US3864898A - Automatic container capping and lid dispensing device - Google Patents
Automatic container capping and lid dispensing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3864898A US3864898A US390243A US39024373A US3864898A US 3864898 A US3864898 A US 3864898A US 390243 A US390243 A US 390243A US 39024373 A US39024373 A US 39024373A US 3864898 A US3864898 A US 3864898A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- magazine
- lid
- lids
- container
- clamping
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/44—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation from supply magazines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
- B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
- B65B7/2807—Feeding closures
Definitions
- Such equipment has a number of disadvantages, not the least of which are cost, complexity and bulk, precluding the use of such equipment for all but high volume situations where its cost, complexity and size are not parameters of impracticability.
- lid designs which are compatible with coin feeding, thus eliminating nested, thin-walled, low cost plastic and other lids from this form of automated dispensing.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel lid dispensing and container capping device which performs its dual function with but a single operating stroke.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel lid dispensing and container capping device which is optimally simple in construction, of optimally minimum dimensions, low in cost, rapid in operation and operable with low cost, thin-walled lids of plastic or the like.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lid dispensing and container capping device having a tubular vertical magazine of stacked lids which utilizes a single short stroke vertical displacement of the entire magazine to effect dispensing of a lid and capping of a container therewith.
- a vertically extending tubular magazine is mounted for vertical reciprocation in a combined cam and bearing and holds a plurality of stacked and/or nested container lids each disposed transversely of the magazine.
- At the lower end of the magazine are a set of releasable leveling and dispensing detents selectively engaging the lowermost lid in the magazine, said detents being interspersed about the periphery of the lower end of the magazine with a set of clamping shoes whichengage the lids and cause them to seat on and cap a container at the lowermost reach of each reciprocation of the magazine.
- the leveling and dispensing detents and the lid clamping shoes are synchronously staggered in operation and timed to the reciprocations of the magazine by the combined cam and bearing to dispense one lid at a time and cap a container with that lid for each reciprocation of the magazine.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevation in partial cross-section of a disperser and capper of the present invention at or toward the uppermost position of a reciprocation of the magazine;
- FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 representing a lower position of the magazine and an intermediate actuation of the leveling and dispensing detents and clamping shoes of the present invention just prior to the container capping operation;
- FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 representing the lowermost or container capping position of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 44 of FIG. I.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
- the dispenser and capper 10 of the present invention is shown as including a vertically disposed tubular magazine 12 of any suitable cross-sectional configuration (although specifically shown as having a circular cross-section) in which a plurality of lids 14 of a size coextensive with the cross-section of the magazine 12 have been stacked in a nested configuration by way of a vertical loading slot 16 as is known in the art.
- Each of the lids 14 have inverted U-shaped peripheral rims or flanges 14A with the outermost lip 14B thereof flared outwardly of the lid 14 into substantial juxtaposition or immediate adjacency to the internal walls of the magazine 12.
- the fit of the lids 14 within the magazine 12 is such that they will feed downwardly therein in their stacked configuration by the action of gravity.
- the outwardly flared lip 14B of the lids 14 is designed to snap over the rolled top rim portion 18A of a drinking cup or container 18 which is positioned in a holder or retaining means 20 of any suitable configuration coaxially beneath the magazine 12 and lids 14.
- the detents 24 are mounted on one end of respective upstanding follower arms 24A having a cam rise 24B and two adjacent dwells 24C and 24D at the opposite ends thereof adjacent the fixed annular bearing guide and cam ring 22.
- the lowermost rim 22A of the cam ring 22 is the actuating cam surface for the detents 24 and the sloping upper rim 22B of the cam ring 22 is the actuating cam surface for the clamping shoes 26 as will be hereinafter more fully described in conjunction with the description of operation of the present invention.
- the clamping shoes are mounted on upstanding follower arms 268 having a rise 26C and dwell 26D adjacent the cam ring 22.
- Both sets of follower arms 24A and 26B are pivoted intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof at 24E and 26E, respectively, by means of brackets 24F and 26F mounted on the outer surface of the magazine 12 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
- the follower arms 24A and 26B are biased toward the cam ring 22 such as by a garter spring 28.
- FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the assuming FIG. 1 to be the initial or dwell position of the dispenser and capper 10, an uncapped container 18 is moved beneath the magazine 12 in coaxial alignment therewith such that the cup rim or head 18A is indexed beneath the open portion of the rim 14A of the lowermost lid 14 in the lid stack in the said magazine 12.
- the rise 24B of the follower arms 24A engages the lower rim 22B of the cam ring 22 and progressively causes each follower arm 24A to pivot the leveling and dispensing detent 24 thereon out from under the lids 14 when the dwell 24D reaches the cam ring 22.
- v 4 ing and capping shoes 26 engage the flared lip 14B of the said lids and force same down and into the outer While this action is taking place, the rise 26C on the corner of the rim portion 14A on the next lowest lid.
- the two foregoing actions are such that the clamping action of the clamping and capping shoes 26 is accomplished prior to a full release of the lids 14 by the leveling and dispensing detents 24.
- the clamping shoes 26 release the lids 14 in the lid stack to drop by gravity onto the leveling and dispensing detents 24, thus positioning the now lowermost lid 14 in the lid stack for the next dispensing and capping stroke of the magazine 12.
- the clamping shoes 26 are fully released by the rises 26C on their respective follower arms 26B leaving the upper cam surface 228 of the cam ring 22 and the resultant engagement of the dwell 26D with the cam ring 22.
- the next cycle is commenced upon placing a new cup 18 in place beneath the unit 10 in the cup or container holder 20.
- the holder 20 can be a turret, a fixed socket or any suitable form of cup holder for automated and high speed use as well as for intermittent or random dispensing of the lids l4 and the resultant capping of cups 18 or other containers.
- any suitable mechanism can be utilized to drive the tubular magazine 12 through its reciprocal strokes, including manual actuation.
- a motor M driving an eccentric E acting against a drive follower 12A on the magazine 12 can provide the reciprocation in conjunction with a return spring 12B, all as schematically shown.
- the holder 20 In a turret or other automated configuration of the cup holder 20, for example, the holder 20 would be synchronized with and/or trip the actuating mechanism of the tubular magazine 12 such that the stroke would take place as the cup 18 is brought in to its final coaxial position with the magazine 12 and lids 14.
- the lowermost end 12A of the tubular magazine 12 extends downward to at least the lowermost extremity of the leveling and dispensing detents 24 such that the lowermost lid 14 and the rims 14A and 14B thereof are enclosed by the magazine 12 to an extent precluding lateral displacement of the lid 14 being dispensed therefrom and forced onto the rim 18A of the container 18.
- Capping device which is particularly well adapted for high speed volume use but which is simple enough and thus, low' enough in cost, for a wide variety of intermittent or sporadic modes of use.
- a lid dispensing and container capping means the combination comprising:
- elongated tubular magazine means for holding a plurality of container lids in a substantially coaxial stack adjacent an open dispensing end of said magazine;
- bearing means mounting said magazine means for reciprocating movement of said magazine; said bearing means including cam means; leveling and dispensing detent means mounted on said magazine and extending in-board of said open dispensing end thereof to preclude said stack of said lids from dispensing in a first position of said magazine means relative to said bearing means;
- said'detent means being constrained by said cam means to a position outboard of said magazine means in a second position of said magazine means relative to said bearing means; clamping means mounted on said magazine means adjacent said dispensing end thereof and extending through the periphery of said magazine and constrained by said cam means into selective engagement with a plurality of said lids in said stack;
- clamping means being out of engagement with said lids when said detent means is inboard of said magazine means and in engagement with said lids when said detent means is outboard of said magazine means.
- said detent means comprises a plurality of detents spaced about the periphery of said magazine means, each said detent being mounted on a follower arm extending therefrom into proximity with said bearing means;
- said follower arms having rise and dwell surfaces thereon engaging said cam means in response to reciprocating movement of said magazine means relative to said bearing means.
- clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping shoes, conformally shaped to said lids and spaced about the periphery of said magazine means, each said clamping shoe being mounted on a follower arm extending therefrom into proximity with said bearing means;
- said follower arms having rise and dwell surfaces thereon engaging said cam means in response to reciprocating movement of said magazine means relative to said bearing means.
