Container handling device

Abstract

A rotating, vertically adjustable wheel is positioned above a linear conveyor chain in an operative position to move containers from a linear conveyor chain to an off-line station and then back to the linear conveyor chain downstream of the off-line station. The rotating wheel is movable to an inoperative position away from the linear conveyor chain when it is not desired to divert the containers from the linear conveyor chain. A base plate positioned adjacent to the linear conveyor chain adjustably supports flexible support bands in spaced relation to the peripheral face of the center of the rotating wheel. The bands are biased toward the rotating wheel so that when a container moving in a linear conveyor chain contacts the face of the rotating wheel, it is engaged by the edge of the wheel and the bands and is moved to the off-line station. The flexible support bands are adjustably positioned to accommodate various sizes and shapes of containers so as to preclude change of parts and downtime. In this manner containers may enter the off-line station at any time regardless of the spacing between bottles in the linear conveyor chain.