U.S. patent number 3,791,009 [Application Number 05/228,917] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-12 for apparatus for filling, labeling, and closing containers, such as syringes.
Invention is credited to Larry C. Gess.
United States Patent |
3,791,009 |
Gess |
February 12, 1974 |
APPARATUS FOR FILLING, LABELING, AND CLOSING CONTAINERS, SUCH AS
SYRINGES
Abstract
Apparatus for filling, labeling, and closing or applying needle
assemblies to medicinal syringes is provided. The apparatus
includes an adjustable pump for filling individual syringe barrel
assemblies automatically with a predetermined amount of liquid. The
barrels are then labeled with appropriate indicia showing the
contents, with the labels printed immediately before to assure that
the correct labels are applied to the proper syringes. Needle
assemblies are crimped on the syringe barrels during labeling to
complete the overall operation.
Inventors: |
Gess; Larry C. (Toledo,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
22859080 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/228,917 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/775; 53/136.1;
53/282; 53/341; 29/777; 53/137.2; 53/306 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67C
7/00 (20130101); B65B 3/003 (20130101); B65C
9/1869 (20130101); A61M 2207/00 (20130101); A61J
1/2096 (20130101); Y10T 29/5333 (20150115); A61J
1/201 (20150501); Y10T 29/53339 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
5/178 (20060101); B65B 3/00 (20060101); B65C
9/08 (20060101); B65C 9/18 (20060101); B67C
7/00 (20060101); A61J 1/00 (20060101); B65b
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/131,137,306,310,334
;29/28B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Assistant Examiner: Sipos; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gutchess, Jr.; Allen D.
Claims
I claim:
1. A machine for closing syringe barrels comprising indexing means
having means to hold the syringe barrels and to carry them
sequentially to an additional station from a first station at which
the syringe barrels are received, the syringe barrels being closed
at the additional station, means at the additional station for
rotating the syringe barrels and affixing needle assemblies
thereon, said rotating means comprising jaw means movable in a
lineal path toward and away from the syringe barrels at the
additional station for rotating said needle assemblies when engaged
therewith, and means for sequentially feeding needle assemblies
into the path of said jaw means with needles of the needle
assemblies being substantially parallel to the path.
2. A machine according to claim 1 characterized by drive means
including an electromagnetic clutch for moving said jaw in the path
toward the syringe barrels, said electromagnetic clutch causing
slipping when the pressure of said jaw and the needle assembly
carried thereby on the syringe barrel exceeds a predetermined
amount.
3. A machine for closing syringe barrels comprising an indexing
wheel having openings to receive the syringe barrels and to carry
them sequentially to an additional station from a first station at
which the syringe barrels are received, the syringe barrels being
closed at the additional station, means at the additional station
for rotating the syringe barrels and affixing needle assemblies
thereon, said affixing means comprising a crimping member mounted
in a fixed position and having a flange positioned to extend toward
and below finishes of the syringe barrels, said flange being
effective to force inwardly lower annular edges of hubs of the
needle assemblies, and each of said openings of said indexing wheel
also having a flange positioned to extend toward and below the
finishes of the syringe barrel assemblies.
4. A machine according to claim 3 characterized by feed means for
feeding labels having adhesive surfaces into contact with the
syringe barrels during rotation thereof, and means for imprinting
indicia on the labels prior to feeding them into contact with the
syringe barrels.
5. A machine according to claim 3 characterized by feed means for
feeding labels having adhesive surfaces into contact with the
syringe barrels during rotation thereof, said labels being of
elongate shape and fed by said feed means in positions in which
they are substantially parallel to said syringe barrels.
6. A machine according to claim 5 characterized by said labels
being on a tape and disposed in uniformly spaced relationship
transversely to the longitudinal extent of said tape.
7. Apparatus for crimping closure members on ends of containers,
said apparatus comprising means for supporting the containers in a
predetermined crimping position, means for supplying containers to
the crimping position, a magazine for holding a plurality of
closure members and having means for sequentially moving the
closure members to a position aligned with an end of a container at
the crimping position, and means for moving the aligned closure
member in a straight line directly from the magazine to the end of
the aligned container and for affixing the closure member to the
end of the aligned container.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized by said moving and
affixing means including a jaw for engaging the closure members,
and drive means for rotating said jaw.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized by said moving and
affixing means including supporting means movable toward and away
from the aligned container, means for supporting said magazine from
said supporting means in a direction toward the containers, said
magazine being movable with said supporting means for a portion of
the distance which said supporting means moves toward the
containers.
10. Apparatus for crimping closure members comprising needles and
hubs on containers, said apparatus comprising means for holding a
closure member in alignment with a container, means for rotating
the closure member and for moving the closure member from the
holding means directly to and into contact with the aligned
container, said rotating and moving means comprising a jaw for
engaging the hub and a separate guide sleeve around said jaw for
contacting the hub prior to said jaw engaging the hub to aid in
maintaining said jaw and the closure member in axial alignment, and
resilient means urging said guide sleeve toward said closure member
beyond said jaw.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized by said hubs
having shoulders and said guide sleeve having a circular edge of a
size to contact said shoulders.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized by means for
supporting a plurality of said closure members in a line, and a
means for sequentially urging said closure members toward said
holding means and into the path of said moving means.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus for filling, labeling, and
closing containers, and specifically for filling, labeling, and
applying needle assemblies to one-dose medicinal syringes.
One-dose, disposable syringes are being used more and more
frequently by hospitals. A principal advantage of one-dose syringes
is the added protection they provide against possible infection
especially resulting from contaminated needles. Syringes of this
type have been manually filled from a supply container having a
rubber diaphragm through which the syringe needles are projected
into the container. Such containers are relatively small, being
capable of only supplying doses for perhaps eight or 10 syringes
because too many holes otherwise result in the diaphragm from the
needles and the contents thereby are exposed to the air and can be
contaminated. With this type of filling, the needles of the
syringes also have a greater chance of being contaminated due to
contact with the exposed rubber diaphragm. The relatively small
supply containers are also uneconomical and present a handling and
storage problem. Further, particularly in larger hospitals using
large numbers of syringes daily, the manual filling of each
consumes many costly man hours on the part of personnel.
The present invention provides a machine for filling a number of
disposable syringes automatically and for labeling them at the same
time. This assures that the proper label is applied for the proper
medicine to reduce possible identification errors. A larger supply
container of the medicine also can be used, if desired, for easier
handling and greater economy since a needle may be inserted into
the supply container only once. The syringe barrels can be filled
directly without the needles affixed thereto, thereby further
reducing the possibility of contamination. At the same time that
the syringe barrels are labeled, the machine affixes needle
assemblies thereto through a crimping operation. The needles of the
assemblies can be continuously covered at this time with the result
that the needles are never exposed until the syringes are ready to
be used.
The machine is compact and reliable and can be operated by
personnel of relatively little skill. The machine also employs
relatively inexpensive and simplified mechanical components which
reduce the overall cost and maintenance requirements.
More specifically, the machine according to the invention has an
indexing wheel or turntable with four stations. The syringe barrel
can be fed by hand or by suitable automatic supply means to a first
station of the turntable with a narrow neck of the syringe barrel
extending upwardly. The lower end of the syringe barrel has a
plunger previously inserted to seal that end. The syringe barrel is
then moved to a second station at which a predetermined amount of
medicinal liquid is supplied through the neck. Labels are printed
at a third station, the labels being positioned transversely on a
tape and being parallel to the longitudinal extent of the syringe
barrel. The syringe barrel receives a printed label at that third
station, which label feeds onto the barrel as it is rotated. At the
same time, a needle assembly is moved from an aligned position
above the syringe onto the neck thereof by means of a rotating
head. As the head moves the needle assembly down onto the neck,
stationary crimping means located adjacent the neck cause the lower
edge of a hub of the needle assembly to curve under a bead or
finish of the neck, thereby affixing the needle assembly to the
syringe barrel. The needle assemblies are preferably located in a
magazine and are urged continually toward an aligned position which
a syringe barrel so that one of the needle assemblies is always in
a position to be moved down onto the upper end of a syringe barrel.
The syringe can then be removed or discharged at a fourth station.
When a plunger rod is subsequently inserted into the plunger
located in the syringe barrel, the syringe is ready for use.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a
machine for automatically filling and labeling syringe barrels and
for affixing needle assemblies thereto.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for filling
and labeling syringe barrels and affixing needle assemblies
thereto, which machine is compact in size, reliable, and low in
cost.
A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for
affixing needle assemblies to syringe barrels having an improved
arrangement for supplying the needle assemblies to the machine.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a syringe
handling machine with an improved arrangement for printing labels
and applying them to syringe barrels.
Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment
thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic overall view in perspective taken
from the front right of a machine for filling, labeling, and
affixing needle assemblies to syringe barrels in accordance with
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view in perspective taken from the front left of
filling components of the machine of FIG. 1 and of a drive
mechanism therefor;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective taken from the same angle
as FIG. 1 of components of the machine which affix a needle
assembly to a syringe barrel assembly;
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged view in vertical, longitudinal cross
section taken through a head for engaging and rotating a needle
assembly;
FIG. 5 is a still further enlarged view of a portion of the head of
FIG. 4, shown in a different position, and showing crimping members
for turning the needle hub under a finish or bead of the syringe
barrel;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of the crimping
components of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view of apparatus for applying labels
to the syringe barrels;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of drive components employed in the
apparatus of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a tape and labels used
with the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic view in perspective of drive mechanism for
labeling and crimping components of the machine.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a syringe
machine embodying the invention is indicated at 10 and includes a
base 12 containing the drive system and controls for the machine.
