Abstract: A tandem bottle carrier assembly in which the carrier is provided with two rows of pockets to support bottles in tandem in the direction of travel and the roller chain has a pitch which relates one link and a pair of rollers for each end of each carrier with means to attach the links to the carrier ends for accommodating chain stretch and minimum chord line displacement at turns in the chain travel.

Abstract: A flow distribution system which embodies a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality of delivery lines, a rotating valve body which progressively connects the source of fluid with the delivery lines, a housing for the rotating valve and means in the housing to absorb the shocks of redirecting the fluid flow to each of the delivery lines and releasing the absorbed energy back to the fluid flow to subsequent fluid lines as a resonant system.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning containers such as bottles for reuse in which the bottles are placed in carriers for movement along a horizontally directed path comprising means operably supporting the carriers for concurrent movement in a vertical path, and jets of cleaning fluid which follow a generally horizontal path and move from a starting position aligned with the bottles while the carriers with the bottles are in a vertically lowered position and return to the starting position while the carriers move the bottles upwardly in the vertical path. The apparatus includes means to coordinate the motions set out above and means to assure proper alignment of jets and bottles.

Abstract: A container discharger with safety mechanism consisting of a group of finger elements positioned to guide the containers in the initial discharge from the pockets of a conveyor, and in which the finger elements are mounted so as to be readily movable when engaged by even one misplaced or improperly discharged bottle, a safety switch in the power circuit of the apparatus which is actuated in response to the movement of any finger element being engaged by a bottle not in proper discharge position to stop the apparatus, and means to jiggle the fingers with the object in mind of dislodging any improperly placed bottle so that there will be no need to dismantle the apparatus or remove any components.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of inspecting transparent containers of the type used for food and beverages for the presence of dirt, foreign objects and manufacturing defects, such as birdswings. The apparatus includes illuminating each container from different angles and in a sequential order, and processing the illuminated images by photo-electronic scanning apparatus to obtain a response on a change in the illumination level within an electronic window of an amount sufficient to actuate a container reject mechanism.