Abstract:
An apparatus and method for lifting and transporting a bottle by its handle from one surface to a second surface and for releasing the bottle at the second surface, the apparatus having a frame with four inwardly converging fingers, pivotally mounted to a frame. Spring loaded control rods hold the fingers in horizontal positions so that the distal ends of the fingers terminate adjacent to each other. The frame is moved downwardly over the bottle so that the distal ends of the fingers pass around the handle and then support the bottle by the handle as the frame lifts and transports the bottle from one surface to another. The rods are pneumatically released when the frame is to move away from the bottle, thereby enabling the fingers to release the handle of the bottle. In different orientations of the bottle, less than all of the fingers protrude beneath the handles for raising and transporting the bottle.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus and method for lifting and depositing bottles having handles. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for lifting, conveying and depositing containers by their handles to and from prescribed locations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, a number of prior art devices have been devised for lifting and depositing bottles by the neck or cap of the bottle, even though the bottle to be lifted may have had a handle built into the bottle. Although this has proven to be an acceptable method for handling bottles, it presents the inherent problem that if there is a structural fault in the bottle neck or cap, or if the cap has not been adequately tightened upon the bottle, the bottle can slip and fall out of the handling device. 
     An example of a handling device which carries a bottle by its cap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,742, issued Sep. 14, 1971, to Sprague. Sprague disclosed an apparatus for automatically lifting and handling objects having off-center neck portions, such as bottles or other containers, supporting them frictionally by the cap of the bottle. This was accomplished in Sprague through an apparatus having an annular ridge and a plate member which descends upon the bottle or object to be carried, and is moved in a orbital path yieldably passing over the cap of the bottle until it frictionally engages and lifts the bottle, solely by its cap. The bottle is then moved to another location, or placed into a packing box. At the time the bottle is to be released, a plunger mechanism releases the ridge and plate member by which Sprague frictionally held and carried the bottle. 
     The present invention does away with the necessity of frictionally engaging and carrying a bottle by its off-center neck portion. This invention includes a method and apparatus by which a bottle with an off-center neck portion and a handle is positively engaged and carried by its handle for providing a more efficient, less hazardous, and economical method for lifting or depositing a bottle to or from a platform or packing box. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, the present invention includes a lifting assembly which has a movable support frame, for being initially positioned over the bottle upon the platform. A plurality of guide rods, extending downwardly from a plate of the support frame, align the support frame with the bottle as the support frame is lowered toward the bottle. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, opposed, inwardly extending, handle engaging fingers, respectively pivotally connected to the support frame, converging toward each other so as to pivot upwardly and around the handle, as the frame descends and then pivot toward each other to horizontal positions for carrying the bottle by its handle. 
     The invention is also provided with adjustable control rods respectively engaging the fingers for permitting each of the fingers to pivot independently upwardly as the fingers pass downwardly around opposite portions of the transverse portions of the bottle handle, while permitting those fingers, the ends of which pass around the handle, to return to their normal positions for lifting the bottle off of the platform as the support frame is raised. Each of the control rods is spring loaded downwardly to permit the fingers to pivot downwardly for releasing the transverse portion of the bottle handle, once a control plate is actuated so that the support frame may then be moved away from the bottle, leaving the bottle in its new position. Thereafter, each of the handle engaging fingers, in conjunction with the control rods and the movable support frame, are returned to their normal positions so that the bottle lifting apparatus can be used for lifting and depositing another bottle. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide,an apparatus for transporting bottles, having off-center necks, which will positively support and move them from one place to another. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for automating transporting bottles in packing boxes or for unloading bottles from packing boxes. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for lifting and depositing bottles which is adaptable for use in commercial applications involving the automatic handling and shipping of bottles, with off-center necks and carrying handles, so that the need for manual labor in handling, transporting and packing the bottles is reduced. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for lifting and depositing the bottles by their handles which can be quickly, simply and inexpensively installed in industrial or commercial applications, or can be easily and inexpensively retrofitted to existing bottle handling and packaging machines. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for lifting and depositing bottles which can lift and move upright bottles, having off-center necks and carrying handles regardless of the angular orientation of the handles of the bottles. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for transporting containers having handles which apparatus is inexpensive to manufacture, simple and durable in structure, efficient in operation, and requires little maintenance. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for lifting and depositing bottles having handles, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, showing the apparatus for lifting and depositing bottles shown in FIG. 1 and in operative relationship to a bottle having a laterally extending handle, the box for the bottles being depicted in broken lines; 
     FIG. 3A is a schematic top plan view of a bottle with an off center-neck and a handle and showing the handle engaging fingers of the apparatus of FIG. 1 engaged under the handle of the bottle, the bottle being in a first orientation and being received in a box shown in broken lines; 
     FIG. 3B is a schematic top plan view similar to FIG. 3A and showing the bottle in a second orientation; and 
     FIG. 3C is a schematic top plan view similar to FIGS. 3A and 3B and showing the bottle in a third orientation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for purposes of illustrating the invention, numeral 10 in FIG. 1 denotes, generally, a movable support frame or frame assembly having a flat, rigid, horizontally disposed, rectangular or square base plate 12. An open, rectangular support strap or frame 14 of the frame assembly 10 encompasses the central portion of the base plate 12, the support strap 14 having a pair of horizontally disposed, opposed, complimentary, rectangular, lower and upper panels 14a and 14b, the ends of which are joined by opposed, vertically disposed, end panels 14c and 14d. 
     Lower panel 14a passes transversely beneath and is fixed to the central portion of base plate 12 so that the ends of the base plate 12 protrude in opposite directions beyond the side edges of panels 14a and 14b. 
     For lifting and lowering the frame assembly 10, so as to transport the bottle B, from one place to another, a conventional bottle transfer machine is used, the machine including an upright, telescoping, hollow tubular, rectangular transport standard or shaft 16. The lower end of shaft 16 is secured to the central upper surface of panel 14b. 
     The lower portion of transportation shaft 16, is provided with an idler sheave or pulley 18 rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 19 within the shaft 16. A belt 20 passes around the lower portion of pulley 18 and thence upwardly on both sides of shaft 16. By taking in one end of the belt 20, the frame or frame assembly 10 is lifted, vertically and by releasing or paying out the belt 20, the frame assembly 10 is lowered. 
     The shaft 16 is moved laterally to move the frame assembly 10 from one location to another in a conventional manner, by manipulation of shaft 16, so that bottle B can be moved from a first surface, such as a conveyor belt or platform (not shown) and deposited on a second surface, such as the bottom of a crate, or box C, shown in broken lines in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B and 3C. 
     Frame 10 includes guide rods 30 protruding downwardly from the corners of the rectangular or square base plate 12. Usually a plurality of four, equally spaced generally parallel, vertically disposed, guide rods 30 are provided. The rods 30 are each flat, straight, steel ribs, the upper or proximal end portions of which are rounded, forming solid cylindrical mounting lugs 30a which are respectively press fitted and fixed within holes in the corner portions of base plate 12. The guide rods 30 are evenly spaced, circumferentially around the vertical axis α of the frame assembly 10, the body 30b of each rod 30, below the lug 30a, being rectangular in cross-section so that the bodies 30b lie generally in radial planes with respect to axis α. 
     In FIG. 1, it is seen that the straight inner edge portions 30c of rods 30 function as guide edges which pass along the surfaces of the respective side portions of bottle B as the frame assembly 10 is lowered so as to orient the frame assembly 10 over the bottle B. To facilitate the orientation, the lower or distal inner end portions of the rods 30 are provided with outwardly and downwardly diverging cam surfaces or edges 30d. 
     Intermediate the ends of rods 30 are sidewise protruding pivot pins 32, which respectively pivotally receive and support the proximal end portions of lifting fingers or grippers 35. Each finger 35 is disposed by its proximal end position along one side of its guide rod 30 so that it normally protrudes inwardly from its associated pivot pin 32 to terminate adjacent to axis α. Each lifting finger 35 is a flat straight rod which is rectangular in cross-section, each finger 35 being formed from a straight flat piece of sheet metal, having relatively wide proximal and central portions, which is narrowed toward its tip or distal end portion to provide a straight, upper edge or surface 35a. The function of these lifting fingers or grippers 35 is to cooperate in passing around a lateral portion of handle H at the upper position of the bottle B and then support the bottle B by its handle H as the bottle B is lifted and lowered. 
