Starwheel cap selecting apparatus
US4895243A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/1457
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An orbital cap selection and feeding device is disclosed having a disk rotating within a circular frame so that caps disposed on the disk tend to move by centrifugal force to the perimeter of the disk. Caps lying flat on the disk move into a collector chute, which blends into a guide chute that is adapted to retain and protect a procession of caps within the guide chute about 180 degrees to a discharge chute. Part way along the length of the guide chute is a primary cap selecting station having an optical sensor that senses the orientation of caps in the procession and generates a signal when an improperly oriented cap is encountered. The signal activates an ejection airjet downstream of the optical sensor to displace the improperly oriented cap from the guide chute and back into the interior of the rotating disk. A secondary cap selecting station is situated downstream of the optical sensing station, which includes a starwheel cap selecting apparatus to eject any improperly oriented caps that pass through the first sensing station. The secondary cap selecting station includes a self-clearing capability in which a starwheel, rotated by the procession of caps, interrupts the process…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.