U.S. patent application number 10/939830 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-16 for water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus.
Invention is credited to Louis M. Posly.
Application Number | 20060056947 10/939830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36034149 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060056947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Posly; Louis M. |
March 16, 2006 |
Water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus
Abstract
An apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle
into a water cooler, the apparatus having a motorized mechanism for
securely gripping the bottle, a motorized mechanism for raising and
lowering the bottle, and a motorized mechanism for rotationally
inverting the bottle, the apparatus enabling a person with limited
physical strength to lift and move a full upright water bottle from
the floor, invert the bottle, and place it neck down into the well
of a water cooler.
Inventors: |
Posly; Louis M.; (Pittston,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Sanford J. Piltch, Esq.
Suite 201
1132 Hamilton Street
Allentown
PA
18101
US
|
Family ID: |
36034149 |
Appl. No.: |
10/939830 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/419 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66F 9/06 20130101; B66F
9/184 20130101; B66F 9/125 20130101; B67D 2210/00097 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/419 |
International
Class: |
B65B 69/00 20060101
B65B069/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for lifting a bottle containing a liquid from an
upright position to an inverted position comprising: a base
supporting a rigid frame including an elevator rail extending
vertically upward from said base; a threaded rod rotatably
journaled on said frame; an elevator motor means mounted on said
base and coupled to rotationally drive said threaded rod; an
elevator assembly comprising a horizontal sleeve, a bracket
slidably engaging said elevator rail, and a threaded nut meshed
with said threaded rod so that the rotation of said threaded rod by
said elevator motor moves said elevator assembly in an upward or a
downward direction guided by said elevator rail; a bottle support
shaft rotatably supported within said horizontal sleeve; bottle
grasping means at one end of said bottle support shaft for
embracing and supporting the bottle; bottle rotating means at the
opposite end of said bottle support shaft for rotating the bottle
in a vertical plane with respect to said elevator assembly, said
bottle rotating means operating independently from the vertical
movement of said elevator assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottle rotating means
comprises a rotator motor supported by said elevator assembly
interconnected to the opposite end of said bottle support shaft by
a rotator coupling means, thereby enabling said rotator motor to
rotationally drive said bottle support shaft.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rotator coupling means
comprises a sheave mounted to the output shaft of said rotator
motor, a sheave mounted to the other end of said bottle support
shaft, and a belt rotationally coupling said sheaves to one
another.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottle grasping means
comprises a pair of gripper arms adapted to grip the bottle
pivotably mounted to the one end of said bottle support shaft, a
gripper motor supported by said elevator assembly, and an
interconnecting gripper coupling enabling said gripper motor to
actuate said gripper arms inwardly and outwardly with respect to
the bottle.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said gripper coupling includes
a cam for translating the rotational movement of said gripper motor
to the translational movement required to pivot said gripper arms
about the one end of said bottle support shaft.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said bottle grasping means
further comprises locking means and unlocking means to retain said
gripper arms in contact with the bottle while the bottle is lifted
and rotated and to release said gripper arms after the bottle is
set into a water cooler, respectively.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including wheels supporting
said base to enable said mechanism to be moved to a position to
receive the bottle in the lower upright position thereof, said
wheels additionally enabling the mechanism to move across a floor
surface while holding the elevated bottle to a position whereby the
inverted bottle may be placed into a water cooler.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base includes means for
straddling the bottle to permit the gripping means to support and
embrace the bottle.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a reduction gear means
interconnects said elevator motor to said threaded rod.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elevator assembly
further comprises rotatable bushings in engagement with said
bracket and said elevator rail, and means for adjusting the
pressure of said bushings on said elevator rail.
