Tray positioning and loading system

Abstract

A container packaging system 20 is composed of a registration system 22 for arranging articles 24 at a staging location 26 into a loading registration configuration. A loader 28 lifts the articles 24 from the staging location 26 for placement into predetermined locations in containers 30. Although not necessarily always the case, the containers 30 can be sized and configured to receive a plurality of articles 24. A control system 32 controls the operation of the packaging system, including controlling the registration system 22, so that the articles 24 are placed in the correct registration configuration at the staging location 26, and controlling the operation of the loader 28 to transfer the articles 24 into predetermined locations in the containers 30.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A container packing system for placing articles into one or more containers, comprising:
 a registration system for arranging the articles at a staging location of the packaging system into a loading registration configuration wherein the positions of the articles correspond with the locations and configurations of the one or more containers;   a loader for transferring the articles from the staging location into predetermined locations in the one or more containers, and   a control system for controlling the operation of the registration system to arrange the articles into loading registration configuration at the staging location and for operating the loader to transfer the articles from the staging location and into the one or more containers.   
     
     
         2 . The container packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the registration system comprising a first conveyor for delivery of the articles to a second conveyor onto which the articles are positioned relative to each other into loading registration configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The container packing system of  claim 2 , wherein the second conveyor comprising the staging location. 
     
     
         4 . The container packaging system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a sensor for sensing the locations of the articles on the first conveyor and producing data related to such locations: and   the control system using the data from the sensor for controllably operating the first and second conveyors so that the articles are delivered from the first conveyor to the second conveyor into loading registration on the second conveyor.   
     
     
         5 . The container packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the loader comprising:
 an interface for attachment to the articles to be placed into the containers;   an actuating system for moving the interface between the staging location and the one or more containers to transfer the articles from the staging location and into the one or more containers;   the control system controlling the operation of the actuating system.   
     
     
         6 . The container packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the interface comprising a lifting head for attachment to the articles for lifting the articles from the staging location. 
     
     
         7 . The container packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the articles comprising tops; and   the lifting head is configured to attach to the tops of the articles.   
     
     
         8 . The container packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system comprising a five-bar linkage arrangement to which the interface is mounted. 
     
     
         9 . The container packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the five-bar linkage arrangement is located above the staging location. 
     
     
         10 . The container packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the five-bar linkage arrangement is configured to detachably mount the interface. 
     
     
         11 . The container packaging system of  claim 8  wherein two of the linkages of the five-bar linkage arrangement are powered to move the interface between the staging location and the one or more containers. 
     
     
         12 . The container packaging system of  claim 8  further comprising an auxiliary linkage arrangement mounted on the five-bar linkage arrangement and connected to the interface to maintain the interface in selected orientation relative to the articles being lifted from the staging location and placed into the one or more containers. 
     
     
         13 . The container packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary linkage arrangement is linked to the five-bar linkage arrangement to thereby operate on the auxiliary linkage arrangement based on the motion of the five-bar linkage arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The container packaging system of  claim 1 :
 further comprising a conveyance system for transporting the one of more containers to the staging location to be loaded, and then for transporting the one or more containers away from the staging location after being loaded; and   wherein the control system controlling the conveyance system to position the containers in predetermined position relative to the staging location.   
     
     
         15 . A method of automatically placing articles into one or more containers, comprising:
 arranging the articles at a staging location into a loading registration configuration wherein the positions of the articles correspond with the locations and configurations of the one or more containers;   transferring the articles with a loader from the staging location into predetermined locations in the one or more containers, and   controlling the operation of the registration system to arrange the articles into loading registration configuration at the staging location and controlling the operation of the loader to transfer the articles from the staging location and into the one or more containers.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising constructing the actuating system in the form of a five-bar linkage arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising positioning the five-bar linkage arrangement above the staging location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising maintaining the articles being lifted in selected orientation from the staging location and until placed into the one or more containers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transporting the one of more containers to the staging location to be loaded, and then transporting the one or more containers away from the staging location after being loaded; and   positioning the containers in predetermined position relative to the staging location.