- said detent means comprises a plurality of detents spaced about the periphery of said magazine means, said detents being mounted on respective first follower arms extending therefrom into proximity with said bearing means;
- said clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping shoes, conformally shaped to said lids and spaced about the periphery of said magazine means in alternating positions with said detents, said clamping shoes being mounted on respective second follower arms extending therefrom into proximity with said bearing means;
- said first and secondfollower arms having rise and dwell surfaces thereon engaging said cam means in response to reciprocating movement of said magazine means relative to said bearing means.
- Capping means for containers comprising:
- magazine means holding a plurality of container lids in a substantially vertical stack with each said lid disposed substantially horizontally;
- bearing means mounting said magazine for reciprocation on its longitudinal axis toward and away from said holding means
- said lids and the mouth of said container having conformally shaped coacting rim structures to effect a force fit therebetween;
- lid retaining and release means cooperating with said magazine and synchronized with the reciprocations thereof releasing the lowermost lid in said stack and retaining the remainder of said lids therein as said magazine approaches said container, and subsequently applying a substantially vertical force to said rim structure of said lowermost lid to effect said force fit of said lid to said container.
- lid retaining and release means comprises:
- detent means selectively extending inboard of said magazine means beneath said lowermost lid in said stack;
- clamping means selectively engageable with a plurality of said lids to retain all but the said lowermost of said lids in said magazine;
- said clamping means includingz'boss means overlapping said rim structure of at least said lowermost lid to apply said substantially vertical force thereto during the reciprocation of said magazine, and skirt means beneath said boss means effecting a lateral constraint to said lowermost lid to maintain registry between the said rim structure thereof and that of said container mouth.
- lid retaining and release means further includes actuating cam means engaging said bearing means selectively moving said detent means and said clamping means into and out of engagement with said stack of lids in predetermined sequence synchronized with said reciprocation of said magazine means.
- bearing means includes cam surfaces thereon;
- said actuating cam means comprise first and second pivoted follower arm means mounting said detent means and said clamping means, respectively, to said magazine means; said follower arm means including rise and dwell surfaces sequentially engaging said cam surfaces on said bearing means during reciprocation of said magazine means.
- said magazine means includes a dependent portion extending below said lid retaining and release means and enshrouding the mouth of said container to laterally constrain said lid means independently of said lid retaining and release means when said lowermost lid is applied to said container.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (14)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US390243A US3864898A (en) | 1973-08-21 | 1973-08-21 | Automatic container capping and lid dispensing device |
US536103A US3905178A (en) | 1973-08-21 | 1974-12-24 | Automatic container capping and dispensing device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US390243A US3864898A (en) | 1973-08-21 | 1973-08-21 | Automatic container capping and lid dispensing device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3864898A true US3864898A (en) | 1975-02-11 |
Family
ID=23541698
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US390243A Expired - Lifetime US3864898A (en) | 1973-08-21 | 1973-08-21 | Automatic container capping and lid dispensing device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3864898A (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4375144A (en) * | 1979-03-01 | 1983-03-01 | Moeller Knut N A | Lid mounting apparatus |
EP0178246A2 (en) * | 1984-10-12 | 1986-04-16 | Unidynamics Corporation | Capping method and apparatus for a beverage vendor |
US4949526A (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1990-08-21 | Pepsico Inc. | Lid dispenser for an automated drinkmaker system |
US5131562A (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 1992-07-21 | Brown Anthony P | Dispenser for soft drink lids and the like |
US5819982A (en) * | 1997-01-29 | 1998-10-13 | Brown; Anthony P. | Dispenser for disposable lids |
US6112497A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2000-09-05 | The Coca-Cola Company | Variety pack vendor and method of using |
US6357624B1 (en) * | 2000-06-05 | 2002-03-19 | Anthony P. Brown | Lid dispenser |
US20060169712A1 (en) * | 2005-02-03 | 2006-08-03 | Yitzchak Yitzchaki | Rimmed cup dispenser |
