Abstract: A conveying device with a diverter having a curved path for conveying lightweight unstable articles, such as plastic bottles having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon. The unstable articles are conveyed along a first path to different ones of plural second paths through a third path at the diverter with the third path having first and second ends alignable with the first path and different ones of the plural second paths and a middle portion maintained in a curved configuration that is varied during aligning movement of the second end. A controller controls the aligning movement of the second end, preferably along a straight path, and the unstable articles are supported by engaging members in actuating guides to urge the unstable articles along the article paths.

Abstract: An article engagable unit is selectively positioned by a positioning device and method along an engaging path. The positioning device includes a movable unit having a slider relatively movable with respect to a mounting unit by a pneumatic unit with the slider having a pawl and a connector connecting the article engagable unit for movement with the slider. A mechanical unit includes a shaped wheel and a ratchet wheel rotatable with the shaped wheel and engagable with the pawl on the slider upon movement of the slider in one direction to rotate the ratchet wheel and shaped wheel to successively move each of a plurality of stops spaced about the periphery of the shaped wheel to a stop area for engagement thereat with the slider when moved in a second direction to thereby establish a plurality of selectable set positions for the article engagable unit along the engaging path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for palletizing of products, such as containers or cases, including dividing of received products into separate paths, orienting the products in one path relative to the products in the other path by rotating the products in one path, and then diverting the oriented products in both of the paths to a plurality of outputs to enable providing a layer of products having a desired pattern when transferred to a pallet. The received products are divided into separate paths and are diverted to a plurality of paths utilizing movable pads having a plurality of slats with adjacent ones of the slats being connected and with one of the slats having a pin extending therefrom to be received in a selected path formed in a path determining unit having gates associated therewith. A control unit is utilized to determine and control movement of product through the apparatus.

Abstract: A selective conveying device is disclosed for conveying unstable articles, such as plastic bottles, having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon. Neck ring supported unstable articles are conveyed in single file along an article conveying path established by first and second guide units with the guide units having spaced connectors with neck ring engagable elements thereon spaced different distances from one another to receive the neck portions of unstable articles having different size neck portions. A first actuator, such as a pneumatic or mechanical actuator, causes relative movement between the guide units so that unstable articles are conveyed along the article conveying path on the neck ring engagable portions of the first guide unit when in a first operating position or are conveyed along the article conveying path on the neck ring engagable portions of the second guide unit when in a second operating position.

Abstract: A selective conveying device is disclosed for conveying unstable articles, such as plastic bottles, having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon. Neck ring supported unstable articles are conveyed in single file along an article conveying path established by first and second guide units with the guide units having spaced connectors with neck ring engagable elements thereon spaced different distances from one another to receive the neck portions of unstable articles having different size neck portions. A first actuator, such as a pneumatic or mechanical actuator, causes relative movement between the guide units so that unstable articles are conveyed along the article conveying path on the neck ring engagable portions of the first guide unit when in a first operating position or are conveyed along the article conveying path on the neck ring engagable portions of the second guide unit when in a second operating position.

Abstract: A contoured layer pad has first and second pockets with the pockets receiving different portions of unstable articles, such as the base and neck portions of containers. The pockets have end portions at opposite sides with side portions extending from the end portions, and the pockets at the opposite sides are associated and/or in substantial alignment. The contoured layer pad is positioned between first and second layers of the articles with opposite end portions of the articles received in the pockets so that the middle portions of the articles are maintained in close proximity to one another to improve the stability of the layers of articles. The contoured layer pad may be formed to have central and peripheral portions and/or to receive articles in nested relationship.

Abstract: Conveying apparatus and method are disclosed for receiving articles, such as cans, adjusting, or rearranging, the received articles between single and multiple lines during conveyance, and/or adjusting the spacing between the articles so that the articles are spaced from one another a preselected distance, including, if needed, equal spacing between the articles in the single and multiple lines. Rearrangement of the articles in single to multiple line mode (or, alternately, in multiple to single line mode) and/or control of spacing of the articles are/is effected by conveyance of the articles to and between a plurality of article actuators, each including a rotatable disk having negative pressure thereat for selectively establishing and maintaining engagement of the articles with the peripheral portions of the disks.

Abstract: Palletizing or depalletizing unstable articles is disclosed. A first conveyor, connected with a first carriage, has a plurality of pick-up units, each with mechanically movable elongated arms, to engage plural articles in different ones of associated rows of articles at a first area, located at either a load station or at a depalletizing station, enabling pick up and removal of articles by groups (normally layers) in plural rows with plural articles in each row, and transfer of the removed articles from the first area to a second area, located at either a palletizing station or at an unload station, for deposit of the articles thereat.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for conveying articles, particularly articles such as containers, or bottles, having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon, along an article conveying path with the articles being urged along the article conveying path by article engaging members extending from a plurality of sections of an elongated movable member that extends from a guide along a guide path adjacent and horizontally offset from the article conveying path.

