Method and apparatus for changing the orientation of cans
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorCharles R. Nichols
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A can twist is provided for changing the orientation of cans in a conveying system with each can having a leading side and a trailing side as it passes through the can twist. The guide rails for the open and closed ends of the cans are located so that only the trailing side of each can contacts the guide rails. Such contact is, at any one time, substantially a point contact of the open end and its guide rail and substantially a point contact of the closed end and its guide rail. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of frame members and guide rails with each frame member having two short sides and two long sides and securing the guide rails for the open end and the closed end at a location spaced from the center of each short side.
Claims20
A method for changing the orientation of cans as they pass through a conveying system comprising:
- (a) providing a plurality of cans, each can having an open end, a closed end, and a body in a first portion of said conveyor system in a certain orientation;
- (b) feeding said cans to a twist section of said conveyor system, passing said cans through said twist section and changing said certain orientation of said cans as they pass through said twist section;
- (c) passing said cans through said twist section so that each can has a leading side and a trailing side as it passes through said twist section;
- (d) providing means for contacting the open end, closed end, and the body of each can as it passes through said twist section;
- (e) said means for contacting said open end contacting only the trailing side of the open end of each can as it passes through said twist section;
- and,
- (f) providing means in said conveying system for receiving said cans from said twist section in said changed certain orientation.
Apparatus for changing the orientation of cans as they pass through a conveying system comprising:
- (a) means for passing a plurality of cans through said conveying system, each can having an open end, a closed end, and a body, with said cans in a certain orientation in a first portion of said conveying system;
- (b) a twist section in said conveying system for changing said certain orientation of said cans as said cans pass through said twist section;
- (c) said twist section having means for guiding said cans during said passage therethrough so that each of said cans has a leading side and a trailing side;
- (d) said guiding means comprising means for contacting the open end, the closed end, and the body of each can as it passes through said twist section;
- (e) said means for contacting the open end of each can being located so as to contact only the trailing side of the open end of each can;
- and,
- (f) means in said conveying system for receiving said cans from said twist section in said changed certain orientation.
Apparatus for changing the orientation of cans as they pass through a conveying system comprising:
- (a) means for passing a plurality of cans through said conveying system, each can having an open end, a closed end, and a body, with said cans in a certain orientation in a first portion of said conveying system;
- (b) a twist section in said conveying system for changing said certain orientation of said cans as said cans pass through said twist section;
- (c) said twist section having means for guiding said cans during said passage therethrough so that each of said cans has a leading side and a trailing side;
- (d) said guiding means comprising means for contacting the open end, the closed end, and the body of each can as it passes through said twist section;
- (e) said means for contacting the open end of said can being located so that if said means were superimposed on said open end of said can, said means are always spaced a distance from the center of said can;
- and,
- (f) means in said conveying system for receiving said cans from said twist section in said changed certain orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.