Case packer

US6105338A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• R.A Jones & Co. · US

Inventors

• Robert M. Kalany · Florence, US
• Ronald W. Schachleiter · Cincinnati, US
• John Paselsky · Stanton, US
• Robert Burkhardt · Cincinnati, US
• Sima Paunesku · Cincinnati, US
• J. Daniel Greenwell · Florence, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 9, 1998
• Grant date: Aug 22, 2000
• Expiry date: Sep 9, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B35/405
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A case packer includes a mass flow conveyor moving containers in defined lanes and lane deflectors for urging containers laterally across the conveyor into a selectively actuable metering station. Containers are selectively metered into row groups of select count and segregated by transfer guides on an underlying transfer conveyor. The row groups are directed to move rearwardly or upstream on the forward moving transfer conveyor into alignment with an open case mouth. A rotary loader has extensible can pushers maintained in parallel with open case mouth during a substantial portion of movement of the cases past the rotary loader. This maintains the rows of cans in proper alignment for final case loading and prevents undesirable "A" pattern lock up. The transfer guides and rotary loader can be adjusted and/or modified to handle varied row counts of cans. The case packer is capable of full case run out, full final run out and automatic prime so there are no partially filled cases at the beginning or at the end of a run. Case sie changeover is facilitated.