US3577595A

US3577595A - Rotatable crown-filling machine and method for applying sealing rings of plastic to the periphery of the crown interior

Info

Publication number: US3577595A
Application number: US755244A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald C Smith; Robert E Koshada
Original assignee: Zapata Industries Inc
Current assignee: Zapata Industries Inc
Priority date: 1968-08-26
Filing date: 1968-08-26
Publication date: 1971-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-04

Abstract

A machine for forming sealing rings in container closures comprising a rotatable-type carrier having a multiplicity of locations for receiving closures to be provided with sealing rings, means at each location for supplying a stream of fluid gasket-forming material to the peripheral portion of each closure at each location, means for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during the supply of said stream thereto and means for controlling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to each closure on the carrier while it is rotating a predetermined plurality of times, so that a ring of gasket material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

Description

United States Patent lnventois Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ROTA'IABLE CROWN-FILLING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING SEALING RINGS OF PLASTIC TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE CROWN INTERIOR 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. (1 18/20 Int. Cl B29c 3/00 Field of Search 18/20 (G),

Primary Examiner-H. A. Kilby, Jr. Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor & Adams ABSTRACT: A machine for forming sealing rings in container closures comprising a rotatable-type carrier having a multiplicity of locations for receiving closures to be provided with sealing rings, means at each location for supplying a stream of fluid gasket-forming material to the peripheral portion of each closure at each location, means for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during the supply of said stream thereto and means for controlling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to each closure on the carrier while it is rotating a predetermined plurality of times, so that a ring of gasket material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

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FIG. 1

PATENT-EBHAY 4m?! 3.677.595

' SHEET 1 [1F 2 Er n 3 ml" a: a; v FE Q t 'llf hu QI N A f N g g & "W1 6 NNNNNN 0 RS I o Mimi HIM/11 J G 8|S H DONALD MITH BY ROBERT HADA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The invention relates to method and apparatus for applying a ring of fluid plastic gasket-forming material to the inner peripheral portion of a container closure, such as the caps, cro'wns, lids and other closures for various types of bottles and other containers. When the ring of gasket-forming material is applied to the closure, it is located in the position for sealing the container in a known manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art Apparatus of the general type according to the present invention is disclosed in Wilkens et al. U. S. Pat. No. 2,937,404 in that a rotatable closure-filling machine is provided for depositing fluid plastic material into the interior of container closures. Another and prior patent along this line is the Pottle US. Pat. No. 2,515,908.

Various prior patents disclose the supply of plastic gasketforming materials to closures, and at the same time effect rotation of the closures. For example, reference is made to the U .S-. Pats. to Warth No. l,86l,589, Egan No. 1,956,0l2, Foye No. 2,489,407 and .loswig No. 2,553,590.

Some of these and other prior patents disclose the use of suitable fluid plastic gasket-forming materials of various kinds such as plastisols, organisols and the like for use in providing seals, rings and liners in container closures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a method of providing a ring of gasket-formingmaterial of substantially unifonn dimensions throughout in the peripheral portion of a closure by supplying a small stream of the gasket-forming material to the peripheral portion of the closure while simultaneously rotating it on its axis a plurality of times, so that the stream of fluid gasket material forms a plurality of layers or stream deposits one upon the previous deposit during the rotation of the closure, thereby forming a ring of uniform dimensions.

I More specifically a multiplicity of closures are processed as they are carried along on a carrier from'an inlet station to an outlet station. During this travel, each of the closures is rotated a plurality of times while a stream of fluid gasket-forming material is supplied thereto in the manner described above.

The invention also comprises an apparatus or machine for carrying out the improved method, the machine comprising a carrier for container closures, specifically comprising part of a rotatable turret-type machine for carrying out the above method, including means such as a chuck or spindle for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during its movement from an inlet station of the machine to a discharge station. The machine also includes means comprising a metering means for delivering a stream of gasket-forming material to the inner peripheral portion of each closure, together with means for controlling the stream to the closure during its rotation a predetermined plurality of times.

Specifically, the metering means comprises a needle tube adapted to project into each closure, a supply duct for supplying plastic fluid to the needle tube, a valve in the duct and a piston pump means connected into the duct between the valve and the needle tube for forcing plastic material through the needle tube when the valve is closed. The piston pump and valve are actuated automatically by cam means provided on the machine.

The apparatus also includes means on the chuck or spindle for holding a closure, means for effecting rotation of the chuck or spindle and for elevating it to a position in which the closure is directly under the delivery end of the needle tube.

A specific construction of the apparatus comprises a completely automatic machine, including a rotatable carrier including superimposed discs, a lower star wheel disc, an in- 2 terrnediate disc provided with openings directly above the recesses in the star wheel and an upper disc overlapping on the openings in the intermediate disc limiting the upward movement of the closures as they are raised by the chucks into the openings in the intermediate disc.. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 with some of the details and parts of the metering devices removed. The FIG. is broken away in parts to show the arrangement of the star wheel disc and the guide ring with respectvtothe stop plate; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely approximately midway of the plan view shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 the apparatus comprises a rotatable turret-type machine 10 provided around the upper portion of its periphery with a circular series of individual metering devices l2,one at each processing location, in part operated by an cecentrically located stationary cam plate 14 held in place at the top of a fixed shaft 16 by a nut 18. The metering devices 12 are mounted on a stop and filler plate 20 extending partly over circular openings 22 for crowns in a guide ring plate 24. Both plates or discs are mounted over and secured by studs as shown in FIG. 2, to a star wheel disc 26 with the openings 22 directly over pockets or recesses 27 in the periphery of the star wheel. The metering devices 12 and the discs 24 and 26 are secured to a flange of a gear wheel 28 by studs 30. The gear wheel 28 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 16 and is rotated by a drive gear 32.

Crowns 34, to receive rings of fluid gasket material, are delivered by a conveyor 36 at the inlet station onto an inlet plate 38 located directly under .the rotatable star wheel 26 at the position of the conveyor 36. The crowns move onto the plate 38 and respectively into the recesses or pockets 27 of the star wheel 26. After the crowns are filled in the manner described later. they are discharged from the opposite side of the rotatable disc assembly, at the discharge station, onto a rotary discharge table 40. The gear wheel 28 and the set of

discs

20, 2A and 26 are rotated counterclockwise, while the table 40 is rotated in a clockwise direction. This table delivers the crowns containing the ring of gasket material onto a discharge chute 44, from which the crowns may be sent directly onto a conveyor 46 by which they are conducted through a curing oven 48. The discharge table 40 may be mounted on a shaft outside of gear 28 and driven by a suitable gear, not shown, which meshes with the gear wheel 28.

The crowns 34 delivered onto the inlet plate 38 and into the recesses of the star wheel 26 must be elevated into the openings 22 to receive the gasket-forming material. Means is provided at each processing location around the rotatable carrier for effecting the elevation of the closures as illustrated in FIG. 2. This comprises a spindle 50 extending through a bore in the gear wheel 28 below each opening 22. Each spindle is biased downwardly by a spring 51 and its lower end bears on a cam surface 52 around the periphery of a cam disc 54 fixed to a machine base 55 through which the shaft 16 extends and to which it is secured, as shown in FIG. 2.

Each spindle 50 carries a gear 56 fixed thereto and meshing with a circular rack gear 58 fixed to the shaft 16. The upper part of the spindle 50 includes a shouldered portion resting on the gear wheel 28 when the spindles are in their lowest position, and a closure-engaging member 60. Since the rack gear 58 is fixed, the rotation of the spindles with the gear wheel 28 effects rotation of the spindles and the closures resting on the elements 60. The cam 52 is arranged so that the spindles pass under the inlet plate 38 and are raised immediately afterward to elevate the closures into the openings 22. At the opposite side in FIG. 2 the cam 52 is arranged to lower the spindles 50 located in the under side of the to deliver the closures with the sealing rings therein onto the rotary table 40 and then to pass under this rotary table before they are-again raised asthey come around to a position to receive the closures from the inlet plate 38.

The closures elevated into the openings 22 receive a small stream of an accurately metered quantity of fluid gasket-forming material from a needle tube 62 extending down into the opening 22 and into the closure. The needle tube has an internal diameter of approximately 0.020 inches and is mounted in a fitting threaded into an adjustable adapter plate 64 located -at the bottom of the metering head 12 and connected with a duct 66 through which gasket-forming material is conducted to the needle tube. The adjustment makesit possible to locate the needle tube 62 at the desired position in the closure for forming a ring of gasket material of the desired diameter. The adjustment can also be used for different sizes of closures. The fluid gasket material is delivered to each of the tubes 66 of the metering devices from a container, not shown, which may be mounted on the cam plate M and kept under a head pressure of about pounds .per square inch to insure delivery of the bore of the needle tube unless pressure is applied by the piston The inner end of each piston 70 is fixed to a slide block 72 movable in and out by a roller 74 connected to the slide block by'apin 76. The rollers 74 travel around a cam groove 78 cam plate 14, which is moved offcenter in the correct position to actuate the piston pumps 70,.and locked by nut 18. The cam groove 78 is concentric with the periphery of the cam plate 14 but is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the circular carrier 10.

Shortly after the closures 34 come off inlet plate 38 and are elevated into the openings 22, the outer ends of the slide valves 68 successively engage a cam 78, so that the slide valve closes the duct 66, as illustrated at the left in FIG. 2. At this time, the pistons 70 are successively moved outwardly to force gasket-forming material under pressure through the needle tubes 62. The supply starts for each location soon after the closure is taken off the inlet plate 3%. This pressure and supply continues for approximately half or" the revolution of the circular carrier and is stopped at each location shortly before it reaches the table 40. As shown at the right in FIG. 2, the inner end of each side valve 68 engages a cam 80, fixed to the cam plate 14%, to open the valve and permit flow of gaskebforming material into the duct M and to follow the piston 70. At this time, the piston commences to retract and assist in drawing in plastic material. The valve 68 is open and the piston 70 moves inwardly during approximately one-half revolution of the rotary carrier, and each metering device as it moves around is ready for another delivery operation.

The rotatable carrier moves each closure through about 180, while it is receiving gasket material from a needle tube 62. At the same time each spindle 50 rotates the closure through two or more complete rotations, so that during the second or third rotations-the small stream of plastic material from the needle tube is applied over the previous deposit, so

' that each closure comes out with a ring of uniform dimensions which lacks the appearance of having any beginning or end. This results from the use of a small stream deposited in multiple layer deposits.

As the closures containing the deposited rings of gasket material reach the discharge table 40, they come off in timed relation to pass, respectively onto a number of magnetic kets 82 and then be delivered onto the discharge chute M. The dischargetable 40 is rotated clockwise away from the star wheel 26 and the magnets 82 pull the closures out .of the star wheel and take them around to be cammed off onto the discharge chute M.

The plastic compounds used for forrning the sealing gaskets I are preferably plastisols of known type used for a number of years for this purpose. These plastisols are usually made from polyvinyl chloride compounds. Products which have been found satisfactory are those put out by Chemical Product Company, R-783 l, R-7839 and X-9l98 Clear Puff. Other products are those of Dewey and Almy Chemical Co., 3692 FLV, 3458 and H-l 339.

A machine having a metering turret or rotary carrier as described, has been run at speeds of from 50 r.p.m. to r.p.m. Higher speeds are possible and more than the 15 processing locations shown in FIG. 1 may be employed.

The rings of gasket material may be applied on closures which are coated with a lacquer or size coating in the usual manner or on a second coating or liner layer applied to the closures before or after they are punched from large sheets.

