Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 Among the many proble~ involved in the manufacture
of metal cans is the multiple handling and frequent transfer
of the cans from one station to another. During such hand-
ling and transfer operations, the cans may be handled first
as a continuously moving mass of cans at one station, e.g., a
washing station, and then reoriented and transferred one by
one or in single file fashion away from that station by a
conveyor to another station where the cans may again be
regrouped and handled again as a moving mass.
This conversion from mass handling to single file
handling and vice versa poses many problems including, in
particular, the reliabiIity and speed with which the cans
can be transposed or converted from mass handling to singular
handling, etc~ Further, since the operation of all parts of
a can line usually have to be ully correlated, a slowdown in
the speed of operation o~ a single instrumentality or section
of a can manufacturing line can seriously affect and slow
down the entire operation of the overall can producing
facility. These problems can be aggravated and magnified
20 when the cans being processed and handled are empty and made
of a light weight matexial such as aluminium. Many of the
aforesaid problems are substantially overcome by the instant
improved system for handling cans and the like at relatively
high speed~.
The instant invention is concerned with can hand-
ling and conveyor systems. More particularly, it is con
cerned with an improved can or container handling and con-
veyor system wherein individual and empty cans are ~irst
isolated and singled out ~rom a mass or plurality of
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1 recirculating cans in a given area of a can plant and then
transferred in singular fashion to other areas of the plant.
The system includes a series of conveyors that can advan-
tageously support the containers in an upright condition,
and these conveyors are arranged to provide a recirculating
or closed path of travel for a plurality of cans. Associated
with these conveyors is a moveable, endless and preferably
pocketed vacuum belt means selectively disposed across the
path of travel of the cans. This belt means operates to
selectively and substantially continuously isolate and remove
single, individual cans from the mass of recirculating cans
without disturbing theix upright condition or otherwise
adversely afecting the recirculating movements of the main
group or mass of cans. m e belt means then transfers the
isolated cans in single file fashion away from the closed
path of travel of the recirculating cans and towards a dis-
charge station preferably located somewhat remote from the
recirculating cans in order to avoid can buildups and jams
at the point of can discharge or belt release. The cans are
singularly funneled at the can discharge station onto a fur-
ther conveyor. m is latter conveyor then finally transfers
the cans also in single file fashion from the discharge
station to a further can handling or ~reating station and
without distur~ing the normal upright position of the cans
25 in which they are initially received from the vacuum belt
means.
In the instant system, the final discharge con-
veyor is also so oriented relative both to the recirculating
conveyors and pocketed vacuum belt conveyor and vice versa
30 wherehy the final discharge conveyor operates to move the
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1 cans away rom the vacuum conveyor belt pockets in an
improved and efficient fashion. The net result is that
can buildups, jams and tippage in the area of the discharge
station and final discharge conveyor are minimized and sub-
stantially avoided.
The instant development constitutes an improvementover various prior art vacuum conveyors as represented, for
example, by those shown in Patents 2,639,025; 3,036,581;
3,158,251; 3,285,387; 3,433,3~5; 3,477,558; 3,592,334;
3,760,453; 3,835,385 and 3,850,096. The instant system
also constitutes an improvement over the combined conveyor
and takeoff systems disclosed in prior art Patents 2,215,702;
3,604,551; 3,608,698 and 3,734,267, as well as the pocketed
endless vacuum timing conveyor belt manufactured and sold
under the trademark "CRADLE BELT" by Products Di~ersifica-
tion, Inc., of N. Hollywood, Cali~ornia.
Figure 1 is an overall plan view of the improved
can handling system of the instant invention and illustrates
the unique arrangement and relationship of the takeoff and
20 pocketed vacuum belt and final discharge conveyor relative
to the mass transit closed conveyor system;
Figure 2 is an end view generally taken along
line 2-2 of Figure 1 with parts removed;
Figure 2A is a ~ra~mentary perspective view with
25 parts removed of a part of the overall can handling system
of the instant invention when taken within the circum
scribing circle 2A of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken within the
circumscribing circle 3 of Figure 1 with parts removed;
Figure 3A is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a
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1 modifiad form of vacuum conveyox belt means; and
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken generally along
the line 4-4 o~ Figure 3 with parts added.
With furthsr reference to the drawings and~ in
particular, Figures 1 and 2, the improved can handling
system is generally comprised of a pair of cooperating end-
less chain belt conveyors 10 and 12, conveyor 10 acting as a
feeding conveyor and conveyor 12 as a return conveyor.
