Item Oriented While On Rotary Conveyor Patents (Class 198/397.04)
  • Patent number: 10011435
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus which can suppress the occurrence of a defect on a work caused due to the entrance of a corner portion of the work into a hole portion formed on a conveyance surface of a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Harada
  • Patent number: 8695780
    Abstract: The present invention refers to the field of devices for arranging containers enabling the correct positioning of containers or bottles made of plastic on the bottling feeding line. The device (1) for arranging plastic containers (100) with one or more devices for blowing down the containers (101) overlapped on the erecting elements, includes a cylindrical hopper (17) inwardly provided with a conical or flat base, conveying elements (19) and erecting-aligning elements, and includes one or more blowing elements (2), for example blowers, adapted to inwardly blow, adjacent to the upper edge of the hopper (17) aligning elements, an air flow for hitting possible containers (101) overlying other containers located on the erecting elements themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lanfranchi S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Lanfranchi
  • Patent number: 8616363
    Abstract: Apparatus for stacking sticks of split-firewood has a drum with interior flights as well as a ramp and chute which do not rotate with the drum. The flights partition the inside wall of the drum into a procession of shelves and pockets. Each shelf extends radially between the drum sidewall and an inner edge. The ramp is mounted inside the drum and has an axially extending upper edge disposed to be spaced by a small gap from the shelf edges at about 9 o'clock relative clockwise rotation of the drum. The chute is also mounted partly inside the drum slopes from a top to a discharge end. The chute is mounted relative to the ramp to form a catch zone for sticks sliding off the ramp inside the drum. The chute furthermore extends outside the drum to discharge sticks of split firewood in neat stacks there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Robert J. Carter
  • Patent number: 8607961
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a locating device for holding a puck in a locating position in a conveyer system, comprising a base portion, a rail section, and a rotating disc rotatable supported in the base portion and having a puck recess, where the locating device comprises a locating position between the puck recess of the rotating disc and a positioning means in the rail section, and that the locating device comprises resilient means adapted to hold a puck in the locating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: FlexLink Components AB
    Inventor: Anders Ek
  • Patent number: 8499924
    Abstract: A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kobayashi, Toru Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8413789
    Abstract: A method for sorting and/or orienting caps using an automated capping line can comprise providing a single cap to a cap-receiving cavity defined in a body of a puck. In various embodiments, the body can be vibrated to settle and/or orient the cap to a properly oriented position within the cap-receiving cavity. In at least one embodiment, the vibrating can include applying horizontal vibration and/or vertical vibration to the body. As a result, the properly oriented caps can be conveyed to a capping machine configured to apply each cap to a cap-receiving portion of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, Clifford Theodore Papsdorf
  • Patent number: 8342316
    Abstract: A conveying system for plastic material container preforms for conveying the preforms to a blow molding machine, comprising angular orientation systems for the containers with respect to a predetermined reference system, capable of orienting the preforms from the step of loading onto a conveying line to the step of blowing the containers in a blowing machine. A corresponding method of orienting the containers is further described, which may be implemented in this system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: S.I.P.A Societa' Industrializzazione Progettazione e Automazione S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Zoppas, Adrian Grando
  • Patent number: 8136651
    Abstract: A method for sorting and/or orienting caps using an automated capping line can comprise providing a single cap to a cap-receiving cavity defined in a body of a puck. In various embodiments, the body can be vibrated to settle and/or orient the cap to a properly oriented position within the cap-receiving cavity. In at least one embodiment, the vibrating can include applying horizontal vibration and/or vertical vibration to the body. As a result, the properly oriented caps can be conveyed to a capping machine configured to apply each cap to a cap-receiving portion of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, Clifford Theodore Papsdorf
  • Patent number: 8079456
    Abstract: An automated spring detangler takes clumps of springs and whirls them around a rotating chamber. When they separate and fall to the bottom of the container, they are sucked into a delivery tube that continuously individually deposits them at an assembly line which may be remote from the detangler. Any non-separating clumps of springs are periodically ejected from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Lucien J. Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 7987968
    Abstract: A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kobayashi, Toru Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7828134
    Abstract: There is provided an article alignment apparatus 10 including an article alignment device for aligning orientations of articles by arranging two aligners 21, 21 having cylindrical surfaces, rotating each of the aligners 21 while keeping it at a predetermined inclination with respect to a horizontal direction, placing the articles on cylindrical outer surfaces of the two aligners 21, and carrying the articles from one side to the other side, in which protrusions 22 are provided on the surfaces of the aligners 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Hatano, Junichi Ishikawa, Masaaki Suzuki, Hidenori Shirai
  • Patent number: 7704033
