Continuous motion tray type packaging machine

Claim 1

A continuous motion tray forming and product loading machine comprising: a plurality of side-by-side individual lane conveyors for advancing cylindrical articles in the downstream direction in end-to-end relationship and in side-by-side rows, each said lane conveyor including a single chain, and links of said chain carrying plates that support the articles in a horizontal plane, first article engaging pin means for slowing the articles to create a space between adjacent rows, said individual lane conveyors continuously moving beneath the spaced rows of articles and beyond the downstream end of said article engaging pin means, second means for engaging groups of article rows so separated by said first article engaging pin means for handling groups downstream of said spaced rows and downstream of said first article engaging pin means, said individual lane conveyors also moving the rows of articles continuously through and at least to the downstream end of said second means, said first article engaging pin means comprising laterally spaced pin conveyor chains, a plurality of pin supporting flights supported by said laterally spaced chains, certain of said flights having cam follower rollers, said flights being pivotably moveable of said flights relative to said chain, camming means for said cam rollers, said camming means provided subadjacent to said horizontal plane, said camming means being movable longitudinally relative to the path of said pin conveyor chains, and adjustment means for moving said camming means to vary the angle at which said pins penetrate said horizontal plane to accommodate articles of different body diameter, and means defining a load station and means for feeding tray blanks to the lower station from a position below said horizontal plane, and pocket defining conveyor means for moving the tray blanks and article groups out of the load station.