These conveyors comprised of tabletop chain and hinged links
of the type sold by the Rexnard Company of Milwaukee, Wis-
consin, under the designation "821 Series Chains" conveyors
are intercohnected by the flat standard transfer plates 14
and 16 at their respective end portions whereby ~he con-
veyors and plates form a closed loop or recirculating path
of travel for a plurality of cans 5 that are initially
deposited upon the conveyor 10 rom a feed con~eyox 18 driven
by motor 20. Conveyor 10 is driven by the usual drive
mechanism 22 with the other end of tha conveyor being located
and threaded about the idler roller assembly 24. Conveyor 12
is driven by the drive assembly 26 at one end with the other
end of belt 12 then being trained about the usual idler
roller 28. The top of belt 12 in ~he area of plate 14 can
be arranged to a fraction of an inch below the top of plate
14 that is level with the top of belt 10 to facilitate the
25 flow of cans 5 from belt 10 to belt 12. Conversely, the top
of belt 12 in the area of plate 16 can be raised a fraction
- of an inch above the top of plate 16 that is level with the
top of conveyor 10 in order to smooth out the flow of cans
from belt 12 to belt 10 in the area of plate 16. Side bar-
30 rier plates 30 and 32 are disposed adjacent conveyors 10 and
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1 12, and an expanded divider and barrier plate assembly 34 is
appropriately mounted between the conveyors intermediate the
ends thereof. Plate assembly 34 provides an interior sepa-
rator for the conveyors and helps define the paths of travel
therebetween. It will be observed by reference to Figure 1
that the expanded divider 34 is somewhat trapezoidal in plan
so as to narrow and restrict the path of can flow between
divider 34 and barrier 30 at the aft or exit portion of
feeder conveyor 10 in the area A. This 10w restriction of
the cans tends to concentrate and direct the main flow of
the containers or cans 5 toward the area of can pickup sta-
tion A so that they will be more likely to contact rather
than bypass the vacuum belted single file conveyor 36 at the
forward or entry portion thereof. As indicated, particularly
in Figures 3 and 4, belt 36 which is preferably pocketed is
advantageously made from a flexi~le molded polyethylene or
o~her suitable material that is cut away to form successive,
uniformly spaced and arcuate recessed vacuum pockets 40. If
desired, vacuum pockets 40 can have stepped or cutaway sec-
tions 41 that are bounded by the sid~ shoulders 42 forengaging and directly contacting the articles to be grasped
and handled by the vacuum belt 36.
As indicated, particularly in Figure 4, apertures
44 in belt 36 connect pockets 40 with elongated openings 45
25 that can run for most o~ the length of the sidewall 46 of
housing 47 containing vacuum chamber 48 that is connected
to a vacuum p~ump assembly 50 by means of the standard piping
52. Chamber 48 located within the overall vacuum housing 47
extends for substantially the full length of the transport
30 flight or vacuum pickup section of vacuum belt 36. The at
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965
1 end 47'' of housing 47 terminates adjacent pickup station
A while the forward end 47' of housing 47 terminates adja-
cent discharge station B. VaculIm belt openings 56 located
between the pockets 44 help provide belt 36 with the desired
flexibility and bendability for smoothly rounding the corners
at high speeds during its return movements in the areas o~
the pulleys or sheave elements 58 and 59 at least one of
which is positively driven in a standard fashion by the
drive motor 59'.
Located at discharge station B and preferably
remote from or in spaced relation to the edge 12' of con-
veyor 12 is a takeoff single filer conveyor 60 that can be
of the type illustrated in U.S. Patent 3,666,082 wherein the
bottoms of the cans 5 are supported and rest on a moving
cable. Con~eyor 60 includes cable 60' and sheave 60'' and
the usual side guides, etc.
A drop-off gap or open space 61 advantageously
occurs between the conveyors 12 and 60 at discharge station
B. The top flight of conveyor 60 is slightly below the
le~el of the top of belt 12 in the area of plate 14 to
facilitate movements of the cans onto conveyor 60. Thus,
while vacuum belt conveyor 36 successfully bridges and nego-
tiates gap 61 and passes cans 5 across the gap from con- ~
veyor 12 to conveyor 60, any tipped over cans 5 will be
advantageously urged or pushed off conveyor 12 under ~he
influence of conveyor belt 36 and allowed to fall off con- `
veyor 12`into a collecting bin 62 without disturbing the
normal flow of cans off or onto conveyor 10, or onto, off
or along conveyor 12 and without causing a jam or deleteri-
30 ous can buildup in the area of discharge station B. In
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1 short, the circulatory movements of the cans from and to
conveyors 10 and 12 can proceed harmoniously with the opera-
tion of takeoff conveyors 36 and 60.
