Bottle handling apparatus

Container conveying apparatus which comprises:

• a. a pair of spaced substantially circular rotatable discs, said discs each having a plurality of recesses on the periphery thereof, said recesses in each of said discs being aligned whereby containers may be held in said recesses;
• b. a plurality of clamps aligned with said recesses whereby containers may be secured in said recesses;
• c. means for causing each of said clamps to close upon said clamp passing a first predetermined position;
• d. means for causing each of said clamps to open upon said clamp passing a second predetermined position whereby a container held in said recess will be delivered at a first output position;
• and
• e. means for identifying said containers as belonging to one of a plurality of possible classes;
• and
• f. means for causing any of said clamps holding a container belonging to the first of said classes to release said container at a third predetermined position, said third predetermined position being intermediate said first and said second predetermined positions whereby said containers belonging to said first class will be delivered at a second output position.

Container conveying apparatus which comprises:

• a. a pair of spaced substantially circular rotatable discs, said discs each having a plurality of recesses on the periphery thereof, said recesses in each of said discs being aligned whereby containers may be held in said recesses;
• b. a plurality of clamps aligned with said recesses whereby containers may be secured in said recesses;
• c. means for causing each of said clamps to close upon said clamp passing a first predetermined position;
• d. means for causing each of said clamps to open upon said clamp passing a second predetermined position whereby a container held in said recess will be delivered at a first output position;
• e. where said clamps are bistable devices whereby said clamps may be opened or closed by application of an impulse.

A container clamp for a container conveying apparatus comprising:

• a. a support;
• b. a pair of spaced elongate members having first and second ends, said members being pivotally supported by said support between said ends thereof, said members extending in side by side relation and having means adjacent said first ends for engaging a container;
• c. a toggle joint coupling said members adjacent said second ends of said spaced members whereby straightening of said toggle joint will cause said first ends of said members to approach each other so as to hold a container therebetween;
• d. means for limiting the motion of said toggle joint, said limit in one direction allowing said clamp to be in an open condition and said limit in the opposite direction being slightly over center of said toggle whereby said clamp is in a closed position;
• e. a tension spring coupled between said members adjacent to each said second ends thereof whereby said clamp will have two stable positions;
• and
• f. a cam follower secured to said toggle joint.

A container clamp for a container conveying apparatus comprising:

• a. a support;
• b. a pair of spaced elongate members having first and second ends, said members being pivotally supported by said support between said ends thereof, said members extending in side by side relation and having means adjacent said first ends for engaging a container;
• c. a toggle joint coupling said members adjacent said second ends of said spaced members whereby straightening of said toggle joint will cause said first ends of said members to approach each other so as to hold a container therebetween;
• d. means for limiting the motion of said toggle joint, said limit in one direction allowing said clamp to be in an open condition and said limit in the opposite direction being slightly over center of said toggle whereby said clamp is in a closed position;
• e. a tension spring coupled between said members adjacent to each said second ends thereof whereby said clamp will have two stable positions;
• f. said support is a circular rotatable disc having a plurality of recesses on the periphery thereof, said recesses being arranged and configured whereby said containers may be held in said recesses by said elongated members.

A container engaging clamp comprising:

• first and second members moveable between first and second relative stable positions, said first and second members having means for engaging and encouraging a container into a predetermined position when in said first relative position;
• toggle means coupled to said first and second members for retaining said first and second members in said first position, said toggle means including means for limiting the motion of said toggle means in one direction to a slightly over center condition to retain said first and second members in said first relative position;
• and
• a cam follower coupled to said toggle means.

A container clamp comprising:

• a support;
• first and second generally elongate members, said elongate members having means for engaging containers adjacent a first end thereof, said elongate members each being rotatably mounted to said support between its two respective ends so that said members may rotate to vary the separation of said first ends;
• an actuating member moveable between first closed and second open positions with respect to said support;
• first and second coupling members, each of said coupling members being rotationally coupled adjacent one end to said actuating member and rotationally coupled adjacent the other end to a respective one of said generally elongate members, said actuating member having a position adjacent said first position whereby the axes of rotational coupling of said first and second members are in a plane, thereby creating an over center condition in said first position;
• means coupled to each said first and second elongate members encouraging said elongated members to remain in said first closed position and in said second open position;
• and
• a cam follower supported by said actuating member.

A container clamp comprising:

• a support;
• first and second generally elongate members, said elongate members having means for engaging containers adjacent a first end thereof, said elongate members each being rotatably mounted to said support between its two respective ends so that said members may rotate to vary the separation of said first ends;
• an actuating member moveable between first closed and second open positions with respect to said support;
• first and second coupling members, each of said coupling members being rotationally coupled adjacent one end to said actuating member and rotationally coupled adjacent the other end to a respective one of said generally elongate members, said actuating member having a position adjacent said first position whereby the axes of rotational coupling of said first and second members are in a plane, thereby creating an over center condition in said first positions;
• and
• means coupled to each said first and second elongate members encouraging said elongated members to remain in said first closed position and in said second open position;
• wherein said support is a circular rotatable disc having a plurality of recesses on the periphery thereof, said recesses being arranged and configured whereby said containers may be held in said recesses.

A container clamp comprising:

• a support;
• first and second grasping members, said members being moveable on said support between a closed first position and an open second position, said first and second members having means for engaging a container when in said first position;
• first and second coupling members, said coupling members rotationally coupled adjacent to one end of each of said first and second grasping members, said coupling members moveable between said closed first position and said second open position;
• means for yieldably encouraaging said grasping member in said first closed position and second open positions;
• and
• cam follower means coupled to said coupling members.