Patent GB-733150-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the handling of bottles
Inventor: PORTER HAROLD JOHN
IPC: B65B21/18
Filed: 1951-08-22
Abstract: 733,150. Unpacking-machines. COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE SOCIETY, Ltd. Nov. 24, 1952 [Aug. 22, 1951; Oct. 31, 1952], Nos. 19764/51 and 27382/52. Class 94 (1). [Also in Group XXX] A device for lifting bottles, e.g. out of a crate, comprises a suction box 20, Fig. 1, which may be exhausted and which carries suction nozzles 32 each communicating with the interior of the box and adapted for air-tight engagement with the neck of a bottle. The nozzles 32 preferably comprise soft rubber corrugated tubes and are secured to the flanges of holes 31, Fig. 2, in one or more plates 30 secured to the flat base 21 of the box 20. The apertures 25 in the base 21 are preferably small enough to prevent appreciable loss of suction in the box should there be no bottle in register with one or more of the nozzles 32. Sockets 28, Fig. 2, on the suction box engage projections 29, Fig. 1, on the crate to locate the suction box correctly. The machine shown in Figs. 5 and 7 employs a device similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 for removing bottles from crates delivered successively by a roller conveyer 38. A vertical sliding table 39 raises a crate 26<SP>1</SP> to engage its bottles with the nozzles 32 on the suction box 20 which is subsequently moved from the position at the right of Fig. 5 to that of the left and releases its bottles to stand on a table 44 which is lowered from the broken line position to the full line position after which the bottles are pushed on to an endless belt conveyer 45, Fig. 7, by a pusher device (not shown). The table 39 is raised by a pneumatic ram 41 and as the table reaches its uppermost position a member carried by a rod 55, Fig. 7, depending from the table operates a valve 56 to place the suction box 20 in communication with a suction reservoir 59 so that the bottles are suspended from the nozzles 32. A member carried by a further rod 60 depending from the table operates a valve 51 controlling the pneumatic ram 41 to vent the cylinder of the ram so that the table 39 and crate 26<SP>1</SP> descend. When the crate has moved clear of the bottles a spring-biased trigger 62 carried by a further rod 63 depending from the table 39 engages a lever 61, which it passed idly on the upward movement of the table, to operate a valve 64 which admits compressed air to the cylinders 68 of a pair of pneumatic rams connected by rods 70 to slide the suction box 20 along suitable guides to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5. At the end of its movement the suction box 20 operates a valve 84 which admits compressed air to a cylinder 42 to raise the table 44 to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5. When the table 44 reaches its uppermost position a member carried by a rod 89 depending from it operates a spring-loaded valve 91 to cause compressed air to act on a plunger 94, Fig: 12, which moves the valve 56 to release the suction in the suction box 20 so that the bottles 27 rest on the table 44. Simultaneously a rod 86, Fig. 5, depending from the piston 43 of the ram operating the table 44 opens a valve (not shown) in the base of the cylinder 42 to vent the cylinder through a bleed hole so that the table 44 slowly descends. When the table 44 returns to its lowermost position a rod 95 depending from its acts on a pin 96, Fig. 13, carried by a sleeve 97 sliding on a tube 98 to depress the sleeve against a compression spring within the tube so that a spring-biased sliding catch 121 engages a lever 122, which it passed idly on the upward movement of the table, to open momentarily a gravity- or spring-biased valve 123. The valve 123 admits compressed air to operate a plunger 99, Fig. 14, which shifts a slide valve 100 which causes compressed air to close the valve 64 which controls the cylinder 68 by which the suction box is moved. The valve 100 also admits compressed air to act on plungers 112, Fig. 15, which move valves 113 against springs to vent the cylinder 68 so that the suction box 20 is returned to its initial position by counterweights (not shown) acting through cables. The valve 100 also admits compressed air to a pair of rams (not shown) which cause a plough to push the bottles from the table 44, Fig. 5, on to the conveyer 45, Fig. 7. When these rams have completed their stroke their pistons uncover ports which admit compressed air to operate on a plunger 107, Fig. 14, which returns the valve 100 and opens an exhaust port 127 so that a counter-weight and cables can retract the plough. As the suction box 20 returns to its initial position a trigger 116, Fig. 5, carried by it engages a. lever 117 to operate a valve 118 which causes compressed air to shift the valve 51 to the position causing the table 39 to rise so initiating the next cycle. The crates are fed along the roller way 38 by pawls 78, Fig. 7, carried by a spindle 77 which is reciprocated by the piston rods 76 of a pneumatic ram 75 which is extended when compressed air is admitted from the valve 64 and is retracted by a balance weight and cables (not shown). At the end of their outward stroke the pistons of the ram 75 uncover ports 75b, Fig. 10, to cause compressed air to act on plunger 81 which raise vertically a member 47, Fig. 7, carrying struts 46, 50 which normally hold the crates in their proper positions. Notches 49a are provided in flanges 49 of the members 47 to receive the locating projections 29<SP>2</SP> on the crates.