Container unscrambler system having adjustable track
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An unscrambler comprising:
- a floor comprising a central portion having a first side and a second side;
said central portion being generally circular and comprising a first wall;
a second wall spaced apart from said first wall and extending around at least a portion of said central portion;
said second wall and said first wall cooperating to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension;
a drive motor for rotatably driving said floor;
said first wall of said central portion having a diameter that is variable in order to change said first predetermined dimension; and
wherein said floor comprises a plurality of concentric rings situated about said central portion, each of said plurality of concentric rings being independently or simultaneously selectable to change said first predetermined dimension.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container feeding system is shown having an unscrambler having an unscrambler bowl providing a track or channel that is adjustable such that it can accommodate bottles of varying sizes. The system comprises an adjustable chute that is also adjustable and having a chute channel or track that is also adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes when the containers are conveyed from the unscrambling bowl, through the adjustable chute, and to a subsequent processing station.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. An unscrambler comprising:
-
a floor comprising a central portion having a first side and a second side;
said central portion being generally circular and comprising a first wall;a second wall spaced apart from said first wall and extending around at least a portion of said central portion;
said second wall and said first wall cooperating to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension;a drive motor for rotatably driving said floor; said first wall of said central portion having a diameter that is variable in order to change said first predetermined dimension; and wherein said floor comprises a plurality of concentric rings situated about said central portion, each of said plurality of concentric rings being independently or simultaneously selectable to change said first predetermined dimension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An unscrambler comprising:
-
a floor comprising a central portion having a first side and a second side;
said central portion being generally circular and comprising a first wall;a second wall spaced apart from said first wall and extending around at least a portion of said central portion;
said second wall and said first wall cooperating to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension;a drive motor for rotatably driving said floor; said first wall of said central portion having a diameter that is variable in order to change said first predetermined dimension; wherein said floor comprises a plurality of concentric rings situated about said central portion, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings defining said second wall; and wherein each of said plurality of concentric rings comprises a plurality of apertures that are generally aligned when said plurality of concentric rings are situated in a home position; said unscrambler further comprising a plurality of slidable supports that are generally aligned with and capable of being driven into said plurality of apertures.
-
-
10. An unscrambler comprising:
-
a floor comprising a central portion having a first side and a second side;
said central portion being generally circular and comprising a first wall;a second wall spaced apart from said first wall and extending around at least a portion of said central portion;
said second wall and said first wall cooperating to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension;a drive motor for rotatably driving said floor; said first wall of said central portion having a diameter that is variable in order to change said first predetermined dimension; wherein said floor comprises a plurality of concentric rings situated about said central portion, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings defining said second wall; wherein said unscrambler comprises a plurality of slidable supports associated with said second side for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings; and wherein each of said plurality of slidable supports comprises a rack, said unscrambler further comprises; a plurality of pinions operatively engaging said plurality of slidable supports; and a drive train coupled to said plurality of pinions for rotatably driving said plurality of pinions and driving said plurality of slidable supports in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An unscrambler comprising a channel that is adjustable in size to accommodate containers of different sizes, said unscrambler comprising:
-
a central floor for defining at least a portion of a floor of said unscrambler; a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central floor; a drive motor for rotatably driving said central floor and said plurality of concentric rings; an unscrambler wall surrounding said central floor and said plurality of concentric rings; and a ring drive assembly for selecting at least one of said plurality of concentric rings and also for moving it from a home position to an operating position, with a ring wall of the at least one of said plurality of concentric rings that is in the operating position and said unscrambler wall defining the channel for receiving a container to be processed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An unscrambler for unscrambling containers comprising:
-
a bowl having a bowl wall; a turret situated in the bowl; a drive system coupled to said turret for rotatably driving said turret; said drive system also being capable of driving said turret along an axis of rotation from a home position to an operating position; wherein said turret comprises; a first planar member; a second member situated on said first planar member, an outer edge of said second member cooperating with said bowl wall to define a channel having a predetermined depth and width; and wherein said second member comprises; a central portion and a plurality of concentric rings that are actuatable from said home position to said operating position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. An unscrambler for unscrambling containers comprising:
-
a bowl having a bowl wall; a turret situated in the bowl; a drive system coupled to said turret for rotatably driving said turret; said drive system also being capable of driving said turret along an axis of rotation from a home position to an operating position; and wherein said second member comprises; a central portion and a plurality of concentric rings that are actuatable from said home position to said operating position to define a said channel adjacent said bowl wall.
-
-
32. An unscrambler for unscrambling containers comprising:
-
a bowl having a bowl wall; a turret situated in the bowl; a drive system coupled to said turret for rotatably driving said turret; said drive system also being capable of driving said turret along an axis of rotation from a home position to an operating position; wherein said turret comprises; a first planar member; a second member situated on said first planar member, an outer edge of said second member cooperating with said bowl wall to define a channel having a predetermined depth and width; and wherein said second member comprises a first portion and a second portion, at least a portion of said second portion remaining in said home position after said drive system drives said first portion to said operating position. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
-
Specification