Apparatus for dividing a continuous stream of articles into batches which may be placed in containers

Claim 2

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream comprising means to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, separating means associated with said feed means, a first fixed track in a first plane, a second fixed track in a second plane, a movable track, means for effecting reciprocal movement of said movable track from said first plane to said second plane, and means for moving said separating means along said tracks, said tracks being positioned with said second fixed track closer to said defined path than said first fixed track so that said separating means is clear of said stream while it is moving along said first fixed track and is projected through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said first to said second plane, said separating means when moving between said first and second tracks having a first component of movement due to its motion along said movable track and a second component of movement due to movement of said movable track between said first and second planes.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for feeding the stream is arranged to feed the articles in a direction transverse to their length.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the means for feeding the stream compriseS an endless conveyor.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said endless conveyor consists of a pair of chains which support a plurality of slats which together, along part of said endless conveyor, form a flat surface on which said stream of articles is supported.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said separating means comprises divider plates associated with said endless conveyor.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said divider plates are arranged to be retracted below said conveyor and projected above said conveyor at different times.

Claim 8

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream comprising an endless conveyor to feed said stream of articles along a defined path in a direction transverse to their length, said endless conveyor consisting of a pair of chains which support a plurality of slats which together, along part of said endless conveyor, form a flat surface on which said stream of articles is supported, separating means associated with said endless conveyor, a first fixed track in a first plane, a second fixed track in a second plane, and a movable track capable of movement from said first plane to said second plane, said separating means being movable along said tracks and said tracks being so positioned that said separating means is clear of said stream while it is moving along said first fixed track and is projected through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said first to said second plane, said separating means comprising divider plates arranged to be retracted below said conveyor and projected above said conveyor at different times, spaced ones of said slats being provided with slots through which said divider plates are adapted to slide as said movable track is moved between said first and second planes.

Claim 9

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream comprising an endless conveyor to feed said stream of articles along a defined path in a direction transverse to their length, said endless conveyor consisting of a pair of chains which support a plurality of slats which together, along part of said endless conveyor, form a flat surface on which said stream of articles is supported, separating means associated with said endless conveyor, a first fixed track in a first plane, a second fixed track in a second plane, and a movable track capable of movement from said first plane to said second plane, said separating means being movable along said tracks and said tracks being so positioned that said separating means is clear of said stream while it is moving along said first fixed track and is projected through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said first to said second plane, said separating means comprising divider plates arranged to be retracted below said conveyor and projected above said conveyor at different times, spaced ones of said slats being provided with slots through which said divider plates are adapted to slide as said movable track is moved between said first and second planes.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said movable track is carried on a parallelogram linkage provided with a cam follower adapted to engage a rotatable cam which causes said linkage to move said movable track.

Claim 11

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream comprising an endless conveyor to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, said conveyor including a plurality of slats for supporting said stream of articles, first and second spaced tracks, a movable track, means for effecting reciprocal movement of said movable track between said first and second tracks, and separating means including divider plates for said stream of articles, at least some spaced slats being provided with slots, said divider plates extending through respective slots in which they are adapted to slide, and means engaging said divider plates with said tracks for effecting movement of said divider plates in a direction transverse to said defined path, said tracks being so positioned that a divider plate is clear of said stream while it is moving along said first track and is projected through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said first to said second track.

Claim 12

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream comprising an endless conveyor to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, said conveyor including a plurality of slats for supporting said stream of articles, first and second spaced tracks, a movable track, means for effecting reciprocal movement of said movable track between said first and second tracks, and separating means including divider plates for said stream of articles, at least some spaced slats being provided with slots, said divider plates extending through respective slots in which they are adapted to slide, and means engaging said divider plates with said tracks for effecting movement of said divider plates in a direction transverse to said defined path, said tracks being so positioned that a divider plate is clear of said stream while it is moving along said first track and is projected through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said first to said second track.

Claim 13

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream, comprising means to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, separating means associated with said feed means for separating a portion of said stream of articles from said stream by extending therethrough, means for moving said separating means in a given direction along a first track for said separating means on which track said separating means is clear of said stream of articles, along a second track in the same given direction on which track said separating means is in position to separate said end portion by extending through said stream and along a movable track for said separating means arranged between said first and second tracks, and displacing means for moving said movable track between a first position in which it is in register only with said first track aNd not in register with said second track and a second position in which it is in register only with said second track and not in register with said first track.

Claim 14

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream, comprising means to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, separating means associated with said feed means for separating a portion of said stream of articles from said stream by extending therethrough, means for moving said separating means in a given direction along a first track for said separating means on which track said separating means is clear of said stream of articles, along a second track in the same given direction on which track said separating means is in position to separate said end portion by extending through said stream and along a movable track for said separating means arranged between said first and second tracks, and displacing means for moving said movable track between a first position in which it is in register only with said first track aNd not in register with said second track and a second position in which it is in register only with said second track and not in register with said first track.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said defined path is straight and said first and second tracks are substantially parallel to said path.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said movable track is substantially straight.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said displacing means maintains said movable track substantially parallel to said defined path as said track is moved between said first and second tracks.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said displacing means includes a parallelogram linkage.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said displacing means comprises means for moving said movable track with reciprocal motion.

Claim 20

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream, comprising means to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, separating means associated with said feed means, guiding means for guiding said separating means along an endless path comprising a lower track, an upper track, at least one movable track and means for effecting reciprocal movement of said movable track between a position in register with the lower track and a position in register with the upper track, said tracks being so positioned with respect to said defined path that said separating means is clear of said stream while it is moving along said lower track and is projected upwards through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said lower to said upper track, and remains in position to separate said end portion during movement along said upper track.

Claim 21

Apparatus for separating a leading end portion of a stream of articles from said stream, comprising means to feed said stream of articles along a defined path, separating means associated with said feed means, guiding means for guiding said separating means along an endless path comprising a lower track, an upper track, at least one movable track and means for effecting reciprocal movement of said movable track between a position in register with the lower track and a position in register with the upper track, said tracks being so positioned with respect to said defined path that said separating means is clear of said stream while it is moving along said lower track and is projected upwards through said stream while it is moving along said movable track during movement of the latter from said lower to said upper track, and remains in position to separate said end portion during movement along said upper track.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said upper track has ends lying in a first plane and said lower track has ends lying in a second lower plane, and first and second reciprocating movable tracks are disposed in parallel to said first and second planes and mounted for movement between each pair of ends of said upper and lower tracks to complete said endless path.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said feed means comprises a conveyor and drive means for driving said conveyor along said defined path, said means for effecting reciprocal movement of said movable tracks comprising a respective parallelogram linkage connected to said first and second movable tracks to permit reciprocating movement thereof and actuating means driven by said drive means for reciprocating said first and second movable tracks between the ends of said upper and lower tracks in timed relationship with the position of said separating means along said endless path.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said actuating means comprises first and second cams rotated by said drive means and respective followers mounted on each parallelogram linkage and contacting a respective one of said first and second cams.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said separating means includes a plurality of divider plates and said conveyor includes a plurality of slats for supporting said stream of articles, at least some spaced slats being provided with slots in which said divider plates are carried in sliding engagement, said guiding means effecting engagement between said divider plates and said tracks for effecting movement of said divider plates in a direction transverse to said defined path as said divider plates are guided along said lower track, said first movable track, said upper track and said second movable track to said lower track.