APPARATUS FOR ADAPTING CARRIER STOCK-APPLYING MACHINE TO APPLY CARRIER STOCK HAVING CONTAINER-ENGAGING AND HANDLE PORTIONS.

摘要

An apparatus is disclosed for adapting a machine employing a wheel assembly to apply a carrier stock to two rows of containers, such as beverage bottles, so that the machine can employ a carrier stock with each carrier having two container-engaging portions and a handle portion joined to the container-engaging portions at a longitudinally extending junction. A camming member for reconfiguring the carrier stock from a flattened condition into a reconfigured condition is positioned so that the carrier stock is drawn past the camming member before the carrier stock is received by the wheel assembly and is arranged to spread the container-engaging portions of the carriers laterally so that the handle portions of the carriers tend to be downwardly turned about the longitudinally extending junction of the carrier stock. Two pairs of spaced plates are provided for guiding the handle portion of each carrier of the carrier stock, as reconfigured from the flattened condition into the reconfigured condition, one such pair having an adjustable floor therebetween and guiding the handle portion thereof so that the carrier stock remains in the reconfigured condition when drawn onto the wheel assembly and the other pair guiding the handle portion thereof so that the carrier stock remains in the reconfigured condition when applied by the wheel assembly. A rotating wheel has arms for stricking a frangible junction between the handle portion of each carrier and the handle portion of the following carrier of the series.