Patent ID: 7267036
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: B26D,B26F,B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for separating individual containers from a plurality of containers frangibly joined together in a planar packet which comprises: a vertically positioned chute assembly having a plurality of operational stations sequentially arranged in descending order from top to bottom; said chute assembly having a width slightly larger than the width of a packet to be separated into individual containers; a first chute operational station having an inclined input ramp for receiving a packet and directing it into an alignment station within said vertical chute; a horizontally movable platen member forming one vertical wall of said alignment station and with said chute assembly a chamber to hold the packet to be separated; first power means for selectively moving said platen member into contact with the packet to be separated and position it in proper alignment in said alignment station; a container separating assembly mounted adjacent the lower end of said alignment station and extending across the width of said chute assembly; a plurality of vertical partitions spaced apart transversely across said separating assembly so as to permit the passage there between of individual containers; a vertically movable ram member mounted at the top of said alignment station having a width and thickness substantially equal to that of the packet to be separated and adapted to move vertically downwardly into said alignment station; second power means for selectively moving said ram member to push the packet to be separated positioned in said alignment station through said plurality of vertical partitions in said container separating assembly; a first holding and guiding station position below said separating assembly having a plurality of vertical channels at least equal to the number of individual containers in the plackets to be separated; at least one horizontally movable gate member forming the bottom of said first holding station; third power means for selectively moving said gate member out of the bottom of said first holding station to allow passage there through of separated containers; a second holding and guiding station positioned below said first holding station having an equal number of vertical channels formed in alignment with the channels in said first holding station; a plurality of individual horizontally movable gate members positioned one each to form the bottom of said second holding station vertical channels; fourth power means for selectively moving said plurality of individual gate members out from the bottom of said channels to allow individual containers to pass there through; a funnel shaped guiding station formed below said second holding and guiding station having a width at the top equal to the width of said second holding and guiding station and a bottom width greater than an individual container; and