US2936869A - Apparatus for automatically orientating cans - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1960 H. N. DRAUDT ETAL 2,93

' APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ORIENTATING CANS Filed Dec. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 l-n 2s 8 IN VEN TOR.

/-/OWARD NED ORAL/D7 BYRA'LPH E. TP/LLEF? mg wz w HTTOIENEYS May 17, 1960 H. N. DRAUDT ETAI.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY omummc ems 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1957 s s @0 O 3 O o Q & w Q Q\\ MN m INVENTOR. HOWARD NED omum BY RALPH E. TR/LLEF? I I ATTOENE Y5 y 7, 1960 H. N. DRAUDT ETAL APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ORIENTATING CANS Filed Dec. 5, 1957 4 Sheets- Sheet 3 Fl'lllll-Ill V INvENfoR. H OWARD NED ORAL/Dr RALPH E. TR/LLER BY Z ATTORNEYS May 17, 1960 H. N. DRAUDT ETAL 9 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ORIENTATING CANS Filed Dec. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 Ri y(!! q 1a 17 VI/ll? I 4 Z 4 9 4 Z Z 11d 2 26 SOLENOIDS 5 E1. 20 T 1 INVENTOR.

HOWARD NED PPM/07' RALPH E. TR/LLER United States Patent Applicatiorrzflecember ESZ SeriaLNoa 101);801-

'5 Claims. (Cl. 193-43) This invention relates generally to apparatus adapted to automatieally orient sealed and labeled cans such that the printing and labeling information appearing on each can is in the same spati al relationship relative to theends of'the can. a I

In the canning of food products; and in the canning industry in general, it is common practice to utilize the so-called tincan. These ti'n cans are generally supplied by the manufacturer to the canner in the form of an elongated cylindrical tube open at one end After the food product has been placed in the can the operr end is sealed duringtheelosing operation. These'filled and sealed cans are then normally placed in large retorts for heat processing andchi'lling: At the completion of operation the cansare dumped onto an unscrambling,

machine.- This machine orients the cans such that the sides of all-- of the cans are parallel. The cans are then fedto a guide where they" roll side by side-in a single Iihe'toaboxing machine. g g

The contents of the cans arein many'cases identified byprinting this information, together with other identifying data and advertising literature,"directl'y on the surface of: each can; Cans labeled in this manner are generally referred to as lithographed cans; When lithographed cans are used the printing: and labeling informationv is in a fixed spatial: relationship to; the end of the can sealed before filling;v The printedmatt'er is: generally so-oriented that it is readable when: the can is standing on this sealed or bottom end.

'Fhecansi that are fed. from: the unscrambling machine are: oriented with their longitudinal axes paralleli but the orientation of the printed. matter on each can: with: re= spectitoiothercans is random in nature. The cans ordinarilyroll-by gravity to a; boxing machine which mechanically places the cans in a box. This boxing orcasing: machine, however, does not change the orientation of the cans.- It can therefore be seen that if no means have been provided; for changing the orientation of some of the cans such that the printing matter" on each can is oriented in the same manner relative co-the other cans; part of the cans. in. the:case will have the printing upside down with respect to theremainder' of. the cans im thev case. This hasv the disadvantage. that when the case of canned food is opened by the storekeeper and placed: on: the store shelf for sale;- partiof: the cans will have: the printing upside: down. In thepastithis has been corrected :by therstorekeeper turning: ever part: oi the cans: by hand;

This problem of orienting; theprinted matter on; canned goods is: not encountered with: cans: which are labeled with: paper lahels' since; the paper: labels are: placed on the cans after bOllI ends are: sealed: and: prior to the boxingoperation. In' this manner the: paper-labels are placed. on; each can: the: same orientation with:v reispectto the other cansregardless of: whether the original bottom of. the can: before: filling; isv at: the: top. or: bottom with respect: to the laheh placement Withi lithographed pans, however, which are labeled by printing on the can terms they are. filled; it is essentiaP that they be oriented in thesame way with-frcspect to the printed matter at the Boxingoperation-z hr the past this has sometirns heenaccomplishedhy maintaining the cu ient'ation of the cans from the time they are filled until they are placed in Boxesfonshipment. method is both" costly and cumbersome- 1: In of the foregoingit" is the primary object of the-"'present invention to provide apparatus which will automatically orient filled and sealed cans such that" the cans are deliveredm a Boxing machine with the printed matter om each can orientedl in the same way with respect to theother cans. v

Another object oh the present invention is to provide apparatus for automatically orienting cans which is efii' cient, rapid and reliable in operation; and which effects significant econoim'es iii the cost and" time involved in canning food and other products.