The overall machine is compact so that space requirements are kept
to a minimum and it is also relatively light in weight to provide
portability so that the machine can be placed in the most efficient
or needed location. However, the machine is usually used with a
sanitary hood which supplies filtered, germ-free air over the
apparatus to prevent contamination by air-borne bacteria.
Syringes handled by the machine 10 are of the disposable type and
can be obtained commerically in several styles. As shown
particularly in FIG. 4, a container or syringe barrel assembly 14
includes a main barrel 16 and an upper neck 18 having a bead or
finish 20 over which a needle assembly is affixed when the syringe
has been filled. A plunger 22 is located in the lower end of the
barrel 16 to close off that end, with the syringe barrels and
plungers being purchased assembled and in a sterilized condition
from a manufacturer. After the syringe is filled, labeled, and the
needle assembly applied, a plunger rod can be inserted into the
rear of the plunger when the syringe is to be used.
The syringe barrel assemblies 14 are moved manually or
automatically from a suitable source sequentially to an indexing
wheel or turntable 24 (FIG. 1). The indexing wheel 24 includes an
upper disc 26 and a spaced lower disc 28 connected by a central hub
30. The lower disc 28 carries four rotatable supports 32 (FIG. 2)
which are aligned with four openings or notches 34 in the upper
disc 26. The supports 32 have peripheral flanges 36 (FIG. 4)
forming recesses 38 which receive the lower ends of the barrels 16.
The notches 34 have curved edges 40 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which help to
crimp the needle assemblies under the beads.
The syringe barrel assemblies 14 are loaded at a first station
indicated at 42 (see FIG. 1) and are carried by the index wheel 24
to a second station indicated at 44 when the wheel is indexed in a
clockwise direction through 90.degree. increments. At the second
station 44, the syringe barrels 16 receive a predetermined quantity
of medicinal liquid from filling apparatus indicated at 46. The
syringe barrels are then transferred to a third station, indicated
at 48 where labels 50 (FIG. 9) carrying appropriate indicia
designating the medicine in the syringe barrels are applied, the
labels being printed at this station. Needle assemblies are also
affixed to the syringe barrel assemblies 14 at this station. The
syringes then move to a fourth station 52 and are suitably removed
or discharged therefrom. SOL.1
The index wheel 24 is driven through a central shaft 54 (FIG. 10)
and an electromagnetic clutch C-1 by means to be discussed
subsequently. The table is precisely indexed to each of the four
stations by means of recesses 56 (FIG. 2) located in the lower
surface of the lower disc 28. A plunger 58 extends upwardly through
a platform 60 of the machine base 12 and has a downwardly extending
rod 62 therebelow which is spring loaded in the upward direction by
a spiral spring 64. The rod 62 extends into a solenoid designated
SOL. 1 and is pulled downwardly when the solenoid is actuated. The
solenoid is supported by a mounting plate 66 extending from a
depending plate 68 in the base 12.
When a new syringe barrel assembly is placed at the first station
42 of the index wheel 24, and the wheel is to be indexed, a start
switch (not shown), which can be hand or foot operated, is closed.
A timer is then actuated which actuates the solenoid SOL.1 to move
the plunger 58 out of the recess 56 momentarily. An arm 70
extending from the rod 62 then closes a limit switch LS1 which
energizes the clutch C-1, enabling the index wheel to be rotated to
the next station. When the plunger is released, immediately after
the wheel 24 starts to index, the spring 64 moved the plunger 58
upwardly against the lower surface of the disc 28 so that it can
then enter the next one of the recesses 60 when the wheel 24 has
moved 90.degree. to the next station. When the plunger moves into
the next recess 56, the arm 70 opens the limit switch LS1 which
de-energizes the clutch C-1 and stops the drive for the index
wheel.
FILLING OPERATION
The filling apparatus 46 at the second station 44 is shown in FIG.
2 and includes a vertically reciprocable block 72 slidably mounted
on vertical guide posts 74. The block 72 is pivotally connected to
a crank arm 76 which is driven in a manner to be discussed
subsequently. The arm moves the block 72 in a
vertical-reciprocating motion over a predetermined distance. The
block 72 includes an outwardly extending flange 78 supporting a
supply needle or hollow member 80 which extends downwardly and is
in alignment with the neck 18 of the syringe barrel assembly 14
when at the filling station 44 being in the barrel 16 when the
block 72 is in its lowest position. The supply needle 80 is
connected through a flexible supply tube 82 to a neck 84 of a pump
cylinder 86. The cylinder 86 is mounted in a fixed position in a
stand 88 by means of a clamping bar 90 which is readily removable.
A pump plunger 92 is located within the cylinder 86 and is
connected to a plunger rod 94 which extends downwardly to an end
flange 96, the latter being attached by a connection plate 98 to an
upper end of a gear rack 100. The rack 100 is vertically guided in
a groove in the side of the stand 88.
When the gear rack 100 is moved upwardly a predetermined distance,
it moves the plunger 92 accordingly and dispenses a predetermined
quantity of medicinal liquid from the cylinder 86 through the tube
82 and the needle 80 into the syringe barrel 16. The cylinder 86
contains a relatively large amount of medicinal liquid so that the
plunger 92 can be moved upwardly incrementally a number of times to
fill a corresponding number of the syringe barrels before the
cylinder is empty. At that time, the cylinder can be removed and
replaced by a full one, or it can be refilled in place. In the
latter instance, a three-way valve 102 is turned to enable the
cylinder to communicate with an upwardly extending needle 104
rather than with the line 82. The needle 104 can communicate with
the interior of a large medicinal supply container having a rubber
diaphragm through which the needle is inserted when the container
is inverted. When the rack 100 is then moved downwardly, retracting
the plunger 92, a new supply of medicinal liquid is drawn from the
supply container (not shown) into the cylinder. The valve 102 then
can be turned back to connect the cylinder 86 with the line 82 and
the barrel-filling operation can begin again.
The plunger 92 is driven incrementally upwardly in the cylinder 86
by a rack and pinion drive arrangement. Accordingly, the rack 100
extends into the base 12 of the machine and meshes with a pinion
106 which is affixed to a drive shaft 108. A travel control arm 110
also is mounted on the shaft 108 and moves in an arcuate manner.
When electromagnetic clutches C-2 and C-3 are energized, the shaft
108 is connected to a drive train and the arm is connected to
rotate with the shaft 108. The shaft 108 then rotates and the arm
110 moves downwardly to a position in which it engages a positive
stop in the form of an adjusting block 112. The arm, the shaft 108,
and the pinion 106 then stop, along with the upward movement of the
rack 100 and the pump plunger 92. The block 112 in turn is
connected to an indicator block 114 by an adjusting screw 116. When
the screw 116 is loosened, the indicator block 114 and the stop
block 112 can be moved up or down to a predetermined position. The
position is shown by a pointer 118 associated with indicia located
on a wall 120 of the base 12. When the clutches C-2 and C-3 are
de-energized, the arm 110 is moved back to its original position by
a spring 122 which is connected between the arm and the platform
60. The original, upper position of the arm is determined by a
fixed stop 124 extending inwardly from the side wall 120.
From the above it will be seen that when the arm 110 moves
downwardly, the plunger 92 moves upwardly to cause liquid to be
dispensed from the cylinder 86 through the tube 82 to the syringe
barrel assembly, until the arm 110 moves into contact with the stop
block 112. At this time, the clutch C-2 slips and the shaft 108
stops. When a timer times out, the clutches C-2 and C-3 are
de-energized. The spring 122 then moves the arm 110 back to the
original position against the stop 124. During this upward movement
of the arm 110, the pinion 106 remains stationary along with the
rack 100 and the plunger 92. Consequently, through each complete
reciprocatory cycle of the arm 110, the plunger 92 moves upwardly a
predetermined distance in the cylinder 86 and dispenses a
predetermined amount of liquid. The dispensing of the liquid
through the needle 80 occurs only when the needle is in the syringe
barrel 16 with the block 72 being in its lowest position by
controls to be discussed subsequently.
Occasionally it is desired to move the plunger 92 upwardly in the
cylinder 86 to remove air bubbles, by way of example. In such an
instance, a jog button can be used to energize the electromagnetic
clutch C-2, thereby causing rotation of the shaft 108 in the same
direction as a lower shaft 126 through a chain and sprocket set
indicated at 128. The shaft 108 also can be equipped with a
manually operated handle extending out of the base 12 for manual
manipulation, if desired. The clutch C-3 remains de-energized at
this time so that the arm 110 remains stationary in its upper
position.
When the plunger 92 has moved upwardly to the top the cylinder 86
and it is desired to refill the cylinder, the valve 102 is
positioned so that the needle 104 communicates with the cylinder 86
and a source of supply. Another jog button can then be used to
energize an electromagnetic clutch C-4. This connects the lower
drive shaft 126 with the upper shaft 108 through spur gears 130 and
132 to rotate the shaft 108 in the opposite direction and cause the
rack and pinion to retract the plunger 92 to fill the cylinder
86.
