Patent GB-733611-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for unpacking articles from containers
Inventor: HAYCOCK GEORGE WALLACE
IPC: B65B21/18
Filed: 1951-01-01
Abstract: 733,611. Unpacking-machines. HAYBAR, Ltd. March 26, 1952 [Jan. 1, 1951], No. 24/51. Class 94 (1). [Also in Group XXX] In a machine for unpacking bottles from compartmented cases, the filled cases pass down an inclined rollerway 35, Figs. 2 and 3, and between guide rails 121 on to an endless conveyer 30 which, together with a second endless conveyer 31 arranged at a slightly higher level, is driven from a motor 28, each case being arrested temporarily by a cam-operated stop as it passes on to the conveyer 31. The bottles are removed from each case by twelve grippers 73, Figs. 2 and 7, suspended from crosshead 74 which is movable vertically in guides 76 by a cam 78 on a main cam shaft 39 driven by an electric motor 38. The cam operates through a counterweighted linkage 79-84 and the descent of the cross-head is cushioned by a dash pot 86. Each gripper comprises a pair of blades 73, Fig. 8, with inturned toes 89 extending from arms 87 pivoted at 88 to the cross-head. The upper ends of the arms 'carry rollers 92 which are urged into. engagement with a cam 94 by a spring 93. The cams for one row of three grippers are formed on one of four similar camshafts 95 having crank arms 97 coupled to a longitudinally-displaceable horizontal rod 98 having a roller 99 at one end and a hook 100 at the other end. As the cross-head descends, the grippers pass through apertures in a slidable plate 45, Fig. 4; movable longitudinally by linkage operated by a cam 49 on the shaft 39, and when the cross-head reached its lowermost position, a cam 105 on the shaft 39 operates through linkage to move a striker 101 into engagement with the hook 100, whereby the . grippers are allowed to close on to the necks of the bottles in the case. The cross-head then rises to lift the bottles through the apertures in the plate 45, the latter is moved to the left to bring the apertures out of alignment with the bases of the bottles, and a cam 106 on the shaft 39 operates through linkage to move a striker 102 into engagement with the roller 99, whereby the grippers are opened and the bottles deposited on the plate between fixed transverse guides 60, 61 and 62 and pairs of fingers 59 on a carrier 58 which is moveable transversely in steps in the direction of arrow B through linkage operated by a cam 66 on the shaft 39. The movements of the carrier transfer the bottles in successive rows of four on to an endless conveyer 26 which feeds then between curved guide rails 27 on to a transverse delivery conveyer 24. The stop 122, Fig. 10, which arrests each case, is secured to a transverse rocking shaft 129 operated through a counter-weighted linkage by a cam 123 on the shaft 39, the arrangement being such that the front wall of a case can pass under the lowered stop, but the rear wall of the case is engaged and retained by the stop as the case passes on to the conveyer 31 at a higher level. The side of each stationary case is engaged by a roller 137, Fig. 12, on an arm 134 coupled to a transverse rod 136 carrying a tongue 133 adapted to enter a notch in a wheel 131 on the cam shaft 39, an arm 136A on the rod being engaged by a spring-actuated, self-opening switch 42 in the circuit of the motor 38, so that in the absence of a case the switch is allowed to open and stop the motor. The emptied cases are fed by the conveyer 31 to a rollerway 36. The mechanical grippers 73 may be replaced by suction grippers and the stop 122 may be arranged to engage the leading edge of a case top or bottom.