US3848318A - Device for placing and seam folding the bottoms of supply valves on aerosol containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for placing valves on aerosol containers, which valves are provided with bottoms and tube lengths, and for directly seam folding the bottoms onto the container inlets. The apparatus comprises cylindrical chambers coaxially arranged with one another, in which three separate pistons are movable as shiftable to one another by compressed air, downwardly projecting members being fast with said pistons and providing first for withdrawing and retaining a valve by air suction from a seating wherein the valve is arranged and then providing for directly seam folding the valve on the container inlet, on which said valve has been placed.

Description

DEVICE FOR PLACING AND SEAM FOLDING THE BOTTOMS OF SUPPLY VALVES ON AEROSOL CONTAINERS Nov. 19, 1974 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Steinberg & Blake [75] Inventor: Giancarlo Giuffredi, Milan, Italy [73] Assignee: S22: 'liegryologie Speciali S.p.A., ABSTRACT 2 Filed; Aug 9 1973 Apparatus for placing valves on aerosol containers, which valves are provided with bottoms and tube PP bio-1386394 lengths, and for directly seam folding the bottoms onto the container inlets. The apparatus comprises cy- [30] Foreign Application p i i Data lindrical chambers coaxially arranged with one an- Se t 30 1972 29915/72 other, in which three separate pistons are movable as y shiftable to one another by compressed air, down- 52] U S C! v 29/208 B wardly projecting members being fast with said pistons [51] ln.t.Cl "3.23 19/04 and providing first for withdrawing and retaining a l 58 Fie'ld R D valve by air suction from a seating wherein the valve is i 29/2l1 arranged and then providing for directly seam folding the valve on the container inlet, on which said valve [56] References Cited has been placed UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims 6 Drawing Figures 3,604,095 9/l97l Giuffredi 29/208 B v PAH-1mm?! 1 9 1974 r sum aur a DEVICE FOR PLACING ANI) SEAM FOLDING THE BOTTOMS OF SUPPLY VALVES ON AEROSOL CONTAINERS This invention relates to an apparatus for placing and seam folding on aerosol containers the bottoms of dis pensing valves having tube lengths applied thereto.

It is well known that an aerosol container carries a dispensing valve which, in turn, is mounted on the end of a tube length, the latter being inserted in the container and effective to supply the valve with the liquid withdrawn from the container adjacent the bottom portion thereof.

Apparatus are available for automatically placing dispensing valves integral with a metal bottom on aerosol container inlets, introducing into the containers tube lengths applied to the valves. An apparatus of this type, for withdrawing and placing automatically valves having different size bottoms on aerosol container inlets, without any damage either to the bottoms or to the valves, is disclosed in US. Pat. specification No. 3,604,095 assigned to the same assignee as for the present application.

The apparatus, as shown in said US. Pat. specification No. 3,604,095 and other conventional apparatus for placing valves along with the associated bottoms onto the container inlets, and introducing the tube lengths fast with the valves into the containers, however suffer from the disadvantage of requiringthe subsequent use of a seam folding machine, that is a machine for steadily sealingly securing the bottom of each valve on the container inlet, as placed thereon. Thus, different apparatus and machines have to be available, and it is also required to have highly accurate conveying and positioning means withdrawing the containers from the valve applying apparatus, and conveying and positioning the containers below the machines for seam folding the valve bottoms thereon. As it will be readily appreciated, this container movement cannot be accomplished at a high speed, since the containers are filled with liquid, while the inlet thereof is still substantially open because of the bottom being merely placed thereon. Moreover, in such cases this container transport from one machine to another, prior to tight sealing thereof, may show still more serious disadvantages should the liquid in the containers be dangerous or highly volatile.

Therefore, it is the main object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically placing the bottoms of dispensing valves onto an aerosol container inlet and introducing into the containers the tube lengths fast with said valves, the apparatus being suitable for directly seam folding the bottom on the container immediately after the bottom is positioned on the inlet of the associated container.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the above character, the apparatus being of a highly compact structure, simple operation and high processing speed.

