US2217982A

US2217982A - Receptacle transfer mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2217982A
Application number: US270290A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julius P Heil; Frederick P Kessler
Original assignee: Heil Co
Current assignee: Heil Co
Priority date: 1939-04-27
Filing date: 1939-04-27
Publication date: 1940-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1957-10-15

Description

oct. 1s, 1940. J. P. HE... ET AL 2,217,982

RECEPTACLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed April 27, 1939 f3 SnGeS-Sheet l Oct. l5, 1940. J, P. HEM. Er AL RECEPTACLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed April 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 15, 1940 2,217,982 RECEPTACLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Julius P. Heil, Whitefish Bay,

Kessler, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a

and Frederick P. to The Heil corporation of Wisconsin Application April 2,7, 1939, Serial No. 270,290

8 Claims.

Our present invention relates generally to imprcvements sion of objects from one locality t in the art of transferring a succeso another, and

or rows of receptacles such as cans one conveyor to another. Generally defined, an obj or bottles from ect of our present invention is to provide an improved receptacle transfer mechanism which is simple in construction and reliable in operation, and our present application is inal application Serial No. 181,584,

a continuation in part of an origfiled December 24, 1937, which has matured to Patent No. 2,144,800', granted January 24, 1939.

Some of the more specific objects of our invention are as follows:

To provide new and improved mechanism for automatically transferring receptacles such as cams or bottles either singly or in rows, from a conveyor travelling in one direction to another conveyor travelling in another direction.

To provide improved receptacle transfer mechanism for periodically or bottles in rectilinear rows, and tently shifting the successive rows a receiving platform or conveyor.

arranging a, Self-IGS Of Cans for intermitlaterally onto -To provide a new and useful receptacle handling assemblage adapted to rapidly and effectively change the direction of travel of a multiplicity of circular cans or glass bottles, and to simultaneously arrange the objects in regular order.

These and other specific objects and advan- A clear conception of the severa stituting the l features conpresent improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating receptacle transfer mechanisms embodying may be had by referring to the dr the invention, awings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a relatively diagrammatic top view of a rather simple receptacle transfer mechanism embodying our invention,

showing the same ap-` plied to fragments of transversely movable receptacle conveyors;

Fig. 2 is a rather diagrammatic side of the assemblage of Fig. 1;

elevation Fig. 3 is an enlarged and more complete side View of a commercial assemblage present invention;

embodying our (Cl. E38-'31) Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged and completed top view of the assemblage of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a likewise enlarged and compl-ete end view of the assemblage of Figs. 3 and 4. y While our present invention has been shown 5 and described herein as being specifically applied to mechanism for successively transferring rectilinear rows of bottles to a fixed support and from thence to a relatively wide conveyor for transporting the rows en masse, it is not our in- 10 tention to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement by virtue of such specific embodiment. Referring specifically to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, our invention in its broadest aspect l'v` comprises generally a longitudinal receptacle supply conveyor 8 adapted to arrange a succession of receptacles such as bottles 9 in rectilineal elongated row sections; a lateral conveyor I0 consiste ing of a series of pivotally interconnected links I I gli and rollers I2 coacting with sprocket wheels I3, the conveyor I0 travelling transversely of the direction of movement of the conveyor 8; stationary transfer plates i4 interposed between the receptacle supporting decks of the

conveyors

8, 25 I9; and elongated pusher member or bar i5 movable to parallel positions across the supply conveyor 8; several parallel slotted levers I6 having fixed fulcrum pins I1 coacting with the medial slots I8 thereof and having corresponding ends 3'0 pivotally attached to the pusher bar I5 by pins I9; and simultaneously revolvable eccentrics 2D having eccentric pins 2| coacting with the opposite corresponding ends of the levers I6.