The drive and controls for the crank arm 76 and the lower shaft 126
will now be described. When the syringe barrel 16 is moved to the
station 44, a limit switch LS2 is closed to supply a pulse to a
solenoid designated SOL.2. This retracts a dog 134 from an offset
136 and enables a commercially available wrap spring clutch 138 to
rotate one-half revolution. This rotates a drive shaft 140 and a
cam 142 to which the crank arm 76 is connected through 180.degree.,
after which the dog 134 then engages a second offset diametrically
opposite the offset 136. During this time, the crank arm 76 moves
the block 72 downwardly to insert the filling needle 80 into the
syringe barrel 16 at the station 44. At the end of the half
revolution, a control arm 144, which rotates with the shaft 140,
engages a limit switch LS3 which energizes the clutches C-2 and C-3
and starts a timer, which when timed out de-energizes the clutches
C-2 and C-3. However, by this time, the shaft 108 will have been
driven through its full arcuate movement as determined by the arm
110 against the stop 112, with the clutch C-2 then slipping until
de-energized.
When the timer de-energizes the clutches C-2 and C-3, it also
pulses the solenoid SOL.2 once again to temporarily retract the dog
134 and enable the shaft 140 to rotate 180.degree. and raise the
filling needle 80 out of the syringe barrel 16. The control arm 144
then engages and closes another limit switch LS4 which readies the
machine for another cycle. The index wheel control is in series
with the limit switch LS4 to prevent indexing unless that switch is
closed. This prevents possible indexing when the filling needle 80
is in the syringe barrel.
The components of the filling mechanism 46 are driven by a drive
shaft 146 and a drive sprocket 148 which rotate an intermediate
shaft 150 through a sprocket and chain set indicated at 152. The
wrap spring clutch 138 is then driven through an intermediate
sprocket and chain set indicated at 154 and the shaft 126 is driven
through a sprocket and chain set indicated at 156.
CRIMPING OPERATION
At the station 48, closure members, specifically syringe needle
assemblies 158 (FIGS. 4 and 5), are assembled with the syringe
barrel assemblies 14. The needle assemblies 158 include connecting
portions or hubs 160 and needles 162 on which are covers 164. In
this instance, the needle assemblies 158 are supplied in a magazine
166 (FIG. 3 also) which can be disposable. The magazine, for
example, can hold 10 needle assemblies which are pre-packaged in a
sterile condition with the magazine then simply thrown away when
empty. The magazine 166 includes an elongated body 168 of plastic
material having a channel 170 extending longitudinally thereof with
the channel 170 including an enlarged lower portion 172 which
receives the needle hubs 160 and an upper, narrower slot 174
through which the needles 162 and the covers 164 extend. The
channel 170 communicates with a transverse cylindrical passage 176
at one end thereof, which passage is aligned with the syringe
barrel assembly 14 at the stations 48. The magazine is positioned
on a supporting platform 178 by a suitable locating pin 180 (FIGS.
3 and 4).
A follower or pusher 182 is slidably guided on a rod 184 and has a
tang 186 extending into the channel 170 in engagement with the last
of the needle assemblies 158 therein. The follower 182 is urged
toward the transverse passage 176 by a spring 188 connected to the
follower and to end portion of the platform 178. The follower 182
thereby urges the needle assemblies 158 sequentially toward the
transverse passage 176 which is aligned with a transverse passage
190 in the platform 178 when positioned by the pin 180. A limit
switch LS5 is mounted in a housing 192 on the platform 178 and is
engaged by a projection 193 of the follower 182 when the magazine
is empty. This prevents operation of the machine when no needle
assemblies are present.
The needle assemblies 158 are moved downwardly through the magazine
passage 176 and the platform passage 190 by a crimping head 194.
The head 194 includes a guide sleeve 196 and a hug-engaging jaw
198. The sleeve 196 has a lower annular end 200 which extends below
the jaw 198, being urged downwardly by an upper spring 202. The
spring 202 is located around s shank 204 of the jaw 198, which
shank extends through a bore 206 in the sleeve and urges a shoulder
208 of the sleeve 196 against a shoulder 210 of the jaw 198. When
the head 194 moves downwardly, the lower end 200 of the guide
sleeve 196 contacts a shoulder 212 of the hub 160 first and thereby
assures that the needle assembly 158 will be aligned with the head
194. As the head 194 moves further downwardly, it carries the hub
160 onto the upper end and specifically over the finish 20 of the
barrel assembly 14, at which time the spring 202 begins to be
compressed. This moves the jaw 198 downwardly relative to the
sleeve 196 and causes a tapered portion 214 of the jaw to engage an
upper portion 216 of the hub. During this time, the needle 162 and
the cover 164 are received in an elongate recess 218 of the jaw. As
the head 194 continues to move the needle assembly 158 downwardly,
an annular depending flange 220 of the hub 160 engages the curved
edge 40 of the associated opening or notch 34 and also an annular
curved edge 222 (FIGS. 5 and 6) of a crimping wheel 224. The curved
edge 222 is similar in transverse cross section to the transverse
cross section of the edge 40. The annular edge 220 of the hub 160
is thereby curved under the lower edge of the finish 20 and is
crimped securely in place. The needle assembly 158 is rotated
during this motion so that the edge 220 is uniformly crimped under
the finish, even though the edge 40 only extends around part of the
finish 20 and the edge 222 only contacts the finish at
substantially a single point.
The head 194 is rotatably mounted in a vertically movable
supporting plate 226. The upper end of the shank 202 is threadedly
received in a shoulder 228 of a shaft 230 which extends through the
platform 226, being rotatbly held in bearings 232. A groove 234
with a split ring 236 is located above the supporting plate 226 to
provide support for the head 194 on the upper surface of the plate
226. The shaft 230 extends upwardly above the plate and has a
key-way 238 (FIG. 3) thereabove. The shaft 230 slidably extends
through a driven sprocket 240 rotatably mounted on an upper wall
242 affixed to a housing 244, with the shaft extending further
upwardly into a housing extension 246. The rear portion of the wall
242 is not shown in FIG. 3 for clarity of illustration. The driven
sprocket 240 has a key 248 received in the key-way 238 to rotatably
connect the sprocket and the shaft 230 while enabling vertical
movement of the shaft. A chain 250 extends rearwardly from the
driven sprocket 240 to a drive sprocket 252 which is similarly
rotatably supported by the upper wall 242 of the housing 244. A
long drive shaft 254 for the sprocket 252 extends downwardly
through the supporting plate 226 and back of the mounting platform
178 to drive mechanism located in the base 12, which will be
discussed later.
The supporting plate 226 is moved up and down by means of a screw
drive which includes a screw 256 extending upwardly through most of
the height of the housing 244 with a nylon nut 258 engaged
therewith and affixed to the lower surface of the supporting plate
226. The screw 256 is rotated in one direction to raise the
supporting plate 226 and in the other direction to lower it. The
supporting plate 226 further is mounted on two guide posts 260 and
262, the upper ends of which are received in the upper wall 242 and
which guide the plate during its vertical movements. The posts 260
and 262 also extend through bushings 264 and 266 in the platform
178 and guide it during its vertical movement in the housing 244.
The plate 178 is supported from the plate 226 by an elongate
connector 268 which extends upwardly from the plate 178 through the
supporting plate 226 where it has an enlarged head 270. The
connector 268 is slidably received in the plate 226 but with the
platform 178 being limited to relative movement away from the plate
226 by the head 270. Consequently, when the supporting plate 226 is
raised, it moves the plate 178 upwardly as long as the head 270 is
in contact with the upper surface of the supporting plate 226.
However, when the plate 226 is lowered, it will lower the platform
178 only until the platform hits a limit or stop and specifically,
in this instance, the upper surface of the top disc 26 of the index
wheel 24. At that time, the plate 226 will continue the downward
movement with the head 270 of the connector 268 remaining
stationary. When the plate 226 is reversed in direction, the lower
platform 178 will remain stationary until the plate 226 has
traveled upwardly sufficiently far to enable the head 270 once
again to be engaged by the supporting plate 226.
By enabling the magazine 166 and the platform 178 to move
vertically, the magazine can be lowered to a point at which it is
just above the barrel finish 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, with
the passages 176 and 190 thereby serving to guide the needle
assembly 158 down to the point that it is received on the finish.
The magazine 166 and the platform 178 can then be raised to enable
them to clear the needle 162 of the assembly 158 which has been
affixed to the barrel assembly 14.
The operation of the crimping apparatus is initiated by a limit
switch LS6 (FIG. 7) which is located on the base 12 in the lower
part of the housing 244. A pressure arm 272 is pivotally mounted by
a pin 274 on the platform 60 in front of the limit switch LS6 and
has a pressure roller 276 rotatably mounted at an end thereof
adjacent the station 48. The pressure roller 276 extends over a
substantial portion of the length of the syringe of barrel 16. The
opposite end of the pivoted arm 272 in connected to a spring 278
which urges the pressure roller 276 toward a syringe barrel at the
station 48. When the indexing wheel 24 carries one of the syringe
barrels 16 to the station 48, it contacts the pressure roller 276
and pushes the arm 272 against the feeler arm of the limit switch
LS6 and closes it. . The limit switch then operates the drive for
the screw 256 which rotates in a manner to move the supporting
plate 226 downwardly. At this time, the shaft 254 is already
rotating to rotate the head 194 through the sprockets 240 and 252
and the chain 250.
