Article feeding device
AssigneeThe Arthur G. Russell Company, Incorporated
InventorsChristian Mauriz-Barcos, Rande King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to the present disclosure, an article feeding device that reliably and consistently outputs properly oriented articles includes an input configured to receive articles, an output configured to dispense properly oriented articles, an orientation alteration portion between the input and output, and an orientation control system. The orientation alteration portion includes a first track configured to allow properly oriented articles to pass therethrough without alteration and a second track configured to alter the orientation of improperly oriented articles. The orientation control system is configured to detect orientation of the articles at the input and to send the articles to either the first track or the second track depending upon the detected orientation.
Claims18
An article feeding device comprising:
- an input configured to receive articles;
- an output configured to dispense properly oriented articles;
- an orientation alteration portion between the input and output, the orientation alteration portion including a first track configured to allow properly oriented articles to pass therethrough without alteration and a second track configured to alter the orientation of improperly oriented articles;
- an orientation control system configured to detect orientation of the articles at the input and to send the articles to either the first track or the second track depending upon the detected orientation;
- and
- a servo dial controlled by the orientation control system, the servo dial configured to transport the articles from the input to the first track or the second track.
A cap feeder for providing bottle caps in a bottling line, the cap feeder comprising:
- an input configured to receive caps;
- an output configured to dispense properly oriented caps;
- an orientation alteration portion between the input and output, the orientation alteration portion including a first track configured to allow properly oriented caps to pass therethrough without alteration and a second track configured to alter the orientation of improperly oriented caps;
- an orientation control system configured to detect orientation of the caps at the input and to send the caps to either the first track or the second track depending upon the detected orientation;
- and
- a servo dial controlled by the orientation control system, the servo dial configured to transport the caps from the input to the first track or the second track.
A cap feeder for providing bottle caps to a bottling line, the cap feeder comprising:
- a bin configured to receive caps in bulk;
- a first orientation portion configured to receive the caps from the bin and to provide the caps to a second orientation portion in either a first orientation or a second orientation;
- a second orientation portion configured to receive the caps from first orientation portion in the first orientation and the second orientation, the second orientation portion comprising:
- an input;
- first and second output paths connected to the input;
- a servo dial at the interface between the input and the first and second output paths;
- and
- an orientation control system configured to determine whether each individual cap at the input is in the first orientation or the second orientation and to control the servo dial to send the individual cap to the first output track or the second output track based on the determination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.