Apparatus for applying carrier grids to bottles

Claim 2

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of predetermined numbers of containers, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path along which the containers are moved continuously in succession, means for effecting movement of the conveyor, a counter supported adjacent the conveyor for engaging each container and for counting the containers, means supported above and longitudinally of the conveyor having spaced parallel, elongate members inclined relative to the conveyor from one end to the other, from a level at the one end above the path of movement of the tops of the containers to a level at the other end below the tops of the containers, the distance between the elongate members being such as to permit the tops of the containers to extend upwardly therebetween, said elongate members operating to progressively apply downward pressure to a grid deposited on the containers moved along beneath them by the conveyor, and means for delivering grids to the tops of the containers comprising a magazine supported above the conveyor for holding a stack of grids, means for projecting a grid from the magazine each time the counter counts out said predetermined number of containers in a downwardly inclined direction such as to cause the leading end of the grid to project into the path of movement of the top of the leading one of the containers of the counted group at the place of movement of the containers beneath the one end of the elongate members.

Claim 3

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers comprising a conveyOr having a horizontal run for supporting containers standing upright thereon for movement along a predetermined path, spaced parallel guide rails at opposite sides of the conveyor for supporting the containers in said upright positions while travelling along said path, means for moving the conveyor continuously, means adjacent the conveyor for counting successive containers, means supported above and longitudinlly of the conveyor having transversely spaced elongate surfaces inclined relative to the conveyor from one end to the other from a level at the one end above the tops of the containers to a level at the other end below the tops of the containers, the distance between said surfaces being sufficient to permit the tops of the containers to project upwardly between them, said means operating to progressively apply downward pressure to a grid deposited on the containers moving along beneath it, means for projecting grids downwardly at an angle toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers so as to cause the leading ends of the grids to be projected into the path of movement of the tops of the containers, and means operable by the means for counting the containers to effect operation of the last means each time the number of containers counted corresponds to the number of grid openings.

Claim 4

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers comprising a conveyOr having a horizontal run for supporting containers standing upright thereon for movement along a predetermined path, spaced parallel guide rails at opposite sides of the conveyor for supporting the containers in said upright positions while travelling along said path, means for moving the conveyor continuously, means adjacent the conveyor for counting successive containers, means supported above and longitudinlly of the conveyor having transversely spaced elongate surfaces inclined relative to the conveyor from one end to the other from a level at the one end above the tops of the containers to a level at the other end below the tops of the containers, the distance between said surfaces being sufficient to permit the tops of the containers to project upwardly between them, said means operating to progressively apply downward pressure to a grid deposited on the containers moving along beneath it, means for projecting grids downwardly at an angle toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers so as to cause the leading ends of the grids to be projected into the path of movement of the tops of the containers, and means operable by the means for counting the containers to effect operation of the last means each time the number of containers counted corresponds to the number of grid openings.

Claim 5

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers, comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move containers continuously along said path means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, grid pressing means supported above the conveyor along the path of movement of the containers for progressively applying downward pressure to containers moved along by the conveyor beneath it, said pressure-applying means having transversely spaced surfaces extending along the path of movement of the containers which are inclined from one end to the other from a level above the tops of the containers at the one end to a level below the tops of the containers at the other, the distance between the surfaces being such as to permit the tops of the containers to pass betwen them, means supported above the conveyor in the path of movement of the containers operable to project a grid downwardly toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers to cause the leading end of the grid to be intercepted by a container at the one end of the grid pressing means, and means operable in response to the counting means to effect operation of the last means each time it counts a number of containers corresponding to the number of openings in the grid.

Claim 6

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers, comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move containers continuously along said path means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, grid pressing means supported above the conveyor along the path of movement of the containers for progressively applying downward pressure to containers moved along by the conveyor beneath it, said pressure-applying means having transversely spaced surfaces extending along the path of movement of the containers which are inclined from one end to the other from a level above the tops of the containers at the one end to a level below the tops of the containers at the other, the distance between the surfaces being such as to permit the tops of the containers to pass betwen them, means supported above the conveyor in the path of movement of the containers operable to project a grid downwardly toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers to cause the leading end of the grid to be intercepted by a container at the one end of the grid pressing means, and means operable in response to the counting means to effect operation of the last means each time it counts a number of containers corresponding to the number of openings in the grid.