The cooperating conveyors B, I0 may be either continuously or intermittently movable, and the bottles 9 may obviously be replaced by other types of receptacles such as food or liquid laden cans.` The opposite sides of the lateral conveyor I9 are preferably provided with guide walls Z2, 23, the i0 latter of which extends over the deck of the conveyor 8 so as to prevent the bottle rows from being carried beyond the zone of the conveyor I0. The transfer plates I4 are preferably Xedly mounted so as to present a smooth transfer surface over which the receptacles may be pushed or transferred en masse by the pusher bar l5, from one conveyor to the other without tipping the bottles 9. The eccentric disks 20 are mounted upon rotary shafts 2t each having a bevel gear 25 secured to the lower end thereof, and thesegears are simultaneously revolvable in the same direction by means of bevel pinions 2E carried by a` common drive shaft 21.

The modified receptacle transfer assemblage of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is quite similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, and in the modification one of the bevel gears 25' is driven by a pinion 28 secured to a power shaft 29 which is rotatable through a belt or chain drive 30 by the motor 3|. This motor 3| also serves to drive the supply conveyor 8 through chain gearing 32 or the like, and the other bevel gear 25 is rotatable simultaneously with the gear 25 by means of pinions 26 carried by a counter shaft 2l. In the modication, the levers I6 function to move the pusher bar I5 to parallel positions and across the conveyor 8 in precisely the same manner as in Figs. l and 2, but the bar I5 is additionally guided and stablized by means of guide rods 33 the corresponding ends of which are articulably connected to the bar l5 by pivot pins 34, and the medial portions of which are freely slidable in swivel blocks 35 having pivots 36 coacting with the main frame of the machine.

During normal operation of the transfer mechanisms, the two conveyors 8, III are being operated either continuously or intermittently, and the supply conveyor 8 is functioning to arrange the incoming bottles 9 in successive rows as shown in Fig. 1, while the pusher bar I5 is retracted from the path of travel of the entering bottles. The eccentric disks 2b are being revolved in the direction indicated in Fig. 4, thereby causing the pins 2! to swing the levers I6 about the fixed fulcrum pins I 'I while at, the same time causing the slots I8 of these levers I6 to ride along the fixed pins Il'. As shown in Fig. 4, the levers I6 are about to push the bar I5 across the supply conveyor 8, and after this action has taken place, the levers I6 are drawn away-from the conveyor 8 and at such times the bar I 5 is pulled away from the conveyor 8 a considerab-le distance. During such withdrawal of the bar I5, the bottles 9 are arranged in rows in the path of travel of the bar I5, and the end wall 23 prevents the bottle rows from passing beyond the zone of action of the pusher bar. As the successive rows of bottles 9 are pushed off of the conveyor 8 onto the stationary plates I4, they collect en masse but retain their approximate row formations. The successive rows will be advanced along the plates I4 by subsequent actions of the pusher bar, and the bottles will be ultimately pushed off of the plates I4 onto the lateral conveyor I0 as indicated in Fig. 1. In this manner, the successive rows of bottles 9 which are supplied by the conveyor 8 are discharged from this conveyor across the fixed plates I4 to the conveyor ID, and this transfer is effected Without danger of having the bottles tip over. The danger of tipping is perhaps greatest when tall bottles 9 such as shown in the drawings are utilized, and diminishes with shorter and stubbier bottles, and with tin cans.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that our present invention provides a bottle transfer mechanism which is extremely simple in construction 'but which is highly efcient in operation. The movement of the levers I6 causes the pusher bar I5 to assume parallel positions as it approaches and recedes from the conveyor 8, and with the aid of guide bars 33, such as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, greater stability may be provided for the bar I5. These guide bars 33 are not however essential, since the levers IB alone will produce parallel lateral travel of the bar I5. The assemblage besides being simple in construction is also durable and positive in action, and all parts of the mechanism are readily accessible for inspection. The improved transfer assemblage has proven highly successful in actual commercial use, in conjunction with the operation of pasteurizers for beer, but the improvement is obviously more generally applicable to other types of transfer assemblages'. Due to its simplicity, this receptacle transfer mechanism may obviously be installed and operated at extremely moderate cost, and the power required for operation of the mechanism is negligible.

