Apparatus for Imparting Angular Movement to Articles While Being Moved Along a Predetermined Path

This invention relates to apparatus for imparting rotary movement to articles forming a single row of articles while such articles are being moved along a predetermined path.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 475,522 filed Mar. 15, 1983 discloses apparatus for arranging articles in groups and includes an infeed portion in which articles arranged in a single row in following relation are manipulated transversely so as to form two rows of articles which are then accumulated in groups during movement of the articles through the outfeed end of the machine.

According to this invention in one form, apparatus for imparting angular movement to articles which are moved along a predetermined path in a single row comprises an endless element having a working reach movable alongside said predetermined path and having a curvilinear reach forming a continuation of the downstream part of said working reach and extending in a direction away from said predetermined path together with at least one article engaging lug mounted on said endless element and engageable with articles in sequence for imparting angular movement thereto while said lug is moved along said curvilinear reach of said endless element. Unlike patent application Ser. No. 475,522, the articles are not arranged in two rows while being moved through the outfeed portion of the machine.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the portions of a packaging machine which are formed according to this invention and which are for the purpose of imparting rotation to articles while such articles are being moved along a predetermined path, the parts being shown in the positions which they occupy at the point of initial contact between an article and the apparatus formed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but shows the parts in the positions which they occupy during a subsequent stage of angular movement of the articles;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 and shows the parts in the positions which they occupy upon completion of rotation of an article through an angle of approximately ninety degrees; and

FIG. 4 shows the parts in the positions which they occupy after a rotated container is moved out of engagement with the apparatus of this invention by conveyor means which moves the article along a predetermined path.

In the drawings the numeral 1 represents an endless conveyor which serves as a means for conveying a plurality of articles in following relation from left to right through a packaging machine. An article is designated at "A". An endless element 2 such as a chain is trained about a driving sprocket 3 and a pair of driven sprockets 4 and 5. Sprockets 3, 4 and 5 are mounted on and are rotatable with their associated shafts 6, 7 and 8 which are vertically disposed and which are mounted on the frame of the machine (not shown).

For the purpose of engaging articles such as "A", a lug generally indicated by the numeral 9 includes a mounting bracket 10 mounted to chain 2 by pins 11 and 12. Base portion 13 of lug structure 9 is rigidly secured to the mounting bracket 10 by means of pin 14 and an elongated extension 15 is rigidly secured to the lug structure 9 by any suitable means such as by welding.

In order to insure that articles such as "A" are maintained in firm contact with the lug structure 9, the conveyor 1 is driven at a slightly faster speed than the speed of movement of the lug 9 in the direction of conveyor 1.

Endless element 2 comprises a straight working reach designated 2a which extends alongside the path of movement of the articles "A" and between the sprockets 3 and 5. From the drawings it is apparent that the working reach 2a of endless element 2 is disposed in an angular converging relation to the conveyor 1 and to the path of movement of articles "A". A curvilinear reach 2b forms a continuation of the downstream part of working reach 2a and the shape of such curvilinear portion is determined by sprocket 3 and as represented constitutes a portion of the circumference of a circle. Endless element 2 also includes a straight withdrawal reach 2c which extends between sprockets 3 and 4 and which is disposed in substantially normal or perpendicular relation to the direction of movement of the working reach of conveyor 1 and to the path of movement of containers "A". Similarly endless element 2 includes a return reach 2d which extends between reaches 2a and 2c.

As is obvious from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the angular converging relation of the working reach 2a relative to the direction of movement of the working reach of conveyor 1 results in engagement of the corner A1 of container "A" with the corner 9a of lug 9 as is represented in FIG. 2. Furthermore FIG. 2 depicts an instant in the angular movement of article "A" in a counterclockwise direction about a vertical axis due to movement of lug 9 about a portion of the curvilinear portion 2b of endless element 2.

For preventing undesired movement of container A in a direction away from the base portion 12 of lug 9, guide means 16 is provided and is configured with a curved circular portion 16a for engaging the corner A2 of article "A". Arcuate portion 16a is in the form of a part of a circle having a center at the center of shaft 6 since it is about this center that the article A is manipulated by lug structure 9. After the operation progresses to the condition represented in FIG. 3 rotation of article "A" through an angle of approximately ninety degrees is complete. Thereafter lug structure 9 moves in a direction transverse to and generally normal or perpendicular to the path of movement of the working reach of conveyor 1 so that there is no tendency to impart accelerated movement of container "A" in a direction from left to right as would be the case if extension 15 were rigidly secured to some rotary element such as sprocket 3.

Continued movement of conveyor 1 causes container "A" to move out of engagement with the extension 15 of lug 9 and rotation of the container "A" is thus complete as represented by the structure shown in FIG. 4.

As is explained in U.S. application Ser. No. 475,522, articles "A" after having been rotated may be accumulated in an appropriate fashion in the outfeed portion of the machine and may then be packaged so that a plurality of containers "A" are enveloped within a single unitary package although the apparatus of this invention does not contemplate arranging the articles such as "A" in two rows in the outfeed portion of the machine as is contemplated by U.S. application Ser. No. 475,522.

This invention is well suited for use in conjunction with packaging machines which are designated to package a plurality of articles in a single package unit and especially articles which are of cubical configuration.