US2012364A - Apparatus for sealing paper or like bottles or containers - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1935. H WARE 2,012,364

APPARATUS FOR SEALING PAPER OR LIKE BOTTLES OR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 21, 1.931 6 Sheets-Sheet l ANZN Q Au 27, 1935. H. M. WARE 2,012,364

APPARATUS FOR SEALING PAPER OH LIKE BOTTLES OR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 21, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 By: 0 W W H. M. WARE Aug, 7, W35.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING PAPER OR LIKE BOTTLES 0R CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 21, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 27, 1935. H M WARE 2,012,364

APPARATUS FOR SEALING PAPER OR LIKE BOTTLES OR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 21, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. VZ/M Aug. 27, 1935. M4 WARE 2,012,364

APPARATUS FOR SEALING PAPER OR LIKE B OT TLES OR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 21, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 I v UNITED s ArEs PATENT OFFICE 2,012,36i l v APPARATUS FOR- SEBLING PAPER OR LIKE BOTTLES OR CONTAINERS Herbert Maclean Ware, Northwood, Middlesex,

England v i Application October 21, 19:1, sew-1N5. In Great Britain October all, 1930 a I e Claims; (Cl; new

This invention relates to apparatusforsealing tion of thecontainer is then folded inwardly paper or like bottles or containers by inserting a and downwardly over the flange of the cap and flanged cap or dmc within the open end or ends pressure applied to the parts, i. e. the end poroi the container body. The flanged sealing caps tion of the body of the container, the turned are placed within the open ends of the containdown portion thereof and the flange of the sealb ers with the disc or centre portion thereof dising cap which is positioned between these two posed innermost and with the flange in contact parts of theconiaincr soas to complete the seal. with the inner periphery of the container. Alternatively, the above "process may be re- The invention has for its object to provide imversed and a portion or the flange of the sealing proved apparatus for closing the ends of contain cap turned outwardly and downwardly so as to m ers in the above manner and with this object embracethe end of the wall of the containers in view the invention consists in the novelfea- The pressure employedwin the sealing process tures of construction and combination hereinmay be applied from within or outside the con-3 after described, illustratedand claimed. tainer or in both directions.

5 In the accompanying drawings: Apparatusfor carrying out thesealing opera- 5 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper part tion in connection with the sealing of milk or of one form of machine according to the inven-- other liquid containers and as illustrated in tion; 1 the drawings comprises a base I having pillars I Figure 2 is a sectional front elevation ofrthe rigidly securedthereto a head 3 rigidly secured upper part of this machine taken on the line to the pillars and a table 4 rotatably mounted on 20 P--P of Figure l; v one of the pillars and provided with any con- Figure 3 is a plan view of this machine; venient number of apertures 5, in the example Figure 4 is a front elevation of the lower part here illustrated four apertures, housing sheaths of this machine; l 6, which hold the containers during the sealing Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the processes.- The sheaths 6 are made of thin 5 lower part of this machine taken on the line springy sheet metal, for the purpose later to be QQ of Figure 4; p v described, toiconform to the shape of the con- Figures 6 to 10 show diagrammatically succestainers and are attached to carriers 1 slidably sive stages in the process of sealing a carton, mounted in bushes 8 fixed within the apertures and l a v 5. whichbushes Bare chamfered at their upper 30 Figures 11 to 13 are sections through the joint portions wherenecessary to continue the sloping between the lid of a carton and the body thereof, profile of the container. during successive stages in the sealing process. Bellcranlr levers 9 pivotally mounted on a table In carrying the invention into effect in one con-o bearing member ill have each one arm forked venient manner as applied by way of example to to surround the sheaths 6 and provided with slots 35:

sealing the end of a container, such as may be H engaging with pins 12 secured to the carrier made from paper, cardboard or other flexible ma- 1, while the other arm carries a roller I 3 enterial and may be waxed or otherwise proofed gaging in acam groove H formed in the cam and adapted to contain foodstuffs or it other armember l5which isrigidly secured to a pillar 2.

g, ticles, solid or liquid, such as milk, a flanged seal- The arrangement is such that when the table is ing cap or disc is inserted in the open end of the rotated each roller 13 passes successively over a container body and a portion of the end of the part of the groove I4 which deviates outwardly latter is turned down over the flange of the seal from a circular outline at which point, therefore, ll'lg cap and the parts of the container at this the bell crank lever will be operated and the point are firmly pressed togetherso as to comsheaths moved vertically upwards. 45

plete the seal. g The table is rotatably supported by a ball bear- When the flanged sealing cap is first placed in ing 16 and is provided with equally spaced index position within the open end of the container a. holes l1 (Figures 4 and 5) corresponding to the portion of this end of the latter projects beyond numberof aperturesi and an index pin l8 slid- .no the end of the flange of the cap (the latter beably mounted in one of the pillars 2 is arranged log inserted with its flange pointing outwardly to engage with these holes.

relatively to the interior of the container). The Each sheath 6 is formed with a llpped openfi ns i h n p d i h ly gainst h W ll of ture l9.disposed above aclrcular tray 20 wherethe container while the latter is supportedwithby any liquid which is spilt into the sheath may in a suitable die or casing. The projecting porbe collected and suitably drained away. The 55 table 4 is provided with a gutter 2| and drain pipe 22 for the same purpose.

It should be pointed out here that this machine is intended to seal containers which are closed at one end. and are sealed at the other end, after the container has been filled with the required liquid. a

One or both of the bottom corners of the sheath may be cut off, which arrangement, besides providing a drain, also has the advantage of avoiding damage to the corners of the container when this is inserted. I I It is found that during the sealing process later to be described the flanged lidacts like a piston when being inserted into the container, compressing somewhat the air therein. This causes a slight expansion of the container sides and it is the purpose of the previously-mentioned springy construction of the sheaths to allow this to take place freely.

The index holes I? and pin l8 are so disposed that each aperture 5 may be located'immediately below and coaxial with the lid fianging and sealing mechanism;

The fianging mechanism is carried 'on a base member 23 (Figures 1 and 2) secured to the two pillars 2.- and having vertically upstanding guides. 24 forminga magazine to contain a pile of circular lid disc's (constituting the sealing caps or discs above'referred to) secured to a cover plate 25 bolted thereto. The under surface of the cover plate 25 issp'aced somewhatfrom the surface of the bas'e member by washers held between the two surfaces an d -in this space a feeding quadrant 26 of thin sheet metal is arranged to oscillate in ahoriz'ontal plane about a pivot 2! (Figure"3 by means presently to be described; The feeding" quadrant has one edge formed with a semicircular profile adapted to engage with the edge of' a lid discQ When inoperative, it rests in places it in 'position above anaperture 29 in the base 'memberand'coaxial therewith. It is then returned to its inoperative position and the pile of discs, which meanwhile has been suppo rted on a backwardly extending po rtion thereof, now descendsby the distance of one discs thickness so that the next disc is in feeding position. A weight is preferably placed at the of the pile toas sist in the feeding process.

Flanging is now effected the descentof a composite plunger which comprises a bottom punch member 3i! (Figure 2)., a retaining member 3!, a top punch member 32 and a rubberor other resilient ring 33 included between the' retaining member Stand the top punch member 32. The centre portion-of .the-disc-is driven down by the bottom punch memberfiil into a-guide bush 34 mounted in the base member 23 while; its edges are turned up andfianged by theedge of the said bush M, Somewhat beforeythe' bottom punch member 38 makes conta'ctwith the disc; axpres sure ring 35 is released-and;being'urged'down- Wardly by spring" pressure, presses the periphery of the disc against the surface of the'base mem' ber 23. This pressure is continued throughout the'fianging process andservesto secure a'satisfactory flange by effecting an even distribution of the creases that occur in fianging. The process up to this point is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6 where the lid disc is indicated by x and a container which has been previously in serted into the table bush 8 and is in position for scaling is indicated by y.