Abstract: A conveying device with a diverter is disclosed for conveying lightweight unstable articles, such as plastic bottles having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon. The unstable articles are conveyed along a first path established by a first guide unit to different ones of plural second paths established by a plurality of second guide units through a third path established by a third guide unit having a diverter to align a first end of the third path with the first path and to move the second end of the third path for alignment with the different ones of the plural second paths with a deviation in the third path between the ends thereof being established during aligning movement of the second end of the third path by flexing of a flexible bar positioned adjacent to the third path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for conveying articles, particularly articles such as containers, or bottles, having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon, along an article conveying path with the articles being urged along the article conveying path by article engaging members extending from a plurality of sections of an elongated movable member that extends from a guide along a guide path adjacent and horizontally offset from the article conveying path.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying articles, particularly articles such as containers, or bottles, having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon, along an article conveying path with the articles being urged along the article conveying path by article engaging members extending from a plurality of sections of an elongated movable member that extends along a second path adjacent and horizontally offset from the article conveying path.

Abstract: A single-to-multiple line conveying system for conveying unstable articles, such as plastic bottles, having a neck ring. The unstable articles are neck ring supported and are conveyed in single file along a first path established by a first guide unit to second paths established by a plurality of second guide units through a third path established by a third guide unit having a displaceable section to align the third path with successive ones of the second paths by an electric motor actuated in response to an article counter. The unstable articles are air conveyed along the first and second paths with continuous movement of the unstable articles along the third path being effected by a continuously rotating star wheel that spaces the unstable articles and urges the unstable articles toward the displaceable section that includes a mechanical unit, having a continuously moving chain with article engaging finger units thereon, and an air unit for urging the unstable articles from the third path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for conveying different types of force responsive articles, such as steel and aluminum cans, and particularly for efficiently conveying different force responsive articles between first and second positions, including positions at different elevations. A conveyor, such as a chain, moves the articles along a predetermined path between the first and second positions with the articles maintained in engagement during movement along the predetermined path and with the conveyor using different applied forces for different ones of the types of articles to be conveyed, such as a magnetic force for conveying steel cans and a negative pressure (vacuum) force for conveying aluminum cans. A support face for the conveyor has magnets mounted thereat to establish the magnetic force and apertures communicating with an adjacent plenum to establish the negative pressure force.

Abstract: Article conveyor apparatus and method are disclosed having fluid containment, and particularly for conveying of articles such as cans having an oily liquid thereon when transported from a processing or forming station. The articles are mass transported along a predetermined path that is closed to the atmosphere except for infeed and discharge of articles, with the articles being transported by engagement with a moving belt having openings therein. The inlet of a chamber, otherwise closed to the atmosphere and having negative fluid pressure maintained therein during normal operation, is positioned adjacent to the belt so that the negative pressure maintains articles in contact with the belt during transport along the predetermined path regardless of path orientation and also draws fluid from the transported articles and belt into the chamber through the openings in the belt and the chamber inlet.

Abstract: A height adjustable conveyor system conveys articles between different heights as needed. The conveyor system includes guides that support the neck rings of articles to be conveyed, and the guides are mounted on an air conveyor having multiple sections so that the guides are caused to be flexed by different movements of the air conveyor sections. The air conveyor has pivotably coupled first, second, and third sections with the first section being vertically adjustable with respect to the third section and the second section being between and tiltable with respect to the first and third sections to thereby flex the guides as necessary to readily effect article height variations as needed between the input and the output of the system. Relative movement between the three sections of the air conveyor is effected by a lever pivotably connected with a fixed support and the first section of the air conveyor with the lever being actuated by a crank.

Abstract: A fluid conveyor effects movement of articles, such as cans, along a predetermined path adjacent to a thin deck plate. The thin deck plate has fluid distribution areas formed therein with each fluid distribution area having an aperture formed therein, after which a flat tab section is formed that is inclined with respect to the remainder of the plate. Each tab section therefore has an aperture therein through which fluid from a fluid supply unit is injected under pressure into the article path adjacent to the plate in a direction and angle determined by the orientation of the tab sections to effect movement of articles along the article path. Each tab section has a portion integral with the remainder of the plate and side and end edge portions unattached to the remainder of the plate but sufficiently contiguous thereto to prevent passage of air between the edge portions and the remainder of the plate.

Abstract: Device and method are disclosed for palletizing unstable articles such as containers. Articles, such as glass or plastic bottles, are conveyed in single file to an accumulating area, with the containers at the accumulating area being formed into a pattern, preferably in nested relationship. A conveyor system is provided to urge articles from the accumulating area to, and partially through, a sweep area, and a movable retainer unit having retractable plungers is provided to control the movement of articles from the accumulating area by groups to the sweep area with the sweep area having a positioner unit thereat that includes a plurality of movable sweep arms adjacent ones of which are utilized to engage the first and last rows of each group of articles to capture each group therebetween and thereafter conduct each group of articles through the sweep area to a pallet loading area where each group is successively deposited as a layer on a pallet.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that utilizes a fluid (normally air) to effect nested alignment of articles such as cans to be used to package beverages and the like. A conveying section provides articles in a mass flow to an aligning section having spaced guides therein forming guideways through which articles are fluid driven downstream toward a staging section. The guides have a first portion extending parallel to the direction of intended article flow through the device and all guides except center guides have a second portion that extends downstream from the first portion at an angle with respect to the first portion to effect alignment of the articles in nested relationship at the staging section. Different groups of guides of the first portion extend upstream different distances to facilitate passage of articles into the guideways, and an embodiment is disclosed that is particularly useful in aligning undecorated cans.