Clutch assembly for handling a container
AssigneeBelvac Production Machinery, Inc.
InventorsDavid Joseph Mammolenti, Syed Ali Asghar, Harold James Marshall, Robert Charles Graefe, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a clutch assembly (100) for handling a container, and an associated method for using the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes a shaft (102) configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, opposite from the first direction. The clutch assembly further includes a clutch coupled to a first end of the shaft. The clutch includes at least two rollers (108) configured to move into a first position, extending radially beyond a periphery of the clutch, and out of the first position, extending radially flush with or inward from the periphery of the clutch.
Claims17
A clutch assembly for handling a container having an opening, the clutch assembly comprising:
- a shaft configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, opposite from the first direction;
- and
- a clutch at a first end of the shaft configured to at least partially fit within the opening of the container, the clutch including:
- a cam having at least two cam surfaces;
- and
- at least two rollers, each roller of the at least two rollers being configured to engage against an inner surface of the opening of the container and a respective cam surface of the at least two cam surfaces when the shaft rotates in the first direction, and disengage from against the inner surface of the opening of the container and the respective cam surface when the shaft rotates in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.