CA1072763A - Apparatus and method for removing closures from containers assembled in cases - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A method and apparatus are provided for removing closures form containers that are assembled in cases which are moved seriatum into position below multiple spindles arranged with respect to the container positions in the case. Each spindle has a non-rotatable internally threaded nut with a freely rotatable externally threaded screw therethrough, and a head unit for gripping a closure on the container. Axail displacement of the multiple spindles with respect to the containers causes the head unit of each spindle to grip a container only by its clo-sure, if it has one thereon. Axial displacement of the screw with respect to the nut rotates the screw with sufficiant torque to break any bond or seal securing the closure without need of holding the container to prevent its rotation.

Description

~7æ~3 This invention relates to the removal of screw-off closures from containers. ~lore particularly, this invention relates to the removal of screw-off closures from containers assembled in cases which are moved seriatum into an~ out o-E
position.
There has been increased concern for the container inaustry to encourage rec~cling o containers. For containers, such as beverage bottles having screw-off or twist-off closures, the consumer has been urged to return the metallic caps or clo-sures associated with the bottles by replacing the caps on the bottles. The bottles are returned in cases to the bottling plant, but before the bottles can be cleaned and prepared for refilling, it is necessary to remove any metallic caps from the returned bottles. A problem of removing such closures effi-ciently is enha~nced by the fact that millions of bottles are returned for recycling annually. Thus, a quick and easy removal of such closures is desired to reduce the bottle reclamation costs for the bottling industry.
In the prior art, there have been various ways proposed to remove the closures from containers as they pass singly along the bo-ttling lines. One such way includes the use of an Archi-medean screw passing through an internally threaded bush or nut and a jaw means on the end of the screw for grippin~ closures.
Such a device is operated by fluid pressure and includes the use of hold-down pads to secure the container against rotation during the unscrewing operation, i.e. when the screw moves in the nut to -cause rotation of the jaws to remove screw-off closures, as shown in U.S. Patent 2,130,317, granted September 13, 1938. Various other methods have also been tried which pierce or puncture the container closure to facilitate closure removal. Piercing of the metallic cap by a needle and forcing compressed air into the container to facilitate removal of the closure is shown in U.S.
~ .;, ~7~ 3 Patent 3,587,20~, granted June 28, 1971. Insertion of a blade into the closure and rotation thereof to remove a elosure is shown in U.S. Patents 3,520,102, granted July 1~, 1970 and 3,773,829, granted Deeember 4, 1973. Serew-off caps can also be removed by the use of rotating impact rollers which contaet the outside surface of the elosure, as shown in U.S. Patent 3,807,13~, granted April 30, 1974 and by the use of an endless moving belt, as shown in U.S. Patent 3,8~5,605, granted November 5, 1974.
In order to more effieiently remove screw-off closures from the millions of returned eontainers, it is known in the art to remove the closures while maintaining the eontainers in their eases. Such in-case decapping of containers obviates the need to remove each container from a ease and to place it onto a bottling line to remove the closures from the containers singly. Such prior art in-case decapping methods and apparatus include moving a case of containers into position beneath a deeapping apparatus having multiple head units which move vertically down onto containers in a ease to facilitate removal of closures from all containers simultaneously. Such mechanisms include sensing devices for counting bottles and cheeking bottles to see if they are free of elosures and for determining alignment or misalign~
ment of bottles~ and ejeeting means for disposing of the elosures from the head units and means for collecting such removed clo-sures. Such meehanisms, however, may also include a large and/or complex gearing arrangement to ~acilitate vertieal movement and rotation of the multiple head units. Repairs or replacement of a single head unit in the mechanism may, khus, be difficult.
Additionally, the decapping apparatus may not be easily adjust-able to accommodate various size elosures and cases containing various numbers-of containers per case.
Removal of closures from containers while in their cases has been proposed in various ways including piercing a

2 -closure with two pins and causing rotation of the closure while securing the container against rotation with a holding sleeve, as shown in U.S. Patent 3,589,103, granted June 29, 1971. Still another device uses two continuous moving belts positioned on opposite sides of the closures of the containers to cause removal of the closures, see U.S. Patent 3,352,867, granted December 10, 1974. A fluid pressure gripping device of U.S. Patent 3,686,824, granted August 29, 1972 grips the closures of each container with a piercing pin and a holding sleeve having an inflatable element.
10 Rotation of the device removes the closure and a subsequent reduction of pressure deflates the holding sleeve to eject the removed closure from the gripping device. U.S. Patent 3,803,795t granted April 16, 1974 shows the removal of closures from con-tainers without the need of holding the containers by the use of a continuously rotating cup-shaped device which fits over the closure of a container and causes removal of the closure by engaging with the serrations of the closure.
There still exists a need, however, for an apparatus and method of removing twist-off closures from containers being transported in cases along a return case conveyor system in a bottling plant that is low in cost and can easily and inexpen-; sively be installed on an existing return case conveyor in a bottling plant bottle return area. Such a device should have components that can be changed to accommodate various size closures and cases containing various numbers of bottles per case. Contact ~ith the container, especially at the neck area, should be limited or avoided to prevent marring of the container finish and excessive wearing of any advertising on the container.
Yet sufficient unscrewing torque must be provided to break any temporary bond or seal securing a closure to a container. It isal~o desirable to incorporate safety features to prevent damage to the apparatus due to improperly located containers or damaged cases.

