GB2179314A - Apparatus for orienting containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container orienting apparatus suitable for tasks and other non-cylindrical containers (12) comprises a pair of continuously moving counter-rotating parallel belts (80,90) for engaging opposite sides of the finish and/or neck of each container and for rotating each container a predetermined amount by changing the relative speeds of the belts for a predetermined time period. The amount of rotation necessary to rotate each container to a common orientation is determined by a programmable control means (24) responsive to orientation sensors (111) which determine which one of a number of natural preorientations each container has been brought to by preorienting means (106, 108) prior to engagement by the belts. User operated means allows a user to preprogramme the control means (24) to designate the rotations which are to correspond to particular output signals of the sensors (111). <IMAGE>

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

Apparatus for orienting containers This invention is concerned with apparatus for orienting containers each container having a body of non-circularcross-section and a cylindrical finish and/or neck portion. The apparatus serves to give a succession of such containers a uniform orientation.

Bottle,flask or container orienting devices are known in the prior art and are used with conveyors which move the containers during their manufacture or subsequent inspection, labelling, packaging, filling, etc. The terms "bottle", "flasV and "container" orienters maybe used interchangeably herein although it should be understood that all such references are intended to referto apparatus for orienting containers moulded from glass, plastic orthe like. In many applications the containers are often randomly oriented as they move on horizontal conveyors with their axes vertical. It is necessaryto rotate some containers about their respective axes in orderto uniformly orient each container relative to the conveyor so that predetermined portions of the containers may properly face a labelling, f illing, packing or other apparatus adjacentthe conveyor.

Many prior art cylindrical bottle orienters require the use of a projection moulded into each bottle. The projections engage corresponding detents on belts and the like, or activate various switches. While such projections are suitable for cylindrical containers they are notfor non-cylindrical containers.

Anothertype of prior art cylindrical container orienting device is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3 722 657 showing the use of parallel, continuously moving beltsfor engaging cylindrical containers such as cans. The relative belt speeds and directions may be changed in orderto transport each containerthrough the transport station in at least two rotational and translational modes. This device overcomes the instability (discussed belowwith respectto U.S. Patent No. 3 493 096) although it lacks flexibility since it is mechanically complex and requires use of various gear ratios which must be predetermined for part- icular operations. Consequently, each configuration of this device is suitable onlyfor a limited numberof applications. Furthermore, no means is shown for sensing a variety of pre-existing container orientations before the transfer station and for deter- mining the proper amount of rotation required in orderto place all containers in a uniform orientation. Moreover,this device is unsuitablefor orienting noncylindrical containers such as flasksJugs or rectilinear-body containers.

Some prior art non-cylindrical bottle orienters are known. For example, the principle disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3 493 096 is used in a flask orienterwhich utilises sensing fingers for detecting the presence and orientation of a flask at an orienting station and means for subsequently moving rotating members into engagement with a cylindrical part of the flask unifi a reset switch senses proper orientation and deenergises the circuit. The members are then disengaged allowing the flaskto continue along the con- veyor. As used herein, the term "flask" means a re- GB 2 179 314 A 1 lativelyflat, broad container having oneconcavesurface and one convexsurface. One disadvantage of such a device isthe instability induced in eachfiask due to its sudden engagement and disengagement with rotating members. Other disadvantages of this device are its limitation to flask orientation and its relatively slow speed because of the inertia of its moving components. Othertypes of non-cylindrical containers cannnot be oriented dueto the use of the sen- sing fingers.

U.S. Patent Specification No. 4149 621 describes an apparatusfor orienting flasks. The flasks are received at an inspection site either in a desired orientation or in an incorrect orientation displaced by 180' from the correct orientation. Atthe inspection site, a switch actuating arm or paddle engages each flaskto sense its orientation. The flasks which are in the incorrect orientation are turned to the correct orientation by two parallel endless belts which engage a cylindrical finish of the flask and, by running at difference speeds, rotate the flaskthrough 180% This apparatus is only capable of orienting containers of a type which can be preoriented into one of two natural preorientations, a correct orientation or an incorrect orientation 1804rom the correct orientation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can be preprogrammed to orient containers which can be preoriented into two or more natural preorientations and is thus capable of orienting more types of containerthan the known apparatuses described above.

