Patent ID: 8002104

Claim:
An apparatus for changing orientation of a container moving between a feed path and a discharge path to facilitate subsequent processing of the container, the apparatus comprising: a ramp having a first end and a second end, said ramp being disposed to receive the container from the feed path in a first orientation and to cause the container to slide down said ramp toward said second end of the ramp; an obstruction located at said second end of the ramp, said obstruction being operably configured to contact a leading edge of the container to arrest a sliding motion of the container down the ramp; an actuator coupled to said ramp, said actuator being operable when actuated to cause said ramp to pivot to impart an angular acceleration to the container to provide sufficient angular momentum to cause a center of gravity of the container to move past a point of support causing the container to change orientation such that the container is received on the discharge path in a second orientation.