Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
79675
This invention relates to apparatus for
receiving random oriented containers and orientating the
containers to a predetermined requirement before delivery
to a discharge location.
There is proposed in my Australian Patent No.
467,947 apparatus which will select objects such as containers
of a predetermined orientation within a number of random
orientated objects, and convey those objects in the same
orientation to a discharge location for delivery to sub-
sequent equipment. In one embodiment of the prior pro-
posed apparatus the orientation of the objects may be
reversed during transfer from the collection to the dis-
charge point.
Apparatus of this type is largely used for
sorting containers such as glass or plastic bottles which
have a major and minor dimension. When such containers
are randomly orientated and subject to a tumbling movement,
they normally take up an orientation with their major
dimensions substan-tially horizontal. Accordingly in the
prior proposed apparatus the containers are initially
picked-up by the apparatus with their major axis horizontal
and during movement within the apparatus are only capable
of being turned over through an angle of 180.
As it is most practical to initially select
the containers with their major axis horizontal, apparatus
working on this principal is naturally of simple construction,
however it is, in many applications, necessary to rotate the
containers through an angle of less than 180 to obtain the
desired orientation for cleaning.
It is therefore the principal object of this
invention to provide an apparatus of relatively simple
construction and effective operation which may collect
containers at one orientation, pass them through one or
7~
" 1079675
more alternative orientations to facilitate cleaning before
discharge from the apparatus.
With this object in view there is provided app-
aratus for orientating containers having an open end,
comprising an orientating table mounted for rotation in a
plane inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of first
pockets on the table each adapted to receive an individual ~
container as the table rotates, each container only being ;
receivable in a first pocket orientated with the open end
in a leading or trailing relation to the direction of move-
ment, a plurality of second pockets on the table located
in a container receiving relationship with the first pockets, -
said second pocket being arranged to support containers in
an inverted orientation with the open end directed downwardly,
means to regulate transfer of a container in a first pocket i~
to the associated second pocket as the table rotates so
that containers of either orientation in the first pockets
will occupy the inverted orientation in the second pocket,
means to regulate discharge of containers from the second
pocket after travelling in said second pocket through at
least part of a revolution of the table, and means to
direct cleaning fluid into the open end of containers during
at least part of said travel in the second pocket. By arrang-
ing the first pockets so that they will receive containers
in either of two opposite orientations will naturally
increase the delivery rate of the machine, as the possibility
of each pocket receiving a container during each rotation
is greatly increased over that where each pocket will
receive containers of only one orientation,
Preferably the second pockets are open bottomed,
and a stationary retaining member is provided below the level
of said second pockets. ~he retaining member is shaped
and positioned to prevent the passage of containers in the
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second pockets passing downwardly through the open bottom
during a portion of each revolution of the table. At
least portion of the retaining member is hollow and has a
plurality of apertures therein directed upwardly towards the
path of the second pockets. The hollow portion of the retain-
ing member is connectable to a source of cleaning fluid,
which may be sprayed into the open end of the inverted
container as the container is moved along the hollow portion
by the rotation of the table.
In one arrangement the first pockets are
arranged in two or more rows co-axial with the axes of
rotation of the table, the second pockets also being arranged
in one or more rows co-axial with said axis of rotation, and
the second pockets are disposed below the level of the first
pockets whereby the containers fall by gravity from the
first to the second pockets.
; A first stationary retaining member may
be provided below the level of the first pockets, said member
being shaped and positioned to prevent the container in the
first pockets passing therethrough during the portion of
each revolution of the table and to permit passage there-
through to the second pocket during the remainder of the
revolution. Each first pocket may be provided with means
to support the object adjacent a selected end thereof,
said means being adapted so that when the object is clear
of the retaining member the object will pivot on said support
means under the influence of gravity to present the open end
of the container to the second pocket first.
~he means to regulate discharge of containers
3 from the second pockets as the table rotates preferably
includes guide means to invert the containers to an open
end upward orientation during the discharge movement.