The invention provides apparatusfor orienting containers each container having a body of noncircular cross-section and a cylindrical finish and/or neck portion, said apparatus comprising conveyor means operable to move a succession of the containers, container preorienting means adjustable to the particulartype of container being conveyed by the conveyor means and operableto orientate the containers into any of two or more natural orientations thereof, depending on the cross-section of the body, orientation sensing means located at an inspection site on said conveyor means downstream of the pre-orienting means and positionable to sense which of its natural orientations a container has adopted and to produce output signals representative of that orientation, two parallel endless orienting belts situated above said conveyor means downstream of the inspection siteto receive the cylindrical finish and/or neck portion of each containertherebetween, driving means for driving said belts, control means operable to control said driving means, in responseto the output signals from the sensing means, to allow containers received in a des.ired ori- entation to pass in that orientation and to rotate containers not received in the desired orientation into that orientation by driving one of said belts at one speed and the other of said belts at another speed, and user operated means for preprogramming the control meansto designate the rotations which are to correspond to particular output signals of the sensing means.

An apparatus in accordancewith the last preceding paragraph can be preprogrammedto operate on any one of a number of differenttypes of container in- 2 GB 2 179 314 A 2 cluding flasks and containers with square crosssection bodies. The container preorienting means is adjusted to the particulartype of container, the orientation sensing means is positioned to sensethe natural preorientations of that type of container, and the control means is preprogrammed with appropriate rotations.

The preorienting means may comprise two parallei rails located on opposite sides of said conveyor means, the spacing between the rails being adjustable to correspond to the minimum spacing which allows passage of a body of a container between the rails. This provides a simple preorienting means.

The sensing means may comprise at leastthree optical sensors. The sensors can be positioned in various relationships to one anotherto sensethe natural pre-orientations of various types of container.

In orderto ensure thatthe belts are operated atthe appropriate time to rotate a container, said control means may be actuated to apply rotation control signals to the driving means in response to an actuation signal produced by presence sensing means of the apparatus operableto sensethe presence of a container at said belts. This ensures operation of the belts when the container has actually arrived atthe belts.

The apparatus may also comprise spacing means operable to space the containers at predetermined intervals afterthey are preorientated and beforethey arrive atthe inspection site. Such spacing assists in sensing and rotating a container without interference from neighbouring containers.

The apparatus may also comprisetiming means operableto produce a timing signal indicating the arrival of a container atthe inspection site, thetiming 100 signal serving to actuate said sensing means.

There nowfollows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a preferred embodiment of the invention. It isto be understood thatthe preferred embodiment has been 105 selected for description byway of example.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure2 is a diagrammatic front elevational viewof a portion of Figure 1.

Figures3A, 38,3C,3Dand 3Eare schematic representations of the control system shown in Figure 1.

Figures4,5and 6are flow charts describing the operation of the invention.

Figure 7is a mode selection chart showing examples of sensor status in various modes of operation of the invention.

Referring nowto Figure 1 there is shown a diagrammatic plan view of apparatus 10 for orienting containers 12 having a body of non-circular crosssection and a cylindrical finish and/or neck portion. The containers move in direction 14 on continuously moving conveyor belt 16 which provides conveyor means of the apparatus operable to move a succes- sion of containers 12. Apparatus 10 generally comprises, container preorienting means, orienting means 20, a spacing and sensing portion 22, and computer control means 24. Containers 12 may be, for example, flasks having opposing concave and convex sides or may have one or more flat sides 13, etc.

