Lane adjusting apparatus for bottle guides

• US 4,986,056 A
• Filed: 03/01/1990
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Fuds Rus Ooo (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Robert R., Tombolato, Aldo L., Meisner, Robert J., Evans, Neil L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spruill, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Linda B.
• Application Number:
  US07/488,482
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 53/247, 53/248, 53/257, 53/261, 53/262, 53/539, 53/543, 198/418.6, 198/427, 198/445, 198/446, 198/458, 198/836
• US Class Current: 53/539
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/52 using roller-ways or endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/54 Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/003 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/005 Adjustable conveying means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/2072 Laterial guidance means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0244 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/043 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/044 Optical

Abstract

Automatically adjustable lane guide and grid packing systems which provide for automated accommodation of articles of different size in controlling the transport of rows of moving articles.

Claims

1. Adjustable grid packing apparatus, comprising:

an upper adjustable lane guide assembly comprising a plurality of upper layer lane guides;

upper lane guide rotational adjustment and support means for supporting the upper layer lane guides at a predetermined separation distance determined by the rotational position of at least one threaded, axially telescoping adjustment mechanism separating and supporting the upper layer lane guides;

a lower, bidirectional adjustable lane grid assembly comprising a first plurality of lower lane guide grid elements parallel to and aligned with the upper layer lane guides and a second plurality of lane guide grid elements oriented generally orthogonally to the first plurality of lane guide grid elements;

first lane grid rotational adjustment and support means for supporting the first plurality of lane guide grid elements at a predetermined separation distance determined by the rotational position of at least one threaded, axially telescoping adjustment element separating and supporting the first plurality of lane guide grid elements and second lane grid rotational adjustment and support means for supporting the second plurality of lane guide grid elements at a predetermined separation distance determined by the rotational position of at least one threaded, axially telescoping adjustment mechanism separating and supporting the second plurality of lane guide grid elements;

an adjustable, shifting support array of support elements positioned intermediate the upper lane guide assembly and the lower grid assembly for supporting articles between the upper layer lane guides;

a plurality of article guide means positioned at the zones of intersection of the first plurality of lower lane guide grid elements, and the second plurality of lane guide grid elements for guiding an article through openings defined by the first and second plurality of lane guide grid elements;

shifting support rotational adjustment and support means for supporting the support elements at a predetermined separation distance determined by the rotational position of at least one threaded, axially telescoping adjustment element separating and supporting the support elements; and

means for shifting the adjustable support array with respect to the upper lane guide assembly to remove support for articles positioned between the upper lane guides.

2. Adjustable grid packing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said article guide means is rectilinearly mobile along one of said first plurality of grid elements and one of said second plurality of grid elements, and positioned at their zone of intersection.