Patent ID: 7410045

Claim:
A packaging machine, comprising: a first conveyor for transporting articles, said first conveyor having a conveying surface that moves in a direction of flow, and said first conveying surface defining a conveyor plane; a receiving surface disposed on a first side of said first conveyor, at least a portion of said receiving surface being coincident with said conveyor plane; and a plunger assembly disposed on a second side of said first conveyor, said plunger assembly comprising at least one plunger element that travels along a closed path of a plunger circuit, wherein said at least one plunger element translates in an at least partially transverse direction while traveling along a lower portion of said plunger circuit to displace articles from said first conveyor onto said coincident portion of said receiving surface; wherein said plunger assembly is positioned above the conveyor plane to provide an access space that facilitates access to said first conveyor.