These and still further objects are achieved by an apparatus comprising a container supporting platform and a device overlying said platform and movable relative thereto, the device including a cylinder accommodating a tubular body, the latter having a cr q s s section area larger than that of the valve bottoms, and an elongated hollow body movable within said tubular body, the end of the elongated hollow body facing said platform being shaped to provide a housing seat for said bottoms and associated valves, means for provid ing air suction in said seat, retaining a valve accomodated therein, and movable means operatively connected to said tubular body and elongated body, respectively, for moving the same relative to said platform and cylinder, the apparatus being characterized by comprising seam folding pliers accommodated within said seat in the hollow body, a shaped portion of the pliers projecting therefrom, a rigid tube movable within the elongated hollow body, one end thereof extending to the proximity of said pliers, and movable means operatively connected to the rigid tube for moving it relative to the elongated hollow body and outwardly spreading said seam folding pliers.

In order that the apparatus structure and features be more clearly understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, as given by mere way of not limiting example, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1 to 6 are partly sectional and schematic views showing the apparatus at different processing steps, FIG. 6 being drawn on an exaggerated scale and showing only the bottom portion of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, an apparatus according to the invention comprises a hollow cylinder 1 carried through an arm 2 by a rigid frame (not shown).'Two superimposed pistons 3 and 4, respectively, are sealingly accommodated and movable within cylinder 1, an axia bars a nslh shhqth of. said t ns-.,

A tubular body 5 downwardly extends from piston 3 and is sealed by a gasket 6, this tubular body having a cross-section area equal to or larger than that of the valve bottom which is to be withdrawn, positioned and seam folded by the apparatus according to the present invention.

An elongated hollow body 7 is fast with piston 4 and has a portion thereof downwardlyextending through the bore of piston 3 and projecting below the lower end of cylinder 1, and another portion thereof upwardly extending and carrying at its top a hollow head 8, wherein a piston 9 is housed and movable.

This piston is also bored and has a tube length 10 fast therewith, upwardly projecting and exiting from said head 8, and a rigid tube 11 downwardly projecting and having its lower end located adjacent the lower end of the elongated hollow body '7.

From the drawings it will be also seen that the lower end of said elongated hollow body 7 is shaped to present a seat accommodating therein the seam folding pliers 12, having the end thereof shaped and projecting beyond the end of the hollow body 7, the shaped end 'of pliers 12 having a crosssection of an area less than that defined by the cylindrical walls of the valve bottom, as explained in the following. ,7 h

A bore 13 opening in the atmosphere is formed in head 8 and other two bores are also formed which, through tubes 14 and 15, can be alternately connected to a supply of pressure fluid, such as compressed air, or to vent. Bores are also formed in cylinder 1 which, through tubes l6, l7, l8 and 19 respectively (FIG. 4), can be separetely also connected to a supply of pressure fluid, for example also compressed air in this case,

, or can be directly communicating with vent.

Finally, it should be noted that the tube length 10 is connected to a continuously operating suction pump so that, through the cavity of rigid tube 11, air is continuously drawn from the lower end of the tube 11 and hence from the seat provided at the bottom end of the elongated hollow body 7.

In order to understand the operation of the apparatus, it should be also noted that the apparatus is carried by a rigid framework having fast therewith a bearing platform 20 for the containers 21 and a hollow element comprising a rigid portion 22 supporting two resilient blades 23, the inner surface of which defines a funnelshaped cavity, these blades being resiliently outwardly movable against the action of small springs 24.

While platform 20 is fast with the above mentioned rigid framework, the rigid portion 22 as well as blades 23 are carried by said rigid framework, so as to vary the distance or spacing thereof relative to platform 20. The means by which said blades 23 can be carried to the rigid framework, so as to vary the distance or spacing thereof relative to platform 20, can be differently and readily provided by those skilled in the art, and therefore for brevity will not be herein described in detail.

Assume now to provide for placing and seam folding on the inlet of containers 21 the bottom 25 of dispensing valves 26 to which the tube lengths 27 have been applied, and assume that the supporting arm 2 of cylinder 1, hollow element 22, 23 and platform 20 are carried by a framework continuously rotating about a vertical axis.

