Patent ID: 7543424
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
1. A container handling machine for maintaining separation and also spacing of groups of containers and for grouping containers into groups having a desired outer perimeter shape and outer perimeter size and dimensions, said container handling machine comprising: a conveyor being configured and disposed to convey containers through said container handling machine along a direction of movement of said conveyor; said conveyor having a length and a width, said length being substantially greater than said width; said length of said conveyor being disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said conveyor; a first guide and a second guide; said first guide being disposed adjacent said conveyor, and being disposed between said conveyor and said second guide; a conveyor chain being configured and disposed to circulate adjacent to said conveyor, a portion of which conveyor chain is configured and disposed to move in the same direction of movement as a portion of said conveyor that conveys containers thereon; a motor being connected to said conveyor chain to drive said conveyor chain; said conveyor chain comprising a plurality of links joined to each other end-to-end by connectors disposed at the ends of said links; each of said connectors being configured to permit pivoting rotation of its two joined links with respect to one another; said connectors comprising a first plurality of projections and a second plurality of projections being disposed to project from said connectors; each of said first plurality of projections and said second plurality of projections having a length, a height, and a width, said length being greater than said height or width; each of said first plurality of projections being disposed between a pair of said second plurality of projections, and each of said second plurality of projections being disposed between a pair of said first plurality of projections; said first guide comprising an elongated guide structure having a length and a width, said length being substantially greater than said width and being disposed substantially parallel to said length of said conveyor; said first plurality of projections being configured and disposed to project across said guide structure of said first guide with their length disposed transverse to said length of said guide structure of said first guide; said first plurality of projections being configured and disposed to be guided by said guide structure of said first guide and to be moved along said length of said guide structure of said first guide; said second guide comprising an elongated guide structure having a length and a width, said length being substantially greater than said width and being disposed substantially parallel to said length of said conveyor; said second plurality of projections being configured and disposed to project across said guide structure of said second guide with their length disposed transverse to said length of said guide structure of said second guide; said second plurality of projections being configured and disposed to be guided by said guide structure of said second guide and to be moved along said length of said guide structure of said second guide; a plurality of elongated guide elements having a length, a height, and a width, said length being substantially greater than said height or width; each of said guide elements being connected to and being disposed to project from a corresponding one of said first plurality of projections over and across said width of said conveyor with its length substantially transverse to said length of said conveyor; each of said guide elements being configured and disposed to be moved by said conveyor chain to contact and group containers into groups on said conveyor; and at least one of said guide structures is movable up and down with respect to the other of said guide structures to move its corresponding one of said first and second pluralities of projections up and down with respect to the other of said first and second pluralities of projections to thus shorten or lengthen said conveyor chain to thus shorten or lengthen the space between successive guide elements to thus permit grouping of containers into groups having at least one of: different numbers of containers, different outer perimeter shapes, and different outer perimeter sizes and dimensions.