PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS COMPRISES A VARIABLE PITCH CONVEYOR BELT ASSEMBLY AND A FLIGHTED SIDE LUG CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY

摘要

A packaging machine (5) for moving a spaced series of groups of containers along a path of travel in a packaging machine line is disclosed. The packaging machine includes a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly (12) having a pair of conveyor chains (61, 62) equally spaced from a longitudinal axis extending along the path of travel, and a pair of generally parallel side guides (17) mounted one each on a pair of accessory rails (14) movably supported on the framework (7) of the packaging machine, and extending along opposite sides of the path of travel. The conveyor chains are constructed to be moved laterally toward and away from each other, and the side guides are constructed to be simultaneously moved laterally toward and away from the conveyors with the accessory rails, respectively, as the conveyor chains are moved. Each conveyor chain includes a spaced series of pop-up lug assemblies (63) in which a pop-up lug (92) of each assembly can be individually selected for reciprocal movement from a lowered position flush with respect to the surface of the conveyor chain into a raised position extended above and with respect to the surface of the conveyor chain for varying the pitch of the pop-up lugs along the length of the conveyor chains. Each conveyor chain also includes a plurality of modular table-top lugs (65) which are constructed to be yieldably urged into position on an endless chain (84).