Apparatus for applying carrying grids to bottles

Claim 2

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of containers of a group of containers in which there are two rows of containers arranged side by side, each grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number and arrangement to the tops of the containers in the group which are adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor along which the group of containers are adapted to be moved, pressure applying means mounted above and extending along the conveyor, the pressure applying means comprising two pairs of endless members supported with portions thereof traveling in the same direction as the conveyor there below and forming with the conveyor a passage through which the containers are moved by the conveyor, said portions being arranged to engage the grid at opposite sides of each line of encircling elements and to slope downwardly in the direction of movement from a level above the tops of the containers to a level below the tops of the containers, and means for depositing grids on the tops of thE groups of containers before they enter the passage.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endless members are link chains.

Claim 4

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of the containers of a group of containers, said grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number to the number of containers to which it is to be applied, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor along which groups of containers are adapted to be moved, guide members mounted above the conveyor in spaced parallel relation, said guide members extending along the conveyor and having downwardly facing bearing surfaces inclining downwardly from one end to the other in the direction of movement of the conveyor, said guide members with the conveyors forming a passage which diminishes in vertical height from one end to the other, link chains mounted on the guide members with portions thereof extending lengthwise and in engagement with the downwardly facing bearing surfaces, said link chains being operable in conjunction with the conveyor to effect movement of the containers along the passage, and said link chains being operable progressively to press the top encircling elements of the grid downwardly over the tops of the containers, and means for effecting movement of the conveyor and link chains in consonance and in the same direction.

Claim 5

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of the containers of a group of containers, said grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number to the number of containers to which it is to be applied, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor along which groups of containers are adapted to be moved, guide members mounted above the conveyor in spaced parallel relation, said guide members extending along the conveyor and having downwardly facing bearing surfaces inclining downwardly from one end to the other in the direction of movement of the conveyor, said guide members with the conveyors forming a passage which diminishes in vertical height from one end to the other, link chains mounted on the guide members with portions thereof extending lengthwise and in engagement with the downwardly facing bearing surfaces, said link chains being operable in conjunction with the conveyor to effect movement of the containers along the passage, and said link chains being operable progressively to press the top encircling elements of the grid downwardly over the tops of the containers, and means for effecting movement of the conveyor and link chains in consonance and in the same direction.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising spaced parallel guides at the opposite sides of the conveyor for guiding the groups of containers rectangularly through the passage between the conveyor and the link chains.

Claim 7

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of the containers of groups of containers, said grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number to the number of containers in the group to which it is to be applied, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor for moving successive groups of containers along a predetermined path, pressure-applying means mounted above the conveyor and means for depositing a grid on the tops of the containers of each group as it is moved into the sphere of operation of the pressure applying means, said pressure-applying means being adapted to apply increasing downward pressure to the grid as the groups of containers and grid are moved along by the conveyor to progressively press the encircling elements of the grid down over the tops and said means for depositing the grid on the top of the containers comprising an inclined chute supported adjacent the entrance to the passage between the conveyor and the pressure-applying means to which grids are delivered one at a time, the lower end of the chute being so disposed that the tops of the containers at the forward end of the group of containers as the group is moved forwardly beneath the chute engages the top encircling elements at the forward end of the grid and lifts the forward end off the chute, spring means mounted on the chute holding the grid down against the chute in opposition to the lift imparted thereto by the movement of the containers therebelow as the grid is moved forwardly by forward movement of the containers into the passage, and means operable by the trailing end of the grid as it leaves the chute to effect delivery of another grid to the chute.

Claim 8

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of the containers of groups of containers, said grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number to the number of containers in the group to which it is to be applied, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor for moving successive groups of containers along a predetermined path, pressure-applying means mounted above the conveyor and means for depositing a grid on the tops of the containers of each group as it is moved into the sphere of operation of the pressure applying means, said pressure-applying means being adapted to apply increasing downward pressure to the grid as the groups of containers and grid are moved along by the conveyor to progressively press the encircling elements of the grid down over the tops and said means for depositing the grid on the top of the containers comprising an inclined chute supported adjacent the entrance to the passage between the conveyor and the pressure-applying means to which grids are delivered one at a time, the lower end of the chute being so disposed that the tops of the containers at the forward end of the group of containers as the group is moved forwardly beneath the chute engages the top encircling elements at the forward end of the grid and lifts the forward end off the chute, spring means mounted on the chute holding the grid down against the chute in opposition to the lift imparted thereto by the movement of the containers therebelow as the grid is moved forwardly by forward movement of the containers into the passage, and means operable by the trailing end of the grid as it leaves the chute to effect delivery of another grid to the chute.

Claim 9

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of the containers of groups of containers, said grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number to the number of containers in the group to which it is to be applied, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor for moving successive groups of containers along a predetermined path, pressure-applying means mounted above the conveyor, and means for depositing a grid on the tops of the containers of each group as it is moved into tHe sphere of operation of the pressure applying means, said pressure-applying means being adapted to apply increasing downward pressure to the grid as the groups of containers and grid are moved along by the conveyor to progressively press the top encircling elements of the grid down over the tops and said means for depositing the grids on the top of the containers comprising an inclined chute supported adjacent the entrance to the passage between the conveyor and the pressure-applying means to which grids are delivered one at a time with its lower end situated below the tops of the containers resting on the conveyor, an abutment at said lower end which supports a grid resting on the inclined surface of the chute with the top encircling elements at the lower end of the grid in a position to be intercepted by the tops of the containers at the forward end of the group, spring means mounted on the chute for holding the grid down against upward displacement by the tops of containers as they are advanced beneath it so as to press the top encircling elements firmly against the tops of the containers and hold the grid in place until it enters the passage, said tops of the containers being operative as they move beneath the leading end of the grid to lift it off the abutment, and means operable as the trailing end of the grid leaves the chute to effect delivery of another grid to the chute.

Claim 10

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of the containers of groups of containers, said grid having top encircling elements corresponding in number to the number of containers in the group to which it is to be applied, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the tops of the containers by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor for moving successive groups of containers along a predetermined path, pressure-applying means mounted above the conveyor, and means for depositing a grid on the tops of the containers of each group as it is moved into tHe sphere of operation of the pressure applying means, said pressure-applying means being adapted to apply increasing downward pressure to the grid as the groups of containers and grid are moved along by the conveyor to progressively press the top encircling elements of the grid down over the tops and said means for depositing the grids on the top of the containers comprising an inclined chute supported adjacent the entrance to the passage between the conveyor and the pressure-applying means to which grids are delivered one at a time with its lower end situated below the tops of the containers resting on the conveyor, an abutment at said lower end which supports a grid resting on the inclined surface of the chute with the top encircling elements at the lower end of the grid in a position to be intercepted by the tops of the containers at the forward end of the group, spring means mounted on the chute for holding the grid down against upward displacement by the tops of containers as they are advanced beneath it so as to press the top encircling elements firmly against the tops of the containers and hold the grid in place until it enters the passage, said tops of the containers being operative as they move beneath the leading end of the grid to lift it off the abutment, and means operable as the trailing end of the grid leaves the chute to effect delivery of another grid to the chute.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there is a hopper situated above the chute for holding a stack of grids with the lowermost grid in a position to be discharged into the chute, an ejector mounted to be moved in the plane of the lowermost grid in the hopper to push the lowermost grid from the hopper into the chute, and switch means on the chute operable by the trailing end of the grid to effect movement of the ejector to push the lowermost grid into the chute.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there is a hopper supported above the chute for receiving a stack of grids, means at the lower end of the hopper on which the stack of grids is adapted to rest, said grids being adapted to be released from said support means by longitudinal movement of the lowermost grid, and a ram supported to be moved in the plane of the lowermost grid operable by such movement to effect release of the grid from said supporting means to the chute therebelow.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there is a hopper supported above the chute for receiving a stack of grids, means at the lower end of the hopper on which the stack of grids is adapted to rest so long as the lowermost grid is confined within the hopper, said hopper having at its forward lower end an opening at the level of the lowermost grid through which the lowermost grid is adapted to be moved, and said grid being of a configuration such that longitudinal movement disengages it from said last-named means to drop from the hopper into the chute, and a ram supported to be moved in the plane of the lowermost grid operable by longitudinal movement to effect longitudinal movement of the grid and hence release from said last-named means to the chute therebelow.