Carton loading apparatus

Claim 2

Means to load plural elements into a container, including the combination of a single continuously moving conveyor, means to deposit a line of said elements for continuous movement in single file on and toward one end of the conveyor, means to support the container in position to receive the elements as they reach and fall from said end of the conveyor, guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted To produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, and indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace a following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, in which the guides comprise elongate pivotal elements.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1, in which the indexer means have provision to reverse the lateral direction of the guides automatically after reaching a lateral limit position.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1, in which the indexer means include means for urging the guides in a direction lateral to the conveyor and escapement means having plural stop positions thereon for arresting the guides.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 1, in which the indexer means include a reversible fluid pressure actuated cylinder having a piston, a member having connections to the piston and guides, and escapement means having plural stop positions thereon for arresting said member.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5, in which the indexer includes limit means operable by said member in positions laterally outside of the stop positions to reverse the fluid connections to the cylinder.

Claim 8

Means to load plural elements moving in single file on a conveyor into a container located beneath an end thereof, including the combination of guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted to produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace the following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor, a container support, and means to rock the support periodically about an axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor.

Claim 9

Means to load plural elements moving in single file on a conveyor into a container located beneath an end thereof, including the combination of guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted to produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace the following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor, a container support, and means to rock the support periodically about an axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor.

Claim 10

Means to load plural elements moving in single file on a conveyor into a container located beneath an end thereof, including the combination of guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted to produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, a container support, and indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace a following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor, said indexer means including a reversible fluid pressure actuated cylinder having a piston, a member having connections to the piston and guides, escapement means having plural stop positions thereon for arresting said member, and limit means operable by said member in positions laterally outside of the stop positions to reverse the fluid connections to the cylinder and to rock the support about an axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor.

Claim 11

Means to load plural elements moving in single file on a conveyor into a container located beneath an end thereof, including the combination of guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted to produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, a container support, and indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace a following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor, said indexer means including a reversible fluid pressure actuated cylinder having a piston, a member having connections to the piston and guides, escapement means having plural stop positions thereon for arresting said member, and limit means operable by said member in positions laterally outside of the stop positions to reverse the fluid connections to the cylinder and to rock the support about an axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor.

Claim 12

Means to load plural elements moving in single file on a conveyor into a container located beneath an end thereof, including the combination of guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted to produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace a following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor, a counter connected to the detector for counting the signals, and an ejector operable by the counter upon reaching a predetermined count to eject the container.

Claim 13

Means to load plural elements moving in single file on a conveyor into a container located beneath an end thereof, including the combination of guides over the conveyor actuable to cause said elements to reach different positions laterally of the conveyor at said end thereof, a detector adapted to produce a signal upon passage of each element past a position in predetermined longitudinal relation to the conveyor, indexer means operated by a signal produced by one element to actuate the guides to displace a following element laterally of said one element at said end of the conveyor, a counter connected to the detector for counting the signals, and an ejector operable by the counter upon reaching a predetermined count to eject the container.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 7, in which the indexer means have provision to reverse the lateral direction of the guidEs and to rock the support automatically after reaching a lateral limit position.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 9, including a container support and means to rock the support periodically about an axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor, the ejector being operable to push the container from said support.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 7, in which the support is rocked to a position with the bottom of the container at an acute angle to the horizontal for receiving the elements.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 12, in which the elements fall from said end of the conveyor into the container with a flipping movement.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 13, in which the elements have sufficient longitudinal velocity upon reaching the container to slide therein until arrested by an inclined wall thereof.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 1, in which the elements fall from said end of the conveyor into the container, the detector being actuated by a falling element to produce a signal.

Claim 20

The combination according to claim 15, in which the detector is photocell-operated.

Claim 21

The combination according to claim 9, including a container support, means to rock the support about an axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor, and means operable by the counter upon reaching said predetermined count to hold the support in a position for ejection of the container, the ejector being operable to push the container from the support.