Adjustable guide chute and method for processing containers

Abstract

A container feeding system is shown having an unscrambler having an unscrambler bowl providing a track or channel that is adjustable such that it can accommodate bottles of varying sizes. The system also comprises an adjustable chute that is also adjustable and having a chute channel or track that is also adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes when the containers are conveyed from the unscrambling bowl, through the adjustable chute, and to a subsequent processing station.

1 - 56 . (canceled)  
   
   
       57 . A container feeding system for feeding containers comprising: 
 an unscrambler having an adjustable first channel; and    a chute having an adjustable second channel in communication with said first channel; said adjustable first channel and said adjustable second channel being adjustable to permit said container feeding system to accommodate containers of different sizes.    
   
   
       58 . The feeding system as recited in  claim 57  wherein said unscrambler further comprises: 
 a plurality of members that cooperate to define the adjustable second channel; and    at least one of said plurality of members being moveable to change at least one dimension of said adjustable channel.    
   
   
       59 . The feeding system as recited in  claim 58  wherein said plurality of members comprises a first wall situated in opposed relation to a second wall, said second wall being moveable towards and away from said first wall to provide said adjustable second channel.  
   
   
       60 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 57  wherein said adjustable second channel comprises a curvature, said plurality of members comprising a flexible member that is moveable to change at least one dimension of said adjustable second channel.  
   
   
       61 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said flexible member comprises a tube member curvature that generally corresponds to said curvature.  
   
   
       62 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 58  wherein said plurality of members comprises: 
 a first member that lies in a first plane;    a second member and a third member that are generally parallel and that lie in second and third planes, respectively, that are generally perpendicular to said first plane; and    a flexible member that is situated in opposed relationship to said first member.    
   
   
       63 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 60  wherein said flexible member is generally centrally located between second and third members.  
   
   
       64 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 57  wherein said adjustable chute comprises a first drive assembly for driving said at least one of second or third walls and a second drive assembly for driving said flexible member toward and away from said first wall.  
   
   
       65 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 57  wherein said unscrambler comprises: 
 a bowl having a bowl wall;    a turret situated in the bowl; and    a drive system coupled to said turret for rotatably driving said turret;    said drive system also being capable of driving said turret along an axis of rotation from a home position to an operating position.    
   
   
       66 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 68  wherein said turret comprises: 
 a first planar member;    a second member situated on said first planar member, an outer edge of said second member cooperating with said bowl wall to define said adjustable first channel having a predetermined depth and width.    
   
   
       67 . The container feeding system as recited in  claim 66  wherein said second member comprises: 
 a central portion and a plurality of concentric rings that are actuatable from said home position to said operating position to define said adjustable first channel adjacent said bowl wall.    
   
   
       68 . An adjustable chute for accommodating containers of different sizes, comprising: 
 a plurality of members that cooperate to define an adjustable channel that can be adjusted to accommodate containers of different sizes, said adjustable chute comprising an inlet associated with an inlet area and an outlet associated with an outlet area; and    at least one of said plurality of members being moveable to change at least one dimension of said adjustable channel;    said inlet being adapted to receive said containers in a first orientation in said inlet and said outlet being adapted to deliver said containers to said outlet area in a second orientation that is different from said first orientation, said inlet being situated above said outlet and said adjustable channel causing said containers to be moved along a non-linear path from said inlet to said outlet.    
   
   
       69 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 68  wherein said plurality of members comprises a first wall situated in opposed relation to a second wall, said second wall being moveable towards and away from said first wall to provide said adjustable channel.  
   
   
       70 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 68  wherein said adjustable channel comprises a curvature that defines said non-linear path, said plurality of members comprising a flexible member that is moveable to change said at least one dimension of said adjustable chute.  
   
   
       71 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 70  wherein said adjustable chute comprises a drive assembly for driving said at least one of said plurality of members between a first position and a second position to change at least one dimension of said adjustable channel.  
   
   
       72 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 68  wherein said first orientation is generally horizontal and an axis of said containers entering said inlet lie in a generally horizontal plane and said second orientation is generally vertical wherein an axis of said containers lie in generally vertical plane.  
   
   
       73 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 68  wherein said inlet of said adjustable channel receives said containers in a generally horizontal position and said adjustable channel moves said containers along a curve to said outlet where said containers are delivered to said outlet area in a generally vertical position.  
   
   
       74 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 68  wherein said adjustable channel is adjustable to cause said containers to be fed end-to-end through said adjustable chute.  
   
   
       75 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 68  wherein said inlet is above said outlet so that said containers are gravity fed at least in part.  
   
   
       76 . An adjustable chute for conveying containers comprising: 
 a first member;    a second member;    a third member generally opposing said second member;    a fourth member generally opposed to said first member;    said first, second, third and fourth members cooperating to define a channel having an inlet and an outlet;    a first drive assembly for changing a relative position of at least one of said first, second, third or fourth members to change a dimension of said channel;    said channel being adapted to convey containers from a first orientation at said inlet to a second orientation at said outlet, wherein said first orientation is different from said second orientation.    
   
   
       77 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 76  wherein said second member comprises a first wall and said third member comprises a second wall that is generally parallel to said first wall, said first drive assembly enabling a distance between said first and second walls to be changed, said dimension of said channel being changed in response thereto.  
   
   
       78 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 76  wherein said inlet is above said outlet and said containers are gravity fed end-to-end at least in part.  
   
   
       79 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 76  wherein said adjustable chute defines a curvature.  
   
   
       80 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 76  wherein said inlet being situated above said outlet and said first orientation being generally horizontal and said second orientation being generally vertical.  
   
   
       81 . An adjustable chute for channeling a plurality of containers; 
 a first wall;    a second wall;    a third wall generally parallel to said first wall;    a member situated opposite said first wall and being generally parallel therewith;    said first, second and third walls cooperating with said member to define a channel; and    a drive assembly coupled to at least one of said second or third walls, said drive assembly driving at least one of said second or third walls to change a first distance between said second and third walls;    said drive assembly also coupled to at least one of said first wall or said member, said drive assembly being capable of changing a second distance between said first wall and said flexible member;    said drive assembly driving at least one of said first, second or third walls or said flexible member in order to adjust a channel dimension of said channel so that the plurality of containers are gravity fed at least in part from a first area to a second area.    
   
   
       82 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 81  wherein said channel dimension comprises a first cross-sectional dimension corresponding to said first distance and a second cross-sectional dimension corresponding to said second distance, said first and second cross-sectional dimensions being larger than a diameter of said container.  
   
   
       83 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 82  wherein said drive assembly drives at least one of said first or said second walls to change said first cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       84 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 82  wherein said drive assembly drives said flexible member to change said second cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       85 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 83  wherein said drive assembly drives said flexible member to change said second cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       86 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 82  wherein said drive assembly drives at least one of said first or said second walls to change said a first cross-sectional dimension and substantially simultaneously drives said flexible member such that said flexible member remains generally centrally located between said second and third walls.  
   
   
       87 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 82  wherein said drive assembly drives said flexible member toward and away from said first wall to change said second cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       88 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 82  wherein said channel defines a curvature.  
   
   
       89 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 77  wherein said inlet being adapted to receive said containers in a first orientation in said inlet and said outlet being adapted to deliver said containers to said outlet area in a second orientation that is different from said first orientation, said inlet being situated above said outlet.  
   
   
       90 . The adjustable chute as recited in  claim 89  wherein said first orientation is generally horizontal and said second orientation is generally horizontal.  
   
   
       91 . A method for changing a channel size of a channel in a guide chute, said channel being defined by a first wall, a second wall lying in a plane that is generally normal to said first wall, a third wall situated in generally opposed relation to said second wall, and a flexible member in generally opposed relation to said first wall, said method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a channel size in response to a dimension of a container to be processed;    moving at least one of said second and third walls to change a first distance between said second and third walls; and    moving at least one of said flexible member and said first wall to change a second distance between them,    said inlet being adapted to receive said containers in a first orientation in said inlet and said outlet being adapted to deliver said containers to said outlet area in a second orientation that is different from said first orientation, said inlet being situated above said outlet.