Method and apparatus for agitating and thermally conditioning filled containers
AssigneeOak Park International, Ltd.
InventorsJesus A. Silvestrini, Juan C. Morsucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method are disclosed for agitating and thermally conditioning containers that are carried along a conveyor and engage agitating apparatus in the form of two rollers positioned above the conveyor and adjacent one another and rotatably drive to cause the container to roll against the conveyor and the rollers to effect agitation of the container and the contents while being engaged by a thermal conditioning fluid to effect a temperature change of the container and its contents. One of the two rollers is movable between such a container agitating position and a container passing position that will permit the container to pass over the rollers to move beyond the agitating station and toward an exit from the apparatus.
Claims26
A method for agitating and thermally conditioning containers and the contents thereof comprising the steps of
- conveying said containers in a predetermined direction along a path from an entrance, through at least one agitating station and then to an exit therefrom while contacting the container with a thermal conditioning fluid having a temperature substantially different from that of said container when said container is introduced to the entrance of said path, and
- agitating said container by engaging said container on said path by at least two rollers positioned above said path and adjacent one another at an agitating station while rotationally driving said rollers in a direction such that the motion of the uppermost portion of each of said rollers is in a direction generally the same as the direction of motion of said container along said path, with the first said roller having a predetermined axis of rotation and a diameter substantially less than the total height of said container as it is supported for movement along said path with said first roller being positioned above said path a height sufficient to prevent said container from passing between said path and said first roller while permitting said container to pass over said first roller, and a second said roller selectively positionable between a container agitating position and a container passing position, with said container agitating position being one in which said second roller is positioned a height above said path sufficient to prevent said container from passing over said adjacent first and second rollers, whereby the action of conveying the container along the path and engaging the first and second rollers in the agitating position will cause the container to roll against the rollers to effect agitation of the container and its contents, and said container passing position being one in which said height of said second roller above said path is reduced sufficiently to permit said container to pass over said first roller and said adjacent second roller, whereby the container will move beyond the container agitating station toward the exit.
Apparatus for agitating and thermally conditioning containers, said apparatus including an entrance and an exit and at least one agitating station interposed therebetween, and comprising
- conveying means for carrying said containers from said entrance to said agitating station and from said agitating station to said exit;
- thermal conditioning means for changing the temperature of said container and material contained therewithin by contacting said container with a thermal conditioning fluid having a temperature substantially different from that of said container when engaged by said conveying means at said apparatus entrance to transfer heat between said container and said fluid;
- and
- agitating means positioned at said agitating station and comprising
- at least two rollers positioned above said conveying means and adjacent one another at said agitating station, said rollers being rotationally driven in a direction such that the motion of the uppermost portion of each of said rollers is in a direction generally the same as the direction of motion of said conveying means,
- a first said roller having a predetermined axis of rotation and a diameter substantially less than the total height of said container measured above said conveying means, said first roller being positioned above said conveying means a height sufficient to prevent said container from passing between said conveying means and said first roller while permitting said container to pass over said first roller, and;
- a second said roller selectively positionable between
- a container agitating position in which said second roller is positioned a height above said conveying means sufficient to prevent said container from passing over said adjacent first and second rollers, whereby the action of the conveying means and the first and second rollers in the agitating position will cause the container to roll against the conveying means and rollers to effect agitation of the container and its contents, and
- a container passing position in which said height of said second roller above said conveying means is reduced sufficiently to permit said container to pass over said first roller and said adjacent second roller, whereby the container will move beyond the container agitating station toward the exit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.