Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
C7~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for lateral shifting
of registered containers on conveyors and more particularly its
use in labelling apparatus for applying labels to container
sides and applying a label strip to a container top where control
of the container position throughout the label application steps
is accurately and efficiently maintained.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.
Systems which involve multiple step label applications
in applying several different types of labels to various
surfaces on a container necessitate control of the container
position so that each particular label is consistently applied
to each container. In the distillery, some food processing
and pharmaceutical industries, it is often required to place
a security seal or tax e~cise stamp on the top of the container
or bottle in conjunction with other labels on the body and neck
of each container. As can be appreciated, the security seal
cannot interfere with or overlap pertinent portions of a label
on the neck of the container. It is, therefore, necessary to
maintain correct registration and sometimes orientation of a
bottle on the conveyor of the labelling apparatus to make sure
that the labels are consistently applied to the same place
on the bottle. The application of labels to the sides of
containers may be done at various labelling stations which are
separate from the means for applying a security seal to the
top of the bottle. Most often these operations are carried
out on separate machines where additional container orientation
:
. ~
~,_..q,
- . - . ~ -
.
73~f~5
and/or holding means are required in transferring the bottles
from container body labelling stations to the security seal
labelling station. Such an arrangement forfeits precise
control on bottle or container positions on the conveyor which
S results in sloppy placement of la~els on the container, mis-
alignment of labels on the container and improper positioning
of security seals on container tops.
Such precise control on container position as the
containers are conveyed through the label applying apparatus
has been difficult to achieve. For example, the!re is apparatus
which uses intermeshing star wheels for transferring the
containers from label applying stations to security seal applying
stations. Round bottles tend to rotate as they are transferred
by the star wheel system resulting in a variance in location
of security seal application to each container top.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The labelling apparatus according to this invention
provides in an efficient manner control on the container position
throughout application of labels due to the interaction of
components on the apparatus. The labelling apparatus comprises
a conveyor for conveying containers along the apparatus and
container registration means provided at the upstream end
of the conveyor for evenly spacing such containers on the
conveyor. Above the conveyor is an overhead container
engaging means which contacts each container top and travels
-2-
.~,
,~ ~
'.
3t3~;5
with it to hold the container in its registered position
for receipt of labels from label applying stations adjacent
the conveyor. After labels have been applied to the sides
and neck of the container, a label compression station is
so arranged along the conveyor to begin compressing the
labels against the container sides prior to the overhead
engaging means disengaging each container top. The label
compression station comprises a plurality of opposing
compression pads which travel alongside the conveyor at the
conveyed speed. The arrangement is such that the opposing
compression pads receive and sandwich a respective container
between them. As a result the container is held in its ~-~
registered position so that precise control of the bottle
position is maintained in its takeover of the container
from the overhead engaging means. A security seal applying
means which is located downstream of the container body
labelling stations, overlaps the label compression station. --
' This sandwiching of the containers between the compression ~
pads maintains proper registration of the container for accurate ~-
receipt of security seals on the container tops and reduces
any chance of label smudging, tearing or dislocation.
The opposing compression pads may be adapted to move
laterally relative to the conveyor's length towards and away
from each other while they move along the conveyor. A pair
-~I 25 of opposing cam rails are mounted on each side of the conveyor.
. . .
Each compression pad is provided with a cam follower and
there is means for biasing the cam follower against the
_3
.. ' ' . ' ~ . . ' . . . .
l(rf3s~s
corresponding cam rail. The cam rail may be configured to
move the respective compression pad inwardly to contact a
respective container side and press labels present against
the container. Adjustment means may be provided for moving
the cam rails laterally of the conveyor so that the spacing
between them causes said opposing compression pads to move
into proper contact with the container sides.
This labelling apparatus can be particularly adapted,
according to this invention to label bottles whose neck
is offset relative to the centre line of the bottle as labels
are applied to the body of the bottle. The compression
~` station according to an aspect of the invention may be
adjusted or modified such that the bottles are shifted
laterally on the conveyor by the compression pads to align
a container neck with a security seal applying device so
that in a single pass of a container through the device,
i labels are applied accurately to both the body and top of
such peculiar containers.
The labelling apparatus therefore maintains
~-; 20 precise control on the bottle container position throughout
,, the label applying operation so that a consistent location
of labels on the container is always maintained in high speed
operations. There is also a more positive holding of the
container throughout the label applying sequence and the
:;
~ 25 apparatus requires substantially less space than prior art
;~ apparatus. Change parts on the apparatus are kept to a
~ minimum because there is no need to provide extra bottle
.
--4--
. ~ . ., . :
.:. . . .