     In the present embodiment the lifting fingers 35 are arranged 90° from each other and protrude generally radially inwardly; however, since the fingers 35 are pivoted at the sides of the guide rods 30, the ends of diametrically opposed fingers 35 terminate in slightly offset relationship essentially parallel to each other. The fingers 35 terminate with their inner or distal ends adjacent to axis α. 
     The fingers 35 are disposed normally in a common horizontal plane and can individually pivot in an arcuate path upwardly or downwardly. 
     For supporting the fingers 35 in their generally horizontal converging positions, and manipulating the fingers 35, a plurality of individual, straight, rigid, control rods 36 are respectively provided for the lifting fingers 35. Each control rod 36 is provided at its lower end, with a pivot block 37 which receives a transverse pivot pin 38. The pivot pins 38 are respectively parallel to the pivot pins 32 and pass through intermediate portions of the lifting fingers 35. Pins 38 pivotally connect the end of rods 36 to the lifting fingers 35 so that each rod 36, respectively, supports fingers 35 for limited pivotal movement of lifting fingers 35 about pins 32. 
     Rods 36 extend upwardly and outwardly, passing through holes 39 in the corner portions of the base plate 12 and thence upwardly through holes 40 in a control or actuator plate 45 disposed in parallel relationship normally spaced above plate 12 so that the rods 36 can move axially upwardly and downwardly with the fingers 35. 
     Helical compression springs 46 respectively coaxially encompass the upper portions of rods 36, below the base plate 12, each rod 6 having a collar or sleeve 43 adjustably fixed to an intermediate portion of the rod 36 and against which the spring 46 reacts. The upper end of each spring 46 abuts a washer 41 below base plate 12 and slideably on rod 36. 
     All rods 36 terminate above the actuator plate 45, the upper end portions of rod 36 having external threads which threadedly receive nuts 42. Nuts 42 form stops which limit the downward movement of rods 36 and are adjustable to ensure that all fingers 35 are normally in horizontal positions. 
     The plate 45 is a flat horizontally disposed member which is generally rectangular, i.e., square, and conforms to the shape of base plate 12. Actuator plate 45 is reinforced by central, transversely extending, inverted, U-shaped, channel or rib 48 which extends radially along the central upper surface of plate 45, from one side to the other. Upstanding parallel guide shafts 47, mounted by their proximal ends respectively adjacent to opposite edges on base plate 12, pass through alignment holes in actuator plate 45 and through holes 49 in the top of rib 46, the guide shafts 47 thus guide the plate 45 upwardly and downwardly toward and away from base plate 12. 
     For controlling the movement of the actuator plate 45, the plate 45 is suspended by an actuator means such as a central piston rod (not shown) carried by a vertically disposed, double acting, pneumatic (fluid operated) cylinder 50 mounted along axis α on the lower side of the upper panel 14b. Fluid, preferably compressed air, is supplied to cylinder 50, via air lines or tubes 51 and valve 52, mounted on the outside surface of the upright end panel 14d. An upstanding spring loaded lever 53 operates valve 52. 
     Operation 
     From the foregoing description, the operation of the present invention should be apparent. The frame or frame assembly 10 for lifting and depositing successive bottles B can either be operated to install bottles B in a container or crate C or remove the bottles B from that crate, as desired. In its usual use, the apparatus is employed for picking up successive bottles B from a conveyor and placing those bottles in one or several containers C on another conveyor. 
     The bottle B is usually prefilled with a liquid and has a cylindrical body B 1 , provided with a neck B 2 , and a cap B 3  and a bottom B 4 . The neck B 2  is offset from the centerline or axis α of the bottle B and a handle H extends laterally from the upper portion of the neck B 2 , across axis α of the body B 1  of the bottle B and, thence, downwardly to connect integrally with the body B 1 , adjacent to the periphery of body B 1 . This handle H therefore, has a transverse portion which defines, with the bottle B, an opening B 5  through which a person&#39;s fingers may pass when the person grasps the bottle B. Thus, the opening B 5  has a transverse component and is sufficiently long and wide that it will receive the hand of a person who is lifting the bottle B. Fingers 35 of the apparatus also lift the bottle B by means of the handle H. 
