GB739486A - Improvements in and relating to apparatus for crating or decrating bottles and like operations - Google Patents

Abstract

739,486. Packaging-machines; unpacking. WEBSTER & CO., Ltd., R. W. Nov. 3, 1953 [Nov. 3, 1952], No. 27661/52. Class 94 (1). [Also in Group XXX] A machine for loading or unloading articles into or from a case, e.g. for crating or uncrating bottles, comprises a flexible supporting surface, e.g. the upper run of an endless belt or chain, extensible to and retractable from a substantially horizontal position where it can support the articles at one stage of the loading or unloading operation, the surface being linearly movable horizontally while being retracted or extended and physical restraint being applied thereto by stationary means to prevent linear horizontal movement thereof during the reverse operation, i.e. of extension or retraction respectively. In one form Fig. 1 an endless belt 1 passes over rollers A, B, C and D, the rollers A and B being mounted respectively on horizontally and vertically slidable members operated by an air cylinder and interconnected by linkage so as to be movable simultaneously from position A to position A1 and from position B to position B1 and vice versa. The rollers C and D are fitted with pawls and ratchets which allow rotation only in the direction of the arrows. Crates 5 to be emptied of bottles are positioned in succession by a conveyer 7 beneath a gripper head 4, and while the rollers A and B are in their retracted positions A1 and B1 the head is lowered, or the crate is raised; to engage the bottle necks in the grippers. The head is then raised, or the crate lowered, and the rollers are moved to their projected positions so that the upper run of the belt is extended while remaining stationary to form a supporting surface beneath the bases of the suspended bottles. The bottles are then deposited on the belt, and, the rollers returned to their retracted positions, to transferthe bottles to a delivery conveyer 2, the upper run of the belt moving at twice the speed of the rollers during this movement. The operation of the air cylinders, the movement of the gripper head or crate support and the opening and closing of the grippers are controlled automatically, e.g. by trip mechanisms, so that the movements of the various parts are synchronized. A spring-loaded trip bar 3 is pivoted to the slide member carrying the roller A and is maintained by a cam in an upright position as the roller is retracted so that if the movement of the bottles is obstructed the trip bar is depressed to reduce or cut-off the supply of air to the operating cylinder. On the return movement of the roller the bar is moved by the cam to an inclined position so that its end is positioned in advance of the roller to detect the presence of any obstruction to the movement thereof, e.g. an incorrectly suspended bottle or a bottle of undue length. In a modification, Figs. 4 and 5, the roller B is arranged centrally of the extended upper run of the belt and the latter passes over a further idle roller E, an inclined member 8 being arranged above the belt to transfer the bottles to a delivery conveyer 9 as the rollers are retracted. In a further modification, Fig. 6 (not shown) the roller B is reciprocated horizontally. The machines shown may be modified to transfer groups of bottles from a feed conveyer into position below the gripper head for subsequent insertion into empty cases, and for this purpose the pawls and ratchets of the rollers C and D are reversible so that the upper run of the belt is moved at twice the speed of the roller A as it is extended, but remains stationary as it is retracted..