초록 ▼

A machine for labeling or delabeling vessels is disclosed. The machine has a turret with a series of work stations and input and output transfer stations for supplying and removing vessels to and from the turret. Input and output star wheel assemblies are respectively positioned at the input and out

A machine for labeling or delabeling vessels is disclosed. The machine has a turret with a series of work stations and input and output transfer stations for supplying and removing vessels to and from the turret. Input and output star wheel assemblies are respectively positioned at the input and out stations. A supply conveyor is provided for transporting vessels to the input star wheel assembly. The supply conveyor includes a variable pitch feed screw opposite a pair of spring biased input guide rails. The input guide rails each have guide and a jam relief positions. An exit conveyor delineates an exit path of vessel travel downstream from the output star wheel assembly including an exit guide rail having an input end pivotally mounted at a location near the output star wheel assembly. The exit guide rail has a normal position adjacent the exit path and a jam relief position. Each star wheel assembly includes a drive normally drivingly connected to the star wheel to cause star wheel rotation and a clutch disabling the driving connection under overload conditions. Machine stop sensors are provided which sense guide rail movement and clutch disabling.

대표청구항 ▼

A star wheel mechanism for use in a vessel processing machine comprising: a) a drive for connection to a prime mover and rotation about a drive axis; b) a split star wheel assembly removably connected to the drive; c) the assembly including a plurality of subassemblies and releasable means releasabl

A star wheel mechanism for use in a vessel processing machine comprising: a) a drive for connection to a prime mover and rotation about a drive axis; b) a split star wheel assembly removably connected to the drive; c) the assembly including a plurality of subassemblies and releasable means releasably securing the subassemblies together; d) releasable structure interposed between the assembly and the drive and forming the releasable connection between the assembly and the drive; e) the drive including an overrunning clutch for normally transferring rotational driving forces from the drive to the assembly and allowing continued drive rotation without transferring such forces upon the assembly encountering resistance to rotation exceeding a maximum torque transfer capability of the clutch; f) the clutch comprising: i) a pair of rotatable drive elements rotatable about said axis; ii) biasing means biasing the elements axially toward one another; iii) a plurality of balls interposed between the elements; iv) the elements having paired coacting recesses there being a like member of recess pairs and balls and each of the balls being associated with a different one of the pairs; v) each ball being partially disposed in each of the recesses of that ball\s associated recess pair during normal operation; and, vi) the pairs being irregularly spaced such that there is only one relative orientation in 360°of relative element rotation in which each ball engages its associated recess pair normally preventing element relative rotation; g) whereby when the assembly encounters resistance exceeding such maximum torque the balls roll out of their associated recess pairs shifting the elements relatively axially to enable relative element rotation while the assembly remains substantially stationary.