Patent CZ-301863-B6 (CZ)
Title: Apparatus for conveying containers
Inventor: WILLIAMS ROBERT
IPC: B41F17/22
Filed: 2000-05-04
Abstract: In the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for conveying containers, said apparatus including: continuous motion first and second transfer conveyors (27, 102) rotatable about laterally spaced respective first and second axes (28, 110) that are generally parallel to each other; the conveyors (17, 102) being so sized and their axes (28, 110) being so placed that a portion of the first and second conveyors (27, 102) axially overlap and are axially spaced from each other and rotate past each other about their respective axes (28, 110) at an overlapping region of both of the first and second conveyors; the first conveyor (27) having a first surface, the second conveyor (102) having a second surface, and the first and second surfaces being opposed to each other at the region where the first and second conveyors (27, 102) axially overlap and are axially spaced apart; a continuous motion mandrel carrier (18) with a plurality of container carrying mandrels (20), said carrier (18) being rotatable about a third axis spaced from the first axis, the first and third axes being so positioned and the mandrel carrier (18) and the first conveyor (27) being of such shape and size and so placed that containers (16) are transferred in a single row from the mandrel carrier (18) to the first surface of the first conveyor (27) being connected with a first mechanism formed by suction cups (36) to control attractive force for holding the containers (16). A first and second concentric circular tracks (151, 152) are formed on the surface of the second transfer conveyor (102) and about the axis thereof while a circular path (P) is formed on the surface of the first transfer conveyor (27) wherein the first and second circular tracks (151, 152) are positioned so that the circular path (P) is tangential only to the first circular track (151) when both the transfer conveyors (27, 102) rotate. For receiving an alternative amount of containers (16) transferred to the circular path (P) from the mandrel carrier (18), the apparatus is provided with a group of first posts (211) wherein the containers (16) that are not received by the posts (211) form a first group transferred from the mandrel carrier (18) and the containers (16) accepted by the posts (211) form a second group transferred from the mandrel carrier (18) wherein each of the group of the first posts (211) is operative for transfer of the container (16) supported therewith from the circular path (P) along the second path on the surface of the first transfer conveyor (27) that is tangential to the second track (151) on the surface of the second transfer conveyor (102) when both the transfer conveyors (27, 102) rotate. The first transfer conveyor (27) is operative for interruption of attractive force applied by the first mechanism to each of the first group of containers (16) in time when they get in corresponding points of a tangent with the first track (151) on the second transfer conveyor (102) to thereby releasing the first group of containers (16) on the first track (151). It is further operative for interruption of attractive force applied by the first mechanism to each of the second group of containers (16) in time when they get in corresponding points of a tangent with the second track (152) on the second transfer conveyor (102) to thereby releasing the second group of containers (16) on the second track (152). A second mechanism (135) operative for applying attractive force for holding the containers (16) transferred from the first transfer conveyor (27) to both the first and second tracks (151, 152) on the second transfer conveyor (102) is coupled to said second transfer conveyor (102). The apparatus further comprises a continuous motion belt conveyor including a flight section (103) movable to convey containers (16) away from the second transfer conveyor (102), the flight section being positioned to receive cans from the second conveyor at a second transfer location downstream in the rotation of the second conveyor (102) from the region where the first and second conveyors (27, 102) overlap.