Referring nowto Figures land 2 it will be noted that orienting means 20 comprises driving means in the form of motors 30 and 32 connected via 90'gear boxes to output drive pulleys 34 and 36, respectively. Drive pulley 34 is connected to clutch pulleys 38 and 40 via drive belt 42 and drive pulley 36 is connected to clutch pulleys 44 and 46 via drive belt 37. Motors 30 and 32 are mounted to a frame 50 in a manner such that belts 37 and 42 are coplanar and at a predetermined height above and parallel to conveyor belt 16. Frame 50 includes several conventional members (not shown for clarity) as may be necessary to maintain the proper relationship between various com- ponents of this invention. Pulleys 38,40,44 and 46 are each mounted on one end of the double ended output shafts of respective clutches 60,62,64 and 66 of the driving means. The other (bottom) ends of the vertically oriented output shafts of each clutch are connected to secondary drive pulleys 70,72,74 and 76, respectively, all situated in a plane on the side of the clutches (oppositethe plane of pulleys 38,40,44 and 46) and closerto conveyor belt 16. A gripping belt 80 is trained about pulleys 70 and 72 and idler pulleys 82 and 84 (mounted to frame 50 by means not shown). Pivotably mounted idler arm 86 servesto maintain tension on belt 80. Similarly, gripping belt 90 is trained about pulleys 74 and 76 and idler pulleys 92 and 94. Pivotably mounted idler arm 96 servesto maintain tension in belt 90. Each belt 80 and 90 has parallel portions 81 and 91, respectively, for engaging containers 12. Each parallel portion 81 and 91 is backed up by a spring-loaded tension support plate (not shown) in orderto assistthe belts in gripping the containers. The belts 80 and 90, thus, provide two parallel endless orienting belts situated above the conveyor belt 16 downstream of an inspection site (to be described) to receive the cylindrical finish and/ or neck portion of each container 12 therebetween.

Spacing portion 22 includes an infeed starwheel 99 (driven by means not shown) and a shaft encoder 102 for producing timing pulses as will be explained below. The encoder 102 constitutes timing means operable to produce a timing signal indicating the arrival of a container atthe inspection site, thetiming signal serving to actuate sensing means (to be described). The starwheel drive means and shaft encoder are each operatively connected to computer control 24. Starwheel 99 is operatively situated adjacent conveyor belt 16 upstream of orienting means 20. The starwheel 99 provides spacing means operable to spacethe containers 12 at predetermined intervals afterthey are preorientated and before they arrive at the inspection site. The f ingers 104 of the starwheel cooperatewith parallel guide bars 106 and 108to form pockets in orderto space containers 12 in a predetermined mannerto ensure that only one container at a time is ultimately engaged between belts 80 and 90. Guide rails 106 and 108 provide the pre- orienting means and are arranged so thatthe containers will pass between them only in one of several discrete orientations, the number of possible orientations depending upon the shape of the container. The container preorienting means provided by the rails 106 and 108 is adjustable to the particular r 3 GB 2 179 314 A 3 X w type of containers 12 being conveyed bythe belt 16. The adjustment involves adjusting the spacing between the railsto correspond to the minimum spacing which allows passage of a body of a container between the rails. The preorienting means is operable to orientate the containers into any of two or more natural orientations thereof, depending on the cross-section of the body. A flask has two natural orientations, with the concave face againstthe rail 106 and with the convex face againstthe rail 106, while a square body has four natural orientations.

The apparatus 10 also comprises orientation sensing means located at an inspection site on the portion 22 of the belt 16, downstream of the preorienting means. The sensing means comprises at leastthree optical sensors 111 (four individually identified as A, B, C and D) which are positionable to sense which of its natural orientations a container has adopted and to produce outputsignals representative of thatori- entation tothe computer control means 24.

Onlyfoursensors 111 are shown although itwill be understood that any number may be used as will be explained below. Whilethe preferred embodiment utilises optical sensors 111 it isto be understood that any othertypes of sensors may be used provided they perform a similar indicia detecting function. The placement of each sensor is only diagrammatically shown in Figure 1; placement criteria are discussed below. While computercontrol 24 is also operatively connected to all of the aforementioned motors and clutches,these connections are omitted forclarity.

