Transfer assembly for use with container printing machines

Claim 2

A transfer assembly for sequentially transferring decorated containers from a mandrel carrier to a drying oven conveyor comprising, a conveyor, pneumatically actuated container holder means mounted on said conveyor, pneumatic manifold means connected to said container holder means, said pneumatic manifold means comprising, a disc, a drive shaft Connected to said disc for imparting rotary movement thereto coincident with the movement of the conveyor, a plurality of radially extending passages formed in said disc, a vacuum source being connected to said radial passages, a plurality of transverse passages formed in said disc, each transverse passage communicating with a respective radial passage, a source of fluid pressure being mounted adjacent the rotary disc and being sequentially aligned with each transverse passage as the disc is rotated past the fluid pressure source, whereby when connected to the vacuum source, the container holder means is actuated to remove a decorated container from the mandrel carrier, and when connected to the fluid pressure source the container holder means is actuated to place a decorated container on the drying oven conveyor.

Claim 3

A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container holder means comprises, a plurality of cylindrical housings, each housing having a piston slidably mounted therein, a suction cup secured to one end of the piston and projecting outwardly from one end of the housing, the opposite end of the housing being connected to the pneumatic manifold means, whereby the suction cup is adapted to engage the bottom of the decorated container being removed from the mandrel carrier, and when the housing is connected to the vacuum source the piston is drawn inwardly thereof, and when connected to the fluid pressure source the piston is moved outwardly of the housing.

Claim 4

A transfer assembly according to claim 2, wherein bores are formed within the piston communicating with the interior of the suction cup and said opposite end of the housing, whereby, when the housing is connected to the source of vacuum the interior of the suction cup is also placed under vacuum.

Claim 5

A transfer assembly according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor comprises an endless sprocket and chain assembly, a plurality of horizontally disposed pins carried by the chain assembly, each housing having a depending pedestal slidably mounted on said pins, a cam follower mounted on each pedestal, said cam follower engaging a stationary cam mounted adjacent the conveyor, whereby upon movement of the conveyor, the cam causes each housing to slide laterally on the conveyor relative to the mandrel carrier and drying oven conveyor.

Claim 6

A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control means, comprises valve means mounted within each transverse passage.

Claim 7

A transfer assembly according to claim 5, wherein the valve means comprises a spring-biased spool valve, said valve being normally biased to open position to establish communication between the vacuum source and the container holder means, the spool valve being moved to closed position by the fluid pressure when the transverse passage is aligned with the source of fluid pressure.

Claim 8

A transfer assembly according to claim 6, wherein additional radial and transverse passages are formed in the disc adjacent the valve means for establishing communication between the source of fluid pressure and container holder means when the spool valve is moved to closed position.

Claim 9

A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the source of fluid pressure includes a nozzle adjustably mounted on a support frame positioned adjacent the rotary disc, the end of the nozzle having antifriction material formed thereon adapted to abut the surface of the rotary disc.

Claim 10

A transfer assembly for sequentially transferring decorated containers from a mandrel carrier to a drying oven conveyor comprising, a conveyor, pneumatically actuated container holder means mounted on said conveyor, pneumatic manifold means connected to said container holder means, said pneumatic manifold means being connected to a vacuum source and a source of fluid pressure, and control means operatively connected to said manifold means for selectively establishing communication between the container holder means and the vacuum source and fluid pressure source, said contAiner holder means comprising, a plurality of cylindrical housings, each housing having a piston slidably mounted therein, a suction cup secured to one end of the piston and projecting outwardly from one end of the housing, the opposite end of the housing being connected to the pneumatic manifold means, and bore means formed within the piston communicating with the interior of the suction cup and said opposite end of the housing, whereby the suction cup is adapted to engage the bottom of a decorated container on the mandrel carrier, and when the housing is connected to the vacuum source the interior of the suction cup is also placed under vacuum and the piston is drawn inwardly of the housing to thereby remove the decorated container from the mandrel carrier, and when connected to the fluid pressure source the piston is moved outwardly of the housing for placing the decorated container on the drying oven conveyor.

Claim 11

A transfer assembly for sequentially transferring decorated containers from a mandrel carrier to a drying oven conveyor comprising, a conveyor, pneumatically actuated container holder means mounted on said conveyor, pneumatic manifold means connected to said container holder means, said pneumatic manifold means being connected to a vacuum source and a source of fluid pressure, and control means operatively connected to said manifold means for selectively establishing communication between the container holder means and the vacuum source and fluid pressure source, said contAiner holder means comprising, a plurality of cylindrical housings, each housing having a piston slidably mounted therein, a suction cup secured to one end of the piston and projecting outwardly from one end of the housing, the opposite end of the housing being connected to the pneumatic manifold means, and bore means formed within the piston communicating with the interior of the suction cup and said opposite end of the housing, whereby the suction cup is adapted to engage the bottom of a decorated container on the mandrel carrier, and when the housing is connected to the vacuum source the interior of the suction cup is also placed under vacuum and the piston is drawn inwardly of the housing to thereby remove the decorated container from the mandrel carrier, and when connected to the fluid pressure source the piston is moved outwardly of the housing for placing the decorated container on the drying oven conveyor.

Claim 12

A transfer assembly according to claim 9 wherein the pneumatic manifold means comprises, a disc, a drive shaft connected to said disc for imparting rotary movement thereto coincident with the movement of the conveyor, a plurality of radially extending passages formed in said disc, said radial passages being connected to the vacuum source, a plurality of transverse passages formed in said disc, each transverse passage communicating with a respective radial passage, the source of fluid pressure being mounted adjacent the rotary disc and being sequentially aligned with each transverse passage as the disc is rotated past the fluid pressure source.

Claim 13

A transfer assembly according to claim 10 wherein the control means, comprises valve means mounted within each transverse passage.

Claim 14

A transfer assembly according to claim 11, wherein the valve means comprises a spring-biased spool valve, said valve being normally biased to open position to establish communication between the vacuum source and the container holder means, the spool valve being moved to closed position by the fluid pressure when the transverse passage is aligned with the source of fluid pressure.

Claim 15

A transfer assembly according to claim 12, wherein additional radial and transverse passages are formed in the disc adjacent the valve means for establishing communication between the source of fluid pressure and container holder means when the spool valve is moved to closed position.

Claim 16

A transfer assembly according to claim 10, wherein the source of fluid pressure includes a nozzle adjustably mounted on a support frame positioned adjacent the rotary disc, the end of the nozzle having antifriction material formed thereon adapted to abut the surface of the rotary disc.

Claim 17

A transfer assembly according to claim 9, wherein the conveyor comprises an endless sprocket and chain assembly, a plurality of horizontally disposed pins carried by the chain assembly, each housing having a depending pedestal slidably mounted on said pins, a cam follower mounted on each pedestal, said cam follower engaging a stationary cam mounted adjacent the conveyor, whereby upon movement of the conveyor, the cam causes each housing to slide laterally on the conveyor relative to the mandrel carrier and drying oven conveyor.