US2913816A - Spray tube and nozzle assembling machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1959 Filed May 7, 1957 R. F. GRAY SPRAY TUBE AND NOZZLE ASSEMBLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR M,M,M%

ATTORNEYS R. F. GRAY 2,913,816

SPRAY TUBE ma NOZZLE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1959 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed llay 7, 1957 INVENTOR fioerz E'Gray umming 1959 R. F. GRAY 2,913,816

SPRAY TUBEAND NOZZLE ASSEMBLING MACHINE" Filed May 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet s w INVENTOR Q fioerzfaray mil, 6

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1959 R. F. GRAY SPRAY TUBE AND nozzua ASSEMBLING mcnmn 4 Shqets-Shet 4 Filed lay 7, 1957 INVENTOR fio$er2 f G7 BY I m Y5 United States Patent SPRAY TUBE AND NOZZLE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Robert F. Gray, Wheaton, lll., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of The presentlyknown and popular squeeze type spray container has a spray nozzle and a discharge tube extending from the nozzle down into the liquid in the container. -When the body of the bottle is squeezed, the pressure inside thecontainer drives the liquid through the tube and also drives the air above the liquid level through air passages in the nozzle, causing the air and liquid to mix in the nozzle above the tube outlet and be discharged from the nozzle in the form of a spray. The nozzle and tube are customarily formed from plastic and the upper end of the tube is friction-fitted into a socket of the nozzle.

The present invention provides a simple, rapid and eflicient machine for cutting tubing into proper lengths and for assembling the spray nozzles and the cut tubing lengths in readiness for mounting of the nozzles on the containers.

An intermittently driven table is provided having receivers for advancing lengths of tubing from a tubing feeding and cut off station to a nozzle applying station at which the nozzles are initially applied, then to a pressing station at which the nozzles are tightly pressed onto the tube lengths, and finally to an ejecting station at which the assembled units are ejected from the receivers: and the invention has aimed to provide a highly prac tical machine embodying these characteristics.

In carrying out the above end, a further object has been to make novel provision at the tubing feeding and cut-off station for feeding tubing from a supply roll into each receiver presented at said station, for severing the tubing when the desired length thereof has been inserted into the receiver, for then preventing further feeding of tubing until the next receiver is presented, and for then freeing the tubing and resuming the feed.

Another object of the invention has been to provide novel tubing cut off means having one stage of operation in which the tubing is severed, a second stage in which it prohibits further feeding of the tubing until the next receiver arrives, and a third stage in which it frees the tubing for further feeding into the then presented receiver. i V

,A further object has been to provide a constantly driven friction wheel to contact withthe tubing and feed it whenever permitted to do so, said friction wheel merely slipping on the tubing during the periods in which feeding-is prohibited,

A still further .object has beento make novel provision for limiting insertion of the tubing into the receivers and for -supporting the cut off tubing lengths during their travel through the nozzle applying and pressing stations, to the ejecting station,

Another object has been to make novel provision for pneumatically ejecting the assembled units from the receivers. I f,

Yet another object has been to pneumatically actuate the table drivingor indexing means, the tubing cut off means and the nozzle press by means of compressed air cylinders and yalvestherefor, said valves being actuated 2,913,816 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 "ice by means of a constantly driven cam shaft which also drives the tubing feeding friction wheel.

With the above andother objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: V

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation of the machine, partly broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a view partially in top plan and partially in section, on line 22'of Figure 1, the valves being omitted to disclose the subjacent cams. i

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2, showing one of the valves and its operating cam, the latter being turned to. a diflerent position from that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1' showing the table indexing means.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing a length of tubing engaged with one of the receivers, and a spray nozzle initially applied to said length of tubing.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view showing the ejectingmeans.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line 7--7 of Figure 2, showing the tubing cut off means,

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the pneumatic system.

Figure 9 is a view showing the profiles of thevalve actuating cams.

The construction disclosed in the drawings will be rather specifically described but attention is invited to the possibility of making variations.

A pedestal 10 is secured upon a base plate 11 and is provided with an upstanding stub 12 on which an assembly'of table 13, indexing wheel 14 and spacing ring 15, is rotatably mounted, the elements 13, 14 and 15 being securedtogether by screws 16 and dowel pins 17. The indexing wheel 14 rests on the upper end of the pedestal 10 and said pedestal end isrecessed at' 18 to receive an indexing arm 19 which is provided with a bearing 20 surrounding the stub 12.

A cylinder'and piston assembly 21 is provided for operating the arm 19, said arm being linked at 22 to a head 23 on the piston rod 24 of said assembly. The arm 19 carries a spring pressed pawl 25 successively engageable with circumferentially spaced notches .26 in the indexing wheel 14 to intermittently drive this wheel and the table 13; and a spring pressed dog 27 is provided to hold said wheel and table after each turn imparted thereto. In order to assure accurate stopping of the wheel at each indexing movement, a stop pin 27 may be provided and placed as shown in Figure 4 for engagement by the pawl 25 at it moves the wheel the successive step distances.

The table 13 is provided with circumferentially spaced upstanding tubular receivers 28 for successively advancing cut ofi lengths of tubing 29 from a tubing feeding and cut off station S to a nozzle applying station S, then to a'nozzle pressing station S and finally to an ejecting station S In the present disclosure, there are ten of the receivers 28 and consequently ten of the notches 26 in the indexing or ratchet wheel 14. It is to be understood that when the nozzles are being hand fed they may be applied at the designated station S or at any one of theadjacent stations between the tube cut off station and the nozzle pressing station.

All of the receivers 28 are open at the lower side of the table 13; and a horizontal plate 30 is fixedly mounted under said table to limit the insertion of tubing into any receiver presented at the feedingand cut-ofi station S, and to support each cut olf tubing length 29 during its travel to the other stations 8, S and S At the station S, a standard 31 is secured to and extends upwardly from the base 11, said standard consisting of a vertical channel bar 32 and two parallel side plates 33 secured to opposite sides of said channel bar. The side plates 33 are of inverted L-shape to provide them with' portions 34 which overhang the table 13. Between the lower edges of the plate portions 34, a horizontal block 35 is secured. This block 35 rigidly carries a vertical tubular guide 36 for the plastic tubing 37 from which the lengths 29 are to be cut; and a horizontal knife 38 is mounted under said block' and guide for severing said tubing. 'The guide 36' is so positioned that each receiver 28 presented at the station S will be vertically aligned with said guide. When this alignment occurs, the tubing 37 is fed'downwardlythrough the guide 36 into the receivei 28 until it strikes the plate 30, and the knife 38 then functions to sever the tubing, l mving a cut off length 29 thereof in 'the'receiver. The knife 38 then functions to prohibit further downward feeding of more of the tubing 37 until the -next receiver 28 arrives at the station S, and then' functions to free the tubing 37 for insertion intov the positioned receiver.

The tubing guide 36 projects somewhat downward from the block 35 (see Figures 1 and 7) and a knife guiding screw 39 projects downwardly a corresponding. distance from said block. The knife 38 contacts slidably with the projecting ends of the guide and screw and is held by a spring 40 against them. This spring surrounds a headed screw 41, the upper end of which is threaded into the block 35; and the knife 38 has a slot 42 through which said screw extends. The spring 40 reacts on the head of this screw. By adjusting the screw 39 the accuracy and quality of the tube cutting can be determined.

A cylinder and piston assembly 43 (see Figures 1 and 2) is mounted at 44 between the side plates 33 of the standard 31; and the outer end of the knife 38 is connected at 45 with a head 46 on the piston rod 47 of said assembly. This assembly serves to project the knife 38 to sever the tubing 37, then holds said knife projected until the next receiver 28. arrives at the station S, and then retracts said knife to free the tubing 37 for further downward feeding.

Above the tubing guide 36, a grooved guide wheel 48 (Figure l) and a grooved feed wheel 49 are provided for the tubing 37, said wheels being chain and sprocket connected, as. seen at. 50. A third wheel 51 is also provided to. press the tubing 37 against the feed wheel 49, said wheel 51 being carried bya yoke. 52 which is pivotallymounted at 53 and biased toward said feed wheel 49 by a spring 54. All of the elements 48, 49, 51 and 2.a re located between the upper portions of the side plates 33 and these plate portions also preferably carry additional fixed guides 55 for the tubing 37.

The guide wheel 48 and feedwheel 49 are constantly driven by means hereinafter described, and whenever the knife allows downward feeding of the tubing 37, the friction between this tubing and the feed wheel 49 causes such feeding. When the tubing comes to rest against the plate 30, the feed ,Wheel 49 merely slips on the tubing. Also, whenever feeding of the tubing is being prohibited bythe knife 38, the feed wheel.49. slipsbutstands in readiness to resume feeding. of. theftubing. when the lattei 'is released by knife retraction.

A second standard 56 (Figures 1 and 2)- is secured toaand rises, from the base 11 at the pressing station S standard having av lateral plate 57 to which the aetuating cylinder 58 of a pneumatic press 59 is secured The press plunger 61 ispositioned to. exert downward pressure on each spray. nozzle 62 presented at the station The nozzles 62 are, in, the .present' form of thefinachine, initially placed by hand on..the upwardly P9j i ng dS of thetubing lengths 29, at'the nozzle applytng stati on S j. It is tQ-be .understood that provision can be made for mechanically and automatically placing the nozzles on the tube lengths, and also for the cutting and receiving of varied lengths of tubing.

The standard 56 and the aforesaid standard 31 jointly support the plate 30 upon which the tubing lengths 29 rest, said plate being secured to said standards at 63.

At the ejecting station S the plate 30 is formed with a port 64 (Figures 2 and 6) having an upwardly directed end 65 so located that each tubing length 29 presented at said station, will be aligned with said port end. When such alignment occurs, a blast of compressed air is admitted to the port 64 and the upward discharge of this air blast ejects the tubing length 29 with its pressed-on nozzle 62. An arched tube 66 is shown in Figure l to receive each ejected unit and conduct it to a suitable receptacle.

A third standard 67 (Figures 2 and 3) is secured to the base 31 and rises therefrom in laterally spaced rela tion with one of the side plates 33 of the standard 31. Two horizontally spaced rods 68 extend from this side plate to the upper end of the standard 67, said rods being secured at 69 to said plate and at 70 to said standard. Below the rods 68 a cam shaft 71extends from the standard 67 to the standard 31, said cam shaft being mounted in bearings 72 carried by said standards 67 and 31, respectively. This cam shaft is chain and sprocket connected at 73 with the feed wheel 49 and is constantly driven by any suitable means. It is shown in Figure 2 as chain and sprocket connected at 74 to the driven shaft 75 of a gearing unit 76, the drive shaft- 77 of which may be directly connected to the shaft of an electric motor.

Four valves 21a, 64a, 58a and 43a are secured to the rods 68. These valves are represented by broken lines in Figure 2 and are diagrammatically shown in Figure 8, and one of said valves (21a) is shown in full lines in Figure 3. Each of the valves is provided with an actuating arm 78 (Figure 3) having a cam follower 79. These followers engage actuating cams on the cam shaft 71, one cam 21b being provided for the valve 21a, one cam 64b for the valve 64a, one cam 58b for the valve 58a, and one cam 43b for the valve 43a.

All of the valves receive compressed air from a line 80 (Figure 8) and this line may have appropriate control valves 81 and pressure regulating valves 82. The valve 21a is connected by a line 210 with the cylinder of the assembly 21 which actuates the table indexing means: the valve 43a is connected by a line 430 to the assembly 43 which operates the knife 38: the valve 58a is connected by a line 58c to the actuating cylinder 58 of the press 59: and the valve 64a is connected by a line 64c to the ejection port 64.

Each of the valves 21a, 43a and 58a is of a known type which admits air to the connected cylinder for piston operation when actuated by its respective cam, and later exhausts air from the cylinder when released by the cam, allowing piston return under the influence of a spring conventionally embodied in the cylinder and piston assembly. The valve 584 may be of a more simple type, as it need only open to discharge an ejection blast from the port 64, and then close.

