Conveyor and packaging apparatus and packaging conveyance and packaging methods
US6478139B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA21C15/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a conveyor and packaging apparatus, as well as packaging conveyance and packaging methods for irregularly shaped articles and packages, such as for packaged food products as in the case of conical packages for ice cream confections and the like. In the present invention, pairs of manufactured articles having irregular profiles are moved along a conveyor system. Each of a given pair of articles moves along an independent conveyor path toward a predetermined destination. Each article may undergo a change in alignment along its path such that it is in a preferred orientation upon leaving the conveyor system. In a preferred embodiment, pairs of conical articles are oriented with the narrow ends in opposing directions (interlaced) upon leaving the system so as to minimize the amount of space required for packaging of the two articles when placed adjacent one another.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.