1,'
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1079675
The first pockets may each be defined by radially
spaced inner and outer walls and circumferentially spaced
end walls between the inner and outer walls, The spacing
between the inner and outer walls and/or between the end
walls may be adjustable, whereby the size of the pocke-t may
be adjusted to receive different size containers, Preferably
the inner wall of each first pocket is mounted for selective ~`
movement in a direction towards or away from the outer wall,
and one of the end walls is mounted for selective movement
in a direction towards or away from the other end wall, Suit-
able means are provided to lock the inner wall and the one end
wall in respective selected positions, ; '
Throughout this specification reference is made
to the use of the apparatus for sorting and delivering bottles,
however it is to be understood that it may be used for sorting
other types of containers and other objects in general,
~ he invention will be more readily understood
; from the following description of one practical arrangement
of the apparatus as illustrated in the accompanying drawings
which is designed specifically for handling necked bottles,
~; In the drawings -
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus
Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus as
shown in Figure 1
Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3
in Figure 2
Figure 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4
in Figure 3
Figure 5 is a partial elevational section
3 view of a modified form of the apparatus taken on line 5-5
in Figure 7
Figure 6 is a partial plan view o~ the
embodiment illustrated in Figure 5
1079675
Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
further embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 taken on line 7-7
Figure 8 is a plan view of a further embodiment
of an article pocket having adjustable dimensions
Figure 9 is an elevational view of the embodiment
of Figure 8
Figure 10 is an elevational view of a receiving
pocket having adjustable dimensions
Figure 11 is a further elevational view of
Figure 10
Figure 12 is a part section of the view of Figure
11 taken on line 12-12.
Referring now to the drawings the apparatus
comprises a box structure frame 10 rotatably supporting the
table 11 with the portion of the frame above the plane of
the table enclosed by walls 12 forming a hopper to receive the
bottles to be sorted. The hopper has a base 13 parallel and
: above the plane of the rotating table 11 and inclined wall
portions 12a which together with the base 13 cause the
bottles in the hopper 12 to gravitate through the opening 14
onto the table 11.
The table 11 is mounted on the spindle 15
supported in bearings 16 mounted on the bracket structure
18 attached to the frame 10. The chain wheel 20 is drive
coupled to the shaft 15 and driven through a suitable
transmission and the drive sprocket 21 from the motor 22.
It will be noted that the axis of the shaft 15 and hence the
axis of rotation of the table 11 is înclined at approximately
60 to the horizontal so that the table rotates in a plane
at approximately 30 to the horizontal. To provide
additional support and stability to the rotating table there
are provided thereon a plurality of wheels 25 which run upon
1079675
a track supported by the frame 10. The manner of supporting
the track is not shown for the sake of clarity. In addition
a plurality of wheels 26 are rotatably supported on a fixed
part of the frame 10 to engage the underside of the peripheral
flange 27 of the table to also provide support for the table.
Four radially disposed deflector bars 30 are
provided on the upper surface of the table 11 and project
therefrom. The purpose of the deflector bars is to provide
a degree of agitation to the bottles resting upon the surface
of the table 11 in order to promote movement of the bottles
into the pockets on the table as hereinbefore described and
to prevent a blockage of the bottles within the opening 14
leading from the hopper 12.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings,
there is provided around the periphery of the table a first
series of pockets 31 formed by radially spaced ring members
32 and 33 and angularly spaced radial members 34 extending
between the ring members. The arcuate length and radial width
of each of the pockets 31 are such that they will receive a
bottle having its longitudinal axis extending in the
` direction of the arcuate length of the pocket, but will not
receive a bottle whose longitudinal axis is disposed in a
; generally radial direction. Thus as shown in Figure 3
bottles may be received in the pockets 31 with the neck
end thereof either forward or rearward with respect to the
direction of rotation of the table. It will be understood
that the bottles are picked up in the pockets of the table as
the pockets travel through the lower portion of each revolut-
ion when the pockets are located beneath the opening 14
leading from the hopper. If the bottles do not have the
correct orientation to be fully received in the pocket as the
table continues to rotate and the pockets move up the incline,
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107967S
the incorrectly received bottles will roll back down the
incline in a gravity induced movement.
