Modular apparatus and method for rotating glass containers and the like

An apparatus and method for rotating glass containers and like wares for purposes of inspection is disclosed that uses a compact, modular apparatus which has a drive system that automatically accelerates the wares to full rotation speed while applying only the amount of contact force to the wares that is required to rotate them. The apparatus of the present invention is compact and thus consumes minimal volume in the area near the glass container being rotated. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention has an outstanding ability to move quickly into contact with a glass container and accelerate it to its full speed without damaging it or being damaged by it, and presents a low degree of impact to glass containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for rotating glass containers and like wares for purposes of inspection, and more particularly to an improved compact, modular apparatus and method for rotating such wares that more quickly accelerates them to full rotation speed through a novel drive system that automatically applies only the amount of contact force to the wares that is required to rotate them.

Glass containers are made in a manufacturing process that has three parts, namely the batch house, the hot end, and the cold end. The batch house is where the raw materials for glass (which may typically include sand, soda ash, limestone, cullet (crushed, recycled glass), and other raw materials) are prepared and mixed into batches. The hot end begins with a furnace, in which the batched materials are melted into molten glass, and from which a stream of molten glass flows.

The molten glass is cut into cylinders of glass called gobs, which fall by gravity into blank molds. In the blank molds, a pre-container referred to as a parison is formed, either by using a metal plunger to push the glass into the blank mold, or by blowing the glass from below into the blank mold. The parison is inverted and transferred to a mold, where the parison is blown out into the shape of the container. The hot end also includes an annealing process which prevents the containers from having weakened glass caused by stresses caused by uneven cooling. The annealing process is used to achieve even cooling, using an annealing oven or Lehr to heat the containers, and then slowly cool them over a twenty to sixty minute period.

The role of the cold end of the glass container manufacturing process is inspection of the containers to ensure that they are of acceptable quality. All glass containers are inspected by automated machines after manufacturing for a variety of faults, typically including small cracks in the glass referred to as checks, foreign inclusions referred to as stones, bubbles in the glass referred to as blisters, and excessively thin walls. Many of these inspections are carried out by rotating the glass containers in order to check the glass containers on all sides thereof, or at least at a plurality of angularly spaced apart locations on the glass containers. In addition, many glass containers include a “heel code,” which is a mold code on the heel of each glass container (the rounded portion where the horizontal plane of the base transitions into a vertical cylinder, also known as the insweep), which identify the particular mold in which the glass container was blow molded. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,769, to Claypool et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Since these inspections are performed as part of a large scale manufacturing process, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it must be performed at high speed, for example at an inspection rate of approximately 400 glass containers per minute. Thus, in the space of approximately 150 milliseconds, a glass container must have been brought into the inspection station, rotated through approximately one and one-half rotations, and taken out of the inspection station as another glass container is brought into the inspection station.

Typically, an inspection station is located in either an indexing starwheel conveyer having upper and lower spaced wheels with cutouts for receiving the glass containers (as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,154, to Shiba), or at a straight conveyer inspection area having apparatus for rotating glass containers located at one or more desired positions on a straight conveyer defining a container path or track (as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,516, to Emery). In either case, the inspection station will have a pair of rollers that support a glass container near its top on one side of the glass container and a second pair of rollers that support the glass container nearer its bottom on the same side of the glass container. A drive roller contacts the glass container on the side opposite its support by the two pairs of rollers, and is driven by a drive mechanism to cause the glass container to rotate between the drive roller and the two pairs of rollers respectively supporting the top and bottom of the glass container.

The drive roller causes the glass container to rotate between the drive roller and the two pairs of rollers, and various inspections may be made while the glass container is rotating. Such inspections may be optical or mechanical in nature, and are typically performed at a plurality of angular increments as the glass container is rotated. The drive roller typically operates continuously (whether or not it is in contact with glass containers), and is located adjacent a pathway traversed by glass containers in a location opposite two pairs of rollers.

Two different types of drive mechanism have been used in the industry to operate and position a drive roller to rotate glass containers in inspection stations. The first such drive mechanism is an apparatus wherein the entire apparatus is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis so that the entire mechanism pivots, with the drive roller pivoting in a vertical plane toward and away from the glass container to be driven, and with the drive roller being spring biased toward the glass container (shown, for example, in the Shiba patent). This drive apparatus is very hard on glass containers in a high speed (400 containers per minute) line, “hammering” the containers due to the high mass of the drive assembly and damaging them as well as having significant reliability issues.

The second such drive mechanism is an apparatus that is mounted in an offset manner wherein the part of the apparatus including the drive roller is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis so that the drive roller pivots in a horizontal plane toward and away from the glass container to be driven, with the drive roller being spring biased toward the glass container (shown, for example, in the Emery patent). This drive apparatus has less moving mass and thus is not as hard on glass containers, but it is more expensive to manufacture, it requires more space near the path of the glass containers, and it also has significant reliability issues.

