Howard Sand

Apparatus For Detecting And Rejecting Downed And Damaged Containers

Application

#4146467 Mar 27, 1979

Filed

Nov 4, 1977

Inventor

Henry Sauer (Menomonee Falls, WI) · Howard S. Sand (New Berlin, WI)

Appl. No.

5/848491

Assignee

Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company (Milwaukee, WI)

International Classification

B07C 512

U.S. Classification

209643

Abstract

A conveying system incorporating an apparatus for detecting and rejecting downed and damaged containers, such as open ended cans. The conveying system includes a pair of endless belt conveyors which are spaced apart longitudinally and are adapted to convey cans in an upright condition. The upright cans are adapted to be transferred between the conveyors by a vacuum transfer mechanism which is located above the adjacent ends of the conveyors, the transfer mechanism includes an endless perforated belt that travels across the open bottom of a housing which is divided into a series of chambers. The chambers are subjected to a vacuum which acts to hold the upright cans against the perforated belt so that the cans can be transferred by movement of the belt from one conveyor to the other, while downed cans are ejected from the conveyor system. A central chamber is subjected to a lesser vacuum than the remaining chambers, and as the cans move across the central chamber, cans with damaged upper flanges will fall from the belt to a collection site.