TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of an automated round tube loading machine.

BACKGROUND

Round tubes made of cardboard or other material are used to hold yarn or other products. Before the round tubes are used for such purposes, the tubes are usually manually loaded into boxes for storage, transport, etc. For example, after the round tubes are manufactured, the tubes are manually placed into the boxes before usage.

As shown inFIGS. 1A-1D, the round tubes are usually stacked in the boxes in one set (FIGS. 1A, 1C) or two sets of eleven rows of the tubes packed vertically (e.g. end to end,FIG. 1B) or horizontally (e.g. side by side,FIG. 1D). The stacked rows usually start with a first or bottom row of thirteen of the tubes. A second row of twelve of the tubes is usually placed next to the first row of tubes. A third row of thirteen of the tubes is usually placed next to the second row of tubes. The rest of the rows of tubes are similarly stacked alternating between a row of thirteen of the tubes and a row of twelve of the tubes with the last or top row having thirteen of the tubes.

The loading of the round tubes into the boxes in this manner is tedious and time consuming since the loading is done manually.