The flanged disc as shown by chain dotted lines in Figure 6 is now placed by further descent of the composite plunger already referred to in the mouth of the container y located in the table 4 immediately beneath the guide bush, the amount of the descent being so regulated that the sides of .the container may extend a substantial distance above the top of the flange, the open end of the container extending above the end of the bush 8.

' With the bottom punch member 30 remaining in its lowered position, the top punch member 32 is now caused to move downwards a further small distance, thereby compressing the rubber ring between the said two punch members and causing it'to expand radially. The flange of the lid" and the side of the container are thus squeezed tightly together between-the said rubber ring and the inside of the bush 8.

' Simultaneously with the application of this squeezing pressure a sleeve 36 (Figure 2) is moved downwards, whereby aperipherally disposed series *of folding fingers 3i,'p-ivotal1y mounted on thebase "member 23 and engaging with grooves 38 in the sleeveiafi by rollers 35, are swung in wards so that shoes it carried thereby engage with the upstanding wall of the container y folding it inwards-over the back of the top punch member 32 as'shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. 1 By this means a'crease is formed around the container wall, preferably level with top of the flange on the lid disc.

The folder fingers are now withdrawn and the top punch member 32, together with the retaining member 3! and the rubber ring 33, raised clear of the container, the bottom punch member 38 still remaining in position (see Figure 8) The rubber ring retaining member BI is slidably mounted in the top punch member 32 but is only permitted a limited movement therein.

The ascent of the top; punch member 32 straightens out the turned-over portion of the container wall, but such portion is turned over again with the top punch member in its raised position by a further operation of the folding fingers 31, this stage 'of the, operation being shown in Figure 8.

Finally the fingers 3'! being withdrawn, the top punch member is caused to descend again, and, engaging with the inturned container wall, folds it completely over the disc flange and again squeezes the parts together by compression of the rubber ring; this stage is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 9 and 11. A slight upward movement of the top punch member then releases the sealing pressure, whereupon the composite plunger is withdrawn from the container.

The mechanism, by which these movements of the punch mechanism are effected, is contained in the head 3 (Figures 1 and 2) and comprises a cam shaft i! mounted in bearings 12 and driven through a pinion 43 and wheel id from a driving wheel 45, which latter wheel may be turned by h'and'by means of a handle at or by a belt forming around its rim. The cam shaft 4! carries four cams 42', E8, 49 and operating respectively'through suitable connecting means, the top punch member 32, the folding fingers 31,

\ mounted on the said. rocking shaft 1!.

the bottom punch member 30 and the feeding quadrant 26.

The cams ll and lil engage with rollers 5| carried on similar levers 52 which are each pivotally connected at one end to the head 3 by links 53, springsli i being provided to urge the rollers into contact with the cams. The other ends of the levers 52 are pivotally connected by pins 55, one by means of a flange 56 to a sliding sleeve 1 and the other toa plunger 58 slidably mounted within the said sleeve. Thesleeve 51 passes through a bush 58 in the head 3 and is connected by a cap nut 59 to another sleeve til, to which a crosshead 6!, arranged to slide up and down the pillars 2, is secured. Uponthe end of this sleeve 58 the bottom punch member 30 is mounted. The plunger 5% is resiliently connected for downward movements to another plunger #52 through the-medium of a spring 83, a stop collar ti l being provided to ensure a positive connection for upward movements. The

said plun er 62 (Figure l) is connected to the top punch member 32 by a pin 65 which passes transversely through plunger and punch member and through elongated holes in the sleeve 6d.

The cam it is arranged to depress the lever 52 until the flange 5% carried by the sleeve 51 meets a stop formed by a boss formed in the head 3 to carry the bush 58*. In order to prevent strain or damage to the mechanism resulting from slight inaccuracies in assembly of the parts, the link 53 is arranged to contract resiliently, be ing preferably constructed of two parts arranged to slide one within the other, a strong spring being provided to prevent such'movement except under severe stress.

