Method of and apparatus for transporting articles from a supplying to a receiving unit

US4934129A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Korber AG · DE

Inventors

• Gottfried Hoffman · Schwarzenbek, DE
• Olaf Buhrmester · Schwarzenbek, DE
• Herbert Bergner · Reinbek, DE
• Otto Blidung · Geesthacht, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 1988
• Grant date: Jun 19, 1990
• Expiry date: Oct 5, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B2220/16
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Packets of cigarettes are delivered from a packing machine to a cartoner in the form of arrays each of which contains a predetermined number of packets. The packing machine discharges discrete packets which are advanced to a gathering station where the packets are assembled into arrays in successive compartments of a stepwise operated first endless conveyor. The first conveyor delivers freshly accumulated arrays into the pockets of a stepwise operated second endless conveyor which delivers a series of arrays to a second station adjacent the cartoner. The second conveyor is set in motion during a first stage of each cycle of the cartoner, and a pusher transfers successive arrays from the respective pockets of the second conveyor during second stages of certain cycles of the cartoner. The frequency of cycles of the cartoner at least equals but normally exceeds of the frequency at which arrays of packets are assembled in the compartments of the first conveyor. In order to compensate for such discrepancy, the accumulation of packets into arrays at the gathering station is monitored and the second conveyor is caused to advance by a step without receiving an array from the first conveyor…