It is accordingly a primary objective of the present invention that it provide an improved apparatus for rotating glass containers that is highly compact to enable it to consume minimal volume in the area near the glass container being rotated to thereby allow the maximum amount of room possible for inspection apparatus. It is another primary objective of the present invention that despite its compact size it have the ability to supply sufficient torque to the glass container to accelerate it rapidly to minimize the time required to inspect each glass container. It is a related objective of the present invention that it present a highly compliant drive surface and that it also provide an increased capacity to quickly “nip” the outer wall of the glass container to rapidly overcome its inertia and spin it up to speed.

It is yet another primary objective of the present invention that it present a low degree of impact to glass containers, and that it have an outstanding ability to move quickly into contact with the glass container without damaging it or being damaged by it. It is a further objective of the present invention that it be capable of imparting a downwardly acting force to the glass container, which is otherwise unrestrained in the vertical direction as it is being rotated at high speed. It is still another objective of the present invention that it be of robust mechanical design and of high reliability to avoid any loss of production occasioned by it failing.

The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention must also be of construction which is both durable and long lasting and have construction characteristics that allow it to be serviced quickly, although it should also require only relatively infrequent maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed above are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, a highly compact apparatus for rotating glass containers is provided which has two principal components, namely a base assembly that includes an electric motor and a carriage assembly that is installed in the base assembly and which rotates a glass container. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention uses a ware rotate belt rotating about a resilient ware rotate wheel to rotate the glass container. This “belt around a wheel” design allows the apparatus to be very thin and narrow, with its size adjacent the glass container being little larger than the size of the ware rotate wheel itself.

The base assembly has a motor that drives a drive belt pulley and also includes one idler pulley. The base assembly also includes apparatus for supporting the carriage assembly therein in a manner allowing it to slide in a linear direction toward (in a distal direction) and away from (in a proximal direction) the glass container. The carriage assembly is biased in a distal direction by springs located between the carriage assembly and the base assembly. The bias on the springs is adjustable to vary the force that will be applied to a glass container engaged by the apparatus for rotating glass containers.

The carriage assembly includes idler pulleys mounted therein, as well as a tensioner assembly carrying an idler pulley the position of which may be adjusted to adjust the tension on the ware rotate belt. The ware rotate belt is a toothed belt having a longitudinally extending groove cut into the teeth of the toothed belt in the centerline thereof. The drive belt pulley in the base assembly and the ware rotate wheel as well as the two idler pulleys in the carriage assembly are toothed and have an annular rib extending outwardly of the teeth at the centerline thereof. This groove in the ware rotate belt engages the rib in the drive belt pulley, the ware rotate wheel, and the two idler pulleys, which enhances the ability of the ware rotate belt to sustain a load across its axis of rotation (as well as to decrease the height of the apparatus for rotating glass containers where it is close to them.

This approach allows the ware rotate belt, the ware rotate wheel, and the bearings for the ware rotate wheel to all have a common centerline. This planar design provides both an increased level of reliability and a great reduction is size, particularly in the area near the glass container being inspected. The space near the glass container being inspected is the space that is most valuable for the placement of glass container inspection sensors, and the design of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention maximizes the area around the glass container that is available for inspection sensors.

In addition, the design of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention has a greatly reduced impact on the glass containers it rotates. First, the spring biasing is the only force that is exerted on a glass container as it is rotating. When a glass container is in the process of beginning to rotate, the configuration of the ware rotate belt drive path will result in increased tension in a portion of the ware rotate belt as a glass container is being accelerated up to its full rotation speed. This increased tension serves to move the carriage assembly toward the glass container, applying additional pressure to the glass container to improve the grip exerted by the ware rotate belt on the glass container while it is being accelerated. Once the glass container is rotating at its full speed, the increased tension in the ware rotate belt disappears and the carriage assembly retracts, with the additional pressure exerted on the glass container also disappearing.

It may therefore be seen that the present invention teaches an apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is highly compact, enabling it to consume minimal volume in the area near the glass container being rotated to thereby allow the maximum amount of room possible for inspection apparatus. Despite the compact size of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention, it has the ability to supply sufficient torque to the glass container to accelerate it rapidly to minimize the time required to inspect each glass container. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention presents a highly compliant drive surface and also provides an increased capacity to quickly “nip” the outer wall of the glass container to rapidly overcome its inertia and spin it up to speed.

The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention presents a low degree of impact to glass containers, and has an outstanding ability to move quickly into contact with the glass container without damaging it or being damaged by it. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is also capable of imparting a downwardly acting force to the glass container, thereby acting to restrain it downwardly as it is being rotated at high speed. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is of robust mechanical design and of high reliability to avoid any loss of production occasioned by it failing.

