Patent ID: 7293395
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing container assemblies, comprising: a container conveyor structured and arranged to convey a series of open containers along a lower horizontal path, each container having an open top end facing upward, the container conveyor further structured and arranged to momentarily bring each container in turn to a stop at an insertion station located along the lower horizontal path; a container conveyor drive operable to drive the container conveyor; a generally vertical inserter disposed above the insertion station, the inserter having an upper end and a lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends for conducting a generally cup-shaped insert through the inserter and out the lower end into a container positioned at the insertion station; an insert conveyor disposed above the inserter and structured and arranged to convey a series of inserts along an upper horizontal path, each insert on the insert conveyor having an open end and an opposite closed end and being in an inverted orientation such that the open end of the insert faces downward; a tip-over mechanism adjacent a discharge end of the insert conveyor operable to cause a lead one of the inserts conveyed by the insert conveyor to tip over and fall into the inserter in an upright orientation; an insert conveyor drive operable to drive the insert conveyor; an insertion mechanism coupled with the inserter and structured and arranged to be controllably moved from a blocking position wherein the insertion mechanism prevents the insert from exiting through the lower end of the inserter, and a release position wherein the insert is allowed to move through the lower end of the inserter into a container at the insertion station; and a controller coupled with and coordinating operation of the container conveyor drive, the insert conveyor drive, and the insertion mechanism such that each insert delivered into the inserter is held therein until a container is moved by the container conveyor to the insertion station, whereupon the insertion mechanism allows the insert to fall into the container to form a container assembly.