a string of a predetermined number of containers is segregated in stationary condition and linear arrangement on the conveyor belt between the isolation finger and the first blocking means, l. means for subsequently shifting said first blocking means to a position to permit movement of said string of containers as a unit with the conveyor belt to a position in front of the open mouth of the tray at the loading station to be held stationary by the second blocking means, m. means for subsequently shifting the isolation finger to container passing position, n. a pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of a tray and in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of a tray, said pusher as it moves from retracted to extended position transferring the string of containers held stationary by the second blocking means from the Moving conveyor belt into said tray through the open mouth thereof, o. a sensor upstream of the isolation finger to detect the absence of a container thereat, and p. means to stop operation of the pusher when no containers are at the sensor.

Claim 24

A tray loader as set forth in claim 15, wherein a second sensor is provided upstream of the first sensor, said second sensor detecting the presence of a stationary container thereat and wherein means is included to start operation of the machine upon detection of a stationary container at the second sensor.

Claim 25

A tray loader comprising: a. a loading station, b. a tray at said station, said tray having an open mouth and a receiving area configured to hold a predetermined number of containers of a specific cross section, c. means for presenting containers in front of the open mouth of the tray, d. means for pushing containers from the presenting means into the tray through the open mouth thereof, e. means for sensing an effort to push into the tray containers in excess of said predetermined number, and f. means responsive to said sensing means for rendering the pushing means ineffective, g. the tray being movable in a direction away from the pushing means, h. the sensing means being responsive to movement of the tray away from the pushing means.

Claim 26

A tray loader comprising: a. a loading station, b. a tray at said station, said tray having an open mouth and a receiving area configured to hold a predetermined number of containers of a specific cross section, c. means for presenting containers in front of the open mouth of the tray, d. means for pushing containers from the presenting means into the tray through the open mouth thereof, e. means for sensing an effort to push into the tray containers in excess of said predetermined number, and f. means responsive to said sensing means for rendering the pushing means ineffective, g. the tray being movable in a direction away from the pushing means, h. the sensing means being responsive to movement of the tray away from the pushing means.

Claim 27

A tray loader as set forth in claim 17, wherein means is included to resiliently urge the tray toward the pushing means.

Claim 28

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect transversely round containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said conveyor belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from said inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. a linear pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of the tray, and in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of the tray, i. means moving said pusher from its retracted to its extended position to sweep into the open mouth of the tray a linear row of containers held stationary on the moving conveyor belt by said blocking means and then back to its retracted position, said row tending to lose its linearity due to lengthwise pressure exerted on the stationary containers by the conveyor belt moving beneath the same, and j. means maintaining the linearity of said row of containers while it is in a stationary position on the moving conveyor belt in front of the open mouth of the tray and as it is swept off the conveyor belt into the open mouth of the tray.

Claim 29

A tray loader comprising: a. an inlet for receiving erect transversely round containers, b. a tray loading station, c. means associated with said station for horizontally supporting a tray having an open mouth, d. a flat top conveyor belt, e. means supporting said conveyor belt for travel of an upper reach thereof in front of the open mouth of a tray at said loading station from said inlet through a position upstream of the loading station to a position downstream of the loading station, f. means continually moving said conveyor belt so that said upper reach continually moves from said inlet to said downstream position, g. means at the downstream side of the loading station blocking movement of containers with the conveyor belt, h. a linear pusher having a retracted position and an extended position, said pusher in extended position being on the side of the conveyor belt adjacent the mouth of the tray, and in retracted position being on the side of the conveyor belt remote from the mouth of the tray, i. means moving said pusher from its retracted to its extended position to sweep into the open mouth of the tray a linear row of containers held stationary on the moving conveyor belt by said blocking means and then back to its retracted position, said row tending to lose its linearity due to lengthwise pressure exerted on the stationary containers by the conveyor belt moving beneath the same, and j. means maintaining the linearity of said row of containers while it is in a stationary position on the moving conveyor belt in front of the open mouth of the tray and as it is swept off the conveyor belt into the open mouth of the tray.