US2352764A - Cap-feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1944'. w. 'D. BELL 52,764

CAP-FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTORI William D. Bell.

ORNEYS July 4, 1944.

W. D. BELL CAP-FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

BY W,

INVENTOR William D. Bell.

A ORNEYS July 4, 1944. w. BELL 7 2,352,764

CAP-FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 OOOOOOOOOOOO Fig. 3

INVENTOR William D. Bell.

July 4, 1944. w. D. BELL Original Filed J a n l 7 l 9 40 mum Fig. 5

NNNNNN OR 1 William Bell.

Patented July 4, 1944 CAP-FEEDING APPARATUS 7 William 1). Bell, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original applicationJanuaryH, 1940,.Serial No. 314,299. Divided and this application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,065

4 Claims. (Cl. 226-881) My invention relates to cap-feeding apparatus. It has to do, more particularly, with apparatus for feeding capsfrom a source of supply and applyingthemto containers, suchas food containers and including'jars, bottles, cans, et cetera, preparatory to scaling them on said containers.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and effective apparatus for feeding caps from a source of supply into position to be engaged by the upper ends of containers to be sealed thereby which are moved along by a conveyer.

Another object'of my invention is to provide apparatus which will automatically release caps from a cap reservoir and feed them into position ,to be enga ed by the top of the containers without i any manual intervention by the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide acap-feeding and applying unit of such a nature a cap-feeding apparatus of such a. nature that the capwhich is fed into position to be engaged by a container will not drop from the cap-feeding mechanism until it is positively withdrawn by the approaching container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a leap-.feeding unit having a magazine .for a vertically disposed stack ofvcaps and which is of such a nature that the lowermost cap will be separated from the stack whilethe stack is supported in position.

. In its preferred form, myinvention contemplates the provision of. a simple apparatus for feedingcaps from a source of supply and applying them to containers such as jars, bottles, cans et cetera. The apparatus is preferably employed with a continuously moving conveyer upon which the filled containers are placed indiscriminately.

Means is preferably provided in association with the conveyer for centering and maintaining the containers centered on said conveyer. The containers are first moved by the conveyer to my other closures are loosely positioned on the upper ends of the containers; The containers may then be moved to a sealing unit such as is described in my parent application, Serial No. 314,299. It will, of course, be understood that any suitable sealing unit may be used in conjunction with my cap-feeding apparatus. The sealing cap-feeding and applying unit where caps or head. and my cap-feeding and applying unit are preierably separately disposed directly adjacent each other. My cap-feeding and applying unit ispreferably connected to the sealing head so that each time the sealing head is actuated, a cap is fed from my cap-feeding unit into position to be engaged by the next container in the conveyer. It is not, however, necessary to operate the cap-feedingvand applying unit by the sealing. head. 7

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 314,299, filed January 1'7, 1940, and directed to Apparatus for sealing containers.

, The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and'wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my cap-feeding and applying apparatus showing it associated with a sealing machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of my capefeeding apparatus and its actuating means.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken sub Istantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

trated a machine of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 314,299. This machine comprises generally a table I supporting a horizontalconveyer unit 2 on its upper end (Figure, l), a cap-feeding and applying unit 3, and a sealing head unit 4. i

The conveyer unit 2 is described in detail in said co-pending application. As disclosed in said application, the conv'eyer'unit 2 is driven continuously.

As described in said application, the containers 28 are placed indiscriminately on the conveyer and are moved in the direction of the arrows (Figures 1 and 3) by the conveyer. My invention is not limited to any particular type of container and cooperating cap but for illustrative purposes I have shown in Figure 3 a tumbler adapted to receive the cap 29 on its upper end. This cap preferably embodies a substantially disk-like portion 39 (Figures 3, 4 and 5) which has a depending annular skirt 3| which carries an annular gasket 32 therewithin. When the cap is rails 33, as disclosed in my co-pending application. I

These guide rails are supported on opposite sides of the conveyer in such a manner that they may 7 be adjusted towards and away from each other. Thus, these guide rails will center the containers.

on the conveyer, as they are moved between the rails, and will maintain them centered on the conveyer during the time they are moved along by the conveyer.

After the containers are positioned on the conveyer, they are carried to my cap-feeding and applying unit 3. This unit is of such a type that it will apply a cap loosely to the upper end of the container. After the container passes the unit 3, it proceeds to the sealing head unit 4 in the manner described in my. co-pending application.

The unit 3 is preferably disposed directly adjacent the sealing head unit 4. They are both supported by a horizontally disposed plate 34. The plate 34 is supportedat a point spaced above the table I by means of a plurality of vertically disposed posts 35. These posts may be in any suitable number. These posts extend downwardly through the top plate I of the table I on opposite sides of the conveyer. The posts may be adjusted vertically in the manner described in my copending application to vary the height of units 3 and 4 above the conveyer.

My cap-feeding and applying unit proper comprises an annular member 44 (Figure 3) which fits in an opening formed in the plate 34. This member is provided with a peripheral flange 45 which rests on the top of plate 34 and which may bebolted thereto by means of bolts 46. On its lower edge, the member 44 is provided with an inwardly projecting shelf-like portion 41. The member 44 has its lower surface substantially flush with the lower surface of the plate 34. The member 44 receives an annular collar 48 which may be slipped thereinto and which will rest on the portion 41 thereof. This member is held in position by means of screws 49 (Figure 1). The

.member 48 carries four upstanding posts 50.

Each of these posts is provided with a reduced ures 2 and 5. A pivot pin 56 is carried by each member 55 intermediate the inner and outer ends thereof. The upper end of the pivot pin 56 is rotatably carried by the member 48, as at 51, while the lower end of the pivot pin is rotatably carried bythe portion of the The inner end of each member 55 is provided with a bifurcated portion 59. Each of these portions 59 has a roller 60 disposed therebetween (Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5). These rollers 60 are carried at properly circumferentially spaced intervals by ring 6|. The ring BI is disposed in an annular space 62 formed within the collar 48 at threaded lower end 5! (Figure 3) which is adapt- V -ed to-be screwed into a cooperating threaded opening formed in the member 48. The posts 50 are disposed adjacent the central opening 52 formed within the collar 48. This opening is of such a size as to permit the caps to drop therethrough. A stack of nested caps is adapted to be disposed within the posts 50.

For controlling the movement of the caps through the opening 52, formed within member 48, I provide the following structure. At suitable ment member 55 is disposed. Each of the members 55 is pivotally mounted, as indicated in Figthe lower and inner edge thereof. The ring 6| is free to rotate slightly or oscillate relative to the member 48. When the ring is rotated, all of the members 55 are swung about their pivot points 56. Each of the members 55 has a fiat outerend 55a (Figures 4 and 5). A member 63 is disposed in abutting relationship to this surface.

This member 63 is pivoted to the member 55 by a pivot pin 64. Each member 63 is provided with an outwardly projecting upper knife-like finger 65 and lower knife-likefinger, 66.

Normally the members 55 will be in such a position that the lower finge'rf66 will project outwardly beyond the wall of the opening 52. Consequently, the lowermost cap of the stack will rest on these fingers 66 and will be prevented from dropping through the opening 52. At this time the fingers 65 will not project into the opening 52. However, when the ring BI is rotated in the proper direction; it causes the, members 55 to pivot in such a manner that the fingers 66 will be withdrawn inwardly from the opening 52 and the fingers 65 will be swung outwardly into the opening. This will permit the lowermost cap to drop while the cap next above will be engaged by the finger 65 and will be prevented from dropping. As soon as the ring is rotated to its original position, the fingers 65 will again be withdrawn from the opening 52 allowing the stack of caps to drop onto the fingers 66, which will again be projected into the-opening 52. Thus, rotation of the ring 6| will permit one ofthe caps to drop from the opening 52. The members 63 are free to move slightlyabout the pivots 64 to prevent jamming of the feeding device. movement is limited, as indicated in Figure 5, by the member 48 disposed thereabove and the'portion 4! of member 44 disposed therebelow. Thus, it will be apparent that the caps will be fedone by one from the opening 52. The cap released from the stack will drop downwardly and willbe received by the hook 61, depending from the portion 4'! of member 44v and disposed (Figure 3) adjacent and behind the opening 52, and a pair of fingers 61a which are formedon guide memebers 61b. The hook 61 and the 'membersfla cooperate to support the cap in a downwardly inclined position, as indicated in Figure 3, so that as a container is moved beneath the cap by the conveyer, the upper edge of the container will engage the forward portion of the skirt of the cap and will pull it 011' the hook 61 and members 610. allowing it to drop into position on the flanges of members 611). As disclosed in my co-pending application, the members 6Tb are disposed in parallel relationship and extend longitudinally of the path of movement of the container. They are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of the cap. However, the upper end of the container will still project slightly above t e horizontal flanges of these members.

member 44, as

The

Thus, the upper end of: the container will move the cap along members Bibuntil itrmoves ofi such members,-- at which time it will be beneath the plate!!!) of the sealing head unit v l.

Asdisclosed in the parent application, in order to actuate-the cap-feeding and applying unit 3 each time the sealing head of the sealing head videdwith anupstanding post 99 which has its lower end threaded into an opening in the upper surface of the plate 68, as at I (Figure 3). This post has its upper end pivotally connected, as,

at IUI, to a crank arm I02 which is keyed to one end of the shaft I63 (Figure 2) which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing IM carried by the upper surface of the stationary plate 34. The opposite end of this shaft has keyed thereto a crank arm I05 (Figure 3) which has its lower end pivotally connected to a link 1516 (Figure 2). This link has its opposite end pivotally connected as at Hi! to the upstanding member I08 (Figure 3) which has its lower end attached to the ring 6|. A slot I09 (Figure 2) is provided in the collar 48 to permit movement of the member I 08 so that it will rotate the ring 6|. It will be apparent that when the plate 68 is moved downwardly, the ring 6| will be rotated in one direction and when it is moved upwardly, the ring will be rotated in the opposite direction. Thus, each time the sealing head is actuated, the cap-feeding device will be actuated to release a cap from the stack.

