Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging machine for packaging articles, apparatus for a packaging machine and to a method of packaging articles. The packaging machine comprises an article manipulation apparatus. The article manipulation apparatus comprises a first conveyor for conveying packages. The packages each comprises a carton having at least one displaceable article disposed therein. An article orientation device comprises a tool head movable synchronously in a downstream direction with the first conveyor. The tool head has at least one article gripper for engaging with a displaceable article in the carton. The at least one article gripper is rotatably mounted to the tool head. An article displacement device comprises at least one article displacement tool. The article displacement tool is receivable in an opening in a carton to engage and displace the displaceable article such that it protrudes through a second opening in said carton.

Abstract: During grouping, articles (01) from an incoming article flow are grouped on a staging surface (02) and are transported away after completion of the grouping in order to make space for a new grouping. During grouping, the articles (01) are also detected by sensor with regard to their entry alignment and/or entry position in the article flow in order to subsequently bring them into a final alignment and final position corresponding to their arrangement in the grouping to be achieved. During grouping, the articles (01) located on the staging surface (02) are also detected by sensor. The method includes the steps: A. obtaining an actual alignment and an actual position (03) of the articles (01) located on the staging surface (02) with the aid of the sensor detection; B.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of orienting and decorating container end closures is provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to position container end closures in a predetermined orientation and then decorate a predetermined portion of the end closures.

Abstract: A rotary orienter includes a turret rotatable about a central axis and at least one rotation pad rotatably mounted to the turret and selectively rotatable about a pad axis. The turret rotates to index the rotation pad to a receiving station, a discharge station and at least one actuating station distributed radially about the central axis. The actuating station is intermediate the receiving station and discharge station. The rotation pad indexes from the receiving station in a locked condition such that rotation of the rotation pad is prevented, and is selectively unlocked by the actuating station such that the unlocked rotation pad rotates during indexing of the turret from the actuating station to the discharge station to reorient an object received onto the rotation pad at the receiving station in a received orientation to a predetermined orientation for discharge of the object in the predetermined orientation at the discharge station.

Abstract: A device and a method for aligning containers including an evaluation unit, which is capable of determining the position and/or the rotary position of at least one feature of the surface of containers to be aligned, by calculating image data of said feature in at least two views that differ with respect to the imaged rotary position of the containers, and where picture distortions and contrast limitations caused by the perspective can be compensated. The reliability of rotary position recognition and correction can thus be improved when aligning the containers.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for conveying packages (10), comprising a first conveying device (4) which conveys the packages (10) in a predefined conveying direction (r), and a rotating device (6) which rotates at least some of the packages (10) by a predefined angle of rotation with respect to a predefined axis of rotation, wherein the rotating device (6) comprises at least one gripping device (12) which grips the packages (10) for the rotation process. According to the invention, the conveying speed of the first conveying device (4) is synchronised with a movement speed of the gripping device (12).

Abstract: The method relates to products such as bottles whose horizontal cross section of contact is oval and which are conveyed in the longitudinal direction, in single file and spaced apart, on a conveyor. The method includes introducing the bottles one by one into a neck, at the downstream end of which motorized rollers are disposed, applying the rollers to the opposite faces of each bottle to be orientated, providing the passive roller with a peripheral speed equal to the speed of conveyance of the bottles and providing the active roller with a higher peripheral speed to position the bottle diagonally on the conveyor.

