CA1079675A - Apparatus for orientating objects - Google Patents

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

Apparatus for orientating open end containers including a table to rotate in a plane inclined to the horizontal and having rows of pockets disposed one above the other with the upper row substantially in the plane of the table so that as the table rotates containers are picked up in the upper row of pockets with the open end in either of two opposite orientations and during subsequent rotation are transferred to the second pocket so as to occupy an open end downward orientation irrespective of the orientation occupied whilst in the first pocket. Means are provided to apply a cleaning fluid to the containers while in the inverted position in the second row of pockets and they are then discharged off the second row of pockets such as onto a conveyor all with the same orientation.

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for receiving random oriented containers and orientating the containers to a predetermined requirement before delivery to a discharge location.
There is proposed in my Australian Patent No.
467,947 apparatus which will select objects such as containers of a predetermined orientation within a number of random orientated objects, and convey those objects in the same orientation to a discharge location for delivery to sub-sequent equipment. In one embodiment of the prior pro-posed apparatus the orientation of the objects may be reversed during transfer from the collection to the dis-charge point.
Apparatus of this type is largely used for sorting containers such as glass or plastic bottles which have a major and minor dimension. When such containers are randomly orientated and subject to a tumbling movement, they normally take up an orientation with their major dimensions substan-tially horizontal. Accordingly in the prior proposed apparatus the containers are initially picked-up by the apparatus with their major axis horizontal and during movement within the apparatus are only capable of being turned over through an angle of 180.
As it is most practical to initially select the containers with their major axis horizontal, apparatus working on this principal is naturally of simple construction, however it is, in many applications, necessary to rotate the containers through an angle of less than 180 to obtain the desired orientation for cleaning.
It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus of relatively simple construction and effective operation which may collect containers at one orientation, pass them through one or 7~

" 1079675 more alternative orientations to facilitate cleaning before discharge from the apparatus.
With this object in view there is provided app-aratus for orientating containers having an open end, comprising an orientating table mounted for rotation in a plane inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of first pockets on the table each adapted to receive an individual ~
container as the table rotates, each container only being ;
receivable in a first pocket orientated with the open end in a leading or trailing relation to the direction of move-ment, a plurality of second pockets on the table located in a container receiving relationship with the first pockets, -said second pocket being arranged to support containers in an inverted orientation with the open end directed downwardly, means to regulate transfer of a container in a first pocket i~
to the associated second pocket as the table rotates so that containers of either orientation in the first pockets will occupy the inverted orientation in the second pocket, means to regulate discharge of containers from the second pocket after travelling in said second pocket through at least part of a revolution of the table, and means to direct cleaning fluid into the open end of containers during at least part of said travel in the second pocket. By arrang-ing the first pockets so that they will receive containers in either of two opposite orientations will naturally increase the delivery rate of the machine, as the possibility of each pocket receiving a container during each rotation is greatly increased over that where each pocket will receive containers of only one orientation, Preferably the second pockets are open bottomed, and a stationary retaining member is provided below the level of said second pockets. ~he retaining member is shaped and positioned to prevent the passage of containers in the second pockets passing downwardly through the open bottom during a portion of each revolution of the table. At least portion of the retaining member is hollow and has a plurality of apertures therein directed upwardly towards the path of the second pockets. The hollow portion of the retain-ing member is connectable to a source of cleaning fluid, which may be sprayed into the open end of the inverted container as the container is moved along the hollow portion by the rotation of the table.
In one arrangement the first pockets are arranged in two or more rows co-axial with the axes of rotation of the table, the second pockets also being arranged in one or more rows co-axial with said axis of rotation, and the second pockets are disposed below the level of the first pockets whereby the containers fall by gravity from the first to the second pockets.
; A first stationary retaining member may be provided below the level of the first pockets, said member being shaped and positioned to prevent the container in the first pockets passing therethrough during the portion of each revolution of the table and to permit passage there-through to the second pocket during the remainder of the revolution. Each first pocket may be provided with means to support the object adjacent a selected end thereof, said means being adapted so that when the object is clear of the retaining member the object will pivot on said support means under the influence of gravity to present the open end of the container to the second pocket first.
~he means to regulate discharge of containers 3 from the second pockets as the table rotates preferably includes guide means to invert the containers to an open end upward orientation during the discharge movement.

1,' .