We claim: a

1. In a machine for applying a ring of fluid plastic gasketforming material to the interior of a container closure, includmg l. a carrier having a series of closure-receiving means each adapted to receive a closure at an inlet station and release it at a discharge station of said carrier,

2. means for supplying closures to the carrier at the inlet station for receiving gasket material an for depositing the closures in succession onto the series of receiving means of the carrier,

3. means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material to a predetermined portion of each closure,

4. means for rotating each closure during the supply of said stream thereto, and

5. means for driving the carrier to effect movement of the closures from the inlet station to the discharge station,

wherein the improvement comprises:

6. a closure-holding means for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during its movement from the inlet station to the discharge station, a fixed rack gear extending along the carrier, and a rotatable gear connected with each closure-holding means and meshing with said rack gear for eflecting rotation of said closure holding means as it is moved along the rack gear, and

7. means for controlling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to supply said stream to said closure while it is rotating a predetermined plurality. of but less than said plurality of times,

8.- whereby a ring of gasket material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is a rotatable wheel-type carrier and the rack gear is a stationary circular gear.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheel-type carrier comprises a rotatable disc member, support means rotatable in unison with the carrier for supporting the series of closure-holding means respectively in spaced relation to each other around the peripheral portion of the rotatable disc member.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable gears connected respectively with the closure-holding means are of a diameter such that each closure-holding means is rotated on its axis a plurality of times in excess of two during its movement from the inlet station to the discharge station.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material to each closure includes a supply duct and is located on the carrier and movable therewith, and means for controlling the starting and stopping of said stream to each closure in timed relation to its rotation, such that the stream is supplied to the closure only while it is being rotated on its axis through a predetermined plurality of but less than the total times.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, including means for setting the controlling means for said stream to effect the even number of times during the flow of said stream.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material comprises a needle tube means, and means for adjusting the radial'position of the needle tube.

for starting the stream when the valve is closed.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotatable disc member includes a star wheelhaving a series of peripheral recesses for receivingclosures, and a disc fixed to and above the star wheel provided with circular openings directly above the recesses of the star wheel for retaining closures to which gasket material is being supplied.

Claims

1. In a machine for applying a ring of fluid plastic gasketforming material to the interior of a container closure, including 1. a carrier having a series of closure-receiving means each adapted to receive a closure at an inlet station and release it at a discharge station of said carrier, 2. means for supplying closures to the carrier at the inlet station for receiving gasket material an for depositing the closures in succession onto the series of receiving means of the carrier, 3. means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material to a predetermined portion of each closure, 4. means for rotating each closure during the supply of said stream thereto, and 5. means for driving the carrier to effect movement of the closures from the inlet station to the discharge station, wherein the improvement comprises: 6. a closure-holding means for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during its movement from the inlet station to the discharge station, a fixed rack gear extending along the carrier, and a rotatable gear connected with each closureholding means and meshing with said rack gear for effecting rotation of said closure holding means as it is moved along the rack gear, and 7. means for contRolling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to supply said stream to said closure while it is rotating a predetermined plurality of but less than said plurality of times, 8. whereby a ring of gasket material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

5. means for driving the carrier to effect movement of the closures from the inlet station to the discharge station, wherein the improvement comprises:

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, including means for setting the controlling means for said stream to effect the stopping of said stream after the closure has been rotated an even number of times during the flow of said stream.

6. a closure-holding means for rotating each closure on its axis a plurality of times during its movement from the inlet station to the discharge station, a fixed rack gear extending along the carrier, and a rotatable gear connected with each closure-holding means and meshing with said rack gear for effecting rotation of said closure holding means as it is moved along the rack gear, and

7. means for contRolling the delivery of said stream of gasket material to supply said stream to said closure while it is rotating a predetermined plurality of but less than said plurality of times,

7. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for supplying a stream of fluid gasket material comprises a needle tube means, and means for adjusting the radial position of the needle tube.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the starting and stopping of said stream includes a cutoff valve in the fluid supply duct, a cylinder opening into the supply duct below said valve, and a piston in said cylinder for starting the stream when the valve is closed.

8. whereby a ring of gasket material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout is deposited in each closure.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotatable disc member includes a star wheel having a series of peripheral recesses for receiving closures, and a disc fixed to and above the star wheel provided with circular openings directly above the recesses of the star wheel for retaining closures to which gasket material is being supplied.