Claim 7

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers, comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the containers continuously along said path, means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, spaced parallel, longitudinally movable pressure-applying members supported above the conveyor for movement along the path of movement of the containers, said members being inclined from one end to the other, from a level above the tops of the containers at the one end to a level below the tops of the containers at the other end, the spacing between said members being sufficient to permit the tops of the containers to pass between them, means for moving said pressure-applying members in consonance with the conveyor to progressively apply pressure to a grid deposited on containers moved along beneath the pressure-applying members by the conveyor, means supported above the conveyor in the path of movement of the containers operable to project a grid downwardly toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers to cuase the leading end of a grid To be intercepted by a container at the one end of the members as the containers move beneath said members, and means operable by the counter to effect operation of the last means each time it counts containers in a number corresponding to the number of containers the grid is adapted to hold.

Claim 8

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers, comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the containers continuously along said path, means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, spaced parallel, longitudinally movable pressure-applying members supported above the conveyor for movement along the path of movement of the containers, said members being inclined from one end to the other, from a level above the tops of the containers at the one end to a level below the tops of the containers at the other end, the spacing between said members being sufficient to permit the tops of the containers to pass between them, means for moving said pressure-applying members in consonance with the conveyor to progressively apply pressure to a grid deposited on containers moved along beneath the pressure-applying members by the conveyor, means supported above the conveyor in the path of movement of the containers operable to project a grid downwardly toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers to cuase the leading end of a grid To be intercepted by a container at the one end of the members as the containers move beneath said members, and means operable by the counter to effect operation of the last means each time it counts containers in a number corresponding to the number of containers the grid is adapted to hold.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pressure-applying members are chains mounted on sprockets with their lower runs inclined to the conveyor.

Claim 10

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers comprising a conveyor providing a horizontal supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the containers along a predetermined path, a pocket wheel supported adjacent the path of movement of the containers, said pocket wheel being rotatable by engagement of successive containers therewith, pressure-applying means supported above the conveyor beyond the pocket wheel in the direction of movement of the containers beneath which the containers are moved by the conveyor, said pressure-applying means having transversely spaced surfaces between which the tops of the containers extend and which are inclined along the path of movement of the containers from a level above the tops of the containers to a level below the tops, said pressure-applying means being adapted to progressively press a grid deposited on the tops of the containers downwardly over the tops onto the necks, means supported above the conveyor for projected grids downwardly at an angle to the tops of the containers to cause the leading ends to be intercepted by the tops of the containes as they enter beneath the pressure-applying means at the one end, and means operable by the pocket wheel to effect operation of the last means when it counts a number of containers corresponding to the number of containers the grid is adapted to hold.

Claim 11

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers comprising a conveyor providing a horizontal supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the containers along a predetermined path, a pocket wheel supported adjacent the path of movement of the containers, said pocket wheel being rotatable by engagement of successive containers therewith, pressure-applying means supported above the conveyor beyond the pocket wheel in the direction of movement of the containers beneath which the containers are moved by the conveyor, said pressure-applying means having transversely spaced surfaces between which the tops of the containers extend and which are inclined along the path of movement of the containers from a level above the tops of the containers to a level below the tops, said pressure-applying means being adapted to progressively press a grid deposited on the tops of the containers downwardly over the tops onto the necks, means supported above the conveyor for projected grids downwardly at an angle to the tops of the containers to cause the leading ends to be intercepted by the tops of the containes as they enter beneath the pressure-applying means at the one end, and means operable by the pocket wheel to effect operation of the last means when it counts a number of containers corresponding to the number of containers the grid is adapted to hold.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pocket wheel contains peripherally thereof a plurality of pockets which overlie the conveyor so that the pockets are engaged by successive containers to rotate the pocket wheel, and there is means on the pocket wheel operable by rotation of a number of pockets corresponding to the number of containers to be supported by the grid to effect operation of the means for projecting the grid.

Claim 13

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers, comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the containers along said path, means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, pressure-applying means mounted above the container extending along the path of movement of the containers and inclined to the conveyor such that at one end it is above the level of the tops of the containers and at the other end it is below, said pressure-applying means providing spaced apart surfaces for engagement with a grid deposited on the tops of the containers at opposite sides of the tops between which the tops are adapted to project, a magazine mounted above the conveyor for holding a stack of grids, said magazine having a bottom inclined downwardly relative to the conveyor in a plane, a projection of which intersects the path of movement of the tops of the containers at the one end of the pressure-applying means, an ajector supported on the magazine to move in the plane of the bottom to eject the lowermost grids from the bottom, and means operable by the counter to initiate operation of the ejector.

Claim 14

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers, comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the containers along said path, means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, pressure-applying means mounted above the container extending along the path of movement of the containers and inclined to the conveyor such that at one end it is above the level of the tops of the containers and at the other end it is below, said pressure-applying means providing spaced apart surfaces for engagement with a grid deposited on the tops of the containers at opposite sides of the tops between which the tops are adapted to project, a magazine mounted above the conveyor for holding a stack of grids, said magazine having a bottom inclined downwardly relative to the conveyor in a plane, a projection of which intersects the path of movement of the tops of the containers at the one end of the pressure-applying means, an ajector supported on the magazine to move in the plane of the bottom to eject the lowermost grids from the bottom, and means operable by the counter to initiate operation of the ejector.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the magazine has at the side adjacent the pressure-applying means an opening of a vertical height greater than the thickness of the single grid such as to permit the leading ends of a plurality of grids to project therethrough with the leading end of the lowermost grid close to the one end of the presSure-applying means substantially in the plane of the pressure-applying surfaces at the one end.

Claim 16

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the cocntainers continuously along said path, means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, grid pressure-applying means supported above the conveyor along the path of movement of the containers having transversely spaced surfaces extending along the path of movement of the containers, said surfaces being inclined from one end to the other from a level above the tops of the containers to a level below the tops of the containers, the distance between the surfaces being such as to permit the tops of the containers to pass between them, a hopper suported above the conveyor adjacent the one end of the pressure-applying means having a downwardly and forwardly inclined bottom wall, a projection of which intersects the path of movement of the tops of the containers at the entrance to the one end of the pressure-applying means and an ejector supported for movement in the plane of the bottom wall to eject the lowermost grids to said position of intersection with the path of movement of the tops of the containers.

Claim 17

Apparatus for applying carrier grids to the tops of containers comprising a conveyor providing a supporting surface movable along a predetermined path for supporting containers standing upright thereon, means for effecting movement of the conveyor to move the cocntainers continuously along said path, means adjacent the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor for counting the containers, grid pressure-applying means supported above the conveyor along the path of movement of the containers having transversely spaced surfaces extending along the path of movement of the containers, said surfaces being inclined from one end to the other from a level above the tops of the containers to a level below the tops of the containers, the distance between the surfaces being such as to permit the tops of the containers to pass between them, a hopper suported above the conveyor adjacent the one end of the pressure-applying means having a downwardly and forwardly inclined bottom wall, a projection of which intersects the path of movement of the tops of the containers at the entrance to the one end of the pressure-applying means and an ejector supported for movement in the plane of the bottom wall to eject the lowermost grids to said position of intersection with the path of movement of the tops of the containers.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hopper has a front wall containing an opening from bottom to top through which the leading ends of the grids supported in the hopper extend downwardly and forwardly toward the entrance to the one end of the pressure-applying means to a position to support the lowermost grid in its ejected position from upward deflection.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the front wall contains at the bottom a horizontal slot corresponding in height to the thickness of the grids through which the lowermost grid is ejected.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the back wall of the container at the bottom has a horizontal slot through which the ejector is movable in the plane of the bottom to eject the lowermost grid through the slot in the front wall.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 14, comprising applying said downward pressure progressively to the grid as the leading end is withdrawn from the lower end of the stack and while the trailing end is still being held in said inclined position at the bottom of the stack.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 16, comprising supporting the lowermost grid at its projected position from upward displacement.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 14, comprising counting the successive bottles and projecting the lowermost grid to a position for interception for each count of bottles corresponding in number to the capacity of the grid.