U.S. patent number 3,849,973 [Application Number 05/326,505] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-26 for apparatus for closing jars or other containers with caps.
Invention is credited to Einar Zetterberg.
United States Patent |
3,849,973 |
Zetterberg |
November 26, 1974 |
APPARATUS FOR CLOSING JARS OR OTHER CONTAINERS WITH CAPS
Abstract
Apparatus for closing containers such as jars with caps from a
supply of caps which are automatically guided and preliminarily
tightened on the jars and thereafter the cap is firmly tightened on
the jar by use of wheels which engage opposite sides of the caps
and are driven at different speeds and biased in a direction
tending to press the caps against the jars so that caps are firmly
tightened onto the jar.
Inventors: |
Zetterberg; Einar (214 53
Malma, SW) |
Family
ID: |
20257089 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/326,505 |
Filed: |
January 24, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/331.5;
53/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67B
3/2046 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B67B
3/00 (20060101); B67B 3/14 (20060101); B67B
1/04 (20060101); B67B 1/00 (20060101); B67B
3/20 (20060101); B65b 007/28 (); B67b 001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/313,314,315,317,331.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Assistant Examiner: Culver; Horace M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Burns, Doane, Swecker &
Mathis
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for tightening caps, having a top and a downwardly
directed mantle, on filled containers, the apparatus
comprising:
frame means;
conveyor means operable to move filled containers through said
frame means at a speed;
means operable to preliminarily tighten the caps on the filled
containers;
first wheel means operable to engage a peripheral portion of the
top surface of each cap with a peripheral portion of a lower
surface of said first wheel means, the lower surface being
generally perpendicular to the rotation axis of said first wheel
means, said first wheel means being resiliently mounted on said
frame means such that said first wheel means presses against the
top surface of each cap in the axial direction of the filled
containers, said first wheel means being mounted at one side of
said conveyor means and being rotatable such that the speed of the
lower surface engaging the top of a cap exceeds the speed of said
conveyor means and is directed in the direction of movement of the
filled containers through said frame means; and
second wheel means operable to engage the peripheral portion of the
top surface of each cap with a peripheral portion of a lower
surface of said second wheel means, the lower surface being
generally perpendicular to the rotation axis of said second wheel
means, said second wheel means being resiliently mounted on said
frame means such that said second wheel means presses against the
top surface of each cap in the axial direction of the filled
containers, said second wheel means being mounted at the other side
of said conveyor means and being rotatable such that the speed of
the lower surface of said second wheel means which engages the top
of a cap is less than the speed of said conveyor means and is
directed in the direction of movement of the filled containers
through said frame means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
said first wheel means includes a slightly inclined first rotatable
shaft; and
said second wheel means includes a slightly inclined second
rotatable shaft,
whereby said lower surfaces of said first and second wheel means
are at a greater distance from said conveyor means when the top of
a cap is first engaged by said lower surfaces than when the top is
last engaged thereby.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
lateral adjustment means for accommodating differently sized caps
is disposed between said first and second wheel means.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
each said lower surface includes a replaceable friction member
disposed adjacent to the periphery.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:
said first and second wheel means are supported at one end of an
arm;
said arm is pivotally mounted at the other end to a platform which
is attached to said frame means;
vertical adjustment means is provided at said one end of said
arm.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:
said first wheel means is displaceable in the direction of the axis
of said first shaft and is resiliently pressed downwardly by a
spring; and
said second wheel means is displaceable in the direction of the
axis of said second shaft and is resiliently pressed downwardly by
another spring.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
said first wheel means is driven by a first belt; and said second
wheel means is driven by a second belt.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
said platform includes vertical positioning means operable to move
said platform vertically with respect to said frame means to
accommodate containers having different heights.
