Patent ID: 6438928
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A device for use in packaging objects having a length and width into boxes and for use in combination with a conveyor device upon which the objects to be boxed are placed, the conveyor device having a terminal end, the boxing device being placed adjacent to the terminal end of the conveying device, the boxing device comprising:a trapdoor unit having at least two co-planar trays each having inside facing edges, the trapdoor unit having a front and a rear, the at least two trays being adapted to move between a closed position wherein the facing edges are in close contact with each other, and an opened position wherein the trays remain co-planar with the facing edges of the two trays separated from each other by a distance, the at least two trays being adapted to be rapidly and simultaneously moved apart from the closed position to the opened position in a sliding manner, and the trapdoor further being moveable between a first orientation wherein the two trays are on a plane that is slanted downwardly from the front to the rear, and a second orientation wherein the two trays are generally horizontal; a box conveying unit having a means to move boxes from a first position spaced away from underneath the trays of the trapdoor unit to a second position that is aligned below the horizontally positioned trays of the trapdoor unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the trapdoor unit and the box conveying unit.