The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 11, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1994
Ronald A Lenhart, Lakewood, CO (US);
Simplimatic Engineering Company, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Abstract
A tipping device includes a plurality of upper rod sections which curve to cause the tipping of the container from the vertical to the horizontal, and a single lower straight rod which does not bend or otherwise follow any curved path with respect to the tipping angle of the container. A plurality of spaced vertical plates are arranged along the length of the device to provide structural support to the rod sections. The vertical plates have an interior section that is cut out to conform to the shape of the cylindrical container passing therethrough. The vertical plates are mounted upon a deck that extends the length of the device. A container enters the device at the upstream end of the device by a conveyer. At the downstream end of the device is another conveyor for discharge of the containers. A plurality of blower jets are positioned along the length of the device which cause air to strike against the containers to provide a downstream force to move them through the tipping device to the downstream end. A method is provided which discloses a single file row of containers being tipped sequentially to the desired orientation by rotation of the closed heavier end about an axis defined by the straight member as the containers are moved from the upstream location to the downstream location.