Machine For Accumulating And Transferring Articles

Abstract

Packages advanced in edge-to-edge relation from a continuous motion packager are engaged by a series of transfer devices which increase the spacing between the packages while delivering the packages to sets of upper and lower accumulating holders for collection into stacks. The stacks thereafter are dropped from the accumulating holders into a series of transfer holders which subsequently are spread apart to match the pitch of package-receiving buckets on a continuous motion conveyor for delivering the stacks to an automatic cartoner. While being spread apart, the transfer holders are moved alongside the conveyor at a speed equal to that of the conveyor and, during such movement, the stacks are shifted out of the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a machine for receiving articles delivered successively into an accumulating station, for collecting the articles into groups each containing a predetermined number of articles, and for transferring the groups of articles out of the accumulating station for delivery to further operating stations. For example, the articles may be packages which are delivered into the accumulating station from an automatic packager and which, after being accumulated into groups, are transferred from the accumulating station to a conveyor operable to deliver the packages to an automatic cartoner for placing the groups of packages into display or shipping cartons. A machine which performs these general functions is disclosed in Livingston, U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,549.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and comparatively simple machine of the above character operable to receive and accumulate articles, such as packages, delivered successively into the accumulating station in a continuous and uninterrupted manner and to transfer the accumulated groups of articles from the accumulating station to a conveyor which is moved past the station with a continuous and uninterrupted motion.

A further object is to achieve the foregoing through the provision of novel accumulating apparatus which is adapted to receive and handle the individual articles being delivered successively and continuously to the accumulating station and to collect the articles into groups while at the same time delivering preceding groups of articles to the conveyor in a manner compatible with the continuous motion of the conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved transfer apparatus which is particularly well-suited for use with a continuous motion packager and which moves into positive engagement with each package being delivered from the packager, turns the package to a different position while transferring the package to the accumulating station, and is returned to pick up the next succeeding package without interfering with or interrupting the continuous advance of such package from the packager.

Still another object is to provide a transfer apparatus operable to simultaneously transfer a series of side-by-side packages from the packager to the accumulating station and to increase the spacing between the packages during the transfer so as to facilitate accumulation of the packages in the accumulating station.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a novel member which normally backs the packages when the latter are engaged by the transfer apparatus and which is selectively operable to deflect inferior packages away from the accumulating machine.

A further object is to provide in the accumulating station a series of accumulating holders for catching the packages released from the transfer apparatus and for collecting the packages into stacks, the accumulating holders being uniquely arranged not only to reduce the distance through which the packages fall continuously in free flight to form the stacks, thus promoting more even stacking, but also to hold the stacks sufficiently long to permit the delivery of preceding stacks from the accumulating station to the conveyor.

An important object of the invention is to provide new and improved transfer holders which are initially spaced closely together to receive a series of package stacks from the accumulating holders and then are automatically spread and spaced further apart with a pitch which matches the pitch of package-receiving buckets on the conveyor so that the packages may be subsequently transferred from the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets.

Another object is to automatically move the transfer holders, together with transfer mechanism for shifting the packages from the holders, alongside the path of the conveyor at a speed equal to that of the conveyor to enable shifting of the packages from the transfer holders to the conveyor buckets as the latter are advanced with a continuous motion.

The invention also resides in the novel and relatively simple construction of various ones of the mechanisms which perform the foregoing operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing, somewhat schematically, a new and improved machine embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary package adapted to be handled by the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view primarily showing the transfer holders and the transfer mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a drive train for actuating the primary operating mechanisms of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the transfer apparatus and accumulating holders shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5 and showing the transfer apparatus in a moved position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the path of movement followed by the transfer apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 9--9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross section, on a reduced scale, taken substantially along the line 10--10 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 11--11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken vertically through the machine shown in FIG. 1 and primarily showing the transfer holders and the transfer mechanism for shifting the packages from the holders to the conveyor buckets.

FIG. 13 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of parts shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are perspective views of parts shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view of part of the transfer holders shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front elevation of the transfer holders shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front elevation of the transfer holders and of the drive mechanism for shifting the transfer holders and the transfer mechanism alongside the conveyor.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 20--20 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the action of the drive mechanism in moving the transfer holders alongside the conveyor.

FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 are schematic plan views diagrammatically showing three machines of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 delivering packages to a single conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT ##SPC1##

Introduction And Exemplary Environment Of The Invention

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a machine 30 (FIG. 1) for receiving articles such as packages 31 advanced into an accumulating station, for collecting the packages into stacks or groups each containing a predetermined number of packages, and for transferring the stacks to a conveyor 33 having package-receiving buckets 34 spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch. The conveyor, in turn, carries the stacks of packages to an automatic cartoner (not shown) which operates in a well-known manner to insert the stacks into cartons, the cartoner in this instance placing one stack in each carton.

Herein, each package 31 is generally rectangular in shape (FIG. 2), is formed from a metal foil and includes two sealed compartments each filled with an article such as a denture-cleansing tablet 35. The packages are formed, filled and sealed by a conventional packager (not shown) and are advanced downwardly from the packager and toward the machine 30 with a continuous and uninterrupted motion and along a generally upright path. The packages emerge from the packager in the form of a single web 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and are connected end to end and edge to edge, there herein being six packages spanning the width of the web. As the web advances toward the machine, five rotary knives 37 (FIG. 1) separate the web into six rows of packages by cutting between adjacent side edges of the packages and thereafter a rotary cutter 39 coacting with an anvil 40 severs the leading package from each row.

The Invention In General

Generally stated, the invention contemplates a new and improved machine 30 which is operable to receive the packages 31 delivered continuously from the packager and to accumulate the packages into the stacks while at the same time transferring previously accumulated stacks of packages to the conveyor 33, the latter being moved rapidly alongside the machine 30 with continuous motion as opposed to intermittent or step-by-step motion and the transfer being effected as the conveyor is moving. Thus, continuously advancing individual packages 31 are collected into stacks and then are transferred to the continuously moving conveyor for subsequent insertion into cartons by the cartoner, which operates continuously and at high speeds.

The foregoing ends are achieved generally through the provision of a series of side-by-side transfer devices 41 (FIG. 1) which engage successive packages 31 advanced from the packager, turn the packages into generally horizontal positions, and release the packages to sets of side-by-side accumulating holders 43 and 44. The packages are collected in stacks in the accumulating holders and, when a predetermined number of packages are in the stacks, the latter are dropped into a series of side-by-side transfer holders 45. Initially closely spaced relative to one another to receive the stacks from the accumulating holders 43 and 44 (see FIG. 1), the transfer holders 45, after being filled, are spread apart (see FIG. 3) until the spacing between the transfer holders matches the spacing between the conveyor buckets 34. At the same time, the transfer holders are moved alongside the conveyor 33 at a speed equal to that of the buckets 34 and, during such movement, the package stacks are shifted from the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets. While the transfer holders are moving alongside the conveyor, the transfer devices 41 and accumulating holders 43 and 44 form and collect additional stacks of packages, and these are subsequently dropped into the transfer holders upon the latter completing a return stroke reversely along the conveyor to a position beneath the accumulating holders.

The Transfer Devices

a. Transferring The Packages

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 9, six transfer devices 41 are disposed side by side in the accumulating station and are operable to engage the packages 31 at a pickup point (see FIG. 1) as the packages are severed from the web 36 by the rotary cutter 39. Thereafter, the transfer devices swing the engaged packages downwardly and laterally away from the web through an angle of approximately 90.degree. so as to turn the initially upright packages into horizontal positions while lowering the packages to a discharge point located above the accumulating holders 43 (see FIG. 6). The packages then are released by the transfer devices and fall into the holders whereupon the transfer devices are returned upwardly to pick up the succeeding six packages cut from the web.

In accordance with the invention, the transfer devices 41 are advanced toward and into positive engagement with the leading packages 31 on the web 36 and then are retracted away from the web, the retraction preferably but not necessarily taking place as the transfer devices are swung downwardly to transfer the packages. For these purposes, each transfer device is advanced toward the web from a starting point SP (see the diagram of FIG. 8) in proximity to the package being cut from the web and moves into engagement with such package along a relatively short and generally horizontal leg L1 of a substantially triangular path. After engaging and picking up the package, the transfer device is swung downwardly toward the accumulating holders 43 and, during such swinging, is retracted away from the web so as to move along a second and generally upright leg L2 of the triangular path. Upon release of the package at the discharge point, the transfer device is swung back upwardly and returns to the starting point SP along a third leg L3 of the path, the third or return leg L3 being spaced a considerable distance away from the path of the web. In this way, gripping engagement of the transfer devices with the packages is insured, the packages are transferred in a manner compatible with their continuous advance from the packager, and the transfer devices are kept retracted away from the downwardly advancing web during their upward swinging so as to avoid interfering with the movement of the web.

More specifically, each transfer device 41 includes a suction cup 46 (see FIG. 7) operable to grip the packages 31 and connected by a flexible hose 47 to a manifold 49 (FIG. 1) which communicates with a vacuum source (not shown) through a line 50. Suction is applied automatically to the cups as the latter are moved into engagement with the packages and then is released when the packages are positioned horizontally to drop into the accumulating holders 43. As the suction is cut off, a blast of air is shot into the manifold through a supply line 51 and flows through the hoses 47 to blow the packages off of the suction cups and thus insure immediate release of the packages.

Each suction cup 46 is carried on one end portion of an arm 53 (FIG. 7) whose other end portion is mounted to turn with an elongated bar 54 of rectangular cross section extending parallel to the web 36 and transversely of the direction of advance of the web. The extreme end portions of the bar are round and are journaled in bearings 55 (see FIG. 5) supported in the outer end portions of cranks 56 which are fast on the ends of a rock shaft 57 paralleling the bar, the rock shaft being journaled at its ends in bearings 59 mounted on the stationary support or frame 60 of the machine 30. It should be realized that the frame of the overall machine is formed by several interconnected frame members, all of which remain stationary relative to one another during operation of the machine. For convenience and brevity, most of the various stationary frame members simply will be referred to as the "frame" and will be indicated by the reference numeral 60.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, an arm or crank 61 is clamped fast at its inner end to the right-hand end of the bar 54 and rotatably receives at its outer end a short axle 63 carrying a roller 64. The latter is supported to ride back and forth in a generally horizontal direction within a track 65 anchored to a slide 66 which is guided for up and down movement on a pair of rods 67 upstanding from the frame 60. As the slide is shifted downwardly and upwardly on the rods, the crank 61 and the bar 54 are rocked first counterclockwise and then clockwise between the positions shown in dotted and full lines in FIG. 6. As the bar is rocked, the transfer devices 41 are swung downwardly and upwardly between the package pickup position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 and the package release or discharge position shown in full.

To shift the slide 66 upwardly and downwardly, a bellcrank 69 (FIG. 7) pivoted on the frame 60 at 70 is connected to the slide by a line 71 and is adapted to be rocked upwardly and downwardly by means of a link 73 connected to the upper end of a lever 74 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a fixed rod 75 supported on the frame. A roller follower 76 is carried on the lower end of the lever and rides within a track 77 formed in the side of a cam 79 fast on a power-rotated shaft 80. Rotation of the cam causes rocking of the lever and the bellcrank first in one direction and then the other to shift the slide upwardly and downwardly on the rods 67.

The slide 66 is shifted upwardly and downwardly and effects swinging of the transfer devices 41 in timed relation with the advance of the packages 31 from the packager and, for this purpose, a single electric motor 81 is used to drive the packager and the cam shaft 80 in synchronism. As shown in FIG. 4, the motor is connected to a drive shaft 83 for the packager through a speed reducer 84 and is connected to the cam shaft 80 through a belt 85, a speed reducer 86 and a chain 87. Accordingly, swinging of the transfer devices by the cam 79 is correlated with the advance of the packages by the packager and thus the transfer devices are stationed adjacent the leading end of the web 36 as each group of packages is cut from the web.

As mentioned previously, the transfer devices 41 are advanced toward the web 36 from the starting point SP so as to place the suction cups 46 into engagement with the packages 31 and then are retracted away from the web as an incident to being swung downwardly. To achieve these ends, a crank 89 (FIG. 7) is anchored to the rock shaft 57 alongside the crank 56 and is connected by a link 90 to a lever 91 pivoted on the rod 75 and carrying a roller follower 93 which rides within a track 94 formed in the side of a second cam 95 on the cam shaft 80. As the cam 95 is rotated, the lever 91, the link 90 and the crank 89 cause the rock shaft 57 to turn first in one direction and then the other through a slight angular distance within its supporting bearings 59. Through the crank 56, the rock shaft advances the rectangular bar 54 and the transfer devices 41 toward the packages upon being rocked counterclockwise (FIG. 7) and retracts the bar and the transfer devices away from the web when rocked reversely, the bar moving between the full and dotted line positions shown in FIG. 6. As the bar is shifted toward and away from the web, the roller 64 rides back and forth within the track 65 to permit such shifting relative to the slide 66 while keeping the latter operably connected to the bar for the purpose of effecting the up and down swinging of the transfer devices.

To explain the operation of the transfer devices 41 as described thus far, let it be assumed that each transfer device initially is stationed in proximity to its upper pickup position and is retracted away from the web 36 so as to be positioned as indicated by the dash-dot illustration shown in FIG. 6, such positioning corresponding to the position of the transfer device when at the starting point SP in the diagram of FIG. 8. As the camshaft 80 turns through an initial 15.degree. of rotation, the cam 79 shifts the slide 66 upwardly to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device to rock clockwise (FIG. 7) within the bearings 55 in the cranks 66. At the same time, the cam 95 rocks the rock shaft 57 counterclockwise to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device 41 to turn counterclockwise about the axis of the rock shaft, the outer end of the crank 61 pivoting about the axle 63 and moving toward the web 36 within the track 65 during such turning. As a result of the motion produced by both cams acting together, the transfer device is moved toward the web 36 from the starting point SP (FIG. 8) and travels along a portion a of the first leg L1 of the triangular path.

After the camshaft 80 has been rotated through its initial 15.degree., the cam 79 causes the upward movement of the slide 66 to dwell and, for the next 45.degree. of camshaft rotation, the cam 95 acts alone and continues to turn the rock shaft 57 counterclockwise. The result is to move the transfer device 41 toward the web along a portion b (FIG. 8) of the first leg L1 of the triangular path. Thus, the suction cup 46 is moved into positive face-to-face engagement with the leading package 31 on the web 36 along a generally horizontal but slightly upwardly curved approach path and, with the suction turned on, securely grips the package as shown in FIG. 7 just prior to the package being severed from the web.

During the next 90.degree. of rotation of the camshaft 80, the cam 79 shifts the slide 66 downwardly to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device 41 to turn counterclockwise (FIG. 7) within the supporting bearings 55 in the cranks 56 so as to swing the transfer device and the engaged package 31 downwardly toward the accumulating holders 43 while turning the package toward a horizontal position as shown in full in FIG. 6. Concurrently, the cam 95 turns the rock shaft 57 clockwise thus causing the bar 54 and the transfer device 41 to be retracted away from the path of the web 36 and to recede away from an arc struck about the axis of the bar and extending through the suction cup 46 when the latter first engages the package. Accordingly, during the first 90.degree. of camshaft rotation following engagement of the package, the cams 79 and 95 act in concert to cause the transfer device to move downwardly along the second leg L2 (FIG. 8) of the triangular path. The initial path taken by the suction cup along the leg L2 corresponds closely to the vertical path followed by the downwardly advancing web and therefore the cup and the engaged package can move downwardly in unison as the package is cut from the web and before the package is swung any substantial distance laterally of the web. Thus, the movement of the suction cup is correlated with that of the web during the comparatively short interval during which the cup is in engagement with the package while the latter is still connected to the web. A smooth and trouble-free transfer thus is insured.

As the transfer device 41 reaches the end of the second leg L2 of the triangular path, the cam 95 causes a dwell in the turning motion of the rock shaft 57 and, for the next 90.degree. of rotation of the camshaft 80, the cam 79 acts alone and continues to shift the slide 66 downwardly to cause the bar 54 and the transfer device to turn counterclockwise within the bearings 55 and about the axis of the bar. Accordingly, the transfer device is simply swung downwardly in an arc (represented by the arc c in FIG. 8) which curves about the axis of the bar and is moved until the package 31 is located directly above the accumulating holders 43 in a fully horizontal position. Thereafter, the transfer device dwells in a stationary position as the camshaft rotates through 15 additional degrees and, during the dwell, the suction is turned off and a blast of air is shot through the cup 46 to eject the package.

Thereafter and for the next 75.degree. of rotation of the camshaft 80, the cam 95 continues to cause the turning motion of the rock shaft 57 to dwell while the cam 79 acts alone and causes the slide 66 to shift upwardly once again. The transfer device 41 thus swings upwardly about the axis of the bar 54 and, for the first 60.degree. of such 75.degree. of camshaft rotation, simply retraces the same arc c (FIG. 8) followed during the terminal portion of the downward stroke. For the remaining 15.degree. of the 75.degree. of camshaft rotation during which the cam 79 acts alone, the transfer device continues to swing upwardly about the axis of the bar 54 and moves along a continuation of the arc c (FIG. 8), such continuation constituting an arcuate portion d of the third leg L3 of the triangular path. It will be seen that the lateral spacing between the vertical path of the web 36 and the portion d of the return path is greater than the spacing between the web and the leg L2 followed during the downward travel and thus the transfer device proceeds upwardly in a retracted position with respect to the web and will not hit or interfere with the latter upon approaching the starting point SP.

During the final 30.degree. of rotation of the camshaft 80 to complete one revolution, the cam 79 continues to shift the slide 66 upwardly to swing the transfer device 41 upwardly and, at the same time, the cam 95 turns the rock shaft 57 counterclockwise to begin advancing the transfer device toward the web 36. The two cams acting together cause the transfer device to move along a nearly vertical portion e (FIG. 8) of the third leg L3 of the triangular path as the transfer device returns to the starting point SP. During such movement, the transfer device is held retracted well clear of the path of the web and thus moves upwardly alongside the next advancing package 31 without hitting the latter. The displacement component produced by the cam 95 during travel of the transfer device along the portion e is less than the displacement component which the cam 95 produces during the advance of the transfer device along the portion a, thus accounting for the differences in curvature in the portions e and a. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the cam tracks 77 and 94 are appropriately shaped to cause the various displacements and dwells of the transfer device to occur at the proper times and also are shaped to control the velocity with which the transfer device is moved. In this instance, the overall velocity of the transfer device when moving through its total downward stroke is slower than when the transfer device is moving through its total upward stroke.

After reaching the starting point SP, the transfer devices 41 are once again moved along the first leg L1 of the triangular path and along the generally horizontal approach path b into engagement with the succeeding group of packages 31 being advanced from the packager. Thus, the transfer devices positively engage the packages, are swung downwardly in a path correlated with the path of movement of the web 36, and are returned upwardly along a different path spaced away from the path of the web so as to avoid obstructing the movement of the web.

b. The Backing And Deflecting Member

Advantageously, a combined backing and deflecting member 96 (FIG. 6) is positioned alongside the web 36 on the side of the web opposite the transfer devices 41 and normally establishes a backing for the packages 31 when the latter are initially engaged by the transfer devices. In case the packager malfunctions, however, and delivers inferior or imperfect packages, the member 96 may be moved across the path of the web to deflect the packages away from the transfer devices and reject the packages from the machine 30 while still allowing the transfer devices to undertake their normal operating movement.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the backing and deflecting member 96 is formed by an elongated strip of sheet metal which is pivotally supported on the frame 60 by pins 97 anchored to the ends of the member. The member includes upper and lower portions 99 and 100 which, in the normal position of the member shown in full in FIG. 6, are disposed vertically, are offset laterally from one another and are connected by an inclined intermediate portion 101. In the normal position, the upper end of the upper portion 100 engages and backs the lowermost portions of the leading packages 31 as the transfer devices 41 swing into engagement with the packages. As the packages are swung downwardly, their trailing end portions are restricted against swinging relative to the suction cups 46 by the lower portion 100 of the member 96 and by a guide strip 103 (FIG. 6) fastened to the frame 60 and extending downwardly toward the upper ends of the accumulating holders 43.

In certain instances, the packager may fail to fill entire groups of packages 31 or the packages may otherwise be inferior and not suitable for cartoning. Upon discovering that inferior packages are being advanced from the packager, the operator of the machine 30 may activate a fluid actuator 104 to swing the backing and deflecting member 96 across the path of the packages as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, the actuator having a reciprocable rod 105 connected by a crank 106 to one of the mounting pins 97 for the member. When the member 96 is in its deflecting position, the packages advancing downwardly engage the upper portion 99 of the member and are guided laterally away from the transfer devices 41 and downwardly to a reject conveyor 107 (FIG. 6) which carries the packages away from the machine 30. The intermediate portion 101 of the member 96 is disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the web 36 when the member is positioned to deflect the packages and is located so as to not interfere with the movement normally undertaken by the transfer devices 41 in approaching and engaging the packages along the path b. Accordingly, the transfer devices may continue to operate in normal fashion but without delivering the inferior packages to the accumulating holders 43. As an incident to activating the actuator 104 to move the member 96 to its deflecting position, the suction normally applied to the cups 46 is cut off to prevent the cups from gripping the intermediate portion 101 of the member.

c. Increasing The Spacing Between The Packages

The invention also contemplates moving the packages 31 away from one another as an incident to transferring the packages to the accumulating holders 43 so as to increase the spacing between the initially closely spaced packages sufficiently far to allow the packages to drop into the holders. Accordingly, the transfer devices 41 are shifted various distances along the rectangular bar 54 at the same time the bar is turned to swing the transfer devices downwardly, thereby to increase the spacing between the engaged packages between the time the packages are picked up and the time the packages are released.

In this instance, the arm 53 of each transfer device 41 is mounted to slide along the bar 54 and carries at its inner end a finger 109 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which is sheathed by a tubular roller 110 and which projects with a slidable fit into a slot 111 formed through a metal member 113. The latter is anchored stationarily to the frame 60 and includes a portion which curves arcuately about the axis of the bar 54 when the bar is positioned as shown in full in FIG. 6, the slots 111 being formed through the curved portion of the member 113. Each slot is formed with straight upper and lower end portions and with a midportion which curves gradually toward the outboard end of the curved metal member 113 (see FIGS. 5 and 9) as the slot progresses from the bottom of the member toward the top of the member. The three left-hand slots curve toward the left end of the curved member while the three right hand slots curve toward the right end of the member.

As the transfer devices 41 engage the packages 31 and swing downwardly, the fingers 109 ride upwardly within the slots 111 and are cammed sidewise by the edges of the curved midportions of the slots. As a result, the three left-hand transfer devices and the three right-hand transfer devices are slid to the left and right, respectively, along the bar 54 to increase the spacing between the transfer devices and the engaged packages during the time the packages are being transferred. The midportions of the slots are shaped with different curvatures to cause each of the two center transfer devices to slide through a predetermined distance and to cause successive outboard transfer devices to slide through progressively increasing whole multiples of such distance. For example, the two center transfer devices may be slid in opposite directions through one-eighth of an inch, the immediately adjacent transfer devices through three-eighths of an inch, and the two outboard transfer devices through five-eighths of an inch. In this way, a spacing of one-fourth of an inch is established between each pair of packages when the latter reach the discharge point overlying the accumulating holders 43. Thus, the spacing between the packages is correlated with the spacing between the holders so that the packages may fall into the holders to be collected into stacks.

As the transfer devices 41 are swung back upwardly, the edges of the slots 111 cam the fingers 109 reversely to cause the transfer devices to slide toward one another along the bar 54 and to decrease the spacing between the transfer devices so as to position the latter to pick up the next group of edge-to-edge packages 31 being advanced from the packager. Thus, it will be apparent that the coacting fingers and slots, while being comparatively simple in construction and trouble-free in operation, periodically change the spacing between the transfer devices so that the transfer devices may pick up the initially closely spaced packages and then establish a greater spacing between packages as an incident to transferring them to the accumulating holders 43.

The Accumulating Holders

According to another aspect of the invention, a predetermined number of packages 31 are collected into small stacks in the accumulating holders 43 and then are dropped into and held in the accumulating holders 44 until a predetermined additional number of packages are dropped into the holders 44 to enlarge the stacks, the latter then being dropped into the transfer holders 45. As a result of using two sets of accumulating holders, packages may be transferred continuously to the holders and held in the latter sufficiently long to allow the transfer holders 45 to move from beneath the accumulating holders and deliver previously accumulated stacks of packages to the conveyor 33. In addition, the packages, instead of falling continuously in free flight through a relatively long distance to the transfer holders, drop first into accumulating holders 43 and then into the accumulating holders 44 and thus the fall of the packages is interrupted thereby to reduce the danger of the stacks being formed unevenly in a skewed or slanted fashion.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5, the accumulating holders 43 comprise six compartments disposed in side-by-side relation beneath the point where the packages are released from the transfer devices 41, and the holders 44 comprise six side-by-side compartments located immediately beneath the holders 43 in vertical alignment therewith. The holders of each set have open upper ends and are formed by upright partitions 114 disposed within a boxlike member 115 secured to the frame 60. The bottoms of each set of holders are adapted to be opened and closed periodically by separate gates 116 (FIGS. 6 and 11) which are mounted to slide back and forth beneath the holders. Herein, each gate is simply a flat plate disposed immediately below its respective set of holders and guided for sliding within slotted members 117 secured to the frame 60 adjacent the outboard ends of the holders. A block 119 is fastened to the upper side of each gate and is slid back and forth along guide rods 120 on the frame in response to the admission of pressure fluid alternately into opposite ends of a reciprocating fluid actuator 121 mounted on the frame and having a piston rod 123 connected to the block. Thus, reciprocation of the rods 123 causes the gates to move back and forth beneath the accumulating holders between positions opening and closing the latter.

Let it be assumed that initially the upper gate 116 is closed, that the accumulating holders 43 and 44 are empty, and that the transfer holders 45 have just been shifted from beneath the accumulating holders 44 and are in the process of delivering previously accumulated stacks of packages 31 to the conveyor 33. The transfer devices 41, operating continuously, pick up a group of six edge-to-edge packages from the packager and drop one package into each of the six compartments forming the upper accumulating holders 43, these packages remaining in the upper holders by virtue of the upper gate being closed. The upper gate is held in a closed position until five packages have been delivered into each of the six upper holders and have collected on top of one another to form six small stacks. At this time, the upper actuator 121 is operated automatically to open the upper gate and allow the small stacks to drop from the bottoms of the upper holders and to fall into the lower holders 44. The lower gate 116 is held closed as the upper gate is opened and thus the small stacks are retained in the lower holders and fill the latter to approximately one-half their depth.

After the small stacks have been dropped from the upper holders 43, the upper gate 116 is kept open as the transfer devices 41 continue to deliver packages 31 from the packager. These packages thus drop completely through the upper holders and collect directly on top of the small stacks located in the lower holders 44. The lower gate 116 is kept closed until a total of 10 packages have been collected in a large stack in each of the six lower holders, the uppermost package of each large stack projecting just slightly above the open upper end of the lower holder and being located partially within the open bottom of the overlying upper holder. During the interval when the stacks in the lower holders 44 are being enlarged from five to 10 packages, the transfer holders 45 are returned to their loading positions beneath the lower holders.

When 10 packages 31 have been collected in each stack in the lower accumulating holders 44, the lower gate actuator 121 is operated automatically to open the lower gate 116 and allow the large stacks to fall from the lower holders and into the transfer holders 45. Immediately after the lower gate is opened and the stacks begin falling, the upper gate 116 is closed to catch the next group of six packages being delivered from the transfer devices 41 and to accumulate these and the four succeeding groups of six packages each into small stacks in the upper holders 43 while the transfer holders 45 are shifted from beneath the lower holders 44 to deliver the large stacks to the conveyor 33. During such delivery, the lower gate 116 is moved to a closed position preparatory to the small stacks being dropped from the upper holders 43 to the lower holders 44.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the two sets of accumulating holders 43 and 44 catch the packages 31 as the latter are dropped by the transfer devices 41 and collect the packages first into small stacks of five packages each and then into larger stacks of 10 packages each during the time period in which previously collected large stacks are being delivered to the conveyor 33. The gate actuators 121 are timed to open and close the gates 116 in such a manner that the upper gate can catch the first new group of six packages being dropped from the transfer devices 41 while the large stacks of 10 packages are still falling from the lower holders 44 into the transfer holders 45. Suitable mechanism (not shown) of the type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art is incorporated in the machine 30 to operate valves (not shown) for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to the actuators and causes the actuators to operate automatically at the proper times during each cycle. Because the first six stacks of five packages each fall into the upper holders and then into the lower holders, the vertical distance through which the packages drop in continuous free flight is less than otherwise would be the case if the packages were dropped directly into holders sufficiently deep to hold 10 packages. As a result, the packages tend to stack more evenly and neatly in the holders and form more nearly straight stacks as opposed to slanted or skewed stacks.

The Transfer Holders

In another of its aspects, the invention contemplates spreading the transfer holders 45 away from one another after the large stacks of packages 31 have been dropped into transfer holders so that the latter, being initially closely spaced to receive the stacks from the lower accumulating holders 44, may be positioned to match the spacing of the conveyor buckets 34 and thus enable delivery of the stacks from the transfer holders to the buckets. As an incident to being spread apart, the transfer holders are moved from their loading positions beneath the accumulating holders and are shifted alongside the conveyor 33 at a speed correlated with that of the conveyor to permit the stacks to be delivered to the buckets while the conveyor is moving continuously.

In general, the transfer holders 45 are supported on a horizontal transfer carriage or slide 124 (FIG. 3) which is mounted on guide rods 125 on the frame 60 to move back and forth through active and return strokes alongside the conveyor 33. Three carriers 126 mounted on the slide 124 underlie the transfer holders and each supports two holders in side-by-side relation. In spreading the holders, the carriers are first shifted away from one another on the slide and then the holders of each pair are shifted away from one another on their respective carriers.

More specifically, the carriers 126 are mounted for shifting along the slide 124 by a guide rod 127 (FIG. 15) anchored to the slide and extending slidably through the inner end portions of the carriers. In addition, rollers 128 are connected to the outer ends of the carriers and ride in a track 129 which is fastened to the slide adjacent the carriers. Accordingly, the carriers may be shifted along the slide between closely spaced positions shown in FIG. 1 and spread positions shown in FIG. 15.

Each transfer holder 45 is shaped as an upwardly opening U with open inner and outer ends and is mounted on a cast metal base 130 (FIG. 18). The base of the left hand holder of each pair is formed with bosses 131 which are supported slidably on a pair of inner guide rods 132 (FIG. 15) mounted on the underlying carrier 126 while the base of the right hand holder of each pair includes bosses 133 which are supported slidably on a pair of outer guide rods 134 on the carrier. Thus, the holders of each pair may be moved toward and away from one another on their respective carrier between closely spaced positions (shown in FIG. 1) and spread positions (shown in FIG. 16). The sets of bosses 131 and 133 overlap one another when the holders are spaced closely together and thus allow the holders to be positioned directly side by side with a spacing corresponding to that between the lower accumulating holders 44. In addition, sets of fingers 135 and 136 (FIG. 17) projecting from the left and right bases 130 interlace with one another in all positions of the holders to prevent any loose packages from dropping beneath the holders 45 and fouling various operating linkages (to be described subsequently) disposed beneath the holders.

Spreading of the holders 45 and the carriers 126 is effected by a cam 137 (FIG. 14) fast on a camshaft 139 which is mounted on the frame 60. The camshaft 139 is driven at one-tenth of the speed of the camshaft 80 by a chain 140 (FIG. 4) connected between the speed reducer 86 and a shaft 141 and by a gearbox 143 connected between the shafts 141 and 139.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 14, a lever 144 is pivoted at its lower end to the frame 60 at 145 and carries a follower 146 which is pressed into engagement with the periphery of the cam 137 by a coiled spring 147 telescoped over a rod 149 and compressed between the rod and part of the frame. The rod is bushed slidably in the frame and is connected pivotally to the lever 144. As the cam is rotated, the lever 144 is rocked first in one direction and then the other about the pivot 145.

Connected to the upper end of the lever 144 is one end of a link 150 (FIG. 14) whose other end is connected pivotally intermediate the ends of a lever 151 which is pivoted near one end on the frame 60 at 153 to turn about a vertical axis. A similar lever 154 is mounted pivotally on the frame at 155, and spanning the two levers 151 and 154 is a track 156 which is connected to the levers by vertical pivots 157. The two levers 151 and 154 are interconnected by a link 159 pivotally connected to cranks 160 that are rigid with the levers. Thus, the levers 151 and 154, the track 156 and the link 159 form a parallelogram linkage.

When the lever 144 is rocked to and fro about the pivot 145 by the cam 137 and the spring 147, the link 150 translates inwardly and outwardly to cause the levers 151 and 154 to swing back and forth about the pivots 153 and 155. As a result, the track 156 is moved inwardly and outwardly relative to the transfer slide 124. The motion of the track is used to cause spreading of the holders 45 and the carriers 126 and yet the track still allows movement of the holders and carriers alongside the conveyor 33 with the slide and relative to the actuating cam 137, which is supported on the stationary frame 60.

To transmit the inward and outward motions of the track 156 to the holders 45 and the carriers 126, a shaft 161 (FIGS. 14 and 15) is pivotally mounted on the slide 124 to turn about an upright axis and carries at its lower end a crank 163 having a roller 164 fitted within the track. The crank turns the shaft 161 back and forth as the track is moved inwardly and outwardly and rides along the track to permit movement of the slide relative to the track as the slide is shifted along the conveyor 33.

Fast on the upper end of the shaft 161 is a bellcrank 165 (FIG. 15) whose long arm 166 is connected to the underside of the right-hand carrier 126 by a link 167. The short arm 169 of the bellcrank is connected by a link 170 to the short arm 171 of a second bellcrank 173 which is fastened to an upright shaft 174 journaled in the slide 124. The long arm 175 of the bellcrank 173 is connected to a link 176 which, in turn, is connected to the underside of the center carrier 126. As the shaft 161 is turned by the track 156 and the crank 163 to rock the bellcranks 165 and 173 counterclockwise (FIG. 15), the right and center carriers 126 are shifted away from the left carrier and move to the right along the rod 127 and the track 129 from the closely spaced positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 13 to the spread positions shown in FIGS. 15. The long arm 166 of the bell crank 165 herein is twice as long as the long arm 175 of the bellcrank 173 while the short arms 169 and 171 of the two bellcranks are of equal length. Thus, the right carrier is moved twice as far as the center carrier so that, upon reaching their spread positions, the carriers are spaced equally from one another. When the bellcranks are rocked clockwise (FIG. 15) by the shaft 161, the right and center carriers are shifted reversely toward the left carrier and back to the closely spaced positions shown in FIG. 13.

In order to shift the transfer holders 45 to their spread positions on the carriers 126, a crank 177 (FIG. 15) which is coupled to turn back and forth with the shaft 174 is connected by a link 179 to a lever 180. The latter is pivoted on the slide 124 at 181 and carries a crank arm 183 which is connected by a link 184 to a crank 185 rigid with a lever 186 pivoted on the slide at 187. Spanning the levers 180 and 186 and pivotally connected to the latter at 189 is a track 190 which, when the crank 177 is turned to rock the levers, shifts inwardly and outwardly relative to the slide 124. The inward and outward motion of the track 190 is used to shift the transfer holders 45 on the carriers 126 between their closely spaced positions (see FIGS. and their spread positions (see FIG. 15).

To connect the track 190 operably to the transfer holders 45, each carries 126 journals a shaft 191 (FIG. 15 and 16) whose lower end carries a crank 193 having a roller 194 fitted within the track to ride along the track as the carriers are spread apart. Fast on the upper end of each shaft 191 is a lever 195 (FIG. 16) whose opposite ends are connected by links 196 to the bases 130 of the two transfer holders 45 supported on the carrier. When the track 190 is shifted outwardly on the slide 124, the levers 195 are turned counterclockwise (FIG. 16) to shift the transfer holders of each pair away from one another along the rods 132 and 134 in opposite directions but through equal distances thereby to shift the holders to their spread positions. When the track 190 is shifted inwardly and the levers 195 rocked clockwise, the holders of each pair are shifted toward one another and returned along the rods to their closely spaced positions.

When located beneath the lower accumulating holders 44, the transfer holders 45 are disposed in their closely spaced positions on the carriers 126 and the latter are located in their closely spaced positions on the slide 124 as shown in FIG. 1. The transfer holders thus are aligned vertically with the accumulating holders to receive the large stacks of packages 31 when the lower gate 116 is opened. After the stacks have dropped into the transfer holders, the slide 124 is shifted form left to right alongside the conveyor 33 at a speed equal to the speed of the conveyor. During the initial movement of the slide, the cam 137 causes the tracks 156 and 190 to shift outwardly to spread the carriers on the slide and to spread the holders 45 on the carriers until the holders are spaced equally from one another by a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent conveyor buckets 34. When the pitch of the holders matches the pitch of the buckets, the holders and buckets register with one another and are disposed end-to-end. Accordingly, during continued movement of the slide alongside the conveyor, a transfer mechanism 197 (FIG. 16) pushes the stacks of packages out of the holders and into the buckets. The slide then is returned from right to left alongside the conveyor to a position beneath the accumulating holders 44 and, during such movement, the carriers and the holders are returned to their closely spaced positions so as to be properly spaced to receive the succeeding stacks of packages from the accumulating holders.

The Transfer Mechanism

The transfer mechanism 197 for shifting the stacks of packages 31 from the transfer holders 45 to the conveyor buckets 34 comprises a series of six pushers 199 (FIG. 16) which are spaced from one another in accordance with the spacing existing between the transfer holders when the latter are in their fully spread positions. Each pusher is located above the slide 124 at the same elevation as the transfer holders and is mounted on a pair of rods 200 which in turn are clamped to bars 201 extending lengthwise of the slide. A pair of guide rods 203 extend inwardly from the bars 201 and are mounted slidably in bosses 204 supported on the upper ends of standards 205 anchored to and projecting upwardly from the slide. When the rods 203 are slid outwardly, the pushers 199 are shifted from the positions shown in FIG. 16 to the positions shown in FIG. 3 and move through the transfer holders 45 to shove the package stacks out of the transfer holders and into the conveyor buckets 34. The pushers then are retracted from the transfer holders to allow the latter to be filled with additional stacks of packages when the transfer holders are returned beneath the accumulating holders 44.

To shift the pushers 199 inwardly and outwardly, a cam 206 (FIG. 16) is mounted on the cam shaft 139 with its periphery in engagement with a follower 207 carried on a lever 209 which is mounted to swing on a pivot rod 208. A coiled spring 210 is telescoped over a rod 211 and is compressed between the rod and the frame 60 to keep the follower pressed against the cam, the rod being connected slidably to the frame and connected pivotally to the lever 209. A link 213 extends from the upper end of the lever 209 and is connected intermediate the ends of a crank 214 which is mounted on the frame 60 to pivot about an upright axis as indicated at 215. Carried on the free end of the crank 214 is a roller 216 that is fitted within a track 217 spanning the rods 203 and anchored rigidly to the rods. As the cam 207 rotates, the crank 214 is rocked back and forth about the pivot 215 and shifts the track 217 outwardly and inwardly to extend and retract the pushers 199. By virtue of the roller 216, the track 217 and the pushers connected thereto may move with the slide 124 and relative to the crank 214 and the cam 207 when the slide is shifted alongside the conveyor 33. The cam 207 is shaped to cause the pushers to extend after the pitch of the transfer holders 45 has matched with that of the conveyor buckets 34 and to cause the pushers to retract before the transfer holders are shifted back underneath the accumulating holders 44.

The Drive Mechanism For The Slide

Shifting of the transfer slide 124 back and forth alongside the conveyor 33 is effected by a drive mechanism indicated generally in FIGS. 19 and 20 by the reference numeral 219. As shown, the drive mechanism includes a roller 220 which is fitted into a vertically extending slot 221 formed through an arm 223 depending from and rigid with the underside of the slide 124. The roller is mounted on a pin 224 (FIG. 20) extending between and connected to a pair of chains 225 which are guided to travel in a generally triangular path as shown in FIG. 21. Thus, each chain is trained around an upper idler sprocket 226, a lower idler sprocket 227 spaced vertically from the upper sprocket, and a drive sprocket 229 spaced horizontally from upper idler sprocket. The sprockets are fastened to stub axles 230 rotatably supported on the frame 60 by bearings 231.

To drive the chains 225, a chain 233 (FIG. 4) connected to the gear box 143 acts through a speed increaser 234, a shaft 234a, and an electric clutch-brake unit 235 to rotate a shaft 236. The latter carries two gears 237 (FIG. 20) which mesh with gears 239 fastened to the stub axles 230 for the drive sprockets 229. The drive sprockets are rotated at such a speed that the roller 220, when traveling along the upper runs of the chains 225, moves at a speed equal to the speed of the conveyor 33.

Accordingly, as the chains 225 are driven to move the roller 220 to the upper end portion of the slot 221, the roller 220 bears against the right edge of the slot and forces the slide 124 to move toward the right at a speed equal to the speed of the conveyor 33. During this movement, the transfer holders 45 are shifted to their spread positions and the stacks of packages 31 are shifted into the conveyor buckets 34. When the machine 30 is initially set up for operation, the clutch of the clutch-brake unit 235 is engaged at the appropriate time relative to the instantaneous position of a group of six conveyor buckets so that, during normal operation of the machine, the transfer holders automatically register with six buckets when the holders are shifted to their spread positions and are moved alongside the conveyor.

Upon curving around the drive sprockets 229, the roller 220 begins moving downwardly within the slot 221 and, at the same time, moves toward the lower idler sprockets 227 while bearing against the left edge of the slot. Thus, the slide 124 is moved from right to left (see FIG. 21) to return the transfer holders 45 to their loading positions beneath the accumulating holders 44. When the transfer holders reach such positions, the roller curves around the lower idler sprockets 227 and moves straight upwardly within the slot and toward the upper idler sprockets 226. Thus, during this interval, the slide 124 simply dwells in a stationary position as shown in FIG. 21 while stacks of packages are being dropped from the accumulating holders and into the transfer holders.

Three Simultaneously Operable Machines

In order to fill all of the buckets 34 on the conveyor 33, two or more of the machines 30 may be positioned alongside the conveyor to receive packages 31 from separate packagers and to deliver the accumulated stacks to certain groups of buckets on the conveyor. FIGS. 22 to 24 diagrammatically illustrate an arrangement in which three of the machines service the conveyor. In FIG. 22, the transfer slide 124 of the first machine 30a is shown being shifted to its unloading position to fill a first group of six buckets (buckets 1-6) with packages. During this time, the slide of the second machine 30b is dwelling in its loading position to receive stacks from the accumulating holders 44, and the slide of the third machine 30cis being returned from its unloading position to its loading position.

In FIG. 23, the transfer slide 124 of the first machine 30a is shown returning to its loading position, the slide of the second machine 30b is being shifted to its unloading position to fill a second group of six buckets (buckets 13-18), and the slide of the third machine 30c is dwelling to receive packages 31 from the accumulating holders 44. During the next stage of operation (FIG. 24), the slide of the first machine 30a dwells, the slide of the second machine 30b returns to its loading position, and the slide of the third machine 30c shifts to its unloading position to fill a third group of buckets (buckets 7-12) being advanced alongside the machines. In this way, every bucket on the conveyor may be filled to enable uninterrupted operation of the cartoner. Drive mechanisms slightly different than the drive mechanism 219 shown in FIGS. 4 and 20 may be used to shift the transfer slides 124 depending upon the number of machines servicing the conveyor and upon the particular operating speed of the conveyor. For example, when three machines operate concurrently, it may be advantageous to drive the shaft 234a of the drive mechanism in synchronism with the conveyor 33 and to disengage the clutch of the clutch-brake unit 235 during each operating cycle to allow the transfer slides to dwell beneath the accumulating holders 44 for a longer period of time than is effected as a result of the roller 220 simply moving vertically within the slot 221.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention brings to the art a new and improved machine 30 capable of receiving packages 31 advanced continuously from a packager, collecting the packages in a series of stacks, and delivering the stacks to a continuously moving conveyor 33. With certain modifications, however, the machine may be used to advantage with systems wherein either the packager, the conveyor or both are operated with intermittent motion.

Claims

We claim as our invention:

1. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles advanced continuously in closely spaced side-by-side relation along an upright path into an accumulating station, the combination of, a support, a series of side-by-side transfer devices mounted on said support and operable to engage successive leading articles advanced along said path, turn the articles through an angle of approximately 90.degree. to horizontal positions, and release the articles to fall downwardly, means for moving said transfer devices away from one another as the articles are turned thereby to increase the spacing between the articles, upper and lower accumulating holders mounted on said support beneath said transfer devices in vertical alignment with one another and each having a series of side-by-side compartments, upper and lower gates mounted on said support and movable between positions opening and closing the lower ends of said upper and lower holders, respectively, an upper gate actuator timed to hold said upper gate closed until a predetermined number of articles released by said transfer devices are caught and collected in a stack in the compartments of said upper holder and then to open the upper gate to allow the stacks to drop into the compartments of said lower holder, a lower gate actuator timed to hold said lower gate closed as said upper gate is opened whereby the dropped stacks are caught in the compartments of the lower holder, said actuators being timed to hold said upper gate open and said lower gate closed until a predetermined additional number of articles placed into each compartment of said upper holder fall through such compartments and collect on top of the stacks in said lower holder, said lower actuator thereafter opening said lower gate and said upper actuator closing said upper gate to allow the stacks to drop from said lower holder and to position said upper gate to catch succeeding articles placed in said upper holder, a series of side-by-side transfer holders, a carriage mounting said transfer holders on said support for movement from loading positions beneath the compartments of said lower accumulating holder in vertical alignment therewith and unloading positions spaced horizontally from said loading positions, said transfer holders being disposed in said loading positions and being spaced closely together as said lower gate is opened thereby to catch the stacks of articles dropped from said lower accumulating holder, an elongated conveyor having article-receiving buckets spaced apart with a predetermined pitch and movable continuously and at a predetermined speed along a path extending alongside the path followed by said transfer holders as the latter are moved to said unloading positions, mechanism operable after the stacks have dropped into said transfer holders to spread the transfer holders apart to increase the spacing therebetween to a pitch substantially equal to the pitch of said conveyor buckets, mechanism operable after the stacks have dropped into said transfer holders to shift the transfer holders toward said unloading positions at a speed which matches to speed of said buckets, and means movable with said carriage and operable after the speed of the transfer holders has been matched to the speed of the buckets to shift the stacks of articles out of the transfer holders and into the buckets.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including mechanism for moving said transfer devices along a substantially triangular path to engage and release said articles, said transfer device moving along a first leg of said triangular path toward said articles to engage the latter, moving downwardly along a second leg of said triangular path to transfer and turn the engaged articles, and returning upwardly preparatory to engaging succeeding articles along a third leg of said triangular path spaced further away than said second leg from the upright path followed by the articles.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a backing member normally positioned on the side of said upright path opposite said transfer devices whereby articles advancing along such path are disposed between the transfer devices and the backing member and are backed by the latter upon being engaged by the transfer devices, and means for selectively moving said backing member to a position extending across said upright path to deflect inferior articles away from the transfer devices whereby the latter may continue to operate but without transferring the inferior articles to said upper accumulating holders.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including carriers on said carriage each supporting a pair of transfer holders, and said spreading mechanism including means for spreading the carriers away from one another to increase the spacing between the transfer holders.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the transfer holders of each pair are mounted on their respective carrier for movement toward and away from one another, and said spreading mechanism including means for spreading the transfer holders on the carriers to increase the spacing between the transfer holders.

6. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles advanced continuously along an upright path into an accumulating station, the combination of, a support, a transfer device mounted on said support in said accumulating station and operable to engage each successive article advanced along said path, turn the article through an angle of approximately 90.degree. to a horizontal position, and release the article to fall downwardly, an accumulating holder disposed beneath the point where said article is released by said transfer device whereby said article drops into said accumulating holder, a gate movable between positions opening and closing the bottom of said accumulating holder, a gate actuator timed to hold said gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in a stack in said accumulating holder and then to open the gate to allow the stack to fall from the accumulating holder, a transfer holder, a carriage mounting said transfer holder on said support for movement from a loading position beneath said accumulator holder in vertical alignment therewith and an unloading position spaced horizontally from said loading position, said transfer holder being disposed in said loading position as said gate is opened thereby to catch the stack of articles dropped from said accumulating holder, an elongated conveyor having an article-receiving bucket movable continuously and at a predetermined speed along a path extending alongside the path followed by said transfer holder as the latter is moved toward said unloading position, mechanism operable after opening of said gate to move said carriage and said transfer holder along said support in a direction to shift said transfer holder from said loading position to said unloading position and at a speed which matches the speed of said bucket, and means movable with said carriage and operable after the speed of the transfer holder has been matched to the speed of the bucket to shift the stack of articles out of the transfer holder and into the bucket.

7. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles advanced in side-by-side relation along a predetermined path into an accumulating station, the combination of, a support, a series of side-by-side transfer devices mounted on said support to engage successive leading articles advanced along said path, and to swing the articles laterally of the path and drop the articles, an accumulating holder disposed beneath the point where the articles are released by the transfer devices and having a series of side-by-side compartments for catching the articles, a gate movable between positions opening and closing the bottom of said accumulating holder, a gate actuator timed to hold said gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in stacks in said compartments and then to open the gate to allow the stacks to fall from the accumulating holder, a series of side-by-side transfer holders disposed on said support beneath said accumulating holder to receive the stacks of articles, an elongated conveyor having article-receiving buckets disposed alongside said transfer holders and spaced apart with a predetermined pitch, means mounting said transfer holders on said support for movement between closely spaced positions in which the transfer holders are spaced apart a distance correlated with the spacing between the compartments of said accumulating holder, and spread positions in which said transfer holders are spaced apart a distance correlated with the spacing of said conveyor buckets, means for keeping said transfer holders in said closely spaced positions as said gate is opened and for moving said transfer holders to said spread positions after the articles have dropped from said accumulating holder into said transfer holders, and mechanism operable thereafter to shift said articles out of said transfer holders and into said conveyor buckets.

8. In apparatus for engaging successive articles advanced continuously and in upright positions along an upright path into a pickup station and for transferring the articles to a discharge station spaced vertically and laterally from said pickup station while turning the articles into generally horizontal positions, the combination of, a support, a transfer device, means mounting said transfer device on said support for swinging movement vertically and laterally of said path between said pickup and discharge stations about first and second axes paralleling said path and extending transversely of the direction in which the articles are advanced along the path, said transfer device being operable to engage an article in said pickup station and to release the article in said discharge station, mechanism operable when said transfer device is in proximity to said pickup station to advance the transfer device from a starting point along a first leg of a generally triangular path and into engagement with an article being advanced into said pickup station and then operable to swing the transfer device from said pickup station toward said discharge station along a second leg of said triangular path, said mechanism being operable after release of the engaged article in said discharge station to return said transfer device toward said starting point along a third leg of said triangular path spaced further away than said second leg from said upright path whereby the transfer device is moved from said starting point into positive engagement with each article advancing into said pickup station and subsequently is returned to said starting point while retracted away from said upright path so as to clear the succeeding article being advanced into said pickup station.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said mounting means comprise a rock shaft mounted to turn back and forth on said support about said first axis, a crank anchored to said rock shaft and rotatably journaling said transfer device to swing about said second axis, a slide mounted for up and down vertical movement on said support, and an arm anchored at one end to said transfer device, the other end of said arm being supported on said slide to move vertically therewith, being supported to pivot relative to the slide about an axis paralleling said first and second axes, and being guided for back and forth generally horizontal movement relative to the slide.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which additional transfer devices are mounted on said support in similar fashion to said one transfer device and are disposed in side-by-side relation to simultaneously transfer a series of articles between said stations, and further including means for automatically moving said transfer devices away from one another to increase the spacing therebetween as an incident to swinging of the transfer devices from said pickup station to said discharge station.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including a backing member disposed in said pickup station and normally positioned on the side of said upright path opposite said transfer device whereby each article advancing into the pickup station is disposed between the transfer device and the backing member and is backed by the latter upon being engaged by the transfer device, and means for selectively moving said backing member to a position extending across said upright path to deflect inferior articles advancing into said pickup station away from said transfer device whereby the latter may continue to operate and move along said triangular path but without transferring the inferior articles to the discharge station.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said backing member is shaped to back the articles when positioned normally and to allow the transfer device to complete its full movement along the first leg of said triangular path when positioned to deflect the inferior articles.

13. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch, a series of holders disposed on said support in side-by-side relation with one another and in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least one of said holders on said support for movement relative to the other holder and lengthwise of said conveyor between closely spaced and spread positions relative to the other bucket, means for loading stacks of articles in said holders when the latter are in closely spaced positions relative to one another, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift the other holder on the support to said spread position to match the pitch of the holders to the pitch of the buckets, and means operable thereafter to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.

14. In apparatus for engaging articles advanced into a pickup station along a predetermined path in a series of side-by-side rows and for transferring the articles to a discharge station spaced laterally and vertically of said first station, the combination of, a support, a series of spaced transfer devices mounted on said support to swing upwardly and downwardly between said stations, each of said transfer devices including means operable to engage an article in one of the rows in said pickup station and to release the article in said discharge station, said transfer devices, when in said pickup station, being spaced from one another a distance correlated with the spacing of the articles in the pickup station so as to be in position to engage such articles, mechanism for swinging said transfer devices and the engaged articles from the pickup station to the discharge station, and cam means coacting between said support and said transfer devices for automatically moving the transfer devices away from one another as an incident to such swinging whereby the articles are delivered into said discharge station spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between the articles when in said pickup station.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said cam means comprise fingers attached to said transfer devices and guided within curved slots formed in said support.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 further including means for moving said transfer devices laterally into engagement with the articles in said pickup station before swinging of the transfer devices to said discharge station, said fingers being mounted for endwise sliding within said slots to accommodate lateral movement of the transfer devices.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which said slots are shaped to move the transfer devices of an adjacent pair through a predetermined distance but in opposite directions and to move the transfer devices outboard of said pair away from the latter and through a whole multiple of said distance and further than said distance.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including a bar journaled in said support and mounting said transfer devices on the support, said transfer devices being attached to said bar to turn with the latter when swinging between said stations and being mounted to slide along said bar and away from one another when the spacing between the transfer devices is increased.

19. In apparatus for engaging articles advanced in a series of rows into a first station and for transferring the articles to a second station while increasing the spacing between the articles, the combination of, a support, a series of spaced transfer devices mounted on said support for movement back and forth between said stations, each transfer device including means operable to engage an article in one of the rows in said first station and to release the article in said second station, said transfer devices, when in said first station, being spaced from one another a distance correlated with the spacing of the articles in the first station so as to be in position to engage such articles, mechanism for moving said transfer devices and the engaged articles from said first station to said second station, and means operable in timed relation with such movement and after said transfer devices engage the articles to move said transfer devices away from one another to increase the spacing therebetween whereby the articles are delivered into said second station spaced apart a greater distance than the spacing between the articles when in said first station.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 in which said last-mentioned means operate automatically to increase the spacing between said transfer devices as an incident to the movement of the latter from said first station to said second station.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 in which said last-mentioned means move the transfer devices of an adjacent pair through a predetermined distance but in opposite directions and move the transfer devices outboard of said pair away from the latter through a whole multiple of said predetermined distance and further than said distance.

22. In apparatus for accumulating articles into groups at an accumulating station preparatory to transferring the articles from the accumulating station, the combination of, a support, upper and lower accumulating holders disposed in said accumulating station and mounted on said support in vertical alignment with one another, an upwardly opening transfer holder mounted on said support beneath said lower accumulating holder and movable between a loading position in vertical alignment with said lower holder and an unloading position spaced horizontally from the lower holder, upper and lower gates mounted on said support and movable between positions opening and closing the lower ends of the upper and lower accumulating holders, respectively, means in said accumulating station operable to continuously place successive articles into said upper accumulating holder, an upper gate actuator timed to hold said upper gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in a stack in said upper holder and then to open the upper gate to allow said stack to drop into said lower accumulating holder, a lower gate actuator timed to hold said lower gate closed as said upper gate is opened whereby the dropped stack is caught in said lower accumulating holder, said actuators being timed to hold said upper gate open and said lower gate closed until a predetermined additional number of articles placed into said upper holder fall through the latter and collect on top of the stack in said lower holder, said lower actuator thereafter opening said lower gate and said upper actuator closing said upper gate to allow the articles in the lower accumulating holder to drop into said transfer holder and to position the upper gate to catch succeeding articles placed in said upper holder, and mechanism for keeping said transfer holder in said loading position as said lower gate is opened and for thereafter moving said transfer holder to said unloading position and back to said loading position before said lower gate is subsequently reopened with articles in said lower holder.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which a series of upper and lower side-by-side accumulating holders and a series of side-by-side transfer holders are mounted on said support and in which corresponding holders of the three series are aligned vertically with one another when said transfer holders are in said loading position.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said transfer holder is disposed out of said loading position during at least part of the time articles are being caught by the upper gate of the upper holder.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said upper gate actuator is timed to close said upper gate immediately after said lower gate actuator opens said lower gate.

26. In apparatus for accumulating articles into groups at an accumulating station preparatory to transferring the articles from the accumulating station, the combination of, a support, an accumulating holder mounted on said support and having a series of compartments disposed side by side in said accumulating station, a series of upwardly opening transfer holders mounted on said support beneath said compartments and movable between closely spaced positions in vertical alignment with said compartments and spread positions spaced horizontally from the compartments, a gate mounted on said support and movable between positions opening and closing the lower ends of the compartments, means in said accumulating station operable to place successive articles in said compartments, a gate actuator timed to hold said gate closed until a predetermined number of articles are collected in a stack in each compartment and then to open the gate to allow the stacks to drop into said transfer holders, and mechanism for keeping said transfer holders in said closely spaced positions as said gate is opened and for thereafter moving said transfer holders to said spread positions and back to said closely spaced positions before said gate is subsequently opened with articles in said compartments.

27. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring stacks of articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article-receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch and movable with continuous motion along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, a carriage mounted on said support for back and forth movement parallel to said path from a loading position to an unloading position, a series of side-by-side carriers on said carriage, at least two side-by-side holders supported on each carrier and disposed in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least two of said carriers for movement relative to said carriage and lengthwise of said path between closely spaced and spread positions, means mounting said holders for movement relative to said carriers and lengthwise of said path between closely spaced and spread positions, said holders being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said buckets when the holders and said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, means for loading stacks of articles into said holders when the latter and said carriers are in said closely spaced positions and when said carriage is in said loading position, means operable after loading of the holders to shift the latter on said carriers and to shift said two carriers on said carriage to said spread positions with the pitch of the holders matching the pitch of the buckets when both the holders and the carriers are in their spread positions, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift said carriage and said holders toward said unloading position at a speed which matches the speed of the buckets, and mechanism movable with said carriage and operable after the pitch and speed of the holders have been matched with the pitch and the speed of the buckets to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which said shifting means shift one of said movable carriers through a predetermined distance on said carriage and shift the other movable carrier through a whole multiple of said predetermined distance and further than said distance.

29. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which one of the carriers remains stationary relative to said carriage.

30. Apparatus as defined in claim 28 in which said shifting means shift the holders of each pair through equal distances but in opposite directions relative to their respective carriers.

31. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which said shifting means comprise a cam which remains stationed at a fixed location along said path as said carriage is moved back and forth between said positions, said shifting means further comprising mechanism movable with said carrier between said positions and connected to be actuated by said cam.

32. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring stacks of articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article-receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch and movable with continuous motion along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, a carriage mounted on said support for back and forth movement parallel to said path from a loading position to an unloading position, a series of side-by-side carriers on said carriage, at least two side-by-side holders supported on each carrier and disposed in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least two of said carriers for movement relative to said carriage and lengthwise of said path between closely spaced and spread positions, said holders being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said buckets when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, means for loading stacks of articles into said holders when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions and when said carriage is in said loading position, means operable after loading of the holders to shift said two carriers on said carriage to said spread positions with the pitch of the holders matching the pitch of the buckets when the carriers are in their spread positions, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift said carriage and said holders toward said unloading position at a speed which matches the speed of the buckets, and mechanism movable with said carriage and operable after the pitch and speed of the holders have been matched with the pitch and the speed of the buckets to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.

33. Apparatus as defined in claim 32 in which said shifting means comprise a cam which remains stationed at a fixed location along said path as said carriage is moved back and forth between said positions, said shifting means further comprising mechanism movable with said carrier between said positions and connected to be actuated by said cam.

34. Apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which said mechanism for shifting the stacks from the holders to the buckets is connected to be actuated by a second cam which remains stationed at a fixed location along said path as said carriage is moved back and forth between said positions.

35. In apparatus for accumulating and transferring stacks of articles, the combination of, a support, an elongated conveyor having a series of article-receiving buckets spaced equally from one another with a predetermined pitch, a series of side-by-side carriers disposed in end-to-end relation on said support, at least two holders supported on each carrier with the holders being disposed in end-to-end relation with said buckets, means mounting at least two of said carriers for movement relative to said support and lengthwise of said conveyor between closely spaced and spread positions, adjacent holders on adjacent carriers being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said buckets when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, means for unloading stacks of articles in said holders when said carriers are in said closely spaced positions, mechanism operable after loading of the holders to shift the carriers on said support to said spread positions with the pitch of the holders matching the pitch of the buckets when the carriers are in said spread positions, and means operable thereafter to shift the stacks of articles out of the holders and into the buckets.