Abstract: An appearance inspection apparatus 1 has an aligning and conveying device 25 which has an aligning and conveying member 26 with one or a plurality of conveying passages, and a vibration exciter for alignment 37 for applying a vibration to the aligning and conveying member 26 and which aligns the inspection objects in a row and conveys them in each of the conveying passages, a slide-down mechanism 40 which has slide-down passages separately connected to the respective conveying passages of the aligning and conveying member 26 an provided to be tilted downward with respect to extensions of the slide-down passages, an imaging device 60 disposed in the vicinity of the slide-down passages for imaging the inspection objects sliding down in the slide-down passages, and a sorting device 80 for analyzing the images of the inspection objects captured by the imaging device, judge the qualities thereof, and sorting the inspection objects sliding down in the slide-down passages on the basis of analysis results.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moving arrangement for supporting and moving along an advance direction a plurality of articles; and orienting units movable along said advance direction and such as to contact and orient the articles by displacing angularly each article around an axis thereof so as to position the articles in respective output positions, the orienting units being such as to maintain the articles in contact with the moving arrangement, a detector being provided for each orienting unit for detecting an initial angular position of a respective article associated thereto and for promoting a desired angular displacement such that each article is brought in the output position.

Abstract: The system (1) comprising a conveyor line (3) defined by a plurality of rollers (5) in which there are determined housing seats of the product (2) between adjacent rollers (5), a selection station (6) in which by means of at least one first member (7 or 8) at least one feature of the product (2) is detected, and a station (17) in which by means of a second member (18) the products (2) with the same features are sorted towards the same destination. The system (1), upstream of said selection station (6), comprises at least one assembly (24) adapted to determine the rotation of the rollers (5) so that the product (2) accommodated in its seat may either correctly settle in such a seat or shifts into an adjacent seat.

Abstract: During operation of a blister in a blister packaging machine, the blister is grasped by a relocating device at a supply position and disposed at a deposition location of a continuous conveying device which is driven in cycles, wherein several blisters are stacked at the deposition location during one cycle of the conveying device to form a stack. The individual blisters of the stack are associated with different motions of the relocating device. The relocating device comprises a main arm which can be pivoted about a first pivot axis using a first drive device, and a side arm disposed on the main arm, which can be pivoted relative to the main arm about a second pivot axis using a second drive device, and which carries a receiving device for receiving the blister.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting objects to identify is manufacturable at low cost and is capable of providing correct images of the objects. The apparatus has belts (19, 21) to transport the objects (M) through a photographing section (13). The apparatus also has strings (27, 29) stretched across the photographing section in the object transporting direction. Each of the objects transported by the belts to the photographing section is supported between the belts and the strings and is photographed from the string side.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and simultaneously turning objects has a first conveyor device for conveying the objects into the area of two conveyor-turning stations and a second conveyor device for conveying the objects out of the area of the conveyor-turning stations. The conveyor-turning stations have a conveyor that rotates horizontally and at least one turning device for contacting and turning the objects. The two conveyor-turning stations are used for alternate conveying of the objects along a common conveyor path. Each conveyor-turning station can be driven by its own electric motor with controllable speed. In an access area of the conveyor-turning stations, there is a device for detecting the position of the next object to be contacted and to be conveyed by the respective conveyor-turning station.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles having a beverage bottle orientation and positioning arrangement. The orientation and positioning arrangement includes the use of cameras, and an evaluation and control system. A first camera is configured and disposed to scan the external or peripheral surface of the beverage bottle over a wide area. A second camera is configured and disposed to scan the external or peripheral surface of the beverage bottle over a narrower area than the first camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for aligning rolls in a feed system. The rolls are spaced at regular intervals so as to enable incorrectly positioned rolls to be turned to the correct feed position, when necessary, while they are moving forward in a feed direction. The correct position of each roll is identified by detecting the longitudinal hole through the center of the roll.

Abstract: A system and method for packaging oriented containers in a container carrier wherein a plurality of containers are fed into an orienter device for orienting a container in a desired rotational position prior to placement in a container carrier. The orienter device includes a reader for determining an initial orientation of the container; a control system for determining a shortest rotational distance from the initial orientation to the desired rotational position between a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; and a chuck engaged with the container and in communication with the control system for rotating the container the shortest rotational distance to the desired rotational position.