The first pockets may each be defined by radially spaced inner and outer walls and circumferentially spaced end walls between the inner and outer walls, The spacing between the inner and outer walls and/or between the end walls may be adjustable, whereby the size of the pocke-t may be adjusted to receive different size containers, Preferably the inner wall of each first pocket is mounted for selective ~`
movement in a direction towards or away from the outer wall, and one of the end walls is mounted for selective movement in a direction towards or away from the other end wall, Suit-able means are provided to lock the inner wall and the one end wall in respective selected positions, ; ' Throughout this specification reference is made to the use of the apparatus for sorting and delivering bottles, however it is to be understood that it may be used for sorting other types of containers and other objects in general, ~ he invention will be more readily understood ; from the following description of one practical arrangement of the apparatus as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which is designed specifically for handling necked bottles, ~; In the drawings -Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 in Figure 2 Figure 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 in Figure 3 Figure 5 is a partial elevational section 3 view of a modified form of the apparatus taken on line 5-5 in Figure 7 Figure 6 is a partial plan view o~ the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the further embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 taken on line 7-7 Figure 8 is a plan view of a further embodiment of an article pocket having adjustable dimensions Figure 9 is an elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 8 Figure 10 is an elevational view of a receiving pocket having adjustable dimensions Figure 11 is a further elevational view of Figure 10 Figure 12 is a part section of the view of Figure 11 taken on line 12-12.
Referring now to the drawings the apparatus comprises a box structure frame 10 rotatably supporting the table 11 with the portion of the frame above the plane of the table enclosed by walls 12 forming a hopper to receive the bottles to be sorted. The hopper has a base 13 parallel and : above the plane of the rotating table 11 and inclined wall portions 12a which together with the base 13 cause the bottles in the hopper 12 to gravitate through the opening 14 onto the table 11.
The table 11 is mounted on the spindle 15 supported in bearings 16 mounted on the bracket structure 18 attached to the frame 10. The chain wheel 20 is drive coupled to the shaft 15 and driven through a suitable transmission and the drive sprocket 21 from the motor 22.
It will be noted that the axis of the shaft 15 and hence the axis of rotation of the table 11 is înclined at approximately 60 to the horizontal so that the table rotates in a plane at approximately 30 to the horizontal. To provide additional support and stability to the rotating table there are provided thereon a plurality of wheels 25 which run upon a track supported by the frame 10. The manner of supporting the track is not shown for the sake of clarity. In addition a plurality of wheels 26 are rotatably supported on a fixed part of the frame 10 to engage the underside of the peripheral flange 27 of the table to also provide support for the table.
Four radially disposed deflector bars 30 are provided on the upper surface of the table 11 and project therefrom. The purpose of the deflector bars is to provide a degree of agitation to the bottles resting upon the surface of the table 11 in order to promote movement of the bottles into the pockets on the table as hereinbefore described and to prevent a blockage of the bottles within the opening 14 leading from the hopper 12.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is provided around the periphery of the table a first series of pockets 31 formed by radially spaced ring members 32 and 33 and angularly spaced radial members 34 extending between the ring members. The arcuate length and radial width of each of the pockets 31 are such that they will receive a bottle having its longitudinal axis extending in the ` direction of the arcuate length of the pocket, but will not receive a bottle whose longitudinal axis is disposed in a ; generally radial direction. Thus as shown in Figure 3 bottles may be received in the pockets 31 with the neck end thereof either forward or rearward with respect to the direction of rotation of the table. It will be understood that the bottles are picked up in the pockets of the table as the pockets travel through the lower portion of each revolut-ion when the pockets are located beneath the opening 14 leading from the hopper. If the bottles do not have the correct orientation to be fully received in the pocket as the table continues to rotate and the pockets move up the incline, the incorrectly received bottles will roll back down the incline in a gravity induced movement.
The pockets 31 are open at the bottom so that the bottles may normally pass therethrough however there is provided a stationary arcuate support bar 36 fixed to the frame of the machine as indicated at 37 in Figure 1. The support bar 36 is disposed co-axial with the shaft 15 and extends through an arcuate length subtending approximately 120 at the centre. Thus during rotation of the table 11 the support bar 36 forms an obstruction to the passage of the bottles through the pockets 31 through an angle of rotation of 120 and through the remaining 60 of rotation the bottom of the pockets is open so that bottles may pass therethrough. As seen in Figures 3 and 4 the support bar 36 is received in slots 39 in the radial walls 34 of the pockets so that the walls 34 may extend below the level of the upper surface of the support bar 36 without obstructing the rotation of the table 11. The support bar 36 is positioned so as to extend through the lower half of the circular path of the pockets on the table as it is during this lower half of the travel that the pockets receive the bottles delivered to the table from the hopper.
Also mounted on the table 11 below the level of the pockets 31 and support bar 36 are a second series of pockets 40. The number of pockets 40 in the second series being equal to the number of pockets 31 in the face of the table 11 with each pocket in the second series co-operating with a pocket 31 to receive a bottle therefrom.
Each pocket 40 is formed by an in~er wall 41 two spaced radial walls 42 which diverge outwardly at the upper end to guide the bottle descending from the pocket 31 into the pocket 40. The pockets 40 do not have a continuous outer wall, but the bottles are prevented from 10'79675 movement in an outwardly radial direction by the peripheral bar 45 which is stationary and supported on the frame of the machine by brackets 46 and 47 as indicated in Figure 1.
Similarly the bottles are prevented from passing downwardly out of the pockets 40 by lower supports 49 and 50 carried on brackets 51 and 52 respectively attached to the frame 10 of the machine. The supports 49 and 50 are of annular form concentric with the shaft 15. The support 49 is in the form of a tube having perforations 49A along at least portion of the length thereof to direct a stream of cleaning fluid into the open end of the bottles as they move therealong. The support 49 is connected at one end to a pressure source of cleaning fluid.
It will be observed from Figure 3 of the drawings that as the table rotates and each pocket 31 passes over the end of the support bar 36 the bottle in that pocket is no longer supported in the vertical direction and accordingly will fall under gravity into the pocket 40 therebelow. In order to ensure that all bottles take up a position in the second series of pockets with the neck of the bottle downmost, there are provided on the inner and outer peripheral rings 32 and 33 two pairs of opposed pins 52 and 53.
The respective pins of each pair of pins 52 and 53 are spaced in the radial direction so that the distance therebetween is less than the diameter of the larger portion of the bottle, but greater than the diameter of the neck portion of the bottle. The spacing between the pairs of pins in the circumferential direction is such that when a bottle is located within the pocket, the larger portion of the bottle will be located above one pair of pins, and the neck portion of the bottle above the other pair of pins, irrespective of whether the neck end of the bottle is ~.o79675 leading or trailing in respect of the direction of travel of the table.
The result of having the two pairs of pins 52 and 53 arranged in this manner is that irrespective of which end of the bottle is leading, as the pocket moves clear of the end of the support bar 36, the neck end of the bottle will move downwardly first as it is free to pass between the pins whilst the other larger end may not pass ~hrough the pins.
Thus in effect the bottle tends to pivot about the pair of pins which engages the larger portion of the bottle until the bottle has reached a generally vertical disposition, with the neck end downmost, whereupon the larger portion of the bottle may pass downwardly out of the pocket, as at this position, the widest part of the bottle will be located intermediate the pairs of pins 52 and 53 and hence the larger portion of the bottle is not obstructed by the pins.
The above described arrangement of two pairs of pins are but one example of means to achieve a selected orientation of the bottles in the second series of pockets, and it must be appreciated that other means may be employed to achieve the same result, and that the means may be varied in accordance with the actual shape of the bottle and the required orientation thereof in the second series of pockets.
The essence of all such arrangements is that the gravity induced movement of the bottle from the first pocket into the second pocket, after the bottle has moved clear of the support bar 36, is to cause a partial rotation of the bottle as it falls from the first series of pockets to the second series of pockets.
As previously described the bottles whilst in the second series of pockets are supported upon the support members 49 and 50,, and also rest upon the side support bar 45. The delivery chute 60 is supported upon the machine frame 10 and has a receiving portion 61 located at a level lower than the support member, but adjacent thereto. The side ~t ~B a~@eY~ bar 45 is discontinued in the vicinity of the receiving portion of the chute 61 as also is the support member 49, and the lower end of the bottle is then supported upon the support member 50 and a cam bar 63. The cam bar 63 rises in the direction of travel of the bottles so that as the bottles are caused to move therealong the inner lower edge of the bottle is raised relative to the outer edge which is supported on the member 50, and the extent of raising will reach a vallle where the bottle will roll outwardly in a pivoting movement about the lower outer edge supported on the member 50, so that the bottle will take up a conventional upright position in the discharge chute 60.
