U.S. patent application number 17/542954 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-24 for packaging machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Graphic Packaging International, LLC. Invention is credited to Pete Karst.
Application Number | 20220089380 17/542954 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220089380 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Karst; Pete |
March 24, 2022 |
Packaging Machine
Abstract
A packaging machine includes a series of stations or assemblies,
including a carton feeding system and a product conveyor that
receives a series of articles or products at a first, upstream or
intake end of the packaging machine. The products generally can be
grouped into a series of products, such as for forming six-packs,
four-packs or other package configurations, and will be wrapped by
or loaded into a series of carton blanks, after which the loaded
cartons will be moved through a discharge station. The discharge
station meters the loaded cartons or packages for discharge from
the packaging machine.
Inventors: |
Karst; Pete; (Canton,
GA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Graphic Packaging International, LLC |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/542954 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16372558 |
Apr 2, 2019 |
11225384 |
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17542954 |
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62653079 |
Apr 5, 2018 |
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International
Class: |
B65G 47/34 20060101
B65G047/34; B65B 41/02 20060101 B65B041/02; B65B 43/14 20060101
B65B043/14; B65B 11/00 20060101 B65B011/00; B65B 61/28 20060101
B65B061/28; B65B 5/06 20060101 B65B005/06 |
Claims
1. A method of packaging products, comprising: moving a series of
products along a path of travel through a packaging machine; moving
a series cartons toward registration with the products moving along
the product conveyor; packaging groups of products within the
cartons to form product packages; moving the product packages
substantially in a line into a discharge station; as the product
packages are moved into the discharge station, engaging the line of
product packages with drive belts and accelerating movement of each
of the product packages forwardly to create a desired separation
between successive product packages; engaging the product packages
with pusher lugs at spaced locations and urging the product
packages toward a discharge end of the discharge station; and
discharging the spaced product packages.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the product packages into
the discharge station comprises feeding the product packages in a
line in substantially end-to-end alignment into the discharge
station.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein engaging the product packages
with drive belts and accelerating the product packages comprises
engaging each of the product packages in a compressive engagement
between a pair of spaced drive belts and moving each of the product
packages away from the line of product packages at a rate
substantially matching a rate of a downstream discharge conveyor to
create the desired separation.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the product packages
with pusher lugs comprises pivoting the pusher lugs into engagement
with endmost products of the product packages and maintaining the
pusher lugs in bearing engagement with the product packages as the
product packages are moved toward the discharge end of the
discharge station.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the product packages
with pusher lugs at spaced locations comprises moving vertically
spaced pairs of pusher lugs at a rate substantially matching a rate
of movement of the product packages by the drive belts and into
engagement with endmost products on opposites sides of the product
packages adjacent upper and bottom portions thereof.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the spaced product
packages comprises releasing the product packages from the
discharge station to a divider station.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the product packages are released
with a spacing between successively released product packages
substantially matching a pitch of a conveyor of the divider
station.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein engaging the product packages
with pusher lugs comprises pivoting pairs of pusher lugs into
engagement with the endmost products of the product packages after
the product packages have been separated from the line of product
packages by the drive belts, and pivoting the pusher lugs away from
the product packages upon discharge of the product packages from
the discharge station.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 16/372,558, filed on Apr. 2, 2019, which claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/653,079,
filed on Apr. 5, 2018.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] The disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
16/372,558, filed on Apr. 2, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/653,079, filed on Apr. 5, 2018, are hereby
incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein
in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a packaging machine, and in
particular, to packaging machines that incorporate discharge
assemblies or systems or stations for controlling the discharge of
product packages from the packaging machines.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Packaging machines that place products, such as cans,
bottles and other products into cartons, such as paperboard
cartons, are well known. These packaging machines include, but are
not limited to, those which place articles or products into a
wrap-type cartons, basket-type cartons or sleeve-type cartons. One
example of a packaging machine that packages articles, such as cans
or bottles into a wrap-type carton is the Marksman.RTM. line of
machines, including the Marksman.RTM. MM2 brand machine
manufactured by Graphic Packaging International, LLC. Other types
of packaging machines are especially adapted to package products
into sleeve-type or fully enclosed cartons and basket-type cartons,
including Graphic Packaging International, LLC's Quikflex.RTM. and
Autoflex.RTM. brand machines. Many of these machines include one or
more elongate conveyor systems that can extend from a carton blank
feeder positioned at a first end or upstream section, to a second
end or downstream section where the filled cartons or packs are
discharged. The conveyor moves the products or articles to be
packaged, such as bottles or cans, and the cartons or carton blanks
that are filled with such products through various units or
stations that incorporate the necessary components that perform
required functions to form completed packages that will be
discharged from a downstream or discharge end of the packaging
machine.
[0005] For example, in packaging machines designed to process
wrap-type cartons, the products can be delivered to the machine in
a mass, and moved to an article or product selection station where
they are grouped into desired configurations, such as a 2 by 3
article group, a 2 by 2 group, or a 2 by 4 group of articles. Other
group configurations are possible. In addition, a carton blank
feeder will deliver carton blanks, generally one at a time, to a
station that wraps the blank around a formed article group, such as
a group of six articles (a "6 pack") arranged in a 2.times.3
configuration. These wrap-type carton blanks also can have a
locking assembly, typically tabs and either slits or holes, that
cooperate or engage with one another on opposite bottom edges to
close the wrap-type carton blank around the article group. After
the carton blanks are wrapped around the article group, the group
is held securely within the now formed and filled carton or
pack.
[0006] As used herein the term "carton blank" refers to either a
flat blank or to a carton blank that has been partially
constructed, for example by gluing, especially for sleeve-type
carton blanks. The term "carton" or "pack" refers to a carton blank
that has been fully assembled either around or that receives and/or
otherwise contains the articles. Carton blanks adapted to wrap
around an article group and machine elements to accomplish that are
well known, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,673,536 and 6,550,608,
both owned by Graphic Packaging International, LLC, the present
owner of the inventions disclosed herein, and both of which are
incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
[0007] After the completed product packages are formed, the
packages generally are discharged from the packaging machine, for
example, being passed to a divider station where the packages can
be separated into multiple lanes, and also can be turned or
reoriented as needed. In many cases, the packages are come out of
the packaging or wrapping stations of the packaging machine in a
substantially close or abutting arrangement station, such that gaps
need to be created therebetween to allow the packaged to be divided
into separate lanes. One problem is that to create such gaps or
separation, the leading products generally must be accelerated or
moved at different speeds, typically by engaging the products with
faster moving lugs, which can cause damage such as forming dents in
cans, or possibly breakage with more fragile products.
[0008] Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a
packaging machine/system that addresses the foregoing and other
related and unrelated problems in the art.
SUMMARY
[0009] Briefly described, the present invention generally relates
to packaging machines for loading or application of cartons or
carton blanks with/to products/articles or groups of
products/articles. In one aspect, the packaging machine can include
a series of stations or assemblies, including a carton feeding
system and a product conveyor that receives a series of articles or
products at a first, upstream or intake end of the packaging
machine. The products generally can be grouped into a series of
products, such as for forming six-packs, four-packs or other
package configurations, and loaded or placed into flights of the
product conveyor for movement through the packaging machine. An
overhead lug conveyor can be located downstream from the carton
feeding system and will receive and guide the carton blanks from
the carton feeder and into registration with the groups of
products. Thereafter, the product groups, with the carton blanks
applied thereto, will be moved though one or more downstream
folding and wrapping or packaging assemblies or stations of the
packaging machine.
