Packaging system adaptable to various container perimeters
AssigneeWestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
InventorsJean-Christophe Bonnain, Frederic Limousin, Fabrice Avril, Amelie Strohm-Volondat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conveyor system for containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers, including a first star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers.
Claims23
A conveyor system, comprising:
- a first upstream star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path;
- a first downstream star wheel configured to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path;
- a first metering screw between the first upstream start wheel and the first downstream star wheel to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path,
- wherein the first metering screw is configured to create a pitch such that the first containers enter the first metering screw at a first pitch and exit the first metering screw at a second pitch different than the first pitch;
- a plurality of first moving turning members to rotate at least some of the first containers into a first predefined orientation;
- a plurality of first support bodies with a surface that partially surrounds the first containers,
- wherein the plurality of first support bodies are located downstream of the plurality of first moving turning members and engage the first containers as the first containers move downstream for packaging to be applied to the first containers,
- wherein the plurality of first support bodies are operatively connected to be moved about a first support body path, and
- wherein the first support body path includes at least two straight sections, and at least one curved section;
- and
- a packaging path, along which a fiber-based packaging is conveyed, that at least partially overlaps with the first support body path to overlay the fiber-based packaging onto tops of the first containers while the plurality of first support bodies maintain contact with the first containers.
A conveyor system, comprising:
- a first upstream star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path;
- a first downstream star wheel configured to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path, wherein the first downstream star wheel is located downstream of the first upstream star wheel in a conveying direction in which the first containers are conveyed;
- and
- a plurality of first support bodies with a surface that engages with the first containers as the first containers move downstream for packaging to be applied to the first containers,
- wherein the plurality of first support bodies are operatively connected to be moved about a first support body path, and
- a packaging path, along which a fiber-based packaging is conveyed, that at least partially overlaps with the first support body path to overlay the fiber-based packaging onto tops of the first containers while the plurality of first support bodies maintain contact with the first containers.
A conveyor system, comprising:
- a first upstream star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path;
- a first downstream star wheel configured to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path;
- a first metering screw between the first upstream start wheel and the first downstream star wheel to move the plurality of first containers along the first travel path;
- and
- a plurality of first moving turning members configured to rotate at least some of the first containers into a first predefined orientation,
- wherein the plurality of first moving turning members and the first containers are configured to move relatively to each other such that an engaging portion of the moving turning members contacts an upper portion of the first containers from above to rotate at least some of the first containers into the first predefined orientation via rotation of at least a portion of the moving turning members that includes the engaging portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.