Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed... – By conveying randomly faced items and turning items to...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2001-10-30
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed...
By conveying randomly faced items and turning items to...
C198S377100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to indexing systems for rotary orienters. Rotary orienters position articles being conveyed on a conveyor system so that a feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction, for example, with a handle leading. The invention is directed to an improved apparatus for indexing the rotation of articles, rotating them rapidly but smoothly to a precise predetermined orientation about their vertical axis. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with filling, capping, labeling and inspection of containers, or other similar operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The packaging industry handles many different articles that must be packaged, filled, processed, or acted on in some manner. These articles are made in many different sizes and shapes that are not necessarily symmetrical. They may have a handle and/or an opening, and so forth, that is off center. In the packaging industry, the articles may require that a label be applied to a particular side, or that a product be inserted through an opening in the article, or some other requirement that necessitates the articles being oriented in a uniform manner while being processed along a production line. It is then necessary to index the opening of the articles to be filled so that the opening of each article is uniformly aligned with the filling spout. The articles may be introduced to a linear conveyor system with these key features randomly oriented; for example, the opening into a container. Therefore, it becomes necessary to rotate the articles until the selected feature is in the same precise location in relation to each other and in relation to the production equipment. An indexing system is critical to ensure the rotation of the article is to the same precise orientation so that the next apparatus in the production line may operate on the article with the same result.
Various apparatus for orienting articles, which use various indexing methods, are well-known in the packaging industry. The patent to Schneemann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,244, illustrates a complex apparatus for incrementally rotating a turntable from one workstation position to another. This apparatus is actuated by a linearly translating driver. The primary purpose of the apparatus is to firmly lock the turntable with a locking pawl at each workstation The apparatus does not permit selective rotation and is overly complex for use in orienting articles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,714, issued to Takao Matsumoto, uses a friction wheel attached to the rotatable table that selectively engages a centrally driven friction wheel for rotation of the table. A detection device issues a signal to the indexing system to initiate rotation. A terminating signal frees the friction wheel of the rotatable table from the central friction wheel. An electromagnetic brake is used to stop the rotation of the rotatable table in response to the terminating signal. The use of friction wheels and electromagnetic brakes provide a system that is imprecise.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,154 discloses yet another method for rotation of containers, however this rotation is for inspection or labeling purposes of round containers and precise positioning is unnecessary.
Notwithstanding the existence of such prior art indexing systems, it remains clear that there is a need for a rotary orienter having an indexing system that will permit smooth and precise rotation of an article to a predetermined position to enable further production steps to be precisely undertaken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotary orienter having an indexing system that smoothly and accurately rotates articles to a predetermined orientation so that further operations may be accurately performed on the articles. The rotary orienter receives randomly oriented articles from a standard linear conveyor system through an entrance star wheel that places the articles on at least one station that is rotated about a central axis of a turret assembly. Each article is rotated by the station, about the station's axis, to a uniform predetermined orientation. The articles then depart the rotary orienter through an exit star wheel that places the articles on the exit linear conveyor system.
Most simply stated, the invention comprises a support frame to which is mounted a central column that is rotatable about its axis by a rotating means. There is at least one station that is connected to the column and rotates with the column as the column rotates about its axis.
The station comprises a spindle that has a first end and a second end. The spindle is rotatable about its longitudinal axis by means for rotating the spindle. A turntable is attached to the first end of the spindle. The means for rotating the spindle is connected to the spindle proximal the second end of the spindle and it is also connected to the support frame. An indexing assembly is attached to the spindle and to the support frame of the rotary orienter.
The indexing assembly comprises a slip clutch that is mounted on the spindle proximal the means for rotating the spindle. An indexing wheel, that has at least two detents formed therein, is mounted on the spindle intermediate the turntable and the slip clutch. The first end of an arm is pivotally mounted to the support frame so that the second end extends outwardly in relation to the column. The arm is engageable with the detents of the indexing wheel so that when it is so engaged the indexing wheel and the spindle are prevented from rotating when the means for rotating the spindle rotates. An actuator is connected to the support frame so that it is engageable with the arm. When the actuator engages the arm, the arm disengages from one of the detents, thereby allowing the turntable to rotate until the arm is released by the actuator and the arm engages the other one of the detents.
The rotary orienter further comprises a means for moving articles onto the turntable in generally random orientation. At least one sensor is mounted to the support frame for determining the orientation of the article that has been placed upon the turntable. The sensor activates the actuator when orientation of an article is not in accordance with the predetermined orientation.
The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacturer possessing the features, properties, and the relation to elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2426433 (1947-08-01), Carter
patent: 3934714 (1976-01-01), Matsumoto
patent: 4124112 (1978-11-01), Mohney et al.
patent: 4428474 (1984-01-01), Gau et al.
patent: 4606244 (1986-08-01), Schneemann
patent: 4993537 (1991-02-01), Bianchini et al.
patent: 5150782 (1992-09-01), Richter
Bankuty Geza E.
Perazzo Nicholas J.
Dillon, Jr. Joe
Ellis Christopher P.
New England Machinery, Inc.
Pettis & Van Royen, P.A.
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