11. An apparatus for lifting a bottle containing a liquid from an
upright position to an inverted position comprising: a base
supporting a rigid frame including an elevator rail extending
vertically upward from said base; a threaded rod rotatably
journaled on said frame; an elevator motor mounted on said base
coupled to rotationally drive said threaded rod; an elevator
assembly comprising a horizontal sleeve, a bracket slidably
engaging said elevator rail, and a threaded nut meshed with said
threaded rod so that the rotation of said threaded rod by said
elevator motor will move said elevator assembly in an upward or a
downward direction guided by said elevator rail; a bottle support
shaft rotatably supported within said horizontal sleeve; bottle
grasping means at one end of said bottle support shaft for
embracing and supporting the bottle; bottle rotating means at the
other end of said bottle support shaft for turning the bottle in a
vertical plane with respect to said elevator assembly, said bottle
rotating means comprising a rotator motor supported by said
elevator assembly rotationally coupled to the other end said bottle
support shaft to rotationally drive said bottle support shaft.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bottle grasping means
comprises a pair of gripper arms adapted to grip the bottle
pivotably mounted to the one end of said bottle support shaft, a
gripper motor supported by said elevator assembly, and a coupling
interconnecting between said gripper motor and said gripper arms,
said coupling including a cam for translating the rotational
movement of said gripper motor to actuate said gripper arms
inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bottle.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, further including wheels supporting
said base to enable said mechanism to be moved to a position to
receive the bottle in a lower upright position thereof, said wheels
additionally enabling the mechanism to move across a floor surface
while holding the elevated bottle to a position whereby the
inverted bottle may be placed into a water cooler.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said bottle grasping means
further comprises locking and unlocking means to retain said
gripper arms in contact with the bottle while the bottle is lifted
and rotated and to release said gripper arms after the bottle is
set into a water cooler, respectively.
15. An apparatus for lifting a bottle containing a liquid from an
upright position to an inverted position comprising: a base
supporting a rigid frame including an elevator rail extending
vertically upward from said base; a threaded rod rotatably
journaled on said frame; an elevator motor mounted on said base
coupled to rotationally drive said threaded rod; an elevator
assembly comprising a horizontal sleeve, a bracket slidably
engaging said elevator rail, and a threaded nut meshed with said
threaded rod so that the rotation of said threaded rod by said
elevator motor will move said elevator assembly in an upward or a
downward direction guided by said elevator rail; a bottle support
shaft rotatably supported within said horizontal sleeve; bottle
grasping means at one end of said bottle support shaft for
embracing and supporting the bottle, said bottle grasping means
comprising a pair of gripper arms adapted to grip the bottle
pivotably mounted to the one end of said bottle support shaft, a
gripper motor supported by said elevator assembly, and an
interconnecting coupling including a cam for translating the
rotational movement of said gripper motor to actuate said gripper
arms inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bottle, said bottle
grasping means further comprising locking means to retain said
gripper arms in contact with the bottle while the bottle is lifted
and rotated and unlocking means to release the bottle after the
bottle is set into a water cooler; bottle rotating means at the
other end of said bottle support shaft for turning the bottle in a
vertical plane with respect to said elevator assembly, said bottle
rotating means operating independently from the vertical movement
of said elevator assembly.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said bottle rotating means
comprises a rotator motor supported by said elevator assembly
rotationally coupled to the other end said bottle support shaft to
rotationally drive said bottle support shaft.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including wheels supporting
said base to enable said mechanism to be moved to a position to
receive the bottle in a lower upright position thereof, said wheels
additionally enabling the mechanism to move across a floor surface
while holding the elevated bottle to a position whereby the
inverted bottle may be placed into a water cooler.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to devices for
lifting a filled upright water bottle, rotating the lifted water
bottle to an inverted position, and placing the inverted water
bottle into the receiving well of a water cooler. More
specifically, the present invention relates to an improved
mechanism and method for grasping the water bottle and additionally
an improved mechanism and method for lifting and inverting the
lifted water bottle.
[0002] Many offices and establishments offer bottled water to their
employees and patrons. Water bottles are normally associated with a
water cooler for dispensing and are initially sealed with a cap
which is removed in order that the bottle may be lifted and
inverted to be placed neck down into the receiving well of the
cooler. These plastic or glass bottles, when full of water, are
cumbersome and heavy so that some persons simply cannot perform the
task of lifting and inverting the water bottle and then lowering it
into the well of the cooler.
