Case unloading machine

Claim 2

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising: a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a first raising means for raising and lowering said entrance end and said exit end of said bottle gripping assembly in unison for accommodation of bottles of different sizes; and a second raising means for raising said entrance end without substantially changing the height of said exit end so that said bottle gripping assembly may be operated with said entrance end raised to clear bottles out of said bottle gripping assembly.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first raising means is a means for accurately adjusting the height of said bottle gripping assembly; and said second raising means is an independent raising means adapted to quickly raise said entrance end from a height determined by said first raising means to a substantially higher position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second raising means is a pneumatic means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: one of said ends of said bottle gripping assembly is pivotally supported; and the other of said ends is supported on rollers resting on laterally extending surfaces.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said rollers have ''''V'''' grooves on the periphery thereof and rest on mating laterally extending inverted ''''V'''' shaped members; and said inverted ''''V'''' shaped members have stops for said rollers adjacent the ends thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said rollers are on said exit end of said bottle gripping assembly.

Claim 8

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising: a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a first raising means for raising and lowering said entrance end and said exit end of said bottle gripping assembly in unison for accommodation of bottles of different lengths; a second raising means for raising said entrance end without substantially changing the height of said exit end so that bottle gripping assembly may be operated with said entrance end raised to clear bottles out of said bottle gripping assembly; means for driving said bottle gripping assembly attached to the stationary portion of said apparatus; and said bottle gripping assembly and said stationary portion of said bottle handling apparatus being readily separable upon disconnection of said driving means.

Claim 9

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising: a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a first raising means for raising and lowering said entrance end and said exit end of said bottle gripping assembly in unison for accommodation of bottles of different lengths; a second raising means for raising said entrance end without substantially changing the height of said exit end so that bottle gripping assembly may be operated with said entrance end raised to clear bottles out of said bottle gripping assembly; means for driving said bottle gripping assembly attached to the stationary portion of said apparatus; and said bottle gripping assembly and said stationary portion of said bottle handling apparatus being readily separable upon disconnection of said driving means.

Claim 10

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising; a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; a first means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a plow assembly located near the entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly for automatically aligning bottles within a case into predetermined rows prior to entering said bottle gripping assembly; said plow assembly being pivotally attached to the bottle gripping assembly so that badly misaligned bottles will strike said plow assembly and cause it to pivot upward; and a second means cooperatively disposed with said plow assembly to stop said bottle gripping assembly upon the upward pivoting of said plow assembly.

Claim 11

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising; a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; a first means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a plow assembly located near the entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly for automatically aligning bottles within a case into predetermined rows prior to entering said bottle gripping assembly; said plow assembly being pivotally attached to the bottle gripping assembly so that badly misaligned bottles will strike said plow assembly and cause it to pivot upward; and a second means cooperatively disposed with said plow assembly to stop said bottle gripping assembly upon the upward pivoting of said plow assembly.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second means is a switching means attached to said bottle gripping assembly.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plow assembly is secured to said bottle gripping assembly by quick release means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for automatically stopping the flow of cases to the vicinity of said bottle gripping assembly upon the upward pivoting of said plow assembly.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for automatically aligning and centering said cases with respect to said bottle gripping assembly as said cases are directed toward said plow assembly.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means fOr centering said cases are adjustable to accommodate cases of different sizes.

Claim 17

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising: a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a first raising means for accurately raising and lowering said entrance end and said exit end of said bottle gripping assembly in unison for accommodation of bottles of different sizes; a second raising means for raising said entrance end from a height determined by said first raising means to a substantially higher position without substantially changing the height of said exit end so that said bottle gripping assembly may be operated with said entrance end raised to clear bottles out of said bottle gripping assembly; a plow assembly located near the entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly for automatically aligning bottles within a case into predetermined rows; said plow assembly being pivotally attached to said bottle gripping assembly so that badly misaligned bottles will strike said plow assembly and cause it to pivot upward; and a stopping means cooperatively disposed with said plow assembly to stop said bottle gripping assembly and to stop the flow of cases to the vicinity of said bottle gripping assembly upon the upward pivoting of said plow assembly.

Claim 18

A case bottle handling apparatus for unloading bottles in a substantially upright position in a case comprising: a bottle gripping assembly having an entrance end and an exit end; means adapted for moving said cases below and past said entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly; a first raising means for accurately raising and lowering said entrance end and said exit end of said bottle gripping assembly in unison for accommodation of bottles of different sizes; a second raising means for raising said entrance end from a height determined by said first raising means to a substantially higher position without substantially changing the height of said exit end so that said bottle gripping assembly may be operated with said entrance end raised to clear bottles out of said bottle gripping assembly; a plow assembly located near the entrance end of said bottle gripping assembly for automatically aligning bottles within a case into predetermined rows; said plow assembly being pivotally attached to said bottle gripping assembly so that badly misaligned bottles will strike said plow assembly and cause it to pivot upward; and a stopping means cooperatively disposed with said plow assembly to stop said bottle gripping assembly and to stop the flow of cases to the vicinity of said bottle gripping assembly upon the upward pivoting of said plow assembly.