US1664881A - Crown-corking machine - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1928. 1,664,881

J. W. FLOWER CROWN CORKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8. 1924 2 $heets-$heet 1 April 3, 1928. 1,664,881

J. w. FLOWER GROWN comma MACHINE Filed Aug: 5. 1924 u 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 3, 19528.

- UNITED STATES JOHN WALTER FLOWER, F WIMBORNE, ENGLAND.

cnowN-ooRKmG MACHINE.

Application filed August 8, 1924, Serial No. 730,988, and in Great Britain February 19, 1924.

This invention relates to a machine for fixing metal capsules, of the kind generally known as crown corks, upon the tops of bottles and a particular feature of the invention that hydraulic pressure is applied and is automatically controlled to any required degree and in such a manner that the machine can be used with bottles of different lengths to all of which the same pressure will be applied. It is therefore possible to so adjust the pressure that exactly the correct amount is applied with minimum risk of breakage which is a frequent occurrence when the pressure is applied mechanically, say through springs the effort of which will vary according to the varying lengths of bottles.

In the ordinary way the crowns are sealed by forcing the neck of the bottle into a conical die, into which the crowns are fed either singly by hand, or by an automatic feed arrangement.- The bottle may either be pushed upwards into the die, or the die brought down upon the bottle, in both cases the length of stroke is definite, being produced directly by a crank, eccentric or cam.

In my invention, fluid pressure is used to transmit the movement of a cam, eccentric or equivalent to a ram which pushes the bottle upwards into the crowning die, and a. spring loaded valve allows anysurplus fluid to escape at a predetermined pressure, the effect being that if a bottle is long a greater quantity of the fluid will escape by the valve than will escape if the bottle is short, but the upward pressure upon the bottle will be the same in both cases. A

cushion spring or buffer may be provided under the bottles.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows substantially the whole machine in vertical section, the crown cork hopper being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the lower part of the same machine with parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a view drawn to a slightly larger scale of part of the upper portion of the machine with the crown cork hopper and shows the drive for the agitator thereon and which may be of usual or convenient form.

In this example the machine comprises a body or frame 1 which acts as an oil container. This body is mounted on wheels as shown and can be moved from place to place.

On the cover of the body is a column 2 carrying the crowninghead 3 which is of usual form and is adjustable vertically by means of the threaded rod 1 and nut or sleeve 5. a

A pump is arranged at 6 in the body and is adapted to apply hydraulic pressure by the duct 7 to the ram 8 upon the outer end, The

9 of which the bottles are placed. duct 7 is formed with an outlet 10 controlled by a valve 10 normally held closed by a spring 11 adjustable through a threaded member 12 to vary the tension on the valve. Obviously under a predetermined. pressure in the fluid, according to the set of the valve, the outlet will open and the ram will be relieved of additional pressure without regard to the additional movement of the. pump plunger. The vent 10 is controlled by a spring, the tension of which may be adjusted by a pressure member threaded in the casing of the valve and bearing on one end of the spring, this being a conventional construction.

Adjacent the said outlet or relief valve is an inlet valve 12 surrounded by a gauze or filter indicated at 12. A pressure gage may be connected to the duct 7 Above these parts is a shaft 13 on which is an eccentric 14 for driving the pump 6. This shaft is normally out of engagement with a constantly driven worm wheel 24 but can be put into engagement therewith by means of a clutch 16 which is fixed upon the shaft and is controlled from the foot lever 17. This lever is connected to a rod 18 which is adapted to lift a pivoted arm 19 and thus release a spring-controlled dog 20 and effect clutch engagement. When this engagement takes place the piston 21 of pump 6 is thrust down and oil is forced under the ram 8 thus raising it and pushing the bottle against the crowning die. When the predetermined pressure is reached'the relief valve opens and exhausts into the container as above stated. Upon the return or suction stroke of the piston 21 the required supply of oil is drawn in by the valve 12. The spring dog is disengaged from the worm wheel by the arm 19 in only one position of the shaft 13.

The worm wheel 24 is driven by a worm 22 from a power drum 23 and revolves freely on the shaft 13 when the clutch is disengaged. On the same shaft is a bevel wheel 25 in'mesh withapinion 26 on rod 27 which is carried up to the hopper 28 is adapted to drive an agitator of: any usual; or desired type, through the operating means shown at 29.

I have not shown the driving means but mayemploy an electric motor and m a general way the same can be advantageously mounted on the cover of theframe. 'VVhen required, power can be transmittedfrom the sh'aft'13 by pulley 31 for the purpose of driving a rotaryjfilling machine.

the ram. 1

[brings t The'bottles may eitherbe placed singly by hand upon the head of the ram, or may be placed in cups upon arevolving table,'which It must be understood that the machine shown isian example only of howihe same may be constructed and it will be observed that in 'thismachine there is no up anddown shortest size of bottle to be crowned movement of-the crowning head while the machine is Working. The head is adjusted,

and. clam ed at a hei ht suitable for the and the bottles are pushed up intoithe die.

1 WVhat I claim is I l. A machine for fixing crown corks on bottles of different heights without adjust .ment of themachine, including a body, a

crowning headcarrie'd by the'body, a ram i operative through, the body in line with the crowning head, thenormalclistance between the ram and head being for bottles of maximum length, a pump selectively operative in the body and operative 1n a single stroke to elevate the ram and bottle carried thereby to the crowning head and then subject thefram to a sufiicient pressure to complete the crowning operation, and means whereby .nthepressure of the pump for the crowning operation may be limited to a predetermined em successively into position over maximum irrespective of the length of the bottle positioning stroke of the ram.

2. A machine for fixing crown corks on bottles of difierent heights, including a body,

acrowning head carried by the body, a ram operative through the body in line with the crowning head to present bottles to said head, the bottle positioning stroke of the ram serving to move intoeoeperation with the head any and all lengths of bottles including and of less length than the maximum length bottle forvvhich the machine may be set, a fluidpressure pump for movingthe ram throughout anylength of positioning stroke and thereafter, subjecting the ram'to a PI'BSSUIQSUlllClQl'lt for the crowning operation, and manually adjustable means whereline with the crowning head,- the normal distance between the ram'andhead beingnfor bottles of maximum length, awpump selec ,tively operative in the body, a ductleading from the pump to the ram to cause the-pump to exert a lifting pressure on the ram to move the bottle into cooperation with the crowning-head, and manually-adjustable means cooperating with said duct to maintain a constant pressure on the ram following the cooperation of the bottle carried by the ram and the crowning head to thereby maintain a constant crowning pressure irrespective of the length otstroke of the ram.

In testimony whereof'I aflix'my signature.

"JOHN YVALTER: FLOXVER.

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