Article alignment apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus ( 10 ) for aligning one or more articles (B) in package ( 12 ), which apparatus comprises a conveyor ( 20 ) for conveying said package in a continuous forward movement, a detector for detecting the orientation of the or each article within the array, a controller for comparing the orientation of the or each article to a predetermined orientation and an article rotation means ( 32, 34, 36 ) operably controllable for rotating the or each article to the predetermined orientation.

1 . Apparatus for aligning one or more articles in a package, which apparatus comprises a conveyor for conveying said package in a continuous forward movement, a detector for detecting the orientation of the or each article within the package, a controller for comparing the orientation of the or each article to a predetermined orientation and an article rotation means operably controllable for rotating the or each article to the predetermined orientation. 
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the article detection means comprises a sensor for detecting an indicia applied to the or each article. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein there comprises a plurality of sensors mounted to a conveyor, each sensor being adapted to determine the orientation of a respective article in the package during the rotation process. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as claimed in any  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the article rotating means comprises of plurality of grippers, each said gripper adapted to move between a rest position and a gripping position when the gripper makes contact with the article so as to cause it to rotate through a predetermined angle of rotation and wherein there further comprises support means disposed opposite the grippers to support the or each article during rotation. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the support means comprises one or more rollers mounted on a conveyor which rollers engage the article during its rotation. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as claimed in either of  claim 5  or  6  wherein the plurality of grippers is capable of rotating the or each article by substantially 360°. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 4  or  claim 6  wherein the gripper comprises a gripping element which element comprises an elongate member which elongate member is sized to cause the article to rotate by up to around 120°. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein there comprises three grippers positioned sequentially adjacent the conveyor and oppositely disposed the support means. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the or each gripper is controlled by a controller which causes the or each gripper to engage the article for a rotational distance determined by an input signal from the article detection means. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 4  to  9  wherein the or each of said plurality of grippers is capable of sequentially engaging the or each article in said array. 
   
   
       11 . A method of aligning indicia applied to one or more articles in an array which method comprises:
 i) determining the orientation of each article within the array;   ii) calculating a first angle of rotation necessary to align a first article in the array in a first predetermined orientation;   iii) causing said first article to rotate through said first rotational distance.   
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising:
 iv) calculating a second angle of rotation necessary to align a second adjacent article in the array in a second predetermined orientation, and   v) causing the said adjacent article within the array to be rotated through a second rotational distance thereby to align said first and second articles in a pre-determined relationship to one another.   
   
   
       13 . A method of manufacturing a package in which an article is packaged in a carton having a display window, the method comprising determining the position of each article held within the package relative to the display window by checking the orientation of the or each article through access means provided by the carton, relative to a predetermined orientation of the article and automatically manipulating said article, if desired, to correct the orientation of the article thereby providing a package wherein an article held within the package is disposed in a predetermined position relative to the display window. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the predetermined position the articles are disposed such that they are each arranged to face uniformly outwardly from a display window of the package. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to either of  claim 13  or  14  wherein the position of each article is determined by reading labeling graphics and/or surface decoration of the or each article. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus for ensuring correct alignment of articles held within a carton having a display window, the apparatus comprising a reading element for determining the orientation of each article held within the carton, a checking means for checking the orientation of the article relative to a predetermined orientation and manipulating means structured and arranged such that in response to the checking, the manipulating means, if desired, automatically manipulates each of said articles to alter the orientation of the articles such that they are disposed in a predetermined position relative to the display window. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  where in the predetermined position the articles are disposed such that they are each arranged to face uniformly outwardly from a display window of the carton. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to either of  claim 16  or  17  wherein the position of each article is determined by reading means, reading labeling graphics and/or surface decoration of the or each article.