Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Other

Richard Prochut

Christer Nilsson

Jorgen Lofstedt

Ikuro Yokoyama

Paul G Kennedy

Kosaku Itoh

Doug Sarrazine, Sr

A mechanism is provided for simultaneously transferring a plurality of containers onto a continuously moving conveyor from a surface located adjacent to the conveyor. A pair of pusher plates are positioned along the surface, opposite the conveyor. The pusher plates extend towards the conveyor to simultaneously transfer a predetermined number of containers onto the conveyor. A shuttle plate is positioned above the conveyor and has compartments positioned to receive the cartons as they are pushed onto the conveyor. Once the cartons are loaded into the compartments, the shuttle plate is moved along the conveyor to accelerate the batch of containers up to the speed of the conveyor. Once the cartons reach the speed of the conveyor, the shuttle plate retracts out of the path of the conveyor and the containers continues to move along the conveyor. The shuttle plate then returns to its original to accept the next batch of containers.

Apparatus for transferring containers to a moving conveyor

An apparatus for forming a flattened seating area from a gabled bottom of a carton. The apparatus includes a cup having a recess that conforms to the bottom cross-section of the gabled bottom. The cup has an inlet in fluid communication with an underpressure source. An anvil is disposed within the cup recess for forming the carton when the carton bottom and anvil are driven together by, for example, the underpressure in the cup.

Vacuum operated bottom former

A mechanism is provided for transferring containers from a packaging machine to a pair of continuously moving outfeed conveyors which then route the containers to another location in the packaging facility. The packaging machine includes a vacuum cup which carries a row of container. The vacuum cup is movable to position the row of containers in place in front of a pair of pusher plates. The pusher plates are driven transversely across the vacuum cup to transfer the containers to a pair of puller plates positioned on the opposite side of the vacuum cup. As the pusher plates extend, they push the containers against sidewalls on the puller plates, aligning the cartons in rows running parallel to the outfeed conveyors. The puller plates then move transversely to align the rows of cartons with the outfeed conveyor. Once the puller plates are aligned with the conveyors, an unloader mechanism pushes in the containers onto the outfeed conveyors.

A vacuum operated processing station having a liquid separating system is set forth. The liquid separating system includes a separator tank disposed between a vacuum operated processing apparatus and an under-pressure source. The separator tank prevents liquid from reaching the under-pressure source. The system may be controlled to automatically drain the separator tank when the liquid level within the tank reaches a predetermined level.

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Bartlett, IL, United States of America

Richard Prochut