[0003] An apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water
bottle into a water cooler, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814
[Posly], the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference. The apparatus disclosed contemplates a mechanism for
gripping the water bottle comprising a plate supporting a pair of
flexible fastening straps including conventional fasteners such as
Velcro, for releasably embracing and supporting the bottle. The
apparatus disclosed further contemplates a mechanism for rotating
the water bottle, as it is being lifted, comprising a pair of
90.degree. rotating cams attached via a support shaft to the rear
of the plate. The cams are adapted to cam or bear against two
rotatable bearings, mounted in series to the vertical frame of the
apparatus, which serve as cam followers in causing the cams,
support shaft, and plate to rotate in two 90.degree. increments so
that a water bottle mounted to the plate will turn from an upright
position to an inverted position as the bottle is lifted.
[0004] In use, the prior art apparatus starts with the lifting
mechanism at its lowered position. A full water bottle resting
upright on the ground is secured to the lifting mechanism by the
fastening straps. Next, the bottle is elevated by the lifting
mechanism, being rotated during the lift by 90.degree. when the
first cam encounters the first roller bearing and by another
90.degree. when the second cam encounters the second roller
bearing. Next, the bottle is lowered by the lifting mechanism so
that the bottle comes to rest on a water cooler with the bottle
neck positioned inside the well of the cooler. Finally, the
fastening straps are removed to release the bottle and the
apparatus is moved away. To reset the apparatus so that it is ready
to use on another water bottle, the lifting mechanism is returned
to its lowered position. During the process of securing, elevating,
and rotating the bottle, a bottle closure device is disposed on the
mouth of the bottle so that no water spills from the inverted
bottle, the bottle closure device adapted to interact with the well
of a water cooler to open under the weight of the water bottle once
the bottle is placed into the well.
[0005] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle
that includes an improved mechanism and method for gripping a water
bottle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle
which includes an improved mechanism and method for rotating a
lifted water bottle from an upright position to an inverted
position, independently from the lifting mechanism, so that the
bottle may be inverted either during the lift or afterward.
[0006] Other objects will appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides an apparatus for lifting,
rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler which
includes both a bottle gripping mechanism and a bottle rotating
mechanism that are significantly different from that disclosed in
the prior art, in combination with the bottle lifting mechanism
previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly].
[0008] The bottle gripping mechanism of the present invention
includes a pair of pivotably mounted gripper arms actuated by a
motor driven cam. The gripper arms secure the water bottle to the
lifting mechanism surely, and can be varied in construction to
accommodate water bottles of different geometries, as required. The
bottle rotating mechanism of the present invention includes a
rotatably mounted horizontal support shaft suspending the bottle
gripping mechanism from the bottle lifting mechanism, the rotatably
mounted support shaft being actuated by a motor.
[0009] In performing their respective functions as part of the
apparatus of the present invention, the three mechanisms interact
as follows. The gripping mechanism grips a water bottle. The
rotating mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism along with the
bottle. The lifting mechanism raises and lowers the rotating
mechanism and the gripping mechanism along with the bottle. During
at least the steps of rotating the bottle to an inverted position
and then lowering it into the well of a water cooler, a bottle
closure device (similar or equivalent to that disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], as previously described) is disposed on
the mouth of the bottle so that no water spills from the inverted
bottle before it comes to rest in the well of the water cooler.
[0010] In use, the apparatus starts with the lifting mechanism at
its lowered position, with the gripping mechanism released from its
gripping state. A full water bottle resting upright on the ground
is first grabbed by the gripping mechanism. Next, the bottle, along
with the gripping and rotating mechanisms, is elevated by the
lifting mechanism. During or after the lift, the bottle, along with
the gripping mechanism, is inverted by the rotating mechanism.
Next, the bottle, along with the gripping and rotating mechanisms,
is lowered by the lifting mechanism so that the bottle comes to
rest on a water cooler with the bottle neck positioned inside the
well of the cooler. Finally, the bottle is released by unclamping
the gripping mechanism and the apparatus is moved away. To reset
the apparatus so that it is ready to use on another water bottle,
the empty gripping mechanism and the rotating mechanism are then
lowered by the lifting mechanism, restoring the lifting mechanism
to its lowered position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being
understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the
precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0012] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the water bottle lifting,
rotating, and mounting apparatus of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along Line 2-2 of FIG. 1
looking down showing the gripper mechanism, the rotator mechanism,
and the elevator assembly of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2A is the same view as FIG. 2 showing the gripper arms
disengaged.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the cam and the connecting
arms to the gripper arms in the disengaged position.