~ 7~ ;S
registration means between the container body label applying
station and the security seal applying unit. Such an
arrangement also eliminates any jerking or undue accele-
ration or deacceleration of the container which could upset
location of labels on the container.
In addition to the container registration means,
the apparatus may include a container orientation means
which orients all registered containers in the same direction
on the conveyor so that container body labels are always ~ -~
applied to the same spot on each bottle. The overhead
container engaging means and the compression station maintains
the oriented position of the containers during label appli-
cation.
: .~
i DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
,
-~ 15 The aforementioned advantages and features
and others of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art in the following detailed description
; of the preferred embodiments of the invention as shown in
the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the labelling
apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of this
invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the labelling
apparatus shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of a portion of
the label compression station of the apparatus;
Figure 4 is a detail showing the preferred construc-
tion of a compression pad of the label compression station;
D
... . . . .. . . .
s
Figure 5 is an end view illustrating the manner
in which a bottle having an offset neck is shifted laterally
on the conveyor;
Figure 6 is a detail of the bottle overhead
engaging means at its downstream end; and
Figure 7 is a plan view of alternative cam rail
configuration for the label compression station.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
The labelling apparatus 10 as shown in Figure 1
comprises a base 12 which houses the drive mechanism for
the labelling apparatus. A conveyor (not shown) runs the
length of the apparatus 10 where at the upstream end of the
conveyor is a portion of a conventional bottle registration
device 14 which evenly spaces apart the bottles on the conveyor.
Incorporated with the bottle registration means may be a
conventional bottle orientation or bottle spotter device
(not shown) which orients the bottles all on the same direction
on the conveyor. An overhead engaging means 16 is provided
above the conveyor and comprises a plurality of resilient
blocks 18 mounted on an endless chain system which is trained
over sprockets bearingly mounted on shafts 20 and 22.
Support members 26 and 28 support the overhead assembly
above the conveyor. ~ crank 30 is provided for raising and
lowering the overhead assembly 16 up and down on the supports
26 and 28. This provides the adjustment necessary in handling
bottles of different heights so that the distance between
resilient blocks 18 and the conveyor is approximately the
same as the height of the bottle to be labelled. It is
-- 6 --
~ 7;~
understood that the distance between the blocks 18 and the
conveyor determines the frictional force exerted on the
: bottle as it is sandwiched between the blocks 18 and the
conveyor. By fine adjustment of crank 30 this force can be
readily altered. A further aspect of the overhead assembly
will be discussed in more detail respecting the embodiment
shown in Figure 6.
As the bottles exit from the bottle registration
and spotter means, they are conveyed to the overhead
engagement means 16, its movement is synchronized so that
the blocks 18 contact the bottle tops to hold each bottle
on the conveyor in its registered oriented position. The
bottles are conveyed in this manner past a label applying
- station 24 which applies labels to a bottle body, that is
the sides and neck of the bottle. It is understood of course
that several of these label applying devices may be located
on each side of and spaced apart along the conveyor to
apply labels on the container's sides and neck portions.
The label compression station conforms labels to
the sides and neck of the container subsequent to their
application at label applying station 24. There are various
~` forms of compression stations known in the art. The one
shown in the drawings is representative of one form.
Among other known types is a unit which has a plurality of
opposing compression pads mounted on endless chain systems.
Each chain system causes the corresponding pads to revolve
in a horizontal plane where a portion of their movement is
alongside the conveyor. The unit is synchronized and properly
positioned to sandwich a respective container between
7~5
opposing pads as they swing towards each other at the upstream
end of the unit.
, Label compression station 32 is a preferred
embodiment of the invention. It comprises a plurality of
opposing compression pads 34 which are mounted in an evenly
spaced apart manner on endless chain systems located on each
side of the conveyor as more clearly shown in Figure 2.
The movement of the label compression station is such that
each bottle has freshly applied labels compressed against
its body by opposing compression pads 34 as the pads move
along through a vertical plane on the endless chain system
with the corresponding conveyed bottle. As is shown in
Figure 1, the compression pads 34 contact the bottle prior
to the resilient block 18 of the overhead engagement means
disengaging the bottled top.
While the labels are being compressed against
the bottles, they are conveyed to and underneath the security
seal applying device generally designated 36 which applies
a seal to the bottle top. The security seal may take on
various shapes and sizes as will be understood by those
skilled in the art. For example, in the North American
distillery business the security seal (tax excise stamp) is
.
usually a long narrow strip which is applied to the bottle - -
, top and is folded down onto and applied to the bottle neck.
The compression pads 34 maintain control on the orientation
and registration of the bottle as it is conveyed to the label
strip applicator to ensure accurate location of the strip on
the bottle top. The compression station 32 therefore serves
: . :
,
10~ ;S
a dual function. In this partieular embodiment the eompression
pads 34 eontinue to hold the bottles as they are conveyed
to the strip stamp compression station generally designated
- at 38 which conforms the strip stamp to the bottled top
and neck side. Each compression unit 40 includes pad members
42 which conform to the neck configuration to ensure a neat
application of the strip stamp to the bottled top and neck.
The support members 44 and overhead assembly 45 for the
strip stamp compression station 38, includes a crank 46
whieh allows the operator to adjust the height of the
eompression station to accommodate various bottle heights.
Turning to Figure 2, the known bottle registration
device 18 has rotating opposing screw members 48 which
interact with the bottle sides to evenly space them apart
on the eonveyor belt 50. The overhead compression station
16 eontaets the bottle top when the bottle is being moved
`! forward by the registration deviee 18. In the same area as
the bottle registration deviee there may be a bottle orienta-
tion means for spotting every bottle in the same direetion
on the eonveyor 50. Sueh bottle spotters are known and may
be of the type diselosed in Canadian patent 693,147.
The label applying station 24 as shown in
Figure 2 ineludes baek and front label applying deviees 54
and 56 for applying labels to the front and baek of the
bottle. Sueh deviees may be of the type diselosed in Canadian
patent 745,003. The bottle with the labels contacting its
; baek and front surfaces is eonveyed to the eompression
station 32 where the eompression pads 34 travel along and
~7~ 5
initially inwardly towards the conveyor 50 to contact the
bottles before their discharge from the overhead engaging
means 16. Control on the registration and orientation of
each bottle is thereby maintained.
The label compression pad assembly 33 is shown
in more detail in Figure 4 where each interchangeable com-
pression pad 34 is mounted by a "quick release" mechanism
(not shown) on a rod 58 which in turn is bearingly mounted
in a sleeve 60. The sleeve 60 is securely mounted on an
endless chain system of two parts by pins 62. Followers
64 and 66 ride in channels to maintain proper location of
the sleeve 60 alongside the conveyor as the chain system
rotates which will be discussed in more detail with respect
to Figure 3. The rear portion of the rod 58 includes a
cam follower 68.
Located on each side of the conveyor are opposing
cam rails 70, 72 shown in Figure 2. As the sleeves 60
move around the trained system through a vertical plane,
! the cam follower 68 of each compression pad contacts the lead
20 in portions 74 and 76 of cams 70 and 72 to move opposing
; compression pads 34 laterally inwardly towards the conveyor.
Adjustment means which will be discussed in more detail with
respect to Figure 3 are provided on each side of the conveyor
to adjust the spacing between cam rails 70 and 72. They
25 ensure that the compression pads 34 move inwardly the proper
extent to engage each bottle and begin compressing the
labels against each bottle. Also to ensure that they have
a sufficient hold on each bottle prior to the overhead means
-- 10
:,
: ~ - , . , . : : ~
- ~ .
disengaging the respective bottle. The compression pads 34
as they contact the container with the pads at their inner-
most position as determined by the intermediate portions 78
and 80 of the cam rails achieve the highest degree of label
compression on the bottles. This is continued for the length
of cam portions 78 and 80 which is usually long enough to
allow the glue on the labels to set.
Tension springs 82 are provided on each com-
pression pad assembly as shown in Figure 4 where one end of
the spring is connected to pin 84 and the other end is connected
to a side of the compression pad at 86. The tension springs
82 serve to bias the compression pad assembly in a manner
such that with the pad in its "bottomed out" position, the
cam follower 68 engages the lead in portions 74, 76 and
maintains the follower against the intermediate portions
and the fall away portions 88 and 90 of the cam rails to
accurately determine the opposing position of matched
compression pads 34 as they follow along with the conveyed
container sandwiched between them.
The shape of compression pads 34 is such to
conform to particular shape of bottle sides and necks to
be labelled where the pads may be formed from resilient
foam. The particular shape of the pad shown in Figure 4
is, for engaging a side of a circular bottle. The pad may
include "add on" portions which are also activated by the
cam rails to engage the sloping and neck portions of a
bottle simultaneously with the pad contacting the bottle
sides.
-- 11 --
s
As shown in Figure 3, a bottle 92 is conveyed
on the conveyor 50. The compression pad assemblies 33 are
mounted on endless chain systems 94 and 96 on each side
of the conveyor 50. Cam rails 70 and 72 are mounted on
support members 98 in which shaft 104 for sprockets 100 and
102 on each side of the conveyor is journalled. The chains
94, 96 are trained over the sprockets 100 and 102 and are
driven by drive chain 106. The speed of chain 106 is
synchronized with the conveyor speed so that each bottle 92
as it is conveyed through the compression station 32 is con-
tacted accurately with opposing compression pads 34.
The compression pad assemblies 33 travel through
a loop in a vertical plane determined by endless chain
- systems 94, 96. They are swung upwardly at the upstream
end of the compression station 32 where cam followers 68
contact lead in portions 74, 76 of the cam rails to move
opposing compression pads 34 inwardly. As mentioned the
spacing between intermediate portions 78 and 80 determine
the correct spacing between the pads to properly contact
containers 92. As is shown in Figure 3, roller 66 travels
in rail 106 located on each side of the conveyor to maintain
constant positioning of the sleeve 60 relative to the conveyor
50. The additional rollers 64 on the sleeve 60 contact
other channels (not shown) to ensure that the sleeve does
not appreciably wobble during the label compression phase.
Connected to each chain system is an adjustment
means comprising a screw shaft 110 which is threaded through
a collar 112 in support members 98. The screw shaft 110 is
also journalled in collar 114 mounted in stationary support
- 12 -
:
-
~ '7~ 5
plate 116. A crank may be provided to engage the shaft end 118
to turn it in either direction. The drive shaft 104 and
other support shafts for the endless chain system and its
sprockets, are spline shafts which allow the sprockets 100
and 102 and others to shift back and forth on the spline
shafts without disrupting the timing of the mechanism.
As can be appreciated with the support member 116 stationary,
rotation of the screw shaft 110 will move the chain assembly
with cam rail 70 secured thereto in either direction towards
or away from conveyor 50. A similar adjustment means is `
provided for the chain system on the other side of the
conveyor to adjust the position of cam rail 72.
With this arrangement, the position between the
cam rails and the compression pad assembly 33 always remain
constant to eliminate the need to change the length of
shaft 58 of each compression pad assembly 33 for extreme
positioning of the cam rails. The adjustment screw 110 can
therefore be used to precisely locate the distance between
intermediate portions 78 and 80 to ensure proper contact
of opposing compression pads 34 with the container sides.
This arrangement also provides for lateral
; shifting of containers 92 on the conveyor 50 in instances
where the bottle neck and top are offset relative to the
conveyor central axis during the application of labels to
the container front and back portions. Turning to Figure 5 ;~-
the conveyor 50 has located on it a container 120 with a
j neck and top portion 122 offset relative to the centre line
124 of conveyor 50. The body portion 126 of the container
- 13 -
~7~ 5
is centrally aligned with the central axis of the conveyor
for receipt of body labels. In most instances, the security
seal applying device is aligned with the centre line of the
conveyor because most bottles to be labelled are of symmetrical
shape. The bottle 120 must be shifted, however, in the
direction of arrow 128 to align the top portion 122 with
applying device 36. In order to shift the bottle on the
conveyor, the adjustment means 110 is used to shift the
cam rails 70 and 72 in the direction of arrow 128 to the
extent that once the compression pads have equalized and are
in the intermediate portions 78, 80 of the cam rails, the
container top 122 is aligned with the central axis 124 of ;
the conveyor 50.
To facilitate this shifting of the container 120,
the overhead engagement means 16, the detail which is shown
in Figure 6, has a cam rail 130 which determines in a precise
manner the distance between resilient pads 18 and conveyor
50. As mentioned this distance determines the frictional
force exerted orl the containers to hold them in position.
The cam 130 is thinner at its downstream end so that dimension
134 is greater than dimension 136. This reduces the frictional -
force exerted on the bottle at the downstream end as it is :
sandwiched between block 18 and conveyor 50. The pressure
on the bottle at the exit has to be, of course, sufficient
to maintain the precise control on container position on .;
the conveyor 50.
The offsetting forces exerted by the compression
pads 34 are sufficient to overcome the frictional force
- 14 -
~lt73~5
exerted on the bottle by the overhead assembly as the
bottle tops slide out from under resilient blocks 18 and
are shifted the desired amount in the direction of arrow 128
as shown in Figure 5. This arrangement avoids any scuffing
of the blocks 18 or tilting of the container 120 between the
compression pads 34 as the bottle top disengages block 18
so that the precise location of the labels on the container
sides is maintained without any label smudging, dislocation
or tearing of the labels.
With some container configurations having a high
degree of neck offset relative to the container body the
above arrangement is not always satisfactory for laterally
shifting the bottles on the conveyor. However, the cam
- rails may have downstream of a first portion of the inter-
mediate portions 78, 80, a parallel lateral offset in the
- cam rails. The first portion of the cam rails ensures that
the opposing compression pads properly contact and sandwich
the respective bottle. The lateral offset in the cam rails
then serves via moving the compression pads to shift the
~0 bottle laterally of the conveyor the desired extent for
accurate receipt on its top of a label strip. The positioning
of the laterally offset portion in the cam rails is such
that shifting of the bottle takes place after the overhead
container engaging means has disengaged the respective con-
tainer. A representative showing of this cam rail configu-
ration is in Figure 7. The cam rails 70 and 72 include
parallel laterally offset portions 71 and 73. They have
lead in portions 75 and 77 which ensure a smooth shifting
of each bottle across conveyor 50. Portions 78 and 80 of the
cam rails ensure that the opposing compression pads have
firmly contacted the bottle before cam followers 68 move
onto portions 75 and 77. The centre line 140 of the conveyor
bisects the body portion of container 142 for receipt of
body labels. The particular shape for cam rails 70 and
72 cause a shifting of the container 142 so that its neck
and top 144 is now aligned with the centre line 140 for
receipt of the strip label.
It is understood that with this embodiment of the
apparatus other modifications may be made to the cam rail
configuration to serve particular functions, such as con-
trolling movement of various "add-on" pads for compressing
labels against container slanted shoulders.
It is therefore apparent that the labelling
apparatus according to this invention includes a combination
of elements which provide for a great degree of flexibility
in labelling at high speeds bottles or containers o~ all
shapes and sizes while maintaining precise control on the
container position throughout the label application stages
to ensure consistent accurate label application. The
arrangement also provides for substantial reduction in shut
down time in adapting the apparatus to new container con-
figurations where it is understood that adjustments for the
height of the bottle is provided by the cranks 30 and 46, for
the width of the bottle by adjustment means 110 and for
change in bottle configurations by interchanging pad portions
34 of the compression station. Further, containers with
offset neck portions relative to the labelling orientation
~7~;5
present no problem with this apparatus.
It is apparent from Figure 1 that the timing of
the strip label compression station 38 is such that the
compression members 40 are aligned with the compression
pads 34 so as to properly receive a bottle. Phase variators
may be provided in the system, however, to accommodate
bottle necks which although they are aligned with the central
axis of the conveyor, they are offset relative to the centre
line of the container. As a result the compression pad
assembly 40 can be adjusted to be out of phase with the
corresponding compression pads 34 to properly receive the
bottle top and neck.
At the label applying station 24, only portions
of the label contact the bottle and compression pads 34
complete the location of the label on the container. With
this arrangement the compres$ion pads pick up the bottle
directly from the overhead station where label portions
not yet contacting the bottle are gradually moved onto the
bottle face by the compression pads 34 without tearing of
the label or disruption of the label configuration. This
constant contact on the container body labels is maintained
until the strip label is at least on the container. There is
no transfer of the bottle from the label compression station
34 to another system before the strip label is applied.
There is sufficient time for the glue to set on the bottle
so that as the bottle exits from the assembly all labels are
in position and remain in position. Therefore, with this
apparat~s there is very little chance of label smudging and
- 17 -
~ .
1~7~5
the like and at the same time there is an efficient effective
control on the bottle positioning throughout the labelling
process.
Although various embodiments of the invention
have been described herein in detail, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that variations may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention
or the scope of the appended claims.
- 18 -
- - .- . ~ - .. .
~7~8~S
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
It is appreciated that the principle of bottle shift, as ~-
shown and described with respect to Figure 7, can be modified
to achieve shifting of bottles for other types of labelling
or conveying operations. There is often a need to shift
the bottle on the conveyor while maintaining control on its
position to accomplish a step in the labelling operation, such
as applying a tax excise stamp on the top of the container.
In other uses for eontainer conveying systems, it may be necessary
to shift a bottle or container laterally of the conveyor to
accomplish other operations, such as taking a single row of
conveyed containers and shifting every other one in a direction
opposite to that of the other containers or simply shifting every
other container out of the row laterally to now provide two
parallel rows of containers. In instances where it is important
to maintain container registration control on its position,
or even spacing between containers, then the shifting must be
aceomplished in an accurate, controlled manner.
Accomplishing a shift of containers on the conveyor,
while maintaining control on container position, has been
difficult to achieve. For example, well-known approaches
such as using deflector plates to move containers in one
direction or another as they are conveyed, is satisfactory
insofar as establishing new lines of conveyed containers;
however, it is necessary to incorporate into the newly formed
; 25 line a bottle registration or bottle spotter mechanism to
--19--
C
10~ 5
re-register the conveyed containers.
In instances where bottle position orientation is not
important, yet it is still desired to divide a single row
of conveyed containers into two or more rows to regroup
plural rows of conveyed containers, it is possible to
obtain a machine which is timed to push conveyed bottles
laterally on the conveyor. The difficulty with such pushing
mechanisms is that at higher speeds, they tend to upset
conveyed bottles as they contact them to move laterally of
the conveyor.
Accordingly, another aspect of this invention relates
to the container conveying apparatus comprising container shift
means for individually engaging such conveyed evenly spaced
containers and shifting such engaged containers laterally
of the conveyor means a predetermined extent. Thus, the
container shift means provides a row of shifted evenly
spaced-apart containers. In other words, the position of the
container relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor
is maintained.
Such container conveying apparatus may be used in labelling
apparatus, such as that for applying a label strip to a
container top. The container shift means may, as mentioned be
used to align bottle neck portions which are offset relative to
the bottle centre line so that the bottle top is aligned with
means for applying a strip thereto. The container conveying
-20~
c~
31~1~S
apparatus may also be used in instances where it is desired
to divide a single row of evenly spaced containers into two
rows of evenly spaced-apart containers now having a spacing
double that of the single row. In instances where the container
tops are to be labelled, a pair of strip labellers may be
used to label the container tops now proceeding in two rows.
According to a feature of the apparatus, a means for
engaging such containers may comprise a plurality of opposing
compression pads which travel alongside and with the conveyor
and which are adapted to receive and engage individual
containers. Each pair of opposing compression pads, with
container therebetween, may be shifted laterally to achieve
the desired new positioning of that container on the conveyor.
A further feature of the container conveying apparatus,
according to this invention, is that it may be adapted to
provide means for controlling movement of opposing compression
pads such that one of the pads is removed from the container
while the other pad, still in contact with the conveyed
container, serves to shift it laterally on the conveyor. In
this instance, container orientation and/or registration is
not of importance and is applicable in areas where it is
desixed to split a row of containers into two or more rows or
regroup plural rows for purposes of container inspection,
packaging of containers, etc.
Preferred embodiments of this other aspect of the
-21-
C
ll) 7~5
invention are shown in the drawings where:
Figure 8 is a top view of container conveying apparatus
wherein means is provided for shifting a single row of
conveyed containers to provide two parallel rows of containers;
Figure 9 is a section taken through lines 9-9 of
Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a section taken through lines 10-10 of
Figure 8; and
Figure 11 is a top view of modified container conveying
apparatus.
It can be appreciated that the shifting of the containers
on a conveyor described with respect to Figures S and 7
may be useful for other types of container conveying apparatus.
Referring to Figure 8, another application of bottle lateral
shift on the conveyor is shown. The apparatus for effecting
bottle shift is generally designated 150. A single row 152
of containers 154, conveyed in the direction of arrow 156,
are moving towards the container shifting apparatus 150. The
single row of containers 152 is evenly spaced-apart on the
single conveyor bed 158. This even spacing between containers
may be accomplished by various registration means, such as
that designated 14 in Figure 2. In instances when it is desired
to take this single row of conveyed containers and split or
divide it into two parallel rows of spaced-apart containers,
to accomplish a subsequent operation on the containers, the
-22-
C
.
1~3'73~ 5
shift mechanism 150 may be employed.
In this particular embodiment for the bottle shift
mechanism, a plurality of opposing pairs of compression pad
assemblies 60 are used. The body portions 162 of each
compression pad assembly may be of the type shown in Figure
3, where they are secured to chains which cause the compression
pad assembly to move through a loop which is essentially in
a vertical plane. The plunger or rod portion 164 of each
compression pad assembly includes a cam follower 166 which
engages lead in cam portions generally designated 168 for ~-~
the bottle shift mechanism. The compression pad assemblies
160 may include tension springs to resiliently urge or bias
the cam followers 166 against the cam rails.
In this particular instance, the bottles which are
being shifted, may be of normal configuration, where the
bottle tops are symmetrically aligned with the central axis
of the bottle. The need for dividing the single row of
containers into two rows is due to the spacing between the
bottles in the single row being too narrow to permit the
strip labeller to apply strips to the bottle tops.
To accomplish this division of the single row into two
parallel rows, while maintaining container oreintation,
alternate pairs of compression pad assemblies have their
positions controlled by a corresponding pair of cam rails.
As shown in Figure 9, the plunger portions 164 of each
-23-
C ~:
1~(3~7~1~tiS
compression pad assembly overlaps where the distinct relation-
ship of respective cam followers to upper and lower cam rails
is shown. The cam rail assembly includes two pairs of
opposing cam rails; namely, an upper pair of opposing cam rails
170 and 170a and a lower pair of opposing cam rails 172 and
172a. The compression pad assemblies 160 include cam followers
166 and 166a which contact the correspondin~ upper cam rails
and other compression pad assemblies include cam followers
167 and 167a which contact the lower set of opposing cam rails.