Description
The present invention relates to an apparatus for closing jars or
other containers with caps, said apparatus comprising partly a
conveyor for conveying filled jars through the apparatus, partly a
device for the supply of caps to the apparatus from a cap
container, partly a device for guiding and/or preliminarily
tightening the caps, and partly a device for firmly tightening or
final pressing on the caps, which have been located on the jars,
said device for firmly tightening comprising two wheels, one on
each side of the central axis of the conveyor, which wheels
cooperate with one part close to their periphery with a part of the
upper side of the cap close to its edge, whereby the wheels are
driven with different speeds, so that their parts, which cooperate
with the cap, are driven in the same direction as the jar conveyor,
whereby the speed of one of the wheels is lower than and the speed
of the other wheel is higher than the speed of the conveyor.
According to the invention the wheels in a conventional way are
influenced by a resilient force, which works to press them against
the caps in the axial direction of the jars, and that the rotation
axis of the wheels extend wholly or almost wholly in said axial
direction, so that jars with caps thereon are moved in under the
underside of the wheels, which underside is perpendicular to the
rotation axis, and that the jars will be engaged by said side and
thereby be firmly tightened or pressed on by friction engagement or
pressure respectively.
The wheels are by an adjustment device sidewards adjustable for
different cap dimensions, so that substantially in size equal a
part of the peripheral part of the wheels will always cooperate
with the top side of the caps. Further the wheels are supported by
one free end of an arm, the other end of which rotatably rests on a
platform over the apparatus frame, so that the arm is vertically
rotatable, and the free end of the arm is by the influence of a
helical spring, which is arranged between the platform and the arm,
kept against and has its upper vertical position adjustably limited
by a nut on a bolt. The shafts of the wheels are displaceable in an
axial direction and, by springs, strive to be displaced towards the
caps. Further said platform is supported by four pillars, which are
commonly vertically displaceable, and the device for locating the
caps and the device for firmly tightening the caps are supported by
the area of the platform between the pillars and together with the
platform vertically movable above the apparatus frame with the jar
conveyor in order to adjust the apparatus for jars of different
heights.
The invention is illustrated by an embodiment shown on the enclosed
drawings as an example.
FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view of the apparatus according
to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows on a larger scale a vertical section through a device
for firmly tightening in the apparatus.
FIG. 3 shows the device according to FIG. 2 as seen from above.
The apparatus according to FIG. 1 is provided with partly a
conveyor for conveying filled jars in a line through the apparatus,
said conveyor being generally indicated with 1, partly a device,
generally indicated with 2, for the supply of caps, partly a
device, generally indicated with 3, for guiding and preliminary
tightening of caps, and partly a device, generally indicated with
4, for firmly tightening of caps, which have been located on the
jars. The device for the supplying, guiding and preliminary
tightening of caps is more fully described in my copending U.S.
application Ser. No. 326,504, filed Jan. 24, 1973.
The conveyor 1 is supported by the frame 10 of the apparatus. At
each side of the frame 10 two sleeves 11 are arranged and through
each sleeve 11 a vertical pillar 12 extends, which pillar is
displaceable by being threaded, whereby a worm wheel 13, which is
rotatably mounted in the sleeve 11, has a threaded bore engaging
the thread of the pillar and outwardly is engaged in threads of a
worm screw or a tooth wheel (not shown) on a shaft 14. Two worm
wheels 13 provided on each side of the frame 10 are further each
engaging a toothwheel 15 on a shaft 16 with a wheel 17. A turning
of the wheel 17 will accordingly be transmitted to the four pillars
with a lifting or lowering of these as a result. The pillars 12 are
at their upper ends connected by a platform 18 supported by
them.
According to FIG. 2 and 3 above the platform 18 an arm 19 is so
arranged, that at one end thereof it is kept abutting the platform
18 by a bolt 20 having a helical spring, which bolt extends through
a slot 21, so that the arm 19 guided by the bolt 20 is displaceable
against the platform by influence of a helical spring 22. The other
end of the arm 19 is located at a distance from the platform 18 and
is resting on a helical spring 23 around a bolt 25, which is
fastened in the platform and passes freely through a slot 24 in the
arm 19, with a nut against the upper side of the arm, so that the
outer end of the arm is kept elevated against the nut of the bolt
by the spring 23.
