Semi-automatic packing of packages

Claim 2

Apparatus for semi-automatically packing packages being supplied by automatic packaging apparatus at a rapid rate, comprising: a. at least one chute; said chute being upstanding such that gravity will effect movement of said packages longitudinally thereof; b. gate means for accumulating a series of at least one package from said at least one chute; said gate means having a gate moving means for moving said gate from beneath said series caught thereon, referred to as being moved to an open position, and for moving said gate into position beneath the bottom end of said at least one chute to receive a next series from said at least one chute, referred to as being moved to a closed position; c. switch means for effecTing moving of said gate means into its respective open and closed positions; said switch means being connected with said gate moving means and monitoring a respective said at least one chute such that said gate moving means moves said gate means into its open position after passage of a package down said chute; d. receiver means for receiving said packages from said gate means; said receiver means being positioned beneath said gate means and such that said packages are retained at a desired position in which they are emplaced into said receiver means; said receiver means comprising a load chute that is inclined at an angle sufficient to hold said packages in said desired position as they are moved up said load chute; e. clearance means for effecting a clearance space in said receiver means sufficient to receive the next said series from said gate means until a predetermined number of packages are emplaced in said receiver means; said clearance means comprising a ram for advancing said plurality of packages longitudinally of said load chute and a comb for holding said packages at the position to which they are advanced by said ram when said ram is retracted away from said packages; f. package moving means for effecting movement of said series of said at least one package from said gate means into said receiver means in a desired position; said package moving means comprising gravity in combination with said gate moving means for moving said gate into its open position to allow the accumulated said series to fall into said active load chute in front of said ram and for moving said gate means into its closed position to accumulate a next said series; and g. a package pack moving means for moving said predetermined number of packages included in a pack to make room for the next series of at least one package from said at least one chute; said package pack moving means comprising a pivotally mounted surge chute linearly aligned with said load chute and disposed adjacent the open end of said load chute so as to receive packages moved longitudinally out of the open end of said load chute; and second means comprising a second comb that has a free end that is movable into a pre-load position behind said predetermined number of packages and movable longitudinally of said load chute to a load position to move said packages out of the open end of said load chute and into said pivotally mounted surge chute; and second moving means for moving said free end of said second comb; said second moving means being connected with said second comb.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivotally mounted surge chute has its open end unobstructed such that an open ended container can be emplaced about the open end thereof and said pivotally mounted load chute pivoted to emplace said predetermined number of packages into said container.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ram has a plurality of slots open at the forward end and said comb has teeth that move into said slots for holding said packages at a position to which they have been advanced by said ram and such that said ram can be retracted to receive the next plurality of said packages.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second comb is pivotally mounted such that its free end can be swung longitudinally of said chute.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second comb is mounted above said load chute and has teeth that are retractable for moving from said load position over said packages and toward said pre-load position and that are extensible for moving into said pre-load position.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said load chute is inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal of at least 30* for retaining said packages properly oriented.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said load chute is inclined at said angle of about 45*.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are provided: a plurality of said chutes in accordance with element A.; diverter means for diverting said packages sequentially into ones of said plurality of chutes; first change means for changing said diverter means into its next sequential position; and said plurality of switch means include a plurality of chute-monitoring switch means disposed to monitor each said chute; said chute-monitoring switch means being connected with said first change means such that said diverter means is moved to its next sequential position responsive to passage of a package down the chute being monitored by the respective chute-monitoring switch means, the last chute-monitoring switch means being connected with said gate moving means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein counter means is provided for counting and for signalling when a predetermined number of packages have been emplaced in said receiver.

