초록 ▼

A carrier for receiving and restraining a container against rotation during an automated filling and capping operation includes an array of modular container housings. A bumper is disposed below the housing and projects outwardly to cushion the carrier against impact. The bumper is supported by a ba

A carrier for receiving and restraining a container against rotation during an automated filling and capping operation includes an array of modular container housings. A bumper is disposed below the housing and projects outwardly to cushion the carrier against impact. The bumper is supported by a base. Structure extends from the housing through the bumper and into the base to secure the carrier. One housing module includes a recess having container abutment surfaces and angled surfaces at the opening to guide a container into engagement with the abutments. One housing module includes a recess having ribs separated by relief vents to relieve air pressure as a container is loaded into the carrier. One housing module includes a container holder having a pair of upright supports separated by side openings. The bumper and the base each including a weight positioned at a selected location to uphold the filled container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A carrier for receiving a container and supporting the container during an automated filling and capping operation, the carrier comprising: a. a housing comprising a container holder and a platform, the container holder comprising an exterior sidewall, an interior sidewall, a container receiving

1. A carrier for receiving a container and supporting the container during an automated filling and capping operation, the carrier comprising: a. a housing comprising a container holder and a platform, the container holder comprising an exterior sidewall, an interior sidewall, a container receiving area formed by the interior sidewall for supporting the container in coaxial alignment with a central vertical axis of the carrier, and an upper opening for receiving the container into the container receiving area, the platform comprising an upper surface, a planar lower surface, a sidewall extending between the upper surface and the planar lower surface, and a first projection extending away from the planar lower surface, the upper surface of the platform coupled to the container holder, the upper opening of the container holder being opposite the planar lower surface of the platform, the planar lower surface being bounded by a circular perimeter;b. a cylindrical bumper comprising a planar upper surface bounded by an upper perimeter in a shape of a circle, a lower surface bounded by a lower perimeter in the shape of the circle, a curved sidewall extending from the upper perimeter to the lower perimeter, a central cylindrical recess defined in the planar upper surface, and a first aperture configured to receive the first projection in surrounding relation therein when the planar upper surface of the cylindrical bumper abuts the planar lower surface of the platform, the first aperture extending through the cylindrical bumper from the planar upper surface to the lower surface and being spaced apart from the central vertical axis when the first projection is received within the first aperture, the central cylindrical recess comprising a curved inner sidewall and an inner bottom surface spaced apart from the lower surface of the cylindrical bumper, the central cylindrical recess configured to receive a cylindrical weight therein, the central cylindrical recess being coaxially aligned with the central vertical axis when the cylindrical bumper is positioned between the base and the housing; andc. a base having an upper surface configured to abut the lower surface of the cylindrical bumper, the first projection configured to couple to the base such that the cylindrical bumper is positioned coaxially with the central axis and between the base and the housing. 2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the interior sidewall of the housing comprises a plurality of container abutment surfaces and a plurality of guide surfaces, the plurality of container abutment surfaces configured to contact sides of the container when the container is positioned within the container receiving area, the plurality of guide surfaces positioned near the upper opening and angled to guide the container into engagement with the plurality of container abutment surfaces. 3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first aperture comprises a cylindrical through-hole, and the first projection comprises a cylindrical member having a vertical axis that is parallel to and offset from the central vertical axis of the carrier. 4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the platform is greater than a diameter of the container holder. 5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the platform or the container holder is less than a diameter of the cylindrical bumper. 6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical bumper is restrained from rotating via the first projection being received within the first aperture. 7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first projection extends through the cylindrical bumper and beyond the lower surface of the bumper to connect the platform to the base when the planar upper surface of the cylindrical bumper abuts the planar lower surface of the platform. 8. The carrier of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is cylindrical in shape. 9. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the container holder comprises a tube comprising the exterior sidewall and the interior sidewall. 10. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the platform further comprises a second projection extending away from the planar lower surface, and the cylindrical bumper comprises a second aperture spaced apart from the central vertical axis and configured to receive the second projection in surrounding relation therein when the planar upper surface of the cylindrical bumper abuts the planar lower surface of the platform. 11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the first projection is offset from the central vertical axis on the planar lower surface of the platform, and the second projection is offset from the central vertical axis on the planar lower surface of the platform. 12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the platform further comprises a third projection extending away from the planar lower surface, the third projection being offset from the central vertical axis on the planar lower surface of the platform, and wherein the cylindrical bumper comprises a third aperture spaced apart from the central vertical axis and configured to receive the third projection in surrounding relation therein when the planar upper surface of the cylindrical bumper abuts the planar lower surface of the platform. 13. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first aperture is spaced apart from the central cylindrical recess. 14. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first projection is configured to slip-fit into the first aperture. 15. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the container holder comprises a pair of upright supports. 16. The carrier of claim 15, wherein the pair of upright supports comprise the exterior sidewall, and the interior sidewall. 17. The carrier of claim 15, wherein the pair of upright supports defines a pair of opposed side openings. 18. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the housing, the cylindrical bumper, and the base are separate components of the carrier that are configured to be assembled together in a stacked arrangement. 19. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising the cylindrical weight comprising a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, and a curved sidewall extending from the flat top surface to the flat bottom surface, each of the flat top surface and the flat bottom surface being bounded by a circular perimeter, wherein, when the cylindrical weight is positioned within the central cylindrical recess such that the flat bottom surface of the cylindrical weight abuts the inner bottom surface of the central cylindrical recess, the flat top surface of the cylindrical weight is generally coplanar with the planar upper surface of the cylindrical bumper. 20. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the circular perimeter of the platform defines a platform diameter, and the upper circular perimeter of the cylindrical bumper defines a bumper diameter, the bumper diameter being larger than the platform diameter. 21. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower perimeters define a diameter of the cylindrical bumper that is greater than that of the base. 22. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first projection terminates in a stud, and the base further comprises a base aperture defined in the upper surface and configured to receive the stud of the first projection therein when the first projection is received in the first aperture in surrounding relation therein. 23. The carrier of claim 22, wherein the stud terminates at a deformed end that projects past a bottom surface of the base and is prevented from retracting back through the base by the deformed end.