Patent ID: 6497083
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
Product feeding apparatus for delivering items of product into pockets in a continuously travelling web, comprising a plurality of product delivery chutes positioned over paths of travel of the pockets in the web, wherein the product delivery chutes are mounted on a moving carriage, and comprising reciprocating means operatively connected to said carriage for reciprocating said carriage in forward and return strokes along a direction of travel of the web in a cycle that includes a first stage synchronizing a speed of forward travel of the carriage with a speed of the web while positioning the delivery chutes over corresponding pockets in the travelling web and simultaneously releasing the items of product, said apparatus also comprising a stationary product metering assembly separate from the carriage and comprising means for releasing a specific number of items of product from a product supply at one time into each product delivery chute when the carriage is adjacent the metering assembly, and said delivery chutes include retaining means for temporarily retaining said specific number of items of product in said delivery chutes said cycle including a second stage in which the reciprocating means returns and positions the carriage adjacent to the metering assembly enabling said carriage to collect the specific number of items of product from the metering assembly for delivery.