US3349542A - Container seamer and enclosure therefor - Google Patents

Description

G. A. GUCKEL CONTAINER SEAMERJND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Filed April 19, v1965 Oct. 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Cmuer A, 60021 RUQ MQMQYQhEN 933 lrrailviy Oct. 31, 1967 G..A. GUCKEL CONTAINER 'SEAMER AND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Filed April 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. r'ie/mer A, Guava-'4 7 flrraen i/ v Oct. 31, 1967 G. A. GUCKEL 3, 4

' CONTAIINER SEAMEH AND ENCLOSURE-THEREFOR Filed April 19, 1965 4 heetS-Sheet :5

I INVENTOR. I Gen/1407A Gut/(EZ- 3,349,542 CONTAINER SEAMER AND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR I Filed April 19, 1965 Oct. 31,1967 5. A. GUCKEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,rraiwiK United States Patent 3,349,542 CONTAINER SEAMER AND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Gerhart A. Guckel, Los Altos, Calif-Z, assignor to James Dole Engineering Co., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 449,097 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-112) This invention relates to a sterile or aseptic packaging process in which containers and their covers are sterilized, the sterile containers filled with a sterile product, and the filled containers then covered and sealed-all such operations being conducted under sterile or aseptic conditions. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a container seamer and enclosure therefor within which an aseptic environment is provided for each filled container and its cover as they are joined to define a hermetically sealed compartment about the sterile product therewithin.

As explained in Patent No. 2,711,645, entitled, Apparatus for Sterilizing Food Containers, in an aseptic packaging process (which process usually involves rigid containers such as open-mouth metal cans and is generally referred to as canning), steam or other gas is heated to an appropriate sterilizing temperature in excess of 212 F.

and is then introduced into the packaging or canning apparatus to maintain sterile conditions therein. Such apparatus need not be significantly pressurized, whereupon the sterile gaseous environment therein can approach atmospheric pressure, because the sterile gas introduced into the apparatus is itself effective to prevent the ingress of outside or ambient air and other gases thereinto because of its permitted continuous escape (which is small as a consequence of the relatively low pressures) through various openings in the apparatus. The details of an aseptic canning process of the type being considered are set forth in the aforementioned patent as well as in Patent No. 2,685,520, among others.

Quite evidently, it is necessary in such an aseptic packaging or canning process to join each filled container and cover therefor while within a sterile or aseptic environment, and an object, among others, of the present invention is to provide an improved closure apparatus, such as a container seamer, comprising an enclosure structure which enables the attainment of such an aseptic environment.

Generally stated, the closure apparatus comprises a multiple-spindle container seamer having two relatively rotatable components (at least one thereof usually being of complex geometric shape), one of which is a lower spindle turret provided with a plurality of spindle units adapted to concurrently support a plurality of containers thereon and the other of which is an upper seaming head turret provided with a plurality of seaming heads respectively adapted to cooperatively engage and seam a container and cover displaced upwardly theretoward by a spindle unit aligned therewith. The apparatus also comprises an enclosure structure that accommodates rotation of the lower spindle turret and upper seaming head turret, and similarly accommodates reciprocable displacements of the various spindle units. The clearances afforded between the relatively movable surfaces, formed in part by the enclosure, are such that a restricted escape of sterilized gas from the interior of such enclosure is permitted, which restricted escape is attained as a result of the relatively small clearances provided and the consequent moisture condensation from the sterilized gas (usually superheated steam) on the facing surfaces defining such clearances.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an aseptic food packaging or canning system embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken, side view in elevation of the closure apparatus taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a broken, vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 5 is a broken, transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a broken, vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

The apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in FIG- URE 1 constitutes an aseptic packaging or canning system in which containers (particularly open-mouth metal cans) are sterilized, are then filled with a sterile product, and are thereafter closed with a sterile cover so that each container defines a hermetic enclosure about the sterile product. Such apparatus includes a container sterilizer 15 having an infeed section 16 whereat empty containers are fed onto a conveyor for movement into and through the sterilizer 15. Sterilized containers are discharged from the sterilizer 15 through a housing 17 and into a filler 18 at which a sterile product (a food product, for example, such as milk) is introduced into the containers. A by-pass section 19 is arranged with the housing 17 and filler 18 so as to return to the infeed section 16 any excess containers or containers otherwise not admitted into the filler 18.

The filled containers are transported from the filler 18 through a sterile atmosphere defined by a covered conveyor 20 to closure apparatus 21 such as a can seamer. As each container is admitted into the closure apparatus 21, a sterile cover or lid is discharged in synchronism therewith from a cover sterilizer 22, each filled container and a cover therefor are then united in the closure apparatus 21 to hermetically seal the sterile product within the container, and the filled containers are then discharged through a conveyor section 23.

The entire apparatus including the container sterilizer 15, the cover sterilizer 22, the housing 17 and conveyor 20, the filler 18, and the closure apparatus 21 has a sterile atmosphere maintained throughout. In order to maintain such sterile atmosphere, a gaseous fluid such as steam, superheated to a temperature of about 500 F. at approximately atmospheric pressure, is continuously directed into the apparatus at appropriate locations. In the system illustrated, a heater unit 24 which, for example, may be of the gas burner type as indicated by the burner mechanism 25, has water delivered thereto through an infeed conduit 26. The water is converted into superheated steam within the heater unit 24 and is delivered to such locations along the apparatus by means of a discharge conduit 27.

In the apparatus shown, the sterile atmosphere within the filler 18 is provided by sterilizing air pumped through the heater 24 by a suitable blower or fan and conveyed to the filler by a manifold 28 (which is broken off in FIG- URE l for purposes of simplifying the drawing and to permit a clear illustration of components of the system otherwise concealed by the manifold). With respect to the present invention, the container sterilizer 15, filler 18, cover sterilizer 22, heater unit 24, and the respectively associated and intervening components all may be completely conventional.

The closure apparatus 21 in the specific structure illustrated is a can seamer which, for the most part, may be substantially conventional and, for example, can be an Angelus, Model 66L Seamer made by the Angelus Sanitary Can Machine Co. of Los Angeles, Calif. The general structural and operational characteristics of a seamer of this type are described in Patent No. 2,052,620. Accordingly, the apparatus comprises a base 29 having a lower spindle turret 30 supported thereon. Also supported by the base 29 are a plurality of upwardly extending struts 31 and 32 which, adjacent their upper ends, have a casing or gear housing 33 mounted thereon. Depending from the housing 33 and rotatable with respect thereto is an upper seaming head turret 34. Both the lower turret 3t and upper turret 34 are rotatable with respect to the base 29 and struts 31 and 32, and rotational displacements are imparted to the turrets through a drive shaft 35 (FIGURE 3) and gearing (not shown) located within the upper housing 33 and lower base 29.

The lower turret 30 comprises a generally annular plate 36 supported along the upper face of a platform 37 carried by the base 29 and rigidly related thereto. The plate 36 is rotatable with respect to the platform 37 and is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending spindle units (there being six in the structure shown respectively denoted with the numerals 38a through 38f). Each of the spindle units 38 is provided with a support or bearing block 39 fixedly secured to the plate 36 so as to rotate therewith. Each unit 38 further comprises a rod or shaft 40, vertically reciprocable with respect to the bearing block 39, carrying along the upper end thereof a pedestal 41 adapted to support a filled container 42 thereon.

The shaft and pedestal 41 carried thereby are vertically reciprocable between an uppermost position, shown in FIGURE 4, in which the container and a cover supported thereon are displaced upwardly into operative engagement with one of a plurality of seaming heads 43 carried by the upper turret 34, and a lower position in which the container 42 and cover thereon are displaced downwardly and away from the head 43. The turret 34 is provided with a seaming head for each of the spindle units 38, and such seaming heads are respectively aligned in a vertical direction with the spindle units.

Reciprocatory displacements are enforced upon each shaft 40 and its pedestal 41 as the turret 30 is rotated, and such displacements are usually effected by cam mechanism (not shown) which, in accordance with the angular position of the turret, lowers the spindle unit into position for receiving a container thereon, thereafter elevates such container against an overlying cover to position the same upon the open mouth of the container and then into operative engagement with the associated seaming head 43, and after the seaming operation, lowers the sealed container to permit discharge thereof from the closure apparatus.

The containers 42 are appropriately located along the respective pedestals 41 by a guide 44 which is somewhat in the nature of a star wheel and is provided with a plurality of semi-circular recesses each dimensioned to accommodate a container 42 therein, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Evidently, there are six such recesses and, for purposes of identification, they are respectively denoted 45a through 45 The guide 44 rotates with the lower turret 30 to continuously maintain a predetermined positional relation with the spindle units 38.

The upper turret 34 rotates in enforcing synchronism with the lower turret 30 and, in addition, each of the seaming heads 43 rotates in performing a seaming operation about an axis therethrough which is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis through a container 42 supported upon the associated pedestal 41. Such rotational movement of the seaming head is necessary for the purpose of uniting each container with a cover therefor. Moreover, the seaming head 43, in the usual case, comprises a plurality of seaming rollers that are cammed inwardly toward the upper edge of the container during the seaming operation and, therefore, means (not shown) must be provided to effect such inward camming displacements of the rollers.

Referring to FIGURE 3 in particular, containers, after they have been filled with a sterile product, are advanced into the closure apparatus 21 through the conveyor 20 which comprises an endless chain 46 equipped with a plurality of flights 47 secured thereto at spaced apart intervals therealong. The flights 47 are adapted to respectively engage containers 42, as shown, to advance the same toward the lower turret 30. The conveyor chain 46 is entrained about drive and idler sprockets (not shown), and it is adapted to pass downwardly through an opening 48 provided'for this purpose in the bottom wall or plate 49 of the aforementioned enclosure structure. The opening 48 is laterally elongated, as shown at 50, to accommodate downward movement of the flights 47 through the bottom closure wall 49.

The conveyor 20 through the flights 47 thereof is effective to displace each container 42 onto a pedestal 41 of one of the spindle units 38. At the same time that containers are being so delivered, covers 51 are being advanced toward the turret 30 by a transfer mechanism 52 forming a part of the closure apparatus. The transfer mechanism 52 includes a track, defined by inner and outer rails 53 and 54, that terminates in overlying relation with the lower turret 30 at a position such that a cover 51 located at the inner terminal end of the track (which general location may be referred to as the assembly station) is essentially aligned with a container then supported on the adjacent pedestal 41. Therefore, such container will engage the aligned cover and seat the same on its open end when displaced upwardly toward the cover by the shaft 40 and pedestal 41.

The covers 51 are respectively displaced along the track defined by the rails 53 and 54 by a plurality of pusher fingers 55 that are rotatably driven by a shaft 56 rotated in synchronous relation with the shaft 35. The time relationship enforced upon the containers 42 and covers 51 is such that each successive cover meets with a container adjacent the end of the track so that the cover can be seated upon such aligned container and subsequently united therewith by the associated seaming head 43.

The sealing operation is performed as the turrets angularly displace each container from the assembly station position occupied by the spindle unit 38d (in FIGURE 3) to the position occupied by the spindle unit 38a in such figure. By the time that the sealed container approaches the discharge station occupied by the spindle unit 45b, the unit is in its lowermost position and the sealed container thereon is ready to be displaced from the pedestal 41 by a star wheel 57 rotatably driven by a shaft 58 rotated in synchronism by the aforementioned shafts 35 and 56. The star wheel 57 is provided with a plurality of arcuate recesses successively oriented and disposed to have a sealed container positioned therein and to displace such container angularly along an arcuate path defined by a guide 59 which communicates with the aforementioned discharge conveyor section 23.

In addition to the aforementioned bottom wall 49, the enclosure structure includes an annular ring 60 having a plurality of circular openings therein spaced apart angularly and respectively aligned with the pedestals 41 so as to pass the same therethrough. For purposes of identification, such openings are denoted with the numeral 61, the letter suffixes a through 3 being used therewith to respectively associate such openings with the spindle units 38a through 38 The ring 60 is mounted upon the lower turret 30 so as to rotate therewith and, for this purpose, a plurality of support brackets 62 are provided which at their lower ends are fixedly related to the plate 36 of the turret by cap screws 63. In a similar manner, the brackets 62 at their upper ends are fixedly related to the ring 60 by cap screws 64. In particular, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the plate 36 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending bosses 65 respectively aligned with the supports 62 to receive the same thereon. The supports 62 extend upwardly a spaced distance from the plate 36 and bosses 65 thereon so as to dispose the ring 60 at a predetermined elevation above the plate.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the ring 60 is a relatively thick element from top to bottom, and the lower portion of each opening 61 is somewhat reduced in diameter. The mergence of such lower portion of reduced diameter with the upper portion of the opening defines an annular shoulder or seat 66. The diameter of the lower portion of each opening 61 is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the associated pedestal 41 and a loose fit is thereby provided therebetween. In a corresponding manner, the diameter of the upper portion of each opening 61 is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flange 67 provided by the associated pedestal 41 along the upper edge thereof so that such flange is freely reciprocable with respect to the upper portion of such opening. The clearances defined between the facing surfaces of each pedestal and the upper and lower portions of the ring openings are in the approximate range of 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch in each instance. The plate 49 has a large central opening 68 therein of circular configuration dimensioned so as to approximate the outer diameter of the ring 60 which, it may be noted, has a circular perimeter. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the plate 49 is a stationary element and the ring 60 rotates relative thereto; and the clearance defined between the adjacent facing surfaces of the plate 49 and ring 60 is in the approximate range of 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch, as in the case of the ring and adjacent surfaces of the pedestals 41. A similar clearance is defined between the inner surface of the ring 60 and facing outer surface 69 of an inner collar 70 fixedly related to a central standard or casing component 71 of the closure apparatus as by means of a plurality of screws 72. Evidently, the facing surfaces of the ring 60 and collar 70 are circular, and the collar rotates with the ring because the casing component 71 to which it is secured rotates with the lower turret.

As stated hereinbefore, the plate 49 together with the ring 60, pedestal-s 41 and collar 70, form the bottom wall of the aforementioned enclosure; and although the ring, pedestals and collar are rotated by the lower turret, the plate is stationary since it is secured to the base 29 of the closure apparatus through the struts 31 and 32. As shown in FIGURE 3, the plate 49 may be formed in two or more sections for assembly purposes (as is the ring 60), and it is fixedly related to the strut 31 by a collar 73 clamped or otherwise secured thereto and to which the plate 49 is anchored, as by cap screws 74. In a similar manner, the plate 49 is secured to the strut 32 by a collar 75 and cap screws 76. Along the rear portion of the plate 49, it may be secured to appropriate casing elements of the closure apparatus for support purposes, as by means of cap screws 77 (shown in FIGURE 3) which extend through the plate and are threadedly received within a frame component 78 provided by the closure apparatus or transfer section 52.

The closure apparatus also includes a plurality of upwardly extending wall elements denoted in their entirety with the numeral 79. The Wall elements 79 are removably secured to the plate 49, as by means of cap screws 80, since the vertical dimension of the enclosure must be changed when the closure apparatus is adjusted to accommodate containers of different height. As illustrated best in FIGURES 2 and 3, the upwardly extending wall sections 81, 82 and 83 which comprise a part of the wall structure 79 are respectively provided with doors 84, 85 and 86 that affords access to the interior of the enclosure. The doors may be hingedly related to the respectively associated wall sections to permit swinging movement of the doors and they can be provided with conventional clasps to permit selective opening and closing of the doors. The hinges and clasps are shown in both FIGURES 2 and 3, and for an exemplary identification, the hinge of the door 85 is denoted 87 and the clasp therefor is denoted 88.

.The enclosure is further provided with a top wall or plate 89 located a spaced distance above the bottom plate 49 and oriented in substantially parallel relation with respect thereto. The top wall 89 may be carried in part by collars 90 and 91 that are respectively clamped to the struts 31 and 32 and have the top wall fixedly sec-ured thereto as by means of cap screws. The top wall 89 is provided with a circular inner edge or surface 92 disposed in spaced, facing relation with the outer surface 93 of the upper turret 34 to enable such turret (and particularly the surface 93 thereof) to rotate relative to the top wall. The clearance between the facing surfaces 92 and 93 is in the order of 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch, as in the case of the aforementioned facing, relatively movable surfaces.

The upwardly extending wall members 79 are removably secured to the top wall 92, as by means of cap screws 94, so as to permit such upwardly extending walls to be interchanged for those of different vertical dimension to accommodate change in the height of cans being processed by the apparatus, as heretofore described.

As shown in FIGURE 1, an infeed conduit 95 connects with the discharge conduit 27 from the heater unit 24, and extends generally along the top wall 89 to a point at which it turns downwardly and projects through an opening provided therefor in the top wall and into the interior of the enclosure. Within the interior of the enclosure, the conduit 95 is coupled through a connector T 96 with a pair of distribution conduits 97 and 98 that are generally horizontally disposed one above the other, and are therefore essentially parallel with the bottom and top walls 49 and 89 of the enclosure. The distribution conduits 97 and 98 are capped at the ends thereof and may be respectively supported by L-shaped brackets '99 and 100 which are respectively secured to the top wall 89 and bottom wall 49 of the enclosure. Each distribution conduit, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, is provided with a plurality of inwardly facing discharge apertures, 101 in the case of the conduit 97 and 102 in the case of the conduit 98, through which sterilized gas is discharged into the interior of the enclosure to maintain an aseptic atmosphere therewithin.

The major escape of sterilized gas from the enclosure occurs through the discharge opening 103 formed in the upwardly extending wall 82 of the enclosure and oriented in alignment with the discharge conveyor section 23 located exterior of the wall 82. Aligned with the discharge opening 103 within the interior of the enclosure are a pair of guides 104 and 105, each of which is in the form of a generally L-shaped channel bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom wall or plate 49 of the enclosure. The guides 104 and 105 define a passageway 106 therebetween dimensioned to pass containers 42 therealong and outwardly through the discharge opening 103. As noted in FIGURE 3, the guide 104 is in alignment with and effectively forms a continuation of the aforementioned arouate guide 59.

There is very little escape of gas to atmosphere through the entrance into the enclosure because such entrance connects with one end of the covered conveyor 20 which, at its other end, connects with the tiller apparatus 18. The filler apparatus is also enclosed so that an aseptic atmosphere can be provided therewithin. The sterile gas within the enclosure 'can escape, however, through the aforementioned opening 48 that passes the conveyor chain 46 therethrough, and it can further escape through a cover reject opening 107 formed in the upwardly extending side wall 84 of the enclosure.

As shown best in FIGURE 6, the reject opening 107 communicates with a chute 108 located within the interior of the enclosure and which is generally downwardly and outwardly oriented. The entrance into the chute is denoted with the numeral 109, and it is generally aligned in both the vertical and transverse directions with the terminal end of the cover track defined by the rails 53 and 54. The function of the reject structure formed Z by the openings 107 and 109 together with the chute 108 is to discharge covers 51 which are advanced into the closing apparatus by the transfer mechanism 52, and which do not for some reason meet with a container 42 and are not, therefore, immediately used in the closing apparatus.

In this respect, each of the pusher fingers 55, which are orbitally driven by the shaft 56 to traverse an arcuate path defined in part by the track-forming rails 53 and 54. is magnetized and, therefore, develops a gripping force on a cover 51 in engagement therewith. In the usual instance, covers are formed of a magnetic base metal such as steel effectively encapsulated in a suitable coating material such as tin solder and/ or lacquer, as is well known. Accordingly, each cover 51 is magnetically attracted to the associated pusher finger 55 in positive engagement therewith. Such positive connection between a finger and cover is maintained as the cover is advanced along the track to the assembly station, defined by the location of the spindle unit 38d in FIGURE 3.

At the assembly station, the spindle unit located thereat is moving upwardly to displace a container 42 mounted thereon into engagement with an overlying cover 51 and to thus urge such cover and the upper end portion of the container into the associated seaming head 43 which will thereafter unite the container and cover. This upward movement of the container will be effective to remove the cover from the magnetic grip of the adjacent pusher finger. However, if there is no container 42 positioned upon the upwardly moving spindle unit, the overlying cover 51 will not be displaced from the grip of the pusher finger; and, consequently, such cover will not be utilized in the closing apparatus.

As each cover 51 moves into the assembly station, it has a relatively high velocity (which, by way of example, in a specific closing apparatus having six spindles, as shown, and is processing about 400 cans per minute will be about 200 linear feet per minute). The centrifugal force developed in each cover at such high velocities is sufficiently great to overcome the centripetal component of the magnetic gripping force exerted by the pusher finger, and since the track terminates at the assembly station, the unconfined cover accelerates away from the associated pusher finger and toward the opening 109 in the reject structure.

The momentum in each released cover is sufficiently great to carry it through such opening 109, downwardly through the chute 108, and outwardly through the opening 107. Thus, any cover advanced into the closing apparatus and which does not meet with a container at the assembly station is immediately discharged from the enclosure through the reject structure thereof.

The aforementioned clearance of from 0.010 to 0.020 of an inch provided between the relatively movable facing surfaces respectively provided by the enclosure structure and by the closing apparatus is in itself sufficiently small to restrict the escape of sterlizing gas between such surfaces. Moreover, it has been found that such a clearance results in the accumulation in such spaces of condensation from the sterilizing gas (usually superheated steam), and that the condensation forms a seal that substantially inhibits the escape of gas. Thus, there is substantially no loss of sterilizing gas between the facing surfaces respectively defined by the top wall 89 and seaming head turret 34, between the facing surfaces respectively defined by the bottom wall 49 and ring 60, between such surfaces of the ring 60 and collar 70, and between the ring 60 and spindle units 38 provided by the lower turret 30.

The closure apparatus 21 can be adjusted so as to accommodate containers 42 of different vertical dimension. If there is a significant change in the vertical dimension of the containers, it may be necessary to change the vertical spacing between the bottom wall 49 and top wall 89 Of the enclosure structure. Such change is accomplished 8 in the apparatus shown by removing the upwardly extending wall elements 79, cap screws being used to secure the same in position, and replacing such wall elements with those of appropriate vertical dimension. The gap or clearance provided between the ring 60 and collar 70 ati'ords relative vertical displacements between these two elements to facilitate adjustment of the apparatus to accommodate containers of different heights.

In operation, the closure apparatus 21 functions in the usual manner with containers 42 (which have been sterilized and filled with a sterile product) being delivered thereto in succession for respective disposition onto the spindle units 38. Such positioning of the containers on the spindle units occurs essentially at the assembly station which is occupied by the spindle unit 38d in the illustration of FIGURE 3. Similarly, a succession of sterilized covers 51 are advanced into the closing apparatus and into the assembly station in timed relation with the arrival of containers 42 thereat for respective assembly therewith. Thereafter, each container and cover therefor are united in the usual manner by the cooperative action of the reciprocable spindle units and respectively associated seaming heads as the upper and lower turrets angularly displace the container-cover composition to the discharge station generally indicated by the star wheel 57. The completely closed containers are then discharged from the apparatus through the exit opening 103 thereof, as heretofore described.

During this entire closing operation, an aseptic environment is provided by the enclosure structure and sterilized gaseous atmosphere therewithin. Accordingly, the sterile product within each container is assuredly maintained in such sterile condition after the container is properly closed with a cover and a hermetic compartment thereby provided about the product. Contamination of the interior of the enclosure by the admission of ambient air thereinto is prevented by the continuous escape of gas through any openings about the enclosure, which principally comprise the discharge opening 103 and the opening 109 of the reject structure.

As the covers 51 are successively advanced along the track defined by the rails 53 and 54 by the pusher fingers 55, they are intended to respectively meet with containers 42 delivered to the assembly station in timed relation therewith. In the absence of such meeting, the cover continues to have motion imparted thereto by the associated pusher finger which is moving continuously; and the centrifugal force of the cover corresponding to the velocity of movement thereof and termination of the constraint previously supplied by the track causes the cover to break loose from the magnetic grip of the pusher finger and to carry into the chute 108 and outwardly through the opening 107 thereof, as shown in FIGURE 6.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a succession of product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon a plurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers, such assembly of the containers and covers being effected as the spindle units are angularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindle unit turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance to the exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, a stationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing a surface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring with sufiicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, a plurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottom wall, a top wall secured to said upwardly extending walls, said bottom wall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring element comprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindle units, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, saidlenclosure structure having a continuously open exit through which closed containers are discharged and through which the sterilizing gas is permittedto escape continuously.

2. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a succession of product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon a plurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers, such assembly of the containers and covers being effected as the spindle units are angularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindle unit turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance to the exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, a stationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing a surface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring with suflicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, a plurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottom wall, a top Wall secured to said upwardly extending walls, said bottom wall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring element comprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindle units, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, said enclosure structure having a continuously open exit through which closed containers are discharged and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously, the clearances defined between said ring element and reciprocable spindle units and between said ring element and circumjacent bottom Wall being sufliciently close that moisture condensation effectively closes the same to restrict the escape of sterilizing gas when superheated steam is employed therefor.

3. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a succession of product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon a plurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers, such assembly of the containers and covers being eflfected as the spindle units are angularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindle unit turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance to the exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, a stationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing a surface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring with sufiicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, a plurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottom wall, a top wall secured to said upwardly extending walls, said bottom wall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring element comprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindle units, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, said enclosure structure having a continuously open exit through which closed containers are discharged and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously, said enclosure structure also having a continuously open cover discharge structure through which unused covers are ejected and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously.

4. The coinbination of claim 3 in which the clearances defined between said ring element and reciprocable spindle units and between said ring element and circumjacent bottom wall are sufficiently close that moisture condensation effectively closes the same to restrict the escape of sterilizing gas when superheated steam is employed therefor.

5. In combinationwith container closure apparatus in which a succession of product-filled containers are respectively positioned upon a plurality of reciprocable spindle units for assembly with covers by the coaction of a plurality of seaming heads respectively associated with said spindle units, such assembly of the containers and covers being effected as the spindle units and seaming heads are ang-ularly displaced about a closed path by a rotatable spindle unit turret and rotatable seaming head turret to advance each container and its cover from the entrance to the exit of the apparatus; a ring element carried by said turret so as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, a stationary bottom wall supported by said apparatus and providing a surface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said ring with sufiicient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, a plurality of upwardly extending wall elements secured to said bottom wall, a top wall secured to said upwardly extending wall and providing a surface oriented in circumjacent facing relation with said seaming head turret with sufficient clearance to permit relative rotation therebetween, said bottom Wall, upwardly extending wall elements, top wall and said ring element comprising enclosure structure defining an enclosure about said spindle units, and means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, said enclosure structure having a continuously open exit through which closed containers are discharged and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said enclosure structure also has a continuously open cover discharge structure through which unused covers are ejected and through which the sterilizing gas is permitted to escape continuously.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which all of the aforesaid clearances are sufficiently close that moisture condensation effectively closes the same to restrict the escape of sterilizing gas when superheated steam is employed therefor.

8. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a succession of product-filled containers are advanced one-by-one into an assembly station and in which a succession of covers are similarly advanced oneby-one into such assembly station to meet a container thereat; enclosure structure providing an enclosure within which the assembly of each container and cover therefor is effected, means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, and a transfer mechanism including an arcuate track terminating adjacent such assembly station and a pusher structure for displacing each cover along such track, said enclosure structure having a cover discharge struc ture generally aligned with said assembly station and through which unused covers are ejected, the inertia of any cover being sufiicient to carry the same outwardly through said cover discharge structure whenever a container is not in a position to meet a cover as it is advanced into the assembly station.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said pusher structure includes a magnetized pusher finger for engagement with a cover to displace the same toward said assembly station, the inertia of the cover being sufficient to displace the same from the magnetic grip of such finger when a container is not in position to meet such cover at the assembly station.

10. The combination of claim 8 in which said cover discharge structure is continuously open and sterilizing gas continuously escapes therefrom.

11. In combination with container closure apparatus in which a succession of product-filled containers are advanced one-by-one into an assembly station and in which a succession of covers are similarly advanced oneby-one into such assembly station to meet a container thereat, such closure apparatus including a rotatable spindle unit turret equipped with a plurality of reciprocable spindle units respectively adapted to receive a container thereon at such assembly station and also including .a rotatable seaming head turret equipped with a plurality of seaming heads respectively associated with said spindle units for coaction therewith, such assembly of the containers and covers being effected as the rotational movement of said turrets advances each container and its cover from the entrance to the exit of the apparatus; enclosure structure providing an enclosure within which the assembly of each container and cover therefor is effected, means for admitting a sterilizing gas into said enclosure to provide an aseptic atmosphere therewithin, and a transfer mechanism for displacing each cover into such assembly station, said enclosure structure having a cover discharge structure generally aligned with said assembly station and through which unused covers are ejected by their own inertia whenever a container is not in a position to meet a cover as it is advanced into the assembly station, said enclosure structure comprising both stationary and rotatable components and also accommodating reciprocable displacements of said spindle units, the clearances defined between facing relatively movable surfaces being sufiicient to restrict the escape of sterilizing gas from said enclosure.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which one of the elements of said enclosure structure comprises a ring carried by said spindle unit turret so as to rotate therewith and being provided with a plurality of openings respectively receiving said spindle units therein and being dimensioned to enable the spindle units to reciprocate with respect thereto, said spindle unit turret being equipped With a collar rotatable therewith, said ring and collar having spaced apart facing surfaces affording relative movement therebetween for adjustment of the closure apparatus to accommodate containers of different height.

No references cited.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH CONTAINER CLOSURE APPARATUS IN WHICH A SUCCESSION OF PRODUCT-FILLED CONTAINERS ARE RESPECTIVELY POSITIONED UPON A PLURALITY OF RECIPROCABLE SPINDLE UNITS FOR ASSEMBLY WITH COVERS, SUCH ASSEMBLY OF THE CONTAINERS AND COVERS BEING EFFECTED AS THE SPINDLE UNITS ARE ANGULARLY DISPLACED ABOUT A CLOSED PATH BY A ROTATABLE SPINDLE UNIT TURRET TO ADVANCE EACH CONTAINER AND ITS COVER FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THE EXIT OF THE APPARATUS; A RING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID TURRET SO AS TO ROTATE THEREWITH AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS RESPECTIVELY RECEIVING SAID SPINDLE UNITS THEREIN AND BEING DIMENSIONED TO ENABLE THE SPINDLE UNITS TO RECIPROCATE WITH RESPECT THERETO, A STATIONARY BOTTOM WALL SUPPORTED BY SAID APPARATUS AND PROVIDING A SURFACE ORIENTED IN CIRCUMJACENT FACING RELATION WITH SAID RING WITH SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO PERMIT RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN, A PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALL ELEMENTS SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL, A TOP WALL SECURED TO SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALLS, SAID BOTTOM WALL, UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALL ELEMENTS, TOP WALL AND SAID RING ELEMENT COMPRISING ENCLOSURE STRUCTURE DEFINING AN ENCLOSURE ABOUT SAID SPINDLE UNITS, AND MEANS FOR ADMITTING A STERILIZING GAS INTO SAID ENCLOSURE TO PROVIDE AN ASEPTIC ATMOSPHERE THEREWITHIN, SAID ENCLOSURE STRUCTURE HAVING A CONTINUOUSLY OPEN EXIT THROUGH WHICH CLOSED CONTAINER ARE DISCHARGED AND THROUGH WHICH THE STERILIZING GAS IS PERMITTED TO ESCAPE CONTINUOUSLY.

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