The operation of the apparatus will take place by subsequent steps carried out at successive stations as the apparatus rotates about said vertical axis.

At a first station (FIG. I), by means per se known in the art, a container 21 is automatically loaded below the lower ends of blades 23 of a hollow element, above which the cylinder 1 is positioned.

At this first station, between said hollow element 22, 23 and cylinder 1, there extends a guide 28 bearing thereon a plurality of bottoms 25 along with the associ- In addition to cam acting on the rigid arm 2, there is also provided a further cam, not shown, acting, as the rotation of the apparatus continues beyond the station shown in FIG. 2, on a valve connected to tubes I7 and 18, operating said valve so as to supply compressed air 'to tube 17 and connect tube I8 to vent. Thus, piston 3 is caused to move downwardly within,cylinder l, as well a tubular body 5, the latter straightening the valve tube length 27 suspended from the end of body 7. Downward movement of tubular body 5 continues until its lower end comes to bear on the top inlet for the rigid portion 22 of the hollow body comprising the blades 23 (FIG. 3).

Upon further rotation of the apparatus, said first mentioned cam will operate valves so as to communicate-tube 16 with the pressure air supply, thereby connecting tubes l7, l8 and 19 with vent. Thus, a downward movement is caused for piston 4 along with head 8 (in which piston 9 maintains its position unaltered) and along with hollow body 7 and rigid tube 11, thus penetrating between the blades 23 of the funnel-like hollow element, outwardly deforming said blades, to introduce the tube length 27 into the container 21 and bring the bottom 25 to bear on the inlet of said container, as shown in FIG. 4. It should be noted that at the stations shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the shaped ends of the seam folding pliers I2 do not touch or slightly contact the walls of bottom 25.

Continuing now the rotation of the apparatus about the vertical axis, the usual stationary cams will operate on the valves connected to tubes 14 and 15, so as to communicate tube 15 with vent and to connect tube 14 r with the pressure air supply. Thus, piston 9 is downated valves 26 and tube lengths 27, means of a known structure and ready provision being provided for placing one valve at a time below cylinder ll, means therefore not described for the sake of brevity and because not forming a part of the present invention.

Thus, at this first step or station, the attitude of the apparatus is as shown in FIG. 1. Upon continued rotation of the rigid apparatus carrying structure, arm 2 will contact a stationary cam, not shown, mechanically lowering cylinder I and all of the elements connected thereto, such elements not changing the position thereof relative to the other elements connected to this cylinder, lowering of arm 2 continuing until the lower edge of the housing seat in the lower end of the elongated hollow body 7 contacts the bottom 25 of the valve resting on guide 28 (FIG. 2).

Since a continuous air suction is effected through tube length 10 and rigid tube 11, air is also sucked at the valve accommodating seat provided at the lower end of elongated body 7, so that from the step as shown in FIG. 2 said bottom 25 will adhere against the lower edge of said seat.

At both steps or stations shown inFTG il and2, a?

tubes 15 and 19 are connected to a pressure air supply, and tubes l4, 16, I7 and I8 are connected to vent.

Upon continued rotation of platform 20, hollow element 22, 23 and arm 2 about the above mentioned vertical axis, this rigid arm 2 will be released from the cam having downwardly urged it and the apparatus will move to a raised position now clear of guide 28.

wardly moved within head 8 and rigid tube II is lowered relative to the hollow body 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the rigid tube ill is effective on the lower end of said seam folding pliers 12, the latter being outwardly biased, pressing on the bottom to deform the same and provide a strong seam folding on the inlet of container 2].

Immediately after seam folding the bottom onto the container, said valves are operated so as to first provide for connecting tube 14 to vent and connecting tube 15 to the pressure air supply, thus causing piston 9 to move upward within head 8 and the lower end of tube 11 to move upward relative to the seam folding pliers, which are thus cleared of the bottom previously seam folded to the container (see FIG. 6).

Still continuing the rotation of the apparatus about the vertical axis, by controlling at subsequent times the operation of the valves connected to tubes 16, 17, I8 and 19, first piston d is upwardly moved within cylinder 1 and then piston 3 is also upwardly moved therein, to move back to the position shown in FIG. I, whereupon the processing cycle is restarted as described.

From the foregoing, the structural and operational simplicity of the apparatus shown in the drawings will be evident, and it will be appreciated how easy and ready it is both to apply a valve on a container, introducing the valve tube length into the container, and to immediately directly seam fold the bottom on said container.

What I claim is:

I. An apparatus for placing and seam folding the bottoms of dispensing valves on aerosol containers, and valves having tube lengths applied thereto, comprising a container bearing platform and a device overlying said platform and movable relative thereto, the device comprising acylinder accommodating a hollow tubular baawiretasseefibn are arwmctfis larger thanthat of the valve bottoms, and an elongated hollow body movable within said tubular body, the end of the elongated hollow body facing said platform being shaped to form a housing seat for said bottoms and associated valves, means for providing air suction in said seat retaining a valve housed therein, and movable means operatively connected to said tubular body and said elongated body, respectively, to move the same relative to said platform and said cylinder, the apparatus being characterized by comprising seam folding pliers housed in said seat in the hollow body, a shaped portion of the pliers projecting therefrom, a rigid tube movable within the elongated hollow body and having one end thereof extending adjacent said pliers, and movable means operatively connected to the rigid tube to move the same relative to the elongated hollow body and outwardly spread said .seam folding pliers.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable means operatively connected to the tubular body andelongated hollow body comprise two separate pistons movable within a cylindrical cavity or bore in said cylinder, the movable means operatively connected to said rigid tube comprise a piston movable within a cylindrical bore in a head fast with the elongated hollow body and external to said cylinder, a pressure fluid supply being provided and means for controlling the fluid supply to chambers formed at one side of said pistons, the chambers formed at the other side of said pistons being communicated with vent.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valve housing seat in said elongated body communicates with said means for providing air suction through a hole extending in said rigid tube, a portion of which projects beyond said head fast with the elongated hollow body.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cylinder is carried by a rigid arm, on which cams are effective to raise and lower said arm relative to the container bearing platform.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein between said device and container bearing platform is arranged a funnel-like hollow element carried by a rigid framework, and means are provided for adjusting the spacing of said funnel-like hollow element relative to said platform.

Claims (5)

1. An apparatus for placing and seam folding the bottoms of dispensing valves on aerosol containers, and valves having tube lengths applied thereto, comprising a container bearing platform and a device overlying said platform and movable relative thereto, the device comprising a cylinder accomodating a hollow tubular body, the cross-section are, of which is larger than that of the valve bottoms, and an elongated hollow body movable within said tubular body, the end of the elongated hollow body facing said platform being shaped to form a housing seat for said bottoms and associated valves, means for providing air suction in said seat retaining a valve housed therein, and movable means operatively connected to said tubular body and said elongated body, respectively, to move the same relative to said platform and said cylinder, the apparatus being characterized by comprising seam folding pliers housed in said seat in the hollow body, a shaped portion of the pliers projecting therefrom, a rigid tube movable within the elongated hollow body and having one end thereof extending adjacent said pliers, and movable means operatively connected to the rigid tube to move the same relative to the elongated hollow body and outwardly spread said seam folding pliers.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable means operatively connected to the tubular body and elongated hollow body comprise two separate pistons movable within a cylindrical cavity or bore in said cylinder, the movable means operatively connected to said rigid tube comprise A piston movable within a cylindrical bore in a head fast with the elongated hollow body and external to said cylinder, a pressure fluid supply being provided and means for controlling the fluid supply to chambers formed at one side of said pistons, the chambers formed at the other side of said pistons being communicated with vent.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valve housing seat in said elongated body communicates with said means for providing air suction through a hole extending in said rigid tube, a portion of which projects beyond said head fast with the elongated hollow body.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cylinder is carried by a rigid arm, on which cams are effective to raise and lower said arm relative to the container bearing platform.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein between said device and container bearing platform is arranged a funnel-like hollow element carried by a rigid framework, and means are provided for adjusting the spacing of said funnel-like hollow element relative to said platform.

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