Patent ID: 7204363

Claim:
A machine for inspecting bottles comprising a conveyor which conveys bottles at a first velocity, a bottle spacing mechanism for receiving bottles conveyed by said conveyor at a first location and for releasing the bottles onto said conveyor at a second downstream location including a first belt conveyor defining one side of a conveyor path for bottles progressing from said first location to said second location, a first drive mechanism including a drive pulley which drives said first belt conveyor at the first velocity, an upstream second belt conveyor and a downstream third belt conveyor defining the other side of the conveyor path for bottles progressing from said first location to said second location, a second drive mechanism including a drive pulley which drives said second belt conveyor at a second velocity lower than said first velocity whereby a bottle conveyed between said first and second conveyors will be conveyed at a velocity lower than the first velocity, and a third drive mechanism including a drive pulley which drives said third belt conveyor at the first velocity whereby a bottle conveyed between said first and third conveyors will be conveyed at the first velocity, said second velocity resulting in bottles released onto the conveyor having a selected spacing.