US3301208A - Apparatus for closing the open ends of cylindrical bodies - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1967 F. A. CULP 3,301,208

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS OF CYLINDHICAL BODIES Filed June 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTOR FRED A.Quu=

F. A. CULP Jan. 31, 1967 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS OF CYLINDRICAL BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1964 INVENTOR. 11: (gum? F. A. CULP I APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN. ENDS OF CYLINDREECAL BODIES Filed June 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. A. CULP Jan. 31, 1967 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS OF CYLINDRICAL BODIES Filed June 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FQED A. CuLP United States Patent Oflice 3,361,268 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 3,301,208 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS F CYLINDRICAL BODIES Fred A. Culp, Leavittsburg, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Corrugating Company, Warren, Ohio Filed June 9, 1964-, Ser. No. 373,721 7 Claims. (Cl. 113114) The present invention relates to apparatus for closing the open ends of cylindrical bodies, more particularly to apparatus for depositing closure members on the open ends of cylindrical bodies, and the principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus of the character described.

In the manufacture of certain sheet metal cans, a tubular can body is formed with a radially outwardly extending marginal flange. A closure member, for example, the can bottom, provided with a radially inwardly extending marginal flange, is then assembled with the can body so that the respective flanges overlap. Finally, the closure member and can body flanges are folded together to provide a permanent, leak-proof seam.

In the past, considerable difficulty has attended the disposition of the closure member on the can body prior to the seaming operation. This results in part because of the necessary close tolerance between the outside diameter of the can flange and the inside diameter of the closure flange, in part because the closure member has a central depressed portion which closely fits within the can body, and in part because of high production speeds.

The present invention provides for the disposition of closure members on the open ends of can bodies with unfailing accuracy and at high speed with no attention other than to make certain of a continuing supply of can bodies and closure members. These and other advantages will readily become apparent from a study of the following description and from the drawings appended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application there is shown, for

purpose of illustration, an embodiment which the invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, broken, enlarged, vertically separated, sectional view of the two parts Whose assembly is contemplated by the present invention,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but with the two parts in assembled relation,

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of cooperating portions of the parts seen in FIG- URES 2 and 3, but illustrating the positions of the parts at various stages of assembly with each other,

FIGURE 5 is a broken, fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1 but to a larger scale for greater clarity of detail,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the apparatus seen in FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 77 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of a detail,

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the detail seen in FIGURE 8 and illustrating one of its functions,

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view generally corresponding to the line 1010 of FIGURE 9, and

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing the illustrated detail in another position.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the reference character 10 illustrates a generally horizontal conveyor which transports tubular bodies B in upstanding, laterally spaced relation in the direction of the arrow. Such conveyor may carry lugs 10.1 which engage respective bodies to insure against slippage between the conveyor and the bodies. During movement of the bodies B along the conveyor, closure members C are deposited on the upper open ends of successive bodies by apparatus 11, and the bodies with closure members thereon are then conveyed to suitable apparatus (not shown since it forms no part of the present invention) which secures each body and its closure mem ber together in fluidtight relation} Although not shown, apparatus 11 will be supported above the conveyor 10 by any suitable supporting structure.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, each tubular body B is herein shown formed of sheet metal and provides at its upper end a radially outwardly projecting marginal flange 12. Each closure member C has a depressed portion 13 for closely fitting within the open upper end of the body B, a radially outwardly extending peripheral portion 14, and an underlying, radially inwardly extending marginal flange 15. At assembly and as illustrated in FIGURE 3, flange 15 of the closure member C underlies the body flange 12.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, there is fragmentarily illustrated various stages presently employed in the disposition of a closure member B on a tubular body B. As seen in full lines in FIGURE 4, the closure member C is initially supported at an angle to the path of body travel with the periphery of the closure member intersecting such path. The arrangement is such that with the body moving from its full line position to the right, the body flange 12 will pass beneath the depressed portion 13 of the closure member and engage the closure member flange 15. Continued movement of the body to the right from the first phantom line position of the body will draw the closure member C along with it, see the two phantom line positions on the right, until the closure member is finally seated on the body member as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The apparatus 11 presently employed to carry out the foregoing assembly operation will next be described with reference first to FIGURES 5 and 7. Briefly, apparatus 11 comprises a hopper portion for supporting a plurality of closure members C in superposed relation and a slide portion for guiding gravitational movement of a closure member from the hopper to a discharge station whereat it is supported for engagement with a moving body C as previously described. The hopper portion of apparatus 11 comprises a lower plate 16 and an upper plate 17 held in spaced-apart relation by tie bolts-spacer members 18. Although not shown, plate 16 is apertured to allow for the passage therethrough, and in fiat-wise relation, of the closure member C; such members, however, normally being retained against falling through the plate aperture by means later to be described. Secured to the underside of plate 16 and more or less directly beneath the stacked closure members C is a slide 19 having an inclined floor 20 and opposed sides 21.

Pivotally attached to the lower part of slide 19 by means of a hinge 22 is a slide 23 having an inclined floor 24 and opposed sides 25. As will be evident, slide 23 forms a continuation of slide 19; albeit at a greater angle than the latter. A yoke 26 extends between the two slide sides 25 and is secured to an extension 16.1 of the plate 16 by means of an adjusting screw and nut assembly 27. This arrangement provides for movement of the slide 23 about the hinge 22 to permit adjustment of the vertical height of the lower end of the slide and also adjustment of slide angularity. With the construction thus far described, it will be understood that when a closure member C is released from the hopper section, it will fall on to the down the latter.

Means are provided to arrest movement of a closure member C at a discharge position at the lower end of slide 23 and for this purpose, a pair of circular abutments 28 are secured in spaced relation to the slide floor 24 adjacent its lower end (see especially FIGURE 7). With a closure member positioned in engagement with the abutments 28, the closure member projects beyond the slide member floor 24, as illustrated, for projection into the path of a moving body as previously described.

Since a closure member is moving rather rapidly when it engages the abutments 28, means are provided to insure that such member will not jump over the abutments. For this purpose, an arm 29 is pivoted to each side wall 25 at 30 and extending between the free ends of such arms is an elongated, pivotally supported roller 31 which engages the upper surface of the closure member. Additionally, each arm 29 rotatably carries a relatively narrow but larger diameter roller 32 which also bears against the upper surface of the closure member. Arms 29 are connected together for unitary movement about their pivots 30 by means of an overlying bar 33 and a weight 34 is secured to the bar for yieldably biasing the arms 29 and thus their rolls 31, 32 toward the closure member. For a purpose later to appear, a limit switch 35 (FIG- URE is secured to a side wall 25 with the actuator thereof engaged with its adjoining arm 29.

With a closure member C supported by the slide 23 at its illustrated discharge position, movement of a body B to the right will engage the closure member as previously described. Following engagement of the closure member by the body, subsequent body movement will first release the closure member from the slide and then draw the closure member along with the body. Release of the closure member from the slide 23 will take place when the closure member end engaged with the body has been moved to the right an amount sufficient for the closure member to clear the abutments 28. Closure member C, in moving to clear the abutments 28 will raise the rollers 31, 32 by rotating the arms 29 about their pivots.

v Since the weight-biased rollers 31, 32 impede initial movement of the closure member along with the body, there would be a tendency for the latter to tilt on the conveyor. Such tilting, however, is resisted by an elongated roller 36 (FIGURE 5) on the underside of the slide 23, which engages the top of thebody during its initial engagement with the closure member. While roller 36 may merely be an idler which rotates only as a result of engagement of the moving body B therewith, it is preferable to rotate the roller 36 at a peripheralspeed approximating the speed of body movement by means of a suitable motor 36.1. Also, to insure against marring the body, roller 36 may be covered with rubber or the like.

As earlier mentioned, means are provided for selectively releasing a closure member C from the hopper section of the apparatus to the slides 19 and 23 and as herein disclosed, three upright cam shafts 37 are rotatably carried .by the plates 16, 17 in evenly spaced relation about the stacked closure members.

As best seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, each cam shaft 37 has an enlargement at its lower end providing verticallyspaced, lower and upper radially outwardly extending shoulders 38, .39, respectively. Shoulders 38, 39 have circumferentially spaced, cut-away portions 38.1 and 39.1, respectively, and shoulder 39 is tapered as shown for a purpose to appear. As best seen FIGURES 9, and 11, the relationship of the shoulders on each shaft 37 is such that were such shoulders .not cutaway as shown, they would at all times underlie and support the stacked closure members. I

.In the normal position of parts seen in FIGURES 9 and 10, it will be noted that the shoulder cutout 39.1 is adjacent the stacked closure members so as not to interfere with free gravitation thereof;liowever, shoulder cutout 38.1 is toone side of the stack so that the shoulder 38 underlies and supports the latter. All three of the shafts 37, it will be understood, will be oriented in the same manner. It now each of the shafts 37 are rotated in the direction of the arrow from the position seen in FIGURE 10 to the position seen in FIGURE 11, the shoulder cutout 38.1 will be disposed adjacent the stacked closure members thereby allowing the lowermost of such members to drop down to the slide 19. The remaining closure members, however, will not fall because the shoulder cutout 39.1 is to one side of the stack so that the shoulder 39 at this time supports the latter. Thus, rotation of the shafts 37 .to the position seen in FIGURE 11 will release only the lowermost closure member of the stack.