[0016] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the cam and the connecting
arms to the gripper arms in the engaged position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The following detailed description is of the best presently
contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is
not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
The various features and advantages of the present invention may be
more readily understood with reference to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
[0018] Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals
refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an
isometric view of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting
apparatus 10 of the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a
base 12 which may be of welded tubular steel frame construction or
of aluminum or suitable plastic construction or a combination of
each. Swivel castors or wheels 14 may be at each of the corners of
the base 12 to advantageously render the apparatus 10 readily
movable or portable in any direction from one location to
another.
[0019] The base 12 is formed with an opening 16 so that legs 18 and
20 can straddle an upright water bottle 22 resting on the floor.
The base 12 has mounted thereon a bracket 24 supporting an elevator
motor 26 with attached reduction gearbox 28 and journaling the
lower end of a vertical threaded rod or screw 30. The base 12 also
supports a vertical elevator frame 32 that includes at least one
vertical rail 34 and a vertical elevator rail 36. The elevator
frame 32 includes a top plate 38 to which the top of each rail 34
and the top of the elevator rail 36 are connected and the threaded
rod 30 is suitably journaled. A pair of handles 40 optionally
extends from the elevator frame 32 for facilitating movement of the
apparatus 10 on the wheels 14.
[0020] The bottle elevator assembly 42, as illustrated in finer
detail in FIGS. 2 and 2A, comprises an elevator bracket 46 and an
elevator nut 56, and is integrally connected to a rotator mechanism
68 comprising a support sleeve 58 and a rotator motor 62. The
bottle elevator assembly 42 cooperates with the threaded rod 30 and
the elevator rail 36 in elevating the bottle 22.
[0021] The elevator bracket 46 embraces the vertical elevator rail
36. Nylon roller bushings 48 are rotatably mounted on clevis pins
50 and engage with the rail 36 in facilitating the vertical raising
and lowering of the bottle 22. The clevis pins 50 also serve to
couple the angle iron tensioners 52 to the bracket 46. Tensioning
bolts 54 extend through and bear against the pair of angle iron
tensioners 52 on opposed sides of the rail 36 and serve to pull the
associated pair of tensioners 52 together and consequently pull the
roller bushings 48 tightly against the rail 36.
[0022] Connected to the bracket 46 is the elevator nut 56 that
meshes with the threads of the vertical threaded rod 30 in raising
and lowering the elevator assembly 42. The elevator bracket 46 is
also rigidly affixed to a horizontally oriented support sleeve 58
that is adapted for receiving the rotatable support shaft 60.
Further affixed to the support sleeve 58 by the motor mounting
bracket 66 is the rotator motor 62.
[0023] The horizontal support shaft 60 is supported rotatably
inside the support sleeve 58. The rotator motor 62 drives a first
end of the support shaft 60 via the rotator drive coupling 64.
Mounted at the opposite end of the support shaft 60 is the bottle
gripping mechanism 70. In the preferred embodiment, the rotator
drive coupling 64 comprises a belt 92 tensioned about a sheave 94
disposed on the output shaft of the rotator motor 62 and another
sheave 96 disposed on the one end of the support shaft 60.
[0024] The bottle gripping mechanism 70 comprises an alignment
plate 78, a gripper motor 72, and a pair of gripper arms 82. The
alignment plate 78 is rigidly affixed to the end of the support
shaft 60 and provides mounting support for the other components of
the gripping mechanism 70. The upper and lower portions of the
plate 78 are shaped to accommodate a water bottle 22. Mounted to
the rear side of the plate 78, below the support shaft 60, is the
gripper gearbox 74 that, in turn, supports a gripper motor 72. The
gripper motor 72 drives the gripper gearbox 74, and the output of
the gripper gearbox 74 drives the gripper cam 76, which is
rotatably mounted through the support shaft 60.
[0025] Further, affixed to the rear side of the plate 78 are two
symmetrically positioned gripper hinge pins 84 about which the pair
of gripper arms 82 are pivotably mounted. A corresponding pair of
connecting arms 80 pivotably couples the gripper cam 76 to each of
the gripper arms 82, so that rotation of the cam 76 causes the
gripper arms 82 to pivot about the hinge pins 84 inwardly and
outwardly with respect to the water bottle 22. Operation of the
gripper cam 76 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 3A.