US20120080428A1 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2012-04-05 | Ebitz Robert A | Method of covering, preventing debris and insects from entering, minimizing heat transfer, and stabilizing a cup or can filled with a liquid beverage material, and device therefor |
US10435187B2 (en) * | 2015-04-27 | 2019-10-08 | Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. | Recapper, laboratory automation system, and method of recapping a sample container |
USD1011072S1 (en) | 2021-10-10 | 2024-01-16 | Fred Sklenar | Lid dispenser |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1050788A (en) * | 1912-05-20 | 1913-01-21 | Robert M Rupp | Bottle-capper. |
US1169775A (en) * | 1914-10-24 | 1916-02-01 | Harold D Cornwall | Capping device. |
US1824660A (en) * | 1930-10-01 | 1931-09-22 | Darner Edgar Stouffer | Bottle capping machine |
US2088010A (en) * | 1935-10-21 | 1937-07-27 | R G Wright & Company | Capping device |
US2315827A (en) * | 1941-01-06 | 1943-04-06 | White Castle System | Machine for holding and dispensing drinking cups |
-
1973
- 1973-08-21 US US390243A patent/US3864898A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1050788A (en) * | 1912-05-20 | 1913-01-21 | Robert M Rupp | Bottle-capper. |
US1169775A (en) * | 1914-10-24 | 1916-02-01 | Harold D Cornwall | Capping device. |
US1824660A (en) * | 1930-10-01 | 1931-09-22 | Darner Edgar Stouffer | Bottle capping machine |
US2088010A (en) * | 1935-10-21 | 1937-07-27 | R G Wright & Company | Capping device |
US2315827A (en) * | 1941-01-06 | 1943-04-06 | White Castle System | Machine for holding and dispensing drinking cups |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4375144A (en) * | 1979-03-01 | 1983-03-01 | Moeller Knut N A | Lid mounting apparatus |
EP0178246A2 (en) * | 1984-10-12 | 1986-04-16 | Unidynamics Corporation | Capping method and apparatus for a beverage vendor |
US4594838A (en) * | 1984-10-12 | 1986-06-17 | Unidynamics Corporation | Capping method and apparatus for a beverage vendor |
EP0178246A3 (en) * | 1984-10-12 | 1987-11-04 | Unidynamics Corporation | Capping method and apparatus for a beverage vendor |
US4949526A (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1990-08-21 | Pepsico Inc. | Lid dispenser for an automated drinkmaker system |
US5131562A (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 1992-07-21 | Brown Anthony P | Dispenser for soft drink lids and the like |
US5819982A (en) * | 1997-01-29 | 1998-10-13 | Brown; Anthony P. | Dispenser for disposable lids |
US6112497A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2000-09-05 | The Coca-Cola Company | Variety pack vendor and method of using |
US6357624B1 (en) * | 2000-06-05 | 2002-03-19 | Anthony P. Brown | Lid dispenser |
US20060169712A1 (en) * | 2005-02-03 | 2006-08-03 | Yitzchak Yitzchaki | Rimmed cup dispenser |
US20120080428A1 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2012-04-05 | Ebitz Robert A | Method of covering, preventing debris and insects from entering, minimizing heat transfer, and stabilizing a cup or can filled with a liquid beverage material, and device therefor |
US8327608B2 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2012-12-11 | Robert Ebitz | Method of covering, preventing debris and insects from entering, minimizing heat transfer, and stabilizing a cup or can filled with a liquid beverage material, and device therefor |
US10435187B2 (en) * | 2015-04-27 | 2019-10-08 | Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. | Recapper, laboratory automation system, and method of recapping a sample container |
USD1011072S1 (en) | 2021-10-10 | 2024-01-16 | Fred Sklenar | Lid dispenser |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SWEETHEART HOLDING CORP. Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MARYLAND CUP CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005284/0418 Effective date: 19841231 Owner name: MARYLAND CUP CORPORATION Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:MARYLAND CUP CORPORATION, A CORP. OF MD (MERGED INTO) MC ACQUISITION CORP., A CORP.OF MD (CHANGED TO);REEL/FRAME:005284/0423 Effective date: 19830831 Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS COLLATERAL AGENT Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FORT HOWARD CUP CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005287/0404 Effective date: 19891114 Owner name: FORT HOWARD CUP CORPORATION Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LILY-TULIP, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005300/0320 Effective date: 19861231 Owner name: LILY-TULIP, INC., A CORP. OF DE Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:SWEETHEART HOLDING CORP.;REEL/FRAME:005284/0457 Effective date: 19861231 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SWEETHEART CUP COMPANY INC. Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:FORT HOWARD CUP CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005346/0001 Effective date: 19891129 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SWEETHEART CUP COMPANY INC., ILLINOIS Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:007029/0011 Effective date: 19930830 Owner name: SWEETHEART CUP COMPANY INC., ILLINOIS Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:006687/0491 Effective date: 19930830 |