Patent Description:
Industrial bottling and canning plants that handle non viscous liquids (ex. wine, beer, mineral water, etc.) and/or viscous liquids (ex. oils, condiments etc.) are typically limited to processing only one type of container per system.

The handling equipment and systems often take up a significant footprint, or floor space in a production facility.

In all existing examples of any of the above container handling equipment and systems, the current state of the art is to have a separate set of equipment that has been designed, built and setup specifically to handle only bottles, or cans or other containers. Current day state of the art can, bottle or other container handling equipment is dedicated in nature without the ability to handle multiple container types in one system.

In recent years, there has been exponential growth in micro-manufacturers in the beverage industry. Micro-manufacturing involves small batch brewing and packaging of beverages to smaller, often local but not always, markets. Micro-manufacturers of beverages often change the product that they manufacture from batch to batch and work in small facilities with a goal of versatility. <CIT> discloses a container indexing assembly, comprising; an indexing wheel; a conveyor chain configured for receiving a stream of cans or bottles from the indexing wheel; and a series of container indexing arms arranged on the conveyor chain for movement with the conveyor chain, said container indexing arms each configured for indexing a can or a bottle by its centerline, wherein driven movement of the indexing wheel is transferred to drive the conveyor chain by means of one or more belt drive pulleys, such that a fixed spatial relationship is maintained between the indexing wheel supplying the stream of bottles or cans, and the conveyor chain and indexing arms receiving said stream of bottles or cans, and wherein the fixed spatial relationship is maintained at linear and non-linear speeds.

The present day state of the art dedicated bottle, can and other container handling equipment, be they rotary or inline, do not have the flexibility required in today's micro-manufacturing marketplace. Moreover, should a micro-manufacturer wish to package their beverages in a combination of bottles, cans and other containers, they will be required to house multiple types of handling systems, requiring facilities with much larger footprint than their operations and output justify and going against a goal of minimizing space.

A need therefore exists for container handling devices and systems that can handle multiple container types through various stages of the indexing, filling, closing and transferring process.

A container indexing assembly is provided, comprising an indexing wheel, a conveyor chain configured for receiving a mixed stream of containers bottles and cans from the indexing wheel and a series of container indexing arms. The container indexing arms are arranged on the conveyor chain for movement with the conveyor chain and they are each configured for indexing a bottle or a can by their centerline as it is received from the indexing wheel. Driven movement of the conveyor chain is transferred to drive the indexing wheel by means of one or more belt drive pulleys, such that a fixed spatial relationship is maintained between the indexing wheel supplying the mixed stream of bottles and cans, and the conveyor chain and indexing arms receiving said mixed stream of bottles and cans, and wherein the fixed spatial relationship is maintained at linear and non-linear speeds.

A rotary container starwheel is further provided comprising an upper starwheel; a lower starwheel; and one or more grabber arms. Each of said grabber arms comprises a leading grabber and a trailing grabber having mating spur gears formed there between configured to coordinate movement of the leading grabber with the trailing grabber, a spring configured to actuate the grabber arm to a closed, container grabbing position; and a fixed mechanical cam comprised of a cam wheel having one or more cam lift surfaces configured to contact any one of the leading or trailing grabber arms to actuate opening of the grabber arms.

A rotary multi-feed can lid assembly is also provided comprising a series of vertical can lid silos an upper rotating indexing plate configured to rotatably support each vertical silo in an indexing hole formed on the upper rotating indexing plate; one or more spring loaded ball detents affixed to rotate with the upper rotating indexing plate on a pivot bearing; and a fixed lower indexing plate, positioned between the upper rotating indexing plate and a lid dispenser. The fixed lower indexing plate is formed with a series of indents, aligned radially with the ball detents to allow extension of the spring loaded ball detents as the ball detents rotate with the upper rotating indexing plate. When the ball detent extends into the recesses, then one of the can lid silos are aligned with a single hole machined in the fixed lower indexing plate such that can lids can pass through the lower plate to the lid dispenser.

A universal closing turret is finally provided comprising multiple, varying closure applicators for different types of containers, removably connectable to the turret to allow rearrangement of an order of closure applicators based on an order of types of containers to be closed.

A further, detailed, description of the disclosure, briefly described above, will follow by reference to the following drawings of specific embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. In the drawings:.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features.

It is to be understood that other aspects of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various embodiments of the disclosure are shown and described by way of illustration. Accordingly the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

The description that follows and the embodiments described therein are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of various aspects of the present disclosure. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the disclosure in its various aspects.

The present invention provides multiple devices and systems for handling a mixed stream of containers, including indexing, sorting and closing the mixed stream of containers such as bottles, cans and other containers.

The devices and systems of the present disclosure can be used in conjunction with a filling machine as described in Applicant's <CIT>.

The devices and systems are described in further detail herein, in conjunction with the Figures. The order in which devices are introduced below is not necessarily indicative of their order or arrangement within overall container handling systems taught by the present disclosure.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a container indexing assembly <NUM> is shown. The container indexing assembly <NUM> is non-specific to container type, meaning it can index a mixed stream of containers in any order. The indexing assembly <NUM> can be mechanically, electrically or pneumatically operated. The container indexing assembly <NUM> works by indexing containers by their centerline <NUM>, as more clearly shown in <FIG>, such that the type and shape of container does not factor in the indexing process. The indexing assembly <NUM> includes an indexing wheel <NUM>, and a series of container indexing arms <NUM> run along a conveyor chain <NUM> that is driven by a conveyor drive shaft <NUM>, each having a fixed spatial relationship to one another other at linear and non- linear speeds.

The fixed relationship is mechanical in nature. The conveyor driveshaft <NUM>, supported by bearing blocks <NUM>, drives an angled gear reducer <NUM> which in turn drives the conveyor chain <NUM>. At the other end, movement of the conveyor chain <NUM> is transferred via one or more belt drive pulleys <NUM> through a speed reduction assembly <NUM> to drive the indexing wheel <NUM>. In this way a fixed, mechanical relationship is set between all moving parts of the indexing assembly <NUM>. A right angle gearbox also drives a conveyor drive sprocket <NUM> via a set ratio through conveyor output shaft 6A, again providing a fixed relationship between the moving parts. The conveyor chain <NUM> is preferably housed in a guide block <NUM>. This differs from prior art indexing systems which are timed through a container-specific timing device, typically a feedscrew, and in which the elements of the indexing assembly operate in a non-integrated fashion.

The present indexing assembly <NUM> can be used at the infeed of a container handling system, where containers are received prior to filling, and could also have applications at other locations and steps in container handling processes.

With reference to <FIG>, a guideless rotary transfer starwheel <NUM> is also provided as part of the present disclosure. In traditional systems, starwheels need to be changed for each type of container to be handled, and only one type of container can be handled by each starwheel. By eliminating the need for container specific opposing guides, the present starwheel eliminates the capital cost of incremental change parts and the cost and time involved in operational changeover.

Any number of guideless rotary transfer starwheels can be used through the container handling overall process and system, as illustrated in <FIG>. This includes before filling of the containers, after filling of the containers, before closure of the containers, and at an outfeed of the system overall.

In the embodiment illustrated the present starwheel assembly <NUM> comprises an upper starwheel <NUM> and a lower starwheel <NUM>, each formed with multiple container receiving recesses <NUM>, the recesses <NUM> being generic and sized to accommodate even large containers. In use, a container is received by the starwheel and individually held by pairs of grabber arms <NUM>, more clearly shown in <FIG>.