The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting and has construction characteristics that allow it to be serviced quickly, and it will require only relatively infrequent maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Prior to discussing an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention, it is helpful to briefly discuss previously known devices that are used for operating and positioning a drive roller to rotate a glass container in an inspection station. The first such drive mechanism is shown inFIG. 1, and is an apparatus that is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis so that the entire mechanism pivots, with a drive roller30being spring biased to pivot in a vertical plane toward a glass container32to be rotated. The glass container32is supported on a deadplate34that is located above a top plate36, with the glass container32being supported for rotation on one side thereof near its bottom by a pair of rollers38and near its top by a second pair of rollers40.

The drive roller30is mounted on a shaft42that is driven by a motor44mounted below the top plate36on a pivot mechanism46that allows the motor44to pivot about a horizontal axis in a manner causing the drive roller30to move toward and away from the glass container32. A spring48is used to bias the motor44to pivot in a manner urging the drive roller30toward the glass container32. A limiting mechanism50is used to limit the biased pivoting of the motor44to thereby also limit the distance that the drive roller30can move toward the glass container32to prevent damage from occurring to the glass container32. As mentioned above, the drive apparatus shown inFIG. 1is very hard on glass containers32in a high speed inspection line, “hammering” the glass containers32due to the high mass of the drive assembly and potentially damaging them.

The second previously known drive mechanism for operating and positioning a drive roller to rotate a glass container in an inspection station is shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, and is an apparatus that has a drive roller60that is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis so that the drive roller60is spring biased to pivot in a horizontal plane toward the glass container62to be driven. The glass container62is supported on a deadplate64that is located above a top plate66, with the glass container62being supported for rotation on one side thereof near its bottom by a pair of rollers68and near its top by a second pair of rollers70.

A motor72is mounted below the top plate66and drives a shaft74with a drive belt76. The shaft74extends upwardly through the top plate66and drives a second drive belt78that drives a shaft80that the drive roller60is mounted upon. The motor72is fixedly mounted, but the drive roller60is pivotally mounted about the vertical axis82of the shaft74so that it pivots in a horizontal plane in a manner causing the drive roller60to move toward and away from the glass container62. A spring84is used to bias the drive roller60to move about its pivot point in a manner urging the drive roller60toward the glass container62. As mentioned above, the drive apparatus shown inFIGS. 2 and 3is not as hard on the glass containers62in a high speed inspection line as the apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1, but it is mechanically complex, it has significant reliability issues, and it is expensive to manufacture.

Referring next toFIG. 4, the construction of a body assembly used by the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention is illustrated. A motor assembly90has a flat, essentially rectangular housing top92with four threaded apertures94being respectively located at the four corners of the housing top92. The motor assembly90has a drive belt pulley96mounted at the end of the motor shaft and extending above the housing top92. The drive belt pulley96is a toothed pulley having an annular rib extending outwardly of the teeth at the centerline of the drive belt pulley96. As will become evident below in conjunction with the discussion ofFIG. 9, the drive belt pulley96is designed to accommodate a toothed belt having a longitudinally extending groove cut into the teeth of the toothed belt in the centerline thereof to accommodate the rib on the drive belt pulley96.

Mounted onto the housing top92of the motor assembly90is a rectangular support plate98having a number of apertures located therein. The support plate98has a large circular aperture100located therein to accommodate the drive belt pulley96of the motor assembly90therethrough. There are four countersunk apertures102located around the machine head housing100in a pattern identical to the pattern of the four threaded apertures94located in the housing top92of the motor assembly90. Four flathead bolts104are respectively inserted through the countersunk apertures102in the support plate98and then into the threaded apertures94in the housing top92of the motor assembly90to retain the support plate98on the motor assembly90.

A mounting bracket106consisting of a cylindrical segment108extending from the midpoint of a rectangular block110having a flange112extending from the lower portion of the rectangular block110on the side opposite the cylindrical segment108. A slot114is cut into the rectangular block110just above the flange112, and three countersunk apertures116(only one is visible) are located in spaced-apart fashion in the flange112. Additional details of the construction of the mounting bracket106will be described below in conjunction with the discussion ofFIGS. 11 and 12. A proximal end of the support plate98has three threaded apertures118located therein in a pattern identical to the pattern of the three apertures116in the flange112. The proximal end of the support plate98is inserted over the flange112into the slot114of the mounting bracket106, and three flathead bolts120are respectively inserted through the countersunk apertures116in the flange112and then into the tapped apertures118in the support plate98to retain the support plate98on the mounting bracket106.

