Full depth uncaser

A full depth uncaser for automatically removing bottles from a case having a depth substantially equal to the bottle height, and delivering the bottles to a delivery conveyor. The uncaser utilizes a system of individual grippers arranged in the general pattern of the bottles in the cases, with the various rows of grippers supported by continuous chains at each side of a gripper assembly. Each individual gripper utilizes an over-center toggle mechanism held to the open position by the toggle, and triggerable by the contact of the center member with the top of a bottle to allow a spring to cause the gripper to close on the neck of the bottle. Bottles are released onto the delivery conveyor by depression of the center member at that point to reset the over-center mechanism. Provisions for synchronizing the cases with the gripper motion as well as other features, embodiments and improvements for such equipment are provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is related to the field of bottle handling apparatus, 
and more particularly to apparatus for removing bottles from a full depth 
case and delivering the bottles to a conveyor. 
2. Brief Summary of the Invention 
A full depth uncaser for automatically removing bottles from a case having 
a depth substantially equal to the bottle height, and delivering the 
bottles to a delivery conveyor. The Uncaser utilizes a first conveyor 
system for delivering cases full of bottles to a gripper system which 
grips the bottles, removes them from the cases and deposits the bottles on 
a delivery conveyor. The gripper system utilizes groups of individual 
grippers arranged in the general pattern of the bottles in the cases, with 
the various rows of grippers supported by continuous chains at each side 
of a gripper assembly. Each individual gripper utilizes an over-center 
toggle mechanism held to the open position by the toggle, and triggerable 
by the contact of a center member with the top of a bottle to allow a 
spring to cause the gripper to close on the neck of the bottle. Bottles 
are released onto the delivery conveyor by depression of the center member 
at that point. Gripping of individual bottles is rapidly achieved, with 
the horizontal component of velocity of the grippers being equal to the 
velocity of the case. Provisions for synchronizing the cases with the 
gripper motion as well as other features, embodiments and improvements for 
such equipment are disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
First referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a top view and a side view respectively 
of the present invention bottle uncaser may be seen. The uncaser is 
characterized by an input conveyor, generally indicated by the numeral 20, 
a delivery conveyor, generally indicated by the numeral 22, and an 
uncasing head generally indicated by the numeral 24 and located on and 
supported by a frame assembly 26. The frame assembly as well as the input 
conveyor, generally integral therewith, is supported on adjustable feet 
28. On the frame assembly is a conventional drive motor means 30 and an 
elevation adjusting means for adjusting the relative elevation of the head 
24 with respect to the input conveyor 20 and delivery conveyor 22. The 
elevation adjusting means adjusts the elevation of plates 30 and 
particularly yokes 32, in which the uncasing head 24 rests by means of 
pins 36. This elevation adjusting means is comprised of cylindrical 
members 38 slideably engaging the frame assembly and driven in vertical 
motion by lead screws, such as lead screw 40, to adjust the elevation of 
the uncasing head. The screws for all four support points are driven by a 
common chain drive system, so that both the forward and rear portion of 
the uncasing head are adjustable simultaneously in accordance with the 
size of the bottle being uncased. The elevation adjusting means is 
described in more detail in the patent entitled Case Unloading Machine, 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,693, heretofore referred to. The plates 30 on the 
forward lower adjustment means have an integral downward extension 42, 
with a support yoke 44 attached to the piston of a compressed air 
cylinder-piston assembly 46 supported on the downward extension 42. The 
purpose of this support yoke 44 is to provide a support and adjustment 
means for a half depth uncasing depth of the type disclosed in the 
hereinabove mentioned patent, with the air cylinder 46 providing one of 
the features covered in that patent. Thus, the basic frame assembly 26, 
together with the input conveyor 20 and the output conveyor 22, may be 
utilized with the uncasing head 24 of the present invention, or may be 
utilized to uncase half depth cases utilizing an uncasing head as 
described in the heretofore mentioned patent. 
The delivery conveyor, generally indicated by the numeral 22, is a conveyor 
of generally conventional construction driven by the drive motor 30, and 
is provided with side fences 48 to prevent the accumulation of bottles on 
the conveyor from forcing the bottles off the side thereof. Thus the 
bottles are deposited on the conveyor to be delivered to a bottle washer 
or other apparatus as may be appropriate in the particular application. 
The metal chain conveyors for the input conveyor are similar to that used 
for delivery conveyor. However, three conveyor chains are actually used. 
There is provided a relatively wide center conveyor chain 50, with 
narrower side chains 52 disposed on each side thereof. The chain 50 is at 
a slightly higher elevation than the chain 52, and in fact is driven at a 
slightly higher linear speed than the chains 52. Thus the cases rest on 
the center chain 50 and are driven or carried along thereby. 
FIG. 3 presents a cross-section of the input conveyor 20 at the sprocket 
drive position for the chains 50 and 52. The sprocket drive is provided by 
conventional drive means driving shaft 56 in rotation. Shaft 56 drives a 
central sprocket 58 driving chain 50, and a pair of side sprockets 60 
driving the side chains 52. It is to be noted that all three sprockets are 
driven at the same angular velocity. However, sprocket 58, being larger in 
diameter, has a higher surface speed, and therefore drives chain 50 with a 
higher linear velocity. Each of the chains 50 and 52 rests on support 
members such as members 62, with intermediate self lubricating plastic 
members 64 minimizing wear and frictional drag on the chains. 
Adjacent the inner edge of the outer chains 52 are blocks 66, which may 
also be seen in the cross-section shown in FIG. 4 taken along lines 4--4 
of FIG. 3. The blocks 66 have a substantially vertically disposed face 68 
directed so as to engage cases resting on chain 50, when those cases catch 
up to a respective pair of blocks 66 as a result of the higher speed of 
the center chain supporting the case. Thus it may be seen that cases 54 
resting on chain 50 between two pair of blocks 66 on the smaller chains 
will move at a higher linear velocity than the blocks until catching up 
with the blocks 66, at which time the velocity of the case and its 
position on the conveyor system will be determined by the velocity and 
position of the blocks 66. 
It is to be noted in FIG. 4 that the back surface of the blocks 66, that is 
surface 70, is an inclined surface. While this has certain structural 
advantages, it also is functional in that in the event of any misadventure 
occurring under the uncaser head 24, an operator may grasp a case 54 as it 
is just about to enter the uncasing head and hold it at that point, with 
the blocks 66 encouraging the cases to an upward position to allow the 
blocks to slide thereunder as the input conveyor system continues to 
operate. 
The smaller chains 52 extend outward to the position generally indicated by 
the numeral 72 (FIG. 1). The larger center chain 50, however, extends 
outward to the position indicated by the numeral 74. Beyond that position 
may be a conventional roller or ball bearing type unpowered delivery 
conveyor 76. Thus, cases such as cases 54a and 54b may be delivered by 
unpowered conveyor 76 to first engage the larger center chain 50 to be 
carried along thereby. Prior to position 72, there is provided a pair of 
sidewise moveable members 78, facingly disposed and driveable into closer 
separation by compressed air cylinders 80 supporting and driving each end 
of the members 78. The members 78 are covered on their inward faces with 
rubber so as to be frictionally engageable with the sides of cases to 
retain the cases at that position, allowing the chain 50 to slide 
thereunder. 
There is further provided three photoelectric sensors 82, 84 and 86. These 
sensors, as shall be subsequently described in detail, are for sensing the 
position of cases 54 to provide for the timely release of case 54a with 
respect to the cooperative position of a pair of blocks 66 on the smaller 
chains, so that the released case will come to rest against the blocks 
before entering under the uncaser head 24. 
Now referring to FIG. 5, a cross section taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1, 
illustrating the basic operation of the uncasing head 24, may be seen. The 
uncasing head utilizes a pair of continuous chains, indicated by the 
numeral 90, at each side thereof, with the chains being guided in a 
predetermined path by a combination of sprockets 92, 94, 96 and 98 as well 
as by various slide tracks between sprockets to support and guide the 
chain. Mounted between the chains are a plurality of cross bars 120, each 
supporting grippers 100, which are adapted to grip the necks of the 
bottles just below sprocket 98, to support the bottles as they are lifted 
from the cases, and to release the bottles as the grippers pass by rollers 
102 mounted on the same shaft as the sprockets 94. 
The construction of the individual grippers is illustrated in FIGS. 6 
through 10. FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5, 
illustrating the general orientation of the grippers in the uncaser with 
respect to the path of the cases thereunder. In particular, two gripper 
members 104 are adapted to close on the neck of a bottle 106, with the 
gripper members 104 being split into separate members along a plane 
inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the directional motion of the 
cases, generally indicated by the arrow 108. The purpose of inclining the 
grippers in this manner is to allow the greater separation of the gripper 
members 104 when the gripper is in the open condition without interference 
with the adjacent grippers. This forty-five degree inclination is also 
indicated in FIG. 5. However, in the remaining figures, that is FIGS. 6 
through 10, for purposes of illustration and clarity, the plane separating 
the two gripper members 104 has been oriented in the fore and aft 
direction so as to allow a more illustrious description of the operation 
of the grippers. Such an orientation is of course both operative and 
satisfactory, though the forty-five degree inclination previously 
described allows greater room, particularly for gripper patterns for 
smaller bottles. 
The grippers are comprised of first and second gripper members 104, 
together approximately defining an annular structure. Each of the gripper 
members 104 extend upward into an appropriately disposed support member 
110, and are rotationally supported thereby by pins 112. Thus, the gripper 
members 104 may rotate about the pins from a closed position as indicated 
in FIG. 7 to an open position, indicated in FIG. 8. The gripper members 
104 are provided with rubber inserts 114, disposed so as to be engageable 
with the neck or top of a bottle to provide increased friction therewith 
and to cushion the impact of the gripper members onto the bottle top. The 
support members 110 are retained to a metal cylindrical member 116 by a 
pin 118. The cylindrical members 116 extend upward to be retained by a 
cross member 120, forming a portion of the transport means, by a pin 122. 
The cylindrical member 116 has a slot 124 therein so as to be moveable, 
within limits, in a vertical direction. A coil spring 126, extending 
between member 110 and a cross member 120, yieldably encourages the 
gripper assembly into the position shown in FIG. 7, but upon striking an 
object such as the base of an upside down bottle 128, the gripper assembly 
may move upward with respect to the cross bar 120 by the compression of 
the coil spring, as shown in FIG. 9. 
Within the cylindrical member 116 and extending downward between the two 
gripper members 114 is an actuator member 130. This member extends upward 
above the top of cylindrical member 116 and downward so as to be 
engageable with the top of a bottle as shown in FIG. 7. The actuator 
member 130 is adapted for vertical motion within the limits defined by the 
slot 132 in the actuator member through which pin 118 passes. The actuator 
member 130 also has a slot 134 through which pin 122 passes, so as not to 
restrict motion of the actuator member by the pin 122. The actuator member 
has a large slot 138, which is cooperatively disposed with respect to 
slots 140 formed in the gripper members 104. Within these slots are a pair 
of coupling members 142 each coupled to the actuator member and one of the 
tripper members at the ends thereof by pins 144. Adjacent the bottom of 
slots 140 (the slots being somewhat narrower in this region) is a coil 
spring 146 loaded in tension and supported as shown by pins 148. Thus, 
with the actuator member 130 in the position shown in FIG. 7, coil spring 
146 encourages the two gripper members into closer proximity, thereby 
forcing the rubber inserts 114 against the top portion of the neck of a 
bottle 99. When engaging a bottle as shown, the pin 118 does not quite 
engage the bottom of slot 132, so that the actuator member 130 will not 
restrict the closing of the gripper members 114. 
The cross members 120 are supported at the ends thereof by the chains 90 
(FIG. 5) in a manner to be subsequently described in greater detail. 
However, it is to be noted that at the release point for the bottles, the 
cross bars 120 pass under rollers 102 which are aligned with the grippers. 
This is shown in detail in FIG. 8, where it is shown that a roller 102 is 
disposed so as to engage and depress the top of the actuator member 130, 
thereby forcing the gripper members 104 to the open position and further 
deflecting the coupling members 142 past "center" so as to lock the 
gripper assembly at that condition by the orientation of the coupling 
members 142, the coil spring 146 and the engagement of pin 118 with the 
top of the slot 132 in the actuator member. It should be noted also that 
when the gripper is open, as shown in FIG. 8, thereby releasing the bottle 
99, the gripper may still be forced upward against the coil spring 126 in 
the same manner as shown in FIG. 9. Further, it should be noted that since 
the gripper is normally supported by the engagement of pin 122 with the 
top of slots 124 in member 116, thereby supporting the assembly fore and 
aft of the actuator member, engagement of the actuator member 130 with the 
roller 102 provides an aligning force on the gripper, encouraging it to 
remain in the vertical orientation. 
When a gripper progresses to a position just below sprocket 98 (FIG. 5) the 
lower end of the actuator member 130 will engage the top of bottle 99 so 
as to be forced slightly upward, thereby tripping the over-center 
mechanism and allowing the coil spring 146 to pull the gripper members 104 
against the side of the neck of the bottle, and forcing the actuator 
member 130 further upward. Thus it may be seen that the gripper members 
104 are coupled to an over-center mechanism or toggle mechanism, which may 
retain the grippers in the open position but allow the rapid triggering of 
the mechanism for the engagement of the actuator member with the top of a 
bottle to provide almost instantaneous gripping of the neck of a bottle. 
In the event no bottle is disposed beneath the gripper as it passes 
sprocket 98, the gripper will remain in the open condition until again 
passing sprocket 98 and engaging a bottle. Similarly, once the grippers 
are opened by roller 102, they will remain open until engaging a bottle so 
as to close. Thus it may be seen that the rubber inserts 114 both cushion 
the impact of the gripper members 104 with the neck of the bottle, and 
further provide a relatively high frictional force therewith, (the gripper 
members 104, coupling members 142 and the actuator member 130 in the 
preferred embodiment are of the self lubricating molded plastic). 
The lower portion of the gripper members have a chamfer 150 thereon so as 
to encourage the alignment of the gripper with the top of a bottle as it 
proceeds downward into a case. For this to be accomplished in the event of 
misalignment, a bottle neck may generally be horizontally deflected for 
gripping. To further accomodate this action, the hole in the cross member 
120 through which metal cylindrical member 116 passes is purposely made a 
predetermined amount larger than the cylindrical member so as to allow for 
some sidewise delfection of the lower portion of each gripper to align the 
gripper with the bottle. This sidewise motion, however, is limited by the 
binding of cylindrical member 116 with the hole so as to prevent the 
sidewise deflection from being excessive as to interfere with the 
operation of the neighboring grippers. 
Now referring to FIGS. 11 through 14, and with reference to FIG. 5, certain 
of the details of the transport means may be seen. Each of the cross 
members 120 has a small metal end plate 152 fastened thereto. A cam member 
154 has an axle pin 156 fastened thereto by a retaining pin 158. The axle 
pin 156 extends through a hole in the end plate 152 and is retained with 
respect to the end plates by a coil spring 160 and snap ring 162. Thus, 
cam member 154 is yieldably encouraged toward engagement with end plate 
152. A pair of balls 164 are disposed in pockets in the face of cam member 
154, so as to be encouraged into mating holes 166 in the end plate. Thus, 
the cooperative function of these parts is to provide a dentent by the 
engagement of the balls with the openings 166 to yieldably lock the cam 
members 154 in a predetermined position with respect to the end plate. 
Thus, if cam members 54 are restrained in their rotation, end plates 152 
may be forced by an inadvertant extraordinary force to rotate from the 
detent position, though the end plates will remain in the detent position 
under normal conditions. 
The axle pin 156 extends outward into a hole 172 in a chain slide member 
170. The chain slide member 170 in turn has a pair of pins 174 pressed 
therein, which pins have a spacing so as to be insertable into a pair of 
hollow pins of the chains 90 providing the basic drive for the transport 
system. The lateral disposition of the grippers and the number of grippers 
disposed on a crossbar 120 will depend upon the lateral distribution of 
bottles within a case. Similarly, the longitudinal disposition of bottles 
within the cases will determine the separation between adjacent crossbars. 
Since the spacing of bottles may not be in fixed relation to the chain 
length dimensions in the preferred embodiment, three functionally 
equivalent but dimensionally different chain slide members 170 are 
provided so that the cross members 120 may be spaced within a matter of 
few tens of thousandths of an inch from the ideal location. In particular, 
the holes 172 in these three chain slide members are located at different 
positions with respect to the pins 174 therein. Thus, since none of the 
chain slide members have the pins centered, six cross bar positions may be 
selected by using either of two positions for either of the three standard 
chain slide members. Also, obviously changes in spacing may be readily 
made, if necessary, due to the lack of permanent attachment to the chains. 
Now referring specifically to FIG. 11, it will be noted that each of the 
side plates 200 of the uncase head assembly 24 are provided with channels 
defined by channel plates 202 having a self lubricating plastic liner 204. 
These channel plates are generally provided throughout the path of travel 
of the chains 90. The channel plates retain chain 90 at both sides of the 
assembly. On the right hand side of FIG. 11, it may be seen that the 
channel plates further extend in and provide a slide for chain slide 
members 170. On the left hand side of this figure, the channel plates 
provide a slide region not only for the chain slide members 170, but 
further extend inward to provide a slide region for cam members 154. Thus, 
cross member 120 is restrained in rotation about a horizontal axis in FIG. 
11 by the retention of the cam member 154 between the channel plates on 
the left hand side of the figure. Thus, this figure is representative of 
the cross sections in the transport means between the sprockets 96 and 98 
(FIG. 5). Accordingly, cam members 154 on one side of the uncaser head 
(the left side) engage a restraining track in the region between sprockets 
96 and 98 so as to retain the cross members 120 in a horizontal 
disposition in that region (i.e., the grippers in a vertical disposition). 
Cross-sections taken along lines 12--12 and 13--13 of FIG. 11 showing the 
two sides and the disposition of the cams are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 
respectively. For purposes of clarity, the various cam members 154 and 
chain slide members 170 are identified in some of the following figures by 
the appropriate numerals followed by an "L" or "R" to designate the left 
or right sides of the transport means as viewed in the direction of 
movement, i.e., from input conveyor 20 towards delivery conveyor 22. Thus, 
in FIG. 12, the cam member 154L may be seen in line with the chain slide 
member 170 L (not shown) immediately therebehind. In FIG. 13, the cam 
member 154R on the right side of the assembly may be seen not aligned with 
the (narrower) track or the chain slide member 170R riding therein. Thus, 
it may be seen that the angular disposition of cross member 120 about a 
horizontal axis may be controlled by the engagement of either cam members 
154L or 154R with extensions of the chain slide track, with FIG. 11 
specifically illustrating the alignment of cross member 120 by the left 
cam member 154 designated 154L in FIG. 12. 
Now referring to FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, further details of the transport 
means may be seen. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 
15--15 of FIG. 1, showing the right side of the transport means. FIGS. 16 
and 17 are cross-sections taken along lines 16--16 and 17--17 of FIG. 1, 
illustrating the left side of the transport means. As a typical cross 
member 120, such as member 120a shown in FIG. 16, proceeds through the 
region between sprockets 96 and sprocket 98, it is maintained in a 
horizontal disposition and therefore the grippers in a vertical 
disposition by engagement of cam member 154L with the channel plates 
defining the chain slide region. In the region of sprocket 98, the 
grippers grip the bottles as hereinbefore described. Similarly, at 
sprockets 98 as well as in positions beyond sprocket 98, such as the 
position of the cross member 120b, neither cam member is guided or 
restrained (though the chain slide members are always guided on both sides 
of the transport means), so that the cross members and the gripper 
maintain their horizontal and vertical dispositions respectively as a 
result of the high pendulosity thereof (caused by the bottles hanging 
therebelow through the pendulosity of the grippers along is adequate for 
this purpose). It should be noted that in the region between sprockets 96 
and 98, the grippers proceed downward at a relatively high rate due to the 
angle of the track in this region, and further rapidly change direction 
because of the relatively small size in the sprocket 98 to then proceed 
upward at the same angle. Consequently, the horizontal component of 
velocity of the grippers in the downward portion of transport means path 
in this region is equal to the horizontal component of the grippers in the 
upward portion of their motion beyond sprocket 98. Consequently, there is 
no significant relative horizontal component of velocity between the 
grippers and the cases, as they proceed under the region of sprocket 98. 
Thus, there is no tendency to longitudinally drag the bottles with respect 
to the cases or the cases with respect to the bottles, unlike the prior 
art systems. The lack of said dragging is made possible by the rapid 
gripping action of the individual gripper upon initial contact with the 
bottle, which in turn avoids any significant substantially horizontal 
section of track in place of sprocket 98. 
There is provided a skate like member 250 (FIGS. 2 and 5) disposed just 
above the path of the cases in the region of gripping, and further 
disposed so that the bottles pass to either side thereof. This member 
assures that the cases and/or bottle separaters within the cases are not 
allowed to rise as the bottles are lifted out of the cases. Once the 
bottles are lifted free and clear of the cases, the chain guides curve in 
a region generally indicated by the numerals 252 to define a short section 
of horizontal track. Slide members 254 and 256 are disposed so as to 
engage the cross members 120 in this region, to assure that they are 
horizontal. Accordingly, as the chains pass around sprockets 94, the 
rollers 102 aligned with each longitudinal row of the grippers, depress 
the actuating members 130 to open the grippers and release the bottles, 
thereby allowing the bottles to freely rest on the delivery conveyor 22. 
At the same time, as may be seen in FIG. 15, the right hand cam member 
154R, will engage and be guided by the track in the region between the 
rollers 102 and the end sprocket 92, thereby assuring that the cross 
members 120 are maintained in horizontal position during this portion of 
the path to avoid tipping over the bottles deposited on the conveyor. 
Mounted on the same shaft as sprocket 92 and aligned with the trajectory of 
a portion of the cam member 154R is a circular member 260, which will 
engage the cam members 154R, causing them to rotate with the member 260 
until being deposited into an upper return track, generally indicated by 
the numeral 262. The return track has a lip member 264 projecting past the 
edge of member 260 so as to engage the cam followers at that point to 
assure that they properly enter the return track. 
As may be seen from FIG. 5 the grippers as they enter the return track are 
not at the proper angle with respect to the chain tracks to eventually 
project perpendicularly downward into the cases at the pick-up point under 
sprockets 98. Consequently, the angle of the grippers with respect to the 
chain track must be changed from that of the region generally indicated by 
the numeral 270 to that in the region generally indicated by the numeral 
272. To accomplish this, the determination of the angularity of the cross 
members 120 must be changed from the right hand cam member 154R to the 
left hand cam member 154L. To accomplish this changeover, the slide in 
which the cam members 154R are guided in the initial return path into an 
expanding region, generally indicated by the numeral 300 (FIG. 15), 
thereby gradually releasing the previous guidance of the cam members. At 
the same time, the left hand side of the transport means (FIG. 16) is 
provided with a decreasing taper in the cam guide region, generally 
indicated by the numeral 302, so as to gradually change the guidance of 
the cam members 154 from the hand side to the left hand side, thereby 
changing the angularity of the cross members 120 as shown. The top view of 
the right hand track in the region 300 may be seen in FIG. 18. It may be 
noted therein that the track in the region 320 is sufficiently wide to 
engage both the chain slide member and the cam member, with the area 322 
engaging the cam member tapering and finally terminating so that the track 
in the region 324 only engages the chain slide member and not the cam 
member. 
Like sprocket 92, sprocket 96 also has a circular member 306 attached 
thereto to guide the cam members 154L around the sprocket into the section 
of track leading to the pickup point below sprocket 98. To insure smooth 
transition of the cam member on and off the circular member 306, 
projections 308 and 310 adjacent the edge of the circular member 306 guide 
the cams in this region. 
There has heretofore been described a unique gripper for gripping 
individual bottles by the tops thereof, together with a continuous 
transport means for causing the grippers to engage the necks of bottles in 
cases passing thereunder on a first conveyor, and depositing the bottles 
onto an output conveyor. To achieve the desired result, cases must be 
appropriately released by the members 78 (FIG. 1) in coordination of the 
motion of the smaller chains 52 in the input conveyor, so that the cases 
are aligned with the sets of grippers in the uncasing head. To achieve 
this result, the photosensors 82, 84 and 86 are used to sense the position 
of the chain and/or cases and to cause members 78 to release cases at the 
appropriate time. In particular, each of the photo cells 82, 84 and 86 
provide a signal to a control circuit 400, as shown in FIG. 20. The 
control circuit 400 combines the signals in a predetermined manner to 
provide a control signal to a solenoid valve in the compressed air line 
coupled to cylinders 80. Of course, other actuators for members 78 may 
also be used if desired. 
Photo cell 82 is positioned so as to sense a case located between members 
78. Photo cell 84 is positioned to sense the passage of a pair of 
reference blocks 66 in the smaller chains, and photo cell 86, positioned a 
case length forward of photo cell 82, is positioned at an elevation so as 
to sense passage of a case, but not the passage of only a pair of 
reference blocks 66. Whenever the photosensor 82 is illuminated, members 
78 should be in the withdrawn position, since such a condition indicates 
that no cases are either in proper position between members 78 or are 
passing beyond that region toward the uncasing head. When the first case 
reaches the photosensor 82, the control circuit will cause members 78 to 
close on the case to retain it at that position. When the photosensor 84 
senses the passage of a pair of reference blocks 66, the control circuit 
will cause members 78 to be withdrawn to release one case which eventually 
will catch the corresponding pair of blocks. It will be noted, however, 
that assuming there is a supply of cases behind the case released, a 
steady stream of cases would be delivered to the uncaser, thereby keeping 
both photosensors 82 and 84 dark and holding members 78 in a withdrawn 
position. To avoid this, the photosensor 86 is provided to sense the 
passage of cases thereby. Thus, when photosensor 86 first goes dark, the 
control circuit causes members 78 to close on a case. A time delay in the 
control circuit causes photosensor 86 to maintain members 78 in a closed 
position until the end of the case sensed by photosensor 86 at least 
passes the photosensor 84, at which time photosensor 84 itself will cause 
members 78 to be in the closed position until sensing a subsequent pair of 
reference blocks 66. Thus, it may be seen that the signals of the 
photosensors are logically combined in the control circuit, to cause the 
periodic opening and closing of members 78 to release cases in a 
coordinated manner with respect to the reference blocks 66 on the small 
chains, so that cases may be delivered to the uncasing head in 
synchronization with the operation of the transport means in the head. 
Since the transport means in the uncasing head must be synchronized with 
the input conveyor system, a means should be provided to advance or retard 
the operation of the uncasing head to achieve this synchronization. In the 
preferred embodiment, the uncasing head drive is provided through a driven 
sprocket 500 and chain 502 with an idler sprocket 504 and a second idler 
sprocket 506 to allow for a chain pick-up during adjustment of the height 
of the uncasing head. Synchronization may be achieved in part by changing 
the engagement of chain 502 by the desired number of links with respect to 
the teeth of sprocket 508 on the uncasing head. To provide for a even more 
accurate adjustment, a special adjustment mechanism is provided with 
sprocket 508 as shown in detail in FIG. 19. In particular, the sprocket 
508 is adapted for free rotation from the shaft 510 but is bolted by bolts 
512 to a member 514 which is keyed to the shaft by key 516. The bolt 512 
passes through slot 518 in member 514 so that the bolts may be loosened 
and the sprocket turned the desired amount up to at least one chain link 
length to achieve the fine adjustment desired. 
An alternate gripper design is shown in FIG. 21. In this gripper, otherwise 
identical to the gripper hereinbefore described, the gripper members 104A 
each have a relief 600 proportioned so that the lower lip 602 thereof 
engages the neck of a bottle 604 just below the top flange 606. 
Accordingly, gripping in this embodiment is by way of mechanical 
engagement, as opposed to frictional engagement. In this manner, positive 
gripping is assured even with wet and/or slippery bottles. 
An alternate case transport and synchronizing means is shown in FIGS. 22 
through 27. In this embodiment, the chain sprockets 60A and 58A are the 
same size, so that the outer chain members 52A and the inner chain members 
50A travel at the same surface speed. However, the inner chain members 50A 
are spaced further outward in the operative part of the track between 
sprockets by the spacers 51, fixed to the conveyor frame, so that the 
center chain members 50A are higher than the outer chain members 52A in 
the operative part of the track. 