Briefly stated, the present'invention accomplishes these objects bysensing the orientation of each can. Those cans which do not have the printed matter oriented in the proper manner are rotated 1 86 degrees about an electrical circuit which is. energizedo'nly'by the end of a the can coated with-the conducting materiah gate" is permitting the can to'fall to another chute;

to the boxing rnachine If a cauda -not oriented in proper manner asit passes hie gate the gate is not opened and "the cans continue rolling through a 1 degree twist to the boxing machine; When a is properly oriented as it passes the; gate the gate is momentarily opened This chute does" not have a twistand the; cans maihtaih the same orientation as previously. The two chutes are fed back together prior to the box-iiig' machine am? the cans are therefore received'at the boxing machine with the-priht'e'd matter on: each canoriente'din thesanre'way; Y

For-"a better understanding of the'pres'e'nt invention as; well as fiurther objectsand features thereof reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like components in the several? views areidentified by like reference numerals;

In' the drawings: I

Figure 1' is a side elevationaliview of a'preferreri" em bodiment. of apparatus for automatically orienting cansv in accordance'with the present invention. 7 a Figure 2 is a top view of; the gating mechanisnr of the apparatus of the present invent-lone g Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along lines 3 -3 of Figure 1'. c

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along lines i -430i Figure l, and Figure 5 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram {hr the apparatus of the" present invention.

Referring now to the: drawings the cam containing the food or other product: isigenerally denoted by the nu"- ineral 10, while the: lahe'l' or priilted matter appearing on the can is denoted by the numeraP 1 1. Itzi'si tohe understood that although the present invention is? ticularly' directed to cans having identifying data printed directly'on the can, or s'o-call'ed l-ithographed can's, itis applicable as well" to cans which have the" iii'ntifi ihg data placed on the-cam in any manner" such fonexamplb as by: paper labels whichare aihxed' to theoutbr surfaice otzthe can. Y

The bottom 12 of the can 10 is coated with an electrical conducting material. With ordinary so-callcd tin cans it has been found that the tinplate surface servesas an adequate conducting material. After the can is filled it is sealed by aflixing the top 13. This top 13 is coated with amen-conductive or insulating material, such for example as a standard can lacquer. After processing and prior to packaging the sealed cans are placed in an unscrambling machine. 'This machine, which forms no part of the invention, orients allof the cans such that the longitudinal axes of the cans are parallel. The cans are fed from the unscrambling machine to a guide 14, where they roll by gravityto a boxing or packagingmachine, which also forms no part of the present, invention.

The guide 14 is constituted by a pair of rails 15 and 16 which are parallel and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the can 10. In this manner the can 10 is free to roll down the guide 14, the bottom 12 and top 13 of the can 10 being supported by and riding on the rails 15 and 16.

Each of the rails 15 and 16 of the guide 14 is provided with gate portions designated respectively by the numerals 17 and 18. These gate portions in their closed position form part of the guide 14 and permit free passage of the cans 10. When the gates are activated to their open position, in a manner to be presently described, the cans 10 fall from the guide 14 to another guide 19 for a purpose to be presently described.

A pairof electrical contacts 20 and 21 are positioned adjacent one of the rails 15 and 16 such that the cans 10 pass these contacts before they reach the gates 17 and 18. These contacts 20 and 21 are arranged and positioned such that they contact the bottom 12 or top 13 of the can 10 along their medial line. The contacts are spaced apart approximately one-quarter the diameter of the ends of the can 10.

Positioned intermediate the rails 15 and 16 is a switch 22. This switch 22 is positioned such that it will be depressed during the passage of each can 10 and thereby complete a circuit between a transformer 23 and contact 20. The switch 22 is so adjusted that it is not depressed, thereby maintaining the circuit open, while the contacts 20 and 21 are in contact with the rim 24 of the can 10. The purpose for this will be presently described.

In operation the filled, sealed and labeled cans 10 are fed from the unscrambler to the guide 14. The cans 10 are delivered to the guide 14 oriented with their longitudinal axes parallel. The orientation of the labels, however, is random in nature, the bottom 12 of the can 10 being either on rail 15 or 16. The cans 10 roll down the guide 14 and over the cam activated switch 22. If the bottom 12 or conducting end of the can 10 is riding on rail 16 this end of the can rolls past contacts 20 and 21 while switch 22, is depressed by the can 10. This completes a series electrical circuit, including the cam activated switch 22 and a relay solenoid 25, between contacts 20 and 21 by physical contact of the contacts with the conducting can end 12.

The series cam activated switch 22 is closed only during the time that a can rolls over and depresses it. In this manner the electrical circuit remains open except for the time that the two contacts are in physical contact with the ends of the can. As described previously, the cam sw-itch 22 is so adjusted that the circuit is open during the time the contacts are in physical contact with the rim of the can. This is to prevent the possibility of actuating the electrical circuit due to breakage of the insulated coating on the rim 24 of the top 13 of the can 10, which might occur due to handling of the cans.

When the top 13 of the can 10, or the end coated with a non-conductive insulating material, rolls down the guide 14 and into physical engagement with the contacts 20 and 21 the circuit remains open, and the gate is maintained in its normally closed position. The cans gree twist, to the boxing or casing machine.

continue to roll down the guide 14 through a de- When, the bottom 12 of the can 10, however, or the end coated with a conducting material, engages the contacts 20 and 21 the circuit is completed and an electrical relay 25 is actuated. When relay, 25 is actuated this closes the circuit to solenoids 26 which momentarily open the gates 17 and 18, thereby permitting the can 10 to fall into guide 19 which is positioned parallel to and below guide 14. When, the can 10 passes switch 22 the circuit is opened and the gates 17 and 18 are closed. The cans 10 that fall on to the guide 19 are maintained in the same orientation as previously. The guides 14 and 19 are fed back together prior to the boxing machine with the label or printing 11 on each can 10 being oriented in the same direction. x. v t

What has been described is apparatus which will automatically sense the orientation of each can prior to the boxing machine andv change the orientation of some of the cans such that the label or printed matter on each can is oriented in the same way. iWith the apparatus of the present invention the present method of randomly handling cans during the heat processing and cooling operations may be utilized with so-called lithographed cans while, still obtaining boxed cases of cans with the printing on each can oriented in the same direction.

It is to be understood thatalthough the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment other embodiments are contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a conveyor station for transporting labeled cans to a packaging unit with the labels thereon similarly oriented relative to readability, incoming cans to said conveyor station being received with their sides in parallel relation but with their labels randomly oriented top to bottom end relative to readability, the same end of each can having an electrical conducting surface, the other end thereof having an insulating surface, apparatus for align ing said cans relative to their top and bottom ends whereby the same ends thereof are in corresponding positions to effect similar orientation with respect to readability, said apparatus comprising a first channel to receive said incoming cans, a second channel below and in vertical alignment with said first channel, a gate integral with said first channel and including electrical sensing means engageable with one end of said incoming cans, and means responsive to said sensing fingers when said fingers engage an end of a can having a conducting surface to open and close said gate to distribute said cans to said first and second channels in accordance with theirtop to bottom orientation whereby cans having a common orientation drop through said gate into said second channel and the remaining cans having the reverse orientation pass through said gate and remain in said first channel, a reversing station coupled to one of said channels to reverse the top to bottom relationship of the cans passing therethrough, and a combining station coupled to the other of said channels and said reversing station to intermingle the outputs thereof whereby the cans fed to said packaging unit are properly oriented top to bottom end.

