Patent ID: 8074430

Claim:
A twin layer packaging machine having an upstream end and a downstream end and comprising: a selector flight movable toward the downstream end of the packaging machine and having a plurality of selector bays; an infeed section at an upstream end of the packaging machine for loading the selector bays with groups of articles to be packaged, the infeed section having an infeed belt, first guide rails defining a first set of infeed lanes for loading selector bays with first groups of articles to be packaged, and second guide rails defining a second set of infeed lanes on a same level as the first set of infeed lanes for loading selector bays with second groups of articles to be packaged; a ramped section of the selector flight downstream of the second set of infeed lanes that carries the second groups of articles to an elevated level with respect to the first groups of articles; a staging mechanism for positioning the second group of articles atop the first groups of articles in a twin layer configuration; and a loading mechanism for moving the staged groups of articles into a carton.