1. An impingement sprinkler comprising:
a main body having a frame portion and a sprinkler head configured at a position adjacent to a lower edge of the frame portion, wherein a lower end of said main body has an axle tube, said axle tube adapted to be attached with an attaching seat;
a rotation guiding mechanism positioned on said frame portion of said main body, said rotation guiding mechanism having a torsional spring and a swinging piece, wherein one side of said swinging piece has a first contacting portion, and wherein said swinging piece corresponds to a space on a front end of the sprinkler head;
a slant adjustment mechanism positioned between said frame portion and said attaching seat of said main body such that a slanting angle of said main body can be adjusted and a water sprinkling angle of the sprinkler head can be changed;
a turning control component arranged on one side of said frame portion of said main body, said turning control component having a second contacting portion and a poking rod portion arranged on a lower side of said second contacting portion, said turning control component capable of swinging and extending downward, a movement of said poking rod portion driving said second contacting portion and said first contacting portion so as to become aligned or misaligned such that a turning direction of said main body can be changed, said poking rod portion slanting along with said main body and forming a swinging path when the slanting angle of said main body is adjusted;
a rotation limiting mechanism positioned on a preset position of said attaching seat so as to limit and interfere with said poking rod portion, said rotation limiting mechanism comprising:
a first limiting piece attached to an outside of said attaching seat and defining an attaching portion and a first stopping portion extending from one side of said attaching portion to the swinging path of the poking rod portion; and
a second limiting piece attached to the outside of the attaching seat and located over or beneath said first limiting piece, the second limiting piece forming a sleeving portion and a second stopping portion extending from one side of said sleeving portion to the swinging path of said poking rod portion, wherein the first and second limiting pieces can both be adjusted by rotation around the attaching seat, said first and second stopping portions of said first and second limiting pieces extending upwardly at a slanted angle, said poking rod portion always contacting said first and second stopping portions such that said first limiting piece or said second limiting piece can interfere with said poking rod portion so as to allow said main body to shift a turning direction thereof.
2. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first and second stopping portions are of a curved shape and extending outwardly, the curved shape of the first and second stopping portions extending along the swinging path formed by said poking rod portion when said main body is slanted.
3. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first and second stopping portions of the first and second limiting pieces are in a slanted and outwardly extending form.
4. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first and second stopping portions configured on the first and second limiting pieces are of a rod or plate shape.
5. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein an inner side of said attaching portion on said first limiting piece and said sleeving portion on said second limiting piece have a plurality of positioning teeth distributed in spaced relation to each other, said attaching seat having at least one edge on an outer side thereof, said first and second limiting pieces being adjustable in stages.
6. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said slant adjustment mechanism comprises an axle seat configured on top of said attaching seat and a pivot portion which is correspondingly attached to said axle seat, wherein said axle seat is attached to one side of said frame portion of said main body, said pivot portion passable through said frame portion and pivoted with the axle seat such that said main body can be rotated around said pivot portion.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An unscrambling system comprising:
an unscrambling bowl comprising a first curved wall that lies in a first plane;
a generally circular floor substantially surrounded by said first curved wall and having a first side, a second side and an end wall, said generally circular floor lying in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to said first plane, said end wall cooperating with said first curved wall to define a channel for receiving containers to be unscrambled; and
first adjusting means for adjusting a first dimension of said channel, said first adjusting means causing at least a portion of said generally circular floor to be raised from a lowered position to a raised position to define said channel.
2. An unscrambling system comprising:
an unscrambling bowl comprising a first curved wall that lies in a first plane;
a generally circular floor substantially surrounded by said first curved wall and having a first side, a second side and an end wall, said generally circular floor lying in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to said first plane, said end wall cooperating with said first curved wall to define a channel for receiving containers to be unscrambled; and
first adjusting means for adjusting a first dimension of said channel;
wherein said generally circular floor comprises a central portion, said first adjusting means comprising:
a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion.
3. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first adjusting means further comprises:
means for coupling one or more of said plurality of concentric rings to said generally circular floor in order to adjust said first dimension.
4. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 2 wherein said adjusting means further comprises:
means for biasing a plurality of ring members to a home position;
means for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings and also for coupling said selected plurality of concentric rings to said central portion of said generally circular floor to define said channel when said generally circular floor is raised from said home position to an operating position.
5. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for selecting comprises a plurality of slidable supports associated with said second side for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings.
6. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of slidable supports comprises a rack, said means for selecting further comprises:
a plurality of pinions operatively engaging said plurality of slidable supports; and
a drive train coupled to said plurality of pinions for rotatably driving said plurality of pinions which in turn drives said plurality of slidable supports in response thereto.
7. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for selecting further comprises a plurality of sprockets associated with said plurality of pinions, respectively, said unscrambling system further comprising a chain for coupling said plurality of sprockets to provide substantially simultaneous movement of said plurality of pinions when said chain is driven.
8. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 2 wherein said unscrambling system comprises an outer rim that defines at least a portion of a floor of said channel adjacent said first curved wall and a lift assembly coupled to said generally circular floor and at least one of said plurality of concentric rings, an outer wall of at least one of said plurality of concentric rings defining said end wall, an edge of said end wall being situated above said outer rim a first predetermined distance when said generally circular floor and said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings are moved to an operating position.
9. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 8 wherein said first predetermined distance is less than a radius of a container being processed.
10. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 9 wherein said first predetermined distance is less than a diameter of a container being processed.
11. An unscrambler comprising:
a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from said bowl area to a second area outside of said bowl area;
a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall; and
a generally circular floor that is expandable to change a diameter; said generally circular floor being moveable between a lowered position and a raised position;
said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved between said lowered position and said raised position, said generally circular wall being stationary relative to said outer wall of said generally circular floor, at least a portion of said generally circular floor being moveable between said lowered position and said raised position to define said channel.
12. An unscrambler comprising:
a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from said bowl area to a second area outside of said bowl area;
a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall; and
a generally circular floor that is expandable to change a diameter of said generally circular floor and that is also moveable from a home position to an operating position;
said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said rim and said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved from said home position to said operating position;
wherein said generally circular floor comprises a central portion, said generally circular floor further comprising:
a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion.
13. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said generally circular floor further comprises:
a coupler for coupling one or more of said plurality of concentric rings to said central portion in order to adjust said first predetermined dimension.
14. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said unscrambler further comprises:
a plurality of springs for biasing said plurality of concentric rings, respectively, to said home position;
a selector for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings and also for coupling said selected plurality of concentric rings to said central portion to define said channel when said generally circular floor is raised from said home position to an operating position.
15. The unscrambler as recited in claim 14 wherein said selector comprises a plurality of slidable supports for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings.
16. The unscrambler as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of slidable supports comprises a rack, said selector further comprising:
a plurality of pinions operatively engaging said plurality of slidable supports; and
a drive train coupled to said plurality of pinions for rotatably driving said plurality of pinions which drive said plurality of slidable supports in response thereto.
17. The unscrambler as recited in claim 16 wherein said selector further comprises a plurality of sprockets associated with said plurality of pinions, respectively, said unscrambler further comprising a chain for coupling said plurality of sprockets to provide substantially simultaneous movement of said plurality of pinions when said chain is driven.
18. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said unscrambler comprises a lift assembly coupled to said central portion and those of said plurality of concentric rings that are coupled thereto from said home position to said operating position at which an edge of said outer wall is situated above said rim a second predetermined dimension.
19. The unscrambler as recited in claim 18 wherein said second predetermined dimension is less than a radius of a container being processed.
20. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said first predetermined dimension is less than a diameter of a container being processed.
21. An unscrambler comprising:
a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from a bowl area to a second area outside said bowl area;
a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall; and
a generally circular floor that is expandable or moveable to change a diameter of said generally circular floor and that is also moveable from a home position to an operating position;
said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said rim and said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved from said home position to said operating position;
wherein a top edge of said outer wall is situated a predetermined distance above said rim when said outer wall is in said operating position.
22. The unscrambler as recited in claim 21 wherein said predetermined distance is less than a radius of a container being processed.
23. An unscrambler bowl comprising:
an outer wall; and
a channel for guiding containers to an outlet of the unscrambler bowl;
said unscrambler bowl further comprising at least one moveable member that is moveable to change at least one of a channel depth or a channel width in order to accommodate containers of different sizes, said at least one moveable member being moveable between a raised position and a lowered position so that at least a portion of said at least one moveable member cooperates with said outer wall to define said channel.
24. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 23 wherein a depth of said channel is adjustable.
25. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 24 wherein said depth is less than a radius of the container being processed.
26. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 23 wherein a width of said channel is adjustable.
27. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 26 wherein said width is less than a diameter of the container being processed.
28. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 23 wherein said at least one moveable member comprises a ring that is moveable from a home position to an operating position, said ring cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel.
29. An unscrambler comprising:
an outer wall; and
a channel adjacent said outer wall;
said channel being adjustable in order to accommodate containers of different sizes;
wherein said unscrambler comprises a plurality of concentric rings that are each independently moveable between a home position and an operating position, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel after said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings is moved to said operating position.
30. An unscrambler comprising:
an outer wall; and
a channel adjacent said outer wall;
said channel being adjustable in order to accommodate containers of different sizes;
wherein said unscrambler comprises a floor having a central portion and a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion, said plurality of concentric rings each being independently moveable between a home position and an operating position, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel after said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings is moved to said operating position.
31. The unscrambler as recited in claim 30 wherein said central portion has a surface that is curved or domed shaped.
32. The unscrambler as recited in claim 30 wherein said unscrambler further comprises a drive system for moving said central portion and said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings to said operating position and also for rotatably driving them so that containers situated thereon are urged toward said outer wall and into said channel.
33. A method for changing a channel size in an unscrambling bowl having a bowl wall and an interior floor, the interior floor having members that may be raised or moved to an operating position to define a channel; said method comprising the steps of:
selecting which of said members should be raised or moved to define said channel; and
raising or moving said members to define said channel after said selecting step; and
said members surrounding the interior floor and being raised or moved from a first position to a second position in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a plane in which the interior floor lies so that at least a portion of one of said members cooperates with said bowl wall to define said channel.
34. The method as recited in claim 33 wherein said selecting step is performed by driving a plurality of racks to select said members.
35. The method as recited in claim 33 wherein said moving step is performed by simultaneously driving said interior floor and at least one of said members to said operating position.