With the present improved receptacle transfer mechanism, it is not necessary to stop the supply of receptacles which are being advanced by the conveyor 8, or to accumulate the incoming receptacles preparatory to the next feeding movement of the transfer or pusher bar I5, as in prior transfer mechanisms of this general type. This is an extremely important feature of our invention, and our present improvement permits uninterrupted advancement of the receptacles 9 by the constantly moving supply conveyor 8, and therefore enables constant and uniform transfer of the receptacles from one conveyor to the other without shocks or gaps in the continuity.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or tothe precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art,

We claim:

1. In combination, a supply conveyor formed to arrange successiverreceptacles in rows, a receptacle receiving conveyor movable transversely of the direction of travel of said supply conveyor, a pusher bar movable near and across and in the direction of travel of said supply conveyor, slotted levers pivotally mounted at one end to said bar and slidable along fixed fulcrums and being simultaneously swingable to parallel positions to move said bar to parallel positions across said supply conveyor, and a power driven eccentric for operating each lever.

2. In combination, receptacle supply and receiving conveyors, apusher bar movable with one of said conveyors to transfer successive rows of receptacle to the other, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted at one end to said bar and oscillat-able about and slidable along fixed pivots to impart receptacle transfer motion to said bar, and a power driven eccentric for operating each lever.

3. In combination, receptacle supply and receiving conveyors, a fixed receptacle support interposed between said conveyors, a pusher bar movable across and in the direction of travel of one of said conveyors toward the other, a plurality of slotted levers pivotally attached to said bar and simultaneously oscillatable about and movable laterally of fixed pivotsto transfer rows of receptaces from one conveyor to the other across said support, and a power driven eccentric for operating each lever.

4. In combination, relatively transversely movable receptacle supply and receiving conveyors, a pusher bar movable laterally along and across o ne of said conveyors to transfer receptacles to the other, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted at one end to said -bar and swingable about and slidable laterally along fixed fulcrums to move said bar, and simultaneously revolving eccentrics for moving said levers to parallel positions to produce parallel movement of said bar.

5. In combination, relatively transversely movable receptacle supply and receiving conveyors, a pusher bar movable laterally across one of said conveyors to transfer receptacles to the other, a plurality of levers each having a slotted medial portion swingable about and slidable relative to a fixed fulcrum and also having one end pivotally attached to said bar, and an eccentric coacti-ng with the other end of each lever to oscilla-te and move the same,

5. In combination, relatively transversely movable receptacle conveyors, a stationary receptacle support interposed between said conveyors, a pusher bar movable laterally across one of said conveyors to transfer receptacles over said support and onto the other conveyor, laterally spaced oscillatory and longitudinally shifta'ble leversv for moving said bar, and oscillatory and longitudinally movable pivotally mounted guide rods coacting With said bar between said levers,

7. In combination, relatively transversely movable receptacle supply and receiving conveyors, a

pusher bar movable laterally across one of said conveyors to transfer receptacles to the other, fixed fulcrum pins, a plurality of levers each having a slotted medial portion svvingable about and slidable along one of said fulcrum pins and also having one end pivotally attached to said bar, and an eccentric lcoacting with the other end of each lever to oscillate and move the same.

8. In combination, approximately horizontal relatively transversely movable receptacle supply and receiving conveyors, a pusher bar movable laterally across one of said conveyors to transfer receptacles to the other, fixed upright fulcrum pins, a plurality of levers each having a slotted medial portion sWlngable about and slidable along one of said fulcrum pins and also having one end pivotally attached to said bar, and an `eccentric coacting With the other end of each lever to oscillate and move the same. JULIUS P. HEIL. Y FREDERICK P. KESSLER.