The apparatus 10 also comprises presence sensing means in theform of a sensor 113. This sensor 113 is operable to sensethe presence of a container 12 at the belts 81 and 91 and to signal this presence tothe control means 24which is then actuated to apply rotation control signalsto the driving means. Sensor 113 is only diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. While various presence sensors may be used, one advantageous arrangement used in the preferred embodiment is shown in somewhat more detail in Figure 2 comprising a lever 200 pivotable about axis 202. Lever 200 is situated between the parallel belts and is pivoted by engagement with the finish of each passing container. A simple metallic stud or bolt 204 110 is secured to the upper side of lever 200 and asthe lever is pivoted by a container, bolt 204 is moved so as to be detected by proximity sensor 206 which then provides a signal to computer control system 24. The proximity sensor output passes through conditioning circuitry (not shown) in system 24 so thatthe changes in the output of sensor 206 caused by lever 200 dipping belowthe container rim and up the other side do not affect operation.

As shown in Figures M-3E, control means 24 comprises two microcomputers 100 and 101 which, in the preferred embodiment, are conventional 8-bit microcomputer chips programmed in accordance with the program shown in the flowcharts of Figures 4-6. Ob- viously, one computer could be used. Two computers are used in the preferred embodiment to provide parallel processing capability to enhance operational speed of the control system. Computer 100 receives data from optical sensors 11 1A, 111 B, 111 C and 111 D, each of which is connectedto computer through an identical circuit (therefore, only one will be described herein). The sensor output passes through a digital/analog switch 105 the position of which depends upon the type of sensor utilised. In the case of analog sensors, the switch 105 would be set in the analog position and the sensor output would pass through a signal conditioning and amplifier circuit 107 and comparator 109 to an amplifier 110 and then to the set terminal of D-type flip flop 112. In the case of a digital sensor, the sensor output would bypass circuit 107 and comparator 109. In each case, upon the detection of a selected indicia by a particular sensor,the Q output of flip flop 112 associated with that sensor provides a logical one or zero outputto computer 100. Each sensor has a corresponding indicating LED 114 operatively connected to computer 100 in orderto providethe operator with a visual display of system operation.

As explained below, computer 100 counts the number of pulses from each flip-flop 112 during an inspection window and latches a rotate instruction signal once that number exceeds a programmed value set by a quantitising input switch.

Computer 100 is programmable bythe operator via sets of thumbwheel switches 120 through 125 (best seen in Figure 313). Obviously, a keyboard or other suitable input device could be used. While the operation of these switches will be explained in more detail below, it is helpful to brief ly list the switch func- tions atthis time. Switch 120 provides an operator selection of the number of shift register positions between the starwheel 99 and the point atwhich the parallel belts engage the container. This enablesthe operatorto program the system to accept and track various size ware. Switch 121 permits the operatorto select predetermined and preprogrammed display formats. Display 140 may be selected to provide a variety of displays giving such information as line speed in containers per minute, container count through the apparatus, encoder position, count of ware that has been oriented and container countfor ware oriented, etc. Switch 122 also facilitates system operation with various size ware by enabling the operatorto adjustthe number of containers in starwheel 99 at any one time. Switch 123 providesthe aforementioned quantitising or pulse count threshold input enabling adjustment of the system sensitivityto various amounts of lettering or other indicia appearing on the containers. (A separate quantitising input may be provided for each sensor 111 if desired.) Switch 124 is the orientation mode switch used to condition the computer to acceptthe various sensor combinations listed in Figure 7. This switch ' thus, constitutes user operated meansfor preprogramming the control means 24to designate the rotations which are to correspond to particular output signals of the sensors 111. Switch 125 enables operator selection of inspection window durations by adjusting an associated counter. The operator is also able to reset all displayed ware-counts with switch 126 and can have apparatus 10 operatewith either a left or right moving succession of containers via switch 128. As will also be understood below, computer 100 also activates window indicator light 130 indicating that a container is (or should be) 4 GB 2 179 314 A 4 within the selected inspection window and that it is therefore ready to accept and quantitise data from sensors 111.

In the preferred embodiment computer 100 has a ware spacing control function. The inputs to this function are derived from jam and flow sensors 144. Signals from sensors 144trigger computer 101 to activate spacing wheel control relay 146 accordingly. Sensors 144 may be, for example, a manual switch (not shown) and photo detectors (not shown) up and downstream of system 10. The manual switch is for local, operation control of the starwheel. The upstream detector ensures that starwheei 99 is provided with a continual supply of containers to avoid anyjamming of the fingers. Thus, if an unusually large gap is detected between adjacent bottlesthe starwheel isturned off until several containers have accumulated. Similarly, if a jam is detected bythe downstream detectorthe starwheel isturned off to stop containerflow.