It will be appreciated that this further reversal of the orientation of the bottle as it leaves the apparatus and is delivered to the discharge chute is now always required, and depends upon the orientation given to the bottle in the second series of pockets and the relationship of that orientation to the orientation required when the bottles are delivered to the next process. If it is not required to further turn the bottles over, the receiving portion 61 of the delivery chute 60 would be placed beneath the second series of pockets so that the bottles would pass directly off the support member 49 and 50 into the discharge chute, and the side walls of the chute would then guide the bottle out from beneath the second series of pockets and discharge it from the machine.
In the apparatus as described above there are a single row of pockets in the table 11 which feed into a single row of pockets in the second series, however it is to be understood that subject to the permissible size of the table, and the size of the bottles being sorted, there may be two concentric rows of pockets in the table feeding into two or more rows in the second series of pockets.
Referring now to Figures, 5, 6 and 7, these figures show a first series of double pockets 70 which communicate through a chute to a second series of pockets 80 below them arranged in a single row.
Pockets 70 communicate via a chute 71 with the pockets 80. The pockets 70 are divided in the circumferential direction from each other by members 73 which form with the arcuate base bar 74 a cavity 75 which will receive the neck of the bottle being handled but will not receive the base. The cavity 75 is open to the pocket in advance thereof with respect to the direction of rotation of the table, so that the bottle will gravitate toward the open side of the pocket as the table rotates. The members 72 are adjustably mounted on the respective members 73 to permit adjustment of the effective length of each pocket.
The position of the member 72 is set so that when the neck of the bottle is received in the cavity 75 the base of the bottle is clear of the member 72 (as shown in Figure 5); and when the base of the bottle engages the member 73 the neck of the bottle is supported on the adjustable member 72.
The arcuate bar 74 provided under each row of pockets 70 operates in identical fashion to the arcuate bar 36 described in the earlier embodiment.
The arrangement is such that once the bottle has - cleared the end of the arcuate bar 74 the bottle will fall bottom first irrespective of which orientation the bottle occupies in the pocket. If the bottle base clears the arcuate bar first it is then unsupported and will commence to fall, and if the neck end of the bottle clears the bar ; 74 first it is supported by the member 72 and cannot fall until the base end also clears the bar and the action of the base end falling will move the neck end clear of the member 72.
The operation of the apparatus otherwise is similar to that previously described.
It will be appreciated that the provision of two concentric rows of top pockets will lead to more efficient utilization of the apparatus. Where the relative propositions of height and width of a bottle to be handled is at least 2, it is possible for the apparatus to feed such bottles from a horizontal position in the first series of pockets arranged in two rows into the lower single row of pockets. Of course if the height to width ratio is at least three, three concentric rows of upper pockets may be used with a single lower row. This is explained by the simple fact that a bottle on its side occupies a greater peripheral distance around the table than when it is upright in the bottom pockets. Also the number of pockets in each upper row may not be equal as the mean circumferential length of each row will decrease as the radius thereof decreases.
The pocket arrangements shown in Figures 5 to 12 differ in physical construction from those previously described and illustrated, however, it will be appreciated that the different constructions are interchangeable to carry out specific requirements.
For example, the pins 52 and 53 shown in Figure

2 ensure that the bottle falls with its neck directed down, however, it may be required for the bottle to fall bottom end first. Also it may be desirable for the physical dimensions of the pockets to be adjustable so that the pocket may be varied to permit use of the apparatus with different size bottles.
Figures 8 to 12 show pockets incorporating means :1079675 for adjusting the physical dimensions of the pockets. Figures 8 and 9 show the first row of pockets 90, and Figures 10 to 12 show the second row of pockets 100 each of which may be used in either of the previous embodiments described.
Depending upon the degree of variation in bottle ; size to be accommodated it may be necessary to only effect adjustment to the size of the first row of pockets, which initially receive the bottles, while the second row of pockets, which receive the bottles in a generally vertical disposition, may remain unchanged for bottles of different heights, and/or minor differences in cross-section.
~; Referring now to Figures 8 and g there is shown two adjacent pockets in the first row constructed to permit adjustment of the effective size thereof. Each pocket is defined by radially spaced side walls 96 and 97, the latter being formed by the edge of the movable side plate 93; and end walls 98 and 99, again the latter being formed by the edge of the movable end plate 91. In Figures 8 and 9 the left pocket shows the movable plates in the position to give a minimum size pocket and the right pocket shows the movable plates positioned to give a maximum size pocket.
The pin 92 is provided on the fixed end wall 98 and is arranged to enter the neck of a bottle when the neck end is presented to the end wall 98, and to engage the base if presented thereto so that the neck is supported on the end plate 91. Accordingly the bottles will always drop from the pockets bottom first.
In the embodiment illustrated pins 110 and 111 are attached to the movable end plate 91. These pins are guided in respective slots 112 and 113 in a portion of the table 11, and also extend through slots 114 and 115 in the movable side plate 93. The slots 114 and 115 are inclined to the direction of the slots 112 and 113 whereby when adjustment is made to the position of the movable end plate 91 a corresponding adjustment is made to the position of the movable side plate 93. The pin 111 is threaded to receive the locking nut 116 which when tightened locks the two movable plates in the selected position.
:~ Referring now to Figures 10, 11 and 12 there is shown an adjustable size second pocket which may if required, be used in combination with the adjustable size first pocket described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Located within the basic second pocket 40 is a right-angled adJustment member 101 each leg of which is parallel to respective side walls of the pocket 40. The wall 40a of the pocket has a portion 40b `~ inclined to the vertical axis of the pocket, and the adjustment member has a correspondingly inclined portion lOlb. The slot 102 is provided in the inclined portion 40b to receive the pins 105 attached to the inclined portion lOlb of the adjustment member. The slot 102 is inclined so that as the pins 105 move therealong the adjustment member 101 will move diagonally across the pocket to reduce the cross-section thereof in both directions. The lock nut 103 is threadably received by one of the pins to permit selective locking of the adjustment member 101 in the required positions.

Claims (8)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN INCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for orienting and cleaning containers having an open end, and cleaning the containers, comprising an orienting table mounted for rotation in a plane inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of first pockets carried by the table each adapted to receive an individual container as the table rotates, each container only being retainable during rotation of the table in a first pocket oriented with the open end along the path of movement, in a leading or trailing relation to the direction of movement, a plurality of second pockets carried by the table, each one of the second pockets being arranged in a container receiving relationship with each first pocket, each of said second pockets being arranged to support a cont-ainer in an inverted orientation with the open end directed downwardly, first means to support the containers in said orientation in the first pockets and to regulate transfer of said supported containers to an associated second pocket as the table rotates, said first means being adapted to deliver con-tainers to the second pockets with the open end directed down-wardly, and second means to support containers in said second pockets and regulate discharge of containers from the second pocket after travelling in said second pockets through at least part of a revolution of the table, means to direct cleaning fluid into the open end of containers during at least part of said travel in the second pocket, said second means being adap-ted to invert the containers as they are discharged from the second pockets.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pockets are arranged in two rows each coaxial with the axis of rotation of the table, the second pockets also being arranged in a single row coaxial with said axis of rotation and disposed below the level of the first pockets, the total number of first pockets in the two rows being not more than the number of second pockets in the single row.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second means includes a stationary retaining member upon which the open end of the container rests while in the second pockets, said retaining member being shaped and positioned to prevent the passage of containers from the second pockets during a portion of each revolution of the table and to permit passage during the remainder of the revolution, at least a portion of said retaining member being hollow and having a plurality of apertures therein directed upwardly towards the path of the second pockets, said hollow portion being connectable to a source of cleaning fluid.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second means to regulate discharge of containers from the second pock-ets as the table rotates, includes guide means to invert the containers to an open end upward orientation during said dis-charge.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second means also includes a stationary perimeter member extending about the periphery of the row of second pockets to retain the containers in the second pockets, said stationary member being discontinuous over part of said periphery, and a cam member to raise the radial inner side of the containers in the second pocket as the containers traverse the discontinuity in the stationary member whereby the containers pivot to the open end upward orientation during discharge from the second pockets.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pockets are each defined by radially spaced inner and outer walls and circumferentially spaced end walls between the inner and outer walls, and means are provided to adjust the spacing between the inner and outer walls and between the ends walls, whereby the size of the pocket may be adjusted to receive diff-erent size containers.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pockets are each defined by radially spaced inner and outer walls and circumferentially spaced end walls between the inner and outer walls, and means are provided to adjust the spacing between the inner and outer walls or between the end walls, whereby the size of the pocket may be adjusted to receive diff-erent size containers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall of each first pocket is mounted for selective movement in a direction towards or away from the outer wall, and one of the end walls is mounted for selective movement in a direction towards or away from the other end wall, and means are provided to lock the inner wall and said one end wall in respective selected positions.