Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 FIELD OF_T~IE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for loading a
stack of containers into a chute which holds the stack and
allows containers to be dispensed from the bottom of the
stack.
BACKGROVND OF T~IE_INVENTION
With the advent of high speed container filling
machines, such as those used in the filling oE coffee creamer
containers, condiment containers, small serving deserts,
fruit cups and yogurt containers, it has become desirable for
each operation of the filling machine to be simplified to
allow the operator sufficient time to observe the performance
of the machine. One of the functions that the operator must
monitor is the container supply system and, as this supply
becomes low, new containers must be added. As the output
capacity of these machines continues to increase, the time
required to maintain a supply of containers in the chutes
increases and, therefore, the method of loading the
containers into the chutes should be simplified where
possible. As the si~e of the contaienrs increases, the
rigidity of the stack similarly increases, and facilitates
improved handling of the containers.
The simplest and most common method of loading
containers into chutes on automatic filling machines is by
top entry into a stati~nary chute which requires the entire
stack to be raised to the upper part of the chute and placed
in the opening for slid insertion within the chute
enclosure. Although this system is satisfactory for many
applications, it can prove difficult in that the operator
must reach to the upper portion of the chute, maintaining
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l control over the stack of containers and, therefore, the size
of the chute is certainly limited.
To overcome this problem, various arrangements have
been used which allow the stack of containers to be
positioned horizontally and subsequently moved to the
vertical position within chutes. One such structure is shown
in United States patent 4,077,180, in which individual rows
of containers are placed one by one into a hopper provided on
an upright conveyor system which conveys individual stacks of
containers upwardly to an area which is aligned with tubes
which lead to the filling machine chutes. The stacks of
containers are pushed through the tubes downwardly into the
chutes to provide a supply of containers. This system is
particularly suitable for small coffee creamer containers,
where the output speed of the machine is high and, therefore,
the additional cost in automating the container feed system
is justified.
A slightly different approach is taken in our copending
Canadian patent application S.N. 344,142, filed January 22,
1980 entitled "Automatic Container Feed for Container
Handling Device", in which stacks of containers are placed on
a horiæotal conveyor bed and moved to align with supply
chutes of the automatic filling machine for advancement
through a sidewall opening in the container chute and
subsequently dropped within the supply chute for clispensing.
Again, this automatic approach is particularly suited to high
speed filling machines in which the output rate is
sufficiently high to justify this mechanized approach.
Another prior art structure for use with small creamer
containers utilizes a hinged horizontal platform on which
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1 stacks of containres are placed, with this platform being
moved upwardly to cooperate with other support members which,
in combination with the hinged member, define the chutes for
the machine.
The present invention provides a simple mechanical
apparatws which facilitates load of containers into chutes of
an automatic filling machine.
SU~MARY OF THE INVENTION
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A container chute for maintaining nested containers in
a generally vertical manner to allow the containers to be
dispensed with the assistance of gravity comprises support
means positioned to positively maintain such containers in a
generally vertical manner, a portion of said support means
being movable to an open position to allow insertion of a
stack of containers into said support means. The movable
portion is then returned to a closed position to positively
maintain such inserted stack. Therefore, according to the
invention a major portion of the stack of containers passes
into the cavity defined between these support means as a
portion of the support means is moved or cammed outwardly.
Once the stack is inserted, the support means is returned to
the initial position thereby positively maintaining the
inserted stack of containersO
According to an aspect of the invention, the movable
portion of the support means is biased to return to the
closed position after the insertion of the stack into the
chute.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
movable portion is cammed outwardly by pressing a stack of
nested containers thereagainst, thereby creating an opening
1 of sufficient si~e to allow the containers to pass through
into the chute defined by the support means.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, a
container chute for receiving and maintaining nested
containers in a generally vertical manner, comprises at least
three supports positioned to maintain a stack of containers
therebetween, wherein one of said supports is movable
outwardly away from the other supports to define a larger
opening for inserting such stack of containers into the
chute. The movable support remains generally parallel to the
other supports during movement thereof and remains in contact
with the side of such column of containers during insertion
of the containers into the chute.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION_OF_THE_DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the
drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of three container
chutes commonly mounted on a base member;
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the lower
support member of the container chutes.
Figure 3 is a top view of a container chute with a
stack of containers being inserted into the chute; and
Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 however the containers
are now positioned within the chute member.
DETAILED_DESCRIPTION_OF THE__REFERRED_EMBODIMENTS
Three container chute assemblies according to the
present invention are shown in Figure 1 commonly mounted on a
base member 20. Each of these chutes 2, have a pair of
moveable portions 4 located either side of a stationary
support rod 5. The moveable portions 4 which partially
1 define the container chute are pivotable about rod 7 which
may be either directly secured to the base member or may be
pivotally secured within the base member and the upper
support member 22 such that these moveable portions do pivot
about its longitudinal axis. Associated with each of these
moveable portions 4 is a spring member 14 which urges the
as~ociated moveable portion to the closed position about a
stack of nested containers generally shown as 30 in Fiyure 1.
Turning to Figure 2 it can be seen that a base member
17 has been used in place of the block member 20 and supports
the moveable portions 4 and the rear support rod 5 which in
combination, generally define the container chute. E`ach of
these moveable portions has an arm 12 pivotally secured to
the base member 17 generally beneath rod 7 with rod 10
extending upwardly from the arm 12. This arm also extends
beyond support rod 7 to cooperate with a spring member 14
which is secured to the arm 12 through a pin member 15 and
the spring is secured to the base member 17 throuyh pin 16.
This spring urges the moveable member to the closed position
shown in E'igure 2 which is positively defined by the stop pin
19 secured to the base member. Supports rods 10 on
corresponding moveable portions 4 in combination with a
stationary support rod S define the container ~hute and the
spacing between any of these rod members is less than the
maximum diameter of the containers to be inserted into the
chute such that in the closed position a stack of containers
is positively maintained within the chute. It can also be
appreciated that the distance 'Al shown in Figure 2 is
greater than the radius of the containers such that rods 5
and 10 are positioned about the stack of containes and
1 positively maintain the stack within the chute.
The top view of Figure 3 illustrates the insertion of a
stack of containers 30a into the chute 2 with each of the
movable portions 4 camming outwardly such that the distance
between the rods 10 on either side of the containers is
sufficient to allow insertion of the containers into the chute.
The operator merely has to press the stack of containers against
these movable portions and the interaction of the containers
with the rods 10, if the operator applies pressure in the
lateral direction of arrow 50, will force these movable por-tions
outwardly and the containers may be conveniently placed within
the chute.
Figure 4 illustrates the stack of containers 30a
positioned within the chute member and the spring 14 urges the
rod 10 to move inwardly after the maximum diameter of the
container has passed through the gap between these rods. Stop
pins 19 limit the movement of rods 10 towards each other and in
so doing define a container chute which loosely maintains the
stack of containers such that the containers can move downwardly
of the chute under the influence of gravity as containers are
dispensed from the bottom of the chute. The support rods which
define the container chute should not have projecting edges
which possibly could interact with the containers and bind them
within the chute.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4 it is also possible that
one spring member 14a may be connected to the adjacent arm 12
of the next container chute whereby the requirement for pins
16 for these arms is eliminated. As shown in Figure 3,
during the insertion of the stack of containers 30a into the
container chute, arm 12b remains in its closed position while
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1 arm 12a is cammed outwardly due to the interaction of the stack
of containers as it is pushed into the container chute.
As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2 the movable portions of
the container chutes and particularly the rods 10 are secured
such that during insertion of a stack of containers these
movable portions cam outwardly while remaining ~enerally
parallel with the stationary support member 5. After the
containers have been inserted into the chute these members again
move inwardly towards one another and in -the closed position,
positively maintain the stack of containers therein.
The spacing between two adjacent arms of the movable
portions 12a and 12b shown in Figures 3 and 4 is su~ficient to
allow camming of this arm outwardly without interfering wlth the
adjacent arm which remains in the closed position. If these
arms were too close together they would interfere with the
movement of each other and would not function in the manner
shown.
Although we have shown a container chute having two
movable portions, it can easily be appreciated that one of these
movable portions could be stationary with the other movable
portion being cammed outwardly through a greater distance to
allow the insertion of the containers. When two movable
portions are used the movement of each of these is reduced~
In all cases the movable portions of the container
chute need not extend over the entire height of the chute. A
stack of nested containers generally has some flexibility
along its length which would allow the movable portion of
the chute to be reduced to a length less than the height of
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1 the stack being inserted with this stack being pressed
inwardly and upwardly whereby the top of the stack moves
above the movable portions within the chute to allow the
lower portion of the stack to be inserted into the chute.
This is not the preferred embodiment as it complicates the
insertion of containers into the chute however it may be
suitable in some operations.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have
been described herein in detail it will be understood that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