[0010] As the groups of products pass through the folding and
wrapping station(s), the cartons/blanks will be folded thereabout
and locking tabs or other locking features of the cartons/blanks
can be engaged to substantially secure the cartons/blanks
thereabout. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments,
adhesive applicators also could be provided along the path of
travel of the cartons/blanks and articles to apply and adhesive to
help secure the panels and/or flaps of the cartons/blanks in a
locked configuration around the articles. The completed cartons,
packs or packages then will be passed through a discharge station,
which can include drive or compression belts and a metering lug
assembly that controls the release/discharge of the completed
packages to a divider station, where the packages can be divided
into lanes and/or turned as needed to help reorient the packages
for discharge from the packaging machine.
[0011] The discharge station generally will be positioned
downstream from the packaging and wrapping station(s), and will
receive the completed product packages, with the packages typically
moving in a line, in substantially end-to-end abutment. The
packages initially are received between spaced compression or drive
belts that are moving at a different rate from the rate of movement
of the incoming packages. The compression or drive belts begin the
acceleration of the packages to create a spacing or pitch between
the packages that substantially matches a pitch or rate of the
downstream divider conveyor. Thereafter, the packages are engaged
by pairs of pusher lugs driven by lug chains or belts of the
metering assembly at a rate substantially matching the rate of
movement of the drive belts and packages moving therewith.
[0012] The pusher lugs generally will be vertically spaced apart
and located so as to strategically engage the endmost products of
each package at locations where the products typically are
strongest, i.e. for cans, that generally can be close to the bottom
and close to the top rim. The spaced engagement of pusher lugs
against the products/packages will help control the further
movement and acceleration of the packages through the discharge
station and onto a conveyor of the divider station, while generally
minimizing potential damage thereto.
[0013] The combined engagement of the packages by the drive belts
and spaced pusher lugs enables the packages to be smoothly
accelerated in a controlled manner sufficient to create the desired
gaps or spacing's therebetween within a short span or space between
their release from the packaging or wrapping station and their
subsequent metered discharge into the divider station. In addition,
the combined engagement of the packages with the drive belts and
pusher lugs cooperatively moving at substantially the same speed
can help extend the life of the drive belts by avoiding pulling of
the packages away from the belts by the pusher lugs. The drive
belts also can be laterally adjustable to take-up or accommodate
for increased give or some expansion of the drive belts over
extended use, to further help extend the life of the drive
belts.
[0014] Various objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a
review of the following detailed description, when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of
a packaging machine with a discharge system or station according to
the principles of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a plan view of the packaging machine of FIG.
1A.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a discharge station
according to the principles of the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 3A-3B are further perspective views of the discharge
station of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a bottom view, taken in perspective, of the
discharge station of FIGS. 2-3B, showing separation of packages
therein.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an end view, taken in perspective, showing
engagement of packages by the drive belts and pusher lugs of the
discharge station of FIGS. 2-4.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the discharge station of FIGS.
2-5.
[0022] Embodiments of the invention and the various features
thereof are explained below in detail with reference to
non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that
various features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily
drawn to scale, and that features of one embodiment may be employed
with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even
if not explicitly stated herein. Those skilled in the art will thus
appreciate and understand that, according to common practice, the
dimensions of various features and elements of the drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of
the present disclosure described herein. In addition, descriptions
of certain components and processing techniques may be omitted so
as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments and/or features of
the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to
facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be
practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to
practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the
examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended
claims and applicable law.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals
indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1A-1B
illustrate aspects of a packaging machine 5 with a discharge
station or system 10 according to the principles of the present
invention. The packaging machine 5 is illustrated as feeding and
applying flat-blank, wrap style cartons C (FIG. 1A) selected or
picked from a stacks of cartons/blanks C contained within a
magazine 11, individually, into registration with articles/products
or groups or articles/products P moving along a product conveyor 13
of the packaging machine 5 or similar apparatus. The discharge
system 10 further enables the velocity or speed of the completed or
finished product packages 12 (FIGS. 2-6) to be controlled so that
the packages can be smoothly discharged from the packaging machine
and/or transitioned, such as to a downstream divider station 15,
with potential damage to the products or mis-feeding thereof being
substantially minimized, and which can further help extend the
useful life of components of the discharge station, such as
compression belts.
