Container uprighting device
OwnerWilliam Zinnoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for uprighting containers which includes a first conveyor, such as a carrier tray conveyor, to transport generally horizontal containers at a first level, a transfer member having a convex surface adjacent to the first conveyor, and a second conveyor, such as a continuous belt conveyor, to transport generally vertical containers at a second level which is lower than the level of the first conveyor. The first conveyor urges the containers from the first conveyor onto the transfer members, causing the containers' orientation to change from horizontal to vertical as the containers pass over the convex surface. After the containers are oriented vertically, the second conveyor moves the containers away for further processing.
Claims27
A device for uprighting containers comprising:
- a first transport means for transporting generally horizontally oriented containers at a first level said first transport means having a front edge;
- a transfer member having a convex surface adjacent to said front edge;
- a second transport means for transporting generally vertically oriented containers at a second level which is lower than said first level and disposed below said transfer member;
- where said first transport means urges said generally horizontally oriented containers over said front edge onto said transfer member, to cause the orientation of said generally horizontally oriented containers to change from horizontal to vertical as said containers pass over said convex surface.
A method of uprighting horizontally oriented containers comprising the steps of:
- providing:
- (a) a first transport means at a first level;
- (b) a transfer member having a convex surface;
- (c) a second transport means at a second level which is lower than said first level and disposed below said transfer member;
- transporting generally horizontally oriented containers on said first transport means;
- passing said containers over said transfer member causing said container's orientation to be changed from horizontal to vertical;
- transporting generally vertically oriented containers on said second transport means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.