Patent ID: 6035995
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: B65G,C03B

Abstract:
Apparatus for tansferring a plurality of articles arranged in a straight line on a conveyor transversely of the conveyor into a processing unit, said apparatus comprising:a first carriage, said first carriage being movable in a horizontal plane along a first horizontal axis toward and away from the processing unit;means for supporting the first carriage at a predetermined elevation with respect to the processing unit;first linear actuator means for reciprocating said first carriage along the first axis;first motor means for driving said first linear actuator means;a second carriage, said second carriage being slidably supported on said first carriage for reciprocation with said first carriage and for reciprocation with respect to said first carriage along a second axis extending transversely of the direction of the first axis;second linear actuator means for reciprocating said second carriage along the second horizontal axis;second motor means for driving said second linear actuator means;a third carriage, said third carriage being slidably supported on said second carriage for reciprocation with said second carriage and said first carriage and for reciprocation with respect to said second carriage along a vertical axis;third linear actuator means for reciprocating said third carriage along the vertical axis;third motor means for driving said third linear actuator means; andpusher bar means carried by said third carriage for transferring the plurality of articles from the conveyor into the processing unit upon motion of said first carriage toward the processing unit;wherein at least one of said first linear actuator means, said second linear actuator means and said third linear actuator means is an enclosed linear actuator means.