As shown in Figure 9, the sleeves 162 include depending guide
rollers 174 which travel along in channels 176 to assist
guiding of the sleeves in the manner discussed with respect to
; Figure 3.
As the compression pad assemblies engage the
individually conveyed bottles, the cam followers 166 and
167 bring the compression pads 176 into engagement with the
containers as the cam followers move up the lead in portion
168 of upper and lowercam rails 170 and 172. At this point,
the containers are grasped by the compression pads 176 and
their position held relative to the single conveyor 158.
The single conveyor 158 leads into parallel conveyors
178 and 180 where there is an overlap of the conveyors in
the region of the end of conveyor 158 and the beginning of
conveyors ]78 and 180 to provide an area over which the bottles
may be shifted laterally to provide the two rows.
-24- -
C .. ,
11)i73~5 ~:
:
At the juncture of the upper and lower cam rails
generally designated 182, one set of compression pad
assemblies are urged by cam rails 170 - 170a to move corres-
ponding containers to the left of the single conveyor and the
other set of compression pad assemblies are urged by cam rails
172 - 172a to move corresponding containers to the right of
the single conveyor. The shifting of the bottle to the right
- or left is determined by portions generally designated 184
of the cam rails, so that container 154a is positioned on
conveyor 178 and container 154b is positioned on conveyor 180.
The compression pad assemblies have laterally shifted the
containers while maintaining their original position relative
to the length of the conveyor, so that the spacing between
containers 154a is double the spacing between containers 154.
The same applies with respect to the containers 154b on
conveyor 180.
The relationship of the compression pad assemblies with
respect to the shifted containers is shown in Figure 10.
` The cam followers, in contact with respective cam rails,
determine the positions of corresponding compression pads,
therefore, the two pairs of opposing cam rails accomplish the
shifting of containers 154 in either direction to provide the
desired two parallel rows of conveyed containers.
This increased spacing between containers, as mentioned,
may be applicable in one particular instance to applying
-25-
',
S
strip stamps to containers~ The increased spacing between
the containers 154a and 154b now allows strip stamper
mechanisms to apply strip stamps to the tops of both rows of
containers. The strip stamp labellers may be of the type
shown in Figure 1 and designated 38.
The length of the bottle shift mechanism 150 may be
significantly shorter than that shown; however, this
- embodiment is for use with bottles which have been freshly
labelled on their sides with labels. The compression pad
assembly picks up the labelled bottles and by sandwiching
them ensures securement of labels to bottle.
After the strip stamps have been applied to the
containers 154a and 154b, the compression pad assemblies
160 release their engagement with the containers in the
manner shown in the area 186 of the assembly. The cam
followers 166 move down the cam rail portion 188 and 166a,
down cam rail portion 190 to release their engagement and
similarly the cam followers 167 and 167a release engagement
with the container 154b. To ensure that all compression
pads 176 are clear of the dual conveyors 178 and 180,
there is a further outward ramp portion 192 in upper cam rail
170a and ramp portion 194 in the lower can rail 172. This ;
retraction of the pads permits them to return around the
endless loop to lead in portions 168 to re-engage containers
in the single row.
.~ :
-26-
.. .. . . . . . .
.
73~fô5
Figure 11 shows a modification to the compression pad
assembly area of Figure 2. As mentioned, there are instances
when it is desired to discharge two rows of containers from
the labelling apparatus, such as when it is desired to inspect
labelled containers at slower speeds or in instances when
it is desired to provide multiple rows of containers for
purposes of packaging. In these circumstances, the orientation
and spacing of the containers is no longer critical, therefore,
the compression pad assembly can be modified to achieve
this desired shifting of containers to provide two or more rows.
The container shifting device is generally designated 200
where a single row of conveyed containers 202 have been
registered by way of a device, such as that shown in Figure 2.
The compression pad assembly 204 includes body portions 206
housing plunger portions 208, the lateral movement of which
is controlled by opposing cam rails 210 and 212 as the
respective cam followers 214 and 216 contact the rails. As -
in the compression pad assemblies of Figure 3, springs may
be employed to resiliently urge the followers against the
cam rails. The compression pad æsembly may be mounted in
the manner similar to that of Figure 3, where they travel
on endless chains about a loop which is in the vertical plane.
Located above the compression pad assembly area 204 may be
strip stamper, or the like, for applying excise tax stamps
to conveyed bottles.
-27-
C
,
31.0'7~ 5
At the downstream end of the conveying apparatus, the
cam rails 210 and 212 may be modified to effect compression
pad movement which yields the desired two parallel rows 218
and 220 of spaced-apart containers 202a and 202b. During
the intermediate portions 222 and 224 of the cam rails, the
compression pads 226 and 228 firmly engage the container.