Computer 100 essentially servesto processthe various real-time signals produced bythe system and integrate them with the various operator inputs in orderto coordinate the outputs of sensors 111 with corresponding rotate instructions stored in its memory. As will be understood below, each particular set of outputs from sensors 111 corresponds to a desired amount of rotation necessaryto orient each corresponding containerto a common orientation.

These rotate instructions are sequentially provided to computer 101 along lines 150 when the particular container corresponding to the rotate instruction is sensed between the parallel belts. This bottle sense condition is inputto computer 101 from sensor 113 through amplifier 152. An outputfrom computer 101 along line 164 instructs computer 100 to transferthe associated rotate instructions. Computer 101 provides an output on line 160 to activate clutches 60,62, 64 and 66 in a predetermined mannerfor a pred- etermined time in orderto achieve the desired degree of rotation as instructed by the rotate instructions from computer 100. The control means 24 is operable to control said driving means, in response to output signals from the sensors 111, to allow containers received in a desired orientation to pass in that orientation and to rotate containers not received in the desired orientation into that orientation by driving one of the belts 80 and 90 at one speed and the other of said belts at anotherspeed.

In operation, computer 101 is calibrated as part of the set-u p routine. This calibration is perm itted only during set-up when switch 170 is closed, thus lig hting LED 172. During this time, rotation adjustment pot 174 provides an inputto analog to digital conver- ter 176,the digitised outputof which is representative of an amountof time required to rotate atest container 1800. Converter 176 may provideJor example, 256 bits of resolution forten turns of pot 174. During each operational run of apparatus 1 0,the output of converter 176 is used as a standard for 1800 rotation and anyother amount of rotation is proportioned accordingly.

To adjust apparatus 10 forvarious size ware, starwheel 99 orfingers 104 may be changed, thus nec- essitating an adjustment of switch 122 by the oper- ator in order to correlate the output of encoder 102 with the number of pockets in the starwheel. In the preferred embodiment, encoder 102 provides a 480 pulse per revolution, quadrature output as well as an index pulse once per revolution. Ideally the number of pockets in the starwheel should always be divisible into 960 pulses per revolution so that an even encoder pulse count is available with respect to each pocket. Encoder 102 may be phased with respect to starwheel 99 so that the index pulse (and consequently each encoder pulse count defining the start of each pocket) occurs at a desired starwheel postion. This position is chosen during system set-up in conjunction with the placement of sensors 111 in order to have each pocket-start pulse (defined as the encoder pulse count at the start of each pocket) occur when the container is (or should be) in proper position to enable sensors 111 to detect selected indicia, if any. Control means 24 defines an inspection window as a predetermined number of the encoder pulses beginning atthe start of a particular pocket (i.e. at a predetermined encoder pulse count) and ending at some point within the pocket as determined bythe window duration switch 125. Each window begins X pulses afterthe start of the previous window where X = 960 divided bythe number of windows per revolution. There may be more than one window used with respectto each container. During each inspection windowthe output of sensors 111 are en- abied and accepted or read by computer 100. Each sensor output is latched by its corresponding flipfiop 112 and read into the computer before the flip flops are cleared (atthe clock rate) in preparation forthe next sensor state transition. In the preferred embodiment, each sensor is an optical detectorwhich produces an output related to its proximityto itstarget area. Thistarget area may be raised lettering moulded into the container, a handle, an edge, etc... Consequently, depending upon the condition being sensed by each sensor, a predetermined number of sensortransitions may be necessarywithin a given inspection window before a rotate instruction can be determined. The quantitiser or pulse countthreshold switch 123 serves to eliminate the effect of certain transitions and also can be used to differentiate, for example, between a container side with a lot of lettering and another side which contains a smaller amount of lettering. The variation of inspection window duration allows for either a long time to in- spectfor letter detection as on the surface of a con- - tainerwhich should contain a certain amount of lettering (and, therefore, a certain number of sensor transitions) or a short momentary inspection for determining if a handle or similar "sharp" characteristic is in a specific position.

