Method and container-processing machine for processing containers
First Claim
1. A method for processing containers, said method comprising receiving containers at a container inlet, moving said containers into container mounts of a reversible transporter, rotating said reversible transporter about a machine axis thereof, bringing said containers to processing positions that do not move with said reversible transporter, processing said containers at said processing positions, and after processing said containers, conveying said containers to a container outlet, wherein rotating said reversible transporter comprises periodically causing said reversible transporter to transition between rotating in a first direction and rotating in a second direction that is opposite said first direction, wherein rotating said reversible transporter in said first direction comprises feeding containers that are to be processed to a first processing region having at least one processing position, wherein rotating said reversible transporter in said second direction comprises feeding containers that are to be processed to a second processing region having at least one processing position, and, while processing containers at said first processing region, using said reversible transporter to feed containers that are to be processed into said second processing region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for processing containers includes periodically causing a reversible transporter to periodically transition between rotating in a first direction and rotating in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. When rotating in the first direction, the transporter feeds containers to a first processing region. When rotating in the second direction, the transporter feeds containers to a second processing region. Each processing region has as at least one processing position.
13 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A method for processing containers, said method comprising receiving containers at a container inlet, moving said containers into container mounts of a reversible transporter, rotating said reversible transporter about a machine axis thereof, bringing said containers to processing positions that do not move with said reversible transporter, processing said containers at said processing positions, and after processing said containers, conveying said containers to a container outlet, wherein rotating said reversible transporter comprises periodically causing said reversible transporter to transition between rotating in a first direction and rotating in a second direction that is opposite said first direction, wherein rotating said reversible transporter in said first direction comprises feeding containers that are to be processed to a first processing region having at least one processing position, wherein rotating said reversible transporter in said second direction comprises feeding containers that are to be processed to a second processing region having at least one processing position, and, while processing containers at said first processing region, using said reversible transporter to feed containers that are to be processed into said second processing region.
- 11. An apparatus comprising a container-processing machine for processing containers, wherein said container-processing machine comprises a transporter, wherein said transporter comprises container mounts, wherein said transporter is rotatable about a machine axis in either a first direction or a second direction, wherein said transporter conveys containers that are to be processed and that have been fed through a container inlet to processing positions that do not move with said transporter, wherein said transporter conveys containers that have been processed from said processing positions to a container outlet, wherein, when said transporter rotates in said first direction, containers follow a first container path between said container inlet and said container outlet, wherein, when said transporter rotates in said second direction, containers follow a second container path between said container inlet and said container outlet, wherein said first container path traverses a first processing region, wherein said second container path traverses a second processing region, wherein said first and second processing regions comprise said processing positions, and wherein said first and second processing regions are on opposite sides of a mid-plane of said transporter.
Specification