As the head 194 moves downwardly along with the supporting plate
226, the platform 178 and the magazine 166 similarly move
downwardly toward the syringe barrel until the platform 178
contacts the upper surface of the upper disc 26 of the indexing
wheel 24. At this point, the platform 178 is just above the finish
20 of the syringe barrel 16, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The head
194 continues to move downwardly until the lower end 220 of the
guide sleeve 196 contacts the shoulder 212 of the hub 160. The
needle assembly 158, frictionally held in the transverse passage
176 of the magazine 166 by the pressure of the adjacent needle
assembly 158, then is pushed downwardly until received on the upper
end or the finish 20. The spring 202 then yields to cause the jaw
198 to move down relative to the sleeve 196 until the tapered
portion 214 of the jaw frictionally engages the portion 216 of the
hub 160. Further movement of the head 194 causes the annular lower
lip or flange 220 of the hub to be curled under the finish 20 by
the curved surfaces 40 and 222. Downward movement of the head 194
stops when an electromagnetic clutch through which the screw 256 is
driven begins to slip.
When the supporting plate 226 reaches its lowest position, a lower
limit switch LS7 in the housing 244 is closed which starts a timer.
When the timer times out after a sufficient length of time to
assure that the hub 160 is fully crimped on the finish 20, it
causes the screw 256 to reverse and again raise the supporting
plate 226. The platform 178 and the magazine 166 remain in the
lower position until the head 270 of the connector 268 engages the
upper surface of the plate 226, at which time the platform and
magazine are carried upwardly along with the plate 226. This
movement occurs until the plate 226 reaches an upper limit switch
LS8 which stops rotation of the screw 256. At this point, the
platform 178 is clear of the needle 162 of the now-assembled needle
assembly so that the assembled syringe can be moved to the
discharge station 52.
LABELING AND PRINTING OPERATION
As the closure members or needle assemblies 158 are affixed to the
barrel assemblies 14, the labels 50 are simultaneously applied. As
shown in FIG. 9, the labels are of the pressure-sensitive type and
are carried in transverse, uniformly spaced relationship on a tape
280. The tape 280 has pairs of spaced holes 282 between the labels
50 thereon to enable the tape to be positively driven, as will be
subsequently discussed. As shown in FIG. 7, the tape 280 and the
labels 50 are wound in a roll 284 mounted on a hub 286 of a
circular plate 288 which can be rotatably mounted on the platform
60 of the base 12, or the roll 284 can be simply allowed to slide
on the plate 288 around the hub 286. From the roll 284, the tape
280 is pulled around two guide posts 290 and 292 and, hence, past
printing apparatus indicated at 294, to be discussed subsequently.
The tape is then pulled around a separating bar or block 296 which
can be heated, if desired, to improve the adhesion of the labels 50
on the syringe barrels 16. The block 296 has a vertical edge 298 of
small radius around which the tape is pulled to separate the labels
therefrom as the tape sharply changes direction. The labels
continue in a straight line between the syringe barrel 16 and the
pressure roller 276 where they are adhered to the barrel 16 as it
is rotated by the head 194.
The tape alone subsequently moves between a drive roll 300 and a
pressure roll 302 (see also FIG. 8). The drive roll 300 has a
plurality of pairs of teeth 304 thereon which engage the openings
282 in the tape 280. There are ten pairs of the teeth 304, as
shown, with the drive roll 300 moved one-tenth of a revolution each
time one of the labels 50 is to be applied to one of the syringe
barrels 16. This arrangement provides a positive feed for the tape
and a more simple and less costly arrangement than electric eyes
and similar devices heretofore used to control tape feed. The
pressure roll 302 actually includes four rubber rings 306 mounted
thereon to engage the tape 280 on each side of the holes 282,
thereby assuring positive engagement of the holes with the teeth
304. The pressure roll 302 is slidably mounted on a base 308 and is
urged toward the feed roll 300 by a spring 310.
The printing apparatus 294 includes a back-up block 312 having a
pressure pad 314 in front of which the tape 280 is pulled with the
labels 50 facing outwardly. Printing type is set up in a type
holder or chase 316 to provide the desired indicia for the labels
to indicate the contents of the barrel assemblies 14 being filled.
