Bottle loading machine
AssigneeHartness International, Inc.
InventorThomas S. Hartness
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bottle loading machine having a bottle transfer conveyor transferring charges of bottles in aligned rows to a case loading station for being deposited through a grid set into a case carried therebelow. Aligned pairs of gripping arms are carried in the path of the transfer conveyor directly over the grid set for receiving the aligned rows of bottles. A pair of abutments are carried adjacent the forward end of the grid set for tilting the leading bottle of the charge of bottles so that when the bottles are dropped, they drop freely into the case. A plurality of stops are carried on a pivotal arm positioned adjacent the junction of the transfer conveyor and the grid set for restraining the incoming bottles as the charge is being dropped into the case.
Claims7
A bottle loading machine having a bottle transfer means for transferring charges of bottles in aligned rows to a case loading station for being deposited through a grid set into a case carried therebelow comprising:
- aligned pairs of gripping arms carried in the path of said transfer means directly over said grid set;
- means for shifting each pair of said gripping arms to a first closed position for receiving bottles from a respective row and supporting said bottles by the neck of said bottles, and
- each of said pairs of gripping arms when in said first position defining a track, one end of said track being opened so that a plurality of bottles can be loaded in succession onto each respective track;
- means for pivoting each arm of each respective pair of arms away from said necks of said bottles to an open position for dropping said bottles freely into said grid set for being deposited into said case.
An article loading machine having an article transfer means for transferring charges of articles in aligned rows to a case loading station for being deposited through a grid set into a case carried therebelow comprising:
- means for supporting a charge of articles in aligned rows over said grid set;
- a first abutment carried in the path of the first article of each row engaging a top portion of said first article of each row;
- a second abutment carried in the path of said leading article of each row slightly forward and below said first abutment engaging a wall of said leading article adjacent the bottom thereof;
- said first and second abutments tilting said leading article relative to the next following article providing a gap therebetween;
- whereby when said supporting means drops said charge of articles said articles drop freely.
An article loading machine having an article transfer means for transferring charges of articles in aligned rows to a case loading station and means for dropping said charge of articles through a grid set into a case carried therebelow comprising:
- a pivot arm carried adjacent the junction of said article transfer means and said grid set;
- a plurality of stops carried on said pivot arm;
- said stops being triangular in shape for fitting into a gap provided between adjacent articles;
- means for pivoting said pivot arm upwardly bringing said stops into the path of said incoming articles,
- and
- means for synchronizing the pivoting of said pivot arm upwardly with the dropping of said articles so that said incoming bottles do not interfere with the dropping of said bottles through said grid set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.