Free flow device for container unscramblers

Claim 2

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunting bar to assure free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; and means on the bar for effecting spinning of the containers which contact the bar by being propelled theretoward by said conveying means, and wherein said means for effecting spinning comprises a frictional cushioning strip attached to and providing a facing of substantial thickness along the bar for engagement by the containers.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar comprise a plurality of progressive parallel conveyors and means for driving the parallel conveyors at progressively greater speed from the end of the bar remote from the take away conveyor to the take away conveyor.

Claim 4

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunTing bar to assume free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; said bar being mounted for oscillation about fixed vertical axes adjacent to opposite ends thereof; said vibrating means operating to oscillate opposite ends of the bar alternately to effect said vibrating thereof; and said means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar comprising a plurality of progressive parallel conveyors and means for driving the parallel conveyors at progressively greater speed from the end of the bar remote from the take away conveyor to the take away conveyor.

Claim 5

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunTing bar to assume free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; said bar being mounted for oscillation about fixed vertical axes adjacent to opposite ends thereof; said vibrating means operating to oscillate opposite ends of the bar alternately to effect said vibrating thereof; and said means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar comprising a plurality of progressive parallel conveyors and means for driving the parallel conveyors at progressively greater speed from the end of the bar remote from the take away conveyor to the take away conveyor.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3, including means on said bar for effecting spinning of the containers while contacting the bar.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said conveying means comprise endless conveyor belt structure, means for driving said endless belt structure toward said bar including a rotary shaft, said means operating to oscillate opposite ends of the bar including a rotary shaft extending generally parallel to the bar on an axis which is angular to the axis of said conveyor driving means shaft, and means including a universal coupling connecting said conveyor driving means shaft drivingly with said oscillating means shaft.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means operating to oscillate opposite ends of the bar comprise a fixedly mounted supporting bar extending generally parallel to said shunting bar, respective plungers reciprocably supported by respective opposite end portions of said supporting bar, means pivotally attaching said plungers in supporting relation to said shunting bar, and means for reciprocably driving said plungers to effect oscillations of said shunting bar.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, each of said plungers having a cam follower on its end opposite to said shunting bar, a cam shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said supporting bar and adjacent to said followers, respective lobed cams corotatable with said shaft and engaged by said followers, and means for driving said shaft to rotate the cams, said cams having the lobes thereof arranged to effect reciprocations of the plungers alternately oppositely for oscillating said shunting bar.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, including means for adjusting said shaft relative to said plungers and for adjusting said cams relative to said followers.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for effecting spinning of the containers which contact the bar and comprising a frictional cushioning facing along the bar for engagement by the containers.

Claim 12

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunting bar to assure free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; means on the bar for effecting spinning of the containers which contact the bar; and said means conveying containers to and along the shunting bar comprising a plurality of progressive parallel conveyors and means for driving the parallel conveyors at progressively greater speed from the end of the bar remote from the take away conveyor to the take away conveyor.

Claim 13

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunting bar to assure free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; means on the bar for effecting spinning of the containers which contact the bar; and said means conveying containers to and along the shunting bar comprising a plurality of progressive parallel conveyors and means for driving the parallel conveyors at progressively greater speed from the end of the bar remote from the take away conveyor to the take away conveyor.

Claim 14

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunting bar to assure free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; said bar being mounted for oscillation about fixed vertical axes adjacent to opposite ends thereof; said vibrating means operating to oscillate opposite ends of the bar alternately to effect said vibrating thereof; said means operating to oscilLate opposite ends of the bar comprising a fixedly mounted supporting bar extending generally parallel to said shunting bar, respective plungers reciprocably supported by respective opposite end portions of said supporting bar, means pivotally attaching said plungers in supporting relation to said shunting bar, and means for reciprocably driving said plungers to effect oscillations of said shunting bar; and wherein each of said plungers has a cam follower on its end opposite to said shunting bar, a cam shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said supporting bar and adjacent to said followers, respective lobed cams corotatable with said shaft and engaged by said followers, and means for driving said shaft to rotate the cams, said cams having the lobes thereof arranged to effect reciprocations of the plungers alternately oppositely for effecting said oscillations of said shunting bar.

Claim 15

Apparatus for unscrambling containers, comprising: a take away conveyor; a shunting bar converging toward said take away conveyor; means for conveying containers to and along the shunting bar toward the take away conveyor; means for vibrating the shunting bar to assure free flow movement of the containers from the bar onto the take away conveyor; said bar being mounted for oscillation about fixed vertical axes adjacent to opposite ends thereof; said vibrating means operating to oscillate opposite ends of the bar alternately to effect said vibrating thereof; said means operating to oscilLate opposite ends of the bar comprising a fixedly mounted supporting bar extending generally parallel to said shunting bar, respective plungers reciprocably supported by respective opposite end portions of said supporting bar, means pivotally attaching said plungers in supporting relation to said shunting bar, and means for reciprocably driving said plungers to effect oscillations of said shunting bar; and wherein each of said plungers has a cam follower on its end opposite to said shunting bar, a cam shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said supporting bar and adjacent to said followers, respective lobed cams corotatable with said shaft and engaged by said followers, and means for driving said shaft to rotate the cams, said cams having the lobes thereof arranged to effect reciprocations of the plungers alternately oppositely for effecting said oscillations of said shunting bar.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11, including means for adjusting said shaft relative to said plungers and for adjusting said cams relative to said followers.