Located in the support plate98near the left side thereof as viewed from the proximal end of the support plate98are four threaded apertures122that are located in spaced-apart fashion. Located in the support plate98near the right side thereof as viewed from the proximal end of the support plate98are four threaded apertures124that are located in spaced-apart fashion. There two sets of threaded apertures122and124will be used to mount guides on the sides of the support plate98. The guides are handed, meaning that there can be two different configurations for their configuration depending upon the desired direction of rotation of the glass containers in the inspection station.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, it will be assumed that the glass containers will be rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above. Thus, the ware rotate wheel (not shown inFIG. 4) that imparts rotation to the glass container will rotate clockwise as viewed from above. Glass containers will enter the inspection station in which the apparatus for rotating glass containers is installed from the left as viewed from the apparatus for rotating glass containers toward the glass container in the inspection station, and glass containers will exit the inspection station to the right as viewed from the same perspective.

An upstream guide126will be installed on the left side of the support plate98. The upstream guide126has a lower U-shaped guide slot128located on the side of the upstream guide126oriented toward the right side of the support plate98and near to the bottom side of the upstream guide126. The upstream guide126also has an upper U-shaped guide slot130located on the same side of the upstream guide126and near to the top side of the upstream guide126. The upstream guide126has four countersunk apertures132located therein in a pattern identical to the pattern of the four threaded apertures122located in the support plate98near the left side thereof. Four socket head cap screws134are respectively inserted through the countersunk apertures132in the upstream guide126and then into the threaded apertures122in the support plate98to retain the upstream guide126on the support plate98.

A downstream guide136will be installed on the right side of the support plate98. The downstream guide136has a lower U-shaped guide slot138located on the side of the downstream guide136oriented toward the upstream guide126on the left side of the support plate98and near to the bottom side of the downstream guide136. The downstream guide136also has an upper L-shaped guide slot140located on the same side of the downstream guide136and open to the top side of the downstream guide136. The downstream guide136has four countersunk apertures142located therein in a pattern identical to the pattern of the four threaded apertures124located in the support plate98near the right side thereof. Four socket head cap screws144are respectively inserted through the countersunk apertures142in the downstream guide136and then into the threaded apertures124in the support plate98to retain the downstream guide136on the support plate98. Both the upstream guide126and the downstream guide136may be made of polymer material to reduce the impact forces experienced by the apparatus for rotating glass containers in operation.

It will at once be appreciated that the lower U-shaped guide slot128in the upstream guide126and the lower U-shaped guide slot138in the downstream guide136are respectively aligned to define a plane that is parallel to and spaced away from a plane defined by the upper surface of the support plate98. Similarly, the upper U-shaped guide slot130on the downstream guide136and the upper L-shaped guide slot140in the downstream guide136are also respectively aligned to define a plane that is parallel to and spaced further away from the plane defined by the upper surface of the support plate98. Also located in the support plate98between the circular aperture100and the distal end of the support plate98is an access aperture146the purpose for which will become evident below in conjunction with the discussion ofFIG. 5.

Two countersunk apertures148and150are located in the support plate98between the circular aperture100and the access aperture146. The countersunk apertures148and150are located on opposite sides of the centerline of the support plate98, and only one will be used in a given implementation. For the example discussed herein where the glass containers will be rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above, the aperture148, which is close to the right side of the support plate98, will be used. A pulley support152is mounted on top of the support plate98using a flathead bolt154extending upwardly through the countersunk aperture148into the bottom of the pulley support152. An idler pulley156is rotatably mounted on the pulley support152.

Referring next toFIG. 5, the construction of a carriage assembly used by the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention which will be mounted on the body assembly illustrated inFIG. 4is illustrated. The carriage assembly is built around a lower mainplate160and a spaced-apart upper mainplate162. When the carriage assembly is installed into the body assembly, the side edges of the lower mainplate160will be received by the lower U-shaped guide slot128in the upstream guide126and the lower U-shaped guide slot138in the downstream guide136, and the side edges of the upper mainplate162will be received by the upper U-shaped guide slot130in the upstream guide126and the upper L-shaped guide slot140in the downstream guide136.

The lower mainplate160has four countersunk apertures164that are located in spaced-apart fashion near a proximal end of the lower mainplate160. A rectangular rear spacer block166has four threaded apertures168located therein in a pattern identical to the pattern of the four countersunk apertures164located in the lower mainplate160. Four flathead bolts170are respectively inserted through the countersunk apertures164in the lower mainplate160and then into the threaded apertures168in the rear spacer block166to retain the rear spacer block166on the lower mainplate160.

The rear spacer block166has four cylindrical recesses172located in the distally facing side thereof, with four compression springs174each having an end placed into a corresponding one of the cylindrical recesses172. A threaded aperture176is centrally located intermediate the cylindrical recesses172, and has one end of a threaded rod178screwed therein. An elastomeric washer180is located on the threaded rod178, and a cylindrical preload adjusting nut182having a threaded aperture in one end thereof and a hex head recess for receiving a hex head wrench in the opposite end thereof has its threaded end screwed onto the threaded rod178. The use of the preload adjusting nut182to adjust the preload of the compression springs174will become evident below in conjunction with the discussion ofFIGS. 11 and 12.

