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Title: Bottle uncaser
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. In apparatus for removing containers from full depth as well as other cases, including means to move a case along a predetermined path, said case having columns of containers aligned in the direction of case movement, and an endless conveyor loop above said path carrying means vertically suspended below the loop along a lower reach, means to successively engage containers of each column and lift the containers from the case while the case is moved along the path, the improvement wherein the means to engage containers in each column comprises container grippers of tong construction that are essentially contiguous one to the next along a lower reach of the endless conveyor, will self-open when lowered onto a container, move upward when lowered onto an obstruction, and close under gravity forces when raised, and means to guide said grippers along a path that brings them toward the path of case movement to lower them into engagement with containers and then directs them away from the path of case movement. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a support beneath a portion of said endless conveyor for receiving containers removed from cases, wherein the improvement further includes means to guide said grippers to a position where the containers are supported by said support and the grippers are lowered relative to the containers to release the containers. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grippers are individually movable vertically upward from a freely suspended condition independent of one another a distance greater than the depth to which they receive the containers when in gripping engagement therewith, whereby a gripper overlying a case wall when brought toward the path of case movement will move upward relative to the conveyor to accommodate the wall. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said path along which said grippers are guided includes two straight portions inclined toward said path of case movement from opposite directions and a relatively short apex portion between the two. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said two straight portions are inclined at equal angles toward said path of case movement. 6. Apparatus for removing containers from cases, comprising a driven conveying loop movable along a path, a plurality of means carried by said loop each for supporting a plurality of container grippers in rows transverse to said path, a plurality of container grippers each supported by said means for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said path and for movement laterally of said path, said means being closely spaced along said loop and said grippers carried by each means being spaced laterally of said path so that said grippers are arranged in laterally spaced columns having little or no gaps along their length, means for guiding said conveying loop along a path that approaches a horizontal plane at an angle and along a successive path portion that extends away from said horizontal plane at an angle and that reverses the direction of said loop at opposite ends of said path through two arcs of about 180.degree., and means limiting pivoting of said grippers relative to said gripper supporting means to an amount equal to the larger of said angles, whereby said grippers can hang vertically in close relationship in said columns and will extend generally radially when moved through said arcs to space the distal ends of the grippers one from the next. 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said angles are equal. 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means to limit pivoting comprises flat facing surfaces on the front and back of each gripper adjacent said supporting means, said surfaces having sufficient height relative to the spacing between grippers that portions of the faces abut when the grippers are pivoted to thereby limit pivoting. 9. In a method of removing containers from cases, the steps of: moving a case of containers along a path; moving container grippers, that are gravity actuated to grip containers and that are collapsible upward when lowered onto an obstruction, above said path first in a direction along and toward said path to a position beneath the level of the tops of containers to be removed and then in a direction along and away from said path, said grippers being moved in a continuous column in mutual contact one with the next above each column of containers in the case as they move toward and away from said path; changing the direction within a distance along said path less than the length of the cases to be unloaded; engaging containers along first and second inclined path portions, both of which have a directional component in the direction of case movement and the first of which has a directional component toward said path and the second of which has a directional component away from said path, with said grippers when they are at a position beneath the level of the tops of containers and lifting the containers from the case as the grippers engaged with containers are moved along and away from said path; and coordinating the speed of movement of the grippers and the case so the grippers move along and toward said path and along and away from said path with a speed component in the path direction equal to that of the case. 10. The method as set forth in claim 9 including the subsequent steps of moving the container grippers above a container receiving conveyor and then lowering them toward said conveyor a distance slightly in excess of that necessary to deposit the carried containers on the conveyor whereby the grippers release their hold on the containers. 11. The method as set forth in claim 10 including the subsequent step of swinging the grippers in an upward arc immediately after they have released their hold. 12. Apparatus for removing containers from cases, comprising a driven conveying loop movable along a path, a plurality of rods carried in closely spaced relationship by said loop each supporting a plurality of container grippers in rows transverse to said path, a plurality of container grippers each supported by said means for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said path and for movement laterally of said path, said rods extending through apertures of said grippers with a clearance fit so the grippers are pivotable and slidable longitudinally thereof, said grippers carried by each rod being spaced laterally of said path so that said grippers are arranged in laterally spaced columns with little or no gaps along their length, and means supported adjacent said driven conveying loop and said rods for aligning grippers in columns at predetermined locations laterally of said path. 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including means to adjust the position of said means laterally of said path. 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said grippers are suspended when carried along a lower reach of said loop and are yieldably movable vertically relative to the loop. 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said grippers are tongs that are self opening when pushed upward from below relative to their support and are self closing when freely suspended. 16. Apparatus for removing containers from cases, comprising a conveyor for moving cases along a path, a driven conveyor loop movable along a path above said conveyor, means carried by said loop for supporting a plurality of container grippers in rows transverse to said path, a plurality of container grippers each supported by said means for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said path and for movement laterally of said path, said grippers along a lower reach of the conveyor loop depending vertically and being each directly adjacent a next in the direction of conveyor movement, and means directing the lower reach at an angle toward and away from the case conveyor, said grippers along the lower reach being movable upward relative to the supporting means by a transverse wall of a case moving along said conveyor, whereby a full depth case can be accommodated at any location along said conveyor relative to the grippers. 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said grippers are slidable laterally of said path on said support means, and including means adjustable laterally of said path for engaging said grippers as they are moved by said conveying loop and sliding them laterally of said path on the support means. 18. In apparatus for removing containers from cases, including means to move a case along a predetermined path, said case having columns of containers aligned in the direction of case movement, and an endless conveyor above said path carrying vertically suspended means to successively engage containers of each column and lift the containers from the case while the case is moved along the path; the improvement wherein the means to engage containers in each column comprises closely adjacent container grippers of tong construction that are constructed and arranged to collapse upward when lowered onto a carton edge, to self-open when lowered into engagement with a container, and to extend and self-close under gravity forces when thereafter lifted so as to grip and lift an engaged container; wherein means is provided to guide said grippers along a path toward the path of case movement to engage them with containers and then direct them away from the path of case movement. 19. In apparatus for removing containers from cases, including means to move a case along a predetermined path, said case having columns of containers aligned in the direction of case movement, and an endless conveyor above said path carrying vertically suspended means to successively engage containers of each column and lift the containers from the case while the case is moved along the path; the improvement wherein the means to engage containers in each column comprises directly adjacent container grippers of tong construction that are in contact one to the next along a lower reach of the endless conveyor and that are constructed and arranged to collapse upward when lowered onto a carton edge, to self-open when lowered into engagement with a container, and to extend and self-close under gravity forces when thereafter lifted so as to grip and lift an engaged container; wherein means is provided to guide said grippers along a path a portion of which brings them toward the path of case movement to engage them with containers and a subsequent portion of which then directs them away from the path of case movement, said path portions extending at substantially equal angles to the path of case movement; and wherein said means to move a case along a predetermined path is non-coordinated with movement of said endless conveyor in the sense that the relative positions of a case and grippers of the conveyor, along the paths of travel, are not controlled. 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said grippers are slidable laterally of said path on said support means, and including means adjustable laterally of said path for engaging said grippers as they are moved by said conveying loop and sliding them laterally of said path on the support means. 21. In apparatus for removing containers from cases, means to move a case of containers along a path; container grippers that are gravity actuated to grip containers and that are collapsible upward when lowered onto an obstruction; means to move the container grippers above said path first in a direction along and toward said path to a position beneath the level of the tops of containers to be removed and then in a direction along and away from said path, including means to change the direction within a distance along said path less than the length of the cases to be unloaded, said container grippers engaging containers along first and second inclined path portions, both of which have a directional component in the direction of case movement and the first of which has a directional component toward said path and the second of which has a directional component away from said path, when the grippers are at a position beneath the level of the tops of containers and lifting the containers from the case as the grippers engaged with containers are moved along and away from said path; means to coordinate the speed of movement of the grippers and the case so the grippers move along and toward said path and along and away from said path with a speed component in the path direction equal to that of the case; said grippers being in a continuous column in mutual contact one with the next above each column of containers in the case as they move toward and away from said path. 22. A method of removing containers from a full depth case, i.e., a case with side and end walls that extend the full height of the containers, the steps comprising moving full depth cases of containers at random along a guiding path, moving a plurality of continuous columns of directly adjacent container grippers above and along said path and in a direction toward said path to a position where the grippers are in part below the walls of the case and then in a direction away from the path, engaging grippers with containers in the case so as to remove the containers from the case when the grippers are moved away from the path, and permitting any gripper to move upward relative to the adjacent grippers when it engages a wall of the case. Other info: Inventors: Barker, Theodore L. (Sagamore Hills, OH, US) Application Number: 500350 Filing Date: 1974-08-26 Publication_date: 1976-04-20 Assignee: MBI Corporation (Northfield, OH) Primary Class(es): 414/416.06 198/803.3, 294/87.1, 294/118, 414/618, 414/811 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Werner, Frank E. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Watts, Hoffman, Fisher & Heinke Co. |
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