US 12,304,747 B2
System and method of grouping of containers
Jean-Christophe Bonnain, Châteauroux (FR); Frederic Limousin, Le Poinçonnet (FR); Fabrice Avril, Châteauroux (FR); and Amelie Strohm-Volondat, Châteauroux (FR)
Filed by WestRock PAckaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/385,383.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/056,140, filed on Jul. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0119206 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 47/26 (2006.01); B65B 35/36 (2006.01); B65B 35/58 (2006.01); B65B 57/10 (2006.01); B65G 21/20 (2006.01); B65G 43/08 (2006.01); B65G 47/252 (2006.01); B65G 47/86 (2006.01); B65G 54/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/261 (2013.01) [B65B 35/36 (2013.01); B65B 35/58 (2013.01); B65B 57/10 (2013.01); B65G 21/2072 (2013.01); B65G 43/08 (2013.01); B65G 47/252 (2013.01); B65G 47/847 (2013.01); B65G 54/02 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0225 (2013.01); B65G 2203/041 (2013.01); B65G 2207/28 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for grouping filled containers comprising:
a track oriented in a horizontal plane defining a path comprising at least two curved portions;
a plurality of lugs coupled moveably to the track; and
a plurality of grippers,
wherein each gripper of the plurality of grippers is coupled to a lug of the plurality of lugs and configured to contact an outer surface of a container,
wherein the grippers are configured to move a stream of filled containers about the track along at least one of the curved portions of the path toward a packaging section at which packaging is applied to a group of the containers.