Container positioning device
AssigneeLab-Interlink, Inc.
InventorsThomas L. Bybee, Inna M. Zevakina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container positioning device includes a stop mechanism for stopping a carrier moving along a conveyor, the carrier supporting a container thereon. A pair of arms are pivotally mounted to move between an open position permitting the container to pass along the conveyor track, and a centering position with forward ends in contact with the container and positioning the container in a centering location. A forward end of the downstream arm is operable to move upstream and contact the container to move the container upstream to the centering location, where the second arm will contact the container to retain it in place.
Claims12
An apparatus for positioning a container carried in a carrier at a predetermined centering location along a conveyor track, comprising:
- an operable stop mechanism, operable to stop a carrier moving along the conveyor track;
- a first positioning arm operably mounted on a frame adjacent the track, operable between an open position located downstream of the centering location and clear of the track to permit carriers to move past the arm, and a centering position upstream of the open position and extending across a portion of the track to contact and move a container supported in a carrier stopped by the stop mechanism to the centering location;
- means for selectively moving the first arm between the open and centering positions;
- said first arm being pivotally mounted at a rearward end for movement of a forward end thereof through a generally horizontal plane, the forward end of the first arm contacting the container when the first arm is moved to the centering position;
- a second positioning arm operably mounted on said frame and operable between an open position located upstream of the centering location and clear of the track to permit containers to move past the second arm, and a centering position downstream of the open position and in contact with the container in the carrier moved to the centering location;
- and
- means for selectively moving the second arm between the open and centering positions.
An apparatus for positioning a container carried in a carrier at a predetermined centering location along a conveyor track, comprising:
- an operable stop mechanism, operable to stop a carrier moving along the conveyor track;
- a first positioning arm operably mounted on a frame adjacent the track, operable between an open position located downstream of the centering location and clear of the track to permit carriers to move past the arm, and a centering position upstream of the open position and extending across a portion of the track to contact and move a container supported in a carrier stopped by the stop mechanism to the centering location;
- means for selectively moving the first arm between the open and centering positions,
- a second positioning arm operably mounted on said frame and operable between an open position located upstream of the centering location and clear of the track to permit containers to move past the second arm, and a centering position downstream of the open position and in contact with the container in a carrier moved to the center location;
- and
- means for selectively moving the second arm between the open and centering positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.