Patent ID: 6213284
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
A method of transferring articles from a first location to a second location, said method comprising:providing a first seat at one of said locations in which the articles can be introduced and removed in a given first direction,providing a second seat at the other said locations in which the articles are to be transferred,advancing one of said seats along a first path spaced from the other of said seats and with relative movement with respect thereto,engaging the articles in said first seat by a pickup member,conveying the articles by said pickup member along a path from said first seat to the second seat,operating said pickup member so that the pickup member travels continuously along its said path which includes a first portion tangent to said first path of said one seat and a second portion which is straight and extends parallel to said first direction in which said articles can be introduced and removed from said first seat,said articles being engaged by said pickup member while traveling along one of said portions of said path and being transported by said pickup member along its said path and introduced into said second seat by said pickup member at the other of said portions of said path.