A pre~erred embodiment of the invention contem-
plates that belted vacuum conveyor 36 will be arrangedcrossways and at selected angle.~ to various portions of the
paths of travel of the conveyors 10 and 12 to remove cans
from these conveyors without disturbing the operations of
these conveyors. Thus, as indicated in Figure 1, ~he
vacuum belt 36 can be arranged in plough fashion and at an
acute angle, e.g., a 45 angle relative to the feeding con-
veyor 10 and at an obtuse angle or a 135 angle relative to
the portion of the takeaway or return conveyor 12 that move~
the cans away from the belt 36 for return to feeding belt
conveyor 10.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention
contemplate that gaseous baffle unit 65, as indicated in
Figure 4, could be used, if desired, to assist in the can
takeoff operations of belt 36 by directing a gaseous medium,
20 e.g., air at the appropriate pressure into the open tops of
the upright cans in the vicinity of the discharge station ~3
and then down through the cans towards their bottoms. This
action will help force the cans 5 not initially collected or
isolated by the belt 36 to remain in full bottom contact
25 with conveyor 12 and to continue moving in the closed can
loop or circuit for ultimate return to the forward end of
the vacuum side of conveyor belt 36. The velocity, psi and
volume of air from baffle 65 are all carefully controlled so
as to, in effect, seal the cans to belt 12 while avoiding
30 can tippage. Air ba~fle unit 65, as indicated in Figure 4,
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1 may comprise a plate 66 that forms part of a housing 67
which is suspended over top of the conveyor 12. Plate 66
is provided with a line of suitably disposed holes 68 which
are bored at an angle, e.g., a 30-degree angle, for example,
in a direction away from the belt 36 and toward conveyor 12
so as to direct the cans toward conveyor 12. Housing 67 is
connected to a suitable air source through fitting 69 and
piping 70. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention,
the air source can comprise the exhaust side o~ vacuum pump
assembly S0 and thereby advantageously provide a closed air
circuit while reducing the installation costs of the overall
unit.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the inven-
tion, the aft part of the feeding conveyor 10 adjacent the
area A may be fitted with a further air deflection device or
b~ffle 72 similar in structure to that shown in Figure 4 and
previously described. In this instance, however, the air
ports 68 would function somewhat differently in that they
would be simply reversed and directed toward the vacuum bel~
36 rather than away from the belt as in the case of the
previously described air deflector system of Figuxe 4. In
other words, as the cans 5 on conveyor 10 approach conveyor
36 as the latter moves to the right as viewed in Figure 1,
the air or gas from deflection device 72 will act as an air
25 deflector that tends to propel or urge the cans 5 into the
pockets 40 of belt 36.
In lieu of using a pocketed belt 36, the belt as
noted in Fig~e 3A may be a flat belt 36' while still having
air holes 44' and bores 56'. I~ desired, and as indicated
30 in Figure 4, the tops o~ conveyors 10 and 12 and barrier 34
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1 can be covered by a clear plastic covex 74 and holes or
elongated slots 75 can then be provided in cover 74 to
accommodate air baffle devices 67 and 72. This equipment
enclosure by way of cover 74 helps prevent the cans from
tipping over and at the same time tends to act as a sound
and noise m~ling device.
The s-tepped arrangement noted between various
parts of conveyors 10, 12 and 60 enhances the movements of
the cans between the conveyors. It is a}so to be under-
stood that if, for any reason, there is too great a flow ofcans from conveyor 18 to conveyor 10, suitable electronic
sensing devices such as those manufactured and sold by the
Peco Manufacturing Company of Milpitas, California, under
the designation "Peco Proximity Sensors and Amplifiers"
can be used to deactivate the drive for conveyor 18 until
the overload of cans from conveyor 18 is alle~iated and
absorbed by conveyors 10 and 12, etc.
Although not shown, it is to be understood that
the instant system will have incorporated therein appropri-
ate gas or air bypasses in the infeed piping to pumpassembly 50 to maintain proper air flow through the pump at
all times.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention has
been shown and described. It is obvious that various
25 changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing ~rom the spirit and scope thereof as defined by
the appended claims wherein:
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