Two threaded apertures184are located in the top side of the rear spacer block166distal from the threaded apertures168. The threaded apertures184are located on opposite sides of the centerline of the lower mainplate160and the rear spacer block166. Only the one of the threaded apertures184closer to the right side of the lower mainplate160and the rear spacer block166as viewed from the proximal end to the lower mainplate160toward the distal end of the lower mainplate160will be used, with the one of the threaded apertures184that is used depending upon the direction in which the apparatus for rotating glass containers will rotate glass containers.

Corresponding apertures186and188are respectively centrally located in the lower mainplate160and the upper mainplate162near their respective distal ends. These apertures186and188are used to retain the respective ends of a support axle190about which a ware rotate wheel192will spin. The ware rotate wheel192is toothed with an annular rib194extending outwardly of the teeth at the centerline of the ware rotate wheel192. The ware rotate wheel192may be made out of an elastomeric material such as, for example, polyurethane.

The lower mainplate160has a large rectangular aperture196located therein at a location closer to its proximal end than to its distal end. This rectangular aperture196is located to allow the drive belt pulley96and the idler pulley156of the body assembly illustrated inFIG. 4to extend freely therethrough, and is sufficiently large to allow the lower mainplate160to be flipped around its centerline if the carriage assembly is to be converted to spin glass containers in the opposite direction. The upper mainplate162also has a large rectangular aperture198located therein at a location corresponding to the location of the rectangular aperture196in the lower mainplate160.

Two apertures200and202are located in the lower mainplate160proximally of the rectangular aperture196. The aperture200is located close adjacent the right edge of the lower mainplate160, and the aperture202is located laterally just across the centerline of the lower mainplate160from the aperture198. Two apertures204and206are located in the upper mainplate162in locations corresponding to the locations of the apertures200and202in the lower mainplate160.

The apertures200and204are used to retain the respective ends of a support axle208about which an idler pulley210will spin. The apertures202and206are used to retain the respective ends of a support axle212about which an idler pulley214will spin. Both the idler pulley210and the idler pulley214are toothed pulleys having an annular rib extending outwardly of the teeth at the respective centerlines of the idler pulley210and the idler pulley214. As such, the idler pulley210and the idler pulley214are designed to accommodate a toothed belt having a longitudinally extending groove cut into the teeth of the toothed belt in the centerline thereof to accommodate the ribs on the idler pulley210and the idler pulley214.

Located in the lower mainplate160near the left side thereof are four countersunk apertures216that are located in spaced-apart fashion. A spacer block218will be installed on the left side of the lower mainplate160. The spacer block218has four threaded apertures220located therein in a pattern identical to the pattern of the four countersunk apertures216located in the lower mainplate160near the left side thereof. Four flathead bolts222are respectively inserted through the countersunk apertures216in the lower mainplate160and then into the threaded apertures220in the spacer block218to retain the spacer block218on the lower mainplate160. While four apertures are shown in the upper mainplate162in a pattern identical to the pattern of the four the countersunk apertures216in the lower mainplate160, the flathead bolts222do not extend into the upper mainplate162since it is desirable to allow the upper mainplate162to be removable from the carriage assembly when the carriage assembly is installed on the body assembly.

Located in the lower mainplate160in a position distal of the rectangular aperture196are two slots224and226, which are located on opposite sides of the centerline of the lower mainplate160. Only one of the slots224and226will be used in a given implementation. For the example discussed herein where the glass containers will be rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above, the slot224, which is closer to the left side of the lower mainplate160, will be used. A belt tensioner assembly consisting of three parts will be used in conjunction with the slot224.

The belt tensioner assembly has a tensioner plate228having a longitudinal slot230that is aligned in the same direction as the slot224in the lower mainplate160. A circular recess232is located on the right of the slot230near the proximal end of the tensioner plate228, and another circular recess234a located on the left of the slot230near the proximal end of the tensioner plate228. A tensioner carrier236has a centrally located wall238extending downwardly therefrom, which wall238will overlie the longitudinal slot230in the tensioner plate228. A cylindrical support axle240extends downwardly from the bottom of the tensioner carrier236at the right side thereof and will extend into the circular recess232in the tensioner plate228when the tensioner carrier236is located on the tensioner plate228. Another cylindrical support axle which is not visible extends downwardly from the bottom of the tensioner carrier236at the left side thereof and will extend into the circular recess234in the tensioner plate228when the tensioner carrier236is located on the tensioner plate228.

An idler pulley242is rotatably mounted on the support axle240on the tensioner carrier236, and is retained by the bottom of the support axle240fitting into the circular recess232when the tensioner carrier236is located on the tensioner plate228. There are threaded apertures244extending through the tensioner carrier236within the wall238. A pair of bolts246having washers248respectively located thereupon extend through the slot224in the lower mainplate160, through the longitudinal slot230in the tensioner plate228, and into two of the threaded apertures244. It will be appreciated that the longitudinal position of the belt tensioner assembly, and thus of the idler pulley242, on the lower mainplate160is adjustable.

