Patent ID: 6941723
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A cartoning machine for arranging conveyer-fed objects, comprising: a base carrying a rotatable shaft; a turret supported by said shaft; plural working stations carried by the turret, each working station comprising gripper heads, the gripper heads configured for i) gripping objects at feeding rows, ii) moving in rotation to take the gripped objects from feeding rows of a first conveyer to a second conveyer offset from the first conveyer, and iii) releasing the moved, gripped objects into cartons carried on the second conveyer; each of the work stations further comprising a vertical frame; and a controlled vertical mechanical means connected to each frame, each frame movable in the vertical plane under action of the controlled vertical mechanical means so that said frame can move between a lifted position and a lowered position to grip and release the objects, the vertical frame comprising a first upper horizontal supporting member movable in the horizontal plane under the action of a first controlled mechanical means, and a second lower horizontal supporting member connected to said first horizontal supporting member by a second controlled mechanical means so that the distance therebetween the first upper and second lower horizontal supporting members in the vertical plane can vary between the lifted position and lowered positions, the second lower horizontal supporting member carrying the gripper heads, each working station further comprising a controlled mechanical device located between the vertical frame and the turret, the controlled mechanical device configured for inclining the vertical frame with respect to the vertical plane by a predetermined angle to vary the inclination of gripper heads with respect to the horizontal plane.