Patent US3637074A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3637074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container handling apparatus
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-31
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1990-03-31
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for handling and transferring bulb-shaped glass containers from one station in a container production line to another. A series of container handling vacuum chucks are linked together into an endless chain to pick glass containers in succession up from a first conveyor, to carry the containers through an inspection station, a coating tunnel and past a reject station and to then deposit the containers on a second conveyor. A control valve mounted on each chuck normally supplies the chuck with vacuum, however the control valve is actuated at the container discharge station, and may also be actuated at the reject station to supply air under pressure to the chuck to eject the container.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Banyas
- 👤 Frederick L Wallington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:08
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/14; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B07C5/122; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G17/323; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/48; B65G47/49; B65G47/50; B65G47/506; B65G47/52; B65G47/60; B65G47/61; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/91; B67; B67C; B67C7/00; B67C7/0006; B67C7/002; B67C7/004; B67C7/0046; C; C03; C03B; C03B35/00; C03B35/04; C03B35/06; C03B35/12; C03B35/125; C03B9/00; C03B9/30; C03B9/44; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0235; B65G2201/0244; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
427 words
In a container handling apparatus for handling containers having hemispherical bottoms; container chuck means comprising a hollow annular housing having an open recess at one end and having an inlet passage extending axially from said recess through the opposite end of said housing, means in said recess at said one end of said housing defining an annular seat adapted to engage the hemispherical bottom of a container to locate the container in coaxial relationship with said housing with the container bottom projecting a predetermined distance into said recess, a flexible annular seal member mounted in said housing in coaxial relationship with said seat and located to sealingly engage the bottom of a container before the container engages said seat and to maintain the sealing engagement with the container bottom when the container bottom is engaged with said annular seat, normally closed valve means in said inlet passage operable when engaged by the bottom of a container engaged by said annular seal to open to place said inlet passage in communication with said recess, supply means in fluid communication with said inlet passage for selectively connecting said inlet passage to a source of vacuum or to a source of air under pressure, control valve means connected to said source of vacuum and said source of air under pressure, said control valve means being operable in one position to connect said inlet passage to said source of vacuum, and being operable in a second position to connect said inlet passage to said source of air under pressure, means normally maintaining said control valve means in said first position, conveying means for supporting and driving said chuck means along an endless path, a control valve means actuator mounted upon said control valve means and operable when depressed to shift said control valve means to said second position, cam means mounted alongside said endless path and operable to depress said actuator as said actuator is moved past said cam means, said conveying means comprising a cam element mounted for movement into and out of the path of movement of said actuator at a container eject station on said endless path, said cam element when located in the path of movement of said actuator being operable to depress the actuator as the actuator is moved past said eject station, and reject means operable prior to the arrival of said actuator at said eject station for selectively positioning said cam element in the path of movement of said actuator or maintaining said cam element out of the path of movement of said actuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
427 words
In a container handling apparatus for handling containers having hemispherical bottoms; container chuck means comprising a hollow annular housing having an open recess at one end and having an inlet passage extending axially from said recess through the opposite end of said housing, means in said recess at said one end of said housing defining an annular seat adapted to engage the hemispherical bottom of a container to locate the container in coaxial relationship with said housing with the container bottom projecting a predetermined distance into said recess, a flexible annular seal member mounted in said housing in coaxial relationship with said seat and located to sealingly engage the bottom of a container before the container engages said seat and to maintain the sealing engagement with the container bottom when the container bottom is engaged with said annular seat, normally closed valve means in said inlet passage operable when engaged by the bottom of a container engaged by said annular seal to open to place said inlet passage in communication with said recess, supply means in fluid communication with said inlet passage for selectively connecting said inlet passage to a source of vacuum or to a source of air under pressure, control valve means connected to said source of vacuum and said source of air under pressure, said control valve means being operable in one position to connect said inlet passage to said source of vacuum, and being operable in a second position to connect said inlet passage to said source of air under pressure, means normally maintaining said control valve means in said first position, conveying means for supporting and driving said chuck means along an endless path, a control valve means actuator mounted upon said control valve means and operable when depressed to shift said control valve means to said second position, cam means mounted alongside said endless path and operable to depress said actuator as said actuator is moved past said cam means, said conveying means comprising a cam element mounted for movement into and out of the path of movement of said actuator at a container eject station on said endless path, said cam element when located in the path of movement of said actuator being operable to depress the actuator as the actuator is moved past said eject station, and reject means operable prior to the arrival of said actuator at said eject station for selectively positioning said cam element in the path of movement of said actuator or maintaining said cam element out of the path of movement of said actuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said reject means comprises means for inspecting the container carried by said chuck means, latch means normally maintaining said cam element out of the path of movement of said actuator, trip means in said reject means responsive to the detection of a flawed container by said inspection means for releasing said latch means to position said cam element in the path of movement of said actuator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined in claim 2 further comprising a stationary cam mounted in the path of movement of said actuator at a container discharge station downstream of said endless path from said eject station and operable to depress said actuator each time said actuator is moved past said stationary cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
265 words
In an article transfer apparatus having a frame, a plurality of chuck means linked into an endless chain and mounted upon said frame for movement along an endless path along which articles are transported from a receiving station tangentially around a portion of the periphery of at least one path direction changing roll to a discharge station, and chuck control means on each chuck means for operating the chuck means to selectively grip or release an article; the improvement wherein said control means is normally biased to a position maintaining the chuck means in its article gripping condition, an actuator carried by each control means and projecting therefrom and operable when depressed to shift the control means to place the chuck means in its article releasing condition; a plurality of reject latch means mounted upon said direction changing roll to rotate therewith into respective registry with the actuators of chuck means passing tangentially around said roll, each of said latch means having a cam mounted for movement between retracted position clear of the path of movement of the actuators and a reject position wherein said cam engages and depresses the actuator of a control means passing around said roll in registry with the latch means, means normally maintaining the cams in their respective retracted positions, first means for shifting the cam of a selected latch means from its retracted position to its reject position before the selected latch means moves into registry with a chuck means, and reset means operable in a reset position to reset cams from their reject position to their retracted position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
265 words
In an article transfer apparatus having a frame, a plurality of chuck means linked into an endless chain and mounted upon said frame for movement along an endless path along which articles are transported from a receiving station tangentially around a portion of the periphery of at least one path direction changing roll to a discharge station, and chuck control means on each chuck means for operating the chuck means to selectively grip or release an article; the improvement wherein said control means is normally biased to a position maintaining the chuck means in its article gripping condition, an actuator carried by each control means and projecting therefrom and operable when depressed to shift the control means to place the chuck means in its article releasing condition; a plurality of reject latch means mounted upon said direction changing roll to rotate therewith into respective registry with the actuators of chuck means passing tangentially around said roll, each of said latch means having a cam mounted for movement between retracted position clear of the path of movement of the actuators and a reject position wherein said cam engages and depresses the actuator of a control means passing around said roll in registry with the latch means, means normally maintaining the cams in their respective retracted positions, first means for shifting the cam of a selected latch means from its retracted position to its reject position before the selected latch means moves into registry with a chuck means, and reset means operable in a reset position to reset cams from their reject position to their retracted position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
258 words
Container handling apparatus comprising a plurality of chucks linked together into an endless chain, conveying means for supporting and driving said chucks in movement along an endless path, a vacuum supply source, an air pressure source, each of said chucks comprising a container engaging head operable when supplied with vacuum to grip and support a container, valve means on each of said chucks communicating with said vacuum source and said air pressure source normally conditioned to place the associated head in communication with said vacuum source and operable when actuated to place the head in communication with said air pressure source to eject a container from the chuck, valve actuating means on each valve means normally maintained in a first position wherein said valve means is in its normal condition and movable relative to said valve means to a second position to actuate said valve means, first means on said conveying means at a first location on said endless path for loading containers into said chucks as said chucks are driven past said second location, container inspection means adjacent said endless path between said first and second locations operable to generate a reject signal upon the detection of a flawed container, and reject means located adjacent said endless path between said inspection means and said second location operable in response to a reject signal from said inspection means to shift the valve actuating means on the chuck carrying the flawed container to its second position to eject the flawed container before the flawed container reaches said second location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
258 words
Container handling apparatus comprising a plurality of chucks linked together into an endless chain, conveying means for supporting and driving said chucks in movement along an endless path, a vacuum supply source, an air pressure source, each of said chucks comprising a container engaging head operable when supplied with vacuum to grip and support a container, valve means on each of said chucks communicating with said vacuum source and said air pressure source normally conditioned to place the associated head in communication with said vacuum source and operable when actuated to place the head in communication with said air pressure source to eject a container from the chuck, valve actuating means on each valve means normally maintained in a first position wherein said valve means is in its normal condition and movable relative to said valve means to a second position to actuate said valve means, first means on said conveying means at a first location on said endless path for loading containers into said chucks as said chucks are driven past said second location, container inspection means adjacent said endless path between said first and second locations operable to generate a reject signal upon the detection of a flawed container, and reject means located adjacent said endless path between said inspection means and said second location operable in response to a reject signal from said inspection means to shift the valve actuating means on the chuck carrying the flawed container to its second position to eject the flawed container before the flawed container reaches said second location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
246 words
Container handling apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said reject means comprises a wheel mounted for rotation with a portion of the periphery of the wheel tangential to said endless path, a plurality of reject latch means mounted at uniformly spaced positions around the periphery of said wheel corresponding to the spacing between the valve actuating means of adjacent chucks in said endless chain, means driving said wheel in rotation in synchronism with the movement of said chucks to align one of said latch means with the valve actuating means of one of said chucks as the chuck moves into tangency with the periphery of said wheel, each of said latch means having an actuating cam member normally located in a retracted position wherein said cam member is maintained clear of the valve actuating means of chucks and movable to an operative position wherein said cam member is moved into engagement with the valve actuating means of a chuck as the chuck moves into tangency with said wheel to shift the valve actuating means to its second position, means responsive to a reject signal from said inspection means for shifting the cam member of a latch means from its retracted position to its operative position before the latch means is moved into tangency with the chuck carrying the flawed container, and reset means operable after the latch means has moved out of tangency with the chuck to reset the cam member in its retracted position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
301 words
Apparatus for transporting and handling containers comprising a frame, a plurality of container handling head assemblies, link means linking said head assemblies into an endless chain, conveying means supporting and driving said endless chain of head assemblies in movement along an endless generally rectangular path upon said frame, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum actuated air pressure released container chuck thereon operable when supplied with vacuum to grip a container by its bottom to transport the container along said endless path in an inverted position and operable when supplied with pressure to eject and drop the container from the chuck, a source of air under pressure, a source of vacuum, valve means on each chuck normally connecting the chuck to said source of vacuum and actuable to connect the chuck to said source of air under pressure, infeed conveyor means for feeding inverted containers in line along a path aligned with one side of said generally rectangular path, receiving conveyor means aligned with another side of said generally rectangular path adapted to receive containers from said chucks, means for driving said infeed and said receiving conveyor means in synchronism with said head assemblies, first means for manipulating said head assemblies to cause the chucks thereon to pick up containers from said infeed conveyor means at a pick up station as said head assemblies are driven along said one side of said generally rectangular, second means for manipulating said head assemblies and actuating said valve means to deposit containers onto said receiving conveyor means at a deposit station as said head assemblies are driven along said another side of said generally rectangular path, and reject means operable to actuate the valve means of selected chucks at a location on said path intermediate said pick up station and said deposit station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
301 words
Apparatus for transporting and handling containers comprising a frame, a plurality of container handling head assemblies, link means linking said head assemblies into an endless chain, conveying means supporting and driving said endless chain of head assemblies in movement along an endless generally rectangular path upon said frame, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum actuated air pressure released container chuck thereon operable when supplied with vacuum to grip a container by its bottom to transport the container along said endless path in an inverted position and operable when supplied with pressure to eject and drop the container from the chuck, a source of air under pressure, a source of vacuum, valve means on each chuck normally connecting the chuck to said source of vacuum and actuable to connect the chuck to said source of air under pressure, infeed conveyor means for feeding inverted containers in line along a path aligned with one side of said generally rectangular path, receiving conveyor means aligned with another side of said generally rectangular path adapted to receive containers from said chucks, means for driving said infeed and said receiving conveyor means in synchronism with said head assemblies, first means for manipulating said head assemblies to cause the chucks thereon to pick up containers from said infeed conveyor means at a pick up station as said head assemblies are driven along said one side of said generally rectangular, second means for manipulating said head assemblies and actuating said valve means to deposit containers onto said receiving conveyor means at a deposit station as said head assemblies are driven along said another side of said generally rectangular path, and reject means operable to actuate the valve means of selected chucks at a location on said path intermediate said pick up station and said deposit station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |