Single-to-multiple line conveying system for unstable articles having a neck ring

A single-to-multiple line conveying system for unstable articles each of which has a neck ring, said system comprising:

• a first guide unit engagable with the neck rings of the unstable articles and establishing a first single line path for the unstable articles;
• a plurality of second guide units each of which is engagable with the neck rings of the unstable articles and establishing adjacent multiple paths for the unstable articles;
• an air supplier for directing air toward said first path of said first guide unit and said multiple paths of said plurality of second guide units to urge the unstable articles along said first single line path and said multiple paths;
• a third guide unit receiving the unstable articles from said first guide unit, said third guide unit establishing a second single line path at least a portion of which is displaceable, and said third guide unit including an article spacer for spacing the unstable articles on said second single line path and a displaceable section for causing displacement of said displaceable portion of said second single line path with said displaceable section having an article driver that acts in conjunction with said article spacer to continuously move the unstable articles along said second single line path during normal operation with the unstable articles being discharged from said displaceable portion of said second single line path in single line toward said plurality of second guide units;
• and
• a controller for controlling movement so said displaceable section of said third guide unit so that said displaceable portion of said second single line path is sequentially aligned with each of said multiple paths of said plurality of second guide units.

A single-to-multiple line conveying system for conveying unstable articles each of which has a neck ring, said system comprising:

• a first guide unit engagable with the neck rings of the unstable articles and establishing a first single line path for the unstable articles;
• a plurality of second guide units each of which is engagable with the neck rings of the unstable articles and establishing adjacent multiple paths for the unstable articles;
• an air supplier for directing air toward said first path of said first guide unit and said multiple paths of said plurality of second guide units for urging movement of the unstable articles along said first single line path and said multiple paths;
• a third guide unit receiving the unstable articles from said first guide unit and continuously urging the unstable articles along a second single line path having first and second portions, said third guide unit including a rotatable star wheel having arms engagable with the unstable articles at said first portion of said second single line path and a displaceable section causing displacement of said second portion of said second single line path, said displaceable section including a chain having a plurality of finger units thereon with said chain extending along said second portion of said second single line path so that said finger units engage and move the unstable articles along said second portion of said second single line path, and with the unstable articles being discharged from said second portion of said second single line path toward said plurality of second guide units;
• an actuator for continuously rotating said star wheel and continuously moving said chain along said second portion of said second single line path during normal operation;
• an electric motor for controlling movement of said displaceable section of said third guide unit so that said second portion of said second single line path is moved in an arcuate path for sequential alignment of said second portion of said second single line path with the next adjacent one of said multiple paths established by said plurality of second guide units each time that said electric motor is actuated, said first portion of said second single line path remaining in alignment with said first single line path established by said first guide unit during said movement of said displaceable section of said third guide unit;
• and
• an article counter for counting the unstable articles moved from said second portion of said second single line path of said third guide unit to said plurality of second guide units, said article counter causing said electric motor to be actuated each time that said article counter reaches a predetermined count.