Lightweight plastic container case-packing method and apparatus

Claim 2

In a process for case-packing lightweight plastic containers which comprises: A. receiving said containers in a plurality of rows of pockets in a packing frame adjacent the case; and then B. simultaneously ejecting the containers from the rows into cells in the case; the combination therewith of the steps of: C. accumulating the containers in end to end relationship in tubes above said packing frame; and D. cyclically releasing single layers of said containers from the tubes to the pockets.

Claim 3

In a process for case-packing lightweight plastic containers which comprises: A. receiving said containers in a plurality of rows of pockets in a packing frame adjacent the case; and then B. simultaneously ejecting the containers from the rows into cells in the case; the combination therewith of the steps of: C. accumulating the containers in end to end relationship in tubes above said packing frame; and D. cyclically releasing single layers of said containers from the tubes to the pockets.

Claim 4

In a process for case-packing lightweight plastic containers which comprises: A. receiving said containers in a plurality of rows of pockets in a packing frame adjacent the case; and then B. simultaneously ejecting the containers from the rows into cells in the case; the combination therewith of the steps of: C. accumulating the containers in end to end relationship in tubes above said packing frame; and D. cyclically releasing single layers of said containers from the tubes to the pockets.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 including the step of air conveying said containers, base first, from an upstream station to said tubes.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein said containers weigh from 0.03 to 0.13 grams per cubic centimeter of internal volume.

Claim 7

In apparatus for case-packing lightweight plastic containers comprising: A. a packing frame having a plurality of rows of pockets for receiving said containers; and B. means for discharging the containers from the rows into cells formed in the case; the combination therewith of: C. a plurality of vertically oriented container accumulating tubes above the pockets in said frame; and D. means associated with the tubes for cyclically releasing layers of containers from said tubes to the pockets of said frame.

Claim 8

In apparatus for case-packing lightweight plastic containers comprising: A. a packing frame having a plurality of rows of pockets for receiving said containers; and B. means for discharging the containers from the rows into cells formed in the case; the combination therewith of: C. a plurality of vertically oriented container accumulating tubes above the pockets in said frame; and D. means associated with the tubes for cyclically releasing layers of containers from said tubes to the pockets of said frame.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the tubes are circular and are of such dimensions as will allow said containers to pass downwardly single file through them.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one of said tubes is positioned above each of said pockets.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the height of said tubes is at least equal to three times the height of one of said containers.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for cyclically releasing comprises: a. a stop finger for each tube adjacent its lower end for movement into and out of the open cross section thereof; b. actuating means for simultaneously operating all of the stop fingers; and c. means responsive to the presence of a case beneath the means for discharging the containers into the cells to allow said actuating means to function.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for discharging the containers into the cells is vertically positioned between the pockets and the discharge ends of the tubes.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for discharging the containers comprises: a. an enclosure at the bottom of each tube forming a cylindrical slot with the wall of each tube; and b. pressurized air means communicating with each slot for cyclically charging air to the enclosure to force bottles out of the pockets into the cells.

Claim 15

In apparatus for collecting and case-packing lightweight plastic bottles having reduced diameter necks comprising: A. a packing frame having a plurality of rows of pockets for receiving said containers from an upstream area; and B. means for ejecting the bottles downwardly out of the rows of the packing frame into individual cells of a case below the frame; the combination therewith of: C. a plurality of vertically oriented, bottle accumulating tubes, one end of each of said tubes being substantially coaxial with one of said pockets, each such tube extending upwardly from immediately adjacent said last mentioned pocket, each tube having a length of at least three feet and having an open cross section of such dimension as to permit passage of bottles therethrough under gravity without toppling sideways; D. means associated with each of said tubes for cyclically releasing a single layer of bottles from said tubes to the pockets of the frame; and E. pneumatic conveying means for feeding said bottles to said tubes from an upstream station.

Claim 16

In apparatus for collecting and case-packing lightweight plastic bottles having reduced diameter necks comprising: A. a packing frame having a plurality of rows of pockets for receiving said containers from an upstream area; and B. means for ejecting the bottles downwardly out of the rows of the packing frame into individual cells of a case below the frame; the combination therewith of: C. a plurality of vertically oriented, bottle accumulating tubes, one end of each of said tubes being substantially coaxial with one of said pockets, each such tube extending upwardly from immediately adjacent said last mentioned pocket, each tube having a length of at least three feet and having an open cross section of such dimension as to permit passage of bottles therethrough under gravity without toppling sideways; D. means associated with each of said tubes for cyclically releasing a single layer of bottles from said tubes to the pockets of the frame; and E. pneumatic conveying means for feeding said bottles to said tubes from an upstream station.