The grabber arms <NUM> are composed of a leading 20a and trailing 20b grabber that are in one embodiment actuated by a spring <NUM> to a closed, or grabbing position, and are opened by a fixed mechanical cam comprised of a cam wheel <NUM> having camming surfaces <NUM>. Alternatively, it is also possible to open the grabber arms <NUM> by pneumatic or electric actuation means using a control system, without the use of the cam wheel <NUM>. Movement of each trailing 20b and leading grabber arm 20a in a grabber arm pair <NUM> is mirrored and synchronized to one another by means of mating spur gears <NUM> formed on an interactive surface of each grabber arm pair that cause relative rotation of each of the leading 20a and trailing 20b grabber arms about their respective pivot points <NUM>. This allows for a single cam lift surface <NUM> to contact only one of the leading 20a or trailing 20b grabber arms and actuate it to open, while the mating spur gears <NUM> ensure a similar, but opposite opening movement in the second of the trailing 20b or leading 20a grabber arms. The single set of cam lift surfaces <NUM> manages operation of the entire starwheel <NUM> and all grabber arm pairs <NUM>. Contact between the grabber arms <NUM> and the cam lift surface <NUM> is delivered through a grabber bearing <NUM> mounted on the trailing grabber arm of the leading 20a or trailing 20b grabber arms.

The unique grabber arms <NUM> and sliding V-shaped supports <NUM> of the present invention accommodate a number of different types of containers such that the variety of containers can be moved by a single starwheel since it is the grabber arms <NUM> that perform the holding of the container.

With reference to <FIG>, the starwheel further comprises a self-adjusting container neck guide plate <NUM> having a series of sliding V-shaped supports <NUM> that align with similar V-shaped supports formed on the upper starwheel and lower starwheel. The sliding V-shaped supports <NUM> comprise a v-shaped slot <NUM> that is capable of radial adjustment. This assists with aligning the container, for example with a centerline of a filling valve of a filler machine in cases where the starwheel <NUM> is used in conjunction with a filler machine to accommodate differing container neck and body diameters. By incorporating the sliding v-shaped slots <NUM> and the adjustable grabber arms <NUM>, any container size is accommodated. The sliding V-shaped supports <NUM> serve to add adjustability to accommodate differing container diameters. In a further preferred embodiment, the upper neck guide plate <NUM> is supported on the upper starwheel <NUM> on retractable springs <NUM> to provide axial upward lift to the upper neck guide plate <NUM> to accommodate taller containers and bottles.

In a preferred embodiment referenced in 3b, the grabber arms <NUM> have removable or adjustable tips <NUM> to accommodate and grip different container sizes.

With reference to <FIG>, a rotary multi-feed can lid assembly <NUM> is provided in one aspect of the present disclosure. The multi-feed can lid assembly <NUM> allows for simple, bulk lid loading.

The multi-feed can lid assembly <NUM> comprises a series of vertical can lid silos <NUM> containing can lids or like sleeved closures, that rotate on an upper rotating indexing plate <NUM>. The upper rotating indexing plate <NUM> is machined with a series of indexing holes <NUM> for accepting the can lid silos <NUM>. Can lids can be indexed through manual, electric or pneumatic means via a spring loaded detent ball catch and release system, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. With electrical or pneumatic actuation operator work would be further reduced by eliminating the need for the operator to rotate the indexing plate as each silo empties.

One or more spring loaded ball detents <NUM> are affixed to rotate with the upper rotating indexing plate <NUM> on a pivot bearing <NUM>, and extend between the upper rotating plate <NUM> and a fixed lower indexing plate <NUM>, the fixed lower indexing plate <NUM> being positioned between the upper rotating indexing plate <NUM> and a lid dispenser <NUM>. The fixed lower indexing plate <NUM> is formed with a series of indents or recesses <NUM>, aligned radially with the ball detents <NUM>, which allow extension of the spring loaded ball detents <NUM> as they rotate with the upper rotating indexing plate <NUM>. When the ball detent <NUM> extends into the recesses, then one of the can lid silos <NUM> are aligned with a single hole machined in the fixed lower indexing plate <NUM> such that can lids can pass through the lower plate <NUM> to the lid dispenser <NUM> and on to a lid feed table <NUM> which is slotted <NUM> to transfer the closure to the container. The lid dispenser <NUM> can be pneumatically operated in some optional embodiments by, for example an air cylinder <NUM>.

The catch and release detent ball system allows the present multi-feed can lid assembly <NUM> to require only a simple non-precise rotating motion to achieve accurate alignment and dispensing of lids. This achieves simple, cheap bulk lid loading. Operator reload of lids is simplified and reload frequency is reduced since multiple silos of lids can be filled at one time, thus freeing the operator for other tasks.

With reference to <FIG>, a universal closing turret <NUM> of the present disclosure is shown. The universal closing turret <NUM> comprises a single rotary or inline turret for closing multiple types of containers. The turret comprises closure applicators for different types of containers.

<FIG> depicts one example of a universal closing turret <NUM> with an exemplary arrangement of closure applicators. In <FIG>, one or more can closure applicators <NUM> are interspersed with screw cap style closure applicators <NUM> such as Stelvin™ and Stelvin Lux™, and roll on pilfer-proof closures applicators for use with such containers as wine bottles and also with one or more crimp crown closure applicators <NUM>. The closure applicators can be arranged in various orders on the closing turret to thereby close a specific order of containers. In one example the closure applicators can be arranged in an alternating order to close a stream of alternating types of containers. In other embodiments, the closure applicators can be arranged in a set of any sequence of closure applicators, to close a set of a particular sequence of containers - and the sequence of closure applicators can be repeated as well. The closure applicators are removably connectable to the turret, allowing rearrangement of closure applicators depending on the series and types of containers to be closed.

Typical closing turrets are dedicated based on the container to be closed. As such closing turrets for bottles differ from those for cans and other containers. As previously discussed, the prior art goal has been to maximize handling and closing volume for a specific type of container and produce as great an output as speedily as possible.

The present inventors have noted that by adapting the closure applicator, closing turrets can be customized to close a variety of containers using a singular machine. In doing so, it enables facilities such as micro-manufacturers to purchase, house and operate a single closing turret for a variety of container closing purposes. This serves to maximize flexibility in filling and closing a wide variety of containers/closures combinations within the same machine footprint. The universal closing turret eliminates the need for multiple closing turrets in order to do a wide range of closures.

<FIG> illustrates one example of a system of the present disclosure including a first starwheel SW1 as taught in the present disclosure, positioned as infeed to a filling machine such as that taught in Applicant's issued Patent No. <CIT>, a second starwheel SW2 such as taught in the present disclosure, positioned at the outfeed to the filling machine and feeding into a multi-feed can lid assembly <NUM> of the present disclosure, and/or universal closing turret <NUM>, followed by a third starwheel SW3 as taught by the present disclosure and indexing assembly <NUM>.

Systems of the present disclosure, such as the example shown in <FIG> can thereby process a stream of mixed container types by simply setting a filler machine with the same order of filler heads as the order of container types being processed and setting the container closure applicator types of the universal closing turret <NUM> in a similar manner. The present indexing assemblies <NUM> and starwheel assemblies <NUM> as used in a system of the present invention have advantageously been designed as described earlier to universally accept multiple container types.

In one example of a method of the present invention, a mixed stream of container types can be received and indexed by a first indexing assembly <NUM>, then fed to a filler machine by a first starwheel SW-<NUM> and filled. The filled, mixed stream of containers can then be fed by a second starwheel SW-<NUM> to a universal closing turret. In the case of the container being cans, the cans are first sorted by the second starwheel SW-<NUM> to the can lid assembly <NUM> of the present disclosure, before being directed to the universal closing turret <NUM>. The filled and closed mixed stream of containers can then be fed by a third starwheel SW-<NUM> to a second indexing assembly <NUM> for further processing or packaging.

Claim 1:
A container indexing assembly (<NUM>), comprising;
a. an indexing wheel (<NUM>);
b. a conveyor chain (<NUM>) configured for receiving a mixed stream of bottles and cans from the indexing wheel; and
c. a series of container indexing arms (<NUM>) arranged on the conveyor chain for movement with the conveyor chain, said container indexing arms each configured for indexing a bottle or a can by its centerline (<NUM>) as it is received from the indexing wheel. wherein driven movement of the conveyor chain is transferred to drive the indexing wheel by means of one or more belt drive pulleys (<NUM>) through a speed reduction assembly (<NUM>) such that a fixed spatial relationship is maintained between the indexing wheel supplying the mixed stream of bottles and cans, and the conveyor chain and indexing arms receiving said mixed stream of bottles and cans, and wherein the fixed spatial relationship is maintained at linear and non-linear speeds.