A ware rotate belt250is shown in the configuration that it will be mounted in for the configuration shown (with the glass containers being rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above). Its installation onto the various components will be described below in conjunction with the discussion ofFIG. 7. The upper mainplate162will be mounted above the lower mainplate160, with the proximal end of the upper mainplate162overlying the rear spacer block166. In this position, an aperture252in the upper mainplate162will overlie the threaded aperture184in the rear spacer block166. The top portions of the support axle190, the support axle208, and the support axle212will extend through the apertures188, the aperture204, and the aperture206in the upper mainplate162.

Located at the top ends of each of the support axle190, the support axle208, and the support axle212is a keyhole standoff that has an annular recess machined therein. The open portions of the upper mainplate162will be enclosed by a cover254, with keyhole apertures256,258, and260being located in the cover254in locations corresponding with the apertures188,204, and206in the upper mainplate162. The keyhole standoffs at the top ends of the support axle190, the support axle208, and the support axle212thus engage the keyhole apertures256,258, and260to lock the cover254in place on top of the upper mainplate162. An aperture262in the cover254overlies the aperture252in the upper mainplate162when the cover254is locked in place on the upper mainplate162. A bolt264extends through the aperture262in the cover254, the aperture252in the upper mainplate162, and into the threaded aperture184in the rear spacer block166.

Referring now toFIG. 6, the assembled body assembly is shown at the left and the mostly assembled carriage assembly is shown at the right. However, in order to facilitate the installation of the carriage assembly onto the body assembly, the upstream guide126, the downstream guide136, and the mounting bracket106are best removed from the support plate98of the body assembly. The lower mainplate160will also have the elastomeric washer180and the preload adjusting nut182removed from the threaded rod178.

The lower mainplate160of the carriage assembly may be lowered onto the support plate98of the body assembly, with the drive belt pulley96and the idler pulley156of the body assembly extending through the rectangular aperture196in the lower mainplate160. The upstream guide126and the downstream guide136may then be placed into position on the support plate98with the left side of the lower mainplate160being located in the lower U-shaped guide slot128in the upstream guide126, and with the right side of the lower mainplate160being located in the upper L-shaped guide slot140in the downstream guide136.

The mounting bracket106may be returned to its position on the support plate98, with the threaded rod178extending into the cylindrical segment108of the mounting bracket106(the configuration of the interior of the cylindrical segment108will be discussed below in conjunction with the discussion ofFIGS. 11 and 12). Each of the upstream guide126, the downstream guide136, and the mounting bracket106are then attached to the support plate98by the installation of their respective hardware to retain them in there respective positions. The elastomeric washer180and the preload adjusting nut182may then be returned to their respective positions on the threaded rod178, which is located within the cylindrical segment108.

Referring next toFIG. 7, the installation of the ware rotate belt250is illustrated. It may facilitate the installation of the ware rotate belt250to remove the belt tensioner assembly (which includes the tensioner plate228, the tensioner carrier236, and the idler pulley242) from the carriage assembly by removing the two bolts246and their washers248. As mentioned above, the ware rotate wheel192, the idler pulley210, and the idler pulley214, which will be located on the inside of the ware rotate belt250, are toothed with an annular rib extending outwardly of the teeth at the centerline. The idler pulley156and the idler pulley242, which will be located on the outside of the ware rotate belt250, are not toothed.

Referring briefly toFIG. 8, a partial cross section of the ware rotate wheel192with the ware rotate belt250thereupon is illustrated. The ware rotate wheel192is mounted on the support axle190with a bearing270. Referring toFIG. 9in addition toFIG. 8, a more detailed view of a portion of the ware rotate belt250is illustrated. The ware rotate belt250has teeth272into which a longitudinally extending groove274has been cut at the centerline of the ware rotate belt250.

The teeth272may be made of neoprene, and the ware rotate belt250has reinforcing fibers276located therein that may be made of fiberglass or a para-aramid synthetic fiber such as the material marketed by DuPont under the trademark KEVLAR. The ware rotate belt250has a cover material278on the side opposite the teeth272that is the surface which will contact and rotate glass containers. This cover material278may be made of a resilient, high coefficient of friction material such as neoprene, white rubber, non-marking rubber, or like materials to provide a good surface to contact glass containers. The ware rotate belt250should be of seamless construction to maximize its operating life.

Referring again toFIG. 7, the ware rotate belt250is installed with the teeth272engaging the ware rotate wheel192, the drive belt pulley96, the idler pulley210, and the idler pulley214, and with the back side of the ware rotate belt250bearing against the idler pulley156and the idler pulley242. The longitudinal position of the belt tensioner assembly (which includes the tensioner plate228, the tensioner carrier236, and the idler pulley242) may be adjusted to place the proper tension on the ware rotate belt250, and the bolts246are tightened to lock the belt tensioner assembly in place.

