GB672134A - Improved means for removing bottles or the like from a conveyor to a machine - Google Patents

Abstract

672,134. Endless conveyers. SCOTTS ENGINEERING (NEWPORT), Ltd., and BURDIN, N. V. April 26, 1950. [Jan. 27, 1949] No. 2217/49. Class 78 (i). A device for transferring bottles from a conveyer to a machine consists of a pair of grippers rotatable about a shaft at right angles to the conveyer and a vertically movable platform, the device being driven such that a bottle is removed from the conveyer by the grippers onto the platform, which is then raised so as to pass through the jaws of the grippers with the bottle thereon, the grippers being then free to return below the platform for a fresh bottle, which is subsequently transferred to the platform when the latter has returned to its lowered position. The bottles 1 are conveyed between guides 5 by means of two endless cables 4 which run in grooves in a table 2, until arrested by a stop 13. The stop 13 is pivoted to the table at 14 and urged by a spring 15 into the path of the bottles, peg 16 preventing further movement. One gripper arm 8 is keyed to a vertical shaft 7, while the other arm 9 is freely mounted on the shaft but connected by a spring 10 to arm 8. A receiving platform 6 for the bottles is secured on a vertically movable rod 18. In operation, shaft 7 is oscillated through 90 degrees between the position shown and a position in which the grippers are in line with the conveyers. As the grippers approach the latter position, the arm 8 pushes the stop 13 out of the way of the bottles and at the same time the arm 9 is halted by its portion 11 engaging a peg 12. This opens the grippers and allows a bottle to enter them. On arrival at the receiving platform 6, the bottle is freed from the grippers by raising the platform so that it passes between the jaws of the grippers. The grippers are now returned below the platform into line with the conveyer. While raised by platform 6, the bottles are capped or some similar operation is performed. The platform 6 is then lowered to receive the next bottle. As the grippers move into position to deliver the next bottle, the portion 19 of gripper arm 9 pushes the first bottle off the platform 6 and back onto the conveyer. The shaft 7 is oscillated and the rod 18 vertically reciprocated in timed relationship by cams 20, 21, Fig. 3, on a driven shaft 22, cam 20 being coupled through a lever 28 on a sleeve 29 and further linkage shown to a crank 36 on shaft 7, while cam 21 is coupled through a lever 41 on a shaft 30 passing through sleeve 29, a crank 42 and collapsible linkage 50 to a bell crank 44, 45, 46, the levers 46 of which has a slotted connection with rod 18. The spring 52 of the collapsible linkage 50 allows for different sizes of bottles to be lifted by the platform 6 to the capping or other machine. A spring 34 urges the grippers towards the receiving platform 6 so that discharge of the bottles from the conveyer is not forced by the cam 20, but effected by the spring 34, thus minimising damage owing to jamming. Jamming is further minimised by the provision of a pivoted portion 60 of the guideway 5, which is effective to cut off the drive to the shaft 22 when there is no head of bottles against the stop 13, as described in Specification 672,135.