Patent ID: 6694703
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
Apparatus for confining discrete substantially block-shaped commodities in discrete deformable blanks having a plurality of mutually foldable sections in the form of panels and flaps, comprising:means for advancing successive commodities of a series of commodities along a first path to an assembling station; means for conveying successive blanks of a series of blanks to said assembling station in a predetermined direction and along a second path so that each blank reaching said assembling station assumes a predetermined position of alignment with a commodity at said station; means for intermittently advancing successive commodities and aligned blanks along a third path from said assembling station to a plurality of successive additional stations; and means for draping said blanks around the aligned commodities, including means for folding at least some of said sections relative to each other in fewer than four stages each of which is carried out at a different one of said stations, wherein said stations of said plurality of successive additional stations include a first additional station and a second additional station, said draping means being provided at said assembling station and said first additional station and further comprising means for evacuating successive commodities and the respective draped blanks from said third path at said second additional station and means for introducing successive blanks into said second path at a further station located ahead of said assembling station as seen counter to said predetermined direction, and said means for advancing successive commodities to said assembling station comprises a first turntable indexible about a first vertical axis, said means for conveying successive blanks to said assembling station comprising a second turntable indexible about a second vertical axis and being overlapped by said first turntable at said assembling station, said second turntable defining said second and said third paths, wherein said first turntable has first pockets for advancement of discrete commodities to said assembling station and said second turntable has second pockets for reception of discrete commodities from first pockets at said assembling station, said second pockets having outlets for evacuation of commodities and the respective draped blanks by said evacuating means at said second additional station, wherein said second turntable has at least one platform for reception of blanks at said further station and for conveying the thus received blanks to said assembling station, and wherein said draping means comprises at least one pusher disposed at said assembling station and movable vertically upwardly to move at least one first section of the blank at said assembling station against the commodity in the first pocket at said assembling station, and a folding member movable vertically with and relative to said at least one pusher to fold at least one second section of the blank at said assembling station relative to the commodity in the first pocket at said assembling station.