     The apparatus is lowered onto the bottle B either while the bottle B is stationery on its initial surface or while both the bottle B and frame assembly 10 are moving in the same direction and at the same speed. In any event, the frame assembly 10, after being positioned over bottle B by the telescoping shaft 16, is progressively lowered onto the bottle B so that the guide bars 30 move down around sides of the body B 1  by shaft 16 of bottle B, thereby aligning frame 10 and bottle B along axis α. As the frame 10 is lowered, the lower surfaces of two or more of the distal ends of fingers 35, engage the upper surface of the handle H of bottle B on a first surface, so that, upon further movement of the frame 10 in a downward direction, the distal ends of fingers 35 are progressively moved upwardly in arcuate paths about the pivot pins 32. The fingers 35, therefore, move upwardly with respect to bottle B and outwardly with respect to axis thereby moving the yieldable control rods 36 along their respective axis upwardly through the holes or slots in plates 12 and 45. After the fingers 35 have passed the handle H, they are returned to their horizontal positions by the force of springs 46. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, if the handle H is oriented so that the cap B 2  or neck B 3  does not block the full movement of three of the fingers 35, and with the cap B 3  blocking movement of the fourth finger 35, only three of the four fingers 35 will pass over the handle H and then spring back into their normal horizontal positions with their distal end portions beneath handle H, as illustrated in FIG. 3A. If, on the other hand, the handle H is in a position essentially bisecting the angle of two of the fingers 35, then the spout or cap B 3  will be disposed between the other two fingers and, under these conditions, all four of the converging fingers 35 will pass over the handle H and spring together below handle H and protrude into the opening B 4 . This orientation of the bottle B and the fingers 35 is illustrated in 3B. 
     In FIG. 3C is illustrated an orientation of the bottle B in which the cap B 3  blocks one of the fingers 35 and the handle H is oriented so as to block the diametrically opposed finger 35. In this condition, only the remaining two fingers 35 will pass over the handle H and pivot together below handle H and in opening B 4 . Thus, regardless of the circumferential orientation of handle H, once at least two of the fingers 35, which are in opposition to each other, pass over the handle H and spring back into their horizontal positions, as dictated by the nuts or stops 42 on the ends of rod 36, the bottle B is engaged and can then be lifted in a vertical direction by manipulation of belt 20 and transported laterally in any direction dictated by movement of the shaft 16. 
     When the shaft 16 positions the frame assembly 10 over the box C or receiving surface the belt 20 is extended so that the fingers 35 are again lowered in a vertical direction. Thus, the bottle B which has been carried by the fingers 35 is progressively lowered into a prescribed compartment in the box C. Upon reaching the appropriate depth, a cam (not shown) actuates the lever 53 so as to open valve 52, thereby feeding compressed air or other fluid into the cylinder 50 so as to cause the cylinder 50 to drive its piston downwardly for moving the control plate 45 in a downward direction toward the base plate 12. This action releases stops 42 and permits the springs 40 to urge the rods 36 downwardly until the nuts or stops 42 permit no further downward movement of the rods 40. As the plate 45 is depressed, this linkage permits the fingers 35 to pivot downwardly to release the handle H as the frame assembly 10 is lifted vertically, leaving the bottle H deposited in container C. 
     Since the guide rods 30 protrude below the fingers 35 and the pivot pins 32, they guide the apparatus 10 in its upward movement until the fingers 35 are clear of the bottle B. At that time the lever 53 is released, causing air pressure to pass through the other tube 51a to return the piston of cylinder 50 to its original position, moving control plate 45 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1. In such a position, the control rods 36 arrange the fingers 35 in their horizontal opposed relationship for an additional cycle for lifting and depositing another the bottle B. 
     While I have described the operation of a single unit of the apparatus for lifting and depositing bottles, one skilled in the art will understand that a plurality of such apparatuses can be joined together for lifting and depositing a plurality of bottles, simultaneously. 
     It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment here chosen for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.