US3643783A

US3643783A - Closure-handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3643783A
Application number: US19911A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter S Sterling
Original assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Current assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Priority date: 1970-03-16
Filing date: 1970-03-16
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22

Abstract

Closure-handling apparatus designed to effect orientation of relatively narrow elongated and slightly tapered cylindrical closures which are substantially greater in length than in diameter and in which the distribution of weight is substantially equal throughout its length. Randomly arranged closures are deposited on a rotary inclined carrier having a plurality of radially arranged pockets into which the closures are received, those assuming a desired position of orientation being transferred to the mouth of a supply chute.

Description

[ 51 Feb. 22, 1972 United States te t Sterling 3,337,089 8/1967 Bronfman...........................,..22l/l60 3,021,980 2/1962 Gladfelter........................,,221/278X [54] CLOSURE-HANDLING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Walter S. Sterling, Quincy, Mass.

Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Larry H. Martin Attorney-Robert R. Churchill [73] Assignee:

Mar. 16, 1970 [22] Filed:

Appl. No.: ABSTRACT Closure-handling apparatus designed to effect orientation of relatively narrow elongated and slightly tapered cylindrical closures which are substantially greater in length than in diameter and in which the distribution of weight is substantially equal throughout its length. Randomly arranged closures are deposited on a rotary inclined carrier having a plurality of radially arranged pockets into which the closures are received, those assuming a desired position of orientation being transferred to the mouth of a supply chute.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,295,659 Aidlin..................................198/33 A 12 Claims, l4DrawingFigures PMENTEDFEHH I972 3,643 ,783

sum 2 BF 6 lit/VENTOR Wa/fer 5. Sfer/l'ng PATENTEDFEB22 \972 3. 643 783 sum 3 BF 6 I INVENTOR Waller 5. Sterling fmaeel nm ATTORNEY PATENIEDFEBZE I972 SHEET '4 BF 6 INVENTOR 7 Walter Sfer/r'ng WM a e4. 92 4 ATTORNEY PAIENIEUFEB22 I972 3.643 783 snmsore INVENTOR Wa/fer 5. Sterling By fMW-( MQM A Tron/v5 r PATENTEDFEB 22 I972 SHEET 6 0F 6 INVENTOR Wa/ler 5. Sterling faqxneud a ATTORNEY CLOSURE-HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to closure handling and orienting apparatus adapted to receive a supply of randomly arranged closures and to orient the same prior to depositing the closures into a supply chute from which the closures are withdrawn for application to containers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior closure-handling apparatus of the same general type is exemplified in the US. Pat. No. 2,715,978, issued to Walter S. Sterling, and assigned to the present assignee. Such prior apparatus takes the form of an inclined rotary disk or carrier onto which randomly or haphazardly arranged closures are deposited from a bulk supply thereof. In operation, the closures carried up the rotary inclined carrier are guided to be received between the beveled edge of a relatively small disk, rotated in a substantially horizontal plane, and a cooperating rail. Those closures which assume an oriented position between the beveled edge of the disk and the rail are enabled to maintain a position of equilibrium between the rail and the disk and are deposited into a chute for delivery to a closureapplying machine. Those closures which assume a position other than an oriented position between the disk and the rail are overbalanced to fall onto the lower end of the inclined carrier to be again carried up and guided between the horizontal disk and the rail.

In such prior apparatus, the closures are arranged to be oriented in a natural or inherent position of equilibrium which may vary with different sizes and shapes of closures and which may also vary in their distribution of weight, that is, one end may be heavier than the other, for example. In practice, the disk and rail device of the prior art effects removal from a group of randomly arranged closures only those closures which inherently assume an oriented position, those closures assuming a position other than a desired position of orientation being rejected to be returned to the lower end of the inclined disk where they join with and are jostled by other closures to change their positions and to be again carried up the incline until they assume the desired position of orientation. In operation, it has been found that a great majority of the do sures tend to assume a natural and substantially uniform position of rest or equilibrium in the desired position of orientation so that the efficiency of the apparatus is surprisingly high. However, elongated and relatively narrow closures which are greater in length than in diameter and whose distribution of weight is about equal throughout the length of the closure cannot be conveniently handled on the prior disk and rail type of apparatus in its present form.

SUM MARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates container-handling apparatus particularly adapted for handling and orienting elongated, narrow and slightly tapered cylindrical closures wherein the distribution of weight is about equal throughout the length of the closure so that orienting techniques involving overbalancing of closures which are not disposed in a desired position of orientation cannot be used. The present closures are open at their wider ends and are closed at their narrower ends. In practice, the elongated narrow closures, which the present apparatus is adapted to handle, tend to assume an at rest position lying on their sides so that they tend to roll on the inclined rotary disk.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus provides a series of closely spaced, radially arranged pockets adjacent the periphery of the inclined rotary carrier into which the closures will roll and be carried upwardly with the disk. In operation. when a randomly arranged closure deposited at the lower end of the carrier in the path of a pocket falls by chance into a pocket with its smaller diameter closed end facing radially outwardly and its wider diameter open end facing inwardly, it will be properly seated in the pocket in an oriented position to be guided into a chute at the upper end of the carrier. Those closures which fail to enter a pocket in this manner, that is, by gravity or by chance, are maneuvered by airstreams to assume a radial position and to roll into the elongated radial pockets. In practice, a closure may assume either the desired position of orientation, that is, with the closed end facing or directed radially outwardly, or it may be just the opposite, provision being made for rejecting those closures from their pocket which are not in an oriented position.

Accordingly, the present invention has for an object to pro vide novel and improved closure-handling apparatus particularly adapted for handling elongated, narrow and slightly tapered closures in which the distribution of weight is substantially equal throughout the length of the closure.

The invention has for another object to provide novel and improved closure-handling apparatus of the character specified in which provision is made for maneuvering the closures into an oriented position and for depositing the oriented closures into a chute.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the closure-handling apparatus and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specificationv BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I In'the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view detail of the air jets for maneuvering the closures into a radial position on the carrier;

FIG. 4 is a detail view in cross section of a pocket taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a closure in an oriented position;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in side elevation as viewed from the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a closure in a reversed position in its pocket, the section being taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a plan view detail showing a deflector and an air jet for dislodging a reversed position closure from its pocket;

FIG. 8 is a detail view in side elevation as seen from the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view detail of a pair of adjacent air jets adapted to dislodge and remove from its pocket an oriented closure which is not fully seated therein;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9 showing in broken lines the initial position of the oriented closure in its pocket before being removed;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I1l I of FIG. I showing a stationary cam for elevating the lower end of the closure out of its pocket;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views taken on the lines 12-12 and 13-13 of FIG. 1 showing in sequence the shape of the guide elements for guiding the closure into the chute; and

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the chute, partly in cross section, as seen from the line I4 14 of FIG. 1, showing a portion of a manifold having a plurality of spaced air jets disposed beneath the chute.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure-handling machine therein shown comprises, in general, a hopper 10 in which a bulk supply of closures may be stored, and a rotary carrier indicated generally at 12 arranged at an inclined plane and which is adapted to carry upwardly closures 14 deposited by the hopper at the lower end of the carrier. As herein shown, the rotary carrier 12 is provided with a plurality of closely spaced and radially arranged pockets 18 adjacent the marginal edge thereof, each pocket being shaped to receive and retain a closure and to carry the closure upwardly as described. Those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in their pockets are deposited into the open end of a chute 16 disposed at the upper end of the carrier.

The particular closure 14 which the present apparatus is adapted to handle comprises an elongated, narrow and slightly tapered cylindrical closure closed at the narrower end and having an opening at the wider end. In practice, each pocket 18 is shaped in cross section to conform substantially to the shape of a closure disposed on its side and with its narrower end directed radially outwardly and downwardly, the open end facing inwardly and upwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The rotary carrier 12 includes an annular member 20 in which the pockets 18 are fomied and which is secured to a flange 22 keyed to a sleeve 24 rotatably mounted in a bearing 26 formed in a supporting disk 28. The disk 28 is attached to a bracket 30, the latter being secured to the upper end of a shaft 32 which in turn may be adjustably supported in a clamp 34 formed in a supporting column 36. The sleeve 24 is formed integrally with a worm wheel 38 arranged to mesh with a worm gear 40 fast on a shaft 42joumaled in a gearbox 44 secured to the underside of the supporting disk 28. The shaft 42 is connected by a belt and pulley drive 46 to a variable-speed motor unit 48 adjustably secured to a depending portion 50 of the bracket 30. The gear box 44 is provided with a hub 52 ar ranged to support a central stationary shaft 54 extending upwardly through the sleeve 24.

As shown in F IG. 2, the upper end of the stationary shaft 54 is arranged to support a bracket 56 forming part of the conventional sorting or orienting unit. In the present apparatus, the sorting unit is removed and a cover member 58 is fitted over the stationary bracket 56 as shown. As herein illustrated, the annular member 20 is extended inwardly towards the center of the carrier, as indicated at 60, the cover member 58 being attached to the inner marginal edge of the annular member. The supporting disk 28 is provided with an upstanding retaining band 68 surrounding and extending above the upper surface of the carrier 12 for confining the closures on the carrier.

The illustrated supply hopper is supported adjacent the lower end of the carrier 12 and is provided with an opening through which the closures may flow by gravity onto the carrier. Any type of hopper containing a bulk supply of randomly arranged closures may be employed including those wherein provision is made for controlling the release of closures onto the carrier such as is illustrated and described in the U.S. Pats. to Walter S. Sterling, Nos. 3,079,042; 3,164,291; and 3,164,292.

In operation, the majority of the herein described closures l4 deposited on the lower end of the inclined carrier 12 lie or fall on their side and as the continuously moving carrier 12 carries the closures along therewith, some of the closures tend to roll or gravitate into the radially arranged pockets 18. The preferred position of orientation comprises the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the narrower end of the closure 14 seats itself against the angular end wall 70 of the pocket and the side of the closure rests against the upwardly sloped bottom wall 72 thereof with the wider or open end of the closure facing toward the center of the disk. As herein shown, each pocket 18 is provided with an opening 19 at the bottom thereof through which a portion of the closure carried by the pocket extends. Since the closure is tapered with the closed end smaller in diameter than the open end, the pocket 18 is likewise tapered to conform to that portion of the oriented closure received in the pocket. Thus, if the closure is improperly carried by the pocket, it will extend above the height of an oriented closure. For example, if the closure is carried in a radial position but with the closed end facing the center of the disk, the wider diameter of the closure rests on the nar rower portion of the pocket to elevate the closure above the level assumed by an oriented Likewise, ifa closure is standing on end in the pocket, it also will extend upwardly far above a point assumed by an oriented closure.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, provision is made for maneuvering the randomly arranged closures 12 to cause them to roll into the pockets 18 as the closures are carried up on the inclined carrier 14. As herein illustrated. the randomly arranged closures deposited on the carrier may take any position thereon, some even standing on end and some being piled one above the other. Some of those closures which lie on their sides may by chance fall or roll into the radially arranged pockets 18 as they are carried up the incline by the rotary carrier.

In order to cause all of the closures to assume a lying down position as they are carried upwardly, a curved guide rail 69 is provided, the lower edge of which is spaced above the upper surface of the carrier a distance such as to admit only those closures lying on their sides on the carrier. The rail 69 is supported from the retaining band 68 as shown.

It will be understood that only a relatively few closures will fall by chance into an oriented position in the radially arranged pockets. As herein shown, the means for maneuvering the randomly arranged closures into a substantially radial position to cause them to roll into the pockets comprises a pair of spaced

airjets

200, 202 disposed at a point near the lower end of the carrier immediately beyond the closure delivery opening of the hopper. The airjets are adjustably supported in spaced radially arranged

brackets

204, 206, respectively, which in turn are clamped to upright rods 208 bolted to the retaining band 68 as shown.

As illustrated in plan in FIG. 3, the

airjets

200, 202 are supported about three to four inches radially inwardly from the retaining band 68 and about 1 inch to 2 inches above the face of the carrier, the distances being variable according to the size of the closure. It was found in practice that with the air jets thus disposed and with the air directed laterally toward the retaining band 68 and at a slight angle upwardly when viewed in plan, the randomly arranged closures will be caused to assume a radial position on the carrier to facilitate engagement with the pockets 18.

In operation, some of the radially arranged closures will be disposed in a reversed position in their pockets, that is, a position in which the wider open ends are directed radially outwardly. In such position the wider end of the closure rests on the narrow end of the pocket, thus elevating the closure above the height which an oriented closure would assume. In order to dislodge such reversed closures from their pockets, a deflecting rail 210 is provided which is disposed above a position which an oriented closure would assume and which will urge radially inwardly from their pockets those reversed closures which ride high in their pockets. Immediately after a reversed closure has been dislodged from its pocket by the rail 210, it is subjected to a blast of air from ajet 212 supported from the retaining band 68. The air is directed into the open end ofa reversed closure at a point sufiiciently high so that it will not interfere with a correctly positioned or oriented clo sure.

Prior to entering the mouth 92 of the chute 16, another contingency is provided for, that is, ifa closure is bridged across a pocket at right angles thereto and is caught between two oriented closures in adjacent pockets. In this event, a pair of

airjets

74, 76 disposed at a point preceding the mouth of the chute is arranged to reject the bridged closure. It is also important that the oriented closures be fully seated in their pockets prior to entering the mouth of the chute. If a closure is not fully seated against its end wall 70, it will be extended radially inwardly so that it will fail to line up with the rails at the mouth of the chute and may be obstructed by the inner rail 94 of the chute. The extended closure will leave a space between the end wall and the closed end of the oriented closure. The closure will also be disposed higher in the pocket than a correctly seated closure. in this event, the

air jets

74, 76 will likewise serve to eject the closure from its pocket to be returned to the group at the lower end of the carrier.

Those closures which are rejected at the upper half of the,

carrier 12 are retained by radially arranged flights 90 attached to the moving carrier 12. Such closures are released by gravity into the lower end of the carrier. Such control of the release of the rejected closures serves to distribute the same into an area preceding the flow of closures from the feed hopper so as to afford smooth operation.

The oriented closures which arrive at the upper end of the inclined carrier 12 are transferred from their pockets 18 into the mouth or open end 92 of the chute 16. As herein illustrated, the chute is supported on a base plate 104 attached to the

underlying frame members

28, 30, the plate forming the bottom wall of the chute. In order to lift the oriented closure from its inclined position in its pocket to a plane parallel to the upper face of the carrier, a stationary cam 78 secured to the supporting disk 28 is arranged to engage the portion of the closure extended through the bottom opening 19 of its pocket 18 and to lift it up. As the lower end of the closure is lifted out of its pocket, it is guided between a curved portion 214 of the base plate 104 which is disposed immediately above the face of the carrier and a second curved portion 216 of the base plate 104. In operation, as the outer end of the closure is lifted up, the

curved portions

214, 216 guide the closure radially inward until the closure rests on the face of the carrier, at which time the closure is guided between the inner rail 94 and an outer rail 96, both of which are attached to the base plate 104. The base plate is beveled, as indicated at 218, providing a small incline, the closure riding up the incline from the face of the .carrier to the upper face of the base plate. An air jet 220 may be disposed in a position to assist successive closures to move or roll up the small incline onto the face of the plate. It will be observed that the portion of the chute in which the incline occurs is a substantially straight section as indicated at 222. It will also be observed that the chute includes a top rail 224 which is offset upwardly along its lower edge as indicated at 226 to conform to the incline in the base plate.

Immediately after the closure is received on the baseplate 104 and between the

rails

94, 96 and the top rail 224, the chute is shaped at an intermediate portion 228 thereof to effect turning of the closure through 90 so as to present the closures in an upright position. The air jet 220 will assist passage of the closures through the turning section 228. After the turning operation, the chute is shaped to follow a circular path substantially concentric with the carrier, as indicated at 230, which terminates at a point substantially in line with the center line of the carrier where it is curved through 90 to follow a radial direction to a point of withdrawal, not shown.

In practice, air jets may be used in any portion of the chute where necessary to facilitate passage of closures therethrough. As illustrated in FIG. 14, a manifold 232 connected to a source of compressed air extends along the underside of the chute and is provided with a plurality of spaced air jets 234 directed to advance the closures through the chute.

From the above description it will be seen that the present apparatus is adapted to handle relatively narrow, elongated and slightly tapered cylindrical closures which are substantially greater in length than in diameter and in which the distribution of weight is substantially equal throughout its length in a manner such as to pick up some of the closures in the pockets in an oriented position, and to maneuver by air streams some of the remaining closures into a position to be received by said pockets. In operation, most of the randomly arranged closures deposited into the apparatus will be caused to assume an oriented position and be deposited into the mouth of the supply chute, provision being made for rejecting those closures assuming a position other than a position of orientation in the pockets.

As above described, the present apparatus comprises an adaptation of and improvement on the closure handling apparatus illustrated and described in US. Pat. No. 2,7l5,978.

In practice, the present apparatus may also be used for the smaller size conventional closures by replacing the carrier 12 with a conventional carrier and by adding the orienting or sorting unit to the bracket 56 so that the same machine may be adapted for both types of closures by interchangeably replacing the parts required for each type of closure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. Closure-handling apparatus comprising. in combination. a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane. means for depositing closures at the lower end of said carrier. said carrier having radially arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, and means for maneuvering those closures not initially accepted by a pocket to cause them to assume a position such as to be received by a pocket, said means for maneuvering the closures comprising air jets directed to cause the closures to assume a radial position with respect to said carrier.

2. Closure-handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means including a hopper for depositing closuresat the lower end of said carrier, said closures comprising elongated, relatively narrow and slightly tapered cylindrical closures having asubstantially uniform distribution of weight throughout itslength, said carrier having closely spaced, radially arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired. position of orientation in said pockets, an upright retaining band disposed about said carrier, and means comprising a pair of spaced air jets for maneuvering those closures not initially accepted by a pocket to cause them to assume a position such as to be received by a pocket.

3. Closure-handling apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the spaced air jets are disposed adjacent the lower end of said carrier a substantial distance inwardly from said retaining band, said jets arranged when viewed in plan to direct streams v of air laterally toward said retaining band.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 which includes a curved rail spaced inwardly from said retaining band and spaced upwardly from the face of said carrier a distance such as to permit passage thereunder of those closures which lie on their sides.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 which includes a deflector arranged in the path of a closure assuming a reversed position in its pocket, said deflector arranged to move such closure radially inwardly, and an air jet disposed immediately beyond said deflector for entirely removing the closure from its pocket.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 which includes a pair of air jets disposed at a point preceding the entrance to said chute and adapted to remove improperly positioned closures including: those closures which are not fully seated in their pockets and therefore assume a raised position; and those closures which assume a position bridged across a pocket and engaged between closures in adjacent pockets.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 which includes means for removing improperly positioned closures from their pockets, and radially extended flights movable with said carrier for retaining those closures removed at the upper end of the carrier and for releasing the same at the lower end of the carrier.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each pocket has an open bottom portion, and a stationary cam disposed beneath the carrier shaped to elevate the lower end of each closure, said chute provided with guide rails between which the closures are received during such elevation for guiding the closures up and out of their pockets and onto the face of the carrier.

9. Closure-handling apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein a portion of said chute is shaped to turn the closure to present the same in an upright position in said chute.

dom on said carrier, and air jets for maneuvering those closures not initially accepted by a pocket to cause them to assume a radial position to roll into one of said pockets.

12. Closure handling apparatus as defined in claim 11 which includes a guide chute adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, and means for moving the closures out of their pockets to be guided by said chute.

Claims

1. Closure-handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means for depositing closures at the lower end of said carrier, said carrier having radially arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, and means for maneuvering those closures not initially accepted by a pocket to cause them to assume a position such as to be received by a pocket, said means for maneuvering the closures comprising air jets directed to cause the closures to assume a radial position with respect to said carrier.

2. Closure-handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, means including a hopper for depositing closures at the lower end of said carrier, said closures comprising elongated, relatively narrow and slightly tapered cylindrical closures having a substantially uniform distribution of weight throughout its length, said carrier having closely spaced, radially arranged pockets formed therein to receive said closures, a chute having an entrance opening at the upper end of said carrier adapted to receive those closures assuming a desired position of orientation in said pockets, an upright retaining band disposed about said carrier, and means comprising a pair of spaced air jets for maneuvering those closures not initially accepted by a pocket to cause them to assume a position such as to be received by a pocket.

3. Closure-handling apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the spaced air jets are disposed adjacent the lower end of saiD carrier a substantial distance inwardly from said retaining band, said jets arranged when viewed in plan to direct streams of air laterally toward said retaining band.

9. Closure-handling apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein a portion of said chute is shaped to turn the closure 90 to present the same in an upright position in said chute.

10. Closure-handling apparatus as defined in claim 9 which includes at least one air jet disposed to assist passage of the closures through the chute.

11. Closure handling apparatus particularly adapted for handling relatively narrow and slightly tapered closures which are greater in length than in diameter and which have a substantially uniform weight distribution throughout their lengths, in combination, a rotary carrier mounted to rotate in an inclined plane, said carrier having radially arranged pockets formed therein to receive closures deposited at random on said carrier, and air jets for maneuvering those closures not initially accepted by a pocket to cause them to assume a radial position to roll into one of said pockets.