[0026] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, each gripper arm 82
comprises an upper arm 86 and a lower arm 88, interconnected at one
end by the hinge pin 84 and at the other end by a cross brace 90,
the arms 86 and 88 being curved or shaped to accommodate a water
bottle 22. It is recognized that many other specific constructions
of gripper arms 82 may be equally effective in carrying out the
desired function of the gripping mechanism 70. Additionally, the
gripper arms 82 may be configured to accommodate water bottles 22
of any shape.
[0027] The operation of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and
mounting apparatus 10 may be described as follows. Initially, the
apparatus 10 is moved to a location at which it may be associated
with a full water bottle 22 that is to be mounted on a water cooler
(not illustrated). For convenience of operation, it is also assumed
that the valve closure device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814
[Posly], or a similarly functioning device, is on the neck of the
bottle 22. The legs 18 and 20 straddle the bottle 22 that is
disposed in the opening 16. The elevator assembly 42 is in its
lowered position so that the alignment plate 78 may be centered on
the bottle 22 with the upper and lower curved portions of the plate
78 positioned generally around the upper and lower portions of the
bottle 22 and the curved gripper arms 82 positioned around the
sides of the bottle 22.
[0028] Next, the gripper motor 72 is activated by a switch or other
activating device, causing the gripper cam 76 to rotate via the
gripper gearbox 74 and thus forcing the gripper connecting arms 80
outward. The connecting arms 80, in turn cause the gripper arms 82
to pivot about the hinge pins 84 inwardly towards the water bottle
22 until the gripper arms 82 are firmly and securely clamped about
and against the sides of the bottle 22. The gripper motor 72 is
stopped and locked to retain the gripper arms 82 in this
position.
[0029] Next, the elevator motor 26 is activated by a switch or
other activating device, causing the threaded rod 30 to rotate via
the gearbox 28, raising the elevator nut 56 up, thus lifting the
elevator assembly 42 and the water bottle 22, guided by the
elevator rail 36. When the bottle 22 has reached sufficient height
to be capable of being mounted in a water cooler, the elevator
motor 36 is deactivated. During or following the lifting action,
the rotator motor 62 is activated by a switch or other activating
device, causing the support shaft 60 to rotate within the support
sleeve 58 via the rotator drive coupling 64, and thus rotating the
bottle 22. When the bottle has rotated 180.degree. from an upright
position to an inverted position, the rotator motor 62 is
deactivated and the water bottle 22 remains suspended vertically
with its neck pointing downward.
[0030] The apparatus 10 may now be laterally moved and positioned
to align the neck of the bottle 22 with respect to the well of the
water cooler. The elevator motor 26 is then activated in the
reverse direction, causing the elevator assembly 42 and the
inverted water bottle 22 to be lowered. When the neck of the bottle
22 is in the water cooler to a sufficient extent, the elevator
motor 26 is deactivated and the elevator assembly 42 stops. The
gripper motor 72 is then unlocked and activated in the reverse
direction, causing the gripper arms 82 to pivot outwardly from the
water bottle 22, releasing the bottle 22 to rest in the well of the
cooler. The apparatus 10 may now be moved away from the water
cooler, as the bottle mounting operation is complete.
[0031] To return the apparatus 10 to its original starting
position, the elevator motor 26 is activated in the reverse
direction until the elevator assembly 42 is at its lowered
position. For ease of storage, the gripper motor 72 may also be
activated in its forward direction to rotate the gripper arms 82
inwardly. Note that the rotator motor 62 need not be activated
since the gripping mechanism 70 is symmetrical about the horizontal
axis and thus can function in exactly the same fashion when
starting in either the "upright" or "inverted" position.
[0032] Note that each motor may be controlled manually via switches
or automatically by using a combination of sensors or limit
switches or other control instrumentation. For purposes of the
apparatus of the present invention, the method disclosed herein for
lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler
is the same regardless of the means used to activate and deactivate
the elevator motor 26, the gripper motor 72, and the rotator motor
62.
[0033] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes
thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be
considered in all respects as being illustrative and not
restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as
indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications
which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also
intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *