US2406151A - Can end marking means - Google Patents

Description

A. L. KRONQUEST 2,406,151

D MARKING MEANS Dec. '1, 1940 CAN EN v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' Original Filed NQEQTOR. w

Aug. 20, 1946.

A. L. KRONQUEST CAN END MARKlNGuMEANs ori inal Filed Dec. '7, 1940 4 sheets-Sheet s Aug. 20, 1946. A. L. KRONQUEST CAN END MARKING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 20, 1946 can END MARKINGMEANS' Alfred L. Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application December 7, 1940, Serial No.

11 this application Novem- 369,110. Divided an ber24, 1943, Serial No.

- 8 Claims. 1 e

The invention relatesto marking means and primarily seeks to provide a novel and efficiently operable heavy duty marking means capable of embossing suitable identifying markings on can ends or closures as they are being rapidly moved from a supply stack into position for being assembled with cans to be closed in a closing machine.

Marking means employing opposed male and female marking dies engageable withcan end closures for applying identifying markings there on have been provided heretofore, but the use of such means has been attended by disadvantages and problems have been presented by reason of certain limitations upon the speed of use thereof, inability to successfully cope with operation strains incident to heavy duty marking or markingsin which more than the customary line or two of embossed letters are included, and lack of proper adjustability of the opposed relation of the marking dies. The present invention seeks to provide a novel marking means which will overcomethese disadvatages and limitations,

and the present application constitutes-a division of my former co -pending application for U. S.

. Letters Patent, filed December '7, 1940, Serial No.

369,110, which eventuated into Patent 2,362,206 on November 7, 1944.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel marking means of the character stated in which the male and female die elements oppose by a movementof rotation, and in which novel means is provided for adjusting the spaced relation of the die elements so as to regulate the pressure of said elements against the metal of the end closures being marked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel marking means of the character stated in which the adjustment of the spacing of the die elements is effected by movement of an eccentric sleeve about the axis of one of the rotary elements, and in which means is provided for justifying slight misalignments of the male and female dieelements occasioned by adjustments of said sleeve.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by following the description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the marking means and a part of the closing machine on which said means is adjustably mounted.-

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the marking means taken substantially 0n1the line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is ahorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 on Figure 2.

Figure-4 is an enlargedend elevation illustrating the opposed.- marking elements and; their carrying shafts. 3 I Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary "vertical cross-sectional view through the adjustable mountin of the upper marking element.

The improved container end closure marking mechanism is herein illustrated as verticallyadjustably mounted on a container closing machine which may be of any suitable form including a frame structure generally designated 5 on which is mounted a six station closing'turret 6 to which filled containers I and end closures 8 therefor are fed by a pocketed feed turret 9. The feed turret 9 includes seats ID for receiving and positioning the end closures 8 in proper relation above the containers! which are fed one by one intothe pockets of the turret 9by any suitable containerv feed-in'means generally designated II. The end closures are suitably marked while they vare being moved from'a supply stack toward the receiving seats ID of the turret 9, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a novel marking mechanism particularly'adapted to heavy duty marking of the end closures with all over markings as distinguished from the usual one or two line marking customarily applied.

The frame 5 includes a mounting pad 12 and a marking meansmounting bracket extension l3. The frame also includes a casing and bearing extension M equipped with a vertical shaft bearing IS, a vertical shaft bearing It, a vertical shaft bearing l1, and a horizontal shaft bearing l8.

A sleeve I9 is rotatably mounted in the bearing !5 and carries a gear 20 which meshes with and is driven by a gear 2| to which rotation is imparted from a moving part of the closing machine. A spline shaft 22 passes vertically through thesleeve l9 thereby being connected for rota-- ig [6. A. spline shaft 2E5 is rotatable with and f illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. I gear 29 is fixed to the lower end of the sleeve '21- i 3 vertically slidable through the sleeve '25 and gear 24, and the purpose of this shaft 26 and the spline shaft 22 and the vertically adjustable nature thereof will later be described.

A sleeve 21 is rotatably mounted in the ver'- tical bearing l1 and has a screw column 28 threadably mounted therein in the manner best:

and meshes with a bevel gear 30 fixed on a shaft hereinabove and includin the feeding finger A bevel:

rotatable in the horizontal bearin l8 and which is equipped at its outer end with a handlwheel 3|. It wil1 be obvious by reference to Figure '2 of the drawings that by rotating the hand Wheel 3|, vertical movement can the impartedto the;

screw column 23 upwardly or downwardly .7

4. The rotary closure feeding devices described extensions 52 which sweep relatively rapidly past the closure supply station and relatively slowly while passing the place at which the marked closures are deposited on the traveling receiving and supporting means are covered in the'parent application hereinbefor referred to and no claims are directed to these devices in this aplication.

