Patent ID: 11945661
Assignee: WESTROCK PACKAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A conveyor system, comprising:
a first upstream star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path;
a first downstream star wheel configured to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path;
a first metering screw between the first upstream start wheel and the first downstream star wheel to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path,
wherein the first metering screw is configured to create a pitch such that the first containers enter the first metering screw at a first pitch and exit the first metering screw at a second pitch different than the first pitch;

a plurality of first moving turning members to rotate at least some of the first containers into a first predefined orientation;
a plurality of first support bodies with a surface that partially surrounds the first containers,
wherein the plurality of first support bodies are located downstream of the plurality of first moving turning members and engage the first containers as the first containers move downstream for packaging to be applied to the first containers,
wherein the plurality of first support bodies are operatively connected to be moved about a first support body path, and
wherein the first support body path includes at least two straight sections, and at least one curved section; and

a packaging path, along which a fiber-based packaging is conveyed, that at least partially overlaps with the first support body path to overlay the fiber-based packaging onto tops of the first containers while the plurality of first support bodies maintain contact with the first containers.