Operation With the machine in idle position, one of the receivers 28 is disposed at the tubing feeding and cut off station S, several of said receivers are at the nozzle applying station 5', one isalways at the pressing station S and one at the ejection station S The knife 38 then occupies its retracted position, the press plunger 61 is in its raised position, and the indexing arm 19 is in its retracted position. With the machine thus idle, some of the tubing 37 is unreeled, threaded through the first of the guides 55, passed over the guide wheel 48, then threaded through the second of the guides 55 and the guide 36, and finally inserted into the subjacent receiver 28 to the limit allowed by the plate 30. Some of these operations may be facilitated by manually swinging the yoke 52 to dispose it and the. wheel 51 in an out-of-thc-way position. Upon return of this yoke and wheel, the latter holds the tubing 37 against the feed wheel 49. Having thus prepared themachine for-operation, the cam shaft 71 is driven and tlie knife 38 is automatically projected to sever the tubing 37 above the receiver 28 into'which it has been inserted. The indexing arm 19 is then automatically actuated to turn the table 13' one tenth ofa revolution, said arm then returning. During this first indexing step of the table, the knife 38 remains in projected position and thus prohibits further feeding of the tubing 37 while the next receiver is arriving atthe stations; and during this period, thefeed wheel 49 simply slips on the tubing. Upon arrival of the next receiver, however, the knife is withdrawn and the tubing is fed automatically into said receiver and again cut off and so on, further, feeding of tubing being temporarily prohibited after each cut ofioperation, until the next receiver arrives. .As the receivers 28 and the cut ofitubing lengths 29 therein become accessible at the nozzle applying station S, a nozzle 62 is telescoped by handover each receiver and contained tubing length and initially pushed down to start the tube end into the nozzle socket. When each nozzle-carrying tube arrives at the pressing station S the press plunger 61 is automatically actuated to force the nozzle tightly onto the tube and is then withdrawn. Aseach tube with its fully pressed-on nozzle arrives at the ejetcion station S a blast of air is automatically discharged from the port 64, thereby ejecting the assemb led unit. z

From the foregoing it will be seen that a novel and advantageous construction has .been disclosed for attaining the desired ends. However, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a flexible spray tube and spray nozzle assembling machine, a rotary table having circumferentially spaced tubular receivers into which to insert lengths of tubing in readiness for application of spray nozzles thereto dimensioned to snugly but slidably receive and support the tubing against lateral flexure, indexing means for intermittently driving said table to successively advance the tubing lengths from a tubing feeding and cut off station to a nozzle applying station, then to a nozzle pressing station and finally to an ejecting station, friction roll feeding means at said feeding and cut off station for feeding tubing into each receiver presented at this station, means for determining and limiting the length of tubing inserted into each receiver, cut off means at said feeding and cut off station for severing the tubing after it has been inserted into the receiver and the insertion thereof has been stopped by said limiting means, a press at said pressing station for pressing onto each length of tubing a nozzle applied at said nozzle applying station, ejecting means operable through a tubular receiver presented at said ejecting station for ejecting each tubing length and its attached nozzle, and means for operating said indexing means, said feeding means, said out off means, said press, and said ejecting means.

2. In a spray tube and spray nozzle assembling machine, a rotary table having circumferentially spaced receivers into which to insert lengths of tubing in readiness for application of spray nozzles thereto, indexing means for intermittently driving said table to successively advance the tubing lengths from a tubing feeding and cut off station to a nozzle applying station, then to a nozzle pressing station and finally to an ejecting station, said indexing means having an actuating cylinder, feeding means at said feeding and cut off station for feeding tubing into each receiver presented at this station, said feeding means including a friction wheel for contact with the tubing being fed, means for limiting the insertion of the tubing into each receiver, cut off means at said feeding and cut off station for severing the tubing inserted intothe receiver, said cut ofi means having an actuating cylinder and also having a portion which prohibits feeding of more tubing after severance until the next receiver arrives at said feeding and cut off station, a press at said pressing station for pressing onto each length of tubing a nozzle applied at said nozzle applying station, said press having an actuating cylinder, pneumatic ejecting means at said ejecting station for ejecting each tubing length and its attached nozzle, individual means for conducting compressed air to and from said actuating cylinders of said indexing means, said cut off means and said press, said conducting means having individual valves, an additional valve for said pneumatic ejecting means, a constantly driven cam shaft having cams for actuating all of said valves, and driving means operatively connecting the aforesaid friction wheel with said driven shaft, said friction wheel being adapted to slip on the tubing when further feeding of said tubing is arrested by the aforesaid portion of said cut off means.

