Closure handling apparatus

Claim 2

Closure handling apparatus adapted to handle elongated cylindrical closures open at one end and which are greater in height than in diameter and in which the weight is distributed substantially uniformly throughout the length thereof comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means for depositing closures at the lower end of the carrier, said carrier having radially and angularly arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, each pocket having an open bottom portion and provided with an end wall against which an oriented closure is seated with a portion of the closure extended through said open bottom portion, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, means for preventing seating of an unoriented closure against said end wall and for retaining the same in an elevated position in said pocket, means for rejecting those closures carried by the pockets in said elevated position, and means for transferring the oriented closures upwardly from the pockets to said chute.

Claim 3

Closure handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for preventing seating of an unoriented closure comprises a projection from the end wall of each pocket, those closures presenting their open ends facing said end wall passing over said projection to be seated against the end wall in an oriented position, and those closures presenting their closed ends facing said end wall being engaged by said projection to retain such closures in an elevated position in their pockets.

Claim 4

Closure handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for rejecting the closures assuming an elevated position in the pockets comprises an air jet.

Claim 5

Closure handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein provision is made for maneuvering the closures to cause the same to assume a radial position with respect to the carrier so as to be received by a pocket, said provision including at least two air jets directed laterally and angularly upward with respect to the inclined carrier.

Claim 6

Closure handling apparatus adapted to handle elongated cylindrical closures open at one end comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means for depositing closures at the lower end of the carrier, said carrier having radially and angularly arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, each pocket having an end wall against which an oriented closure is seated, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, means for preventing seating of an unoriented closure against said end wall and for retaining the same in an elevated position in said pocket, means for rejecting those closures carried by the pockets in said elevated position, each of said pockets having an open bottom portion, and a stationary cam disposed beneath the carrier arranged to elevate the lower end of each closure out of its pocket and into engagement with a curved portion of the chute to dispose the closure in chute receiving position to be received into the open entrance of the chute.

Claim 7

Closure handling apparatus adapted to handle elongated cylindrical closures open at one end comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means for depositing closures at the lower end of the carrier, said carrier having radially and angularly arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, each pocket having an end wall against which an oriented closure is seated, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, means for preventing seating of an unoriented closure against said end wall and for retaining the same in an elevated position in said pocket, means for rejecting those closures carried by the pockets in said elevated position, each of said pockets having an open bottom portion, and a stationary cam disposed beneath the carrier arranged to elevate the lower end of each closure out of its pocket and into engagement with a curved portion of the chute to dispose the closure in chute receiving position to be received into the open entrance of the chute.

Claim 8

Closure handling apparatus adapted to handle elongated cylindrical closures open at one end and having a substantially uniform distribution of weight throughout its length comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means for depositing closures at the lower end of the carrier, said carrier having radially and angularly arranged pockets formed therein to receive closures, each pocket having an open bottom portion and provided with an end wall against which oriented closures are seated, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive the oriEnted closures, each of said pockets having a projection extended radially inwardly from said end wall, those closures presenting their open ends facing said end wall passing over said projection to be seated against the end wall in an oriented position, and those closures presenting their closed ends facing said end wall being engaged by said projections to retain such closures in an elevated position in said pocket, means for rejecting those closures carried by the pockets in said elevated position prior to arriving at the entrance to said chute, and means for transferring the oriented closures from the pockets to said chute, said last named means comprising means engageable with the portions of the closures extended through said open bottom portion.

Claim 9

Closure handling apparatus adapted to handle elongated cylindrical closures open at one end and having a substantially uniform distribution of weight throughout its length comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means for depositing closures at the lower end of the carrier, said carrier having radially and angularly arranged pockets formed therein to receive closures, each pocket having an open bottom portion and provided with an end wall against which oriented closures are seated, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive the oriEnted closures, each of said pockets having a projection extended radially inwardly from said end wall, those closures presenting their open ends facing said end wall passing over said projection to be seated against the end wall in an oriented position, and those closures presenting their closed ends facing said end wall being engaged by said projections to retain such closures in an elevated position in said pocket, means for rejecting those closures carried by the pockets in said elevated position prior to arriving at the entrance to said chute, and means for transferring the oriented closures from the pockets to said chute, said last named means comprising means engageable with the portions of the closures extended through said open bottom portion.