U.S. patent number 3,905,178 [Application Number 05/536,103] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-16 for automatic container capping and dispensing device.
Invention is credited to John Barth West.
United States Patent |
3,905,178 |
West |
September 16, 1975 |
Automatic container capping and dispensing device
Abstract
An automatic container capping and lid dispensing device is
provided in which a vertical magazine of stacked horizontally
disposed lids is vertically reciprocated toward and away from a
vertically disposed container beneath the magazine. Such downward
stroke of the magazine releases the lowermost lid therein and seats
it on the rim of the container to cap the latter. The return stroke
prepares the stack of lids for the next dispensing and capping
stroke.
Inventors: |
West; John Barth (Glyndon,
MD) |
Family
ID: |
27013039 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/536,103 |
Filed: |
December 24, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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390243 |
Aug 21, 1973 |
3864898 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/328; 221/297;
53/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
7/2807 (20130101); B65B 43/44 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
43/42 (20060101); B65B 43/44 (20060101); B65B
7/28 (20060101); B65B 007/28 (); B67B 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/328,309,287,322,323,324,305,306,319 ;221/297,292,293 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Assistant Examiner: Culver; Horace M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch and Birch
Parent Case Text
This invention relates to container capping devices and more
particularly to means for dispensing lids for containers or the
like from a magazine and placing the lid on the container as it is
dispensed and is a continuation-in-part of my copending application
Ser. No. 390,243, filed Aug. 21, 1973 and now U.S. Pat. No.
3,864,898.
Claims
I claim:
1. In 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;
annular bearing means mounting said magazine means for relative
reciprocating movement of said magazine thereto within the inner
periphery of said bearing means;
said bearing means including cam means on the outer and inner
periphery thereof;
leveling and dispensing detent means mounted on said magazine and
extending inboard 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;
said 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;
wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of detents spaced
about the periphery of said magazine means, said detents being on
one end of respective first follower arms extending therefrom into
proximity with the outer periphery of said bearing means; and
wherein said clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping
shoes, conformally shaped to said lids and spaced about the
periphery of said magazine means at corresponding peripheral
positions with said detents, said clamping shoes being mounted on
one end of respective second follower arms extending therefrom into
proximity with the inner periphery of said bearing means;
said first and second follower arms comprising leaf springs having
rise and dwell surfaces thereon engaging said cam means in response
to reciprocating movement of said magazine means relative to said
bearing means and having the other ends thereof fixed in a common
mounting means on the outer periphery of said magazine means at
each of said peripheral positions.
2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said rise and dwell
surfaces on said first and second follower arms are interrelated to
constrain predetermined coordinated displacements to said clamping
shoes and said detents.
3. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping means is
displaced from said detent means such that the outermost lid in
said stack rests on said detent means in the inboard position of
the latter and at least the next adjacent lid in said stack is held
by said clamping means when said detent means is in said outboard
position, thereby permitting said outermost lid to be dispensed
from said magazine means and the remainder of said lids to be
retained therein for each reciprocation of said magazine means
relative to said bearing means.
4. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said bearing means,
said cam means includes internal cam surfaces spaced about the
inner periphery for engaging said second spring folower arms to
selectively position said detent means in response to reciprocation
of said magazine in said bearing means; and
said bearing means further includes bearing surfaces intermediate
said internal cam surfaces engaging the outer periphery of said
magazine means.
5. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said open end of said
magazine means terminates below said detent means and said clamping
means to laterally constrain said lid means independently of said
detent and clamping means.
6. 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;
holding means for positioning an open mouthed container beneath
said magazine means with the open mouth of said container in
registry with said stack of lids;
annular bearing means having outer and inner peripheries mounting
said magazine for reciprocation on its longitudinal axis toward and
away from said holding means within the inner periphery of said
bearing means;
said lids and the mouth of said container having conformally shaped
coacting rim structures to effect a force fit therebetween; and
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;
said lid retaining and release means comprising detent means
selectively extending inboard of said magazine means beneath said
lowermost lid in said stack and clamping means selectively
engageable with a plurality of said lids to retain all but the
lowermost of said lids in said magazine;
said annular bearing means including spaced outer and inner cam
means in registry at selected positions about said outer and inner
peripheries of said bearing means;
said detent means and clamping means being mounted, respectively,
on first and second leaf spring follower arms cantilevered at
common mounting points for each cooperating pair of detent and
clamping means corresponding to said selected positions of said
spaced outer and inner cam means; and
said first and second leaf spring follower arms including rise and
dwell surfaces sequentially engaging said outer and inner cam
means, respectively, on said annular bearing means during
reciprocation of said magazine means.
7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said bearing means
further includes bearing surfaces intermediate said internal cam
means engaging the outer periphery of said magazine means.
8. The invention defined in claim 7, wherein 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.
9. The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said clamping means
comprises arcuate shoes having a lower edge portion for engaging
the outer rim portion of the next lowermost lid in said stack and a
conformal recess for receiving the outer periphery of the rim
portion of the third lowermost lid in said stack for each
reciprocation of said magazine means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the dispensing of stacked container lids, one at a time for the
purpose of applying each dispensed lid to a container, it has been
customary to use a coin feed type mechanism which slidably
displaces the lowermost lid from a stack of lids in a loadable
magazine and then apply the lid to the container with yet another
mechanism, synchronously related or timed with the dispensing
mechanism.
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.
Furthermore, such equipment requires 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.
Thus, there is an established need in the art for a low cost lid
dispensing and capping unit for containers which effects its
functions in an optimally limited space, is not unduly limited to
particular lid designs and which is readily adaptable to use with
many types of equipment such as automatic filling machines, vending
machines and the like.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel
means for dispensing container lids one by one from a stack of lids
in a magazine.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and
novel means for dispensing container lids one by one from a stack
of lids in a magazine and to cap a container with said lid as it is
dispensed.
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.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more
fully apparent with reference to the following specifications and
drawings which relate to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A vertically extending tubular magazine is mounted for vertical
reciprocation in a combined cam and bearing and holds a
particularly 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
jointly disposed about the periphery of the lower end of the
magazine with a set of clamping shoes of which engage 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
mounted on individual leaf spring members on the magazine and are
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 during a single downward
stroke of said magazine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation in cross-section taken along line 1--1
of FIG. 4 of a dispenser 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 FIG. 1 and 2 representing the lowermost
or container capping position of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a cam and bearing configuration of the
invention; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring in detail to the drawings and with particular reference
to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the dispenser and capper 10 of the present
invention is shown as including a vertically disposed tubular
magazine 12 of my suitable cross-sectional configuration (although
specifically shown as having a circular cross-section) in which a
plurality of lids 14 of a size co-extensive 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 within have inverted U-shaped peripheral rims
or flanges 14A with the outermost lip 14B thereof flared outwardly
of the lid 14 into substantial juxaposition 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.
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outwardly flared tip 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.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the uppermost position of the magazine 12,
the latter being reciprocated by means of any suitable known
mechanism in the art through sequential short reciprocal strokes
along its own axis, the said magazine 12 is so disposed with
respect to a generally annular guide bearing and cam means 22 as to
result in the stack of lids 14 being held within the magazine,
beneath the lowermost lid 14, by a plurality of leveling and
dispensing detents 24 engaging the flared tip portion 14B of the
said lowermost lid 14. This position of the magazine also results
in a disengaged condition of a plurality of arcuate clamping shoes
26 having a lowermost internal horizontal rim portion 26A1 having a
substantially conformal overlapping fit with the outer top edge of
the rim portions 14A of the lowermost lid 14 in the magazine 12 and
an arcuate horizontal groove 26A2 formed in the inner face thereof
to conformally receive the edge portion 14B of an adjacent lid 14
in the vertical stack.
The detents 24 are mounted on one end of respective upstanding leaf
spring follower arms 24A having a cam rise 24B and two adjacent
dwells 24C and 24D at the opposite ends of the rise 24B adjacent
the external periphery of the annular bearing guide and cam ring
22.
The uppermost outer rim portions 22A of the cam ring 22 are the
actuating cam surfaces for the detents 24 via the leaf springs 24A
and the sloping upper internal surfaces 22B of the cam ring 22 are
the actuating cam surfaces 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 26 are mounted on upstanding leaf spring
follower arms 26B having a rise 26C and dwell 26D adjacent the cam
ring 22 at the lowermost ends of the said leaf spring arms 26B.
The general orientation of the said leaf spring follower arms 24A
and 26B, the cam ring 22 and the magazine 12 are shown in FIGS. 1-4
as having a common fixed point 27 at the upper end thereof by a
means of common stirrup or keeper 27A mounted on the outer surface
of the magazine 12 for each cooperating pair of detents 24 and
clamping shoes 26B to work externally and internally, respectively,
with the surface 22A and 22B of the cam 22.
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 of random dispensing of the lids 14 and the resulting
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. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a motor M driving an
eccentric E acting against a drive follower 12B on the magazine 12
can provide the reciprocation in conjunction with a return spring
12C all as schematically shown.
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.
Referring additionally to FIGS. 5 and 6, the cam is shown as having
lowermost internal dwell surfaces 22C immediately beneath the rise
surface 22B which ultimately engages the dwell position 26D of the
leaf spring followers 26B of the arcuate clamping shoes 26 in the
lowermost reaches of the downward stroke of the magazine 12, i.e.,
when the clamping shoes 26 are in their innermost positions.
Additionally, the cam 22 includes bearing surfaces 22D arranged in
substantially regular intervals, every ninety degrees (90.degree.)
in the preferred embodiment, radially inboard of the internal cam
surfaces 22B, 22C and in sliding contact with the external
periphery of the magazine 12.
The cam 22 is suspended from a fixed plate 28, through which the
magazine 12 extends, by means of four support studs or columns 30
anchored in sockets or parts 22E in the four corners of the cam
means 22. A port 28A is provided in the plate 28 to permit
themagazine 12 to pass there through.
An annular bearing sleeve 32 is positioned in the plate 28
coaxially with the port 28A and externally concentric with the
magazine 12 to provide additional bearing support for the
reciprocating magazine 12.
OPERATION
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and 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.
At this point in time the dwell surfaces 24B of the follower arms
24A are engaged by the outer periphery of the cam ring 22 and rise
surfaces 22C of the follower arms 26B are positioned adjacent the
internal cam surfaces 22B of the cam surfaces 22B of the cam ring
22, holding the leveling and dispensing detents 24 beneath the
lowermost lid 14 in engagement with the flared lip 14B and holding
the clamping and capping shoes 26 and the arcuate rims 26A thereof
out of engagement with the lids 14.
As the magazine 12 is axially displaced downward to the position of
FIG. 2, the rise 24B of the follower arms 24A engages the upper rim
22A of the cam ring 22 and progressively causes each follower arm
24A to flex outward and carry the leveling and dispensing detent 24
thereon out from under the lids 14 when the dwell 24C reaches the
cam ring 22.
While this action is taking place, the rise 26C on the follower
arms 26B engages the upper internal rise surface 22B of the cam
ring 22 and progressively forces the clamping shoes 26 into
engagement with the rims 14A of the lids 14 such that the arcuate
slots 26A2 of the clamping and capping shoes 26 engage the flared
lip 14B of one of the said lips and force same down and into the
outer corner of the rim portion 14A on the next lowest lid and the
arcuate lower edge portions 26A1 also engage the rim portion 14A of
the latter.
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.
Continued downward displacement of the magazine 12 to its lowermost
position of travel in FIG. 3 will force the lowermost lid 14 (which
is not engaged by the clamping shoes 26) onto the rim 18A of the
cup 18, with the flared lip 14B of the lid riding out and over the
cup rim 18A and the cup rim 18A thereby seating in the rim 14A of
the lid 14. The inner surface of the magazine 12 beneath the
clamping shoes 26 comprises a skirt portion or the like imposing a
lateral constraint on the lowermost lid 14 to insure registry of
the rim 14A with the rim 18A of the container 18.
With the clamping and capping pads 26 still gripping the remaining
lids 14 in the stack of lids in the magazine 12, the back-stroke of
the magazine 12 is commenced in this capping and dispensing cycle.
The clamping shoes 26 retain their grip on the remaining lids in
the clamping shoes through the position shown in FIG. 2 and until
the levelling and dispensing detents 24 are returned to position
beneath the lids 14 by the dwells 24D on their respective follower
arms 24A engaging the outer periphery of the cam ring 22.
Then, prior to reaching the top of the back-stroke (position of
FIG. 1) 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 clearing or resting above the internal
rise surface 22B of 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 14 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. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a motor M
driving an eccentric E acting against a drive follower 12B on the
magazine 12 can provide the reciprocation in conjunction with a
return spring 12C, all as schematically shown.
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.
It should be noted at this time, referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,
that 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.
As can be seen from the foregoing description and drawings, the
present invention provides a versatile, positive acting; simple and
reliable lid dispensing and container 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.
The present invention may be modified as would occur to one of
ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *