Patent ID: 7631472

Claim:
An integrated barrel loader/confiner apparatus useful in a cartoning system for shaping and inserting a product into a carton, comprising: a first endless cam track defining a path of movement for a confiner element to conform a conformable product; a plurality of confiner element endlessly driven along said first cam track; a second endless cam track defining a path of movement for a pusher element to drive a conformed product into a carton; a plurality of pusher element endlessly driven along said second cam track; a carriage carrying a confiner element and a pusher element; and an endless chain driving said carriage; wherein said carriage further comprises: a first carriage track defining a path along which said confiner element travels in a cross machine direction from a retracted position outwardly to an extended position; a confiner cam follower attached to said confiner element slidably mounting said confiner element to said first carriage track; a confiner cam attached to said confiner cam follower and cooperating with said first cam track to drive said confiner element along said first cam track, wherein said confiner element travels from said retracted position outwardly to said extended position along said first carriage track as said confiner cam travels along said first cam track; a second carriage track parallel to said first carriage track defining a path along which said pusher element travels in a cross machine direction from a retracted position outwardly to an extended position; a pusher cam follower attached to said pusher element slidably mounting said pusher element to said second carriage track; and a pusher cam attached to said pusher cam follower and cooperating with said second cam track to drive said pusher element along said second cam track, wherein said pusher element travels from said retracted position outwardly to said extended position along said second carriage track as said pusher cam travels along said second cam track.