[0024] The packaging machine 5 (FIGS. 1A-1B) generally will include
an elongated frame 14 with a first, upstream or input end 16 and a
second, downstream or output end 17. A series of stations or
assemblies, including a carton feeding system 18, the product
conveyor 13, and one or more wrapping or packaging stations 19 will
be provided along the frame and path of travel 21 of the products
through the packaging machine. By way of example only, the wrapping
or packaging stations can include a series of carton folding
elements or mechanisms 22 and tucking mechanisms 23 for securing
the ends of the cartons/blanks about their associated products or
groups of products P, to form completed cartons. Examples of such
wrapping or packaging stations are found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
9,776,750 and 6,550,608, the disclosures of which are incorporated
by reference as if set forth fully herein; and, in addition or as a
further alternative, adhesive applicators also could be provided
for applying an adhesive material to help attach the ends of the
carton blanks as needed. The packaging machine 5 also will include
the discharge station 10 located downstream from the wrapping or
packaging station(s), and can have a turner/divider station or
assembly 15 between the discharge station 10 and the output end 17
of the packaging machine, as indicated in FIGS. 1A-1B. An example
of a turner/divider station can be found in U.S. Pat. No.
7,503,447, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as
if set forth fully herein.
[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2, the carton feeding system
18 will be located adjacent the input or upstream end of the frame
of the packaging machine, and generally includes a frame 26
supporting the operative elements thereof, including a picking
assembly 27, carton guide or chute 28 and lugged feeder chains. The
magazine 11 generally is located upstream from the carton feeding
system, and includes a conveyor 29 along which stacks of cartons C
(FIG. 1A) are supported and moved for feeding into the packaging
machine by the carton feeding system. The carton feeding system
picks and feeds the carton blanks individually from the magazine
and along a path of travel toward registration with the products P
moving along the product conveyor 13.
[0026] Typically, the products will be engaged by the carton
blanks, which will be wrapped thereabout to form a product pack or
package of a selected size and/or configuration. For example, as
indicated in FIGS. 2-6, in one aspect, the articles/products P
being packaged can include cans or bottles arranged in groups of
six cans, i.e. to form a 6-pack. It will, however, be understood
that a variety of other products also can be packaged, without
departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the
products further can be grouped and packaged in various ways, for
example, into groups of 4, 6, 8, 12, etc. for forming 4 packs, 6
packs, 8 packs, or any other size or configuration packages.
[0027] An overhead lug conveyor 30 can be mounted downstream from
the carton feeding system, as indicated in FIGS. 1A-1B. The
overhead lug conveyor will include a series of overhead lugs that
are moved into contact with the carton blanks, generally taking
over the pushing/driving movement of the cartons/blanks from the
lugs of the carton feeding system. The lugs of the overhead lug
conveyor will move each of the carton blanks into registration with
an associated or corresponding group of products moving along the
product conveyor 13.
[0028] Thereafter, the overhead lug conveyor will continue to move
the carton blanks in registration with and applied to corresponding
or associated products or product groups, as the associated or
corresponding products or product groups are moved by the product
conveyor into and through the downstream packaging and/or wrapping
station(s) 19. As the products and carton blanks move through the
product packaging and/or wrapping station(s), the sides of the
carton blanks can be folded or wrapped about the products and the
ends of the carton blanks can be secured together, such as by
moving the carton blanks along rails that urge/direct the sides of
the carton blanks to a folded configuration, and further by moving
locking tabs of the carton blanks into engagement. Once the product
packages 12 (FIGS. 2-6) are completed or formed, they can be passed
moved into and along a guide channel 32 which directs the packages
into the discharge station 10.
[0029] As indicated in FIG. 1B, the discharge station 10 has a
frame 50 and is located along the product conveyor 13 downstream
from the wrapping or packaging station(s) 19, and receives the
wrapped or substantially completed packages 12 (FIG. 2) at an input
or upstream end 51. The packages 12 generally are received at the
upstream or input end 51 of the discharge station 10 in a line,
with the packages typically being in substantially end-to-end
abutment, and as they are passed through the discharge station,
gaps or spacings 52 of a desired amount or size will be formed in
the line of packages prior to the packages being discharged from a
downstream or output end 53 of the discharge station. As indicated
in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the packages generally will be discharged to
one or more discharge conveyor(s) 54 of the divider station 15,
along which the packages can be divided into a series of lanes
and/or turned or reoriented. The gaps or separations 52 between the
products further will be formed at a pitch that substantially
matches the pitch of the divider station conveyor 54 so as to
enable the packages to be individually received and separated into
the lanes of the divider station and/or reoriented or turned as
needed by the divider station.
[0030] As indicated in FIGS. 2-5, the frame 50 of the discharge
station 10 generally can be adjustably mounted on the frame of the
packaging machine. The frame 50 of the discharge station also will
include a bed plate 56 that extends from the input or upstream end
51 through the discharge station and to its downstream or discharge
end 53. The bed plate typically will have a smooth, non-stick
surface 59 on which the packages are received and moved along a
path of travel 58 through the discharge station as the gaps or
spacings 52 are formed therebetween.
[0031] As the packages 12 enter the discharge station 10, the
packages generally are engaged by a pair of drive belts 60
positioned along each side of the path of travel 58 of the packages
12 through the discharge station. The drive belts can be sized and
located so as to engage selected portions along the height of each
of the packages. The drive belts 60 further can be made from a
non-skid material, such as a rubberized or other, similar material,
that enables the belts to substantially engage the sides of the
packages without slipping and without marking the sides of the
packages. The drive belts 60 generally will be engaged against the
sides of the packages in a compressive or bearing engagement, with
the drive belts engaging the sides of the packages with sufficient
force to provide a frictional engagement as necessary for urging or
moving the packages forwardly and along the bed plate 56, without
unduly compressing or damaging the products contained within the
packages, as indicated in, for example, FIG. 6.
[0032] As FIGS. 2-5 illustrate, the drive belts 60 generally will
be extended about a series of sprockets or pulleys 61, with at
least one of the sprockets or gears 61 being driven such as by a
motor or other drive so as to drive the drive belts along a path of
travel indicated by arrows 62. For example, at least one drive
sprocket for each of the drive belts can be driven by a motor so
that the drive belts are driven in a timed, cooperative
relationship; or alternatively, both of the belts can be drive by a
single motor linked to their drive sprockets. As still a further
alternative, the drive sprockets for the drive belts also could be
linked to and/or driven by the drive system for the product
conveyor, such as by gears, belts or other connections.
[0033] In addition, the drive belts 60 and the pulleys 61 about
which they are extended can be mounted on moveable supports such as
support plates 63 of the discharge station frame 50. As indicated
in FIGS. 3B and 5, the support plates 63 can include bearing guides
or slide brackets 64 that engage tracks 66 of the discharge station
frame. A hand wheel or other, similar adjustment mechanism 67 also
can be provided to control/effect the sliding movement of the
support plates 63, and thus the drive belts 60 being carried
therewith, toward and away from the path of travel 58 of the
packages 12 through the discharge station. As a result, the
positioning of the drive belts 60 can be individually adjusted with
respect to the packages as needed to accommodate varying size or
width packages. In addition, as the drive belts begin to show signs
of wear or increased give or stretch during use and over their
life, the drive belts can be adjusted or moved inwardly toward the
path of travel of the packages as needed to help maintain
sufficient frictional engagement therewith, and thus allow the
useful life of the belts to be extended.
[0034] As the packages are engaged by the drive belts, the drive
belts move or accelerate the packages forwardly along the bed plate
56 so as to create the desired gaps or spacings 52 between the
engaged packages and the line of packages coming into the discharge
station, as generally indicated in, for example, FIGS. 3A and 3B.
