US3677273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle rinsing apparatus
Assignee: POLAR CHILLED PRODUCTS CO Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-05
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-01-05
Abstract
Abstract Bottle rinsing apparatus wherein a first horizontal receiver conveyor carries upright bottles between the upper and lower runs of a continuous second conveyor which has a plurality of bottle receiving receptacles. The second conveyor has a first upper run segment in which receptacles are carried downwardly at an angle to the first conveyor so as to respectively encompass a bottle on the first conveyor. The encompassed bottles are inverted by the receptacle conveyor and passed over rinsing jets on a lower run segment of the second conveyor. Each bottle receptacle is open at both ends, with one end having a restricted opening to retain the bottle neck when the bottle is inverted, while still affording a path to the bottle interior for the rinsing jets and for drainage. The second conveyor has a second upper run segment in which the receptacles are carried upwardly at an angle adjacent a horizontal retrieval conveyor which receives the bottles in upright position from the receptacles.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald F Mahlstede
- 👤 Buster L Carruth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:12
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/20; B08B9/28; B08B9/30; B08B9/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for handling containers having an open end, comprising a first conveyor for containers, said conveyor having receiver and retrieval portions, means for feeding containers in an upright position in spaced relationship onto the receiver portion of the first conveyor, a second conveyor having converging and diverging run segments with respect to the first conveyor and a return run segment between the terminals of the diverging and converging run segments; a plurality of container receiving receptacles carried by the second conveyor, each of said receptacles having open ends one end of which is a restricted opening; means for propelling the first conveyor and the second conveyor such that successive containers on the first conveyor are encompassed by successive rEceptacles on the converging run segment of the second conveyor such that the opening of the container lodges at the restricted opening of the receptacle during the traverse by the receptacle of the return run of the second conveyor; rinsing means adjacent the second conveyor for a portion of the return run, said second conveyor diverging from the retrieval portion of the first conveyor such that the containers transfer from the receptacles into upright position upon the retrieval portion, and means for removing the containers from the first conveyor retrieval portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for handling containers having an open end, comprising a first conveyor for containers, said conveyor having receiver and retrieval portions, means for feeding containers in an upright position in spaced relationship onto the receiver portion of the first conveyor, a second conveyor having converging and diverging run segments with respect to the first conveyor and a return run segment between the terminals of the diverging and converging run segments; a plurality of container receiving receptacles carried by the second conveyor, each of said receptacles having open ends one end of which is a restricted opening; means for propelling the first conveyor and the second conveyor such that successive containers on the first conveyor are encompassed by successive rEceptacles on the converging run segment of the second conveyor such that the opening of the container lodges at the restricted opening of the receptacle during the traverse by the receptacle of the return run of the second conveyor; rinsing means adjacent the second conveyor for a portion of the return run, said second conveyor diverging from the retrieval portion of the first conveyor such that the containers transfer from the receptacles into upright position upon the retrieval portion, and means for removing the containers from the first conveyor retrieval portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for supplying containers to the first conveyor comprises a feed conveyor, and a rotating star wheel transferring containers from the feed conveyor to the first conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising spacing means for establishing a small interval between adjacent containers at the point of contact with the star wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a guide fence leading from the feed conveyor around the star wheel to the first conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 further comprising drive means for the star wheel, support means for the guide fence, each of said drive means and support means having locator pins adapted to mate respectively with a star wheel and a guide fence such that the star wheel and guide fence may be readily removed and replaced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each receptacle comprises a cylinder having an open end, a conical wall opposite the open end and a restricted opening terminating the conical wall, the open end of the receptacle being closer to the first conveyor than the restricted end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a curving guide plate intervenes between the first conveyor and the second conveyor at each end of the second conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
Rinsing apparatus for containers with top openings, comprising: a first horizontal conveyor having spaced receiving and retrieval portions, a second conveyor having a portion converging towards said receiving portion, a portion diverging away from said retrieval portion, and return run portion, means for applying a rinse liquid to the containers, means feeding containers to the first conveyor at spaced intervals; said second conveyor having means operative at said converging portion for removing said containers from said first conveyor, inverting them over the rinse applying means, and restoring them at said diverging portion in an upright position to the first conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
Rinsing apparatus for containers with top openings, comprising: a first horizontal conveyor having spaced receiving and retrieval portions, a second conveyor having a portion converging towards said receiving portion, a portion diverging away from said retrieval portion, and return run portion, means for applying a rinse liquid to the containers, means feeding containers to the first conveyor at spaced intervals; said second conveyor having means operative at said converging portion for removing said containers from said first conveyor, inverting them over the rinse applying means, and restoring them at said diverging portion in an upright position to the first conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, which includes a feed conveyor, and means for transferring containers therefrom which comprises a star wheel and a guide bar extending from said feed conveyor about a portion of the star wheel to said first conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further comprising quick-change fasteners securing said star wheel and said guide bar in place.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said quick-change fasteners comprise vertical support pins extending into apertures in the star wheel and the guide bar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
Bottle rinsing apparatus, comprising: a first conveyor for moving received bottles in an upright position along a horizontal path; a second conveyor having a path portion movable in one direction above the first conveyor and a path portion movable in a generally opposite direction below the first conveyor; cylindrical bottle receiving receptacles having a restricted opening at one end carried by said second conveyor; means for relatively moving the second conveyor with respect to the first conveyor so that the receptacles successively encompass the upright bottles in the path portion above the first conveyor and transport the bottles to an inverted position in the path portion below the first conveyor, in which latter position the bottles have their open ends positioned in the downwardly disposed restricted openings of the receptaCles; and means for applying rinsing jets of liquid into the receptacles and bottles while in said inverted positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
Bottle rinsing apparatus, comprising: a first conveyor for moving received bottles in an upright position along a horizontal path; a second conveyor having a path portion movable in one direction above the first conveyor and a path portion movable in a generally opposite direction below the first conveyor; cylindrical bottle receiving receptacles having a restricted opening at one end carried by said second conveyor; means for relatively moving the second conveyor with respect to the first conveyor so that the receptacles successively encompass the upright bottles in the path portion above the first conveyor and transport the bottles to an inverted position in the path portion below the first conveyor, in which latter position the bottles have their open ends positioned in the downwardly disposed restricted openings of the receptaCles; and means for applying rinsing jets of liquid into the receptacles and bottles while in said inverted positions.
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) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |