Method and apparatus for counting and loading items, particularly cookies, into packages and the like
US4044885A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 1976 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B23/14
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, cookies are counted and grouped and are guided and ride along support rails of a drop gate. The support rails are moved to one side during a dwell in the travel of a transfer conveyor, in a manner such that a group of cookies from one row and another group of cookies from another row drop through drop chutes of a drop chute assembly into an accumulator at the lower portion of the drop chute assembly, in longitudinal alignment along the centerline of the machine. There are actually two such drop chute assemblies, and the remaining group of cookies from each of the two rows drop in the same manner into the accumulator at the lower portion of the second drop chute assembly. After the groups of cookies have dropped into the accumulators of the drop chute assemblies, the accumulators operate respectively to longitudinally advance the one group of cookies into substantially abutting longitudinal relationship with the other group of cookies. Accordingly, at this time, there is effectively one group of cookies in each of the respective accumulators, consisting of a combined group of cookies which may be, for example, a combined group of chocolate a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.