Unstable article conveying device with diverter having curved path

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

• a first guide unit establishing a first single line path for the unstable articles and having article actuation associated with said first single line article path for urging the unstable articles along said first single line path;
• a plurality of second guide units establishing adjacent multiple second single line paths for the unstable articles and having article actuation associated with each of said plural single line paths for urging the unstable articles along said associated multiple second single line paths;
• a third guide unit having a movable line diverter with a pair of spaced guides establishing a third single line path between said spaced guides with each of said spaced guides having a chain movable along a third chain path adjacent to said third single line path with each said chain having article engaging members for urging the unstable articles along said third single line path upon movement of said chains along said third chain paths, and said line diverter having a first portion establishing a first end portion path of said third single line path, a second portion establishing a second end portion path of said third single line path with said second portion being movable to align said second end portion path with different ones of said multiple second single line paths, a third portion establishing a middle portion of said third single line path extending between said first and second end portion paths of said third single line path, and a pair of flexible bars having opposite end portions fixed to said first and second portions of said line diverter and maintaining said middle portion of said third single line path in a curved configuration with said pair of flexible bars causing said curved configuration to be varied upon flexing of said pair of flexible bars due to said aligning movement of said second portion of said line diverter;
• and
• a controller connected with said second portion of said line diverter for controlling said aligning movement of said second portion of said line diverter.

A device for conveying unstable articles between a first path and a plurality of second paths utilizing an article diverter, said article diverter comprising:

• a first portion establishing a fixed position first end portion path alignable with the first path;
• a second portion establishing a second end portion path with said second portion being movable between predetermined positions so that said second end portion path is aligned with different ones of the plurality of second paths;
• and
• a third portion connected with said first and second portions and having a middle portion path established thereat to convey the unstable articles between said first and second end portion paths, said middle portion path being maintained in a curved configuration with said curved configuration being varied during said aligning movement of said second portion whereby the unstable articles urged along said paths established at the article diverter are transferred through said then aligned paths.

A method for conveying unstable articles, said method comprising:

• establishing a first path for conveying the unstable articles;
• establishing plural second paths for conveying the unstable articles;
• establishing a third path for conveying the unstable articles with said third path having first and second opposite ends and a middle portion between the first and second opposite ends with the first end of said third path being aligned with said first path and the middle portion being maintained in a curved configuration;
• moving said second opposite end to align said second opposite end with different ones of said plural second paths and varying said curved configuration of said middle portion of said third path during said aligning movement of said second opposite end;
• and
• urging the unstable articles through said aligned paths.