Elevation change system for a rotary device

An adjustable star wheel system comprising:

• a) a star wheel conveyor for conveying three dimensional articles within pockets along an arcuate path, said star wheel conveyor comprising:
• a plurality of stacked individual rotatable elements, said rotatable elements each having a center, two surfaces, side edges, and peripheries, said individual rotatable elements being independently rotatable about an axis that passes through their centers, and rotatable as a unit in order to convey such articles, wherein said axis is generally perpendicular to the surfaces of said rotatable elements, wherein said rotatable elements comprise portions on their side edges that define the boundaries of said pockets, wherein the pockets defined by said rotatable elements have an adjustable configuration to accommodate different size and/or shape articles, and wherein said rotatable elements have a difference in elevation therebetween in a direction parallel to said axis;
• and
• a mechanism for rotating one or more of said rotatable elements about said axis, said mechanism being mechanically coupled to said rotatable elements through a hollow drive shaft;
• and
• b) an elevation change mechanism for adjusting the elevation of said rotatable element in a direction parallel to said axis, wherein said elevation change mechanism is at least indirectly mechanically coupled to one or more of said rotatable elements through an inner shaft that is located inside of said hollow drive shaft, and said elevation change mechanism is selectively engageable with said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element, wherein said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element is also arranged to impart motion to said elevation change mechanism so that when said elevation change mechanism is engaged with said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element, the elevation change mechanism moves in the direction of said axis.

A method for adjusting the elevation of a rotatable element on a rotary device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a rotary device system comprising:
• 1) a rotary device having sites for holding three dimensional articles, said rotary device being capable of conveying said articles along an arcuate path, said rotary device comprising:
• at least one rotatable element having a center, two surfaces, and a periphery, said at least one rotatable element being rotatable about an axis in a plane of rotation in order to convey such articles, wherein said axis is generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said rotatable element;
• and
• a mechanism for rotating said rotatable element about said axis, said mechanism being mechanically coupled to said rotatable element;
• and
• 2) an elevation change mechanism for adjusting the elevation of said rotatable element in a direction parallel to said axis, wherein said elevation change mechanism is selectively engageable with said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element wherein said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element is also arranged to impart motion to said elevation change mechanism so that when said elevation change mechanism is engaged with said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element, the elevation change mechanism moves in the direction of said axis;
• and
• b) engaging the elevation change mechanism with the mechanism for rotating said rotatable element, and causing said mechanism for rotating said rotatable element to rotate so that the elevation change mechanism moves in the direction of said axis to adjust the elevation of said rotatable element.