The pockets 31 are open at the bottom so that the
bottles may normally pass therethrough however there is
provided a stationary arcuate support bar 36 fixed to the frame
of the machine as indicated at 37 in Figure 1. The support
bar 36 is disposed co-axial with the shaft 15 and extends
through an arcuate length subtending approximately 120 at
the centre. Thus during rotation of the table 11 the support
bar 36 forms an obstruction to the passage of the bottles
through the pockets 31 through an angle of rotation of 120
and through the remaining 60 of rotation the bottom of the
pockets is open so that bottles may pass therethrough. As
seen in Figures 3 and 4 the support bar 36 is received in
slots 39 in the radial walls 34 of the pockets so that the
walls 34 may extend below the level of the upper surface of
the support bar 36 without obstructing the rotation of the
table 11. The support bar 36 is positioned so as to extend
through the lower half of the circular path of the pockets
on the table as it is during this lower half of the travel
that the pockets receive the bottles delivered to the table
from the hopper.
Also mounted on the table 11 below the level of
the pockets 31 and support bar 36 are a second series of
pockets 40. The number of pockets 40 in the second series
being equal to the number of pockets 31 in the face of the
table 11 with each pocket in the second series co-operating
with a pocket 31 to receive a bottle therefrom.
Each pocket 40 is formed by an in~er wall 41
two spaced radial walls 42 which diverge outwardly at the
upper end to guide the bottle descending from the pocket 31
into the pocket 40. The pockets 40 do not have a
continuous outer wall, but the bottles are prevented from
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10'79675
movement in an outwardly radial direction by the peripheral
bar 45 which is stationary and supported on the frame of the
machine by brackets 46 and 47 as indicated in Figure 1.
Similarly the bottles are prevented from passing downwardly
out of the pockets 40 by lower supports 49 and 50 carried on
brackets 51 and 52 respectively attached to the frame 10
of the machine. The supports 49 and 50 are of annular form
concentric with the shaft 15. The support 49 is in the form
of a tube having perforations 49A along at least portion of
the length thereof to direct a stream of cleaning fluid into
the open end of the bottles as they move therealong. The
support 49 is connected at one end to a pressure source of
cleaning fluid.
It will be observed from Figure 3 of the drawings
that as the table rotates and each pocket 31 passes over the
end of the support bar 36 the bottle in that pocket is no
longer supported in the vertical direction and accordingly
will fall under gravity into the pocket 40 therebelow. In
order to ensure that all bottles take up a position in the
second series of pockets with the neck of the bottle downmost,
there are provided on the inner and outer peripheral rings 32
and 33 two pairs of opposed pins 52 and 53.
The respective pins of each pair of pins 52 and
53 are spaced in the radial direction so that the distance
therebetween is less than the diameter of the larger portion
of the bottle, but greater than the diameter of the neck
portion of the bottle. The spacing between the pairs of
pins in the circumferential direction is such that when a
bottle is located within the pocket, the larger portion of
the bottle will be located above one pair of pins, and the
neck portion of the bottle above the other pair of pins,
irrespective of whether the neck end of the bottle is
~.o79675
leading or trailing in respect of the direction of travel
of the table.
The result of having the two pairs of pins 52
and 53 arranged in this manner is that irrespective of which
end of the bottle is leading, as the pocket moves clear of
the end of the support bar 36, the neck end of the bottle
will move downwardly first as it is free to pass between the
pins whilst the other larger end may not pass ~hrough the pins.
Thus in effect the bottle tends to pivot about the pair of
pins which engages the larger portion of the bottle until
the bottle has reached a generally vertical disposition,
with the neck end downmost, whereupon the larger portion of
the bottle may pass downwardly out of the pocket, as at this
position, the widest part of the bottle will be located
intermediate the pairs of pins 52 and 53 and hence the larger
portion of the bottle is not obstructed by the pins.