When the shafts 37 are rotated in the direction of the arrow from the position seen in FIGURE 11 to that seen in FIGURE 10, the shoulder 39 will be withdrawn from beneath the stack while shoulder 38 will be once again positioned therebeneath. The entire stack of closure mem bers will thus drop until such stack is once again supported by the shoulder 38 to await the next release cycle.

As above described, shoulder 39 supports all but the lowermost, stacked closure members; however, such shoulder also serves another function: Certain types of closure members, when stacked one above the other, nest together so firmly that considerable force is required to separate them. Under such circumstances, merely withdrawing the shoulder 38 from beneath the lowermost closure member might not permit it to move downwardly. In such an event, the tapered shoulder 39, during rotation of shaft 37 from the position seen in FIGURE 10 to that seen in FIGURE 11, will force itself between the lowermost closure member and the one next above and by a wedging action will pry them apart to thus insure dropping of the lowermost closure member at the appropriate time.

As best seen in FIGURE 6, the means for effecting rotation aforesaid of the shafts 37 comprises a rotatably mounted disk 40 on top of the plate 17 and having three radially outwardly extending legs 40.1. Each leg 40.1 carries a roller 41 received in a groove formed in the underside of an arm 42 attached to respective shafts 37. A bracket 43 connects the disk 40 to the piston rod 44 of a fluid cylinder 45, and a leg 46 is carried by the disk for abutment with stops 4-7, 48 on the plate 17 to limit disk rotation.

In the position of parts shown, piston rod 44 is retracted thus positioning the disk leg 46 in engagement with the stop 47 to thus maintain the shafts 37 in the position seen in FIGURES 9 and 10. When piston rod 44 is extended to rotate disk 40 clockwise until its leg 46 engages the abutment 48, the shafts 37 will be rotated in a clockwise direction to the position seen in FIGURE 11. Retraction of the piston rod will, of course, return the parts to the position seen in FIGURES 6, 9 and 10.

As previously mentioned, each time a closure member is drawn from its discharge position on the slide 23, the

arms 29 will be elevated. This will actuate the limit switch 35 and, through a suitable solenoid valve (not shown), will cause extension and then retraction of the piston rod 44 of cylinder 45. In the manner hereinabove described, this cycle of operation of the piston rod will permit the lower-most closure member in the stack to gravitate down the slides 19, 23 to its discharge position in engagement with the abutments 28 to await the arrival of the next tubular body.

To insure that a closure member C is properly seated on each body B as the latter moves beyond the member depositing apparatus 11 and with reference to FIGURE 1, a fluid cylinder 49 is suitably supported in upright relation to the right of the apparatus 11. The depending piston rod 50 of cylinder 49 carries a roller 51 which, in the normal position shown, is spaced above the path of body travel.

As a body moves beyond the apparatus 11 and under the cylinder 49, the latter will be actuated by any suitable means to extend its piston rod 50 to forceably cause the roller 51 to bear upon the closure member on the body. In the event the closure member is not fully in place, the downward force exerted by the cylinder will positively seat the closure member. As the body moves from beneath the cylinder, the piston rod thereof will once again be retracted to await arrival of the next body.

In the event a body B has passed beyond the apparatus 11 and has arrived at the cylinder 49 without a closure member C having been deposited thereon, as for example, if the stack of closure members has been exhausted, downward movement of the piston rod 50 of the cylinder 49 will not be arrested by engagement of the roller 51 with the closure member. This will result in a greater than normal downward movement of the piston rod. Such greater than normal downward movement will be detected by a limit switch 52 whose actuator will be engaged by an abutment 53 carried by the piston rod. Actuation of the limit switch 52 may be utilized to sound a warning, to shut down the conveyor 19, and/or to terminate operation of succeeding or preceding line apparatus not herein shown.

While reference is herein made to cylindrical bodies, it is to be understood that this term is used in a broad sense to include bodies having a generally tubular form and which may have one or both ends open.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for depositing closure member on the open upper ends of successive upright cylindrical bodies moving generally horizontally along a predetermined path of travel wherein each closure member has opposed peripheral portions and wherein one of such portions is spaced from the other in a direction opposite that of body movement, the combination comprising a hopper supporting a plurality of closure members in superposed relation above said body travel path, a discharge station beneath said hopper and supporting a single closure member adjacent said body travel path, said single closure member being supported at said discharge station at an angle to the path of body travel with its one peripheral portion aforesaid spaced above the travel path of said bodies to avoid interference therewith and with its other peripheral portion aforesaid intersecting said body travel path to provide for engagement of such portion with a body upper end and subsequent movement of said single closure member along with a said body as the latter moves along its travel path, and means engageable with the upper ends of successive bodies during at least initial engagement thereof with respective closure members to limit tilting of said bodies as the latter move past said discharge staiton.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a roller is provided adjacent said discharge station for closely overlying said moving bodies, and wherein said roller is positioned for engagement with the upper ends of successive bodies to limit tilting thereof from their upright positions upon initial body engagement with a closure member at said discharge station.

