Continuous motion packaging machine with rotating flights
A packaging machine for placing articles into a carton includes rotating flight assemblies that receive a carton or carton blank, and rotate the carton blank and carton with articles while the flight assemblies move downstream. The flight assemblies each include two fixed segments and one segment that includes a block and associated bracket that rotate as the flight assembly is pulled through the machine by a conveying system. A method includes carton blanks being fed by a carton feeder onto the flight assemblies. Articles are formed into an article group, which is then placed onto a carton blank. As the blank and article group move in a downstream direction, the side panels of the carton blank are wrapped around the article group and the carton and article group are rotated to assist in closing the carton end flaps.
1. An article packaging machine for loading an article group in a carton, the article packaging machine having a conveyor having a flight assembly with a rotational support plate to rotate the carton while it is transported along the conveyor, and a bedplate positioned adjacent to said conveyor, wherein said bedplate supports at least part of said flight assembly and has a cam track, the flight assembly includes a first support plate, a second support plate downstream from the first support plate, and a third support plate that is positioned between the first support plate and the second support plate, the third support plate has a cam follower received in the cam track and can selectively rotate relative to the first support plate and the second support plate as the flight assembly moves along the conveyor and the cam follower travels along the cam track.
2. The article packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the third support plate includes a support bar and a block supported by said support bar, and a bracket attached to said block, and wherein said block and said bracket can rotate relative to said support bar.
3. The article packaging machine of claim 2 , wherein the cam follower is supported on a cam arm that is operatively attached to said block, wherein movement of the cam follower in the cam track causes movement of said cam arm, and wherein movement of said cam arm in a rotational direction causes said block to rotate.
4. The article packaging machine of claim 3 , and a lug attached to said bracket for holding said bracket in a raised position.
5. The article packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the third support plate includes a support bar, a block supported by said support bar and a bracket attached to said block, said third support plate including a support bar and a block supported by said support bar, and a bracket attached to said block, and wherein said block and said bracket can rotate relative to said support bar, and a lug attached to said bracket for holding said bracket in a raised position relative to said bedplate.
6. The article packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein the first support plate and the second support plate are rotationally fixed.
7. The packaging machine of claim 1 , wherein said cam track includes a straight section and a curved section.
8. The packaging machine of claim 7 , wherein said bedplate includes a ramp section.
9. A flight assembly for a packaging machine, including a first support plate, a second support plate downstream from the first support plate, and a third support plate that is positioned between the first support plate and the second support plate, the third support plate includes a cam follower for being received in a cam track such that the third support plate can selectively rotate, relative to the first support plate and the second support plate.
10. The flight assembly of claim 9 , wherein the third support plate includes a support bar and a block supported by said support bar, and a bracket attached to said block, and wherein said block and said bracket can rotate relative to said support bar.
11. The flight assembly of claim 10 wherein the cam follower is supported on a cam arm that is operatively attached to said block, wherein movement of the cam follower in a cam track causes movement of said cam arm, and wherein movement of said cam arm in a rotational direction causes said block to rotate.
12. The flight assembly of claim 11 and a lug attached to said bracket for holding said bracket in a raised position.
13. An article packaging machine for loading an article group in a carton, the packaging machine comprising a conveyor,
a bedplate positioned adjacent to the conveyor, the bedplate defining a cam track that includes a straight section and a diverging section that diverges from the straight section; and
a flight assembly at least partially supported on the bedplate for rotating the carton during transport along the conveyor, the flight assembly includes a first support plate, a second support plate downstream from the first support plate, and a third support plate that is positioned between the first and second support plates, the third support plate includes a cam follower received in the cam track, the third support plate selectively rotates relative to the first and second support plates as the flight assembly moves along the conveyor and the cam follower travels through the diverging section of the cam track.
14. The article packaging machine of claim 13 , wherein the straight section is substantially parallel to a centerline of the bedplate, and the diverging section is substantially oblique to the centerline.
15. The article packaging machine of claim 14 , wherein the straight section is a first straight section, the cam track comprises a second straight section, and the diverging section extends between the first straight section and the second straight section.
16. The article packaging machine of claim 13 , wherein the bedplate includes a ramp section.