    Abstract: A component loader for orienting a component along its long-axis for transfer to transmission means such as a carrier belt. The loader includes a rotatable load plate having an outer peripheral edge and an upper surface where the upper surface is inclined from a horizontal plane. A plurality of slots is on the upper surface, and each is located about the outer edge of the load plate. Each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive at least one chip, preferably lying with its long axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotatable load plate. An outer wall conforms to the curvature of the outer peripheral edge and is mounted adjacent thereabout. A transfer slot extends axially into the upper surface of the load plate. Preferably, each transfer slot is shaped so that a chip descending into each transfer slot from a respective slot has a ninety degree rotation about the long axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug J. Garcia, William Saunders, Nick Tubbs
  • Patent number: 7581633
    Abstract: An apparatus for orienting a pill. The apparatus has a curved member having a point of tangency at which the pill is positioned on the curved member and a portion for positioning the pill skewed from a tangent at the point of tangency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventor: Dieter Stueckle
  • Patent number: 7565959
    Abstract: An apparatus for orienting random oriented lightweight articles. The apparatus includes a wheel which rotates on an axis which is substantially horizontal. A plurality of alignment troughs is mounted on the interior of the wheel. Each of the alignment troughs has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the wheels horizontal axis. Each trough has a plurality of openings to allow air to pass through the trough and out of the wheel to hold lightweight articles in the troughs against the force of gravity. Each of the articles has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the troughs longitudinal axis. Rotation of the wheel selectively positions the troughs with a source of air under pressure to move the articles to the end of the respective trough. Each article at the end of its respective trough moves into an external receiver where the article is transferred to a vertical attitude having the bottom up. The article is rotated to a bottom down attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: John R. Nalbach Engineering Co, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Nalbach
  • Patent number: 7419044
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling orientation of non-round containers at an outfeed station of a container inspection machine having a rotary conveyor with pockets in which the containers are individually disposed includes a flipper arm disposed adjacent to the conveyor and a spring biasing the flipper arm toward the conveyor. The flipper arm has a cam surface disposed to be engaged by a container carried by the conveyor as the container approaches the outfield station of the conveyor to cam the flipper arm outwardly with respect to the conveyor and against the force of the spring. The flipper arm has an edge adjacent to the cam surface for engaging and rotating the container as the container moves out of engagement with the cam surface and the flipper arm moves inwardly under force of the spring. The flipper arm preferably is mounted to pivot around an axis, and the spring preferably biases the flipper arm around the axis toward the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7407050
    Abstract: It is to provide a tablet filling device having improved quality and productivity by correctly filling the tablets in pocket parts of a container film even when the tablets have a non-circular shape such as triangle. The tablet filling device 52 has a rotary drum 2 provided with holding recesses 3 for storing the tablets 1 and transferring the tablets 1 to the downstream for filling the tablet 1 in a pocket part 44 of a container film 41. The holding recess 3 has a tablet receptacle section 3a that is larger than the tablet 1 supplied from a tablet feeding chute 5, and a posture correction section 3b that corrects the posture of the tablet 1 received in the tablet receptacle section 3a during the conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Maruyama, Hisanao Wate
  • Patent number: 7219789
    Abstract: A bailing apparatus includes a bailer feeder and a bailer. The bailer feeder is arranged to feed handles to the bailer. The bailer is adapted to couple the handles to containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Gary L. Hartley
  • Patent number: 7117987
    Abstract: An apparatus for orienting random oriented lightweight articles. The apparatus includes a wheel which rotates on an axis which is substantially horizontal. A plurality of alignment troughs is mounted on the interior of the wheel. Each of the alignment troughs has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the wheels horizontal axis. Each trough has a plurality of openings to allow air to pass through the trough and out of the wheel to hold lightweight articles in the troughs against the force of gravity. Each of the articles has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the troughs longitudinal axis. Rotation of the wheel selectively positions the troughs with a source of air under pressure to move the articles to the end of the respective trough. Each article at the end of its respective trough moves into an external receiver where the article is transferred to a vertical attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: John R. Nalbach Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Nalbach
  • Patent number: 6527101
    Abstract: An electronic chip attitude changing device includes a rotor having, on the outer periphery, cavities that are formed at equal pitch to respectively contain and hold electronic chips with a part thereof projecting out; an air suction path for drawing and holding the electronic chips in the cavities of the rotor; a driving device for rotationally driving the rotor in a predetermined direction; and a chip guide placed at a fixed position close to the outer periphery of the rotor and having a guide face for making sliding contact with the projecting portions of the electronic chips held in the cavities so as to turn the attitudes of the electronic chips by 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Miyamoto