3. In apparatus for depositing closure members on the open, upper ends of successive upright cylindrical bodies moving generally horizontally along a predetermined path of travel wherein each closure member has opposed peripheral portions and wherein one of such portions is spaced from the other in a direction opposite that of body movement, the combination comprising a hopper supporting a plurality of closure members in vertically stacked relation above said body travel path, release means having a cycle of operation which releases the lowermost closure member from said hopper, a slide underlying said hopper for guiding gravitational movement of a closure member released therefrom, fixed abutment means at the lower end of said slide and interrupting gravitational movement of a closure member and supporting the latter adjacent said body travel path at an angle thereto and with one closure member peripheral portion aforesaid spaced above the body travel path to avoid interference therewith and with its other peripheral portion aforesaid intersecting said body travel path to provide for engagement of such portion with the upper end of said body as the latter moves along its travel path, engagement of said moving body with said closure member and consequent movement of the latter with such body withdrawing said closure member from engagement with said abutment means, and means responsive to movement of a closure member away from said abutment means for initiating an operational cycle aforesaid of said release means.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein said means lastrnentioned comprises an arm yieldably biasing a closure member to engagement with said abutment means.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein said release neans comprises a plurality of rotatably mounted release members spaced circumferentially about said superposed closure members in said hopper, wherein each release member has a first abutment normally engaged beneath the lowermost of said closure members in said hopper and a second abutment spaced circumferencially above said first abutment, and wherein means simultaneously rotates said release members through a cycle of operation which first moves the second abutments thereof beneath the next to lowermost closure member in said hopper to support all of the overlying closure members, which then moves the first abutments of said release members from beneath said lowermost closure member to release the latter from said hopper, and which thereafter returns said first release member abutments to position underlying the now lowermost closure member in said hopper and said second release member abutments to one side of the closure members in said hopper to provide for gravitation of said superposed closure members to rest upon said first release member abutments.

6. The construction of claim 3 wherein the lower end of said slide is vertically adjustable to accommodate bodies of varying heights.

7. The construction of claim 6 wherein said slide has pivot connection with said hopper to provide the vertical adjustment aforesaid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,900 5/1933 Tevander 1131 14 2,053,763 9/1936 Brinton 113-114 2,304,437 12/1942 Bell 1131 14 RICHARD L. HERBST, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CLOSURE MEMBER ON THE OPEN UPPER ENDS OF SUCCESSIVE UPRIGHT CYLINDRICAL BODIES MOVING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH OF TRAVEL WHEREIN EACH CLOSURE MEMBER HAS OPPOSED PERIPHERAL PORTIONS AND WHEREIN ONE OF SUCH PORTIONS IS SPACED FROM THE OTHER INA DIRECTION OPPOSITE THAT OF BODY MOVEMENT, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A HOPPER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF CLOSURE MEMBERS IN SUPERPOSED RELATION ABOVE SAID BODY TRAVEL PATH, A DISCHARGE STATION BENEATH SAID HOOPER AND SUPPORTING A SINGLE MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID BODY TRAVEL PATH, SAID SINGLE CLOSURE MEMBER BEING SUPPORTED AT SAID DISCHARGE STATION AT AN ANGLE TO THE PATH OF BODY TRAVEL WITH ITS ONE PERIPHERAL PORTION AFORESAID SPACED ABOVE THE TRAVEL PATH OF SAID BODIES TO AVOID U INTERFERENCE THEREWITH AND WITH ITS OTHER PERIPHERAL PORTION AFORESAID INTERSECTING SAID BODY TRAVLE PATH TO PROVIDE FOR ENGAGEMENT OF SUCH PORTION WITH A BODY UPPER END AND SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT OF SAID SINGLE CLOSURE MEMBER ALONG WITH A SAID BODY AS THE LATTER MOVES ALONG ITS TRAVEL PATH, AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE UPPER ENDS OF SUCCESSIVE BODIES DURING AT LEAST INITIAL ENGAGEMENT THEREOF WITH RESPECTIVE CLOSURE MEMBERS TO LIMIT TILTING OF SAID BODIES AS THE LATTER MOVE PAST SAID DISCHARGE STATION.

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