Article handling machine

Claim 2

An article handling machine for use in packing discrete articles within containers comprising: A. means defining multiple packing stations arranged in serial alignment; B. container advancing means associated with said packing stations for serially delivering a plurality of open-top containers through each of the packing stations; C. article delivery means associated with each packing station for delivering thereto articles to be packed; D. container packing means located at each of said packing stations including a rotatably driven packing drum having an array of article-receiving pockets arranged within the peripheral surface thereof for receiving said articles from said article delivery means and for discharging the received articles into said containers; E. container arresting means located at a first selected packing station and associated with said packing means and said container advancing means for sequentially arresting motion of the serially delivered containers, whereby each container is brought to rest at a point adjacent to the packing means; and F. means associated With said container advancing means for continuously advancing said serially delivered containers through a second selected packing station.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 further comprising means associated with each of said packing stations for sensing the presence of each container delivered to the associated packing station and to impose control over the operation of said container packing means in a manner such that said drum is rotated only in the presence of a delivered container.

Claim 4

means for permitting said articles to gravitate into said pockets when the pockets are near the top of their orbits and permitting the articles to gravitate from said pockets when the pockets are near the bottom of their orbits, and

Claim 5

means for permitting said articles to gravitate into said pockets when the pockets are near the top of their orbits and permitting the articles to gravitate from said pockets when the pockets are near the bottom of their orbits, and

Claim 6

a first baffle plate disposed in a substantially horizontal disposition, and a second baffle plate disposed in a substantially vertical disposition, said first and second baffle plates being disposed in the path of said articles as they are delivered from said packing drum.

Claim 7

a first baffle plate disposed in a substantially horizontal disposition, and a second baffle plate disposed in a substantially vertical disposition, said first and second baffle plates being disposed in the path of said articles as they are delivered from said packing drum.

Claim 8

The machine of claim 2 further comprising article positioning means for orienting articles discharged into said containers.

Claim 9

The machine of claim 2 wherein the article positioning means is associated with said container arresting means and includes means for supporting each arrested container in an inclined disposition adjacent said drum, and an article separator removably positioned within each container.

Claim 10

An article handling machine for use in packing articles within containers having upstanding sidewalls including: A. a packing drum mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis having a peripheral surface of an arcuate configuration, and means defining within said surface an array of pockets of a substantially cup-shaped configuration disposed in staggered alignment and adapted to receive and transport articles to be packed within said container, each pocket being so arranged as to describe a circular orbit about said horizontal axis as the drum is driven in rotation; B. means operatively associated with said drum adapted to deliver to said pockets articles to be packed; C. means for serially positioning a plurality of containers in an article-receiving disposition adjacent to said drum; and D. means for effecting a delivery of said articles from said packing drum to said containers including,

Claim 11

An article handling machine for use in packing articles within containers having upstanding sidewalls including: A. a packing drum mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis having a peripheral surface of an arcuate configuration, and means defining within said surface an array of pockets of a substantially cup-shaped configuration disposed in staggered alignment and adapted to receive and transport articles to be packed within said container, each pocket being so arranged as to describe a circular orbit about said horizontal axis as the drum is driven in rotation; B. means operatively associated with said drum adapted to deliver to said pockets articles to be packed; C. means for serially positioning a plurality of containers in an article-receiving disposition adjacent to said drum; and D. means for effecting a delivery of said articles from said packing drum to said containers including,

Claim 12

The article handling machine of claim 5 wherein said means for delivering said articles to said pockets includes a plurality of inclined channels, each terminating at a point substantially above said drum and adjacent to an orbit described by one of said pockets.

Claim 13

The article handling machine of claim 6 further comprising: A. another packing drum adapted to deliver and deposit articles within said containers; and B. means for conveying said containers between said packing drums.

Claim 14

The article handling machine of claim 7 wherein said means for conveying said container includes a vibrator for vibrating said containers.

Claim 15

The article handling machine of claim 8 further comprising means for arranging said articles in ordered layers within the containers as the articles are delivered by said drums.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 9 wherein the means for arranging said articles in ordered layers includes means supporting each container of said plurality of containers in an inclined and stationary condition as the articles are permitted to gravitate from the pockets of said packing drum and means for continuously advancing said cartons as articles are delivered and deposited therewithin by said other packing drum.