3. In a flexible spray tube and spray nozzle assembling machine, a rotary table having thereon circumferentially spaced tubular receivers of equal length bearing normal relation to the plane of the table and each attached at one end to the table and: opening therethrough and hav ing its other end remote from the table open to adapt it for receiving andjsupporting against lateral flexing a predetermined length of tubing greater in length than the length of each tubular receiver, a fixed tubing support adjacent said table and positioned close to the openings of thetubular receivers through said table so as to support tubing lengths when inserted in said receivers with end portions of said tubing lengths projecting beyond said remote open ends of said receivers in readiness for the application of spray nozzles onto said projecting end portions of the tubing lengths, and means for intermittently driving said table.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3; together with a press mounted relative to said table in position to press nozzles initially applied on said tubing length projecting end portions, and means for operating said press in timed relation with the intermittent rotation of said table.

5. A structure as specified in claim 3; said tubing sup port having a compressed air passage which opens through the side of said support close to the rotary table in position to direct a blast of air into each of the successively advanced receivers to eject the nozzle carrying tubing length therefrom, a compressed air conduit connected with said passage and having a valve, and means for operating said valve in timed relation with the intermittent rotation of said table.

6. In a flexible spray tube and spray nozzle assembling machine, a base having an upstanding pedestal and upstanding standards radially spaced from said pedestal, a horizontal table rotatably mounted on said pedestal, said table having thereon circumferentially spaced upstanding tubular receivers of equal length bearing normal relation to the table and each attached at its lower end to the table and opening downwardly therethrough and having its upper end open to adapt it for receiving and supporting against lateral flexing a predetermined length of tubing greater than the length of each tubular receiver,

a horizontal tubing supporting plate mounted under said table and positioned close to the lower open ends of the tubular receivers so as to support tubing lengths when inserted downwardly into and through the receivers with end portions of said tubing lengths projecting beyond the upper ends of the receivers in readiness for the application of spray nozzles onto said projecting end portions of the tubing lengths, said plate also being positioned to support the tubing lengths against downward movement during said nozzle applications, and means for intermittently driving said table.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6: together with a press mounted in position to downwardly press nozzles initially applied on said tubing length projecting end portions, and means for-operating said press in timed relation with the intermittent rotation of said table.

8. In a spray tube and spray nozzle assembling machine, a rotary table having circumferentially spaced tubular receivers bearing normal relation to the plane of the table and having receiving ends, a tubing guide stationarily mounted close to the plane of movement of the receiving ends of said receivers, said tubing guide and said receivers being spaced equidistantly from the axis of said table, means for intermittently driving said table to successively present said receivers in alignment with said tubing guide, tubing feed means mounted in position to feed tubing through said tubing guide and into each of said tubular receivers aligned therewith, means for limiting the feeding of the tubing into each of said receivers, tubing cut off means mounted in cooperative relation to said tubing guide, said cut off means having one phase of operation in which it severs the tubing, a second phase in which it prohibits feeding of more tubing until the next receiver has moved into alignment with said guide, and a third phase in which it frees the tubing for feeding into the then aligned receiver, and means for operating said cut off means in timed relation with the intermittent rotation of said table.

9. A structure as specified in claim 8, in which said cut off means comprises a knife and means mounting said knife for proceeding and receding movements.

10. A structure as specified in claim 8, in which said operating means for said cut off means includes a cylinder and piston assembly, and a cam actuated valve for admitting compressed air into the cylinder of said assembly and exhausting used air therefrom.

11. A structure as specified in claim 8, in which said tubing feed means comprises. a constantly driven feed wheel contacting frictionally with the tubing and slipping on said tubing during said first and second phases of said cut off means.

12. In a machine'having successively advanced receivers forconveying lengths of tubing, stationary tubing guide means in alignment with which said receivers are successively positioned, tubing feed means for feeding tubing through said guide means into any receiver aligned therewith, said feed means including a constantly driven friction wheel for contact with the tubing, and tubing cut off means between said guide means and said receivers, said cut off means having one phase of operation in which it severs the tubing, a second phase in which itprohibits feeding of more tubing until the next receiver'has moved into alignment with said guide means, and a third phase in which itffrees the tubing for feeding into the then aligned receiver, said friction wheel being adapted to slip on the tubing during the aforesaid second phase.

13. A structure as specified in claim 12 in which said cut-off means comprises a knife and means slidably mounting said knife for proceeding and receding movements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,332,538 Bourque Mar. 12, 1920 1,482,687 Kraft Feb. 5, 1924 1,681,829 'Wesseler Aug. 21, 1928 2,270,300 Hothersoll Jan. 20, 1942 2,554,982 Hartley May 29, 1951 2,698,478 Heisterkamp Jan. '4, 1955

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