~72~63 In accordanee with the present inven-tionl closures are quickly removed from eontainers being transported in cases with-out damage to earrying handles of eontainer cartons and without damage to misaligned or improperly located bottles. Generally stated, the invention contemplates the removal of screw-off closures by an apparatus having mu:Ltiple spindles arranged with respeet to container positions in a ease and a non-rotatable internally threaded nut associated with eaeh spindle which has an externally threaded and freely rotatable screw through the nut.
On the end of eaeh spindle is a jaw or gripping head for gripping a elosure and removing the closure from the eontainer by rotation of the screw and thus the gripping headO Axial displaeement of the spindles with respect to the containers causes a gripping head -to contact the elosure on a container. Such axial dis-placement is accomplished by raising the containers in a case against the bottom end of each spindle having a gripping head ihereon or by having a vertically movable nut platten with a serew therethrough whieh can be moved downwardly for contaeting the elosures on the eontainers by the gripping head on the bottom of each spindle. Axial displaeement of the screw with respect to the nut, in a freely rotatable arrangement, rotates the screw with sufficient torque to break any temporary seal securing the elosure to the eontainer without the need of securing or holding the container against rotation. Thus, the method and apparatus facilitate the easy and quick removal of closures of eontainers in their eases by a low eost apparatus that ean handle up to 40 eases per minute.
; Figure 1 is an elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the decapping apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side view in partial cross section of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a _ 4 _ ~7~7~3 spindle of the present in~ention showin~ the spin~le in two sta~es of operation.
Figure 4 is an end vie~ of a head unit of the present invention.
Figures 5-Sb are top views of the decapping apparatus of Figure 1 at several elevations.
Figures 6-11 are elevation views illustrating various stages of a preferred method of operation of the present inven-tion.
Figure 1 illustrates an elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the decapping apparatus 20 of the present inven-tion. The apparatus 20 includes a case platten 22, a nut platten 24 and a spindle control platten 26 attached together by spindle control columns 28 and connector tie rods 3a (shown in Figure 2).
Nut platten 24 includes an array of multiple spindles 32 passing therethrough for gripping and removing closures from containers.
A case 36 of containers or bottles 38 is moved into position in apparatus 20 by a conveyor 34 or the like. Spindle control columns 28 and connector tie rods 30 permit vertical displacement of the case platten 22, nut platten 24 and spindle control platten 26 ~ith~respect to one another and with respect to the spindles 32 for gripping and removing the twist-off closures of containers 38 in case 36. After removal of the closures, case 36 is removed from appara~us 20 by way of conveyor 35 or the like.
The case may be assisted into and out of position in apparatus 20 by hydraulic piston action or the like.
The spindle control colu~ns 28-and connector tie rods 30 are arranged to permit vertical displacement of plattens 22, 24 and 26 with respect to one another during operation of the p apparatus. I~ the preferred embodiment, Figure 2 shows a side view of apparatus 20 having nut platten 24 attached to one end (the upper end~ of connector ~ie rod 30 while the other end of _ 5 _ ~72'7~3 tie rod 30 is attached to a base 40 of apparatus 20. Mut platten 24 is also slidably arranged on spindle control column 28 to permit relative movement therebetween. Case platten 22 is ; attached to one end of spindle control column 28 and is slidably arranged with respect -to connector tie rod 30. Spindle control platten 26 is attached to the other end ~the upper end) o~
spindle control column 28.
Figure 1 further illustrates spindles 32 arranged in apparatus 20 such that the upper end of spindles 32 are attached to the spindle control platten 26, and ar~ threadably engaged through nut platten 24 to terminate below nut platten 24 in a head unit 42 adapted for gripping and removing the closures from containers 38.
~ottle aliyning and bottle stripping platten 44 is operably connected to nut platten 24 by a hanger device 46 as shown in Figure 2. Bottle platten 44 is substantially a flat sheet having holes or openings 43 (not shown) therein which correspond to the array of bottles 38 in case 36 from which closures are to be removed. Preferably, bottle platten hanger 46 includes a rod 47 and a biasing eLement 48J such as a compression spring, that (in an uncompressed condition) will keep the bottle aligning and stripping platten 44 at its furthest extent below the nut platten 24. Rod 47, which connects with bottle platten 44 and extends vertically upward and substantially perpendicular thereto, is shown projecting above nut platten 24 with a collar means 49 on rod 47 to prevent the upper rod end from dropping below nut platten 24.
; Li~it switches 50 are provided to act as safety devices and may be activated when an upper portion of rod 47, such as ~ 30 collar means 49, of bottle platten 44 contacts them. Switch 50 : can shut down apparatus 20 at the occurrence of a misalignment of the bottles in order to prevent damage to either bottles 38 or apparatus 20.

~7~27~;3 Platten stop rod 45 extends~vertically upward and substantially perpendicular from case platten 22 to which it is attachea. The upper portion of rocl 45 extends to near and below bottle aligning platten 44. When t:here are no misaligned bottles during the relative movement of the case platten 22, nut platten 24 and spindle control platten 26, the upper part of rod 45 contacts bottle platten 44 and raises it so that the bottles do not contact bottle platten 44 and thus are not marred. Platten 44 thus provides a means for inspecting for misalign~ents.
In a preferred embodiment, apparatus 20 is also pro-vided with a drive device 52, such as a piston, as a means for `~
moving and vertically displacing case platten 22 with respect to nut platten 24 having spindles 32 thereon. One end of piston 52 ; is attached to base 40 and the other end is attached to case platten 22. Activating piston 52 raises case platten 22 and case 36 containing bottles 38 to cause removal of the closures on the bottles.
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of spindle 32 of the present invention showing spindle 32 during two stages of operation. The center line of the spindle divides the figure to show the relative positions-of the various symmetrical portions of the spinale during two conditians or stages of operation. The left-hand portion of Figure 3 illustrates the spindle in a no-bottle or .^~
capless-bottle condition. The right-hand portion of Figure 3 illustrates spindle 32 in what may be considered as a first stage condition o~ gxipping a bottle closure.
Figure 3 further illustrates spindle 32 arranged in position in nut platten 24 and attached to spindle hanger 54 of spindle control platten 26. Nut platten 24 includes a threaded nut or bush 56 through which an externally threade~ ~crew 58 is disposed to per~lt axial travel of the screw with respect to .

~7;27~3 the nut. Preferably, bush or nut 56 is of the ball-nut type such that it includes ball bearings 57 which engage with the threads of screw 58 to permit a freely rotatable arrangement of the screw in the nut. Bush or nut 56 may be an integral part o~ nut platten 24 or may be otherwise rig:idly attached thereto by screws, bolts, welding or the like. Preferably, bush or nut 56 is rigidly attached to nut platten 24 by fasteners and is separated from the lower surface of platten 24 by a cushioning means, such as a rubber gasket. The cushioning means reduces the instanta-neous impact load on the container when head unit 42 makescontact with the container.
Screw 58 is shown having a longitudinally and con-centrically extending opening therein to permit a shaft or knock-out rod 60 to be slidably arranged therein. Rod 60 axially moves with respect to screw 58 during various stages of operation of spindle 32 depe~ding upon whether or not a closure is located on bottle 38. Jaws or grippers 64 of head unit 42 are activated to grip a closure on bottle 38 by the action of a cam 62 located on or at the lower end of rod 60. Cam 62 may be integrally formed on the end of rod 60, but preferably cam 62 is separately formed and is attached to the lower end of rod 60O If no bottle, or if a capless bottle, is located beneath the spindle 32 durin~ the decapping operation, then cam stem tip 66 of cam 62 will not contact a closure of a bottle or container 38 and will not cause the grippers or jaw 64 of head unit 42 to close around the top of the bottle. The left-hand portion of Figure 3 shows such a condition. If a closure is present on container 38, the cam stem ., tip 66 will contact the top of the closure causing knock-out rod 60 to slide upwardly within screw 58 and activate jaws 64 by the interaction with cam 62, as sho~n in the right-hand portion of Figure 3.

