Guide positioning system for a container transport line

Abstract

A guide positioning system for a container transport line includes a guide assembly supporting a pair of guide segments extending opposite each other along the container transport line and an actuation system. The guide segments are located in a home position, and the actuation system is set to correspond with the home position to calibrate the guide positioning system. Furthermore, the actuation system selectively couples and operates the guide assembly so that the guide segments move to a predetermined position away from the home position.

1 . A guide positioning system for a container transport line, the guide positioning system comprising: 
 a guide assembly including a first guide segment and a second guide segment extending opposite each other along a transport line, a rotating member disposed proximate the transport line, and a force translation assembly coupled between said guide segments and said rotating member for displacing said guide segments in correspondence with a rotation of said rotating member; and    an actuation system including a drive element extending along the transport line and selectively engages said rotating member, an actuator selectively coupled to said drive element,    wherein said actuation system selectively operates said drive element to rotate said rotating member and move said guide segments from a home position to a predetermined position away from said home positions.    
   
   
       2 . The guide positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said force translation assembly includes first and second pins secured to said rotating member, a first cam plate secured relative to said first guide segment, and a second cam plate secured relative to said second guide segment, said first and second cam plates each having a slot formed therein for receiving said first and second pins, respectively.  
   
   
       3 . The guide positioning system of  claim 2 , wherein said slots have a non-linear shape.  
   
   
       4 . The guide positioning system of  claim 2 , wherein said force translation assembly further includes first and second support plates coupled between said first and second guide segments and said first and second cam plates, respectively, said first and second cam plates being removably attached to said first and second support plates.  
   
   
       5 . The guide positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating member is a sprocket, and said drive element is a roller chain configured to meshingly engage with said sprocket.  
   
   
       6 . The guide positioning system of  claim 5 , further comprising a chain displacement assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging said sprocket and said chain.  
   
   
       7 . The guide positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating member is a pulley, and said force translation assembly includes a relatively rigid plate disposed on said pulley, a first pin extending from said plate and engaging with said first guide segment, and a second pin extending from said plate and engaging with said second guide segment.  
   
   
       8 . The guide positioning system of  claim 7 , wherein each of said guide segments includes a bracket attached thereto and receiving said pins.  
   
   
       9 . The guide positioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of guide assemblies, each of said plurality of guide assemblies interconnected to said actuation system.  
   
   
       10 . The guide positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator coupling device is an air cylinder.  
   
   
       11 . A container transport system comprising: 
 an infeed machine for collecting a plurality of containers;    a discharge machine for receiving said plurality of containers;    a container transport line extending between said infeed machine and said discharge machine;    a plurality of guide assemblies supporting guides along said transport line; and    an actuation system selectively coupled to each of said plurality of guide assemblies and operable between a calibration state wherein said guide assemblies and said actuation system are decoupled to position said guides in a home position, and an operation state wherein said actuation system selectively operates said guide assemblies to move said guides to a predetermined position away from said home position.    
   
   
       12 . The container transport system of  claim 11 , wherein, when said guide assemblies and said actuation system are uncoupled, said guides are automatically located in said home positions.  
   
   
       13 . The container transport system of  claim 12 , wherein said guide assemblies further include an actuator for automatically locating said guides in said home position.  
   
   
       14 . The container transport system of  claim 12 , wherein said guide assemblies include biasing devices coupled to said guides for automatically locating said guides in said home position.  
   
   
       15 . The container transport system of  claim 11 , wherein said actuation system includes a drive element extending along said transport line and engaging a plurality of said guide assemblies, an actuator selectively coupled to said drive element for selectively operating said drive element.  
   
   
       16 . A method positioning a guide for a container packaging system, the method comprising: 
 locating a guide in a home position;    setting an actuation system to correspond with said home position of said guide;    coupling said guide and said actuation system; and    operating said actuation system to move said guide to a predetermined position away from said home position.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 uncoupling said guide and said actuation system after operating said actuation system;    re-locating said guide in said home position after uncoupling said guide and said actuation system; and    resetting said actuation system to correspond with said home position of said guide.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein uncoupling said guide and said actuation system, locating said guide after decoupling, and resetting said actuation system are performed in response to an input to a control device of said actuation system.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein operating said actuation system to move said guide comprises translating a rotational motion powered by said actuation system into a linear displacement of said guide.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein translating said rotational motion powered by said actuation system comprises providing a substantially constant rate of said linear displacement of said guide.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein biasing said guide and setting said actuation system are performed in response to an input to a control device of said actuation system.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling said guide and said actuation system comprises operating an air cylinder to engage a drive element with said actuation system.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein locating said guide to said home position comprises operating an actuator coupled to said guide.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein locating said guide to said home position comprises manually moving said guide.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein locating said guide to said home position comprises coupling said guide to the container packaging system with a spring assembly.