Rods ('36, secured at their lower ends to the pressure ring 3st, extend upwards through holes, in which they are free to slide, formed in the crosshead Bl and are provided with stop nuts El and compression springs 68. When the crosshead 65 rises with the sleeve El etc. to the top of its stroke it engages the said stop nuts and by means of the rod ti: lifts the pressure ring clear of the base member as previously described. On the descent of the crosshead the springs 59 are free to urge the rods 66 and pressure ring 35 downwards. r

In order to withstand'the endwise thrust of the earn 58 on the levertiil, tending to rotate the sleeve til about its the flange 56 is preferably provided with an extension which slides up and down in a tubular guide secured to the head 3, thus preventing any movement of the lever 52 in an endwise direction and consequent rotation of the sleeve li'l.

The cam 55 operates the folding fingers throng the medium of a roller 68 carried by a lever 10 pivotally mounted on the head 3 and a rocking shaft H rotatably mounted in the said head, which shaft connected to the lever 'lfl by a connecting rod 72 and a lever '53 secured tothe shaft and is connected to the sleeve as by a pair of rods "i i coupled tothe other levers T5 also Compression springs l5 encircle the rods M and normally maintain the sleeve 36 in its upper position.

The cam 5E3 operates the feeding quadrant 26' through the medium of a roller l1 carried by a lever l3 pivotally mounted on the head 3, a connecting rod 5% coupling the lever 18 to a bell crank'ilG and a further ball-ended connecting rod (not shown) by which the said bell crank 80 is coupled to the feeding quadrant so as to'oscilthe feeding quadrant being limited by a stop, a resilient connection of the kind previously described in relation to the cam Q9 and its associated mechanism is preferably embodied in the quadrant operating mechanism. Instead of employing a ball-ended connecting rod to transmit themo-vement's of the bell crank 88 to the feeding quadrant, the bell crank or its equivalent may be formed with bevel teeth engaging other bevel teeth formed on the feeding quadrant.

A suitable spring is provided to keep the roller H in engagement with the cam 58.

The earns 41, 43, 49 and 50 are so shaped and disposed relatively to one another as to impart the above-described movements in their correct sequence.

The drive to the cam shaft 4! is transmitted thereto from the spur wheel it through a clutch mechanism which comprises a key or dog radially slidable in a bore 8! inth e cam shaft M and urged outwards by a spring. When in its normal or outer position, the said key engages in a keyway formed in the hub of the spur wheel 44 thereby clutching the latter to the cam shaft 4 l. A rocking spindle 82, rotatably carried in a bearing 83 secured to the head 3, is provided with two adjacently disposed inclined ramps or plates 86, 85', either of which may engage with an inclinedramp 85 formed onthe aforesaid key," thereby forcing it radially inwards against its controlling spring and disengaging the spurwheel 44 from the cam shaft M. Theramp 85 is, for a purpose presently to be described, somewhat displaced along the spindle S2 relatively to the adjacent ramp 8d, the disposition being such that'the inclined portion of the ramp 85 commences in a position roughly level with the termination of the ramp 84. The rocking spindle is operatively connected to the index pin [8 througha lever ill'secured to the said spindle, a connecting rod $3 and the cranked end Elli of a. further rocking spindle Bil rotatably mounted onthe base member 23 and provided with a bell crank lever 9 5. One arm of the said bell crank lever is operatively coupled to the index pin 53, while the other is connected by a rod 92 to a foot pedal carried on the lower part of the base I. A spring 93, encircling the rocking spindle 32 and preferably assisted by another spring or springs associatedwith the aforesaidfo'ot pedal, maintains the mechanism late'it in a horizontal'plane. The movement of in the position illustrated in 'thedrawings, in

which the index pin i8 is in engagement with the index holes ill and the ramp M is set to engage the key ramp 3t}.

