This invention relates to apparatus for rotating an article of a conveyor. In the packaging industry, articles move from one station to the next along a conveyor. Sometimes the article needs to be rotated before it enters the next station. This is currently achieved with complex machinery.

It is therefore desirable to provide a simpler mechanism for rotating an article on a conveyor.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus, for rotating an article on a conveyor about an axis normal to a conveyor plane, the apparatus comprising a member, including a channel arranged to accept and release an article, wherein the member is configured to rotate from a first position, in which an axis of the channel is aligned with the conveyor for accepting a first article, to a second position, in which the axis of the channel is aligned with the conveyor for releasing the first article and for accepting a second article, and the channel is further arranged such that a periphery of the or each article is aligned with an opening of the channel. The apparatus therefore provides a simple and efficient mechanism for rotating a plurality of articles on a conveyor. The apparatus provides the advantages that the apparatus is compact, as the length of the member only needs to be great enough to accept an article; the apparatus is efficient, as one article is released as one is accepted; the apparatus can rotate an article on a conveyor on a single axis; and the apparatus can be retrofitted to exiting conveyors. Preferably, the acceptance of the second article causes the release of the first article.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for rotating an article on a conveyor about an axis normal to a conveyor plane, the apparatus comprising a member, including a cavity configured to accept and release a first article, wherein the member is configured to rotate from a first position, in which an axis of the cavity is aligned with the conveyor for accepting the first article, to a second position, in which the axis of the cavity is aligned for releasing the first article, and the cavity further being arranged such that a periphery of the first article is aligned with an opening of the cavity.

The member may be further configured, in the second position, to align the axis of the cavity with the conveyor for releasing the first article. The member may include a plurality of cavities each configured to accept and release one of a plurality of articles, the member may be configured to rotate from a first position, in which an axis of a first cavity is aligned with the conveyor for accepting a first article, to a second position, in which the axis of the first cavity is aligned for releasing the first article and an axis of a second cavity is aligned with the conveyor for accepting a second article, and each cavity is arranged such that a periphery of the respective article aligns with an opening of each cavity.

Alternatively, the member is further configured, in the second position, to align the axis of the first cavity with the conveyor for releasing the first article and to align the axis of the second cavity with the conveyor for accepting a second article. In either the first or second aspects of the present invention, the member may be generally circular. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, for rotating an article on a conveyor, the conveyor including a member including a channel configured to accept and release an article, the method comprising the steps of aligning the member in a first position such that an axis of the channel is aligned with the conveyor to accept a first article, moving the first article into the channel, such that a periphery of the first article is aligned with an opening of the channel, and rotating the member from the first position to a second position, such that the axis of the channel is aligned with the conveyor for releasing the first article and accepting a second article.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of releasing the first article from the channel to the conveyor.

Optionally, the acceptance of the second article causes the release of the first article.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, for rotating an article on a conveyor, the conveyor including a member including a cavity configured to accept and release an article, the method comprising the steps of aligning the member in a first position such that an axis of first cavity is aligned with the conveyor for accepting a first article, moving a first article from the conveyor into the first cavity of the member, such that the periphery of the first article aligns with an opening of the cavity, and rotating the member form the first position to a second position, such that the axis of the first cavity is aligned with the conveyor for releasing the first article.

Preferably, the method further includes the step of releasing the first article from the first cavity to the conveyor.

The member may include a plurality of cavities each configured to accept and release one of a plurality of articles, the second position is such that the axis of the first cavity is aligned with the conveyor for releasing the first article and an axis of a second cavity is aligned with the conveyor for accepting a second article, the method further comprising the step of accepting the second article from the conveyor into the second cavity, such that the periphery of the second article aligns with an opening of the second cavity.

Optionally, the method further comprises the step of releasing the first article from the first cavity to the conveyor.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of releasing the first article from the first cavity to the conveyor includes accepting the second article from the conveyor. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a first position; Figure 2 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1 , rotating from the first position to a second position;

Figure 3 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 1 , in the second position;

Figure 4 illustrates an apparatus of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in a first position;

Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 4, in a second position;

Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 4, in a third position; and

Figure 7 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 4, in a fourth position.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A plurality of articles, such as cigarette cartons, 101 a, 101 b...101 N are moved along a conveyor 100.

The conveyor 100 defines a conveyor plane 100p, corresponding to a surface of the conveyor 100. The conveyor also defines a conveyor axis 100x, wherein the conveyor 100 moves the cigarette cartons 101 a, 101 b...101 N along the conveyor axis 100x. At a point along the conveyor 100, there is provided a rotator 3, which is substantially circular and defines a channel 5. The channel 5 extends across the diameter of the rotator 3, through the centre of the rotator 3, and is arranged such that at least one of the cigarette cartons 101 a, 101 b...101 N can fit therein. The skilled person will understand that the rotator 3 is therefore preferably provided in two rotator sections 3a, 3b, which are substantially semi-circular and positioned a distance apart, such that the channel 5 is defined between the rotator sections 3a, 3b.

Each rotator section 3a, 3b includes a stop 7a, 7b. Each stop 7a, 7b extends into the channel 5, along an axis 101 y, orthogonal to the conveyor axis 100x, and is situated adjacent to an opening 5a, 5b of the channel 5.

Each stop 7a, 7b extends a first predetermined distance into the channel 5, along the axis 100y, such that each opening 5a, 5b of the channel 5 is wide enough to accept a cigarette carton 101 a, 101 b...101 N from the conveyor 100. Each stop 7a, 7b extends a second predetermined distance along the channel, along the conveyor axis 100x, such that when one of the cigarette cartons 101 a, 101 b...101 N abuts the stop 7a, 7b, a periphery of the cigarette carton 101 a, 101 b...101 N aligns with the opening of the channel 7a, 7b. Therefore, the skilled reader will understand that the curve formed by the two rotator sections 3, a 3b and the periphery of the cigarette carton 101 a, 101 b...101 N within the rotator 3, forms a substantially constant arcuate section.

The skilled reader will understand that the first and second predetermined distances can be calculated from the dimensions of the cigarette cartons 101 a, 101 b...101 N. Specifically, the first predetermined distance should be such that the openings 5a, 5b are at least as wide as the cigarette cartons 101 a, 101 b...101 N, and the second predetermined distance should be such that one cigarette carton 101 extends from the stop 7a, 7b to the opening 5b, 5a of the channel 5.

Alternatively, the channel 5 may accept a plurality of cigarette cartons, in which case the second predetermined distance is such that the plurality of cigarette cartons extend from the stop 7a, 7b to the opening 5b, 5a of the channel 5. The operation of the rotator 3 will now be described.

With reference to Figure 1 , a first cigarette carton 101 a moves along the conveyor 100. The rotator 3 is initially in a first position such that the opening 5a of the channel 5 aligns with the conveyor 100 for accepting the first cigarette carton 101 a. In other words, the channel 5 extends substantially along the conveyor axis 100x and the stop 7a of the first rotator section 3a is configured such that the opening 5a is wider than the first cigarette carton 101 a.

The rotator 3 then accepts the first cigarette carton 101 a as it moves along the conveyor 100 into the channel 5 through the opening 5a. The first cigarette carton 101 a then abuts the stop 7b of the second rotator section 3b, such that the periphery of the first cigarette carton 101 a aligns with the opening 5a of the channel 5.

There is provided a sensor (not shown), to sense when the first cigarette carton 101 a abuts the stop 7b of the second rotator section 3b.

The rotator 3 then rotates 180 degrees from the first position to a second position, about a normal axis 101 n, normal to the conveyor plane, therefore rotating the first cigarette carton 101 a within. This is shown in Figure 2.

The skilled reader will understand that as the opening 5a is at a point on the conveyor 100, and the rotator 3 is substantially circular, then as the rotator 3 rotates from the first position to the second position, a periphery of the rotator 3 will always align with the point on the conveyor 100. Thus, any subsequent cigarette carton 101 b...101 N on the conveyor will abut the periphery of the rotator 3 and remain stationary on the conveyor 100.

The second position, as shown in Figure 3, is such that the channel 5 extends substantially along the conveyor axis 100x, such that the opening 5a of the channel 5 aligns with the conveyor 100 for releasing the first cigarette carton 101 a, and such that the opening 5b aligns with the conveyor 100 for accepting a second cigarette carton 101 b. The skilled reader will understand that the stop 7b of the second rotator section 3b is configured such that the opening 5b is wider than the cigarette carton 101 b. As the rotator 3 aligns with the conveyor 100 in the second position, the conveyor simultaneously moves the first cigarette carton 101 a out of the rotator 3, and moves the second cigarette carton 101 b into the rotator 3.

The skilled reader will understand that, in the embodiment where the rotator 3 is provided on a single conveyor 100, the second cigarette carton 101 b may push the first cigarette carton 101 a out of the rotator 3. This is caused by the second cigarette carton 101 b already moving with a velocity as it enters the opening 5b, whilst the first cigarette carton 101 a is accelerating, due to the conveyor 100, from a stationary position inside the rotator 3. The rotator 3 therefore accepts the second cigarette carton 101 b as it releases the first cigarette carton 101 a. The second cigarette carton 101 b thus moves along the conveyor 100 into the channel 5 through the opening 5b. The second cigarette carton 101 b then abuts the stop 7a of the first rotator section 3a, such that the periphery of the second cigarette carton 101 b aligns with the opening 5b of the channel 5.

The rotator 3 then rotates from the second position to the first position, for releasing the second cigarette carton 101 b and accepting a third cigarette carton. The skilled reader will understand that the operation of the rotator 3 is repetitious, and can be used on a conveyor 100 containing a plurality of cigarette cartons. The rotator 3 further includes lifting means 9 (not shown) configured to lift the rotator 3 off the conveyor 100. Therefore, if a cigarette carton 101 a, 101 b...101 N does not need to be rotated, the rotator 3 can be lifted in the normal axis 101 n by a distance greater than a height of the cigarette carton 101 a, 101 b...101 N. Thus the cigarette carton 101 a, 101 b...101 N will not be rotated.

An alternative embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7.

A plurality of articles, such as cigarette cartons, 201 a, 201 b...201 N are moved along a conveyor 200.

The conveyor 200 defines a conveyor plane 200p, corresponding to a surface of the conveyor 200. The conveyor 200 also defines a conveyor axis 200x, wherein the conveyor 200 moves the cigarette cartons 201 a, 201 b...201 N along the conveyor axis 200x.

At a point along the conveyor 200, there is provided a rotator 13. The rotator 13 is substantially circular and is provided with a plurality of cavities 15, 17, 19, 21 therein. In this embodiment, the rotator 13 is provided with four cavities 15, 17, 19, 21 . Each cavity 15, 17, 19, 21 extends a predetermined distance into the rotator 13 from a point on a circumference of the rotator 13. The predetermined distance is such that when a cigarette carton 201 a, 201 b...201 N abuts an end 15b, 17b, 19b, 21 b of the cavity 15, 17, 19, 21 , a periphery of the cigarette carton 201 a, 201 b...201 N aligns with an opening 15a, 17a, 19a, 21 a of the cavity. The skilled reader will understand that the openings 15a, 17a, 19a, 21 a of the cavities 15, 17, 19, 21 are wider than the cigarette cartons 201 a, 201 b...201 N such that they can accept and release the cigarette cartons 201 a, 201 b...201 N. The cavities 15, 17, 19, 21 are distributed about the rotator 13 such that two of the cavities align on a same axis. In other words, two cavities extend into the rotator 13 from opposing points on the circumference of the rotator 13.

In such a configuration, when one cavity aligns with the conveyor 200 for accepting a cigarette carton 201 a, 201 b...201 N from the conveyor, an opposing cavity aligns with the conveyor for releasing a cigarette carton 201 a, 201 b...201 N to the conveyor.

The operation of the rotator 13 will now be described. A first cigarette carton 201 a moves along the conveyor 200. The rotator 13 is initially in a first position such that an opening 15a of the first cavity 15 aligns with the conveyor 200 for accepting the first cigarette carton 201 a.

Therefore, the first position is such that the opening 15a of the first cavity 15 aligns with the conveyor axis 200x, and the opening 19a of the third cavity 19 aligns with the conveyor axis 200x.

The rotator 13 then accepts the first cigarette carton 201 a as it moves along the conveyor 200 into the first cavity 15 through the opening 15a. The first cigarette carton 201 a then abuts the end 15b of the first cavity 15, such that the periphery of the first cigarette carton 201 a aligns with the opening 15a of the first cavity 15. This is shown in Figure 4.

The rotator 13 then rotates from the first position to a second position, through 90 degrees, about a normal axis 200n, normal to the conveyor plane 200p. The second position is such that the second cavity 17 aligns with the conveyor axis 200x, such that the opening 17a of the cavity 17 aligns with the conveyor 200 for accepting a second cigarette carton 201 b.

The rotator 13 then accepts the second cigarette carton 201 b as it moves along the conveyor 200 into the second cavity 17 through the opening 17b. The second cigarette carton 201 b then abuts the end 17b of the second cavity 17, such that the periphery of the second cigarette carton 201 b aligns with the opening 17a of the second cavity 17. This is shown in Figure 5. The rotator 13 then rotates 90 degrees, about the normal axis 200n, from the second position to a third position. The third position is such that the first cavity 15 and third cavity 19 are aligned with the conveyor axis 200x. Therefore, the opening 15a of the first cavity 15 aligns with the conveyor 200 for releasing the first cigarette carton 201 a, and the opening 19a of the third cavity 19 aligns with the conveyor 200 for accepting a third cigarette carton 201 c.

As the rotator 13 aligns with the conveyor 200 in the third position, the conveyor 200 simultaneously moves the first cigarette carton 201 a out of the rotator 13, and moves the third cigarette carton 201 c into the rotator 13. The third cigarette carton 201 c thus moves along the conveyor 200 into the third cavity 19 through the opening 19a. The third cigarette carton 201 c then abuts the end 19b of the third cavity 19, such that the periphery of the third cigarette carton 201 c aligns with the opening 19a of the third cavity 19. This is shown in Figure 6.

The rotator then rotates 90 degrees, about the normal axis 200n, from the third position to a fourth position. The fourth position is such that second cavity 17 and a fourth cavity 21 are aligned with the conveyor axis 200x. Therefore, the opening 17a of the second cavity 17 aligns with the conveyor 200 for releasing the second cigarette carton 201 b, and the opening 21 a of the fourth cavity 21 aligns with the conveyor 200 for accepting a fourth cigarette carton 201 d.

As the rotator 13 aligns with the conveyor in the fourth position, the conveyor 200 simultaneously moves the second cigarette carton 201 b out of the rotator 13, and moves the fourth cigarette carton 201 d into the rotator 13.

The fourth cigarette carton 201 d thus moves along the conveyor 200 into the fourth cavity 21 through the opening 21 a. The fourth cigarette carton 201 d then abuts the end 21 b of the third cavity 21 , such that the periphery of the fourth cigarette carton 201 d aligns with the opening 21 a of the third cavity 21 . This is shown in Figure 7.

The rotator 13 then rotates 90 degrees from the fourth position to the first position, such that the first cavity 15 and third cavity 19 align with the conveyor axis 200x, for releasing the third cigarette carton 201 c, and accept a fifth cigarette carton 201 e respectively. The skilled reader will understand that after the above operation is repetitious, and can be used on a conveyor 200 containing a plurality of cigarette cartons 201 a, 201 b...201 N.

The skilled reader will also understand that the number of cavities in the above description is for illustrative purposes only, and the rotator 13 is in no way limited to this number of cavities. Indeed, the rotator 13 described above can have any number of cavities greater than or equal to two.

In other words, a rotator with n cavities will have n positions and each rotation would be through (360/n) degrees, where n is greater than or equal to two.

The skilled reader will also understand that the rotator could only include one cavity. In such a configuration, the rotator would accept a first cigarette carton, rotate 180 degrees to release the first cigarette carton, rotate 180 degrees to accept a second cigarette carton, and so on.

Although the above embodiments describe cigarette cartons as the articles, the skilled reader will understand that any type of article can be used. The skilled reader will understand that the dimensions of the channel or cavities will have to be chosen appropriately for different size articles.

In the above description, the rotator is provided on a conveyor. The skilled reader will understand that the rotator can be part of a conveyor, or can be retrofitted to an existing conveyor. Furthermore, in the above description, the conveyor extends along a single conveyor axis. The skilled reader will understand that the conveyor may change direction at the point of the rotator, and the rotator may be configured to rotate the article within accordingly to release the article along the conveyor. Additionally, a plurality of conveyors may be positioned around the conveyor, and the rotator may be configured for releasing an article to any one of the plurality of conveyors.

The skilled reader will understand that any combination of features is possible without departing from the scope of the invention, as claimed.