US2445270A

US2445270A - Machine for tightening caps on containers

Info

Publication number: US2445270A
Application number: US572351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hohl John
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Glass Co
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1945-01-11
Filing date: 1945-01-11
Publication date: 1948-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1965-07-13

Description

July 13, 1948. I J, Hol-" 2,445,270 MACHINE Fon TIGHTENING CAPs oN coNTAINERs Filed Jan. 11,. 1945 Patented July 13, 1948 MACHINE FOR TIGHTENING CAPS N CONTAINERS VJohn Hohl, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application January 11, 1945, vSerial No. 572,351

My invention relates to machines for tightening caps or closure devices on containers such as jars, bottles and the like and is herein disclosed as embodied in a vacuum sealing machine in which jars are vacuumized and the closure caps then forced into position to seal the jars..

An object of the invention is to provide an,

improved construction adapted for sealing jars and the like with caps of the side or top seal type in which the cap is tightened or forced into position to seal the container by a straight downward pressure applied to the cap.

The invention as herein illustrated, is embodied in a machine of the type `disclosed in the patent to Hohl et al., No. 2,338,852, Vacuum sealing machine, January 1l, 1944. This patent discloses` a machine for sealing jars and comprises means for rotating a screw cap to sealing position on the jar. The present invention comprises a novel mechanism by which top ressure is applied to the cap/for forcing it into sealing position by a straight downward movement of the cap.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the machine, showing particularly one, of the vacuum sealing and cap tightening heads or units.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part-sectional plan` view showing portions of adjoining units.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion of the sealing unit shown in Fig. 1 but with the cap tightening pusher in its lifted position.

The mechanism herein shown comprises many features of construction the same as disclosed in saidpatent to Hohl et al. to which reference may be had for a full disclosure of the general construction and operation of the machine. Such machine includes a carriage or turret rotatable about ra vertical axis and having thereon a plurality of vacuumizing and sealing units arranged in an annular series.

Referring to the drawings, the vacuumizing and sealing units I0 are mounted on -a rotary platform II forming part of the carriage which is rotated about a. vertical axis. Directly beneath each sealing unit is a pedestal comprising a platform I2 on which a container I 3 is supported w'hile being vacuumized and sealed. The platform is attached to a stem I4 which is mounted for up and down movement in bearings in a platform Il* forming part of the carriage, for moving the jar into and out of sealing engagement with the vacuum head or bell I5 which forms a part of the sealing unit. The bell I5 7 claims. y(ci. 22e-ss) is attached to the under surface of the platform I I and provides a vacuum chamber I8. The bell is formed with a tubular lhub extension I1 which projects upward through an opening in the platform and is secured in place by a ring II l threaded thereon. Bolts I9 provide additional attaching means and prevent rotation of the bell. A clamping ring 2l threaded on the lower end of the bell I5 serves to clamp a bearing ring 21 against a sealing gasket 23. A ring gasket 2l ls clamped in position against the ring 22 by a clamping ring 25. When a .lar 'Il is moved upward into engagement with the gasket 24. it'

makes sealing contact therewith.

Each jar I3 has a closure device or cap C placed loosely thereon before the jar is lifted up to the sealing unit. The cap may be provided with a side sealing ring or top sealing gasket, the jar and cap being adapted to permit the cap to be sealed on the jar by a straight downward pressure on the cap. When the jar is lifted into sealing contact with the gasket 24, suction may be applied in the chamberlfor vacuumizing the jar. The cap is then forced downward to sealing position by means of cap tightening mechanism including a pusher comprising a plate 26 which is moved up and down by means of a rotary tightening spindle 21, the operation of which will presently be-described. The pusher plate Ii is held against rotation by a pin N attached to the vacuum bell. The pusher is provided with la face plate 29 attached to the plate 2l by screws 3|. The face plate is preferably made of magnetic material and is magnetized to hold the cap C as hereinafter described. A disk l2 oi' rubber or other resilient material, is interposed between the plate '26 and face plate 29 to permit an even distribution of pressure on the cap.

The tightening spindle 21 is tubular and is journaledfor rotation about its axis within the frame 33 of the sealing unit. An adapter Il, formed with an internal screw thread, is mounted on the lower end| of the spindle 21 for rotation therewith. A key 35 secures the adapter against rotation relatively to the spindle. ,The adapter is held up to the spindle by means of a ball Il and lock screw 3l. A spring-loaded packing gland 38 provides a seal between the spindle and its bearing. A screw shaft 40 formed with a lefthand screw thread, is welded to the plate II and is threaded through the adapter Il. Rotation of the spindle 21 and attached adapter operates through the nonrotatable screw shaft Il to cause vertical movement of the pusher plate 2C.

Mechanism for rotating' the spindle 21 includes a coil spring 4I housed within the frame I3. The inner end of the spring is attached by a pin 42 to a sleeve 43 keyed to the spindle 21; The outer end of the spring is attached to a ring gear 44 mounted within the frame 33 and rotatably adjustable therein for adjusting the tension of the spring. This means for rotating the ring gear includes a shaft 45I mounted in the frame 3l and formed with gear teeth which mesh with those of the ring gear. This adjusting mechanism may be operated as fully set forth in the abovementioned patent.

The rotation of the spindle 21 is under the control of a stationary cam track 46 formed onv the periphery of a stationary cam plate 41. Rock arms 48. individual to the sealing units are mounted for rotation, each about-the axis of spindle 21, each arm being formed with a hub 49 surrounding the spindle and provided with roller bearings 50. Each arm 48 carries a cam follower roll IIi running on the cam track 46. The outer end of the arm 48 is formed with a segmental rack 52 which runs in mesh with gear teeth 53 formed on the sleeve 43. Each arm 48 is Journaled in one sealing unit and operates the tightening device for the next sealing unit. The track 46v is concentric with the carriage for the greater portion of its circumference and includes a comparatively short re-entrant section controlling the rocking movements of the arms 48, said re-entrant portion comprising a section 54 controlling the inward swinging movement of the arm 4I and a section 55 which causes the outward movement of the arm. These operating sections 54 and 55 may be formed on a cam patch 56 removably mounted on the plate 41 and replaceable by other patches of different contours.

'I'he operation is as follows:

While the spindle 21 is in its lifted position (Fig. 3) the jar I3 with a cap C loosely seated thereon, is lifted by the platform I2 into sealing contact with the gasket 24. Suction is then applied through the vacuum chamber I6 to vacuumize the jar and its contents. When the jar moves up to the sealing head, the cap is picked up and held by the magnetized face plate 29 as shown in Fig. 3. The space between the face plate 29 and the top surface 58 of the jar is somewhat narrower than the depth of the cap, so that if drawing of vacuum in the jar causes the cap to jump, it is prevented from slipping off the jar or i becoming displaced. Immediately following the lifting and vacuumizing of the jar, the cam follower roll I runs onto the operating section 54 of the cam which permits the arm 48 to be swung inwardly by the coil spring 4 I, thereby rotating the cap tightening spindle 21 in a clockwise direction. The screw-threaded adapter or nut 34 being attached to the spindle and rotated thereby, forces the nonrotating screw shaft 4l and plate 26 downward, thereby forcing the cap C downward to sealing position on the jar I 3. The cap is arrested in this position while the cam follower roll 5I is at an intermediate point on the operating cam section 54, so that the roll disengages the cam and the pressure applied to the cap is determined by the tension of the spring. After the cap has been thus forced onto the container, the cam section 55 swings the arm 48 outwardly, thereby rewinding the coil spring preparatory to the next operation. 'I'he vacuum in the bell I5 is released and 'the platform I2 moved downward with the sealed jar thereon. The parts are preferably so proportioned that less than a complete rotation of the spindle is required to carry the pusher plate 26 through its full range of movement.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. A machine for tightening caps on containers, comprising a support for a container, a pusher plate, means for holding said pusher plate spaced above said support with the plate positioned over a container on the support and a cap loosely seated on the container, a vertical cap tightening spindle mounted over said plate, means for rotating the spindle about its axis, and means providing driving connections between the spindle and pusher plate including a screw shaft xed to said plate and an internally screw-threaded element attached to said spindle for rotation therewith and in threaded engagement with said screw shaft, whereby rotation of the spindle causes vertical movement of said pusher plate, said means for rotating the spindle comprising a coil spring surrounding and connected to the spindle for rotating itin one direction, and positive means for rotating the spindle in the opposite direction.

2. A machine for vacuumlzfing and sealing jars or other containers, said machine comprising a platform forming a support for a container with a cap loosely placed on the container, a downwardly opening vacuum chamber spaced above said platform, means for holding thefplatform with the container thereon in position for the container to seal said chamber. a pusher plate within said chamber, a vertical screw shaft attached to said plate, a vertical spindle above and in alignment with said screw shaft, an adapter connected to the spindle for rotation therewith and having a screw-threaded connection with said screw shaft, means for holding the pusher plate against rotation, means for rotating said spindle back and forth about its axis for moving the pusher plate downward and forcing the cap into sealing position on the jar and for withdrawing the pusher plate, means for rotating said spindle comprising a coil spring connected to and applying a driving torque to the spindle, an arm having a driving connection with the spindle, and a cam controlling the movement of said arm, thereby controlling the rotation of the spindle by the spring in one direction, said cam including a section arranged to rotate the spindle in the opposite direction.

3. A machine for tightening caps on jars comprising a support for a jar with a cap loosely seated thereon, a vertical cap tightening spindle spaced above said support, a pusher plate beneath said spindle, a screw shaft ilxed to said plate in vertical alignment with the spindle, means for holding said plate against rotation, an adapter connected to rotate with the spindle and having a screw-threaded connection with said screw shaft, a spring connected to the spindle and providing means for rotating the spindle and thereby moving the pusher plate downward and causing it to push the said cap downward and tighten it on the jar, and speed control means for limiting and determining the speed at which the pusher plate is moved downward by the spring.

4. A machine for tightening caps on jars comprising a support for a jar with a cap loosely seated thereon, a vertical cap tightening spindle spaced above said support, a. pusher plate beneath said spindle, a screw shaft fixed to said plate ln vertical alignment with the spindle, means for holding said plate against rotation, an adapter connected to rotate with the spindle and having a screw-threaded connection with said screw shaft, a face plate beneath and connected to the pusher plate, a resilient pad interposed between said plates, a coil spring surrounding and connected to the spindle and providing means for rotating the spindle and thereby moving the pusher plate downward and causing it to push the said cap downward and tighten it on the jar, and automatic means for rewinding the coil spring.

5. A cap tighteningl machine comprising a rotatable carriage, asupport on the carriage for a container and cap, a pusher plate mounted above said-support for movement up and down relative thereto, means for. pushing said plate downward and thereby forcing the cap downward and tightening it on the container, said pushing means including a spindle, a spring, means vfor holding the spring under tension, means cooperating with the spring for causing the tension thereof to rotate said spindle, a stationary cam and means on the carriage controlled by said cam for determining and controlling the time and speed of rotation of the spindle by the spring, and means interposed between said spindle and pusher plate providing driving connections by which the rotation of the spindle applies a straight downward movement to said plate.

6. A machine for sealing caps tolcontainers comprising a rotatable-carriage, a support on the carriagr for a container, a pusher plate positioned above said support, a cap tightening spindle mounted on the carriage above and in vertical arm and rotate the spindle, means providing a dniving connectionbetween the spindle and said l pusher plate by which rotation of the s lindle' imparts verticalmovement to said plate, means for holding the latter against rotation with the mounted on the carriage, a screw shaft fixed to said pusher plate in alignment with the spindle, an adapter attached to the spindle and having a screw-threaded 'connection with said shaft whereby rotation of the spindle imparts vertical movement to the pusher plate, means for holding the pusher plate and screw shaft against rota.

tion with the spindle, a coil spring held under tension and operatively connected to the'spindle forrotating the latter and thereby causing the pusher plate to push a cap down into tightened position on the said container, a stationary cam,

and means operated thereby for rewinding the spring. v v

JOHN Horn..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

- vUNITED STATES PATENTS 33 Number Name Date 25,427 Lindsay et al. Sept. 13, 1809 '174,195 McDonald Nov. 8, 1904 1,469,874 Beardsley et al. Oct. 9, 1923 1,294,820 Middleton Feb. 18, 1919 40 1,920,240 Brady Aug. 1, 1933 Clarkey sept. 13, l193e A.