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US 7,270,229 B2Granted
Container unscrambler system having adjustable track and method
AssigneeNew England Machinery, Inc.
InventorsNicholas J. Perazzo, David P. Pletz, Michael A. Ruth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container feeding system is shown having an unscrambler having an unscrambler bowl providing a track or channel that is adjustable such that it can accommodate bottles of varying sizes. The system comprises an adjustable chute that is also adjustable and having a chute channel or track that is also adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes when the containers are conveyed from the unscrambling bowl, through the adjustable chute, and to a subsequent processing station.
Claims35
An unscrambling system comprising:
- an unscrambling bowl comprising a first curved wall that lies in a first plane;
- a generally circular floor substantially surrounded by said first curved wall and having a first side, a second side and an end wall, said generally circular floor lying in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to said first plane, said end wall cooperating with said first curved wall to define a channel for receiving containers to be unscrambled;
- and
- first adjusting means for adjusting a first dimension of said channel, said first adjusting means causing at least a portion of said generally circular floor to be raised from a lowered position to a raised position to define said channel.
1 more element
An unscrambling system comprising:
- an unscrambling bowl comprising a first curved wall that lies in a first plane;
- a generally circular floor substantially surrounded by said first curved wall and having a first side, a second side and an end wall, said generally circular floor lying in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to said first plane, said end wall cooperating with said first curved wall to define a channel for receiving containers to be unscrambled;
- and
- first adjusting means for adjusting a first dimension of said channel;
- wherein said generally circular floor comprises a central portion, said first adjusting means comprising:
- a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion.
3 more elements
An unscrambler comprising:
- a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from said bowl area to a second area outside of said bowl area;
- a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall;
- and
- a generally circular floor that is expandable to change a diameter;
- said generally circular floor being moveable between a lowered position and a raised position;
- said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved between said lowered position and said raised position, said generally circular wall being stationary relative to said outer wall of said generally circular floor, at least a portion of said generally circular floor being moveable between said lowered position and said raised position to define said channel.
3 more elements
An unscrambler comprising:
- a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from said bowl area to a second area outside of said bowl area;
- a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall;
- and
- a generally circular floor that is expandable to change a diameter of said generally circular floor and that is also moveable from a home position to an operating position;
- said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said rim and said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved from said home position to said operating position;
- wherein said generally circular floor comprises a central portion, said generally circular floor further comprising:
- a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion.
4 more elements
An unscrambler comprising:
- a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from a bowl area to a second area outside said bowl area;
- a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall;
- and
- a generally circular floor that is expandable or moveable to change a diameter of said generally circular floor and that is also moveable from a home position to an operating position;
- said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said rim and said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved from said home position to said operating position;
- wherein a top edge of said outer wall is situated a predetermined distance above said rim when said outer wall is in said operating position.
3 more elements
An unscrambler bowl comprising:
- an outer wall;
- and
- a channel for guiding containers to an outlet of the unscrambler bowl;
- said unscrambler bowl further comprising at least one moveable member that is moveable to change at least one of a channel depth or a channel width in order to accommodate containers of different sizes, said at least one moveable member being moveable between a raised position and a lowered position so that at least a portion of said at least one moveable member cooperates with said outer wall to define said channel.
1 more element
An unscrambler comprising:
- an outer wall;
- and
- a channel adjacent said outer wall;
- said channel being adjustable in order to accommodate containers of different sizes;
- wherein said unscrambler comprises a plurality of concentric rings that are each independently moveable between a home position and an operating position, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel after said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings is moved to said operating position.
2 more elements
An unscrambler comprising:
- an outer wall;
- and
- a channel adjacent said outer wall;
- said channel being adjustable in order to accommodate containers of different sizes;
- wherein said unscrambler comprises a floor having a central portion and a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion, said plurality of concentric rings each being independently moveable between a home position and an operating position, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel after said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings is moved to said operating position.
2 more elements
A method for changing a channel size in an unscrambling bowl having a bowl wall and an interior floor, the interior floor having members that may be raised or moved to an operating position to define a channel;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting which of said members should be raised or moved to define said channel;
- and
- raising or moving said members to define said channel after said selecting step;
- and
- said members surrounding the interior floor and being raised or moved from a first position to a second position in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a plane in which the interior floor lies so that at least a portion of one of said members cooperates with said bowl wall to define said channel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.