Apparatus and method for indexing containers

Apparatus for orienting a magnetic container relative to a vertically extending seam or other visually discernible marking carried by the container, said apparatus comprising

• a star wheel with a pocket for receiving a randomly oriented container,
• a magnet supported on said star wheel, adjacent to said pocket and operable to exert a magnetic force on a container so long as it is in said pocket, which force resists rotation of the container,
• a drive wheel supported for movement between a first position where it is operable and a second position where it is inoperable to overcome the container rotation resistance of said magnet and to rotate a container in said pocket of said star wheel,
• a first sensor operable to scan a surface of the container, while it is rotating in said star wheel pocket, said first sensor being further operable to detect the seam or other visually discernible marking, when it passes by the sensor, and, further operable to generate a signal in response thereto, and
• an actuator operable to move said drive wheel from said first position to said second position in response to the signal
• whereby, when said drive wheel is in said second position, the magnetic force of said magnet on the container causes it to stop rotating in a pre-determined angular orientation in said pocket of said star wheel and prevents, thereafter, the container from rotating in said pocket of said star wheel.

Apparatus for orienting a container relative to a vertically extending seam or other visually discernible marking carried by the container, said apparatus comprising

• a star wheel with a pocket for receiving a randomly oriented container,
• a vacuum terminal supported on said star wheel, adjacent to said pocket and operable to exert a force on a whenever it is container in said pocket, which force resists rotation of the container,
• a drive wheel supported for movement between a first position where it is operable and a second position where it is inoperable to overcome the container rotation resistance of said vacuum terminal and to rotate a container in said pocket of said star wheel,
• a first sensor operable to scan a surface of the container, while it is rotating in said star wheel pocket, said first sensor being further operable to detect the seam or other visually discernible marking, when it passes by the sensor, and, further operable to generate a signal in response thereto, and
• an actuator operable to move said drive wheel from said first position to said second position in response to the signal
• whereby, when said drive wheel is in said second position, the force of said vacuum inlet on the container causes it to stop rotating in a pre-determined angular orientation in said pocket of said star wheel and prevents, thereafter, the container from rotating in said pocket of said star wheel.

A method for orienting a container about a vertically extending seam or other visually discernible marking carried by the container, said method comprising the steps of

• positioning the container in a pocket of a star wheel, adjacent to a vacuum terminal which is operable to exert on the container, whenever it is in the pocket of the star wheel, a force which resists rotation of the container,
• engaging a surface of the container with a drive wheel operable to overcome the container rotation resistance of the vacuum terminal and to rotate the container in the pocket of the star wheel,
• scanning the surface of the container, while it is rotating, with a sensor operable to detect the seam or other visually discernible marking, when it passes by the sensor, and further operable to generate a signal in response thereto, and
• disengaging the drive wheel from the surface of the rotating container in response to the signal,
• whereby, after the drive wheel is disengaged from the container surface, the force exerted on the container by the vacuum terminal stops the container from rotating when it is in a pre-determined orientation and maintains the container in that orientation.