With the mechanism in the position shown, the camshaft ll willalways be disengaged, after one revolution thereof, from the spur wheel 44 by the interaction of'the ramps 8t and 85. On depression of the aforesaid foot pedal by which the index pin is is withdrawn so that the table 4 may be manually rotated, the rocking spindle 82 is tilted to the right (in Figure 2) thus moving the ramp fit out of the way of the ramp B5. The key is now free momentarilyto clutch the cam shaft'and spur wheel together, but is immediately caused to disengage them again after a small rotation of the cam shaft, by the engagement of the ramp $6 withthe second ramp 85 carried by the rocking spindle $2. The cam shaft 4! is thus restrained from rotation untilthe rocking spindle, by tilting to the left, consequent on the re-entry of the index pin IS into a hole l'l, moves the ramp 85 clear of the key ramp 86. The key, being then free to move 1 radially outwards.

clutches. the cam shaft 4I to the spur wheel 44 for a further revolution of the former, until it is again forced inwards to effect disconnection of the cam shaft and spur wheel, by the engagement of the key ramp 86 with the ramp 84 now in its original position.

The object of this arrangement, i. e. the provision of the extra ramp 85, is to ensure that the cam shaft can only be operated to cause descent of the punch members when a table orifice 5 is in correct position beneath them, this condition being indicated by the entry of the index pin I8 into an index hole I'I.

Those parts of the mechanism which come into contact with the container rim or the lid flange during the fianging and sealing operations are preferably heated in order to soften the wax with which these members are coated, preferably by the circulation of hot water. For this purpose a heater 94 may be provided, having electrical or other suitable heating means embodied therewith, from which hot'water flows by the thermo-siphon principle to a header tank 95 by way of a pipe 90. From thence it passes through a partly flexible pipe 91 to a channel 98 formed within the pressure ring 35 and thence by a pipe 99'to a three-way fitting I00. From the said fitting it is conducted by a pipe ml to a channel I02 formed within the top punch member 32 or by a pipe I03 to a channel I04 formed within the hub of the table 4. The water returns to the heater from the top punch member by'a partly flexible pipe I05 and from the table hub by a passage I06 formed in the pillar 2 and by a pipe I01. The three-way fitting referred to above is so arranged that hot water can be delivered alternatively to the punch or to the table or to the punch and table together. A thermometer I08 is provided to indicate the temperature of the table hub. It should be noted that the bushes 8 surrounding the containers receive their heat by conduction from the channel I04 by conduction through the body of the table. Vent pipes I09 are provided to allow the escape of air from the heating system.

The operation of the machine in the sealing of filled cartons is as follows:

It will be assumed that the driving wheel 45 is being continuously rotated either by hand or' power (though such continuous rotation is not essential) and that the table is located by the index pin IS in one of its four'positions, and, further, that the magazine is filled with suitable lid discs.

Referring to Figure 3, an empty container is inserted into a sheath in the position denoted by A. The foot pedal is then depressed to withdraw the index pin and to allow the table to be turned by hand until the container is in the position denoted by B, when the table is locked by releasing the foot pedal and the container is filled by any convenient means. The table is again released by depression of the foot pedal and turned to bring the container into the sealing position denoted by C. Upon its location in this position by the entry of the index pin I8 into a -hole I 7 after the release of the foot pedal, the

clutch mechanism engages the cam shaft with the rotating spur wheel 44 and the fianging and sealing process commences. This process, as previously described, lasts through one revolution of the cam shaft after which, this latter is automatically disengaged and stopped by the interaction of the ramps 84 and 86 and comprises: the placing of the blank in position; hanging and inserting it into the mouth of the container; the application of preliminary sealing pressure and preliminary folding; withdrawal of the top punch member and subsequent descent of the same to effect final folding application of final sealing pressure and withdrawal of the punches.

It may be found desirable to supplement the seal thus effected, which is illustrated in Figure 11, by the introduction and sealing of a second lid :13 within that already sealed in position. This is effected by a second depression and release of the foot pedal whereby the cam shaft makes a further revolution to flange and insert a lid (13', as shown in Figures 10 and 12, and to seal it finally in position, as shown in Figure 13. The second lid m may conveniently be formed of plain, unproofed material for which purpose the discs are piled alternately plain and waxed in the magazine. Alternatively the second lid may be formed of waxed material. Lastly, the foot pedal is depressed again and the table turned to bring the filled and sealed container into the position denoted by D, when, having been automatically lifted by the ejector mechanism previously described, it is removed from the machine.

It must be understood that, in normal operation, four containers are being dealt with simultaneously by the machine, three being respectively inserted at A, filled at B and removed at D while the fourth is being sealed at C.

With the form of machine described, it is necessary, after the fi-anging and sealing of the first lid in position, to wait while the cam shaft makes a complete revolution before the clutch can be reengaged to effect the fianging and sealing of the second lid. It is proposed to obviate this pause and generally to improve the action of the machine by providing an alternative form of clutch mechanism. This mechanism comprises an auxiliary shaft, slidably and rotatably mounted in bearings secured to the head 3, driven from the cam shaft speed at half the speed thereof by a pinion and spur Wheel and carrying a disc having a pair of ramps formed thereon similarly to the ramps 84 and previously described. Suitable levers engaging with collars formed on the said auxiliary shaft enable this to be moved endwise against the action of a spring by the depression of the operating foot pedal. This endwise movement enables the said ramp to pass another stationary ramp, operatively connected with a clutch mechanism, in a manner analogous to the present mechanism. In this case, however, the clutch comprises a coned friction disc slidably keyed to the cam shaft ll and engaging a conical friction surface in the spur wheel 44, while the operative connection takes the form of a rod extending through an axial bore in the cam shaft and coupled at one end to the said friction disc and at the other to a bell crank carrying the said stationary ramp.

By the use of this arrangement of a half speed shaft in combination with a friction clutch, the machine trips itself out of action after two revolutions of the cam shaft instead of one as at prescut and is further capable of re-initiating operation immediately the foot pedal is released.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above described details but is capable of being variously modified to suit any conditions or practical requirements it may be desired to fulfil.

Further, the machine is not limited to the sealing ofthe ends of containers of the kind above referred to and illustrated but is applicable to other forms of containers such as may be adapted to contain solids and powders and where the filling operation is to be performed before the seal is applied, as would be the case in a container which is only open at one end, the filling means may be embodied with the sealing machine, if desired.

What is claimed is,

1. An apparatus for sealing the end of a container, comprising a holder for the container, means for forcing a cap disc into the container and simultaneously forming a peripheral. flange thereon so as to complete the cap, means subsequently operable for bending the upper part of the container wall over the cap, and means operable for forcing the bent-over portion of the container into sealing engagement with the flange of the cap.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for feeding the cap disc over the open end of the container, and means adapted to bear upon the periphery of the cap as it is forced into the container.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for forcing the cap disc into the container comprise a movable punch having a resilient radially expansible member engageable with the cap flange.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for bending over the upper portion of the container wall consists of a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for inserting the sealing cap into the open end of the container is also operable to insert another flange cap into the container and in sealing engagement with the first cap inserted into the container.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein upper end of the container upon a surface of the plunger, said plunger including means for bending the bent-over portion of the container wall into sealing engagement with the flange of the cap disc and the plunger being operable first to press together the flange of the cap and the upper portion of the wall of the container and then to press together the flange and container wall portion.

9. An apparatus for sealing the end of a container, comprising a holder for the container, a plunger for forcing a cap disc into the end of the container and forming a flange around the periphery of the disc, the said plunger comprising an outer portion adapted, to bear upon the disc part of the cap and an inner portion which is movable relatively to the lower portion, means for bending the end portion of the container onto a surface of the inner plunger portion and means for moving the inner plunger portion away from the outer plunger portion, so that the latter may remain within the flanged cap, and then returning the inner plunger portion in order to fold the previously bent container end portion against the flange of the closure cap.

HERBERT MACLEAN WARE.

Images