In operation, gripping belts 80 and 90 are driven at identical speeds in opposite directions such that along their parallel surfaces where they each contact the finish of the containers they move the containers in direction 14. In this configuration "normal " clutches 62 and 64 are engaged and since their drive pulleys 40 and 44 are identical the gripping belt speeds will be identical. Clutches 60 and 66 are disengaged. When a rotate instruction is provided by computer 101 along line 160, clutches 62 and 64 are A Z GB 2 179 314 A 5 disengaged and "rotate" clutches 60 and 66 are en gaged. Since the drive pu I ley46 has a smaller diame ter than drive pu I ley38, a differentia I belt speed wi I I occur with belt 90 speeding up and belt 80slowing down. If there is no rotate instruction, clutches 62 and 64will remain engaged whilethe container passes through the apparatus,thus being translated only without any rotation. If a rotate instruction is re ceived, clutches 60 and 66will be engaged onlyfor a predetermined time sufficientto cause the bottleto rotatefor a predetermined number of degrees while it is simultaneously translated. Before the container leaves belts 80 and 90, clutches 60 and 66 are dis engaged and 62 and 64 are engaged again in orderto stop rotation thus providing a rotational braking ef fect and enhancing stability. In each case, while a container is merely translated or rotated and transla ted by belts 80 and 90 its linearvelocity before, dur ing and after its contactwith these belts will remain substantiallythe same. As best seen in Figure 2, con veyor belt 16 is raised along its length just beforethe containers reach orienting mechanism 20. Thisfac ilitates rotation withoutthe drag associated with turning some containers while they rest on the con veyor belt.

Referring nowto Figures 4-6there are shown sev eral flow charts describing the operation of the pro grams required to operate computers 100 and 101 in accordance with theforegoing description. Figures 4 and 5 showflow charts generally describing the op eration of computer 100 and Figure 6 shows theflow chart related to computer 101.

Whilethe preferred embodiment utilises a soft ware based control system it isto be understood that similar operational functions may be achieved with hardwired controllers.

The program begins atstarting block400 and pro ceedsthrough an initialising routine 402. At decision block404the program determines (from the informa tion present on line 164, as shown in Figure 3A) 105 whetheror not a bottle is sensed atthe belts by sensor 113. If so, the bottle count in a separate regi ster is incremented at block 406 forfuture reference.

From steps 404 and 406the program proceeds to de cision block 408 to determine if the clocking pulse is an index pulse output of encoder 102. If so, the pro gram sets the starwheel position counterto zero at step 410 and resets the line speed timer at step 412 and returns to step 414to readthe quadrature signals from the encoder. These signals are utilised by deci sion block 416 to determine the direction of star wheel rotation, if any, and to decrement or increment a wheel counter accordingly, in blocks 418 and 420.

Block422 represents a subroutine which serves to compute the position of a particular pocket on the starwheel relative to a reference point. This computa tion considers the number of bottles in the starwheel (switch 122) and the data in the wheel position coun ter. The program then proceeds to block 502, Figure 5, at which pointvarious conditions relating to the inspection window are determined. Block 502 com pares the current starwheel position to the inspec tion window parameters set by switch 125 and dep ending upon the results of the comparison, certain operations take place. At the start of the window, block 504 clears the various inputs from sensors 111, block 506turns off the corresponding LED'sassociated with these sensors, block 508 clears the individual counters associated with each sensor 111, block 510 takes an initial sensor reading and block 512 sets a flag indicating thatthe start of thewindow has occurred.

Once the position of the wheel is determined to be in the inspection window, block 520 turns the window indicator on, block 522 reads the various sensors 111, and block 524 updates the various sensorcounters.

