GB871031A - Improvements in or relating to a bottle processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

871,031. Labelling machines. EMBOSSED METAL PRODUCTS Inc. Dec. 10, 1957, No. 38360/57. Class 73. Relates to a machine for applying adhesive wraps around the necks of bottles and strip stamps over the tops of bottles. The bottles 39 Figs. 2, 12 are fed on a chain conveyer 32 to a table 170 on which is mounted for rotation a turret 41. The turret carries for rotation with it a series of equally spaced-, (a) pneumatically operated bottle-holding clamps 181 Fig. 3 for conveying the bottles partly around the table before discharge on to the conveyer, (b) pneumatic pickers 61 Figs. 1, 12 which take strip stamps from a stamp magazine and apply them to the tops of The bottles and (c) pneumatic pickers 63 Figs. 2, 12 which take neck wraps from a wrap magazine and apply them to the necks of the bottles. Each clamp 181 is in register with a corresponding picker 61 and picker 63, these being arranged one above the other. Magazines. The stamp magazine 223 Fig. 2 and the wrap magazine 224 are arranged side by side on a carriage 216 Fig. 4 pivotally mounted on the turret shaft 42 and adapted to oscillate about this shaft, it being urged in a counter-clockwise direction against the rotation of the turret by means of a spring or, as shown, a pneumatic cylinder and piston device 217. Since the magazines 223, 224- are not arranged at the same angular location on the carriage 216, a latch member 225 is provided on the carriage 216 and is adapted to engage portions of the rotating turret in such a manner, that the carriage 216 is caused to move to bring the stamp magazine 223 opposite a picker 61 for extraction of a strip stamp, then to bring the wrap magazine 224 opposite the corresponding picker 63 for extraction of a wrap and then to return to its initial position shown in Fig. 4 for repeating the operation on the next-of the series of pickers. Strip-stamp pickers and appliers. Each stamp picker 61 Fig. 15 comprises a block 141 which is moved downwardly against the action of a spring by a pneumatic cylinder and piston 145, 146 and on which are pivotally mounted stamp picking and applying levers 153, 154 provided with suction ports connected to a source of vacuum. The levers are moved from the position shown in which they extract a stamp from the stamp magazine to a downwardly extending position in which the stamp is applied across the top and down the sides of the neck of the bottle, such movement of the levers being effected by pneumatic cylinders and pistons 163, 164 against the action of springs. The stamps are glued while carried by the picker 61 by a glue wheel 177 Fig. 1. Alternatively the stamps may carry heat-activated adhesive and heating means provided in place of the wheel 177. Wrap pickers and appliers. Each wrap picker and applier Figs. 2, 27 comprises a pneumatically. movable head 81 having a trough 80 formed to receive the neck of a bottle and padded with thin sheet rubber 133. Pivotally mounted on the head 81 and operated by compressed air cylinders 98, 99 are two bottle neck encircling jaws 94, 95. Passing through the head 81 and projecting through and beyond the trough 80 are two spring-loaded rubber suction cups 82 located one above the other. The. cups 82 extract a wrap from the wrap magazine and when the head 81 is then advanced to engage a bottle neck, the cups 82 are pushed inwardly into correspondingly shaped pockets at the back of the trough 80. The jaw 94 is then operated to close one side of the wrap around the bottle neck, the other jaw 95 then closing to secure the other side of the wrap, a bail portion 105 on this jaw serving to secure a firm overlap of the two ends of the wrap. If the wrap is of the form shown in Fig. 34, a blade 117 Fig. 33 is also operated to push the projecting portion 124 of the wrap over the top of the bottle, this then being secured by a vertically reciprocating presser 118. Heat - sensitive adhesive on the wrap is activated by an electric heater 176 Fig. 2 while being carried by the suction cups. Alternatively the wraps may be activated by a blast of hot air or steam. The pneumatic operation of all the parts of the machine is effected in properly-timed relationship by means of an air timer or commutator 54 Fig. 12 comprising a stationary portion 55 and a rotary portion 53 moving with the turret 41.