Claim 17

In an article handling machine for packing articles subject to bruising, cracking and the like means including: A. a packing drum supported for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis; B. means defining within the periphery of said drum an annular array of article receiving pockets, said pockets being disposed in staggered alignment about the surface of the drum and adapted to receive articles therewithin and to discharge the received articles therefrom as the drum is driven in rotation; C. a retainer plate circumscribing a substantial portion of the periphery of the drum and associated therewith to provide lateral support to articles received within the pockets as said drum is driven in rotation; D. means for serially positioning open-top containers adjacent to said drum for receiving articles discharged therefrom; E. resilient baffle means for engaging and guiding said articles as they are discharged from said drum; F. article positioning means adapted to be inserted and received within each of said containers for positioning therewithin articles received thereby; and G. support means supporting said article positioning means within each container as the container is positioned adjacent to said drum.

Claim 18

In an article handling machine for packing articles subject to bruising, cracking and the like means including: A. a packing drum supported for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis; B. means defining within the periphery of said drum an annular array of article receiving pockets, said pockets being disposed in staggered alignment about the surface of the drum and adapted to receive articles therewithin and to discharge the received articles therefrom as the drum is driven in rotation; C. a retainer plate circumscribing a substantial portion of the periphery of the drum and associated therewith to provide lateral support to articles received within the pockets as said drum is driven in rotation; D. means for serially positioning open-top containers adjacent to said drum for receiving articles discharged therefrom; E. resilient baffle means for engaging and guiding said articles as they are discharged from said drum; F. article positioning means adapted to be inserted and received within each of said containers for positioning therewithin articles received thereby; and G. support means supporting said article positioning means within each container as the container is positioned adjacent to said drum.

Claim 19

The article handling machine of claim 11 wherein said support means includes a reciprocating shaft mounted above said container as the container is positioned adjacent said drum and means for vertically reciprocating said shaft for thereby raising and lowering said article positioning means.

Claim 20

An article handling machine for use in packing articles such as melons and the like within containers having substantially vertical side walls comprising: A. means defining a first and a second operatively related packing station, each packing station including a packing drum mounted for driven rotation about a horizontal axis; B. means defining about the periphery of each of said drums an array of pockets arranged in staggered annular alignment for receiving and discharging articles to be packed; C. an article delivery chute associated with each of said packing drums, disposed thereabove and adapted to deliver a plurality of articles thereto, said chute including resilient bumpers for protecting said articles against impact; D. an arcuate guide plate circumscribing a portion of each of said drums extending from a point adjacent to the associated chute to a loading point beneath the drum; E. means for serially delivering open top containers to a loading point adjacent to the drum at each packing station; F. support means for supporting said containers in a stationary and inclined disposition at the loading point of the first packing station; G. means for guiding articles discharged from said pockets into said containers as they are supported by said support means; H. container advancing means for advancing said containers to and from said first and second packing stations; I. means for continuously advancing said containers past the loading point of said second packing station; and J. a vibrating means for vibrating said articles within the containers.

Claim 21

An article handling machine for use in packing articles such as melons and the like within containers having substantially vertical side walls comprising: A. means defining a first and a second operatively related packing station, each packing station including a packing drum mounted for driven rotation about a horizontal axis; B. means defining about the periphery of each of said drums an array of pockets arranged in staggered annular alignment for receiving and discharging articles to be packed; C. an article delivery chute associated with each of said packing drums, disposed thereabove and adapted to deliver a plurality of articles thereto, said chute including resilient bumpers for protecting said articles against impact; D. an arcuate guide plate circumscribing a portion of each of said drums extending from a point adjacent to the associated chute to a loading point beneath the drum; E. means for serially delivering open top containers to a loading point adjacent to the drum at each packing station; F. support means for supporting said containers in a stationary and inclined disposition at the loading point of the first packing station; G. means for guiding articles discharged from said pockets into said containers as they are supported by said support means; H. container advancing means for advancing said containers to and from said first and second packing stations; I. means for continuously advancing said containers past the loading point of said second packing station; and J. a vibrating means for vibrating said articles within the containers.

Claim 22

The article handling machine of claim 13 where said container advancing means includes said vibrating means.

Claim 23

The article handling machine of claim 13 where said articles are cantaloupes.