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Publication Number
US-11753326-B2
Publication Date
2023-09-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors, pushers, starwheels, shuttles, and transfer heads that move the glass containers through the apparatus maintains the glass containers in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers are packaged.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for placing articles in a package that uses a conveyor to convey a series of articles to a packaging station. At the packaging station, first and second shuttles are disposed adjacent the conveyor, with each shuttle movable reversibly back and forth in opposite directions between a loading position and an unloading position. Each shuttle has a number of pockets to receive a corresponding number of articles from the conveyor at the loading position and transferring the articles to the unloading position.
A shuttle loader at the loading position transfers articles from the series on the conveyor into the pockets of the first and second shuttles. At the unloading position, a package table adjacent the shuttles supports a package for receiving the articles, and a shuttle unloader transfers the articles from the pockets of the shuttles to the package on the table. A controlled drive mechanism moves the shuttles between the loading and unloading positions in alternating fashion so one shuttle can be loaded while the other is unloaded.
In the manufacturing context described, annealed glass containers are handled to prevent glass-to-glass contact damage by individually transferring containers and avoiding container contact. A transfer head with uniformly spaced pockets and vacuum capture repositions containers from a non-uniform lehr discharge onto a deadplate, and a coordinated PLC-controlled inspection and packaging sequence maintains a continuous uniformly spaced stream. Packaging includes alternating first and second shuttles with pockets and vacuum transfer into cell-pack cells, with the package table using a rotatable turret for loading multiple packages.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines an apparatus for placing articles in a package using a conveyor-fed alternating shuttle system, with coordinated loading and unloading between loading and unloading positions. The provided claims coverage identifies 10 inventive features, including transfer and positioning mechanisms, drive/control structures, and packaging support structures.
Alternating two-shuttle loading and unloading between positions
first and second shuttles disposed adjacent the conveyor at the packaging station, each shuttle being movable reversibly back and forth in opposite directions between a loading position and an unloading position, each shuttle having a number of pockets for receiving a corresponding number of articles from the conveyor at the loading position and transferring the articles to the unloading position
Conveyor-to-pocket shuttle loader at the loading position
a shuttle loader at the loading position configured to transfer the articles from the series on the conveyor to the pockets of the first and second shuttles
Shuttle unloader transferring pocketed articles to a package table
a package table adjacent the unloading position of the shuttles for supporting a package for receiving the articles; and a shuttle unloader at the unloading position of the shuttles configured to transfer the articles from the pockets of the shuttles to the package on the table
Controlled drive mechanism moving shuttles in alternating fashion
a controlled drive mechanism connected with the first and second shuttles to move the shuttles between the loading and unloading positions in alternating fashion, whereby one shuttle can be loaded with articles at the loading position while the other shuttle is unloaded at the unloading position
One-at-a-time shuttle pocket transfer
The apparatus narrows operation by adding a one-at-a-time transfer constraint for how articles are delivered into shuttle pockets
Fixed-position shuttle loader with simultaneous pocket and article positioning
shuttle loader fixed at a loading position and uses a controlled drive mechanism to simultaneously position an article and a shuttle pocket at that loading position for transferring the article from the conveyor into the shuttle pocket
Pusher-bar shuttle loading mechanism
a shuttle loader that uses a pusher bar to transfer an article from a conveyor into a pocket of either a first or second shuttle
Transfer-head shuttle unloader lifting/transfer/lowering at the top of each article
a shuttle unloader that uses a transfer head to lift, transfer, and lower each article from pockets of a first or second shuttle into a package on a package table using engagement at the top of the article
Separate drive motors for independent shuttle drive
the controlled drive mechanism uses separate first and second drive motors to drive a first shuttle and a second shuttle independently
Rotatable turret on the package table for loading multiple packages
a package-support arrangement where the package table includes a rotatable turret for loading multiple packages
Overall, the claim coverage centers on an alternating shuttle apparatus with conveyor-based loading into pockets, shuttle unloader transfer into a package table, and a controlled drive mechanism enabling one shuttle to load while the other unloads. The identified dependent features further specify transfer timing, fixed-position loader coordination, pusher-bar loading, transfer-head lift, transfer, and lowering unloading at the top of articles, separate shuttle drive motors, and a package table rotatable turret for multiple packages.
Stated Advantages
The invention prevents glass-to-glass contact damage by individually transferring containers and avoiding container contact.
A coordinated PLC-controlled inspection and packaging sequence maintains a continuous uniformly spaced stream.
Documented Applications
Placing articles in a package at a packaging station using a conveyor-fed shuttle system.
Handling annealed glass containers.
Repositioning containers from a non-uniform lehr discharge onto a deadplate.
Inspection and packaging of a continuous uniformly spaced stream.
Packaging into cell-pack cells.
Loading multiple packages using a rotatable turret.
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