Abstract: A board turner (1, 31) is intended for use on a conveyor (3) for transporting large volumes of boards. The conveyor (3) defines a plane for carrying boards (14) and the board turner (1, 31) has a rotation unit (4) and a gripping unit (7) mounted on the rotation unit (4). The gripping unit (7) has an open position and a closed position and is switchable between these positions in response to a signal from a sensor. In the open position, the gripping unit (7) rotates past the carrying plane without making contact with the synchronously arriving board (14). A signal from the sensor switches the gripping unit (7) between the open position and the closed position while the gripping unit (7) grips two opposite surfaces of a sideways extending part of the board (14) and continues to rotate above the belt conveyor (3) in order to turn the board (14) in this way.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable the orientations of chip components accommodated in groove portions of an index table to be assuredly uniformized. When a polarity judgment device finds that the orientation of the chip component accommodated in the groove portion of the index table is opposite, the polarity inversion apparatus according to the present invention moves the chip component to the component accommodating inversion portion by using compressed air and the intake air from air inlet/outlet ports. Since the bottom surface of the inlet of the inversion portion is set so as to be lower than the base surface under the index table and the width of the inlet of the inversion portion is set so as to be wider than the width of the groove portion, the chip component can move to the inversion portion without getting stuck in the vicinity of the boundary.

Abstract: A system and method for packaging oriented containers in a container carrier wherein a plurality of containers are fed into an orientation wheel including one or more chucks. Each chuck engages one end of the container and rotates the container into an oriented position. A transfer belt having a plurality of tactile fingers is operatively connected to the orientation wheel and transfers an oriented container nested within the tactile fingers in a fixed rotational position from the orientation wheel to a packaging machine. In a method of packaging containers according to this invention, multiple containers are positioned within the carrier in one or more rotational positions based upon the desired appearance of the package.

Abstract: A mechanism for selectively rotating pocket assemblies between first and second limit positions. The mechanism comprises a cam follower block mounted on the shaft of the pocket assembly for limited movement relative to the shaft in a predetermined plane and direction. Biasing means normally urges said cam block toward the first limit position. Upper and lower cam followers have centers of rotation to one side of and parallel to said predetermined plane. A profile cam is mounted on the shaft and rotatable relative to the cam block having two diametrically opposed shoulders and arcuate profile surfaces connecting the shoulders. The spring biasing means normally biases the cam block and the profile cam to a position where one of the cam followers engages a shoulder to prevent rotation of the cam block and therefore the pocket assembly and wherein the other cam follower is spaced from the profile cam.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting containers which have vertical seams is disclosed. The apparatus is useful in label machines where, prior to the application of labels to the containers, the apparatus orients the containers around longitudinal axes, so that the ends of labels applied to such containers are positioned adjacent to the seams. Apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a star wheel with roller bearings which permit relatively free rotation of containers positioned within the pockets of the star wheel, a container drive wheel movable between a first position where it is operable, and a second position where it is inoperable, to cause rotation of a container which is in a pocket of the star wheel and means for moving the drive wheel between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An infeed system that orients a log for a processing unit. A flight conveyor, a log turner and a sharp chain are in an overlapping arraignment. The flight conveyor conveys a log past a scanner which inputs scan data into a computer which determines the profile and orientation on the flight conveyor. The computer determines the desired orientation of the log for the processing unit. The log turner is arranged to rotate and skew the log to the desired orientation. The log is then transferred to the sharp chain conveyor. The overlapping arrangement of the flight conveyor, log turner and sharp chain maintains full control of the log at all times. The sharp chain conveys the log past a second scanner which inputs the scan data to the computer to determine the actual orientation of the log on the sharp chain. The infeed system may also be provided with a shift and lift mechanism for further controlling the log position relative to the processing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning vessels comprises a robot for delivering a vessel from a first conveyor to a second conveyor, a camera disposed on a path of conveyance of the first conveyor for photographing a manner of placement of vessels thereon, and correction device mounted on the second conveyor for erecting a vessel assuming a horizontal position when it is released by the robot. Any change in the size of a vessel does not require a remodelling of components of the apparatus, thus providing a vessel aligning apparatus having a high versatility.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for orienting a container preform in a particular orientation to position a closure thread in a desired position relative to the body of the blown container. The preform is supported by a preform carrier that is rotatably supported in a pallet. A drive motor is engaged with the preform carrier to rotate the carrier and the associated preform, and a pawl is engagable with a notch formed in the closure thread on the preform neck to stop rotation of the preform carrier at a specific circumferential orientation. When the container is subsequently blown at a blowing station, the orientation of the thread start relative to the container body permits attachment of a dispensing closure, or the like, at a desired orientation relative to the container body to facilitate dispensing by a user of a pourable product from within the container.

