Starwheel preform orienting apparatus
AssigneeDT Inventions
InventorJames Alfred Thibodeau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A preform orienting apparatus for a preform having an integral handle is disclosed. The preform orienting apparatus has a stationary outer guide comprising a friction strip configured to contact a portion of the preform and pick up the preform by the portion of the preform, and configured to rotate the preform, and a moving starwheel assembly comprising a plurality of lugs disposed on an underneath side of the moving starwheel, wherein at least one lug of the plurality of lugs is configured to stop rotation of the preform at a predisposed position of the integral handle.
Claims19
A preform orienting apparatus for a preform having an integral handle, comprising:
- a stationary outer guide comprising a friction strip configured to contact a portion of the preform and pick up the preform by the portion of the preform, and configured to rotate the preform;
- a moving starwheel assembly comprising a plurality of lugs disposed on an underneath side of the moving starwheel, wherein at least one lug of the plurality of lugs is configured to stop rotation of the preform at a predisposed position of the integral handle.
A method for orienting a preform having an integral handle, comprising:
- receiving a preform transported via guide rails, the preform comprising a threaded neck portion, a body, and an integral handle and being configured to be blown into a container;
- catching the preform by the threaded neck portion via a friction strip on a starwheel assembly of a preform orienting apparatus configured to orient the preform;
- rotating the preform until the integral handle is stopped by a lug disposed on an underside of a starwheel assembly;
- and
- orienting the preform, by way of the integral handle, in a predetermined orientation prior to heating the preform in an oven.
A preform orienting apparatus for orienting preforms with an integrally formed handle, the apparatus comprising:
- a stationary portion having an outer guide plate comprising a friction strip configured to contact a portion of the preform to pick up the preform transported on guide rails;
- and
- a rotating portion having a moving starwheel configured to rotate and orient the preform by the integrally formed handle,
- the moving starwheel comprising a plurality of lugs disposed on an underneath side of the moving starwheel, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is configured to stop rotation of the preform at a predisposed position of the integral handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.