Can handling apparatus

Claim 2

Can handling apparatus comprising: a magnetic conveyor including endless belt means and magnetic means for maintaining can bodies in engagement with the active run of said belt means; a magnetic transfer wheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a selected location along said active run to remove said can bodies from said belt, the axis of said wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means and disposed generally perpendicular to the active run of said belt means, said transfer wheel including a plurality of magnetic assemblies disposed about the circumference thereof at circumferentially spaced locations, each said magnetic assembly including a magnetic arrangement and a pair of spaced pole pieces magnetically eNgaged therewith to provide said pole pieces with opposite polarities, and at least two, spaced resilient ring members positioned about the circumference of said wheel on opposite sides of said magnetic assemblies and defining the outer extremities of said transfer wheel, said magnetic assemblies being disposed radially inward of said resilient ring members such that can bodies will be attracted to and engaged with said transfer wheel while physically contacting only said resilient ring members to protect the surface of said can bodies from damaging contact with the remainder of said transfer wheel.

Claim 3

Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each said magnetic arrangement is a permanent magnet formed of a ceramic material.

Claim 4

The can handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spaced locations are four in number.

Claim 5

The can handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transfer wheel is formed by a rotatable shaft, parallel end plates secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, with grooves formed in the circumference of each of said end plates, said resilient ring members positioned in said grooves to provide a resilient surface against which each can body is urged against by magnetic force, and said magnet assemblies being positioned between said end plates at each of said spaced locations.

Claim 6

The can handling apparatus of claim 1 further including stripper bar means positioned adjacent the circumference of said transfer wheel to cause the can bodies to be removed from the transfer wheel and directed to a second station for handling can bodies.

Claim 7

Can handling apparatus for conveying can bodies from a first station to a second station while maintaining a desired degree of spacing between said can bodies, said apparatus comprising: a magnetic conveyor including endless belt means and magnetic means disposed beneath the active run of said belt means for maintaining can bodies in engagement therewith; a first transfer wheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a first selected location along the active run of said belt means, the axis of said first transfer wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means and disposed generally perpendicular to said active run, said first transfer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnetic assemblies; supply means operatively positioned adjacent said first transfer wheel for supplying can bodies thereto, such that can bodies will be attracted to and engaged with said first transfer wheel at circumferentially spaced locations; and means operatively associated with said first transfer wheel for disengaging said can bodies therefrom to thereby dispose said bodies on said magnetic conveyor in spaced relation corresponding to the circumferential spacing of said magnetic assemblies; a second transfer wheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a second selected location along said active run of the belt means, the axis of said second wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means and disposed generally perpendicular to said active run, said second transfer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnetic assemblies corresponding in number and spacing to those of said first transfer wheel, such that said second transfer wheel will magnetically attract and remove can bodies from said conveying means upon said bodies reaching said second location, while maintaining the desired spacing between said can bodies; and means for removing said can bodies from said second transfer wheel.

Claim 8

Can handling apparatus for conveying can bodies from a first station to a second station while maintaining a desired degree of spacing between said can bodies, said apparatus comprising: a magnetic conveyor including endless belt means and magnetic means disposed beneath the active run of said belt means for maintaining can bodies in engagement therewith; a first transfer wheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a first selected location along the active run of said belt means, the axis of said first transfer wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means and disposed generally perpendicular to said active run, said first transfer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnetic assemblies; supply means operatively positioned adjacent said first transfer wheel for supplying can bodies thereto, such that can bodies will be attracted to and engaged with said first transfer wheel at circumferentially spaced locations; and means operatively associated with said first transfer wheel for disengaging said can bodies therefrom to thereby dispose said bodies on said magnetic conveyor in spaced relation corresponding to the circumferential spacing of said magnetic assemblies; a second transfer wheel rotatably mounted adjacent and overlying a second selected location along said active run of the belt means, the axis of said second wheel being laterally spaced from the axis of said belt means and disposed generally perpendicular to said active run, said second transfer wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnetic assemblies corresponding in number and spacing to those of said first transfer wheel, such that said second transfer wheel will magnetically attract and remove can bodies from said conveying means upon said bodies reaching said second location, while maintaining the desired spacing between said can bodies; and means for removing said can bodies from said second transfer wheel.

Claim 9

Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein each transfer wheel includes at least two spaced resilient ring members positioned about the circumference of the wheel on opposite sides of said magnetic assemblies and defining the outer extremities of said wheel, such that can bodies will be attracted to and engaged with said transfer wheels while physically contacting only said resilient ring members.

Claim 10

Can handling apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each Said magnetic assembly includes a magnetic arrangement and a pair of spaced pole pieces magnetically engaged therewith to provide said pole pieces with opposite polarities.

Claim 11

The can handling apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said magnetic assembly is formed of a permanent magnet and include spaced apart pole pieces with opposite polarities said pole pieces being sufficiently narrow only to attract a single can.

Claim 12

The can handling apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of said transfer wheels is formed by a rotatable shaft, parallel and plates secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, with grooves formed in the circumference of each of said end plates, said resilient ring members being positioned in said grooves to provide a resilient surface against which each can body is urged against by magnetic force, and said magnet assemblies being positioned between said end plates at each of said spaced points.

Claim 13

The can handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein said magnetic assemblies each include a pair of spaced apart pole pieces, each pole piece being adjacent the respective end plates and wherein the can body is attracted to the associated transfer wheel to rest upon the resilient rings while maintaining a minimum space between said pole pieces and said can body.