Dual can rotating transfer plate to conveyor belt

摘要

The output end of a very high speed continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with unloading apparatus in the form of a continuously moving closed loop belt and a continuously rotating disk. Decorated cans are delivered to the disk, with rearward facing open ends of the cans engaging the front face of the rotating disk and being held against the front face, preferably by rearward directed suction forces. Cans are moved by the disk into close proximity with an upward moving flight of the belt, and are transferred to the latter by forward directed suction forces which act through the upward moving flight to draw the closed ends of the cans against the upward moving flight. The rearward acting suction forces act through the disk and are applied at those portions of the disk that are at angular positions which are selected to assist transfer of cans to the disk. Application of the rearward acting suction forces are discontinued at those portions of the disk that are at angular positions where cans are transferred from disk to the belt. When the decorated cans are constructed of ferrous materials, suction transfer and holding forces which act on the cans may be replaced by magnetic forces.