Importance

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Abstract

The present inventin is an apparatus and method for inserting articles into packages. The apparatus includes a dispensing assembly and a feeding assembly; and the dispensing assembly, in turn, includes a dispenser body, a gate and an actuator. The dispensor body defines a loading chamber for holding the articles, an inlet for conducting the articles into the loading chamber, and an outlet for dispensing the articles from the loading chamber. The gate is connected to the dispenser body for movement between a closed position, wherein the gate extends across the outlet of the dispenser body to hold the articles in the loading chamber, and an open position to allow the articles to pass through the outlet of the dispenser body. The actuator of the dispensing assembly is provided to move the gate from its closed position to its open position to dispense articles into the packages from the dispenser body. The feeding assembly extends adjacent the inlet of the dispenser body for receiving the articles from a source thereof and transporting the articles into the inlet of the dispenser body. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a control assembly to coordinate the operation of the dispensing assembly and the feeding assembly so that each time one of the packages passes beneath the dispenser, one, and preferably only one, of the articles is inserted into that package.

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First Claim