When the proper encoder count has been reached indicating thatthe end of the inspection window has occurred, block 530 determines which of the various sensors has exceeded its programmed sensitivity and block 532 turns on the LED associated with that sensor. Then, in block 534, the program readsthe mode set by switch 124 and in block 536 makes a determination as to the amount of rotation required in orderto achieve the desired final common orientation given the particular mode switch setting and the data of the appropriate sensors. Block 536 thus provides an instruction set forthe bottle eu rrently in the window,the instruction set being the combination of command signalswhich must be applied tovarious components to effeetthe desired rotation. Utilisation of this instruction set must obviously wait until the particular bottle reachesthe belts and, therefore, the oldest rotate information associated with a previous container is output by block 538 by, in block540, advancing the shift register (atthe start of each pocket) containing this rotate information. When the system is started-up, the first container through the starwheel gets a rotate instruction set associated with it as it passes through the inspection window. This container travels ahead of its rotate instruction because it does not reach the rotating belts for sometime. Consequently, the rotate instruction corresponding to this first container (and every container thereafter) must be delayed so it reaches the belts when its corresponding container does. Since there may be more than one container on the conveyor belt between the starwheel and the parallel rotating belts, the program provides at step 538that the oldest rotate instructions be outputto rotatethe container between the belts. Once this old information has been output to computer 101, the new rotate information corresponding to the current container in the pocket is entered into the shift register in block 542. The LED display 142 is shifted in block 544to provide the operator with a visual indication of which advancing containers will be rotated once they reach the rotating belts.

The system has an internal timer circuit (not shown) in orderto provide substitute shift signals to the shift registerto maintain a correlation between the rotate instruction and its associated container in the event starwheei 99 stops turning for any reason.

The substitute shift signals are desirable when the starwheel stops turning because it stops producing shift signals so rotate instructions won't advance through the shift register. The substitute shift signals are produced at a time interval equal to the shortest interval between the previous eight shift signals.

6 GB 2 179 314 A 6 Thus, even if thestarwheel stopsthe rotate instruction associated with the last container out of the starweel will be shifted inthe shift registerand properiy applied to the rotating belts.

Once block502 determines that the wheel position is outsidethe inspection window,the program turns offthewindow indicatorat block550.

Itwill be notedthat each parallel path in Figure 5 terminates at block560which enablesthe display in the particular format chosen byswitch 121 and then proceedsto point2, asshown in Figure4.

Referring nowto Figure 6, the flowchart describing the operation of computer 101 will be discussed. Itwill be notedthatthis program operates in conjunc- tionwiththe program describedwith respectto Figures4and 5, each of the computers interactingwith the other.The program with respectto computer 101 starts atstep 600 and proceedsto an initialising routine in step 602. Decision block 604 determines whether the set-up mode has been selected by switch 170 (bestseen in Figure313) and if so, block 606 enables use of the rotation adjust pot 174 in order to calibrate the system. If a set-up mode has not been chosen, the program proceeds to block 608to read the rotate instruction setfrom block 538. As discussed above, since this is the oldest rotate information, it corresponds to the information associated with the next bottle to be rotated. The program proceeds at block 610 to read pot 174 and compute via step 612 the duration of clutch activation required in orderto achieve the proper amount of rotation. The program proceedsto decision block614to awaitthe occurrence of a bottle atthe belts. If no bottle is sensed, the program returns to step 604. If a bottle is sensed atthe belts,the program proceedsto block 615to instruct computer 100to outputits oldest rotate instructions setto computer 101. (The output of presencesensor 113 is also conditioned atthis point, as aforementioned, to limitthe possibility& erroneous signals caused by dipping of lever20O.) The program then proceedsto decision block618to determine if the rotation has been disabled by switch 171 (best seen in Figure 3D). If so, the program returns to block 604 and, if not, the bottle then engaged bythe belt is rotated at step 620. The program then 110 returns to block 604to awaitthe next bottle.

Figure 7 shows several alternative configurations of sensors 111 for sensing various conditions assoc iated with differenttypes of containers. Figure 7 shows the mode switch position, a diagrammatic sketch of thetype of containerto be oriented in a cor responding mode, a sensor status table and the associated rotation instruction resulting from a part icular combination of sensor outputs occurring within each mode.

