Automatic ware handler

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the belt having the greater linear speed diverts from the transport path along the conveyor belt in common with the slower moving belt and a static stabilizer bar is positioned in a location relative to the slower moving belt corresponding to the constantly-spaced relationship between the first and second belts immediately beyond the diversion point of the faster moving belt, whereby articles passing between the stabilizer bar and slower moving belt are urged to rotate in a direction opposite in sense of the rotation imparted by the coaction of the faster-moving and slower-moving belts.

Claim 4

ApparaTus as set forth in claim 1 in which the idler means comprise at least one bifurcated arm mounted for reciprocal motion in directions perpendicular to the direction of travel of the first and second belts, the bifurcated arm carrying rotatably-mounted idler wheels at the end portions of the bifurcations of the arm.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the idler means also include a second bifurcated arm with a second set of idler wheels spaced axially with regard to the rotational axis of the idler wheels, whereby one set of idler wheels is positioned to engage an upper portion of an article and the other set is positioned to engage the lower portion.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the idler wheels of the idler means are spaced vertically an equal distance from the plane of rotation of the rotary drive wheel means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which a second set of spaced belts are included, one each of which correspond with regard to linear speed to the first and second continuous belts but each of which are spaced perpendicular to the direction of spacing between the first and second belts from the corresponding first or second belt.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the constantly-spaced portions of the first and second continuous belts diverge from the conveyor belt with an increasing distance therebetween in the direction of travel of such belts along such portions, whereby articles engaged by the first and second belts will be lifted from the conveyor belt as a result of contact with the first and second belts.

Claim 9

Apparatus for imparting selectively translational and rotary motion to cylindrical articles such as glassware, and for stabilizing, accelerating and decelerating the articles with regard to rotary motion, comprising: a conveyor belt for carrying such articles; a first continuous belt mounted for movement in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt and spaced from but adjacent to the conveyor belt; a second continuous belt mounted for movement at least in part parallel to the first belt and in part spaced a substantially constant distance corresponding to the diameter of the articles to be conveyed from the first continuous belt; means for driving the first and second continuous belts at constant but differing linear speeds in a common direction along the constantly-spaced portions thereof; means for imparting substantially rotary motion to the articles mounted adjacent one of the continuous belts along the constantly-spaced portion thereof; means for laterally displacing articles between the first and second continuous belts into contact with the means for imparting rotary motion to the articles; and a sensor means for initiating movement of the means for displacement upon movement of an article between the first and second continuous belts into a location adjacent the means for displacement, whereby articles carried on the conveyor belt are conducted between the first and second belts, rotated as a result of the differing linear speeds of the first and second belts, and, upon reaching a position adjacent the means for imparting rotary motion, laterally displaced and rapidly rotated for inspection, and thereafter decelerated with regard to rotary motion while being translationally moved by the rotary belts in a stabilized manner.

Claim 10

Apparatus for imparting selectively translational and rotary motion to cylindrical articles such as glassware, and for stabilizing, accelerating and decelerating the articles with regard to rotary motion, comprising: a conveyor belt for carrying such articles; a first continuous belt mounted for movement in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt and spaced from but adjacent to the conveyor belt; a second continuous belt mounted for movement at least in part parallel to the first belt and in part spaced a substantially constant distance corresponding to the diameter of the articles to be conveyed from the first continuous belt; means for driving the first and second continuous belts at constant but differing linear speeds in a common direction along the constantly-spaced portions thereof; means for imparting substantially rotary motion to the articles mounted adjacent one of the continuous belts along the constantly-spaced portion thereof; means for laterally displacing articles between the first and second continuous belts into contact with the means for imparting rotary motion to the articles; and a sensor means for initiating movement of the means for displacement upon movement of an article between the first and second continuous belts into a location adjacent the means for displacement, whereby articles carried on the conveyor belt are conducted between the first and second belts, rotated as a result of the differing linear speeds of the first and second belts, and, upon reaching a position adjacent the means for imparting rotary motion, laterally displaced and rapidly rotated for inspection, and thereafter decelerated with regard to rotary motion while being translationally moved by the rotary belts in a stabilized manner.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which a static stabilizer bar is positioned adjacent the termination of the constantly-spaced portion of the faster moving of the first and second belts, and in which the slower moving of such belts continues in the constantly-spaced relationship with regard to the static stabilizer bar, whereby an opposite rotation as is imparted by the first and second belts is applied to the article by the stabilizer bar and the slower moving belt.

Claim 14

A method as set forth in claim 10 in which the articles, after leaving the inspection station and being rotated at a lower rotational speed by the spaced belts, are conducted between a static stabilizer bar and the slower moving of the first and second belts to further substantially decelerate the articles with regard to rotational movement before placement on the conveyor belt without the influence of the stabilizing first and second belts.