Patent ID: 7028450

Claim:
An apparatus for forming stacks of disk-like objects and packing the stacks in a box comprising: a stacker for forming a plurality of stacks of the disk-like objects; a conveyor for conveying rows of the disk-like objects to said stacker; a carousel; a first transfer mechanism for transferring the plurality of stacks from said stacker to said carousel; a platform; a second transfer mechanism having at least one gripper for removing at least some of the stacks from said carousel, said second transfer mechanism comprising a frame having a top and a bottom, a plurality of stack supports on said frame bottom, a plurality of stack engaging members supported by said frame top, at least one first actuator for moving said plurality of stack engaging members toward and away from said stack supports, a second actuator for moving said frame between said carousel and said platform, and a controller for controlling said at least one first actuator and said second actuator, and said second transfer mechanism for transferring at least some of the stacks from said carousel to the platform; and a boxer for boxing the stacks of objects on the platform, said boxer comprising a box support having a box contact surface movable toward and away from said platform.