Method and apparatus for orienting predominately flat articles
US5197584A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 1991 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2203/042
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for handling a plurality of lids or other predominately flat articles having two discrete sides, such as a top and bottom, delivering them in a common orientation, which includes a conveyor system for carrying the articles along the apparatus from an inlet end to a final discharge end and an air jet nozzle which directs compressed air to engage at least some of the articles to change their orientation. The conveyor system may include a number of orienting surfaces with at least a single disjoined area to provide conditions for article orientation, or re-orientation in specialized cases. The appropriate arrangement of any two of these surfaces provides varying degrees of automated flipping. Various forces, such as, but not limited to, air, vacuum and gravity, either separately or in combination, may assist in the flipping process. Such forces are selectively enabled by the detection of an improperly oriented article. Other elements may include variable speed vacuum belts--for preventing overlap of subsequent articles--and stabilizing air jets--for preserving orientation of properly oriented articles, and for preventing overlap.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.