Referring now toFIG. 10in conjunction withFIG. 7, the installation of the upper mainplate162and the cover254onto the carriage assembly and the body assembly is illustrated. The left side of the upper mainplate162(shown from the distal end on the right side inFIG. 10) is inserted into the upper U-shaped guide slot130in the upstream guide126of the body assembly. The right side of the upper mainplate162(shown from the distal end on the left side inFIG. 10) is then lowered into the upper L-shaped guide slot140in the downstream guide136of the body assembly. As it is lowered, the upper ends of the support axle190, the support axle208, and the support axle212will be respectively received and extend through the aperture188, the aperture204, and the aperture206in the upper mainplate162.

The cover254is then lowered onto the carriage assembly, with the top ends of each of the support axle190, the support axle208, and the support axle212being respectively received by the keyhole apertures256,258, and260in the larger diameter portions thereof. The cover254may then be moved in a distal direction, with the annular recesses at the top ends of the support axle190, the support axle208, and the support axle212being respectively received by the smaller diameter portions of the keyhole apertures256,258, and260, thereby retaining the cover254on the carriage assembly. The cover254is then locked into position by inserting264through the aperture262in the cover254, the aperture252in the upper mainplate162, and then screwing it into the threaded aperture184in the rectangular block110.

Referring next toFIGS. 11 and 12, the construction and adjustment of the biasing of the carriage assembly with respect to the base assembly is illustrated. As mentioned above with reference toFIG. 5, the four compression springs174each have an end located in one of the four cylindrical recesses172located in the proximally facing side of the rear spacer block166. The rectangular block110also has four cylindrical recesses280that are located in the proximally facing side thereof that are aligned with the four cylindrical recesses172in the rear spacer block166, with the four compression springs174each having their other end placed into a corresponding one of the cylindrical recesses280.

A passageway is located through the cylindrical segment108of the mounting bracket106and extends through the rectangular block110of the mounting bracket106. This passageway consists of two segments, with a first smaller diameter cylindrical passageway282extending nearly through the rectangular block110, and a second larger diameter cylindrical passageway284extending the rest of the way through the rectangular block110and throughout the entire length of the cylindrical segment108. The threaded rod178, which has an end screwed into the threaded aperture176in the rear spacer block166, extends through the cylindrical passageway282and well into the cylindrical passageway284.

The elastomeric washer180and the preload adjusting nut182are inserted through the cylindrical passageway284and are placed onto the threaded rod178. Thus, by using a hex head tool286, the preload adjusting nut182may be turned to adjust the precompression on the compression springs174. The force that may be exerted upon a glass container by the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention may thereby be varied.

When no glass bottle is present at an inspection station, the compression springs174will urge the carriage assembly forward until the elastomeric washer180reaches the end of the cylindrical passageway284and halts the travel of the carriage assembly. The preload adjusting nut182is thus positioned to limit the travel of the carriage assembly. As the amount of carriage assembly travel is decreased, the compression springs174are preloaded more heavily. By using the preload adjusting nut182and the position of the rotate head in its mounting post the one may control the initial contact force of the ware rotate wheel192, which has the ware rotate belt250thereabout, and the glass container290as well as the amount of travel the carriage assembly will experience as the glass container290enters, rotates in, and exits the inspection station. The contact force and carriage assembly travel should be adjusted to apply the minimum force and use the minimum travel that will reliably rotate the glass container290.

Referring now toFIGS. 13 and 14, the installation of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention into a production line is illustrated. A glass container290is supported on a deadplate292that is located above a top plate294, with the glass container290being supported for rotation on one side thereof near its bottom by a pair of rollers296and near its top by a second pair of rollers298. The distal end of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is brought into contact with the glass container290on the side thereof opposite the rollers296and the rollers298. It will be appreciated that the distal portion of the ware rotate wheel192, which has the ware rotate belt250thereabout, will contact the glass container290to rotate it.

The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is supported by a support member300that is fixedly mounted an one end (not shown herein). The other end of the support member300has a split construction and receives the cylindrical segment108of the mounting bracket106of the base assembly therein. It will be appreciated that the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention may be both rotated about the axis of the cylindrical segment108and longitudinally adjusted to move distal portion of the ware rotate wheel192, which has the ware rotate belt250thereabout, closer to or further away from the glass container290. The support member300has a locking bolt302that may be used to lock the cylindrical segment108and the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention into a desired position.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that neither the rollers296and the rollers298nor the ware rotate wheel192, with the ware rotate belt250thereabout, act to retain the glass container290on the deadplate292as it is rotated. In order to ensure that the base of the glass container290will remain in contact with the deadplate292, it is desirable to angle the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention to ensure that the movement of the ware rotate belt250imparts a downward force to the glass container290as it rotates the glass container290. An angle of no more than two degrees from horizontal has been found to be adequate, with the downward angle being in the direction of movement of the ware rotate belt250with respect to the surface of the glass container290.