In each mode of operation described in Figure 7the various containers are presented to orientation sen sors 111 in one of a discrete number of initial ori entations. Therefore, sensors 111 need sense only discrete orientations of the containers because of the construction of the conveyors used for handling of such containers. For example, with the singleflat sided bottle shown in Figure 7 in mode 0 (as also seen in Figure 1) the containers will be in one of two orientations. This is also true with respect to the 130 flasks shown with respect to model 0. With respect to the four sided containers shown in model 1 obviously anyone of four container orientations is possible. Itwill be understood bythose skilled in the art that any number of discrete orientations maybe possible so long as there is one distinctive portion of the container shape which can be detected. In any event, each of the containers to be oriented by apparatus 10 has at least one substantially cylindrical portion for engaging the parallel belts. Generally, this cylindrical portion is the finish and, as shown in Figure 7,the finish need not be axially symmetrical.

Figure 7 shows the use of up to four optical sensors A B, C and D) located at predetermined heights abovethe conveyor beitforviewing predetermined portions of each container. In each mode, the detectors provide signals to control system 24 representative of the indicia or condition thet are intended to detect. For example, in mode 0 sensor A is posi- tioned to detect lettering on each container and control system 24 determines whetherthe detection exceeds a certain pulse count threshold in which event the sensor status will result in an output provided to a predetermined portion of the control system corrres- ponding to a 180'rotation instruction. Mode 10 shows one type of similar sensor arrangementfor detecting flask orientations. Mode 11 shows onetype of sensor arrangementfor detecting the handle of "jug" type containers. Itwill be understood that any number of alternate sensor arrangements may be suitable so long as the combination of sensor outputs of any one arrangement may be directly correlated to a specific rotate instruction. It should be noted that occasional irregularities in moulded containers may cause erroneous sensor outputs. For example, a slight bulge in the surface of a flask may cause a sensor notto precisely detectthe passage of the edge of the concave surface of the flask. This and similar types of problems may be greatly diminished by using another sensor positioned above or belowthe firstto detectthe same characteristic. It is unlikelythe same defectwill occur attwo places on the f lask. A greater number of sensors may obviously be used in critical areas such as container filling lines, etc.

As shown in Figure 7 with respectto each mode, predetermined combinations of sensor outputs result in predetermined rotate instructions. Control system 24 may obviously be programmed to correlate a particular combination of sensorstatusto a specific rotate instruction.

Itwill be understood bythose skilled in the artthat numerous modifications and improvements may be madeto the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for orienting containers each con- tainer having a body of non-circularcross-section and a cylindrical finish and/or neck portion, said apparatus comprising conveyor means operableto move a succession of the containers, container preorienting means adjustable to the particulartype of container being conveyed by the conveyor means ii 7 GB 2 179 314 A 7 and operableto orientate the containers intoanyof two ormore natural orientations thereof, depending on the cross-section of the body, orientation sensing means located at an inspection site on said conveyor 5 means downstream of the preorienting means and positionableto sense which of its natural orientations a container has adopted and to produce output signals representative of that orientation, two parallel endless orienting belts situated above said conveyor means downstream of the inspection site to receivethe cylindrical finish and/or neck portion of each container therebetween, driving meansfordriving said belts, control means operableto control said driving means, in response to the outputsignals from the sensing means, to allow containers received in a desired orientation to pass in that orientation and to rotate containers not received in the desired orientation into that orientation by driving one of said belts at one speed and the other of said belts at anotherspeed, and user operated means for preprogramming the control means to designatethe rotations which are to correspond to particular output signals of the sensing means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said preorienting means comprises two parallel rails located on opposite sides of said conveyor means, the spacing between the rails being adjustable to correspond to the minimum spacing which allows passage of a body of a container between the rails.

3. Apparatus according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said sensing means comprises at leastthree optical sensors.

4. Apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein said control means is actuated to apply rotation control signals to the driving means in response to an actuation signal produced by presence sensing means of the apparatus operable to sense the presence of a container at said belts.

5. Apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the apparatus also comprises spacing means operable to space the containers at predetermined intervals afterthey are preorientated and beforethey arrive atthe inspection site.

6. Apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the apparatus also comprises timing means operable to produce a timing signal indicating the arrival of a container atthe inspection site, the timing signal serving to actuate said sensing means.

7. Apparatus for orienting containers su bstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (UK) Ltd, 1187, D8817356. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.