The above described arrangement of two pairs
of pins are but one example of means to achieve a selected
orientation of the bottles in the second series of pockets,
and it must be appreciated that other means may be employed
to achieve the same result, and that the means may be varied
in accordance with the actual shape of the bottle and the
required orientation thereof in the second series of pockets.
The essence of all such arrangements is that the gravity
induced movement of the bottle from the first pocket into
the second pocket, after the bottle has moved clear of the
support bar 36, is to cause a partial rotation of the bottle
as it falls from the first series of pockets to the second
series of pockets.
As previously described the bottles whilst in
the second series of pockets are supported upon the support
members 49 and 50,, and also rest upon the side support bar
45. The delivery chute 60 is supported upon the machine frame
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1079675
10 and has a receiving portion 61 located at a level lower
than the support member, but adjacent thereto. The side
~t
~B a~@eY~ bar 45 is discontinued in the vicinity of the
receiving portion of the chute 61 as also is the support
member 49, and the lower end of the bottle is then supported
upon the support member 50 and a cam bar 63. The cam bar 63
rises in the direction of travel of the bottles so that as
the bottles are caused to move therealong the inner lower
edge of the bottle is raised relative to the outer edge
which is supported on the member 50, and the extent of
raising will reach a vallle where the bottle will roll
outwardly in a pivoting movement about the lower outer edge
supported on the member 50, so that the bottle will take up
a conventional upright position in the discharge chute 60.
It will be appreciated that this further
reversal of the orientation of the bottle as it leaves the
apparatus and is delivered to the discharge chute is now
always required, and depends upon the orientation given to
the bottle in the second series of pockets and the relationship
of that orientation to the orientation required when the
bottles are delivered to the next process. If it is not
required to further turn the bottles over, the receiving
portion 61 of the delivery chute 60 would be placed beneath
the second series of pockets so that the bottles would pass
directly off the support member 49 and 50 into the discharge
chute, and the side walls of the chute would then guide the
bottle out from beneath the second series of pockets and
discharge it from the machine.
In the apparatus as described above there are a
single row of pockets in the table 11 which feed into a
single row of pockets in the second series, however it is to
be understood that subject to the permissible size of the
table, and the size of the bottles being sorted, there may
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1079675
be two concentric rows of pockets in the table feeding into
two or more rows in the second series of pockets.
Referring now to Figures, 5, 6 and 7, these
figures show a first series of double pockets 70 which
communicate through a chute to a second series of pockets 80
below them arranged in a single row.
Pockets 70 communicate via a chute 71 with the
pockets 80. The pockets 70 are divided in the
circumferential direction from each other by members 73
which form with the arcuate base bar 74 a cavity 75 which
will receive the neck of the bottle being handled but will
not receive the base. The cavity 75 is open to the pocket
in advance thereof with respect to the direction of rotation
of the table, so that the bottle will gravitate toward the
open side of the pocket as the table rotates. The members
72 are adjustably mounted on the respective members 73 to
permit adjustment of the effective length of each pocket.
The position of the member 72 is set so that when the neck
of the bottle is received in the cavity 75 the base of the
bottle is clear of the member 72 (as shown in Figure 5); and
when the base of the bottle engages the member 73 the neck
of the bottle is supported on the adjustable member 72.
The arcuate bar 74 provided under each row of
pockets 70 operates in identical fashion to the arcuate bar
36 described in the earlier embodiment.
The arrangement is such that once the bottle has
- cleared the end of the arcuate bar 74 the bottle will fall
bottom first irrespective of which orientation the bottle
occupies in the pocket. If the bottle base clears the
arcuate bar first it is then unsupported and will commence
to fall, and if the neck end of the bottle clears the bar
; 74 first it is supported by the member 72 and cannot fall
until the base end also clears the bar and the action of the
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1079675
base end falling will move the neck end clear of the member
72.
