Patent ID: 6578344
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
An apparatus for charging tubular canisters in an item feeding direction with a stack of face-to-face oriented items, the items being stacked such that their faces are perpendicular to the feeding direction, and a direction of stacking is parallel to the feeding direction, the apparatus comprising:(a) a conveyor for supporting and positioning an item stack thereon; (b) a canister holder for supporting and positioning a canister; said canister holder adjoining an outlet end of said conveyor; (c) means for advancing the item stack in the feeding direction from the conveyor into the canister positioned by said canister holder; (d) an elongated guide member movable parallel to said feeding direction for introduction into and withdrawal from the canister positioned by said canister holder; said elongated guide member having a frontal end that is a leading end when the elongated guide member is introduced into the canister in said feeding direction; (e) a holding plate supported at said frontal end of said guide member and being pivotal into a first position in which it projects into a feed path of the item stack for engaging a leading item of the item stack and into a second position in which it is clear of said feed path, wherein said guide member comprises two parallel-spaced guide bars extending on either side of said feed path parallel to said feeding direction for straddling the item stack located in said feed path; the frontal end of the guide member being a frontal end of each guide bar; each guide bar carrying, at the frontal end thereof, a respective said holding plate; and (f) drive means for moving said guide member parallel to said feeding direction and for rotating said plate into said first and second positions.