APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CLASSIFYING EMPTY CONTAINERS

• US 3,749,240 A
• Filed: 12/16/1971
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry W. Lee Jr, William Spears
• Original Assignee: Harry W. Lee Jr, William Spears
• Inventors: Lee, Harry W. Jr., Spears, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Knowles, Allen N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Church, Gene A.
• Application Number:
  US05/208,819
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 209/74,115,75,81,24-27,32-35,134-137,145,156,157,120,213,218,219,220,214,111.8
• US Class Current: 209/631
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0609 by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers

Abstract

Empty containers, such as cans, bottles, and the like are introduced in a random manner to a classifying station where they are acted upon by gravity and by at least another force which acts basically in opposition to gravity with the force and gravity operating to classify the containers into a plurality of classifications.

Claims

1. An article classifying apparatus comprising, means introducing articles to a classifying station where they are acted upon by gravity, fluid means and magnetic means at said classifying station acting in opposition to gravity, said fluid means, magnetic means, and gravity acting substantially simultaneously at said classfying station to classify said articles into a plurality of at least three classifications, said magnetic means serving to remove by magnetic attraction articles comprised of magnetic materials.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said fluid means comrises at least one air nozzle providing an air stream across said classifying station, said air stream being adapted to impinge and deflect certain ones of said articles and define one of said plurality of classifications.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said fluid means comprises a vacuum head producing a partial vacuum across said classifying station and serving to remove by suction certain ones of said articles which define one of said plurality of classifications.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said magnetic means comprises a magnetized pulley and said introducing means comprises an endless conveyor made of a non-magnetic material and being supported at one end thereof by said pulley, said pulley being positioned adjoining said classifying station.

5. An apparatus for classifying articles comprising, means introducing articles to be classified to a classifying station where they are unsupported and acted upon by gravity, and fluid means and magnetic means at said classifying station each acting in opposition to gravity, said fluid means, magnetic means, and gravity acting substantially simultaneously at said classifying station to classify said articles into at least three classifications.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said introducing means comprises an endless belt conveyor comprised of an elastomeric non-magnetic material and having a conveyor pulley at one end thereof positioned adjoining said classifying station, said magnetic means being in the form of magnets provided as an integral part of said pulley, said magnets serving to remove by magnetic attraction articles comprised of magnetic materials and said fluid means serving to remove comparatively light articles with the remainder of the articles being comparatively heavy and falling by gravity into an associated receptacle.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a control device for controlling said fluid means and hence the force exerted thereby.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said fluid means comprises at least one air nozzle providing an air stream across said classifying station, said stream being adapted to impinge against said comparatively light articles at said classifying station prior to acceleration thereof by gravity and deflect the comparatively light articles toward another receptacle.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said fluid means comprises a vacuum head producing a partial vacuum across said classifying station and serving to remove by suction said comparatively light articles.

10. A method of classifying articles into a plurality of classifications comprising the steps of, introducing articles to a classifying station where they are unsupported and acted upon by gravity, exerting a magnetic force and a force produced by fluid means on said articles at said classifying station so that said magnetic force and said force produced by fluid means act in opposition to gravity, said forces and gravity acting substantially simultaneously at said said classifying station to classify said articles into at least three classifications.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 in which said force produced by fluid means is in the form of a high velocity air stream.

12. A method as set forth in claIm 10 in which said force produced by fluid means is in the form of a partial vacuum.