Referring next toFIGS. 15 through 18, the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is shown in position to rotate the glass container290.FIGS. 15 and 16are shown with the upper mainplate162and the cover254removed to show the path of the ware rotate belt250around the ware rotate wheel192to rotate the glass container290, and particularly show the use of the belt tensioner assembly (which includes the tensioner plate228, the tensioner carrier236, and the idler pulley242) to maintain proper tension in the ware rotate belt250. They also demonstrate how the presence of the annular rib194on the ware rotate wheel192and the annular ribs respectively located at the centerlines of the teeth on each of the drive belt pulley96and the idler pulleys210and212interact with the groove274located at the centerline of the ware rotate belt250intermediate the teeth272to retain the ware rotate belt250in place on its support system.

FIGS. 17 and 18demonstrate the extremely limited amount of space that the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention takes up, with the entire apparatus having a width that is little more than the diameter of the ware rotate wheel192and the thickness of the ware rotate belt250, particularly at the point the apparatus contacts the glass container290to rotate it. Since the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is also very thin, due in large part to the design of the apparatus using the ware rotate wheel192and the ware rotate belt250, it has a very small footprint.FIG. 18also shows the access to the bolts246through the access aperture146in the support plate98to adjust the belt tensioner assembly (which includes the tensioner plate228, the tensioner carrier236, and the idler pulley242).

Referring finally toFIGS. 19 through 21, the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is shown in operation rotating the glass container290.FIG. 19shown the glass container290in the process of being rotated into an inspection station position,FIG. 20shows the glass container290have been brought into the inspection station position but not having been accelerated up to full rotation speed, andFIG. 21shows the glass container290in the inspection station at full rotation speed.

It may be seen inFIG. 19that the carriage assembly has been urged forward by the compression springs174to the position wherein the elastomeric washer180has reached the end of the cylindrical passageway284and halted the travel of the carriage assembly. In this position, it may be noted that the ware rotate belt250and the ware rotate wheel192are located inside the position that the glass container290will be when it is in the inspection station.

InFIG. 20, the glass container290is in position in the inspection station, but has not yet been spun up to full rotation speed, due primarily to the inertia of the glass container290. It may be seen that the carriage assembly has retracted somewhat due to the force exerted by the glass container290against the ware rotate belt250and the ware rotate wheel192. The compression springs174urge the carriage assembly including the center portion of the ware rotate wheel192and the portion of the ware rotate belt250around it into contact with the glass container290.

As the moving ware rotate belt250begin to cause the glass container290to rotate (but the glass container290is not rotating at full speed), the portion of the ware rotate belt250extending from the ware rotate wheel192around the idler pulley210and214and to the drive belt pulley96becomes more highly loaded, increasing the tension in this segment of the ware rotate belt250. The increased tension in the ware rotate belt250now pulls the only part of this drive belt path than can move, the portion between the idler pulley214(mounted on the lower mainplate160of the carriage assembly) and the drive belt pulley96(mounted on the motor assembly90of the base assembly) pulls the carriage assembly in a distal direction, causing the ware rotate belt250and the ware rotate wheel192to be driven into the glass container290with more force.

As the glass container290approaches its final rotating speed, the tension in the ware rotate belt250drops, leaving the compression springs174as the only force that is acting to drive the carriage assembly into the ware. This self-energizing effect of this ware rotate belt250geometry makes it possible for the apparatus for rotating glass containers to operate at a lower, time weighted average contact force exerted against the glass container290(which, of course, will increase the life of the components of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention).

It may therefore be appreciated from the above detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention that it teaches an apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is highly compact, enabling it to consume minimal volume in the area near the glass container being rotated to thereby allow the maximum amount of room possible for inspection apparatus. Despite the compact size of the apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention, it has the ability to supply sufficient torque to the glass container to accelerate it rapidly to minimize the time required to inspect each glass container. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention presents a highly compliant drive surface and also provides an increased capacity to quickly “nip” the outer wall of the glass container to rapidly overcome its inertia and spin it up to speed.

The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention presents a low degree of impact to glass containers, and has an outstanding ability to move quickly into contact with the glass container without damaging it or being damaged by it. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is also capable of imparting a downwardly acting force to the glass container, thereby acting to restrain it downwardly as it is being rotated at high speed. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is of robust mechanical design and of high reliability to avoid any loss of production occasioned by it failing.

The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting and has construction characteristics that allow it to be serviced quickly, and it will require only relatively infrequent maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The apparatus for rotating glass containers of the present invention is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

Although the foregoing description of the apparatus for rotating glass containers and method of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.