Michael Paul Ruth

US Patent:

54214475, Jun 6, 1995

Filed:

Apr 7, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/864790

Inventors:

Michael A. Ruth - Chester Springs PA
Joseph G. Ziegler - Birdsboro PA

Assignee:

Omega Design Corp. - Lionville PA

International Classification:

B65G 4724

US Classification:

198377

Abstract:

A synchronized rotary transfer wheel for orienting containers that have been unscrambled with a pocketed disc sorter type machine. The transfer wheel utilizes momentary air pressure and an adaptive vacuum pick up assembly to grasp, rotate, and release containers that may have a relatively wide variance in width and taper; without requiring change-over parts. The vacuum cups that are used to grasp the individual containers are moved forward and backward by a constant pressure momentary activator along radials on the wheel, to automatically adjust to accumulative radial variances of the machine and the containers. The coaxial parts that are incorporated in the vacuum pickup assembly are light enough in weight to grasp and rotate containers at high rates with relatively small electromechanical rotating devices; which are incorporated into radial modules on the transfer wheel.

US Patent:

46553380, Apr 7, 1987

Filed:

Nov 2, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/548108

Inventors:

Jay P. Hershey - Kinzers PA
Michael A. Ruth - Glenmoore PA

Assignee:

Omega Design Corporation - Lionville PA

International Classification:

B65G 4728

US Classification:

198395

Abstract:

A bottle orienting device is disclosed in which bottles are fed into a first station randomly in either a top down or a bottom down condition, moving pockets pick up the individual bottles and transport them past a sensor which determines the particular condition thereof and responds with an appropriate signal when a predetermined condition is found, means are provided to rotate the pockets carrying the bottles so that all bottles have the same orientation condition, either top down or bottom down as desired, at this point bottle air cleaning means can be operatively provided, with all bottles being selectively first presented in a top down condition to the air cleaning device, means are then provided to reverse the condition of the bottles to the bottom down position, and then the bottles are discharged from the device, if air cleaning is not desired, the bottles found to be in the wrong orientation at the sensing station are rotated to present them bottom down to the discharge, of significance all bottles may be presented to the discharge in the top down or bottom down condition as desired to meet downstream requirements.