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:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
May. 07, 2003
Abstract
The invention described here concerns a unit for automatic container returns systems, with a conveyor device for transporting the containers in the direction of their longitudinal axis, with two rotary-driven rollers arranged along the conveyor path and which can be transferred from a neutral position into an identification position in which they release the container from the conveyor device and rotate said container, and with a sorting means for the selective, lateral removal of the container from the conveyor device according to the identification. It is the object of the invention to provide a generic unit for automatic container returns systems that is characterised by a simple construction. This object is achieved in that the two rollers ( ) act as a sorting mechanism by way of their being transferred transverse to the conveyor path into a sorting position in which the lateral distance between one or other of the rollers ( ) and the conveyor path is so large that the container ( ) can drop down between the conveyor path and the respective roller ( ) displaced sideways.