US 2010/0136159 A1 · ACCELERATOR FEED ARRANGEMENT CONFIGURED TO ACCELERATE BLOW-MOLDED PET BEVERAGE BOTTLES FROM A LINEAR CONVEYOR TO A ROTARY PET BOTTLE STERILIZING MACHINE AND MINIMIZE MISALIGNMENT AND JAMMING OF BLOW-MOLDED PET BEVERAGE BOTTLES DURING TRANSPORT FROM A LINEAR CONVEYOR TO A ROTARY PET BOTTLE STERILIZING MACHINE

Abstract

An accelerator feed arrangement configured to accelerate blow-molded pet beverage bottles from a linear conveyor to a rotary pet bottle sterilizing machine and minimize misalignment and jamming of blow-molded pet beverage bottles during transport from a linear conveyor to a rotary pet bottle sterilizing machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

An accelerator feed arrangement configured to accelerate PET beverage bottles from a linear conveyor of a PET blow molding machine to a rotary PET bottle sterilizing machine and said accelerator feed arrangement is further configured to minimize misalignment and jamming of PET beverage bottles during transport from a linear conveyor of a PET blow molding machine to a rotary PET bottle sterilizing machine in a beverage bottling plant, which PET beverage bottles comprise beverage bottle necks, beverage bottle sides, and beverage bottle bottoms, and which PET beverage bottles have longitudinal axes, said feeding arrangement comprising:

an inlet being configured to accept PET beverage bottles from a linear conveyor of a PET blow molding machine;
an outlet being configured to move PET beverage bottles into a rotary PET bottle sterilizing machine;
an infeed disk being configured to receive PET beverage bottles from said inlet and being further configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
a plurality of moveable grippers being disposed at the circumference of said infeed disk and being configured to grasp necks of PET beverage bottles;
said plurality of moveable grippers being configured to accelerate PET beverage bottles from said inlet to said outlet;
a motor being configured to rotate said infeed disk and said plurality of moveable grippers;
a column operatively connecting said infeed disk and said motor and being configured and disposed to transfer rotating movement from said motor to said infeed disk and said plurality of moveable grippers;
said infeed disk being concentric to said column;
a first stationary guide rail being configured and disposed to guide the movement of necks of PET beverage bottles in said accelerator feed arrangement as said infeed disk rotates;
a second stationary guide rail being configured and disposed to guide the movement of PET beverage bottles by guiding the outermost sides of PET beverage bottles disposed from the center of said accelerator feed arrangement during acceleration of PET beverage bottles;
said second stationary guide rail being further configured to guide PET beverage bottles and permit transport of PET beverage bottles to maintain the substantially vertical alignment of the beverage bottle longitudinal axes with sufficient precision to minimize misalignment and jamming of PET beverage bottles in said accelerator feed arrangement and said rotary PET bottle sterilizing machine;
a guide device separate and disposed away from said first stationary guide rail, said second stationary guide rail, and said plurality of moveable grippers;
said separate guide device being configured and disposed to:
support and guide bottoms of PET beverage bottles in said accelerator feed arrangement;
rotate synchronously with said infeed disk and said plurality of moveable grippers to guide the movement of bottoms of PET beverage bottles;
and
permit transport of PET beverage bottles to maintain the substantially vertical alignment of the beverage bottle longitudinal axes with sufficient precision to minimize misalignment and jamming of PET beverage bottles in said outlet of said accelerator feed arrangement and said rotary PET bottle sterilizing machine;
said separate guide device comprising a base portion and a wheel flange portion;
said plurality of moveable grippers, said second stationary guide, and said separate guide device being configured to together permit transport of PET beverage bottles to maintain the substantially vertical alignment of the beverage bottle longitudinal axes with sufficient precision to minimize misalignment and jamming of PET beverage bottles in said accelerator feed arrangement and said rotary PET bottle sterilizing machine;
a plurality of stud bolts operatively connecting said infeed disk and said separate guide device and being configured to adjust the position of said separate guide device to permit the transport of PET beverage bottles with varying heights;
and
said separate guide device being radially adjustable to transport PET beverage bottles with varying diameters.

19 more elements

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20