US2542255A

US2542255A - Capping machine

Info

Publication number: US2542255A
Application number: US662220A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley D Mcclellan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-04-15
Filing date: 1946-04-15
Publication date: 1951-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 s. D. MCCLELLAN CAPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1946 Feb. 20, 1951 s. o. MOCLELLAN 2,542,255

v CAPPING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg. 2.

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAPPING MACHINE.

Stanley D. McClellan, Dearborn, Mich.

Application April 15, 1946, Serial No. 662,220 1 Claim. (Cl. 113-18) This invention relates to capping machines, and in particular, to capping machines for crimping the flanged caps or covers of containers such as cans, drums or the like.

One object of this invention is to provide a capping machine operated by power for capping cans and. drums in a quick and efficient manner.

Another object is to provide a capping machine which is power-operated and which is adjustable to receive and cap containers of a wide range of sizes from a large oil drum to a small can.

Another object is to provide a capping machine for cans and drums wherein the machine is provided with a conveyor whereby the can may be filled at one station and immediately capped at an adjoining station without spilling the contents by the slopping over which occurs when the filled cans are moved any considerable distance.

Another object is to provide a capping machine as set forth in the preceding objects wherein the machine is operated by a power-driven or hydraulically or pneumatically operated plunger, thereby eliminating most of the manual labor previously connected with capping machines.

Another object is to provide a capping machine as set forth in the preceding objects wherein the container to be capped is guided into alignment with the capping mechanism and releasably held there while the capping mechanism operates to cap the container, after which a stop is removed from engagement with the container and the latter is moved along the conveyor and another container moved into position against the aligning stop which has meanwhile been moved back into operating position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a capping machine according to a preferred form of the invention, as operated by a hydraulic or pneumatic plunger;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in central vertical section and partly broken away of the capping machine shown in Figure 1, prior to the crimping operation;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section along the line 3-3 in Figure 2, with the container removed;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the capping mechanism, taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4, showing the position of the crimping mechanism after the crimping operation; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in central vertical section of a cam-operated modification of the upper portion of the capping machine shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred form of the capping machine of this invention as including a base iii having a stanchion or upright ll secured thereto. The stanchion H is of I-section and is provided with a reinforcing web 12 rising from the base up the rearward flange I3 thereof. The forward flange I4, which is joined to the rearward flange 13 by a web i5, is machined along its front surface It and rearward edge portion I! (Figure 3) to form parallel guideways for a work supporting unit, generally designated l8 and an operating unit, generally designated 19, which in turn supports and actuates the capping unit, generally designated 23. The latter operates upon containers such as cans, drums or buckets, generally designated 2|.

The work supporting unit l8 consists of a vertically adjustable bed 22 having a vertical arm portion 23 extending above and below the horizontal portion 24 thereof and having a machined longitudinal slot 25 of substantially the same dimensions as the forward flange l4 so as to reciprocate vertically therealong. The arm portion 23 is retained in position by retaining plates 26 bolted thereto as at 21 and engaging the machine portions ll of the flange l4, and is held in its adjusted position by bolts 28. The horizontal and

vertical portions

23 and 24 are interconnected by integral side webs 28a.

The horizontal portion 24 of the bed 22 is provided with an approximately rectangular central opening 29 through and over which a combined stop and conveyor unit 3 extends. The latter consists of a rectangular framework 31 of angle members havin side members 32 interconnected by cross members 33 (Figures 2 and 3). The side members 32 are provided with longitudinal slots 34 (Figure 3) through which pass bolts 35 for holding the framework 3| in an adjusted position, depending upon the size of the container 2| to be capped. The side members 32 are also bored at intervals as at 36 to receive the axles 31 of conveyor rollers 38, rotatably supported upon the framework 3|. Secured as at 39 to and depending from the framework 3! is an angle bracket 42] which is bored to receive a pivot bolt 4| (Figures 1 and 2) and which also has a hole 42 at its lower end. Pivotally mounted upon the pivot bolt 4| is a bell crank lever 43, the short arm 44 of which is provided with a hole 45 at its lower end. A tension spring 45 is anchored at its opposite ends to the

holes

42 and 45 and serves to urge the long arm 41 upwardly, together with a stop 48 rising from the upper edge thereof and extending between a pair of the rollers 38.

guide rails 54 having their points 55 of nearest approach approximately at the midpoints thereof.

The operating unit I9 includes an approxi mately rectangular bracket 56 (Figure 2) having a vertical rear wall provided with a machined slot 58 similar to the slot and having similar retaining plates 59 bolted thereto as at 99. Locking bolts GI are similarly threaded through the vertical wall ill in a manner similar to the bolts 28.

manner similar to the bed 22.

Secured as at 92 to the forward wall 53 of the bracket 59 is a cylinder 94 having a cylinder bore closed at its upper end by a cylinder head 66. The lower wall 6! of the cylinder Ed is provided with a bore 68 and an aligned counterbore 69 for the passage of a piston rod 19 connected to a piston II reciprocably mounted in the cylinder bore 95. The counter bore 69 receives an annular packing I2 compressed by a flange I3 threaded into the counterbore I59, and surrounding the piston rod ID to prevent leakage therearound.

The cylinder 94 is provided at its opposite ends with ports 19 and from which conduits l6 and 17 lead respectively to a four-way valve I8 to which are connected the supply and discharge conduits I9 adn 89 connected to a conventional hydraulic pump and reservoir (not shown), or to a source of compressed air if it is desired to operate the piston 'Il pneumatically. Such hydraulic and pneumatic circuits are conventional and their details form no part of the present invention.

The flow of pressurefluid through the fourway valve 18 is controlled by a valve stem 8! upon which is mounted a rotary valve member 82 having curved

passageways

83 and 84 therein (Figure 1) Mounted on the outer end of the valve rod BI is a crank arm 85 to which is pivotally connected a link 89, the lower end of which is pivotally connected toa hand lever 8? pivotally mounted at 88 upon a bracket 89 bolted to and extending forwardly from the forwardly projecting portion 99 of the bracket 59. Similarly, the valve l8 ismounted upon a bracket 9| bolted to the cylinder St. A spring 92 anchored at its upper end to the bracket 9i and at its lower end to the clamp 93 mounted on the link 86, serves to urge the latter upward (Figure 1). I

The forwardly projecting portion 99 of the bracket 56 is provided with a vertical bore 94 (Figure 2) within which is reciprocably mounted a hollow plunger 95 provided with a longitudinal bore 99, the upper end of which is threaded as at 9? to receive the enlarged threaded lower end 99 of the piston rod III. The hollow plunger 95 is also provided with a reduced diameter bore 98a coaxial with the bore 96. Reciprocably mounted in the bores 98a and 96 are a shaft 99 and an enlarged head or piston I99 mounted on the upper end thereof. The lower end of the shaft 99 is tightly secured within a bore Iillof a spider I02, the arms of which are connected In this manner, the bracket 56 is adis justable vertically along the stanchion II in a at their outer ends to a hold-down ring I03 provided with spaced radially projecting yoke portions I94. Mounted in the latter are pivot pins I95 upon which are pivotally mounted a plurality of crimping levers I96, the lower ends of which are provided with inwardly extending arcuate crimping fingers IIJI (Figures 2, 4 and 5). The upper ends of the levers I05 are provided with yoke portions I98 carrying pivot pins I99 to which'are connected links III], the upper ends of which are pivoted to pivot pins III mounted upon yoke ears H2 secured to and integral with the hollow plunger 95.

The modification shown in Figure 6 is generally similar to the preferred form shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and similar parts are similarly designated. In this modification, however,' the machine is operated mechanically rather than hydraulically or pneumatically, and for this purpose the bracket 56 is provided with an upper forwardly projecting portion or shelf H3 upon which is mounted a reduction gear box [I9 having an input shaft H5 carrying a pulley IIG for connection to an electric motor or other suitable power source. The reduction gear box IN is of a conventional type and contains a conventional clutch (not shown), actuated by the operating rod lIl carrying a crank arm I I8 pivotally connected to a link M9, the lower end or which is pivotally eonmetea to a hand lever I26 pivotally mounted as at I2! upon the lower forwardly projecting portion of the bracket 56. iiig" boss I22 which rotatably supports a cam shaft I2? which constitutes the output shaft of the reduction gear box H4, Mounted on the cam shaft I23 is a cam I24 engaging a follower I25 011 the upper end of the piston rod 'I OQ' A spring I26 similar to the spring 92 and similarly secured as at I22 to the link II9, urges the latter upward; The remaining portions of the machine are similar to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and are similarly designated. I

Prior to the operation of the machine, the latter-is adjusted to accommodate the particular size of container 2! to be capped. If the containe'r isa tall one, the bolts 28 are loosened and the bed 22 lowered to a location near the base I9,

whereupon the screws 28 are tightened. The

bracket 56 is also raised to a suflic-ient height along the stanchion II by loosening the bolts 6|, then retightening them in their adjusted position. When properly adjusted, the holddown ring I 03 is easily movable into engagement withthe cover or cap I39 of the container ZI; the edge I3I of which is rolled over to receive the flanged edge I32 of the cap I 99 superimposed upon it. The guide rails 5% are adjusted inwardly or outwardly so that their midportions 55 engage the side walls I33 of the container 2| when the latter iscentered upon the axis of the plungers I9 and 99, where upon the clamp screws 5i are tightened. The clamping bolts 3.5 are now loosened and the framework 3i moved bodily to the right (Figure 3) until the stop 63 engages the container side wall I33 while it is still in its centered position, whereupon the clamping bolts 35 are tightened. The machine is now ready for operation and will accommodate any number of containers 2| of the size for which the machine has been adjusted in the foregoing manner. t

A container 2i which has just been filled with the contained material, such as paint, is slid manually from the filling station (not shown) The shelf H3 is also provided with a bearover the rollers 38 until it comes to rest against the stop 43 and between the midportions 55 of the guide rails 59 (Figure 3), a cap I30 meanwhile having been placed over the upper edge E3! of the container 2|. The hand lever 87 (Figure 1) or me (Figure 6) is then pulled downwardly, operating either the valve 76 or the clutch within the reduction gear box H4. In either case, the piston rod 79, hollow plunger 95 and headed plunger 99 descend, carrying with them the capping unit 20.

The cappin unit 29 continues its downward motion until the holddown ring I03 encounters the cap or cover 60, whereupon it comes to a halt. The hollow plunger 95 continues its downward motion, however, causing the crimping levers its and crimping fingers I07 to move inwardly, crimping the flange l32 around the rolled edge I3! of the container side wall 133 (Figure 5). The hand lever 8'! or I20 is then shifted upward, causing the piston rod '50 and the capping unit 29 to be raised out of engagement with the container 2!. The hollow plunger 95 and piston I09 thus form a sliding cushioning lost-motion connection between the crimping device H36, I01, i 10 and the holddown device 102, I03. This lostmotion connection widens the range of action and consequently the flexibility of the capping unit because of the wide range of motion provided by the piston !00 reciprocating in the elongated cylinder bore 96. The cylinder or hollow plunger 95 is moved downward relatively to the piston Hill by the reciprocation of the rod 70, the air entrapped above the piston I00 in the bore 96 providing a pneumatic cushion which lessens the shock of operation of the capping unit 20.

The operator nowpushes down with one hand on the hand lever 47 (Figure 2), causing the stop 48 to move downwardly between the rollers 38, and with his other hand pushes the capped container 2| out of the way toward its next station to the left (Figure 1), and then releases the hand lever 47 so that the stop 48 returns to its raised position. The operator then places another cover H upon another filled container 2! from the filling station at the right (Figure 1) into position between the guide rails 54 against the stop 48. He again shifts the hand lever 81 or I20 downward, repeating the previous operation and capping the second container 21. The operation can be repeated for any desired number of containers and the machine may then be readjust- 7 ed .to accommodate a different size of container by making the adjustments previously described.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claim, for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

A capping machine for crimping the edge flange of a cover around the rim of a container, comprising an upright, a container holder disposed adjacent said upright, a support connected to and extending horizontally from said upright above said holder, a plunger mounted on said support for reciprocation vertically relatively to said support, power-operated means for reciprocating said plunger, and capping mechanism connected to and depending from said plunger, said capping mechanism having a hold-down device engageable with said container cover, a crimping device comprising levers pivotally mounted on said holddown device and links pivotally interconnecting said plunger and said levers, said levers being movable horizontallf, by said links into crimping engagement with said cover flange and container in response to the reciprocation of said plunger in one direction, and a lost motioucushioning connection interposed between said devices and including a cylinder member with a cylinder bore therein and a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder bore, one of said members being connected to said plunger and to said crimping device and the other member being connected to said holddown device.

STANLEY D. MCCLELLAN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,025,637 Meier May 7, 1912 1,099,757 Malmquist June 9, 1914 1,300,406 Johnson Apr. 15, 1919 1,524,606 Widell Jan. 27, 1925 1,567,387 Rode Dec. 29, 1925 1,640,585 Thornton Aug. 30, 1927 1,706,299 Johnson Mar. 19, 1929 1,829,199 Sprague Oct. 27, 1931 1,979,793 Chalmers Nov. 6, 1934 1,980,361 Spear Nov. 13, 1934 2,145,834 Irven Jan. 31, 1939 2,352,095 Grotnes -1 June 20, 1944