Multiple bottle gripper

Claim 2

A multiple bottle gripper comprising a plurality of gripper bells; support means supporting said plurality of gripper bells in a plurality of transverse rows which extend in a first direction spaced from each other in a second direction and in which the bells in said transverse rows are arranged spaced from each other in said first direction so as to be also arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows which extend in said second direction; and adjusting means for adjusting the spacing between said transverse rows in said second direction and for adjusting the position of the gripper bells in each of the transverse rows relative to each other in said first direction.

Claim 3

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a mounting plate member and a plurality of first guide means for said gripper bells arranged on said mounting plate member in accordance with said plurality of longitudinal and transverse rows, and wherein said adjusting means comprises at least two slide members extending in said first direction adjacent to said mounting plate member, a plurality of second guide means for said gripper bells on said slide members arranged thereon in accordance with said plurality of longitudinal rows, and mounting means mounting said members movable relative to each other in said second direction, said plurality of first guide means respectively extending inclined at an angle relative to said plurality of second guide means and partly overlapping the latter.

Claim 4

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of first guide means comprises an elongated slot formed in said mounting plate member.

Claim 5

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting plate has a center point and wherein each of the slots in said mounting plate member has a center line the continuation of which passes through said center point.

Claim 6

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 4, wherein said slots in said mounting plate are arranged in a plurality of rows respectively normal to second direction and wherein the projections of the length of the slots in each row onto a line extending in said second direction are substantially equal.

Claim 7

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of second guide means comprises a slot formed in the respective slide member.

Claim 8

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein all of said gripper bells are mounted in said first plurality of guide means on said mounting plate member.

Claim 9

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 7, wherein a slide member is provided for each of said transverse rows and wherein the guide means on each of the slide members mount only the gripper bells of the respective row.

Claim 10

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein said mounting means for said slide members are located laterally of said mounting plate member.

Claim 11

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, incLuding means for fixing the position of said slide member relative to said mounting plate.

Claim 12

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for mounting said slide members are fixedly connected to said mounting plate.

Claim 13

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of first guide means comprises an elongated slot formed in said mounting plate member and each of said plurality of second guide means comprises a slot formed in the respective slide member, wherein each of said gripper bells has a mounting shaft, and wherein the mounting shafts of said bells extend respectively through said slots in said mounting plate and through the slots in the respective slide member.

Claim 14

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said mounting shafts has a pair of square portions respectively located in the respective slots of said mounting plate and in the respective slot of one of said slide members.

Claim 15

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 13, wherein said square shaft portions of each pair are angularly offset with respect to each other.

Claim 16

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 14, wherein said square shaft portions on each shaft are aligned along the shaft axis and turnable about said axis with respect to each other and the remainder of said shaft.

Claim 17

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 15, and including a holding member fixed to each shaft in the region of the free end thereof for preventing movement of said square portions towards said free end.

Claim 18

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 16, including biasing means for urging said aquare portions on each shaft towards said holding member.

Claim 19

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 17, wherein each of said biasing means comprises a coil spring about each shaft between said square portions and the bell carried by the shaft.

Claim 20

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, wherein said mounting plate member has a center line extending normal to first direction, wherein said plurality of first guide means on said mounting plate member are arranged in each transverse row symmetrically with respect to said center line, and wherein the plurality of second guide means on each slide member are also arranged symmetrically with respect to said center line.

Claim 21

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 2, and including stop means for fixing the position of said slide members relative to said mounting plate member.

Claim 22

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 20, and including a plate substantially parallel to said mounting plate and wherein said stop means comprise a plurality of projections projecting spaced from each other from one side of said plate fixed thereto and engaging said slide members.

Claim 23

A multiple bottle gripper as defined in claim 21, wherein said plate is also provided with a second plurality of projections projecting from the other side thereof and being spaced from each other different than the projections projecting from said one side of said plate, said second plurality of projections may be brought in engagement with said slide members upon reversal of said plate.