GB1525359A - Apparatus for unloading empty containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1525359 Rotary conveyers SUN CHEMICAL CORP 27 Aug 1976 35678/76 Heading B8A Freshly enamelled cans 33 leaving an oven (60)-(63) (Fig. 1, not shown) on respective carriers 29 (Fig. 8) of an endless chain conveyer, are unloaded from the carriers 29 by being passed around a rotary conveyer having extendable and retractable suction heads 83. The chain conveyer 30 passes around a feed sprocket 50, and on to a sprocket 51 keyed to the axle 66 of the rotary conveyer. A plate successively engages the cans and urges them laterally leftwards (Fig. 8) into engagement with a positioning surface 111 on a plate 108. The latter has a slot (109) having a widened lead entrance [110] for receiving the stems of the carriers 29. Recesses 78 formed by flanges 75 carried by a rotor 73 (concentric and rigid with the sprocket 51) successively receive the carriers 29. Next the outer end surface of each of the cans 33 is engaged by a respective one of heads 83. The latter are each carried by a respective rod 80 slidable on a stem 79. The stems 79 are mounted circumferentially around a rotating part 70 of the rotary conveyer. Extension and retraction of each head 83 is controlled by a cam slot 85 (this is drawn in developed form in Fig. 11, not shown) on the inner periphery of the part 70. There is a co-operating cam-follower roller on each rod 80. By this means each rod 80 is successively extended on its stem 79, so that the suction heads 83 engage the bases of re spective cans 33. Vacuum is supplied through each extended rod 80 via a bore 103 (Fig. 8) in the conveyer drive shaft; and passages 98 and 96 (Fig. 5) and ports 93 in a valve 90. When the rod 80 is subsequently retracted, the respective can 33 is drawn off its conveyer carrier rod 29 and into position within carrier recesses 77 of a rotor 69 similar to, and in side-by-side relation with, the rotor 73. On further retraction of each rod 80, a conical head 92 of the valve 90 is engaged by a seat 96 (Fig. 5) and the corresponding head 83 is vented to atmosphere via ports 91 and 97. The cans are then discharged by the rotor 69 to an output shoot (133). Two separate covers (114 and 115) (Fig. 3, not shown) each carrying guide strips 116-119, are pivotally mounted on a respective frame member 152, and can be manually lifted to an open position for inspection purposes, &c.