Thereafter, the separated packages will be engaged by a metering
assembly or section 70 of the discharge station 10 that
meters/feeds the packages into the divider station.
[0035] As indicated in FIGS. 3A-5, the metering assembly 70
includes a series of pusher lugs 71 that can be mounted on chains
or belts 72 that carry the pusher lugs 71 along the path of travel
of the packages 12, and in a substantially elliptical movement. The
pusher chains 72 generally can be extended about drive gears or
sprockets 73 that can be driven by one or more motors. The pitch or
spacing of the pusher lugs along their drive chains also generally
will be set according to the size of the package moving through the
discharge station, for example, being set for a 4-pack, 6-pack,
8-pack, etc. and to accommodate or further help define a pitch or
spacing between the packages by the discharge station that
substantially matches the pitch of the downstream divider station
or discharge conveyor(s) 54.
[0036] Each of the pusher lugs 71 (FIGS. 3A-3B and 5) generally
includes a body 75 having a forward, pushing edge or surface 76 and
a cam portion or tab 77 along the upper surface thereof. The cam
portions of each of the pusher lugs generally will engage and ride
along cam tracks 78, as indicated in FIG. 3B, that cause the pusher
lugs to be pivoted into engagement with the endmost products P at
the back ends of the packages 12, e.g., the endmost products on
opposite sides of the product packages, and maintain the pusher
lugs in bearing or pushing engagement therewith until the packages
reach the discharge end 53 of the discharge station. At that point,
the cam portions 77 of the pusher lugs generally will be disengaged
from their cam tracks 78, allowing the pusher lugs to be released
from driving and/or pushing engagement with the products and to
thereafter rotate away and out of contact with the
products/packages as the packages are released to the divider
station.
[0037] As further generally indicated in FIGS. 2-3B and 5, the
pusher lugs 71 of the metering assembly 70 will be arranged in
vertically spaced pairs or sets of pusher lugs that are
strategically spaced and/or located so as to engage the endmost
products of the packages at locations that typically are stronger
and/or more resistant to damage. For example, for 12-ounce cans
such as shown in the figures, the pusher lugs can be spaced/located
and configured to engage the rearmost cans of each package adjacent
an upper rim portion and a bottom portion of each of the cans (i.e.
where the cans typically are stronger and/or more resistant to
contact), as opposed to engaging the cans substantially along a
middle or intermediate portion between the two ends thereof, where
the bodies of the cans typically are weaker and/or more susceptible
to being dented or otherwise damaged by contact. The pusher lugs 71
further will be spaced apart so as to avoid contact or engagement
of the drive belts with the pusher lugs as the pusher lugs engage
and take over the forward movement of the packages along the bed
plate from the drive belts. In addition, different size or spacings
of the pusher lugs also can be provided, as well as different size
drive belts, depending upon the sizes and configurations of the
product packages moving through the packaging machine.
[0038] The spaced product packages thereafter will be individually
discharged from the discharge station 10 in a metered fashion with
the desired pitch or gap defined between each of the successively
released or discharged packages substantially matched to the pitch
of the divider station. As a result, the product packages are
released individually and at a spacing or pitch that substantially
matches the pitch of the downstream divider station conveyor to
enable the product packages to be smoothly and easily segregated or
divided into differing lanes as needed, and turned or reoriented if
needed as well, for release from the packaging machine.
[0039] The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and
describes various embodiments. As various changes can be made to
the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope
of the present invention as disclosed herein, it is intended that
all matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present
disclosure shall be construed to cover various modifications,
combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments
that are within the scope of the claims of this application.
[0040] Additionally, while the disclosure shows and describes
selected embodiments of the present invention, the invention is
capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and
environments, and is capable of undergoing a variety of changes or
modifications than the scope of the inventive concepts as expressed
herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the
skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, various
features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively
interchanged and applied to the other illustrated and
non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.
* * * * *