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:
Oct. 30, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 11, 2000
Geza E. Bankuty, Holmes Beach, FL (US);
Nicholas J. Perazzo, Sarasota, FL (US);
New England Machinery, Inc., Bradenton, FL (US);
Abstract
An indexing system for rotary orienters for positioning articles so that a feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction so that further operations may be accurately performed on the articles. The rotary orienter may be used in conjunction with filling, capping, labeling and inspection of containers, or other similar operations. The apparatus comprises a support frame to which is mounted a central column that is rotatable about its axis by a rotating means. The rotary orienter has at least one station that comprises a rotatable spindle to which a turntable is attached to one end and an indexing assembly is attached proximal the other end. The indexing assembly comprises a slip clutch and a means for rotating the spindle that is mounted proximal the second of the spindle. An indexing wheel, that has at least two detents formed therein, is mounted on the spindle intermediate the turntable and the slip clutch. The first end of an arm is pivotally mounted to the support frame and the arm is engageable with the detents of the indexing wheel so that when it is so engaged the indexing wheel and the spindle is prevented from rotating with the means for rotating the spindle. An actuator is connected to the support frame so that when it engages the arm, the arm disengages from one of the detents, thereby allowing the turntable to rotate until the arm is released by the actuator and the arm engages the other one of the detents.