The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 13, 1998
James A Goodman, Glencoe, IL (US);
Prototype Equipment Corporation, Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
A automated packaging system that can simultaneously process a single case or a plurality of cases and can be adjusted to accommodate packages and cases of various sizes. Individual packages, are fed to the packaging system on the package conveyor. The packages are recognized by the system when they energize an electric eye which causes the package to be stopped and elevated below a pick and place mechanism. A plurality of cases are stopped and then positioned longitudinally, by stops carried by a first chain, on the case conveyor at locations aligned with the packages that have been stopped and elevated over the package conveyor. The pick and place head is lowered and picks up the packages with vacuum heads. The pick and place heads can be rotated to thus change the attitude of the package. The pick and place mechanism is then moved laterally over the case conveyor and the packages are lowered into the open cases. Empty cases are stopped by stops carried by a second chain, and are queued up on the case conveyor waiting to be moved into packaging position as soon as the filled cases are conveyed away. After the filled cases have been discharged from the case conveyor the first chain is moved into position to stop the next group of empty cases to be moved into the packaging position. By handling one package at a time into each case and by adjusting the case longitudinally relative to the pick and place centerline, and adjusting the pick and place vacuum tube laterally across the case, and by being able to rotate the pick and place vacuum tube to any degree each package can be placed in the case in any position desired. As a result this invention is able to create any desired pattern in the case with packages facing any desired direction and overlapping each other by any degree desired.