At various positions along chain members 52A are welded cleat mounting 
members 608 with a predetermined spacing to coincide with the case spacing 
requirements for synchronization with the groups of grippers on the 
uncasing head. The cleat mounting members 608 have rearward extending 
flanges 610 to accept a pivot pin 612. The cleat mounting members are also 
provided with a groove 614 at the bottom thereof to receive an end 616 of 
a coil spring 618. Cleats 620 are provided with flanges 622 which are 
supported by pins 612 and are also provided with a slot to receive a 
second end 624 of the coil spring 618. In this manner, cleats 620 are 
spring loaded to the vertical position as shown in FIG. 25, but upon 
sufficient force will deflect to the position shown in phantom in that 
figure. Also, the thickness of the cleats and the cleat mounting members 
is approximately equal to or less than the spacing provided by spacers 51, 
so that when deflected into the position shown in phantom in FIG. 25, the 
center chain members 50A will hold the case above both the cleat mounting 
members and the cleats. In addition, the leading edge 630 of the cleat 
mounting member 608 is tapered so as to encourage a case upward in the 
event any part of the case extends downward in that region. Finally, there 
is provided a pair of skid-like members 632 between the inner and outer 
chains, which members are slightly higher than chain members 50A. The skid 
members 632 are located at a position just before the cases proceed under 
the uncasing head and provide the final synchronization of the cases by 
raising the case off of chain members 50A and stopping the case until the 
next set of cleats 620 engage the case and encourage the case onward under 
the uncasing head. 
Accordingly, in this embodiment the cleats 620 provide a positive drive to 
the case by pushing the case from behind, though if the case meets some 
obstruction, cleat members may deflect downward to allow the chain to 
continue even though the case has stopped. The advantage of this positive 
drive from behind is that it provides a driving force to continue the 
motion of the case in the presence of retarding forces such as those that 
may be encountered when using case strippers, that is, a stationary member 
mounted between rows of grippers to engage the top of the case and to 
prevent the case from lifting upward when the bottles are removed 
therefrom. Such strippers and other factors have a tendency to retard the 
case which may cause some wedging of the bottles in the case and 
resistance to their being lifted therefrom by the grippers. Thus, it may 
be seen that by using the cleat system, as hereabove described, ideal 
synchronization and drive for the cases is obtained provided there is also 
a means for releasing cases one at a time at any point between cleats. 
An alternate circuit diagram for achieving the required release is shown in 
FIG. 27. In this system, four photosensor switches and two double pole, 
single throw relays are used. Three of the four photosensing switches are 
generally located in the same positions as the three switches utilized 
with respect to the previously described system, and accordingly for easy 
reference with respect to FIG. 1 are again given their previous numbers. 
The fourth photoswitch, also indicated on FIG. 1, has been identified as 
switch 700. The two relays are numbered 702 and 704, and in addition to 
the solenoid valve 402 there is also provided a switch 706 operated in 
conjunction with the main power control to the bottle conveyor power 
system. 
All of the photoswitches are shown in their illuminated position, and each 
will change to the opposite position shown in phantom when the photosensor 
is dark. Similarly, the relay contacts are shown in the unenergized 
condition. Power is applied on terminals 708 and 710, which in the 
preferred embodiment is 24 volts DC. It may be seen that as long as the 
case position sensor 82 is illuminated, relay 704 will be unenergized, and 
accordingly the case stop solenoid valve 402 cannot be operated regardless 
of the condition of the other three photoswitches and the condition of 
relay 702. Thus, when the system has started without any cases therein, 
the solenoid valve will be unactuated and the movable members 78 (see FIG. 
1) will be withdrawn. Accordingly, when the first case then enters the 
system photo switch 82 will sense the edge of the case, which in turn will 
energize relay 704 to change the switch contacts to that as shown in 
phantom in FIG. 27. This couples the solenoid 402 through line 708 to 
relay 702. However, it may be seen that power will not be delivered 
through relay 702 to line 708 unless the relay 702 is unactuated and power 
is applied thereto through line 710. These conditions depend in part upon 
the state of the switches 700, 86 and 84 as well as, in certain 
situations, the past history of these switches. There are a great number 
of possible states for these switches, only some of which will be 
described in detail herein as all are readily traceable by proceeding 
through the normal operating modes of the sequential machine by anyone of 
ordinary skill in the art. 
When the uncaser is first turned on with no cases being delivered thereto, 
the photoswitch 82 which senses a case in position between members 78 
awaiting a synchronized release is illuminated. Relay 704 is unenergized, 
and thus solenoid valve 402 is off. Accordingly, members 78 are in the 
withdrawn position and will allow a case to enter therebetween until the 
photoswitch 82 goes dark. While it is possible that this may occur at the 
desired synchronized time, in general this will not be true, and 
photoswitches 700, 86 and 84 will all be illuminated. Accordingly, power 
is delivered through these three photoswitches through the lower set of 
switch contacts and through line 78 to the solenoid valve 402, thereby 
actuating the valve to close members 78 against the case to maintain it in 
that position. When a pair of cleats pass the cleat photoswitch 84, that 
switch momentarily goes dark. This actuates relay 702, which latches in 
the actuated position because of the connection of the upper set of switch 
contacts therein, thereby turning off solenoid 402 and releasing the case 
at that time. Of course, photoswitch 82 remains dark, and while the cleat 
photoswitch 84 will be illuminated immediately after the cleat passes, it 
will again go dark very shortly thereafter, as the leading edge of the 
just released case starts past the photoswitch. 
Photoswitch 86 is preferably located along the conveyor very slightly 
greater than one case length from the photoswitch 82. Accordingly, when 
switch 86 goes dark, indicating the arrival of the leading edge of the 
case at that point, solenoid 402 will again be turned on (providing switch 
82 is still dark, indicating a supply of cases) to stop the flow of cases 
until the next case is to be released. When switch 86 first goes dark, 
cleat photoswitch 84 will also be dark, sensing not a cleat but the case 
itself. As the case continues, its trailing edge will soon pass the cleat 
switch 84, allowing that switch to be illuminated. This signal from cleat 
84 could be used to enable the release of the next case when cleat switch 
84 again goes dark upon the passage of a cleat. However, in the present 
embodiment a signal from photoswitch 700 is used to enable the release, 
which signal is actuated by the darkening of the photoswitch 700 by the 
leading edge of the case just after the trailing edge passes switch 84. 
Thus, just after the trailing edge of the case passes photoswitch 84, 
allowing it to be illuminated, photoswitch 700 goes dark (photoswitch 86 
already being dark). This enables the cleat photoswitch 84 (i.e., resets 
the system), causing the actuation of solenoid 402 upon the next passage 
of a pair of cleats past photoswitch 84 to release the next case. 
Accordingly, cases are individually synchronously released as required, so 
as to allow the cases to proceed initially along the conveyor, each 
located between two sets of cleats. Of course, after passage beyond the 
photoswitch 700, the cases are lifted slightly as hereinbefore described 
so as to be stopped until the set of cleats immediately therebehind 
catches up with the case and provides a positive (though yieldable) drive 
for the case under the uncasing head even in the presence of ski-like 
members to hold the case down against the lifting forces of the individual 
bottle grippers. 
The above described embodiment for the circuitry and photoswitches to 
control the synchronization of the cases performs three important 
functions, among others. These are: 
1. It provides a latch to release a case upon the momentary passage of the 
cleat past a predetermined position. 
2. It provides a means for sensing the arrival of the next case between the 
members 78 for temporary retention at that point (which may not be sensed 
by the case position sense photoswitch 82 alone because that switch will 
be maintained permanently dark by a continuous flow of cases) and 
3. It provides a means for resetting or enabling the cleat photoswitch 84 
so as to allow the release of the next case the next time the cleat 
photoswitch 84 goes dark sensing the passage of a pair of cleats 
therebetween. 
Of course, this last requirement could be eliminated by placing the cleat 
photoswitch 84 at an appropriate position below the case trajectory, such 
as approximately level with the axis of the forward chain sprockets and 
forward thereof so as to sense the passage of the cleats in their upward 
travel at that point. Of course, other modifications to the sensor 
location and the circuitry may also readily be made by one skilled in the 
art to achieve the desired result. Applicants have found, however, that 
photosensors placed where they may readily be observed together with the 
relays provide an easily maintained, easily tested and highly reliable 
system, which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. Also by using 
photoswitches having adjustable mounting, adjustment in the position 
thereof may be made so as to achieve preferred operating sequences with 
varying size cases. 
There is described herein a reliable, high speed full depth uncaser with a 
variety of safety and other operational features, the frame and conveyor 
system of which may also receive an alternate type of uncasing head for 
uncasing half depth uncasers. Of course, for such operations, members 78 
would be maintained in the withdrawn condition so that a continuous flow 
of cases could be delivered to the half depth uncaser, and reference 
blocks 66 would generally be removed (or folded downward) so as to not be 
operative. Thus, the full depth and half depth cases may be uncased at the 
same station and utilizing much common equipment. 
There has so far been described herein the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention. It is to be noted, however, that alternate embodiments 
may be readily fabricated by one skilled in the art. By way of example, an 
embodiment could easily be fabricated wherein cases would be delivered to 
a larger uncasing head in a sidewise orientation so as to effectively 
increase the speed of the uncaser without any increase in the linear 
velocity of the transport means. Similarly, the transport means within the 
uncasing head could be provided with groups of grippers in two or more 
case patterns, with appropriate changes in the case sensing and operation 
of the case holding members 78, so that cases of either two or more types 
could be released in synchronism with the corresponding grippers, thereby 
allowing one uncasing head to uncase more than one type of full depth 
case. Of course, other features may also be provied, such as by way of 
example, the guard 550 normally diposed outward and above the cases to 
detect any obstruction in cases projecting above that level. Such a guard 
is pivoted at point 552 and is adapted to actuate a micro-switch 554 to 
turn off the machine, should an obstruction force the guard 550 upward. 
Similarly, portions of the cover 556, generally at each end for the 
transport means are hinged for access to the transport means and may be 
provided with similar micro-switches which are to turn off the machine 
whenever the covers are tilted opened by an operator or by an obstruction 
in the transport means. 
Now referring to FIG. 28, a view similar to that of FIG. 5 illustrating 
another embodiment of the invention may be seen. This embodiment is 
functionally the same as the embodiment of the uncaser head hereinbefore 
described though has certain improvements therein making it highly 
desirable for use in high speed applications and/or applications involving 
the handling of particularly low weight containers such as the newer 
plastic containers. The primary differences between this embodiment and 
the prior embodiment reside in the manner and the locations of restraining 
the crossbars 120, the location of the actuation of the actuator member 
130 on the individual grippers and the position during the return portion 
of the gripper trajectory at which the gripper attitude is shifted from a 
trailing condition to a leading condition in readiness for the next 
gripping cycle. In addition, the input conveyor system has been changed 
somewhat, specifically to adapt the system to the particularly high speeds 
at which this embodiment is capable of operating. 
In the previously described embodiment, the angular orientation of the 
crossbars 120 with respect to the adjacent supporting chain was in some 
regions not controlled, being determined in various other regions by the 
left cam member, the right cam member or, in the region just prior to 
release, by the slide members 254 and 256. In this embodiment, the left 
end plates 152a (similar to the metal end plates 152 of FIG. 14) extend to 
support a small plastic self-lubricating roller 800. As may be seen in 
FIG. 28 and in greater detail in FIGS. 31 and 32, the metal end plates 
support the rollers 800 at an elevation above the crossbars 120 (see FIG. 
32) when the crossbars are themselves oriented to support the individual 
grippers 100 in a generally vertically downwardly directed orientation. In 
addition, the rollers 800 and cam members 154 are disposed on opposite 
sides of the metal end plates 152a so that the guide members may contact 
the rollers 800 without interference from the channels guiding the chain 
slide members 170 and which guide the cam members 154 at some locations. 
The purpose of these rollers may be best seen with respect to FIGS. 28 and 
30 through 32. In particular, in the downward portion of the gripper path 
generally indicated by the numeral 802, the crossbars 120 are maintained 
level by the engagement of the left cam members 154 with the left chain 
slide channel. As the grippers reach the gripping position and pass under 
the sprockets 98, the cam members are no longer guided by the chain slide 
channels, so that grippers are free to reorient slightly as required for 
the gripping and for the withdrawing of the bottles 99 from the cases 54. 
Normally, regardless of the speed of operation of the equipment, there is 
very little swinging of the grippers and the bottles held thereby during 
the initial upward movement of the grippers in the region generally 
indicated by the numeral 804, since the downward inclination in region 802 
is the same as the upward inclination in region 804, yielding the same 
horizontal velocity component for the grippers in these two regions. (Also 
sprocket 98 is purposely made relatively small so that its influence is 
small). However, it will be noted that the grippers in the horizontal 
portion of the gripper path at the delivery conveyor 22 have a higher 
horizontal velocity than the grippers in regions 802 and 804 so that, 
particularly in a high speed machine, the grippers and the bottles 
supported thereby will tend to tilt away from the vertical in a lagging 
direction unless restrained from doing so. Even in a low speed machine the 
same characteristic has been encountered to varying degrees because of the 
friction in the crossbar support structure and the rotation of the chains 
from an upwardly directed to a horizontal chain path. To avoid this 
characteristic and to better define and restrain the vertical orientation 
of the grippers and the bottles being held thereby, the right cam members, 
having an angular orientation corresponding to the direction of the path 
of chain travel in region 804, are captured by extensions of the chain 
guide channels in approximately region 806. These channels locally open up 
somewhat as the horizontal portion of the trajectory over the delivery 
conveyor 22 is approached, so that in this area the lead portion of the 
right cam members 154 (see FIG. 29) are restrained by a lower slide member 
808 to restrain the cross bar from rotating to prevent the grippers and 
bottles supported thereby from swinging forward. Since the grippers 
generally accelerate rather than decelerate as they approach the delivery 
conveyor 22, the force normally exerted by the right cam members 154 on 
the slide surface 808 is relatively low, being functional primarily to 
prohibit the forward swing of the grippers which might be encouraged by 
vibration or upon shut down of the machine. At the same time, however, the 
rearward swinging of the grippers and bottles supported thereby caused by 
the acceleration in this region is restrained by the engagement of the 
rollers 800 with a guide bar 810 fixed to the head of the uncaser and 
appropriately disposed for this purpose. Thus while the grippers hang free 
in the region 804 the crossbars are effectively captured starting 
approximately at region 806 and constrained to the horizontal disposition 
as the chain path levels off in the release region. 
In the previously described embodiment, the actuators on the individual 
grippers were actuated by rollers 102 supported on the same shaft as 
spocket 94 (see FIG. 5). Since the direction of the chain path is changing 
in this region, it is difficult to restrain the orientation of the 
crossbars against the forces exerted thereon by the rollers. In this 
embodiment, however, the rollers 102 are supported on a separate 
transverse shaft 812 forward of the sprocket defining the chain path 
direction change so that the actuators are pushed to the released position 
during the horizontal portion of the gripper motion at which time the 
gripper orientation is positively defined by the rollers 800 and the guide 
bars 810, and the right cam members 154 and slide 808. Thus even though 
the orientation of the crossbars 120 is not positively defined in the 
region by the sprocket 814 there are no forces disturbing the grippers and 
crossbars at this point, so that they remain steady with the desired 
vertical orientation. In that regard, it should be noted that the 
horizontal component of the chain and thus crossbar and gripper velocity 
in the generally upward directed region indicated by the numeral 816 is 
slightly less than in the horizontal section during which gripper release 
is effected. The difference in horizontal velocity does not accummulate to 
any significant positional difference prior to the gripper lifting free of 
the top of the bottles 99 being released so that no disturbance of the 
bottles is caused thereby. 
Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 30, the drive system for this embodiment may 
be seen. In that regard it will be noted from FIG. 2 that in the earlier 
embodiment power for the uncaser head generally indicated by the numeral 
24 in that figure is delivered through chain 502 to sprocket 508. Since 
one aspect of the invention is the provision of a universal base conveyor 
system on which either a half depth uncaser head or a full depth uncaser 
head may be mounted it is preferred to maintain that interchangeability 
with respect to the high speed head also. Accordingly, a shaft 813 is 
provided at the same location relative to the mounts for the head as shaft 
510 (see FIG. 15) of the earlier embodiment. Thus shaft 813 is driven from 
below through a chain sprocket arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, with shaft 
813 driving the upper sprocket shaft 830 through chain 815 (FIG. 29) and 
associated sprockets. This provides a drive for the left and right main 
chains supporting the cross bars, with sprockets 820 and 98 at the forward 
region of the transport system (see FIG. 28) being driven thereby. In 
addition, the sprocket 814 on shaft 817 is driven by the left and right 
chains which in turn drives shaft 812 supporting the release rollers 102 
through chain 819 and associated sprockets. 
In this embodiment, the upward slope of the region 816 is the same as the 
upward slope in the region 806 so that once a guide bar passes the 
sprocket 814 (FIGS. 28 and 30) the right cam member may again be captured 
in the chain slide channel so as to constrain the angular orientation of 
the crossbars 120 until reaching the region of the sprocket 92 and drum 
260 (see FIGS. 29 and 30). At this point the right cam member is engaged 
by the drum 260 so as to be retained tangential thereto until reaching the 
point where the chain and cam member start to diverge from the sprocket 
and cam member for the return to the forward sprocket 820. At this point 
rollers 800 engage an appropriately disposed cam plate 822 (see FIGS. 28 
and 30) to rotate the grippers and crossbars forward to the appropriate 
angular orientation for the next gripping cycle. At this orientation, the 
left cam member is captured by an extension of the chain slide channel so 
as to set the angular orientation of the grippers during the upward return 
path. (A drum on the forward shaft 824 similar to drum 260 on the upward 
shaft maintains the left cam members tangent thereto, with the chain slide 
channel also guiding the left cam members in the region 802 down toward 
the pickup or gripping position). It will be noted that in the previously 
described embodiment, the position in which the orientation of the gripper 
was altered during the return portion of the chain path was located 
generally between the two major sprockets rather than substantially at the 
upper sprocket as in this embodiment. However, there is a substantial 
advantage in the reorientation at the upper sprocket, which advantage 
results in a smoother operation of the machine and accommodates the higher 
speed attainable in this embodiment. In particular it will be noted that 
because the grippers are swinging in an arc about the sprocket shaft 830 
(see FIG. 28) they have a higher speed than the chain itself on the 
sprocket because of the larger radius thereof, which higher speed will 
cause the grippers to automatically swing forward when the right cam 
member lifts off the drum 260 at the region generally identified by the 
numeral 832. Consequently for a machine operating at a substantial speed 
the forward rotation of the grippers will be automatically achieved, the 
grippers being captured at the desired forward angular orientation by the 
capturing of the left cam member when the appropriate angular orientation 
is reached. Thus the main function of the cam plate 822 is simply to guide 
and encourage the forward motion, particularly at low operating speeds 
where inertial effects may not be dominant. 
Now referring to FIG. 33, a top view of the case infeed portion of this 
embodiment of the uncaser may be seen. As before, there is a central 
conveyor 900 on which the cases are individually transported under the 
uncasing head (to the left of FIG. 33) with skid-like members 632 
extending upward slightly above the top surface of conveyor 900 at each 
side thereof to lift the cases slightly off the conveyor so to not further 
be transported thereby. A pair of side conveyors 902 carrying cleats 904 
of a design previously described with respect to FIGS. 25 and 26 are 
provided one at each side of the central conveyor 900 so that the cleats 
engage a case resting on the members 632 to slide the case therefrom and 
propel the case on conveyor 900 through the uncasing head in a 
synchronized manner. While the conveyors 902 extend forward only to 
regions generally indicated by the numeral 906, the central conveyor 900 
extends forward to approximately the region indicated by the numeral 908. 
As before, intermediate the region 906 and 908 are a pair of case engaging 
members 910, each one being supported on a pair of air operated piston 
cylinder assemblies so as to move inward and outward in unison and with 
their faces parallel to controllably engage cases passing therebetween and 
to both stop and center the cases thereby. Still forward of the forward 
end of case conveyor 900 in this embodiment is a conveyor 912 having a 
high friction surface such as a rubber surface so as to more positively 
propel cases thereby. The clutch brake assembly receives power from the 
main conveyor drive to controllably drive the conveyor 912 or stop the 
conveyor in the shortest possible distance. Still forward of the conveyor 
912 are a pair of rollers 914 for cooperating with a roller conveyor feed 
thereto. 
In this embodiment a photo switch PE1 is provided at the case infeed to the 
system in addition to a case clamp photo switch PE2, a case clear photo 
switch PE3 and a cleat detector mechanical switch LS1. The case clamp 
switch PE2 as well as the switch PE3 are adjustable in longitudinal 
position, the switch PE2 preferably being adjusted so as to detect the 
leading edge of the case when the case engaging means are to clamp the 
case at that location. The photo switch PE3, on the other hand, is 
preferably adjusted so as to be located one case downstream from the 
operative position of the switch PE2. Of course switches PE1, PE2 and PE3 
all extend above the frame and are operative on reflectors 916, 918 and 
920 to detect a passage of therebetween. The cleat switch LS1, on the 
other hand, in this embodiment is a mechanical switch located below the 
transport surface of the case conveyor 900 so as to be operative only on 
the passage of a cleat thereby. Finally, in addition to the switches just 
described, there are two additional switches on the outlet side of the 
uncasing system, specifically a photo switch PE4 on the empty case outfeed 
conveyor from the uncasing system and a mechanical switch on the bottle 
delivery conveyor receiving bottles from the uncaser. The switch on the 
case outfeed has a time delay so as to not be operative on the passage of 
individual cases thereby, though in the event the photosensor remains dark 
for periods exceeding the normal periods for passage of a single case the 
switch becomes operative. The bottle delivery conveyor mechanical switch 
MS1, on the other hand, senses side pressure on the bottles being 
delivered thereto which occurs only when bottles are accumulating on that 
conveyor because of the slower operation of the equipment receiving the 
bottles. In particular, the uncaser normally reasonably well centers the 
bottles on the conveyor so that they miss the mechanical switch, though on 
backup of the bottles the resulting side pressure operates the switch. 
Both of these switches, it should be noted, are located sufficiently 
downstream on the two outlet conveyors so as to allow ample room remaining 
on these conveyors for receiving those cases and bottles which have 
progressed at least into the synchronizing system of the equipment. 
Referring to FIG. 34, a switch logic diagram for this embodiment of the 
synchronizing system may be seen. The primary function of this circuit is 
to control the solenoid valves controlling the case clamps 910 so as to 
engage and release the cases in a synchronized manner. These case clamps 
are controlled by the solenoid valves SOL1 and SOL2, with the clamps being 
in the withdrawn position prior to energizing the solenoids. In addition 
to the switches hereinbefore identified, the circuit also utilizes three 
control relays, specifically control relays CR1, CR2 and CR3. Finally, 
control relay CR3 has a time delay coupled thereto, the time delay 
interval being manually controllable by variable resistance P1. Such time 
delays generally temporarily sustain a current through the control relay 
coil so as to delay the response of the control relay to the removal of 
excitation therefrom, the rate of decay of the current and thus the time 
delay period being controllable, as through potentiometer P1. These 
circuits of course are well known in the general field of industrial 
controls. 
The photoelectric switches are commercially available switches having 
switch contacts identified as normally open and normally closed, the 
normally open position representing the light as opposed to dark state. 
This nomenclature with respect to normally open (NO) and normally closed 
(NC) is carried over in the diagram of FIG. 34. Also, while not shown, 
lines 920 and 922 are coupled to the main power through the main power 
switch so as to always be operative when the uncaser drive is operative. 
When the machine is first turned ON and there are no cases in the system 
all the photoelectric switches will be light. Thus the case clamp 
photoelectric switch PE2 will be in the open position so that no 
excitation is provided to the control relay CR1 through line 924. Since 
the control relay CR1 is OFF, the control relay switch CR1S1 is closed and 
CR1S2 is open. Thus no power is applied to control relay CR1 through line 
926 either. Also since the case infeed photoelectric switch PE1 is light 
no power is applied to the air clutch solenoid valve ACS1 so that the feed 
conveyor 912 is off. When the first case enters the system it will cause 
the first photoelectric switch PE1 to go dark, thereby applying power to 
the clutch solenoid valve ACS1 to advance that case onto the conveyor 912. 
If that case is the first of a steady stream of cases, the photoelectric 
switch PE1 will remain dark for so long as that stream of cases is 
available, though if it is an isolated case PE1 will go light after the 
case passes to stop the conveyor 912 until another case approaches 
immediately therebehind. When the first case reaches the case clamp photo 
switch PE2, that switch closes, energizing SOL1 and SOL2 to close the case 
clamp on the case. Thus it may be seen that the photoelectric switch PE1 
provides a lock out for the clutch solenoid ACS1 so that conveyor 912 
cannot operate except in a manner to always keep itself full of cases. 
Further it will be noted that the switches PE4 and LS2 are coupled in 
series with the clutch solenoid valve ACS1 as well as in series with the 
control relays CR1 and CR3 controlling, among other things, the control 
relay switch CR1S1 to control the case clamp solenoid valves. Consequently 
when the uncased bottles back up, or the empty cases back up, the conveyor 
912 is disabled. Under this condition, if there is a case in the proper 
position in the case clamp 910 the case clamp photoelectric switch PE2 
will close as shown in the figure, thereby providing power to the solenoid 
valves SOL1 and SOL2 to lock the case clamps 912 in the extended or 
clamped position. 
Assuming no uncased bottle back up or empty case back up at the outlet of 
the uncaser system, the switches PE4 and LS2 will remain closed. Assuming 
also that an adequate supply of cases for uncasing is provided to the 
system, the case infeed photoelectric switch PE1 will remain closed by the 
back up of cases at the inlet to the conveyor system. Under this 
condition, assuming a random position on the cleats on the synchronizing 
conveyor, the cleat switch LS1 will be open and control relays CR1 and CR3 
will be unactuated. Also control relay CR2 will be actuated as a result of 
the normally closed condition of the case clear photoelectric switch PE3. 
When the cleats come by the cleat switch, the cleat switch LS1 will 
temporarily close. This provides power to control relays CR1 and CR3, with 
control relay CR1 quickly actuating to open control relay switch CR1S1 and 
close control relay switch CR1S2. Closure of CR1S2 effectively latches the 
control relay by providing an alternate source of power thereto after the 
cleat switch LS1 returns to the open position on passage of the cleats. 
The case being clamped by the case clamp is not immediately released 
however, as the control relay switch CR3S1 will remain closed until the 
time delay relay CR3 is actuated, dependent upon the time delay set by 
potentiometer P1. When the control relay CR3 actuates, both switches CR1S1 
and CR3S1 will be in the open position, thereby removing the excitation 
from the case clamp solenoid valves and allowing the case clamps to 
withdraw to release the case therein. The released case will proceed along 
the conveyor 900, actuating the case clear photoelectric switch PE3 when 
it is one case length downstream. This opens both poles of the case clear 
photoelectric switch PE3, removing power from the control relay CR2 which 
in turn releases power from control relay CR1 and CR3, thereby closing 
control relay switch CR1S1 to actuate the case clamp solenoid valves and 
clamp the next case, provided of course the case clamp photoelectric 
switch PE2 is closed indicating a case in position to be clamped. Removal 
of power from control relay CR1 also opens control relay switch CR1S2, 
thereby latching control relay CR1 and control relay CR3 in the open 
condition. 
In the foregoing description it was stated that the position of the case 
clear photoelectric switch PE3 should be one case length downstream from 
the leading edge of the case being clamped by the case clamps 910 as 
determined by the position of the photoelectric switch PE2. Actually it is 
preferred to have photoelectric switch PE3 very slightly downstream from 
exactly one case length so that when photoelectric switch PE3 is actuated, 
the leading edge of the case immediately clamped thereby will be 
sufficiently forward to assure that the photoelectric switch PE2 remains 
dark, thereby assuring that the case clamp photoelectric switch PE2 will 
not momentarily go light to momentarily release the case clamps as the 
case previously released separates from the case being clamped. 
Based on the foregoing description it is apparent that the synchronizing 
system is disengaged by backup at the outlet thereof, preferably 
sufficiently far downstream so that the uncasing head itself may continue 
to operate to clear all cases and bottles which had preceded into the 
synchronizing system, and is further disabled until an adequate supply of 
cases is provided at the case infeed to assure proper operation thereof. 
Thereafter the cases are automatically released in synchronization with 
the cleats on the synchronizing system in a controlled and fully 
adjustable manner, particularly through the manually controllable time 
delay relay which allows adjustment of the relative release points of the 
cases as machine operating speed is increased so as to provide the 
smoothest possible operation. In particular, as mentioned before, proper 
adjustment of the release point results in the release of the cases in 
such a manner that the cases don't even totally stop on the members 632, 
but merely slow down as they slide therealong until engaged by the 
respective pair of cleats 904, so that the impact between the cleats 904 
and the case on the members 632 is minimal even at the very high operating 
speeds. 
Thus, while certain preferred and alternate embodiments of the present 
invention have been disclosed and described herein, it will be understood 
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be 
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.