Patent ID: 6807792
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A closure feed system for use on an associated form, fill and seal packaging machine for feeding and singulating closures from a closure storage region to a closure applicator, the feed system comprising:a chute for conveying the closures from the storage region to the applicator, the chute defining a conveyance path; and a singulator, the singulator including upper and lower reciprocating members, the members configured for alternatingly reciprocating into and out of the conveyance path, only one of the upper and lower members including a separating element having an upper surface and a lower surface, one of the upper and lower surface being formed at an incline relative to the other of the surfaces such that a distance between the upper and lower surfaces increases as the member moves into the conveyance path, wherein the separating element is a wedge having a curved head portion including a concavity formed therein, and wherein the wedge is configured for insertion between adjacent closures and wherein the upper and lower surfaces are configured to contact the adjacent closures to separate the adjacent closures from one another.