Ihe. adjustable marking devices which form the subject matter of this divisional case will now be described.

through the captive sleeve 21 according to the."

" direction of rotation imparted to said hand wheel. 7

A A bracket plate 32 is vertically-adjustably se-- cured t'o-the mounting pad 12 byslot and screw equipments 33, and this bracket'plate includes a flange portion 34 to which is affixed a supporting table or plate 35 which overlies the feed-in turret 9 of the closing machine and is equipped with end closure guideways 36 over which end 3 closures are'conveyed from a supply, through the a The bracket plate 32 carries a bracket extension 54 which is equipped with a mounting pad portion 55 againstwhich a. bracket hanger 56 v is vertically-adjustably secured through the medium of longitudinal slot and screw equipments 51. The extension 54 also includes an overhangceiving guide'ways' 36 benaththe supply or stack. 3

v See Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The table or plate'35 also supports a depend- 1 ing housing 33 which isequipped with a bearing 40 vertically aligned with; the bearing l5 and l which has a sleev e 4| secured therein in the 3 manner-best illustrated inQFigure 2 of the',drawin-gs. The sleeve 4| is of a length for extending I vertically above the bearing 40 and has its upper end provided with a rim gear: portion 42, the purpose ofwhich will laterbecome apparent.

The spline shaft 22 extends upwardly through thebearing'4llfand sleeve 4| and has keyed thereon' a rotor :43 supl Qrted on anti frietion bearings 44 surmounting the sleeve 4|. Four shafts 45 are rotatably mounted in equidistantly spaced 7 frelation in the rotor 43 and each of these shafts carries a gear 46 at its lower end enmeshed with the rim gear portion 42 of the sleeve 4|. It will be obvious that as the rotor 43 rotateslabout the stationary sleeve 4| the rim gear portion.42 of the sleeve will'impart rotation to the gears 46 and the shafts 45 on which they are mounted.

V At its upper end each shaft 45 carries a head 41 equipped with an off-center crank roller 48, and each roller engages in a radial recess 49 in the under surface of an end closure feeding fignger 53 pivotally mounted, as at 5|, inwardly of the axis or the associated shaft 45 in themanner best'illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. I Each ofithe feeder members 50 is equipped with a feeding finger extension 52 which projects in a generally radial direction to a point centrally disposed between the spaced guides 35 upon which end closures are supported while being moved along by said finger extensions. The markingstation'through which the end closures are moved by said finger extensions isge'nerally designated 53 in Figure 3 of the drawings.

of the upper marker shaft 15.

ing lug '58and an adjusting screw 59 threaded through the lug in position for engaging the bracket hanger 56 for'i' parting movementsof adjustments thereto relative toth'e bracket plate 32 and its extension 54, 55. V v r A marker body 60 is secured as at 6| to depend from the hanger bracket 56 and has mounting pad portions 62 which are vertically adjustably secured-tothje bracketextension I3 through the medium of longitudinal slot andscrew e u ments63. I f t I The 'supporting'body' 60 of the marking me h:

anismcarries a depending extension '64 having a horizontal bearing 65 formed therein [for a rotary shaft 66 which carriesa spur gear 61 at one end and a bevel gear 68 at its other end.

The bevel gear 68 meshes with and is driven by a bevel gear 69 secured upon the upper end of the vertically-adjustable spline shaft 26.

The spur gear 61 meshes with a spur gear 10 secured upon the lower marker shaft 1| rotatably mounted in the bearing 12 provided therefor in the marker bodyQBfl, and the gear 10 in turn mesheswith and-drives aspur gear 13 which loosely surrounds a sleeve 14 keyed upon the upper marke'r'shaftj15. W 1' A The'upper marker shaft 151's rotatable in an eccentric sleeve bearing16 which is rotatably supported in the marker bodytfl in the manner best illustrated inFigures 2 and 501 the drawings.

v The sleeve 14 carries a lug extension ,11 having a longitudinal recess 18 therein for receiving the projected end of a pin 19' carried by the spur gear 13. The portion of the .pin 19 which projects into the longitudinal recess 18 is engaged at opposite sides byrjustifying screws. 80. See Figures 2 and 5. It will also be noted by reference to these figures that the sleeve lfi is provided with a worm gear surface 8| which is engaged by anadjusting screw 82 having a turning head 83. By rotating the screw 82 in one direction or the other the eccentric bearing sleeve 16 can be rotated in one direction or the other for altering the position of the' axis of rotation By this means the spaced v relation of the marker shafts 1| and 15 can be varied for the'purpose of adjusting to a nicety the cooperative relation of the mark-l ing elements or dies carried by said shafts.

i Each of the marker shafts 1| and 15 includes a reduced end 84 extending beyond the marker body 60 and having a seating face 85 against which a die block 86 is secured. The die blocks 86 carry theusual male and female die elements 1 81 and are removably' clamped in position on the shaft extensions by having their stems 88 passed, through transverse bores 89 in the shaft extensions and secured therein by screw equipments 90. While the die blocks are shown as equipped with the usual simple form of co-acting male and female elements in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, it is to be understood that the present marker is particularly adaptable to use in heavy duty marking wherein the marking dies are equipped to mark the end closures over the whole or a major portion of the surfaces thereof, including curved line embossing which demands precise interengagement of the male and female embossing elements. The opposed male and female die elements engage .in rolling contact during actual marking of the end closures and this engagement is effected through a suitable opening .9] provided in the plate or table 35 in the mannerv best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. 3

The intermeshing gears 61, and 13 are preferably protected by a removable cover 92 attached. to the marker body 60 and its depending extension 64 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It will be observed that the upper end ofthe screw column 28 is secured as at 93 to the marker body 60, 64 Thus by loosening the clamping or securing screws 33 and 63 and by rotating the hand wheel 31, upward or downward movement can be impartedv to the screw column 28, the marker body 60, '64, the hanger bracket 56, the bracket extension '54, the bracket plate 32, the plate or table 35, and the end closure stack or feed 38 and the depending housing 39 supported by said plate. It will be obvious that spline shafts 22 and 26' will move vertically with the would upset the perfect registering relation of the male and female embossing die elements were it not for the provision. of the justifying screw equipments 80 illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings. After each adjustment of the eccentric sleeve I6 the screw adjustments 8.0 are-utilized to adjust the gears H! and 13 relative to the shaft 15,. thereby to restore Perfect registering relation of the male and female die elements.

The marking equipment .as herein described is cap-able of being operated at great speed in parts just mentioned without disrupting the.

power transmitting connections to the marking parts or to the end closure feeding devices.

In operation, as the end closures are discharged one by one from the cover feeding means 38 onto the receiving trackways 36 they are engaged by the feeding finger extensions 52 and moved along said guideways. The compound movement imparted to the finger extensions 52 by simple rotation of the rotor 43 and the relative rotation of the heads 41 and the rollers 48 causethe fingers to have one rapid sweep movement and one retarded movement during each rotation of the rotor 43. It will be observed byreference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the marking station 53 is so related to the position 31 at which the marked end closures are deposited on the turret seats ['0 that each finger 52 moves an end closure through the marking station during a part of its rapid sweep movement, and moves the marked end closure into position at 31 for being received on the respective turret seat If! during a part of its retarded or slow sweep movement. While each end closure is being moved past the marking station 53 it is engaged in rolling contact by the opposed male and female die elements 81 and suitably embossed.

When it is desired to adjust the spaced relation of the shafts and the marking dies carried thereby, this can be accomplished with great facility by turning the eccentric sleeve 16. Whenever the screw and eccentric sleeve equipments 82, I6 are adjusted to vary the spaced relation of the shafts 'H and I5, and therefore the cooperative relation of the marking dies, movement of the eccentric sleeve '16 about its axis serves not only to lift or lower the axis of the shaft 15, but also to move the axis of that shaft laterally. This lateral movement of the shaft marking and has a capacity for making heavy impressions with rotary die elements which may cover the whole can'end with embossing; instead of the usual one or two lines of characters. .It will also be obvious that the marking equipment and the end closure feeding devices can be; :adjusted upwardly or downwardly as. a whole order to adapt'the closing machine for closing containers of different heights. It isxalso possible to utilize the adjusting equipments 51, 59 for adjusting the marker parts andthe end closure feeding parts relatively to accurately adjust the cooperative relation of these parts.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without de-. parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. I

I claim:

1. In can endclosure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts disposed in parallel spaced relation andconnected by intermeshing gears of like diameter mounted thereon, means providing a bearing for each shaft, said last named means including a bearing bore and an eccentric sleeve surrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing bore and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of the shafts, a worm gear portion on said sleeve intermediately of the ends thereof, a captive screw engaging said worm gear portion for imparting movements of adjustment to said sleeve, and

closures passed between said elements. a

.2. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts disposed in parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of like diameter mounted thereon, means providing a bearing for each shaft, said last named means including an eccentric sleeve surrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of the shafts, means for imparting movement of adjustment to said sleeve, male and female marking die elements. carried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with end closures passed between said elements, the gear on the eccentric sleeve surrounded shaft being mounted for movement of adjustment about the axis of and relative to said sleeve surrounded shaft, and justifyingmeans for adjusting the adjustably mounted gear on the eccentric sleeve surrounded shaft relative to said sleeve surrounded shaft following adjustments of the sleeve for restoring the 1 desired accuratealignmentof said male and female die elements.

'3. In can end closure marking means, a pair ing adjustable about said one shaft for altering w the spaced relation of the shafts, means for im- I parting movement of adjustment to said sleeve,- 'male and female marking die elements carried by 1' the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling 7 sleeve surrounding one saidshaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of the shafts, means for'imparting movement ofadjustment to said sleeve, an adjuster sleeve fixed to the eccentric sleeve surrounded shaft and having a lug extension with a'longitudinal recess therein, a-gear loosely'mounted on said adjuster sleeve and having a pin projecting-therefrom into said recess, a gear of like size secured to the other shaft and meshing with the first 4. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts dis posed in parallel spaced relation' and connectedby intermeshing gears of I like diameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft, said last named m eans including an eccentric sleeve surrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of thefshafts, means for imparting movement'o'f adjustment to said sleeve,, male and female marking die elements carried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with endclos'ures passed between said elements, and means for imparting movement about its axis to one shaft relative to the other shaft to restore perfect registry of the marking die elements after an adjustment of the eccentric sleeve has been effected.

:5. In can end closure marking means, a pair I of rotary shafts disposed in parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of 7 like diameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft, said last named means 1 including an eccentric sleeve surrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and becontacttwithend closures passed between said j elements, one said gear loosely surrounding the shaft on which it is mounted, and means causing said loosely mounted gear and the shaft it surrounds to move in unison, said last named means being adjustable to impart relative movement 1 between the loosely mounted gear and the shaft it surrounds for justifying the registry of the marking; die elements following adjustments of the eccentric sleeve. 7 7

6.. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotaryshafts 'disposed in parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of jlike diameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft, said last named means lincluding an eccentric sleeve surrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary fbearingcont'act in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of the shafts,'means for'im parting movement of adjustment to said sleeve, male and female marking die elements carried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with end closures passed between said element, one said gear loosely surrounding the shaft on which it is mounted, and means causing said loosely mounted gear and the shaft it surroundsto move in unison, said last named means comprising a sleeve fixed to the loose gear surrounded shaft and-having a radially "projected lug equipped with an elongated slot, said loose gear having a projection extending into said slot, and adjuster screw means for adjust ably fixing the position of said gear projection in said slot thereby to restore the desired accurate alignment of said male and female marking elements following adjustments of the eccentric sleeve.

7. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts disposed in" parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of like diameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft, said last named means including an eccentric sleeve surrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for alteringthe spaced relation of the shafts, means for.impart-. ing movement of adjustment to said sleeve, male and female marking die elements carried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with'end closures passedbetween said .ele ments, one said gear loosely surrounding the shafton which it and the eccentric sleeve are mounted, and means causin said loosely mounted gear and the shaft-it surrounds to move in unison, said last named means comprising a' sleeve fixed to the loose gear surrounded shaft and having a radially projected lug equipped with an elongated slot, said loose gear having a projection extending-into said slot, and adjuster screw meansv for adjustably fixing the position of said gear projection in said slot, thereby to restore the desired accurate alignment of said male and female marking elements following adjustments of the eccentric sleeve.

, 8. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary. shafts disposed in parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of I like diameter mounted thereon, means providing a bearing for each shaft, said last named means including an eccentric sleeve surround ing one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of the shafts, means for imparting movement of adjustment to said sleeve, finale and female marking die ele- "ments carried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with end closures passed between said elements, said adjustment movement imparting means including a worm gear portion on said sleeve intermediatelyof the ends thereof, a' captive screwengaging said worm gear portion for imparting movements of adjustment to said sleeve, and justifying means for adjusting the gear on the eccentric sleeve surrounded shaft relative to said surrounded shaft following adjustments of the sleeve for restoring the desired accurate alignment of said male and female die elements.

ALFRED L. KRONQUEST.

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