Patent ID: 6098783
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for tipping a container, the container having a top, a bottom, and one or more sides between the top and the bottom, comprising:a. advancing means for advancing the container in a forward direction from a first station to a second station, the container being in an initial orientation; andb. means for rotating the container to a final orientation, said means for rotating being positioned on said advancing means between said first station and said second station for receiving the container from said first station and rotating the container to said final orientation, said means for rotating providing said container to said advancing means to be moved to said second station, said final orientation being defined by the top and bottom of the container being inverted from the initial orientation, said rotating means further comprising:i. first actuator means to block the bottom of the container from moving in the forward direction so that the top of the container may be rotated in the forward direction over the bottom of the container;ii. second actuator means for rotating the container to a first position;iii. third actuator means for rotating the container from said first position to a second position, said second position being midway between the initial orientation and the final orientation; andiv. fourth actuator means to block the top of the container from moving in the forward direction so that the first actuator means may rotate the bottom of the container over the top of the container until the container is in the final orientation;v. wherein said first actuator means further engages the container at a first contact point on a forward side of the container to block the bottom of the container from moving in the forward direction, the first actuator means being extended to a first position, the container having a center of gravity closer to the top of the container than said first contact point producing a mechanical moment about said first contact point, said forward side of the container being the side of the container closest to the second station, a rear side of the container being the side of the container closest to the first station, a bottom center being the perpendicular intersection of said center of gravity with the bottom, said bottom center being disposed between said forward side and said rear side.