Patent ID: 6733224
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A feeder for a tube-filling machine including a sequence of stations located along a continuous conveyor provided with a plurality of tube holders, the sequence of stations adapted for filling and sealing empty packaging tubes, the continuous conveyor including a straight section adapted for handling empty packaging tubes from a magazine thereof and inserting the empty packaging tubes into the tube holders, the tube holders having a predetermined mutual spacing on the conveyor, the feeder comprising:at least one robot device having an arm capable of rotating, said arm provided with a beam arrangement, said beam arrangement including at least one elongated straight beam, wherein a plurality of tube-handling members are arranged on said straight beam; a positioning element for positioning each of said tube-handling members in a first position and moving said tube-handling members into a second position, wherein a distance between adjacent tube-handling members in said first position corresponds to a spacing between said plurality of tube holders on said conveyor and a distance in said second position corresponds to a center distance between a plurality of adjacent tubes in said magazine.