2. In a conveyor station for transporting labeled cans to a packaging unit with the labels thereon similarly oriented relative to readability, incoming cans to said conveyor station being received with their sides in parallel relation but with their labels randomly oriented top to bottom end relative to readability, the same end of each canhaving an electrical conducting surface, the other end thereof having an insulating surface, apparatus for aligning said cans relative to their top and bottomends whereby the same ends thereof are in corresponding positions to efiect similar orientation with respect to readability, said apparatus comprising a first channel to receive said incoming cans, a second channel below and in vertical alignment with said first channel, a gate integral with said first channel and including electrical sensing fingers engageable with one of said incoming cans and responsive to the conductive end of said cans, and means responsive to said sensing fingers when said fingers engage an end of a can having a conducting surface to open and close said gate to distribute said cans to said first and second channels in accordance with their top to bottom orientation whereby cans having a common orientation drop through said gate into said second channel and the remaining cans having the reverse orientation pass through said gate and remain in said first channel, a reversing station coupled to one of said channels to'reverse the top to bottom relationship of the cans passing'therethrough, and a combining station coupled to the other of said channels and said reversing station to intermingle the outputs thereof whereby the cans fed to said packaging unit are properly oriented top to bottom end.

3. In a conveyor station for transportinglabeled cans to a packaging unit with the labels thereon similarly oriented relative to readability, incoming cans to said conveyor station being received with their sides in parallel relation but with their labels randomly oriented top to bottom end relative to readability, the same end of each can having an electrical conducting surface, the other end thereof having an insulating surface, apparatus for aligning said cans relative to their top and bottom ends whereby the same ends thereof are in corresponding positions to effect similar orientation with respect to readability, said apparatus comprising a first channel to receive said incoming cans, a second channel below and in vertical alignment with said first channel, a gate integral with said first channel and including electrical sensing fingers engageable with one end of said incoming cans, said sensing fingers including relay means to momentarily open said gate when said sensing fingers are activated,

tions to effect similar orientation with respect to readability, said apparatus comprising a first channel to receive said incoming cans, a second channel below and in vertical alignment with said first channel, a pair of continuity probes associated with said first channel and engageable with one end of said incoming cans, relay means in series combination with said probes to operate said gate when said contacts are engaged by the conductive ends of said cans whereby cans having a common orientation drop through said gate into said second channel and the remaining cans having the reverse orientation pass through said gate and remain in said first channel, a reversing station coupled to one of said channels to reverse the top to bottom relationship of the cans passing therethrough, and a combining station coupled to the other of said channels and said reversing station to intermingle' the outputs thereof whereby the cans fed to said packaging unit are properly oriented top to bottom end.

5. In a conveyor station for transporting labeled cans to a packaging unit with the labels thereon similarly oriented relative to readability, incoming cans to said conveyor station being received with their sides in parallel relation but with their labels randomly oriented top to bottom end relative to readability, the same end of each can having an electrical conducting surface, the other end thereof having an insulating surface, apparatus for alignsaid sensing fingers being activated during contact with the conductive ends of said cans whereby cans having a common orientation drop through said gate into said second channel and the remaining cans having the reverse orientation pass through said gate and remain in said first channel, a reversing station coupled to one of said channels to reverse the top to bottom relationship of the cans passing therethrough, and a combining station coupled to the other of said channels and said reversing station to intermingle the outputs thereof whereby the cans fed to said packaging unit are properly oriented top to bottom end.

4. In a conveyor station for transporting labeled cans to a packaging unit with the labels thereon similarly oriented relative to readability, incoming cans to said conveyor station being received with their sides in parallel relation but with their labels randomly oriented top to bottom end relative to readability, the same end of each can having an electrical conducting surface, the other end thereof having an insulating surface, apparatus for aligning said cans relative to their top and bottom ends whereby the same ends thereof are in corresponding posiing said cans relative to their top and bottom ends whereby the same ends thereof are in corresponding positions to effect similar orientation with respect to readability, said apparatus comprising a first channel to receivesaid incoming cans, a second channel below and in vertical alignment with said first channel, a gate integral with said first channel, a pair of continuity probes associated with said first channel and engageable with one end of said incoming cans, relay means in series combination with said probes to operate said gate when said contacts are engaged by the conductive ends of said cans whereby cans having a common orientation drop through said gate into said second channel and the remaining cans having the reverse orientation pass through said gate and remain in said first channel, a reversing station coupled to one of said channels to reverse the top to bottom relationship of the cans passing therethrough, said reversing station having a twist therein References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Heiny June 24, 1930 2,529,603 Galt -Nov. 14, 1950 2,560,737 Palmer July 17, 1951 2,601,514 Goodban June 24, 1952

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