Apparatus and method for sorting container components
AssigneeHuhtamaki Consumer Packaging, Inc.
InventorJerry Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The sorting device is providing for sorting container components from a random orientation in about three axes of the container components to a sorted orientation which may be random about one axis of the container component. The apparatus includes a conveyor which extracts container components from a storage receptacle with the withdrawn components being oriented randomly about two axes. An ejector device is provided that will sense the orientation of the container components about one axis and eject those which are improperly oriented.
Claims16
An apparatus for orienting container portions said apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle for holding a plurality of container portions in random orientation about three axes;
- a conveyor system adapted to remove container portions from the receptacle, said conveyor system including a conveyor device connected to a drive system for effecting movement of the conveyor device, said conveyor device having a feed run and a return run, said conveyor device having a plurality of flights spaced apart along the length of the feed and drive runs and pockets between the flights, a first portion of the feed run being positioned in the receptacle and a second portion extending generally upwardly from the receptacle and having a panel adjacent one side of the second portion of the feed run to support container portions thereon, said conveyor system having a container portion discharge said conveyor being operable to remove container components from the receptacle in two or less second axes of random orientation with orientation about a said second axis being in one of a first orientation and a second orientation;
- an orientation sensor operable to sense orientation of a container portion being carried on the feed run second portion and generate an ejection signal if a container portion is in a said first orientation;
- an ejection device operably connected to the sensor and receive the rejection signal and operable to eject a container component from the feed run second portion in response to receipt of an ejection signal;
- and
- a second conveyor system adapted to receive non ejected container components from the feed run.
A method of orienting container portions from a supply of randomly oriented container components randomly oriented about three axes, the method comprising:
- withdrawing container components with a power driven conveyor device from a supply of container components with each withdrawn container component being oriented in a first orientation or a second orientation about an axis and resting on a conveyor flight;
- conveying each of the withdrawn container components along a generally vertical path past a sensor and sensing whether a container component is in a first orientation or second orientation and sending an ejection signal to an ejector device if the sensed container component is in a first orientation;
- ejecting a container component if it is in a first orientation in response to generating an ejection signal;
- returning an ejected container portion to the supply;
- and
- removing container components in the second orientation from the conveying device and conveying them to a location of use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.