Container Turner

Container orienting apparatus is old in the art, however, that shown herein is considered to provide a less complex and more reliable piece of equipment than has heretofore been provided for this purpose and especially for processing containers at a very rapid rate without damage thereto.

As herein illustrated the apparatus is designed to orient containers which have a longer dimension in one direction than in a direction at right angles thereto so that they have broad sides and narrow ends and comprises means for moving the containers standing upright along predetermined path which constrains the containers to move along in single file with their sides parallel to the direction of movement and their ends transverse thereto and at a predetermined place along said path means for rotating such of the containers as necessary to arrange all of the containers traveling along said path with corresponding sides facing in the same direction. The constraining means comprises a guide rail along one side of the path and a screw along the other side of the path which defines a narrow passage along which the containers move single file. The screw operates to advance the containers at a predetermined spacing. There are gaps in the guide rail and the screw at said predetermined place providing an open space within which the containers are free of constraint and the means for rotating the containers is located along this space for effecting rotation of the containers to reverse their positions and includes means for pivotally engaging the upper ends of the containers to prevent lateral displacement during their rotation. The means for advancing the containers is a conveyor having a horizontal run upon which the containers stand upright and above the container conveyor there is a second conveyor on which there are mounted pivot pins at a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the containers on the container conveyor which are moved into engagement with the upper ends of the containers as the latter approach the space and are moved out of engagement with the upper ends of the containers as the latter leave the space. The pivot pins operate to hold a container down on the container conveyor and prevent lateral movement while permitting rotation about their vertical axis and have pointed ends to facilitate entry into the open ends of the containers. The means for effecting rotation of the containers at the space comprise a ram at one side of the conveyor arranged to be moved in reciprocation transversely of the conveyor and by engagement with a portion of a container rearwardly of its axis of rotation to initiate rotation of the container to a position transversely of the conveyor in which a portion of the container forwardly of its axis of rotation is disposed in a position to be intercepted by the guide rail at the one side of the space as the container continues to move forwardly along the space. Engagement of the container forwardly of its axis of rotation with the gudie rail effects displacement about the axis of rotation to a position rearwardly of the axis of rotation and simultaneously moves the portion rearwardly of the axis of rotation forwardly thereof. An inclined guide is arranged at the opposite side of the conveyor in a position to receive the forwardly disposed trailing side of the container and rotate it into alignment with the center line of the path along which the container is traveling so that it re-enters the passage between the guide rail and the screw. There is control means including a sensing device in the form of a photoelectric scanner which by detecting a container approaching the space supplies air to an air cylinder for moving the ram transversely of the conveyor.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings;

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top view taken on the line 2, 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3, 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation partly in vertical section taken on the line 4, 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view at the region where rotation takes place showing the successive positions of the containers as they are rotated; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the controls.

The apparatus of this invention is designed to receive containers randomly from a source of containers and to orient them about their vertical axis so that corresponding sides of all of the containers face in the same direction. As herein illustrated, the containers have a longer dimension in one direction than the direction at right angles thereto so that the opposite sides are wider than the opposite ends, however, it is to be understood that the apparatus is capable of processing containers of the kind wherein the sides and ends are of equal width. The containers shown for the purpose of illustration are of the type commonly referred to as flasks, FIG. 1, so that their long dimensions extend from end to end and their short dimension from side to side. Customarily distinctively different indicia are applied to the opposite sides of the containers and it is the purpose of this apparatus to orient the containers so that the indicia of a kind all face in the same direction.

The apparatus for effecting orientation of the containers is arranged to receive the containers without previous alignment so that some may have indicia of one kind at one side and some at the other side, advance the containers along a predetermined path and during such forward movement rotate the containers about their vertical axis to dispose corresponding indicia on successive containers on the same side, that is, all facing the same way.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus is provided with a supporting frame comprising an elongate beam 10 provided at its ends with posts 12 fixed at their lower ends to a base 14, FIG. 4, so as to be supported above and parallel to the floor. A conveyor 16 is mounted on the beam on longitudinally spaced sprockets 18--18 fixed to transversely dispose shafts 20--20 journaled at opposite sides of the sprockets in bearing members 22--22 secured to the beam. The shaft 20 at one end extends laterally from its bearing 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The conveyor is a flat belt provided at its inner side with tooth receiving pocket 28 for interengagement with the teeth of the sprockets 18 so that the belt is moved in translation without slip, has an upper horizontal run 24 which travels along the upper side of the beam and a lower run which travels along the underside of the beam in a supporting passage 30, FIG. 1.

The containers to be oriented are deposited on the upper horizontal run of the belt for movement along a predetermined path in single file and are confined and guided during such movement by means of a guide rail 32 at one side and a spacer screw 34 at the opposite side. The rail and screw in conjunction defining a narrow longitudinally extending passage 35 which compels the containers to move in single file and at a uniformly predetermined spacing determined by the pitch of the screw.

The guide rail 32 comprises vertically spaced rods 36--36 which extend along one side of the horizontal run of the conveyor and are supported at suitable intervals on the machine frame by means of uprights 37 bolted to the sides of the beam. The screw 34 does not extend the full length of the apparatus and so there are mounted at the opposite ends of the screw and on the same side additional vertically spaced rods 38--38, FIG. 3, which guide the containers before they reach the screw and after they leave the screw.

The screw 34 has a helical thread 40 of a configuration to pocket a container placed between it and the guide rail 32 so as to advance the containers in uniformly spaced relation in consonance with the translational movement of the conveyor and is supported on a shaft 41 which in turn is supported at its opposite ends in suitable bearings 42--42 mounted on the frame by means of supporting brackets 44--44 for rotation about a longitudinal axis and there is provided at one end of the screw a sprocket 46 by means of which it is rotated as will appear hereinafter.

The guide rails 32 and the screw 34 contain gaps intermediate their ends which provide an open space 50 forming a turning zone along which the containers travel free of constraint from the guide rails and from the screw so that it is possible in this region to turn the containers about their vertical axes. To prevent displacement of the containers from the conveyor as they travel along this open space 50 there is provided means 52 for holding the containers on the conveyor while permitting them to be rotated about their vertical axes, at a spacing corresponding to that of the pitch of the screw comprising an endless chain 55 on which there are mounted at the spacing of the pitch of the screw pivot pins 54. The chain 55 is mounted above the conveyor 16 on longitudinally spaced sprockets 56--56 with its lower run 58 above the level of the tops of the containers traveling along on the conveyor 16 so that as the pivot pins are carried around by the chain 55 to the lower sides of the sprockets 56 the pivot pins will enter the necks of the containers before the containers reach the open space and be removed from the necks of the containers after they leave the open space. To provide for smooth introduction of the pivot pins into the necks of the containers the lower run of the chain is guided in a gradually downwardly inclined direction from the sprocket 56 at the left hand side as shown in FIG. 1 to a substantially horizontal position midway between the sprockets and then guided upwardly along an incline toward the other sprocket 56. For guiding the lower run of the chain along the horizontal portion there is provided a block 60 having a flat lower surface engaged with the upper side of the lower run. The pivot pins 54 have conical ends 64 to facilitate entry into the open ends of the necks of the containers. It is to be understood, however, that instead of pivot pins socket members may be employed which will telescopically engage the necks of the containers to provide a pivot axis for rotation. The conveyor 52 and pivot pins 54 apply downward pressure to the containers to hold them firmly seated on the conveyor 16 so that they move forwardly at their predetermined spacing without slipping during their forward movement and during their rotation. At the open space 50 the containers are rotated about their vertical axes as shown in FIG. 5. Initiation of their rotation is effected by a ram 66 which is supported for movement at right angles to the path of travel of the containers, transversely of the conveyor 16, its movement being controlled as will appear hereinafter, to engage a container at that side rearwardly of its axis of rotation as the container moves by it to rotate the container about its vertical axis to a transversely disposed position in which the forward end of the container is disposed in a position so as to be intercepted by the guide rails 32 at the one end of the open space. As the containers continue to be moved by the conveyor relative to these guide rails the forwardly displaced end is rotated to a position rearwardly of the axis of rotation which disposes the trailing end of the container forwardly of the axis of rotation. Opposite the guide rails 32 there is a deflector plate 68 supported by upright 37 in a horizontal position with one end 72 spaced from the center line of the conveyor 16, a distance which is slightly greater than one-half the long dimension of the container, and the other end 74 at a distance which is no greater than half the short dimension of the container which provides an inclined surface 76 which by engagement with the rear side of the trailing end rotates the container about its axis so as to bring said trailing end into a leading position in alignment with the center line of the conveyor whereupon it is moved forwardly between the guide rails 32 and the screw. The guide rails are located at a distance from the center line of the conveyor which corresponds substantially to one-half the short dimension of the container.

The containers may have indicia on only one side or on both sides but different on the two sides. When indicia is employed only on one side a definitive mark is provided on that side or on the other side which will initiate operation of the ram 66 to commence the turning operation, either to turn the side which has the indicia on it to the opposite side or the side that does not have indicia on it to the opposite side.

As herein illustrated the ram 66 protrudes from an air operated cylinder 78 mounted by means of bracket 80 to one side of the frame on an upright 37 at that side in a horizontal position near the upper end of a container resting on the conveyor in a position in the space 50 so as to engage the container rearwardly of its axis of rotation after it enters the space. The bracket 80 contains a longitudinal slot 81 and is attached to the upright 37 by bolts 83 so that it may be adjusted along the conveyor 16 to the most effective position for turning the containers. The ram is shown at the level of the shoulder of the container, however, it is to be understood that for different containers the level of the ram may be different. The cylinder 78 is supplied with pressure to extend and retract the ram 66 in timed relation with the arrival of the containers at the position of the ram.

Control is achieved by means of a sensing device 85 in the form of a photoelectric scanner 87 mounted adjacent the conveyor preceding the open space which by observation of a passing container actuates a normally closed three way solenoid operated valve 89 connected by a conductor 91 and conductor 93 to a source of air pressure. Opening of the normally closed valve 89 supplies pressure to an air cylinder 95 from which extends a rod 97 into engagement with a lever 99 extending from a normally closed valve 101. Shifting of the lever 99 opens the normally closed valve 101 to supply air from the line 93 to a normally closed three way valve 103. A lever 105 is provided on the vlave 103 and has on it a follower 107 supported in engagement with the screw shaft 41 intermediate the ends of the screw at the gap in the screw. The screw shaft 41 has on it a protrusion 109 which by engagement with the follower 107 each time it rotates opens and closes the valve 103. If at the time the valve 103 is opened by the screw the lever 99 has been displaced in a direction to open the valve 101, pressure will be supplied from the valve 103 through a conductor 111 directly to the cylinder 78 to effect projection of the ram 66.

Since the valve 103 is opened momentarily the pressure through the line 111 will be immediately cut off and the ram 66 returned by spring pressure within the cylinder 78. It is necessary to reset the lever 99 after each operation and so there is provided a three way valve 110 which is connected at one end by a conductor 112 to the conductor 93 and hence to the source and at its other end by a conductor 114 to an air piston 116. A lever 119 provided with a follower 120 is supported in a position to be actuated by engagement of the thread of the screw 34 each time it makes one complete turn to open the valve 110 to supply pressure to the cylinder 116 which projects the piston 118 against the lever 99 so as to close the valve 101. The cylinders and valves are mounted by suitable brackets, FIGS. 2 and 3, to the upright 37 at that side of the apparatus.

The drive for the conveyor is provided for by a motor M, FIGS. 1 and 4, mounted on the base 14 which has on it a drive pulley 124. The drive pulley 124 drives a pulley 126 mounted by means of a shaft 128 on one of the supports 12 by way of a belt 130 entrained at its ends about the respective pulleys. The shaft 128 through a gear reducer 134 drives a sprocket 136. A chain 138 entrained at one end about the sprocket 136 and at its other end about a sprocket 137 fixed to the shaft 20 drives the sprocket 18 at that end of the apparatus and hence the conveyor 16. A sprocket 142 is mounted on a shaft 140 at the underside of the beam so as to be engaged by one run of the chain 138 and to be driven thereby. Rotation of the sprocket 142 effects rotation of the shaft 140 and in turn a sprocket 144 mounted thereon. A chain 146 entrained at one end about the sprocket 144 and a sprocket 148 drives a shaft 150 on which is mounted one of the sprockets 56 so as to drive the conveyor 52. The shaft 150 also has fixed to it a sprocket 151 about which is entrained one end of a chain 153. The other end of the chain is entrained about a sprocket 155 fixed to a shaft 157. A beveled gear 152 is fixed to the shaft 157 and meshes with a beveled gear 154 fixed to a shaft 156. A sprocket 158 fastened to the shaft 156 is connected by a chain 160 entrained at one end about it and at its other end about the sprocket 46 and provides for driving the screw.

To prevent the containers from being lifted off the conveyor 16 as the pivot pins 54 are disengaged from their upper ends there is provided at the far side of the space 50 a pair of stripper plates 162--162 which are supported in a horizontal position just above the shoulders of the containers at opposite sides of the neck with a space therebetween to permit the necks to pass along between them which hold the containers down on the conveyor until the pivot pins are disengaged.

The apparatus as thus constructed enables loading containers onto the conveyor 16 without regard to their orientation and delivering them from the other end in single file with corresponding indicia on one or both sides of the containers facing in the same direction.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and includes all modifications or improvements which fall within the scope of the appended claims.