US2942394A - Container closing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

0. BJERING ET L CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS June 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1958 L mwH m WEN o mvfi m do a;

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1958 Q OLAVBUERING BY cJOI-IN Ham. 4 21/061 ATTOR June 28, 1960 o. BJERING ET CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1958 4 Sheets-{Sheet 4 5 6L N H R um Hm mww A Md KEY United States Patent 942,394 coNTAmnR CLQSINGLAPBARATUS Qlav Biotin; andaJohn. "Holil; .Toledopflhio, :assignors to owensdllmois Glassflnnrmnnacorporation of Ohio Z1he,,-present:;invention 136121.126St:1010.$i11 apparatus tor bottles :and jars :and particularly V to, means. for .afliXi g screw'ethreaded :closure. .caps. to =product1fi1 led openvtop containers" ,while rthey samovencontinuously -along a :horizontalspathz,

objector our invention is :the provision of novel means fOE'ithITQfidiflgwfilGSlllf-i lQZIPSt'URQH! bottles and jars int-such fashion that tthfiy twill? attractively seal the containers, yet. :can t be a removed T-zbY ithe ultimate consumer WithQut-rthd:difliCllltifiSiSD often: attendan op ning of jar having :screwethreaded closure. cap s.-

rrAnother :objeetmf :our ,i uvention .isit provision of simpl a :ettective means for -.t;hread.iug selosure caps uponibottles' and hrs in which such 1111,6335 comprises closure :capuspinningqrolls ztcrengag ngth th ead a taching: :sltirt .ofi 31116::11QS11T6 cans-and novel means tor regulably' controlliing; the; int; ping; pre sureof the roll :wherebvtopredeterm .eatoiar atistactory degre the tightness worathe-applijed caps.

A further objector our invention i the provision of novel -.me.ans. for adjusting; the. elevation of the operati g nositiouof the spinningirollsas r qu red y varia i ns in therheight-of the-containers beingzfiapp r o d h IherlflllS: can :be set accurately for ,..,most effective contact Withithe iclosllre cap skirt. 7

It is also an object of our invention to providenovel meansdjor adjusting the: operating position of the closure captspinning rolled-Brittle :means -;fo,r. transmitting power to the- Spinning; rolls. a

Qther objects :w illbe in Part-apparento-and in part ointedgout.hereinafter. t t i g :Fig; -l is-=a front \elevational .viewiofaa closnrei cap. applying machine incorporating our invention.

Fig, ,3 is ,a. transverse sectiDnalrelevational view talce n substantially along the line .3-,-3 of ,Fig. ,1. i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional elevational vievy. of-the means sfor adjusting-the angular position of the spinning rolls. 1 a v j Fig. 5 is 'a sectional elevational view maisonette: tially along the line.5-,5Jof Fig.- 1. Fig. 6 is. a view schematically {showing rolls adjustment. I

-Eig. 7-isaplan view. schematically showingtwo possible. operating positions of the spinningtolls intended to vary. the closure capgripping-tefiectiveness.

fIheiIlu-Strated embodiment ofourtinvention isshown in operating relationship toa horizontal continuously moving conveyor upon which. jars -16 or the like p oductafilled containers travel through the closure cap receiving and applying zones '17 and .18, :respectively (Fig; 11:). The jars-have exteriorly screwdhreaded necks 19 which are designed to accommodate.;screw=thi:eaded closure caps-20 such caps being picked,fromthedischarge end of aninclined; cap chute .21-or'1e ata timefbyhthe jars as .they move pastj the i chute. These ,closure caps quickly the spinning 2&42394 Patented June 28, 1960 Briefly theapparatus is a self-contained unit capable of placement in an operating position relative to a packers conveyor line and incorporating means whereby it may easily-be adjusted to the conveyor height and width, as Well. as tohandle bottles or jars varying height and/or diameter. The apparatus incorporates closure cap spinnin-g; rolls which at least partially thread closure caps upon. the containers thereby lowering the caps to a level at=whichthey may be engaged-by secondary or tightening rolls. These rolls are carried by means through which adjustments as required by jar or bottle height antl di-ameter variations may be effected. Also the rolls are angularly adjustable and thereby provide for a socalled"fine adjustment of the pressure of the rolls upon the. closure caps. Further the apparatus includes means for eifectively holding-the containers against rotation as they travel along the conveyor and additionally secure them in normal upright positions to receive closure caps.

Specifically the apparatus comprises a horizontally elongated main frame 25 positionedin part alongside the conveyor 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) and provided exteriorly of the side wall 26 facing the conveyor with a vertical slide 27 on which a slideway 28 carried by a sub-frame 29 is adjustable vertically. This sub-frame 29 includes a bar 30*.whichis. suitably connected to adjusting means including a. hand-wheel 31 .-for changing the elevation of this. :frame as conditions require' Two longitudinally spaced supports in the form of horizontal rods 32 are carried by the bar 30 and extendacross the conveyors-15 for supporting a pair of horizontal platforms 33 which in turn carry the aforementioned closure cap spinning rol-lsiiandothers as will be apparent presently. These platforms :33 ar'etelongated in the direction of'the length or theconveyor .15. and-near their ends are provided with sleevesl34-whichare .telescoped over and ,slidable along therods32. Thus, the platforms 33 are capable of'beingapplied.

he 'm hanisnrlfor moving the platforms toward and 'away frornlea'ch other may comprise adjusting rods 35 individuallo and disposed immediatelyl beneath and pardrop over the jar necks and are momentarily supported allelato the ,subeframe supporting rods 52. Each such rod 35, intermediate its ends,,is journaled in a bearing 36. on .the lower side of ,a center bar 37 being locked therein: against-axial movement by retaining devices 38. Each .end portion of the adjusting rod 35 is threaded through aiperipherally channeled collar 39 which has separable connectionwith a flange 40 depending from one of the sleeves 34. A.retaining block 41 secured in place. byscrews 42i holds the collar39 in assembledrelationship to the sleeve 34. One end of each rod.i35 has a square, extension 35 to accommodate a turning implement (not shown) of some sort While the other end ofeach rod-carries asprocket wheel 43; These sprocket Wheels are connected together'by a sprocket chained-so that with rotation of either rod both will beactuated'and therebyefiect corresponding adjustment of ==both ends-of the platforms. 33. Such adjustment, as stated heretofore, changes the spacingbetweenthe spinning'rolls2 3. In addition to the pair of primary spinning rolls2'3,

carrier 49 is mounted.

T. 2,942,394. 1 p p We have shown two pairs of secondary or tightening rolls 23 and 23 which are spaced longitudinally from the primary rolls 23. These secondary rolls normally oper ate at a slightly lower elevation than the primary rolls for the reason that the closure caps will have been moved downwardly on the containers by the threading action of the primary rolls to a level requiring the illustrated positioning of the secondary rolls (see Fig.1). Since the mountings for the primary rolls 23 are identical structurally, we will specifically describe only one of them. At that end of each platform 33 (Fig. 4) nearest the cap chute 21 is a horizontal arm 45 formed with a vertical opening 46 therethrough. Spaced laterally inwardly from this arm 45 (Fig. 2) is a bearing 47 for a horizontal hinge pin 48 (Figs. 3 and 6) upon which a spinning roll This carrier (Fig. includes a depending tubular housing 50, a concentric internal sleeve 51 having each of its ends abutting the inner ring of a ball bearing 52 and an axially recessed shaft section 53 which extends upwardly through the carrier where it is connected to a driven pulley or sheave 54. This shaft section 53 is .journaled in said bearings 52 and at its upper end is secured in a thrust bearing 55 which holds it against axial movement. At the lower end of this shaft section is a split lock collar 56. Through the lock collar and into the axial recess 57 in said shaft section a portion of a lower shaft section 58 extends, the upper end of the latter being threaded into said recess whereby to provide for adjustment of the lower section axially relative to the upper section 53. Thus the operating elevation of the closure cap spinning roll 23 may be varied as conditions require. The lock collar 56 functions in the customary manner to secure the lower shaft section against undesired rotation relative to the other section 53. In addition to the described axial adjustment of the roll supporting shaft the angular position of the roll may be varied.

Such variation in the roll position is obtainable by means including a pair of rods mounted in the carrier. One rod 59 is threaded vertically through the carrier 49 and has its lower end contacting the'arm 45 or a hardened block 60 thereon. By adjusting this rod axially the cap spinning roll may be moved for example in the fashion indicated in Fig. 6. This rod serves as a stop for limiting inward movement of the rolls toward each other. Thus we provide fine control of the operating positions of the rolls 23. The second rod 61 is threaded vertically in the carrier 49 and extends downwardly through an justed and the cap skirt gripping pressure of the 'rolls regulably controlled. 7 g

The mounting of the secondary or tight'ening'rolls 23'? and 23 is substantially identical with that described in connection with the primary rolls 2'3, the only exception being that the housings 50 extend through vertical openings 50 provided in the platforms 33.

' Rotation of the pulleys 54 or sheaves at the upper ends of the roll carrying shafts (Figs. 1 and 2) is obtained by means of an endless belt 54 trained over said pulleys and idler pulleys 64, the latter being carried by horizontal adjustable slides 65. A pulley 54 is connected to a gear box 54, a shaft 54, and power transmitting means 54 to a motor M. Automatic tensioning means 66 (Fig. 2) for'the drive belt comprises a horizontal bellcrank lever 67 having a belt engaging pulley 68 at one end and a spring device 69 at the other end which constantly yieldingly holds the pulley 68 in contact with the belt. It is apparent that with adjustment of the spacing between the platforms 33 the slides will be moved and the angle between the arms of the bell-crank lever 67 may require re-s'etting to obtain the desired tension in the belt 54 V Y It is important that the bottles or jars 16 be held against tipping and rotation in order to insure both delivery of closure caps thereto and later threading of the caps onto the containers. To this end, we provide a pair of continuously traveling endless belts 70 one on each side of the conveyor 15. These belts are of substantial height (Fig. 5) to insure effective gripping of the jars at diametrically opposed points. Obviously these belts move in the same direction and at the same speed as the conveyor 15. They are mounted upon supporting frames 71 which are adjustable relative to each other in a direction transverse to the length of the conveyor to accommodate containers of different diameter. Such adjustment is obtained by suspending the frames from a pair of horizontal supporting rods 72. Sleeves 73 at the upper end of hangers 74 are slidingly positioned upon the rods 73. These sleeves are connected to threaded adjusting screw-rods 75 which are journaled in bearings 76 and held against axial movement therein by collars 77. Arms 78 on the sleeves have the rods threaded therethrough. Sprockets 79 at one end of the rods are connected together by a sprocket chain 80. Thus rotation of either screw-rod 75 will serve to adjust the steadying or gripping belt carrying frames relative to each other as may be required by the ware being handled.

Although the mode of operation is deemed obvious and perhaps adequately described in the foregoing, it briefly comprises placement of product-filled containers in upright position on the conveyor 15 in advance of the cap chute 21. These containers move in succession beneath and remove threaded closure caps from the chute, such caps at this time dropping by gravity and thereby becoming partially telescoped over the screw-threaded necks of the bottles or jars. The leveler 22 temporarily supports the closure caps 20 spaced a short distance above the top end of the jars while the primary closure cap spinning rolls 23 grip the cap skirt and impart rotary motion to the cap. As this occurs the leveler 22 moves downwardly permitting actual partial or complete threading of the cap onto the container. The container with the closure cap at least partially threaded thereon then moves on to the secondary rolls 23 and 23 which, if the cap is insutficiently threaded onto the jar, completes the operation. 7 p

The jar gripping means, as stated, may be adjusted to accommodate containers of different diameter. The platforms which carry the several spinning rolls are adjustable to change the spacing between the rollsas may be needed to apply closure caps of different diameter. Adjustment of the roll carriers 49 relative to the arms 45 therebeneath also changes the angular position and transverse spacing of the spinning rolls. Axial adjustment of the shaft section 58 which is directly connected to the rolls serves'to regulably control the operating elevation of the rolls as is needed when the jars vary in height.

' Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

.1. In container closing apparatus, a horizontal continuously moving conveyor for carrying product-filled containers having exteriorly threaded necks through adjacent closure cap receiving and applying zones, closure delivery means in the receiving zone operable to only partially telescope screw-threaded closure caps over the threaded necks, means for rotating the telescoped closure caps to thereby completely thread them upon the container necks, comprising, a pair of yieldable resilient closure cap spinning rolls positioned one at each side of the path of travel of the containers, said spinning rolls having their axes normally substantially parallel and extending generally vertically, a pair of shafts coaxial with and supporting the spinning rolls, said shafts aligned with each other in a direction transverse to the length of the conveyor, a horizontally movable slide supporting each shaft and a spinning roll, a horizontal rod upon which the slides aremovable axially to vary the spinning roll spacing, means for moving the slides and rolls horizontally toward and away from each other, a horizontal arm projecting from each movable slide beneath the corresponding beating carrier, a screw-threaded rod extending vertically through the arm and carrier near the free end of the latter, said rod threaded in the carrier and freely movable axially through the arm, yielding means on the rod below said arm for urging arm and carrier together, and an adjustable stop for limiting relative movement of the arm anterior in one direction.

2. In container closing apparatus, a pair of closure cap spinning rolls spaced apart horizontally with one at each side of a horizontal path along which product-filled jars having exteriorly screw-threaded necks and screw-threaded closure caps partially telescoped thereover move continuously, said spinning rolls rotatable about vertical generally parallel axes for gripping the closure caps and threading them upon the jar necks, a supporting shaft for each roll extending upwardlytherefrom, a pivoted carrier for each shaft with the pivot extending horizontal- 1y substantially parallel to said path, an arm to which one end of the carrier is pivoted and yielding means urging the arm and carrier together comprising, a screwthreaded rod threaded through the carrier and freely slideable through the arm, spring means on the rod and that side of the arm remote from the carrier, means for adjusting the rod axially to vary the spring tension and the pressure of the rolls upon the closure caps and adjustable stop means for predetermining the intermost positions of the rolls.

3. In container closing apparatus, a pair of closure cap spinning rolls spaced apart horizontally with one at each side of a horizontal path along which product-filled jars having exteriorly screw-threaded necks and screw- 6 V threaded caps partially telescoped thereover move continuously, said spinning rolls being rotatable about ver; tical generally parallel axes for gripping the closure caps and threading them on the jar necks, a supporting shaft for each roll extending upwardly therefrom, a pivoted carrier for each shaft with the pivot thereof extending horizontally substantially parallel to said path, means providing for axial movement of said shaft in its carrier to thereby adjust the operating level of the corresponding closure cap spinning roll and releaseable means for locking the shaft in any axially adjusted position.

4. In container closing apparatus, a pair of closure cap spinning rolls spaced apart horizontally with one at each side of a horizontal path along which product-filled jars having exteriorly screw-threaded necks and screw-threaded closure caps partially telescoped thereover move continuously, said spinning rolls being rotatable about vertical generally parallel axes for gripping the closure caps and threading them upon the jar necks, a supporting shaft for each roll extending upwardly therefrom, a pivoted carrier for each shaft with the pivot extending horizontally substantially parallel to said path, a rotatable sleeve extending vertically in each carrier, each said shaft being threaded axially into the sleeve whereby rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve adjusts the operating level of the corresponding closure cap spinning roll and releasble lock means for securing the shaft against independent bodily movement relative to the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,664,514 Kramer Apr. 3, 1928 2,596,408 Johnson et a1. May 13, 1952 2,734,672 Day et a1. Feb. 14, 1956 2,758,434 Johnson et a1. Aug. 14, 1956

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