Claim 11

Apparatus for semi-automatically packing packages being supplied by automatic packaging apparatus at a rapid rate, comprising: a. at least one chute; said chute being upstanding such that gravity will effect movement of said packages longitudinally thereof and having an entry path on top; b. gate means for accumulating a series of at least one package from said at least one chute; said gate means having a gate moving means for moving said gate from beneath said series caught thereon, referred to as being moved to an open position, and for moving said gate into position beneath the bottom end of said at least one chute to receive a next series from said at least one chute, referred to as being moved to a closed position; c. means for effecting moving of said gate means into its respective open and closed positions; said means being drivingly connected with said gate moving means and responsively monitoring for passage of a package such that said gate moving means moves said gate means into its open position after passage of a package down said chute; d. receiver means for receiving said packages from said gate means; said receiver means being positioned beneath said gate means and such that said packages are retained at a desired position in which they are emplaced into said receiver means; said receiver means comprising a load chute that is inclined at an angle sufficient to hold said packages in said desired position as they are moved up said load chute; e. clearance means for effecting a clearance space in said receiver means sufficient to receive the next said series from said gate means until a predetermined number of packages are emplaced in said receiver means; said clearance means comprising a ram for advancing said plurality of packages longitudinally of said load chute and a first comb having first comb teeth that are movable into and out of slots in a face of a ram for holding said packages at the position to which they are advanced by said ram when said ram is retracted away from said packages; said ram having a plurality of slots in its face adjacent said packages; said slots being dimensioned large enough to receive first and second comb teeth; f. package moving means for effecting movement of said series of said at least one package from said gate means into said receiver means in a desired position; said package moving means comprising gravity in combination with said gate moving means for moving said gate into its open position to allow the accumulated said series to fall into said load chute in front of said ram and for moving said gate means into its closed position to accumulate a next said series; and g. a package pack moving means for moving said predetermined number of packages included in a pack to make room for the next series of at least one package from said at least one chute; said package pack moving means comprising a pivotally mounted surge chute linearly aligned with said load chute and disposed adjacent the open end of said load chute so as to receive packages moved longitudinally out of the open end of said load chute; and second means comprising a second comb Having second comb teeth with free ends that are movable into and out of a pre-load position in said slots in said ram behind said predetermined number of packages and movable longitudinally of said load chute to a load position to move said packages out of the open end of said load chute and into said pivotally mounted surge chute; and second moving means for moving said free ends of said second comb teeth; said second moving means being connected with said second comb.

Claim 12

Apparatus for semi-automatically packing packages being supplied by automatic packaging apparatus at a rapid rate, comprising: a. at least one chute; said chute being upstanding such that gravity will effect movement of said packages longitudinally thereof and having an entry path on top; b. gate means for accumulating a series of at least one package from said at least one chute; said gate means having a gate moving means for moving said gate from beneath said series caught thereon, referred to as being moved to an open position, and for moving said gate into position beneath the bottom end of said at least one chute to receive a next series from said at least one chute, referred to as being moved to a closed position; c. means for effecting moving of said gate means into its respective open and closed positions; said means being drivingly connected with said gate moving means and responsively monitoring for passage of a package such that said gate moving means moves said gate means into its open position after passage of a package down said chute; d. receiver means for receiving said packages from said gate means; said receiver means being positioned beneath said gate means and such that said packages are retained at a desired position in which they are emplaced into said receiver means; said receiver means comprising a load chute that is inclined at an angle sufficient to hold said packages in said desired position as they are moved up said load chute; e. clearance means for effecting a clearance space in said receiver means sufficient to receive the next said series from said gate means until a predetermined number of packages are emplaced in said receiver means; said clearance means comprising a ram for advancing said plurality of packages longitudinally of said load chute and a first comb having first comb teeth that are movable into and out of slots in a face of a ram for holding said packages at the position to which they are advanced by said ram when said ram is retracted away from said packages; said ram having a plurality of slots in its face adjacent said packages; said slots being dimensioned large enough to receive first and second comb teeth; f. package moving means for effecting movement of said series of said at least one package from said gate means into said receiver means in a desired position; said package moving means comprising gravity in combination with said gate moving means for moving said gate into its open position to allow the accumulated said series to fall into said load chute in front of said ram and for moving said gate means into its closed position to accumulate a next said series; and g. a package pack moving means for moving said predetermined number of packages included in a pack to make room for the next series of at least one package from said at least one chute; said package pack moving means comprising a pivotally mounted surge chute linearly aligned with said load chute and disposed adjacent the open end of said load chute so as to receive packages moved longitudinally out of the open end of said load chute; and second means comprising a second comb Having second comb teeth with free ends that are movable into and out of a pre-load position in said slots in said ram behind said predetermined number of packages and movable longitudinally of said load chute to a load position to move said packages out of the open end of said load chute and into said pivotally mounted surge chute; and second moving means for moving said free ends of said second comb teeth; said second moving means being connected with said second comb.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein there are provided: a plurality of said chutes in accordance with element a.; diverter means for diverting said packages sequentially into ones of said plurality of chutes; and first change means for changing said diverter means into its next sequential position.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein counter means is provided for counting and for signalling when a predetermined number of packages have been emplaced in said receiver means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said slots in the face of said ram are dimensioned large enough to receive both said first and second comb teeth simultaneously.