Machine for handling containers continuously passing on a moving band and, more particularly, glass bottles
The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling containers continuously passing on a conveyor belt and more particularly glass bottles. 
     It is well known in the art that, in the production and filling of glass bottles, the bottles are often placed haphazardly, or in some arrangement other than single file, on a conveyor belt for further processing. However, it is generally necessary for the bottles to be distributed in a single file arrangement with predetermined spacing between bottles, or groups of bottles, for operation of various control stations on the bottles. To provide such single file arrangement, without requiring a decrease of production flow rate, a continuously circulating device is generally used to redistribute the bottles on the conveyor belt. 
     In the prior art, redistribution of the bottles is typically performed by a screw-operating device. Such screw-type devices, however, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, adversely affect the stability of the bottles on the conveyor, particularly where the bottles are irregularly shaped. In addition, the instability becomes more pronounced at increased flow rates, thus limiting the production flow rate. 
     The present invention provides a device for redistributing and separating bottles or other objects and guiding them once they are separated, without adversely affecting stability regardless of the bottle shape, and easily adaptable to any bottle shape. More specifically, the present invention utilizes for redistribution, one or more roller-chain type devices driven on common rollers having axes perpendicular to the direction of conveyor motion and having regularly distributed projections or fingers. 
     The profiles of the fingers are symmetrical with respect to vertical planes perpendicular to the direction of conveyor motion, to provide points of engagement between bottle and finger on a line parallel to the conveyor direction to assure bottle stability not obtainable either with a screw or with a conventional roller-chain. 
    
    
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawing wherein like numerals denote like elements and: 
     FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows, seen from above, a machine for controlling bottles provided with conventional distributing means of the screw-operating type; 
     FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows, seen from above, the same machine which has been modified so as to include distributing means according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the manner according to which the roller-chain according to the invention is adapted for batch distribution; 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged partial views in front and in section, respectively, of the distributing means illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3; 
     FIGS. 6a and 6b show in detail a preferred embodiment of the distributing means according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the distributing means. 
    
    
     FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows, in plan view, the main components of a conventional prior art machine for bottle control. Bottles are supplied to a conventional conveyor in conventional manner. Bottles 2 are moved and transported away by conveyor 1 after checking at a control station 3. The arrow indicates the direction of motion of bottles. Station 3 includes, in the illustrated example, several fixed testing units 31 (two of which only are shown on the drawings), and cooperates with and controls an automatic rejection means 32. Testing units 31 may be of variable number, fixed or moveable, linearly and/or angularly. A conventional screw device 4 is utilized to redistribute bottles 2 for operation by station 3. Screw 4 has a tendency to accelerate or slow down the bottle with respect to the conveyor on which it is placed, so as to separate each bottle from the preceding or following one. Bottles 2 are arranged adjacent at the inlet on screw 4, with which cooperates a presser unit 7. Presser unit 7 includes plate 71 mounted at two ends of two springs 72, the other two ends of which are secured to a fixed body 73. Bottles are separated and distributed by screw 4 one by one on the conveyor and are picked up at the screw outlet by the belt pair 51, 52 rolling on pulleys. Belts 51, 52 transport the bottles to testing units 31 where they are stopped by forks 6 during the time required for testing. 
     The machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is entirely conventional. For the sake of simplicity, only the upper part of the endless conveyor 1 has been shown and the driving means therefor have not been illustrated. They may consist of a motor, preferably of the variable speed type. The conveyor has horizontal shafts at least one of which is coupled to the motor shaft. Means may be provided to regulate the tension of the conveyor. 
     As noted above, screw 4 tends to adversely affect the stability of bottles 2. Due to the very operating principle of a screw, bottles 2 are engaged by the screw device 4 at two points located along a line which is slanting with respect to the direction of forward motion, thus generating a torque on the bottle adversely affecting its stability. 
     The torque has particularly serious effects on irregularly shaped objects which do not possess a cylindrical portion at the place where they are engaged by the screw. An example of such objects is big-bellied bottles. The points of engagement of a big-bellied bottle with the screw necessarily correspond to the bottle portion having maximum diameter, requiring that the relative positions of the screw and the conveyor be accurately adjusted. When the point of engagement with the big-bellied portion lies at a certain height on the conveyor, the torque on the bottle from the screw tends to upset the bottle. 
     The present invention provides a device for redistributing objects on a conveyor without subjecting them to a torque. FIG. 2 shows a conveyor system, modified in accordance with the present invention. As in the system shown in FIG. 1, the modified system of FIG. 2 includes conveyor 1 on which bottles 2 are loaded, control station 3, belts 51,52, forks 6 and presser unit 7. However, in the modified machine, the screw 4 has been replaced in accordance with the invention, by a distributing device comprising one or more continuous belt members, such as roller-chains 8 (only one of them has been shown, seen from above, two identical roller-chains being in fact provided in the presently disclosed example). The roller-chains are driven about vertical axes by vertical drive shafts 10 and 11 (shown in FIG. 5) and are provided with a plurality of regularly distributed projecting parts or fingers 9 which have a symmetrical profile. Fingers 9 engage bottles 2 to vary the rate of the bottles motion in the direction of the arrow to thereby provide a predetermined separation between bottles, or groups of bottles, as will be explained. 
     Each finger 9 associated with a given roller-chain is both identical and symmetrical, such that the points of engagement of a bottle with the fingers are along lines parallel to the direction of motion, rather than at an angle, as is the case with a screw operating driving unit. Since all of the points of engagement are in a plane parallel to the direction of conveyor motion, no torque is produced on the bottles, thereby allowing for an increased redistribution rate. Such a device thus allows a better matching of the speed of distribution of the bottles with the flow rate capacity of the rest of the plant. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, batch distribution may be provided for by removably mounting fingers 9 in roller-chains 8. For example, removal of every second finger 9 enables the device to carry out bottle distribution by pairs as shown in FIG. 3. Distribution by batches of two bottles is but an example; the batches may comprise more than two bottles, provided the proper number of successive fingers have been removed. Relative adjustment, at a given time, of the speed of motion of the belts 51,52 with respect to that of conveyor 1 can effect, if necessary, a division of the batch at any place along its path of motion. 
     The minimum spacing between two succeeding fingers when all fingers are set in position, corresponds to a distribution of one by one of bottles having a predetermined diameter at the point they engage the roller chain. 
     For bottles having a different diameter, fingers of a different width are used. The simple shape of fingers 9 which are illustrated on FIGS. 2 and 3 is adapted for most types of bottles. However, more intricate finger shapes may be used for distribution of bottles of specific shapes. 
     The number of fingers preferably is a multiple of 12, in order that the roller chain can easily be adapted to any standard bottle diameter. 
     With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, roller-chains 8 and associated fingers 9 are identical and the latter are vertically in line by pairs. The roller-chains are driven in a conventional way, by means of a single motor. They also could be driven by separate and synchronized motors. Roller-chain 8 is driven about shafts 10 and 11 via keyed pinions 10a, 11a and 10b, 11b, respectively meshing with lower and upper chains 8a and 8b. The keys shown at 13 and 14 (FIG. 5) allow for an adjustment of the chain position, together or independently of one another. 
     A support body 15 (FIG. 5) has mounted thereon a variable and adjustale speed motor and reducing gear assembly 17. Assembly 17 drives the chains through pulleys 18 and 20 and belt 19. Pulley 18 may be mounted on either shaft 10 or shaft 11, according to the direction of motion of bottles. The motor and reducing gear assembly 17 may also be directly mounted at the end of one of the shafts 10 and 11, without the use of a pulley. The chains may also be driven by any other mechanical means linked to the control machine for obtaining synchronization of the control machine and the distributor. 
     Tension of the chains 8 may be adjusted in a conventional way, for instance, as shown on the drawing, through one of the bearings slidably mounted on support 15 and pushed by a screw 21, or by means of intermediate tensioning pinions (not shown) pulling on the return sides of the chains. 
     The number of roller-chains 8 will be selected as a function of the height and shape of the bottles. Obviously, two roller-chains will suffice to provide vertical stability and, therefore, two roller-chains shall preferably be used. 
     For short containers, the upper chain is not used. It can be disconnected or removed if the coupling means so permit, which is the case, in particular, when the chains are driven by means of keyed pinions, as shown in FIG. 5. 
     Pillars 16 are mounted for sliding and are adapted to be latched on support members (not shown) so as to position the assembly at the desired height with respect to conveyor 1. 
     The mounting of fingers 9 may be carried out as shown on FIGS. 6a and 6b. Chains 8 are fitted with small plates 22 punched with a hole 23 through which is secured a screw 24 locked by a nut 25. Finger 9 is secured to the chain by means of screw 24. The plates 22 may be secured to each link or to only one link out of two or three. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the manner in which two chains 8a, 8b cooperate (support member 15 and motor 17 not shown). 
     Chains 8a, 8b are preferably of the same length. Use of fingers of various lengths enable them to be easily adapted for driving bottles having lower and upper diameters varying within large limits. Alternatively, adaptation may be made for such bottles by using a shorter chain at the place of lower diameter. However, in such instance, each chain would require separate drums. 
     Though the invention is disclosed hereinabove as being used to supply a fixed control station for bottles, it could more generally be used to supply any type of fixed or movable station and, yet more generally, to distribute solid bodies of any type for any purpose, provided the bodies have such a shape and volume that they can be distributed in a manner similar to that for bottles or containers.