Label processing machine

In combination with a machine having at least one work station for processing vessels and input and output transfer stations, a vessel transport and transfer system comprising:

• a) input and output star wheel mechanisms respectively positioned at the input and output stations;
• b) a supply conveyor for transporting vessels to the input star wheel assembly;
• c) a variable pitch feed screw connected to the conveyor adjacent one side of the input mechanism for spacing transported bottles for successive registration with the input star wheel;
• d) a pair of spring biased input guide rails connected to the conveyor adjacent another side of the conveyor, the guide rails and feed screw delineating opposite sides of a vessel path of travel;
• e) the input guide rails each having a guide position at a first distance from the feed screw and a jam relief position spaced further from the feed screw than the first distance;
• f) an exit conveyor delineating an exit path of vessel travel downstream from the output star wheel mechanism;
• g) an exit guide rail having an input end pivotally mounted at a location near the output star wheel mechanism;
• h) the exit guide rail having a normal position adjacent the exit path, the exit guide rail being pivotal about its pivot mounting from its normal position to a jam relief position;
• i) each star wheel mechanism including a star wheel and a drive normally drivingly connected to the star wheel to cause star wheel rotation and a disabling means for disabling the driving connection under overload conditions;
• and,
• j) each star wheel mechanism each further comprising:
• i) a split star wheel assembly removably connected to the drive;
• ii) the assembly including a plurality of sections and releasable means releasably securing the sections together;
• and,
• iii) releasable structure interposed between the assembly and the drive and forming the releasable connection between the assembly and the drive.

In combination with a machine having at least one work station for processing vessels and input and output transfer stations, a vessel transport and transfer system comprising:

• a) input and output star wheel mechanisms respectively positioned at the input and output stations;
• b) a supply conveyor for transporting vessels to the input star wheel assembly;
• c) a variable pitch feed screw connected to the conveyor adjacent one side of the input mechanism for spacing transported bottles for successive registration with the input star wheel;
• d) a pair of spring biased input guide rails connected to the conveyor adjacent another side of the conveyor, the guide rails and feed screw delineating opposite sides of a vessel path of travel;
• e) the input guide rails each having a guide position at a first distance from the feed screw and a jam relief position spaced further from the feed screw than the first distance;
• f) an exit conveyor delineating an exit path of vessel travel downstream from the output star wheel mechanism;
• g) an exit guide rail having an input end pivotally mounted at a location near the output star wheel mechanism;
• h) the exit guide rail having a normal position adjacent the exit path, the exit guide rail being pivotal about its pivot mounting from its normal position to a jam relief position;
• i) each star wheel mechanism including a star wheel and a drive normally drivingly connected to the star wheel to cause star wheel rotation and a disabling means for disabling the driving connection under overload conditions;
• j) each disabling means being an overrunning clutch for normally transferring rotational driving forces from the drive to the star wheel and allowing continued rotation of the drive without transferring such forces to the star wheel assembly upon the assembly encountering resistance to rotation exceeding a maximum torque transfer capability of the clutch;
• and,
• k) each of said clutches comprising:
• i) a pair of rotatable drive elements rotatable about a drive axis;
• ii) biasing means biasing the elements axially toward one another;
• iii) a plurality of balls interposed between the elements;
• iv) the elements having paired coacting recesses there being a like member of recess pairs and balls and each of the balls being associated with a different one of the pairs;
• v) each ball being partially disposed in each of the recesses of that ball's associated recess pair during normal operation;
• and,
• vi) the pairs being irregularly spaced such that there is only one relative orientation in 360.degree. of relative element rotation in which each ball engages its associated recess pair normally preventing element relative rotation;
• and,
• vii) whereby when the star wheel encounters resistance exceeding such maximum torque the balls roll out of their associated recess pairs shifting the elements relatively axially to enable relative element rotation while the star wheel remains substantially stationary.