The upper end of spindle 32 is arranged within a ~7~7~3 spindle hanger 54 and is maintained therein b~ spindle retractor 68 at a no-bottle location during the operation oE spindle 32 when spindle retractor 68 contacts spindle hanger 54 to limit the vertical downward movement of head unit 42 of spindle 32. Contact of retractor 68 with hanger 54 prevents further relative movement of head unit 42 toward case platten 22 for the remainder of a single cycle of the decapping operation. Spindle retrac-tor 68 which forms the upper end of spindle 32 has slidably arranged therein the upper end of knock-out rod 60 which terminates in a knock-out cap 70. Rod 60 is concentrically and slidably located within spindle retractor 68 with the downward movement of rod 60 at a no-bottle or no-cap condition limited by the contact of cap 70 with spindle retractor 68 within spindle hanger 54. Knock-out rod 60 is designed with knock-out cap 70 at its upper end for contact with a portion of spindle control platten 26 designated ~ as knock-out knob 72 within spindle hanger 54 to cause ejection : of a closure from grippers 64 of head unit 42 at the termination of a single cycle of the decapping operation.
Spindle 3~ further includes a braking means or spindle latching assembly 74 for locking and holding the spindle during certain conditions to prevent rotation of screw 58 in nut 56. -Latch 74 is particularly useful to hold the spindle in a re-tracted position during liftaway of the unscrewed closure from the bottle 38 during the decapping operation. As used here "retracted" means that condition when screw 58 has been caused to rotate within nut 56 such that it is at its farthest vertical ` upward axial traveI with respect to nut 56. As illus~trated, ; spindle latch assembly 74 can include balls or bearings 76 and a spindle latching groove 78 which cooperate to prevent screw 58 from freely rotating within ball nut 56 to cause further vertical do~nward axial travel oE screw 58 within nut 56.

Figure 4 illustrates an end view of head unit 42 as _ g _ ,, ~ , , j , . . .

~727~3 seen by a bottle closure. While Fi~ure 3 illustrated only two jaws 64 in head unit 42, Figure ~ shows the preferred embodiment having three jaws 64 equally spaced about the axis of head unit 42 near cam stem tip 66.
Figures 5, 5a and 5b are top views of spindle cont~ol platten 26, nut platten 24 and bottle aligning and stripping platten 44, respectively, of decapping apparatus 20. Figure 5 illustrates platten 26 rigidly and, preferably, detachably secured to spindle control columns 28 of apparatus 20 at periph eral locations. Also shown, for illustrative purposes, on either side of thè centerline are two arrays oE spindle locations corresponding to container-receiving positions as they may be for two different cases of bottles. The left side of the centerline is an array corresponding to a twelve (12) bottle case, while the right-side array is for a t~enty-four (24) bottle case.
T~e array shows positions of knock out knobs 72 which project from the undersurface of platten 26. For changing over apparatus 20 to handle cases of containers of different size and array, spindle control platten 26 may be removable from columns 28 so that another platten 26 providing a different array can be ~-secured.
Fox Figures 5, 5a and 5b the two arrays are shown `~ merely for illustration, for usually an entire case of containers .t consists of the same size containers and thus only a single array of container-receiving positions. Decapping apparatus 20 may be `~
adaptable to handling cases of containers of varying sizes and thus different arrays if such arrays a~e uniform and not randomly varied in successive cases.
~ut platten 24 show~ i~ Figure 5a includes an array of bush or nut 56 locations corresponding to the container-receiving positions of a case. For illustration, the centerline divides the figure so as to show that difEerent arrays can be used.

- la -.

