Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on a curved surface of each of the plurality of containers and a plurality of container holders for retraining each of the plurality of containers. Each of the plurality of container holders is configured to rotate a container retained therewithin and to move the container linearly relative to the plurality print heads in a continuous motion to maintain a print location on the curved surface of each of the plurality of containers at a substantially constant perpendicular distance from each of the plurality of print heads during a printing process. The apparatus may also provide for movement of the print heads during the printing process.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on a curved surface of each of the plurality of containers and a plurality of container holders for retraining each of the plurality of containers. Each of the plurality of container holders is configured to rotate a container retained therewithin and to move the container linearly relative to the plurality print heads in a continuous motion to maintain a print location on the curved surface of each of the plurality of containers at a substantially constant perpendicular distance from each of the plurality of print heads during a printing process. The apparatus may also provide for movement of the print heads during the printing process.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on a curved surface of each of the plurality of containers and a plurality of container holders for retraining each of the plurality of containers. Each of the plurality of container holders is configured to rotate a container retained therewithin and to move the container linearly relative to the plurality print heads in a continuous motion to maintain a print location on the curved surface of each of the plurality of containers at a substantially constant perpendicular distance from each of the plurality of print heads during a printing process.

Abstract: An unjamming system is used in connection with mass-produced parts fed through a process by a rotating bowl feeder. The bowl feeder has a bowl with an axis of rotation and an outer wall. The parts are disposed against the outer wall by centrifugal force. The unjamming system includes a jamming region adjacent the bowl, wherein unjamming is carried out. A sensor adjacent the jamming region detects a jam. A pneumatic cylinder actuator and an air blow jet adjacent the jamming region removes the parts from the jam. The parts are returned to the bowl by the air blow jet.

Abstract: An unjamming system is used in connection with mass-produced parts fed through a process by a rotating bowl feeder. The bowl feeder has a bowl with an axis of rotation and an outer wall. The parts are disposed against the outer wall by centrifugal force. The unjamming system includes a jamming region adjacent the bowl, wherein unjamming is carried out. A sensor adjacent the jamming region detects a jam. A pneumatic cylinder actuator and an air blow jet adjacent the jamming region removes the parts from the jam. The parts are returned to the bowl by the air blow jet.

Abstract: A fixture for holding a pivotally closable cap with a base connected to a cover by a foldable hinge during a closure operation. The fixture includes a U-shaped slide member having a back wall and a pair of side walls extending therefrom for accommodating the cap with the base and cover in an open condition. The side walls have distal extents, which extend beyond a transverse mid-line of the cover and prevent angular movement of the cover within the slide member.

Abstract: A fixture for holding a pivotally closable cap with a base connected to a cover by a foldable hinge during a closure operation. The fixture includes a U-shaped slide member having a back wall and a pair of side walls extending therefrom for accommodating the cap with the base and cover in an open condition. The side walls have distal extents, which extend beyond a transverse mid-line of the cover and prevent angular movement of the cover within the slide member.

Abstract: The present improvement is useful for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms. Cylindrical preforms have larger threaded necks with larger encircling discs below the necks. A pair of belts is provided for conveying objects downstream. The gap between these belts is less than the disc diameter of the preforms. An output means is provided for receiving the oriented objects and directing them downstream. A means is provided at the output of the belts for deflecting any improperly oriented preforms back for recirculation. An increase in the feed rate of the preforms is achieved by an agitation means such as a blower positioned to disperse the interlocked assemblages and help move the preforms down into the belts.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms which are elongated generally cylindrical plastic objects, one end of which is a threaded neck portion for the ultimate blow molded container, and the other end of which extends from the opposed end of the cylindrical object as a narrower and heavier tubular portion which during the blow molding operation will be softened and enlarged into the ultimate container, the preform further including an encircling handling disc between the said threaded neck portion and tubular portion which has a larger diameter than the remaining portions of the preform, the disc serving to facilitate handling of the preforms. First and second conveying belts are provided having input and output ends for cooperatively conveying such objects toward a downstream processing line. The belts are mounted so that their respective conveying surfaces are movable in a common parallel direction.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for accepting an initially presented population of randomly oriented articles formed from a soft elastomeric material, and providing a high-speed output stream, wherein all said articles are commonly oriented for further mechanical manipulation. The apparatus includes an input bowl for accepting the articles, which bowl includes a rotatable central disk for feeding objects incident thereupon to the periphery of the disk. A continuous wall member extends upwardly from the disk periphery about a major arced zone. An output section defined adjacent the periphery of the disk at the portion opposed to the arced zone receives and delivers the articles from the disk, and an arrangement is provided for causing the disk to undergo vibratory motions while it is rotated.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for accepting a population of articles of the type having one axis generally longer than the other and one end different from the other with random orientation of the ends and providing a high-speed output stream of articles with all the ends thereof commonly oriented. The apparatus comprise a rotatable wheel adapted to accept the articles with randomly oriented ends in the periphery thereof and advance said articles to an output station having means for constraining the articles during advance thereof in the wheel and means for biasing said articles to turn end for end within the wheel only as the result of an article being in an undesired endwise orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for accepting an initially presented population of randomly oriented container caps and providing an output in-line stream of said caps wherein the open ends of the caps face in an upward direction to facilitate further processing of the caps. The apparatus comprises a feeder bowl for accepting the randomly oriented caps, and feeding from an output port thereof, an in-line stream of caps oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. An inclined twisting chute extends from the output of the feeder bowl. This chute receives the in-line stream of caps and twists the plane of advance of same through 90.degree., whereby the caps are reoriented to a stream wherein their diameters are substantially in a vertical plane.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for lining container closures with seals, and for testing the closures. The apparatus includes means for forming an infeed stream of closures and means interacting with the stream for forming closure groups. Conveyor means accept the groups and convey same to the various stations. At an initial station the shell integrity of the closures is tested; and closures are rejected at a following station if found to be the product of short molding shots or so forth. Thereafter, an adhesive is dispensed to the closure interior, and at a successive station seals are punched from a web and emplaced in the closure. A loose liner detector and removal station detects and removes loose liners from the closures. The sealing characteristics of the closures are then tested at a further station, and closures found to be imperfect are rejected; after which the closures which successfully pass through the several stations are discharged from the apparatus.