From the preceding description, the operation of my cap-feeding apparatus will be well understood. The containers will be placed indiscriminately on the conveyer which will move them between the guides 33 so that the will be in proper alignment with the units 3 and 4. The containers will then be moved along and as they pass beneath the unit 3, each container will withdraw a cap from the supports 61' and 61a, as previously described. The container with the cap loosely applied thereto will then be moved beneath the sealing head unit 4 and will be sealed in the manner described in the parent application.

One of the advantages of my invention is that a very simple and effective apparatus for feeding caps from the source of supply into position to be engaged by the upper ends of containers preparatory to sealing is provided. This apparatus will automatically release the lowermost cap from the cap reservoir, without any manual intervention, while at the same time support the stack of caps thereabove. The cap may be withdrawn from my cap-feeding apparatus by a container without upsetting said container. Another advantage of my invention is that the cap which is being fed into position to be engaged by a container will not drop from the cap-feeding mechanism until it is positively withdrawn by the approaching container.

Many other advantages will be apparent from the above description and from the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. A cap-feeding unit comprising a magazine adapted to receive a vertical stack of caps, means for feeding the caps one by one from the lower end of said stack, said means comprising an annular member through which the caps are adapted to drop, a -plurality of pivoted escapement members associated with said annular member, each of said escapement members embodying amain portionv pivoted for swinging -movement in a horizontal plane, each of said main-portions carrying onits outer end a member pivoted thereto for/movement ina vertical plane which is substantially tangential to the periphery of said annular member, saidlastnamed pivoted member c arrying at one end a horizontal finger. disposed adjacent the -upper edge thereof, and at the, other end a horizontal finger disposed adjacent the; lowerfedge thereof, said escapement members being normally posi- 'tioned so that thelower fingers suppor t'the' lowermost cap of the stack, and means 'for swinging the main portions of said escapement members about their pivots so that the lower fingers will move out of engagement with the lower cap and the upper fingers will move into engagement with the cap next above.

2.'A cap-feeding unit comprising a magazine adapted to receive a vertical stack of caps, means for feeding the caps one by one from the lower end of said stack, said means comprising an annular member through which the caps are adapted to drop, a plurality of pivoted escapement members associated with said annular member, each of said escapement members embodying a main portion pivoted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, each of said main portions carrying on its outer end a member pivoted thereto for movement in a vertical plane which is substantially tangential to the periphery of said annular member, said last-named pivoted member carrying at one end a horizontal finger disposed adjacent the upper edge thereof, and at the other end a horizontal finger disposed adjacent the lower edge thereof, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said last-named member, said escapement members being normally positioned so that the lower fingers support the lowermost cap of the stack, and means for swinging the main portions of said escapement members about their pivots so that the lower fingers will move out of engagement with the lower cap and the upper fingers will move into engagement with the cap next above.

3. A cap-feeding unit comprising a magazine adapted to receive a vertical stack of caps, means for feeding the caps one by one from the lower end of said stack, said means including a mem her having an opening through which the caps are adapted to drop, a plurality of pivoted escapement members associated with said opening, each of said escapement members embodying the main portion pivoted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, each of said main portions carrying on its outer end a member pivoted thereto for movement in a vertical plane which is substantially tangential with the periphery of the caps, said last-named member carrying on opposite sides of the pivot point thereof upper and lower horizontal fingers spaced apart vertically a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of each can at the'edge thereof, said escapement members being normally positioned so that the lower fingers support the lowermost cap of the stack and means for swinging the main portion of said escapement members about their pivots so that the lowerfingers will move out of engagement with the lower cap and the upper fingers will move into engagement with the cap next above.

4. A cap-feeding unit comprising a magazine adapted to receive a vertical stack of caps, means 'for feeding the caps one by one from the lower ing a main portion pivoted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, each of said main portions carrying on its outer end a member pivoted thereto for movement in a vertical plane which is substantially tangential to the periphery of the collar member, said last-named pivoted member carrying on opposite sides of the pivot point thereof upper and lower horizontal fingers spaced apart vertically a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of each cap at the edge thereof, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said last-named member, said'escapement members being normally positioned so that the lower fingers support the lowermost cap of the stack and means for swinging the main portions of said escapement members about their pivots so that the lower fingers will move out of engagement with the lower cap and the upper fingers will move into engagement with the-cap next above.

WILLIAM D.'BELI-.|; V

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