Patent ID: 6062395
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B67C

Abstract:
A system for ejecting container ends having a reversed orientation from an axially aligned group of nestable container ends being otherwise similar but having a non-reversed orientation, said axially aligned group moving axially along a path of movement in a direction of movement, wherein a reversed container end creates a peripheral gap in the otherwise evenly ridged radial periphery of said axially aligned group, said system comprising:a support member positioned along said path of movement and adapted to allow said axially aligned group to move axially therethrough while constraining said axially aligned group to prevent lateral movement of said container ends except when said container ends are located in a predetermined axial interval, said interval having an axial dimension at least as great as the axial dimension of one said container end, said container ends within said interval being unconstrained by said support member in a preferred lateral direction;a counting sensor positioned along said path of movement for counting the number of said container ends passing a first point and providing count signals to a control unit indicating the number of said container ends passing said first point, said first point being located upstream, relative to the direction of movement, from said interval;a gap sensor positioned along said path of movement for detecting a peripheral gap in said radial periphery of said axially aligned group indicative of a reversed container end passing a second point and providing a gap detected signal to said control unit, said second point being located upstream and at a predetermined distance from said axial interval;an air nozzle operatively connected to a pressurized air source and forming an air outlet, said nozzle being positioned such that said air outlet is adjacent said axially aligned group and in alignment with said axial interval, and said nozzle being oriented such that an air blast leaving said air outlet is directed against said axially aligned group in said preferred lateral direction;an air valve operatively connected between said nozzle and said air source for controlling a flow of pressurized air from said air source to said nozzle in response to signals received from the control unit;said control unit, upon receiving said gap detected signal from said gap sensor, waiting to receive a predetermined number of count signals from said counting sensor, said predetermined number of count signals generally corresponding to the number of container ends which pass the first point as a peripheral gap in the axially aligned group moves from said second point into said interval, said control unit then actuating said air valve to release a flow of pressurized air from said pressurized air source into said nozzle; andsaid pressurized air exiting said nozzle through said air outlet as an air blast directed in said preferred lateral direction against said container ends, the impingement of said air blast on said container ends in said axial interval producing a force sufficient to overcome the friction between said reversed container ends and said non-reversed container ends but insufficient to overcome the support provided to said non-reversed container ends by adjacent nested container ends, thereby ejected said reversed container ends from said axially aligned group.