US3491511A - Orienting and packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 B. J. NIGRELLI ET Al- 3491511 v ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE l Filed March 17, 1967 l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 llll/lll #auf =i INVENToRs Biagio J. Nigrelii Wendell E. S'rondley Richard B. WiTTmonn BY yu/n) ATTORNEY Jan. 257, 1970 B.J.N1GREL`L1 ET Al- 3,491,511

ORIENTING lAND PACKAGING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1967 V? .INVENTQRS Bloglo J. Nlgrell Wendell E. Srondl Richard B. BY

ey WiTTmonn yad/25V rafnl/ ATTORNEY A Jan. 27, 1970 B. J. NIGRELLI ET Al- ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1967 n M wwf, .Hmm MHH Sfmi w WJSW T.. 1. mdf, WOM 4. |.nl5d n me. BW

ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1970 E. J. NIGRELLI ETAL 3,491,511

ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 17, i967 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 E@ 10 leb y I NVENToRs B|c1g|o J. Ngrelli Wendell ESTondley Richard E3. Wi'fi'monn ATTORN EY `Fam. 27, 1970 Filed March 17, 1967 B. J. NIGRELLI ET AL ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [NVENTORS Bloglo J.- Nigrelli Wendell E. SfondIey Richard B. Wihmonn ATTORN EY Jan. 27, 1970 B. J. MGRELLI4 ETAI- 3,491,511

ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 17, 1967 INVENTORS Biagio J. Nigrelli Wendell E; Siandley Wittmann Richard B. f,

ATTORNEY B. J. NIGRELLI ET AL 3,491,511

ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Jan. 27, 1970 15 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed March l 1967 o9 vw ATTORN EY Jan. 27, 1970 B. J. NIGRELLI ET AL 3,491,511

ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1967 l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 Biagio J. Nigrelli Wendell E. STundley Richard B. WiT'rmonn ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1970 B. J. N'IGR'EL'LI ET Al- RIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 17, 1967 III .Il

Wendell E. Srcmdley Richard B. Wir'rmonn BY/Zfj Jan. 27, 1970 B. .1. NIGRELLI ETAL 3,491,511

ORIENTNG AND PACKAGING MACHINE FiledMarch 17, i967 1,5 .Sheets-Sheet 10 In So E g i l\ g g n j g5 1 is! 1 I INVENTORS i Bioglo J. Nlgrelll m Wendell E. Standley g gg z Richard B. Wittmann /nf ff B yATTORNEY Jan.. 2,7, 1970 B. J. NIGRELLJ ET AL 3,491,511

ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 17, 19s? 13 sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORS Biagio J. Nigrelli Wendell E. STondIey Richor B. Wifmonn ATTORNEY Jan,27, 1970 B.J.N|GRELL| E-AL, 3,491511 ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1967 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 iNvENToRs Biagio J. Ngrell Wendell E. Scmdley Richard B. Winmonn y i I I BY f ff@ a ww ATToR EY Jan. 27,1970 B. .1..NIGRELL1 ET-AL, 3,491,511

ORIENT'ING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 17, 196,7 13' sheets-sheet 1s 200 CR l 2001- SOTTLE GROUP1 m DETECTOR U cR-a BOTTLE DIVERTER 1st. GROUP BYPASS Tsf.

5V| (ARTICLES fm SVH ONERT 1st. H :iL W /ARTICLES TT w D'IBE RIIR 5V2| DTVERT 2ncLART|cLES" o 2nd. GROUP BYPASS 2nd. ART|CLES T 8va-2 n U BOTTLE V ORIENTING CRB SVMSDA APPLTER RAISED-NO GLUE lNGN SKID A. 54-2 0-6 APPLIOATOR Mil/BEL SVS-2 GLUE APPLlEO BLANK RESET BLANK PASS STAR WHEEL STOP AND BOTTLE ASSIST.

SV5-2 STA RWHEEL RELEASED BOTTLE ASSIST. SVS' STOPPED TNVENTORS Bloglo J. Ngrelli Wendell E. SOndley Richard B. Wihmonn :gif

ATTORN EY United States Patent O 3,491,511 ORIENTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Biagio J. Nigrelli, Northbrook, Wendell E. Standley, Lake Forest, and Richard B. Wittmann, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 624,002 Int. Cl. B65b 11/40, 35/58 U.S. Cl. 53-54 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for orienting and packaging articles, such as bottles or cans, has an article infeed conveyor which delivers articles to a supporting member. The articles have distinctive exterior markings, such as labels, which must be oriented in a desired direction. The supporting member holds each article to be oriented. Means are provided for detecting location of the markings and for turning the articles so as to orient the markings as desired. After markings have been properly oriented, the articles are deposited on a paperboard blank, or the like, and carried through the machine wherein the blank is wrapped about a group of articles enclosing the group in a package.

This invention relates to a machine for orienting and packaging articles, such as bottles or cans. More particularly, this invention relates to a machine for rotating some of the articles to be packaged to orient them in a particular manner so that some distinctive marking thereon, such as labels, face certain directions. Moreover, this invention relates to a machine for taking articles from a single le infeed and depositing them in two rows on a discharge conveyor having, for example, a blank of paperboard thereon suitable for packaging the articles.

As is generally known, beer confined in glass containers has a tendancy to deteriorate When exposed to light by becoming skunky. To eliminate light, bottle beer has conventionally been sold only in completely enclosed 12 or 24 bottle cases. However, with the recent introduction of disposable glass bottles, efforts have been made to package the bottles in economical throw-away paperboard carriers having a bottom wall, four side walls upstanding therefrom, and a package closing top wall. This type carrier requires considerable paperboard and thus represents a sizeable xed packaging expense.

One approach to reduce the paperboard required for each carrier is to provide openings or windows in the side walls of the carrier, and to prevent the passage of light through the opening or window by some opaque shade or light barrier. Since beer bottles generally have labels on them to identify the particular brand of beer, it is possible to line up the labels with the opening or window to block exterior light from the beer. Carriers having windows in the side walls are disclosed in the United States Patents 3,152,688 and 3,167,214, issued t I. V. Mahon. This invention discloses a machine suitable for orienting botles in such a predetermined manner so that the labels face a specific direction an'd depositing the botles onto the paperboard carrier blank.

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide a machine for initially diverting from an article conveyor a selected group of articles, and of thereafter gripping and supporting the articles, of further orienting some of the articles in a predetermined manner so that the labels, for example, face a given direction, of further providing a carrier blank adjacent the articles, and still further of depositing the articles as oriented onto the carrier blank.

A detailed object of this invention is to provide, in a "ice machine of the type noted in the main object, suitable means to transfer successive groups each of two or more articles from a single conveyor to a pair of article receiving stations so that each station receives some articles of the group only when the other does, and conversely so that neither station receives any articles when the other does not.

Another detailed object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type noted in the main object, a suitable control that will automatically collect a predetermined group of articles only when a paperboard carrier blank is provided in position, and conversely, that will provide a paperboard carrier blank for the articles only when the articles are predeterminely grouped as desired.

Another detailed object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type noted in the main object, controls that will sense when complete groups of acceptable articles are collected, and will thereafter divert these articles as two or more selected subgroups to the separate article transfer devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type noted in the main object, a diverting mechanism that operates to shift various articles as subgroups in prearranged sequences, without repeated shifting under ordinary operations, from a main group of articles to the separate corresponding article transfer devices; but yet, by shifting when desired, further bypasses all of these articles past the article receiving stations.

Another detailed object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type noted in the main object, means for gripping the tops of the articles suitable to transfer them, the gripping means being of the quick release type to release the articles at the proper locations.

Another detailed object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type noted in the main object, orienting means operable to orient at least some of the articles of a group in a predetermined manner and then thereafter to hold the articles in the oriented manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type noted in the main object, suitable means to apply an adhesive to this paperboard blank at the location where the articles will be deposited, to hold the articles in the oriented manner on the blank.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent after reviewing the following specification including the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 (sheet 1) is a top plan view of the subject machine including the botle conveyor, the blank conveyor, and the bottle orienting turrets;

FIG. 2 (sheet 1) is a perspective view of flattened paperboard carrier blank having positioned thereon a group of bottles oriented in a manner the machine of FIG. 1 can orient them;

:I FIG. 3 (sheet 1) is a perspective view of the complete carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 (sheet 1) is a perspective view of a blank reject portion of the machine of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 (sheet 2) is an enlarged top plan view of the transfer section of the machine of FIG. l;

FIGS. 6a and 6b (sheet 2) are perspective views, partially broken away and in section, of typical plaque assemblies used in the transfer section of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 (sheet 3) is an elevational sectional View, as seen generally from line 7 7 of FIG. l5 (sheet 2), of the first switching device used in the transfer section O FIG. 5;

FIG. `8 (sheet 3) is a perspective view of a portion of the rst switching device used in the transfer section of FIG. 5 (sheet 2);

FIG. 9 (sheet 3) is a top plan view of the lirst switching device of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10, 11, 12 (sheet 4) are vie-ws similar, respectively, to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, of the second switching device of the transfer section of FIG. (sheet 2);

FIG. 13 (sheet 5) is an elevational sectional view, as seen from line 13-13 of FIG. 1 (sheet 1) of the bottle orienting turret of the subject machine;

FIG. 14 (sheet 6) is a top sectional vie-w, as seen gene erally from line 14-14 of FIG. 13 (sheet 5), of the drive mechanism for the bottle orienting turret of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 (sheet 7) is a side elevational view, as seen generally from line 15--15 of FIG. 13 (sheet 5) of the bottle gripping and orienting mechanism;

FIG. 16 (sheet 8) is an enlarged elevational sectional view, as seen generally from line 16-16 of FIG. 15 (sheet 7 of one end bottle gripping and orienting mechamsm;

FIG. 17 (sheet 8) is an enlarged elevational sectional View, as seen generally from line 17-17 of FIG. 15 (sheet 7 of one intermediate bottle gripping mechmism;

FIG. 18 (sheet 7) is a top sectional view, as seen generally from line 18-18 of FIG. 16 (sheet 8), of the typical bottle gripping mechanism;

FIG. 19 (sheet 9) is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the typical bottle gripping mechanism disclosed therein;

FIG. 20 (sheet 7) is a side elevational view, in a developed form, of a guide cam 'oar used for actuating the bottle gripping mechanism disclosed herein;

FIGS. 21a, 2lb, 21C, and 21d (sheet 10) are side elevational sectional views (similar to FIGS. 16 and 17) of one bottle gripping mechanism shown in various operative stages, including, respectively, the pregripping, the actual gripping, the prerelease, and the actual release stages;

FIG. 22 (sheet 11) is a top sectional View, as seen generally from line 22-22 of FIG. 13 (sheet 5), of indicia detecting means for orienting the bottle gripping mechansms;

FIG. 23 sheet 11)= is a perspective vie-w of a portion of the indicia detecting means of FIG. 2.2 (sheet 11);

FIG. 24 (sheet 11) is an enlarged top plan view of the indicia detecting means of FIG. 22 (sheet 11);

FIG. 25 (sheet 12) is a perspective view of a blank nonskid applier portion of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 26 (sheet 12) is a perspective view of the bottle assist means and bottle stop means used on the infeed section of the machine of FIG. l;

FIG. 27 (sheet 13) is a schematic diagram of control circuits suitable for the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 28 (sheet 12) is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 15 (sheet 7), of a modied bottle gripping and orienting mechanism.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings show the basic components of the machine, as well as typical bottle carrier that can be loaded by the machine. The machine includes a bottle conveyor having infeed section 12, transfer section 14 in line with the infeed section, and return section 16 for rejected bottles. Bottles 17 on the bottle conveyor are directed from transfer section 14 to star wheels 18a and 18h. The star wheels 18a and 18b, rotating to present a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of the bottles on the transfer section, convey sub-groups of bottles to turrets 20a and 2Gb. The turrets 20a and 20h in turn receive the bottles from the star Wheels and transfer them to vertical alignment over a blank 2S positioned on the blank conve-yor 22 extending adjacent the bottle conveyor 10. The blank conveyor 22 is supplied blanks by a blank feed mechanism 24 in a typical manner, and presents a series of blanks 25 vertically below the bottles supported by the turrets 20a and 2Gb. The peripheral speed of the turrets similarly is equal to the linear speed of the blanks 25 on the conveyor. The separate turrets are used to load separate rows of bottles onto the blank, the first turret 20a loading the near side row 27 and the second turret 20b loading the far side row 28. Orienting mechanism, to be described hereinafter, on each turret,

rotates the end bottles of each row luntil the labels 26 thereon face endwardly of the row (FIG. 2).

Upon the carrier C (FIG. 3) being formed, the labels 26 cover the side wall openings or windows of the carrier to block all exterior light from the carrier contents. The above mentioned companion cases disclose means to form the carrier shown in FIG. 3.

Having thus ldescribed the basic components and operation of the subject machine, details wili now be given. Thus, the infeed section 12 of bottle conveyor 10v can be a typical at top chain having adjacent side guard rails 29 to conne in a singular row a number of bottles. A star wheel 3.b (FIGS. 1 and 26, sheet 12) is located at the end of the infeed section 12, and has a plurality of recesses that receive the passing bottles. The star wheel rotates in timed relations with the overall operation of the machine, and is driven through a friction clutch (not shown) by the machine. However, the star wheel can be stopped to prevent bottle transfer to section 14. To provide that the star wheel stops only after all bottles of an already accepted group have passed it, the brake includes a one tooth gear 31 (see FIG. 26) keyed to shaft 32 in turn which is keyed to the star wheel 30. A pawl 33 in the form of a bell crank is operated by power cylinder 34 to engage the one tooth of the gear 31 only once in a rotation of the star wheel. This provides that any acceptable group of bottles will not be split up by the star wheel being stopped. The star wheel is stopped when one or more conditions occur which indicates a malfunction in the operation of the machine, as will be disclosed hereinafter.

To make sure that the bottles move forward in a solid stream, each bottle in contact with the adjacent bottle, after the star wheel 30 has been released, a lbottle assist mechanism is located immediately before the star wheel 30 and includes spaced wheels 35 supporting thereon a pair of continuous chains 36 having a pair of opposed ngers 37. Ordinarily, the fingers 37 are extended parallel to the conveyor and do not function while the star wheel 30 is freely rotated. The head set of wheels is keyed to shaft 38, which in turn is keyed to one tooth gear 39 against which pawl 44 can be moved by power cylinder 45. When the star wheel 30 is stopped, the pawl 44 is released from gear 39 to permit the shaft 38 to be driven through a friction clutch (not shown) by the machine until the rearwardly disposed nger 37 engages a bottle upstream of the star wheel which then pushes the bottles rmly against the stopped star wheel 30. When the star wheel is thereafter released, the pawl 44 engages the outer diameter of the gear 39 and the belt is powered not more than one half turn to accelerate all bottles ahead of the finger 37 with a positive guided push. Thereafter, the pawl 44 engages the tooth on gear 39 to stop the fingers 37 parallel to the conveyor, and the bottles are thereafter conveyed on the infeed section under normal conveyor operatrons.

The transfer section 14 is a moving base support formed by plaques 40 which are mounted on links or rods 41, whose ends are secured in spaced chains 42. The plaques 40 can be moved axially of the rods 41 to be in either of two generaliy parallel rows (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5) in which one row 43 is but an extension of the infeed section 12 and the adjacent inner row 46 is disposed inwardly thereof toward the star wheels 18a and 1811. Suitable guides 47 extend parallel to the outer 43 row for supporting the bottles positioned thereon and maintaining them in place in the row. A continuous conveyor 48 having pushers 49 disposed to fit between the various bottles received initially on the transfer section 14, and all bottles positioned on the outer row 43, guides Said bottles in a uniformly spaced manner.

The plaques 40 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 6a, and 6b, and include an elongated member having appropriate bearing construction for reciprocally being supported on the links 41 of a continuous chain conveyor 42.

Switching devices (shown in FIGS. 7 through 12 on sheets 3 and 4) suitably guide the various plaques from the outer row 43 to the inner row 46 to transfer the bottles thereon to the appropriate star wheels and turrets 20a and 20h, respectively. The plaques for the two rows 43 and 46 are different, although all plaques used for either row are the same.

Each plaque 40a (FIG. 6o), which is typical of all plaques that can be shifted while passing star wheel 18a, has positioned thereon a single elongated pin 52, while each plaque 40b (FIG. 6b) which is typical of all plaques that can be shifted `while passing star wheel 18b, has positioned thereon two spaced shorter outer and inner pins 53 and 54. The pins 52 on the first star wheel plaques 40a and inner pins 54 on second star wheel plaques 40b are aligned with one another longitudinally of the conveyor chain 42. Switching devices 56a and 56h (FIGS. 8 and 11) are located slightly upstream in the direction of conveyor travel of the star wheels 18a and 18b suitable thereby for switching the respective plaques 40a and 40b. The switching devices are basically similar to one another and each include an appropriate power cylinder, 58a and 58h, and a switching member 60a and 60b actuated by the power cylinder. The first turret switching device 56a is spaced below the plaques 40 a distance greater than the length of the - pins 53 and 54 on the plaques 40b but less than the length of pins 52 on the plaques 40a. The pins 52 thus strike the switching member 60a to move the plaques 40a axially along the rods 41 on the conveyor while pins 53 and S4 merely ride over the switching device. Transfer cams 64a and 64b curve from the switching members 60 toward the star ` wheels 18a and 18b and transfer the plaques from the outer row 43 to the inner row 46. Appropriate pin guides 62a and `62b center the plaques in the respective rows to engage each switch device properly.

The switching devices 56a and 56k differ to the extent that the switching member 60a is adapted to engage the singular pin 52 on the plaque 40a while the switching member 60b is adapted to engage the nonaligned pin 53 on the plaque 40b. This cooperation is shown clearly in FIGS. 9, and 12, respectively. However, the transfer cams 64a and 64b are each disposed to guide the pins 52 and 54 of the respective plaques after the switching member has already initially shifted the plaque.

This transfer pin -construction is specifically designed to permit the switching devices to remain stationary under normal operating conditions, the plaques 40a are directed to the rst star wheel 18a and the plaques 4011 are directed to the second star wheel 18b. As shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 12, each bottle is supported on three plaques so that each subgroup of three bottles (to form a row in the carrier) is directed to either star wheel 18b and 18a on nine adjacent plaques. An automatic packaging machine lwill frequently run at speeds exceeding 1,000 -bottles per minute. The time lapsed in the passage of two adjacent plaques is thus seen to be rather small. However, even if the bottles of one group should not be switched to the star wheels, the plaques must remain in their bottle diverting position until the preceding group of bottles has passed, and only then can the switching device be moved. With the subject pin switching means, the switching device can thus be moved during a nine plaque interval as compared to only a fractional plaque interval.

After the switching devices 56a and 56b do switch the plaques, the pins 52 and 54 will be guided by appropriate tracks 66a and 66b (FIGS. 7 and 10) for the length of the transfer section 10. Similarly, a guide track 68 (FIG. 7) located on the return side of the chain 42 transfers all plaques in the inner row 46 to alignment with the outer row y43 suitable to receive the bottles at the infeed end of the transfer section 14.

Each star wheel 18 includes a support or dead plate 70 which is disposed immediately adjacent the plaques 40 when they are positioned in the inner row 46. The bottles are transferred from the plaques onto the dead plates 70, and curved bars 72 spaced above the plaques engage the bottles between their heights to guide them onto the dead plates. Since the guide bars 72 curve around the respective star wheels 18, the bottles are received and held within the individual recesses 74 on the star wheels. The bottles thereby are transferred by each rotating star wheel from alignment with the inner row 46 approximately 180 to alignment with the respective turret 20.

Each turret 20, shown on FIGS. 1, 13 and 14, includes a stationary base plate 77 and a rotatable vertical post 80 having a notched bottle star wheel 83 and a support 84 keyed to it. Gripping mechanisms 86 are mounted on the support 84 in a position in alignment over the bottle recesses of the star wheels 83. As is seen in FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 21a, the gripping mechanisms descend onto and grip the tops of the bottles positioned on the base plate 77. Thereafter, the gripping mechanisms are elevated slightly to lift the bottle from the base plate 77 for transferring the same to alignment over the blank 25 on the blank conveyor 22. When the bottles are supported by the gripping mechanism above the base plate 77, the entire mechanism and gripped bottles are rotated about a vertical axis to orient the bottle label, or the like, in a particular manner suitable for forming the previously mentioned carrier. The bottles are thereafter released and deposited onto the blanks.

A typical gripping mechanism is shown in exploded perspective view FIG. 19 (sheet 9) and is seen to include a post 90 that is xed vertically relative to the supporting plate 84 of the turret. A sleeve 92 is mounted to reciprocate axially on the post 90, and a grooved cam follower 94 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve. The post 90 has an elongated slot 95 formed therein, and the sleeve 92 also has an elongated slot 96 which can be aligned with the post slot so that a common pin 97 can be extended through both slots. The sleeve 92 thus can move axially of the post but cannot rotate relative to the post. A block 99 is mounted on the post 90 below the sleeve 92 and is secured to the sleeve by means of arms 100 received within opposing recesses 101 of the sleeve. The block 99 further has attached to it opposing arms 103 that straddle the sleeve to engage the pin 97 extending through the post and sleeve. The vertical position of the arms 103 can be adjusted by the fbolt connection 104.

Spaced ears 105 project from the sleeve and have aligned pairs of openings 106 on the ends thereof that receive pins 107, each of which is in turn received in bearing socket 109 of gripper element 108. Each gripper element 108 further has an additional bearing socket 110 for receipt of pin member 111 which pivotly support the outward ends of links 113. The inward ends of the links 113 are supported on the pin 97 extending through the slots of the post and sleeve. Tension springs 114 extend between the opposing pins 111 at the bearing connection of the gripper elements 108. The gripper element 108 provided with a resilient gripping head 115 suitable for snuggly grasping the cap of the bottle to be rotated by the gripping device.

The operation of the gripping device will be readily understood when it is remembered that the post 90 is fixed vertically, and the sleeve 92 and the block 99 are moved vertically along the post. FIG. 13 shows a cam guide bar 118 which extends circumferentially of the turrets and which is engaged by the grooved cam follower 94 on the sleeve for regulating the vertical height of the sleeve as the gripping mechanism is carried around by the turret. FIG. 20 (sheet 7) shows the cam bar 118 in a developed prole and has labeled thereon the particular operation occurring through the various angles of turret rotation for each gripping means. Note also that there is a difference in vertical elevation of the turret base plate 77 and the blank conveyor support 22, the blank support being slightly lower than the base plate. Further lote that the links 113 and spring 114 create with the gripper elements 108 a toggle mechanism which is un- ;table where the links are nearly aligned with one another md in a horizontal position. On either side of this top lead center or unstable position, the spring causes the pin )7 to move within the slots until the pin engages the end )f either post slot 95 or sleeve slot 96, or the block arms l03. It will be readily understood that the various com- YJonents of the gripping mechanism are proportioned as -equirecl to accomplish the operation to be described herenafter.

As the gripper mechanism releases the bottle on the :arrier blank (see FIG. 21d), the ilnks 113 snap upwardly until pin 97 engages the top of the post slot 95. Fo reset the gripping mechanism, the cam guide bar 118 :urves upwardly to lift the sleeve 92 relative to the post :o cause thereby the top of the post slot 95 to be lowered Jelow the top dead center position of the toggle links [13 to snap the links downwardly until the pin 97 is against the top of sleeve bars 103 (FIG. 21a).

To cause the gripping mechanisms t-o grip the bottles, the cam guide bar 18 is thereafter curved downwardly to move the 'block 99 against the cap of the bottle, which further downward movement of the sleeve causes the pusher arms 103 to move the pin 97 upwardly and the links 113 toward the horizontal position. This moves the gripper elements 118 toward one another to grip the bottle :ap therein (FIG. 2lb). The cam guide bar 118 thereafter attens out, and the links 113, are inclined downwardly slightly but closely adjacent the dead center position. This is ordinarily an unstable position, but because of the tight gripping force applied by the gripping members against the cap of the bottle, which further causes -by reaction a tight compression force against the links, the entire linkage is locked. The cam guide bar 118 thereafter curves upwardly to elevate the bottle from the base plate 77, in which position, the gripping mechanism remains the same. The bottle can then be rotated in order to orient the label.

During the drop olf or release phase of the gripping mechanism, the carrier blank upon which the bottles are to 'be deposited is located lower than the turret base plate 77 (see FIGS. 2lb and 21C). The cam guide bar 118 is therefore curved downwardly below the position at which the bottles were initially gripped to cause the pin 97 to engage the bottom of the post slot 95. Continued downward movement of the sleeve therefore moves the pin relative to the sleeve past the dead center position of the toggle links to thereby quickly snap the links upwardly to the released position as shown in FIG. 21d. This deposits the bottles onto the carrier blank in the oriented position, the screw 119 threaded into the lower end of the post being used to accurately adjust the drop-olf time of the bottle.

The gripping mechanisms 86 are supported from plate 84 of each turret so that the bottles supported thereby can be deposited in rows on the carrier blank 25 (see FIGS. 2 and 14). The center gripping mechanism is supported non-rotatably by a stationary clip 125 (see FIGS. 15 and 17) with the post 90 being keyed to the clip and the clip in turn being secured to the plate 84. A coil compression spring 126 positioned between the clip 125 and the grooved cam follower 94 forces the sleeve downwardly with a slight force to prevent vibrations, etc., thereof. In order to orient the labels 26 on the end bottles so that they face endwardly of the rows, each end gripper mechanism is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of its post 90.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show drive mechanism suitable for driving the end gripping mechanisms on one turret. The drive on the second turret is identical to this. In the drive, a center gear 130 is mounted to rotate on the post 80 of the turret, and a plurality of idle gears 132 are supported by appropriate bushings from the support plate 84 to engage the center gear 130. A rst drive gear 134 engages each idle gear 132 and is supported vertically about the post of the one end gripper mechanisms. A second drive gear 136 engages the iirst drive gear 134 and is vertically aligned above the post of the opposite end gripper mechanism. The gears 134 and 136 are typically keyed to shaft 138 (see FIG. 16) which is connected by a suitable clutch 140 to the post 90 of the gripper mechanism disposed therebeneath. A brake 142 On the post can stop rotation of the post when desired and hold the post against further rotation after the orienting operation is completed. The center gear is Shown as being driven by a separate constant speed motor 144. Rotation of the center gear causes the various gears to roll on one another to rotate each end gripper mechanism when its brake 142 is released and its clutch 140 is engaged.

Suitable detection means are employed to control the operation of the clutch and brake to determine when the bottle is oriented in the manner desired. Such detection means is shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24. The detection means includes a photocell unit having a light sender and a light receiver 152 arranged relative to one another to focus at 153 on the peripheral surface of the adjacent bottles. The photocell unit is mounted on a housing 154 that is adjustable vertically by screw member 156, and the entire assembly 157 can be adjusted by means of a curved slot 158 to any position adjacent the bottle and held in place by bolts 159. Since the photocell unit is focused on the periphery of the bottle, the edge of the bottle label or other appropriate mark can be detected to indicate that a predetermined orientation of the bottle has been achieved.

To orient the end bottles, the gear drive previously discussed is driven at a speed sucient to rotate each of the end bottles through at least one full turn during the interval that the bottle is supported by the turret. The control thus connects shaft 138 to post 90 when the bottle is suspended by the gripping mechanism to rotate the bottle. When the suitable marking on the bottle passes the focus point 153, the control is energized to release the clutch and to apply the brake to the bottle gripping mechanism. This maintains the gripping mechanism in an oriented manner so that the label faces endwardly of the row.

Since the bottles are deposited on the carrier blank in an oriented manner, it is desirable to secure the bottles to the blank. Accordingly, a glue roll 161 (FIGS. 1 and 25) is supported above the blank to roll at a peripheral speed equal to that of the blank. The glue roll has appropriate recesses 162 openings spaced in a pattern to apply glue to the blank at the locations thereon that will be occupied by the bottles when the bottles are positioned on the blank. A backup roll 163 is located beneath the blank in alignment with the glue roll to support the blank during the application of glue to the carrier. The roll is supported between spaced parallel arms 164 which are pivoted in turn about pin connections 165. A power cylinder 166 is connected to the opposite end of each arm 164 operable to lift the glue roll from contact with the backup roll 163. This prevents application of glue to the backup roll during the time a blank may not have been deposited on the blank conveyor, or during the time a blank may have been deposited on the blank conveyor but is to be rejected because of a later non-acceptable group of bottles. A glue pot 167 is supported by the arms 164 to apply adhesive to the glue roll. This application of adhesive A (FIGS. 14 and 22) on the supporting blank beneath each bottle prevents bottle rotation from the oriented position.

To further stabilize the articles already positioned on the carrier blank as the blank is advanced on its conveyor, a guide conveyor 168 (FIGS. l, 14 and 22) is disposed adjacent the blank conveyor. The guide conveyor 168 includes a continuous member 169 extending around spaced vertical shafts (only 170 being shown), and a plurality of guide ngers 171 on this member 169 are adapted to fit between the articles of the row 27. The guide conveyor is, of course, synchronized in direction and speed with the blank conveyor. It' desired, a similar guide conveyor (not shown) can be located on the opposite side of the machine for guiding the articles of the row 28.

To reject a carrier blank on any of the occasions noted above, a blank reject device 174 (FIG. 4, sheet 1) can be used. The device includes a pair of spaced shafts 175 and 176, secured together by links 177 to rotate as a unit about shaft 176, in an elevated position above the blank conveyor 22. Reject fingers 178 are secured to the lower shaft 175 to present free ends that can be moved between positions either above or below a blank on the blank conveyor, and guide fingers 179 are secured to shaft 176, to present free ends that remain above the carrier blank. A power cylinder 180 secured to lever 181, which is in turn keyed to the shaft 176, operates to raise or lower the free ends 'of the reject lingers 178 in a manner required. A hopper 184 elevated above the blank conveyor and located downstream of the reject fingers 178 is used to collect all rejected blanks. Drive wheels 186 are journaled on the upper shaft 176 and are powered by motor 188, and engage opposing freely rotating backup wheels 189 journaled on the lower shaft 175. The wheels cooperate together to grip and rapidly move any blank that has been rejected and is riding up the inclined fingers 178 to the hopper 184.

FIG. 28 shows an alternate arrangement which can be used to orient all of the articles in each group. This arrangement dilfers from that shown in FIG. l only to the extent that clutch and brake mechanisms 14041 and 14219 are connected to the center article-support mechanism, and that gears 134a and 137, appropriately driven by the gear 134, power orienting shaft 90a of this support mechamsm.

OPERATION AND CONTROL Under normal operation the movement of the bottles is continuous, without surging or fluctuation, from the bottle conveyor 10, through the transfer section 14 and the turrets a and 20h, to when they are deposited on the carrier blank 25. The blanks are deposited on the blank conveyor 22 at preselected intervals, and the bottles are deposited from the separate turrets 20a and 2Gb at different locations along the blank conveyor. Accordingly, carrier blank 25a (FIG. 1) is aligned with the turret 2Gb so that the turret is discharging its lbottles onto the blank and the blank thus has the complete bottle group. Carrier blanks 25b and 25C are positioned between the turrets 20a and 20b and have only the sub-group of bottles from turret 20a loaded thereon. Carrier blank 25d, on the other hand, is adjacent turret 20a and is being loaded With the bottle sub-group from this turret. All of the other carrier blanks 25d through 25k are spaced upstream of the turrets and have no bottles positioned thereon. Working from the carrier blank 25a, which has the completed group of bottles, the bottles are sub-grouped 17b and 17e, etc., to 17k to correspond to the letter designation given to its blank.

It can be seen that from the beginning of the transfer section 14, the bottles are in sub-groups of three each to correspond to the two rows of bottles required for each carrier. It is noted that the six bottles 17j positioned on the transfer section ahead of the star Wheel are for carrier blank 25]', the first three bottles being for the turret 20a and the last three bottles being for the turret 20b. These separate sub-groups of bottles are directed from the single line bottle conveyor by the plaque transfer construction above disclosed. However, the first three bottles of the six-bottle group should be transferred to the first turret 20a only after a complete group of bottles has been accepted. Consequently, a bottle sensing device must be located at least six bottles ahead of the first switching device 56a in sufficient time to reject all bottles of the .group if any one of the group is bad, e.g., broken, without caps, etc.

If a group of bottles is rejected, it is also necessary to reject the carrier blank that corresponds to the rejected group before it is within the actual bottle receiving portion of the machine. Moreover, if a blank is not fed because of a malfunction of the blank feeder, the bottles that would normally correspond to this blank should be rejected. Where no blank is fed, it is desirable to lift the glue roll from its normal operating position to avoid applying glue to the backing roll, which glue would mar subsequent good blanks.

These control functions can be incorporated into this machine by various appropriately located sensing or detecting devices. Typical circuits for effecting such control are disclosed in FIG. 27 (sheet 13) and include hot power lines 200 between which the individual control circuits are connected. Thus, the presence of six good articles, e.g. bottles, in a group can be detected by a proximity detecting device D1 (FIG. 1) that is located above the bottle conveyors in a position to sense the cap on each bottle. A circuit suitable for this control includes normally opened detecting device contacts D1-1 connected in series with a control relay coil CR1 and no-rmally opened control relay contacts CRI-1. A slip ring SR1, connected in parallel with the detecting device contacts D1-1 and the control relay contacts CRI-1, is hot over a 15 segment to complete the circuit across the control relay coil CRI just prior to, and hold it until, the first bottle of the group is in sensing relation with the detector D1. Thus, the control relay is closed and maintained closed by its own contact CRI-1 if the detecting device D1 senses caps on the bottles. By positioning the detecting device so that its sensing area will overlap two, but only two adjacent bottles, the control relay CR1 is -constantly energized during normal operations where good bottles are continuously presented to the star wheel.

The control for directing the articles to the first turret 20a utilizes a blank detecting control and the `above mentioned bottle group detecting control. Detecting device D2 (FIG. 1), such as a photocell having contacts D2-1 that are closed when no blank is detected, is positioned adjacent the blank conveyor 22 to sense the presence of a blank thereon. The blank detecting contacts D2-1 are connected in parallel with normally closed contacts CRI-2 from the bottle detecting control, and these are connected in series with slip ring SR2 and control relay coil CR2. Slip ring SR3 and the normally open contacts CR2-1 are in parallel with the slip ring SR2 and contacts, and in series with the control relay coil CR2. At the proper time, slip ring SR2 becomes hot and completes a circuit through the control relay coil CR2 if either contacts D2-1 (closed when no blank is present) or CRI-2 (closed when the group of bottles is not complete) are closed. This circuit is thereafter maintained by the slip ring SRS. Slip ring SRS is hot over a 300 segment and is timed to hold the circuit, if bottles are to be diverted, until at least the third bottle of the group has passed the switching device 56a. Within this time, slip ring SR4 completes a circuit with either of two separate pairs of contacts and solenoid valve coils: CR2-2 and SVI-1, or CR2-3 or SV1-2, which actually bypasses or diverts the articles. Under normal operating conditions, the control relay CR2 Will not be energized, so that contacts CR2-3 will be closed to complete a circuit to the article diverting coil SVI-1 to actuate the switching device 56a.

The control for actuating the second switching device 56h to divert articles to the second turret 20b includes a limit switch LS1 (FIG. 5) having normally open contacts LS1-1 and normally closed contacts LS1-2, each being in series with a solenoid Valve coil SV2-1 or SV2-2. The limit switch LS1 is located between the iirst and second turrets, and is actuated mechanically by the plaques 40a for the rst bottle group if the plaques have been shifted to deliver articles tothe turret 20a. A slip ring SRS, hot over approximately a segment, completes a circuit through the closed contacts (generally 11 LS1-1) to position the switching device 5811 to direct articles to the secondturret h (provided articles have been diverted to the first turret 20a). or tbypasses the second bottle group if the iirst group had not been diverted. Y

As the control has thus far been described, the bottles are normally transferred in successive groups to the various bottle supporting turrets 20a and 2Gb. While in the turrets, each of the, bottles is gripped by individual gripping means (as shown in FIGS. 15 and 19) Yand is litted from the turret base plate 77 so that it can be rotated about itsrlongitudinal axis and be oriented relative to its row within the carrier. The control for this can include a limit switch LSZ located adjacent the turret at a position to sense when the bottle is adequately gripped and supported by the turret. The limit switch includes contacts LSZ-l, closed by the presence of a gripped bottle, which are in series with control relay CR3. Normally open contacts CR3-1 are connected in series with control contacts D3-1.of a suitable sensing device D3 (photocell unit 150, 152), and this circuit is connected in parallel with the contacts LSZ-. Upon 'the bottles being gripped and supported by the turret, the limit switch contacts LS2-1 are closed momentarily to complete a circuit across the detecting device control contacts D3-1. These control contacts would be controlled by photocell unit 150, 152 responsive to suiiicientchange in the reflection of light off theY surface of the bottle. Since commonly this type detecting device is consistent* only when responding to changes of YYreflectivity of an Yincreasing or decreasing incremental nature of some specific niinimum magnitude, the device-can be set to respond to the reiiective character of only one location on the bottle-surface so that each bottle isnalways in the same relative position when the detectingldevice is energized. Preferably the bottle should be rotated more than once while it is under the scan of the detecting device to insure that the preselected mark on the bottle passes the detecting device. In this regard, motor 144 (FIG. 14) can drive the sun gear 130` at an appropriate speed to rotate the drive gears 134 and 136 approximately two full revolutions duringthe travel time the bottles are-'supported by the'turrets. The clutch 14) and brake 142 determine the actual rotation of the bottle shaft 90 and are activated by the detecting device control relay CRS, which includes normally open contacts CR3-2 in series withY the clutch control solenoid S1-1 and normall'y closedV contacts CRS-3 in series with thel brake control solenoid S1-2.

A third limit switch LS3 located adjacent the turret slightly before the bottle drop-oli time to the blank corrveyor. Actuation of this switch opens contacts LS3-1, connected Yin series with the relay retaining contacts CR3-1, to brake the bottle shaft 90- before the drop-off of the article in the event the detecting device D3 fails te stop the shaft.'This condition should not normally occur, but could, for example, if the bottle label is ripped or is missing frorrithe bottle. In addition to the control as thus far noted, it is also desirable to lift the non-skid application roll 161 from Contact with the backup roll 163 when no blank ispresent to prevent glue from reaching the backup roll. The control for thisnon-skidapplicator includes a detecting device D4, which can be in the form of a'photocell having normally closed contacts D4'-1 and normally open contacts D4-2 and solenoid valve coils SVS-1 and SVS-2. A slip ring SR6 having a hot segment over 90, is disposedV in series circuitsV with these previously mentioned contacts, to complete a circuit V*through one of these coils when the carrier blank is in line with the photocell D4. If a'blank isV detected, the solenoid valve SVS-2 is energized to maintain the glue roll; in contact with the backup roll; whereas if no blank is detected, then solenoid valve SV3-1 is energized to power VVcylinder V166 and lift the glue roll.

The control for the blankV reject includes a limit switch L54 (FIGS.1 and 5.) that is closed by the first turret plaques 40a when they have not been diverted to the iirst turret 20a. A slip ring SR7, hot over approximately 90, is connected in series with the limit switch contacts LS4-,1 through a control relay coil CR4 having three sets of contacts. The control relay'CR4 is thus energized only when no bottles have been shunted to the first turret, and is maintained energized by slip ring SRS, hot over approximately 230, through theclosed relay contacts CR4-1. The actual control circuit is completed by slip ring SR9, hot over approximately a, through either of the control relay contacts CR4-2 or CR4-3 and the appropriate solenoid Valve coil SV4-1 Vor SV4-2 to reject the blank (SV4-1) or to pass the blank (SV4-2).

A control for stopping star wheel 30` on the bottle infeed section will now be disclosed. Typically, the star wheel should be stopped by any of three conditie-ns including: (1) if an insuicient number of bottles are on the infeed conveyor; (2) if the return section 1Q on the conveyor is filled or jammed; or (3) an operator of the machine merely desires to stop this operation. Thus, threeV detecting devices D5, D6, and D7, one for each control, have contacts connected in a series circuit with a control relay CRS. Contacts DS-l are manually closed by an operator should he desire to brake the star wheel; contacts D6-1 can be closed by a photocell located (FIG. lfupstream of the star wheel on the infeed section when an inadequate supply of bottles are at the star wheel; and contacts D7-1 can be closed by a limit switch or photocell located (FIG. 1) on the-return section 16 of the bottle conveyor when a jam-up of rejected bottles is detected. Upon any of these contacts closing,rthe control relay CRS is energized and held energized by contacts CRS-1 and the slip ring SR10, hot over 300. AsY was previously noted, the star Wheel is connected through a slip clutch with the ,machine to rotate in timed relation to the machine, and the bottle assist mechanism is also connected through a slip clutch withthe machine. The star wheel and bottle assist mechanism (FIG. 26) each has on its rotar;7 shaft a one-tooth ratchet having a pawl engageable therewith to prevent rotation of the shaft, when desired, and each shaft is stopped only at the predetermined position where the pawl engages its tooth. The control includes normally opened control contacts CR5-2 connected in series through SVS-1 which engages the star wheel pawl and the SVG-2 which releases the bottle assist pawl; and normally closed contacts CRS-3 connected in series with SVS-2 that releases the star wheel pawlY and SVG-1 which engages the bottle assist pawl. A slip ring 8R11, hot over a 30 segment, completes the control circuit for actuating the star wheel and bottle assist mechanism. The star wheel pawl brakes the star wheelV only after all of the bottles in the accepted group have already passed, and the bottle assist pawl stops the bottle assist lingers in non-interfering positions relative to the incoming bottles on the conveyor.

It will be understood that each of the slip rings is driven in timed relationship to the operation of themachine, generallyV one revolution for each group of six bottlesxEach slip ring further is set to energize its particular control in a timed mannerrelative to the location of the detecting device on the machine as well Yas the location of the actual lmoving component for eiiecting the control. Moreover, :certain of the slip rings must be oriented in a specific manner relative toother slip rings such as having overlapping hot segments, or the like, to effect the desired control. This includes overlapping the hot segments of SR3 and SR2 Vand of SR8 and SR7, and the hot segments of SR4 and SR10 are located within the hot-interval of SR3 and SRS and are located physically by the placement ofthe diverting or reject mechanism.

What is claimed is:

1. In a .machine for packaging articles, such as bottles or cans each having a distinctive marking on its outer face, in groups each composed of a specific number Yot' articles with the distinctive marking of at least one article 13 being oriented to face in a specific direction, the combination comprising:

(a) infeed means for the articles;

(b) an article-supporting member disposed adjacent the infeed means;

(c) means for delivering articles from the infeed means to the article-supporting members;

(d) means on the article-supporting member for individually holding each one article that is to be oriented;

(e) means between the article-supporting member and the holding means for each one article for rotating said one article relative to such member;

(f) means for detecting when the distinctive marking of the one article is oriented in the manner desired;

(g) means responsive to the detecting means for stopping the rotation of the one article;

(h) a discharge conveyor disposed adjacent the articlesupporting member;

(i) means for releasing the articles from the articlesupporting member on the discharge conveyor.

2. A machine according to claim 1 having a star wheel rotated in timed lrelationship to the article-supporting member operable to pass articles as a group from the infeed means to the delivering mean-s at the rate needed for the article-supporting member, and mechanical means connected to the star wheel operable to stop said wheel only at specific locations during its revolution to preclude splitting the group.

3. A machine according to claim 2, further having mechanism used with the infeed means and star wheel to assist accelerating the stopped articles on the infeed means immediately upstream of the star wheel after the stopped star wheel is subsequently rotated, said mechanism including a continuous loop member disposed with one side adjacent the infeed means immediately upstream of the star wheel, a nger secured to the loop member operable in a first position of the loop member to be free from interference with articles on the infeed means and operable in other positions of the loop member to extend across the infeed means to engage an article thereon, means operable after the star -wheel is stopped to drive the loop member from said one position to the other position in a direction to move the finger against and urge the article toward the stopped star wheel and operable after the star wheel is subsequently rotated to move the article toward the star wheel and thereafter to stop the loop member in said first position.

4. A machine according to claim 1 having two articlesupporting members arranged in side-by-side relation along the conveying means, said delivering means being adapted to deliver articles alternately to the respective article-supporting members.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said delivering means includes a conveyor having independently movable plaques thereon adapted to support the articles independently of one another, wherein certain of the plaques are adapted to be directed toward one of the article supporting members and the remaining plaques are adapted to be directed toward the other article-supporting member, and -wherein means operate to direct the plaques toward the proper article-supporting member.

`6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein each of said certain plaques has a long pin thereon and each of the remaining plaques has a pair of shorter pins thereon, said long pins being aligned with one another and with one of the shorter pins and the other shorter pins each being aligned with one another on the side of the aligned long and short pins remote from the article-supporting members, and -wherein the plaque directing means includes separate members that engage, respectively, only the long pins of the certain plaques and only the remote pins of the remaining plaques.

7. A machine according to claim 5 further having means to detect the presence of acceptable articles on the infeed means, and means responsive to the lack of a cornplete group of acceptable articles to actuate said plaques directing means to divert the articles from the respective article-supporting members.

v8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means includes a proximity sensing device sized to overlap two and only two articles disposed immediately adjacent one another, so that a continuous series of articles maintains the device in a uniform condition.

9. In a machine for packaging articles, such as bottles `or cans each having a distinctive marking on its face, in

groups each composed of a specific number of articles and having first and second rows, the combination comp rising:

(a) infeed means for the articles;

(b) a rotatable star wheel disposed adjacent the infced means engageable with the articles;

(c) means for stopping the star wheel at only selected locations corresponding to where the star Wheel is between two adjacent groups of articles, and thereby effectively stopping all articles on the infeed means upstream of the star wheel;

(d) means to assist the acceleration the group of articles stopped on the infeed means upstream 0f the star wheel after the stopped star wheel is subsequently rotated;

(e) first and second article-supporting members disposed adjacent the infeed means downstream of the star wheel;

(f) a discharge conveyor disposed adjacent the first and second article-supporting members;

(g) means for delivering alternate articles from each group from the infeed means to the first and second article-supporting members, respectively;

(h) means for holding each of said articles relative to the article-supporting member, and for releasing said articles as lfirst and second rows on the discharge conveyor.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said acceleration assist means includes a movable member disposed adjacent the infeed means immediately upstream of the star wheel, a finger driven by said member operable in a first position thereof to be free from interference with articles on the infeed means and operable in other positions thereof to extend across the infeed means to engage an article thereon, and wherein said member is moved after the star Wheel is stopped until the `finger is stalled against and urges the article on said infeed means downstream therefrom toward the stopped star wheel and is further moved after the star wheel is subsequently rotated to accelerate the article toward the star wheel and thereafter is stopped in said first position.

11. A machine according to clairn 9, further having means to detect the presence of acceptable articles on the infeed means, and means responsive to the lack of a complete group of acceptable articles to cause said article delivering means to divert the articles past the respective article-supporting members.

12. In a machine for packaging articles, such as bottles or cans each having a distinctive marking on its outer face, in groups each composed of a spe-cie number of articles with the distinctive marking of at least one article being oriented to face in a specific direction, the combination comprising:

(a) infeed means for the articles;

(b) an article-supporting member disposed adjacent the infeed means;

(c) means for delivering articles from the infeed means to the article-supporting member;

(d) means on the article-supporting member for individually holding each article to be oriented;

(e) means on the article-supporting member adjacent the holding means thereon for each article for rotating said article relative to such member;

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