Ordering apparatus having walls with polygonal rotators

• US 4,976,343 A
• Filed: 09/22/1989
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart C. Fuller
• Original Assignee: Stuart C. Fuller
• Inventors: Fuller, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Keith L.
• Application Number:
  US07/411,277
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 198/447, 198/448, 198/452, 198/453, 198/454
• US Class Current: 198/453
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2047/687 Lane boundaries which comprise rotatable elements, e.g. discs, cylinders, endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/682 from a single conveyor lane consisting of one conveyor or several adjacent conveyors

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file, featuring an article conveyor having guide walls composed of a plurality of polygonal rotators arranged in substantially vertical stands in superimposed rotating relationship, the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles betweeen 60° and 150°, and preferably oriented to each other in the stand in nonaligned relation with corners projecting outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand, thereby imparting a rotational and vibrational movement to articles in contact with the rotators.

Claims

1. Apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file, comprising, in combination,

(1) conveyor means having a conveyor surface composed of at least article single file and article accumulation portions;

(2) restraining walls along at least one side of the article accumulation portion defining

(a) an article accumulation area where the articles are randomly disposed and susceptible to jamming or blockages; and

(b) guide walls leading from the article accumulation area to the article single file portion of the conveyor surface, the guide walls comprising;

(i) a plurality of polygonal rotators;

(ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators;

(iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and

about 150° and

so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surface

whereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising power means for rotating the rotators so as to rotate the articles in contact therewith in the opposite direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the rotators are mounted in stands for free rotation in the opposite direction upon contact with moving articles along the guide wall.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which each rotator comprises a hub portion having a central aperture and an irregular surface on each side of the hub interlocking with a corresponding mating surface on the hub of the adjacent rotator so as to maintain adjacent rotators in the stated relationship, and a central shaft supporting the stands of rotators in interlocking rotating relationship.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the irregular hub surfaces have raised and depressed portions.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the portions have straight sides.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the portions have curved sides.

8. A polygonal rotator that can be arranged for rotation in a substantially vertical stand of superimposed such rotators;

the rotator having a body portion with substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and

about 150° and

a hub portion having a central aperture for reception of a central shaft supporting a stand of such rotators in interlocking rotating relationship, and an irregular surface on each side of the hub interlocking with a corresponding mating surface on the hub of an adjacent rotator, so as to maintain adjacent rotators in a selected orientation in a stand.

9. A polygonal rotator according to claim 8 in which the irregular hub surfaces have raised and depressed portions.

10. A polygonal rotator according to claim 9 in which the portions have straight sides.

11. A polygonal rotator according to claim 9 in which the portions have curved sides.

12. A polygonal rotator according to claim 9 in which the raised and depressed portions constitute flanges extending outwardly from the hub.

13. A polygonal rotator according to claim 9 in which the raised and depressed portions constitute hill-and-dale surfaces on the hub.

14. A guide wall for apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file leading to an article single file portion of the apparatus, comprising:

(i) a plurality of polygonal rotators;

(ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators;

(iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and

about 150° and

so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surface;

whereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file.

15. A guide wall according to claim 14 comprising power means for rotating the rotators so as to rotate the articles in contact therewith in the opposite direction.

16. A guide wall according to claim 14 in which the rotators are mounted in stands for free rotation in the opposite direction upon contact with moving articles along the guide wall.

17. A guide wall according to claim 14 in which each rotator comprises a hub portion having a central aperture and an irregular surface on each side of the hub interlocking with a corresponding mating surface on the hub of the adjacent rotator so as to maintain adjacent rotators in the stated relationship and a central shaft supporting the stands of rotators in interlocking rotating relationship.

18. A guide wall according to claim 17 in which the irregular hub surfaces have raised and depressed portions.

19. A guide wall according to claim 18 in which the portions have straight sides.

20. A guide wall according to claim 18 in which the portions have curved sides.

21. A stand for use as a guide wall and in apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file leading from the article accumulation area to the article single file portion of the conveyor surface, the stand comprising:

(i) a plurality of polygonal rotators

(ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators;

(iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and

about 150° and

so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surface whereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file.

22. A stand according to claim 21 comprising power means for rotating the rotators so as to rotate the articles in contact therewith in the opposite direction.

23. A stand according to claim 21 in which the rotators are mounted in stands for free rotation in the opposite direction upon contact with moving articles along the guide wall.

24. A stand according to claim 21 in which each rotator comprises a hub portion having a central aperture and an irregular surface on each side of the hub interlocking with a corresponding mating surface on the hub of the adjacent rotator so as to maintain adjacent rotators in the stated relationship and a central shaft supporting the stands of rotators in interlocking rotating relationship.

25. A stand according to claim 24 in which the irregular hub surfaces have raised and depressed portions.

26. A stand according to claim 25 in which the portions have straight sides.

27. A stand according to claim 25 in which the portions have curved sides.