Method for pre-determinable orientation of label and capsule relative to each other on a bottle during the bottling procedure and apparatus therefor
AssigneeAB Pripps Bryggerier
InventorSven Lofgren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for a pre-determinable orientation of label and capsule relatively to each other on a bottle during the bottling procedure, whereby the bottles are arranged to pass a positioning or orientation station, in which each individual bottle by mechanical or optical detection of at least one discontinuity or stationary marking on the bottle, on the sealing or on the label of the bottle is orientated in a predetermined position and releasably retained in this position during the following sealing or labelling of the bottle.
Claims18
A method for predeterminably orienting relative to a stationary labelling station a substantially rotationally symmetric bottle optionally provided with a capsule closure, said bottle passing from an entry point to said stationary labelling station along a predetermined path thereof, said bottle when passing the labelling station being provided with a label dispensed from said station, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding in an upright position each bottle of a plurality of bottles into a corresponding peripheral recess on a rotating star wheel, said recess being provided with a pair of passively rotating guide rollers disposed at its periphery,
- imparting a rotational movement to said bottle by making the bottle abut said guide rollers and a stationary guide rail disposed at a distance from and extending along the periphery of the star wheel,
- detecting a rotationally unsymmetric discontinuity or marking on at least one of the bottle and the capsule, and
- simultaneously to the detection, without further rotation of the bottle, applying locking means to make the rotation of the bottle cease such that said discontinuity or marking is in a predetermined orientation in respect of the labelling station while maintaining said abutment of said bottle with said guide rollers and said stationary guide rail,
- wherein said locking means comprises a base plate pivotably mounted on the star wheel and biased by spring means toward the recess, the base plate carrying a locking arm extending towards the recess, said locking arm being spring loaded and structured and arranged for lateral movement with respect to said base plate, said locking arm having a frontal end for locking contact with the capsule.
An apparatus for predeterminably orienting relative to a stationary labelling station a bottle optionally provided with a capsule closure, said bottle passing from an entry point to said stationary labelling station along a predetermined path thereof, said bottle when passing the labelling station being provided with a label dispensed from said station, said apparatus comprising:
- a star wheel having a number of equidistantly spaced recesses at its horizontal periphery, said recesses being adapted to receive said bottle,
- a pair of passively rotatable guide rollers disposed at the periphery of each recess and a stationary guide rail disposed at a distance from and extending along the periphery of the star wheel in a position abutable with the bottle, for providing the bottle with a rotational movement, the stationary guide rail being structured and arranged to abut with the bottle during substantially all of said passage from the entry point to the labelling station,
- one sensor means for each recess attached to the star wheel at about the level for detecting a discontinuity or mark on at least one of the bottle and the capsule, and
- locking means peripherally attached to the star wheel for arresting the bottle in a predetermined position simultaneously to the detection, without further rotation of the bottle, the locking means comprising a base plate pivotably mounted on the star wheel and biased by spring means toward the recess, the base plate carrying a locking arm extending towards the recess, said locking arm being spring loaded and structured and arranged for lateral movement with respect to the base plate, the locking arm having a frontal end for locking contact with the capsule.
An apparatus for predeterminably orienting a container during passage along a predetermined path, said apparatus comprising:
- a powered orbiting conveyor for conveying the container along the predetermined path, the conveyor including recess means for retaining the container during the passage,
- positioning means for positioning the container to a predetermined position in the recess means, the positioning means including support means for abutting with the container during substantially all of the passage, and
- locking means attached to the conveyor for locking the container in the predetermined position,
- wherein the locking means includes plate means pivotably mounted on the conveyor and biased by spring means toward the recess means, and resilient means structured and arranged for lateral movement relative to the plate means and for locking contact with the container, the resilient means being spring loaded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.