~27/~

Platten 24 is provided with means to permit lateral adjustmen~s of nuts 56 therein and therefore corresponding lateral adjust-ments of multiple spindles 32 for decapping apparatus 20. Pref-erably, platten 24 provides for changeable nuts 56 which can be positioned and locked ta form the desired array. Alternately, the entire nut platten 24 may be removable from apparatus 20 and replaced with another platten having a different array.
Figure 5a also illustrates an alternative arrangement for securing platten 24 to spindle control column 28 and con-nector tie rod 30. Column 28 is shown slidably arranyed inplatten 24 and inwardly of the securing location for tie rod 30.
Figures 1 and 2 show column 28 slidably arranged outwardly of connector tie rod 30. :
In Figure 5b, bottle aligning and stripping platten 44 is illustrated with the .centerline dividing the figure to show different arrays of openings 43. Preferably, platten 44 can be removed and replaced with a platten having the desired array.
In the operation of the apparatus of the present ;~
invention, the multiple spindles are axially displaced with respect to the containers to: cause the head unit of each spindle to grip a container by its closure; axial displacement of the :
screw with:respect to the nut causes~ rotation of the screw with sufficient torque to break any bond or seal securing the closure.
A closure can be removed without the need of securing or holding the container acJainst rotation for a concurrent momentary axial load is applied to the container and prevents container rotation due to the resultant friction between the container bottom and the container case. Figures 6 through:ll illustrate a preferred method of operation of the present invention which is designated the "case-lift" method. In the case-lift method, nut platten 24 remains stationary and the case platten 22 and spindle control platten 26 interconnected by spindle control column 28 cause ~727t~;3 axial displacement of container 38 with respect to head unit 42 of spindle unit 32. In the case-lift method, a case of con-tainers 38 are vertically displacecl such that the closures on the containers contact jaws or grippers 64 of head unit 42. Further vertical displacement of the contalners causes screw 58 of spindle 32 to rotate within nut platten 24 to cause removal of the closures from the containers. ;
Figure 6 illustrates two stages of operation. The left side of the centerline of Figure 6 shows spindle 32 in an upward locked arrangement above container 38. As shown in the ready condition on the right side of the centerline of Figure 6 in partial cross section, spindle 32 is in a down unlocked arranye-ment. The bottle aligning and stripping platten 44 is in posi-tion between the head unit 42 and the top of container 38. The bottle platten hanger 46 is shown wi.th its biasing~ element, spring, 48 in an uncompressed state, thus having platten 44 ; disposed downwardly at its furthest extent. The upper end of spindle 32 i5 shown by -the knock-out cap 70 of knock-out rod 60 :
and by the spindle retxactor 68 at:approximately a midway point -20 in spindle hanger 54. Note that:the jaws or grippers 64 of head ~ .
unit 42 are in an open position with cam stem tip 66 protruding downward -from head uni-t 42. While the.left side of Figure 6 shows spindle latch 74 in locked engagement to prevent screw 58 .-from freelv rotating in nut 56 of nut platten 24 and resulting in vertically downward axial displacement, the right side of the --~
centerline shows spindle.32 in a free down position with spindle latch 74 unlocked from screw 58. ~- .
~igure 7 is in partial cross section to illustrate ~; case-lift platten 22 and spindle control platten 26 in an upward vertically displaced position such that the closure of bottle 38 has contacted head unit 42 causing the cam stem tip 66 to enter the head unit and activate the grippers or jaws 64 to grip the ~727~;3 closure on the container. The t.op end of container 38 has passed through an opening 43 in the bottle aligning and stripper platten 44. Note that if there was no container in position below spindle 32 when case platten 22 was displaced, the cam stem ti.p 66 would not have activate:d the grippers 64 of head unit 42. If no closure was on the container, the cam stem tip 66 would have entered the open mouth of the container and also not activated grippers 64. In the position illustrated in Figure 7, bottle platten stop rod 45 has just made contact with bottle aligning and stripper platten 44. Any further upward movement by case platten 22 will:cause the bottle stripper platten 44 to mo~e upwardly in unison with case platten 22 and spindle control .
platten 26. Preferably, stripper platten 44 does not contact the top outside surfaces of container 38 w.hich has passed through opening 43, thus~avoiding any contact which can wear and mar the :~ container.
The upper end of spindle unit 32 has been displaced .~ within the spindle hanger 54 of spindle control platten 26.
:. While spindle 3Z has remained stationary in nut platten 24, the unitary movement of case platten 22 and spindle control column 28 has caused a vertical upward displacement of spindle control platten 26. Note that -the spindle retractor 68 has not made contact with the lower part of spindle hanger 54 when a closure is present on container 38. I~, however, no container is in position to meet spindle 32, the spindle retractor 68 will con-;~ tact spindle hanger 5~ to limit .further downward vertical dis-placement of head unit 42 with respect to a container location.
~hen no container is in position, hanger.54 also lifts spindle 32 upward by retractor 68 as case pla;tten wall 22 and thus spindle control platten 26 continue vertic~1 upward displacement to remove closures on other containers. Note also that, as shown in Figure 7 with a container in position, knock-out cap 70 is . .

~72~

displaced above spindle retractor 68 in the spindle hanger 54.
Such a displ~cement is due to cam stem tip 66 contacting a con-tainer closure and causing the knock-out rod 60 to be axially moved within screw 58 of spindle unit 32.
If no cap or closure is present on a container then cam stem 66 would enter the open mouth of the container. The con-tainer end would be likely to contact the underface of head unit 42. Continued upward movement of case platten 22 would press the mouth of a no-cap container against the face of head unit 42.
Though not shQwn, that portion of the face of head unit 42 should be freely rotatable and independent of the rotation of screw 58.
As closures of other containers in a case are being unscrewed, any rotational action that screw 58 would have on a no-cap con-tainer, in the absence of an independent face of head 42, is eliminated. Thus, a no-cap container will not rotate while caps ~` on other containers are being remo~ed. Though it is probably ;
desirable that contact between the face of head unit 42 and a no-cap container be avoided, the relatively small thickness dimen-sions of a closure and the actual variations and tolerances in container heights most likeLy results in some cQntact. Addi-`~ tionally, to eliminate and minimize any damage to the mouth of the container, the underface of head unit 42 can be provided with -~
a cushioning material. For example, a resilient material O ring can surround cam stem tip ~6 near the lower part of cam 62 for contact with the mouth of the no-cap container. ~;
If a container w~s misaligned such that the container top end failed to pass through an opening in bottle ali;gning platten 44, then the top end of the container would be contacting ;~-the lower suxface of platten 44, as c~se platten 22 is upwardly displaced. Such continued up~ard vertical displacement results in the container forcing the bottle aligning platten 44 upwards until collar means 49 of hanger rod 47 contacts and activates ;27~3 limit switch 50. Actuation of switch 50 stops ~urther displace-ment by shutting down apparatus 20 and returning case platten 22 downwardly to its lowest position.
Figure 8 is in partial cross section and illustrates a case platten 22 at the top of its c~troke; container 38 has its closure unscrewed but still held by the jaws of head unit 42.
Normally, the entire vertical stroke of case platten 22 may approximate a distance of five inches. The vertical displacement of case platten 22 during only the unscrewing operation, i.e.

during the time period between Figures 7 and 8, may approximate two inches. In the position illustrated, biasing element 48 of bottle platten hanger 46 is in a compressed condition. The compressed condition is maintained by the action of bottle platten stop rod ~5 pushing upwardly against the aligning and stripping platten 44. Note that platten ~4 is not in contact with the neck of container 3g. Spindle latch 74 is in a locked condition to prevent screw 58 from freely rotating in bushing or nut 56 and rescrewing the closure onto container 38. If screw 58 were to freely rotate downwardly, the effectiveness of releasing the closure by the contact of knock-out cap 70 with knock-out knob 72 may be reduced. Also reduced would be the clearance for discharging closure between the removed closure gripped by head unit 42-and the mouth of a container which has been lowered away.
During the period of operation between Figures 7 and 8, ball 76 and groove 78 of latch 74, being disengaged, allow the screw 58 to be rotated in nut 56 b~ the action of container 38 contacting and pressing against head unit 42. ~ momentary axial load on the container creates friction between the container bottom and the -case so that the closure can be unscre~ed without the need to secure the container. The knock-out cap 70 is still displaced from and above spindle retractor 68 due to the jaw closing cam 62 displacement and the closure is held by the jaw means of head 42. -- 15 - ~
:.

.. . .

~1;3 7~7~i3 Spindle retractor 68 in the upper end of spindle 32 i5 adjacent but not contacting the lower end of spindle hanger 54.
As shbwn in Figure'8, when case platten 22 has reached the top of its stroke, collar means 4~ of hanger rod 47 makes contact with limit switch 50 as a result or bottle platten stop rod 45 pushing upwardly and dispIacing bottle aligning platten 44. Distinct from the shutdown maneuver in the occurrence of a bottle misalignment, switch 50 can be made electrically inopera-tive so as not to stop further action. In the alternative, an arrangement may be provided which'avoids any contact with switch 50 when containers are properly aligned for decapping.
Figure 9 illustrates spindle 32 locked in position within nut platten 24 by spindle latch 74 with'the removed closure in the jaws 64 of head unit 42. The downward movement of case platten 22 and spindle control platten 26 with spindle control column 28 causes the upper end of spindle 32 at knock-out ' cap 70 and spindle retractor 68 to move to approximately a midway ;' position within spindle hanger 54 of spindle control platten 26. '~
~hen case platten 22 continues to move downwardly, knock-out kno~
72 of spindle control platten 26 will approach knock-out cap 70 of spindle control platten 26.
Figure 9 further illustr~tes bottle platten-stop rod -~;
just prior to breaking contact from bottle aligning and stripper platten 44. At such a breakaway point, the biasing element spring 48 of bottle platten hanger 46 has just reached its uncompressed condltion, i.e. bottle platten hanger 46 is at its furthest extent downward. In the normal operation of the de-capping apparatus-20, container 3~ will be displaced downwardly as case platten 22 moves downwardly. In certain circumstances, the container may remain temporarily secured to the untwisted or unscrewed closure. In such conditions, and only then, will the opening periphery of stripper platten 44 make contact ~ith - 16 - ;

, .: , . .. .

7;~7~;3 container 38 forcing it downward and away from the untwisted closure held in grippers 64 of head unit 42. Such a downward force will cause the container to drop into its proper location in the case of containers. The downward force of stripper platten 44 is assisted by the biasing element 48 before it reaches its uncompressed state.
Figure 10 illustra-tes continued downward movement of case platten 22 at a point where the upper end of spindle 32 at knock-out cap 70 is just making contact with knock-out knob 72 of spindle control platten 26. Spindle latch 74 is approaching the bottom portion of spindle hanger 54, but latch 74 is still locked to prevent free rotation of screw 58 in nut 56. Case platten 22 is moved sufficiently downward such that bottle platten stop rod 45 no longer is contacting bottle aligning and stripper platten 44 and container 38 has fallen into its proper location in case 36. The unscrewed closure is just about ready to be removed from jaws 64 of head unit 42.
Figure 11 illustrates spindle 32 just after the knock-out phase of operation, i.e. the removal of the closure from gripper 64 of head unit 42 just as or prior to case platten 22 reaching the bbttom of its downward traverse to its ori~inal starting position. The continued downward movement of case platten 22 and spindle control platten 26 results in knock-out ~ ~-knob 72 of spindle control platten 26 exerting a pres~sure on knock-out cap 70 of knock-out rod 60. Such pressure on knock-out cap 70 forces the rod 60 to move axially within the screw 58 of ~ -spindle 32 resulting in cam stem tip 66 ejecting the closure out of jaws 64 and at sukstantially the same time knock-out cam 62 opening the grippers and rele~sing the closure from head unit 42.
Release and ejection of the closure may be assi-sted by an air blast or other means to speed up and direct the unscrewed clo-sures away from jaws 64 to a collection chamber, for example.

~7;~7~3 Spindle latch 74 contacts the bottom portion o~ spin~le hanger 54. Such contact will prepare the spindle latch 74 to unlock the screw 58 during the last stages of the downward traverse of case platten 22. When case platten 22 reaches its down~ard limit, the spindle latch 74 will unlock screw 58 in nut 56 and allow screw 58 to freely rotate in nut 56 to its downward extension at the bottom of its tra~ersing stroke. It will then be at the same position as shown in ~igure 6 (right side) so that the decapping operation is ready to commence on another case of ,: 10 contalners.
Æ knock-out spring ma~ be provided with knock-out knob ,' 72 such that after the closure is released and knock-out cap 70 is still in contact with knob 72, a spring will be compressed or loaded. The spring-loaded contact can be discharged to force and assist return of spindle 32 downwardly when spindle latch 74 unlocks.
As described above, the preferred method of operation ; of the present invention is using the case-lift method. In an alternative method of operation, the case platten 22 and the spindle control platten 26 remain stationary while the nut platten is moved vertically to provide relative displacement of the containers wlth respect to head unit 42. The mode of opera-tion is basically the same as that described in the case-lift method with the relative movement between elements of the spindle and the container being the same. The main difference is that nut platten 24 and not case platten 22 is vertically displaced.
Various modifications may be made in ~he invention without departing from the spirit thereof, or the scope of the claims, and therefore, the exact form shbwn is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limi~ations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art, or are specifically set forth in the appended clai~s. i~

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Claims (16)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for removing screw-off closures from containers assembled in cases, which comprises: multiple spindles arranged with respect to container positions in a case, with a spindle aligned with each container-receiving position in the case; a non-rotatable internally threaded low friction nut associated with each spindle; an externally threaded screw on each spindle disposed through said nut, said screw being freely rotatable in said nut and adapted to turn in said nut in response to axial travel of said screw with respect to said nut; jaw means on the bottom end of each of said spin-dles for gripping a closure on a container to remove the closure from the container by rotation of the jaw means with said screw; means for moving cases of containers seriatum into and out of position below said multiple spindles; means for non-rotatably moving said spindles axially with respect to the containers to move said jaw means into position to grip clo-sures on the containers; means for axially displacing said screw with respect to said nut by a relative pushing of said screw upwardly and rotatably through said nut by the container to rotate the screw and jaw means thereon to unscrew closures from the containers.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said spindles axially comprises a vertically movable case platten for raising containers in a case against the bottom end of each spindle for gripping closures on the containers by said jaw means, and thereafter, further raising the containers to push the screws of said spindles upwardly and rotatably through the associated internally threaded nuts to unscrew the closures.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a vertically movable platten with said nuts mounted thereon for carrying said spindles downwardly for the bottom end thereof to engage containers in a stationary case and for the jaw means to grip closures on the containers, whereafter further lowering of said nut platten pushes said screw in each spindle upwardly and rotatably through said nut platten to unscrew the closures.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a means for opening and closing said jaw means and a knockout device for ejecting a closure from said jaw means after removal of the closure from its container.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said jaw means automatically close to grip a closure when the jaw means contacts the closure.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further having a brake means to prevent rotation of said screw in said nut.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said brake means prevents rotation of said screw in said nut when said screw is axially displaced from a container to lift a closure therefrom.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further having a means for inspecting each of said containers for proper positioning thereof before contact by said jaw means on said spindles, said means including a substantially flat member having openings therein corresponding to an array of containers in a case for noncontactingly receiving a properly aligned container in each opening, and a shut-off means to prevent contact of the containers by the jaw means that could damage said apparatus and containers in the event of misalignment of a container.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further having a means for preventing each of said jaw means from gripping a container not having a closure thereon and damaging the container.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a means for adjusting the lateral spacing between said multiple spindles, said means having a platten of change-able nuts which can be fixed in an array corresponding to an array of containers to accommodate cases of different sizes and different arrangements of container positions.

11. Apparatus for removing twist-off closures from bottles assembled in cases which are guided seriatum along a conveyor system to a temporary stop which comprises: (a) laterally adjustable multiple spindles arranged with respect to bottle positions in a case, with each spindle aligned with each bottle-receiving position in the case; (b) a non-rotatable internally threaded ball nut associated with each spindle; (c) an externally threaded screw on each spindle disposed through said ball nut, said screw being freely rotatable in said nut and adapted to turn in said nut in response to axial travel of said screw with respect to said nut; (d) a gripper on the end of each of said spindles disposed below said nut associated which each spindle, said gripper for automatically grasping a closure on a bottle for removal of the closure by rotation of the gripper with said screw; (e) a spindle platten including said multiple spindles for effecting simultaneous vertical displacement of all of said spindles with respect to the case of bottles; (f) a nut platten including said ball nuts for cooperating with said spindle platten to effect simultaneous vertical displacement of all of said spindles with respect to the case of bottles; (g) means for non-rotatably moving said spindles axially with respect to the bottles to move said gripper into position to automatically grasp a closure on the bottle and thereafter, axially displacing said screw with respect to said nut by a relative pushing action of the bottle upwardly against said spindle, rotating said screw and gripper thereon to unscrew closures from the bottles; and (h) means for non-rotatably moving said spindles axially with respect to the bottles to move said grippers and unscrewed closures vertically away from said bottles and thereafter ejecting a closure from said gripper.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for moving said spindles axially comprises a case platten vertically movable in unison with said spindle platten, said case platten holding a case of bottles for raising each bottle with a closure thereon against said gripper of each spindle for grasping the closures on the bottles, and there-after, further raising said bottles to push said screws on said spindles upwardly and rotatably through the associated nut of said nut platten to unscrew the closures.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said nut platten is vertically movable for carrying said spin-dles downwardly for said grippers to grasp the closures on the bottles in a stationary case, and thereafter, further lowering said nut platten to push said screw on each spindle upwardly and rotatably through an associated nut in said nut platten to unscrew the closures.

14. A method of removing screw-off closures from containers assembled in eases, which comprises: moving cases of containers seriatum into and out of position disposed below multiple spindles arranged with respect to container positions in a case for alignment of a spindle with each container posi-tion; non-rotatably moving said spindles axially with respect to said containers until the bottom ends of the spindles contact screw-off closures on the containers and applying a momentary downward force against the closures to press the container against the case; gripping closures on the containers with jaw means on the spindles; rotating screws of the spindles and the associated jaw means by a continuous upward force of the con-tainer closures against said jaw means, said rotation having sufficient torque to break any bond securing the closures to the containers to unscrew the closures from the containers which are restrained from rotation by friction against the ease; non-rotatably moving said spindles axially upward with respect to the containers; and releasing the removed closures from the jaw means on the spindles.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further com-prising inspecting said cases of containers by a bottle aligning platten having openings corresponding to an array of containers before contact of the containers by each of said jaw means on said spindles and stopping the axial travel of said spindles with respect to the containers in the event of misalignment of a container.

16. A method of removing screw-off closures from containers assembled in eases and moved seriatum along a con-veyor system which comprises: guiding a case of containers to a temporary stop at a location disposed below multiple spindles, with each spindle aligned with each container-receiving position in a case; non-rotatably translating said spindles with respect to said case of containers until grippers on the lower end of said spindles contact screw-off closures on the containers; and thereafter automatically grasping closures on the containers with grippers of the spindles; while applying a downward force against the closures to press the container against the case to prevent rotation of the container; applying a further downward force against the closures to rotate a screw of each spindle and the gripper thereon in an associated threaded ball nut with torque sufficient to break any temporary seal securing the closures to the containers to unscrew the closures from the containers; locking said screw in said ball nut to prevent free rotation of said screw therein; while non-rotatably moving said spindles axially upward with respect to the containers; and then releasing the removed closures from the grippers on the spindles.