GB1359598A - Device for sealing containers having an eccentrically located pouring spout - Google Patents

Abstract

1359598 Sealing eccentric spouts OCME OFFICINA COSTRUZIONI MECCANICHE EMILIANA Srl 6 March 1972 [6 March 1971] 10414/72 Heading B8T A machine for automatically applying closures to eccentric spouts on containers operates in response to microswitches triggered by the positioning of the container 13 and by the location of the spout 12 by a sensor 25, the process being electronically controlled by means including logic circuits. Container 13 with its eccentric spout 12 is brought on a conveyer 15 beneath a motive unit 1 which is suspended on a chain 2 and rotates the shaft 10 carrying the sensor 25. The container when in position, strikes a microswitch 16 causing the motive unit 1 to be lowered by an hydraulic jack 6 through the required distance governed by a timer actuated by the disengagement of a peg 45 on gear 3 from microswitch 14. When motive unit 1 is lowered it rotates the shaft 10. Arms 11 on the shaft 10 center the container coaxially with it. The rest and fully deflected positions of the shaft 10 are defined by the engagement of a stirrup 17 on the shaft with microswitches 18, 46 respectively, carried on a fixed bar 9. If the sensor 25 does not locate a spout in one revolution of shaft 10 the engagement of the microswitch 46 stops the operation. The sensor 25 consists of a spring-loaded bar 28 which carries an arm 32 terminating in a half ring 33 situated at a distance from the shaft 10 equal to the distance of the spout 12 from the shaft. When the half ring 33 engages the spout, a bar 28 is urged against a spring 29 and a slider 27 on bar 28 is disengaged from microswitch 30, stopping rotation of shaft 10 and initiating the lowering of screwing device 37, by hydraulic jack 34 mounted on frame 22 on stirrup 17, on to spout 12. Screwing device 37 is coaxial with half ring 33, and carries a stopper 39 into spout 12. It is operated for an interval governed by atimer actuated by the disengagement of microswitch 30. After this interval, the screwing device 37 is raised, and jack 6 is actuated to lift unit 1 until microswitch 14 is engaged. Then shaft 10 is rotated back to its rest position defined by the engagement of microswitch 18, and a new stopper 39 is provided for screwing device 37 by arm 41 from store 40. In a modification, Figs. 7-10 (not shown) screwing device 37 is replaced by a device (302) that applies a sealing capsule over spout 12.