| 主权项 |
1. An adjustable star wheel system comprising:
a) a star wheel conveyor for conveying a three dimensional article within a pocket along an arcuate path, said star wheel conveyor comprising:
a plurality of stacked individual rotatable elements, said rotatable elements each having a center, two surfaces, side edges, and peripheries, said individual rotatable elements being independently rotatable about an axis, and rotatable as a unit in order to convey at least one article, wherein said axis is generally perpendicular to the surfaces of said rotatable elements, wherein said rotatable elements comprise portions on their side edges that define the boundaries of at least one pocket, wherein said rotatable elements can be at least partially rotated relative to each other to adjust the configuration of the at least one pocket in order to accommodate different size and/or shape articles; anda motor for rotating one or more of said rotatable elements about said axis, said motor being at least indirectly mechanically coupled to said one or more rotatable elements so that it is able to rotate one or more of the rotatable elements in order to: rotate the rotatable elements as a unit in order to convey a three dimensional article, and also to adjust the rotational position of said one or more rotatable elements and set the configuration of the at least one pocket; and b) an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the configuration of the at least one pocket, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises at least one adjustment element that engages one or more of said rotatable elements in order to adjust the rotational position of said one or more individual rotatable elements relative to the remaining rotatable elements in said plurality of stacked individual rotatable elements, and wherein said adjustment mechanism further comprises a support and said at least one adjustment element is joined to said support. |
