Automatic bottle sorting system
First Claim
1. A gripper mechanism for use in an automatic bottle sorting machine, comprising:
- a plurality of gripper members arranged adjacent one another, each gripper member includingfirst and second gripper arms, each gripper arm having attachment means at one end providing pivotal movement thereof and having an arcuate cut-out adjacent the opposite end for engagement with a bottle;
a camming means movable between a first position for urging said arms apart to an open position to release a bottle and a second position for allowing said arms to close in a bottle gripping position;
each gripper arm having a leaf spring on a side opposite said arcuate cut-out, each said leaf spring engaging a leaf spring on an adjacent gripper member and urging said gripper arms to said bottle gripping position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bottle sorting system includes a carousel which transports bottles through various stations to classify and separate bottles according to identifying characteristics. At a transfer station, bottles are brought into alignment with gripper mechanisms that are automatically closed to engage the bottles. The bottles are then transported through an inspection staton where they are electrooptically scanned to determine their identifying characteristics. A central processing unit compares the bottle characteristics with stored sets of characteristics to classify each bottle. The locations of each classified bottle is monitored by the central processing unit as the bottles are transported by the carousel. When a particular bottle reaches a location associated with one of a plurality of discharge conveyors, the central processing unit actuates an opening device to open the gripper mechanism and release the bottle onto the conveyor. Each conveyor is associated with a different type of bottle so that the bottles are separated according to their identifying characteristics.
54 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A gripper mechanism for use in an automatic bottle sorting machine, comprising:
-
a plurality of gripper members arranged adjacent one another, each gripper member including first and second gripper arms, each gripper arm having attachment means at one end providing pivotal movement thereof and having an arcuate cut-out adjacent the opposite end for engagement with a bottle; a camming means movable between a first position for urging said arms apart to an open position to release a bottle and a second position for allowing said arms to close in a bottle gripping position; each gripper arm having a leaf spring on a side opposite said arcuate cut-out, each said leaf spring engaging a leaf spring on an adjacent gripper member and urging said gripper arms to said bottle gripping position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An automatic bottle sorting apparatus comprising:
-
a carousel providing a circular path of movement; means for feeding bottles to said carousel at a predetermined location on said carousel; a plurality of gripper mechanisms on the perimeter of said carousel arranged adjacent one another, each gripper mechanism including; first and second gripper arms, each gripper arm having pivotal attachment means at one end and an arcuate cut-out adjacent the opposite end for engagement with a bottle; a camming means movable between a first position for urging said arms apart to an open position to release a bottle and a second position for allowing said arms to close in a bottle gripping position; each gripper arm having a leaf spring on a side opposite said arcuate cut-out, each said leaf spring, engaging a leaf spring on an adjacent gripper mechanism and urging said gripper arms to said bottle gripping position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification