Method and apparatus for conveying a container

Claim 2

A conveyor assembly comprising: a. endless moving means for moving at least one container along a path, b. first support means mounted on said moving means for supporting the container along a first side thereof, and c. second support means mounted on said moving means for supporting the container along a side opposite said first side, d. one of said support means including a first element connected at a first location on said moving means and a second element pivotally mounted at a second location on said moving means, e. a cam surface being disposed on one of the elements and f. a cam follower being disposed on the other element for sliding engagement with said cam surface, g. said first location being spaced from said second location by a sufficient amount so that when the moving means changes direction, the first and second support elements will move with respect to each other.

Claim 3

An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said moving means includes a first endless closed loop conveying means carrying said first support means and a second endless closed loop conveying means carrying said second support means, at least one of said first or second conveying means being adjustable so that the distance between the support means may be varied to accommodate different sized containers.

Claim 4

A mechanism in combination with endless conveyor means, said combination comprising: a. a first element attached at a first location on said endless conveyor means and being held substantially fixed with respect to said conveyor means, b. a second element pivotally mounted at a second location on said endless conveyor means, c. a cam surface means being disposed on one of the elements, and d. a cam follower means being disposed on the other of said elements for sliding movement along said cam surface means, e. said endless conveyor means includes means for changing direction in a plane that is perpendicular to the path of movement, f. said first location being spaced from said second location by a sufficient amount so that when the conveyor means changes direction, the pivotally mounted second element will move in a path defined by the movement of the cam follower means along said cam surface means.

Claim 5

A mechanism in combination with endless conveyor means, said combination comprising: a. a first element attached at a first location on said endless conveyor means and being held substantially fixed with respect to said conveyor means, b. a second element pivotally mounted at a second location on said endless conveyor means, c. a cam surface means being disposed on one of the elements, and d. a cam follower means being disposed on the other of said elements for sliding movement along said cam surface means, e. said endless conveyor means includes means for changing direction in a plane that is perpendicular to the path of movement, f. said first location being spaced from said second location by a sufficient amount so that when the conveyor means changes direction, the pivotally mounted second element will move in a path defined by the movement of the cam follower means along said cam surface means.

Claim 6

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said cam surface means comprises an elongated slot configuration and said cam follower means comprises a projection which fits into said slot configuration.

Claim 7

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said pivotally mounted second element includes a means for engaging an article for movement along a path defined by said conveyor.

Claim 8

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said cam surface means includes a slot configuration located on said first element and said cam follower means incluDes a projection disposed on said second element, said conveyor means comprises a closed loop chain disposed around at least two sprockets, whereby when the chain changes direction as it passes around the sprockets the cam follower projection will slidingly move along said cam surface slot configuration.

Claim 9

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said cam surface means includes a structural configuration effective to lock the second element in position with respect to the first element when the conveyor means is effecting movement of the elements in a lineal direction with respect to each other.

Claim 10

A mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam surface means includes a double cam surface disposed on said first element and said cam follower means includes two projections which are linked together disposed on said second element, each said projection being in sliding engagement with a respective cam surface.

Claim 11

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said first element includes a means for stabilizing the mechanism as the conveyor means effects movement along said path.

Claim 12

A conveyor assembly comprising: a. endless moving means for moving at least one container along a path, b. first support means mounted on said moving means for supporting the container along a first side thereof, and c. second support means mounted on said moving means for supporting the container along a side opposite said first side, d. said first support means including a first element adapted to be disposed beneath a first rim portion projecting from one side of the container and a second element including hold-down means which projects over the first rim portion and has a slot configuration, e. said first element being mounted on said moving means at a first location thereon, and f. said second element being pivotally mounted at a second location along said moving means about a movable axis disposed in said slot configuration and being pivotally mounted about a fixed axis that is located on the first element, g. said first and second locations being spaced with respect to each other along said moving means by a sufficient amount so that when the moving means changes directions, the second element will pivot with respect to the first element thereby assuming respective positions adjacent the first rim portion.

Claim 13

A conveyor assembly comprising: a. endless moving means for moving at least one container along a path, b. first support means mounted on said moving means for supporting the container along a first side thereof, and c. second support means mounted on said moving means for supporting the container along a side opposite said first side, d. said first support means including a first element adapted to be disposed beneath a first rim portion projecting from one side of the container and a second element including hold-down means which projects over the first rim portion and has a slot configuration, e. said first element being mounted on said moving means at a first location thereon, and f. said second element being pivotally mounted at a second location along said moving means about a movable axis disposed in said slot configuration and being pivotally mounted about a fixed axis that is located on the first element, g. said first and second locations being spaced with respect to each other along said moving means by a sufficient amount so that when the moving means changes directions, the second element will pivot with respect to the first element thereby assuming respective positions adjacent the first rim portion.