GB718766A - Closure-applying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

718,766. Applying screw-closures to containers. ARNOLD, J. C. (Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Ltd.). Dec. 5, 1952, No. goggi/52. Class 125 (2). Closures 60 are gripped and screwed on to containers by a rotary chuck 50 including an annular resilient closure-gripping element 52 held between a flange 54 and a plate 62 and constricted about the closure by the application of axial pressure brought about by the moving downwards of plate 62 by compressed air supplied through a bore 186. The closures may be screw caps as shown or closures having interrupted threads. A spider 32 rotates continuously about a central pillar 12 and has depending from its periphery a plurality of casings 16 in which chuck housings 14 are raised and lowered by the engagement of rollers 38 with a stationary cam track 42. The housings 14 are rotated continuously about their own axes by the engagement of elongated gears 46 with a stationary gear 48 mounted on the pillar 12. This rotation is transmitted to the chucks 50 through a socket member 104, a friction housing 66, a slipping clutch 68 and the chuck spindle 58. The latter normally rests on a conical face 70 at the bottom of chuck housing 14 but when the chuck engages a container, it is raised relative to the housing 14 against a spring 76 and, if the container is slightly out of alignment, the chuck and the friction housing 66 can pivot slightly about a resilient ring 102 forming the drive between the socket member 104 and the housing 66. When the closure has been applied, clutch 68 slips and by adjustment of its loading spring g6 by screw cap 98, the degree of tightening can be altered. Upper extensions 114 of the rotary parts slide in cylinders 118 carried by spider 32. Compressed air is supplied by a pipe 122 and flows by channels 126, 128 to valves 120 and thence by channels within the rotary parts of the heads to the bore 186 to actuate the chuck. Valves 120 are actuated at the correct times by a stationary cam 194 either to supply compressed air to the chucks or to vent the chucks by way of channels 218, 222, 224. The cams 42, 194 are so set that, in rotation about pillar 12, each chuck descends to embrace a closure, compressed air is supplied to grip the closure, the chuck rises, it then descends to apply the closure to the container, the chuck is vented by valve 120 to release the closure and finally it rises to be ready to start a fresh cycle. U.S.A. Specification 2,082,048 is referred to.