The holder 316, which can be of any suitable type generally known
in the art, is mounted in a printing head 318 and can be removed
from type replacement simply by being slid upwardly from the head
318. The printing head is moved back and forth in a lineal path
directed by a plastic guide block 320 which is slidably mounted in
upper and lower guide members 322 having grooves 324 in which the
upper and lower edges of the guide block 320 are received. When the
guide block 320 is in the retracted position, it closes a limit
switch LS9 which starts the tape drive roll 300.
An inking plate 326 includes an inking pad 328 on a face thereof
which moves against and supplies fresh ink for the type after each
printing operation. The inking plate 326 is supported on a lower
arm 330 which extends under the lower guide member 322 to an axis
332. A circular disc 334 is also rotatably mounted on the axis 332
with the arm 330 and has an annular groove 336 which receives a
spring 338 when the disc is rotated in a counter-clockwise
direction, as shown in FIG. 7. One end of the spring is pinned in
the groove 336 while the other is connected by a pin 340 to the
lower surface of the printing head 318. The spring 338 urges the
inking plate 326 toward the type holder 316 with the plate being
pushed out of the way when the printing head moves forwardly by the
forward edge of the guide block 320. This engages the arm 330 and
forces the plate out of the way, at the same time rotating the disc
334. When the head 318 is near its retracted position, however, the
printing pad 328 is in contact with the type to provide a fresh
supply of ink therefor. When the head 318 is in its at-rest
position, as shown in FIG. 7, the printing plate 326 preferably is
spaced from the type so that the pad 328 can be supplied with fresh
ink more easily. This at-rest position is somewhat forward of the
fully retracted position.
The printing head 318 is driven through a link 342 which is
connected to the printing head by a pin 344 and to a rotatable cam
member 346 by a pin 348. The drive for a shaft 350 of the cam
member 346 will be discussed below.
The drive components for the closing, labeling, and printing
mechanisms are shown schematically in FIG. 10. For continuously
rotating the crimping head 194, the shaft 254 is driven from a main
driven shaft 352 through a gear box 354, a vertical drive shaft
356, and spur gears 358, 360. The screw 256 for moving the plate
226 and the platform 178 vertically is driven off the shaft 254.
The screw is driven to move the plate 226 downwardly when an
electromagnetic clutch C-5 is energized by the spur gear 360 and a
spur gear 362, the clutch C-5 being energized by the limit switch
LS6 (FIG. 7). The clutch C-5 slips when the pressure of the needle
assembly 158 on the finish 20 exceeds a predetermined amount. The
screw 256 is driven upwardly when an electromagnetic clutch C-6 is
energized, by a chain and sprocket set 364, the clutch C-6 being
energized when the timer, started by the limit switch LS7 (FIG. 3),
times out. The printing head and specifically the shaft 350 is
driven when a wrap-spring clutch 366 is released and driven through
one revolution by a sprocket and chain set 368 connected to the
shaft 356. The one-revolution, wrap-spring clutch 366 is similar to
the clutch 138 of FIG. 2 but has only one offset so that when the
dog (not shown) is retracted momentarily by a solenoid (not shown),
the clutch 366 travels through one full revolution. This rotates
the cam 346 through one revolution to move the printing head 318
through one complete cycle. The solenoid for the clutch 138 is
energized by the limit switch LS7 (FIG. 3).
The tape drive drum 300 has a central shaft 370 which, in this
instance, is driven through one-tenth of a revolution by a ten step
wrap-spring clutch 372 which is similar to the clutches 138 and 366
but has 10 offsets. The clutch 372 will have a number of steps
equal to the number of pairs of the teeth 304 on the feed roll 300
with that number, in turn, being determined by the diameter of the
feed roll and width of the labels 50. Each arcuate movement of the
feed roll 300 must be slightly in excess of the width of the label
50 to cause the label at the separating edge 294 (FIG. 7) to move
from the tape 280 onto the barrel 16 at the station 48. When a dog
(not shown) of the 10-step clutch 372 is momentarily released by a
solenoid energized by the limit switch LS7 (FIG. 7), the clutch 372
is driven through a chain and sprocket set 376 connected to an
intermediate shaft 378 having a lower spur gear 380 driven by a
spur gear 382, a shaft 384, and a spur gear 386, the latter meshing
with a drive spur gear 388 on the shaft 254. The indexing wheel
shaft 54 is driven by a chain and sprocket set 390 from the
intermediate shaft 378.
A limit switch LS10 (FIG. 1) is positioned to be engaged by any of
the needles 162 on the syringes which have not been removed at the
fourth station 52 or the first station 42. This shuts off the
machine 10 to prevent damage.
Various modifications of the above described embodiment of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to
be understood that such modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and
the tenor of the accompanying claims.
* * * * *