Apparatus for applying carrier grids to bottles

Claim 2

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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, means for depositing a grid on the upper ends of the containers in each group as it approaches said pressure-applying means, and stabilizing means situated above the conveyor between the means for depositing the grid and the pressure-applying means for engaging the entire number of top encircling elements of the grid with all of the upper ends of the containers in the group prior to movement of the containers into the sphere of operation of the pressure-applying means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means is at least as long as the length of thE grid.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means comprises a pair of spaced parallel, elongate, rigid top guide rails supported with their lower sides at the level of the tops of the containers and with which a grid engaged with the tops of the containers is adapted to have sliding engagement.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means holds the grid engaged with the tops of the containers as the grid travels with the containers toward the pressure-applying means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for depositing the grids is a hopper supported above the conveyor having a bottom opening, a tray situated below the bottom opening and inclined downwardly therefrom toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers, and power-operable means responsive to a detector to release a grid through the bottom opening of the hopper to said tray as each group of containers pass beneath it.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detector is responsive to the presence of a group of containers as they approach the hopper to release a grid.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detector is an arm supported adjacent the conveyor in the path of movement of the containers operable by deflection to effect release of the grid.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detector is an electric eye supported adjacent the path of movement of the containers operable when intercepted by a group of containers to effect release of the grid.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the containers are advanced in a carton in which they are set in line and the carton has on it an index mark for detection by the electric eye.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a springy presser plate overlies the top of the containers at the place of engagement of the leading container in a group of containers with the leading end of a grid supported by the tray.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor for the groups of containers comprises longitudinally extending, spaced parallel link chains connected by cross-plates which form a supporting surface and is supported with a length thereof below the pressure-applying means in a horizontal plane.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor for the groups of containers comprises longitudinally extending, spaced parallel, horizontally disposed rails and a belt supported along one side of the rails for movement therealong on which there are mounted lugs, the spacing between which corresponds to the length of the carton in which the containers are packaged.

Claim 14

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 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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, means for depositing a grid on the upper ends of the containers of each group as it approached said pressure-applying means, and stabilizing means situated between the means for depositing the grid and the pressure-applying means for engaging all of the top encircling elements with all of the tops of the containers before the containers enter the pressure-applying zone, and wherein said means for depositing the grid comprises a hopper having vertically disposed side and end walls, an open top and open bottom, transversely spaced supporting shoulders at the bottom extending inwardly from the side walls, the distance between which is slightly less than the transverse width of the top encircling elements at the ends of the grid so that a grid deposited in the hopper rests with marginal portions on the shoulders, said hopper having in its forward wall with respect to the direction of movement a transverse slot corresponding in length and height to the width and thickness of the grid such that the forward end of the grid may enter the slot, a slot in the rear wall, a feed plate mounted to move through the slot in the rear wall to push the lowermost grid forwardly into the slot in the front wall far enough to clear said shoulders, and a downwardly and forwardly extending tray below the hopper for receiving the grid as it is pushed off said shoulders.

Claim 15

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 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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, means for depositing a grid on the upper ends of the containers of each group as it approached said pressure-applying means, and stabilizing means situated between the means for depositing the grid and the pressure-applying means for engaging all of the top encircling elements with all of the tops of the containers before the containers enter the pressure-applying zone, and wherein said means for depositing the grid comprises a hopper having vertically disposed side and end walls, an open top and open bottom, transversely spaced supporting shoulders at the bottom extending inwardly from the side walls, the distance between which is slightly less than the transverse width of the top encircling elements at the ends of the grid so that a grid deposited in the hopper rests with marginal portions on the shoulders, said hopper having in its forward wall with respect to the direction of movement a transverse slot corresponding in length and height to the width and thickness of the grid such that the forward end of the grid may enter the slot, a slot in the rear wall, a feed plate mounted to move through the slot in the rear wall to push the lowermost grid forwardly into the slot in the front wall far enough to clear said shoulders, and a downwardly and forwardly extending tray below the hopper for receiving the grid as it is pushed off said shoulders.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the tray has at its lower end transversely spaced upright supports, the distance between which is greater than the width of the top encircling elements at the ends of the grid but less than the width of the handles.

Claim 17

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of capped bottles of a group of three aligned bottles, said grid having three aligned top encircling elements spaced to engage the tops of the bottles, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the caps of the bottles down onto the necks below the caps by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor for moving successive groups of bottles along a predetermined path, pressure-applying means mounted above the conveyor and extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the bottles travel for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the bottles in the group, means for depositing a grid on the upper ends of the bottles in each group as it approaches said pressure-applying means, and stabilizing means situated above the conveyor between the means for depositing the grid and the pressure-applying means comprising spaced parallel, longitudinally extending rails having substantially flat, horizontal surfaces parallel to the conveyor situated at a height from the conveyor corresponding to the heights of the bottles.

Claim 18

Apparatus for applying a carrier grid to the tops of capped bottles of a group of three aligned bottles, said grid having three aligned top encircling elements spaced to engage the tops of the bottles, said elements being adapted to be expanded over the caps of the bottles down onto the necks below the caps by downward pressure applied to the grid, comprising a conveyor for moving successive groups of bottles along a predetermined path, pressure-applying means mounted above the conveyor and extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the bottles travel for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the bottles in the group, means for depositing a grid on the upper ends of the bottles in each group as it approaches said pressure-applying means, and stabilizing means situated above the conveyor between the means for depositing the grid and the pressure-applying means comprising spaced parallel, longitudinally extending rails having substantially flat, horizontal surfaces parallel to the conveyor situated at a height from the conveyor corresponding to the heights of the bottles.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rails have transversely narrow lower edges, the distance between which is greater than the diameters of the caps on the bottles.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the means for depositing the grids is a hopper having a bottom opening below which there is a tray inclined downwardly in the direction of travel of the groups of bottles, and wherein said tray has a lower end situated above the path of travel of the tops of the bottles and there is means at the lower end of the tray supporting a grid deposited therein with its lower end intersecting the path of travel of the tops of the bottles.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the means supporting the grid deposited on the tray comprises transversely spaced upstanding shoulders.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the shoulders correspond in height to the thickness of the grid such that the top of the leading bottle in a group of bottles lifts the grid up onto the upper edges of the shoulders.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a flexible hold-down provided with a flat elongate surface is supported with one end above the shoulders and the other end at the level of said stabilizing means.

Claim 24

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 the 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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, means for delivering a grid in a downwardly inclined direction toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers, stabilizing means situated above the conveyor between the last means and the pressure-applying means for engaging the entire number of top encircling elements of the grid with the entire number of the upper ends of the containers in the group, and spring means for holding the leading end of the grid downwardly depressed while the leading one of the containers in the group moves into intersecting engagement with the top encircling element at the leading end of the grid and for progressively continuing to apply downward pressure to the entire length of the grid as it is drawn forwardly with the containers.

Claim 25

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 the 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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, means for delivering a grid in a downwardly inclined direction toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers, stabilizing means situated above the conveyor between the last means and the pressure-applying means for engaging the entire number of top encircling elements of the grid with the entire number of the upper ends of the containers in the group, and spring means for holding the leading end of the grid downwardly depressed while the leading one of the containers in the group moves into intersecting engagement with the top encircling element at the leading end of the grid and for progressively continuing to apply downward pressure to the entire length of the grid as it is drawn forwardly with the containers.

Claim 26

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 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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, a hopper supported above the conveyor having a bottom opening for holding a stack of grids, a tray situated below the bottom opening and inclined downwardly therefrom toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers to which the lowermost grid in the stack of grids is adapted to be released, means at the lower end of the tray for holding the grid released thereto in a downwardly inclined position with its leading end intersecting the path of movement of the tops of the containers as they are moved along by the conveyor, and spring means supported above the lower end of the tray at the place of intersection of the leading end of the grid with the leading one of the containers in the group for engaging the leading top encircling element with the top of the leading container as the latter withdraws the grid from the tray and successively engaging the remaining top encircling elements with the tops of the remaining containers in the group.

Claim 27

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 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 extending therealong beneath which the upper ends of the containers are moved by the conveyor for progressively applying pressure to a grid deposited on the upper ends of the containers in the group, a hopper supported above the conveyor having a bottom opening for holding a stack of grids, a tray situated below the bottom opening and inclined downwardly therefrom toward the path of movement of the tops of the containers to which the lowermost grid in the stack of grids is adapted to be released, means at the lower end of the tray for holding the grid released thereto in a downwardly inclined position with its leading end intersecting the path of movement of the tops of the containers as they are moved along by the conveyor, and spring means supported above the lower end of the tray at the place of intersection of the leading end of the grid with the leading one of the containers in the group for engaging the leading top encircling element with the top of the leading container as the latter withdraws the grid from the tray and successively engaging the remaining top encircling elements with the tops of the remaining containers in the group.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the spring means is spaced from the lower end of the tray by an amount corresponding approximately to the thickness of a grid.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pressure-applying means slopes toward the conveyor in the direction of movement of the containers along the conveyor.