Orientation module
An orientation module including a base configured to support at least one container, a camera positioned to scan the at least one container, a processor operatively connected to the camera configured to analyze an initial orientation of the container and determine a secondary orientation of the container, and a turning member positioned above the base configured to turn the corresponding container according to a command from the processor to rotate the container to the secondary orientation.
1 . A system for conveying and orienting articles to be packaged, the system comprising:
a first conveyor module configured to convey a stream of the articles;
an orientation module configured to receive the stream of articles from the first conveyor module and to orient at least one of the articles in a predetermined orientation to be facing a desired direction; and
an article conveyance module configured to receive articles from the orientation module and move the articles to be packaged with multiple articles together, at least one of which has been positioned into, and remains in, the predetermined orientation to be facing the desired direction,
wherein the orientation module comprises:
a base configured to support at least one of the articles,
a scanning device positioned to scan at least one of the articles,
a processor operatively connected to the scanning device configured to analyze an incoming orientation determined based on the scan of at least one of the articles by the scanning device and to compute a necessary correction to achieve the predetermined orientation, and
a turning member positioned above the base configured to engage with and turn a corresponding article to be oriented based on a signal from the processor to rotate the corresponding article by the necessary correction into the predetermined orientation, wherein the base and the turning member are operatively configured for relative vertical movement between the base and the turning member to bring the turning member into contact with an upper portion of the corresponding article to be oriented.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the base is positioned adjacent to a conveyance track of the article conveyance module.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turning member includes a disc configured to contact a top surface of the corresponding article when the turning member actuates from a retracted position to a deployed position.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the disc is deformable.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the retracted position is above the deployed position with respect to gravity.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turning member comprises a plurality of turning members, each having a corresponding motor configured to rotate each turning member independently.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is stationary with respect to the base.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base and the turning member is rotatably positioned with respect to the camera.
9 . A conveyance and orientation module comprising:
a base configured to support at least one container;
a camera positioned to scan a container to be oriented;
a processor operatively connected to the camera configured to analyze an initial orientation of the container based on the scan of the camera and determine a secondary orientation of the container;
a turning member positioned above the base configured to turn the container according to a command from the processor to rotate the container to the secondary orientation; and
a star wheel positioned above the base and configured to guide the at least one container,
wherein the star wheel is interchangeable with a replacement star wheel configured to guide at least one alternately sized container that has a maximum diameter or width that is different than a maximum diameter or width of the at least one container.
10 . The conveyance and orientation module of claim 9 , wherein the at least one container is a stream of containers.
11 . The conveyance and orientation module of claim 9 , wherein the base comprises a surface configured to receive a corresponding container and rotate the container.
12 . The conveyance and orientation module of claim 11 , wherein each surface comprises a rotatable disk.
13 . The conveyance and orientation module of claim 12 , wherein the rotatable disk comprises an upper surface flush with an upper surface of the base.
14 . An orientation module for receiving and orienting articles to be conveyed and packaged, the orientation module comprising:
a base configured to support at least one article;
a scanning device positioned to scan the at least one article;
a processor operatively connected to the scanning device configured to analyze an incoming orientation determined based on the scan of the at least one article by the scanning device and to compute a necessary correction to achieve a predetermined orientation for the article to be facing a desired direction; and
a turning member positioned above the base configured to engage with and turn a corresponding article to be oriented based on a signal from the processor to rotate the corresponding article by the necessary correction into the predetermined orientation,
wherein the base and the turning member are operatively configured for relative vertical movement between the base and the turning member to bring the turning member into contact with an upper portion of the corresponding article to be oriented.