The cam rail 222 has been modified in area generally designated
230 to provide a fall off portion whereby the corresponding
compression pads 228a are removed from the conveyed containers
thereby leaving compression pads 226a in contact with the
conveyed containers. In parallel with the single conveyor
system 232 is a second conveyor 234 which overlaps conveyor
232 in the~rea which containers are to be shifted.
In this instance, it is desired to shift every other
container to provide the two parallel rows. As a result, the
cam 212 includes a modification in the area 236 to split
the single cam into two cam segments - upper segment 238
and lower segment 240. The corresponding cam followers
216 engage the upper cam segment and cam followers 216a are
positioned to engage the lower cam segment 240. The arrange-
ment may be such as that shown in Figure 9 with respect to
; the location of cam followers 166 and 167 as they engage
the upper and lower can rails. With this provision, every
other compression pad assembly, as it contacts a respective
container, is shifted laterally of the conveyor so as to
~ :'
-28-
G : -
3~t~5
position containers 202a on conveyor 234. Cam follower 216,
on riding down slope 238a of its cam, is then retracted to
the position of the other compression pad assemblies so that
they may be returned on the endless chain system for engage-
ment with new containers in the single row.
As a result, employing the principle of operation ofcontainer shift, as described with respect to Figure 8, the
compression assembly of Figure 2 may be modified to provide
an arrangement which accomplishes shifting of containers using
only one side of the compression pad assembly. As mentioned,
this arrangement is most desirable in instances where
orientation and spacing of containers is not critical.
The arrangement is also considerably less costly than known
arrangements which are added on to existing container conveying
apparatus to accomplish such shifting of containers. Also
the arrangement permits shortening up or providing a shorter
section on one side of the compression assembly than the
other side, while still achieving container shift to provide
additional room for other components in the conveyor apparatus
and also cutting back on the cost with respect to one side
of the compression pad assembly arrangement. Further, in
using a compression pad which already contacts a conveyed
container, when the other compression pad is removed,
permits shifting of the container without causing impact
between conveyed container and pad which shifts the
C
i~'7~S
container. This overcomes the undesirable aspects
of known container shifting devices which rely on a pad or
device moving towards the conveyor, impacting the container
and shifting it laterally of the conveyor.
A container conveying apparatus is, therefore, provided
which includes a device for individually engaging containers
and shifting such conveyed, engaged containers laterally on
the conveyor to provide a repositioning of containers. As
explained, this shifting of containers is useful in many
areas outside of the labelling art; however, it is particu-
larly applicable where a bottle neck portion is offset
relative to its centre line, or where the spacing between
containers is so narrow that subsequent strip stamping
application could not be achieved unless the bottle spacing
is increased. As a result, the need for bottle re-regis-
tration and bottle orientation is eliminated.
This bottle shifting mechanism may also be useful in
instances where the speed at which the subsequent operation
in treating a container is slower than that which produces
the single row of containers. In splitting up the row, the
slower functions can now ~e accomplished in the split rows,
which include lesser number of bottles per minute to be
handled~
It can be appreciated from the description of the shift
mechanism oepration that the single row of containers may
-30-
C
~0'73~5
be split into more than two rows by way of proper arrangement
for the compression pad assemblies and the provision of
additional pairs of cam rails. For example, the single row
may be split into three conveyed rows by the provision o~
yet another set of cam rails which would control the com-
pression pad assemblies to shift every third bottle to a
position which is different from the positions of the other
two bottles. Further, it is understood that the mechanism of
Figure 8 may be adapted to shift only every other bottle where
the remaining bottles travel along the same path as the original
single row. In instances where it is desired to maintaian
container orientation, the complete set of compression pad
assemblies may be provided to engage and hold the containers
which continue travel along the same path. That arrangement
would, therefore, require that conveyor 158 continue along-
side either conveyor 178 or 180, depending upon which way
every other bottle is to be shifted.
It is also understood that the bottle shifting mechanism
of Figure 11 may be modified to shift bottles from a single
row in a manner to provide triple row discharge for purposes
of subsequent container handling. This flexibility in
container shift is provided by the arrangmenet of cam
rails controlling movement of the compression pads where
multiple level of cam rails may be used to shift corresponding
compression pads any desired extent to establish one or more
-31-
C
ti$5
new rows of conveyed containers.
Although various embodiments of the invention have
been described herein in detail, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention or the
scope of the appended claims.
~,. 10
. .
,
~5
' ,
: -32-
C '
, . . ", ,, , : , . -
.. . . . . . ..