Abstract: In a hydraulic method and installation for shaping can bodies the can body is filled with a liquid and placed in a die and pressure is applied to the interior of said can body until it assumes the shape of said die.

Abstract: A high speed orientation apparatus for disk-shaped objects includes upper and lower turntables operated to provide constant angular orientation of the disk-shaped objects. An automatic supply delivers disk-shaped objects to one of a plurality of disk receiving stations located on the upper turntable. The upper turntable and the lower turntable, which also includes disk receiving stations, are attached to a rotating drive with the disk receiving stations of the lower table directly underneath the disk receiving stations of the upper table. Both the upper and lower turntables are rotated at the same speed. The plurality of disk receiving stations include operable disk retainers for holding and releasing a disk-shaped object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orienting rotationally symmetrical articles and containers having an orientation reference index thereon. An infeed mechanism successively delivers containers to a rotary starwheel, preferably having a plurality of container pockets spaced about its periphery. An arcuate guide is concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from the periphery of the starwheel. A mechanism is provided within each pocket to maintain the entering containers initially in a radially extended position, in rolling engagement with the arcuate guide. A detector senses the index on the rotating container, and sends a pulse to delay circuitry. Depending upon a number of operational parameters, including overall speed of the orienter, the viscosity of the product within the containers, and whether the containers are full of product or not, the control pulse is accordingly delayed.

Abstract: A leading edge of a web is fed to an upstream cutting station and is gripped at the cutting station with an upstream clamp which is then advanced downstream away from the cutting station to a middle station and is arrested in the middle station where the leading edge of the web is gripped with a downstream clamp and released from the upstream clamp. The leading edge held by the downstream clamp is then moved downstream to a holding station and the opened upstream clamp is moved along the web to a position slightly upstream of the upstream cutting station. The web is then gripped immediately downstream of the upstream cutting station with an upstream clamping conveyor and immediately upstream of the downstream holding station with a downstream clamping conveyor, and is gripped immediately upstream of the upstream cutting station with the upstream clamp.

Abstract: A working apparatus for a work being conveyed wherein a movable base is provided alongside of a conveyor conveying a plate-like workpiece mounted on a carrier in such a manner that the workpiece is held in an upright posture with its side surfaces facing sideward, the movable base being movable in the longitudinal direction in which the workpiece is conveyed, and a robot mounted on the movable base is used to apply predetermined working to the workpiece being conveyed by the conveyor. A clamping device for clamping the carrier is provided on the movable base and operated by signals from a detecting device that detects the carrier. A positioning mechanism is also provided on the movable base, for positioning the workpiece on the carrier in three orthogonal directions with respect to the movable base and holding the workpiece in that position.

Abstract: Pieces are cut off the end of a long web by first impaling the leading end of the web on a crosswise circulating needle bar that is then moved downstream from a cutting to a holding section. Then at the cutting station another such circulating needle bar and a noncirculating needle bar are poked through the web, with the noncirculating bar being downstream (relative to the displacement direction of the web) of the circulating bar. Then the web is cut across between the two upstream bars and the noncirculating bar and the downstream circulating bar are dropped down to transfer the piece thus cut from themselves to a transverse needle-chain conveyor. Then the circulating bar is moved back from the downstream holding station to the upstream cutting station while the second circulating bar pulls another piece of the web downstream across above the transverse conveyor.

