Apparatus and method for orienting articles and containers

An apparatus for orienting rotationally symmetrical containers having a reference index thereon into a predetermined orientation, comprising:

• a. means for rotating a container about its axis of symmetry until it reaches a stabilized rotational velocity;
• b. a detector for sensing the index after the container reaches said velocity, and producing a control signal in response thereto;
• c. tachometer means to determine the rotational velocity of the container;
• d. means responsive to said control signal, for arresting the container with its reference index in the predetermined orientation;
• and,
• e. delay means responsive to said tachometer means, for delaying said control signal delivered to said arresting means by an amount of time by an increment directly proportional to a non-linear function of said rotational velocity, to compensate for slippage between the container and said arresting means.

An apparatus for orienting containers having an orientation index reference thereon, comprising:

• a. rotary means for passing the containers through an orbital path about an axis, said rotary means having at least one peripheral pocket for engaging and conveying a container;
• b. infeed means for successively delivering the containers into said peripheral pocket at an upstream entry station;
• c. an arcuate guide, concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from the periphery of said rotary means, said guide extending substantially from said entry station to a downstream discharge station;
• d. a detector adjacent said pocket, for sensing the index on the container after it leaves said entry station, and producing a control signal in response thereto;
• e. means adjacent said pocket for maintaining the container in a first radially extended position in rolling engagement with an upstream portion of said arcuate guide for rotating the container about its axis, and then for moving the container in response to said control signal to a second radially withdrawn position, spaced from a downstream portion of said arcuate guide and against a brake pad, for arresting the container in an oriented position;
• and,
• f. means for extracting the container from said pocket, when the container reaches said discharge station.

An apparatus for orienting containers having an orientation index reference thereon, comprising:

• a. rotary means for passing the containers through an orbital path about an axis, said rotary means having at least one peripheral pocket for engaging and conveying a container;
• b. infeed means for successively delivering the containers into said peripheral pocket at an upstream entry station;
• c. an arcuate guide, concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from the periphery of said rotary means, said guide having an upstream portion adjacent said entry station;
• d. means adjacent said pocket for maintaining the container in a first radially extended position in rolling engagement with said upstream portion of said arcuate guide for rotating the container about its axis;
• e. encoder means for determining the period of said rotary means;
• f. calculator means responsive to said encoder means for determining a compensation value inversely proportional to the speed of said rotary means;
• g. a detector adjacent said pocket, for detecting the index after the container reaches a stabilized rotational speed, and producing a control signal in response thereto;
• h. a microprocessor, responsive to said calculator means, adapted to delay said control signal in accordance with said compensation value;
• i. means for moving the container in response to said delayed control signal to a second radially withdrawn position, spaced from a downstream portion of said arcuate guide and against a brake pad, for arresting the container in an oriented position.

A method for orienting a container having an orientation index reference thereon, comprising:

• a. passing a container through a path, from an entry station to a discharge station;
• b. rotating the container about its axis, after it leaves the entry station, until it reaches a stabilized rate of rotation;
• c. detecting the index on the container, and producing a control signal in response thereto;
• d. determining the rotational speed of the container, and producing a compensation value directly proportional to a non-linear function of said rotational speed, in response thereto;
• e. providing means for arresting further rotation of the container;
• f. delaying said control signal by said compensation value, to compensate for slippage between the container and said arresting means, and arresting further rotation of the container in response to the delayed control signal;
• g. removing the container from said path after it reaches said discharge station.

An apparatus for orienting rotationally symmetrical containers having a reference index thereon into a predetermined orientation, comprising:

• a. means for rotating a container about its axis of symmetry until it reaches a stabilized rotational velocity;
• b. a detector for sensing the index after the container reaches said velocity, and producing a control signal in response thereto;
• c. tachometer means to determine the rotational velocity of the container;
• d. means responsive to said control signal, for arresting the container with its reference index in the predetermined orientation;
• and,
• e. delay means responsive to said tachometer means, for delaying said control signal delivered to said arresting means by an amount of time inversely proportional to said rotational velocity, and for decreasing said amount of time by an increment directly proportional to the square of said rotational velocity, to compensate for slippage between the container and said arresting means.