US2826026A - Machine for applying covers to dishes - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1958 .1. E. ANNI-:N 2,826,026 v MACHINE FOR APPLYING CGVERS TO DISHES I Filed Feb. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z g j i IN V EN TOR. cfa/2765 f. /7/7/76/2 nyc@ March 11, 1958 J. E. ANNEN MACHINE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO DISHES Filed Febv. l0. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 11, v1958 J. E. ANNI-:N

MACHINE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO DISHES Filed Feb. l0, 1956 3 sheets-sheet s 7, if] G. Ja E' INVENTOR.y fd/W55 /7/7/73/7 A www@ United States Patent MACHINE FOR APPLYING CUVERS T0 DISHES James E. Annen, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 10, 1956, Serial No. 564,673

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-351) This invention relates to a machine for applying covers to dishes, particularly lled dishes.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine adapted for applying oovers to dishes in which both the dishes and the covers are formed of thin metal stock and without crushing or crumpling the dishes.

Second, to provide a machine for applying covers to dishes which is automatic in its operation with the exception of positioning the dish with a cover superimposed thereon and a one stroke actuation of the cover securing means.

Third, to provide a machine for applying covers having downturned anges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims in which the cover is applied and its anges wrapped around the rim of the dish in a uniform manner throughout the circumference of the dish and at a single stroke of the machine.

Fourth, to provide a machine having these advantages which is adapted for covering dishes varying substantially in height.

Fifth, to provide a machine of the class described which is very compact in proportion to its capacity and one which is very easily operated.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an end elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 2 with parts broken away to shown certain structural details, a dish being shown in a machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view, the platform or table being shown in longitudinal section with the parts being shown in actuated position as contrasted to the retracted position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 6 with the parts in retracted position with a dish positioned on the dish holder.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing certain parts of Fig. l at another stage or position in the applying of a cover.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing the parts in a position in which the cover has been attached to the dish.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. 3 further illustrating the relation of certain of the parts.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing details of the means for adjusting the table or platform for dishes of varying heights.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the forming jaws of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention adapted for oblong dishes.

y table as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 10-10 of Fig. 9 illustrating the parts in actuated position corresponding to that of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the jaw members of the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. l2 is a side elevational view of one of the dishes shown in full lines, other dishes of different heights being indicated by dotted lines to illustrate that the machine is adapted for dishes of varying heights.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a dish and cover for which the machine illustrated is especially designed.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated the frame of the machine comprises a base 1 and a pedestal 2 overhanging the platform 3 mounted on the base. This platform is primarily designed to facilitate the positioning of the dishes 4 on the dish holder 5. The platform is provided with an opening 6 for the dish holder which is provided with a fiange engaging the underside of the platform so that in its initial or normal position the face of the holder is flush with the face of the platform or The dish 4 illustrated has an outturned rim 8 and the cover 9 a downturned flange 10, see Fig. 13. To adapt the machine for dishes 0f varying heights the table or platform 3 is mounted for vertical adjustment and is provided with a supporting post 11 adjustably supported in the post socket 12 in the base.

The adjusting means of the embodiment illustrated comprises the stepped support member 13 mounted on the crosspiece 14 carried by the post to be engaged by the lever-like stop or rest 15 which is pivoted on the base at 16 to be selectively engaged with the steps of the member 13 thus supporting the table or platform at the desired height. The spring biased member 17 engages the lever to yieldingly hold it in engagement with the member 13. The lever is further supported by the supporting rod 18 to sustain the down thrust load of the table or platform. The post 11 is Xedly secured in its adjusted position by means of screw 19 threaded into the post, the base having a vertical slot 20 to receive the screw.

The post has a socket 21 opening at its upper end to receive the shank 22 of the dish holder 5. The lower end of the shank is recessed at 23 to receive the spring 24, see Fig. 1, for yieldingly supporting the dish holder.

This yielding support of the dish holder prevents crushing of the dish as a result of tolerance and other variations in dishes and also yields under certain thrust stresses to which the dish is subjected during the application of the cover thereto, compare Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive is adapted for applying covers to round dishes. Figs. 9, 10 and l1 illustrate a modification adapted for elongated or oblong dishes. `These figures are included to show that my invention may be adapted to dishes of various shapes and sizes. It is also Well adapted for dishes formed of stock of such gauge to be quite easily distorted, for example, stock commonly referred to as metal foil. A desirable feature is that the covers can be securely applied without distorting or rupturing the dishes and covers formed of such stock.

The pedestal 2 is provided with a slideway 25 for the ram 26 which is provided with a rack coacting with the pinion 27 on the shaft 28. The shaft is supported in the bearing 29 and provided with an actuating arm or lever 30. The ram has a return spring 31 disposed between the top of the pedestal and the thrust member- 32 on the ram, see Fig. 1. The thrust member 32 carries an adjustable stop 33 which coacts with the top of the pedestal to limit the down stroke of the ram.

The outer )head member 34 is .chambered, the chamber being formed in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive by the depending rim portion 35. This rim portion is provided at its lower edge with an annular rib like bearing 36 which serves to rockably and slidably' support the jaw members 37. The inner head member 38 is disposed within the outer head member for vertical movement' relative thereto. The inner head member 38 has an annular outwardly facing groove like bearing 39 with which the bearings 40 on the jaws are engaged so that vertical movement of the head members relative to each member swings the jaws to and from work engaging position and moves them slidably relative to the outer bearing member 36, certain positions of the jaws being illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The movement of the inner and outer head members relative to each other and the cover holding platen 41 which mounted on the inner head member results from the operating connections for these parts of each other, will now be described. The inner head member is connected to the annular stop member 42 disposed above the outer head member by the bolts 43 arranged through the stop member 4Z and threaded into the inner head member, spacing sleeves 44 being provided for the bolts.

The stop member 42 is connected to the crosspiece 4S on the pedestal for limited vertical movement, the crosspiece having holes 46 receiving the headed bolts 47, the heads 48 of which engage the erosspiece 45 to limit the downstroke of the inner head member. This not only limits the down stroke of the inner head member but permits relative movement of the inner and outer head members.

Coil springs 49 are arranged in thrust engagement with a thrust member 50 provided therefor on the outer head member and are seated at 51 on the inner head member. The platen 41 is carried by the inner head member being provided with a post 52 disposed through a hole 53 centrally of the inner head member. The return biasing spring 55 for the platen is arranged on this post.

This yielding connection for the platen to the inner head member permits the actuation of the platen to cover engaging position during a portion of the stroke of the head members. The outer head member is provided with tappets 56 which engage the platen during the latter portion of the down or work stroke of the outer head member to thrust the cover flange into forming engagement with the upwardly facing downwardly curved faces 53 on the jaw tips 59, see Fig. 5. This movement occurs after the inner head member has reached the limit of its down stroke.

l`he downward movement of the outer head member swings the jaws into position to be engaged by the rim (compare Figs. 3 and 4) and the further movement of the outer head member carries the platen 41 with it and the ange of the cover, the edges of the rim are rolled into a bead-like interlocking engagement, see Fig. 5. Some down thrust is imparted to the dish during this final movement and the dish holder yields to permit that without distortion to the dish.

All that is necessary for the operator to do is to posinon a dish on the holder and position a cover thereon and swing the lever downwardly. The return spring of the ram retracts the parts to the position shown in Fig. 3. The table or platform 3 is provided with guides 60 to facilitate positioning of the dishes upon the dish holder and a sta-ck of dishes may be placed upon the platform or table. The platform or table is provided with a discharge chute 61 so that the covered dishes may be pushed onto the chute, illustrated as being partially broken away.

The jaws 37 are, as stated, tiltably and slidably supported by the inwardly facing bearing 36 of the outer head member 35. With the outer head member in fully retracted position as results from the return spring of the ram, as shown in Fig. 3 and the inner head member urged downwardly by its weight and by the springs 49 the jaws are swung to their retracted position. Downward movement of the outer head member swings the jaws to position shown in Fig. 4 in which position the jaws are in operative relation to the flange of the cover. However, the outer jaw member is not at the limit of its down stroke but continued movement thereof actuates the platen to force the cover flange against the jaws and curl or fold it around the dish rim.

in the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and l0 the outer and inner head members 62 and 63 respectively are generally oblong in shape. However, the parts are essentially the same as in the previously described structure except the head members have at portions 64 and 65 respectively and the elongated jaws 66 are provided for coaction with such surfaces. The operation is the same as described.

The jaws 37 are preferably shouldered at 67 to minimize friction and they are provided with stops 68 which engage the coacting stop surfaces 69 on the inner head member to limit the outer or retracting swing of the jaws` With this arrangement of the parts while the machine is manually operated and the dishes are manually placed upon the dish holder the operations are very simple and the machine is of large capacity and at the same time is quite compact. As stated, it is readily adapted for a considerable variation in the height of the dishes to which the covers are applied.

I have illustrated and described my invention in two ghighly practical embodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what 1s claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for applying covers having downturned flanges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims comprising a base, a platform mounted on said base for vertical adjustment, a spring biased dish holder mounted on said platform for vertical movement relative thereto, a pedestal on said base overhanging said dish holder, a ram reciprocatingly mounted on said pedestal, a return spring for said ram, a chambered outer head member mounted on said ram and provided with an inwardly facing con` tinuous jaw bearing, a spring biased inner head member disposed within and reciprocable relative to said outer head member and provided with a peripheral continuous outwardly facing groove like jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work forming jaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head bearing member and provided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner head member, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips with downwardly curved faces on their upper sides, a stop member disposed above said outer head member to coact therewith and connected to said pedestal for limited vertical movement, said stop member being connected to said inner head member to limit its downward movement relative to said outer head member, a cover engaging platen disposed below and mounted on said inner head member for vertical movement relative thereto, spring means acting to bias said platen against the underside of said inner head member, and thrust members on said outer head member engaging said platen during the latter part of the down stroke of the outer head member to engage the flange of the cover with the jaws and thereby close the flange around the cover rim, the spring biased dish holder yielding during such latter portion of the stroke and thereby preventing distortion of the dish.

2. A machine for applying covers having downturned anges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims comprising a base, a dish holder carried by said base, a pedestal on said base overhanging said dish holder, a ram reciprocatingly mounted on said pedestal, a chambered outer head member mounted on said ram and provided :assenzel lwith 'an inwardly facing continuous 'jaw bearing inner head member disposed within and reciprocable relative to said outer head member and provided with a peripheral continuous outwardly facing groove like jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work forming jaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head bearing member and provided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner head member, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips with downwardly curved faces on their upper sides, a stop member disposed above said outer head member to coact therewith and connected to said pedestal for limited vertical movement, said stop member being connected to said inner head member to limit its downward movement relativeto said outer head member, a coverengaging platen disposed below and mounted on said inner head member for vertical movement relative thereto, and thrust members on said outer head member engaging said platen during the latter part of the down stroke of the outer head member to engage the flange of the cover with the jaws and thereby close the flange around the cover rim, the spring biased dish holder yielding during such latter portion of the stroke and thereby preventing distortion of the dish.

3. A machine for applying covers having downturned flanges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims comprising a frame, a spring biased dish holder carried by said frame, a chambered outer head member reciprocably mounted on said frame, an inner head member disposed within and reciprocable relative to said outer head member and provided with an outwardly facing jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work forming jaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head member and provided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner head member, said jaws having inwardly projecting work engaging elements, a stop member disposed above said outer head member and connected to said frame for limited vertical movement, said inner head member being connected to said stop member to limit its downward movement relative to said outer head member, a cover engaging platen disposed below and mounted on said inner head member for vertical movement relative thereto, spring means acting to bias said platen against the underside of said inner head member, and means on said outer head member engaging said platen during the latter part of the work stroke of the head member to bring the flange of the cover into forming engagement with the jaws and thereby close the flange around the cover rim, the spring biased dish holder yielding during such latter portion of the stroke and thereby preventing distortion of the dish.

4. A machine for applying covers having downturned anges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims comprising a frame, a dish holder carried by said frame, a chambered outer head member reciprocably mounted on said frame, an inner head member disposed within and reciprocable relative to said outer head member and provided with an outwardly facing jaw bearing, a plurality of complementary work forming jaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head member and provided with bearings coacting with said bearing of said inner head member, said jaws having inwardly projecting work engaging elements, a stop member disposed above said outer head member and connected to said framefor limited vertical movement, said inner head member being connected to said stop member to limit its downward movement relative to said outer head member, a cover engaging platen disposed below and mounted on said inner head member for vertical movement relative thereto, spring means acting to bias said platen against the underside of said inner head member, and means on said outer head member engaging said platen during the latter part of the work stroke of the head member to bring the flange of the cover into forming engagement with the jaws and thereby close the flange around the cover rim.

5. A machine for applying covers to dishes comprising a frame, a dish holder yeldably carried by the frame, a chambered outer head member reciprocatably mounted on said frame, an inner head member disposed Within and reciprocably supported relative to said outer head member, a plurality of work forming jaws rockably and slidably supported by said outer head memberand having fulcruming engagement with said inner head member, a stop member connected with said inner member for movement therewith and connected to said frame for limited movement, said outer head member being in engagement with said stop member when the outer head member is in retracted position, a cover engaging platen disposed below and mounted on said inner head member, means on said outer head member engaging said platen after the inner head member has reached the limit of its forward stroke, the relative movement of said inner and outer head members acting to open and close the jaws in timed sequence.

6. In a machine adapted for applying covers having downturned flanges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims, in combination, a base provided with a vertical post socket and having a vertical slot opening to said socket, a pedestal overhanging said socket, a platform provided with a supporting post mounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, a stepped support member carried by said platform, a spring biased stop member pivotally mounted on said base to be selectively engaged with said stepped support member, a clamping screw vertically slidable in said slot and having threaded engagement with said post for securing the platform in adjusted position, said platform having an opening therein vertically aligned with said post, a dish holder provided with a shank vertically reciprocable in said post, a spring arranged within said post to bias said dish holder upwardly, said dish holder being shouldered to engage the platform to normally position the dish holder with its face in the plane of the face of the platform, guides on said platform facilitating the positioning of a dish on said dish holder, and means mounted on the pedestal for holding a cover upon and wrapping the flange thereof around the rim of a dish while the dish is supported by said dish holder.

7. In a machine adapted for applying covers having downturned flanges to dishes having outwardly projecting rims, in combination, a base provided with a vertical post socket, a pedestal overhanging said socket, a platform provided with a supporting post mounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, means for securing said post in its adjusted position, said platform having an opening therein vertically aligned with said post, a dish holder provided with a shank vertically reciprocable in said post, a spring arranged within said post to bias said dish holder upwardly, said dish holder being shouldered to engage the platform to normally position the dish holder with its face in the plane of the face of the platform, guides on said platform facilitating the positioning of a dish on said dish holder, and means mounted on the pedestal for holding a cover upon and wrapping the ange thereof around the rim of a dish while the dish is supported by said dish holder.

8. In a machine adapted for applying covers to dishes having outwardly projecting rims, in combination, a base provided with a vertical post socket and having a Vertical slot opening to said socket, a pedestal overhanging said socket, a platform provided with a supporting post mounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, a stepped support member carried by said platform, a stop member on said base selectively engageable with said stepped support member, a clamping screw vertically slidable in said slot and having threaded engagement with said post for securing the platform in adjusted position, said platform having an opening therein vertically aligned with said post, a dish holder provided with a shank vertically reciprocable in said post, a spring arranged within said post to bias said dish holder upwardly, said dish holder being provided with a stop to normally position the dish holder withits face in the plane of the face of the platform, and means mounted on the pedestal for holding a cover upon and Wrapping the flanges thereof around the rims of a dish while the dish is supported by said dish holder.

9. In a machine adapted for applying covers to dishes having outwardly projecting rims, in combination, a hase provided with a vertical post socket and having a vertical slot opening to said socket, a pedestal overhanging said socket, a platform provided with a supporting post mounted in said socket for vertical adjustment, a stop member on said base selectively engageable with said stepped support member, a clamping screw vertically slidable in said slot and having threaded engagement with said post for securing the platform in adjusted position, said platform having an opening therein vertically aligned with said post, a dish holder provided with a shank vertically rcciprocable in said post, a spring arranged within said post to bias said dish holder upwardly, said dish holder being provided with a stop to normally position the dish holder with its face in the plane of the face of the platform, and means mounted on the pedestal for holdingl a cover upon and wrapping the anges thereof around the rims of a dish while the dish is supported by said dish holder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 860,787 Brewington July 23, 1907k l 2,375,14l Shera May l, 1945 2,688,650 Wilson Feb. 9, 1954

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