Abstract: A station for aligning a stack or packet of sheet metal or plate bars to be transported to and unstacked at an unstacking station prior to being pressed or processed at a pressing or processing station. The alignment station includes a transporting carriage equipped with a chain conveyor system and a lifting and turning device as well as a stationary measuring system. The measuring system serves to detect the angular position of the sheet metal packet disposed on the transporting carriage and is composed of a rotatably mounted measuring ruler which is placed against the sheet metal packet by means of a pneumatic cylinder. The angular position is measured by way of an absolute value sensor installed at the pivot point of the measuring ruler and is compared with the desired value stored in a control system.

Abstract: A turning device for electrical axial components which utilizes a transport element (8) that is mounted on a machine support (9) to rotate about a shaft (10). Mounted on the transport element (8) are a plurality of receivers (11, 11') for holding the electrical axial component (2). Each receivers (11, 11') is rotatable about a shaft (14, 14'). Each receivers (11, 11') has a pair of magnets (17, 17') arranged about shaft (14, 14'). The transport element (8) has a magnet arrangement therein which is also oriented about the shaft (14, 14'). Machine support (9) has a rolling surface (24) for rotating receivers (11, 11') about shaft (14, 14'), rolling surface 24 being movable between a rest position and an operating position.

Abstract: A bottle orienting device is disclosed in which bottles are fed into a first station randomly in either a top down or a bottom down condition, moving pockets pick up the individual bottles and transport them past a sensor which determines the particular condition thereof and responds with an appropriate signal when a predetermined condition is found, means are provided to rotate the pockets carrying the bottles so that all bottles have the same orientation condition, either top down or bottom down as desired, at this point bottle air cleaning means can be operatively provided, with all bottles being selectively first presented in a top down condition to the air cleaning device, means are then provided to reverse the condition of the bottles to the bottom down position, and then the bottles are discharged from the device, if air cleaning is not desired, the bottles found to be in the wrong orientation at the sensing station are rotated to present them bottom down to the discharge, of significance all bottles m

Abstract: Apparatus for the lateral feeding and transfer handling of successive cants into and through a wane scanning station, with subsequent adjusted-position placement on the infeed conveyor for an edger. Featured in the apparatus are a main carriage, which is driven reciprocally with what might be thought of as sinusoidal motion, and thereon a relatively moveable subcarriage which can translate, and rotate about a central upright axis, under the influence of a pair of conventional setworks. The subcarriage includes cant transport blades which directly support a cant, and which are rockable between raised and lowered positions and about axes which substantially parallel the reciprocation axis of the main carriage, all for the purpose of effecting a simple pick-up and final hand-off transfer of a cant as it travels and is scanned on the fly between intake and discharge stations. During cant transfer, there is no relative movement occurring between the cant and the structure directly supporting it.

Abstract: A rotating radial unit has bottle receiving recesses on its periphery for accepting bottles from a linear conveyor. A pair of elements are mounted on the unit adjacent each receiver for moving towards and away from the receiver. A belt runs around rolls that are on both elements so portions of the belt grip a bottle on each side when the elements are moved toward each other automatically. A motor can drive the belt to rotate the gripped bottle as it is transported on the unit. A sensing device controls the motor to start and rotate the bottle and to stop when a marker on the bottle is rotated to a preferred orientation or alignment so a series of bottles will be aligned identically as they are released. The elements are automatically spread apart to release the grip of the belt on the bottle.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting randomly arranged articles having an enlarged end, such as large caliber ammunition or the like, so that all of the articles are facing in the same direction. The apparatus senses the direction in which the articles are facing and passes all of the articles facing one direction, while inverting the articles facing in the opposite direction so that all of the articles discharged from the apparatus are facing in the same direction.