The operation of the apparatus otherwise is
similar to that previously described.
It will be appreciated that the provision of two
concentric rows of top pockets will lead to more efficient
utilization of the apparatus. Where the relative
propositions of height and width of a bottle to be handled
is at least 2, it is possible for the apparatus to feed such
bottles from a horizontal position in the first series of
pockets arranged in two rows into the lower single row of
pockets. Of course if the height to width ratio is at least
three, three concentric rows of upper pockets may be used with
a single lower row. This is explained by the simple fact
that a bottle on its side occupies a greater peripheral
distance around the table than when it is upright in the bottom
pockets. Also the number of pockets in each upper row may not
be equal as the mean circumferential length of each row will
decrease as the radius thereof decreases.
The pocket arrangements shown in Figures 5 to 12
differ in physical construction from those previously
described and illustrated, however, it will be appreciated
that the different constructions are interchangeable to
carry out specific requirements.
For example, the pins 52 and 53 shown in Figure
2 ensure that the bottle falls with its neck directed down,
however, it may be required for the bottle to fall bottom
end first. Also it may be desirable for the physical
dimensions of the pockets to be adjustable so that the
pocket may be varied to permit use of the apparatus with
different size bottles.
Figures 8 to 12 show pockets incorporating means
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:1079675
for adjusting the physical dimensions of the pockets. Figures
8 and 9 show the first row of pockets 90, and Figures 10 to 12
show the second row of pockets 100 each of which may be used
in either of the previous embodiments described.
Depending upon the degree of variation in bottle
; size to be accommodated it may be necessary to only effect
adjustment to the size of the first row of pockets, which
initially receive the bottles, while the second row of
pockets, which receive the bottles in a generally vertical
disposition, may remain unchanged for bottles of different
heights, and/or minor differences in cross-section.
~; Referring now to Figures 8 and g there is shown
two adjacent pockets in the first row constructed to permit
adjustment of the effective size thereof. Each pocket is
defined by radially spaced side walls 96 and 97, the latter
being formed by the edge of the movable side plate 93; and
end walls 98 and 99, again the latter being formed by the
edge of the movable end plate 91. In Figures 8 and 9 the
left pocket shows the movable plates in the position to give
a minimum size pocket and the right pocket shows the movable
plates positioned to give a maximum size pocket.
The pin 92 is provided on the fixed end wall 98
and is arranged to enter the neck of a bottle when the neck
end is presented to the end wall 98, and to engage the base
if presented thereto so that the neck is supported on the
end plate 91. Accordingly the bottles will always drop from
the pockets bottom first.
In the embodiment illustrated pins 110 and 111
are attached to the movable end plate 91. These pins are
guided in respective slots 112 and 113 in a portion of the
table 11, and also extend through slots 114 and 115 in the
movable side plate 93. The slots 114 and 115 are inclined
to the direction of the slots 112 and 113 whereby when
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adjustment is made to the position of the movable end plate
91 a corresponding adjustment is made to the position of the
movable side plate 93. The pin 111 is threaded to receive
the locking nut 116 which when tightened locks the two
movable plates in the selected position.
:~ Referring now to Figures 10, 11 and 12 there is
shown an adjustable size second pocket which may if required,
be used in combination with the adjustable size first pocket
described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Located within
the basic second pocket 40 is a right-angled adJustment member
101 each leg of which is parallel to respective side walls of
the pocket 40. The wall 40a of the pocket has a portion 40b
`~ inclined to the vertical axis of the pocket, and the adjustment
member has a correspondingly inclined portion lOlb. The slot
102 is provided in the inclined portion 40b to receive the
pins 105 attached to the inclined portion lOlb of the
adjustment member. The slot 102 is inclined so that as the
pins 105 move therealong the adjustment member 101 will move
diagonally across the pocket to reduce the cross-section
thereof in both directions. The lock nut 103 is threadably
received by one of the pins to permit selective locking of
the adjustment member 101 in the required positions.
