GB588611A - Improvements in apparatus for handling and coating containers - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0588611/III/1> <PICT:0588611/III/2> <PICT:0588611/III/3> A machine for coating the interiors of cans with a liquid coating material comprises a rotatable table, a conveyer trained about said table and having a plurality of can holders carried thereby for movement with the table, a plurality of coating material nozzles associated with the table and aligned with the holders, a plurality of coating material pump means connected to the nozzles and means actuated by the rotation of the table for operating the pump means to project coating materials through the nozzles into the interior of the cans. In the figures, the conveyer consists of a pair of cables 11 leading from a preheating oven 10 and guided by sheaves 12 to 16 so as to return along a run 17 over guide rollers 18 to a wax settling oven 19. Twister chute 23 carries the containers forward and swings them from the neck up position to a horizontal position as shown at 25. The dial wheel 26 with sockets 27 collects the containers singly and tranfers them to a conveyer 35 moving around a sprocket 36 associated with the rotatable table 37. As the holders 39 move under the dial 26 they receive the containers, swing downwards into the inverted position and remain in this position until they enter a wax draining oven. On emerging therefrom they swing upwards to a horizontal position and may pass through a neck-wiping apparatus (see Specification 558,794) and then after swinging into a vertical position enter the wax settling oven 19. The rotatable table 37 carries a plurality of coating material projecting assemblies, each assembly comprising a pump cylinder 115, a piston 117 urged upwardly by spring 118 and a conduit 119 leading from cylinder to pipe 120 with nipple 122 for spraying into the interior of a can. Each assembly includes a pump actuator comprising a rod 125 resting on piston 117 and passing through opening 126 in the cam following block 96, and having an enlarged sleeve member 128. The table rotates about a cam groove 100 in which is disposed a cam following roller 99 attracted to a rod 93 which constitutes a vertical grinding means for the reciprocable cam following block 96. Hence as the table rotates, the block 96 reciprocates vertically on the rod 93. The cam follower and pump actuator are connected as follows. The cam follower 96 has a keyway 133 for reception of a radially slidable key 134 with a relieved position 135 clearing the guide rod 93 in both positions of key. This portion 135 clears sleeve 128 and disconnects cam follower from pump actuator when key is in its outermost position, but when key is moved inwardly, its projecting edge engages an annular groove 136 and locks cam follower to pump actuator so that piston 117 is reciprocated and projects liquid through nozzle 122 into interior of can above. The central cam plate 107 carries a cam surface 138, positioned to be engaged by the inner end faces of keys 134, so that each key is projected to its outermost position during each revolution of the table. A cam surface 140 (Fig. 5), projects the keys 134 inwardly to connect the cam followers and the pump actuators. The cam 140 projects from sleeve 141, mounted on a shaft 42. The sleeve oscillates in one direction under the influence of a spring 147 and in the other by means of a solenoid 148. The can holders 39 leave the dial 26 and pass the feeler 208. So long as the feeler engages the cans, the solenoid 148 is energized so maintaining the cam 140 in path of keys 134 and projecting these keys so as to connect the blocks 96 and pump actuating rods 93. If, however an empty can holder passes feeler 208, the latter is moved inwardly to open a switch thus de-energizing solenoid 148 and moving cam 140, by means of spring 147, out of the path of movement of keys 134, so that the pump actuating means is rendered inoperative.