On the free end of the arm 19 two double bearing housings 26 and
26' respectively are arranged being adjustable in relation to each
other by a device 27, said device comprising a screw, which is
right and left threaded on its two ends respectively, and a nut
which is rotatable but axially undisplaceable in relation to the
arm 19. In each of the double bearing housings 26, 26' a shaft 28
is pivoted, said shaft being forwardly inclined a little, for
example 4.degree.-6.degree., in the movement direction of the
conveyor device in relation to a line which is parallel with the
longitudinal axis of a jar being conveyed by the conveyor device,
as is shown in FIG. 2. Said shafts 28, however, may also be
substantially vertical. On the upper ends of each shaft 28 a belt
pulley 29 is provided, and at the lower end of the shaft is
provided a wheel 30 for firmly tightening with an annular friction
member 31 at its lower end, said member preferably consisting of
rubber. The wheel 30 and the shaft 28 are upwards displaceable
against the action of a helical spring 32. The effect of said
spring for pressing against the caps can in a simple way be
improved by annular weights, which are positioned on each of the
belt pulleys 29.
Each belt pulley 29 is in driving connection with different ones of
two belt pulleys 34 by a belt 33, said belt pulley 34 being
arranged on a vertical driving shaft 35, which is pivoted in a
bearing housing 36, which is adjustably arranged on the platform
18. The belt pulleys 34 are unrotatably but axially displaceably
arranged on their shafts 35, for example by a key being fastened in
each respective belt pulley, said key being located in a
longitudinal groove in the shaft.
The device 2 for supply of caps to the jars comprises a
conventionally formed cap container 41 and a cap chute 42, in which
the caps slide down with their bottom sides down and their mantle
edges being downwards directed.
The function of the apparatus in as follows. Filled jars are
supplied preferably by some mechanical device to a conveyor 71,
said conveyor being driven by a motor 40 over a shaft 39, a
sprocket 70 and a chain 69, on which conveyor the jars, standing in
a line, are moved in between and seized by conventional side belts
72, which belts are driven with the same speed and movement
direction as the conveyor 71.
Caps are supplied from the cap container 41 through the cap chute
42 to the device for guiding and preliminary tightening of the
caps. Immediately after the preliminary tightening the upper sides
of the caps close to their periphery will engage the friction
members 31 of the horizontal or somewhat inclined wheels 30 for
firmly tightening. The wheels 30 rotate in different directions but
in such a way, that their peripheral parts, which are located above
the conveyor, rotate in the same direction as the conveyor, and for
the right wheel, as seen in the conveyance direction, this speed is
lower than that of the conveyor, and for the other wheel it is
correspondingly higher than the speed of the conveyor, which
arrangement has the consequence that the wheels 30 and their
friction members 31 tighten the cap on the jar. The firmness of the
tightening can be increased by placing annular weights on the belt
pulleys 29.
The wheels 30 and the device 3 for guiding and preliminary
tightening of caps are adjustable into a height position adapted to
the height of the jars by adjusting the vertical position of the
platform 18 by a wheel 17. Further the vertical positions of the
wheels 30 are adjustable by swinging of the arm 19, by the bolt 25
and the spring 23, and further the wheels 30 can be displaced
upwardly against the actions of each respective helical spring 32.
Further the wheels 30 are by the device 27 laterally adjustable for
different cap dimensions, so that a substantially in size equal
part, for example 5-6 mm, of the periphery of the wheels will
always engage the upper sides of the caps.
The apparatus of the embodiment described above of the invention
provides a firm grip of the jars during their movement through the
apparatus, an effective guiding of the caps before and during their
positioning on the jars and a highly effective and firm tightening
of the caps on the jars.
Although the invention has been illustrated in the drawings in only
one embodiment, it is evident, that especially the various
transmission means and other details may be modified within the
scope of the invention.
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